position may for a time flatter the Professor but it perpetually ends with Infamy which stands with Reason and Justice for as vertue is the Road-way to perfection so is the corruption of a false heart the true path to a certain and an unpittied ruin The enraged Barons are not more sensible of their own disparagement than the inconstancy and injustice of their Soveraign They think this affront done to them and the whole Kingdom of too high a nature to be dispens'd with yet with a temperate resolution they a while attend the issue The Actions of injustice seldom lessen they believe progression to be in all things an excellent Moral vertue He that hath a will to do ill and doth it seldom looks back until he be at the top of the Stairs This makes the ill affected return of this our Favourite more infamous and hated With an imperious storm he lets the Lords know he meditates nothing but revenge and waits a fit advantage to entertain it They believe time ill lost in so weighty a cause and therefore draw themselves and their Forces together before the King could prevent or his abuser shun it The Clouds presaging so great a storm he studies the best means he could to avoid it The general distast of the Kingdom takes from him the hope of an able party Scarborough Castle his last refuge he makes his Sanctuary but it was too weak against the number of his Enemies and the justice of their quarrel He falls at length into the power of those from whom he had no cause to expect protection or mercy The Butterflies of the time that were the Friends of his Fortunes not him seeing the Season chang'd betake themselves to the warmer Climate His Greatness had won him many Servants but they were but Retainers that like Rats forsook the House when they beheld it falling The Spring was laden with many glorious and goodly Blossoms but the Winter of his Age leaves him naked without a Leaf to trust to In this uncomfortable case remains this glorious Cedar in the hands of those whom in his greater height he had too much condemn'd and abused They resolve to make short and sure work unwilling to receive a command to the contrary which they must not obey though it should come from him to whom they had sworn Obedience Forsaken unpittied scorn'd and hated he falls under the the hands of Justice Gaverseed is the place which gives the Epilogue to this fatal Tragedy whence his Adversaries return more satisfied than assured Thus fell that glorious Minion of Edward the Second who for a time appeared liked a blazing Comet and sway'd the jurisdiction of the state of England and her Confederates He did not remember in the smiles and embraces of his lovely Mistris that she was blind nor made himself such a refuge as might secure him when she prov'd unconstant Such a Providence had made his end as glorious as his beginning fortunate leaving neither to the just censure of Time or Envy The King's vexations in the Knowledge are as infinite as hopeless his Passions transport him beyond the height of Sorrow He vows a bitter revenge which in his weakness he strives to execute with more speed than advisement The graver Senators that had most Interest in his favour mildly discourse his loss to the best advantage They lay before him his contempt and abusive carriage his insolence Honour beyond his Birth and Wealth above his Merit which must to all Ages give a just cause to approve their Actions and his Fortune The least touch of his memory adds more to the King's affliction who is fixt not to forget oâ— forgive so hold and heinous a Trespass The operations in the King were yet so powerful but the jealousies of the Actors are as cautelous so fair a warning-piece bids them in time make good their own security Lincoln the principal Pillar of this Faction follows his Adversary to the Grave but with a much fairer Fortune This Man was a goodly piece of true Nobility being in Speech and conversation sweet and affable in resolution grave and weighty his aged temper active above belief and his wisdom far more excellent in a solid inward knowledge than in outward appearance When the harbinger of Death pluck'd him by the Sleeve and he saw and knew he must leave the World he calls unto him Thomas Earl of Lancaster that had married his Daughter giving him a strict Imposition on his Death-bed that he should carefully maintain the welfare of the Kingdom and make good his place among the Barons This reverend old Statesman saw the King's ways and knew him to be a most implacable Enemy and with a kind of speculative prediction would often seem to lament the Misery of the time where either the King Kingdom or both must suffer The Son whose noble Heart was before seasoned with the same impressions assures it which he in time as really performs though it cost him the loss of his Estate Life and Honour Things are too far past to admit a reconciliation the King's Meditations are solely fix'd upon revenge and the Lords how they may prevent or withstand it The Kingdom hangs in a doubtful suspence and all Mens minds are variously carried with the expectation of what would be the issue Meditation and intercession brings it at length to Parliamentary discussion which being assembled at London enacts many excellent Laws and binds both the King and Lords by a solemn Oath to observe them Thus the violence of this Fire is a while suppressed and raked up in the Embers that it may in opportunity and advantage beget a great danger A new occasion presents it self that makes each part temporize for a while and smothers the thoughts of the ensuing Rumour Robert le Bruce re-enters Scotland whence he had been by Edward the First expuls'd inverting all the English Institutions that had so lately setled the Peace and subjection of the Kingdom Edward tender of his Honour and careful to preserve that purchase that had proved so dear a bargain adjourns his private spleen and provides to suppress this unlook'd for Rebellion He knew the justice of his quarrel and wakens from the Dream that had given him so large a cause of sorrow He gives his intentions a small intermission and a less respite with all speed he levies an Army and leads it with his own Person Whether it were the justice of Heaven or his own misfortune or improvidence the Scots attend and encounter him making Eastrivelyn the fatal witness of his disaster His Army lost and defeated he returns home laden with his own shame and sorrow His return is welcomed with a strange Impostor that pretends himself the Heir of Edward the First and the King the Son of a Baker A Tale so weak in truth and probability wins neither belief or credit Voidras this imaginary King is apprehended and makes Northampton Gallows the first Stair of his Preferment His Execution is
