Barwicke is deliuered to the Duke of Glocester who making the Lord Stanley the chiefest Captaine and Commander thereof returned ioifully with his whole Armie and was much praised and thanked by the King This good newes from Scotland was quickly checked with a bad out of France The French King breaketh all the Articles of Peace For the French King not only refused to pay vnto King Edward the foresaid tribute of fiftie thousand Crownes by the yeare which was granted to him during his life but also maried his sonne the Dolphin to the Ladie Margaret daughter to Maximilian the sonne of Fredericke the Emperour thereby breaking his oath and infringing those Articles which vpon the last conclusion of peace he had sworne solemnly to obserue and keepe Whereat King Edward iustly conceiued such an high displeasure and hatred against King Lewys that after long and serious consultation with his Counsell K. Edward resolueth to goe with an Armie into France Nobilitie Clergie and Commons he did resolue to passe againe with a royall Armie into France and to reuenge himselfe of all those iniuries and wrongs But whilest those preparations made manifest to the world the Kings intention to make warre hee being either surcharged with deepe melancholie or with some surfet for excesse of diet and of pleasure did oftentimes disquiet him waxed exceeding sicke He sickneth He dieth and shortly after died when he had raigned more then two and twentie yeares Profitable Notes extracted out of the troublesome raignes of King HENRIE the Sixth and of King EDVVARD the Fourth THe whole Kingdome of France was lost in the seuen and twentieth yeare of King Henry the Sixth 27. H. 6. And the next yeare after all Normandie was lost 28. H. 6. 31. H. 6. And in the one and thirtieth yeare of his raigne the Duchie of Aquitaine was quite taken from him It is likewise to be obserued that whilest hee gouerned and enioied Normandie and France these heroicall Nobles lost their liues there that is to say Thomas Montacute Earle of Salisburie 6. H. 6. 12. H. 6. 14. H. 6. 18. H. 6. 31. H. 6. who was slaine at the siege of Orleance Iohn Earle of Arundel who was slaine at the siege of Rue the noble and renowned Lord Iohn Duke of Bedford and Regent of France and Richard Beauchampe Earle of Warwicke both which died of a greeuous sicknesse and Iohn Lord Talbot Earle of Shrewesburie who was slaine at the battaile of Chastilion Besides many braue skirmishes and strong encounters there were fought during his raigne betwixt the two factions and Confederates of the houses of Lancaster and of Yorke fiue cruell and fierce battailes 1. The first was called the battaile of S. Albons 34. H. 6. wherein the Yorkish did preuaile and among others Edmund Duke of Somerset Henry the second Earle of Northumberland Humfrey Earle of Stafford and Iohn Lord Clifford were then slaine 2. The second was termed the battaile of Bloarheath 37. H. 6. in which the confederated Lords wonne the victorie in which the Queenes Generall the Lord Awdley was slaine 3. The third was the battaile of Northampton 38. H. 6. in which King Henry was ouerthrowen In this battaile there died aboue tenne thousand men among which were these Nobles Humfrey Duke of Buckingham Iohn Earle of Shrewesburie Thomas Lord Egremont Iohn Viscount Beamount and the Lord Scales was beheaded 39. H. 6. 4. The fourth was the battaile of Wakefield in which the King was victorious In this battaile there were slaine almost three thousand men among which was the renowned and most valiant Richard Duke of Yorke and many others And certaine prisoners were then taken and lost their heads among which Richard Neuil Earle of Salisburie and father to Richard Earle of Warwicke was the chiefe And at the end of that battaile the young Earle of Rutland named Edmund being of the age of twelue yeares and second sonne to the slaine Duke of Yorke was cruelly murdered by the Lord Clifford 39. H. 6. 5. The fifth battaile was called the battaile of Towton in which the new Duke of Yorke preuailed and in the same there were slaine almost 37000. Englishmen among which were the Earle of Westmerland Henry Earle of Northumberland the Lords Dacres and Welles and many worthie Gentlemen and Knights And the Earle of Deuonshire with some of his Complices being taken prisoners lost their heads 29. H. 6. Whilest this King liued there were also executed for diuers Treasons touching the said two Factions William de la Pole Duke of Suffolke and Iames Fynes Lord Say High Treasurer of England And Humfrey 25. H. 6. surnamed The good Duke of Glocester being Vncle and Protector to the King and being vniustly committed to the Tower for surmised but not for approued Treasons was cruelly murdered in his chamber King EDVVARD the Fourth IN the raigne of King Edward the Fourth there were principally fought fiue battailes betwixt the houses of Lancaster and Yorke 2. E. 4. 1. The first was the battaile of Exham in the North in which King Edward obtained the victorie and tooke these prisoners among many others Henry Duke of Somerset William Taylboys who named himselfe Earle of Kent the Lords Roos Molynes and Hungerford all which were within few daies after put to death 8. E. 4. 2. The second was called Banburie Field in which were slaine aboue 8000. men 8. E. 4. 3. The third was called the battaile of Loose-coats because the souldiers threw off their coats to run away the faster And in it aboue ten thousand men lost their liues 4. The fourth was Barnet field 10. E. 4. in which more then ten thousand died among which were the most renowned Richard Neuil Earle of Warwicke Iohn Marquesse Montacute his brother whom King Edward entirely loued And on King Edwards part there was slaine a noble and a valiant Gentleman named Sir Humfrey Bourchier sonne to the Lord Barnes 5. And the fifth was called Tewkesburie Field in which 3000. 10. E. 4. Englishmen were slaine among which were the Duke of Somerset and the Lord Iohn his brother and the Earle of Deuonshire In this Kings raigne there were beheaded the Lord Stafford 8. E. 4. who left the Earle of Pembroke vpon a priuate falling out in the Field and caried from him part of the Kings Armie The Lord Welles and Sir Thomas Dymocke 8. E. 4. without any offence at all by them done Richard Wooduile Earle Ryuers and father to Queene Elizabeth 8. E. 4. King Edward wife was taken by the Rebels and lost his head And the Lord Wenloke was murdered by the Duke of Somerset 10. E. 4. because he came not to his rescue with his Companies in the field The young Prince Edward eldest sonne to King Henry the sixth 10. E. 4. to please King Edward was cruelly murdered by the two Dukes of Clarence and of Glocester and by some others King Henry the sixth
was himselfe stabbed with a dagger 10. E. 4. and slain in the Tower of London by the said Richard Duke of Glocester And not long after 10. E. 4. the Duke of Clarence was found dead in his bed he hauing beene drowned in a Butte of Malmesie not without the Kings consent as it was supposed And thus open and ciuill warres by the sword and the common Executioner with his axe and inueterated enuie and malice with bloudie hands bereaued and tooke away the liues of the greater number of the most renowned and valiant Noblemen Captaines and Gentlemen of this Realme THE HISTORIE OF KING EDVVARD THE FIFTH IF our memories be pleased to take a reuiew of the life and actions of the late deceased King Edward the Fourth Edward the Fourth described wee may thereon make this pretie abbreuiate and short collection That hee was of a goodly personage and of a kingly presence That he was very strong and passing valiant not proud in prosperitie nor deiected with aduerse fortune That hee was moderately pleasant and merie That he was pleasing to his Nobles familiar with his souldiers and amiable to his inferiour subiects That he was mercifull to offenders and fauoured all such as did well That he was very wise discreet prouident and soundly aduised in all his actions Yet was he somewhat too credulous and too wanton and in his latter daies more couetous then formerly he had beene By many worthy endeuours he expressed how much hee longed for his peoples loue His affabilitie and by one action hee more particularly declared it then by all the rest For in the next Summer before he died hee required the Lord Maior of London and his brethren to repaire to his Castle of Windsour where hee then lay And when they expected some extraordinarie imploiment in State affaires because so many of them were called thither not troubling them with any businesse either great or small priuate or publike nor requiring of them any supplies from their plentie hee royally feasted banqueted and entertained them not only with the choisest best and most costly delicates that could bee gotten but also hee gladded them vnspeakably with his owne presence and companion-like behauiour Hee afterwards carried them into his Parke where the thicke fall of fat Deere besides many other things gaue them warrant of their kinde welcome And at their departing from him he sent such great store of venison into the Citie for the friendly feasting of their neighbours there that nothing euer won him more heartie loue among his subiects of that place He left behinde him two sonnes Edward who being of the age of thirteene yeares vnfortunately succeeded him in this Kingdome and Richard Duke of Yorke who was two yeares younger and fiue daughters namely Elizabeth who afterwards maried King Henry the seuenth and was mother to King Henry the eighth and Cicilie Bridget and Katherine whose fortunes seldome laughed and Anne who maried Thomas Lord Haward who after was created Earle of Surrey Richard Duke of Glocester described The said noble King when he died left behinde him but one brother namely Richard Duke of Glocester who was by common report a monster in nature For he had many teeth when he was borne He was exceedingly deformed in the composure of his bodie for of stature he was but low crooke-backed his left shoulder was much higher then the other his visage was vncomely his complexion swart and browne he was exceeding strong yet much withered in his left arme he was violent fierce and bloudily cruell a good souldier discreet to order well and politicke to rule Hee was very hastie and forward in great expeditions and weightie actions yet wise and well aduised before hee would attempt to fight He was ambitious beyond measure and his desires for soueraigntie had no bounds What he contriued were it good or bad hee would by one meanes or by another assuredly effect it Hee made his conscience in all things to serue his will though his will could not bee obtained without the effusion of guiltlesse bloud He would oftentimes make himselfe poore by his lauish bountie to such as wickedly serued his turne and would againe quickly enrich himselfe by pilling and by polling of ciuill and of honest men Hee was so cunning a dissembler that hee would accompanie most familiarly and iest pleasantly with such as hee inwardly hated in his heart Hee spared no mans death whose life resisted his vngodly purposes nor punished any man for any offence if his wickednesse might be applied to his seruice This ambitious this fierce and this cruell man in his brother King Edwards daies as wise men did coniecture directed his aime to make himselfe a King 10. E. 4. For he with others murdered Prince Edward the eldest sonne of King Henry the Sixth 10. E. 4. and with his owne hand hee slew the same King when he was a prisoner in the Tower and was consenting as the world blabbed to the death and destruction of his elder brother George Duke of Clarence in the same place 10. E. 4. King Edwards death and the minoritie of his two sonnes Richard aimeth to the Crowne gaue him fit opportunitie to worke mischiefe which first of all he resolued to prosecute by the reuiuing of olde grudges betwixt the Queenes kindred and the Kings although the last King in his death-bed had reconciled them and made them all friends For he knew that where malice and hatred are of counsell there no good action or sound conclusion can be expected And by this practise he endeuoured first to make him selfe equall with the best and then to be the best of all Wee must also now obserue that at the time of King Edwards death the young Prince in his owne person kept his residence and Court at Ludlow in the dominion of Wales that by his presence he might restraine the Welshmen from such outragious enterprises as oftentimes their licentious and bad manners incited them to commit And the protection of his person was by the last King appointed to Anthonie Earle Ryuers the Queenes brother and by the mothers side Vncle to the said Prince And her allies and her kinsfolkes did now possesse all roomes and offices of honour and of profit about him hee being King which the Duke of Glocester much maligned and so scorned it that in his conceits he contriued how he might thrust them all out of those places For which purpose hee oftentimes secretly and seriously conferred with Edward Duke of Buckingham and Richard Lord Hastings who was Chamberlaine to the last King To them hee discouered the meane descent of the Queene and of her kinsfolkes in respect of theirs and told them plainly that if those Vpstarts remained so neere vnto the King in his youth they would through his fauour be so powerfull when he came to his full age that all their honours their possessions and their liues would be in danger to be made
Scotland the Low Countries Gascoyne Guyan and elsewhere and then he displaced those corrupted Officers and placed better in their steads The Prince is committed to prison and Pierce Gaueston is banisht Cornwall and Wales giuen to the Prince 29. 1300. Peace betwixt England and Scotland The Scots doe sweare obedience The Popes claime to be high Lord of Scotland and his command to King Edward About the same time Doctor Langton then Bishop of Chester complained grieuously to the King vpon Edward the yong Prince who by the lewd aduice and instigation of Pierce Gaueston his loose and gracelesse companion brake forcibly into his Parke and made hauocke of his game for which the Prince was committed to prison and Gaueston was banished the land and required not to return on paine of death And the next yeere after Edmund Earle of Cornwall sonne to Richard King of the Romans died without issue so that that Earldome reuerted to the Crowne which together with the Principalitie of Wales the King gaue vnto Prince Edward his eldest sonne and heire apparant to his Crowne In the three and thirtieth yeer of King Edwards raigne a generall peace was proclaimed betweene England and Scotland and Robert le Bruse and many other knights Lords and Earles of that Country came into England and voluntarily swore their fealtie and their homage to the king yet before one yeare was fully expired the said Lord Bruse and many others secretly procured from the Pope an instrument in writing by which the Pope made claime to the kingdome of Scotland as holden of his Church of Rome and the king was thereby peremptorily required to surcease from all demands of Tenure and of Soueraintie ouer it The Kings message to the Pope But the king by the aduice of his Nobles signified by his Embassadors to the Pope That the Signiory and Lordship of the said kingdome of Scotland did only belong to the kings of England and not vnto the See of Rome nor vnto any other and therefore he prayed him to reuoke his said Instrument and vniust claime for that both hee and his Nobles were resolued to maintain his right and lawfull inheritance therein with the vtmost expence of their goods lands and liues But whilst those things were thus handling Robert le Bruse doth vsurp in Scotland The King in his owne person the fourth time subdueth the Scots The vsurper flieth into Norway The King dieth Robert le Bruse by the Popes consent caused himself to be crowned king of that Realm which occasioned king Edward the fourth time to enter into Scotland with a puissant Armie where he so largely extended his valor and with the sword so fiercely deuoured the Inhabitants which ioynd with their vsurping king that they were compelled with extraordinarie tokens of subiection and humilitie to yeeld themselues to the kings mercie And Robert le Bruse finding no meanes to make good his false title to that Crown secretly withdrew himselfe and fled into Norway where he remained vntill king Edwards death which happened soone after when hee had raigned victoriously almost thirty fiue yeeres THE HISTORIE OF KING EDVVARD THE SECOND AFTER the Kings death his sonne Edward succeeded and was crowned King His tall and comely Personage An euill King graced with outward Majestie seemed to promise manie blessings to ensue But his Maners being grossely corrupted by lewd and gracelesse companions were so lasciuious and vnbefitting the condition of a King that he became burthensome to his Nobilitie and almost a skorne to his inferior subjects For hee neglected the societie and the counsell of such as were wise and graue and consorted himselfe with his owne Minions by meanes whereof he put in practise euerie loathed thing wherein hee could either take pleasure or expresse his follie So that his euill Gouernment made his Kingdome to be vnfortunate and himselfe a president of wretchednesse to succeeding Ages as in the discourse of his Historie it will more particularly appeare No sooner was his head adorned with his Imperiall Crowne Pierce Gaueston but his heart longed for Pierce Gaueston the wicked corrupter of his youth and the professed enemie of all honestie and vertue For albeit that he was exiled by the last King The King breakes his Oath to recall Gaueston who tooke an Oath of this his Successor neuer to permit him vnpunished to come backe againe into England yet the remembrance of his villanies consorting with the Kings bad nature and euill disposition was a quicke messenger for his returne Pierce Gaueston is all in all And his arriuall so aboundantly replenished the Kings conceits with extraordinarie joy that nothing else in comparison of it gaue him anie contentment Neither could anie man besides him expect for anie gracefull entertainement from the King The Nobles tell the King of his Oath The Noble men who perfectly knew how wickedly this Gaueston was enclined perceiuing that the King doted on him and that his affections towards him were vnlimited being perplexed with inward griefe and fearing the Ruine which through his insolencie threatened the subuersion of the whole Realme emboldened themselues to put the King in minde of his oath But as his conscience troubled him not for the breach thereof So their disliking encreased his desires towards Gaueston and to make him great For Gaueston alone and none but Gaueston was likely to doe all in all and frowne hee that frowne would the King cared not who was displeased hee was resolued that Gaueston should be great And therefore hee first Lorded him with the Baronie of Wallingford Gaueston is aduanced and soone after he created him Earle of Cornwall and made him the sole and onely Commander ouer his Iewels and his Treasure In which Office so absolute was his power and so cunning was his craftie head to prouide in the time of his prosperitie for aduerse fortune which might ensue that secretly he conueyed beyond the Sea a faire Table and Tressels He conueyes the Kings Iewels out of the Realme all made of beaten gold and manie rich and precious Ornaments and Iewels to the great hurt and prejudice of the King and of this Realme Hee also tooke much pleasure to feede the Kings fancies with great varietie of new delights The King liueth loosely and lewdly and by his example hee enured him to Banquet Drinke and to Carowse beyond measure And his dishonest persuasions and enticements made him carelesse of the Bed and of the societie and fellowship of Isabell his Religious and vertuous Queene the daughter of the French King Philip the faire and sister to his Successor Charles the fourth and trayned him to the adulterous consortship of wanton Curtizans and shamelesse Whores The Queene in vaine seeketh to reclaime the King The Queene who sorrowed hereat beyond measure reposed all means for redresse of those her vnsufferable wrongs in her prayers vnto God and in her modest wooings for her Kings loue But all her endeuours
small a number forth with retired and with continuall assault so sharply oppressed the besieged for many dayes that hee scarcely gaue them leasure to take breath By meanes whereof they were almost tired and so worne out that small hope of long resistance was left vnto them except they were in due time rescued and relieued by the King To giue his Highnesse intelligence whereof it was resolued That one of them in the depth of the night must giue a desperate aduenture through the Scottish Campe. This proiect seemed so full of imminent perill and danger A braue attempt with fortunate successe that euery one of the inferiors refused the attempt So that the braue Knight himselfe considering aduisedly in what case the Castle stood and pitying the distressed estate of the comfortlesse Countesse his sister who expected nothing but villainous abuse if it were yeelded with a setled resolution vndertooke the iourney And being gallantly mounted vpon a swift courser he speedily posted through all the thousands of his enemies And in the morning hee informed Dauid by such passingers as hee did meete that very quickely hee should heare newes of him againe The Castle is brauely assaulted and defended The siege is raised The Scots knowing that it was no time to linger and yet being desirous to reuenge the great disgrace which their Armie had receiued againe and againe furiously assaulted the Castle and in them they performed many braue feates of Armes which witnessed their eager longing to haue wonne it but they were still repulsed and beaten backe with many incredible slaughters of their Souldiers The King comes to late for the Scots are gone and were compelled to raise the siege and with great speede to hasten into their owne Countrie King Edward the very day of their departure had trauelled a long and wearie iourney thinking to haue met them there But he failed of his purpose for which hee was much grieued Yet by the mediation of diuers Honourable personages A Truce a Truce was concluded on for a few Moneths But to be enlarged for two yeares if the French King without whose leaue the Scots could make no Peace would consent thereto The French King liked the motion well and gaue freedome to the Earle of Salisburie For whom the Earle of Morret was by kiâ—â— Edward set at libertie And though king Edward tooke but little pleasure in this Truce The causes why the King consented to this Truce yet he was the more easily drawne to consent thereto because at the same time he had Warres in France Gascoyne Poyters Paynton Britaine and else where All which daily consumed as much Treasure as he could get The king when hee perceiued that the Scots were gone from the Castle disarmed himselfe and with ten The King makes loue to the Countesse of Salisburie or twelue Lords and Knights entred into the Castle where the excellent beautie and modest behauiour of the sweete Countesse of Salisburie so inflamed his heart that by secret and amorous wooings he endeauoured to perswade her to ease his passions with her loue But the vertuous Lady first with milde and kind intreaties Shee cares not for it and afterwards with quicke and nipping reprehensions striued to make the king to see his owne errour But such was his desire and her denials were so peremptorie and resolute That discontentedly the King left her cashired his Armie and returned backe againe And hauing for many yeares together beene vexed The King keepes a solemne Feast and toyled in sundrie Warres hee intended to recreate himselfe his Lords his knights and chiefest Martialists with such pastimes and sportings as men of Warre tooke greatest pleasure in Wherefore hee proclaimed a solemne Feast to continue many dayes and generally inuited therunto the valiant men of his owne and of forraine Nations and Kingdomes proposing the exercise of feates of Armes Strangers repaire into England at the appointed time By meanes whereof many Noblemen and such as were of best renowme for Chiualrie repaired into England from many Countries excepting France and were with all magnificence courtesie and loue receiued and entertained by the King Martiall sportings and by all his Court But in those heroicall sportings by an euill and an vnfortunate accident Sir Iohn Lord Beamount The Lord Beamount slaine a valiant Knight of this Realme who formerly had taken the last King and Sir Hugh Spencer the yonger in a fisher before the Castle of Bristoll was slaine This Royall feast and these warlike pastimes ANNO. 18. A ParliameÌ„t The Prince of Wales is Created being thus finished a Parliament was assembled at Westminster wherein the king Created his eldest Sonne Edward Prince of Wales and vnto him was giuen by a free and generall consent Commissioners for the imployment of the Subsidie money foure fifteenes by the Laitie and three by the Clergie but with this condition that no part thereof should be conuerted vnto any other vse then only to the furtherance of the warres of France And certaine Lords and some others of principall note were then selected to whom the only care and charge of that imployment should belong ANNO. 19 The next yeare following king Edward to increase vertue and valour in his Nobles to enlarge his Amitie and Friendshippe with the States and Princes of forraine Countries deuised and established a new order of knight-hood confining the number of them to twentie and six of which himselfe and his Successors were to be Presidents and called them knights of the honourable Order of the Garter The order of the Garter deuised and established The Rites and Ceremonies of which order are euery yere solemnized with Princely magnificence in the kings Castle at Windsor to Gods glorie and the honour of all such as are dignified with that degree And thus king Edward hauing a while recreated himselfe with such Princely delights as exercised his Martialists in feates of Armes to the pleasure and good contentment of his people He now beganne againe to thinke vpon his affaires with France and to make his Forces better knowne to the Frenchmen then formerly they had beene An Armie sent into Gascoyne For which purpose he leuied a faire Armie which by his Cousin the Earle of Darby was landed and directed in Gascoine with such discretion and with such valour that hee not only acquited himselfe right nobly by way of defence against Philip the French king but daily wonne from him his Cities Townes Castles and his Forts and filled his hands so full that whilest the said Earle remained there hee laboured in vaine to catch at anie thing which belonged to king Edward Iaques Dartuell At the same time Iaques Dartuel whom fortune from a low beginning had raised to the greatest command that euer any man before him had in Flanders notwithstanding that Loys their Earle then personally did liue among them secretly purposed to disherite the said Earle and to make
the Prince returned to the King The King in danger to be taken on the Thames by French Pirates The Lord of Camoys in trouble cleareth himselfe ANNO. 9. A valiant Sheriffe And now it chanced that as king Henrie passed ouer the Riuer of Thames from Kent into Essex vnder the conduct of the Lord of Camois hee was almost taken by the French Pirats for which cause the said Lord was suspected and attached as a Traitour and receiued his due triall by his Peeres but was clearely acquited of that offence and receiued into fauour In the ninth yeare of this kings Raigne the Earle of Nothumberland and the Lord Bardolfe animating the Scots to a new war entred with them into Northumberland and did much mischiefe whereupon king Henrie leuied a strong armie and by great iournies trauailed to encounter them But before his comming forth they were fought with and ouerthrowne by Sir Ralph Rokesby then Shirif of that Countie who tooke the said Lords and manie others and smote off their heads and sent them for presents to the king ANNO. 11 Thomas is made Duke of Clarence Iohn Duke of Bedford Humphrie Duke of Glocester The King prepareth to Warre in the Holy land The King falleth â—kâ— His Crowne is placed on his Pillow In the eleuenth yeare of his raigne he assembled his high Court of Parliament in which he created his three yonger sonnes Thomas Duke of Clarence Iohn Duke of Bedford and Humfrey Duke of Glocester and enacted manie Lawes which were helpefull and profitable to this Common-weale And from that time forth vntill hee died hee enioyed a happie peace and rested from all hostilitie and warres both at home and abroad And to expresse his thankfulnesse to God for all his goodnesse and great bountie towards him hee made great and costly preparations of men monie victuals and armour and shippes and all other thinges requisite and needfull and purposed to haue waged warres with the Turkes in the Holy-land But whilest he busily imploied himselfe in those affaires hee was attached by a deadly apoplexie and being neere vnto his last end hee caused his Crowne to be placed by him vpon his pillow least peraduenture in his extremitie of sicknesse it might bee deliuered to some other who had better right thereto then hee had But when his attendants verily supposed that he was dead the yong Prince of Wales seized vpon his Crowne Whereat the king started vp The Prince seized on the Crowne The Kings speech to the Prince and raysing himselfe vpon his armes he demanded who it was that had taken away his Crowne The Prince answered that it was he and then he fell backe into his bed and fetching a deepe sigh and sending forth manie pensiue groanes My sonne quoth he my sonne what right I had vnto this Crowne and how I haue enjoyed it God knoweth and the World hath seene Comfort your selfe in God good Father said the Prince The Crowne you haue and if you die The Prince has answere The King dieth I will haue it and keepe it with my sword as you haue done And within a short time after king Henrie died in the six and fortieth yeare of his age when he had raigned almost fourteene yeares And his bodie was carried to Canterburie where with all Princely and due requisites it was buried THE HISTORIE OF KING HENRIE THE FIFTH IT is well knowne That King Henrie the fifth whilest he was but a Prince associated to himselfe diuers vnthriftie and lewd companions A wilde Prince but a wise King by whose instigation among manie other vnworthie passages in his fathers dayes hee smote the Lord chiefe Iustice of England in the face for which offence he was imprisoned and dismissed of the Presidentship of the kings Councell and to his great griefe and disgrace was succeeded therein by Thomas Duke of Clarence his younger brother But when hee was crowned king hee disposed himselfe into a new course qualifying his behauiour with such heroicall vertues as might beseeme both his Person and his Honour He banisheth his loose companions and banished from his Court his loose and base consorts after he had enabled them to liue by such gifts as were proportionable to their callings He also elected for his Councell and into places of Iustice and publike Gouernment such as were wise discreet His good choice of good Gouernors He reformeth the Clergie He ruleth the Laitie learned and temperate well able to rule themselues and to command others He painefully laboured to reforme Pride Couetousnesse and such other grosse abuses as were crept into the Church among the Clergie and enjoined them strictly to frequent Praier Preaching to Hospitalitie and to the sincere seruing of Almightie GOD. And by the administration of his Lawes with moderate seueritie hee made the Laitie tractable in the performance of their duties And to settle his Estate in peace and in tranquilitie at home so that neyther the Scots nor the Welchmen should molest him when hee was busied in his Warres abroad hee erected diuers Castles He erecteth Castles in the frontiers of Scotland and of Wales Bulwarkes and other Fortifications vpon their frontiers and so disposed of them that with manie thousands of able men and skilfull Captaines to command them he was still readie and powerfull with great violence and force to suppresse and qualifie such rebellious Insurrections as they might make King Richards bodie remoued to Westminster In the first yeare of his Raigne with great pompe and solemnitie hee brought the bodie of King Richard the second from Langley vnto Westminster and buried it by Queene Anne his first wife 2. 1413. A motion in Parliament to suppresse Religious Houses In the second yeare hee held his High Court of Parliament at Leicester in which hee was importunately petitioned to suppresse the Religious Houses of this Kingdome because they being ill vsed were made the Nurseries of Idlenesse Gluttonie Lecherie and of Pride and were the Cages of vncleane birds The Reuenewes which belonged to those Houses were proportioned to yeeld vnto the Kings Cossers the annuall Rent of twentie thousand pounds and would also for the encrease of the Kings power and strength maintaine fifteene Earles fifteene hundred Knights and more than six thousand men at Armes besides a great number of Almes-houses for the poores reliefe The Clergies policie to quench this fire To diuert this streame into another Channell the fat Abbots Priors idle Monkes wanton Friers and the puling Nunnes procured Henrie Chichley then Archbishop of Canterburie in a verie learned and excellent Oration to discouer to the King his Right and his Title to the Crowne of France The Kings title to the Crowne of France set abroach to refresh him with confident hopes of good successe to direct him into a course answerable to his hopes and in the Clergies behalfe and for the furtherance of those Warres to offer vnto the King an incredible masse of money
assistance Andrew Trollop and Iohn Blunt two of the most approued English Captaines which then liued and had beene best exercised in the warres of France And when they had plentifully increased their Armie partly in Wales and in the Marches thereof and partly by such companies as resorted daily out of the North vnto them The Kings armie they set onwards and came vnto a little Towne called Lud low where the King and diuers of his Nobilitie presented a strong Armie to the view of the Yorkish Faction so that they lay not farre asunder that night But in the euening the two braue Captaines Trollop and Blunt surueying the Kings forces Andrew Trolop and Iohn Blunt flie into the Kings armie and discouer all espied a certaine way and meanes to endanger the King and all his so that it was resolued by the Duke and Earles that their aduice counsell should fiercely be executed the next morning before the King should be able to set his Armie in a readinesse to fight But in the first watch those two Captaines making it a matter burdensome to their consciences not onely to fight against their Soueraigne Lord and King but also to betray him into the hands of his owne subiects secretly fled and came vnto the King to whom they plainly discouered the proiect and the intention of his enemies and aduised him of the best and chiefest meanes how not onely they might be resisted but driuen to the worst And for this seruice they were gently receiued and pardoned and rewarded by the King The Duke and Earles being certified of their Reuolts beganne to be diffident of their good successe and not daring to set vp their rest on the next daies fight they determined to expect another time which might affoord them more suretie and better hopes And taking aduantage by the darknesse of the night The Lords flie in the night they departed from their Armie into seuerall places for the Duke with his younger sonne Edmund Earle of Rutland retired into Wales and from thence they sailed into Ireland The other two with Edward Earle of March eldest sonne to the Duke of Yorke came into Deuonshire and being safely shipped in Ex-mouth Hauen by the fauour and procurement of a worthy Gentleman named Iohn Dynham they sailed to Calice where notwithstanding their misfortunes they were receiued with much ioy The King who reioiced much at their departure coasted the Countries with multitudes of Horsemen to ouertake them but all their labours were in vaine For the present feare which alwaies remained with them gaue them wings to flie He also pardoned the ordinarie souldiers of the Yorkish Faction which were forsaken by their chiefest guides and as sheepe were exposed to a slaughter But their Captaines who were deliuered vp into the Kings hands were executed in sundry places within this Realme Hee also proclaimed the said Lords to be Arch-traitors to him and to his Kingdome confiscated their goods offices The Lords are proclaimed Traitors and their lands committed the gouernment of the Northerne parts to the Earle of Northumberland to the Lord Clifford his trusty friends and made Henry the young Duke of Somerset Captaine and chiefe Commander of his Towne and Castle of Calice Henry Duke of Somerset is made Captaine of Calice Hee was coursly entertained and of the Marches thereof who sailing thither with a purpose to take possession of his new charge and not suspecting that his enemies were there was on his first arriuall well beaten and battered with the great shot and ordinance which from the Castle plaied on him and by those meanes he was compelled to retire and to keepe off The Queene hauing intelligence of this rude and vnkinde entertainment of her new Captaine and great fauourite resolued to send vnto him fresh and new supplies for which purpose some ships of the Nauie Royall were made ready within the Hauen of Sandwich Iohn Dynham taketh some of the Kings ships But the before-named Iohn Dynham disposing himselfe to all seruices which might support the Yorkish Faction and being furthered by the Mariners who highly fauoured and inwardly loued the young and lustie Prince Edward Earle of March and being accompanied with many gallant spirits and braue men boorded the said ships as they lay there at anchor took the Lord Ryuers who was appointed Admirall to conduct them and carried him and those ships to Calice from whence the Earle of Warwicke sailed in them into Ireland The Earle of Warwicke saileth into Ireland and conferred largely with the Duke of Yorke concerning those affaires But in his returne the Duke of Exeter being Admirall of the Seas and hauing vnder his charge a warlike and a strong Fleet making no doubt to haue taken him was much deceiued for his owne Mariners more adhered to the Yorkish faction then to the Kings and shewed themselues to bee exceeding cold and sparing in the performance of their duties He returneth to Calice when neede required their seruice so that the Earle of Warwicke returned back againe safely vnto Calice And now the King vpon good aduice assembled his high Court of Parliament A Parliment Attainders for Treason Preparations against the laâ—â—ing of the Lords in which hee caused all the Lords of the Yorkish Conspiracie to bee attainted of High Treason And lest this Realme might be disturbed by their inuasion or secret entrance diuers Captaines with their companies were lodged in all Townes and Ports which neare adioined to the Sea and were the best likely places for their landing Sir Simon Mountfort likewise who was a right worthie and a valiant Knight hauing vnder his charge diuers of the Kings ships was appointed to keepe and to defend the Cinque-ports But nothing was done in the Kings Chamber or in any other place of greatest secrecie or counsell whereof the said Earles had not certaine and quicke intelligence at Calice wherefore they prouided furnished and strongly manned such of the Kings ships as formerly by the said Iohn Dynham had beene brought thither The Kings Fleet taken in Sandwich in which they sailed and safely arriued within the Hauen of Sandwich and suddenly they tooke Sir Simon Mountfort prisoner vanquished the towne and caried away with them such of the Kings ships as they found there And hauing receiued good intelligence from their friends that nothing was more expected then their returne into England The Lords doe land at Sandwich they prepared for their iourney and arriued the second time at Sandwich and were within few daies assisted by the Lord Cobham and by many Gentlemen and braue souldiers insomuch that their Armie consisted of more then fiue and twenty thousand men with which they marched towards London Their Army But the Lord Scales was sent against them with a small companie to that Citie to defend it and to secure the King of the fidelitie of the Inhabitants thereof when time should serue But the Lord Maior refused to receiue
