shake and thinking now to be cloaked vnder his Mothers wing he writeth to her of the starting away of Winchester his chiefe Counseller who hath not only stayned the true duetie of a subiect but impayred the safeguard of his regiment and disclosed the priuities of his counsell Prince Edmonds letters to Queene Katherine sent to her into Normandie DEARE and welbeloued Mother I haue seene and knowne and now at length found the force of a flatterer for the vnconstant knight of Winchester with false colours hath bleared my eyes He hath sucked honey in England and now spitteth poyson in Denmarke he hath drawne out a vennomed sword to hacke a sunder my rule gouernment He that was wont to comfort me with counsels now killeth me with deadly destruction Therefore my beloued Mother as you did safely conduct me hither so leaue me not now in danger of confusion for I am as one wrapped in sundry extremeties sould into the handes of enemies eyther to yeeld with repulse and shame or haue my young vnexperienced age conquered with death wherefore sweete Mother ayde me with your strong hand that these dangers layde against me may be escaped Rule me with reason and with your honourable wisedome counsell me that I may euer hereafter gouerne my actions with discretion and neuer more be troubled with treasons of a flatterer whose villanies hencefoorth I will disdaine and no more regard them then the chaffe blowne away with the wind Deare Mother speedely answere my distressed desires that my soule may not euer languish in distresse Thus ending at this time wishing the heauens to blesse you with honourable and long life fare you well From our English Court. WHen Queene Katherine had receiued Prince Edmonds Letters she in tendernesse of hart wept bitter teares but yet being perfectly instructed in wisedomes preceptes thought it against the lawes of nature to striue against her husband therefore she poured foorth these sage sentenses the which in maner of a Letter she returned backe into England to Prince Edmond her sonne Queene Katherines Letters of confolation sent to her sonne in England IT is wel remembred my princely Sonne that flatterers vndermining Kingdomes are Timber-wormes which lurke in the secret celles of Princes consciences that counterfeites the complexions of all creatures and filles their boosoms vp with the noble blood of honorable Houses Why had not you then read and turnd ouer the auncient Chronicles of England and seene into the fall of Princes practised by the pride of flattering startups The Lacedimonian Kinges although preserued in walles of Iron and in towers and castles of brasse yet by the deceite of flattering traytors were their princely gloryes subuerted to miserable infamie The Grecian Princes continually placed in Chariots and close Litters of golde guarded with great armies and hoastes of puissant Souldiers yet through the sufferance of false flatterers were they dayly diuerted to sodaine confusion I say my deare and honorable Sonne looke into the gouernement of our auncient Kings of England who retaind none into their counsels but the sonnes of Noble families borne to honorable giftes of nature wise vertuous and of a ciuill gouernement If any of a bace birth were entertained into Princes fauours first were they tried and then trusted deserued then honored well approued and then credited I say if either learning wisdome or experience had in any poynt ruled thee sweete flattery had not thus ouerreacht thee nor subtill dissembling so deceiued thee and to conclud King Edward my husband and thy father in loue equall vnto vs both may not be vndermined by me nor resisted by thee I may well councel but not defend thee nor any way minister comfort to thy sorrowfull afflictions especially against mine owne deere husband and thy father and as I admonish thee to reuerence his person so I charge thee to restraine thy stubborne wil for although he hath heaped manifold miseries vpon my backe yet with all honour to his person wil I discarge my selfe Thus fare you well from the Court of Normandy Your sorrowfull Mother vnhappy Katherine Queene Katherine although shee fauoured her sonne yet would she not seeke to resist King Edward hir husband but with wisdome obedience and humilitie gaue the world to vnderstand what glory and magnificence adorned her patience and although motherly nature willed her to seek the aduancement of hir sonne yet discretion did medigate the meanes that might scandolize the honour of hir husbande Whereas Queene Katherine rested in equall loue indifferently betweene them both so the Earle of London being hir brother and Prince Edmonds Vncle matched in mariage with the Dutches of Brittaine which honorable preferment happened through his sisters credite who vnderstanding of his Cousins distresse as well by King Edwards prepared â—â—â—aâ—â—on as Winchesters false trecheries in denouncing his