said Rychard might haue his assistauÌ„ce and helpe of hym in all maner of aduersitie that should chauÌ„ce either by battaill or other wise and that he did after that kyng Edward the soonne of the same Rychard had made hym erle of Esser tothend that bothe the father the sooÌ„ne might at all tymes bee a sure fortresse and defeÌ„ce for hym And he had begotten of this Elizabeth in laufull mariage foure menne children that is to saie Wyllyam Thomas Iohn and Henry and one doughter called Isabell the whiche liued but a shorte space the whiche soonnes vsed greate diligence in bryngyng matters to passe in weightie affaires and busynes very laborious in aduentures and ieoperdies manly and bold and in forseyng thynges very circumspect but specially Wyllyam the eldest had all these qualities This Wylliam maried Anne a mayden disceÌ„dyng of high parentage and of moost pure virginitie the doughter of Iames Lussheburne erle of sainct Paule by whome he had Henry nowe erle of Essex also Cicile and Isabell doughters the whiche Isabell died before she was ripe to mariage and that other was maried to Walter Ferryse But to come to that I spake in the begynnyng When all thynges chaunsed thus luckely to Edward and that all was as he would haue it Henry the duke of Somerset fearyng that kyng Henry should goo to wracke and take the woorse fled to kyng Edward of whome he was after the moost gentle sorte intertayned but sone after it repented hym of his deede for in the meane season kyng Henry had gotte a greate power of Scotish menne vnwittyng to Edward gat Duresme the whiche thyng after hearde the duke of Somerset fled priuely to hym with a greate compaignâ—e of that kyng his freÌ„des folowyng after and so many for desire of lucre and vauÌ„tage did turne to hym that Henry was thought to haue as greate an armie as his enemie had The whiche armie he made menne thynke to bee the greater for that he did spoile and destroye townes and feldes where soeuer he came so by long burnyng and wastyng he came to a village called Exham where as he buckeled with Iohn marques Montacute whome he mette there and there fightyng very sharpely as often tymes it had chaunsed before was putte to flight losyng the greatest nouÌ„bre of his hoost he hymself with a fewe ino went in all the hast to Scotland and the residue fled some one waye and some an other to saue their liues Ther was taken there prisoners Henry duke of Somerset Robert duke of Hungerforde and Thomas Rosse the whiche duke of Somerset was putte to death by and by for that he had chaunged his mynde so sone and went to the other partie the other were had to Newe castell and ther beyng for a season were putte to death in like maner wherby other should haue no trust of any victorie when their capitaines were dedde gone Albeit kyng Edward nowe might thynke all thynges to be wel and him selfe strong enough agaynst the power of hys enemy for that he had gotte suche a vyctorye yet dyd he wyth all dylygence prouyde that Margarete kynge Henrye the .vi. hys wife shulde at no hande be let into Englande for feare of wynnynge mennes hartes to her Wherefore he made bulwarkes sure for tresses on euerye parte and coastes of hys realme that there myghte be no landynge and dyd wryte to all theim of the southe partes that they shulde in nowyse take in anye woman or helpe anye for yf anye so dyd he shulde be taken as an enemye an hyghe traytoure to the crowne as they were agaynste whome he dyd fyghte And of that parte that is nygh to the Scotish bancke he layed watches that none shoulde goo oute of the realme to kynge Henrye But kynge Henrye hym selfe was neuer in anye greate feare whatsoeuer chaunced in so muche that he came in to England in a dysguysed apparel and then beinge knowen and taken of certayne spyes sone after he had come in was caried to London to king Edwarde and there layde in holde After whose attachynge and imprysonmente the realme was set in more quyetnes Wherfore Edwarde nowe beynge oute of all feare and daunger of hys enemyes dyd wholy set hym selfe the foure yeres after ensuynge to the reformatyon and redressynge of hys publyke weale and to the recompensynge of hys souldyers for their paynes did deuyde and geue the landes of theim that were wyth kynge Henrye to hys owne and so wyth geuynge large and ample rewardes dyd get the fauoure of all hys people as well the laye as the nobles and vsynge suche vrbanyte and clemencye to all kinde of men that he had throughlye wonne the hartes of all men the whyche gentylnes and fryndely famyliaritee he dyd euer after vse Also as for the lawes of the realme he dyd alter and mend some and some he made newe besydes that he coyned monye as wel golde as syluer the whyche at this daye is currante The whyche golde was royals and nobles and the syluer was grotes so that in hys tyme thys kinde of coyne came vp And after that hys realme was in thys state he made a proclamation that yf anye manne beyng a traytoure or rebellyon hertofore to hys grace wyllyng to submyt hym selfe wholy to hym shuld haue his pardon and other that wolde not shuld die and suffer according to the lawes The which kyndnes and natyue loue dyd cause hym to haue the good wyl and herte of his commons so much that it is euydent he was al the dayes of hys lyfe a conqueroure through the helpe and ayde of theÌ„ in so much that hys enemyes were euer shamefully put to wrack as it shal be shewed more playnly hereafter And also not contented wyth the frendshyppe of hys owne countree menne dyd wynne and procure the loue of foren and straunge prynces and made theim to bee of kynred wyth hym whereby that they myghte yf nede shoulde so requyre ayde and socour him or at the least not bee iniurious or noysome to hym So that he maried hys syster lady Margarete to Charles the sonne of Phylyppe duke of Burgoyne throughe which maryage he had greate helpe at the insurrection that chaunsed in thys his natiue countree and after that sente Rycharde the erle of Warwyke embassadoure into Fraunce the whyche shoulde desyre for hym to wyfe a mayden called Bona the syster of Carlotta the quene of Fraunce and the doughter of Lewes duke of Sauoye whyche after dyd marye Iohn Galeot duke of Mylayne the whyche busynes dyd cause cyuile battayle to bee For in the meane tyme that the earle wente in to Fraunce and had spoken wyth Lewes the kynge wyth whom the ladie Bona was and wayted vpon the quene her syster Edwarde chaungynge hys mynde maryed ladye Elyzabeth the doughter of Rycharde the earle of Ryuers which was maryed before to syr Iohn Gray knyght by whome she had two chyldren Thomas and Rycharde of the whyche
