to to morrow And yet the true and rightful Lancaster had no finger in it for this Earle was not then granted to be of the House of Lancaster untill the Pope by his Bull had given him that stile and himselfe after he was King by his Prerogative assumed it In this Parliament he was attainted of High Treason and with him Iohn Earle of Oxford Thomas Marquesse of Dorset Iasper Earle of Pembroke Lionell Bishop of Salisbury Peirce Bishop of Exceter the Lady Margaret Countesse of Richmond Thomas Morton Bishop of Ely Thomas Naudick by the stile of Thomas Naudick of Cambridge Conjurer William Knevet of Buckingham smeared with the same pitch George Browne of Beechworth Thomas Lukenor of Tratton Iohn Cuilford Iohn Fogg Edward Poinings Thomas Fieries of Cherstmonceur Nicholas Gainsford William Clifford Iohn Darrell with others of Kent and the West Countrey There was further enacted for the approbation and confirming the true and lawfull Title of King Richard this clause or sentence It is declared pronounced decreed confirmed and established by the Authority of this present Parliament that King Richard the third is the true and undoubted King of this Realme as well by right of Consanguinitie and Heritage as by lawfull Election and Coronation c. And in a place of the Rowle of this Parliament there are Arguments to be gathered that the two sonnes of King Edward were living in the time of this Parliament which was at the least nine moneths after the death of their Father and sixe moneths after King Richard which will import thus much That if King Richard then lawfully and quietly possessed of the Crowne suffered them to live so long there is no reason why he should after make them away for their lives could not rectifie their Bloud or Titles nor their deaths advantage him neither can Bastards be dangerous or prejudiciall to the true and titular Lord or lawfull proprietary be he Prince or Subject Witnesse Forraigne Countries and England it selfe which holds Bastards uncapable of Heritage Honour or Offices In the Month of February towards the end of this Parliament the King in his providence to establish the Regall fortune and Succession in the Prince his Sonne and to fasten the affection of the Nobility and People unto him with the Crowne procures them to meet him in the Pallace at Westminster and there Interiori Caenaculo as mine Author saith tendred by the Duke of Norfolke unto them an Oath of Fealty and Allegeance in writing to be taken to the Prince of Wales which they tooke and subscribed most willingly the occasion of this was his jealousie of that new League struck up between the Earle of Richmond and the Duke of Buckingham who was now discovered more apparantly and the rest of the engagement To oppose and suppresse them therefore and stifle the Confederacy before it should grow more threatning The King makes a Commission by Letters Patents in the name of the Vice Constable of England unto Sir Ralph Ashton A Coppy whereof the President being unusuall and the Office great I have Transcribed verbatim from the Records in the Chappell of the Convertits Vice Constabulario Angliae Constituto REX dilecto fideli suo Rudolpho Ashton militi salutem Sciatis quod nos defidelitate circumspectione probitate vestrâ plenius confidentes assignavimus deputavimus ordinavimus vos hac vice Constabularium nostrum Angliae ac Commiâ—sionarium nostrum dantes concedentes vobis tenore presentium potestatem authoritatem generalem mandatum speciale ad audiendum examinandum ac procedendum contra quascunque personas de crimine laesae nostrae regiâ— majestatis suspectas culpabiles tam per viam examinationis testium quam aliter prout vobis melius visum fuerit ex officio vestro nec non in causis illis judicialiter sententialiter juxta casus exigentiam delinquentium demerita omni strepitu futura Iudicij appellaâ—ione quacunque remota quandocunque vobis videbitur procedendum judicandum et finali executione de maâ—dandum cum omnibus etiam clausulis verbis et terminis specialibuâ— ad executionem istius mandati et authoritatis nostrae de jure vel consuetudine requisitis quae etiam omnia hic expressa habemus assumpto vobiscum aliquo tabellione fide digno qui singula conscribat unà cum alijs quae in praemissis vel circa â—a necessaria videbuntur seu qualitercunque requisita mandantes firmiter vobis injungentes quod alijs quibuscunque praetermissis circa praedicta quoties quando opus fuerit intendatis caus as que antedictas audiatis examinetis in eisdem procedâ—tis ac eas judicetis finali executione ut praefertur demandetis Damus etiam omnibus singulis quorum interest in hac parte tenore praesentium firmiter in mandatis quod vobis in prâ—missis faciendis pareant assistant auxilientur in omnibus diligenter in cujus c. Teste Rege apud Covent 24. die Octobris Anno regni primo per ipsum Regem oretenus What successe