and love of thy Subjects who whilst they have wealth so long shalt thou have obedience but being made poore by oppression will be ever ready to stirre and make insurrections And so turning about said God blesse thee and have mercy on mee and so hee gave up the ghost in a Chamber of the Abbot of Westminster which the servants there called Ierusalem the twentieth of March 1412. in the fortieth sixe yeare of his age when hee had raigned thirteene yeares sixe moneths lacking ten dayes His body with all Funerall pomp was conveyed to Canterbury and there solemnly buried Hee had beene twice married his first wife was Mary Daughter and coheire of Humphry de Bohan Earle of Hereford Essex and Northampton and Constable of England shee died anno 1394. and was buryed at Canterbury hee had issue by her Henry his eldest Sonne who succeeded him Thomas Plantagenet his second sonne who was Created Duke of Clarence in the eleventh yeare of his Fathers raigne hee was slaine at Bongy bridge in France by the Duke of Orleance this Thomas tooke to Wife Margaret Daughter of Thomas Holland Earle of Kent and Widow of Iohn Beuford Earle of Pomfret who dyed without issue Iohn Plantagenet his third Sonne was made Duke of Bedford the eleventh yeare of his Fathers raigne and Earle of Richmond and Lord of Kendall hee married to his first Wife Anne Daughter of Iohn Duke of Burgondy who dyed without issue his second Wife was Ioquellyne Daughter of Peter Earle of Saint Paul and by her had no issue shee was after married to Richard Woodvile Earle Rivers and had issue Elizabeth Wife to King Edward the fourth This Iohn as Constable of England determined the Controversie betwixt Reignold Lord Gray of Ruthen and Sir Edward Hastings for the bearing of the armes of Hastings and at Vernoyle together with the same Towne tooke the Duke of Alanson prisoner and with the losse of two thousand one hundred private souldiers slew of the advers part five Earles two Vicounts one and twenty Barons seven thousand French and two thousand five hundred Scots and dyed at Paris and the fourteenth of September 1435. was buried at Roan under a sumptuous Monument which when Lewis the eleventh King of France being advised by some of his Nobles to deface Hee said What honour will it bee to us or you to demolish the Monument aâ—…d pull out thereof the bones of him whom in his life-time neither my Father nor your Progenitors were of abilitie to make budge one foote backward wherefore let his body now rest in quiet which if hee were alive would have disquieted the proudest of us all such respect to well-got honour hee obtained in the mindes of his enemies Humphry Plantagenet fourth Sonne who was stiled Humphry by the grace of God Sonne Brother and Vncle to Kings hee was Duke of Glocester Hennalt Holland Zealand and Earle of Penbrocke Lord of Freezland great Chamberlaine of England Protector of the Realme and Defender of the Church of England Hee had two Wives the first was Iaquet Daughter and heire of William Duke of Bavaria who being before betrothed to Iohn Duke of Brabant was divorced from this Humphry before issue His second Wife was Elianor Daughter of Reignold Lord Cobham of Sterburghe in Surry who for Sorcery and poysoning was much defamed hee was found murthered in hss bed at Bury in Suffolke and was buried at Saint Albones in Hartfordshire Blaunch King Henryes eldest Daughter was married as afore at Collen to William Duke of Bavaria after his death shee was married to the King of Arragon and afterwards to the Duke of Barre but dyed without issue Philip second Daughter of King Henry was married to Iohn King of Denmarke but dyed without issue King Henry was of a middle stature well proportioned and formally compact of a quicke conceit and active spirit of great resolution and courage In his later dayes with courtesie and affable cariage hee purchased a great deale more love and respect amongst the Nobilitie then hee had in all the beginning of his raigne with his austeritie and rigorous courses and redeemed from the common people a great portion of good opinion which he by his impositions and taxes had formerly lost among them But if their payments had beene more and his exactions greater in my opinion they were not undeserved that were so ready to alter the due course of succession to joyne hands with him in the deposing of the rightfull and naturall leige-Leige-Lord whose only fault that could bee truly objected was this that hee had beene too bountifull to his friend too mercifull to his foes but most unrespective of himselfe THE LIFE AND RAIGNE OF KING HENRY THE FIFT HENRY the Fift surnamed of the place of his birth which was a Towne in Wales upon the River of Wye Monmouth tooke upon him the Regality over England the twentieth day of March and the next day was proclaimed King and the ninth day of Aprill hee was Crowned King at Westminster by Thomas of Arundell Archbishop of Canterbury with all usuall rites and Ceremonies After the solemnitie past the next day hee caused all his wonted Companions to come into his presence to whom hee used these words It is sufficient that for many yeares together I have fashioned my selfe to your unruly dispositions and have not without some reluctation in the very action followed you in your debosht and swaggering courses I have to my sorrow and shame I may say to thinke of it irregularly wandered in all rude and unseemely manner in the vast wildernesse of ryot and unthriftinesse whereby I was made almost an alian to the hearts of my Father and Allyes and in their opinions violently carried away by your meanes from grace by keeping you company therein I have so vilified my selfe that in the eyes of men my presence was vulgar and stale and like the Cuckow in Iune heard but not regarded One of you being convented before the Lord chiefe Iustice for misusing a sober-minded Citizen I went to the publike Sessions house and stroke him on the face and being by him deservedly committed to the Fleet for which act of justice I shall ever hold him worthy the place and my favour and wish all my Iudges to have the like undaunted courage to punish offendors of what ranke soever it occasioned my Father to put mee from my place in Councell appointing it to bee supplyed by my younger Brother how often have I by your animation committed thefts even on my Fathers and my owne Receivers and robd them of the mony provided for publicke appointments to maintaine your midnight revellings and noone beselings But it is time now to give a period to these exorbitant and unbefitting courses and to salve the wounds my intemperance hath made in my reputation and to turne over a new leafe and not only to decline the company of such misleaders of yours but desert their conditions of all
that end desired the Lords to come to him into the Tower but they refused that place of meeting upon feare of false measure untill the King permitted them to search diligently and come as strongly as they thought meet then they came to the King well guarded and after a few cold complements and strange salutations they layd before him his proceedings against them at Nottingham his Letters which hee sent to the Duke of Ireland contrary to his word for the raysing of armes against them his agreement with the French King for the yeelding up of Callice and other strong houlds which hee had in possession in those parts with divers other poynts of dishonourable dealing and negligent government What should the King then have done or said all these objections were so evident and evill that there was no place left either for deniall or defence Therefore ingenuously first with silence and patience afterwards with teares and dejected countenance hee confessed his errors And certainely the stiffe stomacks of the Lords more relented to those luke-warme drops then they would have done to his greatest violence A meeting was concluded the next day at Westminster there to treate of these and other necessary affaires of the Realme Then the Duke and the rest of the Lords departed except the Earle of Darby who stayed supper with the King and all that time kept him in his proposed resolution But when he was also gone some of the abusers of the Kings eare suggested that his going thither was neither seemely nor safe and would not only bring to his person present danger and contempt but afterwards abasement and abridgement to his authoritie whereupon the Kings minde turned But the Lords being now nettled feeling the Kings hand weake to governe the raynes became the more violent and sent him word that if hee did vacillate with them and not come according to agreement that they would choose a new King who should bee more respective to his Nobilitie This peremptory message so terrified the King that hee not only went thither but permitted the Lords to take their pleasure they caused him much against his liking to remove out of the Court Nevil Archbishop of Yorke Foord Bishop of Duresme the Bishop of Chichester the Kings Confessor the Lord Souch the Lord Harmyworth Lord Burnell Lord Beamont Sir Alberick Uear Sir Baldwyne Bereford Sir Richard Alderbury Sir Iohn Worth Sir Thomas Clifford and Sir Iohn Lovell taking caution of them for their appearance at the next Sessions of Parliament And certaine Ladies likewise were expelled the Court and went under sureties the Ladyes Mowen Moling Poynings wife to Sir Iohn Worth They put under arrest Simon Burly William Ellingham Iohn Salisbury Thomas Trivet Iames Bernis Nicholas Dagworth and Nicholas Bramber Knights Richard Clifford Iohn Lincolne and Richard Motford Clerkes Iohn Beacham the Kings private Purse-bearer Nicholas Lake Deane of the Chappell and Iohn Blake Barrister were all committed to diyers Prisons to be forth-comming at the next Parliament The Parliament began at London though the King used many meanes to dash or deferre the same to which the Lords came attended with full strength pretending to represse any ryot that might arise but in truth by terror thereof to draw all the mannage of affaires to themselves The assembly continued from Candlemasse untill Whitsontide with great feare of some and hope of others and expectation of all There Tresilian by the Councell of the Lords against the Kings minde was condemned to bee drawne and hanged which judgement was presently executed the like passed against and upon Nicholas Bramber Iohn Salisbury Iames Barnes Iohn Beauchamp and Iohn Blake Robert Belknap Iohn Holt Roger Fulthorpe and William Burgh which last foure were condemned to perpetuall exile though they opposed not but intermedled by constraint to subscribe their opinions against the Lords Sir Simon Burly Captaine of Dover Castle was beheaded for conspiring to deliver the same to the Frenchmen hee was infinitely proud equall to the meanest in vertue but in port and bravery not inferiour to any Duke Divers others were put to death or exile and some as it hapneth when the reines of fury are let loose without any great cause The Earle of Darby promoued no mans punishment but did labour the life and liberty of many insomuch that harsh language did passe betwixt the Duke of Gloucester and him for so doing whereby hee purchased a favourable opinion amongst those of the contrary part There was then also an oath exacted from the King an example without president to stand to the government of the Lords and an Oath of the Subjects to bee loyall to the King The King in taking this oath of the Lords discovered his inward conceit by his overt countenance looking pleasantly on those he favoured and frowningly on others by which untimely discovery he made them more heedfull and himselfe more hatefull which was the occasion that afterward the revenge was prevented which hee so desired and the mischiefe was procured which hee so little feared Lastly a Subsidie was granted and so the King comming as it were to capitulation had allowance of the name of a King and the Lords the authoritie and Majestie so the contention for that time ceased The yeare following the King began to take upon him more libertie and rule and upon extreame disdaine that both his power and pleasure were thus restrained hee bore a hard conceit against the partaking Lords and having assembled them in the Councell chamber he demaunded of the Lords of what yeares they tooke him to bee being answered that hee was somewhat above one and twentie then replied hee I am of lawfull age to make use of any birth-right and to have the regiment in my owne hands and therefore you doe me wrong to hold me still under tutelage as though the condition of a King were harder then that of a subject This the Lords were unwilling to grant and more unable to deny and therefore they either kept silence or spake to little or no purpose Well said the King since I am no longer an infant I here renounce your rule and take upon mee such free administration of the Iustice of thâ—…â—…alme as the Kings thereof my Predecessors heretofore lawfully used And then commanding the Bishop of Ely then Lord Chancellour to resigne the great Seale which received the King put it up and departed out of the Chamber but returning delivered the same to William of Wickam Biâ—… of Winchester thereby constituting him Lord Chancellor other officers he likewise displaced placing others in their room partly to manifest his authoritie partly to satisfie his displeasure he suspended Glocester Warwick others from his privy Councell and tooke in their roomes such as humoured him more but honoured him lesse He 10. Octob. An. Regni sui 11. Created Iohn Beauchamp of Holt Baron of Kedermister by letters Patents before which time all Barons were chosen by Writ it was suggested to the
whereby his Attornies had beene enabled to sue out his Ouster le maine and Livery of those lands which during his exile might fall unto him his homage being formerly concluded upon to bee respited at a reasonable fine But these violent proceedings was rather a meanes to provoke then prevent mischiefe Edmond Duke of Yorke the Kings only Vncle that survived who hitherto had enforced his patience to endure many things against his liking now either in disdaine of this indignitie or distrust of his owne safety and the Realmes disturbance he with the Duke of Anmerle his sonne retired themselves to his house at Langley At this time the whole frame of the State was much shaken and matters of greatest consequence hung but on slender threads The King was plunged in pleasure and sloth by whose example others also gave themselves over to ease and luxurie whereby cowardice and effeminacie crept in and shipwracke was made both of manhood and reputation The chiefest affaires of state had beene for a long time ordered according to private respects whereby the Common-wealth lost both the fatte and the favour and seemed not at seasons and by degrees but with a maine course and at once to bee ruinate and fall The North parts were many times canvased and by small yet often Iosses almost consumed by the Scots who had taken many Castles and Townes and defaced all the countrey with slaughter and spoile The South parts were divers times pillaged by the French and in France many strong holds were lost for want of convenient succour it was much about these times that there was a secret pact renewed betweene the two Kings for the delivery of Callice and other pieces thereabout to the French But the performance thereof was resisted both by the Court and Councell Ireland which in the time of Edward the third was kept in order and awe and the people were taught Religion and civilitie and well reclaimed yeelding to the Kings coffers thirtie thousands per annum was suffered now to bee loose and licentious and thereby the people growne rude and untractable so that now the King instead of receiving was enforced to bee at the charge to expend thirty thousand pounds yearely Many succours were every day sent abroad but so scatteringly and at such unseasonable times and often so ill accommodated that they were occasions rather of losse then helpe whereupon the King endevoured some expeditions in person with great preparation and much charge but his reputation being once cryed downe whatsoever therein succeeded well was attributed to his Commanders but all misfortunes only to him on the other side if any exploit were well atchieved by any of the Nobilitie