and love of thy Subjects who whilst they have wealth so long shalt thou have obedience but being made poore by oppression will be ever ready to stirre and make insurrections And so turning about said God blesse thee and have mercy on mee and so hee gave up the ghost in a Chamber of the Abbot of Westminster which the servants there called Ierusalem the twentieth of March 1412. in the fortieth sixe yeare of his age when hee had raigned thirteene yeares sixe moneths lacking ten dayes His body with all Funerall pomp was conveyed to Canterbury and there solemnly buried Hee had beene twice married his first wife was Mary Daughter and coheire of Humphry de Bohan Earle of Hereford Essex and Northampton and Constable of England shee died anno 1394. and was buryed at Canterbury hee had issue by her Henry his eldest Sonne who succeeded him Thomas Plantagenet his second sonne who was Created Duke of Clarence in the eleventh yeare of his Fathers raigne hee was slaine at Bongy bridge in France by the Duke of Orleance this Thomas tooke to Wife Margaret Daughter of Thomas Holland Earle of Kent and Widow of Iohn Beuford Earle of Pomfret who dyed without issue Iohn Plantagenet his third Sonne was made Duke of Bedford the eleventh yeare of his Fathers raigne and Earle of Richmond and Lord of Kendall hee married to his first Wife Anne Daughter of Iohn Duke of Burgondy who dyed without issue his second Wife was Ioquellyne Daughter of Peter Earle of Saint Paul and by her had no issue shee was after married to Richard Woodvile Earle Rivers and had issue Elizabeth Wife to King Edward the fourth This Iohn as Constable of England determined the Controversie betwixt Reignold Lord Gray of Ruthen and Sir Edward Hastings for the bearing of the armes of Hastings and at Vernoyle together with the same Towne tooke the Duke of Alanson prisoner and with the losse of two thousand one hundred private souldiers slew of the advers part five Earles two Vicounts one and twenty Barons seven thousand French and two thousand five hundred Scots and dyed at Paris and the fourteenth of September 1435. was buried at Roan under a sumptuous Monument which when Lewis the eleventh King of France being advised by some of his Nobles to deface Hee said What honour will it bee to us or you to demolish the Monument aâ—…d pull out thereof the bones of him whom in his life-time neither my Father nor your Progenitors were of abilitie to make budge one foote backward wherefore let his body now rest in quiet which if hee were alive would have disquieted the proudest of us all such respect to well-got honour hee obtained in the mindes of his enemies Humphry Plantagenet fourth Sonne who was stiled Humphry by the grace of God Sonne Brother and Vncle to Kings hee was Duke of Glocester Hennalt Holland Zealand and Earle of Penbrocke Lord of Freezland great Chamberlaine of England Protector of the Realme and Defender of the Church of England Hee had two Wives the first was Iaquet Daughter and heire of William Duke of Bavaria who being before betrothed to Iohn Duke of Brabant was divorced from this Humphry before issue His second Wife was Elianor Daughter of Reignold Lord Cobham of Sterburghe in Surry who for Sorcery and poysoning was much defamed hee was found murthered in hss bed at Bury in Suffolke and was buried at Saint Albones in Hartfordshire Blaunch King Henryes eldest Daughter was married as afore at Collen to William Duke of Bavaria after his death shee was married to the King of Arragon and afterwards to the Duke of Barre but dyed without issue Philip second Daughter of King Henry was married to Iohn King of Denmarke but dyed without issue King Henry was of a middle stature well proportioned and formally compact of a quicke conceit and active spirit of great resolution and courage In his later dayes with courtesie and affable cariage hee purchased a great deale more love and respect amongst the Nobilitie then hee had in all the beginning of his raigne with his austeritie and rigorous courses and redeemed from the common people a great portion of good opinion which he by his impositions and taxes had formerly lost among them But if their payments had beene more and his exactions greater in my opinion they were not undeserved that were so ready to alter the due course of succession to joyne hands with him in the deposing of the rightfull and naturall Leige-Lord whose only fault that could bee truly objected was this that hee had beene too bountifull to his friend too mercifull to his foes but most unrespective of himselfe THE LIFE AND RAIGNE OF KING HENRY THE FIFT HENRY the Fift surnamed of the place of his birth which was a Towne in Wales upon the River of Wye Monmouth tooke upon him the Regality over England the twentieth day of March and the next day was proclaimed King and the ninth day of Aprill hee was Crowned King at Westminster by Thomas of Arundell Archbishop of Canterbury with all usuall rites and Ceremonies After the solemnitie past the next day hee caused all his wonted Companions to come into his presence to whom hee used these words It is sufficient that for many yeares together I have fashioned my selfe to your unruly dispositions and have not without some reluctation in the very action followed you in your debosht and swaggering courses I have to my sorrow and shame I may say to thinke of it irregularly wandered in all rude and unseemely manner in the vast wildernesse of ryot and unthriftinesse whereby I was made almost an alian to the hearts of my Father and Allyes and in their opinions violently carried away by your meanes from grace by keeping you company therein I have so vilified my selfe that in the eyes of men my presence was vulgar and stale and like the Cuckow in Iune heard but not regarded One of you being convented before the Lord chiefe Iustice for misusing a sober-minded Citizen I went to the publike Sessions house and stroke him on the face and being by him deservedly committed to the Fleet for which act of justice I shall ever hold him worthy the place and my favour and wish all my Iudges to have the like undaunted courage to punish offendors of what ranke soever it occasioned my Father to put mee from my place in Councell appointing it to bee supplyed by my younger Brother how often have I by your animation committed thefts even on my Fathers and my owne Receivers and robd them of the mony provided for publicke appointments to maintaine your midnight revellings and noone beselings But it is time now to give a period to these exorbitant and unbefitting courses and to salve the wounds my intemperance hath made in my reputation and to turne over a new leafe and not only to decline the company of such misleaders of yours but desert their conditions of all
and the like was granted to the Queene of Ierusalem and her sonne Lewis for Anjou and Mayne the Duke of Britaine being their Proxie for the obtaining the same From Alanson the Earle of Salisbury was sent to Falays to view the strength thereof and to keepe the inhabitants from comming forth the King with his Army followed and entrenched themselves to avoide excursions and incursions The King made his approaches to his best advantage and though it was in the hard of Winter made provision sufficient for his men both against cold and hunger whereupon the besieged concluded if succour came not before the second of Ianuary next following to yeeld the Towne the succour not comming the Towne was yeelded but the Castle held out into which the Governour and most of the best able men were gotten but being fiercely followed and kept in continuall action by assaults and myning they were driven to make composition of surrender if not reskued before the sixt of February the souldiers to depart with their lives only and the Captaine to bee ransomed The prefixed time come the Castle was surrendred and the Captaine detained prisoner untill the Castle was sufficiently repaired his name was Oliver de Many The King leaving for Captaine there Sir Henry Fitzhugh returned to Cane to put in execution a Proclamation formerly made that if the inhabitants of Normandy that were fled returned not by a day to them prefixed to grant their lands to his souldiers thereupon hee gave to the Duke of Clarence during life the Vicounties of Ange Orber and Pontinz Oe Mere with all the lands of those that were not returned according to Proclamation All the whole Lent the King lay at Bayeux with part of his Army but the residue were volant upon exploits abroad The Kings Navy still kept the seas scowring the Coasts daily taking the French Bottomes they met but upon the sixteenth of Iuly such a storme took them that had they not by Gods good favor falne in with Southampton the whole Navy had beene in great danger yet in that Haven two Ballingers and two great Carrickes laden with Merchandize were drowned and the Mast of one of the great shippes was with the storme blowne over the Towne wall when the fury of the tempest was past the Earles of March and Huntington waâ—…ted over to Normandy and landing there marched up the country to the King The Earle of Warwicke and the Lord Talbot besieged the strong Castle of Dampfront The Duke of Clarence at that time tooke Courton and Burny and in the first placed Captaine Aubyn and Captaine William Houghton in the other hee likewise appointed in Chombis Captaine Iames Nevill in Bechelovin for Captaine the Earle Marshall in Harcourt Captaine Richard Woodvile in Fantgernon for Captaine Iohn Saint Albon in Crevener Sir Iohn Kirby to whom the same was after given for ever in Anvillyers Captaine Robert Hornby in Bagles Sir Iohn Arthure was made Captaine and also of Fresny Sir Robert Brent lately made Vicount was Captaine The Duke of Glocester with the Earle of March and the Lord Codnor march into the Isle of Constantine wherein hee likewise placed Captaines of such places as hee tooke in as at Corentine the Lord Botreux at Saint Lowe Captaine Reignold West at Valoignes Captaine Thomas Burgh at Pont done Captaine David Howell at Hay de paps Sir Iohn Aston at Saint Savior Sir Iohn Robsert lately made Vicount at Pantarson Sir Robert Gargraus at Hambery the Earle of Suffolke to whom afterwards the King gave that and Brokevill at Auranchos Sir Philip Hall at Vire the Lord Matreius who was likewise Captaine of Saint Iames de Bumeron And so having taken in the whole Iland except Chereburg hee returned to the King but was sent backe to the siege thereof which held out about the space of five moneths though in the meane time all warlike stratagems and meanes were used to take it at last they made composition that if not rescued within threescore and two dayes to surrender and stand to the mercy of the King In the meane time the Duke caused his Campe to bee strongly fenced with Rampiers and Bulwarkes leaving nothing for the safeguard thereof either unforeseene or unprepared And whilst hee was providing thus the Dolphin and the Duke of Burgoigne by the mediation of the Pope and his Cardinalls were fully reconciled and began to consult about the relieving their besieged Friend The King to prevent any danger that might betide his brother had taken order with the Lieutenant in the West-country of England to send over two thousand men out of those parts whom when the besieged at Chierburgh perceiued at Sea to approach they presumed of succour but their hope failing they surrendred both the Towne and Castle whereof the Lord Gray of Codnor mas made the Kings Lieutenant for the time but afterwards the King made Captaine thereof Iohn Bromley Esquire and for his hardy valour and commendable forwardnesse both at this siege and other places hee gave him the order of Knighthood gave him faire possessions in the Iland and made him Constable of Bossevile de Rosse This was the same partie that at Corby by his valour recovered the Lord Staffords Colours from the French and for the remembrance of that service had an honourable adjunct to his armes The King intending to prosecute his intendments to the full being of equall spirit to dare and power to doe had sent for his Vncle the Duke of Exceter who with fifteene thousand men within few dayes of Trinity Sunday came to the King by whom hee was commanded to besiege the Citie of Eureux which hee tooke in and appointed Captaine thereof Sir Gilbert Halsall The Earle of Ryme then also tooke in the strong Castle of Milley le Vesko The siege of Roan was the next thing attempted which place was now fully fortified and furnished for defence both with men and amunition Thither for the more safetie had all the neighbours conveyed all their riches as being their sole place of refuge now The King to have his passage cleere layed siege to the Citie of Loveirs which upon these conditions that if they were not relieved within seven dayes then the souldiers to serve King Henry the inhabitants to remaine there as subjects to England only all such Gunners as had discharged any piece of Ordnance to bee hanged no succour appearing at the day the Covenants were performed accordingly The King marched to Pont de Larch where hee arrived the seven and twentieth of Iune There was a stone-bridge which hindered the approach to Roane being exceeding strongly guarded King Henry devised therefore floates of wicker covered with beasts hides by which the Duke of Clarence with his quarter passed the River and then layd siege to the Towne on that side but to prevent the inconvenience that might come by the River dividing the Army there were more such Floates made and other devises with
subjects blood The Lords were well pleased with his good will and favour which as by base and servile meanes they would not seeke being thus gotten they did highly esteeme yet they thought it the safest course not to separate themselves suspecting the mutabilitie of the King and the malice of their enemies of whom neither knew they where they were nor what they did intend and being persons of great wealth and greater power but most bent to hurtfull practises they were feared not without cause For the Duke of Ireland either by setting on or sufferance of the King was all this time mustering of souldiers in Cheshire or Wales where hee gathered an army both for number and goodnesse of men sufficient if another had beene Generall to have carried a side whereof the Lords advertised they divided themselves and beset the wayes by which the Duke should passe to London with an intent to encounter him before hee did increase his power and countenance his action with the name of the King The Earle of Darby met him at a place called Babbelake neere Burford where the Earles souldiers full of hearty courage disliking nothing more then delay thinking losse of time was a procrastinating of the victory came on bravely But the Duke being mutinous but not fit for action apter to stirre strife then stint it upon sight of their approach would have fled But Sir Thomas Mollineux an approved souldier Constable of Chester upon whose leading all that countrey men did depend perswaded the Duke that this was but a part of the forces led only by the Earle of Darby a man no way eminent and if they could not beare through that resistance it was in vaine to expect any atchievement of honour by armes Whereupon the Duke made stay but his faint spirits were moved by this speech rather to desire victory then hope it his souldiers also were dull silent and sad and such as were rather ready to interpret then execute the Captaines command They wind battaile but scarce ten ounces of blood was lost on both sides before the Duke of Ireland set spurres to his horse and forsooke the field his souldiers thereupon more out of indignation then feare refused their rankes yeelded to the Earle the honour of the field Sir Thomas Mullineux flying was ouertaken and slaine by Sir Thomas Mortimer the rest submitted themselves to the discretion of the conquerours making them the Lords of their lives and death yeelding was no sooner offered then excepted by the Earle who commanded that none should be reproched or ill intreated but the obstinate which was obeyed the souldiers willing to shew favour to their countrey-men who were led into this action partly upon simplicitie partly for company sake The Gentlemen and those of the better sort were retayned by the Earle the rest unarmed were licenced at their pleasure to depart The Duke in his flight was enforced to take a river and in the midst of the streame forsooke his horse and swam to the other side and by the benefit of the night escaped first into Scotland then into Flaunders and lastly into France from whence hee never returned his horse with his helmet and gauntlets with other abiliments of his were found whereupon it was generally conceived that hee was drowned and as in great uncertainties it often hapneth some affirmed they saw him dye with the manner thereof which other men either glad to heare or not too curious to search did easily beleeve His Trunke also was taken with certaine letters of the Kings therein the contents whereof were for his present repaire to London with all power and speed hee could make and the King would bee there ready to dye in his defence so unskilfull was the Kings government that to pleasure a few hee did not respect to give discontent to many The Earle of Suffolke hereupon disguised fled to Callice from whence hee never returned hee was a cruell spoiler and a carelesse spender in warre contemptible in peace insupportable an enemy to all counsell of others and in his owne conceit wondrously wise obstinately contentious of a quicke wit and ready speech both which hee abused to the cunning commending of himselfe and crafty depraving of others he was lesse loved but more heard of the King then the Duke the more hurtfull man and the more hatefull The Duke being indeed guilty of no great fault but the Kings excessive favour in their course of good and bad fortune both of them alike famous This Duke of Ireland was Robert de Vere the fourth of that name and ninth Earle of Oxford hee married Philip the Daughter of Ingeram de Guisnes by Isabel his wife the Daughter of Edward the third from whom he was divorsed and tooke to his second wife Lantegroine a Bohemian of an unknowne parentage but died without issue This Michael de la Poole Earle of Suffolke married Isabel Daughter of Sir Iohn Wingfield and had issue five sonnes Thomas William Michael Richard and Iohn and three daughters Margaret married to William Lord Ferrers of Groby Elizabeth and Anne The Archbishop of Yorke Iustice Tresilian and others of that faction ran every man like Conyes to their covert yea the King betooke himselfe to the tower of London and there made provision for his winter abode having all his courses now crossed first by rashnesse in taking of armes and afterward by cowardlinesse in maintaining them The Earles of Darby signified this successe to his associates by Letters but without vaunting his speeches also were moderate rather extenuating then extolling his fact but by stopping his fame it increased men esteeming his high thoughts by his humble words and his consent of greater attempts by contempt of this The Lords met and marched together to London whither with forty thousand men they came upon Saint Stephens day and first they shewd themselves in battaile array in the fields within view of the King then encamped in the Suburbs The Maior of London and his brethren came forth and offered the Lords free entertainment within the Citie but not accepted They give liberall allowance of victuall and necessaries to the souldiers This discord seemed to draw to a dangerous distraction of the Common-wealth the vanquished part being full of malice and the Conquerours of presumption the one wanting power the other right to command and rule The Archbishop of Canterbury and certaine others of the neutralitie fearing the sequell perswaded the King to come to a treaty with the Lords but hee made shew but of a slight regard he made of these dealings let them saith hee stay untill their numerous power have wearied them and eate out their provision and then we will finde a time to talke with them at my leasure But the Lords suspecting the devise stopt all passages and beset the Thames generally protesting not to depart without conference with the King face to face The King having neither strength to resist nor roome to scape consented to a treatie And to
hee left the doing thereof to his Executours But so please those that shall seeme to move that question to observe the time of the date of his Testament and the date of the Codicill to the same annexed by which it is appointed by him that whatsoever hee in his life-time shall undertake that therewith his Executours shall not be chargeable though by the Will hee hath given them order to doe it so that notwithstanding by his Will hee appointed his Executors to repaire the Church and erect his Tombe yet hee lived to doe both himselfe And now after all these so memorable actions saith Bishop Godwine in his lives of Bishops fol. 187. hee having runne the course of a long happy and most honourable life hee ended the dayes of his Pilgrimage in peace in the yeare 1404. aged above 80. yeares when hee had sate Bishop of Winchester 37. yeares I have heard it reported that this pious Bishop did bestow upon the King many rich jewells of inestimable price And to every Officer of houshold attending upon the King to every one of them one Iewell or other And that hee likewise distributed to every Parish Church within his Diocesse of Salisbury amounting in the whole to the number of sixe hundred fiftie and foure Churches a decent Sattin Cope imbrodered with a Challice and pix of silver whereon was engraven Ex dono VVilli de VVickham but upon what ground to build the truth of this relation certainly I know not more then this That in Salisbury I saw in the house of Thomas Grafton one of the Aldermen thereof an old Challice whereon was graven Ex dono Guil de Wickham And it appeares in Howes Prosequution of Stowes abstract to 561. That Bishop VVickham gave many things to the King to his Courtiers to every Church in his Diocesse to his owne servants and to his Colledges And therefore doubts not but that hee that thus lived now liveth with God whom hee beseecheth to raise up many more such good Benefactors in this Kingdome to whose good wish with all my heart I say So be it Amen The French afresh cast anchor before the Isle of VVight and sent Messengers on shore to demand the delivery of the Isle to their possession but upon the stout answer of the Ilanders and notice of their preparation and resolution to fight the French wayde anchor and departed presently upon this Monseur Lewis the proud Duke of Orleance Brother to the French King in a vaiâ—… glorious stile sent a Challenge to King Henry requiring him with an hundred men of name and Cotearmour armed at all points with Speares Axes Swords and Ponyard to fight the Combat to yeelding every Victor to have his Prisoner and his ransome at pleasure offering to come to Angulesmâ—… if the King would come to Bourdeux to defend the Challenge The King with great moderation made him this discreet answer That his former actions in martiall exploits hee presumed had sufficiently acquited him from any the least touch of cowardise And withall that Kings sacred and annoynted as hee was ought not to bee so carelesse of the people committed to their charge for any cause to fight except for furtherance or maintenance of true Religion or for preservation of their rights or defence of their Kingdomes from depradations or to revenge injuryes obtruded or other such like important causes neither was hee by the law of Honour or Armes bound to answer in Camp-fight except upon good ground with his equall in dignitie and office But added withall that hee would be at all times prepared to repulse or represse any that unadvisedly or otherwise should attempt to offer him or his either violence or disgrace To this the Duke replies and the King rejoynes but not without some unfitting taunts and jeeres which so nettled the over-passionate Duke that with all expedition hee falls upon Vergye a Towne in Guian which for the space of three moneths notwithstanding many desperate assaults was bravely defended by Sir Robert Antfield and three hundred Englishmen insomuch that the Duke after the losse of many men despayring to carry it without honour or spoyle returned into France Presently upon that the Admirall of Britaine who the yeare before had taken from the English certaine shippes laden with wine accompanied with the Lord du Castile and some thirtie sayle of shippes attempted to land at Dartmouth but were repelled in which service the Lord Castell and two of his brethren and foure hundred of his men were slaine and two hundred taken prisoners amongst whom the Lord Baquevile Marshall of Britaine was one Five hundred men of armes five hundred Crosse-bowes and one thousand Flemmings on foot under the conduct of the Earle of Saint Paul layd siege to the Castle of Marcke three leagues from Callice Sir Philip Hall the Captaine thereof with fourescore Archers and foure and twenty other souldiers valiantly defended the same and put the first assault the next day the French entred the base court where they tooke some kyne horses and other cattell But they having notice that Sir Richard Aston Lieutenanr of the English pale under the Earle of Somerset with two hundred men of armes three hundred footmen and ten Waggons of amunition approached kept close in their trenches from whence being beaten upon by the Bowmen on both sides they were forced and fled The Earle of Saint Paul escaped to Saint Omers but left threescore most men of qualitie dead behind and fourescore Prisoners besides his Camp to be rifled by the souldiers with the spoyle whereof they retreated to Callice And within five dayes after their returne thither they issued forth in hope to have surprised Arde but by the valour of Sir Manfrid de Boyes the Captaine they retired with the losse of forty of their fellowes whose carkasses they burned in an old house that the French should not certainly know their losse The Lord Thomas of Lancaster the Kings third Sonne and the Earle of Kent the two and twentieth day of May with competent forces entred the Haven of Sluice burnt foure great Shippes ryding at anchor and in expectation to have met the Duke of Burgoigne they landed but without resistance having spoyled the Country round about they returned to the reliefe of Callice which by the French was besieged in the way they were encountred by three Carricks of Genoa one of which with winde tide and full sayle bare so hard upon the Shippe wherein the Lord Lancaster was that hadnot his Pilat beene the perfecter hee had beene in danger to have beene overborne for his vessell was much bruised the fight was doubtfull untill the Earle of Kent bare with them and then they tooke the three Carricks richly laden and brought them to the Chambet at Rye where one of them by misfortune was fired and to the gaine of neither side perished The coles of the Northerne rebellion was not so cleane extinguished but that by removing of the ashes under
