against the Sonnes of King Edward And therefore being certaine there is no man to whom the Crowne by just Title can be so due as to our selfe the rightfull Sonne and Heire of our most deare and Princely Father Richard Duke of Yorke to which Title of blood and nature your favours have joyned this of Election wherein wee hold our selfe to be most strong and safe And having the lawfull power of both why should I endure my professed Enemy to â—surpemy right and become a Vassall to my envious Subject The necessitie of these causes as admitting no other remedy urges me to accept your offer and according to your request and our owne right we here assume the Regall Praeheminence of the two Kingdoms England and France from this day forward by us and our heires to Govern and defend the one and by Gods grace and your good aydes to recover and establish the other to the Ancient Allegeance of England desiring of God to live no longer then wee intend and endeavour the advancement and flourishing Estate of this Kingdome at which they all cry'd God save King Richard And thus he became King But yet his Detractors stick not to slander and accuse all that was said or done in these proceedings of State for meer dissimulation by which justice they may as well censure At siâ— Reverentia dictum all the Barons worthy and grave Commons which had their Votes therein which would fall a most impudent and intolerable Scandall upon all the High Court of Parliament for in short time after all that was alledged and acted in that Treatie and Colloquy was approved and ratified by the Court of Parliament so that their Cavills onely discover an extreame malice and envy For it was not possible therefore not credible he could upon such an instant as it were by any practice attaine to that power and credit with all the Barons Spirituall and Temporall and Commons to procure and perswade them from the Sonnes of King Edward so unanimously to become his Subjects and put the Crowne upon his head with such Solemnitie and publicke Ceremonies Whilst those matters had their current the Northerne Gentlemen and his Southerne Friends joyned in a Bill Supplicatory to the Lords Spirituall and Temporall earnestly expressing their desires for the Election of the Lord Protector with the former causes urged Also that the blood of the young Earle of Warwicke was attainted and his Title confiscate by Parliament This Bill was delivered to the Lords Assembled in the great hall at Westminster the Lord Protector sitting in the Chaire of Marble amongst them upon the 26 of June some six or seven dayes after he was Proclaimed the tenor of the Bill was thus written in the Chronicle of the Abbey of Croyland PRotector eodem die quo Regimen sub titulo regii nominis sibi vendicarit viz 26 o die Iunii Anno Dom. 1483. se apud Magnam Aulam Westmonasterii in Cathedram Marmoream Immisit tum mox omnibus proceribus tam Laicis quam Ecclesiasticis Caeteris assidentibus astantibus c. ostendebatur rotulus quidam in quo per modum supplicationis in nomine procerum populi Borealis exhibita sunt Primum quod silii Regis Edwardi erant Bastardi supponendo illum praecontraxisse matrimonium cum quadam Domina Elianora Boteler antequam Reginam Elizabetham duxisset in uxorem deinde quod sanguis alterius Fratris Georgii Scil Clarensiâ— ducis fuisset Attinctus Ita quod nullus certus incorruptus sanguis Linealis ex parte Richardi Ducis Eboraci poterat inveniri nisi in persona Richardi Protectoris Ducis Glocestriae jam eidem Duci suplicabant ut jus suum in Regno Angliae sibi assumeret Coronam acciperet But the Barons were all accorded before this Bill came both sides moving with an equall and contented forwardnesse And in July next following 1483. was Crown'd and receiv'd with as generall Magnificence and Acclamations as any King in England many years before For as a grave man writeth Fuit dignissimus regno c. non inter malos sed bonos principes Commemorandus That he was most worthy to Reigne and to be numbred amongst the good not bad Princes The Queene his Wife was Crowned with him and with no lesse State and Greatnesse Accompanied him from the Tower to Westminster having in their Traine besides the Nobilitie of the South parts foure thousand Gentlemen of the North. Upon the 19. of June 1483. in the 25. yeare of Lewis the French King he was named King of England the morrow Proclaimed and rode with great Solemnitie from London to Westminster where in the seat Royall he gave the Judges of the Land a strickt and religious charge for the just executing of the Lawes then departed towards the Abbey being met at the Church doore with Procession and the Scepter of King Edward delivered to him by the Abbot so Ascended to Saint Edwards Shrine where he offered the Monks in the meane time singing Te Deum From thence he return'd to the Palace where he lodged untill his Coronation Upon the fourth of July he went to the Tower by water with the Queene his Wife and the next day Created Edward his onely Son about ten yeares old Prince of Wales He Invested Sir Iohn Howard who was made Lord Howard and Knight of the Garter 17. Edward 4. in the Dukedome of Norffolke in a favourable admission of the right of the Lady Margaret his Mother Daughter of Sir Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norffolke and an heire generall of the Mowbrayes Dukes of Norffolke and Earles of Surrey descended from the Lord Tho. Plantagenet of Brotherton a younger Sonne of King Edward the first and Earle of Norffolke This King also made him Marshall and Admirall of England he was as rightfully Lord Mowbray Lord Segrave Lord Bruce as Lord Howard as I have seene him Stiled by Royall Warrant in a Commission for Treatie of Truce with Scotland His eldest Sonne Sir Thomas Howard was at the same time Created Earle of Surrey and made Knight of the Garter Henry Stafford Duke of Buckingham was made Constable of England for terme of life but he claimed the Office by inheritance Sir Thomas Moore writes That Sir Thomas Howard Executed the Office of Constable that day William Lord Berkley was Created Earle of Nottingham Francis Lovel Viscount Lovel and Chamberlain to the King the Lord Stanley restor'd to liberty and made Steward of the Household Thomas Rotheram Chancellour and Arch-Bishop of Canterbury having beene committed for delivering the Great Seale to the Queene Widow receiv'd to grace and many Knights Addubbed of the old Order and some of the new or habit of the Bath whose names I have set downe to shew what regard was had of their Family and in those times accused of so much Malignity Sir Edward De-la-Poole Sonne to the Duke of Norfolke George Gray Sonne to the Earle of Kent William Souch Sonne to the
to your Father-hood by the Passion of Jesus Christ this man is truly the King Don Sebastian he hath all the markes on his body without failing in any one as he had in his infancy only the wounds excepted which he received in that Battel at Affricke he gives the reason of his life account of all his passages c. He is knowne and re-known by the Conciergres by the Judges by the greater part of the Senate and by his owne Confessor c. and a great deal more of him upon knowledg he justifies as much witnesses Ion de Castro Sonne to Don de Alvaro de Castro one of the four Governours that ruled the Kingdome Conjunctly with the King Don Sebastian who in his letter the same man sayes thus The King Don Sebastian whom the enemies call a Calabrois is the very same which is detained here as certainly as you are Fryer Ioseph and my selfe Don Ion. He departed alive from the battaile but very sore wounded God having so delivered him with some other of his company amongst whom was the Duke Anegro c. as for the Exterior marks of his body he wants not one of them he is wounded on the brow of the right eye and on the head as many witnessed when they saw him in the Affrick Battell His hand-writing is still the same observing the very same method as is very well remembred by divers There might much more be instanced in the behalfe of this Sebastian but this may serve for better intelligence to which I may adde that men experienced in the Affaires and policy of State know it a rare thing to find in any History the examples of a Prince being seised and possessed of any Signiory or Principality how unlawfull soever who hath resigned them or any part to the true heires Have we not instances at home where the Sonne hath taken the Kingdome from the Father and would not let it goe againe but rather endeavoured to hast his Fathers fate Much after that manner when Henry Duke of Lancaster had got the Kingdome he held it and would not resigne to the right Heyr Richard the second nor after his death to the Earle of March though these were no Impostors neither was Edward Earl of Warwicke yet King Henry would not let his hold goe and the Cardinall Favourite finding he could not compasse his aymes one way contrived it another By the Machivilian advice he gave to Ferdinand King of Castile not to conclude the treaty of the Marriage betweene Prince Arthur and his Daughter Katherine untill this Earle and Perkin were disposed of which Ferdinando followed and urged the King pretending it the security of his Estate and Issue In briefe it is not possible to perswade a private man though wrongfully possessed to acknowledge the true proprietary hath a better title then he How unjustly have the Kings of Spaine detain'd sundry Signeuries and Principalities from the lawfull Heirs yet if the wrong done by such another disseising Lord be put to this former Usurper Malafide as the Imperiall Iurisconsults will terme him his sentence will be such a Rapinous Prince doth wrong But let us now take a more particular view of those witnesses who stood for Perkin And having formerly mentioned Sir Robert Clifford a Knight of the Noble Family of the Barons Cliffords I will proceed with that which may be the more remarkable in him because hee was of a Family that long hated the House of Yorke from the Battaile of Wakefield when and where they resolved an enmity so deadly as was not to bee reconciled or satisfied whilst one of them remained yet became followers againe of the White Rose family and this Sir Robert Clifford served King Edward very neare and in good credit so could not but have an assured knowledge of the Kings Sonnes and was therefore the more particularly sent to certifie his knowledge who certainely affirmed him to bee the younger sonne of Edward 4. and confirmed many with him such as had likewise served King Edward and had been acquainted with the Prince his conveying beyond Sea though much was done to alter Sir Roberts opinion the Lord Fitz-Walter was of the same beliefe and avowed Perkin the true Duke of York most constantly unto death as resolute was Sir William Stanley though he were Lord Chamberlaine to Henry the seventh and in great favour with Sir George Nevill Brother to the Earle of Westmorland Sir Symon Mountford Sir William Daubeny father to the Lord Daubeny Sir Thomas Thwaits Sir Robert Ratcliffe of the house of the Baron FitzWalter Sir Iohn Taylor Sir Thomas Chaloner Thomas Bagnall with many other Gentlemen of quality all maintaining him to be the Duke of Yorke sonne of Edward the fourth sundry of the Clergy who had beene Chaplaines to the King his Father or otherwise occasioned to attend the Court as Doctor Rochford Doctor Poynes Doctor Sutton Doctor Worsley Deane of St. Pauls Doctor Leyborn Doctor Lesly with many other learned Professors of Divinity who would not endure to heare him called Perkin The Lord FitzWater Sir William Stanley Sir Simon Mountford Sir Robert Ratcliffe Sir William Daubeny as martyrs of state confirmed their Testimonies with their bloods So did the Kings Serjant Ferrier who left the Kings service and applyed himself to Perkin for which he was executed as a Traitor and one Edwards who had served this Duke Richard was cut in pieces for the same cause also Corbet Sir Quinton Betts and Gage Gentlemen of good worth with 200. more at least put to death in sundry Cities and Townes particularly in Kent Essex Suffolke Norfolke and about London for their confidence and opinions in this Prince There were some great men though they made noe profession of their knowledge of him could whisper it one to another which in generall words is confessed by all our better writers who say that as well the Noblemen as others held the said Perkin to be the younger Sonne of King Edward the Fourth And Sir Thomas Moore after Doctor Morton thus writeth The man commonly called Perkin Warbeck was as well with the Prince as with the people held to be the younger Sonne of King Edward the Fourth Richard Grafton affirmeth the same in Flanders saith he and most of all here in England it was received for an undoubted truth not onely of the people but of the Nobles that Perkin was the Sonne of King Edward the Fourth And they all swore and affirmed this to be true The learned and famous Mr. Cambden averreth there were many wise grave and persons of good intelli gence who liued in that time and neere it That affirmed considently this Perkin was second Sonne to King Edward then both the Brothers were not made a way by King Richard and sarely it was little reason or policy to cut off the one spare the other neither indeed was there ever any proofes made by Testimony Argument or Presumption
