in the twenty fifth yeare of Lewis the eleventh then being the King of France and the morrow after hee was Proclamed King and with great solemnity rode to Westminster and there 〈◊〉 in the seate Royall and called the Judges of the Realme before him staightly commanding them to execute the Lawes without favour or delay with many good exhortations of the which hee followed not one and then hee departed towards the Abby and at the Church doore hee was met with Procession and there was delivered to him by the Abbot the Scepter of Saint Edward and so went and offered to Saint Edwards shrine while the Monkes sang Te deum with a faint courage and from the Church hee returned to the Palace where he lodged till the Coronation And to bee sure of all enemies as hee thought hee sent for five thousand men out of the North against his Coronation which came up evill apparelled and worse harnessed in rusty harnesse neither defensable nor scoured to the sale which mustered in Finsbury fiâ—ld to the great disdaine of all the lookers on The fourth day of Iuly hee came to the Tower by water with his wife and the fifth day he created Edward his onely begotten sonne a child of tenne yeares old Prince of Wales and Iohn Haward a man of great knowledge and vertue aswell in councell as in battell hee created Duke of Norfolke and sir Thomas Haward his sonne he created Earle of Surry and William Lord Barkeley was then created Earle of Notingham and Francis Lord Lovell was then made Vicount Lovell and the Kings Chamberlaine and Lord Stanley was delivered out of ward for feare of his sonne the Lord Strange which was then in Lancashire gathering men as men said and the said Lord was made Steward of the Kings houshold likewise the Arch-Bishop of Yorke was delivered But Morton Bishop of Ely was deliverd to the Duke of Buckingham to keepe in ward who sent him to his manour of Brecknoke in Wales from whence hee escaped to King Richards confusion The same night the King made seventeene Knights of the Bath The next day he roade through London with great pompe and especially the Duke of Buckingham was richly apparelled and his horse trapped in blew velvet embroidered with the naves of carts burning of gold which trapper was borne by footmen from the ground with such solemne fashion that all men much admired it On the morrow being the sixt day of Iuly the King came towards his Coronation into Westminster Hall where his Chappell all the Prelates mitered received him And so they in order of Procession passed forward After the Procession followed the Earle of Northumberland with a pointlesse sword naked and the Lord Stanley bore the Mace of the Constableship The Earle of Kent bore the second sword on the right hand of the King naked The Lord Lovell bore an other sword on the left hand Then followed the Duke of Suffolke with the Scepter and the Earle of Lincolne with the Ball and Crosse. After them followed the new Earle of Surrey with the sword of Estate in a rich scabbard On the right side of him went the Duke of Norfolke bearing the Crowne then followed King Richard in a Circot and robe of purple velvet under a Canopie borne by the barrons of the five Ports going betweene the Bishops of Bathe and Duresme The Duke of Buckingham with the rod of the high Steward of England bare the Kings traine After him followed the Earle of Huntington bearing the Queenes Scepter and the Vicount Lisle bearing the rod with the Dove And the Earle of Wiltshire bare the Queenes Crowne Then followed Queene Anne daughter to Richard Earle of Warwicke in robes like to the King between two Bishops and a canopie over her head borne by the Barons of the Ports On her head a rich Coronall set with stones pearles After her followed the countesse of Richmond heire to the Duke of Somerset which bare up the Queenes traine After followed the Dutches of Suffolke and Norfolke with Countesses Barronesses Ladies and many faire Gentlewomen in this order they passed thorow the palace entred the Abbie at the West end and so came to their seates of estate And after diverse songs solemly sung they both descended to the high Altar and were shifted from their robes and had diverse places open from the middle upward in which places they were annointed Then both the King and the Queene changed them into cloathes of gold and ascended to their seates where the Cardinall of Canterbury and other Bishops Crowned them according to the old custome of the Realme giving him the Scepter in his left hand and the ball with the crosse in the right hand and the Queene had the Scepter in her right hand and the rod with the Dove in the left hand On every side of the King stood a Duke and before him stood the Earle of Surrey with the sword in his hands And on every side of the Queene standing a Bishop and a Lady kneeling The Cardinall sung the Masse and after paxe The King the Queene descended and before the high Altar they were both houseled with one host divided betweene them After Masse finished they both offered at Saint Edwards shrine and there the King left the Crowne of Saint Edward and put on his owne Crowne And so in order as they came they departed to Westminster-hall and so to their chambers for a season during which time the Duke of Norfolke came into the Hall his horse trapped to the ground in cloth of gold as high Marshall and voyded the Hall About foure of the clocke the King and Queene entred into the Hall and the King sate in the middle the Queene on the left hand of the table on every side of her a Countesse holding a cloth of pleasance when shee list to drinke And at the right hand of the King sate the Bishop of Canterbury the Ladies sate all on one side in the middle of the Hall and at the table against theÌ„ sate the Chancellour and all the Lordes At the Table next the cupboord sate the Major of London And at the Table behind the Lords sate the Barons of the Ports And at the other boords sate Noble and Worshipfull personages When all persons were set the Duke of Norfolke Earle Marshall the Earle of Surrey Constable for that day the Lord Stanlâ—y Lord Steward sir Willâ—am Hopton Treasurer and sir Thomas Percy Controler came in served the King solemnly with one dish of gold and another of silver And the Queene all in gilt vessels and the Bishops all in silver At the second course came into the Hall sir Robert Democke the Kings champion making a Proclamation that whosoever would say that King Richard was not lawfully King hee would fight with him at the utterance and threw downe his Gauntlet and then all the Hall cryed out King Richard And so hee did in three parts of the Hall and then one brought