desiring him to folow his couÌ„cel that he should not think this to be done of any rashnes shewed hym how warely through his pollicie all his matters were wroughte desired him that he would cast with him selfe how to bring such a weyghtie matter to passe wherby al thinges may be prouided before hand to whom after many great promises he offered his daughter then of ripe age to be maried to him The duke throughe the councell and greate desieryng of therle of Warwike was contented to dooe all thynges as he would haue hym After that therle had this communicacion with the duke he purposed to goo to Caleis of the whiche toune he was then chief capitain and wher his wife and doughters wer then inhabityng but to th end that this sedicion might bee the soner begonne where with all EnglaÌ„d was sore troubled a greate tyme he had apoinâ—ted that sone after he was gone to Caleis his brother tharchebishop the lord marques should make an insurreccion in Yorke wherby the battaill might bee begonne while he was so farre frome theim When all these thynges were prepared for and his counsaill well alowed and taken he went streight with that duke of Clarence to Caleys And ther after that the duke had promised by an othe that he would euer bee true he maried lady Isabell the erles eldest doughter that whiche wheÌ„ it was dooen thei bothe consulted together that more spedily for that that insurreccion was made in Yorke as it was commaunded and appoincted The whiche coÌ„paignie begoÌ„ne first to spoile with out all mercie or respect of any thyng For ther was at Yorke an old and a riche hospitall of sainct Leonard where the poore and impotent persones wer harboured the sicke menne comforted and this hous was founde of that charitee of the couÌ„tree whiche did geue yerely certain of wheate as that first fruites of all their corne to the sustenaunce and mainteynyng of theim to the whiche noumbre of grayne certain housband menne of the countree did refuse to gyue any part through the counsaill of therle of Warwikes compaignie saiyng plainly that the poore and sickely people had it not but thei that had that rule and gouernaunce of the hous and after that the procters of the hospitall claimyng it as dewe vnto theim sought for their right And for that cause greate tumulte was and muche conspiracie made so that within fewe dayes there was gathered aboute a fiftene thousand whiche compaignie came towardes Yorke But after that it was knowne in the citee that suche a compaignie of menne had risen the citizens watchyng euer for feare was in doubte whether thei should mete theim and trie it in open felde or tary in the citee and kepe theim frome the walles But the lord Marques chief of that couÌ„tre did put theim streight out of all feare and doubte the whiche takyng good deliberacion and aduisement metre theim cuÌ„myng at the gates of that citee where after a sharpe coÌ„flicte he tooke Robert Hulderne duke and by and by chopped of his hedde the whiche wheÌ„ he had dooen he receiued into the citee at the midde night all his souldiours that wer there The people beyng nothyng abashed at the death of their capitain but rather the more eger fearce consideryng that thei could not ouercome Yorke without ordinaunce whiche thei lacked weÌ„t streight forth to London And as for that the lord marques putte to death that duke and capitain of that coÌ„mons beyng also one of his coÌ„spiracie did it for this intent that either he would not bee aknowen faultie of this coÌ„mocion or els that he had vtterly determined to holde with kyng Edward of whom as it dooeth after appere he did get perfect amitie but after the kyng knewe the mynd and purpose bothe of therle of Warwike and the duke of Clarence his owne brother also certefied by dyuerse meÌ„nes letters that the armie was drawyng nigh to London he sent by and by Wyllyam Harberte whome he made twoo yeres before duke with a greate power of Walshe menne commaundyng hym if he could conueniently bydde battaill to his enemies The erle makyng hast towardes Northampton hard saie that the Northrenmenne had gotte it where also he sette his tentes and the next daye folowyng fought with theim in the whiche battaill he was putte to flight in a momeÌ„t and cleane discomfited The Yorkeshire menne beyng glad of this victorie wer streight couled went no ferder but hauyng their handes full of spoyles prayes went backe ward again lookyng when the erle of Warwike would come the whiche shortely after came from Calais with the duke of Clarence his soonne in lawe to the hoost commeÌ„dyng highly the capitaines and reioisyng gladly that thei had the victorie did spedyly prepare an other armie Yet kyng Edward beeyng nothyng abashed that therle of PeÌ„bruch had so eiuill sped seÌ„t hym forth again with a greater armie whiche he had readie at all tymes what so euer should chaunce he hym self he did folowe with a small coÌ„paignie and that he might bee readier for all thynges in his iourneye did encrease his armie with many that came to hym of his secte saiyng that his entent was to destroie that route of misliuers and flagicious persones and then therle of Warwike perceauyng that his aduersaries came vpon hym sent in all the hast to the duke of Clarence whiche was nigh by hym with an hoost that he would bryng his armie in all the hast to hym meanyng that bataill was at hand The duke when he hard it came streight to therâ—e So thei bothe commyng together went to Banberie where thei perceaued their enemyes teÌ„tes wer pitched there buckelyng together tooke the erle oâ— Penbruch prisoner and killed and discomfited all his menne and emonges other of his nobles theâ— was killed Rychard the erle of Ryuers the father of Elizabeth the quene his soonne Iohn Woduile And towardes euenyng kyng Edward drewe nigh and heryng of the death and soden betyng doune of his menne taried at a toune fiue myle frome that place Th erle of Warwike went to his chief toune with all his hoost and there within twoo dayes caused therle of PeÌ„bruch with certain other states taken at that tyme to bee behedded In the meane season there begonne awaie to bee fouÌ„d for peace for the whiche letters wer wrytten too and fro herauldes sent from the kyng to therle and frome the erle to the kyng again wherby the kyng trustyng verely that all was pacified was lesse ware of hym self and feared lesse his aduersaries the whiche thyng when it was knowen and shewed to the erle by certain spies he went furth in a night as priuely as he could with a strong power to the kyng his tentes ther killyng theim that kepte watche tooke the kyng vnware brought hym to Warwike and to the entent the kyng his frendes might not knowe wher he was conueighed hym priuely from thens in the night to a toune
in Yorkeshire called Middelame and there to bee kepte fast in hold But yet the kyng could bee in no place nor prisone but that shortely it was knowen the whiche caused many menne to bee sorie lament his chaunce But he hym self after that he was in prisone spake faire to the kepers of the castell and with muche intreatyng and greate promises made did so tempte and corrupt theim that he was dimissed althoughe the rumour was that the erle was willyng to it the whiche might bee of likelyhood if therle had gyuen ouer fightyng but suche was that eiuill fortune of kyng Henry wherby a manne maye perceiue that he could neuer haue his purpose seyng mannes strength nor policie is not able to ouercome for therle with all his freÌ„des did ventre their bodyes and spent their substauÌ„ce to haue brought Henry to the royall dignitee for because he knewe suerly that as long as Edward reigned neither could he nor yet kyng HeÌ„ry beare any rule And yet neuerthelesse thei lette hym goo when he was in holde when kyng Edward was deliuered he went streight to Yorke and there beyng honorably receiued of his citezens taried for the space of twoo dayes to gette hym an hoost of menne but when he could not haue a worthy compaignie consideryng that he should goo to London emong the middest of his hoost went frome Yorke to Lancastre there found Wyllyam Hastynges lord chamberlain of whoÌ„ he hauyng greate helpe came safe to LoÌ„don But therle of Warwike and the duke after thei had perceiued kyng Edward to bee deliuered throughe the meanes of false trai tours that all thynges that thei had appoincted was to none effecte was greately moued with anger and sorowe and by and by callyng together all their chief frendes consulted howe thei might begynne battaill again the whiche wheÌ„ the kyng was taken and in hold was ended and dooen And thus dooyng there was certain that for veray angre and for the loue that thei had