Against whom the Northren Lords prepared at 〈◊〉 command of Thurstan Arch-bishop of Yorke 〈◊〉 King Stephen Lieutenant in those parts who beeing by sickenes kept from the Field appointed Ralph Bishop of Durham his General whose Inuectiue Oration before their ioyning of battaile occasioned vpon the foresaid misdeameanors of some vndisciplined Scotish is at large set down by Houedon Huntingdon Wendouer and others in the close whereof he absolueth from punishment of sin all such of his side as should die in this battaile which made the English more desperate in fight who so sorely pressed vpon their enemies that they forsooke their King he notwithstanding valiantly persisting til his dearest friends ernestly vrged him to auoid But his son Henry esteeming more of glory theÌ„ life rushed in amongst his retiring souldiers and with vndaunted courage perswading them to regard themselus and his presence with threat of shamefull deaths to all such as fled he held them in for a time till at length ouer-laid with the maine-battaile of the English the magnanimous Prince Henry likewise quitted the field bitterly cursing the frowardnesse of Fortune and the mischance that hapned that day 15 With like fortunate successe proceeded Stephen against his disobedient Barons and wanne from them the Castles of Hereford Gloucester Webley Bristow Dudley and Shrewsbury whereby hee weakned Earle Robert so much that he was constrained to flie into France and there instigated his sister the Empresse to come into England 16 These domesticke opposites thus remoued out of his way King Stephen re-addressed himselfe for the North to prosecute that which Thurstan had begunne first therfore winning the Castle of Leids he went into Scotland where by the persuasion prowesse of Mars and Vulcan saith Paris a Peace was concluded betwixt the two Kings and Stephen thence returning brought Prince Henry whom he created Earle of Huntingdon with him into England and at the siege of Ludlow Castle the aduenturous Prince was almost surprised where the besieged with an Iron Grapple pluckt him from his horse and so had taken him but that King Stephen himselfe with great valour and honour recouered him who hauing wonne the Castle went presently to Oxford whither newes was brought him that the Empresse was preparing for England 17 To make all sure as he went Stephen thought it good to demolish and race those Castles lately built hauing had experience to what troubles they had brought him and to preuent the building of new and namely that of the Diuise now as hee surmised in fortifying against him hee therefore sent for Roger Bishop of Salisbury the Founder both of that Castle as also those other of Sherborn Malmsbury a man who in a bad cause had stood King Stephen in good stead howsoeuer some enuying his greatnes had incensed the King against him and other Prelates as if they were fallen from his side The Bishop standing peremptorily on his innocencie yet mistrusting the euent craued the company of Alexander Bishop of Lincolne and of Nigell Bishop of Ely so with a great and well appointed traine repaired to Oxford vnto the Court where Stephen had summoned a Grand-Councell of the States 18 The King who expected of Church-men humility seeing them now armed as men for the field commanded his attendants to take armour likewise and so entring communication of diuers matters with his Peeres and Prelates their Souldiers casually meeting fell at variance where the Bishops friends had the worse so that many of them were wounded and the rest forsaking their masters ranne away This great assembly thus disturbed the King required the Bishops to satisfie his Court for these outrages of their seruants which satisfaction should be to deliuer the keyes of all their Castles to the King as pledges of their fidelity which they refusing the Bishops of Salisbury and Lincolne were laid hold of but Ely escaped to the Castle of Diuise Alexander was imprisoned till hee had yâ—…ded him his Castles of New-werke and Slaford Roger the Castles of Sherborne and the Deuises accounted then one of the goodliest Castles of Europe besides forty thousand Markes in siluer which losses the Bishop did not long suruiue The King imployed the money to purchase Lady Constance sister to Lewis King of France to be wife vnto his sonne Eustace all which was to strengthen himselfe against the Empresse Maud whose comming he continually feared now before his expectation she was landed in England at a fitte time for her designes when all the great Prelates who formerly were his chiefest friends were highly incensed against the King for such oppression of their Brethren 19 The place of her arriuage was at the port of Arundell into which Castle shee was ioyfully receiued by William de Albeny who had married Queen Adeliza the late wife to King Henry whose Dowrie it was from hence Earle Robert diuerting his course onely with tenne horse-men and as many Archers for in all hee brought ouer but one hundred and forty with him for so great an exploit passed throgh the Land vnto Wallingford and Gloucester soliciting his Complices for the aid of his sister the Empresse A man who then liued holds him in this bold attempt with so small forces no way inferiour to Iulius Caesar whom Liuie reports to haue begun his ciuill war and to haue set himselfe against the whole world onelie with fiue Cohorts of Souldiers 20 King Stephen as then lay in siege of Marleburgh Castle but hauing intelligence of this more dangerous an enemy dislodged thence and with all expedition made towards Arundell whereat the Empresse wanting her Counsellor was wonderfully perplext yet wanted not a womans wit to helpe at need insomuch that by the report of Geruasius lest her dignity and right might any way be endammaged shee tooke an oath that none of these the Kings enemies by her aduice or consent had entred the land but with condition to carry themselues orderly without impeachment of the honour and allegiance due to the King by which policy to giue it no worse name she so satisfied King Stephen whom al do censure for too much credulity and facility towards his foes that hee caused her to bee conuaied honourably vnto Bristow where she remained the space of two monethes and then got thence vnto Wallingford 21 Earle Robert in the meane while dispersed the newes of the Empresses approch vnto whose aid so many gathered that the same Monke reporteth no man was able to set downe their multitudes in context of historie much lesse by way of Computation then beganne saith he both labour and dolour which brought the whole Realme to a most grieuous diuision and in a maner to an vtter ruine for those that fauoured the King what euill soeuer could be wrought or imagined they did against them that tooke part with the Empresse and contrariwise Earle
Engines of battery against it but eftsoones before one stone of the wals was shaken or any one of their men had lost the least haire of their heads they dishonourably surrendred the Fort a matter of very great consequence to King Philips pleasure who though abundantly pleased with the deed yet so contumeliously but most iustly and prince-like recompensed the Doers for Traytors alwayes become odious though the Treason becommodious that for so base a part he commanded them to be fettered in chaines and basely intreated in close prison till they had deerely redeemed their liberty though they could hardly their reputation Another noble Baron Captaine of Castle Galliard which being built on a very high Rocke ouer Seyne King Richard had made impregnable by his vndaunted prowesse and great slaughter made vpon Philips hoast lying 6. moneths in siege about him was far from any suspition of dastardie but yet escaped not the blemish both of ingratitude and infidelity in that at length hee not onely yeelded vp that Castle to the enemies but also secretly by night brought them into the Castle of Montfort which hee betraied vnto them not weighing his faith to his Leege Lord who had bestowed on him that Castle with all the honour and demaines thereto belonging Otherwise for his first surrender his case had beene more excusable the famine an vnresistable enemy in the Castle being so great that as the French Recorders themselues confesse when the Women and others of the vnseruiceable sort were put forth for sparing of prouant and being betwixt the Castle and the Enemies found pitty and releefe of neither in the sight of them all a Woman great with Child was deliuered and her infant presently eaten vp Amongst those and other of King Iohns reuolting Barons like so many falling Starres if we should pretermit that fixed and bright Starre of vnmoueable fidelity and resolution the Lord Robert de Lacy wee should bee guilty of high offence against true honour who hauing receiued of his Prince the custody of the goodly Castle Rocke-Andely which was builded also by King Richard did brauely beare of the siege and power of King Philip and his hoast almost a whole yeere in which space though by their continuall batteries and vnderminings a great part of the walles were flatted yet they could neuer make entry vpon him but were repulsed with slaughter till his prouision of victuals being now spent to the last howre he called his Souldiers together encouraging them after so long proofe of their Manhood not to faint now in the last Act but to consider that though it were better for them to die by famine then to liue with reproch of false or faint-hearttednesse yet it is more noble for souldiers to die fighting then famishing and together with their owne liues to sacrifice to their Countries honour the bloud of their slaughtered enemies Whereupon fiercely sallying forth with his Resolutes after a bloody shambles made in the middest of his beleaguers hee was by multitude ouerborne and taken but in regard of his exemplary faith and prowesse in maintaining his charge by King Philips expresse command a second princely and prudent fact to discipline his Subiects by thus entreating his foes hee was honourably vsed and without râ—…int of a prisoner 23 But as the fact of this Peere was peerelesse so was this Clemency in that King but rare and vnaccustomed towards such Cheiftains as stifly out-stood his assaultes some of whom formerly hee had caused to bee dispiteously dragged at horse-heeles for the terrour of others Of which indignities other irkesome extremities the inseparable companions of warre indured by his people when King Iohn had notice by Messengers sent vnto him for reliefe and aides no maruaile is it if his griefe were aboue beleefe or measure finding himselfe vtterly destitute of meanes to relieue their wants or his owne losses albeit for the time hee bare it out with a manly shew saying that these were but the French pilferings of which he meant in due time to exact an account with interest For what else could hee doe The Normans to omit those others in open Rebellion either wholy fallen away from him or but dissemblingly adhering to him his Barons from home failing him at his need his Nobles there about him being vnder pretext of a speedy comming againe returned into England by which meanes the King was left very dispeopled hauing onely a small traine which could in so great a need doe him but very small seruice but that these important and vnportable matters did no whit moue him nor could retriue him from the bosome of his too-dear Enchantresse which occasioned some to think him infatuated with sorcery is a thing past capability of beleefe 24 The King thus disfurnished of all helps Innocentius the stirring Bishoppe of Rome made fayre shew to salue these temporall wounds with a spirituall playster which doubtlesse made King Iohn more secure then stood with his good for 〈◊〉 in so great distresses there was