pleasant meanes to perswade and exhort the Duke to come to the Court But the Duke as wilie as the King mistrusting the faire flattering words and the gay promises to him so suddenly without any cause offered knowing the craftie castes of K. Richards bow which in divers affaires before times hee had seene practised required the King to pardon him excusing himselfe that hee was so diseased in his stomacke that hee could scarce take any refection or rest King Richard not being content with this excuse would in no wise admit the same but incontinent directed to the Duke other letters of a more rougher and hautie sort not without minatorie termes and checking words commanding him all excuses set apart to repaire without any delay to his royall presence The Duke made to the messenger a determinate answer that he would not come to his mortall enemie whom hee neither loved nor favored and immediately prepared open warre against him and perswaded all his complices and partakers that every man should in his quarter with all diligence raise up the people and make a commotion And by this meanes almost in one moment Thomas Marques Dorcet came out of Sanctuary where hee since the beginning of Richards dayes had continued whose life by the onely helpe of sir Thomas Lovel Esquier was preserved from all danger and perill in this troublous world gathered together a great band of men in Yorkeshire Sir Edward Courtney and Peter his brother Bishop of Exeter raised another army in Devonshire and Cornewall In Kent Richard Gilford and other Gentlemen collected a great company of Souldiers and openly began Warre But King Richard which in the meane time had gotten together a great strength and puissaunce thinking it not most for his part beneficiall to disperse and divide his Armie into small branches and particularly to persecute any one of the conjuration by himselfe determined all other being set aside with his whole puissaunce to set on the chiefe head which was the Duke of Buckingham And so removing from London hee tooke his journey toward Salsbury to the intent that in his journey hee might set on the Dukes armie if he might know him in any place encamped or in order of Battaile arayed The King was scarse two dayes journey from Salisbury when the Duke of Buckingham accompanied with a great power of wilde Welshmen whom he being a man of that courage and sharpe speech in manner against their willes had rather thereto enforced compelled by Lordly and straite commandement then by liberall wages and gentle reteynour which thing was the very occasion why they left him desolate and cowardly forsooke him The Duke with all his power marched through the forrest of Deanâ— intending to have passed the river Severne at Gloucester and there to have joyned in army with the Courtneys and other Westerne men of his confederacy and affinity which if hee had done no doubt but K. Richard had beene in great jeopardy either of privation of his Realme or losse of his life or both But see the chance before he could attaine to Severne side by force of continuall raine and moysture the river rose so high that it overflowed all the countrey adjoyning insomuch that men were drowned in their beds houses with the extreme violence were overturned children were carried about the fields swimming in cradles beastes were drowned on hills which rage of water lasted continually tenne dayes insomuch that in the countrey adjoyning they call it to this day the great water or the Duke of Buckinghams great water By this inundation the passages were so closed that the Duke could not come over Severne to his complices nor they to him during the which time the Welshmen lingering idely without money victuals or wages sodainly scaled and departed and for all the Dukes faire promises menaces and enforcements they would in no wise either goe further or abide The Duke thus abandoned and left almost alone was of necessity compelled to fly and in his flight was with this sodaine misfortune marvelously disdained and being unprovided what counsell hee should take and what way he should follow like a man in despaire not knowing what to doe of very trust and confidence conveyed himself into the house of Humfrey Banister his servant besides Shrewesbury whom hee had tenderly brought up and whom he above all men loved favoured and trusted now not doubting but that in his extreme necessity hee should finde him faithfull secret and trusty intending there covertly to lurk till either he might raise againe a new army or else shortly to saile into Britaine to the Earle of Richmond But when it was knowne to his adherents which were ready to give battaile that his hoste was scaled and had left him almost alone and was fled and could not bee found they were sodainely amased and stricken with a sodain feare that every man like persons desperate shifted for himselfe and fled some went to Sanctuary and to solitarie places some fled by sea whereof the most part within a few dayes after arrived safely in the Dutchy of Britany Among which number were these persons Peter Courtney Bishop of Exeter and Sir Edmond Courtney his brother by King Henry the sevâ—nth after created Earle of Dâ—â—onshire Thomas Marquâ—s Dorcet Iohn Lord Welles Sir Iohn Burchier Sir Edmond Woodvile a valiant man in Armes brother to Queene Elizabeth Sir Rrbert