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
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
very patron the only helpe refuge and comfort of the poore amased and desolate commons of this Realme For if you could either devise to set up againe the linage of Lancaster or advance the eldest daughter of King Edward to some high and puissant Prince not onely the new crowned King shall small time enjoy the glory of his dignity but also all civill warre should cease all domesticall discord should sleepe and peace profit and quietnesse should bee set forth and embraced When the Bishoâ— had thus ended his saying the Duke sighâ—d and spake not of a great while which sore abashed the Bishop and made him change colour which thing when the Duke perceived he said be not afraid my Lord all promises shall bee kept to morrow wee will commune more let us goe to supper so that night they communed no more not a little to the inquietation of the Bishop which now was even as desirous to know the Dukes minde and intent as the Duke longed the day before to know his opinion and meaning So the nex day the Duke sent for the Bishop and rehearsed to him in maner for he was both witty and eloquent all the communication had betweene them before and so paused a while and after a little season putting off his bonet hee said O Lord God creator of all things how much is this Realme of England and the people of the same bounden to thy goodnesse for where wee now bee in vexation and trouble with great stormes oppressed sayling and tossing in a desperate ship without good Master or Governour by thy helpe good Lord I trust ere long time past that wee shall provide for such a ruler as shall be both to thy pleasure and also to the security and safeguard of this noble Realme And then he put on his bonet saying to the Bishop my Lord of Ely whose true heart and sincere affection toward me at all times I have evidently perceived and knowne and now most of all our last privie communication and secret devising I must needs in heart think and with mouth confesse and say that you bee a sure friend a trusty counsellor a vigilant foreseer a lover of your countrey a anturall countryman for which kindnesse for my part I most lovingly render to you my harty thanks now with words hereafter trusting to recompence and remunerate you with deedes if life and power shall serve And sith at our last communication you have disclosed and opened the very secrets and privities of your stomacke touching the Duke of Gloucester now usurper of the Crowne and also have a little touched the advancement of the two noble families of Yorke and Lancaster I shall likewise not onely declare and manifest unto you all my open acts attempts and doings but also my privie intents and secret cogitations To the intent that as you have unbuckled your heart of your privie meanings and secret puposes to me so shal all my cloudy working close devices and secret imaginations bee as cleare as the sunne revealed opened and made lightsome to you And to begin I declare that when King Edward was deceased to whom I thought my self little or nothing beholden although wee two had married two sisters because he neither promoted nor preferred mee as I thought I was worthy and had deserved neither favored nor regarded me according to my degree and birth for surely I had by him little authority and lesse rule and in effect nothing at all which caused mee the lesse to favour his children because I found small humanitie or none in their parent I then began to study and with mature deliberation to ponder and consider how and in what manner this Realme should be ruled and governed And first I remembred an old proverbe worthy of memory that often ruineth the Realme where children rule and women governe This old Adage so sunke and setled in my head that I thought it a great errour and extreme mischiefe to the whole Realme either to suffer the young King to rule or the Queene his mother to bee a governour over him considering that her brethren and her first children although they were not extract of high and noble linage tooke more upon them and more exalted themselves by reason of the Queene then did the Kings brethren or any Duke in his Realme Which in conclusion turned to their confusion Then I being perswaded with my self in this point thought it necessarie both for the publique and profitable wealth of this Realme and also for mine owne commodity and emolument to take part with the Duke of Gloucester Whom I asure you I thought to be as cleane without dissimulation as tractable without injury as mercifull without crueltie as now I know him perfectly to bee a dissembler without verity a tyrant without pitty yea and worse then the tyrant Phalaris destitute of all truth clemencie And so by my meanes at the first councell holden at London when hee was most suspected of that thing that after happened as you my Lord know well enough hee was made Protectour and defender both of the King and of the Realme which authority once gotten and the two children partly by policie brought under his governance hee being moved with the gnawing and covetous serpent desired to raigne and never ceased privilie to exhort and require yea and somtimes with minatorie termes to perswade me other Lords aswell spirituall as temporall that hee might take upon him the Crowne till the Prince came to the age of foure and twenty yeares and were able to governe the Realme as a mature and sufficient King Which thing when hee saw me somewhat sticke at both for the strangenesse of the example because no such president had beene seene and also because wee remembred that men once ascended to the highest tipe of honour and authority will not gladly discend againe hee then brought in instruments authentike Doctors Proctors and notaries of the Law with depositions of divers witnesses testifying King Edwards children to be bastards which depositions then I thought to bee as true as now I know them to be fained and â—estified by persons with rewards untruely subordinate When the said depositions were before us read and diligently heard he stood up bareheaded saying Well my Lords even as I and you sage and discreete councellers would that my Nephewes should have no wrong So I pray you to doe mee nothing but right For these witnesses and sayings of famous Doctors being true I am onely the undoubted heire to Lord Richard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke adjudged to bee the very heire to the Crowne of this Realme by authority of Parliament which things so by learned men to us for a veritie declared caused me and other to take him for our lawfull and undoubted Prince and soveraigne Lord. For well we know that the Duke of Clarence Son by reason of the attainder of his Father was disabled to inherite and also the Duke himselfe was named to be a bastard as I
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
willing him in any wise to leave the Earle and without delay to repaire into England where for him were provided great honours and honourable promotions ascertaining him further that all offences in both parties were forgotten and forgiven and both he and she highly incorporate in the Kings heart Surely the inconstancie of this woman were much to bee marvelled at if all women had bin found constant but let men speake yet women of the very bond of Nature wil follow their owne kinde After that King Richard had thus with glorious promises and flattering words pleased and appeased the mutable mind of Queene Elizabeth which knew nothing lesse then that he most intended he caused all his brothers daughters to be conveighed into his Palace with solemne receiving as though with his new familiar and loving entertainment they should forget and in their mindes obliterate the old committed injury and late perpetrate tyranny Now nothing was contrarie and opposite to his pernicious purpose but that his Mansion was not void of his wife which thing he in any wise adjudged necessary to be done But there was one thing that so much feared and dragged him from committing this abominable murder because as you have heard before hee began to counterfeit the image of a good and well disposed person and therefore he was afraid lest the sudden and immature death of his wife once openly knowne hee should lose the good and credible opinion which the people had of him without desert conceived and reported But in conclusion evill counsell prevailed in a wit lately minded to mischiefe and turned from all goodnesse So that his ungratious desire overcame his honest feare And first to enter into the gates of his imagined enterprise hee abstayned both from the bed and company of his wife After hee complained to divers Noble men of the Realm of the unfortunate sterilitie and barrennesse oâ— his wife because she brought forth no fruit and generation of her body And in speciall hee accompted to Thomas Rotheram Arch-bishop of Yorke whom lately hee had delivered out of ward and captivity these impediments of his Queene and divers others thinking that hee would reveale and open to her all these things trusting the sequell hereof to take his effect that shee hearing this grudge of her husband and taking therefore an inward thought would not long live in this world Of this the Bishop gathered which well knew the complection and usage of the King that the Queenes dayes were short and that hee declared to certaine of his secret friends And thus he procured a common rumour but hee would not have the authour knowne to bee published and spread abroâ—d among the common people that the Qâ—eene was dead to the intent that shee taking some conceit of this strang fame should fall into some sudden sicknesse or grievous malady and to prove if afterwards shee shâ—â—ld fortune by that or any other waies to lose her life whether the people would impute her death to the thought or sicknes or therof would lay the blame to him When the Queene heard tell that so horrible a rumour of her death was sprung amongst the commonaltie shee sore suspected and judged the world to be almost at an end with her and in that sorrowfull agony shee with lamentable countenance and sorrowfull cheere repaired to the presence of the King her husband demanding of him what it should meane that he had judged her worthy to die The King answered her with faire words and with dissembling blandiments and flattering leasings comforted her bidding her to bee of good comfort for to his knowledge shee should have no other cause But howsoever it fortuned either by inward thought and pensivenesse of heart or by intoxication of poyson which is affirmed to bee most likely within a few dayes after the Queene departed out of this transitorie life was with due solemnitie buried in the church of S. Peter at Westminster This is the same Anne one of the daughters of the Earle of Warwicke which as you have heard before at the request of Lewes the French King was married to Prince Edward son to King Henry the Sixt. The King thus according to his long desire loosed out of the bonds of matrimony beganne to cast a foolish phantasie to Lady Elizabeth his neece making much suite to have her joyned with him in lawfull matrimony But because all men and the maiden her selfe most of all detested and abhorred this unlawfull and in a manner unnaturall copulation hee determined to prolong and dâ—fer the matter till he were in a more quietnesse For all that very season hee was oppressed with great weightie and urgent causes and businesses on every side considering that daily part of the nobilitie sailed into France to the Earle of Richmond other privily favoured and aided certaine of the conjuration so that of his short end few or none were in doubt And the common people for the most part were brought to such desperation that many of them had rather be reputed and taken of him in the number of his enemies then to abide the chance and hazard to have their goods taken as a spoyle of victorie by his enemies Amongst the noble men whom hee most mistrusted these were the principall Thomas Lord Stanley Sir William Stanley his brother Gilbert Talbot and six hundred other of whose purposes although King Richard were ignorant yet he gave neither confidence nor credence to any one of them and least of al to the Lord Stanley because hee was joyned in matrimony with the Lady Margaret mother to the Earle of Richmond as afterward apparently ye may perceive For when the said Lord Stanley would have departed into his Countrey to visite his familie and to recreate and refresh his spirits as he openly said but the truth was to the intent to be in a perfect readinesse to receive the Earle of Richmond at his first arrivall into England the King in no wise would suffer him to depart before he had left as an hostage in the Court George Stanley Lord Strange his first begotten son heire While King Richard was thus troubled and vexed with imaginations of the tumultuous time that was like to come Loe even suddenly hee heard newes that fire was sprung out of the smoake and the warre presently begun and that the Castle of Hammes was delivered into the hands of the Earle of Richmond by the meanes of the Earle of Oxford and that not onely hee but also Iames Blunt Captaine of the Castle were fled into France to aide the Earle Henry Wherefore he thinking it great policie to withstand the first brunt sent the most part of the garison of Calice to recover again by force the castle of Hammes They which were in the Castle perceiving their adversaries to approach prepared munitions and engins for their defence and sent also the Earle of Richmond to advertise him of their sodaine obsession requiring him of hasty ayde speedie succour The Earle slipping
Edward the 5 King of EnglaÌ„d â—â—d France Lord of Ireland THE HISTORIE OF THE PITIFVLL Life and unfortunate Death of Edward the fifth and the then Duke of Yorke his brother With the troublesome and tyrannical government of usurping Richard the third and his miserable end Written by the Right Honorable Sir Thomas Moore sometimes Lord Chancellor of England LONDON Printed by Thomas Payne for the Company of Stationers and are to be sold by Mich Young at his shop in Bedford-street in Covent-Garden neere the new Exchange 1641. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL SIR IOHN LENTHALL Knight Marshall of the Kings-bench SIR IT is not unknowne to the World the great eare earnest sedulitie laudable custome that hath alwaies been observed in all ages for the preservation of antiquities by meanes wherof the acts and occurrences of former times are so clearely demonstrated as if they were manifested to the world by a perfect and lively representation which affordeth in it selfe a double profit doth thereby allure all well-disposed persons to the imitation of those things which are honest and vertuous and to the evitation of such things as are evill and obnoxious letting them therby understand the happie issue and successe of the one and the miserable and wretched end and event of the other for histories are as so many Records and Registers of matters that hath beene already past which being a thing that our humane natures are much inclined unto gives a great pleasure and delight in the reading Especially to those that are well affected to the same The consideration hereof hath moved me to revive that which hath for a long time been raked up in the embers of oblivion For there comming by chance into my hand a booke long since printed the authour whereof was that famous and learned Knight Sir Thomas Moore sometimes Lord Chancellour of England wherein is set forth the short Raigne and unfortunate death of the two young Princes Edward the fith the theÌ„ Duke of York his brother with the troublesome and tyrannicall government of usurping Richard the third and his miserable end both which for the matter of the subject the worth of the Authour who lived in those times deserves to bee memorized to succeeding ages which having for many yeares escaped the presse and by that meanes likely to bee utterly lost I have thought it not amisse to put to my helping hand for the restoring of it to the world and because I know you to bee a gentleman that delights your selfe in matters of this nature I am bould to crave your patronage herein and that you would be pleased to shelter it under the wings of your protect on not doubting but by that meanes it will bee as welcome to the world and as wel entertained as it hath formerly beene which being the thing I wish together with your pardon for this my presumption I humbly rest Yours to Command W. S. THE PITTIFVLL LIFE OF KING EDVVARD the Fifth THE Eternall God calling to his Mercy the Noble Prince King Edward the Fourth of that Name Edward his eldest sonne Prince of Wales began his Reigne the ninth day of April in the yeere of our Lord 1483. and in the 23. yeere of Lewis the eleventh then French King Which young Prince reigned a small space and little season over this Realme either in pleasure or liberty For his Uncle Richard Duke of Gloucester within three months deprived him not onely of his Crowne and Regality but also unnaturally bereft him of his naturall life And for the declaration by what crafty engin he first attempted his ungracious purpose and by what false colourable and untrue allegations he set forth openly his pretensed enterprise and finally by what shamefull cruell and detestable act he performed the same Ye must first consider of whom he and his Brother descended their natures conditions and inclinations and then you shall easily perceive that there could not be a more cruell Tyrant appointed to atchieve a more abominable enterprise Their Father was Richard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke which began not by warre but by Law to challenge the crown of England putting his claime in the Parliament holden the thirtieth yeere of King Henry the sixth where either for right or for favour his cause was so set forth and advanced that the Blood of the said King Henry although he had a goodly Son was clearly abjected and the Crowne of the Realme by authority of Parliament entayled to the Duke of Yorke and his Heires after the decease of the said King Henry the Sixth But the Duke not intending so long to tarry but minding under the pretext of dissention growne and risen within the Realm and of Covenants made in the Parliament not kept but broken to prevent the time and to take upon him the Governance in King Henries life was by too much hardinesse slaine at the Battaile of Wakefield leaving behind him three sonnes Edward George and Richard All these three as they were great estates of Birth so were they great and stately of stomacke greedy of promotions and impatient partners of rule and authority This Edward revenged his Fathers death and deposed King Hâ—nry the Sixth and attained the Crowne and Scepter of the Realme George Duke of Clarence was a goodly and well â—eatured Prince in all things fortunâ—te if either his owne ambition had not for him against his Brother or the envy of his enemies had not set his Brothâ—r against him for were it by the Queene or the Nobles of her Bloud which highly maligned the Kings Kindred as women commonly not of malice but of Nature hate such as their husbands love or were it a proud appetite of the Duke himselfe intending to be King at the least wise heinous Treason was laid to his charge and finally were he in fault or were he faultlesse attainted was hee by Parliament and judged to death and thereupon hastily drowned in a But of Malmsey within the Towre of London Whose death King Edward although hee commanded it when he wist it was done pitteously hee bewailed and sorrowfully repented it Richard Duke of Gloucester the third Sonne of which I must most entreat was in wit and courage equâ—ll with the other but in beauty and lineaments of Nature farre underneath both for he was little of stature evill featured of limbes crooke-backed the left shoulder much higher then the right hard favoured of visage such as in estates is called a warlike visage and among common persons a crabbed face He was malicious wrathfull and envious and as it is reported his Mother the Dutches had much adoe in her travell that shee could not be delivered of him uncut and that hee came into the world the feet forward as men be borne outward and as the fame ran not untoothed whether that men of hatred reported above the truth or that Nature changed his course in his beginning which in his life committed many things unnaturally this I
leave to Gods Judgement Hee was no evill Captaine in warre as to the which his disposition was more inclined then to peace Sundry Victories he had and some Overthrowes but never for default of his owne person either for lacke of hardinesse or politicke order Free hee was of his exspences and somewhat above his power liberall with large gifts he gat him unstedfast friendship for which cause he was faine to borrow pill and extort in other places which gat him stedfast hatred Hee was close and secret a deep dissembler lowly of countenance arrogant of heart outwardly familiar where he inwardly hated not letting to kisse whom he thought to kill spitefull and cruell not alway for ill will but oftner for ambition and to serve his purpose friend and foe were all indifferent where his advantage grew hee spared no mans death whose life withstood his purpose He slew in the Tower King Henry the Sixth saying Now is there no Heire male of King Edward the third but we of the House of Yorke which murder was done without King Edward his assent which would have appointed that butcherly office to some other rather then to his owne Brother Some Wise men also thinke that his drift lacked not in helping forth his owne Brother of Clarence to his death which thing in all appearance he resisted although hee inwardly minded it And the cause thereof was as men noting his doings and proceedings did marke because that he long in King Edwards time thought to obtaine the Crown in case that the King his Brother whose life he looked that ill dyet would soone shorten should happen to decease as he did indeed his children being young And then if the Duke of Clarence had lived his pretensed purpose had been farre hindered For if the Duke of Clarence had kept himselfe true to his Nephew the young King every one of these casts had bin a Trumpe in the Duke of Gloucesters way but when he was sure that his Brother of Clarence wat dead then hee knew that hee might worke without that danger But of these points there is no certainety and whosoever divineth or conjectureth may as well shoot too farre as too short but this conjecture afterward tooke place as few doe as you shall perceive hereafter But before I declare to you how this Richard Duke of Gloucâ—ster began his mischievous imagined and pretended enterprise as apparently shall be opened I must a little put you in remembrance of a loving and charitable act no lesse profitable then pleasing to the whole Commonalty if it had bin so inwardly thought as it was outwardly dissembled which King Edward did lying on his death bed not long before he dyed For in his life although that the division amongst his friends somewhat grieved and vexed him yet in his health he lesse regarded and tooke heed to it by reason that he thought that he was able in all things to rule both parties were they never so obstinate But in his last sicknesse which continued longer then false and fantasticall tales have untruly and falsely surmised as I my selfe that wrote this Pamphlet truely knew when hee perceived his naturall strength was gone and hoped little of recovery by the arts of all his Physicians which he perceived onely to prolong his life Then he began to consider the youth of his Children howbeit hee nothing lesse mistrusted then that that hapned yet he wisely foreseeing and considering that many harmes might ensue by the debate of his Nobles while the youth of his children should lack discretion and good counsell of their friends for hee knew well that every part would worke for their owne commodity and rather by pleasant advice to win themselves favour then by profitable advertisement to doe the Children good wherefore lying on his death bed at Westminster hee called to him such Lords as then were about him whom hee knew to be at variance especially the Lord Marquesse Dorset son to the Queen and the Lord Hastings against whom the Queene especially grudged for the favour that the King bare him and also she thought him familiar with the King in wanton company her Kin bare him envy aswell for that the King made him Captaine of Calice which office the Lord Rivers Brother to the Queene claimed of the King by his former promise as of divers other gifts which hee received that they looked for And when these Lords with divers other of both parties were come unto the Kings presence he caused himselfe to be raised up with pillowes and as I can guesse said thus or much like in sentence to them My Lords my deare kinsmen and allies in what plight I now lye you see and I perfitly feele by the which I look the lesse while to live with you therefore the more deeply I am moved to care in what case I leave you for such as I leave you such are my children like to finde you which if they should finde at variance as God forbid they themselves might hap to fall at warre ere their discretion would serve to set you at peace You see their youth of which I reckon the onely surety to rest in your concord For it sufficeth not all you to love them if each of you hate other If they were men your faithfulnesse might hap to suffice but childhood must bee maintained by mens authority and slippery youth underpropped with elder counsell which they can never have except you give it nor you give it except you agree for where each laboureth to breake that the other maketh and for hatred each impugneth others counsell there must needes be a long tract ere any good conclusion can issue And further while each partie laboureth to be chiefe flatterer adulation shall then have more place then plaine and faithfull advice of which must needes ensue the evill bringing up of the Prince whose minde in tender youth infected shall readily fall to mischiefe and riot and draw downe this Noble Realme to ruine But if grace turne him to wisedome which God send him then they which by evill meanes pleased him best shall after fall farthest out of favour so that at the length evill drifts drive to naught and good plaine wayes prosper and flourish Great variance hath beene betweene you not alwayes for great causes Sometime a thing right well intended and misconstrued hath beene turned to the worse or a small displeasure done to you either by your owne affection or by instigation of evill tongues hath beene sorely aggravated But this I know wel you had never so great cause of hatred as you have of love because wee be all men and that we be all Christian men This I will leave to Preachers to tell you and yet I know not whether any Preachers words ought more to move you then I that am going by and by to the place that they alpreach of But this shall I desire of you to remember that the one part of you being of my bloud the
