is the greatest it may be also the happiest Monarchie of Europe For the cleere accomplishment of which worke there rests now nothing but the depressing of the Daulphin who is by your doome already not only depriued of that dignity but of succession to the Crowne and prosecuted as a Traitor to the State and of whom this we must be assured that while he liues France cannot but be in a perpetuall combustion For preuenting whereof I both need and intreate both your Counsels and aide nothing doubting of your readines in either for how can we expect any safety or you any goodnes at his hand who in his young yeeres did so perfidiously murder the Duke of Burgundy his vncle I am now you see your Regent in present and Successour to the Crowne in hope Let it not therefore sticke in your hearts that I am an Englishman borne for you know I haue much French blood in my veines which warmes my affections as well to French as English but looke on me as the lawfull heire to the Diademe both by iust Title and your owne consents who therefore am and ought to be wholly yours and your kindnes and iust dealing bind me so to be Yours also am I now by fresh alliance as sonne in Law to your King vnto whom I will performe all offices of loue and honor as to mine owne father and you his subiects shall I loue and cherish as mine owne children and will defend France and the French so long as you defend my right with your louing aide and will deserue my loue with your loiall affection 55 These affaires thus accomplished at Troyes the Kings the Queenes and the rest of the Peeres in great estate rode vnto Paris where all faire countenances were shewed and great entertainement giuen to the English But the Daulphin and his followers neither feared nor fainted though the present courses pleased not their palat Their first Counsell therefore was how to preserue themselues in so eminent danger to sit still and doe nothing they knew it was but to increase and aduance the successes of the English and to rise without strength was to fall into further misfortunes hauing no meanes to hold warre with so potent an Enemy In this distraction their voice was best heard that spake most for the safety of the Daulphin whose only life gaue breath vnto the after-hopes of France and for the strengthening of those places which might be of most aduantage to themselues and offence to the Enemie This then past by decree in that Counsell of warre that the Daulphin should at no time hazard his person in field and that a leuy of Souldiers should be had to lie in Garrison in places conuenient for Time which neuer stands still they well hoped might yet turne the rice for them fortune being said they as subiect to fawne as to frowne in which resolution each man tooke to his charge and all to withstand the doings of Henry 56 As these consulted for the state of the French so in Paris a Parliament of the three estates was assembled wherein such as were guilty of the death of Burgundy were iusticed the disherizing of the Daulphin confirmed and warres prepared against these Townes which held for him Against Sens the two Kings with their Queens Clarence and Burgundy marched which after 12. daies was rendered vpon composition of life those excepted as were guilty of the Duke of Burgundies death Monstreau was the next which by force was entred where the body of the Duke of Burgundy vndecently buried by the Daulphinois was taken vp and by his sonne Philip sent in great pompe to Diion in his Dutchy and there honorably interred The Towne being taken the Castle held out vnto whose Captaine twenty Captiue Gentlemen were sent whose liues from King Henries mouth say the French were sentenced to death vnlesse they could perswade the Castellan to surrender but those men say our English to mollifie that seuere doome were all especiall friends of that Captaine and such as had giuen opprobrious words to the Kings Herauld being sent vnto them in the siege of Monstreau Howsoeuer in this extremity they sollicited Guiluy vpon their knees vrging their owne deaths and his great danger if he held out but Guiluy a true Frenchman and friend to the Daulphin withstood the assault and thereupon these Gentlemen Petitioners were presently hanged in the sight of the defendants so bloody is Mars to maintaine his owne Lawes and so eager was Henry of his full Conquest of France whose thirsting sword had hereto fore beene some what ouerlauish in blood but neuer more perhaps then in this bloody act which I wish might be obliterated from the number of his other glorious actions Yet at length was that Castle enforced to surrender vpon composition of life excepting the guilties of Burgundies death 57 Then was the siege remoued to Melun a Towne of great strength and made more strong by the valours of her commanders who were Seigneur Barbafon an absolute souldier Pierre de Bourbon a Prince of the blood Preaux and Bourgeois whose Garrison was seuen hundred Daulphinois and indeed no default in defence could anie wise be imputed but the Canon opening a breach the English and Burgundians made an entry into the Bulwarke and ouer the Riuer Seine built a bridge with Boates so that from either quarter they had passage one to the other without impediments and encamped themselues for their best aduantage vpon whom the enemie neuerthelesse made diuers sallies with the losse of either parties King Henry inforced his siege to the vtmost and made a myne vnderneath the wals which being perceiued the defendants countermined against him where the King too forward as the very first man entring his myne and Barbason likewise his within the Towne met each other at point of sword where they performed nobly the parts of priuate souldiers nobly indeed if priuate souldiers they had been but Princes should remember they are not such till lastly they agreed to discouer themselues and first Barbason made known his name then King Henry did his whereupon the French Lord suddainely getting backe caused the Barriers to be closed and Henry returned to his Campe. 58 This enterprize failing King Charles himselfe came into the Campe to induce the defendants to render at the presence of their naturall Lord which neuerthelesse was little respected for answere was made that if their King were at liberty and free from King Henries power they would doe him the duty of naturall subiects and yeeld him their charge as their Liege Lord but being as he was they desired to be excused for to the mortall enemy of France they would not yeeld 59 Whilest King Henry lay at the siege of Melun the Duke of Bauier who was Palsegraue of Rhyne Elector came to King Henry hauing married his sister and thence sent a defiance vnto the Daulphin his kinseman by Queene
the Mercian at Oswaldstree in Shrop-shire quinto Augusti the yeere of our Lord 642. when hee had raigned nine yeeres and was buried at Bradney in Lincolne-shire His wife was Kineburg the daughter of Kingils King of the West-Saxons and his sonne Ethelwald young at his death and therefore defeated of his Kingdome by Oswy his Vncle the Naturall Sonne of King Ethelfrid the Wild. Notwithstanding when Oswin King of Deira was murdered by this Oswy of Bernitia and he not past sixteene yeeres of age entred by force vpon Deira and kept the same Prouince by strong hand so long as hee liued and dying left it to his cosen Alkfrid the Naturall Sonne of the said King Oswy OSwy the illegitimate sonne of Ethelfrid the Wild at thirty yeeres of age succeeded King Oswald his brother in the Kingdome of the Bernicians at whose entrance Oswyne the sonne of Osrik that had denied the Faith and was slaine of King Cedwall raigned in Deira This Oswyne was slaine by King Oswye after whose death seizing all Northumberland he spread his terrour further into other parts and was the tenth Monarch of the Englishmen as in his succession we will further speake His wife was Eanfled daughter to Edwine King of Northumberland by whom he had many children His raigne was 28. yeeres and death the fifteenth day of Februarie in the yeere of grace 670. and of his age 58. EGfrid the eldest sonne of King Oswy by Queene Eanfled had beene Hostage in the Kingdome of Mercia and after his father was made King of Northumberland in the yeere of Christ 671. Hee warred but with great losse against Edilred King of Mercia neere vnto the Riuer of Trent wherein his younger brother Elswyne was vnfortunately slaine to the great griefe of both the Kings the one being his owne brother and the other his brother in law by mariage whereupon a peace and reconciliation was made But Egfred being by nature of a disquiet disposition inuaded the Irish and destroied those harmelesse and silly people which as Beda saith had beene great friends to the English Their resistance consisted chiefly in curses and imprecations for reuenge which though they could not open heauen yet saith hee it is to be beleeued that for their cause he was cut off the next yeere ensuing by the Picts or Red-shankes against whom he prepared contrary to the aduice of his Counsell and by them was slaine among the strait and waste mountaines 20. Maij the yeere of mans felicitie 685. and of his age fortie after hee had raigned fifteene yeeres His wife was Etheldred the daughter of Anna King of the East-Angles shee was both Widow and Virgin first maried to Tonbert a Noble man that ruled the Giruij a people inhabiting the Fenny Countries of Norfolke Lincolne Huntington and Cambridge-shires and after him also in virginitie continued twelue yeeres with her husband King Egfrid contrarie to his minde and the Apostles precept that forbiddeth such defrauding either in man or woman except it be with consent for a time and to the preparatiō of praier affirming elswhere that Mariage is honourable and the bed thereof vndefiled wherein the woman doth redeeme her transgression through faith loue holinesse and modestie by beating of children This notwithstanding she obtained licence to depart his Court and got her to Coldingham Abby where shee was professed a Nunne vnder Ebba the daughter of King Ethelfrid Then went shee to Ely and new built a Monasterie whereof shee was made Abbesse and wherein with great reuerence shee was intombed whose vertues and remembrance remained to posterities by the name of S. Andrie she being canonized among the Catalogue of English Saints ALkfryd the illegitimate sonne of King Oswy in the raigne of his halfe-brother King Egfrid whether willingly or by violence constrained liued like a banished man in Ireland where applying himselfe to studie hee became an excellent Philosopher and as Beda saith was very conuersant and learned in the Holy Scriptures and therefore was made King ouer the Northumbrians where with great wisdome though not with so large bounds as others had enioied hee worthily did recouer the decaied estate of that Prouince ruling the same twenty yeeres and odde moneths and departed this life Anno 705. His Wife was Kenburg the daughter of Penda King of the Mercians and by her he had issue only one sonne that succeeded him in his Kingdome OSred a child of eight yeeres in age for the hopes conceiued from the vertues of his father was made King ouer the Northumbrians whose steps hee no wayes trod in but rather in filthy abuse of his person and place wallowed in all voluptuous pleasures and sensuall delight violating the bodies of vailed Nunnes and other religious holy women wherein when he had spent eleuen yeeres more to his age his kinsmen Kenred and Osrick conspired against him and in battle by his slaughter made an end of his impious life His wife was Cuthburga the sister of Inas King of the West-Saxons as by the time may bee gathered from the computation of Marianus and the Annales of the English-Saxons who vpon a loathing wearinesse of wedlocke sued out a diuorce from her husband and built a Nunnery at Winburne in Dorset-shire where in a religious habit shee ended her life and hee by Kenred and Osricke leauing his Kingdome to them that wrought his death KEnred the sonne of Cuthwyne whose father was Leolwald the sonne of Egwald and his father Adelm the sonne of Oga the naturall sonne of Ida the first King of Deira after the death of Osred raigned two yeeres no other remembrance left of him besides the murder of his Soueraigne Lord and King OSrick after the death of Kenred obtained the Kingdome of Northumberland and raigned therin the space of eleuen yeeres leauing to the world his name stained with bloud in the murder of young Osred no other mention of parentage wife or issue of him remaining for want whereof hee adopted Ceolnulph brother to his predecessor Kenred and died vnlamented the yeere of Grace seuen hundred twentie nine CEolnulph the brother of Kenred after the death of King Osrike was made King of the Northumbrians which Prouince hee gouerned with great peace and victorie the space of eight yeeres but then forsaking the Royall Estate and Robes of Maiestie put on the habit of a Monke in the I le of Lindesferne or Holy Iland These were the daies saith Beda wherein the acceptable time of peace and quietnesse was embraced among the Northumbrians who now laid their armour aside and applied themselues to the reading of holy Scriptures more desirous to be professed in religious houses then to exercise feats of warre or of Armes For not only Priests and Lay men vowed and performed Pilgrimages to Rome but Kings Queenes and Bishops also did the like
for griefe and shame of so wicked an act ended her life without the attaining of her ambitious desire and hath left her name indeleblie stained with his innocent bloud CEolwulfe the brother of Kenwolfe and vncle to this murdered young King as his neerest in bloud was elected their Gouernour by the Mercians but his glory was not great nor his raigne long being still disquieted by Bernulfe that sought his Crowne and after one yeeres Regiment was expulsed by his people and left the same to his pursuer abandoning the Countrie for the safety of his life One daughter hee had named Elfled who was the wife of Wigmund the sonne of Withlafe the substitute King of Mercia and himselfe the last that held the Mercian Kingdome in a lineall succession BErnulfe obtaining what hee so long desired made himselfe King when Ceolwulfe was gone and was the more approoued for his valour in Armes and the lesse resisted for his ancient descent being sprung from Osher a man reputed to be of the Mercian royall bloud But Bernulfe perceiuing the fortunes of Egbert accounted those his happie successes to bee his owne shame and by defiance challenged the West-Saxons to the field which Egbert accepted and vpon Ellendon ioined Battle with the Mercians which was fought to the much losse of both their blouds Notwithstanding at last the West-Saxons preuailed Bernulfe being forced to flie with shame The East-Angles that then had yeelded to Egbert and but lately before had felt the fury of Bernulfe thought the time fit to repay him againe and therefore in warlike manner assaulted his Territories where hee in defending his Countrey against their attempts was in a skirmish slaine after he had raigned not fully three yeeres LVdecan then was chosen King of the Mercians whose bloud was not downe since their last losse neither reuenge forgotten against the East-Angles and therefore the yeere following made strength sufficient to their seeming to meet these their enemies But the State of Heptarchie now drawne to the period and the supporters thereof weakened by their own diuisions the Iland declined to a present alteration gaue place to a more absolute kind of Monarchy that in Egbert the West-Saxon was now begun who aiding the East-Angles against the Mercians Ludecan their King fought with no better successe then Bernulf before him had done whose raigne lasted not fully 2. yeers nor his memoriall reuiued either in wife or issue VVIthlafe the sonne of Oswald the sonne of Osber of the Mercian bloud-royall intruding himselfe as it seemeth into the gouernment of Mercia was vnexpectedly vanquished by Egbert the Monarch that had assumed from Bernulfe that Kingdome before him hee made his Substitute and Tributarie who so continued to Egbert and his sonne the time of thirteene yeeres leauing no other relation of his acts His issue was Wigmund the husband of Lady Elfled the daughter of Ceolwulfe King of Mercia the parents of Wystan the Martyr and of Lady Edburg maried to one Etheland an Earle in the Prouince of Lincolne BErthulf vpon the like composition of Tribute and in the like termes of subiection to the West-Saxons soueraigntie held the kingdome of Mercia as a Substitute and without any notable reports of his Acts so raigned the space of thirteene yeeres At this time the Sea-rouers out of Denmarkc that had often infested this Iland with their many Inuasions got the head so strong and wing so farre euen to the middle part thereof as this of Mercia was that they filled with terror the hearts of the Inhabitants and stained the soile with the bloud of their sides which in a most barbarous crueltie daily they shed whose rage was so great and mindes so vnsatiable that Berthulf was enforced to forsake the Country and in a more priuate estate to secure his owne life He had a sonne named Berefred who was the causer of Saint Wystans martyrdome BVrdred the last Mercian King was thereunto deputed by Ethelwolfe the West-Saxon Monarch as a shield of defence against the raging Danes that made desolations where they came In continuall imploiments against them he spent his time and that with such noble resolutions and manhood that Ethelwolfe held him worthy of his alliance and made him his sonne in law by giuing him Lady Ethelswith his daughter to Wife the marriage being solemnized at Chipnham in Wiltshire with great estate This Burdred with Ethelwolfe warred against the Britaines with victorie and he with Alured compelled the Danes vnder the conduct of Hungar and Vbba to â—…dislodge from Nottingham and depart the Prouince Yet lastly after twenty two yeeres raigne hee was so ouerlaid with their daily supplies that three of their Kings as our Writers terme them whose names were Godrun Esketell and Ammond wintred at Ripindon and sore wasted his Kingdome King Burdred at that time distressed and himselfe not able to withstand their rage with his wife Queene Ethelswith fled the Realme and the same yeere in Rome ended his life and was buried in the Church of our Lady belonging to the English College there erected His Queene in the habit of a Nunne fifteene yeeres after his death died at Padua in Italie and was there honourably buried the yeere of our Lord eight hundred eightie nine And now the fatall circle of this Kingdome drawne to the full compasse staied the hand of all glorious motion from proceeding any further and with the lot of the rest fell vnder the gouernment of the West-Saxons after one yeeres vsurpation of the Danes when it had stood in state of a kingdome the space of two hundred and two yeeres and ended in title and regall authority the yeere of Christs Incarnation eight hundred eighty six THE KINGDOME OF THE EAST-ANGLE THE CIRCVIT OF THAT PROVINCE WITH THE SVCCESSION AND ACTS OF THEIR KINGS SO LONG AS IT STOOD IN THAT REGALL ESTATE AND VNTILL IT WAS VNITED TO THE WEST-SAXONS CHAPTER XI THe Counties as we now call them that were subiect to this East-Angles Kingdome were Suffolke Norfolke Cambridge-shire and the I le of Ely The bounds whereof were limitted in this manner the East and North sides were confined by the Ocean the West with Saint Edmunds Ditch and the South altogether with Essex and some part of Hertfordshire The first raiser of the title and State of this Kingdome was a Saxon Captaine named Vffa about the yeere of Christs incarnation fiue hundred seuentie fiue whose renowne was such that he gaue name not onely to that his aspired Dominion but also from him the Subiects thereof were a long time after called Vffines though lastly it was reduced into the name and Kingdom of the East-Angles This Vffa as Florentius the Monke of Worcester hath laid downe was the sonne of Withelin and he the sonne of Hrippus the sonne of Rothmund the sonne of Trigils the sonne of Titmon the sonne of Caser the second sonne of Prince
