Soudyan to great lamentacion Of Goddes people and all Christen nacion ¶ He sente hym also the keyes of Dauids towre With Heraclye that of Ierusalem Was Patriarke and greatest of honour And with templers which brought hym into this realme Besekyng hym that he would thē susteine Full humbly askyng supportacion For the cytiee and christen consolacion ¶ All these titles the chronicles can recorde If they be seen by good deliberacion Many of theim to these full well accorde As I haue seen with greate delectacion By clerkes wrytten for our informacion As in olde feldes cornes freshe and grene grewe So of olde bookes cōmeth our cunnyng newe ¶ Of this I wyll nowe cease and forth procede To my mater wher fyrst I beganne To chronicles of this lande for worthihed To remembre in balade as I can To that entent to please both God and man And eke to please good femynitie Of my lady your wife dame Cecely ¶ That in Latyn hath litell intellect To vnderstande the great nobilytie Of this like lande of whiche she is electe Tyme commyng like to haue the souerayntie Vnder your rule as shulde feminitee Whiche if it maye please her ladyshippe My hert will reioyse of her inward gladshippe ¶ For well I wote your great intelligence That in latyn hath good inspeccion Will pleased bee of your hie sapieuce My lady that is vnder your proteccion Your heyre also maye rede at theyr eleccion Whiche if it may please your nobilitee Of my laboure I would reioysed bee ¶ Also for your heyres and for your successours In tyme commyng to haue a clere knowledge How of this realme the noble gouernours Haue kept with helpe of Baronage In victorye tryumphe and surplusage Sith Brute it wanne in his prioritee It hath been kept in worthy dignitee ¶ But howe this ysle enbrased with this sea Vnedefied was knowne first and founde That Albion was named of propertee Of dame Albione that first therein had ground And after long how Brute therof was crowned That of his owne name called it Brytayne And buylded it wher all before was playne ¶ The ende of the Proheme Here begynneth the Chronycle of Iohn Hardynge The firste Chapter ¶ Of the .xxx. susters that first inhabited this lande named it Albion that nowe is Englande Wales Scotland THe whyle that Troye was reignyng in his might In Greece there was a kynge right excellente That Dioclesiā some booke sayeth he hight And of Surray that had the regimente Dame Albyne hight his wife a lady gente Who doughters had .xxx. wedded to there degree To kynges all of greate nobilitee ¶ Whiche fell in pryde and hye elacion Thynkyng to be in no subieccion Of husbandes more ne dominacion But only by a fell conieccion Toke hole purpose and full affeccion To kyll there lordes slepyng sodaynly Soueraynes to be and lyue all seuerally The .ij. Chapter ¶ Note that wemen desyre of al thynges soueraynte to my conceypt more in this land then in any other for they haue it of the nature of the saied susters THe youngest suster the mater all discured To her husbande and to her father gent For whiche she was of al that dede assured But they were putte in exile by iudgement So rightfull were the princes of there entente They iudged them to be put in the see In shyppe topasse echeone fro there countree ¶ As fortune would to make there auenture Which by processe with streames to and fro And tempestes greate and sore disauenture Of sickenes great and mykell other wo And moste of all they knewe not whether to go Tyll at laste they came vnto this ysle That then was waste as chronicles do compile ¶ But I dare saye this chronicle is not trewe For in that ylke tyme in Surraye was no kyng Ne afterwarde to tyme that Saul grewe Ne no kyng was in Surray euer lyuyng That had that name for Saule was the first kyng Of Surray realme at the ende of the thyrde age In Samuels tyme the prophete wyse and sage The .iij. Chapter ¶ Note that Hughe de Genesis a Romayne historiographier declareth in his chronicle all the kyngdomes of the worlde and all the names of suche kynges as ruled in theim from Noes floude vnto the byrthe of Christ In whiche chronicle the foresayed Hughe writeth that Danays kyng of that Grekes had .l. doughters and that Egistus his brother kyng of Egypte had as many sonnes that maryed together which doughters kylled theyr owne husbandes and for that cause were banyshed and saylyng on the sea were dryuen vnto a certain ysle which Albina beyng the eldest suster of theim named accordyng to her name Albiō and Brute after that called it accordyng to his name Brytayne NE afore Brute was in no realme that name No kyng on liue that hight ne called so But of Arginos the kyng of full hye fame Had doughters fifty whose name was Danao The kyng of Egipte his brother Egisto Had soonnes also fifty together wedde In chronicles of olde as I haue redde ¶ Whiche doughters slew their husbandes echone Long before Brute was of his mother bore So fynde I by these women alone And by these soonnes thus slain before The chronicle trewe in their persones more Then in the doughters of Dioclesian Were in no lande that tyme so hight kyng none ¶ So in the yere of Aioth Iudge of Israell These ladies here landed full weery and sore Seuenty and twoo as Hugh dooeth tell Whiche was I saie an hundred yere afore That Brute came into this lande and more By fyue yeres trulye and well accompted Of yeres ode so muche more amounted ¶ Also in Surray there was no kyng before Kyng Alexaunder dedde and expired For Seleucius was the first kyng thore By all chronicles that I haue enquired That chronicle should not bee desired Seyng that it is not trew ne autenticke By no chronicle vnto the trewth oughte like ¶ I dare well saie he sawe neuer Hugh Genesis Ne he redde neuer the chronicles of Surry Of Israell Iude ne of Egipciis Of Argiuos of Athenes ne Thessaly Of Macedon Cesile ne of Assery Of Lacedemon of Lyde ne yet of Latyn Of Affrique of Asis ne yet of Babelyn ¶ Of Perce ne Meede Italye ne Albany Of kyng Alexaunder ne of his successors That afore tyme reigned dyuersly In dyuerse realmes citees castelles and toures Of Romany ne of state of emperours For had he seene all these and their stories Of Dioclesian he would make no memories The .iiii. Chapiter ¶ Howe these ladies had this Isle in the yere of Aioth .lxxii. in the third age of the world and she called it Albion of hir name and toke feauty seruice of theim all as souerayne ladie of this Isle that nowe is Englande Scotlande and Walis as Hugh Genesis wryteth in his Dyaloge THese ladies so ay dwellyng in this Isle The yeres of Aioth seuenty two no lees Dame Albyne was as mēne can
prynce euer had or any kyng ¶ But one defaute he had of greate offence Of Sodome synne he wolde it not amende He haunted it euer withoute any defence Whiche greued god and brought hym to an end Two and twenty yere as dyd appende His lande he helde in peace and vnyte Without suppryse of any enmytee ¶ Carreys was then crowned kyng anone That loued well in all cytees debate Betwene townes and citees euery chone And in suche wyse maynteyned early and late Imagened of his wyll preordinate So muche in warre that cytees and countrees Full comen were of his malicyousnesse ¶ For which Britons made hym full mykel war And Saxons also vnto kyng Gurmound sent Of affrycans that then in Irelande were Who with his fleete to perfourme his entent To Britayne came by all theyr hole assent But Saxons then and he were full accorde And Britons also that had ciuyle discorde The .lxxxvii. Chapiter ¶ Howe Gurmounde kynge of Affrycans conquered Brytayne and departed it in seuen kyngdomes to Saxons 〈◊〉 Englyshe and went to wynne moo landes made Gurmonde Chester GVrmoūde that then was mighty cōquerour King of Affricās most dred in euery lond with helpe of Britōs theyr great socour And of Englishe Saxons had made thē bonde That dwelled that tyme in Northumberlande And other places in Britayne vnder truage Rose with hym whole agayne that kynges outrage ¶ And fought with him and put hym to that flight To Circestre went and strongly helde the towne But kyng Gurmound that towne then seeged right And gate it so with myght greate renowne Wherfore he fled to wales for his proteccyon what came of him myne authour nought exp̄ssed But with the death I trowe he was oppressed ¶ But Gurmound then Britaine hole destroied Bothe churche and towne eke the christen faith For he a Paynym was and sore anoyded The chrystentye as Gyldas wrote and seyth Through Logres that whole was lost with paynī leyeth The prelates all curates and religyous With reliques all fledde awaye full dolorous ¶ And hid them then in hilles woodes and caues Tharchbishops the one of London then And Tadyok of Yorke that fled fro Knauis With sainctes bones to wildernes fast ranne And hid hym there and Gurmond sore did banne With crosse and bell with greate candill light Thei cursed hym as ferre as the churches might ¶ This kyng Gurmōd gaue all Northūberland Frome Trent North that then hight Berun deyre Northfolke Southfolke and Cābrydge shire at hāde Whiche Estāgle Bede calleth in his storie And all fro Trent to Themis for memorye Mers he called all to English gaue That dwelled ther for euer to reioyse and haue ¶ He gaue all these to Englishe menne in deede Whiche came out of a lande hight angulo In Germany that was and with woodes I rede Replenished of wild bestes buck and doo Sith that tyme hether hathe been and yet is so Wherfore thei were of it called Englishemenne All Logres Northumberlande Anglande then ¶ He gaue Sussex then to the Saxons Essex Midelsed with Surry whole and Kent But then Hamshire Barkeshire toures townes And Shropshire whole Gloucester as thē apēt All these were called Westsex as Bede ment Thus dalt he the lande to theim therin dwellyng Whiche long afore paied truage to the kyng ¶ Thē went he home through Fraūce it distroied And many other landes and regions But Brytons then to that West parties sore anoyed Droue theim of Logres with all religions To liue in peace for dred of rebelions For after Carreis was fled thei had no kyng To tyme Cadwan was made by their chosyng ¶ So stode thei then kyngles by twenty yere Fro the yere of Christ fiue hundred and four score And therto three as clerly dooeth apere Vnto the yere after that Christ was bore Sixe hundreth and three without any more When Cadwan was of Brytons kyng elect And crouned was to rule theim and protect ¶ O kyng Carreis vnhappiest creature That in Brytain reigned euer afore What infortune made the flee from thy cure What caused the to maintene so euermore Eyuile discord within thy realme so sore That might haue reigned ouer many a lande Through whiche thyne owne is lost I vnderstād ¶ Thou vnderstandest full litill theuangilye That euery realme within it selfe deuide Shall desolate bee made as clerkes tell And euery hous on other shall fall and slyde Thy wycked will that nowe is knowen wyde That suffred so debate bytwyne lorde