Queenes conception long before many weekes after Therfore I doubt not most excellent Prince but these my speaches may â—â—llifie your hart and procure present pittie to appeare and in doing so humanetie curtesie and noble worthinesse shall illustrate your person and with pregnant pollecie odorne your high estate and Imnage a rare blossome sprouting out to the exceeding comfort of all England The King being resolued at this the Earle of Sommersets request with the perswasion of diuers other noble men to graunt her repriuement vntill her deliuerance of childbirth were accomplished so that his desier in putting her to death might not afterward be hindred This her repriuement did not so much reioyce the sorrowfull heartes of the English Lords as it bred anger and discontentment in the Barron of Buckingames breast who imbouldned Casiope the Kinges Concubine to call for the Queenes secret distruction greatly mistrusting that continuall windes would at length shake the Tower of their prosperiites The beautie of this fayre Casiope seemed in the eyes of King Edward a little earthly Paradice which chaunged his inclinations to any way shee pleased for what soeuer he openly promised to his Nobles would he secretly denie before Casiope and what soeuer was obtayned contrary to her good liking was contiually crossed with a bad successe This costly magnificent Lady thus vndermined high mountaines builded bridges ouer mighty Seas and stood as a sure Irone post in the defence and safe conduct of the wicked Barron hir professed friend by art of wordes winding the Kinges mind to her ready bent bow and with beautyfull countenance indooting his concupicence against the whole dominion of England all which as a manifest trueth on a time approuedly fell out for after that sundrey of the Queenes friendes haâ—â—eliuered many pittifull petitions for her enlargement Casiope secretly betweene them selues taunted the King as followeth To what solletary wildernes is the ripenes of your pollecy wandred Shall euery bace Subiect hauing aspired some promosion rather of your goodnes then their owne desartes chaung your inclination as they list For shame my Lord put on a princely mind put off this bace relenting hart let Subiectes penetrate your minds not as they lust but as you please let them euermore seeke and neuer finde the secret depth of your hart let them rather grate vpon hard Irone then soft melting waxe my counsell herein followed and put in practise will bring speaciall welfare to your state and worthy estimation to all those which attende your person Further if Queene Katherine be the pleasant flower that euery one seeketh to smell at doe but vnroote the stalke and all their delightes will perish And to conclude her life will be your death and my dishonour King Edward harkening still to the voyce of this night Rauen which dayly crooked for the sweetlife of the vertuous Queene and spent much commumcation with the King as well for her dispatchance after her deliuerance from childbirth as conuaying the state of the Kingdome to her isshue The which pricks and darts of mortall shot throwne out so inwardly greeued the Lordes of the priuy Counsell that they departed the Kinges court resigned their offices and rich fees and sould their Patrimonies so that the Kingdome and dominion of Brittaine which before abounded in prosperous felicitie with manyfould orniaments of honour was now ruinated with great pouertie wretchednesse and miserie The King neglected the care of his people the people on the other side enuied the person of the King their martchandize and trafficke decayed their husbandry foreslowed ground became barron with out tillage miserable famine ouer spred the whole Countrey the which consumed breede of cattle The gold siluer and treasures was incroached among the wealthiest subiectes who for their better saffety betooke both themselues their riches vnder forraine gouernmentes Presently vppon this hurlie burlie which happened throughout the whole dominioÌ„ the heauens sent this good fortune to Queene Katherine that in the Lord high Marshals house she was deliuered in childbirth of two Twins a Sonne and a Daughter being two children of an excellent beauty which by the Marshall was presented to King Edward who although vtterly despising the Mother yet not altogeather choaked in ill nature toward the infantes speedely celebrated a soliemne Christoning and caused the man child to be called Edmond and the woman child by the name of Siluia the which being performed by officiall Priestes as the manner was in those dayes but yet not in such a royall sort as Princes childred ought to haue been christoned the which being no sooner finished but the King kindled in fuery against the Infantes through the perswasion of fayre Casiope caused young Edmond to be conuayed into the Dukedome of Normandy in which dominion the young Infant in company of his English nurses was most honourably receiued both because that Duke Robert being the first of that name was vnissued as being a Kings child of royal blood thinking that the Infant being naturally brought vp would proue in time to be a louing Prince to his people and a careful gouernour amongst them Further King Edward in the dispoyle of lawfull posterety from his dominion and Kingdome likewise transported fayre Siluia with her English nurses into Denmarke where very honourable intertaynement and comfort was giuen in the Kinges Court who through age and time gayned woonderfull estimation for as nature had rewarded her with excellent beauty so fortune forgot not to replenish her with wealthy prosperety who from her childhood in Princely orniamentes proued the only Parragon of Denmarke where now we will leaue her for a time to her good fortunes and likewise Prince Edmond in the Court of Normandie and discourse of the miseries that happened to Queene Katherine after her deliuery of childbirth CHAP. 5. ¶ How Queene Katherine was deliuered from prison by the pollecy of the Earle of London being her owne brother and what happened to the Lord Marshall after her departure KIng Edward not ending his Ielous fuery in the bannishment first of the Duke of Suffolke the young infant Edmond his ligitimate procreation and fayre Siluia his naturall daughter but with a greater determination of mischeife presently sent letters to the high Marshall giuing him a spetiall charge for the Queenes beheading protesting by the same letters what peace and tranquillety thereby might be purchased to his countrey After receipt of these newes the night before her death anpoynted Lord Marshall entered the Queenes lodging and made relation of his charge giuen by the King for her execution to whom she with a sober countenance answered in this manner My Lord Marshall sayd the Queene be not amazed but accomplish your duty herein nor thinke me displeased either with these newes from my deare husband or with you the messenger for I am fully resolued that my death more greeueth you then my selfe and as you haue been euer carefull in my cause so it is no little sorrow vnto your heart
