with the match and truce that he lost all patience exclayming that it was more meet to bee in armes then amitie with the French who being inferiour to the English in courage did ever outreach them in craft and being too weake for warre did oftentimes prevaile by peace That the French Kings Daughter being but a childe was an unmeet match for King Richard aswell for the disparitie of age as for that the King had no issue by his first wife and was not like to have any by this except perhaps in his old age But when the Duke saw his arguments would not availe ought hee suborned the Londoners to make petition to the King that seeing there was peace with France hee would release them of the Subsidie which was granted unto him in the last Parliament in respect of those warres to have beene maintained This suite was by them importunately followed and much perplexed the King untill at length the Duke of Lancaster assured them that the procuring of this peace had spent and lost the King three hundred thousand pounds wherewith they were pacified though not well pleased Guido Earle of Saint Paul was sent by King Charles to visit and salute in his name King Richard and his Queene Isabel To this Earle the King did relate with what fervency Gloucester contended to disturbe the peace betwixt England and France and that because this opinion was not therein followed hee moveth the people to seditious attempts bending himselfe wholly to maintaine discord in his owne countrey rather then not at all he further reported what stiffe strife the Duke in former times had stirred which howsoever they were done yet as they were delivered sounded harsh and odious Whereupon the Earle replied that the Duke was too dangerous a subject to bee permitted to live That greatnesse was never safe if once it grew excessive and bold That the King ought not to affect the poore commendation of Clemency with his owne perill and that it touched him both in honour to revenge the disgrace which hee had by him formerly received and in policie to prevent the dangers which hee had some cause to feare This set such an edge on the Kings displeasure that from thenceforth hee busied his braynes about no one thing more then how to bring the Duke to his end Whereupon hee begun to pry more narrowly into his deportment to watch his words to observe his actions and to interpret them to the worst framing unto himselfe many vaine and needlesse feares often would he to the Dukes of Lancaster and Yorke complaine of the Duke of Glocesters aversnesse in actions and crossenesse in speech whose answer thereunto was that their brother indeed was more vehement then they could commend yet his fiercenesse was joyned with faithfulnesse and his crossenesse proceeded from care lest the Common-wealth should decrease either in honour or possessions and therefore the King had neither cause to feare or dislike him The King seemeth to approve of their answers and tobe satisfied that Gloucester was what they reported him And in the meane time Lancaster and Yorke withdrew themselves to their private houses The Duke of Glocester also went to Plashey in Essex Vpon this accidentall separation the King entred into Councell with Iohn Holland Earle of Huntington his brother by the Mothers side and Thomas Mowbray Earle of Nottingham how the Duke of Glocester might bee suppressed the cruelty which was but wavering nay wanting in the King was soone confirmed by evill advise and being once thereby enclinable to blood hee did not faile either of lewd example of vile action to follow or direction of cruell counsell what to doe The plot is contrived and according thereunto the King and the Earle of Nottingham ryde together into Essex as though they went on hunting When they were in the Forrest the Earle with a selected troope made stay in the Forrest whilst the King with a small and unsuspected trayne came to Plashey and there by the Duke of Gloucester was lovingly entertained and freely feasted pretending action of present returne the King desires the Duke to accompany him to London The Duke supposing that only to bee intended indeed which was in words and show pretended went to horsebacke with the King with a very small company appointing the rest to follow him to London They pleasantly rode together in familiar conference untill they came neere the Earles ambuscadoe and then the King suddenly put spurres to his horse the Duke following easily was suddenly intercepted and stayed and with violence hurryed to the Thames side and there blindfolded unvoluntarily shipped and conveyed to Callice The next day the King did invite the Earle of Warwicke to dinner and gave him gratious countenance but in his returne he was arrested and sent to prison and so a double breach of hospitalitie is committed when feasted by the Duke of Gloucester the host is committed and feasting the Earle of Warwicke the guest is imprisoned In the like manner was the Earle of Arundel and his sonne entrapped and imprisoned In the Isle of Wight the Common-people having notice of the apprehension of these three Noble men whom they only affected were in a great confusion and there then wanted but a head to draw them to commotion every man murmured and daring no further stood wayting for one to lead them the way every one being ready to follow that which any one was loath to begin The Dukes of Lancaster and Yorke upon information of these strong proceedings gathered a strong Army and came there with to London where they were readily received by the Citizens contrary to the Kings expresse command But this seemed to bee a guard to themselves rather then a regard to other The King lay within foure miles of London with a great power of armed men drawne out of Cheshire and VVales and to pacifie the people caused to be proclaimed That the foresaid Lords were not questioned upon any old displeasures but for offences lately committed and for which they should be orderly appealed by the course of Law and receive open and legall tryall in the next parliament presently to begin The like message was sent to London to the Dukes to whom the King made faith for the safety of their persons and indemnitie of their goods and that nothing should be done without their privitie and advise all this was as rashly beleeved as readily given out Whereupon the Dukes dissembled their feares and dissolved their forces in expectancy of what would ensue The Parliament began at London wherein Sir Iohn Bushy Sir VVilliom Bagot and Sir Henry Greene were principall agents for the Kings purpose These were the Kings chiefe Schoolemasters both of cruelty and deceit they were proud ignorant and ambitious and presuming on the Kings favour professed themselves enemies to the antient Nobilitie to the end that being but Mushrumpes lately start up they might become famous by maintaining contention with greater persons At first by
King should take the revenews of his land untill he was satisfied of such sommes of money as hee had received out of the Kings coffers for the payment of the garrison of Calice And he further sayd That the King commanded upon paine of his high displeasure that no man from thenceforth should presume to petition the King in behalfe of either of those Dukes to alter this Decree The sentence thus read the King called the exiles before him and tooke of them a solemne oath that they should never converse together nor willingly come into each others company lest common discontent should draw first reconcilement and after desire of revenge But this pollicie is ever weake to prevent such purposes for oathes are often spurnd aside when they lye like rubbeâ—… to stoppe the way to honour or revenge Therefore the Princes of the Realme have with more safetie for the most part abolished the use of abjuration and either by death extinguish the power or by pardon alter the will of great offendors from entring into desperate and dangerous attempts which men in miserie and disgrace with more vehemency begin and with more obstinacy continue When the Samnites had so enclosed the Roman Legions that they had neither space to fight nor meanes to flye and without fight had enforced them to yeeld they sent for advise to one Pontius an antient Ruler of their State what to doe with them His answer was that the Romans should bee permitted to depart without losse or derision But this not pleasing those that were either cruell or covetous Pontius was the second time consulted with whose answer then was That the Romans should bee generally slaughtered and not one spared This contrarietie of advise brought Pontius into suspition of dotage which he suspecting came in person and maintained both to be advantageous The first by an unexpected favour might provoke the Romans to a perpetuall friendship the second would deferre the warres for many yeares The third Counsell quoth he there cannot be given that may be fafely followed yes say the Samnites to grant them their lives but to take away their armes and bootie This is a way replies old Pontius which can neither win friends nor weaken enemies but may increase fury but not diminish force So that that course of punishment is out of course which doth neither reclaime the minde of man nor restraine the might from mischievous endevours The Duke of Norfolke with great griefe and perturbation of minde now â—…ving it to bee true that greatnesse abused by whispering untruthes draweth if discovered certaintie of destruction departed into Almaine and from thence travailed to Venice where shortly after hee ended his dayes It is observed that this Duke was banished the same day of the yeare wherein the Duke of Yorke by his contriving was strangled at Calice The Duke of Hereford tooke his leave of the King at Eltham where foure yeares of his exilement