Which for thy wealth the Heauenly heste This order doth deuyse And I of Ioue the messenger this newes now bring to thee With bande of Peace as faithfull pledge If thou thereto agree What losse and languor thou hast had Thy selfe caust witnesse best And Mischiefe hath not sparde to spurne To purchase thy vnrest Wherefore the God that guydes all thinges doth charge thee that with speede Thou ioyne in knott of Mariage as thus he hath decreede There is a lande in Westerne soyle That Britaine hath to name Which coast doth now retayne the wyght that must thy quyet frame A proper youth of pregnant witt To whome with speede repayre Of Lancaster that noble house He is the ryghtfull heire His Princely porte doth well deserue To wear thy Regall Crowne By due discent to wield the Sworde with fame and bryght renowne This worthie wight shall turne the warre That long thy wealth hath wast This Earle Henry shall redresse Thy wayling woe forepast Now see the sequell of this hest That God appointed hath Marke well the meane against Syr Mars To pacifie his wrath A noble spouse within thy lande Of ryght must now be found To linke in sacred wedlockes state And Queene for to be crownde Beholde a Uirgin bryght of hue with vertues force bedect Of personage surpassing all that Nature hath elect Dianaes peere for chastitie A seconde Susan shee Her godly nature well deserues A Goddesse for to bee The daughter of a Royall king That rewlde thy lande of late The heyre of Yorke that long hath beene with Lancaster at bate Elizabeth this Lady hight The late king Edwardes chylde Shee shall bring forth a peerlesse Prince thy people for to shylde Now sith these houses twaine hath causde Such ruyne for to raygne Which bluddie broyle hath forced thee to feele the smarte and paine With speede repaire to Britaine lande This Henry home to call And place him in thy regall seate Be ye his Subiectes all As for his Foes take ye no feare For God his frende doth stande He is annoynted of the Lorde to rule thy famous lande Which being done let sacred state of Wedlocke ioyne these twayne Then be thou sure in perfect peace hereafter to remayne When Concorde had these wordes rehearst and all her message tolde To see the ioye that men did make was wonder to beholde With clapping handes and cheerefull shoutes They shewde foorth great delyght And thought eche day to bee a yere till he shoulde come in syght And when that Fame had blowne her blast that hee had taken lande Determining to chace the Bore with force of myghtie hande Eche man him selfe do then addresse This royall Prince to place With courage stoute and loyall hartes They serue his noble grace Of the Battaile fought at Bosworth betweene King Henry the vii Richard that then vsurped the Crowne AFter long coÌ„tinuance of blody warre through ciuill contention betweene the two â—â—ble houses of Lancaster Yorke for the imperiall Diademe of this Realme to the great effusion of English blood as well of the nobilitie as also of the Comons It pleased Almightie God to put into the mindes of the nobilitie of this Realme a meane how to preuent this eminent subuersion by ioyning in knot of Mariage the heires apparant of these two noble houses as is aforesaide to the perfect securitie of this noble Nation And here is to be noted that when kyng Edward the fourth dyed who was lineally discended from the house of Yorke whose variable chaunces of Fortune I ouer passe He lefte behynde him two sonnes and fyue daughters The elder of his sonnes was named Edwarde who was afterwardes proclaymed Kyng being of the age of xi yeres His yonger brother had to name Richarde who was Duke of yorke Now by reason of the nouage of the yong king Richard Duke of Gloucester being vncle vnto the yong kyng intruded him selfe to the Protectorship of the kyng and the Realme and also wrested into his tuition the kinges brother taking him from the Queene his Mother who then laye in the Sanctuarie at Westminster for doubt of the cruell tyrannie of the Protector whose Ambitious mynde shee knewe to bee insatiable of honor and dignities wholly bent to cruell tyrannie which shortly after he put in practyse For when he had got into his clawze these two yong Princes Like a cruell Tyger and rauenyng Wolfe moste vnnaturally he caused them to be pittifully murthered within the Tower of London And caused one Doctor Sha who better deserued to be called doctor Shame to preach at Paules Crosse perswading the people that king Edwarde the fowerth late deceased was not ryghtfull king Affirming