of vertue in her countenance but yet a cruell and vniust woe chaunced vnto her young dayes to become the nuptiall Spouse of a voluptuous vnchast King who more esteemed the false desembling face of a Harlot then the chast beautie of this vertuous Queene and yeelded more credite to the vniust accusation of a flattering Peere then to the pittifull teares of this honourable Person whose lyfe from her infancie hath hitherto continued without blemish Therefore now we hope that mercy waighteth in the gates of the righteous euer to relieue the distressed trauellers This being sayd the Knight hauing a good lyking to the bright honour which vertuously appeared in their faces vouchsafed to giue them a fauorable entertainement and according to the worthines of honourable strangers he reteiued them with great kindnes who not refusing his willing offer with great humilitie thanked his curtesie esteeming themselues in aduersitie as pilgrimes throwne vppon strange rocks of hard fortune were exceeding glad of friends and friendship This bountifull Knight more to honour their estates commanded the best and wealthiest subiectes within the Iland to attend their persons and to prouide all necessaries for their needfull want besides which the most plesantest buildings within the Iland were appointed for their lodgings who after long recreation refreshing their wearie miseries with good ease they craued libertie to depart But at the time of their abode in the Iland the Knight was grieued with a most strange disease the which most cruelly tormented him through all the parts of his body but Queene Katherine taking a view of the same saide vnto him in these words Your disease good Sir is euidentlie knowne vnto me being already partly acquainted with the nature therof I am no professed Phisition nor Chirurgion but yet if it stand with your good pleasure to aduenture your selfe vppon my simple skill although a stranger yet will I shewe my vttermost experience in the recouery of your health Most renowned Queene replied the Knight I can but thanke you for your curteous offered friendship but if my health may bee recouered by your knowledge I shall obtaine a greater benefit from your good grace then euer yet could bee ministred by any mortall creature I haue to my great cost and charge intertained many good and learned phisitions and chirurgions from sundry famous places of the world yea men of renowned credit haue trauailed vnto me yet hitherto I neuer could neither by wisdome cunning learning policy nor practise be remedied or eased But nowe such was the vertue and grace of this noble Queene that although she was of royall bloud yet the fulsomnesse of the disease neither was lothsome vnto hir neither the daintinesse which her degree might require did cause her to refuse any paines for accomplishment of his health but so she applied her medicines within and without of such vertue effect that in short time the knight recouered not onely his health but liued long after a very perfect and sound man The knight hauing thus made a triall of the incomparable vertue wisedome learning and modest chastertie of this noble Queene caused hir renowne to bee published in many forraigne nations and rewarded her with great treasures likewise appointing a sure ship trusty Marriners with great store of prouision for hir passage into Normandy likewise hee writ a letter to Duke Robert touching hir rare and excellent orniaments of nature yea what a renowned woman his country was like to inioy wishing that his fortune had beene worthy of so blessed and good a creature to haue dwelled amongst his people Thus this good Queene hir deare brother with the residue of her honorable company passed foorth their iourney towards Normandy where and into which countrey she was royally enterteined of Duke Robert his Dutches and principal estates of that nation and receiued fauour of all other sortes of people for hir curteous behauiour In this country her orniaments of skill wortinesse of vertue and studious learning so increased flowed and abounded whereby she was able to dispute talke and reason with the learnedst physicion in the world for she was so much guided by wisdomes lore that many forraine princes came to reuerence her besides common people full of sundry diseases homaged to her person for remedy and ease some for one grife some for another and to conclude there is no disease which this gratious Queene tooke in hand but hir excellent knowledge gaue health and soundnesse Oh how many Princes and great Monarks of the world were content to stoope for health of body to this worthy woman What wonderfull treasures and rich iewels were daily laide before hir sent from all the parts of the earth in respect of hir magnificence renowned same and admirable credite beeing vniuersallie spread through all the dominions of the world CHAP. 8. ¶ How King Edward grew in misliking with his faire minion and her secret friend the wickked Barron and howe by their meanes he was deposed and constrained to forsake his natiue countrey THE fame of Queene Katherines glory obtained in the Dukedome of Normandy did more depresse and martyr her enemies in England then if she had made a conquest of them with forty thousande men of warre the which her good successe abroad being fauored in a forraine nation did not a little fret the cankered stomackes of her foes at home as King Edward her husband Casiope and the Barren of Buckinggam which greatly repented themselues that better forecast had not setled in their heades in the preuention of such mischiefes by the Queenes prosperous euent like to ensue Casiope inioying the lour pleasure and faithful seruice of hir deare friende the Barron beginneth nowe to fadome the deepest waters and to blind the kinges eyes with the foggy mistes of her deceitfull smiles who as an instrument of folly was drawn to what purpose his Minion pleased first framed by the Barrons fraudulent deuises ceassed not more and more to vse their wits in the best manner they could to maintaine their vniust loues and being in a feare least their leude lecherie should come to the kings eares the which not a little tormented their thoughts aduised themselues by priuy consultation togither howe they might best procure their owne safety So by subtile science of wit they inueigled the King to deliuer vp the title of his gouernement and dominion to yong Valentinus his bastard sonne all which being brought to vnhappy passe Casiope and the Barren her louer for recreation sake might the more safer vse their pleasant delights in the Kinges presence without suspition as though no blemish were in beautie nor lewdnesse in loue The King being thus deposed many times sitting like a dizard desolately left to himselfe putting a by receauing onely by the yeare sixe thousand crownes and the wicked Barron appointed the lord Protector of young Valentinus who was brought vp according to his wished desire King Edward now being discharged from the heauy burthen of a crowne early in
