accompanied with as strange a story which suggests the instigation of a Spirit that in likeness of a Cat had for two years space advised it The King with a true seeling grief lamenting his dishonourable Return from Scotland where his noble Father had so oft display'd his victorious Arms doth vow with a speedy rescue to revenge it He communicates his resolution with the whole body of his Council who are in their advice equally concurrent in the Action The former loss exacts a more care and a better provision York as the fittest place is made the Senate of this grave Assembly Thither resort all the Sages of the Kingdom and make it their first deliberation to secure Berwick that is one of the Keys of the Kingdom and exposed to the greatest hazard This Charge is given to Sir Peter Spalden who was believed able enough both in fidelity and valour A short time discovers him truly possest of neither A small Sum of Money with an expectant Preferment promised betrays the trust reposed and gives the Scots the full possession of the Charge to him committed The Pope wisely foreseeing into the misery of this dissention out of his Christian and pious care sends over two Cardinals to mediate a Peace and Agreement They being arrived in England find the King well disposed so the Conditions might be reasonable and such as might become his Interest and Honour They pass from hence into Scotland and are by the way with a barbarous Example surprized and robb'd The King is infinitely discontented with so inhuman an Act that threw a taint upon the whole Nation Great enquiry is presently made which finds out the Actors and sends Sir Peter Middleton and Sir Walter Selby to a shameful and untimely execution Immediately at the heels of this follows another Example no less infamous and full of danger Sir Gilbert Denvil and others pretending themselves to be Outlaws with a jolly Army to the number of Two hundred ramble up and down the Country acting divers notorious Insolencies and Robberies The Fame of an attempt so new and unexpected without a speedy prevention seemed to intimate a greater danger A Commission is immediately sent out which apprehends the heads of this encreasing mischief and delivers them over to the hand of Justice They which confest themselves out of the protection of the Law and glory in their being so fall under his rigour Those that duly examined the truth of this action believed the pretence to be but a Mask that hid a more perilous intention The King by his untemperate and undiscreet actions had lost the hearts of his People and there was a general face of discontent throughout the whole Kingdom The Ulcers festered daily more and more which seemed to presage and threaten without some speedy prevention a dangerous issue All Men discover their ill affections expecting but a Patron that durst declare himself and adventure to hang the Bell about the Cat 's Neck If this disorderly attempt which was but to tast the Peoples Inclinations had succeded the King as it was to be feared had much sooner felt the general loss and revolt of his whole Kingdom But this work was reserved to future time and the operation of those who had the time to effect it with more power and pretence of Justice The crying Maladies of this Climat were such that the Divine Power sent down at one and the self-same instant his three fatal Executioners Plague Dearth and Famine to call upon us for a repentant Reformation No part of the Kingdom is free but was grievously afflicted by the unmerciful Prosecution of one or all these fatal angry Sisters So great a Misery was too much but it is seconded with a sudden Invasion of the hungry Scots who apprehending the advantage of the present Visitation and ill Estate of their Neighbours like a Land-Flood over-run the naked and unprovided Borders The Arch-Bishop of York a grave and wise Prelate in his Element but as far from the Nature as Name of a Soldier resolves to oppose this over-daring and insolent Eruption He levies in hast an Army in number hopeful but it was compos'd of Men fitter to pray for the success of a Battel than to fight it With these and an undaunted hoping Spirit he affronts the Scots and gives them Battel making Mitton upon Swale that honoured his Enemies with the Glory of a second Triumph the place of his Disaster Many Religious Church-men with the purchase of their Lives begin their first Apprentiship in Arms whose loss christ'ned this overthrow The White Battel The intent of this grave Prelate was questionless worthy of a great and singular Commendation but the Act was wholly inconsiderate weak and unadvised It was not proper for his Calling to undertake a Military Function in which he had no experience neither did it agree with his Wisdom or Piety to be an Actor in Blood though the occasion were so great and weighty Too much care and confidence improperly exprest doth many times overthrow and ruin the Cause it seeks to strengthen and advantage There ought to be in all considerations of this nature a mature Deliberation before we come to Action else we lose the Glory of our Aims and commit all to the uncertain hazard of Time and Fortune The Cardinals are now returned out of Scotland by whom the King truly understands that the hopes of Peace are desperate Their leave taken and losses fairly repaired they return to Rome acquainting his Holiness with the success of their Employment The Pope being truly informed that the Scots were neither conformable to his Will or the general Good excommunicates both that usurping King and Kingdom The King nearly touch'd with the loss of Berwick enflamed with the Insolency of his barbarous Enemies and grieved with so great a loss of his People resolves no more to suffer but to transport the War into the very Bowels of Scotland To this effect with speed he hastens out his Directions and gives present Order for the levying of Men Arms and Money to begin