his graces behoote so that he woulde graunt pardon of lyfe vnto all the people of the town and licence to depart with bagg and boggage Whiche the king mercifully graunted on this condicion that none of them should departe with any Gonne charged And the Bulleiners departed the town with as much of theyr goodes as they could cary with them After which departure king Henrie with hys nobilitie entred the towne with Banners displayed lyke a conquerour And after hee had taried there by the space of fyue dayes or there about he returned againe into Englande leauing behinde him to defende the towne the Duke of Suffolke that most valiant Capitayne But when the kings maiestie was vppon departure newes was brought vnto him that the Dolphin of Fraunce was determined to come downe and repell him from thence and hys power whereunto the king aunswered that hee shoulde be verie welcome For quoth he the Dolphin is my God sonne and if he come he shall haue my blessing But he made no haste to come as he vaunted Wherefore the Duke of Suffolk and the Earle of Essex perswaded the king to returne home to Englande againe for that he had wonne as much honour theare as was to be had at that tyme Wherupon the king committed the defence of the towne to the Duke of Suffolke and the Earle of Essex ioyntly But before his departure he being doubtfull whether the Duke of Norfolke had any neede of help at Muttrell called vnto him syr Anthony Browne appointed him to go thither to the ayde of the Duke of Norfolke with all his power But Sir Anthony Browne answered that he had dismissed many of his souldiers by reason of sicknesse the rest were either wounded or wearied with trauaile and many of their Horses tyred Then the king demaunded of the Earle of Essex In what estate his bande was who had vnder his charge 1500 horsemen he aunswered the kyng that of his whole power he wanted not 60. And that hee was ready to fulfill his graces pleasure Wherupon the king thought to haue sent him to Muttrell but in the end that king hauing a speciall regarde for the keeping of Bullaine leatte the Earle with the Duke to defende the towne and sent Sir Ihon Gage to Muttrell to the ayde of the Duke of Norfolk And then the king returned into England againe with great triumph After whose departure out of Fraunce y frenchmen began to be verye busie against the englishmē But when they could preuaile nothing at all they began to entreat for peace always hoping to haue Bullayne againe by some meanes or other But king Henry was so affected to that towne that neyther strengthe of warre nor force of money could win it from hym And he would oft times saye that no true subiect of his woulde perswade him to yelde it vp Which towne he helde in despight of the Frenchmen during his life ¶ And thus I ende this discourse of the wynning of Bullayne Omitting to treate of the large circumstaunce heereof least I might seeme to rob Grafton or Halle of their laboures concluding this commemoration of king Henry with his conquest of Bullaine After which triumphant victorie no special warre happened vnto him till death the conquerour of all mortall men subdued his body whose soule liueth with God in his Heauenlye kingdome KIng Henry in his life time would often tymes saye that if it woulde please God to endue hym with life vntill he might see three thinges brought to passe hee woulde not desire to liue anye longer The fyrst was to confirme true religion in this Realme The seconde to establish the Crowne The thyrde to see hys Sonne a man Also hee would say that if he knewe any one to bee a man of GOD and meete to gouerne a common welthe he would rather yelde his Crowne vnto him then weare it himself so that hee myghte doe it to the pleasure of God the weale publyke of his people ¶ An Epitaph of the deathe of the moste valyant and renowmed Prince King Henry the eyghth AWake ye worthies nyne that long in graues haue rest Powre out your plaints with wayling teares Let langor be your geast Do off your shrowding sheetes that clads you in the claye and decke your selues with black attyre your mourning to displaye Bedewe with saltie teares your manly faces stowte Laye downe those weapons that were wont to quell the raging rowte For nowe that pierlesse Prince that neuer yet tooke foyle The eyghth king Henry hath resynde his bodye to the soyle Recorde your dolefull tunes ye noble Peeres eche one Let gryping greefes gnawe on your breastes to shewe your pensiue moane With bryndie blubbered teares ye commons all lament Sende forth your sobbes from boyling breast let trynkling teares be spent For our Achilles nowe hath left vs in the fielde That wonted was with valiant force from foes our lyues to shylde And this hath death deuysde to wrecke his wrathfull spyght Wherefore O Mors wee curses yelde on thee both daye and nyght Oh noble Brutus lande howe much was death thy foe when he with cruell darte constraynde this Gemme from thee to goe But though the cursed dame that cuttes the fatall lyne So muche enuyed thy happie state in making him declyne Yet God through mercy great in spyght of death his darte Hath left a Blossome of his braunche to ease thy pensiue smarte For whome now let vs praye that shee the race may runne of Nestors yeres with like successe as