other of my allies and each of you with other either of kinred or affinity which is the very spirituall affinity and kinred in Christ as all partakers of the Sacraments of Christs Church The weight of which consanguinity if we did beare as would to God wee did then should wee more be moved to spirituall charity then to fleshly consanguinity Our Lord forbid that you love the worse together for the selfe-same cause that you ought to love the better and yet that hapneth for no where finde wee so deadly debate as amongst them which by nature and law most ought to agree together Such a Serpent is ambition and desire of vaine glory and soveraignty while amongst estates when he is once entred he creepeth forth so farre till with division and variance hee turneth all to mischiefe First longing to be next to the best afterward equall with the best and at the last chiefe and above the best Of which immoderate appetite of worship and the debate and dissention that grew thereby what losse what sorrow what trouble hath within these few yeeres growne within this Realme I pray God as well to forget as wee well remember which thing if I could as well have foreseene as I have with my more paine then pleasure proved by God his blessed Lady that was his common oath I would never have won the courtesies oâ— mens knees with the losse of so many heads But sith things passed cannot be called againe much more ought we to beware by what occasion we have taken so great hurt before that wee presently fall not into that occasion againe Now be these griefs pâ—ssed and all is quiet thanked bee God and likely well to prosper in wealthfull peace under your Cousins my children if God send them life and you love and concord Of which two things the lesse losse were they by whom although God did his pleasure yet should this Realme alwayes finde Kâ—ngs and peradventure as good Kings as they But if you amongst your selves in a childes Raigne fall at debate many a good man shall innocently perish and hee and you also ere this Land finde peace and quiet againe wherefore in these last words that ever I look to speak to you I exhort and require you all for the love that you have borne to mee and for the love that I have borne to you and for the love that our Lord beareth to us all From this time forward all griefes forgotten each of you love other which I verily trust you will if you any thing regard God or your Kings affinity or kindred this Realme your owne Country or your owne safety and wealth And therewithall the King for faintnesse no longer enduring to sit up layed him downe on his right side his face toward them And there was none present that could forbeare weeping but the Lords comforted him with as good words as they could and answered for the time as they thought should stand with his pleasure And there in his presence as by their words appeared each forgave other and joyned their hands together when as it after appeared by their deedes their hearts were farre asunder And so within a few dayes this Noble Prince deceased at Westminster the ninth day of April in the yeere of our Lord 1483. after that he had raigned 22. yeeres one month and eight dayes and was with great Funerall pompe conveiged to Windsore leaving behinde him two sons Edward the Prince of whom this story entreateth a childe of 13. yeeres of age Richard Duke of Yorke two yeeres yonger then the Prince and five daughters Elizabeth which by Gods Grace was married to King Henry the seventh and Mother to King Henry the 8. Cicile not so fortunate as faire first wedded to the Vicount Wâ—llâ—â— after to one Kyne and lived not in great wealth Bridâ—â—â—â—rofessed â—rofessed her selfe a close Nunne at Sâ—on Anne was marrieâ— to Lord Thomas Howard Earle of Surrâ—y and Duke of Norfolk Katherine the youngest daughter was married to Lord William Courtney sonne to the Eâ—rle of Devonshire which long time â—â—ssed in either fortune sometime in wealth after in adversity till the benignity of her Nephew King Henry the eighth brought her into a sure estate according to her degree and Progeny This King Edward was such a Prince of Governance and behaviour in the time of peace for in the time of warre each must bee others enemy that there was never any King in this Realme attaining the Crowne by warre and battaile so heartily beloved with the more substance of his people nor hee himselfe so specially favoured in any part of his life as at the time of his death which favour and affection yet after his death by the cruelty mischiefe and trouble of the tempestuous world that followed highly towards him more encreased At such time as he dyed the displeasure of those that bare him a grudge for King Henry the sixth his sake whom he deposed was well asswaged and in effect quenched within the space of 22. yeeres which is a great part of a mans life and some were reconciled and growne into his favour of the which he was never strange when it was with true heart demanded Hee was goodly of Personage and Princely to behold of heart couragious politicke in counsell and in adversity nothing abashed in prosperity rather joyfull then proud in peace just and mercifull in war sharpe and fierce in the Field bold and hardy and yet neverthelesse no farther then reason and policie would adventure whose warres whosoever circumspectly and advisedly considereth hee shall no lesse commend his wisedome and policie where he avoided them then his manhood where hee vanquished them Hee was of visage full-faced and lovely of body mighty strong and clean made with over-liberall and wanton dyet he waxed something corpulent and burly but neverthelesse not uncomely Hee was in youth greatly given to fleshly wantonnesse from the which health of body in great prosperity and fortune without an especiall grace hardly refraineth This fault little grieved his people for neither could any one mans pleasure stretch or extend to the displeasure of very many nor a multitude bee grieved by a private mans fantasie or voluptuousnesse when it was done without violence And in his latter dayes he left all wild dalliance and fell to gravity so that hee brought his Realme into a wealthy and prosperous estate all feare of outward enemies were cleerely extinguisheâ— and no warre was in hand nor none toward but such as no man looked for The people were toward their Prince not in a constrained feare but in a true loving and wilfull obedience among themselves and the Commons were in good peace The Lords whom hee knew at variance hee on his death bed as hee thought brought to good concord love and amity And a little before his death he had left gathering of money of his subjects which is the onely thing that draweth the hearts of English men from their Kings and Princes
Gloucester turned all this to their destruction and upon that ground set the foundation of his unhappy building For whom soever he perceived to be at variance with them or to beare toward himselfe any favour hee brake unto them some by mouth some by writing and secret messengers that it was neither reason nor yet to bee suffered that the young King their Master and kinsman should be in the hands and custody of his Mothers kindred sequestred in manner from their company and attendance of which every one ought him as faithfull service as they and many of them of farâ— more honourable part of kin then his Mothers side whose bloud quoth the Duke of Gloucester saving the Kings pleasure was farre unmeet to be matched with his which now to be removed from the King and the least Noble to bee left about him is quoth he neither honourable to his Majesty nor to us and also to him lesse surety to have his Nobles and mightiest of his friends from him and to us all no little danger to suffer and especially our ill willers to grow into great authority with the King in youth namely which is light of beliefe and soone perswaded Yee remember that King Edward himselfe albeit he was both of age and discretion yet was he ruled in many things by that faction more then stood ther with his honour or our profit or with the commodity of any man else except onely the immoderate advancement of themselves which whether they thirsted sore after their owne weale or no it were hard I thinke to guesse And if some folkes friendship had not holden better place with the King then any respect of kindred they might peradventure easely have trapped and brought to confusion some of us ere this and why not as easely as they have done others or this as neere of the Bloud Royall but our Lord hath wrought his will and thanked be his grace that perill is past howbeit as great is growing if wee suffer this young King in his enemies hands which without his witting might abuse the name of his commandement to any of our undoing which things God and our good provision forbid of which good provision none of us have any thing the lesse need for the late attonement made in which the Kings pleasure had more place then the parties hearts or wills nor none of us is so unwise or so much overseene as to trust a new friend made of an old foe or to thinke that any onely kindenesse so sodainly contracted in an houre continued scantly yet a fortnight should be deeper set in our stomackes then a long accustomed malice many yeeres rooted With these perswasions and writings the Duke of Gloucester set on fire them which were easie to kindle and especially two Henry Duke of Buckingham and William Lord Hastings and Lord Chamberlaine both men of honour and of great power the one by long succession from his Ancestors the other by his Offices and the Kings favour These two not bearing each to other so much love as hatred both to the Queenes bloud accorded together with the Duke of Gloucester that they would remove from the King all his Mothers friends under the name of their enemies Whereupon the Duke of Gloucester being advertised that the Lords about the King intended to bring him to London to his Coronation accompanied with such a number of their friends that it should be hard for him to bring his purpose to passe without the assembling and gathering of people and in manner of open warre wherof the end he knew was doubtfull and in the which the King being on the other side his part should have the name and face of Rebellion He secretly therefore by divers meanes caused the Queene to be peâ—swaded that it was neither need and should also be dangerous for the King to come up so strong for as now every Lord loved other and no other thing studied for but the triumph of his Coronation and honour of the King And if the Lords about the King should assemble in the Kings name much people they should give the Lords betwixt whom and them there had beene some time debate an occasion to feare and suspect lest they should gather this people not for the Kings safe-guard whom no man impugned but for their destruction having more regard to their old variance then to their new atonement for the which cause they on the other part might assemble men also for their defence whose powers shee knew well stretched farre and thus should all the Realme fall in an uproare and of the mischief that thereof should ensue which was likely to be not a little the most harme was like to fall where she least would and then all the World would put her and her kindred in the blame saying That they had unwisely and untruly broken the amity and peace which the King her Husband had so prudently made between her kindred and his which amity his Kinne had alwayes observed The Queene being thus perswaded sent word to the King and to her Brother that there was no cause nor need to assemble any peope and also the Duke of Gloucester and other Lords of his side wrote unto the King so reverently and to the Queenes friends there so lovingly that they nothing earthly mistrusting brought the King toward London with a sober company in great haste but not in good speed till hee came to Northampton and from thence hee removed to Stony Stratford On which day the two Dukes and their traine came to Northampton faigning that Stony Stratford could not lodge them all where they found the Earle Rivers intending the next morning to have followed the King and to bee with him early in the morning So that night the Dukes made to the Earl Rivers friendly cheere but as soone as they were departed very familiar with great courtesie in open sight and the Earle Rivers lodged the two Dukes with a few of their privie friends fell to Councell wherein they spent a great part of the night and in the dawning of the day they sent about privily to their servants in their lodgings to haste to horsebacke for their Lords were in manner ready to ride whereupon all their servants were ready ere the Lord Rivers servants were awake Now had the Dukes taken the keyes of the Inne into their possession so that none should issue out without their consent And over this in the high way toward Stony Stratford they set certaine of their folkes that should cause and compell to returne againe all persons that were passing from Northampton to Stony Stratford saying that the Dukes themselves would be the first that should come to the King from Northampton thus they bare folks in hand But when the Earle Rivers understood the Gates closed and the wayes on every side beset neither his servants neither himselfe suffered to goe out perceiving so great a thing without his knowledge not begun for nought comparing this present doing
with the last nights cheere in so few houres so great a change marvellously misliked it Howbeit sith hee could not get away hee determined not to keepe himselfe close lest hee should seeme to hide himselfe for some secret feare of his owne fault whereof he saw no such cause in himselfe wherefore on the surety of his owne conscience hee determined to goe to them and to inquire what this matter might meane Whom as soone as they saw they began to quarrell with him affirming that he pretended to set distance betweene the King and them to bring them to confusion which should not lye in his power and when he began as he was an eloquent and well-spoken man in goodly wise to excuse himselfe they would not heare his answer but tooke him by force and put him in ward And then they mounted on horsebacke and came in haste to Stony Stratford where the King was going to horsebacke because hee would leave the lodging for them for it was too straight for both the companies And when they came to his presence they alighted and their company about them and on their knees saluted him and hee them gently received nothing earthly knowing nor mistrusting as yet The Duke of Buckingham said aloud On afore Gentlemen and Yeomen keepe your roomes and therewith in the Kings presence they picked a quarrell to the Lord Richard Grey the Queenes sonne and Brother to the Lord Marquesse and halfe Brother to the King saying that hee and the Marquesse his Brother and the Lord Rivers his Uncle had compassed to rule the King and the Realme and set variance betweene the estates and to subdue and destroy the Noble Bloud of the Realme And toward the accomplishment of the same they said the Lord Marquesse had entred into the Tower of London and thence had taken out treasure and sent men to the Sea which things these Dukes knew well were done for a good purpose and as very necessary appointed by the whole Counsell at London but somewhat they must say Unto the which words the king answered what my Brother Marquesse hath done I cannot say but in good faith I dare well answer for my Uncle Rivers and my Brother here that they bee innocent of such matters Yea my Liege quoth the Duke of Buckingham they have kept the dealing of these matters farre from the knowledge of your good Grace And forth-with they arrested the Lord Richard and Sir Thomas Vaughan and Sir Richard Hawte knights in the Kings presence and brought the King and all backe to Northampton where they tooke farther counsell in their affaires And there they sent from the King whom it pleased them and set about him such servants as better pleased them then him At which dealing he wept and was not content but it booted not And at dinner the Duke of Gloucester sent a dish from his owne Table to the Lord Rivers praying him to be of good cheere and all should be well hee thanked him and prayed the Messenger to beare it to his Nephew the Lord Richard with like words whom he knew to have need of comfort as one to whom such adversity was strange but hee himselfe had beene alwayes enured therewith and therefore could beare it the better But for all this message the Duke of Gloucester sent the Lord Rivers the Lord Richard and Sir Thomas Vaughan and Sir Richard Hawte into the North parts into divers prisons but at last all came to Pomfret where they all foure were beheaded without judgement In this manner as you have heard the Duke of Gloucester tooke on him the Governance of the young King whom with much reverence hee conveighed towards London These tydings came hastily to the Queene before midnight by a very sore report that the King her sonne was taken and that her Brother and her other son and other her friends were arrested and sent no man knew whither With this heavie tidings the Queene bewailed her childs ruine her friends mischance and her owne misfortune cursing the time that ever she was perswaded to leave the gathering of people to bring up the King with a great power but that was passed and therefore now she tooke her younger sonne the Duke of Yorke and her daughter and went out of the Palace of Westminster into the Sanctuary and there lodged in the Abbots place and shee and all her children and company were registred for Sanctuary persons The same night there came to Doctor Rotheram Archbishop of Yorke and Lord Chancelour a messenger from the Lord Chamberlaine to Yorke place beside Westminster the Messenger was brought to the Bishops Bed side and declared to him that the Dukes were gone back with the young King to Northampton and declared further that the Lord Hastings his master sent him word that hee should feare nothing for all should be well Well quoth the Archbishop be it as well as it will it will never be so well as wee have seene it and then the messenger departed Whereupon the Bishop called up all his servants and tooke with him the great Seale and came before day to the Queen about whom hee found much heavinesse rumble haste businesse conveyance and carriage of her stuffe into Sanctuary every man was busie to carry beare and convey stuffe chests and fardels no man was unoccupied and some carried more then they were commanded to another place The Queene sat alone below on the Rushes all desolate and dismaid whom the Archbishop comforted in the best manner that he could shewing her that the matter was nothing so sore as she took it for and that hee was put in good hope and out feare by the message sent to him from the Lord Hastings A woe worth him quoth the Queene for it is hee that goeth about to destroy me and my bloud Madame quoth he be of good comfort and I assure you if they crowne any other King then your sonne whom they now have we shall on the morrow crowne his Brother whom you have here with you And here is the Great Seale which in likewise as your Noble Husband delivered it to mee so I deliver it to you to the use of your Son therewith delivered her the Great Seale and departed home in the dawning of the day And when hee opened his windowes and looked on the Thames hee might see the River full of Boats of the Duke of Gloucester his servants watching that no person should goe to Sanctuary nor none should passe unsearched Then was there great rumour and commotion in the Citie and in other places the people diversly divined upon this dealing And divers Lords Knights and Gentlemen either for favour of the Queene or for feare of themselves assembled companies and went stocking together in harnesse And many also for that they recounted this demanour attempted not so specially against other Lords as against the King himselfe in disturbance of his Coronation therefore they assembled by and by together to commune of this matter
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