made by the English are notwithstanding obserued at this day But the Dukes eye could not looke so farre into the times to come Neuerthelesse wee that see these things must confesse that the best kingdome vnder heauen is not so worth the getting as that with the wilfull contempt of God and conscience any man should seeke to purchase it 94 But while the Duke was thus busied in Courting the Gascoignes good will who had sent into England to shew causes why they should not atturne to the Duke and yet were wrought at last to the point of yeelding he receiues a commandement from King Richard to returne that he might goe with him into France which he obayed The King keeping his at Langley in Hartfordshire the Duke was there entertained with more honour as it was thought then loue Being licenced to depart for a time he repaired to Lincolne where he a widdower married his old loue the Lady Katherine Swinford now a widdow Men did wonder at it but hee therein obeyed the remorse of a Christian conscience without respect to his owne vnequall greatnes for hauing had sundry Children by her in his former wiues time he made her and them now the only sufficient amends which the law of God or man enioineth And further in a Parliament held the yeere following the Duke procured an Act to passe by which such children as he formerly had by his new Dutchesse were legitimated and surnamed them Beufot being foure of them Iohn Thomas Henrie Ioane the second of which was by the Kings bounty created Earle of Sommerset 95 The King being specially accompanied with those his vncles of Lancaster and Glocester at a most sumptuous and chargefull enteruiew between him and Charles King of France in the parts of Calis and Gynes espoused the Lady Isabell daughter of the said Charles At the deliuery of her King Richard in the presence of all the greatest Princes Peeres and Ladies of either nation gaue the King his father in law great thanks for a gift so noble and acceptable adding he tooke her vpon the conditions made betweene the two nations to the intent that liuing in peace and rest they might attaine to the establishment of a perpetuall amitie for auoyding the effusion of Christian blood which would in likelyhood haue followed had not at that time affinitie beene contracted betweene them The young Lady was not aboue seuen or eight yeeres old but the truce was taken for thirty yeeres Her person therefore was committed to the Dutchesses of Lancaster and Glocester and other great Ladies who conducted her to Callis From whence after a short stay the King his young Queene with whom he had great riches and all the glorious companie came ouer into England Their persons arriued safe but the Kings gorgeous Pauilions and a great part of his stuffe was cast away by tempest in the transportation This iourney besides his losses at Sea cost the King aboue forty thousand markes 96 The outward felicitie of England seemed at this time verie great and the rather seemed so because it was likelie to continue In the Duke of Glocesters persō that bright prosperity was first ouershadowed He Vir ferocissimus pracipitis ingenij as Polydor censures him a most fierce man and of an headlong wit thinking those times wherein he had mastred the King were nothing changed though the King was aboue thirty yeres old forbare not roughly not so much to admonish as to checke and schoole his Souereigne The peace with France displeased him that therefore he calumniates The King had restored Brest in Britaine to the Duke vpon reembursements of the money lent he tels the King that hee should first conquer a Towne before he parted with any yet the King answeres that he could not in conscience detaine the same now that the Duke had repaid his loane There were other things which could not so well be answered For a vaine rumor that he should be chosen Emperour put him belike into such a vaine of spending as carried a proportion with that maiesty his coffers in a short time sounding like empty Caske there was no great monied man in whose debt he was not nor any in a manner so meane to whome hee was not burthenous 97 The King had heretofore complained of this vncle to the Earle of Saint Paul a French-man then in England whose iudgement was that such insolency was to be reuenged but complaining to his other vncles of Lancaster and Yorke they wisely aduised the King not to regard his words but his heart which he and they knew sincere vnto him Neuerthelesse partly to weaken the intollerable humor of their brother who like a constant Admirer of his owne waies thought nothing well done but what himselfe either did or directed and partlie to auoid the scandall of the Kings bad courses they withdraw their presences from the Court The King notwithstanding is the same man still as the Duke of Glocester thinks wherefore he breakes his minde to such as he durst trust Arundell in Sussex is appointed the Consultation-place where he the Archbishop of Canterbury the Earles of Arundell Warwicke Marshall and others take an Oath of Secrecy and conclude to raise a power to remoue the Dukes of Lancaster and Yorke and such other as they thought best from about the King so to enact a reformation 98 They are charged by some to haue plotted the imprisonment of the King and Dukes and the death of all other Councellours which howsoeuer it was perhaps no part of their intention might yet haue beene a necessarie consequent The blustring Duke had breathed out dangerous words as that he would put the King of whose courage he spake contemptiblie into some prison there to spend his daies in ease and peace as himselfe thought best His brethren hearing hereof brotherlie admonish him to beware but as it seemes they found him deafe on that side This though some of the late Authors write yet there are both old and new who mention no such matter but the contrary not obscurely teaching vs that the Dukes ruine was but an effect of old malignities 99 Thomas Mowbray Earle of Nottingham and Marshall a party in the reported plot though sonne in law to the Earle of Arundel reueileth the same to the King * The Duke of Glocester is hereuppon surprized by Mowbray lying in wait in the woods where hee was to passe sent to Callis where Nottingham was Captaine and there imprisoned the Earles of Arundel and Warwicke the Lord Iohn Cobham and Sir Iohn Cheiney are arrested Proclamation is then made that they were not committed for anie old matters but for hainous things newly contriued as in the next Parliament should be made manifest though the euent as Walfingham truly saith declared the contrarie But the Duke of Glocester and the two said Earles are endited at Nottingham The King to maintaine the accusation of treason obiected
an Army of eighteene thousand men led by the Dukes of Sommerset and Excester the Earles of Deuonshire and Wiltshire the Lords Neuill Clifford Rosse and in effect all the Northerne Nobility The host or so much therof as they thought necessary to shew presents it selfe before Sandall to prouoke and dare the Duke to battell His bloud impatient of these braues ignorant perhaps that the enemy had so great a multitude will needes fight though the Earle of Salisbury and Sir Dauid Hall an ancient seruant of his and a great Souldier gaue him aduise to stay till his sonne the Earle of March approched with such Welshmen and Marchers as hee had in great numbers assembled But God would forbeare him no longer but like a seuere Master meanes to take a present account at which he found whether all the kingdomes of the earth are worth the least sinne much lesse a wilfull periurie 89 The Queene therefore addeth stratageme and wit to her force to the entent hee might not escape her hands whereupon the Earle of Wiltshire vpon one side of the hill and the Lord Clifford vpon the other lie in ambush to thrust between him and the Castell the Dukes of Sommerset and Exceter stand embattelled in the open field Their policy had the wished successe for the Duke being not fully fiue thousand strong issueth out of the Castle downe the hill The battels which stood in front ioyne furiously when sodainly the Duke of Yorke sees himselfe inclosed and although hee expressed great manhood yet within one halfe houre his whole Armie was discomfited himselfe and diuers his deare friends beaten downe and slaine There lay dead about him the Lord Harington Sir Thomas Neuill sonne to the Earle of Salisburie Sir Dauid Hal with sundry Knights and others about two thousand two hundred among which were the heires of many Southern gentlemen of great account whose bloud was shortly after reuenged Let vs not linger vpon the particular accidents of this battell but consider what it wrought for King Henries aduancement yet these few things are not to bee vnremembred The Earle of Rutland a yonger sonne to the Duke of Yorke being about twelue yeeres old was also slaine by the Lord Clifford who ouertooke him flying in part of reuenge for that the Earles father had slaine his A deed which worthily blemished the Author but who can promise any thing temperate of himselfe in the heat of martiall furie chiefly where it was resolued not to leaue anie branch of Yorke line standing for so doth one make the Lord Clifford to speake 90 That mercilesse proposition was common as the euent will shew to either faction The Duke of Yorkes head crowned with paper is presented to the Queene Cruell ioy is seldome fortunate Caesar wept ouer Pompeis head but the Queen ignorant how manifold causes of teares were reserued for her owne share makes herselfe merrie with that gastly and bloody spectacle The Earle of Salisburie after wounds receiued being in this battel taken prisoner is conueighed to Ponfract Castle from whence the common people who loued him not violently haled him and cut off his head which perhaps was not done without the good liking of others The Dukes head together with his were fixed on poles and set vpon a gate of Yorke and with them if Grafton say true the heades of all the other prisoners which had beene conducted to Pomfret 91 This battell called of Wakefield was fought vpon the last day of December of whose weathers complexion if their courages had participated mischiefe might haue made her stop here which now is in her swiftest course 92 For the Earle of March sonne and heire to this late valiant Duke of Yorke hearing of this tragicall aduenture giues not ouer but hauing gathered an armie of about twenty thousand to march against the Queene he findes emploiment neerer hand being certified that Iasper Theder Earle of Pembrooke halfe brother to King Henrie and Iames Butler Earle of Ormond and Wiltshire had with them a great force of Welsh and Irish to take him The youthfull and valiant Earle of March whose amiable presence and carriage made him gratious with the people and the rather for that he had the generall good word of women meanes to try his fortune against the said Earles He sodeinely therefore turnes backe from Shrewsbury and at a place called Mortimers Crosse neere Ludlow where the enemie abode he sets vpon them It was Candlemas day in the morning at which time there appeared as some write three Sunnes which sodeinely ioined in one This luckie prognosticon and ominous Meteor exceedingly fired the Earle of March and was some say the reason why he vsed for his Badge or roiall deuise the Sunne in his full brightnesse The Battels maintaine their fight with great furie but in the end the Earle of March obtaines the victorie killing of his enemies three thousand and eight hundreth men the Earles saued themselues by flight The sonne of honour and fortune did thus begin to shine through Clouds of blood and miserie vpon Edward whome shortly we are to behold King of England There were taken Sir Owen Theder father to Iasper Earle of Pembrooke who was beheaded by Edwards commandement as also Sir Iohn Skudamor knight with his two sonnes and other 93 The Queene on the other side hauing ordered her affaires in the North setled the estate thereof and refreshed her people within a while after drawes neere with her Northern armie to S. Albans There came before them an euill fame of their behauiour to London whose wealth lookt pale knowing it selfe in danger for the Northern armie in which were Scots Welsh and Irish aswell as English made bold by the way with what they liked making small distinction of sacred or prophane after they were once past the riuer of Trent Captaine Andrew Trolop being their Coronell King Henry himselfe in person with the Dukes of Norfolke and Suffolke the Earles of Warwicke and Arundel the Lord Bonuile other with a great puissance encampe at S. Albans to giue the Queene battell and stop her farther passage toward London But the Lords of her faction being ready to attempt on her behalfe assaile the Kings forces within the Town and after some sharpe affronts breake through and driue their aduersaries out with much bloodshed till they fell vpon a squadron or battalion of the Kings wherein there were about foure or fiue thousand men which made good their ground for a while with great courage but in the end the Queenes side clearely wanne the day There perished in this conflict about two thousand This hapned vpon Shroue-tuesday the seuenteenth of Februarie The King Queene and Prince meet ioifully where he knights his sonne being eight yeeres old and thirtie others The Lord Bonuile and Sir Thomas Kiriel of Kenâ—… being taken in the fight were beheaded but all the other great men elcape The common people
certaine predictions in Rome happening were so respected and generally expounded That Nature was about to bring forth a King that should raigne ouer the whole world And albeit these and other Heathen Writers ascribe these things either to Augustus himselfe or to some of his fauorites yet wee see them accomplished in none other but Iesus Christ the Messiah our blessed Sauiour in whom only the Kingdome of God began with the vtter subuersion of all their heathenish Oracles which at his birth or at furthest at his death ceased all and gaue place to HIS eternitie Which time of his birth by the Scriptures most certaine account was from the worlds creation 3927. and is set by the Britaine 's in the fourteenth of their Cunobelines raigne and by other authenticke Writers in the two and fortieth of Augustus Caesar euen in the top of that Empires greatnesse when Rome was with an vniuersall subiection acknowledged the absolute Lady of the knowne earth For so in S. Luke wee read that this Augustus then first taxed the world A text most strong for the full dissolution of the foure foregone kingdomes represented in Daniels Image by the fall of this stone Christ the rocke and stay of our eternall happinesse 7 This Emperour raigned in great honour the space of fifty six yeeres and was obeyed both by the Easterne Indians and the Northerne Scythians with the subiection of the Parthians a fierce and vntamed people and generally with the loue of all Hee was a Prince indued with great wisdome magnanimitie and Iustice yet faulty in this that he tooke from Tiberius Nero his wife Liuia both great with child and hauing also formerly borne him a sonne Deuout hee was in the worship of the Romane Gods amongst whom in the Capitoll he built an Altar vnto the Hebrew childe with this inscription The Altar of the first begotten Sonne of God being thereunto mooued by the Oracle of Apollo that had answered his owne destruction by the birth of this childe Of Stature he was but low and of a good complexion gray-eied his haire somewhat yellow and his body freckled with spots which as his flatterers would haue the world beleeue were in forme like starres Predictions foreshewing his gouernment and death are alleged the which I willingly ouerpasse holding most of them rather fantasies then truth At his death hee demanded of the standers by whether he had well acted the enterlude of his life vpon the stage of this world and died fourteene yeeres after Christ his incarnation leauing after him so honourable an estimation of his glory that as the succeeding Emperours in remembrance of Iulius Caesar gloried to be called Caesars so they euer held the name of Augusti to be sacred and only befitting persons destinated to imperiall Maiestie And both their names were inserted into the number of the moneths that the honour of them both might neuer perish while Times euiternitie should endure TIBERIVS CHAPTER IV. AVgustus Caesar thus gloriously raigning and peaceably dying had ordained for his successour Tiberius Nero the sonne of Tiberius the Patritian and of Liuia his wife whom as we said before he had taken for his Empresse and by whose incitements and continuall instigations that matter was procured though Suetonius thinketh it was by Augustus his owne ambitious conceit to make himselfe the sooner missed and the more lamented in leauing his sonne so vnlike him to succeed whose conditions as they stood vpon their owne basis hee knew to bee both reprooueable and also contemptible 2 But before the death of Caesar could be diuulged to write his imperiall stile as it were in blood he began with the murder of young Agrippa the sonne of Iulia daughter to Octanian and once his owne wife and continued his raigne with such tyrannie that many he slaughtred without respect of person or cause and in his loosest lasciuiousnesse thought of nothing but how to subuert the Nobilitie for rare it was in his daies that any such died a naturall death and maintaining a race of men Promoters as Tacitus tearmes them found out for a common ouerthrow and destruction of others allured them by rewards to accuse the rich though guiltlesse only this fauour granted to the condemned that if they slew themselues before the day of execution their bodies should haue buriall their goods not confiscate and their testament stand good in law 3 A great dissembler he was seeming euer to hate those vices which in truth he loued and to loue those vertues which he did most deadly hate and for life and libidinous filthinesse so extreme that a Christians pen may not expresse when the Heathen themselues doe blush to name such things as hee shamed not openly to commit his publike drunkennesse and continuall banquettings whereat hee spent whole daies and nights together without intermission caused exchange of names from Tiberius Nero to Biberius Mero Dissolute and carelesse he was in gouernment though some haue accounted him a wise and politicke Prince for the Prouinces he left to defend themselues and yet daily charged them with larger Tributes to their great impouerishment and almost vtter ruine 4 In this state amongst others neglected Britaine stood wherein Tiberius neither maintained garrison nor attempted alteration and whereby as it may be thought their owne Lawes and Princes bare sway among themselues howsoeuer the cause for Tribute was ballized betwixt them And most certaine it is the Britaines if not in subiection yet were well affected to the Romanes as appeareth by Tacitus in the kinde entertainments and in releeuing their shipwracked souldiers that in crossing the Seas were by tempest driuen vpon their Coasts and courteouslie sent thence by their petty Kings vnto Germanicus their Generall Notwithstanding Ieffrey Monmouth seemeth to affirme the contrary that bringeth the raign of one Guiderius and the valour of Aruiragus the sonnes of Cunobeline of whom more heereafter to withstand the Romish Command and vtterly to refuse the paiment of Tribute banding both against Tiberius as also against Caligula and Claudius the Emperours succeeding 5 Other remembrances of these times concerning vs finde we none besides that which is common to all namely the death of our Saviour Christ which vnder this Tyrant and in his eighteenth yeere was accomplished by the proceeding of his as wicked Deputy Pontius Pilate who both adiudged him to die and to bee guiltlesse of deseruing death whereby was wrought the mysterie of our Redemption with such signes and euidences of his Deitie that the wicked Iudge himselfe wrote thereof to Tiberius and hee to the Senate to haue him consecrated among the Roman Gods Which they refused to doe that the wisdome and diuine power of God in the doctrine of Saluation should not need the allowance and commendation of men as Eusebius hath well obserued 6 Finally when hee had raigned hated of all men
daughters his heire by Will thinking by that flatterie his kingdome and house had beene sufficiently warranted from future iniuries which fell out cleane otherwise for his kingdome of the Centurions and his house by slaues were spoiled as lawfull booties his wife whipped and his daâ—…hters deflowred and the chiefest in that Prouince dispossessed of their rightfull inheritance and the Kings kindred reputed and vsed as Slaues 11 Whereupon the Icenians began seriously to discourse of their present miseries and bondage made subiect not onely to a Lieutenant that sucked their blood but likewise to a Procurator that sought their substance while with a seruile feare they yeelded to please the meanest Souldier As though the Heauens had framed them onely for seruitude and the Earth appointed to beare their iniuries vnreuenged whereas contrariwise they saw both heauen earth flexible to their deliuerance For whether by policie or chance the Image of victorie at Camulodunum fell downe reuersed without any apparant cause knowne the women distempered with furie ranne in the streetes singing and prophecying destructions strange noises were heard in the Court and howlings in the Theater and strange apparitions and Edifices seene in the Riuer Thamisis the Ocean it selfe betweene Gallia and them seemed all bloodie and the prints of dead bodies left in the sands at the Ebbe Againe waighing the present estate they saw Suetonius absent and busied to enlarge the Confines the midst but slenderly guarded and by those who were readier for priuate gaine then diligent to discharge the offices of warre The examples of other Prouinces also whetted the edge of their encouragements for Germany they saw had well shaken off the yoke of subiection The Parthians had reuolted and Armenia held play with Corbulo as famous as Paulinus Their cause was as iust their land as well defensed their ancestors as valiant in resisting the first Ring-leader Caesar and themselues better experienced of their aduersaries powers and theâ—…r owne abiliments So now hauing attained the hardest point which was their assembled Consultations a matter of as great danger to be taken with as in acting their intendments in fine this was resolued that libertie was to be preferred though bought with their liues and bondage to bee auoided if not otherwise then by their deaths 12 These their often and noted assemblies brought suspitions of some designements and the prodigies daily happening as they were motiues of encoragements vnto the Britaines So were they ominous signes to the Romanes of either part framed in their owne imaginations and construed according to their hoped or feared euents 13 The Confederates in this businesse were not to seeke their Leader their Queenes dishonours so apparantly knowne and for matter of gouernement they made no difference of Sexe her birth extracted from their Roiall blood her hearts affection approued to her Countrie her indignities receiued of the proud oppressors and her haughtie spirit threatning reuenge assured them of her vttermost endeuours which accordingly she effected to her dying day and to her neuer dying fame 14 The Romanes likewise prouided themselues and in the absence of Suetonius craued aide of Catus Dicianus the Procurator who sent them not aboue two hundred men and those but badly armed These ioining with the rest made no great power al of them relying more to the franchise of the place then securing themselues with Trench or Bulwarke And giuen ouer to pleasure and play as in the time of a publike peace Which aduantages by the Enemy were wisely espied and by boduo comming on as nobly pursued when with sword and fire she wasted all in her way the Temple onely excepted whereinto part of the Souldiers were fled but after two daies â—…iege it was battered and taken 15 In this heate of furie the Britaines proceede and meeting Petilius Cerealis Lieutenant of the ninth Legion on a hasty March to rescue that which was already lost they encounter his forces and slew all his footemen himselfe with his troope of Horse hardly escaping to his Campe where in great feare he entrenched not daring to attempt any further matter At notice of these mishaps Catus like a tall man tooke to his heeles and sailed into Gallia by whose crueltie and couetousnes the Britaines were thus enraged to take Armes and reuolt and their entrance thus fortunately proceeding gaue heart and hope to further successe 16 For in this heat of blood and furie they set vpon and sacked the free-towne Verolanium both strong for garrison and rich in Inhabitants which Citie as also Camulodunum had felt the rage of their mercilesse hands from whence great booties were carried and no lesse then seuentie thousand Citizens and Confederates slaine This commotion in Britaine by Suetonius Tranquillus is accounted one of the most infortunate losses to the Empire happening vnder Nero and the more ignominious to the Romanes as Dion obserueth in that is was performed vnder the command of a woman neither experienced in the feates of warre nor vsing the victory according to the Law of Armes for not any prisoner taken in regard of ransome was saued nor intercourse of exchange admitted but kill hang burne and crucifie as though the measure of their reuenge could neuer be sufficiently heaped or the wrath of their Gods satisfied with the blood of their Enemies 17 By this time Suetonius the Lieutenant was returned and taking muster of his forces in London a Citie euen tâ—…n famous for concourse of Merchants and of great renowne for prouision of all things nesary stood yet doubtfull whether hee should chuse that place for the Seat of warre or no. But better aduising dislodged his Host and with the fourteenth Legion the Standard-bearers of the twelfth and other aids from places adioining incamped vpon a plaine enclosed with woods hauing a narrow entrance and free from Ambush or enemie at his backe 18 The Britaine 's likewise inferiour neither in number nor courage triumphed abroad by such troupes and multitudes as the like had not beene seene yea and so fierce of courage and with such assurance of hope that they brought their wiues to the place to be witnesses of their valours Boduo in her Chariot doing the parts of a most noble Generall droue from troope to troope to see and commend their forwardnesse and dismounting attended with her two daughters and two hundred and thirty thousand resolute Britaines gat her to a seat made of marishturfes after the manner of the Romans apparelled in a loose gowne of changeable colours wearing a kirtle thereunder very thicke pleited the tresses of her yellow haire hanging downe to the skirts About her necke shee had a chaine of gold and in her hand held a light speare being of personage tall and of a comely cheerefull and modest countenance and so a while shee stood pawsing in viewing her Armie and being regarded with a reuerend silence at length to this effect she spake