to warre offred theim selfes to fight of freshe for nothyng that whiche moued the chief capitaines to be the more earnest Also kyng Edward was as wyllyng to fight as thei were wherby he might either bryng theim by force of armes to quietnes peace or els destroy and kylle theim euery mother soonne that the realme might bee in 〈…〉 tter state For thorowe their sedicious rebellyng the people wer greately impouerished seyng that the churcheâ— and houses of menne were spoiled and â—obbed and menne sâ—ain in euery place the corne grasse also destroyed that was of the grounde and many other mischiefes dooen the whiche dooe chaunce eftsons in battaill The consideracion wherof it pitiâ—d many menne to see the coÌ„men weale in that case the whiche weÌ„t dayly and hourely aswell to therle as to the kyng for atonemeÌ„t desieryng counselyng theim bothe that thei would rather kepe peace haue the loue of all menne for their quiet lyuyng then to liue in angre and enuie fightyng one with an other to that vndooyng of all the realme wher as it wer a wicked deede to kylle the father but yet a greate dele more wicked to destroye the whole bodie of the commen weale whiche is the father of all menne and by the whiche euery manne is maynteyned kept By this greate entreatyng of noble menne therle and the kyng gyuyng feyth one to an other peace was had for a tyme wherein the erle and the duke went bothe to London with a small compaignie of menne in comparison to the daunger that thei wer in and at Westminster was with the kyng for the reformacion and stablishyng of all thynges and for peace to bee had wher the kyng and thei beeyng at greate woordes nothyng was determyned or ended Therfore the kyng for the vowe that he had made departed and said lytle and the erle with the duke also went to Warwike and in Lyncolne shire gotte vp a newe hoost and made sir Robert Welles the soonne of Rychard Welles grauÌ„de capitain a noble manne of warre These tydynges commyng to London moued the kyng veray sore whome he thought would rather haue kepte peace theÌ„ warre but the more that it was shewed to hym vnlokyng for it that battaill was at hande with so muche that sooner more spede he gathered an armie at the same tyme seÌ„t dyuerse messeÌ„gers and haroldes for Rychard Welles and thesame Rychard â—eeyng often so sent for made his excuse that he was sicke diseased but afterward wheÌ„ his excuse was not admitted he thynkyng to purge hymself sufficieÌ„tly before the kyng came to London bringyng with hym sir Thomas Democke his brother in lawe and wheÌ„ he was there certain of his frendes certified hym that the kyng was sore moued with hym whiche for feare of the kyng did take sentuarie at Westminster his brother also mindyng to tary there vnto suche tyme as that kyng his anger wer couled apeaced But kyng Edward trustyng to pacifie all this tumulte without bloddeshede promisyng those meÌ„ne his feith that he would not harme theÌ„ caused theim bothe to come out of sentuarie Then the kyng callyng Rychard to hym warned hym to byd his brother Robert that he should leaue of warre and goo frome the erle and in the meane season the kyng went foreward with his hoost against his enemies bryngyng with hym this foresaid Rychard Thomas and beeyng but frome Stamforde wher his enemies did lie the space of twoo dayes iourney was informed that Robert kepte that armie still nothyng moued with that letters of his fathers wrytyng for the whiche the kyng beyng sore greued caused bothe Rychard and Thomas euen there coÌ„trarie to his promise moost shamefully to haue their heddes chopped of Robert wheÌ„ he sawe the kyng drawe nigh and hard that his father sir Thomas Democke was put to death stoode first in a doubte whether he should fight or no for because it was ieoperdeous to ventre vpon suche a greate power before that erle came yet at the last for the stoute courage and manly boldenes that was in hym thei went together and fought sore long and many menne killed on bothe sydes and at the last wheÌ„ the fore named Robert encouraged his menne that wer ready to geue ouer was coumpassed about of his enemies taken and also sir Thomas DelalaÌ„t with many 〈…〉 o the whiche capitaines beyng taken all the hoost was putte to flight driuen awaye The kyng beyng glad of this victorie coÌ„maunded Robert sir Thomas Delalant with many other to bee put to death at that same tyme place And in this battaill ther was kylled as meÌ„ne reported tenne thousand menne The erle at this tyme beeyng at his owne toune of Warwike and commyng shortely to his armye at Stamforde with his power was enformed that the battayle was foughte quickelyer then he looked for and that his men had the worse parte although he might now be discouraged yet he made as thoughe he passed not and would
thys he prophecied that the self same Henry shuld in tyme to come as it chaunsed in dede haue the kyngedome and rule of all the realme And nowe Edwarde althoughe he was oute of his countree yet dyd he not dyspayre but that he shulde haue mattre and redy occasion to recouer his kingdome for the duke of Burgoyne partlye had promised hym both greate ayde and socoure and partly the priuy frendes that he had in Englande dyd councell hym by letters sente from tyme to time that he would hasten his iournay homward and incontinâ—tly after very many fled to hym oute of Englande eyther for feare of the lawes that they had offended or elles for sorowe that the worlde was so turned that they could not haue theyr wyll as they had before in accomplyshynge theyr couetouse myndes and desyres and caused hym to make the more haste homewarde And kynge Edwarde beynge rauished with their golden promises thoughte nothyng more payneful or wretched then to tary one daye lenger and nothyng more pleasaunt theÌ„ to go of his iourney and so takynge no moo wyth them then two thou sande harnesed menne at the sprynge of the yeare sayled into Englande landynge in the coastes of Yorkeshyre at an hauen towne called Rauinsport And there settynge for the all hys menne dyd reason wyth hys captaynes and consulte to what place they shoulde fyrste goo For it was ieoperdious consydering the small companie that he had to take anye waye for the. But after longe delyberation they were all agryed that some certayne knightes and horsemen of that smal compaignie shuld bee sent one to euerie quarter to the townes that wer nyghe to the intente that they myghte drawe the hartes myndes of the people to king Edwardes syde But it is not lykelye that kynge Edwarde beyng a wyse manne durst be bolde or would in any wyse come into England with such a small power excepte he had knowen surely that he should haue had great helpe at hys commyng the whych is a plain token that the duke of Clarence and the lorde Marques had procured hys fauoure promysinge him all their helpe that they coulde make for the tryall of the whych ther was manifest tokens that dysclosed and bewrayed all their falshed For they priuilie weÌ„t about to know mennes mindes and to what parte they would declyne and the nexte day after came to kinge Edwarde and shewed him that the common people dyd stande stiflye of kynge Henrye his syde and woulde defende hys quarell as ryghte and iuste at al times and that they had nomore nede nowe to make anye tumulte in so much that no manne would althoughe eftsons desired and prayed go to king Edward yea and that noman woulde for feare of the earle of Warwike heare anye thinge spoken of that matter whose myndes after that kinge Edwarde had throughlye serched and knowen he chaunged his mynd and purpose wher as before he claymed the crowne then he publyrshed abrode