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
relation of his present calamitie he perswaded them to compassion So that whom they refused to serve as King which had beene an act of loyalty they condescended to aide as Duke of Yorke which was absolute rebellion It being high treason in a Subject though never so apparently injured to seeke his remedy by armes And by the sence of his owne misfortunes he made his Oratory so powerfull that all began to exclaime against the injustice of the last Parlament in conferring the Dutchy of Yorke which by right of primogeniture belong'd to Edward upon his second Brother George Duke of Clarence Which Act could not be imagined freely granted by the Parliment but extorted by the overgreat sway of Warwicke And had Edward by usurpation of the Crowne deserv'd so heavy an attainder He might yet quit himselfe from the crime having beene incenc'd thereunto not by his owne ambitious desire of raigne but by the instigation of Warwicke Who no longer would suffer the government of his King then the King knew how to obey his insolent direction And who had thus planted and supplanted Princes not out of love to Iustice but onely thereby to transplant the Soveraignety into his owne Family Thus the Commonalty argued for Edward and made him yet partake in the fortune of a Prince by not permitting him to beare the burthen of his own faults and that he might recover the â—â—â—tchy belonging to his family many persons of power and name resorted to him be solemnely swearing never to attempt hereafter the re-obtaining of the kingdome The same oath swore Henry of Bullingbrooke when pretending to the Dutchy of Lancaster he landed in the North arm'd against King Richard which he brok as Edward after did upon the like advantage So that with humilitie we ought to wonder at the judgements of the Almightie who permitted perjurie now to unbuild the great nesse of Lancaster which at first was built by perjury Leaving therefore a Garrison in Yorke a safe retreat upon the worst occasion hee marcht toward â—â—â—doâ—â— about which place he had ever found his fortune most benigne And confidently led on his Forces which could not deserve the name of Army although the Marqueâ—â—e Mountague with a farre superior power lay then â—â— Poâ—â—fret to impeach his journey Nigh which when King Edward came expecting battaile Mountague who had both abilitie and opportunitie to have destroyd him let him quietly passe not permitting any act of hostilitie to be showed or advantage taken This grosse oversight in so absolute a command received severall interpretations according to the complexion of the men discourst it The more Religious who favord King Edwards title thought Almighty God intending to set the Crowne upon the right head had infatuated the counsells of his enemies The more vulgar judged it cowardize in the Marquesse which durst not fight against that Majestie for which hee had so often â—ought and against a Prince who haâ— never beene in â—aâ—taile but victoriouâ—li But the â—â—â—â—â— in different esteemed it a peece of over cunning which in the event iâ— ever folly to let his forces passe whereby after hee might inclose him â—â—â—â—â—â—â—â—â—â—â—â—â— and his brothers army and so without â—â—â—â—â—â—â— destroy him or else sonâ—e intelligence which â—â—â—ore â—â—â—â—â— held with King Edwardâ—o â—o whoâ—â— love and beâ—efâ—â—â—â—â— owed so much Whence this â—â—â—stake proceeded I will not dispute but certainly it served well to the Kings purpose had safetie and received â—omdâ— the Earle of Warwicke and his faction no other name then of falshood and treaâ—â—on King Edward was no sooner past this danger but at any of the Nobility with mightie 〈◊〉 reâ—â—â—â—â—â— to him â—â—her desâ—oâ—â—â— of another 〈◊〉 on of â—thro◠〈◊〉 having found their expectation driâ—â—â—â—â—â—â—â—◠〈◊〉 â—â— directed by their better Aâ—gâ—ll to 〈◊〉 to that side which ever â—â— as â—oâ—â—â— just and suddenly more likely to be 〈◊〉 â—ortoâ—â—â—e But before they would solemnely declare themselves they intreated and soone prewail'd with him to cast off the poore intention to a Dutchy and lay his challenge to what was his inheritance the kingdome For it would lessen even to contempt the great reputation of his birth and 〈◊〉 victories to let the people perceive that a short ecclipse of fortune had made him fall so low as to depose himselfe from the Royâ—loie Neither could they justifie their taking armes to settled subject in his inheritance Since the Law is open to and such controversies and if he would subject himselfe to the Law the last Parliament â—â—â—â— forever disabled him from any such claime Weaker arguments would have beene of power enough to have perswaded his great Spirit but by these he was confirm'd in his owne thoughts and with the title of King and a â—â—â— Arm â—archt directly to Coventry fierâ—e in his desire to give Warwicke battâ—ile who lay there â—ncampâ— But no provocation could bring him from his â—renches knowing his Army divided and those forces he had there undeo his command unequall to maintaine fight with the King For the Marquesse Mountagae was not yet return'd from the North and the Duke of Clarence though often and earnestly sollicited excused himselfe and kept his power apart So reservd way in them made Warwicke begin to hold both in suspition but most of all Clarence whose Forces were so neare and in so good order that there could bee no excuse but in the unpreparednesse of his mind The King therefore perceiving no thing could force Warwicke upon uneven termes to fight marcht against Clarence and soone as hee drew neare both Armies prepared for the incounter But as a plot in a well contrived Comedy is so cunningly wrought that it discovers not it selfe till the last Scene and then expectation acknowledged her selfe deluded by invention So this reconciliation betweene the brothers agreed on long before on the sudden now broke forth when all outward apparences threatned hostilitie For the Duke of Glocester and other Lords seeming to abhorre the inhumane nature of the prepared battaile past often