if it please him to take the paine which I doubt not of his goodnesse hee will not refuse for the Kings sake ours and wealth of the young Duke himselfe the Kings most honourable Brother and for the comfort of my Soveraigne Lord himselfe my most dearest Nephew considering that thereby shall be ceased the slanderous rumor and obloquy now going abroad and the hurts avoided that thereof might ensue and then must rest and quietnesse grow to all the Realme And if shee perhaps be so obstinate and so precisely set in her own will and opinion that neither his wise and faithfull advertisement can move her nor any mans reason satisfie her then shall wee by my advice by the Kings authority fetch him out of that prison and bring him to his Noble presence in whose continuall company hee shall be so well cherished and so honourably intreated that all the world shall to our honour and her reproach perceive that it was onely malice frowardnesse and folly that caused her to keepe him there This is my minde for this time except that any of you my Lords perceive to the contrary for never shall I by Gods Grace sowed my selfe unto mine owne will but I shall bee ready to change it upon your better advices When the Protectour had said all the Councell affirmed that the motion was good and reasonable and to the King and the Duke honourable and a thing that should cease great murmure in the Realme if the Mother might by good meanes be induced to deliver him which thing the Archbishop of Canterbury whom they all agreed also to be most convenient thereunto tooke upon him to move her and thereto to doe his uttermost endeavor Howbeit if shee could in no wise be intreated with her good will to deliver him then thought he and such of the spirituality as were present that it were not in any wise to bee attempted to take him out against her will for it would be a thing that should turne to the grudge of all men and high displeasure of God if the priviledge of that place should bee broken which had so many yeeres been kept which both Kings and Popes had granted and confirmed which ground was sanctified by Saint Peter himselfe more then five hundred yeeres agoe And sith that time was never so undevout a King that ever enterprised that sacred priviledge to violate nor so holy a Bishop that durst presume the Church of the same to consecrate and therefore quoth the Archbishop God forbid that any man should for any earthly enterprise breake the immunity and liberty of that sacred Sanctuary that hath beene the safeguard of so many a good mans life but I trust quoth he wee shall not need it but for any manner of need I would we should not doe it I trust that â—hee with reason shall bee contented and all things in good manner obtained And if it hap that I bring it not to passe yet shall I further it to my best power so that you all shall perceive my good will diligence and endeavour But the Mothers dread and womanish feare shall bee the let if any be Nay womanish frowardnesse quoth the Duke of Buckingham for I dare take it on my soule that she well knoweth that shee needeth no such thing to feare either for her sonne or for her selfe For as for her here is no man that will be at warre with women would God some men of her kin were women too and then should all be soon at rest Howbeit there is none of her kinne the lesse loved for that they be of her kin but for their owne evill deserving And put the case that wee neither loved her nor her kin yet there were no cause why wee should hate the Kings Noble Brother to whose Grace wee our selves bee kin whose Honour if shee desired as our dishonour and as much regard tooke to his wealth as to her owne will she could be as loth to suffer him to be absent from the King as any of us if she had any wit as would God she had as good will as shee hath froward wit For shee thinketh her selfe no wiser then some that are here of whose faithfull mindes she nothing doubteth but verily beleeveth and acknowledgeth that they would be as sory of his harme as her owne selfe and yet they would have him from her if shee abide there And we all I thinke be content that both her children bee with her if shee came from thence and abide in such a place where they may be with their honour Now if shee refuse in the deliverance of him to follow the wisedome of them whose wisdome shee knoweth whose approbate fidelity shee well trusteth it is easie to perceive frowardnesse letteth her and not feare But goe to suppose that she feareth as who may let her to feare her owne shadow the more we ought to feare to leave him in her hands for if shee cast such fond doubts that shee feare his hurt then will she feare that he shall be fetcht thence for shee will soone thinke that if men were set which God forbid on so great a mischiefe the Sanctuary wil little let them which Sanctuary good men as mee thinketh might without sinne somewhat lesse regard then they doe Now then if she doubt lest he might bee fetched from her is it not likely that she will send him somewhere out of the Realme Verily I looke for none other And I doubt not but she now as sore mindeth it as wee minde the let thereof And if shee might hap to bring that purpose to passe as it were no great mastery to doe we letting her alone all the world would say that wee were a sort of wise Counsellors about a King to let his Brother be cast away under our noses And therefore I ensure you faithfully for my minde I will rather maâ—ger her stomack fetch him away then leave him there till her feare or fond frowardnesse convey him away and yet will I breake no Sanctuary for verily sith the priviledge of that place and other of that sort have so long continued I would not goe about to breake it but if they were now to begin I would not be hee should make them yet will not I say nay but it is a deed of pittie that such men as the chance of the Sea or their evill debtors have brought into povertie should have some place of refuge to keepe in their bodies out of the danger of their cruell creditors And if it fortune the Crowne to come in question as it hath done before this time while each part taketh other for Traytors I thinke it necessary to have a place of refuge for both But as for theeves and murderers whereof these places be full and which never fall from their craft after they once fall thereunto it is pittie that every Sanctuary should serve them and especially wilfull murtherers whom God commandeth to bee taken from the Altar and to
were come together in presence the Cardinall shewed unto her that it was thought to the Lord Protectour and the whole Councell that her keeping of the Kings Brother in that place highly sounded not onely to the grudge of the people and their obloquy but also to the importable griefe and displeasure of the Kings Royall Majesty to whose Grace it were a singular comfort to have his naturall Brother in company and it was to both their dishonours and hers also to suffer him in Sanctuary as though the one Brother stood in danger and perill of the other And hee shewed her farther that the whole Councell had sent him to require of her the delivery of him that hee might bee brought to the Kings presence at his liberty out of that place which men reckoned as a prison and there should he be demeaned according to his estate and degree and she in this doing should both do great good to the Realme pleasure to the Councell profit to her selfe succour to her friends that were in distresse and over that which he knew well shee specially tendred not onely great comfort and honour to the King but also to the young Duke himselfe both whose great weale it were to be together aswel for many greater causes as also for both their disport and recreation which things the Lords esteemed not light though it seemed light well pondering that their youth without recreation and play cannot endure nor any stranger for the convenience of both their ages and estates so meet in that point for any of them as the either of them for the other My Lord quoth the Queen I say not nay but that it were very convenient that this Gentleman whom you require were in the company of the King his Brother and in good faith me thinketh it were as great commodity to them both as for yet a while to be in the custody of their Mother the tender age considered of the elder of them both but especially the younger which besides his infancie that also needeth good looking to hath a while beene so sore diseased with sicknesse and is so newly rather little amended then well recovered that I dare put no person earthly in trust with his keeping but my selfe onely considering there is as Physicians say and as wee also finde double the perill in the resiluation that was in the first sicknesse with which disease Nature being sore laboured forewearied and weakned waxeth the lesse able to beare out a new surfeit And albeit there might bee found other that would haply doe their best unto him yet is there none that either knoweth better how to order him then I that so long have kept him or is more tenderly like to cherish him then his owne Mother that bare him No man denyeth good Madame quoth the Cardinall that your Grace of all folke were most necessary about your children and so would all the Councell not onely be content but also glad that it were if it might stand with your pleasure to be in such place as might stand with their honour But if you appoint your selfe to tarry here then thinke they it more convenient the Duke of Yorke were with the King honourably at his liberty to the comfort of them both then here as a Sanctuary man to both their dishonors and obloquy sith there is not alway so great necessity to have the child with the Mother but that occasion sometime may be such that it should be more expedient to keep him elsewhere which in this well appeareth that at such time that your most dearest sonne then Prince and now King should for his honour and good order of the Country keepe houshold in Wales farre out of your keeping your Grace was well content therewith your selfe Not very well content quoth the Queene and yet the case is not like for the one was then in health the other is now sicke in which case I marvell greatly why my Lord Protector is so desirous to have him in keeping where if the childe in his sicknesse miscarried by nature yet might hee run into slander and suspition of fraud And they call it a thing so sore against my childes honour and theirs also that hee abideth in this place it is all their honours there to suffer his abode where no man doubteth hâ— shaâ—l be best kept and that is heere while I am here which as yet intend not to come forth and danger my selfe after other my friends which would God were rather here in surety with me then I were there in danger with them Why Madame quoth the Lord Howard know you any thing why they should bee in danger Nay verily quoth she nor why they should be in prison neither as they now be but I trow it is no great marvell though I feare lest those that have not letted to put them in durance without colour will let as little to procure their destruction without cause The Cardinall made a countenance to the Lord Howard that he should harpe no more upon that string and then said hee to the Queene that he nothing doubted but those Lords of her kinne the which remained under arrest should upon the matter examined doe well enough and as toward her Noble person neither was nor could be any manner of danger Whereby should I trust that quoth the Queene in that I am guiltlesse as though they were guilty in that I am with their enemies better beloved then they when they hate them for my sake in that I am so neere to the King and how farre be they off that would helpe as God send Grace they hurt not And therefore as yet I purpose not to depart hence As for this Gentleman my son I minde he shall bee where I am till I see further for I see some men so greedy without any substantiall cause to have him which maketh mee much more warie and scrupulous to deliver him Truly Madame quoth the Cardinall the further that yee bee to deliver him the further be other men to suffer you to keepe him lest your causelesse feare might cause you farther to conveigh him and many thinke he can here have no priviledge which can have neither will to aske it nor yet malice or offence to need it And therefore they reckon no priviledge broken although they fetch him out of Sanctuary which if you finally refuse to deliver him I thinke verily the Councell will enfranchise him so much dread hath my Lord his Uncle for the tender love he beareth him lest your Grace should send him away Ah quoth the Queene hath hee so tender a zeale to him that hee feareth nothing but lest hee should escape him Thinketh hee that I would send him hence which is neither in the plight to send out and in what place could I reckon him sure if he be not sure in this Sanctuary whereof was there never Tyrant yet so devillish that durst attempt to breake the priviledge and I trust God is now as strong
one safe and both be sure and nothing to both more perilous then both to be in one place for a wise Merchant never adventureth all his goods in one Ship All this notwithstanding here I deliver him and his Brother in him to keepe to your hands of whom I shall aske them both before God and the world Faithfull you be and that I know well and I know you be wise and of power and strength if you list to keep him for you lacke no helpe of your selves nor need to lacke no helpe in this case and if you cannot else-where then may you leave him here But onely one thing I beseech you for the trust that his Father put you in ever and for the trust I put you in now that as far as you thinke that I feare too much yee bee well ware that you feare not too little And therewithall she said to the Childe Farewell mine owne sweet Sonne God send you good keeping let me once kisse you ere you goe for God knoweth when we shall kisse together againe and therewith she kissed him and blessed him and turned her backe and wept going her way leaving the poore innocent childe weeping as fast as the Mother When the Cardinall and the other Lords had received the young Duke they brought him into the Star-Chamber where the Protector tooke him into his armes and kissed him with these words now welcome my Lord with all my very heart and hee said in that of likelihood even as hee inwardly thought and thereupon forthwith brought him to the King his Brother into the Bishops Palace at Pauls and from thence through the Citie honorably into the Tower out of which after that day they never came abroad When the Protector had both the children in his possession yea and that they were in a sure place he then began to thirst to see the end of his enterprise And to avoid all suspition hee caused all the Lords which hee knew to be faithfull to the King to assemble at Baynards Castle to commune of the order of the Coronation while he and other of his complices and of his affinity at Crosbies Place contrived the contrary and to make the Protectour King to which Councell there were adhibited very few and they very secret Then began here and there some muttering amongst the people as though all things should not long be well though they knew not what they feared nor wherefore were it that before such great things mens hearts of a secret instinct of Nature misgive them as the South wind sometime swelleth of it selfe before a Tempest or were it that some one man haply somewhat perceiving filled many men with suspition though hee shewed few men what he knew howbeit the dealing it selfe made men to muse on the matter though the Councel were close for by little and littâ—e all folke drew from the Tower where the King was and drew to Crosbies Place so that the Protector had all the resort the King was in manner desolate While some made suit unto them that had the doing some of them were by their friends secretly warned that it might haply turn to no good to them to be too much attendant on the King without the Protectors appointment which removed diverse of the kings old servants from him and set new in their places about him Thus many thinges comming together partly by chance and partly by purpose caused at length not common people onely which waver with the wind but wise men also and some Lords to marke the matter and muse therupon insomuch that the Lord Stanley which afterward was Earle of Derby wisely mistrusted it and said to the Lord Hastings that he much misliked these two severall Councels for while we quoth he talke of one matter at the one place little know we whereof they talke in the other peace my Lord quoth the Lord Hastings on my life never doubt you for while one man is there which is never thence neither can there bee any thing once minded that should sound amisse towards me but it should be in my eares as soone as out of their mouths This hee meant by Catesby which was neere of his seeret counsell and whom hee most familiarly used in his weighty matters putting no man in so speciall trust as hee reckoning himselfe to bee beloved of no man more then he knowing well that there was no man so much beholding to him as was this Catesby which was a man well learned in the lawes of this Realme and by the speciall favour of the Lord Hastings in good authority and bore much rule in the countries of Leicester Northampton where the Lord Hastings power lay But surely great pittie was it that he had not more thruth or lesse wit for his dissimulation onely kept all that mischiefe up in whom if the Lord Hastings had not put so speciall trust the L. Stanley and he with divers other Lords had departed into their countries and broken all the dance for many evill signes that hee saw which hee now constructed all for the best so â—urely thought he that there couâ—d be no harme intended towaâ—ds him in that councill where Catesby was And of tâ—uth the Protector and the Duke of Buckingham did seeme to shew very much countenance unto the Lord Hastings and kept him often in their company And undoubtedly the Protector loved him well and loth he was to have lost him saving for feare lest his life should have quailed their purpose for the which cause hee moved Catesby to prove with some words cast out afarre off whether hee could thinke it possible to winne the Lord Hastings to their part But Catesby whether hee assayed him or assayed him not reported unto him that hee found him so fast and heard him speake so terrible words that he durst no further breake unto him and of a truth the Lord Hastings of very trust shewed unto Catesby the mistrust that others began to have in the matter And therefore he fearing least their motions might with the Lord Hastings diminish his credit whereunto onely all the matter leaned procured the Protectour hastily to rid him and much the rather for he trusted by his death to obtaine much of the rule which the Lord Hastings bare in his countrey the onely desire whereof was the the thing that induced him to bee procurer and one of the specialest contrivers of all this horrible treason Whereupon the Lord Protector caused a Councell to bee set at the Tower on the friday the thirteenth day Iune where was much communing for the honorable solemnitie of the Coronation of the which the time appointed approached so neare that the Pageants were a making day and night at Westminster and vitailes killed which afterwards was cast away These Lords thus sitting communing of this matter the Protector came in among them about nine of the clocke saluting them curteously excusing himselfe that hee had beene from them so long saying merrily that he
had beene a sleepe that day And after a little talking with them he said to the Bishop of Ely my Lord you have very good strawberies in your garden at Holbourne I require you let us have a messe of them Gladly my Lord quoth he I would I had some better thing as ready at your pleasure as that and with that in all hast he sent his servant for a dish of Strawberies The Protectour set the Lords fast on communing and thereupon prayed them to spare him a little and so he departed and came againe betweene ten and eleven of the clocke into the chamber all changed with a sowre angry countenance knitting the browes frowning and fretting gnawing of his lips and so set him downe in his place All the Lords were dismayed and sore marvelled at this manner and suddaine change what hee should ayle When he had sitten a while thus hee began What were they worthy to have that compasse and imagine the destruction of mee being so neare of blood to the King and Protector of this his Royall Realme At which question all the Lords sate sore astonied musing much by whom the question should bee meant of which every man knew himself cleere Then the Lord Hastings who for the familiarity that was betweene them thought he might be boldest with him answered and said that they were worthâ—e to be punished as haynous traytors whatsoever they were and all the other affirmed the same that is quoth he yonder Sorceresse my brothers wife others with her meaning the Queene at these words many of the Lords were sore abashed which favored her but the Lord Hastings was better content in his minde that it was moved by her then by any other that hee loved better albeit his heart grudged that hee was not afore made of the counsell of this matter as well as hee was of the taking of her kindred and of their putting to death which were by his assent before devised to be beheaded at Pomfrete this self same day in the which he was not aware that it was by others devised that he himselfe should the same day be beheaded at London then said the Protectour See in what wise that Sorceresse and others of her councell as Shores wife with her affinitie have by their sorcery and witchcraft thus wasted my body and therewith plucked up his doublet sleeve to his elbow on his left arme where hee shewed a werish withered arme and small as it was never other And therefor every mans minde misgave them well perceiving that this matter was but a quarrell for they knew that the Queene was both too wise to goe about any such folly also if she would yet she would not make Shores wife of her counsell whom of al women she most hated as that concubine whom the King her husband most loved Also there was no man there but knew that his arme was ever such since the day of his birth Neverthelesse the Lord Hastings which from the death of King Edward kept Shores wife on whom he somwhat doted in the Kings life saving it is said that he forbare her for reverence towards his King or else of a certaine kind of fidelity towards his friend Yet now his heart somewhat grudged to have her whom hee loved so highly accused and as he knew well untruly therefore he answered and said certainely my Lord if they have so done they bee worthy of haynous punishment What quoth the Protectour thou servest mee I thinke with if and with and I tell thee they have done it and that I will make it good on thy body traytor And therewith as in a great anger he strooke his fist on the boord a great rappe at which token given one cryed treason without the chamber and therwith a doore clapped and men in armes came rushing in as many as the chamber could hold And anone the Protector said to the Lord Hastings I arest thee Traytour what me my Lord quoth he yes thou Traytour quoth the Protector And one let fly at the Lord Stanley who shrunke at the stroke and fell under the Table or else his head had been cleft to the teeth for as suddenly as he shrunk yet the blood ran about his eares Then was the Archbishop of Yorke and Doctour Morton Bishop of Ely and the Lord Stanley and divers others taken and bestowed in severall chambers save the Lord Hastings whom the Protectour commanded to speede and shrive him apace for by Saint Paul quoth he I will not dine till I see thy head off It booted him not to aske why but heavily hee tooke a Priest at aventure and made a short shrift for a longer would not be suffered the Protectour made so much hast to his dinner who might not goe to it till this murther were done for saving of his ungratious oath So was hee brought forth into the greene besides the Chappell within the Tower and his head layed downe on a logge of timber that lay there for building of the Chappell and there tyrannously stricken off and after his body and head were enterred at Windsor by his Master King Edward the fourth Late deceased A miraculous case it is to heare either the warnings that he should have avoyded or the tokens of that hee could not avoid For the next night before his death the Lord Stanley sent to him a trusty messenger at midnight in all the haste requiring him to rise and ride away with him for hee was disposed utterly no longer for to abide for he had a fearefull dreame in the which hee thought that a Bore with his tuskes so rased them both by the heads that the blood ran about both their shoulders and for asmuch as the Protectour gave the Bore for his cognisance hee imagined that it should be he This dreame made such a fearefull impression in his heart that he was throughly determined no longer to tarry but had his horse ready if the Lord Hastings would goe with him So that they would ride so farre that night that they should bee out of danger by the next day A good Lord quoth the Lord Hastings to the messenger leaneth my Lord thy Master so much to such trifles and hath hee such faith in dreames which either his owne feare fantasieth or doe rise in the nights rest by reason of the daies thought Tell him it is plaine witchcraft to beleeve in such dreames which if they were tokens of things to come why thinketh hee not that wee might as likely make them true by our going if we were caught and brought backe as friends flyers for then had the bore a cause likely to rase us with his tuskes as folkes that fled for some falshood wherfore either there is perill but indeed there is none or if any be it is rather in going then abiding And if wee must needes fall into perill one way or other yet had I rather that men should see it were by other mens falshood then thinke it were
