[Original Title.]
THE VNION
at THE
TWO NOBLE AND ILLUSTRE FAMELIES
LANCASTRE & YORKE,
BEETNO LONG IH CONT.NUAL B.SCENS.ON FOR THE CROUNE OF TH,S NOBLE REALME,
WITH AIL THE
ACTES DONE IN BOTHE THE TYMES OF THE PRINCES,
EOTHE OF THE ONE LINAGE AND OF THE OTHER,
BEGINNYNG AT THE TYME OF KYNG HENRY THE FOWERTH,
THE FIRST AUCTHOR OF THIS DEUISION,
AND SO SUCCESSIUELY PROCEADVNO TO THE REIGNE OF THE HIGH AND PRUDENT PRINCE
KYNG HENRY THE EIGHT,
THE VNDUBITATE FLOWER AND VERY HEIRE OF BOTH THE SAYD LINAGES.
1548,
HALL'S
CHRONICLE;
CONTAINING
THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND,
DURING
THE REIGN OF HENRY THE FOURTH,
AND THE
SUCCEEDING MONARCHS,
-s
TO THE
END OF THE REIGN OF HENRY THE EIGHTH,
IN WHICH ARE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED THE MANNERS AND CUSTOMS
OF THOSE PERIODS.
CAREFULLY COLLATED WITH THE EDITIONS OF 1548 AND 1550.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR J. JOHNSON; F. C. AND J. RIVINGTON; T. PAYNE; WILKIE
OBINSON; LONGMAN, HURST, REES AND <
CADELL AND DAVIES; AND J. MAWMAN.
1809.
FOR j. JOHNSON; F. c. AND j. RIVINGTON; T. PAYNE; WILKJE ~ J/
AND ROBINSON; LONGMAN, HURST, REES AND ORMJE; <\ / 1 0
Dfl
G . Woodfall, Printer."
Paternoster-row.
f TO THE
MOST MIGHTIE, VERTEOUS AND EXCELLENT PRINCE
EDWARD THE SIXT,
BY THE GRACE OI GOD,
KYNG OF ENGLAND, FRAUNCE AND IRELAND,
DEFENDOROFTHE CATHOLIKE FAITH, AND VNDER GOD SUPREME HED, OF
THE CHURCHES OF ENGLAND AND IRELAND. YOUR MOSTE HUMBLE SUB-
IECT EDWARD HALLE, WISSHETH HEALTH, HONOR, AND FELICITIEj
the cancard enemie to Fame and renoune the suckyng serpet of
auncient memory, the dedly darte to the glory of princes, and the defacer of
all conquestes and notable actes, so muche bare rule in the firste and seconde age of
the worlde, that nothyng was set out to mennes knowledge ether how the world
was made either howe man and beastes wer created, or how the worlde was de-
stroyed by water til father Moses had by deuine inspiracio in the third age, in-
uented letters, the treasure of memorie, and set furth fiue notable bokes, to the greate
comfort of all people liuyng at this daie. Likewise Mercurie in Egipte inuented
letters and writyng, whiche Cadmus after brought into Grece. So euery nacio
was desirous to enhaunce lady Fame, and to suppresse that dedly beast Obliuio.
For what diuersitie is betwene a noble prince & a poore begger, ye a reasonable man
and a brute beast, if after their death there be left of theim no remembrance or token.
So that euidently it appereth that Fame is the triumphe of glory, and memory by
litterature is the verie dilator and setter furth of Fame. How muche therfore are
princes, gouernoures, and noble menne bounde to theim whiche haue so huely set
furth the hues and actes of their parentes, that all though thei bee ded by mortall
death, yet thei by writyng and Fame liue and bee continually present. If no man
had written the goodnesse of noble Augustus, nor the pitie of merciful Traian,
how shoulde their successours haue folowed ther steppes in vertue and princely
qualit.es: on the contrarie parte, if the crueltie of Nero, the vngracious life of Ca-
ligula had not beene put in remembrance, young Princes and fraile gouernors might
likewise haue fallen in a like pit, but by redyng their Vices and seyng their mische-
1 ueous
VI
ueou.s ende, thei bee compelled to leaue their euill waies, and embrace the good
qualities of notable princes and prudent gouernours : Tims, writyng is the keye to
enduce vertue, and represse vice : Thus memorie maketh menne ded many a thou-
sande yere still to Hue as though thei wer present ; Thus Fame triumpheth vpon
death, and renoune vpon Obliuion, and all by reason of writyng and historic.
Alas my soueraigne Lorde, my herte lamenteth to knowe and remembre what
rule this tyrante Obliuion bare in this realme, in the tyme of the Britons. For from
the first habitacion of this land, no man of the Britons either set furthe historic of
their begynnyng, or wrote the hole liues of their princes & kynges, excepte Gildas
whiche inueighed against the euill doynges of a fewe tyrantes and euill gouer-
nours. In so muche that Cesar writeth, that when he was in this realme, the people
could not tel their linage, nor their begynnyng. ^ But one Geffrey of Monmothe
a thousand yere and more after lulius Cesar, translated a certayn Britishe or Welshe
boke, conteinyng the commyng of Brute with the sequele of his linage, tnl the
tyme of Cadwalader, whiche Britishe boke if it had slept a litle lenger, Brute
with al his posteritie had ben buried in the poke of Obliuion, for lacke of writyng.
The strong Saxons, after thei had gayned this lande, set vp the biiner of Fame,
and had their liues notably writte by diuerse and sundery famous clerkes, euen
from their firste entery into this lande, till the firste Monarchy, and so successyuely.
In the Normans tyme, many notable woorkes hath been set furthe, some of one
prince perticulerly, & some of mo : So that in fine, all the stories of kynges, from
kyng Willyam the firste, to kyng Edward the third, bee set furthe at length by
diuerse authours in the Latin toungue, as by Matthewe of Paris sometyme religious
in saincte Albons and other. After whome lohn Frossart wrote the liues of kyng
Edward the third, and kyng Richard the seconde, so compendeously and so largely,
that if there were not so many thynges spoken of in his long woorkes, I might be-
leue all written in his greate volumes to bee as trewe as the Gospell. But I haue
redde an olde Prouerbe, whiche saithe, that in many woordes, a lye or twayne sone
male scape. Sithe the ende of Frossarte whiche endeth at the begynnyng of kyng
Henry the fourthe, no man in the Englishe toungue, hath either set furth their ho-
nors accordyng to their desertes, nor yet declared many notable actes worthy of
memorie dooen in the tyme of seuen Kynges, wliic*he after kyng Richarde suc-
ceded : Excepte Robert Fabian and one with out name, whiche wrote the common
English Chronicle, men worthy to be praysed for their diligence, but farre shptyng
wide from the butte of an historic.
Wherefore moste drad and benigne souereigne Lord, lest cancarde Obliuion
should
Vll
*.*
should deface the glory of these seuen Princes, to whom you be of all sides lineall
heire and very inheritour, I haue compiled and gathered (and not made) out of
diuerse writers, as well forayn as Englishe, this simple treatise whiche I haue na-
med the vnion of the noble houses of Lancaster and Yorke, conioyned together by
the godly mariage of your moste noble graundfather, and your verteous grand-
mother. CFor as kyng henry the fourthe was the beginnyng and rote of the great
discord and deuision : so was the godly matrimony, the final ende of all discen-
cions, titles and debates. \
Besechyng your highe Maiestie, to take this my simple and rude woorke, accord-
yng to your accustomed goodnesse in good part, not regardyng the thyng, but my
good will to my natiue countree, whose fame for lacke of writyng may muche be
darkened and defaced, and thus I pray to the celestmll Lorde to send you victorie
ouer your enemies, Peace with your confederates, loue of your subiectes : and in
conclusion, perpetuall ioye & eternall fehcitee.
RICHARD GRAFTON TO THE READER,
I must craue of the most gentle reader, charitably to iudge of me the imprinter
of thisworke, if ought herin shalbe sene vnto the of purpose to bee omitted either
not sufficiently delated and set furth, or elles somethyng to playnly spoken, in the
which might be noted affeccion, that thou wilt excuse me therin, for I professe
that I haue as nere as in me lay, nether altered nor added any thyng of my selfe
in the whole woorke, otherwise the the aucthor writ the same. But this is to be
noted, that the Aucthor therof, who though not to al me, yet to many very wel
knowe, was a man in the later tyme of his lyfe not so paynfull and studious as be-
fore he had ben : wherfore he perfited and writt this historic no farther then to the
foure and twentie yere of kyng Henry the eight : the rest he left noted in diuers and
many pamphletes and papers, whych so diligently- & truly as I coulde, I gathered
the same together, & haue in suchewise compiled them, as may after thesaied yeres,
apere in this woorke : but vtterly without any addicion of myne. Therfore my re-
questand desyr as aforesaied,is, that thou wilt truly and charitably iudge me: And so
sone as my leasure will serue, for thine ease & ready fyndyng of any thyng herein
conteyned I purpose to gather an exact table of the whole woorke.
IF The
The names of the aucthors aswell Latin as other, out of the
whiche this worke was first gathered, and after compiled and
conioyned.
LATIN AUCTHORS. FRENCHE AUCTHOR.S.
Polichronicon. Enguerant de Munstrellet.
Cronica Cronicarum. lean Buchet.
/- •' -' " • .' .
Nauclerus. lean Mayer de Beiges.
Polidorus. Argenton.
Paulus ^Emilius. La Mere dez Histories.
Voluteranus. Les annales de Fraunce.
Gauguinus. Les annales de Aquitayne.
Albertus Krantz. Les Croniq ; de Britayne.
Michael Ricius. Giles Corozett.
Hector Boetius. Les Croniques de Normandi.
loannes Maior. Le Rosarie.
Abbas Wyssenbergensis. Le genolagie des Roys
Carion.
Supplementum Cronicarum.
Gesta Tholosanorum.
Cronica Brabancie.
ENGLISHE "WRITERS.
Treuisa. Ihon Hardyng.
Fabian. The Chronicles of London.
Sir Thomas Moore. Ihon Basset.
Caxton. Balantyne.
And out of other diuers Pamphlettes, the names of whom are to moste menne vn-
knowen.
The names of the histories coteigned in this Volume.
An introduccion into the deuision of the two houses of Lancastre and Yorke.
i. The vnquiet tyme of kyng Hery the Fowerth.
ii. The victorious actes of kyng Henry the v.
iii. The troubleous season of kyng Henry the vi.
iiii. The prosperous reigne of kyng Edward the iiij.
v. The pitifull life of kyng Edward the v.
vi. The tragicall doynges of kyng Richard the iij.
vii. The politike gouernaunce of kyng Henry the vij.
viii. The triumphant reigne of king Henry the viij. FINIS.
1F An
AN INTRODUCTION
INTO THE HISTORY OF
KYNG HENRY THE FOURTHE.
WHAT mischiefs hath insurged in realmes by intestine deuision, wiiat depopulacion
"Tfath ensued in countries by ciuil! discencio, what detestable murder hath been
comitted in citees by seperate faccions, and what calamitee hath ensued in famous regios
by domestical discord & vnnaturall controuersy : Rome hath felt, Italy can testifie,
Fraunce can bere witnes, Beame can tell, Scotlande maie write, Denmarke can shewe,
and especially this noble realme of Englande can apparantly declare and make demonstra^
ci-on. For who abhorreth not to expresse the heynousf factes comitted in Rome, by the
ciuill war betwene Julius Cesar and hardy Popey by_j^^h^ejdisc_orde^ tJ3,e__brig]it glory of
the triuphant Rome was eclipsed & shadowed ? $hp can reherce what mischefes and what
plages the pleasant countree of Italy hath tasted and suffered by the sedicious faccions of
the Guelphes and Gebelynes ? Who can reporte the misery that daiely hath ensued in
Fraunce, by the discorde of the houses of Burgoyne and Orliens : Or in Scotland betwene
the brother and brother, the vncle and the nephew ? \J^ic>. can curiously endite the inani-
folde battailles that were fought in the realme of Beame, betwene the eatholikes and the
pestiferous sectes of the Adamites and others? WJtiat damage discencion hath clooen in
*~~*^ ^^~^ O - — - i --- i • i ui •••ay~||~"
iG_e£rnan^^_nj^J^jirnarke, all Christians at this daie can well declare. And the Turke can
bere good testimony, wfiiche by the discord of christen princes hath amplified greatly His ,
seigniory and dominion. yBut what miserie, what murder, end what execrable plagues this
famous region hath suffered by the deuision and discencion of the renoumed houses of
La.ncas.tre. and YorkeJjny witte cannot comprehende nor .my toung declare nether yet iny
penne fully set furthe.J
FOR what noble man liueth at this daie, or what gentleman of any auncient stocke or
progeny is clere, whose linage hath not ben infested. and plaged with this vnnaturall dcui-
^IPJlh-. All the other discordes, sectes and faccions almoste liuely florishe and continue al
this presente tyme, to the greate dieplesure and prejudice of all the Christian publike welth.
But the olde deuided controuersie betwene the fornamed families of Lacastre aild Yorke,
by the vnion of Matrimony celebrate and consummate betwene the high and mighty Prince
Kyng Henry the seuenth and the lady Elizabeth his moste worthy Quene, the one beeyng
indubitate heire of the hous of Lancastre, and the other of Yorke was suspended and ap-
palled in the person of their moste noble, puissat and mighty heire kyng Henry the eight,
and by hym clerely buried and perpetually extinct. So that all men (more clerer then the
B sonne)
i
/
V.. i
•
8( AN INTRODUCCION INTO THE HISTORY OF
sonne) male apparantly perceiue, that as by discord greate thynges decaie and fall to ruine>
so the same by concord be reuiued and erected. In likewise also all regions whiche by
deuisio and discencion be vexed, molested and troubled, bee by vnion and agrernent
releued pacified and enriched.
BY vnion of the Godhed to the manhod, manne was ioyned to God whiche before by
the temptacion of the subtle serpente, was from hym segregate and deuided. By the vnion
of the catholike churche and the outworne sinagoge, not only the hard ceremonies and dedly
peines of the Mosaicall law wer clerely abholished and made frustrate, but also Christian,
libertie is inferred and Christes religion stablished & erected. By the vnion of man &
woman in the holy Sacrament of Matrimony the generacion is blessed, and the synne of
the body clene extincte & put awaie. By the vnion of manage, peace betwene realme and
realme is exalted, and loue betwene countree and countree is norished. By coniunciS of
matrimony, malice is extinct, amitie is embraced, and indissoluble aliance and consanguinite
is procured.^VThat profile, what comfort, what ioy succeded in the realme of England by
the vnion of tRe fornamed two noble families, you shall apparantly perceiue by the sequele
of thjsjiu^^iid_vj]]ejaj^e^mtoryJ.>Cdnd because there can be no vnion or agrement but
in respect of a diuision, it is consequent to reso that I manifest to you not onely the
originall cause and foutain of the same, but also declare the calamities, trebles & miseries
whiche happened and chaunced duryng the tyrne of the said contentious discencionTj
FOR the whiche you shall vnderstande (accordyng as it is in an Acte of Parhamente
made in the firste yere of the reigne of Kyng Edwarde the fourthe specified and declared.)
Ti>e lyne That the highe and mightie Prince kyng Henry the third of that name, had issue Edward
He*rynfhe his firste begotten sonne borne at Westminster the eleuenth Kalendes of luly in the vigile
third. of Saincte Marke and Marcilian in the yere of our Lorde a thousande twoo hundrd. xxix.
And Edmonde his seconde begotten sonne borne oh the dayc of saincte Marcell in the
yere of our Lorde a thousande twoo hundred, xlv. Whiche Edwarde after the death of
king Henry his father, was entitled and called kyng Edward the first, and had issue his first
begotten sonne entitled and called after the death of kyng Edward his father, kyng Edward
the second, which had issue the right noble and honorable prince kyng Edward the third
whiche kyng Edward had issue Edwarde his first begotten sone prince of Wales, Willya of '
Hatfeld the second begotten sonne, "Lionell duke of Clarence the. iij. begotten sonne, Ihon
of Gaunt duke of Lancaster the. iiij. begotten sonne, Edmond of Langley duke of Yorke
the.'v. begotten sonne, Thomas of Wodstocke duke of Glocestre the. vj. begotten sonne,
and Willyam of Wynsor the. vij. begotten sonne. The saied prince Edward died in y life
of his father kyng Edward the. iij. & had issue Richard borne at Burdeaux, whiche after the
death of kyng Edward the. iij. as cosin and heire to hym, that is to saie sonne to the saied
Edwarde prince of Wales sonne to the saied kyng Edward the thirde succeded hym in
royall estate and dignitee, lawfully entitled and called kyng Richarde the seconde and died
without issue, Lionell duke of Clarence the third begotten sonne of the saied kyng Edward
the third, had issue Philippe his only doughter whiche was maried to Edmond Mortymer
erle of Marche and had issue Roger Mortymer erle of Marche : whiche Roger had issue
Edmond Mortimer erle of Marche, Anne and Elienor, whiche Edmond and Elianor died
without issue. And the saied Anne was maried to Richard erle of Cambrige sonne to
Edmond of Langley duke of Yorke the fifth begotten sonne of the said kyng Edwarde the
thirde whiche Richarde had issue thee famous prince Richard Plantagenet duke of Yorke
whiche had issue that noble prince kyng Edward the fourth father to Quene Elizabeth vnited
in matrimony to the high and sage prince kyng Henry the. vij.
If Ihon duke of Lancastre had issue Henry erle of Darby, and Ihon erle of Somersette.
This Henry eile of Darby had issue, kyng Henry the fifth father to kyng Henry the sixte
whiche begat prince Edwarde that was slayne at Tewkesbury, and diseased without issue.
Ihon the erle of Somersette before named, sonne to Ihon duke of Lancastre, engendered
Ihon duke of Somersette father to the lady Margarete Countes of Richemonde mother to the
noble
KYNG HENRY THE FOURTHE. 3
noble and haute Prince Kyng Henry the seuenth whiche espoused lady Elizabeth the heire
of the "lustre family of Yorke, by the whiche manage the deu.se , or badge of the hous ot
Lan astre whiche was the redde Rose, was vnite and loyned with the white Rose whiche
iL the cognisance and ensigne of the noble progeny ot Yorke, as by the genealogy con-
-*ei«ned in the ende of this woorke more plainly shall appere.
f This aforenamed Henry erle of Darby beeyng created alitle before duke of Herfforde,
.-anrudente and police persone, but not more politike then welbeloued and ye : not .so
welbeloued of all, as of some highly disdayned, began to confer with bymsel how that
kyng Richarde his eosyn germaine was now brought to that trade of liuyng that he htle or
nothyn* regarded the counsaill of his vncles, nor of other graue and sadde persones, but
<HdalUhyn* at his pleasure, settyng his will and appetite in stede of lawe and reason.
wtereforye o°n a daie beeyng in the compaigny of Thomas Mowbrey hrste duke of Norffolke
and erle Marshall, beganne to breake his mynde to hym more for dolour and lamentac.on
An for malice or displeasure, rehersyng howe that kyng Richarde htle estemed and lesse
regarded the nobles and Princes of his realme, and as muche as laie in hym soughte occa-
sions inuented causes and practised priuely howe to destroye the more part of the.m : to
some thretenyng death, to other manacyng exile and banishment forgettyng and not remem-
brvn* what blofte it was to his honor, and what detnmente and damage it was to the publike
wealfhe to suffre his realme to lose the aunciente fame and pnstmate renoume by his
sloutha'nd negligence, and that all thynges bothe in the tyme of peace and also of warre,
aswellin the realme as without, waxed worsse and worsse, and had neuer prosperous
successe nor fortunate conclusion. And because noble menue murmured, and the conion
people grudged, and all menne wondered at his vnprincely doynges, he desired the duke of
Noklke, whiche was one of the kynges priay counsaill and well heard with hym, to adu.se
the kyn« to turne the lefe and to take a better lesson. When the Duke of Norffolke had
heard fully his deuise, he toke it not in good parte, but rekened y he had gotten a praie
bv the whiche he should obtayne greater fauor of the kyng then euer he had, ano so he at
that tyme dissimuled the matter (as he was in deede bothe a depe dissimuler and a
pleasaunte flaterer.) And after when he had oportunite and sawe his tyme, was very glad
fas tell tales and scicophantes bee, when thei haue any thyng to instill in to the eares and
heddes of Princes) to declare to the kyng what he had heard, and to agrauate and make
the offence the greater, he muche more added but nothyng diminished.
« This matter somewhat quickened and more tikeled the waueryng rayed of kyng Richard,
.and brought hym into a great fury. But when the water of fumitory was well disgested in
his stomacke, he determined to here bothe the parties indifferently, and called to hym the
duke of Lancastre and his counsaill, and also the dukes of Herftorde and Norffolk, & caused
the accuser to report opely the worries' to him declared, whiche rehersed tueim again as
he had before related to the kyng. [When Duke Henry heard the tale otherwise reported
then he ether thought or saied, somewhat vnquieted for the noue tie of the^thyng, or
troubled wi£7nieltor-thevntruth of the matter, stode stil & paused a good while lokyng
5nJBay>5lhTEH^ a good corage to hym, makyng low obe.sace
besought his highnes lo^coceiue no mistrust in" hym til he had seen & herd more. Ihen
turnvno hymself to his accuser, declared worde by worde what he had said shewyng the
causi & occasion why he so spake, deniyng fiersly al the other new muecions a leged &
proponed to his charge : affirmyng y if the kyng would permit & suffre hym he would proue
his acusor vntrue, vniust & afalse forger of lies & sedicious tales by the stroke of a spere
& del of a swerd. The duke of Norffolke affirmed constantly his saiyng to be true &
refused not the cobate. The kyng demaunded of them if thei would agre betwene them-
selfes, whiche thei both denied and threw doune their gages, by my truth q the kyng, it_you
of vourselfes will not agre I will not study how to agre you: and then he grauted the the
battail! & assigned the place to be at the citee of Couentree in the moneth of August next
ensuyng, where he caused a supteous theatre and listes royal gorgeously to be prepared.
AN INTRODUCTION INTO THE HISTORY OF
of his brother the duke of Glocestre, to spoyle and robbe the soonne of his other brother.
For he before this tyme asmuche as his pacience could beare, did tollerate and suflfre the
deathe of his brother, the exile of his nephiew, and an hundred mo injuries, whiche for the
itie and youth of the kyng, he remitted and sepulted in obliuion. And therefore con-
sidering that the glorye of the publique wealthe of his natiue countree was like to apall by
reason that the kyng was not moste ingenious, & had no manne nere hym that would
boldely admonishe hym of his office & duetie, thought it the acte of a wise man in tyme
to get hym to a restyng place, and to leaue y foloyng of suche a doubtfull capitain whiche
with a leade sworde would cut his owne throte bolle. Wherfore he with the duke of
Aumarle his soonne went to his house at Langley reioysyng that there was nothyng in the
common wealthe mishappened either by his deuice or concent, daiely empioryng aide of
almightye God to deuerte from kyng Richarde the darke clowde whiche he sawe depend-
yng ouer his hed.
In this ceason kyng Richard sailed into Irelande as diuers authores testifie, but what he
did there is no parte of my processe, whiche dependeth on the sequeie of this deuisio.
While king Richard was in Irelande, the graue persones of the nobilitee, the sage prelates
of the clergy y sad tnagestrates & rulers of the citees, tounes & commineltie perceauyng
daily more £ more the realme to fall into ruyne and desolacion (in mauer irrecuperable as
long as kyng Richard either liued or reigned,) after long deliberacion, wrote into Fraunce
.to duke Henry, whom thei nowe called (as he was in deede) duke of Lancastre and Herf-
ford, solicityng and requiryng hym w,ith all diligente celeritee to conueighe hym self into
Englande, promisyng hym all their aide, power and assistence, if he expellyng kyng
llichard as a manne not mete nor conueniente for so princely an office and degree, would
take vpon hym the sceptre rule and diademe of his natiue countree and firste nutntiue
soyle. And for that cause thei sente the reuerent father Thomas Arundell archebisshop
,of Cauntorbury with certein lordes and citezens of diuerse citees and buroghes in habite
palliate and dissimuled, into the citee of Paris, some goyng one waie and some another, but
all assemblyng together at the house of Clugny where the duke then soiourncd. VI hen he
sawe the archebisshop his especiall frend and looked on otlier his fautoures and lowers, if
be thanked God, no manne oughte to maruell, if he welcommed these ambassadors no
creature can wondre; but if he reioyced and applauded not at their accesse and commyng,
wise menne maie thynke folie & fooles maie laugh hym to skorne. When he was of them
saluted, and thei of hyrn not onely resaluted but heartely welcommed & frendely euter-
teyned. The archebisshop desiryng the duke to absent all other persons than suche as
wer his copanions, eaied these or like wordes to hymA.
An oracion When your louyng and naturall kynsmen and patricians moste noble and mightie prince,
ThomLy had muche and long tyme considred and debated with theiselues of their affaires and
Arundeii busines in this tempesteous world and ceason (in the whiche no manne of our nacion is
bishoppeof sure of his life, nor enioyeth his landes and seigniories withoute dreade nor possedeth his
Cauntorbu- niouables without terrour or feare, whiche outragious dooynges many yeres occupied hath
dukerf?ry brought the publique wealthe of our aboundat countree almoste to wrecke and vtter exter-
Laucaster. minion) their last ankerholde refuge and conforte was to studye and inuestigate howe to
haue a gouernour and ruler whiche should excell and florishe in wisedome, policie and
justice aboueall other. By whiche reason a greate nombre of the nobilitee and in maner
all the comminaltie, beyng led and persuaded (whe thei had well cast their iyes and marked
all the peres and nobles of the realme of Englande) thei could fynde no duke, nor marques,
no erle nor other potentate within all the realme, to whose empire and authoritye thei
would bee subiect and vassalls so gladly as to yours. For this I assure you (and you
knowe it aswell as I) that wee miserable subiectes haue so long borne the yoke of waton
vnwitty kyng Richard, and haue paciently tollerate the pernicious persecucion of his gredy
and auaricious councellers, and haue wynked at the pollyng and extorcion of his vnmeasur-
able officiers, that oure backes bee so galde that we can- no more suifre, and our chynne
6 bones
KYNG HENRY THE FOURTHS.
bones so weake that wee can no lenger cary. And thcrfore necessitee and not will, reason__
and not affeccion, constancy and not leuytie enforceth vs to implore and desire youre aide
and comforte, to whom wee bee sent by the moste part of the nobilitee and also of the
more parte of the vniuersall comminaltie, to desire and require you to take vpon you the
high power, gouernaunce and sceptre of your natiue countree and paternall inheritaunce,
and the same to gouerne, rule and defende accordyng to your approued wisedome and long
experimeted pollecie, whom wee haue euer knowen to bee of that Justice, of that prudence
and of that integritee that you will commaunde, admonishe or attempt eny thyng whiche
shall not bee iust, honest and laudable. Whiche request if you well considre and diligently
pondre preuely with yourself, you shall facilye perceaue that nothyng more profitable, more
honest, or more glorious can by eny waies happen or chaunce to you then to accepte and
concorde to the same. For what can you more expecte and wishe, then to commaude and
dooe all thynges accordyng to right, reason and honestie ? Wee offre not to you golde,
siluer, perle or precious stone, but p_ur countree, qur bodies, goodes and vs all to vse as
youres and not as cures, desiryng you to geue to vs in recompence, indifferecy quietnes
and peace, and to restore to her seate and trone again, the lady iustice, whiche hath so long
been banished out of our nacion, to thentent that wise, sage and good persones (whose
desire and appetite is euer to Hue well) maie honour, loue and embrace you as a gouernour
and kyng sent from God, and that malicious and obstinate persones (whose conscience is
grudged with daily offences, and whom the feare of iustice and ponishement dooth continu-
ally vexe and perturbe, fearyng you as the skourge and plague of their facinorus dooynges
and mischeueous actes) maie either sone amende, or shortely auoyde your countree and
region. Nowe occacion is offred, refuse it not, by the whiche your wisedome, pollecie and
valiantnes shall apere to the vniuersall worlde, by the whiche you shall not onely bryng vs
into an vnitie and monacord, but also represse all sedicion and cancard dissimulacion : then
the noble men shall triumphe, the riche men shall liue without feare, the poore and nedy
persones shall not bee oppressed nor confounded, and you for your so doyng, shall obtein
thankes of your creatour, loue of your people, fauour of your neighboures, fame and
honoure sempiternall. _TWhe the bishop had ended, the duke pawsed awhile, and then put
of his hood and saiedT]
My lorde of Cauntourbury and you my other frendes and louers, your commyng to vs Theau
is verie pleasaunt, but more ioyous is your message, for wee of our owne naturall disposi-
cion for the good will and synguler aft'eccion that you haue euer borne to vs, haue loued,
embraced and highly estemed you and all your dooynges. Surely we would you knewe ^n,n
with what sorowe and agony of mynde wee haue borne your vexacions, calamities and Wfho
oppressions (as for the manifest iniuries and opprobrious offences dooen and committed C"torbur3'-
against vs as you knowe well inough, wee wolle not speake at this tyme) of the whiche wee
estemed oure selfe a partener, as a thyng common betwene vs. TTor as it is heard that
the hed shall not feele when the hand or eny other meinbre is greued or sickeA so it is
vnlike that eny displeasure or discommoditee should happen to you with whiche wee
should not taste in parte, suche vicinetie is emong membres, and suche communitie is
emong frendes. tJVherfore, neither for atnbicion of worldly honour, nor for desire oF
Empire or rule, or for affeccion of worldly riches and mucke of the worlde, we wolle agree
to your peticio, but onely to relieue your miserable calamitie, to restore iustice to her
auncient rome & preheminence, & to defend the poore innocet people from the extorte
powre of the gredy cormerates & rauenous oppressours, requiryng you to ioyne with vs &
we with you in aduaucyng forward this our incepted purpose & pretesed entrepricel
When the duke was condiscended to the bishoppes request, the bisshop and his complices
departed into Englande, makyng relacion to their confederates of the dukes agremet and
pleasure, exhortyng euery manne to be prest and ready at his arryuall.
After their departure, the duke fayned to the Frenche kyng that he would go into
Brytein to visite his frende duke Ihon of Brytein. The Frenche kyng tbynkyng him to
meane
AN 1NTUODUCCION INTO THE HISTORY OF
meane inwardly as he outwardly dissimuled, -sent' to the duke of Brytein letters of com-
niendacion in fauour of the duke of Lancastre. But if he had knowcn that his entent was
to transfret -into Englande and depose his soonne in lawe kynjg Richard, he would surelj
haue stopped hym a .ty.de, and let his purpose and passage. ' What should I_jJaie ? tliat
-aJialbe. The duke passed into Brytein and there condu^e3~~anch'wagcd
certeync menne of warre and shippes, and with good wynde and better spede sailed in to
Englad and landed at Rauespurre in holdrenes as moste wryters affirme. But some sale
that he landed at Plynimoth, and other at Portesmouth, but where soeuer he^arryued, sure
it is that he tooke lande peaceably without any againsaie or interrupcion. (I will not bee
tedyous to you in rehersy tig 'howe the erles of Northumbrelande and Westmerlancfe, ~fKe
lordes Percy, Rose, Willoughby and other resorted 'to hym, and'taking an othe of hym that
he should not dooe to kyng Richard any bodelye harme, and made to hym homage and
became his liege men. I omit howe children applauded, howe wemen reioyced, and howe
inenne cryed oute for ioye in euery toune and village where he passed. I j^limjuishe
farther the concourse of people, the number '• of horses, whiche occurred to hym as he
journeyed toward London, reioysyng at his repaire and commyng to the Citie. Ijviljiot
speake of the procession and singing of the Cleargie, nor of the pleasant salutacibns nor
eloquent oracions made to hym by the Prelacie, nor of the presentes, welcomynges, laudes,
gratificacions made to hym by the citiesens and comminaltee of the citie of London, but I
wil go to the purpose. Whe he was come to London he consulted with -his frendes diuers
v _dayes, to whome came Thomas Earle of Arundell sone to Richard of ArundelLby kyng
Richard a litell afore put to deathe, whiche had lately escaped out of prison. /When the
Duke had perceaued the fauour of the \$6bilitie, the affection of the Cleargie and the
sincere loue of the comminalte toward e hyrh and his procedynges, he marched foreward
with a greate company toward the West coflntrey, and in passyng by the waie, the people
assembled in great and houge multitudes^as the nature of the common people is, euer
desirous of newe Changes) callyng him their UVng, deprauyng and railyng on kyug Richard,
as an innocent a dastarde, a meicocke and n6pworthy to'beare the name of a kyng. When
he had assembled together a conuenient nomber of people for his purpose and was clerely
determyned to depose kynge Rycharde from his rule and dignitie, he proclaimed open
•warre agaynst hym and all his partakers fautours and frendes. 'Kyng Richarde toeyng in
Irelande was certified of the Dukes arriuall, from whence (when he had pacified the
sauage and wilde people) he retourned agayne into England, entending to resiste and
defend the eminent peril and apparant ieopardy, and for the more tuicio and safegard
entred into the strong caste! of Flinte in North Wales, x. myles distaunt from Chester. J
en kyng Richard perceued that the people by plumpes fled from him to Duke Henry,
he was amased and doubted what councell sodeinlie to take, far on the one part he sawe his
title iust, trewe, and vnfallible, and beside that he had no small truste in the Wfclshemen,
his conscience to be cleane rjm-e imjcaajjulate without spot or enuy : on the other side, he
sawe the puissaunce^of~his aduersaries, the soda!*) departyng of them that he niooste
trusted, and all thynges turned vpsydoune, with thAr^binges he beyng more abashed then
encouraged, compelled by necessitie, determined tcMyfoe hym selfe in that castell till he
xnyghte see the worlde stable and in more suretieT""fFor nowe he euidentely espied and
manifestly perceaued that he was lefte, lowted and forsaken of theym by whom in tyme he
myght haue bene ayded and relieu-ed, and whiche nowe was to late and to farre ouerpassed :
and this thing is worthy to be noted with a whitestone, of al princes rulers and men set in
auctoritee and rule, that this Duke Henry of Lancastre shoulde be thus called to the
kyngdome and haue the healpe and assistence all most of all the whole realme, whiche
perchaunce neuer thereof once thoughte or yet dreamed : and that kyng Richard shuld thus
be lefte desolate void and desperate of all hope and comforte, in whom if there were any
^offence, it ought more to be imputed 'to the frailtee of his wanton youth then to the ma'lice
of his heart or cankerdnesse of his stomacke, but suQhe is the frayle iudgement of mortall
men
KYNG HENRY THE FOURTHE. 9
men whiche vilcpendyng and not regardyng thynges presente before their eies, do euer
tliincke all thynges that are to come to haue a prosjper^nsjaccejsejuida jlelectablesec[uejen
When the Duke of Lancastre knewe that king Riclia7def"was coime~to the~castel oTFlinte,
whiche a man maye call the dolorous Castell, because there king Richarde declined from
his dignitie and lost the tipe of his glorie and preheminence, he assembled together a great
armie in small space lest he myght geue his .enemies time- to preuent his purpose and so to
lose the good occasion of victory to him geuen, came to the towne of Bristowe where he ^ '
apprehended Willyam lord Scrope the kinges treasurer sir Iho Busshe and sir Henri Grene
knyghtes, and caused their heddes to be striken of, and from thence toke his iourneie directly
to Chester. When Thomas Percy Earle of Worceter and great Master or lord Stuard of
•the kynges houshold beyng brother to the Earle of Northumberland hard tell of the dukes
approch, bering displeasure to the king because he had proclaimed his brother a trailer,
brake before al the kinges houshold his white staffe, which is the ensigne and token of his
office and without delay went to duke Henry. Whe the kinges familier seruitours per-
ceiued this, they dispersed them selfes some into one countrey and some into another.
If The Duke came toward the castell of Flinte wherof king Richard beyng aduertised by
councell of Ihon Pallet and Richarde Seimer his assured seruauntes departed out of 'the
castell and toke the sandes by the ryuer of Dee trusting to escape to Chester and there to
haue refuge and succoure, but or he had farre passed he was forelayed and taken and
brought to the Duke, which sent hym secretly to the Towre of "London. When the Duke
had thus possessed his longe desyred praye, he came to London in solempne estate and there
called a Parliament in the kynges name, to the whiche many of the kynges frendes, but more
of his there appeared. There was declared howe vnprofitable kyng Richarde had bene to
the realme duryng his reigne, howe he subuerted the lawes, polled the people and ministred
Justice to no man but to suche as pleased hym. And to the entent that the commons should
bee perswaded that he was an vniust and vnprofitable Prince and a tiraunte ouer his sub-
iectes, and worthy to bee deposed. There were set forthe. xxxv. solempne articles very
heynous to the eares of men, and to some almost vncredible : The very effecte of whiche
articles I will truely reporte hereafter accordyng to my copie.
^[ Fyrst that kyng Richard wastfully spent the treasure of the realme and had geuen the \\
possessions of the Croune to men unworthy, by reason wherof daily newe charges more and
more were layd in the neckes of the poore comminaltie. And where diuerse lordes as well
spiritual as temporall, were appointed by the highe court of Parliament to comonand treate
of diuers matters concernyng the common wealth of the same, which beyng busie about the
same commission, he with other of his affinitie went about to empeach of treson, and by 3.
force and menace compelled the Justices of the realme at Shrewsburie to condiscend to his
opinion, for the destruction of the said Lordes: in so muche that he began to reise war 3.
against Ihon duke of Lancastre, Thomas Erie of Arundell, Richarde Erie of Wanricke, and
other lordes contrary to his honour and promyse.
If Item that he caused his vncle the Duke of Glocester to be arrested without lawe, and 4.
sent him to Caleis, and there without iudgemente murdered hym. And although the Erie
of Arundell vpon his arainement pleaded his charter of pardon, he could not be heard, but
was in most vile and shamefull maner sodainly put to death.
^[ Item he assembled certain Lancashire and Cheshire men to the entent to make warre 5.
on the foresaid Lordes, and suffered them to robbe and pill without correction or reprefe.
If Item although the king flateringly and with great dissimulacion made proclamacion 6.
throughout the realme, that the lordes before named were not attached for any crime of
treason, but onely for extorcions and oppressions done in this realme, yet he laied to theym
in the parliament, rebellion and manifest treason.
If Item he hath compelled diuers of the saied lordes seruauntes and frendes by menace & 7.
extreme paimentes, to make great fines to theyr vtter vndoyng. And notwithstandyng his
pardon to theim graunted yet he made them fine of newe.
C Item
10 AN INTRODUCCION INTO THE HISTORY OF
8. If Item where diners were appointed to common of the estate of the realme, and the com-
, mon welthe of the same. The same king caused al the rolles and recordes to be kept from
them, contrary to his promise made in the parliament, to his open dishonour.
9. 1f Item he vncharitably comaunded that no man vpon paine of losse of life and goodes
should once entreate him for the retourne of Henry nowe duke of Lancastre.
10. H Item where this realme is holden of God, and not of the Pope or other prince, the
said kyng Richard after he had obteined diuers actes of parliament for his owne peculiar
profile and pleasure, then he obteined Dulles and extreme censures from Rome, to compell
al menne straightcly to kepe the same, contrary to the honour and auncient priuileges of
this realme.
11. If Item although the duke of Lancastre had done his deuoir against Thomas duke of Nor-
ffolke in profe of his quarel, yet the saied kyng without reason or ground banished him the
realme for ten yeres contrary to all equitee.
12. If Item before the dukes departure, he vnder his brode scale licenced him to makeattour-
neis to prosecute and defend his causes: The saied kyng after his departure wold suffre none
attourney to apere for him but did with his at his pleasure.
13. If Item the same kyng put oute diuers shriues lavvefully elected and put in their romes,
diuers other of his owne minions subuertyng the lawe contrary to his othe and honour.
14. «f Item he borowed great somes of money, and bound him vnder his letters pattentes for
the repaimet of the same, & yet not one peny paid.
15. If Ite he taxed men at the wil of him & his vnhappy councel, & the same treasure spentin
folie, not paiyng pore men for their vitail & viande.
16. ^f Item he said that the lawes of the realme were in his head, and som time in his brest, by
reason of whiche fantasticall opinion, he destroied noble men and empouerished the pore
commons.
17. *fj Item the parliament settyng and enacting diuers notable statutes for the profile and ad-
uauncemenl of the common welth, he by his priuie frendes and soliciters caused to be enacted
that no acte then enacted shuld be more pieiudiciall to him than it was to any of his pre-
decessors, through whiche Prouiso he did often as he liste and not as the lawe ment.
jg. If Ite for to serue his purpose he wold suffer the Shrefes of the shire to remaine aboue
one yere or two.
]<)_ ^ Item at the sommons of the parliament when knightes and burgesses should be electc
that the election had bene full proceded, he put out diners persones elected, and put in
other in their places to serue his wyll and appetite,
go. If Item he had priuie espialles in every shire, to here who had of him any communica-
cion, and if he commoned of his lasciuious liuyng or outragious doyng, he streighte waies
was apprehended and made a greuous fine,
21. ^[ Item the spiritualtie alledged againste hym that he at his goyng into Ireland exacted
many notable somes of money, beside plate & iuels, without law or custome, contrary
to his oth take at his coronacio.
22. f Item when diuers lordes and Justices were sworne to say the truthe of diuers
thinges to them committed in charge both for the honor of the realme and profile of
the kyng, the said kyng so menaced theym with sore thretenyngcs, that no man wold or
dursle sale the ryght.
23. f Item that with out the assent of the nobilitee, he caried the iewels and plate and
treasure ouer the see into Irelande, to the great empouerishyng of the realme. And al
the good recordes for the comon welthe and against hie extorcions, he caused priuely to be
embesiled and conueied away.
34.. H Item in all leages and letters to bee concluded or sent to the see of Rome or other
regions : His writyng was so subtill and so darke, that no other prince durst once beleue
him, nor yet his owne subiectes.
K Item
A •
KYNG HENRY THE FOURTHE.
f Item he mooste tirannously and vnprinccly said that the Hues and goodes of al his 25.
subiectes were in the princes bads & at his disposicio.
>fl Item that he contrary to the great Charter of England caused dyucrs lustie men to 26.
appele diuers olde men, vpon matters determinable at the common law, in the court -martial,
because that in that court is no triall br.t onely by battaile : Whervpon the said aged per-
sonnes fearyng the sequele of the matter submitted theym selfes to his mercy whom lie fined
and raunsomed vnreasonably at his pleasure.
5f Item he craftely deuised certain priuie othes contrary to the lawe, & caused diuers of 27.
his subiectes first to be sworne to obserue the same and after bounde them in bondes for
former keping of the same, to the great vndoyng of many honest men.
f Item where the Chauncellour accordyng to the lawe woulde in no wise graunt a 28.
prohibition to a certain person : the king graunted it vnto the same person vnder his priuie
scale with greate thretnyngcs if it shuld be disobeied.
f Item he banyshed the l>ishop of Canterbury without cause or iudgement and kept him 29..
•in the parliament chamber with men of Armes.
^f Item the bishops goodes he graunted to his successour vpon condition that he shuld 30.
mainteine al his statutes made at Shrewsburie, Anno. xxi. and the statutes made. Anno,
icxii. at Couentree.
f Item vpon the accusation of the Archbishop, the king ceaftely perswaded the saied 31.
byshop to make no answere, for he would be his warrant, and aduised him not to come to
the parliament. And so withoute answere he was condemned and exiled, and his goodes
seazed.
These bee the articles of any effecte whiche were laied against him, sauyng fowre concern-
~yng the bishoppe of Caunterbury, whiche onely touched hi, but his workyng vnwrought king
Richard fro his croiie.
AND for as much as these articles, and other heinous and detestable accusations were
laied against him in the open parliamentjTn was thought by the most parte that kyng Richard
was worthy to be deposed of al honor, rule and Pryncely gouernanceTj And instruments
..autentike and solempne to depose, and other instrumentes were madeTo certain persons for
them, and all homagers of the realme to resigne to hym all the homages and fealties dewe
to him as kyng & soueraigne.
But or this deposition was executed in tyme, he came to Westminster and called a great
councell of all the nobilitie and commons to the entente to conclude and make expedition
of all thynges whiche before were purposed and set forward.
If In the meane season diuerse of king Richardes seruauntes which by licence had accesse
to his person, comforted, animated and encouraged him beyng for sorowe withered, broken
and in maner halfe deade, aduertisyng and exhortyng him to regard his welthe and to saue
his lyfe. And firste they aduised him willyngly to suffer him self to be deposed bothe of
his dignitie, & dcpriued of his riches: so that the duke of Lancastre might without murdre
or battail obteine the scepter and Diademe, after the whiche they well percciued he gaped
and thrubted by the mene wherof they thought he shuld be in perh't assurance of his life
long to continue, & therfore might commit him selfe to good hope, which is the best felowe
& companio that a man in aduersitie can associat or ioyne him self withal. FSurely this
councel was both good and honeste in so great an extremitie, but yet the full effect folowed
not as the sequele of the thyng sheweth and apparantely declarethT^f What profite, what
honoure, what suretie had it bene to kyng Richarde, if he when he myght, whiche professed
the name and title of a kyng, whiche is as much to saie, the ruler or keper of people, had
excogitate or remebrcd to haue bene a keper of his owne hedde and lyfe, whiche nowe be-
yng forsaken, reiect and abandoned of al such as he, being an euil sheperd or herdeman,
before time did not plie, kepe and diligently ouerse was easily reduced and brought into the
hades of his enemies. Nowe it was no mastery to perswade a man beyng desperate pensife
and ful of dolour, to abdicate him selfe from his empire and imperiall preheminence : so that
C 2 in
12 AN INTRODUCCION INTO THE HISTORY OF
in onlie hope of his life and sauegard, he agreed to al thynges that of hym were demanded,
and desired his kepers to shewe and declare to the duke, that if he wold vouchsafe to accord
and cotne to hym, he wolde declare secretely thynges to hyrn both profitable and pleasant.
His kepers sent word of all his saiynges to the duke, whiche incontinent repaired to his cham-
ber. There kyng Richard comoned with him of many thingcs, and amongest all other affirmed
those accusacions to be to muche trewe whiche the cornminaltie of the realme allcdged
against him : that is to say, that he had euel gonerned his dominion and kingdome, and
therfore he desyred to be disburdened of so great a charge and so heauy a burdein, besech-
yng the Duke to grant to him the safegarde of his lyfe, and to haue compassion of hym,
nowe as he before that time had bene to him bountifull and magnificent.
^f The duke biddyng him to be of good comfort and out of fear warranted him his lyfe, so
that he wold resigne to him his scepter croune & dignitie : also nether to procure nor consent
to any thyng or act whiche myght be hurtfuil or preiudiciall to his person or succession, to
the whiche demaundes he graunted and frely condiscended and agreed.
THE Duke of Lancastre the nexte daie declared al kyng Richardes hole mind to the
coucel, but especially to his vncle Edmunde duke of Yorke (whose helpe he much vsed)
whiche hearyng al thynges to be in a broyle, a fewe daies before was come to London. The
nobles and commons were well pleased that kyng Richard shoulde frankely and frely of his
owne mere mocion, whiche they much desired (lest it shuld he noysed and reported that
he therevnto were inforced and by violence constrained) resigne his croune and depart from
his regalitee. <
Not long after he caused a great assemble to be apointed at the Towre of London, where
kyng Richard appareled in vesture and robe royall the diademe on his head, & the scepter
in his hand, came personally before the cogregacion and said these wordts in eftecte. I
Richard king of England Duke of Fraunce, Aquitaine, and Lorde of Ireland, cont'essc and
say before you my lordes and other our subiectes, that by the hole space of. xxii. yere in the
whiche 1 haue obteined and possessed the rule and regiment of this famous realme of Eng-
land, partely ruled and misauised by the euell & sinister councell of peruerse & flatteryng
persons : and partely led by the frailtie of young waueryng and wanton youth, and with
delectacion of worldly and volupteous appetite, haue omitted and not executed my royall
office and bounden dutie accordyng as I oughte to haue dooen, in ministeryng iustice and
prefermente of the comon wealthe, whiche negligence I more than any of you as I thynke
my selfe, doo sore repente and bewayle, and specially because I am brought to this poyncte,
that I knowledge and confesse my self, not worthy longer to reigne nor to haue any farther
rile. So that now I can nother amende my misdedees, nor correcte my offences whiche suerly
I entended to dooe, and especially in my olde age, in the whiche euill thynges be accustomed to
be amended, and the fautes and offences of youth, to be corrected and reformed. For what
young man comonly can be founde indued with so muche vertue and so good qualities, whiche
agitate & pricked with the heate of youth, shall not turne and decline from the right pathe
and direct waie, and yet when he cometh to the more ripenes of yeres and greate grauitie,
doth not amend and change into better his olde errates and wanton actes, for experience
teacheth, that of a rugged colte, commeth a good horse, and of a shreude boye, proueth a
good man. But sithe Fortune doth not permit and suffre me so to do, to thentent that the
publike welth of this realme maie bee holpen and auansed by my rneane, and after this not
like again to declyne and decaye. And to the intent that it shall bee lefull to you, to elect
and chose my cosyn germayne, Henry duke of Lancastre, a man mete for a realme, and a
prince apt for a kyngdom, to your kyng and souereigne lorde. I of my owne mere mocion
and frewill, do putte and depose my self out of all royall dignitie, preheminence and softerai-
gnitee, and resign the possession, title and vse of this realme, with all rightes there vnto
apperteigyng, into his handes and possession. And then with a lajnj;njteble_voyce and
a sorowfull countenance, deliuered his sceptre and croune to the duke of Ltmcastre,
requiryng euery persone seuerally by their names, to graunte and assente that he might
Hue
KYNG HENRY THE. IIIJ.
Hue a priuate and a solitarie life, with the swetnesse whereof, he would be so well pleased,
that it should be a paine and punishement to hyin to go abrode, and deliuered all the
' goodes that he had, to the some of three hundred thousande pounde in coyne, beside plate
and iuels, as a pledge and satisfaccion, for the iniuries and wronges by hyra committed and
dooen. But what soeuer was promised, he was disceiued. For shortly after his resigna-
-cion he was conueighed to the castell of Ledes in Kent, & from thence to Poumffret wher
be departed out of this miserable life, as you shall heare herafter.
f THE VNQUIETE TYME OF KYNG HENRY
THE FOURTHS,
WHEN the fame was dispersed abrode that Kyng Rycharde had putte hymselfc from The-1-y*re<
his dignitee royall, and resigned his scepter and diademe imperiall, Henry Planta-
genet borne at Bolyngbroke in the Countie of Lyncolne, duke of Lancastre and Hertford
erle of Derby, Lecester and Lyncolne sonne to Ihon of Gaunt duke of Lancastre, with
one voyce bothe of the nobles and comons, was published, proclaymed & declared kyng of
England and of Fraunce, and lorde of Irelade, and on the daie of saincte Edward the con-
fessor, was at Westminster with great solemnitee and royal pompe, sacred, enoynted and
crouned king by the name of kyng Henry the fourth. •' But who so euer reioysed at this
coronacion, or whosoeuer delighted at his high promocio, suer it is that Edmond Mortimer
erle of Marche whiche was heire to Lionell duke of Clarence, the thirde begotten sonue of
kyng Edwavde the third as you before haue heard, and Richard erle of Cabrige the sonne
to Edmond duke of Yorke, whiche had maried Anne sister to the same Edmonde, wer
with these doynges neither pleased nor contente. In so muche that nowe the diuisio once
beyng begon, the one linage persecuted the other, and neuer ceased till the heircs males
of bothe the lines wer by battaill murdered or by sedicion clerely extincte and destroyed.
At the daie of the coronacion, to thentent that he should not seme to take vpon hym the
croune and scepter royall without title or lawfull clayme but by extorte power and iniurious
intrusion, he was aduised to make his title as heire to Edmonde, surnamed or vntruly fayncd
Crouchcbacke, sonne to kyng Henry the third, and to saie that the said Edmon4was elder
brother to kyng Edward the first, and for his dcformitee repudiat and put by from the
croune royalf to whom by his mother Blanche doughter and sole heire to Henry duke of
Lancastre, he was next of bloud and vndoubtfull heire. But because not onely his fredes
but also his priuy enemies knewe, that was hut a title and that this title was by inuentors
of mischief fayncd, imagened & published and wer surely enformed not only that the said
Edmond was younger sonne to kyng Henry the third accordyng as it is declared in the act
of Parliament before recited. Also hauyng true knowledge that Edinod was nether Croke-
backed nor a deformed persone, but a goodly gentil man and a valiante capitain, and
so muche fauored of his louyng father, that he to preferre hym to the manage of the Qliene
dowager of Nauerne hauyng a greate liuelode, gaue to hym the countie paliityne of Lan-
castre with many notable honours, high seigniories and large priuileges. Therefore thei
2 aduised.
14 THE FIRSTE YERE OF
aduiscd hym to make some other clayme to the 'newe obteined regiment, and so caused it
to be proclaimed and published that he chalenged the realme not onely by conquest, but also
-because he was by kyng Richard adopted as heire, & declared successor & of hym by re-
signacion had accepted the croune and scepter, & also that he was the next heire male of
the bloud royall to kyng Richard.
After that he was crouned, he created his eldest sonne lorde Henry, Prince of Wales,
duke of Cornwale, and erle of Chester, then beeyng of the age of. xij. yeres. This solenite
finished, he called his high court of parliament, in the whiche it was demaunded by the
.kynges frendes what should be doen with kyng Richard. The bishop of Carleile whiche
was a man both wel lerned & well stomacked rose vp and said. My lordes I require you
take hede what answere you make to this question. For I thynke there is none of you
worthy or rnete to geue iudgemente on so noble a Prince as kyng Richard is, whom we haue
taken for our souereigne and leige lorde by the space of. xxij. yeres, and I assure you, there
is not so ranke a tray tor, nor so arrante a thiefe, nor so cruell a murderer, \\hiche is appre-
hended and deteigned in prisone for his offence, but he shall bee brought before the iustice to
heare his iudgemente, and yet you will proceade to the iudgemente of an anoynted kyng, and
here nother his answere nor excuse. And I saie that the duke of Lancastre whom you call
kyng, hath more offended & more trespassed to kyng Richard and this realme, then the
kyng hath other doen to hym or to vs. For it is manifestly knowen that the duke was
banished the realme by kyng Richard and his counsaill, and by the iudgemente of his owne
father, for the space of tenne yeres, for what cause all you knowe, and yet without license of
Kyng Richarde he is returned again into the realme, ye and that is worse, hath taken vpon
hym the name, title and prehemience of a kyng. And therefore I say and affirme that you
do apparently wrong, and manifest iniury to precede in any thy ng against kyng Richard,
without callyng him opely to his answer and defence. When the bishop had ended, he
was incontinent by therle Marshall attached & committed to ward in the Abbey of. S.
Al bones.
5f And then it was concluded, that kyng Richard should continew in a large prisone, and
should bee plentifully serued of all thynges necessarie bothe for viande and apparell, and
that if any personcs would presume to rere warre or congregate a multitude to releue or
tleliuer hym out of prisone, that then he should bee the first that should dye for that sedici-
ous commocion. In this Parliamente the Lorde Fitzwater appeled the duke of Aumarle of
high treason, and offered to fight with hym in listes royall. Likewise the lorde Morley
uppeled therle of Salisbury, and there were more then. xx. appellantes which waged battaill
in this parliamente. But the kyng pardoned all their offences sauyng the fautes of the lorde
Morley and therle of Salisbury, whom he comitted to ward, and after at the request of their
fredes, their offences wer remitted & thei deliuered. He punished also extremely all suche
as were priuie and dooers of the homecide of Thomas his vncle late duke of Glocester,
whiche was shamefully murdered before in y toune of Caleis. Besides this, he auansed his
frendes, and called out of exile Richard erle of Warwike, and restored the exile of Arun-
delles sonne to his owne possession and dignite, and many other. He toke into his speciall
fauor Ihon Hollande duke of Exceter and erle of Huntyngdone halfe brother to king Rich-
ard, whiche had espoused the lady Elizabeth his owne sister. And beeyng before capitain
of Caleis, greatly moued and inwardly greued that Kyng Richarde his brother was amoued
out of the seate royall, began to reyse and stirre vp newe mocions and sedicious faccions
within the realme. Werfo^e to aduoyde suche pestiferus dangers, the newe kyng recociled
hym to .his fauor, and made hym as he surely conjectured his perfite frende, where in
deede he was inwardly his dedly enemie. In this parliament wer adnichilate al the actes
passed in the parliament holden by kyng Richard in the. xxj. yere of his reigne, whiche
was called the euill parliament for the nobilitee, the worse for the menaltie, but worste of all
for the c5manaltee. JFor in that parliament, will ruled for reason, men aliue were con-
demned without examinacion, men dedde and put to execucid by priuy murder wer
adiudged openly to die, the hie prelate of the realme without answere was banished :
6 An
KYNG HENRY THE. IIIJ. 15
An erle arraigned could not be suffered to plede hs pardon, and consequently one
counsailer did al thyng, and all counsailers did nothyng, affirmyng the saiyng of Esope,
whiche hearyng his feloe to saie that he could do all thynges, saied he could do nothyng.
When he had thus reconciled his nobilite, and gat the fauor of the spiritualte and wonder-
fully pleased the comonaltee, but not so muche pleasyng .them, as the possessyng of the
croune pleased hymself and his frendes, he of them and by the fauor of them bothe, for
the auoydance of al claimes, titles and ambiguitees to be made vnto the croune and diademe
of the realme had his dignitee ligne and succession enacted, confirmed and entayled by the
assent of the high courte of Parliamente as foloweth worde by worde.
" At the request and peticion aswell of the nobilitie as of the comons in this parliamente
assembled, it is ordaigned and established that the enheritance of the crounes and realmes
of Englande and of Fraunce, and of all other lordshippes to the kyng. our souereigne lorde,
aswel on this side the seas as beyond apperteignyng with their appurtenaces, shall bee vnited .
and remain in the persone of our souereigne lorde the kyng, and in the heires of his body
lawfully begotten. And especially at the request and assent aforsaid, it is ordeigned, estab-
lished, pronounced, enacted, writen and declared, that my lorde Prince, Henry eldest sonne
to our soueraigne lorde the kyng, shall bee heire apparante and successor to our saied
souereigne lorde in the said croune, realmes £ seigniories, to haue £ enioy them with al
their appurtenaunces after the discease of our saied soueraigne to hym and the heires of his
body begotten. And if he die without heires of his body begotte, that then the saied
crounes, realmes and seigniories with their appurtenances shal remain to the lorde Thomas,
secod sonne to our said soueraigne lorde and to the heires of his body begotten, .and if he
departe without issue of his body begotten, all the premisses to remaigne to lorde Ihon his
third sonne and to the heires of his body begotten. And if he dye without issue, then the
crounes, realmes, £ seigniories aforesaied with their appurtenances shal remain to the
loi de Humfrey the. iiij. sonne to our said souereigne lorde, and to the heires of his body
lawfully begotten."
After whiche acte passed, he thought neuer to bee by any of his subiectes molested ori
troubled. £But O Lord, what is the mutabilitee of fortune ? O God what is the chaunge
of worldely safetie ? O Christe what stablenes consisteth in mannes prouision ? Or what
ferine suerty hath a prince in his throne and degree ? Considryng this kyng hauyng the
possession of the croune and realme, and that in open parliament, agreed to by the princes,
concliscended to by the Clerkes, ratified by the commons, and enacted by the three estates
of the reaune, was when he thought hymself surely mortised in a ferme rocke £ immouable
foundacion, sodainly with a trimbelyng quickesande £ vnstedfast grounde like to haue sonke
or been ouerlhrowen. For diuerse lordes whiche wer kyng Richardes frendes, outwardly
dissiivuled that whiche thei inwardly conspired and determined, to confounde this kyng
Henry to whom thei had bothe sworne allegance and doen homage, and to erect again and
set vp their old lorde and frend kyng Richard the second.
In this case there lacked only an orgaine and conueighance bothe how secretly to serche
and knowe the myndes of the nobilitee, as all so to bryng them to an assemble and counsail,
where thei might consult and comen'together, how to bryng to efficacite and effect, their
long desired purpose and secrete enterprise. fSeJioJK-thgjhe deuill is as ready to set furth
mischief, as the good angell is to auance vertuej At this time was an Abbot in Westminster,
a man of aparant vertues. professyng openly Christ, Christian Charitee, and due subieccion
and obeisance to his prince : whiche Abbot hearyng kyng Henry once saie when he was but
erle of Darby and of no mature age or growen grauitee, that princes hud to litle, and
religeons had to muche, imagined in hymself that he now obteinyng the cronne of the
realme, if he wer therin a long continuer, would remoue the greate beame.that then greued
his iyes and pricked his conscience. For you muste vnderstande that these monasticall per-
sones, lerned and vnliterate, better fed then taught, toke on the to write £ regester in the
boke of fame, the noble actes, the wise dooynges, and politike gouernances of kynges and {
princes
f
THE FIRSTE YERE OF
princes, in whiche cronographie, if a kyng gaue to them possessions or grauntcd them
liberties or exalted them to honor & worldly dignitee, he was called a sainct he was praised
without any deserte aboue the Moone, his geanelogie was written, and not one iote that
might exalt his fame, was ether forgotten or omitted. But if a Christian prince had touched
their liberties or claimed any part Justly of their possessions, or would babe intermitted in
their holy francheses, or desired aide of the against his and their comon enemies. Then
tonges talked and pennes wrote, that he was a tirant, a depresser of holy religion, an enemie
to Christes Churche and his holy flocke, and a damned and accursed persone with Dathan
and Abiron to the dope, pitte of helle. Wherof the prouerbe bega, geue and be blessed,
take awaie and bee accursed. Thus the feare of lesyng their possessions, made them pay
ycrely annates to the Romish bishop: thus the feare of correccion and honest restraint of
libertee, made them from their ordinaries, yea almoste from obedience of their princes to sue
dispensacions, exempcions and immunitees.
THIS Abbot that I spake of whiche could not well forgette the saiyng of kyng Henry,
and beyng before in greate fauor and high estimacion with kyng Richard called to his hous
•n a daie in the terme season al suche lordes & other persones whiche he ether knewe or
thought to be as affeccionate to kyng Richarde, and enuious to the estate and auancement
of kyng Henry, whose names wer, Ihon Hollande duke of Exceter and erle of Huntyngdon,
Thomas Hollande duke of Surrey and erle of Kent, Edward duke of Aumarle and erle of
Rutland sonne to the duke of Yorke, Iho Montagew erle of Salisbury, Hugh Speser erle of
•Glocester, Ihon the bishop of Carleill, sir Thomas Blount and Magdalen one of kyng
Hicfeardes chapell, a man as like to hym in stature and proporcion in all liniamentes of his
body, as vnlike in birthe dignitee or condicions. This Abbot highly fested these greate
lordes and his speciall frendes, and when thei had well dined, thei all withdrew thernselfes
into a secrete chamber and sat doune to counsail, when thei wer set, Ihon Hollande duke of
Exceter whose rage of reuengyng y iniury doen to kyng Richard was nothyng mitigate nor
mollified, but rather encreased and blossomed, declared to theim their allegeance promised,
and by othe confirmed to kyng Richard his brother, forgettyng not the high promocions and
notable dignities whiche he and all other there present had obteigned by the high fauor and
munificent liberalitee of his saied brother, by the whiche thei wer not onely by othe and
allegeance bounde, and also by kindnes and vrbanitee insensed & moued to take part with
hym and his frendes, but also bound to be reuenged for hym and his cause, on his mortall
enemies and dedly foes, in whiche doyng he thought policie more meter to be vsed then
force, and some wittie practise rather to be experimented then manifest hostilitee or open
warre. And for the expedicion of this enterprise he deuised a solempne iustes to be enter-
prised betwene hym and. xx. on his parte, and the erle of Salisbury and. xx. on his part
at Oxtbrde : to the whiche triumphe, Kyng Henry should be inuited and desired, and when
he were moste busely regardyng the marciall playe and warly disporte, he sodainly should
bee slain and destroyed. And by this meanes kyng Richard whiche was yet a liue, should
be restored to his libertie and repossessed of his croune and kyngdome, and appoincted
farther who should assemble the people, the numbre and persones, whiche should accom-
plishe and performe this inuented assaie and policie.
THIS deuiseso much pleased the sediciouscongregacion, that thei not onely made an in-
denture sextipartite sealed with their scales and signed with their handesin the whiche eche
•bounde hym-eelfe toother toendeuoure theim selfes both for the destruction of Kyng Henry
and the creacion of King Richard, but also sware on the holy Euangelistes the one to be trewe
and secrete to the other, euen to the houre and point of death. When all thynges were thus
apointed and eoscluded the Duke of Exceter came to the kyng to Windsore, requiryng hym
~{or tbe loue that he bare to the noble actes of chiualrie, that he woulde vouchesate not onely
to repaire to Oxford to see and behold their manlie feates, and warlike pastime : but also to be
the discouerer and indifierente iudge (if any ambiguitee should arise) of their couragions
actes and royall triumphe. The kyng seeyng hymself so effectuously desired, and that of his
•:'.': brother
KYNG HENRY THE. IIIJ. 17
brother in lavve, and nothing lesse imagenyng the that which was pretended, gentelly
graunted and frendly condiscended to his request. Which thing obtained, Jail the lordes
of this cospiracie departed to their houses (as thei noised) to set armorer? on work for
trimmyng of their harneis against the solemne iustes. Some had the helme the visere the
two bauiers & the two plackardes of the same curiously graue and conningly costed: Some
had their collers fretted and other had them set with gilte bullions, one company had the
plackard, the rest, the port the burley, the tasses, the lamboys, the backpece the tapull,
and the border of the curace all gylte : And another bande had them all enameled Azure.
One sorte had the vambrases the pacegardes the grandgardcs the poldren, the pollettes,
parted with goldc and azure : And another flocke had theym siluer and sable : Some had
the mainferres, the close gantlettes, the guissettes the tkncardes droped & gutted \viih red,
and other had the spekeled with grene : one sorte had the quishes, the greues,. the surlettes,
5" sockettes on the right side and on the left side siluer. Some had the spere, the burre, the
cronet al yelowe, and other had them of diuers colours. One band had the scafteron the
cranct, the bard of the horse all white, and other had them all gilte. Some had their
armyng sweardes freshly burnyshed and some had the conningly vernished. Some spurres
wer white, some gilt, and some cole blacke. One parte had their Plumes all white, another
had them all redde, and the third had them ofseuerall colours.- One ware on his beadpece
his Ladies sleue, and another bare on his helme the gloue of his dearlyng : But to declare
the costly Bases, the riche bardes, the pleasant trappers bothe of goldesrnithes worke and
embrawdery, no lesse sumptuously then curiously wrought, it would aske a long time to
declare, for euerye man after his appetite [3euised his fantasy verifiyng, the_oldfi^rouerbe,
so manyheades, so majijjvittesj'
"TEelluke of Exceter came to his house & raised men on euery side and prepared horse
and harneis, mete and apte for his compassed purpose. When the Duches his wife which
was sister to kyng Henry perceiued this, she no lesse trouble conjectured to be prepared
against her brother the was in dede eminent & ai hand, wherfore she wept & made great
lamentacion. When the duke perceued her dolour, he said, what Besse, how chaunseth this,
when my brother king Richard was deposed of his dignitie, and committed to harcle and
sharpe prison whiche had bene kyng and ruled this realme noblie by the space of. xxii. yeres
and your brother was exalted to the throne and dignitie imperial! of the same, then my
hearte was heauie, my life stoode in ieopardie and my combe was clerehy cut, but you then
reioysed laughed and triumphed, wherfore I pray yon be contente that I may aswell reioyce
and haue pleasure at the deliueryng and restoryng of ray brother iustly to his dignite, as
you were iocond and pleasaunt when your brother vniustly and vntrulie depriued and dis-
seazed my brother of the same. For of this I am sure, that yf my brother prosper, you and
I shal not fall nor decline : but if your brother continue in his estate and magnificece I
double not your decay nor ruine, but I suspecte the losse of my life, beside the fbrfeyture
of my landes and goodes. When he had sayd, he kissed his Lady whiche was sorowful and
pensife, and he departed toward Oxforde with a grcate company bothe of Archers and
horsemen, and when he came there, he founde ready al his mutes and confederates wel
apoinled for their purpose, except the Duke of Aumerle Erie of Rutland, for whom they
sent messengers in great haste. This duke of Aumerle went before from Westminster to
se his father the duke of Yorke, and sittyng at diner had his counterpaine of the endenture
of the confederacie wherof 1 spake before in his bosotne.
The father espied it and demaunded what it was, his sonne lowely and beningly answered
that it myght not bee sene, and that it touched not him. By saint'George quod the father
3 will see it, and so by force toke it out of his bosome, when he perceaued the content and
the sixe signes and scales sette and fixed to the same, whereof the scale of his sonne was one,
he sodainlie rose from the table, comaundyng his horses to be sadeled, and in a greate furie
saied to his sonne, thou trayter thefe, thou hast bene a traitour to kyng Richard, and wilt
thou nowe be falce to thy cosen kyng Henry? thou knovvest wel inough that I am thy
D pledge
18 THE FIRSTE YERE OF
pledge borowe and mayncperner, body for body, and land for goodes in open parliament,
and goestthou about to seke my death and destruction? by the holy rode 1 had leauer see
the strangeled on a gibbet. And so the duke of Yorke moated on horsbacke to ride toward
Windsor to the kyng and to declare the hole eftecte of his sone and his ad he rentes & par-
takers. The duke of Aumerle seyng in what case he stode toke his horse and rode another
way to Windsor, riding in post thither (whiche his father being an olde man could not do.)
And when he was alighted at the castel gate, he caused the gates to be shut, saying that he
must nedes deliuer the keies to the kyng. When he came before the kynges presence he
kneled dovvne on his knees, besechyng him of mercy and forgeuenes: The kyng demanded
the cause : then he declared to him plainely the hole confederacie and entier coniuracion
in manner and forme as you haue harder Well saied the kyng, if this be trewe we pardon
you, if it bee fained at your extreme perill bee it. While the kyng and the duke talked
together, the duke of Yorke knocked at the castel gate, whom the kyng caused to be let in,
and there he delyuered the endenture whiche before was taken from his sonne, into the
kynges handes. Which vvrityng when he had redde, and sene, perceiuyng the signes and
scales of the confederates, he chaunged his former purpose. For the daie before he heryng
say that the chalengers were al ready and that the defenders were come to do their deuoir,
purposed to haue departed towarde the triumphe the^ next day, but by his prudent and
forecastyng councel, somwhat staied till he myght se the ayre clere and no darcke cloude
nere to the place where the listes were. And nowe beyng aduertised of the truthe and
veritie, howe his destruction and deathe was compassed, was not a littell vexed, but with a
great and meruelous agonie perturbed and vnquieted, and therefore determined there to
make his abode not hauyng time to loke and gase on lustes and tourneis, but to take hede
howe to kepe and conserue his lyfe and dignitie, and in that place taried tyll he knewe what
way his enemies would set forward. And shortly wrote to the Earle of Northumberland his
high Costable, and to the erle of Westmerland his high Marshal, and to other his assured
frendes of al the douteful daunger and perelousieopardie. The coniuratoures perceiuyng
by the lacke of the duke of Aumerles coming, and also seyng no preparacion made there
for the kynges commyng, imagined with them selfes that their enterpryse was intimate and
published to the kyng : Wherfore that thyng whiche they attempted priuilie to do, nowe
openly with speare & shilde they determined with all diligent celeritie to set forth and
aduaunce. And so they adorned Magdalene, a man resemblyng muche kyng Richard in
roiall and princely vesture, callyng him kyng Richard, affirming that he by fauour of his
kepers was deliuered out of prison and set at libertie, and they followed in a quadrat array
to the entent to destroy king Henry as the most pernicious & venemus enemy to the and his
owne naturall countrey. While the confederates with this newe publyshed Idole accom-
panied with a puissant armie of men, toke the directe way and passage toward Windsor :
Kyng Henry beyng admonished of their approchyng, with a fewe horse in the night, came
to the Tower of London about, xii. of the clocke, where he in the mornynge caused the
Maire of the citie to apparell in armure the beste and moste couragious persons of the
citie : which brought to him. iii. M. archers and. iii. M. bill men, beside them that were'
deputed to defend the citie.
The Lordes of the confederacie entered the castel of Windsor,where they findyng not their
praie, determined with all spede to passe forthe to London : But in the waie, changyng
their purpose they returned to the towne of Colbroke and there taried. These Lordes had
much people folowyng them, what for feareand what for entreatie surely beleuyng that kyng
Richard was there present and in company. King Hery issued out of London with
twentye M. men and came to Hounsloe Heath, where he pitched his campe, abidyng the
commyng of his enemies: but when they were aduertised of the kynges puissaunce, or els
amased with feare, or forthinkyng and repentyng their begonne busines, or mistrustyng their
owne company and felowes, departed from thence to Barkamstede and so to Aucester, and
there the Lordes toke their lodgyng: The duke of 'Surrey erle of Kent and the erle of
2 Salisbury
KYNG HENRY THE. IIIJ. "19'
Salisbury in one ynne, and the duke of Exceter and the carle of Glocesler in another, and
al the hoste laie in the feldes. The Baily of the towne with fowre score archers set on the
house wher the duke of Surrey and other laie: the house was uiannely assaulted and
strongely defended a great space : The Duke of Exceter beyng in another inne with the
erle of Glocester set fier on diners bowses in the towne, thin kyng that the assailantes would
leuc their assault and rescue their goodes, which thing they nothyng regarded. The host
liyng without hearyng noise and seyng fire in the towne, beleuyng that the kyng was come
thyther with his puissaunce, fledde without measure to saue them selfes. The duke of
Exceter and his company seyng the force of the townes men more & more encreace, fled
out of the backeside entendyng to repaire to the armie, whiche they found dispersed and
retired. Then the duke seing no hope of cofort, tied into Essex, and the erle of Glocester
goyng toward Wales was taken and beheaded at Brisiowe. Magdalene fliyng into Scot-
land was appreheded and brought to the Tower. The lordes whiche fought still in the
towne of Chichester wer wouded to deth and taken and their heades striken of and sent to
London : and there were taken sir Bennet Shelley or Cell, and sir barnard Brokas and. xxix.
other Lordes Knyghtes and Esqniers & sent to Oxford, where the kyng then soiourned,
where sir Thomas Blonte and all the other prysoners were executed. Whe the Duke of
Exceter heard that his complices wer taken, and his councellers apprehended, and his
frendes and alies put in execucion, he lamented his owne chaunce, and bewepte the mis-
fortune of his frendes, but most of all bewailed the fatall end of his brother kyng Richard,
whose death he saw as in a mirrour by his vnhappy sedition and malicious attempte to
approche, and so wanderynge lurkyng and hidyng him selfe in priuy places, was attached
in Essex, and in the lordshippe of Plasshey a towne of the Duches of Glocester and there
made shorter by the bed, and in that place especially because that he in the same Lordship
seduced £ falsely betrayed Thomas duke of Glocester, and was the very inward auctour
and open dissimuler of his death and destruction. F|p .the_comon_Prpuerbe was verified, as /.
yfln ^"eL_.4QD£j-j^-AbjJJLyg!?^M^J Qh Lord J[ would jviah$ foaT ttip example, of many
highlye promoted to rule, might w. had in meradne, the which mete and ineasu re their
owne iniquitie and il doinges, with force auctoritie and power, to the entent that they by
these examples shoulde auerte their myndes from ill doynges, and such vngodly and
execrable offences./ After this Magdalein that represented the person of kyng Richard
amogest the rebels, and diuerse other were put in execucion, and all the heades of the
chefe conspiratoures sette on polles on London bridge, to the feare of other whiche were
disposed to commit like offence. The Abbot of Westminster in whose house this traiterous
confederacy was conspired, hearyng that the chefetains of his felowshippe, were espied,
taken and executed, going betwene his monastery and mancion, for thoughte fell in a
sodaine palsey, and shortely after without any speche ended his life : after whome the By-
shop of Carlile more for feare then sickenes, rendred his spirite to God, as one rather desir-
yng to die by deathes darte, then temporall swearde. But nowe was come the time when
all the confederates and compaignions of this vnhappye sedicion, had tasted accordyng to
their desertes, the painfull penaunce of their pleasante pastime, or rather pestiferus obstin-
acy, that an innocent with a nocet, a man vngilty with a gilty, was pondered in an egall
balaunce. For pore king Richard ignorant of all this coniuracion kept in miserable cap-
tiuitie, knowyng nothyng but that he sawe in his chamber, was by king Henry adiudged to"!
die, because that he beyng singed and tickeled with the laste craftie policie of bis enemies, i
would deliuer himself out of all inward feare and discorde, and cleane put away the very \
ground wherof suche frutes of displeasure mighte by any waie be attempted againste him, )
so that no man hereafter shoulde ether faine or resemble to represente the persone of king
Richarde : jwherfore some saye he commaunded, other talke that he condiscended, many
write that he knewe not tyll it was done and then it confirmed. But howe so euer it was,
fcvng Richarde dyed of a violent death, without any infection or naturall disease of the body.—
D 2 The
20 THE FIRSTE YERE OF
The common fame is that he was euery daye serued at the table with costely meate like a
kyng, to the entent that no creature shuld suspecte any thing done contrary to the order
taken in the parliament, and when the meate was set before him, he was forbidden
that he shuld not once touch it, ye not to smel to it, and so died of famin : which
kynd of death is the most miserable, most vnnatural, ye and most detestable that can
be, for it is ten times more painefull then death (whiche of all extremities is the
most terrible) to die for thirst standyng in the riuer, or starue for hunger, besette with
•^twentie deintie disshes. .Qjie^wnjej: whiche semed to haue muche knowledge of kyng
Rychardes affaires, saieth that kyng Henry sittyng at his table sore sighyng said, haue
1 no faithefull frende whiche will deliuer me of him whose life will be my dcth, and
whose death will be the preseruacion of my life. This saiyng was muche noted of them
whiche were present and especially of one called sir Piers of Exton. This knight incon-
tinently departed fro the court with eight strong persons and came to Pomfret, commaun-
dyng that the esquier whiche was accustomed to sewe and take the assaye before kyng
Richard, shuld no more vse that maner of seruice, saiyng, let him eate we! nowe, for he
shall not long eatc. Kyng Richard sate downe to dyner and was serued without cnrtesie
or assay, he muche meruailyng at the sodaine mutacion of the thyng, demaunded of the
Esquier why he did not his duety? sir, said he, I am otherwise comaunded by sir Pyers of
Exton, which is newely come from king Henry. When he heard that worde, he toke the
caruyng knife in his hand and strake the esquier on the head saiyng, the deuell take Henry
Pbf Lancastre and the together : and with that worde sir Piers entered into the chamber wel
/ armed with. viii. tall men inharneis, euery man hauing a bill in his had. Kyng Richarde
perceuyng them armed, knewe well that they came to his confusion, and puttyng the table
from him, valiantly toke the bill out of the first mannes hand, and manly defended himselfc,
and slewe fowre of them in a short space. Sir Piers being sowhat dismaied with his resist-
yng, lepte into the chaire where kyng Richard was wonte to sitte, while the other fowre
persons assailed and chased him aboute the chamber, whiche beyng vnarmed defended him
against his enemies beyng armed, (whiche was a valiaunt acte) but in conclusion chasyng
and trauersing fro the one side to the other, he came by the chaire wher sir Piers slode,
whiche with a stroke of his Pollax felled hym to the ground, and then shortely he was rid
out of the worlde, without ether confession or receit of sacrament. ^When this knight per-
ceiued that he was deade, he sobbed, wept, and rent his heare criyng, Oh Lord, what haue
we done, we haue murthered hym whom by the space of. xxii. yeres we haue obeied as
king, and honored as our soueraigne lord, now all noble men will abhorre vs, all honest
persons will disdaine vs, and all pore people will rayle and crie out vpon vs, so that duryng
our naturall Hues, we shal be poincted with the finger, and our posterite shal be reproued
as children of Homecides, ye of Regicides & prince quellersT]. Thus haue I declared to you
the diuersities of opinions concernyng the deathe of this mfortunate prince, remittyng to
your iudgement whiche you thinke most trewe, but the very trouthe isthat he died of a
violent death, and not by the darte of naturall infirrnitie.
When Atropos had cut the line of his lyfe, his body was embaulmed and seared and couered
with lead al saue his face (to the entent that all men might perceiue that he was departed
out of this mortal lyfe) and was conueighed to London, where in the cathedrall churche of
saincte Paule he had a solempne obsequie, and from thence conueighed to Lagley in Buck-
yngham shire, where he was enterred, and after by kyng Henry the. v. remoued to West-
minster, and there intombed honorably with quene Anne his wife, although the Scottes vn-
treuly write that he escaped out of prisone, and led a verteous and solitary life in Scotlande,
and there died and is buried intheblacke Friers at Sterlyng. What trust is in this worlde, what
suretie man hath of his life, & what constancie is in the mutable comonaltie, all men maie
apparently perceiue by the ruyne of this noble prince, whiche beeyng an vndubitate kyng,
"crooned and anoymed by the spiritualtie, honored and exalted by the nobilitee, obeyed uod
worshipped
KYNG HENRY THE. II IJ. 21
worshipped of the comon people, was sodainly discerned by theim whiche he moste trusted,
betraied by ttieim whom he had preferred, & slain by theim whom he had brought vp and
norished : so that all menne maie perceiue and see, that fortune wayeth princes and pore
men all in one balance.
WHEN ne.wes of kyng Richardes deposyng were reported into Frauce, kyng Charles
and all his court wondered, detested & abhorred suche an iniurie to bee doen to an anoynt-
ed kyng, to a crouned prince, & to the hed of a realme : but in especial Walt-ram erle of
sent Panic whiche had maried kyng Richardes halfe sister, moued with high disdain against
kyng Henry, ceased not to stirre and prouoke y Frenche kyng and his counsaill to make
sharpe warre inEnglande, to reuenge the iniurie and dishonor comitted and doen to hissonne
in lawe kyng Richard, & he hymself sent letters of defiance to England. Whiche thyng
was sone agreed to, and an armie royall appoyncted with all spede, to innade England.
But the Frenche kyng so stomacked this high displesure, & so inwardly coceiued this infor-
tunate chance in his minde, that he fell into his old disease of the frensy, hat he had nede
accordyng to the old prouerbe, to saile into the Isle of * Anticyra, to purge his melacholie *Anticyra
humor, but by the meanes of his phisicions, he was somwhat releued & brought to know- Ast^where"
ledge of hymself. This armie was come doune into Picardy, redy to be trasported into ^n^^th,
Englad, but whe it was certainly certified that kyng Richard was ded, & that their enterprise purgeth S
of his deliuerace was frustrate & voyd. tharmie scattred & departed a sonder. t^rof*
BUT when the certaintie of kyng Richardes death was declared to the Aquitaynes and <-s the pro-
Gascons, the moste parte of the wisest men of the countree, fell into a greate bodely feare, ""1*10*°
and into a dedly dreade. For some lamentyng the instabilitee of the Englishe people, Anticira, as
iudged theim to be spotted with perpetuall infamie, and brought to dishonor & losse of their ^^f'
auncientfaine and glory, for comittyng so heynous a cryme and detestable an offence against youreM*.
their king & soueraigne lorde. The memorie wherof, thei thought would neuer be buried
or extincted. Other fered the losse of their goodes and liberties, because they imagined
that by this ciuill discencion and intestine deuision, the realme of England should so bee
vexed and troubled, that their countree (if the Frenchemenne should inuade it) should bee
destitute and lefte voide of all aide and succor of the Englishe nacion. But the citezens of
Burdeaux toke this matter very sore at y stomacke, because kyng Richard was borne and;
brought vp in their citee, lamentyng and criyng out, that sithe the beginnyng of the worlde,
there was neuer a more detestable, a more vilanous nor a more heynous acte committed :
whiche beyng sad with sorowe and enilamed with malencolie, saied that vntrue, vnnaturall
and vnmercilull people had betrayed and slain, contrary to all law and iustice and honestie,
a good man, a iuste prince and politike gouernor. Besechyng God deuoutly on their
knees, to be the reuenger and punisher of that detestable offence and notorius crime.
WHEN the Frenchmen, whiche haue iyes of the wakyng serpent, perceiued the dolor
and agony that the Aquitaynes and Gascons wer in for the death of 'heir prince, duke and
countrymanne, they reioysed and aplauded in maruelous maners, thynkyng with theimselfes
that (the Gascons nowe abhorryrtg and detestyng the Englishe men more than a Dogge or an
Adder) they verie easely mighte obtain the whole countree and douchie of Aquitaine,with the
members and territories there to apperteignyng, if they would ether by entreatie or by inua-
sion moue the people beyng now amased and comfortles, as shepe without a shepeherd, or
beastes without an herdman. Whin-fore in greate haste and slowe spede, Lewes clnke of
Burbon was sent to Angit-rs, & wrote to diuerse citees and tounes on the confynes of Aqui-
tain and Gascon, exhortyng them with large promises and flateryng wordes, to reuolte and
turne from the Englishe subieccion, and become vassals to the croune of Fraunce. But all
his glosyng wordes seruedlitle, and all his faire promises profited muche lesse. For the people
knewe that the Englishe yoke was but a tether, & the yoke of Fraunce was more ponderus
then lede, seyng daily how the I rench men vexed and molested ther miserable people with
extreme exaccios and intollerable tallages, rasyng .their skinne to the very bone, and their
purses
22 THE FIRST YERE OF
purses to the veryfootome wherfore they determined rather to abide in their bid subicccion
and obedience, then for a displeasure irrecurable to auenture themselfes on a newe chance
and a deubtfuil parell.
KING Henry beeyng aduertised of all the Frenche alternptes and couert conueighances,
sent the lorde Thomas Percy -erle of Worceter with a goodly trewe of souldiours into Aqui-
tain, to aide and assist sir Robert Knolles his leuetenante there, and to perswade and
exorte the people to continewe in their ancient libertie and dewc obeysance. The erle
arriued there, and so wisely entreated the noble men, so grauously persuaded the mage-
strates of the citees and tounes, and so gently and familiarly vscd and traded the vulgare
people, that he not onely appeased their furie and malice, but brought theim to a louyng and
"vniforme obeysance, receiuyng of them othes of obedience and loyall fealtie, whiclie done
he retourned againe into England with great thankes. When kyng Charles of Fran nee per-
ceiued that his purpose and attempte was frustrate and came to no good conclusion in
Aquitayne and that kyng Richard being deade, his enterprise into England was of no value
and of small purpose, he determined with him selfe to inuent some way howe to haue the
Lady Isabell his doughter, sometime espoused to kyng Richard restored to him again : and
for that purpose sent a solemne ambassade into England to kyng Henry, whiche gentely
receiued them, and gaue in answere that he would send his commissioners shortely to Caleis,
whiche shoulde farther common and coclude with them, not onely that request, but diners
other matters of gret effecte and efficacie. And shortley after their departyng he sent
Edward duke of Yorke, before called duke of Aumerle, whiche succeded in the said duchie
his father Edmond duke of Yorke, a littell before disseased and Henry erle of Northumber-
land into the countrei of Guisnes. The commissioners assembled at diuers places at sondry
times. The duke of Borbon aboue al thynges required in the name of the French king his
master, to haue quene Isabell to him deliuered. The Englishmen that to do continually did
deny, requiryng to haue her maried to Henry Prince of Wales, a man bothe in blud and
age to her in all thinges equal!. But the Frenche kyng that mariage vtterly refused, saiyng
he wolde neuer ioyne affinitie after with the Englishe nacion, because that the aliance had so
vnfortunate successc.
Then they began to entreate a continual! peace, whiche request the Frenchemen refused,
and in conclusion they agreed that the truce whiche was taken betwene them and kyng Rich-
arde, for the terme of. xxx. yeres, was renouate and confirmed. Some authors affirm that
there was a newe leage concluded and confirmed betwene both the realmes duryng the Hues
of bothe the princes, whiche semeth to haue a certein colour of veritie. For the kyng sent
shortly after the foresaid Lady Isabell vnder the conducte of the Lord Thomas Percy erle
of Worceter, associate with many noble and honourable personages, as well of women as
men, hauyng with her al the lewells ornamentes & plate (with a great surplusage geuen to
hir by the kyng whiche she brought into England) was sente in solemne estate to Caleis, and
there deliuered to Waleran erle of saincte Paule Lieuetenant for the French king in Picar-
die, and so conueighed to her father, whiche gaue her in mariage to Charles sone to Lewes
duke of Orleaunce. The Frenchmen often times required king Henry to assigne to her a
dower, but al was in vaine, for the Englishemen answered that the matrimony was neuer
consummate, by reason wherof she was not dowable, by the very treatie of the mariage con-
eluded, and so this matter seased, and was no more moued. V As the olc( prouerhe^saifhj
after winde commeth jajn, &' after one ejyiil .comply easu.eth. anothert 39. duryng the time that
kyng Henry was vexed and vnquieted, bothe within the realme & without..
OWEN Gtenebfr^eqtitt'e-tTf Wattes," Bslceiuyng the reaime to be. vnquieted. and the
kyng not yet to be placed in a sure and vnmouableseate, entedyng to vsurpe and take vpon
hym the principalitie of Wales, and the name and preheminence of the same, what with
faire flatteryng wordes and with large promises, soenuegled entised and .allured the wilde and
-vndiscrite Welshmen, that they toke hym as their prince and made to hym an othe of allegeance
s v , cd subieccion. By whose supportacion, he beyng elated and set vp in aucthorite, to the
'& intent
KYNG HENRY THE. HIJ. f3
intent to bee out of all double of his neighbors, made sharpe warre oft Reignolde lorde
Grey of llithen and toke hym prisoner, promisyng hym libertee and dischargyng his raun-
some, if he would espouse and marie his dough ter, thynkyng by that affinitie, to haue greate
aide and muche power in Wales. The lorde Grey beeyng not very riche nether of substance
nor of frendes, consideryng this offer to be the onely waie of his releffe and deliuerance,
1 assented to his pleasure and rnaried the damosell. But this false father in laxve, this vntre\v,
vnhonest and periured persone, kept hym with his wife still in captiuitee till he died. And
not content with this heynous offence, made warre on lorde Edmond Mortimer erle of
Marche, and in his owne lordship of Wigmore, where in a conflict he slewe many of therles
men and loke hym prisoner, and feteryng hym in chaynes, cast hym in a depe and miserable
dongeon. The kvng was required to purchase his deliuerance by diuerse of the nobilitie,,
but he could not heare on that side, rather he would and wished al his linage in heuen..
For then his title had been out of all doubt & question, and so vpon this cause as you heare,
after ensued great sedicion.
o^THUS Owen G lender glorifiyng hymself in these twoo victories, inuaded'the Marches-
of Wales on the West side of Seuerne, robbed vilages, brent tounes and slewe the people,
and laden with praies and bloudy handes returned again into Wales, neuer desistyng to do
euil till the next yere, that the kyng reised a greate annie and puissance to resist and defende.
his malicious atfemptes and sedicious inuasions, as after shall be declared. It was not suffi-
ciet in this first yere of kyng Henry, this realme to be troubled with domestical sedicion,
vexed with the craftie practices and inuencions of the Frenche men, and inuaded and in-
fested with thefrantike waueryngWelshemen, but also fortune hauyngenuy at the glory and
fortunate procedyng of this man, muste in his saied firste yere also, arme the Scottes with
spcre and shelde against hym and his realme, wherof the occasion shall bee to you declared
accordyng to the Scotticall histories. A Ikle before this tyme, George of Dunbar erle of
the Marches of the realme, made meanes to kyng Robert of Scotlande, that Dauid his eldest
sonne might rnarie and espouse the erles doughter called Elizabeth, and deliuered for the
performance of the same mariage, into the kynges handes a greate some of money. When
Archebaulde erle Douglas heard of this conclucion, disdainyng therle of the Marches blud
to be auaunced before his stocke, wherfore ether by faire wordes, or els by disbursyng a
greter some of money, he so enuegeled Kyng Roberte of Scotlande, that Dauid his heire
refusyng the first damosell,. espoused Mariell the erle Douglas doughter. Therle of Marche
desired restitucion of his money, to whom the kyng gaue many friuolus and trifelyng
aunsweres, wherfore he disdainyng so to bee mocked & deluded of his money, with his wife
and family, fled into England, to Henry erle of Northumberlande, entendyng with dent of
?werd to reuenge the injury & displesure to hym by the kyng comitted £ doen, £ so with
the help of the borderers brent diuerse tounes, £ slew many persons in the realme of Scot-
land.
-^KING Robert beeyng thereof aduertised, firste deprived the Erie George of all his
dignitees and possessions, and caused his goodes to bee confiscate, -and after wrote to the
Kyng of Englande, instantly requiryng hym, if he would the truce any longer to continevv
ether to deliuer into his possession the Erie of Marche, and other traitors and rebelles to
his persone and realme, or els to banishe and exile theim out of his realme, territories and
dominions. Kyng Henry discretly answered the heiault of Scotland, that the worde of a
prince ought to bee kepte, and his writyng and seale ought to bee inuiolate, and consider-
yng that he had graunted a saue conduite to the erle and his compaigny, he would nether
without cause resonable breake his promise, nor yet deface his honor. Whiche answer
declared to the kyng of Scottes, he incontinente did proclaime and intimate open warre,
against the kyng of England, with bloud fire and swe'ard. Kyng Henry perceiuyng, that
--policie preuenteth chance, gathred and assembled together a greate annie, and entered into
Scotlande, burnyng townes villages and castles, sparyng nothyng but religious houses and
churches, and brent a greate parte of the tounes of Edenbrough and Lithe and beseged the
castle
24 THE FIRSTE YERE OF
castle of Maidens inEdenbrough, in thende of September, whereof was capitain, Dauicl duke
of Rothsay and prince of the realme, and Archibalde erle Douglas, with many hardy men.
Roberte duke of Albania, beyng appoyncted gouernor of the realme, because the kyng was
sicke and vnapt to rule, sent vnto kyng Henry an harrold, assuryng hym on his honour that
if he woulde abide and tary his coming and repaire, wlu'che should be within sixe daies at
the most he would geue hym battaill, and remoue the siege, or els die for it.
The kyng beeyng glad of these ioyous good newes, rewarded the herault with a goune of
silke and a chayne of gold, promisyng hym in the worde of a prince, not to depart thence
but abide there, thecomyng of. the gouernor. The sixe daies passed, ye sixe and sixtene to,
the gouernor nether apered nor sent worde, the winter waxed cold, vitaile failed, men died
of the flixe, it rained euery daie so habundantly, that hunger and colde caused the kyng to
breke vp his siege, and to departe out of Scotland, without battaill or skirmish offered.
Duryng whiche tyme bothe the Wardens of the Marches beyng with the kyng, the Scottea
made a rode into Northumberlande, and burned diuerse tounes in Bamborough shere, and
shortly returned again, or els thei had been trapped & come to late home. When the kyng
of England had dismissed his souldiers, and discharged his army, the Scottes entendyng to
bee reuenged of their greate domages to theim by the Englishe uacio doen and committed
by therle Douglas, appoyncted twoo armyes to inuade Englande. Of the first was chieftain,
sir Thomas Halibarton of Dirlton, and Patrike Hebburne of Hales, whiche made a rode
into Englande, and returned with litle losse and no greate gain. After this the forsaid sir
Patrike Hebburne, encoraged & boldened with the prosperous succcsse of this first iorney,
with a greate armie of the people of Lowdian inuaded Northumberlande, robbyng and
spoylyng the coutree and departed homeward, not without greate gain of beastes and cap-
tiues. But in the returne he was encoutered with therle of Northumberlandes vicewarden,
& other gentilmen of the borders at a toune in Northumberlande called Nesbit, and there
the Englishemen sore assailed, and the Scottes valiantly resisted, but after a long fight, the
victory fell on the Englishe partc, and as Ihon Mayer the Scot wrireth, there wer slain the
flower of all Loughdean, and especially sir Patricke Hebburne with many of his linage.
There wer apprehended sir Ihon and Willyam Cockeburne, sir Robert of Bas, Ihon and
Thomas Hablincton esquicrs, and a greate nomber of the comon people. The erle Douglas
sore beyng greued with the losse of his nacion and frendes, entendyng a requitement if it
were possible of the same, by the consente of the gouernour of Scotlande, did gather a houge
armie of twentie thousande talle menne and more.
In the whiche armie was Lord Mordake earle of Fife sonne to the gouernour of Scotland,
the erle of Angus, and many other erles and barons of the nobilitie of Scotland. These
valiaunte capitayns and couragious souldioures entered into Northumberlande with ban-
ners displayed like menne either apte or thynkyng theim selfes able to destroy the townes
and spoyle the countrey and Marches of Northumberlande. When they were entered into;
England thinkyng no puissaunce able to encounter with their force, out of a valey beside a
toune called Homeldon issued sodainly the Lorde Henry Percie, whom the Scottes for his
haut and valiant corage called sir Henry hotspur, and in his company the Lorde George of
Dunbar erle of Marche before banished Scotlande, as you haue heard, with all the genii!!
menne of Northumberland, and eight thousande men on horsebacke and on fote. The
encounter was sharpe, the fight was daungerous, the long continuaunce was doubtfull, for
some were felled and rescued, some in rescuyng other were slaine, other gredy of prave more
then of strokes fled to se what baggages were kept emongest the Pages. Thus with pure
fightyng of the Englishemen and fainte hertes of the bragging Scottes, the brighte beame of
victory shone on sainct Georges crosse, and there were slaine of men of great renoune and
estimacion sir Iho Swinton, sir Adam Gordon, sir Ihon Leuiston, sir Alexander Ransey of
Dalehowse, and. xxiii. knightes moo, whose names ether for ignorance or for feare of re-
proche, Hector Boece the Scottish archecbronocler kepeth in silence and dothe omitte,
beside, x. M. comons. But there wer taken prisoners, Mordaeke erle of Fife, Archebald
1 erle
KYNG HENRY THE. IIU.
erle Douglas, whiche in the combat loste one of his eyes, Thomas erle of Murrey, Robert
erle of Angus, and as other writers affirme, the erls of Athell und Mentethe with v. C.
other.
