regalia qui violauit Fabians English of them The Church he fauoured casting the proud to ground And all that would his roiall State confound The said Author therefore Robert Fabian obseruing the scope of those lines to dampe their force doth vnderwrite and annex this Stanza with much greater discretion then elegancie But yet alas though that this meeter or rime Thus doth embellish this noble Princes fame And that some Clerke which fauoured him sometime List by his cunning thus to enhance his name Yet by his Story appeareth in him some blame Wherefore to Princes is surest memory Their liues to exercise in vertuous constancie More tart and seuere is the censure of Gower vpon this Prince one of whose verses Stow giues vs thus So God doth hate such rulers as here viciously do liue That beautifull picture of a King sighing crowned in a chaire of estate at the vpper end of the Quier in Saint Peters at Westminster is said to be of him which witnesseth how goodly a creature he was in outward lineaments 20 King Henry to diuert the humors and eyes of the people from the remembrance of this Tragedie prepareth now a puissance therewith to inuade Scotland some subiects whereof together with their Admirall Sir Robert Logon a Scotish Knight were taken at Sea by certaine English ships But K. Henry may seeme to haue done any thing rather then to haue made a warre for albeit hee did some hurt by wasting the Country yet did not the Scots offer battel and the rest will wel appear in these words of Boetius He did small iniuries to the people thereof for he desired nought but his banner to bee erected on their wals He was euer a pleasant enemy and did great humanity to the people in all places of Scotland where he was lodged Finally hee shewed to the Lords of Scotland that hee came into their Realme rather by counsell of his Nobles then for any hatred he bare to Scots Soone after hee returned into England Whether the remembrance of the curtesies shewed to his Father Duke Iohn or the feare of his owne great state so neere to an ouerthrow by the late furious conspiracy wrought these gentle effects it was not long before the euent shewed that his prouidence in not creating new acerbities was therein needfull 21 For albeit the face of England seemed smooth yet God thrust a thorne into King Henries side when and where he little expected for the Welsh whom former Kings of England had so yoaked and subiected did contrary to all mens expectation breake forth into open acts of hostility vnder the conduct of a Gentleman of that Nation surnamed Glendowr of the Lordship of Glendowr in Merionithshire whose owner he was the wrath and iustice of heauen is alwayes so well furnished with meanes to exercise the mightiest those chiefly at whose amendment God aimes by chastisement The originall of so great an euill was in the seed but little as but this Owen Glendowr whom the Welsh call the sonne of Gruffith Vachan descended of a yonger son of Gruffith ap Madoc Lord of Bromfield was at first a Student of the common laws and an Vtter Barister but not therefore an apprentise of law as Doctor Powell mistakes for an apprentise of the law is hee that hath been a double Reader did afterward serue the late King Richard in place of an Esquier was well beloued of him but in King Henries time retiring himselfe as it seemes to his Mannour of Glendourdwy the L. Gray of Ruthen entred vpon a peece of common which lay betweene Ruthen and Glendowr which Owen despite the Lord Gray while Richard continued King had formerly holden though not without contention Owen a man of high courage and impatient of force armes hereupon and encounters the Lord Gray in the field where he scattered the said Lords people and tooke him prisoner as hereafter will else-where bee touched 22 It seemes herein that hee had forgotten the lawes which he had formerly studied and wherin hee had been a licentiate for shortly after as hee had troden law vnder foot so did he also cast off loyaltie burning destroying the Lord Grays inheritances and killing sundry his seruants The King aduertised hereof passeth with an Army into Wales burnes kils and takes such reuenge as that time would permit Meanewhile Owen whom pride folly armed to the farther ruine of his Country with his trustiest friends which were not few withdrawes into the inexpugnable fastnesses of Snowdon where during this tempest he kept his head safe Shortly after the King with such riches and spoiles as those Parts had afforded returnes His next most noted action was peaceable For one of the house of Paâ—…logus and Emperour of Constantinople came into England to pray some succour against the Turke and vpon the day of S. Thomas the Apostle was met at Blackeheath by King Henry highly feasted richly presented and his charges borne till departure But as Tilius saith of his successe in France verbis promissis tantum adiutus est so here his speed was not much better the point of armed aides being only therein assisted with words and promises 23 In a Parliament held the next yeere by reason of the numbers of Lolards so called encreasing the punishment for them enacted was burning And in the same yeere also the Articles of peace beeing first agreed vpon betweene the two Nations English and French notwithstanding that they had denied to match with the young Prince of Wales because the former marriage with Richard thriued so badly the Lady Isabel who had beene crowned Queene of England as Spouse of the late King was now sent backe into France after a most princely maner shee being not as yet twelue yeeres old had no dowrie allowed her in England for that the marriage was neuer consummated Before shee was restored to her friends the Lord Henry Percie before the Ambassadors of both the Nations where they were met betweene Caleis and Boloigne protested That the King of England his Master had sent her to be deliuered to her Father cleare of all bonds of marriage or otherwise and that hee would take it vpon his soule that shee was sound and entire euen as shee was the same day shee was deliuered to King Richard and if any would say to the contrary hee was ready to proue it against him by combat But the Earle of Saint Paul saying hee beleeued it to be true the Lord Percie tooke her by the hand and deliuered her vnto the Earle and then the Commissioners of France deliuered certaine letters of receipt and acquitall She was afterward married to Charles Duke of Orleance 24 Owen Glendowr persisting in his pride and disobedience made incursions vpon the English doing them great harme and returning himselfe without any but K. Henries danger was greater at home for treason had crept into his most secret Chamber In his