subiection raised a great Armie of souldiers to the number of thirtie thousand able warriours the which he conueyed into England to be imployed in Prince Edmonds seruice On the other side the good Duke of Suffolke after his banishment froÌ„ England was highly graced with so tunes felicitie where through his Knighthood and manly behauiour he got such good lyking of the Queene of Portingale into which cruntrey he trauelled that she receiued him into her fauour and changed his wandring life into princely estimation betrothing her loue and kingdome to his gouernement whilst she liued and after her death this noble Duke by the generall voyce of the Portingals was elected King and ruler in her stead The Duke of Suffolke being thus crowned King of Portingale not of compulsion but in curtesie requested ten thousand able men to be prest in his friend Edmonds behalf the which multitude being leuied and accepted into seruice were conducted into England there by Prince Edmond most courteously entertained who being now strengthened with the Duke of Suffolkes souldiers from Portingale with the Earle of Londons souldiers from Brittaine and with his owne souldiers in England being all conueyed into one mayne Battaile he waighed in the ballance of discretion eyther an honourable winning of renowne or a loosing of all his kingly dignities So vpon a time assembling all the whole Armie of souldiers togither as well Brittaines Portingales as Englishmen who to inflame their vndoubted mindes to honorable resolution vpon an open Theator he spake this Oration following Prince Edmonds Oration to his Souldiers ALthough this our dominion of England most noble Souldiers and worthy Subiectes hath of late been made a common spoyle by sundry bace flatterers and impudent traytors deepely digging and vndermining our royall estate The freshe memorie of which English miseries through Casiopes filthy lyfe the wicked Barrons cruell extortion and the Bastards false vsurpation might easely from your eyes constraine a fountaine of teares which greeuous calamities at length through my Mothers care was taken away and my selfe being young and without experience setled among you am now in hazard to be bereaued not onely of lyfe but of
THE Famous Historie of Albions Queene VVherein is discoursed King Edwards Ielosie Queene Katherines chastetie the Duke of Suffolkes loyaltie and the Barron of Buckinghams treacherie Imprinted at London by VV. VVhite for T. PAVIER and are to be sold at his shop in Corne-hill neare to the Exchange at the signe of the Catte and Parrettes 1600. TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFVLL EDMVND MVILINEVX ESQVIER health happinesse and prosperitie THE generall report right Worshipfull of your gallant minde and noble disposition hath imboldned me to presâ—â—â— this my worthlesse labour to the view of your ingenious iudgement and the long desiers of my willing minde being now set on fier with the fame of your bright renowne presageth my mâ—ses good fortune which although it be but barren yet watered with the deaw of your gratious acceptance will hereafter be more fruitfull What the Storie is let your wisedome conceite my Subiect is The Vertues of a chast Queene and the loyaltie of a faythfull Subiect the triumphes of an honorable minde shrowded vnder the habite of a ielous King Accept it sweete Mâ—â—â—tialist with a fauourable countenance and my hopes are aduanced After the thundering alarums of dreadfull Warre Souldiers will sometime recreate themselues with pleasant discourses be you then I beseech you right Worshipfull a kind Patron to an vnworthy witt that I may say vnto my muse Happy is thy chaunce and fortunate thy proceedinges By your diuoted and humble welwiller till death R. G. THE Famous Historie of ALBIONS QVEENE CHAPTER 1. ⧠How King Edward grew ielous of Queene Katherine through the flatterie of the Barron of Buckingham ABout three hundred yeeres before the royall name of great Plantaginet possessed the imperial Diadem of this Mayden Land in which golden age there raigned as then one Edward surnamed the Senior a Prince of most excellent wisedome but yet in the first entraunce of his gouernment crost with many strange calamities through disloyall actions of false subiectes This Edward was not any of those royall Edwardes which liued since the Normayne Conquerour made England happy by his lawful clayme but one linially descended from the Romane Emperors who in the spring time of his blooming youth tooke to wife a most wise and vertuous Queene beautified with many singular good guiftes of nature and princely qualeties beseeming so worthy a Lady which Queene Katherine for so was she called altogeather imployed a dutifull care to adorne and set foorth her husbands Princely house and Scepter with surpassing glorie and rich renowne of vertue and besides that she so worthely defended her owne honour against a