and of France the Pope the Venetians Florentines and Suisses called the Holy League for the common libertie of Italy The Embassadours much amazed and seeing small hopes of the Dutchy of Burgorgne for which they came returne into Spaine and advertise the Emperour that if he will bee content with a pecuniarie ranson and free the two Princes the King was willing to pay it other Conditions he was like to have none In the meane time SOLYMAN not forgetting to make his profit of these horrible confusions invaded Hungary with a great Army overthrew the Hungarians slew King LEWIS the Emperours Brother in law and conquered the greatest part of the Kingdome For the obtaining of this victorie our Rashnesse was more availeable to him then his owne Forces The Hungarians in comparison of their Enemies were but a handfull but having formerly beene many times victorious over the Turkes they persuaded the young King that hee should not obscure the ancient glory of so warlike a Nation that not expecting the aides of Transylvania he should encounter the Enemy even in the open fields where the Turkes in regard of their multitudes of horse might be thought invincible The event shewed the goodnesse of this counsell The Army consisting of the chiefe strength and Nobilitie of the Countrey was overthrowne a great slaughter made and the King himselfe slaine with much of the Nobility and chiefe Prelates of the Realme and among them TOMORAEVS Archbishop of Colâ—cza the chiefe authour of this ill advised attempt I cannot omit an oddeiest at the same time occasioned by WOLSEY his arnbition It was but falsly rumoured that Pope CLEMENT was dead The Cardinall had long beene sicke of the Pope and the King lately of his Wife WOLSEY persuades the King there was no speedier way to compasseâ—his desires then if Hee could procure him to be chosen Pope CLEMENT being now dead STEPHEN GARDINER a stirring man one very learned and that had a working spirit did then at Rome solicit the Kings Divorce from Queene CATHARINE Wherein although vsing all possible meanes and that CLEMENT was no friend to the Emperour yet could hee not procure the Popes favour in the King's behalfe Nay whether he would not cut off all meanes of reconciliation with the Emperour if need were or whether being naturally slow hee did not vsually dispatch any matter of great moment speedily or peradventure whereto the event was agreeable that he perceived it would be for his profit to spin it out at length or which some alledge that he was of opinion that this marriage was lawfully contracted so that he could not giue sentence on either side without either offence to his Conscience or his Friend the Pope could not be drawne to determine either way in this businesse These delayes much vexed the King If matters proceed so slowly vnder CLEMENT on whom hee much presumed what could hee expect from another Pope one perhaps wholy at the Emperours devotion Hee therefore resolved to endevour the advancement of WOLSEY to the Chaire from whom hee promised to himselfe a successe answerable to his desires HENRY therefore sends away speedy Posts to GARDINER with ample instructions in the behalfe of WOLSEY willing him to worke the Cardinals some with promises others with guifts some with threats others with persuasions and to omit no meanes that might be any way availeable But this was to build Castles in the aire The messenger had scarce set forth when report that had made CLEMENT dead had againe revived him Anno Dom. 1527. Reg. 19. THe sixt of May Rome was taken and sacked by the Imperials vnder the conduct of the Duke of Bourbon who was himselfe slaine in the assault marching in the head of his troupes The Pope Cardinals Embassadours of Princes and other Nobles hardly escaping into the Castle of Saint Angelo were there for some dayes besieged At length despairing of succours and victuals failing the Pope for feare hee should fall into the hands of the Lansquenets for the most part seasoned with LVTHERS doctrine and therefore passionate enemies to the Sea of Rome agreeth with the Prince of Auranges after the death of the Duke of Bourbon chosen Generall by the Army yeilding himselfe and the Cardinals to him who kept them close Prisoners in the Castle Rome was now subiect to all kind of crueltie and insolencies vsuall to a conquered Citie intended for destruction Beside Slaughter Spoile Rapes Ruine the Pope and Cardinals were the sport and mockerie of the licentious multitude HENRY pretended much griefe at this newes but was inwardly glad that such an occasion was offred whereby he might oblige CLEMENT in all likelihood as he had iust cause offended with the Emperour for this so insolent and harsh proceeding Whereupon hee dispatcheth WOLSEY into France who should intimate to the King his perpetuall Ally what a scandale it was to all Christendome that the Head of it should bee oppressed with Captivitie a thing which did more especially concerne FRANCIS his affaires The Cardinall set forth from London about the beginning of Iuly accompanied with nine hundred Horse among which were many Nobles The Archbishop of Dublin the Bishop of London the Earle of Derby the Lords SANDS MONTEGLE and HARENDON besides many Knights and Gentlemen WOLSEY found the French King at Amiens where it is agreed that at the common charge of both Princes warre shall be maintained in Italy to set the Pope at libertie and to restore him to the possessions of the Church HENRY contributing for his part thirtie thousand pounds sterling a moneth Vpon the returne of the Cardinall FRANCIS sent into England MONTMORENCY Lord Steward and Mareschall of France for the confirmation of this League and to invest the King with the Order of Saint MICHAEL Hee arriued in England about the middle of October accompanied with â—OHN BELLAY Bishop of Bayeux afterward Cardinall the Lord of Brion and among others MARTIN BELLAY the Wriâ—er of the French Historie who in this manner describes the passages of this Embassage MONTMORENCY arriving at Dover was honourably received by many Bishops and Gentlemen sent by the King who brought him to London where he was met by twelue hundred horse who conducted him to his lodging in the Bishop of Londons Palace Two dayes after hee went by water to Greenwich fower miles beneath London where the King oft resideth There hee was very sumptuously entertained by the King and the Cardinall of Yorke Having had Audience the Cardinall having often accompanied him at London and Greenwich brought him to a house which he had built a little before ten miles aboue London seated vpon the bankes of Thames called Hampton Court. The Cardinall gave it afterward to the King it is this day one of the King 's chiefest houses The Embassador with all his Attendants was there feasted by him foure or fiue dayes together The Chambers had hangings of wonderfull value and euery place did glitter with innumerable vessels of gold and