no forraine Prince fitter for the King to conbine with then Otho the Emperor his owne Nephew and Philips professed enemy so the Pope on the one side beginning to bee-iealous of Otho's greatnesse mistrusted the concurrence of two such great friends and therefore vndertooke to vmpeere the debates betwixt those two great Enemies and King Iohn on the other side willing to make vse of the Popes fauour durst not yet comply with any whom his Sanctitude any whit disfauoured His Legates for this businesse were the Abbots of Cafmer and Troisfons his motiue that these dissentions of Christendom weakned the wars against Turky his colour that this contention being a matter of faith-breach as of Leagues Oath and Couenants the cognizance thereof did properly appertaine to his sacred iudicature whereof hee made so little doubt as that the very letter then sent to the French Peeres is to this day registred for a pontificall decree and this audacious Law then by Innocentius first brought to the world for current That whensoeuer one Prince is delinquent against another the correction thereof appertaines to the Pope Their Commission was to call the Bishops and Princes of both Kingdoms for setling a Peace to inhibite all hostility to reserue the further triall of the Right to the Pope as Soueraigne Iudge to enioyne that all Religious places by the warres destroied or empouerished should be restored to their due State if either of the Kinges should bee refractary his whole Kingdom presently to bee put vnder Interdict Philip albeit the Pope was then offended with him vpon other terms for that hee imposed towards his warres a taxe of certaine Tenthes vpon his Clergy against the Popes will alleadging it was necessary that out of their priuate abundance they should beare a charge in the
of K. Iohn yet bitterly taxeth saying the English Bishops were farre from that dutifull obseruance towards their Soueraigne which the French Bishops perfourmed to theirs at whose commaund they maintained Souldiers in his warres against King Iohn acknowledging they were so bound to doe as often as the King pursued the warres in person though now also they did it where hee was not in person And indeed how hollow-hearted to the State those money-murmurers were their owne friend bebewraieth shewing how with curses they wished and prayed to God that these exactions might neuer haue any good successe though they knew it was purposelie for preseruing a maine part of the Kingdome A disloyalty the more vnsufferable by the King knowing that but a very little before the Popes Legate Io. Fiorentinus nick-named Ferentinus for bearing away so much money had gathered of the Clergy a huge masse os money which in full chests hee conuayed to Rome Yet all these domesticke grudges abated not the Kings due care nor yet his good hopes which were soone after much augmented by the encouragements of Othoes Imperiall presence who in person arriuing here in England to proiect for his owne and his vncles warres was with great ioyes met by the King and conducted through London by night where all the City was seene in her glory all the streetes adorned with richest hangings beautified all along with the lustre of pendant Crownes and burning lampes who after some dayes of royall entertainements hence departed not vnfurnished with helpes to defray his warres 36 Whiles King Iohn is thus busied about his open hostilities Pope Innocentius is plotting his secret Stratagemes against him at Rome where like vnto that other old Roman who being chosen vmpere touching some march-lands betwixt two neighbour Nations vnpartiall to either adiudged it from them both to the Romane State so hee now being Arbiter betwixt the King Bishops Monks concerning their choice hee means to defeat them all and adiudge the right of disposing thereof to his Romish See Therfore at the fore-limited day of hearing his first care was that the Bishops lippes for euer should bee sealed vp notwithstanding their allegations of Law Reason Decrees and Practise frō intermedling in choice of their own Primate Wil you heare the maine reason because himselfe and some other Popes would haue it so Which definitiue sentence being sent to the Prelates into England it was thought a point of prudence also to prepare the King and worke him pliable before hand to entertaine that which was to follow which must be done by amiable lines and gemmes wherewith he knew the King was much delighted His Present being 4. gold Rings with foure precious stones an Emrauld Saphire Ruby Topaze he so vainely childishly though ignorance enstile it eloquence celebrateth in his Epistle for their number forme and colour that no man will question whether it were dictated with an Apostolicke Spirite The Rings Roundnesse must remember the King of Eternity the Quadr at number of Constancy and of the foure Cardinall vertues Iustice Fortitude Prudence Temperance the Golds price of Wisedome the Emraulds greenenesse of Faith the Saphires brightnesse of Hope the Rubies readnesse of Charity the Topazes clearenesse of operatiue Sanctitie c. Which though toyes were yet accepted as pledges of loue for a while till at last the King finding by the sequele they were but baites to beguile him esteemed the Popes Gold as drosse his Iewels as Iewish fraudes and his loue as most rancored hatred For shortly after came to his notice the most indignious iniurie which the Pope meant to obtrude vpon him and his Kingdome hauing not onely hunted both Reynard and Gray out of their holdes but also imposed vpon him for the chiefe place and managing of his State one whome hee reputed a chiefe and dangerous Enemy to himselfe and it which thus was fetcht about 37 The Monkes freed from the Bishops impugning were hote now in the strife amongst themselues the one side against Reyners election vrged it wanted Royall assent the greater and sounder part of Electoro due solemnities due time the other against Norwich that no second election could be validous vnlesse the former were first annulled Both their Reasons pleased well the Pope who as pre-possessed Iudges often vse made shew of great diligence in pondering the Pleadings whereas himselfe long before had resolued on his Sentence which was that by Apostolicall definitiue dome neyther of the Elects should euer bee capable of that See So great rubbes hath the Pope with so little breath blowne out of his way The man whose aduancement al this while hee had aimed at was now commended to them who must be there presently chosen for their Primate Stephen de Langton a Cardinall English by birth French by education and affection one of so transcendent power in the Romane Court that the Pope was thought not for loue but for enuy as being himselfe eclypsed by his necrenesse to haue wished his seruice in some remoter dignity But the Monks ill apaide with what was done already and very tremulous to enter matter of new intrications alleadged against all further courses that no Canonicall Election could be there made they hauing consent neither of King nor Couent at which word the Pope snapping them vp bad them know that he had there plenitude of power ouer the Church of Canterbury and besides that no consent of Princes vsed to bee expected in Elections celebrated where the Pope was hee therefore charged them vnder paine of his high curse a terrible bug-bear in those daies there presently to choose him for their Primate whom himselfe thought good to nominate vnto them Thus trembling vnder the cracke of his Thunderbolt they all excepting one Helias de Brantfield whose constancy shall perpetuate his memory durst not sor feare but elect him though very vnwillingly and with murmurations whose Consecration followed by the Popes owne handes at Viterbium and his earnest recommendation by the Popes flattering letters to the Kings fauourable acceptance And this was the vnblessed beginning of those new miseries which brought the King to his ending and his Kingdome to vn-reportable calamities all which little did his Holinesse or his Charity reckon of so his desperate Policie might take effect Yet not vnduely fell those iudgements on manie Princes of those times who neglecting the domesticke execution of Supreme iustice suffered their Subiects at so high a rate both of expence and trauels to buy such arbitrary and dangerous formes of a forraine and falsly-named Iustice. 38 Two very presumptuous Lawes hath one obserued to haue beene first hatched by this lawlesse Pope the one occasioned by King Iohns and Philips formet strife that Princes delinquent must bee lyable to correctionfrom the Pope the other vpon the choice of the Emperour
went that onely three were slaine vpon both sides the Earle of Perch one of Du-Brents Knights and an obscure fellow belonging to some or other of the Barons 8 The Kings Gouernour after the victory rode presently with the gladsome tidings in the heighth of speed to the King and Legate who with teares of ioy gaue God thankes But the noble Earle not leauing his worke imperfect seekes to embarre Lewis from forraging about London Meane while by the diligence of Lady Blanch the wife of Lewis Eustace the ruffianly Apostata who of a Monke becomming a Demoniacke was now vpon the Sea with a fresh supply of men and munition bound for London But God was no better pleased with these then with the other scatterlings at Lincolne For the English Nauie hauing the wind of the French sunke diuers of their shippes by tilting at them with the yron Prowes or Beakes of their Gallies vsing also vnslaked lime in dust or powder which they threw into the faces of their enemies and blinded their sight so were the hopes of Lewis for any present succours absolutely frustrated Eustace himselfe found after long search and drawne out from the bottome of the Pumpe in a French shippe at Douer had his head cut off though some say hee was slaine by Richard a base-sonne of King Iohn The newes of which successe being brought to the King did not more reioice him then they wounded Lewis for the losse was not onely great in men but in all sorts of riches and prouisions To giue now no rest to Lewis his declining fortunes the Earle of Pembroke with a mighty Army besieged London and Lewis therein aswell by Water as by Land seeking to driue him by penurie to render the City It came to capitulation and in an Ilet in the Riuer of Thames not farre from Stanes the King Wallo the Legate and William Marshall the Kings Gouernour met with Lewis the Barons to finish the Peace for Lewis had promised to doe as Wallo and the Earle would deuise so that it might not tend to his dishonour or scandall Heades or Articles of the agreement which Lewis sware vpon the Gospell to performe were 1. That Lewis the Barons and other his partakers should stand to the iudgement of the Church whose censures they had now some yeeres contemned and from thenceforth bee and remaine true to the same 2. That he and his should forthwith depart the land neuer to return again with a purpose to doe harme 3 That he should doe his best to draw his Father to make restitution of all such things in France as belonged to the King of England and that Lewis when himselfe was King should quietly part with them 4. That Lewis should immediately render to King Henry all holdes and places taken in the warre On the other part the King the Legate and the Earle sware 1 That the King should restor to the Barons and others all their rights and inheritances with all the Liberties formerly demanded of his Father 2. That none of the Layty should suffer dammage or reproch for taking part on either side 3. That Prisoners should bee released c. Whereupon Lewis with his adherents was formally by Wallo absolued from the sentence of Excommunication and so they ranne on all sides into embracements and