Exactions having lived Two and Fifty Years and thereof Reigned Three and Twenty Years and Eight Months being in perfect Memory and in a most Blessed Mind in a great Calm of a Consuming Sickness passed to a better World the Two and Twentieth of April 1508. at his Palace of Richmond which himself had Built THis King to speak of him in Terms equal to his Deserving was one of the best sort of Wonders a Wonder for Wise-men He had parts both in his Virtues and his Fortune not so 〈◊〉 for a Common-place as for Observation Certainly he was Religious both in his Affection and Observance But as he could see clear for those times through Superstition so he would be blinded now and than by Humane Policy He advanced Church-men he was tender in the Priviledge of Sanctuaries though they wrought him much Mischief He built and endowed many Religious Foundations besides his Memorable Hospital of the Savoy And yet was he a great Alms-giver in secret which shewed that his Works in publick were dedicated rather to God's glory than his own He professed always to love and seek Peace and it was his usual Preface in his Treaties That when Christ came into the World Peace was sung and when He went out of the World Peace was bequeathed And this Virtue could not proceed out of Fear or Softness for he was Valiant and Active and therefore no doubt it was truly Christian and Moral Yet he knew the way to Peace was not to seem to be desirous to avoid Wars Therefore would be make Offers and Fames of Wars till he had mended the Conditions of Peace It was also much that one that was so great a Lover of Peace should be so happy in War For his Arms either in Forein or Civil Wars were never Infortunate neither did he know what a Disaster meant The War of his Coming in and the Rebellions of the Earl of Lincoln and the Lord Awdley were ended by Victory The Wars of France and Scotland by Peaces sought at his hands That of Britain by accident of the Duke's death The Insurrection of the Lord Lovel and that of Perkin at Exceter and in Kent by flight of the Rebels before they came to Blows So that his Fortune of Arms was still Inviolate The rather sure for that in the quenching of the Commotions of his Subjects he ever went in Person Sometimes reserving himself to back and second his Lieutenants but ever in Action and yet that was not meerly Forwardness but partly Distrust of others He did much maintain and countenance his Laws which nevertheless was no Impediment to him to work his Will For it was so handled that neither Prerogative nor Profit went to Diminution And yet as he would sometimes strain up his Laws to his Prerogative so would he also let down his Prerogative to his Parliament For Mint and Wars and Martial Discipline things of absolute Power he would nevertheless bring to Parliament Justice was well administred in his time save where the King was Party Save also that the Council-Table intermedled too much with Meum and Tuum For it was a very Court of Justice during his time especially in the Beginning But in that part both of Justice and Policy which is the Durable Part and cut as it were in Brass or Marble which is The making of good Laws he did excell And with his Justice he was also a Merciful Prince as in whose time there were but three of the Nobility that suffered the Earl of Warwick the Lord Chamberlain and the Lord Awdley Though the first two were instead of Numbers in the Dislike and Obloquie of the People But there were never so great Rebellions expiated with so little Blood drawn by the hand of Justice as the two Rebellions of Black-heath and Exceter As for the Severity used upon those which were taken in Kent it was but upon a Scum of People His Pardons went ever both before and after his Sword But then he had withal a strange kind of Interchanging of large and inexpected Pardons with severe Executions Which his Wisdom considered could not be imputed to any Inconstancy or Inequality but either to some Reason which we do not now know or to a Principle he had set unto himself That he would vary and try both ways in turn But the less Blood he drew the more he took of Treasure And as some construed it he was the more sparing in the One that he might be the more pressing in the Other for both would have been intolerable Of Nature assuredly he coveted to accumulate Treasure and was a little Poor in admiring Riches The People into whom there is infused for the preservation of Monarchies a natural Desire to discharge their Princes though it be with the 〈◊〉 charge of their Counsellors and Ministers did impute this unto Cardinal Morton and Sir Reginold Bray who as it after appeared as Counsellors of ancient Authority with him did so second his Humours as nevertheless they did temper them Whereas Empson and Dudley that followed being Persons that had no Reputation with him otherwise than by the servile following of his Bent did not give way only as the first did but shape him way to those Extremities for which himself was touched with remorse at his Death and which his Successor renounced and sought to purge This Excess of his had at that time many Glosses and Interpretations Some thought the continual Rebellions wherewith he had been vexed had made him grow to hate his People Some thought it was done to pull down their Stomachs and to keep them low Some for that he would leave his Son a Golden-fleece Some suspected he had some high Design upon Forein parts But those perhaps shall come nearest the truth that fetch not their reasons so far off but rather impute it to Nature Age Peace and a Mind fixed upon no other Ambition or Pursuit Whereunto I should add that having every day Occasion to take notice of the Necessities and Shifts for Money of other great Princes abroad it did the better by Comparison set off to him the Felicity of full Coffers As to his expending of Treasure he never spared Charge which his Affairs required and in his Buildings was Magnificent but his Rewards were very limited So that his Liberality was rather upon his own State and Memory than upon the Deserts of others He was of an High Mind and loved his own Will and his own Way as One that revered himself and would Reign indeed Had he been a Private-man he would have been termed Proud But in a wise Prince it was but keeping of Distance which indeed he did towards all not admitting any near or full Approach neither to his Power or to his Secrets For he was governed by none His Queen notwithstanding she had presented him with divers Children and with a Crown also though he would not acknowledge it could do nothing with him His Mother he reverenced much heard little For any Person
of Days for payment of Moneys and some other Particulars of the Frontiers And it was indeed but a wooing Ambassage with good respects to entertain the King in good affection but nothing was done or handled to the derogation of the King 's late Treaty with the Italians But during the time that the Cornish-men were in their march towards London the King of Scotland well advertised of all that passed and knowing himself sure of War from England whensoever those Stirs were appeased neglected not his opportunity But thinking the King had his hands full entred the Frontiers of England again with an Army and besieged the Castle of Norham in Person with part of his Forces sending the rest to forrage the Countrey But Fox Bishop of Duresm a wise man and one that could see through the Present to the Future doubting as much before had caused his Castle of Norham to be strongly fortified and furnished with all kind of Munition And had manned it likewise with a very great number of tall Soldiers more than for the proportion of the Castle reckoning rather upon a sharp Assault than a long Siege And for the Countrey likewise he had caused the people withdraw their Cattel and Goods into Fact Places that were not of easie approach and sent in post to the Earl of Surrey who was not far off in Yorkshire to come in diligence to the Succour So as the Scottish King both failed of doing good upon the Castle and his men had but a catching Harvest of their Spoils And when he understood that the Earl of Surrey was coming on with great Forces he returned back into Scotland The Earl finding the Castle freed and the Enemy retired pursued with all 〈◊〉 into Scotland hoping to have overtaken the Scottish King and to have given him Battel But not attaining him in time sate down before the Castle of Aton one of the strongest places then esteemed between Berwick and Edenburgh which in a small time he took And soon after the Scottish King retiring further into his Countrey and the weather being extraordinary foul and stormy the Earl returned into England So that the Expeditions on both parts were in effect but a Castle taken and a Castle distressed not answerable to the puissance of the Forces nor to the heat of the Quarrel nor to the greatness of the Expectation Amongst these Troubles both Civil and External came into England from Spain Peter Hialas some call him Elias surely he was the fore runner of the good Hap that we enjoy at this day For his Ambassage set the Truce between England and Scotland the Truce drew on the Peace the Peace the Marriage and the Marriage the Union of the Kingdoms a man of great Wisdom and as those times were not unlearned sent from Ferdinando and Isabella Kings of Spain unto the King to treat a Marriage between Catherine their second Daughter and Prince Arthur This Treaty was by him set in a very good way and almost brought to perfection But it so fell out by the way that upon some Conference which he had with the King touching this business the King who had a great dexterity in getting suddenly into the bosom of Ambassadors of forein Princes if he liked the men Insomuch as he would many times communicate with them of his own affairs yea and employ them in his service fell into speech and discourse incidently concerning the ending the Debates and differences with Scotland For the King naturally did not love the barren Wars with Scotland though he made his profit of the Noise of them And he wanted not in the Council of Scotland those that would advise their King to meet him at the half-way and to give over the War with England pretending to be good Patriots but indeed favouring the affairs of the King Only his heart was too great to begin with Scotland for the motion of Peace On the other side he had met with an Allie of Ferdinando of Arragon as fit for his turn as could be For after that King Ferdinando had upon assured confidence of the Marriage to succeed taken upon him the person of a Fraternal Allie to the King he would not let in a Spanish gravity to counsel the King in his own affairs And the King on his part not being wanting to himself but making use of every man's humours made his advantage of this in such things as he thought either not decent or not pleasant to proceed from himself putting them off as done by the Counsel of Ferdinando Wherefore he was content that Hialas as in a matter moved and advised from Hialas himself should go into Scotland to treat of a Concord between the two Kings Hialas took it upon him and coming to the Scottish King after he had with much Art brought King James to hearken to the more safe and quiet Counsels wrote unto the King that he hoped that Peace would with no great difficulty cement and close if he would send some wise and temperate Counsellor of his own that might treat of the Conditions Whereupon the King directed Bishop Fox who at that time was at his Castle of Norham to confer with Hialas and they both to treat with some Commissioners deputed from the Scottish King The Commissioners on both sides met But after much dispute upon the Articles and Conditions of Peace propounded upon either part they could not conclude a Peace The chief Impediments thereof was the demand of the King to have Perkin delivered into his hands as a reproach to all Kings and a person not protected by the Law of Nations The King of Scotland on the other side peremptorily denied so to do saying That he for his part was no competent Judge of Perkin's Title But that he had received him as a Suppliant protected him as a person fled for Refuge espoused him with his Kinswoman and aided him with his Arms upon the belief that he was a Prince And therefore that he could not now with his Honour so unrip and in a sort put a Lye upon all that he had said and done before as to deliver him up to his Enemies The Bishop likewise who had certain proud instructions from the King at the least in the Front though there were a pliant clause at the Foot that remitted all to the Bishop's discretion and required him by no means to break off in ill terms after that he had failed to obtain the delivery of Perkin did move a second point of his Instructions which was that the Scottish King would give the King an Enterview in Person at Newcastle But this being reported to the Scottish King his answer was That he meant to treat a Peace and not to go a begging for it The Bishop also according to another Article of his Instructions demanded Restitution of the Spoils taken by the Scottish or Damages for the same But the Scottish Commissioners answered That that was but as Water spilt upon the ground which could not be