and lorde Bytwyne citees and landes cyuyle discord ¶ The cause was of thy disheriteson And of thy realmes desolacion That with lawe and peaceble constitucion Might haue been saued with greate consolacion And the churche preserued in greate prosperacion The Christen faith in thy lande distroyed That with the peace shuld haue be kept vnnoyed ¶ O woful Carreis thyne heires thy Brytons Their children all the widdowes and their wife 's The commonalte in citees and in townes The churche also may bāne full sore those striues By thy supporte that rest so many their liues Wher lawe and peace if thou had well conserued All had been saued with thanke of god deserued ¶ Defaute of lawe was cause of this mischiefes Wronges sustened by maistry and by might And peace layed downe that should haue been the chief For whiche debate folowed and vnright Wherfore vnto a prince accordeth right To kepe the peace with al tranquillite Within his realme to saue his royalte ¶ What is a kyng without lawe and peace Within his realme sufficiently conserued The poorest of his realme maye so encrease By iniury and force to bee preferred Till he his kyng with strength haue ouerterued And sette hym self in royall maieste If that he bee in suche a ieopardie ¶ O ye lordes and princes of high astate Kepe well the lawe and peace in gouernaunce Lest your subiectes defoule you and depreciate Whiche been as able with wrongfull gouernaūce To reigne as ye and haue as greate puysaunce If peace and lawe been voyed and vnytee The floures are lost of all your souerentee ¶ O worthy prince O duke of Yorke I meane Discendid downe of highest bloodde royall Se to suche ryotes that none sustene And specially that alyens none at all Inhabite not with power greate ne small That maye this lande ought trouble or ouer ride For twies it was so wonne with muche pride ¶ Through Vortiger by Engist and Horsus Whome he receiued whiche after hym distroyed And with his helpe full false and noyous The worthy bloodde of Brytain sore anoyed At the Caroll murdred and all accloyed And nowe again when Carreis was exiled The kyng Gurmōd the Saxons hym beguiled ¶ For Saxons Peightes and Englishemenne Reigned then through all the Logres lande Deuided in seuen realmes fully then Westser Sussex and Kente I vnderstande Estser and Mers Estangle Northumberlande That droue Brytons into the West countre To Walis and Cornwaile fro
that dede being very sore moued therwith weÌ„t to the dukes place coming before his grace stode lyke a man strykeÌ„ with some sodeyn dysease very pale holding his head downe the duke maruayling at hym enquyred what the matter was To whom he sayde O moost noble duke my time is at hande thys palenes betokeneth death without remidy That I would God yt had come before this day then it should not haue greued me so much And thys all cometh to me through a deed that you haue done of late which wil ether cause me to lose my life or els to lyue in moost miserie wretchednes as one wery of thys present lyfe The noble actes that you haue doone moost noble prynce haue enhaunsed your fame glory to the fardest part of the world but this one thing me thynke I praye you pardoÌ„me what I saye is a great blemyshe to your dygnitee that forgetting the promyse that you made so faythfully haue geuen the innoceÌ„t erle of Richmounte to be destroyed pitefully killed emonge wretched knau es hangmen Wherfore they that loue you of whom I am one cannot but lamente â—o see you dyshonored by this great fault of periury WheÌ„ he had sayd the duke answered hold thy peace man I praye the ther is no such harme shal chaunce to him Edwarde the kinge woulde haue him to mary his daughter Then sayd Iohn Beleue me mooste excellente and redoubted prynce this Henry is nowe almoste famyshed and loste yf he once goo out of your countree he is but cast awaye and paste all recouerye At these wordes the duke was persuaded through the whych he commauÌ„ded one Peter LaÌ„doson hys receauer to take the same Henry froÌ„ the ambassadours The sayd receauer pursued the Englyshe ambassadours to Maclonium and there holdyng theim wyth long coÌ„munication made him to be conueyed into a seÌ„tuary whych was then almost ded through that feuer and thought whych he was caste in And so after that he was emended broughte hym to the duke The ambassadours then beyng spoiled and deceaued both of theyr pread and mony that they brought desyred that same receauer that they might not goo home in that wyse whyche receauer promised that he woulde eyther kepe hym in sentuary or eles cause hym to be imprisoned at the duke his place so that they should neuer neede to feare hym In all thys tyme Edwarde beynge desyreous to knowe what became of the Earle was enfourmed that he was taken prysoner but after that escaped they re handes where at the kinge was verye angrye but when he knewe that he should bee kepte in holde was well pleased then dyd take no thought And liued after that most welthy sparing no expeÌ„ses nor cost in kepyng his house neuertheles he dyd fall into one great offence in this time For sodeÌ„ly he coÌ„maunded his brother the duke of Clarence to be killed drowned in an hogshhed of malmesey And the cause of hys death was as men report through a certaine prophecie which sayd the after kyng Edwarde one shuld reigne whose name begaÌ„ wyth a. G. which prophecye some sayde was completed fulfilled when the duke of Glouceter the after hym had the kingdome dyd reigne Some holdeth another opinion of this his death saiyng that at what time the olde malice dyd breke out bewixt theÌ„ both the duke through his sisters councel woulde haue maried lady Mary that duke of Burgoyn his only daughter which mariage the kyng did infringe stoppe as one enuiyng of his brothers felicitee or good chaunce After that they both beryng in theyr mindes mortall hatred one of the sayde duke hys seruauntes was accused of wichcraft charming for which offence he was put to death The duke 〈…〉 g that could not but speake resist againste the 〈…〉 g his coÌ„maundement and therfore was com 〈…〉 ted to prison ther beyng was killed and procla 〈…〉 d after as a traytour to the kyng for whose 〈…〉 that the king was verye sory and whan any 〈…〉 kneled to hym and asked pardon 〈…〉 der he would saye O infortunate bro 〈…〉 that noman would aske thy pardon And this duke had .ii. children one lady Margarete that was after maried to Richard Pole an other Edward whome the kyng made earle of Warwyke but this childe folowyng the fate and destenie of his father was after putte in prisone there priuely put to death And these thinges were doone in the yere of oure Lorde a thousand foure hundreth and foure score and the .xix. yere of the reigne of kyng Edward And two yeres then after folowing the kyng died before the whiche yeres he beganne to bee very harde and couetouse in getting monye and also very diligent in marking attaching his lordes that did offend In this time the kyng of Scottes willed his sooÌ„ne Iamy to be maried to the kynges doughter lady Cicile which was the yonger that should haue been maried to Charles the kyng his soonne of Fraunce But it chaunced not thorow Lewes the kyng that brake his promise bothe in geuing his seruice and payeng his raunsome the laste yere of his reigne Likewise the kyng of Scottes seing that Lewes the kyng was false of his promise he thoughte he might bee so bolde too and so breaking league of amite sette vpon the Englishe men At the which Edward was sore vexed and entended batayl against hym yet after that he knewe the it was not by his wyll but thorowe the councell and euell disposed mindes of his lordes woulde haue borne it in good worthe had not kyng Iames owne brother streight vpon that prouoked hym to fighte Furthermore suche was the nature of the Scottishe kyng that when he had sette his minde vpon a thing no manne coulde turne hym and because that no manne mighte reproue hym in any thing he promoted laye people menne of basse bloude to his counsell putting to deathe or banishyng euermore the nobilitee Emong whom this duke of Albanie his brother consydering the condicyons of the king fled to the kyng of EnglaÌ„d at what time he was sent into FrauÌ„ce ther counsailed the kyng to fight against hym The king willing to reueÌ„ge his olde iniuries vpon many consideracioÌ„s gathered enteÌ„ded no lesse by the helpe of the saied duke of Albany then to kepe open warre So that he did send the duke of Gloucestre the erle of NorthumberlaÌ„d syr Thomas Stanley this duke of Albany with a great power of men against the Scottes The king knowing of their coÌ„ming went to Barwyke with his army to kepe theim from the borders but perceiuing that he was not hable so resist their great power fled backe in the night to Edinbrough ther taryed for his enemies And the duke of Gloucestre folowing burned and spoyled all the way when he was somewhat nighe his enemies perceiuing also that none of the Scottishe lordes came to the duke of Albanye mistrusted that some deceyte or crafte was
tyme lo there came Wyllyam Stanley to aide theim with .iii. M. meÌ„ne and euen at the verie same tyme the residue of kyng Richardes men were put to flight TheÌ„ Richard fightyng alone in the middest of all his enemies was ouerthrowne slain In the meane tyme therle of OxeÌ„ford in the foreward after he had fought maÌ„fully a litle while put the residue to flight of whoÌ„ he slewe a greate noÌ„bre But agreate nombre more whiche folowed Richard more for feare then for loue helde their handes from fightyng went awaie without hurte for that thei loked not for his safegard but rather for his destruccion There were slain at this conflicte not many more then one thousand of the whiche these were noble menne Ihon duke of Norffolke Walter Feris Robert Brachyngbury Richard Radcliffe and many other more And within twoo daies after Wyllyam Catisby lawyer with certain other of his felowes was put to death at Leicestre and emonges those the ranne awaie was Fraunces Louell Humfray Stafford with Thomas his brother and other more that ranne into sanctuary at Colchestre in Essex There was of the captiues a greate nombre because that when Richard was slain euery manne cast doune his wepon and yeld hymself to Henry of the whiche the more parte would haue dooen so at the begynnyng if it had not been for feare of kyng Richardes spies whiche theÌ„ waÌ„dered in euery place And emongest these the nobles were the erle of Northumberlande the erle of Surrey of the whiche therle of Surrey was put in prisone this other as a frend was receiued in to fauour Henry at that felde loste not aboue an huÌ„dred menne emongest whom the chief was Wyllyam BraÌ„done whiche bare Henryes baÌ„ner This battaill was fought in the .xxii. day of the moneth of Auguste inthe yere of oure Lorde a thousand cccc .lxxxvi. the conflict indured more then .ii. howres Richard might as the fame went asaued hymself