Britayne GRacian when Maximian was slayne To Britayn sent then by the Senatours In whose time kiÌ„g Malga kiÌ„g Gwayme This lande ouer road standyng in all honoures That mortall fooes and cruell tormentours To Christen fayth wer and malicious All mercylesse and passyng rigorous ¶ Whiche kynges two roote of all crueltee Full false paynemes replete of felony The churches brent and slewe the commontee Wyues nor childre ne yet the clargye Ne religious ne yet the prelacye Thei spared not but mercylesse theim kylled Of wickednes so foule thei wer fulfylled ¶ But Gracian that crowned was and kyng In domys false and in his iudgementes Fell dispiteous great tallages takyng Both of the lordes there landes and rentes And of gentilles agayn all there ententes So did he also of all the commontee For whiche thei sle we hym without pitee ¶ Gwames and also Malga the kynges two Destroyng Britayn without any reste The Senate sent a legion of knightes tho Into this lande of eche region the beste Chosen out of all the worthieste The whiche putte Gwames and Malga to flight That shipped home vnto there lande full right The .lxv. Chapiter ¶ The Senate of Rome sente a legion of knyghtes into Britayn who made the Britons to make a walle of lyme and stone from the easte sea vnto the weste sea and called it the peight wall THis legion and Britons hole assembled That made a wall well wrought of lyme and stone Where Seuer made of turues soddes sembled With castelles strong and towres for the nones At eche myles ende to agaynstande all the foonyse From sea to sea as yet it is well seen In dyuers places where it was wonte to been ¶ This legion home returned then agayn For Britayn then suffred great disease The Scottes Pightes ther did theim ful great payn Syxe yere then next of whiche to haue some ease To kyng Aldrye there sorowes to apease Of esser Britayn then sent theim Constantyne To be there head and also there medecyne ¶ This Constantyn kyng Aldries brothers wife Was crowned then with royall diademe At Caircester as Brytons could deuyse That with his hoste royall as did hym seme Gwayme and Malga as chronicles do exprieme The Scottes and Peightes he veÌ„ged ouercam That Brytayne wrought afore full mykel shame ¶ Thre sonnes he had full fayre by his wife Constance then was the eldest sonne of all That was not wise wherfore then in his life He made hym monke he was so bestiall To gette the life aboue celestiall His secounde sonne that hight Aurelius His surname was called Ambrosius ¶ The youngest sonne hight Vterpendragon These two were wyse but young they wer of age To there vncle sent to be at his direction Nurture to learne and all maner language By whiche after they maye haue knowelage With discrecion and all good ordinaunce To rule and haue the realme by gouernaunce ¶ When Constantyne had reigned well .x. yere Vpon a daye as he in his garden went A Peight that was in his house hym full nere Hym slewe anone by treason and consent Of Vortiger that euer in his entent Conspyred had to haue the regaltee Of greate Britayn the kyng so to bee The .lxvi. Chapiter ¶ Constaunce kyng of Britayne reigned but one yere that was monke first and after made kyng and was not wyse but an ideote whome Vortiger crowned to that entent to make hymselfe kyng by false coÌ„tryuyng seyng the kyng full symple to rule the lande COnstaunce his sonne the moÌ„ke was in Cairgwente Vortiger duke of westsex was that daye In haste crowned by barons hole assente Knowyng he shulde be but a foole alwaye The realme to saue and kepe out of disraye He waged Peightes on hundreth to serue that kyng Alwaye vpon his body abydyng ¶ He made the kyng full certenly beleue Thei shuld espie emong the enemytee By their frendes that no Peightes shuld hym greue Ne Scottes of theyr greate peruersitee But thei of it afore in certayntee Shuld let hym witte there malice to vnderstande Such subtyll meane to fage the kyng he fande ¶ And vnder that a while he payed theyr wage Full well with chere full good all pleasaunce Vnto a daye he sayd to theyr knowlage The kyng nomore would haue theyr attendaunce But wer he kyng he shuld theim well auaunce Whiche thyng and euer came to preefe About his ê‘sone they shuld be cherished as cheefe ¶ There wages also full well shuld be payde For whiche behest anone they slewe the kyng And brought his head to hym full foule arayde Of which he made hym wroth in all semyng But to London by his subtyll wrytynge He gaue charge the Peightes all to kyll And none escape nether for good ne yll ¶ This Vortiger protectour was that yere And in his handes the kynges castels all He had and sawe he might the crowne full clere Haue at his wyll so dred the lordes temperall And prelates hie that were spirituall His heuynesse and indignacion That they assented to his coronacion ¶ WheÌ„ CoÌ„stauÌ„ce thus that kyng had been one yere And could nothyng of rule ne gouernaunce The commons sawe he was an ideote clere Theyr voyces all gaue with all theyr obeisaunce To Vortiger with theyr hole attendaunce As comons would euer yet of olde and newe Eche yere their kyng to chaunge and renewe The .lxvii. Chapiter ¶ Howe Vortiger kynge of Britayne reigned .xviii. yere through his falshed and treason coÌ„spired with Peightes to slea his kyng And howe Engist and Horsus paiens landed in Kent and were beloued with Vortiger and howe wednisdaye and frydaye had name and what goddes and goddisses they honoured Howe and when Engist and Horsus laÌ„ded in KeÌ„te made Thoncastre horne castre in the couÌ„tre of Lyncolne howe Engist sent for his doughter maried her to kyng Vortiger and brought in with her greate multitude of paiens that accombred all the realme both of warre of Christen fayth wherfore the Britons crowned the kynges sonne THis Vortiger theÌ„ crowned kyng of might The Peightes and Scottes for he there kyng so kylled They sclaundred hym that mikell good he hight Vnto Peightes the kyng haue slayn and spilled By suche treason his will they so fulfilled And after by his preuy ordinaunce He made thesame be slayne for thesame chaunce ¶ For whiche they aroose on hym to been aueÌ„ged With ful great hoste destroyed both corn towne And brent his lande and felly reuenged In whiche tyme came into this region Engist and Horsus dukes of great renoune By sort sent out all voyde of Saxonye With menne of warre also of Germanye ¶ In shyppes thre arryued so then in Kent When Vortyger at Caunterbury laye Whiche he withhelde anon and farre him sent To warre on the Scottes and Pyeghtes aye That brent his lande and noyed day by daye Peynemis they were and trowyd of Mercury And on Venus theyr goddes of Payanie ¶ That Mercurie woden in their language Was
so came on kyng Oswy fast rydyng Wher on the felde they met sore fyghtynge Whom Oswy slewe and .xxx. dukes also That with hym came and .xxx. M. moo The .xcv. Chapiter ¶ In the yere of oure lorde God .vi. hundreth and. â—v Penda slewe the kyng of Escangles and the yere of our Lord God .vi. hundreth and .vi. Oswyne slewe Penda kynge of Marchelande and the foresayde kynge Oswyne condiscended to holde and kepe his Easter accordyng to the vse of Roome and Caunterburye the yere of oure Lorde vi huÌ„dreth and .lxiii. whiche before was celebrated accordyng to the Iudeicall custome THose battayls two after thincarnacion Syxe hundreth yere fyfty wer also fyue In the yere after by computacion That kyng Oswy made Penda kyng belyue Of Marces lande and to conuerte his lyue By teachyng of Dwyma made byshop thare And all his lande by vertue of his lare ¶ Kyng Oswy made houses .xii. of religion Sixe in Deyry and sixe in BeruÌ„ to bee With his doughter Elflede for deuocion Whom he auowed in clene virginitee To sacre so and lyue in chastitee For his triumphe and for his victorie Of kyng Penda and his panymerye ¶ The kyng Oswy of Christes incarnacion The yere .vi. C .lx. and also three Had all the clerkes of his dominacion With many other clerkes of farre countree For to dispute the Pasche when it should bee The whiche afore was held diuersly One vse at Yorke another at Caunterbury ¶ But this seynt Oswy then helde it at Whitby Where then saynt Hilde in all deuinitee Was hole instructe amonge all the clergie Where Wilfride with Egilbert and she Concluded all the clerkes of the countree And fro thens forth thei helde it in certeyne As Caunterbury vsed and did obeyne ¶ This kyng Oswyn then died in the yere Sixe hundreth hole sixti and also ten At Whytby then wher Hild was abbas clere At Streyneshalgh named was so then Emonge the couente of this holy woman And in Hildes schole .vi. byshops wer enfourmed In holy wryte as she theim had confourmed ¶ These were the names of the byshoppes right Bosa Oskford Etla and also Tatfryde Iohn of Beuerley the fyfte that then so hight The sixte then was the holy man Wilfryde All in the lawe of Christ enfourmed that tyde With this virgyne clene of royall discent Of kyng Edwyn and Oswalde bloode full gent. ¶ Whiche virgyne clene died so in the yere Of Christ .vi. C. and foure score also About whiche tyme saynt Awdry yâ— virgyne clere At Hely died emonge hir floures tho Of holy virgyns and wydowes also Whiche she had gathered kept in cloyster clene Whyle she there was thabbasse as was sene ¶ Who wyfe was twyse in westsex first espoused The secounde tyme vnto the kyng Egfryde Of NorthuÌ„berlande her maydenhed euer housed I dar well saye it was neuer set asyde There might no man hir herte froÌ„ Christe deuide So hole it was sette vnto chastitee Inuiolate she kepte her virginitee ¶ For good ne gold nor any great rychesse With her housebandes to been deuirginate Hetherto might neuer eschaunge her sekirnesse So sad it was it was neuer violate But euer clene as in her fyrst estate By her housbaÌ„des for ought they could her hight But virgyne died through grace of God almight ¶ Thus Awdry then froÌ„ Egfride was deuorced For cause she would not lese hir maydenhede To tyme hir soule wer lowsed and vncursed In hely abode where then she made in dede An house of Nunnes as writteÌ„ hath saynt Bede To serue the God aboue celestiall In prayers good and matens nocturnall ¶ Wylfride from Yorke exiled and expelled The kyng of Sussex and all his lande Conuerte all hole and mawmetrye downe felled Wher so three yere afore I vnderstande Suche vengeaunce reigned in that kynges land That ther grewe no grasse nor no maner of corne The people died for hunger all for lorne ¶ And that same daye when they were conuerte The grasse and corne that welked were afore By three yere passed waxed grene and gan reuert Through prayer of Wylfryde that prayed therfore For whiche the kyng made hym bishoppe thore That fyue yere hole there so occupyed The byshopyes cure and Christes fayth edefied ¶ And in the yere .vi. hundreth .lxxx. and fyue Kyng Egfride rode with hoste into Scotlande And warred on pightes Scottes with mekel striue WhoÌ„ then they sâ—ewe as Bede could vnderstande With many worthy knightes of NorthuÌ„berland At Nettansmore in an hye mynstre buryed A worthy place in Scotlande edified ¶ Eche kyng of seuen on other warred sore But kyng Cadwas that then was souerayn lorde Accorded theim as myster was ay where By his good rule he made euer good accorde Wher any strife or warre was and discorde And all the realines in Britayn hole baptized And bishoppes in theim sette and autorised ¶ Kyng Ethelride of Mors and quene Ostride His wyfe doughter of Oswy Berdnaye Buried Oswalde with myracles glorified Where many yere full styll there after he laye Vnto the tyme the suster as bookes saye Of kyng Edward thelder hym translate To Gloucester abbey to his estate ¶ Cadwallo kyng of Britons in the yere Of Christe goddes sonne .vi. C. sixty and sixtene So died awaye who reigned had full clere Full sixty yere and one as well was sene That souerayne lorde of all Britayn had been After the decease of the good kyng Edwyn And made all seuen kynges to hym enclyne ¶ He made his ymage of laton full clene In whiche he put his body balsomate Vpon an horse of laton fayre to sene With a sweorde in hande crowned like his estate Full hye sette vp to sight on Ludgate His battayles all and his greate victorie Aboute hym wrought was made for memorye The .xcvi. Chapiter ¶ Cadwalader kyng of Brytayn and lorde of all .vii. kynges in Britayne CAdwaladrus after hym gan succede Both young and fayre in florishyng iuueÌ„t That Cadwalader was called as I rede Who of Britayn had all the souerayntee Of Englyshe and Saxons in eche countree Of Pyghtes Iryshe Scottes his vnder regeÌ„ce As souerayne lorde and moste of excellence ¶ Kentwyne the kyng of westsexe then died The yere of Christ sixe hundreth .lxxx. and sixe The mekill warre had made and fortifyed Vpon Britons and felly did hym wexe So combrous he was and cruell gan to wexe Whose realme the kyng Cadwalader conquered And Sussex also and slewe yâ— kynge with his swerde ¶ In whiche yere then Gatta by shop died Whose sea was then at Hexham vpon tyne That byshop was of Yorke notified For Wilfryde was hold out with mekyll pyne And exiled from his benefice that tyme From Yorke that tyme by the kynge Alfride Of Northumberland whose cure Gatta occupied ¶ After whose decease then Iohn of Beuerlay Was made byshop of Yorke and had the sea Then the Cathedrall at Hexham so alwaye For wylfryde was in Sussex farre countre But then certayne Alfryde of cruelte CoÌ„maunded
in matâ—ers of Scotland could better skill Nor which their falshoode and vntrueth to note Had more affection or better wyll Or better knew water woodde toune vale hyll Or was more feruente the Scottes to persue Who to England he knew woulde neuer be true ¶ Neyther anye Chronicler that euer was Eyther dooth or can more largly declare Euen from Brutus howe it came to passe That kynges of Englande the soueraines are And ouer Scotlande oughte rule to beare Hymselfe is wytnes of their subiection And homage vnder Englandes protection ¶ In other thinges the tymes were suche That though this werke haue some spice of blindnesse Yet is the authour not to be blamed much For Popyshe errour that season doubtlesse Did all the worlde ouer go and oppresse Therfore such thinges we must in good part take And pardon that faulte for the tymes sake ¶ Yet haue we thought best the autour to set out Euen in suche fourme as hymselfe dyd endite It wer an vnquod thyng yf we should go about To alter and chaunge that olde men haue wryte Secondly to vs it maye bee greate delyte The blindnesse of those tymes to consider From whiche hathe pleased God vs to delyuer ¶ Fynally the darkenesse of those dayes to see To the honoure of our kyng dooeth redound To whom by goddes helpe geuen it hath bee All Popyshe trumperye for to confounde Which thyng al trew English hertes hath bouÌ„d Incessauntly to praye for kyng Henrye the eyghte Whose godly wisedome hath made all streyghte And for asmuch as Hardyng his boke doth ende With Edward the fourth whose seruauÌ„t he was And to whome also this booke he dyd commende Consideryng also the tyme and space Beyng .lx. yeres and more I coulde not let passe So many goodly statutes and decrees Battayles and stories not good to lese Wherfore I annexed theim by continuacion Begynning wyth Edwarde the fourth of that name Then Edward the fyfth kyng by generation Whom Richard the third to his immortal shame Cruelly murdered the story sayeth the same But plaged he was to hys greate greuaunce With a shamefull death as Goddes vengeaunce Then Henry the .vii. nexte doothe ensue Father vnto our moost dred soueraigne lorde And of Henry the. viii some thyng that is true I haue here set forth as wryters dooe accorde Not in metre but obseruyng worde for worde Myne authours that wrote it all in prose Reportyng the truth without fraude or glose ¶ Now right gentle reader thy parte shal be My good wyll and zele my payne and labour To entreprete and take in good parte and gre Geuing to the same suche good wordes of fauour As may enforce me with all myne endeuour The settyng forth of mo werkes to take in hande To thy solace and honour of Englande ¶ The Proheme of Iohn Hardynge into this his chronycle THe moste substance of power and of myght Through age distilled into debilitee Of me that am this time an aged wight And greate faute haue of habilitee This labour now shuld haue wthold fro me But that my witte would haue some diligence My ghoost to kepe from synne and insolence ¶ This werke is great and loÌ„ge to bryng to fyne So doeth it euer fro tyme to tyme encrease And long hath dooen afore Christ dyd enclyne In Marie mother and mayden without lease To chronicle so men haue theim put in prease Some in meetre and some also in prose Some in Latyn full wysely dyd it close ¶ And some in Frenche they made for intellecte Of men that could no Latyn vnderstande More sufficiently endited and protecte By ferre then I can it nowe take in hande And some in lynes two theyr ryme ay bande But though my witte be not so curious As theirs by ferre to make it glorious ¶ Yet wyll I vse the symple witte I haue To your pleasaunce and consolacion Moste noble lorde and prince so God me saue That in chronycles hath delectacion Though it be farre aboue myne estimacion Into balade I wyll it nowe translate Ryght in this forme with all myne estymate My lorde of Yorke vnto your sapience I wyll remember a notabilyte Of your elders rule and regymence That had this lande of olde prioryte Which ruled were after their dignitee In vertue digne by roiall gouernaunce And in vyce rulyd and misgouernaunce By whiche knowledge your discrete sapience All vyce euermore destroye maye and reproue By vertuous and blessedfull dilygence And vertue loue that maye not ought greue Howe ye shall rule your subiectes while ye lyue In lawe and peace and all tranquyllite Whiche been the floures of all regalyte ¶ Edward the thyrde that was king of this land By ryght title and very iuste discent And kyng of Fraunce as I can vnderstande By his mother quene Isabell the gent Sister and heyre of Charles by hole entent For Charles dyed without any chylde The ryght discent vnto his mother mylde Why shulde that French forbarre you of your right Sith God of heauen in libro numeri Gaue to Moises this lawe that nowe is lyght In the chapiter seuen and twenty By these wordes the doughter ryghtfully Of Salphaat aske the fathers heritage Geue them in possessyon amonge the cosynage ¶ This kyng Edward reignyng in his dayes In mercyall actes tryumphe and victorie Aboue all princes famed was alwayes Fyue sonnes had the worlde out to crye Ther wer no mo suche of one patry monye Edwarde the prince and eldest sonne of age Who gat Richarde that had the heritage ¶ Leonell next borne after in Antwerpe In Brabant lande that wedded vnto his wyfe The erles doughter of Vlster as men do karpe And begatte on her Philip his doughter ryue And also his heire whome he loued as his lyue Whome erle Emonde of Marche the Mortimer Wedded to his wyfe and begatte the erle Roger. Edwarde the thyrd had fyue sonnes Edwarde prince Leonell Iohn duke of Lancastre Edmounde duke of Yorke Thomas of Woodstocke duke of Gloucester ¶ That erle was after of Marche of Vlster With wylde Irishe that slayne wer in Irelande Who had a sonne erle Emonde Mortymer That dyed without yssue I vnderstande To whom dame Anne his syster vnto his land Was veraye heyre whoÌ„ the erle of CaÌ„bridge wed And gatte of her your selfe as I haue red ¶ Why should ye not then be her veraye heyre Of all her lande and eke of all her right Sith Iesu Christe of Iude lande so feire By veray meane of his mother Mary bryght To be kyng claymed tytle and right And so dyd name hym selfe kyng of Iewes So by your mother the right to you acrewes ¶ After Lyonell that was duke of Clarence And of Vlster the erle was by his wyfe And of Italie for his greate excellence Kyng should haue been without any stryfe Of all Europe without comparatyfe The royall lande and to his espousaile The dukes doughter of Melayn without faile ¶ Iohn borne in Gaunt of FlauÌ„ders chief cytee The thyrde
He eked then by his witte full curious With his lawe called lawe Moluntyne Chargyng all menne to theim fully to enclyne ¶ He graunted vnto the temples euery one And to the plough and all commen wayes To markettes faires wher meÌ„ne should gonne Fraunchesies so greate and liberties alwais That all menne beeyng in theim night or dayes Should not betaken ne troubled in any wyse Neither by lawe nor by no maistries ¶ Sixe temples he made in CaÌ„bre Logres al 's And in the lande also of Albany Of Flamynes as fele to serue their goddes fals A temple also in troynouaunt sothely Of peace and concorde he made verely In whiche when there fell any discorde Emong his lordes there were thei made accorde ¶ When he had stond so kyng by fourty yere He dyed awaye and buryed was full fayre In his temple then of concord full clere At troynouaunt with greate repeir To whome Belyn was eldest soonne and heire And Brenny next was borne of younger age Wherfore Belyn had all the whole heritage The .xxxi. Chapiter ¶ Belyne kyng of Brytain who gaue to Brenny his brother Albany that made hym homage for it and sone after made hym greate warre and was false to hym and after frendes againe in other landes but not in Englande ne in Scotlande BElyn was kyng and sat in royall trone Crowned with all maner of royaltee To Brenny his brother he gaue the lande anone Of Albany for whiche homage feautee He made forthwith as to the souerayntee His man became and kyng of Albany Confirmed was and made full honorably ¶ But after sone his men hym sette to warre Vpon Belyn that fought in batayll sore But Brenny fled and his men discomfite wer For then he went vnto Norwaye therfore And in that he dwelled thore Wher he wedded the kynges doughter fayre That taken wer by sea homewarde in repayre ¶ By the kyng of Denmarke that Cuthelake hight Who by tempest into Logres wer driue And brought vnto Belyn mykell of might Wher he bande hym as chronycles doth briefe Denmark to holde of Belyn to haue leife Home with his wyfe to passe so anone Whom Belyn graunted home agayn so to gone ¶ Brenne anone great hoste of Belyne brought Wher in the forest that tyme of Colatre In batayll strong kyng Brenny all forfought Discomfite fled in Burgoyn for feare To duke Segwyn to whom he gan hym beare So manfully and wisely in all thyng That he hym wedded vnto his doughter ying Sone afterwarde this duke Segwyn dyed So Brenny than was duke by his wyfe That to his brother alwaye full sore anoyed Came with great hoste to fight with hym ful ryfe Conwen their mother by her prerogatyfe Betwyxte theim treated made there wel accorde On her blissyng nomore for to discorde ¶ With wordes peteous and mothers naturesse Shewyng her pappes and woÌ„be with great beautie Lo here the wombe that bare you with syckenesse As womanhode would and femynitee Lo here the pappes as was necessitee That fed you ofte in your tendre age For my loue nowe let be all this outrage The .xxxij. Chapter ¶ These â—i brethren wanne all Fraunce all Italie to Rome and besieged Rome gatte it and wer Emperours of it SO made she theim at one and well accorde And made theim kisse couÌ„celled theim to gone To their laÌ„des lest thei after discord Whiche thei did with hostes greate anone With manly men of armes full greate wonne All Fraunce thei wanne Sauoye and Lunberdy Tuskayne also and all great Italye ¶ Thei sieged Rome wherfore their couÌ„cellours Galbo and Porcenna came it to rescue With hostes greate wher then these Emperours Slewe syr Galbo and Porcenna the trewe And Rome thei wanne that alway was vntrewe Italye throughout obeyed theyr dominacion Without more stryfe or altercacion ¶ Kynge Belyne there no lenger would abyde But lefte Brenny alone with all that lande â–ª And home he came with mykill ioye and pride And Albyon he seased in his owne hand And so kyng and lorde of all Brytayn lande A citee fayre he made that Kaire vske hight Whiche meÌ„ nowe calleÌ„ CarlyoÌ„ by name ful right The .xxxiii. Chapter ¶ He made the hye wayes through out Britayn and he founded three archeflamynes at London one for Logres another at Yorke for Albany that nowe is Scotlande for that tyme fro Humbre north that was that tyme Scotlande the thyrde at Laklion in Wales for all Wales IN Brytayn then he made froÌ„ Cornwel sea Of lyme and stone through all Brytayn That men might ryde and go in al suertee Vnto the sea by northe Catenes certayne Whiche vnto all men was brode and playne Another he made in bredth fro saint Dauid towne Vnto the sea flowynge at Southamptone ¶ Thre archeflamynes he made through al Brytayn As archebyshoppes now in our lawes been There temples all to gouerne and domayne At Troynouaunt on Logres to ouer seen Her fals goddes to serue and to queme At Ebranke another for Albany And at KarleoÌ„ for Cambre on soueraynly ¶ A towne he made ful hie that hight Belyn gate At Troynouaunt his citee moste royall Thyrtene flamynes of bishoppes high estate And temples as many in citees all So that there were in his tyme ouer all With other so afore edificate Xxviii flamynes in temples ordynate ¶ And at his death he bad his corps to be brent Into powder all in a barell of golde To put and sete vpon his toure to represent His body hole who that seen it wolde His triumphes all that enemyes might beholde Well wrought about in ymagerie and scripture Full royally wrought for to refigure ¶ He reigned had then one and forty yere When he thus died and to his God had sent His woofull ghoost out of his corps full clere Emong the goddes euermore to bee present For whiche his people of wepyng coulde not stent There sorowes great in teares bitter thei did stepe Whiche in streames raÌ„ne fro their eyeÌ„ did wepe The .xxxiiii. Chapiter GVrgwyn his soÌ„ne was crowned after him Of Britayn bare then the diademe Who made his lawe vpon lyfe lymme His peace also he kepte as he did deme As his iudges coulde it full well exprime Into Denmarke he went for his truage Whiche kyng Cuthelake graunt him in heritage ¶ He slewe that kyng and Danes great multitude His seruise had and made the lande to enclyne To his lord shyppe and to his altitude There truage paye forthwarde nomore declyne And as he came by sea then homewarde fyne He founde shippes thyrty full of myghty men Accordyng well as many fayre women ¶ At whose request of his speciall grace He gaue to theim the land that nowe is Irelande Wher they did wone make their dwellyng place There gouernaunte so then I vnderstande Was Partheleyn to holde it then hym bande Of kyng Gurgwyn and all his lynage Perpetually by feautee and homage ¶ Neuerthelesse some chronicles reporte That Irelamall their
