two of Holland presently imbarked having in his company the Duke of Glocester the Earle Rivers the Lords Scales and Say and in retinue about one thousand As soone as they were put to Sea the King encounterd dangers great as he had escapt at Land For the Easterlings a people ever famed for Sea affaires and then at enmitie both with France and England had set forth not long before some men of warre Who having descrted these shippes and guessing them to be English made saile after them The King by benefit of the wind got first to the coast of Holland and in regard it was ebbing water cast Anchor so neare the shore the Easterlings being shippes of farre greater burthen could not reach them But the next tide infallibly had exposed them a prize to the enemy had not the Lord Gronteere Lievetenant for the Duke in Holland by meere accident beene at that time at Alquemare a Sea towne close joyning to them He soone as he understood that those three small vessels carried in them the fortune of England commanded the Easterlings to forbeare hostility and licence those passengers a quiet landing And presently himselfe came abord the Kings shippe expressing in the obsequiousnesse of his respects as much ceremony and love as was due to so great a Majestie and the brother in law to his Prince And no sooner had he attended the King ashore and found how unprovided of all things necessary the suddennesse of his flight had made him and his followers but he furnisht him and them according to their quality and want For the Kings escape was so hasty that not onely his apparell and other furniture were lost or left behind but even his treasure So that to defray the charge of his transportation he was necessitated to give the Master of the ship a Gowne furr'd with Martins And remaine beholding to the Lord Gronteere for his expences to the Hâ—ge whether hee was conducted to expect the comming of the Duke Who soone as he had perfect knowledge of the Kings so ruinous successe in England and arrived in Holland as to a Sanctuary began to repent his so neare alhance and cast about how to close with the adverse faction And now indeede his time was to act the most cunning part of subtletie by endeavouring to retaine the good opinion of his brother in Law and yet secure himselfe from hostilitie with the Earle of Warwicke Whereupon before ever hee came to the Hage he dispatcht his Agent to Callice to show the chiefe of the towne that the peace heretofore concluded betweene King Edward and himselfe was no way personall But betweene whatsoever Princes should rule in either dominions and betwixt nation and nation and therefore by no change of King or length of time dissolvable Vpon which consideration hee intreated for loath he was at the same time to wrastle both with France and England that the name of Edward might bee changed into Henry and the former league continue sacred as before The unsetled state of England and the universall desires of the Merchants of the Sâ—aple at Callice soone affected the Dukes purpose For they who had continuall traffique into the Low Countries and vented all their wooll to the subjects of the Duke had beene unabled to pay their usuall tribute to the King if free intercourse had beene denyed Whereupon unwilling to discontent and impoverish so great a body at home and too hastily to run into a dangerous quarrell with a most potent enemy abroad the Earle for the present dissembled his inveterate hatred and recal'd his Souldiers who had spoyld all the Dukes territory bordering upon Callice And that the Duke might make himselfe strong in a faction potent with the present time hee renewed his friendship with the Dukes of Sommerset and Exceter whom hee solicited earnestly to endeare him to King Henry and revive in him the memory of their so neare kindred To acquaint him how zealous himselfe and his father had ever beene for the honour and safetie of the family of Lancaster in which himselfe did so much participate As likewise to promise all the perfect offices of a consederate and neighbour if so bee that his faithfull intentions might receive a true interpretation This did the Dukes voluntarily offer to negotiate Sommerset in respect of propinquity in blood Exceter of those many favours received in the Low Countries during his so miserable exile Both out of an extreame malice to the Earle of Warwicke who had subverted their families and to whose ayde they envied the King should owe his restitution And easily was the Duke brought upon good termes with King Henry his neighberhood and friendship being of so notable consequence and the very apparence of disclayming the adverse partie what secret ayde soever hee afforded being so disadvantageous to any pretence King Edward might have to renew the warre This aspect full of a smiling flattery did the Duke of Burgundy beare to the present fortune of the state While upon King Edward he cast such a supercilious look as the worlds wise men usually doe upon men in adversitie Often sharpely hee reprehended his so great carelesnesse and neglect of wholesome advice which had ruin'd him to this so wretched flight Hee objected the much contempt this misfortune would throw upon his quarrell and how loath friends would bee to