priuiledg'd from hie Hath this large Patent of her dignitie 48 This charge the Goddesle gaue when ready straight The subtill messenger accompayned With all hercrew of Artes that on her wait Hastes to effect what she was counsailed And out she pours of her immense conceit Vpon such searching spirits as trauayled In penetrating hidden secrecies Who soone these meanes of miserie deuise 49 And boldly breaking with rebellious minde Into their mothers close-lockt Treasurie They Mineralls combustible do finde Which in 〈◊〉 concaues placed cunningly They fire and fire imprisoned against kinde Teares out a way thrusts out his enemie Barking with such a horror as if wroth With man that wrongs himselfe and Nature both 50 And this beginning had this cursed frame Which Yorke now planted hath against his King Presuming by his powre and by the same His purpose vnto good effect to bring When diuers of the grauest Councell came Sent from the King to vnderstand what thing Had thrust him into these proceedings bad And what he sought and what intent he had 51 Who with words mildly-sharpe gently-seuere Wrought on those wounds that must be toucht with heed Applying rather salues of hope then feare Least corrasiues should desperat mischiefes breed And what my Lord sayd they should moue you here In this vnseemely manner to proceed Whose worth being such as all the Land admires Hath fairer wayes then these to your desires 52 Wil you whose means whose many friends whose grace Can worke the world in peace vnto your will Take such a course as shal your Blood deface And make by handling bad a good Cause ill How many hearts hazard you in this case That in all quiet plots would ayde you still Hauing in Court a Partie farre more strong Then you conceiue prest to redresse your wrong 53 Phy phy forsake this hatefull course my Lord Downe with these Armes that will but wound your Cause What Peace may do hazard not with the Sword Lay downe the force that from your force with-drawes And yeeld and we will mediate such accord As shal dispense with rigor and the lawes And interpose this solemne fayth of our Betwixt your fault and the offended Power 54 Which ingins of protests and proffers kinde Vrg'd out of seeming griefe and shewes of loue So shooke the whole foundation of his Minde As they did all his resolution moue And present seem'd vnto their course inclin'd So that the King would Sommerset remoue The man 〈◊〉 most intolerable pride Trode downe his worth and all good mens beside 55 Which they there vow'd should presently be done For what will not peace-louers willing graunt Where dangerous euents depend thereon And men vnfurnisht and the State in want And if with words the conquest will be won The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 small and who holds breath so scant As then to spare though with indignitie Better descend then end in Maiestie 56 And here-upon the Duke 〈◊〉 his force Submits him to the King on publique vow The rather too presuming on this course For that his sonne the Earle of March was now With mightier powers abroad which would inforce His peace which else the King would not allow For seeing not all of him in him he hath His death would but giue life to greater wrath 57 Yet comming to the King in former place His 〈◊〉 the Duke of Sommerset he findes Whom openly reproching to his face Hee charg'd with treason in the highest kindes The Duke returnes like speeches of disgrace And fierie wordes bewray'd their flaming mindes But yet the triall was for them deferd Till 〈◊〉 time allow'd it to be heard 58 At Westminster a Counsell sommoned Deliberates what course the Cause should end Of th' apprehended Duke of Yorke whose head Doth now on others doubtfull breath depend Law fiercely vrg'd his act and found him dead Friends fayl'd to speake where they could not defend Onely the King himselfe for mercy stood As prodigall of life niggard of blood 59 And as if angrie with the Lawes of death Ah! why should you sayd hee vrge things so far You that inur'd with mercenarie breath And hyred tongue so peremptorie are Brauing on him whom sorrow prostrateth As if you did with poore Affliction warre And prey on frayltie folly hath betray'd Bringing the lawes to wound 〈◊〉 to ayd 60 Dispense sometime with sterne seueritie Make not the Lawes still traps to apprehend Win grace vpon the bad with clemencie Mercie may mend whom malice made offend Death giues no thankes but checkes authoritie And life doth onely Maiestie commend Reuenge dies not Rigor begets new wrath And blood hath neuer glorie Mercy hath 61 And for my part and my part should be chiefe I am most willing to restore his state And rather had I win him with reliefe Then lose him with despight and get more hate Pittie drawes loue blood-shed is natures griefe Compassion followes the vnfortunate And losing him in him I lose my power We rule who liue the dead are none of our 62 And should our rigor lessen then the same Which we with greater glorie should retaine No let him liue his life must giue vs fame The childe of mercie newly borne againe As often burials are Physicians shame So many deaths argue a Kings hard Raigne Why should we say The Law must haue her vigor The Law kills him but quits not vs of rigor 63 You to get more preferment by your wit Others to gaine the spoyles of miserie Labour with all your powre to follow it Shewing vs feares to draw-on crueltie You vrge th' offence not tell vs what is fit Abusing wrong-informed Maiestie As if our powre were onely but to slay And that to saue were a most dangerous way 64 Thus out of Pittie spake that holy King Whom milde affections led to hope the best When Sommerset began to vrge the thing With words of hotter temper thus exprest Deare soueraigne Lord the Cause in managing Is more then yours t'imports the publique rest We all haue part it toucheth all our good And life 's ill spar'd that 's spar'd to cost more blood 65 Compassion here is crueltie my Lord Pittie will cut our throates for sauing so What benefite enioy we by the sword If mischiefe shall escape to draw-on mo Why should we giue what Law cannot afford To be accessaries to our proper wo Wisedome must iudge 'twixt men apt to amend And mindes incurable borne to offend 66 It is no priuat Cause I do protest That moues me thus to prosecute his deede Would God his blood and mine had well releast The dangers that his pride is like to breed Although at me hee seemes to haue addrest His spight 't is not the end hee hath decreed I am not he alone hee doth pursue But thorow me he meanes to shoot at you 67 For thus these great Reformers of a State Aspiring to attaine the Gouernment Still take aduantage of the peoples hate Who euer hate such as are eminent For who can great affaires
Empresse for the succession and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 18. yeares and 10. 〈◊〉 1154. Hen 2. sonne of Gef 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 E. of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Empresse 〈◊〉 ated his sonne Hen. in the Crown and gouerment 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to hu gre t 〈◊〉 and set 〈◊〉 sonnes Henry Richard Geffry Iohn against him 〈◊〉 34. 〈◊〉 7. 〈◊〉 1189. Richard went to the 〈◊〉 warres was 〈◊〉 of Ierusalem 〈◊〉 his brother 〈◊〉 by the help of the King of France 〈◊〉 the crown of England Hee was detained prisoner in Austria redeemed and reigned nine years 9. months 1199. K. Iohn vsurps the right of Arthur sonne to Geffery his elder brother and raignes 17 yeares Hee had warres with his Barons who elected Lewis Sonne to the K. of France 1216. Hen. 3 at 9. yeares of age was Crowned King and raigned 56 yeares 1272. Ed. 1. had the dominion ouer this whole Iland of 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 gloriously 34. yeeres 7. Moneths 〈◊〉 307. Edward 2. abused by his Minions debaushed by his owne weaknesse was deposed froÌ„ his gouernment when he had reig ned 19. yeares 6. moneths and was murthered in prison 13. 26. Edw. 3 Edward the black prince who died before his father Richard 2. being but 11. yeares of age was crowned K. of England 1377 Richard the 2. son to the blacke prince The D. of Lancaster intitled K. of Castile in the right of his wife Constance eldest daughter to K. Peter Edmond Langly Earle of Cambridge after created D. of Yorke Thomas of Wood 〈◊〉 after made D. of Glocester Robert Veere Duke of Ireland Ann. Reg. 11. the D. of Gloster with the E E. of Darby AruÌ„del Nottingham Warwicke other L L. hauing forced the K. to put from him all his officers of Court at this ParliameÌ„t caused most of theÌ„ to be executed as 〈◊〉 Beauchamp L. 〈◊〉 of his 〈◊〉 Sir Simon Burley L. Chamberlaine with manyother Also the L. chief Iustice was here executed and all the Iudges condeÌ„ned to death for 〈◊〉 the kings 〈◊〉 against these L L. the 〈◊〉 of the last Parliament m Ann. 10 Ann. Reg. 18. Ann. 20. 〈◊〉 daughter to Charles 6. Valeran E. of S. Paule who had maried the kings halfe sister At the parliament in Anno 11. the I. L. of the league with Gloster being pardoned for their opposing against the kings proceedings were quiet till Anno 21 when vpon report of a new conspiracie they were surprised Mowbray E. Marshal after made Duke of Norfolke 〈◊〉 the charge of dispatching the D. of Gloster at Calice The K. had by 〈◊〉 before pardoned the D. and those two Earles yet was the pardon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quo l credere de se non possit cùm laudatur 〈◊〉 aequa 〈◊〉 Hen. Bollingbroke of Heresord Tho. Mowbray D. of Norfolke Mowbray was banished the very day by the course of the yeere whereon he murthered the D. of Glocester An. Reg. 22. The D. being bavished in 〈◊〉 landed in the beginning of Iulie after 〈◊〉 Rauenspurre in Yorkeshire some say but with 60. men other with 3000 and 8 shippes set forth and furnished by the Duke of Brittaine Ann. Reg. 22. The Genius of England appeares to Bullingbrooke The D. put to death VVilliaÌ„ Scroope E. of 〈◊〉 Treasurer of Eng. with Sir Hen. Greene Sir Iohn Bushy for misgouerning the king and the Realme Th. Arundel Archbish. of Canterburie Bis peccat qui pretextu Religionis peccat Edward D. of Aumerle Sonne to the D. of Yorke Conway Castle in Wales Montague E. of 〈◊〉 This Percie was Earle of Worster brother to the Earle of Northumberland and steward of the Kings house 〈◊〉 D. of Yorke left Gouernour of the ' Realm in the 〈◊〉 of the king hauing leuied a 〈◊〉 Army as if to haue opposed against Bulling brooke brought most of the 〈◊〉 of the kingdome to take his 〈◊〉 The E. of 〈◊〉 sent to the king from Hen. Bulling brooke now D. of Lancaster The Bishop of Carlile Montague Earle of Salisbury This was sir â—eter Leighs â—â—uncitor of â—ime in Cheâ—â—ire that â—ow is nico d' Arâ—is a Gasâ—oin The Earle of â—alsbury his â—peech to K. Richard The Bishop of Carlile Lex Amnestiae The Owle is said to bee Mineruas bird The Archbishop of Cant. takes his text out of the first booke of the Kings cap. 9. Vir dominabitur in populo The Nobilitie accused 〈◊〉 the death 〈◊〉 Thomas of Woodstocke D. of Gloster The Dukes of Surry Excester and Aumarle The Earles of 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 the Bishop of Carlile Sir Thomas Blunt and other were the parties accused for the death of the D. of Gloster Thom. late Duke of Surry Sir Thom. Blunt This Knight was Sir Pierce of The Exton Primus imperium communicauit posuit Dioclesianus in eo ponendo dixisse fertur Recipe Iupiter imperium quod mihi commodasti The Corps was 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 to LondoÌ„ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 withopen 〈◊〉 in Paules 3 dayes and after a solemne obseque was had to Langley and there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 K. Ric. bruted to be 〈◊〉 after he was 〈◊〉 murthered which 〈◊〉 a conCon 〈◊〉 for the which Sir 〈◊〉 Clarindon supposed to be the base sonne of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was executed with diuers 〈◊〉 Hee 〈◊〉 in his Courte 1000. 〈◊〉 in ordinarie allowance of 〈◊〉 300. 〈◊〉 in his Kitchin aboue 300. Ladies 〈◊〉 and Landerers 〈◊〉 apparell was sumptuous 〈◊〉 so was it generally in his time bee had one Cote of gold and stone valued as 30000. 〈◊〉 One 〈◊〉 with the Fr. King at 〈◊〉 when 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isabel was deliuered vnto him cost 300000. markes Hen. 4. 〈◊〉 al letters patents of 〈◊〉 granted by K. 〈◊〉 and K. Ric. Ann. reg 6. When he was first surpris'd in Wales the D. of 〈◊〉 had in 〈◊〉 Castle 100000. 〈◊〉 in coyne and 200000 markes in 〈◊〉 and at his Resignation 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 300000 〈◊〉 beside plate and Iewels A Prince 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sent to forraine Princes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Kings proceedings In this time of Charles 6. 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 warres 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 between the Dukes of 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 The Truce made with R'c. 2. renewd for 30 yeares but broken the next yeare after vpon their part sending 〈◊〉 de Burbon with forces into 〈◊〉 to the ayde of 〈◊〉 The 〈◊〉 labors to haue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to his sonne Henry Prince of Wales 〈◊〉 Isabel was maried to Charles sonne to 〈◊〉 D. of 〈◊〉 Thom. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 was sent into Gascony with 200. men at Armes and 400. Archers to 〈◊〉 Sir Robert 〈◊〉 Lieutenant there where he 〈◊〉 that Country being 〈◊〉 by the 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 vpon their 〈◊〉 for the death of King Ric. whom they especially 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at Burdeux George 〈◊〉 E. of March 〈◊〉 out of Scotland was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 England and 〈◊〉 against his Country Owen Glendour an 〈◊〉 in North-Wales 〈◊〉 with the L. Gray of 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 and being not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 owne 〈◊〉 to recouer them 〈◊〉
force and made 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the L. Gray and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the 〈◊〉 of that 〈◊〉 Ann. Reg. 2. Ann Reg. 3. In this battell of Homeldon the L Hen. 〈◊〉 surnamed Hot-spur accompanied with George 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of March ouerthrew the Scottish forces where were slaine 23 Knights and 10000 of the 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Fife Murry Angus with 500. other of meaner degree token prisoners In the 9. 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 of King Richard 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 ordained 〈◊〉 E. of March 〈◊〉 apparent to the Crowne 〈◊〉 Roger was the 〈◊〉 of Edmond Mortimer who married 〈◊〉 the only daughter of Leonel D. of 〈◊〉 the third son of King Ed. 3. 〈◊〉 by her had 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Roger Elizabeth 〈◊〉 had 〈◊〉 4. children all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 only Anne 〈◊〉 without 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 second 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Edmo d D. of Yorke This Rich. 〈◊〉 at 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 issue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 surnamed 〈◊〉 after Duke of Yorke The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 against 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ann. 〈◊〉 4. The K. 〈◊〉 forward by George Dunbar was in sight of his enemies lying in Campe 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 sooner then 〈◊〉 was exspected for the 〈◊〉 supposed he would haue stayde longer then 〈◊〉 did at 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Trent for the 〈◊〉 of his 〈◊〉 cell with other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 werethere to 〈◊〉 him 〈◊〉 they 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 the Towne of 〈◊〉 and Prepared to encounter the kings 〈◊〉 Ann. 〈◊〉 4. The Abbot of Shrew bury and one of the Cleark of the 〈◊〉 seale were 〈◊〉 from the K to the 〈◊〉 to offer them parden if they wold come to any reasonable agreement Wherupon the E. of Worcester 〈◊〉 to the K. 〈◊〉 many kind 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 sing to moue 〈◊〉 Nephew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at 〈◊〉 returne 〈◊〉 sayd conceale them 〈◊〉 hastened on the battel which was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 An. Reg. 4. Prince 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this Battel was not 17 yeares of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 E of Staf 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Tho. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Worcester with Sir Richard Vernon and the Baron of Kinderton were taken in the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 The Fr. K. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to Owen 〈◊〉 with 140. 〈◊〉 which landed at 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 An. Reg. 6. An. Reg. 6. with much adoo the Laitie 〈◊〉 2 〈◊〉 vpon condition that the L. Furniuall should receiue all the mony and see it to bee spent in the 〈◊〉 The D. of Orleans with an Army of 6000. men entred into 〈◊〉 and besieged 〈◊〉 the space of 〈◊〉 moneths return'd without obtaining 〈◊〉 An. Reg. 〈◊〉 The Conte Cleremont Sonne to the D. of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mon. de la Bret wonne 〈◊〉 Casties in 〈◊〉 The same time the Conte Sa. Paul 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of Wight with 1600. men 〈◊〉 Reg. 6. The Cont 〈◊〉 Paule 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Castle of Marke 〈◊〉 3. 