When the Lord Percy had thus obtained this glorious victory, he sent his prisoners into
diuerse fortresses, and determined to subdue or destroy all the countrcis of Lowdene and
Marche, whose heades and Gouernours ether he had slain or by force taken captiues. And
so with a gret power entered into Tiuedale wastyng any destroiyng the hole countrey, and
they beseged the castell of Cokelaues, whereof was capitain sir Ihon Grenlowe, which
seyng that his castel was not long able to be defended copouhded with the Englishmen that
yf the castel wern ot suckered within, iii. monthes, that then he would deliuer it into the Eng-
lishe mennes handes. The capitaine thereof wrote vnto the Gouernour, whiche callyng a
great councell, the moste parte aduised hym rather frankely and frely to yeld the castel,
than to put in ieopardie and caste in hasard the remnaunt of the florishyng nobihue of the
realme. So muche was their courages abated and their fumishe crakes refrigerat with the
remembraunce of the last conflicte and batail. But the gouernour rebukyng their tiinerous
lieartes, and Feminine audacitie (whether he thought so or no was a questio) sware that if
no man wold folowe of the nobilitie he woulde do his deuoire to reskewe the castell at the
day. But his othe was nether kept nor broken, for he litell preparyng and lesse entendyng
the oth whiche he solemply made neuer set fote forward duryng the first, ii. monethes, for
the reising of the seige or reskewe of the castel. But the Englisbe men beyng sent for to
go with the kyng into Wales, raised their siege and departed leauyng the noble men prison-
ers styll with the earle of Northumberland and the Lord Percie his sonne, which by the
kyng were commaunded to kepe them to his vse, and not to deliuer them without his as-
sent.
KYNG Henry jkw^atnot,his enterprise into Wales, but made provision for menne, mu- The
nicions and artillary me!e~and conuenient for so great a businessc, whereof the Frenche kyng
beyng aduertised, sente priuilie Lorde lames of Burbone earle of Marche and his two bre-
thren Ihon and Lewes, with xii. C. knightes and esquiers to aide Owen Glendor against
the inuasions of kyng Henry, he toke shippyng with. xxx. saile at the mouthe of Seine, and
the wynd was not fauourable to his purpose for he coulde neuer approche the coaste of
Wales but came before the towne of Plimmouthe in Deuonshire, and there leauyng his great
shippes liyng at ancre, in the nyghte toke land and brent, spoiled and destroied diuers small
villages, and poore cotages, arid robbed, v. or vi. littel Craiers and fisher botes laden with
fysshe and come. But while he and his companie like gredy wolfes were sekyng after their
praie, the winde rose highe and a great tempesteous rage and furious storme sodainely
flushed and drowned, xii. of his great shippes whiche laie in the mouth of the hauen for his
safegard and defence. Whereof when the erle was aduertised, and pcrceuyng by the fi-
ryng of the beacons that the people began to assemble in plumpes to encounter with him,
and also seyng his power sore diminished as well by the slaughter of suche as ranged abrode
in hope of spoyle and praye, as by the furious rage of the vnmercifull see and hydeous tem-
pest, with muche paine and great labour toke his shippes againe, and was notwithout ieo-
pardie ef his lyfe driuen on the coast of Britaine and landed atsainct Malos. L The French
kyng perceiuyng that this chiice had il successe ; appointed one of his Marshals called Me-
morancie, and the master of his Crosbowes with. xii. M. men, to saile into Wales, which
toke shippyng at Brest and had the winde to them so prosperous that they landed at Milfoid
hauen, and leauing the castel of Penbroke vnassaulted, because it was well fortified, man-
red, and vitailed, besieged the towne of Harforde West whiche was so well defended by the
erle of Arundell and his power that they much more lost then gained."\ And from thence
they departed towarde Owen Glendor whome they nominated prince of "Wales, and founde
him at the towne of Denbigh abidyng their comyng with ten thousand men. They wer of
him louingly receiued, andjgentelly enterteined, and when all thynges were prepared, they
passed by Glamorgan shire toward Worcester and there brent the suburbes, but hearyng of
E the
5<S THE SECOND YERE OF
Ihekynges approchyng sodainly returned into Wales. The king with a great puissau nee fo-
lowed and founde them embattailed on a highe mountaine, and a gret yaley betwene bothe
,.; ' the armies, so that eche armie plainely perceiued other, and euery hoste loked to be assau-
ed of liis aduersary, and of the groud to take the most aduautage : thus they cotinued eight
daies fro mornyng to nyght ready to abide but not to geue battaile. There wer many fcarce
skirmishes and many propre feates of armes daily done, whiche the French Croniclers more
then the Englishe writers can reporte. For there were slaine the Lorde Patrioles of Tries,
brother to the Marshall of France, the Lord Mattelone and the Lord Vale and the bastarde
of Burbon, with, v. hundred gentelmen.
The Frenche men and Welshe men were sore trobeled and afflicted with famine, that their
hertes were appalled and their corages sore abated, for the kyng had so stopped the passages
that nether vitayl nor succour could by any way be conueighed to the. Wherfore of very
necessitie they were compelled eyther to fyghte or flee : And so by the aduisement and coun-
cell of the Marshall of Fraunce, whiche put not to muche confidence in the waueryng
Welshemen, the hole hoste departed theight day at midnight in the most secretes maner that
they could deuise. The Frenche men with littel rewardes and no gaine returned into Bri-
tayne makyng small boast of their painfull iourney.
THE kyng seyng them departed, folowed the into Wales, and chasing them from hilles
to dales, from dales to woddes, from woddes to marishes, and yet could neuer haue them at
any aduauntage. A world it was to see his quctidiane remouyng, his painfull and busy wan-
deryng, his troblesome and vncertaine abidyng, his continual mocion, his daily peregrina-
cion in the desert, felles and craggy mountains of that bareine vnfertile and depopulate
countrey. And thus beyng tossed from countrey to countrey, from hill to vale, from nia-
rishe to wod, from noughte to worsse, without gaine or profile, withoute vitayle or succour,
he was of necessitie copelled to retire his armie and retourne againe to Worcester, in whiche
retournyng the Welshemen knowing the passages of the countrey, toke certaine cariagesof his
laden with vitayle to his great displeasure, and their great comforte. When he came to Wor-
cester perceiuyng winter to approche which season of the yere is not conuenient and proper
for men of warre to lie in the feldes, and specially in suche a barraine and hilly countrey as
Wales is, dispersed his armie for that time and returned to London. In the meane time
while the kyng was thus occupied in Wales, certain malicious and cruel persons enuiyng
and malignyng in their heartes that king Henry contrary to the opinion of many, but against
the will of rno had so shortely obteigned and possessed the realme and regalitie, biased
abrode & noised daily amongest the vulgare people that kyng Richard (whiche was openly
senc dead) was yet liuyng and desired aide of the common people to repossesse his realme
and roiall dignitie. And to the furtheraunce of this fantasticall inuencion partly inoued with
indignacion, partely incensed with furious malencolie, set vpon postes and caste aboute the
stretes railyng rimes, malicious meters and tauntyng verses against kyng Henry and his pro-
cedynges. lie beyng netteled with these vncurteous ye vnucrtuous prickes & thornes,
serched out the authours, and amongest other were found culpable of this offence and
crime, sir Roger Claryngdoh, knight, and eight gray Friers whiche according to their me-
rites and desertes were strangeled at Tiborne and there put in execution. I may not here
t forget to shewe you howe that kyng Henry sekyng nowe aranitie and frendshippe in G.er*
manie sent this yere his eldest doughter Blaunche accompanied with the Erie of Sommerset,.
the Bishop of Worcester, and the Lord Clifforde, and other noble personages into AL-
niaine, whiche brought her to Coleyne, and there with great triumphe she was maried to
Willyam Duke of Bauier, sonne and heire to Lewes of Bauier the Emperour, in whiche
yere also died Lady Katherine Swinsforct the thyrde wife of Ihon of Gaunt duke of Lan-
castre father to this kyng Henry, & was buried at Ltncolne. In the saiue yere kyng Henry
maried lane Daches of Britaine late wife to Ihon duke of Britaine at the citie of Win-
chester and with triumphal pompe conueighed her thorow the citie of London, to West*
miuster, and there she was crowned Quene.
While
KYNG HENRY THE. IIIJ.
While these thynges were thus doyng in England Waleran Eric of sainct Paulo whiche
had inaricd t!ie iialle sinter of Richard, hauyng a malicious lieart and a deadly hatred to
kyng Henry, a'ssebled a great number of men of warre to the number of. xvi.. or. xviii. C.
whert-of the greatest pane were noble men, and made great prouisio of all thingrs neces-
sary for his feate and enterprise. And on sainct Nicholas day entered into his bhippes at
Harrlete and landed in .the Isle of Wight, and when he sawe no apperaunce of defence, he
burned two poore villages and. iiii. simple cottages, and for great triumphe of this noble
acte he made iiii. knightes: but sodainly when he was aduertysed by his espials that th»
people of the Isle vver assembled and approched to fight with hym. He with aUmste pos-
sible toke his shippes and retourned home againe, wherwith the noble men of his company
•were much discontente and displeased, consideryng that his prouision was great and, his
gaine small or none. And in the same very season Ihon Erie of Cleremount sonne to the
Duke of Burbone, wonne in Gascoigne the castelles of sainct Peter, saincte Marie and the
newe castell, and the Lord Delabrethe wonnc the castell of Carlaffin, whiche was no small
losse to the Englishc naciori : Duryng which time died Philippe duke of Burgoin, and duke
Albert of Bauier Erie of Henault.
H THE THIRDE YERE. '
IN this yere appered a comete or btasyng Starre of a houge quantitie by a long season The.Hi
which as the Astronomers affirmed, signified great effusion of mannes blud, which iudge- ycr'
ment was not frustrate as you shall perceiueTj Eor Henry erle of Northumberland and
Thomas erle of Worcester his brother, arirtms sonne Lord Henry Percy called hotspur,
which were to king Henry in the beginnyng of his reigne bothe fautours frendes and aiders,
perceiuing nowe that he had pacified all domesticall sedicion and repressed his enemies,
and reduced his realm to a conuenient quietnes, began somwhat to enuie the glory of hyrn,
and grudged againste his welthe and felicitie. And specially greued, because the kyng de-
inaunded of the Earle and his sonne suche Scottishe prisoners as they had taken at the con-
flictes fought at Homeldon and Nesbit as you before haue heard. For of all the captiues
whiche were there taken, ther was deliuered to the kynges possession onely Mordake earle
of Fife sonne to the duke of Albanie Gouernour of Scotland, for the king them diuerse
aad sondry times of therle and his sonne required. But the Percies affirmyng them to be
their owne propre prisoners and their peculiar praies, and to deliuer theym vtterly denaied,
in so muche that the kyng openly saied that if they wolde not deliuer them, he woulde take
them without deliuerance. Wherwith they bcyng sore discotent, by the councell of Lord
Thomas Percy erle of Worcester, whose study was euer to procure malice, and to set al
thynges in broile and vncerteintie, fainyng a cause to proue and temple the kyng, came to
him to Wyndsor, requiryng him by raunsome or otherwise to cause to bee deliuered out of
prison Edmond Mortimer erle of Marche their cosyn gcrmain whome (as they reported)
,Owen Glendor kept in filthy prison shakeled with yrons, onely for that cause that he toke
his parte, and was to hym faithful and trcwe. ^The kyng began not a litell to muse on this
request, and not without a cause, for in dode it touched him as nere as his shcrte, as you
well may perceiue by the Genealogy rehersed in the beginnyng of this story. For this fed-/
inond was sonne to Earle Roger whiche was sonne to Lady Philip doughter to Lionel! Duke
of Clarence, the third sonne to kyng Edward the third, whiche Edmonde at kyng Richardes
-going into Ireland, was proclaimed heire apparant to the crounc and realme, whose Aunt
called Elinor this Lord Henry Percie had Maried. i And therfore the kyng litell forced al-
though that that lignage were clerely subuerted and vtterly extincte.j <
J^WHEN the Jymgiiad long digested anijstudiedon this matter, he made aunswere and
sayd that the EarleoT Marche was not taken prisoner nt'itllUi1' for his cause nor in his ser-
uice, but willyngly suffered him selfe to be taken, because he woulde take no partc against*
Owen Glendor and his complices, and therfore he woulde nether raunsome nor releue hym,
E 2 which*
58 THE THIRD YERE OF
whiche fraude the kyng caused openly to be published and diuulged, with whiche aunswere
if the parties were angry doubt you not. But with the publyshyng of the cautell, that the
Earle of Marche was willyngly taken, they ten times more fumed and raged in so imiche
that sir Henry hotspur said openly: Behold the heire of the realme is robbed of his righte,
and yet the robber, with his owne, vvyl not redeme hym. So in this fury the Percies depart-
ed, nothyng more mindyng then to depose kyng Henry from the high tipe of his regalitie,
and to deliuer and set in his trone their cosyn frende & confederate Edmonde Earle of
Marche, whome they not onely deliuered oute of the captiuitie of Owen Glendor, but also
entered into a leage and amitie with the said Owen against king Henry and all his frendes
and fautours, to the great displeasure and long vnquieting of kyng Henry and his partakers.
Here I passe ouer to declare howe a certayne writer writeth that this earle of Marche, the
Lorde Percy and Owen Glendor wer vnwisely made belieue by a Welch Prophecier, that
king Henry was the Moldwarpe, cursed of Goddes owne mouth, and that they thre were the
Dragon, the Lion and the WolfFe, whiche shoulde deuide this realme bebvene them, by
•/ the deuiacion and not deuinatio of that mawmet Merlin. ^ I wyll not reberse bowe they by
their deputies injhehowse of the Archdeacon of Bangor, seduced witii that falce.faiucd
Proph£aie-.xkjLikled the realme amongest thef nojQ^~wTtteriioWB by U. ffipartie encteoture
sealed with their scales., all En.gl.an.tle from Seuerne and Trent South and Eastward, was
^assigne'd to the^ejJe^pJt^J^rj^^JliuEjiow all WaleV^i^QKeTanc[e£|bey^Kr^Tie*rne "West-
ward, were appoincted to Owen Glendor, ancTairthe remnaunt from Trente'Nortlnvardo
to"tl!i£JUl!tltLil<j|f6itr.' /But j wilr JecTare" to you that^whTcne' waS*B8n5?8pBe3led, that is the
confusion destruccion and perdicion of these persones, not onely geuyng credite to suche a
vain fable, but also settyng it forwarde and hopyng to attaine to the effecte of the same
whiche was especiall of the lorde Percie and Owen Glendor. For the erle of Marche was
euver kepte in the courte vnder suche a keper that he could nether doo or attempte any
thyng againste the kyng without his knowledge, and died without issue, leuyng his righte
title and interest to Anne his sister and heire, maried to Rycharde erle of Cambrige
father to the duke of Yorke, whose ofspryng in continuaunce of tyme, obteigned the
game and gat the garland. O ye waueryng Welshmen, call you these prophesies? nay call
theim vnprofitable practises. Name you them diuinacions? nay name them diabolicall
deuises, say you they be prognosticacions? nay they be pestiferous publishinges. For by
declaryng & credite geuing to their subtil & obscure meanynges, princes haue been deceiued,
many a noble nianne hath suffred, and many an honest man hath been begyled & des-
troyed.
KYNG Henry knowyng of this newe confederacy, and nothyng lesse myndyng then that
happened after, gathered agreatearmye too goo agayne into Wales: whereof the Erie
of Northumberlande and his sonne wer aduertised, by lorde Thomas erle of Wocester, and
with all diligence raysed all the power that they could make and sent to the Scottes whiche
before wer taken prisoners at Hamaldon for aide" and men, promisyng the erle Douglas the
tonne of Barwicke and a parte of Northumberlande: and to other Scotishe lordes greate
lordshippes and segniories, if they obteigned the vpper hande and superioritee. The Scot-
tes allured with desire of gain, and for no malice that they bare to kyng Henry, but some--
what desirous to be reuenged of their olde greues, came to the erle with greate compaignie,
and to make their cause seme good and iuste, they deuised certain articles by the aduise of
Richard Scrope Archebishop of Yorke, brother to the lorde Scrope, whom kyng Henrv
caused to bee beheded at Bristow as you haue heard before. Whiche articles thei shewed
to diuerse noble men and prelates of the realme, whiche fauouryng and concentyng to their
purpose, not onely promised them aide and succor by wordes, but by their writyng and
scales confirmed the same. Howbeit, whether it wer for feare, ether for that thei would be
lokers on and no dede doers, nether promise by worde or by writyng was performed; For all
y confederates them, abadoned, & at the daie of the conflict left alone the erle of Stafford
only
1
KYNG HENRY THE. IIIJ. 29
only excepte, which beyng of a haute corage and hye storaacke, kept his promise & Joined
with the Fercies to his destructi5.
THE lorde Percy with therle Douglas and other erles of Scotlad with a greate armie, de-
parted out of the Northparties, leuyng his father sicke (whiche promised vpon his amend-
ment & recouery without delay to folowe) and catue to Stafford where his vncle therle of
Worcester and he met, and there began to consult vpon their great affaires and high at-
tempted enterprice, there they exhorted their souldiers and compaignions to refuse no pain
for the auauncemente of the common wealth, nor to spare no trauell for the libertie of their
countree : protestyng openly that they made warre onely (to restore the noble realme of
^England to his accustomed glory and fredo, which was gouerned by a tirant and not by his /
law-full and right kyng. The capitaines s\vare and the souldiers promised to fight, ye & to*
dye for the libertie of their countree. When all thynges was prepared, they set forwarde to-
warde Wales, lokyng euery houre for new aide and succors, noysyng abrode that they came
to aide the kyng against Owen Glendor. The kyng heryng of the erles approachyng,
thought it policie to encounter with the before that the Welshme should ioyne with their
armie, and so include hym on both partes, and therefore returned sodainly to the toune of
Shrewesbury. He was skantely entered into the toune, but he was by his postes aduertised
that the erles with baners displaied and battailes ranged, wer comyng towarde hym, and
were so hole and so coragious, that they with light horses began to skirmishe with his hoste.
The kyng'perceiuyng their dooynges, issued out and encamped hymself without the Estgate
of the toune. Therles nothing abashed although their succors theim deceiued, embattailed
themselfes not farr from the kynges armie. And the same night thei set the articles whereof
I spake before, by Thomas Kaiton and Thomas Saluaine esquiers to kyng Henry, signed
with their handes and sealed with their scales, whiche articles (because no Chronicler saue
one, maketh rnecion what was the very cause and occasion of this great bloudy battaile,
in the whiche on bothe partes wer aboue fourty thousande men assembled) I \vorde for
wordeaccorolinff to my copie do here rchcrce.
WE Henry! Percy erle of Northumberland, high Constable of England, and Warden of
the West Marches of England toward Scotlande, Henry Percy our eldest sonne Wardein of
the Easte Marches of Englandc toward Scotlande, and Thomas Percy erle of* Worcester
beyng proctours and protectours of the comon wealth, before our Lorde Jesu Christe our
supreme iudge doo allege, saie and entende to prone with our handes personally this
instante daie, against the Henry duke of Lancastre, thy complices and fauorers, vniustly
presuming and named kyng of Englande without title of right, but onely ofthy guyle and
by force of thy fautors : that when thoufjifter thyne exile diddest entre Engfaude, thou<
madest an_olhe_to_ vs vpon the holy Gospelles bodely touched and kissed by thee at Dan-
castre that thou wouldest neuer claime the croune, kyngdom or state royall but onlv thyne
owne propre inheritance, and the inheritance of thy wife in EnglandeJ and that Richard our
soueraigne lord the kyng and thyne, should raigne during the terme of his life, gouerned by
the good counsail of the lordes spirituall and temporal!. Thou hast imprisoned the same thy
soueraigne lorde and our kyng within the toure of London, vntil he had for feare of death,
resigned his kyngdomes of Englande and France, and had renounced all his right in the
forsaid kyngdomes, and others his dominions and landes of beyonde the sea. Vnder coulor
of whiche resignacion and renunciacion by the counsaile ofthy frendes and complices, and
by the open noysyng of the rascall people by thee and thy adherentes assembled at West-
minster, thou hast crouned thy self kyng of the realmes aforsaid, and hast seazed and enter-
ed into all the castles and lordshippes perteignyng to the kynges croune, contrary to thyne
othe. Wherfore thou art forsworne and false.
ALSO we do alledge, saie and entend to proue, that wher thou sworest vpo the same
Gospelles in the same place and tyme to vs, that thou wouldest not suffre any dismes to be
leuied of the Clergie, nor fiftenes on the people, nor any other tallagies and taxes to be
leuied in the realme of Englande to the behoffe of the realme duryng thy life, but by the
consideracion
SO THE THIRD YERE OF
consideration of^the thre estates of (.119 realme, except for great nede in causes of impor-
tance or for the resistance oc our enemies, onely and none otherwise. Thou contrary to
thyne othe so made, hast done to bee leuied right many dismes and fif'tenes. and other im-
posicios and tallagies, aswel of the Clergie as of the comonaltee of the real ne of Engiande,
& of the Marchauntes, for feare of thy magestie royall. Wherfore thou art periured and
false.
"^ALSO we do allege, saie & entede to proue, that were thou sworest to vs vpon the same
Gospelles in theforsaied place and tyme, that our soueraignelorde and thyne, kyng Richarde,
should reigne duryng the terme of his life in his royall prerogatiue and dignitee : thou hast
caused the same our soueraigne lorde and thine, traitorously within the castell of Poumfret,
without the cosent or lodgement of the lordes of the realme, by the space of fiftene daies and-
so many r.ightes (whiche is horible etnong Christian people to be heard) with honger, thirst
and colde to perishe, to be murdered. Wherefore thou art periured and false.
ALSO we do alledge, saie & entend to proue, that thou at that tyme when our soue-
raigne lorde and thyne, kyng Richarde, was so by that horrible murder ded as aboue saied,
thou by extorte power, diddest vsurpe and take the kyngdome of Engiande, and the name
and the honor of the kyngdome of Fraunce, 'vniustly and wrongfully, contrary to thyne
othe, from Edmonde Mortimer Earle of Marche and of Ulster, then next and direct heire
of England and of Fraunce iniediatly by due course of inheritaunce after the deceasse of
of theforsaied Richard. Wherfore thou art periured and false.
ALSO we do alledge, saie & entend to proue as aforsaid, that where thou madest an othe
in the same place and tyme, to supporte and maintein the lawes and good customes of the
vealme of Engiande, and also afterward at the tyme of thy coronacion thou madest an othe,
thesaied lawes and good customes to kepe and conserue inuiolate. Thou fraudulently and
contrary to the lawe of Engiande and thy fautors, haue written almoste through euery shire
in England to chose such knightes for to hold a parliament as shalbe for thy pleasure and
purpese, so that in thy parliamentes no Justice should be ministered against thy mynde ir»
these our complaintes now moued and shewed by vs, vvherby at any tyme we might haue
any perfight redresse, notwithstanding that wee according to our conscience (as we truste
ruled by God) haue often tymes therof complained, as well can testifie and bere witnes the
right reuerend fathers in God Thomas Arundell archbishop of Canterbury, and Richarde
Scrope, archebishop of Yorke. Wherfore nowe by force and strength of hande before our
Lorde Jesu Christ we must aske our remedy and helpe.
-A ALSO we do alledge, saie and intende to proue, that where Edmod Mortimer erle of
Marche and Ulster, was taken prisoner by Owen Glendor in a pitched and foughten feld,
and cast into prisone and lade with yron fetters, for thy matter and cause, whom falsely thou
hast proclaymed willyngly to yelde hymself prisoner to thesaied Owen Glendor, and nether
wouldest dcliuer hym thy self, nor yet suffre vs his kinsmen to raunsome and deliuer hym:
Yet notwithstanding, we haue not onely concluded and agreed with thesame Owen for his
raunsome atourpropre charges and expences, but also for a peace betwene thee and the
said Owen. iWhy hast thou then not onely published and declared vs as traytors, but also
craftely and deceitfully imagened, purposed and conspired the vtter destruction and confu-
sion of our persones. For the whiche cause we defy thee, thyj^iutoures and complices as co-
men traytoures and destroyers of the realme, and the inuadours, oppressoures and confound-
crs of theverie true and righte heires to the croune of Engiande, whiche thyng we entend
with our hades to proue this daie, almightie God helpyng vs.
WHEN kyng Henry had ouerseen jheir_aEtide*4uid defiance*, he answered the esquiers
that he was redy with dent of swerde and fierce battaill to proue their quarell false'Jmd
fayned, and not with writyng nor slanderous wordes, and so in his righteous cause anertust
quarell he doubted not but God would bothe aide and assiste hym, against vntrue persones
and false forsworne traytours: with whiche answere the messengers departed. The next
daie ,in ihe mornyng early, whiche was the vigile of Mary Magdalene, the kyng perceiuyng
that
KYNG HENRY THE. IIIJ. 51
magfle battaill was nerer than he ether thoughte or loked for, leste that long tariyng might
imagninishyng of his strength, set his battailles in good ordre : likewise did his enemies,
conne bothe in puissance and courage were nothyng to hym inferiour. Then sodainly the
-_ hisjpettes blew, the kynges parte cried sainct George vpon them: The aduersaries cried
-llsperaunce Percie, and so furiously the armies ioyned. The Scottes whiche had the for-
ward on the lordes side, entendyng to bee reuenged of their old displeasures done to them
by the Englishe nacion, set so h'ersely on the kynges forward, that they made them drawe
backe, and had almost broken their arraie. The Welshemen also vvhiche sithe the kynges
departure out of Wales, had lurked and lien in woodes mountaignes and marishes, heryng
of this battaill towarde, came to the aide of the erles, and refreshed the wery people with
new succurs. When a fearful messenger had declared to the kyng, that his people were
beaten doune on euery side, it was no nede to bid hym stirre, for sodainly he approched
with his freshe battaill, and comforted, hertened and encouraged his part so, that they
toke their hertes to theini, and manly fought with their enemies. The prince Henry that
daie holpe muche his father, for although he wer sore wouded in the face with an arow,
yet he neuer ceased ether to fight where the battail was moste strongest, or to courage bis'— ,
men where their hertes was moste danted. This greate battail cotinued thre Ip»g4ioures
with indifferet fortune on bothe partes. That at the last the kyng criyng sainct George,
victory,~brake the arraie and entered into the battaill of his enemies and fought fiersely, and
auentered so far into the battaill, that the erle Douglas strake hym doune and slewe si?
Water Blonte, and three other appareled in the kynges suite and clathyng saiyng: I mar-
uaill to see so many kynges so sodainly arise again, the kyng wa& reised and did that daie
many a noble feate of armes. For as the Scottes write and Frenche men affirme, all
though that Englishemen kepe silence, that he hymself slewe with his handes that daie
xxxvj. persones of his enemies, the qther of his parte encoraged by his doynges, fought
valiantly and slew the lorde Percie called sir Henry hotspurre, the best capitain on the-
parte aduerse. When his death was knowen, the Scottes fled, the Welshemen ran, the
traitors wer ouercome, then nether wooddes letted, nor hilles stopped the fearfull hertes of
theim that were vanquished to flie, and in that flighte therle Douglas, whiche for hast fall-
yng from the cragge of amountagnie brake one of his genitals and was taken, and for his
valiantnes of the kyng frely & frankely delhier-ed. There was taken also sir Thomas Percie
erle of Worcester & diuerse other, oa the kyages parte wer slain sir Walter Blount and. xvi.
C. other persones, but on the parte of the rebelles were slain the erle of Stafford, Che lorde
Percie and aboue fi.ue thousand other, and as for the Scottes few or none escaped aline.
AIlTJlltabi^glariou3.yie^^^ kyng_ obte.igoed,-.b.fi ... Knde.rjjdJta.almigluje^ God his*
and hertie^-tliaftkesr-wuicaused tfieiie-flf .Worcester the innrg wa g\ffer_Mfl ry
ieine. at Shreweflbory-to-be-draweifttaBgeil aj^t^uartgred, anijjiisjied to be se n t_to_ Lo ndon,
at whicbe.,place oiany joao cajjitaines fiSL-fiiiSiSdD After this greate battaill, he like a
triumphante conqueror returned with greate pompe to London, where he was by the se-
nate and magestrates solemply receiued, not a little reioysyng of his good fortune and for-
tunate victorye. But before his departure from Shrewesbury, he not forgettyng his enter-
prise against Owen Glendor, sent into Wales with a great army prince Henry his eldest
sonne against thesaid Owen and his seclicious fautors, whiche beyng dismaied and in maner
desperate of all comfort by the reason of the kynges late victory, fled in desert places and so-
litary caues, where he receiued afinall reward mete and prepared by Goddes prouidence for-
suche a rebell and sedicious seducer. 'For beyng destitute of all cornforte, clreadyng to
shewe his face to any creature, lackyng meate to sustain nature, for pure hunger and lacke
of fode miserably ended his wretched life.' This ende was prouided for suche as gaue cre-
dence to false prophesies. This ende had they that by diabolical deuinacions were promised'
great possessions and seigniories. This ende bappeneth to suche as beleuyng such fantasticall
iblies, aspire and gape for honor and high promocions. WThen the prince with litle labor
and lesse losse, bad tamed & bridtled the furious rage of the wild and sauage Welshemen,, •
and!
32 THE. IIIJ. YERE OF
atid lefte gouernors to rule and gouerne the countree, he returned to
honor & no small praise. The erle of Northumberland heryng of the
brothf-r andsonne, came of his owne free will to the kyng, excusyng hym..
party nor knowyng of their doyng nor enterprice : the kyng nether accused h»
excused, butdissimuled the matter for. ii. causes, one was he had Berwicke in his possession,
which the kyng rather desired to haue by polici then by force: the other was that therle
had his castellesof Alnewicke, Warkeworth and other fortified with Scottes, so that if therle
wer appreheded, all Northumberland wer in ieopardy to become Scottish. For jjiese causes
t kyng gaue hymjaire worries & let hym fflenart homq. whe^ he yontinaed inpeace a .while.
T>ut after he r^be}ied-aaj»a*i^iiMU^«<NMi»p^»4bajeflael£^f Lthis story. \'
f THE FOURTH YERE.
The. iiii. This yere \Valeram erle of sent Pole, considryng that he had defied kyng Henry, and
yere- also that he had made diuerse voyages, and done litle damage to the English nacion, and
susteigned rnuche losse, continuyng in his olde malice against the kyng of England, by the
assent of the Frenche kyng assembled a great numbre of men of warre, as. v. C. men of
armes. v. C. Genewaies with Crosebowes, and a. M. Flemynges on fote, and laied siege to
the Castell of Marke thre leages fro Caleis, within the territory of the kyng of Englande,
the. xvi. daie of July, wherof was capitain Philip Halle esquier, with. Ixxx. archers and.
xxiiii. other souldiers. Therle raised against the Castle diuerse engines but they preuailed
not, for they within shot so fersly, and cast out stones so incessantly, and toke suche pain'e
that to the hearers it is almoste incredible. The erle perceiuing that his feate had suche
successe as he loked for, retired with his men lodged in the toune, fortifiyng thesame for
fere of rescous that might issue from Caleis, the next day he gaue a sore assaute again, and
with great force entered the vtter court of the castle, and toke therein a great number of
hsrse kyen and catell, at the whiche assaut sir Roberte Barenguile cosin to therle was
slain. The same daie a. C. Archers on horseback comyng out of Caleis, sawe and percci-
ued the dooynges & demeanure of therle and his compaignie, and toward night theysentan
Heraulte certefiyng him that they would dine with him the next daie : to whom he proudly
answered, that he would gladly receiue them, and their dinnar should at their comyng be
ready prepared. The nexte daie ensuyng issued out of Caleis. CC. rnen of armes. CC. ar-
chers. CCC. me on fote with. x. or. xii. CharioUes laden with vitail and artillery, conducted
by sir Richard Astone knight, leuetenant of the Englishe pale for the erle of Somerset ca-
pitain generall of those marches: whiche in good ordre of battaill marched toward their
enemies, which before by their espials wer aduertised of their comyng, but that notwith-
standyng they issued not out of their lodginges to encounter with them, but kept them self
within their closure. f^The Englishmen shot so sharply and so closly together, that the Fle-
mynges and fotemen oegan to flie, the men of arrnes feryng the slaughter of their horses
ran awaie with a light gallop the Genowais whiche had spent the most part of their shot at
thassaut made litle defence and small resistence and so all were slain and put to flight. The
hasty & rashe erle of sent Paul & diuerse other without any stroke geuen to their enemies fled
to sent Omers, and there wer taken of the best of the armie, as the Frenche and Duche
Chronicle reporteth thre or foure score persones, emongest whom the capitain of Bullayne
was one, and many lordes and knightes slain. \ After that the Englishmen had taken all the
cartes munitions & vitailes that their enemies had brought thither, they returned to Caleis in
great triumphe, and within fiue daies after there issued out of the Englishe pale, about the
numbre of. v. C. men towarde Arde by night tyme, thynkyng to haue found the toune vn-
prouided, but sir Mansard de Boys and the lord Kygnie defended it and let the Englishe-
men of their purpose, and so with losse of fourty men they returned to Caleis : whiche
dedde persones wer brent in an old hous, because their enimies should be ignorate of the da-
mage
KYNG HENRY THE. IIIJ. 33
mage that the Englishemen had by them sustained. Therle of sent Paule beyng at Terwin,
imaginyng how to recouer somewhat of his losse but more of his honor, sente for a greate
compaignie of noble men and valiant personages, and cocluded to inuade the Marches of
his enemies. But the Frenche kyng consideryng the erles euil fortune and vnfoi tunate
chance, comauded hym to leue of his enterprise, with whiche he was sore displeased. Yet
to auoyd perelles, the Frenche kyng laid in garrison at Bullein and other places, the Mar-
ques of Pownt sonne to the duke of Barr, and therle of Dampnay, and sir Ihon IJarpadane
a knight of greate renoune and high estimacion. The kyng of England circuspectly for-
seyng thynges to come, and imagenyng that the Frenchemen attempted some newe enter-
price, against hym or his dominions beyonde the sea, sent. iiii. M. men to Caleis and to
the sea, whereof, iii. M. landed at Sluce, whiche besieged a castle standyng at the mouthe
of the hauen, and made diuerse assautes and lost diuerse of their compaignie, but newes
were brought to theirn, that the duke of Burgoyne had required licence of the Frenche kyng
to besiege the toune of Caleis, for whiche cause thei raised their siege, and returned to the
defence of that fortresse and desired praie of the Frenche nacion.
U THE FIFTHE YERE.
ABOUTE this season Loys Duke of Orliaunce brother to the Frenche Kyng, a man of The. v.
no lesse pryde then haute courage, wrote letters to Kyng Henry aduertisyng hym, that he >er
for the perfighte loue whiche he bare to the noble feates of chiualrie and rnarciall actes, in
auoidyng the slowe worme and deadely Dormouse called Idlenes, the ruiue of realmes and
confounder of nobilitie, and for the obteignyng of laude and renoune by deades of armes
and manly enterprises, coulde imagine or inuent nothyng either more honorable or laudable
to them both, then to mete in the feld eche parte with an hundred Knightes and Ksquiers,
all beyng Gentlemen bothe of name and armes armed at all pointes and furnished with
speares, axes, swerdes and daggers, and there to fighte and combate to the yeldyng, and
euery person to whom God shal send victory to hnue his prisoner, and him to raunsome at
his pleasure, offeryng hyin sclfe with his company to come to his citie of Angulesme, so that
the kyng of England wolde come to the laundes of Burdeaux and there defend this cha-
lenge. .The L kyng of England whiche was as graue and wittie as the duke was light and cou-
ragious, wrote to hym againe that he net a litell mused hut muche more rneruailed that the
duke beyng sworne as well to him as to kyng Richard to mainteyne the peace betweene his
brother the Frenche kyng and theym concluded, and to that had set his signe and great
scale, wolrie nowe for vainglory vnder colour of doyng dedes of Armes not onely violate the
peace and breake the amitie betwene them before concluded, but also gene an occasion of
displeasure and ingratitude, by the whiche in conclusion might rise mortall war and deadely
enernitie, affirmyng farther that no kyng anointed of very dutie was ether bound or obliged
to answere any chalenge but to his pere of egall estate and equiuolent dignitie, and that~no
Christian prince ether ought or shoulde consent to warre or effusion of christen bind but (
onely for the defence of his realme, or for conquest of his right, or for amplifiyng of Christes
faithe and chrhtian religion, and not for pride, worldly fame and vainglory, declaryng also '•
that when opportunity of time and conuenient leisure serueo\_jie would transfret and passe
the sea himselfe with suche company as he thought most conuenient into his countrey of
Gascoigne, at whiche time the Dukemyght set forward with his band for the attainyng of
Honour nnd accomplishing of his couragious desire and haute enterprise, promising in the
worde of a prince not thence to depart till the duke either by fulfillyng his owne desire, or ,
by singuler combate betwene them two, onely for auoidyng the effusion of Christen bloud,
shoulde thinke himself satisfied and fully answered. [Howbeit, at that time he beyng enbu-
sied with weightie affaires & vrgent causes concernyng the publike welthof his realme could
neither apoint time nor place, protestyug that the, deferryng of time was nether for disdaine
F nor
34 THE. VI.' YF.RE OF
. nor yet for cowardnes, hut only to abate the pride of him whiche knowyng not himself, nor
fering reproche, regarded not his othe writyrig nor scale. To this answere the duke of Or-
leaunce replied and kyng Henry reioyned, which doynges what for the vnprincely launtes
and vncharitablc checkes in them coteigned, and what for rehersyng againe thinges to you
-here before declared I omitte and put in obliuion. The duke of Orleaunce not content
with the king of England, assembled an armie of. vi. M. men and entered into Guien and
besieged the town of Vergy, wherof was Capitaine sir Robart Antelfelde a valiant knight
and an hardy captain, hauyng with him onely thre hundred Englishmen. The duke almostc
euery day assaulted the towne fiersely, but th«y within the towne couragiously defended the
same : In so much that when he had lien there thre monethes & had lost many of his men
and nothyng gotten, without honour or spoile returned into Fraunce. After this the Ad-
miral of Britayne whiche beyng highly elated and'muche encouraged because the laste yere
he had taken certaine Englishe shippes laden with wine accompanied with the Lord CastyH
a valiant baron of Britaine, and xii. C. men of armes, & xxx. shippes, sailed from sainct
Malovyes and came before the towne of Darthtnouthe and woulde liaue landed, but by the
puissaunce of the townsmen and aide of the countrey, they were repulsed and put backe in
whiche conflicte the Lorde of Castell with his two brethren with foure hundrcdc other were
slain, and aboue two hundred prisoners taken and raunsomed, wherof the Lord of Baque-
uile high Marshall of Britaine was one, whiche was brought to the kyns and after redemed.
The Admiral sory of this intbrtunate enterprise with muche Josse and no gain returned
hastely into his countrey. Kyng Henry being aduertised of this attempt, sent the Lord
Thomas his sonne whiche after was duke of Clarence to the sea with a gret nauie of shippes
to the entent eyther with battaill or depopulacion of the sea coastes bothe of Britaine and'
of Fraunce to reuenge this iniurie and inuasion he sailyng by the seacostes landed diuers times
•and fiered shippes & brent townes and destroied people without fauoure or mercie, and when he
thoughtehis quarell well reuenged lie sailed toward England, and in hisretournynghecncountred
with two great Carickes of leane laden with riche marchandise and substantial stuf betwene
whom was a greate confh'cte and a blouddy battell, but after long fightyng, the Englishemen
preuailed and brought bothe the Carickes into Camber before Rye, where one of them by mis-
auenture of fier perished to the losse and no gaine of bothe the parties. About this time
Ilion- duke of Burgoin whiche had long laboured and now obteined licence to besiege the
towne of Caleis, preparyng enginnes, ladders, cartes, and all other instrumentes necessary
and conuenient for so great a feate and notorious siege, and assembled at S. Omers vi. M.
men of armes, xv. C. Crosbowes, beside, xii. M. fotemen, hauyng vitail Bumbarde.s and
other municions of warre sufficient ami conuenient for his abrode blowen enterprise. But
when all thynges wer prepared and the hole army assembled lie was by the French kyng and
his councell (whiche put diffidence in the exploite of his glorious busines) counterrnaunded
£ prohibited farther to precede in that weightie purpose : for the which cause he conceiued
so great an hatred and deadely malice against the Duke of Orleaunce (as the onely stop and
let of his glory and renoume) that he euer after not only maligned and grudged against him
and his procedynges, but also (as you shall shortly heafe) brought him to death and finall
destruction. i
•f THE SIXT YERE.
•rhc.vi. I'N tnis yere tfie Earle of Northumberland whiche bare still a venemouS scorpion in his
?<*<>• cankered heart, and coulde not desist to inuent and deuise waies and meanes howe to be re-
uenged of kyng Henry and his fautours, began secretely to communicate his interior imagi-
nacions and priuie thoughtes with Richard Scrope Archebishop of Yorke brother to Willia.
lord Scrop treasorer of England whom- kyng Henry (as you haue hearde) beheaded at the
iowne of Bristow, and with Thomas- Mowbrey erle Marshal sonne to Thomas duke of
Norffolke, for kyng Henries cause before banished the realme of England, and with the
lordes
KYNG HENRY THE, IIIJ. 35
lordes, Hastynges, FauconbBidge, Bardolfe and cliuerse other. whiche he knewe to beare
deadely liate and inward grudge toward the kyng. After long consultation had, it was fil
nally concluded and determined amongest theyiu that all they, their frendcs and alies witli
all their power shoulde mete at Yorkcs wold at a day appointed and that therle of Northum-
berlad should be chefetaine and supreme gouernour of the armie, which promised to bryng
with him a great nomber of Scottes.
THIS sedicious conspiracy was not so secretely kept nor so closely cloked but that the
kyng thereof had knowledge, and was fully aduertised. Wherefore to preuent the time of
their assembly, he with suche power as he could sodainly gather together with all diligece
marched toward the North parties and vsed such a celeritie in his iourney that he was thither
come with all his hosteand power before the confederates hearde any inkelyng of his march-
yng forward, and sodainly there wer apprehended the Archebishop, the earle Marshal, sir-
Ihon Lampley, and sir llobart Plumpton. These personnes wer arrained, atteinted and
adiudged to die, and so on the Monday in Whitson weke all they withoute the Citie of
Yorke were beheadded. Here of nccessitie I oughte not nor will not forgeate howe some^f
folishe and fantastical! personnes haue written, howe erronius Ipocrites and sedicious Asses
haue endited, howe supersticious Friers and malicious Monkes haue declared and diuulged
both contrary to Goddes doctrine the honour of their prince and comrnen knowen veritie that r ,
at the howre of the executio of this Bishop (which of the Executioner desired to haue fiue •
strokes in remembraunce of the fiue woundes of Christ) the kyng at the same time sittyng at
diner had v. strokes in his necke by a person inuisible, & was incontinently strike with a
leprey, whiche is a manifest lye as you shall after plainely perceiue. What shall a man say of
suche writers whiche toke upon them to knowe the secretes of Goddes Judgement? what
shall men thinke of such beastly persons whiche regardyng not their bounden .du.tie, and
obeisance to their prince & souerain Lord enuied the punishment of trailers and torment of
offeders ? But what shall all men coniecture of suche whiche fauouryng their own worldly
dignitie, their own priuate auctoritie, their own peculiar profit, wil thus iuggle raile and
imagine fantasies against their soueraigne lord and Prince, and put theim in memorye as a
miracle to his dishonor and perpetual infamy: Wei let wise men iudge what I haue said.
Beside these persons, diuers other of thesaid conspiracie and faccio, the lorde Hastinges, the
lord Fauconbridge, sir Ihon Coluile of the dale, sir Ihon. Griffith were beheaded at Durham.
Therle of Northumberland hearyng his councelto be reueled and his confederates to be put
to execution and shameful death, fled into Scotland to his old frend George of Dunbarre
earle of the Marche, which the yere before was reuoked out of exile and restored to his
possessions name and dignitie, where he taried till the next Somer & then sailed into
France and after into Flaunders desyryng aide and assistence againste kyng Henry, but
when he sawe littel hope of comfort and that fevve willyngly were ententife to his request,
he accompanied with the Lorde Bardolffe muchc dismaied and more desperate returned
again to his trew frendes into Scotlande and there made his abode the hole yere abydynf
the fauour of Fortune and chaungc of his vnfortunate chaunce duryng whiche tyme the
kyng withoute any difncultie toke into his possession the towne of Barwicke, the castelles of
Alnewyke and all other Fortresses appertainyng to the Earle : and liyng at Berwycke he
caused to be put to death the Barons sonne of Greystocke, sir Henry Beynton, and Ihon
Blenkensoppe and fiue other as fautoures and workers of this newe inuented conspiracy.
When the kyng had thus appeased and asswaged that late begonne commotion, he sent his
son the prince of Wales accompanied with Edward duke of Yorke and a great puissance,
to encounter with the Scottes which by promise wer bound to ayde and assiste the confede-
rates and rebelles. But thei hearyng that the founders of the warre were apprehended and
put to deathe, made no haste forward but taried peacibly at home. So that the prince
entryng into Scotland and findyng no resistence, brent tounes spoyled villages and wasted
the countrey euery where as he passed, which thyng so muche,amased the kyng of Scottes
and his councel, that notwithstandyng that he had gathered and appoincted a greate hoste vn-
F 2 dcr
36 THE VII. YERE OF
der the conducte of the Erles of Douglas and Bowgham to resist the prince and his inuasions,
yet they sente Ambassadors to hym requiryng hym of peace and finall concord, whiche requeste
he vtterly denaied, but at their humble peticion he graunted them a truce for certaine monethes,
of the whiche they were botheglad and ioyous, and so the prince laden with pray and spoile
retourned with great gain to his father. While the prince thus infected the countrey of Scot-
lad on the land, sir Robart Vmfreuile vice Admiral! of England vexed the coutreys of Fyffe
and Loghdian on the sea coast, for he liyng in the Scottishe sea. xiiii. daies and etiery daie
landed on the one side or the other and toke praies spoyles and prisoners matigre the gret
powers of the duke of Albanie and the Erie Douglas, insomuche that he brent and toke the
town of Peples on their faire day and caused his men to mete Clothe with their bowes : and
with great gain retournyng to his shippes brent the Galiet of Scotland with many other ves-
sels, and sente Clothe vitail and diuers Marchandises to euery towne in Northumberland,
seltyng thereon no great price: Wherefore the Scottes called hyrn liobyn niendmarket.
The kyng about this time was newely vnquieted and perturbed, for notwithstandyng this
fortunate successe that he had obteigned in all his outward warres and interiour affayres, yet
some of his people bare suche a cankered hearte to warde hym that to expell hym from hi»
rule and dignitie they left no occasion vnsought nor deuise vnattempted. For sodainty
sprage out a fame of an vncertain auctour that king Richard was yet liuing in Scotland, to
whiche fable suche credite was geuen that if prudente policie had not forsene the sequele, it
had kendeled a greatter flame then within short space might haue well bene quenched or
cxtincte.
IT THE SEUENTH YERE.
Th«.vii, IN this sommer, the Pestilenciall plage so infected the Citie of London and the countrei
ycre. rofid about that the king durst not repaire thither nor yet nere to the confines of the same,
wherfore he departyng from the castel of Ledes, determined to take ship at Quinboroughe
in the Isle of Shepey, and to sail ouer to Lye in Essex and so to Plasshey, there to passe
his time till the plage were seased: and because certain pyrates of Fraunce were lurkyng at
the Temmes mouthe waityng for their pray, Thomas Lord Camois with certaine shippes of
warre was appointed to wafte ouer the king. When the kyng was on the sea, in the middest
of his iourney, whether the wind turned, or that the Lord Camois kept not a directe course^
or that his shippe was but a slugge. The Frenchemen whiche by all similitude had knowledge
of the kvngcs passage entered amongest the kynges nauie and tokefowre vcsselles nexte to the
kynges shippe and in one of the sir Thomas Rampston knight the kiuges vice chamberlain
with all his chamber sturFeand apparel, and folowed the kyng so nere that if his shippe had.
nat bene swift he had landed sooner in Fn;ce then in Essex, but by Goddes prouision and
fortunate chauuce he escaped the daunger and arriued at his appointed porte. The kyng
beyng sore moued with the lord Camois, caused him to be attached and endited that he con-
discended and agreed with the Frenchemen that the kyng in his iourney should be intercepted
and taken. On this poinct he was arraigned the last dajjatVQctober before Edmond erle of
Kent that day high stuard of the realnie, on which day were he giltie or giltless, fautie or
clore, culpable or innocent of that fact and doyng, he was by his peres found not giltie and
dismissed at the barre, hauyng restitucion bothe of his landes goodes and offices. In this
yere kyng Henry not onely desiryng newe affinitie with forein princes but also the preferment
of his line and progeny, sent the Lady Phylip his yonger doughter to Ericke kyng of Den-
marke, Norwey and Swethen which was conueighed thither with great pompeand therewith
muche triumphc maricd to the said kyng, where she tasted bothe welthe, and wo, ioye &
pain. About this season died sir Robert Knolles knight a man of great policie, wisclome and
experience in war which had bene a Capitayn from the time of Kyng Edward the. iii. till his
latter dayes, iu the whiche he beyng Gouernour of Aquitayne encombred with age resigned
1 his
KYNG HENRY THE. IIIJ. 37
his office to sir Thomas Belfford a valiaunt capytaine and returned to London, where he
disseased and was honorably buried in the Churche of the White Fryers.
f THE EYGHT YERE.
YOU haue heard before how kyng Robert of Scotlande being very aged and impotent, was The. via..
notable to rule and gouerne his realme, and how Walter his brother, beyingby hym created dukeyer<
of Albanie, (whiche was the firste duke that euer was in Scotlande) was made gouernor of
his brothers countree and dominion. After whiche office and preheminece by hym obteigned,
he so sore thirsted after the croune and scepter royal that he cared litle though the kyng his
brother and his two sones had been at Christes fote in heuen. And somwhat to further his
purpose, it vnfortunatly chaused that Dauy of Rothesay prince of the realme and eldest sonne
to the kyng, was accused to his father of diuerse heynous crimes, and in especiall of lasciuious
& dissolute liuyng, as rauishyng of wiues, deflouryng of virgins, and defyling of maidens,
•w her fore the kyng deliuered hym to his brother the gouernor, trustyng that by his good
coiMsaill and discrete aduertisemente he would not onely amend his life, but also to fall
to wisedom prudence and grauitie. Whe the duke had possessed part of his desired
pray, he sent his nephewe fro castle to castle, from prisone to prisone, from place to place,
and in conclusion lodged him in a toure within the castle of Franckelande, where with fa-
inyne he caused miserably to ende his life, puttyng a poore woman to painfull death, whiche
gaue to the Prince the milke of her brestes by a rede into the prisone. His death was long,
hidden from the king his lather, but in conclusio, the gouernor shewed to the king how
diuerse persones traiterously had murdered hym whiche wer apprehended and iudged to die,
& yet in their l;ues they neuer knew nor yet saw hym. The kyng notwithstandyng his bro-
thers excuse, doubted much thend of his other sonne named larnes, wherfore he priuely
prouided a shi[>, in the whiche he put the child beyng then of the age of. ix. yeres, under the
tuicion of the lorde Hery Senclere erle of Orkeney, willyng him to couey the prince into f.
realme of France if by any possibilitie he could thether attain. And if fortune should driue
hym on ^ cost of England, he wrote letters to the kyng of England, y tenor wherof in-
sueth.
" ROBERT Kyng of Scottes, sendeth gretyng to Kyng Henry of Englande, although by A letter
relacion of other persones I haue knowen before this tyme, what magnanirnitie, what cle-
inencie, and other infinite vertues be planted and roted in your royall persone, yet in the voy- Scottes..
age that you your self personally last made into Scotlad, I haue had manifest and open expe-
rience of the same. For whe you like our enemy inuaded our countrie, brent our tounes,
and destroyed our people, yet by the fauor that you shewed to suche places and people
whiche receined and fostered your noble father when he fled out of Englad (for feare of
rebelles whiche then sore afflicted his lande) we haue receiued altnoste as muche profit and
aduantage as we did hurte and damage, by your terrible warres and bloudy inuasions.
Wherefore I cannot but laud and praise your highnes & Judge your noble herte mete for a
kyngdo, but also I doloue and will not cease to loue you duryng my naturall life. And
notwithstandyng that realmes and nacions daily contende and make warre for glory rule
and empire, yet to vs bothe beyng kynges, no suche occasion is geuen to do as they do, or
to folowe their steppes or progression, but we (whiche is the duetie of a kyng) oughte to
striuewho shall prosecute other with moste humain fauor and continual ckmencie, and as
muche as we maie to be felowes, compagnios and alies, insinguler loue and perpetual amitie.
And as for suche causes as now be different and in discencion betwene vs and our realmes for
my part I shall endeuor my self to bryng all thynges to a good coclusion & mutuall confor-
mitie. And because that I now am in the same trouble and perplexitie for my children, that
your father was with the rebelles of Englande, I am compelled of very necessitie to desire
aide
38 THE. VIII. YERE OF
aide and seke coforte of forain princes and strange nacions. And although that by the help
of God and power of my people, I am able inough to kepe the same against all outwarde
powers and forain attemptes. Yet from the secrete malice of suche as lurke and bee daily
norished in my very bosome, I cannot kepe theim in suertie within myne owne dominion.
And yet in no other place thei can bee from that pestiferous conspiracy put in any sure de-
fence or perfight sauegard, except thei he preserued by the faith and fidelitie of good and iust
men. The worlde this tyme is so full of malice, so replenished with rancor, that whereso-
euer thatgolde or siluer (whiche bee instrumentes of mischief) maie enter or penetrate, there
•shalbe founde ministers prone and redy to do and perpetrate al detestable crimes and mis-
cheuous inuencions: But because I kuowe and perceiue your person to be endued with so
many notable vertues, and to be adorned with such Magnanimitie, fidelitie, iustiee, cle-
mencie, and finally, not onely to be replenished with the whole compaignie and felowship
of the vertues Moral, but also to be of that power, riches & puyssance that no prince in our
tyme, maie to your highnes be ether compared or assimuled, I beyng by your noble and
notable qualities allected and encoraged, most hertely require your helpe and humbly desire
your aide, relefe and comfort. For mine eldest sonne Dauid, (as I suspect and as the fame
runeth, althonghe I cannot yet thereof make a perfight proft'e) is muithered, by no comen
murther, by no open tliefe, by no notorious malefactor nor by no furious persone, but by
my brother his vncle whiche ought to haue protected and saued him, to whom I comitted the
gouernance of me, my children, my whole realme and all that I had, whiche vnnaturall
.kinseman hath not only killed my child, but hath shamefully slain and murdered hym with the
.moste cruell and miserable kynd of death, which Js famyne. And so he, which ought &
.whose duety was to haue aduoyded and put fro me the iniuries of all other persones, hath
afflicted me with the moste contumelie, the greatest iniury and manifest damage, that euer
subiecte did attempt against his Prince, or brother against brother, or enemy against
.kinseman. For he whom I made.gouernor to withstand the power and malice of mine outward
enemies, compasseth and imagineth how to destroy myne issue, and consequently myne
owne persone. Wherfore for the fauor that you here to Justice sent by God to mankinde,
and for the naturall loue and fatherly affection that you here to your children and posteritie,
I humbly require and hertely desire your magnificece, that this mine onely child, not onely
maie safely and surely liue vnder your defence and protection but also that you of your ac-
customed goodnes will vouchsaue to preserue and defende this the onely heire of my pos-
teritie from the malicious attemptes of his cruell kynred and ambicious consanguinitie. And
this the rather, for the remembrance both of your fathers chance, whiche in his necessitie
..found muche humanitic in our nacion, and also of the frailtie of worldly suretie, whiche
: assone changcth from good to euill, and from euill to worse, as the faire and redolent flower
this dale florisheth, and to morow widreth and sodainly vadeth. Requiryng you to haue in re-
membraunce, that if princes put their whole confidence only in their comon people, which
T>e more variable then the Wethercocke or wynd, and haue no outward frendes nor forain
nmitie, their empire is fallyng and their regiment very britell. But if princes be coupled in
.the chaines of indissoluble amide, and will mutually & faithfully defende their cornen ene-
mies, and aduoyde their manifest iniuries, there is no power or strength of the comen
people, that ether can hurte or cast theim from the throne: in suche a suretie is a kyng
.that so is garnished with the loue, fauor and amitie of outward princes and louyng neigh-
bors. Wherfore, if it may seme expedient to your high wisedome, to here this my lowly
requeste and louyng suete (whiche I thynke your clemencie will not reiect nor retell) my
desire is, that accordyng to the last truce concluded betwene yon and vs, in the whiche is
.conteigned that all men conueighyng letters from the one of vs to the other, should suerly
& sauely passe and repasse without any cotradiccio: That it would plese you not to breke
,nor deny the said liberty to this berer our only sone, but for your honor to kepe your pro-
mise sincerly inuiolated & .faithfully obserued. And thus the gracious God preserue your
noble person in your royal estate long to continew."
4 WHEN
KYNG HENRY THE. 1IIJ. S9
WHEN all thynges necessary were prepared, the mariners halsed vp their ankers and
departed from Bas castle with this young prince and Henry Percie sonne to the lord Percie
slain before at Shrewsbury, and by rigor pf tempest wer driuen on the cost of llolder-
-nes called Flamborough hed the. xxx. daie of Marche, where the yong prince for to re-
freshe liymselfe toke lande. He wroughte not so priuily, but he was knowen and taken with
all his copany, & conueighed to the kyngbeyngat Winsore, where he with dew reuerece deli-
uercd his fathers letter. When the letter was redde & vnderstand, the kyng assembled his
counsail to knowe what should be doen with this noble enfant. Some to whome the con-
tinual warres and daily battail was bothe displeasut and odious, affirmed that there could
not happen a better or a more surer occasion of peace and amide betwene bothe the realmes,
whiche beyng so offred, they would in no wise should be reiected but taken, consideryng that
this prince was sent thither, in trust of sauegard, in hope of refuge, and in request
of aide and comfort against his euill willers and malicous enemies: other (whose opinion
toke place) affirmed hyin to be a prisoner and so to bee ordered, for asmuche as he was
. taken the warre beeyng open, and that his father did not onely maintayne therle of Nor-
thumberland and other rebelles within his countrie and geue them great honors, but also sent a
.greate nombre of his nobilite against the kyng at- the battaill of Shrewesbery. W-herfore it
was agreed that he should be deteined as a prisoner, lawfully taken and duely appreheded.
When tidynges of this difinitiue sentence was shewed to his father, he tooke suche an in-*
warde conceit and so sore a penciffenes, that he ended his naturall life within a few inone-
thes after. Although the takyng of this young prince, was at the first tyme displeasant to
the realme of Scotlande: yet surely, after he and all his region had greate cause to reioyse
and thanke God of their fortunate chaunce and good lucke that insued. For where before
that tyme the people of Scotlande wer rude, rustical!, without any vrbanitie, hauyng litle ler-
uyng and lesse good maners, & good qualities least of all. This prince beeyng. xviij. yeres
prisoner within this realme, was so instructed and taught by his scholemasters & pedagoges
,apointed to him by the onely clemencie of the kyng, that he not onely florished in good learn-'
-yng ajid freshe litterature (as the tyme then serued) but also excelled in all poynctes of Mar-
ciall feates, Musicall instrumentes, Poeticall artes and liberal sciences. In so muche th;it;
at his returne from captiuitee, he furnished his realme bothe with good learnyng and ciuilL.
policie, whiche before was barbarous, sauage, rude & without all good nurtur. .
•f THE NYNETH YERE..
TIIERLE of Northumberland, whiche had been in Fraunce and other regions to oh- TH*. ix. .
teigne aide against kyng Henry, and had missed of his purpose, now puttc his whole confidence ycre*
in the Scottes, and in especiall in his olde frende George erle of Marche, and so assembled
a great power of the Scottish nacion to inuade Northumberland, and recouered diuerse of
his owne castles and seigniories, to whom the people without nombre daily resorted. Wher-
fore he entendyng to bee reuenged of his old greues, accornpaignied with the lorde Bar-
dolfte and diuerse other Scottes and Englishmen entredinto Yorke shire and there began to >
destroy and depopulate the countrie. Wherof the kyng beyng aduerttsed, caused a greate
army to be assembled and marched toward his enemies, but or the kyng came to -Notyng-
hani, Raufe Rekesbie shrife of Yorke shire, in the middest of February with the po^er of ;
the countrie, sodainlie set on therle and his compaignie, at a place called Bramhatn More,
• where after long fightyng, the erle and the Lorde Bardolffe and many other-wer taken and ^
brought to Yorke and there executed, and their heddes sent to London. .
AFTER this the kyng hauing knowledge that diuerse pirates wer wanderyng on the cost
of Englande, prepared a great armie furnished with men, vitaile and -.municions- of warre
mete & conuenient for such1 an enterprice, and in the beginnyng. of Marche sent to the sea,
lorde Edtnond- Hollande erle of Kent, chieftain of that crewe- and ar-mie. When the erle"
had-J
40 THE TENTH YERE OF
had searched all the coaste of Fraunce, and had founde not one pirate or sea robber, he vras
aduertised by his espials that they heryng of his armie, wer diuerted to the partes of Britayn.
Wherefore the said erle entendyng to be reuenged on them whiche he sougtit for, made his
course thether, before his arriual they had conueighed their shippes into the hauens, so that
he could not fight with them on the sea, wherfore lie launched out his botes and with his
fierce souldiers toke land and fiercely assaulted the towne of Briake standyng on the sea side.
The citiezens threwe out dartes, cast stones, shotte quarrelles and manfully defended their
•walles. In wliiche conflicte the erle receiued such a wound in his head that he departed out
of this world the. v. day after. The assailantes not dismaied but set a fire with the death of
their captaine like men desperate styll assaulted the towne and by fine force entered into the
same and set it a fier and slewe all that would make any resisteuce, and for lacke of a cap-
tain, the men of warre laden with praies and prisoners returned againe into Englande.
THIS Edmond erle of Kent was in such fauour with kyng Henry that he not alonely ad-
uanced and promoted him to highe offices and great preheminences, but also by his meane and
MO small coste obteigned for him the eldest doughter and one of the heires of the Lord I3ar-
nabo of Millaine brother to Lord Galeace whose sone also called Galeace murdervng his
vncle Barnabo made himselfe first duke of Millaine, for which marriage Lord Barnabo
paied to him an hundred M. Duccattes at the churche of saint Marie Oueryes in South-
warke at the day of the solempnite, by doen Alphos de Caniola. This Lucie after the death
of her husband by whom she had no issue, was moued by the kyng to mary with Ins bastard
brother the Earle of Dorcet a man very aged and il visaged, whose person nether satisfied
her fantasy nor whose face pleased her appetite, wherfore she preferring her own mind more
then the kynges desire, delityng in him the whiche shoulde more satisfie her wanton pleasure
then gaine her any profile, for very loue toke to husband Henry Mortimer a goodly yong
Esquier and a bewtifull Bacheler. For which cause the kyng was not onely with her dis-
pleased but also for mariyng withoute his licence he seassed and fined her at a great some
of money, which fine kyng Henry the. v. bothe released and pardoned and also made him
knyght and promoted hym to great offices both in England and Normandie, whiche sir Hen-
ry had issue by this Lady, Anne maried to sir Ihon Awbemond mother to Elizabeth Chan-
dos mother to Phillis maried to sir Dauie Halle capitayne of Caen, she had also issue Mari
maried to Ihon Cheddar and Luce espoused to sir Ihon Cressy. fThis yere by reason of Frostr \
—^ shepe and birds died without nomber, whiche continued fiftene weekes7
*[ THE. X. YERE.
Th«. x. ABOUTE this time Ihon duke of Burgoine a man of a quicke witte, desirous of rule, &
of a haute courage, being of great auctoritie ainongest the Frenche nacion to whome ciuill
discorde was more pleasure than fraternall amitie and mutuall concorde, began sore to
grudge and maligne against Lewes Duke of Orleance brother to the French kyng, because
that he was chefe of the kynges councell and ordered al thinges by his discrecion, because the
king his brother was (as you haue heard) fallen into a frensy and tlierfore meddled in no-
thyng. The duke of Orleance on the otherside beyng highly set vp in pride, began to dis-
dain and froune at the duke of Burgoin, because he perceiued that he aspired & gaped to haue
the supreme regimente in the publike affaires and weightie causes, thus the one would haue
no superior, and the other would haue no pere. This cancard disdain in shorte space grewe
to suche a hate, that all the realme of Fraunce was deuided into two faccions, thone parte
fauoryng the duke of Orleauce, and the other inclinyng to the duke of Burgoyne, whiche
deuisiou had almoste brought the realme of France to vtter ruineand perpetuafl confusion.
The Frenche kyng beyng sornwhat amended of his dissease, heryng of this controuersie be-
twene these two princes, set for theim bothe to Paris, where he reproued their pride, re-
buked their malice, and taunted their vngodly dooynges, in so muche that all the nobilitie
beygn
KYNG HENRY THE. IIIJ.
beyng present, Judged the displeasure to haue been bothe forgotten and forgeuen. But
high corages are not so sone abated, nor roted malice is not in hast plucked vp, for the
duke of Burgoyne still co passing the destruccion of the duke ofOrleance, appoyncted a se-
crete frende called Raft'e of Actouille, to bryng his purpose to passe. This Raft'e forgettyng
not his enterprise, assembled together a compaignie of suche persons as he moste trusted, &
as a Woltte gredy of his pray, when the duke of Orleance was commyng from the court in
the night season, he fiersly set vpon hym and shamefully slewe hym. When this murder
was published, the king lamented, the nobles grudged, and the comon people cried to God
for vengeance. The duke of Burgoyne iustified this act by the mouth of Master Ihon Petit
doctor in deuinite, whiche wrested scripture and doctors so far out of course, that his Justi-
fication within fe\ve yeres after was adiudged heresy by the whole vniuersite of Paris. The
French kyng, lest that greater mischief should ensue, was compelled to hide and cloke his
inward arfeccion and dolorus herte and to dissimule the matter, doubtyng lest the duke of
Burgoyne whose herte and haute corage he had well knowen before, (if he should proceade
against hym for this euill acte) would ioyne and take part with the Englishe nacion against
the realme of France. Wherefore after long consultacion had by the entreatie of the kyng
and other Princes of the bloud royall, Charles duke of Orleance sonne to duke Lewes lately
murdred, and Ihon duke of Burgoyne were reconsiled and brought to a fained concord and
a fainte agremente, eche of theim takyng a corporall othe vpon the holy Euangelists, neuer
after to disagre or renewe any displeasure for any thyng before passed. But what preuaileth
an othe where hertes still burne & malice continually smoketh, who careth for penury when
apetite of reuengyng daily encreaseth.
IN this case was the duke of Orleance whiche perceiuyng the king his vncle to beare
with the duke of Burgoyne, and to let the detestable murder of his father so lightly pasee
without pain or punishmet, alied and confederated hvmself with the dukes of Berry and Bur-
bon, & the cries of Alaunson and Arminacke, whiche reised agreate puissance of people,
and defied the duke of Burgoin and his cdplices as their mortall foo and dedly enemy. The
duke of Burgoine feryng the sequele of the matter (because ther was a mocio of mariage
to be had betwene the prince of Wales and his doughter) was somwhat the bolder to send
to the kyng of England for aide and succors against his enemies. Kyng Henry no lesse
forseyng then that whiche after ensued, whiche was that the discord of these two great princes
might turne his realme to profit and honor, sent to the duke of Burgoine, Thomas erle
of Arundell, sir Gilbert Vmfreuile lorde of Kyne, sir Robert Vinfreuile, and sir Ihon Grey
with. xij. C. archers, whiche toke shippyng at Douer and landed at Sluce. When thenglish-
men wer arriued in Flaunders, the duke of Burgoin with thenglishmen and all his power,
rode daie and night til he came nere to Paris, and ther the next daie after with hard fight-
yng and coragious shotyng, the Englishmen gat the bridge of saint Clow, whiche passed
ouer the riuer of Saine, and toke and slewe all the souldiers whiche the duke of Orleance
had left there in garrison to defend the bridge. Emongest whom sir Mansard de Boys a
valiant capitain was taken prisoner by the Englishemen & highly raunsomed. But the duke
of Orleace and his compainy whiche wer like to haue been compassed with their enemies, so
that almost al their waies of refuge were stopped and enclosed, in the nyght tyme made a
bridge ouer the riuer on the part of saint Denis strete, & so escaped & fled into the high cou-
tries. And after this conflicte the duke of Burgoyn beyng now in his ruffe thin kyng no
man ether in aucthorite or bloud equiuolente to his person, and blinded with a kail of vain-
glory before his ieyes, toke vpo him him the hole rule and gouernance of the realme and or-
dered the kyng as pleased him, and not to the kinges wil, and thinking that in so trobelous
a season he had vnknit the knot of all ambiguities & doubtes perceiuingall thynges to haue
better succeded for his purpose then he before imagined, dismissed Thenglishmen into their
countrey geuing to them harty thankea and great rewardesj Which doyng king Hery much
disalowed, consideryng that he had sent away his defence before the great brunt of the war
wer ouerpassed, & shuld haue taken hede before what policie his enemies had practised or
G what
42 THE. XII. YEIIE OF
what puissance they had assembled. For he well remebred that one faire daieassufeth not a
good Sommer, nor one fliyng Svvalovv prognosticated! not a good yere.
f THE ELEUENTH YEIIE.
ih.xi. Kyng Henry nowe beyng quiet & not molested with ciuil discencion nor domesticali
factions called his high court of parliamente i« the whiche after he had concluded diuerse
Actes mete and expedient for the publike welth of his realme and people, he exalted and
promoted his thre yonger sonnes to hie honors, as lorde Thomas to the Duchie of Clarence,
lorde Ihon to the duchie of Bedford, & lorde Humphrey to the cluchie of Glocester, and
lord Thomas his halfe brother erle of Dorcet he made duke of Excester. Howbeit some
wTherj3_sai£ he was erected to that estate and dignitie by kyng Henry the. v. in the first yere
of his reigne, whiche thyng is nether materiall nor disputable consideryng he had none issue.
f
1T THE TWELFTH YERE.
The. xii. While these thynges wer thus doyng in England, Iho duke of Burgoyn which ruled
the rost and gouerned both kyng Charles the Frenche kyng and his whole realme, so muche
stomakedand enuied the duke of Orlifice & his fautors that he caused the Freeh kyng in per-
son to arme himself against them and their adherentes, as traitors to liym and apparat ene-
mies to the comon welth, & sent diuerse eapitaines to inuade their landes and territories in
the countrees of Poytiers and Angulesme, & other seigniories aperteinyng and belongyng to
the homage and obeisance of the duchie of Aquitain & Guien. Wherfore the dukes of
Orleance, Berre, and Bui bon with their fi edes and alies, scyng that now their onely hope
consisted in the kyng of England, sent to hym Alberte Aubemound a man of no lesse lern-
yng then audacite, & yet of no lesse audacitie, then wit and policie, whiche in the name of
the confederates offred certain codicions as you shall here after accordyng to myne aucthor
truly reported, whiche wer made & cocluded in the yere of our Lorde. M.CCCC.xij. the.
viij. dale of Maie.
FIRST, thesaid lordes offred that fro thece furth thei should expose and set furth their
owne persons, finances and lades to serue the kyng of England his heires and successors,
when souer thei wer required or called in all hist quarelles: whiche iust quarelles the kyng
of Knglade shall take to aperteigne to the duchie of Guyen with the appurtenances, affirna-
yng how thesaid duchie perteigneth and ought to apertain to hym of righte by lineall heritage
and lawfull succession, manifestyng from thence furthe, that thei should not blemishe nor
spotte their truthe nor fidelite to assiste and aide hym in recoueryng thesame duchy.
ALSO thesaied Lordes offered their sonnes, doughters, nephewes and neces, parentes
and all their subiectes, to contract mariage accordyng to the discrecion of the kyng of En-
glande.
ALSO thei offred tounes castles tresures, & generally al their goodes to ayde the kyng his
heires and successors for the defence of their rightes and quarels, so that the bonde of
their allegiance might be saued, the whiche in another secrete apointment they before had
declared.
ALSO thei offred to the kyng of England generally al their frendes adherentes alies and
well willers to serue him in his quarel for the recouery of the hole Duchie of Guien.
ALSO to cease al fraude, the sayd lordes recognised that they were ready, to affirme the
saied Duchie of Guien to belong to the kyng of England, in like and semblable wise in li-
berty and franchises, as euer any of the said kynges predecessors held or possessed the
same.
ALSO the said lordes knowledged that al the townes castels and fortresses that they had
1 within.
KYNG HENRY THE, IIIJ. 43
•within the Duchie of Guien, to holde them of the kyng of England as the very trewe duke
of Guien, promisyug all seruice and homages after the best maner that in suche case might be.
ALSO they promised to deliuer to the kyng as much as laie in the all townes and castelles
apperteinyng to the roialtie and seignorie of England, whiche are in 'nombcr. xx. what
townes and castels, and as to the regarde of other townes and fortresses whiche were not iu
their puissaunce and seigniory, they woulde healpe the kyng of England his heires and
deputies to winne them with men in sufficiente number at their propre charges and cxpences.
ALSO the kyng of England was agreed that the duke of Berry his trewe Uncle and* vas-
salle and the duke of Orleance his subiecte and vassalle and the Earle of Arminacke shoulde • v»m\ik
holde of hym by homage and fealtie the landes and seigniores hereafter folowyng, that is to£"iVth"
saye the Duke of Berry to holde the Countie of Pontiew duryng his life, and the duke ofi»°nd« or
Orleaunce to hold the countie of Angulesme duryng his life onely, and the countie of Per- clfT"^"
rigot for eucr, and the Erie of Annniacke to holde. iiii. castels vpon certain sureties and tie °r HO-
condicions as by indenture should be appointed.
FOR the which offers couenauntes and agrementcs they affirmed that the kyng of England
as Duke of Guien, ought to defende & succour them against all men as their very Lord and
soueraigne, and not to conclude any treatie of leage with the Duke of Burgoine, his bre-
thren, children, fi endes or alies.
FURTHERMORE, the kyng of England ought to ayde the sayd Lordes as his trewe
vassals in all their iuste quarels for recoueryng of damages for iniuries to them wrongful-
ly done. <)} Vi
ALSO they required the kyng of England to send to the. viii. thousand men to ayde
them againste the Duke of Burgoine, whiche daily prouoked the French kyng to make open
warre on them, their landes and seigniories, promisyng farther to disbouice and pay all the
costes and charges whiche the sayd armie of Englishmen should expend duiyng their waire,
whiche letter was written the. viii. day of May.
KYNG Henry louingly receiued & gentely enlertayned this messenger Albcrte, and
when he had well debated and considered the case,:#he first detesting the abhominable mur-
der of the late duke of Orliaunce and seyng no lustjce ministred nor no punishment done
for so shamefull an acte, hauyng also approued experience that the Duke of Burgoine
wolde kepe no longer promise then he him self listed. And secondarily consideryng what
large offers these Princes had made to him bothe greatly to his honour and to the high pro-
fit and commoditie of his realme and subiectes, thought that he was b'ounde by the office of
aTKyiig to ayde and succour theym whiche cried for lustice and could liaue none, and in espe-
ciall because they in that point beyng his subiectes and vassalles ought to be defended in
maintenaunce of his superioritie and seigniorie: wherfove he louyngly promyscd them aide
and relefe. This return of the messenger was to them as pleasant as is the deliuerance of a
captiue fro his sore imprisonment, or of a marchant passyng by the way beset about by
Thcues, beyng reskewed by his frendes or copanions. And not without cause, for the , * Ars"'-
French king not of his owne courage animated, but maliciously encesed by the duke of Ari'to" °L
Burgoyn, persecuted the faction of the Orliaunces from citie to citie from tovvne to towne, v-kins.of
with such power and extremitie that they were bothe of force and necessitie compelled to
repaire to the Citie of Bourges in Berry, and there to appoincte theym sdfes ether to ren-
enemy to the Englishmen into the parties of Picardy with nYten C. horseroe and a groat ^fcSST""
nomber of fotemen, he ordeined certain of his men to gene assaulte to the tonne of Guisnes J MI&I,
while he stode in a stale to lie in w'aite for the relefe that myght come from Caleis. The fhe Poet"
furious Frenchmen brake a fewe old pales about pore mens gardcins of Guisnes, but the tapem*
men of warre of the Castell shotte so fiercely at them with arowes and caste oute wildeficr h?**5"'*
in swche abundance that the assailantes were faine to retire. And so the erle of sainct kpses*
GS Paule
41
The. xiii,
ytre.
THE. XIIII. YERE OF
Paule whiche neuer wonne gain but loste honor at the Englishe mens handes, returned no
onely with losse of his people but defrauded of his desired pray, returned to the toune of
Saint Quintins.
If THE. XIII. YERE.
THe Frenche kyng in the meane seaso by the enticement of the duke of Burgoine layd
sege to the citie of Bourges in Berry where the duke of Orleance and his confederates had
included and fortified themselfes. When the kyng of England was thereof aduertised, he with
all diligence sent forthe his sonne Thomas duke of Clarence, and Edward duke of Yorke
with. viii. C. horsrnen and. ix. thousand archers whiche toke land in the bay of Hogges in
Normandy by sainct Waste in the territory of Constantine. Thenglishemen swarmed like
Bees rounde aboute the countrey, robbyng Marchantes, spoilyng husbandmen and brennyng
townes, and were ioyously receiued of the Erles of Alauson and Richmond fautors of the
Ofliencial part. The councel of Fraunce not willing that the Englishmen should ioyne or
concurre with the Dukes of Orleaunce and Berry or their complices, caused a common fame
( although it were not trewe) to be diuulged abrode that there was a finall peace and a perfit
amide concluded betwene the Frenche kyng & his lordes whiche lately were to hym aduer-
saries. When this fable was notified to the Englishmen whiche were by hasty iourneys passed
the ryuer of Leire, they spoiled the towne and Monastery of Beauliew, and wasted with
fire and swerde the countreis of Touraine and Maine. Against whom the duke of Burgoyn
sent the lord of Rambures with a great armie, whiche in short time was before vanquished.
The Dolphyn of Fraunce fearyng the doynges of the Englishemen concluded a fayned peace
betwene the dukes of Orleaunce and Burgoyne and their adherentes, so that the duke of
Orleaunce should without delay dispatche out of the dominions of Frauuce all the English
armie. The duke was not rich to paie, and the Englishmen were gredy to haue, in so
muche that they marchyng toward Guien in good order what by sackyng of townes & what
with raunsomyng of riche persones, gat great treasure and many good prayes. Beside this to
the aide of the duke of Orliaunce king Henry sent to Caleis therles of Kent and Warwike
with. ii. thousand fightyng men whiche spoiled & defaced the countie of Bullenois, and
brent the towne of Samer de Boys and toke with assault the fortresse of Russalte with diuers
other. The duke of Orleance which was daily called on to dispatche the Englishemen out
of Fraunce, came to the duke of Clarence and his army rendryng to them a M. gramercies and
disbursed to them as muche money as ether he or his frendes myghte easily spare: and for
two hundred and. ix. M. Frankes which remayned vnpaide he deliuered in gage his second
brother Ihon erle of Angulesme whiche was Grandfather to Frances afterward French king
and sir Marcell of Bourge, sir Ihon of Samoures, sir Archibault of Viliers and diuers other,
which earle long continewed in Englande as you shall perceiue hereafter. When this
agrement was taken, the dukes of Clarence and Yorke with gret pray (riche prisoners, and
welthy hostages) came to Burdeaux makyng warre on the frontiers of Fraunce, to their
greate gaine and profitable lucre. So by the onely commyng of the Englishmen into
France the duke of Orliaunce was^je^tored not onely to peace and quietnes with al- persons
saue the duke of Burgoyne : But also fell in suche fauour with the kyng & the realm that he
was of all men welbeloued, muche honored and highly cstemed, and so continewed till wa- ,
^v ^-uering^Fprtujie turned her variable whele. For after this he beyng enemy to the Englishe
•"* nation was vanquished and takeiy prisoner and so remained in Englande aboue. xxiiii. yeres,
till the flower of his age was passed or sore blemyshed.
1 THE FOURTENTH YERE.
Tie. *iuj. AFter these great and fortunate chaunces happened to kyng Henry, he perfightly re-
membring that there could be no more praise geuen to a prince then to execute his office in
4 admin-
KYNG HENRY THE. IIIJ. 45
administryng Justice whiche aboue all thyng is the very necessary minister to all people, en-
tendyng to Hue in quietenes, beyng now deliuered of al Ciuilldeuision and intestine discen- " /
cion, with the which almost all Christendom was infected and disturbed, not onely to the
gret decay of Christes religion and Christian creatures but to the great exaltacio of Painiin
princes, by the dilatyng of the pestiferous sect of the false counterfait prophet vainglorious
Mahumet : called a great cousail of the thre estates of his realme, in the whiche he delibe-
rately consulted and concluded aswell for the politike gouernance of his realme as also
for the war to be made against the Infidels, and especially for the recouery of the holy Citie
of Jerusalem, in whiche Christian warres he entended to ende his transitory life, and for
that cause he prepared a great army, and gathered muche treasure, entending to set forward
in the same spring time. But se the chaunce, what so euer man intendeth God sodainly
reuerseth, what princes will, god wil not, what we thinke stable, God sodainely maketh
mutable, to the entent that Salomons saiyng might be found trewe, which wrote that the wis-
dome of men is but folishnes before God. When this Prince was thus furnyshed with trea-
sure sufficient, with valiant capitaines and hardy souldiers, with tall shippes furnished with
vitayles municions and all thynges necessary for suche a iourney roiall, he was taken with
a sore sodain disease and laied in his bed : whiche disease was no Lepry stryken by the
handes of God asfolish Friers before declared, for then he neither would for shame, nor for
debilitie was able to enterprise so great a iourney as in to lewrie in his own person, but he
was taken with a sore * Apoplexye of the whiche he languished tyll his appoyncted howre, '
and had none other grefe nor malady. Duryng whiche sickenes as Auctors write he caused
his crowne to be set on the pillowe at his beddes heade and sodainly his pange so sore tro- dered of
beled him that as he lay as though al his vitall sprites had been from him departed : suche Sow to<
chamberlains as had the cure and charge of his bodyc thinkyng him to bee departed and *i>ichcm
deade couered his face with a linnen cloth. The prince his sonne being therof aduertised, oTt^r56'3
entered into the chamber and toke away the crowne and departed: the father being sodainly heade f'om
reuiued out of his traunce quickly perceiued the lacke of his crowne, and hauyng know- ftiyngoftht
ledge that the prince his sonne had possessed it, caused hym torepaire to his presence, re- body com-
quiryng of him for what cause he had so misused hlselfe. The prince with a good audacitie therefore"
answered, sir to mine and all mennes iudgemetes you semed deade in this world, wherfore jh<ywh'il'e
I-II • n II /• • • . i "aut t"ls
I as your next & aparant heir toke that as mine own & not as yours: well faire son said the disease are
kyng (with a gret sigh) what right I had to it & how I enioied it God knoweth, wel qh the f/,11"1 °f
prince if you die kyng I wil haue the garlad & trust to kepe it with the swerd against all mine
enemies as you haue done: well said the kyng I comit all to God & remeber you to do well,
and with that turned himself in his bed & shortly after departed to God, in a chamber of
the abbotesof Westminster called Jerusalem the. xx. day of March in the yere of our Lord
M. iiii.-C. xiii. and in the yere of his age. xlvi. when he had reigned, xiii. yeres, v. monthes &
odde dales in muche perplexitie and littel pleasure, whose body with all funerall pope was co-
ueighed to Canterbury, and there solemply buried, leuyng behind him by the lady Marie
daughter to lord Hufrey erle of Hereford & Northapton, Henry prince of Wales, Tho-
mas duke of Clarece, Iho duke of Bedford, Humfrey duke of Glocester, Blanche duches
of Bauier & Philip Quene of Denmarke. for by his last wife Quene lane he had no chil-
dren. This kyng was of a mean stature, wel proporcioned and formally compact, quicke
and deliuer & of as tout courage. After that he had appeased all ciuile discecions he shew
ed him selfe so gentely to all men that he gat him more loue of the nobles in his latter daies
then he had malice and il will of them in the begin nyng. When tidynges of his death was re-
lated to,the duke of Clarence beyng in Aquitayri, he with all diligent celeritie toke shipwit-h
therle of Angulesme, and other his hostages & returned into England to the great cotbrt
of his brethren.
The end of the vnquiet tyme of kyng Henry the fourth.
THE
THE VICTORIOUS ACTES OF KYNG HENRY
THE FIFTH.
Tke.-i.y«e. T TEnry Prince of Wales, sonne and heire to kyng Hery the. iiii. borne at Monmouth
A JL on the lliuer of Wye, after the obsequies of his noble paret soleply celebrate and
supteously finished, toke vpon him the high power £ regiment of this realme of Englande
the xx. daie of Alarche in the yere after that Christ our sauior had entered into the immacu-
late wobe of the holy Yrirgin his naturall mother a thousande foure hundred and. xii. and
«-v wascrouned the. ix. dale of Aprill then nextensuyng, and proclaimed kyng by the name of
V£f kyng Henry the. filth. Before whiche royall possession so by hym obteined, diuerse noble
men and honorable personages did to hym homage, liege and swaredewe obeisance (whiche
-^> thyng had not been before expjjrimeted) as to hym in whom they conceiued a good expecta-
cion bothe of his verteous beginnynges and also of his fortunat successe in allthynges whiche
shoukl be attempted or begonne duryng the tyrne of his prosperous reigne and fortunate
Empire.
THIS kyng, this man was he, whiche (accordyng to the olde Prouerbe) declared and
shewed that honors ought to change mariers, for incontinent after that he was stalled in the
siege royall, and had receiued the croune and scepter of the famous and fortunate region,
determined with hymself to put on the shape of a new man, and to vse another sorte of
liuyng, turnyng insolencie and wildnes into grauitie and sobernes, and waueryng vice into
constant vertue. And to thentent that he would so continue without goyng backe, & not
thereunto bee allured by his familier copaignions, with whom lie had passed his young age
and wanton pastime & riotous misorder (insomuche that for imprisonmente of one of his
wanton mates and vnthriftie plaifaiers he strake the chiefe Justice with his fiste on the face.
For whiche offence he was not onely committed tostreight prison, but also of his father put
out of the preuy counsaill and banished the courle, a,nd his brother Thomas duke of Clarence
elected president of the kynges counsaill to his great displeasure and open reproche) he
therfore banished and seperated fro hym all his old flatterers and familier compaignions,
(not vnrewarded nor yet vnpreferred) inhibityng them vpon a greate pain not once to ap-
procbe ether to his speche or presence, nor yet to lodge or soiourne within ten miles of
his courte or mansion. And in their places he elected and chose men of grauitee, men of
witte, and men of high policy, by whose wise counsaill and prudente instruction he mighte
at all tymes rule to his honor and gouerne to his profite. This prince was almost the Ara-
bicall Phenix, and emogest his predecessors a very Paragon : For that he emongest all go-
uernors, chiefly did remembre that a kyng ought to bee a ruler with wit, grauitie, circurn-
speccion, diligence and constancie, and for that cause to haue a rule to hym comitted, not
for an honor, but for an pnorarious charge and daily burden, and not to looke so muche
on other mennes liuynges, as to consider and remembre his owne doynges and prOpre actes.
For whiche cause, he not to muche trustyng to the readinesse of his owne witte, nor to the
iudgementes of his owne waueryng will, called to his counsaill suche pmdent and politique
personages, -the whiche should not onely help to ease his charge & pain in s-upportyng the
burden of his realme and Empire, but also incense and instruct hym with suche good rea-
•sons and fruitefull perswasions, that he might shewe hymself a synguler mirror and manifest
-example of moral vertues and good qualities to his cornen people and louiog subiectes. For
it is daily seen, that a vicious prince doth muche more hurtc with his pernicious exaple to
other
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 47
other, then to hymself by liis owne peculier offence. For it is not so muchc cuill as Cicero
saicth (although it bee cuill in it self) a prince to do cnill, as ho by his cuill doyngeb to cor-
rupt olhcr, because it is daily seen, that as princes chage, the people altercth, and as kyngcs
go, the subiectes folovvc. 1'or certainly he that is preferred to high autlioritee, is therefore
nuiche exalted and had in honor, that he should rule, ouerse and correct the mantrs and
codicions of the people, and vigilantly to forsee and daily study how to acquire to.iiymself
lauclc and glory, and to other profile and comodite, and not to delight in \vordly pleasures
whichc are commen emongest the lowest sorte of the vile and rusticall people. And he that:
Mill do not-hyng nor can do nothyng is more worthy to be called a sernant then a ruler, £
a subiect rather then a go«crnor. For what can bee more shame or reprociie to a prince,
then he whiche ought to goueme and rule other shall by cowardncs, slouth and ignorance
as a pupille not of. viii. or. x. yercs of age, but beyng of. xx. or. xxx. yores and more,
shalbe compelled to obey and folowe tlie willes of other, and be ruled and beare no rule,
'like a ward and not like" a garde, like a seruant and not like a Master. Suche a gouernour
was kyngllicharde the secondc, whiche of hymself bcejng not of the most euill disposition,,
was not of so symple a minde, nor of suchc debilite of witte, nor yet of so litle herte and j
corage, but he might haue demaunded and learned good and profitable counsaill, and after/
aduise taken, kept, retayned and folowed the same: But howsoeuer it was, vnprofitable.;
counsailers wer his confusion and finall perdicion. Suche another ruler was kyng Edwarde
the seconde, wliiche two before named kynges fell from the high glory of fortunes whelc.1 to
exstreme misery and miserable calainittee. 13y whose infortunate chance (as I thynke) this
kyng Henry beyng admonished, expulsed from hyin his old plaie felowes, his prcuie Sico-
]>hantes and viigracious gard as authors and procurers of al mischifes and .riot, and assign-
ed into their, places men of grauitee, persons of actiuitee, and counsaillers of greate witte
and pollicie.
AFTER (hat he had laicd this prudent and polletique foundation, . he erjtendyng in his
mynd to do many noble and notable actes, and remembrynglhat all goudnee Cometh of God,
and that all worldly thynges and humain Actes bee more weaker and poorer then the celestial!
powers £ heuenly rewardcs, determined to begin with some thyng pleasaunt and accepta-
ble to God; Wherefore he first commaunded the Clergie syncerely and truly to prcache the
worde of God and to line after thesame,- so that they to the ternporaltec might be the Lan-
ternes of light and mirrors of vertue. The laie men he willed to serue God and obey their
prince, prohibityng to them aboue al thynges brechc of matrimony vse of sweryng & wilful
penury, exhortyng bothc to loue together as man with wife or brother with brother. Be-
side this he elected the best learned men ia the lawcs of the realme to the offices of iuslice,
and men of good liuyng he preferred to high degrees and authoritec.
THE madnes of the Welshemen and Scottes (whose often incursions and robberies he •
\vel had in his fathers daies experimented and assaied) he studied to asuage and re-
presse, to the intent that he beeyng quiet in his o-wne regions, might ether make outward
warre without doubte or dangier, or els for the commen wealth of his realme. to study haw.
to encreace the glory of his seigniory, & so both kepe £ conseruc it.
WHEN all thynges were thus settled and framed to. his purpose, .he caused , the body of
kyng Richard the second to be remoucd witliall funerall pompes conueniente for his estate, ,
from Langely to Westminster, where he was honorably enterred with Quene Anne his firste
wife in a solempne toumbe erected and -set vp at the costes and charges of this noble prince
kyng Henry.
ALTHOUGH this prudente prince and this pollitique gouernor had set and established
all thynges beyng in difference and variaunce within his owne peculier realmes, countrees
and territories and confines of thesame: yet he nothyng lesse forgetting nor no one thyng
more myndyng or desiring, then theceassyng of the long scisme and deuision sproi>g.£ con-
tinued in the catholike churche of Christian religion by the moste ambicious desire and
auaricious appetite of certaine persones callyng tlicmselfes spiritual! fathers, but in dee.de
carnall
48 TIJE. L YERE OF
X
carnall couclcotirs and grcdy glottos aspiryng for honor and not for vertue to the proad
see of Rome, desiryng more to pille then to profile Christes flocke or Christian religion,
hauyug knowledge tlial a general! counsaill was somoned to bee celebrate and kept at the
fa ire citee of Constance vpon tiie riuer of Ryne, thought that it was not his honor nor yet
his duetie, beyng thereof warned bv the Emperor Sigismond to bee as a hearer and no par-
taker in so high a ca.use, and in especiall in so high an assemble. Wherefore he sent the-
-ther Richard erle of Warwike and three bishoppes with other famous prelates and doctors,
besides knightes & esquires to the numbre of eight hundred horsses. They wer men so well
appareled and their horsses so richely trapped, and all the compaignie so well furnished,
that the Almaines wondred, the Italians gased, and all other nacions were astonnied to se
suche an honorable compaignie come from a countree so farre distant. At this Sinody were
assembled (as one authore writeth) CCC.xlvj. bishoppes, Abbottes and doctors v. C.lxiiij.
noble men, knightes and esquires, xvj. M. beside seruantes whiche (not accomptyng the
townes men) wer numbred. ixv. M. persones. These Ambassadours were highly receiued
of the Emperor Sygismond and of the Romishe bishop called Ihon the. xxiij. whiche in
thesame counsuill for greate and abhominable crimes and detestable offenses by hyni perpe-
trated andcomrtted (of the whiche he could not pourge hymself nor make any defence) was
by thesame Sinody accordyng to the demerites put doune and of his estate depriued. Grego-
ry the. xij. was one of the Scismatical numbre, fearyng shame more then regardyng his
wordly afleccion did putte doune hymself of his ovvne propre mocion from his foolishe vsurp-
ed name and Fopishe dignitee. But Benedict the. xiii. still and stifly affirmyng hymself to
be the very Viker of God, so muche desired honor, and so muche was wrapped in his
owne folishe and fantastical opinion, that no frend could persuade hym, nor argumet entice
hyrn, nor no reason refrain hym from thesame, and so accordyng to his desert by open Judge-
ment, against his wil, lost bothe name and honestie. And thre yeres after Otho Columbe
a noble Romainc borne was elected to the bishopricke of Rome and named Martyne the
fifth.
i IN this cousaill Ihon WiclifFe borne in England, and Ihon Husse and Iherom of Prage
Wer condemned to death. Duryng this firste yere, sir Ihon Old Castle, whiche by his
wife was called lorde Cobhatn, a valiant capitain and an hardy gentleman, was accused to
the Archbishop of Cauntorbury of certain poynctes of heresy. Whiche bishoppe knowyng
hym to be highly in the kynges fauor, declared to his highnes the whole accusacio.
The kvng first hauing compassion of the noble man, required the prelates that if he
were a straied shepe, rather by gentlenes then by rigoure to reduce hym to his old
flocke. After that he sendyng for hym, godly exhorted and louyngly admonished hym
to reconcile hymself to God and his lawes. The lorde Cobham not onely thanked
the kyng of his moste fauourable clemencye, but also declared firste to hym by mouthe
and afterwardc by writyng the foundacion of his faith, the ground of his belefe and
the botome of his stomacke, affirmyng his grace to be his supreme hed and competent iudge
& none other persone, oiFeryng an hundred knightes and esquires to come to his purgatio,
or els to fight in open listcs with his accusers. The kyng not onely knowing the lawes of the
reame, but also persuaded by his counsaill, that hereticall accusacions ought to be tried by
the spiritual prelates, sente hym to the tower of London there to abide the determination of
the clergie according to the statutes in and for that cace prouided. After whiche tyine the.
xxiij. daie of Septembre, a solempne session was appoincted in the Cathedrall churche of
sainct Paule, and another the. xxv. da of the said moneth in the hal of the Friers prechers
in London, in whiche places thesaid lorde was examined, apposed and fully heard, & in con-
clusion by the archbishop denounced an hereticke and so remitted again to the toure of Lon-
don : Fro whiche place, ether by help of frendes or corrupcion of kepers, he priuely
escaped and cam into Wales, where he remained by the space of thre yeres and more.
AFTER this tyme in a certain vnlawfull assemble was taken sir Robert Acton knight, a
man of greate wit 9c possessions, Ihon Broune Esquire, Ihon Beuerly clerke and a greate
numbre
KYNG HENRY THE. V.
mimbre of other whiche were brought to the kynges presence, and to hym declared the
cause of their commocion and risyng : and accusynga greate nubre of tlieir sort and societie
(_ \vhiche-cofessio because I haue not seen, I leaue at large.) After this folishe acte, so many
pcrsoncs \vere apprehended that all the prisons in and about London wer replenished with'
people. The chief of them whiche wer. xxix. wer condempned by the clergie of heresy,
and attainted of high treason as mouers of warre against their kyng by the temporal lave in
the Gnyld hall the. xii. daie of December, and adjudged for treason to be dra\vcn and
hanged, and for heresy to be consumed with lire gallowes and all: Which iudgemente was
executed in laniuerfolowyng on thesaied Robert Acton and the. xxviij. other.
SOME sale that the occasion of their death was the conueighance of the Lorde Cobham
out of prisone. Other write that it was bothe fbr treason and heresy as the record declareth.
Certain^ affinne that it was for feined causes surmised by the spiritualtie more of displea-
sourthen truth: the Judgement whereof I leaue to men indifferent. For surely all coniec-
tures be not true, nor all writynges are not the Gospell, & therefore because I was nether
a witnes of the iacte, nor present at the deede I ouerpasse that matter and begin another,
IT THE SECONDE YERE.