Numidia and Mauritania Prouinces in Africke much enuied and gathering forces in Maximinus his name made head against him and shortly gaue him Battle wherein Gordianus the younger was slaine before the walles of the Citie The father seeing his Caesars disastre and himselfe an Emperour onely nominall and his new risen Sunne to haue passed the circle of his height and now to approch to the setting and fall wished againe his priuate estate and in despaire griefe and disdaine of his enemies successe with the Girdle which he wore strangled himselfe to death when hee had beene stiled Emperour only twenty six daies whereat Maximinus was not a little ioifull and the Senate no lesse perplexed seeing themselues depriued of their hopes and now laid open to the Tyrants will who like a Lion came raging on threatning reuenge in all their blouds 6 The State thus standing all the Peeres and Princes thereof assembled themselues together at Rome and in the Temple of Iupiter after long debating of their present dangers concluded that Maximus Pupienus and Clodius Balbinus together should bee Emperours men of great account and fauour with the people These taking Oath and Imperiall Robes leuied forces to maintaine their cause and Balbinus taking charge of the Citie Pupienus marched to meet Maximinus who in great pride had passed the Alpes entred Italie and now laid siege against Aquieliea in which this was very memorable that The Citizens wiues cut off the haire of their heads to make bow-strings for resistance of so hatefull a Tyrant where after long assault preuailing little his discontented Souldiers fell to mutinie and entring his Pauilion at noone day without resistance slew both him and his sonne bearing the same name whom hee had created his Caesar and whose monies as he minted them we haue inserted at the entrance of his Empire Their heads for a Trophy they sent before them to Rome where with such acceptations they were receiued as that the Senate acknowledged themselues to be rid of a Monster 7 Hee was as is said exceedingly tall his body great and ioints proportionable faire of face full eies and of such strength as is vncredible and according to his limmes so was his diet for hee daily deuoured forty pound waight of flesh and thereto dranke six Gallons of wine He died aged sixty yeeres and odde when he had raigned three yeeres in the yeere of our Lord two hundred thirty and eight PVPIENVS MAXIMVS Emperours CLODIVS BALBINVS CHAPTER XXIX PVpienus Maximus and Clodius Balbinus thus elected together for Emperors the one in action and the other resident a great sedition chanced betwixt the Senate and Souldiers which grew to a bloudie issue among the Citizens and Rome it selfe was set on fire in sundrie places the Emperours presence and authoritie little preuailing which strucke such feare into their hearts that they accounted these times most vnfortunate and themselues and present estate to be most desperate But the death of Maximinus and his head happily brought them at the instant gaue present life to their dying hearts And Pupienus comming to Aquieliea as much quieted the Armie sent backe the Lieutenants to their places of charge and with great pompe and praise returned to his Fellow-Emperour 2 The parentage of Balbinus is reported to bee both noble and ancient made Citizens of Rome by great Pompey and himselfe borne at Cales in Spaine Pupienus Auncestors were much latter yet had hee borne many Offices of Magistracie and euer discharged them with wisdome and valour both of them highly accounted of in Rome 3 Peace thus established beyond all expectation with shoutes and applauses the Emperours enter the Senate-house where according to the custome and their deserts they were stiled The Fathers of the Senat with thankes as to the onely preseruers of their liues and estates and some extolling the Senate highly for their prouident foresight in clecting such sapient and worthy Emperors contrarie to the rash and vndiscreet practise of such as chose their Gouernours to fit their owne fancies rather then the charge to which they aduance them and whose bad liues brought commonly their vntimely but deserued deaths The Pretorian Souldiers tooke themselues to bee taxed with those aspersions and the rather because the German Strangers were brought in to be of the Guard as if themselues were not to bee trusted so turning their spleene against the present Emperours sought to set vp a new which shortly after they found opportunitie to effect 4 For these Emperours though aged and wise were not so linked together in affection as they were neere ioined in authoritie and therefore the winde of emulation had the easier passage betwixt the chinkes of their owne conceits the one prizing his wisdome and gouernment to be more iudicious the other his birth and Nobilitie to be more honorable and each of them hauing his owne Guard stood vpon his owne Guard though one Palace contained them both and both their endeuours euer well consorting for the businesses of the Empire 5 At this time the Prouinces of Parthia and Germanie grew vnquiet and by ciuill discords endangered their subiections to represse which the Emperors agreed to goe in person the one into the East the other into Germanie Now whilest these great preparations were in making the Capitoline-Games were celebrated in Rome whereunto all almost resorted but especially the new-come Guards of the Emperours The Pretorians finding the aduantagious time which they had long waited for suddenly in armour assailed the Court which Pupienus perceiuing sent in all haste for Balbinus and both their Guards for defense But his Fellow-Emperour vpon a vaine suspicion detracted time himselfe and hindered the forwardnesse of the Guards so that these Traitours had easie accesse into both the Emperours Chambers where in their rage they dispoiled them of their Imperiall Robes and haled these poore aged and innocent Emperours like two Theeues thorow the middest of the Citie Lastly they slew them and left their bodies to despightfull ignominie 6 These Emperours raigned together one yeere and somewhat more and died the yeere of Christ two hundred thirty nine in which yeere happened so great an Eclipse of the Sun that the noone-day thereby became as darke as the mid-night M. ANTONINVS GORDIANVS CHAPTER XXX GOrdianus for Antoninus he might not be called a law formerly acted inhibiting the same was the sonne of a daughter to old Gordianus that had made away himselfe in Carthage as is declared at the age of eleuen yeeres was created Caesar by the Senate with Pupienus and Balbinus and at their deaths by the Pretorian Souldiers elected Emperour not yet fully fourteene yeeres of age Greatly was he strengthned by the Alliance and Counsell of one Misitheus his Prefect and Instructer whom for his great learning he so honoured and loued that he tooke his daughter for his wife and by whose onely direction he prosperously administred his State affaires 2 Touching the affaires of our Prouinces
beene from my infancie inflamed with the loue of Books Many works there were of his owne pen though now raked vp in the ruines of the time As his Oration to Iamblicus and other Volumes of various learning remembred by Suidas yet is there extant that wittie Satyre of his of all the Caesars The Register of his Epistle full of worthy obseruations His discourse De Regno wherein hee deciphereth much of his Persian Actions His Hymne to the Sunne a song of a high straine and of a matchlesse delicacie if the subiect had not beene too prophane As for his Misopogon where playing with his own person and beard he sharply reprehendeth the Antiochians of their intemperance in frequenting Stage-Plaies of their impietie in changing Iupiter and Apollo Gods of their Forefathers into the Christ of the Galileans and of couetousnesse in their Magistrates in selling Iustice it is one of the wittiest Inuectiues extant of those middle times In the course of his Religion hee is by the Writers of his owne affection and time rather reported superstitious then deuout and his fancies therein rather to them accounted ridiculous then religious Such was the excesse and waste of Oxen in his sacrifices that it is beleeued if his returne had beene from the Persicke Expedition there would haue beene want of them to supply his Rites and therefore they might happily say as the white Oxen did of the Emperour Marcus Si tu viceris nos perimus Yet were his rules of order to the Priests of his superstitious zeale such as may well become the most religious Church-man of our age to imitate for he prohibited those Priests from gaze of Stage-Playes frequenting Tauernes or exercising any foule or illiberall profession perswading them to imitate the Christians whose bounty to strangers in distresse charity in burying the dead and whose humble manners and sanctitie of life though but dissembled had so much increased their Profession 6 His fortitude appeareth in the processe of his Martiall Actions At three and twenty yeeres hee was made by Constantine his nephew Caesar matched to his sister Helena and sent in person to restraine those barbarous Nations that had forced in vpon the Roman Limits But whether this imploiment was grounded vpon the Emperours owne feare to aduenture his person against these Sauages a desire to nurture this mere Scholar his brother in law in more princely manners who then was rude or to expose him in respect of some iealousy in State to an assured perill it remaineth doubtfull Only himselfe saith that he that bestowed his Title of Caesar libenter dabat qui accepit omninò recusabat for in it hee gained nothing but vt occupatior interiret taking this his Expedition against those Inrodes as a banishment into the Hercinian Desert vt tanquam venator cum feris bellaret and beleeuing himselfe rather thereby called out to an expected death then intended honour But this man then neither of opinion or hope and who should haue seemed to haue effected a point of excellent seruice if hee had no more but defended the frontiers and repelled the Enemies did by his valour performe no lesse then deeds of admiration Hee recouered the reuolted Cities of Gallia ouerthrowing seuen of the mightiest German Princes in one set Battle Hee sent to Rome Chonodomarius and Badonearius two of their greatest Kings as spoiles to adorne the Trophey and attend the triumph of Constantius Hee forced on euery side those to feare his power that had so long beene fearefull to the Roman Empire And had he returned home borne vp only with the merit of this his seruice and opinion of the world and not beene blowne beyond the bounds of his old moderation by a new desire hee had escaped the imputation of ambition and treacherie and beene esteemed a iust successour against whom he is deemed now an vniust vsurper But it may be said that it was a diuine power that inspired it and a strong hand that inforced him to it for from aboue the Porch of his entrance into one of the regained Cities the Wreath of Laurell reserued an ornament of that place fell in wonder vpon his head The Genius of Rome in many apparitions chiding reprehending his slow desire to affect the Empire and restore the State As touching his election he calleth the Gods to witnesse his vnwillingnesse and the publike protestation he made against it at Paris when he was there by the tumultuous Armie saluted Augustus And although by the great prouision made by him of Corne from Britannie to hold a foot the Armie against the plots of Constantius that grew now enuious of his fortune hee may seeme to haue intended the ruine of his Soueraigntie yet doth hee by the Gods of his greatest confidence Iupiter and the Sunne protest Quod Constantium occidere nunquam optauit imò ne id accideret exoptauit 7 But Constantius ending this quarrell and competition by his death Iulian whom a Pithonist had deluded with the hope of Persia telling him that his fortunes should be as his feature like Great Alexander bred in him a thirstie desire after the surname Persicus whereupon hee prepared an Armie for this expedition and seeking the fauor of his Gods the Moone Fortune and Mars embrued their Altars with the Blood of an hundred Buls at once though manie ominous signes as they were interpreted by his Philosophers and Southsaiers forbad the same Such was the great Earthquake happening in Bithynie that swallowed vp the Citie of Nicomedia Riuers likewise are saide to stand drie euen in the heart of winter and Springs forgetting their vsuall boilings yeelded not foorth their wonted waters yea and if wee will beleeue the reporters his successe was foreshewed by the departure of an Angell and by a Meteor gliding in the Aire All which hee sought to preuent by pacifying his Heathenish Gods with multitudes of Sacrifices and with an Armie extended ten miles in length entred Persia cutting asunder the Bridges by which hee passed ouer his men to adde to them more of resolution as their meanes were lesse of returne refusing all humble submission and composition offred him by their King and at the place then called Phrygia ioined Battle against Surena a great Commander among the Persians and Merenes Generall of their Horse accompanied with two of the Kings sonnes whose powers not able to resist the Romans gaue backe and fledde Iulian either vpon a vaine confidence or sudden Alarum had forgot to arme himselfe with his Corslet or Brigandine and in following the disarraied flight of the Persians lift vp his hands in signe of victorie at which very instant a Iauelin strucke thorow his left Arme into the short Ribbes and stucke in the nether lappet of his Liuer which whilest he endeuoured to plucke out did cut the sinewes of his fingers wherat altogether distracted hee fell forwards vpon his horses maine
receiue some breath of hopes and to shew themselues out of their Caues This Ambrosius saith Beda was a gentle natured man which only of all the bloud of the Romans remained then aliue his parents being slaine which had borne the name of the King of the Countrey Hee with his brother Vter commonly called Pendragon returning out of Britain Armorica where they had remained from the Tyrannie of Vortigerne landed at Totnesse in the West of this Iland vnto whom resorted great Troopes of Britaines His first Expedition was against Vortigern the scourge of his Country and murderer of his King whose Castle straightwaies hee besieged and by the iust reuenging hand of God with wilde fire consumed wherin those adulterous and incestuous persons were burned to ashes 16 Next following the common Enemie hee gaue battle to the Saxons on the North of Humber at a place called Maesbell wherein Hengist was discomfited and in flight taken by Earle Edol of Glocester and beheaded at Conningsborrow saith he of Monmouth Howbeit Matthew of Westminster maketh him fight another battle vpon the Riuer Dun in Anno 489. wherein saith he Hengist was taken And Polydore saith that in the same battle Hengist at the first onset was slaine with many of his Germans the fame of whose victorie saith he is had in memorie with the Inhabitants of those parts euen vnto this day Yet Gildas Beda and Ethelward Writers of those ancient times and two of them Saxons mention not the death of Hengist neither this great victorie of the Britaines And Marianus the Scotish Monke seemeth to affirme the contrarie where he saith that Hengist raigned thirty foure yeeres in great glorie and died peaceably leauing his sonne Eske to succeed him in the Kingdome of Kent With whom also Florentius the Monke of Worcester agreeth Howsoeuer sure it is had not the diuine power of God otherwise determined the waning estate of Britaine doubtlesse had recouered her former strength both by the praiers of Bishop German the prowesse of this last spoken of Ambrosius the valorous attempts of Vter Pendragon and the worthy industries of the Christian King Arthur The famous resistances of this last mentioned Arthur the Monke of Monmouth with such fables hath augmented that his Acts and Trauels may bee compared to those of Hercules or with the Conquests of Caesar himselfe insomuch that he hath beene accounted and ranged in the Catalogue of the worlds nine Worthies And surely by the testimonie of Malmesbury hee was a Prince of great worth and did often aduenture with his small power to meet the Saxons in the face and in Field But the Britaines strength daily decreasing and new supplies of these Saxons daily arriuing brought the one in despaire to enioy their owne right and the other to triumph in their intrusions of wrongs For continually incroaching forward and inlarging their limits wheresoeuer they came droue the inhabitauts before them from their wonted possessions seated themselues in the southern and best part of the Land laying the stones as it were of those foundations whereupon in short time they raised their most glorious buildings 17 For euery seuerall Captaine or Commander accounting that part his owne wherein he first entred or made conquest of with full resolution determined to keepe what he had got and as an absolute King commanded his Prouince whereby the Land became burdened with seuen of them at the first as Hengist of Kent Ella of those parts now called Sussex and Surrey Cherdik of the West Erchenwin of the East Ida of the North Crida of the Middle-land Vffa the parts now Middlesex and Essex which Kingdomes thus begunne and erected stood not long vnshaken by ciuill dissensions among themselues each King enuying his equals greatnesse and seeking to inlarge his owne Dominions vpon the next In which combustions few or none of them came to the graue in due time but were either slaine in warres or treacherously murdered in peace or else inforced to sheare himselfe a Monke and resigne his Crowne to another To speake of all these together I hold would bring too great a confusion to our Historie and a needlesse surcharge to the Readers memorie To auoid which I will briefly set downe the Conquests Circuits Acts and Descents that in euery seuerall Kingdome happened while they stood in their Heptarchie before they were vnited to an absolute Monarchie and then according to my prefixed purpose continue the succession of GREAT BRITAINES Monarchs 18 For albeit the Land was diuided into 7. seuerall Kingdomes and each of them carrying a soueraigne command within his owne limits yet one of them euer seemed to be supreme of the rest and that Prince who had the greatest power or successe in his warres was euer accounted and called The King of the English-men as Venerable Beda in the fifth Chapter of his second Booke and Historie of England euer termeth them 19 Such therfore as held the rest vnder either by Armes or alliance in amitie or subiection swaied the whole Monarchy and were acknowledged as Supremes in power ouer the rest which succeeded not euer in the same Familie neither continued in one and the same Kingdome without reuersement but were carried vpon the Flouds and Ebbes of variable successe or as destinie pleased to alter the chance wherof each of them sauing the East-Saxons only did attaine to the height of that gouernment as to the hauen of their wished desires See therefore if you please a generall view of the whole and afterwards the seuerall Histories of euery Kingdome apart before wee enter into the Succession of the English-Saxons Monarchs Heptarchy Kingdomes Counties Kings Successions Kingdomes Continuance Kings first Christians The Saxons Heptarchy The Kingdome of Kent contained Counties Kent Kings raigning 1. Hengist 31. 2. Eske 24. 3. Octa 20. 4. Ymerick 29. 5. Ethelbert 56. 6. Eabald 24. 7. Ercombert 24. 8. Egbert 9. 9. Lother 11. 10. Edrik 6. 11. Withred 33. 12. Edbert 23. 13. Edelbert 11. 14. Alrik 34. 15. Ethilbert 3. 16. Cuthred 8. 17. Baldred 18. Beganne in An. 455. Continued yeers 372. Ended in Anno 827. Ethelbert The Kingdome of Souh-Saxons contained Counties Sussex Surrey Kings raigning 1. Ella 32. 2. Cissa 75. 3. Edilwach alias Ethelwolf 25. 4. Berthum 5. Authum Beganne in An. 488. Continued yeers 113. Ended in Anno 601. Ethelwolse The Kingdome of West-Saxons contained Counties Cornwall Deuon-shire Dorset-shire Somerset-sh Wilt-shire Hant-shire Bark-shire Kings raigning 1. Cherdik 33. 2. Kenrike 26. 3. Cheulin 33. 4. Ceaclik 5. 5. Chelwold 12. 6. Kingils 32. Quithelin 1. 7. Kenwald 30. 8. Eskwyn 2. 9. Kentwin 9. 10. Ceadwald 7. 11. Inas 37. 12. Ethellard 14. 13. Cuthred 16. 14. Sigebert 2. 15. Kenwolfe 29. 16. Brightrik 16. 17. Egbert 19. Beganne in An. 519. Continued yeers 561. Ended in An. 1066. Kingils The Kingdome of East-Saxons contained Counties Essex Middlesex Kings raigning 1. Erchenwin 34. 2. Sledda 10. 3. Sebert 21. 4. Sexred Seward