formally betweene the brothers and urged them by all respects both religious and polliticke to prevent a quarrell so ruinous and so scandalous to both wherein the triumph could not be but almost destruction to the Conquâ—ror After much mediation and much seeming relectation that was in the end concluded which had long before beene resolved on And the Duke of Clarence submitting himselfe to King Edward brought with him all those forces which upon Warwicks reputation much more then upon his owne he had raisd But that in this agreement he might not appeare to forget the office of a sonne in Law and a friend he joyntly with the King sent to intreat the Earle to enter league with them for confirmation of that title which himselfe had first defended and to avoid the effusion of so much blood as this quarrell must necessarily draw For conditions he himselfe should set downe his owne knowing hee would be so rationall in his demands as to require
of so weake and inconstant a man as his brother Duke Charles who so often had beene entrapt From both these Princes he received such answer as showed they resolved to prosecute their designe but not to have him suspect it Giving faire protestations of their desire to be over-ruled by the Kings direction But neither of them understood the businesse in that dangerous nature as it was conceived in England For though King Lewys had no Sonne at that time yet was there every day expectation he might have the Queen likely to conceive and Lewys in much health and strength of body And indeed soone after a young Dolphin was borne who succeeded in the kingdome Moreover they considerd the malice betweene the brothers growne to that height that all feare of reconciliation was needlesse And that there was no such certaine way to maintaine a generall dissention in France as by enabling Duke Charles with a power to make good the former contestation Nothing likely to incline him to seeke friendship with his brother but being disabled to continue an enemy The King suspecting the reality of their intentions and resolved upon any termes to prevent the marriage had in his determination to have forgot all former discontents justly conceiv'd against King Lewys in abetting the contrary faction of Lancaster and to have enterd into a particular league with him against the Duke of Burgundy But before he would make the overture he tryed by his Embassadors to know the certaine resolution of the Duke himselfe who had in the marriage of his daughter alwayes held his thoughts apart from the world And in truth the end of his intentions was to keep all neighboring Princes in expectatiō but to conclude with none For at the same time when Duke Charles had so many underhand promises with the selfe same hope did hee entertaine Maximilian Sonne to the Emperour Fredericke the third Nicolas Duke of Calabria and Philibert Duke of Savoy His ambition being to create many dependancies upon himselfe and never to marry her to no man unlesse hee should bee forc'd to it by some evill fate in warre and then he doubted not but by her to worke himselfe safe and honorable conditions Much importuned by the English Embassador to give his resolution and not knowing to what danger the Kings suspition might grow or to what new leagues it might incline him he answered him faithfully that he intended no such neare alliance with Duke Charles And that all those apparences of treatie were onely to retaine him in discord with his brother who otherwise might chance to be reconcild and hazard to destroy that faction which the necessitie of his affaires did inforce him to advance Hee desired therefore the King not to listen to every false suggestion but to believe hee would doe nothing in so materiall a point without much advice and care had for satisfaction of so great a confederat and so neare an allye This so absolute resolution of the Duke tooke away the former jealousie which soone after would howsoever of it selfe have vanisht For Duke Charles not without a strong suspition of practise in King Lewys dyed of poyson and so fixt a period to those many civill wars which had distracted the state of France and to all those busie ambitions which had so much disquieted his owne content At home the King was continually stunge by a swarme of Creditors who during his late troubles had supplyed him with treasure and for whom gratitude did obliege him to provide repaiment He found his Exchequer emptie and a necessitie to desire the Commonaltie to contribute with their purses that many of his best friends might not be ruinated He therefore summond a Parliament to be held at Westminster wherein though the reformation of abuses and enacting Lawes wholsome for the present time was pretended a liberall subsidy was the ayme But in the beginning all those acts which had been heretofore made during the first part of King Edwards government and abrogated by King Henry the last Parliament when for a time he was restored were revived and enacted to continue in full force for ever And whatever other statutes were made by King Henry repealed By vertue of which acts all the Nobilitie who had adherd to the house of Yorke and had beene for that attainted were restored in blood and to their patrimonies and all of the contrary faction found guilty of high treason and their estates confiscated to the King Then for reliefe of the Kings great necessities for all those so mightie fortunes serv'd onely to reward the multitude of his adherents a full subsidy was granted In recompence of which he gave them a generall pardon And indeede by that liberally repaid them For by the late civill warres the laps into treason was so universall that scarce any estate could be safe if licence were given to informers the Cormarants of a Commonweale who swallow much seldome or never grow fat and least of all advance that they most pretend the Kings benefit Some few dayes before the Parliament began Lewys of Bruges a Netherlander Lord of Gruthuse and Prince of Steinhuse came over into England who was receav'd by the King with all the demonstrations of amitie And on the