that he woulde haue but hys ryghte that was his landes and heritage of Yorke shyre And â—t that worde it cannot be well spoken howe redily meÌ„ wer willinge to helpe him consideringe that he claymed nothinge but hys ryghte in somuch yâ— very pytie dyd moue manye althoughe they woulde not helpe hym yet at no hande to resyste him And kynge Edwarde reconsilyng him selfe to the common people by these meanes toke hys iournye towarde Yorke and wente to Beuer lay The earle then beinge at Warwik after that he knew that king Edward was landed about York streyght sent a post to his brother lord MoÌ„tacute then liyng that winter at Pomfreit with a great army to shewe him what daunger mighte ensue yf king Edward got that towne of york bed theim yf his enemies drewe nigh ether to mete with theÌ„ in plain felde or elles to bete theim from the towne vnto such tyme that he came wyth a greater host which he prepared then in all the hast he coulde And because he knew not surely which way his enemies wolde come he fyrst sent to euery towne in york shyre and to yorke it selfe certayne postes to bid euery man be in his harnesse ready and that that citezins should shut the gates surelye that kynge Edward myght haue no accesse In the meane tyme king Edward came peaceably and wythoute the resistaunce of anye man towardes the towne of Yorke of whose commyng when the citezens were certified they made sure the gates and standynge in harnesse for the defence of it dyd sende twoo of the aldermen to warne the kyng the comming nyghe that he dooe not enterpryse to farre or put hym selfe in ieopardie for they were mynded to dryue him and all hys awaye wyth all the power they myghte When Edwarde had heard theyr myndes he was in so greate feare agonie that he could not tell what to dooe for yf he shuld haue goone back he feared that the common people as men gredye of a praye woulde persue him and yf he should goo forth he was in daunger of the Yorke shyre men leaste they shoulde sodenlye faull vpon hym and take hym and therefore seeyng that he was not able to match them in battayle thought to mollyfie theim with fayre wordes and so beganne to entreat after the most lowlye and gentle maner the messaungers that they woulde in hys name shewe the cytezyns that he came not to clayme the crowne but hys herytage and ryghte of Yorke shyre and therfore that they woulde helpe theyr lorde and duke of Yorke and yf that he myghte be receaued through theyr meanes he wolde requyte theyr kindenes and remember theyr benifyte as longe as he lyued And by suche fayre speaking and flatterie he dimissed theÌ„ and folowed straighte after to the gates with his companie The citezins beynge somwhat moued wyth thys answer for that he entended no harme agaynst kyng Henrie they spake wyth hym from the wall and badde hym to go frome thence and if he would go quickely he should take no harme But he speakyng veraye gentely to euerye one of theim callyng some by name moost gentely did desire theim that he might come into his owne toune And so passyng all the daye in that coÌ„municacion at that length the citezens partely ouer come with his moost geÌ„tle speakyng large promises made fell to this poincte that if Edward would swere to handle his citezens after a gentle sorte hereafter bee obedient to kyng Henry his coÌ„maundement thei would receiue hym in to that citee and helpe hym with all that power that thei might Edward beyng glad to here this the next daye after early a masse was said at the gates wher he receiuyng the sacrament promised feithfully vpon his othe that he would obserue bothe the thyngeÌ„s afore named so was receiued in to the citee Neuerthelesse it was so ferre vnlike that he would obserue one of theim that he minded none other thyng then that he might depriue the kyng of his croune as here after shall
that dede being very sore moued therwith weÌ„t to the dukes place coming before his grace stode lyke a man strykeÌ„ with some sodeyn dysease very pale holding his head downe the duke maruayling at hym enquyred what the matter was To whom he sayde O moost noble duke my time is at hande thys palenes betokeneth death without remidy That I would God yt had come before this day then it should not haue greued me so much And thys all cometh to me through a deed that you haue done of late which wil ether cause me to lose my life or els to lyue in moost miserie wretchednes as one wery of thys present lyfe The noble actes that you haue doone moost noble prynce haue enhaunsed your fame glory to the fardest part of the world but this one thing me thynke I praye you pardoÌ„me what I saye is a great blemyshe to your dygnitee that forgetting the promyse that you made so faythfully haue geuen the innoceÌ„t erle of Richmounte to be destroyed pitefully killed emonge wretched knau es hangmen Wherfore they that loue you of whom I am one cannot but lamente â—o see you dyshonored by this great fault of periury WheÌ„ he had sayd the duke answered hold thy peace man I praye the ther is no such harme shal chaunce to him Edwarde the kinge woulde haue him to mary his daughter Then sayd Iohn Beleue me mooste excellente and redoubted prynce this Henry is nowe almoste famyshed and loste yf he once goo out of your countree he is but cast awaye and paste all recouerye At these wordes the duke was persuaded through the whych he commauÌ„ded one Peter LaÌ„doson hys receauer to take the same Henry froÌ„ the ambassadours The sayd receauer pursued the Englyshe ambassadours to Maclonium and there holdyng theim wyth long coÌ„munication made him to be conueyed into a seÌ„tuary whych was then almost ded through that feuer and thought whych he was caste in And so after that he was emended broughte hym to the duke The ambassadours then beyng spoiled and deceaued both of theyr pread and mony that they brought desyred that same receauer that they might not goo home in that wyse whyche receauer promised that he woulde eyther kepe hym in sentuary or eles cause hym to be imprisoned at the duke his place so that they should neuer neede to feare hym In all thys tyme Edwarde beynge desyreous to knowe what became of the Earle was enfourmed that he was taken prysoner but after that escaped they re handes where at the kinge was verye angrye but when he knewe that he should bee kepte in holde was well pleased then dyd take no thought And liued after that most welthy sparing no expeÌ„ses nor cost in kepyng his house neuertheles he dyd fall into one great offence in this time For sodeÌ„ly he coÌ„maunded his brother the duke of Clarence to be killed drowned in an hogshhed of malmesey And the cause of hys death was as men report through a certaine prophecie which sayd the after kyng Edwarde one shuld reigne whose name begaÌ„ wyth a. G. which prophecye some sayde was completed fulfilled when the duke of Glouceter the after hym had the kingdome dyd reigne Some holdeth another opinion of this his death saiyng that at what time the olde malice dyd breke out bewixt theÌ„ both the duke through his sisters councel woulde haue maried lady Mary that duke of Burgoyn his only daughter which mariage the kyng did infringe stoppe as one enuiyng of his brothers felicitee or good chaunce After that they both beryng in theyr mindes mortall hatred one of the sayde duke hys seruauntes was accused of wichcraft charming for which offence he was put to death The duke 〈…〉 g that could not but speake resist againste the 〈…〉 g his coÌ„maundement and therfore was com 〈…〉 ted to prison ther beyng was killed and procla 〈…〉 d after as a traytour to the kyng for whose 〈…〉 that the king was verye sory and whan any 〈…〉 kneled to hym