this Commission and new Office had I find not reported but it might come too late or the new Officer forget what he was to execute for the faction lost none they could corrupt or winne yet surely the institution of it was very politicke and important as a plaine Image and pourtraict of the Office and Authority of the great or High-Constable of England which in the execution of a wise and valiant person is of a high and great use Having made mention of these Offices it shall not be a Parergue between these Acts to interadde the rest of this Kings Officers both Chiefe and others at the least such as were of Honour or Dignity I have before named the High-Constable the great Marshall high Admirall Lord Chamberlaine the rest were Sir Iohn Wood the Elder L. Treasurer the first yeare and Sir Iohn Touchet Lord Aâ—dley during the rest of his Reigne Doctor Russell Bishop of Lincolne had the great Seale Thomas Barrow was Master of the Rowles which place Henry the seventh continued to him and made him a Privy Counsellour Iohn Kendall was principall Secretary Sir William Hopton Treasurer of the Houshold Sir Thomas Peircy Controler after him Sir Iohn Buck Iohn Gunthorpe Keeper of the Privy Seale Sir William Hussey Chiefe Justice Thomas Tremaine and Roger Townsend the Kings Serjeants Morgan Kidwell Attorney Generall Nicholas Fitz-William Recorder of London For matters of Treaty betwixt this King and Forreigne Princes I have seen a memoriall of one for intercourse and commerce between him and Philip Duke of Burgundy and the Estates of Flanders who in the Record are called Membra Flandriae These Princes and States had each of them their Commissioners to treate and determine the Affaires which I find they dispatchâ— with approbation of the Princes their Masters There was also a Commission about these times to heare and redresse the
complaints made to the King by the Subjects of the King of France and of Denmarke which was well expedited Anno Regni 2. That Treatie of Peace and League with Scotland began before was continued and finished by Commissioners sent from Iames the fourth King of Scotland and by other Commissioners delegate for the King of England those for Scotland were Coli Earl of Argile Chancellor of Scotland N. Bishop of Aberdene the Lord Lisle the Lord Dromonde of Stobhall Master Archibald Quhitlaw Arch-Deacon of Lodion Secretary to the King Lion King at Arms and Duncan of Dundas they came to Nottingham in September Anno Domini 1484 and were honourably receiv'd in the great Chamber of the Castle the King sitting under his Royall Cloth of State Master Archibald Quhitlaw stepping before the rest addrest a very Eloquent Oration unto him in Latine which reflected upon the praise of Martial men Art Military including much to the honour and praise of King Richard This Treatie aimed partly at a Truce and Peace partly at a Marriage betweene Iames the Prince of Scotland and the Lady Anne Daughter of Iohn de la Poole Duke of Suffolke and Neice to King Richard Commissioners for the King of England were Iohn Bishop of Lincolne Richard Bishop of Asaph Iohn Duke of Norfolke Henry Earle of Northumberland Master Iohn Gunthorpe custos privati sigilli Sir Thomas Stanley Lord Stanley Sir N. Lord Strange Sir N. Lord Powis Sir Henry Lord Fitz hugh Sir Humphry Lord Dacres Master Thomas Barrow Master of the Rowles Sir Richard Ratcliff William Catesby and Richard Salkeld The other for the Treatie of Alliance and Marriage were Thomas Arch-Bishop of Yorke Iohn Bishop of Lincolne Iohn Bishop of Worcester Iohn Duke of Norfolke William Earle of Nottingham Iohn Sutton Lord Dudley N. Lord Scroope of Upsall Sir William Hussey Chiefe Justice of the Kings Bench Sir Richard Ratcliffe and William Catesby But the successe of that and many other good intendments were interposed by the inconstancy and contraste of the times The Lady Anne de la Poole upon the the breach thereof resolving to accept no other motion forthwith tooke a religious habit in the Monastery of Sion There was another Treatie of Peace and Truce in this second yeare betweene him and the Duke of Brittaine or at the least given out for peace yet was indeed but a part and pretext of the Treatie for the maine negotiations on the Kings side was how to get the Earle of Richmond out of his custody into his owne or be as well secured of him there as his Brother King Edward was And for this Treatie the chiefe Negotiators were the Bishop of Lincolne and Sir Thomas Hutton for the King the Bishop of Leon and others for the Duke The Treatie began Anno Domini 1484. and was finished and ratified in the yeare following but the Duke violated his part immediately by giving ayde to the Kings Enemies In the same yeare there were Letters made which are yet extant in the Treasury of the Exchequor that moved a Peace and Truce beweene King Richard