Princes fauour the Duke of Gloucester turned vnto their destruction and vpon that ground set the foundation of all his vnhappy building For whomsoeuer he perceiued either at variance with them or bearing himselfe their fauour he brake vnto them some by mouth some by writing and secret messengers that it was neither reason nor in any wise to be suffered that the young King their Master and kinseman should be in the hands and Custody of his mothers kindred sequestred in manner from their Company and attendance of which euery one ought him as faithfull seruice as they and many of them farre more honorable part of kin then his mothers side whose blood quoth he sauing the Kings pleasure was farre vnmeet to bee matched with his which now to be as who say remoued from the king and the lesse noble to be left about him is quoth hee neither honorable to his Maiestie nor vnto vs and also to his Grace no suretie to haue the mightiest of his friends from him and vnto vs no little ieopardy to suffer our well proued euill-willers to grow in ouer great authority with the Prince in youth who is light of beliefe and soone perswaded Ye remember I trow K. Edward himselfe albeit he was a man of age and discretion yet was he in many things ruled by the bend more then stood either with his honor or our profit or with the commodity of any man else except only the immoderate aduancement of themselues Which whether they sorer thirsted after their owne weale or our woe it were hard I weene to gesse and if some folkes friendship had not held better place with the King then any respect of kindred they might perhaps easily haue intrapped and brought some of vs to confusion ere this why not as easily as they haue done some other alreadie as neere of his roiall blood as we But our Lord hath wrought his will and thankes be to his grace that perill is past howbeit as great is growing if we suffer this young King in our enemies hand which without his knowledge might abuse the name of his commandement to any of our vndoing which thing God and good prouision forbid 12 Of which good prouision none of vs hath any thing the lesse neede for the late made attonement in which the Kings pleasure had more place then the parties wils nor none of vs I beleeue is so vnwise ouer soone to trust a new friend made of an old foe or to thinke that an howerly kindnes sodeinly contracted in one houre continued yet scarce a fortnight should be deeper setled in their stomackes then a long accustomed malice many yeeres rooted With these wordes and writings and such other the Duke of Gloucester soone set afire them that were of themselues apt enough to kindle especially two Edward Duke of Buckingham and William Lord Hastings Chamberlaine both men of honor and of great power The one by long succession from his Auncestry the other by his office and the Kings fauour These two not bearing each to other so much loue as both of them hatred vnto the Queenes part in this point accorded together with the Duke of Gloucester that they would vtterly remoue from the Kings Company all his mothers friends vnder the name of their enemies 13 Vpon this conclusion the Duke of Gloucester vnderstanding that the Lords which at that time were about the King intended to bring him to London to his Coronation accompanied with such power of their friends that it should be hard for him to bring his purpose to passe without the gathering a great assembly of people and in manner of open warre whereof the end hee wiste well was doubtfull and in which the King being on their side his part should haue the face and name of a Rebellion he secretly therefore by diuers meanes caused the Queene to be perswaded and brought in minde that it neither were need and also should be ieopardous the King to come vp strong 14 For whereas now euery Lord loued other and no other thing studied vpon but about the Coronation and honor of the King if the Lords of her kindred should assemble in the Kings name much people they should giue the Lords of the contrary faction cause to feare and suspect least they should gather this people not for the Kings safegard whom no man impugned but for their destruction hauing more regard to their old variance then their new attonement for which cause they should assemble on the other party much people againe for their defence whose power shee wist well stretched farre and thus should all the Realme fall on an vproare and of all the hurt that thereof should insue which was likely not to be a little the most harme like to fall where shee least would all the world would put her and her kindred in the blame and say that they had vnwisely and vntrulie also broken the amity and peace which the King her husband so prudently made betwixt his kin and hers on his death bed and which the other party faithfully obserued 15 The Queene in this wise perswaded sent such word vnto her sonne and vnto her brother being about the King besides the Duke of Glocester him selfe and other Lords the chiefe of his bend wrote vnto the King so reuerently and to the Queenes friends there so louingly that they nothing earthly mistrusting brought vp the King in great hast but not in good speed with a sober company Now was the King in his way to London gone from Northampton when the Dukes of Glocester and Buckingham came thither where remained behind the Lord Riuers the Kings vncle intending on the morrow to follow the King and bee with him at Stony-Stratford twelue miles thence earely ere he departed So was there made that night much friendlie cheare betwixt these two Dukes and the Lord Riuers a great while but incontinent after that they were openly with great curtesie departed and the Lord Riuers lodged the Dukes secretly with a few of their most priuy friends set them down in Councell wherein they spent a great part of the night at their rising in the dawning of the day they sent out priuily to their seruants in their Innes and lodgings about giuing command to make themselues shortly ready for their Lords were to horse-ward vpon which messages many of their folke were attendant when many of the L. Riuers seruants were vnready 16 Now had these Dukes taken into their custodies the keyes of the Inne that none should passe forth without their licence and besides this in the high-way towards Stony-Stratford where the King lay they had bestowed certaine of their men that should send backe againe and compell to returne any man that were gotten out of Northampton towards Stony-Stratford till they had further order forasmuch as the Dukes themselues intended for the shew of their diligence to bee the first that should that day attend vpon the
raigned the space of six yeeres and chose for their Gouernour his sonne young Vortimer 9 His Sonne he was indeed by nature but not his in conditions who besides the quarrell of his Queene mother for Rowenas sake reiected bare an inward loue to his natiue Country and an outward hate to the strangers that daily sought the subuersion thereof and presently encountred with them in a pitched Battell neere vnto Ailsford in Kent wherein Catigern and Horsa brethren to Vortimer and Hengist in single fight hand to hand slew each other In which place Catigern was buried and a Monument in memory of him erected the stones whereof to this day appeare and stand vpon a great plaine in the Parish of Ailsford and from Catigern as yet is corruptly called Cits-Cotihouse The like Monument the Saxons built for Horsa which time hath now defaced and whereof Beda maketh mention who saith that a tombe bearing his name was in his daies to bee seene in the East part of Kent The credit whereof is continued to this day where the Village Horsted is reported to haue receiued that name from him which standeth in the very same place where that Battle was fought as the Inhabitants report 10 Three other Battles after this with variable successe were fought betwixt the Britaines and the Saxons one at Craford another at Weppeds-fleet and the third vpon Colmore in which last the Britaines bare themselues so valiantly that the Saxons were driuen into the Isle of Tanet if not ouer the seas so that small hope rested for them so long as this valiant Vortimer liued who had dispossessed them of all their footing in the Continent and often assailed them in Tanet as Fabian saith After this Victorie long hee liued not but was made away by poison through the meanes of Rowena the mother of all this mischiefe when he had sate