that he was a Bastarde And that the Duke of Cloucester being lawfully begotten ought to haue beene king when his brother was and therefore myght nowe iustlye challenge the Crowne Was not this a graceles sonne that caused his owne naturall and vertuous mother to be proclaimed at Powles Crosse a Harlot This and his vnnaturall homicide sownded moste abhominably in the eares of all honest men Notwithstandinge by this beastly and detestable policie wherunto he also added the death of the Lorde Hastinges and other noble men whome he supposed woulde by all meanes possible haue hindered his vngodlye proceedinges he hitt the marke whereat he shot which was the Crowne of Englande and in fine was crowned king by the name of king Rycharde the thirde But ere he had raigned little more then two yeres it pleased God to stir vp the nobilitie of this Realme to the ayde of Henrye Earle of Richemond to set him in his ryghtfull inheritaunce of the Imperiall Diadem of this Realme The large discourse wherof is exquisitely written by Sir Thomas More as appeareth in the Cronicle written by Edwarde Hall. In conclusion this noble Earle of Richemonde after manye doubtfull casualties harde euents arryued at Milforde Hauen in Wales wyth an armye of Britons and by the ayde of the Welshmen his power encreased And manye of the nobilitie of Englande with greate strength came to hys ayde vntill he came to a place in Leycester shiere called Bosworth where he met with kynge Richarde his armye and betweene them was fought a sharpe battaile in which conflict the king himselfe was slayne and his bodie caryed to Leycester on horsebacke as a Butcher caryeth a Calfe to the Market After whiche victorie won by this noble Earle he was proclaymed kyng of England by the name of king Henry the seuenth consequently he maried the lady Elizabeth daughter vnto king Enward the iiii they bothe crowned king and Queene of Englande to the greate ioy of the whole realme And thus were the noble houses of Lancaster Yorke vnited in one whiche was the finishing of long warre ¶ The Byrthe of the puisant Prince King Henry the eyght which was in the yere of our Lorde God. 1490. the xxii of Iune WHen Lady Concorde quencht the broyle
Their enemies within the towne with hope for to preuayle No engin was omitted then that myght their purpose gayne The battry was so fierce and sharpe that they in th ende were fayne To parle and to entreat for peace their states for to maintayne In fine they craude for mercye then Acknowleging their faulte Desyring his most noble grace â–ª to cease his sharpe assault And they his vassayls woulde become and faithfull to his Crowne In token of their loyaltie they yelde to him their towne And all the furniture thereof to vse at his owne will Desyring that he will vouchsafe their bloods not for to spill Whose noble aunswer was againe Sith you for mercy craue We mercy graunt you for your lyues from bloody Swoorde to saue With Trump and Banner then displayde he entreth this his towne Saint George his flagg is then aduaunst And all the rest throwne downe Anno Domini 1513. KIng Henry being confederate with the Emperour Maximilian and manye of the nobilitie of Brabant Flaunders and Holland hauing the sayde Emperor in wages vnder his Banner inuaded Fraunce and first assaulted Turwin with a puissant Armye Whiche towne in the ende was enforced to yelde it selfe vnto the mercye of king Henry who mercyfully graunted them pardon of their lyues and free leaue to departe in safegarde yelding vp their towne with all their furniture and munition vnto the king who entred the sayde towne with Banner displaide as a conquerour And hauing taken the ordnaunce with the rest of the spoyle within a whyle after he consumed the towne with Fyer which thing pleased the Emperor very well for that the sayd town was oftentymes a scourge vnto him The king at this tyme to solace him self rode to Lisley which is a town of the Emperours where as he was nobly entertained And at his entrie in to the towne the keyes of the gates were offered vnto him to dispose at his pleasure who receiued them thankfully rendring them againe to him of whome he tooke them And when he had recreat him selfe thear three dayes he returned vnto his campe againe Whose returne was ryght ioyfull vnto his Souldiers For as his presence encreased their ioyes so his absence augmented their dolours so entire he was vnto all his loiall Subiectes Shortly after he marched forwardes with his whole Armie towardes the great Citie of Turney which Citie