who must slip down a narrow Channel where but few Ships could go in front and the like number opposed might easily defend it Where they could not enter but with the Tide and Wind and the first Ships repulsed in their falling back would have disordered the rest of the Fleet where of necessity they must fight under the favour of our Forts and Cannon which would easily have hindered their approach The Enemy being put off here consult of fortifying the Isle of Wight where at St. Helens Point they land two thousand men resolve forsooth to make that the Seat of the War and there to build three Forts but the valour of the Inhabitants made them change their design and forced them again to their Ships Thus every where affronted to their loss without any memorable act they set fail for Normandy The French Fleet consisted of a hundred and three Sail of all sorts ours of only sixty so that it was no way safe for us to encounter them Some light proffers were made on both sides wherein we always came off with the better As for the Mary Rose a Ship which with her loss buried Sir George Carow the Captain and seven hundred men the French do well to make use of casualties to their own glory But it was not the valour of the French or fury of their Cannons that sunk her but the supine negligence of the Mariners being wrecked in the very Haven in the presence of the King Boloign was not idle the while Upon hope of a Fort to be built by the Marshal of Biez Francis had made great preparations for an Enterprize upon Guisnes but was diverted by the death of the Duke of Orleans his younger Son and the lost hopes of his intended Fort near Boloigne and having for a while encamped at Mont-Lambert retired at last toward Amiens The nearness of the King's Camp at Mont-Lambert did daily invite both Nations to make trial of their valour the English sometimes sometimes the French having the better One day among the rest the English hotly charging the French the Duke of Aumale comes to relieve them who being strook with a Lance under his right Eye it breaks in pieces and leaves the Trunchion half a foot within his Head It was a token of an excellent spirit in this young Nobleman that for so rough a charge he lost not his stirrups and endured the torture whereto they put him in drawing out the three square head with such an invincible constancy as if they had picked a Thorn from out his Finger and beyond all expectation of the Chirurgions recovered The Victory remained to the English who could not long brag of it afterward seeking to cut off a Convoy of the Enemies defeated by the Rhinegrave with the loss of sixteen Captains and seven or eight hundred men The Earl of Surrey who led them saved himself by flight And were it not discourtesie in us not to requite the late visit of the French The Lord Admiral therefore landed six thousand men at Treport in Normandy burned the Town and Abbey with thirty Ships and a Barque in the Haven and returned with the loss of only fourteen men Neither were our employments less or fewer in Scotland than among the French Scotland had so many enemies at home that it needed not any abroad But their home-bred dissentions had caused War from us and the way to set them at Peace was to invade them In the beginning of March Sir Ralph Evers by the death of his Father Lord Evers with an Army entred Scotland making all the Countrey desert about Jedbury and Kelson Thence marching to Coldingham fortified the Church and Tower and leaving a Garrison there departed The Garrison partly out of covetousness partly to distress the Enemy if he should lay siege to them pillaged and wasted all the neighbouring Countrey The Regent according to their expectation besiegeth the Church with eight thousand men and batters it a whole day and a night But suddenly making none of the Nobles partakers of his determinations whether out of fear to be betrayed by his Army or some other cause took horse and posted away to Dunbar which occasioned the disbanding of the Army and the freedom of the besieged Our often success having emboldened us we adventure upon another impression the fury whereof disburdened it self in Merch Teifidale and Lauden the Inhabitants being either forced to yield or flie and leave their goods to be seiled on by Bellonas Harbingers The Scots at length make head and although of more than equal number they betake themselves to stratagems They understand by their Scouts of our approach and to deceive us by the advice of Walter Scot send their Horses to the adjoyning Hills Neither indeed was the place so advantageous for Horse as for Foot The Horses backed by the Grooms that kept them did from the Hills make shew of an Army and that flying We advance as loath to let our enemies escape in the pursuit of whom we unawares fall among the whole Army not disorderly flying but prepared to receive us It is not unusual to encounter men but if Heaven and the Elements oppose us how can we hope for victory We find the number of our adverse Army great beyond our expectation the Sun far declining to the West darted his rays in our faces and a violent wind drives the smoak of the shot into our mouthes which not only made the most necessary sense unuseful but with a foul stench corrupted the Air and hindred the breathing of the already panting Souldiers The many advantages give them the Victory We leave two hundred in the place and among them the Lord Evers a thousand are taken whereof Alderman Read was one A little after this Victory Francis sent into Scotland a supply of five hundred French Horse and three thousand Footmen under the command of the Lord of Lorges Earl of Montgomery not so much to cross our attempts against the Scots as to distract our Forces that the violence of them united might not at once fall on France This year among other accidents is also memorable through the death of the King's Brother-in-Law Charles Brandon Duke of Suffolk a man of a mighty spirit yet so tempering it with mildness and fair demeanour that he was generally beloved both of Prince and people Who in that height of favour carried him so evenly as to die quietly in his Bed A happiness under this Prince rare even to Fortunes and His Favourites A Parliament assembled in November granted the King the Disposal of all Colledges Chantries and Hospitals the demesnes salaries and stipends thereto belonging or given to Priests to say Mass for the Souls of the departed The King personally gave thanks to both Houses promising to have a care that they should be employed to the honour of God and the publick good But we find not the effect of his promises ANNO DOM. 1546. REG. 38 ultimo VVE are now come to
THE HISTORY OF THE REIGNS OF HENRY the SEVENTH HENRY the EIGHTH EDWARD the SIXTH AND QUEEN MARY The First Written by the Right Honourable FRANCIS Lord VERULAM Viscount St. ALBAN The other Three by the Right Honourable AND Right Reverend Father in God FRANCIS GODWYN Lord Bishop of HEREFORD LONDON Printed by W. G. for R. Scot T. Basset J. Wright R. Chiswell and J. Edwyn M. D C. LXXVI To the most Illustrious and most Excellent PRINCE CHARLES Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall Earl of Chester c. It may Please Your Highness IN part of my acknowledgment to Your Highness I have endeavoured to do Honour to the Memory of the last King of England that was Ancestour to the King your Father and Your self and was that King to whom both Unions may in a sort refer That of the Roses being in him Consummate and that of the Kingdoms by him begun Besides his times deserve it For he was a Wise Man and an Excellent King and yet the times were rough and full of Mutations and rare Accidents And it is with Times as it is with Ways Some are more Vp-hill and Down-hill and some are more Flat and Plain and the One is better for the Liver and the Other for the Writer I have not flattered him but took him to life as well as I could sitting so far off and having no better light It is true Your Highness hath a Living Pattern Incomparable of the King Your Father But it is not amiss for You also to see one of these Ancient Pieces GOD preserve Your Highness Your Highness most humble and devoted Servant FRANCIS St. Alban AN INDEX ALPHABETICAL Directing to the most Observable Passages in the ensuing HISTORY A. AN Accident in it self trivial great in effect Pag. 108 Advice desired from the Parliament 33 35 56 Aemulation of the English to the French with the reasons of it 36 Affability of the King to the City of London 113 Affection of King Henry to the King of Spain 61 Affection of the King to his Children 136 Aid desired by the Duke of Britain 33 Aid sent to Britain 37 Aiders of Rebels punished 23 Alms-deeds of the King 131 Ambassadors to the Pope 24 into Scotland 25 Ambassadors from the French King 26 Ambassadors in danger in France 31 Ambassadors into France 54 Ambition exorbitant in Sir William Stanley 78 Answer of the Archduke to the King's Ambassadors 74 Appeach of Sir William Stanley 76 Arms of King Henry still victorious 133 Arrows of the 〈◊〉 the length of them 96 Articles between the King and the Archduke 91 Arthur Prince married to the Lady Katherine 116 Arthur Prince dies at Ludlow 117 Aton Castle in Scotland taken by the Earl of Surrey 98 Attainted persons in Parliament excepted against 8 Attaindor and corruption of Blood reacheth not to the Crown ibid. 15 Avarice of King Henry 134 Audley General of the Corhish Rebels 93 B. BAnishment of 〈◊〉 our of the Kingdom 74 Battel at Bosworth-field 1 at Stokefield 〈◊〉 at St. Albans in Britain 87 at Bannocksbourn in Scotland 〈◊〉 at Black-heath 〈◊〉 Behaviour of King Henry towards 〈◊〉 Children 117 Benevolence to the King for his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Benevolence who the first Author ibid Benevolence 〈◊〉 by Act of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Benevolence revived by Act of 〈◊〉 ibid A Benevolence 〈◊〉 to the King 23 Birth of Henry the 〈◊〉 35 Bishops 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the King 〈◊〉 Blood not unrevenged 112 122 Britain 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 37 Three causes of the 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 ibid. Britain united 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by Marriage 〈◊〉 Brakenbury 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 murder King 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Broughton Sir 〈◊〉 joyned with the Rebels 11 A Bull procured from the Pope by the King for what causes 24 Bulloign besieged by King Henry 63 C. CArdinal Morton dieth 113 Capell Sir William fined 80 131 Cap of Maintenace from the Pope 101 Ceremony of Marriage new in these parts 48 Chancery power and description of that Court 38 Clifford Sir Robert flies to Perkin 70 revolts to the King 72 Clergy priviledges abridged 39 Christendom enlarged 61 Columbus Christopher and Bartholomeus invite the King to a discovery of the West Indies 107 Confiscation aimed at by the King 76 Conference between King Henry and the King of Castile by casualty landing at Weymouth 128 Conquest the Title unpleasing to the People declined by William the Conqu 3 and by the King 5 〈◊〉 for Perkin 70 Contraction of Prince Henry and the Lady Katherine 118 Conditional speech doth not qualifie words of Treason 77 Commissioners into Ireland 79 Commissioners about Trading 91 Coronation of King Henry 7 Coronation of the Queen 24 Counsel the benefit of good 25 Counsel of what sort the French King used 32 Counsel of mean men what and how different from that of Nobles ibid. Lord Cordes envy to England 48 Cottagers but housed Beggars 44 Counterfeits Lambert proclaimed in Ireland 15 Crowned at Dublin 19 taken at Battell 22 put into the King's Kitchin ibid. made the King's Faulconer ibid. Duke of York counterfeit See Perkin Wilford another counterfeit Earl of Warwick 111 Courage of the English when 37 Court what Pleas belong to every Court 38 Court of Star-chamber confirmed ibid. Creations 6 Crown confirmed to King Henry by Parliament 7 Cursing of the King's Enemies at Paul's Cross a custom of those times 72 122 D. DAm a Town in Flanders taken by a slight 59 Lord Daubeny 96 Devices at Prince Arthur's Marriage 117 Device of the King to divert Envy 64 Decay of Trade doth punish Merchants 90 Decay of People how it comes to pass 44 Declaration by Perkin to the Scottish King 85 Desires intemperate of Sir William Stanley 78 Dighton a murderer of King Edward's two Children 71 Dilemma a pleasant one of Bishop Morton 58 Diligence of the King to heap Treasures 120 Displacing of no Counsellors nor Servants in all King Henry's Reign save of one 138 Dissimulation of the French King 29 30 49 Dissimulation of King Henry in pretending War 56 A Doubt long kept open and diversly determined according to the diversity of the times 117 Dowry of Lady Katherine how much 116 Dowry of Lady Margaret into Scotland how much 119 Drapery maintained how 45 Dudley one of the King's Herse-leeches 119 Duke of York counterfeit See Perkin E. EArl of Suffolk flies into Flanders 121 returns 129 Earl of Northumberland slain by the People in collecting the Subsidy somewhat harshly 40 Earl of Warwick executed 111 Earl of Warwick counterfeit 13 110 Earl of Surrey enters Scotland 98 Edmund a third Son born to King Henry but died 109 Edward the Fifth murdered 85 Envy towards the King unquenchable the cause of it 111 Envy of the Lord Cordes to England 48 Enterview between the King and the King of Castile 128 Emblem 94 Empson one of the King's Horse-leeches 119 Errours of the French King in his business for the Kingdom of Naples 82 Errours of King Henry occasioning his many troubles 128 〈◊〉 service 92 Espials in