hee saw into what straights our King was likely to driue the French being weake if he would pressehard vpon him and pierce farther into the Kingdome although hee were a profest enemie to the French yet was he iealous of our prosperous proceeding and therefore by all meanes perswaded HENRY to dismantle Therouenne and thence to proceed to the siege of Tournay Hee blamed him not without iust cause for his late setting forth Summer being first welâ—neere spent Winter was now at hand when it would not quit cost to maintaine such an Armie good desigues being not then to bee put in execution Hee told him that Therovenne was so farre from him that it could not bee kept without great difficultie therefore hee should doe well to dismantle it that it might not hereafter serue for a Bulwarke to the Eenemie That Tournay was a French Citie but like an Island with the Sea surrounded with Flanders and Hainault and farre divided from the rest of France True it was that it was well stored with inhabitants and not meanly fortified but that there was no other Garrison then of Citizens and these hee should finde effeminate and for provision that they had none Hee should therefore make speed and come on them vnawares and with a few dayes siege force them to yeild That the French King if hee intended to succour them must first march through all Henault and passe over two or three great Riuers amongst which were the Escaut and the Scarpe That the Souldiers should finde good booties there and the King himselfe the triumph of a most assured conquest That the addition of such a Citie would bee no meane increase of his Dominions and so much the lesse care to bee taken of it for as much as it would bee as easie for him to keepe it in obedience as it was for the French for the space of so many yeares to defend it being placed amidst so many Enemies that still had a greedie eye over it King HENRY by this time had so much of Warre that hee began to bee wearie of the toyle thereof and to cast his minde on the pleasures of the Court Wherefore although hee wanted not Counsailors for the best hee followed the Emperours advice as being the more easie The Flemmings who begged it of the King had leave to rase the walls of Therouenne to fill the ditches and to burne all the buildings except the Church and the Chanons houses which they in regard of the dissensions vsuall to bordering Nations very gladly performed Therouenne being thus taken and destroyed away they march with all speed to Tournay indevouring by their celeritie to prevent the fame of their comming But the Citizens suspecting some such enterprise had fortified themselves as well as the shortnesse of time would permit them and the Peasants thereabouts bring all their goods into the Citie as to a place of safeguard The Citie was of no great circuit yet at the beginning of the siege it contained fourescore thousand people By reason whereof victuals quickly began to faile them and they could no way hope for reliefe The French King was farre off they had no Garison the Citizens bad Souldiers two great Princes had begirt the Towne with fifâ—ie thousand men but they had an Enemy within called Famine more cruell and insupportable then both So having for some few dayes held out the siege the nine and twentieth of September their lives being granted them they yeild and to saue themselves from spoile pay a hundred thousand Crownes The King makes them sweare Fealty to him and appoints Sir EDWARD POYNINGS a Knight of the Garter their Governour Next hee gives order for store of warlike provision puts in a small Garison and builds a Cittadell for the confirmation of his conquest Neither amongst these politique affaires did he neglect those of the Church For the Bishop being proscribed hee conferres the Sea with all the revenues vpon THOMAS WOLSEY of whose first rising and immoderate power we shall have much occasion to speake hereafter All things being thus ordered because Winter came on apace hee beganne to bethinke himselfe of returning with his Armie into England This thought so farre pleased him that having beene absent scarce foure monethes hee tooke ship and about the end of October came home triumphing in the glory of a double conquest By the way hee was entertained with the newes of another victorie the Lord HOWARD Earle of Surrey having vnder his Fortune slaine the King of Scots The King of France being encumbred with many warres had coniured IAMES the Fourth King of Scots by the ancient Lawes of Amitie and the late League made betweene them that Hee would not forsake him intangled in so many difficulties If Hee regarded not his friends case yet Hee should at least looke to himselfe for whom it would not bee safe to suffer a bordering Nation alwayes at enmitie with Him by such additions to arise to that height of power The King of England busied with a foraine warre was now absent and with Him the flower of the English Chivalrie Hee should therefore forthwith take Armes and trie to recover Berwicke an especiall towne of the Scottish Dominions but for many yeares withheld by the English He would easily be victorious if He would but make vse of this occasion so happily offered It could not be but this warre would bee for His Honour and profitable to His Friend if not to Himselfe He should thereby also make knowne to His Enemies that the Scottish Armes were not to bee contemned whose former victories a long and to them hurtfull peace had obscured and buried in oblivion among the English As for the charges of it Hee need not bee troubled for that Hee would afford Him fiftie thousand Crownes towards the providing of Munition and Ordinance These reasons so preuailed with the yong King covetous of glory that notwithstanding he had lately made a League with our King whose Sister hee had married and her vehement dissuasions he proclaimed warre against HENRY which proved fatall to him bloudie to his and the cause of many ensuing calamities So having raised a great Armie hee breakes into our Marches and besiegeth Norham Castle belonging to the Bishop of Durham the which having held out sixe dayes was at last yeilded vnto him Thence hee removes his Campe to Berwicke wasting all the Countrey as hee marcht with fire and sword The newes whereof are brought vnto them to whom the governement of the Kingdome was committed in the absence of the King and a leuy being made through all the North parts of the Kingdome Alnewike is appointed the rendez-vous where all the troupes should meete at a set day that thence they might set forward against the Enemie vnder the conduct of the Lord THOMAS HOWARD Earle of Surrey Among the first to his Fathers great ioy comes the Earles Sonne THOMAS Lord Admirall leading a veterane troupe of fiue thousand men of tried valour and