in tutelam moriens tradidit as Polidore testifieth The Army and affaires of those parts disposed he came to Yorke where he made a few daies stay to pay some religious Offices and Ceremonies to the manes and exequies of the deceased King so hastned to London having in his Traine besides his owne ordinary Retinue sixe hundred voluntary Gentlemen of the North parts brave Horsemen and gallantly mounted upon the way he dispatched certaine seguall messengers to the young King who was then at Ludlow Castle in Wales to provide for his honourable Conduct of London where he arrived not long after the Lord Protector and was magnificently received and lodged at the Bishops Pallace his Brother the Duke of Yorke was then with the Queene Mother in the Pallace at Westminster who out of a pretended motherly care rather indeed her pollicy would not let him stirre from her to see the King who had desired his company but instantly takes Sanctuary with him in the Abbey The Lord Protector sollicites her by some Noblemen to send or bring him to the King which she peremptorily stood against untill Cardinall Bourser Archbishop of Canterbury was made the Messenger who so gravely and effectually perswaded with her that she delivered him the Duke After some dayes respite in London-House the King according to ancient custome was to remove Court to the Tower of London the Castle Royall and chiefe House of safety in the Kingdome untill the more weighty affaires of the State and such troubles if any hapned as often interceeds the alterations of Raignes were well dispatched and composed some threatning evils of that kind being discovered and extinguished before the Protector came to London And untill all things proper to his Coronation were in preparation and readinesse the Lord Protector still being neere unto him with all duty and care and did him homage as Honourable Phillippe de Comines Le Duâ— de Glocester avoit fait homage á son Nâ—phâ—n Comme á soâ— Roy souverain Seigneur but this Testimony being a voucht by one who loved not the Protector may leave more credit who sayes when the young King approacht towards London the Lord Protector his Unckle rode barehead before him and in passing along said with a loud voice to the People Behold your Prince and Soveraigne to which the Prior of Croyland who lived in those dayes reporteth Richardus Protector nihil reverentiae quod capite nudato genu Flecto aliove quolibet corporis habitur insubdito exigit regine potisuo facere distulit aut recusavit And why should these services and his constancy be judged lesse real to the Son then to the Father his care providence looking pregnantly through all turnes that concern'd him and his State and therefore timely remov'd such of Danger as were vehemently suspected for their Ambition and insolent assuming Power and Authoritie not proper to them and so stood ill-affected to their Prince and turbulent Maligners of the Government And thus his strict justice to some begat the envie of others as it fell out in the time of King Edward betweene those of the blood Royall with whom the ancient Barons sided and the Reginists who being stubborne haughty and incomputable of the others nearnesse to the King stir'd up Competitions and turbulencies among the Nobles and became so insolent and publique in their pride and Out-rages towards the people that they forc't their murmurs at length to bring forth mutiny against them But finding the Kings inclination gentle on that side they so temper'd it as they durst extend their malice to the Prince of the blood and chiefe Nobilitie many times by slanders and false suggestions privately incensing the King against them who suffered their insinuations too farre whilst his credulitie stood abus'd and his favour often alienated from those whose innocence could understand no cause for it The Engines of those intrusions and supplantations were the Grayes the Woodvills and their kinsmen who held a strong beliefe to have better'd their power with the young King their kinsman and then they might have acted their Rodomontades and injuries in a higher straine remov'd the Prince of the blood and set up what limits they pleased to their Faction and Power during the minoritie of the King and after too whilst the Queene Mother could usurpe or hold any superintendency upon the Soveraigntie or her Sonne These things and the mischiefes that seem'd to superimpend the State equally poiz'd and consulted by the Lord Protector and others of the principall Nobilitie it was resolv'd to give a timely remedy or period unto them all which Sir Thomas Moore acknowledgeth and confesseth the Nobles of the Kingdome had reason to suspect and feare the Queenes Kindred would put their power more forward when their Kinsman came to be King then in his Fathers time although then their insolencies were intollerable And this Author further acknowledgeth there had bin a long grudge heart-burning betweene the King and Queenes Kindred in the time of King Edward which the King although he were partiall for the Queenes Faction was earnest to reconcile but could not And after he was dead the Lord Gray Marquesse Dorset the Lord Rich. Gray and the Lord Rivers made full accompt to sway the young King and having learn'd it was best fishing in a troubled streame threw all occasions of dissention amongst the great men of this Kingdome that so whilst the other Nobles were busie in their owne quarrells they might take an opportunitie to assault and supplant where they hated And for provision towards the Designe the Marquesse had secretly gain'd a great quantity of the Kings treasure out of the Tower and the Woodevills made good preparations of Armes of which some were met with by the way as they were conveighed close packed in Câ—rts It was therefore high time for the Protector and ancient Nobilitie to looke circumspectly about them and fasten on all occasions that might prevent such growing Treacheries which could be no way but by taking off their heads Which being resolved the Marquesse of Dorset the Lord Richard Gray their Uncle Sir Anthony Woodeville Lord Rivers and some other of that kindred and Faction were apprehended and at Pomfret executed onely the Marquesse by some private notice given him fled and tooke Sanctuary At the same time the Lord Hastings who much favoured the Queene and her partie especially the Marquesse therefore the more to be suspected dangerous was Arrested for High Treason and in the Tower upon the Greene had his head chop 't off an Act of more strange and severe appearance then the other having the esteeme of a good Subject and generally supposed much affectionate to the Protector and the Duke of Buckingham And Sir Thomas Moore reporteth that the Protector was most unwilling to have lost him but that he saw him joyning with their Enemies and so his life had ill requited them and their purpose this was a Dilemma But
Lord Souch Henry Nevil Sonne to the Lord Abergaveny Christopher Willowby Henry Bainton Thomas Bullen William Say William Enderby Thomas of Vernon William Barkley Thomas Arundel Gervoise of Clifton Edmond Beddingfield Tho. Leukenor Iohn Browne William Berkley i. Another Berkley The fift day of July he rode from the Tower through the City in Pompe with his Sonne the Prince of Wales three Dukes and nine Earles twentie two Viscounts and simple Barons eighty Knights Esquires and Gentlemen not to be numbred besides great Officers of the Crowne which had speciall service to doe But the Duke of Buckingham carried the Splendour of that dayes Bravery his habit and Caparisons of blew Velvet imbroidered with golden Naves of Carts burning the trappings supported by Foot-men habited costly and sutable On the morrow being the sixt of July all the Prelates Miter'd in their Pontificalibus receiv'd him at Westminster-Hall towards the Chappell the Bishop of Rochester bare the Crosse before him the Cardinall and the Earle of Huntington followed with a pair of guilt Spurres and the Earle of Bedford with Saint Edwards Staffe for a Relique After the Precession the Earle of Northumberland beares a poyntlesse Sword naked the Lord Stanley the Mace of the Constableship but waited not for Constable the Earle of Kent bare the second Sword naked with a poynt upon the right hand of the King the Viscount Lovel another Sword on the Kings left hand with a poynt Next came the Duke of Suffolke with the Scepter the Earl of Lincoln with the Ball and Crosse then the Earle of Surry with the Sword of State in a rich Scabbard in place of the Constable of England the Duke of Norfolke on his right hand with the Crowne After him immediately the King in a SurCoat and Robe of Purple the Canopy borne by the Barons of the five Ports the King betweene the Bishop of Bath and Durham the Duke of Buckingham bearing up his Traine and served with a white Staffe for Seneshall or High Steward of England In the Front of the Queenes Traine the Earle of Huntington bare the Scepter Viscount Liste the Rod with the Dove the Earle of Wiltshire her Crowne and next to him followed the Queene her selfe in Robes like the King betweene two Bishops the Canopy borne by Barons of the Ports upon her head a Coronet set with precious Stones the Lady Margaret Somerset Countesse of Richmond carried up her Traine followed by the Dutchesse of Suffolke with many Countesses Baronesses and other Ladies In this manner the whole Procession passed through the Palace and entred the West doore of the Abbey the King and Queene taking their seats of State stayed untill divers holy Hymnes were sung then ascended to the high Altar shifting their Robes and putting on other open and voyded in sundry places for their Anoynting which done they tooke other Robes of Cloth of Gold so teturned to their seats where the Cardinall of Canterbury and the other Bishops Crowned them the Prelate putting the Scepter in the left hand of the King the Ball and Crosse in his right and the Queenes Scepter in her right hand and the Rod with the Dove in her left on each hand of the King stood a Duke before him the Earle of Surrey with the Sword as aforesaid on each hand of the Queene stood a Bishop by them a Lady kneeling the Cardinall said Masse and gave the Pax then the King and Queene descending were both housâ—ed with one host parted betweene them at the high Altar This done they offered at Saint Edwards Shrine where the King layd downe Saint Edwards Crowne put on another so returned to Westminster-Hal in the same State they came there dispersed and retired themselves for a season In which interim came the Duke of Norfolke Marshall of England mounted upon a brave Horse trapped with Cloth of Gold downe to the ground to submove the presse of people and void the Hall About foure of the clocke the King and Queene sat to Dinner the King at the middle Table of the Hall and the Queene on his left hand on each side a Countesse attending her holding a Cloth of Plaisance or rather of Essuyance for her Cup On the Kings right hand sate the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and all the Ladies were placed on one side of a long Table in the middle of the hall against them at another Table the Lord Chancellour and all the Nobles at a Table next to the Cup-board the Lord Maior of London and the Aldermen Behind the Barons of the Kingdome sate the Barons of the Ports there were other Tables for persons of qualitie After all were seated came the Lord Marshall againe the Earle of Surrey Constable Pro illa vice tantum the Lord Stanley Lord Steward Sir William Hopton Treasurer of the Houshold and Sir Thomas Piercy Controler they served the Kings boord with one dish of Gold and another of Silver The Queene was served all in guilt Vessells and the Cardinall Arch-Bishop in Silver Dishes As soone as the second course was served in Sir Robert Dimock the Kings Champion makes Proclamation That whosoever would say King Richard the third was not lawfully King he would fight with him at all gutterance and for gage thereof threw downe his Gauntler then all the people cryed King Richard God save King Richard And this he acted in three severall parts of the Hall then an Officer of the Cellar brought him a guilded Bowle with Wine which he dranke and carries the Cup away as his ancient Fee After that the Heralds cryed Largesse thrice and returned to the Scaffold Lastly came the Maior of London with the Sheriffs with a Voyder serving the King and Queene with sweet Wines who had each of them a covered Cup of Gold for reward By which time the day began to give way to the night the King and Queene departing to their Lodgings And this is a briefe and true Relation of his Coronation testified by all the best Writers and Chroniclers of our Stories publicke and allowed which may confute the boldnesse of that slander that sayes he was not rightfully and Authentically Crowned but obscurely and indirectly crept in at the Window But all times have Detractors and all Courts their Parasits and many that have admired Princes to their graves even there have turn'd from them with ingratitude and murmur Soone after this the King dismissed and sent home all the Lords Spirituall and Temporall with a straight charge and direction to them the Judges of Oyer and Terminer with all other Magistrates and Officers in generall and particular for the Equitable and just Government of their Jurisdictions and Circuits And it is observed those times were under as happy an expectation of Law and Justice as those either before or after more flatter'd which Iohn Hide a Learned man and Doctor of Physick implyes in a Manuscript Poesy of his Solio juris rectique Minister Ille sedens alto tali sermone profatur Moses