the Rebels camp 21 Espousals of James King of Scotland and Lady Margaret 118 Exchanges unlawful prohibited 40 Exceter besieged by Perkin 102 the Loyalty of the Town 103 the Town rewarded with the King 's own Sword 105 Execution of Humphrey Stafford 12 John a Chamber and his fellow-Rebels at York 41 Sir James Tyrril murderer of King Edward's two Sons 71 of divers others 75 Sir William Stanley 77 Rebels 79 Perkin's company 81 Audley and Cornish Rebels 96 another counterfeit Earl of Warw. 110 Perkin Warbeck 111 the Mayor of Cork and his Son ibid. Earl of Warwick ibid. F. FAme ill affected 97 Fame entertained by divers the reasons of it 70 Fame neglected by Empson and Dudley 119 Fear not safe to the King 79 Fines 43 Without Fines Statute to sell Land 58 Flammock a Lawyer a Rebel 92 Flemings banished 75 Flight of King Henry out of Britain into France wherefore 34 Forfeitures and Confiscations furnish the King's wants 9 17 Forfeitures aimed at 45 76 Forfeitures upon Penal Laws taken by the King which was the blot of his times 80 Fortune various 16 22 Forwardness inconsiderate 96 Fox made Privy Counsellor 10 made Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal ib. his providence 98 Free-fishing of the Dutch 129 Title to France renewed by the King in Parliament 56 Frion joyns with Perkin 68 First-fruits 10 In forma Pauperis a Law enacted for it 84 G. GAbato Sebastian makes a Voyage for Discovery 107 Gordon Lady Katherine wife to Perkin 87 Granado vindicated from the Moors 60 Guard Yoomen first instituted 7 Gifts of the French King to King Henry's Counsellors and Souldiers 64 Gratitude of the Pope's Lègate to King Henry 42 H. HAllowed Sword from the Pope 101 Hatred of the People to the King with the main reason of it 12 Hearty Acclamations of the People to the King 〈◊〉 King Henry his Description 133 c. his Piety 1 60 he hath three Titles to the Kingdom 2 Hereticks provided against a rare thing in those times 115 Hern a Counsellor to Perkin 101 Hialas otherwise Elias to England how 98 Holy War 114 Hopes of gain by War 64 Hostages redeemed by the King 10 Houses of Husbandry to be maintained to prevent the decay of People 45 Histories defects in them what 46 I. IAmes the Third King of Scotland his distress and death 42 Idols vex God and King Henry 105 John Egremond Leader of the Rebels 41 Inclosures their manifest inconveniencies and how remedied 44 Ingratitude of Women punished 85 Innovation desired 12 Incense of the People what 118 Instructions of Lady Margaret to 〈◊〉 66 Intercursus Magnus 91 Intercursus Malus ibid. 129 Invectives of Maximilian against the French King 〈◊〉 Invectives against the King and Council 79 Improvidence of King Henry to prevent his troubles 12 14 Improvidence of the French 82 Jointure of Lady Katherine how much 117 Jointure of Lady Margaret in Scotland how much 119 Joseph a Rebel 92 Ireland favoureth York Title 15 Ireland receiveth Simon the Priest of Oxford with his counterfeit ibid. Irish adhere to Perkin 68 Jubile at Rome 114 Juno i. e. the Lady Margaret so called by the King's friends 65 K. KAtherine Gordon Perkin's Wife royally entertained by K. Hen. 104 Kent loyal to the King 81 94 The King the publick Steward 36 Kings their miseries 50 King of Rakehels Perkin so called by King Henry 103 The King's Skreen who 92 King of France Protector of King Henry in his trouble 133 Kingdom of France restored to its integrity 25 King of France buys his Peace of King Henry 64 King of Scots enters England 87 again 98 Knights of the Bath 95 Knights of Rhodes 〈◊〉 King Henry Protector of the Order 115 L. LAncaster Title condemned by Parliament 3 Lancaster House in possession of the Crown for three Descents together 〈◊〉 Lambert Simnel See Counterfeit 13 Laws enacted in Parliament 38 Divers Laws enacted 123 Law charitable enacted 84 A good Law enacted ibid. A Law of a strange 〈◊〉 83 A Law against carrying away of Women by violence the reasons of it 39 Law of Poynings 79 Laws Penal put in execution 80 A Legate from the Pope 42 preferred to be Bishop in England by King Henry ibid. his gratitude to King Henry ibid. Lenity of the King abused 101 Letters from the King out of France to the Mayor of London 64 A Libel 55 Libels the causes of them 79 Libels the females of Sedition ibid. Libels the Authors executed ibid. A Loan from the City to the King repaid 46 London entred by King Henry in a close Chariot wherefore 5 London in a tumult because of the Rebels 95 London purchase Confirmation of their Liberties 124 M. MAlecontents their effects 40 Margaret of Burgundy the fountain of all the mischief to K. Henry 18 she entertains the Rebels 41 69 she a Juno to the King 65 she instructs Perkin 66 Lady Margaret desired in Marriage by the Scottish King 108 Manufacture forein how to be kept out 36 123 Marriage of King Henry with Lady Elizabeth 10 of the French King with the Duchess of Britain 55 of Prince Arthur 116 Mart translated to Calice the reasons of it 74 Maintenance prohibited by Law 38 Merchants of England received at Antwerp with procession and great joy 91 A memorable Memorandum of the King 121 Military power of the Kingdom advanced how 44 Mills of Empson and Dudley what and the gains they brought in 124 Mitigations 120 Money bastard employments thereof repressed 36 Money left at the King's death how much 132 Morton made Privy Counsellor 10 made Archbishop of Canterbury ib. his Speech to the Parliament 32 Morton's Fork 58 Morton author of the Union of the two Roses 114 Moors expelled Granado 61 Murmuring 14 Murmurs of the People against the King 70 Murther and Manslaughter a Law concerning it in amendment of the common Law 39 Murther of King Edward the Fifth 85 Murther of a Commissioner for the Subsidy 93 N. NAvigation of the Kingdom how advanced 45 Neighbour over-potent dangerous 34 Bad News the effect thereof in Souldiers 63 Nobility neglected in Council the ill effects of it 32 Nobility few of them put to death in King Henry's time 134 North the King's journey thither for what reasons 11 O. OAth of Allegiance taken 9 Oath enforced upon Maximilian by his Subjects 46 Oath kept ibid. Obedience neglected what follows 42 First Occasion of a happy Union 109 Obsequies for the French King performed in England ibid. Obsequies to Tyrants what 1 An Ominous answer of the King 119 An Ominous Prognostick 129 Opinions divers what was to be done with Perkin 105 Orator from the Pope met at London-Bridge by the Mayor 101 Order of the Garter sent to Alphonso 64 Ostentation of Religion by the King of Spain 60 Over-merit prejudicial to Sir William Stanley 73 Outlawries how punished 120 Oxford Earl fined for breach of the Law 121 P. PAcificator King Henry between the French King and Duke of Britain 32 Pardon
The Male-contents of his own Kingdom have not been Base Popular nor Titulary Impostors but of an higher nature The King of Spain doubt ye not will 〈◊〉 with us not knowing where the French King's Ambition will stay Our Holy Father the Pope likes no Tramontanes in Italy But howsoever it be this matter of Confederates is rather to be thought on than reckoned on For God forbid but England should be able to get Reason of France without a Second At the Battels of Cressy Poictiers Agent-Court we were of Our selves France hath much People and few Soldiers They have no stable Bands of Foot some good Horse they have but these are Forces which are least fit for a Defensive War where the Actions are in the Assailant's choice It was our Discords only that lost France and by the Power of GOD it is the good Peace which we now enjoy that will recover it GOD hath hitherto blessed my Sword I have in this time that I have Reigned weeded out my bad Subjects and tryed my good My People and I know one another which breeds Confidence And if there should be any bad Blood left in the Kingdom an Honourable Forein War will vent it or purifie it In this great Business let me have your Advice and Ayd If any of you were to make his Son Knight you might have ayd of your Tenants by Law This concerns the Knighthood and Spurs of the Kingdom whereof I am Father and bound not only to seek to maintain it but to advance it But for matter of Treasure let it not be taken from the Poorest sort but from those to whom the Benefit of the War may redound France is no Wilderness and I that profess good husbandry hope to make the War after the Beginnings to pay it self Go together in GOD's Name and lose no time for I have called this Parliament wholly for this Cause THus spake the King But for all this though he shewed great forwardness for a War not only to his Parliament and Court but to his Privy Council likewise except the two Bishops and a few more yet nevertheless in his secret intentions he had no purpose to go through with any War upon France But the truth was that he did but traffick with that War to make his Return in money He knew well that France was now entire and at unity with it self and never so mighty many years before He saw by the tast that he had of his Forces sent into Britain that the French knew well enough how to make War with the English by not putting things to the hazard of a Battel but wearing them by long Sieges of Towns and strong fortified Encampings James the Third of Scotland his true Friend and Confederate gone and James the Fourth that had succeeded wholly at the devotion of France and ill affected towards him As for the Conjunctions of Ferdinando of Spain and Maximilian he could make no foundation upon them for the one had Power and not Will and the other had Will and not Power Besides that Ferdinando had but newly taken breath from the War with the Moors and merchanded at this time with France for the restoring of the Counties of Russignon and Perpignian oppignorated to the French Neither was he out of fear of the Discontents and ill blood within the Realm which having used always to repress and appease in person he was loth they should find him at a distance beyond Sea and engaged in War Finding therefore the Inconveniences and Difficulties in the prosecution of a War he cast with himself how to compass two things The one how by the declaration and inchoation of a War to make his Profit the other how to come off from the War with saving of his Honour For Profit it was to be made two ways upon his Subjects for the War and upon his Enemies for the Peace like a good Merchant that maketh his gain both upon the Commodities Exported and Imported back again For the point of Honour wherein he might suffer for giving over the War he considered well that as he could not trust upon the ayds of Ferdinando and Maximilian for supports of War so the impuissance of the one and the double proceeding of the other lay fair for him for occasions to accept of Peace These things he did wisely fore-see and did as artificially conduct whereby all things fell into his lap as he desired For as for the Parliament it presently took fire being affectionate of old to the War of France and desirous afresh to repair the dishonour they thought the King sustained by the loss of Britain Therefore they advised the King with great alacrity to undertake the War of France And although the Parliament consisted of the first and second Nobility together with principal Citizens and Townsmen yet worthily and justly respecting more the People whose Deputies they were than their own private Persons and finding by the Lord Chancellor's Speech the King's inclination that way they consented that Commissioners should go forth for the gathering and levying of a Benevolence from the more able sort This Tax called Benevolence was devised by Edward the Fourth for which he sustained much Envy It was abolished by Richard the Third by Act of Parliament to ingratiate himself with the people and it was now revived by the King but with consent of Parliament for so it was not in the time of King Edward the Fourth But by this way he raised exceeding great summs Insomuch as the City of London in those days contributed nine thousand pounds and better and that chiefly levied upon the wealthier sort There is a Tradition of a Dilemma that Bishop Morton the Chancellor used to raise up the Benevolence to higher Rates and some called it his Fork and some his Crotch. For he had couched an Article in the Instructions to the Commissioners who were to levy the Benevolence That if they met with any that were sparing they should tell them That they must needs have because they laid up and if they were spenders they must needs have because it was seen in their port and manner of living So neither kind came amiss This Parliament was meerly a Parliament of War for it was in substance but a Declaration of War against France and Scotland with some Statutes conducing thereunto As the severe punishing of Mortpayes and keeping back of Soldiers Wages in Captains The like severity for the departure of Soldiers without licence Strengthning of the Common Law in favour of Protections for those that were in the King's service And the setting the gate open and wide for men to Sell or Mortgage their Lands without Fines for Alienation to furnish themselves with Money for the War And lastly the avoiding of all Scottish-men out of England There was also a Statute for the dispersing of the Standard of the Exchequer throughout England thereby to size Weights and Measures and two or three more of less importance After the Parliament
