foreign Army Yet the Queen and her Confederates put to Sea her whole Power not exceeding 3000 of all Nations and two days before St. Michaels day landed at Orwel in Suffolk the force being commanded by the Lord John Brother to the Earl of Hanault The news of their arrival coming to the Kings Ear he seemed like one amazed and at first would not credit the report but upon his being further certified he sent to the Citizens of London for Aid who answered that they would honour with all submission the King Queen and Prince but resolved to shut their Gates against strangers and to withstand them to their power this answer bearing no favourable Construction to the King he committed the charge of the Tower and in it his other Son commonly called John of Eltham in the Custody of Sir John D' Weston and retired with his favorites the Spencers Baldock and others into the West to gather forces against the Queen and her Accomplices having first Proclaimed them Traitours and offered the reward of 1000 pounds to any that could take the young Lord Mortimer dead or alive And by this his unadvised abandoning his chief strengths he gave the Queens party opportunity to strengthen themselves several Lords and others daily coming to their assistance and the better to terrify the Kings partakers and to colour the Treason it was rumour'd that the French King had sent with his Sister so many Dukes Earls and Lords that England would not suffice to feed them and that the Pope had sent to Excommunicate all the Kings partakers for which purpose two Cardinals had been sent over and credibly reported to have been seen in the Queens Camp though all was but fictitious and further to ingratiate with the People she caused it to be Proclaimed that her coming was only to remove evil Councillors from the King the same pretences that were used by our late forty one Parliament though Roger Lord Mortimer was the man that chiefly Councilled all the mischief then were the Kings favorites branded with the names of Traitors and Enemies to the Nation and 1000 pounds bid to any that could bring the younger Spencers Head And thereupon the Londoners rise in a tumultuous manner and commit many outrages cutting off the Bishop of Exceters Head as likewise the Head of John Le Marchel whom the King had appointed to Govern the City They likewise broke open the Prisons and set all Prisoners at liberty got into their possession the Tower and taking thence the Lord John of Eltham proclaimed him Custos or chief Governour of the City and the Queen likewise to strengthen her Faction caused most of the Prisons in England to be set open and repealed such as had been banished so that thereby her power greatly increasing She or rather the Lord Mortimer followed the King who destitute of friends still fled before his pursuers who besieged Bristol and therein took the Elder Spencer whom without any form of Trial they cut up alive having first exposed him to the fury of the People upon notice of which the King entered on Ship-board and intended to fly for Ireland but upon further consideration came ashore in Wales and there for the love the Welshmen bore him was concealed for many days in the Abby of Neath but the Queen and her Accomplices coming to Hereford after Prince Edward was Proclaimed High Keeper of England Henry Earl of Lancaster Brother to the late Earl of Lancaster Sir William Delazouch and others who had Lands in those parts where the King absconded were sent in quest of him with sums of Money to facilitate the discovery who in the end surprised him together with the young Lord Spencer Robert Baldock Lord Chancellor and Simon de Reading whom without any respect to the Person of the King they conveyed to Monmouth and from thence was the King carried to Kenelworth Castle and there committed to the keeping of the Earl of Leicester but the rest to Hereford where without any form of Trial was put to death the Lord Spencer being hanged on a Gallows fifty foot high and Robert Baldock committed to the keeping of the Bishop of Hereford who sent him up to London and exposed him to the fury of the Rabble who though a Bishop was used by them in such a barbarous manner only for being true to his Soveraign that within a short time after he died the Earl of Arundel and two other Gentlemen of note were put to death to pleasure Mortimer and now the mournful King divested of all his friends being at Kenelworth there repaired to him the Bishops of Winchester Hereford and Lincoln two Earls two Abbots four Barons and three Knights from every County with two of the Judges as from the Parliament which the Queen had called at London to perswade him to a Resignation of his Crown to his Son Edward and so many devices they had heaped together that in the end having first given private notice to the King of their approach and the cause they came to Kenelworth and presented themselves before the King who clad in black sutable to his mournful condition came out of an inward Chamber when in the head of the company set in order according to their qualities the Earl of Leicester and Bishop of Hereford began to