yet her grace hath done And that his royall Impe Elizabeth by name May weare the Crowne and wielde the sworde with ioye and endlesse fame Whose lyfe doth render lyght vnto her fathers fame whose noble harte doth plainly shewe the stocke from whence shee came Though death hath done his woorst with drift of dyrefull darte By stryking of that valyant king and piercing of his harte Yet hath he not the powre his fame to ouercast which shall remaine in mouth of man whyle Pen and ynke doth last And eke the shyning Sunne shall cease his running race before king Henries worthie fame shall suffer one deface And as his soule is lodgde with Ioue in starrie Skye Euen so remembraunce of his name on earth shall neuer dye ¶ A Preamble to this parte of the Booke following LYke as the auncient Greekes haue painted out at large Their noble ladyes worthie lyues and therof taken charge And as the Romaine dames had writers of their actes Euen so the trowpe of Englysh trayne haue some to tell their factes Whose bryght and shyning fame deserues to haue a place Coequall with the best that hath runne on in vertues race Then let not Englande blushe to blase their ladies lyues Which no whit is inferiour vnto the Romayne wyues Let them vaunt if they list of Lucrece chastitie I prayse the greekes Penelope for her fidelitie A nomber myght be namde that wryters pennes haue praysde Who for their lyues and noble actes an
volume large Which passing sightes so seemely were set forth to view of eye That Rome and Greece with all the rest would let their fame go by And Caesars frendes that so aduaunce his tryumphes and renowne Would come from graues if that they myght their Pennes thear to throwe downe Thus as he passed through the streates vnto the crowning place Eche man erectes his cheerefull voyce And sayes God saue your grace His noble trayne of worthie Pieres Eche one in his degree Attende on this most royall king A worthie sight to see In fine no shewes of Princely pompe At this tryumphe did want The Conduites all gush out with Wine wherof there was no scant To Westminster thus gan he passe To take the Crowne his ryght Where bothe his Queene and he were crownde To Englandes great delyght ¶ From the tyme of this kinges Coronation vnto his going into Fraunce to the siege of Turwin Turneie I referre thee gentle Reader to peruse in Edwarde Hall his Cronicle who hath largely displaied the courtly exersises wherein he passed the firste iiii yeres of his raygne Wherin also thou maist read of sundry Ambassadours that came vnto him from foreine countreys with the successe of his noble Captaines that he sent into Spaine and into Gelderland and Fraunce and to scoure the Seas I will treat onely of such matter as appertaineth to his own person and of the two famous voyages that he made into Fraunce in proper person When king Henry purposed his Iorney into Fraunce he firste entred in league of frendship with Iames king of Scots who had maryed Margaret the kynges Sister for the confirmation of which league they both receiued the Sacrament with solemne vowe to keepe the same vnuyolate But what ensued hereof you may hereafter read more at large Now let vs go forwarde with setting forth of this Royall voyage Of the winning of Turwin and Turnay WHo list to reade of Martiall actes And of Bellonaes trayne May in the eyghth kyng Henryes lyfe A Myrror see most plaine Of warre shee is the Goddesse stoute on whome doth still attend The noble crewe and armed rowte that fatall bowe doth bende This direfull Goddesse here rehearst hath at a call alwaye Three handmaydes euer readye prest her pleasure to obey Whereby shee Princes doth correct and Cities stoute subdue That lyue and raigne disorderly and rule by meanes vntrue The firste is Blood by dynt of Sworde The seconde Fyer fierce The thirde is Famyn worst of all that cruelly doth pierce And eyther of them by her selfe is able to throwe downe The myghtiest king and Conquerour that euer yet waer crowne But if they all conioyne in one what Prince what realme or lande Or else what worlde might remaine their powers to withstande So puissant these Damsels are That on this Goddesse wayte And being by their Lady calde they then addresse them strayte To shewe dame Natures dyrefull kynde that shee to them hath yelde With terror then they shewe their force on Castle Towne or feelde This Goddesse and her handmaydes three with all their myght and mayne Alwaies attendant myght you see vppon king Henries trayne The Scottes can well reporte the same who felt therof the smarte when all the cheefetaines of their Realme were slayn by deadly darte Now let king Iames his griesly ghost awake from fatall sleepe And shewe his hap and rufull fall that causde all Scotlande weepe Let all the Scottish noble peeres bewayle the wofull hower when they agreede on Bramston hilles to meete king Henryes power But sith from Earth they may not ryse this dolefull tale to tell I will for them declare the trueth in order as befell His foes of Fraunce whose faithlesse leagues he euer found vntrue Can witnes beare of his great force They all his stoutnesse knewe And Turwin first shall testifie his puissance and myght Who felt the smart of Fyers rage with losse of many a knyght Now see the sole and onely cause that