King the space of foure yeeres and the father againe reestablished 11 Vortigern now was no sooner restored but that Hengist had notice thereof who was then in building a Castle at Leiden in Holland as their Annales doe witnesse and Iohn Dousa in his verses specifie where leauing all as it were at randome returned to follow his fortunes further in Britaine and with a mighty Armie of his Saxons thought to land without impeachment but the Britaines growne bold by their former victories and their bloud not cooled since it was heat in fight admonished their reestablished King who with them went to withstand his ariuage When Hengist therefore perceiued their courage and knew their hatreds to him and his Saxons hee sought by smooth words to gaine the shoare and by some stratageme his wished desire therefore pretending only to visit his daughter yea and to rid the Land of her if so he might haue leaue of the King and them and therefore desired a conference in friendly manner after which his Saxons should depart the Land and rest the like friends to the Britaine 's as they were when first they came in 12 This motion seemed reasonable to the Nobilitie and the place and time appointed which was the first of May and vpon the Plaine of Ambrij now called Salisbury whither vpon equall tearmes as was thought each partie repaired and a while conferred with friendly semblances but in the end the Saxons vrging their wrongs fel from words vnto blowes the watch-word first giuen by Hengist their Leader The Britaines meant simply and ware no weapons according to couenāts but the Saxons vnder their long Cassocks had short Skeines hid with which no sooner the words Nem eowr Seaxes were pronounced but that each slew him with whom he conferred by which treason the Britaines lost three hundred of their disarmed Nobilitie onely Eldol Duke of Glocester as Randulph Higden declareth with a Stake gotten from the hedge slew seuenteene Saxons The King they tooke prisoner for whose ransome the Countries of Kent Sussex Suffolke and Northfolke were deliuered vnto these Infidels who shortly defiled the beauty of Christianitie with their Paganisme and heathenish cruelties Then saith Beda the fire of Gods vengeance was kindled by these wicked Conquerors and raged first vpon those Countries next adioyning and afterwards from the East Sea vnto the West without resistance made to quench the same publike and priuate houses were ouerthrowne and laied leuell with the ground Priests were slaine standing at the Altars and Bishops with their flocks were murthered neither was there any to bury the dead And these are the times whereof wespake and wherein the miserable Britaines abandoned the Land or hid themselues in caues where in they either perished for hunger or redeemed their liues with perpetuall slauery 13 Neither were their calamities greater in outward afflictions then their soules polluted with the heresie of the Pelagians brought by Agricola the Son of Seuerianus a Pelagian Bishop that did foulely corrupt the faith of the Britaines to redresse which Germanus Altifiodorensis and Lupus Bishop of Trecassa in France were by the brethren desired and sent vnto their thus troubled and declining estate These pillars of Gods truth after they had powred forth praiers and conuicted the Heretikes lead an Armie of Britaines against the Picts and Saxons and gained the victorie after which like vnto people that drew on Gods vengeance and their owne destructions they fell to robberies and rapine one Citie banding against another and all laid waste by the Saxons and themselues These miseries doth Gildas impute to haue hapned to his Britaines because they tooke no care to preach the Gospell of Christ vnto those Infidels the English-Saxons that in their heathenish cruelties sought the Lands destruction 14 Vortigern thus dispossessed for his further securitie betooke himselfe into Wales where among those vast Mountaines hee built a strong Castle of whose foundation Merlin the Welsh Wizard with the future successe that should afterward follow the Britaines haue by way of prophecie vainly spoken This Castle most of our Writers haue said to bee in South-Wales vpon a rockie and solitarie mountaine called Breigh or after others Cloarie in the West of that Prouince not farre from Radnor and neere vnto the Riuer Gnaua but the inhabitants of North-Wales report by the reports of their ancestors that in old Bethkelert was that Castle which Vortigern built and is yet called Embris from Merlin Embris as they affirme And surely besides the craggie and solitarinesse of the place which seemed to mee rather an entrance into the shadow of death then to be the Palace or Court of a King the Riuer Llynterrenny mooueth much by which Faustus his sonne begotten of his own daughter Rowena is said to spend his life in continuall praiers 15 But whilest Vortigern was busied in building this Castle and the Saxons making spoiles wheresoeuer they came the Britaines vnder the conduct of Aurelius Ambrosius began to
inferiour to none a stone that could turne euen great streames aside so that these supposals of treasons as proceeding from enuy to him for his good seruices wanne him greater trust and sent he was Ambassador to the Danes to mediate for peace where reuealing the weakenes of the land and the feares which the English conceiued of a conquest treacherously disswaded them from giuing eare to any motiues of Truce 22 The State of the land thus standing or rather hanging at suspence King Ethelred gaue order that out of euery three hundred and ten hides of land a shippe should bee built and of euery eight hides a complete Armour furnished These meeting at Sandwich and furnished with souldiers made shew of such resistance as had not beene seene although the euent was nothing but a shew For Wil mot a Noble man of Sussex banished for some offence by King Ethelred with twenty Sailes roued vpon the coasts and by Piracy did much hurt among the English Marchants wherefore Brithrik the brother of Edrik to winne himselfe honour got the Kings consent to pursue this grand-Pirate with fourescore saile of the foresaid ships threatning to bring in Wilmot either dead or aliue but his sailes being spread vnder a faire wind a violent tempest sodainely arose and outragiously droue his shippes vpon shore where distressed and torne their beaten huls lay vnable to recouer themselues or the Sea Wilmot taking aduantage of this present mishap fell 〈◊〉 vpon them and after much slaughter of their weather-beaten warders set them all on fire so that all this preparation proued not onely vaine but also very hurtfull 23 At the receit of the said thirty thousand pounds the Danes departed in semblance satisfied and friends with the English but how long that lasted the sequele shewed for the next haruest and yeere of saluation 1009. a great fleete of their ships strongly appointed landed at Sandwich vnder the conduct of three Danish Princes Turkil Henning and Anlafe these comming to Canterbury were compounded with by the Citizens paying a thousand pounds for their departure who thence in the Wight Sussex and Hampshire made hauoke of all King Ethelred seeing no truth in their promises nor quietnesse in State his land thus exhausted of prouision and coine thought it best to aduenture once for all and to commit his cause vnto God by the fortune of warre To which end hee gathered his power and comming vnlooked for when the enemy was altogether vnprepared and taken at disaduantage he had made an end of the quarrell if wicked Edrick had not perswaded him from fight