were strooke off The Dukes deportment was with that moderation that in his countenance he made shew neither of sorrow or stupiditie and at his departure let not fall any either intemperate or unseemely sillable The Commons much lamented his departure not sparing to exclaime that it was against the Law of armes the custome of the Realme and all Iustice that hee should bee exiled who had honourably endevoured to maintaine his appeale according to the law of the field Their affection was the more excessive by reason the ground of his speech was against those that the people hated and he was the only survivor of the popular faction The Duke of Hereford sayleth to Callice and from thence to Paris where hee was honourably received by the King of France and in short time found that favour with him that hee was offered for wife the only Daughter of Iohn Duke of Berry Vncle to the French King But the King of England upon notice thereof made such meanes that the Mariage was stopt Many things hapned this yeare which were interpreted to presage the revolt of the people which hapned the yeare following observation likewise was taken that when King Richard brought his first wife with him out of Beanne shee was no sooner on shore but such a tempest arose as the like thereof had not beene seene in many yeares before wherein many shippes and amongst them the ship the Queene came in was cast away The like storme and the like losse did betide when the King brought his second wife out of France Many prodigies are likewise storied to appeare about these times both strange and fearefull I dare not avouch them all to be true neither will I detract all truth from such things so antiently reported Many are perswaded that these things which are fatally allotted though they are unavoidable yet are they some times foreshowne not so much that we may prevent them as that we should prepare our selves against them About this time died Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster who was buried on the North side of the high Altar of the Cathedrall Church of Saint Paul in London he was a man advised and wary liking better safe courses with reason then happy by hazzard neither unrespective nor ambitiously carefull of his owne glory Hee carried himselfe towards the King in termes honourable enough for a moderate Prince and yet not so plausible as an uncollected man might desire whereby nothing hapned unto him extraordinary either in prejudice or preferment This Iohn of Gaunt so named of the place where hee was borne fourth sonne of Edward the third did write in his stile Iohn sonne to the King of England Duke of Aquitaine and Lancaster Earle of Richmond of Darby Lincolne Leicester and high Constable of England hee married three Wives Blanch Daughter and coheire of Henry first Duke of Lancaster by whome hee had issue Henry afterwards King of England Philip married to Iohn King of Portugal Elizabeth married to Iohn Holland Duke of Exceter His second wife was Constance daughter and one of the Coheires of Peter King of Castile by whom he had issue Katherinâ—… married to Henry son of Iohn King of Spaine His third Wife was Katherine daughter of Payne Rurt King of armes and Widow of Sir Otes Swinford Knight by whom hee had issue Iohn Bewford Earle of Somerset and Marquesse Somerset Henry Bewford Bishop of Winchester Thomas Bewford Earle of Dorset and Duke of Exceter Ioane married to Ralph Nevill Earle of Chester and afterwards to Robert Ferrers Lord of Ousley all these Children though borne before espousall by a Bull from Rome were made legitimate hee lyeth buryed in Pauls After his death the Dutchy of Lancaster did lineally descend to his eldest sonne the Duke of Hereford But as the nature of man is prone to hate those whom hee hath injured the King seized all the lands and goods of the deceased Duke and endevoured to perpetuate the banishment of the young Duke revoked the Letters patents granted and consented unto
Saint Albones and Waltham without presence of the Nobilitie or confluence of the Commons and without the expence of a dinner after the celebrating of the Funerall But Henrie the fift caused his body to bee taken up and removed to Westminster and there interred amongst the Ancestors with Queene Anne his first wife in expiation of his Fathers violent and unfaithfull dealing it was not amisse in regard of the Common-wealth that hee was dead yet they who were actors in his death had small reason to reckon it among their good deeds These accidents attend such Princes as being absolute in power will bee too resolute in will and dissolute in life Humphry the Sonne and heire of the Duke of Glocester in his returne out of Ireland where King Richard had left him prisoner dyed of the plague at Chester the newes whereof kild the Dutchesse his Mother about this time dyed Thomas Mowbray the exiled Duke of Norfolke who had outlived his honour hee married two wives both named Elizabeth the first the Daughter of the Lord Strange who dyed without issue the second Sister and coheire of Thomas Fitzâ—…llayne Earle of Arundel by whom hee had issue Thomas and Iohn Margaret and Isabell. In this yeare also deceased Iohn Duke of Britaine who had taken a Wife Mary Daughter to King Edward the third but by her hee had no issue Also this yeare dyed Edmond Duke of Yorke surnamed of Langley the first sonne of Edward the third his reputation hee kept unblemished and honour untainted hee was not carelesse of good fame nor greedy of greatnesse wary and circumspect in his behaviour not desirous of other mens wealth nor too parcimonious of his owne hee did not by obstinate opposing himselfe against the torrâ—… of the time rashly hazard his fame or fall but by moderation attained safely that degree of praise which others aspiring unto by desperate courses wonne an ambitious death without further profit Hee married two Wives the first was Isabell second Daughter and coheire of Peter King of Castile by whom hee had issue Edward Duke of Albemarle Richard Earle of Cambridge and Constance first married to Thomas Spencer Earle of Glocester and afterwards to Thomas Holland Earle of Kent his second Wife was Ioane Daughter of Thomas Holland Earle of Kent and Sister and coheire of Edmond Earle of Kent but by her had no issue King Charles though Lucidus per intervalla yet sensible of dishonour moved with his Daughters disgrace made preparation to invade England and brought downe his Army into Piccardy but upon the certaine relation of King Richards death hee gave over the enterprise and sent over Embassadours into England to treate or rather intreate that his Daughter with her Dowry might bee restored to him againe King Henry gave them audience and answer that hee would speed Commissioners to Callice to commune and conclude with them both of this and other waighty affaires concerning both the Realmes whither hee sent Edward Duke of Yorke and Henry Earle of Northumberland The French King sent the Duke of Burbon and certaine others to Bulloigne These Commissioners often met sometimes at one place some-times at the other The Frenchmen instantly required their Kings Daughter to bee restored without the doing whereof they had no order to treat of any thing The Englishmen made a proffer to have a match betwixt Prince Henry and the Lady alleaging that there was no disparagement of birth nor disparitie of yeares betwixt them but thereto they would give no consent neither would they agree to the proposition of a perpetuall amitie But in the end it was concluded that Queene Isabell should bee redelivered to her Father but sauns Dowry because the marriage betwixt her and King Richard was never consummate by reason whereof she was not Dowable upon the Treatie of the marriage the surcease from Armes was agreed upon in King Richards dayes for thirtie yeares which was now mutually confirmed for the terme of these yeares unexpected Shortly after King Henry sent the Lady Isabella under the conduct of Thomas Lord Piercy Earle of Worcester in royall estate to Callice being accompanied with a brave troope of honourable Personages of both sexes shee carried with her all the Iewells and Plate which she brought into England with a great surplusage of rich gifts bestowed upon her by the King At Callice shee was received by Valerian Earle of Saint Paul Lieutenant in Picardy and by him conducted to her Father who afterwards gave her in marriage to Charles sonne to Lewis Duke of Orleans and so was rest or rather respite of warre in France procured But the fire and fury of the late sedition was hardly quenched when the Welchmen upon advantage of the doubtfull and unsettled estate of King Henry brake forth into a defection before the King could either lay the groundworke of his Authority or the people frame themselves to a new obedience and having beene taught that common causes must bee maintained by concord they sought by assemblies to establish an association and to set up their owne principalitie againe They Created for their Prince Owen Glendor a fellow of a turbulent spirit and factious disposition and apt to stirre up sedition and strife and though hee was of no great estate by birth he was stout in stomacke of an aspiring spirit and wit somewhat above the ordinary ranke of those untrained people bold crafty agile and as hee liâ—…t to bend his minde mischievous or industrious in equall degree in desires immoderate and rashly adventurous more desirous to doe then circumspect what to doe in his younger yeares hee was a student at the Innes of Court at London and being incensed by a verdict given against him for tithe of land betwixt him and the Lord Gray of Ruthin and by nature being a man not of the mildest disposition by this provocation hee was made savage and rough and determined either to repaire or revenge his losse by setting the whole State on fire Also his expences had beene too excessive for a great man to continue which brought him to barenesse too base for a meane man to endure and therefore hee was necessitated to doe or dare something more then ordinary And more danger hee thought there was in orderly dealing then in hazarding rashly and now opportunitie is presented for troublesome times are most fit for such attempts And some likelihood there was whilst the King and his Nobles were at variance that harme might bee easily wrought to them both upon these causes his desires were founded and upon these troubles his hopes But that his ambitious humour might beare some pretext of honest meaning hee pretended to his Countrymen the recovery of their freedome the desire whereof is so naturally pleasing That birds will rather live hardly abroad in the cold fields then bee daintily dieted in a warme cage and that now occasion was fitly offered or else never to bee expected to ridde them of their servilitie falsly entituled peace whilst the Kings