he this siege did laye In proper person with his power vnto this townes decaye When tract of tyme had tryde the truth that Frenchemen wonts to holde Whose breache of truce and Princes peace No wight could yet witholde This Roiall king sent foorth his Shippes with hoysed Sayles aloft whose force did scoure the coast from foes and quaylde their courage oft But yet he thought his presence myght accomplysh many thinges That coulde not so in absence bee Such is the porte of kinges A comfort to the Subiectes all A terror to the foes A Princes person in the fielde doth seeledome conquest lose His person in the fielde was suche As made his Souldiours stoute His onely name woulde feare his foes And make them stande in doubt His counsell graue so prudent was his wytt so wisely stayde That all the rest myght leaue consultes when he the woord had sayde When thus his prudence had perceiude with iudgement and foresyght How that his antique foes of Fraunce deteyned his due right He causde his noble Nauie then in readynesse to lye And he himselfe determined Sir Neptunes chaunce to trye The Shipmen take their tackles then and all thinges redy makes With gladsome hartes the Soldiers all this cheerefull voyage takes The Shippes are rygde with all thinges meete For such a royall trayne This noble king is nowe embarkte his ryght in Fraunce to gayne With noyse of Gunnes and sound of Trumpe and stroke of rollyng Drum They cut the rage of foming waues tyll they to Fraunce are come With marching foorth in warlyke wise to Turwin towne they bende who then perceyues it is hye tyme herselfe for to defende Her wailes and Towers they are deckt with tooles of Vulcanes frame No thundring noyse of Gunne was sparde No flashe of Fyers flame But when their eyes could witnes beare this king encamped then And sawe the siege so stoutly set with lustie valyant men Their hartes began to quake and quayle their courage then abate They knewe his presence in the Campe was to his trayne a gate And strong Portculleys to defende his lusty Soldiers stoute Whose faithfull hartes vnto his grace for Foes did neuer doute A Harolde then with blast of Trumpe was sent out of the fielde To summon them obediently vnto their Prince to yelde Or else to stande vnto the lot that myght to them befall By dint of Swoord or Fiers flame or Famine worste of all Who aunswerd then that they were bent the chaunce of warre to trye And to defend their furnisht walles and theron lyue and dye Which messadge being then returnde it was a wondrous sight To see how soldiers hasted then with Turwyn men to fight The Trumpets blewe the Drummes stryke vp To shewe Sir Mars his lore A terror sure it was to heare the thundring Cannons rore The king right lyke a ventrous knight did nothing balke the brunt He comforted the Souldiers all through euery Bande and Front. Saint George Saint George they all gan crye and fiercely do assayle
shoulde bee iii. Myles out of his Realme Wherat the kyng was sore abashed and not without good cause For a kingdome deuyded in it selfe cannot be quieted without great trouble and bloodshed And the saide Cardinall bare so great a swaye that the king durst not come into Englande according to his appointment It is thought that the Cardinal feared lest the king of Englande would haue perswaded the kinge of Scottes to abolyshe the Popes aucthoritie out of Scotlande and to alter the state of Religion and therefore was not willing that this meeting shoulde be betweene the two kinges King Henry perceiuing him selfe to be thus deluded by the king of Scottes conceiued therof great discurtesie as he myght ful well Notwithstanding he went forwarde him selfe with all his trayne to yorke and made Proclamation that if any man had any matters to exhibite vnto his grace that they shoulde be heard and haue Iustice administred which accordingly hee accomplished to as many as came before him And whereas there had bene an insurrection in the same countrey a little before this tyme The king comaunded that all the Rebelles which were apprehended shoulde be placed before him on the lefte hande of his waye as he passed thorough the countrey and hauing set the countrey in good order he returned to London againe The Cardinall of sainct Androes who as is before saide caused the king of Scottes to breake promise with his vncle king Henry for doubt least that discourtesie might be reconsiled to make hys matter sure set the two kinges at open warre and caused the Scottes to make a roade into the borders who spoyled and did much harme Wherof when king Henry hearde he sent the Duke of Norffolke with an Armie into Scotlande who burned and spoyled muche of the countrey But when the Duke was departed from thence into Englande The Scottes inuaded the borders againe did theare muche harme But at the last Sir Thomas Wharton beeing warden of the marches there with Sir William Musgraue and a fewe of the borderers met with the Scottes the 14. of Nouember and ouerthrew them In which conflict the Lorde Maxwell the Earles of Glencarue and Sassiles with all the captaynes of the Scottish Armie were taken and on S. Thomas eeuen the Apostle they were brought to the Tower of London where they laye that night The next day following they were brought into the starre Chamber