enquired At Westmynster buried in royall wyse As to suche a prince of reason ought suffice ¶ Who was the first of Englyshe nacion That euer had right vnto the croune of Fraunce By succession of bloode and generacion Of his mother without variaunce The whiche me thynketh should be of moste substaūce For Christ was kyng by his mother of Iudee Whiche sykerer side is ay as thynketh me ¶ And of his pedegre vnto the croune of Fraūce With his bloode wherof he is discent Within this booke without any varyaunce Mencion is made only to this entente That reders by all good auysemente The title of his right and heritage May well conceyue and haue therof knowlage The C .lxxxviii. Chapiter ¶ Richarde the seconde kyng of Englande and of Fraunce began to reigne the yere a thousand thre hundreth .lxxvii. and was deposed by parliamente in the yere a. M CCC .cxix. and the .xxii. yere of his reygne RIchard his heyre that sōne of prīce Edward Crowned was then with all solempnitee By all the lordes and barons hole award Obeying hole vnto his maiestee Who that tyme was in tendre iuuensee Of eleuen yere fully accompted of age When he had so his croune and heritage ¶ And kyng was called of Englāde of Fraūce In Iune the .xxii. daye full clene Of Christes death without variaunce A thousande was thre hundreth sixty to neuen And .xvii. yere therwith to beleuen When the two realmes fell to hym by discente As nexte heyre to kyng Edwarde thexellent ¶ And in the yere a thousande thre hundreth mo Sixty adioynt and therwith all nynetene The thyrde pestilence reigned in Englande so So sore that moste parte of the people clene Dyed awaye as through the realme was sene And of his reignes of Eglande and of Fraunce The thyrde yere was by very remembraunce ¶ And of his reigne in Iune then the .v. yere And of our Lorde a thousande then accompted Thre hundreth eke .iiii. score and one full clere The commons rose an hūdreth thousād amoūted Of Kent and Essex whiche that tyme surmounted The kynges power and all the hie estates For whiche the lordes fled then as exulates ¶ And lefte the kyng alone then in the toure With tharchbyshop of Cauntorbury there so And the priour to been his gouernoure Of Clerken well whiche the commons heded tho And brought the kyng forth with theim to go They asked hym all bondmen to bee free And taxe none euer after payed to bee ¶ They asked eke Iake Strawe Wat Tiler To bee made dukes of Essex and Kente To rule the kyng thens forth in peace and warre For they bee wyse of royall regiment Thus tolde they the kyng all theyr entent The whiche he graunte in all thyng by and by For he durste no poynt then theim denye ¶ Afore Iake Strawe that kyng thē stode hodlesse Of which Walworth the Mayre of Londō trewe Areasoned hym then of his greate lewdenesse With a dagger in Smythfelde then hym slewe The citezens with hym then strongly drewe And slewe theim downe and put theim to flight And brought the kyng into the citee right ¶ The cōmons brent the Sauoye a place fayre For eiuill wyll they had vnto duke Iohn Wherfore he fled northwarde in great dispayre Into Scotlande for socoure had he none In Englande then to whō he durste make moone And there abode tyll commons all were ceased In England hole and all the lande well peased ¶ The .xx. daye of Maye nexte folowyng And one therwith as calculers it knowe The date of Christ a thousande then beynge Thre hundreth also foure score two on rowe Th earth quake was whiche that tyme I sawe That castelles walles toures and steples fyll Houses and trees and cragges fro the hyll ¶ And in the yere afore kyng Richarde wed Quene Anne vpon saynt Agnes day that floure That doughter was as I haue sene and red Vnto the kyng of Beeme and Emperoure And suster also vnto his successoure Themperour of Rome that Segemond hight Who to kyng Henry in Englāde came full right The C .lxxxix. Chapiter ¶ Howe kyng Richard wente into Scotlande in the yere a thousande three hundreth and .lxxxvi. and in his reygne the .x. yere and howe he create two dukes of Yorke and of Gloucestre ANd in the yere of Christ a thousande so Thre hūdreth also foure score .vi. ther tyl And of his reigne the .x. yere and mo The kyng Richard with hoste went at his wyl In to Scotlande his corage to fulfyll To Edinburgh and brent the lande also Without lettyng there of any foo ¶ At London so then at his parlyament He made therle of Cambrydge his vncle dere The duke of Yorke to be incontynent And so he was proclaymed there full clere That Edmonde hyght of Langley of good chere Glad and mery and of his owne ay lyued Without wronge as chronicles haue breued When all the lordes to councell and parlyament Went he wolde to hunte and also to hawekyng All gentyll disporte as to a lorde appent He vsed aye and to the pore supportyng Where euer he was in any place bidyng Without suppryse or any extorcyon Of the porayle or any oppressyon ¶ He made also the earle of Bokyngham Thomas Wodstoke that same daye and create His other vncle duke of Gloucester by name Proclaymed hole and so denominate With his brother to be consociate The foxe tayle he bare ay on his spere Where he so rode in peace or elles in warre ¶ The kyng then made that duke of yorke by name Maister of the mewhouse his haukes fayre Of his venery and mayster of his game In what countree he dyd repeyre Which was to hym without any dispeyre Well more comforte and great gladnesse Then bene a lorde of worldly greate rychesse ¶ His vncle Thomas the duke then of Gloucester And wed the doughter then of therle of Herforth By whiche he had by writyng by letter The Constablery of Englande then ay forth Both by South Est West and North By herytage of his wyues lande and ryght Of auncyent tyme by kynges graunt hyght ¶ And in the yere of kyng Richarde elleuen The duke Thomas that was of Gloucester Henry the earle of Derby dyd beleuen With hym by worde and also by his letter The earle Marshall did so then for the better Th erle Beanchampe of Warwyk by his name Of Arundell the earle dyd the same ¶ These lordes fyue together boldely sworne Agayne Robert Veer then duke of Irelande The kinges pleasure one of age both like borne Whom he loued moste as they could vnderstand With batayl stronge at Rotcot bryge toke on hād To fyght with hym where then he fled awaye Ouer Thamis without retourne for ay The C .xc. Chapiter ¶ Of the great parlyament where the fyue lordes foriuged that duke of Irelande and his compeers AT Lenton nexte accompted in the yere At London then the king set his parliamēt At westminster to hold
Seyng the youth then of the Mortimer That erle of the Marche by trewe direccion Was then and heire of England then moste nerâ— To kyng Richarde as well then did appere Consydred also the might of duke Henry They chose hym kyng there durst none it deny ¶ Th erle of Northumberlande then had sent His power home by councell of duke Henry So did his sonne Henry that truly ment Supposyng well the duke wolde not vary From his othe ne in no wyse contrary And he and his kepte all theyr power Tyll he was crouned kyng as it did appere ¶ Therles two then of Northumberlande Of Worcester and syr Henry Percy And theâ—â—e also of Westmerlande Councelled hym then fro his oth not to varye And though at eue he did to theim applie On the morowe by a pryue counsayl He would be crouned kyng without fayle The C .xcvii. Chapiter ¶ Henry the fourth kyng of Englande and of Fraunce was electe by that hole parliament the morowe after Michelmasse daye the yere of our Lorde a thousande thre hundreth foure score and nynetene and reigned .xiiii. yere died at Westmynster the .xix. daye of Marche in the yere of Christe a thousande foure hundreth and .xiii. and of his owne reygne the .xiiii. yere THis duke Henry by great loue of the land Of many lordes and of the commontee Tharchebyshop Arondell toke on hande To croune hym then in royall maiestee On saynt Edwardes day with great solempnitee But kyng he was the morowe after Mighelmesse His reygne begynnyng that day without distresse ¶ Th erle of Warwike and therle of Arondell That exiled were and the Lorde Cobham eke With all theyr frendes that kyng Richard did expell The dukes frendes of Gloucester nought to seke Whiche then began for to encrease and eke Through all the realme with kyng Henry to staÌ„d To croune hym kyng that tyme of all Englande ¶ An hundreth thousande cryed all at ones At Westmynster to croune hym for kyng So hated they kyng Rychard for the nones For his mysrule and wrong gouernyng For taxes and for blanke charters sealyng For murder of duke Thomas of Woodstoke That loued was well more then all the floke ¶ The great parliament then he made rehersed The dukes of Almarle Excestre and Surry He depryued and the iudgement reuersed That then was made gaue full wylfully Agayne Woodstoke and Warwyke for enuie Arondell and the lorde Cobham full trewe Whiche was reuersed and reuoked newe ¶ The duke of Almarle was then erle Rutlande The duke of Surry erle of kent was agayn And eke the duke of Excester I vnderstande Of Hungtyngdon therle was to be fayn The marques eke of Dorset was full bayn Of Somerset erle agayn to bene He chastised theim no feller as was sene ¶ Th erle of Gloucester was lord Spencer Then set agayn to his first estate The kyng then made his eldest sonne full clere The prince of Wales in parliament hole create Duke of Cornewayle and erle denominate Of Chester also that then was yong of age But yet he was that tyme of hye courage The C .xcviii. Chapiter ¶ Howe the kyng gaue the Constablerie and the Marshalsee to therles of Northumberlande and Westmerlande wyth certayn landes and how syr Robert Vmfreuile was made knight of the Garter capitayn of Rokesburgh faught on fote on Fulhoplewe and wan the feld with victorie and was made lorde Vmfreuile AT this tyme that kyng grauÌ„ted by parliameÌ„t The Constablery certayn of Englande In heritage so at his coronoment To therle then of Northumberlande Also of Man thifle I vnderstande To holde of hym and of his heyres alwaye By seruyce royall as wrytten was that daye ¶ And to therle of Westmerlande also The Marshalsee of Englande then he gaue All Richemond fee that was in Englande tho By patent also for terme of life to haue The lordes all he pleased so God me saue With office ay orels with lande or rent With liberall herte as to a prince appent ¶ And whyles that parliament so did endure The Scottes rode by North and sore had stroyed In Cokedale then where Vmfreuyle had cure That with theim faught had theim sore anoyed At Fulhaplowe on fote he theim acloyed For there he toke syr Richard Rotherforde His sonnes fyue full fell of dede and worde ¶ Syr Wyllyam Stiwarde also he toke The lorde of Gordowne he put to flight And Willibarde the felde there then forsoke And prisoners brought home well mo at night Then he had men with hym the felde to fight For whiche the kyng hym had ay after in cherte Consyderyng well his knightly aperte The C .xcix. Chapiter ¶ Howe the kyng Henry remeued kyng Richard from place to place by night in preuey wise in whiche tyme theries of Kent Salisbury and Huntyngdon the lorde Spencer and syr Raulfe Lomley were headed THe kyng theÌ„ sent kyng Richard to Ledis There to be kepte surely in preuitee Fro theÌ„s after to Pykeryng weÌ„t he nedes And to Knauesburgh after led was he But to Pountfrete last where he did die Bothe therles of Kent and Salisbury Th erle of Huntyngdon and SpeÌ„cers sothelye ¶ And syr Raulfe Lomley with mo in company After Christmasse thought to haue slayn the kyng They were distured and fled awaye in hye But they were slayn at Circester fleyng By the commons with theim there fyghtyng Therles of Kent and of Salysbury And syr Raulfe Lomley in theyr companye ¶ The lorde Spencer take was vpon the sea At Bristowe was headed and decollate Th erle also of Huntyngdon did flee And brought vnto the countesse of estate Of Herforde then who had hym forth algate To Plasshe where she made men hym hede Without counsayll of any lorde or rede ¶ Syr Thomas shelly set full hye in pride And Mawbleyn with Ferebye drawe and honge Syr Barnard Brockeys was heded theim beside The byshop also of Carleile theim among In Westmynster his life there to prolonge Perpetually by iudgement was commytte Among his brethren in order for to sytte The CC. Chapiter ¶ Howe kyng Richard was brought deade froÌ„ Pountfret to Powles and after buried at Langley for menne shoulde haue no remembraunce of hym And howe syr Robert Vmfreuyle faught with that Scottes at Redeswere and had the felde and the victorye IN march next after kig Rychard theÌ„ was dede Fro Poumfret brought with great solempnyte Men sayde forhungered he was lapped in lede At Poules his masse was done and diryge In hers royall semely to royalte The kyng lordes clothes of golde there offerde Some .viii. some .ix. vpon his hers were proferde ¶ At Westminster then dyd they so the same When truste he shuld there haue buryed bene In that mynster lyke to a prynce of name In his owne tombe together with the quene Anne that afore his fyrste wyfe had bene But then the kyng hym faste to Langley sent There in the freres to be buryed secretement ¶ On Michelmasse day next after his coronacioÌ„
Northumberland But failed hym foule without witte or rede But to the kyng he came I vnderstand Holy submittyng hym vnto his royall hand Whom then he putte to hold in sore prisone With twoo menne of his owne in Bagyngton ¶ His castelles all his meÌ„ne held then full stroÌ„g To tyme the kyng had graunt hym plener grace But the lordes in counsaill then emong Hight hym to help the sixte yere at the Pasche But none durst come that tyme so fell the case But bishop Scrop and therle marshall The lord Bardolfe then of our lordes all The CC .iiii. Chapiter ¶ Howe in that yere of his reigne in that yere of Christ a thousand foure hundred and fyue master Rychard Scorpe archebishop of Yorke Thomas Mombrayâ—â—rle marshall sir Iohn Lamplewe and sir Wyllyam Plompton were hedded byside Yorke IN lenton after he came home to his land By perliameÌ„t whole deliuered and acquit And twoo yere after in peace I vnderstaÌ„d With kyng Henry full peasebly did sitte Then in the yere as menne remembre it Of his reigne the sixte the bishop Scorp went Th erle marshall with hym of one entent ¶ To Yorkes More and ther assembled power Of their owne and their frendes also Of therles menne of Northumberland that were To the nombre of twenty thousand tho Afore the daye assigned that was so By therle then of Northumberland That there Cheften with theim should haue staÌ„d ¶ With other lordes that were to theim assent But the bishop and therle marshall Wher slain afore the daye of assignement Betwene theim made afore in speciall Hedded were then nere Yorke as then did fall Sir Iohn Lamplewe and sir Wyllyam PlomtoÌ„ With the bishop were hedded there for treson The CC .v. Chapiter ¶ Howe the lord Hastynges the lord Fauconbridge and sir Iohn Coluile of the Dale and his make and sir Iohn Ruthyn were hedded at Duresme by the kyng for therles of Northumberland then he gate therles castelles and stroke of seuen heddes at Berwyke THe lord Hastynges at Duresme was then take The lord FaucoÌ„brige together in coÌ„pany Sir Iohn Coluile of the Dale his make Sir Iohn Ruthyn that knightes were full maÌ„ly To therle of Northumberland openly Were hedded there all foure vpon a daye And to Werkworth remeuid in greate araye ¶ Wher the castell with in a weke was yolde Vnto the kyng after assautes fell and sore The casteleyns to passe free wher thei would With horse and harnes without chalenge more Then to Alnwike the kyng remeued thore Wher the capitains vnto the kyng then sent Wyn Berwyke ones he should haue his entent ¶ So went he then to Berwyke without delaye With assaut and shotte of gonnis strong that were He had it then and ther hedded on a daye The barons sonne of Graistoke taken there Sir Henry Bowton and Blenkensop therfore And Prendirgest ran on the sea also And Tuwile with other squiers twoo ¶ To Alnwike then the kyng laied siege again Without assaute by whole conuencion Henry Percy of Athel with hert fain And Wyllyam Clifford without discencion The castell yeld at the kynges entencion With horse and harnes without enpechement Or forfeture or els impediment ¶ Prodhow Langley and also Cokirmouth Alnham Newsted deliuered were anone Thei remoued then furth in to the south Th erle of Northumberland was then gone Afore Northward to Scotland with great mone The lord Bardolf with hym thither went And there abode with their suppowelment ¶ The sommer next by sea to Wales thei went Vnto Glendour and after then to Brytain And so by sea to Flaunders or they stent The other sommer to Scotland came again By thest sea and ther thei did remain To the winter then of snowe full depe That thei were slain for whom that folke sore wepe ¶ The nynth yere was then of the kyng Henry In Feueryer afore the fastyngange Of Christ his date a thousand certainly Foure hundred and eight counted emong At Bramham more with speres sharp and long In Yorkshire so the Rokeby with theim mette Shrief of the shire with power that he gette The C. C .vi. Chapiter ¶ Howe the kyng his soonne of ScotlaÌ„d heire Iames was taken on the sea and brought vnto the kyng and then dyed Owayn and the kyng of Scotland THe same yere also that prince theÌ„ of ScotlaÌ„d Vpon the sea sailyng then in to Fraunce Was taken brought to that kyng of EnglaÌ„d Eleuen yere old was he then by remembrauÌ„ce Whom the kyng then putte in gouernaunce For like a prince as to a kyng appent In all honour as was conuenient ¶ The tenth yere then of the kyng his date The kyng of Scotland and Owayn of Glendor His soonne also the world forsoke then algate And dyed awaye of theim then was no more The prince of Scotland then was kyng therfore And Wales all became the kyng his menne In rest and peace without rebellion then ¶ In that same yere Gilbert Vmfreuile Lord was then of Riddisdale in keyme That passid not seuentene yere that while And ward was to the kyng that tyme But seuentene yere of age was that tyme At Arrays then faught full worthely Wth George Turnuile in lyestes syngulerly ¶ With axe and sworde and dagger vpon foote Twenty strokes with euery wepen smyten Vndeparted without any mote And on the morowe there they syten Twenty coursses with speres together hitten A quarter bare vnarmed and vnarayed Saue there serkes slewe with speres vnasayed The CC .vii. Chapiter ¶ Howe Robert Vmfreuile went into Scotlande and lay in the Scottishe sea .xiiii. dayes and euery daye faught with that Scottes somedaye on the northsyde and some daye on the southsyde and gatte .xiiii. greate shippes brent there Galiot with ordinaunce and sore battayll in the Scottishe sea afore Edynburghe and at the Blakenesse THe yere eleuenth of this same kyng Henry Syr Robert Vmfreuile toke the see With .x. sayles to kepe it notably When trewce was taken in specialtee Betwene Scotlande and vs in ceâ—tentee To the Scottishe sea both by sea and lande And to Monshole on our syde I vnderstande ¶ In the Scottishe sea with his shippes he laye Where .xiiii. shippes he toke with his manhede And faught full sore at full sea euery daye Sometyme vpon the northside so in dede And some tyme on the southsyde out of drede With the duke of Albany and of Fyffe And his proude scottes that faught then full ryffe ¶ With therle of Douglas and theim of LothiaÌ„ And brought his fiers brennyng vpon the sea In botes and cogges ordened by theim than With other botes with meÌ„ of armes in propertee And archers good well pauyÌ„shed in specialitee That brent theyr shippes and theyr galiot A shyppe of auantage was then God wote ¶ When he had ben there .xiiii. dayes to th ende With his prises he came to Englande Full of cloth wollen lynnen that land to amend Pytche and tarre both for fre and bonde For to amende the shepes of