number of loose Loueres which dayly practised the conquest of her chastetie But now her betrothed husband King Edward being troubled diuers wayes with the hurly burlies of his Kingdome nothing at all solaced his minde in the company of his vertuous Queene by which he grew in mistrust of her chastety greatly fearing least others should loue that which himselfe liked or that she fauoured that which he falsely suspected his telous minde neuer rested satisfied partly of himselfe led with fond beliefe but chiefly incensed through the faythles falsehood of one George de Combria surnamed the Barron of Buckingam being aduaunced from low and poore parentage to the kings Court and not onely made one of his priuie counsell but placed in all digneties next vnto his person This proude Barron enuying the honour of Queene Katherine closely stuffed the Kings conseated head with false reportes and as it were coniured the sperit of I closie into his minde against the good and gratious Princesse which vniust occations of griefe being setled vnkindnes so deepely graued in his hart that neuer after it could be raced out by any meanes whatsoeuer King Edward being thus suncke into the bottome of dispayre fetched many greeuous sighes and often in great sorrow of hart would breath foorth this or such like lamentations Oh my vntrusty Wife and Lady wherefore hast thou wounded thus my hidden loue and inforced me to complayne of thy trecherous infidelitie Thou hast ingaged my honour discharged my person from renowne and possessed dishonour to my Scepter Oh! I launce foorth into the gulfe of dolorous distresse My marshall staffe of prowesse is broken in peeces and I am ledde into voluntarie seruitude deceitfully bereft from the freedome of my nuptiall life and sacrefized a slaue into the handes of trayterous varlets In this manner many a day King Edward fed his ielous minde with vaine immaginations casting him selfe from the lofty mountaine of passed ioyes into the bottomelesse pit of present woe So on the other side the Barron of Buckingam being hardoned in shamelesse audacities incountred him with a new onset to dyet his smell with a quicker scent and so espying a time to play with the sword of sedition he in presence of many of King Edwardes Lords vomited out this wrongfull accusation that followeth If protesting of loyall duetie to your worthy Maiestie or floods of incessant teares distilling from the cundets of my sorrowfull eyes may make perfect shew of a Subiectes honest minde as yet neuer blemished with the breach of dishonestie or euer touched or found guyltie of trayterous crime in regard of which true obedience most mightie Prince accompt my speaches for a veritie and nearely looke into the wronges of your Marriage bedde which ignorance hath heretofore coutched vp in secresie For beit knowne that the mighty Duke of Suffolke an auntient enemie vnto your Crowne and dignitie is familiarly crept into secret fauour with Queene Katherne your honourable Spouse who vnder shadow of seruiceable dutie bereaueth your Maiestie from the fruite of true continencie and couereth your nuptiall bed with a strayned mantle of blacke infamie Oh what a griefe is this vnto the soules of vs which intirely loue your Maiestie whose liues be wholely consecrated to your good fortunes It is not spight that inforceth me to defame the reputation of your royal Queene vnto whom I stand bound in all humble seruice nor any hate nor proffered miuryes doth inflame my minde to blemish the good Duke of Suffolkes fame with immortall ignobilletie but loue and dutie to my Prince and countrey wherefore most noble King cleare your vnderstanding and weede from your Court such treacherous deceauers that your life be not sodainely intrapped and we vnfortunatly depriued of a wise and puisant Prince And to conclude if I George de Cambria Barron of Buckingam be disproued or polluted with the breach of dishonesty an vtterer of false speaches or be found a flatterer or one that hunteth after Princely fauour proudly aspiring after dignetyes and promotions then let me perish and like a traytor be throwne out as an open shame vnto the world otherwise knit and binde me to your Maiestie in the fast bond of loyallty and haue the reward of a faythfull subiect When the Barron had thus inchaunted King Edwards eares his head burned more hotter with the heate of ielosie then before a dissease so incurable that