before the Lorde Chaunceller of England and the Counsaile being by the kinges charges rychely apparailed and vsed more like Princes then prisoners which they did full euil requite For after they were dismissed vppon agreement vnto certein articles they not only refused the performance of their promises but notwithstanding the benefites on them bestowed by the king they rebelled against him But nowe to returne againe vnto their kinge It is thought of some men that he him selfe was in the Battaile and thear receiued his deathes wounde but escaped vntaken but it was not so True it is that this conflict stroke him to the hart wherof he dyed incontinently Whereby we may bee sure that God strooke the stroake And whether it were that God who stryketh to the thirde and fourth generation of them that hate him did it for his fathers offence or for his owne I maye not nor will not iudge But no doubt his fathers vngodly periurie was heauily in his mynde since whose death the Realme of Scotlande hath bene sore plaged and haue had little good successe in any attemptes and especially against Englande The tirste that brought newes of the kinge of Stottes death vnto king Henry was the Earle of Angoes a Scott who was banished out of Scotlande and lyued here in Englande by a pencion that the king gaue vnto him This Earle came into the Courie the king then lying at hys house of Sainct Iames betweene tenne and xi of the clocke at nyght and desyred to speak with the king which being vnto him admitted he rehearsed vnto the king the whole circumstance of the king of Scottes death Whiche when he hearde he was so sorie of that newes that notwithstanding he warred against him yet he let fall teares from his eyes for sorrowe of his Nephewes death ¶ The Lamentation of king Iames Sonne vnto king Iames before mentioned WHat hard mishap haue I among the rest Whose froward fate vntimely deth hath wrought While youthfull yeres did harbour in my brest My wretched corpes to lodge in claye is brought By haples chaunce contrary to my thought But who is sooner trapte by witched wyle Then he whose harte is free frem craltie guyle Shall I exclayme on fortunes frowarde face Or on the wombe that life to mee fyrst gaue Or on my Fathers facte whose foule deface Hath caused mee this luckelesse lot to haue Would god my mothers wombe had ben my graue Or els the Ayre that yelded mee fyrst breath With sodayne dampe had rendred present death Woulde God my Fathers facte had beene vndon When he made vow a faythfull leage to holde Or els I woulde I had not beene his Sonne But rather borne to pen the Sheepe in folde My Father in this poynt was far too bolde Whereby he moude almighty GOD to spill Him selfe and me his Sonne that thought no ill What may I deeme of this my Fathers deede Whereof I grounde the chiefe cause of my playnte What stonie harte for pittie will not bleede To see how death this pageaunt doth depainte In floure of age our liues so to attainte The Father and the Sonné sucessiuelie The Realme eke plagde for one mans periurie I can not scuse his rage and hautie pride That forced mee my vnkle to offende Who courteousely my comming did abide In frendlie wise a time with ioye to spende I was constraynde my owne minde to vnbende The Prelasie then bare so great a swaye That king and keiser must their mindes obaye I was constraynde contrarye to my will Reuengement on the English Realme to take And eke of Mars his lore to learne the skill Where I lyke Phaeton my match did make My foes mee rulde my frendes I did forsake Though I was king another bare the sworde Whome I durst not offende in deede ne worde I call for vengeaunce on thy wretched lyfe Thou Prelate proude that hast procurde my fall Thou were the cause and aucthor of the strife I was thy Prince and yet I was thy thrall Take heede therefore by mee ye Princes all Where enuious subiects beares so great aswaye The Princes state is like for to decaye Such men they are as fyrst do stier vp stryfe But they them selues of sauegarde will be sure Their deedes are scant their words are very ryfe They rayse the broyle the brunte they not endure Yet bloody warre they dayly do procure And prease foorth Princes to auenge their yre Whyle they them selues with gredy minds aspire Lo by this meanes my fatall shrouding sheete Is now my weede no other robe haue I The graue is
eke my Courte a Pallas meete Wherein my wretched corps for aye must lye Wo worth those subiectes that aspire so highe To rule the Prince whome they ought to obay Such subiectes rule hath purchast my decaye ¶ Now that I haue passed thorow these tragicall histories of the. ii kinges of Scottes I will returne to the declaration of the ioyfull meeting of the kinges of Englande and Fraunce betweene Callis and Bullaine whiche was in the yeare of our Lorde 1532. And althoughe there was a solemne meetyng betweene the Kynges of these sayde Realmes and also betweene the Emperoure and Kyng Henrie in the yeare of oure Lorde 1520. Yet because my Anothor was not there to note anye thing more then is already mentioned by Halle in his Cronicle and was present at this that foloweth I haue vsed his enstruction herein referring thee to the aforesayd Cronicle to reade of the other whereas it is very well described ¶ Howe