thirteenth of October in the Parliament Chamber created Earle of Winchester receiving with the title the ancient armes of Roger Quincy heretofore Earle of the place with addition of the coate of England in a canton The reason of this so extraordinary favour conferd upon a stranger was the much application of respect hee made to King Edward when by the prevayling fortunes of the Earle of Warwicke he was forc'd to fly for refuge under the protection of the Duke of Burgundy For hee being a noble man of that Country dedicated himselfe totally to comfort the King distracted with his present affliction Soone after him the Parliament being newly ended came Embassadours from the Low-Countries who after the first open audience wherein for the most part passed onely the complement of Princes admitted to the King and some few Lords most intimate to the Kings resolutions spoke to this purpose May it please your M tie VVEe are sent by our great Master the Duke of Burgundie upon an Embassy that may prove strange to the first apprehension and even in it selfe contradictory To congratulate your Majestie the glory of that peace you enjoy and to invite you from it to a new warre But glory is like time everlastingly in motion and when it stops it ends Your Majestie hath by the happy conduct of your power and fortune restored the Kingdome to itselfe That was an act of necessitie For you could not bee your selfe if your great enemies had not beene reduced to nothing Now as great a justice doth invite you and the recovery of a larger Kingdome Which wee know your high spirit cannot refuse to undertake least the world have just reason to suspect you tooke Armes to live not to raigne For if your
grounded were inconsiderate words by which upon report that white Bucke was killd as the King was hunting in his Parke hee wisht the head and hornes and all in the Kings belly whereas indeed he wisht it onely in his belly who counsaild the King to kill it With this accusation were mingled many other of poisoning sorceries and inchantments Crimes which every judicious man easily perceiv'd were onely put in the scale like graines to make his rash language full weight which otherwise would have beene too light to deserve the sentence of death These proceedings Clarence resented as they were intended and expostulated with the King the injustice to his servant and injury to himselfe And according to the custome of expostulations his words were bold and disorderly and having receiv'd an apparent injury built too much on the right of his cause and provoked the King too far into indignation So that soone after hee was committed close prisoner to the Tower where by Act of Parliament attainted he was secretly put to death the manner as it is generally receiv'd was by thrusting his head into a But of Malmesey by which he was stifled In his attainder according to the forme are crimes enough to make his death have apparence of justice the execution of which the King seem'd rather constrain'd to then to have sought For there are reckon'd how the Duk of Clarence to bring the present government into hatred with the people and thereby the present state into trouble had not onely in his speeches frequently laid injustice to the Kings charge in attainting Thomas Burdet falsely convict of many notorious treasons but subornd many of his servants and divers others corrupted with money to divulge the like seditious discourses That he had spread abroad impious rumors that the King dealt by Necromancy and upon offence against such of his subjects whom by order of Law he could not destroy hee was accustomed to take away by poyson That he had not rested there but whereby to advance himselfe to the Kingdome and for ever to disable the King and his posteritie from the Crowne had contrary to truth nature and Religion Viper-like destroying her who gave him life publishâ— that the King was a bastard and no way capable to reigne That to make this his so monstrous ambition more successefull and already to begin his usurpation he had caus'd many of the Kings subjects to bee sworne upon the most blessed Sacrament to bee true to him and his heires without any acceptation of their alleigance After which so solemne oathes hee discovered to them his resolution to right himselfe and his followers who had both suffer'd by the Kings violent wresting away their estates And in particular to revenge himselfe upon the King who as hee most impiously and falsly suggested had by art Magicke order'd to consume him as a Candle consumeth in burning And what most exprest that treason of his designes that he had got out an exemplification under the great Seale of Henry the sixt late King wherein was shewed how by the Parliament it was enacted that if the said Henry and Edward his sonne should dye without issue male the kingdome should descend upon the Duke of Clarence and his heires Whereby clearely appeared his intention immediatly to possesse himselfe of the Crowne with destruction of King Edward and his children by pretention of a generall election of the Commonweale This was the summe of his attainder which wee may well beleeve had not so easily past but by the Kings publike declaring himselfe the secret working of the Duke of Glocester and the passionate urging of the Queenes kindred But this Attainder hath in it one thing most remarkeable that Clarence here falsly was accused by laying bastardie to the King to endeavour possession of the Crowne Which afterward was alledged indeed by Richard Duke of Glocester to the absolute disinherit of the Kings Sonnes Whereby Gods severe judgement manifests how unsafe it is in a Prince by false accusations to condemne an innocent or but to aggravate the fault of one lesse guilty to the end that crueltie may be reported an act of justice The death of this Prince sudden and extraordinary begot every where an extraordinary censure the unnaturall severity taking away all excuse even from their discourse who most fa vour'd the King At home it was generally condemn'd both in regard of the manner it being prodigious to be drowned without water