not beleue to the entente that he myghte the more enbouldē certaine of his compaigny then despayryng and geuyng theimselfe to flight beganne to make a newe hoste and with many faire promyses did wowe his brother in lawe Thomas Stanley to take his parte but when that said Thomas would by no meanes fight or rebell agaynste kyng Edwarde then seeyng it was tyme to gooe one waye and he mistrustyng that he was not able to resiste the power of hys enemyes fled wyth the duke of Clarence his soonne in lawe to Excetre and whē he had taried there two or three dayes seyng that he lacked al thynges necessarye for warre purposed to gooe to Lewes the kyng of Fraunce with whom at his ambassate into Fraunce was veraye well acquaynted and beloued trustyng ether to haue some helpe of the kyng or els to incense hym wholy to fight against hym and so toke shippe at Dartmouth both he and the duke with a greate nombre of theyr familie and sayled with the wynde to Normandie where the chiefe lord of that towne entreteyned hym most royally in al the hast certified that kyng Lewes of his cōmyng thither And that kyng meruailyng greatlye at that noble actes that that erle had doen was mynded thorowly to helpe hym in all that he could when he knewe that he was lāded in Fraūce was glad of it sent to hym certayn of his nobles to shewe hym that he did wishe to haue an occasion wherby he might helpe hym at this time would gladly dooe for him desieryng hym to come to Ambassy where the kyng laye which Ambassy is a manour place of that kynges set vpō the ryuer syde of Loire the duke also his sonne in law and that it should not bee for his losse or harme This was that .ix. yere of kyng Edwardes reigne when the erle fled to Fraunce and of our Lorde a M CCCC and .lxxx. But this greued kyng Edward that thei wer fled for because many of the people and cōmunaltee was desyrous to see hym and thought that the sonne had been goone from theim and out of this worlde when he was absent And in suche estimaciō and honour was he had of the people that thei worshipped honoured none but hym or at the least none more then hym In so muche that his only name was euery mannes song voyce especially of the cōmē people when they made triumphe abrode in that stretes Wherby the moste parte helde of the earle his syde and bare hym more fauoure in theyr hartes then kyng Edward Wherby the kyng was in feare and daunger both of his owne countremen that wer in his realme and of theim that were abrode in Fraunce but before all other he did prouide for that erle his cōmyng And first he sente to Charles the duke of Burgom his brother in law desiryng him that he would manashe Lewes the kyng with whom he had made a league of peace not to aide the erle of Warkwike or that duke his sonne in lawe neither with mony nor with mē The which Charles wrote to that kyng of Fraūce thretened hym many thynges if so that he mainteyned or helped theim And when the kyng of Fraūce had red his letter aūswered again saied that he might lawfully would sauyng his league truce helpe his frēds that wer valiaūt noble men as the earle was and settyng nothyng by all his thretenyng braggyng wordes sayd it shoulde bee neither greate peyne nor coste to hym Whē these tydynges came into England that kyng was veraye sorie for that cause searched priuely in his realme who wer frēdes to his enemies And for feare by that reason of the examinaciō of theim that wer prisoners in his hand some did take sentuarie and some came to the kynges side And emonges theim the lord Marques Montacute offered hymself to the kyng again to helpe hym in his warres whom the kyng gladly receaued for because that by him mo would leane to his side In this meane season the erle of Warwike the duke went to Ambassy wher the kyng of Fraūce was by the way the people came veraye thicke to see hym because they harde so muche speakyng of his noblenesse when he came there the kyng receaued hym moste gently to whō shortly after the erle did breake his mynd and shewed the cause of his commyng To whome the kyng promysed all that he coulde dooe for hym to the vttermoste extente of his power Sone after quene Margarete the wife of Henrye that .vi. came to theim with her sōne prince Edward and the earle of Penbruck and also of Oxēforde the whiche a lytle before sayled ouer to her After they cōmuned together as concernyng that safegard of their bodies a league was made thorowe the kyng of Fraunce his counsel And first lady Anne the doughter of the earle was maried and despoused to prynce Edwarde the quenes soonne Also the erle and the duke promysed faithfullye that they woulde not geue ouer vnto suche tyme that kyng Henrye the .vi. or Edwarde his soonne were proclaymed kyng of Englande after kyng Henry that the erle and the duke should ouersee and gouerne the realme by the wyll and apoyntmente of the quene Margarete and her sonne prince Edwarde vnto suche tyme that the forenamed prince wer of lawfull age and habilitee the whiche they promysed faythfully to obserue and dooe as they wer apoynted And besydes these many other condicions were made aswel for that reason did so require as the busynes that was at that tyme. When this league of truth faithfulnes was thus made the kyng Lewes holpe the erle with mēne harnes and nauie that he might the surer go to Englāde And Rhenate also the father of y◠quene Margarete gaue hym mēne harnyse to his power So that he hauyng no small nombre of men did take shippe at Sayne mouth ther tariyng hard word from Englād by letters that he should come ouer in all the haste that there were so many that would take his parte that he shoulde haue no nede to bryng any with hym for they wer redy in harneyse at the water side willyng to helpe hym in al that they could and not they onely but many noble men princes would helpe hym both with mony men harneyse with all that they could dooe When he had receaued these letters he purposed to go forth and take the oportunitee of the tyme. And because that the quene was not redy to set forth he the duke of Oxēford and the duke of Penbruch went before with parte of that hoste nauye to trie what chaūce thei shuld haue that if all thinges should chaunce well the quene and the prynce should folowe and come vnto Englande Therfore the Earle and the Duke thanking the king as highly as they coulde for that he had doone so much for theim dyd take their leaue and sayled vnto Englande with all their
thys he prophecied that the self same Henry shuld in tyme to come as it chaunsed in dede haue the kyngedome and rule of all the realme And nowe Edwarde althoughe he was oute of his countree yet dyd he not dyspayre but that he shulde haue mattre and redy occasion to recouer his kingdome for the duke of Burgoyne partlye had promised hym both greate ayde and socoure and partly the priuy frendes that he had in Englande dyd councell hym by letters sente from tyme to time that he would hasten his iournay homward and incontinâ—tly after very many fled to hym oute of Englande eyther for feare of the lawes that they had offended or elles for sorowe that the worlde was so turned that they could not haue theyr wyll as they had before in accomplyshynge theyr couetouse myndes and desyres and caused hym to make the more haste homewarde And kynge Edwarde beynge rauished with their golden promises thoughte nothyng more payneful or wretched then to tary one daye lenger and nothyng more pleasaunt theÌ„ to go of his iourney and so takynge no moo wyth them then two thou sande harnesed menne at the sprynge of the yeare sayled into Englande landynge in the coastes of Yorkeshyre at an hauen towne called Rauinsport And there settynge for the all hys menne dyd reason wyth hys captaynes and consulte to what place they shoulde fyrste goo For it was ieoperdious consydering the small companie that he had to take anye waye for the. But after longe delyberation they were all agryed that some certayne knightes and horsemen of that smal compaignie shuld bee sent one to euerie quarter to the townes that wer nyghe to the intente that they myghte drawe the hartes myndes of the people to king Edwardes syde But it is not lykelye that kynge Edwarde beyng a wyse manne durst be bolde or would in any wyse come into England with such a small power excepte he had knowen surely that he should haue had great helpe at hys commyng the whych is a plain token that the duke of Clarence and the lorde Marques had procured hys fauoure promysinge him all their helpe that they coulde make for the tryall of the whych ther was manifest tokens that dysclosed and bewrayed all their falshed For they priuilie weÌ„t about to know mennes mindes and to what parte they would declyne and the nexte day after came to kinge Edwarde and shewed him that the common people dyd stande stiflye of kynge Henrye his syde and woulde defende hys quarell as ryghte and iuste at al times and that they had nomore nede nowe to make anye tumulte in so much that no manne would althoughe eftsons desired and prayed go to king Edward yea and that noman woulde for feare of the earle of Warwike heare anye thinge spoken of that matter whose myndes after that kinge Edwarde had throughlye serched and knowen he chaunged his mynd and purpose wher as before he claymed the crowne then he publyrshed abrode that he woulde haue but hys ryghte that was his landes and heritage of Yorke shyre And â—t that worde it cannot be well spoken howe redily meÌ„ wer willinge to helpe him consideringe that he claymed nothinge but hys ryghte in somuch yâ— very pytie dyd moue manye althoughe they woulde not helpe hym yet at no hande to resyste him And kynge Edwarde reconsilyng him selfe to the common people by these meanes toke hys iournye towarde Yorke and wente to Beuer lay The earle then beinge at Warwik after that he knew that king Edward was landed about York streyght sent a post to his brother lord MoÌ„tacute then liyng that winter at Pomfreit with a great army to shewe him what daunger mighte ensue yf king Edward got that towne of york bed theim yf his enemies drewe nigh ether to mete with theÌ„ in plain felde or elles to bete theim from the towne vnto such tyme that he came wyth a greater host which he prepared then in all the hast he coulde And because he knew not surely which way his enemies wolde come he fyrst sent to euery towne in york shyre and to yorke it selfe certayne postes to bid euery man be in his harnesse ready and that that citezins should shut the gates surelye that kynge Edward myght haue no accesse In the meane tyme king Edward came peaceably and wythoute the resistaunce of anye man towardes the towne of Yorke of whose commyng when the citezens were certified they made sure the gates and standynge in harnesse for the defence of it dyd sende twoo of the aldermen to warne the kyng the comming nyghe that he dooe not enterpryse to farre or put hym selfe in ieopardie for they were mynded to dryue him and all hys awaye wyth all the power they myghte When Edwarde had heard theyr myndes he was in so greate feare agonie that he could not tell what to dooe for yf he shuld haue goone back he feared that the common people as men gredye of a praye woulde persue him and yf he should goo forth he was in daunger of the Yorke shyre men leaste they shoulde sodenlye faull vpon hym and take hym and therefore seeyng that he was not able to match them in battayle thought to mollyfie theim with fayre wordes and so beganne to entreat after the most lowlye and gentle maner the messaungers that they woulde in hys name shewe the cytezyns that he came not to clayme the crowne but hys herytage and ryghte of Yorke shyre and therfore that they woulde helpe theyr lorde and duke of Yorke and yf that he myghte be receaued through theyr meanes he wolde requyte theyr kindenes and remember theyr benifyte as longe as he lyued And by suche fayre speaking and flatterie he dimissed theÌ„ and folowed straighte after to the gates with his companie The citezins beynge somwhat moued wyth thys answer for that he entended no harme agaynst kyng Henrie they spake wyth hym from the wall and badde hym to go frome thence and if he would go quickely he should take no harme But he speakyng veraye gentely to euerye one of theim callyng some by name moost gentely did desire theim that he might come into his owne toune And so passyng all the daye in that coÌ„municacion at that length the citezens partely ouer come with his moost geÌ„tle speakyng large promises made fell to this poincte that if Edward would swere to handle his citezens after a gentle sorte hereafter bee obedient to kyng Henry his coÌ„maundement thei would receiue hym in to that citee and helpe hym with all that power that thei might Edward beyng glad to here this the next daye after early a masse was said at the gates wher he receiuyng the sacrament promised feithfully vpon his othe that he would obserue bothe the thyngeÌ„s afore named so was receiued in to the citee Neuerthelesse it was so ferre vnlike that he would obserue one of theim that he minded none other thyng then that he might depriue the kyng of his croune as here after shall
of you beyng of my blod that other of my alies eche of you with other either of kynred or affinite whiche is that very spirituall affinitie kynred in christ as all ê‘takers of that sacamentes of christes churche The weight of whiche coÌ„sanguynite if we did beare as would to god we did then should we more be moued to spirituall charite then to fleshly coÌ„sanguinyte Our lord forbid that you loue that woorse together for yâ— self same cause that you ought to loue yâ— better yet that ofteÌ„ happeneth for no wher fynd we so dedly as emoÌ„gest theim whiche by nature lawe moost ought to agre together Suche a serpent is ambicioÌ„ desire of vanyne glory souere ingtie whiche emoÌ„gest estates when he is once entered he crepith foorth so ferre till with deuision varyaunce he turneth all to mischief First longyng to bee next to that best afterward egall with the beest at the last chief aboue that beest Of whiche immoderate appetite of woorship the debate discencion that grewe there by what losse what sorowe what trouble hath win these fewe yeres growen with in this realme I praye God as well to forget as we well remeÌ„bre whiche thyng if I could aswell haue forsene as I haue with my more pane theÌ„ pleasure proued by god des blessed lady that was his commoÌ„ othe I would neuer haue wonne the curtesyes of mennes knees with the losse of so many heddes But sith thynges passed can not be called agayn muche more ought we to bee ware by what occasion we haue taken so great hurte before that we eftsones fall not into that occasion again Nowe bee these greues passed and all is quiet thanked bee God likely well to prosper in welthfull peace vnder your cousins my children if God send theim life and you loue and coÌ„cord Of whiche .ii. thynges that lesse losse wer thei by whoÌ„ all though God did his pleasure yet should this realme alwayes fynd kynges ê‘adueÌ„tur as good kynges as thei But if you emoÌ„gest your selfes in a childes reigne fall at debate many a good manne shall innocently perishe happely he you also or it is long fynd peace quiet again wherfore in these last woordes that euer I looke to speake to you I exhort and require you all for the loue that you haue borne to me and for that loue that I haue borne to you for the loue that our lord bereth to vs all FroÌ„ this tyme forward all greues forgotteÌ„ eche of you loue other which I verely trust you wyll yf you any thyng regarde God or your kynges affinitee or kynred this realme your owne couÌ„tre or your owne suretie wealthe And there with al the kyng for fayntnes no longer endurynge to syt vp layde hym downe on his right side his face toward theim And ther was none presente that could forbeare wepyng but that lordes coÌ„fortynge hym with as good woordes as thei could answeryng for that tyme as they thought should stande with his pleasure And there in his presence as by theyr wordes appeared eche forgaue other and ioyned theyr haÌ„des together when as it after appeared by theyr dedes there hartes were farre asoÌ„der And so with in a fewe dayes thys noble prynce dysceased at Westmynster the .ix. daye of Apryll in the yere of our Lorde a. M CCCC .lxxxiii. after that he had reygned .xxii. yeres one moneth and .viii. dayes was with great funeral pompe conueyed to Wyndsore leuyng behynd hym .ii. soonnes Edwarde the prynce of whom this story entreateth a chylde of xiii yeres of age Richarde duke of Yorke .ii. yeres yonger then the prince and fiue doughters Elizabeth which by goddes grace was maryed to kyng Henry the .vii. and mother to kyng HeÌ„ry the eyght Cycile not so fortunate as fayre fyrst wedded to the vycouÌ„t Welles after to one Kyne and lyued not in great wealth Brydget professed her selfe a close nonne of Syon Anne was maryed to lorde Thomas Hauwarde after erle of Surrey and duke of Norffolke Katheryne that yoÌ„gest doughter was maryed to lorde WillyaÌ„ Courtney sonne to that earle of DeuoÌ„shire which loÌ„gtyme tossed in other fortune somtyme in welth after in aduersitee tyl that benignitee of her nephewe kyng HeÌ„rye the .viii. brought heâ— into a sure estate accordyng to her degre ê“geny This kyng Edward was suche a prince of gouernaunce and behaueour in the tyme of peace for in tyme of warre eche must be others enemye that ther was neuer any kyng in this realme in attaynyng the croune by warre and battayle so hartely beloued with the more substaunce of his people nor he hym selfe so specially fauoured in any parte of his life as at that tyme of his death whiche fauoure and affeccion yet after his death by the crueltie myschiefe trouble of the tempesteous world that folowed highlye towardes hym more encreased At suche time as he died the displeasure of those that bare hym grudge for kyng Henry that .vi. sake whoÌ„ he deposed was wel assuaged in effect quenched within that space of .xxii. yeres which is a great part of a mans life and some wer reconsiled growen into his fauour of yâ— which he was neuer strauÌ„ge when it was with true harte demaunded He was goodly of personage princely to beholde of hert couragious politike in councell and in aduersitee nothyng abashed in prosperitee rather ioyful then proude in peace iuste mercyfull in warre sharpe and fearce in the felde bold and hardie yet neuer thelesse no farther then reason and policie woulde aduenture whose warres whosoeuer circumspectly 〈◊〉 aduisedly considereth he shal no lesse coÌ„mend his wisdome policie where he auoyded theim then his manhode where he vanquished theim He was of visage full faced louelie of bodie mightie stronge cleane made with ouer lyberall and waÌ„toÌ„ dyet he waxed somewhat corpuleÌ„t bourly but neuerthelesse not vncomely He was of youth greatly geuen to fleshely wantoÌ„nes from that which health of bodie in great prosperitee fortune with out an especiall grace hardlye refrayneth Thys faulte litle greued his people for neyther coulde any one mannes pleasure stretche or extende to the displeasure of veraye many nor a multitude bee greued by a priuate mannes fantesie or volupteousnesse wheÌ„ it was doeÌ„ wtout violeÌ„ce And in his latter dayes he left al wild daliauÌ„ce fel to grauitee so that he brought his realme into a wealthie ê“sperous estate al feare of outwarde enemies were clerely extinguished no warre was in hande nor none toward but suche as no maÌ„ looked for The people wer toward their prince not in a coÌ„strayned feare but in a true louyng and wylfull obedience emongest theimselfe and the commons wer in good peace The lordes whome he knewe at variaunce he in his death bed as he thought he brought to good concord loue and amytee And a lytle before his death he left gatheryng of mony of his subiectes
And to bee sure of all enemyes as he thought he sent for .v. thousande menne of the north against his coronacion whiche came vp euell apparelled and worsse harneyssed in rustie harneys neyther defensable nor scoured to the sale whiche mustered in fynesoury felde to the great disdayne of all the lokers on The fourth daye of Iuly he came to the towre by water with his wife and the fyfte daye he created Thomas Lorde Haward duke of Norffolke syr Thomas Haward his soonne he created Earle of Surrey and Willyam lorde Barkeley was then created erle of Notyngham and Fraunces lorde Louell was then made Vicount Louell and the kynges chaumberlayne and the lorde Stanley was deliuered out of warde for feare of his sonne the lorde Straunge whiche was then in Lancasshyre gatheryng menne as menne saied and the saied lorde was made Stuard of the kynges hou sholde like wyse the archbyshoppe of Yorke was deliuered but Morton bishop of Ely was deliuered to the duke of Buckingham to kepe in warde whiche sent hym to his manoure of Brecknoke in Wales from whence he escaped to kyng Richardes confusyon The same nighte the kyng made .xvii. knightes of the bathe The nexte day he rode throughe LondoÌ„ with great pompe in especiall the duke of BuckinghaÌ„ was richely appareled his horse trapped in blewe veluet enbroudered with the naues of cartes burning of golde whiche trapper was borne by footemeÌ„ froÌ„ the grounde with suche asoleÌ„pne fassyon that all menne muche regarded it On the morowe being the .vi. day of Iuly the kyng came toward his coronacioÌ„ into Westminster hal where his chapell all the prelates mytred receaued hym And so they in ordre of processyon passed forward After the procession folowed therle of Nor thumberlaÌ„d with a pointlesse sweard naked the lorde Stanley bare the Mace of the constableship The erle of Kent bare the second swerd on the right hand of the kyng naked The lord Louell bare an other swerd on the lefte hand Then folowed the duke of Suffolke with the Sceptre and therle of Lincolne with the balle and crosse After theim folowed the newe Erle of Surrey with the swerd of estate in a riche skabard On the ryght side of hym went the duke of Norffolke bearing the croune then folowed kyng Richard in a Circot and robe of purple veluet vnder a canable borne by the barones of that fyue portes going betwene the bishoppes of Bathe and Duresme The duke of Buckingham with the rod of the high stuard of Englande bare the kynges traine After hym folowed the erle of Hunting don bearing the quenes sceptre and the Vicount Liâ—â—e bearing the rod with the doue And the erle of Wilshere bare the quenes croune Then folowed quene Anne doughter to Richard erle of War wike in robes lyke to the kyng betwene two bysshoppes and a canabie ouer her hed borne by the Barones of the portes On her hed a rich coronal set with stones and pearle After her folowed the countesse of Richmond heire to the duke of Somerset whiche bare vp the quenes traine After folowed the duchesse of Suffolke and Norffolke with couÌ„tesses baronesses ladies many faire gentilwemeÌ„ in this ordre they passed thorough the palaice entred the abbay at the west end so came to their seates of estate And after diuerse soÌ„ges solâ—ply song they both discended to the high altare were shifted from their robes had diuerse places open froÌ„ the middle vpward in whiche places they were anointed Then both the kyng the quene chaunged theim into cloth of gold ascended to their seates where the cardinal of Cauntourburie other byshoppes theim crouned according to the custome of the realme geuing hym the scepter in the left haÌ„d and the balle with the crosse in the ryght hand the quene had the sceptre in her right hand the rod with the doue in the left hand On euery side of the kyng stode a duke before hym stode therle of Surrey with the swerd in his handes And on euery side of the quene staÌ„ding a bishop a ladie kneling The Cardinal song masse after paxe the kyng the quene discended before the high altare they wer bothe houseled with one hoste deuyded betwene theÌ„ After masse finished they bothe offred at saint Edwardes shrine there the kyng lefte the croune of saint Edward and put on his owne crowne And so in ordre as they came they departed to westminster hal so to their chambres for a ceasoÌ„ duryng which time the duke of Norffolke came into the hal his horse traped to the ground in cloth of gold as high mershall and voided the hall About .iiii. of the clocke the kyng quene entred the halle and the kyng sate in the middle and the quene on the left hand of the table on euery side of her stoode a countesse holding a clothe of pleasaunce when she list to drinke And on the right haÌ„d of the kyng sat the byshop of Cauntourbury the ladies sat all on one side in the middle of the hall And at the table againste theim sat the Chauncelloure and all the lordes At the table next the cupborde sate the Maire of London And at the table behinde the lordes sate the Barones of the portes And at the other bordes sate noble and worshypfull personages When all persones wer sette the the duke of Norffolke earle Mershal the earle of Surrey constale for that daye the lorde Stanley lorde Steward Sir willyam Hopton treasourer and sir Thomas Percie comptroller came in and serued the kyng solemplye with one dishe of golde and another of syluer And the quene all in gylte vessell and the bishop all in siluer At the seconde course came into that hall sir Robert Democke the kynges champion making a proclamacion that whosoeuer woulde saye that kyng Richarde was not lawfullye kyng he woulde fight with hym at the vtteraunce and threwe downe his gauntlet theÌ„ all the hall cried kyng Richard And so he did in thre partes of the halle and then one broughte hym a cup of wyne couered when he had dronke he caste oute the drinke departed with the cuppe After that the herauldes cryed alargesse thryse in the halle so went vp to their staige At the ende of diner the Mayre of London serued the kyng quene with swete wyne and had of eche of theim a cuppe of golde with a couer of gold And by that tyme that all was done it was darkenight And so the kyng retourned to his chaumbre and euery man to his lodging When this feaste was thus fyneshed the kyng sente home all the lordes into their countrees that woulde departe excepte the lorde Stanley whome he reteyned tyll he hearde what his soonne the lorde straunge wente aboute And to suche as wente home he gaue streyghte charge and coÌ„maundement to see their countryes well ordred and that no wronge nor extorcion should bee done to his subiectes