subiect to their willes And therefore he aduised them to ioine with him for their remoue and to diuide and share betwixt themselues all such benefits as by those meanes should be atchieued These faire perswasions and their owne ambitious humours quickly wrought the said two great Lords His practise against the Queenes kindred not onely to hearken willingly to this discourse but also to bee confederates with the Duke of Glocester in that practise which quickly was attempted in this manner The Queene with the Earle Ryuers her brother and with her sonne Richard Lord Grey and with her other friends being guarded with a strong power of armed men and souldiers intended to bring the young King from Wales towards London to be crowned And the Duke of Glocester knowing that if his feat were not wrought before that time it could not easily be effected after and considering likewise that if he with his confederates should come armed against the King to meet him and by open violence attempt to get the Kings person into their possession their said enterprise would be censured and adiudged to be a rebellious action and no lesse then Treason Wherefore he cunningly directed and sent his letters to the Queene and called to her remembrance the heartie loue and friendship which the late King her deceased husband in his death-bed had ratified and confirmed betwixt the Lords of his owne bloud and alliance and the kinsfolkes of the Queene He likewise informed her that it was commonly reported that her brother and her friends which were neere about the Kings person intended with a strong power and with many armed men to conduct his Maiestie for his Coronation from Wales to the Citie of London He protested and swore vnto her that his humble dutie to his Soueraigne and his vnfained loue to her and to her kinsfolkes and children incited him seriously and earnestly to aduise and counsell her and them to dismisse those companies of armed men for that he feared much lest the gathering of them together would be the occasion of new broiles and of ciuill wars For seeing quoth he that many former battailes triumphing in bloud haue now made peace and seeing that the state of the whole Kingdome hateth Armes and seeing that the King hath no Competitor for his Crowne and that loue and friendship hath vnited and knit together the mindes and the hearts of all his Nobles and seeing that perfect tranquillitie and a secure reconciliation hath quieted and gladded all the people certainly the Kings comming towards the Citie of London with an armed traine will make the Lords of the deceased Kings bloud and many others exceeding iealous of their intention and to be fearfull lest some secret plot be cunningly contriued to surprise them when in dutie and for seruice they shall make their accesse vnto the King and that such feare and iealousie will occasion them for their defence and safetie to raise the like forces whereof might ensue much danger discontentment and perhaps blowes The Queene and her friends who meant none ill taking much comfort in this aduice The Kings strength is sent away because she supposed it sprang from heartie loue and also because the Duke of Glocester had at the same time with all respectiue dutie and reuerence likewise written vnto the King and louingly to the Earle Ryuers her brother and vnto Richard Lord Grey her sonne caused all such strength of armed men as was prouided for the Kings conduction towards London to bee dismissed and sent away And the said Earle and Lord and some others of their friends brought the King forth in his iourney to the Citie of Northampton and the next day to Stony Stratford being ten miles from thence And because that little Towne was not capable of the whole traine the Earle Ryuers and his priuate followers remained that night in Northampton The Queens kindred is betraied But on the sudden and vnlooked for the Dukes of Glocester and of Buckingham being strongly accompanied with great store of resolute attendants dismounted themselues in the Earles Inne and with all complements of loue and friendship they passed the time with him and by reason of their extraordinarie familiaritie he secured himselfe of their heartie and vnfained loue But assoone as their companies were in their beds the two Dukes seised vpon all the keies of the same Inne and caused all the waies betwixt those two Townes so to be watched and warded that no person of what degree or qualitie soeuer he were could haue any passage there And they reuealead that the pretence of their so doing was because no man before them should in the morning preuent them for diligence to attend vpon the King Whereof when the Earle Ryuers had intelligence necessitie compelled him to dissemble and to seeme as if he suspected none euill although he knew that by the Dukes policie and craftie cunning he was ouertaken and beguiled Yet in friendly and in a iocund manner he came vnto the two Dukes and asked them why they had so done But suddenly they entred into a needlesse and causelesse quarrell with the said Earle They are imprisoned surprised his person and committed him to safe keeping And then in good and quiet manner the two Dukes rode to Stony Stratford and humbly presented their duties and their seruice to the King who being altogether ignorant of that which so newly had hapned receiued them with a cheerfull countenance and with much ioy But presently they also seised vpon Richard Lord Grey the Kings halfe-brother and vpon Sir Thomas Vaughan and some others all which they sent vnder a strong Guard to the Castle of Pomfret in the North where without any iudiciall sentence or legall proceeding against them they were beheaded vpon the same day that the Lord Hastings Lord Chamberlaine who conspired in that action with the two Dukes did lose his head The Kings seruants are remoued The two Dukes also and the Lord Chamberlaine remoued from the King all his other Officers and most of his meniall seruants informing all men which attended the King or expected the sequell of this businesse that the said Earle Lord and Knight with some others had resolued to destroy all the Lords of King Edwards bloud and to rule both the King and Common-weale according to their owne will The Queene with her children take Sanctuarie When the Queene who at that time lay with the Kings brother the young Duke of Yorke and with her fiue daughters at Westminster heard of these tumults and what had hapned to her brother sonne and friends it repented her much that she had aduised them vpon the Duke of Glocesters cunning letters to dismisse and to discharge their souldiers and men of warre And because she had good cause to feare the euent thereof shee with her children entred into the Sanctuarie there The young King also mourned grecuously to see the wofull tragedie wherein his friends misfortunes were so vnexpectedly acted
inheritable to the Crowne This lesson with the daily repetitions of his heroicall Pedegree hee so inculcated into his young Scholar that hee was as able and as ready to discourse thereof as if by inspiration that knowledge had beene infused to him from aboue The Irish were too credulous Thus when this subtill Priest had prepared his Pupill for his purpose he transported him into Ireland where hee first vented and spred abroad this false and vntrue noueltie among the wilder and more barbarous sort of that fickle and busie Nation who being too too credulous and flexible to any change gaue to the youth all honour and reuerence as vnto their soueraigne and liege Lord. And within few daies after diuers of the Nobilitie of that Countrey were taken in the same net of follie and beleeued as the Commons did among whom the Lord Chancellor Sir Thomas Gerandine was the chiefe who hauing had much familiar conference with the young counterfet and finding his amiable aspect the trimme composure of his bodie his princely presence his pregnancie of wit his sufficient learning his ingenious capacitie his quicke spirit his discreet speech and seemely complements to be answerable and fitting to a Prince not onely censured him to bee the true and the vndoubted sonne and heire of the Duke of Clarence and pitied his estate but endeuouring to doe him good disbursed vnto him for the enlargement of his expenses traine and honour diuers and sundrie great summes of money and perswaded many other great Lords of Ireland to doe the like He also with great speed and secrecie informed the Ladie Margaret The malice of Margaret Duchesse Dâ—wager of Burgoine to K. Henry sister to King Edward the Fourth and Duchesse Dowager vnto Charles the deceased Duke of Burgoine and the supposed Aunt of this counterfet of his being there And albeit that shee was well assured that this newes was false yet because being of the house of Yorke shee mortally hated and enuied King Henry who was the head and the chiefe of the Familie of Lancaster she not only gladded her heart to heare thereof but also pleased her conceits with infinite delectation that now an opportunitie was presented to her to execute her furie vpon King Henry and that shee might by this plot if it succeeded well enlarge her true Nephew the young Earle of Warwicke and make him King First of all therefore shee caused the false report of this young counterfet to bee noised thorowout England that thereby shee might vnsettle the mindes of such as were credulous and might be inclined to take his part She also published that the Irish Nobilitie and Nation had not onely receiued him for their Lord and Soueraigne and would take his part but also that shee her selfe would strengthen his attempts with money men and armes to the vttermost of her power These vaine and fabulous reports carried vnto her into Flanders Francis Lord Louel and her nephew the Earle of Lincolne sonne and heire to Iohn de la Pole Duke of Suffolke and of Elizabeth one other of the sisters of King Edward the Fourth The Traitors land in England Sir Thomas Broughton and some others and after many speeches and much conference touching those affaires and businesses the Duchesse caused to be leuied in her Country about two thousand men which were conducted by Martin Sward an approued Captaine of great resolution and much skill All these with quicke expedition sailed into Ireland and ioined with Sir Thomas Gerardine the Chancellor who was in a readinesse with more then two thousand men of his owne Nation and they all determined to transport themselues into England with all speed Wee may not imagine that King Henry who was valiant prouident and wise was secure carelesse or negligent in these affaires and weightie businesses A politicke act For to the end that certainly it might bee knowen that Lambert was but a counterfet hee caused Edward the young Earle of Warwicke to be publikely brought thorow the streets of London from the Tower vnto Pauls Church where infinite numbers of the Nobilitie Gentrie and Commons of this Kingdome had the sight and view of him and many of them spent some time in conferring with him The King prepareth against Lambert Lambert landeth in England He also made great preparations to repell and to subdue all such as in Lamberts aide should either attempt any ciuill warre or inuade his land And thus when he had ordered all things well these forraine powers arriued neere vnto Lincolne where they expected more succour then they found or were in any possibilitie to haue But when the King was informed that they were come he marched towards them with a constant resolution to trie the vtmost of his fortune in the field insomuch that it was now too late for those Inuaders to step backe for vrgent necessitie did require The battaile of Stoke that either they must flie fight or yeeld But the truth is though they were not strong yet they were no cowards The Irish people were strangely actiue and passing valiant but they wanted Armes and their braue resolution so animated their courage that with haughtie stomackes and Lions hearts they ioined in battaile with the King But within lesse space then one houre Lambert is ouerthrowen the vnprouided and vnfurnished Irish with their Captaines the Earle of Lincolne Francis Lord Louel Sir Thomas Gerardine Martin Sward Lambert is made a Skullian and then the Kings Faulconeâ— and Sir Thomas Broughton were all slaine and the rest submitted themselues to the King who pardoned their offence and committed the Priest Sir Richard Symond vnto perpetuall imprisonment and his counterfeited Pupill being first abased in the Skullerie was within few yeares after chiefe Faulconer to the King Then was the Kings wife with all honour and princely solemnities crowned Queene The Queene is crowned D. Morton made Archbishop of Canterburie and Lord Chancellor and a Cardinall and Thomas Bourchier Archbishop of Canterburie died and was succeeded by Iohn Morton Bishop of Elie who was also made Lord Chancellor of this Kingdome and not long after hee was dignified with the Hat and habit of a Cardinall by Pope Alexander the Sixth Now though King Henry through the benefit of a generall peace at home was made fortunate and happie yet forraine iarres among his neighbours prouoked him to new imploiments vpon this occasion The French King quarrelleth with the Duke of Britaine Charles the French King hauing warred successefully against Maximilian King of the Romans complained that he was much wronged by Lewys Duke of Orleance who had married the Ladie Iane his sister and was his next heire apparant to the French Crowne for that hee with some others tooke part against him with his enemie But in the end when King Charles had affied himselfe to the Ladie Margaret daughter to Maximilian and had concluded a peace betweene themselues the said Duke of Orleance and his complices
good respects hee cheerefully consented to his request First because by all likelihood and probable coniecture this mariage would establish a perpetuall peace betwixt those two Kingdomes And secondly because if issues males and females failed of the bodies of his two sonnes then the Kingdome and the Crowne of this Realme descending to the said Ladie Margaret and to her issue would draw the Scottish King into England as vnto an estate of greater power magnificence honour and riches whereas if she were ioined to a Prince equall or exceeding her father in those respects this Kingdome would then wait vpon the greater and more worthie and so might be guided gouerned directed and commanded by a Deputie or a Substitute which would bee derogatorie from the maiestie of such a Monarchie and Common-weale These Halcyon daies Prince Arthur dieth which made King Henry fortunate and happie were suddenly exchanged into daies of heauinesse and of sorrow for Prince Arthur within fiue moneths after he was maried departed out of this troublesome and transitorie vale of miserie and was buried with great pompe and incredible lamentation both of the Nobles Gentlemen and common people in the Cathedrall Church within the Citie of Winchester by whose decease without issue his brother Henry Duke of Yorke without Creation was Prince of Wales 1502. as vnto him of right that dignitie did belong and appertaine and the next yeare after he was created Earle of Chester by his Father The King not long after by an honorable attendance of Lords Knights Ladies and men and women of especiall note and qualitie sent his eldest daughter the Ladie Margaret into Scotland to her espoused husband Iames the Fourth who receiued her vpon the limits of his owne Kingdome from the Earles of Surrey and Northumberland and was the next day maried to her in his Citie of Edenburgh 1503. to the great reioicing of the people of both those Nations Now when King Henry had thus ouercome his enemies and the Rebels and had settled himselfe in peace 1504. hee determined to plucke downe the high stomackes and stout courage of his people The King taketh aduantage of forfeitures vpon Penall Lawes supposing that their wealth and riches occasioned their rebellions and was the cause that many enormous insolencies were done and committed in the Common-weale And by that meane hee also intended to enrich himselfe And the plot whereby he intended to effect it was by taking of the aduantage of the breach of Penall Lawes Empson and Dudley And the principall charge of that polling businesse hee committed to Sir Richard Empson and Edmund Dudley men learned in the Law but ready enough to execute the Kings commands in a worser matter if occasion did so require These two being attended by troupes of base Informers Promoters Catch-poles Cheaters Knaues and cousening Rascals Many are vndone prosecuted and persecuted many of the Kings good Subiects to their vtter ruine and ouerthrow insomuch that many people in euery Shire of this Kingdome by their oppressions waxed poore and were vtterly decaied in their estates But the Kings Coffers were filled his Bagges were stuffed and those two gracelesse and cruell Cormorants got to themselues the Deuill and all But no remedie there was to cure this maladie for the King authorized them and they so rigorously and so vnconscionably executed their tyrannie that no man could assure himselfe that hee was free and without the danger of their lash 1605. In the 21. yeare of K. Henries raigne Elizabeth Q. of Castile wife to Ferdinando K. of Aragon and Spain died without issue male of her bodie so that her Kingdom not being deuidable among sisters according to the custome of that Countrie discended to her eldest daughter the Ladie Iane The King and Queene of Castile doe come into England by a storme wife to Philip Arch-Duke of Austria and Duke of Burgoine so that hee being King of Castile in her right prepared a Nauie of strong and well appointed ships and entred into the Sea purposing to take the possession of his new Kingdome But by the violence of an outragious storme himselfe with his Queene was driuen into Waymouth in Dorset shire where at his landing hee was receiued by Sir Thomas Trenchard a worthie Sir Thomas Trenchard entertaineth them at his house and a compleate Knight who instantly importuned the King to accept of the entertainment of his house vntill King Henrie were certified of his being there which courteously he did Whereof when he had louingly accepted hee was conducted thither and feasted like as hee was a King The Knight forthwith sent diuers Posters to King Henrie who being much gladded by this newes because the said King and he were vnfained and faithfull friends They are entertained by the King forthwith sent for his better direction and attendance the Earle of Arundell and some others who inuited him and his Queene and their Companie to the Kings Court which was then at his Castle of Windsor of which great courtesie he accepted with a kind hart and as he came within fiue miles of the Castle he was met by the Noble Henrie Prince of Wales who was accompanied by diuers Earles Lords Knights and Gentlemen of choice reckoning aad account and within halfe a mile of his iournies end the King himselfe with the greatest part of his Nobilitie Ladies and Personages of great worth and honour being richly apparrelled and brauely mounted met him likewise where kind salutations and friendly greetings proceeded from the heart and were performed with most exquisite complements of loue that by any could be imagined From the Kings Castle of Windsor the King conducted him and his Queene to the Citie of London where nothing was omitted that anie deuise or cost could make sumptuous thereby to expresse the heartie welcome of such beloued guests And thus when with great contentment mirth and pastime the King and he had spent some dayes they renewed the League which was betwixt them and taking kind farewels each of other the said King and Queene imbarked themselues againe lanched into the Sea and safety arriued according to their owne wils But not long after King Philip and his wife died and that Kingdome discended to Charles his eldest sonne From this time forwards King Henrie waxed sickly weake 1506. and infirme and by meanes thereof the two scourgers of the Common-weale Empson and Dudley tooke larger libertie to extend their villanies then was giuen to them and did oppresse torment and vex the People of this land But when the King perceiued that his time was short 1507. hee depriued them of their authoritie remitted and pardoned all offences committed against his penall Lawes and enlarged all prisoners The King waxeth sickly His deeds of charitie which were in durance for any offence treason and murder excepted only he also paid the debts of all such as for trifling and smal summes were prisoners in any Ward and gaue certaine
337 338 339 The King wisely discouers their intentions 339 340 The Mart is remoued to Calice 340 Sir William Stanley is beheaded and Warbeck is discomforted in Kent 342 The Scots vnder pretence to aid him vexe England 343 The Cornish Rebells are ouerthrowne 343 344 And many of them are executed 345 The Scots invade and are wasted 346 The Mart is restored to the Flemings 346 Exeter is besieged and defended valiantly 342 King Henrie commeth to that Citie and giues vnto it his sword 348 The Rebells flie 349 Perkin Warbeck and the yong Earle of Warwick son to George Duke of Clarence the brother of King Edward the Fourth seeking to escape are preuented and beheaded 350 Two mariages with France and Scotland 350 Empson and Dudley doe execute penall lawes 351 The King in his death bed doth repent it and lends mony freely to his Marchants and dieth 359 King HENRY the Eighth HE executeth Empson and Dudley 355 And marieth his brothers wife 355 He sideth with the Pope against France 356 His Father-in-law Ferdinando vseth him ill 357 And trecherously surpriseth the kingdome of Nauarre 357 Edward Howard Lord Admirall is drowned 359 King Henrie hath three armies in France 360 Maximilian the Emperour serueth him in those warres 361 Tyrwin and Tourney are wonne 361 Iames the Fourth King of Scots is slaine in Flodden field 361 362 Peace is concluded with France 364 Cardinall Wolseys deedes and actions from pag. 364. vnto pag. 388. The Clergie feare the Premunire and therefore are liberall 388 The king is acknowledged supreme head of the Church 388 403 He marieth Anne of Bullein 389 And beheadeth her 403 Euill May-day 390 Tournay is deliuered vpon condicions 390 Which by the French were broken 393 The Duke of Buckingham is attainted and executed 392 The King writes a booke against Martin Luther 393 He maketh warres in France 394 395 396 397 Priuie seales being granted are released by Parliament 395 English souldiers doe returne vnlicenced out of France 397 The Emperor the Scots and the French doe craue peace 398 399 The King is in danger to bee drowned 400 He hath warres with the Emperour 401 He curbeth the Popes authority 401 Fisher and Moore doe loose their heads 402 Petit Religious houses are suppressed 403 All the rest are likewise suppressed 407 The holy maid of Kent 402 The Lancashire-men doe rebell 404 The King is passing stout 404 Rebellion by the holy Pilgrimes miraculously appeased 405 An other Rebellion is suppressed 406 Cromwell is aduanced highly 406 But is ouerthrowne by concluding a mariage for the King with Anne of Cleue which the King disliked 408 409 That mariage is pronounced to be void 409 The King marrieth the Lady Katherine Howard 409 And beheaded her 410 He is made King of Ireland 410 The Scots invade and are miserably ouerthrowne 413 A mariage being motioned by the Scots 413 Is concluded but they breake their oathes the match too 415 Scotland is wasted 415 The King sendeth two Armies into France 415 Bullein is wonne 417 The King hath a Beneuolence 417 The Frenchmen are ouerthrown 418 The Scots invade and are vanquished 419 The famous and renowned Earle of Surry is beheaded And the King dyeth THE HISTORIE OF KING WILLIAM THE CONQVEROR AFTER the death of King Edward who was the sonne of Egeldredus and of Goditha his wife Harold her brother and second sonne to the Earle Godwin vsurped this kingdom and caused himselfe to be crowned King the Crowne being formerly giuen by King Edward vnto William the seuenth Duke of the Normans and base sonne to Robert their sixt Duke To whose vse and behoofe Harold had formerly sworne to keepe the same Whereof when Duke William was certainely enformed Hee charged him by his Letters and by Messengers with his promise confirmed by his Oath and required him in friendly sort and without blowes to possesse him of his Crowne But proud Ambition arming him with a Resolution to remaine a King in despight of threats or Fortune made him rather to quoine dishonorable excuses then to giue satisfaction as hee had sworne And for answere to returne That promises and vowes rashly made and by compulsion as his was especially for a Kingdome wherevnto the State had giuen no free consent were not at all to bee regarded And therefore seeing the Dukes Rule and Dominions were as ample and as large elsewhere as Nature and Art had enabled him to manage and to command he wished him to bee contented with his owne and not aduenture to claspe more within his hand then he was well able to hold fast Nor to couet that which hee should not enioy As this answere bred Discontent So rage began to resolue on Armes For the Duke assisted by his Martiall friends leuied a strong Armie and furnished it with all abiliments and necessaries for the Warre with which through the assistance of some natiue Nobles who adhered to his part hee safely landed in Sussex where hauing prouidently sheltred himselfe against all suddaine stormes hee challenged Harold to a single Combat thereby to decide the strife without much bloud But Harold entertained not the Challenge but sent him word That to gaine or keepe a Kingdome it required more blowes then two could giue 14. October 1066. So that within fewe dayes after a fierce and cruell Battaile of the continuance of one whole day without intermission or breathing was fought betwixt them But in the Euening HAROLD being deadly wounded with an Arrow left both his Kingdome and his life And Duke William almost with equall losse of his men became Victor in the field The Saxons Raigne ended And thus ended the Saxons Raigne which from the first yeare of Hengistus in the yeare of our Lord God foure hundred seuentie and fiue vntill the time of this Conquest in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand sixtie and sixe had continued Sauing that now and then it was interrupted by the Danes the space of fiue hundred fourescore and eleuen yeares The Duke hauing thus slaine Harold and gained his Kingdome began to raigne as King And on Christmas day then next following hee was crowned by Aldredus Archbishop of Yorke by the enforced consents of the English Nobles Who with an outward applause but with an inward griefe and sorrow submitted themselues to be his subiects the Kentish men excepted By whom is hee trauailed to possesse himselfe of the strong Castle of Douer he was preuented in his iourney and compassed round about by valiant men of War who carying greene boughs in their hands and resembling a moouing Wood enuironed the King and all his followers ere they were aware therof And protested manfully to die rather then they would by seruile basenesse be depriued of those ancient Lawes and Customes whereby their Countrie was then ruled The King perceiuing his owne danger and their resolution hearkned to their demaunds and not onely granted their requests but for their bold and valorous attempt hee honoured them with
kingdome and finding that manie inconueniences did daily presse him with much dishonor and disgrace because he intermedled not with the Temporalties of Bishoprickes when they were vacant nor with the inuesture of Bishops as his Ancestors had done and being informed That those things were inseparable incidents vnto his Crowne and that his neglect to vse them depriued him not of his Right vnto them resolued That he would not any longer forbeare to chalenge and to put in practise those things which so justly did belong vnto him Whereat Anselme the Archbishop of Canterburie was much displeased and did vtterly refuse to consecrate such new Bishops as had receiued their Inuestures from the king But Gerald then Archbishop of Yorke cheerefully performed that Ceremonie vpon the kings commaund This new quarrell transported Anselme the second time from England vnto Rome Anselme goeth to Rome the second time complaineth to Pope Pascal the second The Archbishop preuaileth where he complayned to Pope Paschal the second of those and of manie other wrongs all which were controuerted and debated with the strongest oppositions on either partie But two yeares after Anselme with the licence and fauour of the king returned and in a Synod of the Clergie holden by him in London by the Popes authoritie it was enacted That from thenceforth no Temporall man should giue Inuesture to any Bishop by the Crosse and Ring Within three yeares after Anselme died and the Temporalties of that Dignitie being seized into the kings hands The King entreth vpon the Temporalties of the Archbishop of Canterburie were for the space of fiue yeares taken receiued and conuerted to the kings vse And if at anie time as hee was often hee were entreated by the Bishops to conferre that See vpon some other his answere was That he onely kept it for a sufficient and a worthie man In the yeare of our Lord one thousand one hundred and eight hee erected the Bishopricke of Ely The Bishoprick of Ely founded in Anno 1108. and endowed it with large and honourable Possessions which wonne him much fauour with the Pope and procured him the loue of his owne Clergie Thus when the King for a few yeares had enjoyed the benefite of an happie Peace Normandie inuaded and held all Normandie subject to his owne commaund his tranquilitie and his pleasure were enuied by Lewis le Grosse then king of France who first of all procured Fulke Earle of Angeou vpon a weake pretence to seize vpon the Countrey of Mayne and then animated Baldwyne Earle of Flanders to declare against the king in Armes for the with-holding of a yearely pension of three hundred markes which the Conquerour gaue onely vnto Baldwyne the fifth Earle of Flanders during his life But the same had afterwards beene payd to his Sonne and Nephew by the courtesie of the succeeding kings because the Conquerour had beene well assisted in his Warres with England by the said Baldwyne the fifth All these made strong preparations to inuade the Kings Duchie of Normandie But the newes thereof rowsed the King from his bed of ease The King sayleth into Normandie preuaileth filled him full with Princely resolutions occasioned him to passe the Sea with an Armie of rough and tough Nobles Gentrie and common Souldiors And shortly after his landing loosing no time he set vpon the Earle of Angeou and his associates And after he had beaten him soundly on euerie side he enforced him to saue himselfe by a shamefull flight Another victorie And neere vnto the Towne of Nice which was surprized and holden by the King of France King Henrie encountred the other two This Battaile was made famous by the continuance of nine houres and was on all parts fought with such eager and manlike resolution that albeit the King of England wonne the Field and had the long chase of his flying enemies yet he boldly and truly would confesse that hee then fought not for victorie but for his life A peace is concluded At length when the heat of Anger was well quenched and when manie lay cold on the floore of death who in their life times had blowne the coales of contention betweene those foure Princes A Mariage they all were reconciled vnto peace and the King married to his eldest sonne William the daughter of the said Fulke But in their journey towards England the said young Princes Richard and Marie Countesse of Perch two others of the Kings children his Neece Lucie A great misfortune with her husband the Earle of Chesier and more than an hundred and fourescore others were vnfortunately drowned by the carelesse folly of the drunken Mariners Drunkennes This vnexpected newes being accompanied with manie millions of sorrowes and of dolefull passions much grieued the King but made him not heartlesse as most Princes would haue beene in the like case The Kings admirable patience For Wisdome had sufficiently instructed him with patience to sustaine and beare those burthens which could not by any meanes be shaken off And likewise the King was at that time affoorded but little leisure to fixe his cogitations on those mishaps because the obstinate Rebellion of the Welchmen drew him vnwillingly into a new Warre For when he saw and perceiued that though he were a King yet vrgent necessitie commaunded him to Armes and that Iustice did require him by the Sword to judge and to execute those lewd and gracelesse Malefactors The Welchmen rebell and are subdued hee marched with a strong Power into Wales when the Rebels trusting ouer-much to their owne valour which little or nothing at all helpeth in Treasonable Plots and Imployments resolued to abide the vtmost push of their fortune which yeelded to the King a speedie and a successefull end of those Warres For with little danger and as small a losse he gaue them the ouerthrow and permitted the wastfull deuouring swords of his associates to surfet vpon the carkasses of those Rebels whome neither gentle vsage nor former executions of that nature could persuade to performe those duties which good subjects doe owe vnto their Prince Then returned the King loaden with much honour Maulde the kings daughter married to the Emperour Henrie the fifth and was joyfully receiued by all his people especially by Mauld his daughter whome he forthwith sent to be married vnto the Emperour Henrie the fifth her affied husband with a princely portion of Siluer and of Gold which in the nature of a Taxe was leuied vpon the common people of their Land which he tooke for an ayde towards her marriage And the same custome Aid purfiâ—e marrier for the marriage of the eldest daughter of the Kings of this Realme hath beene and is continued vnto this day At the same time he deuised and ordered the manner and fashion of a Court in Parliament Anno 1114. The High Court of Parliament fâ—â—â—t established at Salisburie in April appointing it to consist of the three
