Selected quad for the lemma: prince_n

Word A Word B Word C Word D Occurrence Frequency Band MI MI Band Prominent
prince_n kill_v prisoner_n wound_v 2,901 5 12.7835 5 false
View all documents for the selected quad

Text snippets containing the quad

ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A28178 An history of the civill vvares of England betweene the two Houses of Lancaster and Yorke the originall whereof is set downe in the life of Richard the Second, their proceedings, in the lives of Henry the Fourth, the Fifth, and Sixth, Edward the Fourth and Fifth, Richard the Third, and Henry the Seventh, in whose dayes they had a happy period : written in Italian in three volumes / by Sir Francis Biondi, Knight ... ; Englished by the Right Honourable Henry, Earle of Mounmouth, in two volumes.; Istoria delle guerre civili d'lnghilterra tra le due case di Lancastro e Iore. English Biondi, Giovanni Francesco, Sir, 1572-1644.; Monmouth, Henry Carey, Earl of, 1596-1661. 1641 (1641) Wing B2936; ESTC R20459 653,569 616

There are 6 snippets containing the selected quad. | View lemmatised text

small appearance of it hee having another brother alive though hee himselfe was so wholly composed of wickednesse as I shall joyne with him that shall thinke worst of him Howsoever it was he went to the Tower was Counsellour Judge and Hangman and with one stroke of a Dagger slew the unfortunate Henry It doth not notwithstanding clearely appeare that hee slew him with his owne hands but t is certaine this so cruell and unjust a deede was done whilst Hee was present This was the end of this good King thus ended He his troubles and began his rest Divine grace having chalked out the way unto Him by indowing Him with such conditions and peculiar vertues as are requisite to the finding out of that permanent abode which wee all seeke after Hee was beloved but 't was but a nominall love caused by His Religious vertues naturally vennerable but wanting wisdome and valour Hee was in effect neither loved nor feared by any Hee was a King from his Cradle and to boote with his patrimoniall Kingdome was crowned King of France in Paris an honour shared in by none before nor after and though Hee appeared not in Battells Armed and Souldier like as did his Father yet did not the progresse of Victories for many yeares cease in that Kingdome under his Name till such time as nature manifesting her selfe in him civill Warres arose by which Hee lost France England and Himselfe Amongst his Christianlike vertues three are remarked of exemplary edification the one of Chastity the other two of Patience Certaine Ladies before Hee was married daunced a maske before Him who having their Bosomes bare and their Heads fantastically attired they no sooner appear'd before Him but he retired into his Chamber saying He wondered they did not blush so much to shame themselves From this and the like cases hee not having in all the time of his youth nor at any time after given any the least signe of inconstancy some of his detractours would argue that hee was impotent and that Prince Edward was not his Sonne as if God could not be the Author of continency without the meanes of frigidity and naturall deficience When hee was a prisoner hee was with a Sword wounded in the side by owne who was come thither to kill him and who did not redouble his trust being belike strucke with horrour in the very act of cruelty who this man was or how or by whom sent is not mentioned by Authours when Henry was restored to his Kingdome hee who had wounded him was taken and brought before him to bee punished but hee caused him to be untied and pardoned him the so doing for that it was done to one whose sinnes deserved greater punishment To another who in the same Prison gave him a cuffe on the Eare hee onely replyed hee was too blame for having struck an anointed King Henry the Seventh had once a thought to have him Canonized upon the relation of his miracles but he forbare the prosecution of it some think because he thought much of the accustomed expences in such solemnities which being done for a King and by a King would in all reason have beene expected magnificent which was contrary to his frugality Others as I have beene told would have it that being informed that distinction was made in Rome between such as were blamelesly innocent and such as were Saints he gave over the pursuit of it Henry was a lover of learning and of the learned he founded Eaton-Colledge and endowed it with great Revenewes and provision for Tutors to teach Children their first rudiments Hee founded Kings Colledge in Cambridge whither the Schollers of Eaton are transplanted there to perfect their Studies in Sciences and Languages His intention was to make it perfectly magnificent but his misfortunes did not permit him to finish it the vastnesse of the Chappell a marke of his intention and zeale witnesseth this unto us Hee indowed it with a revenew of 3400 pound sterling yearely which since that time is increased He raigned 38 yeares and some few dayes before Hee was deposed and but bare six moneths after Hee was restored He had no issue but Edward Prince of Wales slaine as hath beene said Hee lived