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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A40792	The history of the most unfortunate prince King Edward II with choice political observations on him and his unhappy favourites, Gaveston & Spencer, containing several rare passages of those times, not found in other historians / found among the papers of, and (supposed to be) writ by Henry Viscount Faulkland ...	Falkland, Henry Cary, Viscount, d. 1633.; Fannant, Edward.	1680 (1680)	Wing F314; ESTC R8909	44,640	88

The true Portraiture of King Edward the Second King of England Lord of Ireland Duke of Aquitaine etc He Raigned 19. yeares Seven Months Buried at Glocester F. sculpset THE HISTORY Of the most unfortunate Prince King EDWARD II. WITH Choice Political Observations on Him and his unhappy Favourites GAVESTON SPENCER CONTAINING Several RARE PASSAGES of those Times Not found in other Historians Found among the Papers of and supposed to be Writ by the Right Honourable HENRY Viscount FAULKLAND Sometime Lord Deputy of Ireland LONDON Printed by A. G. and J. P. and are sold by John Playford at his Shop near the Temple-Church 1680. THE PREFACE HENRY CARY Viscount Faulkland among whose Papers the following History was found was born at Aldnam in Hertford-shire his extraordinary Parts being a most accomplish'd Gentleman and a complete Courtier got him such an Esteem with King James who for his great Learning and Sagacity is stiled The English Solomon that he thought him a Person fitly qualified to be Lord Deputy of Ireland the Government of which place required at that time a Man of more than ordinary Abilities which Trust he very well discharged Being recalled into England he lived honourably here 'till by an unfortunate accident he broke his Leg in Theobald's Park of which soon after he died He was a Person of great Gallantry the Ornament and Support of his Countrey which he served with no less Faithfulness and Prudence abroad than Honour and Justice at home being an excellent Statesman During his stay at the University of Oxford his Chamber was the Rendevouz of all the eminent Wits Divines Philosophers Lawyers Historians and Politicians of that time from whose Conversation he became Eminent in all those Qualifications The Subject of the following History supposed to be written by the above-mentioned Nobleman is the unhappy Lives and untimely Deaths of that Unfortunate English King Edward the Second and his two Favourites Gaveston and Spencer for his immoderate love to whom says Dr. Heylin he was hated by the Nobles and contemned by the Commons This King saith Sir Richard Baker was a comely Person and of great strength but much given to drink which render'd him unapt to keep any thing secret His greatest fault was he loved but one for if his Love had been divided it could not have been so violent and though Love moderated be the best of Affections yet the Extremity of it is the worst of Passions Two Virtues were eminent in him above all his Predecessors Continence and Abstinence so continent that he left no base Issue behind him so abstinent that he took no base Courses for raising Money Our Author closes his History without declaring the Particulars of the Murder of this Prince wherefore I shall give you an account thereof as I find it set down by the aforesaid Sir Richard Baker Many ways were attempted to take away his Life First they vexed him in his Diet allowing him nothing that he could well endure to eat but this succeeded not Then they lodged him in a Chamber over Carrion and dead Carcases enough to have poisoned him and indeed he told a Workman at his Window he never endured so great a misery in all his Life but neither did this succeed Then they attempted it by Poysons but whether by the strength of his Constitution or by the Divine Providence neither did this succeed At last the pestilent Achitophel the Bishop of Hereford devised a Letter to his Keepers Sir Thomas Gourney and Sir John Mattrevers blaming them for giving him too much liberty and for not doing the Service which was expected from them and in the end of his Letter wrote this Line Edvardum occidere nolite timere bonum est craftily contriving it in this doubtful sence that both the Keepers might find sufficient warrant and himself excuse The Keepers guessing at his meaning took it in the worst sence and accordingly put it in Execution They took him in his Bed and casting heavy Bolsters upon him and pressing him down stifled him and not content with that they heated an Iron red hot and through a Pipe thrust it up into his Fundament that no marks of Violence might be seen but though none were seen yet some were heard for when the Fact was in doing he was heard to roar and cry all the Castle over This was the lamentable End of King Edward of Carnarvan Son of King Edward the First What became of the Actors and Abettors of this deep Tragedy Sir Winston Churchill tells us in these words with which I shall conclude Poor Prince how unkindly was he treated upon no other account but that of his own over-great kindness Other Princes are blamed for not being ruled by their Counsellors he for being so Who whilst he lived they would have him thought to be a Sot but being dead they could have found in their hearts to have made him a Saint How far he wrong'd his people doth not appear there being very few or no Taxations laid upon them all his time but how rude and unjust they were towards him is but too manifest But their violence was severely paid