the War and continue it The Royal Command and desire of Revenge gives Wings to this Resolution An Army is ready and attends the King's Pleasure before he conceits his Will truly understood or bruited Nothing is wanting but his own Person or a fit Commander to lead them he oseth no time but appears in the Head of his Army before his Enemies had the least knowledge of this Assembly With a hopeful expectation he leads them on and makes Berwick the Rendezvous that should make his Number compleat and perfect Before this Strength that had the warranty of Art and Nature he makes the first Experiment of this Expedition The Town begirt was not more confident of their own strength than assured of a speedy supply or rescue This gave the King a longer delay than he believed and his Enemies leasure to raise and enable their Provisions They saw it a work too full of Danger and Hazard to
The true Portraiture of King Edward the Second King of England Lord of Ireland Duke of Aquitaine etc He Raigned 19. yeares Seven Months Buried at Glocester F. sculpset THE HISTORY Of the most unfortunate Prince King EDWARD II. WITH Choice Political Observations on Him and his unhappy Favourites GAVESTON SPENCER CONTAINING Several RARE PASSAGES of those Times Not found in other Historians Found among the Papers of and supposed to be Writ by the Right Honourable HENRY Viscount FAULKLAND Sometime Lord Deputy of Ireland LONDON Printed by A. G. and J. P. and are sold by John Playford at his Shop near the Temple-Church 1680. THE PREFACE HENRY CARY Viscount Faulkland among whose Papers the following History was found was born at Aldnam in Hertford-shire his extraordinary Parts being a most accomplish'd Gentleman and a complete Courtier got him such an Esteem with King James who for his great Learning and Sagacity is stiled The English Solomon that he thought him a Person fitly qualified to be Lord Deputy of Ireland the Government of which place required at that time a Man of more than ordinary Abilities which Trust he very well discharged Being recalled into England he lived honourably here 'till by an unfortunate accident he broke his Leg in Theobald's Park of which soon after he died He was a Person of great Gallantry the Ornament and Support of his Countrey which he served with no less Faithfulness and Prudence abroad than Honour and Justice at home being an excellent Statesman During his stay at the University of Oxford his Chamber was the Rendevouz of all the eminent Wits Divines Philosophers Lawyers Historians and Politicians of that time from whose Conversation he became Eminent in all those Qualifications The Subject of the following History supposed to be written by the above-mentioned Nobleman is the unhappy Lives and untimely Deaths of that Unfortunate English King Edward the Second and his two Favourites Gaveston and Spencer for his immoderate love to whom says Dr. Heylin he was hated by the Nobles and contemned by the Commons This King saith Sir Richard Baker was a comely Person and of great strength but much given to drink which render'd him unapt to keep any thing secret His greatest fault was he loved but one for if his Love had been divided it could not have been so violent and though Love moderated be the best of Affections yet the Extremity of it is the worst of Passions Two Virtues were eminent in him above all his Predecessors Continence and Abstinence so continent that he left no base Issue behind him so abstinent that he took no base Courses for raising Money Our Author closes his History without declaring the Particulars of the Murder of this Prince wherefore I shall give you an account thereof as I find it set down by the aforesaid Sir Richard Baker Many ways were attempted to take away his Life First they vexed him in his Diet allowing him nothing that he could well endure to eat but this succeeded not Then they lodged him in a Chamber over Carrion and dead Carcases enough to have poisoned him and indeed he told a Workman at his Window he never endured so great a misery in all his Life but neither did this succeed Then they attempted it by Poysons but whether by the strength of his Constitution or by the Divine Providence neither did this succeed At last the pestilent Achitophel the Bishop of Hereford devised a Letter to his Keepers Sir Thomas Gourney and Sir John Mattrevers blaming them for giving him too much liberty and for not doing the Service which was expected from them and in the end of his Letter wrote this Line Edvardum occidere nolite timere bonum est craftily contriving it in this doubtful sence that both the Keepers might find sufficient warrant and himself excuse The Keepers guessing at his meaning took it in the worst sence and accordingly put it in Execution They took him in his Bed and casting heavy Bolsters upon him and pressing him down stifled him and not content with that they heated an Iron red hot and through a Pipe thrust it up into his Fundament that no marks of Violence might be seen but though none were seen yet some were heard for when the Fact was in doing he was heard to roar and cry all the Castle over This was the lamentable End of King Edward of Carnarvan Son of King Edward the First What became of the Actors and Abettors of this deep Tragedy Sir Winston Churchill tells us in these words with which I shall conclude Poor Prince how unkindly was he treated upon no other account but that of his own over-great kindness Other Princes are blamed for not being ruled by their Counsellors he for being so Who whilst he lived they would have him thought to be a Sot but being dead they could have found in their hearts to have made him a Saint How far he wrong'd his people doth not appear there being very few or no Taxations laid upon them all his time but how rude and unjust they were towards him is but too manifest But their violence was severely paid by Divine Vengeance not only upon the