to cut off long trauell these Danes by boates passed Humber where Hungar and Hubba beganne with fire and sword to lay all wast before them sparing neither Person sexe nor age The places respected for publike good and sacred Temples consecrated onely to God which all other Tyrants haue forborne these sauage men as the earths destroiers cast downe and trampled vnder their prophane feete among which for note were the goodly Monasteries of Bradney Crowland Peterborow Ely and Huntington all laid in leuell with the ground and their Votaries aswell the Nunnes as the Monkes murthered with their vnhumane and mercilesse swords to auoid whose barbarous pollutions the chast Nunnes of Coldingham defoâ—…ed themselues to their lasciuious eyes by cutting off their vpper lips and noses but to euerlasting remembrance they remain most faire and well beseeming faces of pure Virgins 6 These Pagans piercing further into the land came into the territories of the East-Angles wherein holy Edmund raigned King whose Martyrdome in most cruell manner they wrought he constantly calling vpon the name of Christ whereof wee haue already spoken and shall bee occasioned hereafter to speake 7 But in the last yeare of this Kings raign their raging power was most great for with a new supply two Danish Kings Sreeg and Halden entred into West-Saxia and at Reading the Kings towne intrenched themselues these forraging the Country were encountred with at Englâ—…field by Ethelwolfe Earle of Barkeshire and his men who in skirmish slew one of their leaders and chased the rest backe to their Trench 8 These Danes fearing lest delaies would proue dangerous and knowing that the first successe is commonly seconded with further courage of hope foure dayes after shewed themselues in field ready to fight their hoast they diuided into two battalians whereof the one was guided by two of their Kings and certaine Earles were leaders of the other which when the English perceiued they also diuided theirs whereof King Ethelred had the leading of the first and Elfred his brother was Generall of the second the place was Assendon where their Tents were pitched and the day approached for battaile King Ethelred in his Tent staid so long in praiers that Elfred vpon a forward courage hasted to encounter the enemy and that with a most fierce and sharpe fight wherein hauing spent the most of their strengthes and ready to decline and giue backe Ethelred manfully entred the battaile and so seconded his brother and ouer-tyred Souldiers that hee made way by dint of his sword through the thickest of their almost-conquering enemies and with such losse of the Danish bloud drawne from the sides of one of their Kings fiue Earles and an infinite number of the common Souldiers that the streames therof seemed as an ouer-swelling tide altogether to couer the face of the field and is accounted for the noblest victory that the English till then had gotten of the Danes 9 Yet were not these Pagans therewith discouraged but gathering more strengthes and supplies from other parts foureteen dayes after made head againe against the English and pitching downe their standards at Basing abode the coÌ„ming of Ethelred and triall of battaile wherein successe was altogether altered for herein the Kings part was discomfited and the Danes the winners of the day 10 Thus both sides borne vpon rage hope in their heat of bloud prepare for new fight The Danes power was augmented with a further supply sent from beyond Seas and the English confirmed with hope of successe These meeting at Merton two moneths after the battaile of Basing encountred each others both boldly and bloodily wherein at first the English preuailed and the Danes were chased but their numbers the greater and fresh supply maintaining their 〈◊〉 they râ—…uered themselues and wonne the day wherein King Ethelred receiued his deaths wound with such slaughter of his people that little wanted the end of all encounters to haue been afterwards attempted any more by the English 11 Great was the valour and resistance of this King for in his short time of Raigne as Writers record no lesse then nine set battales against the Danes he fought in one yeare to the great effusion of Christian bloud and to no little losse of the Danish power for in his raign fell of them one King nine Earles and of the common sort without number 12 He died at Wittingham of his wound receiued the three and twentieth day of April in the yeare of our Lord God eight hundred seauenty two and was buried in the Collegiat Church of Winburne in Dorcetshire where remaines his Tombe and his Armes vnto this day with this Inscription In hoc loco quiescit corpus Sancti Ethelredi Regis West-Saxonum Martyris qui Anno Domini 872. 23. die Aprilis per manus Dacorum Paganorum occubuit His Issue Elfred the eldest sonne of King Ethelred seemeth to be Grandfather to the noble and learned Ethelward who being Kinsman Counsellor and Treasurer to King Edgar wrote an history of his Country beginning at the first arriuall of the Saxons into England and continuing vnto his own time which history he dedicated to his kinswoman and cosen germane the Lady Mande Abbesse of Quedlingburg in Saxonie being the daughter of the Emperour Otho by Edgith his wife daughter of King Edward the elder and sister of Ethelstane and Edmund Kings of England Oswald a young sonne of King Ethelred is mentioned in a Charter of his Fathers by which he gaue lands to the Monastery of Abingdon neere Oxford and to which this sonne of his hath his name set downe for a witnes which Charter is yet extant recorded in a great Legiet-booke and Register of the Euidences of the lands sometime belonging to the said Monastery Thyre the daughter of King Ethelred is reported by the histories of Ireland to bee married to 〈◊〉 King of the Danes and to haue had issue King Harald which Harald by Queene Goâ—…hild his wife had issue Sweyn king of Denmarke Iringe king of Northumberland and Gonhild Queene of North-Wales King Sweyn by Queene Sigred his wife had issue Câ—…te King of England and Denmarke Ostryde wife of Duke Wolfe and mother of King Sweyn the yonger and Thyre the first wife of Earle Goodwin of Kent ELFRED THE TVVENTIE THIRD KING OF THE VVEST SAXONS AND TWENTIE FOVRTH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISHMEN HIS ACTS RAIGNE WIFE AND ISSVE CHAPTER XXXVI ELfred or Alfred the fourth sonne of King Ethelwolfe though he had beene annointed King at Rome by Pope Leo in his young years Fathers life time yet raigned he in no part of his dominions before the deathes of all his Brethren vnder whom hee serued in most of their warres assisting them likewise in all their counsels the land now miserably torne by the cruell incursions of the bloudy Danes was left vnto him both to redeeme and to raigne ouer by the death and Testament of King Ethelred his last
surprised and taken so that the Realme stood doubtfull and in extreame perill to the encrease whereof William King of Scots being deepe in the confederacy inuaded England diuiding his Forces himselfe with part wasting Northumberland and Duncan a very cruell Captaine with the other destroying the westerne Borderers 74 The Father wonderfully stirred herewith leaues Normandy in as good assurance as the time would permit and sends before him to the Ships Eleanor his owne Queene and Queene Margaret his sonnes wife his sonne Iohn c. the Earle of Leicester and his Countesse with many other prisoners and a mighty Armie but the winde changing and hee compelled to stay in harbour at Barbefleet in Normandy where hee had taken shipping he is said God touching his heart to haue vttered these words with much remorse in the presence of al If my purpose in this voiage be for the peace of the Clergy and people and if the King of heauen shall vouchsafe to quiet and calme these troubles at my arriuall then for his mercies sake wee beseech him to send vs a prosperous winde But if he be against it and hath resolued to visit the Kingdome of England with the rod of his fury let him graunt mee neuer to touch the shore of that Country more His Praier thus vttred from the depth of soule was secunded with a fresh perie of wind whereupon setting saile hee arriued safe the same day with all his Nauie at the Port of Hampton in England 75 The next day he took his iourney towards Canterbury where as it appeareth the residue of his penance enioined him at his Absolution was to bee performed For besides the fore-mentioned conditions the Legates enioined him saith the Author of Beckets life some other thing secretly which came not to our knowledge yea the Legates themselues wrote in their owne letters that hee then promised to do voluntarily if yee list to beleeue it some things which was not fit for them to lay open in writing And well might they be ashamed thereof but if it were so vnfit to bee written how vnfit was it to be imposed on such a Soueraigne Prince what it was let Houeden report The King comming towards the Church where the late Archbishop was buried clad all in wollen went three miles barefooted insomuch that the very ground where hee went was bloody as was euidently seene much bloud running from his tender feet which were cut with the hard stones Neither yet was this the worst for afterall this He receiued Discipline at the hands of the Bishops of a great many Priests and of the Monks Geruasius names Abbots also wherby appears that euery seuerall sort were to haue a hand in that seruice Mathew Paris can tell you more plainly what that Discipling was viz. he receiued the Discipline of rods on his baâ—…esh receiuing of euery religious man a great multitude of them being there gathered 3. or 5. ierkes a peece whence we may easily belieue Baronius and his Author spake within compasse who acknowledge hee receiued 80. lashes To such height was the Papall tyranny and pride grown towards those of whom God had said expresly Touch not mine Annointed 76 Yet some Monkes of that age attribute the happy and great successe which ensued to the reconcilement which King Henry thus made with God for the bloud of Thomas because it pleased God to deliuer his enemy William King of Scots into the hands of his souldiers about that very time did also with stormes beat backe into France his disobedient sonne the young King being now vnder saile for England scattering the whole Fleet and almost sinking it with tempest 77 The Kings other actions till his next returne into Normandy which was not long after because Lewis King of France and his sonne in law the young King Henry the head to which all this putrified humour drew with the Earle of Flanders had laid a strong siege to the City of Roan Thomas Walsingham comprehends in these few wordes He tamed his Rebels put his enemies to flight seized on their fortresses And so hauing in a manner miraculously quieted the Realme hee takes with him the King of Scotland the Earles of Leicester and Chester with other his chiefe Prisoners whom hee afterwards first imprisoned at Caen in Normandy then at Faleis but leauing his seditious wife behind him vnder straight custody hee arriues with his puissance in Normandy which being vnderstoode in the Confederates Campe the same brake vp and first setting fire on all the engines of warre retreated into France in such sort that the English souldiers laid hold vpon much munition and warlike furniture Roger Houeden a very sure Author saith that the confederates had onely besieged Roan vpon one side and that Lewis hearing that the victorious King Henry was within Roan did first send away the weake and worst of his Armie and then deceiuing the English with a solemne promise of returning the next day to enter into a conference with the King about making a finall agreement did depart so that Houeden aggrauates the dishonour of the retreat with the note of faith-breach 78 Let the greatnesse and felicity of this King bee now but sleightly looked vpon and it will appeare that no Prince of those times was hitherto so much bound to God for manifold fauours as hee The King and power of France after so many attempts with the young King of England and all their forces flying at his presence without any stroke strucken the valiant king of Scotland prisoner and the chiefest of his Rebels vnder his foote England assured Scotland dismaied Ireland retained Wales ministring souldiers Normandy in possession and all the coasting Regions Britaine Angiou Poictou Main Tourain Limosin Gascoign Guien c. from thence as farre as the Mountaines which separate Spaine from France vnder his dominion and the blessing of Peace shortly after ensuing vpon such termes as himself could reasonably wish made him like another Salomon to bee sought vnto his Wisedome and Magnificence being in such high credite through the Christian World that the Kings of Castile and Nauarre chose him sole Arbiter in their debate which to both their contentment he most wisely determined and then at one time in his Palace at Westminster were seene together the Ambassadors of Manuel Emperour of Constantinople of Fredericke Emperour of Romans of William Archbishop of Triers in Germany a mighty Prince of the Duke of Saxonie and of Philip Earle of Flanders Moreouer he had the gouernment of France for a time the Kingdome of Ierusalem offered him but refused and two of his daughters married to the two Kings of Castile and Sicilie 79 There was first therefore a truce taken betwixt the three Kings Lewis and the two Henries wherein Richard who stood out was left to his Fathers prosecution who â—…ing himselfe thus destitute after many flashes â—…paration to resist and
King Philip for a fiue yeeres Truce which expiring with Richards last breath hee still laboured to establish it betwixt the now Kings but King Philips great heart would not so come downe which was likely to haue cost him deere For pursuing whither his Furie a bad guide did lead him after his siege of Lauardin Whence vpon King Iohns approach with his Army hee fled to Maunz and thence again fled King Iohn comming thither seized the Castle of Balun which belonged to Arthur and to preuent his enemy as is likely he leuelled it vnto the very ground which fact Duke Arthurs Generall William de Rupibus wrathfully expostulating with King Philip as hauing done therein contrarie to Couenants with his Lord Arthur hee as scornfully answered that hee would not for his Lord Arthures pleasure forbeare his owne in doing as himselfe listed with such forts as hee tooke The Generall seeing Arthur was but the outward maske vnder which Philip reuelld for his hidden ends seriously perswaded his Lord to reconcilement with his vncle King Iohn and rather to hazard his hopes on the clemency of a Generous Foe then on the guiles of a false hearted Friend so making his peace with King Iohn hee presentlie yeelded vp to him both Maunz with Lady Constance the young Duke also the important matter of so great contentions But Heauens were not so propitious to these Reconciliats as so to hold them long some Philippines buzzing such needlesse terrors of Imprisonment into the Noble Childs eares that the next night Feare giuing wings to his flight as Loue did to his Mothers for leauing her husband Ranulph Earle of Chester shee was amorous of and married Guido a gallant Gentleman who thē fled with her they escaped into Angiers Arthur neither sure of K. Philip nor sure to K. Iohn had now cast himselfe betwixt two Milstones but howsoeuer Philip ment the greist in the end should be his 8 The breach betwixt these two great Kings was the more irreconcileable by reason of the hatred betwixt King Philip and the Emperour Otho King Iohns Nephew whose aduancement to the Empire himselfe perhaps aiming to it Philip still endeauoured to impeach not regarding that the Pope whose power Kings then regarded only while it made for their purpose had thundered his Anathema against all his Opposers and Otho in gratitude to King Richard who procured him the Diadem Imperiall and in tender regard of his vncles honour sent him aduise not to hasten any finall attonement with the French King for that himselfe would bring him his vtmost Imperiall assistance Notwithstanding by the Cardinall-Legates assiduous interceding a Truce was concluded till the Feast of Saint Hilary at which time the Kings comming to a Treaty betwixt Wailun and Butauant Castles it was agreed that Lewis the Heyre of France should marry King Iohns Neece Blanch Daughter of Alfonsus King of Castile that King Iohn should giue for Dowry the City and County of Eureux with sundry Forts in Normandy and thirty thousand Markes in siluer vowing also not to aide his Nephew Otho with men or means to attain the Empire further promising to leaue if he died without Issue vnto Lewis al the Territories he held in France all which Articles were formerly engrossed but finally cōcluded betwixt Butauant Guletun the one K. Iohns the other King Philips Castle the Octaues of Saint Iohn Baptist when these Counties were actually surrendred to Philip the Lady Blanch espoused to Lewis his son Duke Arthur Philips once vowed but now vnualued charge yeelded ouer and made Seruant and Homager to K. Iohn for his own Dukedom whom yet his vncle was content to leaue with King Philip who had now so left him and erst had vpheld him onely as the baite of his owne aduantage If Princes can bee thus vnprincely degenerous what trust can men repose in baser vassals King Iohn hereupon proued much more stedfast to Philip then either Philip was to him or himselfe to Otho the Emperor who sending his two Brethren Henry Duke of Saxony and William surnamed of Winton to demand the Counties of Yorke and Poictou with the Treasure and Iewels which King Richard bequeathed him King Iohn denied to yeeld thereunto only in regard of his Oath which hee had passed to Philip to yeelde no kind of aide to the Emperour And further to testifie yea further then he ought his faithfull meaning to preserue intire this amity with Philip by his aduise he diuorced Hawisia his wife as too neere of Bloud by sentence of the Archbishop and Bishops of Burdeaux Poictoirs and Xanton and by the Archbishops hands espoused Isabell Heiretrice of Ailmar Earle of Angolisme a faire yong Lady but dedestined to another bed 9 This Finall Concord so called but not prouing so with Philip who now acknowledged Iohn the rightfull Heire of King Richards Crowne gaue him more leasur to receiue peaceably all Submitties and bring in forceably all out-standers of those his transmarine Dominions and after to look home to the affaires of his Kingdome from which hee had beene and we there following him too long absent Yet in the heate of those forrain imploiments hee on occasions had his recourses hither to settle his State-affaires and Crowne-Reuenewes to enact wholesome lawes for forraine and domesticke Commerce to collect an Ayde for his Neeces great Dowry and Martiall vses which later being three shillinges on euery Carrucata though his first and onely Subsidie since his comming to the Crowne caused much heart-burning especially by meanes of his owne brother Geffry Archbishoppe of Yorke touching whom the King was forewarned that hee would bring a Sword not Peace into England who bearing himselfe too bold on his bloud and place forbad the Collectours of that Aide in his precincts though it were granted to the King generally for all England and also being required by the King to attend him into France to conclude the Peace and his Neeces Espousall he very vndutifully denied his seruice The King iustly moued with those his disloyalties caused all his Temporalities to bee seized on by his Sheriffe whom therefore Geffry adding fresh fuel to the fire did solemnly excommunicate caused the Kings Officers to beare blowes and interdicted the whole Prouince of Yorke So partiall and vnhistoricall is the report of one a Stranger by birth but more strange for bold vntruthes who faines the onely incentiue of such indig nation in the King was that Prelates reprehension of his Rapines on the people For to giue a further taste of that Authors vehement fond malice iustly so taxed what ancient Iudicious Writers call an Aid necessarie for Warres that he enstileth Rapines and Spoiles where they make Iohn his Brothers Heyre by Will