by Divine Vengeance not only upon the whole Kingdom when every Vein in the Body Politic was afterwards opened to the endangering the letting out of the Life-blood of the Monarchy in the Age following but upon every particular Person consenting to or concern'd in his Death For as the Throne of his Son that was thus set in Blood though without his own guilt continued to be imbru'd all his Reign which lasted above fifty Years with frequent Executions Battels or Slaughters the Sword of Justice or his own being hardly ever sheath'd all his time So 't is said that the Queen her self dyed mad upon the apprehension of her own in Mortimer's disgrace who was executed at Tiburn and hung there two days to be a spectacle of Scorn The King's Brother Edmond had this punishment of his Disloyalty to be condemn'd to lose his Head for his Loyalty it being suggested and happy it had been for him if it had been prov'd that he endeavoured the Restoration of his Brother his Death being imbitter'd by the mockery of Fortune whilst by keeping him upon the Scaffold five hours together before any body could be found that would Execute him he was deluded with a vain hope of being saved The Fiend Tarlton Bishop of Hereford who invented the cursed Oracle that justified the Murderers dyed with the very same Torture as if the hot Iron that sear'd his Conscience had been thrust into his Bowels Of the two Murderers one was taken and butcher'd at Sea the other dyed in Exile perhaps more miserable And for the Noblility in general that were Actors in the Tragedy they had this Curse upon them that most of their Race were cut off by those Civil Discords of their divided Families to which this strange Violation gave the first beginning not long after The LIFE of EDVVARD II. KING

OF ENGLAND EDWARD the Second born at Carnarvan was immediately after the death of Edward the First his Father crowned King of England If we may credit the Historians of those times this Prince was of an Aspect fair and lovely carrying in his outward appearance many promising predictions of a singular expectation But the judgment not the eye must have preheminence in the censure of Human passages the visible Calender is not the true character of inward perfection evidently proved in the Life Reign and untimely Death of this unfortunate Monarch His Story Eclipseth this glorious Morning making the noontide of his Soveraignty full of Tyrannical oppressions and the Evening more memorable by his Death and Ruine Time the discoverer of truth makes evident his imposture and shews him to the World in Conversation light in Will violent in Condition wayward and in Passion irreconcileable Edward his Father a King no less Wise than Fortunate by his discreet Providence and the Glory of his Arms had laid him the sure Foundation of a happy Monarchy He makes it his last care so to inable and instruct him that he might be powerful enough to keep it so From this Consideration he leads him to the Scotish Wars and brings him home an exact and able Scholar in the Art Military He shews him the benefit of Time and Occasion and makes him understand the right use and advantage He instructs him with the precious Rules of Discipline that he might truly know how to obey before he came to command a Kingdom Lastly he opens the closet of his Heart and presents him with the politic Mysteries of State and teacheth him how to use them by his own Example letting him know that all these helps are little enough to support the weight of a Crown if there were not a correspondent worth in him that wears it These Principles make the way open but the prudent Father had a remaining task of a much harder temper He beheld many sad remonstrations of a deprave and vicious Inclination these must be purified or his other cautions were useless and to little purpose A corruption in Nature that by practice hath won it self the habit of being ill requires a more than ordinary care to give it reformation Tenderness of Fatherly Love abuseth his belief and makes him ascribe the imperfections of the Son to the heat of Youth want of Experience and the wickedness of those that had betray'd his unripe Knowledge and easie Nature with so base impressions He imagins Age and the sad burthen of a Kingdom would in the sence of Honour work him to thoughts more innocent and noble yet he neglects not the best means to prepare and assure it He extends the height of Entreaty and useth the befitting severity of his paternal Power making his Son know he must be fit for a Scepter before he enjoy it He takes from him those tainted humours of his Leprosie and enjoyns him by all the ties of Duty and Obedience no more to admit the Society of so base and unworthy Companions Gaveston the Ganimede of his affections a Man as base in birth as conditions he sentenceth to perpetual Exile The melancholy Apparitions of this loth to depart gives the aged Father an assurance that this Syren had to dear a Room in the wanton Cabinet of his Son's heart He strives to enlighten his mind and to make him quit the memory of that dotage which he foresaw in time would be his destruction But death overtakes him before he could give it perfection the time is come that he must by the Law of Nature resign both his Life and Kingdom He summons his Son and bequeaths him this dying Legacy commanding him as he will in another day answer his disobedience never to repeal his sentence To his Kindred and Peers that with sad Tears and watry Eyes were the companions of his Death-bed he shortly