it received misconstruction by the Court Parasitâ—…â—…d by them to whom Militarie vertue was altogether unpleasant so exteâ—…ed depraved or envied that it seldome times received recompence or praise yea sometime it drew on suspition and danger it being whispered to the King that to commaund well in the field and to bee skilfull and valiant was a vertue meerely to bee appropriated to a Prince and that it was perilous to have the name of a private subject famous for such experience in every mans mouth whereby few sought to raise their fortunes by vertue and valour when the way was easier for to rise by humouring the Prince Affaires of State in peace were managed by those of weakest apprehension by whose corrupt or ignorant counsell the overthrow of the well-minded Nobilitie was many times attempted and at the last wrought The profits and revenewes of the Crowne were let to farme the King making himselfe Landlord of the Realme challenging no greater priviledge by his Raigne but a dissolute and uncontrouled life Great summes of money were by new found and unwonted meanes every day rather exacted then voluntarily granted from the Subject whereof no good did ensue but the Kings private pleasures maintained and his unworthy Favourites advanced To these hee was beyond expectation too liberall to continue for which he was inforced to borrow begge and extort in many places but purchased not so much love by the one as hee procured thereby hatred from the other over and above Tenths and Fifteenes which were many times gathered double in one yeare strange impositions were devised and put in practise sometimes exacting twelve pence per poll of every subject throughout the Realme sometimes of every religious person male and female vj. s. viij d. of every secular Priest as much Vnder the favourable terme of benevolence hee drew from the people great summes of money hee borrowed so much upon privie Sâ—…ales that no man of abilitie could escape his loane but seldome and to few was repayment made He sent certaine Commissioners Bishops and Lords temporall to all shires and corporations within the kingdome to make knowne the Kings heavy displeasure against them for having abetted the Duke of Gloucester and the Earles of Arundel and Warwicke which without due acknowledgement of the offence and submission to his mercy could not be pacified Whereupon the chiefe in every shire and all Corporations made their acknowledgement and submission under their hands and seales for the redemption whereof and for procuring of the Kings favour insupportable fines were payd and all so impoverished that few or none were able to subsist none to resist Strange and unheard-of oathes were obtruded upon the Commons for performance of what was under their hands and seales promised by them nay to adde affliction to affliction blancke Charters were sealed and delivered to the Kings use wherein whatsoever hee pleased might bee inserted These courses were quite contrary to the government of Henry the second who though borne a stranger and comming young to the Crowne and in a scarce settled time maintained great warres woon large Dominions more then ever were hereditary to any his Predecessors had many children and alwayes maintained a Kingly port yet never demanded Subsidie of his subjects neverthelesse hee left nine hundred thousand pounds besides jewels and Plate of inestimable value in his Treasurie having in all his life-time held a good correspondency betwixt his care and respect towards his subjects and of their obedience and loyaltie to him But this King bearing a heavy hand over his people they beare an hard heart towards him and hee being shallow in judgement not of sufficiency enough to cover his vices but with or by a cloke of seeming powerfull at length drave then many to revolt whose resolution was rather to run the hazard of ruine by rebellion then to continue safety with slavery and did but waiting occasion to begin which was thus offered The King received advertisement out of Ireland that the wild Irish had massacred all his garrison souldiers and barbarously slaine Roger Mortymer Earle of Marsh who had beene declared heire to the Crowne and that they proceeded with that cruelty that wrath and rage being master of the field could incite or cowardly conquerours practise This losse being greater was much
that rightfully for want of issue it should devolve unto him That the Bishop should dicover the same and make it knowne to the King and the Councell afterwards the Queene being dead and Iohn of Gaunt during the weaknesse of the King did take upon him so much that hee gave just cause of suspition to the lookers on of his ambitious affecting the Crowne The Bishop first in silent and secret manner by way of ghostly counsell diswaded the Duke from nursing the least hope of ever attayning the Crowne and withaâ—… used his best perswasions to him to content himselfe privately to live without further intermeddling then needs must with the affaires of the kingdome And then hee would keepe unrevealed what otherwise byâ—…ye of dutie to his profession he must and would discover which would redound much to the Dukes disparagement This so nettled the Duke that passion confounded reason and in the height thereof hee waded as farre as hee durst for feare of undergoing the censure of the Church for reviling one of the Fathers thereof Neverthelesse hee did not so temper his words but that hee gave just occasion to the Bishop to provide for his safetie and to looke to himselfe hereof hee gave intimation to the rest of the Bishops And so it chanced that within short time after a Parliament is convoked wherein the Kings necessitie of present supply of money is much prest But the Clergie unanimously affirme that without their Brother the Bishop of VVinchesters presence they neither can nor will consult of any thing and therefore crave that hee might bee permitted to come The King being told that hee being a principall member of the house of Parliament could not with conveniencie bee excluded Whereupon hee is sent for The Bishop upon notice of the Kings pleasure repaireth to London but in that obscure manner and with that small retinue that hee ministred occasion of commiseration to the beholders which so incensed the Duke of Lancaster that hee not only continued his indignation against the Bishop of VVinchester but openly did oppose all the Bishops in generall protecting and countenancing VVickliffe a man of more zeale then discretion in all his over-bold and undutifull carriages towards them In the meane time VVinchester having sufficiently learned that the King now in his declining time did so dote upon Alice Pierce that in a manner hee was altogether governed by her complies himselfe wholly to her and so effectually aut prece aut pretio or both made his way with her that mauger all what the Duke could say or doe to the contrary after two yeares being kept out of his livings by her meanes the Bishop is restored fully to whatsoever had beene taken or was detayned from him The Parliament dissolved the Bishop commeth to VVinchester where as well by the Citizens as Pryor and Covent hee is joyfully with kinde welcome and generall procession received and entertained Then and there also hee receiveth of the Executors of his Predecessors Bishop Edington satisfaction for the summe of one thousand one hundred sixtie two pounds tenne shillings and for the valew of one thousand five hundred fiftie sixe rother beasts three thousand eight hundred seventie sixe Weather-sheepe foure thousand seven hundred and seventeene Ewes three thousand five hundred twentie one Lambes and one thousand one hundred twentie seven Swine formerly recovered against them for dâ—…apidations before the Officiall of VVilliam VVitesley Archbishop of Canterbury King Edward being dead and Alice Pierce being banished the Court Iohn of Gaunt confident now to worke his malitious designes against VVinchester taking the advantage of his Nephew King Richards infancie musters afresh his old forces and with small addition of some new surmised cavillations reinformes and againe accuseth the Bishop of VVinchester But the Dukes malice was not more discernable but the Bishops innocencie was every way as perspicuous By meanes whereof hee escaped all the Gauntish machinations and by the helpe of his truest friend his open but full purse hee obtained a generall Pardon under the great Seale of England and together with that from thenceforth a quiet and unperturbed estate during which time hee made preparations to forward his preintended goodly buildings providing himselfe of all needfull materials and furnishing himselfe with some of them and all his chiefe workmen for stone-worke out of France having made tryall of his Artificers skill in their owne Countrey where at Roven hee built a stately conventuall Church and furnished the same with all needfull and befitting ornaments and maintenance And now having in readinesse all requirable utensells his first worke was the building of a Chappell at Tytchfeid where his Father Mother and sister Perrot were buried endowing the same with proportionable maintenance for a Priest to performe the Ceremonies in those dayes used for the benefit of the soules departed Hee founded at Southwicke in the Countie of Southampton neere the Towne of Wickham the place of his birth as a supplement to the Priory of Southwicke a Chauntry with sufficient aliment and all other necessaries for five Priests for ever Hee bestowed twentie thousand Markes in orderly repairing the houses belonging to the Bishopricke He discharged out of prison in all places of his Diocesse all such poore prisoners as lay in execution for debt under twenty pounds about which hee expended two thousand pounds Hee sufficiently amended all the high wayes from Winchester to London on both sides the River Hee procured large immunities to the Sea of Winchester and purchased lands thereto to the valew of two hundred Markes per annum with a Licence in Mortmaine for two hundred pounds per annum more In the eleventh yeare of the Raigne of Richard the Second he receiueth from the Kings owne hands the great Seale of England and is made Lord Chancellor whereby it appeareth that King Richard was not altogether so voide of judgement in the choice of his Officers of eminencie as the Writers of his time would seeme to make him At his returne from Court hee called all his Officers to account amongst whom hee remitted the summe of foure thousand pounds in which they were arere and gave to every one of them respectively a generall release of all demands untill that time Hee likewise remitted unto the tenements of the Bishopricke all such customary payments of knowledge money as were by his Officers affirmed to bee due unto him in the whole amounting to the summe of five hundred and twentie pounds But now as if whatsoever was done before had beene but an essay of what hee intended to doe after hee began to lay the foundation of that magnificent structure in Oxford at that and till this time called new Colledge And upon the fift day of March Anno Dom. â—…379 hee in person layd the first stone thereof And afterward having finished and sufficiently furnished the same with all befitting accommodations and endowed with proportionable meanes for the liberall maintenance of a Warden Threescore
entertaines them royally and tooke order with the Archbishop of Canterbury to give them answer to this effect That if the King of France would not give his Daughter and with her the lands and Seignioryes demanded that he would not disband but with all extremities that follow warre prosecute his right and never give over till hee had recovered his Patrimonie the King avowing the Archbishops speeches promising by the word of a Prince to performe the same and to visit them sooner then they should have cause to bid him welcome and so hee dismissed them All things prepared and in readinesse for France as the King having shipt his men was ready to goe on shipboord himselfe a plot of treason is discovered plotted by Richard Earle of Cambridge Henry Lord Scroope of Masham Lord Treasurer Sir Thomas Gray of Northumberland and plotted and procured by the French agents These hee caused to bee apprehended and upon examination they confessed the treason and the summe of money by them for that end received and were immediately executed This Richard of Connesburgh second Sonne of Edmond of Langley married Anne Sister and heire of Edmond Mortymer Earle of March and had issue Richard Earle of Cambridge Duke of Yorke and Isabel married to Henry Lord Burcher Earle of Essex Some gather and I must confesse it is very probable that the Earle of Cambridge was not so mercenary as to commit Treason for money but would have confessed the cause had it not beene for feare to bring the Earle of March in question That his Title was by him and others intended to have beene set on foot and strongly backt by Sir Iohn Oldcastle and others if not as afore prevented but hereby were the sparkes discerned that afterwards blazed so ragingly over the Lancastrian family The windblowing a faire gale King Henry weighs Anchor and with his whole fleet puts to Sea and on our Lady Eeve landeth at Caux where the River of Sayne runneth into the Sea without resistance being come on shore hee caused Proclamation to be made that none upon paine of death should take any thing out of any Church or Chappell or offer any violence to any that should bee found unarmed and that no quarrell should bee renewed whereby any affray may bee made Then layes hee siege to Harflew the Lords of Toutevile and Gaucourts being within the same The French King advertised of the arrivall of the English sent the Constable the Seneschal and Marshall of France with others to the Castle of Candebecke from thence as occasion should bee offered to relieve Harflue But the English ceased not daily to forrage whilst the Duke of Glocester to whom the ordering of the siege was committed ceased not to plye the battery and so kept them in the Towne waking with continuall assaults The Captaines of the Towne perceiving that they were not able long to hold out the walls being undermined and the Earles of Huntington and Kent possest of the brest and thereon had pitcht their Colours about midnight sent to crave parlie Whereupon the Duke of Exceter the Lord Fitzhugh and Sir Thomas Erpingham were sent with this instruction that if they would not instantly surrender the Towne without condition there should no time bee sâ—…ent in communication yet upon the Lords importunitie the King gave themâ—…ve dayes respite in which time if no reskue came they should surrender the Towne into the Kings hand and for their lives and goods to stand to the Kings mercy Hereupon the Lord Bacquevile was sent to the French King to acquaint him with the composition but no reliefe comming they surrendred within three dayes the souldiers were ransomed and the Towne sacked The Duke of Exceter was appointed Captaine thereof who left there for his Lieutenant Sir Iohn Falstaffe with fifteene hundred men The dead of Winter approaching the King caused all those souldiers that had not payed their ransomes to sweare to render themselves prisoners at Callice at the feast of Saint Martine following Whereupon two Forts which stood on the North side of Harflue which till then expecting aydé stood out rendred likewise and then having repayred the Bulwarcke and furnished it with all things necessary hee marched to Porthouse intending to passe the River there before the Bridges were broken The Dolphin had taken order to carry into places of safetie all kinde of provision which might bee usefull for the reliefe of the English But King Henry kept on his way enforcing the Townes as hee went to supply his wants and comming to the river of Soame hee found all the Bridges broken and the fourds stakt hee marched to Arams in that orderly manner that the enemy durst not offer to impeach passage untill hee came to the Bridge of Saint Maxenae where thirtie thousand French appearing hee pitcht his Campe expecting to bee fought with where the more to encourage his men hee gave the order of Knighthood to Iohn Lord Ferrers of Groby Reignold Graystocke Percy Tempest Christopher Morisbye Thomas Pickering William Hadvesten Iohn Hoshalton Henry Mortymer and divers others But not perceiving the French to have any great will to come on hee marched by the Towne of Amiens to another place of strength called Bowes and there stayed two dayes expecting battell and from thence marched to Corby where the Peasants in multitudes relying upon their numbers and the ayde of the garrisons of Corby gave the King a Camisadoe and having forestald the passage in a straight with certaine men of armes sent from the Dolphyn they charged the right wing of the English which was led by Sir Hugh Stafford Lord Bourchier so hotly that they wonne away his Standard But the same was againe recovered by Iohn Bromley of Bromley who being a Commander in Staffords Regiment not only made the retiring troopes to stand but renewing the fight with his owne sword slew him that had the Lord Bourchiers Colours and taking them up displayd the same with sight whereof the English were so much encouraged that they fell in with that vehemence upon the French that they presently rowted and fled the Lord recompenced the valiant exploit of his kinsman and for the same gave to him an annuitie of fiftie pounds per annum assigning out of all his lands in Staffordshire as by the enrolment of that deed is extant the Seale is a Cheuron charged with a Mullet about the same engraven Signa Hugonis de Stafford militis The same night after the retreat sounded the King found a shallow fourd betwixt Corby and Peron never spied before at which the night following he passed safe making what march hee could without Alte towards Callice Notwithstanding the extremities which attend his Army marching through an enemies Country where no forrage could be found and small store of pillage yet did the King so strictly observe the due performance of his first Proclamation against Church-robbing that hearing one complaynd of to the Marshall for having stolne or as