KYng Henry cotinuatly studiyng for the honor of hymself and aduancement of his The- *
people, called his high courte of parliament the last daie of April in the touire of Leicester y<
In the whiche parliamente many profitable lawes were concluded: and many peticions
moued wer for that tyrne deferred Emongest whiche requestes* one was, ttmt a bill exhi-
bited m the parliamente holden at Westminster in the. xj. yere of kyng Henry the fourth
(whiche by reason that the kyng was then vexed and troubled with ciuill deuision & domes-
ticall dissencion, came to none effect) might now bee well studied, pondered; regarded and
brought to some good conclusion. The effect of whiche supplicacion-was, that the tempo-
lalllandesdeuoutely gcaen, and disordinatly spent by religious and other spiritual I persones^
might suffise to maintain- to the honor of the kyng and defence of the realme, xv.
erles, xv.C. knightes,. vj.M. ii.C. esquires, and. C. almose houses for relief onely of the poore
impotente and nedy persones, and the kyng to haue elerely to his cofers twentie thousande
poundes, with, many other prouisions and valewes of religioushouses whiche I oueipa.sse.
THIS before remembred bill was muche noted and feared emogest the religious sort
whom in effect it muche touched) uisomnche that the fat Abbotes SAvet, the proude Priors
frouned, the poore Friers curssed thesely Nonnes wept, and al together wer nothyng- pleas-
ed nor yet cotent. Now to nndea remedy for a mischief and a tent to stop a -wounde, the
Clergy myndyng rather to-bowe then breake, agreed to offre to the kyng a greate some of nio--
ney to staye this newe moued demaund. The cause of this offre seined to some of the wise-
prelates nether decente nor c.onuenient, for they wellforsawe and f)erfightly kne«e that if
the commos perceiued that thei by reward or offre of money would resist their request &
petiekm, that thei stirred & moued with a fury woold not onely rayle and despise theim as
corruptours of Princes and enemies of the publique wealthe, but would so crye and caH on-
the kyng and histemporall lordes that they were liketo lese bothe worke and oyle, cost and;-
linyng: Wherefore they determined to cast all chaunces whiche mighte serue their purpose,
& in especiall to replenishe the kynges brayne with some pleasante study that he should ne--
ther phantasy nor regard the serious peticion of the importunate commons.
WHERFORE on a daie when the kyng was present in the parliament, Henry Cbicheley
Archebishop of Cautorbury thereto newly preferred, whiche beforetime had been a-Monke
of the Carthusians, a ma whiche had professed vvilfull pouertie in religion, and yet commyng
abrode muche desired honor, & a man muche regardyng Godes law, but;morc louyng liis
his owne lucre. After lowe obeysaunce made to the kyng he said after this maaer in effect.
H-
$0 THE. II. YERE OF
Why I consider pur most entirely beloued and no lesse drad soueraigne lorde and naturall
Prince, the louyng mynd, the daily labor and continuall study whiclie you incessantly im-
- pjore bothc for thaduancetnct of the honor of your realme and also profile of your people:
1 cannot nor ought not, except I would bee noted not onely ingrate to your royall person
bcyng my patrone & preferrer, but also a neglecter of my dutye, a secrete mummer of suche
thynges whiche louche both the inheritance of your croune & the honor of your realme ether
holdc my peace or kcpe silence. For all authors agree that the glory of kynges consistelh
not onely in high bloud and haute progeny, not in habounclant riches and superfluous sub-
staunce, nor in plesant pastyme and ioyous solace: But the very tipe of the magnificence
of a prince rcsteth in populous riche regions, wealthy subiectes and beautiful! citees and tounes,
of the whiche thanked be God, although you be coueniently furnished both within your
realmcs of England & Ireland and principalite of Wales, yet by lineal discet, by progeny
of blud and by very inheritance, not onely the duchy of Normandy and Aquitaine with the
counties of Aniowe and Mayne and the countrei of Gascoynare to you as true and vndubi-
tate heir of the same laufully deuoluted and lineally disc-ended from the high and most noble
prince of famous memory kyng Edward the third your great grandfather, but also the whole
realme of Fraunce with all his prerogatiucs and preheminences, to you as heire to your
great grandfather is of right belongyng and apperteiguyng. In whiche realme, to reherse
what noble persons, what beautifull cities, what fertile, regions, what substancial marchates,
and what plentifull riuers are conteigned and included, I assure you that time should rather
faile then matter shoulde wax skant. The fraudulent Frenchmen to defraude and take away
vour ryght and title to the realme of Fraunce, in the lime of your noble progenitor king Ed-
ward the third, alledged a lawe, vntruly faincd, falcely glosed and Sophistically expounded,
wherof the very wordes are these, In terrain salicam mulieres nesuccedant, which is to say,
e let not women succcde in the land*Salicque. This land Salicque the deceitful glosers name
to be the realme of Fraunce. This lawe the Logical! interpretours assigne to directe the
croune and regalitie of the same region, as who wold say that to that preheminence no woman
were liable, to aspire, nor no heire Female was worthy to inherile. The French writers af-
firm that Pharamond kyng of the Frenche Gaules, first instituted this lawe which neuer was,
should or might be broken. Seenowe howe an euell gloseconfoundeth the text, and a perci-
all interprctour marreth the sentence, for first it is apparantly knowen and by an hudred
writers confirmed that Pharamond whom they alledge to be aucthour of ihis lawe was duke of
Franconia in Germany, and elecled lo be kyng of the Sicambres, whiche callyng them selfes
Frenchmen had gotten parte of the Gaule Celtike betwene the riuers of Marne and Seyn.
This Pharamond disceased in the yere of our Lord. iiii. C. & xxvi. long after whose death,
Charles the great beyng Emperoure and many yeres inakyng war re on the Saxons dyd in
bluddy battaile disperse and confounde the whole puissance of that nacion in the yere of
our Lord viii. C and flue, and broughte theim to the catholique faith and Christian confor-
mitie. Alter which victory certaine souldiers as the Frenche Cronographiers affirm, passed
ouer the water of Sala and there inhabited, betwene the riuers ot Elue and Sala, and wer
commonlv called Sali Frenchemen or Sali Gaules, whiche countrey nowe is the lande of
Mismie. This people had suche displeasure at the vnhonest fashions of the Germain women,
that they made a law that the Females shuld not succede to any inheritance within that land.
NOWE with indifferent eares if you wyll note these two pointes you shall easily perceiue
that the lawe Salicque was only fained and inuented to put your noble progenitours and you
iroivi your lawfull ryght and true inheritaunce. For they saie that Pharamond made the
lawe for the land Salicque, whiche the glose called) Fraunce. Then I demaunde of master
Closer or rather master Doctor commenter, yf I may call a commenter an open Her, whe-
ther Pharamond* whiche died iiii. C. xxi yeres before the Frenchemen possessed the Gaule
Salicque and neuer sawe or knewe it, made a lawe of thatthyng whiche at that tyme was
not his nor inhabited by his people. Beside this, the realme of Fraunce whiche is your pa-
trimony is compact of. Hi. Gaules Belgiquc, Celtique and Aquitain, and no part of Salicque:
then
KYNG HENRY THE. V. g\
then may the gloser expounde aswell thatGaule Belgiqtie is the countrey of Brytain, as to
glose that the lande Salicque is the whole realme and dominion of the croune of Fraunce.
Wonder it is to see how the Frenchmen luggle with this phantastical lawe, folowyng the
crafty hasarders whiche vse a plaie called seest thou me or seest thou me not. For whe
kyng Pepyu whiche was Duke of Brabante by his mother Begga, and master of the palayce
of Fraunce coueted the croune and scepter of the realme, the Frenche nacion not remebryng
this infringible law, deposed Childeryck the. iii. the very heyre male and vndoubted childe
of the line of Pharamond and Clouis kynges of Fraunce by the cousail of Zachary then Bi-
shop of Home, and set vp in trone this Pepyn as nexte heire gcnerall discended of lady
Blithyld doughter to kyug Clothayre the first. Hugh Capet also whiche vsurped the croune
without right or reason on Charles duke of Lorayne the sole heire male of the line and stocke
of Charles the greate, after that he had shamefully murthered and in pitifull prison by the
procurement of the Bishop of Orleauuce destroied the said Charles, to make his title seme
true and aperegood, wherein dede it was bothe euell and vntrue, to blynd the opinions of
the common people and to set a glasse before their eics, cdueighed him selfe as heire to
the lady Lvngard doughter to the kyng Charlemaine sonnc to Lewes the Emperor which was
sonne to Charles the great kyng of Fraunce. Kyng Lewes also the ninth whome the Frenche-
men call Sainct Lewes beyng very heire to the saied vsurper Hugh Capet, coulde neuer be sa-
tisfied in his conscience how he might iustely kepe and possesse the croune & regalitie of the
realme of Frauce tyll he was perswaded and fully instructed that Quene Isabell his graundmo-
ther was lineally discended of Lady Ermengard daughter and heire to the aboue named
Charles duke of Lorayn, by the forcsaid Hugh Capet of life and realme wrongfully depriued:
by the which manage the bludde and line of kyng Charles the great was againe vnited and
restored to the Croune and Scepter" of Fraunce, so that it more clearer than the sonne,
openly appeareth the title of Kyng Pepyn, the claime of Hugh Capet, the possession of
kyng Lewes, ye and of all the French kynges to this day, are deriued, claymed and con-
ueighed from the heire Female and yet they would barre you as though your great graund-
mother had bene no wotna.n nor heire female, but a painted Image or fained shadowe. If
so many examples, if suche copie of presydentes collected out of your owne histories and ga-
thered oute of your owne writers suffice not to confounde your simple Salicque lawe inuented
by false fablers and crafty imaginers of you fablyng Freeh menne, then here what God
saieth in the book of Numeri. When a man dieth without a sonne let the inheritance diseend
to the daughter: If your princes call them selfes most Christian kynges let theim folowe the
lawe of God before the lawe of the Painym Pharamond. Are not all lawes discrepant from
Goddes lawes euel, and to al Christen eares odious and noisome: are Frenche women dyscen-
ded of the blud roial no Christians, and not wortlrye to inhcrite in the realme of Fraunce? Is
the realme of Fraunce more noble then the kyngclome of ludaof whom Christ discended by
a womas? When God sayed to Abraham that in one of his sede al nacions shnld be blessed,
how came Christ of the seede of Abraham but onely by that immaculate Virgin his glorious
mother? Likewise, when the Prophet Michee said, thou tribe of luda art not the leaste of
estimacion emongest the Princes of luda, for oute of the shall come a capitayne whiche
shall rule and direct my people of Israel. Howe discended Christ from the rote of lesse,
and howe was he duke and capitain of the Israelites, and how discended he of the line of
Dauid: But onely by his mother a pure virgin and a marled wife. Beholde, by Goddes lawe,
women shall inherite Behold in Fraunce, Frenchemen haue inherited by the onely line of
the women, and yet Englishmen be prohibited to claime by the heyre Female contrary
to the lawe of God and man. Wherfore regarde well mysoueraigne Lord your iust and true
title to the realme of France, by Goddes lawe and mannes lawe to you lawfully diuoluted as
very heire to Quene Isabell your great graundmother daughter to kyng Philip the faire and
suster and heir to. iii. kynges disceasyng without any issue.- Whiche inheritance of the
woman is declared to be iuste by the Mosaicall lawe and vsed and approued by the Galilean
discent as J haue before declared. Therefore for Goddes sake leese not youre patrimony,
II 2 disherite
5<2 THE. II. YI-UIE OF
-disherite net your lie'ires, dishonour not your sclfe, diminishc not 'your title, which your
.noble progenitors so highly haue cstemed. Wherfore auaunce forth your banner, fight for
your ryghte, conqticre your inheritaunce, spare not swerde blud or fire, your warrc is iuste,
your cause is good, and your claim true: and therfore courageously set forward your warre
against your enemies. And to the entent that we your louyng chapleins and obedient sub-
iectes of the spirituakie would shewe ou>rsclfes willyng and desiryng to aide you for the reco-
uery of your auncient right and true title to the croune of France, we haue in our spirituall
eonuocacion gra-unted to yourhighnes suche a some of money as neuer by no spiritual per-
sons was to any prince before your daies geuen or aduanced, beside our daily praiers and
continual precacions to God and his saintes for prosperus succcsse to ensue in your merciall
exploite and roiail passage. When tire Archebishop had finished his prepared purpose,
Jlanlfe Fa'lc of Westmerland, a man of no lesse grauitie then experience, and of no more
experience than stomack, whichc was then high AV'arden of the marches toward Scotland, and
therfore thinkyng that y! the king shuld passe ouer into Fraunce with his whole puissaunce,
that his power should be to wcake to withstand the strength of Scotland if they shuld inuade
duryng the kyngcs absence. AVherfore he rose vp, & makyng his obcysance to the kyng sayd.
The Oracis SUltELV sir, as my Lord Canterbury hath clerkely declared, the conquest of Fran nee
crip of * -is very honorable, and when it is gotten and obteigned very profitable and pleasant : I3nt
vmtmer. sauyng your graces reformacion, 1 say awl aifirme that to conquere Scotland is more neces-
sary, more aparante easie, and more profitable to this realme then is the gaine of Fraunce,
For althoughe I am not so well learned as my lord Archbishop is, nor haue not preceded to
degre in the Vniuersitie, yet I haue red, and heard great clarckcs say, that strengthe knitte
and combined together is of more force and efficacie then when it is seuered and dispersed.
As for an example, sprinkle a vessel of water and it mouteth not, but cast it out wholy
together and it bothe washeth and norisheth. This notable saiyng before this time hath en-
coraged Emperors, animated kynges and allured princes to conquere realmes to them ad-
jovnyng, to vanquishe nacions to their dominions adiacent, and to subdewe people either neccs •
sary for their purpose, or beyng to them daily enemies or continual! aduersaries. For profe
\vherof, bcholde what was the chefe cause and occasion why rulers and goucrnors so sore
laboured, tliirsted and couetcd to bryng al regions to them adioinyng into one rule or Mo-
narchy? Was it not done to tins entent that the conquerors might haue the only power
& entier gubernacion of all the laudes and people within their climate, and gouerne the in
time of peace and also haue their aide in time of war? AVhiche monarchic was of that ma-
icstie and estimacion in the world, that no other forein prince or exterior potentate ether
had audacitie or was able to altempte any thyng within the territory or region of the monar-
chial pri'ice and adourned kyng- Let the kyngdorne of the assiriens be your example, and
it that suflise not, then loke on the Pcrcians, after on the Grekes and lastly on the Romanies,
uhiche euer desired and coueted more to haue the littel Isle of Scicile, the territory of the
Nnmidians and the mean Citie of the Samnites beyng daiely within their kennyng and smell,
rather then to obtein populous Gaule, plenteous Pannony, or manly Macedony liyng farre
from sight and out of their circle or compasse. This desire scmeth to rise of a great pru-
dent and vigilante policy, for as a prince is of more puissaunce when his countreis ioyne, so
is he of more strength when his power is at hande. And as men lackyng comforte be more
releued by frendeswhiche be presente, then by kinsfolke duellyng in forein cou treys and regions
farre of. So princes haue commonly coueted and euer desired to se and beholde their do-
minions liyng nere about them, rather then to here by reporte from the countreis farre dis-
tant from them. If this hath bene the pollccy of conquerours, thappetite of purchasers
and the study of gouerners, why doth your grace desire Fraunce before Scotland*:, or couet
a countrey farre from your sight, before a realme vnder your nose? Do you not remember
how the hole Isle of Hritain was one entier Monarchi in the time of your noble auncetor
Kyng Brute first kyng and ruler of your famous Empire and glorious region: whiche deuid-
yng his rehue to his thre sonnes gaue to Lothryne his eldest sonne that part of Britain that
your
KYNG HENRY THE. V, 53
your highnes now enioyeth, and to Aibanact his second sonne lie gaue the countrey of Alba-
ny nowe called Scotland, and to Camber his third sonr.c he gaue the countrey of Cambria
nowe called Wales: reseruyng alwaies to him & his heires homage, lege and Veaultie loiull
for the same countreis and dominions. By tliis deuisio, the glory of the monarchic of Bn-
taytie was clerely defaced, by this separacion the strength of the Britishc kynges was sore
diminished, by this dispersion intestine war began, and Ciuil rebellion sprange first within
this region. For while all was vnder one, no nacion durste either once iauade or alternate
warre against the Britons: but when the land was once deuided and the monarchic vndone,
outward enemitie or foreyn hostylilie not halie so muche infested, greued or troubled the
valiaunt Brittons as their owne neighboures discended of one parent, and come of one pro-
geny. For the Albanactes otherwise called the false fraudulet Scottes, and the Cambers
otherwise called the vnstable Welshemen, did not alonly withdrawe their fealtie, denie their
homage, and refuse their allegiance due to the kynges of this realme, bnt also made con-
tinuall warre and destroied their tounes and slewe the people of their neyghboures and Bri-
tons. For whiche cause diuerse of your noble progcnitoures haue not onely made warre and
subdewed the Scottes for the deniyng of their homage and surryng of rebellion, but also
haue deposed their kynges £ princes, and erected and set vp other in their estates and dig-
aiities. Sealer kyng of Scottes, for his rebellion was by Dunwallo iUolnncius your noble
predecessor slayn and extincted. Kyng Arthure also the Glory of the Brittons erected An-
gosile to the scepter of Scotland and receaued of hym homage and fealtie. Yf I shuld re-
hearse how many kynges of Scotland haue done homage to your auncient predecessors, or
reherse howe many Scottishe kynges they haue corrected and punished for their disobedience
and deniyng of homage, or declare what kynges they as superior lordes and high Empe-
roures ouer the vnderkinges of Scotland, haue elected & made rulers, to thetent that all
people might manifestly perceiue that it was more glorious, more honourable and more fa-
mous to a Kyng to make a Kyng then to be a kyng by natural discent, 1 assure you, your
eares would be more wery of hcryng, then my tounge woulde be fatigate with open truth
tellyng. Your noble progenitour kyng Edward the iirste couelyng to be superior and to
surmount in honour, or at the least to be equiuolent in fame with his noble ancestours and
famous progenitors, daily studied and hourely compassed howe to bryng the whole Isle of
Briteygne whiche by Brute was deuided into thre partes into one monarchy and one domi-
nion. After longe studie and greate consultacion had, he subdewed Wales, and tamed the
wylde people and broughte that vnruly parte to his olde home and aunciente degree, whiche
thyng done he likewise inuaded Scotlande and conquered the countreye to the towne of Per-
ciie called Saincte Ilions towne standyng on the rincr of Tay, whiche he walled, diched and for-
teiied, rulyng that part with Englishe lawes, Englishe cnstomes and by Englishe ludges, and
was almoste at a poynte thereof to haue made a pertighte conqueste and a complete Mo-
narchic. But Oh Lorde, hasty deathe whiche maketh an ende of all mortall creatures, so-
deynly berefte hym of his life and toke awaie his spirite, and so all thynges whiche he had
deuised, whiche he had yrnagined and seriously pretended, the small momente of an houre
turned vpside doune and sodainly subuerted. Sith whose deathe your greate Graundfather,
ye and your noble father haue attempted to bryng that runnegate region into his auncient
course and former line, as a thyng both necessary, comieniente and mete' to bee ioyned and
vnited to this realme, and so not only to reuiue the old empire "and famous Monarchye, but
also to vnitc and cobine that vertue and stregtu which from the tymc of Brute was dispersed
and seuered, in one body, in one hed and one corporation. Wherfore, if to your high
wisedome it seemeth not necessary ta kyng this terme necessary for nedefull to eonquere the
realrne of Scotlande asathyngthatnedes muste be doen,yctwiH I not flic from my firstsaiyng,
but proue it necessary (as the logical! paraphrasian and Philosophical interpreters) do by a
distinccion expounde this terme necessary to signitie a thyng conuenient: That the conquest
in Scotlande before the inuadyng of Fraunce is moste expedient, for experience teacheth and
reason agreeth that euery personc entt-dyng a purposed enterprise, or a determinate voyage
1 should
5* THE. II. YERE OF
should not onely prouicle and make preparation for all thynges requisite and nedefuli for his
•Lynxisa purpose or exployte, but also ought vigilantly to forsee with * Lincis iyes, and preuC-t and
toa'loife stucty w'ln the serpentyne pollicie how to aduoyde and retell all thynges whiche might ether
who.e bee an impediment to his progression and settyng forward or occasion of his returne and
«r l°sse °f n's enterprise, least he leuyng behynd hym an euill neighbour, a continuall aduer-
thynges. sary & a secrete enemie, maie assone lese his o\vne propre realme, as conquere and gayne
the dominion of another: wherfore the trite and common adage saith, leaue not the certain
for the vncertain. Wherefore it is necessary that I enucleate and open to you certain arti-
cles conteined in the old league and atnitie betwene the realmes of Fraunce and Scotlande,
wherof the wordes be these.
1. THE warre or iniurie moued or done by the Englishemen to one of the saied nacions, to
be as a commen wrong to bothe.
2. IF the Englishemen make warre on the Frenche nacion, then the Scottes at the costes
and charges of the Frenche kyng, shall minister to theim succours.
3. LIKEWYSE if the Scottes be molested by the English warres, the Frenche nacion ha-
uyng their costes allowed, shall bee to theim ayders and assisters.
4. AND that-noneof bothe the nacions shall ether cotitracte or make peace with the realms
of England without the consente and agrement of the other.
AN13 to thenterrt that this league and amitee should be kept vnuiolate Robert le Bruse
the vsurper of Scotland willed by his testament twoo thynges in especiall to be obserued, the
one neuer to breake the treatie concluded with Fraunce: the second neuer to kepe peace or
promes with Englishmen lenger than the kepyng therof were to theim ether profitable or
necessary. Yet Ihon Mayer and other Scottish writers coloure this cause, saiyng that he
would have no peace concluded with Engiande aboue thre yeres. But whatsoeuer writers
write or talkers saie, they bee to hym moste faithfull executors and haue neuer yet broken his
testament but daily kepe his precept and commaundement. And for the performaunce of this
will and kepyng of this league, none of yourauncetours euer inuaded Fraunce, but incon-
tinent the Scotles troubled and vexed England. None of your progenitors euer passed the
sea in iust quarell against the Frenche nacion, but the Scottishe people in their absence en-
tered your realme spovled your houses slewe your people and toke great praies innumerable,
only to prouokc your auncestors for to returne fro the inuadyng of France. If I should de-
clare to you their comen breaking of leagues, their craftie and subtill dissimulacio, their
false faire promises often swprneand neuer kept, I doubt not but you would ten tymes more
abhorrc their doyng, then I would bee ashamed of the tellyng. Therfore I saie still, and
atiinne it necessary and conuenient to forse, that you leaue no enemies behind at your
backe when you go to conquere aduersaries before your face. Beside this, if you consider
the daily charges, the inconstant chances that maie happen, I thinke, yea and litle doubt
but Scotlande shalbee tamed before Fraunce shalbe framed. For if you will inuade Fraunce,
accompt what number of shippes must transport your armie, recon what charge of ancors,
what a multitude of Cables, and what innumerable thynges apperteigne to a nauie. When
you be there, if your men decay by sickenes or by sworde, if vitaill faile, or if money wax3
skante, if the wynde turne contrary or an hideous tempeste arise, you shall bee destitute of
aide, prouisio and treasure, which in a strange region are the collision & defacyng of an
armie. On the other side if you inuade Scotlande, your men bee at hande, your vitaill is
nere, your aide is euer at your backe, so that in that voyage you shall haue haboundance in
all thynges, and of nothyng you shall haue wante. See what an occasion fortune hath
offered vnto you, is not their kyng your captiue and prisoner? Is not the realme in greate
deuision for the crueltie of the duke of Albany, rather desiring to haue a forain gouernor,
then a natural! tyraunt. Wherfore my counsaill is, firste to inuade Scotlande, and by Gods
grace to conquere and ioyne that region to youre Empire, and to restore the renoumed
• Monarchy of Britayne to her olde estate and preheminence, and so beautified with realmes
and furnished with people, to entree into Fraunce for tlierecoueryng of your righteous title and
i true
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 5$
true inheritaunce, in obscruyng the old auncient prouerbe vsed by our forefathers, whiche
saieth, he that will Fraunce wynne, muste with Scotlailde firste bcginne.
NO qh the Duke of Excester vncle to the kyng, (whiche was well learned, and sent
into Italy by his father entendyng to haue been a prieste) he that will Scotlande win, let
hym with Fraunce first begin. For if you call to remembraunce the coinon saiyng of the wise
and expert Phisicions, whiche bothe write and teache, that if you will heale a malady you
must firste remoue the cause : If you will cure a sore, you muste first take awaie the humor
that fedeth the place. If you will destroy a plante, plucke awaie his sap whiche is his
norisshyng and life. Then if Fraunce be the norissher of Scotlande, if the Frenche pen-
cios be the susteinersof the Scottishe nobilitee, if theeducacion ofScottes in Fraunce be the
cause of practise and pollicie in Scotlande, then plucke away Fraunce and the courage of
the nobles of Scotland shal be sone daunted and appalled: Take awaie Fraunce and the hertes
of the cornen people wil sone decaie and waxe faint: Plucke away France and neuer looke.
that Scotlande will resist or withstande your power. For when the bed is gone, the body
sone falleth, and when the sap fayleth the tree sone withereth. Let men reade the Chroni-
cles and peruse our Englishe Chronographiers, & you shall sone finde that the Scottes haue
seldo of their owne mocion inuaded or vexed Englande, but onely for the obseruyng of the
league in the whiche they bee bounde to Fraunce: For the Scottes.are the shaft and dart of
the Frenchemen to shote and cast at their pleasure against the Englishe nacion. And where
they haue inuaded, as I cannot deny bat they haue dooen, what glory or what profile sue-
ceded of their entreprice, I report me to their peculier histories. Kyng Malcolyn inuaded'
Englande, when kyng Willia the second was makyng warre in Normandy. Dauid le Bruses
also entered Englande, your greate graundfather kyng Edward the third liyng at the-siege of
Caleis. Was not Malcolin slain beside Tinmouth and Kyng Dauid taken beside Dun-ham.'
Let the gouernors of Scotlande, (for the kyng is sure ynough) entre into Englande 6n that
price and se what he shall gayne therby. What notable acte wcr Scottes cuer able to do
out of their owne countree and propre climate ? Or when were they able to coueigh an armie
ouer the sea at their owne costes and expences? Rede their owne histories and you shall
finde fewe or none. Their nature and condicion is to tary at home in idlenes, ready
to defende their countree like brute beasles, thinkyng their rusticall fassion to he high honestie,
and their beggerly linyng to bee a welfare. Beside this, what auncient writer, or autentike
historiographier ether write of them honor or jonce nameth thcim, except sainct Iherom,
whiche saieth that when he was yong, he sawe in Frftttnce certain Scottes of the isle of Bvi-.
tain eate the fleshe of men, and when they came into the woodes ftndyng there greate heardcs
of beastes and flockes of shepe< lefte the beastes and cut off the Inittockcs of the heard men <
and the pappes and brestes of the shepherdes women, extemyng this meate to be the great-
est deinties: And Sabeliicus saieth that Scottes muche delighte and reioyse in liyng. You
may now apparauntly percciue what puissaunce Scotland is of it self, litle able to defende-
and lesse able to inuade like a noune adiectiue that cannot stand without a substantiue. If
France be taken from them, of whom shall they seke aide ? Denmarke will them refuse because
the kyng is your brother in lawe : Portyngall £ Castel will not them regard c,; bothe the kynges '•
beeyng your cosyns germain and auntes sonnes: Italy is to farre: Germany and Hungary-
be with you in league. So that of necessitee they in conclusion destitute of all ayde, depriued.
of all succoure, bereued of all frendship (if Fraunce be coquered) must without warre or
dent of sworde come vnder your subiection and due obeysance. And yet I would not in
this your conquest, France should bee so muche mynded, that Scotlande should be forgotten, >'
nor that your entier -.power should be sent into Fraunce and no defence left against the imia-
sions of Scotlande. = For of that might ensue this mischief, that if your whole power wcr van-
quisshed in France, the Scottes beyng elated by the victory of their frendes might do more,
(lispleasure.to your realme in one ycre then you should recouer again in fine. But sithe God
liathsent you people, riches, municios of warre and all thynges necessary ether to inuade bothe,
or to defende the one and penetrate the other. Passe the sea your self with an armie royall,
and
•$6 THE. II. YFRE OF
and leue my lorde ot Westmerlande and other graue capitaines of the Northe with a con*
uenient nombre to Defend the Marches if the subtill Scottes encouraged by the Frenchmen
will any thyng attept duryng your voyage and absence. And this is to be remebred, if you
get Scotlande you hauea countree baraynealmoste of alt-pleasure and goodnes, you gay no
people sauage, waueryng and inconstant, of riches you shall haue litle and of pouertie muchc:
But if you get Fraunce, you shall haue a countree fertile, pleasant and plentiful!, you shall
haue people, Ciuill, witty and of good ordre. You shall haue richc citees, beautiful touncs
innumerable Castles, xxiiij. puyssaunt Duchies, Ixxx. and odde populous Countrecs, and an
hud red and thre famous bisshoprickes, a. M. and more fat Monastaries, and parishe
Churches (as the Frenche writers affirme) x. C. thousande and mo. This conquest is ho-
norable, this gavne is proffitable, this Journey is plesaunte, and therfore nether to be left nor
forslewed. Vitaill you shall haue sufficient from Flaunders, aide of men you maie haue daily
out of England, or els to leaue a competentecrewe in the Marches of Caleis to refreshe your
armie and to furnishe still your numbre. Although the cost in transportyng your me be
greate, yet your gayne shal be greater, and therfore accordyng to the trite adage, he must&
liberally spende that will plentefully gayne. And because my lorde of Westmerlfule hath
alleged that the Romaines desired the dominion of suche as were viider flight of their owne
Egle, or whose possesions were a mote to their eye, as the Numidians & other whiche he
hath wisely rehersed. Beholde the condicions of the counsailers and the desire of the mo*
uers, what persones were they whiche cotieted their poore neighbors rather then riche fo-
reines? Men effeminate, more mete for a Carpet then a Campe, men of a weake stomacke
desiryng rather to walke in a pleasant gardein then passe the sees in a tempesteous storme,
what should I saie? Menne that would haue somewhat and yet take litell payne, memie
that coueted thynges nothyng honourable nor yet greatly profitable. But I remember that
the noble Cato the Censor which when it was alledged in the Senate at Rome that Affrike--
was farre of, and the sea brode, and the iournie perillous, caused certain newe figgrs to
bee brought into the Senate, whiche grewe iu the territory of Carihage, and dcruaunded of
the Senators howe they liked the Figges? Some saied they were newe some said they were
swete and some said they were pleasant Oh quod Cato, if they be newe gathered, the is
not the region far of where they grewe (skant thre daies sailyng) and if it be of no longer
distance then so nere to vs be oure enemies. If the figges be swete, then is the soile delicious
and fertile. If the fygges be pleasante, then is the coutrey profitable. If you gaine the Sci-
cilians, you shall be riche men in corne. If you get the Samnites you shall haue plenty of oyle.
If you vanquishe the Numidians, you shall haue copie of beastes: but subdewe Carthage and
conquere A-ffricke, you shall haue not onely Conic Oyle and beastes, but gold, purple, preci-
ous stones, Oliphantes and all thynges bothe necessary and pleasant. Therfore my councell is
rather to seke riches bcyng farre distant then pouertie liyng at hand, for paine is -forgotten
euer where gaine foloweth. This noble saiyng of sage Calo so encouraged and inflamed the
haut hertes and lusty courages of the manly Romains, that they neuer desisted to persecute the
people of Affricke tyll Carthage was vtteriy destroyed and the whole countrey subdewed and
brought vnder the Romain Empire. lulius Ceasaralso desired rather to conquere the Brit-
tons deuided from the continent, ye and inhabityng almost in thende of the worlde, rather then
to gayne the Pannonians adioynyng to Italy, saiyng, breke the stroger and the weaker will
bowe : Subdue the riche and the pore wil yeld be lord of the lordes and the vassales must nedes
be subiect, vanquish the Frenchemen and the Scottes be tamed. This counsaill of Cato, and
this saiyng of Cesar maketh me bothe to speke and thynke that if you get Fraunce, ye get two,
and if you get Scotland you get but one. When the duke had said and sat doune, his opinion
was muche noted and well digested with the kyng, but in especiall with his three brethren and
diucrse other lordes beyng young and lusty, desirous to win honor and profile in the realme
of Fraunce, ensuyng the couragious actesof their noble progenitors, whiche gat in that region
bothe honor and renoune. So that now all men cried warre, warre, Fraunce, Fraunce, and
the bill put into the parliament for desoluyng of religious houses was clerely forgotten and
buried
KYNG HENRY THE. V.
burred, and nothyng thoughte on but onely the recouering of Fraunce accordyng to the
title by the Archbishoppe declared and set furth. And so vpon this poynct after a fewe
Actes for the publicke wealth of the realme condiscended and agreed, the parliamet was
proroged to Westminster.
THE kyng like a wise prince and pollitique gouernor, entendyng to obserue the auncient
ordres of famous kynges and renoumed potentates vsed aswel emong Paynimes as Christians,
whiche is, not to inuade another mannes territory without open war and the cause of the
same to hym published and declared, dispatched into Frauce his vncle the duke of Excester
and the erle of Dorcet, the lorde Grey admirall of Englande, the Archbishop of Deuelin, the
bishop of Norwiche with, v hundred horsse, whiche were lodged in the Temple housin Paris,
kepyng suche triumphante chere in their lodgyng, and such a solempne estate in ridyng
through the citee, that the Parisians & all the Frenche men had no small meruell at their ho-
norable fassions and lordly behaueours. The French kyng receiued them very honorably,
and sumpteously banquetted theim, shewing to theim goodly iustes and marciall pastymes, by
the space of three daies together, in the whiche iustes the kyng hymself to shew his courage
and actiuitee to the Englishemen, manfully brake speres and lustely turneyed.
WHEN this great triumph and marciall disport was finished, the Englishe Ambassadors
accordyng to their commission, required of the Frenche kyng to deliuer to the kyng of Eng-
liid the realme and croune of Fraunce with the entier Duchies of Aquitain, Normandy and
Aniowe, with the countrees of Poytieu and Mayne and.diuerse other requestes, offryng that
if the Frenche kyng would without warre or effusion of Christen bloud rendre to the kyng
their Master his uery righte and lawfull inheritaunce, that he would be content to take in ma-
nage the lady Katheryn doughter to the Frenche kyng & to endewe her with all the duchie
and countrees before rehersed. And if he entended not so to do, then the kyng of Eng-
lande did expresse and signifie to hym that with the ayd of God and help of his people he
would recouer hisright and inheritaunce wrongfully with holden with mortall warre and dent
of sworde. The Frenchemen were much abasshed at these demaundes thinkyng theim very
vnreasonablc and farre excessiue, and yet not willyng to make any determinate aunswer till
they had farther brethed in so weighty a cause, praied thenglishe Ambassadors to saie to the
kyng their master that thei now hauyng no opportunitee to coclude in so hie a matter would
ahortly send Ambassadors into England whiche should certefy £ declare to the kyng their
whole mynde, purpose and aunswer.
THE Englishe Ambassadors nothyng content with this doyng departed into Englande mak- •
yng relacion of euery thyng that was said or done. Here I ouerpasse howe some writers
saie that the Dolphyn thinkyag kyng Henry to be geuen still to such plaies and light
folies as he exercised & vsed before the tyme that he was exalted to the rroune sent to hym
a tunne of tennis balles to plaie with, as who said that he could better skil of tennis then of
warre, and was more expert in light games then marciall pollicy. Whether he wer moued
with this vnwise presente, or espiyng that the Frenchemen dalied and vaynely delayed his
purpose and demaund, was moued and pricked forward I cannot iudge, but sure it is that
after the returne of his Ambassadors, he beeyng of a haute courage and bold stomacke,
liuyng now in the pleasantest tyme of his age, muche desiryng to enlarge and dilate his Em-
pire and dominion, determined fully to make warre in Fraunce, coceiuyng a good trust and
a perfight hope in this poyncte whiche he had before experimented, whiche is, that victory
for the moste part foloweth wher right leadeth, auaunced forward by Justice and sette furth
by equitie. And because many Frenchemen wer promoted to Ecclesiastical dignitees, some
to benefices, some to Abbeis and priores within his realme and sent daily innumerable
somes of money into Fraunce for the relefe and aide of their naturall countremen and li- •
neall kynsmen, he therfore for the publique wealth of his realme and subiectes, ordeigned
that no straunger here after should bee promoted to any spirituall dignitee or degree within
his realme without his especiall licence and royall concent, and that all they that should so -
be admitted, should find sufficient suretie not to disclose $ secretes of this realme to any fo- .
I rain
58 THE. II. YERE OF
rain Or strauge person, nor also to minister to them any aide or succor with money or by any
other ineane. Beside this he assembled a great puissance & gathered a greate hoste through
all his dominions, and for the more furniture of his nauie, he sent into Holand, Zeland and
Frizeland to conduct and hire shippes for the transportyng and conueighing ouer his men
and municions of warre, and finally prouided for armure, vitaile, money, artillary, carraiges,
tentes and other thinges necessary for so hie an enterprise: Whiche prouisions wer sone
blowen into Frauce & quickly knowen in Paris. Wherefore the Dolphin who had taken
on hym the gouernance of the realme, because his father was fallen again into his olde infir-
rnitie, sent for the dukes of Berry and Alaunson and all the counseil of Fraunce, to coclude
what should be done in so great a matter and so weightie a cause. After long cosultacion,
it was determined to assemble people through the whole realme of Fraunce, to resist & re-
pulse the kyng of Englande and his puissaunce whensoeuer he would arriue or set foote in
Fraunce, and also to fortifie their tounes & stuffc them with garrisons and men of warre,
and farther by taxes £ subsedies to leuy asmuche money as by wit or pollicie could be de-
uised or imagined. Moreouer to staie the king of England at home, it was polletiquely
deuised to sende to him a solempne Ambassade to make to him some offers accordyngto the
demaundes before rehersed. The charge of this Ambassade was comitted to the erle of
Vandosrne, to Master Wylliam Bouratier Archebishop of Bourgues and to Master Pe-
ter Fremel bishoppe of Lysieux and to the lorde of Yury and Braquemont and to Maister
Gaultier Cole the kynges secretory and diuerse other. These ambassadours accompanied
with. CCC. and fifty horses passed the sea at Caleys and laded at Douer, before whose ar-
riuall the kyng was departed from Wyndsor to Winchester, entendyng to haue gone to
Hampton and to haue viewed his nauie, but hearyng of the Ambassadours approachyng,
taried stil at Wynchester, where the sayd Frenche lordes shewed themselues very honorably
before the kyng and the nobilitie. And in the bishoppes hal before the kyng, sittyng in his
throne imperial & hislordes spiritual and temporal & a great multitude of the comons there
for that entent assebled, At a tyme prefixed, the Archebishop of Bourgesse made an elo-
quent and a long Oracion, dissuadyng warre, and praisyng peace, offering to the kyng of
Englad a great some of money with diuerse base & pore countries with the Lady Katheria
in marriage, so that he would dissolue his armie & distnisse his souldiors whiche he had
gathered and made ready.
When this Oracion was ended, the kyng caused the Ambassadors to be highly feasted, &
set them at his owne table. And at a daie assigned in the foresayd hall, the Archebishoppe of
Cauntorbury made to their Oracion a notable answere: theffecte wherof was, that if the
Frenche kyng would notgeue with his daughter in manage, the duchies of Acquitain, Nor-
mandy, Aniowe, & all other seignories & dominions somtime apperteinyng to the noble pro-
genitors of the kyng of Englad, he would in no wise retire his armie nor breake* his iorney
but would with all diligence entre into the realme of Frauce & destroy the people, depopu-
. late the coutry & subuertlhe tounes, with sword blud & fyre, & neuer cease till he had_re-
eouered his auncient right & lawful patrimony. The kyng auowed the archbishops saiyng,
& in the word of a prince promised to performe it to the vttermost. The bishop of Bourgesse
beyng inflamed with anger that his purpose toke none effect, desiryng licence & pardo of the
king that he might speake: which once attained he verye rashly and vnreueretly sayd.
Thynkest thou to put doune and destroy wrongfully the most cristen kyng, our most re-
doubted souerain lord and most excellentest prince of all christianitie of blud and prehemi-
nece. Oh kyng, sauyng thine honour, thinkest thou that he hathe offered or caused to be
offered to the landes, goodes or other possessions with his owne daughter for feare of the or
thy Englishe nacion, or thy friendes or well willers or fautours. No no ? but of truthe he
moued with pitie, as a louer of peace, to the entent that innocent blud should not bee dis-
persed abrode, and that Christian pesple shoulde not bee afflicted with battail and destroied
with mortall warre, hathe made to the this reasonable offers and this Godly mocion, puttyng
his hole affiance ia God most puissant accordyng to right and reason, trustyng in his quarel
to
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 59
(o be ayded and supported by his beneuolente subiectes and fauourable well willers. And
sith we be subiectes and seruauntes, we require the to cause vs safely and surely without
dammage to be conducted out of thy reahne and dominions & thatthou wilt write thyne an-
swere wholy as thou hast geuen it, vnder thy scale and signe manuell.
,THE Kyng of Englande nothyng vexed nor yet moued with the presumtuous saiynges and
proude bragges of the vnnurtered and unmanerly byshop, but well remebryng kyng Salo-
mon in the. xxiiii. of his prouerbes, whiche saithe, that with discretion warres muate be ta-
ken in hand, £ where many can geue councell, there is victory, coldly and soberly aun-
swered the bishop saiyng: My lorde I littel esteme your Frenche bragges, and lesse set by
your power & strength, I know perfightly my right to your region, and excepte you will
deny the apparant truthe so do you, and if you neither do nor will knowe yet God and the
worlde knoweth it. The powre of your Mayster you see daily, but my puissance you hane
not yet tasted, If your master haue louing frendes and faithful! subiectes, Iain I thanke
God not disgarnished nor vnprouided of the same: But this I say vnlo you, that before one
yere passe I trust to make the highest croune of your countrey stoupe and the proudest
Miter to kncele clowne : and say this to the vsurpcr your Master that I within three
monethes wyll enter into France not as into his land, but as into mine ov.ne true and law-
full patrimonye entendyng to conquere it, not with braggyng worries, flatteryng oracions
or coloured persuasions, but with puissaunce of men and dent of sworde by the aide of
God in whome is my whole trust and confidence. And as concernyng mine answere to be
written, subscribed and sealed, I assure you that I would not speake that sentence the
which I would not write and subscribe, nor subscribe that line to the whiche I would refuse
to put my scale. Therefore your saue conducte shall be to you deliuered with mine an-
swere, and then you may depart surely and safely I warrant you into your countrey,
where I truste soner to visite you then you shall haue cause to salute or bid me welcome.
With this answere the Ambassadours sore dismaied, but more displeased (although they
were highly entertained & liberally rewarded, departed into their countrye, relatyng to the
Dolphyn and the kynges councehvhat they had done duryngthc tyme of their Ambassade.
After thefrenche Ambassadours were departed, the kyng as I sayd before hauinga great
foresight and disposyng all thynges in an ordre forgettyng not the old pranckes and sodeyn
trickes of the variable Scottishe nacion, appoincted the earle of Westmerlande, the lorde
Scrope, the Baron of Greystncke and sir Robert Vrmfreuile with diuers other hardye par-
sonages & valiant capitayncs to kepe the frontiers and Marches adioynyng to Scotland,
whiche sir Robert Vmi'reuile on the day of Mari Magdalene entrecl with the Scottes at the
toune of Gederyng, hauyngin his company only. CCCC. Englishemen, where he after long
conflict and doubtful battaileslcwe of his enemies. Ix. and odde, and toke captiucs. CC(\
Ix. and discomfited and put to flight a thousand and moo, whom he followed in chase aboue.
xii. miles, and so laded with praies and prisoners reculed agayne not vnhurt to the castle
of Rokesbroughe, of the whiche at that tyme he was chief ca pi tayne and gouernour.
When the kyng had ordered all thynges for the tuicion and sauegarcle of his realme and
people, he leauyng behynd him for gouernor of the realme, the Queue his mother inlawe,
departed to the toune of Southampton, entending there to take ship, and so to transfrete
into Fraunce. And to thentent he would steale on the Frenche kyng before he were ware
of him, he dispatched Antelop his pursuiuant at Armes with letters, the which the Frenche
cronographers declare to be these.
TO the right honorable prince Charles our cissyn of Fraunce & aduersary, Henry by the
grace of God kyng of England & of Fraunce. &c. To deliuer to euery man his owne, is a
woorkeof inspiracionanda dccde of sage councel, for right noble prince our cosyn and ad-
uersary, sometymes the noble realmes of England & of Fraunce uere vnited, which nowe,
be seperated and deuided, and as then they were acccustomed to be exalted through the
vniuersal worlde by their glorious victories, and it was to them a notable vertue to decore
and beautifye the house of God, to the whiche apperteincd holynes, and to set a concorde
12 in
<SO< THE. III. YERE OF
in Christes religion. And by their agreable warres they brought fortunately the publike ene-
mies to their subjection : but alas this fraternal faith is peruerted to fraternal occasion as
Lot persecuted Abrahii by humayne impulsion, but nowe the glory of fraternal loue is deade,
and the discent of auncient humaine cddicion is departed, and mother malice and Ire are
resuscitate from death to life, but we call to wytnes the souereigne iudge in coscience, whiche
will not bow either for praier or for giites, that we to our power for pure loue haue procea-
ded by all mea ties to peace & amite. And sith we haue red in writyng and by coucel haue
learned the iust title of our inheritaunce from vs deteined in prejudice of oure auncient
linage, we be not of so small a courage but that we wyll fight to death to obteyne right and
iustice: but by the authorise written in the boke of Deuteronomy, all mea are taught whiche
come to besiege or assaulte any cytie or fortresse, fyrst to offre peace. And albeit that vio-
lence the rauisher of iustice haue take away of log time the noblenesof our croune and oure
iuste inheritaunce, yet we by charitie haue done what we might to recouer and bry.ng our
old inheritaunce to the first degree and auncient estate, and therefore for faute of iustice, we
may returne to armes. Wherfore, that our glorye may be wytnes of our conscience nowe
and also by personal request, in the beginning of our iorney to the whiche we are toward
for faute of iustice, \ve exhort you in the bowellesof our sauiour lesu Christ, whose euan-
gelical doctrine wiFleth that you ought to render to all men that which you ought to do, and
so to do to vs is the will of God oure souereigne lorde and creator. And to thentent that
destruccion of Christen people should be exchewed whiche are the images of God, we haue
demaunded our right and restitucion of the same from vs wrongfully withholden and
deteined, or at the least of snche thynges whiche we haue so often times by our Ambassa-
dors and messengers required & instantly desyred, wherwuh we haue offered to be pleased,
satisfied and cotented for the onely reuerence of almightie God & for the v-tilitie of a vni-
uersall peace whiche we thought should haue ensued.. And therfore we for our part because
of a manage to be had and cocluded betwene vs, wer determined to forsake & refuse the
fiftie thousand crounes to vs last promised and profered, preferryng peace before riches, &
chosyng rather our rightful patrimony to vs by our noble progenitors lawfully deuoluted*
and discended with oure eossyn your 'daughter the fcayre lady Katherin, rather then for trea-
sure and desire of money the multiplier of uiMj,uitie, shamefully to dishenerite our selfe and-
the croune of oure reahne whiche God forbid, Youen vnder oure priuy scale at o;ir Castel.
of Hampton on the sea side, the. v. day of August.
WHEN the letter was presented to the French kyng & by hi* councell well ouerlokedj,
he made answere to the officers of armes that he had well perceiued tlie content of the let*
lers, wherevpon he would tak« aduice and prouide for the same in tyme and plaee conue*
riieiu, licensing the messenger to depart at his pleasure..
U THE THIRD YERE..
Th^e"k- THIS noble prinee hauyng his nauy furnished, and all thynges necessary for suche a royal
voyage, perc-eiuyng his treshe capitames to complain that tiiey had lost so many monethes-
of theyere in the whiche they might haue done diueise haute enterpriwes in the lades of their
enemies, and that nothyng was to the more odious than prolongyng lingering of tyme
determined with all diligence to cause his souldiors to entr.e his shippes and so to depart.-
. SE the chaunce, the night before the day of departure appoincted, he was credibly in*
formed that Richarde earle of Cambridge brother to Edward duke of Yorke and- Henry
torde Scrope & syr Thomas Gray knight had cop.is.sed ins death and final! distinction: wher-
fore he caused them to be apprehended lamentyng sore his chaunce tliat he should be com*
pelled to loose such personages by whose valiantne;-, and puissaunce he should be more dread-
ful and feareful to his foes & enemies. When these prisoners were examined, they not
enely confessed the cospirary, but ako declared that for a great some of mony which they
hadreceiued of the Frenehe k)ng> they iuteded either to deLuer the kynsj-aliue into-the
J O *•*
hande
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 61
feandcs of his enemies, or els to murthcr him before that he should arriue in the duchy of
Norniady. When kvng Henry hard al thynges opened whiche lie sore desired, he caused
all hie nobilitie to asscble before his maiestie royal, before whom he caused to be
brought the thre great oflendors and to them sayd: If you haue conspired the deth
and destruction of me whiche am the head of the realme and gouernour of the people, with-
out doubt I must of nccessitie ihinke that you likewyse haue compassed the confusion of all
that be here witli me and also the final destruction of your natiue countrey and natural re-
gion. And although some priuate Scorpion in your heartes, or some wild worms in your
heades hath caused you to conspire my d -ath and comsion, yet you shuld haue spared that
deuelish enterprice as long as I was with miiie army whiche cannot cotinue without a capi-
taine, nor be directed without a guide, nor yet with the destruction of your owne blond
and hacion you should haue pleased a foreign enemy and an a. indent adversary. Wher-
fore seyng that you haue enterpnsed so greate a misehiete, so abhominabie a fact, to
thentent that your fautors beyng in the armye may abhorre so detestable an otfetice by the pu-
nishemcnt of you, ha^tyou to receiue the p^iyne that for your demerites yon haue deserued,
&. that punishment that by thelawe for your otfences is prouided.
WHEN these noble men were executed, the kyng sayd to his lordes, se you not the
mad imagination of men whiche persecute me that dayely studye, and hourly labour, to
my great irauaile and vnqo etnes for the aduancement of the publique wea'th of this
rt-.ilme andregion^ and for that cause I spare no payne nor refu-e no tytne to ilientent to do
food to all men and to hurt no man, and thus to do is my dutie & to tiiis as I thinke am
b >rne. I pray to God that there be none among you that be infected with so much vnA
truth that had leuer se me destro;ed and brought to co.. fusion, rather then to se his cou-rey
flurishe encreased with honor and empire. 1 assure you that I coceiue no suciie opinion in
any of you, but put in you both trust & confidence and if I may haue your helpe to
beautify my reahne and to recouer againe the olde honor of myne auncestours by sub-
duyng the Frenche nacion, I for my self wyll forget all peril and p tine and he your
guide lodesrnan and conductor. And if you drawe backe and wyll not moue fonvarde,
beleue me, God wyll so dispose, thai hctcatter jcu shalbe deceiued and sore icpenfhad I
wyst. When- the kyng had finished his saiyng, all the noble men kneled'uounc £ proursed
faithfully to serue him and duely to obey him, and rather to dye then tosufter him to ltd!
into the Tiandes of his enemies.
THIS done, the kyng thought surely in his conceipte all sedicion-to be drouned' & vtter-
ly extincte. But if he had cast his eye to the tyre that was newly kindled, he should haue
surely sene an horrible flame incesed against the walles of Ins o>'iie house and family, by
the which in conclusion his line and stocke was cleane destroyed and consumed to ashes,
whiche tyre at that verye tyme paraduenture might haue bene quenched and put out. For
diuerse write that Richard earle of Cambridge did not conspire with the lorde Scrope and
sir Thomas Graye to murther kyng Henry to please the- Frenche Kyng withal, but onely
to thentent to exalte to the croune his brotherinlawe Rdmond earle of Marche as heyre to
duke Lyouel. After whose death consideryng that the earle of Marche for diuerse secrete
impediments was not liable to haue generacion, he was sure that the croune should come
to him by his wife, or to his children. And thevtbie it is to be thought that he rather cofess-
ed him selfe for nede of money to be corrupted by the Free he kyng, then he would declare
his inwarde mynd & open his very entent. For surely he s.iwe that if his purpose were es-
pied, the earle of March should haut; dronken of the same cup that he did, and what should
haue come to his owne children he muciie doubted. And theifore beyng destitute of com-
fort and in di-payre of life, to saue ins children he fayu d that tale, de^iryng rather to saue
his succession then him selfe, winch lie did in dede For Richard duke of Yoike his sonne
not priuely but openly claimed the croine, and Kdward fiis sonne bu'.h claimed & gained it
as hereafter you shall heare, which tiiyng at thibt;ni'.' if kyug Henry had foresene I doubt
whether either euer that line should haue euiier claimed tiie gariaiide or gained the game.
3 WHEN.
62 THE. III. YERE OF
WHEN the wynde was prosperous and pleasaunt for the nauye to set forward, they
waicd vp the Ankers and hoysed vp their sailes and set forward with. xv. C. shippes on the
vigile of the Assumpcion of our Lady and toke land at Caux, comonly called Kyd Caux
(where the riuei'of Seine runneth into the sea) without resistencc or bludsheddyng. The
kyng was lodged on the shore in a small priory with the dukes of Clarece and Gloucester his
bretherne: the duke of Excetter and Yorke, the carles, Marshal, Oxforde, Suffolke, War-
wicke and other lordes were lodged not farre fro him. The next day after, he marched
towarde the toune of Ilarflewe standing on the riuer of Seyne betwene two hilles and
besieged it on euery parte. The capitaine of the toune was the lorde Escouteuile with the
lorde Blaynuile of Hacqueuile, the lordes of Harmanuile of Galarde Boyes, of Clere de
Becton, ofAdsandies, of Brian, of Gaucort, of Lisleadarn and many other.
THE Frenche kyng beyng aducrtised of the kynges arriuall, sente in all the hast the
lorde Pelabreche constable of Fraunce and the lorde Bonciqualt Marshall of Fraiice, the
Seneschal ofllenaude, the lorde Ligny and diuerse otlier capitaines, whiclie fortified tonnes
with men vitaile and artillary on all the sea coaste. And heryng that the kyng of England
had besieged Harflew at his first landyng, carne to the castle of Cawdebec beyng not farre
from Harflewe, to thentent to succour their frendes which wer besieged if thei might by any
pollicy or inuencion, and if not, then they imagined how to sleye and hurte the Englishe-
iTien when they went into the countree on foragvng for bcastcs and vitaill and so trappe and
dcstroye them, for thei costrued with themsclfes that their vitaile would sone faile because of
the ay re of the sea and smell of the water. But they were deceiued, for notwithstandyng
the prouision and pollicy of the Frenchemen, the Englishmen forrayed the countree, spoyl-
ed the villages and brought many a riche praie to the Campe before Ilarflewe. Thenglish-
men daily ceassed no!: to assaile the toune, the duke of Gloucester to who the ordre of the
assaulte was comitted, made thre mynes vnder the ground & approched the walles with
ordiuaunce and engyues, and would not sutfre theim within to reste at any tyme. The
kyng liyng on the hill side with his battail did not onely kepe the Frenchmen from succoryng
of the toune, but also toke a\vaie from the tounes men all the hope and trust of their succor,
aide and relief, and also al the gonnepouder that was sent by the Frenche kyng to them
that wer beseged was taken by thenglishmen. The capitaines of the Freeh men within the
toune perceitied that they wer not able to resist the continuall inuasions and hourelyassaultes
of the fierce Englishemenne, and knowyng that their walles were vnder my ned and shortely
like to fal, & feryng tliat might happe of the chance if thei should fortune to be ouercome
and take by force, desired of the kyng of England only truce for thre daies, promisyng
that if they were not reskewed within thesame tyme, then thei to yeld themselfes and the
toune their hues only saued. And to performe this, they deliuered into the kynges pos-
session, xxx. of the beste capitaines and Marchauntes of the toune. The kyng of Englande
accepted this oft're, lest he entendyng greater exploites might lese his tyme in suche small
matters. When this composicion was agreed, the lorde Hacqueuile was sent to the French
kyng to declare the necessite of the toune and the shorte tyme of the truce. To who the
dolphin aunswered that the kynges power was not yet assembled in suche a nombre as was
conuenient to raise so greate a siege. When the aunswer was reported to the capitaines,
they seyng no hope nor similitude of aide and comfort to them commyng, after the third
daie rendered to the kyng of Englacl the toune, beyng the. xxxvij. daie after that it was
besieged, whiche was the daie of sainct Mawrice, to the greate abashement of all Nor-
mandy, for it was the soueraigne porte of al that countree. The souicliours wer
rauDSOined and the toune was sacked to the greate gayne of the Englishemen. The
kyng of Englande ordeignod capitain of the toune of Harflew his vncle Thomas
duke of Exccsler whiche established his leuetenaunt there Ihon Fastolfte with. xv. C. inenl
and. xxxv. knightes, whereof the Baron of Carew & sir Hugh Lutterell were two coun-'
saillcrs. And because diuerse of his nobles liyng Harflew were sicke of the flixe and many
wer ded, emongest who therle of Stafford, the bishop of Norwich, the lordes Molins and
1 Burnell
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 63
Burnell wer foure beside other. The kyng licensed the duke of Clarence his brother, Ihon
erle Marshall and Ihon erle of Arundel beyng infected \vith tliat desease to returne into
Englande.
KYNG Henry not a litle reioysyng of his good lucke and fortunate successe in the
begin nyng of his pretensed conquest, determined withal diligence to set forward in perform-
yng his intended purpose and warrely enterprise, but because Wynter approched faster and
more furiously then before that tyme had been accustomed, he was sore troubled and vexed.
For the whiche cause he called together al the Cheuetaines and men of pollicy in his annie
to consult vpo the procedyng forward and to be sure of waie and redy passage. After long
debatyng and muche reasonyng, it was as a thyng bothe necessary and conueniente and fully
agreed and determined to set forwarde withall diligence before the dedde tyme of Winter
approched, toward the toune of Caleis. And because their goyng forward should be called
of slaunderous tongues a runnyngorfliyng awaie, it was decreed that the whole armie should
passe the next waie by lande through the middest of their enemies, and yet that ionrney
was iudged perilous by reason that the numbre was muche minished by the flyxe and other
feuers, which sore vexed and brought to death aboue. xv. C. persones, whiche was the very
cause that the returne was soner concluded and appoincted : but before his departyng he
entered into the toune of Harflew and went on foote to the churcheof sainct Martynes and
there offered. And all the men of warr which had not paied their raunsome, he sware
them on the holy Euangelistes to yeld themselfes prisoners at Caleis by the feast of S. Mar-
tyn in Nouember nexte, diuerse of the burgesses he highly raunsomed, and a greate part
of the women and children he expelled the toune, geuyng to euery poore creature flue
sowse. The priestes had licence to depart leuyng behinde them their substaunce. The
goodes in the toune wer innumerable whiche wer al praie to the Englishemen, whiche sent
the best into Englande as a remembraunce of good lucke. There were twoo strong toures
standyng on the hauen side, whiche lokyng for aid did not yelde ten daies after the toune
was rendered.
WHEN the kyng had repaired the walles, fortefied the bulwarkes refresshed the ram-
piers and furnished the toune with vitail and artillary, he remoued from Harflew toward
Pountoyse, entendyng to pas the riuer of Some with his armie before the bridges were ether
withdrawen or broken. The Frenche kyng hearyng that the toune of Harflewe was gotten
and that the kyng of Englande was marchyng forwarde into the bowelles of the realme, sente
out proclamacions and assembled people in euery quarter, comittyng the whole charge of
his armie to his sonne the Dolphin & the duke of Aquitayn, whiche incontinent caused the
brydges to be broken and all the passages to be defended, beside that they caused all come
and other vitaill to be destroied in all places where they coniectured that-thenglishmen would:
repaire or passe through, to thentent that they might ether kepe the in a place certain with-
out any passage or departure, and so to destroye them at their pleasures, or els to kepe
theim in a straite without vitailes or comfort, and so by famyne ether cause them to dye
or yelde.
THE kyng of Englande afflicted with all these incomoditees at one tyme was nether dis-
maied nor discoraged, but keping furth his iorney approched to the riuer of Some, where
he perceiued that all the bridges wer by his enemies broken and vnframed: wherfore he came
to the passage called Blanchetaque where kyng Edwardes greate graundfather passed the
riuer of Some before the battaill of Cressy. But the passage was so kepte that he could
not passe without great daunger, consideryng that his enemies wer at his backe & before
his face. Wherfore he passed forward to Arannes, burnyng villages & takyng greate booties-
and euery daie he sent his light horsemen abrode to spye and seke what perilles ther wer at
hand, what embushments ther wer laid on the one side or thother, & to find out where he
might most sanely pas the riuer. The espialles returned and declared for a truth that the*
coutree swarmed with men of warre, wherof he beyng aduertised, set furth in good ordre,,
kepyng still his waie forwarde and so ordred his armie and placed his cariage, that hauyng:
his-
6+ THE. III. YERE OF
his enemie* on both side* of him, he passed so terribly that his enemies wer afraid ancc te
offre hym battaill, and yet the lorde Delabreth Constable of Fraunce, the Marshall Bonce-
qualt, the erleof Vandosme greate Master of Fraunce and the lorde Dampier Admirall of
Fraunce, the duke of Alanson and the erle of Richemonde vvithall the puyssance of the
Dolphin laie at Abbeuile and durste not once touche his battailes, but euer kepte the pas-
sages and coasted alofe like a hauke that liketh not her praie. The kyng of Englande still
kept on his iourney till he came to the bridge of saincte Maxence, where he founde aboue
xxx. M. Frenchemen and there pitched his felde, lokyng surely to be set on and fought
withal. Wherfore to encorage his capitaines the more, he dubbed certain of his hardy &
valeant gentlemen knightes, as Ih5 lord Ferreis of Groby, Reignold of Greistocke, Piers
Tempest, Christopher Morisby, Thomas Pikering, Willifi Huddleston, Ihon Hosbalton,
Henry Mortimer, Philip Halle & Willia his brother, & laques de Ormod & diuerse
other. But when he saw y the Frenchmen made no semblance to fight, he departed
in good ordre of battail by the toune of Amiece to a toune nere to a castle called
Bowes, and there laie twoo daies, euery houre lookyng for battaill. And from thence he
came nere to Corby where he wasstaied that night by reason that the come people and pey-
sants of the countree assembled in greate nombre, .and the men of Armes of the garrison of
Corby skirmished with his armie in the mornyng, which tariyng was to hym bothe ioyous
and profitable, for there he discomfited the crew of horsmen & draue the rustical people
euen to their gates, & also found there thesame daie a shalow forde betwene Corby &
Peron, whiche neuer was espied before. At the whiche he, his armie & cariages the night
ensuyng passed the great riuer of Some without let or daungier, the morowe after sainct
Lukes daie, determined withall diligence to passe to Caleis, and not to seke for battail
except he wer therto constrained & compelled, because that his armie by sickenesse was
sore minished and appaired, for he had onely two. M. horsemen and. xiii.M. Archers, bill
men and of all sortes. The Englishemen were afflicted in this iourney with an hundred
discomodities, for their vitaile was in maner all spent, and nevve they could get none, for
their enemies had destroyed all the corne before their comyng: Rest they could take none,
for their enemies wer euer at hande, daily it reined and nightly it fresed, of fuell was
skacenes and of fluxes was plenty, money they had ynough but comforle thei had none.
And yet in this great necessitee the poore folkes wer not spoyled nor any thyng without pai-
nient was .of the .extorted, nor great offence was doen except one, whiche was that a fool-
ishe souldier stale a pixe out of a churche and vnreuerently did eate the holy hostes with-
in thesame conteigned. For whiche cause he was apprehended, and the kyng would not
once remoue till the vessel was restored & the offender strangled. The people of the
countrees there aboute hearyngof his straight iustice & godly mynd, ministered tohym bothe
vitailes & other necessaries, although by open proclamacio they wer therof prohibited.
THE Frenche kyng beyng at Roan, hearyng that the kyng of Englande was passed the
water .of .Some, was not a little discontente, and assembled his counsaill to the numbre of.
xxxv. »to consult what should be doen, the chief whereof were the Dolphin his sonne
whose name was Lewes, callyng hymself kyng of Cicile, the dukes of Berry & Britayn
therle of Pontieu the kynges youngest sonne and diuerse other, wherof xxx. agreed that the
Englishmen should not departe vnfoughten with all, and fiue wer of the contrary opinion,
tut the greater niwnbre ruled the matter. And so Mountioye kyng at Armes was sent to the
kyng of Englande to ,defie hym as the enemie of Fraunce, and to tell hym that heshould
shortly haue battaill. Kyng Henry soberly aunswered : Sir myne entent and desire is none
other, but to do as it pleaseth Almighty God and as it hecometh me, for surely I will Tiot eeke
your Master at this tyme, but if .he or his seke me I wil willyngly fight with hym. And if
any of your nacion attempt once to stoppe me in my iourney toward Caleis, at their ieopardy
be it, and yet my desire is that none of you be so vnaduised or harebrained as to be the
,ftcc.asi.on that I in my defence shall coloure and make redde your tawny grounde with the
deathes
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 65
deathes of your selfes and theffusion of Christen bloud. When he had aunswered the
harauld , he gaue to him a great reward & liceced him to depart.
WHEN the Lordes of Fraunce heard the kyng of Englandes answere, it was inconti-
nent proclayrned, that all men of warre should resorte to the Constable of Fraunce to fight
with the kyng of Englande and his puissaunce. Wherupon all men accustomed to beare
Armure and desirous to wyn honor through the realme of Fraunce drewe toward the fold.
The Dolphyn sore desired to bee at that battaile, but he was prohibited by the kyng his fa-
ther, likewise Philip erle of Charolous sonne to the Duke of Burgoyn would gladly haue
been at that noble assemble if the duke his father would haue suffred hym, but many of his
men stale awaie and went to the Frenchemen.
THE Kyng of Englande informed by his espialles that the daie of battail was nerer then
he loked for, dislodged from Bomyers & roade in good arraie through the faire piaine beside
the toune of Blangy, where to the intent that his armie should not bee included in a streight
or driuen to a corner, he chose a place mete and conueniente for two armies to darrayne bat-
tail betwene the tounes of Blangy and Agincourte, where he pight his felde.
THE Constable of Fraunce, the Marshall, the Admirall, the Lorde Rambures Master of
the Crossebowes and diuerse lordes and knightes pitched their banners nere to the banner
royall of the Constable in the Countee of sainct Paule within the territory of Agincourte, by
the whiche waie the Englishernen muste nedes passe towarde Caleis. The Frenchemen
made greate fires about their banners, and they were in numbre had. Ix. M. horsemen, as
their owne historians and writers affirme, beside footemen pages and wagoners, and all that
night made greate chere and were rery mery. The Englishmen that night sounded their trom-
pettes and diuecse instrumentes Musicall with greate melody, and yet they were bottie hungery,
wery, sore traueled and rnuche vexed with colde deseases: Howbeit tliey made peace with
God, in confessyng their synnes, requiring hym of help, and receiuyng the holy sacramente,
cuery man encouragyng and determinyng clerely rather to die then either to yelde or Hie.
NOW approched the fortunate faire daie to the Englishemen and the infest and vnlucky The }«
daie to the Frenche nobilitee, whiche was the fiue and twentv daie of October in the vere of of Affin"
v */ CO11! ' .
our Lorde lesu Chnste a thousande foure hundred and fifteene, bceyng then Fridaie and
the daie of Crispin and Crispinian. On tlie whiche daie in the mornyng, the Frenche
menne made thre battailes : In" the \raward wer eight thousande Ilealmes of Knightes and
Esquiers and foure thousande Archers and fiftene hundred- Crosebowes, which were guyded
by the Lord Delabret Constable of Fraunce, hauyng with hym the dukes of Orlcaunce and
Burbone, therles of Ewe and Richmond the Marshall Bonciqualt and the Master of the
Crosebowes, the Lorde Dampier Admirall of Fraunce and other capitaincs. And the erle
of Vandosme and other the kynges officers with. xvj. C. men of Armes wer 01 dred for a.
wyng to that battail. And the other wyng was guided by sir Guyshard Dolphyn and sir
Clugnet of Brabant and sir Lewes of Burbon with. viij. C. menne of Armes, of chosen
and elect persones. And to breake the shot of the Englishemen wer appoincled sir
Guylliii of Sauesens with Hector and Philip his brethren. Ferry of Maylley and Alen of
Gaspanes with other, viij. C. men cf Armes. In the midle ward wer assigned as many per-
soues or mo as wer in the formoste battail, and therof was the charge comitted to the dukes
of Barr and Alenson, therles of Neuers, Vawdemont, Blamout, Salynges, Grafitpree and of.
Roussy. And in the rerewarde were all the other men of Armes, guyded by the erics of.
Marie, Dampmartyne, Fawquenberge and the Lorde of Lourrey Capitayne of Arclc, who
had with hym men of the Frontiers of Bolonoys.
WHEN these battailes were thus ordred, it was a. glorious sight to behold the, and surely
they wer estetned to be in numbre sixe times as many or more then was the whole compaigny
of the Englishmen with wagoners pages and all. Tims the Frenchmen wer euery man vnder
his banner only waityog for the blouddy blast of the terrible trompet, and in this ordre they
continued restyng themselfes and reconciling euery one to other for all old rancors and hatredcs
whiche had been betwene theim, till the houre betwene. ix. and, x. of the daie. Duryng
K whiche
66 THE. III. YERE OF
whiche season, the Constable of Fraunce saied openly to the capitayues iu effecte as fo-
loweth.
The ornciou FIIENDES and companions in armes, I canot but bothe reioyce and lament the chances
°faUeof 5" ^ f°rtunes °f these two armies whiche I openly se and behold with myne iyes here presente.
j>»uce. I reioyce for the victor ie whiche I se at hand for our part, and I lamet and sorow for the
misery and calamitee whiche I perceiue to approche to the otherside: For wee cannot but
be victours and triuphant conquerors, for who saw euer so florisshyng an armie within
any Christian region, or suche a multitude of valiaunt persones in one compaignie? Is not
here the flower of the Frenche nacion on barded horsses with sharpe speares and dedly wea-
pons? Are not here the bold Britons with fiery handgones and sharpe swerdes? Se you
uot present the practised Pickardes with strong and weightie Crossebowes? Beside these,
we haue the fierce Brabanders & strong Almaines with long pykes and cuttyng slaughmesses.
And on the otherside is a s?mal handfull of pore Englishmen whiche are entred into this re-
gion in hope of some gain or desire of proffite, whiche by reson that their vitaill is cosumed
& spent, are by daily famyn sore wekened, consumed & almost without spirites* for their
force is clerly abated and their strength vtterly decaied, so ^ or the battailes shall ioyne
they shalbe for very feblenes vaquished & ouercom, & in stede of men ye shal fight with
shadowes. For you must vnderstand, y kepe an Englishma. one moneth from his warme bed,
fat befeand stale drynke, and let him that season tast colde and suflfre hunger, you then shall
se his courage abated, his bodye waxe leane and bare, and euer desirous to returne into his
owne countrey. Experience now declareth this to be true, for if famine had not pinched
them, or colde wether had not nipped them surely they would haue made their progresse
farther into Fraunce, and not by so many perilous passages retired towarde Calays. Suche
courage is in Englishmen when fayre weather and vitaile folow them, and suche vveaknes
they haue when famine and cold vexe and trouble them. Therfore nowe it is no mastery to
vanquishe and ouerthrowe them, beyng both wery & weake, for by reason of feblenes and
faintnes their weapones shal fal out of their handes when they prefer to strike, so that ye may
no easilier kyll a poore shepe then destroye them beyng alredy sicke & hungerstaruen. But
imagyn that they wer lusty, strong and couragious, and then ponder wisely the cause of their
comyng hither, and the meanyng of their enterprice: Fyrst their king a yong striplyng (more
mete for a tenice playe then a warlike campe), claimeth the croune, scepter and souereign-
tie of the verye substance of the Frenche nacion by battaile: then he and his entende to oc-
cupy this countrey, inhabite this land, destroy our wiues and children, extinguishe our blud
and put our names in the blacke boke of obliuion. Wherfore remembre wel, in what
quarel can you better fight then for the tuicio of your nataral countrey, the honor of your
prince, the surety of your children and the sauegard of your land and Hues. If these
causes do not encourage you to fight, beholde before your eyes the tetes of your enemies,
with treasure, plate & Jewels wel stuffed and richely furnished, which pray is surely yours
if euery ma strike but one stroke, besyde the great raunsomes whiche shalbe paied for
riche capitaines and welthy prisoners, whiche as surely shall be yours as you now had
them in your possession. Yet this thyng I charge you withal, that in nowise the kyng
him selfe be killed, but by force or otherwise to be appreheded & taken to the entent that
with glorye & triumphe we may conuey him openly through the noble cytie of Paris to oure
kyng and dolphyn as a testimony of our victory & witnes of our noble act. And of this
thyng you be sure, that fly they cannot, and to yelde to our fight of necessitie they shalbe
compiled. Therfore good felowes take courage to you, the victory is yours, the gaine is
yours & the honor is yours without great laboure or muche losse.
KYNG Henry also like a leader & not like one led, like a souereigne and not like a
souldior ordred his men for his most aduantage like an expert capitaine and a couragious
warrier. And fyrst he sent priuely CC. archers into a low medowe which was nere to the
forward of his enemies, but separate with a great diche, and were there commaunded to kepe
them selues close tyl they had a token to them geuen to shote at their aduersaries. Beside
this
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 67
this he appoincted a vawarde, of the which he made capitayne Edward duke of Yorke whiche
of a hauie courage had of the kyng required and obteined that office: and with him were
the lordes Beaumond, Wylloughby and Fanhope, and this battaile was all archers. Tlie
middle ward was gouerned by the kyng him self with his brother the duke of Gloucester,
& theories Marshal, Oxford andSuffolke, in the which wer al the strong bilmen, The duke
of Exceter vncle to the kyng led the rercward, whiche was mixed both with archers & bil-
inen. The horsemen like winges went on euery side of the battaile. When the king had thus
ordred his battaile, like a puissaunt coqueror without feare of his enemies, yet cosiderlng the
multitude of them farre to excede the smal nombre of his people, doubtyng that the
Frenchemen would compasse and beset him aboute, and so fight with him on euery side, to
thentent to vaquish the power of the French horsmen whiche might breake the ordre and
arraye of his Archers, in whom the whole force of the baitaile did consist and in maner re-
maine he caused stakes bound with yron sharpe at both endes of the length of v. or. vi.
fote to be pitched before the Archers and of euery side the fote men like an edge, to the
entent that if the barde horses ranne rashely vpo them, they might shortely be gored and de-
stroied, & appointed certeine persons to remoue the stakes when the Archers inoued, and
as tyme required : so that the fotemen were hedged about with the stakes, and the horsemen
stode like a bulwerke betwene the and their enemies without the stakes. This deuice of
fortifiyng an armye was at this tyme fyrst inuented, but sence that tyme, they haue
imagined caltrappes, harowes and other newe trickes to defende the force of the hors-
men so that if the enemies at auenture runne against their engines, either sodeinly their
horses be wounded with the stakes, or their feete hurt with the other engines, so that of
very necessitie for paine, the sely pore beastes are compelled to fal and tumble to the
ground. When he had ordred thus his baitailes, he left a smal company to kepe his
campe & baggage, and then callyng his capitaines and soldiours about him, he made to
them an heartie Oracion in effect as foloweth, saiyng.
WELBELOUED frendes and countrymen, I exhort you heartely to thinke and con- ^ °™rioa
ceiue in yourselues that this daye shalbe to vs all a day of ioy, a day of good lucke and a day Hcnr/the
of victory: For truely if you well note and wisely considre all thynges, almighty God vnder whose fiftl
protection we be come hither, hath appoincted a place so mete and apt for our purpose as we
our selves could nether haue deuised nor wished whiche as it is apt and conuenient for our
smal nombre and litle army so is it vnprofitable and vnmete for a great multitude to fi^ht or
geue battaile in : and in especial for suche men in whom is neither constant faith nor securitie
of promise, whiche persons be of God neither fauored nor regarded, nor he is not accustomed
to ayde and succoure suche people whiche by force and strength contrary to right &
reason detain and kepe from other their iust patrimony and lauful inheritance, with whiche
blotte and spotte the Frenche nacion is apparantly defyled and distained: so that God of
his iustice wyll scourge and aflicte them for their manifest iniuries and open wronges to vs
and our realme dayly committed and done. Therfore puttyng your onely trust in him,
let not their multitude feare youre heartes, nor their great nombre abate your courage :
for surely old warlike fathers haue both said and written that the more people that an army
is, the lesse knowledge the multitude hath of material feates or politique practises, whiche
rude rustical and ignorant persons shalbe in the feld vnto hardy capitaines and lusty
men of warre a great let and sore impediment. And though they al were of Jike pollicy, like
audacitie and of one vniforme experience in rnarcial affayres, yet we ought neither to feare
them nor once to shrinke for them consideryng that we come in the right, whiche euer of
God is fauored, set furth and auansed: in whiche good and iust quarel al good persons
shal rather set bothe theyr feete forward, then once to turne theyr one heale backward.
For if you aduenture your Hues in so iust a battaile & so good a cause, whiche way so-
euer fortune turne her whele, you shalbe sure of fame, glory and renoune: If you be
victors and ouercome your enemies, your strength and vertue shalbe spred and dispersed
through the whole world: If you ouerpressed with s$ great a multitude shal happe to be
K 2 slaine
6* THE. III. YERE OF
slaine or taken yet neither reproche can be to you ascribed, either yet infamy of you report-
ed, consideryng that Hercules alone was not equiuolent vnto. ii. men, nor a smal handfull
is not equal to a great nombre, for victory is the gift of God and consistcth not in the
puissaunce of men. Wherfore manfully set on your enemies at theyr fyrst encountre,
strike with a hardy courage on the false hearted Frenchemen, whom youre noble aun-
cestours haue so often ouercome and vanquished. For surely they be not so strong to geue
the onset vpo you, but they be much weaker to abide your stregth in a long fight and tyred
battaile. As for me I assure you al, that England for my person shall neuer paye raun-
some, nor neuer Frencheman shall triumph ouer me as his capitain, for this day by
famous death or glorious victory I wyl wynne honor and obtaine fame. Therfore now ioy-
ously prepare your seines to the battaile and couragiously fight with your enemies, for
at this very ty me all the realme of Englande praieth for our good lucke and prosperous
successe.
WHILE the kyng was thus speakyng, eche armye so maligned & grudged at the other
beyng in open sight and euident apparence, that euery man cried furth, furth, forward
forward. The dukes of Clarece Gloucester and Yorke were of the same opinion, thinkyng
it most conuenient to marche toward theyr enemies with al spede & celeritie, least in pro-
longyng of tyme and arguyrig of opinions, the Frenche armye might more and more
increace & hourly multiply. Howbeit the kyng taried a while least any ieopardy were
not forsene, or any hazard not preuented.
THE Frenchemen in the rneane season litle or nothyng regardyng the small nombre of
thenglishe nacion, were of suche haute courage and proud stomackes that they took no
thought for the battaile, as who saye they were victours and ouercomers before any stroke
was striken, and laughed at the Englishmen, and for very prid thought the selues lifted
into heauen iestyng and boastyng that they had thenglish men inclosed in a straight
and had ouercome and take them without any resistance. The capitaines determined howe
to deuide the spoyle: the souldiors plaied the Englishmen at dice: the noble men deuised
a chariot how they might triumphantly conueigh kyng Henrye beyng captiue to the cytie
of Paris, criyng to theyr souldiors, hast your selues to obtaine spoile, glory and honor, to
thentent that we may study howe to geue you thankes for the great giftes and rewardes
which we hope to receiue of your great liberalitie. The folishe folye of this vaine solace
brake out so farre, that messengers were sent to the cyties and tounes adioyning, willyng
them to make open playes find triumphes, (as though that the victory were to them
certaine & no resistance could appeare) and also to geue God thankes for their prosperous
net and notable dede, not remembryng that the whjrlewynd shortely with a puft'e blew
away al their folishe ioy and phantastical braggyng.
Of this doyng you may gather, that it is asmuche madness to make a determinate Judge-
ment of thinges to come, as it is wisdome to doubt what wyll folowe of thinges be-
gone. I may not forgdt how the Freche men beyng in this pleasaunt pastyme, sent a
herault to kyng Henry to inquyre what raunsome he wold offre, and how he answered
that within, ii. or. iii. houres he hoped that it should so happen that the Frenchemen
should comen rather with thenglishmen how to be redemed, then the Englishmen should
take thought how to pay any rausome or money for theyr deliuerance: asserteinyng them
for him selfe that his dead carion should rather be their pray, then his liuyng body should
pay any raunsome. When the messenger was departed, the Frenchmen put on theyr heal-
mettes and set the in ordre vnder theyr banners, richely armed and gorgeously trapped
and caused theyr trumpettes to blowe to the battaile.
THE Englishemen perceiuyng that, sette a lytle forwarde, before whom there went an
old knight called syr Thomas of ^ierpingham, a man of great experience in warre, with
a warder in his hand, and when hrf cast vp his warder, al the army shouted, at the which
the Frenchmen muche marueiled, out that was a sign to the Archers in the meadowe, which
knowing the token, shot wholy altogether at the vavvard of the Freachemen. When they
perceiued
KYNG HENRY THE. V. €9
i
pcrceiued the archers in the meadow, who they saw not before, and sawc they could not
come to them for a diche, they with al hast set on kyng Henries forwarde, hut or they'
ioyned, the archers in the forfront and the archers on the side whiche stode in the meadow,
so wounded the iblenien, so galled the horses and so combred the men of armes that the
fotemen durst not go forward, the horsemen rune in plumpes without drdre, some ouer-
threw his felovv, and horses ouerthrew their maisters: So at the fyrst ioyuyng, as the Frenchemen
wer clcarely discouraged, so thenglishmen were muche chered. When the Frenche vaward was
thus discomfited, the English archers cast away theyr bowes & tokeinto theyr handes axes,
nialles and swordes,billes and other weapons, and thenvith slewe the Frenchmen tyll they
came to the middleward. Then the king approched and encoragrd his souldiors, that
sliortly the second battaile was ouerthrowen and dispersed not without' great slaughter of
men: howbeit diuers beyng wounded wer releued by their varieties and conueighed out of
the fclde, for the Englishmen so sore labored with fightyng and slaiyng, and wer so busy in
takyng of prisoners that they folowed no chace, nor would once breake out of the battaile.
The Frenchmen strongly wstode the fearcenes of Thenglishmen when thei came to hady
strokes, so that the fight was very doubtful & perilous. And when one part of the French-
horse men thought to haue entred into the kynges battaille, they were with the stakes ouer
turned, and either slain or taken.
THUS this battaile continued, iii. long houres, some strakc, some defeded, some foyned,
some trauersed, some kylled, some toke prisoners noman was idle, euery man fought either
in hope of victory or glad to saue him selfe. The kyng that clay shewed him selfe like a
valiaunt knight, whiche notwithstandyng that he was almost felled with the duke of Alaun-
son, yet with plain strength he" slew. ii. of the dukes company and felled the duke: but when
the duke would haue yelded him, the kynges garde cotrary to the kynges ininde outragiously
slewe him. And in conclusion, mindyng to make an ende of that daies iorncy, caused his
horsmen to fetch a compasse about & to ioyne with him against the rereward of Fraunce:
in the whiche battaile were the greatest nombre of people. When the Frenchmen per-
ceiued his entent, they wer sodenly amased and ranne away like shepe without aray or ordre.
When the kyng perceiued the banners cast doune & the aray was clerely broken, he en-
coraged his souldiors and folowed so quickly that the Frenchmen turnyng to flight, ranne
hither and thither not knowyng whiche way to take, castyng away their armure and on theyr
knes desired to haue theyr hues saued. In the meane season while the battaile thus con-
tinued and that thenglitihmen had taken a great nobre of prisoners, certain Frenchmen on
horsbackeVherof were captaines Robinet of Borneuile, Kifflart of Clamas and Isarnbert of
Agincourt and other 'men of Armes to the nombre of. vi. C. horsemen : whiche fled fyrst
from the felde at theyr fyrst commyng and hearyng that the Englishe tentes and pauilions
were farre from the army without any great nobre of kepers or persons mete and couenient
for defence, partly moued and styrred with coueteous desire of spoyle and pray, and partly
entendyng by some notable act to reuenge the damage and displeasure done to them it theirs
in battail the same day, entred into the kynges campe beyng voide of men and fortefied
with varieties & lackeys, and ther spoyled hales, robbed tentes, brake vp chestes and caried
awaye caskettes and slewe suche seruantes as they could fynd in the tentes and pauilions.
For the whiche act thei wer long imprisoned and sore punished and like to haue lost their
liues if the Dolphyn had longer liued.
WHEN the kyng by a feareful messenger was of this euil acte soclainly aduertised, and
when the outcry of the lackeys and boyes whiche rane away for feare of the robbers was
heard into the felde, saiyng that the Frenchmen had robbed all the tentes and lodgynges of
the Englishmen, he fearyng least his enemies beyng dispersed and scattered abroad should
gather together againe and beginne a new felde: and doubtyng farther that the prisoners
would ether be an aide to his enemies or very enemies to him if he should sufire them
to hue, contrary to his accustomed gentlenes and pitie he comaunded by the sounde of a
ompet that euery man vpon paine of death should incotinently sley his prisoner. When
this
70 THE. III. YERE OF
this dolorous decre & pitiful proclamacio was pronounced, pitie it was to se and lotlisome
it was to behold how some Frenchmen wer sodainly slicked with daggers, some wer brained
with polaxes, some wer slain with malles, other had theyr throtes cut and some their bellies
paunched: so that in effecte hauyng respecte to the greate nombre, few prisoners or none
were satied.
WHEN this lamentable manslaughter was finished, thenglishemen forgettyng their
woundes and hurtes and not remembring what paine they had sustained all day in fightyng
with their enemies, as men that wer freshe and lusty, ranged them selues again in aray both
prest and redy to abide a newe felde, and also to inuade and newly to set on theyr enemies,
and so couragiously thei set on the carles of Marie and Fauconbrige and the lordes of Lou-
ray & of Thyne, whiche with. vi. C. men of armes had all day kept together and slew them
out of hand.
When the kyng had passed through the felde & saw neither resistence nor apparaunce of
any Frenchmen sauyng the dead corsses, he caused the retrayte to be blowen and brought
al iiis armie together about, iiij. of the clocke at after noone. And fyrst to geue thankes
to almightie God geuer & tributor of this glorious victory, he caused his prelates & cliape-
laines fyrst to sing this psalme In exitu Israel de Egipto. £c. commaundyng euery man to
knele doune on the ground at this verse. Non nobis domine, non nobis, sed nomine tuo da
gloriam, whiche is to say in Englishe, Not to vs lord, not to vs, but to thy name let the glory
be geuen: whiche done he caused Te deuni with certeine anthemes to be song geuyng
laudes and praisyngcs to God, and not boastyng nor braggyng of him selfe nor his humane
power.
THAT night he toke refrcshyng of suche as he found in the Freche campe, and in the
mcrnyng Moutioy kyng at armes and. iiij. Heraultes came to him to know the nombre of
prisoners and to desire burial! for them whiche were slaine. Before he could make any an-
swere to the Heraultes he remembryng that it is more honorable to bee praised of his ene-
mies then to be extolled of his frendes: and he that praiseth him self lacketh louyng neigh-
bors: wherforc he demaunded of the why they made to hym that request, considryng that he
knew not certainly whether the praise & the victory wer mete to be attributed to him or to
their nacion. Oh lorde qh Mountioy kyng at armes, thinkeyou vs officers of armes to be rude
and bestial persones? If we for the affection that we beare to our naturall countrey, would
ether for fauor or mede hide or deny your glorious victory: The foules of the aire, the
wormes of the ground fedyng on the multitude of the ded carions, by your onely puys-
saunce destroyed and confounded, will beare witnesse against vs, ye and muche more the
captiues whiche be lining and in your possessio with their wiues and litle infauntes will saie
wee bee open liers and vntrue taletellers: Wherfore according to the ducty of our office
whiche is or should bee alwaics indifferently to write and truely to iudge, we saie, deter-
myne and affirme that the victory is yours, the honour is yours and yours is the glory, ad-
uisyng you, as you haue manfully gotten it, so polletikely to vse it. Well saied the kyng,
seeyng this is your determinacion, I willyngly accept the same, desiryng you to know the
name of the castle ncre adioynyng. When they had answered that it was called Agyncourt,
he said that this conflict should be called the battaill of Agyncourt, whiche victory hath not
been obteigned by vs nor our power, but only by the suffraunce of GOD for iniury and vn-
truth that we haue receiued at the handes of your Prince and his nacion. That daie he
feasted the French officers of Armes and graunted to theim their request, whiche busily
sought through the felde for such as \\er slain, but the Englishmen suffred them not to go
alone for thei searched with them and found many hurt but not in Jeopardy of their life,
whom thei tokc prisoners and brought them into their tentes.
WHEN the kyng ofEnglande had well refreshed hymself and his souldiours and had ta-
ken the spoyie of suche as were slain, he with his prisoners in good ordre returned to his
toune of Caleis. When tidynges of this notable victory was blowen into Englande, so-
Jempne processions and other praisynges to almightie GOD, with bonefiers and dances wer
] ordeined
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 71
onleined in euery toune, citee and borough, and the Maire and the citizens of the citee of
London went the tnorowe after the daie of sainct Simon and lude from the Churche of
Sainct Paule to the church ofS. Peter at Westminster in deuoute manner, reudryng to God
their inoste humble and heartie thanlces for his haboundant grace and fortunate lucke geuen
and sent to the kyng their souereigne lorde.
WHEN the kyng of Englande was departed the sondaie toward Caleis, diuerse French-
men repaired to the plain where the battaill was and remoued againe the ded bodies, some
to finde their lordes and masters and theim to conueigh into their countrees there to bee
buried, some to spoyle and take the reliques whiche the Englishemen had left behinde:
For thei toke nothing but gold, siluer, iuelles, riche apparell and costly armure. But the
ploughmen and peysantes spoyled the dcd carkasses, leuyng theim nether shirte nor cloute,
and so thei laie starke naked till Wednesdaie. On the whiche daie diuerse of the noble men
wer conueighed into their countrees and the remnant were by Philip erle Charoloys (sore
lamentyng the chaunce and moued with pitee) at his cost and charge buried in u square
plot of. xv.C. vardes, in the which he caused to be made thre pittes, wherin wer buried
by accompt. v.M. and. viii.C. persons beside them that wer caried awaie by their frendes and
seruauntes, and other whiche beyng wounded to death died in Hospitalles and other places,
whiche groue after was made a churche yarde, and for feare of Wolues enclosed with a
high walle.
AFTER this dolorus iorney and piteous slaughter, diuerse clerckes of Paris made many
lamentable Verses, complainyng that the kyng reigned by will, and that coiisaillers wer
perciall, affirrnyng that the noble men fled fagainst nature, and that the commons were des-
troyed by their prodigalite, declaryng also that the clergy wer dombe and durst not saie the
truth, and that the humble comons duely obeyed and yet euer suffred ponishement: For
whiche cause by persecucion deuine, the lessc numbre vanquished, and the great was ouer-
come. Wherfore thei concluded that all thynges were out of ordre, and yet there was no
man that studied to bryng the unruly to frame. And no meruel though this battaill were
dolorus and lamentable to the Freuche nacion, for in it were taken and slayn the flower of
all the nobilite of Fraunce, for there wer taken prisoners- *
Charles duke of Orleaunce nephew to the Frenche kyng.
Ihon duke of Burbone. The young Lorde of Dynchy,
Ihon of Craon lord of Dommart. Sir Ihon of Vawcort
The Lorde of Fossenx. Sir Arthure Bremyer.
The Lorde of Humyers. Sir lenet of Poys.
The Lorde of Roye. The sone & heirc of the lord Ligny.
The Lorde of Cauny. Sir Gylbert de lawney.
Sir Borsqueret lorde of Hiicourt. The Lorde Daneobe in Ternoys and dt-
The lorde of Noell called the whit knight uerse other to the numbre of fiftene
and Bado his sonne. hudred knightes and Esquiers besyde
Lorde Boncequalt Marshall of Fraunce the common people,
whiche died in Engliid.
There wer slain of nobles and gentlemen.
Charles lorde Delabreth hie Constable Anthony duke of Brabant brother to
of Fraunce^ the duke of Burgoyn.
Jaques of Chastilon lorde of Dapier Edward duke of Barre.
Admirall of Fraunce. Therle Neuers brother to J duke of Burr
The Lorde Rambures Master of the goyn.
Crossebowes. Sir Robert Barre erle of Marie.
Sir Guyshard Dolphyn greate Master of The erle of. Vawdemont.
Fraunce; The erle of Bawmont
Ihon duke of. Alaunson. The erle of Graundpre.
The
72. ", THE. III. YERE OF
The erle of Rqussy. The lord of Loguale his brother.
The erle of Faucenberge. The lord of Mawley & his sonne.
The erle of Foys. The lord of Diuirie.
The erle of Lestrake. The lord of Newffile.
The lorde Boys of Burbon. The lord of Galigny.
The Vidane of Amias. The lord of Rocheguiche.
The lord of Croy'e. The Vicedane of Lamoys.
The lord Belly. The lord de Laligier.
The lord Dauxcy. The lord of Baffremont.
The lord of Brenew. The lord sainct Bris.
The lord of Paix standard berar. The lord of Coutes and his sonne.
The lord of Crcquy. The lord of Nannes & his brother.
The lord of Lowrey. The lord of Ront.
The Baily of Amience & his sonne. The lord of Applincort.
The lord of Raynuale. The lord Delariuer
with diuerse other vvhiche I leaue out for tediousnes. But surely by the relacion
of the Heraultes and declaracion of other notable persons worthy of credite as Enguer-
rant writeth, there were slain on the Frenche parte aboue ten thousande persones wherof
wer princes and nobles bearyng banners Cxxvi. and all the remnant sauyng. xvi. C. wer
knightes esquiers and gentlemen : so of noble men and gentlemen were slain, viii. M. iiii. C,
of the whiche. v. C. wer dubbed knightes the night before the battaill. Fro the felde escaped
on Hue, the erle Dampmartyn, the lorde Delariuier, Clunet of Brabante, sir Lewes of
Burbon, sir Galiot of Gaules, sir Ihon Dengermes and fevve other men of name.
OF Englishemen at this battaill wer slain Edward duke of Yorke therle of Suffolk, sir
Richard Kikely & Dauygame esquire, & of al other not aboue. xxv. if you wil geue credite
to such as write miracles: but other writers whom I soner beleue, affirme that there was
slain aboue v. or vj. C. persons, whiche is not vnlike, considryng y the battail was earnestly
and furiously fought by the space of three long houres wherfore it is not incredible nor vet
vnpossible but more Englishmen then fine and twenty were slain and destroyed.
TH IS battail maie be a mirror and glas.se to al Christian princes to bcholde and folowe,
for kyng Henry nether trusted in the puissaunce of his people, nor in the fortitude of his
champions, nor in the strength of his bardcd horses, nor yet in his owne pollicy, but he
putte in GOD (whiche is the corner stone and immouable rocke) his whole cofidence hope
& tru.<t. And he which neuer leaueth them destitute that put their confidence in hym, sent
to hym this glorious victory, whiche victory is almoste incredible if we had not recde in
the boke of kynges that God likewise had defended and aided them that onely put their
trust in him and committed them selfes wholy to his gouernaunce.
AFTER that the kyng of Englande had refreslned hymself and his souldiours in the toune
of Caleis, and that suche prisoners as he had left at Harfflew (as you haue heard) wer come
to hym to Caleis : the. vi. daie of Noucmbre he with all his prisoners toke shippyng at Caleis,
and thesame dale landed at Douer, hauyng with hym the ded bodies of the duke of Yorke
and the erle of Suffolke, and caused the duke to bee buried at his colledge of Fodrynghey,
and therle at Ewhelme. In this passage the seas were so rough and trobleous that two
shippes laden with souldicrs apperteignyng to sir Ihon Cornewal lorde Fanhope, wer driuen
into zelande, howbeit nothyng was lost nor no person was perished. The kyng by soft
iorneies with al his prisoners cam to London and so to Westminster, where he rested hym-
self a conueniet tyme to deliuer his prisoners to their kepers, and to se them all in saue
custody. Here I might declare vnto you if I would bee tedious and piolixe, how the
May re of London and the Senate appareled in oriet grayned Skarlet, how. iij. C. cornoners
clad in beautiful Murrey wel mounted and gorgeously horsed with riche collers and greate
chaynes met the kyng at Blackhethe, reioysvng at his victorious rcturne. How the clergie
of
KYNG HENRY THE. V.
Ctf London with ri'che crosses, suptcous copes & massy cesers receiued hym at. s. Thomas of
Wateryng with solepne procession laudyng and praisyng God for the high honor and victory ;
to hymgeuen & graunted: but all these thynges I omit and returne to the very matter.