all which judgement was accordingly executed upon Sir Roger Acton and eight and twenty of the Rebells in Smithfield most of the Prisons in and about London were filled with these lob-lords The cause of this nickname came In this time the Parliament continuing the King as his Father was before was much importuned by some somewhat infected with Oldcastles opinion and therefore not well pleased with the greatnesse of the Clergie to suppresse the religious houses of this kingdome because as they affirmed they were made the nurses of idlenesse and cages of uncleane birds To divert this storme into another quarter it was advised that Chicheley Archbishop of Canterbury should set on foot the Kings title to France which thus he sets forth Philip the fourth called Philip the faire eldest brother of Charles Earle of Valoys was the fourty sixt King of France hee married Ioane Queene of Navarre and by her had issue three sonnes Lewis surnamed Hutyn or Mutyneere Philip the Long and Charles the Faire and only Daughter Christned Isabel which was married to your Majesties Predecessor Edward the second who survived her three Brothers who successively one after the other had enjoyed the Crowne of France But after the death of Charles upon a pretended fundamentall Law of that kingdome Philip of Valoys sonne of Charles the younger Brother of Philip the Faire endevouring to exclude all females from Soveraigne inheritance layed hold of the Imperiall Diadem against whom in right of his Mother Edward the third opposed and quartering the armes which was semi de luces proclaimeth his Title to bee King of France and England and in Hostile manner entred France with Banners displayed where hee performed those honourable exployts that whilst any Records last can never bee forgotten there hee continued victorious during the time of Valoys and left his Sonne the blacke Prince to prosecute his Claime who to his eternall commendations so that hee tooke not only Iohn the French King prisoner but braved Charles the fift at his great Citie of Paris to his teeth and unanswered the wise King thinking it no good pollicie to meet a roring Lyon in the field And had not God on whose will depends all things stopt this ever to bee renowned Prince in his course by stopping of his breath the question had long since beene decided and England had totally brought France to subjection but hee being dead and his Father but a short time surviving left his grand-sonne an infant to finish what his Father and grand-father had so happily commenced and so gloriously had continued But unlesse the Lord build the house the workemen labour but in vaine so the Lord displeased with the disorder of those times gave France a time to breathe and gather strength and opportunitie to Charles the sixt to change the armes of France from the Semi de luces to three Flower-de-luces yet is the Title to France the same that it was before and though your royall Father otherwise imployed did not prosecute the claime yet hee did not disclaime the right but hath to you for whom I rest assured God hath reserved victory both left that and the meanes to obtaine it Then went hee on learnedly and pathetically refelled that unjust surmise of the Salick-law both by reason and example and first whereas in terram Salicam mulieres ne succedant was the text whereon they build their position hee proved that that was made in Germany in disdaine of the dishonest manners of the German women and had no relation to France for that Pharamond whom they affirme to bee maker of that Law deceased above three hundred and fifty yeares before the Frenchmen were placed beyond the river Sala the one dying at 426. and the other being seated there Anno 805. And for example hee cited Pepyn Hugh Capet and others who neither had right nor colour-like right to the Crowne of France but as heires generall as their owne storyes manifest hee fortified likewise his assertions with Scripture out of the booke of Numbers When a man dieth without a Sonne let his inheritance descend unto the Daughter to this hee added that if the King would bee pleased to advance his Banner in France to challenge his rightfull inheritance the warre being just the cause good and his clayme undeniable his Clergie would furnish him of their owne free gift with such a masse of mony as never subjects at one time presented King with the like This motion tooke on all sides and the offer of money wherewith to pay the souldiers so pleased the King that nothing was now thought of but the conquest of France Hee begins therefore to alter the bearing of his Semy-de-luces and quarters what the then French King bare and then sendeth the Duke of Exceter the Archbishop of Dublyn the Lord Gray the Lord high Admirall and the Bishop of Norwich with five hundred horse Embassadours to Charles the sixt to require in peaceable manner for the avoyding the effusion of Christian blood the surrender of the Crowne of France with the members thereof which if the King would yeeld unto then King Henry would bee pleased to take to Wife Katherine the Daughter of Charles and endow her with all the Dutchies belonging to the Crowne of France But if Charles refused so to doe that then Henry would with fire and sword enforce it from him or lose his life The strangenesse of this message amazed the King and amazed his Councell They craved time to answer And the King of France promised to speed Embassadours with his answer unto the King of England The Dolphyn like one that cuts another man meat and his owne fingers having wit but wanting discretion deriding as it were the King of Englands youth as deeming him fitter for play then to attempt matters of such consequence sent him a tonne of Tennis balls which King Henry distasting promised with an oath before many moneths were past to tosse such iron Balls among them that the best armes in France should bee unable to hold a Racket to returne them And forthwith due provision being made and all things prepared hee drawes together his forces and in his absence to secure the Scots and Welch from attempting his prejudice hee appointeth an Army to attend the Marches and upon all alarums to bee ready hee ordaines his Mother-in-law Ioane Daughter of Charles King of Arragon Governour in his absence and whilst hee is dispatching Richard Earle of Warwicke the Bishops of Salisbury Bath and Hereford with the Abbot of Westminster to the generall Councell appointed at Constance The Dolphyn sent as Embassadours the King of France being weake and sickly The Earle of Vandome with others who having audience the Archbishop of Burges made a long Oration in praise of peace and disswaded warre concluding with a tender of the Lady Katherine with a summe of money and some Townes of no great wealth or importance the King of England feasts them at his owne Table and
betweene whom an accord was made in case the King of France and his Peeres with the Commons would approve thereof They being to that purpose by the Duke of Burgoyne solicited willingly gave their consent and appointed the Duke of Burgoyne to send his Embassadours sufficiently authorized to meete with King HENRYES Embassadours at Troyes in Campaygne and to that end the King of England was earnestly entreated so to doe who thereupon sent his Vncle the Duke of Exceter the Earle of Salisburie with others to the number of five hundred Horse to the Duke of Burgoyne who from thence came together with them to Troyes upon the eleventh of March were in that manner received as where affection and loving desire are the entertainers There it was quickly concluded that the King of England should speed himselfe to Troyes there to bee espoused to the faire Lady Katherine and to have assurance of the Crowne of France after the decease of the diseased Charles Whereupon with a guard of fifteene thousand choice souldiers accompanied with the Dukes of Clarence and Glocester with the Earles of Warwicke Salisbury Huntington Longevile Tanckervile and Ewe the King of England came to Troyes upon the eighteenth day of May where hee was met by the Duke of Burgoine and divers of the French Nobility who attended him to the Pallace where the Queene with her Daughters the Dutches of Burgoine and the Lady Katherine gave him Princely entertainment where after some little pause whilst the intercourse of complement was passing betwixt the French and the English the King addressed himselfe to the Dutchesse of Burgoine demanding of her in befitting termes if shee thought her Sister Katherines affection was free and not in bondage to any to whom the Dutchesse with a gracefull smile made answer that shee durst pawne her soule her Sister till that houre shee first saw his highnesse was as free