and love of thy Subjects who whilst they have wealth so long shalt thou have obedience but being made poore by oppression will be ever ready to stirre and make insurrections And so turning about said God blesse thee and have mercy on mee and so hee gave up the ghost in a Chamber of the Abbot of Westminster which the servants there called Ierusalem the twentieth of March 1412. in the fortieth sixe yeare of his age when hee had raigned thirteene yeares sixe moneths lacking ten dayes His body with all Funerall pomp was conveyed to Canterbury and there solemnly buried Hee had beene twice married his first wife was Mary Daughter and coheire of Humphry de Bohan Earle of Hereford Essex and Northampton and Constable of England shee died anno 1394. and was buryed at Canterbury hee had issue by her Henry his eldest Sonne who succeeded him Thomas Plantagenet his second sonne who was Created Duke of Clarence in the eleventh yeare of his Fathers raigne hee was slaine at Bongy bridge in France by the Duke of Orleance this Thomas tooke to Wife Margaret Daughter of Thomas Holland Earle of Kent and Widow of Iohn Beuford Earle of Pomfret who dyed without issue Iohn Plantagenet his third Sonne was made Duke of Bedford the eleventh yeare of his Fathers raigne and Earle of Richmond and Lord of Kendall hee married to his first Wife Anne Daughter of Iohn Duke of Burgondy who dyed without issue his second Wife was Ioquellyne Daughter of Peter Earle of Saint Paul and by her had no issue shee was after married to Richard Woodvile Earle Rivers and had issue Elizabeth Wife to King Edward the fourth This Iohn as Constable of England determined the Controversie betwixt Reignold Lord Gray of Ruthen and Sir Edward Hastings for the bearing of the armes of Hastings and at Vernoyle together with the same Towne tooke the Duke of Alanson prisoner and with the losse of two thousand one hundred private souldiers slew of the advers part five Earles two Vicounts one and twenty Barons seven thousand French and two thousand five hundred Scots and dyed at Paris and the fourteenth of September 1435. was buried at Roan under a sumptuous Monument which when Lewis the eleventh King of France being advised by some of his Nobles to deface Hee said What honour will it bee to us or you to demolish the Monument aâ—…d pull out thereof the bones of him whom in his life-time neither my Father nor your Progenitors were of abilitie to make budge one foote backward wherefore let his body now rest in quiet which if hee were alive would have disquieted the proudest of us all such respect to well-got honour hee obtained in the mindes of his enemies Humphry Plantagenet fourth Sonne who was stiled Humphry by the grace of God Sonne Brother and Vncle to Kings hee was Duke of Glocester Hennalt Holland Zealand and Earle of Penbrocke Lord of Freezland great Chamberlaine of England Protector of the Realme and Defender of the Church of England Hee had two Wives the first was Iaquet Daughter and heire of William Duke of Bavaria who being before betrothed to Iohn Duke of Brabant was divorced from this Humphry before issue His second Wife was Elianor Daughter of Reignold Lord Cobham of Sterburghe in Surry who for Sorcery and poysoning was much defamed hee was found murthered in hss bed at Bury in Suffolke and was buried at Saint Albones in Hartfordshire Blaunch King Henryes eldest Daughter was married as afore at Collen to William Duke of Bavaria after his death shee was married to the King of Arragon and afterwards to the Duke of Barre but dyed without issue Philip second Daughter of King Henry was married to Iohn King of Denmarke but dyed without issue King Henry was of a middle stature well proportioned and formally compact of a quicke conceit and active spirit of great resolution and courage In his later dayes with courtesie and affable cariage hee purchased a great deale more love and respect amongst the Nobilitie then hee had in all the beginning of his raigne with his austeritie and rigorous courses and redeemed from the common people a great portion of good opinion which he by his impositions and taxes had formerly lost among them But if their payments had beene more and his exactions greater in my opinion they were not undeserved that were so ready to alter the due course of succession to joyne hands with him in the deposing of the rightfull and naturall Leige-Lord whose only fault that could bee truly objected was this that hee had beene too bountifull to his friend too mercifull to his foes but most unrespective of himselfe THE LIFE AND RAIGNE OF KING HENRY THE FIFT HENRY the Fift surnamed of the place of his birth which was a Towne in Wales upon the River of Wye Monmouth tooke upon him the Regality over England the twentieth day of March and the next day was proclaimed King and the ninth day of Aprill hee was Crowned King at Westminster by Thomas of Arundell Archbishop of Canterbury with all usuall rites and Ceremonies After the solemnitie past the next day hee caused all his wonted Companions to come into his presence to whom hee used these words It is sufficient that for many yeares together I have fashioned my selfe to your unruly dispositions and have not without some reluctation in the very action followed you in your debosht and swaggering courses I have to my sorrow and shame I may say to thinke of it irregularly wandered in all rude and unseemely manner in the vast wildernesse of ryot and unthriftinesse whereby I was made almost an alian to the hearts of my Father and Allyes and in their opinions violently carried away by your meanes from grace by keeping you company therein I have so vilified my selfe that in the eyes of men my presence was vulgar and stale and like the Cuckow in Iune heard but not regarded One of you being convented before the Lord chiefe Iustice for misusing a sober-minded Citizen I went to the publike Sessions house and stroke him on the face and being by him deservedly committed to the Fleet for which act of justice I shall ever hold him worthy the place and my favour and wish all my Iudges to have the like undaunted courage to punish offendors of what ranke soever it occasioned my Father to put mee from my place in Councell appointing it to bee supplyed by my younger Brother how often have I by your animation committed thefts even on my Fathers and my owne Receivers and robd them of the mony provided for publicke appointments to maintaine your midnight revellings and noone beselings But it is time now to give a period to these exorbitant and unbefitting courses and to salve the wounds my intemperance hath made in my reputation and to turne over a new leafe and not only to decline the company of such misleaders of yours but desert their conditions of all
the point of beliefe for the most of the Councell suggested his innocencie first by his voluntary submission when he had power sufficient either to have kept the field or to have assured his retraite then by his request made not for himselfe but for the ease of the poore Commons next his carefull and honourable endevours both in France and Ireland where if he had had any such traiterous intent he had the pan by the stale and might have kept it But while the Councell are debating this at the very instant the Earle of Kendall and the Lord Lespar crave present admission to the Borde and audience as Embassadours from Burdeux for businesse of great import and speedy dispatch they being admitted declare to the Kings Councell how readily and really the inhabitants of Burdeux are to submit their obedience to the Crowne of England if they might but bee assured to bee defended by it they therefore offer upon the appearance of an Armie in Gascoygne if come before the plot bee discovered to yeeld all up unto them To second this commeth a constant urged report that Edward Earle of March Sonne and heire to the Duke of Yorke with a great power of March-men made a speedy march towards London These newes troubled the Queene those the Councell it is therefore resolved on That the Duke of YORKE lest private dissention should hinder publicke designes of such consequence as the reduction of GASCOIGNE should in the presence of the KING and his Nobilitie and all the Congregation at the high Altar at Pauls take his oath of submission and allegiance to the King of England which he accordingly did and so had liberty to depart to his Castle of Wigmore After his departure the Earle of Shrewsbury with about three thousand men was sent to Gascoyne who arriving in the I le of Madre passed forth with his power and tooke Fronsacke and other pieces But having received in the nightinstructions from Burdeux hee makes all speed thither and was entred therein before the French had notice of his comming so that many of them were slaine by the Lord Espar in their beds shortly after the destruction of Burdeux there arrived at Blay the Earle of Shrowsburies Sonne Sir Iohn Talbot with the Bastard of Somerset with divers others with two and twenty hundred men furnished and victualed by whose meanes Burdeux is well mand with English and provided for at full whilst the Earle was not idle but went from place to place to receive the offred submission of all places whither hee came and having taken Chattillon he strongly and sufficiently fortifieth and furnisheth the same The French King rayseth an Army and forthwith besiegeth by his Commanders Chattillon to the reskue wherof the Earle maketh all possible speed with eight hundred Horse appointing the Earle of Kendall and the Lord Lespar to follow with the foot In his way hee surprised a Tower the French had taken and put all within it to the sword and meeting five hundred French-men that had beene forraging hee slew a great number of them and chased the rest to the Campe upon whose approach the French understanding which way the enemy came they left the siege and retired to a place which they had formerly trenched and fortified whither the Earle followeth them and resolutely chargeth them so home that he got the entry of the Campe where being shot thorow the thigh with a Harquebush and his horse slaine under him his sonne desirous to relieve his Father lost his owne life and therein was accompanied with his Bastard brother Henry Talbot and Sir Edward Hall and thirty other Gentlemen of name the Lord Molynes with threescore others were taken prisoners the rest fled to Burdeux but in the way a thousand of them were slaine Thus on the last day of Iuly at Chattillon the thrice honourable Earle of Shrowsbury the first of that name gave the last testimony of his true service to his King after hee had employed the same to his never-dying Honour in the parts beyond the Seas by the space of foure and twenty yeares hee had married two wives The first was Matild daughter and sole heire of Thomas Nevill Lord Furnivall by whom he had issue Iohn that succeeded him in the Earledome Sir Christopher Talbot and Sir Humphry Talbot Knights His second wife was Margaret elder Daughter and Coheire of Richard Beuchamp Earle of Warwicke by whom hee had issue Iohn Talbot in right of his Wife Vicount Lisle slaine with his Father Sir Humphry Talbot slaine at Mount Sinay Elizabeth married to Iohn Mowbray Earle of Norfolke and Elianor Wife to Thomas Boteleer Lord of Sudley Castle And a naturall sonne slaine as afore with his Father his body was buried in a tombe at Roan in Normandy with this inscriptioa Here lyeth the right noble Knight Iohn Talbot Earle of Shrowsbury Weshford Waterford and Valence Lord Talbot of Goodritch and Orchenfield Lord Srange of Blackmere L. Verdon of Acton L. Cromwell of Wingfield L. Lovetoft of Worsop L. Furnivall of Sheffield L. Fauconbridge knight of the noble orders of St. George St. Michael and the golden Fleece great Marshall to K. Henry the sixt of his Realme of France The Earle of Kendall the Lords Mountferrat Rosayne and Dangladas entred into the Castle of Chattillon which they made good against the French by the space of ten dayes and then without hope of succour delivered it upon composition to have liberty to depart to Burdeux Now the tyde turned againe the Gascoynes levitie being as ready to open the gates to the French as they were but little before to the English by meanes whereof in short time the French recovered againe all Gascoyne except Burdeux which the French King in person layeth siege unto and at length hath it surrendered upon condition that both garrisons and inhabitants with all their substance might safely depart for England or Callice and that the Lords Lespar and Durant with thirty others whose names were expressed upon paine of death should never after be found in the territories of France the neglect of which oath within few yeares after caused Lespar to leave his head behind him there whilst the rest in safetie came to England this losse of Aquitane was palliated by the happy delivery of the Queene of a Sonne who was Christened The King and the Dukes beginning to bandy one against the other gave a beginning to that faction whose end was not procured without the deplorable losse of so many thousand Englishmen and now as a praeludium to that tragedy upon Saint Bartholmewes day an antient custome being that the Maior of London and the Sheriffs should be present in giving prizes to the best Wrastlers at the wrastling place neere More-fields The Prior of Saint Iohns being there to see the sport a servant of his not brooking the disgrace to bee foyled before his Master against the custome of the place would have wrastled againe and with foule
to whom that place was assigned Fauconbridge and Blunt continue the leading of the vantguard And on Palme-Sunday by breake of day they came to Saxton from whence they made a full survay of King Henryes army and certified the Earle of March that the enemie was threescore thousand strong whereupon a second Proclamation was made through the Campe That no quarter should be kept nor prisoner taken a Course more savoring of policie then Religion yet by so much the more excusable by how much his number was so far short of his adversarie The armies being both in sight The Lord Fauconbridge gave direction to the bowmen upon a signall by him to be given to shoot every man a flight arrow for that purpose provided and then to fall backe three strides and stand which they accordingly did The Notherne men hereupon plied their bowes untill their sheaves were empty But all their arrowes fell short of the marke and turned to their owne disadvantage For their arrowes being spent hasting to ioyne to come to hand-blowes Their owne arrowes did themselves much hurt that had done the adversary no harme at all The works of those sticking galling their shinnes and the splinters of those broken piercing their feete whilst the Southerne men shot at their bodyes as if they had beene shooting at butts policy prevailing beyond strength Ten houres in doubtfull termes of victory The battaile continued when the Earle of Northumberland being slaine with the Lords Beamond Gray Dacres The Earles of Exceter and Somerset fled left the conquest to the Earle of March but the bloodiest that ever England felt for on that day fell there thirty six thousand seven hundred threescore and sixteene persons besides those that dyed of the hurts then received all of one nation no prisoners being taken but the Earle of Devon This Henry Earle of Northumberland now slaine was the third Earle of the familie of Peircyes he married Elianor Daughter and heire of Richard Lord Poyning by whom he had issue Henry that succeeded him in the Earldome and three daughters Elizabeth married to Henry Lord Scroope 2 Elianor married to West Lord Laware 3 Margaret married to Sir William Gascoyne The victor hasts to Yorke where he is readily admitted entrance when presently he causeth The heads of his father and his friends to be taken downe and buried with their bodyes setting in their places the heads of the Earle of Devon and three others there then executed This Earle of Devon was Thomas the xvi Earle and Lord of Ockhampton he married Margaret daughter of Iohn Beawford Earle of Somerset by whom he had issue three sonnes and two daughters Thomas who was taken with his father and presently by reason of the Proclamation slaine Henry the second sonne who was after beheaded at Salisbury and Iohn who was after slaine at Tewkesbury The father and the three sonnes with the losse of their best bloods witnessing their true affection to the house of Lancaster Iohan his eldest daughter was married to Sir Roger Clifford Knight and Elizabeth was married to Sir Hugh Courtney Knight The Earle of Somerset being the messenger of the late overthrow perswades and prevailes with King Henry his Queene and sonne from Yorke to flye to Barwicke where leaving the Earle of Somerset they slye further for succour to the King of Scots who comforteth them with promise of reliefe but maketh a sure bargaine and receiveth in liewe of a pension to be assigned to King Henry during his aboad there from him upon Saint Markes day the Towne and Castle of Barwick to such poore shifts was this potent King driven to pawne his best fortresse for bare food Queene Margaret and her sonne are sent to France to labour there whilst those that stayed with the King himselfe being onely intentive to devotion fayled not to solicite friends and make preparation for a second encounter The Queene upon her arrivall obtayned of Lewis the eleventh her Cousin that those of the house of Yorkes favorites were prohibted trafficke or stay in the French Kings dominions But all such as loved the Lancastrian line were permitted freely In triumphant manner the Earle of March commeth to London where he is by the Maior and Citizens gloriously entertained being by them upon the xxvi day of Iune from Lambeth attended to the Tower of London who upon his first entrance therein invested foure and twentie with order of Knighthood and upon the next day he did the like to foure more Vpon the xxviii day of Iune he rode through London from the Tower to Westminster where he was Crowned in the Abby there A Parliament is summoned which began at VVestminster upon the fourth of November in which all acts of Henry the sixt formerly made which might see me any way preiudiciall to Edw. title or profit were repealed And therein Iohn Earle of Oxford a learned valiant wise man he who in a former Parliament disputed the question concerning the precedency betweene the temporall and spirituall Barones a bold attempt in those dayes and by force of whose arguments iudgment was given for the Lords temporall with his sonne Aubry de Vere Sir Thomas Tiddenham Kinght William Terrill and VValter Mongomery Esquires were without answer convict of Treason and beheaded This Iohn Earle of Oxford married Elizabeth the daughter and heire of Sir Iohn Howard and had issue five sonnes and three daughters 1 Aubry de Vere beheaded with his father 2 Iohn de Vere that succeeded in the Earledome 3 George Vere Knight that died living his father 4 Richard Vere and 5 Thomas Vere Knights 1 Mary a profest Nunne at Barking in Essex 2 Ioan married to Sir VVilliam Norris and 3 Elizabeth married to VVilliam Bourcheir sonne and heire of Henry Bourcheir Earle of Essex King Edward to encourage others to obtaine like favour by well deserving at his hands after that he had created his two younger brethren George and Richard the one Duke of Clarence the other Duke of Glocester he maketh Iohn Lord Nevill first Vicount then Marquesse Mountacute Henry Bourcheir whose brother was Archbishop of Canterbury Earle of Essex and VVilliam Lord Fauconbridg Earle of Kent enobling many others with dignities and honorable titles To hansell their new Honors Essex and Kent with the Lord Audley and divers other of the nobility with ten thousand souldiers are sent to skowre the narrow Seas these land in Britaine and by force enter the Towne of Conquet and the Isle of Ree which having pillaged and the Coasts cleered they returne Henry Duke of Somerset Sir Ralph Peircy with some others come in and submit themselues to King Edwards mercy who gratiously receiveth and entertaineth them protesting his propension of free pardoning them and as many others as would follow their example of submission The distressed Queene with five hundred French a small stake to play an aftergame of Reputation with came to the Coasts of Scotland and from thence sailes to Timmothe where
marriage betwixt Iohn of Gaunt and Katheryne Swinford was approved of and the issue borne before the espousalls made legitimate by act of Parliament and confirmed by a Bull from Rome This is the Catalogue of the pedegree of the two houses of Lancaster and Yorke betwixt whom the competition for the Crowne of England was the occasion of expence of so much blood Although the Crowne of England upon the decease or deposition of Richard the second without issue was jure haereditario to descend to Edmond Mortimer the younger the Sonne of Philip Daughter and heire of Lionel Duke of Clarence the third Sonne of Edward the third yet his cosin Henry of Bullingbrooke Duke of Hertford and Sonne and heire of John of Gaunt the younger Brother of Lionell of Clarence taking advantage of the peoples forwardnesse and his kinsmans being generally distasted was Created and Crowned King From the yeare of our Lord 1399. untill the fourth of March 1460. In three Descents the slips of the red Rose in the line of Lancaster did beare sway but not without some interruptions and hazard For though Edmond Plantagenet Duke of Aumerle Sonne and heire of Edmond of Langley set not the White Rose claime on foot yet as maligning the prosperitie of Henry the fourth hee was a maine stickler in the conspiracie against him intended to have beene executed at Oxford But the eruption of Yorke never was manifest untill Richard Plantagenet Sonne of Richard of Bonysborough Anno 1455. drew his Sword to make good his claime to the Crowne of England And from his time I shall endevour to drawe a Compendiary of the times and places of the severall battells betweene these two houses strooke and the slaughter on both sides made The three and twentieth day of May at Saint Albones in Hertfordshire Richard Duke of Yorke gave battell to King Henry the sixt on whose side was slaine Edmond Duke of Somerset Henry Earle of Northumberland Humphry Earle of Stafford Thomas Lord Clifford say some others John with divers Knights and Esquires to the number of 37. with five thousand common souldiers and Henry himselfe was taken Prisoner on the Dukes part only sixe hundred in the totall 5641. A Battell was fought at Bloarheath in Shropshire the thirteenth day of September betweene the Lord Audly Lieutenant to Henry the sixt and the Earle of Salisbury in which Audly was slaine and his Army overthrowne at this battell was slaine in all two thousand foure hundred men with Sir Thomas Dutton beside six other Cheshire Knights and two Esquires thereof in all 2411. Sir Osbert Mountfort with twelve Gentlemen of his company was taken at Sandwich and carried to Ricebanke and there beheaded by the Lord Fauconbridge The Earle of Wiltes at Newbery causeth twenty Yorkists to bee hanged and quartered The tenth of Iune in the thirty eight yeare of the King at Northampton was a battell fought wherein was slaine Humphry Duke of Buckingham John Talbot Earle of Shrowsbury Thomas Lord Egremond John Viscount Beamond and Sir William Lucy with tenne thousand and thirty men slaine The Lord Skales is slaine upon the Thames seeking to escape by the Earle of Warwicks men The thirtieth of December at Wakefield was a battell strooke wherein the Queene prevailed with the slaughter of two thousand eight hundred persons not numbring Richard Duke of Yorke Edmond Earle of Rutland a child and the Earle of Shrowsbury taken prisoner but afterwards beheaded Sir John Mortimer and Sir Hugh Mortimer the Dukes base Vncles Sir Davy Hall Sir Hugh Hastings Sir Thomas Nevill Sir William Parry Sir Thomas Parry Sir Richard Limbricke Knights then likewise slaine on Candlemasse day vpon the plaine neere Mortimers crosse in Hereford-shire a field was fought betwixt the new Duke of Yorke and the Earles of Penbrooke and Wiltes wherein the Duke prevailed with the slaughter of 3800. men but no man of qualitie but Sir Owen Tyther that had married Queene Katherine Vpon Shrovetuesday the seventeenth of February at Saint Albones the second Battaile was fought betweene Queene Margaret and the Duke of Norfolke and others wherein were slaine two thousand three hundred men besides the Lord Bonvile Sir Thomas Keryell Sir John Gray and Baron Thorpe The most cruell and deadly Battaile of all others during the rage of this unnaturall division was fought at Towton or betweene Towton and Saxton within foure miles of Yorke the nineteenth day of March being Palme Sunday wherein were slaine of English-men Thirty five thousand ninetie and one and of strangers one thousand seven hundred fourty five besides two hundred and thirty slaine the day before at Ferry Brigge with the Lord Fitzwater and the base brother of the Earle of Warwicke The most remarkable men that fell in this bloody fight were Henry Piercy Earle of Northumberland The Earle of Shrowsbury The Earle of Devon John Lord Clifford The Lord Beamond The Lord Nevill The Lord Willoughby The Lord Wells The Lord Rosse The Lord Gray The Lord Dacres The Lord Fitz-Hugh The two base Sonnes of Henry Holland Duke of Exceter Sir Thomas Mollineux Sir Otes Beckingham Sir Aubrey Trussell Sir Richard Piercy Sir William Heyton Sir Jervoys Clifton Sir Foulke Hamys Sir Thomas Crackenthorpe Sir James Crackenthorpe Sir William Throllop Sir Andrew Throllop Sir Walter Harle Sir John Ormond Sir William Mollyns Sir Thomas Pigot Sir William Norborough and William Burton Knights The Earle of Devonshire there taken Prisoner with three other Knights were beheaded at Yorke and so may be reckoned amongst the slaine so that the account of the whole number besides those that died after of hurts then received thirty seven thousand fourty and six At Hegley More the Lord Mountacute charged and put to flight two thousand Lancastrians who were on foot to march to Henry the sixt at which time Sir Ralph Piercy with one hundred and seven were slaine the residue flying gave alarum to the Kings Army and upon the 15. of May in a plaine called Livels neere the water of Dowill in Hexam shire the battaile was fought against Henry the sixt by the Lord Mountague Generall for Edward the fourth wherein were taken Prisoners Henry Duke of Somerset The Lord Rosse The Lord Mollins and The Lord Hungerford Sir Thomas Wentworth Sir Thomas Hussey Sir John Finderne and sixteene Knights more executed at Hexam and Yorke Sir William Talboys titulary Earle of Kime or Angus and not Kent as Master Martin relateth Sir Ralph Nevill Sir Ralph Gray and Sir Richard Tunstall were taken afterwards but beheaded The number slaine is uncertainly set downe the most of our common Writers not naming any only faabian saith about two thousand so that I make that my skale to reckon by At a place called Danes more neere the Towne of Edgcot within foure miles of Banbury was a great Battaile fought upon Saint Iames his day the five and twentieth of Iuly wherein were slaine
five thousand men William Harbert Earle of Penbrooke Sir Richard Herbert and eight Knights more are taken and beheaded at Banbury The Earle Rivers and Sir John his Sonne are beheaded at Northamton The Earle of Worcester John Tiptoft at London The Lord Willoughby at Doncaster The Lord Stafford at Bridgewater The Lord Wells and Sir Robert Dymocke were beheaded in the march but uncertaine where Neere Stamfort in Lincolnshire was a Batraile fought the first of October wherein were slaine ten thousand men but no men of note but Sir Robert Wells and Sir Thomas de land those that were put to flight for their more ease to escape cast away their coates whereupon it was called Losecoate field Vpon the fourteenth day of Aprill being Easter day upon a Plaine talled Gladmore Heath betweene Barnet and Saint Albones The Earles of Warwicke Oxford and the Marquesse Mountacute Commanders in chiefe on behalfe of Henry the sixt against Edward the fourth there was a terrible battell fought wherein were slaine ten thousand three hundred men amongst whom were the Earle of Warwicke the Marquesse Mountacute the Lord Cromwell the Lord Say the Lord Mountjoy Sir Henry Bourchier Sir William Terrill Vpon the fourth of May being Saterday Prince Edward with his Mother Queene Margaret to redeeme Henry the sixt gave battaile to King Edward wherein Queene Margaret was taken Prisoner and Prince Edward was slaine in cold blood There were slaine at this incounter John Somerset Marquesse Dorset Thomas Courtney Earle of Devon Thomas Lord Wenlake Sir Joâ—… Delves Sir Edward Hampden Sir Robert Whittingham Sir John Lewkner and three thousand others Edmond Duke of Somerset John Lonstrother Lord Prior of Saint Johns Sir Thomas Tresham Sir Jervoys Clifton Sir Richard Vaux Sir William Harvye Sir Thomas Fielding Sir Robert Lewknor Sir Thomas Lirmoth Sir William Vrman Sir John Seymor Sir Thomas Roose Sir Thomas Fitzhony Sir Robet Flamden were taken and executed in Tewkesbury the one day and Sir Humphry Audley Sir William Crymby Sir William Cary. Sir William Newbourgh were likewise with Henry Tresham VValter Courtney Iohn Flory Lewis Miles Robert Iackson Jame's Gower Iames Delves heire of Sir Iohn Delves beheaded there the next day This was the last battell that was fought in the dayes of King Edward the fourth but not all the bloodshed about this quarrell For at London by the treason of Bastard Fauconbridge there were seven hundred and eighty of his partakers and three hundred and twelve Citizens Londoners slaine Vpon Redmore Downe neere Bosworth in Leicestershire on the twentie two of August was the twelfth set Battaile in this unkind quarrell fought wherein King Richard the Vsurper was slaine and with him on his part John Duke of Norfolke Walter Lord Ferrers Sir Richard Radcliffe and Sir Robert Brackenbury with foure thousand and eight And on Richmonds side Sir William Brandon and 180. with him After this Battell there was a conjunction of the so long severed Rose branches Neverthelesse the enemy to Englands quiet would not suffer the gate of concord to stand quite open but raised up Impostors and counterfeits to interrupt the same But since the cause of the dissention by the Vnion of the Red and White in Henry the seventh and the Lady Elizabeth their so happy enter-marriage was taken away what occasion of expence of blood did after fall out within the Realme ought under favour bee it delivered rather to bee imputed to the effect of treasonable machinations then to any just occasion of the Roses Title And therefore I purposely omit to intermix the number of those that were slaine since Bosworth field amongst those that are to bee reckoned up in the generall slaughter in the twelve Battells and the occasions of expence of blood intervening by skirmishes and accidentall meanes and content my selfe with the only recapitulation of the severall numbers of Kings Princes Dukes Marquesses Earles Barons Vicounts Bishops Mitred Prelates Knights Esquires Gentlemen and private souldiers That during the rage of these civill warres which followed that breach of the due course of succession attempted by the intrusion of Henry the fourth fell under the alternate fortunes of the Victors sword untill that ever to bee blessed reuniting the two houses of Lancaster and Yorke whereby righteousnesse and Peace did kisse each other and Mercy and Truth which I pray God ever to continue established the Crowne of England in an hopefull and happy descending Line And as Henry the seventh conjoyned the Roses so hath King James of ever-blessed memory united the predivided kingdomes of England and Scotland espousing their Vnion to our Soveraine Lord King Charles to Gods glory the Churches good and his Subjects great comfort HENRY the Roses IAMES the Kingdomes knit And CHARLES of both partakes the benefit Oh! thou of Iesse flower of Iudah Lyon In his dominion plant the peace of Syon And never let hearts quiet follow those That shall the holding of this Knot oppose But let thy best of blessings wait on them That zealously shall guard his Diadem The totall of private souldiers that perished in the time of these civill warres and suffered the punishment of immature death for taking part on the one side or the other is Fourscore foure thousand nine hundred and ninetie eight persons besides Kings two Prince one Dukes tenne Marquesses two Earles one and twentie Lords twentie seven Vicounts two Lord Pryor one Iudge one Knights one hundred thirty nine Esquires foure hundred forty one The number of the Gentrie is every way so uncertainly reported that if I should endevour to set downe a generall of what is particularly related I should but give occasion of further question then I am willing should bee moved for a thing of so little moment and therefore willingly omit it And the rather for that they are for the most part included in the number of the private souldiers as aforesaid set downe to bee slaine to which but adde the number of six hundred thirty and eight the totall of all the persons of eminencie not therein accounted and then there appeareth in all to have beene slaine Fourescore five thousand six hundred twenty and eight Christians and most of them of this Nation not to bee repeated without griefe nor remembred without deprecation that the like may never happen more Pax una triumphis innumeris potior FINIS An. 1377. R. 1. Ann. 1378 R. 3. Anno. Dom. 1376. R. 2. An. 1380. R. 2. Anno 1381. R. 3. The Earle of Warwicke made sole Tutour to the King Scroop Lord Chancellor removed Ann. 1381 R. 3. Ann. D. 1382 R. 4. An. 1382. R. 4. In 〈◊〉 celebratione deprâ—…ersum Digito â—…abijs admoto c. Ann. 1382 R. 5. The Maior slayeth Wat Tyler Perditus pernitiosus praesbyter The Lord chiefe Iustice slaine by rebells The Bishop of Norwich suppresseth the rebells in Norfolke Cambridge spoyled by the rebells Ann D. 1382 R. 5. Anno. Dom. 1384. R. 6. An.