and put him into a causle sse feare with his forged tales The Danes thus escaping returned to Kent and the winter following lodged their ships in the riuer Thamesis whence often they gaue assaies for London though to little purpose 24 Then took they through the Chiltern woods vnto Oxford which they fired and in their returne wasted all the countries on both sides of Thamesis but hearing that London was prepared against them they crossed ouer at Stanes passing through Surrey into Kent where they fell to amending their ships and thence sailing about the coasts of Suffolke tooke Ipswich and pitched their battle vpon Rigmer against Vikel Gouernour of Norffolke and his English vpon the fift of May where they wonne the day with a great slaughter made of the Suffolke Norffolke and Cambridge-shire men and after harried those Countries with the borders of Lincolne and Huntingtonshires burning Thetford and Cambridge and rifling all the Abbies and Churches that stood in their way and then through Essex returned vnto their ships 25 Neither rested they there long in quiet ere as people wholly deuoted to spoile they brake into Buckinghame Bedford and Northampton-shiers the chief Towne of which last they set on fire after much slaughter of the Inhabitants and thence entring Wiltshire depopulated all before them which was the seauenth Shire in number that they had laid wast like a solitude 26 And now not satisfied with spoil nor bloud-spilling they prepare a new expedition for Canterbury and in September beleagered the Citie which by treason of a Church-man they wonne tooke Elphegus the Arch-Bishop and slew nine hundred Monks and men of Religion besides many Citizens without all mercy for they tithed the captiue multitudes after an inuerted order slaying all by nines and reseruing onely the tenth to liue so that of all the Monkes in the towne there were but foure saued and of the lay people foure thousand eight hundred by which account M. Lambert collecteth that there died in this massacre forty three thousand and two hundred persons The Archbishop Elphegus for that he refused to charge his Tenants with three thousand pounds to pay for his ransome they most cruelly stoned to death at Greenewith the nineteenth of April following Turkillus the Leader of these murtherers tooke into his possession all Northfolke and Suffolke ouer whom he tyrannized in most sauage maner The rest compounding with the English for eight thousand pound soiourned a while quiet among them 27 But King Swaine hearing of the dissensions and weakenesse of the land in the yeare of Grace 1013 with a great number of ships arriued in the mouth of Humber and entring Trent landed at Gainsborough whose terrour stroke so deepe into the Northumbrians conceites that they with them of Lyndsey yeelded themselues to the yoake of his subiection so that now ouer all the North from Watling street he raigned sole King and exacted pledges from them for their further obedience From the North hee sought to spread his wings further into the South and leauing his sonne Canute to take charge of his shippes and new conquered countries sped himselfe through Mercia to Oxford and Winchester bringing all vnder the power of his commaund with which gales of his fortunes hee was so pusfed vp that thinking nothing vnpossible for him and his Danes to doe in the heat of his courage he came vnto London and presently begirt the walles with a strait siege 28 In the City lay vnfortunate King Ethelred who as Simon Monke of Durham reporteth had with him and vnder his pay Turkillus the Danish Prince before spoken of and forty fiue Danish ships to defend the coasts King Swaine at his first comming fiercely assaulted the City hoping his fortunes would haue proued as before but the presence of the King and London the eye of the land made the Citizens aboue measure couragious who beat the Danes from their walles and sallying forth of the Gates slew them on heapes so that Swain himselfe was in great danger had hee not desperately runne through the midst of his enemies and by flight escaped their swords marching both day and night in great feare vntill hee had entred Bath where Ethelmere Earle of Deuonshire with his Westerne people submitted themselues vnto him But
had laine for a while as raked vp vnder cold ashes For the next yeere following and twentieth of his raigne Lewes came into Normandy as hote in rage to do somwhat as before he departed thence calme and cold where forthwith he began to molest the Country which K. Henry for a while suffered till his friends noted him of cowardize to whom he replied that he had learned of his Father to break the foole hardines of the French by patience rather then by force that they should not wonder if he were loath to bee prodigall of their bloud whom he found so fast friends vnto him that he would not gladly winne a Kingdome with their deathes whose liues hee still found deuoted to all hazards for his cause that hee vsed this backwardnesse onely to stay them whom he saw so forward to testifie their zeale voluntarily euen with their blood which to proceed from prouidence and not from dastardlinesse they should soone perceiue This accordingly hee made good and a pitched field was fought betwixt the Kings of England and France whereof let vs heare the Monke Paris report The French King saith hee hauing ordered his Armie into two Battalions in the former of them placed William the sonne of Duke Robert the brother of King Henry the other Lewes himselfe led consisting of his speciall and chiefest Souldiers King Henry also disposed his forces into three Battailes the first consisting of his Peeres and men of Normandy In the second him selfe kept among his owne guard and dailie attendants and in the third he marshalled his sonnes with the maine strength of the Footemen The Armies thus ordered the troupes on both sides gaue assault whereof the first Battalion of the French brake through the rankes of the Norman Nobles ouerthrowing their Hoâ—…e-men and forcing them to seatter in which violence they likewise brake into King Henries battaile and put it much out of order but he taking courage and comforting his men beganne a most bloody and bold constâ—…t wherein himselfe was twice strooke vpon the head by William Crispin County of Eureux whom for his offences Henry had before banished whose sword and strokes were so sure and so heauie that albeit the Kings helmet was impeâ—…etrable yet withfine force was it beaten stat to his head insomuch that the bloud came forth in abundance but Henry feeling himselfe to bee wounded gathered with his rage more strength and stroke the said Countyia such sort that at one blow he ouerthrew both him and his horse and tooke him prisoner by which example his Souldiers were led to fight like Iyons and the French to betake themselues vnto flight In this battaile died many thousands and among them Baldwine Earle of Flanders King Henry returning victorious was receiued triumphantly into Roan 39 Foulke Earle of Aniou hauing lost Baldwine his martiall Companion and seeing it was bootles to bandy against the Beanclarke fell to an agreement with him which was confirmed by giuing his daughter vnto his sonne Prince William now seauenteene yeerts old whom Henry made inheritor of all his Kingdomes whereupon both France and Flanders became his reconciled friends and William did homage to King Lewes for his Dutchie of Normandy These things thus ordered King Henrie vpon the twentie fift of Nouember loosed from land at Barfluit and prosperously arriued in England 40 Prince William