declare the Message with which they were charged by the Body of the Kingdom as they termed the then sitting Parliament alledging that the Common-wealth of England was weary of his Government and conceived such irreconcileable dislike of his management of Kingly affairs that they would by no means permit him longer to Reign over them but were contented that his Eldest Son Prince Edward should succeed him in his Throne if he would make a voluntary Resignation if not they would proceed to Elect another not of his Blood c. The sound of this mournful Message struck so to the Kings Heart that e're any could prevent it he fell to the ground and lay stretched in a swoon a considerable time e're life could be perceived or he recovered to his Senses But in the end recovering he with many heavy Sighs bewailed his Infortunate condition and began to parly with his Vassals but found them inflexible persisting in threatning sort to tell him that unless he would freely resign his Diadem to his Son and disclaim all Right-to the Crown they would return his Answer and that immediately thereupon the Parliament would proceed to the Election of another not of his Race These Menaces made the distressed King who now was fallen low in the Opinion of his Subjects through the false insinuation of the factious Lords to consent to their hard proposals confessing that for his many sins God had permitted these Calamities to fall upon him but seeing they had not rejected his Race he was content to submit Whereupon they proceeded to the new invented and never before practised Ceremony of dekinging their Sovereign which in this manner was performed by Sir William
without opposition and took the Tower wherein the King was and were designed to murther him had not providence prevented it by his condescending to what they demanded though never so unreasonable and granting a pardon to all for what offences soever had been committed upon which a great part acknowledged the Kings Concessions satisfactory and so returned home yet their grand Captains keep their Armies on foot and still drew up unreasonable Petitions such as they knew the King could not with honour grant and hereupon they took a pretence of doing more mischief intending to have divided the Kingdom amongst Mechanicks every County to have had a King of the Commons as they termed it But e're they could bring their rebellious purpose to perfection it it was prevented for Sir William Walworth then Lord Mayor of London being with the King at a Treaty with Wat Tyler and hearing the Traitor speak irreverently of his Soveraign and offering to murther one of the Kings Knights for not shewing him such respect as he required he with his drawn Sword Arrested him as a Traitor in West-Smithfield and he refusing to yield some Lords coming in he was killed and had his head cut off and carried on a Spear out of the mouth of which he had before impiously protested that all the Laws of England should proceed At the fall of their grand Captain the Rebels were much grieved and being near twenty thousand strong resolved upon revenge but the young King spurring forward told them that he was and would be their Captain and that whatsoever they desired if it were lawful they should have which appeased and caused many of them to throw down their Arms and in the mean space the Lord Mayor having raised 1000 Citizens and brought them to confront the Rebels under his own Conduct that of Sir Robert Knowles and others whereupon the Rebels totally submitted to the King upon promise of pardon Whereupon the King sent to all his loving Subjects throughout England who were able to provide Horse and Arms to attend him on Black-Heath where they were mustered to the number of 40000 all on Horseback and well appointed and now the Rebels in Kent Essex and other Counties beginning again to raise tumults were dispersed by force and many of the principal Incendiaries put to death so that the Nation was reduced to its former obedience and quiet so that the King began to think of Marriage which Anno 1382. In the Month of January he effected with the Lady Anne Daughter to the Emperour Charles the Fourth and Sister to Winceslaus King of Bohemia and she Crown'd by William Courtney Son to the Earl of Devonshire and Bishop of Canterbury Upon which through the Negotiation of the Duke of Lancaster a Truce was concluded between the French and English from Christmas till Midsummer and the said Duke upon his return dispatched with an Army to revenge the injuries the Scots had put upon the English during the intestine broils but returned without effecting any thing memorable and upon his return he was accused by a Carmelite Friar and by Birth an Irish-man to have conspired the Kings Death to the truth of which the Friar Swore upon the Sacrament but the Dukes Interest in the King and his Council so overpowered the testimony of the Friar that it was not believed but on the contrary the Evidencer delivered over to the Lord John Holland who caused him cruelly to be put to death without Trial or Form of Law and afterwards dragged through the streets when at the same