if he would afled awaie for those that were about hym when thei sawe his menne from the begynnyng fight but faintly and that some were ronne awaie vnto the other parte suspected treason and willed hym to flie and when the mater was manifest that all hope of victory was past thei brought hym a swiâ—te horse He puttyng a sied all hope and trust that was in fleiyng made as it was saied this aunswere that this daie he would haue ether an ende of battaill orels of his life suche was his greate audacite and manfulnes whiche because he did se certainly that in this daie he should ob 〈◊〉 the kyngdome quietely all daies of his life or â—â—s lose bothe for euer he entred in emoÌ„gest theim as it was declared before intendyng vtterly ether to lose all orels to wynne all And so the wretehe dyed hauyng the ende that all suche were wont to haue whiche in the stede of lawe honestie and all godlynes folowe their owne appetite vyllanye and all wyckednes And plainly this is an example whiche cannot be expressed to feare theim whiche will not suffer one howre to bee otherwyse speÌ„t then in cruelte mischief and all deuillishe fasshioÌ„s Henry when he had thus obtained the victorye he fell downe on his knees and with many praiers thankes referred all to the goodnes of God TheÌ„ after he stode vp beyng wounderfully replenished with ioye went vp vpoÌ„ alitle hill and there gaue two greate comendacions to his souldyours commaundyng theim that were hurte to be heled and the dede to bee buryed afterward he gaue immortall thankes to his noble capitains promisyng theim that he would neuer forgette their benifite The multitude in the meane tyme with one voyce one mynd proclaimed hym kyng WheÌ„ Thomas Stanley sawe the he toke kyng Richardes croune whiche was founde emongest the spoyle and by by putte it vpon his head as though he had been then created kyng by the eleccion of the people as it was wonte to bee in the olde tyme and this was the first token of his felicite After this kyng HeÌ„ry with his compaignie and carriage went to Lecestre toward night to bed whether after he had refresshed his compaignie well for the space of twoo daies that thei might the better goo toward London Kyng Richardes bodye was brought naked ouer a horse backe the hed and the armes haÌ„gyng on the one side and the legges on the other caried in to the grey freres of Lecester and surely it was but a myserable sight to loke vpoÌ„ yet it was good inough coÌ„sideryng his wretched leuyng and there without any solempnite was buryed twoo dayes after He raygned twoo yeres twoo monethes one daie he was but of a small stature hauyng but a deformed bodie the one shoulder was higher then the other he had a shorte face a cruell looke whiche did betoken malice guyle and deceite And while he did muse vpoÌ„ any thing staÌ„ding he would byte his vnder lippe continually whereby a maÌ„ne might perceiue his cruell nature within his wreched bodie striued and chaffed alwaie with in hym self also the dagger whiche he bare aboute hym he would alwaies bee choppyng of it in and out he had a sharpe and pregnaunt witt subtill and to dessimule and fayne verie mete He had also a proude and cruell mynde whiche neuer went from him to the houre of his death whiche he had rather suffer by the cruell sworde though all his compaignie did forsake hym then by shamefull flight he would fauoure his life whiche after might fortune by sickenes or other condynge ponyshemeÌ„t shortely to perishe ¶ Henry the seuenth HENRY THE SEVENTH OF that name kyng of England First after that he had obteined his kyngdome and heritage by force of armes entended to stablishe all thynges extynguish sedicioÌ„ and before he departed from Leycester caused ser Robert Willoughby knight to bryng the youÌ„g erle of Warwike the duke of ClareÌ„ces sooÌ„ne before his presence whom kyng Richard to that tyme had kept at SheryhuttoÌ„ in Yorke shire fearyng muche least that by this young erle some occasioÌ„ might bee taken of renuyng battaill whiche entended nothyng more then to liue in peace and quietnes And so this erle was brought to hym at his commaundement conueighed to London and there cast in holde In the self same place also of Yorke shire was Ladie Elizabeth eldest doughter to the fornamed kyng Edwarde whom kyng Rychard her vncle would haue maried sore against the mynde and consent of the same ladie In so muche also that the people were sore against it and accompted it not onely as a reproche infamie to the kyng hymself but also to his counsaill the did agre to his naughtie purpose Albeit God of his infinite mercy preserued the ladie whiche shorte tyme after was brought to London to her mother In this time the kyng drawing nighe to London was there accepted of his citezens streyghte after his coÌ„ming moste roially of all parties saluted after the moste louing fassion the they could
soonne was of good kyng Edwarde That wedded dame Blaunch ful of feminytee Duke Henryes doughter and heire afterwarde Of Lancastre by lawe of kynde and forwarde Who gat and bare the fourth kyng Henry That kyng Rycharde deposed wrongfully ¶ Who gatte Henry the fyfth lyke conqueroure Of Normandy and mykill parte of Fraunce That excelled bothe kyng and Emperoure In marcyall actes by his gouernaunce Who gatte Henry the sixte at Gods pleasaunce Of suche symplenesse and disposicion As menne maye se by his discrecion 〈◊〉 For when Henry the fourth first was crouned 〈…〉 ny a wyseman sayd then full commenly 〈…〉 third heyre shuld not ioyse but be vncrouned And deposed of all regalitee To this reason they dyd there wittes applye Of euill gotten good the third should not enioyse Of longe agone it hath bene a commen voyse ¶ Howe the maker of this booke saieth his auyse in briefe for the duke of Yorke ¶ O my lorde of Yorke God hath prouyde In this for you as men sayen commenly So that no slouth you from his grace deuyde But take it as he hath it sent manly And rule well nowe ye haue the remedye But neretheles let euery man haue the right Both frende and foo it may encrease your might ¶ Treate well Percy of marchys lyne discended To helpe your right with might and fortifye By tender meanes to holde hym well contented Remembryng hym by wyttie polycye Howe by processe of tyme and destenye Your right might all bene his as nowe is yours Through gods might make thē your successours ¶ Edmoūde was then the .iiij. sonne at Langlay Borne as knowen was well in the lande A noble prince after as men might say At battayle of Orray that fought sore with his hāde And Iohn of Gaunt his brother I vnderstande That fought ful sore for Ihō of Mountfortright Agayne Charles of Bloys a manly knight ¶ This Edmoūde was after duke of Yorke creat And had a sonne that Edward had to name Whom kyng Richarde made to be denominate In all his writtes exaltyng his fame Kyng of Portyngale his father yet at hame Lyuyng in age I trawe of .lxxx. yere A fayre person as a man might se any where ¶ Thomas Woodstoke the .v. sonne was in dede Duke of Gloucester that tyme made and create By kyng Richarde murdered whom for his mede Kyng Henry quyt with death preordinate By Goddes dome and sentence approbate Who sleeth so shall he be slayne by his sentence Well more murder whiche asketh ay vengeaunce ¶ Who laye afore Paris amoneth daye With hoste royall without any batell Of all enemyes moste dred he was alwaye And Scottes moste hym bred without any fayle For as they trowed by theyr owne rehersaile Of prophecyes he shulde theyr lande conquere And make the kyng to Englande homegere ¶ Nowe haue I made vnto your owne knowlege A remembraunce of Edwardes sonnes fyue Your exampler to geue you a corage So noble princes I trowe were none alyue After my wytte as I can discryue The eldest sonne whose lyfe I haue lefte oute Who that in Fraunce all landes was moste doute ¶ Of the ryghte and tytles that my Lorde of Yorke hath to Fraunce and Spayne with Portingale other landes by yonde the sea Ierusalem and other landes ¶ At batell of Poytiers tooke kynge Iohn With greate honoure triumphe and vyctory By merciall actes and verteous life aloone And in Spayne as made is memorie The kyng Petro by knightly victorie To his kyngdome he did restore again By his brother putte out with muche pain ¶ The appoinctement bytwixt duke Iohn duke Emund who should bee kyng of Castle and Lyon and what the maker of this booke sawe and red at Londō to syr Robert Vmfrewill then lorde Vmfrewill ¶ This kyng Petro to giue hym to his mede Had nothyng els but doughters twoo full faire Whiche he betooke to that prince in deede For his wages for cause thei where his heire With whome he did to Englande so repaire And Constaunce wedde vnto his brother Iohn Emund his brother the younger had anone ¶ Dame Isabell the younger hight by name Bytwene these brethren was appoinctment The first heire male whiche of the sisters came The kyng should been and haue the regiment To you my lorde of Yorke this dooeth appent For your vncle Edwarde was first heire male To whome your father was heire with out faile ¶ So kyng of Spayne and also of Portyngall Ye should nowe bee by lyne of bloodde discent By couenaunt also and appoinctement whole As I haue seen of it the mununent Vnder seale wryten in all entent Whiche your vncle to my lorde Vmfrewill At London shewed whiche I red that while ¶ For Spayne Portyngale beare the renoume And commen name as I haue herde expressed Both to the realmes of Castyll and Lyon And so the kynge of Spayne hath aye adressed His royall style in wrytyng well impressed Kyng of Castill and also of Lyon Accompted both so for his region ¶ Nowe be ye knowe of your title to Englande By consequens to Wales and Scotlande For they perteyne as ye maye vnderstande Of auncient tyme to the crowne of Englande By papall bull ye haue the right to Irelande Gascowe Paitowe and Normandye Pountyf Bebuile Saunxie and Sauntignye ¶ And all the lande beyonde the charente Of Dangolesme Dangolismoys Luyre zyne Of Caoure Caourenō Pyridor Pirygūt coūtre Of Rodis Ronegeauis Dagō Dagenoyse that fine Tharbe Wigor Gaure shoulde to you enclyne With all the fraunchyses and all souerayntie As hath the kyng of Fraunce in his degre ¶ Nō that I Ihon Hardyng maker of this booke delyuered to kyng Henry the syxte the copie of the treatie of this land as kyng Edward the thyrd treated and had them after the battayll of Poytours ¶ Calys Marke Colne Hāmys Oye Wale Sandegate Guysons with all the whole coūtre With all the landes and townes betwene thē all With all fraunchyses and royall souerayntie All those of right be yours in propertie What by treate and what by veraye right As kyng Edwarde them had of mykyll might ¶ To Ierusalem I saye ye haue great right For erle Geffraye that hight Plantagenet Of Aungeoy erle a prince of passyng might The eldest sonne to Fouke and first begette Kyng of Ierusalem by his wife dewly sette Whose sonne Geffray foresaide gatte on his wyfe Henry the seconde that knowen was full ryfe ¶ Yet haue ye more fro Bawdewyn Paraliticus Kyng afterward to thesame kyng Henry The croune sente and his banner precious As veraye heyre of whole auncestrie Descent of bloode by tytle lynyally From Godfray Boleyn and Robert Curthose That kynges were therof and chose ¶ He sente hym also the Sepulture keyes Resygnyng wholy vnto hym all his ryght For to defende the lande from Sarizenes For he was sicke and had therto no might And all the lande destroyed was to sight By the