a rigorous boldnesse caused a bloody pursute presently to be made when the Lord Marshall his wife children and femelie were put to sharpe dint of sworde and hot broyles of consuming fire saue onely one of his chyldren a proper faire virgin being as then absent from her father and mother brought vp with the Earle of London the Queenes owne brother who after was trayned vp in all honourable education by Queene Katherine whom we will leaue trauelling like banished exiles from their natiue Countrey The Barron after this murthersome conflict returned safe to King Edwardes presence who not onely rewarded his valiant seruice with gold and rich treasures but indewed him with great laudes and reuenewes and besides all which by letter of Deputation he constituted him to guide and gouerne his whole dominions CHAP. 6. ¶ How King Edwardes Concubine the faire Casiope was deliuered of a bastard Sonne and of the secret fauours betweene her and the Barron THE King after all these things were finished as you heard discoursed in the former Chapter promised securety to him selfe princely renowne to his minion Casiope and royal aduancement to his trustie counsellour the Barron of Buckingham yet the loue of Subiectes a guiltles conscience and a good name being the chiefe groundworkes of peace were wanting besides which the King vtterly deceyued in his owne imaginations for that penall shame began euery hower to knocke at his gates stayning his glory with iufamie and dishonour Casiope his amorous Lady being great with childe the which shame heauen had appoynted for the common sort of people continually to talke vpon besides which the Kinges vile affection possessed with leawd lust neuer glutted but dayly shyning in the sea of vaine delectations Casiope on her behalfe with prouident discretion preuented her sodaine downefall for perceiuing the Kinges head tossed with inconstant inclinations his treadinges loose and vnsure on whom she principally depended she iudged that she could not be so safely imbarked as her expectation desired and therefore dayly wished that she had ended well where she had so ill begun Thus tottering vpon a broken bridge by little and little cast her selfe into the loue and good liking of the Barron who vsed many secret contemplations feeding each other with artificiall fauours as opportunitie happely ministred occasion and misspent no one hower in the day without yeelding some amorous fruites King Fdward being vtterly vnaquainted with these vntrustie trickes neuer mistrusted the cunning conueyance of Casiopes leawd life who passed foorth her time so warely without suspition vntill she was deliuered the which being fully expired was to the King a secret solace but an open shame a priuate comfort to him selfe but a publique infamie to the land a man childe was brought foorth into the world the which in processe of time approued the only poyson by which the King was choaked and a Caterpiller through whom the common wealth was gnawne But alas who would regard esteeme of an vnnaturall Bastard borne in a sower crab-stacke and vtterly reiect the good Children of Queene Katherine bred and nourished in the sweete Apple iuyce which was christoned in mourning and sorrowfull teares without any pompe and glory Where contrary wise this Bastard the childe of a Harlot was royally receiued into the Church and christoned by the name of Vallentinus with such sumptuous magnificence as no King could surpasse in such a case for many were the triumphes solemne iustes and costly banquetings that were kept in the English Court in the honour of his name the which for breueties sake I here passe ouer least I should be a hinderaunce to our following discourses No small consolation tooke King Edward in the education and bringing vp of this filthy young venimous vermine Vallentinus who being dazeled in dotage immagined winter stormes ouerpast and the pleasant ariuall of a faire sommer to be at hand yet was he nipt and attached with a priuie disease in his browes by meanes of the new enioyned loue of the Barron and Casiope whose league of friendshyp and falshood of flatterie so blinded the Kings conceites that no mistrustfulnesse of their lewde sportes could arise First sweetning his mouth with the braue beautie of Casiope Secondly reioyceing in the pollecie of the Barron And thirdly allured with the hope and budding foorth of the bastardly blossome Vallentinus the which I compare to three broken Staues whereon the King tooke his chiefest hold What a long relation could I make of the sport and dalliance begunne betweene the wicked Barron and proude Casiope hauing bended the King to their bow commaunding the whole dominion and contrâ—wlyng what so euer seemed best to them selues And whereas in the dayes of vertuous Queene Katherine the Kinges head was diseased and fraughted with the rhewme of â—elousie so now his Darling cunning Counceller gaue him a greater glister beneath for his headaking Kerchife aboue for she yeelded her body loue to the Barrons pleasure When the King was sleeping they would be waking when the King was in his Chamber they were handling prettie toyes in the Closset when the King was in one place they were in another keeping company togither discoursing vpon louers lawes In which pleasure we will leaue them solacing and returne to Queene Katherine and her brother the Earle of London CHAP. 7. ¶ Of Queene Katherines ariuall in Normandie and of her entertainment in Duke Roberts Court AFter the Queene by the pollecie of her brother had escaped the furious intended tyrranie of her foes accompanied with the Lord Marshalles Daughter tending and waighting vpon the Queenes person with great care and indeuour tooke Shippe hauing a merrie winde hoysted vp sayle towardes Normandie into which countrey her young sonne Prince Edmond was before conueyed and ariued The tediousnesse of this iourney was not so much troublesome as the dangerous dashing vpon craggie Rockes hazarded their liues but yet Fortune in the middle of their miseries fauouring them cast them happely vpon a fruitefull Iland bordering vpon the confines of Normandie in which place a right noble Knight inhabited gouerning the people with great wisedome into whose presence being no sooner come but the Earle of London in the name of the Queene and Lord Marshals daughter spake to the Knight as followeth Most worthy man sayd he we being strangers to thy people and Iland by vnhappy misaduentures are compelled hither to make our refuge and to seeke friendshyp among you for I am to let you vnderstande that here is the renowned Queene Katherine of England whose fame I know hath full often sounded in your eares the which distressed Queene long vexed with captiuitie arraigned and condemned to die but yet by good fortune escaping the subtile snares of her enemies hath betooke her selfe to banishment and now hardly auoyding shypwracke committeth her selfe to your mercie She hath not left her natiue soyle for any euill desart leawd behauiour or misgouerning her lyfe for she is a continent and chast Matron bearing the glory
in comely apparell iewels money and other prouision to his daughter Siluia brought vp as then in the Denmarke Court vpon whose arriuall there newes was sent vnto the King that a stranger being an English-man by birth was desirous to speake with his Maiestie who being full of friendly entertainement receiued him in a most royall maner and being come before his presence King Edward spake as followeth The tempestâ—s of aduersitie right excellent King hath brought me vnto your presence not in any euill pretence against your countrey but as one trayterously deceiued by ambitious Subiectes For know most noble Prince that I am the vnhappie King of England banished from my countreys and dominions and bereft from Princely tytles honour and renowne And now sith my deare Daughter and childe faire Siluia here at your cost charge is brought vp nature and affection haue drawne me hither to see her This being sayd the Denmarke King with right good grace reioyced and both courteously receiued and reuerenced him profering him friendshyp power and assistance as well to maintaine his present estate as to restore him againe vnto his Kingdome Faire Siluia with great obedience presented her selfe before King Edward her father who greatly commended her beautie and diuine gyftes of nature condemning his owne hard hart in banyshing her so vnnaturally from her natiue Countrey for I wish sayd he my graue had swallowed me aliue when first my malitious minde committed her to banishment Therefore in requitall of that iniurie faire Siluia yf euer I recouer agayne my right refuse not to be crowned the royall Queene of England These and many more lyke speaches past berwixt King Edward and his daughter duering the tyme of his aboade in the Denmarke Court the which King gaue him such honorable mayntenance as belonged to his princely estate the rather because he esteemed faire Siluia a meete wife for his sonne and heire young Essricke both being of an equall age and nursed vp together Thus the Denmarke King reuiued with a gladsome hope of climbing the highest top of these famous dignities did make no spare of cost for the accomplishing of his haughtie expectation Also King Edward made a determined purpose with more deliberation riper iudgement to reobtaine his dominion and gouernment CHAP. 9. ¶ How Vallentinus the bastard was crowned King and how he through the perswasions of Perce of Winchester caused his owne Mother with her paramour the wicked Barron to be most strangely put to death NOW must we speake againe of the troubles that happened in England after the Kinges banishment where the wicked Barron and his minion Casiope many a day practised their wits not onely for euer to bar king Edward from his kingdome but vsed diligent watch and examined the bottome of euery attempt that might practise his returne but at last they concluded vpon the coronation of young Vallentinus and resigned the Crowne and Scepter into his handes which before time they had reserued to his vse for declaration of true obedience Many of the best Subiectes did sweare disloyaltie to King Edward and subiection to the Bastard who had no sooner falsely vsurpt the Crowne but by vnkind behauiour he altered