promysed hym ayde vpon the truste wherof he beganne to make redye his shippes that they might with all expedicion bee redy to sayle that no tyme should be loste In the whiche tyme kyng Richard was agayn retourned to London had taken dyuerse of theim that wer of this conspyracy that is to say George Browne Roger Clyfforde Thomas Selenger knyghtes Also Thomas Ramme Robert Clyfford and dyuerse other whom he caused to be put to death After this he called a parliament wherin was deereed that all those that were fled oute of the lande should be reputed and taken as enemyes to the realme and all their landes and goodes to bee forfayte and confiscate And not content with that preade which was no smal thyng he caused also a great taxe and some of monye to be leuyed of the people For the large giftes and lyberalytee that he first vsed to buye the fauoures frendshippes of many had now brought him in nede But nothing was more like then that Thomas Stanley shoulde haue bene reputed takeÌ„ for one of those enemies because of the woorkyng of Margarete his wife which was mother vnto Henry erle of RichemouÌ„t the which was noted for the chiefe hed worker of this coÌ„spyracy But for asmuch as it was thought that it was to small purpose that wemen coulde dooe Thomas beynge nothyng fauty was delyâ—ed and coÌ„mauÌ„ded that he should not suffre Margarete his wyfe to haue any seruauÌ„tes about her neither that she should not go abroad but be shut vp and that from thence foorth she should sende no message neyther to her soonne nor to any of her other frendes wherby any hurte mighte be wrought agaynst the kyng the whiche commaundemeÌ„t was accomplyshed And by the authoryte of the same perliament a peace was concluded with the Scottes whiche a lytle before had skyrmyshed with the borderers Which thyng brought to passe the kyng supposed all conspiracye to bee clene auoyded for asmuche as the duke with other of his compaignie were put to death and also certen other bannyshed Yet for all this kyng Richard was daylye vexed and troubled partelye mystrustynge his owne strength and partely fearyng the commyng of Henrye with his compaignye so that he lyued but in a myserable case And because that he would not so continue any lenger he determyned with hym selfe to put awaye the cause of this his feare and busynesse either by pollecye or elles by strength And after that he hadde thus purposed with hym selfe he thought nothyng better then to tempte the duke of Britayn yet once again eyther with money prayer or some other speciall rewarde because that he had in kepyng the erle Henry moste chiefly because he knewe that it was only he that might delyuer hym from all his trouble by delyueryng or imprisoning the sayed Henry Wherfore incontmentlye he sente vnto the duke certein Ambassadoures the whiche should promesse vnto hym besyde other greate rewardes that they broughte with theim to geue hym yerely all the reuenues of all the landes of Henry and of all the other lordes there beyng with hym yf he woulde after the receyte of the ambassadoures put theim in prysone The Ambassadoures beynge departed and come where the duke laye could not haue communicacion with hym for asmuch as by extreme sicknesse his wyttes were feble and weake Wherfore one Peter Landose his Treasourer a manne bothe of pregnaunte wytte and of greate authoritee tooke this matter in hand For whiche cause he was afterwarde hated of all the lordes of Britain With this Peter the Englishe ambassadoures had communicacion declaring to hym the kynges message desyred hym instantlye for asmuche as they knewe that he might bring theyr purpose to passe that he woulde graunt vnto kyng Richardes request and he shoulde haue the yerely reuenues of all the landes of the sayed lordes Peter considering that he was greatly hated of the lordes of his owne nacion thoughte that yf he myght bring to passe thoroughe kyng Richarde to haue all these greate possessyons and yerely reuenues he should then bee hable to matche with theim well ynough and not to care a rushe for theim whereupon he aunswered the ambassadoures that he would doo that Richard dyd desire yf he brake not promesse with hym And this did he not for any hatred that he bare vnto Henry for he hated hym not for not longe before he saued his lyfe where the earle Henry was in greate â—eoperdye But suche was the good fortune of Englande that this craftye compacte tooke no place for whyle the letters and messengers ranne betwene Peter and kyng Kichard Iohn Bishoppe of Ely beinge then in Flaundres was certifyed by a preest whiche came oute of England whose name was Christopher Vrswicke of all the whole circumstaunce of this deuyce purpose Wherupon with all spede the sayed byshop caused the saied preest the same daye to cary know ledge therof into Britayn to Henry erle of Richemounte willing hym with all the other noble men to dyspatche theim selues with all possible haste into Fraunce Henry was then in Veneti wheÌ„ he heard of this fraud without tariaunce sent Christopher vnto Charles the Frenche kyng desiring lycence that Henry with the other noble men myght safely come into Fraunce the which thing being sone obteigned the messenger retourned with spede to his lorde and Prince Then the earle Henry setting all his businesse in as good staye ordre as he mighte talked lytle and made fewe a counsail herof for the more expedicyon hereof he caused therle of Penbrucke secretly to cause all the noble men to take their horses dissembling to ride vnto the duke of Bretain but when they came to the vttermost partes therof they should forsake the waye that led theim toward the duke and to make into Fraunce with all that euer they might Then they dooing in euery thing as they were biddeÌ„ loste no tyme but so sped theim that shortely they obteygned and gate into the couÌ„tie of Angeou Henry then within .ii. dayes folowyng being then styll at Veneti tooke .iiii. or fyue of his seruauntes with hym and feigned as thoughe he woulde haue ryden therby to visyte a frende of his and forasmuche as there were many Englishmenne lefte there in the toune no manne suspected any thynge but after that he had kepte the ryghte waye for the space of fyue myles he forsooke that and turned streyghte into a woode that was thereby and tooke vpon hym his seruauntes apparell and putte his apparell vpon hys seruaunte and so tooke but one of theym with hym on whome he waited as thoughe he had bene the seruaunte and the other the maister And with all conuenyente and spedy haste so sette forthe on theyr iourney that no tyme was loste and made no more tariaunce by the way then onelye the baitynge of theyr horses so that shortly he recouered the coastes of Angeou where all his other companye was But within foure dayes after that the Earle was thus escaped
Peter receaued from kyng Richard the confirmacion of the graunte and promises made for the betreiyng of Henry and the other nobles Wherfore the saide Peter sente oute after hym horses and menne with suche expedicion and spede to haue taken hym that scacely the erle was entred Fraunce one houre but they were at his heles The Englyshe menne then beyng aboue the noumbre of thre hundreth at Veneti hearing that the Earle and all the nobles were fled so sodeinly and withoute any of their knowledge were astonyed and in maner despaired of theyr lyues But it happened contrary to theyr exspectacyon for the duke of Britaine taking the matter so vnkyndely that Henry should bee so vsed with hym that for feare he shoulde bee compelled to flee his lande was not a lytle vexed with Peter to whom althoughe that he was ignoraunte of the fraude and crafte that had been wrought by hym yet he layed the whole faute in hym and therfore called vnto hym Edward Poyninges Edward Wood vile deliuering vnto theim the foresayde monye the Henrye before had desyred the Duke to lende hym towarde the charge of his iourney and commaunded theim to conuey and conducte all the English menne his seruauntes vnto hym paying theyr expenses and to deliuer the sayde some of monye vn to the earle When the earle sawe his menne come and hearde this comfortable newes he not a lytle reioysed desiring the messengers that returned to shewe vnto the duke that he trusted ere long time to shewe him selfe not to bee vnthankeful for this greate kyndnesse that he nowe shewed vnto hym And within fewe dayes after the earle went vnto Charles the French kyng to whome after he had rendred thankes for the great benefites and kind nesse that he had receaued of hym the cause of his comming fyrste declared then he besought him of his helpe and ayde whiche shoulde bee an immor tall benefite to hym and his lordes of whome generallye he was called vnto the kyngdome forasmuch as they so abhorred the tiranny of kyng Rychard Charles promised hym helpe and bade him to be of good chere to take no care for he would gladly declare vnto hym his beneuolence And the same tyme Charles remoued and tooke with hym Henry and all the other noble menne Whyle Henry remained there Iohn Earle of Oxenford of whome is before spoken which was put in prisone by Edward the fourth in the castell of Hammes with also Iames Blounte Capteine of that castell and Iohn Forskewe knyghte Porter of the towne of Caleies came vnto hym But Iames the capitain because he lefte his wife in the castell dyd furnyshe the same with a good garison of men before his departure Henry when he sawe therle was out of measure glad the so noble a man and of greate experience in battayl and so valiaunt hardie a knight whom he thought to bee moste feithfull and sure for somuche as he had in the time of Edward the fourth continuall battail with hym in defending of Henry the syxte thought that nowe he was so well apointed that he coulde not desire to bee better and therfore coÌ„municated vnto hym all his whole affaires to bee ordred and ruled only by hym Not longe after Charles the Frenche kyng remoued again to Paris whome Henry folowed and there againe moued and besoughte the kyng as he had moste fauourably kindely entreteigned hym all this time not only in wordes but also in dedes that it would lykewise please hym yet so much further to extend his fauoure beneuolence vnto hym that nowe he woulde ayde and helpe hym forwarde in his iourney that not onely he but also all the lordes and nobilytee of Englande myghte iustely haue cause to knowlage and confesse that by the meane of his fauoure and goodnesse they were restored againe to the possessyon of their enherytaunces whiche withoute hym they coulde not well bryng to passe In the meane while his fortune was suche the many Englyshe menne came ouerdaylye oute of Englande vnto him and many whiche then were in Paris amonge whome were diuerfe studenteÌ„s that fell vnto his parte bothe more and lesse and specially there was one whose name was Richard Foxe a Preest beyng a manne of a synguler good wytte and learning whome Henry streyght waye reteigned and coÌ„mitted all his secretes vnto hym and whome also afterward he promoted to many hyghe promocyons and at the laste he made hym bishop of Winchester Richarde then hearyng of all this conspiracye and of the greate ayde that dayly wente ouer vnto Henry thought yet for all this that if he might bring to passe that Henry should not couple in maryage with the blood of king Edwarde that then he shoulde dooe well ynoughe with hym and kept hym from the possessyon of the croune Then deuysed he with hym selfe all the wayes and meanes that myghte bee howe to bryng this to passe And fyrste he thoughte it to bee beste with fayre woordes large promesses to attempte the quene whose fauoure obteygned he doubted not but shortelye to fynde the meanes to haue bothe her doughters oute of her handes into his owne and then rested nothynge but yf he hym selfe myghte fynde the meanes after warde to marye one of the same doughters whereby he thought he shoulde make all sure and safe to the vtter disapoyntinge of Henrye Wherupon he sente vnto the Quene then beynge in the Sanctuarye dyuerse and sondrye messengers that shoulde excuse and pourge hym of his facte afore dooen towardes her settynge forthe the matter with plesaunte woordes and hye promyses bothe to her and also her sonne Thomas lorde Marques of Dorset of all thynges that coulde be desyred These messengers beyng men of grauitee handled the quene so eâ—â—ftly that anone she beganne to bee alured and to herken vnto theim fauourably so that in conclusion she promysed to be obedient to the kyng in his request forgettyng the iniuries he had dooen to her before and on the other parte not remembryng the promesse that she made to Maigarete Henryes mother And first she delyuered both her doughters into the handes of kyng Rychard then after she sent preuely for the Lorde Marques her sonne beyng then at Parys with Henry as ye haue heard wyllyng hym to forsake Henrye with whome he was and spedely to returne into Englande for all thynges was perdoned and forgeuen she again in fauoure and frendship of the kyng and it should be highly for his aduauncement and honoure Kyng Richard wheÌ„ quene Elizabeth was thus brought into a fooles paradyce after he had receaued al his brothers doughters from the sanctuary into his palayce thought there nowe remayned nothyng to be dooen but only the castyng awaye and destroiyng of his owne wife whiche thynge he had wholy purposed and decreed within hym selfe And there was nothyng that feared hym so much from this mooste cruell detestable murder as the losyng of the good opynion the he thought the people had conceyued of hym for as
first hearyng of this the kyng was but litle moued but after that he was certified by the letters of his frendes that it was true he was in greate feare for that he had neyther an armye prepared nor harnyes for theim but because the mattier required haste least that by long taryeng his aduersaries power might bee encreased and multiplyed he commaunded the Duke of Bedforde to mete theim with three thousande meÌ„ne whiche were harnysed but barely for theyr breste plates were for the moste parte lether And he hym selfe in that meane tyme would gather vp an hoste where he might in euery place The duke hauyng his meÌ„ nigh to the teÌ„tes of his enemyes coÌ„sulted with certain of his coÌ„paignie by what waye he mighte traine theim to peace withoute bloodde shedyng After the whiche deliberation aduisement had it was decreed that certaine shoulde proclaime openly that all thei should haue their pardonne that woulde leaue battaile The whiche proclamation auayled muche for the Lorde Louell eyther for some feare or mystrust that he had in his people or feryng hym selfe of his owne behalfe fledde pryuely in a night from his compaignie to Lankeshire ther remained a space with syr Thomas Broghton knight And when hys army had knowledge therof thei also submittyng theim selfes all to the Duke asked pardonne for their heinous offence The Lorde Stafforde also hearyng this was in a great agony and for feare dyd take sanctuarye at Colname .ii. miles from Abindon But because that sanetuary was not a defence for traytours he was taken from that place and behedded and his brother was ê‘doned because he was thought not to haue done it of his owne will but thorowe the counsaill and perswasion of his brother After this businesse was asswaged and Yorke shyre set in peace and quietnes the Kyng went to London and shortelye after that to Wynchester where the Quene his wyfe was deliuered of a Prynce called Arthure and from Wynchester he retourned agayne to London Sone after it chaunsed that one syr Richard Symond preest borne by nature to be a traytour and sedicious personne and yet well learned had a chyld called Lambert Symenel to bee hys scholar by whome he inuented this crafte and disceat that he woulde make the chyld kyng of England and hym selfe archebyshoppe or some hygh potestate in the realme for he knewe verely that many menne supposed kyng Edwardes chyldren to bee fled into some straunge place and that Edwarde the Erle of Warwyke sonne to the Duke of Clarence ether was or should bee put to death shortly And to the ende he myght the better bryng hys purpose about he taught the chyld bothe learnyng good maners and also to order hym selfe as one linially descendyng from a hygh progenie Sone after the rumoure was that the younge Earle of Warwyke was dead in prysonne And when the preest heard of this he intendyng therby to bring his matters aboute chaunged the chyldes name and called hym Edwarde after the younge Earle of Warwyke the whiche were boothe of one age and then sayled into Irelande there opening his mynde to certain of the nobilitee whome he knew to beare but lytle fauoure to Kyng Henry where he was promysed ayde of the Lorde Gerardine chauncellour of all that countree and all that he coulde dooe Whyche Lorde fyrst callyng all hys frendes and louers together desyred their helpe in restoryng the yong Earle to his herytage And dyd sende certain into Englande to desire theym that were kynge Rychardes frendes to continue in their loue and faythfulnes towardes hym and helpe hys nephiewes chylde to his ryghte And that hys power myghte bee the stronger to ouercome hys enemyes he desyred Lady Margarete syster to kynge Edwarde and wyfe to the Duke of Burgondy to further hys purpose with her helpe whyche lady beyng then in Flaunders promised him by the messaungers that she would not onely maintaine his entente with large mony and substaunce but with all the laboure and peynes that she myght occasion other to be of the same conspiracie When kynge Henrye was certified of thys he was sore greued that by the meanes of suche a myscreaunte personne so great sedicion should bee neuerthelesse the kynge consideringe that it shoulde bee to the destruccion of manye menne yf that he shoulde fyghte with his enemies in open feelde called hys counsayle together at the Charter house besyde Rychemounde and there consulted to pacifie thys matter wythoute anye more dysturbaunce Where fyrste it was decreed that all thei shoulde bee pardoned for their offences and treasons latelye commytted whiche hath frome that tyme borne theim selfes vpryght towardes their kinge leaste that syr Thomas Broghton whyche kepte the Lord Louell from the king a great tyme wyth other despeyring of theyr pardon shoulde haue made some sodaine insurrection agaynst hym Further more that men shoulde not thyncke but that the Duke of Clarence was in Englande it was appoynted that he shoulde showe hym selfe abrode wherby the opynion that he was in Ireland myghte bee frustrate and accompted as a lye Also it was further determyned that the Ladye Elysabeth wyfe to kyng Edward the .iiii. shoulde lose al her landes because she had submitted her selfe and her doughters wholye to the handes of kynge Rychard contrary to the promyse made to the Lordes and nobles whyche at her desyre lefte al that they had in Englande and fledde to kynge Henrye in Brytayne and there dyd sweare hym to marye her eldeste daughter as she wylled theim to dooe But her purpose did not frame as God would Thys quene buylded a Collage in Cambrydge and gaue landes to the maynteyning of the same whiche at thys houre is called the quenes Collage When thys order and determynacion of the kynge was ended he wente to London and the nexte Sondaye folowynge he caused the young Earle to bee broughte out of the Tower through the streetes to Poules And there to shewe hym selfe to euerye bodye and taske with the chiefe and noble menne that were thoughte to haue conspyred agaynste kynge Henrye for thys cause that they myghte perceaue the Iryshe menne to moue battayle vnaduysedly and cause stryfe vppon no iuste occasion howebeit all thys nothyng auayled for the Earle of Lyncolne the Duke of Suffolkes soonne and nephewe to kynge Edwarde coulde not suffer kynge Henrye thus to reygne but as a traytoure sayled into FlauÌ„ders to the Ladye Margarete takynge wyth hym Syr Thomas Broghton with certayne other Where also the Lorde Louell landed twoo or three dayes before And there they beynge all together determyned that the Earle of Lyncolne and the Lorde Louell shoulde goo to Irelande and there attend vpon the counterfeyte Earle and brynge hym to Englande with all the power they myghte agaynste kynge Henrye So that yf their dooynges had good successe that then the foresayde Lambarte misnamed the Earle shoulde by the consente of the counsayle be deposed and the true Earle to bee delyuered oute of pryson and enherite his right and iuste