fifty two Yeares His body was carried from the Tower to Pauls Church invironed with a great many Armed men where one whole day hee was exposed to the view of all men with his face bare to the end the people might bee assured of his Death and there did issue forth great quantity of Blood from out his wound a sight which moved compassion in those that looked on being taken from thence and carried to Black-Friers Church his Body bled againe at last Hee was put into a Coffin carried to Chersey and there privately buried without any manner of pompe or Christian-like solemnity Henry the Seventh made his body afterwards be brought from thence and buryed in Westminster where Hee caused a Princely Monument to be built for him But in these times t is said not to be there nor that it is known where it is Edward thus freed of his chiefest troubles was not notwithstanding in quiet for many more arose which though lesse ceased not to trouble him amongst which some strange events which I forbeare to name which though naturall were by some superstitiously minded thought to be prodigies of future mischiefe The Earle of Oxford who after the battell at Barnet had got into Wales and from thence to France having put to Sea with seventy five men passed into Cornewall where Hee made himselfe master of Saint Michaels mount and did there fortify himselfe with meat and ammunition but living there like a banisht man full of feares He capitulated to surrender it His life saved the which though it were made good unto him yet was in such a manner as He had beene better have fled againe then in hope of life and lively-hood live miserably imprisoned for Hee was sent to Hammes where He was kept twelue yeares till the last of Richard the Third all succour denyed Him even the company of His Wife both of them being equally hated by the King the Earle for that Hee his Father and Brother had mightily favoured the house of Lancaster and his Wife as sister to the Earle of Warwicke the first disturber of his quiet so as having taken from her all shee had shee lived upon the charity of other people and by what shee daily wonne by her needle The King forgot not the Archbishop of Yorke though a Clergy man and though when he was his prisoner hee entreated him with all humanity and respect and by affording him the liberty of hunting afforded him the like to escape he sent him to the Castle of Guisnes causing him there to be strictly looked unto and though some while after at the request of his friends hee gave him his liberty 't was too late for him for overdone with griefe and melancholly he but for a small while injoyed his begg'd
father Iohn was in the like manner abandoned before Mondediere And as for the Flemmish Authors Meierus Henterus and Petit if I understand them aright they say no such thing and Speede an English Authour sayes that Philip was excused by many out of reasons suffiently probable Glocester came to Callis as some say with 300. as others with 500. vessells loaded with 25000. Souldiers finding the enemy gone entered Flanders meeting none that did oppose him he tarried not to besiege any place but burning and destroying where e're hee went put all to ruine great was the prey hee made especially of beasts He burned Popernence Bailleul Chasteauneufe Rimesture and Vallor-Chappule he dismantled many Castles forsaken by their Garrisons till weary of going about and wanting bread hee retired to Guienes and from thence to Callais Many women at the price of a peece of bread recovered the ruines of their houses the scarcity of bread was the cause of much sicknesse in the Army But Glocester having onely selfe interest for his occasion hee returned to England where he found new troubles appeased first by danger and then by the death of the King of Scotland King Iames had married his daughter Margaret to Lewis the Dolphin whereat England was distasted since this affinity could but not be prejudiciall to her so as the two nations being netled began to endamage each other the Scots pretended a double injury that England had endeavoured to hinder the Brides passage into France since not able to breake the marriage they would have interrupted it by taking taking her prisoner and that the Earle of Northumberland unprovoked had assailed the confines of Scotland Vpon these dislikes Iames commenc't the warre and went with 30000. men to besiege Rosburg This place was commanded by Sir Ralph Gray who though hee did valiantly defend it yet was not hee the occasion of the Kings raising the siege nor yet the succour which the Earle of Northumberland was to bring him 't is likely some more urgent occasions was the cause thereof the true reason then was his wives hasty comming unto the Campe who being a woman and a Princesse would not have hazarded herselfe at such a time without some urgent occasion which since it doth belong unto the story I will take leave shortly to relate it shee came to advertise him of a conspiracy that was plotting against his life which caused him raise the siege to prevent it though his intentions did not succeede for blowes from heaven are not to be evaded Walter Earle of Atholl his unckle was chiefe of this conspiracy