parted in the kisse of Peace The Welsh who had held with the Barons were left out of this Conclusion being thereby laid open to spoile Thus was Lewis driuen out of England whom the Earle of Pembroke brought to the Sea-side and the Realme was cleared 9 There are who write how that Lewis had a great summe of money paide him for restoring the Hostages but Mat. Paris whom some cite to that purpose affirms no such matter in any printed Copy Reason surelie is vtterly against it for when euen the life of Lewis was after a sort in King Henries hand with what sense can it stand that the King should set all the French free without ransom and yeâ—…â—…imselfe pay money for the Hostages which also were not his but the Hostages of his enemies the Barons so that if money were due it must haue come from them not from the King who both in honour and profite was rather obliged to the contrarie Writers of that very time doe in plain wordssay The Pouerty of Lewis was such that he was compelled to borrow fiue thousand pounds of the Londoners to set him out of England and therfore that other seemes nothing else but a vaine gloze to salue the honour of Lewis who was plainly driuen out of England after so high hopes with losse sorrow and eternall disgrace which the French are so sensible of that they scarse seeme to write of the whole action otherwise then laying the misfortune of Lewis vpon the Barons mutability 10 The Realme of England purged of those forraine dregges was not therfore presently freed from other manifold encombrances such as after so great a tossing of all lawes and things diuine and humane doe ordinarily flote vp and downe like the froth working of a troubled Sea For diuers men presuming vpon their former seruices to the State or thinking the old bad world would either continue still or soone returne if iustice grew confident against Trespassors or for what other corrupt motiues soeuer did dare intollerable things The principall Lords of this misrule were William Earle of Aumarl Falcasius de Brent with his Garrison Souldiers Robert de Veipont with others who hauing had the Castles and possessions of certaine Bishops and Great men either to keepe in trust or otherwise by iniquity of the times conuerted violentlie to their vses did still with-hold the same both against the minds of their lawfull owners and the Kings expresse Prohibition Among others Robert de Gaugi defended the Castle of Newarke being the Fee of the Bishoppe of Lincolne as was also the town it self against the Kings Armie conducted by the Great Marshall Earle of Pembroke for eight dayes and did not first yeeld the place before by mediation of friends the Bishoppe paid to Gaugi one hundreth pounds There was in that great Earle a perpetuall care to conclude things without bloud-shedde wherein shined his Christian piety and morall wisdome there being no other so safe way to settle disordered humors The greater was his losse both to the King and State by his death soone after ensuing whose monument yet remaining doth not so much eternize his memory as that well-deserued Epitaph the Epitome of his noble vertues Sum quem Saturnum sibi sensit Hybernia Solem Anglia Mercurium Normannia Gallia Martem Irelands Saturn Englands Sunne am I The Mars of France and Normans Mercurie He left behind him fiue Sonnes all Earles of Pembroke successiuely and dying without issue his fiue Daughters aduanced by great marriages brought as great aduantage to their husbands issue by the inheritances of their issuelesse brethren
thought good for the defence of the Crowne and Realme and such and so many of them as might be able to compell his proud and rebellious people to due obedience When the Oracle would speake no otherwise they departed from Court greatly discontented firmely promising one to the other that in such a cause which did so touch them all they would like men stand together while anie breath was in their bodies 37 Those who were now most potent about the King nothing sorry for the discontentment of so great a Peere as the Earle Marshall but counting it a part of their strengthes to vse the regall power toward the weakning of the English nourish in the King his auersion The minds of men sufficientlie inclining of themselues to doubt the worst vpon such diuisions had their feare increased by sundrie prodigies of strange thunders and raines but especially of foure redde Parhelions or resemblances of the Sunne besides the Sunne it selfe appearing about the parts of Hereford and Worcester from morning till night in the Skies and indeed much trouble immediatly ensued aswell in England as Wales Ireland The Poictouins and other Strangers thus bearing the sway so as the Kings person went guarded with troupes of such the Earles and Barons being by the Kings commaund summoned to another Parliament at Oxford refused to come While the King was there one Robert Bacon who vsed there to preach before the King and Prelates freelie told him that if hee did not remoue from him Peter Bishop of Winchester and Peter de Riuallis he could neuer be in quiet The King did hereupon a little come to himself Roger Bacon a Clergy-man also of a pleasant wit did second Roberts aduise telling the King that Petra and Rupes were most daungerous things at sea alluding to the Bishoppes name Petrus de Rupibus The King therefore as he had the happines in his mutability to change for his more security taking that good aduise of Schollers which he would not of his Peeres summons a Parliament to be holden at Westminster giuing the world to know withall that his purpose was to amend by their aduise whatsoeuer ought to be amended 38 But the Barons considering that still there arriued sundry strangers men of warre with Horse and Armour and not trusting the Poictouine faith came not but presumed to send this traiterous message to the king that if out of hand hee remoued not Peter Bishop of Winchester and the Poictouines out of his Court they all of them by the common assent of the kingdom would driue him his wicked Counsellors together out of it and consult about creating a new Soueraigne The king whom his fathers example made more timerous could easily haue beene drawne to haue redeemed the loue of his naturall Liegemen with the disgrace of a few strangers but the Bishoppe of Winchester and his friends infused more spirite into him Whereon to all those whom hee suspected the King sets downe a day within which they should deliuer sufficient pledges to secure him of their loialty Against that day the Lords in great numbers make repaire to London but the Earle Marshall admonished of danger by his sister the Countesse of Cornwall flies backe to Wales and chiefly for want of his presence nothing was concluded The King not long after is at Gloster with an Armie whither the Earle and his adherents required to come refused the King therefore burns their Mannors and giues away their inheritances to the Poictouines 39 This Rebellion had not many great names in it but tooke strength rather by weight then number the known Actors were the Earle Marshal the Lord Gilbert Basset and many other of the inferiour Nobles The Bishoppes Arts 〈◊〉 â—…luckt from him the Kings Brother and the two Earles of Chester and Lincolne who dishonourably sold their loue for a thousand Markes and otherwise as it seemed secured the rest neuerthelesse these may well bee thought not to haue borne any euill will to their now forsaken confederate the Earle Marshall who tooke himselfe to handle the common cause certainely hee handled his owne safety but ill as the euent shall demonstrate The Earle hearing these things contracts strict amity with Lewelin Prince of Wales whose powers thus knit together by aduantages of the Mountaines were able to counterpoize any ordinary inuasion To the Kings aide Baldwin de Gisnes with many Souldiers came out of Flanders The King now at Hereford in the midst of his Forces sends from thence by Winchesters counsell the Bishoppe of Saint Dauids to defie the Earle Marshall how farre soeuer this word defie extends it selfe sure it seems that the Earle hereupon vnderstoode himselfe discharged of that obligation by which hee was tied vnto the King and freed to makâ—… his defence The King notwithstanding after some small attempts and better considerations did promise and assume that by aduise of his Councell all that was amisse should at a day appointed bee rectified and amended About which time Hubert de Burgo hauing intelligence that the Bishoppe of Winchester who was a Poictouine plotted his death escaped out of the Castle of Deuises where he was prisoner to a neighbour Church but was haled from thence by the Castle-Keepers The Bishop of Sarisbury in whose Diocesse it happened caused him to bee safe-restored to the same place from whence by the Earle Marshall and a troupe of armed men his friends hee was rescued and carried into Wales 40 The King at the day and place appointed holds his great Councell or conference with the Lords but nothing followed for the peace of the Realme it was not an ordinary passage of speech which hapned there betweene the Lords and the Bishoppe of Winchester For when the English Bishops and Barons humbly besought the King for the honour of Almighty God to take into grace his naturall Subiects whom without any triall by their Peeres hee called Traitors the Bishoppe offended it seems at Peeres takes the words out of the Kings mouth and answeres That there are not Peeres in England as in the Realme of France and that therefore the King of England by such Iusticiars as himselfe pleaseth to ordaine may banish offenders out of the Realme and by iudiciall processe condemne them The English Bishops relished his speech so harshly that with one voice they threatned to excommunicate and accurse by name the Kings principall wicked Counsellors but Winchester appealed then they accursed all such as alienated the heart of the king from his naturall subiects and all others that perturbed the peace of the Realme 41 The Earle Marshall this while had by force resumed a Castle which he had a little before surrendred to the King which stirred the King to gather his forces at Glocester and thence to aduance towards Wales But the Earle had politickly barred the Country of al Prouisions for man and beast that the King was faine to