as any Virgin might bee but how shee stood affected now shee referred him to her owne answer opportunitie giving way as when mindes are willing it may bee easily apprehended the Lady Katherine was by the King interrogated how shee stood affected to marriage shee answered shee was to bee disposed of by the King otherwise if shee might have the libertie of her owne will shee would give him a more full answer and so making offer to depart King Henry with an amiable voice said Give but your consent and I will by Gods leave make all the rest agree or leave them landlesse or livelesse and thereof rest assured by this pledge of my faith and so tendered unto her a Ring of great price which she not without some blushing received and making a Courtly conge unto him left him and hee the company being come to his lodging hee gave order to his Commissioners to make speed in their consultations and not to give the least way to any procrastinations Whereupon that speed was used in their conferences that upon the twentieth day of May the Lady Katherine was affianced unto him in Saint Peters Church after this the two Kings with their Privie Councellours divers times met and all points of accord were reduced to a certaintie and concluded to which agreement the Kings and all present made faith for the performance and the Duke of Burgogny for his particular made oath as followeth I Philip Duke of Burgoignie for my selfe and my heires upon the holy Evangelists of God sweare to Henry King of England and Regent of France under King Charles that wee shall humbly and faithfully obey King Henry in all things which concerne the Crowne of France and the Common-wealth thereof and after the decease of our now Soveraigne Charles shall remaine faithfull leigemen to the said King Henry and his Successours for ever neither shall we admit or allow of any other Lord or supreme King of France but Henry of England and his heires neither shall wee counsell or consent to any thing that may bee prejudiciall to the said King Henry or his Successours or may bee damagefull to his life or limme but shall with all speed give notice thereof and endevour to prevent it The morrow after Trinitie Sunday being the third of Iune the Marriage with all befâ—…ting Ceremonies was solemnized and the King of England named and proclaymed heire and Regent of the Realme of France of this accord and the Articles subsequent the French King sent Copies all over France and King Henry the like to England in these words Henry by the grace of God King of England heire and Regent of France and Lord of Ireland to bee perpetually remembred of all Christians under our obeysance doe notifie and declare that whereas there hath bin divers Treaties betwixt our royall Father King Charles for peace and quiet to bee established betwixt the Realmes of France and England which have proved fruitlesse considering the many detriments thereby fallen not only to those Realmes but the disturbance of holy Church we have now concluded with our said royall Father for removing all distractions and accorded that our said royall Father and his ever to bee honoured Queene Isabell shall be entituled the Father and Mother of us and reverenced and respected in all things as such alliance shall require That the said King Charles shall during life hold and enjoy in peace and tranquillitie his royall Dignitie Crowne and Revenewes of all France And that all Writs Processe and Commissions and such like proceedings shall passe under his Name and Seale as King And that his Queene Isabell in case shee survive him shall keepe her estate and Title and all such rights and revenewes as were formerly enjoyed by Blaunch Queen Dowager to Philip Grandfather to King Charles That Queene Katherine should with all convenient speed bee sufficiently endowed in England with twenty thousand Markes per annum That during the life of Charles King Henry should not assume the Title of King of France and that the French King should write and entitle him our thrice noble Sonne Henry King of England and heire of France That after the death of Charles the Crowne of France would really and entirely remaine to King Henry and his heires for ever That in regard of the inabilitie of King Charles by himselfe to rule and manage the affaires of the kingdome King Henry should bee Regent and governe the â—…ame as to him should seeme expedient for the Kings honour and the commoditie of the Realme and Common-wealth That the estate of Parliament in France should retaine all accustomed priviledges power and authoritie That King Henry should to his power faithfully assist both Peeres and people to regaine all such things as did of right belong unto them and should protect all the preheminences priviledges and possessions of the Crowne of France That King Henry should support the Subjects of France against all forraine enemies and labour the suppression of all intestine debates and civill warres and endevour the increase of the prosperitie and peace of
France by impartially administring justice to all That King Henry in places of Iustice and charge should place persons generally taken for wise faithfull and fit to administer and manage those things unto them committed That King Henry should speedily endevour to reduce the Dolphin and the Earle of Arminacke and all their confederates to their due obedience to the Crowne of France That King Henry should cause all persons of what degree condition or qualitie soever to take a corporall oath for their true obedience to K. Charles during life and after his death to King Henry and his heires and to admit no other King or Regent nor conspire any thing against his or their Persons or estates but disclose all mischiefes plotted or intended for his or their hurt or losse That all possessions King Henry should gaine from any Rebell to King Charles except in Normandy should bee to the use and benefit of the French King But upon voluntary taking the before-mentioned oathes to be tendred and taken then to retaine their possessions freely That after the death of King Charles the Dutchie of Normandy and what else had beene conquered by King Henry should returne to the obeysance of the Crowne of France That King Henry should not overburden his Subjects of France with impositions but in cases of urgent necessitie and then the same to bee assessed and levied according to the Custome and manner of France and not otherwise That after the death of King Charles the two Realmes of France and England should Soveraignely be ruled but by one man and not to admit two Kings and that neither Crowne should bee subject to other but each of them to retaine and enjoy their particular customes priviledges liberties immunities lawes and preheminencies That diligent observation be used to retaine both Nations in fraternall concord and mutuall friendship as brethren and friends That neither King should conclude any peace or make any truce with the Dolphin except they and the Duke of Burgoyne all three consented thereto That none shall bee placed about the French Kings person but French-men such as hee by his Councell should make choice of and should reside wheresoever in the kingdome at his pleasure And lastly that both the Kings under their great Seales and all their Peeres Prelates Cominalties Gentry and Corporations under their usuall seales shall ratifie and confirme the Articles of agreement and shall all sweare to observe them to their uttermost abilities and power These thus concluded were proclaimed publikely both in England and France the Kings with their Nobilitie present solemnly sworne to the observation of them This caused a solemne Procession upon the fourteenth of Iune following in London and a Sermon at Pauls Crosse being Friday wherein the Preacher amongst other things affirmed that for perpetuall manifestation of this so honourable an accord that the old Seale was to bee broken and a new great Seale to bee made wherein the Kings Title as Regent of France and heires apparant to the Crowne thereof and three Flowre-de-luces instead of sixe formerly borne in the Scutcheon of armes was to be engraved There was likewise a private League contracted betweene king Henry and the Duke of Burgoyne to this effect That the Duke to the uttermost of his best abilities should endevour the continuation of the former agreements That one of the Dukes Sisters should bee matched to one of the Kings Brothers that after the death of Charles hee should doe fealtie to the King of England That King Henry should prosecute the murtherers of the Dukes Father with all extremitie And that if any of them or the Dolphin should in any place be taken that they should not bee delivered without condigne punishment without the consent of the two Kings and the three estates of both kingdomes That the Duke should have assurance of lands for the annuall payment of the fee of twenty thousand pounds Paris to him and his Wife and the heires males betwixt them to be begotten And that King Henry upon the receiving his homage should confirme the same This thus finished King Henry invites the King and Queene of France with the Duke and Dutchesse of Burgoyne with all the Nobles of France there to a stately banquet the Ceremonies whereof ended hee made unto them so pithy and patheticall Oration declaring therein the utilitie of the union of the two kingdomes his right to them on the surer side with protestation of as true love and affection to France as if a native thereof and promises of tender regard to bee alwayes by him extended towards them with all filiall respect and dutifull observance to his Father and Mother-in-law and the true performance of all and every part of the Agreement And so perswading them to mutuall love and friendship amongst themselves and truth and