who now wanted but onely the name of a King commanded another shippe to bee prepared for himselfe his Brethren and Sisters with many other Nobles and Gallants Courtiers both of England and Normandy who plying the Mariners with pots and wine therein being instruments of their owne calamity approaching made them bragge to out-saile the Kings ship gone before and in the night putting forth from land with a mery gale made way ouer the dancing waues as swift as an arrow but as if the Heauens would haue King Henries too great felicities allaid and tempered with sense of Courtly variety in the middest of their iollity and singing alas they sang their last and little thought on death for suddainely the shippe dashed against a Rocke not very farre from the Shoare at which fearefull disaster a hideous cry arose all of them shifting and yet through amazednesse not knowing how to shift to saue themselues from the danger For God repaying the reward for sinne suffered not those vnnaturall wantons for such were many of them saith Paris to haue Christian Buriall but were so swallowed vp of the Sea when her waues were most calme Prince William got speedily into the Cocke-boate and might well haue escaped had he not pittied his sister the Countesse of Perche crying vnto him for helpe when turning the boat to her aid so many striued to get in euery man in such a case esteeming his life as much as a Prince that with their weight it presently suncke and of so princely a Traine no one escaped to relate that dolefull tragedie saue onely a base fellow a Butcher some say who swamme all the night vpon the Maine-maste and got shoare in the morning with much danger of life 41 This was the most vnfortunate Shipwracke that euer hapned in our Seas bringing an inconceiuable heauinesse to the King and whole State for therein perished Prince William Duke of Normandy the ioy of his Father and hope of his Nation Richard his base Brother his Sister Maud Countesse of Perch Richard Earle of Chester with his wife Lady Lucy the Kings Niece by his Sister Adela Otwell the Earles Brother the yong Dukes Gouernour diuers of the Kings chiefe Officers and most of the Princes Geffrey Riddle Robert Manduit William Bigod Geffrey Arch-deacon of Hereford Walter de Crucie and many other of prime note and esteeme to the number of one hundred and sixty persons none of their bodies being found though great search was made for them 42 King Henry thus at once depriued of all his lawfull Posterity onely Maude the Empresse excepted vpon the tenth of April and two and twentieth yeere of his Raigne married his second wife Adelâ—…a a Lady of surpassing beauty the daughter of Geffrey first Duke of Louain in hope though it proued otherwise to haue repaired his late losses by issue of her whose Coronation was appointed to be celebrated by Roger Bishop of Sarisbury the infirmity of Palsey so troubling Ralphe Arch-bishop of Canterbury that himselfe could not performe it yet because Roger was not appointed by him he forbad his imploiment and the King wearing his Crowne saith the Monke of Chester this testy old man could hardly bee entreated by the Lords to with-hold his hands from striking the same from the Kings head of such Spirites then were those spirituall Prelates and iealousie to loose their pompous preheminence of honour but his high top was somewhat born down by the boisterous blasts of Pope Calixt from whose holy hand Thurstan Arch-bishop of Yorke contrary
Priest if such an election might stand by law or lawfull fauour But the Pope who meant to make his aduantage hereof as well as the King exacted of him for confirmation of the same election fiue hundreth Markes of Church reuenewes to be passed ouer vnto the Earle of Burgundies sonne a childe which makes the Monke to breake forth into this bitter lamentation O Pope the Chiefe of Fathers why dost thou suffer thus the Christian world to be defiled worthily worthily therefore art thou driuen out of thy owne Citie and See and like a runnagate and another Cham art inforced to wander vp and downe ô God thou God of iust reuenge when wilt thou drawforth thy sword to imbrue it in the blood of such oppressors Though in these vniuersall abuses the Pope would neither redresse himselfe nor others yet God raised vp a stout and learned Prelate Robert Grostest Bishop of Lincolne who vndertooke to reforme the Monks and Friars but they who knew Râ—…e was from the beginning Asylum Latronum appealed to the Pope Whereupon the aged Bishop going to his holinesse tolde him that all offenders escaped by his opening his bosome to such as brought him bribes who snapping him vp with angrie Countenance and speech sent him home with reproach The Pope was at this time at Lyons where not long after the CouÌ„cel breaking vp Cardinal Huge made a Sermon of farewell to the Citizens wherein amongst other benefites which the Popes lying in their City had brought them he told them this was a Principall that whereas at their comming there were three or foure Whore-houses in the Lyons now at their departing they left but one but indeed that reached from the East-Gate of the City to the West Whereby wee see France had some part of the Popes Almes as well as England 77 The King now whollie intent vpon encrease of treasure neither gaue any rich presents according to the ancient Custome of England and also shortneth yet more the allowances of his Househould and entertainements without any regard to Maicstie or rumor And to spare his owne charge the rather he inuites himself sometime to this man and sometime to that but no where contenting himselfe with his diet hospitage vnlesse both he his Queene 〈◊〉 sonne Edward yea and chiefe fauourites in Court were presented with great and costly gifts which they tooke not as of Courtesie but as due This was the vnhonourable face of the Kings estate at that time But in the depth of his wants and rigour of his Parcimonie he could not shut vp himselfe against the suites and aduancement of his Poictouines and Prâ—…ncois so that it was become a common murmur in England Our inheritance is conuerted to aliens and our houses to strangers The matter seemed the more grieuous for that their pride and violence were intollerable About this time the clause Non obstante brought in first by the Pope was taken vp in England by the King in his grants and other writings as Non obstante priore mandato Non obstante antiqua libertate c. This our ancient Author cals an odious and detestable clause and Roger de Thurkeby Iustitiar fetching a deepe sigh at the sight thereof cried out both of the times and it saying it was a streame deriued from that sulphureous fountain of the Clergie 78 Another of the Kings Iusticiars and a learned Knight Sir Henry de Bath whose Lady because herselfe was well descended filled him with pride was so confidently greedy the better to satisfie her ambition that in one circuit hee appropriated to himselfe aboue two hundreth pound lands Corruption in Iustice which must needs be suspected to be there where excessiue wealth is gotten by the Officers of Iustice is but a sandie ground-worke of a vainely-hoped greatnesse and may well bee reputed in the number of crying sinnes and this moued a Knight Sir Philip de Arci to appeach him before the King both for vnfaithfulnesse in his office and treason against the King The King had no hold of himselfe after hee was once throughly kindled Bath knowes it and therefore writes to his wiues friends to come strong in his defence that the King should not dare to call him to his triall yet withall hee seekes all