his doughter had wed And his treason perdoned had and hyd Of his brothers death when that he murthered had Whom then the kyng Somond coÌ„maunde bid Vpon his legeaunce whatsoeuer betid For to aunswer in his courte and amende Defautes all betwene theim might be kende ¶ At whose summons he would not then apeare But warred sore both he and his sonnes fyue For whiche the kyng theim exiled out all clere But after they landed and did aryue At Sandwiche so the kyng theim met belyue Where lordes then theim treated and accorded And afterwarde nomore they discorded The C .xx. Chapiter ¶ Howe Sywarde duke of Northumberlande slewe in battayle Maclom kyng of Scotlande and crowned Malclome kyng at Scome accordyng to saynt Edwarde the confessoures commaundement whiche Malclome did homage to saynt Edwarde as apeareth by his letters patent DVke Siwarde then was of NorthuÌ„berlaÌ„d In batayle slewe kyng Maclom so in dede Of Scotlande then that false was of his baÌ„d Whiche to the kyng he made who taketh hede Wherfore the kyng in Marian as I reade By his letters charged duke Siward take on haÌ„d To croune Malcolin that was of Comberland ¶ The whyche he dyd full myghtely anon At Skone abbey wher kynges were all crouned Vpon his hed he set the crowne anone And toke homage of hym vpon the grounde In Edwardes name as he of right was bounde For that ylke realme and as his elders dyd Suche fortune then to Englande was betid ¶ The kyng Gryffyn of Wales then was slayn That Herford shire spoyled had and brent His hed set vp at Gloucester full playne For his vntruthe and falshed that he ment And sone therafter his brothers hed was sent Vnto the kyng for his rebellion So wer they both foringed for treason ¶ And as kyng Edward in his palayce of pride Duke Goodwyne then sittyng at his table Sawe the butler on his one fote slyde And lyke to fall that other fote full stable As he was seruyng the kyng at his table Then held hym vp that he fell not to grounde Kyng Edward sayd to Gudwyn in that stounde ¶ As his one fote ye se helpe that other Full well and trewe I fynde it dayly nowe Had ye ne bene thus had helpe me my brother Th erle then to the kyng on side gan bowe And sayd if I wer cause I praye God nowe This breade passe not my throte but dead I bee And straungled here anone that ye maye see ¶ At his prayer anone with that he died For with that breade straungled was he that stound It might not passe his throte as men espied Wherfore the kyng then bad drawe out that hounde Vnder the boorde as he that false was founde On whome God shewed an hasty iudgement Approued well by good experiment ¶ Wher Herolde had therle Algare exiled Fro Leycestre where erle he was so then The kyng Eward agayn hym reconsiled And perdoned hym and toke hym for his man Of Couentre as Flores tell it can The lord he was and there thabbey founde And buried there is with his wyfe that stound ¶ This Algare was the sonne of erle Leofryke Whiche Leofrike was the duke Lofwynes sonne That erles had been there none afore theim like But duke Siwarde as he did wonne Syckenesse hym tooke and sore vpon hym ronne In whiche he dyd hym arme in all degree And had his axe in hand full lyke to dye ¶ He sayd vnto the lordes then hym about Thus semeth well in armes a knight to dye And not in bed to lye loure and loute Tyll death hym kyll with paynes cruelly As would God here were my moste enemye That I myght dye vpon hym nowe in right In armes thus arayed like a knight ¶ With that he died for paynes that he felt Vpon his fete standynge in that arays And shoke his axe while that his hert gan swelt And to the ground he fell in that afraye Who buried was at saynt Marie abbeye At Yorke citee with worshyp and honoure As likely was for suche a gouernoure ¶ The kyng Edward the duke of NorthuÌ„berlaÌ„d To Tosty gaue the sonne of duke Goodwyn Vnder the name of erle as Flores doth vnderstaÌ„d After whiche tyme all haue been erles syne With landes and rentes both fayre and fyne Whiche estate suffice for princes ben both two In euery lande accompted where they go ¶ He disherited erle Waldyue his owne sonne Who erle was then create of Huntyngdon Of Northampton also as chronicles tell can A worthy prince of all this region That rule a realme coulde well then by reason Another prince was Loafrike that daye Erle of Leycestre and Couentry no naye ¶ Whiche Loefrike had a wyfe that Godiue hight That naked throughout all Couentree The tolles sore and seruage agayn right To redeme hole of her femynitee She in her heare hangyng beneth her knee Vpon a daye rode so through all the towne To bye it free by her redempcion ¶ For otherwise therle would not it free But yf that she rode naked through all the towne Vpon the daye that all men might her see Trustyng she would not for no waryson Haue doen it so by suche redempcion But thus by witte she kept her selfe vnshamed And freed the towne worthy was he blamed ¶ Kyng Edwarde sente then into Hungary For his cousyn the sonne of Emond Ironesyde Themperoure sent hym Edwarde gladly His brother sonne and folke with hym to ryde His sonne Edwarde Athelyng by his syde Margarete and eke Christine his doughter dere Whiche kyng Edward receyued with good chere ¶ He maried Margarete mighty with great riches To kyng Malcolyne of Scotland was that daye That on her gatte fiue sonnes of great noblinesse Edwarde Dunkan Edgare Alixander the gaye And Dauid also that kynges were all no naye Eche after other of Scotlande throughout Whose mother is now S. Margrete wtout doute ¶ At Dumfermlyn shryned and canonized On whom Malcolyne a doughter gate also Kyng Henryes wife the first full wel auised Quene Mawd that hight that well loued EnglaÌ„de tho These crosses fayre and roiall as menne goo Through all Englande she made at hic expense And dyuerse good orders throwe his prouidence ¶ Another sustre this same saint Margarete had That Christine hight kyng Edwarde theÌ„ ê“fessed In religion to lyue she was full glad To holy lyfe disposed and adressed An holy woman of lyfe and of god blessed Who at hir death hir soule then vncouered And to our lorde full mekely so it offred ¶ In his forest as he pursued a dere In Essex a palmer with hym met Askyng hym good whome gladly he dyd here He claue his ryng and in sonder it bette The halfe of whiche he gaue without lette To the Palmer that went awaye anone That other good to geue hym there had he none ¶ But after that full longe and many a daye Two pylgrames came vnto that noble kynge And sayde saint Iohn thappostell in pore araye Vs prayed and bad straytly aboue
couth Full mekill skyll of a woman alwaye That so couth chese a lady that was vncouth And for that mery woordes that came of his mouth Thei trowed he had right great experience Of womanes rule and hir conuenience ¶ Kyng Robert Bruys smitten in lepry dyed To whom his soonne Dauid then did succede And crouned was for kyng and notified His wife also was crouned quene in deede Kyng Edwardes suster she was then as I rede Sir Roger then that was lord Mortimer With Isabell the quene was holden dere ¶ Through hardinesse of whiche he wasted clene The kyng his tresour as was notified For whiche Henry erle of Lancastre for tene Rose with greate hoste as then was fortified To haue withstand and clerely haue replied The wantonnes of Roger Mortymer That was that tyme the quenes playfeer ¶ But treated he was to sitte in rest and peace Notwithstandyng at the coronacion Of kyng Edward chose he was without lees His custode then for good informacion Of the kyng his persone and preseruacion But quene Isabell and the Mortimer Would not suffre ne while that so it were ¶ Edmond Wodstok that then was erle of Kent By kyng Edward of Carnaruan create Whose brother he was by quene Isabelles entēt And Mortimer his mighty and greate estate Arested was and stode repudiate At Winchester foriudged in parliament And hedid there again the common assent ¶ A brother he had hight Thomas of Brothertō Erle of Northfolk and marshall of England That of his death made none execucion For lordes all the greatest of the land Full sory were but nought thei tooke on hand Fro noone till euen without the castell gate He stoode condempned as a repudiate ¶ Whome then at euen a boye of the marshalse Stroke of his hedde for whome the lordes than And commons all displeased were inwardly At Notyngham sone after thei began Wher Mortimer therle of Marche then Arested were and his soonne sir Roger And to the toure of London sent thei were ¶ On sainct Andrewes daye thei wer drawe and hong At London so by dome of the parlyament At Westminster holden by processe long Sir Simond Bedford was of their assent Drawe and hanged therfore thei went And fro the quene his mother he resumed His landes all for she had so consumed ¶ His treasour foule and all his greate riches He putte hir to hir dower and nomore To liue vpon at the frere minours doubtles Wher she had not been brought before And there she dyed and buryed is therfore At London nowe full feire and reuerently Wher she had dwelt long full honourably ¶ Edward Baylioll to claim Scotland thē went And with hym went sir Gilbert Vmfreuile Claimyng to bee erle by his whole entent Of Angeous then as chroniclers compile Sir Henry Beaumont also went that while His heritage to gette and to conquere Therledome of Boughan should bee his clere ¶ Henry Percy with Edward Bailioll went Galoway to claime as for his heritage By shippe thei went all whole by one assent At Rauensporne and landed with greate corage At Kincorne wel in Fyfe by all knowlage Dauid Strabolgy erle of Athellis by right With theim thē went for his landes ther to fight ¶ Thei were accōpted twoo M. fightyng menne And fiue hundred byside the mariners At their landyng their shipis thei brent right then And bored some and sanke at good leysers Thei thought theim self of good strong powers Thei toke none hede of shippis home again But landeway ride for all the Scottes dain ¶ Thei toke none hede nor yet consideracion Of thousandes many ne of greate multitude As lordes dooe nowe of commons congregacion But putte their cause to god his hie excelsitude And in their owne handes solicitude At Kincorne then faught with therle of Fyffe Discomfit hym and fled awaye with life ¶ His menne were slain vpon the feld echeone Thē Robert Bruys the bastard soōne their Guyde The lord Seton with power came anone And newe battaill theim gaue with mekell pryde That noumbred were ten thousand on their side Whiche slain were all for thei would take none Saufe the chiefteynes that fled awaye alone ¶ The kyng Edward Baylioll with his power To Dunfermelyne abbey then furth so went Wher in Glasinore that Scottes then sembled were Fourty thousand full proud in their intent And all were slain without suppowelment Th erle of Marre and therle of Murray Th erle of Carryk and Menth dyed that daye ¶ And after soone at Deplyng More mette Sir Neel Bruys with ten thousand in feer That slain were there and to therth doune beet The Englishe had the feld that daye full clere Their ordinaunce was to take no prisoner Wherfore thei slewe the Scottes without mercie Lest newe bataill came on theim in hie ¶ At these battailles afore that been wrytten Sixty thosaund Scottes slain and mortefied Were more with prees as afterward was weten Then with mānes hand thei were so feel multiplied Echeone on other of pride so reuied Without rule of marcill gouernaunce Thei smored were by their contrariaunce ¶ And but twoo knightes thirty thre squiers Whiche ther were dedde of the Englishe power In foure battailles faught with axe swerd speris At Diplyng Moore fro tyme the soōne rose clere To three after noon as saieth the chronicler Within seuē dayes thei smote these .iiii. battailies As chronicles make full clere rehersailes ¶ Thē wēt thei furth vnto sainct Iohns towne That was replete and full of all vitaile And kept the toune with manly direccion Archebald Douglas and erle Patrik no faile Of Dunbarre then the toune began tassaile With thirty thousand but there thei were well bet With cast of stones and greate defence ouerset ¶ The citees then and tounes to the sea side At their costage to Scotland sent a flete To helpe our lordes and get theim good that tide And with the shippis of Scotland for to mete And so thei did and sore theim all to bete And brought theim home and some with wildfyre brēt In Taye water and some thei sanke shent ¶ Wherfore the Scottes the siege then forsooke Thenglish lordes at Skone the kyng did croune Edward Baliol the soonne was who will looke To Iohn Baliol kyng of that region Whome then afore Henry Beaumount brought Frome Baliol wher he was lord in Fraunce As his aunceters had been of remembraunce ¶ This kyng Edward Baliol his fooes sought And at Rokisburgh faught ▪ with therle of Murrey Discomfited theim in battaill sore ther fought And to Duresme sent hym fro thens awaye Ther to bee kept in siker strong araye Then sir Archbald Douglas and erle Patrike Then of Dunbar their kyng thought to bee swi 〈…〉 ¶ Thei toke with hym a trewce to Candylmasse From October in trust of whiche he sent Thenglishe lordes to England home expresse Trustyng he had been sure in his entente All was falshede that the two erles ment For they vphelde Dauid in tendre age Kyng Robartes sonne
our lande Floure and mele of whete and rye he solde The market he so amended manyfolde ¶ And wood he had and other marchaundise Woll and hide and yron great quantitee Woll skynnes cloth of golde and spyceries Iewelles in chestes and stones of precioustee And other marchauntes in specioustee And prisoners also and mykell flaxe Wynes swete and mykell poleyn waxe The CC .viii. Chapiter ¶ Howe syr Robert Vmfreuile brent Pebles on there market daye and made his men to mete their clothe with speres bowes and after the Scottes called hym Robyne Mendmarket and his neuewe brente Iedworth and Teuidale sone after AT Pebles long afore that tyme .iiii. yere He brent the toune vpon their market daye And met theyr cloth with speres bowes sere By his biddyng without any naye Wherfore the Scottes from thence forthward ay Called hym Robyn mendmarket in certayn For his measures were so large and playn ¶ His neuewe Gilbert and he the .xi. yere Of kyng Henry vpon the water of Calme than And also on Roule and Iedworth forest clere Forrayed full sore with many a manly man His banner first there was displayed then When he was clerely but .xiiii. yere nomore When his vncle had battled hym so sore The CC .ix. Chapiter ¶ Howe the prince Henry of Wales sent power to the duke of Burgoyn to helpe hym the two Vmfreuiles syr Iohn Graye with other where Vmfreuile with the Englyshe men helde the felde for he would not kyll the prysoners as the duke of Burgoyn had ordeyned THe prince Henry to duke Philip then sent That of Burgoyn was so both syr lorde Syr Gilbert Vmfreuile his vncle veramēt His cousyn also syr Ihō Gray as mē recorde With many other worthy with speare sweorde Willyam Porter agayn the duke of Orleaunce And his armynakes with men of great defence ¶ At S 〈…〉 ncle then again the duke of Orleaūce And the duke of Burbon by all a daye Thenglyshe faught with great sufficience And wanne the brydge with battayll bet awaye Tharmynakes with many sore affraye Where Vmfreuile proclaymed was erle of Kyme Cheiften was of all Englyshe that tyme. ¶ At Durdan also and at Etham agayn They faught all newe where then they had that feld And prisoners many they did opteyne The which the duke of Burgoyn wold haue weld Because to hym they were so vnbelde Theim to haue slayn he cōmaunded then eche capitayn His prisoners to kyll then in certeyn ¶ To whiche Gilbert Vmfreuile erle of Kyme Aunswered for all his felowes and there men They shuld all die together at a tyme Or theyr prisoners so shulde be slayn then And with that toke the felde as folke did ken With all theyr men and all theyr prisoners To die with theim as worship it requyers ¶ He said they wer not come thyther as bouchers To kyll the folke in market or in feire Ne theim to sell but as armes requiers Theim to gouerne without any dispeyre As prysoners owe home agayn repeire For fyne paying as lawe of armes wyll And not on stockes nor in market theim to sell ¶ With whō syr Iohn Graye as his cousyn dere And all Englyshe with many other of Fraunce With their prysoners full familier Batayled in felde with full strong ordinaunce More like to fight then to make obeysaunce And helde therle of kyme for theyr cheiftayn To lyue and dye vnder his baner certayne ¶ The duke Philyppe full of sapyence Sawe his manhode and his knightly courage Lothe was to lese his noble aduenture By treaty and by other tender message Of prisoners graunt them to do auauntage And hym withhelde with all his feloship As Earle of Kyme proclaymed of great worshyp ¶ Then after sone oure Englishemen anone Came home agayne with great and hye rewarde Whome then the duke by letter cōmende alone In writyng specifyed with herte inwarde Vnto the prynce that sent them to hymwarde And thanked them greatly of his seruyce In his warres shewed agayne his enemies ¶ The king discharged that prince fro his coūsayle And set my lorde syr Thomas in his stede Chief of counsayle for the kynges more auayle For whiche the prynce of wrath and wilfull hede Agayne hym made debate and frowardhede With whom the kyng toke parte helde the felde To tyme the prince vnto the king him yelde ¶ The king then made his sōne duke of Clarēce My lorde Thomas and sent hym into Fraūce To helpe the duke Lewys of Orlyaunce Agayne the duke of Burgoyne at instaunce Of my lorde Thomas againe that prince suraunce Whiche was the cause also of theyr heuynesse So to refuse duke Philyppes loue causelles ¶ But then the duke of Clarence with power Came to the duke Lowes of Orlyaunce Kīg Charles brother who made hym noble chere And hym receyued with full hye reuerence They two warryed with mighty suffycience Vpon the duke of Burgoyne and hym outrayed That he went into Burgoyne all formayed ¶ Then rode the duke of Clarence into Guien Through Fraunce with hoste then full royall And kepte that lande with helpe of duke Lewis thē In whiche meane while kyng Henry gan fall In great syknesse that his strength did pall With contryte herte and humble yelden chere He sayde O lorde thy me 〈…〉 I requyre The CC .x. Chapiter ¶ The wordes that the Kynge sayde at hys deathe of hyghe complaynt but nought of repentaūce of vsurpement of the realme ne of the restorement of ryght heyres to the crowne O Lorde he sayde O God omnipotent Nowe se I well thy godhede loueth me That suffred neuer my foes to haue theyr entent Of myne persone in myne aduersrte Ne in myne sycknesse ne in myne infyrmyte But ay haste kepte it fro theyr maleuolence And chastysed me by thy beneuolence ¶ Lorde I thanke the with all my herte With all my soule and my spirytes clere This wormes mete this caryon full vnquerte That some tyme thought in worlde it had no pere This face so foule that leprous doth apere That here afore I haue had suche a pryde To purtraye ofte in many place full wyde ¶ Of which ryght nowe that porest of this lande Except only of theyr benignyte Wolde loth to looke vpon I vnderstande Of whiche good lorde that thou so visyte me A thousande tymes the lorde in trinyte With all my herte I thanke the and cōmende Into thyne handes my soule withouten ende ¶ And dyed so in fayth and hole creaunce At Cauntorbury buryed with greate reuerence As a kyng shulde be with all kynde of circumstaūce According vnto his hye magnifycence Besyde the prynce Edward with great expence Of Christ was then a. M. yere full oute Four hundreth eke and thirtene oute of doubte ¶ O very God what torment had this kyng To remember in bryef and shorte entent Some in his sherte put ofte tyme venemyng And some in meate and drinke great poysonment Some in his hose by great ymagenement Some in bedstraw yrōs sharpe
And all these wer behedded .ii. dayes after in that selfe same towne sauyng only the quene Margaret and her soonne Edwarde Shortelye after prynce Edwarde was brought before the kyng and there asked wherfor he did inuade hys realme which answered boldly and sayde to recouer my kyngedome as heritage by my forefathers and progenie dew to me At the which wordes Edwarde sayde nothyng but thrustyng hym from hys syght wyth hys hande whoÌ„ the duke of Clarence and Glouceter and that lorde Hastynges dyd kyll mooste cruelly at hys departyng Hys mother the quene was caryed to London prysoner and froÌ„ thence raunsomed was had to Fraunce where she lyued in perpetuall sorowe and care not so much for her selfe or her husband as for her onely sonne Edwarde whome both she and Henry her husband trusted should lyue and possesse the croune When kinge Edward had thus ouercome theim he went to London and ther for iii. dayes caused procession to bee through euerye place after the moost solempne and deuoute fassy on And here was the last ciuile battaile that this king kept which was the yere of our lord M .iiii. C .lxxx. and .xi. After that kynge Edwarde was returned backe after the subduynge of hys rebelles one Fauconbrydge the Earle of Kente hys basterde a stoute harted manne beynge admyrall of the sea that none shoulde passe betwixte Calysse and Douer to ayde or socoure kynge Edwarde by the appoyntemente of the earle of Warwyke then after dryuen to nede and pouertee beganne to bee a pyrate and rouer in the seea In so much that he had throughe his robberye and shamefull spoylynge gotte vnto hym a greate nauye of shyppes and at the laste landed in Kente and there getting to hym a greate multitude of Kentyshemenne wyth the assistence of theim and hys ryotouse compaignye of shyppemenne came to London and sayde wyth a lowde voyce they woulde defende kynge Henrye and restore hym to hys crowne But the people and cytezyns of London perceauyng that quene Margarete was ouercome in battayle woulde geue theim no passage but wyth greate myghte and vyolence enforsed Fawconbrydge to geue backe and to take shyppe and kylled and toke prysoners the better parte of his menne Shortely after the same Fauconbridge landing vnware at Southampton was taken and behedded But to speake of the earle of Penbrucke wheÌ„ he had knowne that the quene was taken at Tewkesburye where she had waged battayle then goynge of hys waye to her turned backe agayne to Chepstey And there lamentyng greatly both his owne chaunce also the euell fortune that kinge HeÌ„ry had dyd breath alitle deliberate with him selfe what wer best to be done In the meane time king Edward seÌ„t one Roger VaughaÌ„ to take that erle by some train or guile But the erle certified of it did take yâ— self same maÌ„ hedded hiÌ„ so that he was killed that intended to kyll From that place that erle went to his toune PeÌ„brucke wher he was besiged of Thomas Morgan then seÌ„t froÌ„ the king that he could get oute by no meanes but on the eyght daye one Dauid the brother of the forsayde Morgane his moost assured frende conueyed him awaye which then went to a toune by the sea syde called Tinby and there takynge shyppe into Fraunce wâ—th the lorde Henrye his nephewe by the earle of Rychemonde his brother by chaunce came to Britaine and there shewing the duke the cause of hys comminge committed him selfe wholy into his handes The duke entertayned the earle and all his company after that most best maner that he could made of theim as though they had bene hys brethren promysing to theim sure passeporte saueconduite ouer ani place that he had rule or gouernaunce of Nowe kinge Edwarde after that hys realme was pacified and these great tumultes apeaced he tooke his iourny into Rence and there setting his iustices caused inquisicion and serche to be made of this busines and insurrection by yâ— basterd and his adherentes for the which offence manye were put to death and suffered execution moost sharply accordiÌ„g to their merites And not longafter to th entent that king Edward myght bee out of al dauÌ„gers assaultes of his enemies HeÌ„ry that was depriued not loÌ„g before of his crowne was also spoiled of his life that is was killed And as the report fame went the duke of Glouceter was suspected to haue done that dede which sticked him with a dagger And when he was dead his corps was brought vnreuereÌ„tly froÌ„ the towre through that stretes of that citee vnto Poules ther lay all that daye on the morow folowing conueyed caried to the abby or blak freres at Chertessey ther was buried And shortely after had to WiÌ„desore castell laied in the newe chapell of s George in a soleÌ„pne toumbe This Henry reigned .xxviii. yere and after he had repossessed his kyngdome but halfe a yeare He lyued vnto he was .lii. yeres of age and had by his wife quene Margaret one sooÌ„ne called Edward Nowe to the entent that Edward the kyng might liue in quiet after this manne his death he went a boute to serche all the rebelles that thei might bee weeded out of the compaignie of menne as pernicious and vnprofitable to the publique weale At what tyme he tooke tharchebishop of Yorke brother to therle of Warwike and sent hym prisoner to Guynes wher he long remained in holde but after dimissed dyed shortely for thought and pensifulnes of mynde also he attached the erle of Oxenford the whiche from the ceason of Barnet felde had holden sainct Michaelles Mounte by his coÌ„maundement was had to a castell beyond that sea called Hant wher he remained prisoner that space of xii yeares Furthermore vpoÌ„ coÌ„sideracioÌ„ that no rebelles or traitours might haue any refuge to strauÌ„ge couÌ„tres he had made a league with the kyng of scottes of peace amitee to bee obserued kepte for that 〈…〉 of .xx. yeares Yet he was not out of all feare for y◠〈…〉 e of PeÌ„bruck of Richemond wer with the duke of Britain wher thei had moost honorable intretainmeÌ„t coÌ„sideryng also that the young erle of RichemoÌ„d would clayme the croune iÌ„ tyme to come he was in the more feare for the whiche matter he sent priuie ambassadours to the duke promisyng hym that if he would restore deliuer vnto their haÌ„de bothe therles he should haue an ample large porcioÌ„ of monye for so dooyng But that duke to make a short tale would by no meanes deliuer theim out of his handes but so kepte theim that thei neuer might bee in any dauÌ„ger of their enemies through hym Edward therfore in this his thirtene yere of his reigne whiche was the yere of our lord a thousand foure hundred three score and thirteen helde his parlyament at Westminster wher first he caused all the statutes and actes of his whiche wer abrogated by Henry the sixt to stand and bee of good effecte then the goodes of these