at London to Treat On the King's part Bishop Fox Lord Privy Seal Viscount Wells Kendal Prior of St. John's Warham Master of the Polls who began to gain much upon the King's opinion Urswick who was almost ever one and Risley On the Arch-Duke's part the Lord Bevers his Admiral the Lord Verunsel President of Flanders and others These concluded a perfect Treaty both of Amity and Intercourse between the King and the Arch-Duke containing Articles both of State Commerce and Free-Fishing This is that Treaty which the Flemings call at this day Intercursus Magnus both because it is more compleat than the precedent Treaties of the Third and Fourth years of the King and chiefly to give it a difference from the Treaty that followed in the One and twentieth year of the King which they call Intercursus Malus In this Treaty there was an express Article against the Reception of the Rebels of either Prince by other purporting that if any such Rebel should be required by the Prince whose Rebel he was of the Prince Confederate that forthwith the Prince Confederate should by Proclamation command him to avoid the Countrey Which if he did not within fifteen days the Rebel was to stand proscribed and put out of Protection But nevertheless in this Article Perkin was not named neither perhaps contained because he was no Rebel But by this means his wings were clipt off his Followers that were English And it was expresly comprised in the Treaty that it should extend to the Territories of the Duchess Dowager After the Intercourse thus restored the English Merchants came again to their Mansion at Antwerp where they were received with Procession and great Joy The Winter sollowing being the Twelfth year of his reign the King called again his Parliament Where he did much exaggerate both the Malice and the cruel Predatory War lately made by the King of Scotland That that King being in Amity with him and no ways provoked should so burn in hatred towards him as to drink of the Lees and Dregs of Perkin's Intoxication who was every where else detected and discarded And that when he perceived it was out of his reach to do the King any hurt he had turned his Arms upon unarmed and unprovided people to spoil only and depopulate contrary to the Laws both of War and Peace Concluding that he could neither with Honour nor with the safety of his People to whom he did owe Protection let pass these wrongs unrevenged The Parliament understood him well and gave him a Subsidy limited to the summ of one hundred and twenty thousand Pounds besides two Fifteens For his Wars were always to him as a Mine of Treasure of a strange kind of Ore Iron at the top and Gold and Silver at the bottom At this Parliament for that there had been so much time spent in making Laws the year before and for that it was called purposely in respect of the Scottish War there were no Laws made to be remembred Only there passed a Law at the Suit of the Merchant-Adventurers of England against the Merchant-Adventurers of London for Monopolizing and exacting upon the Trade which it seemeth they did a little to save themselves after the hard time they had sustained by want of Trade But those Innovations were taken away by Parliament But it was fatal to the King to fight for his Money And though he avoided to fight with Enemies abroad yet he was still enforced to fight for it with Rebels at home For no sooner began the Subsidie to be levied in Cornwal but the people there began to grudge and murmur The Cornish being a race of men stout of stomach mighty of body and limb and that lived hardly in a barren Countrey and many of them could for a need live under ground that were Tinners they muttered extremely that it was a thing not to be suffered that for a little stir of the Scots soon blown over they should be thus grinded to Powder with Payments And said it was for them to pay that had too much and lived idly But they would eat the bread they got with the sweat of their brows and no man should take it from them And as in the Tides of People once up there want not commonly stirting Winds to make them more rough So this People did light upon two Ring-leaders or Captains of the Rout. The one was one Michael Joseph a Black-smith or Farrier of Bodmin a notable talking Fellow and no less desirous to be talked of The other was Thomas Flammocke a Lawyer who by telling his neighbours commonly upon any occasion that the Law was on their side had gotten great sway amongst them This man talked learnedly and as if he could tell how to make a Rebellion and never break the Peace He told the people that Subsidies were not to be granted nor levied in this case that is for Wars of Scotland for that the Law had provided another course by service of Escuage for those Journies much less when all was quiet and War was made but a Pretence to poll and pill the People And therefore that it was good they should not stand now like sheep before the Shearers but put on Harness and take Weapons in their hands Yet to do no creature hurt but go and deliver the King a Strong Petition for the laying down of those grievous Payments and for the punishment of those that had given him that Counsel to make others beware how they did the like in time to come And said for his part he did not see how they could do the duty of true English-men and good Liege-men except they did deliver the King from such wicked Ones that would destroy both Him and the Countrey Their aim was at Archbishop Morton and Sir Reginald Bray who were the King 's Skreens in this Envy After that these two Flammocke and the Black-smith had by joynt and several Pratings found tokens of consent in the Multitude they offered themselves to lead them until they should hear of better men to be their Leaders which they said would be ere long Telling them further that they would be but their servants and first in every danger but doubted not but to make both the West-end and East-end of England to meet in so good a Quarrel and that all rightly understood was but for the King's service The People upon these seditious Instigations did arm most of them with Bows and Arrows and Bills and such other Weapons of rude and Countrey People and forthwith under the Command of their Leaders which in such cases is ever at pleasure marched out of Cornwal through Devonshire unto Taunton in Somersetshire without any slaughter violence or spoil of the Countrey At Taunton they killed in fury an officious and eager Commissioner for the Subsidie whom they called the Provoct of Perin Thence they marched to Wells where the Lord Audley with whom their Leaders had before some secret Intelligence a Noble-man of an ancient Family
but unquiet and popular and aspiring to Ruine came-in to them and was by them with great gladness and cries of Joy accepted as their General they being now proud that they were led by a Noble-man The Lord Audley led them on from Wells to Salisbury and from Salisbury to Winchester Thence the foolish people who in effect led their Leaders had a mind to be led into Kent fancying that the people there would joyn with them contrary to all reason or judgment considering the Kentish-men had shewed great Loyalty and Affection to the King so lately before But the rude People had heard Flammock say that Kent was never Conquered and that they were the freest People of England And upon these vain Noises they looked for great matters at their hands in a cause which they conceited to be for the liberty of the Subject But when they were come into Kent the Countrey was so well setled both by the King 's late kind usage towards them and by the credit and power of the Earl of Kent the Lord Abergaveny and the Lord Cobham as neither Gentleman nor Yeoman came-in to their aid which did much damp and dismay many of the simpler sort Insomuch as divers of them did secretly flie from the Army and went home But the sturdier sort and those that were most engaged stood by it and rather waxed Proud than failed in Hopes and Courage For as it did somewhat appall them that the people came not in to them so it did no less encourage them that the King's Forces had not set upon them having marched from the West unto the East of England Wherefore they kept on their way and encamped upon Black-heath between Greenwich and Eltham threatning either to bid Battel to the King for now the Seas went higher than to Morton and Bray or to take London within his view imagining with themselves there to find no less Fear than Wealth But to return to the King When first he heard of this Commotion of the Cornish-men occasioned by the Subsidie he was much troubled therewith Not for it self but in regard of the Concurrence of other Dangers that did hang over him at that time For he doubted lest a War from Scotland a Rebellion from Cornwal and the Practices and Conspiracies of Perkin and his Partakers would come upon him at once Knowing well that it was a dangerous Triplicity to a Monarchy to have the Arms of a Foreiner the Discontents of Subjects and the Title of a Pretender to meet Nevertheless the Occasion took him in some part well provided For as soon as the Parliament had broken up the King had presently raised a puissant Army to war upon Scotland And King James of Scotland likewise on his part had made great preparations either for defence or for new assailing of England But as for the King's Forces they were not only in preparation but in readiness presently to set forth under the Conduct of Dawbeney the Lord Chamberlain But as soon as the King understood of the Rebellion of Cornwal he stayed those Forces retaining them for his own service and safety But therewithal he dispatched the Earl of Surrey into the North for the defence and strength of those parts in case the Scots should stir But for the course he held towards the Rebels it was utterly differing from his former custom and practice which was ever full of forwardness and celerity to make head against them or to set upon them as soon as ever they were in Action This he was wont to do But now besides that he was attempered by Years and less in love with Dangers by the continued Fruition of a Crown it was a time when the various appearance to his Thoughts of Perils of several Natures and from divers Parts did make him judge it his best and surest way to keep his Strength together in the Seat and Centre of his Kingdom According to the ancient Indian Emblem in such a swelling Season To hold the hand upon the middle of the Bladder that no side might rise Besides there was no necessity put upon him to alter this Counsel For neither did the Rebels spoil the Countrey in which case it had been dishonour to abandon his People Neither on the other side did their Forces gather or increase which might hasten him to precipitate and assail them before they grew too strong And lastly both Reason of Estate and War seemed to agree with this course For that Insurrections of base People are commonly more furious in their Beginnings And by this means also he had them the more at Vantage being tired and harrassed with a long march and more at Mercy being cut off far from their Countrey and therefore not able by any sudden flight to get to Retrait and to renew the Troubles When therefore the Rebels were encamped on Black-heath upon the Hill whence they might behold the City of London and the fair Valley about it the King knowing well that it stood him upon by how much the more he had hitherto protracted the time in not encountring them by so much the sooner to dispatch with them that it might appear to have been no Coldness in foreslowing but Wisdom in choosing his time resolved with all speed to assail them and yet with that Providence and Surety as should leave little to Venture or Fortune And having very great and puissant Forces about him the better to master all Events and Accidents he divided them into three parts The first was led by the Earl of Oxford in chief assisted by the Earls of Essex and Suffolk These Noble-men were appointed with some Cornets of Horses and Bands of Foot and good store of Artillery wheeling about to put themselves beyond the Hill where the Rebels were encamped and to beset all the skirts and descents thereof except those that lay towards London whereby to have these Wild Beasts as it were in a Toyl The second part of his Forces which were those that were to be most in Action and upon which he relyed most for the Fortune of the Day he did assign to be led by the Lord Chamberlain who was appointed to set upon the Rebels in Front from that side which is toward London The third part of his Forces being likewise great and brave Forces he retained about himself to be ready upon all Events to restore the Fight or consummate the Victory and mean while to secure the City And for that purpose he encamped in Person in St. George's Fields putting himself between the City and the Rebels But the City of London specially at the first upon the near encamping of the Rebels was in great Tumult As it useth to be with wealthy and populous Cities especially those which for greatness and fortune are Queens of their Regions who seldom see out of their Windows or from their Towers an Army of Enemies But that which troubled them most was the conceit that they dealt with a Rout of People with whom