concilio soceri persuasus Iethro Solus quod Populi nequijt componere lites Constituit populi praefectos atque tribunos Sic cum me praecelsa premant fastigia Regni Ardua magnarum teneatis muner a rerum Et primùm à vobis pravos secludite motus AEquis Iustitiae trutinis appendite causas Ob paupertatem miseros ne spernite cives Nec vota in cassum fundat pupillus in auras Denique largitio nè vos Corrumpat iniqua c. All things thus in a happy presage and good order the King with the Queene departed from London and makes Windsor the first gift in his Progresse for some few dayes From thence to his Mannor of Woodstock then to the Universitie of Oxford where the Muses Crown'd their browes with fragrant Wreathes for his entertainment Next he visited the circular Citie of Glocester and gave the Citizens for the love and loyaltie they exprest in holding the Castle and Towne so constantly against Queene Margaret and the forces of Henry the sixt for him and his Brother the King large Priviledges and Immunities And here the Duke of Buckingham takes his leave for Brecknock constantly disposed and affected in all outward appearance The King making small stay any where save at Coventry untill he came to the goodly and ancient Citie of Yorke the scope and goale of his Progresse which receiv'd him with all honour and Festivitie and was there the second time Crowned by Dr. Rotheram Arch-Bishop of that Sea in the Cathedrall Church and his Sonne invested in the Principalitie of Wales as the Prior of Croyland reporteth Eodem die quo Richardus Coronatus est Rex in Ecclesia Metropolitana Eboracensi mox filium Edwardum in Principatum Walliae eum insigntis virgae aureae c. evexit Pomposa sumptuosa festa convivia ibi fecit And indeed it was a day of great state for as Polidore saith There was then three Princes in Yorke wearing Crownes the King Queene and Prince In acclamation whereof there was Stage-Playes Turneaments and other Triumphall Sports as Sir Thomas Moore relates At this time the King Knighted Richard of Glocester his base sonne who was after Captaine of Calice and many Gentlemen of those parts But albeit this was an intermission as it were of all busie and serious agitations yet the King still where he travall'd had a just regard to the Administration and Execution of Justice and the more facinerous Malefactors And surely these respective inclinations of his had their solemn affections and desires Naturalized in him witnessed by the scope and integritie of those just Lawes which after followed The Progresse thus spent he returnes to London and having consulted some matters of State declares his first resolution for the Tribute detain'd by France which he had formerly by a friendly Message demanded but now sends stout menaces and threats for it The French would not have it cal'd a Tribute but a Pension as Philip de Comines insinuates though it had beene rays'd and payd to King Edward the fourth in lieu of the Dutchy and Countries of Aquitaine Normandy Poictou and Maine c. whereof the the French had deseis'd the Crowne of England which King Edward the fourth forced Lewis to acknowledge and to Covenant and agree That he his heires and Successors should pay unto the Crowne of England the summe of fiftie thousand Crowns with caution and securitie to be payd in the Citie of London or after Iean Tillet and Iohn Maierus seventy five thousand Crowns to be payd into the Tower with which the French King also granted in the name of Annuall Pension sixteen thousand pounds to some Noblemen and others of speciall credit with the King As to Sir Thomas Gray Marquesse of Dorset William Lord Hastings Chamberlaine to the King Doctor Thomas Rothram Bishop of Lincolne and Lord Chancellour of England Iohn Lord Howard Sir Iohn Cheyney Master of the Horse Sir Thomas Mountgomery Master Challoner and to the Master of the Rowles The chiefest of these had two thousand Crownes apiece per annum Besides which Pensions he gave rich Presents and sent rewards to such Lords as stood most for this accord Eugueraunt de Moustrolet avoucheth that the Lord Howard and the Master of the Horse were the chiefest of the mediators in it his reason is that they were the men most in favour with King Edward Iean Tillet with Philip de Comines tells us the Lord Howard in lesse then two yeares had the value of twentie foure thousand Crownes in Plate Coine and Jewels over and above his Annuall Pension the Lord Hastings at one time to the value of two thousand markes in Plate besides his Pension And if their owne Stories speake truth Richard de Nevil the great Earle of Warwick had of the Kings of France much more then any other English Nobleman which the Chronicle of Brittaine seconds And doubtlesse King Richard had still compel'd him to continue it had not eruptions of State and tumultuary practises fatally deterr'd his Sword For as Kings have vaster limits they have higher bounds then others If our vulgar paths be rugged theirs are slippery and all their mighty resolutions and ambitions have their fate and circle hither they must and no further yet as envious as fortune shew'd her selfe he brought King Lewis to termes of faire promises and mediation for time of payment as Comines obscurely implyes This yeare the King kept a very magnificent Christmas at Westminister and was reconciled to the Queene Dowager who left Sanctuary and to congratulate the Kings favour sent her five daughters to Court where they were received with all Princely kindnesse On the three and twentieth day of January in the first yeare of his Raigne he summon'd a Parliament to be holden at Westminster i◠which after the enacting of many good Lawes the marriages o◠King Edward were debated that with the Lady Gray adjudged unlawfull and her children illegitimate there being proofe of a former Contract and Marriage with the Lady Elianor Talbot daughter of the old Earle of Shrewsbury and Relict of the Lord Butler of Sudely then and long after living and all that had been inferred by the Duke of Buckingham or contained in the Bill supplicatory demonstrated was againe consulted and judgement given against that Marriage and incapacity of the Children also of the Earle of Warwicke and his sister the Lady Elizabeth Plantagenet all decreed and confirmed by Act of Parliament so that here to taxe so generall an Assent were to say there was not one honest nor just man in that High Court and what greater scandall to the whole Kingdome There was likewise notice taken of the Earle of Richmonds pretence to the Crowne by a Title derived from the House of Lancaster who was at that time in France labouring to engage the King and the Duke of Brittaine in the quarrell Oh the infinite windings and perplexed sleepes we labour through to get that we must bid goodnight
to to morrow And yet the true and rightful Lancaster had no finger in it for this Earle was not then granted to be of the House of Lancaster untill the Pope by his Bull had given him that stile and himselfe after he was King by his Prerogative assumed it In this Parliament he was attainted of High Treason and with him Iohn Earle of Oxford Thomas Marquesse of Dorset Iasper Earle of Pembroke Lionell Bishop of Salisbury Peirce Bishop of Exceter the Lady Margaret Countesse of Richmond Thomas Morton Bishop of Ely Thomas Naudick by the stile of Thomas Naudick of Cambridge Conjurer William Knevet of Buckingham smeared with the same pitch George Browne of Beechworth Thomas Lukenor of Tratton Iohn Cuilford Iohn Fogg Edward Poinings Thomas Fieries of Cherstmonceur Nicholas Gainsford William Clifford Iohn Darrell with others of Kent and the West Countrey There was further enacted for the approbation and confirming the true and lawfull Title of King Richard this clause or sentence It is declared pronounced decreed confirmed and established by the Authority of this present Parliament that King Richard the third is the true and undoubted King of this Realme as well by right of Consanguinitie and Heritage as by lawfull Election and Coronation c. And in a place of the Rowle of this Parliament there are Arguments to be gathered that the two sonnes of King Edward were living in the time of this Parliament which was at the least nine moneths after the death of their Father and sixe moneths after King Richard which will import thus much That if King Richard then lawfully and quietly possessed of the Crowne suffered them to live so long there is no reason why he should after make them away for their lives could not rectifie their Bloud or Titles nor their deaths advantage him neither can Bastards be dangerous or prejudiciall to the true and titular Lord or lawfull proprietary be he Prince or Subject Witnesse Forraigne Countries and England it selfe which holds Bastards uncapable of Heritage Honour or Offices In the Month of February towards the end of this Parliament the King in his providence to establish the Regall fortune and Succession in the Prince his Sonne and to fasten the affection of the Nobility and People unto him with the Crowne procures them to meet him in the Pallace at Westminster and there Interiori Caenaculo as mine Author saith tendred by the Duke of Norfolke unto them an Oath of Fealty and Allegeance in writing to be taken to the Prince of Wales which they tooke and subscribed most willingly the occasion of this was his jealousie of that new League struck up between the Earle of Richmond and the Duke of Buckingham who was now discovered more apparantly and the rest of the engagement To oppose and suppresse them therefore and stifle the Confederacy before it should grow more threatning The King makes a Commission by Letters Patents in the name of the Vice Constable of England unto Sir Ralph Ashton A Coppy whereof the President being unusuall and the Office great I have Transcribed verbatim from the Records in the Chappell of the Convertits Vice Constabulario Angliae Constituto REX dilecto fideli suo Rudolpho Ashton militi salutem Sciatis quod nos defidelitate circumspectione probitate vestrâ plenius confidentes assignavimus deputavimus ordinavimus vos hac vice Constabularium nostrum Angliae ac Commiâ—sionarium nostrum dantes concedentes vobis tenore presentium potestatem authoritatem generalem mandatum speciale ad audiendum examinandum ac procedendum contra quascunque personas de crimine laesae nostrae regiâ— majestatis suspectas culpabiles tam per viam examinationis testium quam aliter prout vobis melius visum fuerit ex officio vestro nec non in causis illis judicialiter sententialiter juxta casus exigentiam delinquentium demerita omni strepitu futura Iudicij appellaâ—ione quacunque remota quandocunque vobis videbitur procedendum judicandum et finali executione de maâ—dandum cum omnibus etiam clausulis verbis et terminis specialibuâ— ad executionem istius mandati et authoritatis nostrae de jure vel consuetudine requisitis quae etiam omnia hic expressa habemus assumpto vobiscum aliquo tabellione fide digno qui singula conscribat unà cum alijs quae in praemissis vel circa â—a necessaria videbuntur seu qualitercunque requisita mandantes firmiter vobis injungentes quod alijs quibuscunque praetermissis circa praedicta quoties quando opus fuerit intendatis caus as que antedictas audiatis examinetis in eisdem procedâ—tis ac eas judicetis finali executione ut praefertur demandetis Damus etiam omnibus singulis quorum interest in hac parte tenore praesentium firmiter in mandatis quod vobis in prâ—missis faciendis pareant assistant auxilientur in omnibus diligenter in cujus c. Teste Rege apud Covent 24. die Octobris Anno regni primo per ipsum Regem oretenus What successe this Commission and new Office had I find not reported but it might come too late or the new Officer forget what he was to execute for the faction lost none they could corrupt or winne yet surely the institution of it was very politicke and important as a plaine Image and pourtraict of the Office and Authority of the great or High-Constable of England which in the execution of a wise and valiant person is of a high and great use Having made mention of these Offices it shall not be a Parergue between these Acts to interadde the rest of this Kings Officers both Chiefe and others at the least such as were of Honour or Dignity I have before named the High-Constable the great Marshall high Admirall Lord Chamberlaine the rest were Sir Iohn Wood the Elder L. Treasurer the first yeare and Sir Iohn Touchet Lord Aâ—dley during the rest of his Reigne Doctor Russell Bishop of Lincolne had the great Seale Thomas Barrow was Master of the Rowles which place Henry the seventh continued to him and made him a Privy Counsellour Iohn Kendall was principall Secretary Sir William Hopton Treasurer of the Houshold Sir Thomas Peircy Controler after him Sir Iohn Buck Iohn Gunthorpe Keeper of the Privy Seale Sir William Hussey Chiefe Justice Thomas Tremaine and Roger Townsend the Kings Serjeants Morgan Kidwell Attorney Generall Nicholas Fitz-William Recorder of London For matters of Treaty betwixt this King and Forreigne Princes I have seen a memoriall of one for intercourse and commerce between him and Philip Duke of Burgundy and the Estates of Flanders who in the Record are called Membra Flandriae These Princes and States had each of them their Commissioners to treate and determine the Affaires which I find they dispatchâ— with approbation of the Princes their Masters There was also a Commission about these times to heare and redresse the
complaints made to the King by the Subjects of the King of France and of Denmarke which was well expedited Anno Regni 2. That Treatie of Peace and League with Scotland began before was continued and finished by Commissioners sent from Iames the fourth King of Scotland and by other Commissioners delegate for the King of England those for Scotland were Coli Earl of Argile Chancellor of Scotland N. Bishop of Aberdene the Lord Lisle the Lord Dromonde of Stobhall Master Archibald Quhitlaw Arch-Deacon of Lodion Secretary to the King Lion King at Arms and Duncan of Dundas they came to Nottingham in September Anno Domini 1484 and were honourably receiv'd in the great Chamber of the Castle the King sitting under his Royall Cloth of State Master Archibald Quhitlaw stepping before the rest addrest a very Eloquent Oration unto him in Latine which reflected upon the praise of Martial men Art Military including much to the honour and praise of King Richard This Treatie aimed partly at a Truce and Peace partly at a Marriage betweene Iames the Prince of Scotland and the Lady Anne Daughter of Iohn de la Poole Duke of Suffolke and Neice to King Richard Commissioners for the King of England were Iohn Bishop of Lincolne Richard Bishop of Asaph Iohn Duke of Norfolke Henry Earle of Northumberland Master Iohn Gunthorpe custos privati sigilli Sir Thomas Stanley Lord Stanley Sir N. Lord Strange Sir N. Lord Powis Sir Henry Lord Fitz hugh Sir Humphry Lord Dacres Master Thomas Barrow Master of the Rowles Sir Richard Ratcliff William Catesby and Richard Salkeld The other for the Treatie of Alliance and Marriage were Thomas Arch-Bishop of Yorke Iohn Bishop of Lincolne Iohn Bishop of Worcester Iohn Duke of Norfolke William Earle of Nottingham Iohn Sutton Lord Dudley N. Lord Scroope of Upsall Sir William Hussey Chiefe Justice of the Kings Bench Sir Richard Ratcliffe and William Catesby But the successe of that and many other good intendments were interposed by the inconstancy and contraste of the times The Lady Anne de la Poole upon the the breach thereof resolving to accept no other motion forthwith tooke a religious habit in the Monastery of Sion There was another Treatie of Peace and Truce in this second yeare betweene him and the Duke of Brittaine or at the least given out for peace yet was indeed but a