that Sir Godfrey de Crancumb Knight with three hundred armed men was sent to apprehend the Earle in Essex Hee hauing intelligence of their approach fledde into a Chappell at Brentwood which adioyned to his lodging from whence those rough Souldiers haled him hee holding in one hand a Crucifix and in the other the Sacrament and sent for a Smith to make for him shackels of yron But when the Smith vnderstood that it was for Hubert de Burgh Earle of Kent he refused vttering such words if Mathew Paris doe not Poetize as did well shew that honourable thoughts are somtimes found in the hearts of men whose fortunes are farre from honour for hauing first drawne a deepe sigh hee said Doe with mee what yee please and God haue mercy on my soule but as sure as the Lord liues I will neuer makeyron shackles for him but will rather die the worst death that is For is not this that most loyall and couragious Hubert who so often hath preserued England from being destroyed by strangers restored England to England He who faithfully and constantly serued his Soueraigne Lord King Iohn in Gascoigne Normandy and else where that he was compelled to eate the flesh of horses whose high courage euen Enemies admired he that so long defended Douer Castle the Key of England against all the exquisite sieges of the French and by vanquishing them at Sea brought safety to the Kingdome What need I rehearse his excellent doings at Lincolne and Bedford Let God be iudge between him and you for vsing him so vniustly and inhumanely repaying good with euill nay requiting his most excellent deserts with the worst recompence that can be But Sir Godfrey and his blacke band regarded not such speeches but otherwise binding the Earle hard they set him on horsebacke and so conuayed him to the Tower of London 35 This breach of Sanctuary being made knowne to Roger Bishoppe of London whose Diocesse it was he confidently tels the King that if the Earle were not restored to the Chappell hee would excommunicate all the Authors of that outrage The Earle is accordingly restored but the Sheriffes of Essex and Hertford at the Kings commandement with the powers of their counties besiege the Chappell so long that at last they hauing cast a Trench about it that none might goe in or out the Earle was compelled to come forth and render himselfe bearing all things with an equall mind as one that had a cleare conscience before God which hee professed to haue While the Chappell was thus beset round the Kings indignation was so violent that hee forbad all men once to make mention of Hubert in his hearing No maruaile then if it bee said that the Princes indignation is death The Archbishoppe of Dublin neuerthelesse was not deiected but with praiers and teares besought the King who remained as yet inexorable Huberts enemies possessing his soule and senses Hubert therefore is againe imprisoned in the Tower There was no sacrifice as it seemes could appease the Kings iâ—…e but that of the Earles Hoord of gold and other riches which the Knights Templars had in their custodie vpon trust without Huberts consent refused to deliuer Hubert therefore willingly yeelds which when the Depositaries did giue vp the value seemed incredible This hoording perhaps was Huberts crime whereof being thus purged he had hope to recouer out of these deadly pangs and conuulsions of fortune and himselfe to bee made capable of curing Well the king obtains this precious booty but his enemies would haue his bloud also saying sith hee was conuicted of theft and fraud it was meet he should die a most shamefull death It seemes they thought that the verie finding of so much treasure was a conuiction of fraud in the getting and that the King must bee interpreted to haue lost whatsoeuer the Earle had gained But the displeasure of the King was mollified with this golden balme for hee answered them thus Hubert from his childhood hath as I haue heard faithfully enough serued my vncle King Richard and my Father King Iohn and if he haue done ill towards me hee shall neuer therefore die an euill death For I had rather be reputed a foolish or a negligent King then a cruell Tyrant or a bloudy man toward him who hath long serued mee and mine ancestors nor will I weigh more his euill deedes which are not as yet manifest nor proued true then all his good deeds which are plainelie knowne to the Realme and to vs all Hereupon Hubert had all such lands granted vnto him as eyther King Iohn had giuen or himselfe had purchased There vndertooke for him to the King as sureties the Earles of Cornwall and Warrenn Marshal Ferrars and himselfe was committed to the Castle of Deuises there to abide in free Prison vnder the Custody of foure Knights belonging each of them to one of these foure Earles This Court-storme thus in part ouerblowne let vs take our standings to view what other weather followed and what countenance of things in this Kingdome did next present it selfe to the world 36 The King being naturally as it seemes addicted to repose himselfe vpon some one mans counsell was now wholy swayde by Peter de Rupibus Bishoppe of Winchester who had therefore wrought the Earle out of grace that hee might soly raigne and predominate in the gentle King Which the better to effect the Bishoppe procures him to displace the English Officers and in their roomes to surrogate Poictouines and Britons who comming ouer to the number of about two thousand he stuffes his Castles with them and in briefe did as it were wholy entrust himselfe his treasures strengthes and the Realme to them So that Iudgements were committed to the vniust Lawes to the Out-lawes Peace to Wranglers and Iustice to wrong-dâ—…ers Such as would haue praied redresse for these abuses were interrupted and put off by the Bishoppe of Winchester Among them who were remoued from their places in Court was one Sir William de Redune a Knight and Deputy Marshall to Richard Earle of Pembroke This was to the Earle very displeasant which ioyned with a consideration of the publike cause and danger he associates vnto him certaine of the great Lords as was the fashion of those Lording times vpon euery discontent and in the Company of them aduanceth confidently to the King whom in the hearing of many hee reproueth for that he had through sinister aduise called in the Poictouins to the oppression of the Realme of his naturall subiects of their Lawes and Liberties humblie therefore hee beseecheth him that hee would spedily reforme such abuses which threatned the imminent subuersion both of the Crowne and Kingdome which if hee did not himselfe and other Lordes would so long withdraw their attendance as he entertained Strangers The Bishoppe hereunto makes answere That the King might well and lawfully call in what Strangers himselfe
marching hee laid siege together with the Prince his brother to the Castle of Rodolan doing many outrages and killing all such as they could reach yea som as it is said whose ransomes they had taken though against Lewelins mind And while King Edward spent his Easter at the Vises in Wiltshire and afterward visited the Queene his mother who liued in the Nunnerie at Ambresberie the Welsh vnder diuers Captaines had taken sundry of the Kings strengthes and Castles in diuers parts There are extant the Copies of certaine grieuances exhibited to Iohn Archbishoppe of Canterbury by the Welsh at such time as of his owne accord so say the said Copies hee interposed himselfe without the Kings leaue to settle their quiet which Articles in shew for the answeres of the English are not set downe containe indeed sundry great abuses but the fate of Wales had now inuolued them all in a desolating warre and made them vncapable of reliefe For after the Archbishoppe had trauelled in person to the Prince of Wales being then in Snowdon and returned without any Conclusion made comming vnto Oxford hee there sent out the lightnings of excommunication against him and his seduced adherents Wee say seduced because they did capitulate in such sort as if they had beene able to make their party good 14 But though the old Brittish Principality was now to expire yet it must bee confessed that as Lewelin had an end vnworthy of his bloud being rather vnfortunately slaine then otherwise so on the other side the same hapned not without reuenge for at one encounter in open field Gilbert Earle of Gloster lost William Valence a yonger Cosen of the Kings slaine in the fight and foure other Knights though at the same time also many of the Welsh left their bodies dead vpon the earth together with the victory to the English but the day certainely which they had of King Edward himselfe may not bee forgotten in which the Welsh slew the Lord William de Audeley and the Lord Roger Clifford the yonger and got foureteene Ensignes from the English Armie K. Edward being enforced to enter into the Castle of Hope for his safety These things though not contemptible but rather certaine deceitfull fauours vsuall when the ruine of a Nation is by God decreed could not vphold the cause For first the Prince hauing vpon some occasion withdrawne himselfe with some few others from his Army which then was in the land of Buelth was set vpon by two principall Gentlemen Iohn Giffard and Edmund de Mortumar with their Forces and there by the hand of one Adam Francton was runne through with an Horsemans staffe who at the first being vnknowne had his head strucken afterward off and presented to King Edward at whose commandement it was crowned with Iuie and set vp for a certain time vpon the Tower of London 15 This saith the History of Wales was the end of Lewelin betrayed by the men of Buelth who was the last Prince of Britaines bloud and with him whom one Versifier calleth the Captaine the praise the law and light of Nations and another defaceth with as many ignominious attributes the liberty of that people did also die For it was not long but that King Edward subdued in a manner all Wales reseruing to himselfe the Coast-Towns strengths toward the Sea distributed the In-land Countries to the Lords his followers therein prudently following the counsell of Augustus who thus vnder pretence of defence for the Prouinces had the brideling of all their forces at his pleasure Neuerthelesse the whole flame was not as yet extinguished for Dauid the Princes Brother and chiefest firebrand in this fatall combustion was at large who being taken brought to King Edward at the Castle of Ruthlan could not obtaine admission to his sight or speech but was amanded and sent Prisoner to Shrewsburie Thither the King hauing setled the State of Wales repairing to a Parliament which he had summoned there to bee kept after Michaelmas caused Dauid hauing first had a Legall triall before certaine Iusticiars for that cause appointed to bee seuerely put to death by hanging heading and quartering whose head was set vp at London and his quarters in foure other principall Cities of England to the terrour of all ingratefull and disloy all persons The Welsh line thus thrust from the Principality King Edward vpon Saint Marks day had a sonne borne vnto him in Wales at Caernaruon who also was called Edward and raigned after him and that with the birth of a new Lord the Welsh might bee inured to new lawes the King established by example of K. Iohn his Grandfather in Ireland the English lawes and offices among them 16 But the King that hee might not seeme forgetfull of his French affaires repayred into France where hee obtained sundry fauours though they continued not long and sate in person there with the French King in his Parliament at the City of Paris as a Lord or Peere of that Realme in respect of such lands as hee had in those parts Nor may here bee forgotten an Act of singular munificence and charity in this renowned King for the redemption of Charles Prince of Achaia sonne and Heire of Charles King of Sicilia who had some yeers before beene taken in a battell at Sea before Naples by the Gallies of Sicilia fighting on the behalfe of the King of Arragon for whose speedier enlargement K. Edward disbursed thirty thousand pounds sterling and gaue his owne Knights in hostage till Charles had sent in his two sonnes Robert and Lewis as pledges to Alfonse king of Arragon which done King Edward returned into Gascoigne and there tooke vpon him the Crosse in full purpose to finish the iourney which once he had vndertaken and had in part performed against the Sarazens 17 In the meane time to purge England whither hee was now returned from such corruptions and oppressions as vnder which it groaned and not neglecting therein his particular gaine hee banished the Iewes out of the Realme confiscating all their goods leauing them nothing but money to beare their charges And whereas they by their cruell vsuries had one way eaten his people to the bones his Iusticiars like another kind of Iewes had ruined them with delayes in their suites and enriched themselues with wicked corruptions hee like a father of his Country put all those from their offices who were found guilty and they were almost all and punished them otherwise in a grieuous manner being first in open Parliament conuicted The particulars whereof by reason of the most iust and commendable example we will not thinke needlesse the order of naming them only changed to recapitulate here Sir Ralph Heugham Chief Iustice of the higher Bench 7000. marks Sir Iohn Louetot Iustice of the lower Bench 3000. marks Sir William Brompton Iustice 6000. markes
great displeasure hee had conceiued seeking vtterly to ruine him till afterward by means of the Papall authority hee was restored and in a faint sort reconciled 4 The thing which suited best with his youthfull affections to wit the marriage of young Isabel daughter of Philip the Faire King of France he performed with wonderfull magnificence at Bolein at which solemnity were present besides all others The King of France Father to the Bride The King of Nauarre his sonne The King of Almaine The King of Sicill Marie Queene of France Margaret Queene Dowager of England her daughter The Queene of Nauarre There was also present as no Sunne-shine but hath shadow Peirs of Gaueston the beloued Minion of this Edward whose reentertainement the dying King had so seriously forbidden whom notwithstanding together with his own new wife he brought into England 5 This fatall fauourite of this young King was a stranger borne but a Gentleman and in regard of good seruice done by the Father of Peirs in Gascoigne brought vp at old king Edwards owne appointment with this Prince from whom not to derogate in any point as if hee had without some appearances of worth and value embraced Peirs it is certaine by that which a Knight and seruitor of this very King hath left written that he had a sharpe witte in a comely shape and briefly was such an one as wee vse to call very fine Neither yet was he vnhardie in Arms but of commendable performance whereof saith de la Moore hee gaue proofe against the Scots to whom hee was alike hatefull as to the English till hee was recalled to satisfie such as saith their Courtier did enuie his graces and good successe but of his Christian or morall vertues which onely make men truly commendable there is great silence in Authors though not of his vices wherof wee shall haue occasion enough to speake hereafter 6 At the Coronation of the King and Queen which the Lords would haue empeached had hee not promised reasonably to satisfie them about Gaueston none was neere to Peirs in brauery of apparrell or delicacie of fashion which and for that the King gaue him S. Edwards Crowne to carrie in that pompe greatly encreased the offence of the Lords against him But hee that hauing a King to backe him knew no other means to extinguish hatred but by daring it to the vttermost spared not afterwardes to scoffe and reproach the principall Peeres calling Thomas Earle of Lancaster Stage-plaier Aimerie de Valence Earle of Pembroke Ioseph the Iew because hee was pale and tall and Guy Earle of Warwicke the blacke dogge of Ardern all whom and others he at a Turneament by him proclaimed and holden handled vilely 7 But King Edward was dayly more and more possessed with the familiarity of Peirs who to establish his interest in the vnprudent Prince by sensualities and riotous practises filled the Court with buffons parasites and the like pernicious instruments drawing Edward from the thought of al great enterprises in accomplishment of his fathers will or discharge of his particular dutie to all sorts of vnworthy vanities and sinnefull delights while himselfe in the meane space reuelled in all outward felicity wasting the riches of the Kingdome or conuerting them to his priuate vses For fearing belike that the time might come againe to vndergoe banishment hee transported much treasure into forraine parts and much hee had to transport for not onely by the sale of his fauour with the King to which there was no speeding approach but by Gaueston who vsed to peize the gifts more then the causes but also by the kings prodigality hee had whatsoeuer could bee powred vpon him for though it might seeme incredible he both gaue him his iewels and ancestors treasure and euen the Crowne it selfe of his victorious father not sticking to professe that if it lay in him hee should succeed him in the kingdome 8 The Lords who for reuerence of the King sate downe by their priuate iniuries in hope there would be a season in which their Soueraign might by timelie and sweet admonitions recouer the vse of himselfe not thinking it tollerable to bee now any longer silent and the rather lest that Peirs farther abusing his greatnesse should bring in Forreiners not onely to the preiudice of the English lawes and customes but of their authority also and places preuailed so much with the King in a Parliament holden at London where sundry prouisions concerning the liberties of the people and execution of Iustice were enacted and by corporall oath confirmed by the King himselfe that among them the decree of Gauestons perpetuall banishment was by the king ouercome with a meere necessity for satisfaction of the Kingdome to whom the said Earle of Cornwall was odious vnwillinglie suffered to passe and the king was thereupon regratified with a Subsidie of the twentieth part of the subiects goods The king also tooke his Oath not to reuoke the said Earle of Cornwall frō banishment if it may be called a banishment wherin he had the kingdom of Ireland entrusted to his charge and for the securing thereof against rebels was furnished with men money by the king 9 Yet forgetting that those affections which oftentimes deserue praise in a priuate person are subiect to much construction in a publike and neglecting both his deceased fathers so solemne adiurations and also his owne oath as carelesse of the sequele hee cals Earle Peirs home with whose loue hee was most fondly and most passionatelie transported and as if hee had receiued some diuine benefite gaue him most ioyous welcome at the Castle of Flint in Northwales and bestowed vpon him for wife Ioan of Acres Countesse of Glocester his sisters daughter resoluing with himselfe to retaine his Gaueston maugre all his Earles and Barons or for the loue of him to put his Crowne and life in perill when time should serue In which whether the king or his fauourite shewed lesse discretion it is not at the first sight easily determinable it being as vnsafe for the one with so offensine behauiour to affect immoderate shew and vse of grace as for the other to the iniury of his name and realme to bestow the same 10 The contemptibilitie and vanitie of this effeminate argument detaines vs longer then for the qualitie thereof were fitting did not so much mischiefe issue out of it For Peirs of his owne nature insolent being thus aboue reason or his own dareings aduanced to alliance with the bloud royall was so far from all amendment as hee rather seemed to striue to outgoe himselfe in his former courses consuming so much of the kings treasure and meanes that he had not wherewith to defray ordinarie charges or to pay for the necessaries of his Court The young Queene also tooke herselfe not to be a little wronged by this vngracious mans predominancie thereof
King that many more went voluntary then constrained All which puissance was notwithstanding thus eluded 12 About this time died strucken with leprie Robert Bruce King and recouerer of Scotland and the most approued Warriour of the world in that age by whose losse it was soone found how much the vertue and fortune of one man are worth in any Nation But before hee died that peace was made with the Scots by the meanes of the Queene and the Lord Mortimer which is so much dispraised by our Writers and in the end proued capitall to the principall Actor Mortimer 13 For at this treaty it was that the King then in his Minority sealed Charters to the Scots at Northampton whose contents were contriued by the Queene the said Lord Mortimer and Sir Iames Dowglasse without the priuity of the English There was also deliuered to them that famous Euidence called the Ragman Roll and the King acquited them of all claime and pretence of right to the Superiority of Scotland rendring backe sundrie Iewels taken by the English from the Scots among the which was one speciall called the Blacke Crosse of Scotland There was it also granted that all Englishmen should leese their lands in Scotland vnlesse they would inhabite vpon them and becom Liege-men to the King therof besides many other things to the high discontentation as was the humor of those times of the English Subiects Moreouer vnder the specious colour of restitution of dammages King Robert was to pay to King Edward thirty thousand Marks sterling with which as the meed of treason the Lord Mortimer was afterward publikely charged and for the same and other his crimes was executed as a Traitour Finally vpon the seuenth of Iuly Dauid Bruce Prince of Scotland a child of seuen or eight yeeres old and sonne and heire to King Robert married Ioan sister to K. Edward at Berwicke by which peace the English were made-obnoxious to some reproaches the Scottish Nation in scorne calling the said Lady Iane Make-Peace 14 And therefore saith one of this part of King Edwards raigne that drawne aside with euill aduise by reason of his age hee committed many foule errors in State at the beginning of his Gouernment which is also the generall opinion of all our Writers whereunto this verse is by some applied Vae pueri terrae saepissimè sunt ibi guerra Where Children Rulers are There oft is woe and war 15 There died likewise about this time Charles the Faire King of France to whom King Edward had not long before done homage for his Dutchie of Gascoigne the third and last sonne of Philip the Faire King of France by whose decease the Crown of that noble Kingdome deuolued to this our Edward King of England in right of his mother Queene Isabel And because vpon this Title king Edward did afterward claime the said Crowne wee will here once for all instruct you in the iustice thereof 16 Three sonnes there were of King Philip the Faire to wit Lewis Hutin Philip le long and Charles the Faire who all successiuely raigned in France one after the other and none of them leauing any Issue at such time as king Edward made his claime the whole right seemed to be in Isabel the onely Child of the said Philip which had any issue for an other sister which shee had died an Infant 17 The case thus seeming plaine was not for such accepted by the French who receiued to the Crowne Philip of Valoys whose father Charles of Valois was yonger Brother to Philip the Faire aduancing the Brothers sonne before the daughters son not following the propinquity or descent of blood but the meliority of sexe vpon which ground they had also freshly put by Ioan daughter of Lewis Hutin preferring Philip le long her vncle The French in barre to her interest pretended a fundamentall law or entaile by which no woman was inheritable to the Crown of France and in defence of that opinion withstood King Edward afterward with so much losse and calamity though that very law made Edwards title the stronger as himselfe truely pleaded hee being the Male albeit his right descended by the Female 18 This Title to so glorious a Monarchy though it accrewed to the English by this match with Queen Isabel yet doth Walsingham freely pronounce That neither that affinity nor any other contracts with the French was euer auaileable or brought any benefite to England which opinion as it may seeme strange so will it answere a wise Readers paine in the fruit to obserue through the course of our stories whether the said graue Writer had iust occasion so to speake or no. Another conceit there was of this Edwards marriage with Philippa the Earle of Henaults daughter which about this time was consūmated though Philip de Valoys king of France by intrusion as our Annales repute him was her vncle her mother being his owne sister 19 There stood now at home against the stream of the Queene and her Lord Mortimers absolute sway some great personages who did not wholy allow their doings among which was the Kings vncle Edmund Earle of Kent whose death they shortly procured Meane-while the more to despite and dare their ouerlookers Roger Mortimer was created Earle of the Marches of Wales at a Parliament holden at Salisburie at which time also Iohn of Eltham the Kings Brother was made Earle of Cornwall and the Lord Butler of Ireland Earle of Ormond From whence the Lord Henry Earle of Lancaster and sundry other of the Peeres seeing the King troden as it seemed to them vnder foot did absent themselues meditating ciuill armes for redresse who notwithstanding by the labour of Simon de Mepham Archbishop of Canterbury was reconciled This Archbishoppe very worthily also excommunicated all such as had any hand in the sacrilegious parricide of that noble and loiall Prelate Walter Bishoppe of Excester or any waies violated him their aiders complices or abettors whosoeuer But after the Coronation of Philip the yong Queene in another Parliament at Winchester the said Earle Edmund was condemned for conspiring to deliuer his brother late King of England whom likely inough by Mortimers practise he was drawne into an absurd beliefe to bee still aliue Thus for deuising to set a dead man at liberty this noble Earle Edmund the kings half vncle had his head strucken off though from Noone till fiue at night hee stood at the place of death without the Castle-gates none being found to behead him till a base wretch of the Marshal-sea was sent and did it so little conscience did the malice and ambition of his potent aduersaries make of shedding the Roiall bloud which by Gods iuster iudgement was not long vnreuenged 20 To supply which losse to the regal stemme with a very large amends the young Queene Philip at Woodstocke in Oxfordshire vpon 15. Iune being Friday brought forth her first begotten