the King made show of readinesse to fight yet hee turned faces to the left hand and marched away The Regent followed him but could not overtake him till hee came neere Senlys where the King was encamped The armies on both sides were embattailed and kept in array as long as it was light and so againe the next day the Dukes light horsmen and the Normans made many attempts and provoked some skirmishes as it were to give the French a taste of their resolution but the King not willing further to provoke such forward Cavaleeres in the dead of the night wheeled about and fled to Bray The Duke forecasting that this was but a plot to draw him further from Paris of whose fidelitie hee had no great assurance followed no further but with great griefe to the souldiers returned thither Whilst hee lay there hee received intelligence That his brother the Cardinall was with some forces at Dover in prosecution of some pact formerly made betwixt Pope Martyn and him ready to transport them into Boheme to arbitrate a point of Religion by the sword hee thereupon writes to him and to his brother of Glocester thereby intimating to them the wants hee had of present supply with such forcible reasons perswading that hee prevailed and the Cardinall with his forces raysed to another place and purpose came to the Regent to Paris The Regent now the stronger by these new forces having intelligence that the King of France was marched into Champaigne followeth him and finding him encamped upon the Mount Pihal betweene Senlis and Champaygne hee pitched in sight of them and hourely provoked him to come downe by the Norman horse who braved him to his trenches beating backe such as came forth to skirmish without need of seconds when thus in sight of each other they had laine for a time the Regent expecting to bee charged they having double the advantage of the number the French follow their last copy and silently retired to Crispis The Regent perceiving their irresolution to fight licenced the Cardinall to goe his pretended journey with his forces whilst hee and his marched backe to Paris of whose constancy hee was and not without cause ever warily jealous yet gave them no cause of discovery thereof Vpon Saint Leonards day the sixt of November 1429. King Henry being not full eight yeares old was with great solemnitie sacred-annointed and Crowned King at Westminster at whose Coronation were made thirtie sixe Knights of the Bathe about which time the French King by the instigation of that shee impostour Le pusill who had bewitched the credulity of those times and was for the more part esteemed as a prophetesse and shee againe to give some colour to settle this opinion did dare and doe many things beyond the reach modesty strength of a Woman riding manlike astride and in armour making show of manhood and giving forth in speeches not without some ostentation that shee was a messenger sent from God to reconquer out of the hands of the English whatsoever they had now in possession there By the subtile working of this Medean Virago The French King was received into Champaigne and Senlis and Bravoys were zaunz blowe or battery rendred unto him whilst the Lord Longevile tooke by surprise the Castle of Aumarle and slew all the English there The Castle of Galiard was rendred upon composition where in an iron grated chamber they found the Lord Barbason who having sworne to bee true prisoner could not bee induced to come out of that place untill Captaine Kingston to whom hee had given that oath was upon safe conduct recalled to acquite him which was accordingly done A rare example of constancy in him considering how little conscience the rest of his Nation at that time made of an oath yet it may not bee forgotten that of those that were sworne at Harflew either to send their ransomes agreed upon or to render their bodyes prisoners at a day prefixed at Callice of seventy three not one Gentleman fayled but either sent his ransome or yeelded their bodyes to the Kings mercy The French Kings Councell were resolved that the only way to weaken the english was to disunite the bond of friendship hitherto kept firme betwixt the Regent and the Duke of Burgoine to this end are many messengers sent unto him from the French King whereby hee first laboureth to cleere himselfe of the murther of his Father next hee maketh large offers of preferments and assurances of free pardon of all offences past and his royall promise of love and friendship during life hereof the Duke certifieth the Regent but withall giveth him a touch of his unkind denyall of Orleance subjection unto him The Regent giveth him many thankes for his kind notice and exhorteth him to continue firme as hee had given promise and hee should have no just cause given him to repent him of being in league with England Neverthelesse hee tooke order to prevent haddywist and so to provide that if the worst should follow the worst hee might bee assured of the maine which hee reckoned Normandy hee the lesse reguarded the by though hee willingly would neglect no part of the whole He therefore appointed the Bishop of Terowen Chancellour of the Realme of FRANCE under King HENRY with a competent number of men to guard Paris whilst hee departed into Normandy and at Roane called a Parliament in which hee inculcated the great benefits that redounded to that nation by the friendship of the English what large freedomes they had how infinite rich they might grow by holding good correspondency with that Nation whereby their Wives and linnen cloth might fairely bee exported to England and Wooll and lead and other staple commodities from thence freely bee imported to them setting out at large all the commoditie by their loyalty they might have and the discommodity they should reape by the other hee concluded with the rightfull claime to the Seigniory of Normandy to his Nephew and King by lawfull inheritance from Rollo the hardy first Duke thereof hee now therefore requested that they would confirme their constancy to the Crowne of England with manifestation of their true affection to him and so they should bee assured of protection and defence against all opposers In the meane time King Charles that slipt no advantage that close working might bring to passe having underhand sounded the affection of the Parisians and finding them wavering presuming by the Regents absence if he did but appeare before the walls to carry the City hee drew all his forces thither and used all possible meanes by escalado battery burning the gates and what else sudden invention guided by furious desire to carry it could effect but all to no purpose for such was the vigilant care and hardy resolution of the Commanders and souldiers in defending the same that the King whom a little fighting for his part would fill his stomacke sounded the retrait and with some losse but
Queen with the Duke of Somerset some few others taking with them the young Prince fled to the Bishoprick of Durham The King was taken and as a prisoner conveyed to London At their comming thither the Tower of London is yeelded unto the Earle of Warwicke by his souldiers the Lord Scales in disguised apparell endevoured to escape is taken by the Watermen and by them without due course of Law or orderly proceeding beheaded and his corps carelesly left upon the sands Tho Thorpe one of the Barons of the Exchequer upon whose advise the Lancastrians much relyed in the habit of a Monke his or owne shorne purposely to fly to the Queen is taken and committed prisoner to the Tower The Duke of York at this time being neither idle nor asleepe being advertised of this good successe leaveth Ireland and posts to London where by the advise and consent of the York faction he thought fit to discover the head of that ambitious serpent that hitherto had bin covered in the grasse of reformation and so that in the Kings name he summoneth a Parliament which being assembled in the presence of the Lords in the upper House he placeth himselfe in the Imperiall seate and with great courage and a confident brow hee layeth open his rightfull claime and Title to the Crowne of England as being the Sonne and heire of Anne Daughter and heire of Roger Mortimer Earle of March Son and heire of Philip the sole Daughter and heire of Lionell Duke of Clarence the third Son of Edward the third and elder Brother of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster Father of the usurper Henry the fourth grand Father to Henry the fift who was Father to him that untruly stileth himselfe King Henry the sixt He further related that God had not blessed this unlawfull usurpation for by meanes thereof the Common-wealth had suffered so many and so grievous calamities that had not God been the more mercifull the same had bin overwhelmed by the multitude and grievousnesse thereof that though Henry the fift had made many conquests in France and Normandy yet as of ill-gotten possessions his heire could not take any benefit by them And how much heaven is at this time offended with his government wee may well feare if wee but call to mind the cruell butchering of so many honourable great Lords in defence of his title abroad the slaughter of so many thousand of his loyall subjects in maintenance of his quarrell the inutterable exhaust of the treasure unnecessarily consumed in France Normandy and else-where The civil broiles at home the losse of all formerly got in France and those parts the losse occasioned by the excursion and depredations of the Scots and French And lastly the oppressions extortions and violence daily unsufferably practised by the tiranny of an insolently ambitious woman upon the meaner sort of people And then concluded that he craved no favour from them except that justice did warrant his claime nor would expect or desire the possession of the Crowne except his descent were undisputable and his Title without just exception and for his owne particular he presumed that since vertue might be as bold to challenge its due as vice is apt to borrow of insinuation he might without offence put in his claime and demand allowance thereof This being a businesse of import required deliberation and mature consideration but in conclusion the Duke having before hand by his agents prepared the Lords Spirituall and few of the Nobilitie present that were not on his part the Burgesses were easily perswaded and that was generally resolved and enacted accordingly That King Henry during his life should retaine the name and honour of a King That the Duke of Yorke should be proclaimed Heire apparant to the Crowne and the Protector of the Kings person his Land Dominions and Country That at any time any King Henryes Friends Allies or Favourites in his behalfe should attempt the disanulling of this act that then the Duke should have present possession of the Crowne No sooner was the Parliament dissolved when the Duke dispatcheth Letters into Scotland requiring in the Kings name the Queene the Dukes of Somerset and Exceter and all other of the Nobilitie that remained in that kingdome with all speed to repaire to his Presence to London But they were otherwise resolved And having gotten together of English and Scots to the number of eighteene thousand men they marched into England The Duke of Yorke with his younger Sonne the Earle of Rutland with the Earle of Salisbury leaving the King in the custodie of the Duke of Norfolk and the Earle of Warwicke marched towards the Queene and approaching neere her Army at Wakefield the Dukes Scowâ—…s being returned certified him that the enemy farre exceeded their power in number and all warlike preparation Whereupon the Earle of Salisbury advised the Duke to retire and attend the comming of the Earle of March who was gone into Wales to raise the Marchmen But it being appointed that here his ambitious desires should come to a period The pride of his former victory and overweening of his souldiers valours made him deafe to all counsell of forbearing the field and hastened on by his destiny from Sandall Castle hee marched to Wakefield greene where the Lord Clifford on the one side and the Earle of Wilts on the other were placed in ambuscado The Duke of Yorke supposing that the Duke of Somerset who had the battell had no more forces but what were with him valianly and in good order marcheth towards him but being entred within their danger the Ambushes on both sides broke out upon him and slew him and three thousand of his side the rest with number and confusion overborne fled the Earle of Salisbury is taken prisoner and harmelesse Rutland that came thither but to see fashions is made a sacrifice for his Fathers transgression and kneeling upon his knees instructed by his infant feares with teares begging life is unmercifully stabbed to the heart by the Lord Clifford in part of revenge as he sware of his Fathers death The Queene unwilling to bee behind hand in crueltie as unlike a mercifull woman as he an honourable gentleman in cold blood without due forme of tryall causeth the Earle of Salisbury and as many as were taken prisoners to bee beheaded at Pomfret Castle and to have their heads as it were in scorne to be placed on poles about the walls of the Citie of Yorke an incitement as it were to make all interessed in the shame to adde spurres to the speedy course of vindicative desires and to draw on revenge to the uttermost This Richard Nevill Earle of Salisbury was third Sonne of Ralph Nevill first Earle of Westmerland by Ioane his second wife Daughter of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster hee married Elianor Daughter and heire of Tho Montague Earle of Salisbury had issue foure Sons six daughters 1. Richard the eldest was restored and