haec licentia sit omninò irrita Gulielmus Haywood Capell dom RR. P. Archiep. Cant. A CONTINVATION OF THE HISTORY of ENGLAND Liber tertius RICHARD the Second RIchard the second borne at Burdeaux sonne of Edward the blacke Prince and Ioane the daughter of Edmond Earle of Kent and grandchild to Edward the third being eleven yeares olde was crowned King at Westminster the 21. day of Iune 1377. by Simon Sudbury Archbishop of Canterbury at the time of whose Coronation the Duke of Lancaster per nomen Iohannis Regis Castiliae Legionis Dux Lancasteur put his clayme as Earle of Lecester to have the place of Earle Marshall of England as Duke of Lancaster to carry the Sword at the Coronation called Curtana as Earle of Lincolne to be Carver that day all which to be executed by himselfe or his sufficient Deputie which with the fees thereunto belonging were confirmed unto him and hee accordingly did them and there in person execute the place of high Marshall at such years As this King was then of the minde of man is like unto the potters earth apt to be wrought into any fashion and then which way soever it hardeneth by custome it seldome swerves from the same The gouernance of the King at the first was committed to certaine Bishops Earles Barons and Iustices but either by nicenesse and feare of discontenting the King or negligence to discharge their duty or both every one was more ready to please him with delightfull conceits then with profitable counsell to doe him good for smoothe and pleasing speeches need small endevour and alwayes finde favour whereas to advise that which is most meet is a point of some paines and many if not most times but a thanklesse office Hereupon two dangerous evills did ensue Flattery brake in and private respects as eversince it hath done did passe vnder publike pretences At his Coronation he Created foure Earles Thomas Woodstocke King Edward the thirds youngest sonne Earle of Buckingham and Northampton Thomas Mowbray younger brother of Iohn Lord Mowbray was created Earle of Nottingham Gifford Angolisme a Gascoigne Earle of Huntington and Henry Piercie sonne of Henry Lord Piercy was Created Earle of Northumberland In the beginning of this Kings raigne the French on the one side and the Scots on the other did cruelly infest this Land the one making depredations in the Isle of Wight harying the same and attempting the Castle from whence they were manfully repulsed by a Captaine whose name I will forbeare because in some Authors I finde him stiled by another appellation The other forraged the Country round about and burnt the Towne of Rocksborough This course of each side spoyling the English they both French and Scots combining continued by sea untill Iohn Philpot Citizen and Alderman of London lamenting the misery of the times occasioned by common neglect of scouring the Coasts and scouring the seas whereby the Merchant durst not traffique abroad for feare of Pyrats which hovered in every corner but especially of one Mercer a Scottish Rover who had drawne together a great flect of French Scottes and Spaniards and with them did robbe and spoyle all they met and did great mischiefe complayned hereof to the Kings Councell and demonstrated to them the daily wrongs sustained by the sayd Mercer imploring their ayd but receiving from them no reliefe he at his owne proper costs victualed and manned forth a company of tall shippes himselfe in person going with them to sea and in short time tooke the sayd Mercer and recovered all the prises formerly taken with fifteene Spanish Bottoms well fraught with riches besides many French and Scottish ships For which action hee encurred the hard censure of most of the Noble men from whom hee seemed to have snatcht by this his fortunate attempt the native cognisance of true nobilitie Amongst whom Hugh Earle of Stafford nettled with the generall commendations given to Philpot for this designe publikely at the Councell table objected against him the vnlawfulnesse of the act without authoritie being but a private man to attempt to levy armes But Philpot with a kinde of vndaunted resolution not only justified the act as though not altogether lawfull yet very expedient being done for the honour of God and the King and the security of the republicke but retorted the objection of improvidence and slothfull neglect upon the Earle and the rest of the Councell so that they were much to seeke for a reply and hee returned with the generall applause of the Citizens and most of the Courtiers The King of France presuming of the Kings minoritie with some Spanish ayde landed in the Southwest part of England and ransackt and burnt the townes of Plymmoth Dartmoth Portsmoth Rye and diverse other Coast townes and marched further into the mayne untill by the Earle of Cambridge the Kings vncle and the Earles of Salisbury and Buckingham and their forces they were encountred and beat backe unto their shippes About that time also by the King of France his instigation Alexander Ramsey a brave Scot with forty of his country-men in the night surprised the Castle of Barwicke and intended to have falne upon the Towne But the inhabitants suspecting some treason by the noyse they have endevoured to prevent mischiefe hewed downe the stayes of the draw-bridge on the towne side so that when the Scots let fall the Bridge the chaynes breaking the Bridge fell into the ditch by meanes whereof the Scots were imprisoned by their owne conquest yet as well as they were able they fortified them in the Castle which presently was besieged and assaulted and though valiantly defended was with some losse at length surprised upon the taking whereof not one man but the Captaine Ramsey was spared In the third yeare of this Kings raigne it was concluded that to avoide unnecessary charge the tutelage of the King should bee committed but to one man and by the whole consent of the Parliament dissembled this office was deputed to Lord Thomas Beuchampe Earle of Warwicke and a competent pension was assigned him out of the Kings Exchequer for his paines and care thereabouts to be taken But the King being plunged in the gulfe of pleasure did immoderately bend himselfe to advance and favour such persons as were reprovable for life and generally condemned for deboshment and this was the cause of two great inconveniences for many of the younglings of Nobilitie observing the secret favours and distastes of the King gave over themselves to a dissolute and dishonest course which findeth some followers when it hath no furtherancers much more when it doth flourish and thrive by countenance and abetement The King also by favouring these was himselfe little favoured and lesse loved by many For it is as dangerous to a Prince to have evill and despised adherents as to be evill and despicable himselfe The chiefe actors in this scene were Nevill Archbishop of Yorke Robert Uear Earle of Oxford Michael Delapoole Robert
their importunate travaile especially of Sir Iohn Bashy who had procured himselfe to be made Speaker of that Parliament all the Chartells of pardon formerly granted by the King were in this Parliament annulled The Prelates perceiving the intention of drawing divers of the Nobilitie and others in question for their lives did Constitute Sir Henry Piercy their Procurator and depart the house because they might not be present at judgement of blood Then the Earles of Arundel and Warwicke were arraigned for those offences for which they were formerly pardoned and thereupon were condemned to bee hanged drawne and quartered but the King so moderated the severitie of this sentence that the Earle of Arundel was only beheaded and the Earle of Warwicke committed to perpetuall imprisonment in the Isle of Man It was thought a point of policie and peace not to bring the Earle Duke of Glocester to publicke tryall but secretly to put him to death and so hee was strangled betweene two feather-beds by the appointment of Nottingham Earle Marshall of Calice which death howsoever hee might bee thought to him deserved yet dying as hee did not legally called or heard hee may be truly sayd to dye guiltlesse Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury was likewise there accused for executing the Commission against Michael de la Poole for which causes his temporalities were seized his lands and goods forfeited and he himselfe adjudged to exile and to depart the Realme within sixe weekes The Lord Cobham was banished into the Islle of Gernsey and Sir Reignold Cobham condemned to death not for any attempt against the King But because hee was appointed by the Lords to bee one of his governours in the eleventh yeare of his raigne Now the King falsly supposing himselfe free from danger and that the humour against him was cleane purged away conceived more secret content then hee could openly bewray as more able to dissemble his joy then conceale his feare being so blinded and be witched with continuall custome of flatteries that hee perceived not That the state of a Prince is never stablished with cruelty nor confirmed by craft The common people were much dismayd having now lost their only helpes and hopes as well for private affaires as support of the publike state The Plebeians were much incensed against the King And to make their deaths seeme the more foule The Earle of Arundel hath the reputation of a martyr and Pilgrimages are made to the place of his interment yea it went for current likewise that his head was miraculously joyned to the body This being generally affirmed but without any ground The Corps therefore are taken up ten dayes after the buriall and finding the fame to bee fabulous the King caused the ground to bee paved where the body was layd publickly forbidding all further speeches thereof afterward to bee used But this restraint raysed fame the more and they that if it had beene lawfull would have beene silent being now forbidden could not forbeare to talke The King Createth five Dukes Henry Earle of Darby was created Duke of Hereford Edward first Earle of Rutland was created Duke of Ammerlo and Corke in Ireland Thomas Holland the Earle of Kent was created Duke of Southry Sir Iohn Holland Earle of Huntington was created Duke of Exceter Iohn Lord Moubrey Earle of Nottingham was created Duke of Norfolke This Title of honour long time after the Conquest amongst the Normans whose chiefest Rulers had no greater Tytle was accounted too high for a subject to beare the forme of the R. P. being framed by the Conquerour far from equalitie of all and yet the King exempted from alike eminency of any The King likewise created Margaret daughter and heire of Thomas Brockerson Countesse of Norfolke Dutchesse of Norfolke Iohn Bewfort sonne of Iohn of Gaunt Earle of Sommerset was created Marquesse of Sommerset Thomas Lord Spencer was created Earle of Gloucester Ralph Lord Nevill was created Earle of Westmerland William Lord Scroope sonne of Richard Lord Scroope Lord Chancellor was created Earle of Wiltes Sir Thomas Piercy Vicechamberlaine was created Earle of Worcester Amongst whom was made a distribution of a great part of the Lands of the Duke of Glocester and of the Earles of Arundell and Warwicke supposing by this double bountie of Honour and meanes to maintaine it to have tyde them with a double obligation of dutie and affection but â—…ired friends for the most part are seldome either satisfied or sure but like the Ravens in Arabia that full gorged have a tunable sweet record but empty scrich horribly The Duke of Hereford as it were to rayse his desires to his dignities either upon the disdaine of the undeserved favours and advancement of some persons about the King or disliking that his Soveraigne should bee so abused and abased by such or else to make knowne his owne sufficiency in matters of controlement and direction one day having familiar conference with the Duke of Norfolke complained that the King too much undervalued the Princes of the blood royall and much discouraged the rest of the Nobilitie from intermedling in publike affaires That in steed of these hee was wholly guided by a few new-found and new-fangled Favourites of dunghill-breed of base qualities having no sufficiency either for Councell for peace or courage for warre who being of all men both the most unhonest and most unable which hatefulnesse of the one and contempt of the other were generally despised in all the Realme whereby the Honour of the Kings person was much blemished for ungrate and ungratious adherents to a King are alwayes the path to hatred and contempt secondly the safety of his estate might bee endangered for extraordinary favours to men of apparant weake or bad desert doth breed insolency in them and discontentment in others two dangerous humours in a Common-wealth Thirdly the dignitie of the Realme was much impayred whose valour and successe being guided by the ill successe of such unlucky leaders stood never in the like doubts of danger and distresse as now it did so that matters of peace were tumultuous and uncertaine and atchievements in warre were never brought to honourable conclusions And that it was high time that the King should looke unto them for the Nobilitie grew out of heart the Commons out of hope and all the people were fallen into a discontented murmuring And this hee affirmed hee sayd not for any grudge to any particular person but for griefe for the publike grievance and good will to his Soveraigne and therefore desired the Duke who was one of the Kings Cabinet counsell to discover unto him these deformities and dangers that by repayring the one hee might happily repell the other These words procured to the Duke of Hereford both great offence and great glory At the delivery whereof the Duke of Norfolke made shew of good liking well approving them and made promise of sincere dealing therein And had they afterward by him beene as faithfully related and
King should take the revenews of his land untill he was satisfied of such sommes of money as hee had received out of the Kings coffers for the payment of the garrison of Calice And he further sayd That the King commanded upon paine of his high displeasure that no man from thenceforth should presume to petition the King in behalfe of either of those Dukes to alter this Decree The sentence thus read the King called the exiles before him and tooke of them a solemne oath that they should never converse together nor willingly come into each others company lest common discontent should draw first reconcilement and after desire of revenge But this pollicie is ever weake to prevent such purposes for oathes are often spurnd aside when they lye like rubbeâ—… to stoppe the way to honour or revenge Therefore the Princes of the Realme have with more safetie for the most part abolished the use of abjuration and either by death extinguish the power or by pardon alter the will of great offendors from entring into desperate and dangerous attempts which men in miserie and disgrace with more vehemency begin and with more obstinacy continue When the Samnites had so enclosed the Roman Legions that they had neither space to fight nor meanes to flye and without fight had enforced them to yeeld they sent for advise to one Pontius an antient Ruler of their State what to doe with them His answer was that the Romans should bee permitted to depart without losse or derision But this not pleasing those that were either cruell or covetous Pontius was the second time consulted with whose answer then was That the Romans should bee generally slaughtered and not one spared This contrarietie of advise brought Pontius into suspition of dotage which he suspecting came in person and maintained both to be advantageous The first by an unexpected favour might provoke the Romans to a perpetuall friendship the second would deferre the warres for many yeares The third Counsell quoth he there cannot be given that may be fafely followed yes say the Samnites to grant them their lives but to take away their armes and bootie This is a way replies old Pontius which can neither win friends nor weaken enemies but may increase fury but not diminish force So that that course of punishment is out of course which doth neither reclaime the minde of man nor restraine the might from mischievous endevours The Duke of Norfolke with great griefe and perturbation of minde now â—…ving it to bee true that greatnesse abused by whispering untruthes draweth if discovered certaintie of destruction departed into Almaine and from thence travailed to Venice where shortly after hee ended his dayes It is observed that this Duke was banished the same day of the yeare wherein the Duke of Yorke by his contriving was strangled at Calice The Duke of Hereford tooke his leave of the King at Eltham where foure yeares of his exilement were strooke off The Dukes deportment was with that moderation that in his countenance he made shew neither of sorrow or stupiditie and at his departure let not fall any either intemperate or unseemely sillable The Commons much lamented his departure not sparing to exclaime that it was against the Law of armes the custome of the Realme and all Iustice that hee should bee exiled who had honourably endevoured to maintaine his appeale according to the law of the field Their affection was the more excessive by reason the ground of his speech was against those that the people hated and he was the only survivor of the popular faction The Duke of Hereford sayleth to Callice and from thence to Paris where hee was honourably received by the King of France and in short time found that favour with him that hee was offered for wife the only Daughter of Iohn Duke of Berry Vncle to the French King But the King of England upon notice thereof made such meanes that the Mariage was stopt Many things hapned this yeare which were interpreted to presage the revolt of the people which hapned the yeare following observation likewise was taken that when King Richard brought his first wife with him out of Beanne shee was no sooner on shore but such a tempest arose as the like thereof had not beene seene in many yeares before wherein many shippes and amongst them the ship the Queene came in was cast away The like storme and the like losse did betide when the King brought his second wife out of France Many prodigies are likewise storied to appeare about these times both strange and fearefull I dare not avouch them all to be true neither will I detract all truth from such things so antiently reported Many are perswaded that these things which are fatally allotted though they are unavoidable yet are they some times foreshowne not so much that we may prevent them as that we should prepare our selves against them About this time died Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster who was buried on the North side of the high Altar of the Cathedrall Church of Saint Paul in London he was a man advised and wary liking better safe courses with reason then happy by hazzard neither unrespective nor ambitiously carefull of his owne glory Hee carried himselfe towards the King in termes honourable enough for a moderate Prince and yet not so plausible as an uncollected man might desire whereby nothing hapned unto him extraordinary either in prejudice or preferment This Iohn of Gaunt so named of the place where hee was borne fourth sonne of Edward the third did write in his stile Iohn sonne to the King of England Duke of Aquitaine and Lancaster Earle of Richmond of Darby Lincolne Leicester and high Constable of England hee married three Wives Blanch Daughter and coheire of Henry first Duke of Lancaster by whome hee had issue Henry afterwards King of England Philip married to Iohn King of Portugal Elizabeth married to Iohn Holland Duke of Exceter His second wife was Constance daughter and one of the Coheires of Peter King of Castile by whom he had issue Katherinâ—… married to Henry son of Iohn King of Spaine His third Wife was Katherine daughter of Payne Rurt King of armes and Widow of Sir Otes Swinford Knight by whom hee had issue Iohn Bewford Earle of Somerset and Marquesse Somerset Henry Bewford Bishop of Winchester Thomas Bewford Earle of Dorset and Duke of Exceter Ioane married to Ralph Nevill Earle of Chester and afterwards to Robert Ferrers Lord of Ousley all these Children though borne before espousall by a Bull from Rome were made legitimate hee lyeth buryed in Pauls After his death the Dutchy of Lancaster did lineally descend to his eldest sonne the Duke of Hereford But as the nature of man is prone to hate those whom hee hath injured the King seized all the lands and goods of the deceased Duke and endevoured to perpetuate the banishment of the young Duke revoked the Letters patents granted and consented unto
both voluntarily resigne and also solemnly bee deposed by consent of all the States of the Realme For resignation would bee imputed only to feare deprivation to force whereof the one is alwayes pitied and the other envied But if both concurre and his desire be combined with his desert being willing to forsake that which hee is adjudged worthy to forgoe Then it will appeare that he is neither expelled his kingdome by meere constraint nor leaveth it without just cause this advise generally pleased And for execution thereof upon the Feast of Saint Michael which was the day before the Parliament should begin there assembled at the Tower Thomas Arundell Archbishop of Canterbury Richard Scroope Archbishop of Yorke Iohn Bishop of Hereford Henry Duke of Lancaster Henry Earle of Northumberland Radulph Earle of Westmerland Lord Hugh Burnell Lord Thomas Berckley Lord Rosse Lord Willowbigh Lord of Abergany the Abbot of Westminster the Pryor of Canterbury William Thirmings and Iohn Markham chiefe Iustices Thomas Stokey and Burbacke Doctors of the Law Thomas Herpingham Thomas Gray Knights William Ferly and Dionise Lophane Notary publicks and divers others neither noted nor remembred When all were set in their places King Richard was brought forth apparelled in a royall Roabe the Diadem on his head and his Scepter in his hand and was placed amongst them in a chaire of State never was Prince so gorgeous with lesse glory and more griefe To whom it was not thought disgrace sufficient to lose both the honour and ornaments of a King But hee must openly to his greater scorne renownce the one and surrender up the other After hee had sate a while and pawsed he used these words to the assembly I perswade my selfe that some here present and many more hereafter will account my case lamentable eiâ—…her that I have deserved this dejection if it be just or if it bee wrongfull that I could not avoyd it I confesse with shame and griefe that many times I have appeared both lesse provident and lesse painfull for the benefit of the republicke then I should or might or would have beene hereafter and have in many actions more respected the satisfying my owne particular humour then either in justice to some private persons or the common good of all yet did I not at any time either altogether omit dutie or commit grievance upon supine dulnesse or set malice but partly by abuse of corrupt Counsellors chiefely by error of my youthfull rash conceit without true judgement The remembrance of these oversights are to no man so unpleasant as to my selfe and the rather because I have no meanes left either by injuries done or to testifie to the world my reformed affections which experience and maturitie of yeares had already begun to correct and would I assure my selfe have growne to a more perfect frame if but permitted to have continued But whether all imputed to mee be true either in substance or qualitie according as they are suggested or whether being true they be so exorbitant as to enforce these extremities or whether any other Prince especially in youthfull blood and in the space of two and twenty yeares the time of my unfortunate raigne doth not sometimes either for advantage or displeasure in as deepe manner grieve some particular subject I will notnow examine it bootes not to use defence nor much availeth to make complaint there is left no place for the one nor pitie for the other And therefore I refer all to Gods pleasure and your more collected considerations I accuse no man I blame not fortune I complaine of nothing There is no pleasure in such ayrie comforts it may bee if I had had will to have stood upon termes I could have procured great favours abroad and presume some good friends at home who would have beene ready it may be too forward on my behalfe to set up a dangerous and doubtfull war But I estimate not worldly dignitie at so high a rate to hazard the spilling of so much Christian blood and the spoyling of so flourishing a Country as thereby might have beene occasioned in my quarrell Therefore that the Common-wealth may rather rise by my fall then I stand by the ruine thereof I willingly submit to your desires and am here come to dispossesse my selfe of all Regall and publike authoritie or title And to make it free and lawfull for you to Elect and Create for your King Henry Duke of Lancaster my Vncles son whom I know to be as worthy to take that place as I see you willing to conferre it upon him Then hee read openly and distinctly the forme of his cession wherein hee did declare that he had discharged his Subjects from their obligations of Fealtie and homage and all other tyes whatsoever And of his owne will and free motion did repudiate the title dignitie and authority of a King and rendred up the possession of the Realme with the use and title thereof and all the rites thereunto appertaining and thereunto subscribed and made oath for the performance And then with his owne hands delivered the Crowne Scepter Roabe and ornaments to the Duke of Lancaster saying Cousin I wish you more happinesse herewith then ever hapned to my selfe Then did hee Constitute the Archbishop of Yorke and the Bishop of Hereford his Procurators to intimate and declare this his resignation to all the States of the Parliament Lastly hee gave all his Treasure to the summe of three hundred thousand pounds in coine besides his jewels and Plate for satisfaction of injuries done desiring the Duke and those present severally by their names not altogether to forget that hee had been their King nor yet too much to thinke upon it but to retaine a moderate remembrance of him and in recompence of the ease hee had done them by this voluntary resignation to permit him to live safely in a private life with the contemplation whereof he was so taken that from thenceforth hee would preferre it before any worldly preferment This was done with voice and countenance so consonant to his present passion that not any present not unmindfull of humane instabilitie which was not in some measure moved thereat insomuch that some few teares secretly dropped from many eyes there present in whose thoughts a confused but obscure alteration already began to take rising so prone is man-kinde to pitie misery though by themselves procured and to envie prosperitie even in those themselves have raised The Munday following the Parliament began at Westminster and there the Archbishop of Yorke and the Bishop of Hereford the late Kings Attorneys for this purpose openly declared to the States there assembled the Kings voluntary resignation and demanded whether they would assent and agree thereunto The Barons of the Realme by particular assent the Commons with generall voice accepted and admitted the fame Then it was thought requisite that some defects and misdemeanours in point of government should bee objected against the late King for which hee might
King answered that hee little regarded titular circumstances but contented himselfe with hope that his Cousin would bee a gratious Lord and good friend unto him and accordingly upon the day appointed which was upon the day of the translation of King Edward the Confessour the Duke of Hereford with all accustomed Ceremonies was by the Archbishop of Canterbury sacred and annointed and Crowned upon the very same day that the yeare before hee had beene banished the Realme Hee was annointed with an oyle which a religious man had given to Henry the first Duke of Lancaster grandfather to the King by the Mothers side when hee served in the warres of King Edward the third in France together with this Prophesie that those Kings which should bee annointed therewith at their Coronation should bee the Champions of the Church Duke Henry delivered this Oyle in a golden Violl to Prince Edward eldest Sonne of King Edward the third who locked up the same in a barred Chest in the Tower with a ticket of the prediction with intent to bee therewith at his Coronation annoynted But hee dying before his Father it remained there either not remembred or not regarded untill this present yeare wherein the King being on his voyage into Ireland and making diligent search for the Iewells and Relickes of his Progenitors found this Violl and Prophesie And understanding the mistery thereof was desirous to bee annoynted againe with that oyle But the Archbishop of Canterbury perswaded him that both the fact was unlawfull and the president never seene that a King should be annointed twice Whereupon the King tooke the Violl with him into Ireland and when he yeelded himselfe at Flint The Archbishop of Canterbury demanded it of him and receiving it reserved the same untill the Coronation of Henry the fourth who was the first King that ever was annoynted therewith To discourse either of the authoritie or certaintie of these Prophesies I presume not but this is observed many of them faile or are fulfilled in another sense then as they are ordinarily conceived and taken During the time of this Kings raigne execution by fire was first put in practise within this Realme for Controversies in point of religion in any other matter hee did make the Church as much Champane as show himselfe Champion of the Church But afterwards his successors were entituled Defenders of the Faith And how in action the first receiver of that Title did verifie the same I referre to the report of those times Vpon mature consideration it was found that the title derived from Edmond surnamed Crouchbacke to Henry would upon examination appeare but a jeere for that the said Edmond was neither eldest Sonne to Henry the third nor yet a deformed person but a proper Gentleman and a brave Commander in the field and so respected of his Father that hee gave him both the heritage and honours of Simon Mumford Earle of Leicester of Ferrare Earle of Darby and of Iohn Baron of Monmoth who to their owne ruine had displayed seditious ensignes against the King under which Leicester was slaine at the battaile of Euesham and to engratiate him to Blaunch the Queene of Navarre hee first Created him Earle of Lancaster and gave unto him the Countie Castle and towne of Lancaster with the Forrests of Wiresdale Lonsdale Newcastle beneath the Linne the Mannor Castle and Forrests of Pickering the Mannor of Scalby the Towne of Glocester of Huntingdon c. and made him high Steward of England with many priviledges and other titles of Honour Therefore King Henry upon the day of his Coronation caused to bee Proclaimed that hee claimed the Crowne of England first by right of Conquest Secondly because King Richard had resigned his estate and designed him for his Successor Lastly because he was of the blood royall and next heire male to King Richard Haeres malus indeed cryed Edmond Mortimer Earle of March to some of his familiars and so is a Pirat to a Merchant when hee dispoyleth him of all that ever hee hath This Edmond Earle of March was Sonne to Roger not long before slaine in Ireland and had beene publickly declared heire to the Crowne in case King Richard should have died without issue as descended by his Mother Philip from Lionel Duke of Clarence who was elder Brother to Iohn Duke of Lancaster King Henryes Father and therefore the said Edmond thought himselfe as in truth he was neerer heire Male to succession of the Crowne Then hee that by colour of right clayming it carried it by dint of force But the condition of the time was such that hee supposed it was in vaine for him to stirre where King Richard could not stand whereupon he dissembled either that hee saw his wrong or that hee regarded it and chose rather to suppresse his Title for a time then by untimely opposing himselfe to have it oppressed and depressed for ever he withdrew himselfe therefore from London to his Lordship of Wigmore in the West parts of this Realme and there settled himselfe to a quiet and retired life hee counted it a point of wisdome to meddle with nothing whereof any man was chargeable to render account in revenewes he was not great in apparell moderate in company and traine not excessive yet in all these honourable and according to his degree so that they that esteemed men by the outward apparance only could see in him no great show of witte or courage to be feared or of wealth or honour in his estate to bee envied And thus whilst that a greater enemie was feared hee passed unregarded making himselfe safe by contempt where nothing was so dangerous as popular opinion and raked up those coles in securitie for a time which afterward set all the Realme on fire King Richard being now deposed was sent after his resignation to Leeds in Kent but afterwards to Pomfret Castle where wee leave him THE LIFE AND RAIGNE OF KING HENRY THE FOVRTH HENRY surnamed Bullingbrooke Duke of Hereford and Sonne of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster fourth Sonne of King Edward the third beginning his Raigne the 29. of September 1399. presently after his Coronation Created his eldest Sonne Lord Henry being about thirteene yeares of age Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earle of Chester and soone after Duke of Aquitaine hee made also many new officers his second Sonne Thomas he made Lord high Steward of England appointing the Earle of Worcester his Assistant during the minoritie of the said Thomas the Earle of Northumberland Lord high Constable the Earle of Westmerland Marshall of England He was Crowned at Westminster the thirteenth of October following being Munday the day kept in cōmemoration of St. Edward the Confessor The Dukes of Yorke Surrey Albemarle with the Earle of Glocester bare the Canopie over him which office the Barons of the Cinqueports doe at this day execute Sir Thomas Dymock was Champion and armed cap-a-pe road about the Hall challenging any that should gainsay the Kings
to Dowglasse Earle George not being used to bee confronted or sit downe with disgrace could hardly enforce his patience to endure this scorne And first hee demanded restitution of his money not so much for desire to have it as to picke an occasion to breake his Allegeance The King refused to make payment or give promise but deluded him with frivolous delayes whereupon with his family hee fled to the Earle of Northumberland intending by disloyaltie to revenge the indignitie and to repaire his losses by his enemies ruine if possible the English with wide and open armes imbrace the opportunitie with whose helpe and assistance the Earle made divers incursions into Scotland where hee burnt many Townes and slew much people enriching himselfe with booty and spoyle King Robert depriveth the Earle of his honour seizeth all his lands and possessions and writes to King Henry that as hee would have the truce betwixt them longer to continue either to deliver unto him the Earle of March and his adherents or else to banish them the Realme King Henry perceiving that these warres arising had almost put the peace out of joynt was determined not to lose the benefit of the discontented subjects of his adversarie whereupon he returned answer to the Herald of Scotland that hee was neither weary of peace nor fearefull of warre and ready as occasion should change either to hold the one or hazard the other But the word of a Prince was or ought to bee of great waight And therefore sith he had granted unto the Earle of March his safe conduct it were a great impeachment to his honour without just cause to violate the same Hereupon the King of Scots did presently proclaime open warre against the King of England who thought it pollicie rather to begin the war in the enemies countrey then to expect it in his own because that land which is the seat of warre doth commonly furnish both sides with necessary supplies the friend by contribution the enemy by spoyle sending certaine troopes of horsemen before him both to espie and to induce an uncertaine terror upon the enemy hee entred into Scotland with a puissant army and with fire and sword proceeded sparing nor Castle Towne or Citie but burned Churches and religious houses so that in all places that hee passed the spectacle was ugly and grisly which hee left behinde him being such as commonly accompany the Chariot of warre They that fled before the army filled all places with feare and terror extolling above truth the English forces to diminish thereby their shame in running from them About the end of September hee besieged the Castle of Maydens in Edenbrough where Prince David and Earle Douglasse were the inconstancie of the one and the ambition of the other being the principall movers of all this losse of blood During this siege Robert Duke of Albany the Governour during the King of Scots inabilitie through sicknesse to manage the businesse sent an Harold to King Henry protesting upon his honour that if hee would abide but five dayes at the most hee would either remove the siege or lose his life The King bountifully rewarded the Harold and promised in the word of a Prince to abide there during the time by him prefixed But six times sixe dayes were past but neither Governour nor other appeared Winter came on victuall in the Campe fayled the Countrie was cold and comfortlesse it rained every day in great abundance which distemperature of weather and want of befitting sustenance caused the death of many a tall souldier it may bee these discommodities arising stayed the Governour from performing his promise for policie was against it to hazard his men to fight when Winter and want two forcible foes had given the charge upon his enemy sure it is that they moved the King to remove his siege and depart out of Scotland unfought with Both the Wardens of the Marches were all this time in Scotland with the King upon which advantage the Scots did breake into Northumberland and did some spoyle in Banborough shire the English quickly tooke the Alarum but the Scots with as much speed retired But when King Henry had discharged his Army the Scots not so desirous of life as revenge made a speedy road into England under the conduct of Sir Thomas Hahbarton of Dirleton and Sir Patricke Heborne of Hales but all the hurt they did did rather waken then weaken the English and they themselves were somewhat encouraged but nothing enriched by what they had got But Sir Patrick puft up with desire hope resolved upon a greater exployt The people which are easily led by prosperitie in great numbers resorted unto him but he was loath to have more fellowes in the spoyles then he thought should need in the danger therefore with a competent Army of the men of Loughdeane he invaded Northumberland where he made great spoyle and loded his souldiers with prisoners and prey They thought of no perill that might bee in the retrayt so they marched loosly and licentiously neither keeping themselves to their colours or rankes But the Earle of Northumberlands Vicewarden and other Borderers in good array set upon them at a Towne called Nesbyt The Scots valiantly received the charge and the battell was sharpe in the end the Scots rankes grew thin as being rather confusedly shouffled together then orderly composed which when the Vice warden felt with a company which he purposely retained about him for sudden dispatches hee charged them home and rowted them Sir Patricke bereaved of counsell and comfort ranne up and downe from place to place commanding many things and presently forbidding them And the lesse of force his directions were the oftner did hee change them at last as it hapneth in lost and desperate cases every man became a Commander but none a putter in execution so the rankes loosed and brake and could not bee reunited the Victor closely pursuing the advantage Sir Patricke thinking of nothing lesse then either flying or yeelding but thrusting himselfe amongst the thickest of the enemies honourably lost his life many of his Linage and the flower of Loughdeane were likewise slaine there were taken Sir Iohn and William Cockborne Sir William Basse Iohn and Thomas Hablington Esquires and a multitude of common souldiers on the English part no great number were slaine and none of ranke or qualitie About this time King Henry sent his eldest Daughter Blaunch accompanied with the Earle of Somerset the Bishop of Worcester the Lord Clifford and others into Almaine who brought her to Colleyne where with great triumph shee was married to William Duke of Bavier Sonne and heire to Lewis the Emperour About the midst of August the King with a great power went into Wales to pursue Owen Glendour but lost his labour for Glendour had conveyed himselfe into his lurking holes amongst the Mountaines The King through the extremitie of foule weather was enforced to retire having spoyled and burnt a great part of the Country