either our owne fault or faint feeble heart and therefore goe to thy Maister and commend me to him and tell him I pray him to bee merry and have no feare for I assure him I am assured of the man he wotteth of as I am sure of mine owne hand God send grace quoth the messenger and so departed Certaine it is also that in riding towards the Tower the same morning in which he was beheaded his horse that hee accustomed to ride on stumbled twice or thrice almost to the falling which thing although it happeneth to them daily to whom no mischance is towards yet hath it beene as an old evill token observed as a going toward mischiefe Now this that followeth was no warning but an envious scorne the same morning before he was up from his bed where Shores wife lay with him all night there came to him sir Thomas Haward son to the Lord Haward which Lord was once of the priviest of the Lord Protectours counsell and doing as it were of curtesie to accompany him to the councell but of truth sent by the Lord Protectour to hast him thitherward This sir Thomas while the Lord Hastings stayed a while commoning with a Priest whoÌ„ he met in Towerstreete brake the Lords tale saying to him merrily what my Lord I pray you come on wherefore talke you so long with that Priest you have no neede of a Priest yet and laughed upon him as though he would say you shall have neede of one soone But little thought the other what hee meant but before night these words were well remembred by them that heard them so the true Lord Hastings little mistrusted and was never merier nor thought his life in more suretie in all his dayes which thing is often a signe of change but I shall rather let any thing passe mee then the vaine surety of mans minde so neere his death for upon the very Towerwharfe so neere the place where his head was off so soone after as a man might cast a ball a Pursievant of his owne called Hastings met with him and of their meeting in that place hee was put in remembrance another time in which it happened them to meete before together in the place at which time the Lord Hastings had been accused to King Edward by the Lord Rivers the Queenes brother insomuch that he was for a while which lasted not long highly in the Kings indignation as hee now met the same Pursevant in the same place the jeoperdie so well passed it gave him great pleasure to talke with him thereof with whom he had talked in the same place of that matter and therefore he said Ah Hastings art thou remembred when I met thee here once with a heavie heart Yea my Lord quoth he that I remember well and thankes bee to God they got no good nor you harme thereby thou wouldest say so quoth hee if thou knewest so much as I do which few know yet and more shall shortly that meant he that the Earle Rivers and the Lord Richard and Sir Thomas Vaughan should that day be beheaded at Pomfret as they were indeed which act he knew well should be done but thought not that the Axe hung so neere his owne head In faith man quoth hee I was never so sory nor never stood in so great danger of my life as I did when thou and I met here and loe the world is turned now now stand mine enemies in the danger as thou maist hap to heare more hereafter and I never in my life merrier nor never in so great surety I pray God it prove so quoth Hastings prove quoth he doubtest thou that nay nay I warrant thee and so in manner displeased hee entred into the Tower where he was not long alive as you have heard O Lord God the blindnesse of our mortall nature when he most feared he was in most surety and when he reckoned himselfe most sure hee lost his life and that within two houres after Thus ended this honourable man a good Knight and gentle of great authority with his Prince of living somewhat dissolute plaine and open to his enemy and sure and secret to his friend easie to beguile as hee that of good heart and courage foâ—â—saw no perils a loving man and passing well beloved very faithfull and trusty enough buâ— trusting too much was his destruction as you may perceive Now flew the fame of thiâ— Lords death through the City and farther about like a winâ— in every mans eare but thâ— Protector immediately afteâ— dinner intending to set some colour upon the matter sent in all the haste for many substantiall men out of the City into the Tower and at their comming himselfe with the Duke of Buckingham stood harnessed in old ill-favoured Briganders such as no man would thinke that they would have vouchsafed to have put on their backes except some sodaine necessity had constrained them Then the Lord Protector shewed them that the Lord Hastings and other of his conspiracie had contrived to have suddenly destroyed him and the Duke of Buckingham there the same day in Councel and what they intended farther was yet not well known of which their treason hee had never knowledge before ten of the clock the same forenoone which sodaine feare drave them to put on such harnesse as came next to their hands for their defence and so God holpe them that the mischiefe turned upon them that would have done it and thus he required them to report Every man answered faire as though no man mistrusted the matter which of truth no man beleeved Yet for the further appeasing of the peoples mindes hee sent immediately after dinner an Herald of Armes with a Proclamation through the Cirie of London which was proclaimed in the Kings Name that the Lord Hastings with divers other of his trayterous purpose had before conspired the same day to have slaine the Protector and the Duke of Buckingham fitting in Councell and after to have taken upon them the rule of the King and the Realme at their pleasure and thereby to pill and spoile whom they list uncontrouled and much matter was devised in the same Proclamation to the slander of the Lord Hastings as that he was an evill Councellor to the Kings Father entising him to many things highly redounding to the diminishing of his honour and to the universall hurt of his Realme by his evill company and sinister procuring and ungracious example aswell in many other things as in vitious living and inordinate abusing of his body both with many other and especially with Shores wife which was one of his secret Councell in this heinous treason with whom hee lay nightly and namely the night passed next before his death so that it was the lesse marvell if ungracious living brought him to an unhappy end which he was now put to by the command of the Kings Highnesse and of his honorable and faithfull Councell both for his demerits being so openly taken in
his false contrived treason and also lest the delaying of his execution might have encouraged other mischievous persons partners of his conspiracie to gather and assemble themselves together in making so great commotion for his deliverance whose hope now being by his well deserved death politickly repressed all the Realme shall by Gods grace rest in good quiet and peace Now was this proclamation made within two houres after hee was beheaded and it was so curiously indited and so faire written in Parchment in a faire set hand and therwith so large a processe that every child might perceive that it was prepared and studied before and as some men thought by Catesby for all the time betweene his death and the publishing of the Proclamation could scarce have sufficed to the bare writing of it alone albeit that it had beene in paper and scribled forth in hast at adventure So that upon the proclaiming thereof one that was schoolemaster at Pauls standing by and comparing the shortenesse of the time with the length of the matter said to them that stood about him here is a gay goodly cast fouly cast away for haste And a Merchant that stood by him said that it was written by inspiration and prophesie Now then by and by as it were for anger and not for covetousnesse the Protector sent Sir Thomas Howard to the house of Shores wife for her Husband dwelt not with her which spoyled her of all that ever she had above the value of two or three thousand Markes and sent her body to prison And the Protector had laid to her for the manner sake that shee was of Councell with the Lord Hastings to destroy him In conclusion when no colour could fasten upon these matters then he layed heinously to her charge that thing that shee could not deny for all the world knew that it was true and that notwithstanding every man laughed to heare it then so suddenly so highly taken that she was naught of her body And for this cause as a godly continent Prince cleane and fauâ—tlesse of himselfe sent out of Heaven into this vicious world for the amendment of mens manners hee caused the Bishop of London to put her to open penance going before a crosse one Sunday at procession with a taper in her hand In the which she went in countenance and pace so womanly and albeit she was out of all array saving her kirtle onely yet went shee so faire and lovely and namely when the wondering of the people cast a comly red in her cheekes of the which before she had most misse that her great shame woon her much praise amongst them that were more amorous of her body theÌ„ curious of her soule and many good folk that hated her living and were glad to see sinne corrected yet pittied they more her penance then rejoyced at it wheÌ„ they considered that the Protectour did it more of a corrupt minde then any vertuous affection This woman was borne in London well friended honestly brought up and very well married saving somewhat too soon her husband an honest and a young Citizen godly and of good substance but forasmuch as they were coupled before she was well ripe shee not very fervently loved for whom shee never longed which was the thing by chance that the more easily made her to incline to the Kings appetite when hee required her Howbeit the respect of his royaltie the hope of gaine apparrell ease pleasure and other wanton wealth was able soone to pierce a soft tender heart but when the King had abused her anon her husband being an honest man would not presume to touch a Kings concubine but left her up to him altogether When the King died the Lord Hastings tooke her which in the Kings dayes albeit that he was sore enamored with her yet hee forbare either for a princely reâ—erence or for a certaine friendly faithfulnesse Proper shee was and faire nothing in her body that you could have changed but if you would have wished her somewhat higher This say they that knew her in her youth some said and judged that she had beene well favored and some judged the contrary whose judgement seemeth like as men gesse the beauty of one long before departed by a shape taken out of a charnell house and this judgement was in the time of King Henry the eight in the eighteenth yeare of whose reigne she dyed when she had nothing but a rivelled skin bone Her beauty pleased not men so much as her pleasant behaviour for shee had a proper wit and could both reade and write merry in company ready and quicke of answer neither mute nor full of bable sometimes taunting without displeasure but not without disport King Edward would say he had three concubines which in divers properties diversly excelled one the merriest the other the wiâ—est the third the holiest harlot in the Realme as one whom no man could get out of the Church to any place lightly unlesse it were to his bed the other two were somewhat greater personages then Mistris Shore and yet neverthelesse of their humilitie were content to bee namelesse and to forbeare the praise of these properties But the merriest was Shores wife in whom the King therefore tooke great pleasure for many he had but her hee loved whose favour to say the truth for it were sinne to belie the devill she never abused to any mans hurt but to many mens comfort and reliefe For where the King tooke displeasure shee would mitigate and appease his minde where men were out of favour shee would bring them into his grace for many that had highly offended shee obtained pardon and of great forfeitures she gate remission and finally in many weighty suites shee stood many men in great stead either for none or for very small reward and those rather gay then rich either that shee was content with the deede well done or for that shee delighted to bee sued unto and to shew what shee was able to doe with the King or for that that wanton women and wealthy be not alwaies covetous I doubt not some men will thinke this woman to be too slight to be written of among grave and weighty matters which they shall specially thinke that happily saw her in her age and adversity but we thinke the chance so much more worthy to bee remembred in how much after wealth she fell to poverty and from riches to beggery unfriended out of acquaintance after great substance after so great favour with her Prince after as great suite and seeking to with all those which in those dayes had businesse to speed as many other men were in their times which bee now famous only by the infamy of their evill deedes her doings were not much lesse albeit they be much lesse remembred because they were not evill for men use to write an evill turne in marble stone but a good turne in the dust which is not worst proved by her for after
her wealth she went begging of many that had begged themselves if shee had not hope them such was her chance Now was it devised by the Protectour and his Councell that the same day that the Lord Chamberlain was headed in the Tower of London and about the same houre should be beheaded at Pomfret the Earle Rivers and the Lord Richard the Queenes sonne sir Thomas Vaughan and sir Richard Haute which as you heard were taken at Northampton and Stony stratford by the consent of the Lord Hastings which execution was done by the order and in the presence of sir Richard Ratclif knight whose service the Protectour specially used in the Councell and in the execution of such lawlesse enterprises as a man that had beene long secret with him having experience of the world a notable wit short and rude in speech rough and boysterous of behaviour bold in mischiefe and as farre from pittie as from all feare of God This Knight brought these foure persons to the Scaffold at the day appointed and shewed to all the people that they were Traitours not suffering the Lords to speake and to declare their innocency lest their words might have inclined men to pitty them and to hate the Protectour and his part and so without judgement and processe of the Law caused them to bee beheaded without other earthly guilt but onely they were good men and true to the King too nie to the Queene insomuch that sir Thomas Vaughan going to his death said A mischeife take them that tooke the prophesie that G. should destroy King Edwards children for George Duke of Clarence Lord George which for that suspition is now dead but now remaineth Richard G. Duke of Gloucester which now I see is he that shall and will accomplish the Prophesie and destroy King Edwards children and all their allies and friends as it appeareth by us this day whom I appeale to the high tribunall of God for his wrongfull murther and our true innocency And then Ratclife said you have well appealed lay downe your head yea quoth sir Thomas I dye in right beware you dye not in wrong and so that good Knight was beheaded and the other three and buried naked in the Monasterie at Pomfret When the Lord Hastings and those other Lords and Knights were thus beheaded and rid out of the way then the Protectour caused it to bee proclamed that the Coronation for divers great and urgent causes should bee deferred till the second day of November for then thought he that while men mused what the matter meant and whiles the Lords of the Realme were about him out of their owne strengths and while no man knew what to thinke nor whom to trust or whether they should have time or space to digest the matter and make parts it were best hastily to pursue his purpose and put himselfe in possession of the Crowne before men could have time to devise any waies to resist But now was all the studie how this matter being of it selfe so haynous might be first broken to the people in such wise as it might bee well taken To this councell they tooke divers such as they thought meet to be trusted and likely to be induced to that part and able to stand them in stead either by power or by policie Among whom they made of Councell Edmond Shaw then Mayor of London which upon trust of his owne advancement where he was of a proud heart highly desirous tooke upon him to frame the Citty to their appetite Of Spirituall men they tooke such as had wit and were in authority amongst the people for opinion of their learning and had no scrupulus conscience Amongst these had they tooke Ralph Shaw clearke brother to the Mayor and Frier Pinkie provinciall of the Augustine Friers both Doctors in Divinity both great Preachers both of more learning then vertue of more fame then learning and yet of more learning then truth For they were before greatly esteemed among the people but after that never none of those two were regarded Shaw made a Sermon in praise of the Protectour before the Coronation and Pynkie made one after the Cornation both so full of tedious flattery that no good mans eares could abide them Pynkie in his Sermon so lost his vocye that hee was faine to leave off and come downe in the midst Doctor Shaw by his Sermon lost his honesty and soone after his life for very shame of the world into the which he durst never after much come abroad but the Frier feared no shame and so it harmed him the lesse Howbeit some doubt and many thinke that Pynkie was not of Councell before the Coronation but after the common manner fell to flattery after namely because his Sermon was not incontinent upon it but at S. Mary Spitle the Easter after But certaine it is that Doctor Shaw was of Councell in the beginning in so much that they determined that hee should first breake the matter in a Sermon at Paules Crosse in which hee should by the authority of his Preaching induce the people to encline to the Protectors ghostly purpose But now was all the labour and study in the device of some convenient pretext for which the people should be content to depose the Prince and accept the Protectour for their King In which deuers things they devised but the cheife thing and the weight of all that invention rested in this that they should alledge bastardy in King Edward himselfe or in his children or both so that he should seeme disabled to inherite the Crowne by the Duke of Yorke and the Prince by him To lay bastardy in King Edward sounded openly to the rebuk of the Protectours owne mother which was mother to them both For in that point could be no other colour but to pretend that his owne mother was an Adultresse but neverthelesse he would that point should bee lesse and more finely and closely handled not even fully plaine and directly but touched upon craftily as though men spared in that point to speake all the truth for feare of his displeasure But that other point concerning the bastardy they devised to surmise in King Edward his Children that hee desired should be openly declared and enforced to the uttermost The colour and pretext whereof cannot be well perceived except wee repeate some things long before done about King Edwards Marriages After King Edward the fourth had deposed King Henry the sixt and was in peaceable possession of the Realme hee determined with himselfe to marry as was requisite both for himselfe and for the Realme he sent the Earle of Warwick and divers other noble men in ambassage to the French King to entreate a marriage betweene the King and Bona sister to the French Queene then being in France In which thing the Earle of Warwick found the parties so toward and willing that hee speedily without any difficultie according to his instructions brought the matter to a good conclusion Now happeneth
it in the meane season there came to make a sute to the King by Petition Dame Elizabeth Gray which after was his Queene then a widdow borne of noble blood specially by her mother which was Dutches of Bedford and she was married to sir Richard Woodvile Lord Rivers her Father Howbeit this Elizabeth being in service with Queene Margaret wife to King Henry the sixt was married to one Iohn Grey Esquier whom King Henry made Knight at the last battell of Saint Albons but little while hee enjoyed his knighthood for at the same field he was slaine After when King Edward was King and the Earle of Warwicke beeing on his Embassage this poore Lady made her sute to the King to bee restored to such small lands as her husband had given her in joynture whoÌ„ when the King beheld and heard her speak as she was both faire and of good favour moderate of stature well made and very wise he not alone pitched on her but also waxed enamored on her and taking her secretly aside began to enter into talking more familiarly whose appetite when shee perceived shee vertuously denyed him but that shee did so wisely and that with so good manner and words so well set that shee rather kindled his desire then quenched it And finally after many a meeting much wooing and many great promises she well perceived the Kings affection towards her so greatly increased that shee durst somewhat the more boldly say her minde as to him whose heart she perceived more fervently set then to fall off for a word And in conclusion shee shewed him plaine that as shee thought her selfe too simple to bee his wife so shee thought her selfe too good to be his concubine The King much marvelling at her constancy as hee that had not beene before elswhere so stiffely said nay so much esteemed her continency and chastity that he set her vertue in stead of possession and riches And thus taking counsell of his owne desire determined in haste to marry her And after that hee was thus appointed and had betwâ—ene them twaine assured her then asked he counsell of his secret friends and that in such manner that they might easily perceive that it booted them not to say nay Notwithstanding the Dutches of York his mother was so sore moved therewith that she disswaded that marriage as much as shee possible might alleaging that it was his honour profit and surety to marry in some noble progeny out of his Realme whereupon depended great strength to his estate by that affinity and great possibility of increase of his dominions And that hee could not well otherwise doe considering the Earle of Warwicke had so farforth entred into the matter already which was not like to take it well if all his voyage were in such wise frustrate and his appointment deluded And she said further that it was not Princely to marry his owne Subject no greater occasion leading there unto no possessions nor other commoditie depending thereupon but onely as a rich man would marry his maiden onely for a little wanton dotage upon her person In which marriage many men commend more the maidens fortune then the mans wisedome and yet shee said that there was more honesty then honour in this marriage for asmuch as there is not betweene a Merchant and his maide so great a difference as betweene a King and his Subject a great Prince and a poore widdow In whose person although there were nothing to bee misliked yet was there said shee nothing so excellent but that it might bee found in divers other that were more mee quoth she for your estate yea and maidens also the onely widowhood of Dame Elizabeth Grey although she were in all other points and things convenient for you should suffice as I thâ—nke to refraine you from her marriage since it is an unfitting thing and a great blemish to the sacred Majesty of a Prince that ought as neere to approach priesthood in cleannesse as he doth in dignity to be defiled with bigamy in his first marriage The King made his Mother an answer part in earnest and part in play merrily as hee that knew himselfe out of her rule and albeit he would gladly that shee should take it well yet was hee at a point in his owne minde tooke shee it well or otherwise Howbeit somewhat to satisfie her hee said that albeit marriage being a spirituall thing ought rather to be made for the respect of God where his grace inclineth the parties ought to incline to love together as he trusted it was in his case rather then for the regard of any temporall advantage yet neverthelesse he deemed this marriage well considered not to be unprofitable for hee reckoned the amity of no earthly Nation to be so necessary for him as the friendship of his owne which hee thought likely to beare him so much the more hearty favour in that hee disdained not to marry with one of his owne Land and yet if outward alliance were thought so requisite he would finde the meanes to enter thereunto much better by other of his kin where all parties could be contented then to marry himselfe wherein hee should never haply love and for the possibility of possessions lose the fruit and pleasure of this that he had already For small pleasure taketh a man of all that ever he hath beside if hee be wived against his appetite and I doubt not quoth he but there be as you say others that be in every point comparable with her and therefore I let not them that like them to marry them no more is it reason that it mislike any man that I marry where it liketh me And I am sure that my Cousin of Warwicke neither loveth me so little to grudge at that that I love nor is so unreasonable to looke that I should in choice of a wife rather be ruled by his eye then by mine owne as though I were a ward that were bound to marry by the appointment of a Guardian I would not be a King with that condition to forbeare mine owne liberty in choice of mine owne marriage As for possibility of more inheritance by new affinity in strange Lands is oft the occasion of more trouble then profit And wee have already title by that meanes as sufficeth to so much as sufficeth to get and keepe well in one mans dayes That she is a widdow and hath already children By God his blessed Lady I am a Batchelor and have some too and so each of us hath a proofe that neither of us is like to be barren And therefore Madame I pray you be content I trust to God she shall bring forth a young Prince that shall please you And as for the bigamy let the Bishop hardly lay it to my charge when I come to take orders for I understand it is forbidden a Priest but I never knew that it was forbidden a Prince The Dutchesse with these words nothing appeased and seeing the