haughtie in regard of their former navall victories obtained vnder the command of this young Lord. After him came the Lords DACRES CLIFFORD SCROPE LATIMER CONIERS LVMLEY and OGLE besides Sir NICHOLAS APPLEYARD Master of the Ordinance Sir W. PERCIE Sir WILLIAM SIDNEY Sir WILLIAM BVLMER Sir IOHN STANLEY Sir WILLIAM MOLINEVX Sir THOMAS STRANGWAYES Sir RICHARD TEMPEST and many other Knights These sitting in Counsell thought it best to send an Herald to the King to expostulate with him concerning these out-rages committed to complaine that He had without all right or reason spoyled the Countrey of a Prince not onely Allied vnto Him but also His Confederate and therefore to certifie Him that they were readie by battaile to revenge the breach of League if so bee Hee durst awaite their comming but a few dayes in a ground that might be fitting for the meeting of both Armies The King makes answere by writing wherein Heeretorts the violation of the League calling God to witnesse that King HENRY had first by his many iniuries showne evident signes of an alienated mind For the English Hee pretended robbed all along the Marches of Scotland without restitution or punishment ANDREW BARTON a stout and honest man had beene vniustly slaine by the Kings command and one HERON who had murdered ROBERT CAR a Scottish Nobleman vaunted himselfe openly in England the King taking no notice of so hainous a fact Of these things Hee had often complained by his Embassadours but without effect There was therefore no other way for Him but to betake Himselfe to Armes for the common defence of Himselfe and his Kingdome against the Kings iniustice As for the meeting hee signified that he accepted of it and appointed both Time and Place for the battaile Neither partie failed the prefixed day The Scot seekes to animate his men by taking away all hope of safeguard by flight commanding them I know not how wisely but the event shâ—wed how vnhappily for thme to forsake their horses forasmuch as they were to trust to their hands not to their horses heeles and by his owne example shewing what hee would haue done hee alights and prepares himselfe to fight on foote The rest doing the like the whole Army encountred Vs on foote to whom after a long and bloudy fight the fortune of the victorie inclined The Scots had two and twentie Peeces of great Ordinance which stood them in no steed For our men climing vp a hill where the Enemy sate hovering over Vs the shot passed over our heads Our chiefe strength were our Archers who so incessantly played vpon foure wings of Scots for the King divided his Army into fiue Battalions that were but lightly armed that they forced them to flie and leave their fellowes who yet stood stoutly to it But the maine Battaile where the King was consisting of choice men and better armed against our sâ—ot was not so easily defeated For the Scots although they being inclosed as it were in a toyle were forced to fight in a ring made most desperate resistance and that without doubt so much the rather because they not onely heard their King incouraging them but saw him also manfully fighting in the foremost rankes vntill having received would vpon wound heâ—el down dead The say there fell with him the Archbishop of Saint ANDREWES his naturall Sonne two other Bishops two Abbots twelve Earles seventeene Barons and of common Souldiers eight thousand The number of the Captives is thought to haue beene as many They lost all their Ordinance and almost all their Ensignes insomuch that the victorie was to bee esteemed a very great one but that it was somewhat bloudie to Vs in the losse of fifteene hundred This field was fought the ninth of September neere Flodon hill vpon a rising banke called Piperdi not farre from Bramston I am not ignorant that the Scotish Writers constantly affirme the King was not slaine in the field but having saved himselfe by flight was afterwards killed by his owne people and that the body which was brought into England was not the Kings but of one ALEXANDER ELFINSTON a young Gentleman resembling the King both in visage and stature whom the King that hee might delude those that pursued him and might as with his owne Presence animate them that fought else-where had caused with all tokens of Royaltie to be armed and apparelled like himselfe But to let passe the great number of Nobilitie whose carcases found about him sufficiently testifie that they guarded their true King and consequently that the counterfaite fought else-where it is manifest that his body was knowne by many of the Captives who certainly affirmed that it could bee no other then the Kings although by the multitude of wounds it were much defaced For his necke was opened to the midst with a wide wound his left hand almost cut off in two places did scarce hang to his arme and the Archers had shot him in many places of his body Thus was IAMES the Fourth King of Scots taken away in the flower of his youth who truly in regard of his Princely Vertues deserved a longer life For hee had a quicke wit and a maiesticall countenance he was of a great spirit courteous milde liberall and so mercifull that it was observed hee was often forced against his will to punish offenders These vertues endeared him to his people in his life time and made them so much lament the losse of him being dead that as all Historians report they seemed to have lost onely him in the whole succession of their Kings which sufficiently argues the improbabilitie of the subiects pretended Parricide But he had not fallen into this misery if he would haue hearkened to the advice of those who perswaded him to have returned home before the fight contented with what hee had alreadie performed in the expedition that he should not vpon so weake forces hazard the estate oâ— his Kingdome hee had wonne glory enough and abundantly fulfilled his friends request But the French Agent and some of the Kings Mignons corrupted by the French vrging to the contrarie this haughtie Prince even otherwise very desirous to give proofe of his valour was easily perswaded to awaite our great Forces already marching His body if at least that were his not ELFINSTON'S being enclosed in Lead and brought into England was by our Kings I will not say cruell but certainly inhumane command cast in some by corner or other without due Funerall Rites saying that it was a due punishment for one who had periurously broken his League whereas if wee examine the premisses we shall find he wanted not probable pretexts for what hee vndertooke Anno Dom. 1514. Reg. 6. THe next yeare having begunne his course THOMAS HOWARD Earle of Surrey hee who had beene victorious over the Scots was created Duke of Norfolke the title and dignitie of his Ancestors IOHN his Father deriving his pedigree from THOMAS de Brotherton Sonne to King EDWARD the First the SEGRAVES and