Northerne men that long looked to have the ransacking of London came unto the gates and would have entred had not the Citizens valiantly repelled them and with the slaughter of some three or foure they were sent to carry word to the Campe that the Earle of March with a great Army was marching towards them neither was it a fiction For at Chipping-Norton by Cotsall the Earle of Warwicke having drawne together as many of his scattered troopes as hee could find met with the earle of March and his victorious troopes which being joyned they hasted towards London and were joyfully received upon the eight and twentieth day of Februarie and upon Sunday the second of March the Earle of Warwicke mustered all this Army in Saint Iohns fields and having cast them in a ring the Leader read unto them the agreement of the last Parliament and then demanded whether they would have King Henry to raigne still who all cryed No no then they were askt whether they would have the Earle of March eldest Sonne of the Duke of Yorke by that parliament proclaimed King to raigne over them and with a great clamour they cryed yea Then went there certaine Captaines and others of the Common Councell of the Citie to the Earle of March to Baynard Castle whom they acquainted with what was passed whereof hee expressed himselfe in some termes as unworthy of the place and unable to execute it yet hee thanked God for the gift and them for their good wills And by the advise of the Archbishop of Canterbury and theanimation of the Bishops of London Exceter and the Earle of Warwicke he resolved to take it upon him And the next morning he went in Procession at Pauls and offered there and after Te deum sung he was with great royalty conveyed to Westm. and there in the great Hall seated in the Kings seat with the Scepter of Saint Edward in his hand And then the people whereofthere was a great Concourse were alowd demanded if they would acknowledge him to bee their King to which with great willingnesse they cryed Yea yea Then taking homage of divers Noble men then present hee was with Procession and great State conveyed to the Abby there and placed in the Quier as King whilst Te deum was singing that done hee offered at Saint Edwards shryne and then returned by water to Pauls and was lodged in the Bishops Pallace Vpon the fourth of March hee was generally proclaimed King by the name of Edward the fourth THE LIFE AND RAIGNE OF KING EDVVARD THE FOVRTH EDWARD Earle of March borne at Roan in Normandy Sonne and Heire of Richard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke by Cecily Nevill Daughter of Ralph Earle of Westmerland and Ioane Daughter of Iohn of Gaunt by Lady Katherins Swinford upon the fourth day of March rode in State to the Church of Saint Paul in London and there made his Oblation And after Te Deum sung hee was with great solemnitie attended to Westminster and there being placed in the great Hall with the Scepter Royall in his hand before a confluence of people there assembled well knowing with what baite to angle to catch the many Hee makes a solemne declaration of his right to the Crowne of England challenging it to belong unto him by a double Title The first as Sonne and heire to Richard Duke of Yorke the rightfull Heire of the same The second as elected by Authority of Parliament upon King Henryes forfeit hereof Neverthelesse he was resolved to wave both Title and right by either except the people would willingly approve of his proceeding therein and lovingly allow of his Claime Whereupon it was againe publickly demanded of the assembly if they would unanimously admit and acknowledge the said Earle to bee their King and Soveraigne Lord whereupon all with one voice cryed Yea yea King Edward King Edward Thereupon hee went from thence to Westminster Abby and entred the same with solemne Procession and there as King offered and afterward by the name of Edward the Fourth was proclaimed King throughout the Citie of London In the meane time King Henry in the North was raising what powers hee could to stopthis Torrent But the Earle of March great in the favour of that great beast of many heads the multitude presuming of their ready willingnesse to assist him makes preparation to encounter King Henry To Edward resort men of all ages and condition the one making tender of their persons the other of their patrimonies to be spent at his devotion and for the support of his cause by which meanes he suddainly was furnished with a puissant and well accommodated army And being perswaded that no other meanes would serue for direction of his claime but the sword he resolued to set up his rest and by battaile to give a certaine determination to the question Vpon the twelfth of March his forces marched from London and by easie journeys came to Pomfret Castle where he rested and from thence the Lord Eitz-walter with some companies was sent by him to guard the passage at Ferry-brigg to stop the enemies approch that way King Henry likewise advanceth forward and sends his power under the conduct of the Duke of Somerset the Earle of Northumberland and the Lord Clifford Whilst himselfe Queene and sonne stay at Yorke The Lord Clifford very early on Palme Saterday in the morning with a troope of Northerne Prickers falls upon those that had the guard of the passage at Ferry-brig and defeated them with the slaughter of the Lord Fitzwalter and the bastard of Salisbury The Earle of Warwicke hearing of this defeate postes to the Earle of March his Campe and in his presence killing his horse said Sir I pray God have mercy on their soules which in the beginning of your enterprise have for your love lost there lives The enemie hath won the passage at Ferrybrigg There is no hope now but in God yet let him flye that will flye when kissing the Crosse of his sword he sayd by this good signe I will stand by him that will stand by me fall backe fall edge The Earle of March no whit amated but somewhat moved with Warwicks resolution presently made Proclamation that all such of his company as were unwilling to stay or afraid to fight should at their pleasure depart But to those that would abide he promised good reward Adding withall that if any that stayed should after turne his backe or flee That he that should kill such a Changeling should have double pay Then gave he order to the Lord Fauconbridge and Sir Walter Blunt to lead on the Vowarde who in their March about Dindingdale encountred with the Lord Clifford who formerly in cold blood had slaugtered the young Earle of Rutland him with Iohn Lord Nevill sonne and heire of the Earle of Westmerland they slew with most of their companies putting the rest to flight The next day likewise the Duke of Norfolke being dangerously sicke
perswaded to yeeld consent to part with her child hee presented the innocent Babe unto them of whom the Protector had no sooner taken a glimpse when with all ceremonious reverence hee ariseth and embraceth him in this armes vowing with affectionate protestations that nothing next the welfare of his Soveraigne which hee esteemed above all earthly things brought him more content then his Nephew of Yorke wisht for Presence and then Judas-like kissing his cheeke hee takes leave of the borde and presently conducteth him to the King his Brother who with joyfull heart and great affection entertained him which was by so much the more to be esteemed by how much it was unfayned The Protector now having the game hee hunted in his owne toyles under pretext of provident care that they might securely repose themselves untill the distempers of the Common-wealth wherof himselfe only 〈◊〉 actor and author might bee quieted he causeth them within few dayes in great pompe and state to bee conveyed thorow London to the Tower there at pleasure to remaine untill the time of the Coronation towards which there was great show of preparation made The Protectors machinations could not well worke by themselves they must have assistance hee wanted Achitophel The Duke of Buckingham whose authoritie and power did beare a great sway amongst the Courtiers must cunningly be drawne to his bent To which purpose hee proposed to him that whereas he had beene formerly an earnest Petitioner to King Edward the fourth his brother-in-law for the Earldome of Hertford whereunto it did appeare the Duke to have a good Title yet hee could never attaine it yet now if hee would bee constant and joyne hand in hand with him hee would put him in a way whereby to bee assured to obtaine it And so upon faithfull promise to procure Buckingham to bee estated in that Earledome and of a match to bee concluded betwixt their issue and an equall partition of the treasure of the Crowne betwixt them two for performance whereof the Protectors oathes are not wanting Buckingham is not only drawne to condescend but is most forward to contrive and plot stratagems and the best courses to compasse the worst of ill effects which was by depriving their innocent Nephews for Glocester was Vncle by the Fathers side and Buckingham by the marriage of their Fathers Sister of their right and livelyhood and some others of their lives to make the Protector a more facile passage to lay hold on the Crowne The Protector having purchased so true a partner of his ambitious designes well knowing it was no good pollicy to play the villaine by halfe-deale is resolved to suffer never a rubbe to lye in the way that might hinder the true running of his bowle And having a farre off sounded the Lord Hastings and finding him so constant to the King his old Masters Sonnes that nothing could withdraw him from doing them true service hee himselfe must bee removed out of the way the effecting whereof was none of the least straines of pollicie for hee must not yet bee meddled with untill by his nayle the nayles of his Antagonists the Queenes Brother and Sonnes by Sir John Gray her former husband bee driven out the compassing whereof was meerely Hastings his share But no sooner was the engine up by his device that should make them headlesse but by Buckinghams device Hastings himselfe is brought to his blocke All the Lords of the Privie Councell are in the Protectors name generally convoked to the Tower where at the Councell table fitting preparations for the speedy Coronation of the young King are proposed and other like businesse wherewith to amuse the Lords and entertaine time untill the Protector came in who excusing himselfe for having overslept himselfe that morning taking his Chaire very affably saluted them merrily jesting with some and more then ordinarily pleasant with them all But on a sudden he framed an excuse for his present absence leaving them in the meane-time somewhat to conferre upon untill his returne which hee promised should be very speedily hee so went out of the Chamber Within the space of an houre hee returned but the wind was turned his affable countenance and familiar language are changed into distracted lookes and much show of inward perturbation which with sighing and other passionate gestures hee expressed to the uttermost After long silence the better to prepare them to the more attention hee confusedly interrogates what they deserved that had nefariously practised his destruction being of the blood royall Vncle to the King and Protector of his person This unexpected interrogation in that strange manner urged strooke such an amazement amongst the Lords that they all stood gazing one on another as if the Protectors speeches had had the vertue of Medusaes head At length the Lord Hastings by Buckinghams instigation and presuming of his as he thought more then ordinary intimacie with the Protector and the innocencie of his owne conscience boldly answered That they deserved to undergoe the punishment of Traitours whatsoever they were which the rest by their silence approved with that the Protector riseth up from his seate with a sterne looke upon Hastings replied why it is the old sorceresse my brothers Widow and her partner that common strumpet Jane Shore that have by incantation conspired to bereave mee of my life And had I not by Gods great mercy happily come to the discovery of their practises and found out the plot they had effected their villanie before suspected Yet have I not altogether escaped free from their malice for behold and then hee bared his left arme to the elbow and showed it how mischievously they have caused this deere lim of mine to wither grow uslesse and thus should all my body have bin served if they might have had their will and a little longer space Those to whom the Queenes religious courses and Christian condition were not unknowne and were not altogether ignorant to what hard shifts the Protector was driven that could provide no other colour for his accusation but the showing of his late discoloured arme the defect whereof all knew that knew him had bin as it was ever since his birth and the coupling of his Queene sister and his Brothers Concubine in one and the same plot of conspiracie against him betweene whom there was such an antipathy of disposition was the occasion that the Lords at his first speech so now sate gazing one upon the other untill the Lord Hastings though not well pleased that he was not aswell made privie to this intended stratagem as with that day es conclusion to have the Queenes Brother Sonne and Allyes to bee executed at Pomfret willing out of malignitie to her to helpe forward the accusation against the Queene but with some pretext to extenuate the aspersion cast upon his Paramore Mistris Shoare whom ever since the death of the King he had entertained for his bedfellow and had but that morning parted from her with a
sober looke submisly said If the Queene have conspired which word was no sooner out of the Chamberlaines mouth when the Protector in great show of choler clapping his fist upon the borde frowning looking upon him said tellest thou mee of if and and I tell thee they and none but they have done it and thou thy selfe art not only acquainted with but partaker of the villany and that I will make good upon thy body And there with upon a watch-word given those prepared before for that purpose in the outer chamber cryed Treason treason wherewith a great number of men in arms came rushing in as it were the guard to the Protector one of which with a Pollax strooke a maine blow at the Lord Strange and wounded him on the head and had slaine him outright had bee not to avoid the stroke slipt backward and falne downe upon the ground Forthwith the Protector arrested the Lord Hastings of high Treason and wisht him to make hast to bee Confessed for hee sware by Saint Paul his usuall oath That hee would not touch bread or drinke untill hee had his head from his shoulders Hastings calling to mind his last nights dreames his solicitations that morning by his sweet Mistris from either trusting the Bore or that day to bee at the Councell borde the speeches that had past betwixt the Lord Stanley and him in riding together and the ominous predictions of ill speed by the often stumbling of his horse and such old peoples observations hee was easily perswaded to give credit to what the Protector had sworne yet being about to say somewhat hee was presently hurried away and lest hee should have beene too long at shrift or therein might discover what hee knew which though it were not much yet it was more then the Protector would have willingly knowne lest the world might bee acquainted with his villany he was upon the next Timber-log they were at though layd there for a better use beheaded on the greene neere the Chappell of the Tower So absolute was the Protectors progresse in policy that incited Hastings on to plot the death of Earle Rivers the Lord Gray and the rest of the Queenes kinred at Pomfret on the same day whereon Buckingham by the like traine had plotted to make him headlesse And that there might seeme some ground for what was done The Lords grace of Canterbury the Bishop of Ely the Lord Stanley and divers others were presently clapt Prisoners in sundry holds of the Tower And for a further colourable glosse of this so plaine a text Divers Citizens of London prepared before to give credit to whatsoever rumour should bee set abroach are sent for with all speed to come with what forces and power they could drawe together to the Tower to the Protector who is pretended and so it was generally bruited abroad assoone as ever the Lords were entred within the Tower gates to bee in great jeopardie occasioned by a plot of treason contrived against him by the late Lord Chamberlaine and others his complices And to countenance the rumour somewhat the more at the approach of such friends whom the Protector had sent for and who to purchase his custome or procure his countenance would goe beyond the losse of a limme hee together with the Duke of Buckingham covered in rustie and unfashionable armour present themselves to their view pretending the hast and the appropinquitie of the perill would not permit them to stay for provision of better And then with a counterfeit show of great perturbation