entertaines them royally and tooke order with the Archbishop of Canterbury to give them answer to this effect That if the King of France would not give his Daughter and with her the lands and Seignioryes demanded that he would not disband but with all extremities that follow warre prosecute his right and never give over till hee had recovered his Patrimonie the King avowing the Archbishops speeches promising by the word of a Prince to performe the same and to visit them sooner then they should have cause to bid him welcome and so hee dismissed them All things prepared and in readinesse for France as the King having shipt his men was ready to goe on shipboord himselfe a plot of treason is discovered plotted by Richard Earle of Cambridge Henry Lord Scroope of Masham Lord Treasurer Sir Thomas Gray of Northumberland and plotted and procured by the French agents These hee caused to bee apprehended and upon examination they confessed the treason and the summe of money by them for that end received and were immediately executed This Richard of Connesburgh second Sonne of Edmond of Langley married Anne Sister and heire of Edmond Mortymer Earle of March and had issue Richard Earle of Cambridge Duke of Yorke and Isabel married to Henry Lord Burcher Earle of Essex Some gather and I must confesse it is very probable that the Earle of Cambridge was not so mercenary as to commit Treason for money but would have confessed the cause had it not beene for feare to bring the Earle of March in question That his Title was by him and others intended to have beene set on foot and strongly backt by Sir Iohn Oldcastle and others if not as afore prevented but hereby were the sparkes discerned that afterwards blazed so ragingly over the Lancastrian family The windblowing a faire gale King Henry weighs Anchor and with his whole fleet puts to Sea and on our Lady Eeve landeth at Caux where the River of Sayne runneth into the Sea without resistance being come on shore hee caused Proclamation to be made that none upon paine of death should take any thing out of any Church or Chappell or offer any violence to any that should bee found unarmed and that no quarrell should bee renewed whereby any affray may bee made Then layes hee siege to Harflew the Lords of Toutevile and Gaucourts being within the same The French King advertised of the arrivall of the English sent the Constable the Seneschal and Marshall of France with others to the Castle of Candebecke from thence as occasion should bee offered to relieve Harflue But the English ceased not daily to forrage whilst the Duke of Glocester to whom the ordering of the siege was committed ceased not to plye the battery and so kept them in the Towne waking with continuall assaults The Captaines of the Towne perceiving that they were not able long to hold out the walls being undermined and the Earles of Huntington and Kent possest of the brest and thereon had pitcht their Colours about midnight sent to crave parlie Whereupon the Duke of Exceter the Lord Fitzhugh and Sir Thomas Erpingham were sent with this instruction that if they would not instantly surrender the Towne without condition there should no time bee sâ—…ent in communication yet upon the Lords importunitie the King gave themâ—…ve dayes respite in which time if no reskue came they should surrender the Towne into the Kings hand and for their lives and goods to stand to the Kings mercy Hereupon the Lord Bacquevile was sent to the French King to acquaint him with the composition but no reliefe comming they surrendred within three dayes the souldiers were ransomed and the Towne sacked The Duke of Exceter was appointed Captaine thereof who left there for his Lieutenant Sir Iohn Falstaffe with fifteene hundred men The dead of Winter approaching the King caused all those souldiers that had not payed their ransomes to sweare to render themselves prisoners at Callice at the feast of Saint Martine following Whereupon two Forts which stood on the North side of Harflue which till then expecting aydé stood out rendred likewise and then having repayred the Bulwarcke and furnished it with all things necessary hee marched to Porthouse intending to passe the River there before the Bridges were broken The Dolphin had taken order to carry into places of safetie all kinde of provision which might bee usefull for the reliefe of the English But King Henry kept on his way enforcing the Townes as hee went to supply his wants and comming to the river of Soame hee found all the Bridges broken and the fourds stakt hee marched to Arams in that orderly manner that the enemy durst not offer to impeach passage untill hee came to the Bridge of Saint Maxenae where thirtie thousand French appearing hee pitcht his Campe expecting to bee fought with where the more to encourage his men hee gave the order of Knighthood to Iohn Lord Ferrers of Groby Reignold Graystocke Percy Tempest Christopher Morisbye Thomas Pickering William Hadvesten Iohn Hoshalton Henry Mortymer and divers others But not perceiving the French to have any great will to come on hee marched by the Towne of Amiens to another place of strength called Bowes and there stayed two dayes expecting battell and from thence marched to Corby where the Peasants in multitudes relying upon their numbers and the ayde of the garrisons of Corby gave the King a Camisadoe and having forestald the passage in a straight with certaine men of armes sent from the Dolphyn they charged the right wing of the English which was led by Sir Hugh Stafford Lord Bourchier so hotly that they wonne away his Standard But the same was againe recovered by Iohn Bromley of Bromley who being a Commander in Staffords Regiment not only made the retiring troopes to stand but renewing the fight with his owne sword slew him that had the Lord Bourchiers Colours and taking them up displayd the same with sight whereof the English were so much encouraged that they fell in with that vehemence upon the French that they presently rowted and fled the Lord recompenced the valiant exploit of his kinsman and for the same gave to him an annuitie of fiftie pounds per annum assigning out of all his lands in Staffordshire as by the enrolment of that deed is extant the Seale is a Cheuron charged with a Mullet about the same engraven Signa Hugonis de Stafford militis The same night after the retreat sounded the King found a shallow fourd betwixt Corby and Peron never spied before at which the night following he passed safe making what march hee could without Alte towards Callice Notwithstanding the extremities which attend his Army marching through an enemies Country where no forrage could be found and small store of pillage yet did the King so strictly observe the due performance of his first Proclamation against Church-robbing that hearing one complaynd of to the Marshall for having stolne or as
and the like was granted to the Queene of Ierusalem and her sonne Lewis for Anjou and Mayne the Duke of Britaine being their Proxie for the obtaining the same From Alanson the Earle of Salisbury was sent to Falays to view the strength thereof and to keepe the inhabitants from comming forth the King with his Army followed and entrenched themselves to avoide excursions and incursions The King made his approaches to his best advantage and though it was in the hard of Winter made provision sufficient for his men both against cold and hunger whereupon the besieged concluded if succour came not before the second of Ianuary next following to yeeld the Towne the succour not comming the Towne was yeelded but the Castle held out into which the Governour and most of the best able men were gotten but being fiercely followed and kept in continuall action by assaults and myning they were driven to make composition of surrender if not reskued before the sixt of February the souldiers to depart with their lives only and the Captaine to bee ransomed The prefixed time come the Castle was surrendred and the Captaine detained prisoner untill the Castle was sufficiently repaired his name was Oliver de Many The King leaving for Captaine there Sir Henry Fitzhugh returned to Cane to put in execution a Proclamation formerly made that if the inhabitants of Normandy that were fled returned not by a day to them prefixed to grant their lands to his souldiers thereupon hee gave to the Duke of Clarence during life the Vicounties of Ange Orber and Pontinz Oe Mere with all the lands of those that were not returned according to Proclamation All the whole Lent the King lay at Bayeux with part of his Army but the residue were volant upon exploits abroad The Kings Navy still kept the seas scowring the Coasts daily taking the French Bottomes they met but upon the sixteenth of Iuly such a storme took them that had they not by Gods good favor falne in with Southampton the whole Navy had beene in great danger yet in that Haven two Ballingers and two great Carrickes laden with Merchandize were drowned and the Mast of one of the great shippes was with the storme blowne over the Towne wall when the fury of the tempest was past the Earles of March and Huntington waâ—…ted over to Normandy and landing there marched up the country to the King The Earle of Warwicke and the Lord Talbot besieged the strong Castle of Dampfront The Duke of Clarence at that time tooke Courton and Burny and in the first placed Captaine Aubyn and Captaine William Houghton in the other hee likewise appointed in Chombis Captaine Iames Nevill in Bechelovin for Captaine the Earle Marshall in Harcourt Captaine Richard Woodvile in Fantgernon for Captaine Iohn Saint Albon in Crevener Sir Iohn Kirby to whom the same was after given for ever in Anvillyers Captaine Robert Hornby in Bagles Sir Iohn Arthure was made Captaine and also of Fresny Sir Robert Brent lately made Vicount was Captaine The Duke of Glocester with the Earle of March and the Lord Codnor march into the Isle of Constantine wherein hee likewise placed Captaines of such places as hee tooke in as at Corentine the Lord Botreux at Saint Lowe Captaine Reignold West at Valoignes Captaine Thomas Burgh at Pont done Captaine David Howell at Hay de paps Sir Iohn Aston at Saint Savior Sir Iohn Robsert lately made Vicount at Pantarson Sir Robert Gargraus at Hambery the Earle of Suffolke to whom afterwards the King gave that and Brokevill at Auranchos Sir Philip Hall at Vire the Lord Matreius who was likewise Captaine of Saint Iames de Bumeron And so having taken in the whole Iland except Chereburg hee returned to the King but was sent backe to the siege thereof which held out about the space of five moneths though in the meane time all warlike stratagems and meanes were used to take it at last they made composition that if not rescued within threescore and two dayes to surrender and stand to the mercy of the King In the meane time the Duke caused his Campe to bee strongly fenced with Rampiers and Bulwarkes leaving nothing for the safeguard thereof either unforeseene or unprepared And whilst hee was providing thus the Dolphin and the Duke of Burgoigne by the mediation of the Pope and his Cardinalls were fully reconciled and began to consult about the relieving their besieged Friend The King to prevent any danger that might betide his brother had taken order with the Lieutenant in the West-country of England to send over two thousand men out of those parts whom when the besieged at Chierburgh perceiued at Sea to approach they presumed of succour but their hope failing they surrendred both the Towne and Castle whereof the Lord Gray of Codnor mas made the Kings Lieutenant for the time but afterwards the King made Captaine thereof Iohn Bromley Esquire and for his hardy valour and commendable forwardnesse both at this siege and other places hee gave him the order of Knighthood gave him faire possessions in the Iland and made him Constable of Bossevile de Rosse This was the same partie that at Corby by his valour recovered the Lord Staffords Colours from the French and for the remembrance of that service had an honourable adjunct to his armes The King intending to prosecute his intendments to the full being of equall spirit to dare and power to doe had sent for his Vncle the Duke of Exceter who with fifteene thousand men within few dayes of Trinity Sunday came to the King by whom hee was commanded to besiege the Citie of Eureux which hee tooke in and appointed Captaine thereof Sir Gilbert Halsall The Earle of Ryme then also tooke in the strong Castle of Milley le Vesko The siege of Roan was the next thing attempted which place was now fully fortified and furnished for defence both with men and amunition Thither for the more safetie had all the neighbours conveyed all their riches as being their sole place of refuge now The King to have his passage cleere layed siege to the Citie of Loveirs which upon these conditions that if they were not relieved within seven dayes then the souldiers to serve King Henry the inhabitants to remaine there as subjects to England only all such Gunners as had discharged any piece of Ordnance to bee hanged no succour appearing at the day the Covenants were performed accordingly The King marched to Pont de Larch where hee arrived the seven and twentieth of Iune There was a stone-bridge which hindered the approach to Roane being exceeding strongly guarded King Henry devised therefore floates of wicker covered with beasts hides by which the Duke of Clarence with his quarter passed the River and then layd siege to the Towne on that side but to prevent the inconvenience that might come by the River dividing the Army there were more such Floates made and other devises with
the Towne the starved multitude began to upbraid the Commanders and to tell them that they must bee famished to death for their obstinacies and with threatning speeches they told them they would if they would not compound for their redemption upon any termes enforced therefore to give way to their implacable furyes the Commissioners concluded that after the nineteenth day of that instant Ianuarie the Citie and Castle of Roane should bee delivered to the King of Englands hands and that all should submit to the Kings mercie and should pay to him three hundred thousand Skutes of gold every two to bee of the valew of the English Noble Every Souldiour to sweare never to beare armes against the King of England That the starved creatures expulsed should bee admitted entrance and receive reliefe during the time prefixed if not before that time reskonsed Vpon the day agreed upon Sir Guy de Butler and the Burgesses delivered up the keyes of the Citie and Castle craving grace and favour The Duke of Exceter was appointed to take possession of the fame who accordingly entred with his souldiers The next day after being Friday the twentieth of Ianuary the KING triumphantly made his entry with foure Dukes tenne Earles eight Bishops sixteene Barons c. Hee was received with the Clergie with two and fourty Crosses and by them was conducted to our Lady Church where after publicke Thankes-giving hee tooke homage and fealtie of the Burgesses and inhabitants making proclamation that all that would come and acknowledge him to bee their Liege-Lord should enjoy the benefit of his protection and retaine their possessions whereupon many came in and many Townes were surrendred The Duke of Britaine fore-casting the danger of having too potent a neighbour except a friend plant neere him upon safe conduct obtained came to Roane where a League is agreed upon that neither should make Warre upon other except upon denuntiation thereof sixe moneths before any attempt this concluded the Duke returned Whilst the King lay at ROANE to perfect all things the Duke of CLARENCE tooke VERNON and NAVNT making Sir WILLIAM PORTER Captaine of the first and the Earle of MARCH of the other The Earle of SALISBVRY tooke in HVNFLEVV which was afterward given to the Duke of CLARENCE Munster de Villiers Ewe New-Castle whereof Sir PHILIP LEECH was made Captaine An Overture agreed upon for an interview betwixt the King of ENGLAND and the Dolphin of FRANCE fayled through the Dolphins default which displeased King HENRY who had in expectation thereof gone from Roane to Eureux from whence hee sent the Earle of Warwicke to take in la Roche Guyon which hee accordingly but not without some losse did and thereof made owner of the Kings free gift Sir Guy de Bolyleere lately Captaine of Roane In all places the Kings Commanders prevailed and by constraint or consent all pieces of strength that were sommoned opened their gates unto the English and it is worthy the observation that when there is as now there was a mutuall intercourse of discreet direction and diligent execution warlike designes faild but prosper on the other side where there is want of skill to Command and want of will to obey nothing can thrive and these wants now hid so clowded the affayres of France that all lay at six seven The Duke of Burgoine solicites an interview betwixt the Kings of England and France Embassadors on both sides are sent King Henry is content to come to Maunt so as the French King came to Ponthoys which is consented to King Henry kept his feast of Whitsontide at Mounts where he made the stout Gascoyne Captaine le Buife Earle of Longevile Sir Iohn Gray Earle of Tanckervile and the Lord Bourcher Earle of Ewe upon the last of May at the day appointed King Henry accompanied with the Dukes of Clarence Glocester and Exceter his Vncle Bewford the great Clerke and rich Bishop of Winchester with the Earles of March and Salisbury with a thousand men at armes entred the place appointed The French Queene her Husband being taken with his phrenzie which the Duke of Burgoine and the Earle of Saint Paul and a company of faire Ladyes amongst whom as a baite to entangle the Kings youthfull affection the Queenes beautifull Daughter the Lady Katherine throughly instructed and gorgeously attired presented her selfe with whose sight though the King was ardently taken yet with that moderation hee behaved himselfe that though hee were resolved to make the enjoyment of her for wife a chiefe Article to be granted yet hee made no such apparant show thereof but that the other things requirable to bee concluded at this treatie should bee first agreed upon but nothing was affected for the Dolphin under-hand had made meanes to the Duke of Burgoine to hinder all agreement which King Henry observing at their departure told the Duke of Burgoine That hee would have his demaunds and the Lady or else drive the King out of his kingdome and make the Duke seeke another Dukedome The treatie becomming fruitlesse and dissolved the Dolphin and the Duke upon the sixt of Iuly are reconciled and the Articles thereof signed and sealed In the meane time a Conspiracy in Roane was timely discovered and wisely prevented and the Conspiratours upon examination and proofe duly punished By direction from the King the Earle of Longevile did valiantly surprise the Towne of Poynthose with fifteene hundred men there being at that time within the Towne a thousand Launceeres and two thousand Arcubalisters but had not the Earle of Huntington come in good time to second them their valour opprest by multitude could not have made good what they had atchieved neither could they both have long subsisted had not the Duke of Clarence come to their reskue who to recompence the brave spirits of the first entrers gave the spoyle of the Towne amongst them From thence the Duke marched to Paris and there stayed by the space of two dayes but perceiving no show of sally to be made he returned to Ponthoys King Henry comming thither after hee had sufficiently furnished the same with victuals and artillerie hee with his maine Army marched further into the country and in the way forced the Castle of Vanion Villeirs but at the intercession of divers Ladyes the garrison were permitted without armes or weapon to depart Hereof was appointed Captaine Iohn de Burgh upon approach of the Armie which was upon the last of August to the Castle of Gysors the only peece that now stood forth in those parts the Garrison there made a sally and much hindred the English in their sitting downe by reason of the inaccessible passage thorow the Marishes which in a manner surrounded the same yet at length when they perceived the Kings resolution not to depart without conquest and calling to minde that no place had bin of strength sufficient to withstand his power they agreed if not reskued by a day which they were not to deliver
to the reskue thereof on the other side the Townes of Neux in Bry and Susan were sold and delivered to the French by the trecherous Burgers All manner of graine in England in respect of the scarcity thereof was at exceeding high prices and had not the care and industry of the then Maior Stephen Browne beene such that hee had caused provision of corne especially Rye to bee bought and brought from farre Countries thither the famine would have raged as much in London as the fearefull Pestilence did in Paris where those that dyed in the streets lay unburied untill the ravenous Wolves made their mawes the sepulture of their flesh but God in his mercy ceased the plague in Paris and replenished London with graine in abundance to the great reliefe of remoter parts of the kingdome which before that time were driven to make their sustenance of Fearne rootes and Ivy berryes In Iune the Earle of Huntington with two thousand Archers and foure thousand Speares was sent into Gascoyne whither the Earle of Danoyes was lately come throughly instructed and provided to buy the best penny-worths of Townes â—…nd Castles hee could compasse but the Earle of Huntington upon his comming thither changed all the Captaines and Officers and put others in their roomes whereby hee warily prevented the Bastards chafferours This strumpet Bribery and whore covetousnesse began to spread their wings so farre that in Normandy the English Captaines had small confidence in the Natives and not too much in some of their owne Nation Whereupon Sir Richard Woodvile Sir William Chamberlaine Sir William Peto with a thousand men were sent thither to stoppe the current of French crownes from corrupting the yet faithfull souldiers with them They according to their directions narrowly sifted all and where they found fault or cause of suspition they punished or removed and having settled all things in good order returned A gap began this yeare to bee opened whereby the English might have entred to have made a reduction of those pieces the French had bought or conquered but the wisdome of the Councell of France stopped it by reconciling the King and his sonne the Dolphin betweene whom by the sinister perswasions of base Sycophants on both sides there were discurtesies taken before given and discontent without any ground the sonne deeming his Fathers grave deportment too too much austerity and the Father the Dolphins youthfull countenance to a kind of contempt beyond filiall dutie neither having just cause of jealousie yet both suspitious of each others countenance But the knot of seditious faction tyde betweene the Dukes of Burgoyne Alanson and the Dolphin is dissolved and the King and his Sonne in show reconciled Some small peeces were in this time regayned but Paris for which provision was making for the reduction thereof was left off upon the notice of the reconcilement In a great bend of Frost with a deepe snow the English under the conduct of Iohn Lord Clifford having covered their armour with white shirts and their heads with white Alman skulls come to Ponthoys by night and undiscovered past the ditches skaled the walls slew the guards and tooke the Towne with many good prisoners and a great spoile presently upon the regaining of which Towne the Earle of Warwicke died in the Castle of Roan and was from thence conveyed to England and buried in his Colledge at Warwicke hee was the sixteenth Earle of Warwicke and Lord Lisle in the right of his Wife hee married two wives the first Elizabeth Daughter and heire of Thomas Lord Barckley and Margery his Wife Daughter and heire of Warren Lord Lisley and Tyes by whom hee had issue three Daughters Margaret the eldest married to Iohn Talbot Earle of Shrewsbury who had issue Iohn Talbot Vicount Lisley Elianor married with Thomas Lord Rosse of Hamlocke and after to Edward Bewford Duke of Somerset Elizabeth maried to George Nevill Lord Latimer Earle Richard Beauchampes second Wife was Isabell Daughter of Thomas Spencer Earle of Glocester by whom hee had issue Henry Duke of Warwicke and Anne married to Richard Nevill Earle of Salisbury who in her right was after Earle of Warwicke To reduce Ponthoys the French King in person layeth siege thereunto and useth all possible meanes hee can to enforce it but the defendants but flowt him for his paines and many times send his assaulting souldiers haulting home with fleaes in their eares Richard Duke of Yorke being the second time made Regent being arrived with the Earle of Oxford and the Earle of Ewe levies a power to raise the siege and arriving there giveth notice to the King that the next morning hee would bid him battell But the King not liking the breath of Talbot leaves his Ordnance and best provision in the Bastile of Saint Martins and in the midst of the night stole to Poysy The English possesse his tents furnish the Towne with the provision therein left and thereof make Sir Gervoys Clifton Captaine with a thousand souldiers for the defence thereof and then marched to Poysy where he braved the French King and thought with taunts and revilings to have put valour in him but hee was too patient to bee provoked to fight wherefore hee left him there and returned to Roan A motion of parlie is moved the place appointed Callice by the mediation and solicitation of the Dutchesse of Burgoyne shee being a Portugall by birth very solicitous of the safetie of her husband and the quiet of France a woman of no ordinary capacitie but of an extraordinary understanding by her meanes the King of France sendeth the Archbishop of Reimes and Narbon and the Earle of Dunoys For the King of England the Cardinall of Yorke and the Duke of Exceter with whom came Charles Duke of Orleance who having beene long kept Prisoner was in good hope of enlargement but the successe of the meeting not answering the expectation nothing was done for his enlargement for in such treatises such as have the possession of strong holds doe commonly use policie and delayings the stronger giving lawes to the weaker so that the English would not bate an ace of what they had gotten to keepe and would have for the ransome of the Duke their first asking which was more then his meanes could any way compasse and the French King not very forward to give him any assurance so that the disconsolate Duke patiently returnes but his misery so moved the heart of the Dutchesse of Burgoyne that shee prevailed so farre with her husband that hee passeth his credit for the payment of three hundred thousand Crownes for his ransome at Callice at a day prefixt at which time and place the Duke of Orleance in person and the Duke of Burgoynes money meet where the one being received the other after five and twenty yeares imprisonment is released and by his sonne that had slaine his Father and sought the ruine of his house but now a firme league of
Warwicke and Salisbury who all three present themselves upon their knees before him making humble petition unto him for pardon for what was past for now since that the common enemy was slaine they had what they aimed at to whom the King throughly affrighted said Let there be no more killing then and I will doe what you will have me The Duke therefore in the Kings name commands a surcease from further hostilitie and so comforting the King in what hee could with good words hee went to take order for the quartering his men This first battell of Saint Albones was fought upon the three and twentieth day of May in the three and thirtieth yeare of King Henryes raigne The bodyes of the Noble men the Duke of Somerset the Earle of Northumberland and the Lord Clifford were buried in the Chappell there Had it not beene Somersets unhappinesse to stand in the eye of Yorke or to live in that age when all actions were accounted of according to the event This Somerset might have beene ranked amongst the best Commanders of those times but his ambition at first crost Yorke in all his designes so Yorkes malice at the last did him a courtesie before the calamities of this kingdome were swolne to their full extent Hee married Elianor one of the Daughters and heire of Richard Beachamp Earle of Warwicke and had issue by her foure Sons and five Daughters Henry who succeeded him in the Dukedome Edmond who succeeded his brother therein Iohn and Thomas Elianor his eldest Daughter was first married to Iames Earle of Wiltshire and after to Sir Robert Spencer 2. Ioane was married to the Lord Hoth of Ireland and after to Sir Richard Fry Knight 3. Anne was married to Sir William Paston Knight Margaret was first married to Humphry Earle of Stafford and after to Sir Richard Dorrel Knight and Elizabeth was married to Sir Henry Lewis all which to the last breath continued firme and faithfull to the Lancastrian Familie Henry Lord Piercy Earle of Northumberland now slaine married Elianor Daughter of Ralph Nevill first Earle of Westmerland and had issue Henry that did succeed him in the Earledome Thomas Lord Egrimond William Bishop of Carlile Anne married to Thomas Lord Hungerford Katherine was Wife to Edmond Gray Earle of Kent and Elizabeth married to Thomas Lord Clifford Humphry Earle of Stafford married Margaret Sister and coheire of Edmond Bewford Duke of Somerset who had issue Henry Stafford who succeeded his Grandfather in the Dukedome of Buckingham The Duke of Yorke with all befitting complements conveyeth the King to London where they keepe the Feast of Pentecost together and in the mean time a Parliament is summoned at Westminster to begin the ninth day of Iuly whither the King commeth and there it is enacted that the late Duke of Glocester should bee declared publickly a loyall subject both to the King and Realme and that none should misreport or dispute the actions of the Duke of Yorke or any in his company For that they had like good subjects enterprised nothing but what was for the Kings safety In this Parliament the Duke of Yorke is made Protector of the Kings royall Person and of the Realme the Earle of Salisbury Lord Chancelour and the Earle of Warwicke Captaine of Callice The former two have the administration of all civill government of the Common-weale at home and upon the third is conferred the disposing of all Militarie affaires abroad Their demeanours in their severall places were judged unblameable for with that respective moderation and orderly proceedings they managed their affaires That they shewed no injustice used no bribery exercised no oppression but practised indifferencie to poore and rich to their great commendation But all this while the high spirited Queene cannot but distaste their proceedings shee puts the Duke of Buckingham in mind as though his revenge were slow and sleepie that tâ—…se traitours had slaine that noble Gentleman and hopefull sonne of his at Saint Albones shee tells the now Duke of Somerset that there his deere Father fell and both retort to the Queene the unsufferable indignity done to her in making her Husband a Whitsontide lord only a King in name whilst the Duke of Yorke and his complices must manage all what needs spurres to willing mindes or provocations to rage thorowly incensed all are apt enough to revenge But the curst Cow hath short hornes envy must invent and malice execute the course of revenge a womans wit througly stung with disgrace and vily stird with despight cannot long bee undelivered of some plot to doe mischiefe All the enemies of the Yorke faction for now the divell began to deale his almes and to make a faction are assembled by the Queene at Greenwitch where it is amongst them debated what course is fittest to bee used for restitution of the King to his pristine liberty and government at length it is concluded that the Protector should bee commanded to leave off his place of Protectorship and the Earle of Salisbury his Chancelours place the one in respect the King was of yeares and discretion sufficient without a Tutor or Guardian to rule and raigne and therefore a Protectors place needlesse and the Earle of Salisbury to surrender his title of being Lord Chancelour for that the great Seale was never delivered unto him and that that which was now used was made since the Kings restraint of liberty and so not sufficient The Kings easie yeelding condition is quickly wrought upon to countenance their proceedings against the Duke and Earle and thereupon in his name they are both discharged from their offices and summoned to appeare at the Councell table at Greenwitch whither if they had beene so forgetfull as to have gone they had been entrapped but they better advised returned answer That none had power either to displace them or command their appearance in any place but in Parliament and so they continued about London placing their friends and fautours in all places of government and displacing others whom they either not affected or had cause to suspect and with a triumvirate authoritie they tooke Iohn Holland Earle of Exceter out of the Sanctuary and sent him prisoner to Pomfret Castle These proceedings gave occasion to the licentious Commons to take hold of any occasion for a commotion And thereupon an Italian Merchant being by a Mercers apprentice reprehended for wearing a dagger contrary to the lawes of their owne countrey gave disdainfull speeches which moved the English man to take his dagger from him and to breake it over his coxcombe hereof the Merchant complaineth to the Maior the Mercer is convented and committed the Maior in his returne is met by divers terming themselves Prentices that would not bee perswaded to depart untill the Mercer was sent for out of Newgate who now being at libertie drawes divers willing enough of themselves to goe to spoile the strangers about London and ransacke their houses wherewith like furious mad bedlam men they
In the meane time as it was before agreed upon The Earle of Salisburie with about five thousand men marcheth through Lancashire to passe that way to the King and to acquaint him with the affront offred to his sonne and the inveterate malice discovered in the Queene against him The Queene with the Dukes of Somerset and Buckingham gave order unto the Lord Audley to apprehend Salisbury sending to him as to that end she had provided many badges of a white Swan for a publick expression of being firme to her and her sonne one badge thereof for himselfe and divers other to bestow on such well deservers as should by him be approved of whereupon he levieth of Cheshire and Shropshire ten thousand men with which about a mile from Drayton in a plaine called Bloreheath he attended the Earle there being a small brooke but of some depth between them Earlie in the morning the Earle made a seeming retreat which the Lord Audley observing he presently causeth his troopes to passe the river but before they could be reduced againe in order the Earle with his whole strength falls upon them and with the slaughter of the Lord Audley and most of them that had past the river he discomfited the residue there were slaine about foure and twenty hundred of them Sir Iohn and Sir Thomas Nevil Knights the Earles sonnes are sore wounded who with Sir Thomas Harrington travayling into the North Country were apprehended and sent as prisoners towards Chester But upon a message sent from the March-men their keepers quickly released them The Duke of Yorke now begins to resent these proceedings and resolveth no longer to be looker on but like a free gamester to venter a Cast for all he levies men makes preparation to take the field sends to Salisbury to doe the like who sends to Warwicke and all resolue to set up their rest amongst others of approved valiancy that Warwicke had brought from Callice with him were two principall noted men for direction and policy Andrew Trollop and Iohn Blunt The armie in the marches of Wales neere Shropshire are strongly encamped The King with the Dukes of Somerset and Exceter the chiefe of the Lancastrian family draw their forces to Worcester from whence Richard Beuchampe Bishop of Salisbury is sent to offer the Yorkists a full and generall pardon if they would give over this enterprise and become loyall subjects this message was answered that there was no trust in the Kings pardons as long as the hen crowed therefore they durst not submit unto them but if any course might be given them of assurance of their safety they would expresse their loyaltie and render themselves at his service The King thereupon advanceth neerer and approching the Lords army he causeth Proclamation to be made that whosoever would abandon the Duke of Yorke should be received to mercy and have pardon whereupon the night following Andrew Trollop with all the Callicians submit to the King and by him are all the counsels of the Duke of Yorke discovered which so much discouraged the Duke of Yorke that he with his young sonne the Earle of Rutland fled first into Wales then into Ireland the Earles of March Salisbury and Warwicke got into Devonshire where by the meanes of Iohn Dinham they were shipt from Exmouth to Gernsey and so to Callice where they were well entertained The King pardons all the common Souldiers makes some exemplary punishment of few Captains sendeth the Dutches of York her two younger children to the Dutches of Buckingham her sister to be safely kept then having spoyled the town and Castle of Ludlow he dismist his Army A Parliament is convoked at Coventry in which amongst other things the Duke of Yorke and all his confederates are convict of treason all their lands goods seized on to the Kings use Henry Duke of Somerset the inheritour with his fortunes of his Fathers favour with the Queen by her means is made Captain of Callice whither comming to take possession of his new charge he was forced to retire out of the harbour the Ordnance from Ricebank playing so hot upon him The Queen herewith much incensed in heat of passion giveth order to furnish and make ready all the Kings ships lying at Sandwich to give assistance to Somerset but the before-mentioned Iohn Dinham with his Westerne Mariners who all well affected the Earle of March bourded those ships in the harborand tooke the Lord Rivers who was designed Admirall for that service and carried both him and the ships to Callice from whence the Earle sayled to Ireland to the Duke of Yorke where having conferred and concluded what course to take he returned to Callice the new Admirall the Duke of Exceter not daring to stop his course in his returne Sir Simon Momford was appointed to guard the Cinque-ports having divers ships under his command to bar the Earle of Warwicks entrance but the Earle by his espialls having perfect intelligence of all passages fell suddenly upon Sir Simon before his ships were full ready tooke him prisoner ransackt the Towne of Sandwich and carried his Prisoner and the ships to Callice by the way he understood how much the Kentish-men desired his speedy returne and to come on shore in their Country where they were ready to give him all assistance Whereupon the second time the Earle came to Sandwich to whom presently resorted the Lord Cobham and divers Gentlemen insomuch that now they were 25000 strong with which the Earle of VVarwicke marched towards London against whom the Lord Scales was appointed to oppose and with some convenient troopes to assure London but the Lord Maior utterly refused to admit him entrance saying he was able enough without his counsell or helpe to keepe what the King had committed to his charge Whereupon the Lord Scales resorted to the Tower from whence afterward he did the Londoners many discourtesies VVarwicke well pleased with the Londoners promise not to impeach his passage having notice that his Father was upon march to meet him passeth over his men and without impeachment joyned with his Father and his friends neere Exceter The King with the Dukes of Somerset Buckingham with a great Army marcheth towards them neere unto the town of Northampton both armies meet The Earle of March with the advise of the Earle of VVarwick prepares for the fight The Queen the King more intentive of devotion then fighting did the like The fight began and continued on uncertaine termes above two houres In the meane time were slain on both sides above 10000 men But upon the fal of Humphry Duke of Buckingham by the good policy of the Earle of VVarwicke and the Lord Gray of Ruthens joyning with them who led the Vantgard of the Kings part withdraw to the Lords side the Earles party prevailed and Iohn Talbot Earle of Shrowsbury Thomas Lord Egremond Iohn Vicount Beamont and some others of Marke were slain The
A report is secretly raised but upon what ground unknown that this wel-intended charitable contribution went not the right way But that the givers were abused the poore people defrauded the benefit of the gift going to certaine officers of the house that made a divident therof amongst themselues allowing little or none at all thereof to the poore people This rumor once on foot spread it self far neer in the Country The husband men willing enough to take any advantage to with-hold their charity which in that age began to wax cold but in this is quite frozen when the Proctors according to the accustomed maner came to make collection of the charitable devotion of the people they were sent empty away but not without in some places either foule language or someblowes sometimes both which orcasioned retortion partakers are found on both parties sides The religious better sort of people helping to defend the collectors whom with great fury the ploughmen followed This sparke thus appearing is fed with combusable stuffe but underhand by the Archbish. so that it tooke flame rose to a great height Neverthelesse the Marquesse Mountacute more out of policy then piety seeming not to approve of what was done speeds with some forces to York whither the unruly multitude to the number of 15000. drew giving forth speeches by the way That they would utterly demolish the hospitall fire the City The Marquesse with his power taking advantage of the darknes of the night and the ignorance or negligence of the watch sallies out upon them takes their Captaine strikes of his head putting the rest with some little losse to flight whom he followeth no further as not intending their further hurt but retreated to Yorke which he carefully made show to man and fortifie The more to endeere his service he sends the newes therof post to the K. who being certified of the proceedings was well pleased with what was done howsoever he had smal reason to think himself assured of the integrity of the doer but as yet the actions of the Marquesse like the countenance of Ianus carried two faces which his cunning yet covered In the mean while the rebells have reallied their dispersed troopes and encreased their numbers Instead of Robert Huldron their Captaine by the Marquesse beheaded they had new conductors Hen. son of the Lord Fitz-Hugh and Hen. Nevil son heire of the Lord Latimer The one being Nephew the other cosin german to Marquesse Mountacute These having received full instructions from the Archbishop of Yorke ioyntly take upon them the command being assisted by S. Iohn Conyers a kinght of great courage and good direction By his councel in regard they wanted engines where with to force the walls of Yorke which they had but disorderly beleagred The rebels left the siege And directedtheir march towards London giving out by the way according as they were instructed by their leders their private directions That K. E. was but a tirannous vsurper And that they like good subjects only endevored the restauration of their lawful soveraigne K. H. adding withall that if any mischiefe were done to the body of K. H. before his being restored to liberty That they would not leave a live any of the house of Yorke K. Ed. hereupon gives order to Wil. L. Harbert the new created E. of Pem. to stop this Northerne storme to leavy power to withstaÌ„d their further approaching he both in obedience to K. E. coÌ„mand willing to revenge some former ashe conceived affronts unto himby the sticklers in this coÌ„motion Fitz hugh Nevil accoÌ„panied with his brother Rich. about 7000. Welsh men to whoÌ„ the L. Stafford of Southwick with some 800. bowmen ioyned embraced the occasion willingly undertooke the charge Sir Rich. Harb with 2000 horsmen neere Northam charged the rere of the Northern men in which was Sir Iohn Conyers who coÌ„manding faces about so entertained them That the Welsh men with some losse made more hast backe then good speed forward hereupon the Northern men having to that end received letters of direction shape their course towards Warwick whither the E. with his son in law Clarence were come had levyed forces to ioyne with them The K. rather sullen for anger then amated with feare upon the tydings of his brothers unnaturall backsliding related unto him by his other brother Rich. stood a while silent but having made recollection of his spirits he sayd brother yet I am beholding to you that have made a full expression both of your love and duty in acquainting me with the danger staying loyally on any side But time permits not discourse we must prepare our selues to withstand their fury and to that end take order to second Pemb. And accordingly he makes preparation But before his succors could come the Nothern men did reach Warwick upon S. Iames even some distast having bin given by the E. of Pemb. to the Lord Stafford either for dispossessing him of his usuall Inne at Banbury or withholding from him some light commodity in that Inne which he formerly had made use of Stafford with his Archers departed Sir Hen. Nevill having intelligence therof the next morning gave a camisad with some horse to the 〈◊〉 Pembrooks Camp and charged so home that his seconds unable to releive him he was enclosed with the multitude and miserably slaine which so incensed the Northern men that they all gave on and so feircely assayled their opposites that though for a time the Welsh stood close and kept order yet when a suddain rumor was spread That the E. of Warwick was come with his power to charge them in the rere they rowted fled True it was that Iohn Clopton a retainer of the E. of Warwicks having drawn together about 500 men weakly armed worse disciplind he brought them to the top of an hilâ—… sight of both armies displaying theron the Beare ragged staffe the E. of War colors and making shew to descend was the occasion those the Welsh turned their backe in the flight 5000. were slaine besides that were taken prisoners wherof the E. of Pemb. Sir Rich. Harbert his brother who for their valour and sound direction that day shewed had successe followed their attempts deserve to be enrowled amongst the best commanders with ten other not by the law of the field but by the unbounded will of the victors were beheaded at Banbury This VVilliam E. of Pemb. married Anne daughter of VValter L. Ferrers of Chartley by whom he had issue three sons VVilliam that succeeded him in the Earledome Sir VValter Harbert Knight and Sir George Harbert Knight and six daughters Cicely Baronesse of Greystock Mawd married to Henry Percy Earle of Northumberland Katherine married to George Earle of Kent Anne married to the Lord Powes Isabel married to Sir Thomas Cooksey knight and Margaret married to Vicount Lisley first and then to Sir Henry Bodringham kinght The