whiche is the only thyng that draweth that heartes of EnglyshmeÌ„ froÌ„ their kynges prynces nor nothyng he ether entreprysed ndr toke in haÌ„d by that which he shuld be dryueÌ„ thereunto For his tribute out of FrauÌ„ce he had a litle before recouered obteyned And that yere before he dyed he recouered the toune of Berwike against that kyng of Scottes And albeit that all that tyme of his reigne he was so benigne courteous and famylyer that no parte of his vertues was estemed more theÌ„ those high humilitees Yet that condycion in th ende of his last dayes decayed not in the whiche many princes by a longe coÌ„tinued souereingtie declyne to a proude porte behaueoure from theyr condicions accustomed at their begynnyng Yet lowlynes and gentlenes so farre forth in hym encreased that the soÌ„mer before died he beyng at the haueryng at the bowre sente for the mayre and aldermenne of London thyther only to hunte and make pastyme where he made theim not so hartie but so famylyer and frendlye chere and sent also to theyr wyues suche plentie of venyson that no one thyng in many dayes before gatte hym eyther mo heartes or more hartie fauoure emongest the commen people whiche often tymes more esteme and take for greate kyndnes a lytle courtesye then a greate profyte or benefyte And so this noble prynce deceassed as you haue hearde in that tyme when his lyfe was mooste desyred wheÌ„ his people moste desyred to kepe hym Whiche loue of his people their entiere affeccioÌ„ towarde hym had bene to his noble chyldren hauyng in theim selfes also as many gyftes of nature as many princely vertues as much good towardnesse as their age coulde receaue a meruelous fortresse and a sure armoure yf the deuysion and dissencion of their frendes had not vnarmed them left them destitute the execrable desyre of souereingtie ê“uoked him to their destruccioÌ„ which if either kynd or kyndnesse had holdeÌ„ place muste nedes haue beeÌ„ their chiese defence For Richarde duke of Glouceter by nature their vncle by office their protectoure to their father greatly beholden and to theim by othe and allegeaunce bounden all the bandes broken and violated that bynde manne and manne together withoute anye respecte of God or the worlde vnnaturally contryued to bereaue theim not onely of their dignytee and preheminence but also of their natural lyues and worldely felicytee And fyrste to shewe you that by coniecture he pretended this thing in his brothers lyfe ye shall vnderstande for a trueth that the same nyght that king Edward died one called Mistelbrooke long ere the daye sprange came to the house of one Potier dwelling in Redcrosse strete withoute Creple gate of London and when he was with hastie rapping quickely let in yâ— saied Mistelbrooke shewed vnto Potier that kyng Edward was that nighte deceased by my trueth ê™ Potier then wil my master the duke of Gloucetre be kyng and that I warraÌ„t the. What cause he had so to thinke harde it is to say whether he being his seruauÌ„t knewe any such thing prepensed or otherwise had any inklingther of but of all likelihode he spake it not of naughte But nowe to retourne to the trewe history wer it that the duke of Gloucetre had of olde sore practised this conclusyon or was before tyme moued therunto and put in hope by the tender age of the young princes his nephewes as oportunitee and likely of spede putteth a manne in courage of that that he neuer entended Certen it is that he being in the Northe partyes for the good gouernaunce of the countrey being aduertised of his brothers deathe contriued the destruccion of his nephewes with that vsurpacion of the roiall dignitee croune And for asmuche as he well wyste and had holpe to maynteine a long continued grudge and harte burnynge betwene the Quenes kynred and the kynges bloodde either parte enuiyng others authorytee he nowe thought as it was in dede a fertherly beginning to the pursute of his entent and a sure grounde situacion of his vnnaturall building if he might vnder the pretence of remeÌ„bring of olde dyspleasures abuse the ignoraunce angre of the one partie to the destruccion of that other and then to wynne to his purpose as many as he coulde and suche as coulde not bee wonne might bee loste or they looked therfore But of one thing he was certaine that if his intent wer once perceaued he should haue made peace betwene both parties with his owne bloodde but all his intente he kept secrete tyll he knewe his frendes of the whiche Henry the duke of Buckingham was the fyrste that sent to hym after his brothers deathe a trusty seruaunt of his called Persall to the cytee of Yorke where the Duke of Gloucetre kepte the kyng his brothers funeralles This Persall came to Iohn Ward a secrete chaumberer to the duke of Gloucetre desiryng that he in close and couerte manier might speake with the duke his maister wherupoÌ„ in the deed of the nyght the duke sente for Persall all other beyng aduoyded whiche shewed to the duke of Gloucetre that the duke of Buckingham his maister in this newe worlde would take suche parte as he woulde woulde farther wayte vpon hym with a. M. good fellowes yf nede were The duke sent backe that messanger with great thankes and diuerse preuey instruccions by mouthe which Persall did somuche by his trauaile that he came to the duke of Buckyngham his maister into the marches of Wales eftsones with newe instruccions met with the duke of Gloucetre at Notingham whiche was come oute of the NorthcouÌ„trey with many knightes gentylmenne to the noumbre of .vi. C. horse more in his iourney towarde London And after secrete meting and coÌ„municacion had betwene hym the duke of Gloucetre he retourned with suche spede that he brought the duke of Buckingham his master to mete with the duke of Gloucetre not farre from Northampton with .iii. C. horsses so they twoo came together to Northampton where they fyrst beganne their vnhappy enterprice and so the duke of Buckingham contynued stil with the duke of Gloucetre till he was crouned kyng as ye shall plainly perceaue hereafter The younge kyng at the deathe of his father kepte housholde at Ludlowe for his father had sente hym thyther for Iustice to bee doone in the marches of Wales to the ende that by the authoritee of his presence the wylde Welshemenne and euell dysposed personnes shoulde refraine frome their accustomed murthers and outerages The gouernaunce of this younge Prynce was coÌ„mitted to Lorde Anthony Wooduile Earle Riuers Lorde Scales brother to the Quene a wise hardye and honourable personage as valyaunte of hande as pollitick of counsell and with him were assocyate other of the same partye and in effecte euery one as he was nere of kinne vnto the quene so was he planted nexte aboute the Prynce That dryfte by the Quene semed to bee deuysed whereby her bloodde myghte of
especyallye agaynst other lordes as agaynst the kyng him self in the dysturbaunce of hys coronat ion therefore they assembled by and by together to common of thys matter at London The archebyshoppe of Yorke fearynge that it woulde be ascrybed as it was in dede to ouermuche lightnes that he so sodeynly had yelded vp the great seale to the quene to whome the custodie therof nothyng apperteigned without especiall commaundement of that kyng secretly sent for the seale agayn brought it wyth hym after the accustomed maner to mete with the lordes At this metyng was the lord Hastynges whose truthe towarde the kyng no manne doubted nor neded not to doubte perswaded the lordes to beleue that the duke of Glouceter was faythfull sure towardes his prince and that that lord Ryuers the lorde Richard and other knyghtes apprehended wer for matters attempted by theim agaynste the dukes of Gloucetre Buckyngham put vnder arest for their suretie and not for the kynges icopardye and that they were also in sauegarde there to remayne tyll the matter were not by the dukes only but also by all the other lordes of the kynges councell indifferentlye examyned and by their discrecions ordred and eyther iudged or appesed And one thyng he aduysed theim to beware of that they iudged not the matter to farreforth or they knewe the truthe nor turnyng theyr pryuate grudges into the commen hurte irrityng and prouokyng men vnto angre and disturbyng the kynges coronacion toward whiche the dukes wer coÌ„myng for that then might paraduenture bryng that matter so farre out of ioynte that it shoulde neuer bee brought in frame agayne whiche yf it should happe as it were lykely to come to a felde though all parties were in all other thynges eguall yet shoulde the autoryte bee on that syde where the kynge is hym selfe with these persuasyons of the lorde Hastynges whereof parte he hym selfe belcued and of parte he wyste well the contrarye these commocyons were somewhat appeased But in especiall because the dukes of Buckyngham and Glouceter wer so nere and came on so shortly with the kynge in none other maner nor none other voyce or sembleaunce then to his coronacion causyng the fame to be blowen about that suche persones as were apprehended had contryued the distruccion of the dukes of Gloucetre and of Buekyngham and other of the noble bloodde of thys realme to th entent that thei alone would rule and gouerne the kyng And for the coloure therof such of the dukes seruauntes as rode with the cartes of their stuffe which wer taken amonge the which stuffe no maruayle thoughe some were harneyes whiche at the brekynge vp of suche an housholde muste be brought awaye or caste awaye they shewed to the people and as they went sayde lo here be the barrelles of harneyes that these traytoures hadde preuely conueighed in their caryages to destroye the noble lordes withall This dyuerse although it made the matter to wise menne more vnlykely well perceauyng that thentendoures of suche a purpose woulde rather haue had theyr harnesse on theyr backes then to haue bounde theim vp in barrelles yet muche parte of the commen people were therewith ryght well satisfyed When the kyng approched nere the cytie Edmonde Shawe Goldesmythe then Mayre of the cytie with the aldremenne and shreues in skarlet and fyue hundreth commoners in murraye receaued his grace reuerently at Harnesaye parke and so conueighed hym to the cytee where he entred the fourthe daye of Maye in the fyrste and laste yeare of his reigne and was lodged in the bisshoppes palayce but the duke of Goucetre bare hym in open sight so reuerently saiyng to all men as he rode beholde youre prynce and souereygne lorde and made suche sembleaunce of lowlynes to his prince that frome the greate obloquy that he was in so late before he was sodeynly fallen in so greate truste that at the councell next assembled he was made the onlye chiefe ruler and thoughte mooste mete to bee protectoure of the kynge and his realme so that were it desteny or were it folye the lambe was betaken to the wolfe to kepe At whiche councell the archebyshoppe of yorke was sore blamed for delyueryng the greate seale to the quene and the seale taken from hym and delyueto docter Iohn Russell byshoppe of Lyncolne a wyse manne and a good and of muche experyence and dyuerse lordes and knightes were appoynted to dyuerse roumes the lorde chamberlayn and some other kepte the roumes that they were in before but not many Nowe were it so that the protectour whiche alwayes you muste take for the duke of Gloucetre sore thristed for the acheuyng of his pretensed entrepryse and thought euerye daye a yere tyll it were perfourmed yet durste he no ferther attempte aslong as he hadde but halfe his praye in hys hande well wyttynge that yf he deposed the one brother all the realme would fall to the other yf he remayned in sanctuary or should happely be shortelie coÌ„ueyghed to his farther libertee Wherfore in contineÌ„t at the next metyng of the lordes in councell he purposed to theim that it was an heynous thyng of the quene procedyng of great ma lyce toward the kynges councelers that she shoulde kepe the kynges brother in sanctuarye from hym whose special pleasure conforte wer to haue his brother with hym and that to be done by her to none other inteÌ„t but to bryng all the lordes in an obloquy and murmoure of the people as though they wer not to be trusted with the kynges brother which lordes wer by that whole assâ—t of the nobles of that realme appoynted as that kynges nere frendes to the tuycion of his royall person the prosperitee wherof ê™ he standeth not alonely froÌ„ the kepyng of enemyes euill dyate but partely also in recreacion moderate pleasure whiche he cannot take in his tendre youth in the coÌ„pany of old auncient persons but in the famylyer conuersacion of those that be not farre vnder nor farre aboue his age neuerthelesse of estate coÌ„uenieÌ„t to accompany his maiestie wherfore with whom rather then with his owne brothere and if any man thinke this coÌ„syderacioÌ„ light I thynke no man so thinketh that loueth the kyng let hym coÌ„syder that sometyme that with out smal thynges greater cannot stande and verelye it redoundeth greatly to the dyshonoure of the kynges highnes and of all vs that bee about his grace to haue it come in any mannes mouthe not in this realme onely but also in other landes as euell woordes walke farre that the kynges brother should be fayne to kepe saÌ„ctuary For euery maÌ„ wyl iudge that no man wil so do for nought such opinioÌ„s fastened in mennes hertes be harde to be wrested oute and many growe to more grefe then any manne here can diuine Wherfore me thinketh it were not the worste to sende to the quene some honourable and trustye personage suche as tendereth the kynges weale and the honoure of his counsell and is also in
awaye Ah ê™ the quene hath he so tendre a zele to hym that he feareth nothyng but least he should escape hym Thynketh he that I would sende hym hence whiche is neyther in the plight to sende oute and in what place coulde I recone hym sure if he bee not sure in sanctuarye whereof was there neuer tyraunte yet so deuelyshe that durste attempte to breake the priuiledge and I truste God is nowe as stronge to wythstande his aduersaries as euer he was But my soonne can deserue no sanctuarye you saye and therfore he cannot haue it forsothe the lorde protectoure hath sente a goodly glose by the whiche that place that may defend a these may not saue an innocent but he is in no ieopardye nor hath no nede thereof I woulde God he had not Troweth the protectoure I praye God he maye proue a protectour rather then a destroyer whereunto his peynted processe draweth Is it not honourable that the duke byde here it were confortable to theim bothe that he were with his brother because the kyng lacketh a playe feloe yea bee you sure I praye God sende hym better playefelowes then hym that maketh so hyghe a matter vpon suche a tryfleynge pretexte as though there coulde none bee founde to playe with the kynge but yf his brother whiche hathe no lu 〈…〉 to playe for syckenesse muste come oute of Sanctuarye oute of his sauegarde to playe with hym as though that prynces so young as they beâ— coulde not playe without their peres or chyldreÌ„ coulde not playe without theyr kynred with whome for the more parte they agree muche woorsse then with straungiers But the chyld you saye cannot require the priuiledge who tolde the protectoure so Aske hym and you shall here hym aske it and so shall he if ye wyll Howebeit this is a straunge matter suppose he coulde not aske it and thynke he woulde not aske it and ymagene he woulde aske to go oute yf I saye he shall not Note if I aske the priuiledge but for my selfe I saye that he that agaynst my wyll taketh out hym breaketh Sanctuarye Serueth thys lyberty for my personne onlye or for my goodes too you maye not frome hence take my horsse frome me yf I stale hym not nor owe you nothynge then foloweth it that you maye not take my chylde from me he is also my ward for as farre as my learned councell sheweth me he hath nothyng by dyssente holden by knyghtes seruage but by socage then the lawe maketh me his garden then maye no manne lawfully I suppose take my warde frome me oute of thys place wythoute the breche of Sanctuarye and yf my pryuyledge coulde not serue hym nor he aske it for hym selfe yet sythe the lawe commytteth to me the custodye of hym I maye requyre it for hym excepte the lawe geue the infaunte a garden onelye for hys gooddes dyschargynge hym of the cure and sauekepynge of his bodye for whiche onely bothe goodes and landes serue Wherfore here entende I to kepe hym sithe mannes lawe serueth the garden to kepe the infaunte and the lawe of nature wylleth the mother to kepe that chyld and Goddes lawe priuiledgeth the Sanctuarye and the Sanctuarye pryuyledgeth my soonne sythe I feare to putte hym to the protectoures handes that hathe his brother already whiche is yf bothe fayled inheritoure to the croune as heyre male as he sayth The cause of my feare no man hath to dooe to examen and yet feare I no further then the law feareth whiche as learned menne tell me forbyddeth euery manne the custody of theim by whose death he maye enheryte lesse lande then a kyngdome I can saye no more but whosoeuer he bee that breaketh this holy sanctuary I praye God sende hym shortelye nede of Sanctuary when he maye not come to it for I woulde not that my mortall enemie should be taken out of Sanctuary The Cardynal perceaued that the quene euer that lenger the farther of and also that she beganne to kyndle and chafe and spake sore bytynge woordes agaynst the protectoure and suche as he neyther beleued also was lothe to here he sayd to her for a finall conclusion that he would no more dispute the matter and if she were contente to delyuer the duke to hym and to the other lordes there present he durste laye his owne bodye and soule bothe in pledge not onlye for his suretie but also for hys estate and surely he knewe nor suspected no cause but he might so dooe but he knewe not all And further he saide if she would geue hym a resolute aunswere to the contrarye he would therewith departe incontinent and shifte who so woulde wyth this busynesse afterwarde for he neuer entended further to moue her in the matter in the whiche he thought that he and all other also saue her selfe lacked eyther wytte or truthe Wytte if they were so dull if they nothyng coulde perceaue what the protectoure entended and yf they should procure her soonne to bee delyuered into his handes in whome they shoulde perceaue towardes the chyld any euell wyll entended then she myghte thynke all the councell bothe euel aduysed and of lytle fydelyte to theyr prince The quene with these wordes stoode in a great studye and forasmuche as she sawe the lord Cardynall more redyer to departe then the remanauÌ„t and the protectoure hym selfe redye at hande so that she verelye thought that she coulde not kepe hym there but he shoulde bee incontynente taken thence and to conueye hym elles where neyther had she tyme to serue her nor place determyned nor personnes appoynted to conueygh hym and so all thyng was vnreadye when this message came so sodenly on her nothyng lesse lookyng for then to haue hym out of sanctuarye whiche she knewe nowe menne to bee set in all places about that he coulde not bee conueyghed oute vntaken and partely as she thought it myghte fortune her feare to bee false so well she wist it was ether nede lesse or botelesse Wherfore yf she should nedes go from hym she demed best to deliuer hym specially of that Cardinalles faith she nothing doubted nor of some other lordes whome she sawe there which as she feared least they might be deceaued so well was she assured that they woulde not bee corrupted then thoughte she that it woulde make theim the more warely to looke to hym and the more circum spectly to see his surety yf she with her owne handes betooke hym theim by truste and at the laste she tooke the young duke by the hande and saied vnto the Lordes my Lorde ê™ she and all my lordes nether am I so vnwise to mistruste youre wittes nor so suspicyous to mistruste your truthes of which thing I purpose to make such a proofe that yf either of bothe lacked in you might turne both me to greate sorowe the realme to muche harme and you to greate reproche For lo here is ê™ she this gentilman whome I doubte not but I could kepe salfe if I would whatsoeuer