and Charles the eighth King of France wherein it must be understood the tribute before mentioned was Articled Also in this yeare and the yeare before there was a private Treatie which we must not passe by for the Marriage of the Lady Elizabeth with King Richard himselfe what the successe of it was and how farre it proceeded will more aptly present it selfe in another place Wee are now to take notice of the Duke of Buckinghams revolt for this was the preparative and fourrier of the rest And to give it the more taking feature and specious pretence it must be given out That the cause was the Reformation of an ill Government and Tyranny under which species for Treason is ever fairely palliated and seldome wants the forme of some plea though at the Barre they must take up Armes against the King And here as some Rivers deriv'd from the Sea cannot suddenly loose their taste of saltnesse they discovered their ancient taint and inconstancy which the Prince wisely suspected from the first For the Duke of Buckingham how affably soever he trim'd his countenance it should seeme departed male-content from Court yet made not that generall publick pretended cause of the Kings Crimes all his quarrell but challenged him by some private grudges as denying to give or restore to him the Earledome of Hereford and Constableship of England for they went together a long time which he alledged belonged to the Partage that fell to his great Grand-mother the Lady Anne Daughter and Heire of Thomas Plantagenet alias Woodstock created by King Richard the second Duke of Glocester and Earle of Buckingham and of his Wife Elianor daughter and co-heire of Humphry de Bohun Earle of Hereford and Constable of England Which claime had he considerately look't upon could not rightly revolve to him but rather was for the Kings part For Humphry de Bohun Earle of Hereford of Essex and Northampton Lord of Brecknock and Constable of England in the time of King Edward the third and the last Earle of the Family of the Bohuns had by the Lady Iane his Wife Daughter of Richard Fitz-Allan Earle of Arundel two Daughters and Heires Elianor and Mary Elianor was Married to the same Thomas Plantagenet alias de Woodstock youngest Sonne of King Edward the third Duke of Glocester and Earle of Buckingham Mary the second Daughter was Married to Henry Plantagenet Duke of Lancaster and after King of England by the name of Henry the fourth and the Earledome of Hereford fell to his Wife In favour whereof he was Created Duke of Hereford by King Richard the second and the Earledome now a Dutchy and the rights therof remained in the King and in the Kings Heires and Successors untill the death of King Henry the sixt who dyed without Issue then all the Estate of Lancaster especially that of the Royall Family of Lancaster escheated to King Edward the fourth and from him it came to King Richard as Heire to his Brother and all his Ancestors But the Duke of Buckingham pretended Title to that Earledome by his said Grandmother Anne who was one of the Daughters and Heires of the aforesaid Lady Elianor Wife of Thomas de Woodstock Duke of Glocester and the Wife of Edmond Stafford Earle of Stafford and Grand-father to this Henry Duke of Buckingham who the rather presumed to make this Claime because the Issue of the other Sister Mary being extinct he tooke himselfe also to be her Heire But King Richard relishing something in this neare the disposition and inclination of Bullingbrooke answered That the Earledome of Hereford was of the inheritance of Henry the fourth who was also King of England though by tort and usurpation and will you my Lord of Buckingham Claime to be Heire of Henry the fourth You may then also happily Assume his spirits and lay Claime to the Crowne
concilio soceri persuasus Iethro Solus quod Populi nequijt componere lites Constituit populi praefectos atque tribunos Sic cum me praecelsa premant fastigia Regni Ardua magnarum teneatis muner a rerum Et primùm à vobis pravos secludite motus AEquis Iustitiae trutinis appendite causas Ob paupertatem miseros ne spernite cives Nec vota in cassum fundat pupillus in auras Denique largitio nè vos Corrumpat iniqua c. All things thus in a happy presage and good order the King with the Queene departed from London and makes Windsor the first gift in his Progresse for some few dayes From thence to his Mannor of Woodstock then to the Universitie of Oxford where the Muses Crown'd their browes with fragrant Wreathes for his entertainment Next he visited the circular Citie of Glocester and gave the Citizens for the love and loyaltie they exprest in holding the Castle and Towne so constantly against Queene Margaret and the forces of Henry the sixt for him and his Brother the King large Priviledges and Immunities And here the Duke of Buckingham takes his leave for Brecknock constantly disposed