dilygence Agayne mischeues to fynde and make defence ¶ And in the yere .viii. C .lxxx. and eyght All his ryches in fyue partes he ganne deuyde One parte to men of warre to kepe his ryght An other parte to lande tyllers in that tyde The husbandry to mayntayne and to guide The thyrde parte all churches wasted to restore The .iiii. vnto the studye for theyr lore And to the Iudges and men of lawe well lerned The fyfte parte full wysely he dispende To holde the lawe in peace truly gouerned Disposed thus he was the realme tamende This was a kyng full greatly to commende That thus could kepe his lande from all vexaciō And not to hurte his cōmons by taxacyon ¶ For truste it well as god is nowe in heuen Who hurte the poore people and the cōmontee By taxes sore and theyr goodes fro them reuen For any cause but necessytee The dysmes to paye compell of royaltee Though they speake fast mumble with the mouth They pray full euyl with hert both north south The yere of Chryste .viii. C. lxxx and thyrtene The duke Hastyne of Danes euer vntrewe Destroyed the lande with hostes proude kene By Easte and Weste that all the lande did rewe Whome the kyng in batayle felly slewe After diuerse batayles amonge them smyten In sondry places there as it was well weten ¶ In euery shyre the kyng made capitaynes To kepe the lande with folke of theyr countree And shippes many galaies longe with Chieftaīs And Balyngers with bargys in the sea With whiche he gate ryches greate quantyte And at a flud was called Vthermare He slewe an hoste of Danes with batayle sare The C .xi. Chapiter ¶ How duke Rollo a panyme gate Normandye of whome all the dukes of Normandye be lynally discended ANd in the yere .viii. C .lxxx. and senentene The duke Rollo of Denmarke nacyon A Painim stout with mighty hoste kene In Englande brent without any delacyon Whome Alurede by good supportacyon Droue then agayne vnto his nauy ryght And of his men a thousande he slewe in fyght ¶ Whiche Rollo then landed in Normandye Of whome all dukes of that prouynce discent And wan that lande with swerde full manfully And duke there was made of hole entent By processe after and by the kynges assent Of Fraunce whose doughter he wed vnto his wyfe And christen man became so all his lyfe ¶ At charters fyrste he seged so the towne Where they wtin our ladyes smocke then shewed For theyr banner and theyr saluacyon For feare of whiche full sore in herte he rewed All sodaynly and vnto Roan remoued Where then his wyfe dame Gylle was dede and buried Without chylde betwene them notifyed ¶ But then he wedded Pepam the syster fayre Of duke Robert of Normandye and Roone On whome he gate William his sonne heyre That after hym was duke therof anone When yeres many were passed and ouergone But nowe at this to ceasse I wyll enclyne Tyll afterwarde I shall tell forth theyr lyne ¶ Kyng Alurede the lawes of Troye and Brute Lawes Moluntynes and Marcians congregate With Danyshe lawes that were well constytute And Grekyshe also well made and approbate In englyshe tongue he dyd then all translate Whiche yet be called the lawes of Alurede At Westmynster remembred it in dede ¶ And in the yere .viii. C .lxxx. and eyghtene Then Alurede this noble kyng so dyed When he had reygned .xxix. yere clene And with the Danes in batayls multiplyed He faught often as Colman notifyed In his chronycle and in his cathologe Entytled well as in his dyaloge ¶ That fyftye batayls and syx he smote Somtyme the worse and somtyme had the better Somtyme the felde he had at his note Sometyme he fled awaye as sayth the letter Lyke as fortune his cause lefte vnfeter But neuerthelesse as ofte when so they came He contred them and kepte the lande fro shame The C .xii. Chapiter ¶ Edwarde the fyrste kyng of Englande reygned xxiiii yere and dyed the yere of Chryste .ix. C. and xix EDwarde his sōne so crowned was anone Of Westsex then by all the parlyament Protectour was made againe the fone Whiche warred sore in Englande by assent The yere .viii. C .lxxx. and fyftene spent Earle Athylwolde he exyled into Fraunce For he a nonne had rauyshed to his vsaunce ¶ But after that this same earle Athylwolde With Danyshe hoste Mers and Estanglande Destroyed sore both kyng Edwarde full bolde Slewe Ethalwode and his hoost I vnderstande Discomfet hole and droue them out of lande And made all kynges of Englande his subiectes For so he thought it was his very dettes ¶ He sommoned then at London his parliamēt Where he deposed the kynges euerychone Of all Englande and made them by assent Dukes and earles thence forwarde so anon In euery kyngdome then he ordayned one And in some thre he made by ordynaunce And all kyngdomes foringed by gouernaunce ¶ And he to be the kyng of all englande Proclaymed hole to voyde all varyaunce Discorde and warre that many yeres had stande Whyles seuen kynges had the gouernaunce Ther might no lawe ne peace haue perseueraūce Wherfore he toke of euery Duke homage Of Earles also and of the Baronage ¶ Scotland and Wales he warred sore in dede Tyll they became his men and made homage For souerayne Lorde of Britayne as I rede The kynges then dyd for theyr herytage For all theyr men and for their vasselage To ryde with hym where that euer he gooe In warre and peace agayne frende and fooe ¶ Duke Ethelrede of Mers and also his wyfe Elfled that hyght Westchester then repayred That wasted was by Danes warre and strife Whiche Roomaynes first builded had and feired In tyme when thei to this lande repeired Of Roomayne werke whiles thei here occupied That citee first full freshly edified ¶ Thē faught the kyng with Danes at Wodefeld sore In Mers also at Herford with greate pain Wher victorye he had of theim euermore Again he faught with Danes soth to sain At Towcester and laid theim on the plain In Yorkeshire also he slewe the Danes downe And voided theim all out of his region The C .xiii. Chapiter ¶ This kyng made an vnion of all the realmes and called it Englande and after it failed neuer of that name THis noble kyng thus made an vnion Of seuē realmes that stode three hūdred yere Sixe and thyrty also in greate deuision And warres many as Colman saieth full clere Fro Gurmond had driuen out Carreis here Whiche was the yere fiue C .iiii. score thirtene Vnto the yere of Christ nine hundred nientene ¶ These erles all and dukes then held the lawe As shryues nowe in shires dooen and maintene That the commons ouerlaied full sore with awe And sore oppressed their states to sustene Wherfore he voided theim out of office clene And shryues made through all his region Whiche haue not forgete extorcion ¶ This noble kyng Edward thelder hight When he
maryage for the humylytie or basenes of stocke that the lady was of he wold no prynce or kynges to haue knowne of it no not so muche as her owne father Rycharde the earle for the whyche cause when it was blased abrode euerye man dyd meruayle greatelye kynges and prynces were dyspleased and grudged at it and sayde playnelye that it was not for hys honoure so to dooe and beganne to reproue the foresayde maryage shamefullye and for that he was led rather by blynde Cupyde than by anye reason they dyd incessauÌ„tlye reproue the same And ether thys was the cause of the sedycion whyche afterwarde dyd ryse betwyxte kynge Edwarde and the earle of Warwycke or els the pryuie enuye and malice whiche was in both theyr hertes nowe brastynge out wherby an occasioÌ„ or quarel might be picked For Edward after that he had got his kyngdome as it was openly knowne by the erle of Warwykes meane and helpe begonne to suspect hym for that he was in such authoritee so that he woulde haue plucked somewhat frome him diminished his powre wherby he myght haue ruled all thynges at his owne pleasure both in hys owne countree in other nacions So that a man may see it ofte chaunceth that frendes will geue very seldome condygne rewarde to a mans deseruinges yea eftsones when a greate benefite is bestowed or coÌ„ferred vpon theim thei will like ingrate persons nothyng coÌ„sider it Of this the earle of Warwycke was not vnknowing the whiche although he loked for better thankes a more ample benefite at his haÌ„des yet neuertheles he thought best to disseÌ„ble and cloke yâ— matter vntill such oportunitie might be had wherby he myght considering the wylfulnes of the kynge exprobrate vnto hym the pleasures that he had done for him And it is verye true and euideÌ„t that king Edward dyd make serche in his house for a thing that touched much his honestie wher the earle in dede was a man that loued women well and had great fantesie to their company But what soeuer it was ether euell wyll or desire of the empire that theyr league shuld bee infringed or broken after that the earle had sure knowledge by the letters of hys frendes that the king had got him a wife priuely and that al that he had done with king Lewis in his embassad for the ioyning of this newe affinitee was but frustrate and in vain he was so ernestly moued with it that he thought best that the kynge shuld be deposed froÌ„ the crowne and as one not worthy of such a kingly offyce But to oure purpose The earle of Warwyke beyng then sore vexed and moued wyth the kynge least that in this his furoure hys inteÌ„t beyng rashely gone aboute shulde bee broughte to no good ende he determined so loÌ„ge to suffer beare suche iniuries vntyll suche tyme that he myghte brynge his matters to passe as he wolde haue theÌ„ whiche shortly after came into Englande and salutyng the kynge dyd hys message vnto hym makinge hym selfe to bee ignoraunte of that maryage And after that the earle throughe the licence of the king went into his shyre of Warwike partly to take his pleasure and partly for the preseruation of his safetie and helth whyche was the yere of oure lorde God a. M CCCC .lxvii. and the. vi yeare of the reygne of kynge Edwarde In the whiche yeare George Neuell brother to the earle was made archebyshoppe of Yorke after the dyscease of Wyllyam late archebyshoppe before him beeynge the .lii. byshoppe that had possessed that rome and Phylyppe duke of Burgoyne dyed the same yeare and Charles hys soonne was made duke a manne bothe for manhode and valyantenes in warre moste exellente Thys Rycharde as we sayde before was in hys shyre of Warwycke and there callynge to hym George the archebysshope of yorke and Iohn Montacure Marques hys brethren bothe