upon dry ground and the quality of the person He being the first brother to a King in this Country that ever was attainted And what increased the murmure a faction appeard at Court triumphing in his ruine all the accusations were strangely wrested and no matter of fact scarce an intention proved against the state Whereupon this punishment was thought to have beene inflicted upon him for no new attempt His first taking part with Warwicke being his onely crime For which warre though somewhat against nature he had many examples in France Spaine and other parts of Christendome Whereas for the death of a younger Brother upon bare suspition the King could borrow no precedent neerer then the Turkish governement But Clarence imagined the prerogative of his birth a sufficient defence against danger and omitted to fortefie himselfe with faction which laid him open to every assault of envy And because hee had heretofore beene in opposition against the King the libertie in censuring any defect in government was interpreted a desire to be in armes agen Every word of distaste being held criminall in him for whom the King was alienated by his owne disposition open invectives of the Queenes kindred and secret traines of the Duke of Glocester who now began to looke high over all respects of nature and religion Hee was certainly ambitious beyond proportion which made him so attentive to any new counsailes and of an easie nature which renderd him apt by practise to be wrought to mischiefe He was a good Master but an uncertaine friend which delivers him to us to have beene according to the nature of weake men sooner perswaded by an obsequious flattery then a free advice We cannot judge him of any evill nature onely busie and inconstant thinking it a circumstance of greatnesse to be still in action Hee was too open brested for the Court where suspition lookes thorough a man and discovers his resolutions though in the darke and lockt up in se. crecie But what was his ruine hee was whether the house of Yorke or Lancaster prevailed still second to the Crowne So that his eye by looking too stedfastly on the beautie of it became unlawfully enamord And that being observd by the Kings jealousie hee sufferd as if hee actually had sinned While this mischiefe was secretly in contrivance against Clarence in the Court appeard no face but that of jollity and magnificence For at that time was Edward eldest son to the King during Christmas to mingle the solemnitie with libertie inaugurated Prince of Wales
intelligence the Queene with her triumphant forces directed her march moreover it concerned the pollicie of his affaires to retaine the possession of the capitall Cittie of the Kingdome which continued firme to his devotion and in which the Lords of his faction had custodie of King Henries person left to their faith when the Duke of Yorke went his last fatall expedition But in the way at Chipping Norton he met the Earle of Warwicke having lately fought and lost the field to the Queene at St. Albans In which beside the honour of the day and slaughter of two thousand of her enemies she recovered the person of her husband So that Warwicke brought with him onely a relation of his late overthrow but with such a courage as disdain'd misfortune and coveted nothing more than by the tryall of a new day to perswade or else to force backe victory to his side And oftentimes a small losse to an Armie like opening a veine to a body doth rather correct than any way impaire the health whereas too much prosperity like the worst surfet suddenly becomes incureable And so the two late obtain'd conquests wrought in the enemie onely insolencie and disorder For the Queene wanton with successe vainely imagined a securitie from future competition and either wanted power to restraine her souldiers or licenced them to a free spoyle by which unruly violence she untyed the affection of the Commons who by their quiet and profit measure the vertues of Princes And indeede they had title to their often complaints against the Northerne troopes who soone as they had past Trent as if there they had parted with all obedience to discipline made use of all kindes of licence that might serve their avarice or pleasure And having by the way left no Townes and in them no place how Sacred soever unspoyled after the flight of Warwicke they designed for London hoping to finde it abundantly stored for prey and utterly unable for defence But the Citizens perceiving hostility in their approach shut their gates and arm'd for resistance And with such valour and good order behaved themselves that the rude assailants were with losse repulst and the Queene perswaded to retire North-ward knowing the disorder of her men had begot her in the place where she then lay incamped nothing but ill aspects and worse wishes she therefore dislodged from St. Albans and every day as she marcht toward the North new relations came of the greatnesse and resolution of the Earle of Marches power who with the Earle of Warwicke was on his journey to London And doubtlesse the report of his approach confirmed the Cittie in her courage to resist the late assault which otherwise would without question have complied with the fortune of the more powerfull For presently after the departure of the Queene the Earle of March made his triumphant entry and was received with such acclamations as an over-joyed people could expresse who onely hoped for safety by the fortune of his side To encrease the glory of this entrie concurd beside his title to the Crowne his late victory at Mortimers Crosse the memory of a most glorious Father and great authority of his Confederate Warwicke the beauty of Marches person than which that age beheld not any more excellent Neither is the outward forme a small circumstance to induce the multitude or reverence since as deformitie in a Prince hath oftentimes occasioned contempt even to deprivation so on the contrary hath an amiable shape strengthend very weake pretentions and in Antoninus Heliogabalus was sufficient title to an Empire even in a military election But the Earle of