keeping vp his Credit Neither had the King yet cast off his cares and hopes touching Britaine but thought to master the occasion by Policie though his Armes had beene vnfortunate and to bereaue the French King of the fruit of his Victorie The summe of his designe was to encourage MAXIMILIAN to goe on with his suit for the marriage of ANNE the heire of Britaine and to aide him to the consummation therof But the affaires of MAXIMILIAN were at that time in great trouble and combustion by a Rebellion of his Subiects in Flanders especially those of Bruges and Gaunt wherof the Towne of Bruges at such time as MAXIMILIAN was there in person had sodainly armed in tumult and slaine some of his principall Officers and taken himself prisoner and held him in durance till they had enforced him and some of his Councellors to take a solemne oath to pardon all their offences and neuer to question and reuenge the same in time to come Neuerthelesse FREDERICKE the Emperour would not suffer this reproach and indignitie offered to his sonne to passe but made sharpe warres vpon Flanders to reclaime and chastise the Rebels But the Lord RAVENSTEIN a principall person about MAXIMILIAN and one that had taken the oath of Abolition with his Master pretending the Religion therof but indeed vpon priuate ambition and as it was thought instigated and corrupted from France for sooke the Emperour and MAXIMILIAN his Lord and made himselfe an Head of the Popular Partie and seized vpon the Townes of Ipre and Sluce with both the Castles And forthwith sent to the Lord CORDES Gouernour of Picardie vnder the French King to desire aide and to moue him that hee on the behalfe of the French King would bee Protector of the United Towns and by force of Armes reduce the rest The Lord CORDES was readie to embrace the occasion which was partly of his owne setting and sent forthwith greater Forces then it had beene possible for him to raise on the sodaine if hee had not looked for such a summons before in aide of the Lord RAVENSTEIN and the Flemmings with instructions to inuest the Townes betweene France and Bruges The French Forces besieged a little Towne called Dixmue where part of the Flemmish Forces ioyned with them While they lay at this siege the King of England vpon pretence of the safety of the English Pale about Calice but in truth being loth that MAXIMILIAN should become contemptible and therby bee shaken off by the States of Britaine about this marriage sent ouer the Lord MORLEY with a thousand men vnto the Lord DAVBIGNY then Deputie of Calice with secret instructions to aide MAXIMILIAN and to raise the siege of Dixmue The Lord DAVBIGNY giuing it out that all was for the strengthning of the English Marches drew out of the Garrisons of Calice Hammes and Guines to the number of a thousand Men more So that with the fresh Succours that came vnder the Conduct of the Lord MORLEY they made vp to the number of two thousand or better Which Forces ioyning with some Companies of Almaines put themselues into Dixmue not perceiued by the Enemies and passing through the Towne with some re-enforcement from the Forces that were in the Towne assailed the Enemies Campe negligently guarded as being out of feare where there was a bloudy fight in which the English and their Partakers obtained the victorie and slew to the number of eight thousand Men with the losse on the English part of a hundred or there abouts amongst whom was the Lord MORLEY They tooke also their great Ordnance with much rich spoiles which they carried to Newport whence the Lord DAVBIGNY returned to Calice leauing the hurt Men and some other Voluntaries in Newport But the Lord CORDES being at Ipre with a great power of Men thinking to recouer the losse and disgrace of the fight at Dixmue came presently on and sate downe before Newport and besieged it and after some dayes siege hee resolued to trie the fortune of an Assault Which hee did one day and succeeded therein so farre that hee had taken the principall Tower and Fort in that Citie and planted vpon it the French Banner Whence neuerthelesse they were presently beaten forth by the English by the helpe of some fresh Succours of Archers arriuing by good fortune at the instant in the Hauen of Newport Whereupon the Lord CORDES discouraged and measuring the new Succours which were small by the Successe which was great leuied his Siege By this meanes matters grew more exasperate betweene the two Kings of England and France for that in the warre of Flanders the auxiliarie Forces of French and English were much blouded one against another Which Bloud rankled the more by the vaine words of the Lord CORDES that declared himselfe an open Enemie of the English beyond that that appertained to the present Seruice making it a common by-word of his That hee could bee content to lie in Hell seuen yeares so hee might winne Calice from the English The King hauing thus vpheld the Reputation of MAXIMILIAN aduised him now to presse on his Marriage with Britaine to a conclusion Which MAXIMILIAN accordingly did and so farre forth preuayled both with the young Lady and with the principall persons about her as the Marriage was consummate by Proxie with a Ceremonie at that time in these Parts new For shee was not onely publikely contracted but stated as a Bride and solemnly Bedded and after shee was laid there came in MAXIMILIANS Ambassadour with letters of Procuration and in the presence of sundry Noble Personages Men and Women put his Legge stript naked to the Knee betweene the Espousall Sheets to the end that that Ceremonie might bee thought to amount to a Consummation and actuall Knowledge This done MAXIMILIAN whose propertie was to leaue things then when they were almost come to perfection and to end them by imagination like ill Archers that draw not their Arrowes vp to the Head and who might as easily haue bedded the Lady himselfe as to haue made a Play and Disguise of it thinking now all assured neglected for a time his further Proceeding and intended his Warres Meane while the French King consulting with his Diuines and finding that this pretended Consummation was rather an Inuention of Court then any wayes valide by the Lawes of the Church went more really to worke and by secret Instruments and cunning Agents as well Matrons about the young Lady as Councellors first sought to remoue the Point of Religion and Honour out of the minde of the Lady her selfe wherein there was a double labour For MAXIMILIAN was not onely contracted vnto the Lady but MAXIMILIANS daughter was likewise contracted to King CHARLES So as the Marriage halted vpon both feet and was not cleare on either side But for the Contract with King CHARLES the Exception lay plaine and faire for that MAXIMILIANS daughter was vnder yeares of consent and so not bound by Law but a power of Disagreement left to
perfidious man vpon the Earth and that he had made a marriage compounded between an Aduoutry and a Rape which was done he said by the iust iudgement of God to the end that the Nullitie thereof being so appparant to all the World the Race of so vnworthy a person might not reigne in France And forthwith he sent Ambassadors as well to the King of England as to the King of Spaine to incite them to Warre and to treat a League offensiue against France promising to concurre with great Forces of his owne Hereupon the King of England going neuerthelesse his owne way called a Parliament it being the seuenth yeere of his Reigne and the first day of opening thereof sitting vnder his Cloth of Estate spake himselfe vnto his Lords and Commons in this manner MY Lords and you the Commons When I purposed to make a Warre in Britaine by my Lieutenant I made declaration thereof to you by my Chancellor But now that I meane to make a Warre vpon France in Person I will declare it to you my Selfe That Warre was to desend another mans Right but this is to recouer our owne And that ended by Accident but we hope this shall end in Victory The French King troubles the Christian World That which he hath is not his owne and yet he seeketh more He hath inuested himselfe of Britaine Hee maintaineth the Rebels in Flanders and he threatneth Italy For Our Selues he hath proceeded from Dissimulation to Neglect and from Neglect to Contumely He hath assayled our Confederates He denieth our Tribute In a word he seekes Warre So did not his Father but sought Peace at Our Hands and so perhaps will hee when good Counsell or Time shall make him see as much as his Father did Meane while let Us make his Ambition our Aduantage and let vs not stand vpon a few Crownes of Tribute or Acknowledgement but by the fauour of Almighty GOD try Our Right for the Crowne of France it selfe remembring that there hath beene A French King Prisoner in England and a King of England Crowned in France Our Confederates are not diminished Burgundie is in a mightier Hand then euer and neuer more prouoked Britaine cannot helpe vs but it may hurt them New Acquests are more Burthen then Strength The Male-contents of his owne Kingdome haue not beene Base Popular nor Titularie Impostors but of an higher Nature The King of Spaine doubt yee not will ioyne with vs not knowing where the French Kings Ambition will stay Our Holy Father the Pope likes no Tramontanes in Italie But howsoeuer it bee this Matter of Confederates is rather to bee thought on then reckoned on For GOD forbid but England should bee able to get Reason of France without a Second At the Battailes of Cressy Poictiers Agent-Court wee were of our selues France hath much people and few Souldiours They haue no stable Bands of Foot Some good Horse they haue but those are Forces which are least fit for a Defensiue Warre where the Actions are in the Assailants choice It was our Discords onely that lost France and by the Power of GOD it is the good Peace which wee now enioy that will recouer it GOD hath hitherto blessed my Sword I haue in this time that I haue Reigned weeded out my bad Subiects and tryed my good My People and I know one another which breeds Confidence And if there should bee any bad Bloud left in the Kingdome an Honourable Forrain Warre will vent it or purifie it In this great Businesse let me haue your Aduice and Aid If any of you were to make his Sonne Knight you might haue aid of your Tenants by Law This concernes the Knighthood and Spurres of the Kingdome whereof I am Father and bound not only to seeke to maintaine it but to aduance it But for Matter of Treasure let it not be taken from the Poorest Sort but from those to whom the Benefit of the Warre may redound France is no Wildernesse and I that professe Good Husbandrie hope to make the Warre after the Beginnings to pay it selfe Goe together in GODS Name and loose no time for I haue called this Parliament wholly for this Cause THus spake the King But for all this though hee shewed great forwardnesse for a Warre not onely to his Parliament and Court but to his Priuie-Councell likewise except the two Bishops and a few more yet neuerthelesse in his secret intentions hee had no purpose to goe through with any Warre vpon France But the truth was that hee did but traffique with that Warre to make his Returne in money Hee knew well that France was now entire and at vnitie with it selfe and neuer so mightie many yeares before Hee saw by the taste that he had of his Forces sent into Britaine that the French knew well enough how to make warre with the English by not putting things to the hazard of a Battaile but wearing them by long Sieges of Townes and strong fortified Encampings IAMES the Third of Scotland his true friend and Confederate gone and IAMES the Fourth that had succeeded wholly at the deuotion of France and ill affected towards him As for the Coniunctions of FERDINANDO of Spaine and MAXIMILIAN hee could make no foundation vpon them For the One had Power and not Will and the Other hath Will and not Power Besides that FERDINANDO had but newly taken breath from the Warre with the Moores and merchanded at this time with France for the restoring of the Counties of Russignon and Perpignian oppignorated to the French Neither was hee out of feare of the Discontents and ill bloud within the Realme which hauing vsed alwaies to represse and appease in person hee was loth they should find him at a distance beyond Sea and engaged in warre Finding therfore the Inconueniences and Difficulties in the prosecution of a Warre hee cast with himselfe how to compasse two things The one how by the declaration and inchoation of a warre to make his Profit The other how to come off from the warre with sauing of his Honour For Profit it was to bee made two wayes vpon his Subiects for the Warre and vpon his Enemies for the Peace like a good Merchant that maketh his gaine both vpon the Commodities Exported and Imported backe againe For the point of Honour wherein hee might suffer for giuing ouer the Warre hee considered well that as hee could not trust vpon the aides of FERDINANDO and MAXIMILIAN for supports of Warre so the impuissance of the one and the double proceeding of the other lay faire for him for occasions to accept of Peace These things hee did wisely fore-see and did as artificially conduct wherby all things fell into his lappe as hee desired For as for the Parliament it presently tooke fire being affectionate of old the Warre of France and desirous afresh to repaire the dishonour they thought the King sustained by the losse of Britaine Therfore they aduised the King with great alacritie to vndertake the Warre of
although the French seemed to speake reason yet Arguments are euer with multitudes too weake for Suspitions Wherefore they did aduise the King roundly to embrace the Britons quarrell and to send them speedy aides and with much alacritie and forwardnesse granted to the King a great rate of Subsidie in contemplation of these aides But the King both to keepe a decencie towards the French King to whom he profest himselfe to be obliged and indeed desirous rather to shew Warre then to make it sent new solemne Ambassadors to intimate vnto him the Decree of his Estates and to iterate his motion that the French would desist from Hostilitie or if Warre must follow to desire him to take it in good part if at the motion of his people who were sensible of the cause of the Britons as their ancient Friends and Confederates hee did send them succours with protestation neuerthelesse that to saue all Treaties and Lawes of Friendship hee had limited his Force to proceed in aide of the Britons but in no wise to warre vpon the French otherwise then as they maintained the possession of Britaine But before this formall Ambassage arriued the Partie of the Duke had receiued a great blow and grew to manifest declination For neere the Towne of Saint Alban in Britaine a Battaile had beene giuen where the Britons were ouerthrowne and the Duke of Orleance and the Prince of Orange taken Prisoners there being slaine on the Britons part six thousand Men and amongst them the Lord WOODVILE and almost all his Souldiers valiantly fighting And of the French part one thousand two hundred with their Leader IAMES GALEOT a great Commander When the newes of this Battaile came ouer into England it was time for the King who now had no subrerfuge to continue further Treatie and saw before his Eyes that Britaine went so speedily for lost contrarie to his hopes knowing also that with his People and Forreiners both he sustained no small Enuie and disreputation for his former delayes to dispatch with all possible speed his succours into Britaine which hee did vnder the conduct of ROBERT Lord BROOKE to the number of eight thousand choise Men and well armed who hauing a faire wind in few houres landed in Britaine and ioyned themselues forthwith to those Briton-Forces that remained after the Defeat and marched straight on to find the Enemie and incamped fast by them The French wisely husbanding the possession of a Victorie and well acquainted with the courage of the English especially when they are fresh kept themselues within their Trenches being strongly lodged and resolued not to giue battaile But meane while to harrasse and wearie the English they did vpon all aduantages set vpon them with their Light-Horse wherein neuerthelesse they receiued commonly losse especially by meanes of the English-Archers But vpon these atchieuements FRANCIS Duke of Britaine deceased an accident that the King might easily haue foreseene and ought to haue reckoned vpon and prouided for but that the Point of Reputation when newes first came of the Battaile lost that somewhat must bee done did ouerbeare the Reason of Warre After the Dukes decease the principall persons of Britaine partly bought partly through faction put all things into confusion so as the English not finding Head or Bodie with whom to ioyne their Forces and being in iealousie of Friends as well as in danger of Enemies and the Winter begun returned home fiue moneths after their landing So the Battaile of Saint Alban the death of the Duke and the retire of the English succours were after some time the causes of the losse of that Duchie which action some accounted as a blemish of the Kings Iudgement but most but as the misfortune of his times But howsoeuer the temporarie Fruit of the Parliament in their aid and aduice giuen for Britaine tooke not nor prospered not yet the lasting Fruit of Parliament which is good and wholsome Lawes did prosper and doth yet continue to this day For according to the Lord Chancellours admonition there were that Parliament diuers excellent Lawes ordained concerning the Points which the King recommended First the authoritie of the Star-chamber which before subsisted by the ancient Common-Lawes of the Realme was confirmed in certaine Cases by Act of Parliament This Court is one of the sagest and noblest Institutions of this Kingdome For in the distribution of Courts of Ordinarie Iustice besides the High-Court of Parliament in which distribution the Kings-Bench holdeth the Pleas of the Crowne the Common-Place Pleas Ciuill the Exchequer Pleas concerning the Kings Reuenue and the Chancery the Pretorian power for mitigating the Rigour of Law in case of extremitie by the conscience of a good man there was neuerthelesse alwaies reserued a high and preheminent power to the Kings Counsell in Causes that might in example or consequence concerne the state of the Common-wealth which if they were Criminall the Counsell vsed to sit in the Chamber called the Star-Chamber if Ciuill in the White-Chamber or White-hall And as the Chancery had the Pretorian power for Equitie so the Star-chamber had the Censorian power for Offences vnder the degree of Capitall This Court of Star-chamber is compounded of good Elements for it consisteth of foure kindes of Persons Councellors Peeres Prelates and Chief-Iudges It discerneth also principally of foure kinds of Causes Forces Frauds Crimes various of Stellionate and the Inchoations or middle acts towards Crimes Capitall or hainous not actually committed or perpetrated But that which was principally aimed at by this Act was Force and the two chiefe Supports of Force Combination of multitudes and Maintenance or Headship of great Persons From the generall peace of the Countrie the Kings care went on to the peace of the Kings House and the securitie of his great Officers and Counsellors But this Law was somwhat of a strange composition and temper That if any of the Kings seruants vnder the degree of a Lord doe conspire the death of any of the Kings Counsell or Lord of the Realme it is made Capitall This Law was thought to bee procured by the Lord Chancellor who being a sterne and haughtie man and finding he had some mortall Enemies in Court prouided for his owne safetie drowning the enuie of it in a generall Law by communicating the priuiledge with all other Councellors and Peeres and yet not daring to extend it further then to the Kings seruants in Check-rowle lest it should haue beene too harsh to the Gentlemen and other Commons of the Kingdome who might haue thought their ancient Libertie and the clemencie of the Lawes of England inuaded If the will in any case of Felonie should be made the deed And yet the reason which the Act yeeldeth that is to say That hee that conspireth the death of Councellors may be thought indirectly and by a meane to conspire the death of the King himselfe is indifferent to all Subiects as well as to Seruants in Court But it seemeth this sufficed to serue the Lord