loyalty to their Soveraigne And so with an expression of detestation of the late murther of the Duke of Burgoyne and giving assurance of his desire to procure the revengement thereof he concluded The next day following Iames the young King of Scots arrived And upon the fourth day of Iune King Henry with the French King the King of Scots the Duke of Burgoyne the Prince of Orange one and twenty Earles five and fouâ—…y Barons with many Knights and Gentlemen with an Army consisting of French English Scottish Irish and Dutch to the number of sixe hundred thousand marched towards the Dolphin and upon the seventh day layd siege to the Towne of Seins that sided with the Dolphin which after foure daies siege yeelded and thereof the Lord Benvile was made Captaine From thence they removed having the Duke of Bedford in their company who had brought out of England large supplies of men and money to Monstreau en falte Yon which was taken by Escalado here the murthered Duke of Burgoyne being buried and from thence his Sonne caused his boues to be taken up and carried to Digeon in high Burgoyne and there enterred by his Father Philip The Castle held out and during the siege thereof King Henry Created an Officer of armes to bee king of Herolds over the English men and entituled him Garter whom hee had formerly sent with offers of mercy to the Castle but was by the Captaine thereof reproachfully upbrayded for punishment of which his presumption a gibbet was erected and in view of Mounsieur Guitry the Castle Captaine twelve of his friends were executed Whereupon the Castilians treated for peace but the King in eight dayes together would not vouchsafe a parle so that after they had borne the brunt of six weekes siege they were enforced with saving of lives simply to yeeld The Earle of Warwicke was appointed to examine by poll all the prisoners and others that yeelded to find out any that had bin privy or parties to the murther of the Duke of Burgoine and was afterward made Governour both of Castle and Towne From thence the King marched to Melun upon Seine which was besieged the
thirteenth of Iuly the Captaine whereof was Barbason a Gascoyne a skilfull souldier and of approved valiancy And as Hanniball in warre was not more ready to invent stratagems then Quintus Fabius to prevent them so King Henryes counsell could not bee more wily to winne then Barbason was warie to defend The King by land and water stopped all passages making use of his before-mentioned floates to passe his souldiers over the River yet Barbason sallied out and fell upon the Earle of Warwickes quarter where if hee had not beene the more valiantly resisted The Duke of Burgoynes men had tasted of their fury The Duke of Bavier another of King Charles Sonin-lawe but his Dutchesse was dead with seven hundred well-appointed Horse-men came to the Campe which were presently listed under the Kings pay Barbason countermined some and stopt other mines made by the English and fought hand to hand in the Barryers with King Henry yet notwithstanding all his circumspect care and praise-worthy diligence when hee found hee was to fight against the two bitter arrowes of Gods wrath Famine and Pestilence hee humbled himselfe to the King who pardoned all that were not guilty of the forenamed murther whereof Barbason being suspected and others that were found faultie were sent to Paris under the conduct of the Duke of Clarence whom King Charles made Captaine of Delea that Citie and was accordingly admitted into the possession of all the strength thereof And presently thereupon both the Kings with their Queenes the Duke of Burgoyne and his Dutchesse with a royall traine came thither where they were most magnificencly entertained the French King was lodged in the house of Saint Paul and the King of England in the Castle of Louer Here the three States of France anew under their hands and seales in most authenticke manner ratified the former agreement the instruments whereof were delivered to the King of England who sent them to bee kept in his Treasurie at Westminster Now King Henry began to exercise his Regency and as a badge of his authoritie hee caused a new coyne which was called a Salute to bee made whereon the armes of France and England were quarterly stamped Hee there heard the Appeale of the Dowager of Burgoine against the Dolphin whose Advocates in his behalfe made large offers for satisfaction but they were adjourned to another day Hee placed and displaced divers officers and appointed the Duke of Exceter with five hundred men to the guard of Paris Sir Gilbert Vmfrevile was made Captaine of Melun and the Earle of Huntington of Bloyes de Vinces King Henry awarded out Processe against the Dolphin to appeare at the Marble table at Paris which hee not obeying sentence was denounced against him as guilty of the murther of the Duke of Burgoyne and by the sentence of the Parliament the Dolphin was banished the Realme The King with his beloved Queene Katherine the sixt of Ianuary left Paris and came to Roane where hee received homage of all the Nobilitie aswell such as were enobled by descent of the French as such as were dignified by desert of the English And making Thomas Duke of Clarence Lieutenant generall of France and Normandy and his Deputie in Normandy the Earle of Salisbury Having finished his Christmas he with his Queene went to Amiens and from thence to Callice and thence landing at Dover came to Canterbury and afterward thorow London to Westminster where the Queene upon Saint Mathewes day the fourth of February with all ceremonies rites and accustomed solemnities was Crowned The King of Scots sitting at dinner in his Estate but on the left hand of the Queene the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Kings Vncle the Bishop of Winchester being on the right hand all were serued with covered messes of silver but all the Feast was fish in observation of the Lent season King Henry by his ghostly father being instructed that the surest stone that can bee layd for the foundation of future felicitie must bee digged out of the quarry of Pietie first visited many places for devotion by way of Pilgrimage and then tooke his Progresse thorow the Land and knowing that great evills may grow out of the smallest causes if neglected hee by the way reformed all misdemeanours whereof he received notice hearing with a diligent eare the complaints of his poore subjects taking order for the administring of Iustice to high and poore neither sparing the great for might nor the meane for misery And shewing that Examples are the best Lectures and Vertue the best example after hee had set his ministers a copy thereof Hee gave meeting to the Queene at Leicester where they kept their Easter In the meane time the Duke of Clarence making a road into Aniou with the garrisons of Normandy came to the City of Ampers where hee knighted Sir William Rosse Sir Henry Goddard Sir Rowland Vider Sir Thomas Bewford his naturall Sonne And retutning home laden with prey was advertised that the Duke of Alanson intended to intercept his passage hee therefore sent the skowt-Master Andrew Fogosa to discover the face of the enemy who being a trecherous Lombard and having beene corrupted by the enemy at his returne reporteth their number to bee but small meanly armed and worse ordered so that if presently charged there could bee no resistance The Dukes credulitie caused him to draw all his horses together leaving the strength of the field his Bowes and Bills behind with them hee makes towards the enemy the traitour leading to a straight where by his appointment an ambush was layed that the Duke could neither retreat nor flee which perceiving the Duke with a valiant courage told the Earle of Tanckervile that their chance was very hard when no meanes was left but to sell their lives at the dearest rate to their enemies and so setting spurres to his horse charged upon the enemy but over-layed with multitude and over-wearied with fight The Duke of Clarence the Earle of Tanckervile the Lord Rosse the Earle of Angus Kyme Sir Iohn Lumley and Sir Iohn Verend with above two thousand English slaine The Earles of Somerset Suffolke and Pearch Sir Iohn Berckley Sir Ralph Nevile Sir William Bowes and threescore Gentlemen were taken prisoners The Bastard Clarence having an inckling of the Lombards treachery brought on his Archers whom the French perceiving to approach fled with their Prisoners leaving the dead undispoyled by which meanes the Lord Fitzwater and some others were found wounded and almost stifled amongst the carkasses The bodyes of the dead were by the foot-men buried except the Duke of Clarence who by Sir Iohn Beauford his base sonne the Duke dying without other issue wac conveyed to England and buried at Canterbury besider his father This happened upon Easter Eeve The King was at Beverly when he had notice of his brothers death and presently thereupon hee dispatced away Edmond Earle of Mortaigne into Normandy making him Lieutenant thereof Then calls hee his