wrought thereunto by wicked ambition which lay lurking in him many yeares before 'T was he that had incited Robert Duke of Awebeny to kill Prince David that hee might serve this Iames with the same sawce had not his father sent him away had he beene saved by being prisoner in England his designe was when these two Princes should be murthered himselfe to kill Robert and his sonne that hee might without any competitor remaine the sole heire unto the kingdome and 't was not unlikely to have fallen out according to his wish for Robert after so many detestable wickednesses grew to be hated by all men But Iames his preservation having broken both their designes it tooke life againe in him alone When Robert being dead Mordecay his sonne and the sonnes of Mordecay executed after Iames his returne to Scotland none stood betweene him and the accomplishment of his tyranny but the very King neither did hee beleeve that the people would be thereat displeased for Iames had mightily distasted the people by putting a great taxation upon them for the Fleete which did conduct his daughter to her husband which was by many of them denyed and but unwillingly paid by the rest In so much as though Iames had given order to the Collectors to gather no more monyes and to restore what already had beene collected to those that gave it yet did hee not sufficiently sweeten them for such favours as are caused by necessitie doe not content the people but that which did the most of all offend them was his unexpected rising from before Roseburg for having beene at great expence for this enterprise and no man guessing at the reason of his quitting it it could allow of no good construction Atholl was the chiefe actor in this Tragedy but would not bee seene therein till he appeared as King not as guilty His chiefest instruments were two bold Roberts the one his owne Grandsonne the other of the Family of the Gri●…es the former drawne by his Grandfathers authoritie and his hopes after him as being his heire the other out of an eager desire of being revenged upon the King by whom he reputed himselfe doubly injured for having long before for some misdemeanors beene imprisoned and banished the King had lately taken from him the guardianship of a nephew of his which was falne unto him by his brothers death The Queene had discovered the conspiracy but not the conspirators so as the King using all possible dilligence to find them out made them hasten the effecting of their businesse for feare of being discovered he had withdrawne himselfe together with his wife and some familiar friends without any guard to the covent of preaching Friers neare to the walls of Pearth amongst which was one of the conspirators named Iohn whose Sir-name I find not written The Traitors entred into the Friery rewarding the Porter and being come into the Kings Ante-chamber and met not with any body they stood expecting that the said Iohn should open the doore that they might enter without noise when one Walter Stretton came forth for some businesse concerning the King who seeing so many armed men and not able to get backe cryed Treason treason but him they instantly slew and ran unto the doore and found it shut by one Katherine Douglas a Lady worthy remembrance This Lady missing the great Barre wherewith the doore was wont to be shut and which was purposely hid away by Iohn supplied the place thereof with her owne Arme but they forced open the doore and brake her Arme they slew all that withstood them the King was slaine with 28. wounds the Queen who when her Husband fell fell upon him to serve him for a Buckler so as she could not easily be dragg'd from him received two wounds and Patrick Dunbarre brother to the Earle of the March who defended the King as long as he was able was left for dead sorely wounded and his fingers struck off This cruell treason was forthwith divulged every where filling all mens mindes with horrour and pitty those who formerly hated the King did now celebrate him they called to minde how he had passed all his life in afflictions his childhood practised upon his unckle his youth bittered by imprisonment his Kingdome annoyed with perpetuall seditions and now slaine in a Court of government the most moderate and most just that ever Scotland enjoyed there
that cold being added to the rest of his sufferings he died within the space of fifteen dayes The third that Henry sitting at the table and complaining of his present condition he should say hee saw he had no friends since his life and Richards being incompatible there was none that would free him of this anxiety Whereupon one Sir Peter Eston accompanied by eight others went straight wayes to Pomfret where meeting with Richards Sewer he said unto him That it was in vaine any longer to take assay of his meat for he was not long to taste any and that the Sewer taking this in another sense waited at the Table but did not his usuall service at the which Richard being offended when he understood that hee was willed so to doe by Eston who was newly come from Court hee grew so incensed as that he cut him over the face with a knife saying The Divel take Henry of Lancaster thee too at the which Peter