faire sprouts to the blast of vnseasonable hopes and nature denying any at least lawfull issue to the rest the name and almost remembrance of this great Family hath ceased Of which hereafter Scotland had beene long peaceable yet had it often administred motives of discontent and jealousy IAMES the Fifth King of Scots Nephew to HENRY by his Sister having long liued a Bachelor HENRY treated with him concerning a marriage with his then only Childe the Lady MARY a Match which probably would have vnited these neighbour Kingdomes But God had reserved this Vnion for a more happy time The antient League betweene France and Scotland had alwaies made the Scots affected to the French and IAMES prefer the alliance with France before that of England where the Dowry was no lesse than the hopes of a Kingdome So he marrieth with MAGDALEN a Daughter of France who not long surviving hee againe matcheth there with MARY of Guise Widow to the Duke of Longueville HENRY had yet a desire to see his Nephew to which end he desired an enterview at Yorke or some other oportune place IAMES would not condiscend to this who could notwithstanding vndertake a long and dangerous voyage into France without invitation These were the first seeds of discord which after bladed to the Scots destruction There having been for two yeares neither certaine peace nor a iust War yet incursions from each side Forces are assigned to the Duke of Norfolke to represse the insolency of the Scots and secure the Marches The Scot vpon newes of our being in Armes sends to expostulate with the Duke of Norfolke concerning the motives of this war and withall dispatcheth the Lord GORDON with some small Forces to defend the Frontiers The Herauld is detained vntill our Army came to Berwick that hee might not give intelligence of our strength And in October the Duke entring Scotland continued there ransacking the Countrey without any opposition of the Enemy vntill the middle of November By which time King IAMES having levied a great Army resolved on a battaile the Nobility persuading the contrary especially vnwilling that hee should any way hazard his Person the losse of his Father in the like manner being yet fresh in memory and Scotland too sensible of the calamities that ensued it The King proving obstinate they detaine him by force desirous rather to hazard his displeasure than his life This tendernesse of him in the language of rage and indignation hee termes cowardise and treachery threatening to set on the Enemy assisted with his Family only The Lord MAXWELL seeking to allay him promised with ten thousand only to invade England and with far lesse then the English Forces to divert the war The King seemes to consent But offended with the rest of the Nobility he gives the Lord OLIVER SAINTCLARE a private Commission not to be opened vntill they were ready to give the onâ—et wherein hee makes him Generall of the Army Having in England discovered five hundred English horse led by Sir THOMAS WHARTON and Sir WILLIAM MVS GRAVE the Lord SAINTCLARE commanded his Commission publiquely to be read the recitall whereof so distasted the Lord MAXWELL and the whole Army that all things were in a confusion and they ready to disband The oportunity of an adioining hill gave vs a full prospect into their Army and invited vs to make vse of our advantages Wee charge them furiously the Scots amazedly fly many are slaine many taken more plunged in the neighbouring fens and taken by Scotish Freebooters sold to vs. Among the Captives were the Earles of Glencarne and Cassells the Lords SAINTCLARE MAXWELL Admirall of Scotland FLEMING SOMERWELL OLIPHANT and GRAY besides two hundred of the better sort and eighthundred common souldiers The consideration of this overthrow occasioned as hee conceived by the froward rashnesse of his owne Subiects and the death of an English Herauld slaine in Scotland so surcharged him with rage and griefe that hee fell sicke of a Fever and died in the three and thirtieth yeare of his age and two and thirtieth of his raigne leaving his Kingdome to the vusally vnhappy governement of a Woman a Childe scarce eight dayes old The chiefe of the captives being conveied to the Tower were two dayes after brought before the King's Counsaile where the Lord Chancellour reprehended their treachery who without due denunciation of war invaded and spoiled the territories of their Allies and committed many outrages which might excuse any severe courses which might in iustice be taken with them Yet his Maiesty out of his naturall Clemency was pleased to deale with them beyond their deserts by freeing them from the irkesomenesse of a strict imprisonment and disposing of them among the Nobles to beby them entertained vntill He should otherwise determine of them By this time King IAMES his death had possessed HENRY with new hopes of vniting Britaine vnder one Head England had a Prince and Scotland a Queene but both so young that many accidents might dissolve a contract before they came to sufficiency Yet this seeming a course intended by the Divine Providence to extirpate all causes of enmity and discord betweene these neighbouring Nations a marriage betweene these young Princes is proposed With what alacrity and applaufe the proposition was on both sides entertained wee may conceive who have had the happinesse to see that effected which they but intended Which being a matter of so sweet a consequence it is to be wondred at that the conspiracy of a few factious spirits should so easily hinder it The hope of it prevailed with the King for the liberty of the Captives conditionally that they should leave hostages for their returne if peace were not shortly concluded which as also the furtherance of this so wished coniunction they faithfully promised Anno Dom. 1543. Reg. 35. AFter their short Captivity the Scottish Lords having beene detained onely twelve dayes at London on New yeares day began their iourney towards Scotland and with them ARCHIBALD DOVGLAS Earle of Angus whom his Sonne in law King IAMES had a little before his death intended to recall Fifteene yeares had hee and his brother GEORGE lived exiles in England HENRY out of his Royall Bounty allowing to the Earle a pension of a thousand markes and to his brother of five hundred The sudaine returne of these captive Lords caused in most as sudaine a ioy Only the Cardinall of Saint ANDREWS who had by forgery made himselfe Regent and his faction could willingly have brooked their absence They came not as freed from a Captivity but as Embassadours for Peace by them ernestly persuaded which by the happy coniunction of these Princes might be concluded to perpetuitie But the Cardinall with his factious Clergy the Queene Dowager and as many as were affected to the Flower de Lys interposed themselves for the good of France Yet notwithstanding the Cardinals fraud being detected hee is not only deposed from his Regency and IAMES HAMILTON