grieuously afflicted the Kings Armie with mortalitie and death that not hauing performed anie thing worthie a Kings care and trauaile he began to retyre which when the Scots perceiued they pursued and hunted him with much crueltie and violence So that finding his forces to be broken The King is pursued and flyeth and his Armie scattered the Scots gaue a bold onset vpon the King himselfe and enforced him to saue his life by an ignominious flight and to leaue behinde him his Treasure The King loseth his Treasure and prouisions Ordinance and all his best prouisions whereat they made great jolitie and mirth This last disaster and this last danger which King Edward by a shamefull flight escaped was principally occasioned by Sir Andrew Harkley Sir Andrew Harkley Earle of Carlile beheaded whome the King had created Earle of Carlyle for his great seruice in his behalfe against his Barons in their late ouerthrow for hee hauing secretly receiued from the Scots a great summe of money for a bribe practised to betray the King for which offence he lost his head The Queene flyeth into France and carrieth the prince with her The Queene knowing that the two Spencers enuied her deepely at the heart and that by their persuasions the King refused to keepe her companie and solaced himselfe too too wantonly with lewd and lasciuious strumpets and pitying the late slaughter and bloudie executions of verie manie of the Nobilitie and perceiuing that the affaires and businesse of the Commonweale were made slauish and seruile to all misfortunes taking with her the young Prince Edward her sonne fled into France to her brother King Charles She is kindly entertained by her brother the King by whome shee was receiued louingly and was recomforted by earnest promises and oaths That by his assistance and at his costs her wrongs and this whole Kingdomes ruines should be repaired And not long after the Barons by their letters offered their best seruice to her and to the Prince her sonne The Barons doe offer her their seruice and did protest That if shee could returne strengthened onely with the helpe of one thousand valiant men at armes they would thereto adde so great a strength as should suffice to make the two Spencers feele the smart of their vnsufferable follies This proffer exceedingly rejoyced the Queene The Spencers do bribe the French King with the Kings Money and Iewels The French King checketh the Queene his sister The Pope and his Cardinals are bribed Sir Robert Earle of Arthois a friend to the Queen The Queene and Prince flye into the Empire They are kindly entertained by the Earle of Henault The Queene and Prince doe land in England ANNO 19. 1325. The Nobles Commons doe repaire to the Queene and Prince The Bishop of Exeter beheaded by the Londoners The King goeth toward Wales The Londoners take the Tower and daily fedde her conceits with fresh hopes of fortunate successe at the last But the two Spencers greatly fearing the euent of her returne if the French King should take her part and making the Kings Coyne and his Treasure their best Aduocates to plead their case so corrupted King Charles and his Councell of Estate with vnvaluable presents of Gold of Siluer and of rich Iewels that not onely all aide and succour was denyed to her by her owne brother but in verie sharpe and in quicke manner shee was by him reproued and blamed as being foolishly afraid of her owne shadow and as hauing vnwisely and vndutifully forsaken the companie of her Lord and kinde husband The Pope likewise and manie of his chiefest Cardinals being by like rewards engaged by the two Spencers required the French King vpon the penaltie of Cursing to send the Queene and the young Prince her sonne to King Edward And doubtlesse shee had vnnaturally beene betrayed by her owne brother if secretly and speedily her selfe and her young sonne had not been conueyed into the Empire by Sir Robert of Arthois her neere and kinde cousin and friend where they were with vnexpected and extraordinarie joy receiued and welcommed by the Earle of Henault and by Sir Iohn of Henault Lord Beaumont his brother who being accompanied with three hundred Knights and selected men of Armes went with her and with her sonne into England Vpon the first intelligence giuen of their landing the Lords and Barons with gladded hearts and lustie troupes of resolued Gallants who were soundly and at all points armed repaired euerie day to the Queene and Prince and hourely their forces were encreased So that the King hauing notice of these new troubles left the Gouernment of the Citie of London to his chiefest Treasurer Walter Stapleton then Bishop of Exeter who was an inward friend to the two Spencers and a professed enemie to the Queene and hated generally by the inhabitants of that Citie and the King hasted vnto the Marches of Wales for the present leuying of an Armie But hee was no sooner on his journey but the Londoners skorning the Gouernment of their prowd and insolent Commander apprehended him and without anie lawfull proceedings or judiciall Sentence caused his head to be smitten off at the Standard in Cheape and then they suddenly and with great violence rushed into the Tower of London where they slew all such as they found there and kept both it and that Citie to the vse of the Queene and of the young Prince her sonne The King changeth his purpose The King fortifieth Bristoll The Queene winneth Bristoll The King is besieged in the Castle Est ineuitabile Fatum A strange matter The King and Sir Hugh Spencer the younger are taken The Castle of Bristoll yeeldeth Sir Hugh Spencer the father and the Earle of Arundell are beheaded The Queene and Prince doe march toward London The younger Spencer is publikely derided He is cruelly executed As soone as King Edward was resolued and informed of this Reuolt hee desisted from his intended purpose and posted vnto Bristow and fortified it in the strongest manner that hee was able and committed the defence thereof to the Earle of Arundell and to Sir Hugh Spencer the father and himselfe with Sir Hugh the sonne entred into the Castle there and were determined to defend it with all their strength But within few dayes after the said Citie was besieged assaulted and wonne by the Queene and by the Barons who committing the two Earles and diuers others of the chiefest note vnto safe keeping besieged the Castle in such sort that the King and his Minion distrusting the euent stole away secretly in the night and put themselues into a little Fisher-boat Yet such was the will and pleasure of GOD to make them to know him by their future miseries that euerie day for a weeke and more the same Boat by reason of a contrarie winde was driuen backe neare to the said Castle Which being at length perceiued and obserued by the Lord Beaumont hee chased the Fisher-boat with a small vessell
and boarded her and found in her the King and Sir Hugh Spencer the sonne whome they so much desired and brought them to the Queene who presented them before the Castles view and vpon the sight of them the besieged yeelded the possession of their Fort into the Queenes hands Then were the heads of Sir Hugh Spencer the father Earle of Winchester and of Iohn Earle of Arundell whose daughter was married to the younger Spencer smitten off And the King being committed vnto honorable and safe keeping the Queene with the young Prince her sonne beeing accompanied with the Barons and a strong Armie marched towards London carrying with them Sir Hugh Spencer the sonne as a slaue before whom certaine vnworthie and base Fidlers vpon Pypes which they had made of Reedes skornfully played skipped and sung in euerie Towne which they passed through And being come to the Citie of London hee was fast bound vpon the top of an high Ladder and his priuie members and his heart being seuered from his bodie and burned his head was forthwith cut off and set vpon London Bridge A iust reward for their wickednesse Thus GODS judgements pursued those two vngodly and ambitious caitiues by whose lewd aduice and euill counsell the King forsooke the bed and companie of the Queene his wife liued wickedly made hauocke of his Nobilitie neglected his common People permitted his Enemies to his disgrace to triumph and to insult ouer him and gouerned more like a Tyrant than a King And thus those times of Trouble being now againe blessed with a happie Peace Sir Iohn of Henault and his companie are feasted and rewarded the Queene bountifully feasted and rewarded Sir Iohn of Henault Lord Beaumont and all his associates who taking leaue departed and were receiued into their Countrey with much joy and great honour And then the Queene and the young Prince to reforme such things as were amisse A Parliament and to settle a better course of Gouernment within this Land assembled an High Court of Parliament at Westminster In which the King by a generall consent was deposed The King is deposed Prince Edward crowned King and being verie honourably respected and attended he was committed to the Castle of Killingworth and Prince Edward was crowned King And not long after the King being remoued to the Castle of Corff was wickedly assayled by his Keepers who through a Horne which they did put into his fundament pierced his guts with a burning Spit and murdered him The old King is murdered when hee had raigned almost nineteene yeres THE HISTORIE OF KING EDVVARD THE THIRD EDVVARD the third being of the age of fifteene yeares and crowned King whilest his deposed father liued was chiefely directed in his younger yeares by the aduice and counsell of Queene Isabell his mother and of his vncle Edmund of Woodstock Earle of Kent and of Sir Roger Mortymer Sir Roger Mortymer wickedly procured the murder of the old King which knight to interesse himselfe more especially in the Queenes loue traiterously conspired and procured the murder of the last king by the monstrous villanie and barbarous crueltie before mentioned In the second yeare of this kings Raigne Robert le Bruse the busie vsurping king of the Scots denounced Warres against him and his kingdome which occasioned the leuying of a strong Armie King Edward inuadeth Scotland which consisted of foure and fiftie thousand men with which the king himselfe being accompanied with Sir Iohn of Henault Lord Beaumont and fiue hundred Lords Knights and Gentlemen strangers his associates marched into Scotland The Scots flye into the Woods and Mountaines Where he hunted and chased his enemies from Marish to Marish from Wood to Wood from Hill to Hill and from Mountaine to Mountaine for the space of one moneth and more yet by reason of the Scots cowardise which made them to skulke and runne from place to place tyring out the English Armie The King returneth The King marrieth Philip daughter to the Earle of Henault A Parliament Persons attainted A dishonorable peace with Scotland Their tenure is released The Charter called Ragman deliuered vp A marriage with Scotland Sir Roger Mortimer created Earl of March He is too familiar with Queen Isabel He procureth the Kings vncle to be beheaded Articles against Sir Roger Mortimer The King with his whole companie not hauing performed any memorable seruice returned home and shortly after took to wife the Ladie Philip yongest daughter to William Earle of Henault his cousen german in the third degree and assembled his high Court of Parliament at Northampton in which among other passages the two deceased Spencers and Walter Stapleton the late Bishop of Exeter were attainted of high treason And then the King by the directions of his mother and of Sir Roger Mortimer concluded a dishonorable peace with the Scots and released to them their homage fealtie and seruices to him due for that Kingdome and deliuered vp to them the Grand Instrument or Charter called Ragman which vnder the hands and seales of their late King and of the Nobilitie of Scotland testified their tenure and subiection to the Kings of this Realme and then hee married his sister Iane vnto Dauid the sonne and heire apparant of Robert le Bruse the vsurping Scottish King and created Sir Roger Mortimer Earle of March whereat his Nobles were exceedingly discontent And such was this new Earles inward malice and hatred vnto the Kings vncle the Earle of Kent and so powerfull was he with the King by reason of his too much familiarity with his mother Queen Isabel that he neuer desisted from his wicked and vngodly plottings vntill he had bereaued him of his head But God permitted not this wretched man to sway long in his vngodly courses For within few moneths after he was accused by the State for these horrible and hainous crimes 1. Imprimis For that hee had wickedly plotted and procured the murther of the Kings father 2. Item For that by his false accusations and sinister counsaile he had caused the King to cut off the head of his said vncle who was truly Noble Religious valiant honest and a strong pillar to the Common-weale 3. Item For that too too familiarly he conuersed with Queene Isabel the Kings mother to her iust reproach and the dishonor of the King 4. Item for that hee receiued of the Scots a bribe of twentie thousand pounds for which he procured the Kings retreat out of Scotland and the releasement of his Signiorie and homage due for that Kingdom 5. And lastly because hee had deceitfully cousened and beguiled the King of his Wards and Treasure conuerting all to his owne vse For these his wicked Treasons and horrible transgressions Sir Roger Mortymer attainted and Executed Queene Isabel sequestred The Kings Homage for Guyan required The King would not doe Homage in such sort as it was required The French King is angrie The Kings Homage againe required It is sent
vnder the Great Seale The Nobles are offended The Kings Title to France first broched hee was condemned to die in the same manner which he had deuised for the execution of Sir Hugh Spencer the yonger And Queene Isabel being most honourably prouided for and attended on was sequestred into a strong Castle where shee liued more then thirtie yeares after and then died In the fifth yeare of King Edwards Raigne his personall appearance in kind and friendly sort was required by Philip de Valoys king of France and vncle to the yong Queen that is to say brother to Iane Countesse of Henalt who was mother to K. Edwards wife together with his Homage Fealtie for his Duchie of Guyan For the performance whereof he departed hence and was with much triumph magnificence receiued entertained feasted in France But his homage and his fealtie he would and did only confesse by words and would not doe them in such solemne and submissiue fashion as they were demanded Whereat the French King was so inwardly moued that King Edward at his departure from the French Court might well perceiue that his welcome was more respected and honoured then his going from thence Assoone as the King came home by new Embassadors his homage was againe required to be performed with all solemnitie and due rites And therupon to giue some contentment to the French King it was sent vnto him in an instrument in writing vnder the great seale Whereat the Lords and Peeres repined much affirming that the crowne of France in the right of Queene Isabel his mother did belong to him and that therefore hee might iustly haue refused to haue done vnto him any homage at all Not long after these businesses thus ended King Edward by his Embassadors required Dauid the yong King of Scots The King requireth the Castle of Barwicke to bee restored It is denyed by the King of Scots and his Homage denied also being his brother-in-law to restore vnto him his Castle of Barwick and to doe him homage for his kingdome But Dauid stoutly returned answer that his father by conquest and by his sword wonne that Castle and that he had receiued it by discent from him and therefore would hold and keep it as his owne And touching the kings demand of his homage for the kingdome of Scotland his answer was that his Father neuer acknowledged any such seruice that king Edward had released it if any had been due And that therefore he would not confesse any tenure of king Edwards crowne The King warreth in Scotland The King preuaileth Barwicke is recouered The high spirit of the King would not suffer him thus to bee slighted and shaken off for he resolued to make himselfe the Lord of both For which cause he marched with a strong Armie into Scotland and quickly subdued the better the greater part of that kingdome with small resistance And hauing fortifyed for his own vse the Castles and Townes of best defence he returned and came to Barwick where the Towne after a strong siege was by composition surrendred into his hands Edward Baylyol Crowned King of Scotland And then he crowned Sir Edward Baylyol king of Scotland and committed the gouernment of the Towne of Barwick vnto his charge and returned into England with much honour The King in person setleth the Gouernement of Scotland But before two yeares more were expired he passed againe with an armie into Scotland placed his new king in his throne and receiued his homage and reinuested diuers English Lords and gentlemen of such Lordships and Territories as by reason of the kings dishonorable peace with the Scots when he first began to raigne had been taken from them Dauid flyeth into France These disasters and aduerse fortunes which inseparably accompanied Dauid the deposed king compelled him to flie into France where after two yeares continuance his heart was cheered with faire promises and his necessities were relieued plentifully with large and ample supplies of all things needfull and conuenient He returneth with an Armie into Scotland he also obtained an Armie with which hee sailed into Scotland his hopes fairely promising that ere long he should bee a king againe But he was much deceiued For king Edward hauing certain intelligence of his of the French kings endeuours prouided effectually for the encounter Dauid is ouerthrowne by King Edward and marched into Scotland with a strong Armie where hee fought often with fortunate successe against Dauid and the French kings forces and at length by battaile obtained an honourable victorie and securing the gouernment of that kingdome according to the rules of wisdome and of policie he returned joyfully into England Robert de Arthoys comes into England In the tenth yeare of this kings raigne Philip de Valoys then king of France sentenced the Earledome of Arthoys from Robert De Arthoys vnto Maud Countesse of Burgondie Aunt to the said Robert which censure so incensed the said Earle that in his heat he vttered these wordes By me was he made a King and by me he shal be againe deposed For which offence The King requites his former kindnesse he was throughout all France proclaimed to be a traytor to the crowne so that to preserue his life hee was compelled to flie into England where in regard of his fidelitie and honourable seruice performed to Queene Isabel and to the king himselfe when they were both in France he was with all complements of kindnes and heartie loue receiued and entertained by king Edward who knowing him to be right valiant hardie wise and not forgetting to requite fauours extended to him in his distresse created him Earle of Richmond He is Created Earle of Richmond and so entirely loued him that whilest he liued he neuer attempted anie great and important matter without his counsell and aduice This noble Knight ceased not to informe the King of his Title to the Crowne of France By Queene Isabel his mother who was the daughter of Philip the Faire which appeared to stand thus Philip the Hardie had issue two sonnes Philip the Faire King Edwards title to the Crowne of France and Charles de Valoys Philip the Faire had issue three sonnes all which successiuely were Kings and died without issue Male that is to say Lewes the tenth Philip the fifth sirnamed the Long Charles the fourth He had also one daughter which was named Isabel Queene of England and married to the Kings Father named Edward the second And Charles de Valoys the second sonne of Philip the Hardie was father vnto Philip de Valoys who raigned then in France Charles de Valoys and of this Charles it is noted that he was the sonne of a King The brother of a King The vncle of a King and the father of a King that himselfe was no King According to the Lawes of France the Crowne was to descend to the Issue Male and no woman
Prince Edward of England the great Lord and master of those Countries Malum consilium consultori pessimum And to effect what therein hee did intend hee called a generall Councell of the Lords and great men of those Territories and appointed the place of their meeting to bee at Sluce where hee also procured the presence of king Edward and of the Prince his sonne To draw these States together he proposed nothing publikely but the necessitie of a sound conference touching their proceedings with the King of England against France And within the Hauen there the place of Councel was in King Edwards great ship called the Katharine But vnexpectedly to the Flemish Lords Iaques Dartuell discoursed boldly and at large of the great Honour Prowes and valour of King Edward and of the yong Prince his Sonne And by many circumstances and deuised arguments hee endeauoured to extenuate the worth of their owne Earle as being altogether vnfit and vnable to be a Lord of so great a coÌ„mand and in the conclusion of his speech hee strongly striued to perswade them all to depose the Earle Loys and his posteritie and to adde an inuincible strength to their Estates by electing and chusing the Prince of England to be their Master and great Lord. The Nobles and the great men of Flanders being now made eare witnesses of Iaques Dartuells attempt Displeasing Counsell And inwardly detesting to leaue vnto a future age a memoriall of such treacherous infidelitie and wrong made answere that albeit no people in the world did more then they respect King Edward Nor more affect the aduancement and the Honour of the Prince his Sonne Yet this motion could not preuaile except the Natiues and common people of those Countries who had as large an interest as they in the deposing of the said Earle and in the disposing of his Lordship and command would willingly assent thereto And though in their heartes they intended and ment nothing lesse yet to make faire weather for the present time They told the King that they liked the motion exceeding well and that they would foorthwith depart vnto the seuerall places of their habitations and would informe the people of this proiect and do their best endeauours to perswade and to incourage them to consent thereunto And hauing promised the King that at the end of one Moneth they would returne againe with their full answere to the said motion And hauing mutually performed all complements requisite for a kind farewell they departed thence But when this newes was diuulged and when it was publikely knowne what Iaques Dartuell had proposed No trusting to the peoples fauour Iaques Dartuell is hated and murdred both he and his practise were inwardly detested and so hated that he was not esteemed to be a true borne Fleming who had the least inclination to giue any furtherance thereunto Yet notwithstanding such was the great confidence which this great Commaunder reposed in the fauour of the common people and such was the resolution of him whose authoritie before that time was vnlimited and whose prosperitie was equall to the greatnesse of a potent King that his presence would worke wonders and change the minds of the common people That to make triall of his power in that behalfe he came to Gaunt But as he passed through the streetes he might well perceiue that his entertainment was nothing correspondent to his former wel-comes and that the countenances of the Inhabitants bewrayed their inward contempt and loathing both of him and of his despised motion And no sooner was hee entred into his house but by many thousands of mutenous and armed Swaggarers it was compassed round about and then was hee rayled on with the foulest words and reuiled with the most bitter termes that either their hearts could deuise or their tongues vtter So that hee perceiued that it auailed him not to looke bigge nor to presume by his authoritie to appease their rage Wherefore at a great window of the house hee began mildly and with humble termes to pleade in his owne excuse and promised to giue them a full satisfaction vpon what grounds points and reasons he had vnaduisedly conceiued that motion But the sight of him whom in former times they loued and honoured as an Angell was now so lothsome and so vile and his words were so vnpleasing to them that with dirt and stones they beate him from the window King Edward looseth many powerfull friends assaulted his house brake it open entred in and slaughtered him with a thousand wounds And thus died that great Commander of the Flemings who for his power and absolute authoritie among them had neuer his equall in those Countries And by these meanes King Edward not onely lost a sound and a potent friend But euer after that time the hearts of the Flemings more fauoured the French King then they did him At the same time also his noble and worthy friend and vncle Sir Iohn of Henalt Sir Iohn of Henalt reuolteth to the French Lord Beamont reuolted from him and adheared to the French King because King Edward vpon some priuate vnkindnesse conceiued did with-hold and keepe from him a Pension which for his faithfull and good seruice hee had formerly giuen and duly paid vnto him And though King Edward did daily growe more strong in his hopes A valiant King to possesse himselfe of the Crowne of France yet the losse of some great friends being his associates in those Warres made him indeede more weake yet those his misfortunes so little auailed to discourage him that it increased his magnanimitie and his resolutions to maintaine those his Warres with the greater helpes of his owne strength ANNO. 20 Aguillon is besieged by 100000. men Now was the King informed that Iohn the eldest Sonne of the French King had strongly besieged the Castle of Aguillon in Gascoyne wel-neere with an hundred thousand men within which were the Noble Earle of Pembroke and the renowned Knight Sir Walter of Manny and diuers others of especiall note and place The King transporteth an Armie into Normandy Whereupon King Edward leuied the number of fourteene thousand men which he and the Prince his Sonne being accompanied with eight Earles fifteene Barrons and a great number of braue Knights and gallant Gentlemen by the aduice and counsell of Sir Godfray Lord Harcourt a French banished Noble man of great wisdome and wonderfull valour in the Warre caried into Normandie and with them he besieged the rich and strong Towne of Harflew Harflew is taken but because the English Armie seemed terrible in the sight of the Inhabitants it was not defended but the King tooke it without blowes and gaue the spoyle thereof to his common Souldiers so that he filâ—ed their Purses with Crownes and thereby prepared them with the greater courage Diuers towns and Castles are taken and resolution for more dangerous attempts So that within few dayes after hee wonne rifled and spoyled the
field where was fought a long and a sharp battaile vntill King Dauid by an Esquire named Iohn Copland was taken prisoner and secretly conueyed out of the armie There were also at that time slaine of the Scots diuers Earles Lords Knights and Gentlemen besides more then fifteene thousand souldiers of the common ranke And the residue of them being defeated returned by continuall flight into Scotland The Queene much importuned Iohn Copland for the deliuerie of his Prisoner king Dauid But hee making challenge vnto him as to his onely behoofe by the Lawes of Armes made answere that hee would not deliuer him vnto any but to the King himselfe So that the Queene being highly displeased with him certified the king both of her Victorie and also in what sort Iohn Copland had answered her touching the deliuerie of the Scottish king Whereupon Iohn Copland being sent for went vnto Callice Iohn Copland is thanked and rewarded where hee was graciously and louingly welcomed by the king who thanked him hartily for his great seruice and made him an Esquire of his owne bodie and recompenced his trauailes King Dauid and others are committed to the Tower and his good fortune with the gift in Fee simple of fiue hundred pounds by the yeare in good Land and commanded him to deliuer his Prisoner to the Queene at his returne which hee performed accordingly And then the Queene committed the said king and the Earle of Morret and manie others Prisoners to the Tower of London where they remained long after The Queene passeth ouer to Callice And then the Queene being accompanied with a faire troupe of faire Ladies and beautifull Gentlewomen whose husbands fathers brothers and kinsfolkes had for a long time beene emploied in the French warres came vnto the king as he lay before Callice and were by the king and his whole armie receiued and entertained with much joy The Callicians craue mercie And now the distressed and the besieged Towne of Callice trauelling with many wants and being destitute of all hope to be relieued because the French King not long before had cashired and dismissed his whole Armie craued pardon A hard condition and mercie of King Edward Who in regard of their peruerse and long continued obstinacie and for that they had spoyled and robbed many of his English Marchants vpon the Sea before they were besieged would in no sort hearken to their request and submission except sixe of their worthiest Inhabitants did come vnto him Bare-legged Bare-headed in their Shirts and with Halters about their neckes to be corrected and disposed of as the king should please Ingens telum necessitas And though this condition was full of terrour and of bitternesse yet necessitie compelled them to accomplish the kings demaund So that they sent him the keyes both of the Towne and Castle by those sixe A heauie sentence who presented them to the king The keyes he receiued but forthwith commanded that the said Townesmen should bee hanged Whereupon all such in the kings Armie Intercession for the liues of the Callicians as were either Honourable by birth or had for their seruice deserued well or were graced by the kings especiall loue and fauour became earnest Petitioners to the king for the Pardon of those distressed men But such was the kings resolution and full determination to make them examples to the rest for the iniuries and for the wrongs which formerly they had done to the English Nation The Queene only procureth their Pardon that all their meanes was insufficient and vnable to deliuer them from death Which when the Queene perceiued on bended knees with Prayers and with Teares and with importunate request shee neuer ceased to vrge the king vntill shee had procured their Pardon and their inlargement from that danger Callice is yeelded to King Edward in An. Dom. 1347. and in the 22. yeere of King Edwards raigne A stranger made Captaine of Callice The King returneth into England Londoners are sent to dwell in Callice The chiefe Captaine named Sir Guy of Vyen and such knights and Gentlemen as were in the Towne and in the Castle were sent Prisoners into England where they remained about sixe monethes and were then ransomed by the French king Thus when the king was quietly and fully possessed of Callice the keye to France and had without sparing of any cost in wonderfull sort strengthned and fortified it He left none to remaine there but Englishmen the Captaine onely excepted Who being a Lombard by birth was named Sir Andrew de Pauye an especiall fauourite of the kings whom the king vpon the vndoubted trust and confidence which hee reposed in him placed chiefe Captaine and Commander there These things being thus setled in good order the king with the Queene and all his troupes returned into England and were receiued into London with extraordinarie Triumph and great joy And from thence hee sent sixe and thirtie rich wise and graue Cittizens with ther Wiues and Families to Callice to inhabite and to trade and traffique there Great priuiledges granted to the Callicians and gaue to the said Towne and Castle such profitable and large immunites priuiledges liberties and franchesses that they thought themselues to be very happy whom the king would licence to dwell there The Pope mediates a Truce Pope Clement the sixt hauing manie yeares laughed in his sleeue to see these two potent and mightie kings so busily to imploy themselues each against other in those bloudie Warres at length mediated a Truce betwixt them which on his motion was concluded for two yeares Callice should haue been betraied And in the meane time king Edward was informed that Sir Andrew de Pauie his chiefe Captaine of Callice for twentie thousand Crownes to him promised by the Lord Charney Captaine of Arras had conspired to betray the Towne and Castle into his hands Whereupon king Edward to make a triall of this newes and to surprise the said Lord The King passeth secretly vnto Callice and all his Companie if hee might when hee should come to take the possession of Callice departed secretly out of England with three hundred selected men at armes and in the depth of the night landed at Callice and was quickly receiued in where hee sharply reprehended the Lombard who vnder the pretext of honest dealing for the king excused himselfe of anie treacherous intent But within a night or two after the Lord Charney at the appointed time repaired thither with twelue hundred armed men to surprise both the Castle and the Towne The monie in good Gold was by the Captaine receiued at a posterne gate of the Castle The Money is receiued and one hundred only of that Company were suffred to enter in But they finding quickly that they were beguiled and betraied without noyse or resistance yeelded themselues and were closed vp in a strong Dungeon And then the king himselfe King Edwards valour and courage
Armie landeth at Callice and marcheth to Burdeaux He beates the French King ANNO. 44 An other Armie sent into France The English doe preuaile with an armie into Callice who to the terror and spoyle of the Frenchmen marched from thence vntill he came to Burdeaux to the Prince his Brother without opposition or resistance wasting and hauoking in all places as he passed by sauing that he was once met with and encountred by king Charles who being soundly beaten was enforced to retire and to giue free passage to the Duke King Edward as much as in him lay though hee beganne to grow old yet he was very carefull of those affaires For as soone as his sonne Iohn of Gaunt was gone out of England hee sent another Armie vnto Saint Omers which was conducted by Sir Robert Knowles who marching through those adiacent Countries with fire and sword depopulated it yea almost vntill he came to the Citie of Paris And then hee marched into the Earledome of Angeou where hee wonne the strong Townes of Vaas and Ruylly and sundrie others thereabout But the French king being informed that there was great dissention in the English armie betwixt Sir Robert Knowles and the Lords Fitz-water and of Grauntson rushed vpon them sodainly with an armie and finding their mindes diuided and their forces by great disorder broken Dissention caused the Englishmens ouerthrow preuailed against them and slew about one thousand Englishmen Whereupon the said Townes which they had taken were againe yeelded into the French kings hands He also following the good hap of his fawning Fortune sent another armie into the Prouince of Guyan ANNO. 45 where the Prince was weakly assisted and his Townes and Castles daily reuolted from him King Edward being much perplexed with the common reports of his declining Fortune ANNO. 46 and being resolued to doe his best to preuent the worst assembled his high Court of Parliament at Westminster A ParliameÌ„t wherein to supply his wants and to giue better strength and furtherance to his French Warres the Temporaltie with much cheerefulnesse granted him a Subsidie of fifteene thousand pounds A Subsidie granted and the like summe hee requested of the Cleargie who were contented to giue him faire words but no monie Whereat he was so much displeased The Clergie will grant none The Clergie disgraced ANNO. 46 The Earle of Pembroke defeated and taken at Sea that wheras at that time the Bishops and the Cleargie men were chiefly honoured with all Places and Offices of Honour and of Profit and of Commaund disgracefully hee depriued them and dismissed them all and placed more thankfull Subjects of the Laitie in their roomes King Charles had now besieged the Towne of Rochell almost one whole yeare For whose reliefe and to remoue the siege king Edward sent the Earle of Pembroke with an armie to the Sea but hee was encountred fought with and put vnto the worst by Henrie the vsurper of Castile who in fauour of the French king and thankfully to requite his former loue when hee assisted him against king Peter kept the narrow Seas with a strong Fleet. In this fight the Earle himselfe and one hundred and threescore others were taken Prisoners manie men were slaine The French King winnes Rochell c. and the rest who escaped returned altogether discomforted into England And vpon the certaine report of this disaster The Towne of Rochell Angolesme Xants and Saint Iohns of Angley and diuers other Prouinces were giuen vp vnto the French king Sir Iohn de Mountford Duke of Brittaine perceiuing that good successe accompanied the French king in all his actions beganne to feare ANNO. 47 Iohn of Gant and the Duke of Britaine oppose themselues against the French King They waste the Countrey ANNO. 48 left in the height of his prosperitie he would attempt some quarrell against him Wherefore Hee fortified his Countries and then came into England and offred his assistance to K. Edward who forthwith leuied a strong armie and commited it to the gouernment of his sonne the Duke of Lancaster Who being accompanied with the Duke of Brittaine landed at Callice and with sword and fire wasted the whole Countrie vntill hee came to Burdeaux where the Duke of Lancaster found his brother the Prince of Wales exceeding sicke who made him Gouernour of all King Edwards Prouinces And hauing scene all such Noble men as hee could command Iohn of Gant is made Gouernour The sicke Prince commeth into England ANNO. 49 ANNO. 50 to take their solemne oathes for the performance of their duties and obedience to his brother the Duke he sailed into England After whose arriuall three parles for peace betwixt England and France were entertained vpon the motion and by the mediation of Pope Gregorie the eleuenth But not one of them was made fruitfull with any fortunate successe In the last yeare of King Edwards Raigne in a Parliament holden at Westminster the King required a Subsidie from the Cleargie and from the Temporaltie of his Kingdome towards the supporting of his warres The Lower house of the Parliâ—ment complaine vpon the K ngâ— euill Officers But the Lower house of that assembly complained grieuously against the Lord Latimer chiefe Chamberlaine to the King and of manie other of his Officers for that they not only misled the King in his old age but also vnthriftily spent and consumed the Treasure of his Kingdome Wherefore they refused to yeild vnto the kings demand except those euill Officers might bee displaced and better men setled in their roomes Which being by the king through the important perswasions of the Prince consented vnto he cheerefully obtained his demand And now approched the ends of these two famous .1376 and most worthie Princes the Father and the Sonne For the Prince of Wales died the eight day of Iune The Blacke Prince dieth in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand three hundred threescore and sixteene when hee had liued fortie yeares and lieth buried at Canterburie The King restoreth his euill Officers And no sooner was hee dead but king Edward verie vnaduisedly to his great dishonour and to the great discontentment of his people remoued from him such new Officers as in the late High Court of Parliament were established and placed neere about him and restored the Lord Latimer Richard is Created Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earle of Chester King Edward dieth and all the rest to their former Offices and places And finding himselfe exceeding weake by reason of his sharp and grieuous sicknesse he created his Nephew Richard Sonne to the Prince deceased Prince of Wales Earle of Chester and Duke of Cornwall and committed the Regencie of his kingdome to his son Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster died when he had raigned fiftie yeares and somewhat more THE HISTORIE OF KING RICHARD THE SECOND RICHARD the second being the Son and heire of the Blacke Prince ANNO. 1. 1377.