WHEN the dolorus tidynges of this bloudy battail was declared to the Frenche kyng
beyng then at Roan, and with hym the Dolphyn, the dukes of Berry and Briteyne and his
second sonne therle of Ponthew, if he lamented this chaunce and cursed that euill daie in
the whiche he lost so many noble men, no man haue maruaill. And yet the dolor was not
onely his, for the ladies souned for the deathes of their husebandes, the Orphalines wept and
rent their heares for the losse of their parentes, the faire damoselles defied that day in the
whiche they had lost their paramors, the seruates waxed mad for dcstruccio of their masters,
and finally, euery frend for hisfrend, euery cosynfor his alye, euery neighbor for his neigh-
bor, was sorry, displeased & greued. Wherfore the Frenche kyng and his counsaill per-
ceiuyng that the war was but newly begon, and that towarde them with euill spede, deter-
mined to prouide for chances that might folowe, and to forsee thynges or thei sodainly hap-
pened. And first he elected his chief officer for the warres called the Constable, whiche
wes therle of Arminack, a wise and a pollitique capitain and an auncient enemy to thenglish-
men, and sir Ihon of Corsey was made Master of the Crosbowes, and then they fortefied
tounes & furnished garrisons. While these thynges were thus in workyng, either for Ma-
lencoly that he had for the losse at Agincourt or by some sodein desease, Ihon Dolphyn of
Vienoys heire apparaunte to Charles the Frenche kyng departed out of this naturall life
xvithout issue, whiche was an happy chaunce for Robynet of Bournouile and his compaign-
ions as you haue heard before, for his death was their life, and his life would haue been
their death.
f THE FOURTH YERE.
AFter this notable victory obteigned by the Englishemen and that kyng Henry was de- The. mi,
parted into England, and the Frenche kyng had made newe officers in hope to releue and >'"e>
sette vp again the olde estate of his realme and coutrie. Thomas duke of Excester capitain .
of Harflew accompaignied with thre. M. Englishmen made a great roade into Normandy,
almoste to the citee of Roan : In whiche iorney he gat great habundance bothe of riches,
and prisoners. But in his returne therle of Arminacke newly made Conestable of Frauncc,
entendyng in his first iorney to wynne his spurres, and in his compaignie aboue. v. M. horsse-
men, encountred with hym. The skirmishe was sore and the fight fierce, but because the -
Englishemen wer not able to resist the force of the Frenche horsemen, the duke to sane his
men was compelled to retire, as politiquely as he could cleuise: But for all that he could do,
he loste almoste. ccc. of his fotemen. The Frenchemen not contet with this good lucke .
folowed theim almoste to the Barriers of Harflew. When the Englishemen within the toune .
espied the chace, thei issued out in good ordre and met with their enemies, and not onely
slew and toke a greate numbre of theim, but also chased them aboue eMite miles toward
the citee of Roan.
ABOVTE this ceason Sigismond Emperor of Almayn whiche had maricd Barbara douyh-
ter to therle of zilie cosyn germain remoued to kyng Henry (as by the peel i "re set out in
the end of this boke you shall plainly perciue) a man of greute vertuc and fidclilie,
whiche had not onely long labored to set an vnitee and cocord in Christes clmrche and
Christian religio, but also he sent diuerse Ambassadors aswel to y Freche kyng as to the kyn<*
of F.nglande, because he was farre distaunt from their countries and regions 10 encrease
perfight peace and reasonable vnitie. Wherfore, seyng that his Ambassade brought nothynp
to conclusion, he in person came fro the farthest part of Hngary into France and after into
England, intendyng to knit together all christen princes in one line and amitce, and so be-
yng frendes together, to make war and reuenge their quarelles against the Turke the perse-
cutor of Christes faithe and enemie to all christendome. With this noble Emperor came
L the
74 THE. IIIJ. YERE OF
the -Archebishop of Reynes and diuerse other noble men, as Ambassadors fro the Frcnche
kyng into England. The kyng of England for old amitee betwene the hous of Englande-
and Beame, withall his nobilitee hym receiued on Blackheth the. vii. daie of Maie, &
brought him through London to Westminster with greate triurnphe, where lustes, tournayes
and other marciall feates wer to hym with all ioye and pleasure shewed and set furth. Du-
ryng whiche tyme there came into Englande Albert duke of hollande, whiche also was
frendly entreteigned. And these two princes were by the kyng conueiged to Wynsore to. S.
Georges feast, and elected compaignions of the noble ordre of the Garter, and had the
color and habite of the same to theirn deliuered, and satte in their stalles all the solempnitee
of the feast[: by the whiche ordre thei knowledged themselfes highly honored and muche ex-
alted. After this solempne feast finished, the duke of Holland well feasted and greatly re-
warded, returned into his countrie. But the Emperor taried stil, neuer ceasyng to declare &
perswade what vtilitee, what goodnes and what ioye might ensue if bothe the realmes of
Englande and Fraunce wer brought to a Snail concord and perfight vnitee. But the euill
chaunce of the Frenche nacion was to his purpose a barre and a lette, because thei were
predestinate to suff're yet more plagues and detrimentes of thenglishe people then before
thei had tasted. For when concorde was at hand and peace was enteryng into the gates, a
newe cause of more discord and dissencion sodainly brake out and came to the kynges
knowledge: for he beyng informed of the losse of his me at the conflict late had in the ter-
ritory of Roan (as you haue heard) was so displeased and vnquieted that he would heare
of no treaty, nor haue once this word peace named.
THE Emperor like a wise prince, seyng then the aspect of the planet reigned contrary to
his purpose, ceassed to talke of that matter any more till another daie when the coniuccion
should be in more meker signes stirryng to peace. And so when a mete & conueniet tyme
came, he broched again the vessell of cocord and amitee, & put it in so faire a cup and pre-
sented it with suche pleasant wordes, that surely the kyng had tasted it sufficiently if y
Frenchme had not sodainly prepared a new army. For therle of Arminacke puffed vp with
his last victory, although the honor wer small and the gaine lesse, determined clerely to get
again the toune of Harflewe, wherfore as closely as he could, he gathered together men in
euery part, and appoincted them all to mete at Harflew at a daie assigned. The ap-
poinctment was kept and the toune was besieged bothe by water & land before the
capitaines of the toune knewe perfightly the first mocion. For Ihon Vicount Narbon
Viceadmirall of Fraunce had brought the whole nauy to the riuage and shore adioy-r
nyng to the toune, entendyng priuely to haue enterd into the toune on the water side or he
had been perceiued. But his subtile ymaginacion toke no place, for thei which kept the
watch toure, sodainly perceiuyng their enemies to approche, rang the alarum bell. The
duke of Excester incontinent caused all his men to repaire to the walles, and fortified the
gates, >and dispatched a swifte Barke to kyng Henry with letters, requiryng hym of aide and
succor. Although the Frenchemen perceiued that their wyly enterprise was knowen, and
that the toune could not be taken and sodenly stollen as they had deuised, yet they cotinued
their siege both by water and by land, and made diuers assaultes, at the whiche if they
nothyng gained, yet euer somewhat they lost. When these newes were come to the eares
of kyng H&nry, and that he knew that his people were in great ieopardye excepte great di-
ligence were vsed for their relief and deliuerance, he without delay apparelled a great, nauy &
intended in person to minister succors to his subiectes so besieged. The emperor Sigismond
sagely disuaded him and wisely counsailed him not to aduenture him selfe in that iorney, but
only to send some valiant captain whiche shortly might appeace that furious storme &
quickly to quenche that blasyng flame : aduertisyng hym that it was neither necessary nor
honorable for a prince in whom the whole waight and charge of the comon welth consisteth,
to aduenture & hazard him self in euery peril and doubtful chaunce. The kyng beyng per-
suaded with the reasonable and louyng aduertisment of his frende the emperor, appoincted
the duke of Bedforde bis brother, accompanied with therles of Marche, Marshal, Oxford,
1 Hunt-
KYNG HENRY THE. V. , 75
Huntyngdon, Warvvicke, Arundel, Salisbury, Deuonshire, and diuers Barons with. CC. sayle
to passe into Normandy for reskew of the toune of Harflew. Whiche makyng good expedi-
cion shipped at Rye, and with a prosperous wind and a freshegale came to the mouth of the
riuer of seyn on the day of the Assumpcion Of our Lady. When the vicount Narbon per-
ceiued the Englishe nauy to approche, he geuyng a token to ail his company, coragiously
set toward his enemies & gate the possession of the mouth of the hauen. When the duke
of Bedford perceiued the nauy of his enemies to come forward so fiersly, he set before
certain strong and well made shippes, whiche at the fyrst encountre vanquished and
toke two Frenche shyppes (wherof the capitaines were rashe and somewhat to bold)
withal their souldiours and tackelyng. The duke folowed incotinently with all his pu-
issance and like a valiant capitaine with great courage and audacitee, set on his ene-
mies: the fight was long, but not so long as perilous, nor so perilous as. terrible, for
battailes of the sea be euer desperate, for neither the assailauntes nor defendants loke
for any refuge, nor know any backdore how to skape out. After long fight the victory
fel to the Englishemen, and they toke and sonkc almost all the whole nauy of Fraunce,
in the whiche were many shippes, hulkes and carikes to the nombre of fiue hundred,
of the whiche. iii. great carickes were sent into England. In the same conflict were
slaine of the Frenchemen no small nombre, as it appeared by their bodies which
swarmed euery day about thenglishe shippes.
AFTER this victory fortunately obteined, the duke of Bedforde sailed by water vp to
to the very toune of Harflew, and without let or impediment landed and refreshed it both
with vitaile and money. Which succours if they were welcome to the duke of Excetter
his vncle, I reporte me to them that haue bene in necessitie and would haue gladly bene
refreshed.
WHEN the earle of Armynacke heard that the puissant nauye of Fraunce was vanquish--
ed & taken, he raised his siege before the toune and returned with sinal ioy to Paris, as he
that had no hope nor sawe any likelyhod or meane to recouer again the toune of Harflew
for whiche he so sore thirsted.
AFTER this discomfiture and great losse, the fortitude & stregth of the Frenchmen began
to decay, & their braggyng beautie began to fade. For nowe the princes & nobles of the
realme fel into diuision & discord among them selues, as who say, that the nobilitie studiyn"
howe to reuenge their olde iniuries and displeasures, refused to take payne for thaduaunce-
ment of the publique wealth and saueguard of their countrey And for priuy displeasure co-
uert or hatred, their power began to wexc so slender, & their libertie was brought intosuche
a malicious diuersitie and doubtful difference, that as herafter shalbe shewed, it was mer-
ueil that their coutrey was not brought to a perpetual bondage : whiche thing no doubt had
tblowed if kyng Henry had lenger liued in this mutable worlde. For notwithstanding that
the duke of Orleaunce the capitaine and head of the one faction was at that time captiue
and prisoner in England, yet there grewe so muche priuy displeasure and cankard hatred
betwene Charles the Dolphyn and Ihon duke of Burgoync, that while the one studied,
compassed and deuised how to ouercome the other with armure or with pollicy, with dissi-
mulacion or crafty coueyaunce, euery iorneiman of their faction, & eucry noble mil partaker
with the one or the other, put all their whole study and diligence to auance forward their
sect and part, and not one of them would take hede howc to resist and refell the present ieo- •
pardye whiche was commyng out of Englad. And as one incouenicnce su fired many to
t'oleJw so was it in Frauce at this tyme, for the French kyng was not of good memory, the
war that was toward, semed both doubtful and perilous, the princes were vntrusty and at
discord, and an hundreth mo thinges which might bryng the realme to extreme misery and
vtter distructio as after you shal heare.
WHEN the duke of Bedford had acheued his enterprise and performed his comission,
bothe in raisyng the siege of Harflew and vitaylyng of the toune, he with no smal nombre of
prisoners and great haboundance of pray aswell in shippes as prouision for the sea, returned
L 2 into
76 THE. V. YKRE OF
into England with great triumph and glory. For that victory he was not so muchc thftked
of the kyng his brother, as lauded and praised by the Emperor Sieisraond beyng to him a
straunger, whiche sayd openly happy are those subiectes whiche haue suche a kyng, but
more happy is the kyng that hath suche subiectes.
WHEN the Emperoure perceiued, that to inoue farther a peace, was but a vayne request,
and to tarye lenger in Englande to procure an amitie was but losse of tyme, because he sawe
the Englishemens myndes sore offended with the last siege of Harflew, with whiche facte, he
hirnselfe was not wel cotent but greatly moued: Therfore leauyng all treaty and persua-
sion, he entred into a league and amitie with the kyng of England. Whiche confederacy
least it shuld be broken, euery of the contractors studyed & deuised all waies & meanes
possible howe to obserue it vnuiolated and preserue it vnbroken : whiche plain meanyng &
true dealyng was to the both after, not only muche honor but great comoditie. When the
Emperor had thus cocluded a league with the kyng of England and had doneal things in
England accordyng as was thought necessary, he toke his iorney homeward into Garumny,
and the kyng partel)' to shew'e him pleasure, and partely because of his owne affaires, associated
him to his toune of Caleys. During whiche tyme the Duke of Burgoyn offerd to come to Caleys
to speake with the Emperor and the kyng because he heard speake of the league and con-
federacy that was concluded betwene them. The kyng sent to the water of Grauelvng the
duke of Gloucester his brother, and the earle of Marche to be hostages for the duke of
Burgoyne, and sent also the earle of Warwicke with a noble company to coduct him to his
presece At Griuielyng foorde the dukes met, and after salutacions done, the duke of Bur-
goyn was conueighed to Caleys, where of the Emperor & of the kyng he was highly
feasted and welcommed. Duryng whiche tyme a peace was concluded betwene the kyng of
England & the duke of Burgoyn for a certain space, cocerning onely the counties of
Flauders and Arthoys, for the whiche cause the Frenche kyng and his sone were highly
displeased. The duke of Gloucester also was receiued at Grauelvng by the earle Charoloys
sonne to the duke of Burgoyne, & by him honorably conueighed to S. Orners & there
lodged that night The 'next day the earle Charoloys came with diuers noblemen to visito
the duke of Gloucester in his lodging, and when he entred into the chambre the dukes backe
, was towarde him, talkyng with some of his seruantes, and did not se nor welcome the earle
Charoloys at the fyrst entrey : but after he sayd to hym shortly without any great reuerence
or comyng towarde him, you be welcome fayre cosyn, and so passed furth his tale with his
seruates. The earle Charoloys for al his youth was not wel content, but suffred for that
tyme.
WHEN the duke of Burgoyn had done al thinges at Caleys that he came for he after the.
ix. day returned to Grauelyng, where the duke of Gloucester and he met againe, and louyngly
departed the one to Caleys and the other to sainct Omers: for the whiche voiage the duke-
of Burgoyn was suspected to be enemy to the croune of Fraunce. After the dukes depart^
yng the Emperor was highly feasted and rewarded, and at his pleasure sailed into Holand,
and so roade into Beame. The kyng likewise toke ship and returned into England on saincl,
Lukes euen, the yere of our Lord M. CCCC. xvij.
U THE FI FT YERE.
. v,
IN this yere the kyng assembled together his high courte of Parliament and there in open
ycre- audience made to them a shorte and pithy Oracion, declaryng vnto them the iniuiies lately.
dooiu. and committed by the Frenche mucion, he shewyng also the iust and laufujl occasion
of his warres, signifiyng furthermore the great discord and ciuile dissencion whiche reigned
amongest the nobilitie of Fraunce, rehersyng many thynges for the whiche it were very ne-
cessary and nedeful to represse & ouercome them withal their power & puissaunce,
that without deferryng or prolongyng of tyme, desiryng the to prouide for money &
treasure
KYNG HENRY THE. V.
treasure out of hand for the conduct & wages of souldiors, to thentent that nothing
should lacke when they shuld be ready to set on their enemies, His causes wer so iust
and liis dcmaudes so reasonable, that he had no soner spoken but it wa,s assented, and
he had no soner demauded but it was graunted. And for to gcue men a courage for to go
furlli, money was fyrst gathered to make prouision for al thinges necessary for such a royal
\oiage: for surely there was no creature whiche with that war was either discotented or dis-
pleased, for it seined to al men no lesse profitable then honorable, nor no lease honorable
then conuenient.
IN this Parliament also Ihonduke of Bedford was made governor or regent of the realme
and head of the publique welth which office he shuld enioy as long as the kyng was makyng
warre on the French nacion. The kyng before he would take his voyage, sent the earle of
Huntyngdon to serche and skoure the seas, least any Frenchmen Hyng in waite for him,
might attrappe him sodenly or he had any knowledge of their settyng forward. This lusty
earle called IhOn Holand, sone to the duke of Excetter behedded at Circiter in the
tviue of Kyng Henry the fourth and cosyn to the kyng with a great nombre of shippes
searched the sea from the one coast to the other. And in conclusion he encoutred with. ix.
great carickes of leane (whiche Lord laques the bastard of Burbon had reteined to serue
the Frenche kyng) & Set on the sharply, the conflict was great £ the fight long, but in
conclusion the Frenchmen wer ouercome and fled, and. iij. of the greatest carickes with their
patrones, and Monsure laques de Burbon their Admiral wer taken with asmuche money
as should haue payed the souldiors of the whole flete for halfe a yere, and. iij. other carickes.
wer bouged and sent to the botome of the sea.
THE kyng hearyng of this good chaunce, about the ende of luly toke his ship at Portes-
mouth, accopanied with the dukes of Clarence and Gloucester brethren to the sayd kyng,
the earles of Huntyngdon, Mershal, Warwike, Deuonshyre, Salisbury, Suftblke and Somer-
set: The Lordcs Kos»e, Wylloughby, Fitzhugh, Clynton, Scrope, Matriuers, Bourchier,
Ferreys of Groby and Ferrers of Chartley, Fanhope, Gray of Codnore, sir Gilbert Vm-
freuile, sir Gilbert Talbot & diuers other and so hauyng wynde and' wether to his desire,
he laded in Normady nere a castle called Touque, wher he cosultcd with, his capitaines
what way was best to be taken cocerning their high enterprise.
THE Normans hearyng of the kynges arriual wer sodenly striken with a deadly feare
and wer almost distracted fro their sences for dred, wher fore like mad men in desperacion.
they ranneout of their houses, tonnes and villages withwiues and children bag and baggage,
into the walled tounes and fortefied garrisons, cariyng with them come, wyne and vitaile
necessary for their sustinance and liuyng, preparyng swordcs, hatchettes, crosbowes and al
other weapons mete to set back and resist their enemies, sent worde to Charles the Frenche
kyng, requirynghim to defend and preserue his louing subiectes.against their cruel and fierse
enemies. The men of warre whiche were left in etiery place to skoure the countrey, went into
walled tounes with the rural c6minaltee,to thentent to aide and assist the tounes men, for well
they knewe that they were not able to resist their enemies beyng abroade in the felde. So were
al the walled tounes and castles in Normandy and May newel furnished with men and vitaile.
The names of the Frecnhe capitaines were totediousto reherse,'and therefore I ouerpasse them.
WHEN kyng Henry had taken counsel, he layde siege to the castle of Touque beyn»
very wel forrefied both with nature and mans arte and began to assault it : & although
thai they within valiantly defended it, yet by fine force he ouercame it, & toke it, and them
within to mercy & made therof capitaines sir Robert Kerkeley knight, and after determi-
ned to besiege the strong toune of Caen, remembryng according to the diitie of a good
capitaine. that the Frcnchemen would come to healp'e their frendes beyng in nede and
extreme necessitie: whiche thyng he most desired & wished. And vpo that purpose
he set furth toward Caen after the warlikest fashion, depopnlatyng the coutrey, & des-
troiyng the villages on euery part as he passed. The toune of Caen standeth in a plaine fer-
tile coutrey, no stronger walled then depe ditched, well vitayled and replenished with people.
For
78 THE. V. YERE OF
For the citizens fearyng the kynges comynghad prouided for all thinges necessary & defen-
sible. And assone as the kyng was come, he cast a dcpe trenche with a high mount to pro-
hibite them within the toune to haue any egresse or outwarde passage : and that done, be-
gan fiersely to assault the toune. But the men of the toune were nothyng abashed and
stode manly to their defence, abidyng all chaunces which might ensue. The tight was fierce
and euery ma toke hecle to his charge. The Englishmen studied all the waies possible to
damage their enemies, some shot arrovves, .some cast stones and other shot gonnes: some
brake the walles with engynes and other vndermined : some set skalyng ladders to the wal, and
other cast in wylde fyre,euery man laboured to come to handstrokes, whiche was their desyre.
On the other side, the Normans threwedoune great stones, barres of yron, dartes hote pitche
and burnyng brimstone and boylyng lead. Diuers daies this assault cotinued, not to the lytle
losse of the Englishmen, whiche toke more harme of the defeders then they gat hurt of the
assailantes. When kyng Henry perceiued that the dice rane not to his purpose, he abstained
from the assault, & determined by vnderminyng to subuert and ouerthrowe the walles and
towers of the toune. Wherfore withal diligence the pyoners cast trenches & the laborers
brought tymber, so that within a fewe daies the walles stode only vpo postes to fal when fyrc
should be put to it. The kyng caused his people to approache the walles and to kepe the citi-
zens occupied, least either theyshuld make acoutremyne or be an impediment to his worke-
inen and laborers. Wherfore he caused thassanlt to be cried againe: then euerye man ranne to
the walles, some with skalyng ladders, some with hokes and some with cordes and plommetes,
euery man desiryngto get vpo the walles and with hand to hand to graple with his enemy: The
citezens man fully defended. While the fight was quicke and fierse on both partes, the English-
men in diuers places perccd and brake through the walles, and diuers ouertures and holes
were made vnder the foundacion by the pyoners, by the whiche thenglishmen might easely
entre into the toune. The kyng hauyng copassion on the tonnes men, desiryng rather to
Imue them saued then destroyed if they wold humbly submyt the selues to his grace, &
fearyng that if the toune by fine force should be spoyled and taken, that he should be
compelled to geue it as a pray to his men of warrc to be sacked and destroyed, sent
them worde by an Herault that yet was tyme of mercy and clemency if they would in-
continently rendre them selues & the toune: But they obstinately hopyng of succour, an-
swered that they would stand at their defence. Then the Englishmen again skaled the
walles and enlerprised to enter through the trenches. The fight was sore by the spaca
of an houre, the Englishmen coragiously enforced to enter, and the Normans manfully
defended, but inconclusion the Englishmen obteined.
WHEN the kyng was possessed of the toune, he incontinently comaunded all barneys
and weapons to be brought into one place, whiche with all diligence was done without any
resistence. Then the miserable people knelyng on their knees, holding vp their handes,
cried mercy, mercy, to whom the kyng gaue certaine comfortable wordes & bad them
stand vp. And then as he was euer accustomed to do, he went on foote to the chief churche
in the toune and rendred to God his most heartie thankes for his prosperous successe
and fortunate chauce. And yet that same night he would not slepe, but comaunded
al his armye to watche in aray, either least his men of warre in the ni^ht tyme mi^ht
fal to spoyle & sacke, or els the citizens fearyng the sequele that might ensue would priuely
steale and conueigh them selues away.
IN the mornyng he called all the magestrates and gouernours into the Senate house
where some for their stony stubbernes and mad obstinacy were adiudged to dye, other were
sore fined and highly raunsomed. Then he callyng together his soufdiors and men of war,
bothe gaue to the high laudes and praises for their manly doyuges, and also distributed to
euery man accordyng to his desert the spoyle & gaine taken of the toune & the tounesmen
chi< fly because at that assault he had tried to his honor their valiant corages and vnfearful
liertes.
IT is to be imagined that kyng Henry in this conflict would principally shewe aswell his,
owne
HENRY THE. V. 79
owne force as the puissance and experience in warres of his nacion, ether to the intent
tlmt the Frenchemen should know that they mette with suche an enemy as both was able to
inuade their countrie and defend their strength & malice, or els not obliuious that in
makyng of warre euery prince muste study to obtain fame and renoune: and as the old
prouerbe saieth, of a thyng well begone, succedeth a prosperous ende and a happy con-
clusion.
ALTHOVGH the toune were wonne, yet the castle whiche was strong and well fortified
bothe with men and all thynges necessary for the defence, was yet in the Frenchmens pos-
session: The capitain where of, to thontent to shewe hyrnself valiant and not willyng to
breake his othe, nether to wauer from his allegeance, bosted that he would rather dye in
the defence then frely yeld the castle. Kyng Henry was not minded to subuert the Castle
(without whiche waie it was not easy to bee wonne) because it was beautit'ull and necessary,
both to kepe the toune fro goyng backe, and also to defend the same when opportunitee
should serue: Whiche Castle if he destroyed, he of very necessitee must again build and
reedifie, or els another in the place. Wherfore he sent worde to the lorde Mountayny
beyng capitain, that if he would yelde the castle by a daie, he should depart without clainmage,
And if he would be foolishe and obstinate, all clemency and fauor should be from hym se_-
questred. When the capitain and his compaignions had well digested his message, beyng in
dispaire of cofort, vpon the condicion offred, rendred the castte and yelded thernselfes.
And so kyng Henry obteigned bothe the toune and castle of Caen.
WHILE the Kyng of England was besiegyng this toune, the Frenchmen had nether a
conuenient hoste to resist their power, nor wer ready or able to releue their frendes in.
this miserable necessite, because thei had such diuision and dissencion emongest them-
selfes, and a good cause why: for kyng Charles was of so small wit by reason of his
sicknes, that he could not rule, and so he was spoyled both of his treasure and of
his kyngdoine, and euery man spente and wasted the common treasure. Charles the
Dolphin being of the age of. xvi. or. xvij. yeres onely lamented and bewailed the ruyne
and decaye of his countrie: He onely studied thaduancement of the comon wealth, and
he onely deuised how to resist his enemies: but hauyng nether inenne nor money, he
was greatly troubled and vnquieted. And in conclusion, by the counsaill of therle of
Armynacke Constable of Fraunce he founde a meane to get all the treasure and riches
whiche quene Isabell his mother had gotten and horded in diuerse secrete places : and
for the comon vtilite of his countrie he spente it wisely in wagyng of souldiors and
preparyng of thinges necessary for the war. The queue forgettyng the great perel that
the realtne then stode in, but reinebryng y displeasure to her by this act dooen, de-
clared her sonne and the Constable to be her mortall enemies, & promised that they
should be persecuted to the vttermoste. And e'uen for very womanly nmlice, she set in
the highest authoritie aboute the kyng her husband, Ihon duke of Burgoyn geuyng hym
the regiment and direccion of the kyng and his real me with all preheminence and soueraintie.
The duke of Burgoyn hauyng now the sworde of authoritie, for the whiche he so sore longed
and glad to be reuenged of his old iniuries, began to make warre on the Dolphyn: and when
he had once tamed and framed to his purpose this young unbrideled gentleman, then he deter-
mined as he might to refell and withstandc the come enemies of the realme. The same or like
reason moued the Dolphin, for he myndyng first to represse and extincte the ciuill dissencion
at home, before he would inuade forain enemies, prepared warre tosubdew and destroy duke
Iho of Burgoyn as the chief bed & leader of that wicked and great mischief: Wherby the
realme was muche vnquieted & more decayed, and in maner brought to a final ruvne and
vtter destruccion. So Fraunce was inflamed and in euery part troubled with warr and
deuision, and yet no man would ether prouide in so great a danger, nor once put furth their
finger to hynder the mischief.
KYNG Henry not myndyng to lye still in Normandy, nor to leaue his enterprice vnper-
formed, sent the duke of Clarence to the sea coast, whiche with great difficulty gate the
toune
80 THE. V. YERE OF
toune of Bayeux. The duke of Glqcestre also with small assault and lesse defence toke the
citee of Liseaux. In the meane ceason Kyng Henry taried still at Cane fortefiyng the
toune and the castle, and put out of the toune. xv. C. women and impotent persons, and
replenished the toune with English people. While the kyng soiourned at Caen, he kepte
there a soletnpne feast and made many knightes, and beside that, he shewed there an ex-
ample of greate pitee & more deuocion. For in searchyng the castle he found there innu-
merable substance of plate and money belongyng to the citezens, wherof he would net
suffre one peny to be touched or conueighed away, but restored the goodes to the owners
and deliuered to euery ma his oAvne. 'When the fame of gettyng of Caen was blowen through
Normandy, the Normans \ver so sore afraied & so muche abasshed that you should not
onely haue seen men, women & children ronnyng in euery waie by great plopes fro toune
to toune, not knowyng whether to flie: but also the rurall persones and huseband men draue
the beastes out of the villages into suche places where thei hoped of refuge or defence: so
that a man would haue thought that Normandy had sodainly been left desolate and voyde
of people and cat ell. But when the rumor was spred abroade of his clemencie shewed to
captiues and of his mercy graunted Ho suche as submitted themselfes to his grace, all the
capitaines of the tounes adioynyng came willingly to his presece, offryng to hym them selfes,
their tounes and their goodes. Wherupon he made proclamacion that all men whiche had
or would become his subiect.es and swere to hym allegeance should enioy their goodes and
liberties in as large or more ample ?«aner then they did before. Which gentle entretein-
yng and fauorable hadlyng of the stubburne Normans, was the very cause why they wer not
only content, but also glad to remoue and turne from the Frenche part and become sub-
iectes to the croune of Englande.
WHEN kyng Henry had set Caen in a good ordre, he left there, for capitaines, the one
of the toune and the other of the Castle, sir Gilbert Vmfreuile erle of Kyne, and sir Gil-
bert Talbot: and made bailife ther sir Ihon Pophane, and so departed fro Caen to Argen-
ton whiche was shortly redred to hym. Then all these tounes folowyng without stroke
striken yelded to hym, in whom he made captames these persons whose names ensue.
At Creuly, sir Henry Tanclux an Almaine.
At Thorigny, sir Ihon Popharn to whom the toune was geue.
At Boyeux, the lorde Matrauerse.
At Argenton, the lorde Grey Codner.
At Chamboy, the lorde Fizghugh, and made him lord of the same.
At Vcmoyle in Perche, sir Ihon Neuell.
At Alfiso the duke of Gloucester & his leuetenat sir Raufe Letal.
At Essay, sir William Hoddelston baylif of Alanson.
At Faloys, sir Henry Fitzhugh.
At Cruly, sir Loys Robset.
At Conde Norean, sir Ihon FastolfFe.
Diuerse tounes likewise yelded to the duke of Clarence wherein he putte these
Capitaynes.
At y cite of Lisieux, sir Iho Kikley. At Fangernon, Ihon saint Albon.
At Cowrton, Ihon Awbyn. At Creuener, sir Ihon Kerby to whom it
At Barney, William Houghton. was geuen.
At Charnbroys, lames Neuell. At Annilliers, Robert Horneby.
At Becheluyn, therle Marshall. At Ragles, sir Ihon Arthure.
At Harecort, Richard W'oduile esquyer. At Fresheney le Vicount, sir Robert Brent.
Likewise diuerse tounes in the country of Constantine wer surrendered to the
duke of Gloucester, where he appoyncted these capitaines.
At Cauenton, the lorde Botraux. At Chiergurg, the lord Grey Codner and
At Seint Clow, Reignold West. after his decease, sir water Hunger-
At Valoignes, Thomas Burgh. ford.
At
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 81
At Pont Done, Dauy Howel. At Hambery the erle of Suftblke, lorde
At the Hay Dupayes, sir Ihon Aston of the same place by gift.
Bayly of Constantine. At Briqueuile, thesaied Erie by gift also.
At Costiices, the lord of Burgainy, At Anranches, sir Philip Halle, Bayly of
At Seint Saluior le Vicount, sir Ihon Alanson.
Robset. At Vire the lorde Matrauers.
At Pontorso, sir Robert Gargrane. At Sainct lames de Bewron, the same
lorde.
WHEN the Kyng of Englande wanne thus in Normandy, his nauy lost nothyng on the
sea, but so skowred the stremes that nether Frencheman nor Briton durst once appere, how-
beit one day there arose so hideous a tempest and so terrible a storme, that nether cable held
nor anker preuailed, so that if the erles of Marche and Huntyngdon had not taken the haue
of Southampto, the whole nauie had perished and the people had been destroyed, and yet
the sauegard was straunge: For in the same hauen two Balyngers and two great Carickes
laden with marchaundise wer drouned, and the broken Maste of another Caricke was
blowen ouer the wall of Hapton (as diuerse writers affirme) such is the power of the wynd,
and suche is the rigonre of the tempest. Whe the fury of the wynd was asswaged and the
sea waxed calme, tlierles of Marche and Huntyngdon passed ouer the sea with all their com-
paignie and landed in Normandy marchyng towarde the kyng, before whom the Normans
fled as fast as the fearfull hare dooth before the gredy Greyhounde, or the sely Partridge
before the Sparowhauke. And so they passed through the countrie destroiyng of villages
and takyng paines till thei came to tiie kyng goyng towarde Roan. Duryng this marciall
feactes and greate conqnestes in Normandy, sir Ihon Oldecastle lord Cobham whiche was
as you haue heard before was conuicted of heresy, and proclaimed a rebell, and vpon the
same outlawed and brake out of the toure, was now as his fortune chauneed apprehended in
the Marches of Wales by the Lorde Powes, and so restored to his olde lodgyng in the toure,
where his kepers loked more narrowly to hym then thei did before. After whiche takyng,
he was drawen from the toure on a hardell to Sainct Gilesfelde, and there hanged in chaynes
and after consumed with fire. Well now leauyng the matters of Englande let vs returne to
the affaires in Normandy.
f THE SIXT YERE.
AFter kyng Henry had thus victoriously obteined so many touhes and so many fortresses The. v-:
from the possession of his enemies, and that his great fame and litle personage was the >cre>
whole terror and feare of the Frenche nacion, he ymagined with hymself that he had no-
thyng doen nor any thyng gotten excepte he brought the famous citee of Roan beyng the
Empery and diademe of the Duchy of Normandy into his possession & dominion, to the
whiche out of euery parte the Normans had conueighed their money lewelles and houshold
stuffe : And whiche citee sithe his firste arriuall thei had not onely walled and fortressed with
many rampiers & strong bulwarkes, but also with valiat capitaines and hardy souldiours to
no small numbre. Wherfore he set forward his army toward the toune called Pontlarche
standyng vpon the Riuer of Seyne. viij. mile from Roan betwene Paris and Roan. When
When the Frenchernen whiche kepte the passage heard of the kynges approchyng, thei gathered
together a great nurnbre of men of war re redy to defend and prohibite the passage, apoint- •
yng another a band of men if thei failed to kepe the farther side of the bridge and to watche
and hourely attend that he nether by bote nor by vessel should eskapc any maner of wave.
When he came to the toune, first he sette forwarde towarde the bridge, whiche when he sa\ve it
so well defended that it would not without greate losse be obteigned, sotlainly he blewe the re-
traite and reculed almoste a myle backward, where in a pleasant place by the riuers side he
pitched his Campe : and in the night season, what with boles and barges, what with howes-
hedes and pipes he conueighed ouer the brode riuer of Seyne a greate compaignie of his
arraie. without any resistaunce of his enemies. For thei whiche wer on the hethersicle of
M Seyne,
82 THE. VI. YERE OF
Seyne, thynkyng that thenglishmen had gone to conquere some other place folowed the not
but studied how to defed their toune (whiche was ynough for them to- do). When the king
saw that his men wer on the qtherside of the water, he the next day earely returned to ihe
toune and assauted it on hothe the sides. When thinhabitantes perceiued that contrary to
their cxpectacio they wer copassed & beset by their enemies and sawe no hope of refuge or
succor, with humble hert and no great ioy rendered vp the toune. And so the kyng hau-
vng no let or impediment determined to besiege and assault the citee and castle of Roan for
the whiche he had taken diuerse long and tedious iornayes, and sent before hym his vncle the
lorde Thomas duke of Excester with a great compaignie of horssemen and Archers, whiche
with banner displayed came before the toune and sent to the capitaines Wyndsore a he-
raulte at armes, wiliyng them to deliuer the toune to the kyng his Master, or els he would
persecute them with fire, bloud and sworde. To who they proudly answered, that none thei
receiued of hym, nor none thei would deliuer, except by fyne force ,thei wer therunto co-
pelled. And to declare theselfes valiant capitaines & hardy men of war, there issued out of
the toune a great band of men of annes & encoutred fiercely with theglish men, whiche
like men nether afraied nor astonied manfully them receiued & with fyne force draue them
into the toune again, leuyng with the Englishmen, xxx. of their compaignie prisoners and
ded persons. The duke with. this good t>pede and proude aunswer of the Frenche capi-
taines, returned to the kyng to whom was rendred alitle before y toune of Louierg, \vhiche
he gaue to his said brother the duke of Clarence, whiche made there his deputie sir Ihou
Godard knight. The duke of Excester also had newly taken the citee of Eureux and made
eapitain ther sir Gilbert Halsall knight. When the duke of Excester was returned to Font-
larchas you haue heard, the capitaines of Roan set fire on the suburbes, bet doune Churches,
cut doune trees, shrede the busshes, destroyed the vines round about the citee, to thentent
that thenglishmen should haue no relief nor comfort ether of lodgyng or fewell.
Thecitee of WHEN the kyng heard of their dispitefull doynges, he with his whole army remoued from
Roan b< e- pont]arcnC} anci t[ie ]ast <jaje of juiy came before the citee of Roan and compassed it rounde
aboute with a strong siege and a fearfull assaute. The king laie with a greate puissaunce
at the hous of Charitee on the East side of the citee, & the duke of Clarence lodged before
the port of Caux on the West part of the citee. The duke of Excester toke his place on
the Northside at the porte Denise : betwene the dukes of Excester and Clarence was ap-
poyncted the erle Marshall euen before the gate of the castle, to whom wer ioyned therle of
Ormond and the Lordes of Haryngton and Talbot. And from the duke of Excester toward
the kyng were encamped the lordes of Rosse, Willoughby, Fitzhugh and sir William Porter
with a great band of Northrenme euen before the port saint Hillarij. Therks of Mortaint
and Salsbery wer assigned about the abbey of saint Katherines. Sir Ihon Grey was lodged
directly against the Chapel called Mount. S. Mighell, sir Philip Leche treasorer of the
warres kept the hil next the Abbey, & the Baron of Carew kept the passage on the riucr
of Sayne, and to hym was ioyned a valiaunt esquire called lenico, whiche twoo capitaines
valiauntly kept the riuage of the water of Sayne. On the fartherside of the riuer wer lodged
therles of Warren and Huntyngdon, the lordes Neuell and Ferrers, sir Gilbert Vmfreuile
with a well furnished company of warlik souldiors directly before the gate called port du
Pont. And to the intent that no aide should passe by the riuer toward the citee, a greate
chaine of yron was deuised at Potlarche and sette on piles from the one side of the water to
the other, and beside that chayne he set vp a new forced bridge, sufficient bothe for cariage
and passage. At whiche therle of Warwicke whiche had gotten Dampfrot was sent to the toune
of Cawdebeck standyng on the riucrside betwen the sea and the citee of Roan, whiche toune
he so hardly assaulted, that the capitaines offerd to surrre the Englishe nauy to passe by
their toune without hurte or detriment to the citee of Roan: And also if Roan yelded,
they promised to rendre their toune without any fayle or farther delaie. And this composi-
cion they sealed, and for performaunce of ihe same thei deliuered pledges. This appoynct-
tnent the Englishe nauy to the numbre of. C. sailes passed by Cawdebeck and came be-
ti fore
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 83
fqre Roan and besieged it on the water side. To this siege came the duke of Gloucester
with therle of Suliblke and the lor'de of Burgainy whiche had taken the toune of Chierburgh
and \ver lodged before tho porte of Sainct Hillarij nerer their enemies by fortie roddes then
any other j er^ones of the annie.
DVRYNG this siege arriued at Harflew the lord of Kylmaine in Ireland with a band of
xvi. liundreth Iieshrnen armed in uiayle with dartes and skaynes after the tnaner of their
countrey, all talle, quickc and deliuer persons; which came and presented them selues be-
fore the kyng liyng styl at the siege : of whom they were not onely geoitely entertained, but
also (because that the kyng was informed that the Frenche kyng and tlie duke of Burgojn
would shortly come, and either rayse the siege or vitaile or ma the toune at the North gate)
thei wer appointed to kepe the Northsyde of the army, and in especial the way that cometh
from the forest of Lyons. Whiche charge the lord of Kylmaine &, his company ioyfully
accepted & did so their deuoyre, that no men wer more praised nor did more damage to
their enemies then they did for surely their quickncs and swiftnes did more prejudice to
their enemies, then their great barded horses did hurt or damage the nimble Irishmen.
THVS was the fay re cytie of Roan compassed about with enemies besieged by princes,
and beset about both by water and laude, hauyng neither comfort nor aide of kyng nor dol-
phyn. And although the army were strong without, yet within there lacked neither hardy
capitaynes nor manful souldiors. And as for people, they had more then ynowe, for as it
was written by him that knew the nombre and had no occasio to erre from the trueth, there
were at the time of the siege within thedtie, of christen people CC. and ten thousand per-
sons. Dayly wer issues made out of the cytie at diuers portes, sometyme thenglishmen gat,
at another time the Frenchmen saued, somtyme neither of both either got or saucd : for
surely the capitaines and men of warre within the toune settyng more by honor then by life,
preferryng fame before worldly riches, dispisyng pleasure & vilependyng fearfull heartes,
svvare eclie to other netier to render or deliuer the toune while they mighteither hold sworde
in hand or putsnerein rest. The kyng of England beyng aduertised of their haute coura-
ges and high stomackes, determined to co.nqnere them by famyne whiche would not be ta-
med by weapon. Wherfore he'stopped all the passages both by water and land that no
vitaile could be coueighed to the cytie, he cast trenches rounde about the wallcs and set
them ful of stakes and defended the with archers, so that they within could haue no way out
ether to inuade their enemies (or if they could) to depart and relinquishe their fortresse
and cytie. One day tidynsres wer tayned that the Frenche kyng approched with al his power
to raise the siege & reskew the cytie : Wherfore kyng Uery comaunded al men to lye in
their barneys lest they might by some subtile cautel be surprised vmvare and taken vnproui-
ded. But the Freche kyng neither came nor sent, to the great wonder of thenglishmen.
This siege thus continuyrig from Lammas almost to Christmas, diuers enterprises were at-
tempted and diuers polices were deuised how euery part might dau age and hurte his aduer-
sary and enemy, but no part mnche reioysed of their gaine. Duryng whiche tvme, vitayle
began sore to faile within the toune, so that only vinegsr & water serued for drinke. If 1
should rehcrse accordyng to the writyng of diuers authors, not onely howe deare dogges,
rattes, myse and cattes wer solde within the toune: but how gredely they were by the poore
' people eaten and deuoured, and also howe the people died" day ly for faute of foode, and
how yong infates lay suckyng in the stretes on their mothers brestes liyng dead, staruen for
hunger, you would more abhorre the lothsome doyuges then reioyse at their miserable mis-
chrice. The riche men within the toune put out at the gates the pore and indigent crea-
tures whiehe were by thenglishmen that kept the trenches beaten & driuen backe againe
to, the gates of the toune, whiche against them were closed and barred. So this miserable
people vncomfortably forsaken & vnnaturally despised of their owne nacion and hous-
holde felowes, betwene the walles of their cytie and the treches of their enemies lay styl
ciiyng for helpe and n-lief, for lacke wherof innumerahle scly solles dayly died and
hourely starued. Yet kyng Henry nioued with pitie & stirred with copassion in the honor
of
THE. VI. YERE OF
of Christes natiuitie on Christmas day refreshed all the poorc people with vitayle to their
great comfort & relief: for the whiche act they not only thanked, lauded and praised the
kyng of England, but also praied to God for his preseruacion and furtherance, and for the
hynderance and euil successe of their vnkynd citezens & vncharitable country men. Tins
miserable famyne dayly more and more encreasyng so daunted the heartes of the bold ca-
pitaynes, & so abated the courages of the riche burgesses, and so turmeted the bodies of
the poore citezens, that the stout souldiour for fai nines could skase welde his weapon, nor
the riche tnarchaunt for money could not bye a sheuer of bread : so that the cominaltie
cried to the captaines, and the nedy people besought the lorcles to haue compassion on them,
and to inuent some way for their succor and comfort. The gouernours of the tonne, after
long consultacion had, consideryng the great necessitie that they were in, and seyng none
apparence of succour or relief, determined it both necessary and conuenient to treate with
the kyng of England. And so vpo Newyeres euen ther came to the walles at the gate of
the bridge diuers comissioners appoincted by the capitaines, whiche made a signe to the
englishemen liyng without to speake with some gentleman or other person of authorise.
The earle of Huntingdon whiche kept that part sent to them sir Gilbert Vmfrcuilc, to who
they declared that if they might haue a guvde or a safcconduite they would gladly speake
with the kyng. Syr Gilbert promised not onely to do theyr message, but also to cerlifie
the of the kinges pleasure & purpose. Whiche comunicacion ended, he repaired to the
duke of Clarence and other of the kynges counsail, adnertisyng the of the request of the
citezens, whiche incStinent assembled theselucs in the kynges lodgyng, where sir Gilbert
Vmfreuile wysely and soberly declared to the kyng the myndes and intentes of the citezens.
The kyng like a graue prince consideryng that a thyng gotten without effusion of Christen
blond is both honorable and profitable, and sawe that the haute corages of the braggyng
Frenchmen wer now by his hard besiegyng sore abated and almost tamed, thought it con-
uenient to hcare their lowly peticion and humble request and so willed sir Gilbert to ad-
uertise them that he was content to heare. xii. of them whiche should be safely coueighed
to his presence : With this answere sir Gilbert departed and made relacion therof to the
capitaynes standyng at the gate. Whiche on the next day in the rnornyng appointed, iiii.
knightes. iiii. lerned men and. iiii. sage burgesses al clothed in blacke to go to the kyng of
Englad. These, xii. persons were receiued at the port sainct Hillarij by sir Gilbert Vmfreuile
accompanied with diuers gentlemen and yomen of the kynges houshold, comonly called
yomcn of the croune, and conueighed to the kynges lodgyng, who they found at Masse.
When the deuine seruice was finished king Henry gorgeously apparelled and sumpteously
adourned came out of his trauers, fiersely and princely beholdyng the Frenche messegers
and passed by them into his chambre. After him incontinently the. xii. ambassadours wer
conueighed, amongest who one learned in the ciuile law, more arrogant then learned & yet
not so arrogant as vndiscrete sayd these wordes. Right high and mightie prince, right
noble and puissant kyng, if you wyl with your selfe diligently cdsider wherein consisteth the
glory of victorye and the triumph of a conquerour, you shall plainly perceiue, that the
type of honor is in the tamyng of proud men, ouercomyng of valiant sou-ldiors and subdu~
yng of strong cyties and popnlus regions, and not in slaiyng christen people by hunger thirst
and famine, in whiche consisteth neither manhod, wit nor policy. Alas, regard you your
honor, and se yonder great multitude of miserable people criyng for meat and wepyng for
drinke and diyng for lacke of succour and relief. What glory shall you obtayne in killyng
of wretches by famyne, whiche death of all deathes is most to be despised and abhorred.
If you wyl shew your selfe charitable before God, or merciful before men, let al our poore
people whiche wyl depart out of our cytie passe through your campe to get their liuyng in
other places, and then manfully assaut our cytie, & by force (if you dare) subdue and con-
quere it. And if your enterprise succede fortunately (as a thing that is very doubtful) in
this doyng you shall not onely obtaine worldly glory and terrestrial victory for ouercommyng
the strong and puissant men of armes and the riche eytie, but also merite much before God
for
KVNG HENRY THE. V. 85
for deliueryng and hauyng compassion of the poore ucdy and indigent persons. , When this
Orator had sayd, the kyng, whiche no request lesse suspected then that whiche was thus
desired, began a while to muse: And when he had wel perceiued the crafty cautel and
fraudulent inuencion of the 1'renche messengers, he with a fierse countenance and a hold
spirit made to them this answer saiyng : Thynke you O fatastical Frenchmen that I am so
ignorant and so brutal that I cannot perceiue your double dealyng and crafty conueigh-
haunce : ludgc you me so simple that I know not wherin the glory of a coqueror cdsisteth.
Esteme you me so ignoraunt that I perceiue not what craftes and warlike pollices by strong
enemies are to be subdued and brought to subiection : yes, yes, I am not so loiteryng a Iruand
as to forgette so good a lesson. And if these thynges be to you blynd and obscure I wyl
declare and open them to you. The goddesse of warre called Edlona (whiche is the cor-
• 1 -111 •••! JL 1 i' /"• J r ' 1
rectnce of princes for right witholdyng or imurie doyng, and the plage or uod tor euil
liuyng and vntrue demeanor amongest subiectes) hath these, iii. handmaides euer of neces-
sitie attendyng on her, bloud, fyre, and famine, whiche thre damosels be of that force &
strength that euery one of them alone is able and sufficient to turrnent and afflict a proud
prince : and they all ioyned together are of puissance to destroy the most populous coun-
trey and most richest region of the world. If I by assaultyng of your toune should seke
your bloud (although I gained as I doubt not but I should) yet my gaine wer not cleare
without some losse of my people. If I set your cytie on fyre, and so consume it and you
also, then haue I lost that precious iewel for the whiche I haue so sore longed and so long
laboured. Therfore to saue myne owne people (which is onepoinct of glory in a capitaine)
and to preserue the toune whiche is my lauful and iust inheritaunce : And to saue as many
of you as wil not willyngly be destroied, I haue appointed the mekest maide of the thre
damosels to afflict and plage you tyll you be bridled and brought to reason, which shalbe
when it shal please me and not at your appointment : And therfore I say and affirme that
the gayne of a capitaine by any of these thre handmaides is bothe glorious, honorable and
triumphant, but of all thre the yongest maide is in all thinges most profitable and comodious.
Now to answer to your demaundes, as touching the pore people Hyng in the ditches, I as-
sure you I more lament your lacke of chantie toward your christen brethre ye and your owne
nacion of one language and one countrey, then I reioyce at the vndoyng of so many crea-
tures and castyng away of so many enemies. You like tirantes put the out of the toune to
thentent that I should slay them, and yet I haue saued their Hues. You would neither geue
them meat nor drinke, and yet I beyng their mortal enemy haue succoured and releued
them : so that if any vncharitie be, it is in you, if any shame or reproche be taken, receiue
it your selfe, for you be the doers. If I haue done them good let God rewarde me, for I
loke of them no thankes, if you haue done them cuil so shal you be done to. And as to
suffre your pore people to passe out of the cytie through my campe, no, no, I wyll not
so accomplishe your cloked request, but you shall kepe them styl to helpe to spend your
vitailes : And as to assault your toune, I wil you know it that I am therto both able and
willyng as I se tyme & occasion : but seyng the choice is in my hand to tame you either with
bloud, fyre, or famyne, or with all, I wyl take the choice at my pleasure & not at yours.
And with that the kyng with a frownyng countenaunce departed fro them to his chambre
and comaunded them to dine with his officers.
WHEN he was departed, the Frenchmen began to marueil at his excellent wit, and to
muse at the hautnes of his courage, and after they had dined and consulted together, they
required once againe to haue accesse to his royal presence, whiche when it was to them
grauted, they humblyng them selues on their knees besought him to take a truce for. viii.
daies, in the whiche they might by their commissioners take some ende and good conclusion
with him and his counsail. The kyng like a piteous prince rather couetyng the preseruacion
of the people, then their destruction, after good deliberation taken, grauted to them their
askyng, with the whiche answere they ioyously returned,
AFTER their departure were appointed and set vp. iii. riche tentes, the one for the lordes
of
85 THE. VI. YERE OF
of England to consult together, the second for the commissioners of the cytie, and y third
for both partes to argue and debate the matter. The cdtnissitiners for the Englishe part wer
the erles of Warwike & Salsbury, the lord Fitzhugh, sir water Hungerford, sir Gilbert Vra-
freuiie, sir Ihon Robsert & Ihon de Vasques de Almada. And for the French part wer ap-
pointed sir Guy de Butteler &. vi. other.
DVHYNG this truce, euery day the comissioners met, the Englishmen accused, and
the Frenchmen excused, the Englishmen demaunded muche, and the Frenchmen profered
lytle. Thus with arguyng & reasonyng the. viiii. day came and notliyng was done, nor one
article concluded. Wherfore the Englishmen toke doune the tentes & the Frenchmen toke
their leaue, but at their departyng, they remembryng them selues required the Englishe
lordes for the loue of God that the truce might continue tyl the sunne risyng the next day,
to the whiche the lordes sone assented. When the Frenchmen wer returned to Roan, so*-
denly in al the tonne sprong a rumour that the truce was expired and nothyng determined.
Then the poore people ranne about the stretes like frantike persons, shoutyngand criyng
and callyng the captaines and gouernors murtherers and manquellers, saiyng that for their
pride & stytfe stomacke al this misery was happened in the toune, threatenyng to slay them
if they would not agre to the kyng of Engludes demaund and request. The Magistrates
beyng amased with the fury of the people, called al the toune together to knowe their
myndes and opinions. The whole voice of the comons was to yeld,' yeld, rather than
starue. Then the Frenchmen in the euenyng came to the tent of sir Ihon Robsert, requi-
ryng him of getlenes to moue the kyng that the truce might be prolonged for. iiii. daies.
The kyng therunto agreed and appointed tharchbishop of Canterbury and the other.' vu.
before named for his part, and the citezens appoincted an egal nomber for them. So the
tentes were againe set vp, dayly was assembles and muche treaty on both parties, and oa
the fourth day by the helpe of God, the treaty was concluded and finished to the great re-
ioysyng of the poore citezens, the copy wherof foloweth worde by worde.
^f The appointmentes of the yeldyng vp of the cytie and castle of Roan.
1 FIRST it is accorded that Guy de Botellier capitaine of the Cytie and castle of Roan with
the consent of the noble citezens & other dwellyng and beyng in the sayd cytie and castell
shall yelde and deliuer into the handes of the ful excellent kyng of England or other what
so he be by him deputed, the cytie & castle aboue sayd without fraude or male engine, what
tyme after the middes of the. xix. day of this present moneth of January our sayd lord
the kyng wyllthe cytie and thecastel to be deliuered vnder maner and forrne within written.
2 ALSO it is accorded that the day £ houre the sayd nobles and citezens & other what so
they be dwellyng & beyng in the sayd cytie & castel shal submit them in al thinges to the
grace of our sayd lorde the kyng.
3 ALSO it is accorded that from this houre vnto real £ effectual yeldyng of the sayd cytk;
& castle, none of the sayd nobles or other beyng in the sayd cytie or castle shal not go out
of the foresayd cytie and castle without special grace of our sayd lord the kyng.
4 ALSO it is accorded that from this houre vnto the deliuerance of the cytie, euery of the
parties shall abstaine from all deedes of warre to make againe that other partie of them.
5 ALSO it is accorded that the foresayd nobles, citezens and other beyng in the sayd cytie
& castle shall pay to our foresayd lorde the kyng CCC. thousand scutes of golde, wherof
alwayes two shalbe worth an Englishe noble, or in the stead of euery scute, xxx. great
blaukes whyte or. xv. grotes. Of whiche. CCC. thousand scutes, the one halfe shalbe
payde to our sayd lord the kyng or to his deputies within the cytie of Roan beforesayd the.
xxii. day of this present moneth of January, and that other halfe shalbe paide to our sayd
lord the kyng or to his deputies in the feast of saint Mathew the Apostle next comyng that
shalbe the. xxiiii. day of February next, without any viler delay.
6 ALSO it is accorded that all and euery horse, harneys, armures, artileries for shot and all
other habilimentes of warre longyng to souldiors or other straungers beyng in the sayd cytie
and
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 87
and castle, shalbe put together by them in two houses by our sayd lord the kyng to be as-
signed, & they shalbe deliuered by the capitaine of the sayd cytie to our forsayd lord the
kyng after the niiddes of the. xix. day of January therupon to be required.
ALSO it is accorded that all and euery armour, artilleries and all habiliinentes of war of 7
the sayd castle shalbe put together in one house within the same castle, and they shulbe de-
liuered to oure sayd lorde the kyng or to his deputies in that partie, the day that the same
castle shalbe fallen to be deliuered to our sayd lord the kyng.
ALSO it is accorded that all and euery armures, artilleries & other habilimentes of warre 8
of thesaid citee or of al maner of citezcns arid of ul other dwellyng therin, by them shalbe
brought aud put together in one hous or mo houses there by theim to be deliuered to our
Lord the kyng, & by the capitain of the same citee shalbe deliuered to our forsaid Lorde
the kyng or to his deputie in what tyme the said capitain by the partie of our moste doubt-
full lorde the kyng, after the middaie of this present moneth of Januarij thervpon be requi-
red, out take the armuries that belong to Marchauntes which were wont for to sell theim.
ceassyng fraude and maleengine. And if it befal any marchauntes any suche armures that
be not theirs, vnder colour of theirs to colouren or hide in any maner, tho armures so hid
and coloured and al other what that thei been that diden, to our Lorde the kyng shal been
forfeted, and the body of thesame marchannt to been punished at the kynges will.
ALSO it is accorded that in no maner shalbe made, brennyng, hynderyng, harmyng or 9
appairyng, wastyng or destroiyng of horsse, of armures, of artilleries or of any other ha-
bilamentes of warre within the forsaied citee and Castle beyng, but that all and euery with-
out frau'de or maleengiue shalbee kept whole and vnhurt to our Lorde the kyng as it is be-
foresaied to be deliuered.
ALSO it is accorded that al & euery chayne that wer wont to be layed ouerthwart the 10
stretes and lanes of thesaid citee, shall bee put into an hous to be turned to the profile of the
citezens of ^thesame citee.
ALSO it is accorded that our forsaid lord the king shal haue place and space of lande, 11
of the frewil of his highnesse to bee chosen to hym a paleis to be made within thesaied citee
or within the walles of the same citee where it shal seme moste behouefull. So neuerthelesse
that if it fall within thesaid place or space to be included any hous or edifice or place of
ground longyng to any of thesaied citezens or dwellers of thesame citee, or saied lorde the
kyng to hym whom that suche maner of houses, edifices or places of ground longeth or ap-
perteineth shal satisfie, & of other houses & edifices or places congruely shal recopence.
ALSO it is accorded that all and euery subiectes of our said lard the kyng that now be or 13
wer prisoners to any persone beyng in the said cite or castle and their pledges, shalbee vtterly
free as aneyntz their persones and the somes that thei are bounde in at the dale of this pre-
sente date and accorde.
ALSO it is accorded that all and euery souldier and strager beyng in thesaid citee and 13
castle shall swere on the Euangeliesof God before their departyng, that thei shall not beare
armes against our lorde the kyng or his, vntothe first daie of lanuarij next to come, for no
maner of coinmaundemet that to them or to any of them of any maner of persone in contra-
ry maie be doen and enioyned.
ALSO it is accorded that all and euery reliques & other goodes longyng to the Abby of 14
sainct Katheryn within thesaied citee and castle beyng all holy, shalbeen deliuered to hym
whom the kyng shall depute them to receiue the deliuerance of thesaid citee.
ALSO it is accorded that the forsaid nobles, citezes & other within thesaid citee and 15
Castle beyng, shall cause thesame citee and Castle before thesaied. xix. daie of this pre-
sent moneth of lanuarij sufficiently and honestly to be made cleane, and also diligently and
honestly all the ded bodies now ded and to be ded vnto that daie of deliuerance of the said
citee honestly and diligently shall do to be buried.
ALSO it is accorded that the forsaid nobles citizens & all beyng in thesaid citee and castte ]Q
furthwith shall receiue and suftre to entre into thesame citee all and euery poore persone be-
88
THE. VI. YERE OF
yng in the cliches or aboute the diches of thesame cite, whiche for penury did go out of
thesame cite whom they shalbee bounde to succor vnto the. xix. daieof lanuarij aboue saied,
as they will aunswere to God and to the kyng, and els thei shall receiue none other person
into thesame citee or castle vnto the forsaied day without speciall licence of our saied
Lorde the kyng, but if it happe any messenger or herauld of the party aduersary of the
kyng to come to the gates or diches of thesaied castle or citee.
17. WHICHE articles and apointmetes as it is beforsaid, all & euery in maner as it is accord-
ed, the forsaied capitain, nobles, citezes & other within thesaied castle and citee beyng,
wel and truly without fraude or malengine to hold, obserue and kepe they behoten, and tho
to be kept & fulfilled they bynden them. So but if it befall our forsaid moste doubtfull
lorde the kyng that God forbid, to be ouercome in battaill to hym ymade by Charles his ad-
nersary of Fraunce or the duke of Burgoyn or any other to come, the siege of our lord the
kyng to remoue from the forsaid citee, that neither theforsaid capitain ne none of the no-
bles, citezens, souldiors or other beyng within tiieforsaid cite and Castle shall gone out, ne
no maner help thei shal deliuer, nor leane to them so again our lorde the kyng commyng in
no maner wise.
W' ALSO that all these appoyntmentes, couenauntes and accordes and euery of theim as it
is beforsaied well and truly and vnbroken bee kepte, and for the more suretie of thesame
couenauntes and accordes, theforsaid capitain nobles and citezens and other abouesaid shalbe
taken at the tyme ymediatly into the handes of our lorde the kyng. Ixxx. notable pledges
wherof. xx. shalbe knightes and esquires and the remnant citezens of thesame citee, at their
owne costes to be sustained.
19. ALSO for the partie sothly of our moste doubtfull lorde the Kyng aforsaid, graciously
and beningly cosidryng the meke submittyng and yeldyng of the same citee and Castle
abouesaid, hath graunted that all and euery person of what estate or .degree or condicion
that he be with in thesaid citee and Castle being, except certain persons within expressed
that will become lieges and subiectes of our lord the kyng, and fro hencefurth will dwell
ynder his obedience, shall haue their heritages and goodes, moueables and vnmouables
within the dutchy of Normandy constitute, and whiche before the date of these present let-
ters by our forsaid lord the kyng to other persons haue not been graunted, except ar-
murs & artillaries abouesaied, making and doing for their heritages and their vnmouable
goodes to our forsaied lorde the kyng the seruice therof accustomed, or to other to whom
suche maner seruices of the graunt of our lorde the kyng owen to long.
20. ALSO it is graunted on our lorde the kynges behalfe that all the citezens and dwellers of
the citee of Roau that now been or in tyme to come shall been, shall haue all and euery
franchises, liberties and priuileges which of worthy mynd the progenitors of our lorde the
the kyng kynges of Englande £ dukes of Normandy, to the and to the said citee were graunt-
ed in possession wherof they weren the first day that our forsaid lorde the kyng came before
theforsaid citee. And also of our large grace of his benygnitie hath graunted, that the self
citezens and dwellers of the citee shall haue al their liberties fraunchises and priuileges
wherof they wcr in possession- theforsaid first daie of the comyng of our lorde the kyng be-
fore the citee, of the graunt of any of his progenitors kynges of Fraunce whiche were be-
fore the tyme of Philip de Valoys aduersary to our said lorde the kyng & daily warryng vpo
his real me.
21. ALSO it is graunted and accorded on our lorde the kynges behalf that all the straungiers
souldiours and other in theforsaied citee and castle beyng at this tyme, not willyng to be-
come lieges of our lord the kyng, theforsaied citee and castle so yeldyng as it is beforsaid,
frely to departen, leauyng to our saied lord the kyng all their armures, horsse artillaries
and other thynges and harneis and goodes, except the Normans will not be lieges of our
lorde the kyng, whiche all & euery shall abide prisoners to our lorde the kyng, and except
Luca Italico, which also shalbe prisoner of our lorde the kyng, and also other whose names
be not set in this boke, for it longeth not to clerkes to intermete of the.
4 ALSO
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 89
ALSO it is graunted on our lord the kynges' behalf that the warreand also shrewed speches 22.
that duryng this siege the folke aboue mencioned of what condicion that they been against
his royall person haue done, or with defamed lippes haue spoken against our niostc derest
lorde the kyng, cosidrryng the daie of pitie mekely shalbe forgeuen, out take the prisoners
that abouen in speciall be excepted.
ALSO it is accorded on our lorde the kynges b^halfe teat theforsaied souldiors and 33.
straungers by the forme of this present treatie and accorde willyng for to departen, our
Lorde the kyng shall ordain and make a saueconduite in forme accustomed.
If And so theforsaied citee was yelden to our souereigne lorde the kyng vpon s. Wolstanes
daie beyng the. xix. daie of lanuarij. and then afterward he gat many strong tounes and
Castles, as Depe, Caudebec, Torney & many mo as it shalbe after written.
WHEN the daie of apoinclment came, which was the daie of. S Wolston, sir Guy de
Butteler and the Burgesses of the toune in good ordre came to the kynges iodgyng, and
there deliuered to hym the keyes of the citee and castle, besechyng hym of fauor and co-
passion. The kyng incontinent appoyncted the duke of Excester with agreate compaignie
to take possession of the toune, whiche like a valiauntcapitain mounted on a goodly courser
and entred into the toune and so into the castle, and appoyncted watche and ward in euery
toure, bulwarke and fortresse, and garnished the walles with banners, slanders and penos
o£ the kynges armes, badges and deuises. The nexte daie bcyng Frydaie the kyng in greate
triumphe like a conqueror, accopaignied with iiii. Dukes, x. Erles. viii. Bishoppes, xvi.
Barones and a greate multitude of knightes, esquires and men of warre entred into Roan
where he was reeeiued by the Clergie with. xlii. Crosses which sang diuerse swete soges,
outwardly reioysyng whatsouer inwardly they thought. Then met him the Senate and the
burgesses of the toune, offeryng to hym diuerse faire & costly presentes. In this rnaner he
passed through the citee to our Lady Churche, where with al solempnitie he was reeeiued
by the bishop and Cannons, and after he had said his Orisons, he caused his chapelaynes
to syng this Antheme Quis est magnus dominus. Who is so greate a Lorde as is our God.
&c. And that done he came to the Castle where he continued a good space after, receiuyng
homages and fealties of the burgesses and tounes men, settyng ordres emogest them and
reedefied diuerse fortresses and toures. Duryng which time he made proclamacion that all
men whiche would become his subiectes should enioye their goodes, landes and offices,
•whiche proclamacion caused many tounes to yeld, and many men become English. At
whiche ceason the duke of Britain seyng that the power of Fraunce began to decaye, came
to the kyng to Roan and concluded with hym a league of his owne mere mocion : Fearyng
that ether he should afterward be compelled therunto, or els if he offred to late it would
not be accepted.
WHEN the renderyng of Roan was blowen through Normandy and the kynges procla-
macion diuulged through the countrie, it is in maner incredible to heare how many tounes
yelded not once desired, and how many fortresses gaue vp without contradicion, wherof I
wil shewe you a small nombre and the names of theim who were appoyncted capitaines of
thesame.
AT Caudebec, sir Loys Robsert. late capitain of Roan, and by the kyng
At Depe, William lorde Burcher «rle of lorde of the same.
Ewe. At Danuile, sir Christopher Boirrden.
At Ewe, thesame erle. At Couches, sir Robert Marbury.
At Aubemerle, therle of Warwick and his At Chierburgh, sir Iho Geddyng.
deputie there sir Willia Mountford. At Bacquiuile, the lord Rosse, lord therof
At Bell Encomber, Sir Thomas Ramp- by gift.
ston lorde by gift. At Gaylard, the same lorde.
At Logeuile, the capitain of Beffe erle At Dangew, Richarde Wooduile.
therof by gift. At Arques, sir lames Fines bayly of
At the Roche Guyon, sir Guy Butteler Caux.
N At
90 THE. VIL YERE OP
Ar Newcastle, sir Philip Leche. At Boncouilliers, Ihon Aburgh Baylife
At Monceaux, the same sir Philip. of Gysors.
At Gourney, sir Gilbert Vmfreuile. At Vernon, sir William Porter.
At Estripagny, Richard Abraham esquire. At Melans, sir Thomas Rampso after hym.
At Senctere Surgette, Willyam Basset. sir Ihon Fastolfte.
At Nanffle, therle of Worcester,.. At Homftewe, therle of Salsbury and af-
At Gysors, the said erle. ter the duke of Clarence by gift.
j\.t Maunt, therle of Marche. At Brctnell, sir Henry Mortimer baylife
of Homflew.
If I should here reherse what tounes wer conquered, what fortresses were yelded, and
who wer made capitaines of thesame, this Pamphlet would turne to a volume more tedious,
then pleasaunt, and therfore I ouer passyng small names and muche doyugr will returne
again to the principall thynges touchyng-.the sequele of this historye. And who so desireth;
to know all the circumstances of the deliuery, lette hym ouerloke tlie Fnenche. writers,,
whiche to aduoyde shame confesse and write the veritee.
f THE SEUENTH YERE.
.p^ >TiL WHEN the gettyng.of Roan and the deliuery of.theother townes wer- biased and blowen.
y«e. through the whole realme of- Fraunce, wonder it is to tell and more to beleue howe the.
hertes of the Frenchmen wer sodainly heuy and their courages-sone coled, mournyng and
lamentyng the iminent mischief whiche they sawe by the diuision of the nobilitee like,
shortely to fal on their heddes : and the more sorowyng their euil chance because they sawe
no remedy prepared, nor yet none help at hand thought on. But whosoeuer kicked or
wynched at this matter, Ihon duke of Burgoyn raged and swelled, ye and so muche freated
that he wist not what to saie and lesse to dooe : And no meruaill, for he was vexed and
troubled with a doble disease atone onJv tvme. For he only ruled both kyng Charles and
his, and did all thynges at his will whether reason agreed or no, and for that cause heknewe
that IMJ was neither free from disdain nor yet deliuered from the scope of malice.. And ther-
fore he imagined that ail mischiefes and calamities whiche chaunced in the common- wealth
should be imputed and assigned to his vnpolitike doyng or to his negligent permission :
wherfore he vmagined it profitable to the realme and to hyiaself moste auaylable, if he by
any meanes possible cquld deui.-e, practise or inuent any waie or meane by the which he
might reconcile and ibyne in amitee the two great and mightie kynges of Englande and of
Fraunce. Whiche thyng once obUMgned and beyng dtliuered from all feare of exterior hos-
tilitee, he determined first to reuenge his quarell against Charles the Dolphyn, and after to
represse all causes of grudge or disdain, and. to recouer again both the fauor of the com-
monaltee and also to put a\vaie all causes oi' suspicion or imagined infamy against hym and
his procedynges. And intf-dyng to buyld v.pon this fraile foundacion, sent letters and Am-
bassadors to the kyng of Englande, aduertisyng hym that if he would personally come to a
coimnunicacion to bee had betwene hym and Charles the Frenche kyng, he doubted not
but by his onely meanes, peace should be induced and blouddy battaill clerely exiled.
KYNG Henry heard gentely the Ambassadors and agreed to their request and desire,
and so came to Maunte, where at the feast of Pentecost he kept a liberall hous to all com-
mers, and sat hymself in greate estate. On which daie ether for good seruice before by
them done, or for good expectacionof thynges to come, he created Gascon de Foys a va-
liaunt Gascoyn erle of Longeuile, and sir Ihon Grey was likewise made erle of Tankeruile,
and the Lorde Bui shier Erie of Ewe. After this solempne feast ended, the place of the en-
teruieue and metyng was apoynted to be beside Meiaus on the riuer of Seyne,, in a faire
playne euery pane was by comissioners appoyncted to their grounde. The Frenchmen
diched, trenched, and paled their lodgynges for feare of afterclappes : But the Englishmen
had their parte only barred and ported. The kyng of Englande had a large teat of blewe
veluet
KYXG HENRY THE. V.
veluet and grene richely cmbrodered with two deuises, the one was an Antlop drawyng in an
horse mill, the othar was an Antlop sittyng in an high stage with a braunche of Olife in his
roouthe: And the ten te was replenished and decked with this poysie. After lusie labours
commetfi victorious reste, and on the top and heigth of thesame was set a greate Egle of
goldc, whose ives were of suche orient Diamondes that tliey glistered and shone ouer the
whole felde.
THE Frenche-kyng likewise had in his parke a faire pauilion of blew veluet richely
embrodered with flower deluse, on the toppe of the same was set a white Harte flivng,
made all of fyne siluer with winges enameled. Betwene tliese two Campes or enclosers was
apoynted a -tent- of purple veluet for the coiisailers to mete in and euery part had an egall
nombre to watch on the night and to se good ordre on the day.
WHEN the day of appoinctment approched, the kyng of England accompaignied with
the Dukes of Clarence and Gloucester his brethren, and the duke of Excester his vncle, and
Henry Beauford Clerke his other vncle which after was bishop of Winchester and Cardinall
and the carles of Marche, Salisbury and other to the numbre of a thousand men of warre,
entered into his parke and toke his lodging. Likewise for the Frenche part, thcther came
Isabell the Frenche quene because the kyng her husband was fallen into his old frenaticall
disease hauyng in her compaigny the duke of Burgoyn and therle of Sainct Paule, and she
had attendyng on her the laire iady Katheryn her doughter and. xxvi. ladies and damoselles,
and had also for her furniture a thousande men of warre.
AFTER these estates had reposed themselfes one night in their tentes, the next day all
such as were appointed repaired toward the pauilion ordained for the consultation.
Where the kyng of England, like a prince of great stomacke and no lesse good be-
hauior receioed humbly the Frenche quene and her daughter and them honorably em-
braced & familierly kissed. The duke of Burgoyn made lowe curtesy and bowed to the
kyng, whom the kyng louyngly toke by the hand and honorably entertained. After
•salutaciens and embrasynges finished, they fel to counsel within the pauilion assigned,
whiche was kept with a garde appointed by both the parties that none but comissioners shuld
once attempt to enter. After the kynges requestes made & his demaundes declared, the
French quene and her company toke leaue louyngly of the kyng of England and returned
to Ponthoyse to certifie her husband of her demaundes and claymes. And kvng Henry re-
turned to Mante. The next day after they assembled againe, & the Frenche part brought
with them the lady Katherin, only to thentent that the king of England seyng and be-
holdyng so fayre a lady and so minion a damosel, should so be inflamed and rapte
in loue, that he to obtayne so beautiful an espouse, should the soner agrc to a gentle
peace & louyng composicion. This company met together, viij. seueral tymes, some-
tyme the one party was more and sometynie the other. And notwithstandyng that the En<r-
•Ji«hmen and Frenchmen were lodged no great distance asunder, yet was there neuer
fraye nor occasion of tumulte or riot prouoked or stirred of any of both the parties,
whiche (bothe their natures considered) is somewhat to be marueiled at.
IN this assemble many wordes were spent and no dedes done, many thin^es re-
paired and few offered, many arguroentes made and no coclusion taken. Some authors
write that the dolphyn to let this treatie sent to the duke of Burgoyne sir Tauegny
du Chastcl, declaryng to him that if he would let this agrement, he would comon with
him and take suche an ordre, that not only they but the whole realme of France
should therof be glad and reioyce : But what was the very cause of the breche, no man
certainly declareth. When no effect ensued of this long consultacion, both parties
after a princely fashion departed, the Englishmen to Mantes and the Frenchmen to
Ponthoyse.
THE kyng of England was nothing pleased nor yet contented that this comunicacion
came to none ende, wherfore he mistrustyng the duke of Burgoyn to the verv let and
stop of hie desires and requestes, sayd vnto him before his departing : fayre cosin,
NS W
93 THE. VII. YERE OF
we wil hiue your kynges daughter and al thinges that we demauud with her or we
wil driue your kyng & you out of his realme. Well sayd' the duke of Burgoyn,
before you driue the kyng and me out of his realme, you shalbe wel weried, and therof
we doubt lytle.
AFTER this departure, the duke of Burgoyn beyng nobly accompanied, roade to the
toune of Melune wher the dolphyn then soiorned where in the plaine feldes they. ii.
like frendes comoned together & cpcluded apparantly an open amide & sure frcndship,
which was written by notaries and signed with their handes and sealed with their
great scales and armes, but as the sequele sheweth, heart thought not that tong talked,
nor mind meant not that hand wrote. This treaty was concluded the. vi. day of luly in the
yere of our lord 1419 and was proclaimed in Paris, Amience and Ponthoyse.
THIS newe alienee notified shortly to the kyng of England liyng at Maunt, which ther-
with was sore displeased, and not without cause For he perceiued that the force of these
two princes were much stronger now beyng vnited in one, then they were before beyng
seperated & deuided. Yet notwithstanding this great sworne andsealed amitie, he nothyng
more minded then to set forward his intended enterprise with the ayde of God to performe
his conquest maugre and euil wyll and puissance of his enemies. Wherfore he sent the
capitayne of Bueffe brother to the earle of Foys newly created earle of Longuile with. xv.
C. men secretly to the toune of Ponthoyse, whiche on Trinitie sonday erly in the mornyng
came to the toune, and so sodainl v- and so shortely set vp their skalyng ladders to the wall,
that they were entred into the toune or the watche perceiued them, criyng saint George, saint
George the lord Lisleadam capitain of the toune perceiuyng the walles skaled and the
market place gained, opened the gate toward Paris, at the whiche he withal his retinue
and diuers of the tounes men to the norabre of. viij. thousand fled. For the Englishmen
durst not because their nombre was smal ones deuide them selues or fal to pilferyng, til
about prime the duke of Clarence came to their ayde with. v. thousand men, and by the
way he encoutred diuers burgesses of the toune fliyng with al their substance toward
Beauuoys who he toke prisoners & brought them againe to their olde dwellyng place.
When the duke was come to Ponthoyse, he muche praised the valiantnes of the assailantes
and gaue to them the chief spoyle of the toune and marchauntes of the which they had
great plenty and foyson. Then the duke with a great puissaunce came before Paris and
lay before the cytie two daiesand two nightes without any proffre either of issue by his ene-
mies or of defece if he had the same assauted, whiche he could not we! do because it was
long and ample, and his nobre small, and for so great an enterprise not furnished : Wher-
fore seyng that his enemies durst not ones loke on him, he returned againe to Ponthoyse,
for the taking of whiche toune, the countrey of Fraunce, & in especial the Parisiens were
sore dismayed and astonied, for there was no fortresse hable to resist or withstand. In so
much the Irishmen ouercame al the Isle of Fraunce and did to the Frenchmen dammages
innumerable (as their writters affirme) and brought dayly praies to the Englishe armye.
And beside that, they would robbe houses and lay beddes on the backes of the kine and
ride vpon them, and cary yong children before them and sell them to the Englishmen for
slaues : whiche straung doynges so feared the Frenchemen within the territory of Paris and
the coutrey about, that the rude persons fled out of the villages withal their stuffe to the cytie
of Paris.
THE French kyng and the duke of Burgoyn liyng at S. Denise hearyng of all these do-
ynges, departed in all the hast with the quene and her daughter to Troys in Champaigne,
there takyng great deliberation what was best to be done, leauyng at Paris the earle of S.
Paul and the lord Lisleadam with a great puissance to defende the cytie. At the same tyme
the duke of Clarence toke the strong toune of Gysors, & after that was taken the toune of
Gayllard: and all the tounes of Normandy shortly after were either taken by force or ren-
dred, except the Mount saint Michel, which because the gayne therof was very lytle and
the
KYNG HENRY THE. V. S3
the losse in assautyng semed to be very muche, and also it could do small harme or none to
the countrey adioynyng, was neither assaulted nor besieged.
AND thus as you haue heard, was the duchy of Normandy reduced agayne into the right
line and restored to the possession of the right heyre, which had bene fro the tyme of kyng
Henry the third, in the yere of our lord 1255 wrongfully detained from the kynges of
England.
THE wisemen of Fraunce sore lamentyng the chaunce of their coutrey and the misery
of their people sawe and perceiued that they had puissance ynough to defende their enemies
if they were at a perfite cocord amongest themselues. For they apparantly sawe that al-
though there wer a peace openly concluded betwene the dolphyn and the duke of Burgoyn,
yet they imagined that no good fruit succeded of the same for the duke either for secret
displeasure that he bara to the dolphyn, or for the doubt that he had of thenglishme,
neuer assailed by him self the army of kyng Henry, nor^neuer sent ayde or succours
to the Dolphyn. Wherfore by meanes of frendes a new comunicacion was appointed to
thentent that the corrupt dregges of their olde malice and inwarde grudges might be clearely
cast out and extinct. The place of this metyng was appoincted at the toune of Monstrel
fault Yonne, so called because a small brooke called Yonne runneth there to the riuer of
Sein ouer which riuer was made a bridge, with diuers barres ouerthwart so that the princes
openyng the barres might eche embrace and louche other, and kepyng the barres shut, eche
might se & common with other at their pleasure. The day was appointed when these, ii.
great princes should mete on this bridge, to thentent that all ciuile discord should by this
comunicacion be cleare forgotten, or at the least should be suspended tyl the enemies
were vanquished and driuen out of their coutries and confines. But this mocion worse
succeded then the entreators deuised, for while euery man was fulfilled with hope of peace
and concord, crafty imaginacion crepte out of cancard displeasure had almost brought al
thinges from libertie into bondage.
WHEN the day and place of the solempne enteruiew was agreed & assigned, Tauagny
du Chastel, a ma prompt and prone to all mischief, called to his remembraunce the shamefull
murder of Lewes duks of Orleaunce (vnder whom he had long bene a capitaine) done and
committed by this duke of Burgoyne as before you haue heard, determined with him selfe to
reuenge the death of his olde Maister and lorde. .Some say that he was therto stirred £ pro-
uoked by the dolphyn (and notvnlike) for the dolphyn whiche bare a continual hatred to the
duke of Burgoyn, imagined paraduenture by this meanes to represse and subdue the whole
power and high pride of this duke, without any suspection of frauds or rcproche of vntruth
or vilany. Wei the day came, which was the. xii. day of August, and euery prince with
his nombre appointed 'came to this bridge. The duke of Burgoyne beyng warned by his
frendes to kepe his closure and the barres on his side shut, lytle regarded his frcdes mo-
nicion as a ma that could not auoide the stroke for him prouided, and so opened the barres
and closure and carne to the dolphyns presence, whiche was cleane armed, and kneled
douneon the one kne, shewyng to him great reuerence and humilitie. The dolphyn shewed
him no louyng countenaunce, but reproued him, laiyng to his charge muche vntruth and
great dishonor. The duke againe boldly defended his cause. Nowe the duke duryng this
comunicacion kneled styl and his sworde was at his backe with often turnyng and mouyng
in answeryng the dolphyn and his counsel, and so he put his had backe to plucke his sworde
forwarder what quod sir Robert de Loyer, wyll you drawe your sworde against my lorde the
dolphyn? when Tauagny du Chastel apperceiued that an occasion was geuen to performe his
enterprise, incontinent he strake him with a hatchet on the head so that he could not speakc,
other standyng by shortly dispatched him of his life. Diuers of his part, thinkyng him not
dead, began to draw weapon, amongest whom the lord Nouale was slaine, and the other
taken. For this murther were condenrfpned (but not apprehended) by Parliament the presi-
dent of Prouynce, the vicount of Narbone, Guylliam Battelier, Tauagny du Chastel, Ro-
bert Loyre and. iiij. other. This was the ende of Ihon called the proude duke of Burgoyne,
4 whiche
THE. VIII. YE-Rfi OF
- ',
nhidie more regarded citrile warre and -intestine dissencion, then his owne life & welfare.
And this bodein death as I thinke eameto him not without desert for shamefully murtheryng
1 I. ewes duke of Orleance the .French kings brother. Such is the Justice of God, that hloud
for the most parte is recompensed with bloud, & vnnatural homicide is requited with
shameful death or soden destruction.
AFTER this heynous murder, thus committed, I might rehcrse how the dolphyns ser-
nauntes despoyled the duke of all his garmentes to his shevte, and coueredliis face with his-
hosen. I could declare how the •dolphyn sent his letters to Paris and other cities and
tonnes, publishing vntruely diuers opprobious wordes spoken, & diuers great and outragious
offences done l>y the duke against the kyng and the whole realme. I could further declare
IJOHC the wise«ie« of Frauuce detested and abhorred this abhominable act, perceiuyng the
endc that was like to ensue, and how the contrary side, whiche was the linage of Orleance
reioysed and laughed at this miserable chaunce and sodain fal: but because thenglish nacion
was parlie neither to the facte nor to the counsel, I wyll declare what the kyng of Englande
did after this uotorious dede done and committed,
f THE. VIII. YERE.
The. viiu WIfen Philip erle Charoloys sone and hey re to this duke Ihon, and now by this murthcr
yere. an(j death of his father duke of Burgoyn and erle of Flauders was enformed liyng at Gaunt
of this misfortune and final ende of his noble parent and louyng father, he toke the matter
as he had cause, greuously and heauily, insomuche that no ma of his cousel durst ones
speake to him, and in especial the lady Michel his wife, syster to the dolphyn and daughter
to the kyng, was in great feare to be forsaken and cast out of his house and fauoure: But
as all thinges ende, so sorow asswageth. When his doloure was somewhat mitegate he fyrst
by thaduise of his counseil receitied to his fauor and company the fayre duches his louyng
wife, and after sent diuers notable ambassadours to the king of England liyng at Roan to
trcate and conclude a peace betwene them both for a certain space : To which request in
hope of a better chaunce kyng Henry agreed. After that knot knit, he kept a solempne ob-
sequy for his father at saint Vaas in Arras wher were, xxiii. prelates with crosses : Duryng
which tyme the earle of saint Paule and the Parisiens sent to hym ambassadours to know
what they should do, and how they should defend them selues against the Englishmen. He
gently answered the messengers, that he trusted shortly by the ayde of God and licence of
the kyng to conclude a peace and perpetual amitie to their great comfort & relief. When
these ambassadors were departed to make relacion to the Magistrates and gouernors of the
cytie of Paris, he after long c5sultacion had aswel with men of the spiritualtie as temporal
and lay persons, sent the bishop of Arras and two notable persons to the kyng of England
with certaine articles and clauses which the duke of Burgoyn oftred to him for very loue
as he sayd. The kyng of England consideryng with him selfe that the duke of Burgoyn was
a coucnient organe and a necessary instrument to conueigh his desires to his purpose, lou-
yngly receiued & honorably enterteined the dukes ambassadours, declaryng vnto them that
lie would without prolongyng of tyme send to hym his Ambassadours, whiche should open
his lawful requestes & reasonable desires. With this answere, the dukes messengers de-
parted towarde Arras and incontinent after their departure, kyng Henry sent the erle of
Warwike and the bishop of Rochestre with many knightes & esquiers to the duke of Bur-
goyn, whiche to hym declared the effect and purpose of their ambassade and comyng : he
gently heard their requestes, and some he alowed and some he augmented, and some he
altred and disalowed, but in coclusion, by often sendyng betwene the kyng & the duke they
were agreed, so the kyng and his comons would assent. Now was the Erenche kyng and
the quene and his daughter Katheryn at Troys in Champaigne, gouerned and ordred by
.;them whiche would rather, x. tymes spurre forward the purpose & ententes of the duke of
Burgoyn
KYNG HENRY THE. V.
Burgoyn then once with a bridle to pul backe any one iote preferred by him. What should
I say, a truce tripertited betwene the. ii. kynges and the duke and their countreys was de-
termined, so that the kyng of Englad should send in the copany of the duke of Burgoyn his
Ambassadors to Troy in Chapaigne sufficiently authorised to coclud so great a matter. The
kyng of England beyng in good hope that all his affaires should prosperously succede and
go forward, sent to the duke of Burgoyn his vncle the duke of Exceter, the erle of Sals--
bury, the bishop of Ely, the lord Fanhope and lord Fitzhugh, sir Ihon Rob.sert and sir
Philip Hal with diuers doctors to the nombre of. CCCCC. horse, whiche in the copany of
the duke of Burgoyn came to the cytie of Troys the. xxi. daye of Marche. The kyng, the
queue and the lady Katherin them receiued and heartcly welcomed, shewyng great signes
and tokens of loue and amitie. After a fewe daies they fcl to counsel, in the whiche it was
c5c!uded that kyng Henry of England should come to Troys and mary the lady Katherin,
and the kyng should make him heyre of his realme, croune and dignitie after his death and
departure out of this naturall life with many other articles whiche hereafter in a place more
conuenient you shal heare rehersed.
WHEN all these thynges were done and concluded, the Ambassadors of England depart-
ed toward their kyng leauyng behynde them sir Ihon llobsert to geue his attendaunce on the
lady Katherin. When kyng Henry had heard his Ambassadors reherse the articles and
pointes of the treatie and amitie concluded, he condiscended & agreed with all diligence to-
set toward Troys, logyng for the sight of his darlyng the fayre lady Katherin. And al-
thoughe he reioysed that all thynges succeded more luckely to his purpose then he before
imagined, yet he trusted not so much to the glosyng wordes and golden promises of the
Frenche nacion beyng his aunoient enemies, that he would rashely aduenture his person
without a perfite serch and diligent inquirie of the doynges and attemptes of his doubtful
and newe reconciled frendes, beyng warned and admonished by the late mischance of Ihon •
duke of Burgoyn yet 'recent in euery mans eye. But when he sawe the sunne- shyne and ayre
clere on euery syde, he accompanied with the dukes of Clarence and Gloucester his brethren,
the carles of Warwike, Salsbury, Huntyngdon, Ewe, Tankeruile and Loguile and. xv. thou-
sand men of wane, departed from Roan to Ponthoyse, and from thence to sainct Denis
two leagues from Paris, and from thence to Pontcharenton where he left a garison of
menne to kepe the passage, and from thence by Prouynce, he came toward Troys, where
the duke of Burgoyn accoinpaignied with many noble men receiued hytn two leagues with-
out the toune and coueighed hym to his lodgyng and his princes with hym, and all his annie
MfaS' lodged in small villages theraboute. And after he had reposed himself, he went to
visete the kyng, the queue and the lady Katheryn, whom-he founde in Sainet Peters Churche,
where was a iotyous metyng, honorable receiuyng and a louyng embrasyng on bothe partes,
whiche was the twenty daie of Maie. And ther wer the kyng and the lady Katherin made
sure together before the high Aultare, and on the third daie of Tune nexte folowyng, thei
•were with all solempnite espoused and maried in the same Churche. At whiche muriate
the Englishmen made suche triumphes, pompes and pagiauntes as though the kyng of all
the worlde had' been present. la so muche (as three Frenche writers affinne) that the
nobles of Fraunce-more merueled at the henor and glory of the Englishmen, then thei d($-
deigned or maligned at their owne fortune.
AND when these solempne ceremonies wer honorably finished and the mariageL-consum.--
mate, the twoo kynges and their counsaill assembled together diuerse daics, wherirr the for-
mer league and treatie was in diuerse poyntes altred and brought to a certaintie by the de-
uice of the kyng of Englande and his brethren. When this great matter was finished, the
kynges sware for their part to obserue this agrement and league in all poynctes. Likewise
sware the duke of Burgoyn and a great nombre of princes and nobles whiche .wer presente,
and that the soner because they marueiled before at his noble Actes dooen by kyna Henry'
of whom thei had knowledge only by report, and now thei more marueled when thei sawe
and beheld the honor, estate & wisedome of his personc, But whether thei sware with out-
warde
96 THE. VIII. YERE OF
warde countenaunce and inwardly thought the contrary, let them whiche Icnowe the Frenche
constancy iudge and tell truthe. But assuredly thei perceiued .hym to bee prudent bothc
in askyng and geuyng counsaill. Thei sawe hym expert and apt to marciall feates, and
nymble in all thynges apperteighyng to warre. Thei thought hym strong against all perelles
and imagined hym fortunate in all chaunces and doynges, wherfore as I saied, thei mire he
marueled at hym, and more regarded his persone. Then was lie named and proclaimed
heire & Regent of Fraunce. And as the French kyng sent the copie of this treaty to
euery toune in France, so the kyng of Englande sent the same in Englishe to euery citec
and market toune to be published and deuulged, the very copie whereof as it was then writ-
ten, woorde by woorde ensueth.
If The Articles and appoynctmentes of the peace betwene the realmes of Englande
and Fraunce.
HENRY by the grace of God kyng of Englande, heire and Regent of Fraunce, lorde
of Irslande, to perpetuall mind to Christen people and all tho that be vnder our obeisance
we notefie and declare that though there hath been here aforne diuerse treaties betwene the
moste excellent Prince Charles our father of Fraunce and his progenitors for the peace to
be had betwene the twoo realmes of Fraunce and Englande the whiche here before haue
borne no fruite : \Ve consideryng the greate harmes the whiche hath not onely fallen betwene
these twoo realmes for the great deuision that hath been betwene the, but to all holy churche.
We haue taken a treaty with our saied father, in whiche treaty betwixt our saied father and
vs, it is concluded and accorded in the forme after the maner that foloweth.
1 FIRST it is accorded betwixt oure father and vs, that forasmuche as by the bond of Ma-
trimony made for the good of the peace betwene vs and our most dere beloued Katheryn
doughter of our saied father and of our moste dere mother Isabell his wife, thesame Charles
and Isabell been made father and mother, therfore them as our father and mother we shall
haue and worship as it sitteth and semeth so a worthy prince and princesse to be worship-
ped principally before all other temporall persones of the world.
3 ALSO we shall not distroble, disseason or letten our father aforsaid, but that he holde
and possede as long as he liueth as he holdeth and possedeth at this tyme the croune and
the dignitee royall of Fraunce, and rentes and proffites for thesame of the sustenance of
his estate and charges of the realme. And our forsaid mother also hold aslong as she
liueth thestate & dignitee of Queue, after the maner of the same realme with conuenable con-
uenience part of the said rentes and proffites.
3 ALSO that the forsaid lady Katherin shall take and haue dower in our realme of Eng-
lande as Quenes of England here afore wer wont for to take and haue, that is to say, to the
some of. xl. M. Scutes, of the whiche two algate shalbe worth a noble Englishe.
4 ALSO that by the waies maners and meanes that we male without transgression or offence
of other made by vs, for to kepe the lawes, customes, vsages and rightes of our saied realme
of Englande shall doen our labor and pursute that thesaid Katheryn al so sone as it maie
be doen, be made sure to take and for to haue in our said realme of Englande from the
tyme of our death thesaied dower of. xl. M. scutes yerely, of the whiche twayne algate be
worth a noble Englishe.
5 ALSO if it hap the said Katheryn to ouerliue vs, she shall take and haue the realme of
Fraunce ymediately, from the tyme of our death, dower to the some of. xx. M. Frankes
yerely of and vpon the landes, places and lordshippes that held and had Blaunch somtyrne
wife of Philip Boseele to our saied father.
6 ALSO that after the death of our father aforsaied, and from thence forwarde, the croune
and the realme of Fraunce with all the rightes and appurtenaunces shall remain and abide
to vs and been of vs and of our heires for euermore.
7 ALSO forasmuche as our saied father is witholden with diaerse sicknes, in suche maner
as
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 97
as he maie not intencte in his owne persone for to dispose for the nedes of theforsaied realme
of Fraunce: therfore duryng the life of our saied father, the faculties and exercise of the
gouernance and disposicion of the publique and common proffice of the saied realme of
Fraunce with -counsaiH and nobles and wise men of the same realme" of Fraunce shalbe and
abide to vs: So that from thencefurthe we maie gouerne the same realme by vs. And also
to admit to oure cousaill and assistence of thesaid nobles suche as we shall thynke mete the
which faculties and exercise of gouernance thus being toward vs, we shall labor and pur-
pose vs spedefully, diligently and truly to that that maie be and ought for to be to the worship
of God and our saied father and mother, and also to the common good of thesaied realme,
and that realme with the counsaill and help of the worthy and great nobles of thesame
realme for to be defended, peased and gouerned after right and equitie.
ALSO that we of our owne power shall do the courte of the Parliament of Frauce to be 8
kept & obserued in his authorite and soueraignte and in all that is doen to it in all maner
of places that now or in tyme commyng is or shalbe subiect to our saied father.
ALSO wee to oure power shall defende and helpe all and euery of the Peres, nobles, ci- 9
tees, tounes, commonalties and syngular persons now or in tyme commyng subiectes to our
father in their rightes, customes, priueleges, fredome and fraunchises longyng or dewe to
them in all maner of places now or in tyme commyng subiect to our father.
ALSO we diligently and truly shall trauaile to our power and do that iustice be admi- 10
nistered and doen in the same realme of Fraunce after the lawes, customes and rightes of
thesame realme, without personalx excepcion. And that we shall kepe and holde the sub-
iectes of the same realme in tranquilitie and peace, and to our power we shall defend them
against all maner of violence and oppression.
ALSO we to our power shall prouide, and do to our power that able persones and prof- j j
fitable been taken to the offices aswell of Justices and other offices longyng to the gouern-
aunce of the demaynes and of other offices of the said realme of Fraunce for the good, right
and peaceable Iustice of the same, and for thadministration that shalbe comitted vnto theini
and that they be suche persons that after the lawes and rightes of the same realme and for
the vtilitee and proffite of our saied father shall minister, and that the forsaied realme shall
bee taken and deputed to thesame offices.
ALSO that wee of our power so sone as it maie commodiously bee doen, shall trauaile 12
for to put into the obedience of our saied father, all maner of cities, tounes and Castles,
places, countrees and persones within the realme of Fraunce disobedient and rebelles to
our saied father, holdyng with them whiche been called the Dolphin or Armuiack.
ALSO that we might the more comodiously, surely and frely doen exercise and fulfill these 1 3
thynges aforsaid. It is accorded that all worthy nobles and estates of the same realme of
Fraunce aswel spirituals as temporalles, and also citees notables and commonalties, and cite-
zens, burgeis of tounes of the realme of Fraunce, that been obcysaunt at this tyme to our
saied father shall make these othes that folowen.
FIRST to vs hauyng the facultie, exercise, disposicion and gouernaunce of the forsaied 14
common proffite to our hestes and commaundementes thei shall mekely and obediently obeye
and intende in all maner of thyng concernyng the exercise of gouernance of thesame realme.
ALSO that the worthy greate nobles and estates of the saied realme aswell spirituals as I 5
temporalles and also citees and notable commonalties and Cittezens and Burgeses of the
same realme in all maner of thynges well and truly shall kepe and to their power shall do to
be kept of so muche as to theim belonged) or to any of theim all, those thynges that been
apoyncted and accorded betwene our forsaid father and mother and vs, with the counsaill of
them whom vs lust to calle to vs.