is saied to haue as manye Towers in it as be dayes in a yere which is in nomber 365. And in fine after sharpe assault he obtained the towne and after possession taken hee built there a strong Castle In this meane season he enuyâ—ed the Emperour and the Empresse his wyfe to this his new wonne towne of Turney who ryght ioyousely came thither and were there royally feasted and his trayne had both greate entertainment and bountifull rewardes In these warres were manye feates of Armes tryed and sundry noble exploites atchyued and in conclusion the cheefe power of Fraunce discomfited But among the tragicall euents that there happened one pretie accident chaunced by master Henry Norace who at that tyme being a yong Gentleman and one of the kinges Henchemen hauing on his head the kinges Helmet was by the fiercenesse of his horse caryed from the kings Campe into the middest of the Frenche armye that then lay without the towne of Turnay in battaile ray And being thus among his enemies against his will at laste founde the meanes to turne his horse hed againe and so by good happe came backe vnto the king wherof the king was ryght glad And being thus escaped the king offered to make him knight for this aduenture But he tolde the king that his horse rather deserued that dignitie which caryed him among his enemies against his will. Whereat the king pleasantly laughed for he loued this yong gentleman verie well And because my Aucthor was brought vp vnder this saide Gentleman and by him preferred vnto the king I am occasioned somewhat to digresse by remembraunce of his worthinesse This forenamed master Norace grewe in suche fauour and grace with the king that he became to be the chiefe gentleman of his priuie Chamber and also was master of the blacke Rodd Which is an office to the noble Order of the Garter which office hath a large Prerogatiue He was rightfullye termed the father of the Court nexte vnder the king for his singuler order of education in courtly ciuilitie As dyuers noble men and gentlemen by him brought vp can full well witnesse Namely The Lorde Henry Dudley the Lord Sheafield The Lorde Edmund Shandos with many more His nature was to do good to as manye as hee might and harme to none His pursse was neuer shut from the needie Finally he was endued with all godly and vertuous condicions liuing in the courte in great fauour and estimation vntill enuye who alwaies pursueth vertue threw at him her spytefull and poysoned dartes to his decaye After whose death the king to shewe his good will towardes him shewed him selfe gracious Lord vnto as manye as were seruauntes vnto the sayde master Norace in his lyfe tyme and to expresse the same more at large he bestowed his daughter mistresse Marie Norace in Mariage on Sir George Carew which mariage was solempnised in the Court at the proper costes and charges of the king to the same and furtherance of the saide knight and the yong ladye his wife Now to returne to my matter againe Whyle the king was in Fraunce king lames of Scotlande notwithstanding his league and solempne vowe before mencioned made an inuasion vppon the Borderers adioyning vnto Scotlande And sent an Ambassadour vnto the kyng into Fraunce accusing the Borderers for breache of the truce betweene them taken When the king vnderstoode by the Ambassadour of the king of Scottes pretence He rewarded the Ambassadour and so dismissed him Nowe the king of Scottes supposed that all the power of Englande was in Fraunce with king Henry knowing also that king Henry could not nor woulde not breake vp his Campe to come against him And thought that nowe he had a plaine gappe opened vnto him to enter into Englande and there to woorke his will. But by the prouidence of the Queene who was left Regent of the Realme by the king at his setting foorth by the balyanties of the Earle of Surrey the kinges lieftenaunt he was preuented of his purpose For when he thought to haue entered this Realme with all his power he was mett by the Earle of Surrey at a place called Brampston where betweene them was fought a cruell battayle not without great effusion of blood on both parties but in the ende by Gods prouidence the victorie fell vnto the englishe men The King of Scottes himselfe being slayne in this fielde with xi of his noble men being all of them Earles besydes a number of his knyghtes and gentilmen of name and his whole power made very weake This battaile being ended to the renoune of the Queene the
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