newes of these proceedings set wide open the gates of the rebellion gave courage to the Northamptonshire men who prepared before to that purpose tooke this opportunity to make a commotion under the conduct of one Robert Hiliard by them stiled Robert of Risdate came to Grafton and there tooke the Queenes father Earle Rivers and his Son Sir Iohn VVoodvile and at Northampton without trial or judgement courses out of use amongst unruly rebells caused them to be beheaded Richard Woddevile Baron of Wymington married Iaquiet daughter of the Earle S. Pauls the widdow of Iohn Duke of Bedford for which not having the kings license he was fined to K. Henry the sixt in one thousand pounds he was installed knight of the Garter 30. Octob. Anno. H. 6. 28. And 4. of K. Ed. 4. he was created Earle Rivers made high Constable of England he had issue by the said Iaquet 7. sons and 6. daughters 1 Anthony that succeeded his father 2. Lewis dyed young 3 Iames dyed young 4 Iohn with his father taken at Edgcote and with him beheaded at Northampton as afore 5 Lionell Bishop of Salisbury that begat upon his Concubine Stephen Gardner afterwards Bishop of VVinton 6 Edward who died without issue 7. Richard that succeeded his brother Anthony in the Earldome but dying without issue left it to his sisters all living 1 Elizabeth at first married to Sir Iohn Gray of Groby and afterward to Edward the fourth 2 Margaret married to Thomas Fitzallan Earle of Arundel 3 Anne married to William Burcher sonne of Henry Earle of Essex first and after to George Gray Earle of Kent then to Sir Edw. Wingfield knight 4 Iaquet was married to Iohn Lord Strange of Knocking 5 Mary was married to William Harbert Earle of Huntington and 6 Katherine first married to Henry Stafford second Duke of Buckingham and then to Iasper of Hatfield Duke of Bedford The Lord Stafford having long lurked without discouery about Devonshire is apprehended for his base departure from the Earle of Pembrook beheaded at Bridgwater The Northerne men haue opportunitie to joyne with the Earle of Warwicke The whole body of the common-wealth thus fearefully groning under the fearefull expectation of unchristian cruelty The effects whereof divers of the nobility Clergy endevored by all means possible to prevent to that end on both sides mediated for some pacification But whilst it is in agitation both parts having drawne their forces together a generall preparation is made for an unauoydable banquet for death whilst King Edward the lesse circumspect by reason of some overtures of submission Cautelously tendred gave advantage to the Earle of Warwick who had secret intelligence of the order in the Kings camp in the dead of the night to fall upon it where with some small slaughter having slaine the sentinells they tooke the king prisoner in his bedwho was presently conveied to Midleham Castle in Yorkeshire to be kept safely by the Archbishop of Yorke The Earle of Warwicke relying vpon his brothers care of his charge considering that he was the Key of their worke And being perswaded that the brunt of the warres was past dismist most of his army but as one that reckoned without his host must make a new account so to that exigent he was driven For whilst he made search and diligent enquiry after King Henry whose place of imprisonment was not knowne King Edward escaped but whether by over-great promises seduced or through guilt of Conscience induced thereunto it is questionable But howsoever The Archbishop permitted him to have so much liberty by way of recreation on hunting that by the contrivement and assistance of Sir William Stanly and Sir Thomas Burgh he was both rescued from his keepers and in safty conducted to Yorke such is the instabilitie of occurrences in this world That therein is certaintie of nothing but incertaintie the secrets of Gods providence being inscrutable King Edward that in the morning was a prisoner at the Earle of VVarwicks devotion is now at liberty to provide how to question his mitred keeper and his late triumphant committer for their undutifull presumption From Yorke he posteth to Lancaster where his Chamberlaine the Lord Hastings had raised some forces with those he marcheth to London the love of whose Citizens he mainly relied upon and thereof found himselfe not deceived for they with willing readinesse receive him The Earle of VVarwick having information of what was past makes a vertue of necessitie and dispatches letters and Messengers to all his friends and confederates to draw to an head which they accordingly did But by the earnest solicitation and industry of those good patriots which before had laboured to have the sword of civill dissention sheathed Now an interview Vpon interchange of oathes for safety and faire returne on both sides is had betwixt the king the Duke of Clarence and the Earle of VVarwicke in VVestminster-Hall But the Earle like one endevoring to infect the ayre takes poyson into his mouth and spits it into the wind makes repetition of former courtesies done to Edward and for requitall thereof indignities returned which with such peremptory phrase he urged that they savoured so much of exprobration that the King unable to endure such harsh ill-becomming language from a subject in a scornefull fury departed the Hall and went to Canterbury And the Duke and Earle to Lincolne whither they had preappointed their powers to repayre under the conduct of Sir Robert VVells sonne and heire of the Lord VVells a valiant Gentleman and of approved sufficiency The King with intent to take off Sir Robert from VVarwicks part sends for Richard Lord VVells who with his brother in Law Sir Thomas Dymock comming to attend the kings pleasure received information from some of their friends in Court that the King was much incensed against them whereupon they take Sanctuary at VVestminster From whence upon the kings promise of generall pardon they came to his presence who gave command to the Lord VVells effectually by letter to solicite his son Sir Robert VVells to leave the Earle of VVarwick come to the kings service which was accordingly done but because it procured not desired effect the king not without blemish to his Honor in his rage caused both their heads to be strooke off The report wherof so enraged the young knight that no perswasion could prevaile with him to abide the Earle of VVarwicks cōming which was every day expected but passion having blinded his judgement led on by fury the inevitablenes of his fate he with his forces charged the kings army And whilest he laboured to go beyond man in doing his valour not checkt by discretion he proves lesse then a sucking child and for sinking under an oppressing multitude he was taken prisoner which so discouraged his men that they fled and the lighter to runne away they cast of their coates And thereby gave a name unto the place from whence
it so home that the adverse part not able or at lest not willing to endure the shock for the cause of quarrell in a Souldier encreaseth the courage or abateth the edge of resolution gave grownd which moved King Richard to bring on the maine battaile And with a desperat resolution entred so farre into the enemies battaile that with his own hands hee slew Sir William Brandon Richmonds chiefe standard bearer and unhorst Sir Iohn Cheney a strong and stout man at armes And at length encountring with the Earle of Richmond enterchanged some buffets But Henry ayded by the divine helpe and favoured with the uprightnesse of his cause with stood Richards forceable assault But whilst the armies on both sides stood striving in a doubtfull hazard who should win the price Sir William Stanley with three thousand fresh men crying S. George a Richmond joyned with his brothers Souldiers brake into King Richards battayle who thereupon fled incontinently leaving their King behind to make a bloody catastrophe of his slaughterly raigne who throughly enraged furiously fighting without discretion or ability to prevaile he fell under the sword of his enemies The rumor of his death and the rowting of the battaile gave occasion to the reregard Commanded by Henry Earle of Northumberland who rather wished then expected what did befall to submit without striking stroke whereby the victory fell to the Earle Richmonds part who upon certainty thereof instantly in most religious divotion gave order for publicke thanks giving to God for their happy preservation and he himselfe that gave the precept made himselfe the patterne therein alighting from his horse and kneeling upon his knees first privatly to himselfe and then publickly with the rest gave glory to his maker There were not above one thousand slaine on both sides the cheife of whom was Iohn Duke of Norfolke who was often warned and much laboured that day to forbeare the field in regard there was found written upon his tent-dore Iack of Norfolke be not to boold For Dickon thy Master is bought and sold. But what God had before appointed could not be prevented This Iohn Howard was the sonne of Sir Robert Howard knight and Margaret eldest daughter and coheire of Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolk in whose right he was created Duke of Norfolk the five and twentieth day of Iune in the yeare of our Lord 1483. He married two wives the first was Katherine daughter of William Lord Mullyns by whom he had issue one sonne and foure daughters Thomas that succeeded him and was created Earle of Surry in the first yeare of King Richard the third and was restored to grace and made Lord Treasurer in the sixteenth yeare of Henry the seventh and 1 Anne married to Sir Edmond Gorge knight 2 Isabell married to Robert Mortymer of Essex knight 3 Iane married to Thomas Tymperley Esquire and Margaret married to Iohn Windham of Cowtherck in Norfolk knight This Dukes second wife was Margaret daughter of Sir Iohn Chadworth knight by whom he had issue Katherine married to Iohn Bourcheir Lord Berners and no more Walter Lord Ferrers Sir Richard Ratcliff and Sir Robert Brackenbury knights with William Catesby an utterbarrister with some others were taken flying And shortly after executed at Leicester Francis Vicount Lovell and the two Staffords escaped and tooke Sanctuary in S. Iohns at Glocester Henry Earle of Northumberland submitting himselfe was not onely pardoned but received into favour whilst Thomas Howard Earle of Surry eldest sonne of Iohn Duke of Norfolk that then and there rendred himselfe as the other did to the conquerors mercy was committed close prisoner in Leicester and from thence sent to the Tower of London There were not on the Earle of Richmonds part above one hundred slaine the principall whereof was William Brandon This battaile was fought at Rodner neere Bosworth the two and twentieth day of August in the yeare of our Lord God 1486. After publicke thanks giving was as before prescribed orderly and religiously performed Earle Henry gave order to search amongst the slaine for such as were but wounded commanding those carefully to be drest and the other to be with decency on both sides buried The body of King Richard being amongst the slaughtered carkases found the whole armie gave a generall shoute and with loud acclamations of long live King Henry made the field ecchoe againe The Lord Stanly having in his custody King Richard the usurpers Crowne which amongst the spoyles his souldiers had found and brought to him placed the same on Earle Henryes head wherewith the souldiers reiterated their joyfull acclamations making the fields resound with long live King Henry of that name the seventh as if by their onely suffrages he had bin elected and confirmed King of England Here with the tent-keepers of the usurper came and submitted themselves to the Lord Stanly and brought with them young George Strange whom the usurper upon the Lord Stanlyes refusall presently to draw downe his forces to joyne with him had sworne before he went to dinner by the life of S. Paul to have had beheaded But was perswaded by his councell to forbeare the execution untill the battaile should be determined now being brought to the presence of his father The young Gentleman being thereto by his keepers instructed before craved the help of his mediation to the king for their pardon which was willingly undertaken and as easily procured From thence the camp presently removed and King Henry marched to the Towne of Leicester where for the more refreshing of his men and the better accommodation of himselfe for his journey towards the City of London he remained two dayes In the meane time the body of the usurper starke naked all mangled and besmeared with blood and dust without so much as the lest ragge to cover his privities was trussed behind Blanch Senigleer his owne Pursevant of armes like butchers ware his heads and his armes hanging on the one side of the horse his legs on the other and so was brought to Leicester where for a spectacle of hate and scorne by the space of two dayes he lay bare and uninterred At last by the Charitie of the Gray Fryers there without solemne funerall pompe scarce with ordinary solemnitie he was inhumed in their Monastery there he reigned two yeares two moneths and one day This Richard married Anne second daughter of Richard Nevill commonly stiled great Earle of Warwicke by whom he had issue Edward whom at twelue moneths old he created Prince of Wales but happily dyed before his father This Richard was borne at Fodringhay Castle in Northamptonshire the third sonne of Richard Duke of Yorke younger brother of George Duke of Clarence by him murdred in the Tower After the death of his brother King Edward the fourth he procured himselfe to be made Protector and guardian of his two Nephewes of whom he made himselfe the execrable murtherer For a fuller expression of his Character he was borne a monster in nature with all
his teeth with haire on his head and nayles on his fingers and toes with a viperous strength enforcing as it were his passage through his mothers wombe whom afterwards he shamed not to accuse of adultery but as one that then wrought journy-worke with the Divell his manners and qualities seconded the feature and lineaments of his body and members which were much deformed being hooke shouldred splay footed and goggle eyd his countenance sower the composure of his face little and round his complexion swarfie his left arme from his birth drye and and withered Nature supplied these deformities of the body with a strong brayne a quicke apprehension a good memory and a most fluent tongue which he seldome exercised but to the abuse of credulitie And with the sweetnesse of his delivery hee could so prevaile with such whom he ment to worke upon that he would ofentimes as it were infatuate them and enforce their beliefe of his oathes and protestations which were by Saint Paul and wishing God to damne him if hee did not performe his word which at the time of the speaking was no part of his thought sometimes against the hearers knowledge and conscience hee was neither morally honest nor religiously good He usd to make authority the stawking horse to his will and his will the sole commander of his conscience the largenesse whereof could without any scruple swallow murther of brother Nephewes wife and neerest friends nay attempt rape and incest with his owne brothers daughter yet did with artificiall dissimulation so cover his dishonest and abhominable intentions that not many could discover them Who or whatsoever opposed his aspiring pride or profitable pleasure was by his plotting cunningly and covertly taken away or removed Hee was so throughly perfect in the Hypocriticall art of simulation and dissimulation that hee would use most complement and shew greatest signes of love and courtesie to him in the morning whose throat he had taken order to be cut that evening He held it for a maxime in policy that halfe doing in any thing was worse then no doing And therefore whatsoever he once attempted hee went through with it howsoever it seemed to others unnaturall and unchristian He used the instruments of his bloudy plottes as men doe their Candles burne the first out to a snuffe and then having lighted another tread that under foote yet howsoever his birth were proaigious and life monstrous yet his death was not dishonorable For though his cause were bad he fought bravely and dyed fighting leaving behind an ample testimony of his great valour and little grace with the end of his raigne by the sword which he had used for the moving of civill dissention betwixt the two houses of Yorke and Lancaster which had beene so long drawne and so often bathed in the blood of Christians was happily sheathed And the passage to concord prepared whilst this poore Island that had beene imbroyled with warre and her companions had leasure to call to minde the many murthers stratagemes slaughters overthrowes and calamities which through their unnaturall division of the two Roses she had sustained and thereby she found that from the time that Richard Duke of Yorke who was slaine in the battaile at Wakefield seeking to anticipate the time allotted unto him by authoritie of the Parliament whereby the Crowne was entayled to him and his issue to gaine the possession thereof and from whence all those praerecited miseries did proceed untill the death of the usurper there were slaine fourescore Princes of the blood royall and twice as many natives of England as were lost in the two conquests of France The dissension that fell was betwixt the house of Yorke descended from Lionel borne at Antwerpe Duke of Clarence second sonne of Edward the third and the house of Lancaster issued from Iohn of Gaunt the third surviving but otherwise fourth sonne of the same King the first giving for his cognizance the white Rose the other the Red. Lionell Duke of Clarence married to his first wife Elizabeth daughter heire of William Burgh Earle of Vlster and to his second wife Violenta of Galens Viscount of Mislaine by his first wife he had issue Philip sole only childe which Philip was married to Edmond Mortimer Earle of March and Vlster who had issue by her 1 Roger March the fourth Earle of March 2 Sir Edmond Mortymer that married the daughter of Owen Glendore 3 Sir Iohn Mortymer beheaded 3. H. 6. 1 Elizabeth married to the Lord Percy stiled Hotspur Philip first married to Iohn Hastings Earle of Pembrook and afterward to Richard Earle of Arundel and lastly to Iohn Lord Saint-Iohn dyed without issue Roger the fourth Earle of March 1387. nominated by King Richard the second successor to the Kingdome of England who married Elianor daughter of Thomas Holland Earle of Kent by whom he had issue two sonnes and two daughters 1 Edmond his eldest sonne who succeeded him in the Earldome 2 Roger died leaving his father 1 Anne who was married to Richard Earle of Cambridge sonne of Edmond of Langley Duke of Yorke 2 Elianor married to Edward Courtney Earle of Devonshire Richard of Conisborough married Anne sister and heire of Edmond Mortymer and had issue Richard Duke of Yorke This Richard was the first mover of the faction against the the house of Lancaster the bearer of the red rose He married Ciceley the daughter of Ralph Nevill first Earle of Westmerland and had issue 1 Henry that dyed before his Father 2 Edward of that name the fourth King of England 3 Edmond Earle of Rutland slaine at Wakefield by the Lord Clifford 4 Iohn that all dyed young 5 William and 6 Thomas 7 George Duke of Clarence murdered as afore 1 Anne the eldest daughter was first married to Henry Holland Duke of Exceter and after to Sir Thomas Sayntleoger 2 Elizabeth married to Iohn de la poole Duke of Suffolke 3 Margaret married to Charles Duke of Burgundy 4 Vrsula never married and thus was the title of Yorke derived Iohn of Gaunt so named of the place where he was borne fourth sonne of King Edward the third married three wives the first 1 Blaunch daughter and coheire of Henry first Duke of Lancaster by whom he had issue 1 Henry Plantagenet borne at Bullingbrooke 1 Philip married to Iohn King of Portingall and 2 Elizabeth married to Iohn Duke of Exceter 2 The second wife was Constance daughter and one of the Coheires of Peter king of Castile by whom he had issue Katherine afterward married to Henry sonne of Iohn the King of Spaine 3 His third wife was Katherine daughter of Payne Ruet aliàs Guyen King of armes and the relict of Sir Otes Swinford knight by whom hee had issue but before marriage 1 Iohn surnamed Beauford Earle of Somerset 2 Henry Bishop of Winchester 3 Thomas Branford Earle of Dorset 1 Iohan Branford first married to Ralph Nevill first Earle of Westmerland and then to Robert Ferrers Lord of Ousley This
besieged 1422. A Parliament in the Kings absence called The birth of Henry the sixt The Dolphin besieged Cosney An. 1422. R. 9. King Henry dieth The Duke of Bedford made Generall of Normandy The Duke of Glocester Protector Ann. 1422 R. 1. The Dolphin proclaimed King Pont Melon surprized by the French An. 1422. R. 3. Reduced by the Earle of Salisbury The league renewed with Burgoine A conspiracy at Paris Preventtd and punished The French defeated Ann. 1422 R. 2. The King of Scots marieth the Duke of Somersets Daughter Crotoy lost and recovered The English are victorious at Vernoyle 1424. The reduction of Vernoyle An. 14. 24. R. 3. The French frighted with the name of Salisbury A jarre betwixt the brothers in England drawes the Regent into Ergland The young King knighted The Regent returnes to France Burgoyne by letter disswades Glocester from his new wife The name of Salisbury a bugbeare to the French 1426. Ponterson taken by the English Mounts retaken 1427. An. 1427. R. 6. The pollicy of the French The death of Salisbury the downfall of the English good fortune Both wind Sun against the English The French every where revolt The Regent defies the French King The Armies on both sides in array An. 1428. R. 7. 1429. Henry the sixt Crowned The constancy of the Lord Barbason Ann. 1429 Reg. 8. Charles attempts Paris But disappointed retreats The Regent desirous to cope with King Charles An. 1430. R. 9. The Earle of Britaine defeated 1430. The Pusil Ioane taken Proceeded against Burned King Henry in person goeth into France King Henry returnes for England after a Truce concluded The Regent having buried the sister of Burgoyne marrieth a second wife An. 1432. R. 11. The Peasants in Normandy rebell The Duke of Burbon receiveth liberty of body out of prison and losse of life all in one day At St. Omers the Dukes of Bedford and Burgoyne meet and depart without conference 1435. The death of the Regent Emulation betwixt the Vncle and Nephew thwart the businesse in France Ann. 1435 R. 12. Callice besieged by the Duke of Burgoyne The Duke of Burgoyne retreats from Callice An. 1437. R. 13. 1437. The death of three great Ladyes The King of Scots murthered Ann. 1439 R. 14. A Parliament at Westminster Roan attempted but with losse to the French An. 1437. R. 16. Ann. 1437 Reg. 15. The Lord Talbot harroweth Piccardy 1438. Famine in England Pestilence in Paris 1439. An. 1439. R. 18. Ponthoys taken by the English Ponthoys succoured The French King braved by the Regent but is patient Treaty for a peace Ann. 1441 Reg. 20. The Duke of Orleance released The Earle of Saint Paul forsaketh the English An. 1442. R. 20. The Castle of Cornhill surprized by a stratagem Vnnaturall dissention betwixt brothers An. 1442. R. 21. Ann. 1442 Reg. 21. King Henry betrothed to the Earle of Arminacks Daughter An. R. 22. A truce agreed upon The Earle of Suffolk transends his Commission An. 1444. R. 22. 23. King Henry marrieth Duke Rayners Daughter 1444. The Regent comes for England An. 1416. R. 24. Glocesiers destruction plotted 1448. The Cardinal of Winchester dies William Wanfleet consecrated Bishop of Winchester An. 1430. R. 26. The truce broken by the English Ardes surprised An. 1449. R. 27. The Duke of Yorke sent into Ireland The English overthrowne An overbold but true language An. 1450. R. 27. Suffolke traduced The Parliament adjourned from Black-fryers to Lecester and then to Westminster Suffolke committed to the Tower A Parliament summoned Mortymer incites the many to insurrection The grievances of the Commons tendred to the Parliament Captaine Mend-all his private petition The two Staffords defeated and slaine The forme of Iacke Cades Warrant The captaine of the rebells slaine The Bishop of Salisbury murthered An. 1452. R. 29. A Parliament The Duke of Yorkes policy to cloake his intention Yorke raiseth forces in Wales The King sends to the Duke of Yorke Yorks answer Yorke dismisseth his army Yorke takes the oath of allegiance Burdeux is reduced Shrowsbury with his fourth sonne and his naturall brother slain at Chattillon 1453. Ann. 1453 R. 30. The Queene delivered of a Sonne Norman the first Lord Maior that went by water to Westminster to take his oath The Queenes Attourney with others slaine in a fray The Duke of Yorke writeth to the King Ann. 1454 R. 33. First battell at St. Albones The Duke of Somerset slaine 1455. Ann. 1455 Reg. 33. The Duke of Yorke conveyeth the K. to London Yorke made Protector of the King The Merchant strangers rifled An invasion attempted by the French Sandwich plundered The Scots make an inroad The Sheriffs of London in trouble for the escape of the Lord Egrimond Ann. 1455 Reg. 33. The Duke of Yorke with the Earles of Salisbury and Warwick betake themselves to their severall strengths The General agreement amongst the Nobilitie by the mediation of the King An. 1449 Strange apparitions An. 1459. R. 34. Sonne against father 1459. Subjects against Soveraigns Father against Sonne A fray An. 1458. R. 34. Three great Carricks taken worth 10000. 2. Battailes fought The Lord Audley slaine The Duke of Yorke flyeth An. 1428. R. 38. A Parliament The Earle of Warwicke with 25000. men taketh the field 3. Battell at Northampton Warwicke possest of the Tower An. 1459. R. 39. The Duke of Yorke puts in claime The Duke of Yorke to be proclaimed heire to the Crowne and Protector 4. Battell at Wakefield Young Rutland butchered The Earle of Salisbury beheaded Ann. 1458 R. 34. 1461. Fift battell at Mortimers crosse Sixt battel second at Saint Albones The Lord Bonvile and Thomas Kiryell beheaded by the Queene contrary to the Kings promise 30. Knights made Prince Edward dubbed Knight The Families of Yorke and Lancaster distinguished by the red Rose and white The Archbishop of Canterbury animated the Duke of Yorke to take upon him the Crowne Ann. 1460 Reg. 1. The Dukes title to the Crowne double An. 1460. R. 2. Edward leaveth London Lord Fitzwalter slaine at Ferry-brig 1461. The Lord Clifford slaine Ann. 1461 Reg. 2. The Earle of Northumberland with 36776. English slaine at Caxton field Edward the 4. Crowned An. 1461. R. 24. An. 1462 R. 2. An. 1642. R. 2. Conquet and Ree taken and pillaged by the Earles of Essex and Kent Sir Ralph Piercy slaine The Earle of Somerset taken prisoner An. 1464 R. 3. King Henry brought prisoner to the Tower The Earle of Warwick sent into France An. 1466 R. 6. Of Thomas Lord Scales of Nucells An. 1466 R. 9. The Lord Stafford forsakes Pembrooke Sir Hen Nevil slaine Ann. 1469 R. 9. King Edward taken prisoner King Edward escapes An. 1470 R. 10. The Lord Wells and Sir Thomas Dymock beheaded Ann. 1470 R. 10. Loose Coatefield Warwick entertained by the French King Visited by Queene Margaret Ioyne inconfederacy against King Edward Prince Edward married to his daughter The Burgonian Fleet dispersed Doctor Goddards Sermon at Pauls crosse King Edward enforced to forsake the land King Edward in danger of Pirates King Edward craveth succour of the Duke of Burgoyne Queene Elizabeth taketh Sanctuary at Westminster Rebells of Kent suppressed by Warwicke King Henry set at libertie A Parliament The Crowne entayled upon Clarence The Queene delivered of a Sonne An. 1471. R. 11. King Edward is admitted into Yorke An. 1471. R. 11. Warwicke entrencheth at Coventry King Edward entreth London An. 1471. R. 10. Warwicke slaine An. 1472 R. 11. Marquesse Mountacute Queene Margaret taken prisoner Prince Edw. slaughtered King Henry murdered Ann. 1472 R. 12. An. 1473. R. 13. A Kings kys to a rich widdow procured 40. where but 20. was expected An. 1474. R. 14. The Duke of Exceter found dead Ann. 1474 R. 4. King Edward writes to the French King * 300. crowns in gold and 30. yards of red velvet The duke of Burgoyn excuseth his breach of promise The Constable repromiseth ayd An. 1474 R. 14. Burgoyne departeth promising speedy returne The policy of the French King King Edward sends an Herald of armes to Lewis * S. Leoger Burgoyne retornes displeased The French Kingliberally rewardeth the good carriage of the English The manner of the internew of the 2 Kings King Edward could not be drawne from ayding the Duke of Brittayne A. 1475. R. 15. King Edward attempteth by a colourable pretence to procure Richmands person to be delivered to him Delivered to the Embassadors Escapeth into Sanctuary An. 1477. R. 17. Clarence drowned An. 1480. R. 22. An. 1483. R. 23. An. 1483. An. 1483. R. 1. An. 1484. R. 1. An. 1484. R. 2. Humphry Duke of Buckirgham slain at St. Albones 1455. Humphry slain at Northampton 38. H. 6. 1460. An. 1484 An. 1484 R. 1. An. 1484. Reg. 2. Richmonds ex hertation Battaile 1. Anno 1455. Dukes 1. Earles 3. Lords 1. Knights 11. Esquires 18. 5641. Battaile 2. Anno 1459. Lord 1. Knights 7. 2411. Knight 1. Battaile 3. Anno 1459. Duke 1. Earle 1. Lord 1. Viscount 1. Knight 1. Lord 1. Battaile 4. Anno 1469. Duke 1. Earles 2. Knights 8. Battaile 5. Anno 1491. Knight 1. Battaile 6. Lord 1. Knights 3. Battaile 7. Anno 1491. Earles 4. Lords 9. Knights 22. 37046. Battaile 7. Anno 1463. Knight 1. 107. Anno 1464. Duke 1. Lords 3. Knights 20. 2024. Battaile 8. Anno 1469. 5009. Earles 3. Lords 3. Knights 11. Battaile 9. Anno 1470. Knights 〈◊〉 10000. Battaile 10. Anno 1471. Earle 1. Marquesse 1. Lords 3. Knights 2. 10000. Battaile 11. Anno praedict A Prince Dukes 2. A Marquesse A Lord Prior An Earle A Baron Knights 20. Esquires 37. 1092. Battaile 12. Anno 1485. King 100. Duke 1. Lord 1. Knights 3. * Knights eldest Sonnes * Of coat-armour and Ancestry
hold of the opportunitie the Kings absence presents unto us For in enterprizes which never are commended before atchieved delayes are dangerous And safer it is to bee found in open action then private Counsell For they that deliberate only to rebell have rebelled already Hereupon the Confederates returne for England to provide armes and prepare necessaries against the Dukes arrivall who presently acquaints the King of France that hee intended to goe to visit his kinsman Iohn Duke of Britaine and obtained from him Letters of safe conduct there hee waged some souldiers with whom from Callice he made for England giving forth at his comming aborde that hee only endevoured to regaine the Dutchy of Lancaster and the rest of his lawfull inheritance which King Richard wrongfully detained from him with him came Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury and Thomas heire to Richard late Earle of Arundel the residue of his retinue exceeded not twenty launces so that it is hard to judge whether was the greater marvaile either that hee durst attempt or that hee did prevaile with so small a company But his confidence was in the favour and assistance of the people in the Realme Hee for a time did beare up for England but not in a straight course but hulling about the shore making show to land sometimes on one coast sometimes on another thereby to discover what forces were in readinesse either to receive or resist him In the meane time Edmond Duke of Yorke the Kings Vncle and Vicegerent having intelligence of the Duke of Herefords designe Convoked Stafford Bishop of Chichester Lord Chancelor William Scroope Earle of Wiltshire the Lord Treasurer Sir Iohn Bushy Sir Henry Greene Sir William Bagot Sir Iohn Russell and others of the Kings privy Councell and entred into Counsell what was best to be done Where it was concluded deceitfully by some unskilfully by others and by all pernitiously for King Richard to quit the Sea coasts to leave London and to make the randevow at Saint Albones to gather forces to oppose the Duke who was lately landed about the Feast of Saint Martine without any resistance or rub at Ravenspur in Holdernesse whose side was by nothing more advantaged then by that dissembling and deceitfull deliberation of the Kings Councell upon his arrivall Henry Piercy Earle of Northumberland and Henry surnamed Hotspur his sonne the Earle of Westmerland the Lords Nevill Rosse and Willoughby and many other personages of honour came unto him whose accession both increased reputation to their cause and was a great countenance and strength to the Dukes further purposes But first they tooke an oath of him that hee should neither procure nor permit any bodily harme to bee done to King Richard and thereupon they pawnd to the Duke of Hereford their honours to joyne with him in all extremitie to prosecute the Kings mischievous Councellors The Common-people desperate upon new desires head and headlong flocked to these Noblemen The better sort for love to the Common-wealth some upon lenitie and itching desire of change others to repayre their distressed and decayed estates who all setting up their rests upon a generall disturbance were in conceit then most safe when the common state was most unsure So betweene the one and the other the number in short time increased to thirty thousand able souldiers The Duke finding successe to favour him not only beyond expectation but even above his wish Hee followed the chanell whilst the current went strong and cutting off unnecessary delayes with all celeritie he hasted to London that possessing himselfe thereof being the chiefe place within the kingdome for strength and store hee might best there make the seat of Warre and be easiest accommodated with provision and amunition In this expedition no opposition was seene nor hostilitie showne but in his passage the Gentlemen of best ranke and qualitie joyned themselves unto him som for affection others for feare but most in hope of reward after victorie every one though upon causes dislike yet with like ardent desire contending lest any should seeme more forward then they In every place also where hee made stay rich gifts and pleasant devises were presented unto him with large supply of necessaries farre above his necessitie The common people with showtes and acclamations gave their applause extolling the Duke as the only man of courage saluting him King with contumelious termes depraving Richard as a simple and sluggish man a dastard a niddie and altogether unworthy to beare rule without rule rayling at the one and without reason flattering the other The Duke was no niggard of his complement nor negligent of popular behaviour knowing the common people are much delighted with affable gestures accounting that for courtesie which the severer sort reckon abasement At London hee was richly and royally entertained with Processions and Pageants and many triumphant devises and showes and the unable multitude who otherwise could not by their words wishes and wills did testifie their loving affection towards him At which time there appeared not any memory of faith or allegiance to King Richard But as in sedition it alwayes appeareth as the most swayd all went The Duke of Yorke was mustering at Saint Albones for the King But as the people out of divers Countries were drawne thither many of them protested that they would doe nothing to the prejudice of the Duke of Lancaster who they affirmed was unjustly expelled his Country and unlawfully kept from his inheritance Then the Earle of Wiltshire Sir Iohn Bushy Sir William Bagot and Sir Henry Greene forsooke the Duke of Yorke and fled to Bristol intending to passe the Seas iâ—…o Ireland to the King These foure were they that were supposed to have taken of the King his kingdome to farme and therefore were so odious to the people that their presence turned away many of the Subjects hearts Nay it is probable that more for displeasure taken against them then against the King the revolt was enterprised For they being the only men of credit and authoritie with the King under false cover of obedience they wholly governed both the Realme and him abusing his name either against his will or without his knowledge insomuch that hee was cleerely innocent of many things which passed under his Commandement But the people could not indure that two or three should rule all not because they were not sufficient but because they were in favour and they distasted the King in that hee permitted them whom hee might have bridled or to runne without respect at least for that hee was ignorant of that hee should have knowne and by conniving at their faults made them his owne and opened thereby the gappe to his destruction For it is as dangerous to a Prince to have hurtfull hatefull Officers in eminent places as to bee hurtfull and hatefull to himselfe The Duke of Yorke either amazed at the sudden change or fearing his adventure if hee should proceed to resistance gave over the cause and
preferred present securitie before dutie with danger giving occasion thereby to bee suspected to favour the Duke of Lancasters proceeding and thereupon all the other Councellors either openly declared for the Duke or secretly wished his welfare And abandoning all private directions and advise adjoyned themselves to the common course hoping thereby of greater safetie In the meane time Duke Henry being at London entred into consultation with his Confederates what way was best to take amongst whom it was then concluded finally to uncrowne King Richard and constitute Duke Henry King in his stead And to that end open warre was proclaimed against King Richard and all his partakers as enemies to the peace and quiet of the kingdome Pardon also was promised to all those that would submit themselves to follow the present course otherwise no favour to bee expected Not one of the Nobilitie durst oppose himselfe in these designes some unwilling to play all their estate at one cast kept themselves at libertie to bee directed by successe of future event others consented in termes of doubtfull construction with intent to interpret them afterwards as occasion should change But the most part directly and resolutely entred into the action and made their fortunes sharers with Duke Henryes in the danger though not in the Honour to whom Duke Henry used this speech I am as you see at your procurement returned and by your meanes have undertaken armes to vindicate our common libertie hitherto wee have prosperously proceeded But in what termes we now stand I am altogether unacquainted As a private man I would bee loath to bee reckoned being by you designed to bee a King a Prince I cannot bee esteemed whilst another possesseth the Crowne your Title likewise is in suspence whether to be termed Rebells or Subjects untill you have made manifest that your Allegeance was bound rather to the state of the Realme then the person of the Prince Now you are they that have both caused this doubtfulnesse and must cleere the point your part still remaineth to bee acted your vertue and valour must adde strength to this action Wee have already ventured so farre that all hope of pardon is drowned so that if wee shrinke backe and breake this enterprise no mercy is to be expected but butchery and gibbets if wee delay the enterprise wee shall lose the opportunitie that now is offered and give occasion of advantage to our adversaries The peoples blood is up now on our sides and nothing is wanting but our care and your diligence let us therefore now not trifle more time in talking but let us strike whilst the iron is hot let us resolutely set forward and possesse our selves speedily of all parts of the Realme so shall wee be either able to keepe out our concurrent or else to entertaine him little to his liking Hereupon troopes of men are speedily sent into all quarters of the kingdome to keepe King Richards partie from drawing to an head The vulgar as men broken with many burthens readily entertained the first commers and were not over-curious to side with the stronger Duke Henry pursued the Treasurer and his complices to Bristoll where hee found the Castle fortified against him but in foure dayes hee forced it and therein surprised the Lord Treasurer Sir Iohn Bushy and Sir Henry Greene whom the common people eagerly pursued to execution no defence could bee admitted no excuse heard no respite obtained but still their rage continued crying against them that they were Traytours blood-suckers that had abused the King and undone his Subjects to enrich themselves And through their clamorous and importunate instance the day following the Earle of Wiltshire with the rest were beheaded This Earle of Wiltshire was William Lord Scroope in the twenty one yeare of Richard the second Created Earle of Wiltshire and made Lord Treasurer hee purchased the Isle of Man and dyed without issue Sir William Bagot whilst the other went to Bristoll posted to Chester and pursuit being made after the most hee alone escaped into Ireland This execution partly because it pleased the people and partly because it excluded all hope of the Kings pardon caused them to cleave more firme unto the Duke which greatly increased both his hope and glory as having offers of so large ayde and so little need In the meane time the newes of the Dukes arrivall and occurrences thereupon part true part false and all enlarged by many circumstances as fame increaseth by going was related to the King hee then being intangled with other broyles in Ireland at the receipt whereof hee caused the Sonnes of the Dukes of Glocester and Lancaster to be imprisoned at the Castle at Trim and for the speedier dispatch to goe into England left most of the provision behinde hasting and shuffling together as his present hast did enforce being both unskilfull and unfortunate himselfe and voide of all good direction from others and with more haste then good speed he tooke shipping and within the space of three nights with the Dukes Aumerle Exceter and Surry the Bishop of London Lincolne and Carlile and some others hee arrived at Milford haven in Wales in which countrey-men he reposed his chiefe trust for safetie But when hee saw that contrary to expectation that as well there as in all other places the people flocked to the Duke and fled from him and those that were with him were all wavering and some revolted all his devises were disturbed and hee resolute what course to take on the one side he was confident his cause was right his conscience being cleere from any great bad demerit on the other side hee saw the adversaries great strength and the whole power of the Realme bent against him And being more abashed by the one then incouraged by the other hee was perplexed in uncertaine termes either where to stay or whither to stirre wanting both knowledge and resolution himselfe in cases of such difficultie and obnoxious to unfaithfull counsell Some advised him to march further into the land before his owne forces fell from him alledging that fortune seconds valour That in all places hee should finde some who of dutie for favour or hire would joyne with him others perswaded him to returne into Ireland and from thence to returne when sufficiently strengthened But the King unacquainted with martiall affaires rejected both counsells and in taking a middle course which alwayes in extremes of that kinde is the worst hee resolved to stay in Wales to attend to what head this humour would rise The Duke upon advertisement of the Kings landing with great power speeds to Chester whereupon Thomas Piercy Earle of Worcester steward of the Kings houshold to vindicate the proclayming his brother the Earle of Northumberland traytor openly in the Hall before all the Kings servants broke his staffe of office and departed to the Duke willing the rest to shift for themselves in time hereby hee lost his reputation on