King Henry and the King of Fraunce met together betweene Calice and boloigne by a place called Morguison 1532. My glauncing Pen nowe glyded ys From Mars his bluddie broyle And eke my muse desyres to rest a whyle in frindships soyle As way warde warre bereues the breath of many worthie wyghtes So frindly peace preserues the lyues of noble valyant knyghtes And Tully doth preferre that peace which grounded is on yll Before the warre whose quarell ryght The blood of man doth spill In faithfull league of frindships force where Princes knitt the knot Unto those realmes whyle it doth last is sure a happie lott The Princes sleepe is not vnsounde For doubt of forraine foes The Souldiérs werye wounded limmes to rest do then repose The Marchant sendes hys hoysed sayles the surging Seas to sheare Which scowreth through the wandring waues deuoyde of doubtfull feare The publyke state of common wealth then lyues in quyet rest So that recourse from sundrie soyles 〈◊〉 worke all for the best 〈◊〉 â—â—â—ey helpeth other then and what one lande doth want Another doth supply the same no needefull thinges are scant And the through concorde sclender thinges to 〈◊〉 great encrease 〈◊〉 dâ—corde both consume as fast men set vs praye for peace Which causeth worldly wealth to ryse 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—dly 〈◊〉 to flowe As â—horher hath contrarye force and makes wealth ebbe as lowe Nowe 〈◊〉 that long tyme had sought to kniâ—â—â— within her bande The king of Fraunce vnto the noble King of this oure lande Foâ—nde oâ—â— a tyme conuenient and eke indifferent place Whereas these noble Princes bothe together myght embrace To treate of faithfull frindships lore with one consent they meere Where they with ioye and tryumphes greate eche other then do greete The thing that bothe Realmes long desyrde at that tyme myght you viewe The order of which ioyfull sight hereafter doth ensue ¶ The declaration of the meeting of these two noble kinges at the place aboue mencioned ALthough there was bluddie warre and mortall hatred betweene the realmes of Englande and Fraunce in the fifth yere of this kings raigne in whiche yere the king of Englande wan from the Frenche men the towne of Turwin and the great citie of Turnay as is before declared yet for the concluding of a perfect peace betweene bothe the Realmes the same yere a Mariage was made betweene the king of Fraunce and the Ladye Marye sister vnto the king of England but shortly after the saide king of Fraunce dyed and the Duke of Suffolke maryed the Queene his wyfe A peace also was concluded betweene the young king of Fraunce and the king of Englande And within a whyle the Citie of Turnay was rendred vnto the Frenche king For the whiche he shoulde paye to the king of Englande a notable summe of Money But this amitie did not long continue for the Frenche king refused to paye his tribute to the king of England and also detayned the Queenes dowrie And moreouer caused all Englishemens goodes to bee arrested at Burdeaux whereupon the Frenchemens goods were arrested at London and they cast in Prison But in fine in the xix yere of the king his raigne a generall peace was proclaymed betwene the kinges of Englande and Fraunce during bothe their lyues And defyaunce sent vnto the Emperour from bothe the kyngs and a great power sent into Italy againste the Emperour who then warred with the Pope and constayned him to take a Castell wherein he remained as prisoner vntill the Armyes that the kinges of Englande and Fraunce had expelled the Emperours power out of that parte of Italye The circumstance whereof ys very largely declared by Sleydon This peace taken betweene the kinges of Englande and Fraunce continued a good whyle vnuiolate In whiche meane-tyme the Ambassadour Ledger of Fraunce that then laye in London grewe in suche fauour with kynge Henry that he was often tymes admitted to sit in presence with the king This Ambassadour made humblesuite vnto the kinges grace that hee woulde vouchesaue to meete with the kynge of Fraunce his Master in some conuenient place to salute eche other declaring that it woulde bee an occasion to knitt them togeather in the insoluble knott of perfect frindship and amitie Whereunto the king of Englande willingly condiscended and agreed And the rather because the Frenche king appointed to haue met with the Pope at Marsiles by meanes wherof king Henry hoped that the Frenche king might perswade the Pope to some conformitie in the controuersie of his deuorce from the Ladye Katherin wherefore he requested the sayde Ambassadour so to informe the kynge of Fraunce his Master which he nothing slacked to do And in conclusion a tyme was appointed when these twoo noble kinges shoulde meete by a place called Morguison whiche is betweene two greate hilles and the midway betwixt Callice Boloigne According to the apointment the king of Englande set forwarde and came to Callice The Frenche king lykewise lay at Bolloigne and on the appointed day they bothe met by the sayde place called Morguison with a noble trayne of Dukes Earles Lordes Knightes Gentlemen on both sydes And while these noble Princes embraced eache other a Bishop of Fraunce threwe off a cast of great Hawkes called Sakers which Hawkes being cast off killed a Kyte ouer the kinges heades to the great pleasure of bothe the kinges Then passed they forwarde with Princely pastymes vnto the towne of Boloigne where was greate preparation and noble tryumphes to entertaine and welcome the King of Englande When king Henry had passed certaine dayes at Boloigne with moste royall solace and pleasure he Inuited the King of Fraunce to the lyke at his graces towne of Callice who in lyke maner came vnto Callice with king Henry where as his former entertainment vnto the king of Englande his trayne was noblye acquyted And whyle these two royall Kinges were thus at Callice the king of Heraldes came vnto king Henries grace declaring vnto him that according to the auncient custome and also being parcell of hys othe he