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
fame He was also endewed by God with inuincible Fortitude alwayes preuaylyng with glorious victorie And lyke as when moises helde vp his Rodde the Israelites had the better hande and while he helde downe the same their enemies had hope of victorie So likewyse on whose syde so euer king Henry helde vp his Sworde that parte had alwaye prosperous successe As the warres betweene the Emperor Charles the fifth and Frauncis the French kyng may sufficiently shewe More ouer the lyke blessing of God happened vnto him as seeldome or rather I thinke neuer chaunced vnto any kyng For where as hee hauing three chyldren and no mo at his departure out of this worlde they haue all three succeeded the father Not as priuate persons but successiuely in the regall seate Gouerning his landes and territories Also his noble magnanimitie was such that he being Lorde of Ireland was by the Erles Lordes Piers of the same Realme desyred to take vpon him the name of their king And they of their owne accordes in the name of the whole Realm of Ireland did vnto him Homage and Fealtie Besides all this when Maximilian the Emperor was dead the Princes Electors of the Empire of Rome with generall consent committed their full aucthoritie of Eleccion for the space of foure daies vnto kyng Henry eyther to take the Empire him selfe or els to nominate whom he would who thankfully accepted their good willes rendring vnto them againe their aucthoritie and refusing to be Emperor him selfe Thus we may saye and that trewely that he wan a kingdome without battaile or bludshed And he was of power not onely to be an Emperor but also to make an Emperor And thus I may boldly asseuer that he was blest of God aboue all kynges and Princes that euer I haue read of And happy was that Prince that might stande moste in his fauour For the which dyuers made great suite specially when they stoode in neede of ayd against their enemies because they perceiued that Fortune followed his power as handmayd to all his proceedings A rare example no doubt it is me seemeth most strange that one king should raigne 38. yeres and that almost in continuall warres and neuer take foyle but alwaies preuailed as a victor inuicted which without the assistaunce of almyghtie God he could neuer haue atchyued An euident token that God was on his syde and therefore who coulde stande agaynst him But to write at large of his worthinesse and incomparable actes would fill a bigg volume and were too great a charge for my vnskilfull penne Finally he was a Prince of singuler Prudence of passing stoute courage of inuincible Fortitude of dexteritie wonderfull He was a springing well of Eloquence a rare spectacle of Humanitie Of ciuilitie or good nurture an absolute president A speciall paterne of Clemencie and moderation a worthie example of Regall iustice A bottomlesse spring of larges and benignitie He was in all the honest Artes and Faculties profoundlye seene In all liberall disciplines equall with the best In no kynde of literature vnexperte Hee was to the worlde an ornament To Englande a treasure To his frendes a comforte To hys foes a terror To his saythfull and louing Subiectes a tender Father To Innocents a sure Protectour To wilfull malefactours a sharpe scourge To his Common weale and good people a quyet Hauen and Aucor of safegarde To the disturbers of the same a Rocke of Extermination In haynous and intollerable crymes against the comon welth a seuear Iudge In the lyke offences committed against him selfe a redye porte and refuge of mercye except to such as would persist incorrigiblye A man he was in all gifts of nature of Fortune and of grace pierles And to conclude a man aboue all prayses Suche a kyng did God set to raigne ouer England whereof this Realme may well vaunt aboue other nations whose worthines is more treated of by forreyn wryters then by any of our owne countrey men Which may iustly redownd to the reproche of all our English Poets and Historiographers ¶ A Discourse of the vnyting the two noble howses of Lancaster Yorke from which vnyted howse king Henry was the first king that proceeded WHen mightie Ioue from heauenly throne Behelde the blody broyle That Mars had made through ciuill sworde within this countrey soyle And pitying the ruthfull rage that on this Realme did rayne Most louingly did bend his eares to heare our moane and plaine The earth that earst was brewd with blood beginneth now to ioye The Bore is chaced that was wont this Realme so to annoy The