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 The 〈◊〉 vnder the conduct of the L. of 〈◊〉 spoyled and 〈◊〉 the Towne of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 K. sends 4000 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 and 3000 to the S 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his second sonne 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 after D. of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 after D. of Bedford sent with Ralph Neusle E. of Westmerland 〈◊〉 the North. The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to Edward D. 〈◊〉 Yorke late wife to 〈◊〉 L. Spencer executed at 〈◊〉 An. Reg. 1. 〈◊〉 her brother to be the 〈◊〉 author of conuaying away the E. of Marches 〈◊〉 out of the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 E. of North. againe 〈◊〉 against the K with Rich. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Yorke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 E Marshal Tho. L Bardolph and others They 〈◊〉 the Citizens of Yorke with the Country adioy 〈◊〉 to take their part for the commodity of the 〈◊〉 They 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Articles 〈◊〉 the King The 〈◊〉 of York offers pardon to all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their part 〈◊〉 the King 〈◊〉 E. of 〈◊〉 land with 〈◊〉 D. of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 against the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 power being too great for thē the E. made somblance to toyne with the Archb. for redresse of 〈◊〉 greuances as he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 him of 〈◊〉 forces An. Reg. 6. The Archb. was brother to scroope E. of Willshire Treasurer of Eng and before beheaded Tho' Monbray ◠Marshall sonne to the Duke of Norfolke banished about the quarrell with H. Bullingbrooke The E. of North. returning out of Wales Slaine in the Battail An. Reg. 9 The K. growes iealous of his sonne Hen. Prince of Wales who with a better minde then fashion came to his Father and cleared himself An. Reg. 13 Ann. dom 14. 12. the K. died in the 46. yeare of his age when he had 〈◊〉 13 yeares 6 〈◊〉 and left 4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 after him K. The D. of Clarence Iohn D. of Bedford and 〈◊〉 D. of 〈◊〉 Henry 〈◊〉 began 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 20 of March 〈◊〉 1412 The Courtes of Iustice 〈◊〉 tolerare labores Non 〈◊〉 Richard E. of Cambridge the second sonne to Edmond 〈◊〉 Duke of Yorke maried 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of Roger 〈◊〉 Earle of March descended from Lionell D. of 〈◊〉 the third sonne to K Ed. 〈◊〉 by whose right ' Richard D. of Yorke sonne to this E. of Cambridge afterwards aymed the Crowne The E of Cābridge 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of the King was with Hen. Scroope Lord Treasurer Sir Thomas Gray 〈◊〉 at South-hampton Ann. 3. Reg. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Richard Duke of Yorke sonne to the E. of Cambridge by Anne daughter to the Earle of March made his claime in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Hon. 6. 〈◊〉 5. 〈◊〉 9. yeares and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and died in the 36 yeare of 〈◊〉 Hen. 6. 〈◊〉 one yeere old when 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was committed to the charge of the two good Dukes 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 The 〈◊〉 Yorke made 〈◊〉 Fraunce 〈◊〉 the death of the D. of 〈◊〉 Edmond Duke of 〈◊〉 a great enemie of the Duke of Yorke This Ravner was Duke of 〈◊〉 onely inioyed the title of the K. of 〈◊〉 William dels 〈◊〉 E. of Suffolke after created D. of Suff. the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in this mariage which was 〈◊〉 An. Reg. 23. 〈◊〉 the King the Lady 〈◊〉 daughter to Rayner D. of 〈◊〉 to whom was deliuered vp the Duchy of Aniou the Conty of Maine 〈◊〉 the conclusion of this match The pride and hautinesse of this Queene Margaret gaue the first origi nall to the 〈◊〉 that so lowed by the death of Humsrey Duke of Gloster 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quà m breuem 〈◊〉 esse qua magna sit The Virtues of Humsrey D. 〈◊〉 The D. of 〈◊〉 comming to this Parlement from his Castle of the Viez 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 L. 〈◊〉 high 〈◊〉 the Dukes of Buckingham and Somerset with others 〈◊〉 he appointed certaine of the Kings 〈◊〉 to attend vpon him but he died 〈◊〉 he was brought to his an swere some say of sorrow others of a 〈◊〉 or an 〈◊〉 An. 〈◊〉 25. The D. of Suffalke was a principall instrument in this businisse 〈◊〉 Pole 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Reg. 26 and is 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 the next year after The Duchy of Normandy was lost in the 〈◊〉 1449. 〈◊〉 it had been held 30 〈◊〉 conquered by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ann. Reg. 27.
For now his vncle Gloster much repin'd Against this French alliance and this peace As either out of a tumultuous minde Which neuer was content the warres should cease Or that he did dishonorable finde Those articles which did our State decrease And therefore storm'd because the Crowne had wrong Or that he fear'd the King would growe too strong 42 But whatsoeuer mov'd him this is sure Hereby he wrought his ruine in the end And was a fatall cause that did procure The swift approching mischiefes that attend For loe the King no longer could indure Thus to be crost in what he did intend And therefore watcht but some occasion fit T'attache the Duke when he thought least of it 43 And Fortune to set forward this intent The Cont S. Paule from France doth hither bring Whom Charles the sixt imploy'd in complement To see the Queene and to salute the King To whom he shewes his Vncles discontent And of his secret dangerous practising How he his Subiectes sought to sulleuate And breake the league with Fraunce concluded late 44 To whom the Cont most cunningly replies Great Prince it is within your power with ease To remedy such feares such iealousies And rid you of such mutiners as these By cutting off that which might greater rise And now at first preuenting this disease And that before he shall your wrath disclose For who threats first meanes of reuenge doth lose 45 First take his head then tell the reason why Stand not to finde him guiltie by your lawes You easier shall with him your quarrell trie Dead then aliue who hath the better cause For in the murmuring vulgar vsually This publique course of yours compassion drawes Especially in cases of the great Which worke much pitty in the vndiscreat 46 And this is sure though his offence be such Yet doth calamitie attract commorse And men repine at Princes blood-shed much How iust-soeuer iudging t is by force I know not how their death giues such a tuch In those that reach not to a true discourse As so shall you obseruing formall right Be held still as vniust and win more spight 47 And oft the cause may come preuented so And therefore when t is done let it be heard For thereby shall you scape your priuate wo And satisfie the world too afterward What neede you weigh the rumors that shall go What is that breath being with your life compar'd And therefore if you will be rul'd by me In secret sort let him dispatched bee 48 And then arraigne the chiefe of those you finde Were of his faction secretly compact Who may so well be handled in their kinde As their confessions which you shall exact May both appease the aggrieued peoples minde And make their death to aggrauate their fact So shall you rid your selfe of dangers quite And shew the world that you haue done but right 49 This counsell vttred vnto such an eare As willing listens to the safest wayes Workes on the yeelding matter of his feare Which easily to any course obayes For euery Prince seeing his daunger neere By any meanes his quiet peace assaies And still the greatest wrongs that euer were Haue then been wrought when Kings were put in feare 50 Call'd in with publique pardon and release The Duke of Gloster with his complices All tumults all contentions seem to cease The land rich people pleas'd all in happinesse When sodainely Gloster came caught with peace VVarwicke with profered loue and promises And Arundell was in with cunning brought Who else abrode his safetie might haue wrought 51 Long was it not ere Gloster was conuayd To Calice and there strangled secretly VVarwicke and Arundell close prisoners laid Th' especiall men of his confederacie Yet VVarwickes teares and base confessions staide The doome of death and came confin'd thereby And so prolongs this not long base-begg'd breath But Arundell was put to publique death 52 Which publique death receiv'd with such a cheare As not 〈◊〉 sigh a looke a shrink bewrayes The least felt touch of a degenerous feare Gaue life to Enuie to his courage prayse And made his stout-defended cause appeare With such a face of Right as that it layes The side of wrong t'wards him who had long since By Parliament forgiuen this offence 53 And in the vnconceiuing vulgar sort Such an impression of his goodnes gaue As Sainted him and rays'd a strange report Of miracles effected on his Graue Although the Wise whome zeale did not transport Knew how each great example still must haue Something of wrong a taste of violence Wherewith the publique quiet doth dispense 54 The King foorth-with prouides him of a Guard A thousand Archers daily to attend Which now vpon the act he had prepar'd As th' argument his actions to defend But yet the world hereof conceiu'd so hard That all this nought auaild him in the end In vaine with terror is he fortified That is not guarded with firme loue beside 55 Now storme his grieued Vncles though in vaine Not able better courses to 〈◊〉 They might their grieuance inwardly complaine But outwardly they needes must temporise The King was great and they should nothing gaine T' attempt reuenge or offer once to rise This league with Fraunce had made him now so strong That they must needes as yet indure this wrong 56 For like a Lion that escapes his boundes Hauing beene long restrain'd his vse to stray Ranges the restless woods stayes on no groūd Riots with blood-shed wantons on his praie Seekes not for neede but in his pride to wound Glorying to see his strength and what he may So this vnbridled King freed of his feares In liberty himself thus wildely beares 57 For standing now alone he sees his might Out of the compasse of respectiue awe And now beginnes to violate all right While no restraining feare at hand he saw Now he exacts of all 〈◊〉 in delight Riots in pleasure and neglects the law He thinkes his Crowne is licenst to do ill That lesse should list that may do what it wil. 58 Thus b'ing transported in this sensuall course No friend to warne no counsell to withstand He 〈◊〉 proceedeth on from bad to worse Sooth'd in all actions that he tooke in hand By such as all impietie did nurse Commending euer what hee did command Vnhappie Kings that neuer may be taught To know themselues or to discerne their fault 59 And whilst this course did much the kingdome daunt The Duke of Herford being of courage bolde As sonne and heire to mighty Iohn 〈◊〉 Gaunt Vtters the passion which he could not holde Concerning these oppressions and the want Of gouernment which he to Norfolke told To th' end he being great about the king Might do some good by better counselling 60 Hereof doth Norfolke presently take hold And to the king the whole discourse relate Who not conceipting it as it was told But iudging it proceeded out of hate Disdeigning deepely to be so controwl'd
Supported with strong powre and victorie Was left vnto a Child ordain'd by fate To stay the course of what might growe too hie Here was a stop that Greatnesse did abate When powre vpon so weake a base did lie For least great fortune should presume too farre Such oppositions interposed are 22 Neuer this Iland better peopled stood Neuer more men of might and minds addrest Neuer more Princes of the royall blood If not too many for the publique Rest Nor euer was more treasure wealth and good Then when this Richard first the Crowne possest The second of that name in two accurst And well we might haue mist all but the first 23 In this mans Raigne began this fatal strife The bloudie argument where of we treate That dearely cost so many'a Prince his life And spoyld the weake and euen consum'd the great That wherein all confusion was so rife As Memory euen grieues her to repeat And would that time might now this knowledge lose But that t is good to learne by others woes 24 Edward the third being dead had left this child Sonne of his worthy sonne deceast of late The Crowne and Scepter of this Realme to wield Appointing the protectors of his State Two of his sonnes to be his better shield Supposing Vncles free from guile or hate Would order all things for his better good In the respect and honour of their bloud 25 Of these Iohn Duke of Lancaster was one Too great a Subiect growne for such a State The title of a King and glorie wonne In great exploits his mind did eleuate Aboue proportion kingdomes stand vpon Which made him push at what his issue gate The other Langley whose mild temperatness Did tend vnto a calmer quietnesse 26 With these did Woodstock interpose his part A man for action violently bent And of a spirit averse and ouer-thwart Which could not sute a peace-full gouernment Whose euer-swelling and tumultuous heart Wrought his owne ill and others discontent And these had all the manage of affayres During the time the King was vnder yeares 27 And in the first yeares of his gouernment Things past as first the warres in France proceed Though not with that same fortune and euent Being now not followed with such carefull heed Our people here at home growne discontent Through great exactions insurrections breed Priuate respects hindred the Common-weale And idle ease doth on the mighty steale 28 Too many Kings breed factions in the Court The head too weake the members growne too great Which euermore doth happen in this sort When Children 〈◊〉 the plague which God doth threat Vnto those Kingdomes which he will transport To other Lynes or vtterly defeat For the ambitious once inur'd to 〈◊〉 Canneuer brook a priuate state againe 29 And Kingdomes euer suffer this distresse Where one or many guide the infant King Which one or many tasting this excesse Of greatnesse command can neuer bring Their thoughts againe t' obay or to be lesse From hence these insolencies euer spring Contempt of others whom they seek to foyle Then follow leagues destruction 〈◊〉 spoyle 30 And whether they which vnder-went this charge Permit the King to take a youthfull vaine That they their priuate better might inlarge Or whether he himselfe would farther straine Thinking his yeeres sufficient to discharge The gouernment and so assum'd the raine Or howsoeuer now his eare he lends To youthfull counsell and his lustes attends 31 And Courts were neuer barren yet of those Which could with subtile traine and apt aduice Worke on the Princes weakenesse and dispose Of feeble frailtie easie to entice And such no doubt about this King arose Whose flatterie the dangerous nurse of vice Got hand vpon his youth to pleasures bent Which led by them did others discontent 32 For now his Vncles grew much to mislike These ill proceedings were it that they saw That others fauour'd did aspiring seeke Their Nephew from their counsels to withdraw Seeing him of nature flexible and weake Because they onely would keepe all in awe Or that 〈◊〉 they found the King and State Abus'd by such as now in office sate 33 Or rather else they all were in the fault Th' ambitious Vncles th'indiscreete young King The greedie Councell and the Minions naught And altogether did this tempest bring Besides the times with all iniustice fraught Concurr'd with such confus'd misgouerning That wee may truely say This spoyld the State Youthfull Counsaile priuate Gaine partiall Hate 34 And then the King besides his iealousies Which nourisht were had reason to be led To doubt his Vncles for their loyalties Since Iohn 〈◊〉 Gaunt as was discouered Had practised his death in secret wise And Gloster openly becomes the head Vnto a league who all in armes were bent T' oppose against the present gouernement 35 Pretending to remoue such men as were Accounted to abuse the king and State Of whome the chiefe they did accuse was Veere Made Duke of Ireland with great grace of late And diuers else who for the place they beare Obnoxious are and subiect vnto hate And these must be sequestred with all speed Or else they vow'd their swordes should doo the deed 36 The King was forc't in that next Parliament To grant them what he durst not well refuse For thither arm'd they came and fully bent To suffer no repulse nor no excuse And here they did accomplish their intent Where Iustice did her sword not Ballance vse For euen that 〈◊〉 place they violate Arresting all the Iudges as they sate 37 And here had many worthy men their ende Without all forme or any course of Right For still these broyles that publike good pretend Worke most iniustice being done through spight For those aggrieued euermore do bend Against such as they see of greatest might Who though they cannot helpe what will go ill Yet since they may doo wrong are thought they will 38 And yet herein I meane not to excuse The Iustices and Minions of the King Who might their office and their grace abuse But blame the course held in the managing For great-men ouer-grac't much rigor vse Presuming fauorits discontentment bring And disproportions harmonie do breake Minions too great argue a king too weake 39 Now that so much was granted as was sought A reconcilement made although not ment Appeas'd them all in shewe but not in thought Whilst euery one seem'd outwardly content Though hereby king nor peeres nor people got More loue more strength or easier gouernment But euery day things still succeeded worse For good from Kings is seldome drawne by force 40 And thus it loe continued till by chaunce The Queene which was the Emperours daughter di'de When-as the King t' establish peace with Fraunce And 〈◊〉 for home-quiet to prouide Sought by contracting marriage to aduance His owne affayres against his Vncles pride Tooke the young daughter of King Charles to wife Which after in the end rays'd greater strife 41