Wraw another lewd Priest had assigned it 21 Neuer was the kingly race and common-weale so neere to an vtter extirpation as at this present which was wee may truly say miraculously preuented The yong king in these feares and dangers repairing to Westminster most deuoutly commended his Crowne Life and whole estate to God nor that in vaine For Wat Tyler with his Campe of Rascals esteemed to bee ten or twenty thousand according to the Kings Proclamation attending in Smithfield but cauilling of purpose vpon the conditions of peace as hee that meant a farther mischiefe though they of Essex were returned was entreated to ride to the king who also sate on horse-backe before Saint Bartholmewes in whose company was that renowned Lord Maior of London William Walworth with many other men of birth and place 22 Wat Tylar scarse at the last comming behaued himselfe so insolentlie offering to murther one of the Kings knights Sir Iohn Newton for omission of some punto of respect which he arrogated to himselfe in more then a kingly manner was vpon leaue giuen him by the king boldly arrested with a drawn weapon by the Lord Maior a man say Writers of incomparable courage which blow was seconded by the said Lord and others so speedily that there this prodigie of a Traitor was felde and slaine A death too worthy for that he died by the swords of honourable persons for whom the axe of an Hang-man had beene far too good 23 The Commons perceiuing the fall of their Captaine prepared to vse extreme reuenge when the most hopefull-young king with a present witte and courage it being for his life and kingdome spurred forth his horse and bad them follow him without beeing grieued for the losse of a ribauld and traitour for now hee himselfe would be their Captaine Hereupon they thronged after him into the field there to haue whatsoeuer they desired But the most worthy of all Londoners Walworth speeds with one man onely into the City raiseth a thousand Citizens in armour brings them being led in good array by Sir Robert Knolles and others with Wat Tylers head which the Lord Maior had commanded to bee chopt off from his dead carcase borne before him vpon a Speare to the king That verie head the cursed tongue whereof had dared to say That all the Lawes of England should come out of his mouth 24 This act restored the Crown as it were and Realme to King Richard for the Rebels seeing themselues girt-in with armed men partly fled partly fel vpon their knees and throwing away all hope in weapon they answerably to their basenesse begged their liues who but euen now reputed themselues masters of the field and of the king And albeit there was a generall desire in the hearts of loyall men to expiate so many villanies with the bloud of the Actors yet things abroad in the Realme being as yet vnsetled they had a generall Charter of pardon sealed and were so sent home into their Countries 25 Certainly although the Citie of London the most noble and able part of the English Empire hath otherwise deserued of the Kings of this land very well yet the honour of this seruice worthily stands highest in the many great praises therof Which the King did thankefully and publikely testifie by knighting Walworth and by bestowing vpon him when hee modestly excused his vnworthines 41 That which followed may giue vs iust cause to suspect the truth of that Fryers accusation for the Lord William la Zouch was also by the Fryer accused of hauing been the Inuenter broacher and prouoker of him to set downe all that which was comprehended in the accusation who thereupon sent for to Salisburie though then very sicke of the gowte repaired thither in an horse-litter where hee was compelled to answere to all such points as were obiected like a felon or a traytour standing bare-headed but the priuitie or least thought of any such matter as the Fryer affirmed against the Duke hee confidently forsware and was thereupon acquitted and dismissed Howbeit saith Walsingham La Zouch was from that time forward a professed enemie not onely of Carmelites but of al other orders of Fryers whatsoeuer But these disgraces came vnseasonably vpon the Duke whose head was vndoubtedly full of designes and of cares how to atchieue to himselfe the crowne of Spaine 42 There were then sundry incursions made by the English and Scots each into the others country the Earle of Northumberland being leader to the English with little aduantage to either But to take away the very cause of this continuall bad neighbourhood or to lessen it by an established peace with France the Duke of Lancaster sayled to Callis about the beginning of August there to treat with the Duke of Berrie on behalfe of the young French King Charles 6. but after he had in that voyage expended as was said fifty thousād Marks he brought into England nothing backe except onely a truce to continue till the first day of May next His desire to haue procured a surer peace both with the French and Scots seemes to haue beene great that so hee might the more freely pursue the conquest of Spaine which he intended 43 Whiles hee was absent in this Ambassage there ensued the arraignement of a great fauourite of the Dukes Iohn Northampton alias Comberton whom his aduersaries by-named Cumber-towne This man is by them reported to haue exceedingly troubled the City of London during his late Maioralty there nor lesse afterward for that being followed with many abettors hee publikely disturbed Sir Nicholas Bramble his successor but a bloudy minded man by report and wrought other maisteries till Sir Robert Knowls caused one of the busiest companions to bee drawne out of his house and as some say shortned by the head This Comberton was by his houshold Clerke accused as priuie to some practises in preiudice as well of the King as the City and when sentence was to bee pronounced in the Kings presence being then with great store of his Nobles at Reading hee durst as is said affirme That such iudgement ought not to proceede against him in the absence of his Lord the Duke This againe vnraked the burning coales of enuie and suspition against the said Lord Duke and perhaps malice to the Duke procured this hatred against his fauourite Whereupon hee was confined to the Castle of Tyntagel in Cornwall and all his goods seised vpon by the Kings Seruants whom Walsingham expresseth by calling them after the name of those Poeticall rauenous Birds Harpyes 44 That here which Polydor Vergil assigning causes to actions not alwayes such as are but such as seemed to him most probable not seldome confounding and changing persons times names and things telles vs concerning a combate within lifts betweene Sir Iohn Aunsley Knight and one Carton hath little ground so farre as wee can find in historie He saith they were teterrima capita both very wicked men that there was a real plot to
said he hath made it meere wrong which with better regard of the Sex alloweth the woman to inherite her fathers possession as we see in the practise of that state whereof Christ himselfe is called king where the fiue daughters of Zelophehad for want of heires males were admitted to succeed in their fathers inheritance allotted them in the Tribe of Manasses and a law made by the Lord himselfe that if a man died and had no sonnes then his inheritance should be transferred vpon his daughters Neither is it to be doubted but that the daughter of Shesham was the sole heire vnto her fathers patrimony he dying without issue male though shee married an Egyptian whose posterity had their possessions among the Tribe of Iudah euen to the Captiuity of Babilon so that if such a law were as in truth there was no such better were the breach by the warrant of diuine direction then the continuance by colour of such prescription seeing God hath ordained aswell for the daughter as for the sonne 20 The Archbishops vnexpected but not vnpremeditated Oration thus ended so stirred the blood of the young Couragious King that his heart was all on a flame and so tickled the eares of his Auditory as they presently conceiued that France was their owne the Title whereof descending from Isabell the mother of the famous third Edward and shee the daughter and suruiuing heire vnto Philip the faire his right was lineally deriued thence as followeth first Philip by Ioane his first wife intituled Queene of Nauarre had three sonnes and one daughter namely Lewis Philip and Charles all three successiuely Kings and this Lady Isabell by whom the English claime his second wife was Constance the daughter of the King of Sicil who bare him a sonne after his owne decease which liued not many daies after his father Lewis his eldest sonne and tenth of that name succeeded Philip in the Kingdome of France and by Margaret his wife the daughter of Burgundy had his daughter Iane intituled Queene of Nauarre who made claime also vnto the French Crowne but neuer attained it so that her Title fell with her death Lewis by his second wife Clemence of Sicil had a sonne named Iohn borne vnto him but presently both father and sonne departing this life left the Scepter to his second brother who by the name of Philip the fift a while wore the Emperiall Crowne of France his wife was Iane the daughter of Burgoine who bare vnto him only foure daughters 21 Vnto King Philip succeeded his brother Charles the faire the fourth of that name whose first wife was Blanch detected of incontinency and brought him no fruite his second wife was Marie daughter to Henry Luxenbourg the Emperour who bare him a sonne that dyed soone after birth and the mother likewise shortly came to her graue Margaret the daughter to the Earle of Eureux was his third and last wife who at his death hee left with Child and thus the three sonnes of Philip were branched raigned and died whom Queene Isabell their sister suruiued and in that right her sonne King Edward the third by his royall consanguinity whilst the Crowne stood thus at suspence till a Prince should be borne claimed to be Regent in the Interregnum and in the nonage of the looked for issue against which Philip de Valois sonne of Charles the hardy who was brother to Philip the faire being a second branch from Hugh Capet and first Prince of the blood of France maintained that the Regency of the male if so he were borne as also of the Realme if a daughter or the sonne dyed belonged onely vnto him as the next in blood The state thus standing and a daughter borne Philip was saluted and proclaimed King no other right alleaged then this foisted and falsely termed fundamentall law Salique for no otherwise doth Ottoman the French famous Lawyer esteeme of that vngodly and vniust Ordinance if any such had beene ordained 22 The Kings right thus apparant and sufficient possessions to be had in France the Bill of complaint against the Clergies excesse was quite dasht and all mindes addicted for the affaires that way thinking it vnreasonable to pull the Prouisions from their natiues and brethren when as the Circuit of their inheritanee extended more large in compasse and therefore with the Danites they determined no longer to sit so pent with increase seeing God had giuen them another Kingdome but would free their own straitnesse by dint of sword and spread their Tents wider in the Continent of France Neither was there any motiue more forceable in conference then was the successe of those intruding Princes who assaied the Crowne by that vniust claime of law Salique 23 For did not the sword of God rather then man in the hand of King Edward the claimer cut downe the flower of France in the Battell of Crecie with the slaughter of Lewis King of Bohemia of Charles the French Kings brother of Iames Dolphin of Viennois the Dukes of Lorrayne and Burbon the Earles of Aumarle Sauoy Montbilliard Flanders Niuers and Harecourt the Grand Priour of France the Archbishop and Zanxinus and Noyone of Lords Barons and Gentlemen to the number of 1500 with 30. thousand of the French Souldiers and Philip not able of himselfe to defend himselfe inciting Dauid of Scotland to inuade and weaken England therein did but only vexe his owne spirit for in that attempt the Scottish King was taken prisoner and brought so to London leauing Philip to struggle with his hard fortunes in France which with bad successe hee did to the day of his death 24 Iohn his sonne by the same title and claime felt the same stroake of iustice from the hand of that thunderbolt in warre Edward surnamed the blacke Prince the sonne of Englands Mars who farre inferiour to the French in number farre exceeded them in marshall power when at the battell of Poitiers the French royall Standard was stroke downe an hundred Ensignes wonne by the English the Constable Marshall and great Chamberlaine of France with fifty two Lords and seuenteen hundred Gentlemen slaine in the field King Iohn himselfe his sonne Philip two Bishops thirteene Earles and one and thirty Lords taken prisoners by the Prince to his great praise and confirmation of his iust cause 25 Nor was the punishment of the father any whit lessened in King Charles the sonne then raigning who besides the intestine warres in his own dominions was by Gods iust iudgement strucke into a Lunacy being vnable to gouerne himselfe much lesse his Kingdome vpon which aduantage as the French would haue it King Henry now plaied though it be most certaine he sought his right farre otherwise for so it standeth vpon record dated the ninth of February and first of Henry the fift his raigne that he sent his Ambassadors vnto the French King who could not bee admitted to his presence and him whom they imployed to procure
so sharpe teeth nor so full engorgement as before Townes and people are taken on both sides The Countie of Amiens was spoiled by the English Lords Willoughby and Talbot The Regent and the Duke of Sommerset march into Angiou where they charged their carriages with much spoile and returned Then the Duke of Sommerset seuers himselfe and doth sundry exploits in and about Britaine Diep in Normandy being besieged was rescued by the Dolphin of France to our losse The contemplation of these mutuall violences touched all Christendome for the Turke common enemie thereof encreased Ambassadors are sent from all parts to determine these bloody differences William de la Pole Earle of Suffolke was chiefe for the English A truce was hereupon taken for eighteene months between King Henry and King Charles and an hope of perpetuall amity weakely grounded vpon a match which the Earle of Suffolke contracted for King Henry with Margaret the daughter of Renate titulary King of Sicile Naples and Ierusalem Duke of Angiou and Lorrain Prince of the blood To effect this the Earle couenanted that the English should abandon the possession of Angiou and Main to her father A strange purchase of a wife who though shee brought youth beauty and hope of a perpetuall peace with France the more profitable opportunity whereof the English had more brauely then happily neglected yet was shee otherwise without portion The Earle notwithstanding whose drift herein could not be without manifest ambition to make himselfe one of the greatest of England by this gratification of the French with his Masters charge and dishonour is not abashed to expect publike thanks for this high seruice and an whole fifteene for the charge of her transportation Sundry Lords of Councell and the King himselfe thought him worthy and according to his deuise and ouerture the whole affaire was carried Suffolke made Marquesse is sent ouer with many honorable persons both men and women to conduct the faire and goodly but most vnfortunate and fatall Bride into England Polydore giues vs no vnfitting Character of this Lady Shee was prouident enough very desirous of glory abounding in discourse counsell gracious behauiour and manly courage but not free from womens humour which saith he is vsually vehement and apt to change In England ye may easily suppose that shee was most roially entertained Humfrey Duke of Gloucester among others meeting her with a traine of fiue hundred horsemen in a liuery that worthy Poet Iohn Lydgate Monke of Burie deuising the speeches for such gratulatory triumphs as were made at her entrance into London The King being married lawfully enioyes her embracements from which he was often afterward violently separated by the miseries of a most crueil warre wherein shee had her piteous portion Suffolke in the meane time hauing the most assured fauour of the Queen pursues his ambitious purposes Shee in the meane time was solemnly Crowned Queene of England at Westminster vpon the thirtieth of May. 39 Would to God it stood now with the quality of this argument to turne our eies from the view of those actions which ensued for here the mournefull tragedies of our poore Countrey began But we cannot but open those olde and most execrable sores that in their example all true English blood may the rather be tender ouer their bowels beholding such effects as the diuell and all the furies of hell were by Gods seuere permission Actors in Fabian giues vs the causes and contents of those effects in these graue and few words 40 It appeareth that God was not pleased with that marriage For after this day the fortune of the world began to fall from the King so that he lost his friends in England and his reuenues in France For shortly after all was ruled by the Queene and her Counsell to the great disprofit of the King and his Realme and to the great mauger it is Fabians word and obloquie of the Queene who as since hath beene well proued had many a wrong and false report made of her All which miserie fell for BREAKING OF THE PROMISE made by the King vnto the Earle of Armenacks* daughter as most writers agree Which misery in this Story shall some-deale appear by the loosing of Normandy as all things else except Callais which the English held in France the diuision of the Lords within this Realme the rebellion of the comminalty against their Prince and Soueraigne and finally the King deposed and the Queene with the Prince faine to flee the land and lost the rule thereof for euer Thus he but all this farre short of the euils that were the brood and ofspring of the following times The Parliament in the meane time grants aides of money that vpon expiration of the truce there might bee present abilities to maintaine warre The Duke of Yorke is reuoked and the Duke of Sommerset in an euill houre is sent in his place with such prouisions as were reputed competent 41 Humfrey the renowned Duke of Gloucester Lord Protector felt the first stroke of the euill Angell which was sent to punish England and to roote out her Nobles This Duke was much hated of the Queene and her faction as the onely man who by his prudence as also by the honor and authoritie of his birth and place seemed to empeach that soueraigne command which they pretended to settle in the Kings owne person but meant indeed as the manner is vnder soft Princes to reigne themselus in anothers name Many great Lords were drawne on at the time of a Parliament then holden at Saint Edmunds Bury to concurre for his ruine not perceiuing that thereby they pluckt vp the floodgate at which the Duke of Yorke entered ouerwhelming all of them in a deluge of blood Whether they had any true or iust feare of Gloucester himselfe least perhaps he should take reuenge vpon some particular persons among them is doubtfull though it be probable enough that they had Heare some things that forewent this Parliament About fiue or sixe yeers before the Dutchesse of Gloucester Eleanor was conuented for witchcraft and sorcerie and afterward endited of treason in the Guild-Hall in London before the Earles of Huntington Stafford Suffolke and Northumberland and certaine Lords as Faâ—…hope and Hungerford with others and Iudges of both benches of which crimes shee was appealed by one Bâ—…lingbrook an Astronomer and Thomas Southwell a Chanon which Southwell was charged to haue said Masses ouer certaine instruments by which the Astronomer should practise Necromancy against the life of the King These being taken accused her as accessarie shee hauing desired the helpe of their Art to know what would befall her Some part hereof shee confessed for which shee was put to publike and solemne penance in London vpon three seueral daies with wonderfull shame to her person and after shee was committed to perpetuall prison vnder the ward of Sir Thomas Stanley in the Castle of Chester but from thence remoued