time the Lord Thomas of Woodstock afterwards made Duke of Glocester rushed into the presence Chamber swearing that he would kill any man alive the King not excepted that durst lay Treason to his Brothers charge which rash words were afterwards excused upon pretence of his Zeal to his Brothers honour though at the same time his duty to his Soveraign ought to have overballanced the other but the Duke of Lancaster's credit growing great with the Court Lords the King was forced to oblige him not knowing how to help it and therefore seeing him grow obstinate he the rather wished to be rid of him which he thought he could no better do than by furnishing him a Navy and an Army to Invade Castile which Kingdom he claimed in the Right of his Wife Constance Daughter to the late King where arriving he obtained several places of strength worsting the Spaniards every where When in the mean while the French under their young King resolving to revenge old injuries prepared an Army of 100000. Men to Invade England supposing it weakned by the remoteness of the Duke of Lancaster's Army but such was Gods providence that although they were imbarqued and several times attempted to put to Sea yet were they still driven back and detained by contrary winds even at such a time when the discontents amongst the Nobility made way for their Conquest for the King supposing himself rid at least for a time of his Uncle the turbulent Duke of Lancaster found his second Uncle Thomas Duke of Glocester no less troublesome who with the Lords of his Faction continually opposed the Kings proceedings even to the weakning the Kingdom denying in Parliament to grant him either Men or Money even when the French Army was daily expected to Land upon pretence that he had undeservedly created Michael Delâ— Pole Lord Chancellour Duke of Suffolk and Robert D' Vere Duke of Dublin in Ireland not being willing any should be advanced but of his own Faction which caused a Poet both learnedly and fellingly to Sing or rather Weep his Countries misery in the doleful strains I Sing the Civil Wars tumultuous Broils And Bloody Factions of a mighty Land Whose People haughty proud with foreign spoils Upon themselves now turn their Conquering Hand Whilst Kin their Kin Brother his Brother foils Like Ensigns all against like Ensigns band Bows against Bows a Crown against a Crown Whilst all pretending Right all Right threw down The Nation which had been formerly troubled with the Insurrection of the Plebeans was again troubled by the Faction of the Peers who stuck not to demand the removal and banishment of all such as were near and dear unto the King under pretence of evil Councillours When indeed their distast for the most part was founded upon private Animosities which when they perceived they could not effect by fair means they retired into the several Counties where their Lands were and where they were most popular and there raised such forces as they could get which in a short time in conjunction made an Army of Forty thousand men though in time of eminent danger they pretended no Forces considerable could be levyed With these forces they march towards London with an intent to force the King to accord to what they should propose although at that time Dela Pole the Duke of Ireland and Archbishop of York the Persons against whom they chiefly objected were banished the Kings presence The
Escutcheons the Armories of St. Edward the Confessor sometime King of England These proceedings for a time made fair weather but not long for a Feud arising between Henry Duke of Hereford and Thomas Duke of Glocester the latter accused the former of speaking several words to the dishonour of the King that King Richard held the Peers of England in no esteem but as much as in him lay sought to destroy them by banishing some and putting others to death That he never troubled his mind with considering how his Dominions were diminished through his carelesness and lastly that all things went to wrack as well in Peace as War Upon this it was ordered that the Accuser and the Accused should try the matter by Combate the latter stoutly denying he ever said any such words as were objected against him so that gages being delivered on both sides they entered the Lists but e're they encountered the King threw down his Warder and upon further consideration banished Norfolk for his Life and Hereford at first for ten years which after he reduced to six which some alleadged was a just Judgment on the former for being instrumental in putting the Duke of Glocester to death he being then Captain of Calais But now ruin and desolation being at hand Portents forerun it all the Bay-trees in England suddenly withered and within a while sprung out again fresh near Bedford the River between the Villages of Harleswood and Swelston where it is deepest drove back on either hand and for three Miles left its Channel dry with sundry other remarkable presages of what after happened To give way to which the King upon notice of his Cousin the Lord Mortimer's being slain by the Irish of Leinster who were up in Arms under their Leader Obrian