That others should his Rule preiudicate Charg'd Herford therewithall who re-accus'd Norfolke for words of treason he had vs'd 61 Norfolke denies them peremptorily Herford recharg'd and supplicates the king To haue the combate of his enemie That by his sword hee might approue the thing Norfolke desires the same as earnestly And both with equall courage menacing Reuenge of wrong that none knew which was free For times of faction times of slaunder bee 62 The combate granted and the day assign'd They both in order of the field appeare Most richly furnisht in all Martiall kinde And at the point of intercombate were When lo the king chang'd sodainely his minde Casts downe his warder to arrest them there As being aduis'd a better way to take Which might for his more certaine safetie make 63 For now considering as it likely might The victorie should hap on Herfords side A man most valiant and of noble sprite Belov'd of all and euer worthy tri'd How much he might be grac't in publique sight By suchan act as might aduance his pride And so become more popular by this Which he feares too much he already is 64 And therefore he resolues to banish both Though th' one in chiefest fauour with him stood A man he dearely lov'd and might be loth To leaue him that had done him so much good Yet hauing cause to do as now he doth To mitigate the enuie of his blood Thought best to lose a friend to rid a foe And such a one as now he doubted so 65 And therefore to perpetuall exile hee Mowbray condemnes Herford but for ten yeares Thinking for that the wrong of this decree Compar'd with greater rigour 〈◊〉 appeares It might of all the better liked bee But yet such murmuring of the fact he heares That he is faine foure of the ten for giue And iudg'd him sixe yeares in exile to liue 66 At whose departure hence out of the Land How did the open multitude reueale The wondrous loue they bare him vnder-hand Which now in this hote passion of their zeale They plainely shew'd that all might vnderstand How deare he was vnto the common weale They feard not to exclaime against the King As one that sought all good mens ruining 67 Vnto the shore with teares with sighes with mone They him conduct cursing the bounds that stay Their willing feete that would haue further gone Had not the fearefull Ocean stopt their way Why Neptune Hast thou made vs stand alone Diuided from the world for this say they Hemd-in to be a spoyle to tyrannie Leauing affliction hence no way to flie 68 Are we lockt vp poore soules heere to abide Within the waterie prison of thy waues As in a fold where subiect to the pride And lust of Rulers we remain 〈◊〉 as slaues Here in the reach of might where none can hide From th' eye of wrath but onely in their Graues Happie confiners you of other landes That shift your soyle and oft scape tyrants hands 69 And must we leaue him here whom here were fit We should retaine the pillar of our State Whose vertues well deserue to gouerne it And not this wanton young effeminate Why should not he in Regall honour sit That best knowes how a Realme to ordinate But one day yet we hope thou shalt bring backe Deare Bullingbrooke the Iustice that we lacke 70 Thus muttred loe the malecontented sort That loue Kings best before they haue them still And neuer can the present State comport But would as often change as they change will For this good Duke had wonne them in this sort By succ'ring them and pittying of their ill That they supposed streight it was one thing To be both a good Man and a good King 71 When-as the grauer fort that saw the course And knew that Princes may not be controld Lik't well to suffer this for feare of worse Since many great one Kingdome cannot hold For now they saw intestine strife of force The apt-diuided State intangle would If he should stay whom they would make their head By whom the vulgar body might be led 72 They saw likewise that Princes oft are faine To buy their quiet with the price of wrong And better 't were that now a few complaine Then all should mourne aswell the weake as strong Seeing still how little Realmes by chaunge do gaine And therefore learned by obseruing long T' admire times past follow the present will Wish for good Princes but t' indure the ill 73 For when it nought auailes what folly then To striue against the current of the time Who will throwe downe himselfe for other men That make a ladder by his fall to clime Or who would seeke t' imbroyle his Country when He might haue rest suffering but others crime Since wise men euer haue preferred farre Th'vniustest peace before the iustest warre 74 Thus they considered that in quiet sate Rich or content or else vnfit to striue Peace-louer wealth hating a troublous State Doth willing reasons for their rest contriue But if that all were thus considerate How should in Court the great the fauour'd thriue Factions must be and these varieties And some must fall that other-some may rise 75 But long the Duke remain'd not in exile Before that Iohn of Gaunt his father dies Vpon whose state the king seis'd now this while Disposing of it as his enemies This open wrong no longer could beguile The world that saw these great indignities Which so exasperates the mindes of all That they resolv'd him home againe to call 76 For now they saw t' was malice in the King Transported in his ill-conceiued thought That made him so to prosecute the thing Against all law and in a course so naught And this aduantage to the Duke did bring More fit occasions whereupon he wrought For to a man so strong and of such might He giues him more that takes away his right 77 The King in this meane time I know not how Was drawne into some actions foorth the Land T' appease the Irish that reuolted now And there attending what he had in hand Neglects those parts from whence worse dangers growe As ignorant how his affayres did stands Whether the plot was wrought it should be so Or that his fate did draw him on to go 78 Most sure it is that hee committed here An ignorant and idle ouersight Not looking to the Dukes proceedings there Being in the Court of Fraunce where best he 〈◊〉 Where both the King and all 〈◊〉 were T' haue stopt his course being within their right But now he was exil'd he thought him sure And free from farther doubting liv'd secure 79 So blindes the sharpest counsels of the wise This ouershadowing Prouidence on hie And dazleth all their clearest sighted eyes That they see not how nakedly they lie There where they little thinke the storme doth rise And ouercasts their cleare securitie When man hath stopt all wayes saue onely that Which as least doubted Ruine enters at 80 And
now was all disorder in th' excesse And whatsoeuer doth a change portend As idle luxurie and wantonnesse Proteus-like varying Pride vaine without ende Wrong-worker Riot motiue to oppresse Endless Exactions which the idle spend Consuming Vsurie and credits crackt Call'd-on this purging Warre that many lackt 81 Then Ill-perswading want in Martiall mindes And wronged patience long opprest with might Loosenes in all which no religion bindes Commaunding force the measure made of Right Gaue fuell to this fire that easie findes The way t' inflame the whole indangerd quite These were the publique breeders of this Warre By which still greatest States confo unded 〈◊〉 82 For now this peace with Fraunce had shut in here The ouergrowing humours Warres do spend For where t'euacuate no imployments were Wider th'vnwieldy burthen doth distend Men wholly vs'd to warre peace could not beare As knowing no other course whereto to bend For brought vp in the broyles of these two Reames They thought best fishing still in troubled streames 83 Like to a Riuer that is stopt his course Doth violate his bankes breakes his owne bed Destroyes his bounds and ouer-runs by force The neighbour-fieldes irregularly spred Euen so this sodaine stop of Warre doth nurse Home broyles within it selfe from others led So dangerous the change hereof is tri'd Ere mindes ' come soft or otherwise imploid 84 But all this makes for thee ô Bulling brooke To worke a way vnto thy Soueraintie This care the Heauens Fate and Fortune tooke To bring thee to thy 〈◊〉 easily Vpon thee fall's that hap which him forsooke Who crownd a King a King yet must not die Thou wert ordaind by Prouidence to rayse A quarrell lasting longer then thy dayes 85 For now this absent Lord out of his Land Where though he shew'd great sprite and valor then Being attended with a worthy band Of valiant Peeres and most couragious men Gaue time to them at home that had in hand Th'vngodly worke and knew the season when Who faile not to aduise the Duke with speed Solliciting to what hee soone agreed 86 Who presently vpon so good report Relying on his friends fidelitie Conueyes himselfe out of the French Kings Court Vnder pretence to go to Britannie And with his followers that to him resort Landed in England Welcom'd ioyfully Of th'altring vulgar apt for changes still As headlong carried with a present will 87 And com'n to quiet shore but not to rest The first night of his ioyfull landing here A fearefull vision doth his thoughts molest Seeming to see in reuerent forme appeare A faire and goodly woman all distrest Which with full-weeping eyes and rented haire Wringing her hands as one that griev'd and prayd With sighes commixt with words vnto him said 88 O whither dost thou tend my vnkinde Sonne What mischiefe dost thou go-about to bring To her whose Genius thou here lookst vpon Thy Mother-countrey whence thy selfe didst spring Whither thus dost thou in ambition run To change due course by foule disordering What bloodshed what turmoyles dost thou commence To last for many wofull ages hence 89 Stay here thy foote thy yet vnguilty foote That canst not stay when thou art farther in Retire thee yet vnstain'd whil'st it doth boote The end is spoyle of what thou dost begin Iniustice neuer yet tooke lasting roote Nor held that long Impietie did win The babes vnborne shall ô be borne to bleed In this thy quarrell if thou do proceede 90 This said she ceast when he in troubled thought Griev'd at this tale and sigh't and thus replies Deare Countrey ô I haue not hither brought These Armes to spoyle but for thy liberties The sinne be on their head that this haue wrought Who wrongd me first and thee do tyrannise I am thy Champion and I seeke my right Prouok't I am to this by others spight 91 This this pretence saith shee th' ambitious finde To smooth iniustice and to flatter wrong Thou dost not know what then will be thy minde When thou shalt see thy selfe aduanc't and strong When thou hast shak't off that which others binde Thou soone forgettest what thou learnedst long Men do not know what then themselues will bee When-as more then themselues themselues they see 92 And here with all turning about he wakes Lab'ring in spirit troubled with this strange sight And mus'd a while waking aduisement takes Of what had past in sleepe and silent night Yet hereof no important reck'ning makes But as a dreame that vanisht with the light The day designes and what he had in hand Left it to his diuerted thoughts vnscand 93 Doubtfull at first he warie doth proceed Seemes not affect that which he did effect 〈◊〉 else perhaps seemes as he meant indeed Sought but his owne and did no more expect Then Fortune thou art guiltie of his deed That didst his state aboue his hopes erect And thou must beare some blame of his great sinne That 〈◊〉 him worse then when he did beginne 94 Thou didst conspire with Pride and with the Time To make so easie an ascent to wrong That he who had no thought so hie to clime With sauouring comfort still allur'd along Was with occasion thrust into the crime Seeing others weakenes and his part so strong And who is there in such a case that will Do good and feare that may liue free with ill 95 We will not say nor thinke O Lancaster But that thou then didst meane as thou didst sweare Vpon th'Euangelists at Doncaster In th' eye of heauen and that assembly theare That thou but as an vpright orderer Sought'st to reforme th' abused Kingdome here And get thy right and what was thine before And this was all thou would'st attempt no more 96 Though we might say and thinke that this pretence Was but a shadow to the intended act Because th' euent doth argue the offence And plainely seemes to manifest the fact For that hereby thou mightst win confidence With those whom else thy course might hap distract And all suspicion of thy drift remoue Since easily men credit whom they loue 97 But God forbid wee should so neerly pry Into the lowe-deepe-buried sinnes long past T' examine and conferre iniquitie Whereof faith would no memorie should last That our times might not haue t'exemplifie With aged staines but with our owne shame cast Might thinke our blot the first not done before That new-made sinnes might make vs blush the more 98 And let vn wresting Charitie beleeue That then thy oath with thy intent agreed And others faith thy faith did first deceiue Thy after-fortune forc't thee to this deed And let no man 〈◊〉 idle censure giue Because th' euent proues so 't was so decreed For ost our counsels sort to other end Then that which frailtie did at first intend 99 Whil'st those that are but outward lookers on Who sildome sound these mysteries of State Deeme things were so contriv'd as they are done And hold that policie which was but fate Imagining all former acts did
run Vnto that course they seeth ' effects relate Whil'st still too short they come or cast too far And make these great men wiser then they ar 100 But by degrees he ventures now on blood And sacrifiz'd vnto the peoples loue The death of those that chiefe in enuie stood As th' Officers who first these dangers proue The Treasurer and those whom they thought good Bushy and Greene by death he must remoue These were the men the people thought did cause Those great exactions and abus'd the lawes 101 This done his cause was preacht with learned skill By Arundel th' Archbishop who there show'd A Pardon sent from Rome to all that will Take part with him and quit the faith they ow'd To Richard as a Prince vnfit and ill On whom the Crowne was fatally bestow'd And easie-yeelding zeale was quickly caught With what the mouth of grauity had taught 102 O that this power from euerlasting giuen The great alliance made twixt God and vs Th' intelligence that earth doth hold with heauen Sacred Religion ô that thou must thus Be made to smooth our wayes vniust vneuen Brought from aboue earth-quarrels to discusse Must men beguile our soules to winne our wils And make our Zeale the furtherer of ils 103 But the ambitious to 〈◊〉 their might Dispense with heauen and what Religion would The armed will finde right or els make right If this 〈◊〉 wrought not yet an other should And this and other now do all incite To strength the faction that the Duke doth hold Who easily obtained what he sought His vertues and his loue so greatly wrought 104 The King still busied in this Irish warre Which by his valour there did well succeed Had newes how here his Lords reuolted are And how the Duke of Herford doth proceede In these affaires he feares are growne too farre Hastes his returne from thence with greatest speed But was by tempests windes and seas debarr'd As if they likewise had against him warr'd 105 But at the length though late in Wales he lands Where thoroughly inform'd of Henries force And well aduertis'd how his owne case stands Which to his griefe he sees tends to the worse He leauest ' Aumarle at Milford all those bandes He brought from Ireland taking thence his course To Conway all disguis'd with fourteene more To th' Earle of Salisburie thither sent before 106 Thinking the Earle had rays'd some Armie there Whom there he findes for saken all alone The forces in those parts which leuied were Were closely shrunke away disperst and gone The king had stayd too long and they in feare Resolued euerie man to shift for one At this amas'd such fortune he laments Foresees his fall whereto each thing consents 107 In this disturb'd tumultuous broken State Whil'st yet th' euent stood doubtfull what should bee Whilst nought but headlong running to debate And glittering troupes and arm or men might see Furie and feare compassion wrath and hate Confus'd through all the land no corner free The strong all mad to strife to ruine bent The weaker waild the aged they lament 108 And blame their many yeeres that liue so long To see the horrour of these miseries Why had not we said they di'd with the strong In forraine fieldes in honourable wise In iust exployts and noble without wrong And by the valiant hand of enemies And not thus now reserued in our