ALSO that continually from the death and after the death of our saied father Charles, 15
they shalbe our true liegcme and our heires, and they shall receiue and admit vs for their
liege and soureigne and verie kyng of Fraunce, and for suche to obeye vs without oppo-
sicio, contradiccion or difficultee, as they be^en to our forsaid father dnryng his life, neuer
° after
98 THE. VIII. YERE OF
after this, realmc of Frauce shall obey to man as kyng or regent of Fraunce, but to vs and
our hcires. Also they shall not be in counsaill belpe or assente that we lese life or lyuime,
or be take with euill takyng, or that we suft're harme or diminicion in person, estate* worship
or goodes, but if thei knovve any suche thyng for to be cast orymagined against vs, thei shall
let it to their power, and they shall doen vs to weten therof as hastely as thei inaie by theim-
self, by message or by letters.
1 7 ALSO that all maner of conquestes that should bee made by vs in Fraunce vpon the saied in-
obedientes out of the Duchie of Normandy shalbe doen to the proffite of our said father, and
that to our power we shall do that al maner of landes and lordshipes that been in the places
so for to be conquered longyng to persones obeyng to our saied father, vvhiche shall sweare for
to kepe this presente accord .shalbee restored to thesame persones to whom they long to.
18 ALSO that all maner of persones of holy Church beneficed in the Duchy of Normandy
or any other places in the realme of Frauce subiect to our futher and fauouryng the partie of
the dukes of Burgoyne whiche shall sweare to kepe this present accord, shall reioyce peace-
ably their benefices of holy Churche in the Duchy of Normandy, or in any other places next
aforsaied.
19 ALSO likewise all maner persones of holy Churche obedient to vs and beneficed in the
realme of Fraunce and places subiect to our father that shall swere to kepe this presente ac-
cord, shall enioye peaceably their benefices of holy Churche in places next abouesaied.
20 ALSO that all maner of Churches, Vniuersitees and studies gcnerall, and all Colleges of
studies and other Colleges of holy Churche beyng in places now or in tyme commyng sub-
iecte to our father, or in the Duchy of Normady, or other places in the realme of Fraunce
subiect to vs, shall enioye their rightes and possessions, rentes, prerogatiues liberties and
fraunchises longyng or dewe to theim in any maner of wise in the said realme of Fraunce,
sauyng the right of the croune of Fraunce and euery other persone.
gl ALSO by Goddes help, when it happeneth vs to come to the croune of Fraunce, the Duchy
of Normandy and all other places conquered by vs in the realme of Fraunce shall bowe
vnder the commaundemcnt obeysaunce and Monarchy of the croune of Fraunce.
22 ALSO that we shall enforce vs and dooe to our power that recompence bee made by our
said father without diminicion of the croune of Fraunce, to persones obeiyng to hym and
fauoryng to that partie that is said Burgoyn, to whom longeth landes, lordshippes, rentes
or possessions in the said Duchy of Normandy or other places in the realme of Fraunce
conquered by vs hethertoward, geuen by vs in places, and landes gotten or to be gotten and
ouercome in the name of our said father vpon rebelles and inobedientes to hym. And if it
so bee that suche maner of recompence bee not made to the saied persones by the life of
our saied father, we shall make that recompence in suche maner of places and goodes when
it happeneth by Goddes grace to the croune of Fraunce. And if so be that the landes, lord-
shippes, rentes or possessios the vvhiche longeth to suche maner of persones in the saied
Duchy and places be not geuen by vs, thesame persones shalbee restored to theim without
any delaye.
23 ALSO duryng the life of our father in all places nowe or in tyme commyng subiect to
him, letters of common iustice and also grauntes of offices and giftes, pardos or remissions
and priuileges shalbe written and precede vnder the name and seale of our saied father. And.
forasmuche as some syngular cace male fall that maye not bee forseen by mannes witte, in
the whiche it might be necessary and behouefull that we do write our letters, in suche maner
cace if any hap for the good and surety of our saied father and for the gouernauncc" that?
longeth to vs as is beforsaied, and for to eschewen perilles that otherwise might fall to the
prejudice of our saied father to write cure letters, by the whiche we shall commaunde,
charge and defende after the nature andqualitie of the nede in our fathers behalfe and cures
as Regent of Fraunce.
24 ALSO that duryng oure fathers life wee shall not calle ne write vs kyng of Fraunce, but
vtterly we shall absteyne vs from that name as long as our father liueth.
1 ALSO
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 1
ALSO that oursaied father duryng his life shall nempne, call, and write vs in French in 25
this maner Nostre treschier jils Henry Roy Denglcterre heretere de Fraunce, and in
latin in this maner. Precharissimus filius noster Henricus Rex Anglian & heres Francis.
ALSO that we shall put none imposicions or exaccios, or do charge the subiectes of our 25
said father without cause resonable and necessary, ne otherwise then for common good of
the realme of Fraunce, and after the saiyng and askyng of the lawes and customes reason-
able, approued of thesame realme.
ALSO that we shall trauaile to our power to the effect and intent, that by thassent of the 27
three estates of either of the realmes of Fraunce and Englande, that all maner of obstacles
maie be doen awaie, and in this partie that it be ordeigned and prouided that fro the tyme
that we or any of our heires come to the croune of Fraunce, bothe the crounes that is to
saie of Fraunce and England perpetually be together in one and in thesame persone, that
is to saie from our fathers life to vs, and from the terme of our life thence forward in the
persones of our heires that shalbee one after another. And that bothe realmes shalbee
gouerned fro that wee or any of our heires come to thesame, not seuerally vnder diuersc
kynges in one tyme, but vnder that same person whiche for the tyme shalbe kyng of bothe
the realmes and souereigne lorde as it is beforesaid, kepyng neuerthelesse in all maner of
other thynges to ether of y same realmes their rightes, liberties, customes, vsages and lawes,
not makyng subiecte in any maner of wise one of thesame realmes to the rightes, lawes or
vsages of that other.
ALSO that henceforwarde, perpetually shalbee still reste, and that in all maner of wise, 28
discencions, hates, rancoures, enuies, and warres betwene thesame realmes of Fraunce and
England, and the people of thesame realmes, drawyng to accorde of thesame peace maie
cease and bee broken.
ALSO that there shalbe fro hence forwarde for euermore peace and tranquillitee and «y
good accord and common affeccion and stable frendship betwene thesame realmes and their
subiectes beforesaied : thesame realmes shall kepe theselfes with their counsaill helpes and
comon assistence against all maner of men that enforce theim for to doen or to ymagine
wronges, harmes, displeasours or greuaunce to theim or to ether of theim. And thei
shalbe conuersaunt and Marchandisen frely and surely together paiyng the custome dew
and accustomed. And thei shalbe conuersaunt also, that al the confederates and alies of
our said father and the realme of Fraunce aforsaid, and also our confederates, of the realme
of Englande aforsaied, shall in. viij. monethes from the tyme of this accord of peace as it is
notified to the, declare by their letters that they wolle draw to this accord and vvoll be com-
prehended vnder the treaties and accord of this peace, sauyng neuerthelesse ether of the
same Crounes, and also all maner accions rightes and reuenues that longen to our sayd fa-
ther and his subiectes and to vs and to our subiectes againe such maner of allies and con-
federacies.
ALSO neither our father neither our brother the duke of Burgoyn shall bcgynne ne make 30
with Charles clepyng himselfe the dolphyn of Vyennes any treaty or peace or accorde but
bv counsel and assent of all and eche of vs thre or of other thre estates of either of the sayd
realmes aboue named.
Also that we with assent of our sayd brother of Burgoyn & other of the nobles of the -^1
realmes of Fraiice the whiche therto owen to be called shal ordaine for the gouernance of
our sayd father sekyrly, louyngly and honestly after the askyng of his royal estate and dig-'
nitie by the maner that shalbe to the worship of God and of our father and of the realme of
Fraunce.
ALSO all maner of persons that shalbe about our father to do him personal seruice, not 32
onely in office but in all other seruices aswell the nobles and gentles as "other shalbe suche
as hath bene borne in the realme of Fraunce or in places longyng to Fraunce, good, wise,
true and able to that foresayd seruice. And our sayd father shall dwell in places notable of his
obedience and nowhere els. Wherfore we charge & comaunde our savd liege subiectes and"
O 2 other
100 THE. VIII. YERE OF
other beyng vnder our obedience that they kepe and do to be kept in all thatlongeth to them
this accord and peace after the forme and maner as it is accorded. And that they atternpte
in no maner wyse any thyng that may be prejudice or cotrary to the same accorde and
peace vpon paine of life,and lymme and all that they may forfaite against vs. Youen at
Troys the. xxx. day of May 1420 and proclaimed in London the. xx. day of lune.
33 ALSO that we for the thinges aforesayd and euery one of the shall geue our assent by our
letters patentes sealed with our scale vnto oure sayd father with all approbacion & confirma-
cion of vs and all other of our bloud royal and all other of the cities and tounes to vs obedient
sealed with their scales accustomed. And further oure sayd father beside his letters patentes
sealed vnder his great scale shall make or cause to be made letters approbatory and confirrna-
cions of the peres of his realme and of the lordes, citezens and burgesses of the same vnder
his obedience, all which articles we haue sworne to kep* vpon the holy Euangefistes.
HERE I ought not to forget howe. ii. men named learned in bothe the lawes, the one
called master Ihon Bouchet the Aquitanical writer & Archedeacon of Terbe, & the other
Master de Prato a solempne prothonotary his pratyng gloser wrote of this treaty and com-
posicio, and make therof so a great matter as by the makyng of this peace it shuld appeare
that England had no right to Frauce, nor by this graunt nothyng to England was geuen-.
Fyrst Ihon Bouchet saieth that this treaty was the worst cotract that euer was made for the
kynges of England, for by this saith he it is apparant that the kyng of Englvid hath neither
tytle nor right to the croune of Fraunce but by this coposicion, for if they had right, why did
they take it by coposicion ? vpon this text Master gloser saieth, that this composicion geueth
a new right, and if there wer any old it taketh it away and geueth a new, whiche new gift
was of litle value and lesse efficacie in the law because the issue female may not en-
herite accordyng to the lawe Salique, & therfore he cannot make his doughter heyre to the
croune of Fraunce. If I might be so bold I wold axe Maister Ihon Bouchet this ques-
tion : if a ma wrongfully kepe me out of the possession of my true and lawful inheri-
taunce (with whom lam neither able with purse neither with power to prosecute my
cause before a competent iudge by proces of the lawe) wyll of his owne mere mocion
(moued paraduenture with conscience) render to me my right, so I wyl suffre him to
enioy my lande duryng his life, or that I wyl mary his daughter, haue I this land by his gift
or as a thyng to me iustly by law and equitie rendred and receiued. Likewise if a riche man
owe to a poore man an hundreth poundes, whiche is not able in substance or for feare of
displeasure dare not attempt any suyte or quarel against his detter, if he wyl offer to pay his-
money at dayes, to the whiche request the poore man agreeth, is this a newe gift of the money
or a payment of the del. In the fyrst question if the demaudant had no tytle, how could he
graunt to him the accion of the land duryng his life, and in the second, if the plaintiffe had
none interest how could he geue him daies of payment and yet in both the cases if the one
part had no right why would the other make an offre or copound, for all coposicions haue
respect to a right precedent. But in this matter, who would iudge that a kyng of so great &
puissant a realme with the asset of his own counsel would dishenerite his onely sonne & sur-
rendre his title without an apparant right and open tytle knowen and shewed by the partie,.
for the olde prouerbe sayeth, long sufferaunce is no acquittance, nor prolongyng of tyme
tlerogacion to right, also restitucion is no graut, nor payment of duetie is no gift. Doctors
write and clerkes afferme that these treaties, arLitrementes and composicions be bothe godly,
charitable and honest, both' to restore the one partie to his auncient right (whether it be in
landes or goodes) and to dispence & releue the other with the takyng of the profiles of the
land and vsyng in mai chandies the occupacion of the money. Now to Master gloser whiche
affirmeth that a composicion taketh away an old right & geueth a new and that this coposicion
is of no value: surely Master Ihon de Prato I would haue suche a peuyshe proctor reteined
against me for you say that euery coposicion geueth a new right and taketh away the auaciet
title, yet you sayd before y this coposicion neither geueth nor can geue any right, whiche
coclusion is manifestly repugnant to the antecedent therfore you must be answered thus, if
nothyng
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 101
nothyng be geuen nothyng is taken away, & so consequently no coposicion, & if there be no
coposicion then remaineth styl the olde and auncient tytle in the state that it was. Parad-
uenture Master gloser wyl say and allege the tytle of England to be abrogated because the
bouse of Valoys may lawfully prescribe against the kynges of England and haue had the
possession fortie yeres and more, & so by this nieane kyng Hery had no tytle to clayme or
chalenge any part of the realme of Fraunce. Then 1 pray you remember the yeres & ac-
compt the doynges and you shall euidently perceiue that kyng Edward the third the very
indubitate heyre general to the croune of Fraunce kyng Richard the second, kyng Henry
the fourth and this noble kyng Henry the fift neuer desisted, vi. or. viii. yeres at the moost
either by battaile or treatie to chalenge and clayme their aucient right and old enheritaunce
to the by quene Isabel discended,so the title was euer in strife and neuer quiet tyll nowe the
right lyne is restored : And as for your law Salique put it in your boget among lyes & fayned
fables. Thus you may se the affections of Frenchemen, that an Arche foole cannot forge a
lye for his pleasure, but a prothodawe wyll faine a glose to mainteine his folish fatasie. Let
vs now leue these wylful writers and returne to the kyng of England, which after al these
articles of the treaty beyng concluded and sworne, made the Frenche kyng the duke of
Burgoyn and other the Frenche lordes a solempne and sumptuous supper and banket, and
before their departyng he sadly and soberly sayd to them these wordes.
All my thought care & study is (you noble princes & men of high honor) to inuent the
meane, study & way, how both my kyngdomes by the benefite of almightie God enlarged &.
amplified, by the conexyng & ioynyng the one to the other may be left to my posteritie clene
& pure without domestical dissecion or ciuile discorde, to thentent that as no prince nor
potestate hath at this day in all Europe a greater gouernance, a richer regiment nor a more
puissant empire : So I trust to leue it that hereafter ther shal no power or dominion be able
to be to it copared orequyolent. Wherfore I entende fyrst to extirpate & plucke away the
rotes & leuynges of the ciuile discecion in this realme lately begon which ly in the brest of
Charles the kynges sone, by your decre, Judgement and assent, of the newe state and dig-
nitie of the Dolphyn vtterly depriued and disgraded, against whom it is couenient and decent
that you beare armure not so muche to destroy &' confound him, as to bring him to do obay-
sance and reasonable coformitie. What maner a prince thinke you he would proue, when,
he should obtaine & possesse a kyngdome, which beyng but a lusty yong striplyng not
fearyng God nor regardyng his honor contrary to his promise & against all humaine honestie,
was not ashamed to polute & staine him selfe with the bloud and homicide of the valeaunt
duke of Burgoyn, O cancard stomacke in the brest of a yong prince, oh tyrannical, heart in
the body of a gentle man, O vntrue long in the mouth of a Christen man; a. Christian, no
aPagane, whiche neglecting his honor, violatyng his promise and dispisyng honestie, would
procure or cosent to so abhominable a fact and sedicious a murder. Wherfore these thynges
well pondered and iustly considered I require you to ioyne, stand, and eleue with-me as the
very heyre & successor of my dere & welbeloued father in lawe kyng Charles in this realme
& kyngdome, fyrst to my noble auncesters, & after to me by right title and iust clayine law-
fully discended. Grudge not I pray you because I that am an Englishman shall succede in.
the croune of France: I assure you, I am not nor. wil not be noted to be to you. a mere alien
and straunger, was not my great grandfather kyng Edward the third sone to quene
Isabel daughter to Philip the fayre and sister and heyre to. iii. kynges of this relme dead
without issue? was not my great graundmother quene Philip discended of the noble house
of Valoys? if the old & trite prouerbe be true that the womans side is the surer side and
that the childe foloweth the wombe, although the one part be Englishe yet the surer part is
Frenche, and of the Frenche flou re budded & brought furth. And therfore remembre not
that I am an English ma put out of your mindes in what coutrey I was borne: and cosider.
that I am a christen man & an anoyn fed. kyng, to who by both the professions it aperteineth,
not onely to defend &. protect their people & subiectes from foreign powers & outward inua-
sions, but also to minister to them indifferent Justice, to conserue them in polliiike ordre &
moderate
102 THE. VIII. YERE OF
moderate quietnes: & finally accordyng to their desert and merites, the to promote auance,
& prefer to riches, honors and estates : which thinges if I would not do to you my trusty
frendes whose louyng heartes and beneuolent myndes I shall neuer forgette nor put in obli-
uion, I should not do my dutie to God I shuld not do the office of a kyng nor I shuld not
do that whiche by the lawesof nature and reason I ought to do, which is to rendre kyndnes
for kyndnes, goodnes for desert, and honor for merite. Therforc to coclude I humbly re-
quire you to stande strong with kyng Charles my father in lawe (who in the stede of myne
ovvne parent I worship, loue and honor) in this concord and agrement whiche I both call &
trust to be a peace final, and after his mortal ende to loue, serue & be true to me and ray
posteritie, and I assure you for my part that the Occean sea shall sonerleue his flowyng and
the bright sunne sh.al soner leue his shiny ng, then I shall ceasse to do that whiche becommeth
a prince to do to his subiecte. or that a father ougiit to do to his natural child.
WHEN he had thus persuaded the nobilitie, he with all his army, hauyng with him the
Frenche kyng and the duke of Burgoyn came before the toune of Sene in Burgoyn
whiche toke part with the dolphyn : and after that he had destroied the countrey about it,
at the. xv. day the toune was yelded and there he made capitain the lorde lenuale. And
from thence he remoued to Monstreau fault yone, where the duke of Burgoyn was slain
nsyou haue heard, whiche toune was taken by assault and many of the dolphyns parte appre-
hended before they could get to the cartel. After the gettyngof the toune, the castle whiche
\vas newly replenished with men and vitayle, denied toredre, and soil was strongly besieged:
tluryng whiche assault the duke of Burgoyn was enformed by diuers in what place the duke
his father was buried, whose corps he caused to be taken vp & sered and so coueighed it
to Diron in high Burgoyn and buried it by duke Philip his father.
THE kyng of England sent certaine of the prisoners that he had taken in this toune to
aduise the capitaine of the castle to yeld the same, but they obstinatly denied the request,
gcuyng opprobrious wordes to the kynges Herault, wherfore the kyng of Englad caused a
gybbet to be setvp before the castle, on the whiche were hanged, xii. prisoners all gentlemen
and frendes to the capilaine. When the lord of Guytry lieftenant of the castle perceiued
that by no m^anes he could be succoured, and fearyng to be taken by force, he beganne to
treat with tlfi> kyng of Englad, whiche in. viij. daies would take none of his offers, but in
coclusion he and his rendred them seines simply, their Hues onely saued, and after, vi. wekes
siege the castle was dcliuered, & the earle of Warwike was made capitain of the toune and
castle, whiche fortefied the same with men, ordinance and artillerie. From thence the king
of England departed to Molyn vpon Seyne and besieged it round aboule in whose company
were the Frenche kyng, theyong kyng of Scottes, the dukes of Burgoyn, Clarence, Bed-
ford, and Gloucester.
The duke of Barre. Therle of Ewe.
The prince of Oreng. -Therle ot'Tankeruile.
The earle of Niche in Auerne. Therle oi'Longuile.
Therle of Huntyngdon. Therle of saint^Paule.
. Therle of Stafford. Therle of Brayne,
Therle of Sommerset. Therle of Ligny.
Therle Marshal. ,> Therle of Vatedcuontur.
Therle of Warwike. Therle of loiuigny.
Therle of Worcester. The Lord llosse.
Therle of Suffolke. The Lord Matrauers.
The archbishop of Britayne earle of Yury. The Lord Gray of Codnor.
The lord Charles ofNauer. The Lord Bourchier.
-Therle of Perche.* s The Lord Andely.
Therle of Mortciine. The Lord Wylloughby.
Therle of Onnond. The Lord Clynton.
Therle of Desmond. The Lord Deyncost.
The
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 103
The Lord Clyffbrd. The Lord Vergeer.
The Lord Ferreys Groby. The Lord of Crony.
The Lord Ferreys of Chartley. The Lord sent George:
The Lord Talbot. The Lord Pesunes.
The Lord Fitzwaren. The Lord Daugien.
The Baron Dudley. The Lord Tremoyle.
The Lord Mouerancy. The Lord lenuale.
The lord Aubemond of Normady. Sir Ihon de Lawuoy.
The lord Beauchape of Normady. Sir Ihon Courselles.
-The Lord Furniuale. The lord of Barenbon.
The Lord Fitzhugh. The lord of lalous.
-The Lord Fanhope. The lord Bonuile.
The Lord Scrope of Balos. Syr Guy de Bar.
The Lord Scrope of Vpsabe. Syr Ihon Fastolf.
The Lord Canneys. Syr Philip Halle.
The Lord Bardolf. -Syr Philip Leche.
The Lord Scales. Syr Ihon Rodney.
The Baron of Care. Syr Morice Bro\vne.
The Lord Duras of Gascon. Syr Piers Tempest.
The Lord de la Laund Gascoy. Syr Robert Tempest
The Lord Montferrant. Syr Guy Moyle.
The Lord Louel. Syr Ihon Stanley.
The Lord Botras of Burge. Syr Lewes Mohu,
The Lord of Chastelon. and. xv. Maister souldiers.
The Lord Lisleadam.
THESE valeaunt princes & noble men besieged the strong tonne by the space almost of.
vii. monethes, they without made mynes, cast trenches and shotgunnes dayly at the wallesy
they within wherof the lord Barbason was chief capitaine manfully defended the same,
this euery day was skyrmishing, scalyng, & assautyng, to the losse of bothe parties, but
most of all to the losse of the within. Duryng whiche siege the Frenche quene and the quene
of England, and the duches of Burgoyn came diuers times to visite their husbandes and se
their fredes, whom the kyng of England so highly feasted, so louyngly entertained and with,
so pleasant pastymes comforted them, that tuery creature of him reported honor, liberalitie,
and gentlenes. This sieg3 so long cotinued that vitayles within the toune began to fayle,
and pestilence began to growe, so that the capitaine began to treat, and in coclusion the'
toune was deliuered vpon certain condicions, wherof one was that all that were concentyng
to the death of the duke of Burgoyn should be deliuered to the kyng, wherof the lorde Bar-
bason was suspected to be one, and so they were deliuered to the kyng of England, whiche
sent the vnder the conduyte of the duke of Clarence his brother to the cytie of Paris wherof
:he Frenche kyng made him capitaine and he toke possession of the bastyl of saint An-
;hony, the Louure, the house of Neele, and the place of Boys de Vynannes:
WHEN this toune was thus yelded, the kyng of England made capitaine thcr therle of
Suntyngdon. Fro thence he departed with his army to Corbeil, where the Frenche kyng
und the two quenes then soiorned, and from thence the. ii. kynges accompanied with the
dukes of Bedford, Burgoyn, Gloucester and Exceter, and therles of Warwike Salisbury
and a greate numbre of noble men and knightes set furthe toward Paris, whom the citezens
in good ordre met without the gates and the Clergy also with solempne processio, al the
ftretes wer hanged with riche clothes £ the people in the stretes shouted and clapped handes
lor ioye, the tvvoo kynges rode together, the kyng of Englande geuyng the vpper hande to
1 is father inlawe through the greate citee of Paris to our Lady Churche, where after they,
said there deuocions they departed to their lodgynges, the Frenche kyng to the hous of.
f1 ainct Paule, & the kyng of Englande to the Castle of Louure. The next day the twoo,
Quenes
THE. VIII. YERE OF
•Queries made their entree into Paris and wer receiued with like solempnite as their hus-
bandes were the day before. If I should declare to you the greate giftes, the costly pre-
sentes, the plenty of vitaile that was geuen to the kyng of Englande : or reherse how the
conduites abundantly spouted out wine of diuers colours, or describe the costly pagiantes,
the plesant songes or swete armony that wer shewed song and played at diuers places of tie
citie, or shewe the greate gladnes, the hertie reioysing and the greate delight that the comen
people had at this concorde and peace finall, I should reherse many thynges that yeu
•would be weried both with the readyng and hearyng.
DVRYNG the season that these, ii. kynges thus lay in Paris, there was a greate asseble
•called, aswell of the spiritualtie as of the nobilitie in the which the two kynges sat as iudges,
before whom the Duches of Burgoyn by her proctor appeled the Dolphin and. vii. other for
the murdre of duke.Ihon her husband. To the whiche appele the cousaill of the other
part made diuers offers of amendes, aswel of foundaciosof priestes to praie for the solle, as
recompence of money to the widowe and children, for the finall determinacio wherof the
kynges toke a farther deliberacion and appoincted a farther day. To the citee of Paris at
this tyme resorted the three estates of the realme, where euery persone seuerally sware vpd
the holy Euangelistes to kepe, support, maintein, and defende the treaty and peace finall
which was concluded betwene the two princes and their counsailes and therto euery noble
man, spirituall gouernor, and teporall rulers set to their seales, whiche instrumentes wer sent to
the kynges treasury of his Exchequer at Westminster, sauely to be kept wher they yet remain.
These two kynges soiornecl in Paris all the feaste of Christmas. The Frenche kyng liyng at
the hous of S. Paule kept no estate nor open court to no man except his houshold seruauntes
and men of base estate frequented his hous. But the kyng of Englande and his Quene,
kepte suche solempne estate, so plentifull a hous, so princely pastyme, and gaue so many
gyftes that from all partes of Fraunce, noblemen and other resorted to his palice to se his es-
tate and do hyrn honor.
THEN the kyng of England toke vpon hym as Regent of Frauce to redresse causes,
remoue officers, reforme thynges that were a misse, and caused a new coyne to be made
called the Salute, wherin wer the Armes of Fraunce and the Armes of England and
Frauce quarterly. And to set all thynges in a quietnes, he constituted sir Gilbert Vmfreuile
capitain of Melun with a good riumbre of valiant souldiers, and the erle of Huntyngdon
his cosyn germain was deputed capitain at Boys de Vincens, and the duke of Excester with.
v.C. menne of warre was assigned to kepe the citee and toune of Paris. When he had thus
ordered his affaires according to his deuice & ordre, he with the quene his wife his princes
and nobles departed from Paris and came to the citie of Roan. But before his remouyng,
he caused proces to be made against Charles called the Dolphyn, comaundyng hym to ap-
pere at the table of Marble at Paris, where for lacke of aperance he was with all solempnitie
in suche a cause requisite denounced giltie of the murther and homicide of Ihon late Duke of
Burgoyue, and by the sentence of the court of parliament he was exiled and banished the
realme and territories of Fraunce, and depriued of all honores, names, dignities and pre-
heminences which lie then had or herafter might haue. Wherefore the Dolphyn went into
Languedoc and after to Poyctiers gettyng to hym suche frendes as he could, and in especiall
he obteigned so highly the fauor of therle of Arminack that he not onely toke his part, but
also releued hyni with money, aided hym with men and in his own persone continually
serued hym against his foes and enemies.
WHILE Kyng Henry soiorned in the citee of Roan, he receiued homage of all the nobles
of Normandy: eroogest whom therle of Stafford did homage for thecountie of Perche, and
Arthur of Britayu did homage for the countie of Ynry, whiche the kyng before had geuen
to them. He also ordeined 1 his liuetenaunt generall both of Fraunce , and Normandy his
brother Thomas duke of Clarence, and his deputie in Normandy was the erle of Salisbury.
When the feast of Christmas (whiche he kepte with all triumphe andsolemptie in his castle
of Roan) was passed, he with the quene his wife departed from Roan to Amies and so
came
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 105
came to Caleis where he toke ship the morow after Candlemas day and landed at Douer,
and came to Eltham and so through Londo to Westminster. Meruel it is to write but more
meruel it was to se, with what ioy, what triumphe, what solace and what reioisyng he was
receiued of all his subiectes, but in especiall of the Lodoners, which for tediousnesse I ouer
passe. And no doubt Englande had greate cause to reioyce at the coming of suche a noble
capitain, so valiant a prince and so mightie a conqueror, whiche in so small space and so
briefe tyme had brought vnder his obeysance the greate & puissant realtne & dominion of
Fraurice. And first to rendreto God his creator tnoste huble & hertie thankes, he caused
solempne processions to be obserued & kept. v. daies together in euery citee and toune :
After that done he made greate purueighance of all thynges necessary for the coronacion of
his Quene & spouse the faire lady Katheryn, whiche was doen the daie of. s. Mathy the.
xxiiij. daie of February, on whiche solepne feast she was coueighed on fote betwene. ii.
bishops vnder a riche canapie fro the greate halle at Westminster to. S. Peters churche, &
there she was anointed & crouned with al y ceremonies to so great an estate aperteinyng or
requisite. After which solepnitie ended, she was again with great pope coueighed in to
Westminster hall & ther set in y throne at the table of marble at the vpper end of the hall :
whose seruice and solepnite who so list to rede let him ioke on the Chronicle of Robert Fa-
bia which declareth it at large.
^ THE NYNTH YERE.
WHile these thynges were thus dooyng in Englande, the du£e of Clarence brother to the The-!«-
kyng and his lieuetenat generall in Fraunce and Normandy, assembled together all the garri-
sons of Normandy at the toune of Bernay, and from thece departed into the countrie of
Mayne, and at Fount degene he passed the riuer of Youe and rode through all the Countrie
to Lucie where he passed the Riuer of Loyre and entered into Aniowe, & came before the
citee of Angiers where he made many knightes, that is to sale, sir William Rosse, sir Henry
Godard, sir Rowlad Rider, sir Thomas Beaufforde called the bastard of Clarence and di-
uerse other, and after that he had forraid, brent, and spoyled the coutrie he returned with
praie and pillage to the toune of Beaufford in the valey, where he was aduertised that a
greate numbre of his enemies wer assembled together at a place called Bangle, that is tosaie,
the duke of Alanson callyng hymself leuetenant generall for the Dolphyn
Therle of Marche in Auerne. The Lorde Buell.
Therle of Merle. The Lorde Gaules.
Therle of Ponthiure. The Lorde of Graueney.
The Vicount Thomars. The Lorde dela Brete.
The Vicount Chasteaulerat. The Lorde de la Faiet Marshall io the
The Vicount Damboyse. Dolphyn.
The Lorde of Egle. The Baron of Coluces.
The Bastard of Alanson. The Lorde Danzebost.
The Bastard de la Marche. The Lorde Vipond Diagosales, capitain
The Bastard of Vandosme. of the Spaniardes
The Lorde Champaine. And of the Scotles whiche were late come
Sir Anthony of Champayne. out of Scotlande to seme the Dolphyn.
The Lorde of Fountayes. Ihon erle of Boghan and Robert his bio
The Lorde of Bellay. ther, sonnes to the gouernor of Scot-
The Lorde Dauerton. lande.
The Lorde Rarnbures. Archibald Dowglas erle of wigto.
The Lorde Tanagny de Chastell. Alexader Lynsay brother to theile of
Sir Ihon Turmyn. Crayford.
The Lorde Dasse. Sir Thomas Swynton,
P Sir
106 ; THE. IX. YERE OF
Sir William Stuard. Sir Ihon Haliburton.
Sir Willyam Doglas. Sir Ihon Crawforth. ,
Sir Ihon Turnebull. Sir William Candey.
Sir Robert Lisle. Sir Ihon Grey.
Sir William Conningham. ^ Sir Ihon Commyn.
Sir Alexander Meldryne. Sir Rober Boence.
Sir Alexander Hume. Sir Archibalt Forbosse.
Sir Ihon Balglauie. Sir Ducane Comine & many other.
Sir Willyam Lisle.
THE duke of Clarence had a Lomberd resorting to hym called Andrewe Forgusa was re-
tained with the part aduerse, of whom the duke inquired the nubre of his enemies, to who
he reported that their numbre was but small and of no strength and far vnmete to compare
with halfe the power of his puissaunt armie, entisyng and prouokyng hym to set on the
Frenchmen, warratyng hym a famous victory and a faire daie. The duke geuen to muche
credite to this traytor, like a valiant and coragious prince assembled together all the horsse-
men of his army and lefte the Archers behynde hym vnder the ordre of the Bastarde of
Clarence and two Portyngales capitaines of Fresnye le Vicount, saiyng that he onely and
the nobles would haue the honor of that iorney. When the duke was past a straight and a
narowe passage, he espied his enemies ranged in good ordre of battaill by the monicion of the
Lombard w niche had sold hym to his enemies, and thesaid aduersaies had laied suche bushe-
mentes at the straightes that the duke by no wayes without battaill could ether retire or flie.
The Englishemen seyng no remedy valiauntly set on their enemies whiche wer foure to one,
the battail was fierce and the fight dedly, neuer wer so fewe men seen more coragiously to de-
fend theimselfes then did the Englishemen that daie they fought and defeded, the slewe and
felled, but it auailed not, for they wer repressed with a multitude and brought to confusion.
There were slain the duke of Clarence, therle of Tankeruile, the Lorde Rosse, Sir Gilbert
Vmffreuile erle of Kent, and sir Ihon Lumley, sir Robert Verend and almoste two thou-
sand Englishemen, and therles of Somerset Suffblke and Perche, the Lorde Fitzwater, sir
Ihon Barkely, sir Rauffe Neuell, sir Henry luglos, sir Willyam Bowes, sir Willyam Long-
ton, sir Thomas a Borough and diuerse other taken prisoners, and of the Frenchemen wer
slain aboue. xij.C. of the best men of warre so that they gained not much. The Bastard of
Clarence whiche taried at Beauford was enformed of the numbre of the Frenchmen, wherfore
he with all the Archers made hast to succor the Duke, but they came to late, for the French-
men, hearyng of the approchyng of the Archers fled with their prisoners with all the hast they
could, leuyng behynde theim the bodie of thesaid duke and the ded carions. When the ar-
chers came and sawe their enemies gone : Lorde howe they mourned & lamented the euell
chance of the deceiued duke, but seyng no remedy, thei tooke the ded bodies and buried
theim all sauyng the dukes corps, whiche with great solempnitie was sent into Englande and
buried at Canterbury beside his father. After this the Englishemen brente and spoyled the
countrie of Mayne and so returned to Alaunson and there departed euery man to his Garrison.
This battail was fought at Bawgy in Aniow on Easter euen in the yere of our Lorde a thou-
sande. CCCC. xxij.
I lament the foly and foolishenes of this duke and I maruell at his vnwitty doyng and
rashe enterprise, that he would aducnture his life and hazard his compaignie leuyng be-
hynde hym the Archers whiche should haue been his shilde and defence : What maie be
said, he desired honor and loste his life, he coueted victory and was ouercome, thus is the
old prouerbe verified which saieth : If shepe ronne wilfully emongest Wolues they shall lese
ether life or fell.
KYNG Henry beyng aduertised of this infortunate chance and deceatfull losse of his
louyng brother, sent without delaie Edmond erle of Mortaigne and brother to therle
of Somerset into Normandy, geuyng to hym like authoritee & preheminence as his bro-
ther the late deceassed duke of Clarence had or enioyed. After that he called his highe
courte
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 107
courte of Parliamente, in the which he declared so wisely, so seriously and with so greate
a grauitie the actes that wer done in the real me of Frauce, the estate of the tyme presente
and what thynges wer necessary for the tyme to come (if they would looke to haue that
lewell and high kyngdo for the whiche they had so long laboured and sought for) that the
comonaltie gladly graunted a fiftene, and the Clergy beniuolently offred adoble dis.me, and
because no delay should be in the kynges affaires for lacke of paiment, the bishoppe of
Winchester his vncle lent to hym. xx. M. pounde, to be receiued of the same dismes. When
all thynges necessary for this voyage wer ready and prepared, he sent his brother Ihon duke
of Bedford with all his armie (whiche the Frenchmen write to be. iiii. M. men of Armes
and. xx. M. Archers and other) before hym to Caleis. And he himself shortly after in the
middle of May passed the seas and arriued there in greate triuphe, where to hym was
shewed that the Dolphyn with. vii. M. men had besieged the toune of Chartiers whiche was
manfully defended by the Bastarde of Thyan and other set and apoynted there by the
duke of Excester. Kyng Henry not myndyng to lose so faire a toune, with all his Armie de-
parted in good ordre of battaill toward Paris, and at Mostreull there receiued hyrn the duke
of Burgoin, whiche fro that place attended on the kyng to Dowast in Ponthiew and so came
to Abbeuile, and after the kyng tooke a toune of sir laques of Harecort called la Ferte,
and there the duke departed from the kyng for a sixe daies prornisyng on his honour by that
daie to returne, the kyng of Englande passed forwarde by Beauuoys Gisors, and from
thence came to Boys de Vincens where he founde the Frenche kyng and his Quene, whom
he louyngly saluted and they him again honorably receiued and highly feasted, and thel'her
came accordyng to his appoyntment Philip duke of Burgoyn, where was daily consultyng
and he wisely deuisyng howe to subdue and represse the haultnes and force of the Dol-
phyn, hauyng perfight knowledge that as long as he ether liued or wandered vnbrideled so
long should neuer the treaty and finall peace be obserued, wherefore he and the duke of
Burgoyn apoynted in all the haste to fight with the Dolphyn and to reise the siege before
Charters. The kyng of Englande with all his puyssaunce came to the toune of Naunte,
and thether repaired the duke of Burgoyn with. iiii. M. men, of whose commyng the king
was not a litle reioysed,. but or they from thence departed, they had knowledge arid true
instruccion that the Dolphyn heryng of the puissant army of the kyng, approchyng to geue
hym battail, was reculed with his people toward Towers in Towrayne. Wherfore the kyng
of England incontinent, not onely sent the duke of Burgoyn into Picardy to resist the
malice of sir laques Harcort whiche daily inferred war and caused wast & destruccio in
the same coutrie, but also apointed lames kyng of Scottes to lay siege to the toune of
Driex, whiche so sore by sworde and engins enforced the inhabitantes that after sixe wekes
passed, they deliuered thesame to the kyng of Scottes, to the behofe of kyng Henry his
souereigne Lorde whiche made there of capitain the erle of Worcester and baily there, sir
Henry Mortimer. The king himself remoued from Naut and passed ouer the riuer of
Leyre, folowyng the Dolphyn toward Tours: but he mistrustyng his power and puttyng dif-
fidece in some of his owne flocke fled to Burges in Berrie, and chosyng that place as his
chiefe refuge and surest fortresse bothe for the situacion of the place and also for the fideli-
tie and constancie of the people, determined there to tary till fortune would turne her whele
and loke on hym with some gracious looke or louyng countenaunce, and therfore in a lest
he was comonly called the kyng of Burges and of Berries. The kyng of England with all
his puissance so fast folowed the fliyng Dolphyn, that vitail began to faile, and horssemen
waxed scante: so that he consideryng that Burges beeyng the Dolphyns onely succoure and
refuge, beeyng well vitailed and well manned was more profitable and auailable to the de-
fender, then to hym that should make the assaute, wherfore he willyng to sane his people
from famyne whom he knewe to be from the dente of the Frenche sworde clerely exempt
and vntouched, returned ouer the riuer of Leyre and gat Gasconeis vpon Youne, and a
toune called the kynges Newe toune, and diuerse other whose names nowe to reherce were
more tedious then pleasaunt. But he seyng the toune of Meaux in Brye not to bee a toune
P2 re-
108 THE. X. YERE OF
replenished with enemies, in the middest of his new gotten subiectes determined to take
away the open scruple whiche might poyson and infecte the membres dwellyng hard by,
wherfore he with these nobles folowyng besieged the said citeeof Meaux.
Therle of Worcester. The Lorde Ferreis of Chartley.
Therle of Yury. Tlie Lorde Botreux.
Therle of Bravon. The Lorde Clynton.
The Lorde Clifford. The Lorde Harryngton.
The Lorde Forniuall. The Lorde Willoughby.
The Lorde Louell. . The Lorde Fitzhewe, the kynges Cham-
The Lorde Awdely. berlaine.
The Lorde Seynt Mawre. Sir Ihon Germayne.
The Lorde Deyncort. Sir Ihon Fastolffe.
The Lorde Zouche. Sir Lewes Robsert.
The Lorde Morley. Sir Willyam Gascoyn.
The Lorde Fanhope and his sonne whiche Sir Robert Harlyng.
died there. Sir Willia Philip & diuerse other.
THIS toune was no lesse vitailed then manned, and no better manned then fortified, so
that the kyng of Englande could nether haue it to hym deliuered at his pleasure, nor he
could not gayne it by assaut without his greate losse and detriment Wherfore he determi-
ned not to depart til he had ether gained or subuerted the toune. Duryng this siege was
borne at Wynsore on the dale of. S. Nicholas in Nouember the kynges sonne called Henry,
whose Godfathers were Ihon duke of Bedford and Henry bishop of Wynchester, and
laquet Duches of Holad was Godmother, wherof the kyng of England was certefied liyng
at this siege of Meaux. Whe he was aduertised of this good fortune and happie chaunce
that God had sent him a sonne, he gaue thankes to his Creator or redemer for the geuyng to
hym so goodly an ympe which should succede in his croune & scepter. But when he heard
reported the place of his natiuitie, whether he fantasied some old blind prophesy, or had
some foreknowledge, or els Judged of his sones fortune, he sayd to the lord Fitzheugh his
trusty Chamberlein these wordes. My lorde, I Henry borne at Monmoth shall small tyme
reigne & much get, & Hery borne at Wyndsore shall long reigne and al lese, but as God
will so be it. After the quene of England was thus deliuered of her faire sonne she re-
turned into Fraunce firste to her husbande, and after to her father and mother where she was
on all partes so honorably receiued, so louyngly entertained and so highly feasted that she
appeared to be no lesse loued of her noble husbande then of her naturall parentes.
f THE TENTH YERE.
xhc. x. DVYyng the tyme of this siege, sir Oliuer Manye a valiant man of warre of the Dol-
phyns part, whiche before was capitain of the Castle of Faloys and yeldyng it by composi*-
cion, sware neuer to bere Armure against the kyng of England, assembled a great nuna-
bre of men of warre aswell of Britons as Frenchemen, that is to saie : The lorde Mount-
burchicr, the lorde of Coynon, the lorde of Chastelgiron, the lorde Tyntignace, the
lorde Dela Howssay and diuerse other whiche entered into the coutree of Constantino
in Normandy, and robbed and killed the Englishmen where thei might ether espie or
take theim at their auauntage: but therle of Suffolk keper of those Marches hearyng of
their doynges, sent for the lorde Scales, sir Ihon Aston bayly of Constantine, Sir Wil-
lyam Halle, t>ir Ihon Banaster and many other out of the Garrisons within that terri-
tory, whiche encountered with their enemies at a place called It Parke Leuecgue in
English the bishops Parke, ther was a sore and a long fight, many a propre feate of
Armes was done that daie and many a man was in that place ouerthrowen, the Englishmen
onely desired victory, and the Frenchmen desired a safe returne, but in cdclusion the French-
men beyng not able to withstand the charge that was laied to them began to flic, in which
conflict and flight wer slain, the lorde Coynon, the lorde of Castell Giron, and three hun-
dred
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 105
dred other and there wer taken prisoners, the lorde Dela Howsay and sir Oliuer Manny
and. Ix. other. The kyng being aduertised of this good chance and happy iorney, sent sir
Oliuer Manny to hym liyng before Meux, to whom he saied, faire father you haue sworne
and promised vnto vs that you would neuer make war nor beare armure against vs nor our
subiectes, ye are an ancient knight and ought to haue kept your faith and promise, whiche
you haue vntruly and vnhonestly broken and violate, and yet we wolle not (although by the
lawe of armes we might lawfully so dooe) put you to death but graunt to you your life, but
we wolle sende you into Englande to lerne you to speake Englishe, and so shortly after he
was sent to London where for very shame & mere Malyncoly he died and was buried in the
White Friers.
THE Scottes write (beleue theim if ye will) that the kyng of England hearyng that the
Dolphyn had sent for aide into Scotland and that he had retained theim in wages (for of
their owneabilitie they bee nether able to send an army ouer the sea, nor yet of substaunce
to beare a continual! warre, for this all their owne histories declare and their Chronicles
make mencion, and yet the countrie is not so poore but the people be as proude) sent one
daie for lames the Scottishe kyng and in the presence of his cofisaill declared to hym .vhat
humanite, what fauor and what synguler affection kyng Henry his father bare duryng his
naturall life toward thesaid kyng of Scottes: Puttyng hym in remembraunce of the great
loue and manifold gratuites which he himself sithe the beginnyng of his reigne had exhi-
ted and shewed to the same kyng lames, that neither he nor his father had any thyng neg-
ligently omitted whiche ether might apperteigne to the office of a frcnd or to the dutie
of a tutor whiche should loue and cherishe his Orphane or pupile, promisyng hynt
libertie with a greate rewarde if he would cause the Scottes whiche wer adherentes to the
Dolphin to returne again into their countree and natiue region. To the whiche request the
kyng of Scottes with a veryfreshe herte answered saiynjr: what your noble father hath done
to me & what fauor & benefite I haue receiued at your handes, I shall not nor will not
when I maie (I assure you) forget, and when my power shall serue I shall not faile to re-
compence your dooynges with like kyndnes. But of your request I maruell not alitle, first
consideryng that I am a prisoner and haue no possession of my realme, secodairely that I
am as yet nether sworne to my subiectes, nor they by no oth of allegeance are bofid to
obey my comaundemetes: wherfore I desyrc you no more to moue me in this thyng which
BOW I canot do, & yet if I might I would fyrst forese whether it wer to me honorable oc
to my realme honest to leue our old frend in his extreme necessitie without ayd or cofojt.
With this answer the kyng of England was not cotent (as the Scottes say), but after kinw-
lames departing fro his presence, kyng Henry saied, happy shall they bee whiche shalbe sub-
iectes to suche a kyng that is endued with suche wit and wisedome at these yongycres of a^e..
THE kyng of England liyng styl before the toune of Meux in Brye as you haue heard
sore bet the walles with ordinance & cast dounebulwarkes and rampeyres on euery syde of
the toune, and sore oppressed them within the toune, wherof hearyng the lord of Ofiemond,
•with a copany of chosen persons set by the dolphyn, came priuely in the night to the walles-
anS set vp a ladder and diuers of his company mounted vp and entred into the toune, and as
he passed ouer a plancketo come to the walles he fell into a deepe ditche, the Englishemen.
hearyng this noyse ranne to the ditche where they toke the lord of Ofmount & sle\ve diuers-
of his company whiche stode at defence. The capitaine within the toune perceiuymr
that their succours were taken, playnely iudged that the toune could not long continue,
wherfore they caused all the goodes of the toune to be conueighed into the market place,
which was strong and well fortefied. The kyng of England beyng therof aduertised, co-
maunded in all hast to geue an assault to the toune, whiche was quickly done, so that the
toune by fine force was within thre houres taken & spoyled. And the same day the kyng,
besieged round about the sayd Marketplace, and toke the mylle adioynyng to" the same*?
The capitaines perceiuyng in what case they were, fearyng to be taken by assault, began to-
treat with the kyng of Englande, whiche appointed the earle of Warwike and the lord Hun-
ger ford;
MO THE. X. YERE OF
.gerford to comen with them & in conclusicion a treaty was taken, and so the toune and Mar-
ketplace with all the goocies, were deliuered into the kyng of Englandes handes the. x. day
<of May, in the yere of our lord M.CCCC.xxii.
WHEN the deliuery of the strong toune of Meaux was puhlished thorough the coun-
trey, al the tounes and fortresses in the Isle of Fraunce, in Lannoys, in Brye, and in Cham-
paine yelded them selues to the kyng of England, which appointed in them valeant capi-
taines and hardy souldiours.
AFTER that kyng Henry had thus taken and possessed the toune of Meaux and other
fortresses at his pleasure, he returned againe to Boys de Vyncennes where he founde the
French kyng & the queue & his wife which with all ioye him receiued, and so the. xxx.
day of May beyng the vigile of Pentecost, the. ii. kynges and the quenes returned to Paris,
•wher the kyng of Englad lodged in the castle of Loure, and the Frenche kyng in the house of
sainctPaule. These two kynges kept great estate with their quenes at this high feast of Pen-
ticost, but the kyng of England (as Enguerant both confesseth & diuers other sayth) kept
such a glorious estate and so costly a court that he with his quene sat at diner in Paris
richly adorned in vestures and with dyademes of gold garnished with precious stones & decked
with luelx bothe radiant & pleasant: beside this his princes & estates, barons, chief capitaines,
& valiant men of warre wer set in solempne estate plenteously serued and aboundantly
feasted, that the people of Paris whiche thither resorted to behold his magnificat estate,
Judged him to be more like an emperor, then their kyng (which sat ^solitary alone) to be like
a duke or a poore Marques. But Enguerant (as I sayd) although he confessed the truth,
yet goeth he about to blemishe the glory of king Henry, allegyng that Englishemen were
feasted and the Parisians were not once bid drinke, whiche was not the custome of the
Frenche kinges court in so solempne and triumphant daies. I am somwhat sory that kyng He-
ries seruantes of the seller made not master Enguerant drinke, which then was skoler in Pa-
ris, but I more lament y vntrue saiyng & no lesse variable writyng of so famous a clerke
whiche to darken the honor of kyng Henry hath clearely defased the princely estate of his
owne kyng & soueraigne lorde, for he confesseth that kyng Charles with his quene kept a so-
lemne house within his court of saint Paul, to whose palice no man in maner resorted,
but euery French creature was ioyus to view and se the estate and magnificence of kyna
Henry. If he haue written true, then must this nedes folow that no subiect reioysyng or
hauyng comfort of their owne prince and natural lord wyll leue him desolate & alone, and
folowe a straung potestatand seke relief at a forein princes house and table. If the French-
men came to wonder at the estate of the kyng of England, then was their princes estate
base and not worthy to be regarded : if the Parisiens came to se the princely ordre of his hous-
hold, then was it manifest that their soueraigne lord kept but a mean family: if the poore
peisantes came thither for vitaile and fragmentes it appeareth that their soueraigne lord had
a cold kychyn: if they did not all drinke in the kyng of Englandes house, either they were
to euil ruled or to vile & lothsome to haue any gentle entertainment in so honorable a court
and noble a family, and therefore Enguerat because he drankenot, euill reported the estate
of the English court as he comonly doth in al other matters.
THE dolphyn knowyng by his espials wher the kyng of Englad & his power lay, came
with al his puissance ouer the riuer of Leyre and besieged the toune of Cosney or Conny
and sent parte of his arm to waste and destroye the confines of the duchy of Burgoyne, to
the entent to deuide the power of the kyng of Englande from the strength and force of the
duke of Burgoyn, and as he purposed, so it happened for the duke of Burgoyn with his pow-
er to set forwarde to defend his owne lande & dominion and wrote to the kyng of England
to send ayd to the of Cosney or Conney, whiche had promised to rendre their toune to the
dolphyn, if they wer not rescued by the kyng of England within, x. daies. Kyng Henry
hearyng this newes answered that he would not send one creature, but he would go before
him selfe. And so withal diligence came to the toune of Corbel and so to Senlys, where,
whither it were with the heate of the ayre, or that he with his daily labor were febled or
6 weakened,
.KYNG HENRY THE. V. ill.
weakened, he began to wax sick.e, ye and so sicke that he was constrained to tary and to send
his brother the duke of Bedford to perfonne his iorney and enterprise.
THE duke like a valiant capitayne set forwarde to reskue the toune besieged, wherof hear-
yng the dolphyn with al his capitaines & hardy souldiours departed thence into Barrey to his
great dishonor and lesse gaine, & so was the cytie of Cosney or Coney reskued to the
great honor of the Englishe nacion. In the meane season kyng Henry wexed sicker and.
sicker and so was layd in a horselitter and conueighed to Boys de Vyncens to whom shortly
after repaired the dukes of Bedforde and Gloucester his vncles, and the erles of Salsbury
and Warwike, who the kyng louyngly entertained and embrased: and whe they seyng him.
in so great an agony and excedyng payne began to wepe and bewaile his paineful paines
and greuous malady, He with a constant inynde without any outward shewe either of
sadde countenaunce or sorowe comforted and encouraged them to be mery and ioyous.
But when the crisis of his sicknes was past and that he perceiued that hellh was ouercome
and had lost the victory, he rendred to God his most heartie thankes, for that chiefly that
he called him out of this miserable life at suche tyme when he was of most perfite remem-
braunce bothe towarde God and the world and also in the time of his florishyng coquest,
in the whiche he had neuer receiued misfortune, euil chance, or spot of dishonor : And1
turning him self to his brethren and other noble personages sayd to them. My natural
brethren and trusty fredes, I se you lament, I perceiue you bewaile my death approchyng
and fatall ende at hand of the whiche I am both glad and reidyce, for this short tyme and
smal tract of my mortal life, shal be a testimony of my strength, a declaracio of my lus- ' rc '"'
tice, and a settyng furth of all myne actes and procedynges, and shall be the cause that I
by death shal obteine fame, glorye and renoume, and escape the reprehension of coward- .
nes, and the mote of all infamy, whiche I might haue chaunsed to falle into if nature had j
lenger prolonged my life or daies: for it is commonly sayd, that as tyme chaungeth, condi- '
cions alter, and in long time al thinges continue not in one estate. But as eternitie is the
triumpher vpo tyme, so do- 1 trust after this short life to haue an eternal beyng, and after
this miserable pilgrimage, mine hope is to enioy the celestial kyugdome, and to come to
the place of rest and palice of quietnes.
NOWE as touchyng you (no doubt but this my sodaine chaunce molesteth your heartes
and disquieteth your senses, and not without a cause, you lament the calamitie mid mis-
chaunce that is like to fall on your countrey because that 1 in this troublous worlde and
tempestious season Icue you destitute of a gouernour and ruler whiche chance is the lesse
to be moned and regarded, because in all worldly thynges some thing euer lacketh and
nothing long endureth: wherfore because the olde saiyng is, that in tyme of necessitie wit
and wysedome be proued, I require you to consult, study and take paine to come to the
ende of the iorney whiche I in my tyme haue begon and entered in, & chiefly because I
haue euer loued and trusted you aboue all other persons, I require and desire you nowe-
to shewe like loue and be as trusty to my sone that shalbe your soueraigne lord, so that
•whatiioeuer duty, allegiance or fauor for my liberalitie or kindnes to you shewed, was to*
me either of honestie or ciuilitie due or owyng : let the same for rny sake be extended, shew-
ed and recompensed to mine heyre & successor litle prince Henry. Some persons haue
hated the father & yet haue loued the child and some haue loued the father and numbered
the child, of which sort I neither reken nor accompt you, but this I say, if you loue me,
you ought to loue my child, not for his desert, but for myne, and sith now I shalbe taken,
from you before satisfactio or recompence made to me for my manyfolde goodnes and ample
benefites to you shewed in my life I say & affirme that after my death (excepte you be noted;
with the blot of ingratitude, I will not say vntrueth) you ought to render the same to my
child your nephue or kynsman, I pray God that you do not defraud me^ of the good e*-
pectacion that I haue euer had of you. And because I will not charge you, I wyl frendly
exhort you to bryng vp my lytle infant in vertuous liuyng, moral doctrine, and prudentv
pollicye to thentent that by your paine he may proue wise, by your, instruction, he may.
prou*
1!2 THE. X. YERE OF
prone pollitike and by your ethicacion he may be able to rule a kingdome, and not to be
ruled of other: by the which deuoier you shall not onely do your dutie to your prince and
soueraigne lorde, but also meriteand deserue thankes of your natiuecountrey to the which
you be both bound and obliged. Beside this my peticion is not onely to cofort my most
Herest and welbeloued quene and espouse now beyng (as I thinke, the most dolorus and
pensiue woma liuyng) but also to loue her and honor her as I haue both loued and honored
you.
AND as touching the estate of my realmes, Fyrst I c5maund you to loue and ioyne
-together in one leage or concord and in one vnfained ainitie, kepyng continual peace and
ainitie with Philip duke of Burgoyn. And neuer make treatie with Charles that calleth
him selfe dolphyn of Vyen, by the whiche any part either of the croune of Fraunce or of
the duchies of Normandy or Guyan may be appaired or diminished. Let the duke of Or-
leance and the other princes styl remaync prisoners til my sone come to his lawful age, lest his
returning home again may kindle more fier in one day then may be well quenched in thre.
If you thinke it necessary I would my brother Vmfrey should be Protector of England
duryng the minoritie of my child, prohibiting him once to passe out of the realme. And my
brother of Bedford with the helpe of the duke of Burgoyne I wyll shall rule and be regent
of the realme of Fraunce, comaundyng him with fyre and sworde to persecute Charles call-
yng him selfe dolphyn, to thentent either to bryng him to reason & obeysaunce, or to dryue
and expel him out of the realme of Fraunce admonishyng you to lese no tyme, nor to spare
ilo cost in recoueryng that whiche to you is now offered. And what thynges either I haue
gotten or you shal obtaine, I charge you kepe it, I comaund you to defend it, and I desire
you to norishe it : for experience teacheth that there is no lesse praise to be geue to the ke-
per then to the getter, for verely gettyng is a chaunce and kepyng a wit. Wei I fele that
cLath draweth neare & I shal not long tary, therfore, I comit my solle to God, my loue
to my frendes, my sinnes to the deuil and my body to the earth.
THE noblemen present promised to obserue his preceptes and performe his desires, but
their heartes were so pensiue & replenished with doloure that one without wepyng could
not beholdc the other. Then he sayd the seuen Psalmes and receiued the blessed Sacra-
ment, and in saying the Psalmes of the passion completed his dayes and ended his life the
last day of August, in the yere of our lord. M.CCCC.xxii.
Thcdiscrip- Til IS Henry was a kynjr whose life was immaculate & his liuyng without spot. This kymj
tionotkvng . J, ii n i i o e i- j • M-L- • • • • °
Hemythe. w^s a prince whom all men loued £ ot none disdained. Ihis prince was a capitame against
*'• whom fortune neuer frowned nor mischance once spurned. This capitaine was a shepherde
whom his flocke loued and louyngly obeyed. This shepherd was such a Justiciary that no
offece was vnpunished nor friendship vnrewardecl. This iusticiary was so feared, that all
rebellion was banished and sedicion suppressed, His vertues were nomore notable then his
qualities were worthy of place, for in strength and agilitieof bodye fr5 his youth fewe were
to him coparable : for which cause in wrestlyng, leapyng and runnyng no man almoste
durst with him presume, in castyng of great yron barres and heuy stones, he excelled co-
monly all men. No coldemade him slouthfull, 'nor heat caused him to loyter, and when he
most labored his head was vncouered. He was no more wery of harnesthen of alight cloke.
Hunger and thirst were not to him noysome. He was neuer aferde of a wounde nor
neuer sorowed for the paine. He neither turned his nose from euill sauoure, nor fro smoke
or dust he would not close his eyes. No man could be founde more temperate in eatyng and
drinkyng, whose diete was not to delicate, but rather mete for men of warre than for vir-
gyns Enery honest person was permitted to come to him sittyng at his mele, and either secretly
or openly to declare his mynd and intent. High and weightie causes aswel betwene men of
warre & other he wold gladly hear, and either determined the him selfe or comitted the to
other to geue sentence. He slept very lytle and that onely by reason of bodely labour &
vnquietncs of mynde, fro the whiche no small noyse could awake him, insomuche that when
his soukliers either sang in the nightes or their minstreles played that all the campe sodded of
1 their
KYNG HENRY THE. V. 113
their noyse, he then slept most solidly. His courage was so constant and his heart so vnnut-
tuble that lie cast away al feare, and dread fro him was banished. If any alarum wer made
by his enemies, he was fyrst in arm n re and the fyrst that would set forward. In the time of
war he gat knowledge, not onely what his enemies did, but what they sayd and entended, so
that al thynges to him were knowcn, & of his deuices few persons before the thing was at the
point to be done should he made priuie. He had such knowledge in orderyng and guyd-
yng an armve and suche a grace in encouragyng his people, that the Frenchmen sayd he
could not be vaquishcd in battel. lie had suche wit suche prudence and suche pollicie that he
neuer enterprised any thyng before he had fully debated it and foresene al the mayne chaunccs
that might happen : and when the end was concluded, he with all diligence and courage set his
purpose forward. Marueilcit is to heare howe he beyng a prince of honor, a prince of youth,
a prince of riches, did continually abstain fro lasciuious liuyng & blynd auarice, yea, & in the
time of losse he was no more sad then in the tyme of victory, which constacy few men haue
or can vse: Suche a stable stornacke had he and such a grauitie was geuen in the bottc-rne of
his heart. What pollicy he had in findyng sodaine remedies for present mischiefes, and what
practice he vsed in sauyng him selfe and his people in sodaine distresses excepte by his actes
they did plainly appeare, I thinke it were almost a thyng incredible. What should I speakc
of his bountefulnes and liberalitie no man could be more gentle, more liberal nor more free
in geuyng rewardes to al persones according to their desertes: Saiyng that he had leuer dye
the to be subiect to au^-ice, and that he neuer desired to haue money to kepe, but to geue
and spend. He was mercyful to offenders, charitable to the nedy, indifferent to al men,
faithful to his fredes, and fierce to his enemies, toward God most deuout, toward the world
moderate, and to his realme a very father. What should I say, he was the blasyng comete '
and apparent lanterne in his daies, he was the mirror of Christendome & the glory of his
conntrey, he was the floure of kynges passed, and a glasse to them that should succede. No
Emperor in magnanimitie euer him excelled. No potentate was more piteous nor lordc more
bounteous. No prince had lesse of this subiectes and neuer kyng coquered more : whose lame
by his death as liuely florisheth as his actes in his life wer sene and rcmembred. When his death
•was published among the comen people, incotinet their heartes wer appaulled and their cou-
rages abated, their dolor so tnuche encreased & their wittes were so muche troubled that they
like mad men rent their garmentes and tare their heere, accusyng and blamyng fortune which
had taken away from them so precious aiewel, so noble an ornament & so sure a defence: for
no doubt as much hope as was taken awaye fro the Englishmen, for the gettyng of Fraunce by
his sodain death, so much trust was encreased in the stomackes of the Frenche nacion, hopyng
to recouer their aucientlibertieahd old parentage. For whiche cause some say that he was
poysoned, the Scottes write that he died of the disease of s. Fiacre, whiche is a palsey & a
crape. Enguerant sayeth that he died of S. Anthonies Fier, but al these be but fables as
many mo write. For Peter Basset esquire which at the time of his death was hisrhriberlaiu
affirmeth that he died of a Plurisis whiche at that tyme was so rare a sickenes and so straug a
disease that the name was to the most part of men vnknowen & phisicions wer acquainted as
lytle with any remedy for the same, and therfore euery ma iudged as he thought, and named
a sickenes that he knew, shotyng not nere the pricke nor vnderstandyng the nature of the-
- disease. This kyng reigned, ix. yeres. v. moncthes and. xxiii. dayes & lined not ful. xxxviii.
yeres : he was of stature more then the comen sort, of body lene, wel mebred & strogly
made a face beautiful somwhat long necked, black heered, stout of stomake, eloquent of
tong, in rnarcial affaires a very doctor, & of al chiualry the very Paragone, His body was
enbautned & closed in lede & layde in a charet royal richely apparelled with cloth of gold,
vpon the corps was layd a representacion of his person adorned with robes, diademe, scep-
ter & bal like a kyng, the which charet was drawe with. vi. horses richely trapped with se-
ueral armes, the fyrst with the armes of S. George, the. ii. with tharmes of Normandy, the.
iii. with the armes of kyng Arthur, the. iiii. with the armes of S. Edward, the fift with the
armes of Fraimce enely, and the sixt with the armes cf England and Fraunce, On this Charet
Q gaue
114 THE. I. YERE OF
gaue attendance lames kyng of Scottesthe principal morner, the duke of Exceter Thomas his
vncle, therle of Warwike Richard, therle of Marche Edmond, therle of Stafford Humfrey, the
earle of Mortaine EdmondeBeauft'ord, the lord Fitzhugh Henry, the lord Hungerford Water,
sir Lewes Robsert Burchier, sir Ihon Cornewale lord Fahope, and the lord Crumwel wer the
other morners. The lord Louel, the lord Audcly, the lord Morly, the lord Souche bars the
baners of sainctesand the Baron of Dudley bare the standerd&c therle of Longuile bare the baner.
The Hatchementes \ver borne onely by capitaines to the nobre of. xii. and roud about the
charet rode. CCCCC. me of armes al in blacke harnes £ their horses barded blacke with
the but of their speres vpward. The coduit & ordre of al this dolorous dole was comaiided
to sir Willia. Philip treasorer of the kynges houshold and to sir Wyllia Porter his chief car-
uer and other. Beside this, on euery syde of the charet went. CCC, persons holdyng long
torches, and lordes bearyng baners, banerols & penons. With this funeral pompe he was
conueighcd from Boys de Vyncens to Paris and so to Roan, to Abbeuile, to Caleys, to Do-
ucr and so thorough London to Westminster, where he was buried with suche solernpne ce-
remonies, suche mournyng of lordes, such praier of priestes, suche lamentyng of com-
mons as neuer was before that day sene in the realme of Englande.
Shortly after this solempnitie, his sorowful quene returned into England and kept her es-
tate with the yong kyng her sone. Thus ended this noble and puissant prince his most noble
& fortunate reigne ouer the realme of England: whose life although cruel Atropos before his
tyme abbreuiated, yet neither fyre, rust, nor frettyng tynne shal amongest Englishmen ether
appall his honoure or obliterate his glorye whiche in so fewe yeres and brief dayes achiued so
bighaduentures and made so great a conquest.
If The ende of the victorious actes of kyng Henry the fift.
THE TROBLEOUS SEASON OF KYNG
HENRY THE SIXT.
The,i.y€K. TTVEath the determinate end of mannesh'fe, and of all yearthly thynges the finall poynfr
JLJ and pricke, whiche fauoureth nether Emperour nor spareth kyng, but at his plesure
confoundeth riche and slaieth poore, rnbodiyng the solle of this godly prince this marcial
capitain and renoumed flower, not onely dismaied and appalled the hertes and corages of
the Englishe nacion, but also pufte vp and encoraged the myndes and stomackes of the
Dolphyn and his proude people: The one parte thynkyng, the kepyng of Normandy and
other dominions to hym gayned to bee v«ry dangerus, The other part trustyng the farther
coquest in Frauce not onely to be doubtful), but to their iudgementes apparantly impos-
sible : Yet the politike Princes and sage Magestrates of the realme of England well remem-
bryng thynges that vver passed, and sagely ponderyng the tyme present, but moste of all
prudently iorseyng chaunces iminent and perels at hand, to thentent to set the membres of
the body stedfast vnder the hedde, -Whiche as shepe without a sheperd far from the folde
might wandre and straie at large, caused yong prince Henry, the sole orphane of his noble
parent kyng Henry the fifth, beyng of the age of. ix. moaethes o» there about with the
sound
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 115
f*- *•'
sound of trumpettes openly to be proclaimed kyng of Englande and of Fraunce the. xxx.
daie of August, in the yere of our lorde. M. cccc. xxii. by the name of kyng Ilcry the
sixt, to the great reioysyng and comfort of all the Englishe nacion.
AND the custody of this young prince was apoyncted to Thomas duke of Excester, and
to Henry Beaufforcl bishopp of Wynchester: the duke of Bedford was deputed to be Re-
gent of Fraunce, and the duke of Gloucester was assigned Protector of Englande. Whiche
takyng vpon hym that office, least paraduenture he might herafler repent his actes and
doynges, as a man remembryng other and forgettyng hymself, called to hym wise andgraue
counsailers, by whose aduise he prouided and ordeined for all thynges whiche ether re-
dounded to the honor of the realme, or seined profitable to the publique welth of the same.
And when he had set in an ordre al matters concernyng the inward affaires of the realme
of Englande, he prouided farther all thynges necessary and conuenicnt for war re and far-
ther conquest in Fraunce, and appoyncted valiant £ expert capitaines whiche should be
ready when oportunitie of tyme required. Beside this, he gathered great somes of money
to maintein the men of warre, and left nothyng forgotten that might let or hynder his pur-
posed enterprise.
WHILE these thynges were thus deuised within the realme of Englande, the duke of
Bedforde Regent of Fraunce, no Icsse studied then toke payne, not onely to kepe and or-
dre the countrees and regions by kyng Henry late coquered and gained, but also deter-
mined not to leue of from daily warre and continuall trauaille till the tyme that Charles the
Dolphyn (whiche was now a flote, because kyng Charles his father in the moneth of Octobre
this present yere, was departed to God,) wer ether subdued or brought to dewe obeysance.
And surely the deth of this kyng Charles caused many alterations & chaunges in the realme
of Fraunce, fora greate parte of the nobilitee whiche ether for feare of the puissance of the
Englishemen, or for to please and folowe the mynde and appetite of Charles the Frenche
kyng, toke parte with kyng Henry against the Dolphyn: Heryng now of the French kynges
death, returned from the English part and adioyned themsclfes to the companie of the Dol-
phyn, and diligently studied how to vanquishe and dryue awaie the Englishe nacion out of
the territory of Fraunce.
THE Duke of Bedford beeyng greatly moued with these sodaine chaunges, fortified his
tonnes bothe with Garrisons and municions, and assembled together a great armie bothe of
Englishmen and Normans, to whom he made a long oracion, admonishyng them to obserue
and kepe their othe & faith (whiche thei had made to the late kyng Henry and his heires)
inuiolatc and vnbroken, willyng them in no wise to be the occasioners or counsaiiers that
young kyng Henry should be depriued from his fathers lawful inheritance, by the hatred of
certayne traitors Frenchemen which had renewed the old hatred byyng of late extinct betwene
the realmes of Englande and of Fraunce, and studied to set all thynges again in a broylc:
requiryng them also to call to their memory how that the realmes of Englande and of
Fraunce, thetwoo moste famous regios of all Europe, by the benifite of almightie God, wer
of late so vnited connexed & ioyned together in an eternall league and composicion, and .so
strogly established that no worldly power wer able or of puissaunce sufficient, to resist or
withstande the malice of the same: And although sometymes by chauncc of warre the losse
n)ighte turne on their part, yet in conclusion the detriment should be recouered and a sur-
plusage gayned. And if (according to their bounden duties) they would honor seruo and
loue young kyng Henry their soneraigne lorde, and would diligently persecute & set on hi*
enemies, thei should not onely shewe thcselfes true and faithful'l subiectes to their true and
vndoubted kyng: But also should for their fidelitie and good seruice receiue of hym condigne
rewardes, ouer and beside immortall fame and renoune.
THIS exhortacion staled the hertes of many of the Frenche capitaines, whiche wiilyngly
sware to Kyng Henry feaultie and obedience by whose example the comonaltie did thesame.
Thus all the people set in an ordre in the realrne of Fraunce, nothyng was rnynded but
warre and nothyng was spoken of but of conquest. The Dolphyn whiche lay at this tyme in
Q 2 tint
116' THE. II. YERE OF
the citee of Poytiers heryng of the death of his parent had his herte mixed bothe with ioye
and sorowe: for notwithstandyng that he was sorowfull as a naturall child which lamented
the death of his father, yet he wasioyous that power & princely estate was now to hyin hap-
pened by the whiche he iudged that he should be the nflore able to defend his enemies and re-
couer more frendes: £ socallyng together the Princes of his faccion, caused hymself to bee
proclamed Kyng of France by the name of Charles the. vij. And the beyng in good hope of
recoueryng his patrimony & expellyng his emnies, with a haut corage prepared war & as-
sembled together a great armie, and first the war began by light skirmishes, but after it pro-
ceded into main battailes.
THE Dolphyn thynkyng not to make long delayes in so greate a cause, lest the power of
his enemies might daily be augmented, sent the lorcle Grauile to the toune of Fount Me-
lance stadyng on the riuer of Seyne, whiche so sodainiy came, to thcsame that he was on the
walles or the souldiors within heard of his approche, and so he toke the toune and si ewe a
greate nombre of the Englishe souldiors. When the Reget of Fraunce was aduertised of
this sodain enterprise, he apoyncted the Lorde Thomas Montaculc erle of Salisbury, a
nmnne bothe for his greate pollicie and haute corage more to be compared to the old valiant
Romans then to men of his daies, accoropaignied with the erle of Suffolke, the lorde Scales,
the yong lorde Pounynges, sir Ihon Fastolffe master of the houshold with thesaid lorde Re-
gent, and diuerse other to besiege the toune of Pont Melance, which after two monetheswas
rendered to thesaid erle, and the lorde of Grauile sware to be trew to the Kyng of Englandc
euer after that dale, but shortly after he forgettyng his othe returned to his old master again.
The erle of Salisbury apoynted sir Henry Mortimer and sir Richard Vernoti to be capitaines
of that toune. And from thence departed into Champaignie and ther besieged the toune of
Sens and toke sir Guillam Maryn the capitain and slewe all the souldiors within the toune,
and made there capitains sir Hugh Geddyng and sir Richard awbemond.
THE Parisians whiche euer like the Wethercockebe variable and inconstant, perceiuyng
that the Dolphyn daily began to haue more aide and power then he was before accustomed,
trustyng to returne again vnder his obeysance and subieccio (whiche they bothe wished and
desired) to the1 intent that it should not apere to come of their desire and that their faith and
fidelite should not be put in the balance of diffidence with the Englishe nacion, sent diuerse
Senators of their citee as Ambassadors to the kyng of Englad, desiryng hym of aide and suc-
cor, to whom not onely greate thankes were rendered for dooyng their dutie of subieccio, but
also hi«h feastes wer made, and promises declared that if they stil continued in clue obeysance,
and wcr not adherent to the kyngss enemies, y neither succour should want, nor cost should
be spared for their comencofort and publike vtilite. With whiche answer the copaigny out-
wardly pleased (whatsoeuer they inwardly imagined) departed to Paris. In this season
Humfrey duke of Gloucester either blynded with ambicion or dotyng for loue, married the
lady laquet or lacomin doughter and sole heire to William of 1/atiier duke of Holland,
which was lawfnll wife to Ihon duke of Brabant then liuyng, whiche mariage was not onely
woundered at of the comon people, but also detested of the nobilite, £ abhorred of the
Clergie. But suerly the swete last, of this pleasant mariage, brought after a sower saucev
bothe to the amorous housbande, and to the wanton wife. For Ihon duke of Brabant,
what with force, and what with spirituall compulsaries, neuer left of, till he had recouered
his Lady out of the Duke of Gloucesters possession, as after you shall here.
If THE SECONDE YERE.
The. n. THese chauces thus happenyng as you haue heard, Ihon duke of Bedford, Philip duke
yere> of Burgoyn, £ Ihon duke of Britayn, made an assemble £ frendly enteruiewe in the citee
of Avnias, where they renewed the olde league and auncient amitie made betwene the noble
prince kyng Hery the fifth, and them, before concluded: addyng tlierto these codicious and
agrementes, eche of them to be to other bothe 1'rend and aider, and the enemy of the one
to
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 117
to bee enemy to the other, and a!l they to bee bothe frendes and aiders to the kyng of En-
glande, and well wyllyng to his wehvillers, and auengers of his aduersaries. And because
that affinitie is an em bracer of amitie, there was concluded a mariage betwcne the duke of
Bedford and the lady Anne sister to the duke of Burgoyn. When tiiese agrementes wer fi-
nished, the Regent departed to Troys in Chapain, whether with high pompe was conueighcd
the lady Anne of Burgoyn, whicbe in the presence of her brother and her Vncle duke of
Brabant, and of therles of Salisbury and Suffolk'e, and of. ix.C. Lordcs knightes and
esquires, she was maried to Ihon duke of Bedford with suche solempnitie, feste and triiiphe,
as before that tyrne had not been seen of the Burgonions.
DVRYNG this triumphe, the Parisias thin kyng to blind the iyes of the duke of Bedford
wrote to hym, how diuerse Castles & fortresses liyng rounde about their territory, wer re-
plenished with his enemies, daily stoppyng their passages, and robbyng their marchantes, to
their vtter vndoyng, if they by his helpe wer not relieued: fraudulently meanyng, and falsely
entisyng hym to absent hymself from theim, till their craftie conueighed purpose wer compassed
and achiued. For diuerse of them stubbernly bcryng the yoke and subieccion of the En-
glish nacion perceiuyng the duke of Bedforde and the principal! capitaines of the Englishmen
to be farre from Paris, emploiyng themselfes to ioy and solace for the honor of this high ma-
riage, conspired to bryng into the citee Charles the Dolphyn callyng hymself Frenche kyng1,
duryng the tyme of his absence. And to thentent that their inueted purpose should succede,
they therof aduertised the Dolphyn and his counsaill appoyntyng the daie of his comyng
and the post of his entre. But no treason is commonly hiclen nor no sedicion long vnreueled,
for Pies will chatter and Mice will pepe, but by whom I cannot declare: The Regente was
informed of all the secrete confederacy and sedicious faccio, wherfore he meanyng not to
lose in short tyme, that whiche in no small space was gaynedj put epurres to the horsse, and
n-ith a great power entred into Paris one daie before the faire was appoinced, and two
nightes before the iokyng for of his enemies, who boyng vnprouided he sodainly caused to
be apprehended and taken, and openly put to execution. After this Jeopardy thus escaped,
he putle diffidence in all the Parisians trustyng litle the nobles and geuyng lesse crtditc to the
comons, determined to fortific the Garrisons of his owne nacion and all the Castles nere
and adioyning to the citee, whiche within small tyme were habundauntly furnished. And to
auoyde all nighte watchers adioynyng to Paris and the confines of thesame, he first toko
into his possession ether by as?aule or cornposicion the toune of Traynel and Bray vpon
Seyne, and because two Castles the one called Pacy and the other called Cursay were also
euill neighbors to the Parisians, he sent sir Ihon Fastolffe great Master of his houshold,
with a notable army to besiege the Castle of Pacy, whiche takyng vpon him that enterprise
so handled his enemies that the capitain named (iuyliam Reymon esquire & all the garrison
yelded them simply to his mercy and discrecio whom he sent as prisoners to the citee of Pa-
ris, and after besieged the Castle of Coursay whiche to hym was shortly rendered vpon like
appoyntmer, and so with praie and prisoners he returned to the lord Regent his master. In
this very season the Dolphin sent lorde Willyam Sluard Constable of Scotland, and therle
of Vcntadore in Auergnc and many other nobles of his part to laie siege to the toune of
Crauat in the coutie of Anxerre within thepartesof Burgoyn, wherof heryng the lorde Re-
gent and (.he duke of Burgoyn thei assembled a greale arrnie, wherof was ordeined capitaine
the erle of Salisbury, accompanycd with these valeant parsonages.
The lorde Willoughby. Sir Ihon Grey.
The lorde Pownynges. Sir Reignold Grey.
The lorde Molyns. Sir Ihon Arthur.
Sir Thomas R,ampston. Sir Henry Bisset.
Sir William Oldhaule. Sir William Hey tow.
( Sir Ihon Passheley. Sir Richard Leke.
Sir Thomas Flemyng. Sir Gilbert Halsall.
Sir Edmond Heron. Sir Lancelot Lisle.
Thomas
118 THE. II. YERE OF
Thomas Aborough. Didon Amore.
William Glasdale. Richard Ap Madocke.
Mathew Gough. Dauy Loyd.
And of the Burgonions.
The lorde Sent George. The lorde of Crouy.
The erle of lonignye. The lorde Lisle Adam.
The erle of Brayne. The lorde of Pesines.
The lord of Castelyn .Marshal of Bur- The Bastard of Thyan.
goyne. Sir Frances le Arragonoys.
The lorde of Vergier his bastard. Ihon de Gyngie.
The lorde of Chastelon.
AND many other to the numbre (aswel of Englishemen as Burgonions) of. xv. M. men
of warre, which came in good array to geue battaill to the besiegers of the toune of Cra-
uant, and because the liiuer of Youne which renneth by thesaid toune was betwene the
Englishe army and their aduersaries, they could not wel assaile their enemies which de-
fended the bankes and passages very strongly, yet notwithstandyng bolhe horsmen at.d fote-
inen of the Englishe part coragiously put tiiemself into the riuer and with fyne force re-
couered the banke, whom the Burgonions incontinent folowed. When they wer all gotten
into the plain, the Archers shot and the bilruen strake, & long was the fight in indifferent
judgement, but in conclusion the Frenchmen not able to resist the force and abyde the
puissance of the English nacion, wer take ether slain or discomfited, for in the morlall bat-
taill were slain and taken to the numbre of. viii. M. men, where of the names of the chief
capitaines here shall apere.
Frenchemen slain. Scottes slain.
Therle of Lestrake. The lorde of sent Ihons toune.
Therle of Comygen?. Sir Ihon of Balgrarie.
Therle of Tunier. Sir Ihon Turnebull.
The iorde Coquartde Cameron. Sir Ihon Holiburton.
The Bastard of Annynacke. Sir Robert Lile.
The Vicont of Towraye. Sir William Conyngham.
The Bastard of Forest. Sir William Douglas.
The lorde de Port. Sir Alexander Hune.
The lorde Memoriicie. And xviii. hun- Sir Willyain Lisle,
dred knightes and esquiers beside co- Sir Ihon Rocherforde.
mons. Sir William Cawford.
Taken prisoners. Sir Thomas Seton.
The Constable of Scotland whiche lost Sir William Hamolton and his sonne Ihon
his iye. Pillot.
Therle of Vantadore. And. iii. M.. Scottes slain.
Sir Alexander Meldryne. Of Englishemen.
Sir Lewes Ferigny. Sir Ihon Grey.
And. xxii. C. gentlemen of the Frenche Sir Wylliam Halle,
nacion taken. Sir Gilbert Halsel.
Richard ap Madocke.
and. xx i. C. other slaine.
AFTER this fortunate victory obteined, the Englishemen fyrst gaue great laudes and
thankes to almightie God and after entered into the toune of Crauant muche pi aisyng the
tloynges of the capitaines and the fidelitie of the citezens, and when they had set all thynges
in an ordre they returned to Paris where of the regent they wereioyously receiued, whiche
there constituted therle of Salsbury (as he was wel worthy) vicegerent and lieftenaunt for
the king & him in the countries of Fraunce, Bry and Chapaigne, & sir Ihon Fastolf he
substituted deputie vnder him in the duchy of Normady on this syde the riuer of Seyne, &
capitaines
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 1 19
with that he deputed him gouernour of the coutreys of Aniow & Mayne, and assigned able
capitaines in euery holde & fortresse. Therle of Salsbury whichc could not slepe in his
great office of trust, layd siege to the toune & castle of Moutaguillon in Dry, wherof were
capitaines Pregent of Cotyny & Guille Bourgoys Britons vvhiche valiantly defeded the castle
by y space of v. monethes, but incoclusion the assailantes wer so fierse that they within for
sufegard of their Hues rendred the hold, & the capitaines sv.-arc neuer to here armure
against the Englishmen on this, side theriuer of Leyre: duryng which siege the erle of Suf-
folke toke by force the castle of Coucy : and the strong castle de la roche he gat by appoint-
ment in Mosconoys.
NOWE must I go backe to put you in memorye howe lames kyng of Scottes beyng bothe
prisoner in the tyme of kyng Henry the fourth and also as subiect to kyng Henry the fift
his sone, seruyng him in his warres in Fraunce tyl he departed out of this transsitory life at
Boys de Vyncens and so as chief morner attended on the corps of the sayd deceassed vnto
his burial, and after at Westminster was released of his captiuitie and restored to hisreahne
and possession. For the true knowledge therof you shal vnderstande that Englande de-
maunded a small raunsome for so great a prince as the Scottes accompte their kyng : (and
the Scottes were neither able nor offered no summe conuenient) wherfore the coiisel of the
realme of England grauously pondtrsd and wisely considered that if by coniunction of
manage, England and Scotland were perfectly knit in one, that the indissoluble band of
amide betwene the Frenche and Scottishe nations should be shortly broken and dissolued.
Wherfore the protector of the realme of Englad by the consent of the whole baronage of
the same gaue to him in mariage the Lady lane doughler to Ihon earle of Sommerset des-
ceased, not onely sister to Ihon then duke of Sommerset but alsocosyn germayne remoued
to the kyng and nece to the cardinal of Wynchester and the duke of Exceter.
THE kyng of Scottes hauyng great affection to this i'ayre Lady, but rnuche more desiryng
his deliuerance and libertie, put in hostages for the residue of his raunsome because a great
part therof was deminished and abated for the money allowed to hym for his mariage, & so
was deliuered to depart at his pleasure. Alacke, the olde prouerbes bee to true : an Ape
although she bee clothed in purple, will be but an Ape, and a Scotte neuer so gentely en-
terteined of an Englishe prince will be but a dissimulyng Scotte. What kyndnes could be
more shewed to a prisoner then to bryng hym vp in good litterature. What loue maie bee
more declared to a captiue, then to instructe hym in marciall feafes and warlike affaires:
What fauor can be more ascribed to a high and renoumed prince, then to geue in mariage;
to his vnderlyng and vassall his cosyn and kinswoman of his royal parentage lawfully dis-
ecnded. All these kynd-nesses suffised not, nor all these gratuities auailed not to make this-
kyng lames frendly to the realme of Englande. For he notwithstandyng his homage doen-
to the young Henry kyng of Englande and of Fraunce at his Castle of Wynsore this pre-
sent yere, before three Dukes, twoo Archebishoppes, xii. erles. x. bishoppes. xx. barons,.
and twoo hundred knightes and esquires and mo, accordyng to the tenor here after lbloyn<*.
" I lames Stuart kyng of Scottes, shalbe true and faithfull vnto you lorde Henry by the
grace of God kyng of Englande and Fraunce the noble and superior lorde of the kyngdome
of Scotlande, and vnto you I make my fidelitie for the same kyngdome of Scotlande, whiche-
I holde and claime to hold of you, and I shall beare you my faithe and fidelitie of life
and lymme and worldly honor against al men, and faithfully I shall knowledge and shall
do to you seruice due of the kyngdo of Scotland aforesaid. So God help me and these
holy Euangelistes."
NETHER regardyng,his othe, nor estemyng the great abundance of plate and- riche
Clothes of Arras, to hym by the mother and vncles of his wifc liberally gcuen and frendly
deliuered (of which sorte of riches fewe-or none before that daie wer euer seen in the
coutrey of Scotlande) like a dogge vvhiche hath cast vp his stomacke and retnrneth to his
vomet, or like a snake whiche after his engenderyng with a Lampray taketh again his old;
poyson: After ha had once taken the ayre and snielled the sent of the Scottishe soyle be-
1 came
loo THE. III. YERE OF
-,•'»'• x
came like his falce fraudulct forfatbers, an vntrue prince and like his proude pratyng pro-
genitors toko llie y mage of a braggyng and bostyng Scot, newly alicd hy nisei f with the
Frenche nacion. And yet what soeuer he did, his nacion botiic write and testitie, that by
the learnyng whiche he by the greate benetke of the kynges of Englimde duryng liis cap-
tiuitee in this rcalme had obteigned, replenished his countrey with good litterature, and by
tlie nurture the whiche he was brought vp in Englnd, he brought iiis people to ciuilitee: So
That hiscaptiuitee was to his nacion the greatest hbertie thatcucr thei could haue, dcliuering
them from blyncle ignorance to Angelicke knowledge, reducyng theirn from bestiall inaners to
honest behauor, and in conclusion causyng theim to knowe vertue fro in. vice, pollicic from
rudenes, and humain honestie from sauage liuyng. Thrs was the deliueranceand the doynges
of- lames the fyrst of that name k'yng of Scottes, whiche neither reigned verye quietly, nor
yet euer fauored Englishemen before the Frenche people : sauyng that he hauyng with him
into his countrev a yong gentleman of Northumberland called Andrew Gray (whiche du-
ryng his captiuitie was his companion) promoted him to the manage of the heyre of the
lorde of Foulcs in Anguis, of the whiche the lord Gray of Scotland at this day do des-
cend.
1f THE. III. YERE.
The. iii. NOw leue I the doynges of Scotland, and returne to the affaires of England. The duke
y"e> of Gloucester beyng protector and gouernor of the realme, cosideryng that wood must be
rninistred to kepe fyre, and men ought to be set to set forwarde war, called to him the
pieres and nobilitie of the realme, and by their agrements & deuises, sent into France to
the regent his brother, x. M. men of warre, whiche were of the same regent in the coutrey
of Paris louyngly receiued, & according to their degres honestly entertained. Duryng their
liyng in Paris, diuers chaunces happened in Fraunce, for euen as Englishmen valiantly
wonne, and victoriously coquered tounes and castles with open warre and apparant con-
quest: so the Frenchmen fraudulently stale & couertely obtained diuers fortresses and
holdes appcrtainyng to thcnglish faccion, £ in especial the fayre toune of Compaigne, &
the prety toune of Crotoy.
WHEN the duke of Bedford was aduertised of these craftye trickes and sodaine inuent-
ed traines, he sent furth an army, fyrst to Compaigne, wherof was capitaine the erle of
Suftblke accompanied with therle of Liguy, & diuers other capitaines of the Englishmen,
whiche lay on the one side of the riuer of Sohame, & on the other side lave the lord Lisle
Adam, sir Thomas Raupstone, & the prouost of Paris. The Erechmen beyng strongly fur-
nished and well vitailed, coragiously defended the toune against the assailates. The Eng-
lishmen perceitiyng that Guyllifi Remond otherwise called Mariolayn, had bene the leder
of the souldiers within the toune, which before at Pacy was take prisoner by sir Ihon Fas-
tolf, caused him to be sent for to Paris, and so brought him to the seige, and set him in a
chariot with a halter aboute his necke, and coueighed him to the gibbet without the toune,
sending worde to the garrison within the toune, that if they would not without delay redre
the toune & fortresse, they would incotinent stragle their old capitaine and chief conduc-
tor. The souldiors within the touue perceiuyng that if Guyllia Raymond the onely trust
of their relefe, and the aucient frend in their necessitie, should suffre death, that then their
hope of al ayde were extinguished, £ the sure nutriment of their liuyng was from them
secluded: for the deliuerance of him and sauegarde of them selues, yelded the toune: so
that both he & they might depart with horse and harnes onely, in sure conduite and safetye:
yet long or the toune of Compaigne was deliuered, sir Philip Hall whiche was sent to Cro-
toy by the lorde regent with. viii. C. men to besiege the toune, gat it by assault sodainly, or
the Frenchmen had either desposed their garrison, or appointed their lodgynges and toke all
the men of warre and put them to raunsome. And so these, ii. tounes cowardly stollen,
were manfully recouered, but yet the writers of Frenche fables to deface the glorye of the
4- Englishmen)
*
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 121
Englishmen, write and say that these tounes were yelded to the Burgonyon0, whiche nei-
ther had the kepyng of them nor were souldiers to any other person but to the kyng of
Kngland. While these thinges were thus doyng in Fraunce, sir Ilion de la Pole brother to
therle of Suffolke capitaine of Auranches in Normandy, assembled all tlie garrisons of the
base Marches of the coiitrey of Aniow, & came before the cytie of Angiers and brent the
subbarbes, spoyled and destroyed the whole countrey, and hauyng as many prayes anxl pri-
soners as his men might cary, he was eacountred by the earle of Aubemerle, the vicount
Karbone and. vi. thousand Frenchmen: \\hiclie findyng the Englishmen out of arraye be-
cause of the cariage of their great spoyle, sodainly set on the and slewe. CCC. persons and
toke prisoners the said sir Ihon Delapole, sir Ihon Basset, Ihon Aut'ord luetenaunt of Fa-
loys, Ihon Clyfton, Henry Mortymer and. vi. C. other. Although the Frenchmen gat this
day in one place, yet they wet not victorious away in another, for the bastard de la Baulme
and the lorde Craignar capitaines of Courallon with a great band, made a roade into Mas-
connoys, with whom by chance met Mathew Gough and other Englishemen whiche were
scouryng the countrey to se and hearenewes of their enemies, there was a sore conflict and
an hard encountre, the partes in maner beyng of corage & noinbre cgal, but after long
fight, the Frenchmen almost al wer slaine & taken, and the bastard beyng wel horsed fled •
after whom folowed with the tiersneS of his spurres Mathew Gougli and chased him to his
castle gate and there toke him as he would haue hid him in the diche & preseted him to
the earle of Salsbury, returnyng from Compaigne to Paris, whiche not onely gaue to him
the rightes beloging to the prisoner, but also rewarded him with a goodly courser and highly
exalted his name and manhode.
ABO VTE this season, Arthur brother to Ihon duke of Britaine comonly called the earle
of Kicheinond, hauyng neither profile of the name nor of the countrey, notwithstadyng
that king Henry the. v. had created him earle of Yury in Normandy & gaue him not onely
a great pencion but thesame tonne of Yury; yet because his brother the duke of Brytaine
fearyng the Englishmen nowe hauyng Normandye would srncl and desire to last the swete
soyle of Britaine, was late (contrary to his leage and othe) returned to the part of Charles
the dolphyn, he likewise returned and craftly without cause fled into Flaunders & so came to
the dolphyn to Poytiers, which was more g'ad of his comyng then if he had gained a C.M.
crounes, for the Britons which kept the toune and castle of Yury hearyng that their master
•was ioyned witii the dolphyn bothe kepte the castle against the duke of Bedford, furnishyng
it dayly with new people £ municions, and also infested, spoyled and robbed the countrey
adioynyng, doyng to the Englishmen the most hurt & damage that either could be deuised or
imagined.
THE lord Regent beyng aduertised of all these troubles & calamities, assebled a great
army both of Englishmen and Normans, entendyng to serche the dolphin in euery part, to
theient to geue him battail in a pitched feld and so to make a final ende of his entended con-
quest. So hauing in his companye therle of Salsbury, therle of Suffolke, the lord Scales,
the lord Willoughby, the lord pounyng, sir Reynold Grae, sir Ihon Fastolf, sir Ihon Salu-
ayne, Lanslot Lisle, sir PJn'Jlp Halle, sir Ihon Pashely, sir Ihon Gray, sir Thomas Blunt,
sir Robert Harlyng, sir William Oldhal and many other valiant knightes and esquiers to the
nombre (as the Frenche writers testifie) of xviii.C. men of armes and. viii.M. archers and
other, came before the toune of Yury whiche was well defended: but the Englishemen
began to vndermine the walles, so that they within wer glad to rendre the toune vpo condicion,
whiche was taken. Howbeit the capitaines of the castle promised to yeld if their fortresse
wer not rescued at a day assigned by the dolphyn with a nomber sufficiet to raise the siege,
& vpon this promise hostage^ wer deliuered into the possession of the lord regent. By his
licence an herault was sent to the dolphyn to aduertise him of the tyme determined, the
whiche hearyng of the destresse that his people & frendes wer in, sent incontinent Ihon duke
of Alanson his lieftenant general, therle Doglas whom at that settyng furth he made duke of
Toraine, and therle Boughan, whom then in hope of good spede he made Constable of
R Fraunce
128 THE. III. YERE OF
Fraunce (whiche office he enioyed not fully an hundreth houres) and therles of Aumarle,
Vatadoure, Tonnerre, Maulieuricr Forest, the vicountesof Narbonand Thouars, the lordes
ofGraiiile, Gaules, Malycorne, Manny, Ball ay, Fountaines, Mountfort, & many other noble
knightes and esquiers to the nombre of. xv.M. Freche men & Britons and. v.M. Scottes whom
the erle Doglas had transported late out of Scotland more for nedc then for loue.
THIS army royal approched within, ii. miles of Yury and sent. xl. light horsmen to view
and espy both the nornbcr and coduit of the Englishmen. These spyes came very nere to the
siege and \ver espied and chased to their copanions againe, and declared all what they had
seen and perceiued. The duke of Alanson seyng that he could not gette any auantage of the
Englishemen (although the Dolphyn had geiien hym in straight comaundement to fight with
the-regent) whether his heart fayled or he thought to wayte a more fortunate season for his
purpose and enterprise, retired backe with his whole arruy to the toune of Vernoyle in
Perche whiche belonged to the kyng of England, & sent word to the garison of that toune
that they had discofited & slaine al the Englishe army and that the regent with a small nober
by swyftnes of his horse had saued him selfe. The inhabitantes of Vernoyle geuyng to light
credit to the Frenche fablers, receiued the duke of AlFison with al his army into the toune &
submitted theselues to him, Whiche toune he desyred to haue of the gift of thedolphynas
his owne inheritance & lawful patrimony. Now approched the day of rescous of Yury,
which was the day of our Lady the Assumption, at which day no rescous appeared to sir
Gerrard de la Pallier captain of the castle, whiche beyng in dispayre of all ayde and corn-
forte, presented the keys to the duke of Bedford & shewed him a letter signed & sealed with
the hades of. xviii. great lordes which the day before promised to geue the duke battaile and
to dissolue the siege and raise the assault: Well sayd the duke, if their heartes would haue
serued, their puissaunce was sufficient ones to haue profered or to haue performed this faith-
ful promise. But syth they disdaine to seke me, God and saint George willyng I shal not
desist to folowe the tractes of their horses tyl one part of vsbe by battail ouerthrowen: and
so he gaue a safe conduyte to the capitaine and other which wold depart, but many of the
Britons within the castle of Yury seyng the faint heartes and the false promises of the flatter-
yng Frenchmen submitted them selues to the lorde regent and sware to be true to the kyng
and him, whom he gentely accepted and put them in wages. Then he furnished the castle
and toune with a newe garrison, and incotinent he sent the earle of Suffolke with. vi.C.
horses to espy wher the Frenchemen were lodged, whiche passed by Dampeuile, and came
to Bretnel wher he beared newes that the Frenchmen had taken Vernoile in Perche & were
there yet abidyng, wherof with all diligent celerite he sent worde to the duke of Bedford,
which not mindyng to lese his long desired pray set forward in great hast toward his enemies.