Father Lord Evers with an Army entred Scotland making all the Countrey desert about Iedbury and Kelson Thence marching to Coldingham fortified the Church and Tower and leauing a Garrison there departed The Garrison partly out of couetousnesse partly to distresse the Enemy if he should lay siege to them pillaged and wasted all the neighbouring Countrey The Regent according to their expectation besiegeth the Church with eight thousand men and batters it a whole day and a night But sudainly making none of the Nobles partakers of his determinations whether out of feare to be betraied by his Army or some other cause tooke horse and passed away to Dunbar which occasioned the disbanding of the Army and the freedome of the besieged Our often successe hauing emboldened vs we adventure vpon another impression the fury whereof disburdened it selfe in Merch Tâ—ifidale and Lauden the Inhabitants being either forced to yeild or fly and leave their goods to be seized on by Bellonas Haâ—bingers The Scots at length make head and although of more then equall number they betake themselves to stratagems They vnderstand by their Scouts of our approach and to deceive vs by the advise of WALTER SCOT send their horses to the adioyning hils Neither indeed was the place so advantageous for Horse as for Foot The horses backed by the Groomes that kept them did from the hils make shew of an Army and that flying We advance as loath to let our enemies escape in the pursuit of whom we vnawares fall among the whole Army not disorderly flying but prepared to receive vs. It is not vnusuall to encounter men but if Heaven and the Elements oppose vs how can we hope for victory Wee finde the number of our adverse Army great beyond our expectation the Sun farre declining to the West darted his rayes in our faces and a violent winde drives the smoke of the shot into our mouthes which not onely made the most necessary sence vnusefull but with a foule stench corrupted the aire and hindred the breathing of the already panting Souldiers The many advantages give them the victory Wee leave two hundred in the place and among them the Lord EVERS a thousand are taken whereof Alderman READ was one A little after this victory FRANCIS sent into Scotland a supply of five hundred French Horse and three thousand Footmen vnder the command of the Lord of Lorges Earle of Montgomery not so much to crosse our attempts against the Scots as to distract our forces that the violence of them vnited might not at once fall on France This yeare among other accidents is alâ—o memorable through the death of the King's Brother in law CHARLES BRANDON Duke of Suffolke a man of a mighty spirit yet so tempering it with mildnesse and faire demeanour that hee was generally beloved both of Prince and people Who in that height of favour carried him so evenly as to die quietly in his bed A happinesse vnder this Prince rare even to Fortunes and His Favourites A Parliament assembled in November granted the King the Disposall of all Colledges Chantries and Hospitals the demeasnes salaries and stipends thereto belonging or given to Priests to say Masse for the soules of the departed The King personally gave thankes to both Houses promising to have a care that they should be imployed to the honour of God and the publique good But we finde not the effect of his promises Anno Dom. 1546. Reg. 38. vltimo WE are now come to the last yeare of HENRY his Raigne Who having tired himselfe with the French wars began at length seriously to bethinke himselfe of peace Neither was FRANCIS lesse desirous of his friendship To this end Deputies from both sides meet often betweene Guisnes and Ardres For HENRY the Earle of Hertford GARDINER Bishop of Winchester the Viscount Lisle Lord Admirall Sir WILLIAM PAGET Secretary of Estate and Doctour WOTTON the first Deane of Canterbury For FRANCIS the Admirall ANNEBAVLT RAYMOND first President of Rouan and BOVCHEREL Secretary After many consultations a Peace was concluded on these Conditions That Francis within eight yeares should pay fourescore hundred thousand Crownes to the King as well for the arrerage of his Pension as for many other expenses made by him in war in the fortification of Boloigne and of the Countrey and vpon receipt of the said summe Henry should deliver vnto the King of France Boloigne and all the Countrey belonging to it with the ancient places or newly edified by him Mont-Lambert the Tower of Ordre Ambleteul and others with all the Artillery and Munition in them For the confirmation whereof the Viscount Lisle was sent Embassadour into France and from thence came the Admirall ANNEBAVLT to receive the oathes of each King and the Peace was proclaimed in London On the sixteenth of Iuly were burnt at London for their Religion IOHN LASSELS NICHOLAS OTTERDEN IOHN ADLAM and ANNE ASSKEW a young Gentlewoman aged twentie five of an ancient Descent excellent beauty and acute wit whose examinations writings tortures and patient suffering are at large set downe by Master FOX being before their execution by Doctour SCHAXTON exhorted to recant as he then was forced who some yeares passed had resigned his Bishopricke to enioy his Conscience And here I may not omit an addition to the septenary number of Sleepers WILLIAM FOXLEY a Potmaker in London who without any touch of any preceding infirmity was seised with such a dead sleepe that for fourteene daies and fifteene nights no force nor invention could awake him on the fifteenth day this miraculous sleepe forsaking him he was as it were restored to life and found as sound and entire as if he had taken no more then an ordinary repose Neither would he believe that he had taken other but that the building of a certaine wall made it apparant to him how much time he had slept away Hee lived above forty yeares after viz. to the yeare 1587. Let vs conclude this yeare with the death of MARTIN LVTHER that famous impugner of the Church of Rome who being sent for by the Counts of MANSFEILD to compose some differences betweene them concerning their inheritance died among them in his Climactericall yeare and after much contention for his body lieth buried at Wirtenberg Anno Dom. 1547. HENRY long since growne corpulent was become a burthen to himselfe and of late lame by reason of a violent vleer in his leg the inflammation whereof cast him into a lingering fever which by little and little decaying his spirits hee at length began to feele the inevitable necessity of death The cogitation of many things as in the like exigents vsually happeneth oppressed him and chiefly of his Sonnes nonage but now entring into his tenth yeare an age infirme and oportune to treacheries against which he found small provision in his friends having none amongst those on whose loyalty hee chiefly relied of so sufficient eminency as to vnderprop his weake Estate with those supporters of Royalty Power and