Warwicke whose minde was still in labour and felt continually most violent throwes till it had brought forth a setled soveraignety to the house of Yorke contented not himselfe with this generall applause knowing how the least change of Fortune would create new affections He therefore resolved so to fasten the Citty to his designes that any alteration in Edward should be ruine to them and thereupon caused a generall muster of all his forces in St. Johns fields where when hee found an universall confluence of all men answerable to his expectation he cast his Armie into a Ring and with a loude voyce made to be reade the agreement which the last Parliament had accorded betweene Henry the sixt and Richard Duke of Yorke By which Henry out of compassion to a long possession was permitted to enjoy the Crowne during his naturall life the remainder to Richard and his heires in whom it was then apparently proved that the title to the Kingdome did remaine In which agreement was likewise manifested that Henry should make immediate forfeiture when soever either hee or any of his party should attempt to disaâ—all this Act. This reade and commented on with the best efficacie of Language to expresse the foule breach on King Henries side in the destruction of Richard Duke of Yorke Question ws proposed to them whether they would longer continue in obedience to Henries usurpation who so impiously had violated his Faith To which with an universall loude consent of voyces they cryed out No No. Then were they demanded whether they would admit Edward whose title to the Crowne was so apparent and whose sufferance had beene so great in a perfidious violent entry and a long injurious possession of the Kingdome by the family of Lancaster To which with acclamations of assent was answered Yea Yea. Thus by the Souldier and the people was Edwards title approved and he admitted King And happily did this ceremony then appeare needfull in regard the same voyces had vowed obedience to another Otherwise whosoever shall alleage that the suffrage of the multitude is necessary to confirme a Prince destroyes the right of succession and in that the Monarchie which so long and triumphantly hath ruled this Nation And to understand the incertainety and injustice of all popular election History instructs us that no Tyrant yet in England by what indirect practise soever he attaind or cruelty maintaind the government but entred in by a seeming approbation of the Common-wealth and setled his state by confirmation of the People For I know not by what universall distemper of humors it happens that generally when the head of this Kingdome hath beene sicke the whole body was diseased so farre that usurpation hath beene ligitimated and tyrannie applauded Which misfortune must have necessarily beene occasioned through Potencie of the prevailing faction and feare which possest all honest mindes who though they neither wanted knowledge to see the injury nor desire to redresse it yet private interest made them too cowardly to undertake the remedy But in Edwards first in trance on the Kingdome the popular suffrage which in the inauguration of Christian Princes is of ancient custome esteemed a convenient ceremonie met with a just title For he by his Grandmother daughter and heire of Mortuner sonne and heire to Philippa onely childe of Lionell Duke of Clarence third sonne to Edward
the third King of England of necessity must have where women are admitted to inherit better claime to the Crowne than Henry the sixt though in the fourth descent from Edward the third by John of Gaunt being but his fourth sonne For however Casuists may dispute or civill Lawyers argue The being removed one degree further can no way prejudice succession Whereby the younger brother may come to bee prefer'd before the elder brothers sonne if by chance the elder dye during his Fathers life An injustice so against reason and custome that whosoever yet attempted it was reputed to violate the lawes of Nature From St. Johns fields the principall of the armie and Common Councell of the Cittie brought newes of this Election to Edward Earle of March remaining at Baynards Castle Who soone as he understood the intention of their addresse with such modestie as some Clergie man may have used at his consecration who by simonaicall practise hath obtaind a Bishoprick refused that a while which most ambitiously he covered But soone the animation of the Arch-bishop of Canterbury the Earle of Warwicke the Bishops of London and Exeter and divers others of eminence prevail'd and he at their request tooke on him the Royaltie That night he rested the next morning with as much ceremonie and state as the shortnesse and unquietnesse of the time could licence in solemne procession he went to Paules whence after Te Deum sung and oblation made hee rod to Westminster there seated in the most perspicuous place of the great Hall with the Scepter of St. Edward the Confessor in his hand himselfe made declaration of his double title to the Crowne First by descent as heire to the third sonne of Edward the third the Line of whose eldest sonne Edward the blacke Prince extinguisht in the deposition and parâ—icide of Richard the second procured by Henry of Bullingbrooke first King of the house of Lancaster Edward the thirds second sonne dying without issue Secondly by authority of Parlament which upon examination of the Duke of Yorkes title confer'd the possession of the Kingdome immediately on him or his heires when Henry the sixth should make forfeiture of it by death resignation or breach of that Accord sworne there so solemnely by them And that this accord was broken the slaughter of the Duke opprest with unequall numbers on King Henries partie at the battell of Wakefield did sadly manifest Neverthelesse he protested himselfe ready to forgoe the justice of his claime ratherthan to enter upon it without their free vote At which unanimously the Assembly cryed King Edward King Edward Ioyfull that their voyces might confirme him King who had daign'd them so humble a complement as to professe that he would not receive