fled away and made the beste shifte euery manne for hym selfe that he could to escape his haÌdes sauyng that kyng HeÌry taryed poste alone in the bishoppes paleyce besyde Powles where standynge lyke a desperate manne and not knowynge what to dooe was taken of kyng Edward and cast into pryson agayn in the towre This Edward came into London the .xi. day of Apryll halfe a yere after that he hadde sayled into Flaunders and callyng his councel together did highly commende the citezens for that faythfulnesse that they bare to hym and in especiall the Aldermen that they caused the people to do their obeysauÌce to hym also sharpelye rebuked other of the cytie whom he knewe to haue lent monye to kyng Henry And for that cause woulde haue made theim paye mony to the preparyng of an hoste for hym but at the last he bad theim bee without all feare promysyng theim their pardon safetie of life thorowe the whiche gentlenesse he gatte the fauoure of the coÌmen people wonderfully The erle consideryng that battayll should be shortelye folowed his enemyes in great haste to the entente that yf his enemies had any stoppe or lette by that waye he myght fight buckel with theim before they came to LoÌdoÌ But now after that he had pursued theim long and came a good waye of his iourney worde was brought that Edwarde had gotteÌ London imprisoned the kyng The earle then perceauyng that the victorie ende of fightyng should be tryed in this one batayle rested at saynt Albones partely to refreshe his men and partely to take some counsayl In this hoste there was the duke of Excester the earle of Oxenforde the duke of Somerset and the lorde Mountacute Marques brother to the earle whom the earle perceaued to bee very vnwyllyng to fight and that agaynst kyng Edward and therfore he had no trust to hym yet the loue that betwixte brother and brother diminished the suspicion but whatsoeuer he thought eyther of hym or of other he hymselfe was euer out of feare and daunger And so came from saynt Albones to a toune that is halfe waye betwyxte London and that aboute a tenne myle frome London called Barnet and this toune standeth on a hyll where there is a goodlye playne and here the earle entended to pitche his battayle And Edward hearyng of this prepared his armye and adioyned a greate power of young menne to theim and so with bowes bylles speares and arowes and all maner instrumentes apperteynyng to warre he had so furnysshed his menne that he thought to make riddauÌce of theim at that tyme for all and fynishe battayle that was so longe holden And so came with this his armye to mete his enemies and that he might bee the redier to fight with theim wheresoeuer he mette theim he had foure wynges that they could escape hym at no hand And he brought with hym to battayle also Henry then prisoner to the entente that his aduersaries might bee the more discouraged at the sight of hym or els if fortune fauoured hym not he might neuerthelesse bee saued by him After the noone he pytched his tentes at the fore named Barnet nighe to hys enemyes but that he myghte not fyghte that daye he defended hys tentes veraye strongelye for the longer he taryed the better it was by reason of the daylye concourse of noble men and commen people to hym and the woorse for the earle for that he was farre from his frendes There they lodged that night and by breake of day the earle of Warwike begaÌ to araye his armye of this sorte Fyrste the lorde Marques and the earle of Oxenforde was set on the lefte syde wyth certayn horssemen and he hymselfe with the duke of Exceter on the ryght syde In the myddeste betwixte theim bothe he setteth the duke of Somerset with all the archers And thus araiyng theim to this battayl beganne to exhorte theim that thei would fight lustely and lyke hardye meune reuengyng the quarell of their countree for that he had moste falsely possessed that croune In like maner did kyng Edward whiche after that he had set theim in ordre encouraged theim to fight lykewyse and to remembre that thei inuaded rebelles traytours and sedicious persons whiche entended nothynge but the vtter destruccion and losse of theyr countree When daye came the trompettes beganne to blowe on bothe sydes as the tokens and lignes of the battayle And firste the bowe men shot then drawynge nere tryed it with sweorde Edwarde trustyng thorowe the multitude of his meÌ to haue the better haÌd did staÌde stiffely to theim enbouldenyng his souldiours in all that he coulde Whose power the erle moste manfully resisted And so by long coÌtinuaunce of battail many men wer slayne in whose places succeded euer fresher fresher At the length the erle perceauyng his meÌ to bee ouerthrowen by the kyng his great power drewe nigh with his foreward constreyned the kyng to geue backe a litle Then Edward seeyng that brought freshe men to aide the other so that thother meÌ wer beten downe very sore to the grouÌde And Edwarde beeyng werye of this longe fyghtynge for they fought from mornyng to none caused theim that wer without the battayl then standyng for the defeÌce of Edward yf such nede should be to fall vpoÌ their enemies beare theim downe with their great power The erle then seyng freshe meÌ to come vpoÌ theim was nothing afeard but trusting loking surely for the victorye dyd comforte encourage his menne then almoste discomfited moost manfully desiring theim to beare oute this laste brunt lustely and the victorie should redounde to theim but they being weryed with longe continuaunce were nothing moued at his wordes Then he him self moste valiauntly came among the myddest of his enemyes and there kylled and slewe many of theim where he hym selfe at the laste was striken downe and his brother lorde Marques then folowing hym after whose deathe all the other fled so were taken moste parte of theim And this was the ende of the earle whose stoutenesse of stomack made hym bee in lyke peryll and leopardye at many other times at dyuerse and sundrye suche conflictes and warres There was killed of both partes more then ten thousande menne and so many taken prisoners that they could not be noumbred The duke of Somerset and the earle of Oxforde entendyng to take their waye to Scotlande dyd chaunge their mindes bicause it was so farre froÌ theim and fledde streight to Wales to the earle of Penbrucke and so euery man to saue their liues fledde some one way and some an other The erle of Exeter skaping very hardely tooke the sentuarye at Westminster and there remayned When Edward had gotte this victorye he went to London after the moost triumphyng fassion hauyng Henry with hym as prisoner The deed corps also of the earle and the lorde Marques were brought to Poules and there laye for the space of .ii. dayes that euery manne might see theim to bee