the Protector told them How the Lord Hastings by the contrivance and instigation of his late Brothers Wife and Concubine Iane Shore had well-nie entrapped my good cousin pointing to Buckingham and my selfe for suddenly they resolved to have destroyed vs as wee sate at Councell table this morning and notwithstanding the happy discovery thereof yet the uncertainty of the number or qualitie of the confederates enforced us to prevent the mischiefe and preserve the King who what the Traitours intended against him was uncertaine in safetie to runne an unusuall but no unlawfull course against the said Lord Hastings considering the necessitie of the time and their so eminent danger And without orderly Triall which as now was needlesse in regard hee was taken in the manner and presumed to have beene reskued if execution had beene deferred instantly to have him beheaded Then the Protector heartily thanked the Londoners great love and paines whereby they did expresse their readinesse to bring him succour so opportunely desiring them to acquaint their neighbours with what had passed and so dismissed them but with them sent an Harrold at armes with a Proclamation which for the length and faire writing in a set hand in Parchment to all of judgement did appeare to bee prepared long before the intimated offences against the Lord Hastings therein so fully expressed were either knowne or suspected This Proclamation in the Kings name was publikely made the Maior and the Sheriffs present in all places usuall wherewith howsoever the vulgar seemed satisfied which seldome understand the truth of State matters and are carried away more with opinion then judgement yet those of more understanding did not forbeare publikely to say that the Proclamation was dictated by divination and ingrossed by sorcery Presently upon this Jane Shores lodgings are searched narrowly and ransacked throughly and to the valew of three thousand Markes in Iewells Plate Money and houshold-stuffe and all that ever shee had seized to the Kings use and put under safe custodie shee her selfe is committed to straight Prison The crime laid to her charge was witchcraft pretended to bee wrought against the Protectors person which when neither by subordination suggestion testimonie colour or inference could bee made good against her yet that somewhat might bee done that might bee a meanes to make her obnoxious to the tongues of the multitude The staine of incontinence is laid to her charge and for that only by the Bishop of Londons Officiall shee is adjudged to open penance which shee underwent with that deportment and well-becomming countenance that it strooke malice blind and drew pitie from all the beholders so that they that hated her course of former life and were well pleased to see vice â—…o corrected tooke commiseration of her punishment when they had considered that it was procured by the Protector more upon old malice then new matter rather to worke his private revenge then her reformation But this thus done was left to bee the subject of the peoples discourse as but the bye The maine was of more consequence which must carefully bee expedited During these transactions all the Nobilitie that were at libertie were suspicious one of another and few or none could imagine any 〈◊〉 grounds for suspect being altogether ignorant of what the Protector aymed at In the meane time hee with glozing termes sprinkled Court holy-water amongst all and secret promises of preferment to those whose power and will to
more strong in King Stephen then they are now in the Duke of Lancaster for King Henry the first being at libertie neither restrained nor constrained the people assented to this designement and thereupon without feare or force he was annointed and crowned King Yet Henry Fitzempresse having a neerer right to the Crowne by his Mother notwithstanding his Father was a stranger and hee borne beyond the Seas never ceased the prosecution of bloody warres to the great effusion of blood and spoyling the Countrey untill his lawfull inheritance was assured him It terrifieth mee but to thinke how many flourishing kingdomes have beene by such contentions either rent by intestine division or subdued to forraine Princes under pretence of assistance and aide This Kingdome hath had too wofull experience of these severall mischieves and yet neither examples of other Countries or miseries of our owne are sufficient to make us bee wary Certainly I feare it will betide us as it did to Esops Frogges who being desirous to have a King had a beame given them the first fall whereof affrighted them but when they saw it lie still they contemptuously insulted thereon and desired a King of more active spirit Then a Storcke was sent them which stalking amongst them daily devoured them King Richards mildnesse hath bred in us this scorne interpreting it to bee cowardise and dulnesse of nature I dare not say yet give mee leave to suspect with greater courage wee may finde greater crueltie And thus have I declared my opinion with more words you may perhaps conjecture then wisdome yet fewer then the waight of the cause doth require and I doe resolutely conclude that wee have neither power nor pollicie either to Depose King Richard or in his place to Elect Duke Henry That King Richard remaineth still our Soveraigne Lord and therefore it is not lawfull for us to give judgement against him That the Duke whom you are pleased to stile King hath more transgressed the King and Realme then Richard hath done either against him or us For hee being banished the Realme for tenne yeares by the King and Councell amongst whom his owne Father was chiefe and given oath not to returne without speciall licence Hee hath not only broken his oath but disturbed the peace of the Land dispossessed the King of his Royall estate and now demandeth judgement against his person without offence proved or defence heard if this perjurie and this injury move not yet let both our private and publike dangers somewhat withdrawe us from these violent proceedings This speech was diversly taken as mens affections were diversly hurried betwixt hope feare and shame but the most part did seeme to stand for Duke Henry Whereupon the Bishop was attached by the Earle Marshall and committed to the keeping of the Abbot of Westminster but presently after to Prison in the Abby of Saint Albones His Counsell and conjecture then contemned was after approved of when too late both in the Kings time during whose raigne no yeare passed without slaughter and executions but more in the time succeeding when within the space of thirty sixe yeares twelve set battells upon this quarrell were fought within the Realme by natives only and above fourescore Princes of the blood Royall fell by each others sword It was concluded notwithstanding what the Bishop had spoken that King Richard should bee kept in a large Prison with all manner of Princely maintenance And if any should attempt to rere warre for his deliverance that hee should bee the first man should suffer for that attempt The Acts of Parliament of the eleventh yeare of King Richard were revived and those of the one and twentieth wholly repealed and all in that Parliament attainted were restored to their Titles and inheritances without suing livery And also to such goods whereof the King had not beene answered except the rents and issues of their lands Hereupon Richard Earle of Warwicke is delivered out of prison and the Earle of Arundels sonne restored to his inheritance others also that stood banished or were in prison recovered their libertie and estate it was enacted that none that came with Henry against Richard should bee impeached or troubled To the Earle of Westmerland the King gave the Countie of Richmond to the Earle of Northumberland the Isle of Man to hold of him by the service of bearing the Sword wherewith hee entred into this Kingdome before him Divers others his followers hee advanced to places of highest note some for desert but most to win their favour and perhaps projecting a plot for partakers if times should change For in many actions men take more care to prevent revenge then to lead an innocent life It is likewise ordered that the plotters and procurers of the Duke of Glocesters murther should bee strictly enquired after and severely punished And judgement was given against the Appellants of the Earles of Warwick and Arundel and that the Dukes of Aumerles Sussex and Exceter the Marquesse Dorset and the Earle of Glocester who were there present should lose their Titles of Honour and forfeit their estate in all the lands they had which was formerly belonging to the Appellees and that all their Letters patents concerning the same should bee surrendred into the Chancery to bee cancelled and for their owne inheritance to bee at the mercy of the King That they should give no Liveries to retainers nor keepe more then should bee necessary That if any of them did adhere or assist the Deposed King Richard against the Decree of his Deposition That they should suffer as in high treason And for that many of the common people did murmure That many the Officers had grievously extorted either by connivency or secret support of the Lords those Officers were removed and the corruption purged Then were Proclamations made that if any man had by strong hand beene oppressed by any of the Lords or by any under-officers to them beene wronged or abused his complaint proved the delinquent should give him plenary recompence The execution of these Nobles was much questioned The importunitie of the people and the perswasions of many great ones drew that way but pollicie was against it especially the opinion of Clemency which seemed needfull in a new not well settled estate In this Parliament the Lord Fitzwater appealed the Duke of Aumerle upon points of high Treason the like did the Lord Morley to the Earle of Salisbury and above twentie Appellants more gaged battell but the King purposing to lay the foundation of his government by favour and not by force gave pardon and restitution alike to all upon securitie for their allegiance and moderately admonished and as it were intreated the one part that old griefes and grudges should not bee renewed but altogether buried The other part hee desired to bee afterwards more circumspect of their actions and for the time past rather to forget they ever were in fault then to remember that they were pardoned No punishment was
Garter and sate in their Stalles at the solemnitie of the Feast The Emperour after the departure of the Duke stayed to mediate a peace betweene England and France which the King being advertized of the hard escape of his men in Normandy would not listen unto Neverthelesse the Emperour very politickly awaited his time where to take his best hint to perswade an agreement which might fortunately have beene found had not newes come of the besieging of Harflue so all was dasht The new Constable with a great power suddenly clapt downe before the Towne when the Viceadmirall of France brought up the whole Navy with intent whilst the Constable should assaile it by land to have entred the Towne by the water side But the Duke of Exceter defended the Towne valiantly by whose valour and indefatigable diligence they were defeated of their expectation King Henry in person was preparing to Sea with all speed but being by the Emperour disswaded he sent his Brother the Duke of Bedford accompanied with the Earles of March Oxford Huntington Warwicke Arundel Salisbury Devonshire and divers Lords and Barons with two hundred sayles to the reskue of Harflue they made sayle for Rye and not without some crosses at Sea upon the feast day of the Assumption of our Lady came to the mouth of the river Seyne Vpon notice of the approach of the English Navy Narbon set forward and got the mouth of the Haven The Duke sent before his strongest Ships two French Ships advancing too forward were layd aboard and taken The fight was continued and resolutely maintained untill the English having sunke five hundred vessels one and other and taken three great Carricks of Genoa wonne the harbour and notwithstanding some opposition made by the Gallies which had the advantage with oares to runne out of the reach of the Artillery of the English they relieved Harflue Vpon notice hereof the Duke of Arminacke raysed his siege and departed to Paris leaving somewhat more then a little provision of amunition behind him which they of Harflue tooke and stowed up for them The Duke of Bedford having finished what hee came about returned to the King who with the Emperour gave him great but no more then deserved commendation Whilst these broyles were honourably managed abroad two too uxorious husbands the Lord Strange and Sir Iohn Trussell of Warmingham in Cheshire who had married the Daughter of Sir Iohn Strange most dishonourably fought in maintaining their wives folly forgetfully striving for place at a Sermon in Saint Dunstons Church in the East by occasion whereof there was much partaking on both sides whereby the Congregation was much disturbed a great tumult raysed some slaughter and more bloodshed done the delinquents were committed to the Counter the Church suspended and upon examination the Lord Strange was found guiltie and by the Archbishop of Canterbury adjudged to penance which was thus performed all the Lords servants in their Shirts from Saint Pauls Church where the sentence was given followed the Parson of Saint Dunstons after them the Lord bare-headed with a waxe Taper in his hand the Lady bare-footed the Archdeacon Reignold Renwood following last went to Saint Dunstons in the East where at the rehallowing thereof the Lady filled all the vessells with water and according to the sentence shee offered to the Altar an Ornament of the value of tenne pounds and the Lord a Pixe of silver of five pounds There was then belike in use no commutation of penance Surely I am perswaded that if they might have bought out their penance for money they would have trebled their offerings I could wish that such severitie of discipline might now bee practised against such delinquents wee should then have devotion with more humilitie and lesse striving for places in the Church The Emperour desisteth from further mediation of peace with France and entreth in a League defensive and offensive with King Henry wherein only the Pope is excepted which concluded upon the the nineteenth of October Anno 1416. hee returned towards Germany King Henry accompanied him to Callice whither the Duke of Burgondy came to confirme the League concluded onbefore by the Earle of Warwicke and other the Kings Embassadours and him concerning Flaunders and Arthoyes only from Midsommer 1416. untill Michaelmasse following where it was prolonged further till Michaelmasse 1419. which gave occasion of suspition to France that the Duke was no firme friend of theirs The Emperour takes his journey to Holland the Duke returnes to Graveling and King Henry to Dover where he landed on Saint Lukes Eeve upon his arrivall hee sent new Embassadours viz. the Earle of Warwicke the Bishops of Salisbury Bath and Hereford the Abbot of Westminster and the Pryor of Worcester to the Councell of Constance whither the Emperour in person likewise went in this Councell it was decreed that England should have the title of the English nation and should-bee accounted one of the five principall Nations which often before had beene moved but never granted till then and herein were all Wickliffes positions condemned At this Councell the Antipope Iohn was prescribed and all his goods and Treasure amounting to the summe of 750000. were seized The Parliament by reason of the Emperours being in the Land prorogued began againe the nineteenth of October wherein towards the prosecution of warres in France was voluntarily granted unto the King from the Clergie two whole tenthes and from the Laitie a whole Fifteene In this Parliament during the Kings absence Iohn Duke of Bedford was made regent of the Realme having out of the Kings coffers allowance of one thousand pounds per annum and fourty pounds a year out of the fee farme of Exceter Whilst King Henry is preparing for invasion the French-men had waged divers Carricks and other great Ships of the Genoaes and Italians which jpyning with the French fleet lay at the mouth of the River of Seyne under the command of Iaques Bastard of Burbon to barre all succour from Harflew Iohn Earle of Huntington Son to the Duke of Exceter beheaded at Ciceter is sent to Sea to skowre the Coasts who encountring with the Bastard Burbon after a long fight took the said Bastard three of his great Carricks with all the money for the halfe yeares pay for the fleet and bowged three other Carricks and dispersing the rest cleered the mouth of Seyne and returned to the King at Southamton And upon the 23. of Iuly the King with the Dukes of Clarence and Glocester the Earles of Huntington Warwicke Devonshire Salisbury Suffolke and Somerset The Lords Rosse Willoughby Fitzhugh Clynton Scroope Matrevers Bourcher Ferrers of Groby and Ferrers of Chartley Fanhope Gray of Codnor Sir Gilbert Vmphrevile Sir Gilbert Talbot and a brave well-furnished Army from Portsmouth tooke shipping and upon the first of August landed in Normandy neere to the Castle of Foncke The Kings Army consisted of five and twentie thousand five hundred and eight and twenty fighting