and asked pardon 〈…〉 der he would saye O infortunate bro 〈…〉 that noman would aske thy pardon And this duke had .ii. children one lady Margarete that was after maried to Richard Pole an other Edward whome the kyng made earle of Warwyke but this childe folowyng the fate and destenie of his father was after putte in prisone there priuely put to death And these thinges were doone in the yere of oure Lorde a thousand foure hundreth and foure score and the .xix. yere of the reigne of kyng Edward And two yeres then after folowing the kyng died before the whiche yeres he beganne to bee very harde and couetouse in getting monye and also very diligent in marking attaching his lordes that did offend In this time the kyng of Scottes willed his sooÌ„ne Iamy to be maried to the kynges doughter lady Cicile which was the yonger that should haue been maried to Charles the kyng his soonne of Fraunce But it chaunced not thorow Lewes the kyng that brake his promise bothe in geuing his seruice and payeng his raunsome the laste yere of his reigne Likewise the kyng of Scottes seing that Lewes the kyng was false of his promise he thoughte he might bee so bolde too and so breaking league of amite sette vpon the Englishe men At the which Edward was sore vexed and entended batayl against hym yet after that he knewe the it was not by his wyll but thorowe the councell and euell disposed mindes of his lordes woulde haue borne it in good worthe had not kyng Iames owne brother streight vpon that prouoked hym to fighte Furthermore suche was the nature of the Scottishe kyng that when he had sette his minde vpon a thing no manne coulde turne hym and because that no manne mighte reproue hym in any thing he promoted laye people menne of basse bloude to his counsell putting to deathe or banishyng euermore the nobilitee Emong whom this duke of Albanie his brother consydering the condicyons of the king fled to the kyng of EnglaÌ„d at what time he was sent into FrauÌ„ce ther counsailed the kyng to fight against hym The king willing to reueÌ„ge his olde iniuries vpon many consideracioÌ„s gathered enteÌ„ded no lesse by the helpe of the saied duke of Albany then to kepe open warre So that he did send the duke of Gloucestre the erle of NorthumberlaÌ„d syr Thomas Stanley this duke of Albany with a great power of men against the Scottes The king knowing of their coÌ„ming went to Barwyke with his army to kepe theim from the borders but perceiuing that he was not hable so resist their great power fled backe in the night to Edinbrough ther taryed for his enemies And the duke of Gloucestre folowing burned and spoyled all the way when he was somewhat nighe his enemies perceiuing also that none of the Scottishe lordes came to the duke of Albanye mistrusted that some deceyte or crafte was
ye haue heard before he faigned hym selfe to be a good maÌ„ and thought the people had estemed hym euen so Notwithstandyng shortly after his foresaide vngracious purpose ouercame al this honest feare And first of all he absteyned from beddyng or lyyng with her and also found him self greued with the barreÌ„nesse of his wife that she was vnfruteful and brought hym forth no chyldren complamyng therof very greuously vnto the nobles of his realme and chieflye aboue other vnto Thomas Rotherame then archebishoppe of Yorke whome he had delyuered a lytle afore oute of pryson the whiche byshop did gather of this that the quene should be rid out of the waye ere it were long after suche experience had he of kyng Richardes complexcioÌ„ who had practised many lyke thynges not longe before thesame tyme also he made dyuerse of his secrete frendes preuy of thesame his coniecture After this he caused a rumoure to ronne amoÌ„g the commen people but he woulde not haue the autoure knowen that the quene was dead to th entent that she hearyng this meruelous rumour should take so greueous a conceyt that anone after she should fall into some great disease so that he would assay that waye in case it should chaunce her afterward to be sicke dead or otherwyse murdred that then the people might impute her death vnto the thought she tooke or els to the sickenesse But wheÌ„ the quene heard of so horryble a rumour of her death sproÌ„ge abroade among the commen people she suspected the matter and supposed the worlde to be at an ende with her and incontinently she wente to the kyng with a lamentable countenaunce and with wepyng teares asked hym whether she had dooen any thyng whereby he might iudge her worthy to suffer death The kyng made aunswere with a smilyng and dissimulyng countenauÌ„ce and with flatteryng woordes byddyng her to bee of good comforte and to plucke vp her heart for there was no suche thyng toward her that he knewe But howe so euer it fortuned either by sorowe or els by poysonyng within fewe daies after the quene was dedde and afterwarde was buryed in the abbay of Westminster This is the same Anne one of Rychard the earle of Warwikes doughters whiche once was coÌ„tracted to prince Edwarde kyng HeÌ„ry the sixt his soonne The kyng beyng thus delyuered of his wife fantasied a pace ladye Elizabeth his nice desiryng in any wise to mary with her but because that all menne yee and the mayden her self abhorred this vnlawfull desire as a thyng mooste detestable he determined with hym self to make no greate hast in the matter chiefly for that he was in a pecke of troubles fearyng least that of the noble menne some would forsake hym runne vnto Henry his part the other at the leste would fauoure the secrete conspiracy made again hym so that of his ende there was almoost no doubte Also the more parte of the commen people were in so greate dispeare that many of theim had rather to bee accompted in the noumbre of his enemies then to put theim selfes in ieopardy bothe of losse of body and goodes in takyng of his parte And emongest those noble menne whom he feared first was Thomas Standley and Wyllyam his brother Gylbert Talbote of other a greate nouÌ„bre of whose purpose â–ª though kyng Rychard was ignoraunt neuerthelesse he trusted not one of theim and lest of all Thomas Standley because he had maryed Henryesanother as it maye well appeare by this that fol oweth For when the sayd Thomas woulde haue departed from the courte vnto his owne mansion for his recreacion as he saide but the truthe was because he woulde bee in a readynesse to receaue Henry and ayde hym at his commyng into the realme But the kyng did let hym and would not suffer hym to departe vntyll suche tyme he had left in the courte behynde hym George Strange his soonne and heyre for a pledge And whyle kynge Richarde was thus wrapped in feare and care of the tumulte that was to come lo euen then tydynges came that Henrye was entred into the lande and that the castell of Hammes was prepared to receiue Henry by the meanes of the erle of Oxenforde whiche then was fled with Iames Blunte keper of the castell vnto Henry Then kyng Rychard thynkyng at the begynnyng to stey all this matter sent forth with all hast â—he greater parte that were then at Calyce to recouer the said castell again Those that were in the castell when thei sawe their aduersaries make towardes theim spedely thei armed theim selfes to defence and in al hast sent messengers to HeÌ„ry desyryng hym of ayde Henry forthwith sent the erle of Oxenforde with a chosen sorte of menne to assist theim and at their first commyng they laid siege not farre from the castell And whyle kyng Rychardes menne turned backe hauyng an yie towardes theim Thomas Brandon with thirty valeaunt menne of the otherside gate ouer a water in to the castell to strength theim that were within Then