with the other eight entring the roome with Halberts in their hands he threw the Table from him beleeving that they came to kill him and that flying fiercely upon one of them hee wrested his weapon from him with the which he slew foure of them but being over-borne by the rest hee went backwards toward the place where Eston was set in Richards chaire almost ready to swound through the remorse of conscience that there Eston with a great blow fell him to the ground which when hee had done he instantly cried out that he had killed a Prince who had been his King two and twenty yeares that he should live hereafter abhorred and pointed at by all men as a traytor and murtherer of a King One Historian allowes Richard so much life after the receiving of this blow as to suffer him say that Edward the second his great-grand-father was in like manner as he deposed and killed that his grand-father Edward the third having by such meanes obtained and enjoyed the Crowne hee being his successor did beare the punishment that the like would happen to such as should succeed Henry and though his death his owne demerits considered was just yet was it not such as would justifie his murtherers But I cannot see how the blow hee received from Eston and the desire that Eston had to see him dead could allow him so much time for discourse That he voluntarily starved himselfe to death is not likely hee loved his life too well and rather then lose it he chose to lose both liberty and kingdome nor would knives have been wanting had hee had any such resolution And certainly Henry is much injured in the report that he should act that which is but fained of Tantalus for of his owne nature he was no wayes wicked and though it was a great fault to bereave his lawfull King both of Kingdome and life yet seeing he had put on a resolution of reigning Pandora's box from which all mischiefe issued he must or not be King or make himselfe secure of his kingdome the one was the sinne of ambition which many are subject to but the other not to alledge other examples would have been the Idea of the most unheard of cruelties that ever were committed Respect unto himselfe inforced a riddance of him but not in so cruell a manner such an act had been able to alienate all other people from him his vaine-glory in affecting the first seat among the damned would have been more then diabolicall neither is it likely that Eston slew him for Henry needed not in so blameable an action publickly at the Table to begge the helpes of others It may suffice that Richard did dye and after what manner best pleased Henry but no man knew how otherwise in this case there would have been but one relation and not able to free himselfe from the suspition of having caused him to bee put to death hee could not finde any meanes whereby to bee the lesse hated for the doing of it then the uncertainty thereof which occasioned this diversity of opinions Hee caused his corps to bee brought up to London bare-faced and gave order that it should stop for some convenient time in divers publicke places particularly in Pauls to the end that it might be taken notice of Hee caused his funerall to bee celebrated at which hee himselfe together with all his Court and Magistracie of the Citie was present This being done hee sent the body to Langley lest the sight of his Tombe in London might recall into mens memories an action which howsoever it was done was unjust and inhumane He was there privatly buried none of any quality being present save one Bishop and two Abbots Henry the fifth sonne to this man when he came to be King caused his body to be brought to Westminster and placed it the●…e by the side of Anne his wife amongst the other Kings Some Scotch writers are of a fourth opinion That as soone as Henry was crowned an Hermit of reverend aspect presented himselfe before him who admonished him to restore the Kingdome to whom of right it did belong threatning the ruine of the house of Lancaster if he would not doe it and that Henry fearing if this novelty should be scattered abroad amongst the people it might cause some revolt made the Hermit privately be put to death That Richard having escaped prison by the connivency of those who were his Keepers got into Ireland and from thence to Scotland where he placed himselfe in service with a Lord of the family of Machdougell and that after a while being knowne he was brought to the Court where he was with much civility received by Robert the third and entertained as a King but that weary of the world he retired himselfe to the service of God and being dead was buried in the Dominicans Church as the inscription upon his Sepulchre did witnesse But if this had beene true the English writers would have had some little light thereof some whispering or tradition of it would have beene among the common people Scotland would have made some advantage thereby France would not have beene quiet Henry would not have demanded Richards widow for his Sonne nor would Charles have married her into the house of Orleans Richard would either have retired himselfe to France to his wife and father in law or having a minde to become one of the Religious in Scotland he would have procured by dispensation from Rome a nullifying of his contracted though not consummated marriage George Buchanan writes that the old Earle of Northumberland being fled into Scotland as we shall hereafter see that he there found an English man who had falsly taken upon him the name of Richard the second that he endevoured to get a sight of him but that the other could by no meanes be perswaded thereunto that if he had not been an Impostor he would not have shunned the sight of one that knew him and that the same man afterwards dying was buried at