OF ENGLAND EDWARD the Second born at Carnarvan was immediately after the death of Edward the First his Father crowned King of England If we may credit the Historians of those times this Prince was of an Aspect fair and lovely carrying in his outward appearance many promising predictions of a singular expectation But the judgment not the eye must have preheminence in the censure of Human passages the visible Calender is not the true character of inward perfection evidently proved in the Life Reign and untimely Death of this unfortunate Monarch His Story Eclipseth this glorious Morning making the noontide of his Soveraignty full of Tyrannical oppressions and the Evening more memorable by his Death and Ruine Time the discoverer of truth makes evident his imposture and shews him to the World in Conversation light in Will violent in Condition wayward and in Passion irreconcileable Edward his Father a King no less Wise than Fortunate by his discreet Providence and the Glory of his Arms had laid him the sure Foundation of a happy Monarchy He makes it his last care so to inable and instruct him that he might be powerful enough to keep it so From this Consideration he leads him to the Scotish Wars and brings him home an exact and able Scholar in the Art Military He shews him the benefit of Time and Occasion and makes him understand the right use and advantage He instructs him with the precious Rules of Discipline that he might truly know how to obey before he came to command a Kingdom Lastly he opens the closet of his Heart and presents him with the politic Mysteries of State and teacheth him how to use them by his own Example letting him know that all these helps are little enough to support the weight of a Crown if there were not a correspondent worth in him that wears it These Principles make the way open but the prudent Father had a remaining task of a much harder temper He beheld many sad remonstrations of a deprave and vicious Inclination these must be purified or his other cautions were useless and to little purpose A corruption in Nature that by practice hath won it self the habit of being ill requires a more than ordinary care to give it reformation Tenderness of Fatherly Love abuseth his belief and makes him ascribe the imperfections of the Son to the heat of Youth want of Experience and the wickedness of those that had betray'd his unripe Knowledge and easie Nature with so base impressions He imagins Age and the sad burthen of a Kingdom would in the sence of Honour work him to thoughts more innocent and noble yet he neglects not the best means to prepare and assure it He extends the height of Entreaty and useth the befitting severity of his paternal Power making his Son know he must be fit for a Scepter before he enjoy it He takes from him those tainted humours of his Leprosie and enjoyns him by all the ties of Duty and Obedience no more to admit the Society of so base and unworthy Companions Gaveston the Ganimede of his affections a Man as base in birth as conditions he sentenceth to perpetual Exile The melancholy Apparitions of this loth to depart gives the aged Father an assurance that this Syren had to dear a Room in the wanton Cabinet of his Son's heart He strives to enlighten his mind and to make him quit the memory of that dotage which he foresaw in time would be his destruction But death overtakes him before he could give it perfection the time is come that he must by the Law of Nature resign both his Life and Kingdom He summons his Son and bequeaths him this dying Legacy commanding him as he will in another day answer his disobedience never to repeal his sentence To his Kindred and Peers that with sad Tears and watry Eyes were the companions of his Death-bed he shortly discourseth the base conditions of this Parasite and lets them understand both their own and the Kingdom 's danger if they withstood not his return if it were occasioned They knew his injunctions were just and promise to observe them he is not satisfied till they bind it with an Oath and vow religiously to perform it This sends him out of the World with more confidence than in the true knowledge of his Son 's wilful disposition he had cause to ground on The Father's Funeral Rights performed Edward in the pride of his years undertakes the Crown and guidance of this glorious Kingdom He glories in the advantage knowing himself to be an absolute King and at liberty yet thinks it not enough till the belief of the Kingdom did equally assure it He esteems no Act more proper to confirm it than running in a direct strain of opposition against his Predecessor's will and pleasure The strong motives of his violent affection suggests reasons that the Majesty of a King may not be confined from his dearest pleasure When he was a Son and a Subject he had witnessed his obedience being now a King and a Soveraign he expects a correspondence of the same nature Where there was so ready an inclination in the Will Reason found strength enough to warrant it which made him make Gaveston's return the first Act of his Soveraignty No protestation of his Lords nor persuasion of his Council can work a diversion or win so much as a befitting respect The Barons that were unable to withstand are contented to obey attending the issue of this so dangerous a resolution Where the News was so pleasing the Journey is as sudden Gaveston loseth not a minute till he felt the embraces of his Royal Lord and Master Edward having thus regained his beloved Damon is so transported with his presence that he forgets the will and ordinary respect due to the greatest Lords and Pillers of his Kingdom and hence proceeds their first discontent and murmur Many ways are invented to dissolve this enchantment but none more fit and worthy then to engage him in the sacred knot of Wedlock The Interest of a Wife was believed the only remedy to engross or divert those â—â—â—ted 〈◊〉 â—â—feâ—tâ—â—ns which they beheld so loosely and unworthily prostituted Isabel the Daughter of the French King the goodliest and 〈…〉 Lâ—dy of her time is moved and the tender o◠〈…〉 plausibly accepted This sends Edward scarce a King of nine Months standing into France and brings him back seas'd of a Jewel which not being rightly valued occasioned his ensuing Ruin The excellency of so sweet and vertuous a companion could not so surprie her Bridegroom but Gaveston still kept possession of the fairest room in his affections He makes it more notorious by creating him Earl of Cornewal and the Gift of the goodly Castle and Lordship of Wallingford Gaveston applies himself wholly to the humour of the King and makes each word that falls from his mouth an Oracle their affections go hand in hand and the apparent injustice of the one never found contradiction in