age To home-confusion and disordered rage 109 Vnto the Temples flocke the weake deuout Sad wayling Women there to vow and pray For husbands brothers or their sonnes gone out To blood-shed whom nor teares nor loue could stay Here graue religious Fathers which much doubt The sad euents these broyles procure them may As Prophets warne exclaime disswade these crimes By the examples fresh of other times 110 And ô what do you now prepare said they Another Conquest by these fatall wayes What must your owne hands make your selues a pray To desolation which these tumults rayse What Dane what Norman shall prepare his way To triumph on the spoyle of your decayes That which nor Fraunce nor all the world could do In vnion shall your discord bring you to 111 Conspire against vs neighbour nations all That enuie at the height whereto w' are growne Coniure the barbarous North and let them call Strange furie from farre distant shores vnknowne And let them altogether on vs fall So to diuert the ruine of our owne That we forgetting what doth so incense May turne the hand of malice to defence 112 Calme these tempestuous spirits O mighty Lord This threatning storme that ouer-hangs the Land Make them consider ere they ' vnsheath the sword How vaine is th' earth this point whereon they stand And with what sad calamities is stor'd The best of that for which th' Ambitious band Labor the ende of labor strife of strife Terror in death and horrour after life 113 Thus they in zeale whose humbled thoughts were good Whil'st in this wide-spread volume of the skies The booke of Prouidence disclosed stood Warnings of wrath foregoing miseries In lines of fire and characters of blood There feare full formes in dreadfull flames arise Amazing Comets threatning Monarchs might And new-seene Starres vnknowne vnto the night 114 Red 〈◊〉 Dragons in the ayre do flye And burning Meteors pointed-streaming lightes Bright Starres in midst of day appeare in skie Prodigious monsters ghastly fearefull sights Strange Ghostes and apparitions terrifie The wofull mother her owne birth affrightes Seeing a wrong deformed infant borne Grieues in her paines deceiv'd in shame doth mourne 115 The earth as if afeard of blood and wounds Trembles in terrour of these falling 〈◊〉 The hollow concaues giue out groning sounds And sighing murmures to lament our woes The Ocean all at discord with his boundes Reiterates his strange vntimely flowes Nature all out of course to checke our course Neglects her worke to worke in vs remorse 116 So great a wracke vnto it selfe doth lo Disorder'd proud mortalitie prepare That this whole frame doth euen labour so Her ruine vnto frailty to declare And trauailes to fore-signifie the wo That weake improuidence could not beware For heauen and earth and ayre and seas and all Taught men to see but not to shun their fall 117 Is man so deare vnto the heauens that they Respect the wayes of earth the workes of sinne Doth this great All this Vniuer sall weigh The vaine designes that weakenesse doth begin Or doth our feare father of zeale giue way Vnto this errour ignorance liues in And deeme our faults the cause that moue these powres That haue their cause from other cause then ours 118 But these beginnings had this impious Warre Th'vngodly blood-shed that did so defile The beautie of thy fields and euen did marre The flowre of thy chiefe pride thou fairest Ile These were the causes that incenst so farre The ciuill wounding hand inrag'd with spoyle That now the liuing with afflicted eye Looke backe with
off his Hood And welcomd him though wisht him little good 59 To whom the Duke began My Lord I knowe That both vncall'd and vnexpected too I haue presumed in this sort to showe And seeke the right which I am borne vnto Yet pardon I beseech you and allow Of that constraint which driues me thus to doo For since I could not by a fairer course Attaine mine owne I must vse this of force 60 Well so it seemes deare Cosin said the King Though you might haue procur'd it otherwise And I am here content in euery thing To right you as your selfe shal best deuise And God voutsafe the force that here you bring Beget not England greater iniuries And so they part the Duke made haste from thence It was no place to ende this difference 61 Straight towards London in this heate of pride They forward set as they had fore-decreed With whom the 〈◊〉 King constraind mustride Most meanely mounted on a simple Steed Degraded of all grace and ease beside Thereby neglect of all respect to breed For th'ouer-spreading pompe of prouder might Must darken vveaknes and debase his sight 62 Approaching neere the Cittie hee was met With all the sumptuous shewes ioy could deuise Where new-desire to please did not forget To pasle the vsuall pompe of former guise Striuing applause as out of prison let Runnes-on beyond all bounds to nouelties And voyce and hands and knees and all do now A strange deformed forme of welcome showe 63 And manifold confusion running greetes Shoutes cries claps hands thrusts striues and presses neere Houses impov'risht were t' inrich the streetes And streetes left naked that vnhappie were Plac't from the sight where ioy with wonder meetes Where all of all degrees striue to appeare Where diuers-speaking zeale one murmure findes In vndistinguisht voyce to tell their mindes 64 He that in glorie of his fortune sate Admiring what hee thought could neuer be Did feele his blood within salute his state And lift vp his reioycing soule to see So many hands and hearts congratulate Th' aduancement of his long-desir'd degree When prodigall of thankes in passing by He resalutes them all with chearefull eye 65 Behind him all aloofe came pensiue on The vnregarded King that drooping went Alone and but for spight scarce lookt vpon Iudge if hee did more enuie or lament See what a wondrous worke this day is done Which thimage of both fortunes doth present In th' one to shew the best of glories face In th' other worse then worst of all disgrace 67 Novv Isabell the young afflicted Queene Whose yeares had neuer shew'd her but delights Nor louely eyes before had euer seene Other then smiling ioyes and ioyfull sights 〈◊〉 great matcht great liv'd great and euer beene 〈◊〉 of the worlds best benefits 〈◊〉 plac't her selfe hearing her Lord should passe 〈◊〉 way where she vnseene in secret was 68 Sicke of delay and longing to behold Her long 〈◊〉 Loue in fearefull ieoperdies To whom although it had in sort beene told Of their proceeding and of his surprize Yet thinking they would neuer be so bold To lead their Lord in any shamefull wise But rather would conduct him as their King As seeking but the States reordering 69 And foorth shee lookes and notes the formost traine And 〈◊〉 to view some there she wisht nor there Seeing the chiefe not come stayes lookes againe And yet she sees not him that should appeare Then backe she stands and then desires as faine Againe to looke to see if hee were neere At length a glittering troupe farre off she spies Perceiues the throng and heares the shouts and 〈◊〉 70 Lo yonder now at length he comes sayth shee Looke my good women where he is in sight Do you not see him yonder that is hee Mounted on that white Courser all in white There where the thronging troupes of people bee I know him by his seate he sits s vpright Lo now he bowes deare Lord with what sweet grace How long haue I longd to behold that face 71 O what delight my hart takes by mine eye I doubt me when he comes but something neere I shall set wide the window what care I Who doth see me so him I may see cleare Thus doth false ioy delude her wrongfully Sweete Lady in the thing she held so deare For neerer come she findes she had mistooke And him she markt was Henrie Bullingbrooke 72 Then Enuie takes the place in her sweet eyes Where Sorrow had prepar'd her selfe a seat And words of wrath from whence complaints should rise Proceed from egre lookes and browes that threat Traytor saith shee ist thou that in this wise To braue thy Lord and King art made so great And haue mine eyes done vnto me this wrong To looke on thee for this staid I so long 73 Ah haue they grac't a periur'd Rebell so Well for their errour I will weepe them out And hate the tongue defil'd that praysde my foe And loath the minde that gaue me not to doubt What haue I added shame vnto my woe I le looke no more Ladies looke you about And tell me if my Lord be in this traine Least my betraying eyes should erre againe 74 And in this passion turnes 〈◊〉 selfe away The rest looke all and carefull note each wight Whil'st she impatient of the least delay Demaundes againe And what not yet in sight Where is my Lord What gone some other way I muse at this O God graunt all goe right Then to the window goes againe at last And sees the chiefest traine of all was past 75 And sees not him her soule desir'd to see And yet hope spent makes her not leaue to looke At last her loue-quicke eyes which ready be Fastens on one whom though she neuer tooke Could be her Lord yet that sad cheere which hee Then shew'd his habit and his woful looke The grace he doth in base attire retaine Caus'd her she could not from his sight refraine 76 What might he be she said that thus alone Rides pensiue in this vniuersall ioy Some I perceiue as well as we do mone All are not pleas'd with euery thing this day It may be hee laments the wrong is done Vnto my Lord and grieues as well he may Then he is some of ours and we of right Must pittie him that pitties our said plight 77 But stay 〈◊〉 not my Lord himselfe I see In truth if 't were not for his base aray I verily should thinke that it were hee And yet his basenes doth a grace bewray Yet God forbid let me deceiued be And be it not my Lord although it may Let my desire make vowes against desire And let my sight approue my sight a lier 78 Let me not see him but himselfe a King For so he left me so he did remoue This is not he this feeles some other thing A passion of dislike or else of loue O yes 't is he that princely face doth bring The euidence of Maiestie to prooue That
Countrie com'n to vvage Warre vvith thy selfe nor those afflictions try'd Of all consuming discorde here so long Too mightie novv against thy selfe too strong The ende of the second Booke THE ARGVMENT OF THE THIRD BOOKE Henrie the fourth the Crowne established The Lords that did to Glosters death consent Degraded do rebell are vanquished King Richard vnto Pomfret Castle sent Is by a cruell Knight there murthered After the Lords had had their punishment His Corps from thence to London is conuayd And there for all to view is open layd 1 NOw risen is that Head by which did spring The birth of two strong Heads two Crownes two rights That monstrous shape that afterward did bring Deform'd confusion to distracted wights Now is attain'd that dearely purchast thing That fill'd the world with lamentable sights And now attain'd all care is how to frame Meanes to establish and to hold the same 2 First he attends to build a strong conceipt Of his vsurped powre in peoples mindes And armes his cause with furniture of weight Which easily the sword and Greatnesse findes Succession Conquest and election straight Suggested are and prov'd in all their kindes More then ynough they finde who finde their might Hath force to make all that they will haue Right 3 Though one of these might verie well suffise His present approbation to procure But who his own cause makes doth stil deuise To make too much to haue it more then sure Feare casts too deepe and euer is too wise No vsuall plots the doubtfull can secure And all these disagreeing Claymes he had With hope to make one good of many bad 4 Like vnto him that fears and faine would stop Aninundation working-on apace Runs to the Breach heapes mightie matter vp Throwes indigested burthens on the place Lodes with huge weights the out-side the top But leaues the inner partes in feeble case Whil'st th'vnder-searching water working-on Beares proudly downe all that was idly don 5 So fares it with our indirect desseignes And wrong contriued labors at the last Whil'st working Time and iustice vndermines The feeble frame held to be wrought so fast Then when out-breaking vengeance vncombines The ill-ioyn'd plots so fayrely ouer-cast Turnes vp those huge pretended heapes of showes And all these weake illusions ouer-throwes 6 But after hauing made his title plaine Vnto his Coronation he proceedes Which in most sumptuous sort to intertaine The gazing vulgar whom this splendor feeds Is stately furnisht with a glorious traine Wherein the former Kings he far exceedes And all t' amuse the world and turne the thought Of what how 't was done to whatis wrought 7 And that he might on many props repose He strengths his owne who his part did take New Officers new Councellors he chose His eldest sonne the Prince of Wales doth make His second Lord high Steward and to those Had hazarded their fortunes for his sake He giues them charge as merites their deseart And rayses them by crushing th' aduerse part 8 So that hereby the vniuersall face Of Court with all the Offices of State Are wholly chang'd by death or by disgrace Vpon th' aduantage of the peoples hate Who euer enuying those of chiefest place Whom neither worth nor vertue but their fate Exalted hath doo when their Kings doo naught Because it 's in their powre iudge it their faute 9 And in their steed such as were popular And wel-deseruing were aduanc't by grace Graue Shirley he ordaines Lord Chancelor Both worthy for his vertues and his race And Norburie hee appoints for Treasurer A man though meane yet fit to vse that place And others t'other roomes whom people hold So much more lov'd how much they loath the old 10 And it behoues him now to doo his best T' approue his vow and oath made to the State And many great disorders he redrest Which alwayes Vsurpation makes the gate To let it selfe into the peoples brest And seekes the publike best t'accommodate Wherein Iniustice better doth then Right For who reproues the lame must go vpright 11 Though it be easie to accuse a State Of imperfection and misgouernment And easie to beget in people hate Of present Rule which cannot all content And fewe attempt it that effect it not Yet t'introduce a better gouernment In steed thereof if we t'example looke The vnder-takers haue beene ouer-tooke 12 Then against those he strictly doth proceed Who chiefe of Glosters death were guiltie thought Not so much for the hatred of that deed But vnder this pretext the meanes he sought To ruine such whose might did much exceed His powre to wrong nor else could well be wrought Law Iustice blood the zeale vnto the dead Were on 〈◊〉 side and his drift coloured 13 Here many of the greatest of the Land Accus'd were of the act strong proofes brought out Which strongly were 〈◊〉 the Lords all stand To cleare their Cause 〈◊〉 resolutely stout The King 〈◊〉 what he tooke in hand Was not with safety to be brought-about Desists to vrge their death in any wise Respecting number strength friends and allies 14 Nor was it time now in his tender raigne And infant-young-beginning gouernement To striue with blood when lenitie must gaine The mightie men and please the discontent New Kings do feare when old Courts farther straine Establisht States to all things will consent He must dispense with his will and their crime And seeke t' oppresse and weare them out with time 15 Yet not to seeme but to haue some thing done In what he could not as he would effect To 〈◊〉 the people that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to expect He 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this 〈◊〉 was elect A 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 few or none would misse Who first did serue their turne and now serues his 16 And to abase the too high state of those That were accus'd and lesten their degrees Aumarle Surry Exceter must lose The names of Dukes their titles dignities And whatsoeuer profits thereby rise The Earles their titles and their Signories And all they got in th' end of Richards raigne Since Glosters death they must restore againe 17 By this as if by Ostracisme t' abate That great presumptiue wealth whereon they stand For first hereby impov'rishing their state He killes the meanes they might haue to withstand Then equals them with other whom they hate Who by their spoyles are rais'd to hie command That weake and enuied if they should conspire They wracke themselues and he hath his desire 18 Yet by this grace which must be held a grace As both they and the world are made beleeue He thinks t' haue dealt benignly in this case And left them state ynough to let them liue And that the taking from thē meanes place Was nothing in respect what hee did giue But they that knowe how their owne reckning 〈◊〉 Account not what they haue but what they lose 19 The Parlement which now is held decreed What-euer pleas'd