the minds of the welthiest Subiectes who in securitie of their lyues forsooke their natiue Countries whereby the Realme was left vnpeopled without tillage destitute of bread bereft of money treasures and trafficke of marchandize from other dominions for their necessary trades decayed and all things grew out of frame and good order But now Vallentinus the Bastard beginning to grow proud ryetous and wanton disdayned the wonted checkes of the Barron and his Mother who many times sought to controwle his wretchles lyfe through which a great misâ—iking and dissention grew amongst them and to make enuie the more riper there was one Sir Perce of Winchester a notable cunning youth brought vp with Vallentinus and wholly of his counsell who knowing him to be no lawfull Prince but a vsurper also viewing the wofull calamitie and ruine the Countrey was brought into stirred sinders more hotter amongst them for he so flattered the young King feeding his humors and aduised him to reiect the Barron and Casiope his Mother to make denyall of their checkes contemne their controulments and to beare sway of his owne absolute authority Thus being incensed by Sir Perce he began to rouse vp his peacocks fethers and to beare a malitious hatred against the Barron and his mother his best friendes and chiefe aduauncers Sir Perce nothing fayling in all maner of deceites playde likewise on the other side and vnder the colour of loue that he bore to the young Prince he wished and exhorted them sharpely to reproue the vnbridled lyfe of Vallentinus Thus ambodexter like this young flatterer Sir Perce of Winchester vnder a cloake of true loue still feeding the stubborne and vnciuill natures of both parties planted vp most waightie cannons and battered the strongest walles of the Kingdome Casiope and the Barron thinking themselues without hope of reclayming Vallentinus secretly departed his Court and raysed vp an armie of well approued Souldiers and attempted as well to ransacke his Pallace as the apprehention of his person Vallentinus through the cunning of Sir Perce was admonished of this deuice and practise and mustred into his seruice the most couragious and valient Captaines and best approued Souldiers that could be found But now the Barron with his Armie seeking to preuent them fought such an vnlucky Battayle that two thousand of his brauest followers came to foyle and slaughter and him selfe and Casiope taken prisoners who by the furious crueltie of the young Prince was clapt vp in prison to abide a hard and mercilesse captiuitie Hauing thus taken an occasion of the time and fortune he consulted with Sir Perce what was best to be done in such a businesse who hauing a wylie wit and a craftie capasetie whispered priuely in the Princes eares and aduised him to iudge them to a speedy execution for doubt you not quoth he but there is iust causes to be layd agaynst them as chiefly your mothers filthy adulterous lyfe with that bace and wicked Barron whose trayterous minde hath not onely mooued this rebellion but hath been the cause of your deare fathers banishment And beeing now in safe custodie let no good fortune be neglected till you haue expressed the duetie of a louing childe by their dispatchance out of this transitorie worlde Vallentinus now wholly fastning his minde more vppon prodigalitie ambition and vaine glory then publike profite to his Crowne and Countrey and was ignorant what danger would ensue in cutting off the Barron and his Mother beeing his best friendes and surest proppes in all extremeties therefore without any further consideration he erected furnished and sumptuously builded a strong Tower very splendant and admirable to behold of wonderfull largenesse deapth and hight He also caused a Gibbet to be festened vpon the toppe thereof the which being no sooner finished by the handy worke
of cunning Artificers but he commaunded the Barron and his mother Casiope dispightfully to be brought foorth as scornes of the world to iest vpon where casting his eyes to the Tower he sayd You thinke time sleepeth or that siouthfulnesse wantonly walloweth in me no no although to my great cost yet haue I setled vp a surer stay to this my Realme Countrey then euer did my predecessours before me For I haue here established a Tower to hange trayterous Knaues Curtizans vpon The worlde shall not adiudge me partiall in my Lawes for subiectes shall drinke alike of one cuppe and licour This being sayd he caused the Barron and Casiope to be againe carryed to prison and there to remayne tyll his further pleasure euery hower expecting the deadly stroke that should seperate their bodyes from their soules All this while Sir Perce was not vnbusied omitting no time that might further his intent but continually fillyng Vallentines eares with strong perswasions that their liues and spirits might be speedely depriued a sunder which bloudy stratagem was not