encline to resolutions of peace they conceale our letters And not only so but vpon assurance of victory spred a rumor that nothing would content the insolent English but the delivery of the Queene which if they could not otherwise they would by force obtaine and proceed to the absolute conquest of the Kingdome This report inraged the Souldiers whom no motives could disuade from present ingaging themselves in battaile The wiser sort were not ignorant of the necessities that long since began to presse vs who were brought to that passe that by reason of the difficulties of passages we could not make a safe retreat nor force the Enemie to fight in reguard of the strength of the place where he was incamped But the vaine hope of victorie had possessed the mindes of the greater part and excluded reason Necessitie forced vs to a resolution brave and expedient which was to seeke the Enemy in his lodging and endevour to draw him to combat But the hot-spurre Scots issuing from out their fastnesses seemed willing to prevent vs. So both Armies entertaine a mutuall resolution A little before the ioyning of the Armies an accident happened which did not a little make way to our victory The Enemy marching along neere the sea shore a piece of Ordnance discharged from out Gally tooke away five and twentie of their men whereof the eldest sonne of the Lord GRIMES was one Foure thousand Archers terrified with so vnexpected a slaughter made astand could never after be brought on The two armies approching each other the Duke of Somerset commanded the Lord GRAY with the Cavallery to charge the Scots and finde them imployment vntill the Infantery had seized on an adioyning hill and if he◠could without much hazard to disorder the Enemy But they were gallantly received by a strong Squadron of Pikes whereon some of the formost having too far ingaged themselues were cast away the rest retreated affirming that it was as casie to force a wall as through the Scottish rankes The Duke makes a second triall by the light Horse seconding them with the Ordnance and the Archers The Enemy either not able to stand so violent a charge or as some relate to draw vs from the favour of our Canon begins to giue ground which we perceiving give a shout crying out withall They fly they fly which so amazed them that some began to fly indeed and at length the whole Army was routed The Scots complaine that we tyrannized over the Captives especially the Priests and Friers whereof many served in this Feild because by their instigation chiefly our Conditions were so arrogantly reiected Of the Enemies were slaine thirteene thousand and among them beside the Earle of Lohemor and the Lord FLEMING the chiefe of the Scottish Gentry with their Tenants who thought it a disgrace to survive their Lords In the chase were taken fifteene hundred among whome were the Earle HVNTLEY Chancellour of Scotland the Lords HESTER HOBBEY and HAMILTON beside many other persons of Quality This lamentable overthrow was given the tenth of September The English become Victors beyond their expectation ransacked the Countrey five miles about fortified in the Forth the forsaken Islands Keth and Haymon tooke Brocth Castle by their terrour forced the Garrisons of Humes and Fastcastle to yeeld and having built a Fort at Lauder and repaired the ruines of Roxburgh by their departure recreated the deiected mindes of the distressed Scots Our affaires thus succeeding abroad the Church at home had her changes Many of the Counsaile but especially the Protector much endeavoured Reformation in point of Religion The rest who were addicted to the Doctrine of Rome could for private respects temporize fearing indeed restitution of Church goods wherein each of them shared vnles an irreconcileable breach were made with that Sea So that whiles some eagerly oppose Popery and others coldly defend it not onely what had beene enacted by HENRY the Eighth concerning the abrogation of the Popes authority is confirmed but many other things are added whereby our Church was so purged from the dregs of Superstition that for Purity of Doctrine and Institution of select Ecclesiasticall Rites it excelled the most Reformed Churches of Germany All Images are pulled downe Priests are permitted to marry the Liturgy set forth in the English Tongue the Eucharist administred vnder both kindes Auricular-Confession forbidden no man prohibited the reading of the Scriptures no Masses to be said for the Soules of the departed and many other things ordained so far differing from the Institution of our Forefathers that it administred matter to the common people who are won◠to judge not according to Reason but Custome of breaking out into Rebellion And it is somewhat remarkable that the same day wherin the Images wherof the Churches were dispossessed were publiquely burned at London we obtained that memorable victory over the Scots at Musselburgh This yeare at Archbishop CRANMER his invitation came into England PETER MARTYR a Florentine MARTIN BVCER of Selestadt and PAVLVS PHAGIVS borne in the Palatinate who being very courteously received by the King and Nobles having reposed themselves some while at Canterbury were sent MARTYR to Oxford BVCER and PHAGIVS to Cambridge there publiquely to read Divinity but PHAGIVS having scarce saluted the Vniversity deceased of a Quartane Ague the twelfe of November in the five and fortieth yeare of his age Neither did BVCER long survive him who died at Cambridge the last of February 1551 being then threescore yeares old MARTYR shortly after his comming to Oxford maintained publiquely in the Schooles and that with solid arguments against TRESHAM and CHEDSEY Opponents that the Popish Transubstantiation was but a meere fiction which Disputation he after published and inlarged Anno Dom. 1548. Reg. 2. THe English having this yeare fortified and put a strong Garrison into Hadinton a Towne seated in the most fertile soile of all Scotland did from thence and Lauder make often inrodes vpon the bordering Countrey burning and spoiling whatsoever might be vsefull to the Enemy from whome they expected a siege In the meane time had the French sent six thousand ten thousand say we men into Scotland wherof three thousand were Lansquenets led by the Reingrave The Lord of Essé a man of tried valor famous in the siege of Landrecy and other expeditions was chief of the Army These advēturers lāding at Dunbar march speedily for Hadinton ioining with the Scottish Forces consisting of eight thousand men straightly besiege it At the Abbey neere the Towne they call a Counsaile treat of transporting the Queene into France and marrying her to the Daulphin They whome the respect of private ends had not corrupted and withdrawne from the care of the publique weale obiected That they should so draw on them a perpetuall war from England and betray themselves to the slavery of the French That the propositions made by the English were reasonable who offered a ten yeares Truce and sought not to intrap the Scot