secret meanes how to appease the King who vnderstanding of this combination was the more enflamed The Earle of Cornwall his brother could not appease him no not though hee knit vp his intercessions with these minatorie words Wee must not forsake Gentlemen in their right nor in preseruing the peace of the tottering Kingdome In March there was holden a Parliament at London there the King caused Bath to bee sharpely prosecuted Thither Sir Henry Bath repairs strongly attended with Knights and Gentlemen of his owne friends and his wiues to daunt the edge of Iustice which he deseruedly feared The accusations were many for all meÌ„ were called to say what they could against him and among all these two most hainous that he troubled the whole Realme and stirred all the Barons thereof against the King so that a generall rebellion was to be feared which one of his fellow-Iusticiars did openly testifie that hee had for reward discharged a conuicted Malefactor out of prison without punishment in preiudice of the King and to the perill of his associate Iusticiars The King was so enraged herewith that seeing no other way to punish him being so strongly backed hee mounted into an higher place then before and cries out Whosoeuer kils Henrie de Bath shall be quit of his death and I here doe acquit him and presently departs Neuerthelesse although hee left behind him many men who would haue readily executed the Kings terrible doome yet by the wisdome of Sir Iohn Mansel one of the Kings priuate Councellors they were restrained His wordes are worthy to bee remembred Gentlemen anâ—… friends it is not necessary for vs to put that presently in execution which the King hath in his anger commanded It may bee when his wrath is ouerblowne hee will bee sorry hee said it Moreouer if any outrage be done to Bath loe here are his friends who will take all sorts of reuenge Sir Henry escaping thus from so present a danger found meanes vpon promise of money and great mediation of friends to obtain his peace safety for at thiâ—…me Iustice and all things grew saleable The North-East part of Wales was committed to Alan de Zouch who had it in Farme for eleuen hundreth Markes yeerely whereas Iohn de Gray whom he supplanted in the place paid but fiue hundreth so miserable Wales was let out to such as would giue most 79 Alexander the third succeeding his Father in the Kingdome of Scotland comming in Christmas to Yorke there espoused though very young the Lady Margaret daughter to King Henry There were present the two Kings in person with a most choice multitude of either Nation the
the Order you shall finde intabled in our Mappe of Barkeshire 82 Our Edward hauing thus honoured S. Georges memory assigned to his Image mounted in Armour vpon Horsebacke a siluer Shield with a crosse Gules the deare remembrance of his dying Lord and appointed his Souldiers to weare white coats or Iackets with a red Crosse before and behind ouer their Armor that it was not onely a comely but a stately sight to behold the English battels like the rising Sunne to glitter farre off in that pure hew when the Souldies of other Nations in their baser weedes could not bee discerned The glory therefore of this Order seemed such to one no vnlearned Poet that in an Apostrophe to Windsor speaking of the Garter hee breakes forth into these scarse Hyberbolicall verses Cappadocis quanquam sis clara Georgicirc Militia c. Far spreads thy fame wherewith S. Georges knights Hath made thee glorious where rich-robed Peeres Whose manly legs the golden garter dights Combine that light which through all landes appeares That now Burgundians scorne their Fliece of Gold The French th' Escalopt Collar setwith grace Their Crossed weeds Rhodes Elba Alcala hold As worthlesse all macht with thy George are 〈◊〉 83 Let vs not dwell too long in the lesser things It was the moneth of Iulie and King Edward was now vpon the Sea with about a thousand Saile No man is said to know whether he bent his course so well he could trust himselfe and so wisely free his Councels from the possibility of discouerie He went not to warre by rote but by book Wisdome was Herbenger and marshall of his valour who shall say he knew not how to conquer It was not long but he came to anchor in the Hauen of Hogy Saint Vast in Constantine a great cape of land or penile in Normandy His land forces did muster twenty and fiue hundred horse and thirty thousand foote most of which were Archers The lights and glories of his Armie were the Prince of Wales then about sixteene yeers old who was then by his father knighted many braue Earles Lords Knights and expert Chiefs the English going cheerefullie as hauing gotten such a King as answered their warlike dispositions The Earle of Huntington had charge of his Nauy himselfe takes seuere reuenge for the blood of his friends vpon the Norman Townes and people protesting he sacrificed them to Clisson Baro Percie and the rest Their heads were set vpon the chiefe Gate of Carentine for which cause hee slew all that could be found therein and turning the whole town into Cinders gaue it to their funerall He tooke the populous and rich City of Caen with his dreadfull host burning and spoiling round about marched vp almost as farre as the very walles of Paris brauing King Philip so neere 74 Who had not slept all this while but was purueied of one of the fullest armies which euer were seene in France King Edwards people rich with spoile seemed not vnwilling to return They were now in the enemies Country between the two good riuers of Sein and Some for they had passed the Sein at Poissie whose Bridge as all other betweene Roan and Paris had beene broken downe by the French and now notwithstanding any opposition in a short space repaired It was thought fit to seeke passage out of these straights which could not be by Bridges for they were broken by the French This search for passage was by the enemy interpreted a kind of flight and Edward could not but be willing to nourish their temerity to draw them on securely to destruction by such a seeming feare 85 The riuer of Some betweene Albeuille and the Sea at a low water hath a passable and grauelile foord knowne by the name of Blanch Taque this was discouered to him by one Gobin a prisoner But the French King best acquainted in his owne Countrey to empeach this passage had before sent thether a Norman Baron of speciall note one Godmar du Foy and a 1000. thousand horse with at least 6000. foot but Edward whom as obstacles made impetuous so nothing could dismay enters himselfe into the Foord crying He that loues me let him follow me as one that resolued either to passe or die Who can tell the efficacy of such a Generals spirit but they who haue had the happinesse to follow vnder the conduct The passage wan and Du Foy defeated in a manner before he was almost fought with the incomparable courage of his enemies appalling him he brought to King Philip fewer by a paire of thousands then he carried forth besides terrour and an euill signe of that which followed The English who knew not what it meant to run away but were before resolued to liue die with such a Souereigne had reason now much more to resolue the same 86 King Edward was neere to Crescie in the County Ponthieu lying betweene the riuers of Some and Anthy which vnquestionably belonged vnto him in right of his mother there most vigilantly prouides he for his defence King Philip set on fire with this disaster precipitates to battell for accomplishment of Gods anger against France being the rather drawne by the vnruly vanity of his huge