and after long communycation had of many thinges the space of .ii. or .iii. dayes at length gettynge meete occasion to speake of the kynge and hys doinges dyd shewe hys mind to theim desyrynge theim by all the wayes that he coulde possyble to take kynge Henry hys part and to helpe him to the crowne saiynge after this wyse and maner Brethren it is not of anye lyghtenes of mynde but of playne iudgemente that I am moued to speake of kynge Edward and king Henrye Thys Henrye is a very godlye manne and loueth theim that bee hys faythfull subiectes and doth coÌ„syder also who taketh paynes for him whyche hathe a soonne borne by nature to bee of greate worthynes prayse and free lyberalitee by whome euerye manne maye perceaue muche god lynes whyche helpeth hys father nowe beynge in thraldome and captiuitee as muche as in hym lyeth And as for kynge Edwarde he is a man full of contumelye and ingratytude geuen all to pleasure euell wyllynge to take anye paynes and promotynge rather theim that come of nought than noble and auncient men Wherefore I thyncke it wyll come to passe shortlye that eyther he wyll destroye all nobilitee or elles nobilitee destroye him But before al other we shulde fyrste enterprise to reuenge oure cause whych haue fyrste taken hurt at hys handes For he as I am sure you knowe it bothe after that he was kynge dyd fyrste pryuelye gooe aboute to defyle oure dygnitee and then after dyd openly intende our confusyon and losse of honoure as thoughe he was not broughte to that dygnitee by vs and not we by hym and therfore euen now of late when I went ambassadour to Fraunce I was had in no regard whereby the estimation whiche all kynges haue conceaued of vs partely gotten by our auncetours partly by our owne trauailes peines shal nowe be extynguished vtterly nothinge sette by And by these ê‘suacions he wonne his brother the archebishoppe his hert brought him to be of his minde but he could not so sone nor easelye persuade the Lorde Marques for at that first he would by no meanes be moued to worke treason at any haÌ„d against kyng Edward but at the last wheÌ„ the earle had promysed him the helpe powre of many noble prynces he was coÌ„tented to kepe warre The which Marques as he was vnwilling to consent to this at that fyrst so dyd he at the time of warre holde more of king Edwardes side theÌ„ king Henryes as it shal appere more plain hereafter the which was both destruccion to him his .ii. brethren After this the earle of Warwike a man of greate wytte perceauing George the duke of ClareÌ„ce brother to kiÌ„g Edward to beare no great good wyl toward his brother that king what so euer the matter was first to proue hym and to knowe his minde begaÌ„ne to complain a lytle of the king his doinges then after that the duke was in the same tale wyth hym again shewed him also what iniuries he had taken at his brothers hand he beyng somwhat bolder to speake brake his mynde more at large
thys he prophecied that the self same Henry shuld in tyme to come as it chaunsed in dede haue the kyngedome and rule of all the realme And nowe Edwarde althoughe he was oute of his countree yet dyd he not dyspayre but that he shulde haue mattre and redy occasion to recouer his kingdome for the duke of Burgoyne partlye had promised hym both greate ayde and socoure and partly the priuy frendes that he had in Englande dyd councell hym by letters sente from tyme to time that he would hasten his iournay homward and incontinâ—tly after very many fled to hym oute of Englande eyther for feare of the lawes that they had offended or elles for sorowe that the worlde was so turned that they could not haue theyr wyll as they had before in accomplyshynge theyr couetouse myndes and desyres and caused hym to make the more haste homewarde And kynge Edwarde beynge rauished with their golden promises thoughte nothyng more payneful or wretched then to tary one daye lenger and nothyng more pleasaunt theÌ„ to go of his iourney and so takynge no moo wyth them then two thou sande harnesed menne at the sprynge of the yeare sayled into Englande landynge in the coastes of Yorkeshyre at an hauen towne called Rauinsport And there settynge for the all hys menne dyd reason wyth hys captaynes and consulte to what place they shoulde fyrste goo For it was ieoperdious consydering the small companie that he had to take anye waye for the. But after longe delyberation they were all agryed that some certayne knightes and horsemen of that smal compaignie shuld bee sent one to euerie quarter to the townes that wer nyghe to the intente that they myghte drawe the hartes myndes of the people to king Edwardes syde But it is not lykelye that kynge Edwarde beyng a wyse manne durst be bolde or would in any wyse come into England with such a small power excepte he had knowen surely that he should haue had great helpe at hys commyng the whych is a plain token that the duke of Clarence and the lorde Marques had procured hys fauoure promysinge him all their helpe that they coulde make for the tryall of the whych ther was manifest tokens that dysclosed and bewrayed all their falshed For they priuilie weÌ„t about to know mennes mindes and to what parte they would declyne and the nexte day after came to kinge Edwarde and shewed him that the common people dyd stande stiflye of kynge Henrye his syde and woulde defende hys quarell as ryghte and iuste at al times and that they had nomore nede nowe to make anye tumulte in so much that no manne would althoughe eftsons desired and prayed go to king Edward yea and that noman woulde for feare of the earle of Warwike heare anye thinge spoken of that matter whose myndes after that kinge Edwarde had throughlye serched and knowen he chaunged his mynd and purpose wher as before he claymed the crowne then he publyrshed abrode that he woulde haue but hys ryghte that was his landes and heritage of Yorke shyre And â—t that worde it cannot be well spoken howe redily meÌ„ wer willinge to helpe him consideringe that he claymed nothinge but hys ryghte in somuch yâ— very pytie dyd moue manye althoughe they woulde not helpe hym yet at no hande to resyste him And kynge Edwarde reconsilyng him selfe to the common people by these meanes toke hys iournye towarde Yorke and wente to Beuer lay The earle then beinge at Warwik after that he knew that king Edward was landed about York streyght sent a post to his brother lord MoÌ„tacute then liyng that winter at Pomfreit with a great army to shewe him what daunger mighte ensue yf king Edward got that towne of york bed theim yf his enemies drewe nigh ether to mete with theÌ„ in plain felde or elles to bete theim from the towne vnto such tyme that he came wyth a greater host which he prepared then in all the hast he coulde And because he knew not surely which way his enemies wolde come he fyrst sent to euery towne in york shyre and to yorke it selfe certayne postes to bid euery man be in his harnesse ready and that that citezins should shut the gates surelye that kynge Edward myght haue no accesse In the meane tyme king Edward came peaceably and wythoute the resistaunce of anye man towardes the towne of Yorke of whose commyng when the citezens were certified they made sure the gates and standynge in harnesse for the defence of it dyd sende twoo of the aldermen to warne the kyng the comming nyghe that he dooe not enterpryse to farre or put hym selfe in ieopardie for they were mynded to dryue him and all hys awaye wyth all the power they myghte When Edwarde had heard theyr myndes he was in so greate feare agonie that he could not tell what to dooe for yf he shuld haue goone back he feared that the common people as men gredye of a praye woulde persue him and yf he should goo forth he was in daunger of the Yorke shyre men leaste they shoulde sodenlye faull vpon hym and take hym and therefore seeyng that he was not able to match them in battayle thought to mollyfie theim with fayre wordes and so beganne to entreat after the most lowlye and gentle maner the messaungers that they woulde in hys name shewe the cytezyns that he came not to clayme the crowne but hys herytage and ryghte of Yorke shyre and therfore that they woulde helpe theyr lorde and duke of Yorke and yf that he myghte be receaued through theyr meanes he wolde requyte theyr kindenes and remember theyr benifyte as longe as he lyued And by suche fayre speaking and flatterie he dimissed theÌ„ and folowed straighte after to the gates with his companie The citezins beynge somwhat moued wyth thys answer for that he entended no harme agaynst kyng Henrie they spake wyth hym from the wall and badde hym to go frome thence and if he would go quickely he should take no harme But he speakyng veraye gentely to euerye one of theim callyng some by name moost gentely did desire theim that he might come into his owne toune And so passyng all the daye in that coÌ„municacion at that length the citezens partely ouer come with his moost geÌ„tle speakyng large promises made fell to this poincte that if Edward would swere to handle his citezens after a gentle sorte hereafter bee obedient to kyng Henry his coÌ„maundement thei would receiue hym in to that citee and helpe hym with all that power that thei might Edward beyng glad to here this the next daye after early a masse was said at the gates wher he receiuyng the sacrament promised feithfully vpon his othe that he would obserue bothe the thyngeÌ„s afore named so was receiued in to the citee Neuerthelesse it was so ferre vnlike that he would obserue one of theim that he minded none other thyng then that he might depriue the kyng of his croune as here after shall