friendship is sworn and confirmed betwixt them by the marriage of the Duke of Burgoines Neece Mary of Cleurs to the Duke of Orleance which justifies the Proverbe The best meanes to vanquish an enemie is to doe him all the good you can The Regent divided his Forces into three parts hee sent the Lord Willoughby into Amyens the Lord Talbot to Deep and himselfe with the Duke of Somerset went into the Dutchie of Anion The Lord Willoughby made such speed that hee tooke many prisoners before they could get to any place of defence but presently the garrisons drawne together and make opposition but they are defeated and six hundred men of armes slaine such as escaped fell into the hands of the Earle of Saint Paul who was comming to the aide of the Lord Willoughby The Regent returneth with a great prey to Normandy whither Willoughby likewise commeth But the Duke of Somerset re-entreth the Marches of Britaine and tooke la Gearch by assault from thence hee marches to Ponsay The Marshall Loach intended to have surprized the Duke of Somerset in his Tents but the Duke to prevent that hazard meets him halfe way and chargeth so suddenly and soundly that the Marshall is rowted and threescore and two of his men are taken Prisoners then hee marched and tooke the Towne of Beamond and having manned all fitting places upon the Frontiers laden with rich spoyle he returneth The Lord Willoughby had entrenched himselfe round Deipe and built a Bastile upon Mount Pawlet which did much annoy the besieged But wanting amunition and supplies of men hee left his naturall Sonne to prosecute the siege himselfe posting to Roan The Dolphin with sixteene thousand men commeth to raise the siege and three dayes together plye the Bastile with assaults but could not carry it untill shot and powder fayling they were overpressed with multitude and young Talbot is taken prisoner with Sir Iohn Peyto and Sir Iohn Repley all which were shortly redeemed by exchange The rest of the souldiers seeing the Bastile wonne stood in armes all day but the enemy not over-willing to doe too much and they as willing to give way not being able to cope in the darke of night they retired to Roan The Earle of Saint Paul forsakes the English and is reconciled to France The English besieged Tartus for the raysing whereof the French King marcheth downe threescore thousand strong and relieveth the Towne and from thence marcheth to Saueryne which hee taketh in and therein Sir Iohn Rampston prisoner Then tooke hee in Arques the Captaine with all the souldiers by composition withdrawe to Burdeux The English cut off all convoyes of victuals from comming to the King for want whereof the King is driven to returne after whose departure the English reduce all that the King of France had taken and take his Lieutenant prisoner slaying or hanging all his souldiers The Lord Talbot this while taketh in Conquet and driveth the Bastard of Orleance from the siege of Galiordon The French in the Castle of Cornill detained many English prisoners Sir Francis the Aragonist apparelleth halfe a dozen lusty fellowes like Pesants carrying baskets with corne and victuals and sends them to the Castle hee with his company lye in ambush in a valley neere the Castle the six unsuspected are admitted and comming to the Captaines chamber seize upon him and give the signall to the ambush who came readily on entred the Castle put the souldiers to the sword and set the prisoners at liberty burnt downe the Castle and with the Captaine and the booty of the Castle returned to Roan Whilst thus the ball of warre was by the English honourably tost from one end to the other in the tennis court of France The divell and his ministers sowe the seeds of unnaturall sedition betweene the two brothers in England the one seeking by a legall course the reformation the other the ruine of a brother The Protector articles against the Cardinall for too ambitiously affecting preheminence to the derogation of the Kings prerogative and contempt of his lawes these Articles are delivered to the King and by the King to bee maturely examined by them to his Councell who being most of the Clergie and not daring to give occasion of offence to the Cardinall leave them unmedled withall whilst the Lady Elianor Cobham the Dukes Wife by the Cardinalls plot is accused of treason by sorcery and Witchcraft to have intended the overthrow of the King and advancement of her husband to the Crowne for this howsoever shee was acquitted of the treason shee is adjudged open Penance and perpetuall imprisonment in the Isle of Man Thomas Southwell Iohn Hun Priests Roger Bullingbrooke a supposed Necromancer and Margery Iourden stiled the Witch of Eley are arraigned for devising of a picture of Waxe to be made in proportion of the King which by their Sorcery they should make to consume and so accordingly should the Kings body for this they are condemned the Witch was burnt in Smithfield Bullingbrooke was hanged constantly affirming upon his death that there never was any such thing devised or thought of by them neither at any time was more desired of from him by the Dutchesse or any other from her but if hee could by his Art find out how long the King should live Iohn Hun had his pardon and Southwell died the night before hee should have beene executed The Duke of Glocester silently sees what speech could not amend undergoes all these affronts with patience attending equall distribution of Iustice as it had past on his forgetfull Wife so it might passe on his unnaturall brother the Archbishop But the Cardinall by his orall sanctitie and mentall impurity had so bewitched the King and those of the Church of his Councell that the good Duke hoped in vaine The Duke of Yorke hath a Sonne borne at Roane in Normandy and Christened there by the name of Edward The Countesse of Camings being dead the King of France and the Earle of Arminacke are Competitors for the inheritance The Earle takes ' possession but doubting and not without cause That the King of France would not be pleased to take a Rowland for an Oliver makes offer to the King of England of his Daughter in marriage and besides a large portion in money with her to deliver over full possession of all such Townes and Castles as were by him or his Ancestors detained in Aquitaine and had beene formerly by the Progenitors of the King of England conquered or by the King of France to any of them given And further to furnish the King with money sufficient to recover all or whatsoever was with-held from him there by any person whatsoever The Embassadors for this businesse were by the King of England graciously heard and honourably returned after whom were sent Sir Edward Hall Sir Robert Rose and others to conclude all things and by proxcie the young Lady is affiranced to King Henry The King of
to whom that place was assigned Fauconbridge and Blunt continue the leading of the vantguard And on Palme-Sunday by breake of day they came to Saxton from whence they made a full survay of King Henryes army and certified the Earle of March that the enemie was threescore thousand strong whereupon a second Proclamation was made through the Campe That no quarter should be kept nor prisoner taken a Course more savoring of policie then Religion yet by so much the more excusable by how much his number was so far short of his adversarie The armies being both in sight The Lord Fauconbridge gave direction to the bowmen upon a signall by him to be given to shoot every man a flight arrow for that purpose provided and then to fall backe three strides and stand which they accordingly did The Notherne men hereupon plied their bowes untill their sheaves were empty But all their arrowes fell short of the marke and turned to their owne disadvantage For their arrowes being spent hasting to ioyne to come to hand-blowes Their owne arrowes did themselves much hurt that had done the adversary no harme at all The works of those sticking galling their shinnes and the splinters of those broken piercing their feete whilst the Southerne men shot at their bodyes as if they had beene shooting at butts policy prevailing beyond strength Ten houres in doubtfull termes of victory The battaile continued when the Earle of Northumberland being slaine with the Lords Beamond Gray Dacres The Earles of Exceter and Somerset fled left the conquest to the Earle of March but the bloodiest that ever England felt for on that day fell there thirty six thousand seven hundred threescore and sixteene persons besides those that dyed of the hurts then received all of one nation no prisoners being taken but the Earle of Devon This Henry Earle of Northumberland now slaine was the third Earle of the familie of Peircyes he married Elianor Daughter and heire of Richard Lord Poyning by whom he had issue Henry that succeeded him in the Earldome and three daughters Elizabeth married to Henry Lord Scroope 2 Elianor married to West Lord Laware 3 Margaret married to Sir William Gascoyne The victor hasts to Yorke where he is readily admitted entrance when presently he causeth The heads of his father and his friends to be taken downe and buried with their bodyes setting in their places the heads of the Earle of Devon and three others there then executed This Earle of Devon was Thomas the xvi Earle and Lord of Ockhampton he married Margaret daughter of Iohn Beawford Earle of Somerset by whom he had issue three sonnes and two daughters Thomas who was taken with his father and presently by reason of the Proclamation slaine Henry the second sonne who was after beheaded at Salisbury and Iohn who was after slaine at Tewkesbury The father and the three sonnes with the losse of their best bloods witnessing their true affection to the house of Lancaster Iohan his eldest daughter was married to Sir Roger Clifford Knight and Elizabeth was married to Sir Hugh Courtney Knight The Earle of Somerset being the messenger of the late overthrow perswades and prevailes with King Henry his Queene and sonne from Yorke to flye to Barwicke where leaving the Earle of Somerset they slye further for succour to the King of Scots who comforteth them with promise of reliefe but maketh a sure bargaine and receiveth in liewe of a pension to be assigned to King Henry during his aboad there from him upon Saint Markes day the Towne and Castle of Barwick to such poore shifts was this potent King driven to pawne his best fortresse for bare food Queene Margaret and her sonne are sent to France to labour there whilst those that stayed with the King himselfe being onely intentive to devotion fayled not to solicite friends and make preparation for a second encounter The Queene upon her arrivall obtayned of Lewis the eleventh her Cousin that those of the house of Yorkes favorites were prohibted trafficke or stay in the French Kings dominions But all such as loved the Lancastrian line were permitted freely In triumphant manner the Earle of March commeth to London where he is by the Maior and Citizens gloriously entertained being by them upon the xxvi day of Iune from Lambeth attended to the Tower of London who upon his first entrance therein invested foure and twentie with order of Knighthood and upon the next day he did the like to foure more Vpon the xxviii day of Iune he rode through London from the Tower to Westminster where he was Crowned in the Abby there A Parliament is summoned which began at VVestminster upon the fourth of November in which all acts of Henry the sixt formerly made which might see me any way preiudiciall to Edw. title or profit were repealed And therein Iohn Earle of Oxford a learned valiant wise man he who in a former Parliament disputed the question concerning the precedency betweene the temporall and spirituall Barones a bold attempt in those dayes and by force of whose arguments iudgment was given for the Lords temporall with his sonne Aubry de Vere Sir Thomas Tiddenham Kinght William Terrill and VValter Mongomery Esquires were without answer convict of Treason and beheaded This Iohn Earle of Oxford married Elizabeth the daughter and heire of Sir Iohn Howard and had issue five sonnes and three daughters 1 Aubry de Vere beheaded with his father 2 Iohn de Vere that succeeded in the Earledome 3 George Vere Knight that died living his father 4 Richard Vere and 5 Thomas Vere Knights 1 Mary a profest Nunne at Barking in Essex 2 Ioan married to Sir VVilliam Norris and 3 Elizabeth married to VVilliam Bourcheir sonne and heire of Henry Bourcheir Earle of Essex King Edward to encourage others to obtaine like favour by well deserving at his hands after that he had created his two younger brethren George and Richard the one Duke of Clarence the other Duke of Glocester he maketh Iohn Lord Nevill first Vicount then Marquesse Mountacute Henry Bourcheir whose brother was Archbishop of Canterbury Earle of Essex and VVilliam Lord Fauconbridg Earle of Kent enobling many others with dignities and honorable titles To hansell their new Honors Essex and Kent with the Lord Audley and divers other of the nobility with ten thousand souldiers are sent to skowre the narrow Seas these land in Britaine and by force enter the Towne of Conquet and the Isle of Ree which having pillaged and the Coasts cleered they returne Henry Duke of Somerset Sir Ralph Peircy with some others come in and submit themselues to King Edwards mercy who gratiously receiveth and entertaineth them protesting his propension of free pardoning them and as many others as would follow their example of submission The distressed Queene with five hundred French a small stake to play an aftergame of Reputation with came to the Coasts of Scotland and from thence sailes to Timmothe where