according to the Law which inflicted a pecuniary Mulct they that were touch'd saith Polydor Virgil cryed out that this proceeded out of Covetousness rather than Severity But the wiser sort conceived the King's intent to be partly to curb the fierce mind of the People bred up in faction partly that by these Fines he might not only weaken the rich but also increase his own strength and fortifie himself against civil Attempts whereof he had lately seen some sparkles flie abroad if so be any smothered coal should happen to break out into a flame What-ever the matter was many there were who by accusing others sought the King's favour and enlarged their own Estates amongst whom two were chief the one was called Richard Empson the other Edmund Dudley both Lawyers and both for having served the King's turn lately made Barons of the Exchequer It is said that Empson was born at Torcester in Northampton-shire his Father was a Sievier Dudley though he were well descended yet being not befriended by Fortune long strugled with Adversity But after they had some Months taken pains in these matters both of them arise to that greatness that there were few of the Nobility that would not crouch to them and be ambitious of their favour Therefore it is not so much to be wondred at if they grew exceeding wealthy But this Wealth drew with it an Envy greater than it self which nevertheless did them little hurt during the life of Henry the Seventh but afterwards cast them both down as low as Envy could have wisht The King upon his death-bed commanded in his Will and Testament that restitution should be made to all who had been wronged by the Exchequer Whereupon infinite numbers flocking to the Court and demanding restitution there could not a fitter means be thought of to stop their mouthes than by committing of Empson and Dudley the occasioners thereof to the People as Sacrifices to appease their fury They were therefore arraigned and condemned of high Treason And these things were done presently upon Henry the Eighth his coming to the Crown So their goods being seized upon they for a whole year endured the miseries that usually accompany a Prison and yet were the Commons as eager against them as ever Whence it should first arise I know not but such a report there was that the Queen had begged the poor mens Pardons The Nobility disdaining that such mean fellows had been heretofore so prevalent with their Prince and the Commons being easily incited against them by some as eager enemies to them as themselves cried out that they were cheated of their just revenge and wearying the King with continual petitions for their death he was in a manner forced to satisfie them Whereupon on the seventeenth day of August they were both publickly beheaded Such was the end of Empson and Dudley who abounding with Wealth and flourishing under their Prince's favour while they set light by all things else became a Sacrifice to the giddy multitude And it may serve to teach us to use our power moderately and to take heed how we give offence to that Beast with many heads I mean the People which being angred and having once got the reins rageth like a tumultuous Sea Dudley left behind him a Son named John who as if he had been heir to his Father's fortune being created Duke of Northumberland concluded his powerful life with the like unhappy end leaving much Issue behind him even to our time but yet whereof the heirs male have long since failed ANNO DOM. 1511. REG. 3. THis year on New-years-day the Queen was delivered of a Son Heir-apparant to this Crown but he out-lived not the three and twentieth of the ensuing February to the great grief of the King and Kingdom About the same time there came Ambassadors from Ferdinand King of Arragon who craved of the King his Son-in-Law fifteen hundred auxiliary Archers He was then in hostility with the Moors inhabiting Africk The King very willingly granted their request and having levied the full number embarqued them for Spain in four Ships of the Navy Royal under the command of Thomas Lord Darcy They were scarce arrived there when news was brought that a Peace being made Ferdinando stood in no farther need of their aid Yet every one was liberally paid the General and those of greatest note that accompanied him were richly rewarded and all being dismissed with many thanks safely returned home In their absence Margaret Duchess of Savoy who was Daughter to the Emperor Maximilian and Governess of the Netherlands under Charles the Infant of Spain prevailed with our King for the like number of Archers she having then Wars with the Duke of Gueldres against whom she meant to employ them These men in the space of five Months did many brave exploits at Brimnost Aske and Venloo under the command of Sir Edward Poynings a brave Souldier and in great favour with his Prince Of them fourteen hundred returned home much commended and well rewarded the fortune of War had cut off one hundred Four Captains in regard of their valour were Knighted by the Infant Charles afterwards Emperor viz. John Norton John Fog John Scot and Thomas Lynd. The King of Scots had then War with the Portugal under pretext whereof one Andrew Barton a famous Pirat took all Ships that coasted either England or Scotland affirming them always to be Portugals of what Nation soever they were or at least fraught with Portugal Merchandise The King sent Edward Howard Lord Admiral of England and his Brother the Lord Thomas Howard eldest Son to the Earl of Surrey with one John Hopton to take this Rover. When they had once found him out after a long and bloody fight they took him alive but mortally wounded with his two Ships and all his companions that survived the fight and brought them to London ANNO DOM. 1512. REG. 4. AS yet Henry had no War with any forein Prince neither did the wiser sort wish that he should have any But he a young King in the heat of one and twenty years was transported with a vehement desire of War which saith the Proverb is sweet to them that never tasted of it Although he had about a year or two before made a League with Lewis the Twelfth of France yet he was easily intreated by Pope Julius to renounce this Confederacy This Pope more like to that Caesar whose Name he bare than Peter from whom he would fain derive his Succession that like another Nero sitting still he might from on high be a Spectator while the whole World was on fire had written Letters to our King wherein he intreated his assistance towards the suppression of the French Who without fear of God or man these were the pretended Causes had not only sacrilegiously laid hold on the Revenues of the Church had caused Cardinal William to usurp the Papacy had upheld Alphonso of Ferara and the Bentivogli in Rebellion against him
King's Divorce Bearing himself as neuter between the Emperour and the French King he makes them both become jealous of him And War being renewed in Italy he perceives himself likely again to become a prey to the Conquerour Which if it should happen he must betake himself to the King of England of whose help he was certain as long as his cause did uncertainly hang in suspence But if he should determine in the behalf of the King would he in gratitude be as beneficial as hope or fear of offending had made him That he much doubted These thoughts possessing the Pope Caesar's affairs in Italy began to decline almost all the Towns throughout the Realm of Naples out of hatred to the insolent Spaniard and affection to the French making offer of their Keys and receiving Garrisons of French Clement therefore did not now much stand in awe of the Emperour much against whose mind he was intreated to send a Legate into England Lawrence Campegius Cardinal and Bishop of Sulisbury who together with the Cardinal of York should have the hearing of this Cause so long controverted to no purpose And the more to testifie his affection to the King he did by a Decretal Bull but privately drawn pronounce the King's Marriage with Catharine to be void This Bull was committed to the Legate with these instructions That having shewed it to the King and the Cardinal of York He should withal signifie to them that he had authority to publish it but not to give sentence until he received new instructions telling him that he was content the King should enjoy the benefit of it and it may be he was then so minded but that it stood him upon to have this business delayed until he had sufficiently secured himself from the Emperour These were the pretences of the old Fox to the Legate But his meaning was to make use of all seasons and to turn with the weather The ninth of October to London comes the Legate the King having given order to the City for his solemn entertainment But the old man's infirmity frustrated their preparations he was grievously tormented with the Gout and would be privately brought into the City After a few days rest catried in a Chair he was brought to the King's presence to whom his Secretary made a Latin Oration wherein having much complained of the extreme cruelty of the Imperials in the sacking of Rome he used many words to signifie that the King 's pious bounty shewed in his liberally relieving him in so needful a season was most acceptable to the Pope and the whole College of Cardinals To this speech Edward Fox afterward Bishop of Hereford returned an answer in Latin wherein he declared That his Majesty was much grieved at his Holiness calamity for as much as man is naturally touched with a feeling of anothers miseries That He had not only performed what could be expected from him as a man but had also done the part of a friend for a friend and what was due from a Prince to Christ's Vicar on earth He did therefore hope that in regard of his filial obedience to the Holy See if it should happen that He should stand in need of its assistance and authority his Holiness would be pleased readily to grant those things which it might beseem a Son to crave of the common Mother Thus much passed in publick The King and the Legates conferring in private Campegius assured the King of the Pope's forwardness to pleasure him Campegius was indeed no bad man and spake truly what he thought For Clement knowing how difficult a matter it was to deceive a man that was no fool by one conscious of the guile and that was not deceived himself made the Legate believe that in this matter of the Divorce he would be ready to do for the King whatsoever he should demand After these passages the Legates spent six whole months in confultation only concerning their manner of proceeding in the King's Divorce In the mean time the King understanding that among his Subjects but especially the women kind this his action was much traduced as if he took this course more to satisfie his Lust than his Conscience to give a stop to all farther rumours having assembled all the Nobles of the Realm Judges Lawyers and as many of the better fort of Commons as could conveniently attend upon the eighth of November made an Oration to this effect Twenty years have almost run their course faithful and loving Subjects since We first began Our Reign among you In all which tract of time we have by God's assistance so behaved Our Self that We hope We have neither given you cause to complain nor our Enemies to glory No forein power hath endeavoured ought against you but to his own loss neither have We employed Our Arms any where but We have triumphantly erected Our glorious Trophies So that whether you consider the sweet fruits of plentiful Peace or the glory of Our Warlike exploits We dare boldly avouch We have shewed Our Self not unworthy of Our Ancestors whom without offence be it spoken We have in all points equalled But when we reflect upon the necessary end of Our frail life We are surprized with fear lest the miseries of future times should so obscure the splendour and memory of Our present felicity that as the Romans did after the death of Augustus so you may hereafter be forced to wish with tears either that We had never been or might have perpetually lived to govern you We see many here present who in regard of their age might have been parties in the late Civil Wars which for eighty years together so miserably rended this Realm no man knowing whom to acknowledge for his Sovereign until the happy Conjunction of Our Parents did not resolve but took away all cause of farther doubt Consider then whether after Our death you can hope for better days than when the factions of York and Lancaster distracted this Realm We have a Daughter whom we the more affectionately tender because she is Our sole Issue But we would have you know that having lately treated with Our dear Brother of France concerning a match between this Our Daughter and Henry Duke of Orleans his younger Son both of Us were well pleased with this alliance until one of his Privy Council made a question of Our Daughter's birth for it was much to be doubted lest she were to be held illegitimate being begotten of Us and that Mother who had before been married to Our deceased Brother saying it was utterly repugnant to the Word of God that any one should marry his Brother's Widow wherefore he was of opinion that this match with Our most beloved Spouse was to be deemed no other than incestuous How grievously this relation afflicted Us God the Searcher of Our hearts knows For these words did seem to question not only Our dear Consort and Our Daughter but even the very estate of Our Soul