part and pretext of the Treatie for the maine negotiations on the Kings side was how to get the Earle of Richmond out of his custody into his owne or be as well secured of him there as his Brother King Edward was And for this Treatie the chiefe Negotiators were the Bishop of Lincolne and Sir Thomas Hutton for the King the Bishop of Leon and others for the Duke The Treatie began Anno Domini 1484. and was finished and ratified in the yeare following but the Duke violated his part immediately by giving ayde to the Kings Enemies In the same yeare there were Letters made which are yet extant in the Treasury of the Exchequor that moved a Peace and Truce beweene King Richard and Charles the eighth King of France wherein it must be understood the tribute before mentioned was Articled Also in this yeare and the yeare before there was a private Treatie which we must not passe by for the Marriage of the Lady Elizabeth with King Richard himselfe what the successe of it was and how farre it proceeded will more aptly present it selfe in another place Wee are now to take notice of the Duke of Buckinghams revolt for this was the preparative and fourrier of the rest And to give it the more taking feature and specious pretence it must be given out That the cause was the Reformation of an ill Government and Tyranny under which species for Treason is ever fairely palliated and seldome wants the forme of some plea though at the Barre they must take up Armes against the King And here as some Rivers deriv'd from the Sea cannot suddenly loose their taste of saltnesse they discovered their ancient taint and inconstancy which the Prince wisely suspected from the first For the Duke of Buckingham how affably soever he trim'd his countenance it should seeme departed male-content from Court yet made not that generall publick pretended cause of the Kings Crimes all his quarrell but challenged him by some private grudges as denying to give or restore to him the Earledome of Hereford and Constableship of England for they went together a long time which he alledged belonged to the Partage that fell to his great Grand-mother the Lady Anne Daughter and Heire of Thomas Plantagenet alias Woodstock created by King Richard the second Duke of Glocester and Earle of Buckingham and of his Wife Elianor daughter and co-heire of Humphry de Bohun Earle of Hereford and Constable of England Which claime had he considerately look't upon could not rightly revolve to him but rather was for the Kings part For Humphry de Bohun Earle of Hereford of Essex and Northampton Lord of Brecknock and Constable of England in the time of King Edward the third and the last Earle of the Family of the Bohuns had by the Lady Iane his Wife Daughter of Richard Fitz-Allan Earle of Arundel two Daughters and Heires Elianor and Mary Elianor was Married to the same Thomas Plantagenet alias de Woodstock youngest Sonne of King Edward the third Duke of Glocester and Earle of Buckingham Mary the second Daughter was Married to Henry Plantagenet Duke of Lancaster and after King of England by the name of Henry the fourth and the Earledome of Hereford fell to his Wife In favour whereof he was Created Duke of Hereford by King Richard the second and the Earledome now a Dutchy and the rights therof remained in the King and in the Kings Heires and Successors untill the death of King Henry the sixt who dyed without Issue then all the Estate of Lancaster especially that of the Royall Family of Lancaster escheated to King Edward the fourth and from him it came to King Richard as Heire to his Brother and all his Ancestors But the Duke of Buckingham pretended Title to that Earledome by his said Grandmother Anne who was one of the Daughters and Heires of the aforesaid Lady Elianor Wife of Thomas de Woodstock Duke of Glocester and the Wife of Edmond Stafford Earle of Stafford and Grand-father to this Henry Duke of Buckingham who the rather presumed to make this Claime because the Issue of the other Sister Mary being extinct he tooke himselfe also to be her Heire But King Richard relishing something in this neare the disposition and inclination of Bullingbrooke answered That the Earledome of Hereford was of the inheritance of Henry the fourth who was also King of England though by tort and usurpation and will you my Lord of Buckingham Claime to be Heire of Henry the fourth You may then also happily Assume his spirits and lay Claime to the Crowne
by the same Titles This was as bitter as short and doubly ill taken First because it came with a Repulse Next because it seemed to proceed from a suspition and as a tax of his Loyaltie and begets another pretence of exception in the Dukes bosome which he called a breach of promise in the King for not joyning the Prince his Sonne in Marriage with the Lady Anne Stafford his Daughter but all those Colours were but to give complexion to the face of his defection the true cause was well devined and found out by the King his Ambition and aime to be Soveraigne rays'd by an overweening of that Royall Blood he supposed to be in his descent from the said Thomas de Woodstock c. Sonne of a King and yet he was not resolutely determined to make his Claime to the Crowne this way nor to attempt the Kingdome by Armes untill those embers which as it were lay but luke-warme in his thoughts were quickned and revived by the animation of Doctor Morton Bishop of Ely then a Privie Counsellour though he stood in some umbrage and disgrace in the Court with the King for his practises against him and was at this time in the custody of the Duke of Buckingham as a Prisoner more expressely for that being a Privie Counsellour he had given secret advertisement to the Earle of Richmond of what passed in the secret Councells of the King To this advantage he applyes that which he had wittily drawne from the Dukes discontent and passionate discourses at times passed By which perceiving the glance of his Ambition and that deriv'd from the great opinion of his Royall Blood he pregnantly tickles and feeds that humour untill he had soothed him past his owne strength or retyrement for his secret drift was to apt and prepare the Duke to a Rebellion at any hand though not to set his owne Title on foot yet layes open the advantage of the present times to it proposing flat usurpation and tyranny against the King Regnant and the strong likelyhood of his Deposing This lifts the Duke something higher in his owne opinion But comming to a pause and perceiving Richmond was the man they had aimed at for this great blow who had conditioned by Oath to marry the Lady Elizabeth for the Countesse of Richmond had by the meanes of Doctor Lewis conciliated the friendship of the Queene Mother to that Alliance and to draw as many of the House of Yorke into the Action as were at her Devotion that many Potent Lords and some Forraigne Princes had promised their ayds he began to retreat and conceive he had taken the wrong path to his journyes end for his Title and Claime must be nothing if those of Yorke and Lancaster were united And that the Earle who stood betweene him and his Aimes was not onely resolute to attempt but strongly ayded for it himselfe not able upon such an instant to raise a power able to encounter much lesse give check unto his violent Ambition therefore concludes all against himselfe and that it would fall out farte better to side with the times a consideration which doubtlesse would highly stirre a spirit where so much greatnesse of opinion and ambition was And the Doctor discerning this disgust and that he was startl'd in his hope and resolusion to recover him an intire man not let him stand by an idle spectator in so meritorious an action he opens a private way of honour and satisfaction suggesting him the first and greatest man the Kingdome was to know next the King And finding his particular distasts to King Richard of quickest sense and argument to him he freshly urges and as it were refricates each particle to the greatnesse of his spirit and discontent the Duke replyes not much at that time but busie in his thoughts leaves him and presently fashions a visite to the Countesse of Richmond a Lady of a politick and contriving bosome to know the credit of his intelligence which she insinuates with arguments so full of circumstance and honour besides her Sons indearment to him their hearnesse of blood affirming the Dukes Mother a Somerset the reciprocall affinitie betweene her Father and his and then the bravery and Religion in the Cause that the Duke now forsakes himselfe and fully gives up his resolution and promise to her thus prepar'd he finds out the Lord Stanley the Marquesse of Dorset Edward Courtney Earle of Devonshire and his Brother the Bishop of Exeter Sir Iohn Bowrchier Sir Iohn Wells Robert Willowby Edward Woodvill Thomas Arundel who had severally raised forces and intended their Rendezvous neere Glocester so to march for Dorsetshire there to receive the Earle and the Duke with his Welchmen But the King was early in his preparation to prevent them before they could unite or the Earle of Richmond arrive there else they had fastened a most dangerous Blow upon him And at this full stop in these progresses me thinkes wee may observe how uncertainely in our strongest valuations we are our owne and that our greatest Confidences and humane Policies are but heavie weights hung at trembling Wyers while our expectations are apt to be flattered and out-goe themselves but are overtaken in their Successe and Fates as was this great Mans for their Forces neither met by Sea nor Land the English being scatter'd by a suddaine and huge inundation that so dangerously over-flowed all passages they could not joyne nor passe the River Severne while the suddainnesse and strangenesse of it stroke the Souldiers with such alteration that most part of them forsooke the Duke and left him to himselfe The Earle of Richmond was as unfortunately met at Sea by a great tempest upon the coasts of England The King took the advantage this accident offered and pursued the Duke not only with a galloping Army but with Edicts Proscriptions that promised a thousand pounds in mony whereunto some Writers adde so much Lands as was worth one hundred pounds per annum to any that should bring in the Duke who was betrayed and brought to the King then at Salisbury by Humphry Banister an eternall brand having lived by this mans service and now thought treacherously to subsist by his Ruine The Duke being examined freely confessed all and for it lost his head in the field according to Marshall Law used by Armies in November An. Dom. 1484. An. 2 Rich. 3. And here if wee view him in the figure of his Ambition or Fate wee shall find Doctor Morton his Caput Argoll or the malignant Planet of his fortune who as Sir Thomas Moore confesseth and affirmeth by his Politick Drifts and Pride advanced himselfe and brought the Duke to this ruine The rest fled some into Sanctuaries others into Brittaine to the Earle of Richmond and some into Flanders all their Plots being now how to be safe And thus farre King Richard in the Voyage of his Affaires had a promising Gale wee will therefore here cast
Richard pursued him with so much speed and fiercenesse that he forc't him to his Standard And now high in bloud and anger to see his Valour deluded by such a politicke Bravery with his Sword makes way and with his owne hand slew Sir Charles Brandon Standerd-Bearer thinking to have made the next blow as fatall to the Earle but the confluence of Souldiers interjecting rescued him Sir Iohn Cheney being one of the foremost whom the King stroke from his Horse to the Earth But Charged and invironed with multitudes that like a storme came on him Valiant Richard falls the Sacrifice of that day under their cruell Swords so rabious in their execution as if his body must suffer more because they could not kill his better part mangling and wounding his dead Corps whilst it lies drentcht in gore Et Lupus turpes instant morientibus ursi Et quaecunque minor nobilitate fera est As Currs in their kenells will bite and teare the skin of those beasts which in the fields they durst not barke at Occidit in bello miseranda caede Richardus Crinibus attractus dum ferro saeviat hostis And after all to compleate their barbarisme threw his body behind one upon a Jade and so conveyed it to Leicester A story to be thought incredible at least to charitable and modest eares and highly upbraided by the happier and Christian fame of William the Conquerour who severely punished a Souldier but for hacking the thigh of King Harold after he was dead though an Usurper and his perfidious enemy with all noblenesse causing the body to be delivered to his Mother for an honourable interment which was solemnly celebrated in his own Abbey at Waltham The Battle thus fought and won the Victor was Crowned in the field with that Crown K. Rich. wore which the L. Stanley put upon his head salutes him King by the stile of Hen. 7. K. of England c. And Henry Earle of Richmond Son of Edmund ap Meredith ap Teudor alias of Hadham Earle of Richmond and of Margaret Daughter and Heiâ—e of Iohn Beaufort Duke of Sommerset attained to the Crowne and had the easier ascent by the oversight and remissnesse of Richard in that Catastrophe of his Raign who gave too much opportunity and scope to the actings of his Enemies when they were under his power and arme And in the Fortune of his judgment at the closing Scene that did not better presuppose his Enemy too prudent and reserved to trust the advantage he had upon so sharpe and single an hazzard But Richard beleeving he had the odds in courage and monomachie of him which probably might make him Master of the Combate and so of the Field the straite being so desperate too resolved rather to trust to the Fate of his owne Valour then the chance of an uncertaine escape a resolution not so rash and overweening as commendable if we looke upon the very aymes and necessity of it neither is it new or improper for Princes to demand the tryall of campe fight or single Combate personaly in their Armies and to the Generals in their absence William the Conquerour challenged King Harold Before that a Combate was fought betweene Edmund Ironside and Canute the Danish King for the whole Kingdome