discourseth the base conditions of this Parasite and lets them understand both their own and the Kingdom 's danger if they withstood not his return if it were occasioned They knew his injunctions were just and promise to observe them he is not satisfied till they bind it with an Oath and vow religiously to perform it This sends him out of the World with more confidence than in the true knowledge of his Son 's wilful disposition he had cause to ground on The Father's Funeral Rights performed Edward in the pride of his years undertakes the Crown and guidance of this glorious Kingdom He glories in the advantage knowing himself to be an absolute King and at liberty yet thinks it not enough till the belief of the Kingdom did equally assure it He esteems no Act more proper to confirm it than running in a direct strain of opposition against his Predecessor's will and pleasure The strong motives of his violent affection suggests reasons that the Majesty of a King may not be confined from his dearest pleasure When he was a Son and a Subject he had witnessed his obedience being now a King and a Soveraign he expects a correspondence of the same nature Where there was so ready an inclination in the Will Reason found strength enough to warrant it which made him make Gaveston's return the first Act of his Soveraignty No protestation of his Lords nor persuasion of his Council can work a diversion or win so much as a befitting respect The Barons that were unable to withstand are contented to obey attending the issue of this so dangerous a resolution Where the News was so pleasing the Journey is as sudden Gaveston loseth not a minute till he felt the embraces of his Royal Lord and Master Edward having thus regained his beloved Damon is so transported with his presence that he forgets the will and ordinary respect due to the greatest Lords and Pillers of his Kingdom and hence proceeds their first discontent and murmur Many ways are invented to dissolve this enchantment but none more fit and worthy then to engage him in the sacred knot of Wedlock The Interest of a Wife was believed the only remedy to engross or divert those ●●●ted 〈◊〉 ●●fe●t●●ns which they beheld so loosely and unworthily prostituted Isabel the Daughter of the French King the goodliest and 〈…〉 L●dy of her time is moved and the tender o● 〈…〉 plausibly accepted This sends Edward scarce a King of nine Months standing into France and brings him back seas'd of a Jewel which not being rightly valued occasioned his ensuing Ruin The excellency of so sweet and vertuous a companion could not so surprie her Bridegroom but Gaveston still kept possession of the fairest room in his affections He makes it more notorious by creating him Earl of Cornewal and the Gift of the goodly Castle and Lordship of Wallingford Gaveston applies himself wholly to the humour of the King and makes each word that falls from his mouth an Oracle their affections go hand in hand and the apparent injustice of the one never found contradiction in

business within doors and without that the Royal Treasure of the Crown is prosusely wasted and spent without Accompt or Honour The antient Plate and Jewels of the Crown are in the Lombard and their Engagement drowned before it had the warmth of a sure possession The Subject is rack'd with strange Inventions and new unheard of Propositions for Money and many great Loans required beyond all proportion or order Lastly the Royal Demeans are set at Sale and all things that might make Money within the Kingdom To supply these inconveniences which are now grown to a greater height than the Plotter of them intended a new Parliament is called at York where the elder Spencer is advanced to the Earldom of Winchester and Harkely another Chip of the same Block is made Earl of Carlisle Baldocke a mean Man in Birth Worth and Ability is made Lord Chancellor of England In this Parliament which was by Fear and Favour made to his hand he makes known the greatness of his Want and Occasions the justly aggrieved Commons entring into a deep consideration of the times freely give the sixth Penny of all the Temporal Goods throughout the whole Kingdom When this Act came to the general knowledge it utterly estranged the Hearts of the Subjects which plead an Impossibility to perform it in respect of those many former Exactions Yet after some light contestation it is levyed no man daring to make so much as a shew of resistance If we may credit all the Antient Historians who seem to agree in this Relation there were seen at this time many Sights fearful and prodigious Amongst them no one was so remarkable as that which for six hours space shewed the glorious Sun cloathed all in perfect Blood to the great Admiration and Amazement of all those that beheld it Following times that had recorded it in their Memories by the sequel believed it the fatal Prediction of the ensuing Miseries Those that more aptly censure the present view of a Wonder conceited the just Heavens shew'd their incensed Anger for the Noble Blood of the Earl of Lancaster and his Adherents so cruelly shed without Compassion or Mercy The Scots working on the condition of the times so much dejected and amazed seize the advantage They saw by the last Parliamentary Proceedings that the King was so enabled as the hope of any Attempt in England was altogether hopeless Yet they resolve to be doing somewhere within the King's Dominions or at the least his Jurisdiction This draws them to assemble themselves and to Attempt a surprisal of