and affected in all outward appearance The King making small stay any where save at Coventry untill he came to the goodly and ancient Citie of Yorke the scope and goale of his Progresse which receiv'd him with all honour and Festivitie and was there the second time Crowned by Dr. Rotheram Arch-Bishop of that Sea in the Cathedrall Church and his Sonne invested in the Principalitie of Wales as the Prior of Croyland reporteth Eodem die quo Richardus Coronatus est Rex in Ecclesia Metropolitana Eboracensi mox filium Edwardum in Principatum Walliae eum insigntis virgae aureae c. evexit Pomposa sumptuosa festa convivia ibi fecit And indeed it was a day of great state for as Polidore saith There was then three Princes in Yorke wearing Crownes the King Queene and Prince In acclamation whereof there was Stage-Playes Turneaments and other Triumphall Sports as Sir Thomas Moore relates At this time the King Knighted Richard of Glocester his base sonne who was after Captaine of Calice and many Gentlemen of those parts But albeit this was an intermission as it were of all busie and serious agitations yet the King still where he travall'd had a just regard to the Administration and Execution of Justice and the more facinerous Malefactors And surely these respective inclinations of his had their solemn affections and desires Naturalized in him witnessed by the scope and integritie of those just Lawes which after followed The Progresse thus spent he returnes to London and having consulted some matters of State declares his first resolution for the Tribute detain'd by France which he had formerly by a friendly Message demanded but now sends stout menaces and threats for it The French would not have it cal'd a Tribute but a Pension as Philip de Comines insinuates though it had beene rays'd and payd to King Edward the fourth in lieu of the Dutchy and Countries of Aquitaine Normandy Poictou and Maine c. whereof the the French had deseis'd the Crowne of England which King Edward the fourth forced Lewis to acknowledge and to Covenant and agree That he his heires and Successors should pay unto the Crowne of England the summe of fiftie thousand Crowns with caution and securitie to be payd in the Citie of London or after Iean Tillet and Iohn Maierus seventy five thousand Crowns to be payd into the Tower with which the French King also granted in the name of Annuall Pension sixteen thousand pounds to some Noblemen and others of speciall credit with the King As to Sir Thomas Gray Marquesse of Dorset William Lord Hastings Chamberlaine to the King Doctor Thomas Rothram Bishop of Lincolne and Lord Chancellour of England Iohn Lord Howard Sir Iohn Cheyney Master of the Horse Sir Thomas Mountgomery Master Challoner and to the Master of the Rowles The chiefest of these had two thousand Crownes apiece per annum Besides which Pensions he gave rich Presents and sent rewards to such Lords as stood most for this accord Eugueraunt de Moustrolet avoucheth that the Lord Howard and the Master of the Horse were the chiefest of the mediators in it his reason is that they were the men most in favour with King Edward Iean Tillet with Philip de Comines tells us the Lord Howard in lesse then two yeares had the value of twentie foure thousand Crownes in Plate Coine and Jewels over and above his Annuall Pension the Lord Hastings at one time to the value of two thousand markes in Plate besides his Pension And if their owne Stories speake truth Richard de Nevil the great Earle of Warwick had of the Kings of France much more then any other English Nobleman which the Chronicle of Brittaine seconds And doubtlesse King Richard had still compel'd him to continue it had not eruptions of State and tumultuary practises fatally deterr'd his Sword For as Kings have vaster limits they have higher bounds then others If our vulgar paths be rugged theirs are slippery and all their mighty resolutions and ambitions have their fate and circle hither they must and no further yet as envious as fortune shew'd her selfe he brought King Lewis to termes of faire promises and mediation for time of payment as Comines obscurely implyes This yeare the King kept a very magnificent Christmas at Westminister and was reconciled to the Queene Dowager who left Sanctuary and to congratulate the Kings favour sent her five daughters to Court where they were received with all Princely kindnesse On the three and twentieth day of January in the first yeare of his Raigne he summon'd a Parliament to be holden at Westminster i◠which after the enacting of many good Lawes the marriages o◠King Edward were debated that with the Lady Gray adjudged unlawfull and her children illegitimate there being proofe of a former Contract and Marriage with the Lady Elianor Talbot daughter of the old Earle of Shrewsbury and Relict of the Lord Butler of Sudely then