the people to abuse And giue their Cause and them the 〈◊〉 force The king for tyranny they doo accuse By whom the State was growne from bad to worse A periur'd man who held all faith in scorne Whose trusted Oathes had others 〈◊〉 forsworne 25 And there withal the execrable act On their late murthered King they aggrauate How he imploy'd the dooers of the fact Whom afterwards hee did remunerate And dayly such taxations did exact As were against the Order of the State Presuming those great summes hee did impose About his priuate vses to dispose 26 And how he was inuironed with such As had possest him and in slanderous sort Accus'd them so as they durst not approche To cleare themselues of such vniust report And thereupon they 〈◊〉 disauouch To yeld him more obedience or support And as t' a 〈◊〉 Duke of Lancaster Their Cartell of Defiance they preferre 27 Protesting these obiections to make good With sword in hand and to confirme and seale Their vndertaking with their dearest bloud As Procurators for the Common-weale And that vpon their Consciences it stood And did import their dutie and their zeale Vnto the State as Peeres to seeredrest Those miseries wherewith it was opprest 28 Great seem'd their Cause and greatly too did adde The peoples loue thereto these crymes impos'd That many gathered to the troupes they had And many sent them aide though vndisclos'd So that the King with all maine speed was glad Both by his remonstrances well compos'd And with his sword his best defence prouide To right himselfe and to correct their pride 29 Divulging first a fayre Apologie Of his cleere heart touching the foule report Of that assassinate which vtterly He doth 〈◊〉 protesting in no sort Tagree thereto in will or priuitie And how he had beene vsed to extort The State could witnesse best by whose consent Was granted what he had in Parlement 30 Which neuer was but onely one supply Infoure yeares troublous and expensiue Raigne And 〈◊〉 vpon extreame necessitie The safetie of the publicke to maintaine And that the Percies best could testifie How most that mony issued was againe To whom the same was rendred to the end To warre the Scot and Borders to defend 31 And that the rest was to the same effect For which it was obtaynd in like 〈◊〉 And where-as they did slanderously obiect How that they durst not hazard to present In person their defences in respect He was incenst by some maleuolent It was most false for he knew no defence They were to make till now they made offence 32 And how far he had been from cruelty Both VVales and Scotland could him witnes beare Where those effects of his great clemencie Insparing bloud do to his cost appeare Much more his subiects finde his lenitie Whose loue he seekes to haue and not their feare But thus said he they euer do pretend To haue receiv'd a wrong who wrong intend 33 Not to giue time vnto th' increasing rage And gathering furie foorth hee marcht with speed Least more delay or giuing longer age To th' euill growne it might the cure exceed All his bestmen at Armes and Leaders sage All he prepar'd hee could and all did need For to a mighty worke thou goest ô King That equall spirits and equall powres shal bring 34 There shall young Hotspur with a fury led Ingrapple with thy sonne as fierce as hee There Martiall VVorster long experienced In forraine armes shall come t' incounter thee There Dowglas to thy Stafford shall make head There Vernon for thy valiant Blunt shall be There shalt thou finde a doubtfull bloudy day Though sickenesse keep Northumberland away 35 Who yet reserv'd though after quit for this Another tempest on thy head to rayse As if still wrong-reuenging Nemesis Meant to afflict all thy continuing 〈◊〉 And here this field hee happely doth misse For thy great good and therefore well hee stayes What might his force haue done being brought thereto When that already gaue so much to doo 36 The swift approche and vnexpected speed The King had made vpon this new-rays'd force In th' vnconfirmed troupes much feare did breed Vntimely hind'ring their intended course Theioyning with the Welsh they had decreed Was hereby dasht which made their Cause the worse Northumberland with forces from the North Expected to be there was not set forth 37 And yet vndaunted Hotspur seeing the King So neere arriv'd leauing the worke in hand With forward speed his forces marshalling Sets forth his farther comming to withstand And with a cheerefull voyce incouraging His well experienc't and aduentrous Band Brings on his Army eger vnto fight And plac't the same before the King in sight 38 This day saith he my valiant trusty friendes What-euer it doth giue shal glory giue This day with honor frees our State or endes Our misery with fame that still shal liue And doo but thinke how well the same he spends Who spends his blood his Country to relieue What haue we hands and shall we seruile bee Why were swordes made but to preserue men free 39 Besides th' assured hope of victorie Which we may even fore-promise on our side Against this weake constrayned company Whom force and feare not will and loue doth guide Against a Prince whose foulimpiety The heauens doo hate the earth cannot abide Our number being no lesse our courage more No doubt we haue it if wee worke therefore 40 This sayd and thus resolv'd euen bent to charge Vpon the King who well their order view'd And wary noted all the course at large Of their proceeding and their multitude And deeming better if he could discharge The day with safetie and some peace conclude Great proffers sendes of pardon and of grace If they would yeeld and quietnesse imbrace 41 Which though his feares might driue him to propose To time his businesle for some other ende Yet sure hee could not meane t' haue peace with those Who did in that supreame degree offend Nor were they such as would bee wonne with showes Or breath of oathes or vowes could apprehend So that in honor th'offers he doth make Were not for him to 〈◊〉 nor them to take 42 And yet this much his courses doo approue He was not bloudy in his Naturall And yeeld he did to more then might behoue His dignitie to haue dispenst withall And vnto VVorster hee himselfe did moue A reconcilement to be made of all But VVorster know'ing it could not be secur'd His Nephews on-set yet for all procur'd 43 Which seeing the King with greater wrathin censt Rage against furie doth with speede prepare And though sayd he I could haue wel dispenst With this dayes bloud which I haue sought to spare That greater glory might haue recompenst The forward worth of these that so much dare That we might good haue had by th'ouerthrowne And th'wounds we make might not haue beene our owne 44 Yet since that other mens iniquitie Calles-on the sword of wrath
maintaine His charge abrode which with that discontent That murmure those denyals hee doth gaine As that hee findes it euen as turbulent To warre for it as with it all his Raigne Though hee had those inforcements of expence Both for 〈◊〉 retaynements and defence 65 For here beside these troubles in the Land His large Dominions held abrode require A plentiful and a prepared hand To guard them where so mightie men aspire T' assaile distract 〈◊〉 trouble his Command With hopes with promises with sword and fire And 〈◊〉 as deepe importes his 〈◊〉 to cleere Which by his neighbors much infested were 66 The Flomings Britaines with the French and all Attemptincursions and worke much despight Orleance for Guien and here the Conte Saint Paul For Calais labours and the I le of Wight Wherein though neither had successe at all Yet 〈◊〉 ouercame and wonne by fight Important Holdes in Gasconie the-while And did the English much distresse and spoyle 67 All which require prouisions to withstand And all are succord with great prouidence A Nauie to secure the Seas is mann'd And forces sent to Calais for defence And wherein other parts defectiue stand 〈◊〉 are supply'd with carefull diligence So that his subiects could not but well knowe That what they 〈◊〉 he did sure bestowe 68 Nor did hee spare himselfe nor his but bent All-wholly 〈◊〉 actiue Worthynesse The Prince of VVales vnto his Prouince sent Where hee was sure hee should not take his ease His second soune is with the Earle of Kent Imployd as 〈◊〉 to keepe the Seas A third though very yong likewise sent forth With VVestmerland attends vnto the North. 69 Thus were they bred who after were to bee Men amongst men here with these graue Adioynts These learned Maisters they were taught to see Themselues to read the world and keep their points Thus were they entred in the first degree And Accedence of action which acquaints Them with the Rules of Worth and Nobleness Which in true Concord they learn'd well t' expresse 70 And whiles h'attends the State thus carefully The Earle of Marches children are conuay'd Out of the Towre of VVindsor secretly Being prisoners there not for their merit lay'd But for their Bloud and to the ende whereby This Chayne of Nature might be interlay'd Betweene the Father and his high intents To hold him backe to saue these innocents 71 For which attempt though it were frustrated By their recouerie who were got againe Aumarle now Duke of Yorke is chalenged By his owne sister to haue layd that trayne Who late her Lord with others ruined In secretly betraying them t' obtaine His grace and peace which yet contents him not For Who hath grace and peace by treason got 72 So much did loue t' her executed Lord Predominate in this faire Ladies hart As in that region it would not afford Nature a place to rest in any part Of her affections but that she abhord Her proper blood and left to doo the part Of 〈◊〉 to doo that of a wife T' auenge a Husbands death by Brothers life 73 Vpon which accusation presently The Duke committed is without much stirre Or vulgar noyse for that it tenderly Did touch the secretst wounds of Lancaster When streight another new conspiracie As if it were a certaine 〈◊〉 Ally'd to this ingendred in the North Is by th'Archbishop Scroope with power brought forth 74 And with faire zeale and pietie approv'd To be forth vniuersall benefit And succour of the people who soone mov'd By such perswaders as are held vpright And for their zeale and charitie belov'd Vse not t' examine if the Cause be right But leap into the toyle and are vndon By following them that they rely'd vpon 75 Here new aspersions with new obloquies Are layde on old deserts and future ill On present suffrings bruted to aryse That farther grieuancesing ender wil. And then concussion rapine pilleries Their Catalogue of accusations fill Which to redresse they doo presume to make Religion to auow the part they take 76 And euen as Canterburie did produce A Pardon to aduance him to the 〈◊〉 The like now Yorke 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 His faction for the pulling of him down Whilst th' ignorant deceiv'd by this abuse Makes others ends to be as if their owne But what wold these haue don against the crimes Oppressions ryots wastes of other times 77 Since now they had a Monarch and a man Rays'd by his worth and by their owne consent To gouerne them and workes the best he can T' aduance the Crowne and giue the State coÌ„tent Commits not all to others care nor ran Anidle course or on his 〈◊〉 spent But thus the Horse at first bites at the Bit That after is content to play with it 78 Growne to a mighty powre attending now Northumberland with his prepared ayde The Bishop by a parle is with a showe Of combination cunningly be trayde By Westmerland whose wit did ouerthrowe Without a sword all these great feates and stayd The mightiest danger that did euer yet Thy Crowne and State disturbed Henrie threat 79 For which this reuerent Priest with Mowbray dyes Who both drawne on with passion of despight To vndertake this fatall enterpise The one his brothers bloud-shed to requite The other for his fathers iniuries Did wrong themselues and did not others right For who through th' eyes of their affections looke And not of iudgement thus are ouer-tooke 80 Where of when newes came to Northumberland Who seldome other then of miserie Seemes borne to hearâ—â— being ever behind hand With Fortune and his opportunitie To Scotland flyes where giuen to vnderstand Of some intrapment by conspiracie Gets into VVales whence hee aduentured T' attempt another day and lost his head 81 Whereby once more those Parts are quieted When-as the King who neuer had his brow Seene free from sweat nor hart from trouble rid Was with suspicion that his sonne grew now Too popular and forward so much fed By wicked instruments who well knew how To gaine by Princes feares as he thereby Fell in his griefe to great extreamitie 82 Which when that vertuous Prince who borne to bee The module of a glorious Monarch heard With humble protestations did so free His fathers feares and his owne honor cleer'd As that he plainely made the world to see How base Detraction and Deceipt appeard And that a hart so nobly built could not Containe within a thought that wore a blot 83 Wherewith the king betakes him to some peace Yet to a peace much like a sicke-mans sleep Whose vnrelenting paines do neuer cease But alwayes watch vpon his weakenes keepe That neuer any Sabaoth of release Could free his trauailes and afflictions deepe But still his cares held working all his life Till Death concludes a finall end with strife 84 Whos 's Herald Sickenes being imployd before With full commission to denounce his end And paine and griefe inforcing more
and more Besieg'd the Hold that could not long defend Consuming so al that resisting store Of those prouisions Nature daign'd to lend As that the walles 〈◊〉 thin permit the Minde To looke out thorow and his frailty finde 85 For now as if those vapors vanisht were Which heat of boyling bloud and health did breed To clowd the iudgement things do plaine appeare In their owne colours as they are indeede When-as th'illightned soule discouers cleere Th'abusing shewes of Sense and notes with heed How poore a thing is pride when all as slaues Differ but in their fetters not their Graues 86 And lying on his last afflicted bed Pale Death and Conscience both before him stand Th' one holding out a Booke wherein he read In bloudy lines the deedes of his owne hand The other shewes a glasse which figured Anougly forme of foule corrupted Sand Both bringing horror in the hiest degree With what he was and what he soone should be 87 Which seeing all trembling and confus'd with feare He lay a while amaz'd with this affright Atlast commands some that attending were To fetch the Crowne and set it in his sight On which with fixed eye and heauy cheere Casting a looke O God sayth he what right I had to thee I now in griefe conceiue Thee which with blood I held with horror leaue 88 And herewithall the soule rapt with the thought Of mischiefes past did so attentiue wey These present terrors whil'st as if forgot The dull oppressed body senselesse lay That he as breathlesse quite quite dead is thought When lo the sonne comes in and takes-away This fatall Crowne from thence and out he goes As if impatient longer time to lose 89 To whom call'd backe for this presumptuous deed The King return'd from out his extasie Began O sonne what needst thou make such speed To be before-hand with thy miserie Thou shalt haue time ynough if thou succeed To feele the stormes that beat on Dignitie And if thou 〈◊〉 but bee be any thing In 〈◊〉 then neuer be a King 90 Nay Father since your Fortune did attaine So high a Stand I meane not to descend Replyes the Prince as if what you did gaine I were of spirit vnable to defend Time will appease 〈◊〉 well who now complaine And ratifie our int'rest in the end What wrong hath not continuance quite out-worne Yeares make that right which neuer was so borne 91 If so God worke his pleasure sayd the King Yet thou must needs contend with all thy might Such euidence of vertuous deeds to bring That well may proue our wrong to be our right And let the goodnesse of the managing Raze out the blot of foul attaining quite That Discontent may all aduantage misse To wish it otherwise then now it is 92 And since my death my purpose doth preuent Touching this Holy warre I tooke in hand An action wherewithall my soule had ment T' appease my God and reconcile my Land To thee is left to finish my intent Who to be safe must neueridly stand But some great actions entertaine thou still To holde their mindes who else wil practise ill 93 Thou hast not that aduantage by my Raigne To ryotit as they whom long descent Hath purchas'tloue by custome but with paine Thou must contend to buy the worlds content What their birth gaue them thou hast yet to gaine By thine owne vertues and good gouernment So that vnlesse thy worth confirme the thing Thou neuer shalt be father to a King 94 Nor art thou borne in those calme dayes where Rest Hath brought asleepe sluggish Securitie But in tumultuous times where mindes addrest To factions are invr'd to mutinie A mischiefe not by force to be supprest Where rigor still begets more enmitie Hatred must be beguil'd with some new course Where States are stiffe and Princes doubt their force 95 This and much more Affliction would haue say'd Out of th' experience of a troublous Raigne For which his high desires had dearely pay'd The int'rest of an euer-toyling paine But that this all-subduing Power here stai'd His fault'ring tongue and paine r'inforc't againe Barr'd vp th' oppressed passages of breath To bring him quite vnder the state of Death 96 In whose possession I must leaue him now And now into the Ocean of new toyles Into the stormie Maine where tempestes growe Of greater ruines and of greater spoyles Setfoorth my course to hasten-on my vow Ov'rall the troublous Deepe of these turmoyles And if I may but liue t' attaine the shore Of my desired end I wish no more The ende of the fourth Booke THE FIFT BOOKE THE ARGVMENT Henry the fift cuts off his enemie The Earle of Cambridge that conspir'd his death Henry the sixt married vnluckily His and his Countryes glorie ruineth Suffolke that made the match preferd too hie Going to exile a Pirat murthereth VVhat meanes the Duke of Yorke obseru'd to gaine The worlds good-will seeking the Crowne t' attaine 1 CLose smothered lay the lowe depressed fire Whose after-issuing flames confounded all The whil'st victorious Henry did conspire The wracke of Fraunce that at his feete did fall Whil'st ioyes of gotten spoyles and new desire Of greater gaine to greater deeds did call His conquering troupes that could no thoughts retaine Saue thoughts of glorie all that actiue Raigne 2 Whome here me thinks as if hee did appeare Out of the clowdy darkenes of the night I do behold approche with Martiall cheere And with a dreadful and yet louely sight Whose eye giues courage and whose brow hath feare Both representing terror and delight And stayes my course and off my purpose breakes And in vp brayding words thus fiercely speakes 3 Vngrateful times that impiously neglect That worth that neuer times againe shall shew What merites all our toyle no more respect Or else standes Idlenesse asham'd to knowe Those wondrous Actions that do so obiect Blame to the wanton sinne vnto the slowe Can England see the best that she can boast Lie thus vngrac't vndeckt and almost lost 4 Why do you seeke for fained Palladines Out of the smoke of idle vanitie Who may giue glory to the true designes Of 〈◊〉 chier Talbot Neuile Willoughby Why should not you striue to fill vp your lines With wonders of your owne with veritie T' inflame their ofspring with the loue of good And glorious true examples of their Blood 5 What euerlasting matter here is found Whence new immortall Iliads might proceed That those whose happie graces do abound In blessed accents here may haue to feed Good thoughts on no imaginarie ground Of hungry shadowes which no profite breed Whence musicke-like instant delight may growe Yet when men all do knowe they nothing knowe 6 And why dost thou in lamentable verse Nothing but blood-shed treasons sinne and shame The worst of times th' extreame of ills rehearse To rayse olde staynes and to renew dead blame As if the mindes of th' euill and 〈◊〉 Were not farre sooner trained from the same By good