hogsheads and Pipes fastened to firre powles and Barges and such like conveyances with which hee past over his men at pleasure in the meane time hee caused divers souldiers that could swim to make show of passing the River three mile of another way to which place the French-men drew all their forces but were deluded whereupon presently the Fort at the bridge-foot was surrendred and the souldiers taken to the Kings grace From thence the Duke of Exceter with certaine horse was sent to view the places about Roane and with him Windsor the Herrald which sommoned the Citizens to surrender the Towne and to submit themselves to the Kings mercy but they proudly returned answer they received none from England nor none they would give the English and instantly made a sally forth but were beaten in with the losse of thirtie of their men The Towne of Loviers the King gave to his brother Clarence who made his Deputie there Sir Iohn Goddard after the returne of the Duke of Exceter the Roanions fired the Suburbes demolished all Churches Chantryes and Hostells leaving nothing without the Citie which upon the last of Iuly the King straightly besieged The Kings quarter was the Charteux the Duke of Clarence at Saint Gervays the Duke of Exceter at Port Saint Dennis Betweene the Duke of Exceter and the Duke of Clarence lay Earle Marshall to whom were joyned the Earle of Ormond the Lords Harington and Talbot from the Duke of Exceter towards the King were encamped the Lords Rosse Willoughby Fitz-Hugh and Sir William Porter with the Northerne Prickers the Earle of Salisbury and Mortaignes quarter lay at the Abbay of Saint Katherine Sir Iohn Gray was lodged against the Chappell of Mount Saint Michael Sir Philip Leech Treasurer of the Army kept the hill next the Abby and the Baron Carew held the passage on the river of Seine with whom was Squire Ienito Dortoyes on the further side the river were quartered the Earles of Warraine and Huntington the Lords Nevill and Ferrers Sir Gilbert Vmphrevile with his Company lay before the Port de Ponte A great chaine of iron set upon piles and a new forced bridge for passage from one Campe to the other was made over the River The Earle of Warwicke was sent to Cawdbecke standing betwixt Roane and the Sea The Earle of Warwicke sent Sir Iohn Bromley and George Vmphrevile with an hundred Archers and two hundred Bill-men to a little Castle called the Strowe and in the way were met by eight hundred French Whereupon Sir Iohn Bromley casting his Bow-men in a limasson or loose ring and his Bill-men in two squares which in close order marched towards the enemy who seeing the number to appeare so small gave on in that disorderly manner that their Captaine the Lord of Estrisles was slaine before any of his company could come to the reskewes The Bow-men opening their order delivered such a shole of arrowes even in the middest of their enemies that they stood amazed untill they were awakened with a second The Bow-men as long as the arrowes lasted kept the enemy aloofe but at length they were enforced to make use of their slaine enemies weapons with which they closing to the Bill-men made it appeare that they could make use of more weapons then one and after three houres fight the French fainted and gave the English leave to take the spoyle of two hundred that were slaine and the ransome of two hundred more taken prisoners in this fight was slaine George Vmphrevile and thirtie more all the rest being hurt more or lesse amongst whom Sir Iohn Bromley was hurt in the face and body They were not able to goe forth of the field but continued there all night and in the morning some fresh men being come to them they marched to the Castle and so plyed them with assaults and minings that at length the besieged were glad to suffer the English Navie to passe by to Roane whereof one hundred Sayle passed by and likewise they gave hostages that they would not inter-meddle to ayde or assist Roane any way but to follow her fortune to render if shee did wherewith Sir Iohn Bromley went into the Castle with two Esquires and a Surgeon and the Company backe to the King by this time the Duke of Glocester was come to the Campe and quartered before the Port Saint Hillary neerer the enemy by fourty roades The Earle of Kilmayne with sixteene hundred Irish armed after their fashion came from Harflew where they landed to the King who were by him assigned for quarter the North side of the Armie upon the way that commeth from the Forrest of Lyons This charge the Earle joyfully accepted and as proud of the employment did many brave exployts to the more damage of the enemy then all the troopes of Horse The Kings Cousin-german the King of Portugall likewise sent a Navy of well appointed Shippes to the mouth of the River of Seine to stoppe all passage of succour to Roane There were in Roane two hundred and tenne thousand persons at the beginning of the siege which made them so confident that they sware each to other never to deliver up the Citie as long as they could hold Sword or handle Pike The King acquainted herewith stopped all passages both by land and water casting deepe Trenches and raysing Bulwarckes to hinder all sallyes or receipt of reliefe The French in the meane time made many attempts upon divers pieces in the Kings hands as upon Kilbuife Eureux and Loviers but were repulsed with great losse but more disgrace Before Roane no enterprise is left unpractised no pollicie unattempted how either partie might indamage other But now the many mouthes within the Citie had devoured a great part of their provision and for the better saving of the rest a great number of aged impotent creatures were turned out of the Gates whom the English would not suffer to passe the Trenches betwixt which and the walls the miserable people starved and dyed without helpe of friend or foe Vpon Christmasse day in honour of the birth of our Saviour the King relieved and suffered to passe as many as were at first put out but suffered others that were thrust out a second time to famish except relieved by the Towne The unwonted noyse of Bells ringing gave the King occasion to expect an enemie at his backe for prevention therefore of that danger hee gave order to Sir Robert Bapthorpe Controller of the Army to provide a deepe Trench well staked and with bastils to round the Campe and to make defences both behinde and before to withstand all sudden approaches The Famine began now to rage pittifully within the Citie and the Dolphins promise to relieve them now past hope of performance a Parlie is desired and obtained but fruitlesse at the first the demaunds of the besieged being more then stood with the Kings honour or pleasure to give consent unto but upon the Commissioners returne into
friendship is sworn and confirmed betwixt them by the marriage of the Duke of Burgoines Neece Mary of Cleurs to the Duke of Orleance which justifies the Proverbe The best meanes to vanquish an enemie is to doe him all the good you can The Regent divided his Forces into three parts hee sent the Lord Willoughby into Amyens the Lord Talbot to Deep and himselfe with the Duke of Somerset went into the Dutchie of Anion The Lord Willoughby made such speed that hee tooke many prisoners before they could get to any place of defence but presently the garrisons drawne together and make opposition but they are defeated and six hundred men of armes slaine such as escaped fell into the hands of the Earle of Saint Paul who was comming to the aide of the Lord Willoughby The Regent returneth with a great prey to Normandy whither Willoughby likewise commeth But the Duke of Somerset re-entreth the Marches of Britaine and tooke la Gearch by assault from thence hee marches to Ponsay The Marshall Loach intended to have surprized the Duke of Somerset in his Tents but the Duke to prevent that hazard meets him halfe way and chargeth so suddenly and soundly that the Marshall is rowted and threescore and two of his men are taken Prisoners then hee marched and tooke the Towne of Beamond and having manned all fitting places upon the Frontiers laden with rich spoyle he returneth The Lord Willoughby had entrenched himselfe round Deipe and built a Bastile upon Mount Pawlet which did much annoy the besieged But wanting amunition and supplies of men hee left his naturall Sonne to prosecute the siege himselfe posting to Roan The Dolphin with sixteene thousand men commeth to raise the siege and three dayes together plye the Bastile with assaults but could not carry it untill shot and powder fayling they were overpressed with multitude and young Talbot is taken prisoner with Sir Iohn Peyto and Sir Iohn Repley all which were shortly redeemed by exchange The rest of the souldiers seeing the Bastile wonne stood in armes all day but the enemy not over-willing to doe too much and they as willing to give way not being able to cope in the darke of night they retired to Roan The Earle of Saint Paul forsakes the English and is reconciled to France The English besieged Tartus for the raysing whereof the French King marcheth downe threescore thousand strong and relieveth the Towne and from thence marcheth to Saueryne which hee taketh in and therein Sir Iohn Rampston prisoner Then tooke hee in Arques the Captaine with all the souldiers by composition withdrawe to Burdeux The English cut off all convoyes of victuals from comming to the King for want whereof the King is driven to returne after whose departure the English reduce all that the King of France had taken and take his Lieutenant prisoner slaying or hanging all his souldiers The Lord Talbot this while taketh in Conquet and driveth the Bastard of Orleance from the siege of Galiordon The French in the Castle of Cornill detained many English prisoners Sir Francis the Aragonist apparelleth halfe a dozen lusty fellowes like Pesants carrying baskets with corne and victuals and sends them to the Castle hee with his company lye in ambush in a valley neere the Castle the six unsuspected are admitted and comming to the Captaines chamber seize upon him and give the signall to the ambush who came readily on entred the Castle put the souldiers to the sword and set the prisoners at liberty burnt downe the Castle and with the Captaine and the booty of the Castle returned to Roan Whilst thus the ball of warre was by the English honourably tost from one end to the other in the tennis court of France The divell and his ministers sowe the seeds of unnaturall sedition betweene the two brothers in England the one seeking by a legall course the reformation the other the ruine of a brother The Protector articles against the Cardinall for too ambitiously affecting preheminence to the derogation of the Kings prerogative and contempt of his lawes these Articles are delivered to the King and by the King to bee maturely examined by them to his Councell who being most of the Clergie and not daring to give occasion of offence to the Cardinall leave them unmedled withall whilst the Lady Elianor Cobham the Dukes Wife by the Cardinalls plot is accused of treason by sorcery and Witchcraft to have intended the overthrow of the King and advancement of her husband to the Crowne for this howsoever shee was acquitted of the treason shee is adjudged open Penance and perpetuall imprisonment in the Isle of Man Thomas Southwell Iohn Hun Priests Roger Bullingbrooke a supposed Necromancer and Margery Iourden stiled the Witch of Eley are arraigned for devising of a picture of Waxe to be made in proportion of the King which by their Sorcery they should make to consume and so accordingly should the Kings body for this they are condemned the Witch was burnt in Smithfield Bullingbrooke was hanged constantly affirming upon his death that there never was any such thing devised or thought of by them neither at any time was more desired of from him by the Dutchesse or any other from her but if hee could by his Art find out how long the King should live Iohn Hun had his pardon and Southwell died the night before hee should have beene executed The Duke of Glocester silently sees what speech could not amend undergoes all these affronts with patience attending equall distribution of Iustice as it had past on his forgetfull Wife so it might passe on his unnaturall brother the Archbishop But the Cardinall by his orall sanctitie and mentall impurity had so bewitched the King and those of the Church of his Councell that the good Duke hoped in vaine The Duke of Yorke hath a Sonne borne at Roane in Normandy and Christened there by the name of Edward The Countesse of Camings being dead the King of France and the Earle of Arminacke are Competitors for the inheritance The Earle takes ' possession but doubting and not without cause That the King of France would not be pleased to take a Rowland for an Oliver makes offer to the King of England of his Daughter in marriage and besides a large portion in money with her to deliver over full possession of all such Townes and Castles as were by him or his Ancestors detained in Aquitaine and had beene formerly by the Progenitors of the King of England conquered or by the King of France to any of them given And further to furnish the King with money sufficient to recover all or whatsoever was with-held from him there by any person whatsoever The Embassadors for this businesse were by the King of England graciously heard and honourably returned after whom were sent Sir Edward Hall Sir Robert Rose and others to conclude all things and by proxcie the young Lady is affiranced to King Henry The King of
five thousand men William Harbert Earle of Penbrooke Sir Richard Herbert and eight Knights more are taken and beheaded at Banbury The Earle Rivers and Sir John his Sonne are beheaded at Northamton The Earle of Worcester John Tiptoft at London The Lord Willoughby at Doncaster The Lord Stafford at Bridgewater The Lord Wells and Sir Robert Dymocke were beheaded in the march but uncertaine where Neere Stamfort in Lincolnshire was a Batraile fought the first of October wherein were slaine ten thousand men but no men of note but Sir Robert Wells and Sir Thomas de land those that were put to flight for their more ease to escape cast away their coates whereupon it was called Losecoate field Vpon the fourteenth day of Aprill being Easter day upon a Plaine talled Gladmore Heath betweene Barnet and Saint Albones The Earles of Warwicke Oxford and the Marquesse Mountacute Commanders in chiefe on behalfe of Henry the sixt against Edward the fourth there was a terrible battell fought wherein were slaine ten thousand three hundred men amongst whom were the Earle of Warwicke the Marquesse Mountacute the Lord Cromwell the Lord Say the Lord Mountjoy Sir Henry Bourchier Sir William Terrill Vpon the fourth of May being Saterday Prince Edward with his Mother Queene Margaret to redeeme Henry the sixt gave battaile to King Edward wherein Queene Margaret was taken Prisoner and Prince Edward was slaine in cold blood There were slaine at this incounter John Somerset Marquesse Dorset Thomas Courtney Earle of Devon Thomas Lord Wenlake Sir Joâ—… Delves Sir Edward Hampden Sir Robert Whittingham Sir John Lewkner and three thousand others Edmond Duke of Somerset John Lonstrother Lord Prior of Saint Johns Sir Thomas Tresham Sir Jervoys Clifton Sir Richard Vaux Sir William Harvye Sir Thomas Fielding Sir Robert Lewknor Sir Thomas Lirmoth Sir William Vrman Sir John Seymor Sir Thomas Roose Sir Thomas Fitzhony Sir Robet Flamden were taken and executed in Tewkesbury the one day and Sir Humphry Audley Sir William Crymby Sir William Cary. Sir William Newbourgh were likewise with Henry Tresham VValter Courtney Iohn Flory Lewis Miles Robert Iackson Jame's Gower Iames Delves heire of Sir Iohn Delves beheaded there the next day This was the last battell that was fought in the dayes of King Edward the fourth but not all the bloodshed about this quarrell For at London by the treason of Bastard Fauconbridge there were seven hundred and eighty of his partakers and three hundred and twelve Citizens Londoners slaine Vpon Redmore Downe neere Bosworth in Leicestershire on the twentie two of August was the twelfth set Battaile in this unkind quarrell fought wherein King Richard the Vsurper was slaine and with him on his part John Duke of Norfolke Walter Lord Ferrers Sir Richard Radcliffe and Sir Robert Brackenbury with foure thousand and eight And on Richmonds side Sir William Brandon and 180. with him After this Battell there was a conjunction of the so long severed Rose branches Neverthelesse the enemy to Englands quiet would not suffer the gate of concord to stand quite open but raised up Impostors and counterfeits to interrupt the same But since the cause of the dissention by the Vnion of the Red and White in Henry the seventh and the Lady Elizabeth their so happy enter-marriage was taken away what occasion of expence of blood did after fall out within the Realme ought under favour bee it delivered rather to bee imputed to the effect of treasonable machinations then to any just occasion of the Roses Title And therefore I purposely omit to intermix the number of those that were slaine since Bosworth field amongst those that are to bee reckoned up in the generall slaughter in the twelve Battells and the occasions of expence of blood intervening by skirmishes and accidentall meanes and content my selfe with the only recapitulation of the severall numbers of Kings Princes Dukes Marquesses Earles Barons Vicounts Bishops Mitred Prelates Knights Esquires Gentlemen and private souldiers That during the rage of these civill warres which followed that breach of the due course of succession attempted by the intrusion of Henry the fourth fell under the alternate fortunes of the Victors sword untill that ever to bee blessed reuniting the two houses of Lancaster and Yorke whereby righteousnesse and Peace did kisse each other and Mercy and Truth which I pray God ever to continue established the Crowne of England in an hopefull and happy descending Line And as Henry the seventh conjoyned the Roses so hath King James of ever-blessed memory united the predivided kingdomes of England and Scotland espousing their Vnion to our Soveraine Lord King Charles to Gods glory the Churches good and his Subjects great comfort HENRY the Roses IAMES the Kingdomes knit And CHARLES of both partakes the benefit Oh! thou of Iesse flower of Iudah Lyon In his dominion plant the peace of Syon And never let hearts quiet follow those That shall the holding of this Knot oppose But let thy best of blessings wait on them That zealously shall guard his Diadem The totall of private souldiers that perished in the time of these civill warres and suffered the punishment of immature death for taking part on the one side or the other is Fourscore foure thousand nine hundred and ninetie eight persons besides Kings two Prince one Dukes tenne Marquesses two Earles one and twentie Lords twentie seven Vicounts two Lord Pryor one Iudge one Knights one hundred thirty nine Esquires foure hundred forty one The number of the Gentrie is every way so uncertainly reported that if I should endevour to set downe a generall of what is particularly related I should but give occasion of further question then I am willing should bee moved for a thing of so little moment and therefore willingly omit it And the rather for that they are for the most part included in the number of the private souldiers as aforesaid set downe to bee slaine to which but adde the number of six hundred thirty and eight the totall of all the persons of eminencie not therein accounted and then there appeareth in all to have beene slaine Fourescore five thousand six hundred twenty and eight Christians and most of them of this Nation not to bee repeated without griefe nor remembred without deprecation that the like may never happen more Pax una triumphis innumeris potior FINIS An. 1377. R. 1. Ann. 1378 R. 3. Anno. Dom. 1376. R. 2. An. 1380. R. 2. Anno 1381. R. 3. The Earle of Warwicke made sole Tutour to the King Scroop Lord Chancellor removed Ann. 1381 R. 3. Ann. D. 1382 R. 4. An. 1382. R. 4. In 〈◊〉 celebratione deprâ—…ersum Digito â—…abijs admoto c. Ann. 1382 R. 5. The Maior slayeth Wat Tyler Perditus pernitiosus praesbyter The Lord chiefe Iustice slaine by rebells The Bishop of Norwich suppresseth the rebells in Norfolke Cambridge spoyled by the rebells Ann D. 1382 R. 5. Anno. Dom. 1384. R. 6. An.
A CONTINVATION OF THE COLLECTION OF THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND BEGINNING WHERE SAMVEL DANIELL Esquire ended WITH THE RAIGNE OF EDVVARD the third and ending where the honourable Vicount Saint ALBONES began With the life of Henry the seventh being a compleat History of the beginning and end of the dissention betwixt the two houses of Yorke and Lancaster With the Matches and issue of all the Kings Princes Dukes Marquesses Earles and Vicounts of this Nation deceased during those times By I. T. Sequitur non passibus aequis Ascanius Virgil. LONDON Printed by M. D. for Ephraim Dawson and are to bee sold in Fleet-street at the signe of the Rainebowe neere the inner Temple-gate 1636. TO THE HONORABLE REVEREND AND RIGHT Worshipfull Sir IOHN BRAMSTON Knight Lord chiefe Iustice of his Maiesties Bench Sir WILLIAM IONES Sir GEORGE CROOKE Sir ROBERT BARCKLEY Knights the Learned Iudges of that Court. LIcence mee I humbly beseech your Reverend fatherhoods with the contrite penitent Ingeniously to acknowledge my Errour which is over-much presumption in undertaking more in publishing but most in thus presenting this my Collection But withall to appeale from the barre of Rigor to the borde of favour and thereat to obtaine this extenuation of censure That being it was begun with a good intent prosecuted to a seeming good end and is now in all befitting humblenesse presented to procure protection that I may passe without publicke reprehension And sithence words and writing are not reall according as they are spoke or writ but as they are appoved by others Let your noble dispositions but make a favourable exposition of what is done And then I am confident I shall untoucht passe the pikes of scorne and reproofe In earnest expectation whereof humble and hearty prayers to God the giver of all good gifts for our long lives in health and hearts ease here and sempiternall happinesse hereafter shall not want daily to bee powred out by him that hourely rests Your Lordships reallest in all service and duty IOHN TRVSSELL To the Courteous Reader MY naturall propension to the reading of History was the occasion that I left no Chronicle of this land that purse or prayer could purchase or procure unperused whereby I found that verified that Prince Henry now with God complained of which was that of all Nations the English were most blame-worthy That being inferiour to none for praise-worthy atchievements yet were surpassed by all and leaving the memory of those their praise worthy actions to posteritie This I tooke to heart but every way unable to remedy it I rested silent untill of late it came into my mind That that part of the History of great Britaine which was most intricate and troublesome which was the beginning of that Story was happily begun and as ingeniously followed by that every way well deserving Gentleman Samuel Daniel And therby all those rubbes and blancks which the deluge of time had raised and left on the plat-forme were made smooth or taken away and that Vicount Saint Albones had so sufficiently perfected that of all other the most doubtfull if not dangerous peece of Pater times to bee undertaken the happy Conjunction of the so long severed Houses of Yorke and Lancaster and that many others reverend and judicious men had by way of Annuals pursued the History unto the blessed Vniting of the two neighbour but long before divided Kingdomes of England and Scotland so that now there wanted nothing to make the History compleat for so much as was requisite untill that time but only the passages from Richard the second to the period of Richard the third a great part whereof was-likewise accurately done by Sir Iohn Heywood and Sir Thomas More so that now with little labour that gap might easily be filled up and the History made Whereupon I have adventured to adde my peece of ordinary valure to those rich remnants of three pild Velvet by enterviewing the times of Richard the second Henry the fourth Henry the fift Henry the sixt Edward the fourth Edward the fift and the Vsurper Richard the third Wherein though I prove but a botcher yet as the old saying is better a course clout then a hole out And to cleere my selfe though not à toto yet à tanto from that aspersion that happily might bee cast upon my endevours that howsoever not ignorant of my owne manifold imperfections yet like blind bayard I should over-boldly venture to tread in that Maze which ought not to have beene undertaken but by a more able body and a more active braine and thereby have forgetfully brought my selfe within the number of those over-forward Writers which Doctor Heywood in his Epistle Dedicatorie to his first three Norman Kings affirmeth hath sullied the beautie of the English History Give mee leave gentle Reader I beseech thee as before I have yeelded the reason that incited mee to the undertaking of this worke so to give thee an account of my proceeding therein First I have forborne to assume unto my selfe the libertie of an Historian to obtrude upon thee any thing of my owne invention quia malui aliena imprudenter dicere quà m propria impudenter ingerere And for that History is or ought to bee a perfect register of things formerly done truely ot at least warrantable by probabilitie I have pro posse meo examined though not all yet without touch of Arrogance I may speake it the most and best that have written of those times and culling out the truth as neere as I could gather it like an Eccho Voces quas accepi fidelissimè reddidi Secondly I have pared off these superfluous exuberances which like Wennes upon a beautifull face disgrace the otherwise gracefull comlinesse of the countenance I meane 1. Matters of Ceremony as Coronations Christenings Marriages Funeralls solemne Feasts and such like 2. Matters of Triumph as Tiltings Maskings Barriers Pageants Gallefoists and the like 3. Matters of Noveltie as great inundations sudden rising and falling of prizes of Corne strange Monsters Iustice done on petty offenders and such like executions with which the Cacoethes of the Writers of those times have mingled matters of state And lastly I have inserted the matches and issue of all above the degree of a Baron that have ended their dayes during those times with the number of slaine during the division of the two Roses which how farre it may conduce to the better understanding of the History I leave to thy capacitie and my selfe to thy courtesie and expecting a favourable censure rest thine IOHN TRVSSELL April 24. 1635. Perlegi hoc Opus Hystoricum duobus voluminibus comprehensum cui titulus A Continuation of the Collection of the History of England c. quod quidem in toto continet folia 418. aut circiter in quibus nihil reperio sanae doctrinae aut bonis moribus contrarium quo minùs cum utilitate publica imprimi possit Sub ea tamen conditione ut si non intra triennium typis mandetur