shocke but the Welshmen comming at the same time to the rebels assistance the Kings Vantguard began to give ground and had been routed if the King with his battalion had not put forwards Young Percie aspiring after victory advanced his likewise having formerly agreed with Douglas to kill the King in whose death did consist the victory and end of the warre Dumbar perceived their ends by their violent comming on and with much adoe got the King to with-draw himselfe to another place which if he had not done hee had run apparant danger for the violence of the bickering was all made upon the Standard Royall the which was beaten downe and Sir Walter Blunt who had the charge thereof slaine together with as many more as did defend it Amongst which according to Walsingham and Hollenshead the Earle of Stafford made that very day Lord high Constable was one though Halle reckons him amongst the rebels The King who as hath been said was gone elsewhere whilst fighting and commanding he performed the office both of a Captaine and stout Souldier was by Douglas who sought after him with a Lance borne downe to the ground but getting on horse-backe againe hee did acts of such fame as that forraine Writers doe agree that he slew with his owne hands that day six and thirty of the enemies Douglas beleeving that he had done what he desired gave on still and met with a second then a third cloathed with upper garments like the King which both being over-throwne or slaine hee knew not what to thinke of so many Kings in one battell incountred I name them not for I meet not with their names in any Authour Henry Prince of Wales a youth not fully sixteen yeares old wounded in the face by a Dart and deafe to their perswasions who would have withdrawne him from the battell to have dressed him gave proofe that in his due time hee would bee that brave King hee was The enemy gave on no where nor did his men give any where backe where hee opened not the enemies rankes and closed his owne By his example instructing and by his valour causing shame where none was So as the Kings party hartned by the valiant carriage of the Father and Sonne the Father followed by the most valiant of his men seeing the face of Fortune changed gave on where the enemy was thickest Young Percie who according to his custome had fought bravely was by I know not whom slaine whose losse was the losse of the Battell on his side The Kings side began already to cry out victory and the name of Saint George was ecchoed through all the Campe when Douglas not longer able to withstand fortune the Scots being almost all slaine the English and Welsh fled began to think how he might likewise scape he set spurs to his horse which stumbling on the top of a hill he fel down and in the fall broke one of his genitories and was tane prisoner The Earle of Worster the execrable cause of so great mischiefe the Lord Chinderton Sir Richard Varnon divers others were likewise tane but in a diverse manner The battel lasted three houres on the Kings side besides ten Gentlemen who were that morning knighted 1600. souldiers were slaine and foure thousand more dangerously hurt there was slaine of the Rebels 5000. not numbring the Gentlemen the Scots nor those of Chester who as the Welsh had alwayes beene faithfully devoted to Richard This defeat fell upon the Saterday so as the Earle of Worster and the other two had leasure on Sunday to thinke upon their soules for on Munday the law passed upon them at Shrewsbury The Earles head was sent and set upon London bridge the Lord Percies body which was by the Kings permittance buried was by command of the same taken up beheaded and quartered The punishment of offendors is one of the foundations of State and to teach great men their duties by their equalls infamy is numbered amongst the secrets of government This was the end of Percy the Hotspurre one of the valiantest warriers that age produced he died armed amongst armed troopes covered with his owne blood and the blood of others his end had beene glorious had he died in a more justifiable cause he mought well have preserved himselfe his high spirit being allayed by the Kings last proffer but the malice of a wicked Uncle hindred him causing by his false report this his death and infamy Earle Douglas no subject but a profest enemy was by the King commended and admired and set at liberty For vertue by men generously minded is applauded even in enemies Owen Glendor and the Earle of Northumberland remained yet enemies not to be dispised The King sent the Prince his sonne to Wales who finding the people in those parts possest with feare by reason