would haue a yeerely pension of a thousand Marks out of the Temporalities belonging to that Abbey But the King hauing heard both parts commanded the Petitioners to silence and the Petition to bee razed out saying He would maintain the English Church in the quality of the same state or better in which himselfe had knowne it to bee when hee came to the Crowne The Archbishop hereupon hauing consulted with the Clergy came to the King and declared that hee and the Clergy had with one consent willingly prouided to supplie his Maiesties occasions with a Tenth This grant the King tooke so contentedly as he openly affirmed hee was better pleased with this free contribution of one Tenth for the present then if hee had gotten foure by compulsion 56 Robert de Vere Earle of Oxford a young Gentleman in speciall grace with the King was at this Parliament created Marquesse of Dublin in Ireland which moued great despight against him those rough times being impatient to beare the vnequall aduancement of fauourites Neuerthelesse though the gentle King was thought herein to please his owne fansie rather then to reward merite yet did hee so sweetly temper it as there was no iustice nor reason to enuie to him that solace which hee tooke in his friends encreased honour for at the same time hee aduanced two of his vncles Thomas of Woodstocke Earle of Buckingham to the title of Duke of Glocester and Edmund of Langley Earle of Cambridge he created Duke of Yorke allotting seuerall proportions of pension to be paide out of his Exchequer In Vere there was ancient Nobilitie to iustifie his new degree the better but in making the Lord Chancellor Michael de la Poole Earle of Suffolke with the yeerelie pension of 1000 Markes was matter of more enuie because he was not descended of such honourable Parents a defect if it bee a defect which none more willingly vpbraid to men of worth then who themselues are not alwayes the most worthy The first raiser of this familie of De la Pole was Edward the third who made William de la Pole of a braue Merchant a Knight Baneret and gaue him great possessions in requitall of an extraordinary and voluntary loane of treasure aduanced by him to supply the King in a time of speciall necessity when money could stand him in more steed then a thousand men of Armes no little merite in a subiect nor a slender reward of a most munificent Prince 57 Henry Spenser the martiall Bishop of Norwich found grace with the King at this Parliament to bee restored to his temporalities at the speciall suite of Thomas Arundell Bishoppe of Ely whiles the Bishoppe of Ely thus besought his Maiesty of Grace the said Michael de la Poole Lord Chancellor and Earle of Suffolke stood by and brake out with much offence into these words What is that my Lord which you aske of the King Seemes it to you a small matter for him to part with that Bishops temporalities when they yeeld to his Coffers aboue one thousand pounds by yeere Little neede hath the King of such Counsellors or of such friends as aduise him to acts so greatly to his hinderance Whereunto the Bishop of Ely not lesse truly then freelie replide What saith your Lordship my Lord Michael Know that I require not of the king that which is hiâ—… but that which hee drawne thereunto either by you or by the Counsell of such as you are withholds from other men vpon none of the iustest titles and which as I thinke will â—…euer doe him any good as for you if the Kings hinderance bee the thing you weigh why did you so greedily accept of a thousand markes by yeere at such time as he created you Earle of Suffolke The Chancellour was hit so home with this round retort that hee neuer offered any further to crosse the restitution of the Bishops temporalties 58 After this the King being with his Queen at their manour of Eltham in Kent there came thither Leo King of Armenia a Christian Prince whom the Tartars had expelled out of his Kingdome The pretence of his negotiation was to accord the realms of England and France that the Princes thereof might with ioint forces remoue the common enemy from Christendome Therein hee could effect nothing but his iourney was not otherwise vnfruitful to himselfe for King Richard a Prince to speake truly full of honour and bountie gaue him besides a thousand pounds in a ship of gold letters Pattents also for a thousand pounds yeerely pension during life 59 The time now was come wherein K. Richard should see himselfe deliuered of all that feare and iealousie which the greatnesse of his vncle the Duke of Lancaster stirred in him His Forces were now ready and his Nauie encreased with seuen Gallies and eighteene shippes sent out of Portugall attended at Bristoll to transport him toward Spaine for Castile is high Spaine the crowne whereof hee claimed in right of Constance his second wife daughter of Dom Peter the cruell Before hee set forth the newes came that such English as were already in Portugall with their friendes had ouerthrowne the Spaniards French and Britons at a battell in Spaine This was a spurre to quicken the Dukes enterprise which Pope Vrban the sixth by granting plenarie remission of sinnes to all such as gaue the Duke aid did specially fauour as against them who did partake with his enemy the Antipape but the frequent grant of such pardon and releasement was now growne so vile and contemptible amongst the people that few were found open handed towards this Cruceato Admiral of this Fleete was Sir Thomas Percie Sir Iohn Holland who had married one of the Dukes daughters afterward created Earle of Huntington was Constable of the host and Sir Iohn Mereaux who had to wife one of the Dukes illegitimate children was one of his Marshals There were in this noble and excellently-well appointed Army the Lords Talbot Basset Willâ—…ghby Fitz-walter Poinings Bradston Fitzwarren Beaumont Beauchampe the Lord Pomiers a Gascoin c. with very many worthy knights valiant Esquiers and a choise number of men of Arms Archers and other Souldiers to the number of twenty thousand The Duke tooke also with him his wife the Lady Constance and two daughters which hee had by her as * one relateth 60 It was now the moneth of May when the great Duke of Lancaster comming to take leaue had of the kings gift a Diademe of gold and his Dutchesse of the Queene another he also commanded the English to call and hold his vncle for a King and to doe him answerable honour But after all this hee lay for a wind so long till his whole prouisions were almost spent at length yet hee set forward The first land they touched was neere to Brest in Britaine where Sir Iohn Roch the Gouernour against the French complained of two Forts built about him to empeach his quiet
them to encrease their numbers were that Henry of Lancaster meaning the King was fled with his sonnes and friends to the Tower of London and that King Richard was escaped Maudlen also one of Richards Chapleins tooke vpon him the person of his said Lord the more strongly to seduce the multitude by so bold and perilous a fiction Thus seemed they to fit their words and sute their Arts to the place At Sunning Richard they said was at Pomfret for there the guile had beene transparent but at Circester Richard was not at Pomfret but present 17 How beit the successe was not answerable to the deuise for besides that King Henry was in the heart of his strengths at London where sixe thousand men were put into a readines and would come vpon them like a storme the Townesmen of Circester assailed the Lords tooke them and because their Town was fired of purpose by some of their followers the better to recouer them while the quenching found the people employment haled them forth and without longer tarriance seuered their heads from their bodies The Earle of Huntington with a trustie Knight of his Sir Iohn Sheuele hauing after the faile at Windsore in vaine attempted to escape by Sea was taken by the Commons at Pitwel perhaps Prittlewel in Essex brought first to Chelmsford and lastlie to Pleshie the house of the late Duke of Glocester whose Ghost a tragicall Poet would suppose did haunt his persecutors for reuenge where partlie also by this Earles instigation the said Glocester was first arrested The Commons out of whose hearts the image of that Duke was not vanished at the Countesse of Herefords instigation who was the Dukes widdow tooke satisfaction vpon the Earle with the escheate of his head which there was sundred from his shoulders The Lord Spencer called Earle of Glocester one of the Conspirators had like execution done vpon him by the Commons at Bristol Some other of them were put to death at Oxford and some at London where Iohn Maudlen the Counterfeit Richard who as it seemes was a beautifull and goodlie person and one William Ferby were drawne hanged and headed The Bishop of Carleol neuerthelesse was by the Kings clemencie preserued aliue after the condemnatory sentence There were nineteene in all whereof two had beene Dukes put to death for this conspiracy most of which were men of speciall note 18 The designes and misfortunes of King Richards friends being made known vnto him could not but worke strongly in a soule opprest with griefe but whether so strongly as to make him resolue by voluntary abstinence to starue himselfe as the fame went may bee doubted though it be past doubt that King Henry was not sorrie hee was dead howsoeuer That he was starued seemes verie plaine though as it is not certaine neither yet vnlikely that King Henry was priuy to so foule a parricide so neither is it knowne but that Richard might as well be starued of purpose as starue himselfe Master Stow a man for honest industry very praiseworthie saith that king Richard was fifteene daies and nights together kept in hunger thirst and cold till hee died How true that was in the circumstance who knows but in the point of staruing hee is clearelie with Walsingham and a Knight liuing about those times calleth it a death neuer before that time knowne in England Harding also liuing vnder King Edward the fourth agrees of the rumour of staruing Master Cambden saith of Pomfret Castle that it is a place principum cade sanguine infamis but seemes to insinuate that some other torments were most wickedly practised vpon this King as made out of the way with hunger cold and vnheard-of torments Polydore therefore may in this bee beleeued who writes of this poore deposed Monarke that which may well be called vnheard-of torments his diet being serued in and set before him in the wonted Princely manner he was not suffered either to taste or touch thereof Idle therefore seemes his dreame who writes hee was murthered in the Tower and not more credible theirs who tell vs of Sir Peirs of Extons assault and the murther basely by him acted vpon this most miserable Princes person but much more are they to blame who negligently for credit of the fable quote Walsingham in whom no syllable of such a thing is found Onely Hector Boetius wils vs to belieue that Richard fled disguised into Scotland was discouered to King Robert and honourably entertained but Richard who would no more of the world gaue himselfe wholy to contemplation and both liued died and was buried at Striueling Which fond fable hath neuerthelesse somewhat in it for that some personated Richard might so doe is neither impossible nor improbable and indeed it was so 19 The late King Richard thus cruelly and heinously murthered for in regard of pining death the seeming fable of his fight with Sir Peirs of Exton was a sport it being both noble and full of comfort for a man of honour and courage to die with weapon in hand King Henry causeth his dead body to bee brought vp to London O Henry if thou wert Author or but priuie though for thine owne pretended safetie and for that errors cause which is lewdly mis-called reason of state of such a murther we doe not see how the shewing of the people his vncouered face in Pauls did either conceale or extenuate the execrable crime But to let the world know that there was no hope nor place for a Richard that course was vsed which may the rather confirme the truth of his enfamishment for a violent death by braining could not but deforme him too much and it is most probable that such a death would bee sought as might least appeare Surely he is not a man who at the report of so exquisite a barbarisme as Richards enfamishment feeles not chilling horror and detestation what if but for a iustly condemned galley-slaue so dying but how for an annointed King whose Character like that of holy Orders is indeleble The tragicall spectacle of his dead body perhaps because it moued too much both pittie and enuie was after a while transported without honor to Langley in Hartfordshire where the last rites were performed by the Bishop of Chester the Abbats of S. Alban and Waltham but neither King Henry present as at the exequies in London and the great Lords and such other as were had not so much as a funerall feast bestowed on them for their labour But Henry the fifth in the first yeere of his raigne with great honour did afterward cause those royall remaines to be interred in the Sepulture of his Ancestors at Westminster Among the riming Latine verses of his Epitaph ye may maruell to reade these considering vpon what points he was triced out of Maiestie and State Ecclesiam fauit elatos suppeditauit Quemuis prostrauit