in comely apparell iewels money and other prouision to his daughter Siluia brought vp as then in the Denmarke Court vpon whose arriuall there newes was sent vnto the King that a stranger being an English-man by birth was desirous to speake with his Maiestie who being full of friendly entertainement receiued him in a most royall maner and being come before his presence King Edward spake as followeth The tempestâ—s of aduersitie right excellent King hath brought me vnto your presence not in any euill pretence against your countrey but as one trayterously deceiued by ambitious Subiectes For know most noble Prince that I am the vnhappie King of England banished from my countreys and dominions and bereft from Princely tytles honour and renowne And now sith my deare Daughter and childe faire Siluia here at your cost charge is brought vp nature and affection haue drawne me hither to see her This being sayd the Denmarke King with right good grace reioyced and both courteously receiued and reuerenced him profering him friendshyp power and assistance as well to maintaine his present estate as to restore him againe vnto his Kingdome Faire Siluia with great obedience presented her selfe before King Edward her father who greatly commended her beautie and diuine gyftes of nature condemning his owne hard hart in banyshing her so vnnaturally from her natiue Countrey for I wish sayd he my graue had swallowed me aliue when first my malitious minde committed her to banishment Therefore in requitall of that iniurie faire Siluia yf euer I recouer agayne my right refuse not to be crowned the royall Queene of England These and many more lyke speaches past berwixt King Edward and his daughter duering the tyme of his aboade in the Denmarke Court the which King gaue him such honorable mayntenance as belonged to his princely estate the rather because he esteemed faire Siluia a meete wife for his sonne and heire young Essricke both being of an equall age and nursed vp together Thus the Denmarke King reuiued with a gladsome hope of climbing the highest top of these famous dignities did make no spare of cost for the accomplishing of his haughtie expectation Also King Edward made a determined purpose with more deliberation riper iudgement to reobtaine his dominion and gouernment CHAP. 9. ¶ How Vallentinus the bastard was crowned King and how he through the perswasions of Perce of Winchester caused his owne Mother with her paramour the wicked Barron to be most strangely put to death NOW must we speake againe of the troubles that happened in England after the Kinges banishment where the wicked Barron and his minion Casiope many a day practised their wits not onely for euer to bar king Edward from his kingdome but vsed diligent watch and examined the bottome of euery attempt that might practise his returne but at last they concluded vpon the coronation of young Vallentinus and resigned the Crowne and Scepter into his handes which before time they had reserued to his vse for declaration of true obedience Many of the best Subiectes did sweare disloyaltie to King Edward and subiection to the Bastard who had no sooner falsely vsurpt the Crowne but by vnkind behauiour he altered the minds of the welthiest Subiectes who in securitie of their lyues forsooke their natiue Countries whereby the Realme was left vnpeopled without tillage destitute of bread bereft of money treasures and trafficke of marchandize from other dominions for their necessary trades decayed and all things grew out of frame and good order But now Vallentinus the Bastard beginning to grow proud ryetous and wanton disdayned the wonted checkes of the Barron and his Mother who many times sought to controwle his wretchles lyfe through which a great misâ—iking and dissention grew amongst them and to make enuie the more riper there was one Sir Perce of Winchester a notable cunning youth brought vp with Vallentinus and wholly of his counsell who knowing him to be no lawfull Prince but a vsurper also viewing the wofull calamitie and ruine the Countrey was brought into stirred sinders more hotter amongst them for he so flattered the young King feeding his humors and aduised him to reiect the Barron and Casiope his Mother to make denyall of their checkes contemne their controulments and to beare sway of his owne absolute authority Thus being incensed by Sir Perce he began to rouse vp his peacocks fethers and to beare a malitious hatred against the Barron and his mother his best friendes and chiefe aduauncers Sir Perce nothing fayling in all maner of deceites playde likewise on the other side and vnder the colour of loue that he bore to the young Prince he wished and exhorted them sharpely to reproue the vnbridled lyfe of Vallentinus Thus ambodexter like this young flatterer Sir Perce of Winchester vnder a cloake of true loue still feeding the stubborne and vnciuill natures of both parties planted vp most waightie cannons and battered the strongest walles of the Kingdome Casiope and the Barron thinking themselues without hope of reclayming Vallentinus secretly departed his Court and raysed vp an armie of well approued Souldiers and attempted as well to ransacke his Pallace as the apprehention of his person Vallentinus through the cunning of Sir Perce was admonished of this deuice and practise and mustred into his seruice the most couragious and valient Captaines and best approued Souldiers that could be found But now the Barron with his Armie seeking to preuent them fought such an vnlucky Battayle that two thousand of his brauest followers came to foyle and slaughter and him selfe and Casiope taken prisoners who by the furious crueltie of the young Prince was clapt vp in prison to abide a hard and mercilesse captiuitie Hauing thus taken an occasion of the time and fortune he consulted with Sir Perce what was best to be done in