of the last overthrow chased them like so many wilde beasts over mountaines and through woods Glendor forsaken by all men died within a few dayes of meere hunger his hopes and life his principalitie and prophesies ending all at once so as having appeased the countrey and left governours there the Prince returned home in triumph But that Glendor did dye in this sort is only written by Edward Halle other writers keep him longer alive The King tooke a journey towards Yorke to reduce the Earle of Northumberland to his duty and found that if he had not beene withstood by the Earle of Westmerland and Sir Robert Waterton hee would have drawne his forces into the field and have joyned with his sonne but that fearing to encounter them he had retired himselfe into his strong Castle The King writ unto him to disbandon his forces willing him to come in a peaceable fashion Hee obeyed not knowing how to doe otherwise after so great a ruine he came accompanied onely with a few of his owne followers he used not many-words concerning his nakednesse with excuses and laying those faults upon such as were dead which lived yet in him The King dissembling his displeasure for Barwicke and other strengths were yet in his hands furnished with Scottish Garrisons suffered him to returne that hee might not againe indanger those confines he gave him friendly and holy admonitions which had he had the fortune to imbrace hee had not heaped up desolation upon his family by his owne death Some will have it that the King pardoned his life but did confiscate his goods leaving him onely sufficient for maintenance and t is not unlikely for in the next Parliament he was restored to all except the Isle of man a superfluous favour if he had not bene formerly punished This meane while Valerian Count St. Paul netled by his no honorable retreat from the Isle of Wight levied 2000. fighting men part French part Genoveses part Dutch with the which heunexpectedly sat down before Merc Castle little more then a league distant from Callis hoping by their valor excellency of his Engines to win it the place was defended by soldiers more
affaire in France could not prosper if those of England did amisse this newes made a great impression in the Duke so as deputing the Earle of Warwicke who was but a little before come thither with 6000. men His Lieutenant in the Regency of France hee went together with his Wife to England and came to Lancaster where the Parliament was at that time called The first action hee did was to blame such Lords as had sided in this difference not naming his Brother or Uncle to whom his discourse tended who drawne by their venome had stir'd up the People to the danger of the King and Kingdome and utter subversion of the affaires in France hee exhorted them to lay aside their passions and take to them more moderate and civill thoughts Gloster did not forbeare for all this to present in full Parliament his complaints against the Bishop First that Richard Woodville Lieutenant of the Tower had by the Bishops instigation denyed him entrance Secondly that hee was resolv'd to lay hands upon the King and carry him from Eltham to Windsor without the Kings consent or consent of the Councell Thirdly that when as hee had resolv'd to hinder him herein Hee had caused the Bridge to bee shut up upon him caused the chaines to bee drawne and placed men armed with bowes arrowes and all other manner of weapons in the chambers windowes and corners neare about to hinder his passage and to kill him and as many as were with him Fourthly that hee had beene told by Henry the fifth as hee lay asleepe in the great chamber at Westminster in his Fathers time by the barking of a Dog a certaine man was discover'd behind the hangings who being question'd by the Earle of Arundel said that hee was placed there by directions from the Bishop of Winchester to kill the Prince in his bed and that being removed from thence hee was immediatly drowned in the Thames Fifthly that he had told him likewise that his Father in his latter times being troubled with grievous indispositions the Bishop should say unto him that since hee was no longer fit for governmrnt hee should doe well to transferre both the government and Crowne upon him The Parliament was not easily brought to beleeve the circumstances of this accusation especially when the Bishop gave in his answere To the first hee said that before the Duke of Gloster went to Hannault hee and the councell good reasons moving them thereunto had ordered that the Towre of London for the time to come should bee victualled and munition'd as other forts use to be That after his being gone to Hannault the Citie being in apparent danger threatned by libels and seditious speeches particularly against strangers the greatest part whereof were for this cause fled the councell fearing a rebellion had appointed Richard Woodville to be Lieutenant of the Towre who to boote with the great affiance the deceased King had in him was Chamberlaine and Councellor to the Duke of Bedford with directions that during this his charge hee should not suffer any one whosoever to enter therein that was stronger then himselfe without particular commandement