thei that were within laid heard to their charge that were without on the otherside the erle of Oxenford so valiantly assayled them of the backeside that thei were glad to make proclamacioÌ„ to theim that were within that if thei would be content to geue ouer the castell thei should haue free liberte to departe with all that euer thei had The erle of Oxenforde hearyng this whiche came onely to saue his frendes from hurte and namely Iames Bluntes wife was contented with this condicion and departed in saufgarde with all his frendes returning backe to Henry whiche was at Paris After this kyng Rychard was informed that the Frenche kyng was wery of Henry his compaignie and would doo nothyng for hym wherby Henry was nowe not hable in maner to helpe him self so that it was not possible that he shuld preuaile or goo forwarde in thenterprise that he thoughte to haue taken in hande agaynst kynge Rycharde Kynge Rycharde beeyng brought thus into a false paradice thought hym selfe to bee out of all feare and that there was no cause why he should beynge so sure ones to wake oute of hys slepe or trouble hym selfe any furder and therefore called backe hys nauye of shyppes that then was redy vpon the sea whyche was fullye furnyshed to haue scoured the seas But yet for the more suretie least he should bee sodenly oppressed he gaue commaundemente to the greatte men dwellynge by the sea syde and specyally the Welshemen to watche nyghte and daye leaste his aduersaries shuld haue eny oportunitee to entre into the lande As the fashyon is in time of warre that those that dwell by the sees side should make bekyns in the highest places there about whiche might bee sene afarre of so that when it should chaunce their enemyes to aryue towarde the lande by and by they should fyre theyr bekyns and rayse the countreye to th entent that quickely from place to place they might be ascerteyned of all the whole matter
armie Then the Duke of Burgoyne not contented that the earle shoulde bee holpen of the king of FrauÌ„ce agaynst king Edward prepared a great nauye of shippes aboute the costes of Normandye that he might take hym coÌ„ming towardes Englande yet neuerthelesse the Earle escaped all daungers and landed safe he and all his menne at Dartmouth frome the whiche place he sayled to Fraunce halfe a yere before After that the Earle came to lande he made a proclamacion in king Henry the .vi. name that all they that were of lawfull age shoulde make battayle agaynst Edwarde duke of Yorke whiche agaynste all ryghte and lawe at that tyme had the crowne The whiche when it was doon it cannot be spoken howe soone it went aboute all the realme that he was come and had made this proclamacy on at the whiche also is not to be expressed howe many thousandes of menne came to hym The Earle hauing all this power greate armie went streyght to London whome when Edwarde perceyued to drawe nighe he fledde for the tyme trustyng to haue hym at some vauntage but at the laste he was dryuen to that ende that he had no mynde to get any hoste to resyst his enemies but beyng in greate daunger of his owne lyfe fled with the duke of Gloucestre his brother vnto a towne night the sea called Lye and there taking shippe sayled into Flaunders to Charles the Duke of Burgoyne with greate daunger and parell of his lyfe by the reason of the boisterouse cruel winde Elizabeth his wyfe beyng then greate â—â—th childe dyd take sentuarye at Westmynster where she was broughte in bedde with a mâ—n chylde whose name was Edward After that the earl 〈…〉 newe of the going awaye of kyng Edward he made haste to London and hearing of the tumulte and busynesse that was in Kente and that all the villages and suburbes there were spoyled piteously a lytel before the going awaye of that kyng pacified theim and sette all thinges in good ordre agayne by the doing of the whiche benefyte he was the more louingly accepted of theim all and that doon came to the towre there deliuered kyng Henry the .vi. out of prisone geuing hym his robe of maiesâ—ye broughte hym to Poules the people reioysing on euery syde and there thanked God for that it had chaunsed as they wolde desired And this was the yere of our Lorde a. M .iiii. C. foure score and one that kyng Henry beganne to reigne So that king Henry so often vanquyshed began to reigne nowe likely shortely after to faule againe The which fortune chaunsed to hym by many mennes opinions because he was a very simple and innocent man and that he had rather in godlinesse vertue excell other then in honoure and rule so that for the loue that he had to religion he loked for no dignitee or honoure whiche chaunseth to fewe that wil not seke for it or regard kepe it when they haue it But his enemies saide he was a coward had not the herte or manlynesse to bee a kyng or meete for that offyce So that who soeuer despiseth that the coÌ„mune people alloweth maruaileth at is accompted for a mad man contrariwyse he that doeth agree to theim and in their tale he is a wise man where in dede suche wisdom as it is comeÌ„ly saide is foolishnesse before God Also some saide it was the will of God that it should so bee for his graundfather Henry the fourth gotte it by violencye and force of armes so that it coulde not bee longe enioyed of hym but that faute of the graundesire did redounde on the nephewes But nowe to that matter After this king Henry held his parlyament at Westmynster the .xxvi. daye of Nouembre in the whiche Edwarde is declared openly tray toure to his couÌ„tree bycause he had taken that crowne to him and all his goodes geuen away in like maner al theirs that did take his parte and so iudgement was geuen on theim to dye Furthermore all that decrees statutes and actes of that forenamed Edward were broken of none effecte And then that earle of Warwike as a man that had deserued much of his couÌ„tre was made gouernoure ouer all that realme to whoÌ„ he did take the duke of Clarence as felowe to hym So by that meanes that realme was brought to a new state cleane transformed altered To this parliament came the lorde Marques Mountacute the which excusing his treason that he did take kyng Edward his parte saing it was for feare of death had his pardone â–ª Truely yf this man had taken kyng Edwardes part had stand to his side manly he had not been so sore an enemie and hurted so much his frendes as he was being a false fained and coloured frende for those thinges that we be ware of and knewe before to bee pernicious dooe lesse hurte vs. But nowe quene Margarete being in Fraunce prayed euery daye from that time the Earle went into England for the victorie the whiche when she knewe was obteined by the king his letters that came to her shortely after did take shyppe towardes England but thorowe that sharpnesse of the wether and greate tempestes she was constrayned to lande and to differre her iourney to an other tyme. At the same tyme Gaspar the earle of Penbruch went to Wales to his Earledome where he founde lorde Henry the Earle of Richemonde his brothers sonne a chylde of ten yere olde there kepte prysoner but lyke a noble man of the erle willyam Harberte his wyfe whome we spake of before that Edwarde had made hym erle and then after taken in batayl was behedded at the coÌ„maundement of the earle of Warwike This is that Henry the whiche when Richard the thirde brother to Edward was ouercome and vanquished had the gouernaunce of the realme of whome this is to bee beleued that after that he came to his kingdoÌ„ sent as one by god to quench and put awaye the greate sedicion and stryfe that was betwixte Henry and Edwarde seyng that he minded nothyng so muche as that whome lady Margarete the onely doughter of Iohn the fyrste Duke of Somerset dyd bryng for the beyng but fourtene yeres of age the whiche althoughe she was maryed after to Henry the duke of Bucking ham his sonne and after that to the earle of Derby yet she neuer broughte for the chylde after as thought she had doone her parte when she hadde borne a manne chylde and the same a kynge of a realme Gasper the earle of Penbruch tooke thys chylde Henrye from the earle Harberte hys wife and brought hym soone after to London to king Henry the syxte whome when the kynge had beeholded longe holding hys peace and maruailing at the goodlye wytte of the chylde sayde in thys wyse to the nobles that were at that tyme present Loo thys is he thys is he I saye to whome both wee and oure aduersaries shall geue place to in possession And by