full sore anoyed All redy so in batayle for to fyght within yorkeshyre where Edwin was slaine right And all his realme was wasted and subuerte By kyng Penda that a Paynym was peruerte ¶ The same yere then for cause of warre stryfe Saint Paulyn went to Kent there to dwell With Ethelburge that was kyng Edwyns wyfe That welcome were as Bede surely doth tell At Rochester as that tyme befell Saint Paulyn was vnto the sea translate And byshop therof then denominate ¶ Kyng Cadwall reygned full hole agayne In Britayne lande as prynce without pere Aboue Englyshe as lorde souerayne Ouer Saxons Scottes peightes clere And Englyshe also as clere did appere And Eufryde then and Osdryk paynimes fell Northumberlande then helde as Bede doth tell ¶ Whome Cadwall and Penda felly slewe From tyme they two had reygned but a yere Oswolde theyr cosyn as knowen was full trewe That in Scotlande noryshed was full clere To Englande came with mighty greate power And gate his ryght and all his herytage With helpe and socoure of his Baronage The .xciii. Chapiter ¶ Howe Oswolde kynge of Englande reygned ouer Brytons Scottes and Peightes Iryshe and ouer all Logres and Cambre THis kyng Oswolde in EnglaÌde gan succede The yere of Christ vi .c. was theÌ clere Thirty and fiue replete of all manhed And afterwarde full clerely did apere As to suche a prince of nature should affere That Yorke minster repaired then all newe Of lyme and stone as Christen prince and trewe ¶ Who for ayde then into Scotlande sent An holy monke he was and religious And bishop sacred after Christes entent In Christes doctrine he was full laborous Whome for teachyng and preachyng vertuous He made hym bishop of all Northumberlande Whose sea was chief then at the holy Isse lande ¶ In that same yere Oswold to Westsex rode For Christ his loue at prayer of sainct Biryne Wher thei the kyng Kynygill of paynymhode Baptized and made a Christen manne full fyne And sette Westsex vnder tribute syne For to bee payed to hym and his heires Perpetually by yere at certeine feires ¶ Sainct Biryne bishop thei made furth right Of all Westsex at Dorchester was his sea Frome Oxenforde but litill waye to sight Kyng Oswold wedded Beblam his wife to bee Kyng Kynygilles doughter full faire to see And on hir he gatte a soonne hight Cidilwold In Deyre reigned vnder his father Oswold ¶ And in the yere sixe hundrith thyrty and sixe Kyng Penda sleugh Ordewold of Estanglande In bataile strong and mighty gan to vexe That wastid sore about hym euery lande As tyraunt fell wher he the Christen fonde He sleugh theim downe and cruelly ouer ran Sparyng nother wife childe ne manne ¶ The kyng Oswold so mighty was in deede That ouer Scottes Peightes and Brytaines Irish Westsex and English I rede And ouer Logres and all the Saxons None so mighty aboue all regions As Flores and Bede hath wrytten thus Whose wrytynges are full vertuous ¶ As he at meate did sitte vpon a daye At Bamburgh a palmer came to his gate Asked some good for Christ his loue alwaye To whome he sent his dishe of syluer plate For cause he had not els for his astate The poore manne to refresh and comforte Sainct Bede of hym thus clerely dooeth reporte ¶ An holy manne within his hermitage Desired sore in his meditacion If any better of any maner age Wer in the lande of any nacion To whome was said by reuelacion That kyng Oswold more holy was of life Notwithstandyng he had weddid a wife The .xciiii. Chapiter ¶ Howe an hermite proued sainct Oswold his wife at his desire by biddyng of sainct Oswold WHerfore he came vnto the kyng Oswold And prayed hym he might knowe his life And of his reuelacion then hym told Wherfore he toke to hym his ryng by life And bade hym saye the quene that was his wife To dooe with hym on nightes twoo or three As she was wonte at home to dooe with me ¶ This token had he he satte with hir at meate His meate drynke when he would haue the best But water and brede he might none other gette And then at night she leide hym for to rest Right with hir self so well hir self she trest And when he was ought sette to dooe amisse In water he was cast his fleshe to keele and lisse ¶ But when the daye came he was full fain And of the quene full soone he toke his leue Vnto the kyng he went anone again And prayed hym fast he might passe home at eue For of his life he would no more preue Whiche more holy was one daye and night Then all his life he euer been might ¶ But Cadwall the kyng of Brytons sent The kyng Penda to warre on kyng Oswold Whome Oswold mette with greate assemblemeÌd In battaile strong at Heuenfeld as God would Wher people fled with people manyfold To kyng Cadwall who with Penda anone Assembled an hoost on Oswold for to gon ¶ Oswold thei mette on Marfeld that tyde Wher he was slain the yere of Christ was than Sixe hundred whole and fourty and twoo beside His hedde and armes as Bede the holy manne In his chronicle hath write who so rede it can Vpon a tre was hong many a daye That rotted not nor in this world neuer maye ¶ Oswy then in all Northumberlande The croune had and all the royalte With Cadwallo he hight allwaye to stande As souereigne lorde of Bryton then was he And ouer all other had then the mageste But this Oswy made Humwald for to kyll The kyng Oswyn that feloe was hym tyll ¶ For cause he rose on hym with multitude And nought for thy when thei together mette All his people of full greate fortitude He withdrewe then and with Humwald sette In pryue wise without any lette But false Humwald priuely hym slewe On whome he trusted and trowed had bee trewe ¶ Quene Eufled that was kyng Oswys wife Kyng Edwyn his doughter full of goodnesse For Oswyns soule a minster in hir life Made at Tynmouth and for Oswy causeles That hym so bee slain and killed helpeles For she was kyn to Oswy and Oswyn As Bede in chronicle dooeth determyn ¶ This Oswyn nowe is canonized in shryne Saynt Oswyn called at Tynmouth gloriously But kyng Oswy to Cadwall did enclyne And Oswalde his hed and arme had leue to burye Whiche he betoke to quene Bebla in hye Who closed theim in siluer fayre and clene And theim betooke to saynt Aydan I wene ¶ This kyng Cadwall his feast at LondoÌ made To hym all kynges as souerayne lorde obeyed Saue kyng Oswy at home that tyme abade For whiche he trowed that he hym disobeyed Wherfore he sent to Penda and hym prayed To warre on Oswy without delaye And make hym to his souerayne lorde obey ¶ In which meane tyme this Penda slewe Anne Of Estangle that long had ben kyng A Christen prince and a full manly manne And