such a businesse who hauing a wylie wit and a craftie capasetie whispered priuely in the Princes eares and aduised him to iudge them to a speedy execution for doubt you not quoth he but there is iust causes to be layd agaynst them as chiefly your mothers filthy adulterous lyfe with that bace and wicked Barron whose trayterous minde hath not onely mooued this rebellion but hath been the cause of your deare fathers banishment And beeing now in safe custodie let no good fortune be neglected till you haue expressed the duetie of a louing childe by their dispatchance out of this transitorie worlde Vallentinus now wholly fastning his minde more vppon prodigalitie ambition and vaine glory then publike profite to his Crowne and Countrey and was ignorant what danger would ensue in cutting off the Barron and his Mother beeing his best friendes and surest proppes in all extremeties therefore without any further consideration he erected furnished and sumptuously builded a strong Tower very splendant and admirable to behold of wonderfull largenesse deapth and hight He also caused a Gibbet to be festened vpon the toppe thereof the which being no sooner finished by the handy worke
of cunning Artificers but he commaunded the Barron and his mother Casiope dispightfully to be brought foorth as scornes of the world to iest vpon where casting his eyes to the Tower he sayd You thinke time sleepeth or that siouthfulnesse wantonly walloweth in me no no although to my great cost yet haue I setled vp a surer stay to this my Realme Countrey then euer did my predecessours before me For I haue here established a Tower to hange trayterous Knaues Curtizans vpon The worlde shall not adiudge me partiall in my Lawes for subiectes shall drinke alike of one cuppe and licour This being sayd he caused the Barron and Casiope to be againe carryed to prison and there to remayne tyll his further pleasure euery hower expecting the deadly stroke that should seperate their bodyes from their soules All this while Sir Perce was not vnbusied omitting no time that might further his intent but continually fillyng Vallentines eares with strong perswasions that their liues and spirits might be speedely depriued a sunder which bloudy stratagem was not long a finishyng for the young Prince or rather vnnaturall viper in this maner powred downe the tempestious showers of truell murther for early in the mornyng he caused his Mother Casiope to be brought foorth who the night before hauing intelligence by her keepers that her dayes were at an ende cloathed her selfe in vestments of white silke and comming before her bastard sonne she very humbly prostrated her selfe and craued pittie mercie and forgiuenesse at his handes and with a blushing countenance as beautifull as the new bloomed Rose she spake in this maner Oh sonne Valentinus said she remember that I am the Mother thy selfe fashioned of my wombe and body and by nature springing from the tree of my life yet thou like a most vnnatural Homicide seckest to shorten my daies and to stop my breath whereas thou oughtest in duety and obedience to vpholde my honour and prolong my life I do confesse my vile offences haue deserued punishment but shall mine owne child be the reuenger thereof The banishment of good Queene Katherine and the confusion of all her friends through my vniust meanes was accomplished with many other miseries which I haue ouerburthened this lande withall onely to aduance an vngratefull dissembler which like the Viper seeketh to finish the life of his dearest pareuts Many more were the speeches which Casiope spake in hope to attract remorse from hir Iron harted sonne who nothing regarded her words but rather the more imboldened and stirred vp into a greater fury by a present commandement he caused her bodie to be cast vpon a Table and hir hands and legs to be houlden by the strength of men the which being done he with a sharpe knife cut his Mothers throate and with the same butcherly instrument deseuered her lisly necke from hir shoulders which ad wont to be adorned with a glittering chaine of pure gold After this he caused the place which first conceaued him to be ript vp and sild full of corny salt where after hir belly being thus closed vp he gaue commandement to haue her dead carcasse transported to the top of the Tower there hung vpon a Iibbet Her deare friende the Barron was vsed in the same order for he had his mouth stuft ful of burning Pepper and hung likewise vpon the same Iibbet aliue as a iust view of such vngeateful flatterers and adulterous traitours to behold This bloudy action being finished Valentinus spake to the people many reprochfull wordes in the disgrace of the wicked Barron and Casiope his mother calling her the She-deuouring Beare of England hir deare friend the first causer of King Edwards dishonour in which tyrannicall course of life our story bids vs now leaue the bastard Valentinus with his new friend Sir Perce and speake of the accidents that happened in the Normaine court CHAP. 10. ¶ How Prince Edmond returned againe into England and was crowned King and how the bastarde King was put to death after a strange maner QVEENE Katherine as you heard before after her wrongfull banishment from England was graciously entertained of the Normane Duke where she dayly had intelligence of the wofull estate of England by many of hir distressed countrymen which continually fled thither for succour in the redresse of whose miseries shee made suite vnto Duke Robert of Normandie that hir young sonne Prince Edmund might returne into Enland not onely to possesse himselfe into the rightfull inheritance of his owne dominions but to represse the pride of the miscreant bastard whose tyrannize had made England the perfect merror of calamity and the wofullest nation vnder the cope of heauen In this maner euery day Queene Katherine solicited Duke Robert with fauourable petitions for the furnishing of her sonne into his owne Countrey with a band of warlike Souldiers vnto whom the Normane Duke answered in this maner Loth I am faire Queene that your princely sonne should forsake my dukedome and dominion being the only staffe of my old age and after my death the hope of my subiectes although not naturally borne amongst them yet comming of a royall blood the sonne of a maiestical Prince they will rather submit to his obedience then to the gouernment of one of a simpler birth No no sayd Queene Katherine there is no reason why a stranger should be Prince of forraigne subiectes through whom they should be either too much burthened or mooued to disdaine and therefore most noble Duke I humbly craue that permission may be