venture the breach of the Body of so great an Army that in Worth and Number so far exceeded The memory of former Passages and Trials taught them how to understand their present condition this begets in them a Resolution more solid and hopeful They leave the Road-way and war rather by Discretion than Valour which succeeds so fortunately that they surprize all the English Provisions and enforce the King to a second Return more Fortunate yet much less Honourable It is true he retreated and brought back his Army in safety but he had quitted the Siege which he had vowed to continue against the United Power of Scotland and lost wholly all that Wealth and Luggage he had carried with him This fill'd all Men's mouths with a complaining Grief and made Foreign Nations think the English had lost their former luster and renowned valour It was wondred that an Enemy so weak and contemptible should three several times successively bear away the Garland from those that had so often and knew the way so well to win and wear it But now begins a second Fire of a higher Nature that made the Kingdom a Theater stain'd with the noblest Blood that within her Confines had or Life or Being The King discouraged with his Foreign Fortune lays aside the thoughts of Arms and recalls into his wanton Heart the bewitching vanities of his Youth that had formerly bred him such Distemper He was Royally attended but it was by those that made their Tongues rather the Orators of a pleasing falshood than a true sincerity These were fit Instruments for such an ear that would not hear unless the Music answered in an even correspondency The Infidelity of the Servant is in a true Construction the Misery of the Master which is more or less dangerous as is the weight and measure of his Employment It is in the Election of a Crown a principal Consideration to chuse such Attendants whose Integrity may be the Inducement as well as the Ability else the imaginary help proves rather a Danger than Assistance Neither is it safe or honourable for the Majesty of a King to seem to depend solely on the Wisdom Care or Fidelity of one particular Servant Multiplicity of able Men is the Glory and Safety of a Crown which falls by degrees into confusion when one Man alone acts all parts whence proceeds a World of Error and Confusion The King was not ignorant that such a course would make such as were his but at second hand yet he resolves to make a new choice of one to supply the room of his lost beloved Gaveston Though his diseased Court was furnished with a large variety yet his Eye fixeth on Hugh the younger of the Spencers who was always tractable and conformable to the King's Will and Pleasure This Man was in shew smooth and humble of an insinuating Spirit one that knew his Master's ways and was ever careful to observe them He had applied himself wholly to Edward's will and fed his wanton pleasures with the strains of their own Affection Heat of Spirit and height of Blood consult more with Passion than Reason and a short Deliberation may serve where the Subject was so pleasing and to each side agreeable The King to make his Resolutions eminent with more hast than advisement makes him his Lord Chamberlain and lets the World know it was his Love and Will that thus advanc'd him Scarcely is this new great Officer warm in his unbefitting Authority but he exactly follows his Predecessor-precedent to the Life making all things lawful that were agreable to his Master's Will or his fantastical Humour The Peers of the Kingdom that saw the sudden and hasty Growth of this undeserving Canker resolve to lop or root it up before it should o'retop their Luster Spencer that in the precedent Story of Gaveston beheld the danger of his own condition begins in time to provide and strengthen a Party His aged Father fitter for his Beads than Action he makes a young Courtier and wins the King to give him Power and Assistance He labours to remove from his Master's ear all such as might endanger him and supplies their places with such as were his Creatures Those that were too high for such a surprisal by Persuasion Money or Alliance he seeks to engage and make the Parties this his coming Faction The Body of the Court thus assured his Actions in the State went in an even Correspondency Those that held him at a distance valuing their Fidelity and Honour before so base an advantage saw themselves disgracefully cashier'd and others installed in their Rooms that had neither Worth Birth or Merit The Factious Entertainers of his proffered Amity not only enjoy their own but are advanced higher which made them but the Instruments to act and further the Corruptions of his Will and wicked Nature This Foundation laid they now seem to contemn all fear of danger and in that assurance express their Contempt and Scorn against the Nobility who they knew would never entertain their Society or Friendship While thus the Rule and Manage of all the Royal Affairs in their Power was daily more and more abused the Incensed Barons meet at Sherborough where the Earl of Lancaster the Prime Agent lays before them in a short and grave Discourse the Iniquity and Danger that seemed eminently to threaten both them and the whole Kingdom if such a Resolution were not taken as might assure a speedy Prevention The Fore-knowledge of their Soveraign's Behaviour which would observe no Rule or Proportion in his immodest Affections gave them small hope to prevail by Persuasion or Entreaty They too well understood that Spencer's Pride was too great and haughty to go less without Compulsion and they must sink a Key or neither the Kingdom or themselves against so Inveterate a Hatred could expect in reason Safety or Assurance Hertford Mowbray and Clifford sore a higher pitch and in plain terms affirm That all other Resolutions were vain and hopeless 't was only Arms that must right the Time and State so much disorder'd Benningfield and Mortimer approve this Resolution and as soon give it Life and Action They enter furiously on the Possessions of their Enemies spoyling and wasting like profess'd Enemies Such an Outrage flies with a nimble Wing to the ears of the Owner who as soon makes the King the sharer of his Intelligence and encreaseth it to his own advantage The King sensible of so great an Affront and as tender of the one as cruel to the other publisheth by Proclamation the sentence of his Royal Will and Pleasure The Actors of this Misdemeanor must appear and justifie themselves or presently forsake the Kingdom The Lords that saw their Interests at Stake as they had begun resolve to maintain the Quarrel New Levies and Preparations are dayly made to make good the succeeding Issue Yet the more to justifie those Arms that in the best construction was deemed Rebellions they send to the King a fair