ryghte in tender youth bee so planted in the prynces fauoure that afterwarde it shoulde hardely bee eradicated oute of the same The duke of Gloucetre turned all this to their distruccion and vpon that grounde sette the foundacion of his vnhappy building For whome soeuer he perceaued to bee at varyaunce with theim or to beare toward hym self any fauoure he brake vnto theim some by mouthe some by writing and secrete messengers that it was neither reason nor yet to bee suffered that the younge kyng their maister and kinsmanne should bee in the handes and custody of his mothers kinrede sequestred in maner frome their company attendaunce of which euery one ought hym as faithfull seruice as they and many of theim of farre more honorable parte of kynne then his mothers syde whose bloodde ê the Duke of Gloucetre sauyng the Kynges pleasure was farre vnmete to bee matched with his whiche nowe to bee remoued frome the kyng and the least noble to bee lefte aboute hym is ê he neyther honourable to his maiestie nor to vs also to hym lesse suretye to haue the noblest and mightiest of his frendes frome hym and to vs all no lytle ieopardye to suffer and specially oure well proued euel willers to growe in too too greate authorytee with the king in youth namely whiche is light of belefe and soone perswaded Ye remembre that kyng Edward hym self albeit he was both of age and discrecion yet was he ruled in many thinges by that bende more then stoode either with his honoure or oure profyte or wyth the commoditee of anye manne elles excepte onely the immoderate aduauÌcemente of theim selues whiche whether they thristed sore after theyr owne we le or no it were harde I thynke to gesse And yf some folkes frendshype had not holden better place wyth the kynge then anye respecte of kynred they myghte paraduenture easely haue trapped and brought to confusyon some of vs or thys why not as easly as they haue done some other or thys as nere of the blood royall but oure lorde hathe wroughte hys wyll and thanked be hys grace that perell is past how beit as greate is growing if we suffer this young kynge in his enemyes handes whyche wythoute his wyttinge myghte abuse the name of hys commaundemente to any af our vndoing which thynges God good prouysion forbyd of whych good prouysion none of vs hathe any thynge the lesse nede for the late attonemente made in which the kynges pleasure had more place then the parties heartes or willes nor none of vs is so vnwise ouersone to truste a newe frende made of an olde fooe or to thynke that anye onely kyndenes so sodenly contracted in an houre contynued scantlye yet a fortnyght shoulde be deper set in our stomackes then a longe accustomed malice many yeres rooted With these perswasions and wrytinges that duke of Glouceter set a fyre theim whiche wer easye to kindle in especyall twayne Henry duke of Buckyngham and Wyllyam Lorde Hastynges and Lorde Chamberlayn both menne of honour and of great power the one by loÌg sucecessioÌ from his aunceters the other by hys offyces and the kynges fauoure These two not bearynge eache to other so muche loue as hatred both to the quenes bloodde accorded together with the duke of Glouceter that they would remoue frome the kyng all his mothers freÌdes vnder the name of theyr enemyes Wherupon the duke of Glouceter beynge aduertysed that the lordes about the kyng entended to brynge him to London to hys coronation accoÌpanyed wyth such a nomber of theyr frendes that it shoulde be harde for hym to bryng hys purpose to passe wythoute the assemblinge and gathering of people and in maner of open warre wherof the ende he wyst was doubtefull and in the whyche the kynge beynge on the other syde he shoulde haue the name and face of rebellion He secretelye therefore by dyuers meanes caused the quene to be perswaded that it was nether nede and shoulde also bee ieopardeous the kinge to come vp so stronge for as nowe euery lorde loued other and none other thynge studyed for but the tryumphe of his coronation and honoure of that kyng And the lordes aboute the kyng should asseÌble in the kinges name much people they shuld geue the lordes betwyxte whome and theim there had bene some tyme debate to feare and suspecte leaste they shoulde gather thys people not for the kynges sauegarde whom no man impugned but for theyr destruccyon hauynge more regarde to theyr olde varyaunce then to theyr newe attonemente for the whyche cause they on the other part myght assemble men also for theyr defence whose powres she wyste well farre stretched and thus should al the realme fall in a roare and of the mischiefe that thereof shoulde ensue whiche was lykly to be not a lytle the most harme was lyke to fal where she leaste woulde and then all the worlde woulde put her and her kynred in the blame saiynge that they had vnwselye and vntruely broken the amytie and peace whyche the kynge her husbande had so prudently made betwene her kinred hys whyche amytee hys kinne had alwaies obserued The quene beyng thus perswaded sente worde to the kynge and to her brother that there was no cause ner nede to assemble anye people and also the duke of Glouceter and other lordes of his beÌd wrot vnto the kinge so reuerently and to the quenes frendes there so louyngely that they nothing earthlye mystrustyng broughte the young kyng toward London with a sober compaignie in greate hast but not in good spede til he came to NorthaÌpton and froÌ theÌce he remoued to Stony stratford On whyche daye the two dukes and theyr bende came to Northampton faynynge that Stonye stratforde coulde not lodge theim all where they founde the Earle Ryuers entendynge the nexte moruynge to haue folowed the kynge and to bee wyth hym earely in the mornyng So that nyght the dukes made to the earle Riuers frendly chere but assone as they were departed verye famylier wyth greate curtesie in opeÌ syghte and the erle Riuers lodged the .ii. dukes with a few of theyr pryuye frendes fell to councell wherein they spente a greate part of the nyght and in the dawning of the daye they sente about pryuely to ther seruauntes in theyr lodgynges to haste to horsebacke for theyr lordes were in maner redy to ryde wheruppon all theyr seruauntes were ready or the Lorde Ryuers seruauntes wer awake Nowe had the dukes taken the keyes of the ynne in to theyr possession so that none shoulde yssue oute wythout their concente And ouer thys in the hygh way toward Stony stratforde they set certaine of theyr folkes that shoulde cause and compell to retourne again all persons that were passinge frome NoÌrthampton to Stony stratforde sayinge that the dukes theim selfes woulde be the fyrst that should come to the kynge from Northampton thus they bare folkes in hande But when the earle Ryuers vnderstode the gates closed and the wayes