appere more euidēt So that oftē tymes we se noble men aswell as the laye people thorowe ambicion filthy couetousnes thei forgettyng god all godlynes dooe swere greate othes in promisyng thynges the whiche entendyng before thei make their othe to breake it shortely after Yet suche persons oftymes haue their rewardes of God at one or other tyme as this Edward had so that some tyme the punishment falleth on the nephewes for the offence that the vncle had cōmitted But of this thyng I will speake more in Rychard the third in a place wher a manne maye see that the progenie of Edward wer punished for this offence when Edward had thus framed his matters he forgettyng the othe that he had made did se that the citee was strōgly kepte and gettyng hym an army together thought he wold not lynger his busines bycause he harde his enemies made no greate preparaūce or haste but tooke his iourney towarde London in his goyng did purposely goo out of his waye that led hym to Pomfret wher the lord marques was toke on that right hand within lesse thē .iiii. miles of his enemies And whē he perceiued that thei made no skyrmishe nor mocion came in to the right waie again when he was past theim wēt to Notynghame But this greued the Yorke shire mēne that he should deceiue theim so vnhonestly otherwise then did become a kyng or noble manne After that it was knowen that kyng Edward came with out all daunger of his enemies to Notyngham then came there to hym many noble mēne vpon this consideracion that the lord Moūtacute either would not entre vpō his enemies as though he had agreed with theim or els durst not come out of his tentes for that he was not able to matche with theim Therfore menne thought better to take Edwardes part consideryng that his power was so greate then to hold with kyng Henry and hee in daunger of their liues and losse of all their goodes landes Edward reioysyng at this went to Lecestre hearyng that therle was at his toune of Warwicke therle of Oxenford with hym hauyng a greate armie and that thei bothe entended to bryng hym to theim preuentyng their purpose wet awaye with his hoost either wyllyng to fight or els ioyne in frendeship and loue with his brother duke of Clarence with whome then commyng frō London with an hoost of mēne he thought to speake before that he came to therle his cōpaignie fearyng leste that he would not stand to that promise that he made for that he was variable incōstāt In the meane tyme therle of Warwike was very heuie sore moued with the lord marques because he would neither kepe the kyng from Yorke as he was bed nor yet when thei came before his nose would not proffer theim ones to fight therfore cōsideryng that his enemies multiplied more more in his gooyng towardes hym made an hoost sent for that duke of Clarence to come to hym then hauyng an hoost at London Whō whē he perceiued to linger as a man doubtyng whether he should kepe battaill or peace to haue no mind of settyng forth his mē mistrusting also that he was by some traine allured to folowe his brethren and take their partes tooke his waye to Couētrie to th ende that there he might meete his enemies Then Edward came to Warwike and frome thens to the erle and pitched his tentes by hym and the next daie after bad battaill to therle the whiche erle durst not come oute for feare that the duke of Clarence whome he thought had deceaued hym which duke in deede came as it was shewed after with a greate power of menne The whiche when Edward perceaued he made towardes hym that it should not bee thought to bee a made guyle sette his hoost in araye as though he would fight and so did the duke But when thei came in sight Richard duke of Gloucestre as one that should take vp this matter firste spake with the duke priuely in his eare and then came to Edward and did the same to hym and at the laste peace was proclaimed wherby euery manne puttyng doune their weapons Edward his brethrē enbraced louyngly one an other After this Edward made it bee proclaimed that that duke with all theim that came with hym should bee perpetuall frendes that thei three should loue like thre brethren as thei wer in brotherly loue for euer Neuer thelesse God dooeth not seme to haue forgiuē this Edward his offēce of periury although euē nowe fortune fauored hym for yer it were long he was again vexed with werre beside that plage distruciō of his children after his death When thei wer thus come together thei minded to proue if that erle wold come to theim also hold with theim to whō the duke of Clarēce sēt certain of his frendes that whiche first shuld excuse that he had done thē desire hym if that he would to bee at one with kyng Edward Whose mynde whē therle heard he vtterly detested hym with muche cursyng cryed oute of hym that he had contrary to his feith othe made fled to kyng Edward And to his cōmaūdemēt biddyng that he sēt he made none other aunswer but this that he had rather bee like hym self thē like a false periured duke So that he appoincted vtterly neuer to leaue battaill before that either he wer killed and ded or his enemies ouercomed After this Edward hauyng suche a strong power of mēne went boldely to London wher after that it was knowen that the duke of Clarence had taken his parte and that all the brethren were come in to one knot the citezens were in suche a feare that thei could not tell what to dooe but at the lengthe they were dryuen for feare to take kyng Edward his parte At thesame tyme there came letters from the earle to kyng Henry to that duke of Somerset to that archbyshop of Yorke and other of the kyng his counsel that they should kepe the citee from their enemies handes for the space of .ij. or .iij. dayes he would come streyght with a great armye of mēne They defended the citee as strongely as they coulde but it was to no purpose for the citezens cōsyderyng the kyng Henry was no greate warryer and that he had but small policie in the feates of thesame and contrary wise that kyng Edwarde was a man that of hym selfe coulde rule a realme maruelous well and suche a man that woulde not onelye preserue hym selfe and all his but also defende theim from all maner of iniuryes and harmes that shoulde chaunce thought best to leane on his syde And at his commyng to London the people coulde by no thretenyng or strayt cōmaundement be otherwyse kepte backe but that they would mete hym then comyng salute hym altogether as kyng ruler of the realme At whose commynge in the duke of Somerset and certayn other