had set vp in the market place the Emperours Armes and the Frenche kinges Armes for so is the custome when kings meete together and desyred his grace to enforme him what might please him to bee erected in his behalfe to whom the King aunswered that nothing shoulde bee set vp for him neyther I care not quod he for anye suche matter Then sayde the Heralde it is my duitie to erecte somewhat in your graces name If it be so quoth the King I will that you depaint an armed Arme rysing out of a clowde holding in the hande a naked Sworde with thys Poesse vnder it Celuy au quel ie m'adiouincts Dieu aydant vaincra Whiche is as muche to say Whether parte I take by Gods helpe shall haue victorie This was set ouer the Emperours and the Frenche kings Armes as in this Portraiture appeareth And full truely did this Poesie proue As in Sleydon his Commentaries ye may reade at large Celuy au quel ie m'adiouincts Dieu aydant vaincra ¶ The Historie of the winning of Bulleyne by the moste victorious King Henrye the eyghth in his owne person YF townes subuerted coulde declare with tong or paynting Pen Their rufull falles and finall fate their losse of worthie men Or if the ruinous Castels olde that flatt on grounde nowe lye Or else the walles that earst were deckt with lofty Turrets hye Coulde shewe their wofull ouerthrowes by any kynde of waye And eke what Captaines them subdude to take the spoyle and praye Then Bulleyne that was wont to bragg in brauery of her myght Woulde clips her fame of large renowne that earst did shyne so bryght This stately Forte whose furnisht walles felt neuer yet annoye Nowe playnly shewde the auncient tales that Poets tolde of Troye Prince Agamemnon with his Greekes that wan olde Ilions towne In all his toyle of tenne yeres siege gat neuer such renowne The mighty Monarke Macedon that conquerd Darius soyles Wonne neuer greater victorie thoughe many greater spoyles But as king Henries courage stoute alwayes his foes subdude So mercy matcht his manly mynde who bloodshed still eschewde He neuer brewde his sworde in bloode on them that mercy craue His face with fauour still was fraught submissiue men to saue And Bullein men among the rest can testifie this case Who tasted both his force and eke his fauourable grace What mischiefe myght his hand haue wrought if tyrannye had raygnd Or rage had harbourd in his brest which he alwayes refraynd Though pleasant prayes do oft entice the mynd that gapes for gayne To passe the boundes of princely fame great spoyle for to obtayne Yet no such crime of greedy mynde from mercy might him moue The towne of bulleyne can right well this fame of him approue Theyr towne theyr lyues theyr goodes and all lay in his might and power For to haue spoylde and ouerthrowne and destroyde in one hower But piety prickt his Princely hart in mercy to excell Whose noble nature doth deserue for prayse to beare the bell THe Realmes of Fraunce and Scotlande perceiuing that they neuer coulde preuayle against the king of Englande in any attempt neyther by dissembling peace nor yet by open warre ceased not to followe the example of the Scarabe who presuming to contende with the Eagle and being farre vnable to encounter with him deuysed to annoye him though it were but with the filthye dung wherin he accustometh to welter and tomble So these two Realmes to obtaine their desyred purposes namely for that they coulde not bring vnder yoke the king of Englande they alway shott at him a farre of to annoy him as much as they durst which king Henry well perceiuing And calling to mynde the dammages that some of his predecessours had sustained after the death of the right valyant king Edward the thirde by the Realme of Fraunce and further waying with him self the feythlesse leagues of the frenchmen who alwayes when they entreated for peace had theyr Swordes readye to fight and theyr dissembling mindes wholy bent on treason mischiefe thought with him selfe that it was better to haue them hys open foes then his fayned friendes and determyned to inuade the Realme of Fraunce and in the ende was fully mynded to passe into Fraunce very secretly with a mightie puissant power which in deede was wrought so priuily that he imparted his minde in this matter vnto no man sauing only to the Duke of Suffolk but caused a rumor to be spread that hee was determined to goe ouer vnto Parys The Duke of Norfolk lay by the kinges apointment at the siege of Muttrell who hearing of the kinges pryuie passage into Fraunce maruailed with him selfe what shoulde