and aged eleuen yeares and somewhat more was crowned king of England in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand three hundred and seuentie seuen In the whole course of his euill Gouernment King Richards euill manners and bad Gouernment he neglected his Nobilitie and taxed his Subjects to enable himselfe to giue prodigally vnto his ill deseruing Fauorites Hee was too too resolute in his follies and refused to bee reproued or reformed He also despised the sage aduice and good directions of his wisest and best Counsellors and wholly plotted all his courses by the wicked and gracelesse projects of his base companions whom hee raised to more honourable Estates then befitted the meanes of their condition So that they fell by their own weight and he himselfe in the end was enforced to endure the extremitie of his hard fortune For being first disgraced by his Cousin Henrie of Bullingbrooke Duke of Lancaster and sonne and heire to his Vncle Iohn of Gaunt hee was at length by him with the general consent of a whole Parliament deposed from his Crowne commited to Prison and afterwardes wickedly murdered as in this discourse of his disordered Gouernment more amply it shall appeare The Frenchmen burne diuers townes in England In the first yeare of king Richards Raigne Charles the French king presuming much on his Minoritie and being aided by the Spaniards landed in the Southwest and in the South-east parts of this kingdome and ransacked and burnt the Townes of Plymouth Dartmouth Portsmouth Rye and some other Townes and Villages coasting vpon the Sea and would haue done more mischiefe if by the kings Vncle Edmund of Langly Earle of Cambridge and by the Earles of Buckingham and of Salisburie they had not beene fought with and beaten to their ships Alexander Ramseyes desperate attempt and successe At the same time also by the instigation of the French king one Alexander Ramsey an approued Scottishman at armes with fortie of his Company in the depth of the night suddenly and desperately scalled the wals of the Castle of Barwicke and finding the Captaine and all his souldiers securely sleeping he tooke it without blowes and intended also to haue surprised the Towne But the inhabitants hearing an extraordinarie noyse and tumult in the Castle and indeuouring to preuent a feared mischiefe hewed away the stayes of the Draw-bridge on the Townes side so that when the Scots did let fall the Draw-bridge the chaines brake and the Bridge fell into the Castle Ditch By meanes whereof the Scots could not issue out but were imprisoned by their owne Victorie This necessitie enforced them as well as they were able to fortifie the Castle which on the kings behalfe was soone besieged and assaulted by tenne thousand men who after many feates of Armes performed brauely by the assailants and after much valor with high courage shewed by that small number of valiant Scots wonne the Castle and receiued not one of them to mercie but onely their Captaine Alexander Ramsey The Frenchmen land in England And not long after the Frenchmen landed againe in England and did much harme at Douer Wynchelsay Hastings and at Grauesend and returned with their booties into France But to preuent like future mischiefes and to reuenge those injuries done to the King and his Realme by the French King ANNO. 3. A Parliamēt This Taxe caused much trouble An Armie sent into France A Parliament was assembled at Westminster In which a Subsidie of foure pence for euery man and for euery woman within this Kingdome being aboue foureteene yeares of age was granted to the King The leuying whereof procured much heart-burning which not long after brake forth and endangered the whole State of the Common-weale Yet with that monie great prouision was made and an armie of eight thousand men was sent into France vnder the command of Thomas of Woodstock the Kings Vncle who passing ouer the faire and great Riuers of Soame Oyse and Marne spoiled and burnt all the Countries and ransomed the inhabitants vntill he came into Brittaine where he was receiued by the Duke Iohn Mountford with all friendly entertainment and much joy And now began a Rebellion in England which was exceeding hazardous to the whole kingdome For Iohn Wall a factious Priest ANNO. 4. perceiuing that the inferior sort of the people much murmured and grudged at the payment of the aforesaid Subsidie A great Rebellion in England Iohn Wal was the beginner of this Rebellion His wicked course in perswading by secret conferences in all places where he came informed the Bondmen Villaines Slaues and such others as were pinched with penury and with want that by descent and parentage from Adam all men were of one condition and of equall worth and that the Lawes of this kingdome were iniurious and vniust which did set so great a difference betwixt men as to make some of them great Peeres Potentates and Lords and in geuing to some others large authority and commaund and in enlarging of great possessions and store of riches vnto some and in commanding others to be base seruile beggars and to enioy litle or nothing at all And therefore with traytrous reasons he perswaded them either by faire meanes or by open insurrection and ciuill warre to prouide for their owne liberties and to releeue their owne wants This lewd and damnable doctrine so infatuated and infected the Rusticks from Shire to Shire that at length it was spread in the Citie of London where the meanest and the basest sort being a multitude who egerly enuyed the prosperitie of the more worthie inhabitants and greedily coueted to be enriched with their substance were in great hope by Rebellious mutening to make vtter hauoke and spoyle of all things at their pleasure And to effect that which they intended such as were most desperatlie inclined among them informed the headlesse multitude in th◠Countries round about them that if they would come thither and ioyne with them the whole Citie of London should be at their command So that incredible numbers of brainsick turbulent and traytrous people prepared to flock thither from Kent Essex Sussex Bedfordshire and from many other places Of this rude and raskall rout Watt Tyler Iohn Wall Iack Straw and Iack Shepheard Captaines in this Rebellion Wat Tylar who by his profession was a Taylor was made Captaine to command the rest and the said Iohn Wall Iack Straw Iack Shepard and some others were made chiefe directors and their leaders And Stiling themselues The Kings men and the seruants of the Common-weale of England they marched towards London beating downe the houses and rifling all the moueables of all such as were professors of the Law How they passed towards London and compelling all Knights and Gentlemen either to flye before their comming or to be partakers in this vprore They also sent vnto the King who then lay in the Tower requiring him to come and to speake with them The King went
Armie And King Henrie to withstand him did the like But the English Armie landing in those Countries before the French King was in a readinesse and being boldly commanded and conducted by the Lord Percie Earle of Worcester vnto Sir Thomas Knowles the King of Englands Lieutenant there The French King giueth ouer his enterprise and they hauing taken the fealtie and the homage of the Lords of those Prouinces for their obedience and alleageance vnto King Henrie caused the French King to change his mind and dishonourably to disband all such companies as hee had leuied Yet for all this King Henrie still distrusting the weakenesse of his vsurped title and endeuouring to support it with a more sure foundation entreated the French King Charles the sixt to giue in marriage his daughter Isabel sometime King Richards wife vnto his eldest sonne Henrie Marriages with France are seldome fortunate Prince of Wales But her father obseruing that marriages betwixt England and France were but seldome fortunate denied the kings request whereupon she was conueied into France with Princely attendance and great honour And not long after shee was married to her Cousin Charles the eldest sonne of Lewes Duke of Orleance her Vncle. The aforesaid Treason conspired against the king by the aforesaid Lords and the late preparations of the French King first to haue inuaded the Kingdome of England and secondly to haue wrought wonders in Aquitaine and in Guyan and the frequent speeches which euerie where were vttered touching the manner of the Kings attaining to the Crowne animated the Welchmen and the Scots to shew themselues troublesome neighbours vnto the King Owen Glendor rebelleth For in Wales Owen Glendor a bold Squire with manie hundreds of his lawlesse and vnciuill companions entred into Armes and did much harme in the Marches which bordered neere vnto them Against whom Edmund Mortimer taken and sharply imprisoned the Lord Gray of Ruthen and Edmund Mortimer who was the true and rightfull Heire of the Crowne conducted their Forces and fought with him But they both were taken Prisoners and the said Edmond was by him kept close in a darke Dungeon which was both cold and vnhealthie where hee was ouerburdened with daily wants and much miserie All which were with the greater extremitie laid vpon him because king Henrie his Cousin should bee enforced the sooner to redeeme him with a great Ransome Wherein because the King was too too slacke and negligent hee was entreated and vrged by his Lords The King would not redeeme him but especially by the distressed Earles kinsmen the Percies But vnto them all he turned the deafe eare rather desiring his destruction then holding it safe for him to set him free The Scots also inuaded the Northerne parts of this Kingdome The Scots inuade but King Henrie with a puissant Armie entred into their Countrie and reuenged his wrongs euerie where with fire and sword at his owne pleasure The king curbeth them But because the Winter was extraordinarily wet and cold hee dissolued his Armie and with great honour victoriously he returned backe But as soone as hee was gone the angrie Scots being in number twentie thousand at the least entred with barbarous crueltie into England vpon the Northumbers The Scots againe doe inuade Henrie Hotspurre ouerthroweth them His great Prisoners but were gallantly encountred by Sir Henrie Hot-spurre the sonne and heire apparant of Henrie Percie Earle of that Prouince who with tenne thousand lustie and braue men gaue the Scots such a bloudie ouerthrow that he slew of them more then tenne thousand in the field and tooke aboue fiue hundred Prisoners among whome Mordake Earle of Fyffe Archibald Earle Douglasse Thomas Earle of Murrey and Robert Earle of Angus were the chiefe The next yeare following ANNO. 1. The Frenchmen spoyled by a storme at Sea the French King sent for Wales to assist Owen Glendor in his rebellious enterprises twelue hundered Lords Knights and Gentlemen of good accompt that they might be leaders and directors to those disordered Traytors But the winds not being answerable to their desires were so contrarie at the Sea and a storme so violently encreased that twelue of their greatest shippes with all their men and furniture were swallowed into the Sea and the rest with great difficultie returned into France This misfortune so animated the English Nation The English doe deride the French that they beganne euerie where to talke of and to iest at the French King because all his warlike expeditions had still beene vnfortunate and disastrous and though they threatned much Twelue thousand Frenchmen sent into Wales yet alwayes they vanished as a cloude The report whereof so whetted and exasperated his resolutions to doe some memorable seruice that forthwith hee sent vnto the said rebelling Welchmen an armie of twelue thousand men who safely landed and ioyned with ten thousand of that Nation The King marched into Wales This Armie occasioned King Henrie to prepare soundly for his safetie For hee was well assured that if anie neglect or want of skill or of courage should giue them the least aduantage whatsoeuer then his Crowne would be shaken and manie miseries would threaten his ouerthrow Wherefore hee in his owne person marched with a strong and with a compleat Armie into Wales But assoone as the Frenchmen had certaine notice of his comming they thought it was high time for them to aduise what course to take perchance not because they were distrustfull of their owne valour and resolution but because the inconstancie of that turbulent and fickle Nation when danger did appeare affrighted them fully with feares and with doubts least they would flie into the Woods and craggie Mountaines and forsake them when they should craue the best performance of their helpe The Frenchmen flie to their ships And so strongly did this doubtfull feare possesse them that suddenly like men amazed and heartlesse they ranne vnto their ships and not hauing performed anie manner of seruice whatsoeuer disgracefully and cowardly they returned into France The King is victorious without blowes Hereupon the Welch Rebelles desperatly shifting for themselues fled euerie man his owne way so that king Henrie found those Traiterous multitudes dispersed and quite vanished and would not be fought with Wherefore hee dissolued his great armie and returned in peace without blowes The King marrieth the Dutches of Britaine The King makes great friends abroad ANNO. 3. The King requireth the Percies to deliuer to him their Scotish Prisoners They refuse it The Percies resolue to set Edmond Mortimer at libertie and to restore him to the Crown Afterwards King Henrie tooke to wife Iane the widdow of Iohn the deceased Duke of Brittaine and gaue Blanch his eldest daughter in marriage vnto William Duke of Bauier the sonne and heire apparant of the Emperor Lewes of Bauier And some few yeares after hee matched Philip his yongest daughter with the King of Denmarke For his daily
tyre out his Armie to pursue him Wherefore hee returned ouer the Riuer of Loyre and tooke eyther by force or by voluntarie yeelding manie Townes and Castles vnto his owne vse Pâ— Henry is borne About the same time Queene Katherine was deliuered of a Sonne at Windsour who was named Henrie Of whose birth as soone as the King had notice he said vnto the Lord Fitz-Hugh his Chamberlaine The Kings words I HENRIE borne at Monmouth shall remaine but a short time and gaine much but HENRIE borne at Windsour shall raigne long and lose all The King who for manie weekes together had besieged the well-defended Towne of Meux in Bry enforced it to bee yeelded into his hands and thereupon all the Townes and Fortresses in the Isle of France in Lanuoys in Bry and in Champaigne did the like The Dolphin entreth into the Duke of Burgoines countrey When the Dolphin vnderstood that the King with his Armie was departed farre away from him hee raysed another Armie and entred into the Duke of Burgoines Countries wasting and consuming it with Sword and with Fire and straitly besieged the Citie of Cosney Cosney is besieged which by composition was to be yeelded to him if it were not rescued within tenne daies Of this Agreement notice was sent by the Duke of Burgoine to the King with a request That he would send a power conuenient for the remoue of the said Siege The King goeth to relieue Cosney Whereupon the King in his owne person being accompanied with a gallant companie marched towards that Citie to set it free But as he trauelled on the way he fell so sicke that he was vnable to trauaile anie further The King falleth sick So the charge of that expedition was committed to his brother Iohn Duke of Bedford whose passage forth was noysed to the Dolphin to be with such an high courage and souldior-like resolution that the Dolphin fearing to grapple with him raysed his siege The Dolphin sayeth and most dishonourably retyred himselfe and his Armie into Berry And thus was that Citie rescued and deliuered by the English The King by reason of his encreasing sicknesse waxing more weake and feeble was carried vnto Boys in Vyncennes where within few dayes he was summoned by Death to depart into another world But before he died The Kings Speech before he died he called vnto him his two brothers Iohn Duke of Bedford and Humfrey Duke of Glocester the former hee made Lieutenant Generall of Normandie and Regent of the kingdome of France and the other he made Protector of England and of his sonnes owne person Hee embraced his approaching end comfortably in regard that though his time had been but short yet it was beautified with matchlesse fame and honour which longer continuance being the professed enemie of stabilitie might haue changed He exhorted them and his Nobles who then were present to maintaine true and heartie loue and friendship with his noble and faithfull friend Philip Duke of Burgoine and neuer to be at variance with him Hee persuaded them to nourish and to cherish an vnseparable vnitie and faithfull friendship among themselues to be faithfull and louing to his young infant sonne and their succeeding king Henrie and by all meanes to bee helpefull ayding and assisting to his most sad dolorous and mournefull Queene to preserue and to maintaine by Wisdome Policie and Armes those things which he by valour and GODS furtherance had honourably wonne and gotten Neuer to conclude any peace or amitie with the late Dolphin and Duke of Alanson vntill they were enforced to submit themselues to his sonnes grace and mercie Finally he thanked Almightie GOD who had made him Religious Vertuous Honest and Victorious The King died and died the last day of August in the yeare of our LORD GOD 1422. in the eight and thirtieth yeare of his Age when hee had raigned but nine yeares fiue moneths and foure and twentie dayes And his bodie being conueyed into England was buried among his noble Progenitors at Westminster with extraordinarie solemnitie and great pompe THE HISTORIE OF KING HENRIE THE SIXT KIng Henrie the fifth died when his sonne Henrie was but nine months old 1422. 1 A yong king but well gouerned Yet was hee so fortunate in his beginning that his Youth and Gouernment were worthily supported by his three vncles Humfrey Duke of Glocester who when the King was crowned was made Protector both of his Person and also of his Realme Iohn Duke of Bedford who was established Regent of France and Thomas Duke of Exeter who graced all his actions with much wisdome and great valour Needfull it was that the new Protector and the Regent should make the vtmost tryall of their sufficiencies to the World For whereas in the end of the Kings fathers dayes France is vnwilling to remain English the Nobilitie of France incorporated themselues to the English Nation and heartily enuied the Dolphin King Charles about this time died and the vnconstant Frenchmen began to play an Irish game For on a suddaine manie of those dissembling and fained friends renounced their duties and obedience to King Henrie and vtterly neglecting the performance of Oathes of Allegeance made vnto him they reuolted and not onely adhered to Charles their new King but by all sinister practises and meanes they endeuoured to extirpe the English Nation among them if they might The Regents Policies The Protector at home by the aduise and counsell of the Statists plotted manie Proiects for the retayning of the Kings inheritance in Normandie and in France and for that purpose he furnished the Regent with store of Souldiours Siluer and of Gold The Regent also leuied a strong Armie in Normandie among his choysest and chiefest friends whome by substantiall arguments and sound reasons hee persuaded to perseuere and to continue loyall to his Master and not to be wearied with anie labour or daunted with anie danger because a peacefull and a blessed conclusion should make them rich and fortunate and winne to them the loue and fauour of their young King as hee encreased in wisedome and in yeares And on the other side Charles the new King spared not anie paines but did the like insomuch that nothing but tyrannizing Warre and the vnchristian effusion of much bloud was thought vpon And to begin those Troubles the French King sent the Lord Grandeuyle Pont-Melance taken with a selected companie to Pont-Melance which standeth on the Riuer of Seyne which hee surprized and slew the most part of them whom he found there before anie notice of his approach gaue anie warning to the English garrison to defend it The Earle of Salisburie a famous man Thomas Montacute the Earle of Salisburie for his admired courage and expert managing of martiall actions was at that time more fitly to be compared to a choise Roman than to anie other who liued in his dayes To this Earle the Regent commended the regayning
Counsell But because the most of them were Clergie-men they afforded no manner of redresse where at the Protector was much displeased But to requite him with more vexation and a greater trouble they caused the Lady Eleanor his wife The Protectors wife condemned for witchcraft to be accused and conuicted for conspiring of the Kings death with Witches and such like gracelesse people for which shee was inforced three times to doe publike Penance in the Citie of London and afterwards shee was committed to perpetuall Imprisonment But diuers of her condemned associates were Executed and put to sundrie kinds of death And now to returne to the French Warres King Henrie in regard of former seruices and of future hopes of the like performance Created the Lord Iohn Talbot Earle of Shrewsburie Iohn created Earle of Shrewsbury A worthy Captaine and sent him into Normandie with three thousand selected men for the better securing of that Duchie In which expedition hee worthily demeaned himselfe and wonne much Honour This yeare the Countesse of Coming in Guyen died without issue and her inheritance was claimed by the French King And likewise the Earle of Arminacke pretended himselfe to be her next heire A mariage offered to King Henrie And to strengthen himselfe the better to gaine his right he offered his Daughter in marriage to King Henrie with the gift of much money and with the surrendring into his hands of all such Territories and possessions within the Duchie of Aquitaine and Guyen as either by Conquest or by discent did belong vnto him The King is offered to the Earle of Arminaks daughter This offer was willingly hearkned vnto and accepted by the King who by his Ambassadors was publikly offered to the said Lady But the French King minding rather to preuent dangers before they come then to remooue them after they were hapned so suddenly inuaded the said Earles Countries and Dominions with an Armie that with small or no resistance hee quickly made himselfe the Owner of them all The King refuseth her The newes whereof so altered and changed the minde and the affections of King Henrie towards his offered Lady that he would neuer after be perswaded to hearken vnto or to thinke vpon that match The grieued compassion which forraine Princes tooke vpon the lamentable distresse of poore France because the bloud of Christians was so vnmeasurably and so vnmercifully shed in those warres incited them to mediate both these Kings to make a friendly peace which was not effected according to their endeuours and desires A truce for eighteene moneths The Earle of Suffolke solliciteth another mariage for King Henry without authority giuen to him A dishonorable match propounded and concluded Reasons why this match was disliked but a truce only was concluded for eighteene moneths In the handling whereof the Earle of Suffolke not warranted by his Commission nor making his associates acquainted with his purpose sollicited a mariage betwixt his Lord and master King Henry and the Lady Margaret cosen to the French King and daughter vnto Reyner Duke of Angeow being the titularie King of Sicilie Naples and Ierusalem With her hee made no demand for any money because her father was but poore nay which was much worse hee consented that if the said mariage might be effected King Henry should freely and frankly release vnto her father all his right and title to the said Dutchie of Angeow and to the Country of Mayne The Lords of France were quickly wonne to hearken to this motion and King Henry was glad at the heart that he should haue for his wife such a faire and fresh Lady as the Earle of Suffolke could neuer praise enough But the Protector strongly opposed himselfe against this match terming her descent to be but Titularie and vrging much the pouertie of her father and told the King that his honour and reputation would receiue many scandals if he should reiect the Earle of Arminaks daughter vnto whom with all due ceremonies he was publikely affied and also that his losse would be lamentable if he released his lawfull and iust title to the Dutchie of Angeow and to the Country of Mayne according to the Earle of Suffolkes vnaduised offer But all his reasons as friuolous were reiected and his counsell was not cared for But the King to gratifie and to please such of his Noble-men as therein enclined themselues to his humour Creation of Lords bestowed on them new Dignities and honours For Iohn Lord Holland Earle of Huntingdon was created Duke of Exeter as his father had beene Humfrey Earle of Stafford was made Duke of Buckingham Henry Earle of Warwicke was made Duke of Warwicke and the said Earle of Suffolke was created Marques of Suffolke Which Marques being very honourably accompanied with great troupes of Lords The new Marquesse fetcheth the yong Queen The King is maried Ladies and other personages of great worth and honour went richly prouided into France and according to his condition receiued the Lady Margaret from the French King and from Reyner her father and conueied her with great pompe and princely magnificence into England where within few daies after she was maried to the King and crowned Queene Now as the prefixed time for the truce drew towards an end so King Henry perceiued that this his new alliance with the French King promised him not any certaintie that it should be enlarged or that he should haue peace For in France fresh supplies were hourely prouided to reuiue the former warre and euery day offered euident demonstrations that nothing was more to be expected then blowes Wherefore to encounter those preparations with the like prouisions the King assembled his high Court of Parlament A Parliament The Marquesse of Suffolks oration His motion in which the Marques of Suffolke in a powerfull glozing and tedious Oration extolled his owne deserts aboue the skies as well in his seruice in the French warres as also in mouing and in concluding the late truce and the Kings mariage He also admonished his Highnesse and the two houses there assembled what preparations for warre were made in France and how behoouefull it was for the King to doe the like And vpon this motion proceeding from his haughtie pride and ambitious minde the whole assemblie became humble suters to his Maiestie A Record made of his acts that not only his said admonition and aduice but also all his said former seruices and doings might in most ample sort be registred among the Rolles of Parliament for the perpetuallizing of his honour and of his name which with wonderfull applause was consented vnto and shortly after he was created Duke of Suffolke He is made a Duke Yet for all this before many yeares were expired he was in the same place accused conuicted and condemned for sundrie treasons Humana caduca misprisions and offences for which he was exiled taken and without law put to death as hereafter wee shall
them The Londoners refuse to receiue the Lord Scales and told the Lord Scales that hee was able enough without his helpe or counsell to keepe that Citie which by the King was committed vnto his charge whereat he was much displeased and went to the Tower from which hee much wronged and damnified the inhabitants of London The King to defend himselfe The King marcheth towards the Lords and to master his rebellious enemies being accompanied with the Dukes of Somerset and of Buckingham and many other Lords Knights Gentlemen and a strong Armie marched towards them And though the King himselfe for necessities sake was personally present yet his minde and cogitations were more religiously bent to his praiers and his desires affected nothing more then quietnesse and peace But the Queene whose heart was manly The Queene encourageth and threatneth and whose anger threatned death with souldier-like termes and speeches cheared vp her followers debased their enemies promised rewards if they deserued well and the seuerest of all punishments to such as fled At length neere vnto the Towne of Northampton the two Armies met the Earle of March being very frolicke The Armies doe meet The battaile of Northampton and in the heat and flower of his youth by the aduice and counsell of the Earle of Warwicke ordered his Armie for the battaile The Queene and her adherents did the like The fight quickly beganne and fiercely continued somewhat more then two houres but at length the Earles became victors The King is ouerthrowen Ten thousand men slaine Slaughter slew more then ten thousand men on the kings part among which were Humfrey Duke of Buckingham Iohn Talbot Earle of Shrewesburie Thomas Lord Egremont Iohn Viscount Beamond and many others The Queene with the Duke of Somerset and diuers others Flight taking with them the young Prince fled into the Bishopricke of Durham where they hoped to raise a new Armie or resolued in default thereof to goe into Scotland and to remaine there vntill fortune and their friends should inable them to recouer what they had lost The King taken prisoner The Tower is deliuered to the Lords The King who was left behinde was taken prisoner and conueied by the Earles with great pompe and much honour vnto London and at their comming thither the Tower was deliuered into their possession by the souldiers against the liking and good will of the Lord Scales who attempted to flie from thence disguised in a Whirrie But being discouered by the Water-men he was by them taken The Lord Scales beheaded by the Water-men Tho. Thorpe taken and imprisoned The Duke of Yorke commeth into England A Parliament What the Duke of Yorke did and said in the Parliament house The Duke of Yorkes title and made shorter by the head and his body was negligently left vpon the sands And Thomas Thorpe the second Baron of the Exchequer who mortally hated the house of Yorke purposing in the habit of a Monke with a shauen Crowne to flie vnto the Queene was taken and brought to the Earle of Warwicke who sent him to the Tower where hee remained long after The Duke of Yorke being speedily informed of this victorie left Ireland and came to London and procured a Parliament to be assembled in the Kings name and in the presence of all the Lords in the Vpper House hee sate himselfe downe in the Imperiall Seat and in an eloquent and powerfull Oration hee discouered to the Nobles his rightfull claime and title to the Crowne he being the sonne and heire of Anne the daughter and heire of Roger Mortimer Earle of March sonne and heire to Philip the sole daughter and heire of Lionel Duke of Clarence the third sonne of King Edward the Third and elder brother to Iohn of Gaunt who was father to the Vsurper King Henry the Fourth who was father to King Henry the Fifth who was father to the King who was vntruly named King Henry the Sixth Englands plagues He also related vnto them that because God blessed not his vnlawfull gouernment therefore the Common-weale of England had beene plagued with many mischiefes As first by the murdering and by the executing of many honourable and great Lords Secondly by the slaughter of thousands of the common people in France Normandie and elsewhere Thirdly by ciuill and bloudie warres at home Fourthly by the losse of all Territories beyond the Sea belonging to the Crowne of England excepting Calice and the Marches thereof Fifthly by sudden incursions made by the Frenchmen and by the Scots And lastly by all manner of violence 1460. extortion and oppression practised vpon the poorer sort And in his conclusion hee craued no fauour vnlesse that iustice gaue them warrant The title to the Crowne settled by act of Parliament nor quiet possession of the Crowne except they found his descent and title to be infallibly true When the Lords and the Commons there assembled had with mature deliberation and good aduice debated soundly of this important businesse it was by them all enacted that King Henry should so long as he liued retaine the name and honour of a King and that the Duke of Yorke should be proclaimed to be the heire apparant of the Crowne and should be the Lord Protector both of the Kings person and also of his dominions and countries and that the said Duke should haue the present possession of the Crowne of this Realme deliuered vnto him if at any time King Henry or his friends allies or fauourites in his behalfe attempted the infringing of the said Acts which were agreed and confirmed by their oathes The Duke of Yorke hauing by these meanes gotten the gouernment of the Kings person and of all his dominions into his hands The Lords in Scotland refuse to come to the Duke of Yorke dispatched his letters into Scotland in the Kings name requiring the Queene the Dukes of Somerset and of Exeter the Earle of Demonshire the Lords Clifford and Rosse and such other great men as were fled and remained in that Kingdome to repaire with all expedition to the Kings presence They come on with a great Armie But they all not onely refused to obey this peremptorie command but with an Armie of eighteene thousand Englishmen Scots they marched boldly towards the Kings Court. Whereupon the Duke of Yorke with his younger sonne the Earle of Rutland and the Earle of Salisburie leauing the King in the custodie of the Duke of Norfolke and of the Earle of Warwicke and being accompanied with no more then fiue thousand men directed his iourney towards the Queene They are encountred The battaile of Wakefield Haste made waste The Duke of Yorke ouerthrowen and slaine A blâ—udie fact and met her neere to the Towne of Wakefield where no perswasions or good aduice could preuaile but the Duke of Yorke who euery houre expected the approch of Edward Earle of March his eldest sonne with a strong Armie would forth with