the title without their suffrage The formalitie of this second Election thus past he went in Procession to the Abbie whence after much solemnitie and homage of all the Nobility there present he returned by water to the Bishop of Londons Pallace and was immediately proclaimed King throughout the City by the name of Edward the Fourth The first fortnight of his Raigne was died I will not say stain'd with the blood of Walter Walker a Grocer who keeping shop at the signe of the Crowne in Cheapeside sayd he would make his sonne heire to the Crowne a bold jest broke in an evill time yet doe I not side with them in opinion who taxe the King of severity in this execution unlesse I could cleere this man from being particularly factious for the house of Lancaster or know that these words were uttered in innocent mirth without any scorne to King Edwards Title And however perhaps the extraordinary punishment of such saucie language was not then unnecessary to beget authority and make men cautious to dispute the descent of Princes when the question was so nice and arguments not improbable on either side But here in her very first curtesie Fortune raisd King Edward higher than the endeavours of a long ambition had done his Father For now was he consecrated King in the Imperiall City of this Realme adornd with every circumstance of Soveraigntie and all his enterpises hitherto so flattered with successe that he could promise nothing but prosperity to his hopes Yet was the ground whereon he built uncertaine and his state brought into comparison with his Competitor fraile and obnoxious to ruine For Henry had equall dignity with the advantage of a long Raigne an uninterrupted descent in Majestie for threescore yeares a soveraigntie acknowledg'd abroad by all Christian Princes and obeyd at home by all Engilshmen without dispute a title according to the Law Salique indubitable and which had beene confirmed at the first entry of his Grandfather Henry the fourth into the Kingdome not onely by resignation of Richard the second by generall acknowledgement of all the Nobilitie and by authority of Parliament but even by approbation nay particular negotiation of Edmond Duke of Yorke Edward Duke of Aumerle Richard Earle of Cambridge Grandfather Great Vncle and Great Grandfather to the late anointed King Edward the Fourth Onely a feeble judgement and a long evill fortune rendred Henry the sixt inferiour to counterpoise which Queene Margaret and the Lords of her side were daring and vigilant omitting on stratagem or endeavor that might adde to the honour or safety of their designes Whereupon slie continued still in the North and oblieging that people every day more to her devotion labourd to prepare such an armie as might upon the worst of fortune be able enough for defence And soone she found how much her owne and the authoritie of the great Lords of her side prevail'd having rais'd threescore thousand fighting men and they all resolv'd with expence of their blood to buy backe that Majestie which the house of Lancaster by evill fate had lost An armie if arm'd and order'd well able to oppose the mightiest enemie or undertake the boldest enterprise On sight of which the Queene entertain'd a confidence easily to scatter the Forces of the new Mushrome King who in a night seem'd to have sprung up to Majestie Especially when she understood how with unequall power hee marcht Northward A clime not unlikely to prove as distastrous to him as to his Father For King Edward soone as the voyce of the people had saluted him Prince resolv'd with hazard of his new gain'd Soveraigntie to extirpate his great opposer For while the side of Lancaster was supported with the devotion of so large a portion of the Kingdome as yet adhear'd to Henry he could be King but at the curtesie of his Faction and the body of the Land must of necessitie grow monstrous being charg'd with two heads each of which look'd divers wayes He therefore while his men had yet the memorie of their late good fortune fresh in their courage marcht toward the Queene and chose rather as worthier his spirit to provoke than expect an enemie Of his arrivall at Pomfret Castle when it was understood and that
and dying bodies the Northerne men began to hope for safety onely in flight Neither did they â—eeld to the prevailing Fortune of the Enemie untill their courages vvere dismayd vvith sight of so many eminent persons slaine before their eyes For the Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland the Lords Beaumont D'acres Gray and Wells with divers others of greatest reputation for Nobility and courage had already falne and in their slaughter taught the survivers what to expect The Dukes of Sommerset and Exeter seeing all things desperate the greater part of the Armie slaine the rest broken and flying poasted to Yorke to carry the fatall newes of this overthrow to the unfortunate King whose vertue yet had a patience greater than his ruine In no battle was ever powred forth so much English Blood for in this and the two precedent dayes were slaine sixe and thirty thousand seven hundred seventy sixe persons all of one nation many neere in alliance some in Blood fatally divided by faction yet all animated with the same zeale to maintaine their Princes right which being so difficult to resolve doubtlesse made the quarrell on either side how ruinous soever to their famelies not unsafe to their Consciences And it is worthy observation that in this so long and cruell conflict betweene the two houses never any stranger of name was present at our battels as if we had disdaind to conquer or perish by other weapons than our owne Kind Henry perceiving how desperate his hopes were in England with the poore remaines of his partie secured himselfe by flight into Scotland And with such hast that before King Edward got to Yorke where he hoped to have surpris'd him dismaid with the late discomsiture nothing was there left but the Citie humbly devoted to the dispose of the Conqueror But on the walls yet remaind the heads of Richard Duke of Yorke and his friends an ignominious spectacle