not more dangerous than dishonourable But their Reasons were just and weighty the Earl of Lancaster had sent Sir Robert Holland to raise his Tenants and Friends which he hoped would in time reinforce his Army Valence Earl of Pembrook that commands his Master's Forces seeing the disorder of their going off lays hold of the advantage and chargeth them so hotly that they break and betake themselves to their heels with great losses and confusion Holland entrusted by the Earl of Lancaster having accordingly performed the work he was employed in marching up to the Rescue is advertized of the State of their Affairs which makes him seek his own Peace and resign this supply wholly up to be disposed of at the King's Will and Pleasure The Supply so unexpected is graciously received and there is a set resolution to employ it to the best advantage The despairing Lords with their Adherents with much ado recover Pomfret there a second Deliberation is taken which held it the safest course to pass on and to possess the Castle of Donstanborough which was deemed a strength tenable enough until they could reinforce their Party or work their own Conditions This Resolution is presently attempted with more hast than fortune Sir Andrew Harkely meets and encounters them at Burrowbrig where Hertford Clifford and others died honourably in maintaining a brave defence while Lancaster Mowbray and many of their Adherents were taken and with their Heads paid the ransom of their Errors The Spencers like two furious Tigers that had seized their Prey give not their incensed Master leave to deliberate on the weight of so sad a Work the Lives of many brave Subjects are taken away in an instant and each part of the Kingdom is stained with loss of that noble Blood that had been much more gloriously spent in a Foreign War than in these Domestic and Civil Tumults Edward that was apparently guilty of too many other Vices drowns their memory in this so cruel and bloody a Tyranny The wreaking Blood of so many brave Gentlemen so unfortunately and untimely lost doth cry for vengeance and hurry on the destruction of the chief and principal Actors Mercy should precede the severity of Justice if not to all yet to some since they were not alike guilty If Lancaster had been of so unnoble a Disposition the Spencers had neither had time nor cause to rejoyce in his Ruin How often had they by a full advantage had Power of these their Enemies yet made it evident their aims were not Blood but Reformation And assuredly in this their last Act their Intents towards the Crown were innocent in all other respects than the desire of supporting it with more Honour As things fell afterwards out it had been to the King a Happiness if their Arms had prevailed for this Victory was the principal and fundamental Cause of his ensuing Ruin Fear and the expectation of danger kept both him and his Favourites in a better temper so long as there was so strong a Bridle Certainly in the Regiment of a Kingdom it is a wise and discreet Consideration to maintain and uphold a divided Faction and to countenance them so that the one may be still a counterpoise to the other by this means the King shall be more truly served and informed The Subject that is too far exalted and hath no one to contradict or question him considers not the Justice but the Means to preserve him by which the Judgment of the King is taxed and he is robb'd of the Hearts of his People The greater the height the stronger is the working to maintain it which seldom goes alone but is accompanied for the most part with those State-Actions of Impiety and Injustice which draws with it so perpetual an envy and hatred that it leads him headlong to a fatal and dishonourable Conclusion Though the Fury of this enraged King had so fully acted this bloody Tragedy yet Mortimer is spared rather out of Forgetfulness than Pity whose Life had been more available than all these that with so great a speed had felt his Rigour But he is reserved for a second course to teach the Spencers that same legem talionis and Edward the plain Song of his Error The Kingdom seems now in better Peace and setled the principal Pillars of the Common-wealth are taken away and those which remained are utterly disheartned in the danger of so fresh an Example This gains such a liberty to these triumphing Sycophants that they make the whole Kingdom as it were the just Fruits of an absolute Conquest The King approves and maintains their Actions giving them the Regal Power for their Warranty All kind of insolent and unjust Oppressions are now confidently practised without contradiction or question No Exaction or unlawful Action is left unattempted while the grieved Kingdom languisheth under the burden yet durst not stir to redress it The great Ones suffer basely beyond their Birth or Honour yet look faintly one upon another not daring to revenge their Quarrel The Commons murmuring complain yet find not a Man that will give them heart or leading The watchful Spencers that saw and knew the general hatred and infamy of their own conditions lessen not their height or fear the Sequel With a politic care they use their best means to prevent it The King's Humour naturally vicious they feed with all the proper objects that might please or more betray his senses They strive to make him alike hateful to his Subjects that in the change of Fortune they might together run one and the self-same hazard There is yet another piece of State to this great work as proper Edward is but a Man and a Creature in nothing more constant than his Affections yet these with age and time may alter this gap must be so stop'd that they may be more assured Hugh the younger of the Spencers who had a searching Brain wise and active believes this work had two several dependences the one to keep him in continual Fear the other in a perpetual Want These being marshalled with Discretion he knew would knit fast his Master's Love and add to the opinion of his Wisdom and Fidelity imposing a kind of necessary Impulsion still to continue him In his Breast alone was lock'd all the passages and mysteries of State whereby he was most able to provide for the future inconveniences From this ground with a kind of loose scorn he continues the French Correspondence and secretly contriveth a continuance of the Scotish Rebellion He omits no Act of Contempt against the antient Nobility that they might in the sence of their disgrace be or at least dayly threaten some new Combustion The confluence of so many threatning dangers work the wished effect and keep the king in perpetual fear and agitation The ill success of his Armies and Expeditions in their Memory help strongly to encrease it Yet is not his faithful Servant neglective in the second and remaining part He so orders his