this so publike and solemne Oath and doth not tremble in euerie part Let vs hasten to their view least God perhaps may quietly seeme to haue beene mockt to his face by a vaine ambitious man 60 To diuert these home-breeding rancors and practises by employing the wits and bodies of men in other more honest things the Earle of Candal sonne to Captal de Budie who had vpon necessitie submitted his Seignouries to Charles the French King but reserued his person out of that obedience and the Lord L'Esparre come secretly from Burdeaux and pray an Armie for that Burdeaux and the Gascoigns would returne to the English if they might be supported An Armie is decreed for their reduction Iohn Lord Talbot the first Earle of Shrewsburie of his name as Generall in that enterprize lands in Gascoigne where he doth sundry exploits and the fame of his former cheualrie flying before with terrour makes many places the rather to yeeld Burdeaux her selfe secretly opens a gate vnto him which the French Garrison perceiuing fled out at a Postern but many being ouertaken were slaine by the Lord L'Esparre and the English New supplies and victuals arriue whereof the Earle of Shrewsburies yonger sonne Vicount Lile by his wife was a principall conducter Burdeaux thus throughly mand and fortified the Earle is aduertised that the French lay at siege before Castillion a place of importance vpon the riuer of Dardonne Thither the Earle marcheth and with too great a confidence charging the enemie vpon vnequall termes was there slaine together with his sonne the Vicount Lile and others Burdeaux receiued such as fled The English fortunes and hopes which began to quicken made this vnhappie Catastrophe in * Iulie to the infinite losse of our nation and griefe of the Gascoigns who generally misliked the French and inclined to the English hauing so honorablie and for so long a time gouerned those dominions This was the end of that great Earle after he had for the space of twentie and foure yeeres serued his Prince and Countrey in the French warres with highest commendation a most noble and most valiant man by whose vertue the English name did chiefly become terrible in France Burdeaux it felfe and all other places after this were by siege brought againe vnder the French King who prosecuted those affaires in person From that time forward the English neuer obtained there any hold or further footing the felicity of this attempt breaking all combinations of the Gascoignes This Dutchie of Aquitaine contained foure Archbishopriks foure and twenty Bishopriks fifteen Earledomes two hundred and two Barons and aboue a thousand Captainships and Bailywickes The losse of so goodly an inheritance which had continued English for almost three hundred yeeres the world may easily coniecture how iustly it was greeued and lamented for In this falne estate of the English the Queene vpon the thirteenth day of October was deliuered of her first sonne who was named Edward prouing the child of sorrow and infelicity 61 It were to be wished we might now rather number the following euils of England then describe them for what can we learne out of such vnnaturall and sauage destructions but matter of horrour and detestation but sith they must be handled the law and necessitie of our taske exacting it the sooner to be quit of so vnpleasing obiects it will bee best abruptly to thrust into the narration The Duke of Yorke wickedlie carelesse of an Oath so religiouslie and publikely taken to make his way to the Crowne more easie hath now procured his chiofe and most fearefull enemie the Duke of Sommerset to be sodeinely arrested of high treason doubtfull whether by any authority but his owne in the Queenes great Chamber and sent to the Tower of London vpon pretence that he had capitall matter to charge him with Yorkes principall friends vpon confidence of whom he dared so high things were Richard Neuil Earle of Salisburie second sonne of Ralfe Neuil Earle of Westmorland whose daughter the Duke of Yorke had married This Richard was Earle of Salisbury in right of Alice his wife sole heire to Thomas Montacute the famous Earle slaine at the siege of Orleance The Dukes other maine hope was Richard Neuil sonne of the former Richard Neuill who in right of his wife the Lady Anne sole sister and heire of the whole blood to Henry Beauchamp Duke of Warwick was by this King Henry the sixth created Earle of Warwick in a most vnhappie houre both for the King kingdome being inuicto animo c a man of an vndaunted mind but flitting faith 63 The King in the meane space while the Duke of Sommerset was thus endangered lay sicke and Yorke as Regent swayed and ouerswayed in Court but when the king perceiuing malice and practise to be the chiefe bases of Yorkes accusations had recouered his health and resumed the gouernment Sommerset is set at liberty and made Captaine of Calleis Yorke and his adherents repaire to open force They leuy their armie about the Marches of Wales with which they repaire toward London the maine obiect of Pretendents The King hearing of his enemies approach is accompanied with Humfrey Duke of Buckingham Edmund Duke of Sommerset Humfrey Earle of Stafford Henry Percie Earle of Northumberland Iames Butler Earle of Wiltshire and Ormond Beaufort Earle of Dorcet Iasper Theder Earle of Pembroke the Kings halfe-brother Thomas Courtney Earle of Deuonshire the Lords Clifford Sudley Berners Rosse and others and with them enters into Saint Albans in warlike manner hauing certaine thousands of common souldiers Thither also the Duke of Yorke and his adherents came This was toward the end of May The Dukes request to the King was that he would deliuer such persons to be deseruedly punished as he would name The King to let them know who he was returnes this confident answere That hee and the rest were Traitors and that rather then they should haue any Lord from him who was with him at that time hee himselfe would for their sake in the quarrell vpon that day liue and die 64 The Yorkists hereupon assaile the Kings people within the Towne and Warwicke breaking in through a Garden a sharpe battell is begun The losse fell lamentably vpon King Henries side for besides the Duke of Sommerset there were slaine the Earles of Northumberland and Stafford the L. Clifford with sundry worthy Knights and Esquiers of which forty and eight were buried in Saint Albans there being slaine aboue fiue thousand of K. Henries party and of the Yorkists about sixe hundreth The King himselfe was shot into the neck with an arrow other of his chief friends were likewise sore wounded and taken The Earle of Wiltshire and Thomas Thorpe Lord chiefe Baron of the Exchequer with others saued themselues by flight The Duke of Yorke the Earles of Salisbury and Warwicke with the King whome they in shew did vse most reuerently and as if they had
Nun in the Nunnery of Dartford in the same County founded by K. Edward the third where shee spent her life in contemplations vnto the day of her death 126 Marie the fift daughter of K. Edward the fourth by Queene Elizabeth his wife was promised in marriage vnto the King of Denmarke but died before it could be solemnized in the Tower of Greenewich the Sunday before Pentecost the twentieth two of her fathers raigne and yeere of Grace 1482. and was buried at Windsore 127 Margaret the sixth daughter of K. Edward the fourth by his wife Queene Elizabeth died an Infant without other mention in our Authors 128 Katherine the seuenth daughter of King Edward the fourth by Queene Elizabeth his wife and the last of them both was married vnto William Courtney Earle of Deuonshire and Lord of Ochaâ—…pton vnto whom shee bare Lord Henrie after the death of his father Earle of Deuonshire who by King Henrie the eight was created Marquesse of Excester in Anno 1525. His Concubines 129 Elizabeth Lucie is certainly known to haue been King Edwards Concubine though nothing so certainly mentioned whose Ladie or of what Parentage shee was that shee was conceiued by him with child is before declared but who that child was is as obscurely laid downe therefore in these things we must be silent and leaue the doubts to be resolued by others Three other concubines this king had whereof Shores wife was not the least beloued whose life falleth further to be spoken of in the Raigne of the vsurper Richard where her storie shall be shewed more at large His naturall Issue 150 Arthur surnamed Plantagenet the naturall sonne of K. Edward the fourth whose mother as is supposed was the Lady Elizabeth Lucie was created Viscount Lisle by King Henrie the eight at Bridewell in London the twentie sixth of Aprill and yeere of Saluation 1533. which title was confâ—…red vpon him in right of his wife Lady Elizabeth sister and heire vnto Iohn Gray Viscount Lisle and the late wife and then widdow of Edmund Dudley who bare vnto this Viscount three daughters which were Bridget Frances and Elizabeth all of them afterward married This Arthur Lord Lisle was made Lieutenant of Callis by the said K. Henry which Towne some of his seruants intended to haue betraied to the French for which their fact himselfe was sent to the Tower of London but his truth appearing after much search the King sent him a rich ring from his owne finger with such comfortable wordes as at the hearing thereof a sudden ioy ouercharged his heart was so immoderately receiued that the same night it made an end of his life whose body was honorably buried in the same Tower 151 Elizabeth the naturall daughter of K. Edward the fourth was married to Sir Thomas Lumley Knight the sonne of George Lord Lumley who died before his father shee bare vnto the said Sir Thomas Richard afterward Lord Lumley from whom the late Lord Lumley did descend EDVVARD THE FIFTH KING OF ENGLAND AND FRANCE AND LORD OF IRELAND THE FIFTIE FIFTH MONARCH OF THIS LAND HIS RAIGNE AND DEATH For the most part written by Sir Thomas Moore CHAPTER XVIII THe father thus dying in the strength of his yeeres and the sonne left to rule before he was ripe the Synders of dissensions which the sicke King had lately raked vp presently brake forth into a more raging flame for the king and Queenes blood that should haue supported young Edwards estate the one side being suspicious and â—…e other prouoked by the execrable desire of soueraignty left the tender king a Prince of such towardnes as his age could conteine destitute and vnarmed which if either kind or kindred had holden place must needes haue beene the surest pillars of his defence The raigne of this King if we may so cal the shorttime of his Soueraignty began the same day that his father died though he was neuer Crowned nor yet commanded the affaires of the Kingdome as an absolute Monarch his young brothers fortunes being ballanced with his 2 For Richard Duke of Gloucester by nature their vncle by office their Protector to their Father beholden to themselues by Oath and Alleagiance bounden all bands broken that holdeth man and man together without any respect of God or the World vnnaturally contriued to bereaue them not onlie of their dignity but also theirlines But forsomuch as the Dukes demeanour â—…reth in effect all the whole matter whereof the raigne of this yong and fift Edward must intreat itâ—… therefore conuenient somewhat to shew you ere we goe further what man this was and from whom he descended that could find in his heart so much mischief to conceiue 3 Know first then that Richard Duke of Yorke a noble man and a mighty beganne not by warre but by law to challenge the Crowne putting his claime into the Parliament where his cause was either for right or fauour so farre foorth aduanced that King Henries blood albeit he had a goodly Prince was vtterly reiected the Crowne by the authoritie of that high Court intailed to the Duke of Yorke and his issue male in remainder immediately after the death of King Henrie But the Duke not induring so long to tarrie intending vnder pretext of dissention and debate arising in the Realme to preuent his time and to take vpon him the rule in King Henries life was with many other Nobles slaine at Wakefield leauing three sonnes Edward George and Richard all of them as they were great states of birth so were they great and stately of stomacke greedy and ambitious of authority and impatient of partners 4 For Edward reuenging his fathers death depriued king Henry and attained the Crowne The second George Duke of Clarence was a goodly Noble Prince and in all things fortunate if either his owne ambition had not set him against his brother or the enuie of his enemies his brother against him For were it by the Queen and Lords of her blood which highly maligned the Kings kindred as women commonly not of malice but of nature hate them whom their husbands loue or were it a proud appetite of the Duke himselfe intending to be King at least-wise hainous treason was laid to his charge and finally were he faulty were he faultlesse attainted he was by Parliament and iudged to death as we haue saide 5 Richard the third sonne of whom we now entreat was in wit and courage equall with either of them in body and prowesse farre vnder them both little of stature ill-limmed and crook-backed his left shoulder much higher then his right very hard fauoured of visage and such as in States is called warly in other men otherwise he was malicious wrathfull and enuious yea and from afore his birth euer froward For it is for truth reported that the Dutchesse his mother had so much adoe in her trauaile that shee could not be deliuered of him vncut and that he came into the
Princes fauour the Duke of Gloucester turned vnto their destruction and vpon that ground set the foundation of all his vnhappy building For whomsoeuer he perceiued either at variance with them or bearing himselfe their fauour he brake vnto them some by mouth some by writing and secret messengers that it was neither reason nor in any wise to be suffered that the young King their Master and kinseman should be in the hands and Custody of his mothers kindred sequestred in manner from their Company and attendance of which euery one ought him as faithfull seruice as they and many of them farre more honorable part of kin then his mothers side whose blood quoth he sauing the Kings pleasure was farre vnmeet to bee matched with his which now to be as who say remoued from the king and the lesse noble to be left about him is quoth hee neither honorable to his Maiestie nor vnto vs and also to his Grace no suretie to haue the mightiest of his friends from him and vnto vs no little ieopardy to suffer our well proued euill-willers to grow in ouer great authority with the Prince in youth who is light of beliefe and soone perswaded Ye remember I trow K. Edward himselfe albeit he was a man of age and discretion yet was he in many things ruled by the bend more then stood either with his honor or our profit or with the commodity of any man else except only the immoderate aduancement of themselues Which whether they sorer thirsted after their owne weale or our woe it were hard I weene to gesse and if some folkes friendship had not held better place with the King then any respect of kindred they might perhaps easily haue intrapped and brought some of vs to confusion ere this why not as easily as they haue done some other alreadie as neere of his roiall blood as we But our Lord hath wrought his will and thankes be to his grace that perill is past howbeit as great is growing if we suffer this young King in our enemies hand which without his knowledge might abuse the name of his commandement to any of our vndoing which thing God and good prouision forbid 12 Of which good prouision none of vs hath any thing the lesse neede for the late made attonement in which the Kings pleasure had more place then the parties wils nor none of vs I beleeue is so vnwise ouer soone to trust a new friend made of an old foe or to thinke that an howerly kindnes sodeinly contracted in one houre continued yet scarce a fortnight should be deeper setled in their stomackes then a long accustomed malice many yeeres rooted With these wordes and writings and such other the Duke of Gloucester soone set afire them that were of themselues apt enough to kindle especially two Edward Duke of Buckingham and William Lord Hastings Chamberlaine both men of honor and of great power The one by long succession from his Auncestry the other by his office and the Kings fauour These two not bearing each to other so much loue as both of them hatred vnto the Queenes part in this point accorded together with the Duke of Gloucester that they would vtterly remoue from the Kings Company all his mothers friends vnder the name of their enemies 13 Vpon this conclusion the Duke of Gloucester vnderstanding that the Lords which at that time were about the King intended to bring him to London to his Coronation accompanied with such power of their friends that it should be hard for him to bring his purpose to passe without the gathering a great assembly of people and in manner of open warre whereof the end hee wiste well was doubtfull and in which the King being on their side his part should haue the face and name of a Rebellion he secretly therefore by diuers meanes caused the Queene to be perswaded and brought in minde that it neither were need and also should be ieopardous the King to come vp strong 14 For whereas now euery Lord loued other and no other thing studied vpon but about the Coronation and honor of the King if the Lords of her kindred should assemble in the Kings name much people they should giue the Lords of the contrary faction cause to feare and suspect least they should gather this people not for the Kings safegard whom no man impugned but for their destruction hauing more regard to their old variance then their new attonement for which cause they should assemble on the other party much people againe for their defence whose power shee wist well stretched farre and thus should all the Realme fall on an vproare and of all the hurt that thereof should insue which was likely not to be a little the most harme like to fall where shee least would all the world would put her and her kindred in the blame and say that they had vnwisely and vntrulie also broken the amity and peace which the King her husband so prudently made betwixt his kin and hers on his death bed and which the other party faithfully obserued 15 The Queene in this wise perswaded sent such word vnto her sonne and vnto her brother being about the King besides the Duke of Glocester him selfe and other Lords the chiefe of his bend wrote vnto the King so reuerently and to the Queenes friends there so louingly that they nothing earthly mistrusting brought vp the King in great hast but not in good speed with a sober company Now was the King in his way to London gone from Northampton when the Dukes of Glocester and Buckingham came thither where remained behind the Lord Riuers the Kings vncle intending on the morrow to follow the King and bee with him at Stony-Stratford twelue miles thence earely ere he departed So was there made that night much friendlie cheare betwixt these two Dukes and the Lord Riuers a great while but incontinent after that they were openly with great curtesie departed and the Lord Riuers lodged the Dukes secretly with a few of their most priuy friends set them down in Councell wherein they spent a great part of the night at their rising in the dawning of the day they sent out priuily to their seruants in their Innes and lodgings about giuing command to make themselues shortly ready for their Lords were to horse-ward vpon which messages many of their folke were attendant when many of the L. Riuers seruants were vnready 16 Now had these Dukes taken into their custodies the keyes of the Inne that none should passe forth without their licence and besides this in the high-way towards Stony-Stratford where the King lay they had bestowed certaine of their men that should send backe againe and compell to returne any man that were gotten out of Northampton towards Stony-Stratford till they had further order forasmuch as the Dukes themselues intended for the shew of their diligence to bee the first that should that day attend vpon the
Kings Highnesse out of that Towne Thus bare they folke in hand but when the Lord Riuers vnderstood the gates closed the wayes beset neither his seruants or himself suffered to goe out considering well so great a thing without his knowledge could not bee done for nought and comparing this present manner with his last nights cheare in so few howres to haue so great a change marueilously misliked it How beit sith hee could not get away nor keepe himselfe close hee would not lest hee should seeme to hide himselfe for some secret feare of his own fault wherof he saw no such cause in himselfe hee determined vpon the surety of his owne conscience to goe boldly vnto them and to enquire what this matter might meane whom as soone as they saw they beganne to quarrell with saying that hee entended to set distance betweene the King and them and to bring them to confusion but it should not lie in his power And when he beganne as hee was a very well spoken man in seemely wise to excuse himselfe they carried not the end of his answere but shortly took him put him in ward and that done forthwith went to horsebacke and tooke the way to Stony-Stratford where they found the King with his Company ready to leape on horsebacke and depart forward to leaue that lodging for them because it was too strait for both companies 17 And as soone as they came in his presence they alighted downe with all their company about them to whom the Duke of Buckingham said Go afore Gentlemen and Yeomen keepe your rooms In which goodly array they came to the King and on their knees in very humble manner saluted his Grace who receiued them in very ioyous and amiable manner nothing knowing nor mistrusting as yet what was done But euen by and by in his presence they picked a quarrell to the Lord Gray the Kings other brother by his mother saying that he with the Lord Marquesse his brother and the Lord Riuers his vncle had compassed to rule the King and the realm and to set variance among the States and to subdue and destroy the noble bloud of the Realme towards the accomplishing whereof they said that the Lord Marquesse had entred into the Tower of London thence taken out the Kings treasure and had sent men to the sea All which things these Dukes well knew were done for necessary and good purposes by the whole Councell at London sauing that somwhat they must say 18 Vnto which words the King answered what my brother Marquesse had done I cannot say but in good sooth I dare well answere for mine vncle Riuers my brother here that they are inocent of any such matter yea my liege quoth the Duke of Buckingham they haue kept their dealings in these matters farre from the knowledge of your good Grace And forth with they arrested the Lord Richard Sir Thomas Vaughan and Sir Richard Hawt Knights in the Kings presence and brought the king and all his company backe vnto Northampton where they tooke againe further counsell And there they sent away from the King whome it pleased them and set new seruants about him such as better liked them then him At which dealing the king wept and was nothing content but it booted not and at dinner the Duke of Glocester sent a dish from his owne Table to the Lord Riuers bidding him be of good cheere for all should bee well But the Lord Riuers thanking the Duke prayed the Messenger to beare it to the Lord Richard with the same message for his comfort as one to whom such aduersity was strange but himselfe had beene all his dayes inured therewith and therefore could beare it the better but for all this comfortable courtesie of the Duke of Glocester he sent the Lord Riuers and the Lord Richard with Sir Thomas Vaughan into the North Country into diuers places to prison and afterward all to Pomfret where they were in conclusion beheaded 19 In this wise the Duke of Glocester tooke vpon himselfe the Order and Gouernance of the yong King whom with much honour and humble reuerence he conuaied towards London But anone the tidings of this matter came hastily to the Queene a little before the midnight following and that in the sorest wise that the King her sonne was taken her brother her sonne and other friends arrested sent no man wist whither to bee done with God wot what With which tidings the Queen in great fright heauinesse bewailed her childes raigne her friendes mischance and her owne misfortune damning the time that euer shee disswaded the gathering of power about the King got her selfe in all hast possible with her young sonne and her daughters out of the Palace of Westminster in which shee then lay into the Sanctuary lodging her selfe and company there in the Abbots place 20 Now came there one likewise not long after night from the Lord Chamberlaine vnto the Archbishoppe of Yorke then Chancellor of England to his place no â—…re from Westminster and for that hee shewed his seruants that he had tidings of great importance that his M. gaue him in charge not to forbeare his rest they letted not to awake him nor hee to admit the Messenger vnto his bed side Of whom hee heard that these Dukes were gone backe with the Kings Grace from Stony-Stratford vnto Northampton notwithstanding Sir quoth he my Lord sendeth your Lordshippe word that there is no feare for hee assureth you that all shall bee well I assure him quoth the Archbishoppe bee it as well as it will it will neuer bee so well as we haue seene it And thereupon by and by after the messengers departure hee caused in all hast all his seruants to bee called vp and so with his owne houshold about him euery man weaponed hee tooke the Great Seale with him and came yet before day vnto the Queene About whom he found much heauinesse rumble hast and businesse carriage and conueiance of her stuffe into Sanctuary chests coffers packes and fardels trussed all on mens backs no man vnoccupied some lading some going some discharging some comming for more some breaking down the wals to bring in the next way and some drew to them to helpe to carry a wrong way The Queene her selfe sate alone alow on the rushes all desolate and dismayed whom the Archbishop comforted in the best manner hee could shewing her that hee trusted the matter was nothing so sore as shee tooke it for and that hee was put in good hope and out of feare by a message sent him from the L. Chamberlaine Ah woe worth him quoth the Queene hee is one of them that laboureth to destroy mee and my bloud 21 Madam quoth hee bee of good cheare for I assure you if they crowne any other King then your sonne whom they haue now with them we shal on the morrow crown his brother whom