the Northern places of Ireland As the Action was vain so the Success proved as unfortunate they are defeated slain overthrown and return not with the twentieth part of their number The King remembring those many Indignities he had suffered and resenting this their last Attempt with an implacable scorn and anger resolves to let them speedily know that he meant to call them to an after reckoning Upon this he sends out his Summons to call his Men of War together and makes all Provisions be prepared for this so constantly resolved a Journey His former Misfortunes had instructed him to undertake this Design much more strongly and warily And this so grave a Consideration brought him together the remaining Glory and Strength of the greater part of his Kingdom With these he marcheth forward and invadeth the nearer parts of Scotland but whether it were the Infidelity of those about him the will and pleasure of Him that is the Guider and Directer of Human Actions or the unfortunate Destiny of this unhappy King he is enforc'd to return without doing any Act that is truly worthy his Greatness or Memory The wily Scots that durst not set upon the Face of his Army wait upon the Rear and in a watch'd opportunity surprise his Stuff and Treasure This sends him home a third time a discontented Man and whether with a just Guilt or to transfer his own Fault upon others the newly created Earl of Carlile is put to a shameful Execution The Grounds against him were very probable but not certain and it was enough that he is believed like Judas for Money to have sold his Master The principal Motive that may lead us to think he was deeply faulty was the Honour and Gravity of his Tryal which gave him on a full hearing so sincere and sharp a Sentence Scarcely is the King settled after his tedious Journey when comes a stranger News That the French King had made a Hostile Attempt upon the Frontier parts of Guyen which was seconded with a Declaration That he was no longer resolved to entertain the Friendship or Peace with England This Feat had been cunningly before-hand wrought by the secret working of Spencer yet he desired to have it still in Agitation and not in Action He wisht his Master thence might be possest with the fear of War and not feel it The French were of another mind they saw into the great Disorders and Misguidance of England and thought it a fit time either by War or Policy to unite so goodly a Branch of their Kingdom It is true they had matcht a Daughter of France to the Crown of England and had solemnly swore a Peace but these they thought might be with ease dispenst with on so weighty a Cause and so fair an Advantage Edward seeing into the danger and taxing bitterly the Infidelity of the French begins to survey his own Condition whereby he might accordingly sort his resolution either to entertain the War or to seek Peace upon some Honourable or at least reasonable Conditions He in this passage finds himself more hated and feared than beloved he saw his Coffers empty the Scotish War and Surprisal had quite exhausted the Sinews of his last Parliamentary Contribution He feared the Inclination of the Subject would refuse any further Supply or in consenting make it conditional which he was wholly unwilling to undergo or adventure Lastly The Misfortune that waited on him ever since he was absolute he feared had estranged and dejected so the Hearts of his Soldiers that they would hardly be drawn forth or act any thing with their accustomed Valour and Resolution In this Distraction he seeks not by the Advice of a grave Council to qualifie or prevent it this Medicine he conceits worse than the Disease but calls unto him Spencer the Cabinet of his Heart he alone is thought fit to communicate this deep Secret and to give the Resolution His Father Baldock and the rest of that Faction by his persuasion and entreaty are admitted to make the Party greater and the Discourse more serious and likely Before them is laid the Condition of the King the Estate of the Kingdom their own Danger and the Intentions of their Foreign Adversary Many several ways are devised and advised and in conclusion no one is believed more sound and proper than that the Queen should personally mediate the Atonement with her Royal Brother This as it was cunningly laid

position may for a time flatter the Professor but it perpetually ends with Infamy which stands with Reason and Justice for as vertue is the Road-way to perfection so is the corruption of a false heart the true path to a certain and an unpittied ruin The enraged Barons are not more sensible of their own disparagement than the inconstancy and injustice of their Soveraign They think this affront done to them and the whole Kingdom of too high a nature to be dispens'd with yet with a temperate resolution they a while attend the issue The Actions of injustice seldom lessen they believe progression to be in all things an excellent Moral vertue He that hath a will to do ill and doth it seldom looks back until he be at the top of the Stairs This makes the ill affected return of this our Favourite more infamous and hated With an imperious storm he lets the Lords know he meditates nothing but revenge and waits a fit advantage to entertain it They believe time ill lost in so weighty a cause and therefore draw themselves and their Forces together before the King could prevent or his abuser shun it The Clouds presaging so great a storm he studies the best means he could to avoid it The general distast of the Kingdom