doings only the King was utterly undone Then was demanded of the Nobilitie and Commons of the Realme what they judged of the substance and truth of these Articles who all agreed that the crimes were notorious And that the King was worthy for the same to bee deposed from his Princely dignitie The Noble men partly corrupted by favour part awed by feare gave their voices And the Commons who commonly are like a flocke of Cranes as the first flye all followers did the like Commissioners are appointed by both houses who pronounced sentence of Deposition against King Richard in manner and forme as followeth In the name of God Amen Wee Iohn Bishop of Asaph Iohn Abbot of Glassenbury Thomas Earle of Glocester Thomas Lord Barkley Sir Thomas Erpingham and Sir Thomas Gray Knights and William Thirning Iustice Commissioners for the causes hereafter specified By the Lords Spirituall and temporall and the Commons of the Realme of England representing all the States of our Kingdome specially deputed sitting in place of judgement considering the manifold perjuries and cruelties and many other the crimes and offences by Richard late King of this Realme committed and done contrarie to good government in the Realmes and dominions aforesaid during the time of his raigne Also considering the Articles which were openly exhibited and read before the said States which were so publike notorious manifest and famous that they could nor can by any shift or cover be concealed or avoyded considering also the Confession of the sayd King acknowledging and reputing and truly upon his certaine knowledge judging himselfe to have beene and to bee altogether insufficient and unskilfull for the rule and government of the Realme and Dominions aforesaid and not unworthy to bee Deposed for the notorious demerits by the said Richard first acknowledged and after by his will and mandate before the said States published and to them opened and declared in the English tongue upon these and other matters which were done concerning the same businesse before the said States and us by the delegation place name and Authoritie to us in this part committed in pursuance whereof Wee pronounce decree and declare the said Richard to have beene and bee unprofitable unable and altogether unsufficient and unworthy for the rule and government of the said Realmes and in regard and respect of the premisses worthy to bee deposed from all kingly dignitie and honor if any such dignitie and honor remaineth in him And for the like cautele We do depose him by our sentence definitive in this Writing inhibiting from henceforth expresly all and singular Lords Archbishops Bishops Prelats Dukes Marquesses Earles Barons Knights Vassales and all other persons whatsoever of the said Realmes heretofore the subjects of the same and every of them that from henceforth none obey or intend to obey the said Richard as King or Lord of the Dominions aforesaid And afterwards the same Commissioners by the conseâ—…t and suffrage of both houses were constituted Procurators joyntly and severally for all the States of the Realme to resigne and surrender unto King Richard for them and all other homagers of the Realme all the homages and fealties which were both due and done unto him as King and Soveraigne And also to declare unto him all the premisses concerning his Deposition Now Henry Duke of Lancaster that hee might bee reputed or reported at the least not to attaine the kingdome by intrusion and wrong was counselled by his friends to pretend some lawfull challenge or claime thereunto And being in power it was no sooner advised what was to bee done but it was presently devised how to doe it So a Title was drawne from Edmond sonne to King Henry the third whom they nicknamed Crookbacke affirming that he was the eldest sonne of King Henry and that hee for his deformitie was put from his right of succession which was for that cause given to King Edward the first To this Edmond the Duke was next of blood by his mother Blanch sole Daugter and heire to Henry Duke of Lancaster and Sonne to the same Edmond This cunning conveyance was perceived by most but seeming not to perceive it was a point of friendship in some and of obedience in the rest Therefore the Crowne of England being supposed unpossessed both by the resignation and also by the deposition of King Richard Duke Henry arose from off his seate and standing in the most view of the assembly making the signe of the Crosse on his forehead and brest said as followeth In the name of God Amen I Henry of Lancaster claime as my right the Crowne and Realme of England with all the Dominions and appendices to the same as being lineally descended by the right of lyne from the blood Royall comming from that good Lord King Henry the third and through the right that God of his grace hath sent mee by his assistance and the helpe of my ready kindred and noble friends have adventured to recover the same which was in point of destruction for want of good government and orderly distribution of justice therein and therewith reseated himselfe Then was it demanded in both Houses upper and lower whether they did consent that the Duke should raigne over them who all with one voice accepted of him for their King Then the Archbishop of Canterbury tooke him by the hand and placed him in the Throne of estate the Archbishop of Yorke assisting him and all the Parliament testifying their owne joy and wishing his Then the Archbishop of Canterbury upon this place of Scripture 1 Reg. 9. 17. See this is the man whom I spake to thee of this same shall raigne over my people did make a paraphrasticall exposition which ended the Duke was generally proclaimed King by the name of Henry the Fourth King of England and France Lord of Ireland The Common people voide of cares not searching into sequels but without difference of right or wrong inclinable to follow the mightie with showtes and clâ—…mours gave their applause not all upon judgement or faithfull meaning but only upon received custome at first to flatter the Prince whatsoever hee bee But lest the humour thereof should allay by delay it was forthwith Proclaimed that upon the thirteenth of September next ensuing the Coronation of the King should be celebrated at Westminster These matters being thus dispatched the proclaimed King rose from his Seate and went to Whitehall where hee feasted the Assembly royally yet hee made no show of statelinesse or pride or change of deportment in this so great change of fortune Vpon Wednesday following the before-remembred Procurators went to the deposed King to the Tower and declared to him the admission of his resignation and the manner of his Deposition and in the name of the States of the Realme did surrender backe the Homage and Fealtie formerly due unto him with this attestation that no man from thenceforth would beare unto him faith and allegeance as due to a King The
more strong in King Stephen then they are now in the Duke of Lancaster for King Henry the first being at libertie neither restrained nor constrained the people assented to this designement and thereupon without feare or force he was annointed and crowned King Yet Henry Fitzempresse having a neerer right to the Crowne by his Mother notwithstanding his Father was a stranger and hee borne beyond the Seas never ceased the prosecution of bloody warres to the great effusion of blood and spoyling the Countrey untill his lawfull inheritance was assured him It terrifieth mee but to thinke how many flourishing kingdomes have beene by such contentions either rent by intestine division or subdued to forraine Princes under pretence of assistance and aide This Kingdome hath had too wofull experience of these severall mischieves and yet neither examples of other Countries or miseries of our owne are sufficient to make us bee wary Certainly I feare it will betide us as it did to Esops Frogges who being desirous to have a King had a beame given them the first fall whereof affrighted them but when they saw it lie still they contemptuously insulted thereon and desired a King of more active spirit Then a Storcke was sent them which stalking amongst them daily devoured them King Richards mildnesse hath bred in us this scorne interpreting it to bee cowardise and dulnesse of nature I dare not say yet give mee leave to suspect with greater courage wee may finde greater crueltie And thus have I declared my opinion with more words you may perhaps conjecture then wisdome yet fewer then the waight of the cause doth require and I doe resolutely conclude that wee have neither power nor pollicie either to Depose King Richard or in his place to Elect Duke Henry That King Richard remaineth still our Soveraigne Lord and therefore it is not lawfull for us to give judgement against him That the Duke whom you are pleased to stile King hath more transgressed the King and Realme then Richard hath done either against him or us For hee being banished the Realme for tenne yeares by the King and Councell amongst whom his owne Father was chiefe and given oath not to returne without speciall licence Hee hath not only broken his oath but disturbed the peace of the Land dispossessed the King of his Royall estate and now demandeth judgement against his person without offence proved or defence heard if this perjurie and this injury move not yet let both our private and publike dangers somewhat withdrawe us from these violent proceedings This speech was diversly taken as mens affections were diversly hurried betwixt hope feare and shame but the most part did seeme to stand for Duke Henry Whereupon the Bishop was attached by the Earle Marshall and committed to the keeping of the Abbot of Westminster but presently after to Prison in the Abby of Saint Albones His Counsell and conjecture then contemned was after approved of when too late both in the Kings time during whose raigne no yeare passed without slaughter and executions but more in the time succeeding when within the space of thirty sixe yeares twelve set battells upon this quarrell were fought within the Realme by natives only and above fourescore Princes of the blood Royall fell by each others sword It was concluded notwithstanding what the Bishop had spoken that King Richard should bee kept in a large Prison with all manner of Princely maintenance And if any should attempt to rere warre for his deliverance that hee should bee the first man should suffer for that attempt The Acts of Parliament of the eleventh yeare of King Richard were revived and those of the one and twentieth wholly repealed and all in that Parliament attainted were restored to their Titles and inheritances without suing livery And also to such goods whereof the King had not beene answered except the rents and issues of their lands Hereupon Richard Earle of Warwicke is delivered out of prison and the Earle of Arundels sonne restored to his inheritance others also that stood banished or were in prison recovered their libertie and estate it was enacted that none that came with Henry against Richard should bee impeached or troubled To the Earle of Westmerland the King gave the Countie of Richmond to the Earle of Northumberland the Isle of Man to hold of him by the service of bearing the Sword wherewith hee entred into this Kingdome before him Divers others his followers hee advanced to places of highest note some for desert but most to win their favour and perhaps projecting a plot for partakers if times should change For in many actions men take more care to prevent revenge then to lead an innocent life It is likewise ordered that the plotters and procurers of the Duke of Glocesters murther should bee strictly enquired after and severely punished And judgement was given against the Appellants of the Earles of Warwick and Arundel and that the Dukes of Aumerles Sussex and Exceter the Marquesse Dorset and the Earle of Glocester who were there present should lose their Titles of Honour and forfeit their estate in all the lands they had which was formerly belonging to the Appellees and that all their Letters patents concerning the same should bee surrendred into the Chancery to bee cancelled and for their owne inheritance to bee at the mercy of the King That they should give no Liveries to retainers nor keepe more then should bee necessary That if any of them did adhere or assist the Deposed King Richard against the Decree of his Deposition That they should suffer as in high treason And for that many of the common people did murmure That many the Officers had grievously extorted either by connivency or secret support of the Lords those Officers were removed and the corruption purged Then were Proclamations made that if any man had by strong hand beene oppressed by any of the Lords or by any under-officers to them beene wronged or abused his complaint proved the delinquent should give him plenary recompence The execution of these Nobles was much questioned The importunitie of the people and the perswasions of many great ones drew that way but pollicie was against it especially the opinion of Clemency which seemed needfull in a new not well settled estate In this Parliament the Lord Fitzwater appealed the Duke of Aumerle upon points of high Treason the like did the Lord Morley to the Earle of Salisbury and above twentie Appellants more gaged battell but the King purposing to lay the foundation of his government by favour and not by force gave pardon and restitution alike to all upon securitie for their allegiance and moderately admonished and as it were intreated the one part that old griefes and grudges should not bee renewed but altogether buried The other part hee desired to bee afterwards more circumspect of their actions and for the time past rather to forget they ever were in fault then to remember that they were pardoned No punishment was
King Henries armes and plucked away his Cognizance from those that as his servants attended upon her and having there with somewhat eased her swolne heart shee with the Lords departed to Wallingford and from thence to Abington stirring up by the way the people to take armes in ayde of King Richard At length they came to Cicester and there tooke up their lodgings The Duke of Surry the Earle of Salisbury in one Inne the Duke of Exceter and the Earle of Glocester in another Inne the Army encamped in the fields The Bayliffe of the Towne suspecting what was true that these guests were no good subjects besets the house where the Duke of Surry lay who with his retinue growne desperately bold made strong defence against the assaylants The Duke of Exceter and his Company had not force enough to rescue their Companions Whereupon a Priest of their consort supposing thereby to divert the Townsmen from the assault set divers houses on fire but the fire more inflamed the townsmens furie and made them insist more obstinately in the attempt swearing not to rescue their losses but revenge them and quench the flames with the Traytors blood The Earle of Exceter and they that were with him perceiving the force of the assaylants to increase and that it was impossible for a few so to sustaine the fury of so many obstinately bent they fled out of the backside towards the Campe intending to bring the Army to the reskue But the souldiers having heard the alarum and seeing the fire within the Towne supposing the King was entred with his forces were strucke with a sudden and causlesse feare and wanting Commanders of courage to confirme them they disbanded and fled and whilst every one sought to save one they brought themselves all to confusion The Duke of Surry and his company manfully maintained the fight with great bloodshed on all sides from midnight untill three of the clocke the next after-noone and then being inferiour in number and fortune the Duke and the Earle of Salisbury were both wounded to death and taken and that evening dying their heads were strooke off and sent to the King to London There were then taken prisoners Sir Bennet Sherley Sir Bernard Brockas Sir Thomas Blount and twenty eight Lords and men of note who were afterwards upon King Henryes comming to Oxford sent thither unto him and there executed The Duke of Exceter with Sir Iohn Sherley fled into Essex from whence many times they attempted to have escaped to France but by contrary windes were driven backe againe and then lurking in secret places the Duke was taken and lead to Plashey and there beheaded There wanted not some in those times that made conjectures that now the Duke of Glocesters death was brought to bee reckoned for who by Exceters counsell and contrivance in the same place had beene wrongfully apprehended An example for those which square out their actions by the crooked line of their pleasure or power to other mens disprofit or disparagement but punishment of such impietie though it bee prolonged doth never faile but commeth at length and then surely though perhaps slowly This Duke of Exceter was a man of high Parentage great power and honourable Alliance Created Earle of Huntington in the eleventh yeare of King Richard now deposed in the one and twentieth hee was Created Duke of Exceter and upon the resignation of the place and release of the right thereto by Aubery de Vere Earle of Oxford was made that yeare Lord Chamberlaine of England and married Elizabeth the Daughter of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster and Blaunch his wife by whom hee had issue Richard that dyed young Iohn afterwards Duke of Exceter Earle of Huntington Edward that dyed without issue and a Daughter named Constance first married to Thomas Mowbray sonne and heire of Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolke and after to Iohn Lord Gray of Ruthyn hee was popular and openly praise-worthy but his secret actions were hardly censured hee was partaker of all his brothers vices and of counsell to many of them yet somewhat more circumspect and close and not so much partaker of his prosperitie as violently carried with the torrent of his misery Thomas Spencer Earle of Glocester fled toward Wales but in the way was taken and beheaded at Bristoll hee married Constance Daughter of Edmond of Langly Duke of Yorke and had issue Richard that dyed young Elizabeth dyed young and Isabell who was borne seven moneths after her Fathers death and was first married to Richard Beauchamp Earle of Worcester by whom shee had issue Elizabeth her second husband was Richard Beauchamp Earle of Warwicke cosin german to her first husband by whom she had issue Henry afterwards Earle of Warwicke The counterfeit of King Richard flying into Scotland was apprehended committed to the Tower and from thence drawne and hanged and quartered and one Ferby and an other of K. Rich. Chaplaines with him divers others of all sorts Lords and Gentlemen with a great number of common souldiers were in other places put to death insomuch that the King though otherwise of a moderate and peaceable disposition seemed in this too too vindicative of his owne injurie or rather in maintaining the injury that hee had done The heads of the chiefe Conspirators were pitched upon poles and set over London bridge lamentable spectacles of heads and quarters of unfortunate dismembred wretches were visible in many parts of this Realme putrifying above ground not all for desert but many to satisfie either the malice or want of King Henryes friends Insomuch that some of those of deepest apprehension openly gave forth That in short time there would be just cause to wish King Richard againe as being more tolerable to indure the crueltie of one then of many and to live where nothing then where any thing might bee permitted was most safe The Abbot of Westminster in whose house and head this Conspiracy tooke life and light hearing of these disasters going from his Monastery Grange neere Westminster was taken with a dead Palsie and suddenly dyed speechlesse And although in this enterprise accident gave policie the checke and by a strange fortune which wisdome could not prevent overturned the project yet it is apparant that this Abbot first moved the stone that rowling along was likely toturne King Henry out of his Chaire The Bishop of Carlile was condemned for his treason but the extremity of his passion closed up his dayes and prevented the violence and shame of publicke execution King Richard as afore having abdicated his Regalitie did but a short time injoy that sweet securitie wherewith hee so flattered himselfe For first his goods which hee had given in satisfaction of the wrongs by him done were shared amongst his enemies and hee removed first to the Tower of London and then from thence to the Castle of Leeds in Kent and from thence to Pomfret where being kept in straight Prison innocent and ignorant of this offence
was notwithstanding made a partner in the punishment For King Henry observing how farre the Lords might have prevailed with their late stratagem for if their stomacks had beene but answerable to their strength and their bold beginning had not ended in faintnesse and sloth they might have driven him to an hard hazard hee caused King Richard to bee put to death thereby to make sure that no man should cloke open rebellion under the colour of following sides nor countenance his Conspiracie either with the person or name of King Richard But whether hee did expresly command his death or no it is a question but out of question he showed some liking and desire to the action gave approvement thereto when it was done The report went that King Richard was Princely served every day with abundance of costly dishes but was not suffered to touch or taste one of them and so perished with famine I perswade my selfe this is meerely fabulous for such barbarous and unnaturall cruelty against a King and a kinsman is not likely to proceed from King Henry a Christian But it is more probable which a Writer about those times affirmeth That King Henry sitting at his Table sad and pensive after a deepe sigh said Have I never a faithfull friend that will ridde me of him whose life will breed destruction to mee and disquiet to the Realme and whose death will bee a meanes of safetie and quiet to both And how can I be freed from feare so long as the cause of my danger doth continue what securitie what hope shall we have of peace unlesse the roote of rebellion bee plucked up A Knight called Sir Pierce of Exton hearing this with eight of his followers posteth to Pomfret and pretending warrant from the King had entrance into the Castle where hee commanded the Esquire who sued to King Richard to surcease his service whereupon when King Richard being set at Table saw that hee was not served as afore with assay and demanded of the Esquire the reason of this his neglect of dutie therein Hee was answered that Sir Pierce had brought such order from King Henry comming lately from the Court Richard moved with this act and answer said The divell take thee and Henry Duke of Lancaster with that Sir Pierce with his Retinew before him entred into the Chamber and locked the dore after them Whereupon King Richard spying their drift and suspecting his owne danger stepped couragiously to the first man and wresting the Halbert out of his hands therewith slew foure of his mischievous assaylants and with admirable resolution fought with the other untill comming by the Chayre wherein the King used to sit in which the cowardly Knight himselfe was got for his owne safetie he was by him strucken with a Pollax on the hinder part of the head who being at the point of death groned forth these words Edward the second my great Grandfather was in this manner Deposed imprisoned and murthered whereby my Grandfather Edward the third obtained the Crowne and now is this punishment fallen upon mee his next Successor This is right for me to suffer but not for you to doe your King may for a time joy at my death and injoy his desire but let him qualifie his pleasure with expectation of the like justice for God who measureth all our actions by the malice of our mindes will not suffer this violence to passe unrevenged whether these words did proceed from a distempered desire or from the judgement of his fore-sight they were not altogether idle Sir Pierce expecting great rewards for his ungratious service was frustrate of both and not only missed that countenance for which hee hoped but lost that which before hee had so odious are crying sinnes even to him for whom they were committed Hereupon at first hee grew discontented and afterwards tormented in conscience and in a rage would often exclaime that to pleasure one ungratefull person hee had made both himselfe and posteritie infamous and odious to all the world King Henry with disquiet held the kingdome during his life and so did his Sonne King Henry the fift in whose time by continuall warre with France the malice of the humor was otherwise exercised and spent But his second Successor King Henry the sixt was dispossessed thereof and together with his young Sonne Prince Henry imprisoned and put to death either by command or connivence of Edward the fourth and hee also escaped not free for hee dyed not without many and manifest suspitions of poyson And after his death his two sonnes were disinherited imprisoned and butchered by the Vsurper the Duke of Glocester who was slaine at Bosworth field and so in his person having no issue the Tragedy ended These are excellent examples both to comfort them that are oppressed and of terror to violent oppressors That God in his secret judgement doth not alwayes so certainly provide for our safetie as revenge our wrongs and oppressions and that allour unjust actions have a day of payment and many times by way of retaliation even in the same manner and measure they were committed Thus as most of the chiefe Writers doe agree was King Richard by violence brought to his end although all Historians agree not of the manner of the violence Hee was a man of personage rather well proportioned then tall of gracefull and comely presence of good strength and no abject spirit but the one by ease the other by flattery were much abused and abased hee deserved many friends but found but few because hee bought them by his bounty not sought them by vertuous behaviour hee was infortunate in all his actions which may bee imputed to his slothfull carelesnesse for hee that is not provident can seldome prosper for his loosenesse will lose whatsoever fortune or other mens labours doe cast upon him Hee lived three and thirty yeares and raigned two and twenty in his younger yeares he was too much ruled by greene heads little regarding the counsell of the grave and judicious Councellors which turned to the disquiet of the Realme and his owne destruction Hee married two wives the first was Anne the Daughter of Charles the fourth and Sister of Winceslaus King of Bohemia shee was crowned Queene the twenty two of Ianuary 1384. but dyed without issue The second wife was Isabell Daughter of Charles the sixt King of France an infant of seven yeares of age who after his death was returned into France but without Dower because the mariage was never consummate for want of copulation The Lord Henry Piercy had the conveying of her over in Anno 1401. His dead body was embalmed and seared and covered with leade all save the face and carried to London where hee had a solemne obsequie kept in the Church of Saint Paul the King being present and the chiefe Companies of the Citie From thence hee was conveyed to Langley Abby in Buckinghamshire and there obscurely interred by the Bishop of Chester the Abbots of
Saint Albones and Waltham without presence of the Nobilitie or confluence of the Commons and without the expence of a dinner after the celebrating of the Funerall But Henrie the fift caused his body to bee taken up and removed to Westminster and there interred amongst the Ancestors with Queene Anne his first wife in expiation of his Fathers violent and unfaithfull dealing it was not amisse in regard of the Common-wealth that hee was dead yet they who were actors in his death had small reason to reckon it among their good deeds These accidents attend such Princes as being absolute in power will bee too resolute in will and dissolute in life Humphry the Sonne and heire of the Duke of Glocester in his returne out of Ireland where King Richard had left him prisoner dyed of the plague at Chester the newes whereof kild the Dutchesse his Mother about this time dyed Thomas Mowbray the exiled Duke of Norfolke who had outlived his honour hee married two wives both named Elizabeth the first the Daughter of the Lord Strange who dyed without issue the second Sister and coheire of Thomas Fitzâ—…llayne Earle of Arundel by whom hee had issue Thomas and Iohn Margaret and Isabell. In this yeare also deceased Iohn Duke of Britaine who had taken a Wife Mary Daughter to King Edward the third but by her hee had no issue Also this yeare dyed Edmond Duke of Yorke surnamed of Langley the first sonne of Edward the third his reputation hee kept unblemished and honour untainted hee was not carelesse of good fame nor greedy of greatnesse wary and circumspect in his behaviour not desirous of other mens wealth nor too parcimonious of his owne hee did not by obstinate opposing himselfe against the torrâ—… of the time rashly hazard his fame or fall but by moderation attained safely that degree of praise which others aspiring unto by desperate courses wonne an ambitious death without further profit Hee married two Wives the first was Isabell second Daughter and coheire of Peter King of Castile by whom hee had issue Edward Duke of Albemarle Richard Earle of Cambridge and Constance first married to Thomas Spencer Earle of Glocester and afterwards to Thomas Holland Earle of Kent his second Wife was Ioane Daughter of Thomas Holland Earle of Kent and Sister and coheire of Edmond Earle of Kent but by her had no issue King Charles though Lucidus per intervalla yet sensible of dishonour moved with his Daughters disgrace made preparation to invade England and brought downe his Army into Piccardy but upon the certaine relation of King Richards death hee gave over the enterprise and sent over Embassadours into England to treate or rather intreate that his Daughter with her Dowry might bee restored to him againe King Henry gave them audience and answer that hee would speed Commissioners to Callice to commune and conclude with them both of this and other waighty affaires concerning both the Realmes whither hee sent Edward Duke of Yorke and Henry Earle of Northumberland The French King sent the Duke of Burbon and certaine others to Bulloigne These Commissioners often met sometimes at one place some-times at the other The Frenchmen instantly required their Kings Daughter to bee restored without the doing whereof they had no order to treat of any thing The Englishmen made a proffer to have a match betwixt Prince Henry and the Lady alleaging that there was no disparagement of birth nor disparitie of yeares betwixt them but thereto they would give no consent neither would they agree to the proposition of a perpetuall amitie But in the end it was concluded that Queene Isabell should bee redelivered to her Father but sauns Dowry because the marriage betwixt her and King Richard was never consummate by reason whereof she was not Dowable upon the Treatie of the marriage the surcease from Armes was agreed upon in King Richards dayes for thirtie yeares which was now mutually confirmed for the terme of these yeares unexpected Shortly after King Henry sent the Lady Isabella under the conduct of Thomas Lord Piercy Earle of Worcester in royall estate to Callice being accompanied with a brave troope of honourable Personages of both sexes shee carried with her all the Iewells and Plate which she brought into England with a great surplusage of rich gifts bestowed upon her by the King At Callice shee was received by Valerian Earle of Saint Paul Lieutenant in Picardy and by him conducted to her Father who afterwards gave her in marriage to Charles sonne to Lewis Duke of Orleans and so was rest or rather respite of warre in France procured But the fire and fury of the late sedition was hardly quenched when the Welchmen upon advantage of the doubtfull and unsettled estate of King Henry brake forth into a defection before the King could either lay the groundworke of his Authority or the people frame themselves to a new obedience and having beene taught that common causes must bee maintained by concord they sought by assemblies to establish an association and to set up their owne principalitie againe They Created for their Prince Owen Glendor a fellow of a turbulent spirit and factious disposition and apt to stirre up sedition and strife and though hee was of no great estate by birth he was stout in stomacke of an aspiring spirit and wit somewhat above the ordinary ranke of those untrained people bold crafty agile and as hee liâ—…t to bend his minde mischievous or industrious in equall degree in desires immoderate and rashly adventurous more desirous to doe then circumspect what to doe in his younger yeares hee was a student at the Innes of Court at London and being incensed by a verdict given against him for tithe of land betwixt him and the Lord Gray of Ruthin and by nature being a man not of the mildest disposition by this provocation hee was made savage and rough and determined either to repaire or revenge his losse by setting the whole State on fire Also his expences had beene too excessive for a great man to continue which brought him to barenesse too base for a meane man to endure and therefore hee was necessitated to doe or dare something more then ordinary And more danger hee thought there was in orderly dealing then in hazarding rashly and now opportunitie is presented for troublesome times are most fit for such attempts And some likelihood there was whilst the King and his Nobles were at variance that harme might bee easily wrought to them both upon these causes his desires were founded and upon these troubles his hopes But that his ambitious humour might beare some pretext of honest meaning hee pretended to his Countrymen the recovery of their freedome the desire whereof is so naturally pleasing That birds will rather live hardly abroad in the cold fields then bee daintily dieted in a warme cage and that now occasion was fitly offered or else never to bee expected to ridde them of their servilitie falsly entituled peace whilst the Kings
round about The Scots under the leading of Archibald Dowglasse about the number of twenty thousand with barbarous crueltie entred into Northumberland making havocke by the way but at a place called Homildon they were encountred by the English under the leading of Henry Lord Piercy surnamed Hotspur and George Earle of March on holy-rood day in harvest who put them to flight and tooke prisoners after the slaughter of ten thousand of them five hundred whereof Mordack Earle of Fife the sonne of the Generall who in the fight lost one of his eyes Thomas Earle Murry Robert Earle of Angus the Earles of Atholl and Mentits were chiefe and amongst the slaine were Sir Iohn Swinton Sir Adam Gordon Sir Iohn Leviston Sir Alexander Ramsey of Dalehowsey and twenty three other Knights Piercy having put his prisoners in safe keeping entred Tividale wasting all in the way and there besieged the Castle of Cockclawes of which Sir Iohn Greenlow was Captaine who upon condition that if hee were not relieved within three moneths compounded to surrender the Castle The first two moneths were past and no reskue nor likelihood thereof appeared But before the expiration of the third moneth the souldiers were sent for to attend the King in his expedition as before against Glendour and so they raised the siege and departed with a plentifull bootie The French King to backe Glendour in his trayterous designes not so much for love of him as hatred to King Henry sent twelve hundred men of qualitie to bee Captaines and Commanders to those rebellious disorderly troopes but the windes were so contrary and the violence of the storme such that they lost twelve of their best ships with their fraught and the rest with great difficultie returned to France The English deriding the whilst the French Kings ill successe whose enterprises though they threatned much yet they alwayes vanished to nothing The report whereof so exasperated his resolutions that forthwith hee sent into Wales twelve thousand men who safely landed and joyned with the Welch But upon notice of the English Armies approach suspecting their owne strength or their partakers fidelitie amazed and heartlesse they ran to their shippes and without any service done disgracefully turned home King Henryes Embassadours lately sent into Britaine for the Lady Iane de Navar Dutchesse of Britaine the relict of Iohn de Mountford surnamed the Conqueror with whom the King by procurators had contracted matrimony in the beginning of February returned with her in safetie The King met her at Winchester where the seventh of February the Mariage was solemnized In the meane time Valerian Earle of St. Pauls out of a malitious hatred to King Henry with seventeene hundred men of warre from Harâ—…ew landed in the Isle of Wight where burning two Villages and some few Cottages in token of triumph hee made some Knights But hearing the people of the Island to have assembled hee hasted to his shippes and retired About that time Iohn Earle of Cleremont the heire of Bourbon wonne from the English the Castles of Saint Peter and Saint Mary and the new Castle The Lord de la Bret wonne the Castle of Calafyn of great consequence for the honour of England to bee questioned The Piercies Earles of Northumberland and Worcester with Henry Hotspur which in the initiation of King Henryes attempts had beene both advisers and coadjutors about this time began to turne retrograde to obedience their reason was for that the King not only refused at their request to redeeme their kinsman Mortimer from Glendours slavery though often by them and their friends to that purpose solicited But likewise contrary to the law of the field and Martiall custome as they pretended had challenged as of right pertaining to him all such prisoners as by their martiall prowesse had beene taken of the Scots either at Homeldon or Nesbyt of which they formerly whether of curtesie or duty by them it was disputable only had delivered unto him Morduk the Duke of Albanyes sonne Neverthelesse they came to the King at Windsor where of purpose to prove him they required that either by ransome or otherwise hee would procure the liberty and inlargement of their cousin german Edmond Mortymer â—…avishly shackled and abused as they affirmed for being true to him The King made answer That the Earle of March was not taken prisoner in defence of his Title nor in his service but willingly suffered himselfe to bee taken because he would not withstand the attempts of the Traytor Owen and his Complices and therefore neither would relieve nor ransome him Whereupon Henry Hotspur brake forth and in passion said The heire of the Realme is bereaved of his right and the robber will not allow him part of his owne for his redemption and therewith the Piercies departed the Kings presence and presently procured Mortymers delivery and to adde more waight to King Henrye's displeasure they entred into a league offensive and defensive with Glendour And by their Proxies in the house of the Archdeacon of Bangor they agreed upon a tripartite Indenture under their hands and seales respectively to bee made to divide the Kingdome into three parts whereby all England from Severne and Trent South and Eastward was assigned for the portion of the Earle of March all Wales and the lands beyond Severne Westward were assigned to bee the portion of Owen Glendour and all the remainder of land from Trent Northward to bee allotted to Lord Piercy This was devised or advised say some by Glendour whom they would make a Southsayer by occasion of a Prophesie as though King Henrie was the Mowldwarpe cursed of Gods owne mouth and they three must bee the Lyon the Dragon and the Wolfe which should divide the land among them But the event proved those blinde fantasticall dreames of the Welch Southsayers to bee Deviationes non divinationes In the meane time King Henry not acquainted with these Conspiracies caused a Proclamation to bee made intimating thereby that the Earle of March had voluntarily caused himselfe to bee taken prisoner That the Rebells having him in their custody and company might pretend some colour wherewith to varnish such conspiracies as secretly they had complotted and contrived against his Crowne and him And therefore his discretion for his safetie advised him not to hearken to any motion for his being redeemed Hereupon the Piercies assisted with a company of Scots whom they by setting their Scottish Prisoners at libertie had procured drew to their partie the Earle of Stafford and Richard Scroope Archbishop of Yorke brother to the beheaded Earle of Salisbury and many others and with them purposed to joyne with the Captaine of the Welch And to set the better glosse to their treasonable attempts they framed by way of accusation certaine Articles against the King which they published and to this effect sent them unto him in writing Articles against King Henry 1. IN primis That when hee returned from his Exilement hee made faith only
which they were hid the sparcks thereof were afresh discovered For envy which alwayes lyeth beneath staring upward had so infected their eyes that they could not endure to looke upon King Henryes so great prosperitie so that by the watring therof the sorenesse was discovered amongst whom Henry Piercy Earle of Northumberland Richard Scroope Archbishop of Yorke Thomas Mowbray Earle Marshall the Lords Hastings Fawconbridge Bardolfe and divers others conspired at a time appointed to meet upon Yorkeswould downts with all the forces they could raise and that under the leading of old Northumberland they should bid defyance to King Henry The Earle Marshall invented and the Archbishop contrived divers Articles of grievances both generall and particular wherewith they spared not to calumniate the King these first they covertly showed amongst themselves but afterwards sent Copies of them to their friends further off with these protestations that to vindicate such injuries and to redresse such oppressions they would if need were not spare the last drop of their best blood Then these Articles are set up in the publicke streetes and upon the gates and entrances into Churches and Monasteries That thereby all men might be throughly informed what they would endevour to reforme and what they were thus resolved by force of armes to undertake hope of reformation of some and desire of innovation of others drew on multitudes of all sides to bee partakers of this enterprise to whom the Archbishop clad in abiliments of warre presents himselfe and first giving them his benediction and plenary indulgence to all such as should dye in the exploit hee exhorted some and encouraged others to undertake and proceed with him in this enterprise The gravitie of his countenance the perswasion of his integritie of life and the opinion of his deepe learning were motives sufficient to induce many to accompany him and all men to reverence him His fervor erected his zeale but discretion did not direct his fervor for hee too suddenly discovered their projects so that the King about to make an expedition into Wales upon notice of these passages turned his march Northwards Ralph Nevill Earle of Westmerland with Lord Iohn the Kings second sonne having had intelligence of this insurrection assembled what forces they conveniently could and with the ayde of the Lords Henry Fitz-Hughes Ralph Eevers and Robert Vmphrevile They made head against the Rebells and comming into a plaine in the Forrests of Galtree they sate downe right against the Archbishop and his retinue who were twenty thousand strong Westmerland perceiving the enemies forces to exceed theirs endevoured to sowe the Foxes taile to the Lyons skin and by a politicke devise to circumvent the Archbishop to this end hee sent a messenger unto him demanding the cause why hee a Churchman and a grave Prelate should drawe so great a confluence of people together and in that manner in armes to fright the Kings subjects and disquiet his peaceable government The Archbishop returned answer That hee neither had or would doe any thing that should tend to the breach of the Kings peace but that hee alwayes had and ever would pray for the continuance of the same without violation And that the cause of his being armed was for his owne defence whom the King had without just cause threatned by the instigations of such sycophants as in too too great multitude swarmed daily about him whereby his accesse unto him without such forces could not bee obtained and herewith hee sends unto VVestmerland a scrowle of the Articles desiring his patience to reade them which upon the messengers returne When VVestmerland had read hee made show of approving the Archbishops pious purpose promising with his assistance to prosecute the same and desired some conference privately to be had betweene them In the meane time acquainting Lord Iohn the Kings Sonne with his intention The credulous Archbishop though a great Clerke none of the wisest men was so forward to beleeve what was proposed that hee perswaded the Earle Marshall though most unwilling to doe so to goe with him to the place appointed to conferre where with equall company they met The Articles are read and allowed of and reformation resolved on all hands to bee endevoured Whereupon VVestmerland seemed to commiserate the souldiers being in armour all day and weary wisht the Archbishop to acquaint his partie as hee would his with the mutuall agreement and so shaking hands in most courtly friendship dranke unto him Whereupon the souldiers were willed to disarme and to repaire to their lodgings which they willingly obeyed but were no sooner gone when a troope of horse which in colourable manner seeming to depart wheeled about but afterwards returned and being now in sight the Earle of VVestmerland arrested both the Archbishop and Earle Marshall and brought them both prisoners to Pomfret to the King who was advanced so farre with his power and from thence marched to Yorke whither the Prisoners likewise were brought and the next day both the Archbishop and the Earle Marshall who dyed a batcheler were beheaded The Archbishop tooke his death with that patience and constancie that the common people did not feare to affirme hee dyed a martyr From Yorke after the Citizens had beene put to their fines and ransomes the King departed thence thirty seven thousand strong every way well appointed and furnished and marched towards the Earle of Northumberland At Durham the Lords Hastings and Fauconbridge with two other Knights being convict of the Conspiracy were executed Northumberland hearing his plots discovered with three hundred horse sped him to Barwicke from whence after hee heard that the King followed him and had taken the Castle of VVareworth hee with the Lord Bardolfe fled into Scotland where they were entertained by David Lord Fleming The King gave summons to the Castle of Barwicke which they refused to obey hee planted a great peece which being discharged against one of the towers of the battlement so shook the same that presently they within yeelded without composition Whereupon William Greystocke Henry Baynton and Iohn Blinkinsop Knights and five others were put to present execution and many other put into severall prisons In his returne hee tooke in all such Castles and peeces of strength as had beene belonging to the Earle of Northumberland or any other his partakers who were all proclaimed Traytors Iames Sonne and heire of Robert King of Scotland attended on by the Earle of Orckney and a mitred Prelate sayling towards France whither the Prince being an Infant of nine yeares old was sent by his Father for to bee instructed in safetie was taken by certaine Mariners of Norfolke and presented to the King at Windsor the thirtieth of March 1408 from whence the Prince and Earle were sent for safe keeping to the Tower of London but the Bishop escaped Roger de Walden the tennis ball of Fortune who had lived to turne the wheele of chance about its circle dyed this yeare who from