he resolved to pass over in person to revenge his death and therefore to furnish his expedition he raised many of all hands and at the same time his Uncle the Duke of Lancaster dying he seized on his Inheritance without regard to his Son the Duke of Hereford who remained in Exile which the said Duke hearing was so throughly netled that not resolving to wait the expiration of his Banishment he taking the advantage of King Richard's absence resolves for England having upon notice of his Fathers decease taken upon him the Title of Duke of Lancaster and only accompanied with the banished Bishop of Canterbury and about twenty others when having taken Ship he for some time lay hovering on the Coast to understand how the People stood affected to him and the better to give his agents on shore time to work them to his purpose but upon notice that his Faction was strong he Landed only under pretence of recovering his Rightful Inheritance when as there repaired to him the Earl of Northumberland and his Son the Lord Henry his Son the Lord Nevil Earl of Westmorland and others as likewise a great number of the Country People offering him their Service so that within a short time he had formed a Puissant Army the news of which soon alarumed Edmund Duke of York the Kings Uncle who calling to his assistance Edmund Stafford Bishop of Chichester Lord Chancellour Lord Treasurer Earl of Wiltshire Bushy Bagot Green Russel and other Knights of the Kings Council to consult about raising forces to impeach the Dukes passage but their consultation came to nothing the Dukes Faction having so dealt with the common people that they every where refused to take up Arms against him Whereupon Sir John Bushy Lord Treasurer and Sir Henry Green betake themselves to Bristol Castle but it being stormed by the Lancastrians their Heads became a Sacrifice to popular fury but Bagot taking ship Sailed over to Ireland to acquaint the King with what had happened who thereupon making such peace as he could with the Irish he hastens over but before his arrival the Dukes Faction was swelled to such a torrent that there was no opposing it Whereupon the King having Cashiered his Army or they for the most part deserting him he retired to the Castle of Conway in North-Wales whither upon notice of his being there resorted to him the Arch-bishop of Canterbury and Earl of Northumberland where after a long Parly the King perceiving no other conditions could be gained required that he and eight more whom he would name might have honourable allowance with the assurance of a quiet private Life that he in consideration thereof would make a resignation of his Crown which demand Northumberland swore should be observed and thereupon the King accompanied them to the Castle of Flint whither the Duke was come with a part of his Army and from thence after a short conference they removed to Chester where the King in consideration of many fair promises never performed put himself into the Dukes hands who conveyed him to London and there made sure of him in the Tower whither several of the Lancastrian Faction daily resorted to him to parly about the surrender of his Crown which at last he consented to do seeing no other Remedy to his Cousin the Duke of Lancaster and at the same time taking off his Signet he put it on the Dukes Finger and at the same time there being a Parliament called in King Richard's name the Arch-bishop of York and Bishop of Hereford were appointed his Procurators to declare what he had done nor was this sufficient for to make him odious to the People they exhibited thirty two Articles against him very scandalous and reproachful Whereupon Commissioners were nominated by the consent of the Houses to pronounce the Sentence of Deposition who were the Bishop of Asaph the Abbot of Glastenbury the Duke of Glocester the Lord Berkly and William Thyrring Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas the Form thus In the Name of God We John Bishop of St. Asaph John Abbot of Glastenbury c. Commissioners specially chosen by the Lords Spiritual of the Realm of England and Commons of the said Realm representing all the states of the said Realm sitting in place of Judgment do renounce all fealty to Richard of Burdeaux and him Depose from all Kingly Dignity c. Upon which the Duke of Lancaster rising from his Seat Crossed himself and then layed claim to the Crown in these words In the Name of God Amen I Henry of Lancaster claim the Realm of England and Crown with all the appurtenances as coming by the Blood Royal from King Henry and by that Justice which God of his Grace hath sent me by the help of my Kinsfolks and Friends for the Recovery of the said Realm which was in point of perdition through default of Government and breach of Laws This said he was conducted by the Arch-bishops of Canterbury and York to the Royal Throne and there Seated and from thenceforth all Writs and Process Issued out in his Name Richard In the mean space remaining a Prisoner in the Tower and every day in danger of his Life which was often aimed at the more