with the match and truce that he lost all patience exclayming that it was more meet to bee in armes then amitie with the French who being inferiour to the English in courage did ever outreach them in craft and being too weake for warre did oftentimes prevaile by peace That the French Kings Daughter being but a childe was an unmeet match for King Richard aswell for the disparitie of age as for that the King had no issue by his first wife and was not like to have any by this except perhaps in his old age But when the Duke saw his arguments would not availe ought hee suborned the Londoners to make petition to the King that seeing there was peace with France hee would release them of the Subsidie which was granted unto him in the last Parliament in respect of those warres to have beene maintained This suite was by them importunately followed and much perplexed the King untill at length the Duke of Lancaster assured them that the procuring of this peace had spent and lost the King three hundred thousand pounds wherewith they were pacified though not well pleased Guido Earle of Saint Paul was sent by King Charles to visit and salute in his name King Richard and his Queene Isabel To this Earle the King did relate with what fervency Gloucester contended to disturbe the peace betwixt England and France and that because this opinion was not therein followed hee moveth the people to seditious attempts bending himselfe wholly to maintaine discord in his owne countrey rather then not at all he further reported what stiffe strife the Duke in former times had stirred which howsoever they were done yet as they were delivered sounded harsh and odious Whereupon the Earle replied that the Duke was too dangerous a subject to bee permitted to live That greatnesse was never safe if once it grew excessive and bold That the King ought not to affect the poore commendation of Clemency with his owne perill and that it touched him both in honour to revenge the disgrace which hee had by him formerly received and in policie to prevent the dangers which hee had some cause to feare This set such an edge on the Kings displeasure that from thenceforth hee busied his braynes about no one thing more then how to bring the Duke to his end Whereupon hee begun to pry more narrowly into his deportment to watch his words to observe his actions and to interpret them to the worst framing unto himselfe many vaine and needlesse feares often would he to the Dukes of Lancaster and Yorke complaine of the Duke of Glocesters aversnesse in actions and crossenesse in speech whose answer thereunto was that their brother indeed was more vehement then they could commend yet his fiercenesse was joyned with faithfulnesse and his crossenesse proceeded from care lest the Common-wealth should decrease either in honour or possessions and therefore the King had neither cause to feare or dislike him The King seemeth to approve of their answers and tobe satisfied that Gloucester was what they reported him And in the meane time Lancaster and Yorke withdrew themselves to their private houses The Duke of Glocester also went to Plashey in Essex Vpon this accidentall separation the King entred into Councell with Iohn Holland Earle of Huntington his brother by the Mothers side and Thomas Mowbray Earle of Nottingham how the Duke of Glocester might bee suppressed the cruelty which was but wavering nay wanting in the King was soone confirmed by evill advise and being once thereby enclinable to blood hee did not faile either of lewd example of vile action to follow or direction of cruell counsell what to doe The plot is contrived and according thereunto the King and the Earle of Nottingham ryde together into Essex as though they went on hunting When they were in the Forrest the Earle with a selected troope made stay in the Forrest whilst the King with a small and unsuspected trayne came to Plashey and there by the Duke of Gloucester was lovingly entertained and freely feasted pretending action of present returne the King desires the Duke to accompany him to London The Duke supposing that only to bee intended indeed which was in words and show pretended went to horsebacke with the King with a very small company appointing the rest to follow him to London They pleasantly rode together in familiar conference untill they came neere the Earles ambuscadoe and then the King suddenly put spurres to his horse the Duke following easily was suddenly intercepted and stayed and with violence hurryed to the Thames side and there blindfolded unvoluntarily shipped and conveyed to Callice The next day the King did invite the Earle of Warwicke to dinner and gave him gratious countenance but in his returne he was arrested and sent to prison and so a double breach of hospitalitie is committed when feasted by the Duke of Gloucester the host is committed and feasting the Earle of Warwicke the guest is imprisoned In the like manner was the Earle of Arundel and his sonne entrapped and imprisoned In the Isle of Wight the Common-people having notice of the apprehension of these three Noble men whom they only affected were in a great confusion and there then wanted but a head to draw them to commotion every man murmured and daring no further stood wayting for one to lead them the way every one being ready to follow that which any one was loath to begin The Dukes of Lancaster and Yorke upon information of these strong proceedings gathered a strong Army and came there with to London where they were readily received by the Citizens contrary to the Kings expresse command But this seemed to bee a guard to themselves rather then a regard to other The King lay within foure miles of London with a great power of armed men drawne out of Cheshire and VVales and to pacifie the people caused to be proclaimed That the foresaid Lords were not questioned upon any old displeasures but for offences lately committed and for which they should be orderly appealed by the course of Law and receive open and legall tryall in the next parliament presently to begin The like message was sent to London to the Dukes to whom the King made faith for the safety of their persons and indemnitie of their goods and that nothing should be done without their privitie and advise all this was as rashly beleeved as readily given out Whereupon the Dukes dissembled their feares and dissolved their forces in expectancy of what would ensue The Parliament began at London wherein Sir Iohn Bushy Sir VVilliom Bagot and Sir Henry Greene were principall agents for the Kings purpose These were the Kings chiefe Schoolemasters both of cruelty and deceit they were proud ignorant and ambitious and presuming on the Kings favour professed themselves enemies to the antient Nobilitie to the end that being but Mushrumpes lately start up they might become famous by maintaining contention with greater persons At first by
by the King as friendly taken as they were freely and friendly intended many mischiefes had beene avoided but both failed For though the Duke of Norfolke had formerly sided with the Lords yet afterwards affecting rather to bee lifted amongst great then good men hee made sale of his honour with his honestie to nurse his pleasure and hold grace with the King wherein he was so seated that the murthering of the Duke of Glocester and the execution of the Earle of Arundel was committed principally to his care and charge and now the more to wind himselfe into the Princes favour he exaggerated the late relation and intermixed with some truth many lies making the truth seeme worse then it was whereby the King not enduring the searching of his sores by any private observer endevoured rather to punish the boldnesse then examine the truth of these reports his eares being so duld with continuation of flatteries that he accounted all too sharp that was but savourie approving only that which was presently pleasant though afterwards it proved most poisonous This observation from hence may arise that no strange accident doth at any time happen but it is some way either foreshowne or foretold But because these warnings are oftentimes either not marked or misconstrued or contemned the events are accounted inevitable and the premonition vaine The King being touched with one Duke and tickled by another was not at first resolved what to doe At length hee convokes the Dukes before his Councell demands of Norfolke if hee would publickly avouch what hee had secretly suggested Norfolk thinking it at that time no point of wisdome to shrinke from or shuffle in his tale repeated with a confident brow all whatsoever he had formerly related But the Duke of Hereford who could not be dasht out of countenance when he was in a good cause After a short pawse as seeming rather amazed at the strangenesse of the matter then abashed at the guilt humbly thanked the King that hee had not given over-hasty credit to matters of such tender touch desiring him to continue yet awhile the respight of his displeasure and to reserve his judgement from prejudicating Then he orderly repeates the truth of the passages in the primer conference the occasion and the end thereof and what was related more then what hee now repeated he resolutely denyes affirming it falsly surmised by his adversary either upon malice to picke a quarrell or sycophancy to picke a thanke for which hee pronounced him a false unworthy forger of scandalous and seditiouslyes thereby trecherously machinating to seduce the King to destroy his Nobilitie and to raise some disturbance in the Kingdome which by his Soveraignes permission hee offered to justifie against him by order of the field Norfolkes stomacke not inured to undergoe scornes could not disgest these termes of disgrace but stiffly stood in defence of his relation and for the maintaining thereof accepted and craved the combat The King made shew as though hee would have otherwayes quieted the contention but when the Dukes persevered resolutely to demand the tryall by Duell and that thereupon they had flung downe their gages The King gives way thereunto assignes the place at Coventry the time the moneth of August following against which time preparation was made accordingly At the day prefixed the parties appeared well associated with friends and allyes The Duke of Anmerle was appointed for that time high Constable the Duke of Surry high Marshall who came to the lists honourably attended in sutable liveryes each of their servants carrying tipstaves for cleering the field and ordering thereof About the time of prime the Duke of Hereford mounted upon a white Courser his Caparison of blew and greene Velvet embrodered thicke with Swannes and Antelops armed at all points with his sword drawne approcheth the lists To whom the Constable and Marshall addressed themselves making demand who hee was Hee answered I am Henry Duke of Hereford and am come to doe my devoyre against Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolke as a traytor to God the King the Realme and mee And then taking his oath upon the Evangelists that his quarrell was right and just hee desired libertie to enter which graunted he put up his Sword pulld downe his Bever signed himselfe on the forehead with the Crosse taketh his Speare and passing the Barriers dismounted and sate downe in a chayre of greene Velvet placed in a Travers of greene and blew Velvet at one end of the lists King Richard enters the field with great pompe accompanied with the Earle of Saint Paul who came purposely out of France to see the Combat The King was attended with all his Nobles and a guard of ten thousand men in armes to prevent all sudden and sinister tumults His Majestie being seated a king at Armes makes proclamation in King Richards name that no man except such as were appointed to marshall the field should touch any part of the lists upon paine of death which ended another Herold cryeth Behold here Henry of Lancaster Duke of Hereford Appellant who is entred into the Lists royall to doe his devoyre against Thomas Mowbray Duke of Norfolke upon paine to bee accounted false and recreant When the Duke of Norfolke mounted the Caparisons of his horse of crimson Velvet embrodered with Lyons of silver and Mulberry trees proper taking his oath before the Constable and the Marshall that this quarrell was just and true entred the field crying alowd God ayde the right and then lighted from his horse placing himselfe in a chayre of crimson Velvet opposite at the other end of the Lists The Marshall viewed their Speares and carryed the one himselfe to the Duke of Hereford and sent the other by Sir Albericke Tressell to the Duke of Norfolke This done Proclamation was made to addresse themselves to the encounter The Dukes speedily mounted and closed their Bevers casting their Speares into their rests when the Trumpets sounded and the Duke of Hereford put his horse forward But before Norfolke stirred the King cast downe his Warder and the Combatants had their Speares taken from them and returned to their Chaires where they remained by the space of two houres whilst the King was in Councell Atlast Sir Iohn Bonray after silence proclaymed read their doome which was that in asmuch as the Dukes Appellant and defendant had honourably appeared in the royall Lists and were not only ready but forward to derayne the Combat For that this was a businesse of great Consequence for the avoyding the effusion of Christian blood the King by the advice of his Councell had decreed that Henry Duke of Hereford should within fifteene dayes depart the Realme and within the space of ten yeares not to returne upon paine of death without the Kings speciall leave first obtained Then upon a second Proclamation the Secretary pronounced the decree of Banishment against the Duke of Norfolke for that hee had used seditious words whereof he could produce no proofe and that the
more strong in King Stephen then they are now in the Duke of Lancaster for King Henry the first being at libertie neither restrained nor constrained the people assented to this designement and thereupon without feare or force he was annointed and crowned King Yet Henry Fitzempresse having a neerer right to the Crowne by his Mother notwithstanding his Father was a stranger and hee borne beyond the Seas never ceased the prosecution of bloody warres to the great effusion of blood and spoyling the Countrey untill his lawfull inheritance was assured him It terrifieth mee but to thinke how many flourishing kingdomes have beene by such contentions either rent by intestine division or subdued to forraine Princes under pretence of assistance and aide This Kingdome hath had too wofull experience of these severall mischieves and yet neither examples of other Countries or miseries of our owne are sufficient to make us bee wary Certainly I feare it will betide us as it did to Esops Frogges who being desirous to have a King had a beame given them the first fall whereof affrighted them but when they saw it lie still they contemptuously insulted thereon and desired a King of more active spirit Then a Storcke was sent them which stalking amongst them daily devoured them King Richards mildnesse hath bred in us this scorne interpreting it to bee cowardise and dulnesse of nature I dare not say yet give mee leave to suspect with greater courage wee may finde greater crueltie And thus have I declared my opinion with more words you may perhaps conjecture then wisdome yet fewer then the waight of the cause doth require and I doe resolutely conclude that wee have neither power nor pollicie either to Depose King Richard or in his place to Elect Duke Henry That King Richard remaineth still our Soveraigne Lord and therefore it is not lawfull for us to give judgement against him That the Duke whom you are pleased to stile King hath more transgressed the King and Realme then Richard hath done either against him or us For hee being banished the Realme for tenne yeares by the King and Councell amongst whom his owne Father was chiefe and given oath not to returne without speciall licence Hee hath not only broken his oath but disturbed the peace of the Land dispossessed the King of his Royall estate and now demandeth judgement against his person without offence proved or defence heard if this perjurie and this injury move not yet let both our private and publike dangers somewhat withdrawe us from these violent proceedings This speech was diversly taken as mens affections were diversly hurried betwixt hope feare and shame but the most part did seeme to stand for Duke Henry Whereupon the Bishop was attached by the Earle Marshall and committed to the keeping of the Abbot of Westminster but presently after to Prison in the Abby of Saint Albones His Counsell and conjecture then contemned was after approved of when too late both in the Kings time during whose raigne no yeare passed without slaughter and executions but more in the time succeeding when within the space of thirty sixe yeares twelve set battells upon this quarrell were fought within the Realme by natives only and above fourescore Princes of the blood Royall fell by each others sword It was concluded notwithstanding what the Bishop had spoken that King Richard should bee kept in a large Prison with all manner of Princely maintenance And if any should attempt to rere warre for his deliverance that hee should bee the first man should suffer for that attempt The Acts of Parliament of the eleventh yeare of King Richard were revived and those of the one and twentieth wholly repealed and all in that Parliament attainted were restored to their Titles and inheritances without suing livery And also to such goods whereof the King had not beene answered except the rents and issues of their lands Hereupon Richard Earle of Warwicke is delivered out of prison and the Earle of Arundels sonne restored to his inheritance others also that stood banished or were in prison recovered their libertie and estate it was enacted that none that came with Henry against Richard should bee impeached or troubled To the Earle of Westmerland the King gave the Countie of Richmond to the Earle of Northumberland the Isle of Man to hold of him by the service of bearing the Sword wherewith hee entred into this Kingdome before him Divers others his followers hee advanced to places of highest note some for desert but most to win their favour and perhaps projecting a plot for partakers if times should change For in many actions men take more care to prevent revenge then to lead an innocent life It is likewise ordered that the plotters and procurers of the Duke of Glocesters murther should bee strictly enquired after and severely punished And judgement was given against the Appellants of the Earles of Warwick and Arundel and that the Dukes of Aumerles Sussex and Exceter the Marquesse Dorset and the Earle of Glocester who were there present should lose their Titles of Honour and forfeit their estate in all the lands they had which was formerly belonging to the Appellees and that all their Letters patents concerning the same should bee surrendred into the Chancery to bee cancelled and for their owne inheritance to bee at the mercy of the King That they should give no Liveries to retainers nor keepe more then should bee necessary That if any of them did adhere or assist the Deposed King Richard against the Decree of his Deposition That they should suffer as in high treason And for that many of the common people did murmure That many the Officers had grievously extorted either by connivency or secret support of the Lords those Officers were removed and the corruption purged Then were Proclamations made that if any man had by strong hand beene oppressed by any of the Lords or by any under-officers to them beene wronged or abused his complaint proved the delinquent should give him plenary recompence The execution of these Nobles was much questioned The importunitie of the people and the perswasions of many great ones drew that way but pollicie was against it especially the opinion of Clemency which seemed needfull in a new not well settled estate In this Parliament the Lord Fitzwater appealed the Duke of Aumerle upon points of high Treason the like did the Lord Morley to the Earle of Salisbury and above twentie Appellants more gaged battell but the King purposing to lay the foundation of his government by favour and not by force gave pardon and restitution alike to all upon securitie for their allegiance and moderately admonished and as it were intreated the one part that old griefes and grudges should not bee renewed but altogether buried The other part hee desired to bee afterwards more circumspect of their actions and for the time past rather to forget they ever were in fault then to remember that they were pardoned No punishment was
inflicted on any only the Earle of Sarum and the Lord Morley who had beene in especiall grace with King Richard These two were committed but at the intercession of their friends they were quickly released the rest but especially the Duke of Aumerle and the Duke of Exceter the Governour of Callice hee received freely to favour Aumerle was Cousin german to both Kings Exceter halfe Brother to King Richard and Brother-in-law to King Henry as having espoused his Sister the Lady Elizabeth The greatest crime they could enforce against them was their being firme to King Richard because they did not only stomacke his dejection but stirre more then others and assay to raise forces on his behalfe The Dukes confessed the first accusation affirming they were unfortunately faithfull to King Richard but as they that are once false prove seldome after firmely sound so they that have approved themselves true to one Prince may bee the better trusted by another The King did rather admit this as a defence then remit it as a fault affirming that such examples were not to bee misliked of Princes and did afterwards by curtesie and liberalitie endevour to make them firme and faithfull unto him This fact was diversly interpreted according to mens severall dispositions some admiring the Kings moderation others disallowing his confidence And though these meanes have to that purpose prevailed with some yet the common course may move us to conjecture that there is small assurance to bee had in reconciled enemies whose affections for the most part are like to glasse which being once crackt will never bee otherwise then crazed and ever unsound During this time of Parliament held at Westminster the Archbishop had convoked a Synod which was held in Pauls Church to whom the King sent the Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland who declared to the Clergie that they were not sent to them from the King to require any moneys from them but to acquaint them with the Kings resolution which was to confirme all their priviledges and immunities unto them and to joyne with them as they should desire him in the punishment of all hereticks and opposites to their religion received for which so doing hee craved but their supplications to God for the safetie of him and his posteritie and prosperitie of the kingdome which was by all there present religiously promised Now to palliate all prejudice and hard opinion which other Princes might happily conceive of these his proceedings Hee dispatched Embassadours to divers his bordering neighbours intimating to them respectively both by what Title and whose favour hee had obtained the Kingdome To Rome he sent the Bishop of Hereford Sir Iohn Cheney Knight and Iohn Cheney Esquire to France the Bishop of Durham and the Earle of Worcester into Spaine the Bishop of Saint Asaphs and Sir William Par into Almaine the Bishop of Bangor and others most of these Princes as in a matter which little concerned them either in point of honour or hatred seemed to take no notice of what was done or were easily perswaded that all was done well But Charles of France was so disquieted with this dishonourable dealing with his Son-in-law that his passion upon the first relation thereof put him into his old fit of phrenzie but recovered thereof hee provided for to revenge the injury Many of the Nobilitie of France were forward to set a foot this enterprise but especially the Earle of Saint Paul who had married King Richards halfe Sister so that defiance is sent and on both sides preparation for warre is made These novelties much animated the Aquitains being under the English command some were grieved at the infamous blemish of disloyaltie which was cast upon the Nation others feared their being made a prey to the tyrannie of the French against whom they had cause to suspect that England being distracted by civill factions either would not attend or could not bee able to beare them out But the Burdisians were principally perplexed with King Richards wrongs because hee was borne and bred in their Citie The Frenchmen generally were nothing displeased at this discontentment of the Aquitanes supposing that opportunitie was now offered to regaine the possession of the Dutchy of Guian if either power or pollicie were seasonably applied Hereupon Lewis Duke of Burbon came downe to Angiers who from thence solicited the chiefe Townes of Guyan by faire speeches and large promises to change their allegiance but the Lieutenant there Sir Robert Knowles withall diligence industry laboured to suppresse the mutinous to stay the doubtfull to confirme the good and to retaine all in due obedience and order But hee prevailed very little his armie being but weake and the people stiffenecked Neither did Burbon much prevaile due consideration being had how heavy the yoke of France was above the subjection of the English having beene well acquainted with the tributes and taxes wherewith the Frenchmen were usually taxed who had in every Country assigned Lieutenants and Treasurers the one to draw the blood the other the substance of the slavish-made subjects whose cruelty and covetousnesse laid hold without exceptions of all the one tormenting by force the other by law Thus like a ship that the tyde driveth one way and the wind another betwixt obedience and revolt stood the Aquitanes they were willing enough to displease the English but most unwilling to indanger or undoe themselves by adhering to the French upon advertisement whereof the Earle of Worcester with a Company of able and willing souldiers is sent into Guyan who not by unseasonable exprobrating their fault but by reason convincing it partly by his wisdome and credit and partly by his authoritie and power so terrified the wavering multitude that he won them to his opinion and kept their allegeance The graver sort with respect of dutie and faith the rest with regard of feare and danger Then hee tooke their oathes for obedience unto King Henry and planted garrisons in places of import without molestation if they remained dutifull and yet of force sufficient to keepe them under if they should attempt to rebell and then returned to England there showing a faire example of moderation in seeming rather to have found then made the Aquitanes dutifull Subjects This stirre no sooner stinted when another more desperately dangerous did arise For divers who had dissembled or did repent the furtherance they had used to the advancement of King Henry conspired to compasse his destruction whether for favour to King Richard as the nature of man is to behold sudden miseries with the eyes of pitie or for envie to King Henry as commonly wee can endure excessive fortune no where so little as in those that have beene in equall degree with our selves or whether upon distaste received in the late Parliament or in disdaine to see others goe before them in the Princes favour it is uncertaine many sought to revenge their unjust anger with revolting There was in those times an Abbot
Saint Albones and Waltham without presence of the Nobilitie or confluence of the Commons and without the expence of a dinner after the celebrating of the Funerall But Henrie the fift caused his body to bee taken up and removed to Westminster and there interred amongst the Ancestors with Queene Anne his first wife in expiation of his Fathers violent and unfaithfull dealing it was not amisse in regard of the Common-wealth that hee was dead yet they who were actors in his death had small reason to reckon it among their good deeds These accidents attend such Princes as being absolute in power will bee too resolute in will and dissolute in life Humphry the Sonne and heire of the Duke of Glocester in his returne out of Ireland where King Richard had left him prisoner dyed of the plague at Chester the newes whereof kild the Dutchesse his Mother about this time dyed Thomas Mowbray the exiled Duke of Norfolke who had outlived his honour hee married two wives both named Elizabeth the first the Daughter of the Lord Strange who dyed without issue the second Sister and coheire of Thomas Fitzâ—…llayne Earle of Arundel by whom hee had issue Thomas and Iohn Margaret and Isabell. In this yeare also deceased Iohn Duke of Britaine who had taken a Wife Mary Daughter to King Edward the third but by her hee had no issue Also this yeare dyed Edmond Duke of Yorke surnamed of Langley the first sonne of Edward the third his reputation hee kept unblemished and honour untainted hee was not carelesse of good fame nor greedy of greatnesse wary and circumspect in his behaviour not desirous of other mens wealth nor too parcimonious of his owne hee did not by obstinate opposing himselfe against the torrâ—… of the time rashly hazard his fame or fall but by moderation attained safely that degree of praise which others aspiring unto by desperate courses wonne an ambitious death without further profit Hee married two Wives the first was Isabell second Daughter and coheire of Peter King of Castile by whom hee had issue Edward Duke of Albemarle Richard Earle of Cambridge and Constance first married to Thomas Spencer Earle of Glocester and afterwards to Thomas Holland Earle of Kent his second Wife was Ioane Daughter of Thomas Holland Earle of Kent and Sister and coheire of Edmond Earle of Kent but by her had no issue King Charles though Lucidus per intervalla yet sensible of dishonour moved with his Daughters disgrace made preparation to invade England and brought downe his Army into Piccardy but upon the certaine relation of King Richards death hee gave over the enterprise and sent over Embassadours into England to treate or rather intreate that his Daughter with her Dowry might bee restored to him againe King Henry gave them audience and answer that hee would speed Commissioners to Callice to commune and conclude with them both of this and other waighty affaires concerning both the Realmes whither hee sent Edward Duke of Yorke and Henry Earle of Northumberland The French King sent the Duke of Burbon and certaine others to Bulloigne These Commissioners often met sometimes at one place some-times at the other The Frenchmen instantly required their Kings Daughter to bee restored without the doing whereof they had no order to treat of any thing The Englishmen made a proffer to have a match betwixt Prince Henry and the Lady alleaging that there was no disparagement of birth nor disparitie of yeares betwixt them but thereto they would give no consent neither would they agree to the proposition of a perpetuall amitie But in the end it was concluded that Queene Isabell should bee redelivered to her Father but sauns Dowry because the marriage betwixt her and King Richard was never consummate by reason whereof she was not Dowable upon the Treatie of the marriage the surcease from Armes was agreed upon in King Richards dayes for thirtie yeares which was now mutually confirmed for the terme of these yeares unexpected Shortly after King Henry sent the Lady Isabella under the conduct of Thomas Lord Piercy Earle of Worcester in royall estate to Callice being accompanied with a brave troope of honourable Personages of both sexes shee carried with her all the Iewells and Plate which she brought into England with a great surplusage of rich gifts bestowed upon her by the King At Callice shee was received by Valerian Earle of Saint Paul Lieutenant in Picardy and by him conducted to her Father who afterwards gave her in marriage to Charles sonne to Lewis Duke of Orleans and so was rest or rather respite of warre in France procured But the fire and fury of the late sedition was hardly quenched when the Welchmen upon advantage of the doubtfull and unsettled estate of King Henry brake forth into a defection before the King could either lay the groundworke of his Authority or the people frame themselves to a new obedience and having beene taught that common causes must bee maintained by concord they sought by assemblies to establish an association and to set up their owne principalitie againe They Created for their Prince Owen Glendor a fellow of a turbulent spirit and factious disposition and apt to stirre up sedition and strife and though hee was of no great estate by birth he was stout in stomacke of an aspiring spirit and wit somewhat above the ordinary ranke of those untrained people bold crafty agile and as hee liâ—…t to bend his minde mischievous or industrious in equall degree in desires immoderate and rashly adventurous more desirous to doe then circumspect what to doe in his younger yeares hee was a student at the Innes of Court at London and being incensed by a verdict given against him for tithe of land betwixt him and the Lord Gray of Ruthin and by nature being a man not of the mildest disposition by this provocation hee was made savage and rough and determined either to repaire or revenge his losse by setting the whole State on fire Also his expences had beene too excessive for a great man to continue which brought him to barenesse too base for a meane man to endure and therefore hee was necessitated to doe or dare something more then ordinary And more danger hee thought there was in orderly dealing then in hazarding rashly and now opportunitie is presented for troublesome times are most fit for such attempts And some likelihood there was whilst the King and his Nobles were at variance that harme might bee easily wrought to them both upon these causes his desires were founded and upon these troubles his hopes But that his ambitious humour might beare some pretext of honest meaning hee pretended to his Countrymen the recovery of their freedome the desire whereof is so naturally pleasing That birds will rather live hardly abroad in the cold fields then bee daintily dieted in a warme cage and that now occasion was fitly offered or else never to bee expected to ridde them of their servilitie falsly entituled peace whilst the Kings