and long after living and all that had been inferred by the Duke of Buckingham or contained in the Bill supplicatory demonstrated was againe consulted and judgement given against that Marriage and incapacity of the Children also of the Earle of Warwicke and his sister the Lady Elizabeth Plantagenet all decreed and confirmed by Act of Parliament so that here to taxe so generall an Assent were to say there was not one honest nor just man in that High Court and what greater scandall to the whole Kingdome There was likewise notice taken of the Earle of Richmonds pretence to the Crowne by a Title derived from the House of Lancaster who was at that time in France labouring to engage the King and the Duke of Brittaine in the quarrell Oh the infinite windings and perplexed sleepes we labour through to get that we must bid goodnight
Eurinnies and beleeved haunted those men that had purposed or acted a wickednesse upon which the Poet said well Patiturque unos mens saucia Manes And assigned to every man his protecting Spirit whom the Greekes called Doemones the Latines Genios concluding that when the Genius of him against whom the mischiefe aimes is stronger and more active then his who is to act it there the Plot hardly taketh effect For example produce the mortall enmity betweene Octavianus Caesar and M. Antonius in which Anthony could never prevaile by any Attempt who consulting with his Soothsayers they give the reason to beethe power of Octavians Genius above his It is reported the great Philosopher Appollonius had such a secret protection and so strong that the Emperour Domitian had no power over his life though hee studied meanes to take it Suidas adding that this Philosopher in confidence of his Genius when he left the Emperour added this verse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Me non occides quia fataliter protectus sum which is that Flamius Vopiscus calleth Majestatem Apollonij as I ghesse and with it the Profestors of Christian Religion agree in the effects not in the causes for those whom the Heathen call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Daemones c. Genios the Christian Theologues call Angels or Spirits whereof they hold good and bad But to returne to the matters further Allegate Probate The industrious Antiquary Master Iohn Stow being required to deliver his opinion concerning the proofes of this murther affirmed it was never proved by any credible evidence no not by probable suspitions or so much as by the Knights of the Post that King Richard was guilty of it And Sir Thomas Moore being puzelled with his Equivocations sayes that it could never come to light what became of the bodies of these two Princes Grafton Hall and Hollinshead agreeing in the same report that the trueth hereof was utterly unknowne Then where is their farre seeing knowledge that will have them transported into Forraign Countreyes or drowned or their giganticke proofes that say peremptorily they were both murthered and buryed in the Tower by those foure named before if so we need go no further for the truth But these are splenitick reaches and the Parachronisme is too groste as the Comaedian said Quod dictum indictum est Quod modo ratum irritum est Besides if Perkin were not the second Sonne of King Edward he must bee nothing for the Flemish French and Wallons acknowledged no such Noble young man to be borne in Warbecke or in Tourney but make honourable mention of a young Sonne of the King of England who was brought to the Dutchesse of Burgundy his Aunt being then in Flanders and how hee was in France and in other Kingdomes And surely so many Noble and discreet English if they had not knowne him to be the same by most certaine tokens and evidence would not so confidently have laid downe their lives to confirme their knowledge of him or hazarded their judgements and honours upon an Imposture or vanity especially those who had places of Quality and Eminency neare the King then living and were in favour at Court Therefore I would be resolv'd from our Anti-Richards what aim those Noble-men could have in averring him the Son of Edward the Fourth by the hazard of their lives and Estates if the KING pleased and how could they expect lesse for though they were enough to justifie it a truth they were too few to maintaine it against him there could be no aime or hope to super-induce young Richard to be King but meerly I am perswaded in point of truth and honour as they thought themselves bound to doe they freely tendred their lives to make good what their Conscience knowledge witnessed for it would be an Imposture of a miraculous Deception so many worthy and wise persons both of the Nobility and Clergy some of them having served the King his Father and himselfe that they all in their particular and generall intelligence and understandings should be mistaken