whole Kingdom when every Vein in the Body Politic was afterwards opened to the endangering the letting out of the Life-blood of the Monarchy in the Age following but upon every particular Person consenting to or concern'd in his Death For as the Throne of his Son that was thus set in Blood though without his own guilt continued to be imbru'd all his Reign which lasted above fifty Years with frequent Executions Battels or Slaughters the Sword of Justice or his own being hardly ever sheath'd all his time So 't is said that the Queen her self dyed mad upon the apprehension of her own in Mortimer's disgrace who was executed at Tiburn and hung there two days to be a spectacle of Scorn The King's Brother Edmond had this punishment of his Disloyalty to be condemn'd to lose his Head for his Loyalty it being suggested and happy it had been for him if it had been prov'd that he endeavoured the Restoration of his Brother his Death being imbitter'd by the mockery of Fortune whilst by keeping him upon the Scaffold five hours together before any body could be found that would Execute him he was deluded with a vain hope of being saved The Fiend Tarlton Bishop of Hereford who invented the cursed Oracle that justified the Murderers dyed with the very same Torture as if the hot Iron that sear'd his Conscience had been thrust into his Bowels Of the two Murderers one was taken and butcher'd at Sea the other dyed in Exile perhaps more miserable And for the Noblility in general that were Actors in the Tragedy they had this Curse upon them that most of their Race were cut off by those Civil Discords of their divided Families to which this strange Violation gave the first beginning not long after The LIFE of EDVVARD II. KING
OF ENGLAND EDWARD the Second born at Carnarvan was immediately after the death of Edward the First his Father crowned King of England If we may credit the Historians of those times this Prince was of an Aspect fair and lovely carrying in his outward appearance many promising predictions of a singular expectation But the judgment not the eye must have preheminence in the censure of Human passages the visible Calender is not the true character of inward perfection evidently proved in the Life Reign and untimely Death of this unfortunate Monarch His Story Eclipseth this glorious Morning making the noontide of his Soveraignty full of Tyrannical oppressions and the Evening more memorable by his Death and Ruine Time the discoverer of truth makes evident his imposture and shews him to the World in Conversation light in Will violent in Condition wayward and in Passion irreconcileable Edward his Father a King no less Wise than Fortunate by his discreet Providence and the Glory of his Arms had laid him the sure Foundation of a happy Monarchy He makes it his last care so to inable and instruct him that he might be powerful enough to keep it so From this Consideration he leads him to the Scotish Wars and brings him home an exact and able Scholar in the Art Military He shews him the benefit of Time and Occasion and makes him understand the right use and advantage He instructs him with the precious Rules of Discipline that he might truly know how to obey before he came to command a Kingdom Lastly he opens the closet of his Heart and presents him with the politic Mysteries of State and teacheth him how to use them by his own Example letting him know that all these helps are little enough to support the weight of a Crown if there were not a correspondent worth in him that wears it These Principles make the way open but the prudent Father had a remaining task of a much harder temper He beheld many sad remonstrations of a deprave and vicious Inclination these must be purified or his other cautions were useless and to little purpose A corruption in Nature that by practice hath won it self the habit of being ill requires a more than ordinary care to give it reformation Tenderness of Fatherly Love abuseth his belief and makes him ascribe the imperfections of the Son to the heat of Youth want of Experience and the wickedness of those that had betray'd his unripe Knowledge and easie Nature with so base impressions He imagins Age and the sad burthen of a Kingdom would in the sence of Honour work him to thoughts more innocent and noble yet he neglects not the best means to prepare and assure it He extends the height of Entreaty and useth the befitting severity of his paternal Power making his Son know he must be fit for a Scepter before he enjoy it He takes from him those tainted humours of his Leprosie and enjoyns him by all the ties of Duty and Obedience no more to admit the Society of so base and unworthy Companions Gaveston the Ganimede of his affections a Man as base in birth as conditions he sentenceth to perpetual Exile The melancholy Apparitions of this loth to depart gives the aged Father an assurance that this Syren had to dear a Room in the wanton Cabinet of his Son's heart He strives to enlighten his mind and to make him quit the memory of that dotage which he foresaw in time would be his destruction But death overtakes him before he could give it perfection the time is come that he must by the Law of Nature resign both his Life and Kingdom He summons his Son and bequeaths him this dying Legacy commanding him as he will in another day answer his disobedience never to repeal his sentence To his Kindred and Peers that with sad Tears and watry Eyes were the companions of his Death-bed he shortly discourseth the base conditions of this Parasite and lets them understand both their own and the Kingdom 's danger if they withstood not his return if it were occasioned They knew his injunctions were just and promise to observe them he is not satisfied till they bind it with an Oath and vow religiously to perform it This sends him out of the World with more confidence than in the true knowledge of his Son 's wilful disposition he