round about The Scots under the leading of Archibald Dowglasse about the number of twenty thousand with barbarous crueltie entred into Northumberland making havocke by the way but at a place called Homildon they were encountred by the English under the leading of Henry Lord Piercy surnamed Hotspur and George Earle of March on holy-rood day in harvest who put them to flight and tooke prisoners after the slaughter of ten thousand of them five hundred whereof Mordack Earle of Fife the sonne of the Generall who in the fight lost one of his eyes Thomas Earle Murry Robert Earle of Angus the Earles of Atholl and Mentits were chiefe and amongst the slaine were Sir Iohn Swinton Sir Adam Gordon Sir Iohn Leviston Sir Alexander Ramsey of Dalehowsey and twenty three other Knights Piercy having put his prisoners in safe keeping entred Tividale wasting all in the way and there besieged the Castle of Cockclawes of which Sir Iohn Greenlow was Captaine who upon condition that if hee were not relieved within three moneths compounded to surrender the Castle The first two moneths were past and no reskue nor likelihood thereof appeared But before the expiration of the third moneth the souldiers were sent for to attend the King in his expedition as before against Glendour and so they raised the siege and departed with a plentifull bootie The French King to backe Glendour in his trayterous designes not so much for love of him as hatred to King Henry sent twelve hundred men of qualitie to bee Captaines and Commanders to those rebellious disorderly troopes but the windes were so contrary and the violence of the storme such that they lost twelve of their best ships with their fraught and the rest with great difficultie returned to France The English deriding the whilst the French Kings ill successe whose enterprises though they threatned much yet they alwayes vanished to nothing The report whereof so exasperated his resolutions that forthwith hee sent into Wales twelve thousand men who safely landed and joyned with the Welch But upon notice of the English Armies approach suspecting their owne strength or their partakers fidelitie amazed and heartlesse they ran to their shippes and without any service done disgracefully turned home King Henryes Embassadours lately sent into Britaine for the Lady Iane de Navar Dutchesse of Britaine the relict of Iohn de Mountford surnamed the Conqueror with whom the King by procurators had contracted matrimony in the beginning of February returned with her in safetie The King met her at Winchester where the seventh of February the Mariage was solemnized In the meane time Valerian Earle of St. Pauls out of a malitious hatred to King Henry with seventeene hundred men of warre from Harâ—…ew landed in the Isle of Wight where burning two Villages and some few Cottages in token of triumph hee made some Knights But hearing the people of the Island to have assembled hee hasted to his shippes and retired About that time Iohn Earle of Cleremont the heire of Bourbon wonne from the English the Castles of Saint Peter and Saint Mary and the new Castle The Lord de la Bret wonne the Castle of Calafyn of great consequence for the honour of England to bee questioned The Piercies Earles of Northumberland and Worcester with Henry Hotspur which in the initiation of King Henryes attempts had beene both advisers and coadjutors about this time began to turne retrograde to obedience their reason was for that the King not only refused at their request to redeeme their kinsman Mortimer from Glendours slavery though often by them and their friends to that purpose solicited But likewise contrary to the law of the field and Martiall custome as they pretended had challenged as of right pertaining to him all such prisoners as by their martiall prowesse had beene taken of the Scots either at Homeldon or Nesbyt of which they formerly whether of curtesie or duty by them it was disputable only had delivered unto him Morduk the Duke of Albanyes sonne Neverthelesse they came to the King at Windsor where of purpose to prove him they required that either by ransome or otherwise hee would procure the liberty and inlargement of their cousin german Edmond Mortymer â—…avishly shackled and abused as they affirmed for being true to him The King made answer That the Earle of March was not taken prisoner in defence of his Title nor in his service but willingly suffered himselfe to bee taken because he would not withstand the attempts of the Traytor Owen and his Complices and therefore neither would relieve nor ransome him Whereupon Henry Hotspur brake forth and in passion said The heire of the Realme is bereaved of his right and the robber will not allow him part of his owne for his redemption and therewith the Piercies departed the Kings presence and presently procured Mortymers delivery and to adde more waight to King Henrye's displeasure they entred into a league offensive and defensive with Glendour And by their Proxies in the house of the Archdeacon of Bangor they agreed upon a tripartite Indenture under their hands and seales respectively to bee made to divide the Kingdome into three parts whereby all England from Severne and Trent South and Eastward was assigned for the portion of the Earle of March all Wales and the lands beyond Severne Westward were assigned to bee the portion of Owen Glendour and all the remainder of land from Trent Northward to bee allotted to Lord Piercy This was devised or advised say some by Glendour whom they would make a Southsayer by occasion of a Prophesie as though King Henrie was the Mowldwarpe cursed of Gods owne mouth and they three must bee the Lyon the Dragon and the Wolfe which should divide the land among them But the event proved those blinde fantasticall dreames of the Welch Southsayers to bee Deviationes non divinationes In the meane time King Henry not acquainted with these Conspiracies caused a Proclamation to bee made intimating thereby that the Earle of March had voluntarily caused himselfe to bee taken prisoner That the Rebells having him in their custody and company might pretend some colour wherewith to varnish such conspiracies as secretly they had complotted and contrived against his Crowne and him And therefore his discretion for his safetie advised him not to hearken to any motion for his being redeemed Hereupon the Piercies assisted with a company of Scots whom they by setting their Scottish Prisoners at libertie had procured drew to their partie the Earle of Stafford and Richard Scroope Archbishop of Yorke brother to the beheaded Earle of Salisbury and many others and with them purposed to joyne with the Captaine of the Welch And to set the better glosse to their treasonable attempts they framed by way of accusation certaine Articles against the King which they published and to this effect sent them unto him in writing Articles against King Henry 1. IN primis That when hee returned from his Exilement hee made faith only
the Towne the starved multitude began to upbraid the Commanders and to tell them that they must bee famished to death for their obstinacies and with threatning speeches they told them they would if they would not compound for their redemption upon any termes enforced therefore to give way to their implacable furyes the Commissioners concluded that after the nineteenth day of that instant Ianuarie the Citie and Castle of Roane should bee delivered to the King of Englands hands and that all should submit to the Kings mercie and should pay to him three hundred thousand Skutes of gold every two to bee of the valew of the English Noble Every Souldiour to sweare never to beare armes against the King of England That the starved creatures expulsed should bee admitted entrance and receive reliefe during the time prefixed if not before that time reskonsed Vpon the day agreed upon Sir Guy de Butler and the Burgesses delivered up the keyes of the Citie and Castle craving grace and favour The Duke of Exceter was appointed to take possession of the fame who accordingly entred with his souldiers The next day after being Friday the twentieth of Ianuary the KING triumphantly made his entry with foure Dukes tenne Earles eight Bishops sixteene Barons c. Hee was received with the Clergie with two and fourty Crosses and by them was conducted to our Lady Church where after publicke Thankes-giving hee tooke homage and fealtie of the Burgesses and inhabitants making proclamation that all that would come and acknowledge him to bee their Liege-Lord should enjoy the benefit of his protection and retaine their possessions whereupon many came in and many Townes were surrendred The Duke of Britaine fore-casting the danger of having too potent a neighbour except a friend plant neere him upon safe conduct obtained came to Roane where a League is agreed upon that neither should make Warre upon other except upon denuntiation thereof sixe moneths before any attempt this concluded the Duke returned Whilst the King lay at ROANE to perfect all things the Duke of CLARENCE tooke VERNON and NAVNT making Sir WILLIAM PORTER Captaine of the first and the Earle of MARCH of the other The Earle of SALISBVRY tooke in HVNFLEVV which was afterward given to the Duke of CLARENCE Munster de Villiers Ewe New-Castle whereof Sir PHILIP LEECH was made Captaine An Overture agreed upon for an interview betwixt the King of ENGLAND and the Dolphin of FRANCE fayled through the Dolphins default which displeased King HENRY who had in expectation thereof gone from Roane to Eureux from whence hee sent the Earle of Warwicke to take in la Roche Guyon which hee accordingly but not without some losse did and thereof made owner of the Kings free gift Sir Guy de Bolyleere lately Captaine of Roane In all places the Kings Commanders prevailed and by constraint or consent all pieces of strength that were sommoned opened their gates unto the English and it is worthy the observation that when there is as now there was a mutuall intercourse of discreet direction and diligent execution warlike designes faild but prosper on the other side where there is want of skill to Command and want of will to obey nothing can thrive and these wants now hid so clowded the affayres of France that all lay at six seven The Duke of Burgoine solicites an interview betwixt the Kings of England and France Embassadors on both sides are sent King Henry is content to come to Maunt so as the French King came to Ponthoys which is consented to King Henry kept his feast of Whitsontide at Mounts where he made the stout Gascoyne Captaine le Buife Earle of Longevile Sir Iohn Gray Earle of Tanckervile and the Lord Bourcher Earle of Ewe upon the last of May at the day appointed King Henry accompanied with the Dukes of Clarence Glocester and Exceter his Vncle Bewford the great Clerke and rich Bishop of Winchester with the Earles of March and Salisbury with a thousand men at armes entred the place appointed The French Queene her Husband being taken with his phrenzie which the Duke of Burgoine and the Earle of Saint Paul and a company of faire Ladyes amongst whom as a baite to entangle the Kings youthfull affection the Queenes beautifull Daughter the Lady Katherine throughly instructed and gorgeously attired presented her selfe with whose sight though the King was ardently taken yet with that moderation hee behaved himselfe that though hee were resolved to make the enjoyment of her for wife a chiefe Article to be granted yet hee made no such apparant show thereof but that the other things requirable to bee concluded at this treatie should bee first agreed upon but nothing was affected for the Dolphin under-hand had made meanes to the Duke of Burgoine to hinder all agreement which King Henry observing at their departure told the Duke of Burgoine That hee would have his demaunds and the Lady or else drive the King out of his kingdome and make the Duke seeke another Dukedome The treatie becomming fruitlesse and dissolved the Dolphin and the Duke upon the sixt of Iuly are reconciled and the Articles thereof signed and sealed In the meane time a Conspiracy in Roane was timely discovered and wisely prevented and the Conspiratours upon examination and proofe duly punished By direction from the King the Earle of Longevile did valiantly surprise the Towne of Poynthose with fifteene hundred men there being at that time within the Towne a thousand Launceeres and two thousand Arcubalisters but had not the Earle of Huntington come in good time to second them their valour opprest by multitude could not have made good what they had atchieved neither could they both have long subsisted had not the Duke of Clarence come to their reskue who to recompence the brave spirits of the first entrers gave the spoyle of the Towne amongst them From thence the Duke marched to Paris and there stayed by the space of two dayes but perceiving no show of sally to be made he returned to Ponthoys King Henry comming thither after hee had sufficiently furnished the same with victuals and artillerie hee with his maine Army marched further into the country and in the way forced the Castle of Vanion Villeirs but at the intercession of divers Ladyes the garrison were permitted without armes or weapon to depart Hereof was appointed Captaine Iohn de Burgh upon approach of the Armie which was upon the last of August to the Castle of Gysors the only peece that now stood forth in those parts the Garrison there made a sally and much hindred the English in their sitting downe by reason of the inaccessible passage thorow the Marishes which in a manner surrounded the same yet at length when they perceived the Kings resolution not to depart without conquest and calling to minde that no place had bin of strength sufficient to withstand his power they agreed if not reskued by a day which they were not to deliver
both town Castle to the King The souldiers of the garrison and many of the Burgers tooke an oath of fidelitie to the King of England and remained there still the Earle of Worcester was made Captaine thereof The well defenced Castle of Galiard strong both by scituation art after six moneths siege was surrendred to the Duke of Exceter and thereof the King made the Lord Rosse Captaine all the Country of Velquesseine submitted the King putting in men of valour and trust into the chiefe holds as into Gourney Sir Gilbert Vmfrevile the Earle of Worcester at Newtye the Castle of Dumall yeelded to the Earle of Warwicke was given him by the King so that now all Normandy Mount Saint Michael only excepted was reduced to the possession of the King of England which had beene detained wrongfully untill then from him ever since the yeare 1207. The Dolphin all this while notwithstanding the agreement sealed and settled as might bee thought being perswaded that the Duke of Burgoyne was a barre to his ambitious desires studied not so much to stop the overflowing current of the King of Englands victories as the effecting of his owne ends of revenge against the Duke a miserable thing when one mans rising is grounded on the desired overthrow of another To that end therefore covering his private malice with the long roabe of publike service hee made show of removall of all rank our betwixt the Duke and him and to that end appointed a meeting of all the Peeres at Mountstrew al fault you where the Duke was barbarously murthered whilst hee humbled himselfe in reverence to the Dolphin on his knee which act was by so much the lesse to bee pittied in the Duke by how much hee in the like kind upon the like enterview had caused Lewis the Duke of Orleance to bee murthered But this recrimination of Burgoyne for the murther of Orleance can bee no excusation of the Dolphins perfidious treachery Hereupon Philip Earle of Caraloys the heire of Burgoyne did forbeare for a time the company of his Wife the Dolphins sister but upon due consideration of her pliable and obsequious disposition and the religious admonition of his Mother-in-law and exhortation of his chiefest Councellours hee gave her ever after all requirable respect and observance and turned his justly incensed anger against the Dolphin but without show of choler or distemperature either in words or gestures howsoever his kindred and allyes thretned revenge But this distraction settled at home and danger threatned abroad drew a double feare of destruction upon the quieter minded Nobilitie who used the imployment of their uttermost endevours to procure a reconciliation betwixt the Queene and the Dolphin and a pacification of the King of England and by their mediation Embassadours are sent to Gysors where King Henry lay who gave them audience and honourable entertainment and was pleased to condescend that Commissioners might have communication but no cessation of warre No sooner were they returned but hee drew his forces to Maunt where hee divided them into three parts sending the Duke of Glocester with one part to Saint German in lay which was delivered unto him The Duke of Clarence with another was sent to Mountjoy which after some show of great resistance was given over unto him The third under the conduct of the Duke of Exceter went to Mewlancké which was strongly defenced and compassed in with the great river of Seine but by the invention of woodden towers reared upon boates bridges and floates the French-men were so terrified that for want of succour at the time agreed upon they surrendred the Towne and gave hostages and oath to remaine true subjects to the King of England and so were permitted to remaine there still The many rivolets cut out and running in the severall Forts and Castles as aforesaid might have much drayned the great river of the Kings Army had not daily supplies from all forraine parts drawne by the generall report of his honourable usage of souldiers of men and amunition and money out of his Dominions been broughtunto him but such was his providence and his officers obedience and care that nothing wanted that was needfull or necessary But now the new Duke of Burgoine a wise and politick Prince having debated with himselfe what course to take to revenge his Fathers murther and being assured that if he should oppose the Dolphin and the Dolphin him the King of France would lose by both and King Henry would carry away all he endevoured to propose an overture of Peace betweene the two Kings which hee was the more likely to obtaine by reason of his powerfulnesse amongst the Peeres and the assurance of the Lady Katherines readinesse who had more power over her Mothers affections then her owne to joyne with him in any thing that might conduce to her obtaining the effect of her wishes which was aswell the love of King Henry as the peace and quiet of her Father and country besides the advantage the Duke had of the Dolphin who was now observed to be more cunning and revengefull then wise and valiant and by the late murther made obnoxious to the disesteeme of his neerest friends Embassadours are againe sent from the King of France and the young Duke of Burgoyne who were returned with gratious countenance and some tokens of courtesie to the Duke but withall a kind of intimation that there was small hope of obtaining any thing at his hands concerning truce if not desired by the Lady Katherine whose innocencie as he said knew not how to abuse his credulitie as the others had done whilst these things are in agitation his armyes lay not idle The Earle of Salisbury tooke in Fresney The Earles Marshall Huntington with their powers entred into Mayn and approaching Mentz they were encountred by the power of the Dolphin whereof they slew five thousand and tooke two hundred Prisoners These tidings being brought to Roane whither the King was come to solemnize the Feast of Christs birth thanks-givings to God were publikely made and in the instant thereof arived other Embassadors from the King and Queen of France who having audience the tenour of their embassage delivered a Letter from the Lady Katherine to the King of England was secretly by the Bishop of Arras delivered the Contents whereof being considered the King openly said That hee would wipe away the disrepute cast-upon his actions as though hee should bee the cause of effusion of so much Christian blood as every day was likely to bee made if the warres should continue for his quarrell and would turne the same upon the King of France and his Adherents if either they made not Propositions such as with safetie of his honour might bee granted or did not condiscend to such Articles as hee would reasonably tender them hee therefore returned the Embassadours with good content and sent the Earle of Warwicke and the Bishop of Rochester to the Duke of Burgoyne
thirteenth of Iuly the Captaine whereof was Barbason a Gascoyne a skilfull souldier and of approved valiancy And as Hanniball in warre was not more ready to invent stratagems then Quintus Fabius to prevent them so King Henryes counsell could not bee more wily to winne then Barbason was warie to defend The King by land and water stopped all passages making use of his before-mentioned floates to passe his souldiers over the River yet Barbason sallied out and fell upon the Earle of Warwickes quarter where if hee had not beene the more valiantly resisted The Duke of Burgoynes men had tasted of their fury The Duke of Bavier another of King Charles Sonin-lawe but his Dutchesse was dead with seven hundred well-appointed Horse-men came to the Campe which were presently listed under the Kings pay Barbason countermined some and stopt other mines made by the English and fought hand to hand in the Barryers with King Henry yet notwithstanding all his circumspect care and praise-worthy diligence when hee found hee was to fight against the two bitter arrowes of Gods wrath Famine and Pestilence hee humbled himselfe to the King who pardoned all that were not guilty of the forenamed murther whereof Barbason being suspected and others that were found faultie were sent to Paris under the conduct of the Duke of Clarence whom King Charles made Captaine of Delea that Citie and was accordingly admitted into the possession of all the strength thereof And presently thereupon both the Kings with their Queenes the Duke of Burgoyne and his Dutchesse with a royall traine came thither where they were most magnificencly entertained the French King was lodged in the house of Saint Paul and the King of England in the Castle of Louer Here the three States of France anew under their hands and seales in most authenticke manner ratified the former agreement the instruments whereof were delivered to the King of England who sent them to bee kept in his Treasurie at Westminster Now King Henry began to exercise his Regency and as a badge of his authoritie hee caused a new coyne which was called a Salute to bee made whereon the armes of France and England were quarterly stamped Hee there heard the Appeale of the Dowager of Burgoine against the Dolphin whose Advocates in his behalfe made large offers for satisfaction but they were adjourned to another day Hee placed and displaced divers officers and appointed the Duke of Exceter with five hundred men to the guard of Paris Sir Gilbert Vmfrevile was made Captaine of Melun and the Earle of Huntington of Bloyes de Vinces King Henry awarded out Processe against the Dolphin to appeare at the Marble table at Paris which hee not obeying sentence was denounced against him as guilty of the murther of the Duke of Burgoyne and by the sentence of the Parliament the Dolphin was banished the Realme The King with his beloved Queene Katherine the sixt of Ianuary left Paris and came to Roane where hee received homage of all the Nobilitie aswell such as were enobled by descent of the French as such as were dignified by desert of the English And making Thomas Duke of Clarence Lieutenant generall of France and Normandy and his Deputie in Normandy the Earle of Salisbury Having finished his Christmas he with his Queene went to Amiens and from thence to Callice and thence landing at Dover came to Canterbury and afterward thorow London to Westminster where the Queene upon Saint Mathewes day the fourth of February with all ceremonies rites and accustomed solemnities was Crowned The King of Scots sitting at dinner in his Estate but on the left hand of the Queene the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Kings Vncle the Bishop of Winchester being on the right hand all were serued with covered messes of silver but all the Feast was fish in observation of the Lent season King Henry by his ghostly father being instructed that the surest stone that can bee layd for the foundation of future felicitie must bee digged out of the quarry of Pietie first visited many places for devotion by way of Pilgrimage and then tooke his Progresse thorow the Land and knowing that great evills may grow out of the smallest causes if neglected hee by the way reformed all misdemeanours whereof he received notice hearing with a diligent eare the complaints of his poore subjects taking order for the administring of Iustice to high and poore neither sparing the great for might nor the meane for misery And shewing that Examples are the best Lectures and Vertue the best example after hee had set his ministers a copy thereof Hee gave meeting to the Queene at Leicester where they kept their Easter In the meane time the Duke of Clarence making a road into Aniou with the garrisons of Normandy came to the City of Ampers where hee knighted Sir William Rosse Sir Henry Goddard Sir Rowland Vider Sir Thomas Bewford his naturall Sonne And retutning home laden with prey was advertised that the Duke of Alanson intended to intercept his passage hee therefore sent the skowt-Master Andrew Fogosa to discover the face of the enemy who being a trecherous Lombard and having beene corrupted by the enemy at his returne reporteth their number to bee but small meanly armed and worse ordered so that if presently charged there could bee no resistance The Dukes credulitie caused him to draw all his horses together leaving the strength of the field his Bowes and Bills behind with them hee makes towards the enemy the traitour leading to a straight where by his appointment an ambush was layed that the Duke could neither retreat nor flee which perceiving the Duke with a valiant courage told the Earle of Tanckervile that their chance was very hard when no meanes was left but to sell their lives at the dearest rate to their enemies and so setting spurres to his horse charged upon the enemy but over-layed with multitude and over-wearied with fight The Duke of Clarence the Earle of Tanckervile the Lord Rosse the Earle of Angus Kyme Sir Iohn Lumley and Sir Iohn Verend with above two thousand English slaine The Earles of Somerset Suffolke and Pearch Sir Iohn Berckley Sir Ralph Nevile Sir William Bowes and threescore Gentlemen were taken prisoners The Bastard Clarence having an inckling of the Lombards treachery brought on his Archers whom the French perceiving to approach fled with their Prisoners leaving the dead undispoyled by which meanes the Lord Fitzwater and some others were found wounded and almost stifled amongst the carkasses The bodyes of the dead were by the foot-men buried except the Duke of Clarence who by Sir Iohn Beauford his base sonne the Duke dying without other issue wac conveyed to England and buried at Canterbury besider his father This happened upon Easter Eeve The King was at Beverly when he had notice of his brothers death and presently thereupon hee dispatced away Edmond Earle of Mortaigne into Normandy making him Lieutenant thereof Then calls hee his