the one side of me Semblably my cosin the Earle of Richmond his aides and kinsfolkes will surely attempt either to bite or to pierce me on the other side so that my life and rule should euer hang vnquiet in doubt of death or deposition And if the said two linages of Yorke and Lancaster should ioine in one against me then were I surely matched Wherfore I haue clecrelie determined vtterly to relinquish all imaginations concerning the obtaining of the Crown For as I told you the Countesse of Richmond in my returne from the new named King meeting me in the high way praied me first for kindreds sake secondly for the loue I bare to my Grandfather Duke Humfrey who was sworne brother to her father to moue the King to be good to her sonne Henry Earle of Richmond and to licence him with his fauour to returne againe into England and if it were his pleasure so to doe shee promised that the Earle her sonne should marry one of the Kings daughters at the appointment of the King without any thing demanded for the said espousals but only the Kings fauour which request I soone ouerpassed and departed But after in my lodging I called to memory more of that matter and now am bent that the Earle of Richmond heire of the house of Lancaster shall take to wife Lady Elizabeth eldest daughter to King Edward by the which marriage both the houses of Yorke and Lancaster may be vnited in one 28 When the Duke had said Bishop Morton who euer fauoured the house of Lancaster was wondrous ioyfull for all his imagination tended to this effect and lest the Dukes courage should asswage or his minde alter he said to the Duke My Lord of Buckingham sith by Gods prouision and your incomparable wisdome this noble coniunction is first moued it is necessary to consider what persons we shall first make priuie of this politicke conclusion By my troth quoth the Duke we will begin with my Ladie of Richmond the Earles mother which knoweth where he is in Britaine sith you will begin that way said the Bishop I haue an old friend with the Countesse called Reinald Bray for whom I shall send if it be your pleasure so the Bishop wrote for him to come to Brechnock who straite came backe with the messenger where the Duke and Bishop declared what they had deuised for the preferment of the Earle of Richmond sonne to his Lady and Mistresse willing her first to compasse how to obtaine the goodwill of Queene Elizabeth and also of her eldest daughter and after secretly to send to her sonne in Britaine to declare what high honour was prepared for him if he would sweare to marrie the Ladie Elizabeth assoone as hee was King of the Realme With which conclusion Reinold Bray with a glad heart returned to the Countesse his Lady Bray thus departed the Bishop told the Duke that if he were in his Isle of Ely he could make many friends to further their enterprise The Duke knew this to bee true but yet loth to loose the society of such a Counsellor gaue him faire words saying he should shortly depart well accompanied for feare of enemies but the Bishop ere the Dukes company were assembled secretly disguised in a night departed and came to Ely where he found money and friends and then sailed into Flaunders where he did the Earle of Ricchmond good seruice 29 When Reinold Bray had declared his message to the Countesse no meruaile if shee were glad wherefore shee deuised a means how to breake this matter to Queen Elizabeth being then in Sanctuary at Westminster and hauing in her family a certaine Welshman called Lewis learned in Phisicke now hauing oportunity to breake her minde vnto him declared that the time was come that her sonne should be ioined in marriage with Lady Elizabeth daughter and heire to King Edward and that King Richard should out of all honour and estate be deiected and required him to goe to Queene Elizabeth not as a messenger but as one that came friendlie to visite her and as time and place should serue to make her priuy of this deuise This Phisitian with good diligence repaired to the Queene and when he saw time conuenient said vnto her Madame although my imagination be very simple yet for the entire affection I beare to you and to your children I am so bolde to vtter vnto you a secret conceit which I haue compassed in my braine When I remember the great losse which you haue sustained by the death of your louing husband and the great sorrow that you haue suffered by the cruell murder of your innocent children I can no lesse doe then daily study how to bring your heart to comfort and also to reuenge the quarrell of you and your children on that cruell tyrant King Richard And first consider what battel and what mischiefe haue risen by the dissention betweene the two houses of Yorke and Lancaster which two families if they may be ioined in one I doubt not but that your line shall be again restored to your great ioy comfort you know Madam that of the house of Lancaster the Earle of Richmond is next of bloud to the house of York your daughters now are heirs If you could deuise the means how to couple your eldest daughter with the Earle of Richmund in matrimony no doubt but that the vsurper should shortly bee deposed and your heire againe to her right restored 30 When the Queene had heard this friendly Motion shee instantly besought him that as he had beene the first inuentor of so good an enterprise that now hee would not desist to follow the same requiring him further that he would resort to the Countesse of Richmund mother to the Earle Henrie and to declare to her on the Queenes behalfe that all the friends of King Edward her husband should assist and take part with the Earle of Richmund her sonne so that hee would take an oath that after the Kingdome obtained to espouse the Lady Elizabeth her daughter c. M. Lewis so sped his busines that he made a finall end of this businesse betweene the two mothers so the Lady Margaret Countesse of Richmund brought to a good hope of the preferment of her son made Reinold Bray chiefe soliciter of this conspiracy giuing him in charge secretly to inueagle such persons of Nobility to ioyne with her take her part as he knew to be faithfull 31 This Reinold Bray within few dayes brought to his luer Sir Giles Daubeny Sir Iohn Cheinie Knights Richard Guilford and Thomas Ramney Esquiers and others In the meane while the Countesse of Richmund sent one Christopher Vrsewicke a Priest into Britaine to the Earle of Richmund her sonne to declare to him all the agreements between her and the Queene agreede and with all to shew him that the Duke of Buckingham was one of the first
NINTEENTH KING OF THE VVEST-SAXONS AND THE TWENTIETH MONARCH OF THE ENGLISHMEN HIS WARRES ACTS WIVES AND CHILDREN CHAPTER XXXII EThelwolfe the eldest sonne of King Egbert committed in his youth to the care of Helmestan Bishop of Winchester and by him vnto Swithun a famous learned Monke of that time tooke such a liking vnto the quiet and solitarie life onely enioyed by men of Religion all other degrees molested to withstand the intruding Danes that he vndertooke the Monkish vow and profession and was made Deacon shortly after which degree taken Helmestan died in whose place Prince Ethelwolfe was consecrated as Roger Houeden affirmeth or at least elected as Iohn Brampton Abbat of Iaruaux writeth Bishop of Winchester But the death of his Father King Egbert immediately following by great intreaty of the Nobles and partly by constraint of the Clergy hee was made King and was by the authority of Pope Gregory the fourth whose creature in both professions he was absolued and discharged of his vowes 2 He entered his Monarchy the fourth day of February in the yeare of Christs Incarnation eight hundred thirty seuen and was the nineteenth King of the West-Saxons and the twentieth Monarch of the Englishmen His Bishopricke he gaue vnto Swithun his Tutor and according to his place combined all his powers to withstand the dangerous Danes that attempted the vtter subuersion of his faire land whos 's fift inuasion in his first yeare happened which drew the Saxons ciuill warres vnto a constrained peace hauing more then they could well doe to defend their liues from their slaughtering swords or to saue their vniustly gotten land from the spoiles of those common enemies who not like Conquerors but destroying Caterpillers left nothing vndeuoured wheresoeuer they came and had now begunne their mercilesse depopulations in diuers places at once so that the distracted English were to seeke where was most need first to withstand 3 At Hampton Portesmouth many of these Norway Pirates had entred at Hampton with their ouerthrow at Portesmouth with victory and the same time at Carrum a Troupe of these Danes discomfited King Ethelwolfes power The next yeare at Merseware Lindsey in East-Angle and Kent they did much mischiefe and harried all the Country before them yet in his tenth yeare at Pedredesmouth the Sommerset and Dorsetshire men gaue them a memorable ouerthrow vnder the conduct of Earle Enwulfe Bishop Adelstan and Osred their captaines 4 But in the sixteenth yeare of this King the great Planet Mars seemed to praedominate continually and Fortune to cast the chance of victory euer on his side for two hundred and fifty ships some reckon a hundred more entred into Thamesis mouth and set on shore an infinite number of these destroying Danes London and Canterbury they had sacked and left wast had pierced into Mercia and chased Berthulfe their King out of his Country and now in Southery had pitched their battle as able and resolute to abide all the power of the English whither King Ethelwolfe with his sonne prince Ethelbald repaired and tooke the field at the place called Ocley wherein after a long and sore fight the victory fell to the English with such slaughter of these Norway inuaders as is incredible to report and the same held as great and famous as euer had hapned in the land before 5 With the like successe his Brother Athelstan King of Kent fought with the Danes at Sandwich where chasing them to sea tooke nine of their ships and in Deuonshire Earle Ceorle at Winleshore so ouerthrew their whole power that in despaire they withdrew themselues into the I le of Thanet where they made their abode all the winter season and if destiny had not withstood the English the Danes had beene expulsed for euer But the Saxons seeming cleared of this common enemy fell to their wonted quarrels with the euer depressed Britaines against whom Burthred the M◅rcian obtained the assistance of King Ethelwolfe in his eighteenth yeare whose daughter Ethelswith hee had obtained in mariage whereby for a while was encreased the fame and power of that valiant but vnfortunate King 6 In this State the affaires of the land stood vnto the nineteenth yeare of King Ethelwolfes raigne who now remembring his former Ecclesiasticke profession ordained that Tithes and Lands due to holy Church should bee free from all Tributes or Regall seruices and in great deuotion went himselfe to Rome where hee was both honourably receiued and entertained the space of a whole yeare in which time hee new built the English Schoole that Offa the Mercian before had there founded and lately was fired bearing the name of Thomas the Holy confirming also his Grant of Peter pence and further couenanting in lieu of his kind entertainement to pay yeerely three hundred markes to Rome thus to bee emploied one hundred to Saint Peters Church an other hundred to Saint Pauls Light and the third to the Pope the Bride that euermore must be kissed and largely paid 7 His returne from Rome was through France and being a Widower hee there married Iudith the most beautifull daughter of Charles the Bald then Emperour in honour of whom in his owne Court he euer placed her in a Chaire of Estate with all other maiesticall complements of a Queene contrary to the law of the West-Saxons for Ethelburgaes offence formerly made Which his doing so disliked the Nobles that Prince Ethelbald his eldest Sonne Adelstan Bishop of Shirborne and Enwulfe Earle of Somerset rose vp rebelliously in Armes and sought to depose him yet by mediation of friends the matter came to a comprimize and the land to be diuided betwixt the Father and Sonne but with such partiality that the better part west-ward was allotted to Ethelbald which vnequality gaue great suspition that this reuolt was rather grounded vpon ambition then any inclination they had for the defence of their lawes which commonly is the pretence and vaile for all disloiall attempts of seditious subiects against their soueraigne Lords 8 Howsoeuer it was long after this he liued not but left his Monarchy vnto his eldest sonne Ethelbald and by will appointed Ethelbert his second to be King of Kent and Essex which countries he had conquered He raigned twenty yeares one moneth and nine dayes and deceased at a place called Stamrige the thirteenth day of Ianuary in the yeare of our Lord eight hundred fifty seauen being the twenty one of his Raign His body was first buried at the place of his decease and afterwards remoued into the Cathedrall Church at Winchester His wiues 9 Osburg the first wife of King Ethelwolfe was the daughter of a Nobleman named Oslake who had the office of Great Butler of England and was descended of the stocke of Stuffe and Withgar two brethren being noblemē of the people called Iutes who were the first Princes of the I le of Wight and Nephewes to Cherdik and cosen germans to Kenrik