bee hys pretence And thought some vncurtesie that he might not haue been made pryuy therof he being one of the kings pryuy counsail Wherupon he sent a letter vnto Sir Anthony Brown the maister of y kings horse wherin he declared that he mused what the kinges purpose shoulde bee desiring Sir Anthony Browne to resolue him by his letters of this doubt This letter was brought when the kinge lay at Calyce to passe into Fraunce And because the custome is in the tyme of warre that all letters which are sente vnto anye noble man or other of the campe shall fyrst be presented vnto the king to breake them opeÌ„ and to read them if he be in the campe him selfe the messenger brought the letter vnto the maister of the Postes who exhibited it vnto the Kinges grace The letter that was sent from the Duke of Norfolk vnto Sir Anthony Brown being in the packet of letters which the king tooke opened And when hee had reade it hee sayde vnto master Edmunde Harman one of his pryuye Chamber who then was in presence with him and none els Lo quoth hee the Duke of Norfolk seemeth by this letter to thinke him selfe not well dealt withal because hee is not made pryuye to our pretence in this voyage I assure thee Fdmund quoth he no mortall man in this worlde doth knowe the cause hereof but onelye Sir Charles Brandon And thou shalt bee the second vnto whome I will reueale this matter My purpose is sayd the Kyng to lay siege vnto Boloygne and I doubt not but to win it by Gods help May it please your grace then sayde maister Harman it will bee a noble victorie to win But it will bee more noble to hold it when it is wonne Well sayd y king I nothyng doubt the holding of it by Gods grace if I may winne it Now was the Duke of Suffolke before Bullaine and had layde siege vnto it on the Easte syde ofit who thear remayned vntill the king him selfe came and encamped on the North side After whose comming the towne was so sore battered with gunshot and so sharply assaulted that after a Moneths siege the captayn whose name was Mounsier Desâ—e shot out an arrowe with a letter tyed to the shafte wherin hee offered the King to render vp the towne vnto
Castell vppon them that all the menne that professed to followe him durst not but shrunke backe sauing onely his owne xii men And when he and his small nomber was in the myddes of theire enemies he behaued himselfe very valyantly But in the ende his horse was slayne vnder him and hee taken prisoner But his twelue men being lustie Souldiers went thorough them againe being to weake for lacke of nomber to rescue their captain and so retourned without anye hurte vnto them done Thus was this noble Captaine taken and had to the Castel of Dunbar thorough the cowardise of them that professed to followe him This did so kindel the brestes of our Garrison that laye at Hadington that the Captaines had muche a doo to perswade them from leauing the towne to fetche him from them againe For they sayde that they woulde dye on them euerye man but they woulde winne the Castell of Dunbar And the Scottes knewe right well that they coulde not keepe him thear without great daunger Wherefore they sent him to Edenborough theare was he kepte prisoner till he was redeemed by Raunsom He was so noble a capitaine that he wonne the hartes of all Souldiers Hee was in the towne among his Souldiers frinds a gentle Lamme In the fielde among his enemies a Lyon. To his men beneficiall To al men liberall After whose misfortune was sent vnto Hadington in his steede Syr Iames Acroft a valiant Gentleman whose worthie commendations I omitt because he being alyue and in deserued estimation I myght bee suspecte of flatterie He was theare by the space of one whole yere during which tyme manye noble actes were atchyued And in fine when the king perceiued howe chargeable a thing it was to keepe Hadington he sent the Earle of Rutlande with vi thousande men thither who caused the towne to bee rased and brought awaye all the munition to Barwike And thus was this noble peece of seruice ended The names of the Capitaines that were at Hadington as neare as coulde be called to remembrance THe Earle of Shrewsberye The Earle of Rutlande The Lorde Graye Sir Iames Wilforde Sir Iames Acroft Sir Wadam Selinger Sir Oswalde Wolstrap Sir Robert Worsley Capitayne Pellam Capitayne Dethick who was my cheefe instructer in this matter Capitayne Wood. Capitayne Windam Capitayne Tayler Capitayne Collbie Capitayne Fitzwilliams Capitaine Tiberio an Italian Capitayne Whitton Capitayne Boothe Capitayne Pikeman Capitayne Gam Capitayne Garton Capitayne Bagshot Capitayne Ashley Capitayne Lawson A Commendation of the Englishe Souldiers that serued at this siege of Hadington THe frowning furious dame that hight bellona fierce That grieflie Goddesse whose outrage doth Kinges and Countries pierce Drewe forth her bluddie blade Sets vp her Stander blacke And fenced with her fyerie Flagg to worke her wrakefull wracke Who can scape scotfree then that dares abyde the broyle The noble harte for honour fyghtes the Tyran huntes for spoyle The Cowarde crakes with woordes and hopes for happie daye Yet is he not the firste that strykes nor last that runnes away At point of harde distresse a hardie man is knowne At ratling shott or hunger sharpe a dastarde