And all these wer behedded .ii. dayes after in that selfe same towne sauyng only the quene Margaret and her soonne Edwarde Shortelye after prynce Edwarde was brought before the kyng and there asked wherfor he did inuade hys realme which answered boldly and sayde to recouer my kyngedome as heritage by my forefathers and progenie dew to me At the which wordes Edwarde sayde nothyng but thrustyng hym from hys syght wyth hys hande whoÌ„ the duke of Clarence and Glouceter and that lorde Hastynges dyd kyll mooste cruelly at hys departyng Hys mother the quene was caryed to London prysoner and froÌ„ thence raunsomed was had to Fraunce where she lyued in perpetuall sorowe and care not so much for her selfe or her husband as for her onely sonne Edwarde whome both she and Henry her husband trusted should lyue and possesse the croune When kinge Edward had thus ouercome theim he went to London and ther for iii. dayes caused procession to bee through euerye place after the moost solempne and deuoute fassy on And here was the last ciuile battaile that this king kept which was the yere of our lord M .iiii. C .lxxx. and .xi. After that kynge Edwarde was returned backe after the subduynge of hys rebelles one Fauconbrydge the Earle of Kente hys basterde a stoute harted manne beynge admyrall of the sea that none shoulde passe betwixte Calysse and Douer to ayde or socoure kynge Edwarde by the appoyntemente of the earle of Warwyke then after dryuen to nede and pouertee beganne to bee a pyrate and rouer in the seea In so much that he had throughe his robberye and shamefull spoylynge gotte vnto hym a greate nauye of shyppes and at the laste landed in Kente and there getting to hym a greate multitude of Kentyshemenne wyth the assistence of theim and hys ryotouse compaignye of shyppemenne came to London and sayde wyth a lowde voyce they woulde defende kynge Henrye and restore hym to hys crowne But the people and cytezyns of London perceauyng that quene Margarete was ouercome in battayle woulde geue theim no passage but wyth greate myghte and vyolence enforsed Fawconbrydge to geue backe and to take shyppe and kylled and toke prysoners the better parte of his menne Shortely after the same Fauconbridge landing vnware at Southampton was taken and behedded But to speake of the earle of Penbrucke wheÌ„ he had knowne that the quene was taken at Tewkesburye where she had waged battayle then goynge of hys waye to her turned backe agayne to Chepstey And there lamentyng greatly both his owne chaunce also the euell fortune that kinge HeÌ„ry had dyd breath alitle deliberate with him selfe what wer best to be done In the meane time king Edward seÌ„t one Roger VaughaÌ„ to take that erle by some train or guile But the erle certified of it did take yâ— self same maÌ„ hedded hiÌ„ so that he was killed that intended to kyll From that place that erle went to his toune PeÌ„brucke wher he was besiged of Thomas Morgan then seÌ„t froÌ„ the king that he could get oute by no meanes but on the eyght daye one Dauid the brother of the forsayde Morgane his moost assured frende conueyed him awaye which then went to a toune by the sea syde called Tinby and there takynge shyppe into Fraunce wâ—th the lorde Henrye his nephewe by the earle of Rychemonde his brother by chaunce came to Britaine and there shewing the duke the cause of hys comminge committed him selfe wholy into his handes The duke entertayned the earle and all his company after that most best maner that he could made of theim as though they had bene hys brethren promysing to theim sure passeporte saueconduite ouer ani place that he had rule or gouernaunce of Nowe kinge Edwarde after that hys realme was pacified and these great tumultes apeaced he tooke his iourny into Rence and there setting his iustices caused inquisicion and serche to be made of this busines and insurrection by yâ— basterd and his adherentes for the which offence manye were put to death and suffered execution moost sharply accordiÌ„g to their merites And not longafter to th entent that king Edward myght bee out of al dauÌ„gers assaultes of his enemies HeÌ„ry that was depriued not loÌ„g before of his crowne was also spoiled of his life that is was killed And as the report fame went the duke of Glouceter was suspected to haue done that dede which sticked him with a dagger And when he was dead his corps was brought vnreuereÌ„tly froÌ„ the towre through that stretes of that citee vnto Poules ther lay all that daye on the morow folowing conueyed caried to the abby or blak freres at Chertessey ther was buried And shortely after had to WiÌ„desore castell laied in the newe chapell of s George in a soleÌ„pne toumbe This Henry reigned .xxviii. yere and after he had repossessed his kyngdome but halfe a yeare He lyued vnto he was .lii. yeres of age and had by his wife quene Margaret one sooÌ„ne called Edward Nowe to the entent that Edward the kyng might liue in quiet after this manne his death he went a boute to serche all the rebelles that thei might bee weeded out of the compaignie of menne as pernicious and vnprofitable to the publique weale At what tyme he tooke tharchebishop of Yorke brother to therle of Warwike and sent hym prisoner to Guynes wher he long remained in holde but after dimissed dyed shortely for thought and pensifulnes of mynde also he attached the erle of Oxenford the whiche from the ceason of Barnet felde had holden sainct Michaelles Mounte by his coÌ„maundement was had to a castell beyond that sea called Hant wher he remained prisoner that space of xii yeares Furthermore vpoÌ„ coÌ„sideracioÌ„ that no rebelles or traitours might haue any refuge to strauÌ„ge couÌ„tres he had made a league with the kyng of scottes of peace amitee to bee obserued kepte for that 〈…〉 of .xx. yeares Yet he was not out of all feare for y◠〈…〉 e of PeÌ„bruck of Richemond wer with the duke of Britain wher thei had moost honorable intretainmeÌ„t coÌ„sideryng also that the young erle of RichemoÌ„d would clayme the croune iÌ„ tyme to come he was in the more feare for the whiche matter he sent priuie ambassadours to the duke promisyng hym that if he would restore deliuer vnto their haÌ„de bothe therles he should haue an ample large porcioÌ„ of monye for so dooyng But that duke to make a short tale would by no meanes deliuer theim out of his handes but so kepte theim that thei neuer might bee in any dauÌ„ger of their enemies through hym Edward therfore in this his thirtene yere of his reigne whiche was the yere of our lord a thousand foure hundred three score and thirteen helde his parlyament at Westminster wher first he caused all the statutes and actes of his whiche wer abrogated by Henry the sixt to stand and bee of good effecte then the goodes of these
And thus he taught other to execute iustice equite the contrary wherof he daylye exercysed he also with greate rewardes geuen to the Northrenmenne whyche he sent for to hys coronation sente theim home to they re country wyth greate thanckes Whereof dyuerse of theim as they all be of nature verye gredye of authoryte and specyally wheÌ„ they thynke to haue any conforte or fauoure tooke on them so hyghly and wroughte such mastreis that the kyng was fayne to ryde thether in hys fyrste yere and to put some in execution and staye the countrye or elles no small myschechefe had ensued Nowe after thys tryumphante coronation there fell myschiefes thycke thicke as the thing euell gotten is neuer well kepte so through al the tyme of hys vsurped reygne neuer ceased they re quel murder death slaughter tyll his owne destruccion ended it But as he fynished with the best deathe and mooste ryghtwyse that is to saye hys owne so beganne he wyth the moost pyteous and wycked I meane the lamentable murther of his innocente nephewes the yonge kynge and hys tender brother whose death and fortune hath neuerthelesse so farre come in questyon that some remayned long in doubte whether they were in his dayes destroyed or not For that Parkin Warbek by many folkes malyce mo folkes folye so long space abusynge the worlde was aswell with prnceis as with poore people reputed taken for the younger of these two But for that also that all thynges were so couertly demeaned one thynge preteÌ„ted and another mente that there was nothynge so playne and openly proued but that yet for the common custome of close and couert dealyng meÌ„ had it euer inwardly suspect as many well countrefet iewelles make the true mistrusted Howbeit concernyng that opinion menne maye see the conueighaunce therof in the lyfe of the noble prynce kyng Henry the seueÌ„th in the processe of Parkyn But in the meane ceason for this present matter I shall reherse to you the dolorous ende of these two babes not after euery way that I haue heard but after that waye that I haue so heard by suche menne and suche meanes as me thynketh it to be heard but it should be true Kyng Rychard after his coranacion takynge his waye to Gloucestre to visyte in his newe honoure the toune of whiche he bare the name of olde deuysed as he roade to fulfyll that thynge which he before had intended And forasmuche as his mynde gaue hym that his nephewes lyuyng men woulde not recon that he coulde haue right to the realme he thought therfore without delaye to ryd theim as though the kyllyng of his kynsmen might ende his cause and make hym kyndely kyng Wherupon he sent Iohn Grene whome he specially trusted to syr Roberte Brakenburye constable of the towre with a lettre and credence also that the same Syr Robert in any wise should put the two chyldren to death This Iohn Grene dyd his errand to Syr Robert Brakenbury knelyng before our ladye in the towre who playnelye auÌ„swered that he would neuer put theim to death to dye therfore With the whiche aunswer Grene returned recountyng the same to kynge Rycharde at Warwike yet on his iourneye wherewith he toke suche displeasure thought that the same night he sayed to a secrete page of his Ah whome shall a manne truste they that I haue broughte vp my selfe they that I went would haue moste surely serued me euen those fayle me and at my coÌ„maundement wyll doo nothing for me Syr ê™ the page there lyeth one in the palet chaumbre without that I dare well saye to dooe youre grace pleasure the thing were ryght heard that he would refuse meaning this by Iames Tirell whiche was a manne of goodly personage and for the gyftes of nature worthie to haue serued a muche better prince if he had well serued God and by grace obteyned to haue asmuche treweth and good wyll as he had strengthe and wyll The manne had an hyghe hearte and sore longed vpwarde not risyng yet so faste as he had hoped beynge hyndred and kepte vnder by syr Rycharde Ratcliffe and sir willyam Catesbye which longing for noÌ„ more parteners of the Princes fauoure namely not for him whose pride they knew woulde beare no pere kept hym by secrete driftes oute of all secrete trust which thing this page had well marked and knowen wherfore this occasion offred of verye speciall frendshippe se his tyme to set hym forwarde and by suche wyse to dooe hym good that all the enemies that he had excepte the deuell coulde neuer haue dooen hym so muche hurte and shame for vpon the pages woordes kynge Rycharde aroose for this communicacyon had he sytting on a drafte a conuenyente carpet for suche a counsaile and came oute into the palette chaumbre where he dyd fynde in bedde the sayd Iames Tyrell and syr Thomas Tyrell of persone like and brethren of blood but nothyng of kynne in condicions Then sayde the kyng merely to theim what syrs be you in bed so sone called vp Iames Tyrrell and brake to hym secretely his mynde in this myscheuous matter in the which he fouÌ„de hym nothyng straunge Wherfore on the morowe he sent hym to Brakenburye with a lettre by the whiche he was commaunded to delyuer to the sayde Iames all the keyes of the towre for a night to th ende that he might there accomplyshe the kynges pleasure in suche thynges as he there had geuen hym in commaundement After which lettre delyuered and the keyes receaued Iames appoynted the nexte nyght ensuynge to destroye theim deuysyng before preparyng the meanes The prince assone as the protectoure tooke vpoÌ„ hym to bee kyng and left the name of protectoure was therof aduertised and shewed that he should not reygne but his vncle should haue the croune At whiche woorde the prynce sore abashed beganne to sighe and sayed Alas I woulde myne vncle woulde lette my haue me lyfe althoughe I lese my kyngdome Then he that tolde hym the tale vsed hym with good woordes and put hym in the best conforte that he coulde but foorthwith he and his brother were both shut vp and all other remoued from theim one called blacke Wyll and wyllyam slaughter only excepte whiche were sette to serue theim and .iiii. other to see theim sure After whiche tyme the prince neuer tyed his poyntes nor any thyng rought of hym selfe but with that young babe his brother lyngered in thought and heueuysse till these trayterous death deliuered theim of that wretchednesse For Iames Tirrell deuised that thei should be murthered in their beddes and no bloode shed to thexecucioÌ„ wherof he apoincted Myles Forest one of the foure that before kepte theim a feloe fleshe bred in murther before tyme and to him he ioyned one Ihon Dighton his awne horskeper a bygge broade square strong knaue Then all the other beyng remoued from theim this Myles Forest Ihon Dighton aboute mydnight the children beyng in their beddes came