either part But for the Contract made by MAXIMILIAN with the Lady her selfe they were harder driuen hauing nothing to alledge but that it was done without the consent of her Soueraigne Lord King CHARLES whose Ward and Client shee was and Hee to her in place of a Father and therfore it was void and of no force for want of such Consent Which defect they sayd though it would not euacuate a Marriage after Cohabitation and Actuall Cosummation yet it was enough to make void a Contract For as for the pretended Consummation they made sport with it and said That it was an argument that MAXIMILIAN was a Widdower and a cold Wooer that could content himselfe to be a Bridgrome by Deputie and would not make a little Iourney to put all out of question So that the young Lady wrought vpon by these Reasons finely instilled by such as the French King who spared for no Rewards or Promises had made on his side and allured likewise by the present Glory and Greatnesse of King CHARLES being also a young King and a Batchelor and loth to make her Countrey the Seat of a long and miserable Warre secretly yeelded to accept of King CHARLES But during this secret Treatie with the Ladie the better to saue it from Blasts of Opposition and Interruption King CHARLES resorting to his wonted Arts and thinking to carry the Marriage as hee had carried the Warres by entertaining the King of England in vaine beliefe sent a solemne Ambassage by FRANCIS Lord of Luximburge CHARLES MARIGNIAN and ROBERT GAGVIEN Generall of the Order of the Bonnes Hommes of the Trinitie to treat a Peace and League with the King accoupling it with an Article in the nature of a Request that the French King might with the Kings good will according vnto his right of Seigniorie and Tutelage dispose of the Marriage of the young Duchesse of Britaine as hee should thinke good offering by a Iudiciall proceeding to make void the Marriage of MAXIMILIAN by Proxie Also all this while the better to amuse the world hee did continue in his Court and custodie the Daughter of MAXIMILIAN who formerly had beene sent vnto him to bee bred and educated in France not dismissing or renvoying her but contrariwise professing and giuing out strongly that hee meant to proceed with that Match And that for the Duchesse of Britaine hee desired onely to preserue his right of Seigniory and to giue her in Marriage to some such Allye as might depend vpon him When the three Commissioners came to the Court of England they deliuered their Ambassage vnto the King who remitted them to his Councell where some dayes after they had Audience and made their Proposition by the Prior of the Trinitie who though hee were third in place yet was held the best Speaker of them to this effect MY Lords the King our Master the greatest and mightiest King that raigned in France since CHARLES the Great whose Name he beareth hath neuerthelesse thought it no disparagement to his Greatnesse at this time to propound a Peace yea and to pray a Peace with the King of England For which purpose hee hath sent vs his Commissioners instructed and enabled with full and ample power to treat and conclude giuing vs further in charge to open in some other businesse the secrets of his owne intentions These be indeed the precious Loue-tokens betweene great Kings to communicate one with another the true state of their affaires and to passe by nice Points of Honour which ought not to giue Law vnto Affection This I doe assure your Lordships It is not possible for you to imagine the true and cordiall Loue that the King our Master beareth to your Soueraigne except you were neare him as we are He vseth his Name with so great respect he remembreth their first acquaintance at Paris with so great contentment nay hee neuer speakes of him but that presently he falls into discourse of the miseries of great Kings in that they cannot conuerse with their Equalls but with Seruants This affection to your Kings Person and Vertues GOD hath put into the Heart of our Master no doubt for the good of Christendome and for purposes yet vnknowne to vs all For other Root it cannot haue since it was the same to the Earle of Richmond that it is now to the King of England This is therefore the first motiue that makes our King to desire Peace and League with your Soueraigne Good affection and somewhat that hee findes in his owne Heart This affection is also armed with reason of Estate For our King doth in all candour and franknesse of dealing open himselfe vnto you that hauing an honourable yea and a holy Purpose to make a Voyage and Warre in remote Parts he considereth that it will be of no small effect in point of Reputation to his enterprise if it be knowne abroad that hee is in good peace with all his Neighbour Princes and specially with the King of England whom for good causes he esteemeth most But now my Lords giue me leaue to vse a few words to remoue all scruples and misse-vnderstandings betweene your Soueraigne and ours concerning some late Actions which if they be not cleared may perhaps hinder this Peace To the end that for matters past neither King may conceiue vnkindnesse of other nor think the other conceiueth vnkindnesse of him The late Actions are two That of Brittaine and that of Flanders In both which it is true that the Subiects swords of both Kings haue encountred and stricken and the wayes and Inclinations also of the two Kings in respect of their Confederates and Allies haue seuered For that of Brittaine The King your Soueraigne knoweth best what hath passed It was a Warre of necessitie on our Masters part And though the Motiues of it were sharp and piquant as could be yet did he make that Warre rather with an Oliue-branch then a Laurel-Branch in his Hand more desiring Peace then Victorie Besides from time to time he sent as it were Blank-papers to your King to write the conditions of Peace For though both his Honour and Safetie went vpon it yet he thought neither of them too precious to put into the King of Englands hands Neither doth your King on the other side make any vnfriendly interpretation of your Kings sending of succours to the Duke of Brittaine for the King knoweth well that many things must bee done of Kings for satisfaction of their People and it is not hard to discerne what is a Kings owne But this matter of Brittaine is now by the Act of GOD ended and passed and as the King hopeth like the way of a Ship in the Sea without leauing any impression in either of the Kings mindes as hee is sure for his part it hath not done in his For the Action of Flanders As the former of Brittaine was a Warre of necessitie so this was a Warre of Justice which with a good King is of equall necessitie with danger
for his owne part hee was in none And that hee might haue some good Townes vpon the Coast in Italie put into his hands for the Retrait and safeguard of his Men. With this Answer IASPER PONS returned nothing at all discontented And yet this Declaration of the King as superficiall as it was gaue him that Reputation abroad as hee was not long after elected by the Knights of the Rhodes Protector of their Order All things multiplying to Honour in a Prince that had gotten such high Estimation for his Wisedome and Sufficiencie There were these two last yeares some proceedings against Her etiques which was rare in this Kings Reigne and rather by Penances than by Fire The King had though hee were no good Schooleman the Honour to conuert one of them by Dispute at Canterburie This yeare also though the king were no more haunted with Sprites for that by the Sprinckling partly of Bloud and partly of Water hee had chased them away yet neuerthelesse hee had certaine Apparitions that troubled him still shewing themselues from one Region which was the house of Yorke It came so to passe that the Earle of Suffolke Sonne to ELIZABETH eldest Sister to king EDVVARD the fourth by IOHN Duke of Suffolke her second Husband and Brother to IOHN Earle of Lincolne that was slaine at Stocke-field being of an hastie and Cholericke Disposition had killed a man in his furie whereupon the king gaue him his Pardon But either willing to leaue a Cloud vpon him or the better to make him feele his Grace produced him openly to plead his Pardon This wrought in the Earle as in a haughtie stomacke it vseth to doe for the Ignominie printed deeper than the Grace Wherefore hee beeing discontent fled secretly into Flanders vnto his Aunt the Duchesse of Burgundie The king startled at it But being taught by Troubles to vse fare and timely Remedies wrought so with him by Messages The Ladie MARGARET also growing by often failing in her Alchymie wearie of her Experiments and partly being a little sweetned for that the king had not touched her name in the Confession of PERKIN that hee came ouer againe vpon good termes and was reconciled to the king In the beginning of the next yeare beeing the seuenteenth of the king the Ladie KATHERINE fourth Daughter of FERDINANDO and ISABELLA King and Queene of Spaine arriued in England at Plimouth the second of October and was married to Prince ARTHVR in PAVLES the foureteenth of Nouember following The Prince being then about fifteene yeares of age and the Ladie about eighteene The manner of her receiuing the manner of her Entrie into London and the Celebritie of the Marriage were performed with great and true Magnificence in regard of Cost Shew and Order The chiefe man that tooke the care was Bishop Fox who was not onely a graue Councellor for Warre or Peace but also a good Surueyour of Workes and a good Master of Ceremonies and any thing else that was fit for the Actiue part belonging to the seruice of Court or State of a great King This Marriage was almost seuen yeares in Treatie which was in part caused by the tender yeares of the Marriage-couple especially of the Prince But the true reason was that these two Princes being Princes of great Policie and profound Iudgement stood a great time looking one vpon anothers Fortunes how they would goe knowing well that in the meane time the verie Treatie it selfe gaue abroad in the World a Reputation of a straite Coniunction and Amitie betweene them which serued on both sides to many purposes that their seuerall Affaires required and yet they continued still free But in the end when the Fortunes of both the Princes did grow euerie day more and more prosperous and assured and that looking all about them they saw no better Conditions they shut it vp The Marriage Monie the Princesse brought which was turned ouer to the King by Act of Renunciation was two hundred thousand Ducats Whereof one hundred thousand were payable ten dayes after the Solemnization and the other hundred thousand at two payments Annuall but part of it to bee in Iewels and Plate and a due course set downe to haue them iustly and indifferently prized The Ioynture or Aduancement of the Lady was the third part of the Principality of Wales and of the Dukedome of Cornewall and of the Earledome of Chester to be after set forth in seueraltie And in case shee came to bee Queeene of England her Aduancement was left indefinite but thus That it should bee as great as euer any former Queene of England had In all the Deuises and Conceits of the Triumphs of this Marriage there was a great deale of Astronomie The Ladie beeing resembled to HESPERVS and the Prince to ARCTVRVS and the old King ALPHONSVS that was the greatest Astronomer of Kings and was Ancestor to the Ladie was brought in to bee the Fortune-teller of the Match And whosoeuer had those Toyes in Compiling they were not altogether Pedanticall But you may bee sure that King ARTHVR the Britton and the descent of the Ladie KATHERINE from the House of LANCASTER was in no wise forgotten But as it should seem it is not good to fetch Fortunes from the Starres For this young Prince that drew vpon him at that time not onely the Hopes and Affections of his Countrie but the Eyes and Expectation of Forreiners after a few Moneths in the beginning of Aprill deceased at Ludlow Castle where he was sent to keepe his Resiance and Court as Prince of Wales Of this Prince in respect hee died so young and by reason of his Fathers manner of Education that did cast no great Lustre vpon his Children there is little particular Memorie Onely thus much remaineth that hee was very studious and learned beyond his yeares and beyond the Custome of great Princes There was a Doubt ripped vp in the times following when the Diuorce of King HENRIE the Eighth from the Ladie KATHERINE did so much busie the world whether ARTHVR was bedded with his Ladie or no whereby that matter in fact of Carnall Knowledge might bee made part of the Case And it is true that the Ladie her selfe denied it or atleast her Counsell stood vpon it and would not blaunch that Aduantage although the Plenitude of the Popes power of Dispensing was the maine Question And this Doubt was kept long open in respect of the two Queenes that succeeded MARIE and ELIZABETH whose Legitimations were incompatible one with another though their Succession was settled by Act of Parliament And the times that fauoured Queene MARIES Legitimation would haue it beleeued that there was no Carnall Knowledge betweene ARTHVR and KATHERINE Not that they would seeme to derogate from the Popes absolute power to dispence euen in that Case but onely in point of honour and to make the Case more fauourable and smooth And the Times that fauoured Queene ELIZABETHS Legitimation which were the longer and the latter maintained the contrarie So
much there remayneth in Memorie that it was halfe a yeares time betweene the Creation of HENRY Prince of Wales and Prince ARTHVRS death which was construed to bee for to expect a full time whereby it might appeare whether the Ladie KATHERINE were with Child by Prince ARTHVR or no. Againe the Ladie her selfe procured a Bull for the better Corroboration of the Marriage with a Clause of vel forsan cognitam which was not in the first Bull. There was giuen in Euidence also when the cause of the Diuorce was handled a pleasant passage which was That in a Morning Prince ARTHVR vpon his vp-rising from Bed with her called for drinke which hee was not accustomed to doe and finding the Gentleman of his Chamber that brought him the drinke to smile at it and to note it hee said merrily to him That hee had been in the middest of Spaine which was an hot Region and his Iourney had made him drie and that if the other had beene in so hot a Clime hee would haue been drier than hee Besides the Prince was vpon the point of Sixteene yeares of Age when hee died and forward and able in Bodie The Februarie following HENRY Duke of Yorke was created Prince of Wales and Earle of Chester and Flint For the Dukedome of Cornewall deuolued to him by Statute The King also beeing fast handed and loath to part with a second Dowrie but chiefly being affectionate both by his Nature and out of Politicke Considerations to continue the Alliance with Spaine preuailed with the Prince though not without some Reluctation such as could bee in those yeares for hee was not twelue yeares of Age to bee contracted with the Princesse KATHERINE The secret Prouidence of GOD ordaining that Marriage to bee the Occasion of great Euents and Changes The same yeare were the Espousals of IAMES King of Scotland with the Ladie MARGARET the Kings eldest Daughter which was done by Proxie and published at PAVLES Crosse the fiue and twentieth of Ianuarie and Te Deum solemnly sung But certaine it is that the Ioy of the Citie thereupon shewed by Ringing of Bells and Bon-fires and such other Incence of the People was more than could be expected in a Case of so great and fresh Enmitie betweene the Nations especially in London which was farre enough off from feeling any of the former calamities of the Warre And therefore might bee truely attributed to a Secret Instinct and Inspiring which many times runneth not onely in the Hearts of Princes but in the Pulse and Veines of People touching the happinesse thereby to ensue in time to come This Marriage was in August following consummate at Edenborough The King bringing his Daughter as farre as Colli-Weston on the way and then consigning her to the Attendance of the Earle of Northumberland who with a great Troupe of Lords and Ladies of Honour brought her into Scotland to the King her Husband This Marriage had beene in Treatie by the space of almost three yeares from the time that the King of Scotland did first open his mind to Bishop FOX The Summe giuen in Marriage by the King was ten Thousand pounds And the Iointure and Aduancement assured by the King of Scotland was two Thousand pounds a yeare after King IAMES his Death and one Thousand pounds a yeare in present for the Ladies Allowance or Maintenance This to be set forth in Lands of the best and most certaine Reuenue During the Treatie it is reported that the King remitted the matter to his Counsell And that some of the Table in the Freedome of Counsellors the King beeing present did put the Case that if GOD should take the Kings two Sonnes without Issue that then the Kingdome of England would fall to the King of Scotland which might preiudice the Monarchie of England Whereunto the King himselfe replied That if that should bee Scotland would bee but an Accession to England and not England to Scotland for that the Greater would draw the lesse And that it was a safer Vnion for England than that of France This passed as an Oracle and silenced those that moued the Question The same yeare was fatall as well for Deaths as Marriages and that with equall temper For the Ioyes and Feasts of the two Marriages were compensed with the Mournings and Funerals of Prince ARTHVR of whom wee haue spoken and of Queene ELIZABETH who died in Child-bed in the Tower and the Child liued not long after There dyed also that yeare Sir REGINOLD BRAY who was noted to haue had with the King the greatest Freedome of any Counsellor but it was but a Freedome the better to set off Flatterie Yet hee bare more than his iust part of Enuie for the Exactions At this time the Kings Estate was verie prosperous Secured by the Amitie of Scotland strengthened by that of Spaine cherished by that of Burgundie all Domesticke Troubles quenched and all Noyse of Warre like a Thunder afarre off going vpon Italie Wherefore Nature which many times is happily contayned and refrained by some Bands of Fortune beganne to take place in the King carrying as with a strong Tide his affections and Thoughts vnto the gathering and heaping vp of Treasure And as Kings doe more easily find Instruments for their Will and Humour than for their Seruice and Honour Hee had gotten for his purpose or beyond his purpose two Instruments EMPSON and DVDLEY whom the people esteemed as his Horse-Leeches and Shearers bold men and carelesse of Fame and that tooke Toll of their Masters Grist DVDLEY was of a good Family Eloquent and one that could put Hatefull Businesse into good Language But EMPSON that was the Sonne of a Sieue-maker triumphed alwayes vpon the Deede done putting off all other respects whatsoeuer These two Persons beeing Lawyers in Science and Priuie Councellors in Authoritie as the Corruption of the best things is the worst turned Law and Iustice into Worme-wood and Rapine For first their manner was to cause diuers Subiects to bee indicted of sundrie Crimes and so farre forth to proceed in forme of Law But when the Bils were found then presently to commit them And neuerthelesse not to produce them to any reasonable time to their Answer but to suffer them to languish long in Prison and by sundrie artificiall Deuices and Terrours to extort from them great Fines and Ransomes which they termed Compositions and Mitigations Neither did they towards the end obserue so much as the Halfe-face of Iustice in proceeding by Indictment but sent forth their Precepts to attache men and conuent them before themselues and some others at their priuate Houses in a Court of Commission and there vsed to shuffle vp a Summarie Proceeding by Examination without Tryall of Iurie assuming to themselues there to deale both in Pleas of the Crowne and Controuersies Ciuill Then did they also vse to enthrall and charge the Subiects Lands with Tenures in Capite by finding False Offices and thereby to worke vpon them for Ward-ships Liueries Primier