King so set on that she could not pluck him backe so highly she disdained it that under pretence of her duty toward God shee devised to disturbe this marriage and rather to helpe that hee should marry one Dame Elizabeth Lucie whom the King not long before had gotten with childe wherefore the Kings Mother objected openly against this marriage as it were in discharge of her conscience that the King was sure to Dame Elizabeth Lucy and her husband before God by reason of which words such obstacle was made in that matter that either the Bishop durst not or the King would not proceed to the solemnization of the marriage till his fame were cleerely purged and the truth well and openly testified Whereupon Dame Elizabeth Lucy was sent for and albeit shee was by the Kings Mother and many other put in good coÌ„fort that she was ensured to the King yet when she was solemnly sworne to say the truth she confessed she was never ensured Howbeit shee said his Grace spake such loving words to her that shee verily hoped that he would have married her and if such kinde words had not been she would never have shewed such kindenesse to him to let him so kindly get her with child This examination solemnely taken it was cleerely proved that there was no impediment to let the King to marry wherefore he shortly after at Grafton beside Stony Stratford married the Lady Elizabeth Grey very privily which was his enemies wife and had prayed heartily for his losse in the which God loved her better then to grant her her boon for then had shee not been his wife And after that shee was crowned Queene and her father was created Earle Rivers and her sonne created Marquesse Dorset But when the Earle of Warwicke understood of this marriage he took it so highly that thereof ensued much blood-shed as is declared before in the Story of Edward the fourth I have rehearsed this marriage somewhat the more at length because it might thereby the better appeare upon how slippery a ground the Protector builded his colour by which he pretended King Edwards children to be Bastards but the invention as simple as it was liked them to whom it sufficeth to have somewhat to say while they were sure to bee compelled to no larger proofe then themselves list to make Now to returne where I left as I began to shew you it was by the Protector and his Councell concluded that this Doctor Shaw should in a Sermon at Pauls Crosse signifie to the people that neither King Edward himselfe nor the Duke of Clarence were lawfully begotten nor were the very children of the Duke of Yorke but begotten unlawfully by other persons by adultery of the Dutchesse their Mother And Dame Elizabeth Lucy was the very wife of King Edward and so Prince Edward and all the children begotten on the Queen were Bastards And according to this device Doctor Shaw the Sunday after at Paules Crosse in a great audience as alwayes a great number assembled to his preaching came into the Pulpit taking for his Theme Spuria vitulamina non dabunt radices altos Sapien. 4. that is to say Bastard slippes shall never take deepe rootes Whereupon when he had shewed the great grace that God giveth and secretly infundeth in right generation after the Lawes of Matrimony then declared hee that those children commonly lacked that grace and for the punishment of their parents were for the most part unhappy which were ilegitimate and especially in adultery of which though some by the ignorance of the world and truth hid from knowledge have inherited for a season other mens Lands yet God alwayes so provideth that it continueth not in their bloud long but the truth comming to light the rightfull inheritors be restored and the bastard slippes plucked up ere it can be rooted deepe And when hee had layed for the proofe and confirmation of this sentence examples taken out of the old and new Testament and other ancient Histories then began he to descend to the praise of the Lord Richard Duke of Yorke calling him father to the Protector and declared his Title to the Crowne by inheritance and also by entaiâ—e authorised by Parliament after the death of King Henry the sixth Then shewed he that the Lord Protector was only the right heire of his body lawfully begotten Then declared hee that King Edward was never lawfully married to the Queene but his wife before God was Dame Elizabeth Lucy and so his children were Bastards And besides that that neither King Edward himselfe nor the Duke of Clarence amongst them that were secret in the Duke of Yorkes houshold were never reckoned surely to be the children of the Noble Duke as those that by their favours more resembled other knowne men then him from whose vertuous conditions hee said also that King Edward was farre off But the Lord Protector quoth hee that very Noble Prince the speciall Patron of Knightly Prowesse as well in all Princely behavior as in the lineaments and favour of his visage representeth the very face of the Noble Duke his Father This is quoth he the Fathers owne figure this is his owne countenance the very print of his visage the sure undoubted image the plaine expresse likenesse of that Noble Duke Now was it before devised that in the speaking of these words the Protector should have come in amongst the people to the Sermon to the end that these words so meeting with his presence might have beene taken amongst the hearers as though the Holy Ghost had put them in the Preachers mouth and should have moved the people even there to have cryed King Richard that it might have been after said that he was specialy chosen by God and in manner by miracle but this device quailed either by the Protectors negligence or the Preachers over-hasty diligence For while the Protector found by the way tarrying lest he should have prevented these words the Doctor fearing that he should come ere his Sermon could come to those words hasting his matter thereto he was come to them and past them and entred into other matters ere the Protector came whom when hee beheld comming hee left the matter in hand and out of all order and out of all frame began to repeat those words againe This is the very Noble Prince the especiall Patrone of Knightly prowesse which aswell in all Princely behaviviour as in the lineaments and favour of his visage representeth the very face of the Noble Duke of York his father This is his Fathers owne figure this is his owne countenance the very print of his visage the sure undoubted image the plaine expresse likenesse of that Noble Duke whose remembrance can never dye while hee liveth While these words were speaking the Protector accompanied with the Duke of Buckingham went through the people up into the place where the Doctors stand where they heard out the Sermon but the people were so farre from crying King Richard that they stood
glad to live under his obeisance as the people of this realme under his Whē the Protector had heard the Proposition he looked very strangely there at and made answere that albeit he knew partly the things by them alleged to bee true yet such entire love he bare to King Edward and his children much more regarded his honour in other Realmes about then the crowne of any one of which hee was never desirous for in all other nations where the truth were not well knowne it should peradventure bee thought that it were his owne ambitious mind and device to depose the Prince and to take the Crowne himselfe with which infamy hee would in no wise have his honour stayned for any crowne in which he ever had perceived much more labour and paine then pleasure to him that so would use it as hee that would not and were not worthy to have it Notwithstanding hee not onely pardoned them of the motion that they made him but also thanked them for the love and harty favour they bare him praying them for his sake to beare the same to the Prince under whom he was and would bee content to live and with his labour and counsaile as far as it should like the King to use it he would do his uttermost devoir to set the Realme in good estate which was already in the little time of his Protectorship praysed be God well begun in that the malice of such as were before the occasion of the contrary and of new intended to bee were now partly by good policy partly more by Gods providence then mans provision repressed and put under Vpon this answer given the Duke of Buckingham by the Protectors licence a little rounded as well with other noble men about him as with the Major and Recorder of London And after that upon like pardon desired and obtained he shewed alowd unto the Protector for a finall conclusion that the Realme was determined that King Edwards line should no longer reigne over them both that they had so far gone that it was now no suretie to retreate as for that they thought it the best way for the whole Realme although they had not yet begun it Wherefore if it would like his Grace to take the Crowne upon him they would humbly beseech him thereunto and if he would give them a resolute answer to the contrary which they would be loth to heare then must they seek and should not faile to find some other noble man that would These words much moved the Protector which as every man of small intelligence may judge would never have enclined thereto but when he saw there was no other way but that he must take it or else hee and his both to goe from it hee said to Lords and Commons sith it is we perceive well that all the Realme is so set whereof we be very sorry that they will not suffer in any wise King Edward his line to governe them whom no man earthly can governe against their wills And we also perceive that there is no man to whom the Crown can by so just title appertaine as to our selfe as very right heire lawfully begotten of the body of our most dread and deare Father Richard late Duke of Yorke to which title is now joyned your election the nobles and commons of the Realme which wee of all titles possibly take for most effectuall wee bee content and agree favorably to encline to your petition and request and according to the same here we take upon us the Royall estate of preheminence and Kingdome of the two Noble Realmes England and France the one from this day forward by us and our heires to rule governe and defend the other by God his grace and your good helpe to get againe subdue and establish for ever in due obedience unto this realme of England the advancement whereof we never aske of God longer to live then we intend to procure and set forth With this there was a great cry and shout crying King Richard and so the Lords went up to the King and so hee was after that day so called But the people departed talking diversly of the matter every man as his fantacie gave him but much they marvelled of this manner of delaying that the matter was on both parts made so strange as though never the one part had communed with the other part thereof before when they knew that there was no man so dull that heard them but he perceived well enough that all the matter was made betweene them Howebeit some excused that againe saying all things must bee done in good order and men must sometimes for the manner sake not bee knowne what they know For at the consecration of a Bishop every man perceiveth by payment of his Bulles that hee intendeth to bee one yet when hee is twice asked whether he will bee a Bishop he must twice say nay and at the third time take it upon him as compelled thereto by his owne will And in a stage play the people know right well that hee that playeth the Soldan is perhaps a cobler yet if one of his acquaintance perhaps of little nurture should call him by his name while hee standeth in his Majesty one of his tormentors might fortune to breake his head for marring the play And so they said these matters bee Kings games as it were stage-playes and for the most part played upon scaffolds in which poore men bee but lookers on and they that bee wise will meddle no further for they that step up with them when they cannot play their parts they disorder the play and doe themselves no good FINIS Richard the 3◠King of Englād and France Lord of Ireland THE TRAGICALL HISTORIE OF THE LIFE AND REIGNE OF RICHARD THE THIRD Written by the Right Honorable Sir Thomas Moore Lord Chancellor of England LONDON Printed by T. Paine and M. Simmons 1641. THE TRAGICALL HISTORIE OF KING RICHARD THE THIRD I Am loth to remember but more I abhor to write the misery of this unfortunate King which by fraud entred by tyranny proceeded and by sodaine death ended his unfortunate life But if I should not declare the flagicious facts of the evill Kings aswell as I have done the notable acts of vertuous Kings I should neither animate nor encourage rulers of Realmes Countries and Seigniories to follow the steps of their profitable Progenitors for to attaine to the type of honour and worldly fame neither yet advertise Kings being prone to vice wickednesse to avoide and expell all sinne and mischiefe for dread of obloquie and worldly shame for contrary set to contrary is more apparent as white joyned to blacke maketh the fayrer shew Wherefore I will proceede in his acts after my accustomed usage Richard the third of that name usurped the Crowne of England and openly tooke upon him to bee King the ninth day of Iune in the yeare of our Lord one thousand foure hundred fourescore and three and
him a cup of wine coverd and when hee had dranke he cast out the wine and departed with the cup. After that the Heralds cried a largesse thrice in the Hall and so went up to their stage At the end of dinner the Major of London served the King and Queene with sweete wine and had of each of them a cup of gold with a cover of gold And by that time that all was done it was darkenight and so the King returned to his chamber and every man to his lodging When this feast was thus finished the King sent home all the Lords into their countries that would depart except the Lord Stanley whom hee retained till hee heard what his sonne the Lord Strange went about And to such as went home hee gave straight charge and commandement to see their Countries well ordered that no wrong nor extortion should bee done to his subjects And thus hee taught others to execute justice and equitie the contrary wherof he daily exercised hee also with great rewards given to the Northerne men which hee sent for to his Coronation sent them home to their Countrey with great thankes Whereof divers of them as they all bee of nature very greedy of authoritie and especially when they thinke to have any comfort or favour tooke on them so highly and wrought such Masteries that the King was faine to ride thither in his first yeare and to put some in execution and stay the Country or else no small mischiefe had ensued Incontinent after this he sent a solemne Embassage to Lewis the French King to conclude a league and amitie with him trusting also to obtaine the tribute which King Edward his brother had before out of France but the French King so abhorred him and his crueltie that he would neither see nor heare his Embassadors and so in vaine they returned Now after this triumphant Coronation there fell mischiefs thicke and thicke and as the thing evill gotten is never well kept so through all the time of his usurped reigne never ceased there cruell murther death and slaughter till his own destruction ended it But as hee finished with the best death and most fitting that is to say his owne so beganne he with the most pitteous and wicked I meane the lamentable murther of his innocent Nephewes the young King and his tender brother whose death and finall fortune hath neverthelesse so farre come in question that some remained long in doubt whether they were in his dayes destroyed or no. Not for that that Parkin Warbeck by many folkes folly so long space abusing the world was aswell with Princes as with poore people reputed and taken for the yonger of these two But for that also that all things were so covertly demeaned one thing pretended and another meant that there was nothing so plaine and openly proved but that yet for the common custome of close covert dealing men had it ever inwardly suspect as many well counterfet jewels make the true mistrusted Howbeit concerning that opinion men may see the conveiance thereof in the Noble Prince King Henry the seventh in the processe of Parkin But in the meane season for this present matter I shall rehearse to you the dolorous end of these two babes not after every way that I have heard but after that way that I have so heard by such men and such meanes as I thinke it to be hard but it should be true King Richard after his Coronation taking his way to Gloucester to visite in his new honour the towne of which hee bare the name of old devised as hee roade to fulfill that thing which hee before had intended And forasmuch as his minde gave him that his Nephewes living men would not recon that hee could have right to the Realme he thought therefore without delay to rid them as though the killing of his kinsmen might end his cause and make him kindly King Whereupon he sent Iohn Greene whom he specially trusted unto sir Robert Brakenbury Constable of the Tower with a letter and credence also that the same sir Robert in any wise should put the two children to death This Iohn Greene did his errand to Brakenbury kneeling before our Lady in the Tower who plainely answered that hee would never put them to death to dye therefore With the which answer Greene returned recompting the same to King Richard at Warwicke yet on his journey wherewith hee tooke such displeasure and thought that the same night hee said to a secret page of his Ah whom shall a man trust they that I have brought up my selfe they that I thought would have most surely served mee even those faile me and at my commandment will doe nothing for mee Sir quoth the page there lieth one in the palet chamber without that I dare say will doe your Grace pleasure the thing were right hard that he would refuse meaning this by Iames Tirell which was a man of a goodly personage and for the gifts of nature worthy to have served a much better Prince if he had well served God and by grace obtained to have as much truth and good will as hee had strength and wit The man had an high heart and sore longed upward not rising yet so fast as he had hoped being hindered and kept under by sir Richard Ratcliffe and sir William Catesbey which longing for no more partners of the Princes favour namely not for him whose pride they knew would beare no peere kept him by secret drifts out of all secret trust which thing this page had well marked and knew wherefore this occasion offered of very speciall friendship spied his time to set him forward and in such wise to doe him good that all the enemies that he had except the devill could never have done him so much hurt and shame for upon the pages words King Richard arose for this communication had he sitting on a draft a convenient carpet for such a councell and came out into the palet chamber where hee did finde in bed the said Iames Tyrell and sir Thomas Tyrell of person like and brethren of blood but nothing of kinne in conditions Thē said the King merrily what sirs bee you in bed so soone and called up Iames Tyrell and brake to him secretly his minde in this mischievous matter in the which hee found him nothing strange Wherefore on the morrow he sent him to Brakinbury with a letter by the which hee was commanded to deliver to the said Iames all the keyes of the Tower for a night to the end that he might there accomplish the Kings pleasure in such things as hee there had given him in commandement After which letter delivered and the keyes received Iames appointed the next night ensuing to destroy them devising before and preparing the meanes The Prince assoone as the Protector tooke upon him to be King and left the name of Protectour was thereof advertised and shewed that he should not reigne but his Vncle
and the blood from the earth cryeth to Almighty God for vengeance If the common people cryed out I assure you the friends of the Queene and her children made no lesse exclamation and complaint with loud voyce lamentably crying and saying alas what will â—e doe to others that thus shamefully murdereth his owne bloud without cause or desert whom will hee save when hee slayeth the poore Lambes committed to him in trust now wee see and behold that the most cruell tyranny hath invaded the Common-wealth now wee see that in him is neither hope of Justice nor trust of Mercy but abundance of cruelty and thirst of innocent bloud But when this newes was first brought to the infortunate mother of the dead children yet being in Sanctuary no doubt but it strake to her heart like the sharpe dart of death for when shee was first informed of the murther of her two Sonnes shee was suddenly amazed with the greatnesse of the cruelty that for feare she sounded and fell downe to the ground and there lay in a great agony like to a dead corps And after that shee came to her memory and was revived againe shee wept and sobbed and with pittifull scrieches shee replenished the whole Mansion her brest shee strooke her faire haire shee tore and pulled in pieces and being overcome with sorrow and pensivenesse rather desired death then life calling by name divers times her sweet Babes accounting her selfe more then mad that she deluded by wile and fraudulent promises delivered her younger sonne out of the Sanctuary to his enemy to be put to death thinking that next the oath made to God broken and the duty of allegeance toward her children violated she of all creatures in that point was most seduced and deceived After long lamentation when shee saw no hope of revenging otherwise she kneeled downe and cryed on God to take vengeance for the deceitfull perjury as who said shee nothing mistrusted but once hee would remember it What is hee living that if hee remember and behold these two noble infants without deserving so shamefully murthered that will not abhorre the fact yea and be moved and tormented with pitty and mercy And yet the world is so fraile and our nature so blinde that few be stirred with such examples obliviously forgetting and little considering that oftentimes for the offences by the Parents perpetrate and committed that sinne is punished in their line and posterity This chance might so happeÌ„ to these innocent children because King Edward their Father and Parent offended in staining his conscience hee made his solemne oath before the Gate of the City of Yorke as you have heard before and promised and sware one thing by his word thinking cleane contrary in his heart as after did appeare And afterward by the death of the Duke of Clarence his brother hee incurred of likelihood the great displeasure toward God After this murther thus perpetrated and that hee had visited his Towne of Gloucester which hee for his old Dignity both loved and with ample liberties and priviledges endowed and decorated he tooke his journy toward the County of Yorke where the people abusing his lawfull favour as hee both favoured and trusted them in his heart had of late presumed to attempt divers routs and riots contray to his lawes and infringing of his peace and upon hope of his maintenance were so elated that no Lord were he never of so great power could either pacifie or rule them till the King himselfelfe came personally thither to set a concord and an unity in that Country and to bridle and rule the rude rusticall and blustering bold people of that region and so he by long journeying came to the Citie of Yorke where the Citizens received him with great pompe and triumph according to the qualities of their education and quantity of their substance and ability and made divers dayes playes and Pageants in token of joy and solace Wherefore King Richard magnified and applauded of the North Nation and also to shew himself apparantly before them in habit royall with Scepter in hand and Diadem on his head made Proclamation that all persons should resort to Yorke on the day of the Ascention of our Lord where all men should both behold and see him his Queene and Prince in their high estates and degrees and also for their good wills should have received many thankes large benefits magnificent rewards At the day appointed the whole clergie assembled in Copes richly vested and so with a reverent ceremonie went about the citie in procession after whom folowed the King with his Crowne and Scepter apparelled in his Circot robe royall accoÌ„panied with no smal number of the nobilitie of his Realme after whom marched in order Queene Anne his wife crowned leading in her left hand Prince Edward her son having on his head a demy crown appointed for the degree of a Prince The King was had in that triumph in such honour and the common people of the North so rejoyced that they extolled and praysed him farre above the Starres After this solemne feast and glorious pompe he kept great counsellers there as well for the ordering of the countrey in time as for the brideling and punishing of such as there had misgoverned themselves and further of the gentlemen of that countrey he augmented the number of his domestical Ministers and servants in the which persons he put his whole trust and affiance When all things were thus discreetly ordered hee returned by Notingham and after came to London whom more for dread then for love the Citezens received in great companies Thus King Richard by a new invented crueltie late practised tyranny obtained and grew to high praise and honour and then by the admiration and judgment of the common multitude he was most esteemed to bee exalted into Heaven when hee covertly had intelligence that hee was like to loose his estate and could by no meanes have long continuance in his usurped power for assuredly after the death of King Edwards children when any blustering winde perrilous thunder or terrible tempest chanced or were apparently like to happen Sodainely the people having in their fresh memorie the facinorous act of their King and Prince would openly cry and make vociferation that God did take vengance and punish the poore Englishmen for the crime and offence of their ungratious King whom they blamed accursed and wished to have extreame tortures Although King Richard heard often of these slaunderous words malicious sayings and knew well by what persons they were spoken yet he durst not with strong hand bee on the first inventors revenged knowing that some time it is no wisedome to refuse or disdaine them that tell a ruler his dutie or declare to him his misbehaviour towards the common wealth or counsell him to amend and change his ill life After this great felicity he fell againe into a great feare and pensivenesse of minde and because he could by no meanes either correct