dyd lye And shortlye after folowed his wife quene Iohan. After they two had coÌmoned of many thinges together at the laste they beganne to treate of a league and perpetuall amitee to bee had And firste Kynge Henrye desired to haue Edmonde Poole banished man vnder his captiuitee and bondage To whome the Earle aunswered saied that it was not in his power to restore hym yet after muche entreating and praiyng the kyng graunted at the laste that he shoulde hee sente to hym righte shortly After thus for prolonginge of time that he might haue his desyre he brought Philyp the Earle to London and there shewing hym his citie retourned frome thence with hym Then Edmonde Poole seyng that there was no more hope to bee had in foren Princes and trusting that kyng Henry would put hym at libertee came to Englande willingly to proue his gentlenes that yf vpon this expectacyon and hope he were deceiued yet he might at the laste dye and be buryed in his natiue countree weare when he had receyued this garment he did send Balthesar Castillio a Mantuan borne vnto kyng Henry whiche receiued of the knightes a garter in token that he should be a knight of the same ordre When this busines was dooen Lewes the Frenche kyng mistrustyng that he shoulde neuer haue manchild maryed his eldest doughter Lady Anne to Frances Valese Dolphine Duke of Engosye which was sure a litle before to Charles the kyng of Castell And when kyng Henry knewe of this he thought beste to mary his doughter Lady Mary to this Charles kyng of Castell which mariage was confirmed and made at Calise by the byshop of Winchester the ambassadours of Flaunders the Ladye beyng but .x. yeres of age And now were the thre yeres expired at whiche tyme kyng Henry thought his fatal daye to draw nyghe Therfore to the entente that the people myghte wyshe and praye for hym after his deathe for his kindnesse that he shewed to theim he caused a generall pardon to bee geuen vnto all offendours sauinge onely theues and murderers because that they dyd not offende hym but another manne For this goodnesse shewed to the people processyon was in euerye place of the Realme for the safegarde of the kyng Neuerthelesse his time was come the God would haue hym so that he died the .xxi. daye of Apryll in his palaice of RichemouÌde the whiche was the yere of oure Lorde a thousand fyue hundreth and eyght His corps was buryed at Westminster in a chappell the whiche he caused to bee buylded He reigned thre and twentye yeres and more then seueÌ monethes liued .lii. Also he had by his wife the quene .viii. children .iiii. menchildren .iiii. women children of the whiche .iii. remained aliue HeÌry prince of Wales ladie Margaret ladie Marie He was a manne of bodie but leane spare albeit mightie strong therwith of personage stature some what higher then the meane sorte of menne be of a wondrefull beautie and faire complexion through al his bodie of a merie laughyng countenaunce especially in his coÌmunicacioÌ thinne tethed thinne heared of witte in all thynges like Salomon of a princely redoubted stomake and in greate affaires and matters of weightie importaunce verie wittie For suche thynges as he went aboute he did theim warely not without greate deliberacion breathyng Besides this he was sobre moderate buxome bounteouse without all pride highnes of stomake in so muche that he was hard rough with theim the were noted of that crime for no man had so great autorite with him that either durst or could dooe any thyng as his owne faÌtasie did serue hym without the consent agrement of other Yea he kept this point so wel that he would not suffre his owne mother to haue her will For this was his saiyng * that a kyng was a ruler that should rule not be ruled He was also verie iust defended the matters causes of many poore people froÌ the power of greate menne And so liuyng all his tyme in vertue renowne glorie and valiauntnes of merciall prowesses gaue vp his ghoste at the laste whiche vndoubtedly is in that place where euerlastyng ioye and gladnes remaineth for euer and euer ¶ Henry the eyght OVRE MOSTE GRACIOVS souereigne lorde kyng Henry the eyght the soonne of Henry the seuenth beganne his reigne the .xxiiii. daie of Appryll in the yere of our Lorde M ccccc ix was crouned at Westminster in the feast of the natiuite of saânet Ihon Baptist then nexte folowyng Aboute the midle of the moneth of Iuyn the ãâ¦ã nges highnes was maried and the .xxi. daie of thesame moneth he came froÌ Grenewiche by land so roade through Graschurch strete to the towre with whom came many noblemen and gentlemen well apareled but specially the duke of BuckynghamÌ whiche roade in a goune of goldsmythes woorke a thyng of greate richesse and so the kyng âested there from Thursdaie till Saterdaie in the whiche season he created certain knightes of the Bathe And vpon Saturdaie aboute foure of the clocke at after noone the kyng came ridyng through cornehill in moste honourable wise before whom roade thesaid knightes of the Bathe in blewe loÌg gounes with hoodes vpoÌ their shoulders spreade after the maner of masters of arte and tasselles of white and blewe silke fastened vpon one of their shouldres The duke of BuckynghamÌ roade next before the kyng except the mayre of London certain sergeauntes and herauldes The whiche duke roade in a long goune of nedle woorke right costly and riche bare a litle white staffe of siluer in his hand in signe and token that he was high and chief steward of the feast of coronacion And thesaid duke had aboute his necke a broade and flat close chein of a newe deuise not before vsed fret with precious great rubies and other stones of greate value And ouer the kyng was borne a riche canapie by the foure barones of the foure portes and there folowed seuen foloers wherof the first was trapped in the armes of sainct Edwarde the second in the armes of sainct Edmond the third in the armes of S. George the fourth in the armes of EnglaÌd the fifth in the armes of FrauÌce the sixth the. vii in sondry trappors of riche cloth of gold with costely deuices After the foloers came a gentlemaÌ ledyng a spare horsse moste richely garnisshed And after hym sir Thomas Brandon then maister of the kynges horsse right well goodly apointed and well horssed and richely trapped the whiche horsse with the apparell was to the kyng belongyng And when the coÌpaignie was thus with all honoure passed ymediatly ensued a goodly compaignie of gentlemen well apointed And after theim came the quene sittyng in a horsse litter alone clothed in a riche mantell of tissue in her heare with a circulet of silke golde and perle aboute her head But wheÌ her grace was a litle passed