with some inward Vapours of Ambition and Affection in the Earles owne minde left him fully possessed that it was the true PLANTAGENET The Earle presently communicated the matter with some of the Nobles and others there at the first secretly But finding them of like affection to himselfe hee suffered it of purpose to vent and passe abroad because they thought it not safe to resolue till they had a taste of the Peoples inclination But if the Great ones were in forwardnesse the People were in furie entertayning this Airie bodie or Phantasme with incredible affection partly out of their great deuotion to the House of YORKE partly out of a proud humour in the Nation to giue a King to the Realme of England Neither did the Partie in this heat of affection much trouble themselues with the Attaindor of GEORGE Duke of Clarence hauing newly learned by the Kings example that Attaindors doe not interrupt the conueighing of Title to the Crowne And as for the daughters of King EDWARD the Fourth they thought King RICHARD had said enough for them and tooke them to bee but as of the Kings Partie because they were in his power and at his disposing So that with maruellous consent and applause this Counterfeit PLANTAGENET was brought with great solemnitie to the Castle of Dublin and there saluted serued and honoured as King the Boy becoming it well and doing nothing that did bewray the basenesse of his condition And within a few dayes after hee was proclaimed King in Dublin by the name of King EDWARD the Sixt there beeing not a sword drawne in King HENRY his quarrell The King was much moued with this vnexpected accident when it came to his eares both because it strooke vpon that String which euer he most feared as also because it was stirred in such a Place where hee could not with safetie transferre his owne person to suppresse it For partly through naturall valour and partly through an vniuersall suspition not knowing whom to trust he was euer readie to wait vpon all his atchieuements in person The King therefore first called his Councell together at the Charter-house at Shine Which Councell was held with great secrecie but the open Decrees thereof which presently came abroad were three The first was that the Queene Dowager for that she contrarie to her Pact and Agreement with those that had concluded with her concerning the Mariage of her daughter ELIZABETH with King HENRY had neuerthelesse deliuered her daughters out of Sanctuarie into King RICHARDS hands should be cloistered in the Nunnerie of Bermondsey and forfeit all her lands and goods The next was that EDWARD PLANTAGENET then Close-prisoner in the Tower should be in the most publike and notorious manner that could be deuised shewed vnto the people In part to discharge the King of the Enuie of that opinion and bruit how he had beene put to death priuily in the Tower But chiefly to make the people see the leuitie and imposture of the proceedings of Ireland and that their PLANTAGENET was indeed but a puppit or a Counterfeit The third was that there should be againe proclaimed a Generall-Pardon to all that would reueale their offences and submit themselues by a day And that this Pardon should be conceiued in so ample and liberall a manner as no High-Treason no not against the Kings owne person should be excepted Which though it might seeme strange yet was it not so to a wise King that knew his greatest dangers were not from the least Treasons but from the greatest These resolutions of the King and his Councell were immediatly put in execution And first the Queene Dowager was put into the Monasterie of Bermondsey and all her estate seized into the Kings hands whereat there was much wondering That a weake woman for the yeelding to the menaces and promises of a Tyrant after such a distance of time wherein the King had shewed no displeasure nor alteration but much more after so happie a mariage betweene the King and her Daughter blessed with Issue-male should vpon a sodaine mutabilitie or disclosure of the Kings mind be so seuerely handled This Lady was amongst the examples of great varietie of Fortune Shee had first from a distressed Suitor and desolate Widdow beene taken to the Mariage-Bed of a Batchellour-King the goodliest personage of his time and euen in his reigne she had endured a strange Eclipse by the Kings flight and temporarie depriuing from the Crowne Shee was also very happie in that she had by him faire Issue and continued his Nuptiall loue helping her selfe by some obsequious bearing and dissembling of his pleasures to the very end Shee was much affectionate to her owne Kindred euen vnto Faction which did stirre great Enuie in the Lords of the Kings side who counted her Bloud a disparagement to be mingled with the Kings With which Lords of the Kings bloud ioyned also the Kings Fauorite the Lord HASTINGS who notwithstanding the Kings great affection to him was thought at times through her malice and Splene not to be out of danger of falling After her husbands death she was matter of Tragedie hauing liued to see her Brother beheaded and her two Sonnes deposed from the Crowne Bastarded in their bloud and cruelly murthered All this while neuerthelesse shee inioyed her libertie State and Fortunes But afterwards againe vpon the Rise of the Wheele when she had a King to her Sonne-in-Law and was made Grand mother to a Grand-child of the best Sexe yet was she vpon darke and vnknowne Reasons and no lesse strange Pretences precipitated and banished the World into a Nunnery where it was almost thought dangerous to visit her or see her and where not long after she ended her life but was by the Kings Commandement buried with the King her husband at Windsore Shee was Foundresse of Queenes-College in Cambridge For this Act the King sustained great obloquie which neuerthelesse besides the reason of State was somwhat sweetned to him by a great Confiscation About this time also EDWARD PLANTAGENET was vpon a Sonday brought throughout all the principall Streets of London to be seene of the people And hauing passed the view of the Streets was conducted to PAVLS Church in solemne Procession where great store of people were assembled And it was prouided also in good fashion that diuers of the Nobilitie and others of Qualitie especially of those that the King most suspected and knew the person of PLANTAGENET best had communication with the young Gentleman by the way and entertayned him with speech and discourse which did in effect marre the Pageant in Ireland with the Subiects here atleast with so many as out of error and not out of malice might be mis-led Neuerthelesse in Ireland where it was too late to goe backe it wrought little or no effect But contrarivvise they turned the Imposture vpon the King and gaue out That the King to defeat the true Inheritor and to mocke the World and blinde the eyes of simple man had
tricked vp a Boy in the likenesse of EDWARDPLANTAGENET and shewed him to the people not sparing to prophane the Ceremony of a Procession the more to countenance the Fable The Generall-Pardon likewise neere the same time came forth and the King therewithall omitted no diligence in giuing straight order for the keeping of the Ports that Fugitiues Male-contents or suspected Persons might not passe ouer into Ireland and Flanders Meane while the Rebels in Ireland had sent priuie Messengers both into England and into Flanders who in both places had wrought effects of no small importance For in England they wonne to their Partie IOHN Earle of Lincolne sonne of IOHN DE LAPOLE Duke of Suffolke and of ELIZABETH King EDWARD the Fourths eldest sister This Earle was a man of great wit and courage and had his thoughts highly raysed by Hopes and Expectations for a time For RICHARD the third had a Resolution out of his hatred to both his Brethren King EDWARD and the Duke of Clarence and their Lines hauing had his hand in both their blouds to disable their Issues vpon false and incompetent pretexts the one of Attaindor the other of Illegitimation and to designe this Gentleman in case himselfe should die without Children for Inheritor of the Crowne Neither was this vnknowne to the King who had secretly an Eye vpon him But the King hauing tasted of the Enuie of the people for his imprisonment of EDWARD PLANTAGENET was doubtfull to heape vp any more distasts of that kind by the imprisonment of DE LAPOLE also the rather thinking it Policie to conserue him as a Corriuall vnto the other The Earle of Lincolne was induced to participate with the Action of Ireland not lightly vpon the strength of the Proceedings there which was but a Bubble but vpon Letters from the Lady MARGARET of Burgundie in whose succours and declaration for the Enterprise there seemed to be a more solid foundation both for Reputation and Forces Neither did the Earle refraine the Businesse for that he knew the pretended PLANTAGENET to be but an Idoll But contrariwise hee was more glad it should be the false PLANTAGENET then the true because the False being sure to fall away of himselfe and the True to be made sure of by the King it might open and paue a faire and prepared way to his owne Title With this Resolution hee sayled secretly into Flanders where was a little before arriued the Lord LOVEL leauing a correspondence here in England with Sir THOMAS BROVGHTON a man of great Power and Dependencies in Lancashire For before this time when the pretended PLANTAGENET was first receiued in Ireland secret Messengers had beene also sent to the Lady MARGARET aduertising her what was passed in Ireland imploring Succoures in an Enterprise as they said so pious and iust and that God had so miraculously prospered the beginning therof and making offer that all things should be guided by her will and direction as the Soueraigne Patronesse and Protectresse of the Enterprise MARGARET was second sister to King EDWARD the Fourth and had beene second Wife to CHARLES surnamed the HARDY Duke of Burgundie by whome hauing no Children of her owne she did with singular care and tendernesse intend the Education of PHILIP and MARGARET Grand-children to her former Husband which wonne her great loue and authority among the Dutch This Princesse hauing the Spirit of a Man and Malice of a woman abounding in Treasure by the greatnesse of her Dower and her prouident Gouernment and being childlesse and without any neerer Care made it her Designe and Enterprise to see the Maiestie Royall of England once againe re-placed in her House and had set vp King HENRY as a Marke at whose ouerthrow all her actions should ayme and shoote insomuch as all the Counsells of his succeeding troubles came chiefly out of that Quiuer And shee bare such a mortall hatred to the House of LANCASTER and personally to the King as she was no wayes mollified by the Coniunction of the Houses in her Neeces marriage but rather hated her Neece as the meanes of the Kings ascent to the Crowne and assurance therein Wherefore with great violence of affection she embraced this Ouerture And vpon Counsaile taken with the Earle of Lincolne and the Lord LOVEL and some other of the Partie it was resolued with all speed the two Lords assisted with a Regiment of two thousand Almaines being choice and Veterane Bands vnder the command of MARTIN SWART a valiant and experimented Captaine should passe ouer into Ireland to the new King Hoping that when the Action should haue the face of a receiued and setled Regalitie with such a second Person as the Earle of Lincolne and the Coniunction and reputation of forraine succours the fame of it would imbolden and prepare all the Partie of the Confederates and Malecontents within the Realme of England to giue them assistance when they should come ouer there And for the Person of the Counterfeit it was agreed that if all things succeeded well he should be put downe and the true PLANTAGENET receiued Wherein neuerthelesse the Earle of Lincolne had his particular hopes After they were come into Ireland and that the Partie tooke courage by seeing themselues together in a Bodie they grew very confident of successe conceiuing and discoursing amongst themselues that they went in vpon farre better Cards to ouerthrow King HENRY then King HENRY had to ouerthrow King RICHARD And that if there were not a Sword drawne against them in Ireland it was a Signe the Swords in England would be soone sheathed or beaten downe And first for a Brauery vpon this accession of power they crowned their new King in the Cathedrall Church of Dublin who formerly had beene but proclaimed onely and then sate in Councell what should further be done At which Councell though it were propounded by some that it were the best way to establish themselues first in Ireland and to make that the Seat of the Warre and to draw King HENRY thither in person by whose absence they thought there would be great alterations and commotions in England yet because the Kingdome there was poore and they should not be able to keepe their Armie together nor pay their Germane Soldiers and for that also the sway of the Irish-men and generally of the Men-of-warre which as in such cases of Popular tumults is vsuall did in effect gouerne their Leaders was eager and in affection to make their fortunes vpon England It was concluded with all possible speed to transport their forces into England The King in the meane time who at the first when he heard what was done in Ireland though it troubled him yet thought hee should bee well enough able to scatter the Irish as a Flight of Birds and rattle away this Swarme of Bees with their King when hee heard afterwards that the Earle of Lincolne was embarqued in the action and that the Lady MARGARET was declared for it he apprehended the danger in a
was come to be Master of his affaires But howsoeuer it stood for the point of obligation which the King might owe to the Duke of Britaine yet their Master was well assured it would not diuert King HENRY of England from doing that that was iust nor euer embarke him in so ill grounded a quarrell Therefore since this Warre which their Master was now to make was but to deliuer himselfe from imminent dangers their King hoped the King would shew the like affection to the conseruation of their Masters estate as their Master had when time was shewed to the Kings acquisition of his Kingdome At the least that according to the inclination which the King had euer professed of peace he would looke on and stand Neutrall for that their Master could not with reason presse him to vndertake part in the Warre being so newly setled and recouered from intestine seditions But touching the Mysterie of reannexing of the Duchy of Britaine to the Crowne of France either by Warre or by marriage with the Daughter of Britaine the Ambassadors bare aloofe from it as from a Rocke knowing that it made most against them And therefore by all meanes declined any mention thereof but contrariwise interlaced in their conference with the King the assured purpose of their Master to match with the Daughter of MAXIMILIAN And entertained the King also with some wandring Discourses of their Kings purpose to recouer by Armes his right to the Kingdome of Naples by an expedition in Person All to remoue the King from all iealousie of any Designe in these hither Parts vpon Britaine otherwise then for quenching of the fire which hee feared might bee kindled in his owne estate The King after aduice taken with his Coùncell made answer to the Ambassadors And first returned their Complement shewing hee was right glad of the French Kings reception of those Townes from MAXIMILIAN Then hee familiarly related some particular passages of his owne aduentures and victorie passed As to the businesse of Britaine the King answered in few words That the French King and the Duke of Britaine were the two persons to whom hee was most obliged of all men and that hee should thinke himselfe very vnhappie if things should goe so betweene them as he should not be able to acquite himselfe in gratitude towards them both and that there was no meanes for him as a Christian King and a Common friend to them to satisfie all obligations both to God and Man but to offer himselfe for a Mediator of an Accord and Peace betweene them by which course he doubted not but their Kings estate and honour both would be preserued with more Safetie and lesse Enuis then by a Warre and that hee would spare no cost or paines no if it were To goe on Pilgrimage for so good an effect And concluded that in this great Affaire which he tooke so much to heart hee would expresse himselfe more fully by an Ambassage which he would speedily dispatch vnto the French King for that purpose And in this sort the French Ambassadors were dismissed The King auoiding to vnderstand any thing touching the re-annexing of Britaine as the Ambassadors had auoided to mention it saue that hee gaue a little touch of it in the word Enuie And so it was that the King was neither so shallow nor so ill aduertised as not to perceiue the intention of the French for the inuesting himselfe of Britaine But first he was vtterly vnwilling howsoeuer hee gaue out to enter into Warre with France A Fame of a Warre he liked well but not an Atchieuement for the one hee thought would make him Richer and the other Poorer and hee was possessed with many secret feares touching his owne people which hee was therfore loth to arme and put weapons into their hands Yet notwithstanding as a prudent and couragious Prince he was not so auerse from a Warre but that he was resolued to choose it rather then to haue Britaine carried by France being so great and opulent a Duchy and situate so opportunely to annoy England either for Coast or Trade But the Kings hopes were that partly by negligence commonly imputed to the French especially in the Court of a young King and partly by the natiue power of Britaine it selfe which was not small but chiefely in respect of the great Partie that the Duke of Orleance had in the Kingdome of France and therby meanes to stirre vp Ciuill troubles to diuert the French-king from the enterprise of Britaine And lastly in regard of the power of MAXIMILIAN who was Corriuall to the French King in that Pursuit the Enterprize would eyther bow to a pace or breake in it selfe In all which the King measured and valued things amisse as afterwards appeared He sent therefore forth with to the French King CHRISTOPHER VRSWICKE his Chaplaine a person by him much trusted and imployed choosing him the rather because he was a Church-man as best sorting with an Ambassie of Pacification and giuing him also a Commission That if the French King consented to treat hee should thence repaire to the Duke of Britaine and ripen the Treatie on both parts VRSWICK made declaration to the French King much to the purpose of the Kings answer to the French Ambassadours here instilling also tenderly some ouerture of receiuing to grace the Duke of Orleance and some taste of Conditions of Accord But the French King on the other side proceeded not sincerely but with a great deale of art and dissimulation in this Treatie hauing for his end to gaine time and so put off the English-Succors vnder hope of Peace till he had got good footing in Britaine by force of Armes Wherefore he answered the Ambassadour That hee would put himselfe into the Kings hands and make him Arbiter of the Peace and willingly consented that the Ambassadour should straight wayes passe into Britaine to signifie this his consent and to know the Dukes minde likewise well fore-seeing that the Duke of Orleance by whom the Duke of Britaine was wholly led taking himselfe to be vpon termes irreconcileable with him would admit of no Treatie of Peace Whereby hee should in one both generally abroad veyle ouer his Ambition and winne the reputation of iust and moderate proceedings and should withall endeare himselfe in the Affections of the King of England as one that had committed all to his Will Nay and which was yet more fine make Faith in him That although he went on with the Warre yet it should be but with his Sword in his hand to bend the stiffenesse of the other party to accept of Peace and so the King should take no vmbrage of his arming and prosecution but the Treatie to be kept on foot to the very last instant till hee were Master of the Field Which grounds being by the French King wisely laid all things fell out as he expected For when the English Ambassadour came to the Court of Britaine the Duke was then scarcely perfect in his