and to others as having spirit to dare and a power to doe bravely hee was married to Katherine Daughter of Charles the sixt King of france whose company shee enjoyed but two yeares and three moneths by whom hee had issue only Henry that succeeded him in the Crowne her affections after tyed her to Owen Theodor a Gentleman of no extraordinary linage but absolute for the lineaments of his body by whom shee had issue three sonnes Edmond Iasper and Owen Edmond was after Earle of Richmond and maried Margaret daughter and sole heire of Iohn Duke of Somerset who had issue King Henry the seuenth Iasper was Earle of Penbrocke and after Duke of Bedford shee dyed in Southwarcke and was buried at Westminster THE LIFE AND RAIGNE OF KING HENRY THE SIXT HENRY the sixt borne at Windsor an infant of nine moneths old began his Raigne the last of August Anno Dom. 1422. The government of the Realmes preappointed by the Father on his death-bed and after confirmed by the Nobilitie was committed to Humphrey Duke of Glocester The guard of his person to Thomas Duke of Exceter and Henry Bewford Bishop of Winchester and to Iohn Duke of Bedford was appointed the Regency of France This triple twyne untill the time unhappily untwisted kept the wheeles in orderly motion that guided the Clocke of good government in this Realme so that there was in the beginning of their proceeding no disproportion or disagreement betwixt them but all things were continued advisedly and well The Protectors knowing that it is trechery to wisdome in managing great affayres not to bee directed by the clew of advise made choice of grave and discreet Councellours by whose approvement he made provision of all things necessary aswell for quiet governing the English as for retayning the conquered parts of France in obedience and further conquest of such as yet were refractary leauing nothing undone that might conduce to the honour and happinesse of the estate of the young King and the Realme The Regent of France was not backward on his part but endevoured all that was possible to second the Protectours care But the death of Charles the sixt and the proclaiming the Dolphin King of France by the name of Charles the seventh gave the Regent just cause to suspect the tergiversation of the French Whereupon hee encreaseth the Garrisons and sufficiently furnisheth all places of import with men and amunition exhorting the Normans to continue constant according to their fealtie made to the King of England On the other side the new King of France makes provision in all places to draw his forces together And in the meane time sends the Lord Granvile to Pont Melan who surprised the same putting all the English souldiers to the sword for revenge whereof and the recovery of the Towne the Regent sent the ever to be commended Commander Thomas Montacute Earle of Salisbury with convenient forces thither who for the space of two moneths so straightly beleagred the same that the Lord Gravile surrendred the same and sware but fleshly to bee true man to the King of England Hereof was Sir Henry Mortimer made Captaine and Sir Richard Vernon of the Castle From thence hee marched to Seyne which hee tooke by assault and put all the souldiers except the Captaine Sir William Maryn to the sword and thereof made Captaines Sir Hugh Godding and Sir Richard Aubemond the first of the Towne the other of the Castle The Regent the Duke of Burgoyne and Iohn Duke of Britaine meet at Amiens and renewed the old league and further inlarged it to bee defensive and offensive respectively And knowing that affinitie for the most part is the truest entertainer of friendship and an unquestionable obligation of amity the Regent afterward marrieth Anne the Sister of Burgoyne at Troys In the meane time the Parisian conspired to have let in the new King into Paris but the day before the night appointed for his admission the Duke with his power entred apprehended the Conspiratours and put them to publike execution which done hee furnished all the Forts and places of strength with Englishmen sent Sir Iohn Falstaffe who tooke in Pacy and Coursay two strong Castles whilst hee with his forces tooke in Traynells and Bray upon Seyne The Constable the while with all the new Kings forces layed siege to Cravant in Burgoyne But the Regent and the Duke of Burgoyne sent their forces under the conduct of the never-sufficiently to bee praysed Earle of Salisbury who having with great difficultie and small losse passed the river of Yone seconded by the Burgonians set upon the French and after a long and doubtfull fight put the French to flight slaying about eighteene hundred Knights and Gentlemen of note and three thousand common souldiers Scottish and French there were taken Prisoners The Constable of France who had lost an eye the Earle of Ventadour Sir Alexander Merdyn Sir Lewis Ferignye and two and twentie hundred Gentlemen of the English part were slaine Sir Iohn Gray Sir William Hall Sir Gilbert Halsall one of the Marshalls of the field Richard ap Maddocke and one and twentie hundred souldiers one with another From hence the Earle led his forces to Montaguillon and sate downe before it and after five moneths siege tooke it whilst the Duke of Suffolke tooke in the two strong Castles of Coucy and le Roche The Protector in the meane time ransomed and enlarged the young King of Scots who for many yeares had beene prisoner taking Homage and Fealtie of him from the Crowne of Scotland the tenour whereof is thus recorded I IAMES STEVVARD King of SCOTS shall bee true and faithfull unto you Lord HENRY by the grace of GOD King of ENGLAND and FRANCE the Noble and superiour Lord of SCOTLAND and to you I make my fidelitie for the said kingdome which I hold and claime of you And I shall beare you my faith and fidelitie of life and limme and worldly honour against all men and faithfully I shall acknowledge and shall doe you service due for the Kingdome of SCOTLAND afore-sayd so GOD mee helpe and these holy Evangelists And with consent of all the Nobilitie gave him to wife the Lady Iane Daughter to the deceased Duke of Somerset and Cousin german to the King with a large Dowrie besides many great and rich gifts bestowed by the Mother Vncles and other her kinred but no courtesie or bounty could keepe him from proving unfaithfull and unthankfull The Protectour with his accustomed provident circumspection to prevent dangers that want of supplies might bring to the Army sent over to the Regent tenne thousand well-furnished souldiers with all things whereof hee might stand in need with which fresh succours hee wonne and valiantly conquered many Townes Castles and places of strength whose power the French-men not able to withstand began to fasten the foxes tayle to the lyons skin and what they could not by courage compasse they attempted
the space of five miles round spoyled whatsoever might helpe or advantage the English hee himselfe undertaking the defence of the great Fort built upon the East-bridge from whence making a French bravado in show more then a man at first hee retired weaker indeed then a woman with losse of many his souldiers to the Towne leaving the English in possession of the Fort. From an high Tower in this Bulwarcke out of a window therein the besiegers observed the passages of the Townesmen about two moneths after the siege began the noble Duke of Salisbury thinking to informe himselfe of the state of the Towne unhappily looking out of this Window with Sir Thomas Gargrave a great shot from the Towne striking the barres of the Window the splinters whereof were driven into his head and face of which wound within eight dayes after hee dyed Hee married Elianor Daughter of Thomas Holland Earle of Kent by whom hee had issue only Anne married to Richard Nevill one of the younger sonnes of Ralph Nevill Earle of Westmerland hee had a base sonne named Iohn This Earles death was a second weakening of the young Kings expected triumphs for two limmes of his budding tree of carefull protection and thriving direction are lopt off by death and a third began to bee putrified The Earle of Suffolke succeedeth in the charge of the siege who finding necessaries wanting sendeth Sir Iohn Falstaffe for supplies the Regent furnisheth him speedily and in his returne the Lord de la Brets nine thousand strong endevours to intercept him but being discovered Sir Iohn resolved to abide the charge placeth his carriages behind the horse next and the foot before lyning his Bowes with Bill-men pitching stakes behind the Archers who having loosed their first volley retired behind the stakes on which the French forgetting their former defeats that way ranne and gored their horses and were forced to light against their wills with a knocke on the crowne with a brown Bill layed on with a strong arme by which their Voward being disordered the battell made a stand which Sir Iohn perceiving cryeth out Saint George they flye which was no sooner spoken then it proved true for there with they fled and in the fight and chace the French lost two thousand five hundred men with the Lords de la Brets and William Steward and eleven hundred were taken prisoners with whom and a rich booty they came to the Campe before Orleace Hereof the besieged having notice hopelesse of helpe from the French King they offered to submit themselves to the protection of the Duke of Burgoyne who was contented to accept them upon the Regents consent This motion pleased many of the Councell of warre but the Generall and the rest more considerate did mislike it Whereupon the Generall returned this answer That since the King his Master had bestowed so long time and exhausted so much Treasure and spent so much victuals besides the uncomparable losse of the Earle of Salisbury slaine there hee could not but thinke it would much redound to his owne dishonour and the disparagement of the renowne of the kingdome of England If now the besieged were driven to that extremity that they were not able to subsist of themselves that any other then those that had beaten the bush should have the birds Then made the besieged meanes to the Duke of Alanson who used such diligence that taking advantage of too much slacknesse of watch in the Campe being secured as they thought from danger of sally from within or approach of enemy from without hee furnished the Towne both with fresh provision and forces under the coverture of a dark most tempestuous night which put such fresh spirit into the citizens that they made a brave salout and by fine force carried the Bulwarcke upon the