had cause to ground on The Father's Funeral Rights performed Edward in the pride of his years undertakes the Crown and guidance of this glorious Kingdom He glories in the advantage knowing himself to be an absolute King and at liberty yet thinks it not enough till the belief of the Kingdom did equally assure it He esteems no Act more proper to confirm it than running in a direct strain of opposition against his Predecessor's will and pleasure The strong motives of his violent affection suggests reasons that the Majesty of a King may not be confined from his dearest pleasure When he was a Son and a Subject he had witnessed his obedience being now a King and a Soveraign he expects a correspondence of the same nature Where there was so ready an inclination in the Will Reason found strength enough to warrant it which made him make Gaveston's return the first Act of his Soveraignty No protestation of his Lords nor persuasion of his Council can work a diversion or win so much as a befitting respect The Barons that were unable to withstand are contented to obey attending the issue of this so dangerous a resolution Where the News was so pleasing the Journey is as sudden Gaveston loseth not a minute till he felt the embraces of his Royal Lord and Master Edward having thus regained his beloved Damon is so transported with his presence that he forgets the will and ordinary respect due to the greatest Lords and Pillers of his Kingdom and hence proceeds their first discontent and murmur Many ways are invented to dissolve this enchantment but none more fit and worthy then to engage him in the sacred knot of Wedlock The Interest of a Wife was believed the only remedy to engross or divert those â—â—â—ted 〈◊〉 â—â—feâ—tâ—â—ns which they beheld so loosely and unworthily prostituted Isabel the Daughter of the French King the goodliest and 〈…〉 Lâ—dy of her time is moved and the tender o◠〈…〉 plausibly accepted This sends Edward scarce a King of nine Months standing into France and brings him back seas'd of a Jewel which not being rightly valued occasioned his ensuing Ruin The excellency of so sweet and vertuous a companion could not so surprie her Bridegroom but Gaveston still kept possession of the fairest room in his affections He makes it more notorious by creating him Earl of Cornewal and the Gift of the goodly Castle and Lordship of Wallingford Gaveston applies himself wholly to the humour of the King and makes each word that falls from his mouth an Oracle their affections go hand in hand and the apparent injustice of the one never found contradiction in
business within doors and without that the Royal Treasure of the Crown is prosusely wasted and spent without Accompt or Honour The antient Plate and Jewels of the Crown are in the Lombard and their Engagement drowned before it had the warmth of a sure possession The Subject is rack'd with strange Inventions and new unheard of Propositions for Money and many great Loans required beyond all proportion or order Lastly the Royal Demeans are set at Sale and all things that might make Money within the Kingdom To supply these inconveniences which are now grown to a greater height than the Plotter of them intended a new Parliament is called at York where the elder Spencer is advanced to the Earldom of Winchester and Harkely another Chip of the same Block is made Earl of Carlisle Baldocke a mean Man in Birth Worth and Ability is made Lord Chancellor of England In this Parliament which was by Fear and Favour made to his hand he makes known the greatness of his Want and Occasions the justly aggrieved Commons entring into a deep consideration of the times freely give the sixth Penny of all the Temporal Goods throughout the whole Kingdom When this Act came to the general knowledge it utterly estranged the Hearts of the Subjects which plead an Impossibility to perform it in respect of those many former Exactions Yet after some light contestation it is levyed no man daring to make so much as a shew of resistance If we may credit all the Antient Historians who seem to agree in this Relation there were seen at this time many Sights fearful and prodigious Amongst them no one was so remarkable as that which for six hours space shewed the glorious Sun cloathed all in perfect Blood to the great Admiration and Amazement of all those that beheld it Following times that had recorded it in their Memories by the sequel believed it the fatal Prediction of the ensuing Miseries Those that more aptly censure the present view of a Wonder conceited the just Heavens shew'd their incensed Anger for the Noble Blood of the Earl of Lancaster and his Adherents so cruelly shed without Compassion or Mercy The Scots working on the condition of the times so much dejected and amazed seize the advantage They saw by the last Parliamentary Proceedings that the King was so enabled as the hope of any Attempt in England was altogether hopeless Yet they resolve to be doing somewhere within the King's Dominions or at the least his Jurisdiction This draws them to assemble themselves and to Attempt a surprisal of the Northern places of Ireland As the Action was vain so the Success proved as unfortunate they are defeated slain overthrown and return not with the twentieth part of their number The King remembring those many Indignities he had suffered and resenting this their last Attempt with an implacable scorn and anger resolves to let them speedily know that he meant to call them to an after reckoning Upon this he sends out his Summons to call his Men of War together and makes all Provisions be prepared for this so constantly resolved a Journey His former Misfortunes had instructed him to undertake this Design much more strongly and warily And this so grave a Consideration brought him together the remaining Glory and Strength of the greater part of his Kingdom With these he marcheth forward and invadeth the nearer parts