any manne saye and I doubte not also but there bee some abrode so deedly enemies vnto my bloodde that yf they wiste where any of it laye in theyr owne body they woulde lette it oute we haue also experience that the desyre of a kingdome knoweth no kynred the brother hath bene the brothers bane and may the nephewes bee sure of the vncle eache of these children are others defence whyle they bee a sunder and eache of their liues lyeth in others body kepe one salfe and bothe bee sure and nothing to bothe more perylous then bothe to bee in one place for a wise marchaunt neuer auentureth all his good des in one shyp all this notwithstanding here I deliuer hym his brother in hym to kepe to your handes of whome I shall aske theim bothe before God and the worlde Feithfull you bee and that I wot well and I knowe you be wyse and of power and strength if you list to kepe hym for you lacke no helpe of your selues nor nede to lacke no helpe in this case yf you cannot elles where then may you leaue hym here But onely one thing I besech you for the trust that his father putte you in euer and for the truste that I put you in nowe that as farre as you thincke that I feare to muche ye bee well ware that you feare not to lytle And therwith all she saied to that childe fare well myne owne swete soonne God sende you good kepyng let me once kysse you or you gooe for God knoweth wheÌ„ we shall kisse together againe therwith she kyssed hym and blessed hym and tourned her backe wepte gooing her waye leauyng the poore innocent chylde wepyng as faste as the mother When the Cardinall and the other lordes had receaued the younge duke they brought hym into the starre chaumbre where that protectoure tooke hym in his armes and kyssed hym with these wordes nowe welcome my lorde with all my very hert and he saied in that of likelihode euen as he inwardly thought and therupon forthwith brought him to the king his brother into the bishoppes palaice at Powles and from thence thorowe the citee honourably into the towre oute of whiche after that daye they neuer came abrode Whenne the Protectoure had bothe the chyldren in his possessyon yee and that they were in a sure place he then beganne to thryste to see the ende of his enterprise and to auoyde all suspicion he caused all the Lordes whiche he knewe to bee feythfull to the kyng to assemble at Baynardes castell to coÌ„men of the ordre of the coronacyon whyle he and other of his complyces and of his affinitee at Erosbyes place contriued the contrary to make the Protectours kyng to whiche counsel there were adhibite very fewe and they very secrete Then beganne here there some maner of muttering amongest the people as though all thing should not longe bee well though they wyste not what they feared nor wherfore were it that before suche great thinges mennes hertes of a secrete instyncte of nature misgeueth theim as that southwinde somtime swelleth of hym selfe before a tempeste or were it that some one manne happely perceauing fylled many men with suspicyon thoughe he shewed fewe menne what he knewe howbeit the dealing it selfe made to muche on the matter thoughe the counsayle were close for lytle and lytle all folke drewe from the towre where the kyng was and drewe to Cros byes place so that the Protectoure had all the resorte and the kyng in maner desolate while some made suyte vnto theim that had the doyng some of theim were by theyr frendes secetely warned that it myghte happely tourne theim to no good to bee to muche attendaunte on the Kyng withoute the Protectoures apoyntmente whiche remoued dyuerse of the kynges olde seruauntes froÌ„ hym and set newe in theyr romes aboute hym Thus many thinges comming together partly by chaunce and partely by purpose caused at length not coÌ„mon people onely whiche wauer with the winde but wise menne also and some Lordes to marke the matter muse therupon in so much as the lorde Stanley whiche afterward was erle of Derby wisely mistrusted it and saied to that lorde Hastinges that he muche misiyked these two seueral couÌ„selles for while we ê™ he talke of one matter at that one place lytle wot we wherof they talke in the other place Well ê™ the Lorde Hastynges on my lyfe neuer doubte you for whyle one man is there whiche is neuer thence neither can there bee any thing once mynded that shoulde sounde amisse towarde me but it shoulde bee in mine eares or it were well oute of their mouthes This ment he by Catesby whiche was nere of his secret councell and whome he familyerly vsed in his moost weightye matters putting no manne in so speciall trust as hym sith he wiste well there was no manne to hym so muche beholdyng as was this Catesbye whiche was a manne well learned in the lawes of this lande and by the speciall fauoure of the lorde Hastynges in good authorytee and muche rule bare in the countrees of Leicestre and Northampton where that lorde Hastinges power laye But surely greate pitie was it that he had not had either more trueth or lesse wit for his dissimulacyon onely kepte all that myschiefe vp in whome yf the lorde Hastinges had not put so special trust that lord Stanley and he with diuers other lordes had departed into their couÌ„trees broken al the daunce for many euel signes that he sawe which he now construed al for the best so surely thought he that there coulde be no harme towarde hym in that counsayle entended where Catesbye was And of truth the protectour and the duke of Buckyngham made very good sembleaunce vnto the lorde Hastynges and kepte hym muche in they re compaignie And vndoubtedlie the protectour loued hym well and lothe was to haue loste hym sauynge for feare least hys lyfe shoulde haue quayled theyr purpose for the whyche cause he moued Catesby to proue wyth some wordes caste oute a farre of whether he coulde thyncke it possible to wynne the lorde Hastynges to theyr part But Catesby whether he assayed hym or assayed hym not reported vnto hym that he founde him so fast and heard him speake so terrible wordes that he durst no farther breake and of a truth the lorde Hastinges of very truste shewed vnto Catesby the mystrust that other began to haue in the matter And therfor he fearyng least theyr mocyons myght with the lorde Hastynges haue mynished his credence wherunto only al the matter leaned procured the protectour hastly to ryd hym muche the rather for he trusted by hys death to obtayne much of that rule whyche the lorde Hastynges bare in hys couÌ„tree the onelye desyre whereof was the thynge that enduced hym to be procurer one of the speciallest contriuers of al thys treason Wherupon the lorde protectoure caused a counsayle to be set at the towre on the frydaye
vniuersall hurt of his realme by his eiuill compaignie and synister procuryng and vngracious exsample aswell in many other thynges as in vycious lyuyng and inordynate abusyon of his bodye bothe with many other and in especiall with Shores wife whiche was one of his secrete counsaill of this heynous treason with whom he laye nyghtlye and namely the nyght passed next before his deathe so that it was the lesse maruell yf vngracyous lyuyng brought hym to an vnhappie ende whiche he was nowe putte to by the commaundement of the kyng his highnes and of his honourable and faithfull coūsaill bothe for his demerytes beyng so openly taken in his false contriued treason and also least the delaiyng of his execucion myght haue encoraged other myscheuous persones parteners of his conspiracye to gather and assemble theim selues together in makyng so greate commocyon for his delyucraunce whose hope nowe beeyng by hys well deserued deathe pollytickelye repressed all the realme shall by Goddes grace reste in good quyet and peace Nowe was this proclamacion made within twoo houres after he was behedded and it was so curyously endited and so fayre wrytten in parchement in a fayre sette hande and therwith of it selfe so long aprocesse that euery chylde myght perceaue that it was prepared and studyed before and as some menne thought by Catesby for all the tyme betwene hys deathe and the proclamacyon proclaymynge could skante haue suffysed vnto the bare wrytynge alone albeit that it had been in paper and scrybeled foorthe in haste at aduenture So that vpon the proclaymynge therof one that was schoolemaster at Paules standyng by and comparyng the shortenesse of the tyme wyth the lengthe of the matter sayed to theim that stoode aboute hym here is gaye goodlye cast fowle caste awaye for hast And amarchaunte that stoode by hym sayed that it was wrytten by inspyracyon and prophesye Nowe then by and by as yt were for anger and not for coueteous the protectoure sent sir Thomas Hawarde to the hous of Shores wyfe for her husbande dwelt not wyth her whyche spoyled her of all that euer she had aboue the valure of twoo or thre thousande markes and sente her bodye to pryson And the protectoure had laide to her for the maner sake that she entended to witche hym and that she was a coūsaill with the lord Hastynges to destroye hym In conclucion whē no coloure could fasten vpō these matters the he leyed heinously to her charge that thyng that she coulde not denye for all the worlde knewe that it was true and that not wythstandyng euery manne laughed to here it then so sodeynly so highly taken that she was noughte of her body And for this cause as a Godly continent prince clene and faultlesse of hym selfe sent oute of heauen into this vicious worlde for the amendement of mennes maners he caused the byshop of London to put her to open penaunce goynge before a crosse on sondaye at procession with a taper in her hande In the which she went in coūtenaūce and pace so womanly and albeit she was out of al her araye sauyng her kyrtell onelye yet wente she so fayre and louely and namelye when the wondryng of the people cast a comelye rud in her chekes of the whiche she before had moste mysse that her greate shame wanne her muche prayse amongest theim that were more amorous of her bodye then curyous of her soule many good folke that hated her lyuyng and wer glad to see synne corrected yet petied they more her penaūce then reioysed it whē they consydred that the protectour dyd it more of a corrupt mynde then any verteous affeccion This woman was borne in London well frended honestly brought vp and verye well maryed sauyng somwhat to sone her husband an honest a young citezen godlye of good substaunce but forasmuche as they were coupled or she were well rype she not very feruētly loued for whō she neuer longed whiche was the thyng by chaunce that that more easely made her to encline to that kynges appetite when he requyred her Howbeit the respect of his royaltee that hope of gaye apparel ease pleasure and other wantonne wealthe was hable soone to perce a softe tender harte but when the kyng had abused her anone her husbande being an honest manne and one that coulde his good not presuming to touche a kynges concubyne lefte her vp to hym all together When the kyng dyed that lorde Hastynges tooke her which in the kynges dayes albeit that he was sore enamoured with her yet he forbare either for a pryncelye reuerence or for a certen frendely faythfulnesse Propre she was fayre nothing in her bodye that you coulde haue chaunged but if you would haue wished her somwhat hygher This saye they that knewe her in her youthe some saied and iudged that she had bene well fauoured and some iudged the contrarye whose iudgement semeth lyke as menne gesse the bewtye of one longe before departed by a scalpe taken oute of a chanell house this iudgemente was in the tyme of kyng Henry the eyghte in the xviii yere of whose reygne she dyed when she had nothing but a reueled skynne and bone Her beautye pleased not menne so muche as her pleasaunt behaueoure for she had a propre wytte and could bothe reade and wryte mery in compaignye redy and quicke of aunswer nether mute nor full of bable sometime taunting withoute displeasure but not without disporte Kyng Edward woulde saye that he had thre concubines which in diuerse properties diuerslye excelled one the meriest that other the wiliest the third the holyest harlot in y◠realme as one whom no man could get oute of y◠churche to any place lightlye but yf it were to his bed the other two were somwhat greater personages thē mastres Shore neuerthelesse of their humilyte were content to bee namelesse and to forbeare the praise of these properties But the meryest was Shores wyfe in whome the kyng therfore tooke greate pleasure for many he had but her he loued whose fauoure to saye the truthe for it were synne to lye on the deuel she neuer abused to any mannes hurte but to many mennes comforte releefe For where the kyng tooke displeasure she would mitigate apeace his mynde where menne were oute of fauoure she woulde bring theim into his grace for many that had highly offended she opteygned pardone and of greate forfeatures she gat remissyon and finally in many weightye sutes she stoode many mēne in greate steade either for none or for very small rewardes those rather gaye then ryche either for that she was contente with the dede well done or for that she delyghted to be sued vnto and to shewe what she was hable to doo with the kyng or for that that wanton wemenne and welthye bee not alwayes couetous I doubte not but some manne wyll thynke this womanne to bee to slyghte to bee writen of amonge graue weightie matters whiche they shall specially thynke that happely sawe
as were right secrete with bothe affyrme all this to be vntrue and other wyse meÌ„ne thynke it vnlykely the depe dyssymulyng nature of bothe these menne well consydered And what nede in that grene world the protectoure hadde of the duke and in what perell the duke stoode yf he fell once in suspycion of that tyraunte that other the protectoure would geue the duke occasyon of dyspleasure or the duke the protectoure occasyon of mystrust And surely menne thynke that if kyng Rychard hadde any suche opynyon conceaued in hym he would neuer haue suffred hym to aduoyd his handes or escape his power but verye true it is that the duke of Buckyngham was an high mynded man euell could beare the glorye of another so that I haue hearde of some that sawe it that he at suche tyme that the croune was set vpon the protectoures hedde his yie could neuer abyde the sight therof but wryed his hed another waye but men sayde he was not well at ease and that was both to kyng Richard well knowen and well takeÌ„ nor any demaunde of the dukes request vncurteously reiected but gentelye deferred but bothe he with greate giftes and high behestes in moste louyng and trustie maner departed from the kyng to Gloucester But sone after his commyng home to Brecknocke hauyng there by kyng Richardes commaundemeÌ„t doctour Moorton byshop of Ely who before as you haue hearde was taken at the councell at the towre waxed with hym very famylyer whose onlye wysedome abused his pryde to his owne delyueraunce the dukes dystruccion The byshop was a man of great natural wyt verye well learned and of honourable behaueoure lackyng no wyse wayes to wynne fauour He was fyrst vpon the parte of kyng Henry whyle that parte was in wealth and neyther left it nor forsoke it in no woo but fled the realme with the quene and the prince And while kyng Edward had kyng Henry in pryson he neuer retourned but to the felde at Barner After whiche felde loste vtterly subdued al parte takynges extynguished kyng Edward for his fast faythe and wysedome was not onelye coÌ„tent to receaue hym but also wooed hym to come and had hym froÌ„ thensforth both in secrete trust specyall fauoure whom he nothyng deceaued For he beyng after kyng Edwardes death fyrst taken by the tyraunt for his truthe to the kynge founde meane to sette the duke in his toppe and ioyned gentlemen together in ayde of the erle of Richemounde whiche after was named kyng Henrye the seuenth Fyrst deuysyng the maryage betwene the ladye Elizabeth daughter to kynge Edwarde the fourthe by the whiche his faythfull true seruyce declared to both his masters at once was with infinite benefite to the realme by the coniunccion of the bloddes of Lancastre and Yorke whose funerall tytles had longe inquyeted the realme This manne afterwarde escaped from the duke and 〈…〉 d the realme and went to Rome neuer myndyng to medle with the worlde tyl kyng henry the seuenth sent for hym and after made hym archebyshop of Cauntorbury and chauncelour of Englande and after was made cardinall and lyued well to all mennes iudgementes and dyed well But to retourne to the former purpose he by the long often alternate proffe aswel of prosperytee as aduerse of fortune had gotten by great experience the verey mother mastresse of wysedome a depe insight in pollytike worldlye driftes whereby perceauynge nowe the duke to coÌ„men with hym fed hym with fayre woordes and many pleasaunt prayses and perceauyng by the grefe of their communicacions the dukes pryde nowe and then to balke oute a lytle brayde of enuye towarde the glorye of the kynge and thereby feelynge hym easye to fall oute yf the matter were well handled he craftely soughte the wayes to prycke hym forwarde takynge alwayes the occasyon of hys commynge and also keepynge hymselfe cloose wythin hys bandes that he rather semed to folowe hym then to leade hym For when the duke beganne fyrste to prayse and boaste the kyng and shewe how muche profite the realme should take by his reigne Byshoppe Morton aunswered surely my lorde folye it were for me to lye for I am sure yf I woulde swere the contrarye ye would not once beleue me but yf the worlde would haue begone as I would haue wyshed that kyng Henryes soonne had had the croune and not kynge Edwarde then woulde I haue bene his true and faythfull subiecte but after that God had ordeyned hym to lose it and kyng Edwarde to reigne I was neuer so madde with a dead manne to stryue agaynst the quycke so was I euer to kynge Edwarde a faythfull and true chapeleyn and gladde would haue bene that his chyldren shoulde haue succeded hym howbeit yf the secrete iudgemente of God haue otherwyse prouyded I purpose not to spurne agaynste the prycke nor laboure to set vp that God pulleth downe And as for the late protectoure and nowe kyng and with that woorde he left sauynge that he saide that he hadde alreadye medled to muche with the worlde and would from that daye medle with his booke and bedes and no ferther Then longed the duke sore to heare what he woulde haue sayde because he ended with the kynge and there so sodeynlye stopped and exhorted hym famylyerly betwene theim bothe to bee bolde and to saye whatsoeuer he thought whereof he faythfullye promysed there shoulde neuer come hurte and paraduenture more good then he woulde were And that he hym selfe entended to vse hys faythfull secrete aduyce and counsayle which he sayed was the onlye cause for the whyche he procured of the kynge to haue hym in hys custodye where he myghte recon hym selfe at home or elles he hadde bene putte in the handes of theim wyth whome he shoulde not haue founde lyke fauoure The bishoppe right humblye thanked hym and sayed in good faythe my lorde I loue not muche to talke of prynces as of a thynge not all oute of perell althoughe the woorde bee without faute but as it pleaseth the prince to construe it And euer I thynke on Isopes tale that when the Lyon had proclaymed that on payne of deathe there shoulde no horned beastes come into the wood one beaste that had a bonche of fleshe growing oute of his hedde fledde a greate pace the Foxe that sawe hym flye with all the haste asked hym whether he fledde In fayth ê™ he I neither wote ne recke so I were once hence because of the proclamacyon made agaynste horned beastes What foole ê™ the foxe the Lyon neuer ment it by the for that whiche thou haste is no horne in thy hedde No mary ê™ he I wote that well ynoughe but yf he saye it is a horne where am I then The duke laughed merely at the tale saied my lorde I warraunte you neither the Lyon nor the bore shall pycke any matter at any thyng here spoken for it shall neuer come nere their cares In good faythe syr saied the Byshoppe yf it dyd the thyng that
Thomas Hutton newely retourned oute of Britein of whom afore is mencioned that Fraunces duke of Brytain would not onelye holde Henry Erle of Rychmount in prisone for his sake but also was readie to helpe thesame Henry with menne money and shippes in all that he might against hym he sette dyuerse and sondry shippes in places conuenyent by all the seacostes to Brytain ward that if Henry should come that waye he might either bee taken before his arriuall or els might bee kept froÌ„ landyng in any coaste of England And furthermore in euerie coaste and corner of the realme laied wondrefull wayte and watche to take partely any other of his enemies and specially thesaid duke of BuckynghmÌ„ Wherupon thesaid Homffrey Banaster were it for mede or for losyng his life and goodes disclosed hym vnto the kynges inquysyâ—ours who ymediatly tooke hym and foorthwith all brought hym to Salisbury where kyng Rychard was The duke beyng dylygently examined vttred without any maner refusall or styckyng all suche thynges as he knewe trustyng that for his plain confession he should haue lybertee to speake with the kyng whiche he made moste instauÌ„t and humble peticion that he might dooe But assone as he had coÌ„fessed his offence towardes kyng Rychard he was oute of hande behedded And this death the duke receaued at the handes of kyng Rychard whom he had before holpen in his affayrs and purposes beyonde all Gods forbode Whyle these thynges wer in hand in England Henry Erle of Richmount made readye his hoste and strength to the nombre of fiue thousand Brytones and fiftene shippes the daye apoynted of his departure beyng nowe come whiche was the twelfe daye of the moneth of Octobre in the yere of our lorde God a thousand foure hundred .lxxxiiii. and the seconde yere of the reigne of kyng Richard and hauyng a fayre wynde hoysed vp the sayles setforwarde but towarde the night came suche a tempest that thei were dispersed one from another some into Britain and some into Normandy But the ship in whiche Henry was with one other ship tossed all the night with the waues of the sea and tempest when the mornyng came it waxed somewhat calme and faire weder and thei were come toward the South parte of England by a hauen or porte called Poole where thesaid Henry sawe all the shores or bankes sette full of harnessedmen whiche were souldyours apoynted there to wayte by kyng Rychard as we haue saied before for the comyng landyng of the erle While Henry there abode he gaue commaundement that no manne should land before that comyng of the other shippes And in the meane tyme that he wayted for theim he sent a litle bote with a fewe in it a laÌ„d to knowe what thei were that stoode on the shore his freÌ„des or enemies To whom those souldyours beeyng before taught what thei should saie aunswered that thei were the frendes of Henry and were appoynted by the duke of BuckynghmÌ„ there to abide his commyng and to conducte hym to those castelles and holdes where his tentes pauylyons and arâ—â—llary for the warre laie and where remayned for hym a greate power that entended nowe with all spede to set vpon kyng Rychard while he was nowe sleâ— for feare and cleane without prouision and therfore besought hym to come alande Henry suspectyng this to bee but fraude after that he saw none of his shippes apered hoysed vp the satles hauyng a meruelous good wynde euen apoynted hym of God to delyuer hym from that great ieopardy and sayled backe agayn into Nor mandy And after his landyng there he and his compaignie after their laboures arested theim for the space of .iii. dayes determynyng to go from thence afoote into Brytayne in the meane while sent messengers vnto Charles the Frenche kynge the sonne of Lewes that a lytle before departed be sechyng hym of lybertee and lycence to passe thorough NormaÌ„dy into Brytayn The young kyng Charles beeyng sory for his fortune was not onlye ready and well pleased to graunt his passage but also sent hym moneye to helpe hym foorthe in his iourneye But Henry before that he knewe the kynges mynde not doubtyng of his great humanytee and gentlenes had sent awaye his shippes towardes Britayne and had set hym selfe forwardes in his iourneye but made no greate haste tyll the messengers retourned whiche greate gentlenes when he receaued from the kyng reioysed his hearte and with a lustye stomacke and good hope set forwarde into Brytayne there to take ferther counsayle of his affayres And when he was in Brytayn he receaued froÌ„ his frendes out of Englande knowledge that the duke of Buckyngham was behedded and that the Marques of Dorcestre with a greate nombre of the noble men of Englande had bene there a lytle before to seke hym and that they wer now in Veneti a cytie in Brytayne The whiche thynges beynge knowen to the erle he on the one parte did greately lament the death and euel chaunce of his chiefe and princypall frende but yet on the other parte he greatlye reioysed in that he had so many noble menne to take his parte in the battayll And therfore conceauynge a good hope and opinion that his purpose shoulde well frame and come to passe determyned with hym selfe with all expedycion to set foorth warde and therupon wente to a place in Brytayn called Rhedon and from thence sent to the Marques with all the other noble men that they should come vnto hym Then when they hearde that Henrye was safe returned into Brytayne reioysed not a lytle for thei had thought he had landed in Englande and so fallen into the handes of kyng Richarde and they made not a lytle haste tyll they wer come vnto hym The whiche when they met after greatloye and gladnesse aswell of their parte as of his they began to talke of their prepensed matters and nowe was Christmasse come on the whiche daye they altogether assembled in the churche and there sware fayth and truthe one to another And Henry sware first promysyng that assone as he should possesse the croune of England that he woulde marye Elyzabeth the doughter of Edward the .iiii. and after warde they sware feaultie homage vnto hym eueÌ„ as though he had already bene kyng and so from that tyme foorthe dyd take hym promysyng hym that thei would spende bothe their lyfes and goodes with hym that Richard should no leÌ„ger reigne ouer theim When this was dooen Henry declared all these thynges to the duke of Britayne praiynge desyryng hym nowe of helpe and that he woulde ayde hym with a greater nombre of menne also to lende hym a frendly honest somme of moneye that he might nowe recouer his right and enheritaunce of the croune of England vnto that which he was called desyred by al the lordes nobilitee of the realme whiche God wyllyng he was moste assured to possesse and after his possessioÌ„ he would moste faythfully restore the same again The duke