unluckily there standing to inâ—ence him to cruelty For on sight of so barbarous an injurie he gave present command that Thomas Earle of Deâ—â—aâ—â—iâ—â— should be beheaded with three others taken in the former battle that these new heads might râ—leeve them who had stood centinell so long and that his father and friends might not want that busie part of the body to be inclosed with them in the grave An action too much savouring of the ancient Heathen the soules of Christians no way requiring their murders to be revengd or their injuries appear'd with such an offering After this dire oblation he sent part of his Forces to cleere the coast toward Scotland from the dregges of warre where to terrifie that people prone to innovation in King Henries quarrell some examples of severitie were made In the interime he with as glorious triumph and large joy as victory could beget which begot no lesse to him than absolute Soveraignety marcht toward London By the inhabitants whereof who were deepely interessed in his Fortune he was with all the solemnity of a secure gladnesse entertaind To the triumph of his entrance soone succeeded that of his Coronation perform'd with usuall ceremonies but most unusuall congratulations Immediately that no circumstance of Soveraintie might be wanting a Parlament was Summond By which his title might be reconfirm'd his partakers rewarded his enemies punisht And though private respects were his chiefe businesse desiring to disaâ—â—ll all acts made heretofore in prejudice to the house of Yorke and its adherents yet the outward pretention was the safety and quiet of the Realme For he publickly profest his onely care to bee that such wholesome lawes might be enacted as might redresse disorders crept into the state by free licence given to rapin in the former troubles By which apparence of solicitude for quieting the republique he gain'd authority among the wise and created a beleefe in all that his government in peace vvould be as fortunate as his successe in warre Having by his wisedome and providence thus won opinion upon the generality he bestowed his graces on particular persons whom blood in merit rendred deare to him His brothers George and Richard he created Dukes the elder of Clarence the younger of Glocester Iohn Lord Nevill the Earle of Warwickes brother he made Vicount Mountague Henry Bourchier brother to the Archbishop of Canterbury Earle of Essex and William Lord Fauconbrige Earle of Kent He erected divers others to the Title of Barons and honour'd many with Knighthood The conclusion of this great assembly was punishment for John Earle of Oxford Aubery Vere his sonne Sir John Tiddenham Knight William Tirrell and Walter Mountgomery Esquires were without anâ—were convict ofâ— reason and behended A rough proceeding which favord something too much of the Conqueror Bâ—sinesses thus happily setled at home to check the â—udaciousnesse of our transmarin neighbours who had throwrie injuries on our Nation weakned by discord the Earles of Esseâ— and Kent with the Lord Audley were sent with ten thousand souldiers to scowre the narrow Seas who first landing in Britaine tooke the Towne of Conquest and afterward in the Islâ— of Râ—â— pillâ—g'd that little Country and with victory returned By vvhich enâ—erprise though of nâ— signall consequence to his affaires yet King Edward gave the French to understand hoâ—â— unfaâ—â—â— it vvas to â—â—â—â—tate the English govern'd by â—â—â— active Princeâ— vvho might perhaps 〈◊〉 in person appâ—â—â—e abroade for the recovery of â—â—â—ose Provinces nothing but â—â—â—â— dissâ—â—sion â—â—ould have losâ—o As likevvise to tâ—â—rifie all 〈◊〉 states from adhering to King Henry vvho both in câ—â—rage and fortune vvas â—o â—aâ—â—e inferioâ—â— And noâ—â— vvas the prosperitie of Edwardâ—n â—n so full splendor and so darke a cloud hung over the house of Lancaster that Henry Duke of Sommâ—rset and Sir Ralph Percie for â—â—â—â—e the â—â—ineâ— of that family they had â—â— long endeavour'd to support To King Edward the submission of tvvo so eminent persons appear'd vvelcome as a victory and they by his favour were presently restored to full possession both of honour and â—â—tarâ— the same grace promist to any who mighâ—â—â— example should perswade Yet did not the indefatigable Queene loose any thing from her sprit on endeavours Hâ—qlate so sad discomfiture and revolt now of her chiefe adherents able perhaps to 〈◊〉 forâ—â—â—â— not her And having upon full reckoning perceived that she must account of no powre at home she made her addresses to all Princes abroad whom allianee reason of state or compassion of so great a disaster might move to her assistance But as it is in the fate of all women who usurpe on their husbands she had beene â—o happie in mannage of his prosperitie and Towâ— wâ—somuch morâ—â—â—capable to â—â—gole against christ forâ—â—â— and 〈◊〉 in felicityâ— Gâ—â—â— undertakings being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 succesfull in 〈◊〉 whose government 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 selfe in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 beene disorderly and 〈◊〉 But certainely how erronious hovvever 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 she â—â—â— now defective onely in thâ—◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is not ruled by ours but by a high