graunted for his departure and in regarde of your princely liberality hauing brought him vp to such abilitie prowesse and warlike perfection he shal be bound to confesse homage and loyaltie to your kingdome whilst he liueth The Normane Duke being possest with a milde nature and ready in all actions to satisfie Queene Katherines expectation presently mustered a great multitude as well of Normane souldiers as exiled Englishmen which zelously protested all duetifull indeuours in the young Princes behalfe and in the accomplishment of that honorable exployte Queene Katherine hauing gathered great masses of golde and siluer attayned through her learned skill and practise in Phisicke furnished her sonne Prince Edmond with such abundance that nothing wanted either to his aduenture or contentment and so beeing furnished with Munition Ships and Souldiers he hoysted vp sayle and with a merrie winde safely arriued vpon the confines of England where presently he aduanced his Culloures and planted his forces to the best aduantage But now the bastard Prince Valentinus being amazed at the sight hereof with a fearefull troubled minde greatly misdoubted that his kingly gouernment was at an ende yet hauing mustered vp a slender armie of English Souldiers nothing auayleable for his defence he committed them vnder the leading of Sir Perce of Winchester who tendering his owne safety went to the enemy where both him selfe and his souldiers sware true obedience to Prince Edmond This vnexpected accident so daunted the
bastard King that he grew desperate of good happe and being left as a naked man he secretly conueyed himselfe to the Tower and hid himselfe in an obscure den Thus Prince Edmond without any further disturbance quietly entred the Kingdome where he tooke vpon him the possession of the English crowne placing the banished English men in honorable dignities most richly aduanced the Normane souldiers the which being so luckely accomplyshed he caused the bastard to be searched foorth his mouth likewise to be stuffed closed vp with burning Pepper and hanged aliue in chaynes of Iron by the Barron Casiope vpon the top of the Tower as you heard before so vsed Euery thing brought thus to so good a passe England in short time became well unpeopled againe the Realme multiplied in gold siluer noble Famelies adorned with honorable possessions Lords Knights Esquires Gentlemen in semblable degree endowed Marchantes and Artificers well placed for traffique from forraigne regions great vent and tillage and breede of cattle increased learning and liberall artes maintained Marshall prowesse exercised and all things els in most decent maner placed the which we will passe ouer and speake of King Edward lyuing in the King of Denmarks Court. CHAP. 11. ¶ Of the Warres betweene King Edward and his owne Sonne and the successe thereof with other thinges that hapned THese affaires could not be so priuatly handled in England but that King Edward had intelligence thereof in Denmarke who with a resolute determination desired to returne into his natiue Countrey not onely that his olde age might be there comforted but that his daughter Siluia might be ioyned in marriage with Essricke the Prince of Denmarke whose father in the redresse of King Edwards long offlictions caused the second part of all his able men at armes to be mustred vp and prouided rich treasures for Souldiers pay with warlike weapons armour and store of shyppes necessary for such a dangerous exployte and published by Proclamation through all the Prouinces of Denmarke that king Edward was to reclaime his lawfull right in England vniustly vsurped by his owne Sonne with many other incouragements giuen out to animate his Subiectes to proceede with resolution This busie preparation in Denmarke so pierced Sir Perce of Winchesters eares in England that he mistrusted his estate to be dangerous and that his doble dealing would be shortly espied in the preuention whereof the better to protect and defend him selfe he writ this priuie Letter to King Edward as followeth Sir Perce of Winchesters Letter sent to king Edward NOTHING shall intice my hart most Soueraigne Lord to prooue disloyall to your Matestie nor nothing restraine the seruiceable duetie which I owe vnto your Excellence And although I was in my cradle when first you left your naturall Countrey of England but yet now being growne vp to sufficient reason do assemble all my powers of nature what pollecie chiefly may preuayle or practise procure your recouerie For there is nothing that my drouping soule wisheth for more then your happy returne to your former possessions I loue Prince Edmond if he reuerence your Maiestie and I wish him good successe if he shew the duetie of a sonne vnto his father against whom if he lift but his hand in wrath the Gods will wreake iust vengeance and destruction vpon Therefore most noble Lord thinke it not danger to returne for I will counsell him to submission shewing what execrable vengeance is pottended to them which draw the sworde of tyrranie against their owne Fathers I will admonish him to conuerse least his owne wilfull conceite bring him to perdition Thus may I both defend and counsell him without suspition of the world and also therevpon shew fauour and reuerence to your worthy Maiestie Thus fare you well THIS Letter being transported to King Edward into Denmarke was receined as sweete flowers with promised requitall the which refreshed his drouping senses and changed dispaire into perfect assurance and thinking now to recouer his former right by the meanes of Sir Perce vpon whose backe the common wealth of England depended but fearing least his proffered affections should alter he sent this answere to his letters as followeth King Edwards answere to Sir Perce of Winchesters Letter I Neuer dispaired but the Gods which hitherto hath gouerned all my attemptes would at last send some comfort to my miseries and bring me againe to the full perfection of my felicitie which through your wisedome and pollecie must be attained Therefore in most humble sort I do accept your kind proffer and this your loyall enterprise shall in the highest degree be blazed amongst my best friendes and vntill my soule be diuorsed from my body I shall neuer forget the loue of so faythfull a Subiect hencefoorth vowing to put off all feminine affection and vaine delightes which haunt Princes Pallaces and the Courtes of mightie Kinges Haue not I iust cause to render thankes to the immortall Gods that in the middest of my miseries I haue found so prudent and worthy a friend as is your noble selfe whose loyall hart is wholly consecrated to my good fortunes