a meane descent and but a poore scholler in the now but new founded Colledge of Saint Maryes in Oxford at length came to bee Chaplaine there and stepping on by degrees attained to the Deanry of Yorke and finding the ginge of the Court made such use thereof that hee thereby got to bee Lord Treasurer of England And after that Richard the second had banished Thomas Arundel Archbishop of Canterbury the Realme who in Parliament before but minùs justè was attaint of Treason VValden was Consecrate and authorized Archbishop of Canterbury and so for the space of two yeares continued but after a deposall of King Richard Arundell by King Henry was restored and by Pope Boniface Roger was pronounced an intruder who now being Archbishop but without a Bishopricke as afflictions seldome come uncoupled hee was called to account for the Treasurership and though hee produced his quietus est yet were all his temporalties seized and hee imprisoned yet from thence being delivered by the charitable condition of the now Archbishop hee led a private life but then was made Treasurer of Callice and then with great hope of rerising hee was promoted to bee Bishop of London The Duke of Orleans besieged the Townes of Burgh and Bloy in Gascoygne with a great power but after eight weekes siege and the losse of six thousand of his souldiers hee raised his siege and departed The Lord Camoyes being arraigned before the Earle of Kent for that day Lord high Steward upon supposition without ground which some forgetfull persons had accused to have plotted the Kings surprisall by Pirats upon the Thames in a ship whereof he had the charge was by his Peeres acquit and restored to his goods lands offices and the Kings fauour Northumberland and Bardolfe after they had beene in Wales France and Flaunders to raise a power against King Henry returned backe to Scotland where after they had continued a yeare with a great power of Scots and strangers they returned into England recovered divers Castles formerly belonging to the Earle to whom great multitudes of people resorted wherewith they came into Yorkeshire making great spoyle by the way making proclamation That they were come for the comfort of the English and the reliefe of the Common-wealth therefore willed all that desired to retaine their libertie to repaire unto them Sir Thomas Rokesby high Sheriffe of Yorke having leavied the power of the Countie with that only upon Bramham More gave the Rebells battell wherein Northumberland was slaine Bardolfe taken but wounded to death and the rest put to flight This Henry Earle of Northumberland had two Wives the first was Margaret daughter of Ralph Lord Nevill of Raby by whom hee had issue Henry Hotspur slaine as afore Sir Thomas Piercy Sir Ralph Alane that dyed young His second Wife was Maud daughter of Thomas Lord Lucy by whom hee had no issue This yeare a Parliament began in which the Commons preferred a Petition to the King and the upper house therein expressing their desire that the King might have the temporall possessions which the Bishops and Clergie consumed in unnecessary courses the value thereof they pretended would bee sufficient maintenance for one hundred and fiftie Earles one thousand five hundred Knights sixe thousand two hundred Esquires and one hundred Hospitalls for maymed souldiers besides them already erected They craved likewise that the Clerkes convict should not bee delivered to the Bishops prison and that the Statute made in the second yeare of the King against Lollards might bee repealed which â—…avoured of too much curiositie and too little charitie The King upon advised consideration justly distasting their distempered zeale denied their Petitions and in person commanded them upon paine of his indignation from thenceforth not to presume to trouble their braine about any such businesse In this Parliament the King moved in every yeare wherein there was no Parliament kept to have allowed him a tenth of the Clergie and a fifteenth of the Laytie the Bishops assented but the Commons would not agree thereto Sir Robert Vmfrevill the Vice-Admirall of England with tenne men of warre entred the Forts in Scotland lying there fourteene dayes together landing every day on one side or other taking great preyes and doing greater hurt hee burnt the great Gallyot of Scotland and many ships over against Lyeth and carried away with him fourteene tall ships laden with Corne and other Staple commodities which at his returne hee sent to the Markets round about which brought downe the prises of all things and purchased to him the name of Mend-market Hee likewise made a road by land into Scotland and burnt Iedworth and most part of Tiuidale The King Created his sonne Thomas Duke of Clarence his brother Thomas Beufort third sonne of Iohn of Gaunt hee Created Earle of Dorset upon some distaste taken not given against the young Prince whose youthfull carriage was well-neere censured by the graver sort to bee wilde and uncivill the King removed him from the place of President of the Councell and gave it to his third sonne Iohn and giving too much eare to his severer Councellours against the said Prince hee made at least-wise was said to make a misconstruction of all his actions seasoning the same with jealousie that hee ambitiously affected the Crowne and that he would not stay the leisure of time to have it after the Kings death but would use some stratagem though with the losse of his Fathers life to take present possession thereof To feed this suspition all the youthfull actions of the Prince are set on the tentours and exemplified beyond the degree of wildnesse his merriments are termed ryots his company are stiled Swaggerers his behaviour branded with dissolutenesse and his words and gesture dangerous Whereupon a vigilant eye is carried over him and a note taken of all his followers and Fashions The Prince all this while innocent would not seeme though hee had intelligence of thus much to take notice of these passages but continued his sporting merriments with his old companions amongst whom as in all ages some such have beene there were those that would dare and doe many forgetfull prankes the blame whereof still was laid on the Prince his shoulders whose greatnesse was able to countenance their great follyes which hee many times and not unwillingly did undergoe At length being informed that two things were necessary for a Christian to observe Credit and Conscience the one for his acquaintance sake the other for his owne and that hee would bee censured to bee cruell to himselfe if that hee neglected the opinion of others as relying only on the assurance of his owne Conscience hee resolved to give this satisfaction to the world that such as had given his Father intimation of any sinister intention on his part were in an error undeniable hee first by severall Letters of his owne both inditing and writing expostulated with such as hee knew to bee guiltie of doing ill offices
Garter and sate in their Stalles at the solemnitie of the Feast The Emperour after the departure of the Duke stayed to mediate a peace betweene England and France which the King being advertized of the hard escape of his men in Normandy would not listen unto Neverthelesse the Emperour very politickly awaited his time where to take his best hint to perswade an agreement which might fortunately have beene found had not newes come of the besieging of Harflue so all was dasht The new Constable with a great power suddenly clapt downe before the Towne when the Viceadmirall of France brought up the whole Navy with intent whilst the Constable should assaile it by land to have entred the Towne by the water side But the Duke of Exceter defended the Towne valiantly by whose valour and indefatigable diligence they were defeated of their expectation King Henry in person was preparing to Sea with all speed but being by the Emperour disswaded he sent his Brother the Duke of Bedford accompanied with the Earles of March Oxford Huntington Warwicke Arundel Salisbury Devonshire and divers Lords and Barons with two hundred sayles to the reskue of Harflue they made sayle for Rye and not without some crosses at Sea upon the feast day of the Assumption of our Lady came to the mouth of the river Seyne Vpon notice of the approach of the English Navy Narbon set forward and got the mouth of the Haven The Duke sent before his strongest Ships two French Ships advancing too forward were layd aboard and taken The fight was continued and resolutely maintained untill the English having sunke five hundred vessels one and other and taken three great Carricks of Genoa wonne the harbour and notwithstanding some opposition made by the Gallies which had the advantage with oares to runne out of the reach of the Artillery of the English they relieved Harflue Vpon notice hereof the Duke of Arminacke raysed his siege and departed to Paris leaving somewhat more then a little provision of amunition behind him which they of Harflue tooke and stowed up for them The Duke of Bedford having finished what hee came about returned to the King who with the Emperour gave him great but no more then deserved commendation Whilst these broyles were honourably managed abroad two too uxorious husbands the Lord Strange and Sir Iohn Trussell of Warmingham in Cheshire who had married the Daughter of Sir Iohn Strange most dishonourably fought in maintaining their wives folly forgetfully striving for place at a Sermon in Saint Dunstons Church in the East by occasion whereof there was much partaking on both sides whereby the Congregation was much disturbed a great tumult raysed some slaughter and more bloodshed done the delinquents were committed to the Counter the Church suspended and upon examination the Lord Strange was found guiltie and by the Archbishop of Canterbury adjudged to penance which was thus performed all the Lords servants in their Shirts from Saint Pauls Church where the sentence was given followed the Parson of Saint Dunstons after them the Lord bare-headed with a waxe Taper in his hand the Lady bare-footed the Archdeacon Reignold Renwood following last went to Saint Dunstons in the East where at the rehallowing thereof the Lady filled all the vessells with water and according to the sentence shee offered to the Altar an Ornament of the value of tenne pounds and the Lord a Pixe of silver of five pounds There was then belike in use no commutation of penance Surely I am perswaded that if they might have bought out their penance for money they would have trebled their offerings I could wish that such severitie of discipline might now bee practised against such delinquents wee should then have devotion with more humilitie and lesse striving for places in the Church The Emperour desisteth from further mediation of peace with France and entreth in a League defensive and offensive with King Henry wherein only the Pope is excepted which concluded upon the the nineteenth of October Anno 1416. hee returned towards Germany King Henry accompanied him to Callice whither the Duke of Burgondy came to confirme the League concluded onbefore by the Earle of Warwicke and other the Kings Embassadours and him concerning Flaunders and Arthoyes only from Midsommer 1416. untill Michaelmasse following where it was prolonged further till Michaelmasse 1419. which gave occasion of suspition to France that the Duke was no firme friend of theirs The Emperour takes his journey to Holland the Duke returnes to Graveling and King Henry to Dover where he landed on Saint Lukes Eeve upon his arrivall hee sent new Embassadours viz. the Earle of Warwicke the Bishops of Salisbury Bath and Hereford the Abbot of Westminster and the Pryor of Worcester to the Councell of Constance whither the Emperour in person likewise went in this Councell it was decreed that England should have the title of the English nation and should-bee accounted one of the five principall Nations which often before had beene moved but never granted till then and herein were all Wickliffes positions condemned At this Councell the Antipope Iohn was prescribed and all his goods and Treasure amounting to the summe of 750000. were seized The Parliament by reason of the Emperours being in the Land prorogued began againe the nineteenth of October wherein towards the prosecution of warres in France was voluntarily granted unto the King from the Clergie two whole tenthes and from the Laitie a whole Fifteene In this Parliament during the Kings absence Iohn Duke of Bedford was made regent of the Realme having out of the Kings coffers allowance of one thousand pounds per annum and fourty pounds a year out of the fee farme of Exceter Whilst King Henry is preparing for invasion the French-men had waged divers Carricks and other great Ships of the Genoaes and Italians which jpyning with the French fleet lay at the mouth of the River of Seyne under the command of Iaques Bastard of Burbon to barre all succour from Harflew Iohn Earle of Huntington Son to the Duke of Exceter beheaded at Ciceter is sent to Sea to skowre the Coasts who encountring with the Bastard Burbon after a long fight took the said Bastard three of his great Carricks with all the money for the halfe yeares pay for the fleet and bowged three other Carricks and dispersing the rest cleered the mouth of Seyne and returned to the King at Southamton And upon the 23. of Iuly the King with the Dukes of Clarence and Glocester the Earles of Huntington Warwicke Devonshire Salisbury Suffolke and Somerset The Lords Rosse Willoughby Fitzhugh Clynton Scroope Matrevers Bourcher Ferrers of Groby and Ferrers of Chartley Fanhope Gray of Codnor Sir Gilbert Vmphrevile Sir Gilbert Talbot and a brave well-furnished Army from Portsmouth tooke shipping and upon the first of August landed in Normandy neere to the Castle of Foncke The Kings Army consisted of five and twentie thousand five hundred and eight and twenty fighting
men besides a thousand Artificers and Pioners The Nobilitie and Gentry having at their owne charges furnished him with eleven thousand one hundred and eight and twenty men whereof every fourth man was a Launceere The King besieged the Castle of Tonque which upon the ninth of August yeelded at which time the Earle of Salisbury tooke the Castle of Albervilleirs which the King gave him to him and his heires being the first land given by the King in France the King at the winning of Tonque made eight and twentie Knights and Captaines thereof Sir Robert Circkley From thence the Army marched to Cane whether to prevent the Citizens from burning the Suburbs the Duke of Clarence with a thousand men was sent who found them firing thereof but drove them away quenched the fire reskued the Abby Church of Saint Stephens from being throwne downe and tooke in the Cell of Nans which they had strongly fenced The King sitting downe before the Towne entrenched himselfe and cast up a mount to prevent the Citizens from sallying The King made many assaults but finding the losse thereby more then the gaines hee only kept them busied with often alarums whilst his Pioners laboured to undermine the walls which being effected upon the fourth of September hee offered the besieged their lives in case they would but submit but they refusing hee made show of giving a generall assault whilst many of his men entred the Citie under the foundation The Duke of Clarence with his Company was the first that entred and came upon the backs of those that defended the walls whereby they were easily vanquished and the whole Army entred without resistance The King caused all the armes in the Towne to bee brought together to the Market place where hee caused his men in battell array to stand all night in the morning hee caused all the Magistrates and principall men of the Towne to come before him at their Senate house where some of them for their stubborne refusall of grace proffered were adjudged to death and all the rest fined The spoyle of the Towne hee distributed among the souldiers The Captaine of the Castle made show of standing at defence but having advertisement that the King had sworne to show no mercy if hee did not surrender upon assurance to depart with life bag and baggage the habiliments of warre excepted hee made composition and accordingly gave twelve hostages that if hee were not fully relieved before the twentieth of September to render up the Castle which not being done hee performed and so the King had possession both of Cane and the Castle In the meane time of the Kings absence the Scots in great numbers entred the English pale but hearing the Duke of Exceter with the Lord Wardens were marching towards them with a great power they retired without much hurt doing Charles the Dolphin being about seventeene yeares of age being bare both of men and money yet in the time of his Fathers weaknesse studied how to put of this storme that hung over the Common-wealth and by the counsell of the Constable found a meanes to possesse himselfe of all his Mothers jewells Plate and money which was great which hee orderly expended in waging of souldiers and making preparation for things necessary for the defence of the kingdome But what can an alone woman doe toward the good or safetie of the King or Common-wealth shee knoweth no good but gold nor reckoneth any thing worthy the preserving but beauty and costly apparell she therefore being bereaved of those ornaments of womans greatnesse jewells forgetting the perill wherein both her selfe and Nation stood most intemperately passionate began to worke her womanish malice placeth the Duke of Burgondy in the chiefest authority about the King who having the sword in his owne hands to revenge old injuries resolveth first to tame the young Gallant and then to repulse the common enemy The Dolphin likewise stomacking the inconsiderate folly of the Duke to preferre private quarrells before publicke preservation minded first to represse his insolencie and then to attend the repelling of the forraine foe In the meane time King Henry pursueth his victorious successe sendeth the Duke of Clarence further into the Country who with great difficultie tooke in Bayuxe whereof hee made the Lord Matrevers Captaine The Duke of Glocester likewise tooke the Citie of Lyseux The King remained still at Cane repayring the Towne and fortefying the Castle putting out the Natives that were impotent or young infants to the number of fifteene hundred and in their places did settle English people and finding a great masse of money and plate deposited by the Citizens in the Castle hee caused the same upon proofe to bee respectively delivered unto all such as came to make claime unto the same and would acknowledge him for their Soveraigne His mercifull and moderate cariage wonne him the good report of his enemies nay it incited most of the Captaines and Governours neere adjoyning to tender their commands unto him which hee accepted of as testimonialls of their dutie And upon comming into those parts so rendred unto him hee restored to many of them upon oath of due fidelitie their charges of command againe making alwayes protestation whosoever would become his subjects sweare allegiance unto him they should enjoy their lands and liberties in as large if not in more free and ample manner then they enjoyed them before an excellent pollicie to winne the Normans whose rugged condition is and was alwayes easier to bee led with facile and gentle courses then bee driven by compulsary and harsh meanes for hereby they were contented to forsake the French and turne to the English Crowne The King having orderly settled things in Cane made Sir Gilbert Vmphrevile Captaine of the Towne and Sir Iohn Popham Bailiffe and Sir Gilbert Talbot Captaine of the Castle and so the first of October departed to Courfy Castle which within three dayes yeelded The fourth of October hee came to Argenton the Towne and Castle whereof made composition that if they were not reskued by the day then to surrender those that would become subject to England to stay the rest to depart with their moveables for want of succour at the prefixed time both were yeelded and Covenants on all parts performed The Lord Gray of Codnor was made Governour there whilst the King marched to Sees a populous place which together with many adjoyning peeces acknowledge King Henry for their Soveraigne and were kindly received and fairely entreated The Towne of Alanson endured the brunt of eight dayes siege but in the end tooke out a Copie from the former places for submission The Duke of Glocester was made Captaine thereof and Sir Ralph Lentell his Lieutenant certaine overtures of peace were made by the Dolphin at Tonque Castle but none concluded only a truce was made for certaine time betwixt King Henry and the Duke of Britaine who came in person to require the same
betweene whom an accord was made in case the King of France and his Peeres with the Commons would approve thereof They being to that purpose by the Duke of Burgoyne solicited willingly gave their consent and appointed the Duke of Burgoyne to send his Embassadours sufficiently authorized to meete with King HENRYES Embassadours at Troyes in Campaygne and to that end the King of England was earnestly entreated so to doe who thereupon sent his Vncle the Duke of Exceter the Earle of Salisburie with others to the number of five hundred Horse to the Duke of Burgoyne who from thence came together with them to Troyes upon the eleventh of March were in that manner received as where affection and loving desire are the entertainers There it was quickly concluded that the King of England should speed himselfe to Troyes there to bee espoused to the faire Lady Katherine and to have assurance of the Crowne of France after the decease of the diseased Charles Whereupon with a guard of fifteene thousand choice souldiers accompanied with the Dukes of Clarence and Glocester with the Earles of Warwicke Salisbury Huntington Longevile Tanckervile and Ewe the King of England came to Troyes upon the eighteenth day of May where hee was met by the Duke of Burgoine and divers of the French Nobility who attended him to the Pallace where the Queene with her Daughters the Dutches of Burgoine and the Lady Katherine gave him Princely entertainment where after some little pause whilst the intercourse of complement was passing betwixt the French and the English the King addressed himselfe to the Dutchesse of Burgoine demanding of her in befitting termes if shee thought her Sister Katherines affection was free and not in bondage to any to whom the Dutchesse with a gracefull smile made answer that shee durst pawne her soule her Sister till that houre shee first saw his highnesse was as free as any Virgin might bee but how shee stood affected now shee referred him to her owne answer opportunitie giving way as when mindes are willing it may bee easily apprehended the Lady Katherine was by the King interrogated how shee stood affected to marriage shee answered shee was to bee disposed of by the King otherwise if shee might have the libertie of her owne will shee would give him a more full answer and so making offer to depart King Henry with an amiable voice said Give but your consent and I will by Gods leave make all the rest agree or leave them landlesse or livelesse and thereof rest assured by this pledge of my faith and so tendered unto her a Ring of great price which she not without some blushing received and making a Courtly conge unto him left him and hee the company being come to his lodging hee gave order to his Commissioners to make speed in their consultations and not to give the least way to any procrastinations Whereupon that speed was used in their conferences that upon the twentieth day of May the Lady Katherine was affianced unto him in Saint Peters Church after this the two Kings with their Privie Councellours divers times met and all points of accord were reduced to a certaintie and concluded to which agreement the Kings and all present made faith for the performance and the Duke of Burgogny for his particular made oath as followeth I Philip Duke of Burgoignie for my selfe and my heires upon the holy Evangelists of God sweare to Henry King of England and Regent of France under King Charles that wee shall humbly and faithfully obey King Henry in all things which concerne the Crowne of France and the Common-wealth thereof and after the decease of our now Soveraigne Charles shall remaine faithfull leigemen to the said King Henry and his Successours for ever neither shall we admit or allow of any other Lord or supreme King of France but Henry of England and his heires neither shall wee counsell or consent to any thing that may bee prejudiciall to the said King Henry or his Successours or may bee damagefull to his life or limme but shall with all speed give notice thereof and endevour to prevent it The morrow after Trinitie Sunday being the third of Iune the Marriage with all befâ—…ting Ceremonies was solemnized and the King of England named and proclaymed heire and Regent of the Realme of France of this accord and the Articles subsequent the French King sent Copies all over France and King Henry the like to England in these words Henry by the grace of God King of England heire and Regent of France and Lord of Ireland to bee perpetually remembred of all Christians under our obeysance doe notifie and declare that whereas there hath bin divers Treaties betwixt our royall Father King Charles for peace and quiet to bee established betwixt the Realmes of France and England which have proved fruitlesse considering the many detriments thereby fallen not only to those Realmes but the disturbance of holy Church we have now concluded with our said royall Father for removing all distractions and accorded that our said royall Father and his ever to bee honoured Queene Isabell shall be entituled the Father and Mother of us and reverenced and respected in all things as such alliance shall require That the said King Charles shall during life hold and enjoy in peace and tranquillitie his royall Dignitie Crowne and Revenewes of all France And that all Writs Processe and Commissions and such like proceedings shall passe under his Name and Seale as King And that his Queene Isabell in case shee survive him shall keepe her estate and Title and all such rights and revenewes as were formerly enjoyed by Blaunch Queen Dowager to Philip Grandfather to King Charles That Queene Katherine should with all convenient speed bee sufficiently endowed in England with twenty thousand Markes per annum That during the life of Charles King Henry should not assume the Title of King of France and that the French King should write and entitle him our thrice noble Sonne Henry King of England and heire of France That after the death of Charles the Crowne of France would really and entirely remaine to King Henry and his heires for ever That in regard of the inabilitie of King Charles by himselfe to rule and manage the affaires of the kingdome King Henry should bee Regent and governe the â—…ame as to him should seeme expedient for the Kings honour and the commoditie of the Realme and Common-wealth That the estate of Parliament in France should retaine all accustomed priviledges power and authoritie That King Henry should to his power faithfully assist both Peeres and people to regaine all such things as did of right belong unto them and should protect all the preheminences priviledges and possessions of the Crowne of France That King Henry should support the Subjects of France against all forraine enemies and labour the suppression of all intestine debates and civill warres and endevour the increase of the prosperitie and peace of
high Court of Parliament to Westminster wherein hee enforced the necessity of speedy pursuance of the Dolphin and his Adherents and easinesse of revenging the losse of his brother and their friends and allyes in case they would furnish him with money men and amunition being in readinesse provided Whereupon the Clergie cheerefully granted two tenths and the temporalty readily one fifteene and for that the Kings hast could not well stay the wonted course of collection thereof The Bishop of Winchester layed forth to bee received againe of the Designes of the spiritualty twenty thousand pounds so willing was the rich Cardinall to have his brother Clarence death revenged The King thus provided with money sent his brother the Duke of Bedford with the Army to Callice consisting of foure thousand men at armes and foure and twenty thousand Archers himselfe about the middle of May followeth and safely arriving at Callice hee hasted to relieve Charters whom the Dolphin with seven thousand men had besieged and comming to Maunt heard that the Dolphin was retired to Tours The Duke of Burgoyne who had received and feasted the King with his Father and Mother-in-law at Monstruell and from thence came with the King to Maunt went backe to Piccardy to resist the insolencies of Sir Iaques de Harcourt The King of Scots with the Duke of Glocester about the eight of Iuly besieged Dreux which upon the eight of August compounded That if they were not reskued before the twentieth of that moneth to deliver up the Towne the souldiers with their goods to march whither they would upon which day no reskue came they had all leave to depart except one Searle an Englishman fled thither for Treason out of Roane whom they presently executed and the Towne was delivered to the King of Scots whereof the Earle of Worcester was made Captaine and Sir Henry Mortimer Bayliffe The King pursued the Dolphin from place to place but hee was too flit of foot to bee easily overtaken In the way King Henry surprized the Towne of Baugency but tooke them all to mercy that craved it the like he did at Rugemounte from thence victuall failing hee went to Orleans and from thence to Vignei Sainct Yon where hee stayed awhile to refresh his men and from thence to Paris and having there fitted himselfe with supplies hee went and fate downe before Meuix in Brye a Towne no lesse well victualed then manned and no better furnished then fortified neverthelesse after many assaults the besieged forsooke the Walls and drew into the Market place where they began workes for their defence from whence being likewise beaten the King had possession of that and all the Fortresses in the Isle of France in Lonvaus in Brye and in Champayne The Duke of Bedford in the Kings absence called a Parliament in England in which was granted to the King towards the maintenance of his warres one Fifteene to bee payed in such moneyes as at the time of the graunt were current Vpon Saint Nicholas day Queene Katherine was brought to bed of a Sonne at Windsor who was by the Duke of Bedford and Henry Bishop of Winchester and the Countesse of Holland Christened by the name of Henry whereof when the King had notice out of a propheticke disposition hee sayd Good Lord I Henry borne at Monmouth shall small time raigne and much get and Henry borne at Windsor shall long Raigne and lose all but Gods will be done Divers Frenchmen under the leading of Oliver de Many who had given faith never to beare armes against the King of England entred Normandy and did rob and spoyle the countrey But being by the Earle of Suffolke encountred hee was after a long and desperate fight taken and all his Confederates rowted the King notwithstanding his breach of faith put him not to death but sent him prisoner to England where he dyed The Dolphin layed siege to Cosney who made composition that if they were not reskued by the King of England within tenne dayes to surrender The King was so intentive to the reskue that hee over-heat himselfe with travell and comming to Senlis found himselfe so distempered that hee was enforced to remaine there and send his brother Duke of Bedford to prosecute the dissigne who effected the same the Dolphin upon his approach raised the siege and dishonourably retired into Berry whereof in mockage hee was after called King of Berry the Queenes untimely visit who not long before having taken shipping at Southampton with a gallant Company of freshmen raysed and furnished at her owne charge under the conduct of the Duke of Bedford was come into France and had met the King at Paris where hee left her but shee having notice of his sicknesse was come unto him did much increase the Kings Fever insomuch that by the perswasion of the Doctors and direction of the Kings Councell against her owne will and the Kings desire whose ardent affection unto her could hardly brooke her absence shee left the King who after her departure growing worse and worse was removed to Bloys where within few dayes hee yeelded up his conquests to the all-Conquerour who sent him Crowned with never-dying victory to place of ever-living glory Somewhat before his departure out of this world hee made the Duke of Bedford Lieutenant generall of Normandy and Regent of the kingdome of France And the Duke of Glocester Protector of England and his sonnes person exhorting all to bee true and friendly to the Duke of Burgoyne to bee at unitie amongst themselves to bee loyall to their young Prince to bee seruiceable to his dearely beloved Queene to hold and preserve what he by his valour and Gods assistance had wonne never to conclude contract of amitie with the Dolphin or the Duke of Alanson untill they had submitted themselves to the Kings grace and so giving God thankes for all his former favours and blessings bestowed upon him hee dyed the last of August 1422. in the eight and thirtieth yeere of his age when hee had raigned nine yeares five moneths and foure and twenty dayes his body was carried to Westminster and there buried amongst his Ancestours his character appeareth best when it is referred to his recollection of himselfe for as hee was in youth the most untowardly so in his riper yeares hee approved himselfe of great noblenesse and vertue his stature was tall his personage slender but very strong active he was saith Walsingham modestus vultu actu magnanimus of courage invincible and fortunately victorious in all his battells never receiving checke in any of nature liberall of disposition affable of a generous spirit of infatigable constancy hee was wise and provident in Councell in judgement upright and just in his speech sober in countenance majesticke in comportment magnanimous borne and bred for conquest of life unreprovable and in his death generally greatly lamented in briefe his deeds gave cause of admiration to contemporaries and imitation
and to others as having spirit to dare and a power to doe bravely hee was married to Katherine Daughter of Charles the sixt King of france whose company shee enjoyed but two yeares and three moneths by whom hee had issue only Henry that succeeded him in the Crowne her affections after tyed her to Owen Theodor a Gentleman of no extraordinary linage but absolute for the lineaments of his body by whom shee had issue three sonnes Edmond Iasper and Owen Edmond was after Earle of Richmond and maried Margaret daughter and sole heire of Iohn Duke of Somerset who had issue King Henry the seuenth Iasper was Earle of Penbrocke and after Duke of Bedford shee dyed in Southwarcke and was buried at Westminster THE LIFE AND RAIGNE OF KING HENRY THE SIXT HENRY the sixt borne at Windsor an infant of nine moneths old began his Raigne the last of August Anno Dom. 1422. The government of the Realmes preappointed by the Father on his death-bed and after confirmed by the Nobilitie was committed to Humphrey Duke of Glocester The guard of his person to Thomas Duke of Exceter and Henry Bewford Bishop of Winchester and to Iohn Duke of Bedford was appointed the Regency of France This triple twyne untill the time unhappily untwisted kept the wheeles in orderly motion that guided the Clocke of good government in this Realme so that there was in the beginning of their proceeding no disproportion or disagreement betwixt them but all things were continued advisedly and well The Protectors knowing that it is trechery to wisdome in managing great affayres not to bee directed by the clew of advise made choice of grave and discreet Councellours by whose approvement he made provision of all things necessary aswell for quiet governing the English as for retayning the conquered parts of France in obedience and further conquest of such as yet were refractary leauing nothing undone that might conduce to the honour and happinesse of the estate of the young King and the Realme The Regent of France was not backward on his part but endevoured all that was possible to second the Protectours care But the death of Charles the sixt and the proclaiming the Dolphin King of France by the name of Charles the seventh gave the Regent just cause to suspect the tergiversation of the French Whereupon hee encreaseth the Garrisons and sufficiently furnisheth all places of import with men and amunition exhorting the Normans to continue constant according to their fealtie made to the King of England On the other side the new King of France makes provision in all places to draw his forces together And in the meane time sends the Lord Granvile to Pont Melan who surprised the same putting all the English souldiers to the sword for revenge whereof and the recovery of the Towne the Regent sent the ever to be commended Commander Thomas Montacute Earle of Salisbury with convenient forces thither who for the space of two moneths so straightly beleagred the same that the Lord Gravile surrendred the same and sware but fleshly to bee true man to the King of England Hereof was Sir Henry Mortimer made Captaine and Sir Richard Vernon of the Castle From thence hee marched to Seyne which hee tooke by assault and put all the souldiers except the Captaine Sir William Maryn to the sword and thereof made Captaines Sir Hugh Godding and Sir Richard Aubemond the first of the Towne the other of the Castle The Regent the Duke of Burgoyne and Iohn Duke of Britaine meet at Amiens and renewed the old league and further inlarged it to bee defensive and offensive respectively And knowing that affinitie for the most part is the truest entertainer of friendship and an unquestionable obligation of amity the Regent afterward marrieth Anne the Sister of Burgoyne at Troys In the meane time the Parisian conspired to have let in the new King into Paris but the day before the night appointed for his admission the Duke with his power entred apprehended the Conspiratours and put them to publike execution which done hee furnished all the Forts and places of strength with Englishmen sent Sir Iohn Falstaffe who tooke in Pacy and Coursay two strong Castles whilst hee with his forces tooke in Traynells and Bray upon Seyne The Constable the while with all the new Kings forces layed siege to Cravant in Burgoyne But the Regent and the Duke of Burgoyne sent their forces under the conduct of the never-sufficiently to bee praysed Earle of Salisbury who having with great difficultie and small losse passed the river of Yone seconded by the Burgonians set upon the French and after a long and doubtfull fight put the French to flight slaying about eighteene hundred Knights and Gentlemen of note and three thousand common souldiers Scottish and French there were taken Prisoners The Constable of France who had lost an eye the Earle of Ventadour Sir Alexander Merdyn Sir Lewis Ferignye and two and twentie hundred Gentlemen of the English part were slaine Sir Iohn Gray Sir William Hall Sir Gilbert Halsall one of the Marshalls of the field Richard ap Maddocke and one and twentie hundred souldiers one with another From hence the Earle led his forces to Montaguillon and sate downe before it and after five moneths siege tooke it whilst the Duke of Suffolke tooke in the two strong Castles of Coucy and le Roche The Protector in the meane time ransomed and enlarged the young King of Scots who for many yeares had beene prisoner taking Homage and Fealtie of him from the Crowne of Scotland the tenour whereof is thus recorded I IAMES STEVVARD King of SCOTS shall bee true and faithfull unto you Lord HENRY by the grace of GOD King of ENGLAND and FRANCE the Noble and superiour Lord of SCOTLAND and to you I make my fidelitie for the said kingdome which I hold and claime of you And I shall beare you my faith and fidelitie of life and limme and worldly honour against all men and faithfully I shall acknowledge and shall doe you service due for the Kingdome of SCOTLAND afore-sayd so GOD mee helpe and these holy Evangelists And with consent of all the Nobilitie gave him to wife the Lady Iane Daughter to the deceased Duke of Somerset and Cousin german to the King with a large Dowrie besides many great and rich gifts bestowed by the Mother Vncles and other her kinred but no courtesie or bounty could keepe him from proving unfaithfull and unthankfull The Protectour with his accustomed provident circumspection to prevent dangers that want of supplies might bring to the Army sent over to the Regent tenne thousand well-furnished souldiers with all things whereof hee might stand in need with which fresh succours hee wonne and valiantly conquered many Townes Castles and places of strength whose power the French-men not able to withstand began to fasten the foxes tayle to the lyons skin and what they could not by courage compasse they attempted