such pranks of impietie that his gouernment was odious to the Romans who wished an end of his raigne and life so that certaine South saiers imploied in that busines gaue forth that after Gregory Odo should be Pope Odo our said Earle the Conquerours brother fed with ful hope that hee was the man sendeth to Rome to buy him a Pallace adorning it with stately and ouer-lauish trimmings Salutes the Senators with great gifts complements stuffeth bagges with money and letters to such as might doe much in the election and prouides honourable personages to attend him to Rome Among the which for chiefe was Hugh Earle of Chester with many great men and Knights of the land for the Normans variable and desirous to see forraine Countries were contented to forsake their faire lands in the west climate to accompany this proud Prelate ouer the riuer Poo This iolly traine was set forward into the Isle of Wight and there in great pompe ready to set saile into Normandy when on the sodain King William vnlooked for was euen among them and in his great Hall in presence of his Nobles thus spake 50 Excellent Peeres I beseech you hearken to my words and giue me your counsell at my sailing into Normandy I commended England to the gouernment of Odo my brother Bishop In Normandy many forraine foes haue risen vp against me yea and inward friends I may say haue inuaded me for Robert my sonne and other yonglings whom I haue brought vp and giuen Armes haue rebelled vnto whom my false Clients and other bordering enemies haue giuen their assistance but they haue not prospered God whose seruant I am euer defending mee neither haue they gotten any thing of mine besides iron in their wounds They of Aniou prepared against me whom with the onely feare of warre I haue pacified These businesses you know haue drawn me into Normandy where I haue staied long and imploied my painfull endeuours on publike behoofes But in the meane time my brother hath greatly oppressed England spoiling the Churches of Lands and Rents hath made them naked of Ornaments giuen by our Predecessors and hath seduced my Knightes with purpose to traine them ouer the Alpes who ought to defend the Land against the inuasions of the Danes Irish and other Enemies ouer strong for me but my greatest dolour is for the Church of God which he hath afflicted and vnto which the Christian Kings that raigned before me haue giuen many gifts and with their loues honored for which now as we beleeue they rest reioicing with a happy retribution in a pleasant State Ethelbert Edward Saint Oswald Althulph Aefred Edward the Elder Edgar and my cosen and most deere Lord Edward haue giuen Riches to the Church the spouse of God But my Brother to whom I committed the whole Kingdome violently plucketh away their goods cruelly grindeth the poore and with a vaine hope stealeth away my Knights from me and by oppression hath exasperated the whole Land with vniust taxations consider thereof most Noble Lords and giue mee I pray you your aduice what is heerein to bee done 51 At which pause when all stood mute as fearing to giue their opinions in so weighty a point concerning so great a Person the King thus continued his speech Hurtfull rashnesse is euer vnsufferable and must at length be repressed This man hath oftentimes banded himselfe against his owne father and vpon a stomacke blowne vp with pride and folly hath fallen off to the King of France therefore lest with ouermuch lenity we buy too late a repentance he shall remaine Prisoner yet not as a Bishop whose name I both honour and reuerence but as an Earle subiect to the Lawes and Censure of his King Which accordingly was done vpon seizure of whose estate this Prelate was found so well lined in purse that the heapes of yellow mettall did moue admiration to the beholders and many of his bags were taken vp out of the bottome of Riuers where they were hidden full of gold ground into powder 52 Soone after some displeasure hauing arisen betwixt King William and Philip King of France hee hauing first generally caused to be taken the Oath of English Alleageance to himselfe and successors with a mighty masse of money fitted for some great attempts departed to Normandy where falling sicke and keeping his Bed more then his wont the French King hearing that his disease was in his belly gaue him this frumpe Our Cosen William said he is laid now in Child-bed Oh what a number of Candels must I offer at his going to Church surely I thinke a hundred thousand will not suffice King William hearing thereof is said to make this answere Well our cosen of France I trust shall be at no such cost but after this my child-birth at my going to Church swearing by the resurrection and brightnes of God I will said he find him one thousand candles and light them my selfe And accordingly towards August following when both the trees fruites corn and ground was most flourishing hee entred France with a mighty Army spoiling all the west parts thereof before him and lastly set the City Meux or Mauntz on fire wherein he consumed the faire Church of our Lady in the wals wherof was enclosed an Anchoret who might but would not escape holding it a breach of his religious vow to forsake his Cell in that distresse The King busied in these attempts cheered his men to feede the fire and came himselfe so neere the flames that with the heat of his harnesse he got a sicknesse and the same encreased by the leape of his horse that burst the inward rimme of his belly and cost him his life 53 At which time feeling death to approach he deferred not to addresse his last Will wherein hee commanded all his Treasure to bee distributed to Churches Gods Ministers and the Poore limiting to each their seuerall portion and quantity which he caused to be ingrossed in writing by Notaries before him Amongst which he bequethed to the Church and Monkes of Saint Stephens at Cane in Normandy two Mannors in Dorsetshire one Mannor in Deuonshire another in Essex much Lands in Barke-shire some in Norfolke a Mansion house in Woodstreet of London with many Aduowsions of Churches yea which is to be wondred at hee gaue his Crowne and Regall Ornaments thereto belonging to the said Church being of his owne foundation for the redemption whereof King Henry his sonne gaue the Mannor of Brideton in Dorsetshire to preuent any danger that thereof might arise and vnto the Churches by fire destroied in Meuxe he gaue great summes of money to repaire them and so preparing himselfe for God briefly ranne ouer the carriage of his former life the summe whereof as much as best fitteth this place we will declare as he spake it to them that were present 54 Being laden with many and grieuous sins O Christ I now tremble
no Necessity required alwaies couetous yet neuer thrifty and still gathering yet neuer enriching his Coffers All Ecclesiasticall promotions then vacant he assumed into his owne hands and kept the See of Canterbury without an Archbishop aboue foure yeeres setting to sale the free-rights of the Church and he that would giue most came soonest to preferment wherby both the Lands and good esteeme of the Clergy was daily diminished These greeuances were complained of vnto Pope Vrban but he ouer busied to forward an expedition of Christian Princes for the winning of Ierusalem had no leasure seriously to thinke vpon their estates or else lesse minde to diuert Kings out of their owne byas whose persōs he meant to reserue for his own gain 12 The Storme thus clecred without any thunder King Rufus set the eye of desire vpon Duke Roberts dominions who lately had done the like with his and suddenly burst into Normandy as Scipio did into Africke pretending reuenge of injuries done to his Kingdome first therefore surprizing the Castles of Saint Valery and Albemarle hee stored them with his owne Souldiers then piercing forward did great spoile in the Countrie Robert destitute of meanes and knowing his Normans euer vnfaithfull sent to Philip the French King desiring his assistance against this Brother-Enemy who preparing towards Normandy was stopped with such golden showres from King William that he could not passe so that Duke Robert was constrained to make a peace with his brother though for himselfe a very sorry one as saith Gemeticensis which as Paris reporteth was effected by twelue Princes vpon either part and the conditions as followeth that King William should retaine and enioy the County of Ewe with Fescampe the Abbacie of Mount Saint-Michael and all the Castles he had gotten in Normandy for the Duke it was agreed that his brother King William should aide and assist him to recouer thoselands territories beyond the seas which had beene belonging to their Father That all such Normans as had lost their liuings in England in taking part with Duke Robert should be restored and lastly whether of them should die first the suruiuer should be his heire 13 Peace thus established and both their powers vnited they bent altogether against Henry their yongest brother who fearing after-claps had strongly fortified the Castle of Mount Saint-Michael situated vpon the confines of Normandie and Britaine him whom they ought to haue prouided for saith Gemeticensis they went about to expell and all the Lent long laid siege aginst him It chanced one day as his men sallied out made a brauado in the face of their beleaguers King William alone more bold then wise rode against them thinking none so hardy as to encounter him single but presently a Knight slew his horse vnder him his foot entangled in the stirrupe hee was ouer-throwne his enemy therefore with drawn sword was ready to haue slaine him had hee not reuealed himselfe by his voice the armed men with great reuerence then tooke him vp and brought him another horse when the King not staying for the stirrup sprang into the saddle and with an angry countenance demanded who it was that ouerthrew him the Knight as boldly answered and shewed himselfe who he was by Lukes face quoth William for that was his oath thou shalt bee my Knight and be enrolled in my Checke