deuyse geuing thankes to God with solempne procession for that he had sent theim a king to gouerne the realme which before was ruled by a cruel hateful TiraÌ„t After this gratulacion and thank esgeuing the kyng at a daye appointed assembled his counsail to the ende he mighte marie the Ladie Elizabeth thorowe the which mariage aswell the nobilitee as coÌ„munes of the realme wer brought in good hope that all thinges should bee redressed an end made of all sedicion and strife for euer And at this Parliament holden kept at WestmiÌ„ster he was created kyng the day of October in the yere of oure Lorde a. M. foure C .lxxxvi. Whiche kyngdome he enioyed as of god enointed for as menne dooâ— reporte aboute seuen hundreth foure score and seuentene yeres paste Cadwallader laste Kynge of Englande prophecied that his progenye shoulde beare rule and dominion again So that by this meanes men did fully perswade theim selfes that he was pÌ„â—estinate to it And the rather also they did beleue it because that kyng Henry the sixte did foresaye the same and in like maner prophecy of hym Therfore he being thus proclaimed as true enheretour of the crowne and at the same Parliament created kyng did first cause to bee published that all suche should bee pardoned that would submit theim selfes to his grace as faithful people doo to hym due allegiaunce other that absented theim selfes to bee takeÌ„ as rebelles traitours After the whiche proclamacion hard many the were in holde and sanctuaries came for pardoÌ„ and safetie of life to him which persones so submitting theim selfes â—er pardoned enhaunced to honoure euery man after his owne deserte as the kyng his counsaile thought best And first considering his chiefe frendes and nyghe kinsemen made Gaspar his vncle Duke of Bedforde sir Thomas Stanley knight Earle of Derby Giles Dabeney sir Robert Willoughby and Robert Brooke Lordes Edward his eldest sonne duke of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wholy to all that king Richard had depriued hym of at what tyme he with other wer banished Also actes statutes stablished confirmed by Richard as thought expedient and veray necessary at that time for the publike weale wer by hym aboundoned infringed euery one After these thinges doen he prouided with all scelerite and expedicion to redeme the Lorde Marques Dorcet Iohn Burscher whome he had lefte at Paris as a pledge suertie for certaine money that he had borowed there and Iohn bishop of Ely for like det out of Flaunders Furthermore to the ende the his realme might bee in a better staye he coÌ„maunded that if any maÌ„ had iniury shewed at any tyme the same persone shoulde putte vp his matter to hym of whome he should both haue and finde redresse And for these matters and causes to bee hearde he made of his councell the Erle of Oxford the duke of Bedford therle of Derby the Lorde Strange w e his sonne and william the lorde his brother chief of the priuie chaumber the lorde Broke chief steward and lord graund maister of his house Renould Braye Iohn Morton Byshoppe of Ely Richarde Foxe Iohn Dinham whome after he made treasourer of Englande Giles Dabeney Richarde Gildeforde Lorde Cheiny Richarde Tunstall Richard Edgecombe Thomas Louell Edwarde Poninges with other wise men as Richard ap Thomas a Welsheman aswell circumspecte as wise Morgane Kidnel Lord Gray Marques Dorcet Lord Talbot Erle of Shrewesbury Iohn Risley lord Thomas Earle of Ormonde an Irisheman Henry Warney William Say William Ody Gilbert Talbot Willyam Vdall Thomas Troys Richarde Naufaute Capitaine of Calis Roberte Point Iames Hubert Charles Somerset Thomas Hawarde Earle of Surrey a manne of wisdome grauitee and constantnesse most coÌ„mendable The earle of Essex descending of an high and noble parentage Lorde William Blounte Iohn Burscher Iohn Fineux Peter Edgecombe Hew Conuey Thomas Terell Sir Henry Wiat Robert Throgmorton Thomas Brandon sir Iohn Winkefelde sir Edmond Dudley Edward Belknape Richarde Hemson Also bishoppes Henry Deney bishoppe of Cauntourbury Oliuer kyng byshoppe of Bathe and Welles William BaroÌ„s bishop of London that dyed shortely after he was bishoppe Also William that succeded nexte after Henry Archebyshop of Cauntourbury Richarde of London and Richarde Bishop of Norwiche When the kyng had taken these menne to bee of his councell for the wealth of his realme he maried Ladye Elizabeth doughter to kyng Edward as he had promised for the which he had the heartes of many menne So that afterwarde he had no nede to feare the assaultes of any persones or the coniuracions of rebelles Neuerthelesse considering the chaunce he had before and the falshode the is in many menne from their youth made yomen of the garde for his bodye the whiche he firste of all Englyshe Kynges caused to bee and as it is thought he did take it of the Frenche kyng Also after this he caused a parliament to bee had wher in was made and decreed certayne lawes actes statutes for the wealthe of his realme In this yere a newe sickenesse did reigne and is so sore and painfull as neuer was suffered before the whiche was called the burning sweate And this was so intollerable that men coulde not kepe their beddes but as lunatike persons oute of their wittes ranne about naked so that none almoste escaped the wer infected therwith At the length after the great death of many a thousande menne they learned a presente remedye for the same dysease that is yf he were sycke of that sweate in the daye that he should streyghtelye downe with his clothes and vestures yf in the nighte that he should not rise for the space of .xxiiii. houres and eate no meate at all yf he coulde forbeare and drinke as litle as he mighte This disease reigned throughout all England wherof also ensued a plague as a token and as the people iudged a plaine argument that kyng Henrye shoulde neuer bee oute of feare and dreade of some mischaunce seing that he was in suche great vexacyon at the sedicyous tumulte that was rysen al the claimynge of the crowne WheÌ„ all thynges wer apeaced in London and ordered after his owne mynd he rode Northward in progresse to pacifie all his realme and especially those partes where the firste commocion was and where also wer priuie and cloked frendes of his aduersaries But because it was nigh Easter he tooke his waye to Lincolne and there tariyng was certified that the Lorde Louell and Humfre Stafforde were gone from the sanctuary in Colchester but to what place or whether no maÌ„ could tell whiche message the kyng litle regardyng weÌ„t foorth as he apointed to Yorke and when he came there it was shewed hym that the lorde Louell was at hand with a strong power of menne and woulde inuade the cytie also that the said lorde Stafforde and his brother wer in Glocestre and there had made an insurreccion and set menne on euery parte to defende the gates and walles of the citie At the
this lusty compaignie was thus passed by Immediatly ensued a pauilion or tente of blewe purple satine paled and after that two other of the same fassyon all thre beyng garnished with letters of brodery werke And laste of all came in the fourth teâ— made of clothe of golde and purple veluet paled whereof the panes of veluet were poudered with these two letters H. and K as H. for Henry and K for kyng and the skirtes of the said pauilion was borne vp rounde aboute with .xxxvi. or .xl. gentlemeÌ„ as esquiers for the body all beyng clad in short Iackettes of blewe and purple sylke the whiche were conueighed aboute the tylte tyll they came before the quenes tent Where euery chalengeour according to their roomes rode oute of their tentes after obeisaunce made vnto the quene roade vnto the tiltes ende and there taried the coÌ„minge of the defendours Howbeit the kynges highnesse roade into the pauilyon where the daye before he chauÌ„ged his apparell and there taried their comming The whiche shortely after were brought in but or I procede any ferther I must of a conueniency bring in a matter necessary to bee reherced the which negligeÌ„tly I haue ouerpassed and the is this When the kynges pauilion was as is aforsaid come out of the hall immediately folowed thesaid pauilion nyne folowers or henchemen all clothed in clothe of golde and purple veluet parted the veluet side beyng garnisshed with theforsaid letters of golde as the pauilion was Of the whiche folowers the first courser was trapped with the armes of Englande the second with the armes of Fraunce the third with the armes of Castell the fourth with a riche trapper poudered with red roses and white the fift with cloth of golde furred with poudered armines the sixte with cloth of siluer and purple veluet parted the seuenth of purple veluet garnished wtth massy plates of gold a parte wher of was an arme from the elbowe armed with an hearte of golde whiche was of greate weight and value thewhiche arme and heart were sette vpon either side of the brest of the horsse and again in the trapper vpoÌ„ bothe sides of the crupper The eight with a trappoure of chaungeable sarcenet after blewe and white full of gold belles The 〈…〉 nthe last was trapped in cloth of golde and blewe veluet paled After whiche folowers ensued the yoman of the horsse vpoÌ„ a faire double horsse ledyng in his hande the self same horsse whiche the kyng roade out of the felde vpoÌ„ as before I haue reherced and then as last and hynmoost came rydyng vpoÌ„ a lustie courser sir Mathew Baker as master of the kynges henchemenne right well and sadly apoincted and like a manne of good age and sadnes thus repaired through the felde with suche demeanour as before is reherced Then to retorne vnto the defendoures Trouth it is that sir Charles BrandoÌ„ as first came into the felde enclosed in a tower and led by a iaylour holdyng a greate keye in his hande the whiche pageaunt when it came ouer against the quenes standyng the iaylour with his keye made a countenaunce as though he had opened the gate of the tower oute of the whiche issued a manne on horsebacke clad in a long course and prisoners weede with a pylgrymes long staffe in his hande and a pylgremes hat vpon his heed with a long and forgrowen bearde reachyng to his sadell bowe He also had hangyng vpon the hooke of his staffe apayre of bedes of gold and vpon the top of that staffe was fasâ—ened a lettre the whiche staffe with the bedes and letter were sent and deliuered vnto the quenes grace vpon the whiche when she had awhile looked she sent suche aunswer that the prisoner cast from hym hastely his clothyng beard and hat and shewed hym self in bright harneys and soorth with smote his horsse with the spurres and made a lustie pace vnto the tiltes ende and from thence tooke his course and ranne aboute the tilt all moste lusty wise And after the said Charles was thus come in there ensued tenne mo of the said chalengeoures of the whiche if I should wryte all the apparell and circumstauÌ„ce of their cundite vnto their place assigned it would aske a long tracte of tyme but shortely to procede to the effect of this matter So sone as all the defendours were come vnto their place assigned The kynges grace issued oute of his pauilion and called for a spere the whiche wheÌ„ he had receiued he ranne and brake right vigorously so ranne seuen coursses more or he would stynt in the whiche at euery coursse he brake aspeare or gaue a taynt And one thyng was greately noted in hym that at euerie coursse that he ranne he would neuer charge hym with his speare in the rest till he came nere vnto the copyng Then by exhortacioÌ„ of suche lordes as were aboute hym he rested for a season And when the other chalengeours had disported theim a while with suche defendours as the kyng had not before tasted The kyng then came foorth agayne and ranne many and sondry coursses the whiche he performed to his greate laude and honoure And albeit that the other chalengeours did full knightely and well and likewise the defendours as the lorde Marques sir Charles Brandon and other yet the feates of the kyng so ferre excelled theim that none was spoken of but his alone whiche so continued duryng the tyme of their disporte till foure of the clocke at after none at whiche season so sone as the defendours wer coÌ„ueighed out of the felde he called for a speare the whiche he settyng vpon his thigh roade with his hed pece vpon his head rouÌ„de aboute the tylt and at twoo tymes when he came ouer against the quenes staÌ„dyng he made as lowe obeysaunce as his sadle would licence hym and so roade into his pauilyoÌ„ there vnarmed hym And anone after came out of the same pauilion sittyng vpon the same spare horsse whiche the yoman of that horsse brought in his haÌ„d into the feld when the kyng first entred And then he was chaunged into a demy gowne of clothe of golde furred with sables the whiche when thei were shewed defaced so theother that sir Nicholas Vaus ware that thei semed matyrns in comparison of the other Then the gentlemenne sette forward and after folowed the three chalengours rydyng bare heded and their three helmettes borne before theim by three lordes and last of all came the kynges grace whose helmet was borne by the lorde of Burgeyny And in like maner as his folowers folowed hym into the feelde so in like wise thei folowed hym in his gooyng oute at whiche season as then he stured his horsse nothyng but suffered hym to goo a softe trot through all the felde And at the twoo tymes that his grace came before the quene his grace forgate not his humble obeysaunce to the crudicion and learnyng of all well nurtered and gentle wedded menne And thus with all honour
ioye and triumphant actes to the principall laude of this our moste excellent and christen prince and after to the worship of all the other aswell chalengeours as defendoures and greate comforte of all the beholders ended these moste excellyng iustes that euer was before that daie seen in Englande and that for twoo causes specially as first the present deede of the excellencie of the kynges personne whiche neuer before that daie as I thynke was seen in propre personne And secondarely for the excedyng coste of apparell whiche these twoo daies was shewed with other manifolde charges of pageauntes and other sumpteous thynges the whiche by wise mennes estimations coste not so litle by the space of these two dayes as .xx. M. â—i Whiche two marciall dayes were accomplyshed by the actes of these foure chalengeours the is to saye The moste redoubted prince Henry the eyght of that name kyng of Englande Fraunce IrelaÌ„d c. Syr Thomas Kneuet lord WyllyaÌ„ of Deuonshire and master Edward Neuell And of the defendours there were .x. in nombre whose names came not al into my handes and therfore haue I omytted theim After these royall iustes was made a solempne and sumpteous banket the order of whiche I ouerpasse because it would bee to long to reherce The .xxiii. daye of Februarij nexte foloyng dyed at Richemounte Henrye the kynges soonne which was borne there vpon newe yeres day last past as before is shortelye touched In the thirde yere of his reigne aboute the monethes of Iune and Iulij the Scottes made sondrie entres vpon the borders of England and had out certain shippes wel manned and vitayled and kepte with theim the narowe sees to the great displeasure of the kynges grace and hurte of some of his subiectes specially of his merchauntes the whiche rouers were named to be bannyshed men But the kynges highnes consyderyng the daylye hurte that thei did vnto his subiectes and frendes as takyng of vitaile at Sandwich other places vpoÌ„ the see coastes and that no remedye was purueyed by the kyng of Scottes to call theim home His grace in all goodly haste manned and vitayled certain shippes and vnder the gouernaunce of the lorde Hawarde as hed and chief capitain sente the saide shippes to scoure the see the whiche in shorte processe after aboute th ende of Iulij mette with the saide Scottes and gaue vnto theim a sharpe and fearce fight in so much that in th ende thenglyshe menne drowned one of the Scottishe shippes and tooke two of the chiefest shippes of that â—lote and in theim one hundreth and fourtie Scottes with their hedde capitayne named Hob of Barton The whiche Scottes with theyr sayd capitayne were caste into sondrye prysonnes and as the fame wente in the foresayde fighte was slayne as many of the saide Scottes as were taken prysoners and of thenglyshe menne fewe or none And vpon the seconde daye of August wer the forsayde two Scottishe shippes brought vnto the blacke walle within Thamys But afterward the saide Scottes were by the kynges commaundement brought vnto tharchbyshoppes palays besyde Westmynster and there kepte at the kynges coste Aboute this season or lytle before the Frenche kyng that had moste parte of this yere kept warre again Iulius the secound of that name byshop of Rome forced thesaid bishop to forsake the cytie of Bonony to fle for his safegarde toward Rome not withoute losse of some of his people This bishoppe had deputed one Iherome Bonuise a Lukener borne and before tyme had bene a merchauÌ„t and factoure for merchauntes of his nacion in London the whiche by his insolencie and exercysyng of dice wyth lordes and other he brake and came so behynde the hande that he was compelled to aduoyde the citie also the realme In the tyme of whiche absence he purchased suche grace of the fornamed bishop that he made hym a lorde after sent hym into this laÌ„de as his proctour hauyng a trayne after hym lyke vnto a byshop by the â—auourable letters whyche the byshoppe wrote for hym vnto the kyng his grace had hym in good fauoure and dayly resorted vnto his grace for mattiers touchyng the bishoppe by meane wherof he had knowledge of the bishops councell and also of the kynges In this tyme also were here certeyne ambassadours of the Frenche kynges the whiche lay here a long ceason for matters concernyng their prince to whom this forenamed Iherome secretly drewe by nyght tyme and innaturally and falsely dyscouered vnto theim all the byshoppes and kynges councell For the whiche he was awaited and lastly takeÌ„ in the companie of one of the sayd Ambassadours vpon LondoÌ„ wall about mydnyght and so brought vnto the counter of the pultrye frome whence by the kynges coÌ„maundement on the morowe he was remoued vnto the Towre where he remayned styll as a prysoner In this time also was wonderfull warre betwene the byshop of Rome Iulius the seconde of that name and the French kyng in so muche that he wanne from the sayd B. the citee of Bonony put the B. to flight layed such articles agayne hym that he enteÌ„ded to put him downe make another bishop the circuÌ„staunce wherof I passe ouer coÌ„syderyng the manyfolde tales and writynges sente vnto the merchauÌ„t straungers of thesame in the which letters were variable and diuerse reportes In the later ende of this yere the Scottes before taken by the knyghtly prowes of the lord Hawarde and syr Edward his brother were delyuered fre and franke to whome the kyng of his bouÌ„teous largesse gaue vnto euery of theim competeÌ„t sommes of money to coÌ„ueigh theim home to their owne countrey In this yere also was holden a parlyament at Westmynster the .iiii. daye of Februariâ— wherein were made and ordeined dyuerse statutes and ordynaunces Duryng the whiche parlyament a seruaunt of the kynges yomanne of the croune and one of his garde named Newbolt slewe within that palayce of Westmynster a seruaunt of one master Willoughby in the begynnyng of the moneth of Marche For the which offence notwithstandyng that the kyng had hym in his synguler fauour for that he was a speciall archer of all other yet for ytâ—eynous and detestable murder the kynges grace comaunded a newe payre of galoes to be set vp in thesame place wher the said seruaunt left his life and vpon thesame shortlye after was there put to death and to the feare of other suffred hym to haÌ„ge there by the space of two dayes two nightes afâ—â—r for whiche iudgement the kyng wanne greate honoure and fauoure of his commons By the autoryte of this parlyament was graunted vnto the kyng two fyftenes of the temporaltee and by the conuocacion holden by the clergye two dismes VpoÌ„ good friday which this this yere fell vpon the .ix. daye of April was a cruell and sterne battaile betwene the bishoppe of Romes hoste the Frenche kynges partie which continued from the saied fridaye by sondry encouÌ„tres and metinges by occasyon wherof much