on whom to lay The heauie burthen of reproche and blame Against whose deedes th' afflicted may inuay As th' onely Authors whence destruction came When yet perhaps 't was not in them to stay The current of that streame nor help the same But liuing in the eye of Action so Not hindring it are thought to draw-on wo. 66 So much vnhappie do the Mightie stand Who stand on other then their owne defence When-as destruction is so neere at hand That if by weakenesse folly negligence They do not coming miserie withstand They shall be deemed th'authors of th' offence And to call in that which they kept not out And curst as they who brought those plagues about 67 And so remaine for euer rigistred In that eternall booke of Infamie When yet how many other causes led As well to that as their iniquitie The worst complots oft lie close smothered And well-meant deedes fall out vnluckily Whil'st the aggrieu'd stand not to waigh th' intent But euer iudge according to th' euent 68 I say not this t' excuse thy Sinne ô Queene Nor cleare their faults who mightie Actors are I cannot but affirme thy pride hath been A speciall meanes this Common-wealth to marre And that thy weyward will was plainely seene In vaine ambition to presume too farre And that by thee the onely way was wrought The Duke of Gloster to his death was brought 69 A man though seeming in thy thought to sit Betweene the light of thy desires and thee Yet did his taking thence plainely permit Others to looke to that they could not see During his life nor would aduenture it When his Remoue quite made that passage free That by his fall thinking to stand alone Thou scarce could'st stand at all when he was gone 70 For this Duke as Protector many yeeres Had rul'd the Land during the Kings young age And now the selfe same charge and title beares As if hee still were in his pupillage Which such disgrace vnto the Queene appeares That all incenst with an ambitious rage Shee doth conspire to haue him made-away As one that stayd the Current of her sway 71 Thrust thereinto not onely with her pride But by her fathers counsell and consent Who griev'd likewise that any one beside Should haue the honor of the gouernment And therefore he such deepe aduice appli'd As forraine craft and cunning could inuent To circumuent an vnsuspecting wight Before he should discerne of their despight 72 And many ready hands shee straight doth finde To ayde her deed of such as could not brooke The length of one mans office in that kind Who all th' especiall Charges vnder-tooke Rul'd all himselfe and neuer had the minde T' impart a part with others who would looke To haue likewise some honor in their hands And griev'd at such ingrossing of Commands 73 For had he not had such a greedy loue To intertaine his Offices too long Enuie had beene vnable to reproue His acted life vnless shee did him wrong But hauing liv'd so many yeeres aboue He grieues now to descend to belesse strong And kils that fame that virtue did beget Chose to be held lesse good then seene lesse great 74 For could the mightie but giue bounds to pride And weigh backe Fortune ere shee pull Them downe Contented with inough with honors satisfi'd Not striuing how to make so much their owne As to leaue nothing for the rest beside Who seeme by their high-spreading ouer-growne Whil'st they themselues remaine in all mens sight The odious marke of hatred and despight 75 Then neuer should so many tragedies Burthen our knowledge with their bloody end Nor their disgrac't confounded families From so high pride to solowe shame descend But planted on that ground where safetie lyes Their braunches should to eternitie extend But euer they who ouer-looke so much Will ouer-see themselues their state is such 76 Seuere he was and strictly did obserue Due forme of Iustice towards euery wight Vnmoueable and neuer won to swerue For any cause in what he thought was right Wherein although he did so well deserue In the licentious yet it bred despight So that euen Virtue seemes an Actor too To ruine those Fortune prepares t' vndoo 77 Now such being forward who the Queene well knewe Hated his might and glad to innouate Vnto so great and strong a partie grew As it was easie to subuert his State And onely hope of alteration drew Many to yeeld that had no cause to hate For euen with goodnesse men growe discontent Where States are ripe to fall and virtue spent 78 And taking all the Rule into her hand Vnder the shadow of that feeble King The Duke sh'excludes from Office and Command And in the reach of enmitie doth bring From that respected height where he did stand When malice scarce durst mutter any thing And now the worst of him comes all reueal'd Which former feare or rigor kept conceal'd 79 Now is he taxed that he rather sought His priuate profit then the publique good And many things presumptuously had wrought Other then with our lawes and customes stood As one that would into the Land haue brought The Ciuile forme in cases touching blood And such poore Crimes that shew'd their spight was soūd But yet be wrayde their matter wanted ground 80 Yet serv'd they well the turne and did effect That which is easie wrought in such a case Where what suborned Iustice shal obiect Is to the purpose and must passe with grace And what the wretched bring of no effect Whose haynous faultes his matter must deface For where Powre hath decreed to finde th' offence The Cause is better still then the defence 81 A Parlement at Berry summoned Dispatcht the deed more speedily then well For thither came the Duke without all dread Or oughtimagining of what befell Where now the matter is so followed That he conuented is 〈◊〉 he could tell He was in danger or had done offence And presently to prison sent from thence 82 Which quicke and so daine action gaue not time For men to waigh the iustice of the deed Whil'st looking onely on the vrged crime Vnto the farther drist they take no heed For these occasions taken in the prime Of courses new that old dislikes succeed Leaue not behind that feeling touch of wrong Satietie makes passions still lesse strong 83 And yet they seem'd some mutinie to doubt For thus proceeding with a man of might Consid'ring hee was popular and stout And resolute would stand vpon his Right And therefore did they cast this way about To haue him closely murdred out of sight That so his trouble and his death hereby Might come togither and togither die 84 Reckning it better since his end is ment And must be wrought at once to rid it cleere And put it to the fortune of th' euent Then by long doing to be long in feare When in such courses of high punishment The deed and the attempt like daunger beare And oft
Change thought it vvent wrong To stay beyond the bearing-time so long 106 And therefore now these Lords confedered Beeing much increast in number and in spight So shap't their course that gathering to a head They grew to be of formidable might Th' abused world so hastily is led Some for reuenge some for wealth some for delight That Yorke from small-beginning troups soone drawes A world of men to venture in his Cause 107 Like as proud Seuerne from a priuat head With humble streames at first doth gently glide Till other Riuers haue contributed The springing riches of their store beside Where-with at length high-swelling she doth spread Her broad-distended waters lay'd so wide That comming to the Sea shee seemes from farre Not to haue tribute brought but rather warre 108 Euen so is Yorke now growne and now is bent T' incounter with the best and for the best Whose neere approach the King hastes to preuent With hope farre off to haue his power supprest Fearing the Cittie least some insolent And mutinous should harten on the rest To take his part But hee so forward set That at S. Albones both the Armies met 109 Where-to their haste farre fewer hands did bring Then else their better leysure would haue done And yet too many for so foul a thing Sith who did best hath but dishonour won For whil'st some offer peace sent from the King Warwicks too forward hand hath Warre begon A warre that doth the face of Warre deforme Which still is foul but foulest wanting forme 110 And neuer valiant Leaders so well knowne For braue performed actions done before Did blemish their discretion and renowne In any weake effected seruice more Bringing such powres into so straight a Towne As to some Citty-tumult or vp-rore Which slaughter and no battaile might be thought Sith that side vs'd their swords and this their throat 111 But this on th' error of the King is lai'd And vpon Sommersets desire t' obtaine The day with peace for which they longer staid Then wisedome would aduent'ring for the Maine Whose force in narrow streets once ouer-laid Neuer recouerd head but euen there slaine The Duke and all the greatest Leaders are The King himselfe beeing taken prisoner 112 Yet not a prisoner to the outward eye For-that he must seeme grac't with his lost day All things beeing done for his commoditie Against such men as did the State betray For with such apt deceiuing 〈◊〉 And seeming order Yorke did so allay That touch of wrong as made him make great stealth In weaker minds with shew of Common-wealth 113 Long-lookt-for powre thus got into his hand The former face of Court doth new appeare And all th' especiall Charges of Commaund To his partakers distributed were Himselfe is made Protector of the Land A title found which couertly did beare All-working powre vnder another stile And yet the soueraigne Part doth act the while 114 The King held onely but an emptie name Left with his life whereof the proofe was such As sharpest pride could not transpearce the same Nor all-desiring greedinesse durst touch Impietie had not inlarg'd their shame As yet so wide as to attempt so much Mischiefe was not full ripe for such foul deedes Left for th'vnbounded malice that succeedes The end of the Sixt Booke THE SEVENTH BOOKE THE ARGVMENT The King 's repriz'd Yorke and his side retires And making head againe is put to flight Returnes into the Land his right requires Hauing regain'd the King confirmes his right And whil'st his rash improuidence aspires Is 〈◊〉 at Wakefield by Q. Marg'rets might Who at S. Albones backe her Lord regaines Is forc't frō thence March the Crowne attaines 1 DIsordinate Authoritie thus gaind Knew not at first or durst not to proceed With an out-breaking course but stood restraind Within the compasse of respectiue heed Distrust of friends and powre of foes detaind That mounting will from making too much speed For though he held the powre he longd to win Yet had not all the keyes to let him in 2 The Queene abroad with a reuenging hand Arm'd with her owne disgrace and others spight Gath'ring th' oppressed partie of the Land Held ouer him the threatning sword of might That forc't him in the tearmes of awe to stand Who else had burst-vp Right to come t' his right And kept him so confus'd that he knew not To make vse of the meanes which he had got 3 For either by his fearing to restraine The person of the King or by neglect Of guarding him with a sufficient traine The watchfull Queene with cunning doth effect A practice that recouers him againe As one that with best care could him protect And h 'is conuaid to Couentry to those Who well knew how of Maiestie dispose 4 Though this weake King had blunted thus before The edge of powre with so dull clemencie And left him nothing else was gracious more Then euen the title of his Sov'raigntie Yet is that title ofso precious store As it makes golden leaden Maiestie And where or how-soeuer it doth sit Is sure t' haue the world attend on it 5 Whether it be that Forme and Eminence Adorn'd with Pomp and State begets this awe Or whether an in-bred obedience To Right and Powre doth our affections drawe Or whether sacred Kings worke reuerence And make that Nature now which was first Law We know not but the Head will draw the Parts And good Kings with our bodies haue our harts 6 For lo no sooner was his person ioyn'd With this distracted body of his friends But straight the Duke and all that faction find They lost the onely Engin for their ends Authoritie with Maiestie combin'd Stands bent vpon them now and powrefull sends Them summons to appeare who lately held That powre themselues and could not be compeld 7 Where-with confus'd as either not prepar'd For all euents or se'ing the times not fit Or mens affections failing in regard Or their owne forces not of powre as yet They all retire them home and neither dar'd T' appeare or to stand-out to answere it This vnfore-thought-on accident confounds All their dessignes and frustrates all their grounds 8 As vsually it fares with those that plot These machines of Ambition and high pride Who in their chiefest counsels ouer-shot For all things saue what serue the turne prouide Whil'st that which most imports rests most forgot Or waigh'd not or contemn'd or vndescri'd That some-thing may be euer ouer-gone Where courses shall be crost and men vndone 9 Yorke into Wales Warwicke to Calais hies Someto the North others to other parts As if they ran both from their dignities And also from themselues and their owne harts The mind decay'd in publique ieopardies To th' ill at hand onely it selfe conuerts That none would thinke Yorkes hopes being so neere dry Could euer flowe againe and swell so hie 10 And yet for all this ebbing Chance remaines The spring that feedes that hope which leaues men last