import England as well in the increasement of the greatnesse of France by the addition of such a Countrey that stretcheth his Boughes vnto our Seas as in depriuing this Nation and leauing it naked of so firme and assured Confederates as the Britons haue alwayes beene For then it will come to passe that whereas not long since this Realme was mightie vpon the Continent first in Territorie and after in Alliance in respect of Burgundie and Britaine which were Confederates indeed but dependant Confederates now the one being already cast partly into the greatnes of France and partly into that of Austria the other is like wholly to be cast into the greatnesse of France and this Island shall remaine confined in effect within the salt Waters and girt about with the Coast-Countries of two mightie Monarchs For the Example it resteth likewise vpon the same Question vpon the French Kings intent For if Britaine be carried and swallowed vp by France as the world abroad apt to impute and construe the Actions of Princes to Ambition conceiue it will then it is an Example very dangerous and vniuersall that the lesser Neighbour Estate should bee deuoured of the greater For this may bee the case of Scotland towards England of Portugal towards Spaine of the smaller Estates of Italie towards the greater and so of Germanie or as if some of you of the Commons might not liue and dwell safely besides some of these great Lords And the bringing in of this Example will be chiefely laid to the Kings charge as to him that was most interested and most able to forbid it But then on the other side there is so faire a Pretext on the French Kings Part and yet Pretext is neuer wanting to Power in regard the danger imminent to his owne Estate is such as may make this Enterprise seeme rather a Work of Necessitie then of Ambition as doth in reason correct the Danger of the Example For that the Example of that which is done in a mans owne defence cannot be dangerous because it is in anothers power to auoid it But in all this businesse the King remits himselfe to your graue and mature aduice whereupon he purposeth to relye This was the effect of the Lord Chancellors Speech touching the Cause of Britaine For the King had commanded him to carrie it so as to affect the Parliament towards the Businesse but without engaging the King in any expresse declaration The Chancellor went on FOr that which may concerne the Gouernement at home the King hath commanded me to say vnto you That he thinketh there was neuer any King for the small time that hee hath reigned had greater and iuster cause of the two contrarie Passions of Joy and Sorrow then his Grace hath Joy in respect of the rare and visible Fauours of Almightie God in girting the Imperiall Sword vpon his side and assisting the same his Sword against all his Enemies and likewise in blessing him with so many good and louing Seruants and Subiects which haue neuer fayled to giue him faithfull Counsell readie Obedience and couragious Defence Sorrow for that it hath not pleased God to suffer him to sheathe his Sword as hee greatly desired otherwise then for Administration of Justice but that he hath beene forced to draw it so oft to cut off Trayterous and disloyall Subiects whom it seemes God hath left a few amongst many good as the Canaanites among the People of Israel to be thornes in their sides to tempt and trie them though the end hath beene alwayes Gods Name bee blessed therefore that the destruction hath fallen vpon their owne heads Wherefore his Grace saith That hee seeth that it is not the Bloud spilt in the Field that will saue the Bloud in the Citie nor the Marshals Sword that will set this Kingdome in perfect Peace But that the true way is to stop the Seeds of Sedition and Rebellion in their beginnings and for that purpose to deuise confirme and quicken good and holesome Lawes against Riots and vnlawfull Assemblies of People and all Combinations and Confederacies of them by Liueries Tokens and other Badges of factious Dependance that the Peace of the Land may by these Ordinances as by Barres of Iron bee soundly bound in and strengthned and all Force both in Court Countrey and priuate Houses be supprest The care hereof which so much concerneth your selues and which the nature of the Times doth instantly call for his Grace commends to your Wisdomes And because it is the Kings desire that this Peace wherein he hopeth to gouerne and maintaine you doe not beare onely vnto you Leaues for you to sit vnder the shade of them in safetie but also should beare you Fruit of Riches Wealth and Plentie Therfore his Grace prayes you to take into consideration matter of Trade as also the Manufactures of the Kingdome and to represse the bastard and barren Imployment of Moneyes to Usurie and vnlawfull Exchanges that they may be as their naturall vse is turned vpon Commerce and lawfull and Royall Trading And likewise that our People bee set on worke in Arts and Handy-crafts that the Realme may subsist more of it selfe that Idlenesse be auoided and the drayning out of our Treasure for forraine Manufactures stopped But you are not to rest heere onely but to prouide further that whatsoeuer Merchandize shall bee brought in from beyond the Seas may bee imployed vpon the Commodities of this Land wherby the Kingdomes stocke of Treasure may be sure to bee kept from being diminished by any ouer-trading of the Forrainer And lastly because the King is well assured that you would not haue him poore that wishes you rich he doubteth not but that you will haue care as well to maintaine his Reuenues of Customes and all other Natures as also to supply him with your louing Aides if the case shall so require The rather for that you know the King is a good Husband and but a Steward in effect for the Publike and that what comes from you is but as Moisture drawne from the Earth which gathers into a Cloud and fals back vpon the Earth againe And you know well how the Kingdomes about you grow more and more in Greatnesse and the Times are stirring and therefore not fit to finde the King with an emptie Purse More I haue not to say to you and wish that what hath beene said had beene better exprest But that your Wisdomes and good Affections will supply GOD blesse your Doings IT was no hard matter to dispose and affect the Parliament in this businesse aswell in respect of the Emulation betweene the Nations and the Enuie at the late growth of the French Monarchie as in regard of the Danger to suffer the French to make their approaches vpon England by obtaining so goodly a maritime Prouince full of Sea-townes and Hauens that might doe mischiefe to the English either by inuasion or by interruption of Traffique The Parliament was also moued with the point of Oppression for
the Order of the Garter to ALPHONSO Duke of Calabria eldest sonne to FERDINANDO King of Naples An honour sought by that Prince to hold him vp in the eyes of the Italians Who expecting the Armes of CHARLES made great account of the Amitie of England for a Bridle to France It was receiued by ALPHONSO with all the Ceremonie and Pomp that could bee deuised as things vse to be carried that are intended for Opinion It was sent by VRSWICK vpon whom the King bestowed this Ambassage to helpe him after many drie Employments AT this time the King began againe to be haunted with Sprites by the Magicke and curious Arts of the Lady MARGARET Who raysed vp the Ghost of RICHARD Duke of Yorke second Sonne to King EDWARD the Fourth to walke and vex the King This was a finer Counterfeit Stone than LAMBERT SYMNELL better done and worne vpon greater hands being graced after with the wearing of a King of France and a King of Scotland not of a Duchesse of Burgundie onely And for SIMNELL there was not much in him more than that hee was a handsome Boy and did not shame his Robes But this Youth of whom wee are now to speake was such a Mercuriall as the like hath seldome beene knowne and could make his owne Part if at any time hee chanced to bee out Wherefore this being one of the strangest Examples of a Personation that euer was in Elder or Later Times it deserueth to bee discouered and related at the full Although the Kings manner of shewing things by Peeces and by Darke Lights hath so muffled it that it hath left it almost as a Mysterie to this day The Lady MARGARET whom the Kings Friends called IVNO because shee was to him as IVNO was to AENEAS stirring both Heauen and Hell to doe him mischiefe for a foundation of her particular Practices against him did continually by all meanes possible nourish maintaine and divulge the flying Opinion That RICHARD Duke of Yorke second Sonne to EDWARD the Fourth was not murthered in the Tower as was giuen out but saued aliue For that those who were imployed in that barbarous Fact hauing destroyed the elder Brother were stricken with remorse and compassion towards the younger and set him priuily at libertie to seeke his Fortune This Lure shee cast abroad thinking that this Fame and Beleefe together with the fresh Example of LAMBERT SIMNELL would draw at one time or other some Birds to strike vpon it Shee vsed likewise a further diligence not committing all to Chance For she had some secret Espials like to the Turks Commissioners for Children of Tribute to looke abroad for handsome and gracefull Youths to make PLANTAGENETS and Dukes of Yorke At the last she did light on one in whom all things met as one would wish to serue her turne for a Counterfeit of RICHARD Duke of York This was PERKIN WARBECK whose Aduentures wee shall now describe For first the yeares agreed well Secondly hee was a Youth of fine fauour and shape But more than that hee had such a craftie and bewitching fashion both to mooue Pitie and to induce Beleefe as was like a kind of Fascination and Inchantment to those that saw him or heard him Thirdly he had beene from his Child-hood such a Wanderer or as the King called him such a Land-loper as it was extreme hard to hunt out his Nest and Parents Neither againe could any man by companie or conuersing with him be able to say or detect well what hee was he did so flit from place to place Lastly there was a Circumstance which is mentioned by one that wrote in the same time that is very likely to haue made somewhat to the matter which is That King EDWARD the Fourth was his God-father Which as it is somewhat suspicious for a wanton Prince to become Gossip in so meane a House and might make a man thinke that hee might indeed haue in him some base Bloud of the House of YORKE so at the least though that were not it might giue the occasion to the Boy in being called King EDWARDS God-sonne or perhaps in sport King EDWARDS Sonne to entertaine such Thoughts into his Head For Tutor hee had none for ought that appeares as LAMBERT SIMNELL had vntill hee came vnto the Lady MARGARET who instructed him Thus therefore it came to passe There was a Townes-man of Tourney that had borne office in that Towne whose name was IOHN OSBECKE a Convert-Iew married to CATHERINE DE FARO whose businesse drew him to liue for a time with his wife at London in King EDWARD the fourths daies During which time hee had a sonne by her and being knowne in Court the King either out of a religious Noblenesse because hee was a Conuert or vpon some priuate acquaintance did him the Honour as to bee Godfather to his child and named him PETER But afterwards proouing a dainty and effeminate Youth hee was commonly called by the Diminutiue of his name PETER-KIN or PERKIN For as for the name of WARBECKE it was giuen him when they did but guesse at it before examinations had been taken But yet hee had been so much talked on by that name as it stucke by him after his true name of OSBECKE was knowne While hee was a young child his Parents returned with him to Tourney Then was hee placed in a house of a kinsman of his called IOHN STENBECK at Antwerpe and so roued vp and down betweene Antwerp and Tourney and other Townes of Flanders for a good time liuing much in English Companie and hauing the English Tongue perfect In which time beeing growne a comely Youth hee was brought by some of the espialls of the Lady MARGARET vnto her Presence Who viewing him well and seeing that hee had a Face and personage that would beare a noble fortune And finding him otherwise of a fine spirit and winning behauiour thought she had now found a curious Peece of Marble to carue out an Image of a Duke of Yorke Shee kept him by her a great while but with extreme secrecy The while shee instructed him by many Cabinet-Conferences First in Princely behauiour and gesture teaching him how hee should keepe State and yet with a modest sense of his misfortunes Then shee informed him of all the circumstances and particulars that concerned the Person of RICHARD Duke of Yorke which hee was to act Describing vnto him the Personages Lineaments and Features of the King and Queen his pretended Parents and of his Brother and Sisters and diuers others that were neerest him in his Childhood together with all passages some secret some common that were fit for a Childs memorie vntill the death of King EDWARD Then she added the particulars of the time from the Kings death vntill hee and his brother were committed to the Tower aswell during the time hee was abroad as while he was in Sanctuarie As for the times while hee was in the Tower and the manner of his Brothers death and his owne
old at the time when other Women giue ouer Child-bearing bring forth two such Monsters being not the Births of nine or tenne Moneths but of many yeares And whereas other naturall Mothers bring forth Children weake and not able to helpe themselues she bringeth forth tall Striplings able soone after their comming into the World to bid Battaile to mightie Kings My Lords wee stay vnwillingly vpon this Part. Wee would to GOD that Lady would once taste the Joyes which GOD Almightie doth serue up vnto her in beholding her Neece to Reigne in such Honour and with so much Royall Issue which shee might bee pleased to accompt as her owne The Kings Request vnto the Archduke and your Lordships might bee That according to the Example of King CHARLES who hath already discarded him you would banish this vnworthy Fellow out of your Dominions But because the King may iustly expect more from an ancient Confederate than from a new reconciled Enemie hee maketh his Request vnto you to deliuer him vp into his hands Pirates and Impostures of this sort beeing fit to bee accounted the Common Enemies of Mankinde and no wayes to bee protected by the Law of Nations After some time of Deliberation the Ambassadours receiued this short Answer THat the Archduke for the loue of King HENRY would in no sort aide or assist the pretended Duke but in all things conserue the Amitie hee had with the King But for the Duchesse Dowager shee was absolute in the Lands of her Dowrie and that hee could not let her to dispose of her owne THe King vpon the returne of the Ambassadours was nothing satisfied with this Answer For well he knew that a Patrimoniall Dowrie carried no part of Soueraignty or Command of Forces Besides the Ambassadors told him plainly that they saw the Duchesse had a great Party in the Arch-Dukes Counsell that howsoeuer it was carried in a course of conniuence yet the Arch-Duke vnder hand gaue aid and furtherance to PERKIN Wherefore partly out of Courage and partly out of Policie the King forthwith banished all Flemmings as wel their Persons as their Wares out of his Kingdom Commanding his Subiects likewise and by name his Merchants-Aduenturers which had a Resiance in Antwerpe to return translating the Mart which commonly followed the English Cloth vnto Calice embarred also all further trade for the future This the King did being sensible in point of honour not to suffer a Pretender to the Crowne of England to affront him so neare at hand and he to keep termes of friendship with the Countrie where he did set vp But he had also a further reach for that hee knew well that the Subiects of Flanders drew so great commoditie from the trade of England as by this Embargo they would soon waxe weary of PERKIN and that the Tumults of Flanders had bin so late fresh as it was no time for the Prince to displease the People Neuerthelesse for formes sake by way of requitall the Arch-Duke did likewise banish the English out of Flanders which in effect was done to his hand The King being well aduertised that PERKIN did more trust vpon Friends and Partakers within the Realme than vpon forraine Armes thought it behooued him to apply the Remedy where the Disease lay to proceed with seueritie against some of the principall Conspirators here within the Realme Thereby to purge the ill Humours in England to coole the Hopes in Flanders Wherefore hee caused to bee apprehended almost at an instant IOHN RATCLIFFE Lord Fitz-water Sir SIMON MOVNTFORD Sir THOMAS THWAITES WILLIAM DAWBIGNEY ROBERT RATCLIFFE THOMAS CHRESSENOR THOMAS ASTWOOD All these were arraigned conuicted and condemned for High-Treason in adhering and promising aide to PERKIN Of these the Lord FITZWATER was conueighed to Calice and there kept in hold and in hope of life vntill soone after eyther impatient or betrayed he dealt with his Keeper to haue escaped thereupon was beheaded But Sir SIMON MOVNTFORD ROBERT RATCLIFFE and WILLIAM DAWBIGNEY were beheaded immediately after their Condemnation The rest were pardoned together with many others Clerkes and Laikes amongst which were two Dominican Friars and WILLIAM WORSELEY Deane of Paules which latter sort passed Examination but came not to publike triall The Lord Chamberlaine at that time was not touched whether it were that the King would not stir too many humours at once but after the maner of good Physitians purge the head last or that CLIFFORD from whom most of these Discoueries came reserued that Piece for his own cōming ouer signifying only to the King in the meane time that he doubted there were some greater ones in the businesse whereof he would giue the King further accompt when he came to his presence Vpon Al-hallowes-day-euen being now the tenth yeare of the Kings Reigne the Kings second Sonne HENRY was created Duke of Yorke as well the Duke as diuers others Noblemen Knights-Batchlours Gentlemen of Quality were made knights of the Bath according to the Ceremony Vpon the morrow after Twelfth-Day the King remoued from Westminster where he had kept his Christmas to the Tower of London This he did as soon as he had aduertisement that Sir ROBERT CLIFFORD in whose Bosom or Budget most of PERKINS secrets were layed vp was come into England And the place of the Tower was chosen to that end that if CLIFFORD should accuse any of the Great-ones they might without suspition or noise or sending abroad of Warrants be presently attached the Court Prison being within the cincture of one Wal. After a day or two the king drew vnto him a selected Councel admitted CLIFFORD to his presence who first fell downe at his feet and in all humble manner craued the Kings Pardon which the King then granted though hee were indeed secretly assured of his life before Then commanded to tell his knowledge he did amongst many others of himself not interrogated appeach Sir WILLIAM STANLEY the Lord Chamberlaine of the Kings Houshold The King seemed to be much amazed at the naming of this Lord as if he had heard the Newes of some strange and fearfull Prodigie To heare a Man that had done him seruice of so high a nature as to saue his life set the Crown vpon his head a Man that enioied by his fauor aduancement so great a fortune both in Honour Riches a Man that was tied vnto him in so near a Band of alliance his Brother hauing married the Kings Mother and lastly a Man to whom he had cōmitted the trust of his Person in making him his Chamberlain That this Man no waies disgraced no waies discontent no waies put in feare should be false vnto him CLIFFORD was required to say ouer again againe the Particulars of his accusatiō being warned that in a matter so vnlikely that concerned so great a Seruant of the Kings he should not in any wise go too far But the king finding that he did sadly constantly without