regard of his youth and Noble Disposition much lamented his loss and the King 's inexorable rigour ANNO DOM. 1542. REG. 34. BY this time Henry began to find the conveniency of his change having married one as fruitful in evil as his former Wives were in good who could not contain her self within the sacred limits of a Royal marriage bed but must be supplied with more vigorous and active bodies than was that of the now growing aged and unwieldy King Alas what is this momentary pleasure that for it we dare hazard a treble life of Fame of Body of Soul Heaven may be merciful but Fame will censure and the enraged Lion is implacable such did this Queen find him who procured not only her to be condemned by Act of Parliament begun the sixteenth of January and with her the Lady Jane Wife to the Viscount Rochfort behold the thrift of the Divine Justice which made her an Instrument of the punishment of her own and others wickedness who by her calumnies had betrayed her own Husband and his Sister the late beheaded Queen Ann but two others also long since executed Francis Derham and Thomas Calpepper in their double condemnation scarce sufficiently punished Derham had been too familiar with her in her virgin time and having after attained to some publick Offices in Ireland was by her now Queen sent for and entertained as a houshold Servant in which time whether he revived his former familiarity is not manifest But Culpepper was so plainly convict of many secret meetings with the Queen by the means of the Lady Rochfort that the Adultery was questionless For which the Queen and the Viscountess Rochfort were both beheaded within the Tower on the twelfth of February Derham had been hanged and Culpepper beheaded at Tyburn the tenth of the preceding December Hitherto our Kings had stiled themselves Lords of Ireland a Title with that rebellious Nation not deemed so sacred and dreadful as to force obedience The Estates therefore of Ireland assembled in Parliament Enacted him King of Ireland according to which Decree he was on the three and twentieth of January publickly Proclaimed About the same time Arthur Viscount Lisle natural Son of Edward the Fourth out of a surfeit of sudden Joy deceased Two of his Servants had been executed the preceding year for having conspired to betray Calais to the French and the Viscount as being conscious committed to the Tower But upon manifestation of his innocence the King sent unto him Sir Thomas Wriothsley Principal Secretary of Estate by whom he signified the great content he received in the Viscount's approved fidelity the effects whereof he should find in his present liberty and that degree of favour that a faithful and beloved Uncle deserved The Viscount receiving such unexpected news imbellished with rich promises and Royal tokens the King having sent him a Diamond of great value of assured favour being not sufficiently capable of so great joy free from all symptoms of any other disease the ensuing night expired After whose decease Sir John Dudley was created Viscount Lisle claiming that Honour as hereditary in the right of his Mother the Lady Elizabeth Sister and Heir to the Lord Edward Grey Viscount Lisle Wife to the late deceased Lord Arthur but formerly married to Edmund Dudley one of the Barons of the Exchequer beheaded the first year of this King's reign Which I the rather remember for that this man afterwards memorable for his power and dignities might have proved more happy in his Issue than his greatness had not his own ambition betrayed some of these fair sprouts to the blast of unseasonable hopes and nature denying any at least lawful Issue to the rest the name and almost remembrance of this great Family hath ceased Of which hereafter Scotland had been long peaceable yet had it often administred motives of discontent and jealousie James the Fifth King of Scots Nephew to Henry by his Sister having long lived a Bachelor Henry treated with him concerning a Marriage with his then only Child the Lady Mary a Match which probably would have united these neighbour Kingdoms But God had reserved this Union for a more happy time The antient League between France and Scotland had always made the Scots affected to the French and James prefer the alliance with France before that of England where the Dowry was no less than the hopes of a Kingdom So he marrieth with Magdalen a Daughter of France who not long surviving he again matcheth there with Mary of Guise Widow to the Duke of Longueville Henry had yet a desire to see his Nephew to which end he desired an interview at York or some other oportune place James would not condescend to this who could not withstanding undertake a long and dangerous voyage into France without invitation These were the first seeds of discord which after bladed to the Scots destruction There having been for two years neither certain Peace nor a just War yet incursions from each side Forces are assigned to the Duke of Norfolk to repress the insolency of the Scots and secure the Marches The Scot upon news of our being in Arms sends to expostulate with the Duke of Norfolk concerning the motives of this War and withal dispatcheth the Lord Gordon with some small Forces to defend the Frontiers The Herald is detained until our Army came to Berwick that he might not give intelligence of our strength And in October the Duke entring Scotland continued there ransacking the Countrey without any opposition of the Enemy until the middle of November By which time King James having levied a great Army resolved on a Battel the Nobility perswading the contrary especially unwilling that he should any way hazard his Person the loss of his Father in the like manner being yet fresh in memory and Scotland too sensible of the calamities that ensued it The King proving obstinate they detain him by force desirous rather to hazard his displeasure than his life This tenderness of him in the language of rage and indignation he terms cowardise and treachery threatning to set on the Enemy assisted with his Family only The Lord Maxwell seeking to allay him promised with ten thousand only to invade England and with far less than the English Forces to divert the War The King seems to consent But offended with the rest of the Nobility he gives the Lord Oliver Saintclare a private Commission not to be opened until they were ready to give the onset wherein he makes him General of the Army Having in England discovered five hundred English Horse led by Sir Thomas Wharton and Sir William Musgrave the Lord Saintclare commanded his Commission publickly to be read the recital whereof so distasted the Lord Maxwell and the whole Army that all things were in a confusion and they ready to disband The opportunity of an adjoyning Hill gave us a full prospect into their Army and invited us to make use of
our advantages We charge them furiously the Scots amazedly fly many are slain many taken more plunged in the neighbouring Fens and taken by Scottish Freebooters sold to us Among the Captives were the Earls of Glencarn and Cassels the Lords Saintclare Maxwell Admiral of Scotland Fleming Somerwell Oliphant and 〈◊〉 besides two hundred of the better sort and eight hundred common Souldiers The consideration of this overthrow occasioned as he 〈◊〉 by the froward rashness of his own Subjects and the death of an English Herald slain in Scotland so surcharged him with rage and grief that he fell sick of a Fever and died in the three and thirtieth year of his age and two and thirtieth of his reign leaving his Kingdom to the usually unhappy government of a Woman a Child scarce eight daysold The chief of the Captives being conveyed to the Tower were two days after brought before the King's Council where the Lord Chancellour reprehended their treachery who without due denuntiation of War invaded and spoiled the Territories of their Allies and committed many outrages which might excuse any severe courses which might in justice be taken with them Yet his Majesty out of his natural Clemenoy was pleased to deal with them beyond their deserts by freeing them from the irksomness of a strict imprisonment and disposing of them among the Nobles to be by them entertained until he should otherwise determine of them By this time King James his death had possessed Henry with new hopes of uniting Britain under one Head England had a Prince and Scotland a Queen but both so young that many accidents might dissolve a contract before they came to sufficiency Yet this seeming a course intended by the Divine Providence to extirpate all causes of enmity and discord between these neighbouring Nations a Marriage between these young Princes is proposed With what alacrity and applause the proposition was on both sides entertained we may conceive who have had the happiness to see that effected which they but intended Which being a matter of so sweet a consequence it is to be wondered at that the conspiracy of a few factious spirits should so easily hinder it The hope of it prevailed with the King for the liberty of the Captives conditionally that they should leave Hostages for their return if Peace were not shortly concluded which as also the furtherance of this so wished conjunction they faithfully promised ANNO DOM. 1543. REG. 35. AFter their short Captivity the Scottish Lords having been detained only twelve days at London on New-years-day began their journey towards Scotland and with them Archibald Douglas Earl of Angus whom his Son-in-Law King James had a little before his death intended to recall Fifteen years had he and his Brother George lived Exiles in England Henry out of his Royal Bounty allowing to the Earl a Pension of a thousand Marks and to his Brother of five hundred The sudden return of these captive Lords caused in most as sudden a joy Only the Cardinal of St. Andrews who had by forgery made himself Regent and his Faction could willingly have brooked their absence They came not as freed from a Captivity but as Ambassadors for Peace by them earnestly perswaded which by the happy conjunction of these Princes might be concluded to perpetuity But the Cardinal with his factious Clergy the Queen Dowager and as many as were affected to the Flower 〈◊〉 interposed themselves for the good of France Yet notwithstanding the Cardinal's fraud being detected he is not only deposed from his Regency and James Hamilton Earl of Arren substituted but also committed to custody whence afterwards making an escape he was the author of more garboils In the mean time the Marriage of the young Queen and other conditions proposed to the Estate of Scotland by Sir Ralph Sadler the King's Ambassador are fully assented unto and Hostages promised for the performance of them But the adverse Faction became so prevalent that the Hostages were not delivered at the day neither did the Captive Nobility render themselves in England Only Gilbert Kenneda Earl of Cassels like another Regulus had rather commit himself to the mercy of his enemies than prostitute his Honour to the foul taint of base infidelity His Brethren had become Pledges for his return the importunity nay violence of his friends could not deter him from redeeming them So to London he came where the bountiful King duly honouring him for his constancy instead of receiving a Ransom gave him one dismissing him and his Brothers fraught with honour and rewards The Scots falling off from their late Agreement the King commandeth stay to be made of all their Ships and confiscateth their goods sends Letters full of threats and just complaints to the Estates at Edenborough Blaming them for arrogantly rejecting his Alliance the want whereof must needs be prejudicial to them neither had they only rejected it but unmindful of former benefits had sown seeds of new War and forced him to Arms. But Letters proving ineffectual Scotland is by the frontier Garrisons invaded in three several places forty Scots making resistance are slain five and fifty Villages burned five hundred and sixty prisoners taken and a booty brought into England of three thousand five hundred head of cattel eight hundred Horses and seven thousand Sheep beside great provision of housholdstuff But this obstinacy of the Scots proceeded not only from themselves France and Scotland were ever combined against England so that to invade one was to draw on a War with both We had been often victorious in France whereof many portions aneiently belonged to Us if we should make any claim to all or part of our Inheritance Scotland would serve either to distract our Forces or to transfer the seat of War nearer home The uniting of England and Scotland would by securing us at home facilitate our Enterprizes upon France These were motives sufficient for Francis notwithstanding the long inviolate amity between him and Henry secretly to cross our designs in Scotland Whereof Henry could not long be sensible and not revenge Wherefore he proclaims open hostility with France as he had already with Scotland and reconciles himself with the Emperour before thought irreconciliable in regard of his Aunts disgrace who professed that all causes of difference between them were buried with her yet is it certain that unto the Pope he accused Henry to have dispatched her by poison But now they are become Confederates and an aid of ten thousand English sent to joyn with the Imperials Landrecy a Town lately taken from the Emperour by the French is the first exercise of our Arms. The Emperour also coming in Person it is invested with forty thousand men is furiously battered and the Souldiers brought to the distress of half a provant loaf of Bread a day and to drink Water Francis being certified of their wants assembles his Forces draws near the Emperour feeding him with hope