fight which vnfortunately he did for in lesser time then the space of one houre himselfe with almost three thousand of his companie were slaine and his younger sonne Edmund Earle of Rutland being but twelue yeares old kneeling vpon his knees and desiring mercie was cruelly and wickedly stabbed to the heart by the Lord Clifford who horribly did sweare that by that act he would be reuenged for his fathers death And the rest of that small Armie being discomforted confusedly ranne away and saued themselues by flight The Queene who had taken the Earle of Salisburie prisoner caused his head to be stricken off and executed many others The Earle of Salisburie beheaded all whose heads to despight the Yorkish Faction she caused to be set vpon the walles of the Citie of Yorke Which reuengefull deede not long after was requited by the ruine and destruction of the King the Queene the young Prince and of the greater number of such as fauoured and assisted the house of Lancaster and opposed themselues against the rightfull and iust claime of the Duke of Yorke as hereafter we shall heare The new and braue Duke of Yorke being informed of this ouerthrow The new Duke of Yorkes victorie and of his fathers death augmented his Armie which was but small and consisted only of three thousand men with which hee fought with the Kings halfe-brother Iaspar Earle of Pembroke Owen Tuthar his father Iames Butler Earle of Ormond and of Wiltshire and their companies And almost at their first encounter those two Earles fled foure thousand of their friends were slaine many others were taken prisoners Owen Tuthar beheaded The Queenes Armie preuailed The King is enlarged and among them Owen Tuthar father in law to King Henry was one who with some others were incontinently put to death But the Queenes Armie neere about that time hauing fought with the Duke of Norfolke and all his forces compelled them to flie to leaue King Henry behinde them whereat she conceiued much ioy This victorie at the first made her insolent and proud but when she vnderstood how well the young Duke of Yorke had preuailed and that his Armie was now winged with the Earle of Warwickes Regiments and Companies shee with her adherents retired backe into the Northerne parts of this Realme and raised a huge Armie of threescore thousand men The Queenes Armie of 60000. men The Duke of Yorkes Army of 49000. men Towton field 36000. Englishmen slaine The Dukes victorie and neere vnto a Towne called Towton Edward Duke of Yorke the noble and victorious Richard Earle of Warwicke and almost nine and fortie thousand men met with the Queenes Armie where they fought a cruell and a fierce battaile in which more then six and thirtie thousand Englishmen were slaine among which were the Earles of Northumberland and of Westmerland the Lords Dacres Welles and Clifford Sir Iohn Neuil Andrew Trollop and many others The two Dukes of Somerset and of Exeter saued themselues by flight but the Earle of Deuonshire with sundrie moe were taken prisoners The King and the Queene with Prince Edward their onely sonne fled to the Castle of Barwicke and from thence into Scotland where they were courteously receiued and friendly entertained by the young King In recompence of which fauours and in hope of future assistance Barwicke deliuered to the King of Scots King Henry deliuered vnto him the Castle and Towne of Barwicke which the Scots not only much desired but with exceeding great losse and detriment had oftentimes but still in vaine attempted to make their owne This victorie being thus happily obtained the Duke of Yorke rod triumphantly to the Citie of Yorke from whose walles hee tooke the heads of his deceased father and of his friends and causing the Earle of Deuonshire and some others to be executed Execution hee set vp their heads in the same places King Henry being hopelesse of all other helpe and assistance The Duke of Yorke commeth triumphantly into London sent the Queene his wife and the young Prince their sonne to her father Reyner the Titularie King of Sicilia Naples and of Ierusalem praying to vse his best endeuours and diligence to procure him aide and succour from the French King And in the meane time he himselfe remained in Scotland patiently expecting the euent of his future Fortunes THE HISTORIE OF KING EDVVARD THE FOVRTH EDVVARD Duke of Yorke hauing ouerthrowen the King Queen and hauing slaine and executed many of his greatest enemies at Towton Field Edward the Fourth proclaimed and crowned King returned triumphantly to the Citie of London and was proclaimed King of this Realme the fourth day of March and was crowned the nineteenth day of Iune then next following In the beginning of his Raigne he remoued from all Offices all such as were voiced to be the oppressors of his people and carefully prouided that all things might be ordered well for their commoditie and profit And in his high Court of Parliament many things were established and enacted for the peace and welfare of the Common-weale A Parliament And all former Statutes which had beene made by the last King Acts for treasons repealed and conuicted him and his adherents of High Treason were defaced cancelled and made void The Earle of Oxford and Sir Awbrey Vere his son and some other Counsellors to King Henry the Sixth Execution being attainted of sundrie treasonable practises lost their heads And to strengthen his part with powerfull and with faithfull friends he created his two brothers George Duke of Clarence Lords created and Richard Duke of Glocester and Sir Iohn Neuil brother to the Earle of Warwicke he created Lord Montacute and Henry Bourchier who had maried the Ladie Elizabeth Aunt vnto the King and was brother vnto Thomas Bourchier Archbishop of Canterburie was created Earle of Essex and William Lord Fawconbridge was made Earle of Kent The Duke of Somerset Sir Ralphe Percie and diuers others being the Kings inueterated enemies perceiuing this settlement of the State Some of the Kings enemies submit themselues but afterwards doe reuolt and finding no hope for reliefe but onely in the Kings grace and mercie voluntarily and humbly submitted themselues to his Highnesse whereupon they receiued his pardon and were entertained with his loue Queene Margaret who with the Prince her sonne was abiding in France by her fathers meanes procured from the French King certaine ships and an aide of fiue hundred men The Queene landeth and flieth into Scotland with which she arriued safely in England at Tyne in the North Country But her successe was vnfortunate for by the Kings friends foure hundred of them were taken prisoners and ransomed and the rest were slaine and the Queene her selfe fled and with much difficultie went into Scotland where shee found such fauour and such friendship that many a lustie Scot accompanied her the King and the Prince their sonne to the Castle of Barwicke where she
right and title to that Crowne and Kingdome The King and his Counsell thereupon quickly resolued to vndertake that businesse principally for these reasons 1. First because the Crowne of France was not ambitiously but iustly desired by the King who thought hee had good right and title thereunto 2. Secondly because French warres enriched English souldiers 3. Thirdly because those warres kept them at home and gaue them not any libertie to inuade this Realme 4. Fourthly because the French King had assisted Queene Margaret the Earle of Warwicke and their Complices against King Edward in the late Ciuill Warres 5. And fifthly because the said French King made warres vpon the Duke of Burgoine who had formerly aided King Edward for the regaining of his Crowne and Kingdome A beneuolence craued by King Edward But because money wanted for the defraying of so great a charge King Edward without a Parliament craued a beneuolence to be freely enlarged to him by his Subiects who gaue him some money but with an euill will Yet among others a rich yet a sparing and a nigardly widow did cheerefully giue vnto him twentie pounds A mery iest The King himselfe who was present but to her vnknowen perceiuing that vnexpectedly shee had bestowed vpon him so good a summe did not only giue her thankes but merily came and kissed her telling her that for her money shee should kisse a King The old woman was so much gladded with that courtesie that shee told the King his kisse was worth more money and therefore she added twentie pounds more to the former summe The King hauing in a readinesse before Douer a Fleet of fiue hundred ships and boats and hauing a puissant and a compleat Armie of fifteene hundred men at Armes on horsebacke The King transporteth an Armie for France and fifteene thousand tall Archers besides all such as attended for other needfull seruices departed from England and landed safely at Calice where hee was receiued with great honour and state But he was much greeued because the Duke of Burgoine vpon whose motion and at whose entreatie and promise to be met by him at Calice with two thousand men at Armes The Duke of Burgoine breaketh promise and aids him not hee came thither trifled with his whole Armie in the siege of Nuyce which he was not likely to winne and at length after much time spent in vaine had sent all his forces to Berroys in Lorrayne to be reuenged vpon Reyner Queene Margarets father Duke of that Prouince for that hee had vsed foule and vnseemely words towards him when he lay at the siege of Nuyce whereas if the said Duke of Burgoine had ioined with King Edward against the French King and with the Duke of Britaine who sided with King Edward they would haue put into hazard of winning the whole kingdome of France Yet King Edward with his owne Companies marched by Bollen to Perone into the Duke of Burgoines Countrey He breakes his promise againe where the said Duke had not made any manner of prouision for the refreshing of the English Armie according to his promise but suffred them to lie without his Townes in the cold and in the open fields whereat they were all displeased From thence king Edward with the said Duke marched towards S. Quintens which was secretly promised to be deliuered to him by Lewys of Luxenburgh Hee was Earle of S. Paul and Constable of France The King is kept out of S. Quintens great Vncle to king Edwards wife But when they came before it their entrie was not only denied but sallies were made vpon them and the great Ordinance plaied from the Towne vpon the kings Armie so that plainly he perceiued that nothing was to be obtained there without blowes To these breaches of promise was added one vnkindnesse more by the Duke of Burgoine who to visit his Armie A peace is concluded for nine yeares which then lay in Berroys in Lorrayne vnexpectedly left king Edward and rode thither leauing word behinde that hee would come vnto him with his whole Armie as soone as he should be able The French king being politicke and wise and knowing that if all those his enemies should ioine their strengths against him they would put him in hazard of his estate and being informed that king Edward was highly discontented by reason of the Duke of Burgoines vnfaithfull vsage and knowing that he beganne to feele the extremities of a winter warre mediated a friendly conference and a firme peace which by their Commissioners was effected for nine yeares in this sort The Articles of peace FIrst it was agreed that the French King should forthwith pay to King Edward towards his forepassed charges threescore and fifteene thousand Crownes and also the summe of fiftie thousand more for an yearly pension so long as King Edward liued 2. Secondly that the French King within one yeare should send for the King of Englands daughter the Ladie Elizabeth into France and marie her to the Dolphin for whose maintenance the French King should for nine years space pay yearly to them fiftie thousand Crownes and at the end of those yeares should deliuer to them the quiet and peaceable possession of the whole Duchie of Guyen 3. And thirdly that the Lord Haward and Sir Iohn Cheney master of the Horses should staie as hostages with the French King vntill the whole Armie had quited France and were landed in the Kingdome of England Reasons mouing King Edward to conclude this peace To these propositions King Edward and his Counsell consented for these reasons 1. First as the Duke of Burgoines promises were seldome or neuer honestly performed so with the King whom hee had drawen into those Countries and into those warres hee did but gloze and faine 2. Secondly because the Earle of S. Paul Constable of France did but dissemble when hee protested to deliuer to King Edward the Towne of S. Quintens which he did not but offered violence to his Armie in stead thereof 3. Thirdly because the winter which approched sharply would haue enforced him for that time to haue returned dishonourably into England 4. And last of all because the late Ciuill Warres had consumed most of his best souldiers and chiefest Leaders and the greatest part of his treasure so that King Edward was hardly able to maintaine a great Armie any long time But the Duke of Glocester and his friends who mortally hated the French King striued much to disswade King Edward from these conclusions but all in vaine for those Articles were scaled and published the money was paid both the Kings in a familiar and kinde enteruiew by their solemne oathes had sworne to obserue and keepe them and hostage were deliuered accordingly It is to be noted The Duke of Burgoine stormeth at this peace that within this peace the Dukes of Burgoine and of Britaine were included if they would consent thereunto But when this newes was told to the Duke of
But the two Dukes recomforted him with the expression of their humble duties and seruice and with a thousand protestations of their fidelitie and troth towards his Highnesse during their liues The King is brought to London and then they brought him with great honour neere to the Citie of London where he was met by the Lord Maior and fiue hundred graue Citizens more in whose presence the Duke of Glocester vsed such humble dutie and reuerence to the King and so discreetly demeaned himselfe towards him that none of them suspected that any thing was done but for the Kings preseruation and for his good yea the Nobilitie and Counsellors of Estate were so inwardly perswaded to rest in the same beleefe that by their generall consent they forthwith made him the Protector both of the Kings royall person The Duke of Glocester is made Protector and of his Kingdome When the Duke of Glocester had procured and obtained this high place which his heart infinitely desired the same being an office of greatest honour He possesseth himselfe of the Kings brother the Duke of Yorke of confidence and of trust hee made no doubt but that his purpose would quickly though wickedly bee brought to passe as himselfe wished if he could also get the young Duke of Yorke into his hands And to the end that his desires might not remaine fruitlesse hee greeuously complained to the Kings Counsell of the froward obstinacie of the Queene who detained the said young Duke dishonourably in the Sanctuarie as an offender and in prison causing thereby the gouernment of the whole Kingdome and the Nobles and officers thereof to be exceedingly blamed and taxed not only at home but also in all other Christian Prouinces and Kingdomes He vrged also that his Grand-master the young King was infinitely wronged and disheartened for that he was not permitted to enioy the societie and the companie of his owne and only brother whom aboue all other creatures in the world he respected and longed for The Lords hauing considered of the Dukes motion resolued that he had spoken well and that it was fitting it should be hearkned vnto And thereupon they made especiall choice of the Cardinall Archbishop of Yorke vpon whose fidelitie and loue the Queene did not a little relie to goe to her and to pray her without further trouble to send the yong Duke her Sonne to the king his brother That he might be comforted with his sight and bee made merrie and iocund with his companie And withall they required him to tell her that for many reasons the young Duke might not be detained there 1. First Reasons why the young Duke ought not to be in the Sanctuarie because the whole estate of this Kingdome would be slandered at home and among forraine Nations if it should permit so young a childe by birth so noble so neere vnto the King and so innocent to liue in prison for euery Sanctuarie is a prison 2. Secondly because none could claime the benefit of such a place but he whose conscience did accuse him of some offence for which he feared to be punished by the law But the conscience of this young Duke cannot be so burdened because his infancie and his innocencie doe excuse him of any such fault and therefore hee needed no protection there 3. Thirdly that none might enioy the priuilege of a Sanctuarie but such a one as is enabled by true discretion to demand it But the young Duke by reason of his infancie hath not sufficient discretion to require it and therefore hee is not capable of it nor may enioy it 4. And last of all hee was required to assure her that any person might be taken out of a Sanctuarie if it bee for his good and welfare and not to his hurt or to punish him and that therefore if the Queene did obstinately refuse to deliuer him it was resolued and determined that hee should be taken from thence and from her without her leaue and the rather for that great suspition and feare was iustly conceiued that her frowardnesse or her iealousie would perswade her to send him beyond the Sea as if hee should bee more safe there then in his brother the Kings Court. When this round message was done vnto the Queene though it so nipped her at the heart that willingly she would not let him goe alleadging that none but his owne mother was more fit to tutor him or to attend him hee being so young sickly and very weake and that each of those two brethren was the others safetie so long as they were kept asunder and that the life of the one was maintained in the bodie of the other and that if one of them did well the other was in no perill or danger and that nothing was more hazardous then to keepe them both in one place together yet when shee perceiued which way the game went and that it was resolued by the Protector and by his friends that arguments should not preuaile shee embraced the louely young Duke in her armes she kissed him many times she wept bitterly and praying Almightie God to preserue and to defend him from all iniurie and dangers she deliuered him to the Arch-bishop telling him that shee would require that poore and innocent childe at his hands And thus vnwillingly and sorrowfully she did let him goe A monstrous dissembler When the harmelesse infant was by the Arch bishop deliuered into the Protectors hands who with many other Lords attended the Queenes answere in the Starre-chamber he tooke him before the whole assemblie in his armes he hugged and embraced him and kissed him once and twice and againe and againe protesting vpon his soule that no worldly thing his Maiestie only excepted was so deare vnto him as that young childe when as indeede hee meant nothing more then the destruction and ruine of them both And hauing brought him to the King who was infinitely ioied with his presence and companie hee conueied them within few daies after with princely pompe and attendance thorow the Citie of London to the Tower The King and his brother sent to the Tower vnder the pretence of an especiall care and prouidence that they should in safetie remaine there vntill the Common-weales troubles were thorowly quieted and appeased whereas in truth and in deede nothing was out of frame nothing was ill ordered but by himselfe and by some other great Lords who wholly applied themselues to his will A bloudie conspiracie When the Protector had thus couped vp those two young Princes he then beganne more seriously to determine how hee might speedily make himselfe a King And though for a while he staggered whether or no hee might make the Duke of Buckingham acquainted with his purpose yet in regard that hee stood assured of his loue and knew that his proiect could not be effected without his priuitie and assistance because he was so mightie and so powerfull therefore hee found a fit time
and a secret place to conferre with him about that businesse and with small perswasions and by the offer of his daughter to the Dukes sonne in mariage with the gift of the whole Earldome of Hartford whereunto the Duke pretended a rightfull title but neuer could obtaine it from King Edward the Fourth and by the diuiding and sharing of the greater part of the Kings treasure among themselues hee wonne him not only to consent vnto his villanie but also to assist him in that plot The Lord Hastings whom the Protector for old acquaintance The Lord Hastings could not be wonne friendship and loue had newly settled in the office of Chamberlaine to the young King was euer faithfull and trustie to King Edward the Fourth and had vowed his heart to the seruice of his new master insomuch that the Protector was not assured whether he might attempt to winne him to ioine with himselfe and with the Duke of Buckingham in his conspiracie or no. But in the end hee fearing lest he could not doe that mischiefe safely except the said Lord were either wonne or destroied hee resolued vpon one of them Wherefore first of all by liberall gifts and by large promises of extraordinarie aduancement and preferment hee wonne to his will one Catesbie who was both wittie and well learned in the Lawes of this Realme and was the most inward of all others with the said Lord Hastings from whom hee had receiued his best fortunes and his chiefest meanes to gaine Him the Protector imploied and instructed that by darke speeches and by some mysticall propositions hee should afarre off feele and vndermine the inclination of the said Lord his dearest friend touching that matter Which when he treacherously and craftily had done he informed the Protector that there was no possibilitie euer to winne him thereunto Hereupon the Protector resoluing to cut him short A plot full of villanie called a Grand Counsell of the Lords at the Tower of London proposing to them for their taske the consideration of all fitting preparations for the speedie Coronation of the King when as indeed hee intended no such thing The Lords being assembled and set downe in their places and all of them long expecting the repaire of the Protector who staied long at length he came in tooke his chaire saluted them all kindly excused his long absence merily iested with some of them and was more then ordinarily pleasant with them all But assoone as he had proposed some method to their present conference he told Doctor Morton Bishop of Elie whom he loued not that hee was informed that he had store of Straberies in his Garden in Holborne and intreated him to send for some which with all expedition he did being much gladded that he found the Protector as hee conceiued so kinde towards him But behold vnexpectedly and vpon a sudden the Protector faining some necessitie of a short absence rose vp and requested the Lords to proceed in the matter which then they had in hand and promised to make a quicke returne which within one houre after hee performed accordingly But being placed in his chaire the Lords perceiued that some things were amisse for he bent his browes bit his lippe cast his eies vpon the ground wrung his fists looked fiercely sighed deepely and by euery vnpleasing gesture he openly expressed the disquieted passions of a troubled minde The Lords who looked on him sadly and were perplexed with sudden perturbations wondred much at this sudden change but knew not what it meant And when a profound silence had prepared them all to hearken what would be said the Protector by way of questioning proposed what they deserued who wickedly had intended and practised his destruction hee being Vncle and Protector to the King The Lords who were all free and absolutely guiltlesse of any such crime sate still as men amazed and not one of them spake a word But at length the Lord Hastings who by reason of his great familiaritie with the Protector imagined that hee was highest in his fauour answered thus My Lord such as haue so transgressed the Law deserue the seuerest punishments which by the Law may be inflicted vpon them and all the Lords assented thereunto A likely matter Then quoth the Protector that Sorceresse meaning the Queene and that Strumpet Shores wife haue conspired together by witchcraft to depriue me of my life and that you may be right well assured that it is true behold I pray you and see how their villanie hath alreadie seised vpon my bodie For by it my left arme is alreadie wasted and consumed and therewithall hee stroke vp his sleeue and shewed his arme naked before them all Thus dared hee to doe albeit that all such as were there present were well assured that his arme had neuer beene otherwise from his mothers wombe And moreouer no man was so full of follie to beleeue that if the Queene had intended such a mischiefe Shores wife was King Edwards Concubine shee would haue consorted with Shores wife aboue all other women because shee was the Concubine of King Edward her deceased husband And besides all this they all knew that the Queene was religious temperate milde charitable and vertuous in all her actions hating to reuenge although meanes and opportunitie were offered vnto her to doe mischiefe The Lord Hastings who after King Edwards death The Lord Hastings punished for his whoredome conuersed with Shores wife vsing her as his Concubine and but the same Morning leauing her in his owne bed being desirous if he might to appease the Protectors rage towards her And in some sort being willing to excuse her Replied thus My Lord if the Queene and shee haue so done and therewithall the Protectors indignation waxing intemperate interrupted him thus Thou Traitor quoth hee tellest thou me of Iffs and And 's I tell thee they haue done it and as he spake those words with a lowd voice hee clapt his hand rudely vpon the Table board Armed men vpon the noyse whereof the whole Chamber was suddenly stuffed and filled with Armed men And one of them at his first entrance strake with his Holbard at the Lord Stanleys head who preuenting the violence but not all the blow to saue his life fell vnder the Table but did loose much bloud The Protector himselfe arrested the said Lord Hastings and accused him by generall tearmes of high Treason The Lord Hastings beheaded and forthwith without any other proceeding or Iudgement caused him to be carried out into the Greene and his Head vpon a Logge to be chopped off And it is to be noted that this Execution was thus done on him the same day and at the same hower that the Earle Ryuers the Lord Richard Gray Sir Thomas Vaughan and their other friends were executed without legall proceeding in the Castle of Pomfret Murder punished which Execution was appointed by the Protector by the Duke of Buckingham and by the said
Lord Hastings who litle dreamed that he should in the like maner haue died at the same time This Execution being thus dispatched the Protector caused those Armed to seise vpon the Cardinall Archbishop of Yorke and vpon the Bishop of Elie and vpon the Lord Stanley and some others all which were seuerally committed to seuerall Prisons in that place And presently the Protector and the Duke of Buckingham A had shift thrusting themselues into vile and vncomely harnesse as if necessitie had compelled them to shift themselues into the first and worst that came vnto their hands They sent for diuers worthie Citizens of London and required them with all posting speed to repaire thither which they did And vnto them the Protector passionately related that his death was conspired and that his life should haue beene taken from him as he sate that morning in Counsell with the Lords by the Lord Hastings and by his wicked complices if by sudden force and violence he had not preuented that mischiefe and so much they were required to tell their friends that they might haue true notice of the cause of this sudden broile and execution in the Tower And within two houres after that the Lord Hastings was depriued of his head a solemne and a long Proclamation written with a faire hand in parchment and being vnder the Great Seale of England was brought into the Citie and with great solemnitie proclaimed there by an Herald of Armes But by all circumstances it was coniectured by all wise men that the same was indited written and sealed some daies before Doctor Shaas Sermon Thus when the wicked Protector had impiously cut off the heads of those Lords who would still haue kept him backe from doing of too much mischiefe if they had liued hee caused Doctor Shaa a man more learned then vertuous and as wicked in practises as the Protector was who did instruct him in a Sermon the Sunday following at Pauls Crosse to blazon the honourable birth and parentage of the Protector to relate his vertues to commend his valour to weaken the fame and honour of the deceased King Edward by reason of his lasciuious wantonnesse with Shores wife and with many others to bastardize all his children as being borne in adulterie and out of lawfull mariage for that King Edward was solemnly contracted as he affirmed vnto the Ladie Elizabeth Lucie whom he begat with childe before such time as hee maried with the Ladie Elizabeth Grey and also because hee was in the person of Richard the great Earle of Warwicke before his said mariage affied vnto the Ladie Bona sister to Carlot the wife of the French King He also accused the Protectors owne mother of great incontinencie when King Edward and George Duke of Clarence his two elder brothers were begotten And thus he striued to make euery one crooked besides himselfe who was most crooked of all And in conclusion the Doctor applying his speech to the worthinesse and goodnesse of the Protector he supposed that the people could not chuse but receiue him for their vndoubted soueraigne Lord and King and therefore hee striued to prepare the multitude to haue shouted out when the King came in and to haue cried King Richard King Richard but he failed of his purpose for euery man was silent and more surprised with wonder then with applause to see and to perceiue how cowardly how vnnaturally and how wickedly these affaires and businesses were carried not to continue the Protector to be a subiect any longer but to be a King And the next day in the Guildhall of London the Duke of Buckingham by like arguments endeuoured to make the Protector the rightfull and vndoubted heire and inheritor of the Crowne The Duke is now King Richard And albeit that the Townesmen tooke no contentment in this message nor did by their voices assent to that which to them was deliuered yet against their willes the Duke of Buckingham procured them the next day to goe with him and with many other Lords to Baynards Castle to the Protector where they offred to receiue him for their lawfull King and praied him to vndergoe that burden But oftentimes he refused to grant them their request But at last he granted it And thus he gained and wonne by their perswasions his hearts desire THE HISTORIE OF KING RICHARD THE THIRD WHen King Richard had taken vpon him the gouernement of this Kingdome and was crowned instead of noble and prince like courtesie Cowardly dissimulation be applied himselfe to all basenesse striuing thereby but all in vaine to winne the loue and fauour of his people And not seeming to take any notice that the Lord Strange son and heire apparant to the Lord Stanley intended to raise an Armie in the North because his father had beene wronged and was then imprisoned by the King but pretending that he loued him when he might punish him hee did not only set him at libertie but also made him the Steward of his owne house He also enlarged the Archbishop of Yorke D. Morton committed but committed Doctor Morton Bishop of Elie as a prisoner to the Duke of Buckingham who was afterwards a principall meanes of his confusion and of King Richards destruction as in the sequell of this Historie more particularly it shall appeare Nobles created The King to make himselfe strong by conferring of great honours vpon others created his onely childe Edward who was of the age of ten yeares Prince of Wales and Iohn Howard who was both valiant in the field and wise in counsell was by him created Duke of Norfolke And Sir Thomas Howard his eldest sonne was made Earle of Surrey The Lord William Barkley was aduanced to the Earledome of Nottingham And Francis Lord Louel whom he entirely loued was made Viscount Louel The French King despiseth King Richard And when hee had as hee imagined so surely settled his estate that froward fortune could not change it by his Ambassadors he made offer to Lewys the French King to conclude a peace But Lewys so much detested his bloudie cruelties and his murders that hee would not vouchsafe to see the Ambassadors which hee sent nor to heare the message which they brought This frumpe and some others so pinched him at the heart and the Deuill tooke such an aduantage of him by reason of his ambitious and wicked minde that he supposed he could neuer be reputed and truly honoured as a King so long as his two harmelesse and poore nephewes drew any breath as though so horrible and so execrable and bloudie a murder could winne him loue and reputation among his discontented people The two yong Princes are murdered Thus whilest his head forged this vile and villanous conceit he made his progresse towards the Citie of Glocester as if hee only intended by his presence to honour that place from whence his former title of dignitie was deriued strongly perswading himselfe that if this vngodly and