PERKIN and his complices as well through Discouragement as Distrust So that they were now like Sand without Lyme ill bound together especially as many as were English who were at a gaze looking strange one vpon another not knowing who was faithfull to their Side but thinking that the King what with his Baits and what with his Nets would draw them all vnto him that were anything worth And indeede it came to passe that diuers came away by the Thred sometimes one and sometimes another BARLEY that was Ioint-Commissioner with CLIFFORD did hold out one of the longest till PERKIN was farre worne yet made his Peace at the length But the Fall of this Greatman beeing in so high Authoritie and Fauour as was thought with the King and the manner of Carriage of the Businesse as if there had beene secret Inquisition vpon him for a great time before and the Cause for which hee suffered which was little more than for saying in effect That the Title of YORKE was better than the Title of LANCASTER which was the Case almost of euery man at the least in Opinion was matter of great Terrour amongst all the Kings Seruants and Subiects Insomuch as no man almost thought himselfe secure and men durst scarce commune or talke one with another but there was a generall Diffidence euery where Which neuerthelesse made the King rather more Absolute than more Safe For Bleeding Inwards and shut Vapours strangle soonest and oppresse most Hereupon presently came forth Swarmes and Volies of Libels which are the Gusts of Libertie of Speech restrayned and the Females of Sedition contayning bitter Inuectiues and Slanders against the King and some of the Councell For the contriuing and dispersing whereof after great Diligence of Inquirie fiue meane Persons were caught and executed Meane while the King did not neglect Ireland being the Soyle where the Mushromes and Upstart-Weedes that spring vp in a Night did chiefly prosper Hee sent therefore from hence for the better settling of his affaires there Commissioners of both Robes The Prior of Lanthony to bee his Chancellour in that Kingdome and Sir EDWARD POYNINGS with a Power of Men and a Marshall Commission together with a Ciuill Power of his Lieutenant with a Clause That the Earle of Kildare then Deputie should obey him But the Wilde-Irish who were the principall Offenders fledde into the Woods and Bogges after their manner and those that knew themselues guilty in the Pale fledde to them So that Sir EDWARD POYNINGS was enforced to make a Wilde-Chase vpon the Wilde-Irish Where in respect of the Mountaines and Fastnesses hee did little good Which eyther out of a suspicious Melancholy vpon his bad Successe or the better to saue his seruice from Disgrace hee would needes impute vnto the Comfort that the Rebels should receiue vnder-hand from the Earle of Kildare euery light suspicion growing vpon the Earle in respect of the KILDARE that was in the Action of LAMBERT SIMNELL and slaine at Stoke-field Wherefore hee caused the Earle to bee apprehended and sent into England where vpon Examination hee cleared himselfe so well as he was re-placed in his Gouernment But POYNINGS the better to make compensation of the Meagernesse of his Seruice in the Warres by Acts of Peace called a Parliament where was made that memorable Act which at this day is called POYNINGS Law whereby all the Statutes of England were made to bee of force in Ireland For before they were not neither are any now in force in Ireland which were made in England since that time which was the tenth yeare of the King About this time beganne to be discouered in the King that Disposition which afterward nourished and whet-on by bad Counsellers and Ministers proued the Blot of his times which was the course he tooke to crush Treasure out of his Subiects Purses by forfeitures vpon Penall-Lawes At this men did startle the more at this time because it appeared plainely to bee in the King's Nature and not out of his Necessitie hee beeing now in Float for Treasure For that he had newly receiued the Peace-money from France the Beneuolence-money from his Subiects and great Casualties vpon the Confiscations of the Lord Chamberlaine and diuers others The first-noted Case of this kinde was that of Sir WILLIAM CAPEL Alderman of London Who vpon sundry Penall-Lawes was condemned in the summe of seuen and twenty hundred pounds and compounded with the King for sixteene hundred And yet after EMPSON would haue cut another Chop out of him if the King had not dyed in the Instant The Summer following the King to comfort his Mother whom he did alwaies tenderly loue and reuere and to make Demonstration to the World that the proceedings against Sir WILLIAM STANLEY which was imposed vpon him by necessitie of State had not in any degree diminished the affection he bare to THOMAS his brother went in Progresse to Latham to make merry with his Mother and the Earle and lay there diuers dayes During this Progresse PERKIN WARBECKE finding that time and Temporizing which whilest his practices were couert and wrought well in England made for him did now when they were discouered and defeated rather make against him for that when matters once goe downe the Hill they stay not without a new force resolued to trie his aduenture in some exploit vpon England hoping still vpon the affections of the Common-People towards the House of YORKE Which Body of Common-People hee thought was not to bee practised vpon as Persons of Qualitie are But that the only practice vpon their affections was To set vp a Standard in the fielde The Place where hee should make his Attempt hee chose to be the Coast of Kent The King by this time was growne to sueh an height of Reputation for cunning and Policie that euery Accident and Euent that went well was laid and imputed to his foresight as if hee had set it before As in this Particular of PERKINS Designe vpon Kent For the world would not beleeue afterwards but the King hauing secret Intelligence of PERKINS intention for Kent the better to draw it on went of purpose into the North a farre off laying an open side vnto PERKIN to make him come to the Close and so to trip vp his heeles hauing made sure in Kent before hand But so it was that PERKIN had gathered together a Power of all Nations neither in number nor in the hardinesse and courage of the Persons contemptible but in their nature and fortunes to bee feared as well of Friends as Enemies being Bankrupts and many of them Felons and such as liued by Rapine These hee put to Sea and arriued vpon the Coast of Sandwich and Deale in Kent about Iuly There he cast Anchor and to prooue the affections of the People sent some of his men to land making great boast of the Power that was to follow The Kentish-men perceiuing that PERKIN was not followed by any English of name or accompt and that his forces
consisted but of strangers borne and most of them base People and Free-booters fitter to spoile a Coast than to recouer a Kingdome resorting vnto the principall Gentlemen of the Countrie professed their loyaltie to the King and desired to bee directed and commanded for the best of the Kings seruice The Gentlemen entring into Consultation directed some forces in good number to shew themselues vpon the Coast and some of them to make signes to entice PERKINS Souldiers to land as if they would ioyne with them and some others to appeare from some other Places and to make semblance as if they fledde from them the better to encourage them to land But PERKIN who by playing the Prince or else taught by Secretarie FRION had learned thus much That People vnder Command doe vse to consult and after to march in order and Rebells contrariwise runne vpon an Head together in confusion considering the delay of time and obseruing their orderly and not tumultuary Arming doubted the worst And therefore the wily Youth would not set one foote out of his Ship till hee might see things were sure Wherefore the Kings Forces perceiuing that they could draw on no more than those that were formerly landed set vpon them and cut them in pieces ere they could fly backe to their ships In which Skirmish besides those that fledde and were slaine there were taken about an hundred and fifty persons Which for that the King thought that to punish a few for example was Gentlemans-play but for Rascall-People they were to bee cut off euery man especially in the beginning of an Enterprize and likewise for that hee saw that PERKINS Forces would now consist chiefly of such Rabble and scumme of desperate People hee therefore hanged them all for the greater terrour They were brought to London all rayl'd in Ropes like a Teame of Horses in a Cart and were executed some of them at London and Wapping and the rest at diuers places vpon the Sea-Coast of Kent Sussex and Norfolke for Sea-markes or Light-houses to teach PERKINS People to auoyd the Coast. The King being aduertised of the landing of the Rebels thought to leaue his Progresse But being certified the next day that they were partly defeated and partly fled hee continued his Progresse and sent Sir RICHARD GVILFORD into Kent in message Who calling the Countrie together did much commend from the King their fidelitie manhood and well handling of that seruice and gaue them all thankes and in priuate promised Reward to some particulars Vpon the sixteenth of Nouember this beeing the eleuenth yeare of the King was holden the Serieants-Feast at Elie-Place there being nine Serieants of that Call The King to honour the Feast was present with his Queene at the Dinner being a Prince that was euer ready to grace and countenance the Professors of the Law hauing a little of that That as he gouerned his Subiects by his Lawes so he gouerned his Lawes by his Lawyers This yeare also the King entred into League with the Italian Potentates for the defence of Italie against France For King CHARLES had conquered the Realme of Naples and lost it againe in a kinde of Felicitie of a Dreame Hee passed the whole length of Italie without resistance so that it was true which Pope ALEXANDER was wont to say That the Frenchmen came into Italie with Chalke in their hands to marke up their lodgings rather than with swords to fight Hee likewise entred and wonne in effect the whole Kingdome of Naples it selfe without striking stroke But presently thereupon he did commit and multiply so many Errours as was too great a taske for the best fortune to ouercome Hee gaue no contentment to the Barons of Naples of the Faction of the Angeouines but scattered his rewards according to the mercenarie appetites of some about him He put all Italie vpon their Guard by the seizing and holding of Ostia and the protecting of the Libertie of Pisa which made all men suspect that his purposes looked further than his title of Naples He fell too soone at difference with LVDOVICO SFORTIA who was the Man that carried the Keyes which brought him in and shut him out Hee neglected to extinguish some reliques of the Warre And lastly in regard of his easie passage through Italie without resistance hee entred into an ouermuch despising of the Armes of the Italians Whereby he left the Realme of Naples at his departure so much the lesse prouided So that not long after his returne the whole Kingdome reuolted to FERDINANDO the younger and the French were quite driuen out Neuerthelesse CHARLES did make both great threats and great preparations to re-enter Italie once againe Wherfore at the instance of diuers of the States of Italie and especially of Pope ALEXANDER there was a League concluded betweene the said Pope MAXIMILIAN King of Romanes HENRY King of England FERDINANDO and ISABELLA King and Queen of Spaine for so they are constantly placed in the originall Treaty throughout AVGVSTISSIMO BARBADICO Duke of Venice and LVDOVICO SFORTIA Duke of Millan for the common defence of their estates Wherein though FERDINANDO of Naples was not named as principall yet no doubt the Kingdome of Naples was tacitly included as a Fee of the Church There dyed also this yeare CECILE Duchesse of Yorke mother to King EDWARD the Fourth at her Castle of Barkhamsted beeing of extreame yeares and who had liued to see three Princes of her bodie crowned and foure murthered Shee was buried at Foderingham by her husband This yeare also the King called his Parliament where many Lawes were made of a more priuate and vulgar nature than ought to detaine the Reader of an Historie And it may bee iustly suspected by the proceedings following that as the King did excell in good Common-wealth Lawes so neuerthelesse hee had in secret a designe to make vse of them as well for collecting of Treasure as for correcting of Manners and so meaning thereby to harrow his People did accumulate them the rather The principall Law that was made this Parliament was a Law of a strange nature rather Iust than Legall and more magnanimous than prouident This Law did ordaine That no person that did assist in Armes or otherwise the King for the time beeing should after bee impeached therefore or attainted either by the course of the Law or by Act of Parliament But if any such Act of Attainder did happen to bee made it should bee voyde and of none effect For that it was agreeable to reason of Estate that the Subiect should not enquire of the iustnesse of the Kings Title or Quarrell and it was agreeable to good Conscience that whatsoeuer the fortune of the Warre were the Subiect should not suffer for his Obedience The spirit of this Law was wonderfull Pious and Noble beeing like in matter of Warre vnto the spirit of DAVID in matter of Plague who said If I haue sinned strike mee but what haue these sheepe done Neither wanted this Law parts of prudent
and deepe fore-sight For it did the better take away occasion for the people to busie themselues to prie into the Kings Title for that howsoeuer it fell their safety was alreadie prouided for Besides it could not but greatly draw vnto him the loue and hearts of the people because hee seemed more carefull for them than for himselfe But yet neuerthelesse it did take off from his Partie that great Tie and Spurre of necessity to fight and goe Victors out of the fielde considering their liues and fortunes were put in safety and protected whether they stood to it or ranne away But the force and obligation of this Law was in it selfe Illusorie as to the latter part of it by a precedent Act of Parliament to binde or frustrate a future For a supreme and absolute Power cannot conclude it selfe neither can that which is in nature reuocable bee made fixed no more than if a man should appoint or declare by his Will that if hee made any Latter will it should bee voyde And for the Case of the Act of Parliament there is a notable President of it in King HENRIE the Eight's time Who doubting hee might dye in the minoritie of his Sonne procured an Act to passe That no Statute made during the minoritie of the King should binde him or his Successours except it were confirmed by the King vnder his great Seale at his full age But the first Act that passed in King EDWARD the Sixth his time was an Act of Repeale of that former Act at which time neuerthelesse the King was Minor But things that doe not binde may satisfie for the time There was also made a shoaring or vnderpropping Act for the Beneuolence to make the summes which any person had agreed to pay and neuerthelesse were not brought in to bee leuiable by course of Law Which Act did not only bring in the Areres but did indeed countenance the whole businesse and was pretended to bee made at the desire of those that had beene forward to pay This Parliament also was made that good Law which gaue the Attaint vpon a false Uerdict betweene Partie and Partie which before was a kinde of Euangile irremediable It extends not to causes Capitall as well because they are for the most part at the Kings Suite as because in them if they bee followed in Course of Indictment there passeth a double Iurie the Indictors and the Triers and so not Twelue Men but Foure and twentie But it seemeth that was not the onely reason for this reason holdeth not in the Appeale But the great reason was lest it should tend to the discouragement of Iurors in Cases of Life and Death if they should bee subiect to Suite and Penaltie where the fauour of Life maketh against them It extendeth not also to any Suite where the Demand is vnder the value of fortie pounds for that in such Cases of pettie value it would not quite the Charge to goe about againe There was another Law made against a branch of Ingratitude in Women who hauing beene aduanced by their Husbands or their Husbands Ancestors should alien and thereby seeke to defeate the Heires or those in Remainder of the Lands whereunto they had bin so aduanced The remedie was by giuing power to the next to enter for a forfeiture There was also enacted that Charitable Law for the admission of poore Suiters In Forma Pauperis without Fee to Counsellor Atturney or Clerke whereby poore men became rather able to vexe than vnable to sue There were diuers other good Lawes made that Parliament as we said before but we still obserue our manner in selecting out those that are not of a Vulgar nature The King this while though hee sate in Parliament as in full Peace and seemed to account of the designes of PERKIN who was now returned into Flanders but as a May game yet hauing the composition of a wise King Stout without and apprehensiue within had giuen order for the watching of Beacons vpon the Coasts and erecting more where they stood too thin and had a carefull eye where this wandering Cloude would breake But PERKIN aduised to keepe his fire which hitherto burned as it were vpon greene Wood aliue with continuall blowing Sailed againe into Ireland whence he had formerly departed rather vpon the hopes of France than vpon any vnreadinesse or discouragement hee found in that People But in the space of time betweene the Kings Diligence and POYNINGS Commission had so settled things there as there was nothing left for PERKIN but the blustring affection of wilde and naked people Wherefore hee was aduised by his Councell to seeke aide of the King of Scotland a Prince yong and valourous and in good termes with his Nobles and People and ill affected to King HENRY At this time also both MAXIMILIAN and CHARLES of France began to beare no good will to the King The one beeing displeased with the Kings Prohibition of Commerce with Flanders The Other holding the King for suspect in regard of his late entrie into league with the Italians Wherefore besides the open Aides of the Duchesse of Burgundy which did with Sayles and Oares put on and aduance PERKINS designes there wanted not some secret Tides from MAXIMILIAN and CHARLES which did further his fortunes In so much as they both by their secret Letters and Messages recommended him to the King of Scotland PERKIN therefore comming into Scotland vpon those hopes with a well appointed company was by the King of Scots beeing formerly well prepared honourably welcommed and soone after his arriuall admitted to his Presence in a solemne manner For the King receiued him in State in his Chamber of Presence accompanied with diuers of his Nobles And PERKIN well attended as well with those that the King had sent before him as with his owne Traine entered the roome where the King was and comming neare to the King and bowing a little to embrace him hee retired some paces backe and with a loud voyce that all that were present might heare him made his Declaration in this manner HIgh and Mighty King your Grace and these your Nobles here present may be pleased benignely to bow your Eares to heare the Tragedie of a young Man that by Right ought to hold in his hand the Ball of a Kingdome but by Fortune is made Himselfe a Ball tossed from Miserie to Miserie and from Place to Place You see here before you the Spectacle of a PLANTAGENET who hath beene carried from the Nurserie to the Sanctuarie from the Sanctuarie to the direfull Prison from the Prison to the Hand of the cruell Tormentor and from that Hand to the wide Wildernesse as I may truely call it for so the World hath beene to mee So that hee that is borne to a great Kingdome hath not Ground to set his foote vpon more than this where hee now standeth by your Princely Fauour EDWARD the Fourth late King of England as your Grace cannot but haue heard left