win favour Hee was first upon the part of King Henry while that part was in wealth and neither left it nor forsooke it in woe but fled the Realme with the Queene and the Prince And while King Edward had King Henry in prison hee never returned but to the field at Barnet after which field lost and utterly subdued and all par-takings extinguished King Edward for his fast faith wisedome was not onely content to receive him but also wooed him to come and had him from thenceforth both in secret trust and speciall favour whom he never deceived For hee being after King Edwards death first taken by the tyrant for his truth to the King found the meanes to set the Duke in his toppe and joyned gentlemen together in aide of the Earle of Richmond which after was named King Henry the sevenâ—h First devising the marriage betweene the Lady Elizabeth daughter to King Edward the fourth by the which his faithfull and true service declared to both his masters at once was an infinite benift to the Realme by the conjunction of the bloods of Lancaster and Yorke whose funerall titles had long unquieted the Realme This man afterwards escaped from the Duke and fled the Realme and never returned and went to Rome never minded to meddle with the world till King Henry the seventh sent for him and after made him Archbishop of Canterbury and Chancellor of England and after was made Cardinall and lived well to all mens judgements and died well But to returne to the former purpose he by the long and often alternate proofe as well of prosperity as adverse fortune had gotten by great experience the very mother and mistris of wisedome and deepe insight in politike and worldly drifts wherby perceiving now the Duke to commune with him fed him with faire words and many prayses and perceiving by the griefe of their communications the Dukes pride now and then to balke out a little brayd of envie towards the glory of the King and thereby feeling him easie to fall out if the matter were well handled hee craftily sought the waies to pricke him forward taking alwaies the occasion of his comming and also keeping himself close within his bands that he rather seemed to follow him then to leade him For when the Duke began first to praise and boast the King to shew how much profit the Realme should take by his reigne Bishop Morton answered surely my Lord folly it were for mee to lie for I am sure if I would sweare the contrary ye would not once beleeve mee but if the world would have begunne as I would have wished that King Henries sonne had had the Crowne and not King Edward then would I have beene his true and faithfull subject but after that God had ordained him to lose it and King Edward to raigne I was never so mad with a dead man to strive against the quicke so was I ever to King Edward a faithfull and true chaplin and glad would have beene that his children should have succeeded him howbeit if the secret judgement of God have otherwise provided I purpose not to spurne against the prick nor labour to set up that God pulleth downe And as for the late protector and now King and with that word hee left saving that he said that he had already medled too much with the world and would from that day meddle with his booke and beades and no further Then longed the Duke sore to heare what hee would have said because hee ended with the King and there so sodainely stopped and exhorted him familiarly betweene them both to be bold and to say whatsoever hee thought whereof he faithfully promised there should never come hurt and peradventure more good then hee would thinke And that hee himselfe intended to use his faithfull secret advice and counsaile which he said was the onely cause for the which hee procured of the King to have him in his custody where he might reckon himselfe at home or else hee had beene put in the hands of them with whom he should not have found like favour The Bishop right humbly thanked him and said in good faith my Lord I love not much to talke of Pâ—inces as of a thing not all out of perill although the word bee without fault but yet it must be as it pleaseth the Prince to construe it And ever I thinke on Aesops talke that when the Lyon had proclamed that on paine of death there should no horned beasts come into the wood one beast that had a bunch of flesh growing out of his head fled a great pace the foxe that saw him flie with all the hast asked him whither he fled In faith quoth he I neither know nor care so I were once hence because of the proclamation made against horned beasts What foole quoth the foxe the Lyon never meant it by thee for that which thou hast is no horne in thy head No marry quoth hee I know that well enough but if hee say it is a horne where am I then The Duke laughed merrily at the tale and said my Lord I warrant you neither the Lyon nor the Bore shall picke any matter at any thing here spoken for it shall never come neere their eares In good faith sir said the Bishop if it did the thing that I was about to say taken as well as before God I meant it could deserve but thankes and yet taken as I thinke it would might happen to turne mee to little good and you to lesse Then longed the Duke much more to know what it was Whereupon the Bishop said In good faith my Lord as for the late Protector sith hee is now King in possession I purpose not to dispute his title but for the wealth of this realme wherof his grace hath now the governance and whereof I my selfe am a poore member I was about to wish that to those good abilities whereof hee hath already right many little needing my praise yet might it have pleased God for the better store to have given him some of such other excellent vertues meet for the rule of the Realme as our Lord hath planted in the person of your grace and there left off againe The Duke somewhat marvelling at his sodaine pauses as though they were but parentheses with a high countenance said my Lord I evidently perceive and no lesse note your often breathing and sudden stopping in your communication so that to my intelligence your words neither come to any direct or perfect sentence in conclusion whereby either I might perceive and have knowledge what your inward intent is now toward the King or what affectioÌ„ you beare toward me For the comparison of good qualities ascribed to us both for the which I my selfe knowledge and recognise to have none nor looke for no praise of any creature for the same maketh me not a little to muse thinking that you have some other privie Imagination by love or by grudge ingraved and
imprinted in your heart which for feare you dare not or for childish shamefastnesse you be ashamed to disclose and reveale and especially to mâ— being your friend which on my honour doe assure you to bee as secret in this case as the deafe and dumbe person is to the singer or the tree to the hunter The Bishop being somewhat bolder considering the Dukes promise but most of all animated and incouraged because hee knew the Duke desirous to bee exalted and magnified and also he perceived the inward hatred and privie rancor which hee bare towards King Richard was now bouldned to open his stomacke even to the very bottome intending thereby to compasse how to destroy and utterly to confound King Richard and to deprive him of his dignity royall or else to set the Duke so faire with the desire of ambition that hee himselfe might be safe and escape out of all danger and perill which thing hee brought shortly to conclusion both to the Kings destruction and the Dukes confusion to his owne safegard and finally to his high promotion And so as I said before upon trust and confidence of the Dukes promise the Bishop said my singular good Lord sith the time of my captivity which being in your graces custodie I may rather call it a liberall liberty more then a straight imprisonment in avoiding idlenesse the mother and nourisher of all vices in reading bookes and ancient pamphlets I have found this sentence written that no man is borne free and in liberty of himselfe only for one part of duty hee oweth or should owe to his parents for his procreation by a very naturall instinct and filiall curtesie another part to his friends and kinsfolke for proximitie of blood and naturall amity doth of verie duty chalenge and demand But it the native countrey in the which hee tasted first the sweet aire of this pleasant flattering world after his nativitie demandeth as a debt by a naturall bond neither to be forgotten nor yet to bee put in oblivion which saying causeth me to consider in what case this Realme my native countrey now standeth and in what estate and assuranc before this time it hath continued what governour we now have and what ruler we might have for I plainely perceive the Realme being in this case must needes decay and be brought to utter confusion and finall extermination But one hope I have incorporate in my breast that is when I consider and in my minde doe diligently remember and daily behold your noble personage your justice and indifference your fervent love towards your countrie likewise theirs to you the great learning pregnant wit and goodly eloquence which so much doth abound in the persoÌ„ of your grace I must needes thinke this Realme fortunate yea twise more then fortunate which hath such a Prince in store meete and apt to bee a governour in whose person being endued with so many qualities consisteth and resteth the very undoubted similitude and image of true honour But on the other side when I call to memorie the good qualities of the late Protector and now called King so violated and subverted by tyranny so changed and altered by usurped authority so clowded and shadowed by blind and insatiable ambition yea and so suddenly in manner by a metamorphosis transformed from politicke civility to detestable tyrannie I must needes say and justly affirme that he is neither meete to be a King of so noble a Realme nor so famous a Realme meete to be governed by such a tyrant Was not his first enterprise to obtaine the Crowne begun and incepted by the murther of divers noble valiant true and vertuous personages Oh a holy beginning to come to mischievous ending did hee not secondarily proceede contrary to all lawes of honesty shamefully against his owne naturall mother being a woman of much honour and more vertue declaring her openly to bee a woman given to carnall affection and dissolute living which thing if it had beene true as it was not indeede every good and naturall child would have rather beene silent then have blased it abroade and especially shee beeing alive Declaring furthermore his two brethren and his two nephewes to be bastards and to bee borne in adultery yet not with all this is hee content After that he had obtained the garland for the which hee so long thirsted he caused the two poore innocents his nephewes committed to him for especiall trust to bee murthered and shamefully to be killed The blood of which sillie and little babes daily cries to God from the earth for vengeance alas my heart sobbeth to remember this bloody butcher and cruell murtherer what surety shall bee in this Realme to any person either for life or goods under such a cruell Prince which regardeth not the destruction of his owne blood and then lesse the losse of others And most especially as often times it chanceth where a covetuous or a cruell Prince taketh suspicion the smalest swarving that is possible if the thing bee misconstured may bee the cause of the destruction of many giltlesse persons and especiall of noble and wealthie personages having great possessions and riches Such a Lord is Lucifer when he is entered into the heart of a proud Prince given to covetousnesse and crueltie But now my Lord to conclude what I meane towards your noble person I say and affirme if you love God your linage or your native contrie you must your selfe take upon you the Crowne and Diadem of this noble Empire both for the maintenance of the honour of the same which so long hath flourished in fame and renown as also for the deliverance of your naturall countrey men from the bondage and thraldome worse then the captivitie of Egypt of so cruell a tyrant and arrogant oppressor For thus I dare say if any forren Prince or potentate yea the Turke himselfe would take upon him the regiment here and the Crowne the Commons would rather admit and obey him then to live under such a bloud-sucker and child-killer but how much more joyful and glad would they bee to live under your grace whom they all know to bee a ruler meete and convenient for them to live under despise not nor forsake so manifest occasion so lovingly offered And if your self knowing the paine and travaile that appartaineth to the office of a king or for any other considerraâ—ion will refuse to take upon you the 〈…〉 of this Realme 〈…〉 adjure you by the faith that you owe to God by your honour and by your oath made to Saint George patron of the noble order of the Garter whereof you bee a companion and by the love and affection that you beare to your native countrey the people of the same to devise some way how this Realme now being in miserie may by your high discretion and princely policy bee brought and reduced to some suretie and convenient regiment under some good governour by you to bee excogitate for you are the
to them by the new usurper much lamented and pittied would never cease to barke if they cannot bite at the one side of me Likewise my cousin the Earle of Richmond his aides kinsfolke which be not of little power will surely attempt like a fierce grayhound either to bite or to pierce mee on the other side So that my life and rule should ever hang by a haire never in quiet but ever in doubt of death or deposition And if the said two linages of Yorke and Lancaster which so long have strived for the imperiall Diadem should joyne in one against mee then were I surely mated and the game gotten Wherefore I have clearely determined and with my selfe concluded utterly to relinquish all such fantasticall imaginations concerning the obtaining of the Crowne But all such plagues calamities and troubles which I feared and suspected might have chanced on me if I had taken the rule and regiment of this reale I shall with a reredemaine so make them rebound to our common enemie that calleth himselfe King that the best stopper that hee hath at tenice shall not well stop without a fault for as I told you before the Countesse of Richmond in my returne from the new named King meeting mee in the high way prayed me first for kindred sake secondly for the love I bare to my grandfather Duke Humphrey which was sworne brother to her father to move the King to bee good to her sonne Henry Earle of Richmond and to licence him with his favour to returne againe into England and if it were his pleasure so to doe shee promised that the Earle her sonne should marry one of King Edwards daughters at the appointment of the King without any thing to be taken or demanded for the said espousals but onely the Kings favour which request I soone overpassed and gave her faire words and so departed But after in my lodging when I called to memorie with a deliberate studie and did circumspctly ponder them I fully adjudged that the holy Ghost caused her to move a thing the end whereof she could not consider both for the security of the Realme as also for the preferment of her child and the destruction and finall confusion of the common enemy King Richard Which thing shee neither then thought I am sure as I by her words could make conjecture nor I my selfe cast not her desire to be so profitable to the Realme as I now doe perceive but such a Lord is God that with a little sparkle he kindleth a great fire and so finally to declare to you the very conclusion to the which I am both bent and set my mind is and my power and purpose shall helpe that the Earle of Richmond very heire of the house of Lancaster in the quarrell of the which linage both my father and grandfather lost their lives in battell shall take to wife Lady Elizabeth eldest daughter to K. Edward by the which marriage both the houses of Yorke and Lancaster may bee obtained and united in one to the cleare stablishment of the title to the Crowne of this noble Realme To the which conclusion if the mothers of both parties and especially the Earle himselfe and the Lady will agree I doubt not but the braging Bore which with his tuskes raseth every mans skinne shall not only be brought to confusion as he hath deserved but that this Empire shal ever be certain of an undubitate heire and then shall all civill and intestine war cease which hath so long continued to the parting of many mens Crownes this Realme shall bee reduced againe to quietnesse renoune and glory This invention of the Duke many men thought after that it was more imagined for the inward hatred that he beare to King Richard then for any favour that hee bare to the Earle of Richmond But of such doubtfull matters it is not best to judge for erring to farre from the minde and entent of the actour But whatsoever he intended this device once opened to King Richard was the very occasion that hee was rounded shorter by the whole head without attainder or judgement When the Duke had said the Bishop which ever favored the house of Lancaster was wonderous joyfull and much rejoyced to heare this device for now came the winde about even as hee would have it for all his imagination tended to this effect to have King Richard subdued and to have the lines of K. Edward and King Henry the sixt againe raised and advanced But Lord how hee rejoyced to thinke how that by this marriage the linages of Yorke and Lancaster should bee conjoyned in one to the very stead fastnesse of the publique wealth of this Realme And lest the Dukes courage should swage or his minde should againe alter as it did often before as you may easily perceive by his owne tale Hee thought to set up all the sailes hee had to the intent that the ship of his pretended purpose might come shortly to some sure port And said to the Duke my Lord sith by Gods high provision your incomparable wisedome and policie this noble conjunction was first moved now it is convenient yea and necessary to consider what personages and friends we shall first make privie of this high device and politicke conclusion By my truth quoth the Duke wee will begin with my Lady of Richmond the Earles mother which knoweth where he is either in captivitie or at large in Brytaine For I heard say that the Duke of Britaine restored him to liberty immediately after the death of King Edward by whose meanes hee was restrayned Sith you will begin that way said the Bishop I have an old friend with the Countesse a man sober secret and well witted called Reignold Bray whose prudent policie I have knowne to have compassed things of great importance for whom I shall secretly send if it bee your pleasure I doubt not he wil gladly come and with a good will So with a little diligence the Bishop wrote a letter to Reighnold Bray requiting him to come to Brecknock with speede for great and urgent causes touching his Mistresse and no other thing was declared in the letter So the messenger rode into Lancashire where Bray was with the Countesse and Lord Thomas Stanley her husband delivered the letter which when hee had read hee tooke it as a signe or presage of some good fortune to come and so with the messenger hee came to the Castle of Brecknocke where the Duke and the Bishop declared what thing was devised both to set the Realme in a quiet steadfastnesse and also for the high preferment of the Earle of Richmonds sonne to his Lady and Mistrisse Willing her first to compasse how to obtaine the good wil of Queene Elizabeth and also of her eldest daughter bearing the same name and after secretly to send to her son into Britaine to declare what high honour was prepared for him if he would sweare to marry the Lady Elizabeth assoone
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
to God requiring of him a safe conduct and licence to passe through his countrey of Normandy into Britaine The yong King having compassion of the misfortune and unfortunate chance of the Earle of Richmond not onely gently granted and assigned to him a pasporte but also literally disbursed and departed to him a convenient some of money for his conduct and expenses necessary in his long journey and passage But the Earle trusting on the French Kings humanity adventured to send his ships home into Britaine and to set forward himselfe by land on his journie making no great haste till his messengers were returned which being with the benefit so comforted and with hope of prosperous successe so encouraged marched towards Britaine with all diligent celeritie intending there to consult further with his lovers and friends of his affaires and enterprises When hee was returned againe into Britaine hee was certified by credible information that the Duke of Buckingham had lost his head and that the Marques Dorset and a great number of noble men of England had a little before enquired and searched for him there and were now returned to Vanues When hee had heard these newes thus reported hee first sorrowed dolorously lamented the first attempt and setting forward of his friends and especially of the Nobility not to have more fortunately succeeded Secondly hee rejoyced on the other part that God had sent him so many valiant and prudent Captaines to bee his companions in his martiall enterprises trusting surely and nothing doubting in his owne opinion but that all his businesse should bee wisely compassed and brought to a good conclusion Wherefore hee determining with all diligence to accelerate and set forward his new begun businesse departed to Renes and sent certaine of his privie servitours to conduct and bring the Marquis and the other Noble men to his presence When they knew that hee was safely returned into Britaine Lord how they rejoyced and applauded for before that time they missed him and knew not in what part of the world to make investigation or search for him For they doubted and no lesse feared lest hee had taken land in England and fallen into the hands of King Richard in whose person they knew wel was neither mercy nor compassion Wherefore in all speedy manner they galloped towards him and him reverently saluted which meeting after great joy and solace and no small thanks and gratifications given and rendered on both parts they consulted and advisedly debated commoned of their great businesse and weightie enterprise in the which season the solene feast of the Nativitie of our Saviour Christ happened on which day all the English Lords went with great solemnity to the chiefe Church of the Cittie and there each gave faith and promise to other The Earle himselfe first tooke a corporall oath and on his honour promising that incontinent after he should be possessed of the Crowne and dignity of the Realme of England hee would bee conjoyned in matrimony with the Lady Elizabeth daughter to King Edward the fourth Then all the company sware to him fealtie and did to him homage as though he had beene that time the Crowned King and annointed Prince promising faithfully fiâ—mely assuring that they would not onely lose their worldly substance but also bee deprived of their lives and worldly felicity rather then to suffer King Richard that tyrant longer to rule and â—aigne over them Which solemne oathes made and taken the Earle of Richmond declared and communicated all these doings to Francis Duke of Brittaine desiring and most heartily requiring him to aide him with a great army to conduct him into his Countrey which so sore longed and looked for his returne and to the which he was by the more part of the Nobilitie called and desired which with Gods ayde and the Dukes comfort hee doubted not in short time to obtaine requiring him further to lend to him a convenient some of money affirming that all such somes of money which he had received of his especiall friends were spent and exhausted in the preparation of the last journey made towards England which somes of money after his enterprise once atchived he in the word of a Prince faithfully promised to repay and restore againe The Duke promised him aide and helpe upon confidence wherof he rigged his ships set forth his Navie well decked with ordinance warlikely furnished with all things necessary to the intent to saile forward shortly and to see no convenient time slackly overpassed nor bee pretermitted In the meane season King Richard apprehended in divers parts of the Realme certaine gentlemen of the Earle of Richmonds faction and confederation which either intended to saile into Britaine towards him or else at his landing to assist and aide him Amongst whom sir George Browne sir Roger Clifford and foure others were put to execution at London and sir Thomas Sentliger which had married the Dutches of Exeter the Kings owne sister and Thomas Rame and diverse others were executed at Exeter Besides these persons diverse of his houshold servants whom either hee suspected or doubted were by great crueltie put to shamefull death After this hee called a Parliament in the which he attainted the Earle of Richmond and all other persons which were fled out of the Realme for feare of any other cause as enemies to him their naturall countrey and all their lands goods and possessions were confiscate and seased to the Kings use And yet not content with this prey which no doubt was of no small value and moment hee laid on the peoples neckes a great taxe and tollage and surely necessity to that act in a manner compelled him For what with purging and declaring his innocencie concerning the murther of his Nephewes towards the world what with cost to obtaine the love and favour of the commonaltie which outwardly glosed and openly dissembled with him hee gave prodigally so many and so great rewards that now both hee lacked and scarce knew honestly how to borrow In this troublous season nothing was more marvelled at then that the Lord Stanley had not beene taken and reputed as an enemie to the King considering the working of the Lady Margaret his wife mother to the Earle of Richmond but forasmuch as the enterprise of a woman was of him reputed of no regard or estimation and that the Lord Thomas her husband had purged himselfe sufficiently to be innocent of all doings and attempts by her perpetrated and committed it was given him in charge to keepe her in some secret place at home without having any servant or company so that from thenceforth shee should never send letter nor messenger to her sonne nor any of his friend or confederates by the which the King might bee molested or troubled or any hurt or prejudice might bee attempted against his realme and commonaltie Which commandement was a while put in execution and accomplished according to his dreadfull commandement Yet the wild