¶ The chronicle of Ihon Hardyng in metre froÌ the first begynnyng of EnglaÌde vnto that reigne of Edwarde the fourth where he made an end of his chronicle And from that tyme is added with a coÌtinuacion of the storie in prose to this our tyme now first emprinted gathered one of diuerse and soundrie autours of moste certain knowelage substanciall credit that either in latin or els in our mother toungue haue writen of the affaires of Englande ⧠LONDINI ⧠In officina Richardi Graftoni Mense Ianuarii 1543. Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum RG ¶ The dedicacion of this present woorke vnto the right honorable lorde Thomas duke of Norffolke by thenprynter Richard Grafton LOrde Thomas of Norffolke duke moste gracious Of noble auncestrie and blood descended A captain right woorthie and auenturous And froÌ ScotlaÌd euen newely retended Wher Englandes querele ye haue reuenged In the behalf of our noble kyng Henry I wyshe you all health honour and victorie ¶ And because it hath pleased almightie God In the right title and quercle of Englande To vse your stocke as an iron rod Wherewith to scourge the falsehood of Scotland In whom is no truthe ne holde of any bande Ihon Hardynges chronicle as me thought was Moste mete to bee dedicated to your grace ¶ For Hardyng a true herted Englysheman An esquier valiaunt hardie and bolde And not vnlearned as the time was than Serched out of chronicles bothe late an olde All that euer by thesame hath bee told How froÌ the begynnyng ScotlaÌde dooeth reigne Vnder kynges of Englande as their soueram ¶ And Hardynges owne self hath the partie bee That from Scotlande oft tymes hath brought Their seales of homage and fealtee Vnto the kyng of Englande as he ought Vnto whom the Scottes then sued and sought Yeldyng to liue in humble subieccion Of Englandes gouernaunce and proteccion ¶ But that people of their propre nature Hath euen from the first been so vntowarde So vnstedfast inconstaunte and vnsure That nothyng maie possibly bee more frowarde So haue thei continued from thens foorthwarde Neuer gladde to bee in quiet and rest But to defeccion aye readie and prest ¶ Wherefore Thon Hardyng to his lorde maister Whom in his tyme he serued without blame Edwarde first duke of Yorke and after Kyng of this realme the fourthe of that name In this chronicle affermeth of thesame That thei will rebell till by prouision The kyng of EnglaÌd shall haue made theim both ¶ And in deede EnglaÌd hath oft been coÌstreigned one The Scottes slackenesse in dooyng their homage To pricke forewarde wheÌ thei would haue refreined With that sharpe spurre of marciall forceage And to abate their wantonnesse of courage With the iron rodde of due correccion As oft as thei attempted defeccion ¶ For the Scottes will aye bee bostyng crakyng Euer sekyng causes of rebellion Spoyles booties and preades euer takyng Euer sowyng quereles of dissension To burne and steale is all their intencion And yet as people whom God dooeth hate curse Thei alwaies begynne and euer haue the woorse ¶ Englande hitherto hath neuer lacked power As oft as nede wer the Scottes to compell Their duetie to dooe and menne of honour Englande hath had as stories dooe tell Whiche whensoeuer the Scottes did rebell Wer hable at all tymes theim to subdue And their obedience to England renue ¶ EmoÌges the whiche noumbre your noble father In the twelfth yere of Henry the seuenths reigne By aunciente recorde as I can gather Beeyng of suche credence as cannot feigne Yode into Scotlande their pryde to restrein With seÌbleable power as bookes dooen auowe And like commission as your grace had now ¶ That season he did so valiauntely The Scottes vanquishyng and puttyng to flight That thei ranne awaye moste shamefully Not hable of hym tabide the sight Nor hable to sustein the brunt of his might Soondrie castelles he raced down to the grounde Whiche to the honour of Englande did redound ¶ Kyng Iamy also makyng greate braggue and vauÌte Hauyng his armie not a myle of that daie Your father as a captain valyaunt Made in a moment for feare to runne awaye The Scottish kyng seÌding foorth heraldes tway Chalenged your father with many a proude woorde Battayle to wage and trye it by the sworde ¶ And choose thou sir Earle ê kyng Iamy then Whether we shall fight armie against armie Orelles I and thou trye it manne for manne For sparyng bloodshed of either compaignie That if it chaunce me to haue the victorie Nought shall I demaunde for Englandes losse thine Sauig Barwike toune for euer to bee mine ¶ Then to the heraldes saied this noble knight Shewe to your kyng that in this place purposely Battayle for to wage my tentes haue I pight I am not come to flee but to fyght sharpely As where he standeth he maye see with his eye And fyrst where he would bloodshed saued to bee Therof am I no lesse desirous then he ¶ Secundarily where it is his likyng That I a poore Earle and of meane estate Maye combattre with hym beyng a kyng That our two fightes may ceasse all debate He dooeth me honour after suche highe rate That I must nedes grauÌt my selfe bound in this case Humble thankes to reÌdre to his grace ¶ Now as for the towne of Barwike it is knoweÌ Which your lorde requireth in case I bee slaine Is the kyng my souereins and not mine owne So that graunte therof in me dodeth not remain But thys maie ye bear worde to your lord again My person and lyfe aduenture I shall More precyous to me then the round worlde all ¶ When kyng Iamy by his heraldes twoo Spedefullye returnyng had due knowlage Muche otherwyse then he loked for thoo Of the Earles stout aunswer and message Fled out of hand and would no battayle wage So that your father retourned home victour With coumfort laude praise ioye and honour ¶ The same your father in the fyfth yere Of our moost noble kyng Henry the eyght When hys grace and his armie at Turney were And the same kyng Iamy of Scotland streyght Agaynst England his banner dyspleyght Vanquished the Scottes with your helpyng haÌd Slew there king Iamy and brought him to England ¶ Agayne in the .xv. yere of the same reygne Your selfe in proper personne full courageous Set forth against the Scottes without dysdeygne Lyke a captayne valyaunt and venturous Wher ye breÌt Iedworth a toune right populous Wyth diuers victories that your grace then had Whiche made all Englande to reioyse be glad ¶ The yere folowyng also as bookes testify The Scottes came with an houge power Of .lx. thousande men vnder the Duke of Albany Besiegyng Warke castel thynkyng it to deuour But heryng that your grace dyd approch that houe The Scottes trembled and so dyd theyr Duke And cowardly fled to their shame and rebuke ¶ Sembleably by thys your last viage Nowe thys last October and Nouember Made into Scotlande to