Willoughby Sir Gyles Dabeney Sir Thomas Arundell Sir Iohn Cheney and his two brethren Sir William Barkeley Sir William Brandon and Thomas his brother Sir Richard Edgcombe all these for the most part being Knights and Iohn Halwell Edward Powninges a politike captaine At this very season Iohn Morton Bishop of Ely and Christopher Vrswicke Priest and another company of noble men sojourned in Flanders and by letters and messengers procured many enemies against King Richard Which using a vigilant eye and a quicke remembrance being newly come to Salisbury having perfect notice knowledge how the Duke was fled his complices intended to passe out of the Realme First he sent men of warre to all the next ports and passages to keepe straightly the sea coast so that no person should passe outward nor take land in the Realme without their assent and knowledge Secondly he made Proclamation that what person could shew and reveale where the Duke of Buckingham was should be highly rewarded if he were a bondman hee should be infranchised and set at libertie if he were of free bloud hee should have a generall pardon bee remunerate with a thousand poundes Furthermore because he understood by Thomas Hutton which as you have heard was newly returned out of Britaine that Francis Duke of Britaine not onely refused to keepe the Earle of Richmond as a prisoner at his contemplation and for his sake but also was ready to aide and succour the said Earle with men money and all things necessarie for his transporting into England Wherefore hee rigged and sent out shippes of warre well furnished
worme of vengeance wavering in his head could not bee content with the death of divers gentlemen suspected of treason but also he must extend his bloudy fury against a poore gentleman called Collingborne for making a small Rime of three of his unfortunat Councellers which were the Lord Lovell sir Richard Radcliffe his mischievous minion and sir William Catesbey his secret seducer which meeter was The Rat the Cat and Lovell our dog Rule all England under the hog Meaning by the hog the dreadfull wild Bore which was the Kings cognisaunce but because the first line ended in dog the metrician could not observing the regiments of meeter end the second verse in Bore but called the Bore an hogge This poeticall Schoole-master corrector of breves and longs caused Collingborne to be abbreviated shorter by the head and to be divided into foure quarters King Richard being thus tormented and tossed in his owne conceipt and imagination calling to his remembrance that considerations amities and other honest bonds and pacts made concluded and appointed betweene Princes and politique governours are in the cause efficient especiall introduction that their Realmes and Countries are fortified and munited with a double power that is to say with their owne strength and the ayde of their friends devised with himselfe to practise a league and amitie with the King of Scotts which not long before had made diverse incursions and rodes into the Realme of England where although hee got little yet surely he lost not much and thereupon sued to have a truce or peace concluded which came even as King Richard had wished it Wherefore commissioners were assigned for both parts to meete at Notingham the seventh day next ensuing at which time came thither for the King of England Iohn Bishop of Lincolne Chancellor of England Richard Bishop of Saint Asse Iohn Duke of Norfolke Henry Earle of Northumbâ—rland Thomas Lord Stanley George Stanley Lord Strange Iohn Gray Lord Powes Richard Lord Fitzhngh Iohn Gunthorpe keeper of the Kings Privie Seale Thomas Barow Master of the Roules sir Thomas Bryan chiefe Justice of the Common Place sir Richard Ratcliffe Knight William Catesbey and Richard Salkeld Esquiers And for the King of Scots were deputed Colin Earle of Ergile Lord Campâ—ell Lord Chancellour of Scotland William Bishop of Aberden Robert Lord Lyle Laurence Lord Oliphant Iohn Drummond of Stobhall Archibald Qwitelator Archdeacon of Lawdene and Secretarie to King Iames Lyon K. of Armes Duncane Dundas These Councellers diverse times met and after long debating demanding and denying in the end of September they fully concluded and made a determination the effect whereof followeth in Articles I. First It was appointed and concluded that a perfect Amitie and an Inviolable peace should be had and kept betweene the Realmes of England and Scotland for the space of three yeares to beginne at the Sunne rising the twentie ninth day of September in the yeere of our Lord One thousand foure hundred eighty foure and to continne to the setting of the sunne the twenty ninth day of September in the yeare of Christs incarnation one thousand foure hnndred eightie seven II. Item that during the said yeares none of both the Princes nor their ministers shall make war or invade the Realme or dominion of the other by sea or land or vexe perturbe or molest the subjects or vassalles of either of them nor shall give counsell excite or move any other person to make warre or invasion on the territories of any of the said Princes III. Item that the towne and Castle of Barwicke with all such bounds as were thereto belonging â—hich were in the English mens hands at the deliverance of the same towne by King Henry the sixt to the King of Scotts shall so peaceably remaine in the possession of the King of England dnring the said truce IIII. Item that all other Castles holdes and fortresses shall peaceably remaine in the hands of the possessor and owner without chalenge or demand during the said truce the Castle of Dumbar only excepted which was delivered into the English mens hands by the appointment of the Duke of Albany when he fled into France V. Item If the King of Scotts doe intimate and declare to the King of England within the space of fortie daies next ensuing the date hereof that hee will not suffer the said Castle of Dumbar to be possessed of the English nation above the terme of sixe