opportunity to recover it The King seeing himself in danger resolves to oppose the torrent and therefore Arms and with a strong power marcheth towards Wales in whose Marches the Duke resided with his forces of which the Duke having notice and understanding the Kings power was such that he was no ways able to oppose them upon his feigned submission he so wrought upon the good nature of this pious and peaceful King that a peace was concluded and after some heats and accusations had passed between the Dukes of York and Somerset the former was swore to be true to the King and never more take up Arms but regarded his Oath no longer than it served for his purpose for joyning with the Earls of Warwick Salisbury and others of the Faction he again takes Arms and marches towards London and to oppose him the King does the like both Armies meeting at St. Albans a dreadful fight began which for a long time lasted doubtful but at last the Earl of Warwick with his Battalian breaking through a Garden fell in so furiously that the Kings party were put to the rout six hundred slain and amongst them the Duke of Somerset Earl of Northumberland Stafford Lord Clifford and others of Note Here the King received a slight wound in the Neck with an Arrow and was taken Prisoner though at the same time the Lords of the Faction pretended abundance of respect leading him to London and there procured a Parliament to be called in his name where they caused an Act of Indemnity to be passed and all things to be so ordered that they render their Faction pleasing to the multitude and now nothing remained but to depose the King and deprive him of Life but this they feared to do till their insinuations had spread wider and that they had got Prince Edward his Son into their hands for the King notwithstanding this adversity was extreamly beloved for his singular Piety and meekness nor did this suffice for in this Parliament the Duke of York got himself made Protector of England and its appurtenances a thing never heard of before unless in the Nonage of a King but his insolencies were such by Imprisoning and deposing the Kings best friends that he was soon divested of that power at the instance of the Queen and several Noble Lords well-wishers to the King These Intestine broils Incited the French and Scots to molest the Sea-port Towns and ways the remote parts of England upon news of which the King the better to revenge those injuries called an Assembly of the Peers at London whither the Duke of York Earls of Warwick and Salisbury were Summoned under the Kings Privy Seal and accordingly came but finding things not for their purpose they feigned a Plot against their Lives and so retired to their several Castles and places of strength without leave taken and there gathering forces upon a second Summons came in Hostile manner yet the good natured King so labored that a reconciliation or at least a seeming one on the part of the Yorkists was the result of that meeting but it continued not so long for upon a Quarrel between one of the Kings Servants and one of the Earl of Warwicks all was again in a combustion for the Earl of Warwick upon that occasion being Assaulted flies to Calais and there maintains himself by Piracy utterly disowning the King Supream Lord of that Place but being not long satisfied there he Sails over to the Assistance of the Duke of York and Earl of Salisbury who again had taken up Arms and Encamped near Ludlow bringing with him one Captain Andrew Trolop and a stout Band of Calesians whom all along he had perswaded that they were to fight in the Kings Quarrel but they finding it otherwise upon the Kings approach expressed their Loyalty by forsaking the Yorkists and coming over to the King who good natured Prince received them with all convenient expressions of kindness and Royal favour and Trolop their Captain being privy to all the Plots and Designs of the Yorkists Faction the Kings Enemies disperse the Duke of York with the Earl of Rutland his youngest Son into Ireland the Earl of March his Eldest Son and Heir together with the Earls of Warwick and Salisbury with much difficulty escape to Calais which place had King Henry timely fortified he had driven them all to great extremity yet the Parliament proceeded to Proclaim them and their Abetters Traitours and to attaint them of high Treason disabling them or their Heirs of ever inheriting their Titles or Possessions which made them again prepare to Invade England by stealth in their wonted Hypocrisy the better to win the multitude to side with them with deepest Oaths protesting they only sought the good and welfare of King Henry and the removal of evil Councillors sending many Writings abroad fraight with dissimulations to that purpose which wrought them much favour so that Landing in Kent and swearing to be true to King Henry especially the Earl of Warwick who swore it upon the Cross of the Cathedral of Canterbury they came forward to London still increasing in number which caused the King and Queen being no ways confident of the Citizens to remove to Northampton whither the Earls of March and Warwick hasted and notwithstanding their many fair