they knew that Perkin was a counterfet The Scots inuade England vnder a colour to aide Perkin Warbecke yet they reioiced that opportunitie had offred them that occasion to inuade England not to make a conquest thereof nor to helpe Warbecke but only by valuable booties and large spoiles to enrich themselues Whereupon the young King being accompanied with his foolish guest and many thousands of lustie and tall men marched forth and entred into Northumberland where they exercised all kinde of rigour violence and wrong burning robbing Their crueltie rifling stealing and spoiling in all places and destroying with the sword both young and old strong and feeble healthie and infirme rich and poore with such barbarous inhumanitie and strange crueltie as neuer was committed before by that Nation And as soone as they had almost desolated all that Prouince finding no helpe nor succour from the English to assist their new King they returned into Scotland and neglected to giue vnto him any more aide King Henry vnderstanding what rapine spoile and violence was done by the Scots vnto his people and being sicke vntill hee had requited those wrongs with seuere and sharpe reuenge A puissant Armie is leuied to goe into Scotland summoned his High Court of Parliament in which it was concluded that forthwith an Armie should be sent against those enemies lest perhaps long forbearance might encourage them at another time to doe the like mischiefe And for the maintenance of those warres a small taxe or subsidie was granted to the King A Taxe which occasioned a rebellion which occasioned him much trouble The King who vsed great expedition in this businesse raised a puissant Armie which hee committed to the charge and gouernment of his Chamberlaine Giles Lord Dawbeney who was a wise and a valiant man But no sooner was this Armie on foot marching towards the North but suddenly it was recalled to withstand as great a mischiefe which otherwise might giue a deadly blow to the state of this Kingdome and Common-weale For the Cornishmen who were strong stout and couragious The Cornishmen rebell yet poore and oppressed with many wants not onely refused to pay the said Subsidie and taxe but in a braine-sicke and sullen humour they accused Iohn Morton Archbishop of Canterburie and Sir Reinold Bray who were two of the grauest wisest and most honest Counsellors aboue others to the King that they as enemies to their Countrey oppressed the inferiour sort and were prollers pillers and pollers for their priuate commoditie and gaine And that they seduced the King by leaud aduice and bad directions and were the Authors of much euill And that therefore they would take it on themselues not onely to remoue them from the King but also to correct and punish them as euill doers and as foes and enemies to their Natiue Countrey and Common-weale And pleasing their vnaduised passions with this fantasticall and vntruly grounded resolution they by the prouokement and incitation of Michael Ioseph a sturdie Blacke-smith and of Thomas Flamocke a man learned in the Law yet factious and of a tumultuous disposition put themselues in Armes and determined to effect their purpose though with violence yea in the presence of the King Wherefore hauing augmented their numbers and hoping that as they marched a long iourney so their forces would daily bee increased and nothing doubting but that according to the common voice and fame the Kentishmen would bee partakers with them in their Rebellion They march towards London The Lord Audley is their chiefe Captaine they pressed and passed forth towards London and in their iourney were much comforted by Iames Twichet Lord Audley who with many others being his adherents ioined with those Rebels and gained from them the chiefest authoritie to command In this meane while the King perceiuing their intentions and hauing recalled his Armie which was trauelling towards the North handled this businesse with such policie that hee would not suffer one man to moue one foot towards the West for these especiall reasons First because that on better termes hee should encounter with them when they had wasted their best strength and tired out themselues with a wearisome and with a tedious iourney And secondly because those Rebels being so farre off from home should bee altogether destitute of kinsfolkes and of friends to releeue them and of conuenient places of Retrait if necessitie should compell them thereunto The Kentishmen are against them The Cornishmen after much labour and paine comming into Kent not onely failed of their expected aide but also found the Kentishmen armed resolued to withstand their force and by their best endeuours to subdue them Yet were not the audacious and bold Cornishmen affrighted with this checke but retired strongly to Blacke-heath Black-heath field not many miles from London intending there to abide the vtmost of their fortune and either like men to be victorious or at a deare price to sell their liues The King with his Armie drawing neere towards them diuided it into three parts Two of them hee placed vpon the sides of the Rebels and those were commanded and directed by Iohn Earle of Oxford Henry Bourchier Earle of Essex Edmund de la Pole Earle of Suffolke Sir Rice ap Thomas Sir Humfrey Stanley and diuers others The King himselfe led the third and brauely charged the Rebels in the face and the residue did the like on eyther side The Rebels are ouerthrowne and though the poore sturdie and stout Cornishmen were oppressed with multitudes on euerie part yet they fainted not but fought like men for a long time stil pressing forth and making no staie but as they were compelled by the sword The Lord Dawbenie was at length taken prisoner by them but they enlarged him incontinently of their owne accord thinking by his meanes to find some mercie This fight and battaile was couragiously maintained for some houres during which space there were slaine on the Kings part about three hundred and of the Rebels more then two thousand Their chiefest Captaines and manie hundreds besides were taken Prisoners the rest fledde and King Henrie wonne the field And within few dayes after Traitors heads and quarters set vp in Cities in townes the Ring-leaders of that rebellious insurrection were in sundrie places of this Realme executed as Traitors and their heads and quarters were sent and disposed in sundrie Townes Cities and Castles of this Realme for a terrour to all such as should attempt the like enormious offence against their Soueraigne Now must we be informed that though the King had recalled the Lord Dawbenie and his Armie to withstand these Rebels yet hee knew that the young King of Scots in the meane time expecting punishment except he could by force of Armes auoid it made great prouision and daily preparations to defend himselfe Which forces would againe inuade the Northerne parts of this Kingdome assoone as they were informed of King Henries imploiment
summes of monie vnto some poore folkes who had beene vnconscionably deuoured robbed and spoiled He repenteth of his exactions by the penall lawes by those two gracelesse and vngodly Cormorants He also was exceeding penitent and sorrowfull for those wrongs and iniuries which with too much seueritie they had done vnto many 1508. and hee disbursed by way of loane freely and without reward diuers great summes of monie to his Merchants A notable policie By meanes whereof their gaines and his custome were mightily encreased Finally when hee had raigned twentie and three yeares and some moneths and when hee had liued fiftie and two yeeres he died The King dieth and was buried with great solemnitie and honor by Queene Elizabeth his wife in his owne Chappell at Westminster which he had with great cost and skill founded and caused to be built not long before THE HISTORIE OF KING HENRIE THE EIGHT KIng HENRIE the Eight 1509. The King marieth his brothers wife being of the Age of eighteene yeares began to Raigne the two and twentieth day of Aprill in the yeare of our Lord God 1509. And being dispenced with by Pope Iuly the second hee maried the Ladie Katherine daughter to Ferdinando King of Aragon Aunt to Prince Charles of Castile who afterwards was Emperor when as not long before shee had beene his brother Prince Arthures wife by which match much trouble afterwards ensued as in this discourse of his gouernement it will appeare In his first beginnings he seemed tenderly to affect his peoples loue and to execute his Lawes with mercie and with compassion The King is gratious to such as wâ—re oppressed by Empâ—on and Dudley And whereas oppression in the end of his Fathers dayes had much vexed and grieued the Subiects of this Land Hee by open Proclamations made it knowne that he would not only heare the lamentable complaints of such as by the Tyrannous Rapine and greedie Couetousnesse of Empson and Dudley and of some other tormenting Promoters had beene vndone but would also redresse and recompence their wrongs By meanes whereof great throngs of People daily resorted flocked and rushed into the Kings Court Among whom many complained most who had least cause but they receiued sharpe punishment for their impudencie and boldnesse and to the rest the King gaue liberall restitution and amends And the more frankely and freely to content such as had beene iustly offended by those extremities after all legall proceedings finished hee caused the heads of those two deuouring Caterpillers to be striken off at the Tower hill Empson and Dudley put to death and the rest of that rascall rabble were disgracefully corrected by the stocks and pillories in sundrie places of this Realme 1511. 3 Thus when the King had well busied himselfe in the settlement of his Kingdome the first two yeares of his raigne hee was by his wiues father Ferdinando craueth and obtaineth aid but did nothing Ferdinando King of Aragon entreated to enter into more turbulent actions by aiding and assisting him against the Moores which willingly he did But by reason of a cessation of those iarres the Englishmen returned out of Spaine hauing beene rudely entertained and spent all The French King warreth on the Pope About the same time the French King Lewys the twelfth by reason of some priuate quarrellings betwixt himselfe and Pope Iuly the second transported an Armie into Italie and by strength and violence as a Conquerour hee possessed himselfe of the faire and rich Citie of Bologna la Grassa and insolently did much harme Whereupon King Henry in fauour to the Pope because he dispensed with his late mariage and was vnited vnto him by more then by the ordinarie bonds of friendship and of loue and because the Pope himselfe was vnable to resist King Henry mediateth a peace but he is neglected Warres betwixt King Henry and Lewys the twelfth or to maintaine his owne quarrell interposed himselfe as an indifferent mediator and as an intercessor for amitie and for peace But the French King tasting the pleasant and the profitable fruits of his successefull fortune and longing to extend his gouernment into so rich a Countrey turned the deafe eare and would not hearken to this motion Whereupon King Henrie whose bodie was young and lustie and whose high heart was replenished with true fortitude magnanimitie and valour made it knowen to the Christian world that as hee scorned to be neglected in so good a suit so he loathed to be idle and a looker on in a time of such negotiation and imploiment and therefore would attempt by his best meanes to withdraw the French Kings warres from the Popes Countries Vpon which resolution forthwith by his Ambassadors hee required the French King to giue vnto him the full and peaceable possession of his two Duchies of Guyen and of Normandie together with his ancient inheritance of Angeow and of Mayne which wrongfully was kept and deteined from his Ancestors and from him The small acquaintance which at that time the French King had with King Henry and the contempt of his youthfull yeeres made him to returne a scornefull deniall to his demand insomuch that King Henrie proclaimed warre against him and prepared daily to send a puissant Armie into Guyan Vpon which occasion and others Defender of the faith and in regard that those broiles were chiefly vndertaken to releeue the Pope King Henry was by him enstiled with this addition to his kingly Title Defender of the Faith This resolution being notified to his father in law Ferdinando King of Aragon who was craftie and cunningly intended Ferâ—inando promiseth aid to King Henry vnder the colour of much friendship to vsurpe and treacherously to winne vnto himselfe the Kingdome of Nauarre for which immoderately his ambitious heart did thirst hee made vnto King Henry a large profer of great assistance and helpe with horses tents carriages ordinance and sundrie other things needfull and expedient for those warres if hee would land his Armie within his Countrey of Biskey and march from thence into Guyan The King who dreamt not of any fraud The Kings Armie landeth in Biskey but was perswaded of good performance of more then had beene offred most thankfully accepted of this great courtesie and sent for the aforesaid purpose ten thousand men into Biskey vnder the principall command of Thomas Gray Marquesse Dorset who was their Generall in that warre But Ferdinando whose owne plot touching the surprisall of Nauarre was not fully perfected Ferdinando yeelâ—s no helpe and who intended nothing lesse then according to his promise to aid the English Armie by flattering messages to the Marquesse maintained his hopes but yet suffered both him and his without imploiment or succour to lie idle to their great dishonour and reproch In the end he prepared a strong Armie The Kingdome of Nauarre taken and conquered by the Spaniards which was conducted by the Duke D'Alva and
outwardly pretended to vnite them to the English forces But as a Riuer growing outragious by the abundance of much raine ouerfloweth the low adiacent grounds so this Armie with great violence and strength vnexpectedly rushed into the vnprouided Territories of Nauarre surprised the Citie of Pampalona and treacherously without blowes or resistance subdued the greatest part of that Kingdome which without right or title the Spaniards doe hold and enioy at this day And although that King Ferdinando by this vniust and deceitfull practise had easily attained to the height of his ambitious desires concerning that conquest Ferdinando aâ—â—â—râ—s no helpe or assistance at last yet did hee continue false and vnkinde to the English Armie whom he assisted not at the last but suffred them for the space of foure moneths to be oppressed with a thousand wants and to be consumed by the flux and other calamities in the open field by meanes whereof the common souldiers being heartlesse The Englishmen returne home without leaue and hopelesse of better vsage from the King of Aragon forsooke the field and without the licence of their Generall returned straglingly into England And thus was K. Henry grosly abused and wronged by his father in law the second time Whilest the English Armie was thus vnkindly deluded in Biskey the right valiant Knight Sir Edward Howard Lord Admirall of England Sir Edward Howard plagueth the Brittons and a younger sonne to the Earle of Surrey with a well appointed Fleet of ships which were well furnished with braue and lustie men kept and commanded the Narrow Seas daily tooke the French Merchants oftentimes landed in sundrie places within the Duchie of Britaine forraged their Fields ransacked their Villages and their Townes set them on fire and enriched his companies with great spoiles The Brittons dare him but run away The Brittons being hourely endammaged and knowing that no better fortune would attend them except by true valour and manhood they encountred the English assailants braggingly dared the Admirall into the Field of which challenge he ioifully accepted although that with six and twentie hundred and no more he was to fight against more then ten thousand men And incontinently with martiall skill and policie hee ordered his battaile in the open field But when the Brittons approched neere and with iudicious eies beheld the order and the courage of the English souldiers their hearts fainted their Leaders retired their common souldiers fled and would not once looke on an English face The King sendeth him more aid The King being aduertised of the valour of his Admirall and of the haughty courage of his men intending to giue them strength which should bee answerable to their desires did send vnto them some of his ships royall many others which were well ordinanced and plentifully manned both for the Sea also for the Land When the Admirall was thus prouided and had reduced all his ships into one Fleet He fighteth at Sea with the French Fleet. within few daies after he met and fought with the French Nauie at which time death was despised in regard that euery man sought by bloud to purchase honour and renowne vntill the Regent of England and in her Sir Iohn Carew of Deuonshire and Sir Thomas Knyuet with seuen hundred more and the great Carricke of Brest and in her Sir Pierce Morgan and nine hundred men of warre both those ships being fast grapped together were vnfortunately burnt The Regent and the Carricke are burned slaine and drowned in the Sea The view whereof being vnusuall was so terrible that whilest men fearfully looked on the fight ceased and the Frenchmen scattering themselues returned into the Sea The French King to make his match the better with the English Nauie augmented the number of his ships and men The French Fleet entreth into the Hauen of Brest and sent them thorowly prouided with ordinance powder shot and other necessaries into the Hauen of Brest And King Henry who scorned that his Admirall should be oppressed with a greater strength then he should be well able to resist rigged vp the most part of his Royall Fleet and some others King Henry augmenteth his Fleet. which safely arriued in Bartram Bay within the Duchie of Britaine With these and with all the rest the braue Admirall attempted to assaile the French Bottoms as they lay at ancors within the Hauen of Brest But as he was entring in the foremost ship which Arthur Plantagenet did command was splitted in sunder vpon a rocke which made the rest doubtfull to proceed except with better guidance they might safely enter in The French Captaines perceiuing the Englishmens intent The Frenchmen doe fortifie the Hauen ancoured as neere to the Castle of Brest as they were able and placed foure and twentie old Flemish Hulkes towards the mouth of the Hauen betwixt themselues and the English Fleet which they appointed to bee set on fire and to bee vnmoared when the ships of England did approch towards them that by them they might bee endangered They also raised and fortified diuers Rampiers and Bulwarkes vpon the entrance of the Hauen from which their great Ordinance might play vpon their enemies The Lord Admirall of England doubting lest the Hauen of Brest was too shallow to support his ships of greatest strength and burden The Admirall in Boats entreth into the Hauen and finding that the French cowards meant nothing lesse then to expresse their manhood by a resolute encounter resolued with oared Barges to be rowed into the Harbrough and there to doe some memorable exploit vpon his enemies ships With this determination which more manfully then aduisedly he did put in practise hee with such an haughtie courage and with such violence assailed the three great Gallies of the Rhoads He taketh the three Gallies of the Rhoads which were brought thither by a gallant Knight named Prior Iohn that hee wonne them quickly and possessed them as his owne But when the Frenchmen perceiued that the English Barges were gone out of the Hauen and were returned to their owne Fleet they then with great numbers of well armed men rushed into the said Gallies where the braue Admirall with that small remnant which were with him defended themselues a long time with great courage But being ouer-mastered and too much wearied with fresh supplies which euery minute did assaile them He is drowned the greater part of his men were slaine the Admirall with a pike was violently borne ouer boord and drowned in the Sea and the rest of them were taken prisoners by their enemies And thus were they ouerthrowen who if they had beene more prouident and better counselled might haue triumphed in their victories And within few daies after the Lord Thomas Howard the eldest brother of the said deceased Knight His brother is made Lord Admirall was by the King made Admirall who with all the extremitie of warre became a cruell reuenger of his brothers
Earle of Surrey was no idle person in this businesse But being aided and assisted by his eldest sonne the Admirall who vnderstanding of his Fathers preparations for those warres came from the Sea to New-castle and brought with him one thousand Mariners and lustie fighting men and by the Lords Dacres Clifford Conyers Latymer Scrope Ogel and Lomley and by Sir Edward Stanley Sir William Bulmer Sir Nicholas Apple-yard Sir William Sydney Sir Stephen Bull Sir Iohn Everningham Sir Henrie Sherborne Sir Thomas Metham Sir Marmaduke Constable Sir William Percy Sir Christopher Ward Sir Philip Tylney Sir William Gascoyne Sir Thomas Barkeby Sir Walter Griffeth Sir George Darcy Sir Christopher Pickering Sir Thomas Butler Sir Guy Dawney Sir Iohn Booth Sir Iohn Rowcliffe Sir Iohn Stanley Sir Iohn Normauile Sir Lionel Percie Sir Iohn Willoughby Sir Edward Echingham and Sir Brian Stapleton Knights and by Ralfe Brearton Iohn Laurence Brian Tunstall Richard Bold Iohn Donne Iohn Bygod Iohn Claruis Thomas Fitz-Williams Brian Stapleton Robert Warcop and Richard Cholmley Esquires and by many other Gentlemen or worthie reputation and great valour 26000. fighting men And hauing in his Armie six and twentie thousand men able and fit for warre he marched towards the King of Scots and vpon the ninth day of September in the yeare of our Lord God 1513. in a Field which was called Flodden Flodden field both the Armies came in view each of other The English forces being marshalled in good order made two maine battailes both which were politickly and strongly guarded by their wings And the Scottish Armie was diuided into foure battailes The Scots are ouerthrowen All these after some few skirmishes and the expence of much shot both small and great ioined together pell mell and fell to handie strokes and made such an incredible expression of their manhood by the indifferent exchange of blowes and wounds that many a strong and lustie man was quickly depriued of his life Nobilitie and Gentrie were no priuiledges to protect any man from danger nay from death insomuch that King Iames himselfe fighting couragiously among his people as a common souldier The King of Scots is slaine triumphed ouer the dead carcases or such as by his sword hee had prepared for the graue But in the end he himselfe was also slaine and so were two Bishops twelue Earles fourteene Lords and twelue thousand Knights Esquires Gentlemen and common souldiers of the Scottish Nation And on the English part fifteene hundred and no more were slaine Thus was this Field wonne by the blessing of Almightie God and by the victorious courage and true manhood of the Earle of Surrey and of his sonne and of such Nobles Knights Gentlemen and braue souldiers as in that battaile approued themselues hardie and strong in Armes And the suruiuing Scots finding their chiefest helpe and safetie to consist in the agilitie and nimblenesse of their light heeles forsooke the Field and with more then posting speede they fled and returned with heauie hearts into their owne Countrey King Henry after his returne into England bountifully rewarded such as in France and against the Scots in England Noblemen created had done him the best seruice and some of them he aduanced to higher places by giuing to them an increase of dignitie and of honour For he created Thomas Howard who was then Earle of Surrey Duke of Norfolke and the Admirall his sonne was made Earle of Surrey Sir Charles Brandon being Viscount Lysle was made Duke of Suffolke Sir Charles Somerset being then Lord Harbert and Chamberlaine to the King was created Earle of Worcester Sir Edward Stanley was made Lord Mountegle And the Kings Almoner Thomas Wolsey was created Bishop of Lincolne which fauour hee vnthankfully requited The enclosures about London throwen downe to his owne ruine as hereafter wee shall see In the end of this yeare the inhabitants of Islington Hoxston Shordich and of other Townes and Villages bordering neere to the Citie of London inclosed their Champion Fields in which the Citizens were accustomed for their recreation and pastimes sake to walke runne shoot leape and to vse such like sports at their willes and pleasures with high hedges and wide ditches because they would more priuately appropriate the commodities of those grounds vnto themselues But multitudes of the meaner sort of the Citizens issued forth with mattockes spades shouels and such like tooles of husbandrie with which they ouerthrew the said hedges filled vp those ditches and leuelled the said grounds vsing in them their former exercises and pastimes and so they are enioied at this day 1514. 6 Not long after the Kings returne into England the before named Prior Iohn with his Gallies and some Foists being well manned and prouided Prior Iohn landeth but is well beaten arriued in Sussex and landed in the night and burnt a poore Village named Brigh-helmston But being discouered himselfe wounded in the face with an arrow and diuers of his men slaine he with the rest were compelled to runne into the Sea out of which being drawen into their vessels they returned with small gaine Spoiles in Normandie by Sir Iohn Wallop But to requite their boldnesse the Lord Admirall of England with some few ships and eight hundred souldiers besides the Mariners sent Sir Iohn Wallop to the Sea whose often landing in Normandie was very preiudiciall to the inhabitants for he burnt one and twentie of their Villages and Townes and many boats and ships which were ancoured in Traport and in other Hauens ransacked the Countrey and slew much people And much wondring there was how with so small a number he could land so often and performe such great things A peace concluded The French king marieth with the Kings sister The old French King Lewys the twelfth vnderstanding that the Flemings would not according to their former agreements receaue into their Countrie the goodly faire and vertuous Ladie Marie sister to King Henrie to be espoused vnto Charles the yong Prince of Castile because the Spaniards had not consented to that match by his Embassadors craued peace and became an earnest suter to the King that shee might be his wife whereupon to settle loue and amitie betwixt those two Kings and their kingdomes and to make the said Lady so great a Queene and that shee might be endowed with an yearely pension of ten thousand marks during her life and might againe returne into England if the French King died The King and the said Ladie consented and yeelded to his request And therupon the Duke of Longvyle and such other Frenchmen as had beene taken at the battaile of Tyrwyn were now released and set free And within few dayes after the said Ladie being by the King and Queen accompanied to Douer and there shipped and attended on by Thomas Duke of Norfolke Thomas Marques Dorset and his foure brethren the Earle of Surrey the Lords De la ware Barnes and Mountegle Sir Mawrice Barkley Sir Iohn
of Richmond And at the same time the Lord Henrie Courtney Cosen german to the King was made Marques of Exeter the Lord Henrie Brandon the eldest sonne of the Duke of Suffolke and of the French Queene Marie his wife being but two yeares old was created Earle of Lincolne Sir Thomas Manners Lord Roos was made Earle of Rutland and Sir Henrie Clifford was created Earle of Cumberland and Sir Robert Ratclife Lord Fitz Water was made Earle of Sussex and Sir Thomas Bullein the Treasurer of the Kings houshold was made Lord Rochford And thus in regard of great seruices honorably performed the king requited them with such honours as were answerable to their deserts and callings The French were humble to serue their owne turnes The Queene Regent of France foreseeing what present misery was likely to ruinate that Estate and Kingdome if in time by carefull prouidence it were not preuented sent Monsieur de Bryond chiefe President of Paris and some other Lords Ambassadors into England who not only according to their commission in a most submissiue and an humble sort confessed the iniuries and the wrongs done by the French Nation to King Henry and to his subiects both by sea and land in the absence of King Francis but for a requitall and satisfaction thereof and for the arrerage of his tribute they made offer to pay vnto the King the summe of twenty hundred thousand crownes whereof fiftie thousand pounds sterling should be paid in hand and fitting securitie should bee giuen for the rest they also promised the continuance of the said tribute and assumed to pay Queene Marie her dowrie and all the arrerages thereof if the King would grant them peace and receiue them into his loue and fauour The King and his Counsel hauing seriously considered of these motions and large offers for many important causes assented to their requests Peace concluded and caused those his conclusions and agreements to be proclaimed solemnely both in England and in France and receiued both money and good securitie accordingly But betwixt King Henrie and his nephew the Emperour by the subtill practises and craftie jugglings of Thomas Wolsey Cardinall of Yorke warres were denounced with euill termes Warres betweene the Emperor and King Henry but little or nothing was done thereon sauing that in England Spaine and in the Low-Countries the Merchants of either Nation and their goods and substance were attached to the infinite losse and damage of them all but vpon seuerall truces oftentimes concluded and againe broken they were released and againe arrested Merchants vexed wherby the ancient saying of the Poet was truly verified Quicquid Delirant Reges Plectuntur Achiui When Princes iarre and for reuenge doe seeke The meaner sort must pay for their dislike But in this place we must now obserue That in regard of those often concluded truces and in regard of the peace which vnited the kingdomes of England France and Scotland in one minde little or nothing worthie of our discourse more then hath formerly beene written hapned in sixe of the next ensuing yeares for the greater part of that time was spent and consumed in debatings enquirings ordering handling and disposing of the businesse of the Kings marriage with the Ladie Katherine of Spaine sometime his brothers wife And now the King who in a manner was wholly guided and directed by the priuate aduice and counsell of his chiefe fauorite Thomas Cromwel somtimes seruant to Cardinall Wolsey whom he had made a Baron and a Counseller of State The Popes authoritie curbed proceeded daily more and more to diminish nay by succeeding degrees clearely and absolutely to abrogate and to make voide the claimed power and authoritie of the Pope within this Realme In so much that in his Parliament he procured it to be enacted for a law That the penaltie of the Premunire should bee inflicted vpon the bodies lands and goods of euery such person as for any matter thing or cause whatsoeuer appealed to the See of Rome or did procure from thence any Processe Citation Inhibition Suspension Sentence or Iudgement whatsoeuer And in the next Session of the same Parliament to please and to content him the whole Clergie of this kingdom freely submitted themselues to the King touching their Spirituall and Ecclesiasticall affaires and busines and the Pope was vtterly depriued of all Annates and first fruits which formerly for Bishoprickes and other spirituall promotions and dignities had vsually been payed vnto him and likewise to establish and to confirme the lawfulnes of his marriage with Queene Anne and to settle the inheritance of his Crowne vpon her issue he procured it by Parliament to bee enacted That his former mariage with his brothers wife was absolutely void The Kings marriage made voide The Crowne entailed and of none effect in Law because it was contrarie to the Law of God and that the Popes dispensation had none effect or power to make it good and by the same Act the Crowne of this kingdome was entailed to the King and to his heires of his bodie out of which the Ladie Marie was inclusiuely excluded and to this Act all the Lords Burgesses there present were particularly sworne B. Fisher sauing Doctor Fisher Bishop of Rochester and Sir Thomas Moore Knight sometimes Chancellor of England who some few yeares before disliking the Kings proceeding against Queene Katherine Sir Thomas Moore and against the authoritie and iurisdiction of the Pope had deliuered vp the great Seale of England into the kings hands These two not only refused to sweare as the rest did but publikely contested and protested against the said Act of Parliament which nullified the kings said first mariage by reason of the Popes dispensation giuen to inable the same and to make it lawfull For which causes the said Bishop and Knight were sent vnto the Tower where they remayned vntill as Traitors they lost their heads They are beheaded for denying of the kings Supremacie in Ecclesiasticall things and causes and attributing it to the Pope of Rome of which the kings supremacie a Statute was made in Parliament the next yeare after About this time diuers treasonable practizes by malicious and lewd Conspirators were surmised and intimated to haue beene intended and contriued against the kings person by the Lord Dacres of the North. The Lord Dacres And thereupon he was Indicted and arraigned but the guiltlesse and well affected Lord with such a temperate boldnesse and with such a modest courage so discreetly and so wisely defended his innocencie against those false suggesters that he was freely acquited and discharged from all suspition and from all blame But by the whole Parliament Elizabeth Burton nick-named the holy maid of Kent and her Companions in mischiefe who vnder an hipocriticall shew and shadow of Religious deuotion The holy maid of Kent and of holinesse had conspired the Kings death being attainted and condemned were executed as Traitors according to