adhere to his present necessities since hee knew so ill to manage profperitie Yet remembring that hereafter there might happily be a change in fortune he often chang'd his humour and amid these reprehensions mingled some passionate complements of love Hee protested seriously that hee wisht all happinesse to his affaires to advance which he would neglect no industry yet he desired his pardon if for the present hee dissembled Considering it might at once draw on a warre from his two most dangerous neighbours England and France Against both which nations should he be necessitated to a quarrell hee should be very unable to defend himselfe much lesse to serve another And when a Proclamation was set forth by the Duke prohibiting his subjects any way to ayde the pretences of King Edward or his faction and that it was with much indignation received by the King he protested the intention of it to be onely to betray King Henry to an unsafe security that in the interim he might without suspition levie a greater ayde for his designes King Edward whom a short adversitie had already instructed much appeard to take the false coine of these excuses for currant and by example of the Duke practis'd to dissemble But after this time it was noted that he never bore the Duke so sincere affection as before Princes best maintaining a nere friendship by keeping at large distance jealousie and aemulation take their growth with familiaritie and if eyther be necessitated to demand supply reason of state oftentimes weakens love and roots up good nature To increase King Edwards discontent abroad no newes came from England but what spoke
absolute ruine to his hopes For though here hee heard first the comfort of his being father to a sonne yet was this sonne borne poorely in Sanctuary and christned without the ceremonies belonging to a Prince and if fortune beyond expectation alterd not heire apparent onely to his fathers misery Neither did that wild insurrection of the men of Kent which ensued presently upon his flight effect any thing or so much as openly pretend for King Edward But some disorder'd companies gathering into one hoped to fish faire in the troubled streame of the Kingdome and by the advantage of the present distraction of state to purchase treasure to themselves Whereupon they directed their march if such straglers can bee said to march towards London where by the Earle of Warwick and the Lord Major they were soone supprest and some for the generall terror made examples in their punishment But after this all things tended presently to quiet and King Henry set at libertie went in solemne procession to Pauls Church the Clergy Nobility and Commonalty reacknowledging all obedience to him And as if there were left no memory of King Edward or hope to re-establish his title every man addrest himselfe to King Henry and all his former servants recover'd their lost honours and places But that this might not appeare to be the act of faction but the universall consent of the Kingdome a Parliament was summond wherein nothing was denied which the prevailing partie thought fit to be authoriz'd King Edward therefore and all his adherents were attainted of high treason their lands and goods confiscated He and his posterity for ever disabled to inherit not onely the Crowne but any other hereditary estate His claime to the kingdome rejected as a most unjust pretention and his former government condemn'd as of tirannous usurper And that there might be a great example of their justice John Tiptoft Earle of Worcester Lord high Constable of England having beene apprehended in the Forrest of Waibrige on the top of a high tree which exprest the precipice of his fortune was on the Tower bill beheaded Next they proceeded to intaile the Crowne upon King Henry and his beires males for default of which to George Duke of Clarence and his heires forever By which inâ—â—ile the â—arle of Warwicke showed not onely the extent but the insolency of his greatnesse iâ—â—â— if the title of the kingdome appertained to them who were nearest in alliance to him not next in blood to the Crowne For if the justice of Lancasters claime had the preheminence for wâ—â—t of issue of King Henry why should not the soveâ—â—inty fall to the Duke of Soâ—â—â—inerâ—set Or iâ—â—haâ— line were crooked in respect of baâ—â—idie why not to the house of Portugall without any blemish desâ—ending from John of Gâ—int Or if the house of Yorke bad the better title why was George Duke of Clarence thâ—â— set downe but second in the liâ—â—â—ile Or if the right were in Was wick himselfe for his power order'd and disorder'd all why was the kingdome to descend first of all to the younger daughter But preposterous ambition never knew how to give an account to reason Their were â—he â—â—â—leâ— of Oxford Pâ—â—brooke and mâ—â—y otherâ— restored to their â—states and â—ilâ—s and â—he Duke of Clarence that greater hopes â—â—ight â—â—â— invite him to reâ—â—â—â—st to his brother possest of the Dutchy of Yorke And lastly the government of the King and kingdome â—o â—â—mitted to the Duke of Clarence and the Earle of Warwick so that King Henry in whose best of fortune it was never to possesse more then the name of King seem'd not to be set at libertie