Lady Concord came from Heauen To stablysh this decree That Lancaster Yorke henceforth vnyted shall agree Meethought I hearde the golden wordes That Concorde did resite And eke mee seemde myne eyes behelde This noble heauenly wighte Who pierst the Skyes with warbling winges and Scepter in her hande Uppon her hed a Diadem ycompast with a bande Whereat my mynde was all amazde To muse I coulde not ceace Till at the last I myght perceiue It was the bande of peace Her face as bright as Phebus beames Her heares lyke burnisht Golde Her feature like an Angell shape As ioyed mee to beholde With comly grace shee did commaund that scylence should be synde To rule the prease that then was thear Till shee had saide her mynde When all was whus ht and euery man with listning eares was bent To heare her speake then with these wordes shee shewd forth her intent Oh noble lande since first the tyme that Brute in thee did raygne Whose lyne intestine warre did ende As fame doth yet remaine Turmoilde and tost with ciuill Sworde Thou sundry tymes hast bene Such was thy lott and such mishap as yet in thee is seene Thy noble peares haue yeld their soules When fatall Sworde had slayne Unto the Theater of Ioue on Mars for to complayne Thy vulgar sorte in hugie heapes do prease their plaintes to showe With humble sute that perfect peace in English land may growe And Ioue that long haue rewde thy cace hath sent mee for to ceace These bluddie broyles and now to turne thy warre to perfect peace Where discorde raignes and breedes debate Subuertion is at hande And dayly proofe doth shewe that hate confoundeth many a lande Let Troyans testifye the same Let Pryam witnesse beare What Seignorie cannot bring forth Examples bought too deare Desire of rule doth oft tymes dymme And clips the fame and lyfe When Subiects touche the Princes seate by sowing seede of stryfe The Romaine rowt can well declare The smart of Pompeies broyle Numidia remembreth well The brunt of Iugurthes spoyle With thousandes more whome to resite were tyme but vainly spent But ryght shall sit in Regall seate The Tyran to preuent And God that all these turmoyles vewes at last will worke his wyll When false vsurper shall take foyle then ryght shall florish still To thee oh famous Realme I speake whose brute doth pierce the Skyes
hearde of The maner whereof ensueth The Lorde Graye being at Barwike the kings liefetenaunt theare After the ouerthrowe of the Scottes at Muscleborow fielde made a roade into Scotlande in the Lent in the seconde yere of the kinges Raigne to take a viewe of the towne of Hadington and returned to Barwike agayne without any assault geeuen The Sommer following he came with his armye and entred the towne without anye resistaunce and then made preparation for the fortifying therof In whyche meane space he laide siege vnto a Castell that was three myles from the towne named Ester Castell which Forte was furnished with Scottes and Spanyardes who stoode at their defence refusing to submitt them selues vntill the Lord Graye had with the great Cannons made a breach and was readie to enter the saide Castell Then they yelded and desyred Pardon for their lyues onely which the lorde Gray graunted vnto them all excepting one who during the siege had reuyled the King in woordes and abused his graces name with moste opproprious termes Then they all came forth of the castell in their thurtes onely submitting them selues to the mercye of the Lorde Gray And vpon strayt examination who should be the tayler that was excepted out of this Pardon it was knowne to be one Newton a Scott But he to saue him selfe put it to one Hamelton Thus these two Gentlemen accused one the other For the decysing wherof a Cumbat was appointed betweene them and by the Lorde Gray ad iudped so to bee The tyme came for this Cumbat to be accomplyshed and the listes made in the Market place of Hadington And these saide gentlemen entred in their dubblets and hose weaponed with sword buckler and dagger At the firste entrie into the listes this Hammelton kneeled on his knees and made his hartie prayer vnto Almyghtie God to geeue the victorie vnto the truthe with solempne protestation that he neuer vttered any such words of King Edward of Englande as his aduersarie Newton accused him of And on the other syde Newtons conscience being troubled with his false accusation argued vnto all the beholders his guilt For there oppeared in him great timerousues The beholders prayde God for Hammelton for the Souldiers knewe right well that it was newton