takes from him the hope of an able party Scarborough Castle his last refuge he makes his Sanctuary but it was too weak against the number of his Enemies and the justice of their quarrel He falls at length into the power of those from whom he had no cause to expect protection or mercy The Butterflies of the time that were the Friends of his Fortunes not him seeing the Season chang'd betake themselves to the warmer Climate His Greatness had won him many Servants but they were but Retainers that like Rats forsook the House when they beheld it falling The Spring was laden with many glorious and goodly Blossoms but the Winter of his Age leaves him naked without a Leaf to trust to In this uncomfortable case remains this glorious Cedar in the hands of those whom in his greater height he had too much condemn'd and abused They resolve to make short and sure work unwilling to receive a command to the contrary which they must not obey though it should come from him to whom they had sworn Obedience Forsaken unpittied scorn'd and hated he falls under the the hands of Justice Gaverseed is the place which gives the Epilogue to this fatal Tragedy whence his Adversaries return more satisfied than assured Thus fell that glorious Minion of Edward the Second who for a time appeared liked a blazing Comet and sway'd the jurisdiction of the state of England and her Confederates He did not remember in the smiles and embraces of his lovely Mistris that she was blind nor made himself such a refuge as might secure him when she prov'd unconstant Such a Providence had made his end as glorious as his beginning fortunate leaving neither to the just censure of Time or Envy The King's vexations in the Knowledge are as infinite as hopeless his Passions transport him beyond the height of Sorrow He vows a bitter revenge which in his weakness he strives to execute with more speed than advisement The graver Senators that had most Interest in his favour mildly discourse his loss to the best advantage They lay before him his contempt and abusive carriage his insolence Honour beyond his Birth and Wealth above his Merit which must to all Ages give a just cause to approve their Actions and his Fortune The least touch of his memory adds more to the King's affliction who is fixt not to forget o● forgive so hold and heinous a Trespass The operations in the King were yet so powerful but the jealousies of the Actors are as cautelous so fair a warning-piece bids them in time make good their own security Lincoln the principal Pillar of this Faction follows his Adversary to the Grave but with a much fairer Fortune This Man was a goodly piece of true Nobility being in Speech and conversation sweet and affable in resolution grave and weighty his aged temper active above belief and his wisdom far more excellent in a solid inward knowledge than in outward appearance When the harbinger of Death pluck'd him by the Sleeve and he saw and knew he must leave the World he calls unto him Thomas Earl of Lancaster that had married his Daughter giving him a strict Imposition on his Death-bed that he should carefully maintain the welfare of the Kingdom and make good his place among the Barons This reverend old Statesman saw the King's ways and knew him to be a most implacable Enemy and with a kind of speculative prediction would often seem to lament the Misery of the time where either the King Kingdom or both must suffer The Son whose noble Heart was before seasoned with the same impressions assures it which he in time as really performs though it cost him the loss of his Estate Life and Honour Things are too far past to admit a reconciliation the King's Meditations are solely fix'd upon revenge and the Lords how they may prevent or withstand it The Kingdom hangs in a doubtful suspence and all Mens minds are variously carried with the expectation of what would be the issue Meditation and intercession brings it at length to Parliamentary discussion which being assembled at London enacts many excellent Laws and binds both the King and Lords by a solemn Oath to observe them Thus the violence of this Fire is a while suppressed and raked up in the Embers that it may in opportunity and advantage beget a great danger A new occasion presents it self that makes each part temporize for a while and smothers the thoughts of the ensuing Rumour Robert le Bruce re-enters Scotland whence he had been by Edward the First expuls'd inverting all the English Institutions that had so lately setled the Peace and subjection of the Kingdom Edward tender of his Honour and careful to preserve that purchase that had proved so dear a bargain adjourns his private spleen and provides to suppress this unlook'd for Rebellion He knew the justice of his quarrel and wakens from the Dream that had given him so large a cause of sorrow He gives his intentions a small intermission and a less respite with all speed he levies an Army and leads it with his own Person Whether it were the justice of Heaven or his own misfortune or improvidence the Scots attend and encounter him making Eastrivelyn the fatal witness of his disaster His Army lost and defeated he returns home laden with his own shame and sorrow His return is welcomed with a strange Impostor that pretends himself the Heir of Edward the First and the King the Son of a Baker A Tale so weak in truth and probability wins neither belief or credit Voidras this imaginary King is apprehended and makes Northampton Gallows the first Stair of his Preferment His Execution is