from the King or order to bee given by the Councell that the Duke at his returne disliking this order would breake it Hee pretended to enter and inhabite there being offended that Woodville denied him entrance and that the Bishop had advis'd him so to doe the which hee did not deny his reason being that the Duke desiring Richard Scot Lieutenant of the Tower to deliver up into his custody one Randall a Frier convict of treason against the late King and who had bin some yeares Prisoner Richard not able to deliver him without order from the Councell nor to refuse his delivery without offending the Duke desired him to send him such a command as might serve for his discharge the which the Duke denied to doe saying his commandement might serve for a sufficient discharge so as the Bishop seeing him so farre exceed the limits of his authority and not knowing where it would end could not chuse but give Richard this advice so much the more for that after his returne from Hannault hee had not forborne to allure some of the People saying that if they had beene ill dealt withall in his absence as hee understood they had they should bee so no more now that hee was present and that as for the Tower which was reinforced to keepe them in awe as who should say they were not loyall Hee would find a remedy for that if they so pleased To the second that hee never had any intention to lay hands upon the King much lesse to take him from where hee was to governe him otherwise then till then hee had beene unlesse it were by the resolution of the Councell that such a thought could no wayes availe him but rather prove harmefull and dangerous to him the which hee offered to make good in time and place convenient To the third that hee denied not to have done as much as was alleadged but not to the end as was objected that hee had beene certainely inform'd ever since the last Parliament at Winchester of the great ill will the Duke bore him which made him resolve not to bee there to shunne the evils wherewithall hee was threatned that evident signes were seene of this that certaine people of base condition being assembled together on the Thames side where boates use to land were heard to say that if they should meete with the Bishop in that place they would throw him into the River and that the Sunday before All-Saints day the Duke being demanded by the Councell concerning his ill will to the Bishop hee said it is true and that it might bee his reasons should bee seene one day in writing that the next Munday by the Dukes commandement no reason being given for it the Citizens were all night in Armes saying injurious things against the Bishop that commandement was likewise given to the Courtiers to bee with the Duke by 8. in the morning armed that on Tuesday hee gave directions to the Major and Aldermen to send unto him 300. Horse-men to waite upon him whither hee was to goe which was as it was said to remove away the King without the Councels knowledge all which being manifest signes of this the Bishops danger hee resolved to prevent him as it is lawfull for every one to defend himselfe so as if he had fortified the Bridge to the end it might not bee forc't it was not done with any intention of damnifying the Duke or any others but to keepe himselfe from being damnified since hee was not the assaylant but the defendant To the fourth and fifth that hee had bin true and loyall to all Kings which if hee had not beene Henry the fifth a wise King would not have trusted him so much as hee did Hee offered to prove this the proofe to bee such as is wonted to bee granted to persons of his state and
inforced them to make use of what came first to hand Being come he told them that the Chamberlaine with some others had that very day indevour'd to kill them both as they were in Counsell whereof they could not guesse the Cause nor Designe that he came to know of this Treason a little before Dinner so as they had no time to Arme themselves otherwise then as they saw that God had protected them by turning upon the Authors of this evill the mischiefe they intended to Them that hee had sent for them to the end that being informed of the Truth of the businesse they might informe others There was none so simple but knew how the businesse went but being circumspect through Feare they went their wayes not making any Reply or further Inquiry The Protectour having put off his Armour sent a Herauld into the City to publish a Proclamation the contents whereof were That Baron Hastings Lord Chamberlaine accompanied with some other Conspiratours had an intention to kill him the Protectour and the Duke of Buckingham that very day as they sate at Counsell that so hee might usurpe the Government of the King and Kingdome hoping that when these two Princes should be dead there would be none that would oppose him But because this bare Narration without Witnesse or other circumstances was not likely to worke any great effect hee aggravated it with complaints no wayes relating to the matter in hand That hee had beene an evill Counsellour to the late King that hee had perswaded him to many things contrary to his Honour and the good of the Kingdome that by his