two Sonnes EDWARD and RICHARD Duke of Yorke both very young EDWARD the eldest succeeded their Father in the Crowne by the name of King EDWARD the Fift But RICHARD Duke of Glocester their vnnaturall Vnckle first thirsting after the Kingdome through Ambition and afterwards thirsting for their Bloud out of desire to secure himselfe imployed an Instrument of his confident to him as hee thought to murther them both But this Man that was imployed to execute that execrable Tragedie hauing cruelly slaine King EDWARD the eldest of the two was mooued partly hy Remorse and partly by some other meane to saue RICHARD his Brother making a Report neuerthelesse to the Tyrant that hee had performed his Commandement for both Brethren This Report was accordingly beleeued and published generally So that the World hath beene possessed of an Opinion that they both were barbarously made away though euer Truth hath some sparkes that flye abroade vntill it appeare in due time as this hath had But Almighty GOD that stopped the Mouth of the Lion and saued little JOAS from the Tyrannie of ATHALIAH when shee massacred the Kings Children and did saue ISAACK when the hand was stretched forth to sacrifice him preserued the second Brother For I my selfe that stand heere in your presence am that very RICHARD Duke of Yorke Brother of that infortunate Prince King EDWARD the Fift now the most rightfull suruiuing Heire-Male to that Uictorious and most Noble EDWARD of that Name the Fourth late King of England For the manner of my Escape it is fit it should passe in silence or at least in a more secret Relation for that it may concerne some aliue and the memorie of some that are dead Let it suffice to thinke I had then a Mother liuing a Queene and one that expected dayly such a Commandement from the Tyrant for the murthering of her Children Thus in my tender age escaping by GODS Mercie out of London I was secretly conueyed ouer Sea Where after a time the Partie that had mee in Charge vpon what new Feares change of Minde or Practice GOD knoweth suddenly forsooke mee Whereby I was forced to wander abroade and to seeke meane Conditions for the sustaining of my Life Wherefore distracted betweene seuerall Passions the one of Feare to bee knowne lest the Tyrant should haue a new Attempt vpon mee the other of Griefe and Disdaine to bee vnknowne and to liue in that base and seruile manner that I did I resolued with my selfe to expect the Tyrants Death and then to put my selfe into my Sisters hands who was next Heire to the Crowne But in this Season it happened one HENRIE TIDDER sonne to EDMOND TIDDER Earle of Richmond to come from France and enter into the Realme and by subtile and foule meanes to obtaine the Crowne of the same which to mee rightfully appertained So that it was but a Change from Tyrant to Tyrant This HENRIE my extreame and mortall Enemie so soone as hee had knowledge of my beeing aliue imagined and wrought all the subtill waies and meanes hee could to procure my finall Destruction For my mortall Enemie hath not onely falsly surmised mee to bee a fayned Person giuing mee Nick-names so abusing the World but also to deferre and put mee from entrie into England hath offered large Summes of Money to corrupt the Princes and their Ministers with whom I haue beene retayned and made importune Labours to certaine Seruants about my Person to murther or poyson mee and others to forsake and leaue my Righteous Quarrell and to depart from my Seruice as Sir ROBERT CLIFFORD and others So that euery Man of Reason may well perceiue that HENRIE calling himselfe King of England needed not to haue bestowed such great Summes of Treasure nor so to haue busied himselfe with importune and incessant Labour and Industrie to compasse my Death and Ruine if I had beene such a fained Person But the truth of my Cause beeing so manifest moued the most Christian King CHARLES and the Lady Duchesse Dowager of Burgundie my most Deare Aunt not onely to acknowledge the truth thereof but louingly to assist mee But it seemeth that GOD aboue for the good of this whole Island and the knitting of these two Kingdomes of England and Scotland in a strait Concord and Amitie by so great an Obligation had reserued the placing of mee in the Imperiall Throne of England for the Armes and Succours of your Grace Neither is it the first time that a King of Scotland hath supported them that were bereft and spoyled of the Kingdome of England as of late in fresh memorie it was done in the Person of HENRY the Sixth Wherefore for that your Grace hath giuen cleare Signes that you are in no Noble qualitie inferiour to your Royall Ancestours I so distressed a Prince was hereby mooued to come and put my Selfe into your Royall Hands desiring your Assistance to recouer my Kingdome of England promising faithfully to beare my Selfe towards your Grace no otherwise than If I were your owne Naturall Brother and will vpon the Recouerie of mine Inheritance gratefully doe you all the Pleasure that is in my vtmost Power AFter PERKIN had told his Tale King IAMES answered brauely and wisely That whatsoeuer hee were hee should not repent him of putting himselfe into his hands And from that time forth though there wanted not some about him that would haue perswaded him that all was but an Illusion yet notwithstanding either taken by PERKINS amiable and alluring behauiour or inclining to the recommendation of the great Princes abroade or willing to take an occasion of a Warre against King HENRY hee entertained him in all things as became the person of RICHARD Duke of Yorke embraced his Quarrell and the more to put it out of doubt that hee tooke him to bee a great Prince and not a Representation onely hee gaue consent that this Duke should take to wife the Lady KATHERINE GORDON daughter to the Earle Huntley beeing a neare Kinswoman to the King himselfe and a young Uirgin of excellent beautie and vertue Not long after the King of Scots in person with PERKIN in his company entred with a great Armie though it consisted chiefly of Borderers beeing raysed somewhat suddenly into Northumberland And PERKIN for a Perfume before him as hee went caused to be published a Proclamation of this tenor following in the name of RICHARD Duke of Yorke true inheritor of the Crowne of England IT hath pleased GOD Who putteth downe the Mightie from their Seate and exalteth the Humble and suffereth not the Hopes of the Iust to perish in the end to giue Us meanes at the length to shew Our Selues armed vnto Our Leiges and People of England But far bee it from Us to intend their hurt and dammage or to make Warre vpon them otherwise than to deliuer Our Selfe and them from Tyrannie and Oppression For our mortall Enemie HENRY TIDDER a false Vsurper of the Crowne of England which to Vs by Naturall and Lineall Right
so order as shall bee to the great comfort of both Kingdomes BVt PERKINS Proclamation did little edifie with the people of England neither was hee the better welcome for the company hee came in Wherefore the King of Scotland seeing none came in to PERKIN nor none stirred any where in his fauour turned his enterprise into a Rode and wasted and destroyed the Countrie of Northumberland with fire and sword But hearing that there were Forces comming against him and not willing that they should finde his Men heauie and laden with bootie hee returned into Scotland with great Spoyles deferring further prosecution till another time It is said that PERKIN acting the part of a Prince handsomely when hee saw the Scottish fell to waste the Countrey came to the King in a passionate manner making great lamentation and desired That that might not bee the manner of making the Warre for that no Crowne was so deare to his minde as that hee desired to purchase it with the bloude and ruine of his Countrey Whereunto the King answered halfe in sport that hee doubted much hee was carefull for that that was none of his and that hee should bee too good a Steward for his Enemie to saue the Countrie to his vse By this time beeing the Eleuenth yeare of the King the Interruption of Trade betweene the English and the Flemmish beganne to pinch the Merchants of both Nations very sore Which mooued them by all meanes they could deuise to affect and dispose their Soueraignes respectiuely to open the Entercourse againe Wherein time fauoured them For the Arch-Duke and his Councell beganne to see that PERKIN would prooue but a Runnagate and Citizen of the World and that it was the part of children to fall out about Babies And the King on his part after the Attempts vpon Kent and Northumberland beganne to haue the businesse of PERKIN in lesse estimation so as hee did not put it to accompt in any Consultation of State But that that mooued him most was that beeing a King that loued Wealth and Treasure hee could not endure to haue Trade sicke nor any Obstruction to continue in the Gate-veine which disperseth that bloud And yet he kept State so farre as first to bee sought vnto Wherein the Merchant-Aduenturers likewise beeing a strong Companie at that time and well vnderset with rich Men and good order did hold out brauely taking off the Commodities of the Kingdome though they lay dead vpon their hands for want of Vent At the last Commissioners met at London to Treate On the Kings part Bishop FOXE Lord Priuy Seale Viscount Wells KENDAL Prior of Saint IOHNS WARHAM Master of the Rolles who beganne to gaine much vpon the Kings opinion VRSWICK who was almost euer one and RISELY On the Arch-Dukes part the Lord BEVERS his Admirall the Lord VERVNSEL President of Flanders and others These concluded a perfect Treatie both of Amitie and Intercourse betweene the King and the Arch-Duke Contayning Articles both of State Commerce and Free-Fishing This is that Treatie which the Flemmings call at this day Intercursus Magnus both because it is more compleat than the precedent Treaties of the Third and Fourth yeares of the King and chiefly to giue it a difference from the Treatie that followed in the One and twentieth yeare of the King which they call Intercursus Malus In this Treatie there was an expresse Article against the Reception of the Rebels of either Prince by other purporting that if any such Rebell should bee required by the Prince whose Rebell hee was of the Prince Confederate that forthwith the Prince Confederate should by Proclamation command him to auoyde the Countrey Which if hee did not within fifteene daies the Rebell was to stand proscribed and put out of Protection But neuerthelesse in this Article PERKIN was not named neither perhaps contained because hee was no Rebell But by this meanes his wings were clipt of his Followers that were English And it was expresly comprised in the Treatie that it should extend to the Territories of the Duchesse Dowager After the Intercourse thus restored The English Merchants came againe to their Mansion at Antwerpe where they were receiued with Procession and great Ioy. The Winter following beeing the Twelfth yeare of his reigne The King called againe his Parliament where hee did much exaggerate both the Malice and the cruell Predatory Warre lately made by the King of Scotland That that King being in Amitie with him and no wayes prouoked should so burne in hatred towards him as to drinke of the Lees and Dreggs of PERKINS Intoxication who was euery where else detected and discarded And that when hee perceiued it was out of his reach to doe the King any hurt hee had turned his Armes vpon vnarmed and vnprouided People to spoyle onely and depopulate contrary to the Lawes both of Warre and Peace Concluding that hee could neither with Honour nor with the safety of his People to whom he did owe Protection let passe these wrongs vnreuenged The Parliament vnderstood him well and gaue him a Subsidie limited to the summe of one hundred and twentie thousand Pounds besides two Fifteenes For his Warres were alwaies to him as a Mine of Treasure of a strange kind of Ore Iron at the top and Gold and Siluer at the bottome At this Parliament for that there had beene so much time spent in making Lawes the yeare before and for that it was called purposely in respect of the Scottish Warre there were no Lawes made to bee remembred Onely there passed a Law at the Sute of the Merchant-Aduenturers of England against the Merchant-Aduenturers of London for Monopolizing and exacting vpon the Trade Which it seemeth they did a little to saue themselues after the hard time they had sustained by want of Trade But those Innouations were taken away by Parliament But it was fatall to the King to fight for his money And though hee auoyded to fight with Enemies abroad yet hee was still enforced to fight for it with Rebels at home For no sooner beganne the Subsidie to bee leuied in Corne-wall but the People there began to grudge and murmure The Cornish being a Race of Men stout of stomacke mighty of Bodie and Limme and that liued hardly in a barren Countrey and many of them could for a neede liue vnder ground that were Tinners they muttered extreamely that it was a thing not to be suffered that for a little stirre of the Scots soone blowne ouer they should be thus grinded to Powder with Payments And said it was for them to pay that had too much and liued idly But they would eate the bread they got with the sweat of their browes and no man should take it from them And as in the Tides of People once vp there want not commonly stirring Windes to make them more rough So this People did light vpon two Ring-leaders or Captaines of the Rout. The one was one MICHAEL IOSEPH a Black-smith or Farrier of Bodmin anotable
talking Fellow and no lesse desirous to bee talked of The other was THOMAS FLAMMOCKE a Lawyer who by telling his neighbours commonly vpon any occasion that the Law was on their side had gotten great sway amongst them This Man talked learnedly and as if he could tell how to make a Rebellion and neuer breake the Peace Hee told the People that Subsidies were not to be granted nor leuied in this case that is for Warres of Scotland for that the Law had prouided another course by seruice of Escuage for those Iourneyes much lesse when all was quiet and Warre was made but a Pretence to poll and pill the People And therefore that it was good they should not stand now like Sheepe before the Shearers but put on Harnesse and take Weapons in their hands Yet to doe no creature hurt but goe and deliuer the King a Strong Petition for the laying downe of those grieuous Payments and for the punishment of those that had giuen him that Counsell to make others beware how they did the like in time to come And said for his part hee did not see how they could doe the duetie of true English-men and good Liege-men except they did deliuer the King from such wicked Ones that would destroy both Him and the Countrey Their ayme was at Arch-Bishop MORTON and Sir REGINOLD BRAY who were the Kings Skreens in this Enuy. After that these two FLAMMOCKE and the Blacke-smith had by ioynt and seuerall Pratings found tokens of consent in the Multitude they offered themselues to leade them vntill they should heare of better men to be their Leaders which they said would be ere long Telling them further that they would be but their seruants and first in euery danger but doubted not but to make both the West-end and the East-end of England to meete in so good a Quarrell and that all rightly vnderstood was but for the Kings seruice The People vpon these seditious Instigations did arme most of them with Bowes and Arrowes and Bills and such other Weapons of rude and Countrey People and forthwith vnder the Command of their Leaders which in such cases is euer at pleasure marched out of Corne-wall through Deuonshire vnto Taunton in Somersetshire without any slaughter violence or spoyle of the Countrey At Taunton they killed in furie an officious and eager Commissioner for the Subsidie whom they called The Prouost of Perin Thence they marched to Wells where the Lord AVDLEY with whom their Leaders had before some secret Intelligence a Noble-man of an ancient Family but vnquiet and popular and aspiring to Ruine came-in to them and was by them with great Gladnesse and cries of Ioy accepted as their Generall they beeing now proud that they were ledde by a Noble-man The Lord AVDLEY ledde them on from Wells to Salisbury and from Salisbury to Winchester Thence the foolish people who in effect led their Leaders had a minde to beeled into Kent fansying that the People there would ioyne with them contrary to all reason or iudgement considering the Kentish-men had shewed great Loyaltie and Affection to the King so lately before But the rude People had heard FDAMMOCKE say that Kent was neuer Conquered and that they were the freest People of England And vpon these vaine Noises they looked for great matters at their hands in a cause which they conceited to be for the libertie of the Subiect But when they were come into Kent the Countrey was so well settled both by the Kings late kind vsage towards them and by the credit and power of the Earle of Kent the Lord ABERGAVENNIE and the Lord COBHAM as neither Gentleman nor Yeoman came-in to their aide which did much dampe and dismay many of the simpler sort Insomuch as diuers of them did secretly flie from the Army and went home But the sturdier sort and those that were most engaged stood by it and rather waxed Proud than failed in Hopes and Courage For as it did somewhat appall them that the people came not in to them so it did no lesse encourage them that the Kings Forces had not set vpon them hauing marched from the West vnto the East of England Wherefore they kept on their way and encamped vpon Blacke-heath betweene Greenwich and Eltham threatning either to bid Battell to the King for now the Seas went higher than to MORTON and BRAIE or to take London within his view imagining with themselues there to finde no lesse Feare than Wealth But to returne to the King When first hee heard of this Commotion of the Cornish-men occasioned by the Subsidie he was much troubled therewith Not for it selfe but in regard of the Concurrence of other Dangers that did hang ouer him at that time For hee doubted lest a Warre from Scotland a Rebellion from Corne-wall and the Practices and Conspiracies of PERKIN and his Partakers would come vpon him at once Knowing well that it was a dangerous Triplicitie to a Monarchie to haue the Armes of a Forreiner the Discontents of Subiects and the Title of a Pretender to meete Neuerthelesse the Occasion tooke him in some part well prouided For as soone as the Parliament had broken vp the King had presently raysed a puissant Armie to Warre vpon Scotland And King IAMES of Scotland likewise on his part had made great Preparations eyther for defence or for new assayling of England But as for the Kings Forces they were not onely in preparation but in readinesse presently to set forth vuder the Conduct of DAWBENEY the Lord Chamberlaine But as soone as the King vnderstood of the Rebellion of Cornwall hee stayed those Forces retaining them for his owne seruice and safetie But therewithall hee dispatched the Earle of Surrey into the North for the defence and strength of those Parts in case the Scots should stirre But for the course hee held towards the Rebels it was vtterly differing from his former custome and practice which was euer full of forwardnesse and celeritie to make head against them or to set vpon them as soone as euer they were in Action This hee was wont to doe But now besides that hee was attempered by Yeares and lesse in loue with Dangers by the continued Fruition of a Crowne it was a time when the various appearance to his Thoughts of Perils of seuerall Natures and from diuers Parts did make him iudge it his best and surest way to keepe his Strength together in the Seate and Centre of his Kingdome According to the ancient Indian Embleme in such a swelling Season To hould the hand vpon the middle of the Bladder that no side might rise Besides there was no necessitie put vpon him to alter this Counsell For neither did the Rebels spoyle the Countrey in which case it had beene dishonour to abandon his People Neyther on the other side did their Forces gather or encrease which might hasten him to precipitate and assayle them before they grew too strong And lastly both Reason of Estate and Warre seemed to agree