but onely to have changed his keeper and get his prison somewhat more enlarged But Queene Margaret and Prince Edward though by the Earle recald found their fate anâ— the winds so adverse that they could not land in England to taste this running banquet to which fortune had invted them And stayd so long by necessity that disâ—â—â—tion instructed them in the end there was no hope of felicitie scarce of safetiâ— in then returne The re-establishment of King Henry in the kingdome by the universall acclamation of the Parliament and the generall silence of â—â—â— other â—â—â—â—ion â— no man so much as mentioâ—â—â—â—â—â—â—â—â—â— of Yorke to â—â—led â—hâ—â— servour of respect with which the Duke of Burgundy had aâ—â—â—â—st imbraced â—â—â—â—g Edward Especially which the tâ—â—ison'd â—â— Mouâ—siâ—ur â—â—itleere was apparens for of â—â—â—iceâ—â—â—â— â—â—â—â— the King and the Duke ever thought themselves secure he having declared himself â—â— for faithfully they rewarded him so liberally But â—ow the â—â—aytor turn'd his iâ—â—â—â—â— outward and with the loudest proclay â—â—â—â—â—â—â— joy for the prosperitie of Warwicke And so farre did vanitie of his former services betray him that he boasted even hiâ— treason for merit And what ev 〈…〉 ageâ— the King sent to him he rejected with sâ—â—â—â—e to â—â—â—â—se 〈…〉 ne â—â—iable affront hee wore enamel'd iâ—â— hisâ— hâ—â— the Beare and raggeâ—â— staffe the Earles â—â—â—â—â—zance The neglect which accompanied his adversitie made the King weaâ—y of any â—uither dependaâ—â—â—eâ— and urge the Duke to have licence for departing For although the Dutchesse neglected no duty of a sister and wooed him most passionately to a longer stay yet so little had his fortune instructed him to patience that neither love nor fright of danger could detaine him longer For the Duke was distemperd with such an ague of discurtesie that those fits which before came but every third or fourth day became now quotidian neither knew the King to how high and dangerous a malice the disease in time might rise His importunitie therefore in the end prevail'd and underhand obtain'd a large supply of money and some men Foure great Shippes of Holland and foureteene of the Easterlings men of warre well arm'd he hired for the transportation of his Forces Which consisted of the English who accompanied him in his flight and had escaped over after him and two thousand Dutch men With the Shippes hee convenanted that they should serve him till fifteene dayes after his landing and to the Dutch Souldiers hee gave such large promises that they vowed their lives to the greatest crueltie of his Fortune At Ravenspur in Yorke-shire he landed where the people naturally devoted to the house of Lancaster showed in the malice of their lookes what evill lucke they wisht him though they wanted courage with their armes to oppose him Which so dismall aspect made him more wary in his march to Yorke fearing it might presage the generall rising of the Countrey But when hee came thither and found the Citizens so well pleas'd with the present state and so in their opinion confirm'd for King Henry hee began to despaire the recovery of the Crowne And in that resolution perceiving them obstinate beyond any hope of remove fashion'd his behaviour to a new art Whereupon since he could not move them to obedience by the authority of his unquestion'd right to the Crowne by
〈◊〉 For wiâ—â— the King of Scotland with 〈◊〉 is in the neerest place of safety she lâ—â—â—â—â—er hâ—â—â—â—â—nd to confirme a secure friendship she contracted a neere alliance by promising the young Prince her sonne in marriage to his lister And that this marriage might not seeme a gift but a bargaine shee â—â—â—ght the Lady by 〈◊〉 of Barwicke into the Scotâ—â—ands â—â—â— strongest Fort 〈◊〉 English 〈◊〉 in the North. But the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ever â—â—â—â—â—â—er son their 〈◊〉 and forâ—â— to â—opâ—â—ghaâ—e what otherwise they would with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 perswaded to receive With Lewes the Eleventh the French King she prevail'd little though neere to him 〈◊〉 confanguinity for the discontent of his Nobility held him incontinuall suspition Otherwise she had title to promise her selfe large supplies from so potent and politicke a Prince whose interest it must no reasâ—â— have beene by fomenting discord at home to hinder us from any attempt abroad After â—uch 〈◊〉 she obtain'd that he declared himselfe â—â—â— King Henry By prohibiting all favorers of the house of Yorke accesse into the French dominions and opening them to all those of the party of Lancaster A negative kinde of helpe which rather showed there yet was Sanctuary left for Henries unhappie friends than any considerable ayde to be expected Phillip Duke of Burgundie though a mighty Prince and neere allyed to Lancaster whose wives mother was Philippa daughter to John of Gaunt by age and a passionate love to quiet was become altogether unactive Neither had Charles Earle of Charolois his sonne though of a daring Spirit and an affecter of businesse leisure to looke over into our Island being engaged to domestick troubles and suspitious of the designes of the French King With Charolois the Duke of Britaine