arrived on the first of October But the King 's hasty departure permitted not all things to be sufficiently setled Part of the Artillery Victuals and Munition by the Capitulation left in Boloign were not removed from the Base Town which was fortified only with some small Trenches for the surprisal whereof the Daulphin in the night sends some Troops who before morning enter the place cut all in pieces they meet win the Artillery and Munition and think to have gotten an absolute Victory but being intent to pillage some Ensigns issue from the higher Tower find them in disorder set upon them and rout them Many of the Enemies were slain among whom was Fouquessolles another Son-in-Law of Biez the Victory not being without blood on our side Neither was our Fleet idle in the mean which scouring the Seas brought three hundred Prizes so fraught with Merchandise that the three spacious Churches of the Augustine the Gray and the Black Friers in London whose Monasteries had lately been suppressed were stored with nothing but Hogsheads of Wine The Earl of Lenox lately dispatched out of France for the managing of the affairs of Scotland to the behoof of the French found not entertainment there according to his expectation The Queen Mother and Cardinal as long as they had need of him deluded him with hopes of marrying the Queen Mother and by their secret calumnies rendred them suspected to the French At length finding his safety questionable he flies for refuge into England accompanied with Alexander Son and Heir to the Earl of Glencarn Walter Graham Brother to the Earl of Montross and Sir John Borthwick with others and were honourably received by Henry who most happily repaired the Earl's losses of Revenues in France fallen by the death of Robert Stuart of Aubigny and of his Marriage in Scotland with that most successful Match that beautiful Lady Margaret Niece to the King and Daughter to the Earl of Angus and an annual Pension of seven hundred Marks And once more he resolved to try his fortune in Scotland attended by Sir Rice Mansell and Sir Peter Mewtas Wintor Audley and Brooks with others who with eight Ships set sail from Bristol and hanging over the Coast of Scotland like a Cloud uncertain where to disburthen it self deterred the Scots from enterprising anything upon England in the absence of the King The Church of late had daily felt some change or other And this year in June the Letany set forth in English was commanded to be used in all Churches ANNO DOM. 1545. REG. 37. OUr late Expeditions had without doubt been very chargeable So that I should not wonder that the King began to want supplies if I did not consider the incredible summs raised of the spoils of the late suppressed Religious Houses All which notwithstanding whether it were that God not pleased with this authorized Sacriledge did not enlarge them with his Blessing Which only saith Solomon maketh Rich Or that a great part thereof was otherwise divided either among his Courtiers or for the maintenance of the ejected Religious Persons the Treasury was certainly very bare To which former reasons we may add the six new erected Bishopricks and the like number of Cathedral Churches as also the Stipends conferred on both Universities for the publick Professors of the Hebrew and Greek Tongues Divinity Law and Physick to each whereof he allotted an Annuity of forty Pounds Howsoever it were certain it is that levies being made in Germany for the King the Souldiers disbanded for want of Pay The Parliament had already granted him great Subsidies so that thence he could expect no more Yet Monies must be had Henry therefore resolves on an honest kind of Rapine The Intreaties of Princes little differ from Commands unless perhaps in this that they work more subtilly and render them pliable with whom Commands would not have prevailed which manifestly appeared in the execution of this Project He had twenty years since commanded Money by Proclamation a course so far from taking as was desired that it had like to have been the cause of much mischief But now by some fit Commissioners informing his Subjects of his necessities and desiring the richer sort one by one to contribute towards his support he quickly replenished the Exchequer The Commissioners begin first with the Citizens of London among whom two were more strait laced than the rest viz. Richard Read and William Roch but their parsimony shall cost them dear For Read being an old man and utterly unexpert of Martial Discipline is commanded to serve in person in the Wars of Scotland is taken by the Scots and forced to ransom himself at a high rate Roch as having used some uncivil language before those of his Majestie 's Council who sate Commissioners was for some months punished with straight imprisonment and at length not improbably bought his liberty In the mean time Boloign was a great eye-sore to the French They try to regain it by stratagems and surprisals but in vain They betake themselves to force with the like success The Marshal of Biez Governour of the Boloignois comes with a great Army to the Port a Town two miles from Boloign and begins to build a Fort on this side the River upon the point of the Tower of Ordre but is by the Earl of Hertford forced away and leaves his Castle in the Air. His intent was by this Fort to have kept the Garrison of Boloign within their Walls to have commanded the Haven so to cut off all Succours by sea and from Calais by land Which being done Francis resolved in Person to besiege Guisnes and there to fortifie thereby to famish Boloign and to keep Calais and the land of Oye in subjection But these designs proving fruitless he prepares his Naval forces giving forth that he intended to invade England hoping that this Alarm would have made us have a care of the main and neglect those pieces abroad so that Boloign for lack of aid should easily be reduced The noise of an invasion made Henry arm who having gathered together a sufficient Fleet awaited the Enemy at Portsmouth intent to all occasions Neither did the French only intend an Alarm landing in three several places in England but were every where with loss driven aboard their Ships Two days after they fall down to the Channel that divideth the Isle of Wight from the rest of Britain they seem to threaten Portsmouth where the King then was and seek to draw our Fleet to fight The French beside a sufficient Fleet of other Ships had twenty five Gallies no way probably useful in these tempestuous and rough Seas not brooking this flat kind of shipping but by their bulk and number to terrifie us Yet at this time an unusual calmness of the Sea without wind or current put them in hope of effecting wonders by their Gallies But our Fleet was not to be drawn to fight much less to be forced without apparent danger to the Enemy
Crown whose Reign lasted but to the beginning of Queen Elizabeth And now the affairs of Scotland which have without doubt been great and memorable crave a part in our History We have before made mention of our League with Scotland wherein it was determined concerning the Marriage between the now King Edward and the Queen of Scots The times since then were full of continual 〈◊〉 We at length resolved not to dally with them but to undertake the War with forces agreeable to the cause The Duke of Somerset by consent of the Privy Council is sent into Scotland with ten thousand Foot and six thousand Horse besides Pioners and Artificers thirteen hundred and and fifteen pieces of Brass Ordnance To the Lord Clinton is assigned a Navy consisting of four and twenty men of War one Galley and thirty Ships of burthen wherewith he was to scour the Seas and infest the maritim parts of Scotland On the third of September the Duke of Somerset made an hostile entrance upon the Enemies Countrey and forthwith dispatched Letters to the Earl of Arren Regent of Scotland much to this effect That he wished the Scots would consider that this War was waged among Christians and that our ends were no other than a just Peace whereto the endeavours of all good men should tend An occasion not only of a League but of a perpetual Peace was now happily offered if they would suffer the two differing and emulous Nations by uniting the Heads to grow together This as it had been formerly sought by us so had it been generally assented to by the Estates of Scotland Therefore he could not but wonder why they should rather treacherously recurr to Arms the events of War being usually even to the Victor sufficiently unfortunate than maintain inviolate their troth plighted to the good of both Nations They could not in reason expect that their Queen should perpetually live a Virgin-life And if she married where could she bestow her self bettter than on a puissant Monarch inhabiting the same Island and parlying the same language They saw what inconveniencies were the consequents of forein Matches whereof they should rather make tryal by the examples of others than at their own peril He demanded nothing but equity yet he so much abhorred the effusion of Christian blood that if he found the Scots not utterly averse from an accord he would endeavour that some of the Conventions should be remitted He would also permit that the Queen should abide and be brought up among them until her age made her marriageable at what time she should by consent of the Estates her self make choice of a Husband In the mean time there should be a Cessation of Arms neither should the Queen be transported out of her Realm nor entertain treatise of Marriage with the French or any other foreiner This if they would faithfully promise he would forthwith peaceably depart out of Scotland and whatsoever damages the Countrey had suffered by this invasion he would according to the esteem of indifferent Arbitrators make ample satisfaction The Scottish Army consisted of thirty thousand Foot some speak a greater number The chief Commanders whereof puffed up with confidence of their strength although they had lately lost eight hundred in a tumultuary skirmish and misconceiving our offers to proceed out of fear reject all Conditions of Accord And lest upon knowledge of the equity of our demands the Council should incline to resolutions of Peace they conceal our Letters And not only so but upon assurance of Victory spread a rumour that nothing would content the insolent English but the delivery of the Queen which if they could not otherwise they would by force obtain and proceed to the absolute conquest of the Kingdom This report enraged the Souldiers whom no motives could disswade from present engaging themselves in Battel The wiser sort were not ignorant of the necessities that long since began to press us who were brought to that pass that by reason of the difficulties of passages we could not make a safe retreat nor force the Enemy to fight in regard of the strength of the place where he was encamped But the vain hope of Victory had possessed the minds of the greater part and excluded reason Necessity forced us to a resolution brave and expedient which was to seek the Enemy in his lodging and endeavour to draw him to combat But the hot-spur Scots issuing from out their fastnesses seemed willing to prevent us So both Armies entertain a mutual resolution A little before the joyning of the Armies an accident happened which did not a little make way to our Victory The Enemy marching along near the Sea-shoar a piece of Ordnance discharged from our Galley took away five and twenty of their men whereof the eldest Son of the Lord Grimes was one Four thousand Archers terrified with so unexpected a slaughter made a stand and could never after be brought on The two Armies approaching each other the Duke of Somerset commanded the Lord Gray with the Cavallery to charge the Scots and find them employment until the Infantry had seized on an adjoyning Hill and if he could without much hazard to disorder the Enemy But they were gallantly received by a strong Squadron of Pikes whereon some of the formost having too far engaged themselves were cast away the rest retreated affirming that it was as easie to force a Wall as through the Scottish Ranks The Duke makes a second trial by the light Horse seconding them with the Ordnance and the Archers The Enemy either not able to stand so violent a charge or as some relate to draw us from the favour of our Cannon begins to give ground which we perceiving give a shout crying out withal They fly they fly which so amazed them that some began to fly indeed and at length the whole Army was routed The Scots complain that we tyrannized over the Captives especially the Priests and Friers whereof many served in this Field because by their instigation chiefly our Conditions were so arrogantly rejected Of the Enemies were flain thirteen thousand and among them beside the Earl of Lohemor and the Lord Fleming the chief of the Scottish Gentry with their Tenants who thought it a disgrace to survive their Lords In the chase were taken fifteen hundred among whom were the Earl Huntley Chancellour of Scotland the Lords Hefter Hobbey and Hamilton beside many other persons of Quality This lamentable overthrow was given the tenth of September The English become Victors beyond their expectation ransacked the Countrey five miles about fortified in the Forth the forsaken Islands Keth and Haymon took Brocth Castle by their terrour forced the Garrisons of Humes and Fastcastle to yield and having built a Fort at Lauder and repaired the ruines of Roxburgh by their departure recreated the dejected minds of the distressed Scots Our affairs thus succeeding abroad the Church at home had her changes Many of the Council but especially the Protector
retreated to Guisnes The Fort at the Tower of Ordre fortified both by nature and art gave a period to this years success standing resolutely upon defence until the extremity of Winter forced the French to raise their siege The loss of these small pieces set the Protector in the wane of the vulgar opinion and afforded sufficient matter for Envy to work on Among the Lords of the Privy Council the most eminent was the Earl of Warwick a man of a vast spirit which was the more enlarged by the contemplation of his great Acts performed both abroad and at home He had long looked a squint upon Somerset's greatness whom in a favourable esteem of himself he deemed far beneath him and was withal perswaded that could he but remove the Duke due regards would cast the Protectorship on him The consideration also of the Duke's nakedness disarmed of that metalsom piece the Admiral En quo discordia Fratres Perduxit miseros made his hopes present themselves in the more lively shapes He seeks about for sufficient matter wherewith to charge the Duke who could not be long ignorant of these practices against him The Duke finding himself aimed at but not well discerning whether the Earl intended a legal or military process against him on the sixth of October from Hampton-Court where the King then resided sent Letters to the City of London requiring from thence an aid of a thousand men who should guard the King and him from the treacherous attempts of some ill affected Subjects And in the mean time presseth in the adjacent Countrey where having raised a reasonable company he the same night carried away the King attended by some of the Nobility and some of the Council from thence 〈◊〉 Windsor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 place because fortified more safe and convenient for resistance But the Earl had made a greater part of the Council who accompanied him at London To them he makes a formal complaint against the Protector beseeching them by their assistance to secure him from the Protector 's malice who 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 him for his life These Lords send a contre Letter to