moneths that then during the said sixe moneths neither the English men in the Garison of Dumbar nor the Scotts dwelling and inhabiting about the limits of the same shall doe any hurt prejudice or dammage to any of the sald parties the said terme contiâ—ning VI. Item If after the said sixe moneths any variance or warre shall arise betweene the said two Princes either for the recovering or defending the said Castle of Dumbarre yet the said truce leagne and amitie for all other rights and possessions shall stand in force and be effectuall and that it shall bee lawfull to each of the said Princes to doe what they shall thinke necessary both for the obtaining and defending the said Castle of Dumbarre any thing contained in the treaty of peace notwithstanding VII Item It is conclvded and appointed between the parties aforesaid that during the said truce none of both the Princes aforesaid shall receiue into his Realme territories or dominions any traitour or rebell of the other Prince nor shall maintaine favour aide or comfort any rebell or traytor which is already fled or shall hereafter fly into either the said Princes dominions nor there suffer him or them to tarry or make their abode VIII Item If any such rebell or traytour shall fortune hereafter to arrive in the Realme or territorie of any of the said Princes that thâ—n the said Prince in whose dominion the said traytour or rebell is so arrived at the instance and request of the other Prince to whom the offence and crime was committed shall bee bound incontinently to deliver the said rebell or traytour to the said demander withont fraud or male engine IX Item That all Scotchmen now inhabiting in England and sworne to the King of England shall and may there inhabite and tarry so that their names within sortie daies after the date of this league bee certified to the King of Scotts or to his Chancellour by the King of England or the warden of the Marches X. Item If during the said amity and peace it shall fortune any of the Wardeines of the said Princes without commandment assent or knowledge of his soveraigne Lord and Master to invade or raise an army in the dominion of the other Prince and there to slay burne or spoyle that then the said Prince to whom the said Wardeine is or shall be subject and vassaile shall within sixe daies next after the fact done and perpetrate declare the said Wardeine a traytour and rebell and thereof shall make certificate to the other Prince to whom the injury was
committed within twelve daies after the said declaration made and denounced XI Item That in every safe conduct to be granted by either of the said Princes this clause to bee added Provided alwaies that the obtainer of this safe conduct be no traytour or rebell XII Item If during this amity and truce any of the subjects of either Prince doe presume or attempt to aide helpe maintaine or serve any other Prince against any of the said contractors Then it shall be lawfull to the Prince and his subjects against whom he shewed himselfe enemy and adversarie to apprehend and attach the said subject going comming or tarrying any act article or clause in this league to the contrary comprehended notwithstanding XIII Item It is agreed apointed and accorded that in this traatie and amitie shall bee comprehended the friends obliged and confederates of both the Princes if they list to enter and accept the league and thereupon to declare their pleasures within sixe moneths next ensuing and specially for the King of Englands part were named for confederates The King of Castile and Lyon the King of Arragon the King of Portugall the Archduke of Austryche and Burgony and the Duke of Britaine On the part of the King of Scotts were named for confederates Charles the French King Iohn King of Denmarke and Norwey and the Duke of Geldres and Brittaine XIIII Item It is agreed and concluded betweene the parties aforesaid that the Lordship of Lorne in the Realme of Scotland nor the Island of Londay lying in the river of Severne in the Realme of England shall not be taken nor comprised within the league but to stand at large as they did before XV. Item That this concord peace and amity should be published proclaymed and divulged the first day of October next ensuing in the most noble and famous cities and townes of both the Realmes and Regions And conservatours were appointed for the sure observation of this league aud amitie on both parts whose names follow For the King of England Iohn Earle of Lincone Henry Earle of Northumberland Ralph Lord Nevell Ralph Lord Greystocke Richard Lord Fitz Hugh Iohn Lord Scrope Thomas Lord Scrope of Massam Sir Christopher Moresby William Clapton Esquier Humfrey Lord Daker Sir Richard Ratcliffe Sir Iohn Conyers Sir Edward Hastings Sir Robert Donstable Sir Hugh Hastings Sir William Evers Sir Iohn Huldeston William Musgrave Esquier Richard Salkeld Esquier For the King of Scotts David Earle of Crafford and Lord Linsey George Earle of Huntlâ—y Lord Gordâ—n and Badzâ—nath Iohn Lord Dornelâ—y Iohn Lord Kynedy Robert Lord Lile Patricke Lord Hales Lawrence Lord Oliphaunt William Lord Borthwike Sir Iohn Rosse of Halkehed Sir Gilbert Iohnson of Elphynstone Sir Iohn Lundy Sir Iames Ogilly of Arly Sir Robert Hamilton of Fingaltâ—n Sir William Balze of Lamington Sir Iohn Kinedy of Blarqhon Sir Iohn Wemes Sir William Rochewen Edward Crochton of Kirke Paty Iohn Dundas Iohn Rosse of Montgrenane these three last were Esquiers XVI Item It is further condesconded and agreed that these commissioners whose names ensue shall meete at Loughmabanstane the eighteenth day of November next ensuing aswell for redresse to bee had of certaine offences done on the Westmarches as also for declaring and publishing of the peace and amitie Commissioners of the English part The Lord Dacre The Lord Fitz Hugh Sir Richard Radcliffe Sir Christopher Moresby Sir Richard Salkeld or three of them Commissioners for the Scottish part The Lord Kenedy The Lord Mountgomory The Lord Lile