held a strong confederacie and both of them intelligence with the discontented Lords of France The warre which was afterward so knowne by the name of the Weale-Publique being at that time among them privately in contrivance so that all these neighboring Princes to whom the affaires of England might seeme considerable were wholly taken up with attention to their owne The Emperor Frederick the third was more remote and so cautious from entring into the quarrels of other men that by any Art even with losse he would decline his owne Moreover he justly stood in continuall feare of the growing Fortune of the Turke who having lately subverted the Easterne threatned now ruine to the Westerne Empire and questionlesse had not the great God of Armies miraculously given a stop to his victories Christendome had now beene onely severall Provinces slaved to his tyrannie For pride and emulation had then turn'd our Armes upon our selves and left our bodies naked to the scourge of the common enemie Spaine was far off divided betweene a Christian and Mahometan government each labouring the extirpation of the other so that they had liberty to be Actors in no Tragoedie but their owne And indeede no conflict is so fierce and irreconciliable as when Religion animates to warre and makes it pietie to be cruell To her Father therefore who enjoyed the specious title of King of Sicily Naples and Hierusalem but possession of none of them the afflicted Queene was forc't to make a sad retreate A poore contemptible Lord living now to see his sonne in Law once the greatest Monarch of the Christian world a Prince as meerely titular as himselfe As if it had beene the Fate of these two that the one could say he might have beene the other that once he was a King Leaving therefore forraigne states intentive to their owne designes with her sonne whom to move compassion she had carried up and downe the Queene return'd to Scotland by her long but unsuccesfull labour having gathered together five hundred French a number so small and so unworthy the name of an Armie that it was but a competent retinue for so great a Princesse With these neverthelesse she sayld to Timmouth whence she was repulst by the inhabitants soone as shee landed and forc't againe to put to Sea But there for where may the unfortunate meete with friendship she found the winds her enemies whose unruly force drave her at length disorderly to Barwicke Heere some thinne regiments of Scots resorted to her in company of whom she entred Northumberland her husband 〈◊〉 in the Froâ—â— that the name and presence of King 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 invite the people to their ancient service and 〈◊〉 Authority to the designeâ— Bâ—â— soone thâ—â—e 〈◊〉 her error for hope not compassion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 danger and the Commonalty fate still 〈◊〉 by rising they understood themselves onely 〈◊〉 to shaâ—â— in the Kings misfortune For having upon a just aâ—câ—ouâ—â— discoverd how warâ—â— iâ— oâ—ely necessary to the most desperate and that in the 〈◊〉 it leaves them to nothing but bâ—ggâ—ry and â—â—â—â—â—shment they were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the love of 〈◊〉 and every man betookâ— himselfe to industry And for the Nobility the King had â—â—on theâ—â—â—â—thâ—t by the reputation of his fortune or teâ—râ—â— of his courage so that â—â—mâ—maâ—â—o 〈◊〉 to change subjection Onely Hâ—â—â—â—y Duke of Sommerset and Sir Ralph Percie who â—ot long before had forsooke King Hâ—nâ—y in his tempest noâ—â— upon a false hope of fairer weather stâ—â—◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For it is a ridiculous â—â—â—â—ing in Historians to ascribe the action of great men â—â—râ—etually to pollicie since iâ—resolution prevailes equally â—â—â—â—â— them as with the vulgar And why might â—â—â—â— desperation be gâ—t submission in these â—â—â—â— boâ—â—ing Edward and a vaine apparence of a reâ—urâ—e of fortune to King Hentiâ—s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to this lastrevolt Vpon this so weake 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Margaret perceiving 〈◊〉 friendship 〈◊〉 husbands native Country destroy'd it as if an enemie's And â—anting forcâ— to râ—ach the prosperitie of her Competitor â—â—ll â—â—â—elly 〈◊〉 the Common people 〈◊〉 â—itherto beene onely subject to his Fortune bâ—aâ—ing iâ—waâ—dly a 〈◊〉 passionate love to the famely of Lancaster But this oâ—â—rageous carriage of the Armie chang'd absolutely their affections to the Queene Who was questionlesse by necessitie compel'd to things unlawfull whereby to prevent the disbanding of her Forces which were onely payd and kept together by a licencious spoyle To oppose against this attempt which onely betray'd the weaknesse of the Enemie King Edward sent downe the Lord Mountague himselfe staying behind to raise an Armie befitting the greatnesse of his name and present quarrell Giving likewise order that his Navie should guard the Seas to hinder any succours to the Queene from forraigne confederates But this was an unnecessary caution tâ— no state abroad being so desperate as to imbarque itselfe iâ— the broken seat of her Fortune Mountague at Land had a braver occasion to shew his courage who having in the Bishoprick of Durâ—sme gathered convenient Forces marcht directly against King Henry By the way the Lords Hungerford and Rosse and Sir Ralph Percie presented themselves to hinder his farther course but perceiving the good order and courage of his Armie all fled but the