Euery day do I wash my face with teares for the tragicall ruine of my Countrey and euery day do I breath out sorrowfull sighes from the closure of my soule to thinke how the light beames of my princely honours hath been darkened by the falsehood of Casiope and the Barrons cunning craft whereby my poore Subiectes haue bin in â—angâ—râ—â— and my selfe plundged in carefull calamities all which greeueth not my soule so much as that mine owne childe now contrary to the duetifull obedience of a Soune doth vsurpe my Crowne and holdeth vp the sword of sedition against his owne Father But yet I see the Gods will still preserue both my lyfe and honour in that you are appoyuted to remedy my distresse and correct the trâ—yterous trespasse of a wicked Sonne Thus I end assuring my selfe that my fortune shall amount to the loftie turrets of my desire and likwise tread â—owne disgrace and quench the scorching flames of noysome enemies thus wishing you as my selfe I bid you farewell YET for all this King Edward regarded this person but as a prodigall and climbing traytor pâ—ouâ—ly aspyring after princely dignities and therefore entertained and placed in the ranke of false friends vsing him as a shaddow and image of a dead man without either respecting his valloure or trusting to his faigned flatteries But now in the meaue space whilst these things were a working Prince Edmond vnderstood by a priuate friend of Winchesters pestiferous treasons to the reformation whereof he sent foorth a trustie band of Souldiers for his apprehention which newes by Sir Perce was first vnderstood and therefore he fled secretly into Denmarke and disclosed to King Edward all the pollecies practised in England for which he was richly recompenced and rewarded with sumptuous entertainement After whose departure Prince Edmond felt the toundation of his Kingdome to begin to
shake and thinking now to be cloaked vnder his Mothers wing he writeth to her of the starting away of Winchester his chiefe Counseller who hath not only stayned the true duetie of a subiect but impayred the safeguard of his regiment and disclosed the priuities of his counsell Prince Edmonds letters to Queene Katherine sent to her into Normandie DEARE and welbeloued Mother I haue seene and knowne and now at length found the force of a flatterer for the vnconstant knight of Winchester with false colours hath bleared my eyes He hath sucked honey in England and now spitteth poyson in Denmarke he hath drawne out a vennomed sword to hacke a sunder my rule gouernment He that was wont to comfort me with counsels now killeth me with deadly destruction Therefore my beloued Mother as you did safely conduct me hither so leaue me not now in danger of confusion for I am as one wrapped in sundry extremeties sould into the handes of enemies eyther to yeeld with repulse and shame or haue my young vnexperienced age conquered with death wherefore sweete Mother ayde me with your strong hand that these dangers layde against me may be escaped Rule me with reason and with your honourable wisedome counsell me that I may euer hereafter gouerne my actions with discretion and neuer more be troubled with treasons of a flatterer whose villanies hencefoorth I will disdaine and no more regard them then the chaffe blowne away with the wind Deare Mother speedely answere my distressed desires that my soule may not euer languish in distresse Thus ending at this time wishing the heauens to blesse you with honourable and long life fare you well From our English Court. WHen Queene Katherine had receiued Prince Edmonds Letters she in tendernesse of hart wept bitter teares but yet being perfectly instructed in wisedomes preceptes thought it against the lawes of nature to striue against her husband therefore she poured foorth these sage sentenses the which in maner of a Letter she returned backe into England to Prince Edmond her sonne Queene Katherines Letters of confolation sent to her sonne in England IT is wel remembred my princely Sonne that flatterers vndermining Kingdomes are Timber-wormes which lurke in the secret celles of Princes consciences that counterfeites the complexions of all creatures and filles their boosoms vp with the noble blood of honorable Houses Why had not you then read and turnd ouer the auncient Chronicles of England and seene into the fall of Princes practised by the pride of flattering startups The Lacedimonian Kinges although preserued in walles of Iron and in towers and castles of brasse yet by the deceite of flattering traytors were their princely gloryes subuerted to miserable infamie The Grecian Princes continually placed in Chariots and close Litters of golde guarded with great armies and hoastes of puissant Souldiers yet through the sufferance of false flatterers were they dayly diuerted to sodaine confusion I say my deare and honorable Sonne looke into the gouernement of our auncient Kings of England who retaind none into their counsels but the sonnes of Noble families borne to honorable giftes of nature wise vertuous and of a ciuill gouernement If any of a bace birth were entertained into Princes fauours first were they tried and then trusted deserued then honored well approued and then credited I say if either learning wisdome or experience had in any poynt ruled thee sweete flattery had not thus ouerreacht thee nor subtill dissembling so deceiued thee and to conclud King Edward my husband and thy father in loue equall vnto vs both may not be vndermined by me nor resisted by thee I may well councel but not defend thee nor any way minister comfort to thy sorrowfull afflictions especially against mine owne deere husband and thy father and as I admonish thee to reuerence his person so I charge thee to restraine thy stubborne wil for although he hath heaped manifold miseries vpon my backe yet with all honour to his person wil I discarge my selfe Thus fare you well from the Court of Normandy Your sorrowfull Mother vnhappy Katherine Queene Katherine although shee fauoured her sonne yet would she not seeke to resist King Edward hir husband but with wisdome obedience and humilitie gaue the world to vnderstand what glory and magnificence adorned her patience and although motherly nature willed her to seek the aduancement of hir sonne yet discretion did medigate the meanes that might scandolize the honour of hir husbande Whereas Queene Katherine rested in equall loue indifferently betweene them both so the Earle of London being hir brother and Prince Edmonds Vncle matched in mariage with the Dutches of Brittaine which honorable preferment happened through his sisters credite who vnderstanding of his Cousins distresse