the Embassadors who had forgot by their mony to make him an instrument in effecting this treason This villaine for hee was fittest for the businesse so ordered the matter that while hee entertaind the Embassadors in a most serious discourse the Earle was carried into Sanctuary and no notice given them till he was beyond their reach Which when they understood finding themselves defrauded of so great a bargaine and even of the money layd out in the purchase indignation transported them into bitter language against Landois But he excused himselfe of the practise and layd the whole fault of the misfortune upon their negligence desiring that their carelesnesse in loosing a prey might not be cast as a crime upon that respect he had shewed them in his visit And when the Embassadors importun'd him by his authoritie to force the Earle from the place hee pretended religion to the Sanctuary which if he should out of honour to the English but offer to violate so great was the veneration the people hold it in that they would tumultuously rise to prevent so bold a sacriledge Hee advisd them therefore to give over this game lost past play and prepare their excuse as cunning as possible to satisfie their King And for his part to show the zeale hee bore to the affaires of England hee would take such order and he knew it would stand with the approbation of his Master that the Sanctuary should be severely guarded whence if the Earle endeavourd an escape it should be into some place of safetie where hee should be strictly imprisond till the King of England were pleased otherwise to dispose of him With this plausible discourse Landois left the Embassadours to saile over whom the winde now too late servd to carry backe But the King notwithstanding the fairest colours they could lay upon the businesse and promise on the Dukes part to keepe the Earle safe from escape cast upon them a sower looke Misfortune to a Minister of state procuring for the most part as much disgrace as if he had beene perfidious in the practise Frustrated of his hope to gaine Richmond into his power but yet in part freed of all danger threatning from him the King to give a lustre to that peace he had setled began to addict himselfe to a profuse hospitality A magnificent way of greatnesse in which the Monarchs of this Kingdome have in all ages exceeded all the Princes of Europe And upon all solemne times when cessation from labour licenceth the vulgar to admire the glorious outside of a state he showed a particular bravery to the eye by presenting as well martiall exercises in Iusts Tiltings Turnaments Barriers and the like as the softer entertainements of wit full of an elegant curiosity for that time subject to too much tumult and noyse to give birth to the best inventions But of all solemnities the feast of Saint George Patron of the noblest Order of the World was celebrated with most splendor and pompe Of which our common Cronicles are so liberall in the relation that they spare my pen the labour Among these delicacies of peace the King forgot not to please his lust the bastard of an idle security And indeed impossible almost it was that his appetite flatter'd daily with all the curiosities of luxury should containe it selfe severely within the bounds of modesty For as by his other actions wee may judge how little trouble his conscience put him to and therefore not easie to be frighted from sinne by Religion so on the part of his body they who familiarly knew him affirme that never man was framed by Nature more apt to the exercise of love and whom amorous Courtship did lesse missebecome But Almighty God tooke not his naturall pronenesse to lust for an excuse but severely punisht him in his Sonnes Who were both dispossest of the Kingdome and their lives by their unnaturall Vncle There being so much apparence of right in the Vsurper by their Fathers incontenency that even an Act of Parlament was made to bastardize them And this sad judgement was provoked by the disorder of his lust to which how can wee wonder if so easily he declin'd since Majesty seldome admits of any instructions to a severe correction of the appetite Ambition to extend their dominions hath beene ever recorded the noblest vertue in Princes Who to lessen a neighbor state too mighty in the growth of Empire or in hope to conquer some territory to which the conveniency not the justice makes good the title without scruple hazard large armies of their people And confidently boast the victory though the warre were grounded upon injustice While King Edward lived at home glorious in his quiet this doctrine was listened to by Charles Duke of Burgundy in following which he made so many injurious and unfortunate attempts For after his peace concluded with France he directed his whole power to the destruction of the Duke of Lorraine A Prince who in favour of King Lewys to whose fortune he had devoted his service defied the Duke of Burgundy when he lay at the siege of Nuze And though this designe against Lorraine might carry with it all probability of successe considering the narrownesse of the Dutchy Yet as it ought in judgment to have beene weighed with the supports of France and other confederates in Germany it might beare a face of much more difficulty For it had not onely beene a perpetuall dishonour to King Lewys but even a disadvantage to his affaires to permit a free spoile of so neare an adjoyning countrey to the Duke of Burgundie whom for the present a blind revenge transported beyond reason and made him warre with all crueltie not onely against the Duke of Lorrain where the victory might in some measure recompence the cost but against the Switzers because they had sided with Lorrain and made some irruption into the territories of the Burgonian The Switzers a poore people unknowne to the world confin'd to a miserable life among their cold and barren mountaines onely proud in opinion they had of their libertie which was rather maintain'd by the fortune of the countrey inaccessible almost to an invading army then by the valour of the people Against these he led his forces rejecting all those submisse and deprecatory Embassies sent by them and that free acknowledgement of their povertie when they protested all the wealth of their Countrey sum'd up to the highest value would not be able to buy the Spurres and Bridle-bits in his Campe. Fortune in the beginning of this enterprise flatterd him to a continuance of the warre with prosperous successe intending by that glorious baite onely to angle him to destruction For soone the chance of warre turn'd and in three battailes in one yeare the unfortunate Duke was overthrowne In the last of which fought before Nancy hee was slaine A Prince who by his alliance and continuall intercourse of businesse had much relation to the English Whose honour and recovery of whose