and cheated I say it was a strange delusion if it could bee so but indeede those that would have it so leave it in question and know not well what to make of their own relations or how to resolve his History and if wee marke Sir Francis Bacon in the life of Henry the Seventh though his speculation be tender and as favourable as hee can that way touching the History of this young Duke hee gently slides from it Explicit liber tertius THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF THE HISTORY OF KING RICHARD the Third The Contents UPon what occasion the sentence of Bastardy was given upon the Children of King Edward the 4 th and why The sundry Loves Wooings Contracts and Marriages of King Edward the Fourth His divers Concubines His device of the Fetterlock and the Faulcon His wooing the Lady Elianor Talbott alias Butler the Lady Bona of Savoy and the Lady Elizabeth Gray widdow his marriage with her His former Marriage or Contract with the said Elianor her wrongs and her death Kings must not marry the daughters of their Vassalls nor other without the consent of their Barons Doctor Stillington Bishop of Bath Imprisoned for speaking of King Edwards Marriage with the Lady Elianor Talbott Spuria vitulamina How King Edward might have salved those Errors and prevented all the mischiefes following them The Children of King Edward the Fourth declared and adjudged illegitimate King Edwards death suspected by poyson the mortality of the Plantagenets The Authority of Parliament Parliaments how so called and derived Parliaments against Parliaments The first Parliament of King Henry the seventh what Treason is whether Soveraigne Princes may be said to commit Treason against their Subiects The treaty of Marriage between K. Richard the third and the Lady Elizabeth Plantagenet and cheifely sought by her selfe and the Queene her Mother The entertainement of the Lady Elizabeth at the Court the first Libell of Divorse the scruples of the Lady Elizabeth King Richard never meant to marry her The marriages of Neeces allowed by the Pope and usuall the true cause of Sir Thomas Moores Condemnation and execution The FOVRTH BOOK OF King Richard The Third THe Title King Richard the Third had to the Crown acâ—rued to him by the illegitimacie of the Children of King Edward the Fourth and the Attainder of the Duke of Clarence with the Corruption of his Blood and forfeiture of the Title in him and in his Heirs of which there was no question but of the forfeiture and disheritage of the sons of Edward the Fourth there hath been much The true cause hath not nor cannot be well known without the Narration of King Edward's sundry Loves and Wooings specially his Contracts and Marriages I shall not need to intimate how amorous and wanton this King was his many Mistrisses or Amasia's he kept in several private places whereof the most famous was Katharine de Clarington
to apply Sir Thomas Moore something above his ability which he exprest most in his hospitality And surely if men are taken to the life best from their actions we shall find him in the circle of a Character not so commaculate and mixt as passionate and purblinde pens have dasht it whilst we squint not at those vertues in him which make up other Princes absolute His wisedome and courage had not then their nicknames and calumny as now but drew the eyes and acknowledgment of the whole Kingdome towards him and his brother had a sound experience of his fidelity and constancy in divers hazardous congresses and battels through which he had faithfully followed his fortune and return'd all his undertakings successefull as at Barnet where he entred so farre and boldly into the Enemies Army that two of his Esquires Thomas Parr and Iohn Milwater being nearest to him were slaine yet by his owne valour he quit himselfe and put most part of the Enemies to flight the rest to the sword With the like valour he behaved himselfe at the battell of Exon Doncaster St Albans Blore-heath Northampton Mortimers Crosse and Tewkesbury And it was then confest a very considerable service to the State his taking of the famous Pyrate Thomas Nevill alias Faulkonbridge Earle of Kent with whom complyed Sir Richard de Nevill Earle of Warwicke a neare kinsman to the Earle of Kent his naturall Father which â—â—â—d him up in the better esteeme and whetted him to any Attempt â—or this haughty Earle who had drawne him from the House of Yorke to which he had done valiant service not long before to the party of Henry 6. and his Lancastrian faction and fearing what forces and aid King Edward might have from beyond Sea provides a warlike Fleet for the narrow Seas of which this Faulconbridge was appointed Admirall with Commission to take or sinke all Ships he met either of the Kings friends or Subjects who did not under act it but made many depredations on the Coasts and put