example hee had given him occasion to debauch himselfe particularly with Shores Wife who as shee was partaker of all his secret Counsells so was shee a complice in this abominable Treason that the last night which was his last hee lay with her so that it was no wonder if having lived ill hee dyed ill that the sodaine Justice done upon him was by Order from the King and his faithfull Counsell hee having deserved it and to the end that His complices might bee prevented from daring to raise a dangerous insurrection to set him at liberty the which being wisely foreseene was the onely meanes by Gods Providence to restore the Kingdome to its former tranquillitie It is to be observed that there was not much above two houres space betweene his Execution and the Publishing of the Proclamation so as the contents thereof being Long well dictated and fairely written out in Parchment every one knew it must needes be written before hee was put to Death the interim of time betweene the Execution and Publication not being sufficient to write it out much lesse so Handsomely to digest the matter though to the Swiftnesse of hand had beene added the Readiest witte The which occasioned diversity of discourse whereof some said it was written by the Spirit of Prophecy But the Protectour having accused Shores Wife as an Accessary and an Adviser sent to her House and made her be plundered of all shee had not out of Avarice but Malice and that such a demonstration might make the falsehood seeme the more likely and the imputation the more probable shee was committed to Prison and examined by the Counsell where shee answered so well for her selfe as not the least likelyhood appearing whereby to make her guilty of what shee was accused they fell upon her dishonest and scandalous course of living the onely thing indeed wherein shee was faulty the which would have beene winked at in any other by the Protectour and imputed to the frailty of Nature but to exercise his cruelty upon Her hee was contented to bee held an Enemy to Incontinency Shee was delivered over to the Bishop to doe Publique Pennance in the Cathedrall Church the which shee did the next Sunday morning being led by way of Procession with a white Sheet about her with a Wax Taper in her hand and the Crosse borne before her In which action though shee were destitute of all manner of Ornament yet shee appeared so lovely and handsomely behaved as her blushes adding to her Beauty all the lookers on did not onely blame the severity but were taken with her comelinesse which was the cause as well of Their Compassion as of her Ignominy and if any one hateing her past Life was contented to see her punisht yet did they not praise it as not proceeding from the Justice of an upright Judge but from the Malice and Cruelty of a Passionate and Unjust Tyrant Shee was well borne and civilly brought up her ruine was her being unequally Married not that her Husband was not of good esteeme amongst the Citizens and according to his quality well to live but for that shee being of riper Yeares then hee the love which useth to be betweene equalls was not betweene them so as it was not hard for the King to winne Her Hee being Handsome Lovely and from whom Preferment and Respect things much coveted by young Woemen was to be hoped for The King being Dead the Chamberlaine got possession of her shee was yet alive when Sir Thomas More wrote this History but so much altered as it could not be said shee had beene handsome though in her youth shee wanted nothing of Beauty but a little more Stature Her outward gifts though very excellent were out donne by the inward gifts of her Minde which are much more esteemed when accompanied with a handsome Body Shee had a Quick wit was of a cheerefull Humour Prompt Facetious and Eloquent borne to doe Good not Harme to any one Shee obliged many who being falne from the Kings good Opinion were for her sake received againe into favour Shee caused confiscated Goods to be restored to many without any manner of Avarice shee was more desirous to oblige others then to enrich her selfe more to Do good turnes then to Receive them Her Ambition was to be esteemed and well thought of Shee was alwayes affable never insolent All of them conditions abundantly to be praised but by which her fortune received no reliefe for being first reduc'd to Poverty and then to Old Age her beauty lost and her good turnes Forgotten she begg'd of those who if they had not formerly begg'd of Her would have been more beggers then shee The Protectour had given Order that on the same day whereon the Chamberlaine was beheaded at London the Earle of Rivers and Lord Gray the one brother the other sonne to the Queene and brother by the Mothers side to the King should lose their heads at Pontefract the two Knights that were seised on together with them at Northampton bare them company in their punishment The execution was done in presence of Sir Richard Ratcliffe a favourite of the Protectours and one that partooke of his designes who being naturally wicked and knowne by him to be so hee thought he could not trust the managing of this businesse to one more wicked and consequently more faithfull then he Hee