and was buried at Windsor He was sayth Sir Thomas More of goodly personage and Princely aspect couragions in heart politicke in counsel not much amated in adversitie and rather joyfull then proud in prosperity In war fierce and resolute in the field active and valiant never ventrous beyond reason nor forward beyond discretion in peace for the most part just and mercifull of comely countenance of body strong and straight but in his latter dayes with ease and overliberall diet somewhat enclining to corpulency but far from uncomelinesse In his youthfull yeares he was a little too too much fleshly given from which without the more grace of God youth in health is hardly restrained This fault could not greatly grieve the subject for neither could one mans pleasure displease all if it be done without rape or violence neither is it permanent for he that is most salacious in youth if he will not leave it in older yeares it will leave him He kept his subjects not in a constrained feare but in a willing obedience labouring by all meanes to keepe them at peace amongst themselves reconciling all differences amongst the nobility whereof he had notice with which he concluded the last scene of this lives act Hee had issue by Elizabeth his wife Edward his eldest sonne borne the 4. of November 1471. in the Sanctuary at Westminster Richard borne at Shrewsbury murdred with his brother in the Tower George borne at Shrewsbury who died young Elizabeth borne at Westminster 11. of Febr. 1466. shee was promised in marriage to Charles the Dolphyn of France but deceived courted by her unnaturall vncle the usurper but deluded but afterwards happily married to Henry the vij Cicely treated to be espoused to the Prince of Scotland but used like her sister she was afterward first married to Iohn Vicount Wells whom she supervived and tooke for a second husband one Ryme of Lincolnshire but dyed without issue Anne married to Sir Thomas Howard Duke of Norfolk but dyed without issue living Bridget lived a professed Nun at Darford Mary who was cōtracted to the K. of Denmark but died before consumation Margaret who dyed in her infancy Katherin who was married to William Courtney Earle of Devon who had issue by him Henry afterwards Marquesse of Exceter Besides these legitimate he had two naturall children Arthur Plantagenet begotten of the body of Elizabeth Lucy married to Elizabeth sister and heire of Iohn Vicount Lisley by whom he had issue three daughters which all had issue 1 Bridget married to Sir William Cardan Knight 2 Francis first married to Iohn Basset then to Thomas Monck of Devon 3 Elizabeth married to Sir Iohn Iephson knight Elizabeth begotten of the body of Beatrix the Lady Anguish was married to Sir Thomas Lumley and by him had issue Richard Lord Lulmey and George Lumley The King the night before his death having before observed some discourteous passages to have gone betwixt the kindred of his Queene and some of the nobles but principally between the Queene and the Lord Chamberlaine for women that have beene widdowes Commonly maligne them most whom their husbands esteeme much of not out of malice but nature caused them all to come to his bed side to whom he sayd holding the Queene by the hand My Lords deere kinsmen and allies in what plight I lye you may discerne but I feele wherfore the lesse while I looke to live with you the more deeply I am moved to be carefull in what case I shall leave you For I am confident such as I leave you my children shall find you And if as God forbid they should find you at variance They may unhappely fall at jar themselves before they have capability of discreation to set attonement betweene you You see the tendernesse of their yeares The onely securitie therefore of their well being must consist in your concord For it sufficeth not if all of you respectively affect them if any of you stomacke the other if they were men your integritie happily might be sufficient But childhood must be refulcitated by wise mens authoritie And slippery youth underpropped with elder Counsel neither of which they can have except you give it neither can you give it unlesse you accord together For when each laboureth to pluck downe what another setteth up and for hatred to each others person impugneth each others Counsel it must be long before any good conclusion goe forward And whilst each laboureth for superioritie Flattery shall have more place then plaine and faithfull advice from whence of necessitie must ensew the untoward education of the young Prince whose mind in tender youth infected with loosenesse of disposition will naturally thereto enclined slip into ryot and mischiefe and so be the meanes of his owne and this Kingdomes ruine except God send the greater blessing and through his grace make him apply his heart to wisdome which if as God grant he may he shall attaine unto then they that by sinister perswasion and evill advice flattered him at first most and pleased him best shall afterward fall furthest out of his fauor for politicke plots and vitious courses ever at length shall reape the sowre when good and wholsome Counsell though at first not embraced shall prove sweete and wholesome I remember it to my griefe that there hath beene discord among you a great time not alwayes for great causes but poore mistakings sometimes a thing right well intended towards us our misinterpretation turneth to ill or a small displeasure done us is either by our own ill affection or evill tongue exasperated Yet this I wot well you never had so good occasion of emulation as you have of unfayned affection That wee be all men all natives of one nation nay all Christians and adopted brethren in Christ I leave for Preachers to tell you And yet I am uncertaine whether any Preachers words ought to have more power to move you than his That is your Soveraigne Lord and is by and by togoe to that place that they all preach of But this I shall instantly desire you to print in your memory that the one part of you are my owne flesh and blood the other of my Allyance and each of you with other of consanguinity or affinitie And this spirituall conjunction by affinitie if the Sacraments of Christs Church hold that estimation with us which they ought and I wish with all my soule they did should no lesse move to mutuall charitie then the bare respect of fleshly consanguinity Jesus forbid that you should live and love together the worse for the selfe-same cause for which you ought to love the better and yet that of late the more the pitie hath too often falne out amongst us And seldome is there found more deadly fewd then amongst them which by right and reason ought most affectionately to live together But such a bewitching serpent is Ambition and appetite of vaine-glory and Soveraigntie that amongst states where shee once entereth shee slideth
onward so swiftly and maketh forward so fast and so farre that shee seldome stops nor leaves wrigling and wrangling untill by dissention and division shee have infected all that are neere her And first those that bee poysoned by her are carried away with a vehement desire to bee next the best then to walke hand in hand with the best and lastly to transcend the best not brooking any equall or allowing any superiour Through this immoderate affecting of titular worship and borrowed respect of popularitie and thereby of debate and separation what detriment what trouble what sorrow within these few yeares hath growne in this Realme I pray God aswell forget as wee have too much cause to our griefe to remember which events if I could then aswell have foreseene as I have with my more paine then pleasure now proved By Gods blest Lady I would never have wonne the courtesies of mens knees with the losse of so many their friends heads but since what is past cannot bee recalled we ought to bee the more circumspect that by that occasion wee have suffered such infinite mischiefes before that wee eftsoones fall not into the like againe Intestine broyles are now passed and the Lord bee praised the republike is at quiet And this kingdome in outward appearance in a faire likelyhood to prosper in wealth and peace under my children your Cousins if God send them life and you reciprocall love of which two things the lesse losse would be they by whom though God did his pleasure yet should the kingdome alwayes find Kings and peradventure as good Kings But if you amongst your selves in an Infants raigne fall at variance many a good Christian shall perish and happily hee and you too before this land shall againe find the sweetnesse of peace Therefore in these last words that your dying King shall ever deliver unto you I earnestly exhort you and instantly adjure you and every one of you for the love that I have ever borne you for the love of your owne soules and for the love that our blessed Saviour beares unto us all That from this time forward all discontents drowned unkindnesses buried and grudges forgotten each of you embrace one anothers friendship and unfeignedly love each the other which I am confidently perswaded you will if you regard any earthly thing that is good if you respect God your King your Native countrey the quiet of the Kingdome kindred or affinitie nay your owne safetie and soules health And so unable to use any longer speech hee sunke downe into his bed turning his eyes towards them and by his countenance exprest how desirous hee was to have that which hee had imparted unto them imprinted in their memory and that hee would have added more if able to perswade their mutuall atonement and reciprocabilitie of reall abolition of all former disagreement and unfeyned entertainment of future loving affection The hearers as the sequell proved more at that time to give him content then performe what hee with so great and good affection had so Christianly requested embrace each other and who so forward to make faire expression of his good intention as the Duke of Glocester and to that end hee with low obeysance first importunes the Queene to blot out of her remembrance any discurtesie or neglect hee had offered unto her protesting upon his faith to God and honour to his house to bee for ever her observant and affectionate servant and then turning about to those that were present hee said My Lords I desire to be entertained in your good affections and I here freely forgive whatsoever unkindnesse discourtesie or abuse I have received from any of you and desire the like from you to mee and so courteously shaking them all by the hands made show of reconcilement when all was counterfeit THE LIFE AND RAIGNE OF KING EDVVARD THE FIFT THE young Prince was at Ludlowe when his Father died being not long before sent thither with his Presence to curbe the exorbitant licentiousnesse of some of the unruly Welch who taking advantage of the great distance that was betwixt their Countrey and the Courts of Iustice which were then settled at Westminster would divers times in assurance of impunitie attempt many disorderly pranckes For his better proceeding in mannaging of his place the King had appointed Anthony Earle Rivers the Queenes Brother and so by the Mothers side Vncle to the Prince to bee his Director and chiefe Councellor with whom likewise were many of the Queenes Kinred and Allies in chiefe esteeme and office whereat the Duke of Glocester tooke exception And well knowing that if these were not by some meanes or other removed and their present power abated it was in vaine for him to set on foot his new hatched stratagemicall project to disinherit the new King and to take hold of the Crowne in his owne right hee did therefore cast about to procure their amotion the one from his place the other from their Offices and attendance And to that purpose presuming on their inclination that way hee consulted first with the Duke of Buckingham and afterwards with the Lord Hastings making use of their distaste against the power of the Queenes Brother the Kings halfe Brother and his owne inveterate malice against them all To these in private conference hee first insinuates the Queenes lowe descent and her kinreds unworthy promotions and afterwards openly assures them that if these Vpstarts and mushrump nobles were but permitted to bee about the Kings Person in his youth they would afterwards by that meanes so purchase his favour that they would become so powerfull when hee should attaine to maturitie of yeares that all the Honours Possessions and lines of the ancient Nobilitie of this Realme would bee in danger to bee subject to their wills And for prevention thereof hee did perswade them to joyne with him for their amotion assuring them that that effected they might ratably proportion to themselves and share all the dignities and places and what benefit there might accrew thereby amongst themselves and their friends These insinuations of Glocester joyned to their owne ambitious and malevolent dispositions so powerfully wrought upon their yeelding natures that they not only condescended to this proposition for the amovall of the Queenes kinred but to whatsoever the Duke of Glocester should afterwards promove unto them But it is to bee observed that over and above the great wheele which moved in their fancies of envy to the eminencie of the Queenes kinred there were two other lesser rounds which not a little furthered this rotunditie for association The one Buckinghams covetous desire to encrease his revenewes by the addition of the Earledome of Hertford for his part the other in the late Chamberlaine to have so good meanes whereby to stave off such whom in King Edwards dayes hee had justly offended in transcending his authoritie in doing many actions whereof hee was reous of too too many presuming now by this way to
Kings Person to his no little amazement and disquiet they removed all or the most part of his ancient officers and servants placing in their roomes their owne creatures whom they had power to command The Duke of Glocester taking upon him the custody of the King tooke order for the conveying of the Prisoners to severall Prisons in the North parts and then set forwards with the King towards London giving out by the way that the Marquesse and the Queenes kinred had plotted the destruction of the King and all the blood-royall and all the ancient Nobilitie of the Realme and to alter the government of the Common-wealth And that they were only imprisoned to be brought to their triall according to the Law And the better to settle these suggestions in the apprehension of the vulgar They brought along with them divers Carts laden with Armour of their owne providing with driefats and great Chests wherein they reported to bee treasure for the payment of souldiers with which they so possest the common people that all was believed for Gospell that was thus rumoured But of all other the neatest devise was to have five of the Duke of Glocesters instruments which were manacled and pinioned like Traitours and these in every place where the King lodged by the way were dispersed with some keepers to bee lodged in the chiefe Officers houses and to bee regarded as men of great birth howsoever they were now prisoners and they must seeme to bee penitent for their offences and confesse their owne guilt but laying the blame on the Queenes Brother who had drawne them into this vile plot of Treason but these did so artificially expresse themselves that they could at their pleasures invite their hosts to call them Traitours and cry out that the earth was not fit to beare such trecherous rebells and that the Dukes were to blame not to stay the King in that place untill execution were done against such horrible malefactours and their trayterous companions This plot continued acting till the King came to London and the disguise was taken from these impostors and they were put to act another part The Queene with her second Sonne and five Daughters being at London receiving by Post intelligence of these dolefull accidents and fearing there were worse to follow presently taketh Sanctuary at Westminster with which place good Lady shee had formerly beene acquainted The young King much grieved at the newes and more at the occasion with teares and sighes expressed his discontent But the Dukes as seeming ignorant of any of these things comply themselves unto his service and with all externall show of reverence and respect and with many glozing protestations of their fidelitie and care of his safetie and content sought to comfort him but it would not be The Duke of Glocester by the contrivement and procurement of the Duke of Buckingham by the Decree of the Councell table is appointed and established Protector of the King and kingdome which place added such fuell to the ambitious fire of his heart that it burnt all love naturall respect or duty either to Countrey kinred or King And now nothing sets his imagination on worke but to compasse the meanes how to bring his trayterous designes to effect which was to make away the King and his Brother which hee is resolved wickedly yet wittily to attempt To contrive the getting into his custody the Duke of Yorke is the next Scene to bee acted for the more easie accomplishment whereof hee takes advantage of the Kings melancholy and acquainteth both him and his Councell That the company of his Brother would much conduce to his being thereby made merry saying withall that the Queene Mother was more wedded to her peevish will then was convenient either for the Honour of the kingdome or the Kings content And therefore wishtsome course might bee taken either by perswasion or otherwise to procure her to send the Duke of Yorke to beare the King his brother company The counsell to whom Glocester seemed to speake nothing but Oracles so well had hee moulded them presently apprehend a necessity of a Companion to bee found for the King and none so fit as his owne Brother And to that end the Archbishop of Canterbury one