submisse and eloquent Letters wrote back vnto him That though he were in part moued by his Letters yet he should not bee fully satisfied except hee spake with him as well about the compounding of the present differences as about other matters that might concerne the good of both Kingdomes The Bishop aduising first with the king tooke his Iourney for Scotland The meeting was at Melrosse an Abbey of the Cestersians where the king then abode The king first roundly vttered vnto the Bishop his offence conceiued for the insolent Breach of Truce by his men of Norham Castle Whereunto Bishop FOX made such an humble and smooth answer as it was like Oyle into the wound whereby it began to heale And this was done in the presence of the King and his Councell After the King spake with the Bishop apart and opened himselfe vnto him saying That these temporarie Truces and Peaces were soone made and soone broken But that hee desired a straiter Amitie with the King of England discouering his mind that if the King would giue him in Mariage the Ladie MARGARET his eldest Daughter That indeede might bee a Knot indissoluble That hee knew well what Place and Authoritie the Bishop deseruedly had with his Master Therefore if hee would take the businesse to heart and deale in it effectually hee doubted not but it would succeed well The Bishop answered soberly that hee thought himselfe rather happie than worthy to bee an Instrument in such a matter but would doe his best endeauour Wherefore the Bishop returning to the King and giuing account what had passed and finding the King more than well disposed in it gaue the King aduice first to proceed to a Conclusion of Peace and then to goe on with the Treatie of Marriage by degrees Hereupon a Peace was concluded which was published a little before Christmasse in the Fourteenth yeare of the Kings Raigne to continue for both the Kings liues and the ouer-liuer of them and a yeare after In this Peace there was an Article contained that no English-man should enter into Scotland and no Scottish-man into England without Letters Commendatorie from the Kings of eyther Nation This at the first sight might seeme a meanes to continue a strangenesse betweene the Nations but it was done to locke in the Borderers This yeare there was also borne to the King a third Sonne who was christned by the name of EDMVND and shortly after dyed And much about the same time came newes of the death of Charles the French-King For whom there were celebrated Solemne and Princely Obsequies It was not long but PERKIN who was made of Quick-siluer which is hard to hold or imprison began to stirre For deceiuing his Keepers hee tooke him to his heeles and made speede to the Sea-coasts But presently all Corners were laid for him and such diligent pursuit and search made as hee was faine to turne backe and get him to the House of Bethleem called the Priorie of Shyne which had the priuiledge of Sanctuarie and put himselfe into the hands of the Prior of that Monasterie The Prior was thought an Holy Man and much reuerenced in those dayes Hee came to the King and besought the King for PERKINS life only leauing him otherwise to the Kings discretion Many about the King were againe more hot than euer to haue the King to take him forth and hang him But the King that had an high stomacke and could not hato any that hee despised bid Take him forth and set the Knaue in the Sockes And so promising the Prior his life hee caused him to bee brought forth And within two or three daies after vpon a Scaffold set vp in the Palace-Court at Westminster he was fettered and set in the Stockes for the whole day And the next day after the like was done by him at the Crosse in Cheape-side and in both places he read his Confession of which we made mention before and was from Cheap-side conueighed and layed vp in the Tower Notwithstanding all this the King was as was partly touched before growne to be such a Partner with Fortune as no body could tell what Actions the One and what the Other owned For it was beleeued generally that PERKIN was betrayed and that this Escape was not without the Kings priuitie who had him all the time of his Flight in a Line and that the King did this to picke a Quarrell to him to put him to death and to be ridde of him at once But this is not probable For that the same Instruments who obserued him in his Flight might haue kept him from getting into Sanctuary But it was ordained that this Winding-Iuie of a PLANTAGENET should kill the true Tree it selfe For PERKIN after hee had beene a while in the Tower began to insinuate himselfe into the fauour and kindnesse of his Keepers Seruants to the Lieutenant of the Tower Sir IOHN DIGBIE being foure in number STRANGVVAIES BLEVVET ASTVVOOD and LONG-ROGER These Varlets with mountaines of promises hee sought to corrupt to obtaine his Escape But knowing well that his owne Fortunes were made so contemptible as hee could feede no mans Hopes and by Hopes hee must worke for Rewards he had none he had contriued with himselfe a vast and tragicall Plot which was to draw into his Companie EDVVARD PLANTAGENET Earle of Warwicke then Prisoner in the Tower whom the wearie life of a long Imprisonment and the often and renewing Feares of being put to Death had softned to take any impression of Councell for his Libertie This young Prince hee thought these Seruants would looke vpon though not vpon himselfe And therefore after that by some Message by one or two of them hee had tasted of the Earles Consent it was agreed that these foure should murder their Master the Lieutenant secretly in the night and make their best of such Money and portable Goods of his as they should finde readie at hand and get the Keyes of the Tower and presently let forth PERKIN and the Earle But this Conspiracie was reuealed in time before it could bee executed And in this againe the Opinion of the Kings great Wisedome did surcharge him with a sinister Fame that PERKIN was but his Bait to entrap the Earle of Warwicke And in the very Instant while this Conspiracy was in working as if that also had been the Kings industrie it was fatall that there should breake forth a Connuerfeit Earle of Warwicke a Cordwainers Sonne whose name was RALPH WILFORD a young man taught and set on by an Augustine Friar called PATRICKE They both from the parts of Suffolke came forwards into Kent where they did not onely priuily and vnderhand giue out that this WILFORD was the true Earle of Warwicke but also the Friar finding some light Credence in the People tooke the boldnesse in the Pulpit to declare as much and to incite the People to come in to his Aide Whereupon they were both presently apprehended and the young Fellow executed and the
Friar condemned to perpetuall Imprisonment This also hapning so opportunely to represent the danger to the Kings Estate from the Earle of Warwicke and thereby to colour the Kings seueritie that followed together with the madnesse of the Friar so vainely and desperately to divulge a Treason before it had gotten any manner of strength and the sauing of the Friars life which neuerthelesse was indeed but the priuiledge of his Order and the Pitie in the Common People which if it runne in a strong Streame doth euer cast vp Scandal and Enuie made it generally rather talked than belieued that all was but the Kings deuice But howsoeuer it were hereupon PERKIN that had offended against Grace now the third time was at the last proceeded with and by Commissioners of Oyer and Determiner arraigned at Westminster vpon diuers Treasons committed and perpetrated after his comming on land within this Kingdome for so the Iudges aduised for that he was a Forreiner and condemned and a few dayes after executed at Tiburne Where hee did againe openly read his Comfession and take it vpon his Death to bee true This was the end of this little Cockatrice of a King that was able to destroy those that did not espie him first It was one of the longest Playes of that kind that hath beene in memorie and might perhaps haue had another end if hee had not met with a King both wise stout and fortunate As for PERKINS three Councellors they had registred themselues Sanctuarie-men when their Master did And whether vpon pardon obtained or continuance within the Priuiledge they came not to bee proceeded with There was executed with PERKIN the Maior of Corke and his Sonne who had beene principall Abettors of his Treasons And soone after were likewise condemned eight other Persons about the Tower-Conspiracie whereof foure were the Lieutenants men But of those Eight but two were executed And immediatly after was arraigned before the Earle of Oxford then for the time High-Steward of England the poore Prince the Earle of Warwicke not for the Attempt to escape simply for that was not acted And besides the Imprisonment not beeing for Treason the Escape by Law could not bee Treason But for conspiring with PERKIN to raise sedition and to destroy the King And the Earle confessing the Inditement had Iudgement and was shortly after beheaded on Tower-hill This was also the end not onely of this Noble and Commiserable Person EDVVARD the Earle of Warwicke eldest Sonne to the Duke of Clarence but likewise of the Line-Male of the PLANTAGENETS which had flourished in great Royaltie and Renowne from the time of the famous King of England King HENRIE the Second Howbeit it was a Race often dipped in their owne Bloud It hath remained since onely transplanted into other Names as well of the Imperiall Line as of other Noble Houses But it was neither guilt of Crime nor reason of State that could quench the Enuie that was vpon the King for this Execution So that hee thought good to export it out of the Land and to lay it vpon his new Allie FERDINANDO King of Spaine For these two Kings vnderstanding one another at halfe a word so it was that there were Letters shewed out of Spaine whereby in the passages concerning the Treatie of the Marriage FERDINANDO had written to the King in plaine termes that hee saw no assurance of his Succession as long as the Earle of Warwicke liued and that hee was loth to send his Daughter to Troubles and Dangers But hereby as the king did in some part remoue the Enuie from himselfe so hee did not obserue that hee did withall bring a kind of Malediction and Infausting vpon the Marriage as an ill Prognosticke Which in euent so farre proued true as both Prince ARTHVR enioyed a verie small time after the Marriage and the Ladie KATHERINE her selfe a sad and a religious woman long after when King HENRIE the Eight his resolution of a Diuorce from her was first made knowne to her vsed some words That shee had not offended but it was a Iudgment of GOD for that her former Marriage was made in bloud meaning that of the Erale of Warwicke This fifteenth yeare of the king there was a great Plague both in London and in diuers parts of the Kingdome Wherefore the king after often change of Places whether to auoide the danger of the Sickenesse or to giue occasion of an Enteruiew with the Arch-Duke or both sayled ouer with his Queene to Calice Vpon his comming thither the Arch-Duke sent an honourable Ambassage vnto him aswell to welcome him into those parts as to let him know that if it pleased him hee would come and doe him reuerence But it was said withall That the King might bee pleased to appoint some place that were out of any Walled Towne or Fortresse for that hee had denied the same vpon like occasion to the French king And though hee said he made a great difference betweene the two kings yet hee would bee loth to giue a President that might make it after to bee expected at his hands by another whom hee trusted lesse The king accepted of the Courtesie and admitted of his Excuse and appointed the place to be at Saint PETERS Church without Calice But withall hee did visit the Arch-Duke with Ambassadors sent from himselfe which were the Lord Saint IOHN and the Secretarie vnto whom the Arch-Duke did the honour as going to Masse at Saint Omers to set the Lord Saint IOHN on his right hand and the Secretarie on his left and so to ride betweene them to Church The day appointed for the Enteruiew the king went on Horse backe some distance from Saint PETERS Church to receiue the Arch-Duke And vpon their approaching the Arch-Duke made hast to light and offered to hold the kings Stirrope at his alighting which the king would not permit but descending from Horse backe they embraced with great affection and withdrawing into the Church to a place prepared they had long Conference not onely vpon the Confirmation of former Treaties and the freeing of Commerce but vpon Crosse Marriages to bee had betweene the Duke of Yorke the Kings second Sonne and the Arch-Dukes Daughter And againe betweene CHARLES the Arch-Dukes Sonne and Heire and MARIE the Kings second Daughter But these Blossoms of vnripe Marriages were but friendly wishes the Aires of louing Entertainement though one of them came afterwards to Conclusion in Treatie though not in Effect But during the time that the two Princes conuersed and communed together in the Suburbs of Calice the Demonstrations on both sides were passing heartie and affectionate especially on the part of the Arch-Duke Who besides that hee was a Prince of an excellent good nature beeing conscious to himselfe how driely the King had beene vsed by his Councell in the matter of PERKIN did striue by all meanes to recouer it in the Kings Affection And hauing also his eares continually beaten with the Councels of his Father and
vpon whom the surest Aime that could bee taken was that hee would not be long as hee had beene last before would all three being potent Princes enter into some strait League and Confederation amongst themselues Whereby though hee should not be endangered yet hee should be left to the poore Amitie of Arragon And whereas he had beene heretofore a kind of Arbiter of Europe he should now goe lesse and bee ouer-topped by so great a Coniunction Hee had also as it seemes an inclination to marrie and bethought himselfe of some fit Conditions abroad And amongst others hee had heard of the Beautie and vertuous Behauiour of the young Queene of Naples the Widdow of FERDINANDO the younger being then of Matronall yeares of seuen and twentie By whose Marriage he thought that the Kingdome of Naples hauing beene a Gole for a time betweene the king of Arragon and the French King and being but newly setled might in some part be Deposited in his hands who was so able to keepe the Stakes Therefore hee sent in Ambassage or Message three Confident Persons FRANCIS MARSIN IAMES BRAY-BROOKE and IOHN STILE vpon two seuerall Inquisitions rather than Negotiations The One touching the Person and Condition of the young Queene of Naples The Other touching all particulars of Estate that concerned the Fortunes and Intentions of FERDINANDO And because they may obserue best who themselues are obserued least hee sent them vnder Colourable Pretexts giuing them Letters of Kindnesse and Complement from KATHERINE the Princesse to her Aunt and Neece the Olde and Young Queene of Naples and deliuering to them also a Booke of new Articles of Peace which notwithstanding it had beene deliuered vnto Doctor de PVEBLA the Leigier Ambassadour of Spaine here in England to be sent yet for that the King had beene long without hearing from Spaine hee thought good those Messengers when they had beene with the two Queenes should likewise passe on to the Court of FERDINANDO and take a Copie of the Booke with them The Instructions touching the Queene of Naples were so curious and exquisite beeing as Articles whereby to direct a Suruey or framing a Particular of her Person for Complexion Fauour Feature Stature Health Age Customes Behauiour Conditions and Estate as if the King had beene young a Man would haue iudged him to bee Amorous but being ancient it ought to be interpreted that sure he was verie Chaste for that hee meant to finde all things in one Woman and so to settle his Affections without ranging But in this Match hee was soone cooled when hee heard from his Ambassadors that this young Queene had had a goodly Ioynture in the Realme of Naples well answered during the time of her Vnckle FREDERICKE yea and during the time of LEVVIS the French King in whose Diuision her Reuenue fell But since the time that the Kingdome was in FERDINANDO'S hands all was assigned to the Armie and Garrisons there and shee receiued only a Pension or Exhibition out of his Coffers The other part of the Inquirie had a graue and diligent Returne informing the King at full of the present State of King FERDINANDO By this report it appeared to the King that FERDINANDO did continue the Gouernment of Castile as Administrator vnto his Daughter IOAN by the Title of Queene ISABELLA'S Will and partly by the Custome of the Kingdome as he pretended And that all Mandates and Grants were expedited in the name of IOAN his Daughter and himselfe as Administrator without mention of PHILIP her Husband And that king FERDINANDO howsoeuer hee did dismisse himselfe of the Name of King of Castile yet meant to hold the Kingdome without Accompt and in absolute Command It appeareth also that hee flattered himselfe with hopes that king PHILIP would permit vnto him the Gouernement of Castile during his life which hee had layed his plot to worke him vnto both by some Councellors of his about him which FERDINANDO had at his deuotion and chiefly by Promise that in case PHILIP gaue not way vnto it hee would marrie some young Ladie whereby to put him by the Succession of Arragon and Granada in case hee should haue a Sonne And lastly by representing vnto him that the Gouernement of the Burgundians till PHILIP were by continuance in Spaine made as Naturall of Spaine would not bee indured by the Spaniards But in all those things though wisely layed downe and considered FERDINANDO failed But that PLVTO was better to him than PALLAS In the same Report also the Ambassadours beeing meane men and therefore the more free did strike vpon a String which was somewhat dangerous For they declared plainely that the People of Spaine both Nobles and Commons were better affected vnto the part of PHILIP so hee brought his wife with him than to FERDINANDO And expressed the reason to bee because hee had imposed vpon them many Taxes and Tallages whith was the Kings owne Case betweene him and his Sonne There was also in this Report a Declaration of an Ouerture of Marriage which AMASON the Secretarie of FERDINANDO had made vnto the Ambassadours in great secret betweene CHARLES Prince of Castile and MARIE the Kings second Daughter assuring the king that the Treatie of Marriage then on foot for the said Prince and the Daughter of France would breake and that shee the said Daughter of France should bee married to ANGOLESME that was the Heire apparant of France There was a touch also of a speech of Marriage betweene FERDINANDO and Madame de FOIS a Ladie of the Bloud of France which afterwards indeed succeeded But this was reported as learned in France and silenced in Spaine The King by the returne of this Ambassage which gaue great light vnto his Affaires was well instructed and prepared how to carrie himselfe betweene FERDINANDO King of Arragon and PHILIP his Sonne-in-law King of Castile resoluing with himselfe to doe all that in him lay to keepe them at one within themselues But howsoeuer that succeeded by a moderate Carriage and bearing the Person of a Common-friend to loose neither of their Friendships but yet to runne a Course more entire with the King of Arragon but more laboured and officious with the King of Castile But hee was much taken with the Ouerture of Marriage with his Daughter MARIE Both because it was the greatest Marriage of Christendome and for that it tooke hold of both Allies But to corroborate his Alliance with PHILIP the Windes gaue him an Enter-view For PHILIP choosing the Winter-Season the better to surprise the King of Arragon set forth with a great Nauie out of Flanders for Spaine in the Moneth of Ianuarie the one and Twentieth yeare of the Kings Raigne But himselfe was surprised with a cruell Tempest that scattered his Ships vpon the seuerall Coasts of England And the Ship wherein the King and Queene were with two other small Barkes onely torne and in great perill to escape the Furie of the weather thrust into Waymouth King PHILIP himselfe hauing