the Earle of Richmond how all the deceit and craftie working was conveighed and compassed giving him in charge to counsell and advise the Earle in all haste possible with all his company to retire out of Britaine into France When these newes were brought to the Earle he then kept house in Vannes and incontinent dispatched againe Christopher Vrswike to Charles the French K. requiring him that hee and his might safely passe into France which desire impetrated and obteyned the messenger shortly returned to his Lord and Prince The Earle well perceiving that it was expedient and necessarie with all speede and diligence to looke to this weightie matter calling verie few to councell he made exploration and search of all secret and by waies and sent before all his noble men as though for a certaine familiarity and kindnesse they should visit and comfort the Duke which then for recreation and change of aire lay on the borders and confines of France And secretly hee gave charge to the Earle of Pembrooke which was the leader and conducter of his company that when they approched the marches and limits of Britaine they should divert and take the next way into France The noble men somewhat suspicious of things newly imagined without any tarrying or by the journey gasing scouring the waies as fast as their horse would runne or as they conveniently might beare sustaine came out of the Dutchy of Brittaine into the Dutchy of Angeou in the dominion of France where they expected the Earles comming which two dayes after departed out of Vannes only accompanied with five servitours as though hee had gone to visite some familiar friend of his in a small village adjoyning No man suspected that hee would depart considering that a great multitude of Englishmen were left and continued in the citie but after he had passed directly five miles forward hee suddenly turned into a solitary wood next adjoyning where cloathing himselfe in the simple coate of his poore servant made and appointed his said minister leader and master of his small cōpanie he as an humble page diligently followed and served his counterfeit governour never resting nor themselves refreshing except the bayting of their horses till they by waies unknowne now this way now turning that way came to their company abiding them in Angiers The fourth day after the Earle of Richmond was thus departed that craftie merchant Perter Landoyse trusting still after his prey promised by King Richard was ready to set forward his crew of souldiers which he privily had consigned with certaine trustie captaines for that onely purpose appointed and elected to performe and atchieve his pretensed enterprise dissembling feigning them to be conducted and hired by him to serve the Earle of Richmond and him to conduct in his returne towards his native countrey meaning none other thing but to apprehend him and the other noble men in his retinue which no such fraud suspecting nor yet any treason imagining unawares and unprovided and destitute of all aide and them to cast and detrude suddenly into continuall captivitie and bondage to the intent that by this facinorous and naughty act he might satisfie the charitable request and louing desires of good K. Richard more for his owne profit then for King Richards gaine But when this crafty dissembler Peter Landoyse which was no wiliar then an old Foxe perceived that the Earle was departed thinking that to bee true that hee imagined Lord how curriours ran into every coast how light-horsemen galloped to every streete to follow and detaine him i◠by any possibility hee could bee subsecuted and overtaken and him to incarcerate and bring captive into the citie of Vannes The horsemen made such diligence and with such celeritie set forward their journey that nothing was more likely then they to have obtained yea and seazed their prey For the Earle of Richmond was not entred into the Realme of France scarse one houre but the followers came to the limits and confines of Britaine and durst adventure no further but vainely without their desire sorrowfully returned At which season were left at Vannes about the number of three Englishmen which not being called to counsell and unawares of this enterprise but knowing of the Earles sudden departure were so incontinently astonied that in a manner they were all in despaire both of him and their owne securitie and safegard But fortune turned her saile and otherwise it happened then their feare them incombred For the Duke of Britaine now being somewhat recovered was sore displeased and nothing contented that the Earle of Richmond was in his dominion so uncurteously tracted and intreated that hee should bee by fraud and untruth compelled to leave and fly out of his Dutchy and countrey contrary to his honour Wherfore hee tooke great displeasure with Peter Landoyse his Treasurer to whom although hee knew not and was ignorant that all the drift was driven and devised by him he laid the fault and imputed the crime Wherefore he sent for Edward Woodvile and Edward Powninges valiant Esquiers of England and delivered unto them money sufficient for their conduct willing them them to convey the rest of the Englishmen being in Britaine to the Earle of Richmonds presence When the Earle was thus furnished and appointed with his trusty company and was escaped all the dangerous labyrinthes and snares that were set for him no marvell though he were jocund and glad of the prosperous successe that happened in his affaires Wherefore lest hee should seeme to be blotted with the note of ingratitude hee sent divers of his gentlemen to the Duke of Britaine the which should publish and declare to him on the behalfe of the Earle that hee and his were onely by his benefit and favour conserved and delivered from the imminent danger that they were like to be trapped in Wherefore at that time he rendred to him most heartie thanks in words trusting and not doubting but in time to come liberally to recompence him with acts and deedes After this the Earle tooke his journey to Charles the French King living then at Langes upon the river of Leyre to whom after great thankes given for manifold gratuities by him to the Earle shewed hee disclosed and manifested the cause and occasion of his accesse and repaire to his person After that hee required of him helpe and succour to the intent that by his immortall benefit to him at that time shewed hee might safely returne to the nobilitie of his Realme of whom he was generally called to take upon him the Crowne and Scepter of the Realme they so much hated and abhorred the tyranny of King Richard King Charles promised him aide and comfort and bad him bee of good courage and make good cheere for hee assured him that hee would gladly shew to him his benevolent minde and bountifull liberalitie Which King from thence removed to Mountargis leading with him the Earle of Richmond and all the noble personages of his retinue and faction
not this first begun assault sent the Earle of Oxford with an elected company of Souldiers to raise the siege and rescue the Castle Which at their first arriving pitched their campe not farre from their enemies And while King Richards men gave vigilant eye weighing lest the Earle of Oxford should take any advantage of them that laie on that side of the Castle Thomas Brandon with thirty approved men of warre by a marish which lay on the other side entred into the Castle The souldiers within greatly animâ—â—ed and much comforted by this new succour and aide grieved the enemies by shooting from the walle more then they were accustomed to doe And they of the Castle vexed their enemies on the forepart the Earle of Oxford no lesse molested and unquieted them on the other part which was the occasion that King Richards men offered of their owne meere motion license to all being within the Castle to depart in safetie with bagge and baggage nothing excepted which condition the Earle of Oxford comming onely for that purpose to deliver his loving friends out of all perill danger and chiefely of all his old hostesse Iane Blunt wife to Iames Blunt the Captaine would in no wise repudiate or refuse And so leaving the Castle bare and ungarnished both of vitaile and artillery came safe to the Earle of Richmond sojourning in Paris During this time King Richard was credibly informed of his explorators and espials that the Earle of Richmond was with long suite in the Court of France sore fatigate and wearied and desiring great aide could obtaine small reliefe In so much that all things went so farre backward that such things as were with great diligence and no lesse deliberation purposed and determined to be set forward were now dashed and overthrown to the ground King Richard either being to light of credence or seduced and deluded by his craftie tale-tellers greatly rejoyced as though he had obtained the ooverhand of his enemies with triumph and victorie and thought himselfe never so surely delivered of all feare and dreadfull imaginations so that he needed now no more once for that cause either to wake or breake his golden sleepe Wherefore he called home againe his ships of warre which he had appointed to keepe the narrow seas and dispatched all such souldiers as hee had deputed to keepe certaine garisons and to stoppe certaine passages as you have heard before Yet lest he might for lacke of provision bee suddenly trapped hee straightly charged and gave in commandement to all noble men and in especial such as inhabited neere to the Sea coast and on the frontiers of Wales that according to the usage of the countrey they should keepe diligent watch and strong ward to the intent that his adversaries in no wise should have any place apt or oportune easily to take land without defence or rebutting backe For the custome of the Countreyes adjoyning neere to the Sea is especially in the time of warre on every hill or high place to erect a Beacon with a great lanthorne in the toppe which may be seene and discerned a great space off And when the noyse is once bruted that the enemie approacheth neere the land they suddenly put fire in the lanthornes and make shoutes outrages from towne to towne and from village to village Some runne in post from place to place admonishing the people to bee ready to resist the jeopardy and defend the peril And by this policie the fame is soone blowne to every citie and towne insomuch that as well the citizens as the rurall people be in short space assembled and armed to refell and put backe the new arrived enemies Now to returne to our purpose King Richard thus alleviate of his accustomed pensivenesse began to bee somewhat more merrier and tooke lesse thought and care for outward enemies then hee was wont to doe as who say that hee with politique provisioÌ„ should withstand the destinie which hung over his head and was ordeined in briefe time suddenly to fall Such is the force and puissance of divine justice that every man shall lesse regard lesse provide lesse bee in doubt of all things when hee is most neerest punishment and next to his mischance for his offences and crimes About this season while the Earle of Richmond was desiring aide of the French King certaine noble men were there appointed to rule the Realme of France during the minoritie of King Charles which amongst themselves were not of one opinion Of which dissention Lewes Duke of Orleance was the chiefe stirrer which because he had married Lady Iohanne sister to the French King tooke upon him above other the rule and administratioÌ„ of the whole Realme By reason of which controversie no one man onely was suffered to rule all wherefore the Earle of Richmond was compelled to make suite to every one of the Councell severally one after another requiring and desiring them of aide and reliefe in his weighty businesse and so his cause was prolonged and deferred During which time Thomas Marques Dorset which was as you have heard entised by his mother to returne againe into England partly despairing in the good successe of the Earle of Richmond and partly onerate and vanquished with the faire glosing promises of King Richard secretly in the night season stole out of Paris and with all diligent expediton tooke his journey towards Flanders When relation of his departure was made to the Earle of Richmond and the other Noble men no marvell though they were astonied and greatly amased Yet that notwithstanding they required of the French King that it might bee lawfull for them in his name and by his commandement to take and stay their companion confederate and partaker of all their councell in what place within his Realme territorie wheresoever they could finde him Which petition once obtained they sent out curriers into every part amongst whom Humfrey Cheiny playing the part of a good bloud hound followed the tract of the flyer so even by the sent that hee overtooke and apprehended him not farre from Comprigne and so what with reason and what with faire promises being perswaded hee returned againe to his companions The Earle of Richmâ—nd unburdened of this misadventure lest by procrastination of dayes and prolonging of time hee might lose the great oportunity of things to him offered and ministred also lest hee should further wound or molest the mindes of his faithfull and assured friends which daily did expect and tarry for his comming determined no longer to protract and deferre the time but with all diligence and celerity to attempt his begunne enterprise so obtaining of King Charles a small crew of men and borrowing certaine summes of money of him and of divers other his private friends For the which he left as debtor or more likelyer as a pledge or hostage Lord Thomas Marques Dorset whom he halfe mistrusted and Sir Iohn Burâ—hier hee departed from the French Court and came to the
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
with the ayde and reliefe of his friends intended to passe over the river of Siverne at Shrewesbury so to passe directly to the citie of London requiring them as his especiall trust and confidence was perplanted in the hope of their fidelitie that they would occurre and meete him by the way with all diligent preparation to the intent that hee and they at time propice and place convenient might communicate together the profunditie and deepenesse of all his dubious weighty businesse When the messengers were disparcled with these commandements admonitions hee marched forwards toward Shrewesbury and in his passing there met and saluted him Rice ap Thomas with a goodly band of Welshmen which making an oath promise to the Earle submitted himself wholy to his order and commandement For the Earle of Richmond two dayes before made to him promises that if hee would sweare to take his part and be obedient to him he would make him chiefe governour of Wales which part as he faithfully promised and granted so after that hee had obtained and possessed the Realme and diadem hee liberally performed and accomplished the same In the meane time the messengers that were sent diligently executed the things given to them in charge and laden with rewards of them to whom they were sent returned to him the same day that he entred into Shrewesbury made relation to him that his friends were ready in all points to doe all things for him which either they ought or might doe The Earle Henry brought in good hope with his pleasant message continued foorth his entended journey and came to a little towne called Newport pitching his campe on a little hill adjoyning reposed himselfe there that night In the evening the same day came to him Sir George Talbot with the whole power of the young Earle of Shrewesbury then being inward which were accompted to the number of two thousand men And thus his power increasing he arrived at the towne of Stafford and there pawsed To whom came Sir William Stanley accompanied with a few persons and after that the Earle and hee had communed no long time together he reverted to his souldiers which hee had congregate together to serve the Earle which from thence departed to Lichfield lay without the walles in his campe all the night The next morning hee entred into the towne and was with all honour like a Prince received A day or two before the Lord Stanley having in his band almost five thousand men lodged in the the same towne but hearing that the Earle of Richmond was marched thitherward gave to him place dislodging him and his and repayred to a towne called Adrestone there abiding the comming of the Earle and this wilie Foxe did this act to avoide all suspicion being affraid lest if hee should bee seene openly to be a fautour or ayder to the Earle his son in law before the day of the battell that King Richard which did not utterly put in him diffidence and mistrust would put to some cruell death his sonne and heire apparent George Lord Strange whom King Richard as you have heard before kept with him as a pledge or hostage to the intent that the Lord Stanley his father should attempt nothing prejudiciall to him King Richard at this season keeping his house in the Castle of Nottingham was informed that the Earle of Richmond with such banished men as fled out of England to him were now arrived in Wales and that all things necessary to his enterprise were unprovided unpurveyed and very weake nothing meete to withstand the power of such as the King had appointed to resist him This rumour so inflated his minde that in manner disdaining to heare speake of so poore a company determined at the first to take little or no regard to this so small a sparcle declaring the Earle to bee innocent and unwise because that hee temerariously attempted such a great enterprise with so small thinne a number of warlike persons and therefore hee gave a definitive sentence that when hee came to that point that hee should be compelled to fight against his will he either should be apprehended alive or else by all likelihood hee should of necessitie come to a shamefull confusion and that he trusted to be shortly done by Sir Walter Herbert and Rice ap Thomas which then ruled Wales with equall power and like authoritie But hee revolving and casting in his minde that a small warre begun and winked at and not regarded may turne to a great broyle and tumultuous trouble and that it was prudent policie not to asperne and disdaine the little small power and weakenesse of the enemie be it never so small thought it necessary to provide for after clappes that might happen and chance Wherefore hee sent to Iohn Duke of Norfolke Henry Earle of Northumberland Thomas Earle of Surrey and to other of his especiall and trusty friends of the nobility which he judged much more to preferre and esteeme his wealth and honour then their owne riches and private commoditie willing them to muster and view all their servants and tenants and to elect and chuse the most couragious and active persons of the whole number and with them to repaire to his presence with all speede and diligence Also he wrote to Robert Brakâ—nbury Lieutenant of the Tower commanding him with his power to come to his army and to bring with him as fellowes in armes Sir Thomas Burchier and sir Walter Hungerford and divers other Knights and Esquiers in whom he had cast no smal suspition While hee was thus ordering his affaires tidings came that the Earle of Richmond was passed Severne come to Shrewesbury without any detriment or encombrance At which message hee was sore moved and broyled with Melancolie and dolour and cryed out asking vengeance of them that contrary to their oathes and promises had fraudulently deceived him For which cause he beganne to have diffidence in others in so much that hee determined himselfe out of hand the same day to occurre and resist his adversaries And in all haste sent out explorators to view and espie what way his enemies kept and passed They diligently doing their dutie shortly after returned declaring to the King that the Earle was encamped at the Towne of Lichfield When he had perfect knowledge where the Earle with his army was sojourning he having continuall repaire of his subjects to him began incontinently without delay to marshall and collocate in order his battailes like a valiant captaine and politique leader and first hee made his battailes to set forward foure foure in a rancke marching toward that way whither his enemies as was to him reported intended to passe In the middle part of the army he appointed the trafficke and carriage appertaining to the armie Then hee environed with his satellites and yeomen of the Crowne with a frowning countenance and truculent aspect mounted on a great white courser followed with his footmen the