of England our Richard the first and Edward the first in Palestine proffered the like to some of the Pagan Princes so did Edward the third Henry the fifth with the Kings of France In the last Age the valiant Prince Iaâ—es the fifth of Scotland in Person challenged Thomas Lord Howard Duke of Norfolke Generall for the King of England who accepted it But the King into his Demands would have the Country or Lands then in Controversie to be made Brabium victoris which was without the Generalls power to engage being the Inheritance of the King his Master but proffers better Lands of his owne upon the Combate which was not accepted so that concluded nothing The better end of these Challenges and Combates being at first levelled from Mercy and Piety for by this single adventure the Innocent bloud of Armies was more then stanched preserved Forraigne Stories brings this home to us and highly Characters their Kings and Generalls in the like examples which this Age draws a Curtaine before as not fit for imitation making too desperate a wound in a setled State and Succession the first who rendred that or some more Politike reason for Princes not to adventure themselves was Phi. the 2 K. of Spain as a late writer ascribeth but is mistaken For the more ancient Histories of Syria and Persia mentions some Kings that refrain'd from Warres long before as Herodotus Diodorus Trogus Pompeius tells us But let us take measure from that Times Wisedome Valour Policy c. to this and wee shall find them but tottering foundations of States which cannot uphold themselves or obvert the least Decree of God when he intends to scourge or alter kingdomes for where such vicissitudes are destin'd the Councells and faculties of men must be darkned and there will fall out all concurrences and advantages to further that purpose So in the extirpation and transferring of Families the Potter in Ieremy breaking one Jarre to make another whose fatall commutations should extimulate the pietie of our natures and make us modest censurers of their events For as wee see things but through a Cloud whilst wee measure them by accidents so wee intrude on Gods providence judging mens actions in their successe while wee over-act our owne Of such a composition was the ill-wishers of King Richard who forgot him not in his grave but indeavoured to be equally cruell to his memory And in November following a Parliament was holden in which he was attainted of High Treason a straine very high to make him guiltie of that being a King he could not commit By the same figure may others who were stiled chiefe ayders and assistants of King Richard in the Battaile of Bosworth as Sir Iohn Howard Duke of Norfolke c. though some would have him retired from the Court all King Richards raigne But Sir Thomas Moore affirmes He was constantly with him and neare his Counsells Sir Thomas Howard Earle of Surrey Sonne and heire apparent to the Duke Francis Lovel Viscount Lovel Sir Walter Devereux Lord Ferrers of Chartley Sir Iohn de la Sâ—uch Sir Robert Harrington Richard Charleton Richard Ratcliffe William Berkley William Catesby Thomas Broughton Iohn Buck Humphrey Stafford Robert Midleton Robert Brokenbury Iohn Kendall Secretary to the King Walter Hopton Ieoffry Saint-German Roger Wake Thomas Billington William Sapcoate William Brampton all Knights and some Heralds at Armes with divers other an Act of Parliament being made to disable and fore-judge them of all manner of Honour State Dignitie Also to â—orfeit all Mannors Castles Lordships Hundreds Franchises Lâ—berties Advowsons Priviledges Nominations Presentations Tenements Rents Suits Reversions Portions Annuities Pensions Rights Hereditaments
then Tyranny according to the style of Sir Thomas Moore When King Henry the Seventh as soon as he had got the Crown sent this young Prince to the Tower afterwards cut off his head yet that was no Tyranny after Sir Thomas Moore But our King Iames of ever happie memory hath thought it an act of so much detestation that particularly he protested against it and shewed another temper of Justice and Power in his Royal Clemencie to certain Noble persons in one of his Kingdoms who being Regal Titulars and pretending title to the Crown there as descended from some King of that Countrey his gracious and pious inclination was so far from seeking their ruine or so much as the restraining them that he suffered their liberty with possession of what they had Then they call the punishment of Iane Shore a Tyrannie A common and notorious Adulteresse as the Duke of Buckingham who knew her very well censured her which she deserved so justly that it was rather favourable then severe or tyrannous Next the death of William Collingborn is made one of his Tyrannies who as some trivial Romancers say was hanged for making a Satyrical Rhyme when the truth is he had committed Treason and was arraigned and condemned of High Treason as may be yet seen in the Record and then it was Justice and not Tyrannie Another proof against their grosse Paralogisms take from this observation made by Demosthenes Tyrannus res est inimica Civibus legibus contraria But King Richard was ever indulgent to his people careful to have the Laws duely observed his making so many good ones being an evident argument of his love to Law and Justice It is further observed that Tyrants contemn good counsel are opinionated of their own wisedoms and obstinate to determine all matters by themselves These Plaintiffs being called by the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is self-Councellors who say they are natura plerumque occulti insidiosi Arte Astu ea Tagere dissimulare conantur quae agunt non communicantes quicquid de suis Conciliis aut rebus cum aliis nec ab aliis Concilium petentes neque admittentes sed tantum sua Concilia sequuntur Also Erasmus hath this Axiome Nullo Concilio quicquam magnae rei aggredi tyrannicum est But King Richard nor did nor would do any thing of importance without consultation with the wisest and noblest And if in any matters he had delivered his judgement yet his manner as his detractors confesse was to say in the end and conclusion My Lords this is my minde if any of you know what may else be better I shall be ready to change it for I am not wedded to my own will Thus Sir Thomas Moor. Eastly Largition and excessive expences are thought vices proper to Tyrants the rather because the Romane Tyrants for their extreme excesses were called Monstra prodigia lues Imperii pesâ—es reipublicae c. As Caligula Nero Vitellius Domitian Commodus Heliogabolus Caracalla c. King Kichard was ever held to be frugal with the preservation of his honour nor can they tax him with Palliardise Luxury Epicurism nor Gluttony vices following many Tyrants but moderate and temperate in all his actions and appetites which is confessed and therefore needeth no further proof Indeed it had been advantage and safety to him in the event if he had been a Tyrant a while for then he might have preserved his life and kingdom and given a timely check to the practice of Bishop Morton the Marquesse Dorset Earl of Devon and his brother the Bishop the Lord Talbot the Lord Stanley and his brother Sir William Stanley with the Countesse of Richmond his wife and the rest But his remisnesse and patience bred his ruine not his tyranny that had been his protection And now the black curtain of malice and detraction is drawn let us see this King in his proper Royalty and vertues casting up the general and particular notions of A good King and happie Government then peruse what was wanting in him First then There is necessarily required proper to Empire Wisedom Justice Fortitude Beauty Magnificence Temperance and Piety That he had Wisedom and Prudence need no other witnesse then his wise and provident managing both of his own private affairs and Government of the Publike Also in the Military actions in which he was tried both as a Subject and a King his adversaries can allow him to be a wise prudent politick and heroical Prince his Wisedom appearing with his Justice very clearly in the good Laws he made acknowledged and honourably predicated by our Reverend and most learned Professors of the Laws For his further knowledge and love of Justice there can be no fairer argument then his desire and custome to sit in Courts of Justice hearing and distributing Justice indifferently to all men And when he made his Progresse into York-shire being informed there of some extortioners and foul offenders who were apprehended not tried he caused the Law to take the just current giving strict charge and commandment to all Officers of Justice for just administration to all men without partiality or private respects The Fortitude and Magnanimity of this Prince though of lowe stature were so great and famous as they need no Trumpet or Praecony being bred from his youth in Martial actions and the Battels of Barnet Exham Doncaster the second of S t Albans and of Tewksbury will give him the reputation of a Souldier and Captain Being made General of the Kings Armies into Scotland he prevailed happily in his Expedition and particularly recovered that famous and strong Hold of Berwick which King Henry the Sixth had so weakly let go And in this you shall hear the Elogie of one that was loth to speak much in his favour yet occasion forced him to speak his knowledge though coldly and sparingly King Richard was no ill Captain in the War he had sundry Victories and sometimes Overthrows but never by his own default for want of hardinesse or politick order Whereunto he addeth concerning his Bounty Free was he called of dispence and liberal somewhat above his power To which I will adde one Elogie more above all for Credit and Authority recorded in an Act of Parliament and addressed to him in the name of the whole high Court of Parliament in these words We consider your great Wit Prudence Iustice and Courage and we know by experience the memorable and laudable acts done by you in several Battels for the salvation and defence of this Realm Here followeth another general and memorable testimony of him and of more regard and honour because it is averred by one that knew him from his youth the Duke of Buckingham who after Richard was made King and this Duke became ill affected acknowledged to Bishop Morton in private speeches between them That he thought King Richard from his first knowledge even
of a thing Jnconcuss that cannot be shaken undaunted Bartlemies 63. Meant of the great and generall massacre of above 100000. Protestants in France chiefly in Paris and the Countrey adjoyning on Saint Bartholmews Eve Anno 72. whereupon S t. Bartholmews teares Bartholomaeus flet quia Gallicus occubat Atlas Como sal in aqua 105. Is meant of suddain wasting Monomachy 62. When two sight single without seconds Cadet 67. A younger brother Guerdonable worthy of reward 75. Aneu 45. An acknowledging or taking for his owne Geus saus adneu vagabonds that none will owne so Bastards are not admitted to their adneu 1 not acknowledged by their Fathers Rebus de Picardy Devises and representations of odd things by words mottoes which present one thing and by deviding the word in pronunciation signifie another Faulcon Serrure An abscene French device and presents the use of Italian lockes Authors quoted in this History AUgustine Aristotle Baleus Boetius Buchan Cambden Cicero Cambrensis Claudian Croyland Pryor Comineus Cooke Demosthines Dion AEsopus Euripides Ennius Erasmus Epictetus Fabian Fuchius Froisard Grafton Glover Guinsford Goodwin Du Hailon Hall Hollinshead Hyrd Dele-Hay Harding Hist. de Brit. Homer Julius Capital Juvenall Justus Vulterius Lib. Manusâ—r Apud D. Rob. Cotton Lampridius Lucan Maximus Moore Monstrolet Newbrigensis Nyerus Ovid Osiander Pliny Paradin Polidor virg Plutarch Seneca Sarisburensis Stow Strabo Socrates Stanford Suetonius De Serces Tacitus Terence Tillet Virgill Valla Walsingham With many Parliament Roules and Records FINIS The House and Title of Yorke The Linage of Edward 3. The Empire of K. Henry 2. Girald in Topog Hibernie Sariâ—bur in Pol. Newbrig Lib. â— Fulk Earle of Anjou Acoustre in criminall condemne Paradin From this example Henry 2. submitted his body to be scourged by the Monks of Canterbury for the death of Tho. Becket After this manner and long after K. H. 2 the heire and successour of this Earle Fulko was injoyned by the Pope to go to the Holy-Land and to fight against the Infidels Hovend Rival c. Leon. Fuchius Plin. Lib. 24. cap. 9. Strabo Lib. 16. Du Haillon In his Catalogue of Honour Deus i. Rex Lib. manus in quarto apud D. Rob. Cotton Comes i. Praesesâ— Camden in Cumberland Sir William Haward purblind Quasi part blind The Bastard Faulconbridge An Army sent into Scotland under the D. of Glocester Anno 24. Ed. 4. Chron. Croy. The doubtfull death of K. E. 4 vid. lib 4. The Duke of Gloucester made Lord Protector Phil. de Comines in Lud. 11. Sir Tho. Moore Chronic Abbat Croy. The insolency of the Queens Kindred Sir Thomas Moore in Edward 5. Rich. 3. Lord Hastings Sir Thomas Moore Ciâ— lib 3. de offic Suet. in viâ—a Iulâ—i Caesaris Eurip. in Phoeniss Axiom Polit. Senec. in trag Artes imperii The flight of Richmont with his Vncle Pembrooke The Earle of Rich. borne in Pembrooke Castle This slight of theirs was in Anno 11. E. 4. Iohn Stow. Earle of Rich. Prisoner in Brittaine The last D. of Brittaine who was Earle of Richmond possessed of the Earledome was Iohn de Montfort who flourished An. Dom. 1440 had sons but not Earles of Richmond as Rob. Glou. writeth now this Francis 1. renewed the claime which was about 30 yeares after Iohn de Montfort Duke of Brittaine Iac. Nyerus in Annal. Fland. lib. 17. King Edward treateth for the delivery of Richmond Ennius apud Cicer. ta Offic. K. â— 4 sends for Richmond Hist de Brit. D. Stillington sent for Richmond K. R. reneweth suâ—t to the D. of B. for the Earle of Richmond E. 4. Fulmen â—elli ut Seleac Rex inde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. fulmen dictus claud Paradin B. Mort. Sir Th Moore Hollingshed Graston Stow Hall Virgill c. Parliament The Duke of Buck. to the L. Protector in the behalfe of the 3 Estates The common published stories have Eliz. Lucy but that is false The Answer of the Lord Protector to the 3 Estates