is downe throwne But when Bellona sawe the warlyke Englishe wyghtes That at this siege in Marciall actes affied their whole delyghtes Shee wondred as shee myght to see that all her rage Coulde by no meanes the haughtie hartes of Englishe men asswage Tryumphing Garlandes then with speede shee gan prepare To crowne those lustie Captaines all that had of her no care The nobles that were theare Shee gaue eche one a Crowne Adorning them by due desert with large and bryght renowne And then shee calles by name the rest to take their hyre Whiche was that they shoulde to the toppe of mounting Fame aspyre Sir Wilforde come thou first Receiue thy iust rewarde Thy hautie harte of furious foe had neuer yet regarde Sir Croftes come forth also to clayme thy worthie name Controll eche misse for so thou maiste Thou winnest the forte of Fame Sir Sellinger approche Thou setst thy Foe at naught Sir Wolstrap in the Arte of warre hath worthelye bene taught Sir Worseley was not worste but of the worthie wightes And thus Bellona made an ende of talking to her knyghtes Now Pellam that hath charge of Pellet and of Shott A Garlande had by due desert as lyghted to his lot And Dethicke dreading nought the daunger of his foe By polecie with prowes ioynde gaue oft the ouerthrowe Wood woulde not take the foyle at anye equall matche And Windam well coulde wynde the twist his wylye Foes to catche Fitzwilliams woulde not slacke to fyght for countrey soyle And Taylers trustie diligence sparde not for any toyle But Collbie knowes the cast the craking Scot to trayne His name in Scotlande is well knowne but to their often paine Tiberio tooke no care for his Italia lande But manfully among the rest did in the quarell stande And Whitten whet his witt eke playde his parte full stowte And Boothe woulde neuer balke the brunt of Frenche or Scottish rowte Pykeman past thorough the Pykes and proude a valyant man And Gam by prowes wonne the game that Frenchemen woulde haue wan So Garton he coulde guyde and garde his menne full well And Bagshot was no whitt abasht what chaunce soeuer fell As Ashleyes Auncent came with honour from the fielde So Aslaby wan good reporte to Foe he woulde not yelde Nowe Lawson is the laste yet not of lowest name But equall with his captayne mates that hath deserude good fame Thease Captaines and their men them selues so stoutly showde That Garlandes of still lasting Fame is now on them bestowde A Garlande is small gayne wheare lymmes and lyuing lacke I wishe the Souldier as my selfe to feele no kynde of wracke And suche as flowe in wealth and seese a Souldier pore I woulde he were in forefrunt set when rattlyng Canons rore Finis The Aucthor WHen Fame rang out her Larum bell of glorious golden sounde And blewe the blast of Princes actes whiche in her booke shee founde By her enrolde and Registred in Scroll of endlesse brute Whose memories shoulde neuer quayle vntill eche tung were mute This sownde of Bell and blast of Trompe was hearde to Parnas hill Where as Queene Caliop and her trayne do vse their cunning skill Theare myght you see these noble Nimphes throwe downe their Lawrell crownes With ruffeled heares outragiously to fling through Dales and Downes And gad more lyke to wandring wyghtes Then learned Ladies sure And euery one a Poet sought her Pen to put in vre At last by chaunce I met the Muse that wonts my quill to guyde who is the symplest of them all and when shee mee espyde All haile quod shee euen thou art hee whome I do nowe requyre Take Pen in sist without delaye to finishe my desyre For nowe it lyghteth to thy lot King Henryes faine to write And though thy Muse be verie base shrinke not for to endyte When thou hast done thy diligence The learnedst of our trayne To polyshe this that thou hast done will not shunne ne disdaine Alas quoth I my louing Muse T is far for mee vnfitt To write his due deserued Fame requyres a learned witt Shall Coridon take Harpe in hande where Orpheus is in place Arions pleasant melodie doth Pannes rude pype deface But all this myght not moue the Muse to alter her request Shee forced mee to take my Pen and so to do my best Thus brought shee mee to Hermon hill where heauenly dewe doth dwell And thear I wrote as shee mee taught God graunt it be Ful well FINIS Note The chiefest thing belonging to a king is to set forth gods glorie A mirror for all Princes Elizabeth Queene Exod. 17. By the Bore is ment k. Richard Concord a heauenly wyght The wordes of lady Concorde vnto Englande Ambition an enemie to all common wealthes A description of k. Henry the vii The daughter of king Edw. 4. The ende of lady concords Oration k Edward the fifth A lambe vnder the keeping of a Wolfe A doctor for the deuill A good sonne A condigne reward for such a tyraun An. Do. 1485. Bellona the goddesse of warre An. Regni 5. Turney Henry Norace An. Do. 1513. This field was it that we call flodden fielde An. do 1523. Unthankfull Scottes This conflicte was at a place called Solomosse This earle is he that was after Lords marques of Northapton Note 1548 A Cumbat The lawe of Armes A good reward yli be stowed but to maintains the lawe of Armes A hard shift A mournfull meeting A lustye Canuasado Note Note 1575. Imprinted at London in Fleete streate at the Temple gate by VVilliam Hoskins