The FrF'chtnen hearyng of his comyng set their people in array and made all one maine bat-
taile without forwarder rereward, & appointed certaine Lubardes and horsmen to breake
the array of the Englishemen either behynd or at the sides, wherof was capitaine sir Stephyn
Venoylcs called the hire. The duke of Bedford not ignorant howe to ordre his men, made
likewise oneentier battaile & suffered no man to be on horsebacke, and set the archers (euery
one hauyng a sharpe stake) bothe in the front of the battaile and on the sydes like wynges,
and behvnd the battaile were the pages with the charlottes andcariages, and all the horses
were tyed together either with the reines of their bridles or by the tayles, to thentent that
their enemies should not sodainely surprise or disturbe them on the backe behynd : and for
to defend the carriages wer appointed two thousand archers. The Frenchmen at the fyrst
sight remembryng how often times in piched feldes they had bene ouercome and vanquished
of the Englishe nacion, b.egan somewhat to feare, but when they sawe no remedy but to
fight, they toke good courage to the and set softely forwarde. In whiche marchyng the Duke
of Alaunson, sittyng on horsebacke saied to his capitaines.
Oradon of LOVYNG companions, and hardy souldiers, call to your remembraunce, how the Eng-
.0 lishemen haue not onely gotten from vs the noble isle of Fraunce, the duchies of Normandy
and Aniovv, but also sith their enterprise and cenquest hath bothe slain our parentes and
I killed
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 1*3
killed our frendes, yea, and hath dritien our naturall Prince, and very soueraignc Lorde
from his chief habitation and surest chaumber, the faire citee of Paris: which act neuer
Pagan durst attept or euer any prince was able to acheue. Besides this, you se that the
duke of Bedford Regent here for the kyng of Englande, entendyng n-othyng more then the
deposicion or the destruccion of our kyng and his nobilitie, and in tinall coclusion to bryng
to extreme bondage all vs ourwiues and children, and all the people of this so long renoum-
ed region, by many hundred yeres called the reahne of Fraunce, which is as muche to
saie as a fre countrey, or a franke lande. Alas, shal your kyng now be made a subiecte,
shall your peres and nobiliteebee made vassals, and you also slaues & bondmen to a foraiu
nacion r Where is the liberty of Frauce and where is the auncient fredome? When you
defended your fraunchises, and when your hartes seruedyou: your kyng ruled kynges your
prioeis possessed the empire, and your nacion subdued Germany, conquered Italy, and
ouercame the proude Spanyardes. Shall wee now, fallyng out of kynd from our fathers,
feare the puissaunce of the arrogant Englishemen, beyng men of no forecast, nor of
no excellcnte wit, long in gettyng and shortly lesyng? AVill you now sufifre the olde glory of
Fraunce to be put in obliuion? will you haue an Englishe infant, whiche liueth with pappe
to bee your kyng and gouernor? Will you liue in seruitude of a barbarous nacion in whom
is neither bountifulnes nor honor? Clerckes saie, that the greatest plague, that euer God
scourged with the Israelites, was, when he permitted them to be caried from their natiue
countrey to the bondage of Babilon, where they liued in captiuitie by the space of many
yeres. What can bee a more greater scourge, then to haue a forrein ruler in a free region ?
What dishonor can there be more to a countrey, then to haue the nobilitie put backc from
rule and to be gouerned by strangers. Beleue me, beleue me, it is to vs all one blot, to bee a
slaue in Turkeye, vnder theTurkishe bondage, and to be a free man in France vnder the Eng-
lishe libertie. Of this point you be sure: if they gain this battaill, thei be not vnlike to obtain
the whole region: whiche if thei get, then is the enheritaunce theirs: then be all the riches
theirs, and then all the people bee their subiectes. If they be rulers, fare well the franke and
Frenche libertie: If they be lordes, welcome English seruitude. So that now we stand
al on this poynt, either to be free or bondmen. Whiche terme of bondage is so detested of
all nacions, that there can be no more reproch to a man then to call hym a villain or a
bondman. Therfore manly defence must onely withstand this mischief, and hartie corage
must driue back this imminct plage. This is the daie either of our deliueraunce out of vile
seruitud-e, or the daie of our entry into the vale of bondage. The conclusion of this battaill
is very doubtfull, for if we bee vanquished, the gain for our side is almost without recouery,
cosidryng, that here be the best men, & wisest capitaines vnder our kyng: And if we get
the vppcr hancle, our heddes shalbc free and out of the Englishe yoke. And although the
duke of Bedford hath here with him, all the power that he can gather on this side the sea,
yet I assure you, (God willyng) I will not turne one fote backward for fear of hym, or his
picked armie. Therfore I exhorte you to reuiembre, your wifes, your children and your
selfes. Figtft manfully and sticke eche to other for the libertie of our countrey: I doubt not
but the victory shalbee ours, and the honor shalbe our kynges. For if this daie we vanquishe
hym and sparcle his armie, we shall so diligently folowe Fortunes good grace, that not onely
Fraunce to vsshall'yeld, and Normandy bowe, but we shall recouer again al our citees and
tounes, whiche out of our possession wer gained, before any aide can come to rescue out of
the poore isle of Englande. Now consideryng, that we hang in the ballaunce betwene honor
and shame, libertie and bondage, gaineor losse, leteuery man take harte and corage to hym,
litle regardyng, or caryng, eit.ier for death, or the force of his enemies, and with a manly
countenaunce marche furth toward our foes.
THE Englishemen perceiuyng their greate nornbre, and knowyng that the chief strength
consisted in the Scottes, began somwhat to stay and consult, what was mosle expedient to
bee done. The duke of Bedford sittyng on a baye courser in the iniddes of the battaill vnder
124 THE. III. YERE OF
a baner curiously beten with his Armes, not content with their whisperyngcs and protract-
yng of tyme, saied vnto theirn with an audible voyce.
Y"OV valiaunt capitaines and hardie souldiers, my louyng compaynions in artnes, and
frcndly felowes. If you cosidre with your self what daie this is: What honor and what
profile wee shall get by our trauaile and pain, I doubt not but where you now stand stil
musyng, you would runne furth a galloppe, and where you run on your fete, you would,
if you had winges, flieas faste, as euer did llauke to his praie. For greate is the honor that
is gotten with paine, and swete is the lucre, that is gayned with trauaile, for you muste re-
membre, that nothyng is wel done, if it growe not to a good conclusion: and a thyng were
as good neuer to be begon, as neuer ended. My brother our late soueraigue lord, (whose
soule God pardon) hath entred into this countrey, as into his awne lawfull inheritaunce:
and first conquered Normandy, and after by agremet of kyng Charles the vsurper, he was
by assent of the nobilitee, agrement of the Clergie, & speciall request of the cornmonaltie,
restored to his rightfull inheritaunce, and lawful patrimony, whiche by his death is returned
and come to my nephewe our rnoste redoubted souereigne. The beginning of this conquest
was good, and the sequele better, yet resteth the finall knot to be knitte, and the last locke
to be shut vp. For if we sutlre Charles the Dolpbyn, whiche now vsurpeth the name, and
estate royall of this real me of France, to proceade farther in his purpose, or to gather more
puyssance, or allure more people, I cannot tell then what feates flatteryng fortune will worke:
and of this I am sure that if we suffre his fier still to flame, as it hath begon, we shall haue
skant water to quenche out the same. Here he hath assembled all the Frenche men that he
can get and for lacke of aide, he hath retained the Scottes : croppe hym now at the beginnyng
and he shall growe no more: let hym grow farther and he will passe our reache: discomfite
hym now and bryng our conquest to a conclusion: let hym alone now and we shalbe new
to begin. Therfore I say, it is wisdome to take occasion, when the hery side and not the
balde side is profered. If we feare the multitude, rememhre our awne victories, which
we haue euer obteined by lesse nombre, and not by the greater. If we feare death, remem-
bre the glory and immortall fame, that shall succeade of our valiaunt actes, if we sell our
lifes so dere. If we shalbe slain, considre I haue a kyng to my nephew, and a duke to
my brother, and twoo noble vncles, and you haue frendes, kynsemen and children, whiche
wil reuege our death, to the vttermost poynt: therfore I saie let euery man this day do
his best. For this is the daie of thed of our great trauaile, the daie of our greate victory,
and the daie of our euerlastyng fame : Therfore good felowes, put your onely trust in God,
call to hym for aide boldly, and marche forward hurdly, for our enemies be at had.
HE had skace ended his exhortacion, but the Englishmen beyng incouraged with his pru-
dent persuasion, sette on their enemies, criyng, Sainct George, Bedford. And the Frenche-
men likewise cried, Moutioye, sainct Denise. Then the arrowes flewe out of the long bowes
on the one parte, the quarrelles out of the crosse bowes on the other parte. After thei came
to hande strokes: greate was the fight, & terrible was the batfaill, with so indifferent Judge-
ment of victory that no heraulde could determyne to whiche parte Fortune moste shewed
her louyng countenaunce. For on bothe sides men wer slain and wounded, and on bothe
partes some wer felled and recouered, thus stil in a doubtful Judgement, the battaill conti-
nued about three houres. The duke of Alauson in the meane season neuer ceased to ex-
horte and praie his people manly to fight, and not to suff're their enemies, (whiche wer at the
very point to be ouercome) by their faint hartes to be victors, and ouercommers. Likewise
the duke of Bedford rode about his annie, refreshing the weake with freshe men, and enco-
ragyng his people with moste plesaunt wordes: But at the last when he perceiued the Frenche-
men, what with heate, and with trauaill, to waxe wery and faint, and- not to bee so freshe as
thei wer before (for surely 'the nature of the Frenchmen, is not to labor long in fightyng,
and muche more braggeth then fighteth) he with al his strengtli set incontinent on them with
tuche a violence, that they bare theim. doune to the grounde by fine force. The French
horsemen
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 125
horsemen that dale did litle seruice: for the archers so galled their horses, that they desired not
mticiie to approche their presence. This battaill was fought the. xxvij. day of August, in the
yere of our Lorde. M. CCCC. xxv. in the vvhiche battaill wer slain.
Of Frenchemen. of the murtherars, of the duke of Bur-
The erle of Aumerle. goyne.
The erle of Ventadore. Of Scottes also wer slain.
The erle of Forestes. Archibald erle Douglas made duke of
The erle of Mary. Toroyne.
The lorde Granite, lames Douglas his sonne erle of Nigton.
The lorde Gaules. Ihon the erle of Boughein newly made
The lorde Fountaynes. Constable of Fraunce.
The lorde of Amboys. Sir Alexander Meldryne.
The Vicount Thouars. Sir Henry Balglauie.
The lorde Mountcney. Sir liion Sterlyng.
The lorde of Combreste. Sir William of Homelsdone.
The lorde of Brunell. Sir larnes Graye.
The lorde Tumblet. Sir Robert Kanden.
The lorde of Poysy. And thre hundred Sir Alexander Lynsaie.
knightes beside. Sir Robert Stewarde.
The, Vicouut Nerbon whose body was Sir Robert Swinton, and. xxvij. hundred
haged on a gibbet, because he was one Scottes of name and armes, besides
other.
IN this battaill wer slain by the report of Montioye kyng at armes in Fraunce, and the
Englishe herauldes there prcsente, of Frenciiemen and Scoltes. ix. thousand and seuen hun-
dred, and of the Englishmen, xxj. hundred, but no man of name, sauyng. v. yong es-
quiers. And there wer taken prisoners, Ihon duke of Alaunson, the bastard of Alaun-
son the Lorde of Fayect, the lorde of Hormit, sir Piers Harison, sir Loys de Vancort,
Sir Robert Brusset, sir Ihon Turnebull a Scot, and two hundred gentlemen besides
common soldiours.
AFTER that the duke of Bedforde had thus obteined the vpper hand of his enemies, and
discomfited the onely strength of the dolphin he vpon his knees rendred to almightie God his
hartie thankcs, not without effusion of teares. Then he commaundcd all the Frenchmen
within the toune of Vernoile, to go out and depart, or els to abide their adueture. They
perceiuyng the euil successe of their bostyng enterprise, and seyng no meane, wherby in so
lowe an ebbe, they might bee ayded, deliuered vp the toune, and went furthe out of thesame,
their lifes saued. Of which toune the lorde Regent constituted capitain, sir Philip Hall,
and so departed from thence to the citee of Roan, where with triumph (and not vnworthy)
he was Joyously receiued and honorably feasted. And after all thynges there set in an ordre,
he remoued to Paris.
HERE you maie see what succeded of the spirite of false Prophecie. For the duke of
Alaunson thinkyngit to be predestinate by the bodies aboue, that he should ouercorne, and
conquere the duke of Bedford, hosted (as you haue heard) to the Burgesses of Vernoile, that
he had discofited the Regent of Fraunce with his whole armie, before the toune of Yury :
Not knowyng, that Mars the God of battaill beyng angry with his liyng, appoyntedj not
onely all his puyssaunce to be vanquished before Vernoile, but also hymself, and his bastarde
vncle, there to bee taken, and brought into bondage. So it is often seen that he, whiche
rekeneth without his hoste, muste reken twise, and he that fisheth before the net, rnaic lese
but nothyng gain. When this victory was published through Fraunce, how the common
people lamented their miserable destiny, how the nobilitie mistrusted their awne estate, and
how the Dolphyn was abashed, yea, more than abashed, woderfull it were to write, but more
merueilous for to heare. For he was driuen out of all the countreis apperteinyng to the
croune of Fraunce and might resort to no coutreis, excepte to Burbonoys, Aluerne, Berry,
Poyctou,
126 THE. III. YERE OF
"Poyctou, Towrayn, a part of Aniow and Barrayn, & Languedoc. And because diuerse
•of his frendes whiche were aduocates in Paris exiled theselfes fro the parliament of Paris,
which was with all rightes, and iurisdiccions there vnto belongyng, kcple, and holden in the
name of kyng Henry the sixte, as lawfull heire and very kyng of the realme of Fraunce: he
therefore to shewe hymself as a kyng, erected his courte of Parliament, his Chauncery, and
all other courtes in the citee of Poytiers, and there established his greate scale, with all due
circumstaunces thervnto aperteinyng, whiche there continued by the space of. xiiij. yeres, as
you shall after heare declared. The duke of Bedford liyng at Paris, entendyng there to bryng
•to obeisaunce Charles the dolphyn, or els to driue hym out of his litle cony holdes, and small
•countries, set the lorde Scales, sir Ihon Montgomery, sir Ihon Fastolfe, with two thousand
men, to conquere the countries of Aniow and Mayn, whiche without assaulte hud rendred
to the the strong castles of Beamount le Vicot, Teune, Silly, Oste, Courceriers, Rcussy,
Vasse, Couetemenfit and twenty other, which for pfolixitie of tynie, I thynke necessary to
be omitted. For surely the Englishe puyssaunce was so tried, proue'l, assaied, and spred
abrode throughout all Fraunce, that the Frenche me thought that in conclusion the Eng-
lishe men would haue, or should haue al thynges, which they either wished or enterpriscd.
The duke of Bedford yet thirstyng after more good fortune, sent the erle of Salisbury, with
a great armie accompanied with the Lorde Scales, and other approued capitaines, (whose
names you haue heard before) into the countrees of Aniow & Mayn, which w'er euil neigh-
bours to the duchy of Normandy: in whiche army wer. x. M. men of war or ther about.
These lusty capitaines entered iirste into the countrey of Mayne, and beseged the richeand
strong citee of Mauns, the chief toune £ emperie of all that country and region. And al-
though the citezens, aswel for the sodain accesse of their enemies, as for the feare of the
name of therle of Salisbury (whiche was both dread of his enemies, and honored of his
frendes,) wer somewhat amased and astonied: Yet their capitaines named sir Baldwyn of
Champaigne lord of Toisse, sir Guilliam de Marignie, and sir Hugh tie Goos, studied and
inucuted all waies possible how to defend themselfes, and do damage and harrne to their
enenves: and surely, they had within the toune a creive and a compainei of warlike and prac-
tised s juldiors. The Englishmen approched as nigli to the walles as they might without their
losse and detriment, and shot against their walles great stones out of great gonnes (which
kynd of engines before y time, was very litle seen or heard of in Fraunce,) the strokes wherof
so shaked, crushed and riued y walles, that within fewe daies, the citee was dispoyled of all
• her toures and outward defences. The citezens of Mauns muche merueilyng at these newe
i orgayncs, bothe seyng their destruccio iminent, and desperate of all aide and succor, offered
-! the toune vpon this condicion : that all persones whiche would tary within the toune might
Abide, and all that would depart with horsse and harnesse onely, should be permitted:
which offers were accepted, and the toune rendred, wherof the erle made capitain therle
of Stiffolke, and his lieutenant sir Ihon Fastolfe. After this the said erle of Salisbury besieged
the fa ire toune of sainct Susan, whereof was capitain, Ambrose de Lore, a ma of no lesse au-
dacitie then pollicy, accompainied with a greate nombre of hardy men of warre. When the
erle of Salisbury had bothe viewed and seen the siluacion and nature of the place, he de-
termined to assault it in that place whiche was moste weake and worne: and so the trom-
pettes blew to the assault and scalyng ladders were raised to the walles, and the Englishemen
with grcatc noyse began to clime and ascende. The soukliors whiche durste not come out of
the toune to encountre with the Englishe armie, manfully raune to the walles to resiste and
delende the assaylantes. And so all that daie the assault with many aduentures still continued,
and although the inhabitauntes and citezens were sore wounded, they neuer lefte of bothe to
defende theimselfes, and to anoye and hurte their enemies. When therle perceiued that bv
this light assault and slight skirmishe he lost somewhat, and gained nothyng, he made a waft
.and cast a trenche round about y toune: & caused his great ordynance to be shotte at that
part of the wall whiche was most feble and slender, and so daily and nightly he neuer ceassed
to beate and breke doune the wall and toures: so that within twoo daies the moste part of
the
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 127
the wal was persed and cast doune to the ground. When the capitain perceiued these newe
feateshe began toentreate, and offered for hymselfand his souldiors, twoo thousand crounes,
so that they might departein their doublettes onely: so their Hues wer saued, whjche some
because winter aproched, was taken and the toune yelded. Of the whiche toune he made
eapitain, sir Ihon Popham, a valiaunt and a circuspect knight. After that the said erle be-
sieged the toune and castle of Mayon la luhez, wherin was capitain the lorde of Escotaiz:
whiche toune after the space of fiue wekes was yelded (the lifes of the defenders onely saued.)
To the kepyng wherof he appointed sir Ihon Montgomery knight. And after the feast of
the purificacion of our lady, he besieged the caslle de lafort Barnard: during which siege,.
a sale was made of the toune of Ahinso, beyng in the Englishmens possession by a Gascoyn
£ one of the gariso there, for. iiii.C. crounes, to Charles de Villiefs, Peter le Beuffe, and
other Frenche capitaines. When the dale was apointed of the deliueraunce both of the
toune and the money, the Gascoigne opened and discouered the whole agrement to the erle
of Salisbury : which ordeined the lorde Willoughby and "eir Ihcn Fastolfe with two thou-
sande Englishmen to encountre with the byers of the kyngcs toune of Alvison. At the daie
apointed and tyme assigned, Charles de Villiers chief marchaunt of this riche enterprise, early
in the mornyng with two. C. horssemen, and three hundred footemen approched nere the
toune, and abidyng for the Gascoyne, he there displaied his banner, thynkyng triumphant-
ly to entre into the toune: but it hapened otherwise. For or they wer ware, or suspected
any rescues, they wer enuironed with the English armie, and slain & taken euery creature,
sane Peter Danthenazy and. xxv. other, which by the swiftnes of their horsses saued the
selfes.
AFTER this conflict ended, the lorde Willoughby with his cdpany returned to therle of
Salisbury, before the tonne le Fort Barnard: the capitaines wherof consideryng, that there
was no hope of succor to be sente to theim, and that their vitaill diminished, and that they
were not long able to abide the harde assaultes of the English nacion, rendered the tounc
and castle, reseruyng to them their horsse and harneis onely, which toune tlierle receiued
to the vse of the kyng: But the regent for the valiaunt seruice done by the erle, gaue the
same toune to hym and to his heires for euer. Beside this therle partcly by assault, partely
by composicion, toke diuerse other tounes, as sainct Kales, wher he made capitain, Richard
Gethyne Esquier, Thanceaux Lennitage, where he made gouernor, Matthewe Gough,
Guerlande, of the whiche he assigned ruler, lohn Eanaster, Malicprne, wherof he made
capitain, William Glasdale esquier, Lisle soubz Boulto, wherof was made capitain, sir
Lancelot Lisle knight, Lowpellande, whereof was made capitain, Henry Braunche, Mount-
seur, of the whiche was made Cpnstable, sir WilliFi Oldhall knight, la Susze, was assigned
to the kepyng of Iho Suffolk esquier, and beside this, aboue. xl. castles and piles wer ouer-
throwen and destroyed. When the fame and report of these newcs wer blowen through
Fraunce, some freated, some feared, and some raged for angre: But the veritie of al thynges
beyng by the duke of Bedford declared into Englande, all men reioysed and wer very glad:
not onely for the conquest of so many tounes, but also that God had sentc theim victcry in a
pitched felde, and in a mortall battaill. Wherfore generall processions wer commaunded,
to rendre to God almighty humble and harty thankes, by whose onely gift, and not by power
of man, these notable victories wer gotten and achiued.
IT is not couenient, that I should talke somuche of Fraunce, & omit al thynges clone in
England. Wherfore you shall vnderstand, y about caster this yere, $• kyng called his high'
court of parliamet, at his toune of Westminster, & comyng to the parliament hous he was
coueighed through the citec vpon a great courser with great triiiph, which child was Judged
of all men, not only to haue the very ymage, y liuely portrature, and louelv countenaunce of
his noble parent and famous father, but also like to succede, and be his heire in all morall
vertues, marcial Policies, and Princely feates, as he was vndoubted inheritor to his realmes,
seigniories & dominions. In whiche parliament was graunted to the kyng a subsidy of. xii. .
d. of the pound, towardes the mainteinauuce of the warres, of all m arc haun disc commyng
iutc* i
123 THE. III. YERE OF
into this realme, or goyng out of thesame, besides other somes sette on euery tonne of li-
quor and on cucrysacke of woolle, aswel of Englishe men, as of strangers Duryng wniche
Parliamente came to London, Peter Duke of Quymber, sonne 10 the kyng of Ponvngale,
and cosin germain remouedto the kyng, which of the Duke of Exeester and the bishop of
Winchester his vncles, was highly i'estcd, and liberally rewarded, and was elected into the
noble ordre of the Garter. Duryng whiche season, Edinonde Mortimer, the last Erie of
Marche of that name (whiche long tyme had been restrained from his liberty, and finally
waxed lame) disceased without issue, whose inheritaunce discended to lorde Uicharde Plan-
tagenet, sonnc and heire ;to Richard erle of Cambridge, belicded. as you haue heard be-
fore, at the toune of Southhapton. Whiche Richard within lesse then. xxx. yeres, as heire
to this erle Edmond, in ope parliament claimed the croune and scepter ot this realme, as
herafter shal more manifestly appere. In the tyme of which Parliament also, whether it
were, either for, deserte or malice, or to auoyde thynges that might chaunce, accordyng to a
prouerbe, whiche sailh, a dead man doth no harme: Sir Ihon Mortimer cosin to the said erle
was attainted of treason and put to execution: of whose death no small slaunder arose
emongest the common people.
AFTER all these actes done in Englande, and in Fraunce, Humfrey duke of Gloucester,
with the lady laquet his supposed wife, passed the sea and came to Mons in Henawde,
and there by force tokeall suche landes, as Ihon duke of Brabant her first husband hud in
possession of the said lady laquet, which doyng, Philippe duke of Burgoyne, bevng grcate
frende to the duke of Brabant, muche disdained and more frouned at, and thought for the
olde loue and familiaritie, that he bare to the duke of Gloucester, that he would by frendly
monicion, turne hym fiom his vnhonest and vngodly life, to a reasonable reformation, and
brotherly conforrnitie. Wherfore he wrote louyugly to hym, that he should vtterly leaue of
any further Lo folowe thatnewe attempted enterprise, aduerlisyng hym, and protesting open-
ly, that the vsurpyng and wrongfully withholdyng of another marines possession, was not so
vile and slaunderous, as the deh'lyng of a pure & cleane bedde, and adulteriously kepyng the
wife of his christe brother. The duke of Gloucester beyng in this case very wilful), either
blinded with dotage, or inflamed with coueteousnesse of his wifes possessions, regardyng
neither the admonishement of the duke of Brabant, nor yet the godly aduertisement of the
duke of Burgoyn, sware that he would not leaue of to make farther war, till he had ex-
pulsed the duke of Brabant, out of his wifes seigniories, territories & dominions. Wher-
fore, the duke of Burgoyn assembled together V*;teat armie to make war on the duke of
Gloucester, in the cause & quarel of the duke of Brabant his (Vend and cosyn. The duke,
of Gloucester, partly for great affaires, that then were imminent in the realme of England,
and partly to assemble more people, to resist and withstad the power of the dukes of Bur-
goyn and Braban', left his wife at Mons in Henaude, with the lordes of the toune, whicho
sware to hym, to defend and kepe her against all men, till the tyme of his returne. Wher-
fore he leauyng with her twoo thousand Englishmen, departed to Calice, and so into En-
glande.
WHEN he was gone, the duke of Burgoyn so threatened, so vexed, yea, and almost so
famished them within the toune of Mons, that they deliucred into his possession the lady
laquet or lacomyne: whiche incotinent sent her to Gaunt, wher she disguised her self in a
nianncs apparel, and so escaped into a toune of her awne in Zelande, called Zirice, and fro
thence she was conueigcd to a toune in Holland called Tregowe, where she was honorably re-
ceiucd, & there made herself strong to witlnlande her enemies : And for her succor the Duke
of Gloucester sent to her fiue hundred mg. The dukes of Burgoyn and Brabant left her not
all in quiet, but brent her tonnes in Holland, and slewe her people in Zelande to her greate
detriment and displeasure. But inconclusion, this matter was brought before Martyn the. v.
bishop of Home: whiche adiudged the first matrimony with duke Ihon of Brabant, to be
good and effectuall, and the seconde espousals celebrated with duke Humfrey of Gloucester,
to bee of no value, force nor effecte: and that if the duke of Brabant died, it should not be
4 lawfull
KYNG HENRY THE. VL 129
lawfull to the duke of Gloucester, to niary again with the lady laquet. The duke of Glouces-
ter, obeiyng to this sentence, beganne to waxe lothe of his supposed wife, by who he neuer
had profile butlosse : for whose cause his frendes became hisenemies, & for whose sake he was
openly slaundered. Wherfore he, by wanton affeccion blinded, toke to his wife Elianor Cob-
ham doughter to the lord Cobham, of Sterberow, whiche before (as the fame wet) was hia
soueraigne lady and paramour, to his great slaunder and reproche. And if he wer vnquiet-
ed with his other pretensed wife, truly he was tenne tymes more vexed, by occasion of this
woman, as you shall herafcer plainly perceiue: so that he began his manage with euiil, and
ended it with worse. The Lady laquet after the death of Ihon duke of Brabant, maried a
gentleman of meane estate, called Frake of Bursellen, for the whiche cause the duke of
Burgoyn imprisoned her hou'sbande, and left her in greate trouble: suche was the ende of
these twoo manages.
/
5f THE FOURTH YERE.
A litle before this tyme, sir Thomas Rampstone, sir Philip Branche, sir Nicholas Bur- The, iiii.
deit, and other Englisheiuen to the n ombre of. v. hundred men, repaired and fortified the ^re-
toune of sainct lames de Leitron, on the frontiers of Normandy, adioynyng to Britayn. Ar-
thure erle of Richemondand Jury brother to the duke of Britayn, whiche like an vntrue gen-
tleman, sworne and foisworne to the king of England, sodainly fled to Charles the Dolphin:
whiche mnche reioysyng of his fauor and amity, gaue to hym the Constableship of Fraiice
whiche therle of Boughan slain before at Vernoyl, a small tyme occupied, and lesse space en-
ioyed. This newe Constable not a litle ioyful of his high office, thought to do some pleasure
to y dolphyn his master, & lo aduuuce his name at the first entry into his authoritie, he ima-
gined no enterprise to be to him more honorable, nor to his prince more acceptable, then to
auoyde and driue out of the toune of sainct lames de Beueon, al the Englishe nacion. So
in hope of victory gathered together a boue. xl.M. men, of Britons, Frenchmen and Scottes,
and enuironed the toune of sainct lames, or sainct laques de Beuron, with a strong siege.
The Englishmen within, whiche in nombre passed not vi.C. men, manfully defended the
daily assaultes of the fierce Frenchmen. The Englishemen consulted together what waie
was best to bee taken : and after long debatyng, thei determined to issue out of y toune and
to fight with their enemies. So on a daie, when the Britons were weried with a long assulte,
towardes the euenyng the Englishmen came out of the toune, one part by the posterne of
the Castle, and another part by the gate of the toune, criyng sainct George, Salisbury:
and set on their enemies bothe before and behind. The Frenchmen scyng the corage of
the Englishmen, and hearyng their crie, thyokyng that therle of Salisbury was come to
raise the siege, ramie awaie like shepe, and there wer taken, slain and drouned in the water, •
of them. iiii. thousand men and mo. Beskles this, these ioly galhuUes left behyndc theim
for hast, all their tentes. xiiii. greate gonnes, and. xl. barrelles of pourier. CCC. pipes of
wine, CC. pipes of bisket and fioure, CC. frailes of Figges and resons, and. v.C. barrelles
of heryng.
THE Frenchmen (beyng thus vanquished) fel in diuision emongest theunselfes : the one
laiyng to the charge of the other, the losse of their men and the. cause of their fliyng.
Sucheis euer the chauce of the war, that when victorie is obteined, the moste coward and faint
harted boy will boste and bragge, and when the battaill is loste, the faulte is assigned to the
beste, and not to the wourste. The newe Constabte was sore dismaied & muche ashamed of
this discomfiture and shamefull flight, but there was no remedy but pacience : But to the
entent to blotte out and deface this shatnfull fliyng with a notable victory, he with a great
armie entered into the countrey of Aniowe, and brente, spoyled and destroyed two or thre
at the moste, litle poore thetched villages: Whiche smal acte done, his malice was queched,
£ his old grief (as he thought) victoriously reuenged.
• S IN
130 THE. IIIJ. YFJIE OF
IN this season fell a greate diuision in the realiue of England, which, of a sparcle was;
like to growe to a Create flame : For whether the bishop of Winchester called Henry Beau-
fort, sonne to Ihon Duke of Lancastre, by his third wife, cnuied tlie authoritee of Hum-
freyduke of Gloucester Protector of the realmc, or whether the duke had taken disdain at
the riches and pompous estate of the bishop, sure it is that the whole realm was troubled
with them and their partakers: so that the eitezens of London fearvng that that should in-
sue vpon the matter, wer faine to kepe daily and nightly, watches, as though their enemies
were at hande, to besiege and destroye them: In so inuchc that all the shoppes within the
citie of London wer shut in for feare of the fauorers of those two greate personages, for
eche parte had assembled no small n ombre of peoj)le. For paciliyng whereof, tiie Arche-
bishop of Cantorbury, and the duke of Quymbcr called the prince of Portyngalc, rode
eight tymes in one daie betwene the twoo aduersaries, and so the matter was staied for that
tyme. The bishoppe of Winchester not content with his nephewe the lorde Protector,
sente a letter to the Kegente of Fraunce, the tenor wherof insueth.
" RIGHT high and mighty prince, and my right noble and after one, leuest lord, I
recommend me vnto you with all my harte. And as you desire the welfare of the kyng our
souereigne lord, and of his realmes of England and Fraunce, and your a\vne health and
ours also, so hast yon hether. For by my trouth if you tary, we shall put tin's lande in ad-
uenture, with a felde, suchc a brother you haue here, God make hym a good man. For
your wiscdom knouclh, that the profile of Fraunce stiideth in the welfare of England, &c.
Written in great hast on Alhallow euen. By your true seruant to my lifes ende. Henry
Wynchester."
THE duke of Bedford beyng sore greued and vnquieted with these newes, constituted the
erleof Warwicke, whiche was lately come into Fraunce, with sixe thousande men his lieuete*
minute in the Frenche dominions and in the duchy of Normandy, and so with a small company,
he with the duches his wife, returned again ouer the seas into Englad and the tenth day of
lanuary, he was with all solemnitie receiued into London, to whom the eitezens gaue a
paire of basynnes, and a thousande marke in money, and from London he rode to West-
minster, and was lodged in the kynges palaice. The. xxv. daie of Marche after his comyng
to London, a parliamet began at the toune of Leicester, where the Duke of Bedford open-
ly rebuked the Lordes in generall, because thit they in the tyme of warre, through their
prkiie malice and inward grudge, had almostc meued the people to warre and coinmocion,
in which tyme all men, ought or should be of one mynde, harte and consent: requiryng
them to defend, serue and drede their soueraigne lorde kyng Henry, in perfourmyng his
conquest in Fraunce, whiche was in maner brought to conclusion, in this parliament the
Duke of Gloucester, laied certain articles to the bishop of Winchesters charge, the
whiche with the aasweres herafter do ensue.
«f The articles of accusation, and accord, betwene my Lord of Gloucester!, and my
lorde of Wynchester.
HEre insueth the articles, as the kynges counsaill hath conceiued, the which the high
and mighty prince, my lord of Gloucester, hath surmised vpon my Lord of Wynchester
Chancellour of Englande, with the ansvrere to thesame.
1 FIRST, where as he beyng protector and defender of this lande, desired the toure to be
opened to him, and to lodge him therein, Richard Woodeuile esquire, hauyng at that
jyme the charge of the kepyng of the toure, refused his desire, and kepte the same toure
against hym, vnduly and against reason, by the commaundement of my saied Lord of
Winchester : and afterward in approuyng of thesaid refuse, he receiued thesaid Wodeuile,
and cherished hym against the state and worship of the kyng, and of my saied lorde of
Gloucester.
ITEM
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 131
ITEM my said lorde of Winchester, without the aduise and assent of my said lorde of 2
Gloucester, or of the kynges counsail, purposed and disposed hym to set liande on the
kynges persone, and to haue remoucd hym from Eltham, the place that he was in to Wind-
sore, to the entent to put him in suchegouernaunce as him list.
ITEM, that where my said lord of Gloucester, to whom of al persones or that should 3
be in the lande, by the waie of nature and birthe, it belongeth to se the gouernaunce of
the kynges person, informed of the said vndue purpose of my saied lord of Winchester,
declared in the articles nexte aboue saied. And in lettyng thereof, determinyng to haue
gone to EltbFi vnto the king, to haue prouided as the cause required. My saied lorde of
Winchester, vntruly and against the kynges peace, to the entent to trouble my said lord
of Gloucester goyng to the kyng purposyng his death in case that he had gone that way,
set men of armes and archers, at thende of London bridge next Southwerke : and in for-
barryng of the kynges high way, let drawe the cheineof the stulpes there and set vp pipes
and hardelles, in maner and forme of Bulwarkes: and set men in chambers, sellers and
windowes, with bowes and arrowes and other weapons, to thentent to bryng to final de-
struccion my saied lorde of Gloucesters persone, aswcll us of those that then should come
with hym.
ITEM my saied lorde of Gloucester saith and affirmeth, that our souereignc lorde his 4
brother, that was kyng Henry the fifth, told hym on a time, when our said souereigne
lorde beyng prince, was lodged in the palaice of Westminster in the greate chambre, by the
noyse of a spanyell there was on a night a man espied and taken behynd a t.ipet of the said
chambre, the whiche man was deliuered to therle of Arundell to be examined vpon the
cause of his beyng there at that tyme. The which so examined at that time, confessed that
he was there by the steryng vp and procuryng of my saied Lorde of Winchester, ordained
to haue slain thesaied prince there in his bedde: Wherfore thesaid erle of Arrudell let
sacke hym forthwith, and drouned hym in the Thamise.
ITEM our souereigne lorde that was, kyng Henry the fifth, said vnto my said lorde of ^
Gloucester, that his father kyng Henry the fourth lining, and visited then greatly with sickc-
nes of the hande of God, my saied lorde of Winchester saied vnto the kyng (Henry the fifth
then beyng prince) that the kyng his father, so visited with sickcnessc was not personable:
and therfore not disposed to come in conuersacion and gouernaunce of the people, and for
so uuichc couasailed hym to take the gouernaunce and croune of this lande vpon hym.
f The answere of the bishop.
HEre enfiueth the answeresand excusacions made by my lord of Wynchester Chauncel-
lour of Englande, vnto the causes and matters of heuinesse, declared in articles against
hym, by my lorde of Gloucester.
FIRST, as of the refuse made vnto my Lord of Gloucester, of opcnyng the toure to
hym, of his lodgyng therin, by the coinanndement of my saied lorde of Wynchester, he
answercth : that in the presence of my said lorde of Gloucester, before his commyng out of
his countey of Henawd, for causes such as wer thought reasonable, it seineth lefull that the
toure should haue been notably stuft'ed and kept with vitaile, how belt, it was not forthwith
executed, and that in likewise after, that my saied lorde of Gloucester was gone into his saied
countrey of Henawd for scdicious and odious billes & language, cast and vsed in the cite of
London, sounyng of insurreccion & rebellion against the kinges peace, and destruccion
aswel of diuerse estates of this land, as straungers beyng vnder the defence, in so muche
that in doubt therof, straungers in great nombre fled the land-- & for the more sure kepyng of
thesaid toure, Richard Wooduile squire, so trusted with y kyng our souereigne lorde that
dead is, (as wel ye knowe) and also chamberlain & counsauer vnto my lord of Bedford,
with a certain nombre of defensible persones assigned vnto him, was made deputie ther, by
thassent of J kynges cousail being that tyme at London, for to abide therin forsafe<*ard ther-
f,o
132 THE. IIIJ. YERE OF
of, and straightly charged by thesaied counsaill, that duryng that tyme of his saied charge, he
should not suffreany man to bee in the toure stronger then hymself, without especial charge
or cominaundement of the kyng by thaduise of his counsaill.
ITEM that after, sone vpon the comyng of my saied lorde of Gloucester into this lande
from his countrey of Henawd, the saied lordes of the kynges counsaill were enformed, that
my saied lorde of Gloucester, grudged with thesaid maner of enforcyng the toure, and let
sale to the of London, that he had wel vnderstand, that they had been heuyly thretened for
the tyme of his absence, and otherwise then they should haue bcne if he had be in this land.
Wherfore he was right euil contented, & especial of the said forcyng of the toure, set vpon
the in maner of a chast vilain. Consideryng the good equitie and trouthe that thei had al-
wayes kept vnto the kyng, offeryng them therupon remedy if they would.
3 ITEM that after this, Richard Scot liuetenaunt of the toure, by the coinmaundemet of
my said lorde of Gloucester, brought vnto hym Frier Randolfe, the whiche had long before
confessed treason, doen by hym against the kynges person that dead is, for the whiche know-
ledge he was put to be kepte in the saied toure, and straightly commaunded vnder great
paingeuen vnto the saied Scotte, to kepe hym straightly and surely, and not to let hym out
of the saied toure, without commaudement of the kyng, by thaduise of his counsail. The
which saied Frier Randolf, my said of lorde Gloucester kept then with hymself (not wittyng
the said Scot) as he declared vnto my said lorde of Winchester. Sone after that he had
brought the said Frier Randolf vnto my lorde of Gloucestre, saiyng vnto my saied lorde of
Winchester, that he was vndone but he helped hym, and expressed as for cause of the saied
withholdyng of Frier Randolf: And saying more ouer, that when he desired of my said
lorde of Gloucestre, the deliueraunce of the said Frier Randolfe, to leade hym again vnto
the toure, or sufficient warraunt for his discharge, my said Lorde of Gloucestre aunswered
hym, that his cominaundement was sufficient warraunt and discharge for hym. In the
whiche thyng aboue saied, it was thought to my Lorde of Wynchester, that my saied lorde
of Gloucester, toke vpon hym further then his authoritie stretched vnto, and caused hym
for to doubte & dreade, leaste that he would haue proceaded further. And atsuche tyme as
the saied Woodeuile came vnto him to aske his aduise and counsaill, of lodgyng of my saied
lorde of Gloucester into the toure : he aduised and charged him, that before he suffered my said
lorde of Gloucester or any person lodge therin stronger then hymself, he should purvey
hym a sufficient warraunt therof, of the kyng by thaduise of his counsaill.
4 ITEM as to the saied article of the foresaied causes of heuinesse, my saied Lorde the
Chaunccllor answereth, that he neuer purposed to set hande on the kynges person, nor to
remoue hym, or that he shoulde bee remoued, or put in any maner of gouernaunce, but by
thaduise of the kynges counsaill. For he could not conceiue any maner of goodnes or of
aduauntage that might haue growen vnto hym therof: But rather grcate perill and charge, and
hereof my saied Lorde of Winchester is redy to make profe in tyme and place conuenient.
5 ITEM, as to the third article of the farsaid causes and heuinesse, my said lorde Chaan-
cellor answereth, that he was ofte and diuerse tymes warned by diuerse credible persones,
aswell at the tyme of the kynges laste Parliament, holden at Westminster, as before and
cithe, that my said lorde of Gloucester, purposed him bodely harme, and was warned
therof, and counsailed by the saied persones, and that diuerse tymes to abstain hym fro
commyng to Westminster, as my said Lorde of Winchester declared vnto my saied lorde of
Gloucester.
6 ITEM, that in the tyme of thesaied Parliament diuerse persones of lowe estate, of the
citee of London in great nobre, assembled on a daie vpon the Wharffe, at the Crane of the
Vintry, wished and desired that they had there the persone of my Lord of Winchester,
saiyng: that they would haue throwen hym into the Thamise, to haue taught hym to swymme
with winges. For whiche bilies and language of slander and threatenynges, cast & spoken
in the said cite, by my said lord the Chancellor, caused hym to suppose, that they had so
saied and did, willed and desired his destruceion, although they had no cause.
ITEM
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. U'3
ITEM, that after the comyng to London of sir Raufc Botiller and master Lewes, sent 7
fro my Lorde of Bedford, to the rest of the lordes of the counsaill, they beyng in-
formed that my saied Lorde of Gloucester, did beare displeasure to rny saied Lorde of Win-
chester: They catne to my saied lorde of Gloucester to his Ynne, the second Sondaie next
before Alballowen daie, and there opened vnto him, that they had knowledge and vnder-
derstandyng of thesaied displeasure, praiyng hym to lette theim knowe if he -bare suche
displeasure against my saied Lorde of Winchester, and also the causes thereof. At the
whiche tyme (as my said lorde of Winchester was afterward informed) that my sated lorde
of Gloucester, affirmed that he was heuy towarde hym, and not withoutten causes that par-
aduenture he would put in vvrityng.
ITEM, that after the Modaie next before Alhallowen daie last past in the night, the 8
people of thesaid citee of London, by the commaundement of my said lorde of Glouces-
ter, as it was said: For what cause my lorde the Chancellor wist not, assembled in the
citee, armed and arraied and so continued all that night. Emongest diuerse of the whiche,
(the same night by what excitacion, my said lorde the Chauncellor wist not) seclicious and
heuie language was vsed, and in especiall against the persone of my saied lorde the Chauti-
cellor. And so the same Mondaie at night, my saied Lorde of Gloucester, sent vnto the-
Ynnes of Courte at London, chargyng them of the Court dwellyng in thesame to be with
hym vpon the morowe, at eight of the clocke in their best arraie.
ITEM that on the morowe, beyng Tewesday next folowyng early, my saied lorde of 9
Gloucester, sent vnto the Maire and Aldermen of the saied citee of London, to ordain hyrn
vnto the nombre of three hundred persones on horssebaeke, to accompany hym to suche
place as he disposed hym to ride, which (as it was saied) was vnto the kyng, to thentent to
haue his persone, and to remoue hym from the place that he was in, without assent or
aduise of the kynges counsail, the whiche thyng was thought vnto- my saied lorde the Chaun-
cellor, that he ought in nowise to haue doen, nor had not been sene so before.
ITEM that mv saied lorde the chauncellor, consideryng the thynges aboue said, and 10
doubtyng therfore of perelles that might haue insued thereof, intendyng to purueye there
against, and namely for his awne suretie and defence, accordyng to the lawe of nature, or-
dained to let that no force of people, should come on the bridge of London towarde hym,
by the whiche he or his might haue been indaungered or noyed, not intendyng in any wise,
bodely harme vnto my saied lorde of Gloucester, nor to any other person, but ouely his
awne defence end eschcwyng the perell abouesaied.
ITEM as toward the fourth and iifth of the saied articles, my loide the Chauncellor an- j j
swereth, that he was eucr true, to al those that wer his soueraigne Lordes, and reigned
vpon hym, and that he neuer purposed treason nor vntrouth against any of their persones,
and in especiall against the persone of our saied soueraigne lorde kyng Henry the fifth.
The whiche consideryng the greate wisedome, trouthe and manhod, that al men knewe in
hym, ne would not for the tyme that he was kyng, haue set on my said lorde the Chauncel-
lor so greate truste as he did, if he had founde, or thought in hym suche vntrouthe. The
whiche thyng tny saied Lorde the Chauncellor, olfred to declare and shewe, as it belogeth
to a man of his estate to do, requiryng thervpon my lord of Bedford, and all the lordes
spiritual! and temporal in this parliamet, that it might be sene, that there wer judges co-
uenient in this case, that they would do hym right, or els that he might haue leaue of the
kyng by their aduise, to go sue his right, before hym y ought to be his iudge.
AND as towarde the letter sent by my lord of Winchester, vnto my lord of Bedford, jg
of the whiche the tenor is before rehersed, of the which my lorde of Gloucestre complain-
ed hym of the malicious and vntrue purpose of my said lord of Winchester, as toward
the assernblyng of the people and gatheryng of a feld in the kynges lade in troublyng there-f,
and against thelcinges peace: My said lorde of Winchester answereth, that of his said let-
ters duely vnderstande, & in suche wise as he vnderstod and meant in the writyng of them,
it maie not reasonably be gathered and taken, that my saied lorde of Winchester, intended-
to
THE, 1113. YERE OF
to gather any fe!d or assemble people, in troublyng of the kynges land, and against the
fringes peace, but rather he purposed to acquitc hyin to the kyng in his trouthe, and to
kepe the rest and peace in the kytigcs land, and to eschew rebellion, disobedience and all
trouble. For by that that in the begin nyng of the said letter, he callcth my said lorde of
Bedford, his Icuest lorde, after one, that is the kyng, whom he ought to except of dutie of
hio t ron the, the whiche he imth euer kept and will kcpe.
13 MOREOVER in the saicd letlre, he desireth the commyng home of my Lorde of Bed-
forde, for the welfare of the kyng and of his realmes of England and of I'raunce. the
whiche stande principally in his kcpyng of rest and peace, and praicth my saied lorde of
Bedford, to spede his commyng into England, in cscliewyng of ieoperdy of the land, and
of a felde the whiche he drade hym, might haue folowed if he had long taried : As toward
those wordes, and ye tary we shall put this land in aduenture with a feld, suche a brother
ye liaue here, &c. My saicd lord of Winchester saieth, lhesothei§: before or he wrote
thesaied letter, by occasion of certain ordinaunces, made by the Mairc and Aldermen of
London, against the excess! ue taking of Masons, Carpentars, Tilers, Plasterers and other
laborers, for their daily iorneis and approued by the kynges aduise and his counsaill, there
were caste many heuinesses and sedicious billes, vnder the names of suche laborers, thret-
enyng risyug with many thousandes, and manassyng of estates of the lando, and likewise
sedicious and euill language sowen, .and .so continued and likely to haue sued of purpose
and intent of disobedience and rebellion. To redressyng of the v.hiche, it seined to my
forde the Chauncellor, that my said lorde of Gloucester, did not his endeuor, nor diligence
that he might haue shewed, for lacke of whiche diligence, they that were disposed to do
disobeysaunce, were incoraged and inboldened. So that it was like that they should haue
made a gathcryng, and that the kyng and his true subiectes, should haue been compelled
to haue made a felde, to haue withstand theim, the which feld makyng had been ad-
tienturyng of this lande. And in tokenyng that it was neucr my said lorde Chauncellors
intent to gather no feld, but as trouth moste stirred hyin against suche as riotously, would
make suche assemble against our soueraigne Lorde, and the weale of this land : He de-
sired so hastely, the commyng of my saied Lorde of Bedforde, the whiche he would in
no wise haue so greatly desired, if he would haue purposed hym vnto any vnlawful makyng
of a feld, for he wist wel that my said lorde of Bedford would moste sharply haue chastised
and punished, all those that so would any riotous assehle make. When this answere was
made, the duke caused this writyng folowyng, opely to be proclaymed.
14 Beit knowen to all folkes, that it is the intent of my lord of Bedford, and all the lordes
spiritual! and temporal!, assembled in this present parliament, to acquite hym and them,
and to precede truly, iustely and indifferently, without any parcialitie, in any maner of
matters or querelles, moued or to bee moued, betwene my Lorde of Gloucester, on that
one partie, and my lorde of Winchester, Chauncellor of England on that other party.
And for sure kcping of the kynges peace, it is accorded by my saied lorde of Bedford, and
by my saied lordes spiritual and temporal!, an othe to be made, in forme that foloweth,
that is to saie.
f The Othe of the lordes.
TMat my saied lorde of Bedford, and my saied lordes spiritual and temporal, and eche
of them, shal as farfurth as their connynges and discrecions suffisen, truly, iustly, and in-
differently, cousaill and aduise the kyng, and also procede and acquite them self, in al the
said matters and quarelles, without that they, or any of theim, shall priuely and appertly,
make or shewe hymself to be party or parciall thcrin, not leuyng or eschewyng so to do,
for affcccion, loue, mede, doubt, or dreade of any persoue or persones. And that they
shall in all wise, kepe secrete all that shalbe commoned by waie of counsuill, in the mat-
ters and quarelles abouesaid, in the said parliament, without that they or any of them shall
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 135
by worde, writyng of the kyng, or in any wise open, or discouer it to any of thesaid par-
ties, or to any other person that is not of the saied counsail. But if lie haue a speciall
commaundement or leaue thereto of tlie kyng, or of my saied lorde of Bedfordc, and that
eche of them shall, with all his might and power, assist by waie of counsaill, and els shewc
it vnto tlie kyng, my lordc of Bedibrdc, and to the rest of my said lordes, to put the said
parties to reaso, and not suffer that any of the saied parties, by them or by their assistentes,
procede or attempte by waie of feit against the kynges peace: nor helpe, assiste, or comfort
any of them thereto, but let them witli all their might and power, and withstands them,
and assist vnto the kyng and my saied Lord of Bedfordc, in-kepyng of the kynges peace,
and redressyng all such maner of procedyng by waie of foil or force.
5f The Dukes. The Lord Cromcwell.
The Duke of Bedford. The Lord Bovoughth.
The Duke of Norffolke. The Lord Louell.
The Duke of Excestrc. The Lord Botreux.
<f Bisshoppes. The Lord Clynton.
The Archebishop of Canterbury- The Lord Zouche.
The Bishop of Carlisle. The Lord Audeley.
The Bishop of Bathe. The Lord Ferreis of Grobv.
The Bishop of Landaffe. The Lord Talbot.
The Bishop of Rochestre. The Lord Roos.
The Bishop of Chichcster. The Lord Grey.
The Bishop of Worcester. The lord Grey of Ruff
The Bishop of Sainct Dauies. The Lord Fitzwalter.
The Bishop of London. The Lord Berkeley.
The Bishop of Durcsme. «f Abhottes.
^jErles. The Abbot of Waltlmm.
The Erie of Northumberlande. The Abbot of Glaustinbtiry.
The Erie of Staffurde. The Abbot of saincte Augustines in Can-
The Erie of Oxforde. torbury.
Lordes. The Abbot of Westminster.
The Lord Hungerforde. The Abbot of Sainct Maries in Yorko.
Tlie Lord Tiptoft. The Abbot of saincte Albons, not sworn*-
The Lord Ponyngcs. because hewas not presente.
WHICHE othe in maner and forme aboue rehersed, all the lordes aswell spirituall a«
temporal!, beyng in this parliamft at Leicester assembled the tburthe daic of Marche, pro-
mised vpon their faithe, dutie and allegeaunce, whiche they owe to the kyng their soueraigne
Lorde, truly to obserue and kepe, accordyng to the true meanyng and purport of thesame
^[ The Arbitrement.
IN the name of God, we Henry Archebishop of Canterbury, Thomas Duke of. Excester,
Ihon Duke of Norffolke, Thomas bishop of Duresme, Philip bishop of Worcester, Ihon
bishop of Bathe, Humfrey erle of Stafford, William Alnewike keper of the kynges priuie
Scale, Ranffe lorde of Cromwell, arbitratoures in all maner of causes, matters and quarel.s
of heuinesses and greuaunces, with all incidentz, circumstaunces, dependentes, or. connexes, .
lieyng and hagyng betwene the high and worthy prince Hufrey Duke of Gloucester, on tlie
one partie, and the worshipful father in God, Henry bishop of Winchester and Chauncellor
of England, on the other partie, by either of theim for the peacyng of the saied quarelles and-
debate?, taken nnd chosen in maner and forme; as it is conteined more plainly in a compri-
iresse made theiupon, of the whiche the tenor sheweth in this forme.
MEMORANDVM the. vii. daie of Marche, in the. iiij. yere of our soueraigne Ijordeithe
kyng, Henry the sixt. The high and mightie prince Humfrey duke. of Gloucsstre, atlbe re-
3 uerence
THE. IIIJ. YE RE OF
ucrcncc of God, and for the good of the kyng our soucraigne Lorde in this lande, and namely
at the rcneix'ce, and specially at the request and praier of the mightie and highe prince my
lord of Bedford his brother, agreed hym to put and putteth all maner matters and queralles
in deede, with all their nicidentez, circumstaunces, dependentz and connexes, that touchen
liyni and his persone, that lie hath in anywise, do, or feleth hym greued, or heuy against
iny lorde his vncle, my Lorde of Winchester. Or els that my Lorde of Winchester findeth
him greued against hym, in asmuchc as they touch hym or his persone, fro the beginnyng of
the wbrlde vnto this daie. Jn the aduise, ordinaunce and arbitrament of the worthy father
in GOD, Henry Archbishop of Canterbury, the high and noble prince Thomas duke of Ex -
'tester, and Ihon duke of Norffolke, the worshipfull father in God Thomas bishop ofDu-
resmc, Philip bishop of Worcester, Iho bishop of Bathe. The noble lorde Ilumfrey erle of
Stafford, the worshipfull persones, Master William Alnewike keperof the kynges priuy sealer
and Haufe lorde Crurmvel, promisyng and behightyng, by the faith of his body, and worde
of his princehode and kynges sonne, to do kepe, obserue and fulfil, for hym and in his behalf,
all that shalbe declared, ordeined and arbitred, by the forsaid Archebishop, Dukes, bishop-
j>es, Erie, Keper of the priuie scale, and lorde Cruwell, in all matters and querelles aboue
saied: Grauntyng also and promisyng ouer that, to be comprehended in the forsaied arbi-
tretnent, as toward puttyng awaie all heuinesse or displeasures in any wise conteined by
my lorde of Gloucester, against all those that haue in any wise assisted, counsailed, or fa-
uorcd vnto his said vncle of Winchester, and as toward any matters, that be touchyng
my Lord of Gloucester, remitteth it and the gouernaunce thereof vnto the kyng and
his counsaill, they to dome it by the aduise of his counsaill, as hym thynketh it to be
doen. In witncsse of the whiche thyng, to this present compromise, my said lorde of Glou-
cester, hath subscribed his name with his awne hande, Humfrey Gloucester. And in like
forme, my Lorde of Winchester in another compromise, hath suscribed with his awne hande,
vnder the worde of priestehod, to stande at the aduise, ordinaunce and arbitremet of the
persones abouesaied, Mutatis Mutandis.
THE causes beforsaied and querelles by vs sene, heard, and diligently examined and de-
creed, by the assent of the saied parties, ordeine and award, that my lordes of Gloucester
and of W inches ter, for any thyng doen or spoken, by that one purtie against that other, or by
any of theirs or any other persone or persones, afore the. vii. daie of this present Moncth of
Marche, ncuer hereafter take causes, querelles, displeasures or heuinesses, that one against
theother, ne nether against thecounsailers, adherentes or fauorers of that other, for any thing
or thynges that are past. And that my saied lorde of Gloucester, bee good Lorde to my
saied Lorde of Winchester, and haue hym in loue and affeccion as his kynsemen and Vncle.
And that my saied Lorde of Winchester, haue to my saied Lorde of Gloucester, true and
s:\dde loue and affeccion, do and bee ready to do to hym suche seruice, as aperteineth of
'honesty to my saied Lorde of Winchester and his estate todoo. And that eche of theim be
good Lord vnto all those adherentes, counsailers and fauorers of that other, and shewe theim
;it all tymes fauorable loue and affeccion, as for any thyng doen by them, or saied afore the
scuenth daie of Marche.
AND we derre, ordaiue and awarde, that my saied Lorde of Wynchester, in the pre-
sence of the kyng oure soueraigne Lorde, my Lorde of Bedfordr, and my Lorde of
Gloucester, and the rcsydue of the Lordes Spirituall and Temporal!, and' Commons
beeyng in this prcsente Parlyamente, saye and declare in maner and forme that foloweth.
MY soueraigne Lorde I haue well vnderstande, that I am noysed emong the states of your
land, how that the kyng our soueraigne lorde that was that tyme, beyng prince and lodged
iu thegreate chambreat Westminster, by the baiyngof a spanyell, there was on a night taken,
behynJ a tapet in thcsame chamber, a man, that should haue confessed, that he was thereby
myne excitacion and procuryng to haue slain theforesaied Prince there in his bedde, where-
vpon thesaied erle, let sacke hym furthwith, and drouned hym in the Thamise. And fur-
thermore I am accused, how that I should haue stirred the kyng that last died, the tyme also
that he was Prince, to haue taken the gouernaunce of this rcalme, and the croune vpo him,
1 liuyng
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 137
liuyng his father the same tyme beyng kyng: Through whiche language and uoysyng, I feie
my name and fame greatly emblemmisshed, in diuerse inenhes opinions. Where vpon I take
h'rste God to my witnesse, and afterwarde all the worlde, that I haue been at all tymes, £ am
true louer and true man, to you my soueraigne Lorde, and shalbe all my life. And also I
haue bene to my soneraigne lorde, that was your father, all tyme of his reigne, true man:
and for suche, he toke trust and cherished me to his Hues end, and as I trust no man nil
affirme the contrary, nor neuer in my life procuryng, nor imagenyng death nor destruccio of
his person, ne assentyng to any such thyn'g, or like thereto, the tyme that he was kyng or
Prince, or els in other estate. And in like wise, I was true man to Kyng Henry the. iiij. all
the tyme that he was my soueraigne lorde, and reigned vpon me: In which matters, in all
maner of wise, that it liketh to you my soueraigne lorde for to commaunde me, I am ready
for to declare me: And furthermore, where, how and when, it shall like you by thaduise of
your counsaill to assigne me. Wherefore I beseche you my soueraigne Lorde as humbly as
I can consideryng that there is no grounded processe, by the v\ hich I might lawfully, in these
matters aboue saied beconuict, blessed be God, to holdeme and declare me by thaduise of
al the lordes spirituall and temporall, beyng in this presente Parliament, true man to you
my soueraigne lord, & so to haue been vnto my souereigne lords that wer your fattier and
graudfather, and true man also, to haue been at all tymes vnto his saied father, whilest he
was Prince, or els in any other estate, the said slaunder and noysyng notwithstanding. And
this same declaracion to be enacted, in this your saied present parliament.
THE which wordes declared in maner, as it is aboue said by my said larde of Winchester,
it semeth to my saied lordes the arbitrators, that it is fittyng that my said lorde of Win-
chester drawe hym a part, and in the ineane tyme, the Lordes beyng present, bee singulerly
examined thervpon and saie their aduise: And if it be assented by theim in maner as my
saied lorde of Winchester desireth, let hyin be called again, and that then my lord of Bed-
ford, then haue these wordes in effect y foloweV
FAIRE vncle, my Lord, y kyngs grace by the aduise of his connsaill, hath comma unded me
to saie to you, that he hath well vnderstande and considered all the matters whiche ye haue
here openly declared in his presence, and thereupon ye desire a peticion that he will declare
you, and by the aduise and assent of the lordes spiritual! an dtemporall, beyng in this presente
Parliamente, he declarethyou a true man to hym, and that ye haue so bee to my lorde his father
and his graundfather, and also true man to my Lorde his father whiles he was Prince or els
in any other estate, thesaied dislaunder and noysyng notwithstandyrig : And will that the
saied declaracion be so enacted in this present parliament. After the whiche wordes thus
saied, as before is declared, by thesaied lordes arbitratours that my saied lorde of Winchester
should haue these wordes that folowcth, to my saied lorde of Gloucester.
MY Lorde of Gloucester, I haue concerned to my greate hcuinesse that ye should haue
receiued by diuerse reportes, that I should haue purposed and imagined against your persone,
honor and estate in diuerse maners, for thewhich ye haue take against me great displeasure
Sir I take God to my witnes, that what reportes socuer haue been to you of me, paraduen-
ture of such as haue had no greate affeccion to me, GOD forgiuc it them, I neuer imagined,
ne purposed any thyng that might be hyndcryng or preiudice to your persone, honor, or estate.
And therfore, I praie you that ye be vnto me good lord from this time furthe, for by my
will I gaue neuer other occasion, nor purpose not to do herafter through Goddes grace.
The whiche wordes so by hym saied, it was decreed by the said arbitratours, that my lord
of Gloucester should answere and saie.
Faire Vncle, sithe ye declare you suche a man as ye saie, I am right glad that it is so and
for suche a man I take you.
And when this was doen, it was decreed by the saied arbitratours that euery ech of my
lordes of Gloucester and Winchester should take either other by trie hande, in the presence
of the kyng and all the parliament, in signe and token of good loue and accord, the whiche
was doen and the Parliamet was adiourned till after Easter.
T When
138 THE. IIIJ. YERE OF
When the greate fire of this disceneion, betwene these twoo noble personages, was thus
by the arbitratours to their knowledge and iudgement, vtterly quenched out, and laied vnder
boord all other controuersies bttnene other Loroles, takyng parte with the one partie or the
other, wer soue apeased and brought to concord. For ioy wherof, the kyng caused a so-
lepne feast, to be kept on Whitsou sondaie, on the whiche daie, he created Richard Plan-
tagenet, sonne and heiretothe erle of Cambridge (whom his father at Hampton, had put to
execution, as you before haue heurde) Duke of Yorke, not forseyng before, that this pre-
fermet should be his destruction, nor that his sede should, of his generacion, bee the ex-
treme ende and finall confusion. He the same daie also promoted Ihon Lorde Mowbrey
and Erie Marshall, sonne and heire to Thomas duke of Norffolke, by kyng Richard the se-
conde exiled this real me and dominion, to the title, name, and stile o; the Duke of Norflblke,
duryng whiche feaste, the Duke of Bedforde adourneJ the kyng with the high ordre of
Jknighthode, whiche on thesame daie dubbed with the swear jd these knightes whose names
ensue.
Richard Duke of Yorke. Sir Reignold Cobharn.
Ihon Duke of Norffolke. Sir Ihon Passheleue.
The erle of Westmerlande, Sir Thomas Tunstall.
Henry lorde Percie. Sir Ihon Chedeocks.
Ihon lord Butler, sonne to therle cf Or- Sir Raufe Langstre.
naond. Sir William Drurye.
The lord Ilosse. Sir William Ap Thomas.
The lorde Matrauers. Sir Richard Caruonell.
The lorde Welles. Sir Richard Wooduile.
The lorde Barkeley. Sir Ihon Shirdclow.
Sir lames Butler. Sir Nicholas Blanket.
Sir Henry Graye of Tankaruile. Sir William Cheyney.
Sir Ihon Talbot. Sir William Babyngto lustice.
Sir Raufe Graye of Werke. Sir Raufe Butler.
-Sir Robert Veer. Sir Robert Beauchapme.
Sir Richard Grey. Sir Edmond Trafford.
Sir Edmond Hungerford. -Sir ILon lune chief Baron, and diuerse
Sir Water Wyngfeld. other.
Sir Ihon Buttelen.
AFTER this solempne feast ended, a great aide and subsidye was graunted, for the conti-
nuance of the conquest in Fraunce, and so money was gathered, and men wer prepared
in euery citee, toune, and coutrey: duryng whiche busines, Thomas duke of Excester, the
sadde, wise and ivel learned cousailer, great vncle to the kyng, departed out of this mortal
life, at his manner of Grenewiche, & was with al funeral pompe, conueyed through London
to Berry, and there buried. In which yere also died the Lady Elizabeth his halfe sister,
& of the whole bloud with kyng Henry the. iiij. inaried to lorde Ihon Hollande duke of Ex-
cester and after to the lord Fanhope, buried at the Blacke Friers of London.
WHILE these thynges wer thus appoyntyng and concludyng in Englande: The erle of
Warwicke leuetenaunt for the Regente in the reahne of Fraunce, entered into the countrey
ofMayne, and besieged the toune of Chasteau de Loyre, the which shortly to h'yrn was re-
dered wherof he madecapitain Matthew Gough esquire. After that, he toke by assaute the
castle of Mayet, and gaue it for his valeauntnes to Iho Winter esquire, & after that he con-
quered the castle of Lund, and made there governor, William Gladdisdale gentleman. At
whiche place he was informed, that the Frenchemen were assembled together, in the coun-
trey of Beausse, wherforelike a valyaunt capitain, he with all his power marched thether-
warde, to encountre with his enemies, and to fight with his aduersaries, whiche hauyng
knowledge of his approchyng, fled, and durste not abide the triall, nor jeopardy the aduen-
ture, and in his returnyng, he beseged the Castle of Montdubkan, whereof was capitain sir
4 Roberto
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 13.9
Roberto des Croix, whiche siege cotinued thre \vekes, but in conclusion the Englishcmen,
so sore charged theim with in, that the capitain with his whole company, were contente to
yelde the castle, their Hues horse and harneis, oncly reseKued: Wliiche to them ivas after
long consultacion had, and many agrementes made frankely grauted. And the saied erle of
Warwicke, leauyng there the valeaunt lorde Willoughby, returned again to Paris. Duryng
whiche season he was ordained by the assent of the thre estates of thcreahne of England to
be gouernorof the young kyng, in like maner as the noble Duke of Excester before his death
was appoynted and assigned, but yet he taried still in Eraunce, and did there no small scr-
uice as you shall here after percciue.
If THE FIFTH YERE.
THE Regent of Fraunce thus beeyng in Englande, meanes was made by the Duke of Bur- The.v.yere.
goyne, for the deliuery of the Duke of Alanson, whiche was taken prisoner at the battaill of
Vernoylelhe last yere. So he for the some of twoo hundred thousande crounes, was deliuered
and set at large: but neither for release of all or abatement of part of his raunsome, he
would in no wise acknowledge the kyng of Englande, to he his liege and soucreigne Lorde:
Suche affeccion bare he to the Dolphyn, and suche troulh shewed he to his natural country. •
When all thynges wer concluded, ordered and established, bothe for the conseruacion of
peace and tranquilitie within the realme of Englande, and also for the maintenaunce ofwarre
for the finall gainyng of the region of Fraunce : the Duke of Bedforde and his wife, tooke
their leaue of the Kyng, at Westminster and landed at Calice, with who also passed the seas,
Henry bishop of Winchester, whiche in thesaied tonne was inuested with the Habile, Hatte
and dignitie of a Cardinall, with all Ceremonies to it appertainyng. Whiche degree, kyng
Henry the fifth knowyng the haute corage, and the ambicious myndeof the man, prohibited
_hym on his allegeaunce once, either to sue for or to take, mcanyng that cardinalles Hattcs
should not presume to be egall with Princes. Hut now the kyng beyng young and the Regent
his frencle, he obteined that dignitie, to his greate profite, and to the empoucrishyng of the
spiritualtie. For by a Bull legatyne, whiche he purchased at Rome, he gathered so much
treasure, that no man in maner had money but he, and so was he surnamed the riche Car-
dinall of Winchester, and nether called learned bishop, nor vertcous priest.
AFTER that, the duke of Bedford was returned into Fraunce, the lorde of Rustinan Mar-
shall of Britayn, assembled a greate company of the Britishe nacion, whiche fortefied & re-
paired the toune of Ponntorson, and after thesaied Marshall, with a thousand men entered
into the countrey of Constantyne in Normandy, and came before the toune of Auranches.
Thenglishmen within the garrison, issued out & boldly fought with their enemies: but after
long conflicte and many strokes geuen, the Britons wer ouer come, and the lorde Rusty-
nan taken, and the moste parte of his people slaine. The Duke of Bedforde hearyng that
4he toune of Pountorson was newly fortified and strongly defended, sent thither the erle of
Warwicke, accopanied with the lorde Scales, and diuerse other valiaunt capitaines and
souldiers, to the nombre of. vii. thousand men to besiege the toune, whiche so enuironed
it on euery parte, that neither man could steale out, nor beast could passe in. The siege
long continnyng, vitaill began to waxe scant in the Englishe armie, wherefore the Lord
Scales hauyng in his company, sir Ihon Harpely Bayly of Constantine, sir William Brear
ton Bayly of Caen, sir Raufe Tesson, sir Ihon Carbonell and. iii. thousand good men of
war, departed fro the siege to get vitail, pouder and other thynges necessary for their pur-
pose and enterprise. And as they were returnyng with their cariages On the sea cost, riere
to S. Michaels Moiit, they sodainly wer encounlred with their enemies, wherof the chief
wer, the Baron of Coloses, the lorde Dausebost capitain of thesaid Mount the lorde Moun-
tabon, the lorde Mountburchier, the lorde of Chasteau Giron, the lord of Tyntygnat, the
lord of Chasteau Brian with. vi. M. men of warre. The lorde Scales and his company
T 2 (seyng.
140 V THE. V. YERE OF
(seyng that thei wer compassed on euery side with deadly daungiers, for the sea was on the
one side, and their enemies on the other, and no mcane waie to escape or flie, discended
from their horsses and like gredy Lions, together in an vnpeaceable fury, set on their ene-
mies. The skirmishe was strong & the fight was fierce, the Englishmen kept themselfes so
close, that their enemies could haue no auantage of them. At the last the lorde Scales cried
S. George, they flie, with that thenglishmen toke suche a corage, & the Frenchmen that
fought before, were so dismaied that they began to flie. The Englishmen leped again on
horssebacke, and folowed theim, and slewe and toke aboue. xi.C. persones, emongest who
wer taken, the Baron of Colsoes, and the lorde of Chasteau Brian and xxx. knightes.
AFTER this victory, the Lorde Scales with his vitailes, prouision and prisoners, return-
ed to the siege, where he was of the Erie and other noble men, Joyously receiuecl and for this
notable facte, highly magnified and preysed. While the siege thus continued before Poun-
torson, Christopher Hanson and other souldicrs of the garrison of S. Susan, made a rode
into the countrey of Anioy, & came to a Castle called Kamffort, which castle was so priuely
scaled, that the capitain within & his company, wer taken or slain before they knewe of
their enemies approchyng. When knowledge of this fcate was made open to the Frenche-
nien, whiche were assembled to the nombre of. xx.M. to reyse the siege, and breake vp the
the campe, liyng before the toune of Pountorson, they left that iourney for a tyme, and re-
turned to the Castle of Ramffort, and besieged thesame by the space of tenne daies.
THE Englishmen considering the multitude of the enemies, and the farre absence of
their frendcs, began to treate with the Frenchmen and so vpon condicion to departe with
baggc and baggage, horse and names, thei rendered vp the castle, and departed with more
riches then thei brought, whiche castle thus possessed by the Frenchemen, they forgat the res-
kew of Poutorson, and brake vp thei. army. But sone after, the lorde of Raix, calling
himself liuetenaunt general for the dolphin, accompanyed with the lorde Mount lehan, the
Lorde Bcaumanoire, and the lorde Tussye, and other to the n5bre of thre thousand per-
sones, entered into the countrey of Mayn, & laied siege to the castle of Malycorne, w he rot"
was capitain an Englishma, called Oliuer Osbatersby, which castle with the capitain, was by
force taken and obteined : in like maner they toke the litle castle of Lude^ and there in
William Blackeborne leuetcnaunt for Willia Glasdale esquire, & put hym to rausorne, and
slewe al his souldiers. Alter this victory, in the which they muche gloried, the Frenchmen
perceiuing that therle of Warwicke continued stil his siege before the toune'of Pountorson,
& knowyng by their espials, that the Englishmen wer determined to geue them battaill, if
thei once attempted to rayse the siege, and therefore fearyng to fight in an open battaill, re-
culed backe again to the dolphyn with litle gain and small honor. The Frenchmen and:
Britons beyng straighlly besieged within the tonne of Pountorson, perceiuyng no likelyhod.
of succors to come, and seyng the Englishe army daily did increase, fearyng the sequela
therof, if they by violence should be taken and vanquished, thei offered the toune, so that
thei might departe with horse and harnes only: whiche request (after long sute and peticion)
to theim was hardely graunted. The Erie like avaliaunt capitain, entred into the toune and
there appoynted for gouernors, the lord Roos, and the lorde Talbot, and leuyng there .a
conuenient garrison, returned to the lorde Regent.
AFTER the takyng of this toune, there was a league, and a treaty concluded betwene the
Regent and the duke of Britayn, by the whiche agrement bothe the tounes of Pountorson
and S. lames de Beuron wer beaten doune to the ground £ clery defaced. After the lord
ef Rais was departed out of the territory of Mayne as you haue heard, Christopher Han-
son, Phillip Gough, Martyn Godffrey called the sealer, and diuerse other of the garrison of
S. Susan, to the nombre of. xxx. ar chars, went out in a mornyng to seke their aduetures,
and came nere to the Castle of sainct Laurence de Mortiers (at the same very season)
whe sir lames de Scpeaulx capitain of thesame, was gone out of his Castle with the greatest
nombre of his retinewe, to a Churche directly against the castle. In the masse time, then-
glisHmen entered by subtiltie into the gate & so gat the dongeon. And when sir James re-
1 turned
_____ KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 141
turned from Masse, as he entered into the gate he was taken, and his men fled, and so was
the castle furnished with Englishmen, and capitain therof was appoynted, sir William Old-
haule.
THE same season, sir Ihon Fastolfe, gouernor of the countries of Aniowand Maine, as-
sembled a great puissaunce of men of warre, and laied a siege before the castle of sainct
Owen Destays, beside the toune ofLauall, wherof was capitain sir Guillam Orenge, whiche,
after ten daies besiegyng, rendred the castle, their Hues and armure only except: howbeit
one railyng and slaunderous persone was put to terrible execution. And from thence, the-
said sir Ihon remoued to the strog castle of Grauile, & after, xii. daies, thei within offred to
yeld the castle by a day if thei wer not succored by y dolphin or his power. The offre was
taken & pledges deliuered, which wer Guilla Cordouen, & Ihon de Majsierie esquicrs. Af-
ter these pledges deliuered, sir Ihon Fastolffe returned in post to the regent, aduertisyng
him of this cotnposicion and agrement: wherfore thesaid lorde, reised a greate power, to
tight with the Frenche men at the day appoynted, and in his company, wer the erles of
Mortaigne and Warwicke, and the lordes Roos, and Talbot, sir Ihon Fastolffe, sir Ihon
Aubemond, sir Ihon Ratclife, and diuerse other, to the nombre of twentie thousand men,
and so inarched forward in hope to mete and ioyne battail with their enemies. But their
aduersaries, whiche wer not farre of, durste notapproche, wherfore the Regent sent sir Ihon
Fastolfe incontinent to receiue the castle : but they within (cotrary to their prornesse and ap-
pointment) had newly vitailed and manned the place, and so forsaking their pledges and
iielowes in armes, refused to render the fortres according to the appointment:, wherfore the
pledges were brought before the sight of theiin within the castle, and there openly put to death.
After this, the lord Talbot, was made gouernor, of Aniow and Mayne, and sir Ihon.
Fastolffe was assigned to another place: whiche lorde Talbot, beyng bothe of noble birthe,
aud haute corage, after his comming into Fraunce, obteigned so many glorious victories of
his enemies, that his only name was, and yet is dredful to the Frenche nacion, and muche
renoumedemongest all other people. This ioly capitain, and sonne of the valiant Mars, en-
tered into Mayn and sleive men, destroyed castles, and brent tounes, and in conclusion, ,
sodainly toke the toune of Lauull: but the lord Loghac, and diuerse other, retrayted theiiu.
selfes into the Castle, and there remained eight daies. Duryng which tyme, it was agreed,
that all capitaines, Burgesses, and men of warre, which wer within the Castle, should de-
part with bagge and baggages, paiyng to the lord Talbot for al thynges, one hundred thou-
sand CrouneSi And the Castle so beyng deliuered, was committed to the kepyng of Gilbert.
Halsall, w.hiche after, was slain at the siege of Oileance, for whom was made capitain
Matthew Gough, which beyng at the iorney before Senlies, by treason of a miller that kept
a mil adioynyng to the walle, the Frenchemen entered into the toune, and brought it into
their subiectionand obeysaunce.
THE duke of Bedford, was aduertised by his espials, that the toune of Montar»es^
whiche was in the territory of Orleance, was but slenderly kept and smally furnished, and
that it might be taken with litle pain and no losse. The Regent glad of these newes, sent
therleof Suffolke, sir Ihon Pole his brother, & sir Henry Bisset with sixe. Mi men to assaute
the toune, but when they came thether and found the toune better manned and more
strongly defenced, then their expectacion imagined, they gaue no assaute but laied sie^e
aboute the toune, and therle of Warwike was appoynted to lye with a great nomber of
menne of warre, at sainct Mathelines de Archamp, to encountre the Frenchmen if they
would attempt to ayde or vitaill those that wer enclosed within the, toune. This fortresse
stode in suche a place, that what with waters and what with marishes, the army must seuer
in thre partes, so that the one could not easely help the other, but either by boates or
bridges, so the toune was besieged by the space of two monethes and more. In the meane-
seasoiij Arthur of Britayne, Constable for the dolphyn, sent thether in all hast, the lorde
Boisac Marshall of Frauce, Stephin le Hire, Ponton de Sentrayles, the lorde Grauile, and
diuerse other valiaunt horssemen, to the nomber of thre thousand and aboue, which priuely;
ins
142 THE. V. YERE OF
in the night, came on that side where sir Ihon de la Pole and sir Henry Bisset laye, whom
they found out of all ordre and without any watche. So the Frenchemen entered into their
ludgcs and slewe many in their beddes, they spared no man, for the resistance was smal, Sir
Iho Dela pole with his horsse saued hymself, and fled ouer the water to his brother, & sir
Henry Bisset escaped hyaboateand eight with him. The residue whiche would haue passed the
bridge and ioynedwith the erle of Suffolke, fled in such plumpcs ouer the bridge, that the
tymber brake and a great nombre was drouned so, y there were slain & drouned xv.C. men.
The erle of YVanvike hearyng of this chaunce, departed from sainct Mathelyn with all dili-
gent spede, and came before Montarges offeryng battaill to the Frenche capitaines, which
answered that thei had manned and vitailed the toune, and enteded to do nomore at that
time. Thenglishmen seyng that their trauaile should be in vain, came back softely again
with all their ordinaunce to the duke of Bedforde.
IT should seme that fortune at this time would not, that the Freche men should haue one
ioyfull claie, butthesame also should be myngled with dolor or displeasure. For at this very
tytne, sir Nicholas Burdett appoynted by the duke of Somerset, to vexe and trouble his ene-
mies in the costes of Britayne, sent light horssemen into euery part, vexyng the people and
wastyng the coutrey. All tounes that he passed by were brente al, and buildynges spoyled &
robbed, prisoners and praies wer aboundantly taken, small villages wer destroyed, and greate
tounes wer raunsomed, & so without hurt or damage, thcsaid sir Nicholas returned into Nor-
mandyi This mischance beyng declared to the Constable of Fraunce and the other capi-
taines, cut their combes and plucked doune their hartes, whiche were set on so mery a pynne,
for the victory of Montarges, that they were in maner, like desperate persones, loth to at-
tempte any farther enterprise against the Englishe nacion, saiyng: that God was turned
Engtishe, and the deuill would not helpe Fraunce.
THE duke of Alauson, whiche as you haue heard, was late deliuered out of En<£lande,
reuiued again the dull spirites of the Dolphyn, and the fainte hartes of his capitaines, pro-
nn'syng to theim greate victory with litle trauail, and much gain with srnal labor, wherfore
in hope of good lucke, he determined to do some notable feate against thenglishe men.
Then happened a chaunce vnloked for, or vnthoughtof, euen as they would haue \vhisshed
or desired, for not onely the Magistrates, but chiefly the spiritual persons of the citee of
Mauns, knowyng that the duke of Britayne and his brother, were reuerted and turned to
the French partie, began sore to mourne and lament that they wer subiectes and vassals to
the yoke an.d power of the Englishemen. Wherfore they determined and fully concluded, to
aduertise of their myndes and determinacions, the capitaines of Charles y dolphyn, (of the
called the Frenche kyng) and so by certain false Friers, therof <vrote humble and louin<r let-
ters. These newes pleased much the French capitaines, but no lesse you may be sure the
Dolphyn hymself, as a thyng discended from heauen, of theim vnsought, vnimagined and
not deuisecl. Wherfore to take oportunitie when time serued, and not to lese so great a be-
nefite so honestly oftred, the lordes Delabreth and Fayet, Marshals of Fraunce, accompanied
with the lordes of Monte Ihan, of Duel Doruall, Torsye and Beaumamoyre the Heire, and
Gullyam his brother, and fine hundred other hardy capitaines and valiaunt souldiers, toke
vpon theim this enterprise, sendyng great thankes and laudes to the Clergie and citezens
for their assured fideliiie to their soueraigne lord, promysyng theim to be there at the daie
appoynted, not doubtyng to find them redy accordyng to their promes, gladly to receiue
them.
WHEN the daie assigned and the night appoynted was come, the Frenche capitaines pri-
uely approchecl the toune, makyng a litle fire on an hill in the sight of the toune, to sigmfie
their couryng and approchyng. The citezes, which by the great church wer loking foAheir
approch, shewed a hurnyng Cresset out of the steple, which sodainly was put out &
quenched. What should I saie, the capitaines on horssebacke came to the gate, and the
traytors within slew the porters and watch men, and let in their frendes, the footemen en-
tered firste, and the men of armes waited at the barriers, to the intent that if muche nede
required
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 143
required or necessitie copelled, they might fight in the ope feld. And in the mean season
many Englishmen wer slain, and a greate ciaymor and a houge noye was hard through
the toune, as is wont and accustomed to be in a toune, by treason sodainly surprised & taken:
but what was the cause of the cry, or beginnyngof the noyse, fewe except the confederates,
ether knewe or perceiued. For the remnaunt of the citezens beyng no partakers in this fac-
cion, imagined that the Englishmen had made hauocke in the toune and put all to the
sweard. The Englishemen on the othersyde, Judged that the citezens had begonne some
new rebellion against theim, or els had striuen emongest theimselfes. The erle of Suffolke,
whiche was gouernor of the toune, hearyng the clamor and noyse of the people, hauing per-
fect knowledge of such as escaped fro the walles, in what case the citee stode in, without
any tariyng or psolongyng of tyme entered into the Castle which standeth at the gate of
Sainct Vincent, wherof was Constable Thomas Gower esquier: whether also fled so many
Englishemen, that the place was pestured, and there if they wer not rescued, likely to be
famished : but surely they wer sore assauted and marueilously hurte, with the shot of the ala-
blatters & crosse bowes, but they defended theimselfes so manfully, that their enemies gat
small aduantage at their handes. But all their hardines had notserued, nor all their poliicy
had not defended theim, if they had not priuely sent a messenger to the lorde Talbot, which
then lay at Alanson, certefiyng hym in what case they stoode, for vitaHl had they none, mu-
nicios tailed, and the Castle was almoste vndermined, so that yeldyng must folowe, and re-
sistaunce could not. preuaile. The lorde Talbot hcryng these nevves, neither slept nor ban-
quetted, but with all hast assembled together his valiaunt capitaines, whose names you haue
before often times heard rehersed, to the nombre of vii. hundred men of warr, and in the
euenyng departed from Alanson, and in the mornyng came to a castle called Gtiyerche
twoo myles from Mauns, and from thence sent as an espial Matthew Gough, to espie the
gouernaunce of the enemies, and if he might to sbewe to his countreymeu that he was at
hade to be their aide & rescowes. Matthew Gough so well sped, that priuely in the night
lie carne into the castle, where he knew how that the French men beyng lordos of the citee,
and now castyngno perils nor iearyng any creature, began to waxe wanton and felle to riote,
as though their enemies could do to them no damage :- thynkyng that the Englishemen
whiche wer shut vp in the Castle, studied nothyng but how to escape and be deliuered.
Whe Matthew Gough had knowen al the certaintie and had eaten a litle breade and dronke a
cuppe of wine to comfort his stomacke, he priuely returned again, itnd within a mile of the
citee met with the lorde Talbot and the Lorde Scales, and made open to theim al thyng ac-|
cording to his credence, whiche to spede the matter, because the day approched, with al hast;
possible came to the posterne gate, and alighted from their horses, and about sixe of the;
clocke in the mornyng thei issued out of the castle criyng sainct George, Talbot. The
French men which wer scace vp, and thought of nothyng lesse then of this sodain approch-
ment, some rose out of their beddes in their shertes, and lepte ouer the walles, other ranne
naked out of the gates for sauing of their lines, leuyng behynde theim all their apparcll,
horsscs, armure and riches, none was hurt but suche, whiche ether resisted or would not
yelde, whcrof some wer slain and cast in prisone. There were slain and taken foure hun-
dred geilemen and the villaines frankely let go. After this inquisition was made of the au-
thors of this vngracious coniuracion, and there were accused thirtie citezens, twenty priestes
and fiftene Friers, which accordyngto their desertes were put in execution.
If THE SIXT YERE.
THE citee of Mauns thus beyng reduced into the Englishe mennes handes, the Lorde The.*;.
Talbot departed to the toune of Alanson. After whiche marciall feat manly acheued, the ym
erle of \Varwicke departed into Englande, to be gouernour of the young kyng, insteade of
Thomas duke of Excester, late departed to God. In \yhose stede was sent into Fraunce,,
the
THE. Vt YERE OF
the lorde Thomas Mountacute erle of Salisbury with fiue thousande men, whiche landed at
Caliceand so came to the Duke of Bedford in Paris. Where he consultyng with the Duke,
of Bedforde, concernyng the aftaires of the realme of Fraunce: seyng all thynges pros-
perously succede on the Englishe part, began meruailously to phantesie the citee and coun-
trey of Orliance, stadyng on the riuer of Loyre. But because the cite was wel fortified
bolhe by the nature of the situation of the place, and by the ppllicie of man, he imagined
it not the woorke of one daie, nor the study of one houre. Wherfore he remitted it to a
farther deliberacio, yet he was the man at that tyme, by whose wit, strength and pollicio,
jthe Englishe name was muche fearfull and terrible to the French nacion, whiche of hymself
might both appoynt, commaunde and do all thynges, in maner at his pleasure, in whose
power, (as it appeared after his1 deathe) a greate part of the conquest consisted and was
estemed, because he was a man both painful and diligent, redy to withstand thynges peril-
ous and imminent, and prompt in counsail, and with no labor be weried, nor yet his corage
at any tyme abated or appalled, so that all men put no more trust in any one man* nor, no
synguler person gat more the hartes of all men. After this greate enterprise, had long been
debated and argued, in the priuie counsaill, the erle of Salisburies dcuise, (although it
seined harde and straungc to all other, and to hym as it wer a thyng predestinate very easie)
was graunted and allowed, which enterprise was the finall conclusion of his naturall des-
tiny, as you shall shortely perceiue. Thus he replenished with good hope of victory, &
furnished with artilery, and inunicions apperteinyng to so greate a siege, accompanied with
the erle of Suffolke and the lorde Talbot, and with a valiaunt company, to the nombre of
tenne thousande men, departed from Paris and passed through the countrey of Beause. He
toke by assaute th'e toune of Yainuile, but the Frenchmen fled into the Castle, and there
continued fiue dales, at the ende wherof they rendered themselfes symply: of thesaid nom-
bre, some were put to death for certain causes, & some were taken to mercie. He tooke
also the toune of Eawgency, sufferyng euery man, whiche would become vassaile and sub-
iecte to the kyng of England, to enheritc their landes and enioy their goodes. The tounes
•of Meun vpon Loyre & largenan, hearyng of these treatise, presented to hym the keyes
of the toune, vpon like agrement & egall condicions.
AFTER this in the moneth of September, he laied his siege on the one side of the water
of Loyre, before whose commyng, the Bastarde of Orleaunce, and the bishop of the citec
and a great nombre of Scottes, hearyng of therles intent, made diuerse fortificacions about
the toune and destroyed the suburbes, in the which wer twelfe parishe churches and foure
ordres of Friers. They cut also doune al the vines, trees-and bushes within fiue leages of
the toune, so that the Englishmen should haue neither comfort, refuge nor succor.
HERE must I a litle digresse, and declare to you, what was this bastard of Orleance,
whiche was not onely now capitain of the citce, but also after, by Charles the sixt made
erle of Dunoys, and in great authoritie in Fraunce, and extreme enemie to the Englishe
n.icion, as by this story you shall apparauntly perceiue, of whose line and steme dyscend
the Dukes of Longuile and the Marques of Rutylon. Lewes Duke of Orleance murther-
ed in Paris, by Ihon duke of Burgoyne, as yon before haue harde, was owner of the Cas-
tle of Coney, on the Frontiers of Fraunce toward Arthoys, wherof he made Constable the
lord of Cauny, a man not so wise as his wife was faire, and yet she was not so faire, but
she was as well beloued of the duke of Orleance, as of her husband. Betwene the duke
and her husbande (I cannot tell who was father) she conceiued a child, and brought furthe
a pretye boye called Ihon, whiche child beyng of the age of one yere, the duke disceased
and not long after the mother, and the Lorde of Cawiry ended their liues. The next of
kynne to the lord Cavvny chalenged the enheritaunce, whiche was worth foure thousande
,crounes a yere, alledgyng that the boye was a bastard : and the kynred of the mothers side,
for to saue her honesty, it plainly denied. In conclusion, this matter was in contencio
before the Presidentes of the parliament of Paris, and there hang in controuersie till the
child came to the age of eight yeres old. At whiche tyme it was demaunded of hym openly
whose
KYNG HENRY THE. VI.
whose sonne he wns: his fredes of his mothers side aduertised him to require a day, to be
aduised of so great an answer, whiclie he asked, & to hym it was granted. In y meane
season his said frendes persuaded him to claiine his inheritaunce, as sonne to the Lorde of
Cawny, which was an honorable liuyng, and an aunciet patrhnony, affirming that if he
said contrary, lie not only slaudered his mother, shamed himself, & stained his blond, hut-
also should liaue no liuyng nor any thing to take to. The scholemaster thinkytig y his dis-
ciple had well learned his lesson, and would reherse it accordyng to his instruccio, brought
hym before the ludges at the daie assigned, and when the question was repcted to hym
again,- he baldly answered, my harte geueth me, £ my noble corage telleth me, that I am
the sonne of the noble Duke of Orlcaunce, more glad to be his Bastarde, with a mcane
liuyng, then the lawfujl sonne of that coward cuckolde Canny, with his foure thousande
crounes. The Justices muche merueiled at his bolde answere, and his mothers cosyns de-
tested him for shamyng of his mother, and his fathers supposed kinne reioysed ingainyng the
patrimony and possessions. Charles duke of Orleance hcryng of this iudgement, toke hvm
into! his family & £aue him great offices & fees, which he well deserued, for (duryng his'
captiuitie) he defcded his lades, expulsed thenglishmen, & in conclusion procured his d^-
liueraunce.
THIS coragious Bastard, after the siege had continued threwekes ful, issued out of the
gate of the bridge, and fought with the Englishemen, but they receiued hym with so fierce and
terrible strokes, that he was with all his company compelled.. to retire and flie backe into the
citce: But the Englishemen folowed theim so faste, in killyng and takyng of their enemies,
that they entrcd with them the Bulwarke of the bridge, whiche with a gi eate ton re, standing
at thende of thesame, was taken incontinent by thenglishmen. In whiche conflict many
Frenchemen were taken, but rno were slain, and the kepyng of the ton re and Bulwerke was
comitted to William Glasdaleesquier. When he had gotten this Bulwarke, he was sure thi:t,
by that waie neither man nor vitaill could passe or come. After that he made certayne Bul-
warkes roiide about the citee, castyng. trenches betwene the one and the other, laiyng ordi-
naunce in euery part, where he saw that any battery might be deuised. When they within
perceiued that they were enuiroried with fortresses and ordinance, they laied gonne against
gonne, and fortefied toures against bulwarkes, and within made new rampires, andbuvldcd
new mudwalles to auoyde crackes and breches, whiche might by violent shot sodainlv insue.
They appoyntcd the Bastard of Orleance, and Stephin Veignold called the Heire, .to see the
walles and watches kept, & the bishop sawey thinhabitates within the cite, wer put in good
ordre, and that vitaill wer not wantonly consumed, nor vainly spent.
IN the toure that was taken at the bridge ende, as you before- haue heard, there was a
high chamber hauyng a grate full of barres of yron by the whiche a man might loke all the
length of the bridge into the cite at which, grate many of the chief capitaines stode diuerse
times, yieuyng the cite & deuisyng in what place it was best assautable. They within the citee
perceiued well this totyng hole, and laied a pece of ordynaunce directly against the wyndowe.
It so chaunced that the. lix. daie after the siege laied before the citee, therle of Salisbury,
sir Thomas Gargraue and William Glasdale and diuerse other, went into thesaid toure and
so into the high chabre, and loked out at the grate, and with in a short space, the sonne of
the Master gonner, perceiued men lokyng out at the wyndowe, toke his matche, as his
father had taught hym, whiche was gone doune to dinner, and fired the gonne, whiche brake
& sheueredy yron barres of the grate, wherof one strake therle so strogly on the bed, that
it stroke away one of his iyes and the side of his cheke. Sir Thomas Gargraue was likewise
striken, so that he died within two daies. Therle was conueighed to Meurn vpon Loyre,
where he laie beyng wounded, viij. daies, duryng whiche tyme, he receiued deuoutly the holy
Sacramentes, and so commended liis soule to almighty God, whose body was cpnueyed into
England, with allfunerall and pompe, and buried at Bissam by his progenitors, leuyng behind
him, an onely daughter named Alice, maried to Richarde Neuell, sonne to liaufe erle of
Westmorland, of whom hereafter shalbe made mention. Wrhat detriment, what damage,
U what-
THE. VI. YERE OF
what lossc succeded to the Englishe publique wealthe, by the sodain death of this valiaunt
capitain, not long after his departure, manifestly apered. For high prosperitie, and groat
glory of the Englishe nacion in the parties beyond the sea, began shortely to fall, and litle
and litle to vanishe awaie: which thing although the Englishe people like a valiant & strong
body, atthefirste tyme did not perceiue, yet after y they felt it grow like a pestilet humor,
which succesciuely a litle and litle corrupteth all the membres, and destroyeth the bodf. For
after the death of this noble man, fortune of warre began to change, and triumphant victory
began to bedarckened. Although the death of therle were dolorous to]all Knglishme, yet
surely it was moste dolorous to the duke of Bedford, regent of Fraunce, as he whiche had
loste his right hand or lacked his weapon, when he should fight with his enemie. Jiut
seyng that dedde men cannot with sorowe be called again, nor lamentacion fordedde bodies
cannot remedy the chaunces of men liuyng: he (like a prudent gouernor & a pollitique pa-
tron) appointed the erle of Suffolke to be his leuetenunt, and captain of the siege, and ioyned
with hym the lord Scales, the lorde Talbot, sir Ihon Fastolfe, and diuerse other valiaunt
knightes and esquiers. These lordes caused bastiles to be made round about the citee,
with the whiche they troubled their enemies and assauted the walles, and left nothyng vn-
attempted, whiche might be to theim, any aduantage, or hurtefull to their enemies.
IN the time of lent vitaile and artillerie, began to waxe scant in the Englishe armie, wher-
fore therle of Suffolke appointed sir Ihon Fastolfe, sir Thomas Rampsto, and sir Philip Hal ~
with their retinewes, to ride to Paris to the lord Regent, to informe him of their scarcenes
and necessitie. Whiche beyng therof informed, without any delaye or prolongyng, prouided
vitaile, artillery and municions, necessary and conuenient for so greate an enterprise, and
laded therwith many chariottes, cartes, and horsses, and for the surecoduite, and sauegard
of the same, he appoynted sir Simon Morhier Prouos/of Paris, with the gard of the citee
& diuerse of his awne housholdseruauntes, to accompany sir Ihon Fastolfe and his coplices,
to the army liyng at the siege of Orleaunce. The whiche departed in good ordre, to the
nombre of. v. hundred men of war, beside wagoners out of Paris, and came to Yaynuile
in Beausse, aud in a mornyng early in a greate frost they departed, from the place toward die
siege, and when they came to a toune called Ronuray, in the laiides of Beausse, they per-
cciued their enemies comyng against them, to the nombre of. ix. or. x. M. Frenchemen &
Scottes: the capitaines wherof was Charles of Cleremot, sonne to the duke of Burbon, then
beyng prisoner in Englande, sir William Stewarde Constable of Scotlande, alitle before de-
liuered out of captiuitie, the erle of Perdriacke, the lord Ihon Vandosme, Vidane ofCharters,
the Lorde of Touars, the lorde of Lohat, the lorde of Eglere, the Lorde of Beaniew, the
Bastard Tremorle, and many other valiant capitaines. Wherfore sir Ihon Fastolfe and his-
cqmpanions, set all their company in good ordre of battaill, and picked stakes before euery.