multitudes for by what other words doe * an hundred or six-score thousand men deserue to bee caled who neuer left ouer-taking one the other till the view of the English banners and battels put them to stand We professe that the nature of our vndertakings will not brooke descriptions at large you shall haue it as we may that is as remembring that innumerable great atcheiuements rest behind somewhat impatiently attending their relation 87 Therefore the holy name of God first ritely inuocated King Edward without shewing the least signe of perturbation but full of an Heroick assurednesse had ordered his people in three battels with their wings and succours The Vaward disposed into the forme of an Hearse where the Archers stood in front and the men of armes in the bottome was vnder the yong Lyon of Wales Prince Edward and with him many of the prime and sagest Captaines Beauchamp Earle of warwick Godfrey of Harecourt The Lords Stafford Laware Bourchier Clifford Cobham Holland c. In the second battell were The Earles of Northampton and Arundell the Lords Rosse Willoughby Basset Saint Albine Multon c. The third and last battell was commanded in cheife by King Edward himselfe with the residue of his Nobles and people In euery one of these battels beside the wings were a iust proportion of men at armes and Archers but nothing so thinne and few as some of our writers alledge who mention not aboue 9000. all together who were at least thrice as many in their whole numbers and not without need 88 King Edward closed his battels at their back as if he meant to barricado them from flying by felling and plashing of Trees placing his carriages
Scotland why they should make that a quarrell which was a meere calumnie And to take away all pretence of feare from the Conspirators hee sends to the Earles of Northumberland and Worcester and to the hot Lord Percie a safe conduct vnder his roiall Seale by which he secures their accesse but vnbridled rashnesse saith Walsingham despising the roiall clemencie did put on the rigour of rebellion Meane while the King armes with all speed against the enemie the rather at the counsell of George Earle of Dunbar who like a valiant man at Armes and a wise friend aduised him so to doe before their aduersaries numbers were too mightily augmented The King with his sonne the young Prince of Wales and a very noble fellowship was now aduanced within sight of Shrewsbury as the gallant Percie stood ready to assault the Towne But so soone as the roiall Standard was discouered that enterprise was left off and he drew out his people being about fourteene thousand choice and hardie bodies of men to try the fortune of war against a well tride warrior 35 Peace notwithstanding by the exceeding tendernesse of the King had ensued but that the mischeeuous Earle of Worcester by misreporting and falsifying his Soueraignes words did precipitate his Nephew into sudden battell If there were any praise or good example to bee drawne out of so detested bloodshed as that of ciuill warre we would willingly describe vnto you the order and actions but we cannot too soone passe ouer such mournfull obiects which are rather to bee celebrated with teares then triumphes There is no doubt but Percie Dowglas and the rest fought terrible Why should we admire that in them So doe Lyons Tygers Beares and yet wee admire them not Where was dutie where conscience where the other respects of which onely we are called men Let none of vs honour or imitate them in whose eyes the price of English blood is so vile as that for priuate fansies they can bee content to confound all regards and make sport for common foes with mutuall massacres Therefore wee will content our selues with the knowledge of Gods part in this daies worke who gaue the garland to the King though the first arrowes flew from the Percies Archers 36 The Kings courage was not small in the fight as neither was the danger the yong Prince of Wales also being then first to enter himselfe into the schoole of blood and battell gaue no small hopes of that perfection which afterward shone in him being wounded with an arrow in the face The Lord Percy and Earle Dowglas then whom the wide world had not two brauer Champions in steed of spending themselues vpon the multitude set the point of their hopes vpon killing the King as in whose person they were sure ten thousand fell For this cause they most furiously rushed forward with speares and swords but the noble Earle of Dunbarre discouering their purpose drew the King from the place which he had chosen to make good and thereby in likelyhood for that present saued his life for the Standard royall was ouerthrowne and among other valiant men the Earle of Stafford Sir Walter Blunt the Kinges Knight and the Standard-bearer himselfe was slaine such was the fury of these sodaine thunderbolts That day the Dowglas slew with his owne hands three in the Kings Coat-armour perhaps some in Heralds Coats though Boetius yet saw a fourth Sure it is that manie of the subiects thought the King was slaine and not a few ranne out of the field Who notwithstanding like a valiant Prince did reenforce the fight performing maruels in armes with his owne hands The slaughter could not be small on both sides the Archers shooting so continually and the men of armes doing their vtmost for about the space of three whole houres 37 That which gaue an end to this wofull worke was the death of Hotspur who ryding in the head of the battell in defiance of danger and death was by an vnknowne hand suddenly killed with whose fall as if his whole army had had but one heart the courages of all others fell into feete which now altogether they trusted to But the King abhorring to make farther execution of the misguided multitude suffered them to shift for themselues The Earles of Worcester and Dowglas Sir Richard Vernon the Baron of Kindlaton and diuers others were taken Of the Kings side was slaine besides the Earle of Stafford ten new Knights whose names as dying in an honest cause deserue immortality and were Sir Hugh Shorly Sir Iohn Clifton Sir Iohn Cokain Sir Nicholas Gausel Sir Walter Blunt Sir Iohn Caluerly Sir Iohn Massie Sir Hugh Mortimer Sir Robert Gausell and Sir Thomas Wendesley who dyed of his hurts not long after as most of the other did about the Standard all which fighting for their spurs as being knighted but that morning bought them with the honourable losse of their whole bodies there were also slaine many Esquires Gentlemen and about one thousand and fiue hundreth common souldiers besides three thousand sorely wounded On the other part omitting that second Mars the Lord Percy who drew a ruine after him sutable to his Spirit and greatnesse there fell most of all the Esquires and Gentlemen of Cheshire to the number of two hundred and about fiue thousand common souldiers This battell was stricken neere to Shrewsbury vpon a Saturday the one and twentieth of Iuly and the Eue of Saint Marie Magdalen 38 The Earle of Worcester the seducer and destroier of his noble Nephew Hotspur and therefore if but for that very worthy to haue dyed Sir Richard Vernon Knight and the Baron of Kinderton had their heads cut off vpon the Monday following Hotspurres body had beene buried by permission but vpon other aduise the King caused it to be drawne out of the graue beheaded quartered and the parts sent into diuers Citties of the Kingdome The Earle of Northumberland pretending to come with forces to the Kings aide was empeached by the Earle of Westmorland and Robert Waterton who had raised a great host Northumberland taking neither of them for friend wheeles about and returnes to his Castle of Warkworth But what can be secure to a subiect against the victorious armie of a martiall King The Earle knew as much manifestly feeling the irrecouerable maimes of his house in the losse of his sonne and brother and therefore shaped his course accordingly The King therefore being altogether as prudent as fortunate hauing setled the state ofthings in the Marches about Shrewsbury sets forward to the City of Yorke from thence to take order for such perils as he foresaw might happen He setled himselfe the more seriouslie and entirelie to this needfull worke for that his Ambassadors had effected an abstinence from warre with France till the first of March which pausing space though it might seeme little was not a little welcome to the King the Realme of England being then