times more couragious to flye and escape then once to assault the brest of our strong and populous Armie Wherefore conâ—idering all these advantages expell out of your thoughts all doubts and avoid out of your mindes all feare and like valiant Champions advance forth your Standards and assay whether your enemies can decide and try the title of Battaile by dint of Sword Advance I say againe forward my Captaines in whom lacketh neither policie wisdome nor puissance Every one give but one sure stripe and surely the journey is ours What prevaileth a handfull to a whole Realme desiring you for the love that you beare to mee and the affection that you have to your native and naturall countrey and to the safeguard of your Prince and your selfe that you will this day take to you your accustomed courage and couragious spirits for the defence and safeguard of us all And as for me I assure you this day I will triumph by glorious victory or suffer death for immortall fame For they bee contemned and out of the palace of fame degraded dying without renowne which doe not as much preferre and exalt the perpetuall honour of their native Countrey as their owne mortall and transitory life Now Saint George to borrow let us set forward and remember well that I am he which shall with high advancements reward and preferre the valiant and hardy Champions and punish and torment the shamefull cowards and dreadfull dastards This exhortation encouraged all such as favoured him but such as were present more for dread then love kissed them openly whom they inwardly hated others sware outwardly to take part with such whose death they secretly compassed and inwardly imagined others promised to invade the Kings enemies which fled and fought with fierce courage against the King others stood still and looked on intending to take part with the victors and overcommers So was his people to him unsure and unfaithfull at his end as he was to his Nephewes untrue and unnaturall in his beginning When the Earle of Richmond knew by his fore-riders that the King was so neere embattailed hee rode about his Armie from ranke to ranke from wing to wing giving comfortable words to all men and that finished being armed at all peeces saving his Helmet mounted on a little hill so that all his people might see and behold him perfectly to their great rejoycing For he was a man of no great stature but so formed and decorated with all gifts and lineaments of Nature that hee seemed more an angelicall creature then terrestriall personage his countenance and aspect was cheerefull and couragious his haire yellow like burnished Gold his eyes grey shining and quick prompt and ready in answering but of such sobriety that it could never be judged whether he were more dull then quicke in speaking such was his temperance And when hee had over-looked his Armie over every side hee paused a while and after with a loud voyce and bold spirit spake to his Companions these or like the words following If ever God gave victory to men fighting in a just quarrell Or if he ever aided such as made warre for the wealth and tuition of their owne naturall and nutritive Countrey Or if hee ever succoured them which adventured their lives for the reliefe of innocents suppressing of malefactors and apparent offenders No doubt my fellowes and friends but he of his bountifull goodnesse will this day send us triumphant victory and a lucky journey over our proud enemies and arrogant adversaries For if you remember and consider the very cause of our just quarre you shall apparently perceive the same to be true Godly and vertuous In the which I doubt not but God will rather aide us yea and fight for us then see us vanquished and profligate by such as neither feare him nor his lawes nor yet regard justice or honesty Our cause is so just that no enterprise can bee of more vertue both by the lawes divine and civill for what can be a more honest goodly or godly quarrell then to fight against a captaine being a homicide and murtherer of his owne blood and progeny An extreme destroyer of his nobilitie to his and our countrey and the poore subjects of the same a deadly malle a firebrand and burden untolerable besides him consider who bee of his band and company such as by murther and untruth committed against their owne kindred and linnage yea against their Prince and Soveraigne Lord have disherited mee and you and hath wrongfully detained and usurpe over lawfull patrimony and lineall inheritance For he that calleth himself king keepeth from mee the Crowne and regiment of this noble Realme and Countrey contrary to all justice and equity Likewise his mates and friends occupie your lands cut downe your woods and destroy your mannors letting your wives and children range abroad for their living which persons for their penance and punishment I doubt not but God of his goodnesse will either deliver into our hands as a great gaine and booty or cause them being grieved and compuncted with the pricke of their corrupt consciences cowardly to fly and not abide the battell besides this I assure you that there be yonder in that great battell men brought thither for feare and not for love souldiers by force compelled and not with good will assembled persons which desire rather the destruction then the salvation of their master and captaine and finally a multitude whereof the most part will bee our friends and the least part our enemies For truly I doubt which is greater the malice of the souldiers towards their captaine or the feare of him conceived of his people for surely this rule is infallible that as ill men daily covet to destroy the good so God appointeth the good to confound the ill of al worldly goods the greatest is to suppresse tyrants and relieve innocents whereof the one is ever as much hated as the other is beloved If this bee true as Clerkes preach who will spare yonder tyrant Richard Duke of Gloucester untruely calling himselfe King considering that hee hath violated and broken both the law of God and man what vertue is in him which was the confusion of his brother and murtrerer of his nephewes what mercy is in him that flieth his trusty friends aswell as his extreme enemies Who can have confidence in him which putteth diffidence in all men If you have not read I have heard Clerkes say that Tarquin the proud for the vice of the body lost the Kingdome of Rome and the name of Tarquin banished from the Citie for ever yet was not his fault so detestable as the fact of cruell Nero which slew his owne mother and opened her entralls to behold the place of his conception Behold yonder Richard which is both Tarquin and Nero yea a tyrant more then Nero for he hath not only murthered his Nephewe being his King and soveraigne Lord bastarded his noble brethren and defamed the wombe of his
vertuous and womanly mother but also compassed all the meanes and waies that hee could invent how to stuprate carnally know neece his under the pretence of a cloaked matrimony which Lady I have sworne and promised to take and make my wife as you all know and beleeve If this cause bee not just and this quarrell godly let God the giver of victory judge and determine We have thankes be given to Christ escaped the secret treasons in Britaine and avoyded the subtile snares of our fraudulent enemies there passed the troublous seas in good and quiet safegard and without resistance have penetrate the ample region and large countrey of Wales and are now come to the place which wee so much desired for long wee have sought the furious Bore and now we have found him Wherfore let us not feare to enter into the toyle where wee may surely slay him for God knoweth that wee have lived in the vales of miserie tossing our shippes in dangerous stormes let us not now dread to set up our sailes in faire weather having with us both him and good fortune If wee had come to conquer Wales and had achieved it our prayse had beene great and our gaine more but if wee winne this battell the whole Realme of England with the Lords and Rulers of the same shall be ours the profit shall be ours and the honour shall be ours Therefore labour for your gaine and sweat for your right while wee were in Britaine wee had small livings and little plenty of wealth or welfare now is the time come to get abundance of riches and copie of profit which is the reward of your service and merit of your paine And this remember with your selves that before us be our Enemies and on either side of us bee such as I neither surely trust nor greatly beleeve backeward wee cannot fly So that here wee stand like sheepe in a fold circumsepted and compassed betweene our enemies our doubtfull friends Therefore let all feare be set aside and like sworne brethren let us joyne in one for this day shall bee the end of our travell and the gaine of our labour either by honorable death or famous victory And as I trust the battelâ— shall not be so sower as the profit shall bee sweet Remember that victory is not gotten with multitude of men but with the courage of hearts and valliantnesse of mindes The smaller that our number is the more glorie is to us if wee vanquish if we be overcome yet no laud is to bee attributed to the victors considering that tenne men fought against one and if we die so glorious a death in so good a quarrell neither fretting time nor cancaring oblivion shall bee able to obfuscate or race out of the booke of fame either our names or our godly attempt And this one thing I assure you that in so just and good a cause and so notable a quarrell you shall find mee this day rather a dead carion upon the coole ground then a free prisoner on a carpit in a Ladies chamber Let us therefore fight like invincible gyants and set on our enemies like untimerous Tigers and banish all feare like ramping lyons And advance forward true men against traytors pittifull persons against murtherers true inheritours against usurpers the scourges of God against tyrants display my banner with a good courage march forth like strong robustious champions and begin the battell like hardy conquerors the battell is at hand and the victorie approacheth and if we shamefully recoile or cowardly fly wee and all our sequell be destroyed and dishonored for ever This is the day of gaine and this is the time of losse get this day victorie and bee conquerors and leese this daies battell and bee villaines and therefore in the name of God let every man couragiously advance forth with his standard These chearefull words hee set forth with such gesture of body smiling countenance as though already hee had vanquished his enemies and gotten the spoyle Hee had scantly finished his saying but the one armie espied the other Lord how hastily the souldiers buckled their helmes how quickly the archers bent their bowes and frushed their feathers how readily the billmen shooke their billes and prooved their staves ready to approach and joyn when the terrible trumpet shall sound the bloody blast to victorie or death Betweene both armies there was a great marsh which the Earle of Richmond left on his right hand for this intent that it should be on that side a defence for his part and in so doing he had the sunne at his backe and in the faces of his enemies When King Richard saw the Earles company was passed the marsh hee commanded with all hast to set upon them then the Tâ—umpeters blew and souldiers shouted and the Kings archers couragiously let fly their arrowes the Earles bowmen stood not still but paide them home againe The terrible shot once past the armies joyned and came to hand strokes where neither sword nor bill was spared at which encounter the Lord Stanley joyned with the Earle The Earle of Oxford in the meane season fearing lest while his company was fighting they should bee compassed and circumvented with the multitude of his enemies gave commandement in every ranke that no man should be so hardy as to goe above tenne foot from the standard which commandement once knowne they knit themselves together and ceased a little from fighting the adversaries suddenly abashed at the matter mistrusting some fraud or deceit beganne also to pause and left striking and not against the will of many which had rather have had the King destroyed then saved and therefore they fought very faintly or stood sâ—ill The Earle of Oxford bringing all his band together on the one part set on his enemies afresh againe the adversaries perceiving that placed their men slender and thinne before and thicke and broade behind beginning againe hardily the battell While the two forwards thus mortally fought each intending to vanquish and convince the other King Richard was admonished by his explorators and espialles that the Earle of Richmond accompanied small with a number of men of armes was not far off and as he approched marched towards him he perfectly knew his personage by certaine demonstrations and tokens which hee had learned and knowne of others And being inflamed with ire and vexed with outragious malice he put his spurres to his horse and rode out of the side of the range of his Battaile leaving the avantguards fighting and like a hungry Lion ran with Speare and rest toward him The Earle of Richmond perceived well the King furiously came toward him and because the whole hope of his wealth and purpose was to bee determined by Battaile hee gladly proffered to encounter with him body to body and man to man King Richard set on so sharply at the first brunt that he overthrew the Earles Standard and slew Sir William Brandon his Standard Bearer
which was Father to Sir Charles Brandon by King Henry the 8. created Duke of Suffolke and matched hand to hand with Sir Iohn Cheiny a man of great force and strength which would have resisted him and the said Iohn was by him manfully overthrowne and so he making open passage by dent of sword as hee went forward the Earle of Richmond withstood his violence and kept him at the swords point without advantage longer then his companions either thought or judged which being almost in despaire of Victory were suddenly recomforted by Sir William Stanley which came to succour them with three thousand tall men at which very instant King Richards men were driven back and fled and hee himselfe manfully fighting in the middle of his enemies was slaine brought to his death as hee worthily had deserved In the mean season the Earle of Oxford with the aide of the Lord Stanley after no long fight discomâ—ted the forward of King Richard whereof a great number were slaine in the flight but the greatest number which compelled by feare of the King and not of their meer valiant motion came to the field gave never a stroke and having no harme nor damage safely departed which came not thither in hope to see the King prosper and prevaile but to hear that he should be shamefully confounded and brought to ruine In this Battaile dyed few above the number of a thousand persons And of the Nobilitie were slaine Iohn Duke of Norfolke which was warned by divers to refraine the Field insomuch that the night before hee should set forward toward the King one wrote on his Gate Iack of Norfolke be not too bold For Dickon thy Master is bought and sold. Yet all this notwithstanding hee regarding more his oath his honour and promise made to King Richard like a Gentleman and a faithfull subject to his Prince absented not himselfe from his Master but as hee faithfully lived under him so hee manfully dyed with him to his great fame and laud. Theâ—e were slaine beside him Walter Lord Ferrers of Chartley Sir Richard Radâ—liffe and Robert Brakenâ—uâ—y Lieutenant of the Tower and not many Gentlemen more Sir William Catesbey learned in the Lawes of the Realme and one of the chiefe Counsellors to the late King with divers others were two dayes after beheaded at Leicester Amongst them that ranne away were Sir Francis Vicount Lovell and Humfrey Stafford and Thomas Stafford his Brother which took Sanctuary at Saint Iohns at Gloucester Of Captives and prisoners there was a great number for after the death of King Richard was knowne and published every man in manner vnarming himselfe and casting away his abiliment of warre meekly submitted themselves to the obeisance and rule of the Earle of Richmond of the which the more part had gladly so done in the beginning if they might have conveniently escaped from King Richards espyals which having as cleare eyes as Linx and as open eares as Midas ranged and searched in every quarter Amongst these was Henry the fourth Earle of Northumberland which whether it was by the commandement of King Richard putting diffidence in him or he did it for the love and favour that hee bare unto the Earle stood still with a great companie and intermitted not in the battell which was incontinently received into favour and made of the councell But Thomas Howard Earle of Surrey which submitted himselfe there was not taken to grace because his Father was chiefe Counceller and hee ly familiar with with King Richard but committed to the Tower of London where hee long remained and in conclusion delivered and for his truth and fidelitie after promoted to high honours and dignities On the Earle of Richmonds part were slaine scarce one hundred persons amongst whom the principall was sir William Brandon his standard bearer This battell was fought at at Bosworth in Leicestershire the two and twentieth day of August in the yeare one thousand foure hundred eighty sixe the whole conflict endured litle above two houres King Richard as the fame went might have escaped and gotten safegard by flying For when they which were next about his person saw and perceived at the first joyning of the battell the souldiers faintly and nothing couragiously to set on their enemies and not onely that but also that some with drew themselves privily out of the prease and departed They beganne to suspect fraud and smell treason and not only exhorted but determinately advised him to save himselfe by flight and when the losse of the battell was eminent and apparent they brought to him a swift and a light horse to convey him away He which was not ignorant of the grudge and ill will that the common people bare towards him casting away all hope of fortunate successe and happie chance to come answered as men say hee would make an end of all battailes or else there finish his life Such a great audacitie and such a stout stomacke raigned in his body for surely he knew that to be the day in the which it should bee decided and determined whether hee should peaceably obtaine and enjoy his kingdome during his life or else utterly forgoe and bee deprived of the same with which too much hardinesse hee being overcome hastily closed his helmet and entered fiercely into the hard battell to the intent to obtaine that day a quiet raigne or else to finish there his unquiet life and unfortunate governance And so this miser at the same very point had like chance and fortune as happeneth to such which in place of right justice and honesty following their sensuall appetite love use and imbrace mischiefe tyranny and unthriftinesse Surely these be examples of more vehemency then mans tongue can expresse to feare and astunne such evill persons as will not live one houre vacant from doing and exercising crueltie mischiefe or outragious living When the Earle had thus obtained victorie and slaine his mortall enemie hee kneeled downe and rendered to almighty God his harty thankes with devout and godly orisons beseeching his goodnesse to send him grace to advance and defend the catholike faith and to maintaine justice and concord amongst his subjects and people by God now to his governance committed and assigned which prayer finished he replenished with incomparable gladnesse ascended up to the top of a little mountaine where he not onely praysed anâ—â—â—â—ded his valiant souldiers but also gave unto them his harty thankes with promise of condigne recompence for their fidelitie and valiant facts willing and commanding all the hurt and wounded persons to bee cured and the dead carcases to bee delivered to the Sepulture Then the people rejoyced and clapped hands crying up to heaven King Henry King Henry When the Lord Stanley saw the good will and gratuity of the people hee tooke the Crowne of King Richard which was found amongst the spoyle in the field and set it on the Earles head as though hee had beene elected King by the voice of the people as in
ancient times past in divers Realmes it hath beene accustomed and this was the first signe and token of his good lucke and felicitie I must put you here in remembrance how that King Richard putting some diffidence in the Lord Stanley which had with him as an hostage the Lord Strange his eldest sonne which Lord Stanley as you have heard before joyned not at the first with his sonne in lawes army for feare that King Richard would have slaine the Lord Strange his heire When King Richard was come to Bosworth he sent a pursevant to the Lord Stanley commanding him to advance forward with his company and to come to his presence which thing if hee refused to doe he swore by Christs passion that hee would strike off his sonnes head before hee dined The Lord Stanley answered the Pursevant that if the King did so hee had more sons alive and to come to him he was not then so determined when King Richard heard this answer hee commanded the Lord Strange incontinent to bee beheaded which was at that very same season when both the armies had â—ight each of the other The Councellors of King Richard pondering the time and the cause knowing also the Lord Strange to be innocent of his fathers offence perswaded the King that it was now time to fight and not time to execution advising him to keepe the Lord Strange as a prisoner till the battell was ended and then at leisure his pleasure might bee accomplished So as God would King Richard infringed his holy oath and the Lord wâ—s â—elivered 〈◊〉 the keepers of the Kings tenâ— to bee kept as a prisoner which when the field was done and their master slaine and proclamation made to know where the child was they submitted themselves as prisoners to the Lord Strange and hee gently received them and brought them to the new proclamed King where of him and of his father hee was received with great joy and gladnesse After this the whole campe removed with bag and baggage and the same night in the evening King Henry with great pompe came to the towne of Leicester Where as well for the refreshing of his people and souldiers as for preparing all things necessary for his journey toward London hee rested and reposed himselfe two dayes In the meane season the dead corps of King Richard was as shamefully carried to the towne of Leicester as hee gorgiously the day before with pompe and pride departed out of the same towne For his body was naked and despoyled to the skin and nothing left about him not so much as a clout to cover his privie members and was trussed behind a pursevant of armes called Blaunche Senglier or white Boare like a hogge or a calfe the head and armes hanging on the one side of the horse and the legges on the other side and all besprinkled with mire and blood was brought to the Gray Fryers Church within the towne and there laid like a miserable spectacle but surely considering his mischievous acts and Facinorous doings men may worthily wonder at such a caitive and in the said Church hee was with no lesse funerall pompe and solemnitie interred then hee would to bee done at the burying of his innocent Nephewes whom hee caused cruelly to bee murthered and unnaturally to be quelled When his death was known few lamented and many rejoyced the proud bragging white Boare which was his badge was violently rased and plucked downe from every signe and place where it might be espied so ill was his life that men wished the memorie of him to bee buried with his carren corpes Hee raigned two yeares two moneths and one day As he was small and little of stature so was he of body greatly deformed the one shoulder higher then the other his face small but his countenance was cruell and such that a man at the first aspect would judge it to savour and smell of malice fraude and deceit when hee stood musing hee would bite and chew beasly his nether lippe as who said that his fierce nature in his cruell body alwaies chafed stirred and was ever unquiet besides that the dagger that hee wore hee would when hee studied with his hand plucke up and downe in the sheath to the midst never drawing it fully out his wit was pregnant quicke and ready wille to â—iegne and apt to dissemble hee had a proud minde and an arrogant stomacke the which accompanied him to his death which hee rather desiring to suffer by dent of sword then being forsaken and destitute of his untrue companions would by coward flight preserve and save his uncertaine life Which by malice sicknesse or condigne punishment â—ight chanâ—e shortly after to come to confusion Thus ended this Prince his mortall life with infamie and dishonour which never preferred fame or honesty before ambition tyranny and mischiefe And if hee had continued still Protectour and suffered his Nephewes to have lived and raigned no doubt but the Realme had prospered and hee much praysed and beloved as hee is now abhorred and vilipended but to God which knew his interior cogitations at the hower of his death I commit the punishment of his offences committed in his life FINIS This Kings time with some part of King Richard the third as shall appeare by a note made at that place was written by Sir Thomas Moore Richard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke The 3. sonnes of Richard Duke of Yorke described George Duke of Clarence drowned in a But of Maâ—msey The Description of Richard the 3. King Henry the 6. slaine in the Tower by Richard the 3. An Exhortation of King Edward the 4. on his death bed Edmund Shaw Maior of London Of Sanctuaries The discription of Shores wife The discription of King Edwards three Concubines The destruction of King Edwards Children King Edwards Children murthered