many to the Sword becoming an Enemy the more considerable King Edward finding as the case stood then with him his Attemps by Sea would be of too weake a proofe to surprise him which the Duke of Gloucester contrived by an advertisement he had of his private stealth into severall of the parts sometimes where he had recourse to some abetters of that Faction and comming too shore at Southampton by a ready Ambush seized and apprehended him from whence he was conveyed to London so to Middleham Castle and after he had told some Tales put to death And whilst he continued in the Northern parts he governed those Countries with great Wisdome and Justice preserving the Concord and Amity betweene the Scots and English though the breaches were not to be made up with any strength and continuance the borders living out of mutuall spoyles and common Rapines ever prompt for any cause that might beget braules and seâ—ds And in the last yeare of the Reigne of the King his brother the Quarrels grew so outragious and hostile that nothing could compose them but the Sword and open War arising from an unjust detaining the Tribute King Iames was yearly bound to pay as Polidore thus writeth King Edward tooke it very ill at the hands of Iames fourth King of Scotland that he refused to pay the Tribute whereunto he was bound by Convenant And therefore resolved by Armes to compell him to it But King Edward being distracted with a jealous care and watching of France neglected that businesse of Scotland and in the meane time Alexander Duke of Albany Brother to King Iames pretending earnest businesse in France makes England in his way and instigates King Edward to put on Armes against his Brother promising to returne shortly out of France and raise a power in Scotland for his aide Hereupon the King resolved it and sent the Duke of Glocester with a good Armie into Scotland who marched master of the field neare to Barwicke having a little before sent thither Thomas Stanley to besiege it and soone after tooke it himselfe But the Duke of Albany failed him and had underhand strooke up a peace with his Brother of Scotland yet Richard of Gloucester accomplished the expedition very honourably and happily Thus Polidore But to enlarge what he reporteth desertively and abridgeth King Edward notwithstanding that negligence noted by him levied strong forces the King of Scotland being as vigilant in that businesse and made the Duke of Glocester his Generall under whom went Sir Henry Peircy Earle of Northumberland the Lord Stanley after Earle of Derby the Lord Lovell the Lord Gray of Grestocke the Lord Scroope of Bolton the Lord Fitzhugh Sir William Parre of Rose a noble and valiant Gentleman Father of the Lord Parr of Rose Kendall and Fitzhugh and Grandfather to Sir William Parr Earle of Essex and Marquesse of Northampton Sir Edward Woodville Lord Rivers Brother to the Queene Elizabeth with many other of Eminency and Noble quality The Duke marched first with his Armie to the borders and frontieres of Scotland giving the overthrow to such as resisted then made up to the strong Towne of Barwicke which at that instant the King of Scotland possessed by the surrender of Henry 6 and had the like successe with those Troopes of the Enemies he met and found about the Towne After a short siege the besieged upon Summons and Parlee finding themselves too weake to make good the opposition were easily perswaded to be at quiet and safely rendring the Towne and Castle vpon very slender conditions as is recorded in the Chronicle of Croyland Having plac't a Governour and Garrison in the Towne he continued his march towards Edenborough with a purpose to besiege and sacke it but was met in the halfe way by Embassadours from thence who after a favourable audience and accesse craved in the name of their King and Nation implore a League or at least a Truce betweene the Kingdomes offering so faire conditions for it that the Generall after a deliberate consultation granted to suspend or intermit all hostile proceedings with a faire entertainement to their persons and a publike Edict throughout the Army that no English should offer any violence or offence to any Scot or their goods and by this provident truce that ruddy storme which seemed terrible to impend was diverted and made a calme preface to the famous League afterward concluded by him when he was K. and Iames the 4 th of Scotland But whilst these imployments staid him there newes arrived of King Edwards death and was muttered very doubtfully by some who had confidence and ground to suppose it hastened by treachery The Nobles at London and in the South parts speedily call the Duke home by their private letters and free approbation to assume the Protection of the Kingdome and two Princes committed unto him by the King Rex Edwardus 4. filios suos Richardo Duci Glocestriae