by craftie subtiltie to accomplish first they worke upon the inconstancy of the Duke of Britaine and his Brother Arthure by King Henry the fift Created Earle of Yewry these two by gifts had promises things that blind the eyes of the treasonally minded wife they suborned perfidiously to deliver over into their possession the Castle of Crotoy and Yernye and what the English had wonne by true manhood and valour they stole away with craft and trechery but little to their praise or profit for the English before the garrisons were settled fell upon Crotoy and tooke the prey out of the Leopards jawes and like unkind hosts made them pay too deere a price for their lodgings Crotoy thus regained the Regent straightly begirts Yenrye and by secret myning fierce assaults and violent batteryes so shooke the walls that composition was made to yeeld it up if not relieved by a certaine time The Regent was throughly resolved to set up his rest and to abide battell what forces soever should appeare and thereof permitted the besieged to send notice to the French King The Duke of Alanson thereupon with sixteene thousand French approached but when he perceived the English were ready prepared to receive him according to the French fashion at that time to bragge much and doe little hee wheeled about to Vernoyle whereas perjury is the concomitant of every other sinne hee joyned it to his cowardise swearing to the Townsmen that hee had put the Regent to flight and had beaten him out of the field and reskued Yenrye by this false report hee got Vernoyle Whilst the Regent had Yurye surrendred unto him which being strengthened and furnished hee followed the cowards to their conny-borrough at Vernoyle who by the encouragement of some fresh companies of Scots come unto their succour came to a battell in the field where the English with the losse of two thousand one hundred common souldiers and two of the Nobilitie Lord Dudley and Lord Charleton got the glory of the day and slew of their enemies five Earles two Vicounts and twenty Barons and above seven thousand other of the French besides two thousand seven hundred Scots lately arrived The Duke himselfe with the Bastard of Alanson the Lord of Hormyt and divers other French and Sir Iohn Turnbull and two hundred Gentlemen besides common souldiers were taken prisoners This battell was strooke the twentie eight day of August Vernoyle hereupon without battery or assault upon promise of safetie of life only was delivered and there of Sir PHILIP HALL made Captaine and sufficient garrison left him from thence the Armie marched to Roan and from thence to Paris both which places were at strife which should exceed other in freedome of welcome and loving entertainment to the Regent This overthrow so weakened the new King that hee was enforced to quit the country and went to Poyteers where hee established his high Court of Parliament and laboureth his owne establishment The valiant Earle of Salisbury with ten thousand men taketh in the strong Towne of Maunts the towne of Saint Susan le fort St. Bernard and others from thence hee went into Angeou where hee performed such heroicke acts that his very name grew terrible in all France for instance The new high Constable perfidious Richmond in hope to doe some what to advance the reputation of his new Office with fourty thousand men layeth siege to the good towne of Saint Iames in Bevion the garrison whereof consisted but of six hundred English who being droven to some extremitie bravely I might say desperately at one time sallied forth crying Saint George a Salisbury the French men fearing that they had some token given that Salisbury was come to the reskue or that hee was behind in the Towne with more forces were so suddenly affrighted that the craven cowards casting away their weapons ranne all away saving some few that yeelded themselves prisoners leaving all their tents fourteene peeces of Ordnance fourty barrells of Powder three hundred Pipes of wine two hundred Pipes of Bisket and flower two hundred pieces of Raisins and Figges five hundred barrells of Herrings much Armour and some Treasure At this time Sir Iohn Montgomery and Sir Iohn Falstaffe with two thousand men entred into Ainon and Mayne and tooke the Castles of Beamont Vicount Teune Sillye Osce Courceriers Ronsey Vasike Couetenement and very many others so that it appeareth at that time it was but for the English to aske and have so pittifully were the French Cowde with the Regents prosperitie The French were come to their old course of fraud and had compounded with a Gascoyne Captaine there for the delivery of Alanson to the enemy notice being given hereof the Lord Willoughby and Sir Iohn Falstaffe with two thousand men were sent to spoyle she Market who encountering with the chiefe Merchant Charles de villiers who with two hundred horse and three hundred foot were come to the place appointed for their entry tooke and slew them all except some few horse which saved themselves by flying away The Lord Willoughby with his troopes returned to the Earle of Salisbury who victoriously proceeded taking in and demolishing above fourty Castles and strong piles the newes thereof in England caused publike Processions and generall thanks-giving to God in London and other places Neverthelesse an unkind variance and a jarre betwixt the Protector and the Bishop of Winchester Lord Chancellour arising endangered the quiet of the Common-wealth for the appeasing whereof the Regent having substituted the Earle of Warwicke Lieutenant generall in his absence came into England where a Parliament being convoked hee therein discreetly arbitrated and compounded all differences betwixt the Protector and Winchester and to the comfort of the Councell and content of all stinted the quarrell In honour whereof the King of England kept a solemne feast at which time the Regent dubbed the King Knight who invested with that dignitie many of his servants and Created Richard Sonne of Richard late Earle of Cambridge Duke of Yorke and restored Iohn Mowbray to the Dutchy of Norfolke In the meane time the Earle of Warwicke conquered many strong pieces in Mayne and made preparation to fight a set battell whereunto hee was challenged by the French but they said never the sooner for a hasty word their hearts were in their heeles and in stead of comming on to fight they tooke their flight another way a day before the prefixed time of battell All things peaceably settled in England the regent with the Bishop of Winchester returned into France where at the intercession of the Duke of Burgoyne the Duke of Alanson was ransomed for two hundred thousand Crownes The Bishop of Winchester returned to Callice where hee was invested with the Hat habit and dignitie of a Cardinall I dare not thinke because hee was a Clergie man that hee ambitiously affected or otherwise contracted for that place But the advantage of a Bull from the Pope was
engratiated he not only supplanted him from the place but procured it for himselfe to the no little hart-burning of the Duke of Yorke and his friends but hee had wit in his anger and rested silent The towne of Mauns according to the agreement is not given up The King of France prepares to besiege it but upon the motion of the Marquesse order is given for the present surrender thereof now no man in grace with the King but hee none can have any favour from the Queene but by him the extent of his power over-reacheth all the Councell hee gets of the King the Wardship of the body and lands of the Countesse of Warwicke and of the Lady Margaret sole Daughter and heire of Iohn Duke of Somerset afterward Mother to King Henry the seventh The Kings facile nature and flexible condition was the occasion that many enormities encreased and many things made worse that might have beene better if observed and stopt in the beginning The Duke of Glocester for his moderation and provident care in all things stiled good and for his paines in delivery of his mind honest is an eye-sore to an ambitious minion and an imperious woman shee will no longer admit any curbe to her vast desires of empery shee is as well able to advise the King as all his Councell to what purpose then needeth a Protector The Duke of Glocester must therefore bee removed and excluded not only from command but Councell and to adde to affliction shee permitted if not procured divers sinisterly affected to informe against him whereof the new Marquesse and the Duke of Buckingham were not the most backward and the Cardinall Bishop of Winchester and Archbishop of Yorke would not bee much behind one objection was made against him that he had caused divers persons to be executed contrary to the judgement of the Court denounced and against the law of the land in these cases provided his too much zeale of execution of justice if zeale in that point may be justly termed a crime made him subject to be censured to have perpetrated a criminall offence But to avoid tumultuary partakings for he was generally well esteemed howsoever by purblind observers deemed worthy taxe it was concluded by those that maligned his sincere and just proceedings that hee should without any publicke denuntiation of his offence bee privately convicted and condemned to which end a Parliament by the procurement of his enemies unwitting to the King is called at Bury to which the Duke of Glocester resorting is on the second day of the Session by the Lord Beamond then high Constable abetted by the Duke of Buckingham arrested and put to Ward all his followers without exception sequestred from him whereof thirty two are committed to severall prisons the next day after his commitment hee is found in his bed murthered yet shewed the same day being the foure and twentieth day of February publickly making show as though hee had dyed of an impostume but all indifferent persons that saw his corps could not but deeme he dyed of an unnaturall cause his corpes were the same day conveyed to Saint Albones and there buried five of his meniriall servants Sir ROGER CHAMBERLAIN Knight MIDDLETON HERBERT ARTZIS Esquire and IOHN NEEDHAM Gentlemen were condemned to bee drawne hanged and quartered But the Marquesse of SVFFOLKE to make a show to the world of his having no finger in the businesse brought their pardon and delivered it at their proposed place of execution some criticall observers have affirmed the stile of Gloucester as ominous and make instance of Hugh Spencer Thomas of Woodstock and this Duke Humphry but it may be well collected that this Dukes death gave a prodigious presage of the ensewing Calamitie of the Common-wealth sometimes in quenching of smoke men burne their fingers in the fire so the Queene casting to preserue her husbands honor and her owne regalitie in making away this honest Duke affected that which discretion should have most labored to prevent which was the decay of the house of Lancaster which was vnlikely to have chanced if this Duke had lived For his primogeniture would haue kept backe the Duke of Yorkes claime to the Crowne this Richards father being but the fift sonne of Edward the third Humphry Plantagenet was the fourth sonne of Edward the third Duke of Gloucester Earle of Hennault Holland Zeland and Pembroke Lord of Frisia great Chamberlaine of England he married two wives Iaquet from whom he was divorced and Elianor daughter of Reginald Lord Cobham by whom before marrage he had a daughter called Antigona married to Henry Gray Lord of Tanckervile but no issue legitimate The new Marquesse of Suffolk by the great fauour of the King But more desire of the Queene is created Duke of Suffolk which brought him within the compasse of Contempt of the Kings surviving Vncle The Duke of Yorke who now beginning to sucke the venome of his kinswoman the Lady Cobhams sorcery and awakened with his brothers losse her disgrace and his owne disrepute having by consanguinitie and affinity a faire meanes to draw a partie observing that they onely sat at the stearne that were vnable yea vnworthy to use the oare of the common-wealth and that all affares of state were meerly managed by the Queene and her fauourite the Duke of Suffolk the King being as a Cipher but at their pleasure to make a number did amongst his familiars privily whisper his title and right to the Crowne and afarre off as in a landskip to make a show of desire to see the flourishing encrease of the white Rose And so politikly carried his intent that all things were provided to further his proiect ere his purpose was published during this plotting Henry Bewford the rich Cardinall Bishop of Winchester takes his leave of this world and leaves more riches behind him then either good deeds or glorious name he was more noble in blood then notable in learning of high looke and haughty stomacke constant in nothing more then malice and mischiefe and that chiefly employed against good Duke Humphry his desires were insatiable for mony still coveting more but misimploying nothing in expence for he only horded to make others rich and himselfe poore what his ends were except he was perswaded never to dye no living man did know and had he desired to have measured his greatnesse by his goodnesse he had never been administrator to his owne good name for that dyed long before him without which we leave him to be seconded in the Bishopricke of Winchester by a more deserving Prelate which was William Wanfleet so stiled of the place he was borne in but his name was Pattern of the worshipfull family whereof he was descended The fifth of August following dieth Iohn Holland Duke of Exceter Earle of Huntington and Iuory in Normandy Lord of Sparr Leivetenant generall of the Dutchy of Aquitaine Admirall of England and Constable of the Tower of London he married
his Care that he would give a good account of the keeping of it or leave his life as a testimony of his good will to have done it the Duke of Somerset vrged his authoritie which so incensed the old Captaine that he sayd that he could never better have expressed his insufficiency then ambitiously having affected so iminent a place now durst not abide the hazard to stay in it this so moved the Regent that he complaineth hereof to the rest of the Captaines to whom hee maketh show of more danger then there was and so farre prevailed with them that they for the most part agree to make composition for their departure with bagge and baggage which being granted Sir David with some few of his retinue departed into Ireland where to his Colonell hee related all the passages betwixt him and the Duke which set a roote of rankor in the heart of the Duke of Yorke against Somerset that the seeds were never after dead till drowned in blood The French triumphed in Normandy having cleerely gotten it after an hundred yeares possession out of the English mens hands and finally wonne all France to the obedience of Charles their King the reasons of this totall reduction of these Provinces are diversly delivered Some affirme that the English had grasped more with their hand then they could well hold joyning more Townes then they could man and having more lands then they could manure so that their store bred their povertie Others say that the Captaines kept not halfe the number in their Companies that they received pay for Others affirme that Somerset was blinded with French-crowne dust that hee could not discerne danger till the souldiers tasted destruction But it is most agreeable to truth that the triple-headed Gerion in England presumption in government by some unmeet to rule the inveterate malice and insufferable pride of the last created Nobilitie and the universall distaste of the Commons too much oppressed with exactions and burdens was the originall and finall cause of the ill successe our Armies had in France Yet by the way consider but the deportment of the English Nation the concurrence of martiall men their counsell discipline designes from the beginning of Edward the first untill this time and you will acknowledge that they were men of worth and prowes and caried the palme of victory before them wheresoever they went But Suffolke must beare a share and a great one of the blame for this businesse for hee is not only exclaimed against as the cause of the surrender of Anion and Mayne The chiefe procurer of the Duke of Glocesters death The occasion of the losse of Normandy but they accuse him further to have wilfully wasted the Kings Treasure for being a meanes to remove sufficient men from the Councell borde and admitting of Favourites that were only to serve his turne his ambition ayming at the advancement of his faction though with the destruction of the King and the subversion of the Common-wealth The Queene taketh notice of these aspersions and too well knowing how farre they were guiltie that were thus toucht doubting the Dukes destruction and her owne downefall if this current were not stopt so wrought that the Parliament assembled at the Black-Fryers is adjourned to Leicester and from thence to Westminster In the meane time all meanes possiblie are used to stop the mouthes of those that were incensed against the Duke but it prevailed not For the Lower house exhibited their Bill of grievance against the Duke of Suffolke to this purpose 1. That hee traiterously had incited divers the Kings enemies as namely the Bastard of Orleance the Lord Presigny and others to levie warre against the King to the intent that thereby the King might bee destroyed and that Iohn the Duke of Suffolkes Son who had taken to Wife Margaret Daughter and sole heire of Iohn Duke of Somerset whose Title to the Crowne the Duke of Suffolke had often declared in case King Henry should die without issue might be King 2. That by his sinister practises Charles Duke of Orleance notwithstanding the many cautions upon great reasons by King Henry the fift to the contrary given obtained his liberty 3. That through his trecherie by the abetment of the Duke of Orleance the French King hath gotten possession of all the Dutchy of Normandy and taken prisoners the valiant Earle of Shrewsbury the Lord Fauconbridge and many other brave Commanders But to all these hee affirmed himselfe not guilty neither in thought or deed Then was further allegations made against him to this purpose 1. That being with others sent Embassadours into France hee transcended his Commission and without privitie of his fellow Commissioners presumed to promise the surrender of Anion and the deliuery of the Countie of Maunts and the Citie of Mants to Duke Rayner which accordingly was performed to the great dishonour of the King and detriment of the Crowne 2. That hee had traiterously acquainted the Councell of the French King with all the affaires of State and passages of secrecie by whose trayterous information the enemy was througly instructed in all the designes of the King and Councell 3. That hee had received rewards from the French King whereby all succours sent to the Kings Friends in France were disappointed and frustrate 4. That by his wicked practises the good Duke of Glocester was deprived both of Protectorship and life 5. That by his labouring such only were made of the Kings privy Councell that more respected the Dukes particular profits then the good of the King or Realme 6. And lastly that hee had underhand fraudulently enriched himselfe with the Kings Treasure and revenewes and had possessed himselfe by abusing the Queenes favour of all Offices of charge and credit about the King All these hee faintly denyed but could not acquit himselfe of them But to bleare the eyes of the people and to keepe them hoodwinckt during the time of Parliament The Duke is committed to the Tower but the Parliament is no sooner dissolved but hee is set at liberty which so much incensed the vulgar people that they could not be restrained within the limits of obedience but in many places after they had vented their swolne spleenes in garrulent exclaiming against the corruption of times and the wrongs the Common-wealth sustained by the misgovernment of the Queene and her Favourite They fell to an insurrection and under the leading of a desperate Commander stiling himselfe Blewbeard they began to commit some outrages but by the diligence of the Gentlemen of the Country the Captaine was apprehended and the rebellion ceased The Parliament is againe assembled and great care taken of the Election of moderate-minded men for Citizens and Burgesses presuming thereby to stop any further proceedings against Suffolke But his appearance gave such a generall distaste in the House that though hee came in the company of the King and Queen they would not forbeare but begin the assembly with
language provoked the Victor but one bad word begat another and from foule words they fell to fouler blowes The Maior observing the mover to be the Pryors servant not only commanded the Kings peace in generall to be observed but perceiving by the Priors countenance that he did abet his servants insolency he commanded Richard Ally one of the Sheriffs to lay hold upon the Priors servant who did so and delivered him to one of his officers from whom by the Priors servants and others their partakers the prisoner was in danger to be reskued so as the Sheriffe craved assistance of the Maior who with his brethren and officers and servants valiantly assisted the Sheriffe in the execution of his office whilst the Prior hasted to Saint Iohns from whence and Clerkenwell he under the guide of one Callice a desperate swaggerer sent a number of Bowmen to resist the Maior upon whose approach great bloodshed and some slaughter was committed the Maiors cap was shot thorow with an arrow hee neverthelesse couragiously did his devoire in encouraging the Citizens and apprehending some of the mutiners whom he sent to Newgate and put the rest to flight which being done he commeth to his Pavilion would have had the sports goe on but the Wrastlers were out of breath or hurt so that none came neverthelesse Sir Iohn Norman the Maior told his Brethren that he would stay a while to make triall of the Citizens respect towards him for if they came to his reskue though it needed not yet they would expresse their love or their neglect if otherwise he had no sooner said so when the Citizens with Banners displayed came in great numbers to him and fetcht him home in great triumph This was that Maior which first began to goe by water to Westm. to take his oath in that manner as is at this day used wheras before that time they used to go by land This Maior againe was troubled by the Sanctuary men of S. Martins which not without some bloodshed a great deale of industry on his part was with the publick punishmēt of some of the ringleaders appeased But upon the neck of that began the quarrel in Holborne betwixt the Gentlemen of the Innes of Chauncery and some Citizens in appeasing of which the Queenes Attourney and three more were slaine But these were but Peccadelloes to the deformities made in civill societies by civill dissentions the yeare following For now began the sparke that fell into the bundell of flaxe at Somersets going Regent into France to flame out For first Yorke by all meanes laboureth to stirre up the hatred of the Commons against Somerset inculcating in their eares who are apt enough upon losses in warres to accuse the Leaders of some crime of neglect or other what dishonour England sustained by Somersets dishonourable giving over by composition the strong townes of Normandy to these hee addeth favour with the King and Queene which hee imployeth saith hee to his owne gaine and the Commons griefe and so having anticipated with his speeches their apprehensions hee addresseth himselfe to those of the Nobilitie that could not well brooke the too much commanding power of Somerset over the King and Queenes affections for what hee told the Queene was beleeved and what she told the King must bee true amongst others the Duke of Yorke fasteneth upon the two Nevills both Richards the Father and the sonne the one Earle of Salisbury the other Earle of Warwicke The Earle of Salisbury was second sonne of Ralph Nevill Earle of Westmerland whose Daughter the Duke of Yorke had married And this Richard was married to Alice Daughter and only heire of Thomas Mountacute Earle of Salisbury slaine in France with these hee deales so effectually that an undissoluble knot of friendship is knit betwixt them by whose assistance the King lying dangerously sicke at Claringdon the Duke of Somerset is arrested in the Queenes great Chamber of treason and sent to keepe his Christmasse in the Tower and a Session of Parliament at Westminster now convoked Somerset is appeached of treason and many heynous crimes objected but the King though weake is brought to London to dissolve the Parliament After which the Duke of Somerset is againe set at libertie which more incenseth the Duke of Yorkes choler and inciteth others more to be cholericke and the rather for that Somerset in-stead of receiving of punishment for the losse of Normandy is entrusted with the sole remainder of our interest in France and preferred to be Captaine thereof to lose that too say his enemies of the whole Common-wealth they assemble a great power and therewith march towards London The King being assured it was no good policie to suffer the Duke to approach London wherein he had by his long practises got no small party resolves to stop him on the way and accompanied with the Duke of Somerset and attended by the Duke of Buckingham and his Sonne both named Humphry Henry Earle of Northumberland Iames Earle of Wiltes Iasper Earle of Penbrooke and two thousand fighting men march forward both Armies meet at Saint Albones The Duke and the Lords encampe without the Towne in a place called Keyfield the King pitched his Standard in a place called Goseslow the Lord Clifford kept the end of the towne which hee barrcadoed The Duke in the morning sent a Letter unto the King stuft with many protestations of fidelitie and sinceritie offering to give testimony thereof in any thing so please his Majestie to give due punishment to those that have abused his favour and dishonoured the Realme and that so be witched him especially the Duke of Somerset that nothing his loyall subject can either say or doe can make him give credence to their true relations against Somerset the delivery of him into their hands to stand or fall by the judgement of his Peeres is all they desire that they will have or die in the pursuit The King for answer commands them to disband and submit to his mercy and not expect any in his Army to be delivered to their wills for he will rather lose his life then any should bee wronged for their loves that were with him Here with the Duke acquaints his friends who afore resolved and now prepared fell every one to his quarter the Earle of Warwicke with his March-men fell upon the Lord Cliffords quarter driving downe all afore them for that wanting roome to use their weapons the Kings partie was much disadvantaged the Duke of Somerset hasting to the reskues was slaine and with him the Earle of Northumberland Humphry Earle of Stafford the Lord Clifford and about five thousand The Kings army being encreased after his comming forth to eight thousand but now they are all dispersed and slaine and the King unguarded left in a poore thatched house whither to bee freed from the arrowes flying hee had withdrawne himselfe The Duke of Yorke having notice where the King was comes with
succeeded in the Earledome 2. Iohn the second was Created Marquesse Mountague 3. Thomas married the Widow of the Lord Willoughby 4. George was Archbishop of Yorke and Lord Chancellor 1. Ioane the eldest Daughter was married to William Fisz-Allen Earle of Arundell 2. Cecily was married to Henry Beuchamp Duke of Warwicke 3. Alice was married to Henry Lord Fitz-Hugh 4. Elianor to Thomas Stanley Earle of Darby 5. Katherine to William Bonvile Lord Harrington and 6. Margaret to Iohn Vere Earle of Oxford Richard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke tooke to wife Cecily Daughter of Ralph Nevill first Earle of Westmerland and had issue eight Sonnes and foure Daughters 1. His eldest Sonne Henry dyed young 2. Edward afterwards King of England 3. Edmond Earle of Rutland slaine with his Father 4. Iohn dyed young 5. William 6. Thomas 7. George after Duke of Clarence 8. Richard surnamed Croutchbacke after King of England 1. Anne his eldest Daughter was married to Henry Holland Duke of Exceter 2. Elizabeth married to Iohn de la Poole Earle of Suffolke 3. Margaret married to Charles Duke of Burgundie 4. And Vrsula The Earle of March having tidings of his Fathers death encreaseth his Army and borne up with two wings desire of revenge and expectation to raigne hee tooke his leaue at Shrowsbury of the Inhabitants intimating to them at his departure the murther of his Father and Brother the destruction intended of himselfe and Familie and downfall of all that wisht well to his part if not heedfully prevented hee craved therefore their utmost assistance and their neighbours which they accordingly performed and then with some good strength presently tooke the field and having advertisement that Iasper Earle of Penbrooke with the Earles of Ormond and Wiltshire with a great power of Welch and Irish did follow after him hee suddenly marcheth backe againe and in a plaine neere Mortimers Crosse on Candlemasse day in the morning hee gave them battaile and with the slaughter of three thousand and eight hundred put the Earles to flight Owen Teuther who had married Queene Katherine Mother to Henry the sixt and divers Welch Gentlemen were taken and at Hereford beheaded The Queene encouraged by the death of the Duke of Yorke with a power of Northerne people with an intent to undoe what was done in the last Parliament marcheth towards London but when her souldiers were once South of Trent as if that River had beene the utmost limits of their good behaviour they did most licentiously forrage the Country harrowing burning and spoyling the same as if they had beene in the most barbarous land of heathens Approaching Saint Albones they were advertised that the Duke of Norfolke and the Earle of VVarwicke were ready to give them battaile The Queenes Voward hasteth to passe thorow Saint Albones but were saluted from the Market place with such a showre of arrowes that they were for safeguard glad to retire and sought to passe by another way which but not without some blowes they did and encountred with their enemies in the field who perceiving the maine battaile to stand and not to move by the trechery of Lonelace who with the Kentish men led the Van. the Southerne men turned afide and fled and by the Northerne prickers were slaughtered untill night saved their backes When night was come the residue despairing of each others well-meaning shifted away The Nobles about the King perceiving how the game went withdrew themselves The Lord Bonvile comming in a complementall manner to the King saying It grieved him to leave his Majestie but necessitie for safeguard of his life enforced it was importuned and Sir Thomas Kiryell like wise by the King to stay hee passing his royall word that their stay should not endanger their bodyes upon which promise they stayed but to their cost for such was the inplacable fury of the Queen that hearing Baron Thorpe was by the Commons beheaded at Highgate she the day after the battell being Ashwednesday caused both their heads to bee smitten off at Saint Albones whose death reckoned with the rest maketh up of the slaughtered the number of three and twentie hundred The King was advised to send one Thomas Hoe that had beene a Barrester to the Victors to thanke them for their paines and to tell them that hee would gladly come to them if with convenience it might be done The Earle of Northumberland appointed divers Lords to attend him to the Lord Cliffords Tent where the Queene and young Prince met to their great joy it was now observed that victory alwayes fled from where the King was present At the Queenes request he honored with the order of Knighthood thirty that the day before fought against the part where hee was the Prince likewise was by him dubbed Knight Then they went to the Abby where they were entertained with Anthems and withall an humble Petition to be taken into the Kings protection thereby to bee freed from the tiranny of the loose souldiers which was promised and Proclamation accordingly made but to small purpose for the Northerne men said it was made in their bargaine to haveall the spoyle in every place after they had passed the River of Trent and so they robbed and spoyled all they could come at which gave just cause of dislike to the indifferent-minded which only wisht the quiet and peace of the Country not respecting which Rose the red or white prevailed for now began that distinction by those Badges for the factions of Yorke and Lancaster to bee worne The Londoners hearing of this disorder were warned to looke to themselves and they were resolved since there was no more assurance in the Kings promise to keepe the Northerne men out of their gates The gentlenesse and tendernesse of a King not accompanied with courage and severitie is both hurtfull to himselfe and his estate In the Kings name the Londoners are sent to to send over to the Campe certaine Cart-loades of Lenton provision The Maior accordingly provides and makes all things ready but the Commons rose about Cripplegate and by strong hand say or doe what the Maior or his officers can they kept the Carts from going forth of the Citie The Maior sends the Recorder to the Kings Councell and knowing the predominancy of the Queenes passion if never so little troubled they entreat the Dutchesse of Bedford and the Lady Scales with all the Fathers of the Church resiant about London to intercede for him and excuse his not using force considering how apt the multitude was to take fire upon the least flash and how dangerous it might bee in these doubtfull times to raise their fury that would not easily bee allayed it was well advised to send women to entreat women for they so prevailed That some of the Lords of the Councell with a guard of foure hundred good souldiers were appointed to goe for London to enquire and certifie the truth of these things But before they set forth divers
Northerne men that long looked to have the ransacking of London came unto the gates and would have entred had not the Citizens valiantly repelled them and with the slaughter of some three or foure they were sent to carry word to the Campe that the Earle of March with a great Army was marching towards them neither was it a fiction For at Chipping-Norton by Cotsall the Earle of Warwicke having drawne together as many of his scattered troopes as hee could find met with the earle of March and his victorious troopes which being joyned they hasted towards London and were joyfully received upon the eight and twentieth day of Februarie and upon Sunday the second of March the Earle of Warwicke mustered all this Army in Saint Iohns fields and having cast them in a ring the Leader read unto them the agreement of the last Parliament and then demanded whether they would have King Henry to raigne still who all cryed No no then they were askt whether they would have the Earle of March eldest Sonne of the Duke of Yorke by that parliament proclaimed King to raigne over them and with a great clamour they cryed yea Then went there certaine Captaines and others of the Common Councell of the Citie to the Earle of March to Baynard Castle whom they acquainted with what was passed whereof hee expressed himselfe in some termes as unworthy of the place and unable to execute it yet hee thanked God for the gift and them for their good wills And by the advise of the Archbishop of Canterbury and theanimation of the Bishops of London Exceter and the Earle of Warwicke he resolved to take it upon him And the next morning he went in Procession at Pauls and offered there and after Te deum sung he was with great royalty conveyed to Westm. and there in the great Hall seated in the Kings seat with the Scepter of Saint Edward in his hand And then the people whereofthere was a great Concourse were alowd demanded if they would acknowledge him to bee their King to which with great willingnesse they cryed Yea yea Then taking homage of divers Noble men then present hee was with Procession and great State conveyed to the Abby there and placed in the Quier as King whilst Te deum was singing that done hee offered at Saint Edwards shryne and then returned by water to Pauls and was lodged in the Bishops Pallace Vpon the fourth of March hee was generally proclaimed King by the name of Edward the fourth THE LIFE AND RAIGNE OF KING EDVVARD THE FOVRTH EDWARD Earle of March borne at Roan in Normandy Sonne and Heire of Richard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke by Cecily Nevill Daughter of Ralph Earle of Westmerland and Ioane Daughter of Iohn of Gaunt by Lady Katherins Swinford upon the fourth day of March rode in State to the Church of Saint Paul in London and there made his Oblation And after Te Deum sung hee was with great solemnitie attended to Westminster and there being placed in the great Hall with the Scepter Royall in his hand before a confluence of people there assembled well knowing with what baite to angle to catch the many Hee makes a solemne declaration of his right to the Crowne of England challenging it to belong unto him by a double Title The first as Sonne and heire to Richard Duke of Yorke the rightfull Heire of the same The second as elected by Authority of Parliament upon King Henryes forfeit hereof Neverthelesse he was resolved to wave both Title and right by either except the people would willingly approve of his proceeding therein and lovingly allow of his Claime Whereupon it was againe publickly demanded of the assembly if they would unanimously admit and acknowledge the said Earle to bee their King and Soveraigne Lord whereupon all with one voice cryed Yea yea King Edward King Edward Thereupon hee went from thence to Westminster Abby and entred the same with solemne Procession and there as King offered and afterward by the name of Edward the Fourth was proclaimed King throughout the Citie of London In the meane time King Henry in the North was raising what powers hee could to stopthis Torrent But the Earle of March great in the favour of that great beast of many heads the multitude presuming of their ready willingnesse to assist him makes preparation to encounter King Henry To Edward resort men of all ages and condition the one making tender of their persons the other of their patrimonies to be spent at his devotion and for the support of his cause by which meanes he suddainly was furnished with a puissant and well accommodated army And being perswaded that no other meanes would serue for direction of his claime but the sword he resolued to set up his rest and by battaile to give a certaine determination to the question Vpon the twelfth of March his forces marched from London and by easie journeys came to Pomfret Castle where he rested and from thence the Lord Eitz-walter with some companies was sent by him to guard the passage at Ferry-brigg to stop the enemies approch that way King Henry likewise advanceth forward and sends his power under the conduct of the Duke of Somerset the Earle of Northumberland and the Lord Clifford Whilst himselfe Queene and sonne stay at Yorke The Lord Clifford very early on Palme Saterday in the morning with a troope of Northerne Prickers falls upon those that had the guard of the passage at Ferry-brig and defeated them with the slaughter of the Lord Fitzwalter and the bastard of Salisbury The Earle of Warwicke hearing of this defeate postes to the Earle of March his Campe and in his presence killing his horse said Sir I pray God have mercy on their soules which in the beginning of your enterprise have for your love lost there lives The enemie hath won the passage at Ferrybrigg There is no hope now but in God yet let him flye that will flye when kissing the Crosse of his sword he sayd by this good signe I will stand by him that will stand by me fall backe fall edge The Earle of March no whit amated but somewhat moved with Warwicks resolution presently made Proclamation that all such of his company as were unwilling to stay or afraid to fight should at their pleasure depart But to those that would abide he promised good reward Adding withall that if any that stayed should after turne his backe or flee That he that should kill such a Changeling should have double pay Then gave he order to the Lord Fauconbridge and Sir Walter Blunt to lead on the Vowarde who in their March about Dindingdale encountred with the Lord Clifford who formerly in cold blood had slaugtered the young Earle of Rutland him with Iohn Lord Nevill sonne and heire of the Earle of Westmerland they slew with most of their companies putting the rest to flight The next day likewise the Duke of Norfolke being dangerously sicke
shee went on shore but speedily resorted againe to shipbord and by tempest was beaten to Barwicke Erom whence with the encrease of some few Scots leaving the Prince at Barwicke she with the king her husband marched into the Bishopricke of Durham having by the way in Northumberlaine somewhat more encreased their army To them resorteth the so late reconciled and now newly revolted Duke of Somerset Sir Ralph Peircy and divers of King Henryes welwishers who altogether made shew of a competent army But their disorderly burning and spoyling wheresoever they went whatsoever they could come at lost the goodwill of many and purchased the ill will of more King Edward to be prepared to meet the enemie at every turne makes preparation both by Sea and Land he sends Vicount Mountacute into Northumberland with Commission to raise forces whom King Edward in person followeth with his whole power leasurely but hasts some Companies after the Vicount to prevent any attempt of the Bishopricke men in case they should prove trecherous with these the Vicount marcheth towards King Henry and by the way encountreth the Lord Hungerford at Hegley-More but he with the Lord Rosse upon the first charge ran away leaving Sir Ralph Peircy alone with his owne regiment who there with them died valiantly fighting Mountacute having intelligence that King Henry was encamped in Levels plaine neer the River of Dowell in Hexamshire marcheth thither by night and set upon him in his Campe. The Northerne men with a desperate resolution receive the charge But were in the end with great slaughter overthrowne Henry Bewford Duke of Somerset the Lords Rose Mollins Hungerford Wentworth Hussey and Sir Iohn Finderne Knight with many others are taken prisoners King Henry escaped but very hardly The Duke of Somerset was presently beheaded at Exham he was never married but had a naturall sonne named Charles Somerset who was afterward created Earle of VVorcester The other prisoners were sent to New-Castle and there beheaded Thus was the White Rose in every place dyed red with the blood of the Nobilitie and the red Rose turnd pale with the horror to view the calamities occasioned by this dissention King Edward came to Durham and from thence sent the Earle of VVarwicke and others into Northumberland to reduce such Castles and forts as yet held out for King Henry which effected King Edward marched to Yorke King Henry shifting from place to place is at length discovered and in the manner of a notorious offender with his legges tyde under the horse belly without other company then Doctor Manning Deane of Windsor taken with him is by the Earle of Warwicke brought to the Tower of London a suddaine and strange alteration of estate when he that was the most potent Monark for Dominions that ever England had was not now the Master of a Molehill nor owner of his owne liberty so various are the changes and chances of this transitory life His distressed and disconsolate Queene with her sonne are driven once againe to fly for shelter into France K. Edward to raise some with ruine of others distributeth the Lands and Possessions of those that held with King Henry amongst his owne favorites and followers having the better to palliate his proceeding therein first made Proclamation that whosoever of the contrary faction would come in and submit should be received to grace and restored to their patrimonies King Edward having as it were a breathing from martiall imployments knowing that he was to deale with a people more easily to be drawne then driven addicted his courses altogether to endeer himselfe to their good affections and the better to settle in their minds a good opinion of his after-government he applied himselfe to accomplish those things whereof report had given out his predecessors have beene neglective in And first he began to set the beame even that was to carrie the scale of Iustice in equall point of right and to that end in Michaelmas terme in the second yeare of his raigne three dayes together hee sat publickly with his Iudges in Westminster-Hall on the Kings-bench to acquaint himselfe with the orders of that Court and the proceedings therein and to observe what deserved reformation in that Court either at bench or at barre He likewise ordered the Officers of his Exchequor to take more moderate fees and to be more intentive of their duties for the benefit of the subject then their owne unjust gaine And not under colour of preserving the Kings revenewes to enrich themselues and undor the subjects thereby wronging both King and people Then he complies himselfe to the multitude and publickly with such extraordinary shewes of unusuall congies and complements from a Soveraigne entertaines them That he thereby tyes their pliable tongues to set forth his uncessant commendation drawing out their loves to the largest extent He daily frequentes the Councell Table which he furnished for the most part with such as were most gracious amongst the Citizens and were most facile either to give dispatch or Court holy water to petitioners These he imployes about references and businesses of private consequence whilst misteries of state were intimated only to such whom he selected to be of his more private Cabinet Councell with whom now he adviseth how to encrease his forraine correspondence and advance his estate with some linck of faire alliance with such that might stand him instead and be a comfort or countenance in his proceedings as occasion should fall out For which purpose the fittest meanes is concluded to be some match to be made with France By which all meanes of succour might be withdrawne from his femall persecutor Queene Margaret and assistance drawne to persecute her husband and such as should oppose his Soveraignty For the better effecting whereof the Earle of Warwick is made choice of and imployed by the King into France to treate of a match betwixt King Edward and the Lady Bona daughter to Lewis Duke of Savoy and sister to the Lady Carlote Queene of France Vpon the first proposition this motion was readily embraced and was willingly assented unto on all parts And Mounseir Dampmortyn with some others are incontinently sent into England for the full accomplishment thereof but before his arrivall the game is changed and a new triumph turned For upon the first of May the King had taken to wife the Lady Gray the widdow of Sir Iohn Gray of Groby slaine at the last battaile of Saint Albons a Lancastrian she was daughter of Richard VVoodvile Baron of VVymington and Iaquet daughter of Peter of Luxenborough Earle of Saint Paul the widdow of Iohn Duke of Bedford sometimes Regent of France a sharer with her daughter of troubles to ensue upon their marriage for as the marriage of the mother gave the first cause of distast to the Duke of Burgoyne whose severing after from the English was partly if not principally the overthrow of our Conquest in France so this match of the daughter