long a finishyng for the young Prince or rather vnnaturall viper in this maner powred downe the tempestious showers of truell murther for early in the mornyng he caused his Mother Casiope to be brought foorth who the night before hauing intelligence by her keepers that her dayes were at an ende cloathed her selfe in vestments of white silke and comming before her bastard sonne she very humbly prostrated her selfe and craued pittie mercie and forgiuenesse at his handes and with a blushing countenance as beautifull as the new bloomed Rose she spake in this maner Oh sonne Valentinus said she remember that I am the Mother thy selfe fashioned of my wombe and body and by nature springing from the tree of my life yet thou like a most vnnatural Homicide seckest to shorten my daies and to stop my breath whereas thou oughtest in duety and obedience to vpholde my honour and prolong my life I do confesse my vile offences haue deserued punishment but shall mine owne child be the reuenger thereof The banishment of good Queene Katherine and the confusion of all her friends through my vniust meanes was accomplished with many other miseries which I haue ouerburthened this lande withall onely to aduance an vngratefull dissembler which like the Viper seeketh to finish the life of his dearest pareuts Many more were the speeches which Casiope spake in hope to attract remorse from hir Iron harted sonne who nothing regarded her words but rather the more imboldened and stirred vp into a greater fury by a present commandement he caused her bodie to be cast vpon a Table and hir hands and legs to be houlden by the strength of men the which being done he with a sharpe knife cut his Mothers throate and with the same butcherly instrument deseuered her lisly necke from hir shoulders which ad wont to be adorned with a glittering chaine of pure gold After this he caused the place which first conceaued him to be ript vp and sild full of corny salt where after hir belly being thus closed vp he gaue commandement to haue her dead carcasse transported to the top of the Tower there hung vpon a Iibbet Her deare friende the Barron was vsed in the same order for he had his mouth stuft ful of burning Pepper and hung likewise vpon the same Iibbet aliue as a iust view of such vngeateful flatterers and adulterous traitours to behold This bloudy action being finished Valentinus spake to the people many reprochfull wordes in the disgrace of the wicked Barron and Casiope his mother calling her the She-deuouring Beare of England hir deare friend the first causer of King Edwards dishonour in which tyrannicall course of life our story bids vs now leaue the bastard Valentinus with his new friend Sir Perce and speake of the accidents that happened in the Normaine court CHAP. 10. ¶ How Prince Edmond returned againe into England and was crowned King and how the bastarde King was put to death after a strange maner QVEENE Katherine as you heard before after her wrongfull banishment from England was graciously entertained of the Normane Duke where she dayly had intelligence of the wofull estate of England by many of hir distressed countrymen which continually fled thither for succour in the redresse of whose miseries shee made suite vnto Duke Robert of Normandie that hir young sonne Prince Edmund might returne into Enland not onely to possesse himselfe into the rightfull inheritance of his owne dominions but to represse the pride of the miscreant bastard whose tyrannize had made England the perfect merror of calamity and the wofullest nation vnder the cope of heauen In this maner euery day Queene Katherine solicited Duke Robert with fauourable petitions for the furnishing of her sonne into his owne Countrey with a band of warlike Souldiers vnto whom the Normane Duke answered in this maner Loth I am faire Queene that your princely sonne should forsake my dukedome and dominion being the only staffe of my old age and after my death the hope of my subiectes although not naturally borne amongst them yet comming of a royall blood the sonne of a maiestical Prince they will rather submit to his obedience then to the gouernment of one of a simpler birth No no sayd Queene Katherine there is no reason why a stranger should be Prince of forraigne subiectes through whom they should be either too much burthened or mooued to disdaine and therefore most noble Duke I humbly craue that permission may be graunted for his departure and in regarde of your princely liberality hauing brought him vp to such abilitie prowesse and warlike perfection he shal be bound to confesse homage and loyaltie to your kingdome whilst he liueth The Normane Duke being possest with a milde nature and ready in all actions to satisfie Queene Katherines expectation presently mustered a great multitude as well of Normane souldiers as exiled Englishmen which zelously protested all duetifull indeuours in the