so had it a double use and reflection The Spencers saw the Subject more inclinable to adore the rising Sun in which Act they thought the Queen's Mediation and Presence would be a dangerous Instigator They believed her absence could not work such and so great an assistance as might countervail the domestic danger They knew the French light and inconstant and those which with a kind of natural fear abhorr'd the English Wars out of the limit of their own Kingdom And in the worst construction they conceited Money or a resignation of that part was holden by the King in France would beget a Peace at their own will and pleasure Yet these Considerations were attended with some doubts which delayed and put off the execution The Queen who had long hated the Insolency of the Spencers and pitying the languishing Estate of the Kingdom resolves in her mind all the possible ways to reform them Love and Jealousie two powerful Motives spurr'd her on to undertake it She saw the King a stranger to her Bed and revelling in the embraces of his wanton Minions without so much as a glance or look on her deserving Beauty This contempt had begot in her Impressions of a like though not so wanton and licentious a Nature She wanting a fit Subject for her Affections to work on her Wedlock being thus estranged had fixed her wandring Eye upon the goodly shape and beauty of gallant Mortimer He was not behind hand in the reception and comel entertainment of so rich and desired a Purchase But his last Act had lodg'd him in the Tower which was a Cage too strait to crown their desires with their full perfection yet is there a sweet correspondency continued Letters and many loving Messages bring their Hearts together though their Bodies were divided By these is Mortimer informed of the Resolution for the intended Journey of his Royal Mistress whom he vows to attend or lose his Life in the adventure The Queen understanding the Intentions of her Servant strives to advance her dispatch and hastens it with all her best indeavours But where was so great an Inconstancy there could be no expectation that this Proposition should be more assur'd or permanent New delays and doubts interpose insomuch that the hopes of this Journey were now grown cold and desperate The Queen seeing her self deluded and this opportunity stoln from her by those whom she before so mortally hated sets her own brains a working to invent a speedy remedy She was therein so fortunate as to pretend a Journey of Devotion and Pilgrimage to Saint Thomas of Canterbury which by her Overseers was wholly unsuspected Things thus prepared by a faithful Messenger she gives Mortimer the knowledge of her Design who prepares himself with a more dangerous Stratagem to meet it Her eldest Son her dearest comfort and the chief spring that must set all these wheels a going she leaves not behind but makes him the Companion of her Travels The King's Joy was great that saw by this occasion he should gain a free liberty to enjoy his stoln Pleasures which were before so narrowly attended by the jealous eyes of his Queen that in this kind had been so often wronged The aspiring Spencers were well pleased that to be assured would have given a free consent to her perpetual absence A short time brings her to the end of so short a journey where she makes her stay of the same measure Winchelsey had the honour to have the last farewel of this pair of precious Jewels Thither comes Mortimer having made a fortunate Escape and with the Earl of Cane resolves to venture his Life in the Attendance and Service of so brave a Mistress An Exploit so weighty and dangerous gave no time of stay or ceremony They immediately Embark and make a tryal where they may find another Climate more propitious and fortunate The watry Billows and the peaceful Winds as if they were consenting to their Enterprise entertain them with an aspect clear and quiet sending them with a fresh and pleasing Gale safe to their desired Port of Bulloign The King and Spencers being truly enformed are startled with the matter and manner of their Escape They knew the Birds were too far flown to be catcht or reclaimed and did imagin the Plot was too surely laid that had so prosperous a beginning Now all the former Resolutions are useless new Deliberations are required how this Breach may be handsomly sodered or the threatning danger prevented All other ways are deemed short that one of taking off the King of France was believed most sure and easie They knew the French strain to be giddy light and covetous and applied themselves in the right Key to fit these several humours The King whose presaging soul misgave his welfare grows sad and melancholly calling to mind the Injustice of his own Actions and the fair Cause his Wife had to seek her right and refuge The neglect and breach of Wedlock was so great an Error but so to contemn so sweet and great a Queen was a fault in his own thoughts deserv'd a heavy censure She had not only felt a particular share of her own grief but suffered deeply in the general sorrow of the whole Kingdom Those which had erected their petty Tyrannies over the Subject were in like sort authoris'd by him that ought to have had an equal share of her affliction more and more to abuse her The sad Impressions of these Disorders and the reeking Blood of so many noble and brave Subjects so basely spilt do seem to cry for Vengeance This for a while wrought deeply in his distressed thoughts but a small intermission brings him back to his former temper A customary habit of a depraved Nature dulleth the sense of the Soul and Conscience so that when our better Angels summon us to restitution and repentance the want of a lively true apprehension leads us blindfold into a dangerous despairing hazard The French King having notice of his Sister's arrival with a wondrons plausible and seeming Joy doth entertain it with an honourable Attendance fitting more her Estate Birth and Dignity than her present miserable condition she is waited on to Paris where she is soon Visited by the Royal King her Brother When she beheld the refuge of her hopes she falls upon her Knee and with a sweetly coming modesty she thus begins her Story The King unwilling to suffer such an Idolatry from her that had a Father Brother and Husband so great and Royal takes her up in his Arms and then attends her Motives Great Sir quoth she behold in me your most unfortunate Sister the true Picture of a dejected Greatness and the essential substance of an unhappy Wedlock I have with a suffering beyond the belief of my Sex overcome a world of bitter Tryals Time lessens not but adds to my Afflictions my Burthen is grown too heavy for my long abused Patience Yet 't is not I alone but a whole Kingdom heretofore truly