pretences gave the King Battel overthrew his Army and taking him Prisoner brought him as it were in Triumph to London and although they held him Prisoner yet continued their dissembled kindness towards him with many feigned expressions of Obedience and Loyalty Upon news of this success the Duke of York hasts from Dublin in Ireland and pulling off the Mask he had so long vailed his design with layed claim in the Parliament then sitting to the Crown breaking open the Kings Lodgings and possessing himself thereof but the Parliament not approving his rashness he drew up his Pedigree in which he proposed himself to be the rightful Heir which was likewise opposed with many forcible Arguments yet so powerful was his Faction that he prevailed to be Proclaimed Heir apparent and again to enjoy the Title of Protector of England with a grant that Henry the Sixth should Reign only during his natural Life and that then the Crown should devolve on him and his Heirs as descended of the Masculine Line from Edward the Third but at this time the Queen being in the North gathering forces to release her Husband would by no means consent to this agreement which caused York to advance in order to oppose her but her forces consisting of near 18000 and his a far less number he contrary to the advice of his Council resolving to give Battel before his Son the Earl of March could joyn him the Battel was fought at Wakefield and therein himself the Lord Harington Sir Thomas Nevil Son to the Earl of Salisbury and almost all his Soldiers were slain so severe is the Almighty in punishing perjury and disloyalty to him and his Vice-gerents Kings Anointed
the Earl of Salisbury was taken Prisoner and Beheaded and his head with the Dukes fixed upon York Gates upon this the Queen and her Army came to London and released the King by the overthrow of Warwick at St. Albans restoring him to his Power and Majesty but rested not long e're the Earl of March Eldest Son to the Duke of York advanced with a Puissant Army and the Earl of Warwick having escaped the fight joyned with him which news made the King and Queen retire into the North to provide against the threatning storm whereupon Edward Earl of Mâ—rch without any controul advanced and entered London fearful of a Sack and there by threats and perswasions prevailed with the unstable multitude to give their Assents for his being Crowned King which Ceremony ended though against all Law and Right he drew forth his Army and advanced against the King who had gathered great forces which were in chief by the Duke of Somerset Earl of Northumberland and Lord Clifford both Armies consisting of 112000. the greatest Army of English that ever England saw who upon the charge being sounded began the Fight with great fury near Ferry-Bridge which continued ten hours and was lost on the Kings side by the overhastiness of the Northern Archers who spent all their Arrows at a distance as not being able to discern the Enemy by reason the Snow that then fell was driven full in their Eyes The Nobility that died on the Kings side were the Lords Scales Willowby Beaumont Wells Grey Dacres Fitz Hugh Buckingham and Clifford the two Bastards of Exceter of Knights and Esquires a great number and in all on both parts the slain were computed 35091. a slaughter the like not known in England since the Conquest Upon this fatal overthrow King Henry hs Son the Prince and several great Lords escaped into Scotland where they were kindly received and a Marriage proposed between the young Prince and the Lady Margaret the Scotch King's Daughter upon which Queen Margaret passed into France to negotiate her Husbands affairs with the French King for new supplies In the mean while Edward is Crowned at Westminster and a Parliament called wherein King Henry and Prince Edward his Son are disinherited of the Crown and all Regal Authority upon news of which Queen Margaret returns to Scotland having obtained a considerable supply of men from her Father Duke Reynold Duke of Anjoy King of Naples Jerusalem and Sicily having suffered much by storm from Scotland she passed into England together with her Husband and such Scotch forces as that King assisted her with and took several Castles in Northumberland several Loyal English daily resorting to the Royal Standard which proceeding greatly alarumed Edward so that constituting the Lord Montacute his Lieutenant General he furnished him with an Army with which he gave Battel to King Henry's forces near unto Hexham where the Yorkists prevailed and King Henry is obliged again to fly into Scotland from whence some time after coming into England in disguise he was taken Prisoner by Thomas Talbot in Cletherworth in Lancashire and from thence brought to London with his Legs bound under the Horses Belly so little respect had those Varlets into whose hands he fell to afflicted Majesty and upon his arrival committed Prisoner to the Tower Edward having King Henry in safe custody began to give himself over to sports and Daliances and above all to bethink himself of a Wife upon which several were proposed as the Lady Margaret Sister to King