citees all and castels sufficiaunt To lette hym passe awaye without troublaunce Whiche Engist graunted because of aliaunce The .lxix. Chapiter ¶ Howe Engist caused Logres to bee called then Engestlande of whiche the commons putte gest awaye in their common speache and callâ it England for shortenes of speache ENgist with his hoost had all thorient The South North in all the greate Britain In his kepyng except thoccident Whiche Brytons held of warre and muche pain By olde chronicles as I haue herd saine And then anone he called it Engestes lande Whiche after was shorted and called England ¶ Through the coÌmons that thought it long to say And muche lighter in tongue to saie Englande Then with their mouth ouer long to name it aye By long producyng to call it Engistislande And thus came first in as I vnderstande As I conceiue thus came first Englandes name For short speach corrupt per sincopene ¶ But Engist then gaue all the lande about To Saxons all and kyng was so of Kent But Vortiger in Cambre sought through out To buylde vpon a castell to his entent To holde hym in fro the panymes violent Whiche in Cambre the castell of Genoren He made full strong in the lande of Hergigyen ¶ Vpon the ryuer of Ewey on Cloarte hill But of dragons and of the water vnder That Merlyn saied that castell did so spill Ne of his birth that many menne on wounder Of that werke bothe aboue and vnder That no father had ne of his prophecye I cannot wryte of suche affirmably ¶ Notwithstandyng that philophiers wise Affirme well that sprites suche there been Bitwene the moone and therth called Incubice That haue gotten chyldren of wemen vnseene As in stories diuerse I haue so seen Howe the philosophier wise Magancius Affirmeth it also and Apuleyus The .lxx. Chapiter ¶ Aurelius Ambrose kyng of Brytain the seconde soonne of Constantyne AVrelius Ambrose brother of Constaunce Into Britain with strong greate power And segid then Vortiger by ordinaunce In his castell of Genoren full clere Whiche with wild fire he brent and hym in feere And crouned was by all the baronage To reioyse Britain that was his heritage ¶ He sought Engist that panyme was full grym With hoostes thei faught but Aurele had that better The Saxons fled before that were full brime For in their quarel it might bee no better Duke Eldoll toke Engist and did hym fetter In Kent as he hym mette awaye fleyng At Conanburgh hym brought to the kyng ¶ Where he was heded with swerd and decollate And Occa then and his soonne Ebissa His cousin 's dere at Yorke came in ful late And with hym Saxons full many one moo Wher then the kyng hym segid with muche woo But Occa then and al his compaignie Came to the kyng to whome he gaue mercye ¶ The kyng then made a worthy sepulture With that stone hengles by Merlins whole aduise For all the lordes Brytons hye nature That there were slain in false and cruell wise By false Engest and his feloes vnwise In remembraunce of his forcasten treason Without cause or any els encheson ¶ But Pascencius the soonne of Vortiger With hoost of Irish Cambre he destroyed With whome the kyng faught with his power And droue hym out to Irelande sore anoyed Of his people many slain and foule acloyed But Eopa then clad in monkes clothyng With his poysonis then poysoned had the kyng ¶ But then the kyng of Irelande and Pascence In Cambre brent the kyng full sicke then laye He sent Vterpendragon for defence With hoost royall and mighty greate araye He faught with hym for whiche thei fled that daye With shame and hurt to Irelande home again Vterpendragon the felde so had full plain ¶ Then Vter sawe a starrye beame full bright And asked Merlyn what that it might meane He said it is Stella Cometa righte It sygnifieth the kyng his death to been That nowe is gonne to the blisse I ween The dragon also thy self dooeth signifye With beames twoo extendyng seuerally ¶ The beame southward to FrauÌce that dooeth extende Thy soonne that thou shalt haue dooeth signifie That shall conquere all Fraunce vnto th end Almaignie also and all Germanie And so to Roome throughout al Romanie Aboue all princes in his tyme moost fained Through Christente moost dred and best named ¶ That other beame to Irelande extendyng Thy doughters eke dooeth also signifie Their children also that of theim shal be comynge The realme to haue with all the regalie Thus Merlyn to hym dooeth specifie So went he furth anone to Cairgwente Where he had woorde of his brothers enterremeÌt ¶ Within the GiauÌtes carole that so then hight The stone hengles that nowe so named been Where prelates dukes erles lordes of might His sepulture to worship there were seen Thus this worthy kyng was buryed by dene That reigned had that tyme but thirten yere When he was dedde and laied so on beere The .lxxi. Chapiter ¶ Vter PendragoÌ kyng of Brytain and of his armes that he bare HIs brother Vter at CairgweÌt was crouÌd In trone royall theÌ fully was admit Twoo dragons made of gold royall that stound That one offred of his deuout wit In the mynster there as he had promit That other before hym euer in battaile bare Of gold in goulis wher so he gan to fare ¶ Tharmes also of Troye that Brutus bare Tharmes also of good kyng Lucius Whiche after baptyme his armes alwaye ware The same armes that kyng Constantynus At his batayll against Maxencius So bare alwaye that saynt George armes we call Whiche Englyshemen nowe worshippe ouer all ¶ And for he bare the dragon so in warre The people all hym called then Pendragor For his surname in landes nere and farre Whiche is to saye in Britayn region In theyr language the head of the dragon And in the north as he a castell made Pendragon hight wher he his dwellyng had ¶ But Occa sonne then of that false Engist And Oysa also the sonne of Occa with That northlande brent of which when Vter wyst He faught with theim there saued theim no grith Nor none of the people that came theim with He tooke Occa and Oysa in batayll Beside Dane hill wher they did hym assayle ¶ The Saxones also he slewe that with hym came And had the felde with all the victorie For ioye of whiche he made great ioye and game Proclaymed his feast of Pasche solemply To holde at London wher then he made his crye That euery lorde his wife with hym shuld bryng For worshippe of that feast and of the kyng The .lxxii. Chapiter ¶ Howe the kyng was an amoured of the duke of Gorloys wyfe and how he gatte on her kyng Arthure EMonges other Gorloys duke of Cornewayle His wife did bring Igrene fayre of figure Whose beautee their all others made to faile So well and hole auised was nature Her womanhede exceded euery creature That though nature her beautee