The bold and round conclusion of the D. of Buck. The Protectors Reply to the Dukes last Suit Lib. Abb. Croyl Cambden Monstrolet Coâ—ineâ— Anglici scriptoret Stile of the D. of Norff. In rotuliâ— in domo convers Signifying mercy Signifying Iustice to the Temporalty Iustice to the Clergy Peace Monarchy Moore Graston Polidore Hall Croyland Hollingshed Stow c. Chron. M. S. in Quar. apud D. Ro. Coâ—ton and Rob. Fabian Rich. the Bastard of the D. oâ— Gloc. Captaine of Calice Iohn Maierus Iean Tillet dâ— Tillet saith That that tribute or Pension was 75000 crowns or Escu's chacun Escu vallant trois souls The Q. Mother King Rich. reconciled The Parliament of R. 3. The friends confederates of the E of Rich. The sons of K. E. living in Jan Febr after the death of their Father Vice Constable of England Patents de anno 1 Rich 3. part 1. meâ— 2. Other Officers of King Richard 3. Treaties for League and commerce with Flanders c. In Thesauro Scaeccarij 1 R. 3. In Rowles Aâ— 1 R. 3. An. Dom. 1484. Eâ—gile in Record The Lady Anne de la Poole a Nun. Treaty with the Duke of Brittaine Ib. in Scaccaer Treatie with the King of France Treaty of marriage of King Rich. with the Lady Eliz. Revolt of the D. of Buck. The Duke of Buckingham first riseth in Rebellion The quarrell of the Duke of Buck. against the King The Title of the Earldome of Hereford of the Constableship of England Sir Tho. Moor. This Margaret Countesse of Richmond was Daughter and Heire to Iohn Beaufort Duke of Somerset Margaret de Beaufort Mother of the D. of Buck. was Daughter of Edmond D. of Somerset and thus were the E. of Rich. and the D. of Buck. a Kin. Rob. Glov in catal c. The Conspirators with the D. of Buck. for the E. of Rich. The overthrow of the Duke of Buckingham Polidore lib. 25 King Richard sharply reprehended Banister for betraying his Master which argued a noble mind The D. execucuted by Marshall Law Eurip. in heâ—a Valer. Max. l. 7 Virgill Iohn Froisard Paradin Hist. de Brit. The Duke had by this Lady his daughter and heir Anne who brought the Dutchy of Brittaine to France Hist. de Brit. The death of Edw. Prince of Wales Sonne of Rich. 3. Chron. Croyland Ibidem Seneca Iohn Earle of Lincolne and after Duke of Suffolke proclaimed Heire Apparant Iohn Sarisburiensis Ep. 85. Sir Tha. Walsin in Rich. 2. Parl. ann 20. Rich. 2. Don Duart de Lancastro a Noble Gen. of Portugall averred himself descended from the D. of â—â—â— Valodolid The peculiar Sir-names of the Bastards of the anâ—â— in Kings of England Armes of Bastards of the Kings of England Camd. in Surr. The. Gainsford Scarboucle falsly called Carbuncle Difference betweene the house of Lancaster and Somerset The Earles of Worcester from whom The civill and imperiall Law against Bastards Sir Edw. Cook Doctor Stephen Gardiner Sir Tho. Eger Chancellors of England
that divers continued of his Sir-name in that Countrey along time after him which makes it probable he had a naturall Son at least bearing his owne name of Heward that next to him was the Originall Ancestor of this house of Howards And let it not be thought any disparagement for a Noble Family to be raysed from a naturall Issue for many Princely Families have beene derived and propagated from naturall Sonnes as was Eneas Romulus the Founders of the Roman Families so was Theseus and Themistocles as Plutarch writeth others say as much of Hercules c. The King of Spaine descended from Henry de Trastamara base sonne of Alphonsus the Justicer King of Castile And who doth not honour the Princely Race of William the Conquerour Bastard son to the Duke of Normandy where was a more Heroicall man then Robert Earle of Glocester base sonne of King Henry the first The Earles of Warren descended from Hamelin a base sonne of Geoffry Plantagenet Earle of Aniow The Noble Herberts are also said to come from a base sonne of Henry the first And the Duke and Earles of Somerset which followed the Red Rose were the Off-spring of the Beauforts naturall sonnes of Iohn de Gaunt For a further conjecture why these Howards must be descended from Hewardus or Herewardus for so some Writers call him but Iugulfus who best knew him constantly calls him Hewardus both names may signifie in the Saxon or old Dutch a chiefe Captaine of an Army whom the Romans call'd Imperator And that the Titles and names of great Offices have given Sir-manes to many Noble Families wee have examples in plentie Particularly the Visconti of Millan the Chamberlaines of Normandy the Stewards of Scotland the Butlers of Ireland and divers others who had their Sir-names from the Offices of their Ancestours and Fathers and the same presumption or argument may be for taking the Sir-name of Howard and the Origine of their Family from Hewardus the Howards from the time of Heward dwelling in these Countries of Holland and Marshland and were Lords of some Lands belonging to him untill by their matches with the Daughters and Heires of Fitton Tendring Mowbray Tillney c. they became possessed in Norfolke suffolke and Berkeshire and were Lords sometime of Sunning-hill neare Windsor and bore the Sir-name ever since or with small interruption the old Sir-name written Heward or Hereward in Charters and Records and Howard in Stories But descend wee through the succession of those times to William Haward Chiefe Justice in the Raigne of Edward the first Grand-father to Sir Iohn Howard Admirall of the North Fleet in the Navall Warres of Edward the third his Sonne Sir Robert Howard married the Daughter of the Lord Scales and Sir Iohn Howard who lived in the time of Henry the fourth and dyed Anno 16. Henry the sixt had two Wives Margaret Daughter and Heire of Sir Iohn Plais Knight by whom hee had Eliza an onely Daughter married to Iohn de Vere Earle of Oxford who brought him a goodly part of the Howards Lands Her Heires were married to Latimer and Winckfield very fruitfull Families His second Wife was the Daughter and heire of Sir William Tendering of Stoke-Nayland in Suffolke by whom he had Sir Robert Howard his eldest Sonne who married Margaret Mowbray Daughter of a Cadet of the house of Lancaster who became Co-heire with her Sister the Lady Berkely Wife to Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolke dead in Venice and left his Sonne Henry Haward heire to Haward and Mowbray and Iohn Howard the sonne of Iohn Howard was created Earle of Norfolke by King Richard the third in the right of his Mother Mowbray he married the Daughter of the Lord Moulines and by her had Thomas Howard the first Howard Earle of Surrey this is he who survived the danger of Bosworth Field and became afterwards Duke of Norfolke from whom all the Howards now living are descended whose Family hath beene so fruitfull to furnish this Kingdome with foure Dukes many Earles Viscounts and Barons three high Treasurers six high or great Marshalls tenne high Admiralls with some honourable Custos of the Privie Seale and sundry Chamberlaines of the Kings house and one lately lived who had borne the Offices of high Constable Lord Lieutenant Lord high Steward Marshall and Admirall of England Lord Chiefe Justice in Oyer of the better part of this Kingdome and Chamberlaine of the Royall house a man honourable in his deportments and fortunate in his undertakings as at the great Marine Battells against all the Navall powers of Spaine the Pope and Princes of Italy Anno Domini 1588. and in the siege of Gadys Anno Domini 1596. And this is the Grand-child of that Thomas Lord Howard who for his better distinction and perpetuall honour is stiled Triumphator Scotorum I have strayed into this digression as a gratefull tender of an acknowledgement I owe to that Illustrious Family for their Noble Patronage and Favour to my Ancestors especially to that unfortunate Bucke and his Children who withered with the White Rose bearing an Ancient and Hereditary love to the House of Yorke and stood in good Credit and Favour with the King his Master noâ— let this remembrance of him and his obscured Family seeme ostentation or vaine-glory whilst I say no more then what other Historios dictate which give him an able Character Master Camden Clarentius in his Immortall Brittannia deriveth this Sir Iohn Bucke from Sir Walter de Bucke of Brabant and Flanders who had that Sir-name of great Antiquity from the Castle de Bucke in Lisâ—e a City and Frontire Towne in Flanders where the Ancient Earles were accustomed much to reside the ruines of this Castle remained in the late time of Lodwicke Guicciardine who saith he saw the Carcasse thereof And this Walter Bucke was a Cadet of the House of Flanders employed and sent by the Prince then Duke of Brabant and Earle of Flanders to King Iohn with Auxiliary Troopes Roger Wondover saith Walter Bucke Gerardde Scottigni and Godescalius venerunt in Angliam cum tribus legionibus Flandrensium Braâ—antianoruâ— militum c. and he did the King excellent service here as many of our Historians report for which the King bountifully rewarded him with Lands in Yorkeshire and Northampton shire And in Yorkeshire where he made his Seat he found an Ancient Family of the Sirname of Bucke of Bucton in the Wapentake of Bucrosse where that Family had anciently been for the name is a Saxon or Dutch word and signifieth a Beech Tree or Beech Wood here Walter contracted alliance and Married Ralph de Bucke his Eldest Sonne to the Daughter and Heire of Gâ—celinus de Bucke Grandchild to Radolphus de Bucke who was a part Founder and Beneâ—actour to the Abbey of Bredlington as is mentioned in the Charter of Henry the first made for the foundation of that Monastery and from this Walter descended Iohn Bucke Knight who married a
State and best of a King both groaned and complained but had not the sting and infection of King Richards adversaries who did not onely as the proverbe saith cum larvis luctare contend with his immortall parts but raked his dust to finde and aggravate exceptions in his grave having learnt their piety from the Comicall Parasite obsequium aâ—nicos verit as odium parit and finding it as well guerdonable as gratefull to publish their Libels and scandalous Pamphlets a piece of policy and service too to the times and an offence to resent any thing good of him they gave their pens more gâ—ll and freedome having a copy set by Doctor Morton who hâ—ad taken his revenge that way and written a Booke in latine against King Richard which came afterward to the hands of Mr. Moore sometime his servant so that here the saying of Darius which after became a proverbe hath place Hoc Caleeamentum consuit Histiaeus induit autem Aristagoras Doctor Morton acting the part of Histiaeus made the Booke and Master Moore like Aristagoras set it forth amplifying and glossing it with a purpose to have writ the full story of Richard the third as he intimateth in the title of his Booke but it should seeme he found the worke so melancholy and uncharitable as dulâ—d his disposition to it for he began it 1513. when he was Under-sheriffe or Clerke to one of the Sheriffes of London and had the intermission of twenty two yeares which time he tooke up in studies more naturall to his inclination as law and poetry for in them lay his greatest fancy to finish it before he died which was in 1535. but did not yet lift himselfe so happily into the opinion of men that his commendations had more fortune then observation and past him under the attributes of learning and religion though in both he came short of what was ascribed to him for if he understood the Latine and Greeke then held great learning yet was he so farre under the desert of an excellent Scholler as the learned censured him a man of slender reading and Germanus Brixius Irruditus i. unlearned for the sanctity of his life Iohn Baleus who tooke not up his knowledge of him an age off as some of his admirers but from the originall thus gives us his draught Hoc nos probe novimus qui eramus eidem Thomae Moro viâ—iniores quod pontisicum pharisaeorum crudelitati ex avaritia subserviâ—ns omni tyraÌ„ng truculentior ferociebat imo insaniebat in eos qui aut Papae primatum aut purgatorium aut mortuorum invoâ—â—tiones aut imaginum cultus aut simile quiddam oliabolicarum imposturarum negabant a vivisiâ—a Dei veritate ita edocti Consentire hic Harpagus noluit ut Rex Christianus in suo Regno primus esset nec quod ei liceret cum Davide Salomone Iosaphato Ezechia Iosia sâ—cerdotes Levitas rejectâ— Romanensium Nembrodorum tyrannide in proprio ordinare dominio c. Adding the attribute of tenebriâ— of veritatis evangelicae perversissimus osâ—r of obstinaâ—us â—alophanta of impudens Christi adversarius and saith of his end that decollatus suit in Turre Londinâ—nsi sexto die Iulij Anno Dom. 1535. Capite ad magnum Londini pontem ut proditoribus fieri sâ—let sâ—ipiti imposito nihilominus a Papistis pronovo Martyre colitur Thus he became a Martyr and a Saint but we shall finde other cause of his condemnation by his owne testimony for when he stood at the Barre arraigned some exceptions having been urg'd against him for seeming to uphold and maintaine the Popes supremacy in England his reply was he could not see quomodo laicus vel secularis homo possit vel debeat esse caput status spiritualis aut ecclesiastici yet insinuated that this opinion was taken hold off but for a pretext to supplant him the greatest cause of the Kings displeasure being for his withstanding the divorce between him and Katharine of Castile his wife and his second marriage with the Lady Anne Bullen Marquesset of Pembrooke And his owne words spoken to the Judges as they were set downe by his deare friend George Courinus in a short discourse upon his death are non me pudet quamobrem a vobis condemnatus sum videlicet ob id quod nunquam voluerim assentiri in negotium novi matrimonij Regis which uttered after sentence of condemnation when no evasion or subterâ—ugies would availe must proceed surely from his conscience and before this he wrote a letter to Mr. Secretary Cromwell which I have seene wherein he protested he was not against the King either for his second marriage or for the Churches supremacy But wisheth him good successe in those affaires c. which renders him well looked upon not so stout a Champion for the Pope as many of his partiall friends and Romanists supposed neither so sound in his Religion for I have seene amongst the multitude of writings concerning the conference about the alteration of Religion and suppressing of Churches and Religious houses that his connivance and consent was in it nor could he excuse it with all his policy and wisdome neither had the King ever attempted it had not the Pope and his Agents opposed that second marriage an error and insolency Rome hath ever since repented But it prov'd a happy blow of Justice to this Kingdome cutting of him and his authority which else had hazarded the best Queene that ever was the sacred and eternally honoured Elizabeth to whose growing glory and virtue Master Moore became an early and cruell adversary even before she was in rerum natura To know him further let me referre you to the Ecclesiasticall History of Master Iohn Fox in the raigne of Henry the eight who describes him graphically for his historicall fragment it shewes what great paines he tooke to item the faults and sad fortunes of King Richard the third and how industrious he was to be a time observer it being the most plausible theame his poeticall straine could fall on in those times and could not want acceptance nor credit well knowing in what fame he stood and that the weaker Analysts and Chroniclers of meane learning and lesse judgement would boldly take it upon trust from his pen who tanquam ignotum servum pecus have followed him step by step without consideration or just examination of their occurrents and consequents And the reputation of him and Doctor Morton being both Lord Chancellours of England might easily mislead men part blind who have dealt with King Richard as some triviall clawing Pamphleters and Historicall parasites with the magnificent Prelate Thomas Wolsey Cardinall and Archbishop o Yorke A man of very excellent ingredients and without Peere in his time yet his values had the sting of much detraction and the worth of his many glorious good workes interpreted for vices and excesses to such it must be said quod ab ipso