Whom no'affliction so entire restraines But that it may remount as in times past Though he had lost his place his powre his paines Yet held his loue his friends his title fast The whole frame of that fortune could not faile As that which hung by more then by one naile 11 Else might we thinke what errour had it bin These parts thus sev'red not t' haue quite destroy'd But that they saw it not the way to win Some more dependances there were beside Which Age and Fate keeps vs from looking in That their true Counsells come not right descri'd Which our presumptuous wits must not condem They be'ing not ignorant but we of them 12 For heere we looke vpon another Crown An other image of Nobilitie Which ciuile Discord had not yet brought down Vnto a lower range of dignity Vpon a Powre as yet not ouer-flowne With th' Ocean of all-drowning Sov'raintie These Lords who thus against their Kings draw swords Taught Kings to come how to be more then Lords 13 Which well this Queene observ'd and therefore sought To draw them in and ruine them with Peace Whom Force she saw more dangerous had wrought And did their powre and malice but increase And therefore to the Citty hauing got A Counsell was convok't all iarres to cease Where come these Lords at length but yet so strong As if to doe rather then suffer wrong 14 Here Scottish border broyles and feares of Fraunce Vrg'd with the present times necessity Brought forth a suttle-shadowed countenance Of quiet peace resembling Amitie Wrapt in a strong and curious ordinaunce Of many Articles bound solemnly As if those Gordian knots could be so 〈◊〉 As no impatient sword could them diuide 15 Especially whereas the selfe same ends Concur not in a point of like respect But that each party couertly intends Thereby their owne designments to effect Which Peace with more indangering wounds offends Then Warre can doe that stands vpon suspect And neuer can be ty'd with other chaine Then intermutuall benefite and gaine 16 As well by this concluded Act is seene Which had no power to holde-in minds out-bent But quickly was dissolv'd and canceld cleene Either by Warwicks fortune or intent How euer vrg'd the Seruants of the Queene Assaulted his as he from Counsell went Where his owne person egerly 〈◊〉 Hardly by Boate 〈◊〉 the multitude 17 Which deed most heynous made and vrg'd as his The Queene who soone th' aduantage apprehends Thought forthwith 〈◊〉 committed him on this But he preuents 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 friends Shewes them his danger and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there is In her that all their ouerthrowes 〈◊〉 And that these 〈◊〉 th' effects of this Peace are Which giues more deadly wounding blowes then war 18 Strooke with his heate began the others fire Kindled with danger and disdaine t' inflame Which hauing well prepar'd to his desire He leaues the farther growing of the same And vnto Calais to his strong retire With speed betakes him to preuent the same Of his impos'd offence least in disgrace He might be dispossessed of that place 19 Yorke straight aduis'd the Earle of Salsbury T' addresse him to the King and there vpon With other grieuances to signifie Th' iniurious act committed on his Sonne And there to vrge the breach of th'Amitie By these sinister plots to be begun But he so strongly goes as men might ghesse He purpos'd not to craue but make redresse 20 Whom the Lord Audly hasting to restraine Sent with tenthousand men well furnished Encountred on Blore-heath where he is slaine And all his powre and force discomfited Which chaunce so opened and let-out againe The hopes of Yorke whom Peace had fettered That he resolues what-euer should befall To set vp 's Rest to venture now for all 21 Fury vnti'd and broken out of bands Runnes desp'rate presently to either head Faction and Warre that neuer wanted hands For Bloud and Mischiefe soone were furnished Affection findes a side and out it stands Not by the Cause but by her int'rest led And many vrging Warre most forward are Not that 't is iust but only that 't is Warre 22 Whereby the Duke is grownet'a mighty head In Shropshire with his Welsh and Northren ayde To whom came Warwicke hauing ordered His charge at Calais and with him conuay'd Many braue Leaders that aduentured Their fortunes on the side that he had lay'd Whereof as chiefe Trollop and Blunt excell'd But Trollop fayld his friends Blunt faithfull held 23 The King prouok't these mischiefes to preuent Follow'd with Sommerset and Excester Strongly appointed all his forces bent Their malice to correct or to deterre And drawing neere a reuerent Prelate sent To proffer pardon if they would referre Their Cause to Peace as being a cleaner course Vnto their ends then this foule barb'rous force 24 For what a warre sayd he is here begun Where euen the victory is held accurst And who-so winnes it will be so ill won That though he haue the best he speeds the worst For here your making is to be vndon Seeking t' obtaine the State you lose it first Both sides being one the bloud consum'd all one To make it yours you worke to haue it none 25 Leaue then with this though this be yet a staine T' attempt this sinne to be so neere a fall The doubtfull Dye of warre cast at the Maine Is such as one bad chaunce may lose you all A certaine sinne seekes an vncertaine gaine Which got your selues euen wayle and pitty shall No way but Peace leades out from blood and feares To free your selues the Land and vs from teares 26 Whereto the discontented part replyes That they hereto by others wrongs inforc't Had no way else but these extremities And worst meants of redresse t' auoide the worst For since that peace did but their spoyles deuise And held them out from grace as men diuorc't From th' honors that their fortunes did afford Better die with the sword then by the sword 27 For if pacts vowes or oaths could haue done ought There had enough been done but to no end Saue to their ruine who had euer sought To'auoide these broyls as grieuing to contend Smothring disgraces drawing to parts remote As exil'd men where now they were to attend His Grace with all respect and reuerence Not with the sword of malice but defence 28 Whereby they shewed that words were not to win But yet the Pardon works so feelingly That to the King that very night came-in Sir Andrew Trollop with some company Contented to redeeme his sinne with sinne Disloyalty with infidelitie And by this meanes became discouered quite All th'orders of th' intended next dayes fight 29 Which so much wrought vpon their weakened feares That presently their Campe brake vp ere day And euery man with all his speed prepares According to their course to shift their way Yorke with his youngest Sonne tow'ards Ireland beares Warwicke to Calais where his safety lay To that sure
where it should bee 68 And how it prospers with this wretched Land Witnesse the vniuersall miserie Wherein as if accurst the Realme doth stand Depriu'd of State wealth honor dignitie The Church and Commons vnderneath the hand Of violence extortion robberie No face of order no respect of Lawes And thus complaynes of what himselfe is cause 69 Accusing others insolence that they Exhausted the Reuenues of the Crowne So that the King was forc't onely to prey Vpon his Subiects poore and wretched growne And that they now sought Ireland to betray And Calais to the French which hee had knowne By th' intercepted notes of their owne hand Who were the onely Traytors of the Land 70 And yet procur'd th'Attaynders most vniust Of others guiltlesse and vnspotted blood Who euermore had labour'd in their trust And faithfull seruice for their Countries good And who with extreame violence were thrust Quite out of all spoyl'd of their liuelihood Expos'd to all the miseries of life Which they indur'd to put-off blood and strife 71 But since sayth he their malice hath no ende But t' end vs all and to vndo the Land For which the hatefull French gladly attend And at this instant haue their swords in hand And that the God of heauen doth seeme to bend Vnto our Cause whereto the best men stand And that this blood of mine so long time sought Reserued seemes for something to be wrought 72 It rests within your iudgements to vp-right Or else to ruine vtterly the Land For this be sure I must pursue my Right Whil'st I haue breath or I and mine can stand Thinke whether this poore State being in this plight Stands not in need of some vp-raysing hand Or whether 't is not time we should haue rest And this confusion and our wounds redrest 73 This said he turnes aside and out hee goes Leaues them to counsell what was to be done Where though the most part gath'red were of those Who with no opposition sure would run Yet some more temp'rate offred to propose That which was fit to bee considered on Who though they knew his clayme was faire in sight Yet thought it now lackt the right face of Right 74 Since for the space of three score yeeres the Crowne Had beene in act possest in three descents Confirm'd by all the Nobles of renowne The peoples suffrages Oathes Parlements So many Actes of State both of our owne And of all other foraine Gouernments That Wrong by order may grow Right by this Sith Right th'obseruer but of Order is 75 And then considring first how Bullingbrooke Landing in Yorkeshire but with three score men By the consent of all the Kingdome tooke The Crowne vpon him held for lawfull then His Vncle Yorke and all the Peeres betooke Themselues to him as to their Soueraigne when King Richards wrongs and his propinquitie Did seeme to make no distance in their 〈◊〉 76 Nor was without example in those dayes Wherein as in all Ages States do take The side of publique Peace to counterpayse The waight of wrong which time may rightfull make No elderhood Rufus and 〈◊〉 stayes The imperiall Crowne of England t' vndertake And Iohn before his nephew Arthur 〈◊〉 Whom though depriv'd Henry his sonne succeedes 77 Edward the third made Sov'raigne of the State Vpon his fathers depriuation was All which though seeming wrongs yet fairely sate In their succeeders and for right did passe And if they could so worke t'accommodate And calme the Peeres and please the Populasse They wisht the Crowne might where it stood remaine Succeeding inconuenience to restraine 78 Thus th' auncient Fathers of the Law aduise Graue Baron Thorpe and learned Fortescue Who though they could not fashion otherwise Those strong-bent humors which auersiue grew Yet seem'd to qualifie th'extreamities And some respect more to their Sov'raine drew That during life it was by all agreed He should be King and Yorke should him succeed 79 Which presently enacted was beside Proclaym'd through-out with all solemnities And inter mutually there ratifi'd With protestations vowes and oathes likewise Built-vp with all the strength of forme t' abide What-euer oppositions could aryse And might haue seem'd sure and authenticall Had all this bodie of the State beene all 80 But Trent thou keptst a part Thames had not all The North diuided honor with the South And like powre held like Greatnes seuerall Where other Right spake with another mouth Another Heire another Prince they call Whom naturall succession follow doth The branch of Kings the true sonne of the Crowne To whom no father can but leaue his owne 81 The King as husband to the Crowne doth by The wiues infe offement hold and onely here Inioyes the same for life by Curtesie Without powre to dispose it other-where After his death but as th' authoritie Order and custome of Succession beare And therefore Henries Act cannot vndo The right of him whom it belongs vnto 82 And this vnnaturall intrusion here Of that attainted Blood out of all course Effected with confusion and with feare Must be reduc't to other tearmes of force These insolencies Iustice cannot beare The sword whereto they onely had recourse Must cut this knot so intricately ty'd Whose vaine contriued ends are plaine descry'd 83 Thus they giue-out and out the sword in hand Is drawne for blood to iustifie the same And by a side with many a Worthie mand Great Sommerset Excester Buckingham With Clifford Courtney and Northumberland Lords of as mightie courage as of name Which all against Yorkes forced courses bend Who hauing done yet had not made an end 84 But to another worke is forc't to go The last turmoyle lab'ring Ambition had Where Pride and Ouer-weening led him so For fortunes past as made the 〈◊〉 sad For whether safer counsell would or no His yet vnfurnisht troupes he desp'rat led From Sandall Castle vnto VVakefield Greene Against far mightier forces of the Queene 85 Where round inclos'd by Ambushments fore-lay'd Hard-working for his life but all in vaine With number and confusion ouer-lay'd Himselfe and valiant Salsbury are slaine With whome the most and dearest blood decay'd Of his couragious and aduenturous traine So short a life had those long hopes of his Borne not to weare the Crowne he wrought for thus 86 But in the ryse of his out-springing lust Now in the last of hope receiv'd this fall Now that his working powres so far had thrust That his desires had but this step to all When so neere home he seem'd past all distrust This vnexspected wracke doth him befall This successor th'inheritor fore-goes The play-game made of Fortune and his foes 87 Whos 's young sonne Rutland made the sacrifice For others sinnes ere he knew how to sinne Brought only but to see this exercise Of blood and wounds endes ere he did beginne Whose teares whose mone whose lamentable cryes Could neither mercie nor compassion winne The branch of such a tree though tender now Was not thought fit should
doe is done 108 And nothing now but to confirme him king Remaines which must not long remaine to do The present heate doth strait dispatch the thing With all those solemne rites that long thereto So that what Yorke with all his trauay ling Force and intrusion could not get vnto Is now thus freely layd vpon his sonne Who must make faire what 〈◊〉 was begunne 109 Whos 's end attayn'd had it here made an end Of foule destruction and had stay'd the bloud Which Towton Exham Tewksbury did spend With desp'rate hands and deeper wounds with stood And that none other Crowne brought to contend With that of his had made his seeme lesse good How had this long-afflicted Land been blest Our sighes had ended and my Muse had rest 110 Which now but little past halfe her long way Stands trembling at the horrors that succeed Weary with these embroylements faine would stay Her 〈◊〉 course vnwilling to proceed And faine to see that glorious holy-day Of Vnion which this discord reagreed Knowes not as yet what to resolue vpon Whether to leaue-off here or else go-on The end of the seauenth Booke THE EIGHTTH BOOKE THE ARGVMENT King Edward Powre against King Henry led And hath at Towton-field the victory From whence King Henry into Scotland fled Where he attempts his States recouery Steales into England is discouered Brought Prisoner to the Towre disgracefully And Edward whiles great Warwick doth assay A Match in France marries the Lady Grey 1 ON yet sad Verse though those bright 〈◊〉 from whence Thou hadst thy light are set for euermore And that these times do not like grace dispense To our indeuours as those did before Yet on since She whose beames do reincense This sacred fire seemes as reseru'd in store To raise this Worke and here to haue my last Who had the first of all my labours past 2 On with her blessed fauour and relate With what new bloud-shed this new chosen Lord Made his first entry to th' afflicted State Past his first Act of publique with the sword Ingor'd his new-worne Crowne and how he gat Possession of affliction and restor'd His Right vnto a Royall miserie Maintained with as bloudy dignitie 3 Shew how our great Pharsalian Field was fought At Towton in the North the greatest day Of ruine that 〈◊〉 euer brought Vnto this Kingdom where two Crownes did sway The worke of slaughter two Kings Causes wrought Destruction to our People by the waie Of their affections and their loyalties As if one for these ills could not suffise 4 Where Lancaster and that couragious side That noble constant Part came furnished With such a Powre as might haue terrifi'd And ouer-run the earth had they been led The way of glory where they might haue tri'd For th' Empire of all Europe as those did The Macedonian led into the East Their number being double at the least 5 And where braue Yorke comes as compleatly mand With courage valour and with equall might Prepar'd to trie with a resolued hand The metall of his Crown and of his Right Attended with his fatall fier-brand Of Warre Warwicke that blazing starre of fight The Comet of destruction that portends Confusion and distresse what way he tends 6 What rage what madness England do we see That this braue people in such multitude Run to confound themselues and all to be Thus mad for Lords and for meere Seruitude What might haue been if Roman-like and free These gallant Spirits had nobler ends pursu'd And strayn'd to points of glory and renowme For good of the Republique and their owne 7 But here no Cato with a Senate stood For Common-wealth nor here were any sought T'emancipate the State for publique good But onely headlong for their faction wrought Here euery man runs-on to spend his bloud To get but what he had already got For whether Pompey or a Caesar wonne Their state was euer sure to be all one 8 And first before these fatall Armies met Had forward Warwicke lay'd the passage free At Ferry Brigges where the Lord Clifford set With an aduentrous gallant companie To guard that streight Yorkes farther march to let Began the Scene to this great Tragedie Made the first entrance on the Stage of blood Which now set wide for wounds all open stood 9 When Edward to exhort his men began With words where to both spirit and Maiestie His pers'nage gave for-that he was a man Besides a King whose Crowne sate gracefully Com'n is the day sayd he wherin who can Obtaine the best is Best this day must try Who hath the wrong and whence our ills haue beene And t is our swords must make vs honest men 10 For though our Cause by God and men allow'd Hath in it honor right and honestie Yet all as nothing is to be avow'd Vnless withall we haue the victorie For Iustice is we see a virtue proud And leanes to powre and leaues weake miserie And therefore seeing the case we now stand in We must resolue either to dy or winne 11 So that if any here doth finde his heart To fayle him for this noble worke or stands Irresolute this day let him depart And leaue his Armes behind for worthier hands I knowe e now will stay to doo their part Here to redeeme themselues 〈◊〉 children landes And haue the glory that thereby shall rise To free their Country from these miseries 12 But here what needed wordes to blowe the fire In flame already and inkindled so As when it was proclaym'd they might retire Who found vnwillingnes to vnder-goe That ventrous worke they all did so conspire To stand out Fortune that not one would goe To beare away a hand from bloud not one Defraud the Field of th' euill might be done 13 Where VVarwicke too producing in their sight An argument whereby he did conclude There was no hope of 〈◊〉 but by fight Doth sacrifize his horse to Fortitude And thereby did the least conceipt of flight Or any succour by escape exclude Se'ing in the streight of a necessitie The meanes to win is t' haue no meanes to flye 14 It was vpon the twi-light of that day That peacefull day when the Religious beare The Oliue-branches as they go to pray And we in lieu the blooming Palmes vse here When both the Armies ready in array Forth ' early sacrifize of blood appeare Prepar'd formischiefe ere they had full light To see to doo it and to doo it right 15 Th' aduantage of the time and of the winde Which both with Yorke seeme as retayn'd in pay Braue Faulconbridge takes hold-on and assign'd The Archers their flight-shafes to shoote away Which th' aduerse side with sleet and dimnesse blinde Mistaken in the distance of the way Answere with their sheafe-arrowes that came short Of their intended ayme and did no hurt 16 But gath'red by th'on-marching Enemy Returned were like clowdes of steele which powre Destruction downe and did new-night the sky As if the Day had fayl'd