deuyse geuing thankes to God with solempne procession for that he had sent theim a king to gouerne the realme which before was ruled by a cruel hateful TiraÌt After this gratulacion and thank esgeuing the kyng at a daye appointed assembled his counsail to the ende he mighte marie the Ladie Elizabeth thorowe the which mariage aswell the nobilitee as coÌmunes of the realme wer brought in good hope that all thinges should bee redressed an end made of all sedicion and strife for euer And at this Parliament holden kept at WestmiÌster he was created kyng the day of October in the yere of oure Lorde a. M. foure C .lxxxvi. Whiche kyngdome he enioyed as of god enointed for as menne dooâ reporte aboute seuen hundreth foure score and seuentene yeres paste Cadwallader laste Kynge of Englande prophecied that his progenye shoulde beare rule and dominion again So that by this meanes men did fully perswade theim selfes that he was pÌâestinate to it And the rather also they did beleue it because that kyng Henry the sixte did foresaye the same and in like maner prophecy of hym Therfore he being thus proclaimed as true enheretour of the crowne and at the same Parliament created kyng did first cause to bee published that all suche should bee pardoned that would submit theim selfes to his grace as faithful people doo to hym due allegiaunce other that absented theim selfes to bee takeÌ as rebelles traitours After the whiche proclamacion hard many the were in holde and sanctuaries came for pardoÌ and safetie of life to him which persones so submitting theim selfes âer pardoned enhaunced to honoure euery man after his owne deserte as the kyng his counsaile thought best And first considering his chiefe frendes and nyghe kinsemen made Gaspar his vncle Duke of Bedforde sir Thomas Stanley knight Earle of Derby Giles Dabeney sir Robert Willoughby and Robert Brooke Lordes Edward his eldest sonne duke of ãâã ãâã wholy to all that king Richard had depriued hym of at what tyme he with other wer banished Also actes statutes stablished confirmed by Richard as thought expedient and veray necessary at that time for the publike weale wer by hym aboundoned infringed euery one After these thinges doen he prouided with all scelerite and expedicion to redeme the Lorde Marques Dorcet Iohn Burscher whome he had lefte at Paris as a pledge suertie for certaine money that he had borowed there and Iohn bishop of Ely for like det out of Flaunders Furthermore to the ende the his realme might bee in a better staye he coÌmaunded that if any maÌ had iniury shewed at any tyme the same persone shoulde putte vp his matter to hym of whome he should both haue and finde redresse And for these matters and causes to bee hearde he made of his councell the Erle of Oxford the duke of Bedford therle of Derby the Lorde Strange w e his sonne and william the lorde his brother chief of the priuie chaumber the lorde Broke chief steward and lord graund maister of his house Renould Braye Iohn Morton Byshoppe of Ely Richarde Foxe Iohn Dinham whome after he made treasourer of Englande Giles Dabeney Richarde Gildeforde Lorde Cheiny Richarde Tunstall Richard Edgecombe Thomas Louell Edwarde Poninges with other wise men as Richard ap Thomas a Welsheman aswell circumspecte as wise Morgane Kidnel Lord Gray Marques Dorcet Lord Talbot Erle of Shrewesbury Iohn Risley lord Thomas Earle of Ormonde an Irisheman Henry Warney William Say William Ody Gilbert Talbot Willyam Vdall Thomas Troys Richarde Naufaute Capitaine of Calis Roberte Point Iames Hubert Charles Somerset Thomas Hawarde Earle of Surrey a manne of wisdome grauitee and constantnesse most coÌmendable The earle of Essex descending of an high and noble parentage Lorde William Blounte Iohn Burscher Iohn Fineux Peter Edgecombe Hew Conuey Thomas Terell Sir Henry Wiat Robert Throgmorton Thomas Brandon sir Iohn Winkefelde sir Edmond Dudley Edward Belknape Richarde Hemson Also bishoppes Henry Deney bishoppe of Cauntourbury Oliuer kyng byshoppe of Bathe and Welles William BaroÌs bishop of London that dyed shortely after he was bishoppe Also William that succeded nexte after Henry Archebyshop of Cauntourbury Richarde of London and Richarde Bishop of Norwiche When the kyng had taken these menne to bee of his councell for the wealth of his realme he maried Ladye Elizabeth doughter to kyng Edward as he had promised for the which he had the heartes of many menne So that afterwarde he had no nede to feare the assaultes of any persones or the coniuracions of rebelles Neuerthelesse considering the chaunce he had before and the falshode the is in many menne from their youth made yomen of the garde for his bodye the whiche he firste of all Englyshe Kynges caused to bee and as it is thought he did take it of the Frenche kyng Also after this he caused a parliament to bee had wher in was made and decreed certayne lawes actes statutes for the wealthe of his realme In this yere a newe sickenesse did reigne and is so sore and painfull as neuer was suffered before the whiche was called the burning sweate And this was so intollerable that men coulde not kepe their beddes but as lunatike persons oute of their wittes ranne about naked so that none almoste escaped the wer infected therwith At the length after the great death of many a thousande menne they learned a presente remedye for the same dysease that is yf he were sycke of that sweate in the daye that he should streyghtelye downe with his clothes and vestures yf in the nighte that he should not rise for the space of .xxiiii. houres and eate no meate at all yf he coulde forbeare and drinke as litle as he mighte This disease reigned throughout all England wherof also ensued a plague as a token and as the people iudged a plaine argument that kyng Henrye shoulde neuer bee oute of feare and dreade of some mischaunce seing that he was in suche great vexacyon at the sedicyous tumulte that was rysen al the claimynge of the crowne WheÌ all thynges wer apeaced in London and ordered after his owne mynd he rode Northward in progresse to pacifie all his realme and especially those partes where the firste commocion was and where also wer priuie and cloked frendes of his aduersaries But because it was nigh Easter he tooke his waye to Lincolne and there tariyng was certified that the Lorde Louell and Humfre Stafforde were gone from the sanctuary in Colchester but to what place or whether no maÌ could tell whiche message the kyng litle regardyng weÌt foorth as he apointed to Yorke and when he came there it was shewed hym that the lorde Louell was at hand with a strong power of menne and woulde inuade the cytie also that the said lorde Stafforde and his brother wer in Glocestre and there had made an insurreccion and set menne on euery parte to defende the gates and walles of the citie At the