in any bands or preiudiciall compacts their demands being none other then this That if within the ten yeares either the King of England or the Queene of Scots should decease all things should on each side remaine entire and in their former estate Delay had often in the like cases proved advantageous wheras speedy repentance commonly followeth precipitated haste The Popish Faction especially the Clergy to whom the amity of England was little pleasing in reguard of the differences in Religion and some others oblieged to the French either in respect of received benefits or future profit with might and maine interposed to the contrary and chiefly the Regent bought with a pension of foure thousand crownes and the Command of one hundred Lances The French Faction prevailed for her transportation The Fleet from Leith where it harboured setting saile as if for France fetching a compasse round about Scotland put in at Dâ—nbritton where they embarqued the six yeare old Queene attended by IAMES her base Brother IOHN ARESKIN and WILLIAM LEVISTON who being put backe by contrary windes and much distressed by tempest arrived at length in Little Bretaigne and from thence set forward to the Court of France so escaping our Fleet which hovered about Calais to intercept them if as we were persuaded they needs must they crossed those neighbouring Straights Hadinton in the meane time being straightly beleaguered Sir ROBERT BOWES and Sir THOMAS PALMER are with seven hundred Lances and six hundred light Horse sent to relieve it BVCHANAN saieth there were but three hundred Horse the rest Foote Of what sort soever they were it is certaine that before they could reach Hadington they were circumvented and slaine almost to a man Yet did not the besieged let fall their courages but bravely defended themselves vntill FRANCIS Earle of Shrewsbury with an Army of twelve thousand English and foure thousand Lansquenets disassieged them and forced the French to retreat The Earle having supplied the Towne with necessaries and re-inforced the Garrison returned to Berwicke What they could not by force the Enemy hopes more easily to effect by a surprisall To this end D' Essé with some select Bands arrives at Hadinton about the breake of day where having killed the Centinells and taken an halfe moone before the Port some seeke to force the gates some invade our adioining Granaries The noise and shouts of the assailants gives an alarme to the Garrison who give fire to a Canon planted before the Port the bullet whereof penetrating the gate makes way through the close ranks of the Enemies and so affrights them that they seeke to save themselves by flight Fortune was not so favourable to the garrisons of Humes and Fastcastle where by the negligence of the Centinells the designes of the Enemy were crowned with succes At Humes being conducted by some that knew all the secret passages they clime vp a steepe rocke enter massacre the secure Garison and enioy the place At Fastcastle the Governor had commanded the neighbouring Husbandmen at a prefixed day to bring in their contribution of corne and other necessary provision The Enemy makes vse of this oportunity Souldiers habited like Peasants at the day come fraught with their burthens wherof easing their horses they carry them on their shoulders over the bridge which ioined two rockes together and so gaine entrance the watch-word being given they cast downe their burthens kill the Centinells open the gates to their fellowes and become masters of the place Neither were our navall enterprises fortunate being at Saint Minian and Merne repelled with losse In Autumne the Earle of Rutland with three thousand Lansquenets and some bands drawne out of the frontier Garrisons arrives at Hadington Who duly considering that this Towne could not be kept any longer without the excessive charges of iust Army forasmuch as the Countrey about being miserably foâ—raged it could not be victualled without great difficulty and danger rased the walls fired the houses brought away the Artillery and finding no resistance returned in safety to Berwick BVCHANAN refers it to the ensuing yeare but I follow the record of our owne Historians And having thus far spent the yeare abroad I at length returne home where I finde STEPHEN GARDINER Bishop of Winchester in the Tower He was a man very learned and no lesse subtle adhering to the Popish Faction yet so as that hee would be content to accommodate himselfe to the current of the times King HENRY had emploied him in many Embassages and that with ample authority vnder whom he durst not oppose the proceedings confirmed by enacted Lawes And vnder EDWARD hee repressed himselfe for a time seemingly consenting to the commenced Reformation But his dissimulation was at length manifestly discovered to the Privy Counsaile who had commanded him in a Sermon at Pauls-Crosse to signify his approbation of the present estate of the Church which he accordingly did on the nine and twentieth of Iune but so ambiguously and obscurely that he satisfied them not And being expressely forbidden to speake any thing concerning the Eucharist he knowing that by the Lawes nothing was definitively determined in that point did so eagerly assert that Papisticall I will not say Capernaiticall Corporall and Reall Presence of CHRIST in the Sacrament that he wonderfully offended the mindes of many but especially of the Lords of the Counsaile Wherfore he was on the thirtieth of Iune committed and obstinately refusing to acknowledge his errour was two yeares after deprived of his Bishopricke and as he was of a turbulent spirit least hee should practise any thing against the Estate detained neverthelesse in prison vntill the death of EDWARD In the meane time Archbishop CRANMER by writing oppugned that grosse and carnall assertion of the Church of Rome concerning CHRISTS Presence in the Sacrament whom GARDINER secretly answered vnder the fictious name of M. Constantius Neither did that Bloud-sucker BONER Bishop of London who in Queene MARYES raigne so heated the Kingdome with the funerall piles of so many Saints speed any better then Winchester For being likewise enioined to preach at the Crosse hee did it so coldly omitting many of those points wherof he was commanded to speake that hee was likewise committed deprived of his Bishopricke and so lived vntill Queene MARY set them both at liberty What the objections were against CVTBERT TONSTALL Bishop of Duresme and GEORGE DAY Bishop of Chichester I do not finde but that they ran the same fortune is manifest They were both very learned Prelates but especially TONSTALL a milde man and of most sweet conditions in reguard wherof I do not a little wonder that he was so hardly dealt with But the drift of the punishments of such men who in HENRY'S time were accounted the chiefe Lights of our Church I conceive to have beene that the rest of that Order might by their example be admonished without dissimulation either to resigne their Bishoprickes to others that were thought