as well by King Edwards prepared â—â—â—aâ—â—on as Winchesters false trecheries in denouncing his subiection raised a great Armie of souldiers to the number of thirtie thousand able warriours the which he conueyed into England to be imployed in Prince Edmonds seruice On the other side the good Duke of Suffolke after his banishment froÌ„ England was highly graced with so tunes felicitie where through his Knighthood and manly behauiour he got such good lyking of the Queene of Portingale into which cruntrey he trauelled that she receiued him into her fauour and changed his wandring life into princely estimation betrothing her loue and kingdome to his gouernement whilst she liued and after her death this noble Duke by the generall voyce of the Portingals was elected King and ruler in her stead The Duke of Suffolke being thus crowned King of Portingale not of compulsion but in curtesie requested ten thousand able men to be prest in his friend Edmonds behalf the which multitude being leuied and accepted into seruice were conducted into England there by Prince Edmond most courteously entertained who being now strengthened with the Duke of Suffolkes souldiers from Portingale with the Earle of Londons souldiers from Brittaine and with his owne souldiers in England being all conueyed into one mayne Battaile he waighed in the ballance of discretion eyther an honourable winning of renowne or a loosing of all his kingly dignities So vpon a time assembling all the whole Armie of souldiers togither as well Brittaines Portingales as Englishmen who to inflame their vndoubted mindes to honorable resolution vpon an open Theator he spake this Oration following Prince Edmonds Oration to his Souldiers ALthough this our dominion of England most noble Souldiers and worthy Subiectes hath of late been made a common spoyle by sundry bace flatterers and impudent traytors deepely digging and vndermining our royall estate The freshe memorie of which English miseries through Casiopes filthy lyfe the wicked Barrons cruell extortion and the Bastards false vsurpation might easely from your eyes constraine a fountaine of teares which greeuous calamities at length through my Mothers care was taken away and my selfe being young and without experience setled among you am now in hazard to be bereaued not onely of lyfe but of
natures of English-men be euermore such that they wil not indure nor sustame the burthens of any forraine Prince In the reformation of which rule they did not onely dispirse suâ—â—y infamous slaunders against him throughout the whole â—â—untrey but also trayterously conspired the finall distruction of his life which wilfull treacheries might haue easely bin preuented had not Lord Essricke misliked the sweete and pleasant mariage estate of virtuous Siluia his wife for after hir company became loathsome to his good liking the dominion could not long continue vnhazarded Lord Essricke was not only now led with an ambitious and princely desire but also had his affections ouer mastered with witlesse cogitations feruently burning with the strange Iust of the English Ladies and being thus vainely intended he disdayned the comely beauty and honorable personage of faire Siluia whereby bright gold seemed drosse pure wine reputed stinking water and the pleasant flowers before smelling sweetely were now esteemed stinking weedes Thus his holsome senses being corrupted with lust faire Siluias vertues in his eyes seemed nothing delightsome so loathsome he accompted her presence to his company that he dayly practised a meane wherby she might be dispatched but at last after many deuises touching her death he consulted about the same with a doctor of Phisicke who although well qualletied and singulerly experienced deepely seene in that noble and reuerent science yet a couetous gaine and a desire of estimation as a lewde instrument to any vile purpose puffed him vp and made him consent to the ouerthrow and fatall finishyng of the sweete and tender life of Lady Siluia who hauing receiued an earnest of a rich rewarde from Lord Essricke he prepared a fatall potion to cast her into her euerlasting sleepe The which Potion or rather deadly Poyson being no sooner ministred by the Phisitian and receiued by faire Siluia but presently she was drowned in a deadly and vnwakefull sleepe wherein her vitall senses were so mortified that her sweete body loosing both strength and operation yeelded vp her dellicate life without hope of â—â—â—ouerie The vncertaintie of Siluias death being reported abroad caused many doubtfull surmises to be made some one way some another of her tragicall end but yet to salue this contagious sore Lord Essricke her husband by proclamation published throughout the dominion of England her honorable and liberall Funerall the which was openly solemnized in the cittie of London not only to creepe into the fauours of the vulgar sort of people but also to cloake and burie the murther vp in hidden secrecie by which cunning meanes he thought the more safer to climbe to the highest top of the Kingdome without either stop or impedimented stay by any one whatsoeuer After the honorable funerall of Lady Siluia was finished and her dellicate body intombed in the grauelled earth certaine English Priestes by a generall speach dayly giuen out by the common sort heard reported that Lady Siluia was buried by her husbandes appoyntment with great store of treasure about her to the attayning thereof to the number of fourtie officiall Priestes in a night secretly attempted to digge vp the Ladyes body thereby to inrich themselues with inestimable store of treasure that all their liues afterward might be stored with plentie of wealth But now to put this exployet and vile enterprise in practise in the mddle houre of the night they met all together at Siluâ—â—es Tombe where they speedely delued digged vp her sanctified body the which being taken vp they perceiued their intentes to be frustrate and missing the gaiue of that which they most desired they sodainly departed and lett the coarse naked vpon the bare ground the which so openly was left to be seene of euery one that all the beholders might easely perceuie that she had her death contriued by the violence of poyson The body of Sâ—â—â—ia being thus priuily vntombed present newes of the same was transported to he hearing of Lord Essricke who fearing his vnnaturall murthering of her daintie life would be brought in publique question to the worlde therfore presently sending for the Phisitian whose counsell he chiefly reâ—uired in this cause and diligently fadomed the deapth thereof how Lord Essricke might best regard his