Iohn Maxwell Stuarde of Annerdâ—le Robert Crechton of Sanquhane or three of them XVII Item The like Commissioners were assigned to meete at Raydon Borne for the East Marches the first day of December and also meete at Haldanstanke the fourth day of the said moneth for the midle Marches Commissioners for the King of England The Earle of Northumberland The Lord Greystorcke The Lord Scrope of Massam Sir William Gastoyn Sir Robert Constable Commissioners for the King of Scotts The Earle of Huntley The Earle of Angus The Earle of Ergile Chancellour of Scotland The Lord Wandale The Lord Seton The Lord Olyphaunt The Lord Stobhill XVIII Item It is agreed that the commessioners aforesaid shall depute and assigne certaine persons to view and declare the bounds and limits appertaining to the Towne of Berwicke according to the true meaning of the league XIX Item It is agreed and appointed that no person of England or Scotland shall during the said truce build eare or sow any lands or ground being within the bounds of the batable ground but to suffer the same to continue in the same condition that it now remaineth When this league and amitie was thus concluded finished and sealed with all due circumstances thereunto required although King Richard judged deemed himselfe somewhat the more strong and quiet by force of this new amitie and concluded confederacie yet to augement more the familiaritie begunne betweene the King of Scots and him and to have a double string for his bow hee entreated a new aliance and marriage to bee concluded betweene the Prince of Rothsay eldest son to the King of Scots and Lady Anne de la Poole daughter to Iohn Duke of Suffolke and Lady Anne sister to King Richard which sister he so much favored that he studying all the waies by the which hee might advance her off-spring and linage did not onely procure and seeke meanes how to make her daughter a Princesse and consequently a Queene but also after the death of his son he proclaimed Iohn Earle of Lincolne his Nephew her son heire apparent to the Crowne of England disinheriting King Edwards daughters whose brethren before you have heard he shamefully killed and murthered The King of Scots having neede of Friends but not so much neede as King Richard which was of necessitie compelled to seeke aiders and to entertaine fautours the one for favouring of flatterers and base borne persons and the other not only for tyranny and unnaturall homicide but also for the usurpation of the Crowne being of all the Realme detested and disdained gladly accepted and joyously consented to King Richards device and conjunction of amitie perfectly remembring that amongst all bonds and obligations of love and amitie that there is neither a surer nor a more perfect locke then the knot of conjunction in the Sacrament of Matrimonie which was in the very beginning of the first age of man ordained and instituted in the holy place of Paradice terrestiall by God himselfe by reason whereof the propagation and succession of the humane nature stablished upon the sure seate of lawfull Matrimonie betweene Princes may nourish peace concord and unity asswage breake the furious rage of truculent Mars and terrible battaile and encrease love favour and familiaritie Wherefore the said Princes sent their Embassadours and Councellors againe to the Towne of Nottingham where the said marriage was by writings and instruments covenanted condiscended and agreed and affiances made and taken by Procters and Deputies on
Cittie of Roan While hee tarried there making provision at Bartfleet in the mouth of the River of Seyne for all things necessary for his navy and navigation tidings were brought to him that King Richard being without children and now widdower intended shortly to marry with Lady Elizabeth his brothers daughter and to preferre the Lady Cicile her sister to a man found in a cloude and of an unknowne linage and family He tooke this newes as a matter of no small moment and so al things considered it was of no lesse importance then he tooke it for For this thing onely tooke away from all his companions their hope and courage that they had to obtaine an happie enterprise And therefore no marvell though it nipped him at the very heart when hee thought that by no possibility hee might attaine the marriage of any of King Edwards daughters which was the strongest foundation of his building by reason whereof hee judged that al his friends in England would abandon and â—hrinke from him Wherefore making not many of his counsell after diverse consultations hee determined not yet to set forward but to tarry and attempt how to get more aide more friends and more stronger succours And amongst all other it was thought most expedient to allure by affinity in his aide as a companion in armes Sir Walter Harbert a man of ancient stock and great power amongst the welshmen which had with him a faire Lady to his sister of age mature and ripe to bee coupled in matrimonie And for the achiving of this purpose messengers were secretly sent to Henry Earle of Northumberland which had before married another sister of Sir Walter Herberts to the intent that hee should set forward all this device and purpose but the waies were so narrowly watched and so many spies laid that the messenger proceeded not in his journey and businesse But in the meane season there came to the Earle a more joyfull message from Morgan Kidwelly learned in the temporall Law which declared that Ryce ap Thomas a man of no lesse valiantnesse then activitie and Iohn Savage an approved Captaine would with all their power bee partakers of his quarrell And that Reighnold Bray had collected and gotten together no small some of money for the payment of the wages to the souldiers and men of warre admonishing him also to make quick expedition and to take his course directly into Wales The Earle of Richmond because hee would no longer linger and weary his friends living continually betweene hope and feare determined in all