by craftie subtiltie to accomplish first they worke upon the inconstancy of the Duke of Britaine and his Brother Arthure by King Henry the fift Created Earle of Yewry these two by gifts had promises things that blind the eyes of the treasonally minded wife they suborned perfidiously to deliver over into their possession the Castle of Crotoy and Yernye and what the English had wonne by true manhood and valour they stole away with craft and trechery but little to their praise or profit for the English before the garrisons were settled fell upon Crotoy and tooke the prey out of the Leopards jawes and like unkind hosts made them pay too deere a price for their lodgings Crotoy thus regained the Regent straightly begirts Yenrye and by secret myning fierce assaults and violent batteryes so shooke the walls that composition was made to yeeld it up if not relieved by a certaine time The Regent was throughly resolved to set up his rest and to abide battell what forces soever should appeare and thereof permitted the besieged to send notice to the French King The Duke of Alanson thereupon with sixteene thousand French approached but when he perceived the English were ready prepared to receive him according to the French fashion at that time to bragge much and doe little hee wheeled about to Vernoyle whereas perjury is the concomitant of every other sinne hee joyned it to his cowardise swearing to the Townsmen that hee had put the Regent to flight and had beaten him out of the field and reskued Yenrye by this false report hee got Vernoyle Whilst the Regent had Yurye surrendred unto him which being strengthened and furnished hee followed the cowards to their conny-borrough at Vernoyle who by the encouragement of some fresh companies of Scots come unto their succour came to a battell in the field where the English with the losse of two thousand one hundred common souldiers and two of the Nobilitie Lord Dudley and Lord Charleton got the glory of the day and slew of their enemies five Earles two Vicounts and twenty Barons and above seven thousand other of the French besides two thousand seven hundred Scots lately arrived The Duke himselfe with the Bastard of Alanson the Lord of Hormyt and divers other French and Sir Iohn Turnbull and two hundred Gentlemen besides common souldiers were taken prisoners This battell was strooke the twentie eight day of August Vernoyle hereupon without battery or assault upon promise of safetie of life only was delivered and there of Sir PHILIP HALL made Captaine and sufficient garrison left him from thence the Armie marched to Roan and from thence to Paris both which places were at strife which should exceed other in freedome of welcome and loving entertainment to the Regent This overthrow so weakened the new King that hee was enforced to quit the country and went to Poyteers where hee established his high Court of Parliament and laboureth his owne establishment The valiant Earle of Salisbury with ten thousand men taketh in the strong Towne of Maunts the towne of Saint Susan le fort St. Bernard and others from thence hee went into Angeou where hee performed such heroicke acts that his very name grew terrible in all France for instance The new high Constable perfidious Richmond in hope to doe some what to advance the reputation of his new Office with fourty thousand men layeth siege to the good towne of Saint Iames in Bevion the garrison whereof consisted but of six hundred English who being droven to some extremitie bravely I might say desperately at one time sallied forth crying Saint George a Salisbury the French men fearing that they had some token given that Salisbury was come to the reskue or that hee was behind in the Towne with more forces were so suddenly affrighted that the craven cowards casting away their weapons ranne all away saving some few that yeelded themselves prisoners leaving all their tents fourteene peeces of Ordnance fourty barrells of Powder three hundred Pipes of wine two hundred Pipes of Bisket and flower two hundred pieces of Raisins and Figges five hundred barrells of Herrings much Armour and some Treasure At this time Sir Iohn Montgomery and Sir Iohn Falstaffe with two thousand men entred into Ainon and Mayne and tooke the Castles of Beamont Vicount Teune Sillye Osce Courceriers Ronsey Vasike Couetenement and very many others so that it appeareth at that time it was but for the English to aske and have so pittifully were the French Cowde with the Regents prosperitie The French were come to their old course of fraud and had compounded with a Gascoyne Captaine there for the delivery of Alanson to the enemy notice being given hereof the Lord Willoughby and Sir Iohn Falstaffe with two thousand men were sent to spoyle she Market who encountering with the chiefe Merchant Charles de villiers who with two hundred horse and three hundred foot were come to the place appointed for their entry tooke and slew them all except some few horse which saved themselves by flying away The Lord Willoughby with his troopes returned to the Earle of Salisbury who victoriously proceeded taking in and demolishing above fourty Castles and strong piles the newes thereof in England caused publike Processions and generall thanks-giving to God in London and other places Neverthelesse an unkind variance and a jarre betwixt the Protector and the Bishop of Winchester Lord Chancellour arising endangered the quiet of the Common-wealth for the appeasing whereof the Regent having substituted the Earle of Warwicke Lieutenant generall in his absence came into England where a Parliament being convoked hee therein discreetly arbitrated and compounded all differences betwixt the Protector and Winchester and to the comfort of the Councell and content of all stinted the quarrell In honour whereof the King of England kept a solemne feast at which time the Regent dubbed the King Knight who invested with that dignitie many of his servants and Created Richard Sonne of Richard late Earle of Cambridge Duke of Yorke and restored Iohn Mowbray to the Dutchy of Norfolke In the meane time the Earle of Warwicke conquered many strong pieces in Mayne and made preparation to fight a set battell whereunto hee was challenged by the French but they said never the sooner for a hasty word their hearts were in their heeles and in stead of comming on to fight they tooke their flight another way a day before the prefixed time of battell All things peaceably settled in England the regent with the Bishop of Winchester returned into France where at the intercession of the Duke of Burgoyne the Duke of Alanson was ransomed for two hundred thousand Crownes The Bishop of Winchester returned to Callice where hee was invested with the Hat habit and dignitie of a Cardinall I dare not thinke because hee was a Clergie man that hee ambitiously affected or otherwise contracted for that place But the advantage of a Bull from the Pope was
end of August following In which time the truce began to be forgotten for the French awaiting all occasions of advantage by secret plots and devises had cunningly possessed themselves of divers Castles places of strength justifying their actions and affirming that what was politickly obtained without blows was no infringement of the Truce And afterwards they perfidiously conveyed 200. men at armes into the Castle of Roan presuming to have surprized it but being discouered they were all taken and either executed as traytours or ransomed The Regent knowing these coles would quickly kindle speeds him to his charge and preparation on both sides is made for war wherein he found the Duke of Burgoine lesse forward then he had used to be whereby the Regent found his affection did slacke but would not seeme to take notice thereof The Lord Talbot having payed his ransome commeth to the Regent bringeth with him 700. tryed souldiers They take the field on both sides in warlike manner making shews of encounter but twice together being provoked by the Regent to fight the French slunke away in the darke as not daring to abide the hazard of a battell The Peasants of Normandy pretending to shake off the English yoke which never had beene made insupportable rudely armed themselves and in outragious manner drew towards Cane but having neither power to command nor honesty to obey they were by the Earle of Arundel and the Lord Willoughby encountred and easily overthrowne with the slaughter of 1000. of them the rest were all taken whereof the chiefe Leaders were executed as traytors and the baser sort upon submission and acknowledgement of their errours permitted to depart to their severall homes But the Earle and the Lord Willoughby being now in the field and having intelligence that le Hire had besieged the Castle of Gorbury drew thither with intent to have succoured it but finding themselves too weak they made account to have retired to Beavoys but being descried they were pursued by le Hire who having advantage charged the Earle perceiving no safetie but not to hope of help resolved to win or dye fought valiantly but the Earle is dangerously wounded by the shot of a Culvering which caused the Lord Willoughby to retyre and convey the wounded Earle to Beavoys where within three dayes hee dyed say the Historians but the Harrolds say he dyed and was buried at Lewis in Sussex he married Mawd the Daughter of Sir Robert Lovell and had issue Humphry that succeeded him and Avitie married to Iames Butler Earle of Ormon and Wiltshire After the death of Arundel the Lord Willoughby dispierced his forces to their former garrisons but stayed himselfe there The Duke of Burbon taken at the battell of Agincourt after eighteene yeares imprisonment paying 18000 pounds for his ransome the same day hee was enlarged dyed at London Charles his Son who had married the Sister of the Duke of Burgoyn succeeded his Father Betwixt the two brother-in-lawes an unnaturall jarre was raysed but by the mediation of Mary Dutchesse of Berry they are reconciled by whose labour and industry with the helpe of the Duke of Burbon a reconciliation is likewise wrought betweene the French King and Burgoyne The jealousie between the Regent and the Duke of Burgoyne now was publickly discerned Whereby those that cald to mind the great charge that Henry the Fift gave on his death-bed carefully to retaine that Dukes amity laboured an enterview betwixt them to remove all scruples on either part which was obtained and Saint Omers was the place agreed upon where both Dukes being arrived they both standing too punctually on points of Honour who should give prioritie of visitation the Duke of Bedford as the Sonne Brother and Vncle of a King and Regent of France pretended it dishonourable for him to begin and the other challenging the same as of right belonging to him to have the first place the same being within his own Dominions The wisest in some points are foolish they both departed more discontented then before the haughtinesse of the spirit of the one and the great stomacke of the other being unable to give way to their unruly passions And hereupon the Duke of Burgoyne made choice rather to enter league with him that had murthered his Father then to keepe his oath with the King of England or the bond of love so often plighted with the Regent his friend and Brother-in-law And upon the receipt of a blancke Charter under the French Kings Seale to insert what Conditions of peace hee would hee proved renegado and falsified his faith to England lost his reputation to the world and sold himselfe slave to perpetuall ignomy The Towne of Saint Dennis by the perfidiousnesse of Mathew Gougley was betrayed to the Bastard of Orleance but the Lord Talbot presently beguirt the same with a siege to raise which the bastard Orleance drew great forces together but before their approach the Towne was given up and beatento the ground The inhabitants of Pontoys neverthelesse rebell and thrust out the English garrison whose examples did set the Parisians mindes on worke to tread the same steps but the Regents vigilancie over them hindred their intentions But now began the bright light of Englands glory to be ecclipsed those glorious beames of victory which they formerly had obtained every day more and more to decline The triple twine being cleane untwisted for the thrice renowned wise and circumspect Iohn Regent of France Duke of Bedford Aniou and Alanson Earle of Mayne Harecourt Dreux Richmond and Carlile and Vicount Beamond the Atlas whose shoulders kept the realme of France from sliding from their allegiance sworne to King Henries Father and Sonne upon the fourteenth of September 1435. at Paris exchanged all his glory here for the fruition of a more sempiternall felicitie in another place he was buried at Roan in our Ladies Church Whereat the Nobilitie of Normandy much repined as seeming desirous to have had some place of their owne territories to have been honoured by giving sepulture to so nobly deserving a Patriot unto them Yet such was their levitie that within few yeares after in the Raigne of Lewis the Sonne of Charles they instantly desired to have the Monument erected over him to bee demolished alleaging it was dishonourable to have so arch an enemy to France interred in the Metropolitan Citie of that Province But Lewis answered God forbid I should give way to so dishonourable an act as to molest the quiet of his dead bones that living would if offended have molested all here and it savours of too much basenesse to insult upon a dead Lyon Hee had two wives the first was Anne Sister of the Duke of Burgoyne the second Iaqueline daughter of Peter Earle of Saint Paul but had issue by neither No sooner was his death divulged but infinite alterations followed aswell in England as France Edmond Duke of Somerset as much affecting Soveraigne command underhand laboured to
Gravelin wherefore the King came the Bishop of Winchester Iohn Duke of Norfolke with Humphry Earle of Stafford and others For the Duke appeared his Dutchesse the Bishop of Arras and the Lord of Croys where truce for a very small time is concluded on and for lesse kept This yeare was memorable for the death of three great Princesses Katherine Queene of England and Sister to the King of France The old Dowager of Henry the fourth King of England Daughter of the King of Navar and Mother to the Princes of Britaine And the old Countesse of Armanacke Daughter to the Duke of Berry and Mother to the Duke of Savoy which all dyed within eight and fourty houres the one of the other The fury of fighting growing cold Traffick for townes was againe set on foot and Harflew sold For the recovery whereof the Duke of Somerset with the Lord Talbot and a brave company of souldiers beset it both by land and water there being within to defend it Sir Iohn Estontvile and his brother with six hundred men and upward the Earles of Ewe with the Bastards of Orleance and Burbon with foure thousand men came to the reskue but so well were the English entrencht that the French could neither succor their friends nor annoy their enemies and so as they came they returned Whereupon the towne was surrendred upon composition About this time the Dutchesse of Bedford followed Queen Katherines example making election for an Husband of a gallant young Gentleman but of small meanes yet fortunate only enough by being affected one Sir Richard Woodvile whom she took to Husband to the great discontent of her French friends but especially her Vncle the Bishop of Terwine but she cared not who was vext so her selfe was pleased and God not offended who blest her and made her Mother of many children and amongst the rest of the Lady Elizabeth afterwards married to King Edward the fourth Iames King of Scots which before had bin fifteen yeares prisoner in England and from thence released with a Wife a great dower and many honourable presents yet proved ingratefull was murthered by certaine his traiterous subjects in his bed-chamber by night who being found out were cruelly tortured The Duke of Burgoine having attempted the unworthy traffick of bartering for Callice with mony but not able to compasse it being infinitely desirous to bee Master of it when neither force nor fraud could prevaile attempts it by a strange pollicy but of like successe to the former for hee was perswaded by a rediculous practise so to cut a ditch that hee might at his pleasure drowne both the Towne and Countrey about this hee imployed much labour and more cost but this fantasticall fancy of a flood vanished away like his Flemmish army at the siege there of like a vapour The Lord Talbot besieged Tanckervile and hath it after foure moneths lying before it simply rendred unto him In leiw whereof the French King in his owne person layes siege to Monstrew fault Yonne Whilst the Duke of Yorke was providing for the reskue of this Towne hee was discharged of his office by which meanes Sir Thomas Gerrard had the more colour to sell not lose the Towne which the King of France making his owne contract with him bought of him for rewards and preferment both promised but how performed I know not only having sold his honour with his charge hee lived disgraced and discarded in much discontent an exile in France where hee died This yeare is a Parliament holden at Westminster in which were made many good and profitable acts aswell for the preservation of peace at home as for provision to maintaine the warres abroad Arthur Constable of France and Iohn Duke of Alanson besieged the Towne of Auranches whither the Lord Talbot came and offered them battell which they refusing hee marched in despight of them none daring to make resistance into the Towne from whence next morning he sallyed out and having made a greatslaughter amongst them tooke divers prisoners and retreated at pleasure the French being well contented so to bee rid of him The French the next morning were called from the siege pretended for Pautou de Santrelis for the Hire had sent Letters unto them that they had the promise of divers Bourgers of Roan when their watch-night came to let them in they wisht therefore the Constable to meet them at Rize a place within foure leagues of Roane here of the Lord Talbot having notice covertly marcht to Roan and from thence though wearied with a bad journey marcheth before day to Rize where he surprizeth the French taketh the Lord Fontaines Sir Allaine Geron and many other the Hire by the helpe of his horse though not unwounded by him that pursued him escaped and so Talbot returneth to Roan with a faire bootie and full instructions to discover the Traitours who convicted had the reward of their treason The sixtday of November the Earle of Warwicke who seven times having beene abourd and still beat backe by tempestuous and contrary winds landed at Hoinflew with a thousand fresh souldiers came to Roan whither the Duke of Yorke was come downe and from thence returned for England The Duke of Burgoine taking advantage as hee thought of a still water with tenne thousand men besiegeth the Towne of Crotoy to relieve whom the new Regent sent the Lord Talbot with five thousand men whereof the Duke having notice upon their approach retyreth with his power except foure hundred with whom hee had manned a Bastileo by him there erected to Abvile but the Bastilio is soone gained and all the souldiers either taken or slaine The valiant Talbot sent the Duke word that if hee would save his Countrie of Piccardy from vastation that hee should come into the field where hee attended him and would give him if he dared to come battell But the Duke of Burgoine was not in the fighting humour neither loved to bee too neere so cholericke an enemy that would strike if hee might come at him and therefore from Abvile secretly conveyes himselfe to Amiens Twenty dayes together did the Lord Talbot with fire and sword passe thorow Piccardy and Arthoys destroying all that stood in his way and so returneth unencountred Sir Thomas Kiryel seized upon the Dukes Carriages and Ordnance and having left in Crotoy victual enough for six hundred men for a whole yeare hee brought the rest to the Earle of Warwicke who thankfully received them Henry Earle of Mortaine sonne to Edmond Duke of Somerset arrived with three hundred Archers and three hundred Speares and past thorow Normandy to Mayne and tooke in his March by assault the Cattle of Saint Anian wherein were three hundred Scots and French-men the Scots hee slew all and hanged the French-men for that they had sworne fealty to England and broke it hee tooke likewise the Castle of Algarche and by meanes of an Ambush taketh the Lord of Camerois comming
to the reskue thereof on the other side the Townes of Neux in Bry and Susan were sold and delivered to the French by the trecherous Burgers All manner of graine in England in respect of the scarcity thereof was at exceeding high prices and had not the care and industry of the then Maior Stephen Browne beene such that hee had caused provision of corne especially Rye to bee bought and brought from farre Countries thither the famine would have raged as much in London as the fearefull Pestilence did in Paris where those that dyed in the streets lay unburied untill the ravenous Wolves made their mawes the sepulture of their flesh but God in his mercy ceased the plague in Paris and replenished London with graine in abundance to the great reliefe of remoter parts of the kingdome which before that time were driven to make their sustenance of Fearne rootes and Ivy berryes In Iune the Earle of Huntington with two thousand Archers and foure thousand Speares was sent into Gascoyne whither the Earle of Danoyes was lately come throughly instructed and provided to buy the best penny-worths of Townes â—…nd Castles hee could compasse but the Earle of Huntington upon his comming thither changed all the Captaines and Officers and put others in their roomes whereby hee warily prevented the Bastards chafferours This strumpet Bribery and whore covetousnesse began to spread their wings so farre that in Normandy the English Captaines had small confidence in the Natives and not too much in some of their owne Nation Whereupon Sir Richard Woodvile Sir William Chamberlaine Sir William Peto with a thousand men were sent thither to stoppe the current of French crownes from corrupting the yet faithfull souldiers with them They according to their directions narrowly sifted all and where they found fault or cause of suspition they punished or removed and having settled all things in good order returned A gap began this yeare to bee opened whereby the English might have entred to have made a reduction of those pieces the French had bought or conquered but the wisdome of the Councell of France stopped it by reconciling the King and his sonne the Dolphin betweene whom by the sinister perswasions of base Sycophants on both sides there were discurtesies taken before given and discontent without any ground the sonne deeming his Fathers grave deportment too too much austerity and the Father the Dolphins youthfull countenance to a kind of contempt beyond filiall dutie neither having just cause of jealousie yet both suspitious of each others countenance But the knot of seditious faction tyde betweene the Dukes of Burgoyne Alanson and the Dolphin is dissolved and the King and his Sonne in show reconciled Some small peeces were in this time regayned but Paris for which provision was making for the reduction thereof was left off upon the notice of the reconcilement In a great bend of Frost with a deepe snow the English under the conduct of Iohn Lord Clifford having covered their armour with white shirts and their heads with white Alman skulls come to Ponthoys by night and undiscovered past the ditches skaled the walls slew the guards and tooke the Towne with many good prisoners and a great spoile presently upon the regaining of which Towne the Earle of Warwicke died in the Castle of Roan and was from thence conveyed to England and buried in his Colledge at Warwicke hee was the sixteenth Earle of Warwicke and Lord Lisle in the right of his Wife hee married two wives the first Elizabeth Daughter and heire of Thomas Lord Barckley and Margery his Wife Daughter and heire of Warren Lord Lisley and Tyes by whom hee had issue three Daughters Margaret the eldest married to Iohn Talbot Earle of Shrewsbury who had issue Iohn Talbot Vicount Lisley Elianor married with Thomas Lord Rosse of Hamlocke and after to Edward Bewford Duke of Somerset Elizabeth maried to George Nevill Lord Latimer Earle Richard Beauchampes second Wife was Isabell Daughter of Thomas Spencer Earle of Glocester by whom hee had issue Henry Duke of Warwicke and Anne married to Richard Nevill Earle of Salisbury who in her right was after Earle of Warwicke To reduce Ponthoys the French King in person layeth siege thereunto and useth all possible meanes hee can to enforce it but the defendants but flowt him for his paines and many times send his assaulting souldiers haulting home with fleaes in their eares Richard Duke of Yorke being the second time made Regent being arrived with the Earle of Oxford and the Earle of Ewe levies a power to raise the siege and arriving there giveth notice to the King that the next morning hee would bid him battell But the King not liking the breath of Talbot leaves his Ordnance and best provision in the Bastile of Saint Martins and in the midst of the night stole to Poysy The English possesse his tents furnish the Towne with the provision therein left and thereof make Sir Gervoys Clifton Captaine with a thousand souldiers for the defence thereof and then marched to Poysy where he braved the French King and thought with taunts and revilings to have put valour in him but hee was too patient to bee provoked to fight wherefore hee left him there and returned to Roan A motion of parlie is moved the place appointed Callice by the mediation and solicitation of the Dutchesse of Burgoyne shee being a Portugall by birth very solicitous of the safetie of her husband and the quiet of France a woman of no ordinary capacitie but of an extraordinary understanding by her meanes the King of France sendeth the Archbishop of Reimes and Narbon and the Earle of Dunoys For the King of England the Cardinall of Yorke and the Duke of Exceter with whom came Charles Duke of Orleance who having beene long kept Prisoner was in good hope of enlargement but the successe of the meeting not answering the expectation nothing was done for his enlargement for in such treatises such as have the possession of strong holds doe commonly use policie and delayings the stronger giving lawes to the weaker so that the English would not bate an ace of what they had gotten to keepe and would have for the ransome of the Duke their first asking which was more then his meanes could any way compasse and the French King not very forward to give him any assurance so that the disconsolate Duke patiently returnes but his misery so moved the heart of the Dutchesse of Burgoyne that shee prevailed so farre with her husband that hee passeth his credit for the payment of three hundred thousand Crownes for his ransome at Callice at a day prefixt at which time and place the Duke of Orleance in person and the Duke of Burgoynes money meet where the one being received the other after five and twenty yeares imprisonment is released and by his sonne that had slaine his Father and sought the ruine of his house but now a firme league of