for his voyce bewrayde him Nowe were the Sticklers in a readinesse and the Combatours drewe their weapons and betweene them was fought vi or vii blowes verye lustely But Hammelton being meruaylous fierce and eager vpon the truth of his quarell constrayned Newton to geeue grounde almost to the ende of the listes And if he had driuen him to the verye ende then by the lawe of Armes he had wonne the conquest and his enemy shoulde haue bene hanged if he had not slayne him Newton perceiuing him selfe to be almoste at the poynt of hanging stept forwards againe and gaue Hammelton such a gashe on the legg that he was not able to stande but fell downe and then Newton fell on him and slewe him with his dagger Thus the Cumbat was ended but the English men that knewe Newton to be the rayler and the false accuser although by more happ then hardinesse he had the vpper hande were very desyrous to renewe Combat againe with him For there were many Gentlemen theare that woulde willingly haue ventered their lyues on him man for man but he challenged the priuilege of the lawe of Armes which was vnto him graunted And the Lorde Gray gaue him his owne gowne of his backe and the Chayne that he theu ware Thus was he well rewarded that better deserued to haue bene hanged But he escaped not so For afterwardes as he was ryding betweene the Borders of Englande and Scotlande he was slayne and cutt in pieces Nowe I will speake of the seege that the Frenche Armye and the power of Scotlande layde vnto the towne of Hadington against the Englishe men When the foresaide Castell was wonne and the Cumbat finished the Lorde Graye departed towardes Barwike leauing behynde him Syr Iames Wilford as generall of the garryson and 2000 chosen Souldiers vnder him to defend the towne whiche was not halfe fortifyed before it was besieged of the Frenchemen and Scottes For our menne had not bene viii weekes in it before Mounsier Dassey the Frenche kinges lieâ—etenant and the Ringraue of Fraunce came to the siege with twentie thowsande Frenchemen Almames and Scottes beeing all of them lustye gallant Souldiers And at their firste comminge there was a hoat skirmishe betweene them and the Englishe men And because the Gates of the towne were not of anye strength for defence our men were constraynde to ramme vp the Gates with earthe and so mayntaine the defence of the towne vppon the Walles There were many assaultes geeuen to the losse of bothe parties And in the ende our enemies did so beat the towne with shott that they lefte not one whole house for our men to put their heads in Whereby they were constrained to lye vnder the walles for other lodging was there none They looked for helpe to haue come out of Englande but none came So that they were in miserable case for lacke of succour For they were dryuen to so narrow pushe that they rent their shurts for lacke of Matche for other shifte had they none And also their Enemies had taken awaye their Flankers whiche was their whole defence of the walles to expelle them from approching neare whereby to scale So that by this meanes the Frenchemen came close vnder the walles of the towne and were their ouerthwart neyghbours so neare That the Englyshmen on the one syde and the Frenchemen on the other laye close togeather that there was no more distaunce of grounde betweene them then the thicknesse of the walle Also one of the Bulwarkes was beaten downe so flatte that a man myght ryde in and out at the breache but the Frenchemen durste not venter in therat It greeued the Englishe men not a little to see their euill neyghbours so neare their noses whereupon a blunte cuntrey man that was one of our Souldiers and by his occupation a maker of Flayles inuented to beate them from the walles with slayles and tyed a heauye plummet of lead at the ende of a rope fastening the other ende of the rope vnto a good truncheon to holde in hys hande and with suche flayles they slewe and maimed a greate many of them This Mounsier Dassey captaine generall of the Frenche Armie was complayned on to the kynge his Maister for his too muche rashenesse whereby hee lost manye of his best Souldiers so that hee was sent for home in great displeasure and in his place was sent Mounsier de Termes who remoued the siege and came not neare the towne by three myles But he punished our men worse then the siege for he layde all the straytes and passages with watche whereby no victuales coulde bee brought vnto the towne All this whyle beeing about xi weekes came none out of Englande to the