nor by Reason Honour or Policy that this crime could be his though many to the contrary for he not onely preserved his Nephew the young Earle of Warwicke but in his confidence a speciall note of his magnanimity gave him libertie pleasure and the command of a Statly house of his owne Now if he had beene so Ambitious and bloudy he would have provided otherwise for him knowing his Title was to take place if his bloud had not beene attainted in his Father in regard whereof King Richard when his owne Sonne was dead caused his Nephew Iohn de la Poole Eldest Sonne of the Duke of Suffolke and of the Dutches his sister then the next lawfull heir to the Crowne to be proclaimed heir apparant an Argument of respect to his kindred next title to the Crowne in whomsoever it was which other men regarded not so much as the unhappy Sequel shewed there was an impious necessitie in that for whilst the Prince of Yorke survived Especially the males no other titular Lord or pretender could be King by his owne right or by colour of right nor by any other meanes unlesse he had married a daughter and the Eldest Daughter of King Edward the Fourth And although the deathes manner of taking away these Princes the Sonnes of King Edward is held by our writers uncertaine and obscure It is manifest at least for the generall manner of their death to be either by the Publicke sword that is the sword of Justice or of Battaile as were King Richard the Children of the Duke of Clarence and the Duke of Suffolke c or by the private sword that is by secret and close slights treachery which the Romans called Insidiae dolus by Smothering Strangling Poyson Sorcery c. And that the sword was used against the family of Yorke there is more then conjecture both by Testimonies of writers and records King Edward himselfe as Credible Authors report dyed of poyson In the Parliament Anno. 1. Richardi tertij there was aâ—cused and attainted of sorcerie and such other devilish practices Doctor Lewis Doctor Morton William Knevitt of Buckin gham the Countesse of Richmont Thomas Nandick of Cambridge Conjurer with others There was also an Earle accused of the same hellish Art and an old Manuscript Booke which I have seene sayes that Doctor Morton and a certaine Countesse contriveing the death of King Edward and others resolv'd it by poyson Which are conjectures and proofes more positive and strong against them then any they have against King Richard but it was a great neglect in their malice makeing King Richard soe politick and treacherous as they did not to charge him also with these Princes Sisters For it could not serve his turne to rid away the Brothers and not them who were capable of the Crowne and had their turne royall before any Collaterall males Then he had the children of his elder Brother George Duke of Clarence Edward Plantagent Earl of Warwick the Lady Margaret his sister after countesse of Salisbury to make away for they without their Fathers corruption of bloud which might easily have beene salved by Parliament the Lords and Commons affecting them had a Priority of bloud and precedency of Title before the Protector I would aske the reason too why King Richard might not endure his Nephewes being by Parliament held and adjudged illegitimate as well as the Kings Henry 7. and Henry the eight endured Arthur Plantagenet the Bastard of the same King Edward their natales and cases being alike or why Sir Thomas Moore and Doctor Morton should in one place say it was held in doubt when or how they were made away and in another place to averr that Tiroll and Dighton being examined confessed plainely the murder of them and all the manner of it These be contraries which with a great disadvantage drawes their allegation into another argument Bicorne or Crocodilites For in revealing the confession of these men it is implicatively granted their fault was not then to be punished and soe it appeares no fault or not worth the consideration the confession of a man being the greatest evidence can be produced against him Then in regard the confession of those was such as might not be opened nor the crime called in question as the same Authors acknowledge it was but a fained confession and they had done better not to have mentioned such a thing which begot but a jealousie in the falsitie thereof or privity of some great ones in it a just imputation of injustice upon the Magistracy For if Dighâ—on Tirroll Forrest and Slater confesse the murder in Act and manner King Richard being dead who was said to subborne and protect them necessarily and in due course of justice especially in the Act of so high a nature and notice as this was The punishment should have beene expected with all extremity But being for some unknowne causes deferred and after a while quite omitted and pardoned it may be thought such strange Clemency and impunitie proceeded from a singular high indulgence or else those examinations and confessions werebut Buzes and quaint devises to amaze the people and entertaine them with expectation of a justice to be done in some more convenient time which was never This was after the death of King Richard All that was done before was to make him the Author of that horrible crime and no bodie else For Dighton and the rest were in security and liberty yet it stood in good steed with the Lancastrians to draw the peoples hate upon King Richard not unlike that story of great Alexander and a noble man in his Court who stood so high in the favour of his Nobles and people that the King grew jealous and fearefull of his Popularity studying how he might decline it and him to contempt but could finde no colour or apt occasion because he was soe strongly fixt in the peoples likeing and was a man of so great a desert that noe crime could bee charged upon him The King unbosoming himselfe to the councell and care of a friend one Medius of his Country as I thinke had this advise Sir quoth hee let not this mans greatnesse trouble you cause him to be accused of some hainous crime though falsly and wee will finde meanes to make him guiltie so formally and firmely that the brand of it shall sticke up on him ever which he delivered in these termes though divers yet the same in effect Medeatur licet vulueri qui morsus aut dilaniatus est remanebit tamen Cicatrix And it is truely approved by an Antient Christian Poet thus Paulum distare videntur Suspecti verèque rei The guilty and suspected Innocent In mans opinion are little different For there is no more dangerous or fatall destiny to greatenesse then to be intangled in the multitudes contempt Odium et Contempt us being the two evills that overthrow Kings and Kingdomes the one that is Contempt
Elizabeth Wiatt alias Lucy Iane Shore the Lady Elianor Talbot And it is worth the remembring in the Concourse of such matters as these there was another fair Creature so dear unto him that his too much Affection begat Suspition of which he gave her a kinde expression by a quaint device sent unto her in a rich Jewel fashioned much after the manner of the trivial Hierogliffs used in France and called Rebus de Picardy The device was A Faulcon encompassed with a Fetter-lock The Mott Au Faulcon Serrure The Caution lying in the ambiguity and double sense of Faulcon which being whole and proper signifieth a Hawk but divided hath an obscene signification and so Faulcon becometh an aequivoque The King afterward was so affected with this device that he would have it carved and painted in many of his Royal works yet to be seen at Fotheringhay and elsewhere Yet although the Kings Jealousie was thus particular to her his Affection was as general to others being a frank Gaâ—ester and he that would cast at all fairly set Above all for a time he was much speld with Elianor Talbot daughter of Iohn Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury called in the Act of Parliament 1 Rich. 3 The old Earl of Shrewsbury her mother was the Lady Katherine Stafford daughter of Humphrey Stafford Duke of Buckingham and she the widow of Thomas Lord Butler Baron of Sudesley Her beauty and sweetnesse of disposition drew his desire so vehemently and with such respect that he was suddenly Contracted and after Married by Doctor Thomas Stillington Bishop of Bath Councellor of State one much favoured by the King and often employed by him in great Affairs This is witnessed by our English Writers and veritable Philip de Comines in these words Le Evesque de Bath lequel avoit este Conseillier du Roy Edward disoit que le dit Roy avoit promis foy de Mariage a une Dame de Angleterre qu'il avoit nommè que le Roy avoit fait la promise entre les mains dudict Euesque dit aussi c'est Euesque qu'il avoit apres espousè n'y avoit que luy ceux deux In English thus The Bishop of Bath a Privie Councellor of King Edward said That the King had plighted his faith to marry a Lady of England whom the Bishop named the Lady Elianor Talbot and that this Contract was made in the hands of the Bishop who said that afterwards he married them no persons being present but they twain and he the King charging him strictly not to reveal it Which Contract and Marriage are related in the Act of Parliament aforesaid where it is disertly called a former Marriage and the King had a childe by her But where desires are unlawful they will be unlimited We are ever young enough to sin never old enough to repent never constant never satisfied in our neerest desires Though to morrow shew us the sting of to day the third shall betray us again and we are taken like children in a shop of trinkets by the eye liking all things from one to another until pleasure dull pleasure and we grow weary of them As in the dotages of this King who had now received others into the bosome of his fancy especially the fame which was then in every Courtiers ear and mouth of an excellent Lady in the Court of France with the Queen Chareltts wife of King Lewis 11 and sister to this Lady whose name was Bona the daughter of Lewis Duke of Savoy And so suddenly and strongly had he taken fire and apprehension of her report the bent of his affection being meerly wanton to every new object thinking Love a cold Composition without the priviledge of Variety that he straight falls into terms of engagement and capitulation of Marriage to which purpose the great and renowned Richard Nevil Earl of Warwick and Salisbury and Captain of Calais then in the esteem of his best and most trusty friend had a Commission of Treaty and with all speed was sent Ambassadour into France who with all honour and magnificence to his wish effects it with the more noble and easie dispatch the Earl of Warwick being a man eminent thorow all the parts of Europe for his Valour Wisedom and Heroical vertues Expecting a welcome at his return answerable to the period of his employment but findes an alteration not onely of the Kings affection but of his countenance for in the interim he had in an instant or particle of time as it were wooed and wedded the Lady Elizabeth Gray Relict of Sir Iohn Gray daughter of Sir Richard Woodville and of Iaquetta sometime Dutchesse of Bedford and daughter of the Earl of St. Poole Her husband was one Gray a Knight of Grooby who became a very vehement Lancastrian revolting from the House of York and therefore the more hateful to those of that Family and the well-wishers thereof so to the Earl of Warwick He was slain at the Battel of St Albans Of whom and of this Lady his wife as of this Marriage Philip de Comines relates something which I shall leave to the interpretation of the better knowing and desire not to understand it in the words Or de puis le dict Roy Eduart espousè la fille d'un Châ—vallier de Angleterre femme veufue qui avoit deux filz aussi per Amorrettes But neither the despised state of widowhood nor the meannesse of her quality and condition the earnest disswasion of the Dutchesse his mother and best friends could make him withdraw his affection so deeply and obstinately he was surprised with her beauty yet if he could have enjoyed his longings otherwise he haâ— not married her But she was of so pregnant and reserved a wit seconded by the caution and counsel of the Dutchesse her mother that his highest temptations and sweetest batteries could not win upon her protesting never to yeeld to any dishonorable parley or unchaste motion although it might warrant the safeâ—y of her life and humbly implored his Grace not to think her so exorbitantly and vainly ambitious to wish her self a Queen or to have the hope and presumption to be any thing higher then what she was His poor and humble vassal nor was she of so lowe and lost a minde as to violate her Chastity or be a Concubine to the greatest King When the King perceived there was no other remedy but that he must shift his sail to that scantling of winde he complies with her and protests it was his desire and â—uit to marry her notwithstanding her inequality for in his esteem her love her beauty and her vertue made her Fortunes and Dowry great and high enough for any King Nor did he defer it any longer then there was necessity but marry her he did and with such dispatch that he stayed not for the advice of any either Councellor Kinsman or other whatsoever Nay his speed admitted not the approved Ceremony of the