bridge and another Fort and slew sixe hundred English and adventured upon the Bastile in which the Lord Talbot commanded who not being used to be coopt up valiantly issued out and bravely repulsed them backe with great slaughter and confusion into the Towne But the next day the Earle of Suffolke left the siege and dispersed his Army to their severall places of garrison and in his returne the Lord Talbot surprized the Towne and Castle of Lavall But now the wheele of fortune began to turne and disasters and disgraces fell hudling one upon the necke of another on the English part And first the Duke of Alanson having raised a great power tooke by assault the towne of Iargeux and therein the Earle of Suffolke and one of his brothers and slew Sir Alexander Pole another of their brothers and many other Prisoners in cold blood because of the contention among the French to whom the Prisoners did belong Then the Lords Talbot Scales and Hungerford with five thousand men going to fortifie the towne of Meum were encountred by the said Duke and Arthure of Britaine and three and twenty thousand men who fiercely assayled them The English Lords for a time endured the shocke and enterchanged some blowes but opprest with multitude the three Lords are taken prisoners all sore wounded twelve hundred of their company slaine the residue hardly escaping to Meum where they used their best forces to fortifie themselves against future assaults These disasters were seconded by the perfidious surrender of many Townes and strong holds to the French King who now encouraged by these good successes marched into Champaigne where by Composition hee tooke the chiefe Citie thereof Troyes Chaltons rebelleth and enforceth their Captaine to yeeld it up by whose example the Citizens of Reme do the like wherein the French King is a new Proclaimed there with accustomed Ceremonies annointed and crowned and is thereby furthered with the voluntary submission of many Townes Castles strong holds who from every part sent their subjective messages unto him The Duke of Bedford with tenne thousand English besides Normans marched out of Paris sending Letters of defiance to the French King affirming therein that hee contrary to the accord betwixt King Henry the fifth and King Charles Father to him that was but an usurper by the instigation of a feminine divell had taken upon him the Title and dignitie of King of France and by deceitfull and unjust meanes had surreptitiously stolne not conquered and kept divers Cities and places of import belonging to the Crowne of England for legall proofe whereof by stroke of battaile hee was come into that part and thereby would justifie his Chartelâ—… true and cause just leaving allowance to his enemy to make choice of the place and in the same hee should bee sure of battaile The new King howsoever perplexed set a good countenance on the matter and told the Harrold that hee would sooner seeke his Master then his Master should need to seeke him and without further answer dismissed him The Regent thereupon maketh towards him and making choice of an indifferent place encampeth in sight of the French And though
besieged 1422. A Parliament in the Kings absence called The birth of Henry the sixt The Dolphin besieged Cosney An. 1422. R. 9. King Henry dieth The Duke of Bedford made Generall of Normandy The Duke of Glocester Protector Ann. 1422 R. 1. The Dolphin proclaimed King Pont Melon surprized by the French An. 1422. R. 3. Reduced by the Earle of Salisbury The league renewed with Burgoine A conspiracy at Paris Preventtd and punished The French defeated Ann. 1422 R. 2. The King of Scots marieth the Duke of Somersets Daughter Crotoy lost and recovered The English are victorious at Vernoyle 1424. The reduction of Vernoyle An. 14. 24. R. 3. The French frighted with the name of Salisbury A jarre betwixt the brothers in England drawes the Regent into Ergland The young King knighted The Regent returnes to France Burgoyne by letter disswades Glocester from his new wife The name of Salisbury a bugbeare to the French 1426. Ponterson taken by the English Mounts retaken 1427. An. 1427. R. 6. The pollicy of the French The death of Salisbury the downfall of the English good fortune Both wind Sun against the English The French every where revolt The Regent defies the French King The Armies on both sides in array An. 1428. R. 7. 1429. Henry the sixt Crowned The constancy of the Lord Barbason Ann. 1429 Reg. 8. Charles attempts Paris But disappointed retreats The Regent desirous to cope with King Charles An. 1430. R. 9. The Earle of Britaine defeated 1430. The Pusil Ioane taken Proceeded against Burned King Henry in person goeth into France King Henry returnes for England after a Truce concluded The Regent having buried the sister of Burgoyne marrieth a second wife An. 1432. R. 11. The Peasants in Normandy rebell The Duke of Burbon receiveth liberty of body out of prison and losse of life all in one day At St. Omers the Dukes of Bedford and Burgoyne meet and depart without conference 1435. The death of the Regent Emulation betwixt the Vncle and Nephew thwart the businesse in France Ann. 1435 R. 12. Callice besieged by the Duke of Burgoyne The Duke of Burgoyne retreats from Callice An. 1437. R. 13. 1437. The death of three great Ladyes The King of Scots murthered Ann. 1439 R. 14. A Parliament at Westminster Roan attempted but with losse to the French An. 1437. R. 16. Ann. 1437 Reg. 15. The Lord Talbot harroweth Piccardy 1438. Famine in England Pestilence in Paris 1439. An. 1439. R. 18. Ponthoys taken by the English Ponthoys succoured The French King braved by the Regent but is patient Treaty for a peace Ann. 1441 Reg. 20. The Duke of Orleance released The Earle of Saint Paul forsaketh the English An. 1442. R. 20. The Castle of Cornhill surprized by a stratagem Vnnaturall dissention betwixt brothers An. 1442. R. 21. Ann. 1442 Reg. 21. King Henry betrothed to the Earle of Arminacks Daughter An. R. 22. A truce agreed upon The Earle of Suffolk transends his Commission An. 1444. R. 22. 23. King Henry marrieth Duke Rayners Daughter 1444. The Regent comes for England An. 1416. R. 24. Glocesiers destruction plotted 1448. The Cardinal of Winchester dies William Wanfleet consecrated Bishop of Winchester An. 1430. R. 26. The truce broken by the English Ardes surprised An. 1449. R. 27. The Duke of Yorke sent into Ireland The English overthrowne An overbold but true language An. 1450. R. 27. Suffolke traduced The Parliament adjourned from Black-fryers to Lecester and then to Westminster Suffolke committed to the Tower A Parliament summoned Mortymer incites the many to insurrection The grievances of the Commons tendred to the Parliament Captaine Mend-all his private petition The two Staffords defeated and slaine The forme of Iacke Cades Warrant The captaine of the rebells slaine The Bishop of Salisbury murthered An. 1452. R. 29. A Parliament The Duke of Yorkes policy to cloake his intention Yorke raiseth forces in Wales The King sends to the Duke of Yorke Yorks answer Yorke dismisseth his army Yorke takes the oath of allegiance Burdeux is reduced Shrowsbury with his fourth sonne and his naturall brother slain at Chattillon 1453. Ann. 1453 R. 30. The Queene delivered of a Sonne Norman the first Lord Maior that went by water to Westminster to take his oath The Queenes Attourney with others slaine in a fray The Duke of Yorke writeth to the King Ann. 1454 R. 33. First battell at St. Albones The Duke of Somerset slaine 1455. Ann. 1455 Reg. 33. The Duke of Yorke conveyeth the K. to London Yorke made Protector of the King The Merchant strangers rifled An invasion attempted by the French Sandwich plundered The Scots make an inroad The Sheriffs of London in trouble for the escape of the Lord Egrimond Ann. 1455 Reg. 33. The Duke of Yorke with the Earles of Salisbury and Warwick betake themselves to their severall strengths The General agreement amongst the Nobilitie by the mediation of the King An. 1449 Strange apparitions An. 1459. R. 34. Sonne against father 1459. Subjects against Soveraigns Father against Sonne A fray An. 1458. R. 34. Three great Carricks taken worth 10000. 2. Battailes fought The Lord Audley slaine The Duke of Yorke flyeth An. 1428. R. 38. A Parliament The Earle of Warwicke with 25000. men taketh the field 3. Battell at Northampton Warwicke possest of the Tower An. 1459. R. 39. The Duke of Yorke puts in claime The Duke of Yorke to be proclaimed heire to the Crowne and Protector 4. Battell at Wakefield Young Rutland butchered The Earle of Salisbury beheaded Ann. 1458 R. 34. 