the surprisall or destruction of Warwick or holding so little intelligence even in a conquerd enemies Campe that he knew nothing of his present designe The Earle having tryed as strange a vicissitude of fortune as in so short a space was ever observ'd in story by the benefit of a prosperous gaile soone was brought before Callice Where being Captaine of the Towne hee expected entrance but the Cannon was presented him and no Commisseration of the Duches of Clarences being in travaile could obtaine so much as admittance to her present necessitie onely the poore releefe of some few flaggons of wine was sent her Mourifieur de Vaucleere a Knight of Gascoiny Leiveteâ—â—nt of the Towne thus confidently refused his Captaine professing that however hee owed his present Command to Warwickes bounty his loyaltie to the King did cancell al inferiour obligations By which bravery of his carriage he wonne so great reputation with the King and the Duke of Burgundie who ever hated the factious pride of Warwicke and even from the beginning of these troubles had labourd to continue Vaucleere firme in his alleigance that from the King he received by Letters Patents the Captaineship of Callice in Cheife and from the Duke an annuall pension of a thousand Crownes during life Into thus much honour and profit did dissimulation worke him while under hand by the subtilty of councell he steerd the Earle of Warwicke to safety and by false appearing fidelity betray'd his Prince For he assertain'd the Earle of his good intentions to his affaires and howeven now but that he knew it could not but be ruinous to both he would declare himselfe For if the Earle entred the Towne hee did but imprison his person to bee detain'd till the King were pleased to command it forth to execution Considering that the inhabitants were but unsure friends and the Lord of Duras the Earles profest enemie Marshall of all the Forces in the Towne Moreover the Burgonians territory encompast Callice by Land and their fleete was in readinesse to blocke it up by Sea so that no way would be open to his escape Wherefore hee advised him for his present security and future hopes presently to addresse himselfe to King Lewis of France who was ever ready to entertaine any Lord of another Nation in quarrell with his Prince But above all would welcome the Earle both in regard of the neere intelligence hee had long held with him and the hatred he bore King Edward for affronting the Lady Bona and the Duke of Burgundy for so often confederating with the rebells of France By this councell the Earle of Warwicke steer'd his course to Deepe by the way making prize of whatsoever appertain'd to the Duke of Burgundy or his subject And no sooner was hee landed there but most solemnely invited to the Castle of Amboys where King Lewis then kept his Court. The ceremony short ever with men of businesse past over at the first meeting suddenly they entred into councell how to renew the warre and restore King Henry Whose re-establishment in the Kingdome Lewis ever most passionately urg'd not in respect of the neere alliance commiseration of his long sufferance or opinion of his better title but onely because he knew him inferiour in courage to King Edward and therefore the lesse dangerous neighbour and probably while any of the house of Yorke remaind civill war likely to keepe the English Armes busied at home Wherefore by his importunity Queene Margaret who hitherto had lived an exile in France and now upon the Kings invitation came to Court was perfectly reconcil'd to the Earle of Warwicke Warwicke who before had chased her out of the Land disinthrond her husband and opprobriously imprison'd him cut off the many branches and almost pluckt up the very roote of the tree of Lancaster But necessity tooke away the sting from nature and united them in the neerest friendship For that there might not be left any tract of former discontent or path to future jealousie a marriage was concluded and celebrated betweene Prince Edward the Queenes sonne and the Lady Anne younger Daughter to the Earle And on this marriage was agreed that King Edward should be deposed King Henry re-inthrond the Crowne to be entaild upon Prince Edward and for default of his issue to come to the Duke of Clarence and his posterity By which conveighance humane policie did her part to perpetuate the succession of the Kingdome in the posterity of Warwicke But the Almighty made a mockery of this Babell which fell soone to ruine by selfe division and confusion not of Languages but affections For the Duke of Clarence began now to consider how by following the Earles desperate Councells he had gain'd nothing but the conscience of an unnaturall revolt and how ruin'd he were if the successe of this enterprise should not be prosperous and if prosperous how upon the destruction of a brother hee had built himselfe a lesse greatnesse than he might have enjoy'd without sinne or hazard There being