and of Holdernes William de Fortibus maried Hawse or Avice the daughter and heire of the aforenamed Stephen and was in her right created Earle of Albemarle and of Holdernes by King Stephen William de Fortibus their sonne succeeded and was Earle of Albemarle and of Holdernesse William de Fortibus his sonne was Earle of Albemarle and Holdernes and dyed without issue Male. R. 2. Thomas Plantagenet otherwise called Thomas of Woodstock a yonger sonne of King Edward the Third was by his Nephew King Richard the Second created Earle of Albemarle Holdernes Darby Lancaster and Leicester Henrie Plantagenet his sonne was Earle of Albemarle Holdernes Darby Lancaster and of Leicester R. 2. Edmund Plantagenet the sonne of Edmund of Langley another of the yonger sonnes of King Edward the Third and Duke of Yorke was by king Richard the Second his Cosen created Earle of Rutland and Duke of Albemarle Thomas Plantagenet Duke of Clarence and sonne to King Henrie the Fourth was by him created Earle of Warwick and of Albemarle Arundell Conq. ROger Mountgomery was by William the Conquerour created Earle of Arundell and of Shrewsbury Hugh Mountgomery his sonne succeeded him and died without issue Robert Mountgomery his brother being Earle of Belesme succeeded and dyed without issue Wiliam de Albeney was by Mawld the Empresse created Earle of Arundell Mauld and Sussex because he tooke her part against King Stephen he maried Adeliza the widdow of King Henrie the First and was confirmed in his honors H. 2. by king Henrie the Second William de Albeney his sonne succeeded in those honors R. 1. William de Albeney his sonne was by King Richard the First restored to the said Earledomes which for displeasure had been kept from him by Henrie the Second William de Albeney his sonne succeeded in those Earledomes Hugh de Albeney was Earle after his brother and dyed without issue H. 3. William de Albenetto was created Earle of Arundell by king Henrie the Third and dyed without issue E. 1. Richard Fitz-Alen maried Isabel who was one of the daughters of the last Earle William and was by king Edward the First created Earle of Arundell hee was before that time Lord of Clun and Oswaldstry Edmund Fitz-Alen their sonne was Lord of Clun and Oswaldstry and succeeded in the Earledome of Arundell but was beheaded on displeasure and by the commandement of Queene Isabel the wife of king Edward the second Richard Fitz-Alen his sonne succeeded in all those honors hee was also Earle of Warren and of Surrey Richard Fitz-Alen his sonne was Lord of Clun and Oswaldstry and Earle of Arundell Warren and of Surrey hee was also Lord of Bromfield and Yale and was beheaded at Bristow whilst king Richard the second liued Thomas Fitz-Alen his sonne was Lord of Clun Oswaldstry Bromflet and Yale and Earle of Arundell Warren and of Surrey and died without issue Male. Iohn Fitz-Alen and Lord Maltrauers H. 6. being the next heire Male to the said Thomas was by King Henrie the sixt created Earle of Arundell and Duke of Torayne Humfrey Fitz-Alen his sonne was Earle of Arundell and dyed without issue William Fitz-Alen his Vncle and brother to the last Earle Iohn was Lord of Clun and Maltrauers and Earle of Arundell Thomas Fitz-Alen his sonne succeeded and was Lord of Clun and Maltrauers and Earle of Arundell William Fitz-Alen his sonne was Lord of Clun and Maltrauers and Earle of Arundell Henrie Fitz-Alen his sonne was Lord of Clun and Maltrauers and Earle of Arundell and dyed without issue Male. Thomas Howard Earle of Surrey and the fourth and last Duke of Northfolke maried Marie one of the daughters and coheires of the said Henrie Fitz-Alen and was in her right Lord Maltrauers and Earle of Arundell The other moytie descended to the Lord Barkley Philip Howard his sonne was Lord Maltrauers and Earle of Arundell and of Surrey Thomas Arundell his sonne is Lord Maltrauers K. Ia. and Earle of Arundell to which honours hee was restored by the mightie Prince King Iames. Bathe PHilbert de Chandew a Britton borne H. 1. was by King Henrie the first created Earle of Bath he dyed without issue Male. Iohn Bourchier Lord Fitz-Warren of Towstock in Deuon being the sonne of Foulke Bourchier Lord Fitz-Warren who was the sonne of William Bourchier Lord Fitz-Warren who was the yonger sonne of William Bourchier H. 8. Earle of Ewe in Normandie who was the yonger brother of Henry the first Earle of Ewe was by king Henry the eight created Earle of Bath Iohn Bourchier his sonne was Lord Fitz-Warren of Towstock and Earle of Bath William Bourchier the sonne of Iohn Bourchier who was the sonne of the said Iohn last Earle of Bath is now Lord Fitz-Warren of Towstock and hath issue one sonne only who is named Edward Lord Fitz-Warren of Towstock Bedford E. 3. INgram Lord Concy a Frenchman borne maried Isabel the daughter of king Edward the third and being by him created Earle of Bedford he dyed without issue Male. Iohn Plantagenet the third sonne of king Henrie the fourth was by his father created Duke of Bedford H. 4. and whilst king Henrie the sixt liued to whom he was Vncle he was Regent of France Ruled it with great wisedome and valour and dyed without issue George Neuil was by king Edward the fourth created Duke of Bedford E. 4. and dyed without issue Iaspar Tuthar surnamed Iaspar of Hatfield sonne to Owen Tuthar and of Queene Katherine the widdow of king Henrie the fifth was by his halfe brother king Henrie the sixt created Earle of Pembroke H. 7. and was after by his Nephew king Henrie the seuenth created Duke of Bedford and dyed without issue Iohn Russel was by king Henrie the eight made Lord Russel and by king Edward the sixt E. 6. he was created Earle of Bedford Francis Lord Russel his sonne succeeded and was Earle of Bedford Edward Lord Russel his sonnes sonne viz. the sonne of Francis third sonne to the said Earle Francis is now Earle of Bedford Bridgewater GIles Dawbeney was by king Henrie the Seuenth made Lord Dawbeney H. 8. and his sonne Henrie was after his fathers death created Earle of Bridgewater by king Henrie the Eighth and died without issue But Alice his sister and heire was maried to Iohn Bourchier Lord Fitz-Warren of Towstocke in Deuon from whom William Lord Fitz-Warren of Towstocke and Earle of Bath is descended Buckingham WAlter Gifford Earle of Longuile in Normandie Conq. and cosen to the Conquerour was by him created Earle of Buckingham and Pembroke Walter Gifford his sonne succeeded and died without issue Thomas Plantagenet surnamed Thomas of Woodstocke the sixth sonne of King Edward the Third was by his nephew King Richard the Second created Earle of Buckingham Northampton and Essex R. 2. and afterwards he made him Duke of Glocester And for his good counsell to the same King he was sent prisoner to
the Second created Lord of Wallingford Earle of Cornwall and Glocester and died without issue being executed by the Barons Hugh Spencer the younger was by King Edward the Second created Earle of Glocester and was executed at London E. 3. Hugh Awdley Lord Awdley of Helie Castle was by King Edward the Third created Earle of Glocester and died without issue R. 2. Thomas Plantagenet surnamed Thomas of Woodstocke the sixth sonne of King Edward the Third was by his father created Earle of Essex Buckingham and Northampton and by King Richard the Second his nephew hee was created Duke of Glocester but was murdered at Calice in prison for reprouing the King friendly of his faults R. 2. Thomas Lord Spencer the grand-childe of the aforenamed Hugh Spencer was by King Richard the Second created Earle of Glocester and died without issue male H. 4. Humfrey Plantagenet the fourth sonne of king Henrie the Fourth being Earle of Pembroke was by his father created Duke of Glocester and died without issue E. 4. Richard Plantagenet the sonne of Richard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke and brother to King Edward the Fourth was by the same King created Duke of Glocester Hee was also King Richard the Third and died without issue Hartford H. 2. ROger de Clare Earle of Clarence was by King Henrie the Second created Earle of Hartford Richard de Clare his sonne enioied both those Earledomes Gilbert de Clare his sonne was Earle of Clare Hartford and of Glocester Richard de Clare his sonne enioied those three Earledomes Gilbert de Clare his sonne succeeded in those honours Gilbert de Clare his sonne succeeded and died without issue male Ralphe de Mounthermer who maried Ione of Acres one of the daughters of king Edward the First E. 1. was by him created Earle of Glocester and of Hartford he dyed without issue Edward Saint-Maure alias Seymour H. 8. was by king Henrie the Eight made Viscount Beauchamp and Earle of Hartford hee was Vncle and Protector to king Edward the Sixt by whom hee was created Duke of Somerset and lost his head Edward Saint-Maure alias Seymour his sonne Q. Eliz. was by Queene Elizabeth created Viscount Beauchamp and Earle of Hartford and he now liueth Hereford WIlliam Fitz Osborne Conq. who first perswaded the Conqueror to vndertake that weightie businesse was by him created Earle of Hereford and Lord of the Isle of Waight because he made the first Conquest thereof Roger Fitz-Osborne his sonne who succeeded was attainted of Treason and dyed a prisoner without issue Miles Fitz-Water was by King Henrie the First H. 1. created Earle of Hereford Roger Fitz-Water his sonne succeeded and dyed without issue Walter Fitz-Water his brother was Earle and dyed without issue Henrie Fitz-Water his brother succeeded and dyed without issue Humfrey Bohun was by king Henrie the Third H. 3. created Earle of Hereford and of Essex Humfrey Bohun succeeded his father in those Earledomes Humfrey Bohun his sonne was Earle after him Humfrey Bohun his sonne was his successour in those Dignities Iohn Bohun his sonne was Earle and dyed without issue Hurmfrey Bohun his Nephew viz. the sonne of William brother to the said Iohn was Earle of Hereford Essex and Northampton and dyed without issue Male. Thomas of Woodstock the sixt sonne of king Edward the Third E. 3. married Eleanor the eldest sister of the said Humfrey and was by his Father created Earle of Hereford Essex Buckingham and Northampton he was afterwards by his Nephew king Richard the Second created Duke of Glocester and was murdred in prison at Calice because he informed the king friendly of his faults Humfrey Plantagenet his sonne was Earle and dyed without issue Male. Henrie Plantagenet surnamed Bullingbroke the sonne and heire apparant of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster being Earle of Darby was by his Cosen R. 2. king Richard the Second created Duke of Hereford and was afterwards king Henry the Fourth Humfrey Stafford was Earle of Stafford Northampton and Hereford and was by king Henrie the Sixt created Duke of Buckingham but he lost his head Huntington Conq. WAldolf a Saxon married Iudith the Conquerors Neece and was by him created Earle of Huntington hee dyed without issue Male. Simon de S. Lize otherwise Saint-Leger married Mawld one of the daughters of Waldolf Rufus and was by William Rufus created Earle of Huntington and Northompton and hauing issue Simon hee dyed Dauid Prince of Scotland and sonne to Malcolme the Third being Earle of Northumberland Steph. and Cumberland was by king Stephen made Earle of Huntington for Simon was but a child and vniustly kept from his Inheritance Henrie Prince of Wales assoone as Dauid his father was king of Scotland enioyed the Earledomes of Northumberland Cumberland and Huntington After the death of King Stephen the said Simon being sonne to the said Simon entred into his Earledomes of Huntington and Northampton and enioyed the same in peace during his life Malcolme Prince of Scotland and sonne to the before named Henrie because the rightfull Earle of Huntington was in his minoritie was by king Henrie the Second H. 2. made Earle of Huntington as he was Earle of Northumberland and of Camberland William his brother being Prince of Scotland and Earle of Northumberland Cumberland and of Huntington made warres vpon King Henrie the Second after he was king of the Scots and was taken prisoner in the field ransomed and lost those honors Simon de S. Lize otherwise Saint-Leger the third of that name was by king Henrie the Second restored to his Earledome of Huntington and was also Earle of Northampton and died without issue Dauid the brother of the aforenamed William was by the fauour of king Richard the Second restored to the Earledome of Huntington R. 1. Iohn his sonne succeeded and was Earle of Huntington and died without issue male He was surnamed Scot. William Clinton was by king Edward the Third created Earle of Huntington and died without issue E. 3. Guischard a Gascoigne borne in Angolesme R. 2. was by king Richard the Second created Earle of Huntington and died without issue Iohn Holland halfe-brother to King Richard the Second R. 2. was by him created Earle of Huntington and Duke of Exeter and lost his head for conspiring against king Henrie the Fourth Iohn Holland his sonne was restored to his Earledome by King Henrie the Fifth H. 5. and by king Henrie the Sixth to his Duchie of Exeter Henry Holland his sonne was attainted when king Edward the Fourth raigned and was drowned on the coast of Calice Thomas Grey sonne in Law to king Edward the Fourth was by him created Marquesse Dorset and Earle of Huntington Thomas Grey his sonne succeeded in those honours William Herbert the eldest sonne of William Herbert whom king Edward the Fourth had made Earle of Pembroke E. 4. was by the same King made Earle of Huntington George Hastings Lord
Hastings Botreaux and Molines was by king Henrie the Eighth created Earle of Huntington H. 8. Francis Hastings his sonne succeeded in those honours Henry Hastings his sonne being Lord Hastings Hungerford Botreaux Molines and Moeles was also Earle of Huntington George Hastings his brother succeeded and died without issue Henry Hastings the sonne of Francis Hastings who was the sonne of the said George now liueth and doth enioy the said Lordships and Earledome of Huntington Kendall GAscoigne de Fois a Gascoigne borne was at Maunt in Normandie created by king Henrie the Fifth Earle of Longuile and Kendall He reuolted and became French H. 5. Iohn de Foys his sonne maried the Neece of William de la Pole Duke of Suffolke H. 6. by whose mediation he was by king Henrie the Sixth restored But he became French H. 6. Capdaw de Beuffs was by king Henry the Sixth created Earle of Kendall But he reuolted to the French King Kent WIlnotus at the Conquest being brother to King Harold was Earle of Kent But for feare he fled into Denmarke and died without issue Conq. Odo Bishop of Bayon and halfe-brother to the Conquerour was by him created Earle of Kent and he died without issue K. Steph. William de Ipre Earle of Flanders was by King Stephen created Earle of Kent and died without issue Hubert de Burgh being Lord chiefe Iustice of England was by king Henrie the Third created Earle of Kent H. 3. and died without issue male Edmund Plantagenet surnamed Edmund of Woodstocke being sonne to king Edward the First E. 2. and brother to king Edward the Second was by his brother created Earle of Kent but lost his head in the raigne of his nephew king Edward the Third R. 2. Thomas Holland halfe-brother to King Richard the Second was by him created Earle of Kent and Duke of Surrey Thomas Holland his sonne was Earle of Kent and Duke of Surrey and died without issue Edmund Holland brother to the said Thomas was Earle of Kent and Duke of Surrey and died without issue William Neuil Lord Fawconbridge a younger brother to Ralphe Neuil E. 4. the first of that Familie Earle of Westmorland was by king Edward the Fourth created Earle of Kent and died without issue male Edmund Grey Lord Grey of Ruthen was by king Edward the Fourth created Earle of Kent E. 4. Richard Grey his sonne succeeded and died without issue Reynold Grey who was descended lineally from the said Edmund Q. Eliz. was restored to the Earledome of Kent by Queene Elizabeth and died without issue Henry Grey his brother is now Earle of Kent Lancaster IOhn Plantagenet brother to king Richard the First R. 1. was by him created Earle of Lancaster Lecester and Darbie Hee was afterwards King of England Edmund Plantagenet surnamed Crowch-backe the second sonne of king Henry the Third was by his father created Earle of Lancaster H. 3. Lecester and Darbie He maried Blanch the Queene of Nauarre and had issue by her Thomas and Henry Thomas Plantagenet his sonne was Earle of Lancaster Lecester Lincolne Salisburie and Dorset and died without issue Henry Plantagenet his brother was dignified with all those honours Henry Plantagenet his sonne enioying all those Earledomes together with the Earledomes of Albemarle and Holdernes was by king Edward the Third created Duke of Lancaster E. 3. His daughter and heire named Blanch maried Iohn of Gaunt the fourth sonne of king Edward the Third Iohn Plantagenet surnamed Iohn of Gaunt enioied all those Earledomes and was Duke of Lancaster Henry Plantagenet his sonne surnamed Bolingbroke held all those Earledomes and was Duke of Lancaster and Hereford and was king Henry the Fourth by deposing of king Richard the Second Lecester LEofrick was Earle of Lecester when Edward the Confessor liued Algarus his sonne succeeded in that Earledome Edwin his sonne was Earle at the Conquest Robert de Beamont was created Earle of Lecester by king Henrie the First H. 1. Robert de Beamont his sonne was Earle after him Robert his sonne surnamed Blanch-Maynes was his successor Robert his sonne was Earle and died without issue Simon de Mountfort was by king Iohn created Earle of Lecester K. Iohn and was slaine at the siege of Tholouse Simon de Mountfort was Earle of Lecester He tooke king Henrie the Third prisoner in the Barons warres But the young Prince Edward set his Father at libertie and slue this Simon with many more at the battaile of Eversham and his possessions were confiscate to the king Edmund Plantagenet surnamed Crowchback second sonne to king Henrie the Third was by his Father created Earle of Lecester Lancaster c. Thomas Plantagenet his sonne succeeded and died without issue Henrie Planagenet his brother possessed all those honors Henrie Plantagenet his sonne was Earle of Lecester c. and was by King Edward the Third E. 3. created Duke of Lancaster his daughter and heire named Blanch was married to Iohn of Gaunt Iohn Plantagenet surnamed Iohn of Gaunt the fourth sonne of king Edward the Third married Blanch and was Earle of Lecester c. and Duke of Lancaster Henrie of Bullingbroke his sonne was Earle of Lecester c. and Duke of Lancaster and of Hereford and was afterwards king Henry the Fourth Robert Sutton otherwise Dudley a yonger sonne to Iohn Duke of Northumberland was by Queene Elizabeth created Earle of Lecester and dyed without any lawfull issue Lincolne MArcarus being Earle of Lincolne and Northumberland at the time of the Conquest rebelled and dyed in prison without issue Rufus William de Romara was by King William Rufus created Earle of Lincolne and died without issue Steph. Gilbert de Gaunt was in the right of Avis his wife created Earle of Lincolne and died without issue Male. Lewis Gilbert de Gaunt in the troublesome times of King Iohn was created Earle of Lincolne by the Dolphin Lewes son to the French King Ralf de Meschynes surnamed Blundevile being the sixt Earle of Chester H. 3. was by king Henrie the Third created Earle of Lincolne and of Richmond because he tooke his part against the Barons he dyed without issue Iohn Lacy Baron of Haulton was by king Henrie the Third created Earle of Lincolne Henrie Lacy the sonne of Edmund Lacy sonne to the said Iohn succeeded and was Earle of Lincolne Thomas Plantagenet the sonne of Edmund Crowchback was Earle of Lancaster Leicester Darby and Salisbury Hee married Alice the daughter and heire of Henrie Lacy and was in her right Earle of Lincolne and died without issue Iohn de la Pole the sonne of Iohn de la Pole the second of that name Duke of Suffolke was created Earle of Lincolne E. 4. by king Edward the Fourth and dyed without issue Henrie Brandon the sonne and heire apparant of Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolke was by his Vncle king Henrie the eighth H. 8. created Earle of Lincolne he dyed
second husband Hugh de Brun H. 3. was by his halfe-brother King Henrie the Third created Earle of Pembroke Aymer de Valentia his sonne was Earle of Pembroke and was by King Edward the First made Vice-roy of Scotland and died without issue Laurence Lord Hastings was by King Edward the Third created Lord of Abergauenny and Earle of Pembroke Iohn Lord Hastings and Abergauenny was Earle of Pembroke Iohn his sonne succeeded and died without issue Humfrey Plantagenet the youngest sonne of King Henry the Fourth H. 5. and brother to King Henry the Fifth was by his brother created Earle of Pembroke and Duke of Glocester He was also Protector to his Nephew King Henrie the Sixth and died without issue H. 6. William de la Pole was by King Henry the Sixth created Earle of Pembroke Earle Marquesse and Duke of Suffolke Iaspar of Hatfield the second sonne of Owen Tuthar and of Queene Katherine his wife widow to King Henry the Fifth and being halfe-brother to King Henry the Sixth H. 6. was by him created Earle of Pembroke and by King Henry the Seuenth Duke of Bedford He died without issue E. 4. William Herbert was by King Edward the Fourth made Lord of Cardisse and Earle of Pembroke and was slaine at Banbarie field William Herbert his sonne succeeded and resigned the said Earledome to King Edward the Fourth Edward the Prince being sonne and heire apparant to King Edward the fourth E 4. was by his father created Earle of Pembroke Flint and March He was King Edward the Fifth Anne Bullen H. 8. who was afterwards maried to King Henry the Eighth was by him created Marchionesse of Pembroke and lost her head William Lord Herbert sonne to Richard Herbert who was brother to the last Earle William E. 6. was by King Edward the Sixth created Earle of Pembroke Henry Lord Herbert his sonne succeeded in those honours Williom Lord Herbert his sonne is Lord of Cardiffe Fitz-Hugh Marmion and S. Quintens and Earle of Pembroke Richmond EVdo was by the Conqueror made Lord of Middleham and Earle of Richmond Conq. Allen Fergaunt surnamed The Red being his sonne was Lord of Middleham and Earle of Britaine and of Richmond He died without issue Allen surnamed The Blacke being his brother succeeded him and died without issue Stephen his brother possessed all those honours Allen his sonne by descent enioied the said dignities Conan his sonne succeeded him and had issue Constance Geoffrey Plantagenet the third sonne of King Henry the Second maried the said Constance and was in her right Earle of Richmond Arthur Plantagenet his sonne was Earle of Richmond and died without issue Ralphe Blundeuile being Count Palatine of Chester K. Iohn was by King Iohn created Earle of Richmond Peter Earle of Sauoy who built the Sauoy H. 3. was by King Henrie the Third created Earle of Richmond Iohn de Dreux Duke of Britaine sonne to Iohn the first Duke of Britaine was by King Edward the First created Earle of Richmond E. 1. Iohn de Dreux his sonne was Earle of Richmond Iohn de Dreux his sonne succeeded and died without issue Robert de Arthoys sometimes Earle of Arthoys but disinherited by Philip de Valoys the French King E. 3. was by King Edward the Third created Earle of Richmond Iohn Plantagenet the sonne of King Edward the Third being surnamed Iohn of Gaunt being Duke of Lancaster E. 3. was by his father created Earle of Richmond Henry of Bollingbroke his sonne was Duke of Lancaster and Hereford and Earle of Richmond vntill he was King Henry the Fourth Ralphe Lord Neuil of Rabie Castle the first Earle of Westmorland was by King Henry the Fourth created Earle of Pembroke for his life only H. 4. Iohn Plantagenet Duke of Bedford and brother to King Henry the Fifth H. 4. was by his father created Earle of Richmond He died without issue H. 6. Edmund of Hadham called Edmund Tuthar the eldest sonne of Owen Tuthar and of Queene Katherine his wife the widow of King Henry the Fifth and daughter to Charles the Sixth of France and halfe brother to King Henry the Sixth was by him created Earle of Richmond He maried Margaret the daughter and heire of Iohn Beauford Marquesse Dorset and Duke of Somerset who was the sonne of Iohn Beauford who was the sonne of Iohn of Gaunt by Katherine Swinsford his third wife and had issue Henry who was king Henry the Seuenth Henry Tuthar their sonne was Earle of Richmond vntill hee obtained the Crowne and was King Henry the Seuenth H. 8. Henry Fitz-Roy base sonne to King Henry the Eighth was by him created Earle of Nottingham and Duke of Richmond and died without issue in the sixteenth yeare of his age Rutland EDward Plantagenet the sonne of Edmund of Langley the fifth sonne of King Edward the Third and Duke of Yorke was by his cosen King Richard the Second created Earle of Rutland R. 2. and Duke of Albemarle After his fathers death he was Duke of Yorke and was slaine at Agencourt field Edmund Plantagenet brother to Edward who was afterward King Edward the Fourth was Earle of Rutland and died in his childhood without issue being slaine H. 8. Thomas Mannors Lord Roos of Hamlake Beluoyr and Trusbut was created Earle of Rutland by King Henry the Eighth Henry Mannors his sonne succeeded his said father Edward Mannors his sonne enioied those honours and died without issue male Iohn Mannors his brother succeeded him Roger Mannors his sonne enioied those honours and died without issue Sir Francis Mannors his brother is now Lord Roos Hamlake and Trusbote and Earle of Rutland Ryuers RIchard Wooduile of Grafton Knight maried Iaquet the widow of Iohn Duke of Bedford Regent of France and daughter to Peter of Luxenburgh Earle of S. Paul He was by King Henry the sixth made Lord Ryuers Afterwards king Edward the Fourth maried his daughter the Ladie Elizabeth Grey the widow of Sir Iohn Grey deceased by whom he was made Lord Treasurer of England and Earle Ryuers He and his sonne Iohn were slaine by the Commons in an vprore Anthonie Wooduile his sonne being Lord Scales and Earle Ryuers was by King Richard the Third beheaded vniustly at Pomfret Castle and died withour issue Richard Wooduile his brother succeeded him in that Earledome and died without issue Salisburie STephen Patrick of Eureux was by the Conquerour created Earle of Salisburie Conq. William his sonne was Earle of Salisburie and died without issue male William Longspée the base sonne of King Henry the Second by the faire Rosamond Clifford his Concubine R. 1. was by King Richard the First his halfe-brother created Earle of Salisburie William Longspee his sonne was Earle of Salisburie after his father and was slaine in the warres in the Holy Land Henry Lacy was by King Henrie the Third created Earle of Salisburie H. 3. and died without issue Thomas Plantagenet the sonne of Edmund