above navell high through the dikes to the wall which wee little feared could be done without resistance finding the place void of defendants they easily make themselves masters of the Castle and had as easily taken the Towne if Sir ANTHONY AGER Marshall of the Towne had not with some few others made head against them and forced them to retreat to the Castle in which conflict that valiant Knight was slaine The Lord WENTWORTH Governour of the Towne seeing little hopes of keeping the Towne craved parley which was granted and at length yeilded the Towne vpon these Conditions That the common souldiers and inhabitants should depart without transporting or carrying away any thing with them and that the Lord WENTWORTH with fifty others such as the Duke of Guise should appoint should remaine captives to be put to ranson So was Calais lost which had continued English above two hundred yeares neither was the siege long the Enemy sitting downe before iâ— on Newyeares day and having it yeilded vp on Twelfe day Seven dayes after the Duke marcheth toward Guisnes which Towne he tooke without any difficultie but the Castle which the Lord GRAY commanded not so easily But that and Hames Castle were at length taken also and dismantled so that of all the Kingdome of France the greatest part whereof was for a long time held by our Kings and whereof HENRY the Sixt had beene crowned King at Paris Anno 1431. nor in the Duchies of Normandie and Aquitaine the ancient inheritance of the Kings of England our Kings possesse nothing but the Isles of Iersey and Guarnesey which have proved loyall to vs ever since the Conquest While the French proceeded thus in Picardie the Queene certified thereof with great diligence prepares her Fleet to transport succours for Calais but contrary windes kept them backe so long vntill Calais was irrecoverably lost You shall not easily read of any action wherein God hath by more manifest signes declared how displeasing those wars are to him which vndertaken for ambition or profit do dissolve the publique peace PHILIP to begin with him against whom HENRY and the Pope did most vniustly conspire inlarged himselfe with a double victorie each whereof were great and memorable The Cardinall CARAFFA and the Duke of Paliane who for their owne ends had persuaded the doting Pope to throw the ball of discord betweene these Princes were after for this very thing beheaded by PIVS the Fourth who immediately succeeded PAVL PAVL himselfe in the meane time the French being overthrowne at Saint Quintin was exposed to the mercy of the Spaniard whom he had irritated the French being forced to withdraw his Army out of Italy The rash violation of the League by MARY was punished with the losse of Calais and through griefe thereof according to common beliefe of life also What happened to the French who by the Pope's instigation first brake the five yeares Truce wee have already declared And least it might be conceived that his losses at and of Saint QVINTIN were repaired by the taking of Calais another overthrow given him within few moneths after will take away much from the content of that victory In Iune the Marshall De Termes who succeeded STROSSY lately slaine Governour of Calais breaketh into Arthois and Flanders with an Army consisting of neere about eleven thousand men leaving Graveling and Burburg at his backe attempts Berghes takes it sackes it and so opens a way to Dunkirk which hee also takes and spoiles and the Countrey all about for they feared not the French there and the Townes which the Spaniard held thoroughout that Tract were ill furnished lying open to their mercy they ransacke it most miserably and march as far as Newport PHILIP was affrighted with this Tempest fearing especially least the Duke of Guise then in Armes should joine with TERMES but having intelligence that the Duke spent his time about Arlon and Vireton hee resolves to intercept the French in their returne In this enterprise hee employes Count EGMOND his Lieuetenant generall in the Netherlands who having speedily out of the neighbour Garrisons of Betune Saint Omer Aires Burburg and others assembled an Army of fifteene thousand puts himselfe betweene Dunkirk and Calais TERMES had hitherto expected the Duke of Guise but vpon notice that the Countrey was vp in Armes he somewhat too late bethought himselfe of a retreate Hee was now every way inclosed and passage not to be gained but by dint of sword The French therefore valiantly charge their Enemies and overthrow some Squadrons of Horse indeed dispaire animated them to do wonders and the Flemings were set on fire by the desire of revenging late injuries The Spanish Troupes renew the fight which was with equall order long maintained on both sides in the heate whereof ten English Men of War fortunately sailing by for De TERMES had for his security betaken him to the shore hoping that way with much lesse hazard to have gained passage vpon discovery of the French Colours let fly their Ordnance furiously among the French making such a slaughter that they began to give ground were at last routed and overthrowne The French in this battaile lost five thousand Their chiefe Commanders were almost all taken the Marshall himselfe was hurt and taken with D'ANNEBALT the Son of CLAVD the late Admirall the Earle of Chaune SENARPONT VILLEBON Governour of Picardy MORVILLIERS and many others Two hundred escaped to our Ships whome they might have drowned but giving them Quarter they were brought Captives into England This battaile was fought on the thirteenth of Iuly The Queene desirous by some action or other to wipe out the staine of the ignominious losse of Calais about the same time set forth a fleet of one hundred and forty Saile whereof thirty were Flemings the maine of the expedition being from Brest in Bretaigne But the Lord Clinton Lord high Admirall of England finding no good to be done there set saile for Conquet where he landed tooke the Towne sacked it and set it on fire together with the Abbey and the adiacent villages and returned to his ships But the Flemings somewhat more greedy after prey disorderly piercing farther into the Countrey and reguardlesse of martiall discipline which commands obedience to their Generall being incountred by the Lord of Kerâ—imon came fewer home by five hundred PHILIP about the same time lodging neere Amiens with a great Army HENRY with a far greater attended each motion of his They incampe at last HENRY on the North of the river Somme PHILIP on the South of the river Anthy so neere to one another that it might be thought impossible for two such spirited Princes commanding so great Armies to depart without a battell But divers considerations had tempered their heat PHILIP being the weaker of the two saw no reason why to ingage himselfe HENRY had an Army which had twice felt the other victorious and was therefore loath on them to adventure his already shaken estate