glorious that are thus unjustly wronged My blushing Cheek may give you knowledge I too much Honour the Cause of mine Affliction to let my Tongue discover it Yet this in Duty and Modesty I may ingenuously confess My Royal Husband is too far seduced his Ear is too open his Will too violent and his Heart too free to those bewitching Syrens that make his Errors their Profit and Glory All hope of his return is lost so long as they shall live and remain his Leaders How many of his noblest and bravest Subjects have attempted his freedom and by an unjust and inglorious Death miscarried Alass all expectations are vain and desperate if I had not known the impossibility to disinchant him I had not in so mean and miserable a case stoln to you for Succour You have a fair way to make known to the World the truth of your own Glory and Goodness Fortune leads you by the hand to an Action not more Just than Honourable if you would dispute it Can there be a more precious Motive to invite you than the view of these unhappy Ruins See here two Royal Branches of the Flower-de-luce withering sullied and depressed Would you truly consider how great and noble a Work it is to support those that are unworthily oppressed Heaven and Earth must witness the true value of your Worth and my Petition Let it not breed a Jealousie or Discouragement that I appear before you and seek your help with so poor a Train and mean Attendance Besides the Justice of my Cause I bring with me the Griefs and Hearts of a Kingdom that have both Sworn and Vow'd to defend it Nor may you with reason doubt their Integrity while you have my wretched self and the Heir apparent to be your Pawn and Warrant For God's sake Sir by your own Virtue and Goodness I desire it and in the challenge of that Royal Blood whereof by the Laws of God Men and Nature I have so large a Share and Interest Let not after Ages taint your Memory with such an Aspersion That you are the first of all the Kings of France that denied to relieve a Sister so deeply wronged and distressed She would have spoken more but here the big swoln Fountains of her watry Eyes discharge their heavy burthen Her Tears like Orient Pearls bedew her lovely Cheeks while she with a silent Rhetoric invites a noble pity Her sad Complaint won a general remorse and her liquid Tears a deep and strong compassion Her Brother vows Revenge and promiseth to make England and the World know she was his Sister The Lords and Peers of France tender their ready help and assistance the Service is so hotly pursu'd that the poor Queen with an abused confidence believes she shall be speedily and strongly righted 'T was not alone her Error it is a general Disease We easily credit that News we most desire and hope for The Spencers whose watchful eyes were soon informed of these Passages too late condemn their own Improvidence and Folly that gave the wronged Queen so fit and fair an advantage They fear not all the Power of France but suspect Intestine danger where they knew the Hearts of all were alien'd and estranged They well enough understood the vanity of Female Passion but suspect that the rising Son would be follow'd and admir'd whilst their declining Master would be left forsaken and dejected These Conceits work so deeply that they conclude they must fall if they could not stop the Foreign Danger The English were Cow'd there was in them no fear unless the strangers strength gave them new Life and Spirit In so weighty a Cause there was no time left for delay or dalliance They dispatch presently away their Agents to the French Court laden with the Treasure of the Kingdom and many glorious Promises They instruct them how to apply themselves to the Time and present Necessity and teach them the way to work and undermine the Queen's Proceedings These Messengers arriving at Paris find the French heat well qualified and cooled This gave them more time and hope to bring their Master's Will and their own Imployment to a speedy perfection They set upon the Pillars of State such as in their Master's Ear or in his Council had most sway and preheminence they give freely and promise more till they have won a firm and fair assurance No one had an Interest and was known to be a favourer of the adverse Party but his Tongue is tied with a golden Chain to a perpetual silence When thus this Practice was ripe the King is persuaded of the danger and peril of so great and weighty an Action His Sister's Reputation and intemperate Carriage though tenderly is often touched A Woman's Passion is believed too weak a Reason to engage two so Warlike Nations in a War wherein themselves had formerly so often suffered The King for all his first great and high Expression had much rather have to do with the English in their own Kingdom than in France yet was well enough content not to try their Arms in either Yet still he feeds his sorrowing Sister with good words pretending many vain Excuses which made her suspect and doubt his meaning She arms her self with a noble patience hopeful at least that she and her son might there remain in peace and safety By the intercourse of Messages that had so often pass'd and repass'd the Spencers are assured that their Affairs in France went fairly on by which they were well onward in their Journey There could be yet no certain or assured confidence until they had again gotten the Queen and her Son into Possession No Promise or Persuasion is left to win her to return but her Ears were stopt she too well knew the sweet Enticements of such alluring Serpents This Project falling short a solemn Letter is fram'd from King Edward to the Pope and a Messenger after their own hearts appointed to carry it The Contents were full of Humility and Bitterness complaining to his Holiness That his Wife had without just Cause forsaken both Him and his Kingdom carrying away his Son the stay of his Age without his leave or license a Traytor to Him and his Crown that had publickly acted a Rebellion and was taken and Imprison'd for it had made an escape and was now her sole Companion and though he was not hasty to report or credit ye he had just cause to fear he was the abuser of his Wedlock The King of France with whom he had sworn so solemn and firm a League being Summon'd had denied to restore her These goodly Glosses and Pretexts find a ready passage and an easie belief where there was none to contradict or justifie If these Aspersions had been as they were pretended just and true the Fact had been odious and justly deserved a fair and speedy reformation The greater Cardinals that were at that time most great and eminent had tasted deeply of the King's bounty which gave the