language provoked the Victor but one bad word begat another and from foule words they fell to fouler blowes The Maior observing the mover to be the Pryors servant not only commanded the Kings peace in generall to be observed but perceiving by the Priors countenance that he did abet his servants insolency he commanded Richard Ally one of the Sheriffs to lay hold upon the Priors servant who did so and delivered him to one of his officers from whom by the Priors servants and others their partakers the prisoner was in danger to be reskued so as the Sheriffe craved assistance of the Maior who with his brethren and officers and servants valiantly assisted the Sheriffe in the execution of his office whilst the Prior hasted to Saint Iohns from whence and Clerkenwell he under the guide of one Callice a desperate swaggerer sent a number of Bowmen to resist the Maior upon whose approach great bloodshed and some slaughter was committed the Maiors cap was shot thorow with an arrow hee neverthelesse couragiously did his devoire in encouraging the Citizens and apprehending some of the mutiners whom he sent to Newgate and put the rest to flight which being done he commeth to his Pavilion would have had the sports goe on but the Wrastlers were out of breath or hurt so that none came neverthelesse Sir Iohn Norman the Maior told his Brethren that he would stay a while to make triall of the Citizens respect towards him for if they came to his reskue though it needed not yet they would expresse their love or their neglect if otherwise he had no sooner said so when the Citizens with Banners displayed came in great numbers to him and fetcht him home in great triumph This was that Maior which first began to goe by water to Westm. to take his oath in that manner as is at this day used wheras before that time they used to go by land This Maior againe was troubled by the Sanctuary men of S. Martins which not without some bloodshed a great deale of industry on his part was with the publick punishmēt of some of the ringleaders appeased But upon the neck of that began the quarrel in Holborne betwixt the Gentlemen of the Innes of Chauncery and some Citizens in appeasing of which the Queenes Attourney and three more were slaine But these were but Peccadelloes to the deformities made in civill societies by civill dissentions the yeare following For now began the sparke that fell into the bundell of flaxe at Somersets going Regent into France to flame out For first Yorke by all meanes laboureth to stirre up the hatred of the Commons against Somerset inculcating in their eares who are apt enough upon losses in warres to accuse the Leaders of some crime of neglect or other what dishonour England sustained by Somersets dishonourable giving over by composition the strong townes of Normandy to these hee addeth favour with the King and Queene which hee imployeth saith hee to his owne gaine and the Commons griefe and so having anticipated with his speeches their apprehensions hee addresseth himselfe to those of the Nobilitie that could not well brooke the too much commanding power of Somerset over the King and Queenes affections for what hee told the Queene was beleeved and what she told the King must bee true amongst others the Duke of Yorke fasteneth upon the two Nevills both Richards the Father and the sonne the one Earle of Salisbury the other Earle of Warwicke The Earle of Salisbury was second sonne of Ralph Nevill Earle of Westmerland whose Daughter the Duke of Yorke had married And this Richard was married to Alice Daughter and only heire of Thomas Mountacute Earle of Salisbury slaine in France with these hee deales so effectually that an undissoluble knot of friendship is knit betwixt them by whose assistance the King lying dangerously sicke at Claringdon the Duke of Somerset is arrested in the Queenes great Chamber of treason and sent to keepe his Christmasse in the Tower and a Session of Parliament at Westminster now convoked Somerset is appeached of treason and many heynous crimes objected but the King though weake is brought to London to dissolve the Parliament After which the Duke of Somerset is againe set at libertie which more incenseth the Duke of Yorkes choler and inciteth others more to be cholericke and the rather for that Somerset in-stead of receiving of punishment for the losse of Normandy is entrusted with the sole remainder of our interest in France and preferred to be Captaine thereof to lose that too say his enemies of the whole Common-wealth they assemble a great power and therewith march towards London The King being assured it was no good policie to suffer the Duke to approach London wherein he had by his long practises got no small party resolves to stop him on the way and accompanied with the Duke of Somerset and attended by the Duke of Buckingham and his Sonne both named Humphry Henry Earle of Northumberland Iames Earle of Wiltes Iasper Earle of Penbrooke and two thousand fighting men march forward both Armies meet at Saint Albones The Duke and the Lords encampe without the Towne in a place called Keyfield the King pitched his Standard in a place called Goseslow the Lord Clifford kept the end of the towne which hee barrcadoed The Duke in the morning sent a Letter unto the King stuft with many protestations of fidelitie and sinceritie offering to give testimony thereof in any thing so please his Majestie to give due punishment to those that have abused his favour and dishonoured the Realme and that so be witched him especially the Duke of Somerset that nothing his loyall subject can either say or doe can make him give credence to their true relations against Somerset the delivery of him into their hands to stand or fall by the judgement of his Peeres is all they desire that they will have or die in the pursuit The King for answer commands them to disband and submit to his mercy and not expect any in his Army to be delivered to their wills for he will rather lose his life then any should bee wronged for their loves that were with him Here with the Duke acquaints his friends who afore resolved and now prepared fell every one to his quarter the Earle of Warwicke with his March-men fell upon the Lord Cliffords quarter driving downe all afore them for that wanting roome to use their weapons the Kings partie was much disadvantaged the Duke of Somerset hasting to the reskues was slaine and with him the Earle of Northumberland Humphry Earle of Stafford the Lord Clifford and about five thousand The Kings army being encreased after his comming forth to eight thousand but now they are all dispersed and slaine and the King unguarded left in a poore thatched house whither to bee freed from the arrowes flying hee had withdrawne himselfe The Duke of Yorke having notice where the King was comes with
rifled and robbed the outlandish Merchants in all places of the Citie doing them much mischiefe and committing many outrages The Maior to suppresse these enormous courses assembleth a company of honest and substantiall Citizens who with good discretion but not without some blood-shed appeased their rage and quieted the many whilst the ringleader which more for revenge of his commitment to Newgate then any desire to enrich himselfe with their spoile got himselfe to Westminster and there taketh Sanctuary The Councell being advertised of this misdemeanour sent the Duke of Buckingham by the Qeenes direction with Commission to enquire and punish these offences But when the Maior and the Commissioners were set tidings came that tâ—… Commons were up in armes to stop all proceedings against any of those offenders the Commissioners thereupon well knowing how distastfull their Commission would bee to the multitude when thereby the Maiors power should be abridged and the government of the Citie questioned departed and left the businesse to bee proceeded in by the Maior and his Brethren who with great care and much industry so managed things that many of the offenders were punished some by death others by fines and imprisonment and all things quieted and well ordered The French in this time of uncivill dissentions manned out two Fleetes whereof one under the conduct of William Lord Pomyers the other of Sir Peter Bressy went Eastward and Westward the Lord fell upon Fulnay and burning certaine houses soone retyred the Knight spoyled Sandwich the people for feare of the plague which mightily raged there being fled from thence but with no great booty or harme done returned The Scots under colour and countenance of their Kings presence came into Northumberland burning and spoyling the Borders but hearing of the Duke of Yorkes approach retired Thomas Piercy Lord Egremond one of the younger sonnes of the Earle of Northumberland had a great conflict with the Earle of Salisburies Sonnes in which many were slaine But the Lord was taken and brought before the Councell by whom hee was committed to Newgate and deeply fined but hee escaped with many other prisoners to the great trouble of the Sheriffs of London Whilst the Duke of Yorke was absent for repelling the rebellious Scots in the North the King went to Greenwitch to the Queene who perswaded him for his health and recreation as she alleaged but her drift was for that shee found by experience that the Duke of Yorke was more favoured and his favourites respected about London then either shee or the King so that it was in vaine to attempt any thing against him there yet something must be done against him or else she should be undone to take his Progresse Northward into Warwickshire which he did by the way hawking hunting the Queen making shew of minding nothing but pastimes had caused private Letters under the Kings privie signet in most loving termes to be sent unto the three Lords whereby they-were earnestly solicited by an houre appointed to be at Coventry which they reverently intended But by the way they have true information of the mischiefe plotted against them and so warily by flight but not without some danger escaped for they causing their stewards with their retinue to goe forward on the way to the Court whilst the Duke of Yorke but with a groome and a Page sped him to Wigmore Castle The Earle of Salisbury to his Castle of Middilham in the North And the Earle of Warwicke to the Sea-side and so to Callice but before they departed they agreed upon an alphabet by which they might have entercourse of letters which though intercepted yet their intentions might be kept vndiscovered The King unwitting of this intended mischiefe against the Duke of Yorke and his friends returneth to London whither he calleth a Councell And therein of his owne accord desireth some course to be invented for the banishing of Rancour and malice out of the hearts of his nobilitie and to the end he might have the glory of the reconcilment though themselues the good he promised on his salvation a thing unusuall with him so to assevere so to entertaine the Duke of Yorke and his friends that all discontents and injuries should be outwardly respectively forgotten and inwardly religiously forgiven and perpetuall love and amitie on all parties established to this end Messengers are dispatched to the Duke of Yorke and all other of what ranke soever worthy notice to be taken of which since the battaile of Saint Albones had expressed themselues to be displeased on either part Commanding them for vrgent affaires of the realme and upon royall promise of safe conduct to repaire to his Court at London at a time appointed The Duke of Yorke having intimated to his confederates his resolution and given them admonition to provide for prevention of the wrong observantly came and with foure hundred men well appointed lodged at his house called Baynards Castle The Earle of Salisbury with fivehundred men likewise lodged at his house called the herbor the Dukes of Exceter lately released and Somerset with eight hundred men were lodged without Temple-barre The Earle of Northumberland the Lord Egrimond and the Lord Clifford with fifteene hundred men were lodged in Holborne the Earle of Warwicke with sixe hundred in red Iackets with ragged staves embrodered behind and before were lodged at the Gray-Friers in London upon the seventeenth of March the King and Queene came to London and were lodged at the Bishops pallace The Maior like a provident Magistrate Commanded every Alderman in his Aldermanry to keepe a standing watch in armes both by day and night himfelfe having five thousand well appointed men in readinesse upon any occasion rode with a competent number all day long round the City for preservation of the Kings peace on all sides The Lords lodging within the Citie held their Councell at Black-friers the others at the Chapter house at Westminster Betweene both the reverent Archbishop of Canterbury the sonne of Henry Bourchyer Earle of Essex a man every way Compleat without exception with some such prelates of whose modest condition and learning he had made experience did diligently intercede and so effectually laboured that both sides by his mediation were well contented to come to Communication the good successe whereof was good for that after much conference the wisedome of the indifferent being such that all repetitions of wrongs on either side done should be forborne it was finally concluded that all wrongs iniuries and misdemenors on every side should be forgotten and forgiven that each side should be friends to the other and both be obedient to the Commandes of the King And by their further consent the Duke of Yorke the Earle of Salisbury and the Earle of Warwicke should assure forty five poundes per annoum to the Abby of Saint Albones for obites and ceremonions suffrages of the Church at that time usuall for the benefit of the soules of all such as were
succeeded in the Earledome 2. Iohn the second was Created Marquesse Mountague 3. Thomas married the Widow of the Lord Willoughby 4. George was Archbishop of Yorke and Lord Chancellor 1. Ioane the eldest Daughter was married to William Fisz-Allen Earle of Arundell 2. Cecily was married to Henry Beuchamp Duke of Warwicke 3. Alice was married to Henry Lord Fitz-Hugh 4. Elianor to Thomas Stanley Earle of Darby 5. Katherine to William Bonvile Lord Harrington and 6. Margaret to Iohn Vere Earle of Oxford Richard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke tooke to wife Cecily Daughter of Ralph Nevill first Earle of Westmerland and had issue eight Sonnes and foure Daughters 1. His eldest Sonne Henry dyed young 2. Edward afterwards King of England 3. Edmond Earle of Rutland slaine with his Father 4. Iohn dyed young 5. William 6. Thomas 7. George after Duke of Clarence 8. Richard surnamed Croutchbacke after King of England 1. Anne his eldest Daughter was married to Henry Holland Duke of Exceter 2. Elizabeth married to Iohn de la Poole Earle of Suffolke 3. Margaret married to Charles Duke of Burgundie 4. And Vrsula The Earle of March having tidings of his Fathers death encreaseth his Army and borne up with two wings desire of revenge and expectation to raigne hee tooke his leaue at Shrowsbury of the Inhabitants intimating to them at his departure the murther of his Father and Brother the destruction intended of himselfe and Familie and downfall of all that wisht well to his part if not heedfully prevented hee craved therefore their utmost assistance and their neighbours which they accordingly performed and then with some good strength presently tooke the field and having advertisement that Iasper Earle of Penbrooke with the Earles of Ormond and Wiltshire with a great power of Welch and Irish did follow after him hee suddenly marcheth backe againe and in a plaine neere Mortimers Crosse on Candlemasse day in the morning hee gave them battaile and with the slaughter of three thousand and eight hundred put the Earles to flight Owen Teuther who had married Queene Katherine Mother to Henry the sixt and divers Welch Gentlemen were taken and at Hereford beheaded The Queene encouraged by the death of the Duke of Yorke with a power of Northerne people with an intent to undoe what was done in the last Parliament marcheth towards London but when her souldiers were once South of Trent as if that River had beene the utmost limits of their good behaviour they did most licentiously forrage the Country harrowing burning and spoyling the same as if they had beene in the most barbarous land of heathens Approaching Saint Albones they were advertised that the Duke of Norfolke and the Earle of VVarwicke were ready to give them battaile The Queenes Voward hasteth to passe thorow Saint Albones but were saluted from the Market place with such a showre of arrowes that they were for safeguard glad to retire and sought to passe by another way which but not without some blowes they did and encountred with their enemies in the field who perceiving the maine battaile to stand and not to move by the trechery of Lonelace who with the Kentish men led the Van. the Southerne men turned afide and fled and by the Northerne prickers were slaughtered untill night saved their backes When night was come the residue despairing of each others well-meaning shifted away The Nobles about the King perceiving how the game went withdrew themselves The Lord Bonvile comming in a complementall manner to the King saying It grieved him to leave his Majestie but necessitie for safeguard of his life enforced it was importuned and Sir Thomas Kiryell like wise by the King to stay hee passing his royall word that their stay should not endanger their bodyes upon which promise they stayed but to their cost for such was the inplacable fury of the Queen that hearing Baron Thorpe was by the Commons beheaded at Highgate she the day after the battell being Ashwednesday caused both their heads to bee smitten off at Saint Albones whose death reckoned with the rest maketh up of the slaughtered the number of three and twentie hundred The King was advised to send one Thomas Hoe that had beene a Barrester to the Victors to thanke them for their paines and to tell them that hee would gladly come to them if with convenience it might be done The Earle of Northumberland appointed divers Lords to attend him to the Lord Cliffords Tent where the Queene and young Prince met to their great joy it was now observed that victory alwayes fled from where the King was present At the Queenes request he honored with the order of Knighthood thirty that the day before fought against the part where hee was the Prince likewise was by him dubbed Knight Then they went to the Abby where they were entertained with Anthems and withall an humble Petition to be taken into the Kings protection thereby to bee freed from the tiranny of the loose souldiers which was promised and Proclamation accordingly made but to small purpose for the Northerne men said it was made in their bargaine to haveall the spoyle in every place after they had passed the River of Trent and so they robbed and spoyled all they could come at which gave just cause of dislike to the indifferent-minded which only wisht the quiet and peace of the Country not respecting which Rose the red or white prevailed for now began that distinction by those Badges for the factions of Yorke and Lancaster to bee worne The Londoners hearing of this disorder were warned to looke to themselves and they were resolved since there was no more assurance in the Kings promise to keepe the Northerne men out of their gates The gentlenesse and tendernesse of a King not accompanied with courage and severitie is both hurtfull to himselfe and his estate In the Kings name the Londoners are sent to to send over to the Campe certaine Cart-loades of Lenton provision The Maior accordingly provides and makes all things ready but the Commons rose about Cripplegate and by strong hand say or doe what the Maior or his officers can they kept the Carts from going forth of the Citie The Maior sends the Recorder to the Kings Councell and knowing the predominancy of the Queenes passion if never so little troubled they entreat the Dutchesse of Bedford and the Lady Scales with all the Fathers of the Church resiant about London to intercede for him and excuse his not using force considering how apt the multitude was to take fire upon the least flash and how dangerous it might bee in these doubtfull times to raise their fury that would not easily bee allayed it was well advised to send women to entreat women for they so prevailed That some of the Lords of the Councell with a guard of foure hundred good souldiers were appointed to goe for London to enquire and certifie the truth of these things But before they set forth divers
Northerne men that long looked to have the ransacking of London came unto the gates and would have entred had not the Citizens valiantly repelled them and with the slaughter of some three or foure they were sent to carry word to the Campe that the Earle of March with a great Army was marching towards them neither was it a fiction For at Chipping-Norton by Cotsall the Earle of Warwicke having drawne together as many of his scattered troopes as hee could find met with the earle of March and his victorious troopes which being joyned they hasted towards London and were joyfully received upon the eight and twentieth day of Februarie and upon Sunday the second of March the Earle of Warwicke mustered all this Army in Saint Iohns fields and having cast them in a ring the Leader read unto them the agreement of the last Parliament and then demanded whether they would have King Henry to raigne still who all cryed No no then they were askt whether they would have the Earle of March eldest Sonne of the Duke of Yorke by that parliament proclaimed King to raigne over them and with a great clamour they cryed yea Then went there certaine Captaines and others of the Common Councell of the Citie to the Earle of March to Baynard Castle whom they acquainted with what was passed whereof hee expressed himselfe in some termes as unworthy of the place and unable to execute it yet hee thanked God for the gift and them for their good wills And by the advise of the Archbishop of Canterbury and theanimation of the Bishops of London Exceter and the Earle of Warwicke he resolved to take it upon him And the next morning he went in Procession at Pauls and offered there and after Te deum sung he was with great royalty conveyed to Westm. and there in the great Hall seated in the Kings seat with the Scepter of Saint Edward in his hand And then the people whereofthere was a great Concourse were alowd demanded if they would acknowledge him to bee their King to which with great willingnesse they cryed Yea yea Then taking homage of divers Noble men then present hee was with Procession and great State conveyed to the Abby there and placed in the Quier as King whilst Te deum was singing that done hee offered at Saint Edwards shryne and then returned by water to Pauls and was lodged in the Bishops Pallace Vpon the fourth of March hee was generally proclaimed King by the name of Edward the fourth THE LIFE AND RAIGNE OF KING EDVVARD THE FOVRTH EDWARD Earle of March borne at Roan in Normandy Sonne and Heire of Richard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke by Cecily Nevill Daughter of Ralph Earle of Westmerland and Ioane Daughter of Iohn of Gaunt by Lady Katherins Swinford upon the fourth day of March rode in State to the Church of Saint Paul in London and there made his Oblation And after Te Deum sung hee was with great solemnitie attended to Westminster and there being placed in the great Hall with the Scepter Royall in his hand before a confluence of people there assembled well knowing with what baite to angle to catch the many Hee makes a solemne declaration of his right to the Crowne of England challenging it to belong unto him by a double Title The first as Sonne and heire to Richard Duke of Yorke the rightfull Heire of the same The second as elected by Authority of Parliament upon King Henryes forfeit hereof Neverthelesse he was resolved to wave both Title and right by either except the people would willingly approve of his proceeding therein and lovingly allow of his Claime Whereupon it was againe publickly demanded of the assembly if they would unanimously admit and acknowledge the said Earle to bee their King and Soveraigne Lord whereupon all with one voice cryed Yea yea King Edward King Edward Thereupon hee went from thence to Westminster Abby and entred the same with solemne Procession and there as King offered and afterward by the name of Edward the Fourth was proclaimed King throughout the Citie of London In the meane time King Henry in the North was raising what powers hee could to stopthis Torrent But the Earle of March great in the favour of that great beast of many heads the multitude presuming of their ready willingnesse to assist him makes preparation to encounter King Henry To Edward resort men of all ages and condition the one making tender of their persons the other of their patrimonies to be spent at his devotion and for the support of his cause by which meanes he suddainly was furnished with a puissant and well accommodated army And being perswaded that no other meanes would serue for direction of his claime but the sword he resolued to set up his rest and by battaile to give a certaine determination to the question Vpon the twelfth of March his forces marched from London and by easie journeys came to Pomfret Castle where he rested and from thence the Lord Eitz-walter with some companies was sent by him to guard the passage at Ferry-brigg to stop the enemies approch that way King Henry likewise advanceth forward and sends his power under the conduct of the Duke of Somerset the Earle of Northumberland and the Lord Clifford Whilst himselfe Queene and sonne stay at Yorke The Lord Clifford very early on Palme Saterday in the morning with a troope of Northerne Prickers falls upon those that had the guard of the passage at Ferry-brig and defeated them with the slaughter of the Lord Fitzwalter and the bastard of Salisbury The Earle of Warwicke hearing of this defeate postes to the Earle of March his Campe and in his presence killing his horse said Sir I pray God have mercy on their soules which in the beginning of your enterprise have for your love lost there lives The enemie hath won the passage at Ferrybrigg There is no hope now but in God yet let him flye that will flye when kissing the Crosse of his sword he sayd by this good signe I will stand by him that will stand by me fall backe fall edge The Earle of March no whit amated but somewhat moved with Warwicks resolution presently made Proclamation that all such of his company as were unwilling to stay or afraid to fight should at their pleasure depart But to those that would abide he promised good reward Adding withall that if any that stayed should after turne his backe or flee That he that should kill such a Changeling should have double pay Then gave he order to the Lord Fauconbridge and Sir Walter Blunt to lead on the Vowarde who in their March about Dindingdale encountred with the Lord Clifford who formerly in cold blood had slaugtered the young Earle of Rutland him with Iohn Lord Nevill sonne and heire of the Earle of Westmerland they slew with most of their companies putting the rest to flight The next day likewise the Duke of Norfolke being dangerously sicke