upon whose advise the Queene-Mother did much rely is imployed with instructions to procure her to consent to part with her younger Sonne to accompany the elder which hee accordingly did yeelding these reasons the sooner to drawe her to yeeld as hee said to reason First for that it was scandalous to the whole Realme that a Child of so noble Parentage by birth so tender of yeares so neere the King and so innocent should bee enforced to be a Prisoner Secondly That none could be permitted to enjoy the benefit of Sanctuary priviledge but such whose consciences did accuse them of some offence for which they feared to bee punished by the law But the Dukes infancy and innocency was such that he needed no such protection Thirdly that none ought to bee priviledged as a Sanctuary person but whom discretion had enabled to require it and for that reason hee was not capable of it And lastly any person might bee taken out of that place if so it bee for his owne preferment and benefit and not to his punishment or prejudice and therefore if the Queene should refuse to deliver him hee must bee taken from her Volens nolens and the rather lest that through a froward jelousie shee should convey him beyond the Seas as pretending hee should be more safe in any place then in the King his Brothers company To these the Queene makes answer that none was more fit to have the tutelage of the child then the Mother and the rather in respect of his weake and tender disposition That each of those Brothers was the others safety so long as they are kept asunder that the life of the one was maintained in the body of the other and if that one of them did well the other was in no perill And that it was dangerous to keepe them both in one place And as shee was proceeding further the Archbishop said hee was loth to put the power of his primacy in execution but her obstinacy would to his griefe enforce him thereto Whereupon the Queene perceiving that it was concluded that reason must not dispute against the Councells resoltrion shee with such expression of passion as tender-hearted Mothers use to part with a beloved child when their Propheticke thoughts suggest unto them they take their last leave of the Babe shee taketh the Duke by the hand and delivereth him unto the Archbishop saying at his hands shee would require that sweet boy and unable to speake more shee opened the sludgates of her eyes and bedewing her cheekes with teares turned her backe The Archbishop having effected his arrand hasteth to the Lords who in the Starre-chamber with the Protector stay expecting their comming to whom making relation with what unwillingnesse the Mother was
Duke of Yorke Then he begins to solicite me and sometimes by entreaties he endevoreth to perswade and then againe with minatory words to enforce me and the Lords present by constraint as it were to permit him to take upon him the execution of the Regall state and government of this Kingdome untill the young King were ripe and able to undergoe the burden thereof and beare the loade upon his own shoulders at least wise untill he should attaine to the age of foure and twentie yeeres which project of his in regard the example was without president And that would be as strange if not more to have an ambitious mind to disinantell himselfe of a place of that eminent power of Command one obtained as for him at that instant to effect it I seemed not well to relish it and the rather for that I found by the countenance of all there present he was as then unprovided of seconds at the table to backe his proposition He thereupon not altogether unprovided of his baytes to fish with to give some colourable pretext of reason for what he had moved he produced many seeming authenticke instruments and resolutions upon depositions of credible witnesses subscribed by the Civilians and Canonists the most famous in these times for judgement and learning by whom it was resolved and so adjudged that the children of Edward the fourth were to be reputed illegitimate and no way capable of the inheritance of the Crowne which overture then unfeinedly I speake it I thought as reall and true as now I know the deponents names were counterfeited and the whole businesse forged These depositions and resolutions thus by him produced were read and thoroughly by us at the Councell table debated and long discussed upon untill the Protector himselfe stood up and sayd My Lords as on the one part I and your Lordships are most willing that King Edwards children should receive no injury so on the other side I beseech you doe not you bethe occasion that I suffer apparant wrong For this point being thus cleered that my brothers sonnes are not inheritable behold me the unquestionable and undoubted heire of Richard Plantagenet Duke of Yorke my deceased but deere father who was by authoritie of the Parliament adjudged and so proclaimed lawfull heire of the Crowne of England whereupon we silly seduced men thinking all had beene Gospell that had beene delivered gave consent that in regard the Duke of Clarence his son by reason of the former attainder of the father besides the obtruded illegitimation of him too was likewise disabled too carry the inheritance to accept of the bramble for our King and Soveraigne Lord the which I was rather induced to doe by how much he had often with solemne protestations both publike and private given me his faithfull promise that the two young infants should no way be abused but that they should have sufficient assurance for maintenance such as I and the rest of the nobility should well like and approve of which how well he hath perfomed judge you when he was no sooner by my procurement from a private person made Protector and from a subject sole Soveraigne but he cast the ladder by by which he had climed to this preferment changing his manners with his honours And not onely denied me to enjoy the liberty of my undoubted right as touching the Earldome of Hertford unjustly detained from me by his predecessor King Edward And which at our first conference about these proceedings this Richard with many execrable oaths and promises had assured me but kept touch in nothing with me of what was formerly concluded betwixt us But in liewe thereof I was entertained with flowtes and uncurteous language giving out as though I had never furthered but rather hindred his most waighty designes yet this foule Ingratitude and his undeserved unkindnesse I patiently for a seasonunder-went But when I had received certaine notice of the unnaturall murther of his two naturall Nephewes I was so transported with scorne and indignation that I had very much to doe to temper my passion from publicke revenge of their death and my owne disgrace in his owne Court untill weighing the doubtfulnesse of the event I deemed it the safest way with patience to waite a fitter opportunity and in the meane time to take out a coppy of his dissimulation and that I might with the more safty worke upon his owne scene I framed my cariage and countenance at all times towards him in that manner as though I knew no pipe to dance after but his never crossing him in any point nor seeming to dislike or distast though much against my nature any thing he moved or did And by this meanes I obtained libertie to retire my selfe to this place But in my journey homewards by the way I had many strong conflicts in my mind which way to begin to worke that I might make this usurper to acknowledge his error and to pull of the lyons skin from his hoglike backe First I thought with my selfe that there was a faire path beaten for me he being now by the murther of his tender Nephewes growne despicable to God all good men to lay hold of the Garland in regard there was not one whom I could then call to remembrance either of power or pretence sufficient to debar me from enioying it being no way unprovided of meanes men or mony for imployment And in this Conceit I continued a while untill that afterwards that came into my mind that to come in by way of conquest would prove both hard and hazardfull In regard that most of the Nobilitie and Gentlemen would oppose me therein if for no other end or reason but onely for the preservation of their tenures and titles which in a conquerors hands are liable to his disposall And then and there that embrions conceit of Conquering continued so formles Then my fancy suggested to me that the Lord Edmond Duke of Somerset my grandfather was within degrees lineally descended from Iohn of Gaunt for Edmond Beuford Earle Moryton was sonne of Iohn surnamed Beauford of Beauford in France which came to the house of Lancaster by Blaunch of Arthoyes wife to Edmond first Earle of Lancaster sonne of Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster That my mother being his eldest daughter I was next heire to Henry the 6. And hereupon I set up my rest thereon to lay a foundation whereupon to erect my building But as God would have it whilst my braines were busie and as I rode debating with my selfe how to the best advantage I might set my engines going betwixt Worcester and Bridgnorth I accidentally encountred Margaret Countesse of Richmond the true and only heire of my Grandfathers elder brother Iohn Duke of Somerset who married Margaret daughter and heire of Sir Iohn Beauchamp of Bletsoe kinght By whom he had issue one onely daughter Margaret who married Edmond of Haddam sonne of Owen Tewder by Queene Katherine and halfe brother by the mother
the space of five miles round spoyled whatsoever might helpe or advantage the English hee himselfe undertaking the defence of the great Fort built upon the East-bridge from whence making a French bravado in show more then a man at first hee retired weaker indeed then a woman with losse of many his souldiers to the Towne leaving the English in possession of the Fort. From an high Tower in this Bulwarcke out of a window therein the besiegers observed the passages of the Townesmen about two moneths after the siege began the noble Duke of Salisbury thinking to informe himselfe of the state of the Towne unhappily looking out of this Window with Sir Thomas Gargrave a great shot from the Towne striking the barres of the Window the splinters whereof were driven into his head and face of which wound within eight dayes after hee dyed Hee married Elianor Daughter of Thomas Holland Earle of Kent by whom hee had issue only Anne married to Richard Nevill one of the younger sonnes of Ralph Nevill Earle of Westmerland hee had a base sonne named Iohn This Earles death was a second weakening of the young Kings expected triumphs for two limmes of his budding tree of carefull protection and thriving direction are lopt off by death and a third began to bee putrified The Earle of Suffolke succeedeth in the charge of the siege who finding necessaries wanting sendeth Sir Iohn Falstaffe for supplies the Regent furnisheth him speedily and in his returne the Lord de la Brets nine thousand strong endevours to intercept him but being discovered Sir Iohn resolved to abide the charge placeth his carriages behind the horse next and the foot before lyning his Bowes with Bill-men pitching stakes behind the Archers who having loosed their first volley retired behind the stakes on which the French forgetting their former defeats that way ranne and gored their horses and were forced to light against their wills with a knocke on the crowne with a brown Bill layed on with a strong arme by which their Voward being disordered the battell made a stand which Sir Iohn perceiving cryeth out Saint George they flye which was no sooner spoken then it proved true for there with they fled and in the fight and chace the French lost two thousand five hundred men with the Lords de la Brets and William Steward and eleven hundred were taken prisoners with whom and a rich booty they came to the Campe before Orleace Hereof the besieged having notice hopelesse of helpe from the French King they offered to submit themselves to the protection of the Duke of Burgoyne who was contented to accept them upon the Regents consent This motion pleased many of the Councell of warre but the Generall and the rest more considerate did mislike it Whereupon the Generall returned this answer That since the King his Master had bestowed so long time and exhausted so much Treasure and spent so much victuals besides the uncomparable losse of the Earle of Salisbury slaine there hee could not but thinke it would much redound to his owne dishonour and the disparagement of the renowne of the kingdome of England If now the besieged were driven to that extremity that they were not able to subsist of themselves that any other then those that had beaten the bush should have the birds Then made the besieged meanes to the Duke of Alanson who used such diligence that taking advantage of too much slacknesse of watch in the Campe being secured as they thought from danger of sally from within or approach of enemy from without hee furnished the Towne both with fresh provision and forces under the coverture of a dark most tempestuous night which put such fresh spirit into the citizens that they made a brave salout and by fine force carried the Bulwarcke upon the bridge and another Fort and slew sixe hundred English and adventured upon the Bastile in which the Lord Talbot commanded who not being used to be coopt up valiantly issued out and bravely repulsed them backe with great slaughter and confusion into the Towne But the next day the Earle of Suffolke left the siege and dispersed his Army to their severall places of garrison and in his returne the Lord Talbot surprized the Towne and Castle of Lavall But now the wheele of fortune began to turne and disasters and disgraces fell hudling one upon the necke of another on the English part And first the Duke of Alanson having raised a great power tooke by assault the towne of Iargeux and therein the Earle of Suffolke and one of his brothers and slew Sir Alexander Pole another of their brothers and many other Prisoners in cold blood because of the contention among the French to whom the Prisoners did belong Then the Lords Talbot Scales and Hungerford with five thousand men going to fortifie the towne of Meum were encountred by the said Duke and Arthure of Britaine and three and twenty thousand men who fiercely assayled them The English Lords for a time endured the shocke and enterchanged some blowes but opprest with multitude the three Lords are taken prisoners all sore wounded twelve hundred of their company slaine the residue hardly escaping to Meum where they used their best forces to fortifie themselves against future assaults These disasters were seconded by the perfidious surrender of many Townes and strong holds to the French King who now encouraged by these good successes marched into Champaigne where by Composition hee tooke the chiefe Citie thereof Troyes Chaltons rebelleth and enforceth their Captaine to yeeld it up by whose example the Citizens of Reme do the like wherein the French King is a new Proclaimed there with accustomed Ceremonies annointed and crowned and is thereby furthered with the voluntary submission of many Townes Castles strong holds who from every part sent their subjective messages unto him The Duke of Bedford with tenne thousand English besides Normans marched out of Paris sending Letters of defiance to the French King affirming therein that hee contrary to the accord betwixt King Henry the fifth and King Charles Father to him that was but an usurper by the instigation of a feminine divell had taken upon him the Title and dignitie of King of France and by deceitfull and unjust meanes had surreptitiously stolne not conquered and kept divers Cities and places of import belonging to the Crowne of England for legall proofe whereof by stroke of battaile hee was come into that part and thereby would justifie his Chartelâ—… true and cause just leaving allowance to his enemy to make choice of the place and in the same hee should bee sure of battaile The new King howsoever perplexed set a good countenance on the matter and told the Harrold that hee would sooner seeke his Master then his Master should need to seeke him and without further answer dismissed him The Regent thereupon maketh towards him and making choice of an indifferent place encampeth in sight of the French And though