the other The Subjects Voice was so fortunate that it was always concurrent where the King maintained the party If the discourse were Arms Gaveston extoll'd it as an Heroic Vertue if Peace he maintained it not more useful than necessary unlawful pleasure he stiled a noble Recreation and unjust Actions the proper and becoming Fruits of an absolute Monarchy These Gloses so betray the willing ear that heard them that no Honour is thought good and great enough for the Reporter The greatest Commands and Offices are in the person or disposure of Gaveston The command of War and all Provisions Foreign and Domestic are committed solely to his care and custody All Treaties for Peace or War had their success or ruin by his direction and pleasure The King Signed no Dispatch private or public but by his consent or appointment So that all men believed their Soveraign to be but a meer Royal shadow without a real substance Neither was it enough to advance him beyond his desert or the rules of a modest proportion But his Power must be made more extant in the Commitment to the Tower of the Bishop of Chester whom he quarrels as the occasion of his first banishment These insolencies carried with so great a height and contempt are accompanied with all the remonstrances of a justly grieved Kingdom The ancient Nobility that disdain'd such an Equal justly exclaim against the Iniquity of the time that made him their Superiour The grave Senators that understood their own worths are discontent to see themselves rejected while Upstarts by Money or Favour possess the higher places The Soldier that with his Blood had purchas'd his Experience laments his own dishonour seeing unworthy Striplings advanced while he like the ruins of a goodly Building is left to the wide World without use or reparation The Commons in a more intemperate fashion make known their griefs and sad oppressions Gaveston that both saw and knew the general discontent sought not to redress it but with an ill advised confidence strives to out-dare the worst of his approaching danger Lincoln Warwick and Pembrook whose noble hearts disdained the o'regrown height of this untimely Musherompt let the King know their fidelity and his apparent Error He must free himself and right them or else they will seek it in another Fashion Edward knew their Complaints were just yet was most unwilling to hear or relieve them till seeing their strong resolution and himself wholly unprovided to withstand the danger he makes his affections stoop to the present necessity and consents to a second banishment of his so dearly beloved Favourite Gaveston in the height and pride of his ambition is enforced to leave his Protector and to make Ireland the place of his Abiding With a sad heart he takes his leave departing yet with a more desire of revenge than sorrow for his absence All things thus reconciled the Kingdom began to receive a new life mens hopes were suitable to their desires and all things seem to promise a swift and fair Reformation But the bewitching Charms of this wily Serpent made it soon evident that alone his death must prevent his mischief The personal correspondency taken away the affections of the restless King becomes far more violent In the short interim of his absence many reciprocal and sweet messages interchangeably pass betwixt them Edward receives none but he returns with a Golden Interest He is not more sensible of his loss than the Affront and Injury which persuades him it were too great indignity for him to suffer at the hand of a Subject Though with his own hazard he once more calls him home pacifying the incensed Lords with an assurance of reconciliation and amendment Those strict Admonitions so fully exprest were not powerful enough to reclaim the Fondness of the one and Insolency of the other The King regaining thus his beloved Minion dotes on him in a far greater measure and he to make the Music perfect is of a far more violent temper He affronts and condemns his Adversaries the ancient Nobility surreptitiously wasting and imbezelling the Revenues of the Crown He enflames the King's heart so apt to receive it with all the motives of revenge unquietness and disorder The Jewels of the Crown and that rich Table and Tressels of Gold are purloin'd and pawn'd to supply this wanton Riot He had so true a knowledge of his Master's weakness that he made him solely his His Creatures were alone prefer'd his Agents were the guides and no man hath the King's ear hand or purse but such as were by Gaveston prefer'd or recommended Edward in his voluptuous sensuality supplies the place but he had the sole execution of that Royal Prerogative that was alone proper to the Crown The Nobility whose Lyon-hearts strugled betwixt the sence of their just grief and allegiance at length resolve the King as to himself must be so to them and the Kingdom or they may no more endure it With grave and weighty Reasons they make the King know both the error and the vanity of his Affections letting him truly understand that they had a dear Interest both in him and the Kingdom which they would no longer suffer to be so abused and misguided Edward being himself thus hardly prest and that no entreaty or dissimulation could prevail he must now set right the disorders of the Kingdom or have his work done to his hand with less honour and more danger Once more he subscribes to their will which he sees he cannot withstand or alter Gaveston is again banish'd and makes Flanders the next Neighbour the place of his reception Infinite was the joy of the Kingdom who now expected a secure Freedom from that dangerous Convulsion that threatned so apparent an intestine ruin This their imaginary Happiness was made more real and perfect in the knowledge that Windsor had blest them with an Heir Apparent The Royal Father is pleased with the News but had not wheher his divining Spirit or Gaveston's absence were the cause those true expressions of joy that in justice became so great a Blessing The absence of his Minion could not lighten his heavy Soul but all other comforts seemed vain and counterfeit his distracted brains take new and desperate resolutions he revokes the sentence of his grief and vows to justifie it against the utmost strength of Contradiction He that dares do those things that are dishonest and unjust is not asham'd to justifie and maintain them This Error gave this unfortunate King more Enemies than he had Friends to defend them Kings that once falsifie their Faiths more by their proper Will than a necessary Impulsion grow infamous to foreign Nations and fearful or suspected to their own peculiar Subjects He that is guilty of doing ill and justifies the action makes it evident he hath won unto himself a habit of doing so and a daring impudence to maintain it by the protection of which he believes all things in a politic wisdom lawful This