no prosperity no aduersity no chaunce no distance of places or times shall once make vs of thee vnmindefull The most modest King hauing ended his speech doth foorthwith saith our Author seriously deliberate with his Councell what was to bee done heereafter It may probably seeme that he had withdrawne into the North to inuite Perkin by occasion of his absence the rather to take Land that so hee might draw all his dangers into one place and decide them in a Battell if his Subiects should reuolt to Perkin in any numbers or if they did not then might he fall into his hands by landing vnwarily vpon trust of the peoples fauour and so by a more compendious and easie way settle his Estate of which he failed but little by the said counterpolicy of the Kentishmen In regard whereof in the first Act of Councell praise and thankes were decreed to them with which Sir Richard Gylford Knight was presently sent away and order taken for the erection and watching of Beacons vpon the Coasts 41 The Dutchesse on the other side seeing the South of England proue so drie and barren to her driftes conueighes againe her Idoll into Ireland where shee well knew there could not want partakers and Perkin himselfe daring to entertaine the hope of a Crowne for by so long personation of a Kings sonne and heire ambition had throughlie kindled his youthfull blood was now no little cause of bringing things to an issue by his owne forwardnesse Maximilian King of Romans whither as one willing to keepe the English busied Henry hauing forbidden his Subiects all traffike with the Flemmings and all other of his sonne the Archdukes Subiects or as crediting the fiction and therefore led thereunto in honour and conscience Charles also King of France but specially the Dutchesse of Burgundy by whom this bubble was first blowne vp and put abroad did concurre to the molestation of King Henry Maximilian and the French King more secretly but the Dutchesse with all her Oares and Sailes plied it in open view Borne vp by these supporters he the rather easily drew the Irish to assent to his pretext but his counsell weighing with themselues that the Irish-mens friendship how firme so euer was insufficient in respect of their nakednesse and pouerty to worke their wishes hee according to such aduises as were taken before his departure from his Creatrix crosseth into Scotland for feare of punishment saith Andreas if perhaps by the Kings true Subiects within Ireland hee should chaunce to bee apprehended but the euent shewes that it was not onely for his more security but principally to strengthen his enterprize with the Scotish aide whereof in those daies hee had small reason to bee doubtfull and his case was such that no third course was left vnto him but either to fight and conquer or liue branded with immortall infamy both of Cowardize and imposture Henry hearing these things was not slacke to prouide for his iust defence greatly carefull vpon what coast this wandring clowd would at length dissolue it selfe in what effects soeuer and therefore obserued all his waies with as much curiosity as was possible 42 Iames the fourth a yong Prince of great hope was at that time King of Scots to whom this bold counterfeit being specially recommended for the true Richard Duke of Yorke by the King of France and vndoubtedly much more by the Dutchesse of Burgundy repaires and had most courteous entertainement and audience the effect whereof Andreas thus coucheth That the King was finally deceiued by errour as most of other though most prudent Princes had beene before But the rare impudency of the Lad that connexion which his darings had with so many great Princes deserue not to bee so slenderlie ouerpassed Hee therefore being in honourable manner accompanied and brought to the presence of King Iames had words to this effect That Edward the fourth late King of England leauing two sons Edward and Richard Duke of Yorke both very young Edward the eldest succeded their Father in the Crowne by the name of King Edward the fifth that their vncle Richard Duke of Glocester to obtaine the Kingdome purposed to murder both but the instrument emploied by him to execute the execrable Tragedy hauing cruelly slaine King Edward the eldest of the two was mooued to saue Richard his brother whom neuerthelesse the world supposed to haue beene alike barbarously made away though falsely supposed for that himselfe there present was that very Richard Duke of Yorke brother of that vnfortunate Prince King Edward the fifth now the most rightfull and lineall suruiuing heire Male to that victorious and most noble Edward of that name the fourth late King of England * That hee in his tender age thus escaping by Gods mercy out of the County of London was secretly conueied ouer the Sea whither when hee was brought the party who had the conueiance of him in charge suddenly forsooke him and thereby forced him to wander into diuerse Countries where he remained certain yeeres as vnknown til at length he came to the true vnderstanding of himselfe In which seasonit hapned one Henry son to Edmund Tydder Earle of Richmund to come from France and enter into the Realme and by subtill and fowle meanes to obtaine the Crowne of the same which to him the said Richard rightfullie appertained That Henry as his extreame and mortall enemie so soone as he had knowledge of his being aliue imagined and wrought all the subtill waies and meanes he could to deuise his finall destruction That the said mortall enemie hath not only falsely surmised him to be a fained person giuing him nicknames so abusing the world but that also to deferre and put him from entrie into England hee hath offered large summes of money to corrupt the Princes with whom he had beene retained and made importune labour to certaine seruants about his the saide Kichards person to murder or poison him and others to forsake and leaue his righteous quarrell and to depart from his seruice as Sir Robert Clifford and others That euery man of reason may well vnderstand that the said Henry needed not to haue moued the foresaid Costs and importune labour if he had beene such a fained person That the truth of his cause so manifest moued the most Christian King Charles and the Ladie Dutchesse Dowager of Burgundie his most deare Aunt not onely to acknowledge the said truth but louingly also to assist him That now because the Kings of Scotland Predecessors of the said King Iames had oftentimes supported them who were reft and spoiled of the said Kingdome of England as in freshest memory King Henrie the sixth and for that he the said King Iames had giuen cleare signes that he was in no noble quality vnlike to his royall Auncestors he so distressed a Prince was therefore moued to come and put himselfe into his hands desiring his
of Nouember at a place beyond Carliel called Solem-mosse where were taken Prisoners the Earles of Cassils and Glencarne the Lords Maxwell Flemming Summerwell Oliphant and Grey Sir Oliuer Sinclere and others to the number of one and twenty men of account who were conueighed to London and committed to the Tower For griefe of which losse and suspition of his Nobility King Iames fell into a melancholy Passion which the birth of his new borne Princesse rather increased then gaue him any coÌ„fort so as hee deceased the foureteenth day of December following foreshewing saith Leslie great troubles to follow in Scotland 119 Newes brought neere at one instant of the death of King Iames birth of the Princesse his daughter King Henry intended to doe that by the match of a marriage which long had beene assayed by the sword of Mars all things so consorting as it did he hauing one onely sonne then aboue fiue yeres of age and Scotland no heire beside this new borne daughter their yeeres suiting a consent for marriage the whole Iland offering both the ioynter and dowry and that which most moued their chiefe Nobility in his owne hands to be moulded for this designe as if heauen it selfe had bid the banes 120 Those Prisoners therefore which had remained in the Tower only two daies vpon the twenty one of December he sent for to Westminster the Earles and Lords all suited in Gownes of blacke damaske furred with Cunny whereafter some words of friendly reproofe they were bestowed among the English Nobility who vsed them according to their estates and the third day in Christmas were inuited to the Court at Greenewich where they went before the King to 〈◊〉 Chappell were royally feasted and the motion then made for the establishing of peace by the Coniunction of the two Princes whereunto the Scotish were as willing as the English proffered all forward assistance to haue it accomplished So that these Nobles were deliuered without other ransome and richly rewarded at their departure from Court 121 These returned into Scotland declared what they had done and so effectually followed the busines that in a Parliament assembled of the three Estates the marriage was confirmed and a peace proclaimed to continue betwixt the two Realmes the space of tenne yeeres which agreements were sent into England by honourable Ambassadors and there interchangeably sealed betwixt these Potent Estates But Cardinall Betâ—… Archbishop of Saint Andrewes fearing least Scotland would change the Church Orders 〈◊〉 England had done the Bible already read in their owne language and the Popes vsurped power called in Question as then it began to be by the feruent preaching of Friet Guiliam to the great liking of most of the Lord made some exceptions against the Earle Arraine the new chosen Gouernour and second person in the Land being neerest in blood to the young Queene And the French King not liking this vnion with England sought by all meanes to 〈◊〉 the same match to effect which he sent the Eaâ—…le of Lennox to perswade with the Gouernour with great proffers and promises of assistance but finding him faithfull vnto King Henry presently made faction for the French wherein hee drew the Queene mother the Earles Huntly Argile Mâ—…trosse Menteith and many more Peeres the Cardinall amongst them euer the chiefe 122 Earle Lennox thus growne into credite with the Queene mother 〈◊〉 made strong by her adherents that fauoured the French presently claimed to be Gouernour of Scotland being the second person of degree in the Realme and withall to haue the custody of the young Queene who with heâ—… mother were forth with taken from 〈◊〉 vnder the charge of the Gouernour Arraiâ—…e and brought vnto Striueling strongly guarded with the continuall presence of the Lords 〈◊〉 Erskâ—… Fleâ—…ing and Ruthwen least Queene Mary should be conueyed into England vnto King Henry These violent courses caused great Emulations among the Scotish Nobility each of them siding as their affections were setled but lastly agree to set the Crowne on their young Queenes head prepared for the solemnity whereunto all the Lords came excepting those that stood for England and from them the Gouernour with much adoe was drawne to be present at the Coronation but that accomplished and the state affaires consulted vpon it was agreed that the French Kings suite should be fauoured and that the Earle Arran should be Gouernour still whereat Earle Lennox conceiued such displeasure as he became wholy for King Henrie ioined himselfe with the Earles of Augus Gleâ—…carne and Cassils the Lords Maxwel Summeruell Gray and others that stood with the English for the match with Prince Edward 123 King Henry then hearing what was done and intended sent presently into Scotland to demand the Custody of the young Queene and that certaine Scotish Noblemen might be appointed to guarde her in England vntill shee came to yeeres of consent according to Couenants formerly concluded which no waies would be granted and thereupon he prepared an Army thetherward vnder the Conduct of Lord Edward Seiâ—…er Earle of Hertford Lieutenant Generall by Land accompanied with the Earle of 〈◊〉 and a Fleete of two hundred saile by Sea whereof Sir Iohn Dudley Vicount Lisle was Admirall 124 To the aide of the Scots the Peopes holinesse was very forward who sent them the Patriarch of Venice as his Legate Orator to perswade their Resolutions with whom the French King sent Monfieur la Broche and Monfieur Menager to lead them to fight and fifty thousand Crownes of the Sun to suâ—…taine the Charge with munition worth ten thousand Crownes more It seemeth by Lesly that part of this siluer fell into the Earle Lennâ—… his hand and that therewith he made head against the Gouernor but not able to match him sent vnto King Henry for aide with proffer of his seruice against the French side which so well was accepted of Henry as he made him his Nephew by giuing the Lady Margaret his sisters daughter to be his wife 125 Thâ—… English thus seconded with this vnlooked for Allyance Cardinall Beton thought good to binde all to the Gouernour who with the Authority of the Queene Dowager proclaimed Lennox an Enemy to the State But in the meane while the Admirall of England was entred the Frith and at new Hauen landed his men where ioining his to the land Seruice they altogether marched thence towards Lâ—…th himselfe leading the Vaward Shrewsbury the Rereward and the Lord Lieutenant the maine Battell These comming to Lieth spoiled the Town and thence to Edenbrough burnt the City and wasted the Country for seauen miles about this done they set fire vpon Haddington and 〈◊〉 and then the whole Army returned vnto Barwicke 126 Whilst things thus passed in Scotland and the maine purpose resting in suspence King Henry well knew where the greatest rub did lie in his way which was the French
The King excuseth his vncle The King is brought backe to Northampton The Duke of Glocester sends a dish of meat vnto the Lord Riuers The L. Riuers others beheaded Queene Elizabeth taketh Sanctuary The L. Chamberlaine sendeth the newes to the L. Chancellor The great heauinesse and confusion of the Queene and her seruants The Archbishops comforts to the Queene The L. Chancellour giues the great Seale to the Queene Great feare conceiued of the ouermuch murmuring made The L. Chancellour sendeth for the great Seale to the Queene Perswasions of the L. Hastings that nothing was extreamly meant L. Hastings somewhat dissembleth False imputation cast vpon the Lords of the Queenes bloud How soone the Commons are brought into fooles Paradise King Edward met by the Citizens and accompanied by them into London Richard Duke of Glocester made Protector of the King and Realm The great Seale is taken from the Archbishop of Yorke The Protectors perswasion to take out of Sanctuary the yong Duke of Yorke A â—…e â—…ch to fetch out the Duke The Protector would haue the Queene sent vnto If the Queene refuse to deliuer the Duke what is to be done All the Counsell allow of the Protectors speech A great offence to breake the Sanctuary S. Peters owne Cope was to be seen in Westminster The Duke of Buckinghams speech Queene Elizabeth held to haue a shrewd wit Not feare but frowardnes kept the yong Duke in Sanctuary A great feare without any great cause Buckinghams opinion of the Sanctuaries Much abuses suffered in Sanctuaries Westminster S. Martins The true vse of the Sanctuary The Duke of Yorke vncapable of Sanctuary Neither Pope nor King can allow Sanctuary men to consume other mens substance A man may take his wife out of Sanctuary without any offence to S. Peter Buckinghams conclusion The generall consent of them all The Cardinall doth his errand to the Queene The Queenes answere to the Cardinall Queene Elizabeth yeeldeth to deliuer the yong Duke The ambitious desire for a crowne Richard Duke of Yorke deliuered to the Cardinall A Iudâ—… kisse Buckingham priuie to the Protectors ploâ—… Suspicion without cause The couenants betwixt the Protector and the Duke of Buckingham Two counsels to diuers ends The mistrust of the times All flocke to the Protector Lord Stanleyes speach to the Lord Chamberlain * Catesby Catesby the cause of much mischiefe Catesby set to sound the Lord Hastings Lord Haestinge speeches concerning the plot Catesby false to his founder The counsel sate in the Tower for the ordering of the yong Kings Coronation The Protectors dissimulation The Protector now another man Lord Hastings speech to the Protectors question The Queene accused of Sorcery The withered aâ—…ne of the Protector by nature and not by 〈◊〉 The L. Chamberlain arrested The L. Staley wounded at Councell Table The L. Chamberlaine beheaded The L. Stanleys dreame The L. Hastings answere to the L. Stanleye meâ—…age Predictions towards the Lord Hastings The Lord Hastings speech to a Purseuant The vaine and suddain state of man The description of the Lord Hastings Citizens sent for into the Tower to the Protector The fained feare of the Lord Protector A Proclamation made to publish the Lord Hastings treasons The Protectors subtilty further knowne by his Proclamation The Schoole-masters opinion The Sheriffes of London carrie Shores wife to prison Shores wife did pennance All commend and pitie Shores vvife The description of Iane Shore Shee died the eighteene yeere of King Henry the eight saith Iohn Harding Shores wife did much good but no man hurt The Subiect not vnworthy to bee written The state of the world The Lords of the Queenes bloud beheaded at Pomfrait The Protector sought to strike whiles the yron was hote The Maior of London made of the Protectors counsell Shaa and Pinker two flattring Preachers Pinker preached at S Marie Hospitall and Dotor Shaa at Pauls Crosse. The plot and deuice how to entitle the Protector to the Crowne The sonne maketh the mother an adultresse K Edward and his children made bastards The text and contents of Doctor Shaas sermon Shaas shamlesse assertions TheÌ„ Preachers intention preuented Gods heauy punishment vpon the false flattering Preacher The Duke of Buckingham commeth to the Guildhall Buckinghams oration to the commons of London The fine glosings of the Duke of Buckingham King Edwards exactions made more then they were His tyranny towards his subiects exemplified by Burdet and Others No safety of goods or life as he falsely alledged The rage of ciuil wars cost EnglaÌ„d more blood then twice the winning of France had done Great dangers alledged and slenderly proued King Edwards wantonnesse set out to the full London the kings especiall Chamber The end of the Dukes errand The great modesty that the Duke pretendeth An author like the subiect The marriage oâ—… King Edward imputed a great mischiefe The Protector must be the only true heire to his father and so to the Crowne Scriptures abused The Dukes pithy perswasions vnto the Citizens The Londoners are mute and astonished at Buckinghams Oration Buckingham goeth ouer his lesson againe The reward of flattery The Recorder commanded to speake to the peopleâ—… The great silence of the people The Duke speaketh once more Prentices and Seruingmen the first proclamets of K. Richard The affection of the election seene by the faces of the Assembly The Nobles and Citizens assemble at Baynards Castle The Protector made it strange to speake with such a multitude Palpable dissembling betwixt the Protector and Buckingham The Protector intreated to accept of the Crowne The Protector saith nay and would haue it Buckingham vrgeth and threatneth the refusall Th Protor fauourably accepteth the Crowne Diuers opinions of the people The Raigne and age of King Edward Monarch 56 Richard III. All the Richards and Dukes of Glocester came to vntimely deathes Richard 1. flaine with an arrow Richard a murthered at Pomfrait Tho. Woodstocke 〈◊〉 herâ—…d to death Humfrey murdered aâ—… S. Edmondsbury Richard slaine at Bosworth held Duke Richard subtilely complotteth for the Crowne The Duke of Buckingham the onely raiser of the Protector By Persal Buckinghams secrete seruant The degrees by which the Protector ascended into the throne The Protector fitted himselfe to the peoples affections A Petition exhibited to the Protector to accept of the Crowne An Act of Parliment passed to establish K. Richards election All doubts taken away of King Richards election The petition of the kings election made lawfull and authorised by Parliament The forme of he 〈◊〉 exhibiâ—…d vnto the Protector Faire gloses vpon soule preteâ—…ses O time how dost thou turne and art turned Flattery feares not how to report How can Princes rule to shuâ—… reproach when they are dead The Queene her mother falsly standered K. Edward accused to haste been contracted to the Lady Elienor Butler The tongue of slander is a sharp arrow They haue taught their toâ—…gs to speake lies Ier. 9. 5. George Duke of Clarence and his heires made vncapable of