convenient hast to set forward and carried to his shippes armour weapons victualls and all other ordinances expedient for warre And shortly to speake all things hee prepared which were wont to bee necessary and profitable to the variable chances and incertaine accidents and jeopardies of warre which requireth preparation of many instruments and things chargable And that the Earle had made his humble petition and devout prayer to almighty God beseeching him not onely to send him most prosperous winde and sure passage in his journey but also effectuously desiring his goodnesse of aide and comfort in his necessitie and victorie and supremitie over his enemies onely accompanied with two thousand men and a small number of shippes weighed up his anchors and hoysed up his sailes and in the calends of August he sailed from Harfleet with so prosperous a winde that the seventh day after his departure he arrived in Wales in the evening at a port called Milford Haven and incontinent tooke land and came to a place called Dalle where he heard say that a certaine company of his adversaries were layed in garrison to defend his arrivall all the last winter And the Earle at the â—un rising removed to Harford Wâ—st being distant from Dalle not fully tenne miles where he was applauded and received of the people with great joy and hee arrived there so suddenly that hee was come and entred the towne at the same time when the Citizens had but knowledge of his comming Here he heard newes which was as untrue as they truely were reported to him in Normandy that Rice ap Thomas and Iohn Savage with body and goods were determined to aide King Richard While he and his company were somewhat appalled of these new tidings there came such message from the inhabitants of the towne of Pembrook that refreshed and revived their frosen hearts and daunted courages For Arnould Butler a valliant Captaine which first asking pardon for his offences before time committed against the Earle of Richmond and that obtained declared that the Penbrochians were ready to serve and give their attendance on their naturall and immediate Lord Iasper Earle of Pembrooke The Earle of Richmond having his armie thus increased departed from Herford West to the towne of Cardigan being five mile distant from thence While the souldiers were refreshing and trimming themselves in their campe strange tidings sprung among them without any certaine authour that Sir Walter Harberd which lay with a great crew of men at Carmarden was now with a great army ready to approach and bid him battaile With which newes the armie was sore troubled and every man assaid his armour and proved his weapon and were prest to defend their enemies And as they were in this timerous doubt certaine horsemen which the Earle had sent to make exploration and search returned and reported all the countrey to be quiet and no let nor impediment to bee laid or cast in their journey And even at that same time the whole army was greatly recomforted by reason that the comming of Richard Griffeth a man of great nobility the which notwithstanding that he was conversant with Sir Walter Harbert Richard ap Thomas yet at that very instant he came to the Earle of Richmond with all his company which were of no great number After him the same day came Iohn Morgan with his men Then the Earle advanced forward in good hast making no repose or abode in any one place And to the intent to passe forward with sure and short expedition hee assaulted every place where his enemies had set any men of warre which with small force and lesse difficultie hee briefely did expugne and vanquish And suddenly hee was by his espials ascertained that Sir Walter Harbert and Rice ap Thomas were in harnesse before him ready to encounter with his army and to stoppe their passage Wherefore like a valiant captaine he first determined to set on them and either to destroy or to take them into his favour and after with all his power and puissance to give battaile to his mortall enemie King Richard But to the intent his friends should know with what dexteritie his attempted enterprise proceeded forward he sent of his most secret and faithfull servants with letters and instructions to the Lady Margaret his mother to the Lord Stanley and his brother to Talbotâ— and to other his trusty friends declaring to them that hee succoured and holpen
have heard before hee began to be of a better stomacke and of a more valiant courage and with all diligence pitched his field just by the Campe of his enemies and there he lodged that night In the morning betime hee caused his men to put on their armour apparell themselves ready to fight and give battell and sent to the Lord Stanley which was now come with his Band in a place indifferently betweene both the Armies requiring him with his men to approach neer to his Army and to helpe to set the Souldiers in array hee answered that the Earle should set his owne men in a good order of battell while hee would array his company and come to him in time convenient Which answer made otherwise then the Earle thought or would have judged considering the opportunity of the time and the weight of the businesse and although hee was therewithall a little vexed began somewhat to hang the head yet hee without any time delaying compelled by necessity after this manner instructed and ordered his men He made his fore-ward somewhat single and slender according to the small number of his people In the front hee placed the Archers of whom he made Captaine Iohn Earle of Oxford to the right wing of the battell hee appointed Sir Gilbert Talbor to be the leader to the left wing hee assigned Sir Iohn Savage and hee with the aide of the Lord Stanley accompanied with the Earle of Pembroke having a good company of horse-men and a small number of footmen For all his whole number exceeded not five thousand men beside the power of the Stanleys whereof three thousand were in the field under the Standard of Sir William Stanley