with a Fee answerable to thy worth 14 During this seige Prince Henry being sore distressed for water and knowing Duke Robert to be of the milder temperature sent him word of his want desiring to haue that permitted which God had made common and giuen euen to brute beasts aswell as to men Duke Robert therefore commanded him to be supplied whereat William was wroth telling his Brother he wanted discretion policy in warre which allowed all aduantages to surprise the Enemy And dost thou said Robert esteeme more of water which is euery where to be got then of a Brother hauing no more but him and me In which dissension Earle Henry got thence and by policy tooke a very strong towne called Danford where presently was a reconciliation made amongst these three brethren who thereupon forthwith tooke the Seas together for England 15 About this time in the yeere of Grace 1091 and fourth of King Rufus his raigne one Eneon the sonne of Cadinor Lord of Dyuet mouing rebellion against Rees ap Tewdor Prince of Southwales drew to his side Iestyn Lord of Glamorgan vpon promise to become his sonne in law by the marriage of his daughter Iestyn notwithstanding iudging their faction too weake sent Eneon into England where hee was well acquainted to procure aide against Rees who entring conference of his businesse with Robert Fitz-hamon a worthy Knight of the Kings Priuie-Chamber wrought so far with him being a man easily drawne to the exercise of warre that for a Salarie hee vndertooke the seruice and with twelue Knights and a competent number of Souldiers went into Wales where ioining with Iestin in battle slew Prince Rees ap Tewdor with Conan his sonne Robert Fitzhamon now minding to return demanded his pay according to couenants which Iestine in some part denied alledging that Eneon had gone beyond his commission whereupon such discord arose that these friends fell out and Eneon thus touched in his reputation sided with the English against his owne Country-men whereupon a battaile was fought and Iustin with most of his Welsh slaine so that Robert with his followers obtained a fruitfull possession in those parts which by their posterties are enioied euen to this day whose names as they are found written in a British record were as followeth NAMES POSSESSION 1 William de Londres Ogmor 2 Richard de Grana Villa Neth 3 Pagan de Turberuile Coity 4 Robert de S. Quintin Lhan Blethyan 5 Richard de Syward Talauan 6 Gilbert de Humfreuile Penmarke 7 Roger de Beckrolles East Orchard 8 Raynald de Sully Sully 9 Peter de Score Peterton 10 Iohn Le Fleming Saint George 11 Oliuer de Saint Iohn Fonmon 12 William de Estirling Saint Donats 16 As these things were commenced betwixt England Normandy and Walles Malcolme King of Scotland entred into the English Marches as farre as to Chester in the Streete doing much harme whose farther outrage to preuent William incontinently hasted sending by sea a great Nauie of Shippes and by land his brother Robert though with much losse of either for his Fleet was torne by tempest and his horsemen through hunger cold perished in those barren parts at length the Kings come to an Interuiew where by the meanes of Edgar Atheling a peace was concluded to both their contents for William restored vnto Malcolme twelue Villages which he had held in England vnder his Father and gaue him yeerly twelue Markes in gold And King Malcolme for his part promised to keepe true peace with him as hee
first thus ordered the Queen with her sonne and whole power pursues the King as it had beene agreede by the Councell of warre taking first her way to Oxford where the whole Vniuersity being called together in the presence of the Queene the Prince Roger Mortimer and the rest of that troope the Bishop of Hereford the Queenes bosome Counsellor preaching to them on this Text My head my head aketh deliuered to them the reasons of the Queens comming with her Army concluding more like a Butcher then a Diuine that an aking sick head of a kingdom was of necessity to be taken off and not to be tampered with by any other physicke 60 The Londoners in fauour of the Queene and hatred of the Spensers committed sundry outrages besides bloudy sacrilege in cutting off the Bishop of Excesters head and some others whom the King had made Guardian of London in their popular fury among the which one of them was a Citizen of their owne Iohn le Marchal who had beene of the yonger Spensers acquaintance The Tower of London they get into their possession placing and displacing the Garrison and Officers therein at their pleasure vnder the name of the Lord Iohn of Eltham the Kings second sonne whom they proclaimed Custos of the City and of the Land They also set at liberty all prisoners which by the popular Queenes commandement was done through the whole Realme and all banished men and fugitiues were reuoked who all flocking vnto London brought no small encrease to her forces 61 Whither in the meane space doth wofull Edward flie what force what course what way takes hee poore Prince O fearefull condition of so great a Monarches State when a Wife a Sonne a Kingdome are not trusted and those onely are trusted who had nothing strong but a will to liue and die with him The Queene passing from Oxford to Glocester onward to the siege of Bristow Castle grew all the while in her strengths like a rowled snow-ball or as a Riuer which spreades still broader from the fountaine to the Ocean vires acquirit eundo For thither repaired to her for the loue of the young Prince the Lord Percy the Lord Wake and others aswell out of the North as Marches of Wales But Edward hauing left the Earle of Winchester the elder Lord Spenser in the Castell of Bristol for the keeping thereof meditates flight with a few into the Isle of Lundie in Seuerne Sea or into Ireland while hee wandreth about not finding where to rest safe his roiall credite name and power like a Cliffe which falling from the toppe of some huge rocke breakes into the more pieces the farther it rolles are daylie more and more diminisht as they scatter till now at last they are come vnto a very nothing After a weeke therefore spent vpon the Sea Sir Thomas Blunt forsaking him and comming to the Queene he came on shore in Glamorganshire where with his few friends hee entrusted himselfe to God and the faith of the VVelsh who indeed still loued him lying hidden among them in the Abbey of Neath 62 Now had the Queene and her sonne for his name was abused to all sorts of turne-seruings taken the elder Lord Spenser at the Castell of Bristol who without any forme of triall was cruelly cut vp aliue and quartered saith de la Moore our Knight being first at the clamours of the people drawne and hanged in his proper Armories vpon the common Gallowes without the City but his grandchild Hugolin stood so valiantly in defence of himself within the Castell of Kerfilli that hee had his life and the liues of all his assistants saued 63 The King not appearing Proclamations were euery day made in the Queenes Armie declaring That it was the common consent of the realm that hee should returne and receiue the gouernement thereof so as he would conforme himselfe to his people This whether Stratagem or Truth not preuailing Henry Earle of Lancaster the late Earles Brother Sir William la Zouch and Rhese ap-Howell a Welshman who all of them had Lands in those parts where the King concealed himselfe were sent with coine and forces to discouer and take him The Queene and her people lay in the City of Hereford the Episcopall See of that great Arch-plotter of her courses Adam de Orlton where by aduise and consent of the Lords her sonne the Duke of Aquitaine was made High-Keeper of England and they as to the Custos of the same did sweare him fealty And here also the Bishoppe of Norwich was made Chancellor of the Realme and the Bishoppe of Winchester Treasurer 65 What will not money diligence and faire words doe with corrupt dispositions euen to euerting of all bands of either religious or ciuill duties By such meanes therefore the desolate sad and vnfortunate King came into his cosen of Lancasters hands and with him the yonger Lord Spenser Earle of Glocester Robert Baldock Lord Chancellour and Simon de Reding there being no regard had to the detention of any other The King was conueied by the Earle from the place of his surprise to Monmouth to Ledburie and so to the Castell of Kenelworth belonging to the Earle of Leicester who was appointed to attend him that is to keepe him safe The other three Spenser Baldock and Reeding were strongly guarded to Hereford there to bee disposed of at the pleasure of their most capitall enemies 66 Before whose comming to satisfie Roger Mortimer the Lord Edmund Earle of Arundel and two Gentlemen Daniel and Micheldene were beheaded at Hereford The Lord Mortimer was so high in the Queenes fauour that she could doe no lesse as weee may suppose then gratifie him with a few hated heades But Mortimer there will bee a time when the cry of this and other bloud sacrificed to thy priuate reuenge while thou abusest the publike trust will neuer giue ouer the pursuit till it hath deseruedly drawne thine in lieu thereof 67 The Lord Spenser and the rest on whom VVilliam Trussell the Iudge gaue sentence of death being now drawne to Hereford the said Lord being clad in his coat-armour was most despitefully dragged to the place of execution where being first hung vpon a gallowes fifty foot high hee was afterward headed and cut into quarters they who brought him to the Queene hauing the promised summe of two thousand pounds distributed among them for reward His head was set vp at London and his quarters in foure parts of the Kingdome Simon de Reding was hanged ten foot lower then hee in the same place 68 This Execution saith Walsingham was done vpon a Munday in reuenge of the death of Thomas Earle of Lancaster whose bloud was likewise shed vpon a Munday Robert Baldock late Lord Chancellor was committed to the keeping of the Bishop of Hereford who after a time caused him to bee brought vp to Hereford-house in London where the tumultuous people