Archer, to breke the force of the horsemen. At their backes they set all their wages and
cariages, and within theim thei tied all their horsses, so that their enemies could nether assails-
them on the backeside, nor yet spoile them of their horsses, and in this maner they stode.
still, abidyng the assaute of their aduersaries. The Frenchmen (by reason of their greats
nombre) thinking the victory to be in their handes, egerly like Lions set on the Englishmen,,
whiche with greate force, them receiued and manfully defended : for it stode theim vpon,
consideryng the inequalitie of the nombre. And after long and cruell fight the Englishmen
droue backe and vanquished the proude Frenchemen, and compelled theim to flie. In this
conflict were slain, Lorde Willyam Stewarde Constable of Scotlande and his brother, the
lorde Doruall, the lorde Delabret, the lorde Chasteanbrian, sir Ihon Basgot, and other
Frenchmen & Scottes, to the nombre of. xxv. C. and aboue xj. hundred taken prisoners,
although some French writers affirme the nombre lesse.
AFTER this fortunate victory, sir Ihon Fastolfe and his company (of the whiche no man
of any reputacion was either slain or taken,) came with all their cariages, vitaile, and pri-
soners, to, the siege before Orleance, where they wer Joyously receiued & welcomed of all the
souldiors.
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 147
souldiors. This conflict (because the most part of the cariage was heryng & lenten stuffe,^
the Frenchmen call, the vnfortunate battail of herynges.
THE Erie of Suffolke, beeyng thus vitailed, continued his siege, and cuery daic almoste,
skirmished with his enemies, whiche being in dispaire of all succors, began to cornea
emongest theimself, how they might rendre the toune, to their inoste hcnou re and profile.
After muche reasoning, and long debatyng emongest the capitaines, and the magistrates of
the toune, what way was best to be folowed: Some iffirmed it not onely to be shamefull and
dishonorable, but also vnnaluralland vnreasonable, to yelde the toune to the Englishcmen,
beyng neither frendes nor fauorers of the French nucion : other, fe.iryng the victory of the
Englishmen, imagined, that if they by force possessed the citee, they would do to them as
tyrantes be accustomed toserue, wilfulland obstinate people, and therefore they thought it a
greate folye and a notable lightnes, not to beware the one, as to deny or refuse the other.
But when they saw, that their glory must nedes decline to a shame & reproche, they
thought to find a meane waye to saue themselfes, and their cite fro the captiuitie of then-
enemies, and deuised to submit their citee theselfes, & al theirs vnder the obeysance of
Phillip duke of Burgoyn because he was brought out of the stocke and bloud royall of the
auncient hous of Fraunce: thinkyng by this meanes (as thei did in deede) to breke or
minishe the greate amitie betwene the Englishemen & hym.
AFTER this poynt concluded, they made open & sent to the duke all their deuises and
intentes whiche certified the that he would gladly receiue their oflVe, so that the Regent of
Fraunce would therto agre & cosent. And therupo dispatched certain ambassadors to the
duke of Bedford, to whom these newes wer straunge and not very plesaunt, vpon whiche
poynt, he assembled a great counsaill. Some thought that maner of yeldyng to be bothe l.o-
norable and profitable to the king of Englande, by reason wherof, so greate a citee, & so
riche a countrey, should be brought out of the possessio of their enemies, into the hades of
their trusty frendes, without farther cost or bloudshed. The Duke of Bedford & other, wer
of a contrary opinion, thinkyng it bothe dishonorable and vnprolitable to the rea'me of Eng-
land, to se a cite so long besieged at the costes & expenses of the kyng of England, & almoste
brought to the poynt of yeldyng, to be yclded to any other fore prince or potestate, and not to
hym or his Regent, the example wherof might prouoke other tounes heraftcr to do the same.
This reason toke place, and the Regent answered the dukes ambassadors, that it was not
honorable nor yet c5sonaunte to reason, that the kyng of Englande should beate the bushe
and the duke of Burgoyn should haue the birdes: Wherfore sithe the right was his, the war
was his, and the charge was his, he saied that y citie ought not to be voided to no other
person, but to hym or to his vse and profile. By this litle chance, succedcd a great change
in thenglishe affaires, for a double mischief of this answere rose and sprang out. For first
the duke of Burgoyne, began to conceiue a certain priuye grudge against thenglishrnen for
this cause: thynkyng the to enuy & beare malice against his glory and proiite, for the whiche
in continuance of lime he became their enemy, and cleued to the French Kyngv Secondly,
the Englibhcmen left the siege of Orleaunce, whiche by this treaty they might haue had to
frend, or to haue continued neutre, till their Lord the duke of Orleaunce, or the erle of
Angulosie his brother wer deliuered out of the captiuitie of the English people. But if men
wer angels and forsaw ihyngesto come, ihey like beasles would nolronne to their confusion:
but fortune which gideth die destiny of man, will lurne her whele as she listeth, whosoeuer
sailh nay.
WHILE this treaty of the Orleaunces was in hand, Charles the dolphin, daily studied
and hourly labored, to plucke the fauor and hartes of the noL>i!itie of Fraunce, from the
Englishe nacion, to the intent, that he might assemble a puyssance, sufficient to relefe
his frendes, beyng shut vp in the citee of Orleauce. While he was studiyng and com-
passyng this matter there happened to hym, a straunge chaunce, of the whiche I will
write a litle, because some of the Frenchc aucthours, and especially Ihon Bouchet, of it
writeth to muche.
U 2 FOR
148 THE. VI. YERE OF
FOR as he and other saie, there came to hym beyng at Chynon a mayd of the age of. xx.
yeres, and in mans apparell, named lone, borne in Burgoyne in a toune called Droymy
beside Vancolour, which was a greate space a chamberleyn in acommen hosiery, and was a
rampe of suclie boldnesse, that she would course horsses and ride theim to water, and do
thynges, that other yong maidens, bothe abhorred & wer ashamed to do: yet as some say,
whether it wer- because of her foule face, that no man would desire it, either she had made a
vowe to liue chaste, she kept her maydcnhed, and presented her virginitic. She (as a mon-
ster was sent to the Dolphin, by sir Robert Baiulrencort captain of Vancolour, to who she
declared, that she was sent fro God, bothe to aide themiserable citee of Orleaunce, and also
to remit hym, to the possession of his realme, out of the whiehe,, he was ex pulsed and ouer-
comed: rehersyng to hym, visions, trauses, and tables, full of blasphemy, supersticio and
hypocrisy, that I maruell much that wise men did beleue her, and lerned clarkes would write
suche phantasies. What should I reherse, how they saie, she knewe and called hym her
kyng, whom she neuer saw before. What should I speake how she had by reuelacion a
swei'de, to her appoynted in the churchc of saincte Katheryn, of Fierboys in Torayne where
she neuer had been. What should I write, how she declared suche priuy messages from
God, our lady, and other sainctes, to the dolplr n, that she made the teres ronne doune
fro his iyes. So was he deluded, so was he blynded, & so was he dcceiued by the deuils
meanes which suffred her to begynne her race, and inconclusion rewarded her with a
shameful fal. But in the meanc season suche credite was geuen to her, that she was honoured
as asainct, of the religious, and beleued as one sent from God of the temporaltie, in so
muche that she (armed at all poyntes) rode from Poytiers to Bloys, and ther found men of
war vitail, and municjons, redy to be conueyed to Orleatice. The Englishmen perceiuyng
that they within could not long continue, for faute of vitaile& ponder, kepte not their watche
so diligently as they wer accustomed, nor scoured not the coutrcy enuironed, as thei before
had ordained : which negligence, the citezens shut in perceiuyng, sent wordc thcrof to the
Frenche capitaines, whiehe wi.li Puccl/e in the dedde tvmc of the niglit, and in a greate
rayne and thundre, with all their vitaile and artilery entered into the citee. If thei were wel-
comed marueill not, for folkes in greate trouble, be ioyous of a litle comfort. And the
nextdaie the Englishemen boldely assauted the tonne, promisyng to theim that best scaled the
walles great rewardes. Then men mounted on ladders coragiousiv, and with gonnes, arrowes
and pikes, bette their enemies from the wailes.
THE Frenchemen, although they marueiled at the fierce fightyng of the English people,
yet thei wer not amascd, but they defended them selfes to the darke night, on whiehe
daie, no great priuate feate worthy of memory, was either attempted or doen. The Bastard
of Orleaunce (seyng the puyssaunce of thenglishe nacion) began to feare the sequele of the
matter: wherfore he sent worde to the duke of Alannson, aduertisyri£ hym in what case the
tonne then stoode, and that it could not long continue without his hasty spede, and qiiicke
diligence. Whiehe delaiyng no tymc nor deterryng no space came with all his army within
two leagues of the citee, and sent woorde to tiie capitaines, that on the next inorowe they
should be rccly to receiue theim. Whiehe thyng, the nexie daic they accomj>lished, for the
Englishernen thought it to be muche to their auaile, if so greate a multitude entered into the
citee, vexed with famyne & replenished with scarsenes. On the next daie in the mornyng,
the Freuchemen altogether issued out of the toune, and assauted the fortresse or Bastile,
called the Bastyle of sainct Lou re, the whiehe with great force and no litle losse they toke
and set it on fire, and after assauted the ton re at the bridge ibote, which was manfully de-
fended. But the Frenchemen beyng more in nombre, so fiersely assauted it, that they toke
it or the LordeTalbot could come to succors: in the whiehe Willyam Gladdisdale the capi-
tain was s-lain, and the Lorde Morlyns, and thelorde Pownynges also.
THE Frenchemen puffed vp with this good lucke, seyng the strong fortres was vngotten,
, whiehe was vnder the defence of the lorde Talbot, fetched a compasse abor;te, and in good
ordre of battaile marched thether ward. The lord Talbot like a capitain, without fere or
dred
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 149
dred of so great a multitude, issued out of his Bastile, and so fiersly fought with the Frenche—
men, that they not'able to withstande his puyssaunce, fled (like bhcpj before the Wolffe)
again into the citee, with greate losse of men and small artilerie: and of the Englishemen
wer lost in the two Bastyles sixe hundred presones. Then the erle of Sufiblke, the Lorde
Talbot, the Lorde Scales, and other capitaines, assembled together, where causes wer shewed,
that it was bothe necessary and conueniente either to leue the siege for euer, or to deferre it
till another tyme, more luckey & conuenient. And to the intent that thei should not seme
either to flie or to be driuen from the siege by their enemies, they determined to leaue their
fortresses and Bastyles, and to assemble in the plain feld and there to abydc all the daie, a,bi-c
dyng the outcommyng and baltaile of their enemies. This conclusion taken, was accord-
yngly executed. The Frenchemen, weried with the last bickeryng, held in their heddes and
durste not once appere: and so thei set fire in their lodgyngcs, and departed in good ordre
of battail from Orleaunce. The next daie whiche was the. viij. daie of Maie, the Erie of
Suftblke, ridyng to largeaux with. CCCC. Englishmen, and the lord Talbot with another
copany returned to Meum which" tonne, after that he had fortified, he incontinent, assauted
and wan the toune of Lauall and the Castle sore vexyng and punishyngthe tounes men, for
their hard hartes, and cancard obstinacie: and leuyng there a garrison reculed to Meum.
AFTER this siege thus broken vp to tell you, whattriumph.es wer made in the citee of
Orlaaunce, what wood was spente in fiers, what wyne wasdronke in houses, what songes wer
song in the stretes, what melody was made in Tauernes, what roundes were daunced, in
large and brocle places, what iightes were set vp in the churches, what anthemes, wer song in
Chapellcs, and what ioye was shewed in cuery place, it were, a long woorke and yet no ne-
cessary cause.- For they did as we in like case would haue dooen, and we being in like
estate, would haue doen as they did. After that the Englishmen, wer thus retired from the
siege of Orleaunce, and seuered themselfes in cliuer?e tonnes & fortresses, holdyng on their-"
part: The duke of Alaunson, the Bastard of (Meat) nee, lone the puzell, the lorde of Gan-
cort, & thuerse other Frenche men came before the toune of largeaux, where the ei le of
Suffolke and his twoo brethren soiorned the. xij. .'daie of lune, and gaue to the toune a great
and a terrible assaut, wliiche the Englishmen, (beyng but a handful! ) manfully defended on
three paries of the same. Poyton of Sentrailes, perceiuyngone part of the toune to be vn-
defended, scaled the walles on that part: and without any diiuculte toke the toune, and
-siewesir Alexander Pole brother to therle, and many other, to the nomlvre of two hundred:
but they not muchegaynedj for they lost. iii. C. good men and more. Of thenglishmen wer
-taken, xl. be: -ide his brother Iho. After this gain and good lucke, the Frenchcmen returnyng
towarde Orleaunce, fell in contention and debate, for their captiucs and prisoners, and
"Slewe them all, sauyngthe crle and his brother,
«T THE SEUENTil Yi:RE.
AFter the gaynyng of the toune of largeaux, the same array cam to Meuin, and tokc the iv.vi-:,
toure at t!ie bridge, and put there in a garrison, and fro thence remoue-.l to Bangency. ye"Cj
Whiche garrison, beyng not vitailed rendered the toune, so that they might departe with i'bagce
and baggage, frankely and frely: whiche dc.sire to the was graunted. 'At this toune of Ban-
gency, met with the duke of Alaunson, Arthur of Brilayna, the false .forsworne gentleman
to the kyng ofEnglande newly made Constable of Fraunce (as you haue heard,) with whom
was tiie lord Delabret with. xij. C. men : to whom daily repaired freshc aide out ofeuery paut,
as the Erie of Vandosme, and other, to the nombre of. xx. or. xx'tij. M men. All these
menofwarre, determined to go to Meum, and to take the toune, but they wer informed,
that the Englishemen, had leftethe toune desolate, and wer returned to tiie lord Talbot to
leneuile. Then thei concluded to passe towarde that toune. But, as they marched forwarde
vpon a Sateidaie, thei had perfite knowledge, that the lorde Talbot with, v, thousand men,
4 was
-150 THE. VII. YERE OF
Avas commyng to Meum. Wherfore, thei intendyng to stop hym a tyde, conueyed their
.company to asm-all village called Patay, vvhiche way, they knewe that the Englishmen must
nedes passe by. And first they appoynted their horsemen, whiche were well and richely fur-
bished, to go before, and sodainly to set on the Englishemen, or they wer, either ware or
setinordre. The Englishmen commyng forwarde, perceiued the horsemen, and, imaginyng
to deceiue their enemies, commaunded the fotemen to enuirone & enclose theselfes about with
their stakes, but the French horsmen came on so fiersly, that the archers had no leyser, to
set themselfes in a raie. There was no remedy but to fight at aduenture. This battaill, co-
tinued by the space of thre long hou res. And although thenglishmen wer ouerpressed, with
the noiubre of their aduersaries, yet thei neuer fledde backe one foote, till their capitain the
lorde Ta loot, was sore wounded at the backe, and so taken. Then their hartes began to
faint, & thei fled in whiche flight, ther wer slain aboue. xij. C. and taken, xl. wherof the lorde
Talbot the lord Scales, the lord Hungerford, & sir Thomas Rampston, were the chief: howbeit
diuerse archers whiche had shot all their arrowes, hauyng only their swerdes, defended the-
self, and with the help of some of the horsmen, ca safe to Meu.
WHEN the fame was blowen abrode, that the Lorde Talbot was taken, all the French-
men not alitle reioysed, thinkyng surely, that now the rule of the Englishmen, should
shortly assuage and waxe faint : for feare wherof, the tounes of leneuile, Meu, Fort, and
diuerse other, returned from the Englishe part, and became Frenche, to the greate dis-
pleasure of the Regent. Fro this battaill, departed without any stroke striken, sir Ihon
Fastoiffe, thesarne yere for his valiauntnes elected into the ordre of the Garter. For
whiche cause the Duke of Bedford, in a great anger, toke from hym the image of sainct
George, and his Garter, but afterward, by meane of frendes, and apparant causes of good
excuse by hym alledged, he was restored to the order again, against the mynd of 'the lorde
Talbot. "
CHARLES, callyng hymsclf Frenche kyng, beyng aduertised of this victory, thought
now, that al thynges succeded, accordyng to his opinion and good hope, whiche euer, was
of that hie corage and haut mynd, that in his moste aduersitie, he neuer dispaired in good
lucke at length: so that the Erie of Salisbury beyng dedde, and the lorde Talbot liuin<r in
captiuitle, (which wer y glory of his enemies) he thought to enterprise great and waighty
thynges, wner before he rnedeled with small and litle doynges. For fulfillynsf of his mynd
and appetite, he determined, first to conquere the citee of Reynes, to the intent, that he
beyng there, might accordyng to the fashion of his progenitors, with all accustomed Cere-
monies, be sacred and anoynted kyng with the holy ampulle, that all men niight se and
perceiue, that he was, by all lanes and decrees, a iust and a lawfull kyng. Wherfore he
assemblyng to gether a great army, & hauyng in his company lone the Puzel, whom he
vsed as an oracle and a southsaier, passed through Champaigne, by the toune of Anxer.
The within, sent to him messegers, praiyng him of certain daies of abslinece of war, in
ttie which (if they wer not rescued) they promised to rendre the toune. He not willing to
recornpenee with ingratitude, the louyng hartes of the cite/ens, graunted gently to their
peticion, and leuyng there certain persons, to se that they should not iugle with hym, de-
parted from thence to Troys, beyng the chief citie of Chapaigne, whiche he besieged, xii.
daies. Sir Phillip Hal capitain there, vnprouided bothe of vitai'l and men, mistwistyng,
that aide would not come in tyme, vpon ccposicion rendered the toune, so that he, £ his,
with all their moueables might in sauetie depart the citee: whiche demaund was agreed to.
After that Troys was voided, the comnionaltie of Chalons, rebelled against sir John A\v-
bemod their capitain, and constrained hym to deliuer the toune vpon like coposicion, whiche
against his wil, he was fain to do: and likewise did the citezens of Reyns, desiryng hym to
geue saueconduite to all Lnglishemen, safely to departe.
WHEN he had ihus conquered Reyns, he in the presence of all the noblemen of his faccion,
and the dukes of Lorayne and Barre, was sacred kyng of Frafice, by the name of Charles
ihe. vi. with all rites and ceremonies therto apperteinyng. Thei of Anxer which wer not
rescued
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 1.51
rescued within the tyme appoynted, brought the kayes to hym, and submitted theirnselfes to
liis obeysaunce : likewise did all the citees and tounes adioynyng, geuyng thankes to almigh-
tie God, whiche hauyng compassion of their misery, had restored them to libertie and fre-
<lome. The Duke of Bedford, hearyng that these tounes and soyssons also, had returned
to the part of his aduersaries, and that Charles late Dolphyn had taken vpon hym the name
and estate of the kyng of Fraunce, and also, seyng that daily, citees and tounes returned
from thenglishe part and became Frenche, as though the Englishmen had now lost all
their hardy chieftaines and valiaut men of warre, espied and eu'idently perceiued, that the-
laste and vttennoste poynt of recouery, was driuen only to ouercome by battaill, and to
subdue by force. By whiche victory, (as he putte his confidence in God) he trusted not
onely to scourge and plague the citees, whiche were so sodainly chaungeable, but also to-
assuage and caulme the haute corage of the newe sacred Frenche kyng and his comi a-
nions. Wherfore, he hauyng together, x. M. good Englishmen, (beside Normans) de-
parted out of Paris, in warlike fashid and passed through Brye to Monstrean Faultyow,
and there sente by Bedforde his herault letters to the Frenche kyng, alledgyng to hym that
he contrary to the lawes of God and man, yea, and contrary to the final! conclusion^
taken, concorded, and agreed betwene his noble brother kyng, Henry the fifth, and kyng
Charles, the. v. father to thesaid nowe vsurper, leuyng all humuyne reason and honest com-
municacion, (which sometyme appeaseth debates and pacifielh strifes) onely allured and
intised by a deuilishejvyjche, and a gflthanicall enchaunterese, had not onely falsely and
craftely, taken vpon hym, the name, title and dignitie of the kyng of Frauce: J3ut also
had, by murder, stelyng, craft, and deceiptful meanes, violently gotten, and wrongfully
kept, diuerse citees and tounes, belongyng to the kyng of Englande, his mpste best be-
loued lorde, and moste derest nephew. For profe wberof, he was come dourie from Paris,
with his armye, into the countrey of Brye, by dent of swerde and stroke of battaill, to
proue his writyng and cause trewe, willyng his enernie to chose the place, and he in the
same, would geue hym battayle.
THE newe Frenche kyng, departyng from his solempne Ceremonies at Reins, and re-
mouyng from thence to Dampmartine, studiyng how to compasse the Parisiens, ether with
money, or with promes, was somewhat troubled with this message, howbeit, he made a
freshe countenauee, & a Frenche brag, answeryng to the herault: that he would soner-
seke his Master, and the Duke should pnrsewe hym. The duke of Bedford hearyng his
aunswer, marched toward hym, and pitched his feld in a-strong place, and sent out dinerse
of his raungers, to prouoke the Frenchmen to come forward. The Frenche kyng was in
nianer determined to abyde the battaill, but when he hard saic by his espialles, that tha
power and nombre of the Englishemen, w.er to his army equal in power, he determined that
it was more for his profile, to abstain fro battaill without danger, then to entre into the con-
fticte with ieopardy : fearyng least that with a rashe corage, he might ouerthrowe al liis affaires
whiche so effecteously preceded. And so well aduisecl, he turned with his army, alitle out of
the waie. The duke of Bedford pefceiuyng his faint corage, folowed hvm by mountaines and
dales, tilt he came to a toune in Barre, not forre from. Senlys, where he found the Freeh,
kyng and his army. Wherfore he ordred his battail, like a man expert in marciall science,
settyng the archers before, and hymself with the noblemen in the mayne battaill, and put
the Normans on bothe sides for the wynges. The Frenche kyng also ordered his battailes,
accordyng to the deuise of his caprtaines. Thus, these twoo armies without any greate
doyng, (except a fewe skirmishes, in the whiche the dukes light horsmen did very vafiaunt-
ly) lay eche in sight of other, by the space of twoo daies and twoo nightes. But when tiie
Frenche kyng sawe, and perceiued, how glad, how diligent and. coragious the Englishmen wer
to fight and geue battail, he imagened that by his tariyng, one of these twoo thynges must
nedes chauce : that is to saie, either he should fight against his will, or lye still like a cowarde,
to his greate rebuke and infamy. Wherefore in the dedde of the night, (as priuely as he
could) he brake vp his campe and fled to Bray. When this flight was perceiued in the
mornyng,;
153 THE. VII. YEREOF'
mornyng, the Regent could scace refrain his people, from folowyng the Frenche army, call-
yng them, cowardes, dastardes, and loiites, and therfore, he perceiuing that by no mcanes,
he could allure the new Frenche kyng to abide battaill, mistrustyng the Parisias, and gcu-
yng no great crciiite to their faire, swete and fiatteryng woordes, returned again to Paris,
to assemble together a greater power, and so to prosecute his enemies.
IN this season, the Bohemians, (whiche belike had espied the vsurped authorise of the
bishop of Rome) began to rebell against-his sea, which, (as Eneas Siluius doth report wer;
i'alle into certain sectes of heresie. Wherefore, Martyn the fifth bishop of Rome, wrote
vnto them to abstain from warre, and to be reconciled by reason, from their damnable
opinions. But they, (beyng persuaded to the contrary) neither gaue eare vnto "hym, nor
yet obeyed his voyce. Wherfore the bishop of Rome, wrote to the princes of Germany,
to iimade \ realmes of Beanie, as the denne of heretikes, and cane of deuilishe doctryne.
Besyde this, he appoynted Henry bishop of Winchester, and Cardinall of. S, Eusebie, a
ma very \vel borne, (as you haue hard) but no better borne then high stomacked, and yet
ho higher stomacked, then abundantly enriched, to be his legate in this great iomey, and to
bryng out men from the realme of Englande, into the countrey of Beame. And because
tlie warre touched religion, he licenced the said Cardinall, to take the tenth part of euerv
spirituall dignitie, benefice, and promocio. This matter, was declared in open Parlia-
ment in* Englande, and not dissented, but gladly assented to, wherfore the bishop gathered
the money, and assembled foure thousand men and mo, not without great grudge of the
people, uhiche daily were with tallages and aides weried, and sore burdened. And when
men, mnnicions, and money wer ready for his hrght enterprise, he with ail his people came
to the sea stronde at Douer, ready to passe ouer the sea into Flanders.
liVT in the meane season, the Duke of Bedforde consideryng, how tonnes daily wer
gotten, and countries hourely vvonnc in the realme of Fraunce, for lacke of sufficient de-
fence and nombre of men of warre, wrote to his brother the duke of Gloucester, to releue
him with aide, in that tcmpestious tyrne and troubelous season. When this letter was
brought into Englande, the duke of Gloucester was not alitle amased, because he had no
army redy to sende at that tyme : for by the reason of the Crewe, sent into Beame, he
could not soclainly reyse a newe arrnye. But because the matter was of suche importaunce,
and might neither be, fro day to day differred, nor yet long delaied, he wrote to the bishop
of Winchester, to passe with all his army toward the duke of Bedford, whiche at that tyme
had bothe ncde of men and assistance, consideryng that now, all stoocle vpon losse or gaine
whiche thyng doen, and to his honor acheued, he might performe his iorney against the
•vngracious Bohemians. Although the Cardinall was somewhat moued with (his counter-
mauncle, yet least he should be noted, not to ayde the Regent of Fraunce, in so greate a
cause and so necessary an entreprise, he bowed from his former iorney, and passed the sea
with all his company, and brought them to his cosyn, to the citee of Paris.
CHARLES the Frenche kyng, hauyng knowledge in the meane season by his espialls,
which went round about the countrey, to intise and soliicitc tounes and citees, to returne
from the Englishe part, and become Frenche, that the inhabitates of Champeigne and
Beuauoys ought hym greate loue and synguler fauor, and gladly coueted to renounce the
subieccion of England, and to be vnder his proteccion, and also offred to open him their
gates, so that they should not therby, be in ieoperdy of their lifes and losse of their goodes,
with all haste & diligece remoued towarde Champeigne. The duke of Bedford beyng ad-
uertiscd of his progresse, and hauyng his armie augmented, with the new aide, whiche the
cardinal had of late conducted, marched forward with great spede to encountre and «eue
battaill, to his mortall enemy the Frenche kyng. When the duke was come to Senlys, the
Frenchemeri wer lodged on the Mountpilioll, betwene Senlis and Champiegne. Euery
army knew of other, and euery hoste might behold other. Then the capes wer trenched,
and the 'battailes pitched, and the feldes ordered. Thus, these great armies lay two daies,
nothyng
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 153
nothyng doyng but with skirmishes, in the whiche the Normans sore vexed the Frenche-
men. Wherfore, the lorde Regent, gaue to them many high laudes and praisynges, and
determined surely the next dale, to set on Uie French kyng in his cape, if he would not
remoue out, and abide battaill. But while kyng Charles did politiquely consider, what a
variable lady, Fortune was, and what a sodain and vnthought chauce of a small thyng, might
<Jo in a battaill : for the detrimentes and ouerthrowes, that he and his nacion had taken
and tasted by thenglishemen, wer to them a lernyng, an example and a plaine experiment,
to auoyde open ioynyng, mutual coflict, and force to force. .And beside that, he had by
his explorators and spies, plain and perfect knowledge, y many and diuerse citees & tounes
in Fraunce, abhorryng thenglislie libertie, and aspiryng to the French bondage and natiue
-seruitude, (accordyng to the nature of Asses, whiche tiie more they be charged with, the
more they desire) would, (whe they sawe their tyme) not onely rebell and returne to his
faccion and parte, but also were ready to aide and assi-te hym, in recoucry of his desired
realme and auncient dominion, in expeilyng also the Englishe nacion, out of the territories
of Fraunce. And therefore, he imagined that the duke of Bedforde, was so hasty to geue
hym battaill, thynkyng, that if he then wer oucrcome, the game had, for the Englishemen
been clerely gotten, & to the Frenchemen, a perpeluall checkemate. Wherfore he deter-
mined neuer, (except very necessitie compelled or constrained him) to fight in open battaill
with the Englishmen, nor by a feld to aduenturc his realme with the, of whom his prede-
cessors so often tymes had been vanquished. Wherfore, like a carpet capitaine he in the
night, remoued his campe and fled to Crespy, and yet his nobre was double to the Englishe
army. The duke of Bedforde, seyngthat the Frenche kyng was thus cowardly retrayted,
and as a man, whiche durste not once assaie the stroke of an Englishe arme, shamefully
reculed : with all his power and armie, returned agayn to Paris, sore suspectyng the de-
ceiptfull faith of the pollitique Parisians. The bishop of Winchester, after the Frenche
kynges flight, went into Beame, and there did somwhat, but what it was, authors kepe si-
lence, and so do I: But shortly, he without any greate praise, and small gayne, returned
into Englande, more glad of his retraite, then of his aduausyng fonvarde. Sone after, the
bishop of Rome without his agrement, vnlegated hym, and set another in his stede & au-
thoritie, with which doyng, he was neither cdtent nor pleased.
5f THE EIGHT YERE,
ON the vi. day of Nouembre, being theday of sainct Leonard, kyng Henry, in the eight Ttle- ,.-
ye re of his reigne, was, at Westminster with all pompe and honor, crouncd kyng of this- >•*«•
realme of England. At which coronacion, to reherse the costly fa ire, the delicate meate,
the pleasaunt wines, the nombre of courses, the sortes of dishes, the labors of officers, the
multitude of people, the estates of Lorcles, the beauties of Ladies, the riches of apparel!,
the curious deuises, the solempne banquettes, it would aske a long tyme, and wery you:
Wherfore leuyng the pleasaunt pastyme in England, I will returne to the troubleous warrcs
in Fraunce.
AFTER that the French kyng was fled from the duke of Bedford, (as you haue harde
before) and was come to Crespy in Valoys, he was credibly informed, how the citezens of
Champaigne, desired greatly to be vnder his gouernaunce and subieccion. Wherfore, he
.mindyng not to lese so faire an offred prey, ceased not, til he came to the toune, where,-
with all reuerence and benignitie, he was receiued and welcomed. And after that, were
rendered to hym, the tounes of Senlis and Beauoys. And the Lorde Longuenall tooke by
stelth, the castle of Aumarle and slewe all the Englishemen, and in short space, the lorde
Barbasan, whiche long had been prisoner in the Castle Gaylard, so muche, what with faire'
wordes and large promises, persuaded his kepers, that he not only deliuered his awne per-
soiie, but also caused the toune, to turne from thenglishmen, to the part of kyng Charles
X his
1.54 THE. VIII. YERE OF
his Master. Whiche kyng, although he muche reioysed, at the good successe, that Fortune
had to hym sente, yet he was somwhat desperate, how to recouer his conntrey from the pos-
session of the Englishemen, except he vnknitted the knotte and league, • bel wene the duke of
Burgoyn and them. Wherfore, he sent his Chauncellor, & diuerse Ambassadors to the
duke of Burgoyn, first, excusyng himself of the death & murder, of duke Ihon his father,
& after, declaryng to him, that there could be nothing more foule, more dishonest, nor more
detestable, then, for his awne peculiar cause, & pi iuate displeasure, to ioyne with his aun-
cient enemies, and perpetual aduersaries, against his natiue countrey and natural! nation:
not onely requiryng hym, of concord, peace, and arnitie, but also promisyng golden moun-
taines, and many more benefites, then at that tyme, he was either able or could performe.
This message was not so secrete, nor the doyng so closely cloked, but the Duke of Bedford,
therof was plainly informed. Whiche beyng sore troubled, and vnquieted in his mind,
because he sawe the power of thenglisl.e nation, daily waxe lesse, he, of all thynges, first
forseyng, if any losse should of necessitie chaunce, of those tounes and countreis, whiche
his noble brother, kyng Henry the fifth had conquered, in the very countrey of Fraunce, for
lacke of tuition or defence: yet for an ankerhold, he determined to kepe, possesse, and de-
' fende, the Dutchie of Normandy, the olde inheritaunce and aunciente patrimony, of the
kynges of Englande, and fro 'them onely, by force and not by iustice, by violence and not
by right, sithe the tyme of kyng Henry the t'hirde, (the deuilishe de-jii-ion then reignyng in
the realmej wrongfully deteined, and injuriously vsurped. Wherfore, he diligently pro-
uidyng, for thynges that might chaunce, appoynted gouernor of the citce of Paris, Lewes of
Luxenberough, bishop of Turwine and Ely, beyng Chauncellor of Fraunce, for the kyng of
England, a man of no lesse wit, then of birthc, leuyng with hym, a conuenient n ombre of
Englishemen to defende bothe the citee and territory of Paris, & the isle of Fraiice. then
beyng in the Englishmens possession and gouernaunce.
THESE thynges thus oidered, he departed from Paris, into Normandy, and called at
Roan a parliament, of 1 he t lire estates of the ducbie, in the whiche he declared vnto them,
the great liberties, the mani.bide priueleges, the innumerable benefites, whiche they had re-
ceiued of the kynges of Englande, duryng the tyme, that they wer possessors and iordes of
thesame duchie, not puttyng in obliuion, the mi.>ery, bondage, and calatnitie, whiche they
had sustained, by the intollerable yoke and daily tributes, continually layed in their neckes
like Asses, by the cruell and coueteous Frenchemen : and puttyng theim also in remetn-
braunce, how the kynges of England, wer not only brought furth and disceded, of the Nor-
mans bloud £ progeny, but wer the very true & vndouhtfu'l heires, to thesame countrey and
duchie, lineally succedyng & lawfully discendyng from Rollo the hardy, first duke and
prince of the same dominion: Requiryng theim farther, to line in lone and amitie emongest
theim self, to be true and obedient, to the kyng their soueraigne Lorde, and to kepe their
othe and proaies, made and sworne to his noble brother, kyng Henry the. v. prorriisyng to
them, Englishe libertie and priueleges royall. While the duke of Bedford was thus, inter-
tainyng and encoragyng the Normans, Charles the new Frenche kyng, beyng of his depar
ture aduertised, longyng and thrystyng for to obtain Paris, the chief citee & principal! place
of resort, within the whole real me of Fraunce, departed from the toune of SenliS well ac-
companied, and came to the toune of sainct Denise, whiche he found desolate, and aban-
doned of all garrison, and goodgouernauce. Wherfore, without force arid small damage, he
entered into the voyed toune, and lodged his armie at Monntmartyr, and Abberuilliers, riere
adioynyng, and liyng to the citee of Paris. And from thence, sent, Ihon duke of Alatnisoh,
and his sorceresse lone, (called the mayde, sent from (icd) in whom, his whole afh'au'nce
then consisted, with thve rbousande light hor^men, to get again the citie of Paris, either by
force, or by faire flatteryng, or reasonable trcatie, and after them, he without delaie or difer-
ryng of tyme, with all his power,, came betwene Moutmartyr and Paris, and sodainly, ap-
proched the gate of sainct Ilonore, settyng vp ladders to the wailes, and castyng faggoltes into
the cliches, as though, he would with a French bragge, sodainly haue gbtte the faire cite! ' "But
thenglishe
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. )55
thenglishe capitaines, euery one kepyng his ward and place assigned, so manfully and fiersly
with a noble forage, defended themselfes, their walles and toures, with the assistence of the
Parisians, that thei rebutted and draue a«aie the Frenchmen, & threwe doune lone, their
greate goddesse, into Hie botome of ilie toune ditchc, where she laie behynd the backe of an
Asse, sore hurte,' till the tyine tliat she all filthy with mire and duvte, was drawen out, by
Guyschard of Thienbrone, scruaunt to the duke of Alaunson. The Frenche Kyng, seyng
the greate losse, that he had sustcined at tins assaut, and accompted his pretensed conquest,
in raaner impossible, leuyng the dedde bodies behind hyra, and takyng with hyin, the
wounded capitaincs, whiche wer of no small nombre, returned into Berry. But in .the
uieane waie, tlie ciuzens of Laignie, became his subiectes, and made to hyin an othe, pro-
inisyng to conlinewe from thence fnrth to hym, both true and obedient.
THE Duke of Bedford, bevng in Normandy, and hearyng of this soclain attempt, lost no
tyine, nor spared no trauaile, till lie came to Paris. Where he, not onely thanked the capi-
taines, and praised the cilezSs for their assured h'delitie and good will, towarde their kyng
and souereigne lorde, but also extolled tlieir hardines, & manly doynges aboiie the Staires,
and high elementes: promisyng to them, honor, fame, and greate aduauncemcntes. Whiche
gentle exbortacion, so incbraged and inflamed the hartes of the Parisians, that they sware,
promised, and cocluded, to be frendes euer to the kyng of Englande and his fi endes, and ene-
mies alwaies to his foes anil adaersaries, ma kyng proclamation by this stile. Frendes to Kyng
Henry, frendes to the Parisians, enemies to England, enemies to Paris. But if they spake
it with their hartes, either for feare, that Charles the Frenche kyng, should not punishe
them, if he once ohteired the suporioritie, ouer their citee, & toune, or that thei flattred
thenglishmen, to put theiii.sclfes in credite with the chief capitaines, you shal plainly perceiue,
by the sequele of their acies.
SQNE after these doyngiis, came to Paris with a greate company, Phillip duke of Eurgoyn,
whicl.e was of the Regent, and the. lady his wife, honorably receiued, and highly feasted.
And after long coiiMiltacion had, for recoueryng of the tounes, lately by the Frenche kyng
stollen and taken, it was agreed, that the duke of Bedford, should rayse an armie, for the
recouery of Unsaid fortresses, and that the duke of Burgoyne, should be his deputie, and
tary at Paris, for the defence of the same. After this greate businesse, thus concluded, and
appoynted, rlie Duke of Bedforde hymself, without any greate resistannce, recouered again
the toune of sainct Denise, and diuerse other Castles. And after that doen, he sent the Bas-
tard of Clarence, to laye siege to the Castle of Toursie, beyng bothe by the naturall situacion,
and mannes pollicie, very strong, and in manor vnahle to be beaten douue. The siege con-
tinued sixe monethes, but in conclusion, the capitain discomfited of al rcleue and succor,
rcndfix-d the fortresse. the life of hyin and his souldiersonlysaucd. Whiche olfre was taken,
& the castle raised, and cast doune to the grounde. During this siege, sir Thomas Kiriell
knight, with foure hundred Englishemen, departed from Gourney in Normandy, and rode by
Bea.ioys spoylyng, robbyng, and wastyng the countrey, to the suburbes of Cleremont.
Wherof. hcaryng the Erie of thesame tonne, assembled all the men of warre, of the garrisons
adioynyng, to fight with thenglishmen : and so the Frenchemen with all diligence set forward, &
found their enemies in a straight place, pere vnto Beauois. The erle oi Cleremount seyng
that he could not hurte theim, with his men of armes, by reason of the straight, cume doune
on fote with all his company, and fiersly set on the Englishmen. The fight was fierse, and
the aduamnage doubtful. But in conclusion, the archers shot so terriblie, that the French-
men, notatile to abide the smart, andgaulesof thearrmves, fled apjce, and the, Englishmen
leuyng the straight, Icpedon horsebacke, and folowed the chase. In the whiche wer taken
twuo hundred prisoners, and thriseas many slain. The Erie, by the suiftnesseof hishorsse,
escaped his enemies, and came to the toune of Beauoys : and so s-ir Thomas Kiriell, with
plentie of spoyle and prisoners, returned to Goruay, renderyng to GOD his hartie thankes,
for tnat good chaunce and happie vittory.
YET Fortune sent not this good lucke alone, for therle of Suffolk at thesame very season,
X 2 besiegyng
156 THE. IX. YERE OF
besiegyng the toune of Aumarle, wherof was capitain the lord Rambures, (after, xxiiii. great
assautes geuen to the fortresse) had the toune and castle to hym symply rendered. Where-
fore, he caused, xxx. of the tounes men, for their untruthe, to be hanged on the walles, and all
jthe rest he raunsomed, and sent the capitain into Englande, where he remained sixe yeres
"continually, £ after by excaunge was deliuered. After this, the erle fortefied the toune, with
jnen, municions and vitaile, and so by a litle and litle, the Englishmen recouered again many
"tounes, whiche before they had loste, without any greate losse of their people. Whiche
thyng, the Frenchernen well consideryng irnagened by what means, how to get again the
toune of Laual, whiche y lorcle Talbot (before as you haue heard) gat, by scalyng in a night.
Wherfore, to possesse their desired prey, tluy with money, and gay promises, first corrupted
a Miller, that kept a Mil adioynyng to the wall, so thafthe Miller, suffered the lorde llo-
met with thre hundred other, to passe, through bis Mill into the toune, in a very durke
night. When they wer entered, they slewe the kepers of the gate, and let in the Lorde Rer-
trand de la Ferrier, with fiue hundred men of armes: whiche either slewe or toke prisoners,
all thenglishemen within the toune. And shortly after, Sir Stephen de Vignoles called the-
Heire, toke by scaly ng, the toune of Lonuiers in Normridy, and did muche damage, to all
the tounes adioynyng.
1 THE NYNTH YERE.
The.;*. WHile these chaunces happened, betwene the Englishmen and Frenchemen, Phillip
duke of Burgoyne, maried the Lady Isabel!, daughter to Ihon, kyng of Portyngall, and
greate aunte to the kyng of Englande. In honor of whiche manage, he instituted and
began an ordre of. xxxvi. knightes without reproche, called the ordre of the golden flece,
and deuised statutes, mantels, collers, and Ceremonies for thesame, muche like to the or-
dinaunces, of the noble ordre of the Garter begonne in Englande, almoste an hundred
yeres before the inuencion, of this fraternitie and frcdship. On the which wife, he begat,
the hardy duke Charles, father to Marie, after maried to Maximilia. kyng of the Romans,
as (when place requireth) shalbe hereafter to you declared.
IN this very season, the Englishemcn in the colde moneth of Decembre, besieged the
toune of Laigny, in the whiche was the Puzel and diuerse other good capitaines. But the
weither was so cold, & the raine so greate and so continual!, that they, of force copelled,
not by their enemies, but by intemperate season, reised their siege: and in their returne,
the Puzell and all the garrison within the toune, issued out and fought with thenglishrnen,
\\here, (after log fightyng) both parties departed without either great gain or losse. After
this enterprise done, the duke of Burgoyne, accompanied with the erles of Arundell and
Suffolke, and the lord Ihon of Luxenbrough, and with a great puissaunce, besieged the
toune of Champeigne : whiche toune was well walled, manned, and vitailed, so that the
besiegers, must either by assaut or long tariyng, wery or famishe them within the toune.
So they cast trenches, and made moynes, "and studied al the waies that they could deuise,
how to compasse their coquest and enterprise. And it happened in the night of the Ass&n-
cion of our lorde, that Pothon of Xentraxles, lone the Puzell, and fine or sixe hundred
men of armes, issued out of Chapeigne, by the gate of the bridge towarde Mowntdedier,
intendyng to set fire in the tentes and lodgynges of the lord of Baudo, which \vas then gone
to Marigny, for the Duke of Burgoyns affaires. At whiche tyme, sir Ihon of Luxenbo-
rough, with eight other gentlemen (whiche had riden ahoute the toune to serche and vieue,
in what place the toune might be most aptly and conueniently assauted or scaled) were
come nere to the lodges of the lorde of Baudo, where they espied the Frenchmen, whiche
began to cut doune tentes, ouerthrowe pauilions, and kil men in their beddes. Wherefore,
shortely they assembled a great nombre of men, as well Englishe as Burgonions, and co-
vagiously set on the Frenchmen. Sore was- the fight and greate was the slaughter, in so
-such
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 157
much that the Frenchemen, not able lenger to indure, fled into the toune so faste, that
one letted the other to entre. In vvhiche chace was taken, lone the Puzell, and diuerse
other : whiche lone was sent to the duke of Bedford to Roan, wher, (after log examinacio)
she was brent to ashes. This wytch or manly woman, (called the maide of GOD) the
Frenchemeu greatly glorified and highly extolled, alledgyng that by her Orleauce was vi-
tailed: by her, kyng Charles was sacred at Reynes, and that by her, the Englishmen wer
often tymes put backe and ouerthrowen. O Lorde, what dispraise is this to the nobilitie
of Fraunce: What blotteis this to the Frenche nacion: What more rebuke can be imputed
to arenoumed region, then to affirme, write & confesse, that all notable victories, and ho-
norable conquestes, which neither the kyng with his power, nor the nobilitie with their va-
liauntnesse, nor the counsaill with their wit, nor the comonaltie with their strenght, could
compasse or obtain, were gotten and acbiued by a shephcrdes daughter, a chamberlein in
an hostrie, and a beggers brat: whiche blindyng the wittes of the French nacion, by reue-
lacions, dreames & phantasticall visions, made the beleue thynges not to be supposed, and
to gfcue faithe to thynges impossible. For surely, if credite may be geuen to the actes of_
the Clergie, openly done, and comonly shewed, this woman was not inspired with the holy
ghost, nor sent from God, (as the Frenchmen beleue) but an enchfileresse, an orgayne
of the deuill, sent from Sathan, to blind the people and bryng them in vnbelife : as by this
ktter, sent fro the kyng of England, to the duke of Burgoyn, to you euidently shall
appere.
" MOSTE dere and welbeloued vncle, the feruentloue and great affection, whiche you
(like a very catholique prince) beare to our Mother holy Churche, and to the aduancement
of our faithe, doth bothe resonably admonishe, and frendly exhort vs, to signifie and write
vnto you, suche thynges, which, to the honor of our Mother holy Churche, strengthen-
yng of our faith, and pluckyng vp by the rotes, of moste pestilent errors, haue been so-
lemply done within our citee of Roan. It is commonly renoumed, and in euery place
published, that the woman, commonly called the Puzell, hath by the space of twoo yercs
and more, contrary to Goddes lawe, and the estate of womanhed, been clothed in a marines
apparell, a thyng in the sight of God abhominable. And in this estate, caried ouer and
conueyed, to the presence of our chief enemy and yours, to whom, & to the prelates,
nobles, & commons of his parte she declared that she was sent from God, presumptuous-
ly makyng her vaunt, that she had communicacion personally, and visibly with sainct Mi-
chaell, and a greate multitude of Angels, and sainctes of heau^n, as sainct Katheryn, and
sainct Margarete : by the whiche falshode and subtilitie, sue made diuerse to beleue, and
trust in her faithe, promisyng to them great and notable victories, by the which meane,
she did turne the hartes of many men and women, from the truthe and veritie, and con-
uerted them to lies and errors. Beside this, she vsurped a cote of annts, and displaid a
standard, whiche thynges, be apperteinyng only to knightes and esquiers: and of a greate
outrage, and more pride and presumpcio, she demaunded to beare the noble and excel-
lent Armes of Fraunce, whiche she in part obteined, the whiche she bare in many skir-
mishes and assautes, and her brethre also (as men report) that is to say: the feld azure, a
swerd, the poynt vpward in pale siluer, set betwene two flower deluces, firmed with a
croune of gold. And in this estate, she cam into the feld, & guided men of war, and
gathred copanies, & assebled hostes to exercise vnnatural cruelties, in sheding of christen
bloud, & stirring sedicions, and commocions emongest the people, inducing them, to per-
iurie, rebellion, supersticio and false error, in disturbyng of peace and quietnes, and re-
newyog of mortal warre. Beside this, causyng herself to be honored and worshipped of
many, as a woman sanctified, and dampnably opcnyng, diuerse imagined cases long to
reherse,. in diuerse places well knowen and apparantly proued. Wherby, almoste al Chris-
tendom is slaundered. But the diuine pui-baunce, hauyng compassion vpon his true peo-
ple, and willyng no lenger to leaue them in peiil, nor suffre the to abyde still in waics
daungerous, and newe cruelties, hath lightly permitted, of his greate mercieand clemency,
thesaied
158 THE. IX. YERE OF
tliesaied-puzell to be taken in your host and siege, whiche you kept for ys before Cham-
peigne, and byyouregood mta;ie, deliuered into o-ir obeysaunce and dominion. And be-
cause we were required, by the bishoppe of tlie Diocese, where she was take, (because
t>he was noted, suspected, and defamed to be a traitor to almightie God) to deliuer to hym
as to her ordinary and Ecclesiasticall lodge: We, for the reuerence of oure Mother holy
Churche, (whose ordinaunces we will preferre, as oure owne dedes and willes, as reason
it is) and also for the aduauncement of Christen faithe, baylcd thesaied lone to hym, to
the intent that he should make processe against her: not willyng any vengeaunce or punish-
mete to be shewed to her, by any officers of our secular iustices, which they might haue •
lawfully and resonable done, cbnsideryng the greate hurtes, damages, and incbueniences,
.the horrible murders, and detestable cruelties, & other innumerable mischiefe-s whiche she
hath committed in our territories, against our people, and obedtet subiectes. '1 he whiche
bishop, takyng.iri company to hym, the Vicar and inquisitor of errors, and hcrisies, and
callyng to them, a great and notable nombre of solempnc doctors, and masters in diuinitie,
and lawe Canon, began by great solempnitie, and granitic, accordyngly, to procede in the
cause of the saied lone. And after that, thesaid bishop and inquisitor, judges in this
"* cause, had at diuers daies ministered, certain interrogatories to the said lone, and had
caused the confessions £ assercions of her, truly to be examined by thesaid doctors and
masters, and in conc!u.cio'generailv, by all the faculties of our dere and weibeloued daugti-
ter the Vniuersity of Paris. Against whom, (the confessions and assercios, maturely and
deliberatly considered) the ludges, Doctors, & all other the parties aforesaied, adiudged
thesame lone, a supersticious sorceresse, and a diabolical blasphemeresse of God, and of
his sainctes: and a persone scismatike and erronious, in- the lawe of lesu Christe. And
for to reduce and bryng her again, to the communion and company, of oure Mother holy
Churche, and to purge, her of her horrible, and pernicious crimes and offences, and to
saue and preserue her soule, from perpetual! payne1 and dampnacibn, she was moste cha-
ritably and fauorably admonished and aduised, to put away and abhor, all her errors and
erromrus doynges, and to returne humbly to the right way, and come to the very vcritie
of a Christen creature, or els to put her soule and body in great perell and ieoperdie. But
all tuis notwithataudyng, the perelous and inflamed spirit ot pride, and of outragious pre-
sumpcio, the whiche continually tnlbrceth hymself, t:> brekc- and d'ssolue the vnitye of
Christen obedience, so clasped in his clawes, the harte of this woman lone, that she, nei-
ther by any ghostly exhortation, holy adinonicion, or any oilier wholsome doctrine, whiche
might to her bee shewed, would molhfie her hard harte, or bryng her to hmiiilitie But
she aduauncec! and auowed, that all thynges by her do: e, wer well done: yea, and done by
the commaundeiuentes of GOD, and the sainctes before rehersed, plainly to herapperyng:
Kefcrryng the. Judgement of her cause, o-.ely to God, and to no indge o"r counsaill, of the
rjimche militant. Wherefore, the ludges I-cclcsi «st:call, perceiuyng her hard harte, so
long to continue, caused her to be brought !unh, in a common auditorie, before the Cler-
gie and people, in a great multitude, there, for that purpose assembled. In which pre-
;.nce wer opened, manifested, & declared, solemnly, openly, and truly, by a master in
tie, ot notable learnyng and vcrtuous life to the aduaunx-ement of the catholike faithe
extirpyng of errors and false opinions, all her confessions and assercions, charitably
jomshyng, and persuadyng her to returne, to the vnion and feloship ofChristcs ( hurche
and to correct and amend, the fames and offences, in the whiche she was so obstinate and
le. And accordy g to the lane, the Indies aioresaied, beganne to procede and pro-
InZ !-id ofcf T St ntenCe> ^ ,that CMe °f ^ht «!'!)«>. eining. Yet, before the
uc ,1 fuUj declared the sentence, she began somewhat to abate her corage, and saied
ha she would teconc,le her self, to our Mother the holy Churche, bothe gladly and wyl-
jyngly. Judges and other Ecclesiasiicall personcs. genteiy receiued he? offer, hopynfl
meane, that bothe her body and soule, wer gotte again out of eternal losse and per"
so, .sue .submitted her self,, to the ordinaunce of the holy Churche, and with
. ^ her
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 159
her m'outhe, openly reuokedj her erroros and detestable crimes: and thesame, abiured
Openly, signyng with her hande, thesaiedabiuracion, and reuocacion. Wherevpon, oure Mo-
ther the holy Churche, beeyng pitit'ull and mercifull, glad and reioysyng of a synner, that
will conuerte, willyng the strayed shepe to returne again to his folde and flocke, coridepned
thesaid lone onely to doo open penaunce. But the fire of her pride, whiche was in her
harte, sodainly brast out into hurtfull flames, blowen out by the belowes of enuie: and in-
continent after, she tooke again, all her errors and false opinions, by her before, adiured
'! and reuoked, for whiche causes, accordyng to the iudgementes and instituciona of holy
church, to the intent that she, hereafter should not defile, any other membre of the flocke,
of our Lorde Jesus Christe: was again exhorted, and preached to openly. And because
she still was obstinate, in her trespaces and villanous offences, she was dcliuered to the
secular power, the which codempncd her to be brent, ami- cosumed her in the fire. And
when she saw that the fatall daie of her obstinacie was come, she opely confessed, that the
spirites, whiche to her often did appere, were euill and false, and apparant Hers, and that
their promes, which they had made, to deliucr her out of captiuitie, was false and vntrue:
affirmyng her self, by those spirites to bee often beguiled, bhnded, and mocked. And so
oeyng in good mynde, she was by the Justices caried to the okle market, within the citee
of Roan, and there by the fire, consumed to asshes, in the si^ht of all the people.
TIMS letter, tbekyng of Englande, sente not onely to the Duke of Burgoyne, and other
Princes, to declare the veritie of the matter, and the administracion of Justice, but to ad-
rnonishe all rude and ignorant persones, in all other countries, to refraine, from the credite
and belefe1 of the saiynges, of suche prophane prophesies, and craf'tie imageners, as this
peuishe painted Puzel was. Yet notwithstandyng, this lawful processe, this due examina-
cion and publike sentence, Iho Buchet, and diuerse Frenche writers aflirme her to be a
saincte in heauen. But because, it is no poynt of our faith, no man is bound to bekue his
Judgement, although he were an Archedeken. But Paulus Emilius, a famous writer, rehers-
yng that the citezens of Orleaunce, had buylded in the honor of her, an Image or an Idole,
saith, y Pius bishop of Rome, and Anthony bishop of Florence, muche mertieiled and
greately wondered at her actes and doynges. With whiche saiyng, I can very well a^ree,
that she was more to be marueiled at, as a false prophetisse, and seducer of the people i
then to be honored or worshipped as a sainct sent from God into the realme of Fraunce.
For of this I am sure, that all auncient writers, aswell deuinc, as prophane, alledge these
three thynges, beside diuerse other, to apparteine to a good woman. First, shamefastnesse, Thre Pr°-
whiche the Romain Ladies so kept, that seldome or neuer thei wer seen openly talkyng with imperuymf
a man: which vertue, at this day emongest theTurke?, is highly esteemed. The seconde, is to a lood-
pitie: whiche in a womans harte, abhorreth the spillyng of the bloud of a poore beast, or a ™
sely birde. The third, is womanly behauor, aduoydyng tlie occasion of euill judgement, and
cause* of slaundre. If these qualities, be of necessitie, incident to a good woman, where
was her shamefastnes, when she daily and nightly, was conueisant with comen souldiors, and.
men of warre, emongest whom, is small honcstie, lesse vertue, and shamefastnesse, least of
all exercised or vsed? Where was her womanly pitie, whe she taking to her, the harte of a
c'ruell beaste, slewe, man, woman, and childe, where she might haue the vpper hand?
Where was her womanly behauor, when she cladde her self in a man ties clothyng, and was
cou'ersant with euery losell, geuyng occasion to all men to Judge, and speake euill of, her,
and her doynges. Then these thynges, bcyng thus plainly true, all men must nedes confesse'
that the cause ceasyng, the effect also ceastth: so y, if these morall venues lackyng, she
was no' good worm, then it must nedes, consequently folowe, that she was no sainct.
^ NOVV leuyng this woman, consumed to asshes, lette vs returrle agayne to the siege of
Com;-eign.-, whiche still continewed. Duryng whiche tyme, the Regent sente to the Duke
of Burgoxne, l:yng at the siege the erle of Huntingdon, i-ir Ihon Robsert. with a thou-
sande Archers, whiche daily skirmished, with theiiri of the toune, and made guche
Bastiles and fortresses, that' the toune must nedes' 'be rendered, or els they within, fa-
]60 THE. X. YERE OF
wished. But se the chaunce, when victory was at had Tidynges wer brought to the
duke of Bur«ovn, that Phillip duke of Brabantc, was departed out of this worlde, leuyng
behvnde hvm, no heire of his'bodie: To whom thesaieci duke pretended to be next heire.
•Wlierforc," he takyng with hym, his best capitaines, for the recouery of so greate a duchy,
departed from the siege, leuyng his poore people behynd hym, and ordemed in his place,
for his leuetcnaunt, sir Ihon'Luxen borough, whiche beyng of small strength and lesse co-
rage, after the dukes departyng, aduised the Englishmen, to depan for that tyme, tyll the
nextsotnmer: whiche therto at the first, would in nowise agree. But there was no remedy.
for he was capitain general!, and had the ordynaunce vnder his rule, so that without that,
thei could nothyngdoo: Wherfore in greate displeasure, they returned into Noirnandy,
After whose departure, the captain set fire in all the hastiles, and secretly departed, leyng
behynde him, diuerse peces of ordynaunce, for lacke of cariage. With which returne, the
dukes of Bedford and. Burgoyn, wer sore displeased : for if he had continued his siege, eight
daies lenger, the toune had been rendered, without dent of swerd. For pestilence and fa-
royne, had almoste consumed all the souldiors, and left the toune, with out safeguard or
defence.
AFTER this siege broken vp, Ihon duke of NorfFolke, toke again the tounes of Dap-
martyn, and the Chasse Mongay, and diuerse other tounes. And therle of Stafford, toke
the toune of Brie, in Countie Robert, and from thence, foraged al the countrey to Sens,
and after toke Quesnoy in Brie, Grand Puys, and Rarnpellon, with many prisoners as sir
laques de Milly, and sir Ihon de la Hay. Duryng whiche tyme the Frenchmen toke Louiers,
& Villuense. And then the toune of Melune rebelled, and had suche ayd<>, of other tounes
adioynyng, that the Englishe souldiors, wer fayne to leaue Melune, Morret and Corbell.
Thus accordyng to the chaunce of war, the one part gat, and the other lost. Thus the En-
glishe affaires (as yon haue hard) within the realme began to wauer, and waxe variable,
whiche caused the Englishe capitaines, to be of diuerse opinions. For one part, beyng sory
and pensiue, adiudged the thynges present, light and of no moment, in comparison of them
whiche they sa\ve likely to folowe: and another sort, adiudged that present time, to be moste
ieoperdus, and moste repleted with perils: Because they sawe, the power of their enemies,
now increa*.«d, and their owne stregth rather dccaied, then coserued. And so euery man
studiyng on 'fliis businesse, aduised secretly with hymself, what counsaill was best to be taken,
and what waie was best to be folowed, to remedy these thynges, thus waueryng, in a doubtful
balance. And then it was concluded, that it was moste apteand mete, for tl>e tyme presente,
that kyng Henry in his royall person, with a newe army, should come doune into Fran nee,
partly to comfort and visite his awne subiectes thcr: partly, either by feare or fauor, (be-
cause a childe, of his age and heautie, dooth commonly allure to hym, the hartes of elder
persones,) to cause the Frenchetnen to continue, in their due obeysaunce towarde hym. Wher-
fore, after a great hoste, conuenient for that purpose, assembled, and money for the mainte-
nance of thewarre, redy gathered, and the realme sette in an ordre, and the Duke of Glou-
cester, appoynted gouernor (winch duryng the kynges absence, appeased diuerse riottes, and
punished many offenders,) the kyng with a great power, tooke shipping at Douer, and
landed at Calice, and there taried a good space; and from thence he remoucd to Roan,
where, with al triumphe, he was receiued, and there soiorned, till the rniddest of August,
his nobles daily consultyng, on their greate busines, and waightie affaires.
U THE TENTH YERE.
> nce
i'enice, to the intent to make his entrie, into the citee of Paris, and there to be sacred kyn*
'ruror l° receiue« the scePtre andCroune of the realme and countrey
'ruror
1 HLKL were in his company, of his owne nacio, his vncle the- Cardinall of Winchester, the
Cardinal] and Archebishoppe of Yorke, the dukes of Bedforde, Yorke, and Norffolke, the
1 -
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 161
Erles of Warwicke, Salisbury, Oxford, Huntyngdon, Ormond, Mortayn, Suffolke, and of Thccorona-
s~< i *-i i f T -i i -m «• > T • i 11 *- /• -ri i i f, cionofkvne
Gascoynes, the Lne of Long'iilc, and Marche, beside many noble men of England, Guyan, Henry the
and Normandy. And the chief of the Frenche nacion, wer- the dukes of Burgoyn, and lvUn l>arij-
Lewes of Luxenbrough Cardinal! and Chauncellor of Fraunce for kyng Henry, the bishops
ofBeauoysand Neyon, bothe peres of France, beside the bishOpp of Paris, and diuerse
other bishoppes, therle of Vaudeniont, & other noble men whose names were very tedious
to you to here rehersed. And he had in a gard, aboute his person, thre thousand strong ar-
chers, some on horsebacke, and parte on fote. And as he was commyng, betwene sainct
Denice and Paris, he was met at the Ciiapell, in the meane waie, by Sir Simon Moruer
prouost of Paris, with agreate company, all clothed in redde Satin, with blewe whoddes,
vvhiche did to hym, due reuerence and lowe obeysaunce. After whom, came diuerse -riche
and notable burgesses, of the toune of Paris, all appareled in Crimosyne clothe. -Alter
they haddoen their reuerence, there approched to the kyng, the. ix. worthiesjsittyng richely
on horsebacke, armed with the armes to them apperteinyng. Next after them, came the knight
of the watch, for the prouost Marchauntes, and with him all the officers of the court, ap-
pareled iu blewe, and hattes redde. And in a long space after, came Master Phillip de
Noruillier, chief president of the Parliament, appareled in a. robe of estate : and all the
other presidentes of the parliament, clothed in robes of scarlet, and in like robes fulowed. the ^
Lordes of the Chamber of accornptes, and of the finaunce, the Masters of the Requestes,
the secretaries, and Regesters, and eucry copany, as their course came, saluted the kyng, with
eloquent oracions, and heroicall verses, and so conueyed hym to the gate of saincte Denice,
where the prouoste, of the Marchauntes, and the Shrefes of the toune, receiued hym with a
Canapie of blewe veluet, richely embraudred, withflower of delices gold, and barethesame ouer
hym, through the toune, whiche on euery side, was hanged with jiche clothes of Arras and
Tapistrie. And at euery porte and bridge where .he passed was set a pageaunt, of greate
shewe and small coste, whiche, because they wer but trifles, I ouer passe, and spekc but of
one deuise, made before the gate of the Chastelet, wherevppn a stage stode, a goodly childe
clothed with habite royall, set full of flower delices, hauyng two Crounes on his hed, repre-
sentyng the yong kyng, and on his right hande, stode twoo noble personages, in the arrne&of
Burgoyne and Flaunders: and on thelefte side of hym, stoode three personages, clothcd:in
the armes, of Bedforde, Salisbury, and Warwicke, whiche to hym delinered, the swerde of
Englande. This pagiaunt was well regarded, and highly praised. From thence he departed
to the palace, and offered in the Ciiapell, and from thence he departed, to the hous of Tour-
nelles, and there toke his repast. And after dinner Isabel, late wife to kyng Charles, his
grandfather, long before disceased. And the next daie he was conueighed, to Boys de
Vyncennes, where, he reposed hymself,till th«. xv. day of Decebre : on which daie, he returned
to the palaice of Paris. And on the. xvij. of thesaied moneth, he departed from the place, in
greate triumphe, honorably accompanied, to our Lady church of Paris: where with al so-
lempnitie, he was anoynted and crouned kyng of Fraunce, by the Cardinal of Winchester:
(the bishop of Paris, not beyng content, that the Cardinal should do suche a high Ceremony,
in his Churche and iurisdiccion.) At the offeryng, he offred breade and wine, as the cus-
tome of France is. When the deuine seruise was finished, and all Ceremonies due, to that
high estate were accoplished, the kyng departed toward the palaice, hauyng one croune on
his hed, and another borne before hym, and one scepter in his hand, & the second borne be-
fore hym. What should I speake, of the honorable seruice, the daintie dishes, the pleasant
conceiptes, the costly wines, the swete Armony, the Musical instrumentes, vvhiche wer :sene
and shewed at that feast, sith all men maie coniecture, that nothyng was omitted, that
might be bought for golde, nor nothyng was forgotten, that by mannes witte could .be
inuented. Yet this high and ioyous feast, was not without a spotte of displeasure, for;tVte
Cardinal! of Wynchester, whiche at this tyme, would haue no man to hym egall, com-
maunded the duke of Bedforde, to leue of the name of Regent, duryng the tyme that the
kyng was in Fraunce: affirmyng the chief ruler beyng in prcEceej the authorise of the sub-
Y stiiute,
162 THE. X. YERE OF
stitute, was clerelj"dferogate : accordyng to the comon saiyng, in the presence of the high
power, the smal authoritie geueth place. The duke of Bedford, toke suche a secret dis-
pleasure with this dooyng, that he neuer after fauored the Cardmall, but repugned and dis-
dained at al thynges that he did or deuised. And so because the Cardinal! would haue no
temporall Lorde, either to hym superior, or with hym egall, he set furth this proude and
arrogant conclusion, thorowe whiche vnhappie deuision, the glory of thenghshemen within
the realme of Fraunce, began first to decaye, and vade awaie in Fraunce.
THE next daie after this solernpne feast, wer kept triumphant lustes and Turneis, in the
whiche, Erie of Arundell, and the Bastard of Sent Polle by the Judgement of the Ladies,
wan the price and gat the honor. When he had kepte open hous to all comers, by the space
of. xx. daies, because the ayre of Paris, was somwhat contrariaunt to his pure complexion,
he was aduised by his counsaill, to returne to Roan. But before his departure, he caused
al the nobilitie, the presidelz of the parliament, the prouostes of the citee and of the Mar-
ctiauntes, and the chief burgesses of the toune and citee, and al the doctors of the vni-
uersitie, to be assembled iu his presence : to whom the duke of Bedford said in this
maner.
IT is not vnknowen to you all my lordes, aswell spirituall as temporall, how this noble re-
gion and famous countrey, of antiquitie called Gaule, and now Fraunce, sith the tyrae of
Charles surnamed the Greate, beyng bothe Emperor of Rome, and kyng of this realme, hath
bee» accompted, reputed, and renoumed, the moste christen region, and famous seigniory,
within the circle of al christendo, yea, and within the whole part of Europe, and not vn-
deseruyngly, for. iij. causes. First, for your sincere faithe and obedient loue, toward your
sauidr and redemer lesu Christ. The second, for obseruyngyour fidelitie & due obeysauce,
to your kynge* and soueraigne Lordes. Thirdly, for kepyng and performing your promises
and agrementes> aswell by woorde as by wrytyng: from the whiche no Pagane, nor honest
Christian will or should disagree. This famous renoume and immaculate honor, so long
coivtiaewyng without reproche or blotte: I thinke, yea, and doubt not, but you will to the
death, kepe, defend, and obserue, as your noble parentes and auncient progenitors, before
you (to their ineffable praise) haue vsed and accustomed. Wherfore, sith it is not vnknowen
to all you, that the noble and vertuous prince, kyng Henry the fifth, my moste derest and
welbeloued brother, was the very true inheritor, and the vndoubtfull successor to the croune
of this realme of Fraiice, as cosin and heire to Lady Isahell, daughter and sole inheritrice, to
kyng Phillippe the Faire. For the recouery of whiche right and title, what pain he tooke,
and what charge he was at, 1 well knowe, and some of you haue felte, as a greate scourge
to your nacion, onely prouided by God, to afflicte and punishe them: whiche will withhold
& vsurpe, other mennes rightes, possessions, and inheritaunce. But God oure sauior and
redemer, (whiche wil not suffre his people, intendyng to conuert, to be dampned for euer,
but gently calleth them to mercy and saluacion) of his greate good nes & gentlenes, willed the
holy ghost to shed and poure into the hart of the noble prince, kyng Charles, your late wel-
beloued and most drad souereigne lord, the knowledge of the lawfull line, and of the true
pathe of the inheritaunce, of the croune & scepter of this realme. Which vertuous man,
hauyng neither an harte hardened in his awne opinion, nor a mynd ambicious of Empire
(as many tyrauntes, and couetouse princes, before this daie haue had, vsed, and accustomed)
for aduoydyng farther effusion of christen bloud, and for the saluacion of his soule, without
battaill, or stroke of weapon, was content (vpon an honorable coposicion) to restore the
awful mheritauee to the true heire and to rendre his title to the right lignage, & vndoubted -
Jyne. v hiche treatie and finall composicion, was nether wantonly ouerlooked, nor vn-
&18teheynZSene; *°r al <hf. «ob'« P«es, of this realme, bothe spiritual & tempoWll, yea,
Most part of thenobihtie, (except a certain wilde and wilfull persones) with the whole
'hie (in who the very base and burden of the realme doth consist) not onely by
by auncient writyng signed with their handes, and strengthened wkh the scales-
mes, here redy to be shewed, baue frankly and frely with out scruple or contra-
diccion
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. IC3
diction, agreed, and affirmed thesame. By whiche composicion, (as the mirror and plain
shewe and token of kyng Henries right) he was by the three estates, assigned, and allowed,
as heire apparant to thesaid kyng Charles, lately deceassed. But cruell death seperatyng
his body from his soule, long before the expectacion of his people, suffered him not to
possede and enioye the title and regalitie of this his due inheritaunce, and succession royall.
Yet, God willyng not the stocke, of so noble, so famous, and so vertuous a prince, to re-
mayne bareyn without buclde or flower, hath sent to hym, and fro hym to you a florishing
child, a goodly prince of bothe the noble houses, of England & Fraunce indifferently dis-
cended: as who would saie, that by nature, he is neither perfect Englishe, nor perfect
Frenche, but a man indifferent, called an Englishe Frencheman, and a Frencha Englishman.
Whiche noble prince, and your soueraigne Lorde, you may with glad hartes, and louyng
countenaunces, se, heare, and behold. And as for his honorable behauor, & princely ma-
iestie: fewe princes of full & ripe age, be to hym comparable, or equipollent. As for his
beautie and other giftes of nature, scace Absalon can He to hym assembled. But hauyng res-
pect to the vertuous disposition the Godly mynd, and sincere conscience, of so noble a child
and princely infant, I surely thinke, and perfectly beleue, that he is aboue all other, the bla-
syng Starre, and the vnmatched Paragon. This precious stone and noble luell, is not onely
come out of his naturall conntrey, and norishyng Region, to receiue the Croune and pos-
session, of this his realme and dominion, but also, (fike a good shepherde) to vieue, se,
and knowe you, as his welbelor.ed flocke, and moste desired subiectes: and you likewise,. (as
louyng and obediet vassals) to behold, and knowe your soueraigne lord and prince, to the
intent, that as you, aboue all other nacions, aswel christen as Ethenicke, haue serued, loued,
and obeyed, your rulers and Kynges, before these daies: so he now doubteth not but to find
you as louyng to hym, as the Turtle to her make, as sure to hym as the Adamant to the stele,
and as permanent in his obedience, as the hard mountayne of Olympe, which, neither craft
nor engyne can either consume, or remoue. And all mistrust of your ingratitude, is clerely
banished from his harte : consideryng, that he knoweth, that you daily heare it preched, that
you should feare God, and honor your kyng, and that he, which is in stubburnesse and ob-
stinacie toward his prince, is disobedient towarde God. For the Prince in yearth, is the \
Vicar of GOD, and hedde and shepherde of Christes flocke: to who bothe spiritual! persones \
and temporal, be subiectes, and inferiors in al causes of rule & gouernaunce. And although ^
some persones within this realme, seduced more by phantastical error, then obstinate arro-
gancy, haue take part, and entered into amitie with Charles de Valoys, vntruly callyng him-
self the French kyng: yet the verie true and vndoubtful prince, and our souereigne Lorde,
here bcyng present, is resolned and content, to remit and pardon their offences and crimes,
so that they within twelfe daies, returne to the true folde, and forsake the infected flocke, and
sedious company. Wherefore, his request is at this tyme, that you, for the fidelitie, whiche
you haue euer borne to hym, and for the loue, that he hath, and styll intendeth to beare to
you, will vouchesafe hereafter without letlyng of tyuie diligetly study and busely take pain,
bothe to kepe his louyng subiectes in good oidre, and due obeysaunce towarde hym, and
also tose theim liue in mutuall amitie and brwtherly concord, betwene theim selfes: not for-
gettyng, that the olde proueibe, whiche saieth: inward discord, bryngeth realmes to ruyne.
Which honorable requestes, if you accoplishe and performe, (as of your very bounden duety,
you bel)ound in deede) you shall deserue so umche fauor, of your kyng and soueraigne
Lorde, that to all your honest requestes, his eares shalbe open, & to al your reasonable de-
sires, his mouth shall not be stopped. And thus he wisshethyou, health in bodies, increace
in your substau nee, and to your soules, ioye and felicitie without ende perpetually.
WHEN the duke had finished and ended this his oracion, the people beyng glad and re-
ioysyng at his saiynges, cried: Hue kyng Henry, liue Kyng Henry. After which crie passed,
the noble men, aswell of Fraunce and Normandy, did to hym homage, find the common
people, sware to hym feaultie: to whom, (although he were a child) he gaue botb ple^saunt
Y 2 and
THE. X. YERE OF
ami faire wordes, withjiartie thankes, and many gratificacions, to the great admiracion of
the Frenche people.
AFTER he had feasted, the nobles and commons of Fraunce within the citee of Paris, he
with a great company, departed from thence, and by small iorneis came to Roan, where
he celebrated with great solempnitie, the high feast of Christmas. While these -noble Cere-
monies wer thus in doyng, in the citee of Paris, sondery chauces, diuersely hapned in se-
ueral places, to the displeasure of the one part, and to the gain of the other. For sir Frances
Surrien Arragnoys, a noble capitain in Normandy, toke by force and pollicie, the touneof
MoMntarges, with a greate prey of treasure and prisoners, and therein he put a garrison*
and vitailed the toune, to the greate displeasure of the Frenche Kyng. Aboute thesame
season, the Erie of Arundell, beyng truly informed, that the lorde Bousac, Marshall of
Fraunce, was come to Beauoys, intending to do some feate in Normady, assembled the
noinbre of thre and twentie hundred men, and laied hymself priuelie, in a close place, nor
farre from thesaied toune, and scni a ^reat nombre of light horssemen, to ronne to the bar-
riers of the citee. The Frenchmen like valiaiit men of warre, issued out, and manfully
fought with the Englishemen: whichesodainly fled, towarde the stale. The Frenchmen, co-
ragiously folowed thinkyng the game gotten on their side: but when they wer entered into the
straight, therle set freshly on them, so that after long fightyng, there wer slain and taken, iu
maner al the Frenchmen, saue a few, whiche fled into the toune, with the Marshall. Emo^est
the capitaines was found prisoner, the ,vali'iunt capitain, called Poynton of Sanctrayles,
(which without delay,) was exchaunged for die lorde Talbot, before taken prisoner, at the
battaill of Patay. There was also taken one, called the shepherd, a simple ma, and a scly
soule, whom, the Frenchmen reputed, to be of suche a holinesse, that if he touched the
walle of a toune of their enemies, that incontinent, it would fall to the grounde, and
ouerturne. Suche false phantastical fainers, were at that tyme much regarded, and no lesse
beleued in Fraunce.
THISchauncesucceded not, fortunatly alone: for Richard Beauchampe Erie of War-
wicke had agreate skirmishe, before the toune of Gourney, where he discotited and repulsed
his enemies, and beside thecarions, whiche wer leftdedde on the ground, he tooke prisoners
thre score horssemen, all gentlemen of name and arrnes. Like chaunce of infortune hap-
pened at thesame tyme, to Renate or Reyne duke of Barr, a greate frend to Charles the
French kyqg, bothe in lendyng hym money, and also in ministeryng to hyru aide and succors.~
This duke bearyng displeasure, to Anthony Erie of Vaudemont, his cosyn and kynsman]
gathered together a greate armie, and besieged the toune of Vaudemont. Therle, before
the dukes approchyno, to thentent y he would not be enclosed and compassed about by his
enemies within a wall, leauyng behynde hym a conuenient crue of men of warre, to defende
.it, ouutuy gumm uyin, nauyng in ins company sixe hundred Ar-
chers, and the duke of Burgoyne sent to hym, his Marshall, called sir Anthony Douloneon
with. xv. hundred men. The erle of Vaudemont thus beyng accompanied, marched toward
Duke Reme, hearyng of his commyng towarde hym, was somewhat dismayed
iearyng, least if hisenemiesshould approehe to the walles, and be espied by the garrison within
lie toune,. 'hat, at one tyme he should be assailed before, by them that would issue out of
oune, and I clund by therle and his armie. Wherfore, like a hardy capitain, he brake vp
d ^6> I !, met 'ace '° 'ace> w'tn therle and his company i betwene whom, was a cruel!"
s » MluS VhP \% horsemen indured long, but in conclusion, the Englishe Archers,
elfedt fit har ? W°Unded ,the mei1' that the Bwroysand theil> ^endes, wer co-
rn .whiche chace was taken, thesaied duke of Barr, the bishop of Myes the
T^ i « ' •• ~ — — * * "™ ^ **j v i »•»*** t-*iij^/« HO 16536 UL. v_.(is tun
Englishmen, beyng in'another parte, if when the pigge had been
profered
KYNG HENRY THE; VI. 185
profered, thei had opened the poke: for Robert, Lorde Willoughby, and Mathew Gotigh
a valiaunt Welsheman, with. xv. hundred Englishemen laied siege to a toune in Aniow, beyng
bothe by situacion, and pollicie, verie strong and defensible, called sainct Seueryne. The
Englishmen assailed it not so couragionsly, but they within, with egall audacitie, boldely made
defence: so that fortune semed, to waie bothe the parties in egall balance. Charles the
French kyng, beyng thereof aduertised, sent with all spede, the lorde Ambrose de Lore, with
many noble and valiaut personages, to aide and releue his frendes, inclosed in the toune by
his enemies. This lorde de Lore, beyng capitain of the toune, made muche haste to comfort
his deputie and capitain within thesame, and so marched forward with greale spied: but fear-
yng to besodainly compassed aboute he taried still at Beaumont, lokyng for the armie and
capitaines, that should folow, and then altogether to set on their enemies, and so to reyse
the siege. Whiles he there made his abode, and toke his leysure, the Englishmen, by their
espialles, were assertened and aduertised, what progresse their enemies made, and what they
intended. Wherfore, they pollitiquely prouided, to fight with the one parte, before the
whole puyssaunce wer ioyned. And so a greate parte of them, departed secretly in the night,
toward their enemies, and found the watch so out of ordre, and ouersene, that a thousande
men wer entered into the camp before thei were espied. But the slaiyng of men. and cuttyng
doune of tentes, awaked the capitaines, whom this sodaine feare, and vnlooked chaunce so
greately abashed, that no man in tnaner, either could heare his felow or hymself, or could
make signe to expulse and driue out their enemies out of their campe. But when the day be-
ganne to appere, and the son«e had setfurth his bright beames, that all.thyng might be sene
and perceiued, the Englishemen, geuen to couetuousnes of spoyle and desire of Rauyne,
neither chaced, norfolowed their enemies, but beyng content with their prey and gayne, began
to retraite toward the siege again. But se the chaunce: the Frenchmen which wer com-
niyng after, heard by the noyce of the people, that some fraie was then in hand, put the
spurres to the horse, and set on their enemies, beyng laded with bagges and wallcttes, of
preys and spoiles. The other part, whiche before fled, returned again, and assailed their
enemies. The Frenchmen egerly assailed, and the Englisheinen manfully defended, whiche
beyng out of ordVe, wer compelled to flie, of whom, Matthew Gough and diuerse other wer
taken prisoners, and yet of the other parte, many were slain, and a great nombre taken,
emongest whom, was the lord of Lore, which, for all the battaile, was kept and not de-
liuered.
•THE lord Willoughby, hearyng of this cliaunce reysed the siege & departed verie sore
displeased. Therefore- let euery capitain take good hedc of victorie, the whiche as she is harde
to obtain, so she is quicke to rlie awaie: for it is daily sene, that he, whiche thynketh suerly,
thathe hath her in his handes, before he can catche her, isdeceiued, £ ronnelh into a great
losse and danger: and on the otherside, when she is gotten, (except good watche behourcly
kept) she will steale awaie, with muche hurte and detriment, to the first gainer. Thus the
Englishmen, for the gredy appetite of gain, lost the triumphaunt victorie, whiche they had in
their handes. While the Englishe and Frenche nacions, thus strouc and contended, for
preeminence, principalitie, yea, & for the superior power of life, by the vnreasonable rage
of warrein Fraunce, the rich men were spoyled of their goodes, the spiritual! persones, were
taxed and brought low, the comon people wer slain, murdred, and trode vnder the foote,
women wer defiled, virgynes wer ranished, tounes wer destroied and wasted, toune duellers
and citezens, wer robbed and exiled, beautiful buyldynges, wer cruelly brent, "nothing was
spared, by the crueltie of Mars: whiche by fire, hloud, or famyne, might be catched or de-
stroied, beside a hiidred more calamities, that daily vexed and troubled the miserable French
nacion. Although France, wer at this tyme, thus miserably aflicted: yet Englande, was
not without doloure and trouble: for daily Englishmen, asvvel noble as meane personages,
wer, slain taken, \vounded, or hurte, their substance was cdtinually exacted, and cosumed
for maintenaunce of ihe warres, so that mischief and calamitie, was indifferent to bothe the t
nacions, and qujetnes and gayne, were expulsed £ banished from ihean both : in so muehe
'..v'-i.^ that:
THE. X. YERE OF
to scourge, pidguc --M,,! u.-ai-1-p to a frendlv neace. sent his
cord and ^uadyng vn tie, shewyng, declaryng and arguyng, peace to be moste honorable
and 'mo e Fofitab e to Christian princes, then mortall warre, or vnchantab e d.scencion.
^dmran of Christes people, ought to baue an iye, to the profile of their people to
« lusuce duly ministered, to rule theseifes by reason and not by w,l and to abstain fro
malice, and abhorre all wrong and iniury, to whiche thynges, warre is cuer eiiemie & cleane
'°WHFN the Le^te had thus persuaded the princes on euery part, bothe gently aun-
swered 'that they wer content to come to a reasonable ende. But when the first commum-
cacionwasmoued, and by comissioners treated, their dooynges were so farre disagreeable,
from their vvordes, that not onely reasonable and honest eondiciens of peace, could be nei-
ther heard nor accepted, but more frowardnes, pertinacie, & malice was kmdeled and
BPron<T in their stumackes, then before that time had been sene. The Cardinal beyng in.
vtter dispaire, of cocludyng a peace betwene the two realmes, (least he should seme to de-
pal te empty of all thynges, for the whiclie he had taken so muche trauaill) desired a truce
for sixe yeres to come, which request, as it was to him, by bothe parlies hardly graunted, so
was it of the Frenchmen, sone and lightly broken, after his returne : For the Bastarde of
Orleaunce, newly made Erie of Dumoys, tooke by treason the toune of Charters, from the
Englishemen: affirmyng by the lawe of armes, that stealyng or biyng a toune without in-
uasio, or assaute, was no breach of league, amitie, nor truce. In the whiche toune, he slews
the bishop, because he was a JJurgonyo, through which occasion, newe malice increased
and mortal warre began again to rise and spryng.
WH I LE these thynges wer doyng in Fraunce, Henry Beaufforde Cardinal] of Winchester,
•was sailed again into Englande, to appeace and represse certain diuisions and commocions,
sprang vp, by mischeuous and pernicious persones, within the realme, whiche vnder the
colour of a newe sect of religion, coniured together, to disquiet £ vexe, the whole quietnes
of the realme. But after that Willia Maundeuile and I ho Sharpe wer taken, and executed
by the gouernor and the kynges Justices, the remnaunt yelded, and cofcssed their offences:
wherof two articles wer these, as some men write: that priestes should haue no possessions,
and that all thynges, by the ordre of Charitie, emongest Cliristen people, should be incommon.
After this sedicious coniuracion, by diligent enquirie, was thus queened out, the Cardinall
began to commen with the duke of Gloucester, concernyng the affaires and husines of
Fraunce: and suspecting that the truce would not long continue betwene t)othe j? realmes,
(as it did not in dede) diuised, how to send more aide, and men to the Duke of Bedforde,
and gathered vp more money, and treasure, for the further maintenance of the warres, and
resistence of their enemies. "VVherupon the Duke of Gloucester, called a Parliament, in
the whiche, money was assigned, and men wer appointed. Duryng whiche Parliament,
lames the kyng of Scottes, sent Ambassadors, to conclude a peace, with the duke of Glou-
cester, which, (because the kyng was abscnte) referred the matter to the. iij. estates. After
long consultacion, (not without greatc argumentes) a peace was graunted and concluded,
which all men iudged, long to continue, because kyng lames, was then vexed with ciuil
warre and intestine discencion, and also the Frencheuaeu had taken truce, (as you haue hard)
for. vi. \eres.
WHEN the parliament was finished, the Cardinall well garnished with men and money,
departed
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 167
departed out of Englande, and came to Roan to the kyng, to whom also resorted from Paris,
Ihon, Duke of Bedford, to debate and consult of thynges,- not vnlikelyto happen and chaunce.
Wherfore, a greate counsail was celebrate, within the Castle of Roan, and many doubt*
wer moued, and fevve waighty thynges out of hand concluded. Some imagined, that their
enemies, would not longkepe promise, nor yet obserue the truce, by them solemply graunt-
ed: consideryng, that the Frenche hartes brente, and their iyes were very sore, lose the
riche Duchie of Normandy, the faire citee of Paris and thepleasaunt Isle of Fraunce, to be
brought and reduced, vnder the obeysauce and subieccion, of thenglish nacion. Wherfore,
thei would not omit, or ouerse one thyng, that souded to defence, least the Frenchmen so-
dainly, (not keping their promes, & brekyng the truce,) might cause thenglishmen to be in
greate & perilous ieoperdy, not knowyng what coiisaill to take, nor sodainly to prouide a
remedy for a mischief*, bothe for lacke of men and substaunce. Oiher wer of opi-
nion, that nombres of men, could not long be maintained and kepte together, without
breache of truce, and violatyngof peace: knowyng that the handes of men, be properly geueu
to spoyle, and euer redy to gain, and moste especially, when they be daily redy in harneis,
prone and quicke to set on their enemies. And therfore, thei would the walled tounes, to
bewel manned and defected, and the rest of the army, to be sent into England, again,,
there to remain and tary til the tyme of the truce wer expired and ouer passed.
AFTER this disputacion, with many argumetes ended, the dukes of Bedford and Yorke,
and Edmond late erle of Mortayn, and now by the death of Ihon duke of Somerset, (which
died without heire male, leauyng behind hym, a sole doughter called Margaret, after, coun-
tesse of Richemod) erected to the name and title, of duke of Somerset, liked and approued,
the first argument, & first moued reason: affirmyng best that warre must be prouided for,
and that money out to be disbmssed, and to aduoyde all doubles, that a greater army, was
necessary to be gathered together and assembled. When al thynges wer agreed, kyng Henry
departed to Calice, and from thence to Douer, and so by easye iorneis he came the. xxi. daie
of February, to the citee of London, where he was receiued, not onely with greate pompe
and triumphe, but also highly presented with giftes and money, as in the Chronicle of Robert
Fabian, you maie rede at large, whiche thyng I ouer passe.
AFTER that the kyng, was departed into Englande, the Duke of Bedford, Regent of '
Fraunce, and capitain of Calice, taried behynde in the marches of Picardy: where he was
informed, that certain souldiors of Calice, grudgyng al the restrainl of wolles, beganne to
mutter and murmure against the kyng and his counsaill, so that the toune of Calice, was like
to stand in ieoperdy. Wherfore the duke, forseyng the mischief that might insue, & thinkyng
it wisedom, to withstand the first mocion, caused the chieftaynes of this faccion, to be ap-
prehended, and after due examinacion had, diuerse were put to death, and many banished
& exiled the Marches for euer. After that he had purged the tonne of that vngracious and
sedicious company, and had furnished it, with new souldiors & discrete men of war, he was
determined, first to repaire again to Paris, but his liarte would not serue hym for sith his de-
parture, Lady Anne his wife and Duchies, was departed to God, and honorably enterred in
the Celestyns at Paris: by whose death, and for other causes, (as partelyyou haue hard) the
sureloue, and approued fidelitie, betwene the duke of Burgoyn, his brother in lawe and hym,
began to waxe fainte and colde. For whiche cause, he beyng persuaded by the lorde Lewes
of Luxenborough, bishoppe of Tyrwyne and Ely, and ChaunceHor of Fraunce for kyng
Henry, agreed to marye the Lady laquet, doughter to Peter Erie of sainct Paule, and niece
tothesaied bishop, and to lorde Ihon of Luxenborough: to the intent, that by this newe af-
finitie, the olde acqua'mtaunce and familiaritie, whiche he had wirh that noble familie of
Luxeborough, should be reaeued and inforced, and with a more surer knot, knit and con-
firmed. Wheruppn he departed from Calice to Tirwyne, where, he was highly receiued of
the Erie ofsainct Paule, and of his brethren, and there hemaried, the faire and freashelady
laquet, of the age of. xvii. yeres, with all triumphe and nupciall solempnitie. After whiche
Ceremony ended, he returned with his newe spouse to Calice, and so into Englande, where,
1 he.
The. xi.
yere.
,6j THE. XL YERE OF
he with hi3 wife remained, vntil August next, and then returned again to Paris. The Duke of
lLaovnc, ( vLose mvnde began to incline, a litle and litle toward kyng Charles) was sore
u S and an.ry, that the duke of Bedforde, was ioyned in affinitie, with the noble and
famou housofLuxeborough: by the whiche he savve, that the power o the Englishmen,
should be greatly aduaunced. But the manage was fully ended, and he could hnde no
remedy.
IT THE ELEUENTH YERE.
\VHile these thymes weredoyng thus, in other places the French souldiors lackyng wages,
faad emSaest tbeim, a greate nombre, whiche in hope of prey, and desire ofspoile, had
cast vp the plough, and left their labor,) began priuely, (as tyme serued, and occasion gaue
place) to take bothe Englishmen and Burgonyons, and raunsomed and spoyled thenu, at
their pleasures. And although they were prohibited thus to do, (duryng the tyme of truce &
peace) yet inconclusion, they spared not openly to robbe, spoyle, and burne: yea, & to
steale tounes, whiche they affirmed to be no breache of truce. The Englishmen, pricked and
vexed, with these open wronges, and manifest iniuries, prepared for warre, after the sixe
monetb, that the truce was taken and concluded. And by this meanes, the war was rencued
and bcgonne again. The vntrue Frenchemen, breakers of peace, and not kepers of truce,
rcysedacreweofmen, and sodainly tooke the toune of sainct_Valerie, standyng in Nor-
mandy, on the Riuer of Soame: and another army, vnder the coduict of sir Ambrose, lorde
of Lore, wasted and destroyed all the countrey aboute Caen. The Duke of .Bedford, not
niyndyng to lie still in ydlenesse, sent the Erie of Arundell, the Erie of Warwickes sonne the
Lorde Lisle, Adane Marshall of Fraunce, for kyng Henry, and. xii. C. men, with ordinaunce
and municions, to besiege the toune of Laigny, vpon the Riuer of Marne. Whiche Erie,
with the shot of a Canon, brake the archeof the bridge, and gat from ths Frenchmen, their
bulwarke, and set it on fire. Diuerse assautes were attempted, but the toune was
well defended: for within, wer shut vp, eight hudred men of armes beside other meane
souldiors.
THE duke of Bedford, beyng therof aduertisecl, gathered an armie of sixe thousande
men of warre, wherof wer capitaines, Robert, Lorde Willoughby, sir Andrewe Ogard,
Chambcrlein to the duke, sir I lion Saluaine, Baylife of Roan, sir Ihon Montgomerie,
Bailife of Caux, sir Phillip Halle, Baylife of Vernoyle, sir Richard Ratclife, deputie of
Calice, sir Raufe Neuell, sir Raufe Standishe, sir Ihon Hanforde, sir Richard Euthin,
sir Richard Harryngton, Bailife of Eureux, sir William Fulthorpe, sir Thomas Griffyne
of Irelande, Dauy Halle, Thomas Stranguish, Leonard Ornesto, Esquiers, and Thomas
Gerard, whiche solde the toune of Mounstrean Faultyon, to the Frenchemen : and with
all thyngcs necessarye, came to the siege before Laigny. He, there, made a bridge of
boates, and brought his ordinaunce so nere the tonne, that to all people, it seined not Ion »
able to resist. But the Erie of Dumoys Bastard of Orleaunce, with diuerse hardy capi-
taines, as valiauntly repulsed, as the Englishemen assautcd. This siege contyneued. as fire
against flame, and sometyme ilame against fire. For although the Englishemen slewe more
uombre, yet they gat neither prey, nor boty: and although the Frenchemen, kepte va-
leauntly the walles, and defended the loupes/ yet they loste bothe men and capitaines, and
wer long secluded from their aide and succors, til Charles the French kyng, perceiuyng
this toune, to be the thre corner key, betwene the territories of the Englishemen, the Bur-
gonyons, and his awne, and that the losse therof, should turne hym to innumerable da-
mages and incredible hurtes, sent the lorde of Rieux, Poyton, the Heire, the-lorde Gan-
cort, and sixe thousand men, with great plentie of vitailes, to thentent, either to reise the
sjegc, or to vitaile the toune. The French -capitaines, made a bragge, as though thei
•Wild fight with thenglishemen, within • their felde and'Campe. The ^Englishmen would
not
KYNG HENRY THE. Vl. 169
not issue out, but kept themselfes in good ordre, euer lokyng for, their entrie and inuasio.
The Regent perceiuyng, that thei approched not, sente to theim an herault of Armes, de-
claryng his intent, and the corage of his company, whiche nothyng more desired, then
battaill. And to sliewe hymself as a capitain, rneanyng that, which he offred, & not dis-
simulyng that, whiche he spake: he incontinent, diuided his men into three battailes, no
more wisely ordered, the pollitiquely gouerned : as who would sale, come on Frencheman,
if thy harte will serue. But his aduersarie§, more craft ie then hardy, more pollitique then
coragious, framed themselfes in suche ordre of battaile, as thei wer able to do all thyng,
and yet inconclusion, (concernyng marciall feat<?s) thei did nothyng. For, while thei
made a proudc bragge, and a stoute skirmishe with the Englishemen, thei appoynted di-
nerse rude and rustical! persones, to conucye into the toune, xxx. oxe and other small vi-
taill, but this swete gain, wassowerly paied for, if the losse with the gain, be pondered in
one balaunce: for hauyng regard to. xxx. leane oxen, in the conflict were slain, the lorde
Sentrayles, brother to Pothon, the valeaunt capitain Ihon, brother to the lord Gawcort,
and fiftie other noble and valeaunt personages, beside other common people, whiche bought
that bargayne, aboue the price of the common Markeite. The Frenchemeri, perceiuyng
, their intbrtunate chaunce, and not only consyderyng, the vnspekeable heate, whiche then
weried their people, beyng in the beginnyng, of the hole moneth of August: but also,
perceiuyng the Englishmen, to be planted and settled, in a place vnable to be wonne, and
in a grounde, bothe dangerous to inuade, and hard to assaile, like men desperate of gain,
and without hope of victory, departed to Fort vnder Yerre, where, by a bridge of tunnes,
they passed into the Isle of Fraunce. The Duke of Bedforde, (like a wise prince) not
myndyng to lease the more for the lesse, 'nor the accident for the substaunce, fearyng that
Paris and other tounes, more necessary to thenglishemen, and of more estimacion, would
•returne to his aduersaries, thynkyng if the greater power were holden, the lesse should be
sone obtained, reysed his siege, and returned to Paris, nothyng lesse myndyng, then to
trie his querell with dent of sweard, against his enemies: and so sent Bedford his herault,
to the lorde Gawcort, and other chieftaines of his army, offerynghym battail, and a pitch-
ed feld, within a conuenient grounde, where so euer he would, within the Isle of Fraunce,
assigne or appoynt. To the whiche officer of Armes, the capitaines aunswered, that bat-
taill they feared not, nor the Englishe puyssaunce, thei not muche regarded, but thei
saied: that tyme was to gain, and tyme was lo lose, of the whiche twoo, thei doubted not
to espie the one, either to their greate gain, or to their apparaunt losse. Wherupon thei
sent the lorde Ambrose de Loyre, with. vii. C. horsemen, to robbe and spoyle the poore
people, commyng to the faier, on the day of sainct Michaell the Archangel!, kepte in the
suburbes of the toune of Caen. But whe Dauy Halle Esquier, capitain of the touhe, for
the duke of Yorke, issued out to fight with liym, he departed by flight, without any either
botie or gain of the faier. The Frenchmen perceiuyng, that neither power, force, nor
pollicie, could auaile against the Englishe nacion, determined to trippe and deceiue them
by their accustomed seruaunt, called master Treason, and so by money, corrupted Piers
Audebeuffe, Constable of the castle of Roan, that the Marshall of Fraunce, and the lord
Fountaynes, with twoo hundred persones disguised, entered into the Castle, but thei wer
sone espied, and driuen to the dongeon, where thei wer taken and yeldcd: wherof some
wer hanged, some bedded, and some raunsomed at the pleasure of the Regent: and suche
ende had the tray tors, whiche would by treason, rather then by buttaill, obtained their prey
and desired purpose,
THIS pageaunt plaied, the Regent sent Peter of Luxenborough Erie of sainct Paule,
and Robert, lorde Willoughby, with a competet crue of men, to besige the toune of Sainct
Valerie, whiche the Frenchemen alitle before had taken. These valeaunt capitaines, not
myndyng to slepe their busines, enuironed the toune with a strong siege. Within the toune
•wer sir Lewes de Vancort, sir Phillippe de la Toure, and sir Reignold de Verseilles ca-
pitaines, with three hundred good fightyng men, which by the space of iii. wekes, manfully
2 defended
170 THE. XII. YERE OF
defended the same. But at the. xxi. daie they perceiuyng the fiersenes of tbenglishemen
and the weakens of themselfes, (hauyng no hope of relief nor confidence m any aide)
rendered the toune, their horsse and harneis onely saued. The trie put, in the garrison
of the tonne, freashe and valeaunt souldiors, and appoynted capitam there, sir Ihon Aw-
bemond: in vvhiche toune sodainly, (whether it wer by infeccio 01 the ayre, or by corrupt
vitail by Ion* liyne, whiche the tonnes men did eate.) a great pestilence sprang, in the in-
fortunate cofitrey. Whiche, after so many calamities and euill chaunces, beyng twoo tymes
besieged by the Frenchemen, and thryse recouered by thenglishe nacion, was now infected
and corrupted, with the pestilent plague: whereby twoo partes ol the people, within snorte
space, wer destroyed and consumed.