of Scotland but whether it were the Infidelity of those about him the will and pleasure of Him that is the Guider and Directer of Human Actions or the unfortunate Destiny of this unhappy King he is enforc'd to return without doing any Act that is truly worthy his Greatness or Memory The wily Scots that durst not set upon the Face of his Army wait upon the Rear and in a watch'd opportunity surprise his Stuff and Treasure This sends him home a third time a discontented Man and whether with a just Guilt or to transfer his own Fault upon others the newly created Earl of Carlile is put to a shameful Execution The Grounds against him were very probable but not certain and it was enough that he is believed like Judas for Money to have sold his Master The principal Motive that may lead us to think he was deeply faulty was the Honour and Gravity of his Tryal which gave him on a full hearing so sincere and sharp a Sentence Scarcely is the King settled after his tedious Journey when comes a stranger News That the French King had made a Hostile Attempt upon the Frontier parts of Guyen which was seconded with a Declaration That he was no longer resolved to entertain the Friendship or Peace with England This Feat had been cunningly before-hand wrought by the secret working of Spencer yet he desired to have it still in Agitation and not in Action He wisht his Master thence might be possest with the fear of War and not feel it The French were of another mind they saw into the great Disorders and Misguidance of England and thought it a fit time either by War or Policy to unite so goodly a Branch of their Kingdom It is true they had matcht a Daughter of France to the Crown of England and had solemnly swore a Peace but these they thought might be with ease dispenst with on so weighty a Cause and so fair an Advantage Edward seeing into the danger and taxing bitterly the Infidelity of the French begins to survey his own Condition whereby he might accordingly sort his resolution either to entertain the War or to seek Peace upon some Honourable or at least reasonable Conditions He in this passage finds himself more hated and feared than beloved he saw his Coffers empty the Scotish War and Surprisal had quite exhausted the Sinews of his last Parliamentary Contribution He feared the Inclination of the Subject would refuse any further Supply or in consenting make it conditional which he was wholly unwilling to undergo or adventure Lastly The Misfortune that waited on him ever since he was absolute he feared had estranged and dejected so the Hearts of his Soldiers that they would hardly be drawn forth or act any thing with their accustomed Valour and Resolution In this Distraction he seeks not by the Advice of a grave Council to qualifie or prevent it this Medicine he conceits worse than the Disease but calls unto him Spencer the Cabinet of his Heart he alone is thought fit to communicate this deep Secret and to give the Resolution His Father Baldock and the rest of that Faction by his persuasion and entreaty are admitted to make the Party greater and the Discourse more serious and likely Before them is laid the Condition of the King the Estate of the Kingdom their own Danger and the Intentions of their Foreign Adversary Many several ways are devised and advised and in conclusion no one is believed more sound and proper than that the Queen should personally mediate the Atonement with her Royal Brother This as it was cunningly laid
Pope a daily instigation to pity and reform so great and gross an Error On which an Admonition is presently sent out to the French King that he cause immediately the Queen of England to depart forth of his Dominions Whilst this device was in action the English discontented Barons send privily to the Queen informing her that they were almost crush'd to pieces with their suffering They solicit her to hasten her return and promise really to engage themselves and their Estates in her Quarrel With a joyful heart as it deserves she entertains this loving proffer And the more to advance her declining Affairs she instantly acquaints her Brother with the tender He had then newly received his Summons from the Pope which taking out of his Pocket he delivers her back wishing her to peruse and read it The amazed Queen when she beheld so sad a Sentence falls humbly on her Knees and desires That his Majesty would grant her but so much favour that she might more truly inform his Holiness and justifie her self by a fairer and noble trial With Tears she instanceth the malice of her Adversaries that had taken so strange a course both to abuse and wrong her Her Brother glad of such a Protection to shadow his dishonourable and unnatural falshood lets her know the necessity of his Obedience and that he must not for her sake adventure the Censure and Interdiction of himself and a whole Kingdom He wisheth her to arm her self with patience and to return and make a peace with her Husband in which Act himself would use both the persuasion and strength of his best Power and Interest letting her withal know that she had but a short time to deliberate for she must instantly leave his Kingdom Scarcely had he ended these his last unwelcom words when away he flings with a seeming discontented shew of sorrow rejoyceing inwardly that he had freed himself of the Expence of her Entertainment and found so fair a colour to avoid the Justice of her daily Importunity The drooping Queen thus abandoned with an amazed grief relates this unkind sad passage to her faithful Servants Cane and Mortimer Their valiant hearts make good the loss of their hopes they accuse the injustice of time and exclaim against the French unnatural baseness Mortimer whose inflamed Passion flew a higher pitch breaks out and with a bold freedom would have fallen to a bitter Expostulation The Queen that knew the danger and was loth to hazard that little miserable freedom