Peter receaued from kyng Richard the confirmacion of the graunte and promises made for the betreiyng of Henry and the other nobles Wherfore the saide Peter sente oute after hym horses and menne with suche expedicion and spede to haue taken hym that scacely the erle was entred Fraunce one houre but they were at his heles The Englyshe menne then beyng aboue the noumbre of thre hundreth at Veneti hearing that the Earle and all the nobles were fled so sodeinly and withoute any of their knowledge were astonyed and in maner despaired of theyr lyues But it happened contrary to theyr exspectacyon for the duke of Britaine taking the matter so vnkyndely that Henry should bee so vsed with hym that for feare he shoulde bee compelled to flee his lande was not a lytle vexed with Peter to whom althoughe that he was ignoraunte of the fraude and crafte that had been wrought by hym yet he layed the whole faute in hym and therfore called vnto hym Edward Poyninges Edward Wood vile deliuering vnto theim the foresayde monye the Henrye before had desyred the Duke to lende hym towarde the charge of his iourney and commaunded theim to conuey and conducte all the English menne his seruauntes vnto hym paying theyr expenses and to deliuer the sayde some of monye vn to the earle When the earle sawe his menne come and hearde this comfortable newes he not a lytle reioysed desiring the messengers that returned to shewe vnto the duke that he trusted ere long time to shewe him selfe not to bee vnthankeful for this greate kyndnesse that he nowe shewed vnto hym And within fewe dayes after the earle went vnto Charles the French kyng to whome after he had rendred thankes for the great benefites and kind nesse that he had receaued of hym the cause of his comming fyrste declared then he besought him of his helpe and ayde whiche shoulde bee an immor tall benefite to hym and his lordes of whome generallye he was called vnto the kyngdome forasmuch as they so abhorred the tiranny of kyng Rychard Charles promised hym helpe and bade him to be of good chere to take no care for he would gladly declare vnto hym his beneuolence And the same tyme Charles remoued and tooke with hym Henry and all the other noble menne Whyle Henry remained there Iohn Earle of Oxenford of whome is before spoken which was put in prisone by Edward the fourth in the castell of Hammes with also Iames Blounte Capteine of that castell and Iohn Forskewe knyghte Porter of the towne of Caleies came vnto hym But Iames the capitain because he lefte his wife in the castell dyd furnyshe the same with a good garison of men before his departure Henry when he sawe therle was out of measure glad the so noble a man and of greate experience in battayl and so valiaunt hardie a knight whom he thought to bee moste feithfull and sure for somuche as he had in the time of Edward the fourth continuall battail with hym in defending of Henry the syxte thought that nowe he was so well apointed that he coulde not desire to bee better and therfore coÌ„municated vnto hym all his whole affaires to bee ordred and ruled only by hym Not longe after Charles the Frenche kyng remoued again to Paris whome Henry folowed and there againe moued and besoughte the kyng as he had moste fauourably kindely entreteigned hym all this time not only in wordes but also in dedes that it would lykewise please hym yet so much further to extend his fauoure beneuolence vnto hym that nowe he woulde ayde and helpe hym forwarde in his iourney that not onely he but also all the lordes and nobilytee of Englande myghte iustely haue cause to knowlage and confesse that by the meane of his fauoure and goodnesse they were restored againe to the possessyon of their enherytaunces whiche withoute hym they coulde not well bryng to passe In the meane while his fortune was suche the many Englyshe menne came ouerdaylye oute of Englande vnto him and many whiche then were in Paris amonge whome were diuerfe studenteÌ„s that fell vnto his parte bothe more and lesse and specially there was one whose name was Richard Foxe a Preest beyng a manne of a synguler good wytte and learning whome Henry streyght waye reteigned and coÌ„mitted all his secretes vnto hym and whome also afterward he promoted to many hyghe promocyons and at the laste he made hym bishop of Winchester Richarde then hearyng of all this conspiracye and of the greate ayde that dayly wente ouer vnto Henry thought yet for all this that if he might bring to passe that Henry should not couple in maryage with the blood of king Edwarde that then he shoulde dooe well ynoughe with hym and kept hym from the possessyon of the croune Then deuysed he with hym selfe all the wayes and meanes that myghte bee howe to bryng this to passe And fyrste he thoughte it to bee beste with fayre woordes large promesses to attempte the quene whose fauoure obteygned he doubted not but shortelye to fynde the meanes to haue bothe her doughters oute of her handes into his owne and then rested nothynge but yf he hym selfe myghte fynde the meanes after warde to marye one of the same doughters whereby he thought he shoulde make all sure and safe to the vtter disapoyntinge of Henrye Wherupon he sente vnto the Quene then beynge in the Sanctuarye dyuerse and sondrye messengers that shoulde excuse and pourge hym of his facte afore dooen towardes her settynge forthe the matter with plesaunte woordes and hye promyses bothe to her and also her sonne Thomas lorde Marques of Dorset of all thynges that coulde be desyred These messengers beyng men of grauitee handled the quene so eâ—â—ftly that anone she beganne to bee alured and to herken vnto theim fauourably so that in conclusion she promysed to be obedient to the kyng in his request forgettyng the iniuries he had dooen to her before and on the other parte not remembryng the promesse that she made to Maigarete Henryes mother And first she delyuered both her doughters into the handes of kyng Rychard then after she sent preuely for the Lorde Marques her sonne beyng then at Parys with Henry as ye haue heard wyllyng hym to forsake Henrye with whome he was and spedely to returne into Englande for all thynges was perdoned and forgeuen she again in fauoure and frendship of the kyng and it should be highly for his aduauncement and honoure Kyng Richard wheÌ„ quene Elizabeth was thus brought into a fooles paradyce after he had receaued al his brothers doughters from the sanctuary into his palayce thought there nowe remayned nothyng to be dooen but only the castyng awaye and destroiyng of his owne wife whiche thynge he had wholy purposed and decreed within hym selfe And there was nothyng that feared hym so much from this mooste cruell detestable murder as the losyng of the good opynion the he thought the people had conceyued of hym for as
deuyse geuing thankes to God with solempne procession for that he had sent theim a king to gouerne the realme which before was ruled by a cruel hateful TiraÌ„t After this gratulacion and thank esgeuing the kyng at a daye appointed assembled his counsail to the ende he mighte marie the Ladie Elizabeth thorowe the which mariage aswell the nobilitee as coÌ„munes of the realme wer brought in good hope that all thinges should bee redressed an end made of all sedicion and strife for euer And at this Parliament holden kept at WestmiÌ„ster he was created kyng the day of October in the yere of oure Lorde a. M. foure C .lxxxvi. Whiche kyngdome he enioyed as of god enointed for as menne dooâ— reporte aboute seuen hundreth foure score and seuentene yeres paste Cadwallader laste Kynge of Englande prophecied that his progenye shoulde beare rule and dominion again So that by this meanes men did fully perswade theim selfes that he was pÌ„â—estinate to it And the rather also they did beleue it because that kyng Henry the sixte did foresaye the same and in like maner prophecy of hym Therfore he being thus proclaimed as true enheretour of the crowne and at the same Parliament created kyng did first cause to bee published that all suche should bee pardoned that would submit theim selfes to his grace as faithful people doo to hym due allegiaunce other that absented theim selfes to bee takeÌ„ as rebelles traitours After the whiche proclamacion hard many the were in holde and sanctuaries came for pardoÌ„ and safetie of life to him which persones so submitting theim selfes â—er pardoned enhaunced to honoure euery man after his owne deserte as the kyng his counsaile thought best And first considering his chiefe frendes and nyghe kinsemen made Gaspar his vncle Duke of Bedforde sir Thomas Stanley knight Earle of Derby Giles Dabeney sir Robert Willoughby and Robert Brooke Lordes Edward his eldest sonne duke of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wholy to all that king Richard had depriued hym of at what tyme he with other wer banished Also actes statutes stablished confirmed by Richard as thought expedient and veray necessary at that time for the publike weale wer by hym aboundoned infringed euery one After these thinges doen he prouided with all scelerite and expedicion to redeme the Lorde Marques Dorcet Iohn Burscher whome he had lefte at Paris as a pledge suertie for certaine money that he had borowed there and Iohn bishop of Ely for like det out of Flaunders Furthermore to the ende the his realme might bee in a better staye he coÌ„maunded that if any maÌ„ had iniury shewed at any tyme the same persone shoulde putte vp his matter to hym of whome he should both haue and finde redresse And for these matters and causes to bee hearde he