James of Scotland the Lady Elizabeth Sister and Heir Apparent to Henry King of Castile the Lady Bona Daughter to the Duke of Savoy and Sister to the French Queen of which the latter being thought the fittest Match the Earl of Warwick was sent over to negotiate the affair and proceeded so well that he procured a free consent of the French King Queen and the Lady her self when in the mean while Edward had cast his Eyes upon Elizabeth Grey Widdow to Sir John Grey slain in the Quarrel of King Henry at St. Albans and notwithstanding all the perswasions of the Dutchess of York his Mother Married her and made her Queen which Warwick taking as a grievous affront put upon him from that moment Alienated his Affections from Edward and consulted how to restore King Henry to his Crown and Dignity in order to which he first consults his two Brothers George Nevil Arch-bishop of York and John Nevil Marquess of Montacute the former of which soon consented but the latter proposed many delays whereupon the politick Earl the better to bring his designs about resolves to bring to his Lurd George Duke of Clarence Edwards Second Brother whom he knew to be discontented with his Brothers Rule and so effectually wrought with Soliciting that he soon found him pliable and ready to espouse his Interest whereupon the more to secure him he proposed to him his Eldest Daughter in Marriage with the one half of his Wives Inheritance which was afterwards consummated at Calais and in the mean while by the countenance of the Earl many Commotions were raised in England to countenance which and to dispossess Edward of his Usurped Crown to say no worse the Duke and Earl prepared for England having first espoused his second Daughter to Prince Edward Son to King Henry and then arriving a great conflux of People hasted to his Banner so well known and dreaded in England being the White Bear and Ragged Staff to oppose which torrent e're it grew greater Edward hastened and at Woolvy four Miles from Warwick where the Duke and the Earls Host lay pitched his Tents and bid the Earl Battel who undaunted Spirit brooked no such Bravado advance and both Armies stood Imbattled expecting the dreadful blast but it so happened that the Fight was delayed and both Armies retire as if a Peace would undoubtedly insue but crafty Warwick had other designs on foot for within a while after he surprized Edward in the midst of his Army and took him Prisoner committing him to the custody of the Archbishop of York from whom he soon after escaped which greatly perplexed the Earl yet he so ordered the matter as not to seem in the least to regard it Edward upon his escape fled to London and the Duke and Earl continuing in their station levied great forces but upon the Mediation of the Nobility it was so ordered that the Duke and Earl came to Edward upon his Letters of safe conduct but Edward taxing them with Disloyalty and they him with ingratitude nothing was done but both departed Edward to Canterbury and the other returned to Warwick and from thence sent their Agents into Lincolnshire where they dealt with the Commons to take up Arms under the Leading of Sir Robert Wells Son to the Lord Wells but he in revenge of his Fathers Death whom Edward had basely Beheaded contrary to his promise rashly ingaged Edwards power before Warwick could come to his Aid and by that means lost
the day and his own Life upon notice of which overthrow the Duke and Earl betook themselves again to Calais of which place the latter was Captain but were denied entrance by Vawclere his Lieutenant and thereupon went to the French Court where they were kindly received and within a while returning into England gathered so huge an Army that Edward was forced to fly the Land and his Queen to take Sanctuary whereupon King Henry was again restored to his Regal Dignity and Edward with all his adherents Proclaimed Traitors and in Parliament disinabled from Inheriting the Crown and it again Intailed on King Henry upon which Heart-breaking news Edward procures forces from the Duke of Burgundia who had Married his Sister and under pretence of Friendship enters England pretending to no more than his Dutchy of York framing Letters for his safe conduct under the Seal of the Earl of Northumberland but he no sooner entered but surprized that City whereupon Warwick and Clarence prepare to drive him thence but the latter was so wrought with under hand that he revolted to Edward and endeavored to perswade Warwick to do the like who generously answered to the Messenger go tell your Duke that I had rather be an Earl and always like my self than a false and perjured Duke and that e're my Oath shall be falsified as his apparently is I will lay down my Life at my Enemies Foot which I doubt not but shall be bought very dear and thereupon Marched towards London when at St. Albans he considered what was best to be done and finding that the Sword must decide it he advanced and at Barnet both Armies approached each other where in the spacious Field the Battle joyn'd on Easter day with such fury that the like had not been known and continued doubtful