to haue raigned and ruled in the Realme by traiterous tyranny taken depriued of their estates shortly shut vp in prison and impiously murdered and the body cast out God wot where by the cruell ambition of their vnnaturall vncle and his hellish Tormentors Which things on euery part well pondered God neuer gaue this world a more notable example neither in what vnsurety standeth this worldly weale or what mischiefe worketh the proud enterprize of an high heart or finallie what wretched end ensueth such barbarous crueltie 20 For first to beginne with the Ministers Miles Forrest at S. Martins peece-meale rotted away Sir Iames Tyrrell died at Tower hill for treason Dighton indeed walketh on aliue in good possibility to be hanged ere he die liuing at Callis no lesse distained and hated then pointed at of all King Richard himselfe as ye shall hereafter heare was slaine in the field hacked and hewed of his enemies hands carried on horsebacke dead his haire in despite torne and tugged like a Curre dogge and the mischiefe that he tooke was within lesse then three yeeres of the mischiefe that he did and yet all the meane time spent in much paine and trouble outward and much feare anguish and sorrow within For I haue heard by credible report of such as were secret with his Chamberlaine that after this abhominable deed done he neuer had quiet in his minde he neuer thought himselfe sure but where he went abroad his eies euer-whirled about his body priuily fenced his hand euer on his dagger his countenance manner like one alwaies readie to strike againe he tooke il rest a nights lay long waking and musing sore wearied with care and watch rather slumbred then slept troubled with fearefull dreames suddainly sometimes start vp leapt out of his Bed and ranne about the chamber so was his restlesse heart continually tossed and tumbled with the tedious impression and stormy remembrance of his abhominable deed Neither had he in his best any time of quiet for immediately began the conspiracy or rather good consideration betweene the Duke of Buckingham and diuers other Gentlemen against him 21 Which Duke assoone as Gloucester vpon the death of King Edward came to Yorke sent thither in secret wise a trusty seruant of his named Persall to assure him that he would take his part in this his new world and if need were would waite vpon him with a thousand good-fellowes and againe sent offers of the like vnto Nottingham whither the Protector from Yorke with many Gentlemen of the North Countrey was come and on his way to London-ward in secret manner met him himselfe but at Northampton openly with three hundred horse and from thence still continued with him being a partner of all his deuises till that after his coronation they departed as it seemed very great friends at Glocester frō whence as soone as the Duke came home he so lightly turned from him and so highly conspired against him that a man would maruell whereof the change grew And surely the occasion of their variance is of diuers men diuersely reported Some haue said that the Duke a little before the Coronation among other things required of the Protector the Duke of Hertfords Lands to the which he pretended himselfe iust inheritor And forasmuch as the Title which he claimed by inheritance was somewhat interlaced with the title of the Crowne by the line of King Henry before depriued the Protector conceiued such indignation that he reiected the Dukes request with many spightfull and minatory wordes which so wounded his heart with hatred and mistrust that he neuer after could indure to looke aright on King Richard but euer feared his owne life so farre forth that when the Protector rode through London towards his Coronation he fained himselfe sicke because he would not ride with him And the other taking it in euill part sent him word to rise and come ride or he would make him to be carried Whereupon hee rode on with an euill will and that notwithstanding on the morrow rose from the Feast faining himselfe sick whereat King Richard said it was done in hatred and despite of him And they say that euer after continually each of them liued in such hatred and distrust of other as the Duke verily looked to haue beene murdered at Gloucester from which neuerthelesse he in faire manner departed But surely some right secret at this day denie this and many right wise men thinke it vnlikely the deepe dissembling nature of both those men considered and what need in that greene world the Protector had of the Duke and in what perill the Duke stood if he fell once in suspition of the Tyrant that either the Protector would giue the Duke occasion of displeasure or the Duke the Protector occasion of mistrust And verily men thinke that if King Richard had any such conceiued opinion he would neuer haue suffered the Duke to haue escaped his hands 22 The very truth is Buckingham was an high minded man and could euill beare the glory of another so that I haue heard of some that saw it that the Duke at such time as the Crowne was first set vpon the Protectors head his eye could not abide the sight thereof but wried his face another way But men say that hee was of truth not well at ease which to King Richard was well knowne and nothing ill taken not any demand of the Dukes vncourteously reiected but he both with great gifts and high behests in most louing and trustie manner departed at Gloucester But soone after his comming home to Brecknock hauing there in custody by the commandement of King Richard Doctor Morton Bishop of Ely who yee before heard was taken in the counsell at the Tower waxed with him familiar whose wisedome abused his pride to his owne deliuerance and the Dukes destruction 23 This Bishop was a man of great naturall wit very well learned and honourable in behauiour lacking no wise waies to winne fauour he had been fast vpon the part of King Henry while that part was in wealth and naythelesse left it not nor forsooke it in woe but fled the Realme with the Queen the Prince while King Edward had Henry in prison and neuer came home but to the field After which lost and that side vtterly subdued the other for his fast faith and wisedome not only was content to receiue him but also wooed him to come and had him from thence forth both in great secret trust and very speciall fauour which he nothing deceiued For he being as you haue heard after King Edwards death first taken by the Tyrant for his trueth to the King found the meanes to set this Duke in his top ioined Gentlemen together in aide of King Henry deuising first the marriage betweene him and King Edwards daughter by which his faith he declared the good seruice to both his masters at
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