he had created Earle of Pembrooke to be his Generall in the North who partly to deserue the Kings liberality in aduancing him to such honour and partly in emulation he bare toward Warwicke being the sole obstacle as he tooke it why he obtained not the wardship of the Lord Bonuils daughter and heire for his eldest sonne did not a little reioice of that his imploiment And therefore accompanied with Sir Richard Herbert his brother and eighteene thousand well furnished Welshmen marched towards the enemie and after him was sent Humfrey Lord Stafford with sixe thousand Archers to second him in his warres These Lords meeting together â—…ad notice by espials that the Northern made forwards towards Northampton to intercept whom the Lord Stafford lately made Earle of Deuonshire was imploied and Sir Richard Herbert who with two thousand horse laid themselues couertly by the side of a wood and sodeinely set vpon the rereward the rest hauing passed but the Northern verie nimbly turned about and bad the Welshmen such welcome as few of them returned to tell of their entertainement 33 The King vnderstanding of this hard beginning mustred his subeicts on euerie side intending to cope with the Northern himselfe And Earle Warwicke as forward to forward his fortunes gathered his friends with purpose to encounter with Pembrooke and his Welsh But before any supplies came to either of both it chanced the Armies to meete at vnawares vpon a faire plaine called Danes more neere to the Towne Hedgecot three miles from Banburie and presently fell to a bickering wherein Sir Henrie Neuill Knight sonne of the Lord Latimer vpon a lusty courage venturing somewhat too farre was taken prisoner and notwithstanding he yeelded himselfe to his Takers was cruelly slaine which vnmartiall act rested not long vnrepaied with the losse of most of the Welsh the next day For the field withdrawne the Lord Stafford repaired to Banberie and there tooke his lodging where his affections were much enamoured vpon a faire damsell in the Inne But the Earle of Pembrooke comming to the same Towne tooke into the same Inne and commanded the Lord Stafford to prouide him elsewhere contrary to their agreements made before whereat Stafford was displeased and departing thence with his whole Band left the Earle naked of men in the Towne and disabled the field of the Archers whereby the day was lost vpon the kings part for which he shortly lost his owne head 34 The Northern enflamed for the death of young Neuill the next morning most valiantly set vpon the Welshmen and by the force of Archers draue them from their ground of aduantage which Pembrooke wanting supplied with his owne prowesse and Richard his brother with his Pollaxe twice made way through the battell of the Northern without anie mortall or deadly wound so that by their valours it was verily supposed the field had beene wonne had not Iohn Clappam an Esquire and seruant to Warwicke displaied his Lords Colours with his white-beare and from an eminent place cried a Warwicke a Warwicke whereat the Welsh were so terrified as they turned and fied leauing their General and his brother alone in the field who valiantly figh ting were incompassed and taken with the 〈◊〉 of fiue thousand of their men The Earle with hâ—… brother Sir Richard Herbert were brought to Banbery where with ten other Gentlemen they lost their heads Conyers and Clappam being their Iudges 35 This second victory thus got and the Northern now fleshed vnder the leading of Robbin of Riddisdale hasted to the Kings mannor of Grafton where the Earle Riuers father to the Queene then lay whom with his sonne Iohn they sodeinely surprized and in Northampton strucke off their heads without any iudgement The deathes of these Lords the King greatly lamented and sought to reuenge first therefore writing his Commissions for the apprehension of Lord Humfrey Stafford of Southwicke who by diligent search was found at Brentmarch and beheaded at Bridgewater as he worthily deserued next he prepared a mighty Armie and with the same marched towardes Warwicke his company increasing euer as he went 36 King Edward set downe his tents at Wolney foure miles from Warwicke where the Duke and the Earle of Warwickes host lay readie for Battell but by the mediation of friends a peace was intreated and letters written from either parties expressing the griefes and wrongs sustained with proffers of redresse in amending all and in shew so farre it proceeded as the King conceiuing a certaine hope of peace rested secure not fearing any foule-play which politique Warwicke by his spiall perceiuing thought it not wisdome to loose the aduantage and thereupon in the dead of the night with a selected Company he entred the Kings Camp killing them that kept the watch tooke the king in his bed and brought him his prisoner to his Castle of Warwicke and thence by easie iourneys in the night had him conueyed to Midelham Castle in Yorkeshire not farre from Richmond where vnder the custody of his brother George Neuill Archishop of Yorke hee was reteined 37 His vsage was Princely and according to his estate which he often acknowledged to the Archbishop with all kind thankes and complements of wordes whereby he wrought himselfe into such trust and fauour as he had the Forrests to hunt in and the parkes for his pleasure whose pales are well knowne vnsufficient wals to pen the lyon in as appeared by this King who being abroad and on hunting Sir VVilliam Stanly with Sir Thomas Burgh brought him fresh horse and such a crew of followers that his keepers more feared their owne liues then were forward to force him backe againe to prison and so let the game goe without further chase King Edward thus escaped VVarwicke like a wild man furiously raged but seeing no remedy made vse of necessity and gaue forth that himselfe so caused it hauing power to make Kings and to vnmake them againe 38 The King forthwith repaired to Yorke where with great honour hee was ioifully receiued and abode certaine daies which made him well hope of a further supply of friends and men but fayling thereof and fearing the Archbishops pursuite with a small traine he posted to Lancaster where he found the Lord Hastings his Chamberlaine well accompanied for his Conuey his spirits then reuiued and traine daily increasing with speedie iourneyes hee came vnto London where all his studies and consultations were how to be reuenged vpon these disloiall Lords his brother and Earle VVarwicke and they againe fretting at the Archbishoppes follie sought to make stronger their factions against the King 39 The Land thus rent by these vnnaturall diuisions and no estate sure to enioy what was theirs the Nobles anew began to sollicite the parties vnto a Peace hauing first obtained libertie to post to and fro without their impeachments and so effectually laid downe the state of the Land whose ruines now
hath continued what gouernour we now haue and what ruler wee might haue for I plainely perceiue the Realme being in this case must needes decay and be brought to confusion but one hope I haue that is when I consider your noble personage your justice and indifferencie your seruent zeale and ardent loue towards your naturall Countrey and in like manner the loue of your countrey towards you the great learning pregnant wit and eloquence which so much doth abound in your person I must needs thinke this Realme fortunate which hath such a Prince in store meete and apt to bee Gouernour But on the other side when I call to memory the good qualities of the late Protector and now called King so violated by-tyranny so altered by vsurped authoritie and so clouded by blind ambition I must needs say that hee is neither meet to bee King of so noble a Realme nor so famous a Realme meet to be gouerned by such a tyrant Was not his first enterprise to obtaine the Crowne begunne by the murther of diuers personages did hee not secondarily proceed against his owne natural mother declaring her openly to be a woman giuen to carnall affection and dissolute liuing declaring furthermore his two brethren and two Nephewes to bee bastards and to bee borne in adultery yet not contented after hee had obtained the Garland he caused the two poore innocents his Nephewes committed to him to bee most shamefully murthered the blood of which little babes daily cry to God from the earth for vengeance What surety can be in this Land to any person either for life or goods vnder such a cruell Prince which regardeth not the destruction of his owne blood and much lesse the losse of others But now to conclude what I meane towards your noble person I say affirme if you loue God your linage or your natiue countrey you must your selfe take vpon you the Crowne of this Realme both for the maintenance of the honour of the same as also for the deliuerance of your naturall countreymen from the bondage of such a tyrant And if your selfe will refuse to take vpon you the Crowne of this Realme then I adiure you by the faith you owe vnto God to deuise some wayes how this Realme may bee brought to some conuenient regiment vnder some good Gouernour When the Bishop hap ended his saying the Duke sighed and spake not of a great while so that night they communed no more 26 The next day the Duke sent for the Bishop to whom hee said My Lord of Ely I must needs in heart thinke and with mouth confesse that you bee a sure friend a trustie counsellor and a very louer of your countrey And sith that at our last communication you haue disclosed the secrets of your hart touching the now vsurper of the crown also haue alittle touched the aduancement of the two noble families of Yorke and Lancaster I shall likewise declare vnto you my priuie intents and secret cogitations And to beginne when King Edward was deceased I then began to studie and with deliberation to ponder in what manner this Realme should be gouerned I perswaded with my selfe to take part with the Duke of Gloucester whom I thought to be as cleane without dissimulation as tractable without iniurie and so by my means he was made Protector both of the King and Realm which authoritie being once gotten he neuer ceased priuily to require mee and other Lords aswell spirituall as temporall that he might take vpon him the Crowne till the Prince came to the age of foure and twenty yeres and were able to gouerne the Realme as a sufficient King which thing when hee saw me somewhat sticke at hee then brought in instruments authenticke Doctors Proctors and Notaries of the Law with depositions of diuers witnesses testifying King Edwards children to bee bastards which depositions then I thought to be as true as now I know them to bee fained When the said depositions were before vs read and diligently heard he stood vp bare headed saying Well my Lords euen as I and you would that my Nephewes should haue no wrong so I pray you doe mee nothing but right for these witnesses and sayings of famous Doctors bee true For I am onely the vndubitate heire to Richard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke adiudged to be the very heire to the Crowne of this Realme by authoritie of Parliament Which things so by learned men for veritie to vs declared caused mee and others to take him for our lawfull and vndoubted Prince and Soueraigne Lord. So againe by my ayde hee of a Protector was made a King but when he was once crowned King and in full possession of the Realme hee cast away his old conditions For when I my selfe sued to him for my part of the Earle of Hertfords Lands which his brother Edward wrongfully deteined from me and also required to haue the office of the high Constableship of England as diuers of my noble ancestors before this time haue had and in long discent continued in this my first suite hee did not only first delay mee and afterwards deny me but gaue mee such vnkinde words as though I had neuer furthered him all which I suffered patiently But when I was informed of the death of the two young Innocents O Lord my heart inwardly grudged insomuch as I abhorred the sight of him I took my leaue of the Court and returned to Brecknocke to you but in my iourney as I came I had diuers imaginations how to depriue this vnnaturall vncle First I fantasied that if I list to take vpon me the Crowne now was the way made plaine and occasion giuen For I well saw hee was disdained of the Lords Temporall and accursed of the Lordes Spirituall After diuers cogitations of this matter as I rode betweene Worcester and Bridgenorth I encountred with the Lady Margaret Countesse of Richmund now wife to the Lord Stanley who is the very daughter and sole heire to Iohn Duke of Sommerset my Grandfathers elder brother so that she her sonne Henry Earle of Richmund be both between me and the gate to enter into the Maiestie roiall getting of the Crowne and when wee had a little communed concerning her sonne and were departed I then beganne to dispute with my selfe whether I were best to take it vpon me by the election of the Nobility and Communalty or to take it by power Thus standing in a wauering ambiguity I considered first the office duety and paine of a King which surely I thinke that no mortall man can iustly and truly obserue except he be elected of God as K. Dauid was 27 But further I remembred that if I once took vpon me the Gouernance of the Realme the daughters of King Edward and their Allies being both for his sake much beloued and also for the great iniurie done to them much pittied would neuer cease to barke at