nomore to endeuoure to defende their commune weale but rather to destroy and vtterly extinguishe it Which thing the englishe menne perceiuing and also suffering muche colde were compelled of necessitee within fyue moonethes that their wente thyther to come backe agayne into Englande Then Charles the French kyng maried Anne the Dukes doughter and gat al Britayn by that meanes into hys haÌdes But of this it shal be spoken more here after It was decreed here in Englande before there were any souldyours sent into Brytayne that for the expence of that warre euery man should paye as thei were hable a tribute whyche the mooste parte of theim that dwelte in the byshopryke of DurhaÌ and Yorke shyre dyd vtterly refuse to pay and complayned of the matter to their Lorde the Earle of Northumberland And he immediately signified to the kyng by his letters that the people dyd greatly lament and was sory saiyng that thei were neuer put to so muche coast as thei had been of late dayes nowe that ther was so much requyred of theim that neither thei were hable to pay so great a summe nor would pay it Yet for al that the kyng coÌmaunded the Erle to get it on theÌ and make theim pay it whether thei would or not least peraduenture it myght be a cause that yf at any time a tribute agayne should bee required of theÌ to make an insurreccion Which thyng when the people hearde of by and by they ranne vnto the earle and as the authoure of the tribute paiyng kylled hym out of hande And when thei had so done thei chase Ihon Egremonknight a verey dicious personne to bee their captayne and so arraied them selfes and went agaynst the kyng makyng cries in euery towne that thei came to fight for no nother cause but to defeÌde that coÌmon libertie But when the mattier shoulde come to blowes thei waxed colde all the sorte of theim and euerye one wished that this tumulte wer retracted which was nowe alredy begonne so that at the coÌclusioÌ not one scacely scaped without his great discommodite For the kynge assone as he hearde of this insurreccion went downe with an hoost to Yorke wherof these slaues and traitours beyng greatly afraied fledde some hether and some thether and durst not abide and sustaine the power of the kynges army Wherfore thei wer sone taken and punished greuousely accordyng to their deseruyng euery one of theim But Ihon Egremont whiche was their captain fledde into Flanders to Margarete of whome we spake before And the kyng so sone as this busines was queÌched tooke his iourny back again vnto London and committed the tribute whiche was in Yorke and about Yorke to bee taken vp holy to Richard Toustal And this was the yere of our lord a thousand foure hundred .xc. and the fourth yere of the reigne of this kyng Henry And in thys yere also the kynge of Scottes was sore vexed For his subiectes roase agaynst hym and made his sonne Iames whiche was as yet but a chylde their capitain Wherfore he sent to the kynge of Englande to the Frenche kyng and to the byshoppe of Roome Innocentius to desire theim to make some end of thys ciuile battayle and contencion whiche was betwene hys people and hym Whiche afterwarde sente theyr ambassadours as they were desired but all in vayne For the rude sort would nedes fight onlesse he would resygne his crowne wherfore shortely after thei fought and in that battayle kylled the kyng and gaue his sonne Iames whiche was the fourth of that name the crowne But the byshoppe of Romes legate Hadrian came to late For whyles he was in Englande with kyng Henry worde came that the kyng of Scottes was slayne in battayle and hys soonne made kyng And therfore he taried here in England for a space and was veray muche made of and hyghly commended to the kyng by Ihon MortoÌ archbyshop of Canterburie Whereby he came into so high fauour with kyng Henry that he made him bishoppe of Herforde and shortly after that least gaue hym the bishopprike boothe of Welles and Bathe And not longe after he retourned with these honours to Roome and there of Alexander was made Cardinall There beganne also of freshe certayne businesse as concernynge Brytaine before this geare was appeased whiche was that Maximilian beyng at that tyme without a wyfe would haue maried the duke of Briteines doughter and had one that wowed for hym which lady promisyng hym fayth trueth to the entent that she might not go from her word he vsed this way with her when she went to her bed the night after as to the bedde of wedlocke the wower that was hired putte one of his fete into the bed to the knee in the sight coÌpany of many noble matroÌs ladies for a token testimony that the mariage was consuÌmate thei .ii. as maÌ wife But this did nothing auaile for Char the Frenche kyng was desireous to marye her hearyng that MaximiliaÌ was sure to her dyd the more busely set vpon the Britaynes to th entent he might both haue the ladye and the countree also at his wyll for he estemed that mariage to bee of no strength or force Neuerthelesse he feared kyng Henry muche least that he would stoppe his purpose whiche kyng had made a league and Ferdinande also the kyng of Spayne had made the same with the Britaynes to assist theim in all their ieoperdies and perilles that should chaunce to theim by foren countrees wherfore he sent in al post hast Francese Lucemburgense Charles Marignane and Roberte Gaguine to kyng Henry for a peace to bee confirmed and hadde desyrynge hym that their kyng might ordre the mariage of the Ladye Anne as wer thought best without any let or hynderaunce of it by hym but kyng Henry would not agree to theim that the lady should bee maried to hym consyderyng she was made sure to the kyng Maximilian for that it was against all right and lawe bothe of God and manne Albeit the kynge would gladly make a peace betwene theim bothe and so demissyng the kynges Ambassadoures with a large and ample rewarde sent Thomas Goldestone abbot of Cantorbury and the lord Thomas of Ormondye ambassadours streight after theim In this meane space Alexander B. of Rome the sixt of that name after InnoceÌtius sent the bishop of CoÌcordiense legate to the Frenche kyng for certayne mattiers and emong other for a peace and vnitee to bee confederate betwyxt hym and kyng Henry the whiche when he had easely obteyned he came to Englande and there beyng entretained moste roially of the kyng had his purpose and desire of hym The Englishe ambassadours then beyng with the Frenche kyng purposed to haue a peace concluded whiche first demaunded certain thynges of the kyng ere that it should bee made albeit the kyng would grauÌt theim nothyng and was sore moued with their request askyng So the shortly after the Frenche kyng sent to the noble menne of