The Kings number was double as much and more When both the Armies were thus ordered and all men ready to set forward King Richard called his Chieftains together and to them said Most faithfull and assured fellowes most trusty and welbeloved friends and elected Captaines by whose wisdome and policie I have obtained the Crowne and Type of this famous Realme and noble Region by whose puissance and valiantnesse I have enjoyed and possessed the state Royall and dignity of the same maâ—gâ—e the ill will and seditious attempts of all my cankerd enemies and insidious adversaries by whose prudent and politick counsell I have so governed my Realme people and subjects that I have omitted nothing appertaining to the office of a just Prince nor you have pretermitted nothing belonging to the duty of wise and sage Counsellors So that I may say and truly affirme that your approved fidelity and tryed constancie maketh mee to beleeve firmely and thinke that I am an undoubted King and an indubitate Prince And although in the adâ—ption and obtaining of the Garland I being seduced and provoked by sinister counsell and diabolicall temptation did commit a facinorous and detestable act yet I have with strict penance and salt teares as I trust expiated and cleerely purged the same offence which abominable crime I require you of friendship as cleerly to forget as I daily doe remember to deplore and lament the same If you will now diligently call to remembrance in what case and perplexity wee now stand and in what doubtfull perill wee be now intricked I doubt not but you in heart will thinke and with mouth confesse that if ever amity and faith prevailed betweene Prince and subjects or between subject and subject or if ever bond of allegeance obliged the vassaile to love and serve his naturall Soveraigne Lord or if any obligation of duty bound any Prince to aide and defend his subjects All these loves bonds and duties of necessity are this day to be experimented shewed and put in experience For if wise men say true there is some policie in getting but much more in keeping the one being but fortunes chance and the other high wit and policie for which cause I with you and you with mee must needes this day take labour and paine to keepe and defend with force that preeminence and possession which by your prudent devises I have gotten and obtained I doubt not but you know how the Devill continuall enemy to humane nature disturber of concord and sower of sedition hath entred into the heart of an unknown Welshman whose father I never knew nor him personally saw exciting him to aspire and covet our Realme Crown and Dignity and thereof cleerely to deprive and spoile us and our posterity yee see further how a company of traitors theeves out-lawes and runagates of our owne Nation be aiders and partakers of his feat and enterprise ready at hand to overcome and oppresse us you see also what a number of beggerly Britaines and faint-hearted French men bee with him arrived to destroy us our wives and children which imminent mischiefes and apparent inconveniencies if we will withstand wee must live together like brethren fight together like Lions and feare not to dye together like men And observing and keeping this rule and precept beleeve mee the fearefull Hare never fled faster before the greedy Greyhound nor the silly Larke before the Sparrow hawke nor the simple Sheepe before the ravenous Wolfe then your proud bragging adversaries astonied and amazed with the onely sight of your manly visages will flye run and skir out of the Field For if you consider and wisely ponder all things in your mind you shall perceive that wee have manifest causes and apparent tokens of Victory And to begin with the Earle of Richmond Captaine of this rebellion hee is a Welsh milk-sop a man of small courage and of lesse experience in Martiall acts and feates of warre brought up by my brothers meanes and mine like a captive in a close Cage in the Court of Francis Duke of Britaine and never saw Armie nor was exercised in Martiall affaires by reason wherof hee neither can nor is able on his owne wit and experience to guide an Hoast For in the wit and policie of the Captaine consisteth the chiefe adeption of the victory and overture of the enemies Secondly feare not and put away all doubts for when the Traytors and Runagates of our Realme shall see us with Banner displayed come against them remembring their oath promise and fidelity made unto us as to their Soveraigne Lord and anointed King they shall bee so pricked and stimulate in the bottome of their scrupulous consciences that they for very remorce and dread of the divine plague will either shamefully flye or humbly submit themselves to our grace and mercy And as for the Frenchmen and Britaines their valiantnesse is such that our Noble Progenitors and your Noble Parents have them oftner vanquished and overcome in one month then they in the beginning imagined possible to compasse and finish in a whole yeere What will you make of them braggers without audacity Drunkards without discretion rybauds without reason cowards without resisting and in conclusion the most effeminate and lascivious people that ever shewed themselves in front of Battaile ten