made of his councell the Erle of Oxford the duke of Bedford therle of Derby the Lorde Strange w e his sonne and william the lorde his brother chief of the priuie chaumber the lorde Broke chief steward and lord graund maister of his house Renould Braye Iohn Morton Byshoppe of Ely Richarde Foxe Iohn Dinham whome after he made treasourer of Englande Giles Dabeney Richarde Gildeforde Lorde Cheiny Richarde Tunstall Richard Edgecombe Thomas Louell Edwarde Poninges with other wise men as Richard ap Thomas a Welsheman aswell circumspecte as wise Morgane Kidnel Lord Gray Marques Dorcet Lord Talbot Erle of Shrewesbury Iohn Risley lord Thomas Earle of Ormonde an Irisheman Henry Warney William Say William Ody Gilbert Talbot Willyam Vdall Thomas Troys Richarde Naufaute Capitaine of Calis Roberte Point Iames Hubert Charles Somerset Thomas Hawarde Earle of Surrey a manne of wisdome grauitee and constantnesse most coÌ„mendable The earle of Essex descending of an high and noble parentage Lorde William Blounte Iohn Burscher Iohn Fineux Peter Edgecombe Hew Conuey Thomas Terell Sir Henry Wiat Robert Throgmorton Thomas Brandon sir Iohn Winkefelde sir Edmond Dudley Edward Belknape Richarde Hemson Also bishoppes Henry Deney bishoppe of Cauntourbury Oliuer kyng byshoppe of Bathe and Welles William BaroÌ„s bishop of London that dyed shortely after he was bishoppe Also William that succeded nexte after Henry Archebyshop of Cauntourbury Richarde of London and Richarde Bishop of Norwiche When the kyng had taken these menne to bee of his councell for the wealth of his realme he maried Ladye Elizabeth doughter to kyng Edward as he had promised for the which he had the heartes of many menne So that afterwarde he had no nede to feare the assaultes of any persones or the coniuracions of rebelles Neuerthelesse considering the chaunce he had before and the falshode the is in many menne from their youth made yomen of the garde for his bodye the whiche he firste of all Englyshe Kynges caused to bee and as it is thought he did take it of the Frenche kyng Also after this he caused a parliament to bee had wher in was made and decreed certayne lawes actes statutes for the wealthe of his realme In this yere a newe sickenesse did reigne and is so sore and painfull as neuer was suffered before the whiche was called the burning sweate And this was so intollerable that men coulde not kepe their beddes but as lunatike persons oute of their wittes ranne about naked so that none almoste escaped the wer infected therwith At the length after the great death of many a thousande menne they learned a presente remedye for the same dysease that is yf he were sycke of that sweate in the daye that he should streyghtelye downe with his clothes and vestures yf in the nighte that he should not rise for the space of .xxiiii. houres and eate no meate at all yf he coulde forbeare and drinke as litle as he mighte This disease reigned throughout all England wherof also ensued a plague as a token and as the people iudged a plaine argument that kyng Henrye shoulde neuer bee oute of feare and dreade of some mischaunce seing that he was in suche great vexacyon at the sedicyous tumulte that was rysen al the claimynge of the crowne WheÌ„ all thynges wer apeaced in London and ordered after his owne mynd he rode Northward in progresse to pacifie all his realme and especially those partes where the firste commocion was and where also wer priuie and cloked frendes of his aduersaries But because it was nigh Easter he tooke his waye to Lincolne and there tariyng was certified that the Lorde Louell and Humfre Stafforde were gone from the sanctuary in Colchester but to what place or whether no maÌ„ could tell whiche message the kyng litle regardyng weÌ„t foorth as he apointed to Yorke and when he came there it was shewed hym that the lorde Louell was at hand with a strong power of menne and woulde inuade the cytie also that the said lorde Stafforde and his brother wer in Glocestre and there had made an insurreccion and set menne on euery parte to defende the gates and walles of the citie At the
There were kylled at that vattaill with their fiue capitaines spoken of euen now of that partie about foure thousand Of the kynges part there were not halfe of theim whiche fought in the forewarde slain TheÌ„ was Lambert the child whiche was falsly reported to bee the Dukes soonne of ClareÌ„ce and his maister sir Richard Simond preest both taken but neither of theim putte to death because Lambert was yet but a child and did seme to dooe that more by compulsion of his maister theÌ„ of his owne will and the other was a preest whiche for his defaulte was cast into perpetuall prisone But this Lambert was taken into the Kynges kechin and after was made one of the kynges faukeners and is yet a lyue And thus was all that Margarete went about at this tyme turned to naught and to none effecte whiche thyng wheÌ„ she heard tell of in FlauÌ„ders she was verie lory at the hearte made greate mone And yet could she not bee conteÌ„t but immediately after inueÌ„ted an other thyng to vexe and trouble kyng Henry as it shal be shewed here after Kyng Henry when he had all thynges brought thus to passe and vtterly vanquisshed these his enemies thought hymself at one tyme deliuered from twoo eiuils together that is to saie from bothe feare that was present and also that was to come For it was not to bee thought that thei whiche were so fewe in nombre durste bee so bold to entre into the realme and make battaile against the kyng whom they knewe wel ynough would bryng with hym a great and well armed hooste but that they had other felowes of the same coniuracion whiche would mete and ayde theim all that they could in tyme and place conuenient Therefore when the kyng sawe the hoste of his enemies manifestly before his eyes he commaunded that no maÌ„ shoulde kyll the earle of Lincolne but that he should bee brought to hym alyue to the entent that he might shewe and bewraye all the other whiche were of the conspiracie But that the sowdyers would not do least the sauyng of hym should bee the destruccioÌ„ as it should haue been in dede of many other This battayle was fought in the yeare of oure Lorde a thousande foure hundreth foure score the secoÌ„de yere of this HeÌ„ryes reigne In the whiche yere also Thomas Burscher archebyshop of CaÌ„terburye died into whose roume succeded Iohn Morton late bishop of Ely whome Alexander of that name the sixte bishop of Rome made Cardinall Now to retourne to my purpose After this the kyng when he had gathered al the prayes and spoyles together and had buryed theim that there wer slain went forth to Lincolne and there taryed three dayes and had euerye daie one procession to thanke God almightie that he had the ouerhande of his enemies And incontynently sent his banner to Walsyngham to be consecrate to our Lady there to bee kepte for a perpetuall moâ—ument of victorie Then did he execucioÌ„ of suche rebellions as were there taken shortely after tooke his iorneye foorth to Yorke and there likewyse suche as were founde gyltye dyd he punyshe strayghtlye When all this was dooen he wente vnto Newcastle and frome thence sente into Scotlande Richarde Foxe whiche not longe before was made bishop of Exeter and Richarde Edgecombe knight as Ambassadoures to kynge Iames for a league of peace For this Henrye thought it a great pleasure and coÌ„moditee to bee in peace and concorde with kinges gouernours whiche laye aboute this his realme and specially and before all other with kyng Iames because that there no rebellions might trust whiche otherwise perchaunce woulde haue trusted to haue ayde or succoure at his hande so that thereby there durste none againe take weapon against hym The ambassadoures when they wer come into Scotland to the kyng were of hym both gently and after the moste louing fashion receiued and heard and then dyd he plainlye declare and open to theim that he hym selfe loued kyng Henrye and his no man 〈◊〉 but that that moste parte of his Scottes and subiectes could in no case agree with the English menne Wherfore excepte that he should offend or 〈…〉 se theim he desired the legates to bee conteÌ„t with truce for .vii. yeres in promesse but in dede he sayed that peace betwene theim on his parte shoulde neuer bee broken and or euer those seuen yeres should bee passed that he would geue truce for seuen yeres lenger so that kyng Henry and he would euer bee in peace and moste assured amytie And this did kyng Iames because he knewe that no facte of his people shoulde bee alowed When the Ambassadoures hearde this they tooke the yeres that were offered theim as concernynge peace and by and by retourned home to kyng HeÌ„ry againe and shewed hym all the mattier in ordre With the whiche tydynges he was veraye well contented Shortely after the kyng departed thence towarde London and in the waye at Leicetre mette hym Abassadoures from the Frenche kyng which shewed hym that their kyng Charles had recouered many tounes and cyties whiche before were possessed of kyng Maximilian and that he kepte battayle nowe with Fraunces the duke of Brytayne because he kepte and socoured in his dominion certaine that were traytours and rebellions against hym of the whiche the chief was Lewes duke of Orlyance and therfore he desyred hym of his frendship familiaritie that either he would helpe hym orelles medle of neyther partie But kynge Henrye althoughe he had founde muche frendship at the Frenche kynges hande yet for as muche as he spyed whereof this stryfe beganne with this message was not well contente For the cause that the Frenchemenne tooke battayle was because they sawe that the Duke was an olde manne and had neuer a chylde and thereby that they myghte brynge that Dukedome into their subieccion When kyng Henrye perceiued this and also howe louyng the Brytaynes had been euer to Englande and finally remembred the tendre loue which was betwene the duke and hym thought it best if nede wer to helpe the Britaynes Yet for as muche as he had founde the Frenche kyng veray kynde in tymes past and had partely by his helpe recouered his kyngdome he was veraye lothe to medle in so muche that he coulde not well tell what was best in this mattier to bee dooen But at the laste he fully purposed if necessitie shoulde require to helpe the duke in all that he might Yet least he should make of his highe frende hys extreme enemie his aunswere was to the ambassadoures that he did intende to make their kyng and the duke frendes again Wherfore assone as the Frenche kynges ambassadoures were dimissed he sent on message Christopher Vrswycke to Charles the kynge of Fraunce Firste to certifye hym that he was veraye glad of the victorye that he had vpon Maximilian secondarely what tumulte and insurreccion was made here in EnglaÌ„d thyrdly and especially to desyre hym to bee at one againe with the Duke of