a vaste distance betweene the neerenesse of two sons to one mother and onely husbands to two sisters Neither had hee any sure ground for confidence that when King Henry were restored hereditary malice might not prevaile and destroy him for the crime of his family And now more than ever he found himselfe declin'd being forc'd to submit not onely to Warkicke but to a new young Prince having before acknowledg'd no superiour but the King and him a brother Neither was the Duchesse of Clarence her selfe a weake engine on which this alteration moved For however as a daughter she might wish prosperity to the attempts of Warwicke yet ever since the last agreement of reinvesting the house of Lancaster in the Kingdome shee found in her minde a strange alicnation from the Faction And indeede either shee began to dislike the variety of her fathers resolutions as whom ambition led violently to build and plucke downe or in conscience thought the justice of the claime was wholly in King Edward having in her childhood and those impressions are ever deepest beene instructed to affect the house of Yorke and approve the title Or and that is the most probable in a woman she envied perhaps the preferment of a younger sister hating that Fortune should throw backe the priority of nature However it was yet certainely by her meanes King Edward labor'd to recall his brother and though not suddenly yet in the end prevail'd For having sent over a gentle woman her sexe tooke away suspicion from the practise with full instructions both to advice the Duchesse not to worke the ruine or at best the lessenning of her husband by those councells held then betweene Queene Margaret and the Earle of Warwicke as like wise to promise if shee perswaded her husband to him and her as much love and greatnesse as the â—â—â— of Nature and so great a merit might justly challedge He in fine got a promise that soone as the Duke were disintangled from his
present ingagements he would declare the naturall affection he owed a brother This weake hope the late victory and seeâ—ling baâ—ishment of his enemies looseâ—â—ed King Edward to his accustomed wantonnesse and riâ—â— For certainly never liv'd Prince whom adversitie did more harden to action and prosperitie more soften to voluptâ—ousnesse So that by the judgement on his life we may say like a stone cast into the ayre hee was by necessitie forst up to glory while his center remain'd beneath in the sence of pleasure And so improvident was his memory that he forgot the greatest injuries and resâ—â—â—ed the Archbishop of Yorke into favour not hearing so much as a watchfull eye over a reconcil'd enemy By which his counâ—â—iles were betray'd and he perswaded to a false and most dangerous securitie But the Duke of Buâ—gundy whose recreation was businesse and whose delight extent of dominion who by having long â—â—astled with Lewis the Eleventh had leaâ—â—t all the slights of warre and peace labor'd â—o disperâ—e the storme before it fell upon England Whelâ—â—â—on hee daily advertiz'd King Edward of all passages in the Court of France his intelligence holding good there and who knew how neare danger came to him should our King be overthrowne Hee advis'd him by vast promises which no way oblieg'd performance to winne some and â—owing the poysonous â—eede of aemulation to recall others As likewise to send over some great Lord into France who pretending discontent shall adhere to the faction and under hand discover all their counsailes But above all he sollicited him to rigge up and set forth his Navie whereby to prevent their landing Affirming it to bee a most ridiculous madnesse in a King unlesse urged by inevitable necessitie to stake his Crowne at a battaile against the desperation of a rebell The King contrary to this sober counsaile never endeavour'd to hinder the returne of Warwick but building on the protestations of the Marquesse Mâ—ncatute and the Archbishop of Yorke securely gave himselfe over to licenciousnesse In which interim the Earle with his retinue conducted by the Bastard of Burbâ—â— Admirall of France saild backe into England King Leâ—yâ— having furnisht him with a full supply of mâ—nies and for shouldiers hee needed no â—oâ—taine levies his name and faction was so great at home For though the Countrey by â—ivill warre was much dispeopled yet the commonalty being for the most borne and bred up in tumults were naturally addicted to armes and prone upon any innovations to take the field Neither could the Duke of Burgundy though most passionately hee labor'd it hinder the Earles landing by giving him battaile at Sea for the winds fought for Warwick and disperst the Burgâ—nian fleete the best in that age commanded upon the Seâ— casting some ships upon the coast of Scotland others upon the reâ—otest parts of Holland Neither did the King any way repent his error when hee understood the Earle was landed but presently dispatcht a messenger to the Duke intreating him to continue his Army at Sea to impeach Warwicks flight backe into France as if hee were ascertained fortune would never deny him victory So secure was he growne by an overbold presumption the bastard daughter of a long prosperitie But they whom experience had instructed to more caution