at London The Archbishop of Yorke fearing that it would be ascribed as it was indeed to over-much lightnesse that he so suddenly had yeelded up the Great Seale to the Queene to whom the custody thereof nothing appertained without especiall commandement of the King secretly sent for the Seale againe and brought it with him after the accustomed manner to meete with the Lords At this meeting the Lord Hastings whose truth toward the King no man doubted noâ— needed to doubt perswaded the Lords to beleeve that the Duke of Gloucester was faithfull and sure towards his Prince and that the Lord Rivers the Lord Richard and other Knights apprehended were for matters attempted by them against the Dukes of Gloucester and Buckingham put under arrest for their surety and not for the Kings danger and that they were also in safeguard there to remaine till the matter were not by the Dukes onely but also by all the other Lords of the Kings Counsell indifferently examined and by their discretions ordered and either judged or appeased And one thing hee advised them to beware of that they judged not the matter too farre forth ere they knew the truth nor turning their private grudges into the common hurt irriting and provoking men unto anger and disturbing the Kings Coronation toward which the Dukes were comming for that then might peradventure bring the matter so farre out of joynt that it should never bee brought in frame againe which if it should hap as it were likely to come to a field though all parties were in all other things equall yet should the authority bee on that side where the King is himselfe with these perswasions of the Lord Hastings whereof part hee himselfe beleeved and of part hee knew well the contrary these commotions were somewhat appeased But especially because the Dukes of Buckingham and Gloucester were so neere and came on â—o shortly with the King in no other manner nor no other voyce or semblance then to his Coronation causing the â—ame to be blowne about that such persons as were apprehended had contrived the destruction of the Dukes of Gloucester and of Buckingham and other of the Noble Bloud of this Realme to the intent that they alone would rule and governe the King And for the colour thereof such of the Dukes servants as rod with the Carts of their stuffe which was taken among the which stuffe no marvell though some were harnesse which at the breaking up of such an houshold must be brought away or cast away they shewed to the people and as they went said Lo here be the Barrels of harnesse that these Traytors had privily conveyed in their carriages to destroy the Noble Lords withall This divers although it made the matter to wise men more unlikely well perceiving that the intenders of such a purpose would rather have had their harnesse on their backes then to have bound them up in barrels yet much part of the common people were therewith right well satisfied When the King approached neere the City Edmund Shaw Goldsmith then Maior of the City with the Aldermen and Sheriffes in Scarlet and five hundred commoners in murrey received his Grace reverendly at Harnesay Parke and so conveighed him to the City where hee entred the fourth day of May in the first and last yeere of his Reigne and was lodged in the Bishop of Londons Palace but the Duke of Gloucester bare him in open sight so reverently saying to all men as he rode Behold your Prince and Soveraigne Lord and made such semblance of lowlinesse to his Prince that from the great obloquy that hee was in so late before he was suddenly fallen in so great trust that at the Councell next assembled he was made the onely chiefe Ruler and thought most meet to be Protectour of the King and his Realme so that were it destiny or were it folly the Lambe was betaken to the Wolfe to keepe At which counsell the Archbishop of Yorke was sore blamed for delivering the Great Seale to the Queene and the Seale taken from him and delivered to Doctor Iohn Russell Bishop of Lincolne a wise man and a good and of much experience and divers Lords and Knights were appointed to divers roomes the Lord Chamberlaine and some other kept the roomes that they were in before but not many Now were it so that the Protectour which alwayes you must take for the Duke of Gloucester sore thirsted for the atchieving of his pretended enterprise and thought every day a yeere till it were performed yet durst he no farther attempt as long as hee had but halfe his prey in his hand well witting that if hee deposed the one brother all the Realme would fall toth'other if he remained either in Sanctuary or should haply bee shortly conveighed to his Fathers liberty Wherefore incontinent at the next meeting of the Lords in Councell hee propounded to them that it was an heinous thing of the Queene and proceeding of great malice toward the Kings Councellors that she should keepe the Kings Brother in Sanctuary from him whose speciall pleasure and comfort were to have his Brother with him and that to bee done by her to no other intent but to bring all the Lords in an obloquy and murmure of the people as though they were not to bee trusted with the Kings Brother which Lords were by the whole assent of the Nobles of the Realme appointed as the Kings neere friends to the tuition of his Royall Person the prosperity whereof quoth he standeth not alone in keeping from enemies and evill dyet but partly also in recreation and moderate pleasure which hee cannot take in his tender youth in the company of old and ancient persons but in the familiar conversation of those that be not farre under nor farre above his age and neverthelesse of estate convenient to accompany his Majesty wherefore with whom rather then with his owne Brother and if any man thinke this consideration light I thinke no man so thinketh that loveth the King let him consider that sometime without small things greater cannot stand and verily it redoundeth greatly to the dishonour of the Kings highnesse and of all us that bee about his Grace to have it come in any mans mouth not in this Realme onely but also in other Lands as evill words walke farre that the Kings Brother should bee faine to keepe Sanctuary For every man will judge that no man will so doe for nought and such opinions fastned in mens hearts be hard to bee wrested out and may grow to more griefe then any man here can divine Wherefore mee thinketh it were not the worst to send to the Queene some honorable and trusty personage such as tendreth the Kings weale and the honour of his Counce and is also in credit and favour with her for which considerations none seemeth more meetly to me theÌ„ the reverend Father my Lord Cardinall Archbishop of Canterbury who may in this matter doe most good of all men