owne person defend his credite and possesse the Kingdome in the honour of the people But now such was the frawdullem attempts of these two secret murtherers by inâ—â—â—sition they found that the conspiracie treason in digging vp of Siluias body proceeded from the English Prelacie for which fact most execrable crueitie was prepared for them for by the worthy and diligent search and the Phisitians pollecie the general number of those English priestes which were at the fact doing were found out taken and apprehended and by order of law put to death Thus were the end of the said wicked Prelates who at their dying howers inwardly mourned and greeuously lamented their misspent lyues and their ill disguysed manners in the religion which they professed before God whose soules were drawned in the lake of couetousnes extortion in pride letcherie and ambition which Priestes were the rather put to death because the common sort of people dayly complayned of their wicked conuersations then their wilfull practises at faire Siluias Tombe Lord Essricke to throw him selfe into the fauour of the vulgar sort as well to disguise his owne leawd life as to appease the peoples murmurations he made a resolute determination vtterly to displease the religious Prelates all which nothing preuayled to couer his wickednes or make him the better liked amongst the ruder people whose natures alwayes loatheth and mislyketh strange vnnaturall gouernments yet this was the Phisitians counsell to tame and chastice the manners of the people which cannot be performed sayd he except by cruelty tirrany inissgouernment vsurpation taxes heauie tributes and such lyke all other gentle meanes helped not but rather made them more fircer and in manners and conditions the more ruder But now discourse we againe of the vertuous Queene Katherine that in the middest of there troubles in England had her fame and renowne made lorious in forraigne Nations for during her abode in the Normaine Court shee preferred the late Lorde high Marshalls daughter of England to Duke Robert in marriage estate who not long before had buried his Dutchesse and committed her vertuous spirit to the mighty and supernall maiesty of heauen This young Lady which nowe the Normaine Duke had matched withall by the motion and preferment of Queen Katherine was the Lorde Marshals daughter whose father spent the best bloud of his heart and yeelded his life with his famely in the right and defence of Queene Katherines chastery as you heard before discouered in the beginning of the history in recompence wherof the Queene thus preferred and aduanced his onely child and daughter being of long time vnder her tuition educated in honorable manner instructed But now by the appointment of the immortal powers of heauen Queene Katherine
to the accomplishment of al the tragicall calamities that long had oppressed her country England whose happines she inwardly in hart most entirely loued long sighed after with the ayde of the Normaine Duke and other Princes of Christendome which tenderly affected her vertues shee returned with great admiration praise and renowne from her banishment who being placed in a Coach of pure gold drawne with foure milke white Palfries with a rich imperiall Diadem vppon her head a Septer of bright siluer in her hande with many other gorgeous ornaments which most gloriously adorned bit princely person in which sumptuous maner shee entered vpon the coast of her natiue Country from whence shee was vniustly banished whereon being no sooner come on land but there met her such multitudes of distressed English people that the pleasant pastures where she trauailed seemed to be ouerspread who entertained her with exceeding ioy saying aloude with a generall voice Oh happy is the hower and blessed is the day that our renowned Queene is returned from banishment the gods preserue and blisse hir with euerlasting peace and send her long to raigne and gouerne vs with ioy and great tranquility in more admired glorie then did euer Queene in this happy Iland These and such like speeches was spoken both of young and olde not onely to her great ioy but to the excreding comfort of all the forraine Princes her well willers But nowe Lord Essricke and his chiefe Counseller the Physition perceiuing the whole Country to reuolt from their subiection willingly yeelded to the wished gouernment of Queene Katherine which vnexpected alteration caused them both to submit themselues to hir gratious fauour who remembring the death of Prince Edmund and the murdering of Siluia her deare children and also what inconuenience and disturbance by prolonging their liues might happen to the common-weale Therfore in straight execution she commanded her will effectually to be discharged which was to haue Lord Essrick and his Councellers head presently deseuered from their shoulders the which was not so strictly commanded as speedely performed The great prosperitie and wealth wherewith Queene Katherine by her returne from banishment bewtified and inriched England did so much reioice the dying spirits of the mournfull people that they were glorified in their own desires and euerie one deemed their fortunes lifted from long continued misery to euerlasting felicitie But nowe the vertuous Queene to make requital for the good Duke of Soffolkes banishment and hainous iniuries besides in times past extended through the vnbrideled fury of her husbands wrath much desired his returne into England to possesse his owne patrimonies lands and lofty dignities so long witholden from him Therefore to the same effect she sent Embassadors speedily into Porttingall where shee heard he remained and gouerned in Princely estate which knowledge was no sooner giuen to the Duke but with maiestie sumptuous renowne and aboundant of treasures furnished on euery side he hastened into England who by the vertuous Queene was receiued with surpassing glorie and magnificence long had not these two princely personages remained in the English Court but by the consent of the whole Countrey they were ioyned and matched together in the lawfull estate of marriage by whose wise gouernement the lande of Egland in short time not only became populous rich honourable and quiet but replenished with all maner of necessary thinges And finallie Queene Katherine marrying the good Duke of Suffolke together with the consent and aduice of the whole dominion were crowned legetimate gouernors of England where they inioyed issue and posteritie betweene them with long life prosperous renowne eternall honour and euerlasting felicitie * ⎠* FINIS Imprinted at London by William White dwelling in Cow-lane 1600.