the 〈◊〉 demanding aids of them for the delivery of the King our of the hands of his Enemy for so they were pleased to term the Duke Then they send abroad Proclamations wherein they insert the chief heads of their accusation as that By sowing seeds of discord the Duke had troubled that setled and peaceable 〈◊〉 wherein King Henry had left this Kingdom and had been the chief cause that it had lately 〈◊〉 engaged in Civil Wars to the loss of many thousand lives That many Forts conquered by Henry with hazard of his Person were by the Duke 's either cowardise or treachery regained by the Enemy That he regarded not the advice of the rest of the Lords of the Council and had plainly neglected King Henry's Instructions concerning the Government of the Kingdoms of England and Ireland That his chief studies and wherein he was most seen were to rake up Wealth to maintain a Faction among the Nobility and yet comply with both parties for his own advantages to build stately Palaces far exceeding the proportion of a Subject and that even in the very instant that the Estate did shrink under the burthen both of intestine and forein Wars The Duke certified of their proceedings and seeing himself forsaken for the Londoners being prepossessed were so far from supplying him that they at the same time afforded his Adversary five hundred and the greatest part of the Nobility had by joyning with the Earl made their cause one at last forsook himself also and craving of the adverse party that they would abstain from violence toward him and proceed only according to the usual courses of Legal tryal delivered the King to their tuition and remitted himself to their disposal by whom on the fourteenth of October he was committed to the Tower together with Sir Michael Stanhop Sir Thomas Smith Sir John Thin and some others On the tenth of November died Paul the Third having sate Pope near about fifteen years The Conclave of Cardinals consulting about the election of a new Pope began to have regard of Cardinal Pool in whom the greatness of his Extract his Virtuous Life Gravity and admirable Learning were very considerable motives The Conclave was at that time divided some were Imperialists some French and a third Part whereof the Cardinal Farnese was principal stood Neuter These later at length joyning with the Imperialists cast their unanimous Votes upon Pool Who upon notice of his Election blamed them for their rashness advising them again and again that they should not in their Consultations be misled by perturbation of mind or do any thing for friendship or favour but totally to direct their cogitations to the honour of God and the profit of his Church Pool himself having thus put off the matter the French Cardinals began to alledge That in regard of the difficulties of ways and distance of places many of the Colledge were yet absent and that there was no reason why they should with such precipitation proceed to a partial Election before the Conclave were full The Cardinal Caraffa who some years after was Pope by the name of Paul the Fourth a wayward old man whose cold spirits were set on fire by Envy and Ambition sought to make use of Pool's Modesty to his own advantage hoping himself as eminent and in as fair a way as any of the Colledge Pool excepted might be advanced to the Chair and to lessen the favour of the Conclave towards Pool he betook himself to calumnies accusing Pool of suspition of Heresie and Incontinency that In Germany and his Legacy at Trent he had too much favoured the Lutherans had often entertained Immanuel Tremellius had enrolled Antonio Flaminio suspected of Lutheranism in his Family and promoted him to many Ecclesiastical Dignities and in his Legacy at Viterbo used not that severity against that sort of men that was requisite Neither could that composed gravity so free him from the taint of looseness but that many were of opinion he had cloistered a Virgin of his own begetting That he wondred what the Conclave meant with so impetuous a current to proceed to the Election of this one man and he a Foreiner As if Italy it self were so barren of deserving men that we must be fain to send for this man out of Britain almost the farthest part of the known World to invest him in the Papacy whereof what would be the effect but that the Emperour at whose devotion this man wholly was might once again make himself Master of Rome now by indulgence as before by force To these allegations Pool's reply was such that he not only cleared himself but also quickned the almost extinguished desires of the Conclave to elect him The major part whereof assembling at his Chamber by night wished Ludovico Priulo the Cardinal's bosom-friend between whom the correspondence of of their
Conditions of thè League concluded with the Emperour Rhodes taken by the Turk Christiern King of Denmark The Duke of Bourbon revolts The death of Adrian the Sixth Clement the Seventh succeedeth and Wolsey suffereth the repulse Wolsey persuades the King to a Divorce Richard Pacey Dean of Pauls falleth mad The Battel of Pavy Money demanded and commanded by Proclamation The King falls in love with Ann Bolen A creation of Lords Wolsey 10 build two Colleges demolisheth forty Monasteries Sacriledge punished Luther writes to the King The King's Answer A breach with the Emperour The King endeavours to relieve the French King A League concluded with the French King The French King set at liberty The King of Hungary slain by the Turks Wolsey seeks to be Pope Sede nondum vacante Rome sacked Montmorency Ambassador from France War proclaimed against the Emperour The inconstancy of the Pope Cardinal Campegius 〈◊〉 sens into England The King's Speech concerning his Divorce The Suit of the King's Divorce The Queens speech to the King before the Legates The Queen diparteth Reasons for the Divorce Reasons against the Divorce The Pope's inconstancy Wolsey falls The Iegates repair to the Queen Their conference with her Her answer Cardinal Campegius his Oraition Wolsey discharged of the Great Seal Sir Thomas More Lord Chancellour The Cardinal accused of 〈◊〉 Wolsey's Speech to the Judges Christ-Church in Oxford Wolfey-falls sick Wolsey is confined to York The Cardinal is apprehended His last words He dicth And is buried His greatness His buildings The Peace of Cambray The first occasion of Cranmer's rising Creation of Earls The Bible translated into English An Embassy to the Pope All comnierce with the See of Rome forbidden The Clergy fined The King declared supreme Head of the Church The death of William Warham Archbishop of Canterbury Cranmer though much against his will succeedeth him Sir Thomas More resigns the place of Lord Chancellour An interview between the Kings of England and France Catharina de Medices married to the Duke of Orleans The King marrieth Ann Bolen The birth of Queen Elizabeth Mary Queen of France dieth The Imposture of Elizabeth Barton discovired No Canons to be constituted without the King's assent The King to collate Bishopricks The Archbishop of Canterbury bath Papal authority under the King Fisher and More imprisoned Persecution Pope Clement dieth First-fruits granted to the King Wales united to England The King begins to subvert Religious Houses Certain Priors and Monks executed The Bishop of Rochester beheaded Made Cardinal unseasonably Sir Thomas More beheaded Religious Houses visited The death of Queen Catharine Queen Ann the Visconnt Rochford and others committed The Queen condemned with her Brother and Norris Her Execution Lady Elizabeth difintarited The King marrieth Jane Seymour Death of the Duke of Somerset the King 's natural Son Bourchier Earl of Bath Cromwell's Honour and Dignity The beginning of Reformation The subversion of Religious Houses of less note Commotion in Lincolnshire Insurrection in Yorkshire Scarborough-Castle befieged Rebellion in Ireland Cardinal Pool Rebels executed Cardinal Pool writes against the King The birth of Prince Edward Seymour Earl of Hertford Fitz-William Earl of Southampton Powlet and Russel rise The abuse of Images restrained Becket's Shrine demolished * Uniones The Image of our Lady of Walsingham Frier Forest makes good a 〈◊〉 Saint Augustine's at Canterbury Battel-Abbey and others suppressed The Bible translated The Marquess of Exceter and others beheaded Lambert convented and burned Margaret 〈◊〉 of Salisbury condemned The subversion of Religious Houses Some Abbots executed Glastonbury A catalogue of the Abbots who bad voices among the Peers New Bishopricks erected The Law of the Six Articles Latimer and Schaxton resign their Bishopricks The arrival of certain Princes of Germany in England for the treatise of a Match between the King and Lady Ann of Cleve The King marrieth the Lady Ann of Cleve Cromwell created Earl of Essex and within three months after beheaded Lady Ann of Cleve 〈◊〉 The King marrieth Catharine Howard Protestants and Papists alike persecuted The Prior of Dancaster and six others hanged The Lord Hungerford executed Beginnings of a commotion in Yorkshire Lord Leonard Grey beheaded The Lord Dacres hanged Queen Catharine beheaded Ireland made a Kingdom The Viscount Lisle deceased of a surfert of Joy Sir John Dudley made Viscount Lisle War with Scotland The Scots overthrowes The death of James the Fifth King of Scotland Hopes of a Match between Prince Edword and the Queen of Scots The Scottish Captives set liberty The Earl of Angus return-eth into Scotland The League and Match concluded The Scottish shipping detained War with Scotland War with France A League with Emperour Landrecy besieged but in vain The people licensed to eat White Meats in Lent The King 's sixth Marriage William Parr Earl of Essex Another of the same name made Lord Parr The Lord Chancellour dieth An Expedition into Scotland * Alias Bonlamberg The Earl of Hertford Protector Hing Henry's Funerals The Coronation The death of Francis King of France MusselburghField Reformation in the Church The Scots and French besiege Hadinton The Queen of Scots transported into France Humes Castle and Fastcastle gained by the Enemy Gardiner Bishop of Winchester committed to the Tower Gardiner deprived of his Bishoprick Boner Bishop of London committed also Discord 〈◊〉 the Duke of Somerset and his Brother the Lord Admiral The Lord Admiral beheaded An Insurrection in Norfolk and in Devonshire Some Forts lost in Boloignois * Corruptly Bonlamberg Enmity between the Protector and the Earl of Warwick The Protector committed The death of Paul the Third Pope Cordinal Pool elected Pope The Duke of Somerset set at liberty Peace with the Scots and French The Sweating Sickness The death of the Duke of Suffolk A creation of Dukes and Earls The descent of the Earls of Pembroke 〈◊〉 between the 〈◊〉 Dukes of Somerset and Northumberland revived Certain Bishops deprived Some of the Servants of the Lady Mary committed An Arrian burned An Earthquake The Queen of Scots in England The Earl of Arundel and the Lord Paget committed The Bishop of Ely Lord Chancellor The Duke of Somerset beheaded A Monster The King Sicknoth His Will wherein he disinheriteth his Sisters He dieth His Prayer Cardanus Lib. de Genituris Sir Hugh Willoughby frozen 10 death Commerce with the Muscovite Lady Mary flies into Suffolk Lady Jane proclaimed Queen Northumberland forced to be General * L. qui in provinciâ sect Divus ff de Ris Nupt. L. 4. C. de Incest Nupt. Gloss. ibid. C. cum inter c. ex tenore Extr. qui fil sins legit Northumberland forsaken by his Souldiers The Lords resolve for Queen Mary And to suppress Lady Jane Northumberland proclaims Mary Queen at Cambridge Northumberland and some other Lords taken Queen Mary comes to London Gardiner made Lord Chancellour Diprived Bishops restored King Edward's Funeral The Duke of Northumberland the Earl of Warwick and the Marquis of Northampton condemned The Duke of Northumberland Bheaded Bishops imprisoned Peter Martyr The Archbishop Cranmer Lady Jane Lord Guilford and Lord Ambrose Dudley condemned The Coronation A Disputation in the Convocation-House Popery restored The Queen inclines to marry The Articles of the Queens Marriage with Philip of Spain * Which as I conceive would have 〈◊〉 in the year 1588. Sir Thomas Wyat's Rebellion Sir John Cheeke is taken and dieth Bret with five hundred Londoners revolts to Wiat. The Duke of Suffolk perswades the People to Arms in vain The Queens Oration to the Londoners Wyat is taken The Lady Jane Beheaded The Duke of Suffolk Beheaded Wyat Executed And Lord Thomas Gray A Disputation at Oxford Cranmer Ridley and Latimer Condemned Additions to the former Nuptial Compacts Philip arrivith in England And is married to the Queen Cardinal Pool comes into England Cardinal Pool's Oration to the Parliament The Realm freed from 〈◊〉 The Queen thought to be with Child Lords created Lady Elizabeth and the Marquess of Exceter set at liberty John Rogers Burned and Bishop Hooper Bishop Ferrar many others and Bishop Ridley and Latimer The death of Pope Julius the Third Paul the Fourth succeedeth Gardiner sueth to be Cardinal Gardiner 〈◊〉 Charles the Emperour resigns his Crowns The Archbishop of York Lord Chancellour A Comet A 〈◊〉 Edward Archbishop Cranmer Burned This year eighty four Burned The exhumation of Bucer and Phagius Cardinal Pool consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury An Embassage to Muscovia The Lord Stourton hanged Thomas Stafford endeavouring an Insurrection is taken and Beheaded War against France proclaimed Pool's authority 〈◊〉 abrogated and restored The French overthrown at St. Quintin St. Quintin taken A nocturual Rainbow Calais besieged by the French Calais yielded The Battel of Graveling The French overthrown Conquet taken and burned by the English The Daulphin married to the Queen of Scot. The death of Cardinal Pool The Queen diesh