fled away and made the beste shifte euery manne for hym selfe that he could to escape his hādes sauyng that kyng Hēry 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 obeysaūce 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 cōmen 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 Lōdō But now after that he had pursued theim long and came a good waye of his iourney worde was brought that Edwarde had gottē 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 riddaūce 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 begā 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 mē to haue the better hād did stāde stiffely to theim enbouldenyng his souldiours in all that he coulde Whose power the erle moste manfully resisted And so by long cōtinuaunce of battail many men wer slayne in whose places succeded euer fresher fresher At the length the erle perceauyng his mē 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 mē wer beten downe very sore to the groūde 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 defēce of Edward yf such nede should be to fall vpō their enemies beare theim downe with their great power The erle then seyng freshe mē to come vpō 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 frō 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
fewe and thesame tyme came Ihon ap Morgā vnto hym Henry went styll forward caried almoste in no place because he would make suer woorke and the better spede he inuaded suche places afore that thei were armed against hym the whiche places he bette downe with very litle strēgth But afterward hauyng knowlage by his spyes the the lorde Harbert syr Ryce were in a redynes to geue hym battail he determyned to set vpō theim either to put theim to flight orels to make theim sweare homage and feaultee vnto hym to take theim with hym in his hoste against kyng Richard And because he woulde ascertayne his frendes in Englande howe all the matter went forwad with hym he sent of his moost trustye frendes to ladye Margarete his mother to Standely to Talbot and to other of his most especial frendes with certain commaundementes The effecte of the commaundementes were that he intended with the helpe of hys frendes to passe ouer Seuerne and by Shrewesbury to make toward London Ther fore he desyred theim with those that were of their councell in tyme place conuenient to mete hym So the messaungers going forth with these commissyons Henry went forward toward Shrewesbury and in the waye mette with syr Rice ap Thomas with a great noumber of menne which came vnto hym and was of his parte For two dayes afore Henry promysed hym to bee chiefe ruler of all Wales as soone as he came to the croune yf he would come vnto hym which afterward he gaue to hym in dede In the meane time the messengers executing the message diligētly returned back agayne with large rewardes of theim to whome they were sent and came to Henry the same day he entred into Shrewesburye and shewed howe all his frendes were in a redynesse to dooe the vttermoste that laye in theim This tidynges put Henry in suche greate hope that he went forth with a courage and came to the towne of Newporte and there set vp his tentes vpon a lytle hyll and there laye all night That night came to hym syr Gylberte Talbot with aboue two hundreth menne After that they went forthe to Stafforde whyle they were there Willyam Standley came to hym with a fewe after hym and when he had talked a litle with him retourned backe again to his hoste whiche he had prepared From thence he went to Lichfelde and that nyght laye without the toune but in the morning betime he entred into the citee and was receiued honourably A daye or .ii. afore Thomas Standley was there with fyue M. men armed whiche when he knewe of Henries cōming forthwith went afore to a village called Aderstone there to tarye tyll Henrye came This he dyd to auoide suspicion beyng afraid least kyng Richard knowing his intent would haue put his soonne to deathe whiche as I telled you before was lefte with hym as a pledge for his father But kynge Rychard in the meane tyme which then was at Nottingham hearing that Henry with a fewe more of banished men was entred into Wales so lightly regarded the matter that he thoughte it was not muche to bee paste vpon for that he came in with so fewe in noumbre and that the lorde Harbart sir Rice which wer rulers of all Wales would other kyll hym or elles take hym and bring hym aliue But afterward when he remembred him self that oftentimes a smal matter in batel if it bee not looked vnto betymes would make at the laste a great sturre he thought it best to remedy the matter betimes and commaunded Henrye the earle of Northumberlande with other of the nobles of the realme whome he thoughte had set more by hym then by their owne goodes to rayse vp an army to come to hym with speede Also he sente dyuers messengers with letters to Robert Brakenburye keper of the Towre of London commaundynge hym to come vnto hym in all haste and to brynge with hym as felowes in battell Thomas Burschere Walter Hungerforde and dyuerse other knyghtes whome he dyd not a litell suspecte In this tyme it was shewed that Henrye was come to Shrewisburye without any hurte With the which tidinges the kyng beganne to rage and made exclamacion againste theim that contrary to their faithes they had vtterly deceiued hym then he beganne to mistrust all menne and wiste not whome he mighte truste so that he thoughte it best to sette forthe hym selfe ageinst his aduersaryes And forthwith he sent out spies to knowe which waye Henry did take They when they had dooen their diligence retourned backe again and shewed hym howe that Henry was come to Lichfeld The which thing after he knew because now there was a greate noumbre of souldyours come together by and by his menne set in araye he commaunded theim forwarde and to gooe foure and foure together and by that waye which they kept they hearde saye their enemies were commynge The suspecte persones he putte in the myddes he hym selfe with those he trusted came behind with winges of horsemen running on euery syde And thus keping their order aboute sonne sette came vnto Leicestre When Henrye in the meane season had remoued from Lichefelde vnto the nexte village called Tamworth in the mydwaye he mette with Walter Hungerforde Thomas Burschier and many other more which had promised to aide hym afore And forbecause they perceyued that they were susspected of Richard least they should be brought violentlye vnto hym beyng their enemye they forsooke Robert Brakenbury their capitaine and in the nyghte tyme stale priuely awaye and wente to Henry Vnto whome there chaunced by the waye that was worthy to bee marked whiche was that Henry althoughe he was a manne of noble courage and also his companye dyd dailye encrease yet for all that he stoode in great feare because he was vncertayne of Thomas Standly whiche as I telled you before for the feare of puttynge his soonne to deathe inclyned as yet vnto no parte that the matter was not so slēder of kyng Richard as reporte was made to hym of his frendes Wherfore as all afrayde withoute a cause he tooke onely twenty menne with him and steyed in his iourney as a manne in dispaire and halfe musynge with hym selfe what was beste to bee dooen and to aggrauate the matter tidinges was broughte hym that kyng Richard was comming nere to mete hym with a great and houge hoste of menne And while he thus lyngered for feare behinde his hoste came afore to the toune of Tham worth and because it was then darke night he lost bothe his company and also his waye then wandryng frome place to place at laste came to a lytle village .iii. myle from his hoste being full of feare and leste he should fall into the daunger of scoute watche he durste not aske a questyon of any man and partly for the feare that was presente partely for that was to come he laye there that nyght and tooke this for a sygne or a pronosticacyon of