she had left with sweet and mild persuasions reclaims him to a milder temper She had a second doubt lest in such a contestation she might be sent back against her will to her Husband This makes her temporize and cunningly seem to provide for a voluntary return which might prevent that danger She failing in the Master yet tasts a-new his Servants and leaves no means unattempted to bring about and alter so hard and strickt a Censure They that were the first betrayers of her hopes do now with a more confidence and constancy express it and with one voice sing the same Tune with their Master declining Misery the touchstone of Friendship finds it self shunn'd like some infectious Feaver The sunshine of Fortune hath as many Professors as Beams but if her Glory be once eclipsed they all with a coward baseness seek some other succour This Lesson that is so frequent and familiar should guide our election more by judgment than affection They are not to be chosen or valued that in the pretence of Love though it be for our proper good or service will act any thing that is base and unworthy the same in the least change will not be squeamish for a poor advantage to confirm their former practice though it be to our loss or destruction Where Virtue guides our choice it begins with truth and honour ending with a like resplendent glory No worldly cross nor height of affliction lessens the worth and value of such a Friend who like a goodly Rock in fury of the greatest Storms makes good his proper station Mutual correspondency in affections ought to be pure and innocent if private respects taint the sincerity of the intentions it makes this traffick rather a commerce than friendship Opinion of faith is a powerful Motive yet not weighty enough unless it become as well with real ability as appearance the subject of our Election But to proceed The Queen being in this distressed Agony finds an unexpected refuge The gracious God of Heaven who never forsakes those which are his sends her a comfort when her dying hopes were almost sunk and desperate Robert of Artois a Man as truly Valiant as Noble was one of the first that in the French Court had tendered the Queen his Service He was a wise grave and steddy well resolved Gentleman his first Devotion was not led by matter of Form or Complement but was truly grounded on a true Compassion and Honour This brave Friend beholding with a noble eye the Vanity of his fellow Friends and Courtiers and looking into the Misery of the Queens forsaken Condition sets up his rest to appear like himself a Friend in all her Fortune firm and constant In this resolution he waits a fitting opportunity to let her see and know it The time was favourable he finds her in her melancholy Chamber confused in her restless thoughts with many sad distractions She fancying the occasion of the coming of so great a person was great and weighty with a silent and attentive Ear expects his Message Madam quoth he It is the most excellent part of Wisdom with an equal Virtue to entertain the different kinds of Fortune This World is but a meer composition of Troubles which seems greater or less as is the quality of the Heart that entertains them I confess the Justice of your Grief and truly share it but Tears and Sorrow are not means to relieve or right you The just Heavens assist those that with an active and lively hope invoke their Succour The tenderness of your Sex and former free Condition is yet a stranger to these Trials Time will let you know they are the familiar attendants of our frail structure of flesh and blood when you will confess it too great a weakness to sink under the burthen of our Afflictions For your own goodness Noble Queen erect and elevate your thus dejected Spirits behold in me the Character of an unworthy but true Friend that am resolv'd my Life and State shall attend and run with you the self-same Fortune You may no longer make this unthankful Climate the place of your Birth the stage of your abiding the way is pav'd with Gold to your destruction Wherefore if my Advice may sway let speed prevent your danger The confines of the sacred Empire are near adjoining where are many brave Princes who may happily afford you Succour at the worst you may there enjoy a more assured peace and safety Neither do I presume to
direct this course but lay it humbly before you offering my faithful Service to attend you to what part soever of the Vniversal World your resolution shall fix on desiring you to be assured my Life before my Faith shall perish for I have vow'd my self and will continue your everlasting Servant Infinitely was the Queen rejoyced in this so grave and sincere an Expression she doubles a world of Promises and Thanks for this so free an offer and with a secret and wary Carriage she speedily provides to begin her thus resolved Journey Though here she saw a far less appearance of hope when her dearest Brother and her Native Kingdom had forsaken her yet she resolves the trial rather than to return without a more assurance She knew she had too far waded and incens'd her malicious Adversaries to expect a reconciliation and feared to be mewed up from all hope of future advantage These Considerations made her with a sad heart and weeping Eyes forsake the fruitful limits of ingrateful France and betake her self to her last but most uncertain Refuge The Condition that is truly miserable finds few real Friends but never wants Infidelity to increase its sorrow Stapleton Bishop of Exeter who had fled to the Queen and made himself a sharer in this weighty Action forsakes her Party He seeing the French hopes vanished and these remaining so poorly grounded thought to work his Peace by losing his Faith and in this conceit in hast returns for England His Intelligence reconciles and wins him favour but it was purchas'd at too dear a rate that stain'd the Honour of so high a Calling and made him most unworthy of