young Princes behalfe and in the accomplishment of that honorable exployte Queene Katherine hauing gathered great masses of golde and siluer attayned through her learned skill and practise in Phisicke furnished her sonne Prince Edmond with such abundance that nothing wanted either to his aduenture or contentment and so beeing furnished with Munition Ships and Souldiers he hoysted vp sayle and with a merrie winde safely arriued vpon the confines of England where presently he aduanced his Culloures and planted his forces to the best aduantage But now the bastard Prince Valentinus being amazed at the sight hereof with a fearefull troubled minde greatly misdoubted that his kingly gouernment was at an ende yet hauing mustered vp a slender armie of English Souldiers nothing auayleable for his defence he committed them vnder the leading of Sir Perce of Winchester who tendering his owne safety went to the enemy where both him selfe and his souldiers sware true obedience to Prince Edmond This vnexpected accident so daunted the
to the accomplishment of al the tragicall calamities that long had oppressed her country England whose happines she inwardly in hart most entirely loued long sighed after with the ayde of the Normaine Duke and other Princes of Christendome which tenderly affected her vertues shee returned with great admiration praise and renowne from her banishment who being placed in a Coach of pure gold drawne with foure milke white Palfries with a rich imperiall Diadem vppon her head a Septer of bright siluer in her hande with many other gorgeous ornaments which most gloriously adorned bit princely person in which sumptuous maner shee entered vpon the coast of her natiue Country from whence shee was vniustly banished whereon being no sooner come on land but there met her such multitudes of distressed English people that the pleasant pastures where she trauailed seemed to be ouerspread who entertained her with exceeding ioy saying aloude with a generall voice Oh happy is the hower and blessed is the day that our renowned Queene is returned from banishment the gods preserue and blisse hir with euerlasting peace and send her long to raigne and gouerne vs with ioy and great tranquility in more admired glorie then did euer Queene in this happy Iland These and such like speeches was spoken both of young and olde not onely to her great ioy but to the excreding comfort of all the forraine Princes her well willers But nowe Lord Essricke and his chiefe Counseller the Physition perceiuing the whole Country to reuolt from their subiection willingly yeelded to the wished gouernment of Queene Katherine which vnexpected alteration caused them both to submit themselues to hir gratious fauour who remembring the death of Prince Edmund and the murdering of Siluia her deare children and also what inconuenience and disturbance by prolonging their liues might happen to the common-weale Therfore in straight execution she commanded her will effectually to be discharged which was to haue Lord Essrick and his Councellers head presently deseuered from their shoulders the which was not so strictly commanded as speedely performed The great prosperitie and wealth wherewith Queene Katherine by her returne from banishment bewtified and inriched England did so much reioice the dying spirits of the mournfull people that they were glorified in their own desires and euerie one deemed their fortunes lifted from long continued misery to euerlasting felicitie But nowe the vertuous Queene to make requital for the good Duke of Soffolkes banishment and hainous iniuries besides in times past extended through the vnbrideled fury of her husbands wrath much desired his returne into England to possesse his owne patrimonies lands and lofty dignities so long witholden from him Therefore to the same effect she sent Embassadors speedily into Porttingall where shee heard he remained and gouerned in Princely estate which knowledge was no sooner giuen to the Duke but with maiestie sumptuous renowne and aboundant of treasures furnished on euery side he hastened into England who by the vertuous Queene was receiued with surpassing glorie and magnificence long had not these two princely personages remained in the English Court but by the consent of the whole Countrey they were ioyned and matched together in the lawfull estate of marriage by whose wise gouernement the lande of Egland in short time not only became populous rich honourable and quiet but replenished with all maner of necessary thinges And finallie Queene Katherine marrying the good Duke of Suffolke together with the consent and aduice of the whole dominion were crowned legetimate gouernors of England where they inioyed issue and posteritie betweene them with long life prosperous renowne eternall honour and euerlasting felicitie * ⎠* FINIS Imprinted at London by William White dwelling in Cow-lane 1600.