not beene vsed as it seemes to Sea all wearied and extreame sicke would needes land ro refresh his Spirits though it was against the Opinion of his Councell doubting it might breed Delay his Occasions requiring Celeritie The Rumour of the Arriuall of a puissant Nauie vpon the Coast made the Countrie Arme. And Sir THOMAS TRENCHARD with Forces suddenly raised not knowing what the matter might bee came to Waymouth Where vnderstanding the Accident hee did in all Humblenesse and Humanitie inuite the King and Queene to his House and forthwith dispatched Posts to the Court. Soone after came Sir IOHN CAROE likewise with a great troupe of Men well armed vsing the like Humblenesse and Respect towards the king when hee knew the Case King PHILIP doubting that they being but Subiects durst not let him passe away againe without the Kings Notice and Leaue yeelded to their Entreatieâ— to staie till they heard from the Court The king as soone as hee heard the Newes commanded presently the Earle of Arundell to goe to visite the king of Castile and let him vnderstand That as hee was verie sorrie for his Mishap so hee was glad that hee had escaped the Danger of the Seas and likewise of the Occasion himselfe had to doe him Honour and desiring him to thinke himselfe as in his owne Land and that the king made all hast possible to come and imbrace him The Earle came to him in great Magnificence with a braue Troupe of three hundred Horse and for more State came by Torch-Light After hee had done the Kings Message King PHILIP seeing how the world went the sooner to get away went vpon speed to the King at Windsore and his Queene followed by easie iourneys The two kings at their meeting vsed all the Caresses and louing Demonstrations that were possible And the king of Castile said pleasantly to the King That hee was now punished for that he would not come within his walled Towne of Calice when they met last But the king answered That walles and Seas were nothing where Hearts were open and that hee was here no otherwise but to bee serued After a Day or two's refreshing the kings entred into speech of renewing the Treatie The King saying That though King PHILIPS Person were the same yet his Fortunes and State were raised In which Case a Renouation of Treatie was vsed amongst Princes But while these things were in handling the king choosing a fit time and drawing the king of Castile into a Roome where they two onely were priuate and laying his hand ciuilly vpon his arme and changing his Countenance a little from a Countenance of Intertainment said to him Sir you haue beene saued vpon my Coast I hope you will not suffer mee to wracke vpon yours The King of Castile asked him What hee meant by that speech I meane it saith the King by that same Harebraine wilde Fellow my subiect the Earle of Suffolke who is protected in your Countrie and begins to play the Foole when all others are wearie of it The King of Castile answered I had thought Sir your Felicitie had beene aboue those thoughts But if it trouble you I will banish him The King replied Those Hornets were best in their Nest and worst then when they did stie abroad that his desire was to haue him deliuered to him The King of Castile here with a little confused and in a studie said That can I not doe with my honour and lesse with yours for you will bee thought to haue vsed mee as a Prisoner The King presently said Then the matter is at an end For I will take that dishonour vpon me and so your honour is saued The King of Castile who had the king in great Estimation and besides remembred where hee was and knew not what vse hee might haue of the kings Amitie for that himselfe was new in his Estate of Spaine and vnsetled both with his Father-in-Law and with his People composing his Countenance said Sir you giue Law to mee but so will I to you You shall haue him but vpon your honour you shall not take his life The king embracing him said Agreed Saith the king of Castile Neither shall it dislike you if I send to him in such a fashion as hee may partly come with his owne good will The king said It was well thought of and if it pleased him hee would ioyne with him in sending to the Earle a Message to that purpose They both sent seuerally and meane while they continued Feasting and Pastimes The King beeing on his part willing to haue the Earle sure before the king of Castile went and the king of Castile beeing as willing to seeme to bee inforced The King also with many wise and excellent Perswasions did aduise the king of Castile to bee ruled by the Councell of his Father-in-Law FERDINANDO a Prince so prudent so experienced so fortunate The King of Castile who was in no verie good termes with his said Father-in-Law answered That if his Father-in-Law would suffer him to gouerne his Kingdomes hee should gouerne him There were immediatly Messengers sent from both Kings to recall the Earle of Suffolke Who vpon gentle wordes vsed to him was soone charmed and willing enough to returne assured of his Life and hoping of his Libertie Hee was brought through Flanders to Calice and thence landed at Douer and with sufficient Guard deliuered and receiued at the Tower of London Meane while King HENRY to draw out the time continued his Feastings and Entertainments and after hee had receiued the king of Castile into the Fraternitie of the Garter and for a Reciprocall had his Sonne the Prince admitted to the Order of the Golden-Fleece hee accompainied King PHILIP and his Queene to the Citie of London where they were entertayned with the greatest Magnificence and Triumph that could bee vpon no greater warning And as soone as the Earle of Suffolke had beene conueyed to the Tower which was the serious part the Iollities had an end and the Kings tooke leaue Neuerthelesse during their beeing heere they in Substance concluded that Treatie which the Flemings terme Intercursus malus and beares Date at Windsore for that there bee some things in it more to the Aduantage of the English than of them especially for that the Free-fishing of the Dutch vpon the Coasts and Seas of England granted in the Treatie of Undecimo was not by this Treatie confirmed All Articles that confirme former Treaties beeing precisely and warily limitted and confirmed to matter of Commerce onely and not otherwise It was obserued that the great Tempest which draue PHILIP into England blew downe the Golden Eagle from the Spire of PAVLES and in the fall it fell vpon a Signe of the Blacke Eagle which was in PAVLES Church-Yard in the place where the Schoole-House now standeth and battered it and brake it downe Which was a strange stooping of a Hawke vpon a Fowle This the People interpreted to bee an Ominous Prognosticke vpon the Imperiall House
KNESVVORTH likewise that had beene lately Maior of London and both his Sheriffes were for Abuses in their Offices questioned and imprisoned and deliuered vpon one Thousand foure hundred pounds payed HAVVIS an Alderman of London was put in Trouble and died with Thought and Anguish before his Businesse came to an end Sir LAVVRENCE AILMER who had likewise beene Maior of London and his two Sheriffes were put to the Fine of one Thousand Pounds And Sir LAVVRENCE for refusing to make payment was committed to Prison where hee stayed till EMPSON himselfe was committed in his place It is no marueile if the Faults were so light and the Rates so heauie that the Kings Treasure of store that hee left at his death most of it in secret places vnder his owne Key and keeping at Richmond amounted as by Tradition it is reported to haue done vnto the Summe of neare Eighteene hundred thousand pounds Sterling a huge Masse of Money euen for these times The last Act of State that concluded this kings Temporall Felicitie was the Conclusion of a Glorious Match betweene his Daughter MARIE and CHARLES Prince of Castile afterwards the great Emperour both beeing of tender yeares Which Treatie was perfected by Bishop FOXE and other his Commissioners at Calice the yeare before the Kings Death In which Alliance it seemeth hee himselfe tooke so high Contentment as in a Letter which hee wrote thereupon to the Citie of London commaunding all possible demonstrations of ioy to bee made for the same hee expresseth himselfe as if hee thought hee had built a Wall of Brasse about his Kingdome When hee had for his Sonnes-in-law a King of Scotland and a Prince of Castile and Burgundie So as now there was nothing to bee added to this great Kings Felicitie beeing at the top of all worldly Blisse in regard of the high Marriages of his Children his great Renowne throughout Europe and his scarce credible Riches and the perpetuall Constancie of his prosperous Successes but an opportune Death to withdraw him from any future blowe of Fortune Which certainely in regard of the great Hatred of his People and the Title of his Sonne being then come to Eighteene yeares of age and being a bold Prince and liberall and that gained vpon the People by his very Aspect and Presence had not beene impossible to haue come vpon him To crowne also the last yeare of his Raigne as well as his first hee did an Act of Pietie rare and worthy to bee taken into Imitation For hee granted forth a Generall Pardon as expecting a second Coronation in a better Kingdome Hee did also declare in his Will that his minde was that Restitution should bee made of those Summes which had beene vniustly taken by his Officers And thus this SALOMON of England for SALOMON also was too heauie vpon his People in Exactions hauing liued two and fiftie yeares and thereof Raigned three and twentie yeares and eight Moneths beeing in perfect Memorie and in a most Blessed Minde in a great Calme of a Consuming Sickenesse passed to a better World the two and twentieth of Aprill 1508. at his Palace of Richmond which himselfe had built THis King to speake of him in Tearmes equall to his Deseruing was one of the best sort of VVonders a Wonder for VVisemen Hee had parts both in his Vertues and his Fortune not so fit for a Common-place as for Obseruation Certainly hee was Religious both in his Affection and Obseruance But as hee could see cleare for those times through Superstition so he would be blinded now and then by Humane Policie Hee aduanced Church-men hee was tender in the Priuiledge of Sanctuaries though they wrought him much mischiefe Hee built and endowed many Religious Foundations besides his Memorable Hospitall of the Sauoy And yet was hee a great Almes-giuer in secret which shewed that his VVorkes in publique were dedicated rather to GODS Glorie than his owne Hee professed alwaies to loue and seeke Peace and it was his vsuall Preface in his Treaties That when CHRIST came into the World Peace was sung and when HEE went out of the World Peace was bequeathed And this Vertue could not proceede out of Feare or Softnesse for he was Valiant and Actiue and therefore no doubt it was truely Christian and Morall Yet hee knew the way to Peace was not to seeme to bee desirous to auoyde Warres Therefore would be make Cffers and Fames of Warres till hee had mended the Conditions of Peace It was also much that one that was so great a Louer of Peace should be so happie in VVarre For his Armes eyther in Forraine or Ciuill VVarres were neuer Infortunate neyther did be know what a Disaster meant The VVarre of his Comming in and the Rebellions of the Earle of Lincolne and the Lord AWDLEY were ended by Victorie The VVarres of France and Scotland by Peaces sought at his hands That of Brittaine by accident of the Dukes death The Insurrection of the Lord LOVEL and that of PERKIN at Excester and in Kent by flight of the Rebells before they came to Blowes So that his Fortune of Armes was still Inuiolate The rather sure for that in the quenching of the Commotions of his Subiects hee euer went in Person Sometimes reseruing himselfe to backe and second his Lieutenants but euer in Action and yet that was not meerely Forwardnesse but partly Distrust of others Hee did much maintaine and countenance his Lawes Which neuerthelesse was no Impediment to him to worke his VVill. For it was so handled that neyther Prerogatiue nor Profit went to Diminution And yet as hee would sometimes straine vp his Lawes to his Prerogatiue so would hee also let downe his Prerogatiue to his Parliament For Minte and Warres and Marshall Discipline things of Absolute Power hee would neuerthelesse bring to Parliament Iustice was well administred in his time saue where the King was Partie Saue also that the Councell-Table intermedled too much with Meum and Tuum For it was a very Court of Iustice during his time especially in the Beginning But in that part both of Iustice and Policie which is the Durable Part and cut as it were in Brasse or Marble which is The making of good Lawes he did excell And with his Iustice hee was also a Mercifull Prince As in whose time there were but three of the Nobilitie that suffered the Earle of Warwicke the Lord Chamberlaine and the Lord AWDLEY Though the first two were in stead of Numbers in the Dislike and Obloquie of the People But there were neuer so great Rebellions expiated with so little Bloud drawne by the hand of Iustice as the two Rebellions of Black-heath and Excester As for the Seueritie vsed vpon those which were taken in Kent it was but vpon a Scumme of People His Pardons went euer both before and after his Sword But then hee had withall a strange kinde of Interchanging of large and inexpected Pardons which seuere Executions Which his Wisedome considered could not bee imputed to any
the King might appoint him Keepers to looke to him in Sanctuarie The King also for the better securing of his estate against mutinous and malecontented Subiects wherof He saw the Realme was full who might haue their refuge into Scotland which was not vnder Key as the Ports were For that cause rather then for any doubt of Hostilitie from those parts before his comming to London when he was at Newcastle had sent a solemne Ambassage vnto IAMES the third King of Scotland to treate and conclude a peace with him The Ambassadors were RICHARD FOXE Bishop of Excester and Sir RICHARD EDGCOMBE Comptroller of the Kings House who were honourably receiued and entertained there But the King of Scotland labouring of the same disease that King HENRY did though more mortall as afterwards appeared that is Discontented Subiects apt to rise and raise Tumuh although in his owne affection hee did much desire to make a Peace with the King Yet finding his Nobles auerse and not daring to displease them concluded onely a Truce for seuen yeeres giuing neuerthelesse promise in priuate that it should bee renewed from time to time during the two Kings liues HItherto the King had beene exercised in setling his affaires at home But about this time brake forth an occasion that drew him to looke abroad and to hearken to forraine businesse CHARLES the eight the French King by the vertue and good fortune of his two immediate Predecessors CHARLES the seuenth his Grand-father and LEWES the eleuenth his Father receiued the Kingdome of France in more flourishing and spread Estate than it had beene of many yeares before being redintegrate in those principall Members which anciently had beene portions of the Crowne of France and were after disseuered so as they remained onely in Homage and not in Soueraigntie being gouerned by absolute Princes of their owne Angeou Normandy Prouence and Burgundie There remained only Brittaine to be revnited and so the Monarchie of France to be reduced to the ancient Termes and Bounds King CHARLES was not a little inflamed with an ambition to repurchase and reannex that Duchie Which his ambition was a wise and well weighed Ambition not like vnto the ambitions of his succeeding enterprizes of Italie For at that time being newly come to the Crowne he was somewhat guided by his Fathers Counsels Counsels not Counsellors for his Father was his owne Counsell and had few able men about him And that King be knew well had euer distasted the designes of Italie and in particular had an eye vpon Brittaine There were many circumstances that did feed the ambition of CHARLES with pregnant and apparant hopes of Successe The Duke of Britaine old and entred into a Lethargie and serued with Mercenarie Counsellors father of two only daughters the one sickly and not like to continue King CHARLES himselfe in the flower of his age and the Subiects of France at that time well trayned for Warre both for Leaders and Souldiers men of seruice being not yet worne out since the warres of LEWIS against Burgundie Hee found himselfe also in peace with all his Neighbour-Princes As for those that might oppose to his enterprise MAXIMILIAN King of Romans his Riuall in the same desires as well for the Duchy as the Daughter feeble in meanes and King HENRY of England aswell somwhat obnoxious to him for his fauours and benefits as busied in his particular noubles at home There was also a faire and specious occasion offered him to hide his ambition and to iustifie his warring vpon Britaine for that the Duke had receiued and succoured LEWIS Duke of Orleance and other of the French Nobilitie which had taken Armes against their King Wherfore King CHARLES being resolued vpon that Warre knew well he could not receiue any opposition so potent as if King HENRY should either vpon Policie of State in preuenting the growing greatnesse of France or vpon gratitude vnto the Duke of Britaine for his former fauours in the time of his distresse espouse that quarrell and declare himselfe in aide of the Duke Therfore hee no sooner heard that King HENRY was setled by his victorie but forth with he sent Ambassadours vnto him to pray his assistance or at the least that hee would stand neutrall Which Ambassadours found the King at Leicester and deliuered their Ambassage to this effect They first imparted vnto the King the successe that their Master had had a little before against MAXIMILIAN in recouerie of certaine Townes from him which was done in a kind of priuacie and inwardnesse towards the King as if the French-king did not esteeme him for an outward or formall Confederate but as one that had part in his affections and fortunes and with whom he tooke pleasure to communicate his businesse After this Complement and some gratulation for the Kings victorie they fell to their errand declaring to the King that their Master was enforced to enter into a iust and necessarie Warre with the Duke of Britaine for that hee had receiued and succoured those that were Traitors and Declared Enemies vnto his Person and State That they were no meane distressed and calamitous Persons that fled to him for refuge but of so great qualitie as it was apparant that they came not thither to protect their owne fortune but to infest and inuade his the Head of them being the Duke of Orleance the first Prince of the bloud and the second Person of France That therfore rightly to vnderstand it it was rather on their Masters part a Defensiue Warre then an Offensiue as that that could not bee omitted or forborne if he tendred the conseruation of his owne Estate and that it was not the first Blow that made the Warre inuasiue for that no wise Prince would stay for but the first Prouocation or at least the first Preparation Nay that this Warre was rather a Suppression of Rebels then a Warre with a iust Enemie where the case is That his Subiects Traitors are receiued by the Duke of Britaine his Homager That King HENRY knew well what went vpon it in example if Neighbour-Princes should patronize and comfort Rebels against the Law of Nations and of Leagues Neuerthelesse that their Master was not ignorant that the King had beene beholding to the Duke of Britaine in his aduersitie as on the other side they knew he would not forget also the readinesse of their King in ayding him when the Duke of Britaine or his mercenary Councellors failed him and would haue betrayed him And that there was a great difference betweene the courtesies receiued from their Master and the Duke of Britaine for that the Dukes might haue ends of vtilitie and Bargaine whereas their Masters could not haue proceeded but out of entire Affection For that if it had beene measured by a politicke line it had beene better for his affaires that a Tyrant should haue reigned in England troubled and hated then such a Prince whose vertues could not saile to make him great and potent whensoeuer he