for a long time when as the day being overcast with mist hindering the Soldiers sight Warwicks Battalian took the Stars Imbroidered upon the Earl of Oxford's Mens Coats for his Son Edwards Body whereupon they let fly upon their friends which mistake caused the Earl to leave the fight his Men crying Treason Treason we are all betrayed which Warwick perceiving charged with fury upon the Enemy but entering too far was beaten down and slain though not without performing wonders sutable to his great Soul who had been Englands Make-King for many years before with him perished his Brother the Marquess of Montacute and a great number of smaller note as likewise the loss of the Battle on the side of the Lancastrians Son after this overthrow Queen Margaret and Prince Edward arrive at Weymouth and understanding the loss of the Battle of Barnet Field she went to Ceerue Abby whither the Lancastrian Nobility that escaped the slaughter came to her and with comfortable words put her in hopes of better success and immediately raised such forces as they could and joyned them to those they Queen had brought over from France but loth she was that the Prince her Son should hazard himself in the Battle and urged sundry persons but was over perswaded by the Lords whose preparations alarumed Edward so that gathering an Army he advanced towards them resolving to hinder the increase of the Queens power having first committed King Henry and the Archbishop of York to the Tower and at Teuxbury both Armies met where after a hot Encounter by the Treachery of the Lord Wenlock the Battle went with Edward which Treachery was rewarded with death the Duke of Somerset the Queens General beating his Brains out with his Battle-Ax In this Battle of the Lancastrian Nobility were slain John Lord Summert John Coventry Earl of Devonshire the Lord Wenlock in manner aforesaid several Knights and three thousand common Soldiers and on the other side not fewer Upon this defeat Proclamation was made for the Apprehending Prince Edward who was soon taken by that unworthy Knight Sir Robert Crofts and delivered to his most Capital Enemy the Duke of Somerset and others of Quality having taken Sanctuary were haled thence and beheaded Prince Edward not passing fourteen years of Age being brought before Edward had assumed the Soveraignty he beheld him with a stern Countenance and demanded how he durst with Banners displayed enter his Realm to which the young Prince with an undaunted Courage replied to recover my Fathers Kingdoms and most Rightful Inheritance possessed by his Father and Grandfather and immediately from him descending to me how darest thou then that art but his Subject take up Arms against thy King This Brave and Generous Answer so touched King Edward to the quick that he unmanly with his Gauntlet smote him on the Mouth when at the same instant the more villanous Duke of Glocester afterwards Usurper of the Crown by the name of Richard the Third together with his wicked Accomplices stabbed the Prince to death in Edwards presence Monsters unworthy of the name of Men but Heavens vengeance for this and other black crimes overtook the Actors The Prince after his being murthered was Buried in the Grey-Fryars at Tewksbury without any Ceremony and now Queen Margaret having taken Sanctuary was discovered and brought Prisoner to the Tower where she continued till her Father with a great Ransome to raise which he was forced to sell most of his Signeouries to the French King he redeemed her and now King Henry being Prisoner likewise and the Thorne that made Edwards Crown sit uneasie he resolves to be rid of him and therefore sent his Brother that Crook-backed Monster in the shape of a Man to dispatch him who pretending to discourse about his releasment stabbed the pious King to the Heart and eased him of this troublesome Life though perpetual horrour haunted the Actor of this black deed to his Grave After this cruel murther committed on the pious King his Body was for many days exposed to the view of the People ever bleeding afresh which raised at once pitty and detestation in the Spectators and then carried by Water to Chersie in Surry And thus fell this good King though not unrevenged for he lived to see the miserable ends of all such as had first broached the mutual War against him viz. Richard Duke of York the Earls of Salisbury and Warwick and afterward God was not slow to revenge his Royal Blood for within a while the Duke of Clarence King Edwards Brother was attainted of Treason and privately put to death in the Tower as some say drowned in a Butt of Malmsey King Edward himself continually infested with troubles through his unquiet Reign and People every where suffering through storms pestilence and Losses by Sea and Land after his Decease his two Sons murthered by their unnatural Uncle the Duke of Glocester and that Monster himself after a short Usurpation slain in Bosworth Field as in the sequel shall more at large be shown and thus I shall end with the death of this pious though unfortunate King who left no Issue his only Son being murthered as is before recited CHAP. V.