newes and the generall acclamations that went through all places of King Henry and a Warwicke caused King Edward to distrust his owne souldiers and fearing the tyde would turne his heart failing him in the dead of the night only with eight hundred of whose constancy hee was assured most of them the Lords Rivers Hastings and Sayes retinue hee posted from besides Nottingham toward Lincolnshire but having notice that Warwicke to impeach his retreate had sent his light horsemen before and followed himselfe with the body of the Army with great hazard and losse of his carriages which were sunke in the sands he past the Washes and came to Lynne from whence with the Duke of Glocester the Lord Scales and about seven hundred men without any change of rayment or other necessaries or other victuals but what they brought on horsebacke with them or what they had left their horses for in the Towne they set sayle bending their course for Holland The Lord Chamberlaine stayed behind aswell to make what provision hee could for the better accommodation of the King to carry with him as to take order with such of their followers as were to stay behind whom hee entreated to temporize things standing as they did till the wind came about againe which hee affirmed would bee very shortly but upon the first faire gale that blew with King Edward to open their sayles on his behalfe whilst hee was upon this negotiation fortune that makes a tennis ball of the greatest thus playd her part with King Edward No sooner was hee past ken of shore but certaine Easterlings enemies both to England and France were descried to have them in chase so that the Mariners were driven to clap on all their canvasse to beare up for the next shore of Holland The Easterlings plyed after them so close that the English durst not take land but where their landing might bee favoured by some Fort or Towne so that they were forced to fall lower then the first Coast and came to anchor before a Towne in the Netherlands called Alquemare as neere it as with conveniencie they might the ebbe being falne too low to enter the Haven The Easterlings whose ships were of greater burden came as neere them as they durst for feare of running on ground intending at the next flood to lay them aborde But in the interim the Lord Hastings being landed in Holland making enquiry after King Edward but receiving no tydings of his being come on shore presently dispatcheth Curryers to all the Maritine Townes thereabouts to give notice that Edward King of England was upon the Coasts to visit his Brother-in-law and Sister the Duke and Dutchesse of Burgoyne The Lord Gronteer Governour of Alquemare being hereof informed suspecting what was true that the King of England was aborde those shippes that the Easterlings had chased in Hee presently mand out a Boate unto them with these messages that the King of England was in league with that Country and his subjects and shipping should ride safe in that harbour without impeachment of any man and therefore commanded them in the Dukes name not to disturbe the English in their landing as they would run the hazard of the Cannon from the Towne by which meanes the King was permitted quietly to come on shore and was honourably entertained by the Governour who conducted him to the Hage where they stayed the comming of the Duke King Edward having now almost in a miraculous manner past the pikes in his owne Kingdome and the perills both of Seas and Pirates presuming that Gods providence had protected him for some good purpose Hee by the advise of his Sister who in all things exprest her selfe a dutifull Wife to her Husband but a deere friend to her Brother did intimate unto the Duke that hee had now under God none to relie upon in this lâ—…s extremity but himselfe and therefore hee earnestly doth sollcite him for present succours which hee obtaineth but whilst forces are raising to secure King Edwards returne out of Holland his Queene Elizabeth forsaketh the Tower and secretly taketh Sanctuary at Westminster upon report of Warwicks approach who made the more hasty march for London for that hee was informed That some seditious persons about Kent such that only awaited opportunitie to fish in troubled waters more out of greedy desire to gaine bootie then get glory had plotted the pillaging of London from which they were hardly restrained notwithstanding the carefull resolute and industrious courses of the Maior and his Compeeres These Scatter-goods played reaks about Limehouse places adjoyning untill the Earle of Warwick suppressed them and made exemplary punishment to bee inflicted upon many of them to the great content of the more sober-minded people And much commendation from the Citizens for his care of the Cities safety Execution of these pillages done VVarwicke commeth to the Tower which two dayes before the Maior by a bloodlesse stratagem had entred and did now make good on the the behalfe of King Henry who was by him removed out of his hold of durance into his owne lodging and there served according to his state which the Earle of VVarwicke as the more sensible of the two did more congratulate then the King himselfe King Henry upon the sixt day of October accompanied with the Archbishop of Yorke the Prior of Saint Iohns the Bishop of London the Duke of Clarence the Earle of Warwicke and other Nobles with great solemnitie was conducted through London to the Bishops Pallace where hee rested untill the thirteenth of that moneth on which day hee went in solemne procession about Pauls Church wearing his imperiall Crowne the Earle of Warwicke bearing up his traine and the Earle of Oxford the Sword before him in whom it appeared that mortality was but the stage of mutabilitie The next day as the usuall adjunct of like proceedings in all usuall places about London King Edward was proclaimed an Vsurper and all his partakers and abettors Traitors to God and the King whereof Iohn Lord Tiptoft Earle of VVorcester as a partaker with King Edward was made the first example and on that day beheaded at Tower-hill Hee had to wife Elizabeth sister and heire of Sir VValter Hopton Knight by whom hee had issue Edward who after did succeed him in the Earledome The high Court of Parliament as a cloake to cover all bracks of eruption in the State is assembled at Westminster wherein King Edward and all his knowne friends and followers are attainted of high Treason and all their lands and goods seized on to King Henryes use And like a Well with two buckets whereof one came up full to be empticd the other goes downe empty to bee fill'd one Parliament set up an Edward and puts downe Henry and the next acknowledgeth Henry and explodeth Edward George Plantaget Duke of Clarence is by the authoritie of this Parliament adjudged to bee heire to Richard Duke of Yorke his father and that
That hee would rather die like himselfe then live and have to doe with such usurping disloyall and ill-conditioned base Turne-coates The King taking notice of his head-strong resolution with his two Brothers and all their forces Vnited marcheth towards London where after some little show of resistance the Weathercocke Citizens moving like the eares of standing corne altogether which way soever the wind blew received him with great applause and lowd acclamations of welcome delivering up unto him the miserable King Henry like a ball to bee bandied with the racket of his pleasure into what hazard he pleased The Earle of Warwicke with all his forces warily followed them at the heeles but could never find opportunitie as hee expected either upon advantage to cut off their rere or hinder their approach to London And having certaine intelligence that King Edward was entred London and King Henry reimprisoned hee encamped at Saint Albones aswell to refresh his souldiers as to take counsell what course to take and how to dispose of their journey King Edward being advertised of the Earle of VVarwicks approach thinking it not fit to have him to advance too neere London drew out his forces and with them marcheth to meet his Adversary The resolution was equall on both parts to set up their rests upon the hazard of that encounter upon Easter eve the King with his power lodged in Barnet towne the Earle of VVarwicke encamped upon the hill betweene Saint Albones and Barnet the Campes each in sight of other Early on Easter day in the morning an unfit day chosen for so unpleasing a service to God The souldiers on both sides are put in array The Earle of Warwicke appointed the command of the right wing which consisted of horse to his Brother the Marquesse Mountacute and the Earle of Oxford The least wing likewise consisting of horse was led by the Duke of Exceter and the battell consisting of Bills and Bowes was conducted by the Duke of Somerset The Voward on the Kings part was commanded by the Duke of Glocester The battell in which was King Henry was led by King Edward himselfe and the Lord Hastings brought on the rere There wanted on neither side befitting encouragement to incite the souldiers to show themselves valiant and each one to doe his endevour to conquer the exhortations ended the fight began and with great valour and resolution on both sides maintained by the space of six houres without any disadvantage on either part appearing untill King Edward gave order to certaine fresh troopes of Rutters for that purpose reserved to charge the now wearied battell of the enemy which the Earle of Warwicke observing alighted from his horse with a desperate courage hee entred amongst his Adversaries whom his brother the Marquesse Mountacute in hope to reskue followed and so were both enclosed and slaine And with their fall fell the victory to King Edwards part who being assured thereof leaving his Brothers to Marshall the field and to take order for the quartering the souldiers he with King Henry in his company went on the spurre to London and there at Evening-song in Saint Pauls Church offered his Banner and the Earle of Warwicks Standard On King Edwards part was slaine no man of extraordinary note but the Lord Cromwell Sonne and heire of the Earle of Essex and the Lord Barnes Sonne and heire of the Lord Say On the other part were slaine the Earle of Warwicke the Marquesse Mountacute and three and twenty Knights on both sides fell foure thousand six hundred and odde The bodyes of the Earle of Warwicke and his brother were stripped starke naked and put in one coffin and the next day brought to London where in the body of Saint Pauls Church they lay by the space of two dayes bare visaged This Earle of Warwick commonly stiled the Great Earle of Warwick whose usuall phrase was That hee had rather bee able to set up or pull downe a King then bee a King was Richard Nevill Sonne and heire of Richard nevill Earle of Salisbury who married the Daughter of Richard Beauchampe the sixt Earle of Warwicke in whose right hee was Earle of Warwicke and in his owne Earle of Salisbury and Lord Mounthermer hee was great Chamberlaine and Lord high Admirall of ENGLAND Lord Warden of the North-Marches towards SCOTLAND and of the Cinque-ports Captaine of Callice and high Steward of the Dutchy of Lancaster hee had issue two Daughters ISABELL married to GEORGE PLANTAGGNET Duke of Clarence and ANNE first married to EDVVARD titulary Prince of Wales and after to Richard the Vsurper Iohn Nevill Brother to the said Earle was first Created Lord Mountague after that Earle of Northumberland upon the attainder and banishment of Henry Piercy Earle thereof But upon his returne into England and restoring in blood Nevill surrendred his graunt of the Earledome of Northumberland and was Created Marquesse Mountacute hee married Isabell Daughter and heire of Sir Edmond Inglesthorpe Knight and had issue George Nevill Created Duke of Bedford but aftere degraded by Act of Parliamhnt and five Daughters who after their Brothers decease which dyed without issue were Coheires of his estate Anne married to Sir William Stonhurst Knight Elizabeth married to Thomas Lord Scroope of Risdale Margaret married to Sir John Mortimer Knight Lucy married to Sir Thomas Fitz-Williams Knight Isabell married to Sir William Huddleston Knight and all these Daughters had issue After these Brothers had beene made a spectacle of mortalitie and the subject of their spectators spight scorne or pitie three dayes in that manner they were permitted to be carried to the Monastery of Bissam and there in one grave buried amongst their Ancestors Queene Margaret when it was too late with some French forces landed at Waymouth where having unwelcome tidings of this disastes znd that the Duke of Excester supposed slaine was strangely recovered and had taken Sanctuary at Westminster shee with her Sonne conveyed her selse to Bewly in Hampshire where shee tooke Sanctuary having sent her souldiers into Wales to Jasper Earle of Penbrooke who with the Duke of Somerset Thomas Courtney Earle of Devon Iohn Lord Wenlocke and some others repaired thither unto her Amongst these it is resolved once more to bring their forces together into the field and hazard one stroke more From Bewley the Queene and the Earle of Somerset speed towards Bristoll intending with what powers they could raise in Glocestershire to march to VVales to joyne with Penbrooke who was gone thither to make preparation accordingly The King made acquainted with these overtures resolves if possible to crosse the conjunction and followes Queene Margaret with a great power so close that neere Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire hee overtakes her forces who resolutely turne and make head against the Kings power where Somerset on the Queenes part leading on the Van did performe the part of a good Commander and a stout souldier maintaining the fight for a long time resolutely and bravely But
if the Duke of Britaine were disturbed wherupon K. Lewis rested satisfied though not contented whilst K. Edw. forslowed no time to acquaint the Duke of Britayne with all the passages some think that had not the desire of compassing the E. of Richmond and Pembrook now in the D. of Britaines countries bin a better motive then any respect unto the D. the French K. might have had better successe in his requests K. E. to give K. Lewis a tast of his respect towards him notwithstanding his deniall of the proposition for the Duke of Brittaine sends a messenger unto him to acquaint him with trechery of the Constable against him and to carry the more credit of the truth of what was intimated hee sent two letters written with the Constables owne hand which were sufficient testimonies to accuse and convince the Constable of those crymes wherewith afterwards King Edward charged him The mony to be payd by the Articles is borowed of the Parisians so willing they were to see the Englishmens backs accordingly payed over the hostages are delivered wherupon the army retiers to Callice frō thence are trāsported into England performance of the agreement to the content of both parts made the hostages are with great prōises rewards redelivered Some forbeare not to say that K. E. lost more honour in this voyage then hee had purchased in nine victories before gotten but they were such as measure kings actions by the crooked level of their own erroneous fancies But those of better understanding affirme that it had bin a great error in judgement for the K. to be longer absent frō his so late conquered kingdom but great wisdome policie in him to take hold upon such an occasion to come off so fairely with a match for his daughter which had it taken effect had sufficiently recompenced his charge trouble But private men must not dispute the actions of Princes And further to examine the reason of what in this kind at this time was done might give occasion of discourse but not instruction King Edward being returned into England not unmindful that a great storme might follow though but a smal cloud as yet appeared dispatched Embassador to the Duke of Brittain to perswade with him to have the young Earle of Richmond sent over unto him for that he desired to match him in mariage with the Lady Cecily his younger daughter this faire overture of marriage or rather the feeling mediation of Angels wherof some store were sent but more promised so prevailed with the D. That upon the receipt of the sum sent the E. of Richmond is delivered to the Embassadors who thence conducted him to S. Malos where whilst they staied for a wind by the cunning advise and plotting of the D. treasurer who as it may be by the sequel gathered not wel pleased not to have bin treated withal according to that court custome with a feeling respect a more then ordinary proportion or common gratuity being inseparably incident to his treasurers place more scorne to be so neglected then love to Richmond The young L. escapes into Sanctuary From whence nor promises nor prayers could procure him Neverthelesse upon Peter Londoys his promise he should be safely kept there The Embassadors without their marchandize or mony departed to the no little discontent of the K. who greived much that the lambe had escaped his woolvish intention But being taught the rule what he could not avoyd he made shew to receive willingly he for that time said little At Christmas following he created his eldest son Ed. Prince of Wales D. of Cornwale and E. of Chester his second son Duke of York giving the order of knighthood to the son heire of the E. of Lincolne many others He created foure and twenty knights of the Bath upon the creation of the Prince of Wales whereof Bryan chiefe Justice and Littleton a Iudge of the common Pleas were two Thus whilst K. Edw. in England lived in peace quiet the turbulent D. of Burgoyne never constant but alwayes in contention reaped the triple fruit therof this yeare at three several times The first at Ganson where he lost some honour but more wealth The second at Morat where he lost more honour and many men The last at Nancy where he not only lost men mony reputation but life also by the Switzers whom he had driven to a desparate resolution then not in hope to escape but to sell their lives when submissiō would not be accepted at the deerest rate they fought prevailed Now begins Rich. D. of York to set on foote his untill then close contrived divelish devises to compasse the attainment of the crown of England for the first seene of the ensewing tragedy to facilitate his passage he secretly begins to with draw the Kings affection from his brother George Duke of Clarence and to that purpose susurreth unto him that some of Clarence followers were sorcerers and Nigromancers and that they had given forth speeches that one one whos 's Christen name began with the letter G. should dishinherit his children and carry the crowne of England and to put some varnish upon this suggestion one of the Duke of Clarence his servants which came with him out of Ireland from Dublin where the Duke was borne is in his Masters absence he being then in the country by the procurement under hand of Glocester endighted arraigned condemned and executed at Tiborne for conjuration and all within the space of two dayes hereof the Duke of Clarence being thereto irritated by his brother Glocester grieuously complaines to King Edward who insteed of giving redresse suspecting now the truth of the Duke of Glocesters buzz tooke an occasion likewise by Glocesters advise howsoever he made a glozing shew to Clarence of being jealous of his honour and disliking of the kings disrespect as he termd it of his brothers abuse frame a colour to commit Clarence to the Tower where his loving Brother Richard not as it was feared without the Kings privitie tooke that order that hee should not for so hee faithfully promised him upon his first commitment lye long in prison before hee would procure his release That he was drowned in a but of Malmesey and then layd in his bed to perswade the people that he dyed of discontent This George Duke of Clarence was Earle of Warwicke and Salisbury Lord of Richmond and great Chamberlaine of England he married Isabell daughter and coheire of Richard Nevill the great Earle of Warwicke by whom hee had issue Edward afterwards Earle of Warwicke who dyed without issue and Margaret married to Sir Richard Pole knight who had issue Henry Lord Mountayne and Reginald Pole Cardinall The Pestilence about this time raged with that fury in most parts of this kingdome that the sword in fifteene yeeres before devoured not so many as that did in foure moneths The King upon some present occasion sent to
our so humble entreaty accept of this so presently proffered prefermēt But if as we shall be most unhappy and disconsolate to heare it your grace will refuse us we must then seeke and hope not to faile to find one that shall and not unworthily with halfe these entreaties undertake to undergoe the danger or hazard which you may be pleased sinilterly to suppose is in the acceptance These words in the apprehension of the auditory from Buckingham were so emphaticall and patheticall that they wrought so feelingly upon his passions That the Protector could not but be contented to expatiate his desire yet with some change of countenance and not without seeming reluctation he did say Since it is manifestly demonstrated unto men that the whole realme is so resolved That they will by no meanes admit my to me in my particular conceite most deerely respected Nephewes my intirely beloved new deceased brothers children and your late Kings sonnes being now infants to reigne over you whom no earthly creature without your good approbation can well governe And since the right of inheritance of the Crowne justly appertaineth to me as to the truly legitimate and indubitate heire of Richard Plantagenee Duke of York my illustrious father To which title your free and faire election is conjoynd which we chie◅ly embrace as effectuall and operative we are contented to condescend to your importunities and to accept of the royall government of this kingdome And will to the uttermost of our poore abilities endeuor the good and orderly managing thereof And therewith all descended from the upper Gallery where all the while before he had stayed and came downe and formally saluted them all where-with the gyddy headed multitude made the streets ecchoe with their loude acclamation of long live King Richard our dread Soveraigne Lord. And so the Duke of Buckingham tooke his solemn leave and every man departed to make a descant at home of the playne song abroad as every ones severall fancies did minister occasion All this time the two innocent infants are entertained with sports and pastimes but unacquainted with any thing that had passed as afore to their prejudice THE LIFE AND RAIGNE OF KING RICHARD THE THIRD THe next day the late Protector with a great traine rode to Westminster Hall and seating himselfe in the Kings bench where the Iudges of that Court in the terme time usually sit he sayd that it was the principall duty of a good King carefully to looke to the due administration of the municipall lawes of the kingdom in which part he would not be defective And then proceeding with a well compact oration in Commendations of peace and discovery of the discommodities of dissention He caused a generall Proclamation to be made for abolition and pardon of all injury wronges and enmity past And to give it the better colour He caused one Fogge which had formerly given him occasion of just exception for abusing him with a tale of truth to be sent for out of sanctuary at Westminster whither to prevent the Protectors anger he was fled and set presently at liberty and caused him in publicke to kisse his hand In his returne from Westminster his affable complement in the streets was so free and frequent That by the discreeter sort it seemed to savour more like fawning servility then courtly courtesie rather base then welbehaved After his returne home by the faire helpe of a fowle but close covered plot he had wonne an unconstant woman and procured the consent I dare not thinke good will or affection of the Lady Anne the youngest daughter of great Warwicke the relict of Prince Edward to be his wife howsoever she could not be ignorant that her sutor had bin the instrument if not the author of the tragicall murthers of both her husband and father But the reason of most womens actions are as indiscoverable as Reason in most of them is undiscernable To prevent had I wist and to secure his coronation five thousand men are sent for out of the Northern parts The guilt of a biting conscience like an atturny generall ever informing against the soule alwayes suggesting unto him feares and causes of suspition where no need was These souldiers ill clad and worse armed being come and all things prepared for the Coronation at least wise those put in use or action that were intended for the investiture of Edward the fifth in the regalitie the but late Protector now King Richard upon the fourth day of Iuly together with his new bride came from Baynards Castle to the Tower by water where he created Thomas Lord Howard Duke of Norfolke his sonne Sir Thomas Howard Earle of Surry William Lord Barckley Earle of Nottingham Francis Lord Lovell Vicount Lovell and Chamberlaine to the King and the Lord Stanley who had beene committed prisoner to the Tower in regard that his son was reported to have levied forces in Lancashire was not onely that day released out of prison but made Lord Steward of the kings houshold The Archbishop of York was likewise then delivered but the Bishop of Eley was committed to the custody of the Duke of Buckingham who tooke order to have him sent to his Castle of Brecknock in Wales The same night were made seventeene Knights of the Bath Edmond the Duke of Suffolks sonne George Gray the Earle of Kents sonne William sonne to the Lord Zouche Henry Aburgaveney Christopher Willougby Henry Babington Thomas Arundle Thomas Boloigne Gervois of Clifton William Say Edmond Beding field William Enderby Thomas Lewkener Thomas of Vrmon Iohn Browne and William Berckley Vpon the fift day of Iuly the King in great state rode thorough the City of London from the Tower to Westminster and on the morrow following the K. the Queene came from the Pallace to the great hall from thence barefooted upon cloth of raye they went to S. Peters Abby at Westminster every one of the nobles officers of state attending according to their several ranckes places The Cardinall sang Masse after Pax the king Queene descended from before S. Edwards shrine to the high altar before which they were both howseled having but one host divided betwixt them Then returned they both and offred at the shryne where the king left the Crowne of S. E. and tooke his own Crown And then in order as they came they returned All ceremonies of solemnitie finished the King gave licence to all the nobility and others that were thereof desirous to depart to their severall habitations except the Lord Stanley respectively giving unto them strict commandement at their departure from him To be carefull to maintaine the truth of Religion to preserve the peace and quiet of the kingdome and to prevent extortion and wrong that otherwise through their negligence might happen unto his subjects setting them forth a lesson himselfe never meant to learne at least wise practise For like Sylla he commanded others under great penalties to be vertuous and modest when
all places provide such as had Castles or Piles of strength furnish them with men and amunition And others use their best meanes that money and men may bee got in readinesse against the Earles arrivall Bishop Morton who had gained opportunitie against the Duke of Buckinghams will to convey himselfe into the Lowe-Countryes is not slacke by Letters and private messages to conjure all such as hee knew either to hate or envy King Richard or to have loved King Edward to lay to their helping hands with all their might in this conjuration Now whether amongst so many through some false brothers treachery or out of his watchfull jelousie over Buckingham it is uncertaine But King Richard hath intelligence of the designe and politickly dissembleth it but secretly giveth order as it were but to take a muster to draw his forces together amongst whom hee suddenly comes and having appointed his carriages to follow him hee marcheth away without acquainting any of the Commanders with any particular place whither hee lead these forces In the meane time first by proffer of friendship by faire termes the King did solicite the Dukes presence at London where the King kept his standing house But receiving from him but delatory put offs The King then sent a peremptory message by the tye of his alleageance to come away which was returned with this resolute answer That hee would not if hee could avoid it have any conversation with an ungratefull per jured inhumane butcher of his owne flesh and blood so that now preparation to offend and defend by the sword is made on both parts The King holds on his march whereupon all the conjurators in every quarter are in overt commotion Thomas Marquesse Dorset preserved from slaughter by the only favour of Sir Thomas Lovell against the Kings will forsaketh Sanctuarie and in York-shire laboureth to raise forces The two Courtneys in Devon and Cornwall take the same course and they are seconded in Kent by Guilford and Rame so that civill combustion is in every quarter of the Realme King Richard notwithstanding severs not his forces but keepes on his march towards Buckingham who having notice thereof both readily and willingly setteth forward bending his course thorow the Forrest of Deane intending at Glocester to have passed Severne and so to have joyned forces with the two Courtneys and the Westerne Confederates but by the long continuance of wet weather the waters thereabouts were risen so high that Severne was broken out and had overflowne all the Countries so that it was a thing impossible for the Dukes forces to bee transported which the Welch-men drawne thither more for feare then love tooke advantage of saying it was a prodigious token of their ill successe in the enterprise and secretly by night slipt away from him whose example the residue followed so that the Duke upon this disbanding was left to shift by himselfe whereupon hee dismist all his followers and without or Page or Foot-man repayred to the house of one Humphry Bannister who dwelt neere Shrowsbury presuming there he might safely lodge in obscurity untill better fortune should smile the rather for that the many extraordinary favours formerly done to the said Bannister and his father before him might justly challenge willing entertainment during his secret stay there if not more The newes of this disaster added wings to the other conjurators to disperse their powers and flye some to Sanctuary others to unknowne places all of them making the best shift they could to escape but they sped best which conveyed themselves into Britanny Amongst whom the Marquesse Dorset John Lord Wells the Bishop of Exceter and his brother Sir John Bourchier Sir Edward Woodvile brother to Queene Elizabeth Sir Robert Willoughby Sir Giles Daubeney Sir Thomas Arundell Sir John Cheney and his two brethren Sir William Barckley Sir William Brandon and his Brother Thomas Sir Richard Egmond Hollowell and Poynings Captaines were chiefe King Richard having intelligence that the enemy was fled sent order presently to lay all the Ports with strict charge that none should goe on borde or come on shore without especiall warrant Hee likewise made publick Proclamation that if any one could bring tydings of the Duke of Buckingham who was now proclaimed Traitour and all his lands and goods seized into the Kings hands so that the Duke might bee apprehended if the person were a bondman hee should bee manumitted if a freeman hee should have a generall pardon and a thousand pound currant English coyne Whilst these things are thus in agitation King Richard hath information from Hutton his Leiger Embassadour in Britaine That the Duke thereof not only refused to keepe the Earle of Richmond in restraint of libertie Bu was seeming forward to give him his assistance to prosecute his intendmentt which was to worke some exploit in England Wherefore the King tooke especiall order for the present rigging and preparing his Navy to stop if possible the Earles landing in any Port of England In the interim whether feare to offend the law or greedy Covetousnesse to gaine the thousand pounds it is yet disputable but Bannister like an ungratefull servant perfidiously discovered his Master the Duke of Buckingham to Iohn Mitton then high Sheriffe of Shropshire who thereupon apprehended him in a little Grove neere Bannisters dwelling house and conveyed him to Shrowsbury where King Richard lay from whence upon All-Soules day hee was conveyed to Salisbury and then and there without arraignment or legall proceedings in the Market-place beheaded Whether Bannister received his proclaimed reward is uncertaine but that Gods judgements appeared afterwards against him and his is very remarkable for hee was afterwards hanged for man-slaughter his eldest daughter is debauncht by one of his Carters and his sonne and heire in a desperate lunacy became his owne butcher and was so found by the Coruors inquest This Henry Duke of Buckingham was Earle of Stafford Hereford Northampton Lord of Brecknocke Kimbolton and Tunbridge and high Constable of England Hee married Katherine Daughter of Richard Woodvile Earle Rivers by whom he had issue three Sons and two Daughters 1. Edward who by Henry the seventh was restored to blood and succeeded in his Fathers honours 2. Henry the said King Created Earle of Wilts 3. And Humphry that dyed young 1. Elizabeth married to Robert Radcliffe Lord Fitz-Waters 2. Anna married first to Sir Walter Harbert and afterwards George Lord Hastings Earle of Huntington Vpon the twelfth day of October the Earle of Richmond with fourtie ships and five thousand waged Britons tooke the Seas But that evening by the rage of an impetuous tempest the whole Navy was dispersed The ship wherein the Earle was with one only little Barke after they had endured the rage of the tempest eight and fourty houres was driven upon the coast of Cornwall where hee giveth expresse commandement that none should dare to take land untill the fleet were drawne together But after hee had huld up and downe the shore
1384. R. 6. A subsidy demanded and denyed Commissioners appointed to receive the Susibdie The Lord Treasurer removed by Parliament Ann. 1386 R. 6. Anno. Dom. 1387. R. 9. An. 1387. R. 9. The King accompanieth the Duke of Ireland towards Wales A good office of the Bishop of London The Bishops sent to the Barons Ann. 1388 R. 10. The Lord Chancellors speech to the Lords Ann. D. 13â—… R. 10. Proceeding in the Parliament against Favourites The modesty of the Earle of Darby An oath exacted from the King An. 1389. R. 11. An. 1390. An expedition into Barbary Ann. 1392 R. 14. The priviledges of London seized into the Kings hands are abridged and part restored An. 1393. R. 15. An intervenew between the Kings of Fraâ—…ce and England An. 1396. Reg. 18. The Earle of Saint Pauls advise to the King Ann. 1396 R. 18. The Duke of Glocester betrayed Glocester murthered not executed The Earle of Arundel supposed a martyr An. 1398. Reg. 21. 5. Dukes created Ann. 1397 R. 21. Herefords complaint of the government to Norfolke An. 1397. R. 22. An. 1398. Reg. 22. 1. 2. 3. Ann. 1398 R. 22. An. 1399. R. 23. Archbish. Arundels speech to Henry Earle Henries answer The Duke of Hereford setteth forward The Duke of Hereford landeth in Holdernesse The Duke of Heref. sworne not to doe or suffer any violence to bee done to King Richard The Duke of Herefard entreth into Councell at London Warre proclaimed against King Richard Lancasters Oration The Lord Treasurer pursued to Bristoll The Treasurer with Sir Iohn Bushye surprised in Bristol Castle and afterwards executed The Sons of the Duke of Glocester and Lancaster imprisoned in Trim Castle in Ireland King Richard arriveth at Milford Haven Discouraged His Councellors disagree Lancaster marcheth towards the King The Lord Steward dissolveth the Kings houshold King Richard expostulateth with himself Consulteth with his followers A Parliament summoned by the Duke in the Kings name King Richards speech Lancasters easie conquest A fainâ—…d Title D. Lancaster layeth his claime to the Crowne The Duke of Lancaster accepted for King The Commissioners acquaint King Richard with the resolution of the House Edward the fourth crowned Ann. 1399 R. 1. The Bishop of Carliles Oration Deut. 17. 12. Rom. 13. 12. Sap. 6. Ann. 1399 R. 2. The Bishop committed Nobles degraded of then Titles Officers removed Ann. 1400 Reg. 2. Burbon soliciteth the inhabitants of Guyan to revolt The Earle of Worcester sent to Guyan The Abbot of Westminsters proceedings The Duke of Exceters perswasions to rebell The Conspirators plot The Duke of Yorkes speech to his Son The Duke of Aumerle discovereth the Conspiracy The King leaveth Windsor The Maior of London furnisheth King Henry with Archers Queen Isabels womanish course The Inhabitants of Ciceter assault the conspirators An. 1401. R. 2. An. 1401. R. 3. An. 1403. R. 3. The King married An. 1403. R. 3. An 1â—… 04. R. 4. A byting Subsidie Archiepisc. Parker fol. 257. In regist Simonis Larg fol. 12. Fox Martir fo 1100. Godwyn fol. 184. Continuator histo Ranulphi Antiquitates Britt fol. 257 Vbi supra Stowe 562. Isa. Worke fo 90. In the Colledge Libraty Ann. 1404 Reg. 5. The French Kings brothers challenge The French attempt Dartmouth and are repulsed The Kings third sonne with some forces land at Sluice Three Carricks of Genoa taken Northumberland and others with him rebell The Archbi Yorke perswades the people to rise against the King Westmerland circumvents the Archbish. of Yorke He is beheaded at Yorke Northumberland his partakers proclaimed Traytours Anno 1408. The Prince of Scotland taken prisoner and sent to the Tower 1408. An. 1408. R. 9. The Lord Camoys arraigned for treason is acquit by his Peetes 1408. 1410. A Petition by the Commons against the Bishops Meanes to maintaine Earles 150 Knights 1500 Esquires 6200. and an hundred Hospitalls of new to bee erected Sir Robert Vmphrevill tearmed Mend-market An. 1411. R. 11. The Prince of Wales removed from being President of the Councell From hence was the honorable ornament of the coller of S. S. worne by these in eminent places in remembrance of this Princes reconcilement to his Father devised The Prince presents himselfe to the King The King Prince reconciled The King having taken upon him the Crusado prepareth accordingly The death of Henry the fourth An. 1412. R. 12. 1. 2. 3. An. 1412. R. 13. 4. 2. Daughters Ann. 1413 R. 1. King Henry taketh leave of his antient companions The forwardnesse of the Nobilitie to tender their homage The Lord Oldcastle convented Oldcastle escapeth out of the Tower Ann. D. 1414 R. 1. Punishment of treason and heresie Ann. 1414 Reg. 1. An. 1414. R. 2. Motives for the King to lay claime to the Crowne of France Embassadors sent into France Embassadors sent to the Councell at Constance The King armes in France Harstew besieged Harstew taken The Peasants assayled King Henry Pro recuperatione sigilli sui The order of the battell of the French The Duke of Yorke leads the English Voward The beginning of the sight The disorder of the French The English having rowted the van charge the battaile of the French The French submit An. 1415. R. 3. Edward Plantagenet Duke of Yorke maried Philip daughter and coheire of Iohn Mahun Lord of Dunster but dyed without issue Michael de la Poolâ—… Earle of Suffolke died without issue also Ann. 1416 R. 4. The Duke of Glocester entertaineth the Emperour at Dover Harstew besieged by the French Relieved by the Duke of Bedford Penancâ—… done King Henry accompanieth the Emperour to Callice The Duke of Bedford made Regent The Earle of Huntingtons fortune at Sea Cane taken Boyeux taken The Kings good pollicie to allure the French Courfey Castle yeelded An. 1418. R. 4. Sees submits to K. Henry Falays taken 1418. A great storme 6. Reg. Ann. 1416 Reg. 6. Captaines made over severall places The Dolphin and Duke of Burgoigne reconciled Eureux besieged Loveirs besieged and rendred An. 1418. R. 6. New inventions for passage over waters Roane besieged The English Navy passeth the river The good service of the Irish. King Henryes charitie Ann. 1418 R. 9. Roane comes to composition Surrendred An Overture for an interview crossed by the Dolphins default An. 1419. R. 7. A Conspiracie in Roane discovered Ponthoys surprised by the English The English army severed into three parts French Embassadours sent to King Henry An. 1420. R. 8. King Henry sends to the Duke of Burgoyne King Henry giveth meeting at Troyes to the Queen King Henry affianced to the Lady Katherine The Duke of Burgoynes oath The Articles of agreement certified A League with the Duke of Burgoyne The creation of Garter principall King of armes The ratification of the agreement layed up in the Treasury at Westminster An. 1421. R. 9. Queene Katherine Crowned King Henryes Pietie The Duke of Clarence betrayed Robert Vmphrevile here slaine was both Earle of Argus and Kime 1421. A Parliament at Westminster King Henry returnes to France Dreux