to whom that place was assigned Fauconbridge and Blunt continue the leading of the vantguard And on Palme-Sunday by breake of day they came to Saxton from whence they made a full survay of King Henryes army and certified the Earle of March that the enemie was threescore thousand strong whereupon a second Proclamation was made through the Campe That no quarter should be kept nor prisoner taken a Course more savoring of policie then Religion yet by so much the more excusable by how much his number was so far short of his adversarie The armies being both in sight The Lord Fauconbridge gave direction to the bowmen upon a signall by him to be given to shoot every man a flight arrow for that purpose provided and then to fall backe three strides and stand which they accordingly did The Notherne men hereupon plied their bowes untill their sheaves were empty But all their arrowes fell short of the marke and turned to their owne disadvantage For their arrowes being spent hasting to ioyne to come to hand-blowes Their owne arrowes did themselves much hurt that had done the adversary no harme at all The works of those sticking galling their shinnes and the splinters of those broken piercing their feete whilst the Southerne men shot at their bodyes as if they had beene shooting at butts policy prevailing beyond strength Ten houres in doubtfull termes of victory The battaile continued when the Earle of Northumberland being slaine with the Lords Beamond Gray Dacres The Earles of Exceter and Somerset fled left the conquest to the Earle of March but the bloodiest that ever England felt for on that day fell there thirty six thousand seven hundred threescore and sixteene persons besides those that dyed of the hurts then received all of one nation no prisoners being taken but the Earle of Devon This Henry Earle of Northumberland now slaine was the third Earle of the familie of Peircyes he married Elianor Daughter and heire of Richard Lord Poyning by whom he had issue Henry that succeeded him in the Earldome and three daughters Elizabeth married to Henry Lord Scroope 2 Elianor married to West Lord Laware 3 Margaret married to Sir William Gascoyne The victor hasts to Yorke where he is readily admitted entrance when presently he causeth The heads of his father and his friends to be taken downe and buried with their bodyes setting in their places the heads of the Earle of Devon and three others there then executed This Earle of Devon was Thomas the xvi Earle and Lord of Ockhampton he married Margaret daughter of Iohn Beawford Earle of Somerset by whom he had issue three sonnes and two daughters Thomas who was taken with his father and presently by reason of the Proclamation slaine Henry the second sonne who was after beheaded at Salisbury and Iohn who was after slaine at Tewkesbury The father and the three sonnes with the losse of their best bloods witnessing their true affection to the house of Lancaster Iohan his eldest daughter was married to Sir Roger Clifford Knight and Elizabeth was married to Sir Hugh Courtney Knight The Earle of Somerset being the messenger of the late overthrow perswades and prevailes with King Henry his Queene and sonne from Yorke to flye to Barwicke where leaving the Earle of Somerset they slye further for succour to the King of Scots who comforteth them with promise of reliefe but maketh a sure bargaine and receiveth in liewe of a pension to be assigned to King Henry during his aboad there from him upon Saint Markes day the Towne and Castle of Barwick to such poore shifts was this potent King driven to pawne his best fortresse for bare food Queene Margaret and her sonne are sent to France to labour there whilst those that stayed with the King himselfe being onely intentive to devotion fayled not to solicite friends and make preparation for a second encounter The Queene upon her arrivall obtayned of Lewis the eleventh her Cousin that those of the house of Yorkes favorites were prohibted trafficke or stay in the French Kings dominions But all such as loved the Lancastrian line were permitted freely In triumphant manner the Earle of March commeth to London where he is by the Maior and Citizens gloriously entertained being by them upon the xxvi day of Iune from Lambeth attended to the Tower of London who upon his first entrance therein invested foure and twentie with order of Knighthood and upon the next day he did the like to foure more Vpon the xxviii day of Iune he rode through London from the Tower to Westminster where he was Crowned in the Abby there A Parliament is summoned which began at VVestminster upon the fourth of November in which all acts of Henry the sixt formerly made which might see me any way preiudiciall to Edw. title or profit were repealed And therein Iohn Earle of Oxford a learned valiant wise man he who in a former Parliament disputed the question concerning the precedency betweene the temporall and spirituall Barones a bold attempt in those dayes and by force of whose arguments iudgment was given for the Lords temporall with his sonne Aubry de Vere Sir Thomas Tiddenham Kinght William Terrill and VValter Mongomery Esquires were without answer convict of Treason and beheaded This Iohn Earle of Oxford married Elizabeth the daughter and heire of Sir Iohn Howard and had issue five sonnes and three daughters 1 Aubry de Vere beheaded with his father 2 Iohn de Vere that succeeded in the Earledome 3 George Vere Knight that died living his father 4 Richard Vere and 5 Thomas Vere Knights 1 Mary a profest Nunne at Barking in Essex 2 Ioan married to Sir VVilliam Norris and 3 Elizabeth married to VVilliam Bourcheir sonne and heire of Henry Bourcheir Earle of Essex King Edward to encourage others to obtaine like favour by well deserving at his hands after that he had created his two younger brethren George and Richard the one Duke of Clarence the other Duke of Glocester he maketh Iohn Lord Nevill first Vicount then Marquesse Mountacute Henry Bourcheir whose brother was Archbishop of Canterbury Earle of Essex and VVilliam Lord Fauconbridg Earle of Kent enobling many others with dignities and honorable titles To hansell their new Honors Essex and Kent with the Lord Audley and divers other of the nobility with ten thousand souldiers are sent to skowre the narrow Seas these land in Britaine and by force enter the Towne of Conquet and the Isle of Ree which having pillaged and the Coasts cleered they returne Henry Duke of Somerset Sir Ralph Peircy with some others come in and submit themselues to King Edwards mercy who gratiously receiveth and entertaineth them protesting his propension of free pardoning them and as many others as would follow their example of submission The distressed Queene with five hundred French a small stake to play an aftergame of Reputation with came to the Coasts of Scotland and from thence sailes to Timmothe where
shee went on shore but speedily resorted againe to shipbord and by tempest was beaten to Barwicke Erom whence with the encrease of some few Scots leaving the Prince at Barwicke she with the king her husband marched into the Bishopricke of Durham having by the way in Northumberlaine somewhat more encreased their army To them resorteth the so late reconciled and now newly revolted Duke of Somerset Sir Ralph Peircy and divers of King Henryes welwishers who altogether made shew of a competent army But their disorderly burning and spoyling wheresoever they went whatsoever they could come at lost the goodwill of many and purchased the ill will of more King Edward to be prepared to meet the enemie at every turne makes preparation both by Sea and Land he sends Vicount Mountacute into Northumberland with Commission to raise forces whom King Edward in person followeth with his whole power leasurely but hasts some Companies after the Vicount to prevent any attempt of the Bishopricke men in case they should prove trecherous with these the Vicount marcheth towards King Henry and by the way encountreth the Lord Hungerford at Hegley-More but he with the Lord Rosse upon the first charge ran away leaving Sir Ralph Peircy alone with his owne regiment who there with them died valiantly fighting Mountacute having intelligence that King Henry was encamped in Levels plaine neer the River of Dowell in Hexamshire marcheth thither by night and set upon him in his Campe. The Northerne men with a desperate resolution receive the charge But were in the end with great slaughter overthrowne Henry Bewford Duke of Somerset the Lords Rose Mollins Hungerford Wentworth Hussey and Sir Iohn Finderne Knight with many others are taken prisoners King Henry escaped but very hardly The Duke of Somerset was presently beheaded at Exham he was never married but had a naturall sonne named Charles Somerset who was afterward created Earle of VVorcester The other prisoners were sent to New-Castle and there beheaded Thus was the White Rose in every place dyed red with the blood of the Nobilitie and the red Rose turnd pale with the horror to view the calamities occasioned by this dissention King Edward came to Durham and from thence sent the Earle of VVarwicke and others into Northumberland to reduce such Castles and forts as yet held out for King Henry which effected King Edward marched to Yorke King Henry shifting from place to place is at length discovered and in the manner of a notorious offender with his legges tyde under the horse belly without other company then Doctor Manning Deane of Windsor taken with him is by the Earle of Warwicke brought to the Tower of London a suddaine and strange alteration of estate when he that was the most potent Monark for Dominions that ever England had was not now the Master of a Molehill nor owner of his owne liberty so various are the changes and chances of this transitory life His distressed and disconsolate Queene with her sonne are driven once againe to fly for shelter into France K. Edward to raise some with ruine of others distributeth the Lands and Possessions of those that held with King Henry amongst his owne favorites and followers having the better to palliate his proceeding therein first made Proclamation that whosoever of the contrary faction would come in and submit should be received to grace and restored to their patrimonies King Edward having as it were a breathing from martiall imployments knowing that he was to deale with a people more easily to be drawne then driven addicted his courses altogether to endeer himselfe to their good affections and the better to settle in their minds a good opinion of his after-government he applied himselfe to accomplish those things whereof report had given out his predecessors have beene neglective in And first he began to set the beame even that was to carrie the scale of Iustice in equall point of right and to that end in Michaelmas terme in the second yeare of his raigne three dayes together hee sat publickly with his Iudges in Westminster-Hall on the Kings-bench to acquaint himselfe with the orders of that Court and the proceedings therein and to observe what deserved reformation in that Court either at bench or at barre He likewise ordered the Officers of his Exchequor to take more moderate fees and to be more intentive of their duties for the benefit of the subject then their owne unjust gaine And not under colour of preserving the Kings revenewes to enrich themselues and undor the subjects thereby wronging both King and people Then he complies himselfe to the multitude and publickly with such extraordinary shewes of unusuall congies and complements from a Soveraigne entertaines them That he thereby tyes their pliable tongues to set forth his uncessant commendation drawing out their loves to the largest extent He daily frequentes the Councell Table which he furnished for the most part with such as were most gracious amongst the Citizens and were most facile either to give dispatch or Court holy water to petitioners These he imployes about references and businesses of private consequence whilst misteries of state were intimated only to such whom he selected to be of his more private Cabinet Councell with whom now he adviseth how to encrease his forraine correspondence and advance his estate with some linck of faire alliance with such that might stand him instead and be a comfort or countenance in his proceedings as occasion should fall out For which purpose the fittest meanes is concluded to be some match to be made with France By which all meanes of succour might be withdrawne from his femall persecutor Queene Margaret and assistance drawne to persecute her husband and such as should oppose his Soveraignty For the better effecting whereof the Earle of Warwick is made choice of and imployed by the King into France to treate of a match betwixt King Edward and the Lady Bona daughter to Lewis Duke of Savoy and sister to the Lady Carlote Queene of France Vpon the first proposition this motion was readily embraced and was willingly assented unto on all parts And Mounseir Dampmortyn with some others are incontinently sent into England for the full accomplishment thereof but before his arrivall the game is changed and a new triumph turned For upon the first of May the King had taken to wife the Lady Gray the widdow of Sir Iohn Gray of Groby slaine at the last battaile of Saint Albons a Lancastrian she was daughter of Richard VVoodvile Baron of VVymington and Iaquet daughter of Peter of Luxenborough Earle of Saint Paul the widdow of Iohn Duke of Bedford sometimes Regent of France a sharer with her daughter of troubles to ensue upon their marriage for as the marriage of the mother gave the first cause of distast to the Duke of Burgoyne whose severing after from the English was partly if not principally the overthrow of our Conquest in France so this match of the daughter
newes and the generall acclamations that went through all places of King Henry and a Warwicke caused King Edward to distrust his owne souldiers and fearing the tyde would turne his heart failing him in the dead of the night only with eight hundred of whose constancy hee was assured most of them the Lords Rivers Hastings and Sayes retinue hee posted from besides Nottingham toward Lincolnshire but having notice that Warwicke to impeach his retreate had sent his light horsemen before and followed himselfe with the body of the Army with great hazard and losse of his carriages which were sunke in the sands he past the Washes and came to Lynne from whence with the Duke of Glocester the Lord Scales and about seven hundred men without any change of rayment or other necessaries or other victuals but what they brought on horsebacke with them or what they had left their horses for in the Towne they set sayle bending their course for Holland The Lord Chamberlaine stayed behind aswell to make what provision hee could for the better accommodation of the King to carry with him as to take order with such of their followers as were to stay behind whom hee entreated to temporize things standing as they did till the wind came about againe which hee affirmed would bee very shortly but upon the first faire gale that blew with King Edward to open their sayles on his behalfe whilst hee was upon this negotiation fortune that makes a tennis ball of the greatest thus playd her part with King Edward No sooner was hee past ken of shore but certaine Easterlings enemies both to England and France were descried to have them in chase so that the Mariners were driven to clap on all their canvasse to beare up for the next shore of Holland The Easterlings plyed after them so close that the English durst not take land but where their landing might bee favoured by some Fort or Towne so that they were forced to fall lower then the first Coast and came to anchor before a Towne in the Netherlands called Alquemare as neere it as with conveniencie they might the ebbe being falne too low to enter the Haven The Easterlings whose ships were of greater burden came as neere them as they durst for feare of running on ground intending at the next flood to lay them aborde But in the interim the Lord Hastings being landed in Holland making enquiry after King Edward but receiving no tydings of his being come on shore presently dispatcheth Curryers to all the Maritine Townes thereabouts to give notice that Edward King of England was upon the Coasts to visit his Brother-in-law and Sister the Duke and Dutchesse of Burgoyne The Lord Gronteer Governour of Alquemare being hereof informed suspecting what was true that the King of England was aborde those shippes that the Easterlings had chased in Hee presently mand out a Boate unto them with these messages that the King of England was in league with that Country and his subjects and shipping should ride safe in that harbour without impeachment of any man and therefore commanded them in the Dukes name not to disturbe the English in their landing as they would run the hazard of the Cannon from the Towne by which meanes the King was permitted quietly to come on shore and was honourably entertained by the Governour who conducted him to the Hage where they stayed the comming of the Duke King Edward having now almost in a miraculous manner past the pikes in his owne Kingdome and the perills both of Seas and Pirates presuming that Gods providence had protected him for some good purpose Hee by the advise of his Sister who in all things exprest her selfe a dutifull Wife to her Husband but a deere friend to her Brother did intimate unto the Duke that hee had now under God none to relie upon in this lâ—…s extremity but himselfe and therefore hee earnestly doth sollcite him for present succours which hee obtaineth but whilst forces are raising to secure King Edwards returne out of Holland his Queene Elizabeth forsaketh the Tower and secretly taketh Sanctuary at Westminster upon report of Warwicks approach who made the more hasty march for London for that hee was informed That some seditious persons about Kent such that only awaited opportunitie to fish in troubled waters more out of greedy desire to gaine bootie then get glory had plotted the pillaging of London from which they were hardly restrained notwithstanding the carefull resolute and industrious courses of the Maior and his Compeeres These Scatter-goods played reaks about Limehouse places adjoyning untill the Earle of Warwick suppressed them and made exemplary punishment to bee inflicted upon many of them to the great content of the more sober-minded people And much commendation from the Citizens for his care of the Cities safety Execution of these pillages done VVarwicke commeth to the Tower which two dayes before the Maior by a bloodlesse stratagem had entred and did now make good on the the behalfe of King Henry who was by him removed out of his hold of durance into his owne lodging and there served according to his state which the Earle of VVarwicke as the more sensible of the two did more congratulate then the King himselfe King Henry upon the sixt day of October accompanied with the Archbishop of Yorke the Prior of Saint Iohns the Bishop of London the Duke of Clarence the Earle of Warwicke and other Nobles with great solemnitie was conducted through London to the Bishops Pallace where hee rested untill the thirteenth of that moneth on which day hee went in solemne procession about Pauls Church wearing his imperiall Crowne the Earle of Warwicke bearing up his traine and the Earle of Oxford the Sword before him in whom it appeared that mortality was but the stage of mutabilitie The next day as the usuall adjunct of like proceedings in all usuall places about London King Edward was proclaimed an Vsurper and all his partakers and abettors Traitors to God and the King whereof Iohn Lord Tiptoft Earle of VVorcester as a partaker with King Edward was made the first example and on that day beheaded at Tower-hill Hee had to wife Elizabeth sister and heire of Sir VValter Hopton Knight by whom hee had issue Edward who after did succeed him in the Earledome The high Court of Parliament as a cloake to cover all bracks of eruption in the State is assembled at Westminster wherein King Edward and all his knowne friends and followers are attainted of high Treason and all their lands and goods seized on to King Henryes use And like a Well with two buckets whereof one came up full to be empticd the other goes downe empty to bee fill'd one Parliament set up an Edward and puts downe Henry and the next acknowledgeth Henry and explodeth Edward George Plantaget Duke of Clarence is by the authoritie of this Parliament adjudged to bee heire to Richard Duke of Yorke his father and that
That hee would rather die like himselfe then live and have to doe with such usurping disloyall and ill-conditioned base Turne-coates The King taking notice of his head-strong resolution with his two Brothers and all their forces Vnited marcheth towards London where after some little show of resistance the Weathercocke Citizens moving like the eares of standing corne altogether which way soever the wind blew received him with great applause and lowd acclamations of welcome delivering up unto him the miserable King Henry like a ball to bee bandied with the racket of his pleasure into what hazard he pleased The Earle of Warwicke with all his forces warily followed them at the heeles but could never find opportunitie as hee expected either upon advantage to cut off their rere or hinder their approach to London And having certaine intelligence that King Edward was entred London and King Henry reimprisoned hee encamped at Saint Albones aswell to refresh his souldiers as to take counsell what course to take and how to dispose of their journey King Edward being advertised of the Earle of VVarwicks approach thinking it not fit to have him to advance too neere London drew out his forces and with them marcheth to meet his Adversary The resolution was equall on both parts to set up their rests upon the hazard of that encounter upon Easter eve the King with his power lodged in Barnet towne the Earle of VVarwicke encamped upon the hill betweene Saint Albones and Barnet the Campes each in sight of other Early on Easter day in the morning an unfit day chosen for so unpleasing a service to God The souldiers on both sides are put in array The Earle of Warwicke appointed the command of the right wing which consisted of horse to his Brother the Marquesse Mountacute and the Earle of Oxford The least wing likewise consisting of horse was led by the Duke of Exceter and the battell consisting of Bills and Bowes was conducted by the Duke of Somerset The Voward on the Kings part was commanded by the Duke of Glocester The battell in which was King Henry was led by King Edward himselfe and the Lord Hastings brought on the rere There wanted on neither side befitting encouragement to incite the souldiers to show themselves valiant and each one to doe his endevour to conquer the exhortations ended the fight began and with great valour and resolution on both sides maintained by the space of six houres without any disadvantage on either part appearing untill King Edward gave order to certaine fresh troopes of Rutters for that purpose reserved to charge the now wearied battell of the enemy which the Earle of Warwicke observing alighted from his horse with a desperate courage hee entred amongst his Adversaries whom his brother the Marquesse Mountacute in hope to reskue followed and so were both enclosed and slaine And with their fall fell the victory to King Edwards part who being assured thereof leaving his Brothers to Marshall the field and to take order for the quartering the souldiers he with King Henry in his company went on the spurre to London and there at Evening-song in Saint Pauls Church offered his Banner and the Earle of Warwicks Standard On King Edwards part was slaine no man of extraordinary note but the Lord Cromwell Sonne and heire of the Earle of Essex and the Lord Barnes Sonne and heire of the Lord Say On the other part were slaine the Earle of Warwicke the Marquesse Mountacute and three and twenty Knights on both sides fell foure thousand six hundred and odde The bodyes of the Earle of Warwicke and his brother were stripped starke naked and put in one coffin and the next day brought to London where in the body of Saint Pauls Church they lay by the space of two dayes bare visaged This Earle of Warwick commonly stiled the Great Earle of Warwick whose usuall phrase was That hee had rather bee able to set up or pull downe a King then bee a King was Richard Nevill Sonne and heire of Richard nevill Earle of Salisbury who married the Daughter of Richard Beauchampe the sixt Earle of Warwicke in whose right hee was Earle of Warwicke and in his owne Earle of Salisbury and Lord Mounthermer hee was great Chamberlaine and Lord high Admirall of ENGLAND Lord Warden of the North-Marches towards SCOTLAND and of the Cinque-ports Captaine of Callice and high Steward of the Dutchy of Lancaster hee had issue two Daughters ISABELL married to GEORGE PLANTAGGNET Duke of Clarence and ANNE first married to EDVVARD titulary Prince of Wales and after to Richard the Vsurper Iohn Nevill Brother to the said Earle was first Created Lord Mountague after that Earle of Northumberland upon the attainder and banishment of Henry Piercy Earle thereof But upon his returne into England and restoring in blood Nevill surrendred his graunt of the Earledome of Northumberland and was Created Marquesse Mountacute hee married Isabell Daughter and heire of Sir Edmond Inglesthorpe Knight and had issue George Nevill Created Duke of Bedford but aftere degraded by Act of Parliamhnt and five Daughters who after their Brothers decease which dyed without issue were Coheires of his estate Anne married to Sir William Stonhurst Knight Elizabeth married to Thomas Lord Scroope of Risdale Margaret married to Sir John Mortimer Knight Lucy married to Sir Thomas Fitz-Williams Knight Isabell married to Sir William Huddleston Knight and all these Daughters had issue After these Brothers had beene made a spectacle of mortalitie and the subject of their spectators spight scorne or pitie three dayes in that manner they were permitted to be carried to the Monastery of Bissam and there in one grave buried amongst their Ancestors Queene Margaret when it was too late with some French forces landed at Waymouth where having unwelcome tidings of this disastes znd that the Duke of Excester supposed slaine was strangely recovered and had taken Sanctuary at Westminster shee with her Sonne conveyed her selse to Bewly in Hampshire where shee tooke Sanctuary having sent her souldiers into Wales to Jasper Earle of Penbrooke who with the Duke of Somerset Thomas Courtney Earle of Devon Iohn Lord Wenlocke and some others repaired thither unto her Amongst these it is resolved once more to bring their forces together into the field and hazard one stroke more From Bewley the Queene and the Earle of Somerset speed towards Bristoll intending with what powers they could raise in Glocestershire to march to VVales to joyne with Penbrooke who was gone thither to make preparation accordingly The King made acquainted with these overtures resolves if possible to crosse the conjunction and followes Queene Margaret with a great power so close that neere Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire hee overtakes her forces who resolutely turne and make head against the Kings power where Somerset on the Queenes part leading on the Van did performe the part of a good Commander and a stout souldier maintaining the fight for a long time resolutely and bravely But