issue William Maledoctus otherwise Manduyt Lord of Hanslop cosen and heire to the said Margerie Countesse of Warwicke was Earle of Warwicke and died without issue William de Beauchampe maried Isabel sister and heire to the said William and had issue William William Beauchampe their sonne was Earle of Warwicke Guido de Beauchampe his sonne succeeded his father Thomas de Beauchampe his sonne was Earle of Warwicke Thomas de Beauchampe his sonne was Earle of Warwicke Richard de Beauchampe his sonne was Earle of Warwicke He was Lieu-tenant of Munster in Ireland and a great Warriour in France in the daies of King Henry the Fifth and King Henry the Sixth Henry Beauchampe his sonne was Earle of Warwicke and by King Henry the Sixth he was created Duke of Warwicke H. 6. Hee died without issue male Richard Neuil the eldest sonne of Richard Neuil Earle of Salisburie maried Anne the daughter and heire of Richard Beauchampe and was in her right Earle of Warwicke Hee is termed The great Earle of Warwicke for he was so powerfull that he aduanced King Edward the Fourth deposed King Henry the Sixth and made him King againe but was at last slaine by King Edward the Fourth at Barnet Field George Plantagenet Duke of Clarence and brother to King Edward the Fourth maried Isabel the eldest daughter of the said Earle Richard and was in her right Earle of Warwicke They had issue Edward who was beheaded by King Henry the Seuenth and Margaret maried to Sir Richard Pole She lost her head in the one and thirtieth yeare of the raigne of King Henry the Eighth Edward Plantagenet their sonne was Earle of Warwicke He liued a prisoner from his infancie and was beheaded by King Henry the Seuenth because he sought to escape with Perkin Warbecke out of the Tower and died without issue Iohn Dudley Lord Somery Basset and Tays and Viscount Lisle was by King Edward the Sixth created Earle of Warwicke E. 6. and Duke of Northumberland But in Queene Maries daies hee lost his head Iohn Dudley his sonne died in his fathers life time but was Earle of Warwicke and had issue Ambrose Ambrose Dudley his sonne was Lord Somery Basset and Tays and Earle of Warwicke and died without issue Westmorland RAlphe Neuil Lord Neuil of Rabie Castle Standrop and Branspeth was by King Richard the Second created Earle of Westmorland Ralphe Neuil his grand-childe viz. the sonne of Sir Iohn Neuil was Lord Neuil of Rabie Standrop Branspeth Warkworth and Sherrie-hutton and was Earle of Warwicke Ralphe Neuil his Nephew by Sir Iohn Neuil his brother succeeded his vncle in all those honours Ralphe Neuil his grand-childe by Ralphe Lord Neuil his sonne enioied those Lordships and was the fourth Earle of Westmorland Henry Neuil his sonne was Lord Neuil of Rabie Standrop Branspeth Warkley Sherrie-hutton and Middleham and Earle of Westmorland Charles Neuil his sonne succeeded in all those honours and was in the raigne of Queene Elizabeth attainted of Treason by Parliament with others Wilshire R. 2. WIlliam le Scrope was an euill Counsellor to King Richard the Second and was by him created Earle of Wilshire But hee lost his head Aymer Butler the sonne and heire apparant of Iames Butler the fourth Earle of Ormond in Ireland H. 6. was by King Henry the Sixth created Earle of Wilshire He died without issue Iohn Stafford the younger sonne of Humfrey the first Duke of Buckingham was by K. Edward the Fourth created Earle of Wilshire E. 4. Edward Stafford his sonne was Earle after him and died without issue Henry Stafford of the house of Buckingham H. 8. was by King Henry the Eighth created Earle of Wilshire Thomas Bullen was by King Henry the Eighth made Viscount Bullen and Earle of Wilshire H. 8. Hee was father to Queene Anne Bullen and grandfather to Queene Elizabeth William Pawlet was by King Henry the Eighth made Lord S. Iohn of Basing E. 6. and by King Edward the Sixth he was created Earle of Wilshire and Marquesse of Winchester Iohn Lord S. Iohn his sonne enioied all those honours William Pawlet his sonne succeeded his father and was Lord S. Iohn of Basing Earle of Wilshire and Marquesse of Winchester William Pawlet his sonne is Lord S. Iohn of Basing Earle of Wilshire and Marquesse of Winchester Winchester CLyton a Saxon was at the Conquest Earle of Winchester and was banished and died without issue Saer de Quincy Lord Quincy of Groby K. Iohn was by King Iohn created Earle of Winchester Ralphe Quincy his sonne was Earle after him and died without issue male Hugh Lord le Despencer E. 2. was by King Edward the Second created Earle of Winchester and died without issue being beheaded Lewys de Burgh a Burgundian and Lord of Granthouse was by King Edward the Fourth in Parliament created Earle of Winchester E. 4. because hee had highly fauoured and releeued King Edward when he fled from the great Earle of Warwicke and from King Henry the Sixth This Earledome he afterwards surrendred to King Henry the Seuenth William Pawlet was by King Henry the eighth made Lord S. Iohn of Basing and by King Edward the Sixth Earle of Wilshire E. 6. and Marquesse of Winchester Iohn Pawlet his sonne succeeded in those honours William Pawlet succeeded and was Lord Earle and Marquesse William Pawlet his sonne is Lord S. Iohn of Basing Earle of Wilshire and Marquesse of Winchester Worcester Rufus VRsus de Abtot was by King William Rufus created Earle of Worcester Walteran de Beamount Earle of Millent in Normandie was by King Stephen created Earle of Worcester K. Steph. Thomas Percie brother to Henrie the first Earle of Northumberland R. 2. was by King Richard the Second created Earle of Worcester Hee conspired with his Nephew Henry Hotspurre against King Henry the Fourth and lost his head H. 5. Richard Beauchampe was by King Henry the Fifth created Earle of Worcester and died without issue male H. 6. Iohn Lord Tiptost was by King Henrie the Sixth created first Viscount and then Earle of Worcester but was beheaded for taking part against the said King with Edward Earle of March who was afterwards king Edward the Fourth E. 4. Edward Tiptost his sonne was by King Edward the Fourth restored to his Viscountship and to the Earledome of Worcester and died without issue H. 8. Charles Somerset Lord Herbert and Gower was by King Henrie the eighth created Earle of Worcester Henry Somerset his sonne was Lord Herbert Chepstow Ragland and Gower and was also Earle of Worcester William Somerset his sonne succeeded in all those honours Edward Somerset his sonne is Lord Herbert Chepstow Gower and Ragland and Earle of Worcester Yorke EDrick a Saxon was Earle of Yorke at the Conquest He lost his eies and died a prisoner H. 1. Robert Escouyle was by King Henry the First created Viscount of Yorke Robert Escouyle his sonne was Viscount of Yorke Edmund Plantagenet
ouerthrowne in one yeare 289 Iohn Earle of Oxford 144 Oxford Earle P PAgeants 376 Pandulphus 55. 56 Partialitie 71 Pardon craftie 153 Parents honored 43 Paris is English 204. and reuolteth 229 Parliament and the King striue 142. 143 Parliament the first 23 Parliament once a yeare 142 Parliament complaines 133 Parliament threatned 143 Parliament makes a King 160 Parliamentum insanum 60 Parliament breakes vppe suddenly 256 Parliament wronged by Bishop Fisher 382 Pawlet made Lord Saint Iohn 406 Peace 52. 64. 285. 333 336. 364. 392 Penall lawes 290. 351 Penance 42 People wasted 14 Percies 171. 362. 363 Percies will not deliuer Scottish Prisoners 67 Percies doe ransome Edmund Mortimer 169 Percie Sir Thomas 406 Periury 232 Perkin Werbeck 337. c. Peter Landoys 289. 315 Petition of the Rebelles 404 Pickering 363 Pilgrims holy 405 Piracie 96 Pitie 44 Plantagenet Geoffry 24 Plantagenet Arthur 51 53 Plimouth 136 Poydras 93 Pollicies 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 12. 18 23. 29. 35. 82. 117. 140 212. 215. 233. 246. 250 299. 331. 339. 340 408. Pollicies touching Warbeck 339. 340. 341 Pollicies touching Lambert 331 Pollicie touching Cade 247 Pollicie by fire 347 Pomfret 301 Pontlarch 241 Popham Sir Iohn 113 Pope 14. 15. 18. 53. 150 curbed 401 Popish blindnesse 57 Popish pride 54 Poynings 341. 361 Poysoned 59 Poyters 63 Practises of Richard Duke of Glocester 299. c. Premunire 380. feared by the Cleargy 388 Prerogatiue crossed 66 Presumption 140 Prey rich 395 Pride 396 Pride of Longchamp 46 47. 48 Primacie 7 Prince of Chester Prince imprisoned 86 177 Prince of Wales 114 Prince reclaimed 177 Prior Iohn 364 Prisoners Marcarus 7 Edwinus 7 Egelwinus 7 Mowbray 13 Curthose 20 Belesme 20 King Stephen 29 Queene Elianor 43 King Richard the first p. 48 Bayliol 84 The Prince 86. 177 Queene Isabel 105 King Dauid 122 King Iohn of France 127 Earle of Pembroke 132 King Richard the second pag. 156 Edmund Mortimer 166 French Pris slaine 185 Lord Talbot 222 Lord Scales 222 Lord Hongerford 222 Duke of Suffolke 222 King Henry the Sixth 257. 266. 281 King Edward the fourth 271 Duke of Burbon 277 Duke of Orleance 235 Scottish prisoners 413 Mordack Earle of Fife 167 Archibald Douglas 167 Earle Murrey 167 Priuie Seales 397. 398 Proclamations 192. 276 387 Proclaimed heire of Fra. 141. 200. 204 Proscribed 248. 319 Protector 61. 251 Protector displaced 240 Q QVartered 345 Queen Anne beheaded 403 Queene Katherine beheaded 410 R RAgman 104 Ramsey 136 King Richard the First ransomed 48 Douglas ransomelesse 171 King of Scots ransomed 214 Duke of Burbon ransomed 227 Duke of Orleance ransomed 235 Edmund Mortimer ransomed 164 Queene Margaret ransomed 283 Raine 405 Rebellions 6. 7. 10. 11. 12 13. 20. 22. In London 71. 76. Lluellen 80 Wat Tilar 137. In Kent 277. Owen Glendor 166. Percies 170 171. In Ireland 241. Iacke Cade 247. 264. 273. 328. 334 Cornishmen 345. 347. 349. In Yorkshire 269. In Lincolnshire 404. In the North 405. In Ireland 407 Rebels flie 405. quietly depart 405 Reconcilement 64. 279 Reformation 66. 69. 64 153 Regents 43. 201 Regent dieth 228 Regent drowned 358 Religious houses 178. 374 403. 403 Repayment 327 Repeales 4. 263. 328 Repentance 8. 353 Reprofe 167 Reseisure 35. 34 Resolution 15. 34. 95 Restitution 18 Returne vnlicenced 358 359 Reuenge 49 Reuolt 214. 242. 244 Renulph 81 Ribamont 124 Riceap Thomas 344 King Richard the First valiant 46 47 Rich Souldiers 191 King Henry the Second Rich 37 Richmond Earle in danger 289. 317. sweareth 320. landeth 323 and is victorious 325 Rifling 389 Roan 192. 193. 197. 241 Robberies 14. 18. 33 Robin Hood 50 Robinet of Bonuile 187 Rochford 400. 410. 411 Bolloigne Viscount Rochford 385 Rokesbie 174 Rosamond Clifford 37 Rosbrough 112. 130 Rowclif 363 Rufus staine 16 Russell Lord 406 Rutland murdered 281 Rutland Earle 400 Ryuers 256 S SAnctuarie 302. 303 304 Saluo honore Dei 41 Sands 365. 396. 397 Sarum secundum vsum 7 Sauadge 324 Scales 218. 222. 257. 258 Scot Earle of Chester 64 Scottish homage 11. 214 Scots 25000. slaine 83 Scots sweare obedience 86 Scots ouerthrowne in Ireland 97 Scots ouerthrow K. Edw. the Second 93 94 Scots inuade England 11 28. 111. 122. 167. 171. 251. 291. 361. their crueltie 343. They inuade 345. and are slaine 346. 412 Scots misuse the French 147 Scots aide Warbecke 342 345 Scottish King slaine 363 Scotland surrendred 81 82. 84 Scotland gouerned by England 84 Scotland wasted 346 Scotland inuaded 97. 103 306. 111 147. 174. 412. 415. 416. 419 Scotland disposed by King Edward the Third 106 Scotland claimed by the Pope 86 Scottish King ransomed 214 Scottish tenure released 106 Scottish chaire 86 Scottish prisoners 413 Scroope 155. 173. 180. 265 Sea victories 62. 110. 125 188. 189 Seales Priuie 394 Secrecie 107 Secundum vsum Sarum 7 Securitie 221. 271 Seisure 3. 35 Seymour Earle of Hartford 406. 415 Seymor Sir Iohn and Ladie Iane 403 Shawes Sermon 408 Shepard Iacke 137 Sherborne Sir Henrie 361 Ships 300. taken 56 500. Ships 188 1200. Ships 146 Ships in Sandwitch 256 Sheepe 268 Sheriffe of Northumberland 174 Shoreswife 309 Shrewesburie Earle 392 Shrines destroied 406 Sicknesse 181 Slaine King William Rufus 5. 16 Malcolme 11 King Edward the Second 101 King Richard the first 50 King Richard the second 160 Simon Montfort 74 Lord Beamont 113 Peter of Castile 131 Wat Tilar 140 Vere Duke of Ireland 149 Prisoners French 185 Thirtie six slaine by King Henry the Fourth 171 Edward Duke of Yorke 187 Richard Duke of Yorke 259 Duke of Suffolke 187 Iohn Earle of Shrewesburie 249 Earle of Salisburie 220 Clarence 206 Earle of Warwicke 281 Arundell 226 Marquesse Montacute 281 Courtney Earle of Deuon 283 Wooduile 333 Iames the Fourth King of Scots 362 Stafford 329 Humfrey Duke of Buckingham 257 Thomas Lo. Egremount 257 Iohn Viscount Beamont 257 Northumberland 260 Westmorland 260 Lord Dacres 260 Lord Welles 260 Lord Clifford 260 Somerset Sir Charles 360 Spencers 92. 94. 96. 99 Northumberland 334 Spencer chiefe Iustice 74. 68 Speeches 194 195. 209 Spencers executed 100 Souldiers vnlicensed returne 358. 397 Sonnes disobedient 36 Southampton Earle 406 Stafford Earle 181 Stakes 183 Stanley 341. 344 Stapleton B. of Exeter 99 Stapleton 363 Stoutnesse of K. H. 8. 404 Strangers Marchants 34 251. 138 Subiects dutie 35 SubmissioÌ„ of K. Io 56. 66 Submission of the Barons 58 Submission of King Richard the Second 155 Submission of Londoners 75 Submission of Lluellen 80 Supremacie 403 Duke of Suffolke 237. 238. 244. 392. 418 Duke of Suffolke warreth valâ—antly in France 396 Surfet 24 Surrey beheaded 420 Surprisall 173 Sussex Earle 385 Swanus 6 Swimming 48 149 Sword giuen to Exeter 349 Sydney 362 T TAle-bearers 227 Talbots name terrible 226 Talbot 106. 324 Talbot slaine 220 Talbot Gilbert 192 Talbot Lord George 360 Taxes 5. 10. 97. 109 Taxes causing rebellions 6. 7. 136. 333. 335. 343 Taxes lost Aquitaine c. 130 Taxes pleasing 12. 52. 189 Taxes released 18. 28 Taxes not demanded 37 45 Tax on Wools and Hides 83 Tempest Nicholas 406 Temporalties 20. 21 Terryll 312 Terwyn 360. 361 Thankfulnesse 24. 297 Thanksgiuing 171. 186 190. 282. 325 Theeues 50. 93 Thorp 258 Thwaits 396 Title to France 105. 107 relinquished 129 Title King of Ireland 410 Title Defensor Fidei 357. 393 Tournay taken 361. redeliuered 380 Trade restored 346 Translation 7 Transubstantiation 58 Traitor Archb. of Cant. 151 Treasons 64. 164. 180 226 Treason to speake c. 409 Treason at Oxford 164 Traitors 145. 173 Trecherie 152. 213 252 Trenchard 352 Treport 364 Tresham 283 Tresilian 147. 149 Troyl-Baston 86 Tuthar 260. 249 Tylar Wat. 137 Tylney 362 Tyron Earle 410 Tyrwyn taken and burnt 361 V VAlour 33. 46. 47. 124 Vaughan 283. 307 Vere 142. 149. 242 Vernoyle 205 Vicar generall 107 Victorie in Castile 130 King Edward the Fourth victorious 281 Victorie without blowes 168 Victorie miraculous 216 Victorie ouer the Percies 171 Victories at Sea 62. 110 125. 188. 189 Vicegerent Cromwell 406 Victuals cheape 108 Visited by three Kings 130 Vmfreuyle 192. 206 Vniuersitie opinions 386 Vnthankfulnesse 14. 44 Vnthankfull Frenchmen 414 Vsurpers Rufus 9 Henricus Primus 17 Stephanus 27 Edwardus Tertius 101 Henricus Quartus 160 Henricus Quintus 177 Henricus Sextus 211 Richardus Tertius 311 W WAights 18 Wales 86. Prince 114 Wallop 364. 396 Warres in the Holy Land 45. c. 77 Wars with Arthur Plantagenet 51 Hee is drowned 53 Wars incommodious 272 Wars with Charles the Emperour 401 Ward Sir Christopher 362 Wardships 63 Warbeck 337. c. Warlike discipline 35 Warwicke Protector 251 Warwicke slaine 281 Warrens 18 Watermen 258 Welles 260. 273 Welshmen rebell 11. 12. 13. 22. 80. 81. 83. 84. 85 166 Wenlocke 283 Wharton Lord 412 Whipped 42 Wife a good one 43 Willoughbie 363. 183. 392 Witchcraft 236 Wiues paid for 24 Wooduile 231. 333 Woods in Wales burnt 81 Woolsey 365. c. vntill pag. 388 Wounding 77 Worcester Earle 392 Wryothesley 417 Errata PAg. 305. lin 4. for daughter to the Dukes son reade son to the Dukes daughter Pag. 324. lin 3. for George Stanley reade George Talbot
that quarter where the Prince serued And to saue themselues from his furie vpon his comming thither they raised their siege from the Citie of Acon The siege of Acon raised which for a long time they had continued with more then a hundred thousand men And seeing that his death could not be hastened by force and violence in the open field The Prince was villanously wounded they attempted it by poysonings and other secret villanies which tooke no effect But at length a dogged Sarazen grieuously wounded him with an enuenomed Knife yet after much paine and great danger hee escaped death But in his absence his father King Henrie died and was buried at Westminster The King dieth when he had raigned more then fiftie and six yeers whereof the Prince was quickly informed and therfore by great iournies hee safely returned with great honour into ENGLAND THE HISTORIE OF KING EDVVARD THE FIRST WHEN Edward surnamed Longshankes was informed of his fathers death he made quick preparations for his returne from the Holie Land The new King returneth from the Holie Land and by great journeyes trauailed vntill he came into England where with the generall applause both of his Nobles and common People hee was crowned King when he was of the age of fiue and thirtie yeares Wee haue heard how when The French kings practise against King Edward and where Symon de Mountford Earle of Leicester Henrie his eldest sonne and sundrie other Barons were slaine in the last Battaile betweene them and the last King And it is true that after his ouerthrow the Ladie Elianor his daughter with manie others of his allies and kinsfolkes were sentenced to Exile and departed into France where they were courteously receiued by the French king Philip the third surnamed the Hardie whose kind entertaining of them proceeded not so much from his owne bountie and naturall disposition to Liberalitie as it did from an opinion which hee conceiued That in so doing hee should gaine the loue and good liking of manie English Lords who being discontented with the last Kings Gouernment were not well pleased with his sonne who had crossed them in most of those affaires And moreouer he knew the noble valour and courage of King Edward to be so eminent that it was now high time to craue counsell of Wisdome and of Policie how and by what meanes he might preuent him from making himselfe more great And because Reason and common Experience taught him That hee whose owne house is on fire will rather imploy his endeuours to quench that flame than to set his enemies house on fire also hee therefore practised secretly with Lluellen the most valiant Lluellen of Wales sueth to the French King to haue in marriage Elianor the exiled daughter of the late Earle of Leicester and greatest in dignitie among the Welchmen that he with those inhabitants would rebell if at anie time anie Warres were but likely to be attempted against the French Nation by King Edward And this his plot was much furthered by the exile of the aforesaid Ladie Elianor who being by reason of her misfortunes in the disposing and power of the French King was with great importunitie desired in marriage by the said Lluellen to whome vpon those conclusions and agreements especially shee was sent with honourable attendance and rich gifts She is sent towards Wales But king Edward being secretly informed both of the said purpose and of her passage towards Wales wisely preuented his owne danger and intercepted her on the Sea She is taken at Sea and detained her as his prisoner By meanes whereof Lluellen whose best Rhetoricke to persuade was by open Warre and Rebellion entred into the field with manie thousands Lluellen rebelleth who were more readie to robbe and to steale than to reclayme themselues and to be mindfull of their dutie to their Prince The King rayseth an Armie The King likewise on his part purposing to make his first voyage terrible to the Welchmen for examples sake to that fickle Nation leuied so strong an Armie that by all conjectures the Welchmen were altogether vnable to resist him And it seemed they thought so too For their chiefest Captaine and Leader partly for the loue which he bare to his longed-for Ladie and partly to preuent those fatall dangers which knocked at his dore vnexpectedly submitted himselfe to the Kings Grace Lluellen voluntarily submitteth himselfe and yeelded himselfe to be disposed of wholly and onely at the Kings pleasure and vowed and protested with manie great and solemne Oathes That his obedience should be constant Lluellen voweth and sweareth loyaltie and his sword alwaies readie to serue the King both against France and against all others in future time if he might be made happie with the Kings fauour and haue the enjoyment of his Ladie Lluellen is pardoned fauored and wiued The King whose heart was euer enclined to mercie and more desired by affabilitie to winne an enemie than to conquer him by blowes and supposing that his loue to his Mistresse would be a stronger bond to strengthen his allegeance than anie other thing freely granted him his pardon his fauour and his wife And thus those Warres which menaced the death of manie thousands were quietly ended without the effusion of anie bloud But within few yeares after Lluellen Lluellen rebelleth by the wicked persuasions and enticement of his brother Dauid a man more contentious than prouident and lesse valiant than mutinous and yet one whome the King did extraordinarily loue and fauour rebelled against the King and fought with Sir Roger Mortymer manie sharpe and aduantagious battailes Lluellen and his brother are taken and beheaded But at length Gods judgements hastening Traytors to a shamefull end both of them were taken and their heads as Trophies of the victorie were sent vnâ—â— the King who caused them to be set vpon the Tower of London for a terror vnto others and there they remained long after But notwithstanding all this yet the naturall disposition of the Welchmen so strongly preuailed and so blind they were and vnable to foresee their owne ruine The Welchmen rebell againe and againe that within few moneths after they rebelled twice and by manie slaughters and strange executions they were subdued and compelled to obey And because their Warres were rather maintained and cherished by shiftings and by startings into the huge and vast Woods which made those Rebels more disordered They are subdued and confident to saue themselues when greatest danger did approach the King caused those Woods to be hewen downe Their woods are burned and to be consumed with fire By meanes whereof they were reduced to a more ciuill kinde of life They become more ciuill and began to practise diuers commendable Occupations Arts and Sciences and tooke some pleasure from thenceforth to liue like honest men In the eighteenth yeare of King Edwards Raigne The King of Scots breaketh
his necke Alexander the King of Scots not hauing anie issue of his bodie fell with his horse and vnfortunately brake his necke He had three sisters the eldest of which was married vnto Iohn Baylyol Lord of Galloway the second vnto Robert le Bruze Lord of Valley-Androw and the third was married into England to Iohn Hastings Lord of Abergauenny Contention about the Crowne of Scotland Betwixt these three each of them being backed with the best support of their most able friends sharpe bickerings and ciuill warres occasioned the deaths of manie worthie and valiant men together with the ruine and destruction of some of their Houses and best Fortunes The title is referred to the censure of King Edward as to the soueraign Lord thereof and the Commonweale of that kingdome receiued manie desperate wounds and strange misaduentures because each of them in the right of his wife attempted and hoped to be a king Whereupon king Edward with great expedition went into Scotland as their Soueraigne Lord and endeuoured to compose this strife But such was their mutuall desire to raigne that no persuasions preuailed to make anie one of them to yeeld But in the end more sounder aduice tooke place so that they all by a publike writing vnder their hands and seales consented to referre themselues and their Titles to the censure and judgement of King Edward Scotland is surrendred to king Edward And by the same Instrument they freely surrendered all Scotland and that Crowne into the Kings hands to the end that thereby they might enable him absolutely to possesse such a one of them in that Kingdome as in his judgement ought to haue the same Hee also receiued from them in writing their seuerall demands and each mans proofes A wise and a discreet King reasons and arguments to maintaine his Clayme And thereupon King Edward elected and made choice of twentie of the most discreet wise and worthie men of his kingdome of England and of twentie more of the kingdome of Scotland and by their aduice and counsell he informed himselfe truly of that businesse and at length pronounced his Sentence for Iohn Baylyol Iohn Bailiol is made King of the Scots He doth homage for it to the King who had married the eldest of those three sisters who receiued from him that Crowne and Countrey and for it performed and did his homage to King Edward The King although he were earnestly employed in these and in other affaires at home yet was he more troubled with greater businesses abroad The French King wrongeth King Edward by reason that the French King daily wronged him in Gascoyne Guyan and elsewhere And to maintaine those warres the King by the aduice and counsell of William Marchyan his chiefest Treasurer seized into his hands the Plate Iewels and Treasure of the Churches and of the religious Houses within this kingdome Euâ—ll counsell and compelled the Clergie to giue vnto him the one halfe of one yeares value of all their Ecclesiasticall Dignities and Promotions The King stâ—â—ppeth the Church He is hated by Church-men This vnaccustomed Sacriledge made the King hatefull in Church-mens eyes But yet he seemed in some sort to content them with faire promises of Restitution when his Treasures should by other meanes be encreased But they little relying vpon that promise and by common experience in other things being resolued that the Kings Coffers would not be emptied to fill theirs and yet feeding themselues with a vaine hope that some other recompence might be made them became humble sutors to the King The Clergies â—ute denyed That he would be pleased to reuoke and to annihilate the Statute which in the fourth yeare of his Raigne was made against Mortmayne Mortmayne which prohibited the giuing and the conueying of anie Lands and Tenements to anie Corporation whatsoeuer without the Kings leaue But as he neuer meant to gratifie them in anie sort whatsoeuer so he made them answer That it lay not in him without the consent of a Parliament to reuoke and to frustrate anie Law The Clergie to their great griefe and sorrow perceiued that their Treasure was swept away together with all hope of restitution or amends and though it vexed them inwardly yet durst they not to expresse anie outward tokens of dislike Thus when the King had augmented his store by the Clergies plentie he by the directions of his said Treasurer imposed a Taxe or Subsidie vpon euerie Sacke of Woolls A new Tax and vpon all Fells and Hydes which were to be transported out of this kingdome and also required the tenth part of euerie mans moueable goods and substance to maintaine his Warres which being granted hee caused it to be leuied by manie payments within the spâ—â—e of three yeares He also compelled the Clergie to bring into his Coffers all such summes of mony as they had promised to pay vnto the Pope towards the maintenance of the Christians Warre with the Turks in the Holie Land He also tooke vp one hundred thousand Quarters of the best Wheat and sent it to his Armies in Gascoyne and in Guyan where they fought with much courage and valour but with doubtfull successe sometimes gaining what was lost and sometimes loosing what they had wonne In the fiue and twentieth yeare of King Edwards Raigne 25. 1296. Iohn Baylyol inuadeth England Iohn Baylyol the King of Scots partly by the secret procurement of the French King and partly by the lewd aduice and counsell of factious and wicked persons sent a Defiance with a proud renunciation of his Fealtie and Homage to the King and with an Armie of braine-sicke Rebels entred into the Northerne parts of this kingdome where with fire and sword they oppressed such as could make no resistance and without pitie and compassion slew such as were armed in the defence of their Countrey and to saue themselues The King with an army marcheth against the Scots Whereupon King Edward recounting his manifold fauors and great loue to the said reuolted King and the high Honour wherewith not manie yeares before he had graced him and being resolued to correct his vnthankfulnesse with sharpe reuenge leuied a puissant Armie and marched in full strength towards the Northerne parts and found his fortune to be so fauourable Barwike wonne The Scots are ouerthrowne 25000 Scots are slaine that with much ease hee wonne the strong Castle of Barwike with the slaughter of fiue and twentie thousand Scots He also wonne the well-defended Castle of Donn-Barre and piercing into the sides of Scotland hee tooke Edenburrough and all other places of the best defence And the King of Scots perceiuing the dangerous estate wherein hee stood and reposing his last hopes in the Kings Grace by the aduice of all his Nobles repaired in person to the Kings presence The King of Scots yeeldeth himself and surrendreth his Kingdome He is sent to the Tower of London humbly submitted himselfe craued pardon
but applied them about Marcelles and by them they had no helpe And secondly because the Burgundians Flemings and their companions hauing Carts Waggons and other carriages and being neere vnto their owne Countries tooke and were able to carrie away the greater and the better part of all their spoiles and yet they would seldome fight as the Englishmen were compelled and enforced to doe The Duke not knowing what allowance the King would giue to the dissoluing of the Armie without his consent sent the Lord Sands and Sir Richard Ierningham to the King to informe him of the state of his Armie and also to know his pleasure touching the breaking of it vp But the King would not in any sort assent to their returne but prepared the Lord Mountioy with an Armie of 6000. men money and store of victuals and of other necessaries to hasten vnto their aide But before the returne of those two messengers the souldiers without the Dukes leaue wilfully departed home thorow Burgundie and Flanders And because the greater number of them had so done The Armie is dissolued therefore the Duke was compelled to breake vp his whole Armie whereat the King was highly displeased for a while but at length finding the Duke and chiefest Captaines faultlesse they returned home and were by his Maiestie receiued into his especiall grace and fauour The Scots are againe busie Whilest the Duke of Suffolke was thus busied in France the Duke of Albanie raised another Armie of 80000. men But to resist and to fight with them the Lord Admirall and Treasurer of England marched forth with an Armie of fortie thousand But the Scots not well enduring the sight of such powerfull and well appointed enemies presently ran away and would not strike one stroke And had the Earles commission beene enlarged and giuen them leaue to haue followed them into their owne Countrie vndoubtedly the Scots had receiued a fatall blow at that time but by quicke message A truce the Queene of Scots who was the Kings eldest sister againe obtained a truce so that in the meane time a triall might be made whether a peace woulde be concluded and agreed on or no. Betwixt the Marches of Bulleyn and of Calice diuers feats of Armes were euermore valiantly performed for honors sake in which sometimes the vanquished were againe victors and such as preuailed now were by and by ouercome The Duke of Albanie perceiuing that the Nobilitie of Scotland would no longer endure that hee being a Frenchman borne and next to the King the inheritor of that Crowne should haue the rule and gouernement of their King and Countrie The Duke of Albanie forsaketh Scotland Feared least any mischiefe might befall him or least by some deuise he should be deliuered to the King Wherefore hee secretly fled into France vpon whose departure much peace and quietnesse ensued betwixt the King and that kingdome For the Queene and Nobles of the Realme of Scotland The Scots desire peace by their Embassadors desired Peace And that the Ladie Marie who was then the only daughter of King Henrie and Heire apparant to his Crowne might be giuen in mariage to Iames their yong King To this motion it was answered that touching the said Peace if honorable and fit conditions might be proposed and concluded the King would willingly assent thereto But concerning the other point of their demaund hee said That hee was not yet resolued how to dispose of his said daughter for that shee was but yong yet in the end a peace was assented vnto and proclaymed in both those Realmes Likewise the Ladie Margaret Duches of Sauoy The Emperours Regent craueth peace and great Aunt to the Emperour and in his absence the Gouernour of the Low Countries by her Embassadours proposed to his Maiestie these requests First that the Lady Marie his daughter might bee giuen in mariage to the Emperour who longed for her with his best affections and respected her with his heartie loue Secondly that because the Emperour intended to giue vnto her for her Dowrie the Provinces of the Low Countries his desire was that forthwith shee might be sent thether to officiate the Protectorship of them in his absence Thirdly that such summes of money as the King intended to giue vnto her as her mariage portion might presently bee disbursed for the maintenance of the Emperors warres And last of all that the King himselfe would be pleased in his owne person the next spring to enter with a Royall Armie into France vpon the territories of the French King who in contempt of them both did diuers iniuries and wrongs vnto their Subiects and had made the first breach of the Peace which was concluded and by their oathes confirmed betwixt them three But because King Henrie was secretly displeased with the Emperor for that he by the raising and enhauncing of the prices and value of this gold and other coines within the Prouinces of the Low Countries had politikely drawne the greatest part of his money out of this Realme and in some other things had not respected him as his inleagued friend therefore hee only returned thanks for a fashions sake but made answere That his daughter was too yong to be maried to the Emperour and was as yet vnfit to be coupled with any Prince At the same time also the French King by his Embassadours The French desire to renew the peace desired that the said Ladie might bee espoused to his sonne the Dolphin And that the former peace betwixt the King and him might be renewed and reviued during both their liues These his motions to speake truly were best receiued and digested and were most likely to haue taken place if the French king him selfe and his children had not shortly after beene taken prisoners by the Duke of Burbons Armie and by the Marques of Pescarie as he lay at the siege of Paura where he lost fourteen thousand men and was defeated although he had then in his Armie almost fiftie thousand men The King in danger of death Among these friendly motions for peace and mariages an euill chance hapned to the King For one day as he hawked for his recreation and delight hee offered to leap ouer a wide and a watrie ditch but his staffe brake in sunder and his head pitched fast into the clay so that hee had assuredly dyed there if a footman of his owne named Edmund Moody had not quickly plucked his head out of the dirt About this time dyed the most Noble and Victorious Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolke and was honourably buried at Thetford in his owne Countrie The King who for a long time had wantonly conversed with a beautifull and a lasciuious Gentlewoman of his Court named Elizabeth Blunt begate on her a sonne Noble men created who by the King was called Henrie Fitz Roy This yong Gentleman being now of the age of sixe yeares was by the King created Earle of Nottingham and forthwith Duke