pittied his mistake and foresaw the ruine And he himselfe not long after understanding how mightily the Earle increast in power began to thinke his safetie brought into hazard Which he much more beleeved when he found the Nobilitie whom he summon'd to his aide to excuse themselves and the common streame of people to ebbe wholly from his devotion And indeed even in the Citie the adverse faction was growne so strong that Doctor Gooddiard Chaplaine to the Earle at Pauls Crosse in his Sermon dared even to act the Herald and conclude Edward an usurper And thereupon to commend the most religious intentions of the Earle and to exhort the Audience to joyne with him in restoring their imprison'd Soveraigne King Henry to his Scepter and the Common wealth to libertie The credulous multitude tooke this heresie for true doctrine and with some of the zealous ignorant it so farre prevailed that in pure devotion they committed high treason But would to God the Pulpit might onely speake things sacred matters of State having roome enough to bee discust in Councell Chambers and other places erected for publike assemblies For certainly how erronious soever the tenet bee if utter'd there by a Priest with apparence of Religion it gets two much authority in the eare and too much ground upon the conscience As this opinion did which no sooner received but all began to incline to revolt and with the first retired away the late reconcild Archbishop and the Matquesse Montacute his brother both having so often and so ceremoniously vowed never to forsake the title of King Edward and both now perfidiously breaking those vowes and with the lowdest crying out Long live King Henry The trechery of Mountacute who having raisd in King Edwards name six thousand men turnd now with them to Warwicke and the generall defection of the Land threw the King downe into extreame despaire For those few Lords who constantly adheard to his declining fortune commanded over so small a number that to resolve upon a battaile were to betray themselves to slaughter And when misfortune drove their thoughts upon safetie by flight they knew not whether to resolve No Land being willing to receive that Prince who is forc'd to flie his owne But while his imaginations remaind thus confused he had hardly escapt a surprize in the night had not his former misfortune served him now for instruction And finding his stay onely begot disreputation to his quarrell and danger to his person he began his flight towards Lincolneshire But the Earlesent after him his Light Horse following with the whole body of his Army and so close did the Light Horse pursue him that with much difficultie and with losse of all his carriages in his passage thorough the Washes hee reacht Linne The Lord Hastings faithfull to the King in all fortunes and who had yet three thousand Horse under his command stayd some short time behind and now when he imagin'd the King past the reach of imminent danger he dismist his Forces and followed after At parting he commended the faith of the Souldiers to their Prince which neverthelesse for the present hee advised them to dissemble No present securitie nor hope of doing after service but by submission to the prevailing faction Ere long he promis'd to returne when a better fortune would invite them to show the loyaltie of their affections the violence of the storme being too mightie to continue and King Edward in faction at home and abroad too potent so easily to quit a kingdome however for the present he withdrew himselfe a while Having exhorted thus his Souldiers he obeyed necessity and by speedy flight went after the King Who having hired three shippes one of England and
himselfe into authority in regard peace levelled him with inferior Lords and made his service of no use King Lewys proceeded on to tell him in how miserable a condition the Burgonian army was having beene broken at the siege at Nuz a desperate and madde undertaking and now returned home the Souldier destroyd either by the sword or famine and that small number escaped so wretched that the Duke might well expect protection from the King but could no way bee of power to advance his purpose Hee added how the season of the yeare Summer being almost past must of necessity deterre the King from crossing the Sea and many other arguments against the present undertaking As if the Herauld being perswaded to quiet by Oratory France might have beene reprived from warre for that yeare And to make him the more his friend hee gave him three hundred crownes with promise of a thousand more if the peace so much desired by him tooke effect The Herauld overcome much by his perswasions but much more by his money replyed That no travell on his part should bee omitted that might tend to the service of his Majesties intentions And that he as farre as his observation upon the Kings nature could reach imagined no great difficulty to bring his Master to a faire accord But that as yet the motion would be most unseasonable Considering that after so vast a charge in levy of an army and so universall an applause to the designe his Majesty could not retire untill at least he had led his Forces into France and made some apparence of intending what so constantly he had