business within doors and without that the Royal Treasure of the Crown is prosusely wasted and spent without Accompt or Honour The antient Plate and Jewels of the Crown are in the Lombard and their Engagement drowned before it had the warmth of a sure possession The Subject is rack'd with strange Inventions and new unheard of Propositions for Money and many great Loans required beyond all proportion or order Lastly the Royal Demeans are set at Sale and all things that might make Money within the Kingdom To supply these inconveniences which are now grown to a greater height than the Plotter of them intended a new Parliament is called at York where the elder Spencer is advanced to the Earldom of Winchester and Harkely another Chip of the same Block is made Earl of Carlisle Baldocke a mean Man in Birth Worth and Ability is made Lord Chancellor of England In this Parliament which was by Fear and Favour made to his hand he makes known the greatness of his Want and Occasions the justly aggrieved Commons entring into a deep consideration of the times freely give the sixth Penny of all the Temporal Goods throughout the whole Kingdom When this Act came to the general knowledge it utterly estranged the Hearts of the Subjects which plead an Impossibility to perform it in respect of those many former Exactions Yet after some light contestation it is levyed no man daring to make so much as a shew of resistance If we may credit all the Antient Historians who seem to agree in this Relation there were seen at this time many Sights fearful and prodigious Amongst them no one was so remarkable as that which for six hours space shewed the glorious Sun cloathed all in perfect Blood to the great Admiration and Amazement of all those that beheld it Following times that had recorded it in their Memories by the sequel believed it the fatal Prediction of the ensuing Miseries Those that more aptly censure the present view of a Wonder conceited the just Heavens shew'd their incensed Anger for the Noble Blood of the Earl of Lancaster and his Adherents so cruelly shed without Compassion or Mercy The Scots working on the condition of the times so much dejected and amazed seize the advantage They saw by the last Parliamentary Proceedings that the King was so enabled as the hope of any Attempt in England was altogether hopeless Yet they resolve to be doing somewhere within the King's Dominions or at the least his Jurisdiction This draws them to assemble themselves and to Attempt a surprisal of the Northern places of Ireland As the Action was vain so the Success proved as unfortunate they are defeated slain overthrown and return not with the twentieth part of their number The King remembring those many Indignities he had suffered and resenting this their last Attempt with an implacable scorn and anger resolves to let them speedily know that he meant to call them to an after reckoning Upon this he sends out his Summons to call his Men of War together and makes all Provisions be prepared for this so constantly resolved a Journey His former Misfortunes had instructed him to undertake this Design much more strongly and warily And this so grave a Consideration brought him together the remaining Glory and Strength of the greater part of his Kingdom With these he marcheth forward and invadeth the nearer parts of Scotland but whether it were the Infidelity of those about him the will and pleasure of Him that is the Guider and Directer of Human Actions or the unfortunate Destiny of this unhappy King he is enforc'd to return without doing any Act that is truly worthy his Greatness or Memory The wily Scots that durst not set upon the Face of his Army wait upon the Rear and in a watch'd opportunity surprise his Stuff and Treasure This sends him home a third time a discontented Man and whether with a just Guilt or to transfer his own Fault upon others the newly created Earl of Carlile is put to a shameful Execution The Grounds against him were very probable but not certain and it was enough that he is believed like Judas for Money to have sold his Master The principal Motive that may lead us to think he was deeply faulty was the Honour and Gravity of his Tryal which gave him on a full hearing so sincere and sharp a Sentence Scarcely is the King settled after his tedious Journey when comes a stranger News That the French King had made a Hostile Attempt upon the Frontier parts of Guyen which was seconded with a Declaration That he was no longer resolved to entertain the Friendship or Peace with England This Feat had been cunningly before-hand wrought by the secret working of Spencer yet he desired to have it still in Agitation and not in Action He wisht his Master thence might be possest with the fear of War and not feel it The French were of another mind they saw into the great Disorders and Misguidance of England and thought it a fit time either by War or Policy to unite so goodly a Branch of their Kingdom It is true they had matcht a Daughter of France to the Crown of England and had solemnly swore a Peace but these they thought might be with ease dispenst with on so weighty a Cause and so fair an Advantage Edward seeing into the danger and taxing bitterly the Infidelity of the French begins to survey his own Condition whereby he might accordingly sort his resolution either to entertain the War or to seek Peace upon some Honourable or at least reasonable Conditions He in this passage finds himself more hated and feared than beloved he saw his Coffers empty the Scotish War and Surprisal had quite exhausted the Sinews of his last Parliamentary Contribution He feared the Inclination of the Subject would refuse any further Supply or in consenting make it conditional which he was wholly unwilling to undergo or adventure Lastly The Misfortune that waited on him ever since he was absolute he feared had estranged and dejected so the Hearts of his Soldiers that they would hardly be drawn forth or act any thing with their accustomed Valour and Resolution In this Distraction he seeks not by the Advice of a grave Council to qualifie or prevent it this Medicine he conceits worse than the Disease but calls unto him Spencer the Cabinet of his Heart he alone is thought fit to communicate this deep Secret and to give the Resolution His Father Baldock and the rest of that Faction by his persuasion and entreaty are admitted to make the Party greater and the Discourse more serious and likely Before them is laid the Condition of the King the Estate of the Kingdom their own Danger and the Intentions of their Foreign Adversary Many several ways are devised and advised and in conclusion no one is believed more sound and proper than that the Queen should personally mediate the Atonement with her Royal Brother This as it was cunningly laid