so divine and grave a Profession By this Treachery the King and Spencers understand both the Queen's Resolution and Weakness They fear not the German Motions that were a dull sad Nation that seldom use to sight for nothing Time hath at last brought our Royal English Pilgrims to the shrine of their devotion The Earl of Heynault a Man truly noble and virtuous understanding her arrival within the Precincts of his Jurisdiction gives her a free and loving welcom This bountiful honest Earl esteems it his glory to entertain so Princely Guests like themselves and to become the Patron of their so weak condition He had a Brother that made his Arms the honour of his Profession who thinks the Estate of this forsaken Queen in justice deserv'd a true relief and pity He tenders her his Service and believes the occasion happily offer'd that might leave to ensuing Times the Memory of his Virtue Worth and Valor So fair a Morning puts the Queen in hope the Evening would prove as fortunate By all those winning graces of a distressed Beauty she strives to confirm and more engage this first and fair affection The Earl having knowledge of his Brother's resolution thought the Attempt too full of hazard and with a grave and mild temper commending the nobility and greatness of his Spirit adviseth him to quit the Action he lays before him the weakness of the Foundation the Queen was in want of Men and Money and had not such a Correspondency in England as might warrant her against her incensed Husband who was waited on by so warlike and valiant a Nation He in like sort acquaints him how impossible a thing it was for him to raise such an Army as might credit the Cause and countenance the beginning True Valor consisting not in daring Impossibilities but exposing it self where Reason Judgment and Discretion were the leaders Sir John with a quiet patience hears his Brother's Admonitions which he knew sprung from the freedom of an honest and a loving heart but he imagined Age had robb'd his Breast and Head of all their Noble Vigor Sir quoth he If You and all the World forsake this Noble Lady my single Arm shall maintain her Quarrel since I had rather lose my Life than my Faith so full and freely engaged After Ages shall not blot the Glory of our House so great and noble with so inglorious a stain of baseness and infidelity such Precedents are seldom seen and ought to be more tenderly regarded A Queen and the Heir apparent of so great a Crown pleading so just a pity nor may nor shall be forsaken If in the Reason of State you list not to be an Actor reserve your self and make not the King of England your Enemy Know I have both Arms and Friends I will pawn them all rather than in the least degree falsifie my Word and Promise These words spoken with such a resolution and fearless bravery stopt all reply and contradiction The Queen that had already both a French and an Italian Trick had no less reason here to doubt it She knew no means would be left unattempted from her Domestic Spies to make her once more forsaken This enforceth her with a more Importunity to hasten and advance her Enterprise All the good Offices that might spur on the enflamed heart of her brave Protector she makes the Handmaids of her Female Wisdom But alas they needed not her careful Agent they had quickly gotten together a voluntary Troop of Three Hundred well resolved Gallants that vow themselves to follow him even into the mouth of the Canon He stays not to encrease his number with a multitude but believes if there were an answering Correspondency in the English with these to overrun the Kingdom Arms Shipping and all Provisions necessary attend their coming They with the glory of their hopes lead the revived Queen a Shipboard Now do they expose themselves to the first tryal of their Fortune aiming at Donge Port to take their hop'd possession The Heavens that favoured their Design out of their present fear preserves them beyond belief or expectation Her Adversaries had a forerunning knowledge of their intended place of landing and had there provided to give them a hot and bitter welcom The raging Billows and the blustring Winds or rather the Divine Providence after the second day's extremity brings them aland safe at Orwel near Harwich They were ignorant being driven to and fro by the violence of the Weather what part of the Kingdom they had light on and were as much distressed with the Unshipping of their Men and Baggage as with the want of Harbour and Victual Three whole days in disorder and confusion they make the bleak and yielding Sands their habitation perceiving the vanity of their rash and desperate Attempt which in the least opposition or encounter must have wrought their confusion It was in vain to attend longer here where they saw so small sign of better Entertainment this makes them march on with this little weather-beaten Troop to win and Conquer a Kingdom St. Hammonds an Abby of black Monks was honoured with the welcom of their long lost Mistress here she and her Princely Son had their first Reception and Entertainment The bruit of this Novelty like a Welch Hubbub had quickly overtaken the willing Ears of the displeased Commons