pretended Hee advised him therefore to let the army passe over to Callice thither to send his Herauld to desire a safe conduct for Embassadors with order to make addresses to the Lords Stanley and Howard and himselfe And that the way should be prepared so plaine for King Lewys his purpose that there should be no impediment at the worst to a faire respect if not to a full satisfaction of his desires All this discourse past in private In publicke there was caution by the Kings strickt command given that no French man should have any communication with him And soone as possibly he was dismist with many faire words and thirty Ells of crimson velvet for reward The King after his departure expressing in his looke and carryage much cheerefullnesse and courage either comforted by the faint hopes our Herauld gave him or else cunningly dissembling his feares The order of this discourse betweene them is delivered to us as a high reach of pollicy in King Lewys But to an indifferent understanding it appeares nothing but the ordinary wit of cowardize and certainly how covetous soever the necessitie of his occasions made him to buy peace yet his manner of traffique at this time was beneath the spirit of a Prince For although his largesse to the Herauld wrought the wisht effect yet he might have beene deceived by him and by his so earnest desire to avert the present warre have endangered it much more fierce upon him Neither could it be imagined common discretion to commune his feares to an enemy who might perhaps betray them to the scorne of the English army or to negotiate peace with a Herauld though even persons of much worth and understanding yet commonly remote from the knowledge of the inwarder resolutions of state But the manage of this businesse thus tooke a good effect and that concurring in a Prince whose other actions were pollitickely ordered made it have so happy a censure Vpon returne of the Herauld the King embarqued for Callice and after him followed his army Which was transported in certaine slat bottom'd boates of Holland and Zeland by them usually called Scuts lent as before covenanted by the Duke of Burgundy And notwithstanding the commodiousnesse of the vessells and the multitude being five hundred in all three weekes were they in their passage among all the forces not being one page Which as it instructs us in the vast numbers of the Souldier so doth it in the strength and power in regard they were all able men who undertooke this enterprise and who came not to learne but to make proofe of their knowledge in armes Soone as he heard they were certainly a shore the Duke in all haste came to congratulate the Kings safe landing and happy arrivall of the armie for there was just ground for feare that the French Navy might have endeavoured to trouble their passage But the Duke comming with a very small traine much afflicted the expectation of the English who thought to have seene him march to meet them with five and twenty hundred men at armes well appointed beside a large power of horse and foote As by his Embassadours and his owne Articles had so amply and frequently beene promist But to take away this suspicion from them for feare it might any way drive backe their thoughts toward England he told them that his so private comming to the King was onely to expresse his joy for the Kings safety and theirs and that his army was further in the Country so well prepared for the present designe that they should have no reason to thinke him any way to have boasted He therefore invited them to march up into the Land where they might be better accomodated and conducted the King to Bullen A Towne which having beene heretofore morgaged by the French to Phillip Duke of Burgundy with a large part of Picaray was notwithstanding the often tender of the mony by Lewys still detained violently by Duke Charles There hee gave the English a free intertainement and still kept their expectation high From thence hee went with them to Peron another Towne of Picardy kept upon the same termes Into which hee admitted but few of the better sort of the English and over those too he carryed a watchfull eye The army forced to lodge in the field which was the lesse inconveni convenient in regard of the Season of the yeare and the commodiousnesse of pavilions and tents with which they were so plentifully furnisht The Duke perhaps loath to trust the armie in possession of so important a place least their expectation irritated they might attempt to him some trouble To Peron the Count Saint Paul sent to congratulate the Kings arrivall in France to promise all service to his enterprise and his townes to his use and command Whereupon the King removed to Saint Quintin over which Saint Paul commanded there to accommodate his Army till the Dukes forces were in readinesse to take the field But as some over-hastie Troopes having got the start of the Army came confidently toward the gates expecting to be receiv'd if not with triumph at least with all the demonstrations of joy the Artillery from the towne shot against them and some of the Garrison issued forth to skirmish in which two or three of the English perisht This apparence of hostility from a Confederate confirmed the former jealousie