1461. Fift battell at Mortimers crosse Sixt battel second at Saint Albones The Lord Bonvile and Thomas Kiryell beheaded by the Queene contrary to the Kings promise 30. Knights made Prince Edward dubbed Knight The Families of Yorke and Lancaster distinguished by the red Rose and white The Archbishop of Canterbury animated the Duke of Yorke to take upon him the Crowne Ann. 1460 Reg. 1. The Dukes title to the Crowne double An. 1460. R. 2. Edward leaveth London Lord Fitzwalter slaine at Ferry-brig 1461. The Lord Clifford slaine Ann. 1461 Reg. 2. The Earle of Northumberland with 36776. English slaine at Caxton field Edward the 4. Crowned An. 1461. R. 24. An. 1462 R. 2. An. 1642. R. 2. Conquet and Ree taken and pillaged by the Earles of Essex and Kent Sir Ralph Piercy slaine The Earle of Somerset taken prisoner An. 1464 R. 3. King Henry brought prisoner to the Tower The Earle of Warwick sent into France An. 1466 R. 6. Of Thomas Lord Scales of Nucells An. 1466 R. 9. The Lord Stafford forsakes Pembrooke Sir Hen Nevil slaine Ann. 1469 R. 9. King Edward taken prisoner King Edward escapes An. 1470 R. 10. The Lord Wells and Sir Thomas Dymock beheaded Ann. 1470 R. 10. Loose Coatefield Warwick entertained by the French King Visited by Queene Margaret Ioyne inconfederacy against King Edward Prince Edward married to his daughter The Burgonian Fleet dispersed Doctor Goddards Sermon at Pauls crosse King Edward enforced to forsake the land King Edward in danger of Pirates King Edward craveth succour of the Duke of Burgoyne Queene Elizabeth taketh Sanctuary at Westminster Rebells of Kent suppressed by Warwicke King Henry set at libertie A Parliament The Crowne entayled upon Clarence The Queene delivered of a Sonne An. 1471. R. 11. King Edward is admitted into Yorke An. 1471. R. 11. Warwicke entrencheth at Coventry King Edward entreth London An. 1471. R. 10. Warwicke slaine An. 1472 R. 11. Marquesse Mountacute Queene Margaret taken prisoner Prince Edw. slaughtered King Henry murdered Ann. 1472 R. 12. An. 1473. R. 13. A Kings kys to a rich widdow procured 40. where but 20. was expected An. 1474. R. 14. The Duke of Exceter found dead Ann. 1474 R. 4. King Edward writes to the French King * 300. crowns in gold and 30. yards of red velvet The duke of Burgoyn excuseth his breach of promise The Constable repromiseth ayd An. 1474 R. 14. Burgoyne departeth promising speedy returne The policy of the French King King Edward sends an Herald of armes to Lewis * S. Leoger Burgoyne retornes displeased The French Kingliberally rewardeth the good carriage of the English The manner of the internew of the 2 Kings King Edward could not be drawne from ayding the Duke of Brittayne A. 1475. R. 15. King Edward attempteth by a colourable pretence to procure Richmands person to be delivered to him Delivered to the Embassadors Escapeth into Sanctuary An. 1477. R. 17. Clarence drowned An. 1480. R. 22. An. 1483. R. 23. An. 1483. An. 1483. R. 1. An. 1484. R. 1. An. 1484. R. 2. Humphry Duke of Buckirgham slain at St. Albones 1455. Humphry slain at Northampton 38. H. 6. 1460. An. 1484 An. 1484 R. 1. An. 1484. Reg. 2. Richmonds ex hertation Battaile 1. Anno 1455. Dukes 1. Earles 3. Lords 1. Knights 11. Esquires 18. 5641. Battaile 2. Anno 1459. Lord 1. Knights 7. 2411. Knight 1. Battaile 3. Anno 1459. Duke 1. Earle 1. Lord 1. Viscount 1. Knight 1. Lord 1. Battaile 4. Anno 1469. Duke 1. Earles 2. Knights 8. Battaile 5. Anno 1491. Knight 1. Battaile 6. Lord 1. Knights 3. Battaile 7. Anno 1491. Earles 4. Lords 9. Knights 22. 37046. Battaile 7. Anno 1463. Knight 1. 107. Anno 1464. Duke 1. Lords 3. Knights 20. 2024. Battaile 8. Anno 1469. 5009. Earles 3. Lords 3. Knights 11. Battaile 9. Anno 1470. Knights 〈◊〉 10000. Battaile 10. Anno 1471. Earle 1. Marquesse 1. Lords 3. Knights 2. 10000. Battaile 11. Anno praedict A Prince Dukes 2. A Marquesse A Lord Prior An Earle A Baron Knights 20. Esquires 37. 1092. Battaile 12. Anno 1485. King 100. Duke 1. Lord 1. Knights 3. * Knights eldest Sonnes * Of coat-armour and Ancestry
right to the Crowne of England The King likewise made Sir Iohn Shirley Lord Chancellor Iohn Norbury Esquire Lord Treasurer Sir Richard Clifford Lord privie Seale Vpon the fourth of October the Lord high Steward by his Fathers command sate in the Kings Hall at Westminster and caused Proclamation to bee made That any that could claime any Office at the solemnization of the Kings Coronation should preferre their Petitions whereupon divers claimed Offices and Fees And those to whom the rights of such clayme 's appertained were admitted accordingly The Parliament was prorogued to the morrow after Saint Edwards day upon their reassembly it was enacted that the inheritance of the Crowne and Realme of England and of all the Dominions to the King of England appertaining should bee united and remaine in the person of King Henry and in the heires of his body lawfully begotten And that Prince Henry his eldest Sonne should be his heire apparant and Successor in the premisses and if hee should die without issue then they were entayled to his other Sonnes successively in order and to the heires of their bodyes so that nothing was left undone that the wit of man could invent and authoritie refulcitate for the setting of the right to the Crowne in him and his heires In this Parliament were deprived of their dignities the Dukes of Surry Aumerle and Exceter The Marquesse Dorset and Earle of Glocester underwent the like sentence The Inheritance of the kingdome settled and some exemplary punishments of some the late Kings ill counsellers made A motion was made in Parliament what should bee done with the deposed King Thomas Merckes the Bishop of Carlile a man that used both libertie and constancie in a good cause In his private judgement having never allowed these proceedings but dissembled his dislike till fit time to declare it being in a place to bee heard and by the order of the House not to be interrupted of any rose up and with a grave countenance and settled courage sayd This question right Honorable concerneth a matter of great consequence and waight the determining whereof will assuredly procure either quiet or turmoile both to the publike State and our particular consciences Therefore before any resolution thereof bee given I beseech you to take into your more serious consideration these two things First whether King Richard bee sufficiently deposed or not secondly whether King Henry bee by Iustice and good advisement seated in the succession In the first point is to be examined whether a King by lineall succession being Crowned annoynted and lawfully invested may upon imputation either of negligence or tyrannie bee deposed by his Subjects secondly what Richard had omitted in the one or committed in the other that might deserve that heavy judgement I will not dispute what may bee done in a popular or consular estate in which though one beareth the Title and honour of a Prince yet he hath no Supreame power of a King But in the one the Nobilitie and chiefe men of state in the other the people have greatest prerogative in neither the Prince of the last sort was the Common-wealth of the Lacedemonians who by that forme of government which Licurgus framed oftentimes fined sometimes fettered their Princes sometimes put them to death such were the petty Kings in France in Caesars time who were oftentimes arraigned and executed and as the Prince of the Leodienses Ambiorix confessed had no greater power over their subjects then their subjects had over them and of the second condition were the Roman Emperors at the first being subject to the censure of the Senat And such are now the Emperours of Germany whom the other Princes by their Aristocraticall power doe not only restraine but sometimes remove such are the Kings of Denmarke and Sweveland who are many times by their Nobilitie dejected either into prison or exile Such are the Dukes of Venice and some other free States of Italy And the chiefest cause why Lewis Earle of Flaunders was lately expelled was for assuming unto himselfe the Cognizance of life and death which authoritie was never incident to his dignitie In these and such like governments the Prince hath not absolute Regalitie but is himselfe subject to that power which is more transcendent then his whether it bee in the Nobilitie or multitude But if the Soveraigne Majestie bee in the Prince as it was in the first three Emperours and in the kingdomes of Iudea and Israel and is now in the kingdomes of England France Scotland Spaine Muscovia Turkie Tartary Persia Ethiopia and almost all the kingdomes of Asia and Africa although for his vices hee bee unprofitable to the Subjects yea hurtfull yea untolerable yet can they neither hazard his power nor harme his Person either by judiciall proceedings or by force for neither one nor all Magistrates have any authoritie over the Prince from whom all Authoritie is derived and whose only presence doth silence and suspend all inferiour jurisdiction and force And for power what subject can assist or counsell or conceale violence against his Prince and not incur the high heinous crime offensonry or treason it is a common saying thought is free free indeed from punishment of secular Laws except byword or deed it break forth into action yet the secret thoughts against the sacred Majestie of a Prince without attempt without endeavour have bin adjudged to death And somewho in auricular confession have discovered their treacherous devises against the King in person have for the same bin executed All laws do exempt a madd man from punishment because their actions are not governed by their will and the will of man being set apart all his deeds are indifferent neither can the body offend without a corrupt or erronious minde yet if a mad man but draw his weapon upon his King it hath beene adjudged worthy death And lest any man should surmise that Princes for the maintenance of their owne safetie and soveraigntie are the only authors of these judgements Let us examine with consideration the patternes and precepts to this purpose set forth in the Sacred text Nabucadonezer King of Assyria wasted all Palestine with fire and sword oppugned the holy Citie a great while and at the last expugned it slaughtered the King burnt the Temple carryed away the holy Vessells and Treasure and permitted the souldiers with unmercifull crueltie to spoile and ransacke all the people with fire and sword and whom from thence had escaped and the pestilence had spared hee led captive into Chaldea and there erected his golden Image commanding those that refused to worship it to bee cast into the fiery Furnace notwithstanding God calleth Nabucadnezer his servant and promiseth him wages for his service And the Prophets Ieremiah and Baruke did write unto the Iewes to pray for the life of him and of Balthazar his sonne that their dayes upon earth might bee as the dayes of heaven and Ezechiel with bitter termes upbraideth the disloyaltie of Zedechiah