〈◊〉 obiected 〈◊〉 de la 〈◊〉 Duke of 〈◊〉 At the Parliamēt at Leicester the lower House besought the K. that such persons as assented to the rendring of 〈◊〉 and Maine might bee duelie pumshed of which fact they accused as principals the D. of Sufsolke the L. Say Treasurer of Eng. with others Where vpon the K. to appease the Commons sequestred them from their offices rooms and aster banished the D. for 5 yeeres As the D. vvas 〈◊〉 into France hee was 〈◊〉 with 〈◊〉 of Warre 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tooke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 him back to 〈◊〉 where his head was 〈◊〉 off and his body left on the sands Ann. reg 27. The Commons of Kent assembled thē selues in great nūber and had to their Captains lack Cade who named himselfe Mortimer Cosen to the Duke of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 purpose to redresse the aluses of the gouernement The Commons of Kent with their Leader lacke Cade 〈◊〉 their many 〈◊〉 amongst which 〈◊〉 the King was driuen to 〈◊〉 onely on his Commons other men to 〈◊〉 the Re 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Maiestic and the great payments of 〈◊〉 people now late 〈◊〉 to the King 〈◊〉 Parlement Also they desire that the King would 〈◊〉 all the false 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 of the late D. of 〈◊〉 which be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and them to punish and to take about 〈◊〉 person the 〈◊〉 Lords of 〈◊〉 royall bloud to wit the mightie Prince the D. of Yorke late exiled by the traytrous motion of the false D 〈◊〉 Suffolke and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Also they 〈◊〉 that they who contriued the death of the high and mighty Prince Humfrey ' D of Glocester might haue punishment Anno Reg. 29. The D. os York who at this time was in Ireland sent thither to appease a Rebellion which hee effected in such sort as got him his linage exceeding loue and 〈◊〉 with that people euer after returning home and pretending great iniuries to be offered him 〈◊〉 whiles hee was in the K. seruice likewise vpon his landing in North-wales combines himself 〈◊〉 Ric. Neuile E. of Salis. secōd son to Ralph E. of Westmerland whose daughter hee had maried with Ri. Neuile the son E. of Warw. with other his especiall friēds with whō he consults for the reformation of the gouernment after hee had complained of the great disorders therein Laying the blame for the losse of Normādy vpō the D. of Sommers whom 〈◊〉 his returning thence hee caused to be arrested and committed The D. of Yorke 〈◊〉 an Army in the marches of Wales vnder pretext to remoue diuers 〈◊〉 sellers about the King and to reuenge the manifest iniuries don to the Common-wealth withal 〈◊〉 publisheth a declaratiō of his loyalty and the wrongs done him by his aduersaries offering to take his oath vpō the blessed Sacrament to haue been euer true liege-man to the K. and so euer to continue Which declaration was written from his Castle of Ludlow the 9 of 〈◊〉 An. reg 30. The 16 of Febru the K. vvith the D. of Sōmerset other LL set forward towards the Marches but the D. of Yorke took other waies and made vp towards 〈◊〉 The vse of Guns and great Ordinance began about this time or not long before This principall part of Europe which contained the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Christendom was at this time in the hands of many seuerall 〈◊〉 and Common-wealths which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 for being so many and none ouer-great they were 〈◊〉 attemptiue to disturbe 〈◊〉 more 〈◊〉 to keepe their owne with a mutuall correspondēce of amitie As Italy had thē many more principalities Common-wealths then it hath 〈◊〉 was diuided into many kingdoms France consisted of diuers free Princes Both the 〈◊〉 of many more Gouernments The Church The many States of Christendom reduced to a few The D. of Yorke being not admitted into the 〈◊〉 passed 〈◊〉 King 〈◊〉 Bridge and so into 〈◊〉 an en Brent heath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The K. makes after and 〈◊〉 vpon Blacke heath from whence be 〈◊〉 the ' B. B. of 〈◊〉 and Ely 〈◊〉 the E E. of 〈◊〉 Warwike to mediat a peace And 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 expectation 〈◊〉 the kings 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then his he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to conditions of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 D. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from Iohn of Gante 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 qua 〈◊〉 The D. was suffred to go to his Castle at Wigmore The Cittie of Burdeux send their Ambassadors ossring to reuols from the French part if ayd might be sent vnto them whereupon Iohn L. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 was imployed with a powre of 3000 men and surprised the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 The Dukes of 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 great meanes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the conquering of France The 〈◊〉 of Shrews 〈◊〉 accompayned 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sir 〈◊〉 I albot L. 〈◊〉 by the right of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the L L. Mohn 〈◊〉 and Cameis Sir 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sir Iohn 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 recouered 〈◊〉 townes in Gaseony amongst other the towne and Castle of Chastillon in 〈◊〉 which the French looue after besieged The Lord Lisle was aduised by his father to retire him 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 The death of Iohn L. Talbot E. of Shrewesburie who had serued in the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 most 〈◊〉 for the space of 30. yeeres The death of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sonne to 〈◊〉 worthy 〈◊〉 Shrewesburie 1453. 〈◊〉 32. 〈◊〉 was the 〈◊〉 of Aquitaine lost which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Crow of England by the space almost of 300 yeares The 〈◊〉 whereof came 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of K Hen. 2. with 〈◊〉 daughter to 〈◊〉 D. of 〈◊〉 In this 〈◊〉 are 4. 〈◊〉 24. 〈◊〉 50. 〈◊〉 202. Baronies and aboue a 1000. 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Yorke procures the hatred of the people against the Duke of 〈◊〉 and so wrought in a time of the Kings sicknes that hee caused him to be arrested in the Qu. great Chāber and sent to the Towre of Lō don accusing him to haue been the occasiō of the losse of France but the K. being recouered he was againe 〈◊〉 at liberty Ann. reg 32. The D. of Yorke 〈◊〉 his accusations not to 〈◊〉 against the D. of Som. resolues to 〈◊〉 his purpose by open war and so being in Wales accōpanied 〈◊〉 his special 〈◊〉 assēbled an Armie marched towards Londō K. Hen. sets forward 〈◊〉 Londō with 20000 mē of war to encoūter with the D. of Yorke attended with Hums D. of Buckingh and Humfry his son E. 〈◊〉 Edm. D. of Sōmers Hen. 〈◊〉 E. of North. Ia. Butler E. of 〈◊〉 Ormond Iasper E. of Pembrooke the sonne of Owen Tewder halfe brother to the K. Tho. Courtney E. of Deuonsh Ioh. L. Clifford the L L. Sudley Barnes Ross others The D. of York with the L L. pitched their bat 〈◊〉 without the towne in a place called Keyfield and the K. power to their great disaduantage tooke vp the towne where being 〈◊〉
wanting roome to vse their power were 〈◊〉 ouerthrowne slaughtered On the K. side were 〈◊〉 Edm. D. of Sommers who 〈◊〉 behind him 3 sons Hen. ry Edm. Ioh. Heere was also slaine the E. of 〈◊〉 the E. Stafford the L. Clifford Sir Rob. Vere with diuers others to the nuÌ„ber of 5000 on the L L. part but 600. And this was the first battell at S. Albones the 23 of May Ann. reg 33. The D. of Yorke with other L L. came to the K. where hee was and 〈◊〉 grace 〈◊〉 nesse on their knees of that that they had done in his presence intending nothing but for the good of him and his kingdome with whoÌ„ they remooued to London concluding there to hold a Parliament the 9 of Iuly following * Ric. E. of 〈◊〉 made L. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the E. of Warwicke Gouernour of 〈◊〉 The D. of York in respect that K. Hen. for his 〈◊〉 of life and clemencie vvas highly esteemed of the Commons durst not atteÌ„pt any violeÌ„t course against his person but onely labors to strengthen his owne partie which he could not do but by the oppression and displacing of many woorthy men with committing other violencies whervnto 〈◊〉 inforced him for the preserment of his friends which raisd a greater partie against him then that he made The Queen with her Party hauing recouered the K. and withdrawing him far froÌ„ Lon. where they fouÌ„d the D. of Yorke was too much fauored by the Cittizens grew to bee very strong by means that so many Ll. and much people oppressed discontented with these proceedings of their enemies resorted dailie vnto theÌ„ Whervpon the K. soÌ„moned the D. his adherents to appeare before him at Couentry but they finding their present strength not sufficient to make good their answer retired theÌ„ selues into seuerall parts The D. of York withdrawes him to Wigmore in Wales the E. of Salisb. into the North the E. of Warw. to Calais Diuers graue persons were sent to the 〈◊〉 York to mediat a 〈◊〉 and a great Councell was called at London Ann. reg 36 to agree all disserences Whither cam the E. of Salis. with 500. men the D. os Yorke with 400. and was lodged at his house at Bainards Castle The Dukes of Excester and Somerset with 800. men lodged without Temple Bar. The E. of NorthuÌ„ the I. L EgremoÌ„t Clif ford with 1500 lodged without the Cittie The E. of Warwick from Calais with 600. men al in his liuery The L. Mayor kept continuall watch with 2000. men in armor during the treaty Wher in by the great trauaile exbortation of the 〈◊〉 of Canterbury with other graue Prelates a reconciliation was 〈◊〉 and celebrated with a soleÌ„ne procession The E. os War wicke is set vpon by the Queenes seruants 〈◊〉 Tuichet L. Audly slaine at Blore heath and his army discomfited by the E. of Salisb. with the losse of 2400. men An. reg 38. Sir Andrew Trollop afterwarde fled to the King Iohn BluÌ„e remainde 〈◊〉 the Lords The King beeing at Worcester sends the B. of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the L L. to induce 〈◊〉 them to peace to offer pardon The Bishop of Salisbury offred pardon to all such as would submit themselues The D. of York with his youngest sonne the E of Rutland wâ—ithdrew him into Ireland where he was exceedingly beloued The 〈◊〉 of Calais at that time Hen. the young D. of Sommers was in An. reg 37 made Captain of 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 seal sent to the E. os 〈◊〉 to discharge him os that place who in respect he was made Captaine there by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 would not obay the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Parliament at Couentry Cotis a Tyrant of Thrace At this Parliament at Couentry in the yeere 1459 in the 38 of Hen. 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 D. os Yorke with his son Edw. and all his posteritie and partakers attainted to the ninth degree their goods and 〈◊〉 escheated 〈◊〉 tenants spoiled of their goods the Towne of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the D. of Yorke 〈◊〉 and the Dutchess of Yorke sporled of her goods 〈◊〉 D. 〈◊〉 Sommerset with the L L. Audly and Rosie attempted the towne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were repulst 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the E. of War and himselfe hardly escaped The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and his sonne Sir 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were taken by Iohn 〈◊〉 at Sandwich whether they were sent to guard the towne and supply the D. of 〈◊〉 The E. of Warwick sayled into Ireland to conserre with the D. of Yorke 〈◊〉 L. Faulconbridge sent to Sandwich tooke the Towne and Sir Simon Monfort Gouernor thereof The King from Couentry 〈◊〉 the L. 〈◊〉 the L. Louel the E. of Kendal to London with others 〈◊〉 keep the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The E E. of March 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 landing at 〈◊〉 were met by the Archb. of Cant. who with his Crosse borne before him accompayned them to LondoÌ„ An. reg 38. The affection which the Citie of London bare to the D. of Yorke was an especiall meane for the raysing of that line to the Crowne The E. of Salisbury left to keepe the Cittie The Batte'l of Northhampton The D. of Bucking the E. of 〈◊〉 the L. Bgremont Iohn Vicont 〈◊〉 Sir William Lucy 〈◊〉 The L. Edmond Grey of 〈◊〉 who led the 〈◊〉 of K. 〈◊〉 withdrew himself and tooke part with the L L. The King in 〈◊〉 to London the Towre yeelded vp to the Lords and the L. Skales who kept it is 〈◊〉 The D. of Sommerset Non confirmatur tractu 〈◊〉 quod de 〈◊〉 ab 〈◊〉 non 〈◊〉 W. Rufus and Hen. 1. 〈◊〉 before their elder brother The Battel of Wakefield where the D. of Yorke is slaine the E. of Salsburie taken beheaded at Yorke Edmond E. of Rutland youngest sonne to the D. of Yorke murthered after the Battell by the L. Clifford The 2. 〈◊〉 S. 〈◊〉 The King is againe 〈◊〉 by the 〈◊〉 The 〈◊〉 of Warwick 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 put to 〈◊〉 and Sir Iohn 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on the Kings 〈◊〉 The Queene after the battaile of S. 〈◊〉 sent to the Maior of London for certaine prouisions who 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 therewith all the Commons of the Citie stayed the same and would not permit the carts to 〈◊〉 Whereupon the L. Mayor sent to excuse 〈◊〉 and to appease the displeasure of the Queene Iasper E. of PeÌ„brok and Iames Butler E. of Ormond 〈◊〉 The battell of Mortimers cross wher Owen Teuther father to the E. of Pembrooke who had married K Hen. mother was taken 〈◊〉 The E. of 〈◊〉 after his ouerthrow at S. Alb. retires with all the forces hee could make and ioines with the yong D. of York who comming to 〈◊〉 and receiued with all ioie a great Councell was 〈◊〉 called of the L L. spiritu 〈◊〉 all and temporall where King 〈◊〉 was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 and to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all 〈◊〉 author 〈◊〉 the D os 〈◊〉 elected 〈◊〉 K and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the name of Edward the 4. the 4 of March 1460. at the age of 18. And so Hen. 6. after he had raigned 38. yeares 8. 〈◊〉 was deposed Edward beeing proclaimed and acknowledged for King presently 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 towards the North to encounter with K. Hen. 6. who in York shire had assembled a puissant armie of neere 60000. men and at a place called Towton about 4. miles from Yorke both their powers met where was soght the greatest battaile our stories mention in all these ciuill wars Where both the Armies consisted of aboue a 100000. men all of our own nation The L. Clifford slaine at Ferry 〈◊〉 The E. 〈◊〉 War 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 began with 〈◊〉 own hands 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 William 〈◊〉 L. Faulconbridge 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 created E. of 〈◊〉 In this battaile of Towton on K. Hen. side were 〈◊〉 Hen 〈◊〉 E. of North. the EE of Shrewsbury and Deuonshire Iohn I. 〈◊〉 the I. L. Bewmond Neuile Willouhby Wells Roos Grey Dacres Fitz-bugh Molineux Beckingham Knights the 2. base sons of Hen. Holland D. of Excester Richard Percie 〈◊〉 Cliston Andrew Trollop c. The whole number 〈◊〉 were accompted by som ' 33000. by others 35091. Queen Margaret with her sonn were in the City of Yorke expecting the euent of this Battaile Hen. 6 deliuers the towne of Berwicke to the K. of Scots Queene Margaret furnished with a great power of Scots and French to the number of 20000 with her 〈◊〉 entred into Northumberland took the Castle of Bambrough and after came forward to the Bishoprick of Durham Wher Hen. 〈◊〉 D. of Somerset who had lately 〈◊〉 reconciled to K. Ed. 4 ioined with them and also brought 〈◊〉 with him Sir Ralph Percie 〈◊〉 man of great courage worth who were taken in the battaile of Exham and executed in An. 3. Ed. 4. 1464. King Hen. was 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 to London with his legs bound to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 company 〈◊〉 Doctor Manning Deane of Windzor with another Diuine who were taken with him and committed to the Tower K. Ed. 4. sate on the Kings Bench in open Court 3 〈◊〉 together in Michaelmas Terme An. 2. of his raigne to vnderstand how his lawes were executed The Earle of Warwicke was sent into France to treat of a mariage between King Edward and the Ladie Bona daughter to Loyse D. of Sauoy and sister to the La. Carlote Queene of France which was there agreed vpon and Monsieur Damp Martin with others appointed to be sent into Eng. for the full accomplishing thereof But in the mean 〈◊〉 the first of 〈◊〉 the K. maried the La. Elizabeth Grey daughter to the Dutchess of Redford late wife to Sir Iohn Grey 〈◊〉 at S. 〈◊〉 on King Henries part Faults escaped Page Line Faults Corrections 40. 24. all call 61. 9. This T is 204. 14. our one