when hee found his souldiers thorugh wearinesse begin to faint and the Kings battaile came on and that the Lord WENLOCKE which had the conduct of the battaile on the Queenes part moved not So nerset rode unto him and upbraiding him with Cowardise with his Pollax beare out his braines But before hee could bring in his men to the reskues their Voward was rowted and Iohn Earle of Devon who had no issue with three thousand and odde of the Queenes part were slaine Queene MARGARET Iohn Beauford the Duke of Somersets Brother the Prior of Saint Iohns Sir Jervis Clifton and divers others were taken Prisoners which all except Queene MARGARET were beheaded the next day At which time Sir Richard Crofts presented to King EDVVARD Prince EDVVARD whom hee had taken Prisoner King EDVVARD did at first receive him with a kind of countenance expressing more signes of reioycing to see a friend then triumph of taking an enemy and began to move familiar questions unto him but not receiving such submissive satisfactory answers as hee required and it may bee some of riper yeares upon the like occasion would have done hee disdainfully thrust him from him when presently the Dukes of Yorke and Clarence Thomas Marquesse Dorset and the Lord Hastings the Kings backe being but turned with their Poniards barbarously stabd into the breast and inhumanly murdered against the law of God Nature and Nations which occasioned the revenge of his bloud afterwards in generall upon them all and in particular upon every one of them The King having made conquest now in twenty dayes of what great Warwicke had done before in eleven with Queene MARGARET his prisoner triumphantly marcheth towards London from whence as being assured as long as there remained any of the partakers of King Henry at liberty and in life his death should bee alwayes plotting hee sent Roger Vaughan a potent Gentleman and much reckoned of in his owne Countrey to entrap Jasper Earle of Penbrooke who had escaped with the Earle of Somerset from the last encounter But Penbrooke having premonition of the plot prevented the mischiefe by giving Vaughan meanes to taste the same sauce and strooke off his head King EDVVARD lingreth about Coventry expecting newes from Vaughan but at once received notice both of Vaughans defeate and newes that Thomas Bastard Fauconbridge employed by King HENRY at the appointment of great Warwicke to skowre the narrow Seas had irritated new sedition And true it was that this Fauconbridge having at Sea encountred with many that had escaped from Tewkesbury battell and were making for France and by them being informed of the murther of Prince EDVVARD and the incarcerating of Queene MARGARET hee made all fish that came to net and robbed and spoyled all that hee could come at of amunition and able men aswell Natives as Aliens and had perswaded many of the old garrison souldiers of Callice to the number of three hundred under the conduct of Sir George Brooke to joyne with him and had now drawne from all parts all such as had escaped the former encounters or were willing to purchase boote and pillage and now did intend to worke some stratagem against King EDVVARD and the kingdome And with a well accomplisht Army of seventeene thousand men came to London and in hostile manner commanded admission into the Citie and the releasement of King HENRY out of prison But was resisted and denyed by the Maior and Citizens on the one side and the Lievtenant of the Tower on the other King Edward upon the first newes knowing how dangerous delayes are in matters of this nature presently dispatched Marquesse Dorset with some competent troopes of Horse to secure London whilst himselfe upon the sixteenth day of May followes with his owne power laying all the wayes to intercept any intelligence that might bee sent or received betwixt the Bastard and Penbrooke Fauconbridge thus denyed entrance brings up his shipping to Saint Katherines and leaving in them but men sufficient to receive the boot brought takes out the most desperate and dangerous and with them marcheth to Kingstone bridge promising his souldiers by the way to give them the plundering of Westminster for their dinners and of the Suburbes of London for their suppers but London it selfe should bee their breakfast in the next morning But finding King stone bridge broken downe and all the places of passage guarded ascertained of the Kings approach and doubting to bee enclosed hee altered his resolution and with all his forces withdrew into Saint Georges field from whence hee prepared to assault the Citie of London For the effecting whereof hee landed all his ship Ordnance and planted them all alongst the bankes side and therewith battered downe many houses and much annoyed the Citie but having some religion in his rage he gave order to the Cannoneeres to spare Churches and houses of religion From Saint Katherines by Boat hee past over three thousand men giving them directions to divide themselves and with one moitie to assault Algate and with the other Bishopsgate whilst he with the residue laboured to gaine entrance by London bridge The houses round about which he fired all these places at once were desperatly attempted threescore houses being fired upon the Bridge they followed the fire and recovered the draw-bridge and then hee brought on his desperate Sea-men that inured to the water would adventure farre in the fire but by the directions of the Earle of Essex who with divers Gentlemen were come in ayde of the Citizens and were there quartered with their men they had so barricadoed up the Bridge-foot and planted great Ordnance to scowre the entrance that way that the forward Bastard seeing no possibilitie of further approach without apparant destruction having wit in his anger made a faire retreate The Marquesse Dorset in the meane time from the waters side had droven the Cannoneeres from their Ordnance But Captaine Spicing at Algate wonne the Bulwarke and drove the Citizens from the Gate entring pel mell with them untill the Portcullis was let fall when those had adventured too farre payed the price of their folly Alderman Basset and the Recorder Vrswicke who with a volant Regiment awaited to succour where need should require came to the reskew and causing the Portcullis to be drawne up made a brave sally forth and drove the Rebells backe beyond Saint Buttolphs Church which Earle Rivers Lieutenant observed well having all the day awaited with his men for advantage to give assistance issued out of the Posterne with five hundred well-appointed Bow-men who saluted the Rebells at their backes with such a showre of Arrowes that they all amazed fled to their shippes but were pursued and seven hundred of them were cut off in their flight Those that assayled Bishopsgate hearing of their fellowes ill successe shrunke disorderly away having first fired the Citie in many places the stay to quench the rage of the fire gave the assaylants the quieter meanes of retreate The fire
marriage betwixt Iohn of Gaunt and Katheryne Swinford was approved of and the issue borne before the espousalls made legitimate by act of Parliament and confirmed by a Bull from Rome This is the Catalogue of the pedegree of the two houses of Lancaster and Yorke betwixt whom the competition for the Crowne of England was the occasion of expence of so much blood Although the Crowne of England upon the decease or deposition of Richard the second without issue was jure haereditario to descend to Edmond Mortimer the younger the Sonne of Philip Daughter and heire of Lionel Duke of Clarence the third Sonne of Edward the third yet his cosin Henry of Bullingbrooke Duke of Hertford and Sonne and heire of John of Gaunt the younger Brother of Lionell of Clarence taking advantage of the peoples forwardnesse and his kinsmans being generally distasted was Created and Crowned King From the yeare of our Lord 1399. untill the fourth of March 1460. In three Descents the slips of the red Rose in the line of Lancaster did beare sway but not without some interruptions and hazard For though Edmond Plantagenet Duke of Aumerle Sonne and heire of Edmond of Langley set not the White Rose claime on foot yet as maligning the prosperitie of Henry the fourth hee was a maine stickler in the conspiracie against him intended to have beene executed at Oxford But the eruption of Yorke never was manifest untill Richard Plantagenet Sonne of Richard of Bonysborough Anno 1455. drew his Sword to make good his claime to the Crowne of England And from his time I shall endevour to drawe a Compendiary of the times and places of the severall battells betweene these two houses strooke and the slaughter on both sides made The three and twentieth day of May at Saint Albones in Hertfordshire Richard Duke of Yorke gave battell to King Henry the sixt on whose side was slaine Edmond Duke of Somerset Henry Earle of Northumberland Humphry Earle of Stafford Thomas Lord Clifford say some others John with divers Knights and Esquires to the number of 37. with five thousand common souldiers and Henry himselfe was taken Prisoner on the Dukes part only sixe hundred in the totall 5641. A Battell was fought at Bloarheath in Shropshire the thirteenth day of September betweene the Lord Audly Lieutenant to Henry the sixt and the Earle of Salisbury in which Audly was slaine and his Army overthrowne at this battell was slaine in all two thousand foure hundred men with Sir Thomas Dutton beside six other Cheshire Knights and two Esquires thereof in all 2411. Sir Osbert Mountfort with twelve Gentlemen of his company was taken at Sandwich and carried to Ricebanke and there beheaded by the Lord Fauconbridge The Earle of Wiltes at Newbery causeth twenty Yorkists to bee hanged and quartered The tenth of Iune in the thirty eight yeare of the King at Northampton was a battell fought wherein was slaine Humphry Duke of Buckingham John Talbot Earle of Shrowsbury Thomas Lord Egremond John Viscount Beamond and Sir William Lucy with tenne thousand and thirty men slaine The Lord Skales is slaine upon the Thames seeking to escape by the Earle of Warwicks men The thirtieth of December at Wakefield was a battell strooke wherein the Queene prevailed with the slaughter of two thousand eight hundred persons not numbring Richard Duke of Yorke Edmond Earle of Rutland a child and the Earle of Shrowsbury taken prisoner but afterwards beheaded Sir John Mortimer and Sir Hugh Mortimer the Dukes base Vncles Sir Davy Hall Sir Hugh Hastings Sir Thomas Nevill Sir William Parry Sir Thomas Parry Sir Richard Limbricke Knights then likewise slaine on Candlemasse day vpon the plaine neere Mortimers crosse in Hereford-shire a field was fought betwixt the new Duke of Yorke and the Earles of Penbrooke and Wiltes wherein the Duke prevailed with the slaughter of 3800. men but no man of qualitie but Sir Owen Tyther that had married Queene Katherine Vpon Shrovetuesday the seventeenth of February at Saint Albones the second Battaile was fought betweene Queene Margaret and the Duke of Norfolke and others wherein were slaine two thousand three hundred men besides the Lord Bonvile Sir Thomas Keryell Sir John Gray and Baron Thorpe The most cruell and deadly Battaile of all others during the rage of this unnaturall division was fought at Towton or betweene Towton and Saxton within foure miles of Yorke the nineteenth day of March being Palme Sunday wherein were slaine of English-men Thirty five thousand ninetie and one and of strangers one thousand seven hundred fourty five besides two hundred and thirty slaine the day before at Ferry Brigge with the Lord Fitzwater and the base brother of the Earle of Warwicke The most remarkable men that fell in this bloody fight were Henry Piercy Earle of Northumberland The Earle of Shrowsbury The Earle of Devon John Lord Clifford The Lord Beamond The Lord Nevill The Lord Willoughby The Lord Wells The Lord Rosse The Lord Gray The Lord Dacres The Lord Fitz-Hugh The two base Sonnes of Henry Holland Duke of Exceter Sir Thomas Mollineux Sir Otes Beckingham Sir Aubrey Trussell Sir Richard Piercy Sir William Heyton Sir Jervoys Clifton Sir Foulke Hamys Sir Thomas Crackenthorpe Sir James Crackenthorpe Sir William Throllop Sir Andrew Throllop Sir Walter Harle Sir John Ormond Sir William Mollyns Sir Thomas Pigot Sir William Norborough and William Burton Knights The Earle of Devonshire there taken Prisoner with three other Knights were beheaded at Yorke and so may be reckoned amongst the slaine so that the account of the whole number besides those that died after of hurts then received thirty seven thousand fourty and six At Hegley More the Lord Mountacute charged and put to flight two thousand Lancastrians who were on foot to march to Henry the sixt at which time Sir Ralph Piercy with one hundred and seven were slaine the residue flying gave alarum to the Kings Army and upon the 15. of May in a plaine called Livels neere the water of Dowill in Hexam shire the battaile was fought against Henry the sixt by the Lord Mountague Generall for Edward the fourth wherein were taken Prisoners Henry Duke of Somerset The Lord Rosse The Lord Mollins and The Lord Hungerford Sir Thomas Wentworth Sir Thomas Hussey Sir John Finderne and sixteene Knights more executed at Hexam and Yorke Sir William Talboys titulary Earle of Kime or Angus and not Kent as Master Martin relateth Sir Ralph Nevill Sir Ralph Gray and Sir Richard Tunstall were taken afterwards but beheaded The number slaine is uncertainly set downe the most of our common Writers not naming any only faabian saith about two thousand so that I make that my skale to reckon by At a place called Danes more neere the Towne of Edgcot within foure miles of Banbury was a great Battaile fought upon Saint Iames his day the five and twentieth of Iuly wherein were slaine
1384. R. 6. A subsidy demanded and denyed Commissioners appointed to receive the Susibdie The Lord Treasurer removed by Parliament Ann. 1386 R. 6. Anno. Dom. 1387. R. 9. An. 1387. R. 9. The King accompanieth the Duke of Ireland towards Wales A good office of the Bishop of London The Bishops sent to the Barons Ann. 1388 R. 10. The Lord Chancellors speech to the Lords Ann. D. 13â—… R. 10. Proceeding in the Parliament against Favourites The modesty of the Earle of Darby An oath exacted from the King An. 1389. R. 11. An. 1390. An expedition into Barbary Ann. 1392 R. 14. The priviledges of London seized into the Kings hands are abridged and part restored An. 1393. R. 15. An intervenew between the Kings of Fraâ—…ce and England An. 1396. Reg. 18. The Earle of Saint Pauls advise to the King Ann. 1396 R. 18. The Duke of Glocester betrayed Glocester murthered not executed The Earle of Arundel supposed a martyr An. 1398. Reg. 21. 5. Dukes created Ann. 1397 R. 21. Herefords complaint of the government to Norfolke An. 1397. R. 22. An. 1398. Reg. 22. 1. 2. 3. Ann. 1398 R. 22. An. 1399. R. 23. Archbish. Arundels speech to Henry Earle Henries answer The Duke of Hereford setteth forward The Duke of Hereford landeth in Holdernesse The Duke of Heref. sworne not to doe or suffer any violence to bee done to King Richard The Duke of Herefard entreth into Councell at London Warre proclaimed against King Richard Lancasters Oration The Lord Treasurer pursued to Bristoll The Treasurer with Sir Iohn Bushye surprised in Bristol Castle and afterwards executed The Sons of the Duke of Glocester and Lancaster imprisoned in Trim Castle in Ireland King Richard arriveth at Milford Haven Discouraged His Councellors disagree Lancaster marcheth towards the King The Lord Steward dissolveth the Kings houshold King Richard expostulateth with himself Consulteth with his followers A Parliament summoned by the Duke in the Kings name King Richards speech Lancasters easie conquest A fainâ—…d Title D. Lancaster layeth his claime to the Crowne The Duke of Lancaster accepted for King The Commissioners acquaint King Richard with the resolution of the House Edward the fourth crowned Ann. 1399 R. 1. The Bishop of Carliles Oration Deut. 17. 12. Rom. 13. 12. Sap. 6. Ann. 1399 R. 2. The Bishop committed Nobles degraded of then Titles Officers removed Ann. 1400 Reg. 2. Burbon soliciteth the inhabitants of Guyan to revolt The Earle of Worcester sent to Guyan The Abbot of Westminsters proceedings The Duke of Exceters perswasions to rebell The Conspirators plot The Duke of Yorkes speech to his Son The Duke of Aumerle discovereth the Conspiracy The King leaveth Windsor The Maior of London furnisheth King Henry with Archers Queen Isabels womanish course The Inhabitants of Ciceter assault the conspirators An. 1401. R. 2. An. 1401. R. 3. An. 1403. R. 3. The King married An. 1403. R. 3. An 1â—… 04. R. 4. A byting Subsidie Archiepisc. Parker fol. 257. In regist Simonis Larg fol. 12. Fox Martir fo 1100. Godwyn fol. 184. Continuator histo Ranulphi Antiquitates Britt fol. 257 Vbi supra Stowe 562. Isa. Worke fo 90. In the Colledge Libraty Ann. 1404 Reg. 5. The French Kings brothers challenge The French attempt Dartmouth and are repulsed The Kings third sonne with some forces land at Sluice Three Carricks of Genoa taken Northumberland and others with him rebell The Archbi Yorke perswades the people to rise against the King Westmerland circumvents the Archbish. of Yorke He is beheaded at Yorke Northumberland his partakers proclaimed Traytours Anno 1408. The Prince of Scotland taken prisoner and sent to the Tower 1408. An. 1408. R. 9. The Lord Camoys arraigned for treason is acquit by his Peetes 1408. 1410. A Petition by the Commons against the Bishops Meanes to maintaine Earles 150 Knights 1500 Esquires 6200. and an hundred Hospitalls of new to bee erected Sir Robert Vmphrevill tearmed Mend-market An. 1411. R. 11. The Prince of Wales removed from being President of the Councell From hence was the honorable ornament of the coller of S. S. worne by these in eminent places in remembrance of this Princes reconcilement to his Father devised The Prince presents himselfe to the King The King Prince reconciled The King having taken upon him the Crusado prepareth accordingly The death of Henry the fourth An. 1412. R. 12. 1. 2. 3. An. 1412. R. 13. 4. 2. Daughters Ann. 1413 R. 1. King Henry taketh leave of his antient companions The forwardnesse of the Nobilitie to tender their homage The Lord Oldcastle convented Oldcastle escapeth out of the Tower Ann. D. 1414 R. 1. Punishment of treason and heresie Ann. 1414 Reg. 1. An. 1414. R. 2. Motives for the King to lay claime to the Crowne of France Embassadors sent into France Embassadors sent to the Councell at Constance The King armes in France Harstew besieged Harstew taken The Peasants assayled King Henry Pro recuperatione sigilli sui The order of the battell of the French The Duke of Yorke leads the English Voward The beginning of the sight The disorder of the French The English having rowted the van charge the battaile of the French The French submit An. 1415. R. 3. Edward Plantagenet Duke of Yorke maried Philip daughter and coheire of Iohn Mahun Lord of Dunster but dyed without issue Michael de la Poolâ—… Earle of Suffolke died without issue also Ann. 1416 R. 4. The Duke of Glocester entertaineth the Emperour at Dover Harstew besieged by the French Relieved by the Duke of Bedford Penancâ—… done King Henry accompanieth the Emperour to Callice The Duke of Bedford made Regent The Earle of Huntingtons fortune at Sea Cane taken Boyeux taken The Kings good pollicie to allure the French Courfey Castle yeelded An. 1418. R. 4. Sees submits to K. Henry Falays taken 1418. A great storme 6. Reg. Ann. 1416 Reg. 6. Captaines made over severall places The Dolphin and Duke of Burgoigne reconciled Eureux besieged Loveirs besieged and rendred An. 1418. R. 6. New inventions for passage over waters Roane besieged The English Navy passeth the river The good service of the Irish. King Henryes charitie Ann. 1418 R. 9. Roane comes to composition Surrendred An Overture for an interview crossed by the Dolphins default An. 1419. R. 7. A Conspiracie in Roane discovered Ponthoys surprised by the English The English army severed into three parts French Embassadours sent to King Henry An. 1420. R. 8. King Henry sends to the Duke of Burgoyne King Henry giveth meeting at Troyes to the Queen King Henry affianced to the Lady Katherine The Duke of Burgoynes oath The Articles of agreement certified A League with the Duke of Burgoyne The creation of Garter principall King of armes The ratification of the agreement layed up in the Treasury at Westminster An. 1421. R. 9. Queene Katherine Crowned King Henryes Pietie The Duke of Clarence betrayed Robert Vmphrevile here slaine was both Earle of Argus and Kime 1421. A Parliament at Westminster King Henry returnes to France Dreux
besieged 1422. A Parliament in the Kings absence called The birth of Henry the sixt The Dolphin besieged Cosney An. 1422. R. 9. King Henry dieth The Duke of Bedford made Generall of Normandy The Duke of Glocester Protector Ann. 1422 R. 1. The Dolphin proclaimed King Pont Melon surprized by the French An. 1422. R. 3. Reduced by the Earle of Salisbury The league renewed with Burgoine A conspiracy at Paris Preventtd and punished The French defeated Ann. 1422 R. 2. The King of Scots marieth the Duke of Somersets Daughter Crotoy lost and recovered The English are victorious at Vernoyle 1424. The reduction of Vernoyle An. 14. 24. R. 3. The French frighted with the name of Salisbury A jarre betwixt the brothers in England drawes the Regent into Ergland The young King knighted The Regent returnes to France Burgoyne by letter disswades Glocester from his new wife The name of Salisbury a bugbeare to the French 1426. Ponterson taken by the English Mounts retaken 1427. An. 1427. R. 6. The pollicy of the French The death of Salisbury the downfall of the English good fortune Both wind Sun against the English The French every where revolt The Regent defies the French King The Armies on both sides in array An. 1428. R. 7. 1429. Henry the sixt Crowned The constancy of the Lord Barbason Ann. 1429 Reg. 8. Charles attempts Paris But disappointed retreats The Regent desirous to cope with King Charles An. 1430. R. 9. The Earle of Britaine defeated 1430. The Pusil Ioane taken Proceeded against Burned King Henry in person goeth into France King Henry returnes for England after a Truce concluded The Regent having buried the sister of Burgoyne marrieth a second wife An. 1432. R. 11. The Peasants in Normandy rebell The Duke of Burbon receiveth liberty of body out of prison and losse of life all in one day At St. Omers the Dukes of Bedford and Burgoyne meet and depart without conference 1435. The death of the Regent Emulation betwixt the Vncle and Nephew thwart the businesse in France Ann. 1435 R. 12. Callice besieged by the Duke of Burgoyne The Duke of Burgoyne retreats from Callice An. 1437. R. 13. 1437. The death of three great Ladyes The King of Scots murthered Ann. 1439 R. 14. A Parliament at Westminster Roan attempted but with losse to the French An. 1437. R. 16. Ann. 1437 Reg. 15. The Lord Talbot harroweth Piccardy 1438. Famine in England Pestilence in Paris 1439. An. 1439. R. 18. Ponthoys taken by the English Ponthoys succoured The French King braved by the Regent but is patient Treaty for a peace Ann. 1441 Reg. 20. The Duke of Orleance released The Earle of Saint Paul forsaketh the English An. 1442. R. 20. The Castle of Cornhill surprized by a stratagem Vnnaturall dissention betwixt brothers An. 1442. R. 21. Ann. 1442 Reg. 21. King Henry betrothed to the Earle of Arminacks Daughter An. R. 22. A truce agreed upon The Earle of Suffolk transends his Commission An. 1444. R. 22. 23. King Henry marrieth Duke Rayners Daughter 1444. The Regent comes for England An. 1416. R. 24. Glocesiers destruction plotted 1448. The Cardinal of Winchester dies William Wanfleet consecrated Bishop of Winchester An. 1430. R. 26. The truce broken by the English Ardes surprised An. 1449. R. 27. The Duke of Yorke sent into Ireland The English overthrowne An overbold but true language An. 1450. R. 27. Suffolke traduced The Parliament adjourned from Black-fryers to Lecester and then to Westminster Suffolke committed to the Tower A Parliament summoned Mortymer incites the many to insurrection The grievances of the Commons tendred to the Parliament Captaine Mend-all his private petition The two Staffords defeated and slaine The forme of Iacke Cades Warrant The captaine of the rebells slaine The Bishop of Salisbury murthered An. 1452. R. 29. A Parliament The Duke of Yorkes policy to cloake his intention Yorke raiseth forces in Wales The King sends to the Duke of Yorke Yorks answer Yorke dismisseth his army Yorke takes the oath of allegiance Burdeux is reduced Shrowsbury with his fourth sonne and his naturall brother slain at Chattillon 1453. Ann. 1453 R. 30. The Queene delivered of a Sonne Norman the first Lord Maior that went by water to Westminster to take his oath The Queenes Attourney with others slaine in a fray The Duke of Yorke writeth to the King Ann. 1454 R. 33. First battell at St. Albones The Duke of Somerset slaine 1455. Ann. 1455 Reg. 33. The Duke of Yorke conveyeth the K. to London Yorke made Protector of the King The Merchant strangers rifled An invasion attempted by the French Sandwich plundered The Scots make an inroad The Sheriffs of London in trouble for the escape of the Lord Egrimond Ann. 1455 Reg. 33. The Duke of Yorke with the Earles of Salisbury and Warwick betake themselves to their severall strengths The General agreement amongst the Nobilitie by the mediation of the King An. 1449 Strange apparitions An. 1459. R. 34. Sonne against father 1459. Subjects against Soveraigns Father against Sonne A fray An. 1458. R. 34. Three great Carricks taken worth 10000. 2. Battailes fought The Lord Audley slaine The Duke of Yorke flyeth An. 1428. R. 38. A Parliament The Earle of Warwicke with 25000. men taketh the field 3. Battell at Northampton Warwicke possest of the Tower An. 1459. R. 39. The Duke of Yorke puts in claime The Duke of Yorke to be proclaimed heire to the Crowne and Protector 4. Battell at Wakefield Young Rutland butchered The Earle of Salisbury beheaded Ann. 1458 R. 34. 1461. Fift battell at Mortimers crosse Sixt battel second at Saint Albones The Lord Bonvile and Thomas Kiryell beheaded by the Queene contrary to the Kings promise 30. Knights made Prince Edward dubbed Knight The Families of Yorke and Lancaster distinguished by the red Rose and white The Archbishop of Canterbury animated the Duke of Yorke to take upon him the Crowne Ann. 1460 Reg. 1. The Dukes title to the Crowne double An. 1460. R. 2. Edward leaveth London Lord Fitzwalter slaine at Ferry-brig 1461. The Lord Clifford slaine Ann. 1461 Reg. 2. The Earle of Northumberland with 36776. English slaine at Caxton field Edward the 4. Crowned An. 1461. R. 24. An. 1462 R. 2. An. 1642. R. 2. Conquet and Ree taken and pillaged by the Earles of Essex and Kent Sir Ralph Piercy slaine The Earle of Somerset taken prisoner An. 1464 R. 3. King Henry brought prisoner to the Tower The Earle of Warwick sent into France An. 1466 R. 6. Of Thomas Lord Scales of Nucells An. 1466 R. 9. The Lord Stafford forsakes Pembrooke Sir Hen Nevil slaine Ann. 1469 R. 9. King Edward taken prisoner King Edward escapes An. 1470 R. 10. The Lord Wells and Sir Thomas Dymock beheaded Ann. 1470 R. 10. Loose Coatefield Warwick entertained by the French King Visited by Queene Margaret Ioyne inconfederacy against King Edward Prince Edward married to his daughter The Burgonian Fleet dispersed Doctor Goddards Sermon at Pauls crosse King Edward enforced to forsake the land King Edward in danger of Pirates King Edward craveth succour of the Duke of Burgoyne Queene Elizabeth taketh Sanctuary at Westminster Rebells of Kent suppressed by Warwicke King Henry set at libertie A Parliament The Crowne entayled upon Clarence The Queene delivered of a Sonne An. 1471. R. 11. King Edward is admitted into Yorke An. 1471. R. 11. Warwicke entrencheth at Coventry King Edward entreth London An. 1471. R. 10. Warwicke slaine An. 1472 R. 11. Marquesse Mountacute Queene Margaret taken prisoner Prince Edw. slaughtered King Henry murdered Ann. 1472 R. 12. An. 1473. R. 13. A Kings kys to a rich widdow procured 40. where but 20. was expected An. 1474. R. 14. The Duke of Exceter found dead Ann. 1474 R. 4. King Edward writes to the French King * 300. crowns in gold and 30. yards of red velvet The duke of Burgoyn excuseth his breach of promise The Constable repromiseth ayd An. 1474 R. 14. Burgoyne departeth promising speedy returne The policy of the French King King Edward sends an Herald of armes to Lewis * S. Leoger Burgoyne retornes displeased The French Kingliberally rewardeth the good carriage of the English The manner of the internew of the 2 Kings King Edward could not be drawne from ayding the Duke of Brittayne A. 1475. R. 15. King Edward attempteth by a colourable pretence to procure Richmands person to be delivered to him Delivered to the Embassadors Escapeth into Sanctuary An. 1477. R. 17. Clarence drowned An. 1480. R. 22. An. 1483. R. 23. An. 1483. An. 1483. R. 1. An. 1484. R. 1. An. 1484. R. 2. Humphry Duke of Buckirgham slain at St. Albones 1455. Humphry slain at Northampton 38. H. 6. 1460. An. 1484 An. 1484 R. 1. An. 1484. Reg. 2. Richmonds ex hertation Battaile 1. Anno 1455. Dukes 1. Earles 3. Lords 1. Knights 11. Esquires 18. 5641. Battaile 2. Anno 1459. Lord 1. Knights 7. 2411. Knight 1. Battaile 3. Anno 1459. Duke 1. Earle 1. Lord 1. Viscount 1. Knight 1. Lord 1. Battaile 4. Anno 1469. Duke 1. Earles 2. Knights 8. Battaile 5. Anno 1491. Knight 1. Battaile 6. Lord 1. Knights 3. Battaile 7. Anno 1491. Earles 4. Lords 9. Knights 22. 37046. Battaile 7. Anno 1463. Knight 1. 107. Anno 1464. Duke 1. Lords 3. Knights 20. 2024. Battaile 8. Anno 1469. 5009. Earles 3. Lords 3. Knights 11. Battaile 9. Anno 1470. Knights 〈◊〉 10000. Battaile 10. Anno 1471. Earle 1. Marquesse 1. Lords 3. Knights 2. 10000. Battaile 11. Anno praedict A Prince Dukes 2. A Marquesse A Lord Prior An Earle A Baron Knights 20. Esquires 37. 1092. Battaile 12. Anno 1485. King 100. Duke 1. Lord 1. Knights 3. * Knights eldest Sonnes * Of coat-armour and Ancestry