wose Genealogie I have seen derived from the antique Kings of Britain and from divers other British Princes And this Henry Teudor or the Seventh to confirm all the Titles of this Kingdom unto his claim by the strongest and greatest authority procured them decreed to him and to his issue so established in himself and his posterity for ever by Act of Parliament in this manner and words TO the Pleasure of Almighty God and for the Wealth and Prosperity and Surety of this Realm of England to the singular Comfort of all the Subjects of the same and for avoyding all Ambiguities and Questions Be it Ordained Established and Enacted by the Authority of this present Parliament That the Inheritance of the Crown of the Realm of England and also of France with all the Pre-eminencies and Dignities Royal to the same appertaining and all Liegances to the King belonging beyond the Seas with the appurtenances thereunto in any wise due or appertaining To be rest remain and abide in the most Royal person of our Soveraign Lord King Henry the Seventh and in the Heirs of his body lawfully comming perpetually with the Grace of God and so to endure and in no other Which is also another Title to our King Heir to Henry the Seventh And this Act was renewed and firmly established for our Soveraign Lord King Iames Anno regni primo Yet King Henry the Seventh obtained of the Pope another Title Iure Belli All which Titles and Rights which ever were appertaining to this Kingdom and to the Empire of Britain are coalesced and met in our Soveraign King for he hath not onely the claims of the ancient Kings of Britain of the Saxons and Anglo-Saxons Kings and of the Norman Race but also the Titles and Rights of the Royal Families of York of Lancaster and of Wales c. And noâ— as the least in reference with these he hath in possession also those singular and particular Monuments of Empire and Raign by some called Fata Regni and Instrumenta Monumenta Regno Imperio destinata One being the Ring of the accounted holy King Edward the son of King Etheldred which was consecrated and extraordinarily blessed by Saint Iohn Baptist in Palestine and sent back by the King as old Writers tell which hath been religiously kept in the Abbey of Westminster and is as Tradition goes the Ring which the Archbishop of Canterbury at the Inauguration and Consecration of the Kings puts upon their finger called in our Stories The Wedding Ring of England The other Monument of the British Empire is the Marble-stone whereupon Iacob laid his head when he had those caelestial and mystical Visions mentioned in holy Writ which stone was brought out of Palestine into Ireland and from thence carried into Scotland by King Keneth after translated to the City of Scone and used for the Chaire wherin the Kings sate at their Coronation brought out of Scotland by Edward the First into England as the best Historians of Scotland and England relate Cathedram Marmoream Regibus Scotorum fatalem in qua insidentes Scotorum Reges Coronare consueverant Rex Edwardus primus e Scona Londinum transtulit in Westmonasterio ubi hodie visitur deposuit It is set or born in a Chaire of Wood and for a perpetual honour upon a Table hanging in the Chappel at Westminster this is writ Si quid habet ueri vel Chronica cana sidesve Clauditu hac Cathedra Nobilis ille lapis Ad caput eximius Jacob quondam Patriarcha Quem posuit cernens numina mirifica Quem tulit a Scotis Edwardus primus c. George Buchanus saith The people are seriously perswaded that in this stone which he calleth Lapidem Marmoreum rudem the state of the kingdom is contained and that fatum Regni is thus understood viz. What King of Scotland soever is Lord of that Stone Soveraignly possessed thereof shall be King and raign in the Countrey where he findeth that stone thus told in a prophetical Distich Ni fallat fatum Scotus quocunque locatum Inveniet lapidem regnare tenetur ibidem Which Prophecie was accomplished in King Iames when he came first into England for his Titles were not onely funiculus triplex qui difficile rumpitur but also funiculus multiplex qui nunquam rumpitur And may those Titles for ever be establisht in his Loins according to that of the heavenly Messenger Regnum perpetuum cujus non est finis Amen Thus I have led you thorow the various Relations and Tragical Interchanges of this Princes Life to his last act and place where after Revenge and Rage had satiated their barbarous cruelties upon his dead body they gave his Royal earth a bed of earth honourably appointed by the Order of King Henry the Seventh in the chief Church of Leicester called Saint Maries belonging to the Order and Society of the Gray Friers the King in short time after causing a fair Tomb of mingled colour'd Marble adorned with his Statue to be erected thereupon to which some grateful pen had also destined an Epitaph the Copie whereof never fixtto his stone I have seen in a recorded Manuscript-Book chained to a Table in a Chamber in the Guild-hall of London which the faults and corruptions being amended is thus represented together with the Title thereunto prefixed as I found it Octob. 9. 1646. Imprimatur Na Brent TO give you him in his equal Draught and Composition He was of a mean or lowe compact but without disproportioÌ„ uneveness either in lineaments or parts as his severall Pictures present him His aspect had most of the Souldier in it so his natural inclination Complexions not uncertainely expounding our Dispositions but what wants of the Courâ—-Planet effeminate Censurers think must needs be harsh and crabbed and Envie will pick quarrels with an hair rather then want Subject The Judgement and Courage of his Sword-actions rendred him of a full Honour and Experience which Fortune gratified with many Victories never any Overthrows through his own default for lack of Valour or Policie At Court and in his general deportment of an affable respect and tractable cleernesse In his dispence of a magnificent liberal hand somewhat above his power as Sir Tho. Moor sets down And surely the many Churches with other good works he founded more then any one former King did in so short a time must commend him charitable and religious as the excellent Laws he made do his wisedom and strain of Government which all men confesse of the best So having even from those his bitterest times the esteem of a valiant wise noble charitable and religious Prince why should ours deprave him so much upon trust deny works their character and place EPITAPHIVM Regis Richardi tertii Sepulti ad Leicestriam jussu sumptibus S ti Regis Henrici Septimi HIc ego quem vario Tellus sub Marmore claudit Tertius a justa
Hen. 7. and dies of greife 143. Elizabeth daughter of Ed. 4. desired by her letter to marry with Richard 3. 128. 129. Elianor Talbot alias Butler married to E. 4. 116. her wrongs death 122. Escape what the offence is 100. F. FAulcon Serrure a French devise of obseen signification 115. Faulconbridge a famous Pyrate apprehended by a wile 9. Flattery and Flatterers 52. 133. 78. Fortune inconstant 41. Vertuous Master of her 57. Fortitude a notable example in Rio. 3. 59. 60. 61. Friends and friendship 52 best known in adversity Ib. French King payes a tribute of 75000. crownes to K. Edw. 4. and rich pensions to diverse Noble men 29. G. GAston de Foix K. of Navarr 19. Gray Woodvile and others of the Reginists executed at Pomfret for treachery 13 Glocester City rewarded by Rich. 3. for their loyalty 28. Gâ—mot what it is 125. Genius or Angell Guardian 106. H. HAstings his affection to Edw. 4. his children 13. Is betrayed and executed in the Tower ibid. Henry 2. K. of England his great descent and spacious Empire 4. his penance for Tho Beckets death 5. Sirnamed du Court Mantea why 4. Henry 4. King of England caused his soveraigne Rich. 2. anointed King to bee Murthered 14. Entailes the Crowne to his heires 50. Henry 6. K. of England not murthered by Rich. 3. but dyed a naturall death of griefe and melancholy 80 81. Henry Teâ—dor Earle of Richm. borne in Pembrooke castle 16. His noble descent 144 145. by his mother 50. by his Grand-mother and Father Ib. His escape into France 16. And there detained prisoner 17 18 19. His various and doubtfull fortunes Ib. 43. 57. Is attainted of high Treason 30. A description of his Person and qualities 42 58. 144. A wise provident a religious Prince 58. 144. Laies claime to the Crowne of England 17. Made good by marriage 53. And the Popes Bull 55. And act of Parliament 145. His title de jure belli or of conquest confirmed by the Pope and distasted by the Barons 54 55. Invades England with ill successe 43. His 2. invasion by aid of the French 56 57. 59. Overthrowes K. R. 3. at Redmore heath and is crowned by the name of Henry 7 th 62. His vow at the high Altar in Vannes 42. Is very covetous 88. too partiall and credulous 51. Unkinde and severe to his Wife 143. And to the Wife and Children of Edw. 4. Ib. His pretence against the Ea of Warwick 105. 141. And Perk. Warbeck alias Rich. Plantag 95. His breach of promise 93. He feared 3. men specially Ib. His reach upon the Duke of Burgundy 142. His charge to his son upon his death-bed ib. Henry the first K. of England sirnamed Beauclerke 16. Or the good Clerk His ambition and covetousnesse 141. cruelty to his elder Brother ib. Heralds whence the name derived 138. a Colledg of Heralds founded by R. 3. ibid. Herbertus Chamberlaine to W. Rufus Ancestor to the Herberts of Pemb. and Mountgom founder of that name 16. Historians their great partiality 134 135. 143. The errours of vulgar Historians 41. Howards their great Nobility alliance and discent from Hewardus or Herewardus the story of him 66. signification of the name ib. of Hawardus 67. Tho Howard Barl of Surrey escapes Bosworth field 64. A notable speech of his showing his integrity ibid. Is advanced by Henry 7. ib. Triumphator Scotorum 67. Sir Charles Howard Lord Admirall in 88. His noble fame 67. I. IAmes the 4 th King of Scotland denies his tribute to England 10. An army is sent to recover it ib. But a Truce concluded ibid. James the 5 th of Scotland challenges Thomas Earle of Arundel in Campe fight 62. James King of Great Brittaine his Noble elemency to some regall Titulars 135. Jane Shore King Edw. 4. his Concubine 115. 135. Jerusalem a barren soile 6. Imperiall Ensigns of England their signification 26. Ingratitude ex 59 60. John King of England charg'd with the murther of his Nephew 141. K. KAtherin wife of Sir Otho Swinford Mother of the Beauforts 44. Kings have their bounds 29. Their prerogatives in Iudgments and Controversies 54. Cannot commit high Treason 63. May not marry their Subjects 119. A King deposed for so doing ib. Kings and kingdomes in Gods disposing 63. changed by him why 140. Two evils especially the overthrow of Kings and kingdomes 103. To kill an Anoynted King a sacrilegious offence p. 80. Knights and Lords created 25. L. LAncaster and Beaufort how they differ 30. 44. 47. Legitimation What the Popes legitimation is and what the Princes 47 48. Liars need of good memories 84. Lancaster escheated to Edward 4. 35. 47. Don Duart de Lancastro 45. Laws good Laws made by R. 3. Lawes against Bastards 48. Loyalty a rare example 64. M. MArgaret Plantag daughter of Geo. Duke of Clarence put to dearh 143 Matilda or Maud the Empress daughter and heir of H. 1. 4. Anglor Dom. ibid. Malice malitious 130. Height of malice 75. Marble stone or fatall stone prophesie of it 146. Brought out of Scotland into England by Edward the 1. And placed at Westminster ib. The stone that Jacob laid his head upon ib. Marriage not lawfull between those that have lived in adultery 45. Between Uncles and Nieces frequent in other Countreys 129. Monasteries supprest with the true cause of it 77. Monuments of the British Empirâ— 146 Sir Thomas Moore a great enemie of R. 3. 76. Came short of the learning is ascribed to him dyed scoffing ib. Lord Chancellor of Eng. 77. And a sworn vassall to the Pope 76. Morton Bishop of Ely a subtle man 15. A great enemie of K. R. 3. ib. 75 76 77. A temporizer 52. His extreame pride and covetousnesse 53. Lord Chancellor of Eng. 77. N. NAmes taken from Offices other occasions 5 6 66. Nandick a conjurer Parl. 1. H. 7. Natural Father natural sons daughters why so called Naturall daughters may take the sirname of France 46. Noblenesse of nature Examp. 61. c. O. OFficers of State 25. 32. Oxford Iohn de Vene Earl of Ox. fevere against nick-named Perkin Warb 105. he gave sentence of death gainst the innocent Earl of Warwick ib. Strange dissipation of a mighty estate ib. Oppression many examples of it 99. 141. and pastime alibi P. PArasites the nature of them p. 27. 78. Parliaments their power authority 124. From whence the word is derived ib. A Court of great antiquity 125. Called by the Saxons Witengemot the meeting of wise men ibid. The honour and obedience due unto them 126. Parl. 1. R. 3. Many good Lawes enacted Pater mater parentes or parents words of larger signification among other Nations then among us 69. Perkin Warbeck his story 84. Confirmed by many noble and learned men 100 101. Philip Duke of Burgundy K. of Castile driven by a storm with his Qu upon the coast of England 141 142. His entertainment ib. Plantaganest or Plantagenet original occasion of that