glorious that are thus unjustly wronged My blushing Cheek may give you knowledge I too much Honour the Cause of mine Affliction to let my Tongue discover it Yet this in Duty and Modesty I may ingenuously confess My Royal Husband is too far seduced his Ear is too open his Will too violent and his Heart too free to those bewitching Syrens that make his Errors their Profit and Glory All hope of his return is lost so long as they shall live and remain his Leaders How many of his noblest and bravest Subjects have attempted his freedom and by an unjust and inglorious Death miscarried Alass all expectations are vain and desperate if I had not known the impossibility to disinchant him I had not in so mean and miserable a case stoln to you for Succour You have a fair way to make known to the World the truth of your own Glory and Goodness Fortune leads you by the hand to an Action not more Just than Honourable if you would dispute it Can there be a more precious Motive to invite you than the view of these unhappy Ruins See here two Royal Branches of the Flower-de-luce withering sullied and depressed Would you truly consider how great and noble a Work it is to support those that are unworthily oppressed Heaven and Earth must witness the true value of your Worth and my Petition Let it not breed a Jealousie or Discouragement that I appear before you and seek your help with so poor a Train and mean Attendance Besides the Justice of my Cause I bring with me the Griefs and Hearts of a Kingdom that have both Sworn and Vow'd to defend it Nor may you with reason doubt their Integrity while you have my wretched self and the Heir apparent to be your Pawn and Warrant For God's sake Sir by your own Virtue and Goodness I desire it and in the challenge of that Royal Blood whereof by the Laws of God Men and Nature I have so large a Share and Interest Let not after Ages taint your Memory with such an Aspersion That you are the first of all the Kings of France that denied to relieve a Sister so deeply wronged and distressed She would have spoken more but here the big swoln Fountains of her watry Eyes discharge their heavy burthen Her Tears like Orient Pearls bedew her lovely Cheeks while she with a silent Rhetoric invites a noble pity Her sad Complaint won a general remorse and her liquid Tears a deep and strong compassion Her Brother vows Revenge and promiseth to make England and the World know she was his Sister The Lords and Peers of France tender their ready help and assistance the Service is so hotly pursu'd that the poor Queen with an abused confidence believes she shall be speedily and strongly righted 'T was not alone her Error it is a general Disease We easily credit that News we most desire and hope for The Spencers whose watchful eyes were soon informed of these Passages too late condemn their own Improvidence and Folly that gave the wronged Queen so fit and fair an advantage They fear not all the Power of France but suspect Intestine danger where they knew the Hearts of all were alien'd and estranged They well enough understood the vanity of Female Passion but suspect that the rising Son would be follow'd and admir'd whilst their declining Master would be left forsaken and dejected These Conceits work so deeply that they conclude they must fall if they could not stop the Foreign Danger The English were Cow'd there was in them no fear unless the strangers strength gave them new Life and Spirit In so weighty a Cause there was no time left for delay or dalliance They dispatch presently away their Agents to the French Court laden with the Treasure of the Kingdom and many glorious Promises They instruct them how to apply themselves to the Time and present Necessity and teach them the way to work and undermine the Queen's Proceedings These Messengers arriving at Paris find the French heat well qualified and cooled This gave them more time and hope to bring their Master's Will and their own Imployment to a speedy perfection They set upon the Pillars of State such as in their Master's Ear or in his Council had most sway and preheminence they give freely and promise more till they have won a firm and fair assurance No one had an Interest and was known to be a favourer of the adverse Party but his Tongue is tied with a golden Chain to a perpetual silence When thus this Practice was ripe the King is persuaded of the danger and peril of so great and weighty an Action His Sister's Reputation and intemperate Carriage though tenderly is often touched A Woman's Passion is believed too weak a Reason to engage two so Warlike Nations in a War wherein themselves had formerly so often suffered The King for all his first great and high Expression had much rather have to do with the English in their own Kingdom than in France yet was well enough content not to try their Arms in either Yet still he feeds his sorrowing Sister with good words pretending many vain Excuses which made her suspect and doubt his meaning She arms her self with a noble patience hopeful at least that she and her son might there remain in peace and safety By the intercourse of Messages that had so often pass'd and repass'd the Spencers are assured that their Affairs in France went fairly on by which they were well onward in their Journey There could be yet no certain or assured confidence until they had again gotten the Queen and her Son into Possession No Promise or Persuasion is left to win her to return but her Ears were stopt she too well knew the sweet Enticements of such alluring Serpents This Project falling short a solemn Letter is fram'd from King Edward to the Pope and a Messenger after their own hearts appointed to carry it The Contents were full of Humility and Bitterness complaining to his Holiness That his Wife had without just Cause forsaken both Him and his Kingdom carrying away his Son the stay of his Age without his leave or license a Traytor to Him and his Crown that had publickly acted a Rebellion and was taken and Imprison'd for it had made an escape and was now her sole Companion and though he was not hasty to report or credit ye he had just cause to fear he was the abuser of his Wedlock The King of France with whom he had sworn so solemn and firm a League being Summon'd had denied to restore her These goodly Glosses and Pretexts find a ready passage and an easie belief where there was none to contradict or justifie If these Aspersions had been as they were pretended just and true the Fact had been odious and justly deserved a fair and speedy reformation The greater Cardinals that were at that time most great and eminent had tasted deeply of the King's bounty which gave the