AFTER this toune tjotteh, the Erie of sainct Panic, and the Lorde Willoughby, return-
ed to the Repent, where, they wer well welcomed. And after, thesaid Erie departed from
Paris, to hue siege to the Castle of Monchas, but beyng encamped, nere to the toune of
Biaim- he, by a sodain maladie, finished his daies, and departed the worlde, leauyng his
seigniories, to Lewes his sonne and heire. For whiche dedde Erie, wer solempne obse-
quies kepte, bothe in Paris and in London, because he was father in lawe to the Regent.
In the meane season, the Frenchmen entered into the costes of high Burgoyne, and brent,
toke, and destroyed tonnes : for whiche cause, the Burgonyons beyng sore displeased, as-
sembled a greate army, bothe to reuenge their querels, and also to recouer again the tounes,
from theim iniustely taken: to whom, (as to his frendcs) the duke of Bedforde, sent Ro-
bert Lorde Willoughby, and sir Thomas Kiriel, with a comienient company of souldiors,
whiche enteryng into the laundes of Laonoys, wer encoutred with a great nobrc of their
enemies: but by whose force, (after long fight) the Frenchmen wer slain and dispersed:
wherof wer left dedde in the feld, an hundred and sixtie horsemen, beside prisoners, whiche
after in. a fury, wer all killed and put to destruction.
f THE. XII. YERE.
Tj«r' WHile these chaunces thus happened in Fraunce, Iho lord Talbot, gathered together,
a crue of chosen men of war in England, to the nombre of viii. C. & sailed into Norman-
dy, and passed by Roan toward Paris, and in his way, he toke the strong Castle of loing,
betwene Beauoys and Gisors, and caused all the Frenchmen within to be hanged on the
walles, and after, raised and defaced the Castle, and came to the Duke of Bedford, to
Paris. The presence of which renoumed capitam, (a maruelous thyng it is to se) so incora-
ged the hartes of the English nacion, that thei thought, nothyng able to resist their puys-
saunce, and so discoraged the hartes of the Frenchemen, that thei wer in doubt, whether
it wer better to fight, or to flic. And this was not without a cause : for surely, he was a
chosen capital n, & in marcial feates, a man fully instructed, and his corage and practise in
warre, was fearfull to the Frenche nacion, and to his awne coutremen, an especial hope
and a sure defence. When this hardy Baron, had commonecl with the Regent, and agreed
i «i i 11.1 * i .1 i »
, vpon
condicio. After that, he regained without long siege, the tounes of Creile, the bridge of
sainct Maxens, the new toune in Esuioy, Crespy in Valoys, and Cleremout in Beauoys :
and so with greate riches, and fatte prisoners, he returned again to Paris. Thus, pros-
perous successe happened, not to the lorde Talbot alone : but also thesame very sear
son, therle of Arundell, toke the Castle of Botnelyne, and raised it to the ground, and
after, tooke by force the Castle of Doric, and from thence came to sainct Seleryne, where
the lorde Ambrose of Lore, was capitain, which issued out, and fought with the Eng-
lishenien so egerly at the firste, that he droue theim backe an arowe shflt by fine
force.'
-
••-•V
. ' f . •* -
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 171
force. But the Erie so incoraged his men, that they toke newe corages to them, and set
so fiersly on the Frcnchemen, that they slewe a greate nombre, and droue the remnaunt
into the toune.
AFTER this victory, he besieged Louiers, wherof was capitain, the Heire, and hb brother,
which rendered the toune, without stroke or assaute. For all this good lucke, therle forgat
not toreturne, to the toune of S. Seleryne, but assembled a great army, and enuironed the
toune about with a strong siege. Whe he had lien there almoste. iij. rnonethes euery daie at-
temptyng or dooyng somewhat, for the performaunce of his enterprise, in conclusion at
the thre monethesende, he gaue so fierce an assaut, that by force he entred the toune, and
slewe Ihon Allemagne and Gulliam sent Aubyne, the chief capitaines, and. viii.C. other men
of warre, and the Children of the lorde Lore, wer taken captiues: he replenished and fortified
the toune again with newe men, andmunicios, and made there capitain, sir Ihon Cornwale.
Whiche acte thus accomplished, he departed, and came before the strong toune of Sillye, and
there pitched his campe. The inhabitauntes of thesame, somewhat dismaied with the
chaunce that late happened to the toune of. S. Seleryne, deliueredto him pledges, vpon this
condicion: that if thei wer not rescued, within, xxx. daies nexte insuyng, then ihcy, (their
lifes saued) should rendre the toune, into his possession: whiche offre was taken. The capi-
taines within the toune, sent a post to the French kyng, to aduertise hym of their hard
chaunce, which incontinent sent to them, Arthur, Erie of Richemond, (but after some wri-
ters, Ihon duke of Alaunson) with a greate company of men. When therle sawe the
Frenche succors appere, he restored again y pledges to the gouernors of the toune, and
issued out of his campe, takyng a place moste mete and conuenient for to abide battaill, for '
whiche he sore thirsted and longed. The Duke or the Erie, (take whiche you list)
liyng by a brooke side, whiche a man might stride ouer, seyng the Englishemen, so war-
like and strongly embattailed, thought it not for his profile, to gene battaiil, or to sette for-
ward: but in the dedde time of the night, cowardly fled, and with shame returned: although
some Freche writers affirme, that he loked that the erle of Arundell, should haue geuen hym
battaill, and because he profcred not forward, therfore the Frenchmen departed. This ap-
pereth to be an apparaunt lye, and a Frenche bragge: for if they came to rescewe the toune,.
why did not they geue battaill, & so driuc awaie tbenglishmen from the toune? If they came
to fight, why departed they without any stroke striken? But it setneth that thei came, to
make a Frenche face, and for to do nothyng. For thei without skirmishe or succoryng the
toune, departed in the night secretly, (as you haue hearde.) When thei within the tonne
knew, that their succors failed, thei rendred themselfes, to the mercy of therle of Arundel,
which gently receiued the, & leauyng a garrison in the toune, departed to Mauns, and in the
meane waie, tokc the Castles, of Mellay and sainct Laurece. About this tyme, the lord
Willoughby, and sir Thomas Kiriell, returnyng with great victories out of the parties of Bur-
goyue, tooke in their waie, the toune of Louiers, and furnished it, bothe with men, and
munitions.
EMONGEST so many good chaunces, some euill arc accustomed to fall and happen, or
els the gayners,, will not knowe themselfes.. So it happened that a greate nobre, of rude and
rustical persones in Norrnady, dwellyng by y sea coast, either prouoked, or intiscd thenmto,
by the Frenche kyng, or desirous of altcracion and change, (whiche thyng the commerr
people muche couete and desire) made an insurreccion, and put on harneis, & by force ex-
pulsed certain garrisos, out of their houKles, and toke certain tonnes: publishing and pro-
claimyrig opely, that their onely purpose and intent was, to expel and banish, the whole En-
glishe nacion, out of their coutreys and eoastes. Wherfore, it maie euidently appere, that
the blacke Ethyopian, or the blacke coloured rauc, wil soner turne their colours, than the
vniuersal people, bred in Frauce will hartely loue, or inwardly fan or, an Englishe borne child.
And yet, the Normans of long tyme, louingly and gentely, haue obeyed to the 'subjection of
Englande, and haue of the Englishe nacion, been wel accepted and regarded, but now thei,
Z 2 forgettyng
THE. XII. YERE OF
forgettyng their duetie, and remebryng their hurtes, did not doubt, to rebell against theii
prince and soueraigne Lordc.
THIS mischeuous copany, thus frantiquely gathred together, with all spede marched to-
ward Caen, to the intent there, bothe to assemble a greater nornbre ot people, and also to
consult, what way thei should folow in their newe begon atteptate. 13ut the dukes of Yqrke
& Somerset, which then wer liyng in Normandy, hearyng of this vngracious iaccion &
troubelous comocion, & hauyng knowledge by their espials what iorney they intended to take :
incotinent without delay, sent therle of Arundell and the lorde Willoughby, with. vj.M. ar-
chers, and. xiij. hundred light horsses, to staie and kepe them, either for settyng furthe, or
niakyng farther progresse. Therle of Arundell goyng one waie, appoynted the Lorde
Willoughby, with twoo thousande Archers, and a certain nombre of horsemen, to go afore
hym, to lye in watche and stale, secretly by the waie, to stop the iorney and passage of the
rebelles, whe they should approch. The lorde Willoughby, couertly couered hymself and
his company, sendyng worde to the Erie, of the place where he lay, to thentent that he might
make a signe and a token, (when tyme should be most luckey and fortunate,) to inuade &
set on their enemies. Whiche thyng doen, therle folowed at the backe, the ragged route and
mischeuous multitude, as a man, that draue the deare before him into the ImckestalJe, or the
sely coneis into the secrete hay. When the ignoraunt multitude, approched nere to the
place of the stale the Erie made a token, and shot a gonne for a signe. Then the Lorde
Willoughby, set on them before, and the Erie behynde, shotyng so fiersly, that the dastarde
people, partly amased with the sodain chaunce, and partly, galled and wounded with the shot
of the arrowes, threwe awaie their harneis : desiryng nothyng but death. Therle of Arun-
del, (moued with compassi5) caused his souldiors to leaue of £ staye, from farther murther
or bloud shedyng, & apprehendyng such, as he thought, to be the ledars and chief stirrers of
the people, let the other returne home frankly & frely: but yet there were a,M. and more
slain, before the souldiors, could be brought again vnder their standerdes.
AFTER this cominocion appeaced, and the sodain rage in the beginnyng staied and bri-
deled, diliget inquirie was made of the malefactors, and suche as wer found gilty, by diuerse
terrible executions, (accordyng to their desertes,) miserably ended their traiterous lifes.
Duryng which rebellion, Peter Rokefort and his copany, gat by treason the toune of Deape,
& diuerse other houldes, therunto adioynyng. After the Erie of Arundell, had obtained so
many conquestes, and notable victories (as you haue heard) he attempted another, which
was the last worke and extreme labor, of his liuyng daies. For the duke of Bedford, beyng.
informed, that his aduersaries, had sodainly surprised & take the toune of Rue, and therin
had put a garrison, which sore vexed the coutreis of Ponthiew, Arthoys, andBolenoys, sent
word to therie, that he without delaye, should besiege thesaid toune. Therle obeyed to his
comaundement, and incontinent, sente for all the people vnder his gouernaunce, & in his
marchyng forward, came to Gourney, where he heard tel, how y there was a certain Castle,
nere Beaupys, called Gerborye, whiehe either by force of rasyng, or violence of weather,
was .sore decaied and defaced. And because this place was opportune and very necessarie,
to prohibite, let and stop thenglishmen, to make sodain runnynges in, or rodes into the coun-
trey of Beauoys: Charles the Freche kyng commaunded sir Stephen de Veignolles, commonly
calted the Heire, tose the castle reedefied and fortified. Thesaid sir Stephen with a great
company, came to thegrounde, andlackyng neither stuffe necessary, nor artificers sufficient,
in small tyme erected the Castle, and began to defend the fortresse. The erle of Arundell,
beyng crediblie informed of their dooynges, and perceiuyng that this newe edificacion, was
very prejudicial to the Englishe part, determined first to take the. Castle supposyng litle or
no resistence, therin to beshutte vp, but he wasdeceiued, for there was the Heire, with many
good and valeauntecapitaines. The Erie with fiue hundred horsemen, encamped hymself in
a hue close, not farre from the Castle : the Frenchemen, which wer thre thousande men,
perceiuyng that the Erie and his horses werwery, and that his archars wer not yet come, de-
termined for their aduauntage to set on him, before the comyng of his footmen, whiehe they
knewe
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 173
knewe to he-litle more, then a mile behynde the Erie. Wherfore, for a pollicie, they set
furthe fiftie horssemen, as though there were no ino in the Castle. The Erie perceiuyng
that, sent furth sir Randolfe Standishe, to encountre with them, hauyng in his company a
hundred horsses: the Frenchemen fought coragiously a while, and sodainly came out all the
rernnaunte, and slewe sir Randolfe Standishe, and all his company, and boldly set on the
Erie and hisbande, whiche manfully defended them, so that the Frenchmen gatlitle aduaun-
tage, for al their great nombre. The Heire perceiuyng. the hartes, corage and defence of the
Engiishe people, caused thre Culuerynes to be shot emongest theim, wherof, one strake the
Erie 'on the ancle, and so brake his legge, that for pain he fell from his horse, then the
Frenche men entered emongest the Engiishe army, and tooke the erle, beyng on the grounde,
prisoner, and sir Richard Wooduite, and sixe score more, and there wer slain almoste twoo
C. The remnaunt saued them selfes aswel as thei might. The Erie was caried to Beauoys,
vher, of this hurte he shortly died, and was buried in the friers Minors. He was a man of
a singuler vertue, constancie and granitic, whose death in so troubelous a worlde, did sore
appall the hartes of his nacion. By this infortune, Rue was not besieged, nor Gerborie ta-
ken, suche is thechaunce of warre, thus Lady Fortune daily turneth her whiele, and migh-
tie Mars, often varieth his countenaunce, so that one tyme the Englishemen gat by assaut
and yieldyng, diuerse strong tounes, Castles, and piles. At another season, the Frenche
people, somtyme by bargain, somtyme by assaut, obteined thesaid citees and fortificacions
again, or other in their stede. Whiche daily altemptes, lomitandouer passe, because in
the, no notable acte, nor greate Warlike feate was doen or committed. For small thynges,
require litel writyng, and fewe actes, require lesse speakyng. For I assure you,, that he,
which should write the negligent losses, and the pollitique gaines, of enery citee, fortresse,
and turrett, whiche were gotten and loste in these daies, should fatigate and wery the reader,
more with volumes, then queares and the hearer, more with triflyng woordes, then with nota-r
ble matter. Wherfore sithe in all myne authors, I finde no matter, either greatly necessarie,
or muche conuenient to be spoken of concernyng any high enterprise: I therfore, leauyng
bothe the nacions, daily studiyng how to greue, and gain of the other, will turne againe. to.
other thynges accidental! whiche chaunced in this. xii. yere.
ABOVT the moneth of June, Ihon duke of Burbon and Auerne, taken prisoner at:
the battaill of Agyncourte. xviii. yeres paste, (as you haue before heard ) now paiyng his ,
raunsome, whiche was. xviii. M.I. sterlyng and hauyng ready prepared all thynges necessary,
for his triumphaunt returne into his countrey, was taken with a mosle sore and greuous feuerr,
whiche shortely vnbodied.his soule, in the citee of London, on the daie appoynted, for hi&
departure into France: whose corps wasenterred, in the Grey Friers of thesaied citee. So-
by this, euery creature maie se: that man purposeth & God disposeth.. I may not forget a,.
chaunce whiche- happened this yere, to the example of princes, and a spectacle, of. goueniors..
For thedeuill hymself, to set farther diuision betwene the Engiishe and Frenche nacion did
apparell certain catchepoules, and Parasites, comonly called titiuils and tale tellers, tosowe
discord and dissencion, betwene the dukes of Bedford and Burgoyne, not fainyng trifles-
nor phatasies, but tliynges of reproche, repugnant to bothe their honors, estates, and digni-
ties, with the whiche, cache of them was as well pricked, as hastely spurred, so that all loue*
betwene theim ceased, all affinitie was forgotten, and all olde familiaritie was cast by disdain,
into the caue of oblivid. Suche a pestilent breath hath Flattery, and suche mischif ensueth,
of Princes light credence. This grudge was perceiued, by their mutuall frendes, whiche by.
charitable exbortacion and Godly aduertisement, exhorted theim, to renewe their old loue
and familiaritie, and to mete and enteruieu, in some place decent and conuenient. The
Duke of Bedforde, gladly condiscended, to come to sent Omers, beyng the duke of Burgoyns
toune, and thither, accordyng to his appoyntment, he in honorable estate, came and resort-
ed, and likewise did the duke of Burgoyne. The duke of Bedford, beyng Regent of Fraunce,
& sonne, brother and vncle to kynges, though that the duke of Burgoyne, should first haue
visited and saluted him: duke Phillip on. the other part, beyng Lord & soucreigne of the
6 toune,, \
THE. XIII. YERE OF
toune, judged knot mete, nor to stande with his honor, to go to hym, where he was lodged,
but was content, by entreatie of frendes, to mete with him in a place indifferent, betwene
bothe their harberowes : whiche offer was not accepted, & so, bothe parties departed dis-
content, & neuer after sawe or commoned with other. What should I speake of the corage
of these twoo proude princes, the duke of Bedford myndyng to haue no pere, and the duke
of Burgoyne, willyng to haue no superior, by whose proud disdain, and enuious discord,
shortly0 England lost, and Burgoyne gayned not long, as you shall perceiue, in this history
ensuyng.
If THE. XIII. YERE.
rhc.xiii. T[je Bastan'- of Orleaunce, called the erle ef Dumoys, the lorde Rocheford Marshal
yc"' of Frauncc, with other in the beginnyng of this. xiti. yere, tooke the toune of saincte
Denise by treason, and skirmished with theim of Paris, and leauyng behynd hym a greate
garrison, tooke the tonne of Howdone, and the bridge of saincte Maxence by composition,
and at that tyme was taken the toune, of Fount Meulane, by sodain scalyng of twoo
fishermen: which entered vp at a common prime, standyng on the walle. Thus tounes vn-
•walied, wer preys to rauenous men of war, so that the poore inhabitauntes within theim,
(not bcyng able to kepc their fidelitie or allegeaunce, when sheilde and defence lacked,)
were constrayned and compelled, to yeilde and rendre theimselfes, to the more power, and
vpper hande: least they beyng nedy and innocente people, should be vexed and lurmcnted,
with the vnreasonable men of warre: So that in all Cliristendome, no Region was more vn-
quiete, more vexed, more poore, nor more to be pitied, then the coutrey of Frauce. And
although the rude and poore people, suffrcd many plagues and aduersities : yet the souldiora
prospered not in all thynges. For although prey & spoyle sometyme refreshed their mindes,
and did comfort their stomackes, yet some tyme they wer slain, taken, and licked vp, or tiiei
were ware. For eucry prince studied, and circumspectly compassed, how to kepe, defende
and releue, the citees and tounes, of their seuerall faction, and priuate fidelitie. Wheifore,
when sacietie of slaughters, and abounclaunce of murthers, had replenished the stomackes, of
bolhc the nacions, and that bothe m general!, perceiuecl their hurtes, pondered tlieir losses,
and considered tlieir ruynes, and daily afflictions: although their stomackes wer haute, and
their hartes stony, yet they waxed sot'te, priuely inclinyng to peace, and wishyng concord,
and not without an vrgente cause: For all thynges necessary to mans liuvn«, penurie
shewed her self furth, and aboundauce was hidden in a caue. The corne feldes laie vntilled
the meddowos wer ouer trodcn, the woodes wer spoyled, so that all men went to harneis,
and no man to the plough. The churches were seldome vsed for denocion, but many
tyemes spoyled, for desire of gayne. These, and suche innumerable mischiefcs, caused
bothe the people, bcyng enemies, to desire peace, and yet the one part, disdained opely to
offre it, or the other priuatly to receiue it.
THE crie and noyse of this perillous and insatiable warre, was blasted through Europe,
detested through Cliristendome, and especially, at the Counsaill of Basill, where then them-
ptror Alberte, and all the princes and potestates of Cliristendome, or their deputies, were
assembled, for the vnio of the vngraciousscisme, in the vsurped sea of Rome vntrulv, and
•against all scripture, called sainct Peters sea. Wherfore the Emperor and the temporall
princcis, stipposyng the exhortation of Spirituall fathers, should more profite emongest the
twoo high stonyicked, and proude encoraged nacions, of Englande and of Fraunce, dcsyred
Eugeny then bishop of Rome, to be the author and arbitrer, of that great strife and conten-
•cion: so that by his meanes, counsail and.' exhortation, the weapon might be taken out of
the handes, of twoo so inuincible nacions, which neuer would yeild or bowe the one to the
other, neither yet, once heare of abstinence of fightyng, or refusyng from warre: so much
were their hartes hardened, and so princely were theh- stomackes. And one thyng, muche
put
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 175
put them in hope, of some good conclusio, because the duke of Burgoyn was willyng, (so
that it wer not of his awne suite,) to returns and reconcile himself, to Charles, his mortal
cnemie and auncient aduersary. Wherforc, by authentic of this generall Counsaill, two
discrete persones, called the Cardinalles of sainct Crosse, & Cypres, came to the tonne of
Arras in Arthoys, whither, were sente for the kyng of Englande, Henry Beautfbrd Cardinall
of Winchester, Henry, Archebishopof Yorke, Willifi de la Pole Erie of Suffolke, and Jhon
Hollande Erie of Huntyngdon, with diuerse other knightes and Esquiers :. and for the
Frenche kyng, were there present, Charles Duke of Burbon, Lewes Erie of Vandosme, Ar-
thur of Brytayne Constable of Fraunce, the Archcbishop of Reyns, and sir Phillip Harcort.
There, was the duke of Burgoyne, in proper persone, accompanied with the duke of Gel-
deps, and the Erles of Estampes, Lygnye, sainct Panic, Vaudemont, Neuers, £ Daniel.,
sonne to the prince of Orange, with a great gard and a gallaunt company.
VPON the daie of the first session, the Cardinal of sainct Crosse, declared to the thfe
parties, the innumerable mischiefes, the multitude of incouenienccs, whichc had succcded,
through al Christendom, by their daily discord and continuall discencion : exhorting and, re-
quiring the for the honor of God, for the lone that they bare to thesettyng furthe of Christes
religion, and for the aduaucement, of the publique wealth of all Christendo, that they would
laye all rancor apart, represse all wrath and anger, and conform thernselfes to reason, and to
Godly concorde, by the vvliiche, they should receiue, honor, profite, and continual}' quiet-
nesse, in the worlde, and of God, a reward euerlastyng. After whiche admoniciony thus to
them geuen, and after diuerse daies of communicacion, eucry part brought in their de-
itiaund, whiche wer moste contrary, and hard to come to a good conclusion. The En-
glishemen required, that kyng Charles should haue nothyng, but at the handeof the kyng of
Englande, and that not as duetie, but as a bencfite, by hym of his mere liberalise geuen, and
distributed, to whiche the Frenchmen aunswered, that kyng Charles would haue the kyno;-
dom, frakely & frely, without begging it, of another man: requiryng the kyng of England,
to leaue the name, Armes, and title of the kyng of Eraunce, and to be co,ntent with the
dukedornes of Aquitain andNormady, and to forsake Paris, and all the tounes, whiche thev
possessed in Fraunce, bet\vene the Hiuers of Loyre and Soame, beyng no percell of the
Duchie of Normandy, The Englishemen, loth to lease so good a boty as Paris, did not
esteme and allowe, the demaundcs of the French Ambassadors and they on the otlierside,
couetyngand desiryng, toobtein again the renoume and glory of their Region, whiche was
Paris, would in no wise condiscend, to any part of the Englishe requestes. Thus, the pride
of the one part, and the ambicion of the oilier, letted concord, peace, and quietnes. The
Cardinals, seyng the frostie hartes, and hardened myridcs of bothe parties, determined not,
to despute th« titles, but offered to them, honest and reasonable coudicions, of truce and
peace, for a season: whiche articles bothe parties, either for frowardnes, or for disdain open-
ly refused : In so muche as, the Englishmen in greate displeasure, departed to Calice, and
so into Englande. One writer affinneth, that they beyng warned of a secrete conspiracie
moued against theim, sodainly remoued from Arras, and so sailed' into their countrey.
WHILES this treatie of peace, was thus in comunicacion at Arras, the lorde Talbot,
the Lorde Willoughby, the lorde Scales, vvitli the Lorde Lisle Adame, and fiue thonsande
men, besieged the tonne of S. Denise, with a strong bande. The Erie of Dumoys hear-
yng therof, accompanied with the Lorde Lohac, and the lorde Bueiil, & a great company
of horsemen, haisted thitherward, to rayse the siege, and in the meane waie, they encoun-
tered with sir Thomas Kiricll, and Matthew Gouthe, ridyng also toward S. Denise, be-
twene whom, was a great conflict, and many slain on bothe parties: but sodainly came to
the aide of the Frenchmen, the garrison of Pout Melance, which caused thenglishe-
men to returne, without any greatarme or damage, sauyng that Matthew Couth, by foun-
deryng of his horsse, was taken and caried to' Fount Melance. Duryng whiche fight, the
toune of sainct Denise, was rendered to the iorde Talbot, and the other lordcs, whiche
caused all the walles to be raised, and abated doune to the ground, sauyng the \valles of
1 the
176 THE. Xm. YERE OF
the Abbay, and a toure called Venyn. After this toune gotten, the Lorde Wiliotighby,
left sir Ihon Ruppelley at Pounthoyse, & departed to gouerne Paris, whiche then began
to smoke, and sone after, brast out' in flame, (as yeu shall shortly, apparautly perceiue).
After whose departure, thenhabitaines of Pounthoyse rebelled, & droue out thenglishmeu
by very force, and rendered themselfes subiectes to king Charles. This toune was small,
but the losse was great, for it was the very conuenient kaye, betwene Paris and Nonnandy,
so that now the gate betwene them bothe, was set open and the passage at large.
LET vs now again, returne to the counsail at Arras. After the Englishe Ambassadors
wer departed, the 'prenchemen and the fiurgonyons, began familiarly to common of a peace,
and talke of an amitie, to the whiche motion, Phillip duke of Burgoyne, was neither deiffe
nor straunge : for he in the begmnyng of his rule, being muche desirous to reuenge and
punishe the shamefull murder doen to his father, and to kepe hymself in his high estate,
and preeminence, began to be associate, and to reigne with thenghshe power, and to serue
the kyng of Englad thinking, that by his amity and ioynyng, that he should neither harme
nor hurte, the common wealth of the countrey, whereof at that tyme he bare the whole
rule, nor yet lose one iote or poynt, of his authoritie, or gouernaunce. But when it hap-
pened, contrary to his expectacion, that the kyng of Englande, by the right course of in-
heritaunce, tooke vpou hym the whole rule and gouernaunce, within the realrne of Fraunce,
and ordered by the aduise of his cousaill, all causes, iudgementes, warres, and c5cordes,
& that the duke Judged, that he was not had in great confidence, nor in perfite truste, as
he thought, because the Duke of Bedforde, would not suffre the toune of (Meaunce, to
be rendered to hym, (as you before haue heard) : He therfore imagined, & determined with
hymself, to returne into the pathe again, from the whiche he had straied and erred, and to
take part, and ioyne with his awne bloud and nacion: so that some honest meane, might be
sought by other, and not by hymself, least paraduenture by his awne sekyng, he might bind
himself in conditions hurtfull, & sore inconueniences, to the Frenche kyng, and also be
noted of vntruth, and traiterous behauor, toward the king of Englande and his nacion : to
•whom he had done homage, leage, and sworn fealtie Now this Counsaill, was to hym a
cloke for the rayne, as who should say, tliat he sought not arnitie, of the Freche kyng,
(whiche thyng in his harte, he moste coueted and desired) but was therunto persuaded, by
the general! counsaill, and by the bishop of Rome, whom it was reason, in all honest re-
questes, that he should submitte hymself, and humbly obey. And so, shadowed with this
counsaill, without long argument or prolongyng of tyme, he tooke a determinate peace,
and a finall conclusion, vpon these condicios: that he should haue to hym deliuered, the
counteis of Arthoys, Pontbiew, and Bullonoys, and the tounes of Amience, Curby, Mon-
didier, Heron,.^sainct Quintyne, & Abbeuile, with many other seigniories, & superiorities,
•whiche be not for my purpose to reherse. Prouided alwaie, that the French kyng, paiyng
in redy money, to y duke or his heires, iiij.C.M. crounes, should haue thesaied tounes and
countres, to beredeliuered again : and many other thynges, the Frenche kyng graunted, , to
the duke of Burgoyn, whiche after, he was not able to performe, nor accomplishe, for he
had no power, to make deniall to the duke, of any demaund or request, whiclie the Duke
either phantasied or moued : as who would saie, that he thought in himself, that suche an
aduersary, whiche desired so honest, and so reasonable conditions, (considering the state
of the tyme, and the occasion, of concorde, moste apparauntly offered to hym,) oudit nei-
ther to be refused nor cast away, the whiche chaunce, .was to hym lucky and fortunate : for
surely, y thyng forsene and loked for, surceded and toke place, as you shall perceiue. This
concorde, was so pleasaunt to the Frenche kyng, that he not only set for hym: but as a
swane that swimmeth after_her make, met hym in proper persone, at the citee of Reynes
and (after long comunicatio) standing vp vpo his fete, said to him these wordes.
JfthT" .DVKE Philhpp cosin, and pere of Fraunce, with all my harte welcome, and-at your com-
Fr«,ch mmg, my harte is fulfilled with ioy, and my spirites be refreshed with solace, for now all
Kyngtof,he doubte of the rec0uery, of my lande and seigniory, is clerely banished, and fully abandoned :
Bursoyn<- consideryng
KYNG HENUY THE. VI. 177
consideryng that I haue now, ioyned and vnited to me, the principall pere, the moste noble
prince, (nexte to the Croune) and the moste valeaunt capitain, that hath been, or is, in our
dales, sene, or knowen, whom the nobilitie honor, the chiualrie fauor, and the poore con>
mons loue, and daily desire to beholde : So that all men loue, and embrace you, aboue all
creatures, and worship and reuerence you, aboue all Lordes, because you, beyng a straiyng
shepe, are now returned, to your olde flocke, and like a man wanderyng out of the pathe»
are now brought again, to the right waie, and true liniite. For surely, this text was euer
beaten muche in my hedde: that euery realme, deuided emongest theimselfe, should turne
to desolacio, and that all discord, should bring pouertie, and that of all discension, should
succeade misery : whiche intollerable calamities, I euer Judged to ensue, by the discorde
and contrauersie, betwene vs twoo. But now the sore is cured, and the ship brought into the
sure hauen : trustyng perfectly, and nothyng mistrustyng, but by your healp and aide, we shall
expell, cleane pull vp by the rootos, and put out, all the Englishe nacion, out of our realmes,
territories and dominions. And if you helpe vs. (as you male) and if you aide vs, (as you
be able) we here promise you, in the tvorde of a prince, to be yours, yea, so yours, that al
ours, shalbe yours, at your commaundement and desire, not as ours, but as yours, to doo and
spende at your pleasure. To the whiche, the duke of Burgoyn aunswered, that he would
let scape nothyng, that appertayned to his duetie, nor forget any poynt, whiche might turne
to his dishonor.
WHEN this league wassworne, and this knot was knit, the duke of Burgoyne, to sette a
vayle, before the kyng of Englaudes iyes, sent Thoison Dor, his kyng at Armcs, to kyng
Henry with letters: that he, beyng not only waxed faint, and weried, with continual warre,
and daily conflictes, but also chafed daily, with complaintes and lamentacion, of his people,
whiche, of the Frenchemen, suffered losse and detriment, embraydyng and rebukyng hym
openly, affirming that he onely was the supporter and mainteyner, of the Englishe people,
and that by his meanes and power, the mortall warre was continued and sette forward, and
that he more diligetly studied, and intentiuely toke pain, bothe to kepe, and maintein then-
glishemen in Fraunce, and also toaduaiice and promote their desires, & intentes, rather then
to restore kyng Charles his cosyn, to his rightful inheritaunce, £ paternal possession : by reason
of whiche thynges, and many other, he was in maner compelled and constrained to take a
peace, and conclude an amitie with kyng Charles, exhortyng kyng Henry, with many flatteryng
wordes, when honest and reasonable condicions wer offered, to take the, and to make an ende of
the warre, which so long had continued, to the decay of bothe the realmes, and to the effusion,
of Christen bloud, be side the great displeasure of almightie God, whiche is the author of
peace and vnitie: promising hym his aide, and furtheraunce in that behalfe, with many glo-
syng and flatteryng wordes, whiche I passe ouer.
HERE is to be noted, that the Duke of Burgoyne, which thought hymself by this concord
in maner dishonored, and spotted with infamy sente his letters to the Kyng of Englandc,
rather to purge and excuse hymselfe, of his vntruth and infidelitie, (yea of perinry, if a
poore man maie vse that terme, of so greate a prince) to thentent that it should appere,
that he, by copulsion, and not by voluntarie afteccion, was turned to the French part: not
for any malice or displeasure, whiche he bare to kyng Henry, or to the Englishe nacion. This
letter was not alitle loked on, nor smally regarded of the kyng of England, and his sage coii-
saill: not onely for the waightines of the matter, but also for the sodaiu chaunge of the man,
& for the strange superscripcion of the letter, which was: To the high and mightie Prince,
Henry, by the grace of GOD Kyng of Englande, his Welbeloued cosyn : Neither namyng
hym kyng of Fraunce, nor his souereigne lorde, accordyng as, (euer before that tyme) he
was accustomed to do. Wherfore all they, whiche wer present, beyng sore moued with the
craftie deede, Sc vntrue demeanor of the duke, (whom they so muche trusted) could neither
temper their passions, nor moderate their yre, nor yet bridle their toungues : but openly call-
ed hym traytor, deceiuer, and moste inconstant prince. But when the rumor of the Dukes re-
turnyng, was published emongest the common people, they lefte woodes and went to stripes: for
A a they
178 THE. XIIIJ. VERE OF
they beyng moued and pricked, with this vnliappie tidynges, ran fiersiy vpon all the Flem-
vn^es Hollanders, and Burgonyons, which then inhabited within the cilee of London, and the
suburbes of thesame, and sleweand hurte, agreate nombre of them, before they, by the kynges
proclamacion, could be prohibited, to leaue of and abstain, from sucb violence, and iniimous
doyng: for the kyng nothyng more mynded, then to saue innocent bloud, and defend e them,
whiche had not offended.
AFTER the letter twise redcle, and wisely brooked, he willed the officer at Armes, to tell
his master, that it was not conuenient, nor honorable for hym, to be ene.nie to the Englishe
nncion, without cause or occasion geuen, but his duetie, (all thynges consydered) was to
haue kept his auncient truthe and oulde allegeaiice, rather then to be the occasion, of nevve
warre and freashe discencion: aduertisyng hym farther, that it was not the poynt of a wise
ma, to leaue and let passe, the certain for the vncertain, admonishyng hym also, not to myn-
gle and mixte his safetie and surenesse, with the vnstablenesse and vnsuretie of his newe
alye, and cosyn, kyng Charles When the messenger was departed, the kyng of England
arid his counsaill, thought and determined, to worke some displeasure to the duke, ami to
set some conspiracie, against hym in his awne coutrey. Wherfore by rewardes, they did
suborne and corrupt certain gouernors and rulers, of tounes and cities, within the dukes
countreis and dominios, (which nacions surely, be euer procliue & ready, to commocion and
rebellion.) Hut the Gantoys, whiche of that feate euer bare the bell, and wer the common
rysers, against their souereigne lordes, some of them imagenyng, that the power of the En-
glishmen, was not long like to continue, within the realme of France, more for feare, then
loue of their Duke, sat still and mooed not, but let other tounes alone, whiche sore troubled
the Dukes wittes, and agreate while, did disquiet and vexe his senses.
THIS yere the. xiiij. dale of September, died Ihon duke of Bedford, Regent of Fraunce, a
man, as pollitique in peace, as hardy in warre, and yet no more hardy in warre, then
merciful!, when he had victory, whose bodye was, with greate funerall solempnitie, buried'
iu the Cathedral! churche of our Lady, in Roan, on the Northside of the high aulter, vndor
a sumptuous and costly monument: whiche tombe and sepulture, when kyng Lewes the. xj.
sonne to this kyng Charles, which recouered again Normandy, did well aduise and behoulde,
certayne noblemen in his company, hauyng more youthe then discrecion, and more enuie'in
their hartes, then consideracions of their parentes, counsailed hym to deface and plucke.
doune the tombe, and to cast the deede carcasse into the feltles: affirming, that it was a
greate dishonor, bothe to the kyng and to the realme, to se the enemie of his father, and theirs,
to haue so solempne & riche memorial. Kyng Lewes aunswered again, saiyng : what honor
shall it he to vs, or to you, to breake this moimmet, and to pull out of the ground and take
vp, the deed bones of hym, who in his life, neither my father, nor your progenitors, with all
their power, puyssaiice, and fredes, wer once able, to make flie one foote backward, but by
his strength, witte, and pollicie, kepte theim all out of the principal! dominions, of the realme
of Fraunce, and out of this noble and famous duchie of Normandy : wherfore I saie, first,
God haue his soule, & let his body now lye in reste, whiche, when he was a Hue, would
haue disquieted the proudest of vs all : and as for the tombe, I assure you, is not so decent,
nor conuenient for hym, as his honor and Actes deserued, although it wer ixmche richer, and.
more beautifull.
The. liiii.
y«re.
«i THE. xiiu. YERE:
AFter the death of this noble prince, and valeaunt capitain, the bright sunne that
commonly shone in France faire and beautifully vpon the Englishmen, began to b? cloudie
and daily to waxe darker: for the Frechmen seyng the chief capitain taken awaie. began not
only to refuse their ooedience, and loyaltie, which thei had sworne, and promised to the
kyng of Lnglande, but takyng swearde in hande, rebelled, persecuted, and openly defied the
Englishmen,
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 179
Englishmen, yet all these mischaunces, not one poynt abated, the valeaut corages of the En-
glishe people: for theynothyng mistrustyng God, nor good Fortune, set vp a newe saile,
and began the warre new again, and appoynted for regent in Fraunce, Richard duke of
Yorke, sonne to Richard erle of Cambridge. Although the duke of Yorke, bothe for birthe
and convge, was worthy of this honor and preferment, yet he was so disdained of Edmond
duke of Somerset, beyng cosin to the kyng, that he was promoted to so high an office, (whiche
he in verie decde, gaped and loked for) that by all waies and meanes possible, he bothe hin-
dered and detracted hym, glad of his losse, and sory of his well dooyng, causyng liym to
linger in Englande, without dispatche, till Paris and the floure of Fraunce, were gotten by
the Frenche kyng. The duke of Yorke, perceiuyng his euill will, openly dissimuled that,
which he inwardly thought priuely, eche workyng thynges, to the others displeasure. This
cancard malice, and pestiferous diuision, so long continued, in the hartes of these twoo
princes, till mortall warrc consumed theirn bothe, and almoste all their lynes and ofsprynges,
as within few yeres you shall perceiue and se.
THE Normans of the countrey of Caux, bcyng somwhat hartened, by the death of the
duke of Beclforde, began a newe rebellion, and slewe diucrse Englishmen, and robbed many
praty tounes, whiche wer of kyng Heries faccion & part, & toke the toune of Ilarflew by
assaute, and diuerse other tounes. The lorde Talbot beyng aduertised, of thys rebellion,
sent for the Lorde Scales, sir Thomas Kiricll, and the lorde Hoo, whiche afflicted and
plagued the people of Caux, that they slew aboue fiue thousand persones, and brent all the
tounes, and villages in the countrey, not beyng walled, so that in that parte, was neither
habitacion nor till.ige, for all the people fled into Britayne, and all the beastes of the coun-
trey, wer brought to Cawdebec, wher a good shepe was sould for an Englishe peny, and a
kowe for xii. pence. Daily was skirmishyng & fightyng in euery part, in so mnche that the
Lorde Scales with foure hundred Englishemen, discomfited at the Rye beside Roan, the
lleire and fiftenc hundred valeaunt Frcnchernen, and sir Richaide Reignold de Fountaynes,
sir Aleyne Gerond, Alayne de Monsay, and Geffrey Grame capilain of the Scottcs, and
thre hundred, and mo wer taken prisoners, beside seuen fa ire and pleasant coursers. But
this victorie staied not the hartes of the Frenche nacion, for their myndes were so full of
treason, and their malice so greate against the Englishemen, that many tounes turned, to the
parte of kyng Charles, without conquest or desire, and diuerse were sould for couetousnes,
and many were deliuered by treason, as Dcpe, Boys de Vynceimes, and other.
HERE is one especiall poynte to be noted, that either the disdayne ernongest the chief
peres of the realme of Englande, (as you haue hearde,) or the negligence of the kynges
counsaill, (whiche did not with quicke sight, forese and preuent thynges for to come) was
the losse of the whole dominion of Fraunce, beUvcnc the riuers of Soame and Marne, and
i« especiall of the noble citee of Paris. For where before tymes there were sent ouer, for
the aide and tuicion of the tounes, and citees, brought vnder the obeysaunce, of the Eng-
lish nacion, thousandes of men, apte and mete for the warre, and defence: now were sent
into Fraunce, hundrecles, yea scores, some rascal 1, and some not able to drawe a bowe, or
cary a bill. For the lorde Willoughby, and the bishop of Tyrwyne, whiche had the go-
uernaunce, of the greate and large citie of Paris, had in their company, not two thousande
Englishmen. Whiche weakenes kyng Charles well perceined. Wherefore he appoynted
Arthur of Britayne, the Erie of Dnmoys Bastarde of Orleaunce, the Lordes de la Roche,
and Lisle Adame, and other valeaunt capitaines, aswell Burgonyons as Frenche, to go be-
fore Paris, trusting by the fauor of certain citezen?, with whom he had greate intelligence,
and knewe thenglishemennes power and doynges, shortly to be lorde of the citee and toune,
•without any greate losse or battaill. So these capitayncs came before the citee of Paris,
but perceiuyng, that all thynges succeded not, accordyng to their expectacio, returned to
Mount Marter, and the next daie, sodainly set on the toune of sainct Denise, where, the
Englishemen manfully defended theim selfes, but beyng oppressed with so greate a multi-
tude, they wer compelled to flie into the Abbaye, and into the Toure of Venyn, for succor
A a 2 and
THE. XIIIJ. YERE OF
1 V 0
and refuge: in whiche conflicte two hundred Englishemen wer slainj and the rest, vpon a
reasonable composition, rendered the toune, and departed to Pans.
THOMAS Lorde Beaumond, whiche of late was come to Pans with eight hundred
men issued out of Paris, with sixe hundred souldiors, onely mtendyng to se, and vieue
the dbyogea and nombre of the Frenche armye, but he was sodamly espied, and compass-
ed about! : so, that within a small space, he was discomfited and taken, and with hym foure
score prisoners, beside two hundred which wer slain on the feld, and the remnaunt chased
to the very gates of the citee. The Parisians and in especiall the Master of the Halles,
and some of the Vniuereitie, and Michael Laillier, and many notable burgesses of the
toune, (whiche, euer with anEnglishe countenaunce, couered a Frenche harte) perceiuyng
toe weakenes of the Englishemen, and the force and strengths of the Frenchemen, signifi-
yng to the Frenche capitaines, their mindes and intentes, willed them to come with all di-
ligence, to receiueso riehe a prey to them, without any difficultie, offred and geuen. The
Constable delaiyng no tyme, came with his power, and lodged by the Charter-hous : and the
lerde Lisle Adame, approchyng the walles, shewed to the citezens, a charter, sealed with
the greate scale of kyn'g Charles, by the whiche he had pardoned them their offences, and
graunted'to them all the old liberties and auncient priuileges, so they would hereafter be
to hym, obedient, true, and scruiceable. . Whiche thyng to theim declared, they ranne
about the toune, criyng: sainct Dcnise, liue kyng Charles. The Englishemen perceiuyng
this, determined to kepe the gate of. S. Denise, but they were deceiued, for the cheynes
were drawen in euery streate, and women and children cast doune stones, and scahlyng
•water on the Englishemennes heddes, and the citezens persecuted them, from streate to-
streate, and from lane to lane, and sleweand hurt, diuerse and many of theim. The bishop
of Tyrwyne, Chauncellor there for kyng Henry, and the lord Willoughby, and sir Simon
Moruier, toke great pain, to appcace the people, and represse their furie: but when they
saw, that all auailed not, they withdrue theimselfes, to the Bastell of sainct Anthony,
whiche fortresse, they had well vitailed and furnished, with men and munitions.
WHILES this rumor was in the toune, therle of Dumoys & other scaled the walles, and
some passed the Riuer by boates, and opened the gate of sainct lames, at the whiche the
Constable with his banner displaied entered, at whose entrie, the Parisians wer very glad,
and made greate ioye. The bishop and the Lorde Willoughby, with their small copany,
defended their fortresse, tenne daies, lokyng for aide, but when they sawe that no comforte
appered, they yelded their fortresse, so that they & theirs, with certain baggage, might
peaceably returne to Roan, wliiche desire was to them graunted. Then as they departed,
the Parisians rayled, mocked, and taunted the Englishmen, with the moste spitefull worries,
and shameful termes, that could be inuented ordeuised: so that all men maie apparauntly
perceiue, that their hartes neuer thought, as their toungues vttered. For notwithstanding
their obeysaunce and fidelitie, sworne to Kyng Henry, and nothyng regardyng the finall
coinposicion, to the which they had sette their common scale, when they sawe thenglish-
men at the weakest, they turned the leafe and sang another song: declaryng to all men
their inconstaunt hartes, their waueryng mindes, and vntrue demeanor. Thus was the cite
of Paris brought again into the possession of the French kyng, which, thcr altered officers,
and ordained lawes, at his pleasure, for the surety & sategarde of hym, his realme, and
people.
AFTER this glorious gain, the Frenche kyng besieged the toune of Crayle, vpon Oyse,
wherof sir William Chaberlayn, was capitain, whiche, with fine hundred Englishmen, is-
sued out of the toune, and after long fight, discomfited his enemies, and slewe twoo hun-
dred, and toke a greate nombre prisoners: the remnaunt not likyng their market, de-
parted to Champeigne, and other tounes ariioynyng. Duryng whiche season, xii. Bur-
gesses of the toune of Gysors, solde it ibr money to Poyton of Xantrayles, but he had
not the Castle deliuered. Wherfore with all his power, he besieged thesame, wherof the
Lorde Talbot beyng aduertised, sent for the lorde Scale*, and they bothe with. xvhi. hun-
3 dred
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 181
drcd men, rescued the Castle, toke the toune, and discomfited their enemies, and slewe
of theim aboue foure hundred persones. Now was the the old prouerbes verefied, that he
that commeth a dale after the taire, commeth to late, and when the stede is stollen, it is no
bote to shutte the stable dore. Tor when Paris, sainct Denise, sainct Gerrnayns in Lay,
and many other tounes in Fraunce, were taken and betrayed, for lacke of succors and suf-
ficient garrisons, then the duke of Yorke appoynted at the parliament before; to be Regent
of Fraunce, and by the disdaine and enuie of the duke of Somerset, and other, not till
now dispatched, was sent into Normandy, with eight thousande men, and in his company,
the Erles of Salisbury, and Suffolke, and the Lorde Fawconbridge, and ditierse valeaunt
capitaines. When he was landed at Harflewe, the Erie of Salisbury, besieged the Castle
of Chamboys, whiche shortly was to hym rendered. Then the Duke remoued to Roan,
where he set good orders, and did greate Justice in the countrey, wherfore the Normans in
their Chronicle, highly extoll and muche magnifie hym, for that poynte : howbeit, they
saie, that he gat by long siege, the toune and Abbay of Fecape, and did none other notable
act, duryng the tyme of his rule and gouernaunce.
PHILLIP Duke of Burgoyne whiche, (as you haue heard) brake bothe his othe and pro-
mise with the kyng of England, imagened with hymself, that the Englishmen were like shortely,
to be expulsed out of al the tounes on that side the sea, and that they had no certain refuge
nor place to resorte to, out of ieoperdy, but onely the toune of Calice. Wherfore he as-
sembled his counsaill, and the heddes of the cities and tounes of Flaunders, Brabant, IIol-
lande, and Zelande, in the toune of Gaunt, vvhcr was declared to them, the right, title, and
interest, that he had to the toune of Calice, and the countie of Guysnes, as a very patri-
mony, belongyng to his inheritaunce: shewyng farther, that thesaid toune was the golffe, and
swallower vp, of all the golde & siluer of his countries and dominions, foa asmuche as ther,
was the staple of wooles, tynne, leade, and other marchaundise, for the whiche, the Englishe-
men would take no common currant money, but only gold and siluer, to the greate impouerish-
inent of his seigniories, and Regions: saiyng farther, that Calise onely was the common stop,
betwene his countreis and Britayne, and Spayne, so that Southward, nor Westwarde, his
subiectes could not passe, without the daungier of that toune. Wherefore these detrhnentes
considered, he determined, (if they -would assent) shortly to recouer and conquer, that toune
and the countie of Guisnes. To this purpose all the counsaill, and c5mon people, not onely
agreed, but also promised aide, bothe of men and money. Lorde how the Flemines bragged,
and the Hollanders craked, that Calice should be wonne and all the Englishemen slain,
swearyng, and staryng, that they would haue it within thre dales at the moste : thynkyng
verely, that the toune of Calice, could no more resist their puyssaunce, then a potte of double
beere, when they fall ta quaffyng.
TO tel you whatordenauce was new cast, what pouder was bought what engynes were de-
uised, what harneis was prouided, what vitale was purueyed for this greate enterprise: I
will not comber you in rehersyng euery thyng perticulerly because the Flemynges write, that
the prouision was more then toung could speake, or harte could thinke yet you rnaie beleue as
you list. These doynges were not so priuie, but sir Ihon Radclifte duputic of the toune of
Calice, was therof enformed and shortly of thesame, aduertised kyng Henry, and his coun-
saill, whiche incontinent sent thither, the Erie of Mortayne sonne to the Duke of Somersette,:
and the Lorde Cammeys with. xv. C. men, and greate foyson of vitaile, whiche issued out
of Calice, and came before Grauelyne, where thei wcreucountred, with a greate nombre of
Flemynges, whiche were shortly discomfited, and foure hundred of theim slain, and
sixe score taken prisoners, andcaried to Calice. And within twoodaies after, the English-
men draue by fine force, the lordes of Wauerayn and Bado, to the barriers of Arde, & dis-
comfited the company to the ndber of. xv. C. and slewe. vij. valeaunt capitaines, and toke
many gentlemen prisoners. Phillip duke of Burgoyne, abidyng still in his high & warlike
enterprise, assebled together of Flemynges, Pycardes, Holladers, and Henowiers a great army,,
to the nombre of., xl. M. so well armed, so wel vitailed, so weL furnished with ordenaunce,.
& so :
-182 THE. XIIIJ. YERE OF
& *o well garnished in al thynges, that thei thought in their hartes, and blasted emongest
theirn selfcs, that the Calicians, would leaue the tonne desolate, & flie for their sauegard,
beam-)* onely the approchyng of the Gauntoys. But thei reckened before their host, and so
paied more then their shotte came to. When this gallant army, was passed the water at
Grauelyn, the duke intending to begin his greate conquest, besieged and assauted the litle
and poore Castle of Oye, whiche hauyng in it but. L. souldiors, of ;he whiche. xii. sold their
liues derely, the remnaunt compelled by necessity yeilded thernselfes symplie to the duke,
whiche to please the Gauntoys, beyiigof the moste puissaunt copanyinbis army, liberallygaue
to the bothe the Caslle and the prisoners, as a signe and token of good lucke, and fortunate
the rest.
AFTER this victory, litle honorable and lesse profitable, the Pycardes besieged the Castle •
of Marke, and three tymes assauted it, more to their losse, then gayne. The Englishemen
within, whereof sir Ihon Geddyng was capitain, set out the banner of sainct George, and
rang the belles, to the intent to haue succors from the toune of Calice. But the capitaines
there, rnyndingnot to lese the more for the lesse, nor thesubstaunce for the accident, wished
them good lucke, and good fortune without any aide sedyng. For doubt of the dukes great
army & power, The souldiors within Marke, beyng but twoo hundred and sixe, seyng no
hope of succor, and desperate of Comfort, rendered theimseifes to the duke vpon condicion :
that their lifes and lymmes should be saued, and so thei wer conueyed in suer custody, to the
tonne of Gaunt, and the castle of Marke was rased and defaced.
AFTER this act dooen, the duke of Burgoyne, accompanied with the Duke of Cleues, the
Erie of Estampes, the Lordes of Dantoyng, Croy, Cresquy, Humyers, and many other va-
le-aunt Barons, & knightes, with his greate army, came before the toune of Calice, and
placed his siege about thesame, moste to his aduauntage, and to the moste displeasure of his
enemies. Me gatie three great assautes to the toune, but his people wer not so fierce to assaur,
but thenglishemen wer as quicke to defend : so that he gainyug so litle at these, iii. enterprises,
was contet to abstain fro farther approching toward the walles. At the first assaut the lieire,
whiche was come to se the duke of Burgoyn, was sore wounded and hurte. Beside this,
the duke had daily one great iye sore, which was by cause that at euery tyde, shippes ar-
riuedin the hauen, out of England, openly before his face, laden with victail, municios, and
men and also the Calicians would for the nonce, putte out cattaill into the marish, vnder the
toune walles, to thentent to prouoke the Flemmyngs to come within their catchyng, and daun 1
gier, whiche beyng couetous of prey and gayne, often aduenturcd, and seldome returned
again: for many by this meancs wer taken prisoners, but many mo slain with ordenaunce.
The duke one day rode about, to vicue and behold the situation, and the walles of the toune,
to thentent to take his moste aduautage. either by assaute or shot of ordenaunce. He was
quickcly espied and with the stroke of a Canon, a tropeter whiche rode next before him and
.11 i • > •
after deuised how to stoppe the hauen, so that no succors should entre there, and also to
prohibite thi- within the loune, to make any egresse or rode outward, and so by this meanes,
to famine and compell them to yield, and rendre the toune. This deuise was set forward,
jlnd nothyng slepte: for. iiij. great hulkes wer laden, with great square stones, semented £
loyned together with lead, to thentent that they should lye still, like a moot and not to seuer a
sunder. Ihese shippes with the renauntof the dukes name, wer coueyed into the mouth ofCalice
hauen, and in a lull sea by craft and pollicie, were sounkcdoune to the ground, but whether
^od would not that the hauen should be destroyed, either theconueyers of the hulkes, knewe
the very channel, these foure great shippes at the lowe water, laie openly vpon thesandes,
" without
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 183
•without any hurte doyng to the rode or chanel, which whe the souldiors had perceiued, they
issued out ofthetoune, and brake the shippes, and caried bothe the stones and the tyiubre
into the toune, which serued them well, to their fortificacions. The seconde deuise was also
accom[)lished, whiclie was a strong bastell, set on a litle mountayne, furnished with. iiij. C.
men and muche artilarie, whiche fortresse did let thenglishemen to issue out, when they
would, to their greate displeasure and disturbaunce.
WHILES these thynges wer in doyng, there ariued into the dukes army, an herault of
England called Pembroke, belonging to the duke of Gloucester, whiche declared to the duke of
Burgoyne, that the Protector of England his master, (if God would send him windeand wether)
would geuebattail tohym and his whole puyssauce, either there, or in any other place, within
his awne countrey, where he would appoynt : but the dale he could not assigne, because of the
inconstancie of the wind, and rnutabilitie of the aire. The duke (like a noble man) aunswered
the herault: sir saie to your master, that his request is both honorable and reasonable, howbeit,
he shall not nede to take pain, to seke me in myne awne countrey, for (GOD willyng) he shall
tinde me here, till I haue my will of the toune, ready to abide hym, and all the power that he
can make. After this aunswere made, the Heraulte was highly feasted, and had a cup and
a hundred golden gyldens, to hym deliuered for a rewarde, and so returned to Calice.
After whose departure, the duke called a greate counsaill, in the chief pauilion of the Gaun-
toys, and there declared bothe the heraultes message and his aunswere, desiryngthem to re-
gard his honor, the estimacion of their countreis, and the honesties of themselfes, and like
men to receiue their enemies, and valeauntly to defende their aduersaries, promisyng to theim
victory, gain and perpetual glory. Lorcle how the Flemynges threatened, how the Pycardes
craked, and how the Hollanders sware that thenglishme should be killed and slain, promi-
syng to the duke rather to dye then to flie, or to be recreaunt. Whiles this great matter was in
consultacion, the Calicians, not well contented with the bastell, whiche the Duke had newly
builded, issued out of the toune, in a great nombre, part on foote, and part on horsebacke*.
The footemen ran to assaut the bastile, and the horssemen, went betwene the army and the
assailautes, to stop the aydc and succors whiche might come. Thealarmy was sounded, in-
somuch that the Duke in proper persone, was rommyng on foote to releue his people, but by
the meanes of the horsrnen, he was staied and kept backe a space, in the whiche delayc of
tyme, the Englishmen by fine force gat the place, and slewc. Clx. persones, the remnaunt
were taken prisoners, and defaced the fortresse, and set it on tire: cariyng with them, al the
ordinance and artilerie, into the toune of Calice, to the great displeasure, of the Duke and
his counsaill. The nexte dale after, there sprang a rumor in the army (no man could tell,
how) that the Duke of Gloucester with a greate puyssaunce, was all ready embarked and
shipped, and would arriue at the nexte tyde, and come doune before Calice and raise the
siege. What was the very cause, I cannot truly write: but surely, the same night the Duke
fled awaie, and sent in all hast to the Lorcle of Croye, to reise his siege before Guysnes, whiche
tidynges were to hyui very ioyous, for he neither got nor saued: so these twoo capitaines de-
parted, leauyng behynde, bothe ordinaunce, vitaill, and greate riches. The Frenche wri-
ters, to saue the honor of the Duke of Burgoyne, saie, that there was a certain discord and
commocion, emongest the Fleminges and duche nacion : affirmyng, that the great lordes.
and the Pycardes, (whom the Frenchemen greatly extoll) would bctraye and sell the Flem-
inges, and their frendes, & that, for thesame cause, in a greate fury they cried, home, home,
& would not tary, for no request the Duke could make, nor no exhortacio that could be
giuen: and so by their misgouernaunce, the Duke was enforced to raise his siege, and to dc-
parte. The Flemishe authors affirme the contrary, saiyng: that they wer ready to abide the
comyng of the duke of Gloucester, but the duke of Burgoyn fearyng to be trapped, betwene
the duke of Gloucesters army before, and the garrison of Calice behynde, so that he
could escarp by no waie, fled away in the night, geuyng to theim no warnyng before. So
that for k :ke .jf tyme, and couenient space, to lade and cary their stuffe, and beyng com-
maunded to retire with allspede and diligence, thei were compelled to lose and leaue behynde
theini:
184 THE. XV. YERE OF
theim, -their vitaill, and tentes, to their great losse and detriment. Now it is at your liber-
ties, (gentle reders) whether you will geue credite to the Frenchmen, (whiche wer absent, and
no doers inthe acte) or to the Flemynges, (which were partakers of the losse and dishonor.)
.But the infallible veritie is, that he fled the. xxvj. daie of luly in the night, and the next dale
in the mornyng, the duke of Gloucester, landed in Calicehauen, and straight went into the
Campe, where his enemies, the night before were lodged, and there he founde many goodly
peaces of ordenauce, and inespecially one, called Dygeon, named after the chief toune of
Burgony, beside pauilios, wine, beere, ineale, and innumerable vitaill.
THE Duke of Gloucester, seyng his enemies reculed, hauyng in his company, xxv. M.
men, entered into Flaunders, burnyng houses killyng suche as would resist, destroiyng the
countrey on euery parte, settyng fire in the tounes of Poporniche and Baillens, and wasted
the suburbes of many faire citees, and in al this waie, thei lost no man, nor sawe any creature
appere, to defend the countrey. After, they passed by Newe Castle and destroyed Rymes-
ture, and Vall5 Chappell, and then entered into Arthoys, to Arques, £ Blandesques, settyng
fire in euery part where thei came. Thus they passed by sainct Omers to Gnysnes, and so
to Calice atsixe weeks ende, where they were well refrcasshed : for in all this iorney, they
had litle pleritie of good bread, whiche caused muche faintnesse, and diuerse diseases in,
the army. When the Duke of Gloucester, had sufficiently plagued and wasted the countreys
of the Duke of Burgoyn, & brought great preyes of beastes and spoyle, to the toune of
Calice, he setlyng there all thynges in good ordre, returned in to England, where he was
aduertised, how lames kyng of Scottes, contrary to his othe, league and promise, had be-
sieged the Castle of Rokesborough, with thirtie thousande men, whereof sir Raufe Grave
was capitain, whiche manfully defended it. xx. daies, but the Scottish kyng beyng aduertised
that the Erie of Northumberlande, was commyng to fight with hym, fledde with no lesse
losse, then dishonor, to his toune of Edenbrough.
THE. XV. YERE,
yere.
AFtcr this dangerous businesse finished, and for a time ended, by meane of frendes, and
desire of Princies, a truce or abstinence of warre for a certaine tyme, was moued betwene
the Kyng of Englande, and the duke of Burgoyne, for whiche cause wer sent to Grauelyne
for the kyng of Englande, the Cardinall ofWynchester Henry BeautFord, Ihon Lorde Mou-
brey Duke of Norffolke, Humfrey Erie of Stafford, and diuerse other well learned and ho-
norable personages: and for the duke there appered the duches his wife, the bishop of Arras,
the lorde of Croy, and diuerse other. At whiche treatie, a truce was taken for a small tyme,
and for a Jesse space obserued. Whiche abstinence of war, was concluded betwene the
kyng of Englande, and the duchesse of Burgoyne, (enterlessyng the duke and his name.)
Some thinke that the kyng of England, would neuer enter in league with hym, because he
had broken his promise, writyng, and fidelitie, written, sealed, and sworn to hym, and to
his father. Other imagened, this to be doen by a cautell, to cast a myst before the Frenche
kynges iycs, to the intent he should beleue, that this feate was wrought by the duchesse
without assent or knowledge of the duke or his counsaill, and so he was not bounde to ac-
comphshe, any acte or thyng doen in his wifes treatie. Thus you may se, that princes
sometyine, with suche vain gloses, and scornefull exposicions, will hide their doynaes and
cloke their purposes, to thentent that thei would not, either be espied, or plucke their
heckle out of the coller, at their pleasure. But, (as the common prouerbe saieth) he whiche
is a promise breaker, escapeth not al way free : for it is well sene, that daily it chaunceth,
bothe to princes and meane persones, that for breakyng of faithe, and not kepvn* of pro-
mThrwn? dlsPleasures arise' and innumerable inconueniences ensue
rftK.} I* Sear?n> K^ryne queue and mother to the kyng of England, departed out
.of ths transitory life & was buned by her husband, in the* minster of Westmynster.
»oman, after the death of kyng Henry the fifth her husband, beyng young and lusty,
folowyng
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. ]85
folowyngraore her awne appetite, then fremlely counsaill, and regardyng more her priuate
aftbccion, then lier open honour, toke to husband priuily, a goodly gentilrmin, & a beautyful
person, garnished with many Godly gyftes, both of nature & of grace, called Owen Teutiier,
a ma. brought furth and come of the noble lignage, and ancient lyne of Cadwaleder, the laste
kyng of the Brytons, by whoine she conceyued and broughte forthe. iii. goodly sonnes, Ed-
mond, lasper, and another, whiche was a monke in Westmynster, and liued a small tyme,
and adoughter, which in her youth departed out of this transitorie life: After whose deathe
kynge Henry, because they were his bretherne of one wombe deseeded, created Edmonde,
erle of Rychemonde, and lasper, erie of Pembroke, whiche Edmond engendered of Mar-
garet, doughter and sole heyre to Ihon, duke of Somerset, Hery, which after was king of
this realtne, called king Henry theseuenth, of whom you shal heare morfe hereafter. Thys
Owen, after the death of the Quene his wife, was apprehended and admitted to ward, be-
cause that contrary to the statute made in the. vi. yere of this kyng, he presumptuously had
rnaried the Quene, without the kynges fcspeciall assent, and agrement, out of which
pryson he escaped, and let out other with him, and was agayne apprehendyd, & after
escaped agayne.
THE duchesse of Bedford sister to Lewes, erle of sainct Paule, myndyng also to marye,
rather for pleasure then for honour, without coiisayl of her frendes, maryed a lusty knyght,
called sir Richarde Wooduile, to the great displeasure of her vncle the bisshop of Tyrwyne,
and the erle her brother : but they now coulde not remedie it, for the chuiice ivas cast and
passed. This sir Richard was made Baro of Riticrs, and after erle, and had by this Lady,
many noble sonnes, and faire daughters: whereof one was Lady Elizabeth, after Quene
of Englande, maried to Kyng Edward the fourth, (as here after you shal perceiue.)
WHILES this manage was celebratyng, lane late Quene of Englande, and before Duchesse
of Britayne, doughter to the kyng of Nauer, & wife to kyng Henry the. iiij. died at th&
manner of Haueryng, and was buried by hen- husband at Canterbury, in which time 'dis-'"
ceased the countesse of Wanvicke, and Henry Archebishop of Yorke.
I thought here to omit and ouerpasse, the regainyng and conquest of the strong toune of
llarflew, once Englishe and after, (by craft) turned to the Frenche part, except the Frenche
writers more then the English authors, had made mencion, and remembraunce, of tlie re-
duccion of the same. For they saie and aflirmc, that the Duke of Somerset, accompanied
with the Lordes of Fauconbridge, Talbot, sir Franceis Surrien Arragonoys, Mathew Gou"hj
Thomas Paulet, Thomas Haringto, Walter Limbrike, Ihon Geddyng, William Wat ton,
Esquieres, and Thomas Hylton Balife of Roan, with a great puissaunce of the Englishe
partie, compassed about and besieged the tonne of Harflew, bothe by water, and by land.
The capitaine within the toune, was called sir Ihon Destonteuile, and sir Robert his brother,
with other to the nombre of sixe hundred good fightyng men. The assailaivntes lost no tyme
but made trenches, and cast diches, bothe to assaute the toune, and also to let the Frenche
succors, that they should neither approche, nor ayde, the citezens shut in & besieged. Di-
uerse assautes wer geuen, which wer manfully resisted: but more to the losse of the defenders,,
then the assauters. Beside this, thenglishemen laied greate ordiimunce, before the gate of
the toune, whiche continually vexed the inhabitautes, and ouer thiewe buyldynges, and
destroyed mancions: so that neither house, nor high way was sure, or refuge to the tonnes
men. This siege endured long, to the greate discomfiture of the people: whereof they ad-
uertised the Frenche kyng and his counsaill, whiche sent thither the erle of ewe, therle of
Dumoys, called the Bustard of Orleaunce, the valeaunt Bastard of Burbon, the lorde
Gaucort, sir Giles of sent Symon, and the chief capitaines of all his realrne, with foure
thousand men, bothe pollitique and proued. This valeaunt armie passed the Riuer of Soame
betwene Amyas and Corby, not mistrusting to gette that, whiche they lost and left behynd
theim, and so thei came before the toune, and diuklcd theselfes in seuerall partes, to their
moste aduauntage: daily skirmishyng with thenglishmen, but nothyng preuailyng, & so for
feare of losyng honor, and desperacion of gain, the florishyng Frenchemen, returned again with
B b muehe-
,85 THE. XV. YERE OF
inuche labor, and litle profit. The capitaines of the toune seyng theire pillers broken, and
their chief avdcrs discomfited, rendered the toune to the duke of Somerset whiche made
there capitaines, Thomas Paulet, William Lymbrike, Christopher Barker, and George sent
Geortre, whiche many yeres, (till the dcuision beganne in England) manfully £ valeauntly
defended the toune, and hauen : but afterward, when the saied duke was Regent, and go-
uernor of Normally, he not onely loste the toune, but also the citee of Roan, the Empeire
and chief iucll of the saied Duchie, with many other citees and fortresses, whiche he, more
by entreatyng, then threatenyng, might still haue holden vnder his subieccio. But all men
haue not wit alike, nor all rultfrs be not of one condicion and pollicie. For this duke Ed-
mond, gatte this toune with great glory, when he was but a deputie, vnder the Regent, and
after, beyug gouernor himself, lost the same, and all the whole duchie, to his greate sluundcr
and infamy, (as hereafter you shall perceiue). But, who can preuent fortunes chaunce, or
haue spectacles to se all thynges to come, or chaunces that be present: scyng God disposrth
that man purposeth, and dial all worldely deuLscs, andmannes cogitacions, be vncertain and
euer vnperfite.
ALTHOVGH I haue long talked of Fraunce, yet I may not forget the doable dealing,
& craftie demeanor, of lames Kyng of Scottes: whiche beyng, (as you haue heard) late
prisoner in Englande, notoncly was garnished with learnyng and Ciuiiitie, (whiche thynges,
wer rare and straunge before that time, within the reahne of ScotlFtd) but also set at iibcrtic,
and honorably sent home. And to the intent that his amitie might be perpetuall, and that
loue might continually succeade betwenc bothe the reahnes, by his tneane and accord : firste,
his greate raunsome was abridged, and diminished, and after, he was ioyned in mariage,
with one of the blond royal, to thentent that he, and his heires, should be vnited and knit,
to the progeny of England, with an indossoluble knot, like tlie twisted tree, whiche cannot
seuer, aiul like the hard flinte, whiche \\ill not waxe soft: yet this vngentle prince, and for-
getfull frend, puttyng in obliuion, hothe the dutic of his obeysafice toward his souereigne and
liege lorde, and the oth and promise, that he made to kyug Henry, when he did to hym ho-
mage, and liege at the Castle of Wyndesore, (as before you haue heard) turned his backe
to his trend and kyiljman, and loked to y French part, which neuer did hym honor nor
profile, not onely sendyng into Fraunce daily, aide & succors against the Englishe nacion,
but also by newe aliiaunce, sought and practised wnies and meanes, how to ioyne hymself
with forein princes, to greuc and hurte ins neighbors and adioynaantes, of the reahne of
England. And although his awne power wer small, to do to them any great damage, yet he
thought that he, being linked in suche noble houses, should the lesse feare the malice of
his enemies : vpon whiche Ibble foundacion, he concluded, ii. manages the one with Lewes
the dolphin sonne to Charles the French kyng, and the other with Fraunces duke of Bri-
tayn. Whiche manages, were not desired for loue or riches, but onely for ayde, to resist
and driue out the Englishmen out of Fraunce. For the Lady Margcrct maried to the dol-
phyn, was of suche nasty coplexion and euillsauory breathe, that he abhorred her company,
as a cleanc creature, doth a canon: whereupon she conceiued suche au inward grief, that
within iewe dales after, she ended her daies. Although this lady had suche impediments,
(as you haue heard) yet her sister Isabell, maried to Fiaunces duke of Britayne, lacked',
neither excedyngbeautie, nor pleasaunt breath: but as for wit, womanhod, and Ciuile be-
haiior, she neuer had, nor exercised. Wheiiore, when the duke before his manage, was by
his counsaill admonished, to refuse and forsake so innocent a creature, he, more moucd with
her fare trice, then her womaly wiscdome, aimswered: that it was ynough for a woman to
nidge the difference betwene the sh.u-te and the dul>let of her husbandc, 'and to kaowe hym
in the darke, trora another man.
FOR these mariages, kyng lames deuiaunded of his commons, a Create subsidv or mi-
lage, whiche was sore grudged at, and in manner denied: so that he maried tht-im with
e promises, and ayde and succor against thenglishemen, rather then with ba^res of mo-
ney, c chestes of plate. This forein aliiaunce litle profited, or auayled thTrealme of
Scotland.
•«*
KYNC HENRY THE. VI. 187
Scotland, nor this new amide, defended not kyng lames: for Walter Steward crle of Atholc,
(whiche pretendf d a title to the Croune, by reason that he was begotten of kyng Robert
the seconde, by his h'rste wife, and by whose occasion, Robert duke of Albany, murdered
Dauid duke of Ilothesay, elder brother to this kyng lames, as in the story of kyng Henry
the fourth, you haue heard declared) after the coroimcio of kyng lames the first in Scot-
lande, earnestly sollicited hym to putt to death, duke Murdo, and all the oft'spryng of Ro-
bert first duke of Albany, trusting, that after he had destroyed that line, (which was a stop
in his waiej to inuent some meane how to destroy the kyng and his children, and so to ob-
tain the crouue and preeminence of the realme. Wherfore, he perswaded Robert Steward
his nephiew, and Robert Grame his cosyn, and diuerse other, to murlher and sley the kyng
their souercigne Lorde, whiche therto by deuilishc instigacion incensed and procured, came
to the toune of Pertho, (commonly called S. Ihos toune) and there entred into the kynges
priuy chambre, and slcwe first diuerse of his seruauntes, whiche made resistance, & after
killed the kyng with many mortall strokes, and hurte the Quene, whiche, in defence of
her husband, felled one of the tray tore. When this vngracious decde was blowen about
the toune, the people rose in greate plumpes, and found out the princequcllers, and theirn
brought to straight prisone, whiche afterward, (accordyng to their dcsertes) were with most
terrible tormentes, put to death and executed,
AFTER lames the first, succeded lames the seconde, his eldest sonne, whiche fearing
sedicion and ciuile discord, vexed more his awne nacion, then the Englishe people.
NOW leauyng Scotland, let vs returne to the busines of Frauce. Whiles the Scottes
wer compassyng, how to destroy their kyng: The lorde Talbot, with a greate company,
laied siege to the Castle of Tankeruile, whiche after foure monethes, was to hym simplie
rendred, and gyuen vp. This toune was no greate gain to the Englishemen : for in the
meane season, the Frenche kyng in his awne persone, besieged the strong toune of Mon-
streau Faultios, whereof Thomas Gerard was capitain: whiche, more for desire of re-
warde, then for feare of enemies, sold the tonne to the Frenche kyng, and had of him
greate gii'tes, and good chere, whiche afterward was well knowen, to his shame and re-
proche. This toune had been rescued, or the Frenche Kyng foughten with all, if one
chauncc had not happened: for the duke of Yorke was discharged of the ofiice of Regent,
and the erle of Warwicke preferred to thesame, so that ihe duke of Yorke liyng at Roan,
would, haue gladly rescued the toune, if his authoritie had not surceased, and the Erie of
Warwicke could not, lor the wind was so cleane cotray to him, that he and his army, ta-
ried for the winde abouc tenne wekes. And so betwene the discharge of the one, and the
charge of the other, this toune of Mostreau, was deliuered and solde.
TI1IS presente yere, was a parliament kcpte at Westminster, in the whiche wer diuerse
and notable conclusions ordained and taken, aswell for the prescruacion of peace and con-
cord at home, as for the maintenance of warre, and host ili tie in outward regions: in the
whiche parliament, (who so will loke on the actes) shall perceiue that one act made, for
byyng & sellyng by strangers, was profitable to the publique wealth of this realme, if it wer
wel kept, (as a few good actes or none be either by the negligece of y gouernors, or by the
insolencie & pride of the people.)
NOW must we speake somewhat of Charles the Frenche kyng : whiche after he had
gained again the citee of Paris, and diuerse other touncs, was so putted vp with pride, that
he thought it but a trifle, to conquere Normandy, and expnlse all the Enplishe nacion, .
out of his countreys and seigniories. Wherfore, he sent Arthur of Britayn, Constable of
Fraunce, & Iho duke of Alason, into Normandy with a great army, whiche besieged the,
toune of Aurauches, standyng vpo the knop of an hill, nere to the Ikitishe sea, bothe well
walled and well manned. While they laie there long, litle gettyng and muche spendyng,
the lorde Talbot with a valeaunt company of men, approched nere the Frenchemen, and .
encamped themselfes, in the face of their enemies, to prouoke and entise them to battaill
and fight. The Frenchmen refusyng this offre, kept theimselfes within their trenches, daily
B b a fortifiyng
The. xvi.
yerc.
THE. XVI. YERE OF
fortifiyng and repairyng their campe. The Englishemen perceiuyng their doynges, remo-
ued their army halfe a mile farther, geuyng their enemies rome to issue out and to fight,
but all this litle auailed: for the Frenchemen laye still and starred not. The lorde Talbot,
seyng their faint hartes, reysed his feld, and in the open sight of them all, entred into the
toune, and the next daie issued out, and founde the Frenchemen ridyng abrode, to destroye
the plain countrey, whom he enuironed, bet, and discomfited, slayng many, and takyng
diuerse prisoners. Although the Frechemen gat neither honor nor profite by this iorney,
yet they enterprised a greater matter : for Ponthon of Sentrayles and the Heire, with di-
uerse other capitaines, and a great nombreof Frenchmen, hauyng promise of certain Bur-
gesses of Hoan, to be let secretly into the toune, came forward to a village called Ryse,
and there lodged. The lorde Talbot, the lorde Scales, and sir Thomas Kiriell, hearyng of
their approche, set out of Roan at midnight, and with greate pain, came to llise in the
momyngso coucrtly, that the Frenchemen, beyng sodainly surprised and set on, like men
madd and amased, ran away, £ fled: in the chase wer taken the lorde of Fontaynes, sir
Alleyne Geron, sir Lewes de Balle, &. Ix. knightes and esquires, beside other, and there
wer slain, two hundred and mo: the Heire beyng sore wounded, by the swift.'ies of his
horsse, escaped very narowly. The Englishmen returned to the toune of Rise, and found
there a greate npmbreof horsses, and other baggages, wliiche thei Joyously brought with them
to Roan.
H THE XVI. YERE.
ON the sixt daie of Noucmbre, this present yere, the erle of Warwicke, as regent of
Fraunce, passed the sea, after he had been seuen times shipped and vnshipped, and landed
at Humflewe, with a. M. freashe souldiors and came to Roan, and then the duke of Yorke,
returned into Englande, neither wholy pleased, nor halfe content. For he secretly smelled,
that some men, priuely disdained his aduancement, and enuied his promocio : yet, (like a
wise man) he kept his toung close, whatsoeuer his harte thought. Betwene the chaunge
of these tivoo capitaines, the duke of Burgoyue, {whiche sore enuied the glory of theng-
lishmen) besieged the Castle of Croytoy, with tcnne thousande men and mo, hauyng with
Erie of Warwicke hearyng
'r Thomas Kiriell, sir Ihon
j and diuerse other knightes
and esquiers, and many tall yeomen, to the nombre of liue thousand men, whiche passed
the lliuer of Soame, beside the toune of. S. Valery : for the passage of Blach Taque,
was very dangerous to go through, because the duke of Burgoyne had laied tliere ordi-
naunce, and other cngyns, to let, trouble and stoppe the Englishemen to go ouer at that
foorde. And yet, where the lord Talbot passed, his men went in the water vp to the chinne,
so glad wer the men to rescew their felowes. When the duke of Bnrgoyn was enformed
of the approchyng of the lorde Talbot and other, he with all his power, sauyng foure hun-
dred, whiche wer left in a bastile, by hym there newly buylded fled to Abbeuile, whiche
bastile was sone gained, and the men within, either slain or "taken.
AFTER this toune receiued, the lorde Talbot sente woorde to the duke of Bunrpyn
that he would vtterly wast and destroy the coutrey of Pycaidy, except he, (like a valeaunt
prince) would geue him battail. And accordyng to his promise, he brent tounes, spoyled,
and slewc many people in Pycardy, but for all his doynges, the duke would not appere
: stale aware irom Abbeuile, and fled to Amyas. So the Lorde Talbot was. xx. daies
loll, in the countreis of Pycardy, and Arthoyse, destroiyng and burnyng, all that they
could se or come to, and after departed. And in the meane season, sir Thomas Kiriell
Jiacl gotten all the dukes canages, and ordenaunce, and left asrauche vitaile in the toune of
roytoy, as would seruesixe hundred men a whole yere, and conueyed the remnaunt in
safetie,
KYNG HENRY THE. VI.
safetie, to the erle of Warwicke, which not onely rcceiued the capitaines, with good
semblaunce, and louing cheare, but also highly magnified their actes, and muche praised
their hardinesse.
AFTER this enterprise achiued, Henry Erie of Mortaine sonne to Edmond duke of
Somerset, arriued at Chierbuege, with foure liundred archers, and thre hundred spcres,
and passed through Normandy, till he came into the Countie of Mayne, where, he be-
sieged a castle, called S. Anyan, in the whiche wer three C. Scottes, beside Frenchemen.
This Castle he toke by a strong assaut, and slewe all the Scottes, and hanged the French-
men, because thei wer once sworne English, and after, brake their othe : and after he
gatte also another Castle, twoo miles from sainct lulians, called Alegerche, which was
shortly after recouered, and the Lorde Cameuys, whiche came to the rescue of tliesame,
in the meane waie was trapped and taken. Thus the victory flowed some tyine on the one
parte, and sometyme on the other, but the treason of the Frenchmen, far surmounted in
gettyng, bothe the pollicy and strength of the Englishe capitaines: for by the vntruth and
perfidy, of the very Burgesses and inhabitautes of the tounes, of Meaux in Brie and.
S. Susanne, thesame wer sold and deliuered to the Frenche parte, in the encle of this six-
tene yere.
tf THE. XVII. YERE.
WHat should I rehe'rse the great tempestes, the sharpe blastcs, tlie sodain piries, the
vnmesurable wyndes, the continuall raynes, whiche fell and chaunced this yere in Eng-
land: sithe suche tormentes be bothe natural!, and of God, at his pleasure diuersly or-
dered and altred. Of these vntemperate stormes, rose suche a scarcely, that wheat was
sold at. iii. s. iiii. d. the busshell, wine at. xii. d. the gallon, Bay salt at. xiiii. d. the busshel,
and malt at. xiii. s. iiii. d. the quarter, and all other graynes, wer sold of an excessiue price,
aboue the olde custome.
IN the moneth of lune, the Eric of Huntyngdone, (as Stewarde of Guyen) with twoo.
M. archers, and foure hundred speres, was sente into Gascovne, as a suppliment to the
countrey, and the commons of thesame. For the kyng of England and his cousail!, wer
enformed that therle of Dumoys, lay on y fronters of Tholose, secretly by rewardes and
faire promises, entisyng and prouoking diuerse tounes in Guyen, to become French, and
leaue thenglishe nacio. Wherfore, this erle (like a pollitique warrior) altered not onely
the capitaines, in euery toune & cite, but also remoued the magistrates, and cbaunged the
officers, from toune to toune, and from rowme to rownie, so tiiat by this nicanes at that
tyme, the erle. of Dumoys, lost bothe trauaile and cost. In thesame moneth also, sir Ri-
chard Wooduile, sir William Chaberlain, sir William Peyto, and sir William Story, with
a. M. men, wer sent to stuflfe the tounes in Normandy, whiche surely at that tyme, had
therof greate nede: for thenglish capitaines, had smul confidence in the Normas, and not
to much, in some of their awne nacion. For that harlot bribery, and hcnfelowe couetu-
ousnes, ran so fast abrode with French crounes, that vnneth any creature, (without an
especial grace) could hold either had, close, or pursse shut, suche a strong percer is
money, and suche a gredie glotton is auarice. You haue heard before, Jiowe that kyii"
Charles harte by gettyng of Paris, was set vpon a merie pynne, and thought daily that ail
thynges more and more, would bothe applie to his purpose, and folowe his 'appetite.
Whiche inuented imaginacion, sodainly bothe deceiued liym, and also appalled his haut
coragc, and abated hym somewhat of his proude stomacke. For sodainly there rose a
stramige storme, and a quicke pirie, so mischieuous and so pernicious, that nothvng more
execrable, or more to be abhorred, could happen in any Christian Region. Whiche se-
dicious tempest, if wise counsail had not wilh all spede repressed, no doubt, but kyn<*
Charles, and the whole publique weal the -of Fraunce, had been turned vp, and cleano
I ouerthrowen
li)0 THE. XVIII. YEKE OF
ouerthrowen. For Lewes Dolphyn of Vyen, and heire apparaunt to kyng Charles, a
yong prince, of a froward stomacke and euil condicions, desiryng libertie, and to be out
of ward and rule, with such as vrer of his nature and condicions, began to conspire against
his father and souereigne lorde. The chief of this vngracious faccion with hym, \ver Iho
Duke of Aluunson, and Ihon Duke of Burbon. These confederates gathered together a
greate power, and the Dolphyn tooke vpon hym, the rule and gouernaunce of the realme,
orderyng causes, not in his fathers name, nor by his authentic, but after his awne will, af-
fecion, and phantasie. When kyng Charles his father, had knowledge of this vnnntnrall
disobedience, and insolent and proude doynges, he was (& no inaruel) greatly moued with
this sodain commocio: thinkyng hymself borne, & predestinate to trouble, remebryng,
that it was no snial thyng, in his awne countrey so many yeres, both with straungers, &
with his awne nacio, to fight and striue for rule and dignitie, but now to be costrained, to
contend & make war, with his awne sonne and welbeloucd child, for -the Croune and re-
giment, of his realiue & dominion. Yet these thynges did not bryng hym, beyng a man
of greate wit, and counsaill, daily troubled and vnquieted will) calamities and displeasures,
into vtter despaire, or extreme wanhope: but like a polliliquc prince, detenninyng to with-
stand and resist the smoke at the beginnyng, before the fire & flame brast out abrode,
called together all suche, as he had either in greate confidence, or opeciall fauor, cotn-
municatyng to them, all his inward thoughtes, and priuie cogitacions. After long consul-
tacion had, it was agreed by the most parte, that this sore was more mete to be cured, by
pollitique and wittie handelyng, rather then by force, and dent of sweard. Wherfore,
Jetters wer written, and posies wer sent to euery citee and borough, straightly prohibityng
all and synguler persones, either to heare, or obey, any precept, or commaundement, set
furthe or published, by the dolphyn hymself, or by" other, or in his name, and all offences
doen in that confederate, wer by open proclamacion, frely forgeuen and remitted. And
beside this, diuerse graue and sage persones, wer sent to the dolphyn, and his alies, to
common and coclude a peace, and reconciliacion, betwene the Frencbe kyng and theim,
declaryng to them, that their ciuile war, and inward discencion, was the very meane to
oause their enemies, vtterly to plague and destroy their natiue countrey, whiche was al-
moste desolate, and brought into subieccion, by the continual warre practised before. Bv
which meanes and perswasions, the knot of this seditious faccio, was losed and dissoluedf:
and the kyng with his sonne, and other confederates, openly agreed and apparaiitly paci-
fied. And so the spryng of these mischiuous sectt, was stopped and repulsed, or the
flodde hadai-y thyng encreased, or tlowen farther.
THE Englishmen (whiche euer sought their aduauntage) hearyng of this domesticall di-
uision in the realme of Fraunce, raided an anuye, and recouered again diuerse tounes,
whiche wer stolleu from theim before, by the French nacion : and made great prouision,
to recouer again the citee of Paris, but when thei heard, that the dolphyn was' returned
again to his father, and that all his mates, wer ioyned with the French kyns, they left of
from that enterprise, and reuokcd their purpose.
Thc.xviii.
yctc.
THE. XVIII. YEKE.
rX the rnoneth of Nouembre this presenteyr-re, there was suche a great Frost, and after
L. so ( pnr si Sriruvn mot all tha »*mir>.J . . j -.1 . •
that so depe aSnowe, that all the ground was couered with white, and all the diches hardened
Pom In p1'. W ? r W6a, ,'' PUI thC ^"Sl'shemen in comfort, to recouer again the toune of
the u^' Wh6 frenC hJk?°S gotten Before, bycorruptyng with money, diuerse Burges.es of
Wherfore, he Enghshmen beyng clothed all m white, with Ihon lorde Clirlbrde
i.i! ii Ciipiiain, came in the ms?ht tn tnp nir[i<>a «nri i->ooo«,i *u,.-_ vi
of the LVoste and sodainly Lied ^^^^^"^^^S
many profitable pnsone™. Whe,, tl,is toune was thus gotten, iorde Kiehard lieaucLmpe
erle
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 191
erle of Warwicke and Regent of France, died in the Castle of Roan, and was conueyed info
England, and with solempne Ceremonies, was buried in his College of Warwicke, in a verie
soleinpne and sumptuous sepulture.
THEN was the duke of Yorke again, made regent of Frauuce, whiche accompanied with
therleof Oxford, the lorde Bourchier, called erle of Ewe, Sir lames of Ormond, the Lorde
Clinton, and diuerse other noblemen, sailed into Normandy: Before whose arriuall, the
Frenche kyng beyng sore greued with the takyng of the toune of Pouuthoyse, assembled a
great army, and besieged thesaid toune hymself, and made round about it, bastile.s, trenches,
& diches, and daily shot ordenaunce, and gaue therunto, diuerse greate and fierce as-
sautes. But Ihon lorde Clifford, like a valcaurit capitain, defended the 'toune with suche
valeauntnes, that the Frenchemen rather lost then gayned. The duke of Yorke at his
landyng, bailing true knowledge of this siege, sent for the lorde Talbot, and a great nombre
ofsouldiors, and so came nere to the toune of Pounlhoyse, and tliere encamped hymself,
and sent woorde to the Frenche Kyng. that he was there, ready to geue hym battaill, if he
would come out of his campe and Bastiles. Kyng Charles was ruled by his counsaill,
whiche in no wise would suffre hym to adtienture his persone, with men of so lowo and ba^e
degree: biddynghymTetnembre, what losses he* and his auncesters had susleined, bygeuyng
to the Englisliemen battaill: whiche thyng they principally desire, wjllyng hym to kepe his
ground still, and to bid theim entre at their perell, and in the mean season, to stoppe the
passage of the Riucr of Oyse, so that no vitaile could be brought to the Englishe army by
that way, by whiche meanes, he should not onely obte'in his purpose, but also cause the Eu-
glishemen to rccule backc again, for lacke of vitaile and succors. The Duke of Yorke
perceiuyng, that the Frenche kyng was nothyng mynded to tight, determined to passe ouer
the Hiuer of Oyse, and so to fight with hym in his lodgyng, wherupon he remoued iiis campe
and appoynted the lord Talbot and other, to make a countenaunce, as they would passe the
Iliuer by force at the gate of Beaumont, and appoynted another copany with boates, of
tymbre & ledder, and bridges made of cordes and ropes, (whereof he had greate plentie,
caried with hym in Charlottes) to passe ouer the riuer by neth the Abbay. While the lord
Talbot made a crye, as though he would assaile the gale, certain Englishmen parsed the
water ouer in boates, and drew the bridge ouer, so that a greate nombre wer comen ouer,
or the Frenchmen them espied. VV'lien they sawe the channce, they ran like mad men, to
stoppe the passage, but their labor was lostc, and all their pain to no purpose: for the moste
parte of- thenglishe people wer sodainly transported, in so muche tliat they chased their ene-
mies, by fine force into the loune again, and toke sir Guylliam de Chastell, nephieue to the
Lorde Canehy, and diuerse other gentlemen prisoners. The Frenchmen seyng their damage
irrecuperable returned to the Frenche kyng, accomptyng to hym their euil chaiice Si vnlucky
fortune, which therwith was not alitle displeasatit: and well perceiuyng, that if he taried the
comyng of thenglishmen he was like to be either in greate ieopcrdy, or sure to sustein muche
dishonor and greate damage. Wherfore he remoued his ordinaunce into the bastile of. S.
Martyo, whiche he had newly made, and leauyng behynd hym tiie lorde of Cotigny Ailmirall
of Fraunce, with thre. M. men to kepe the bastiles, dislodged in the night from Maubuisson,
and came to Poissye: for if he had taried styll in that place, the lorde Talbot with certain
of his trustie souldiors, whiche passed the riuer of Oyse in ii. smal lether boates, had cither
slain or taken hym, in his lodgyng, the same night. The Englishemen the next daie in good
ordre of battaill, came before the touue of Pounthoise, thinkyng there to haue founde the
Frenche kyng, but he was gone, and in his lodgyng, they founde greate riches, and muche
stuffe, whiche he could not haue space, to conuey, for tea re of the sodain inuasion. Then
the Duke of Yorke with his company, entered into the toune, and sent for newe vitaill, and
repaired the to tires and bulwerkes about the toune, and diuerse tymes assailed the Ijastile of
the-Prencbemcn, of the whiche he passed not greatly, because they wer not of power, either
toassaut, or stoppe the vitailes or succors from the toune. The Duke livng thus in the toune
Ponthoise, was aduertised, that the Frenche kyng and the dolphyn, with. all the nobilitie of
4 Fraunce,
. " THE. XVIII. YERE OF
Fraunce, wer lodged in Poissye, wherfore be intendyng once again to offre bym battaiH, left
behyud hym there, for capitain, sir Geruays Clifton, with a thousande souldiors, and re-
nioued his army and came before Poysye, and set hymself and his men in good ordre of bat-
taill, redy to figlit. There issued out diuerse gentlemen, to skirmish with the Englishemen,
but 'they wer sone discomfited, and foure valeaunt horssemen wer taken prisoners, and
diuerse slain. The Eaglishemen perceiuyng the faynte Liartes, and colde corage of their
enemies, whiche nothyng lesse desired, then to encountre with the English nacion in open
felde, dislodged from Poysye, and came to Mante, and sone after to Roan.
WHEN the Regent and the lorde Talbot, wer returned again into Normandy, the
Frenetic kyng (for all this euill lucke) forgat not the toune of Ponthoise, and firste he
considered, what charges he had susteined, bothe duryng the tyme of the siege, and also
in ma kyng bastyles, trenches, and other deuises: and after remembred, thatliis people, and
especially°the Parisians (to who this toune was an euill neighbor) would rayle and saie, that
he was not able, or lacked corage, to gette so small a toune, or to discomfite halfe a hadfull
of amased people. Wherfore these thynges set in ordre, he assembled all his puyssaunce,
and returned soduinly again to Ponthoise: where, he firste by assaute gat the churche, and
after the whole toune, and toke the capitain prisoner, and diuerse other Englishemen, and
slewe to the nombre of foure hundred, whiche derely sold their lifes: for one Frenche writer
affirraeth, that the Frenche kyng lost there, thre. M. men and mo, and the whole garrison of
the Englishemen, was onely a. M: so thei gayned the toune, but they gat no greate boty of
men. When the fame of this victory was blowen abrode, the hartes of the tounes men, be-
gan to appall, in somuche, that Melune, Corbuell, Eureux, and diuerse other tounes, yelded
and turned at a proude crake, or a Frenche bragge, without stroke 'striken, or any blowe
gyueu.
AFTER these hote rages, the wether began to wax more temperate for kyng Hery and
kyng Charles, wer agreed, to send Ambassadors, to commen and treate some good peace &
conclusio, betwene them, & their realmes. So the kyng of England, sent the Cardinal! of
"Winchester, with diuerse other noble personages of his counsaill, to Calice, with whom
was also sent, Charles Duke of Orleaunce. yet prisoner in England, to thentent that he
might be bothe the author of y peace, and procurer of his deh'ueraunce. The Frenche
kyng, sent the Archebishop of Reyns, and the Erie of Duinoys: and the Duke of
Burgoyne, sent the lorde Croueceur, and diuerse other, because that the duke of Orleaunce
was passed the sea with the English Ambassadors, they would mete in none other place to.
commen, but in Calice. The Frenche Ambassadors perceiuyng their mynde, came to
Calice, where the duke of Orleaunce, gently receined therleof Damoys (his bastard brother)
than kyng him hartely for his pain taken, in gouernyng his coutrey duryng the tyme of his
captiuitie and absence. Diuerse communicacions wer had, aswel for the deliueraunce of the
duke, as for a finall peace: in soinuche, that after muche consultyng, and litle doyng,
another tyme was appointed fora newe assembly, and euery parte to declare to their soue-
reigne, the request and desire of the other. So these Ambassadors toke their leaue and de-
parted, and thenglishe commissioners conueyed again the duke of Orleaunce into England,
whiche had nothyng then to paie his rausoiiie, & yet he could not be deliuered, without
pannent The cause why these comissioners did not agre, was, (as the Frenche writers,
saie) that the Englishemen demaunded, not onely to haue and possesse peaceably the
H. Duchies of Aquitayn and Normandy, to their kynges & princes discharged of all resort,
superiority and souereigntie, frakly and frely, against the realme of Frauce, the kynges and
trruif>rn MI*O t\T iK^oo »«« t'/i i* ,t >,,•*»* I _i • i.. V O
I , *-J O •"'*1-****-*'-*-*«-»>-«l'ilJiiit.Ct.l*dlV'tloi_/IJ«
enchemen, thought their request to be most hurtfull to their realme. and aucient
bo both parties rather myndyng to gain or saue, then to lose, departed for that
(as you haue heard). After which diet proroged for a tyme, Phillip Duke of Bui-
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 1 93
goyn, partly moued in coscience, to make some amcndes & recompence to Charles duke of
Orleaunce (then beyng prisoner in Englande) for the death of duke Lewes his father (whom,
duke Ihon, father to this duke Phillip, shamefully slewe, and cruelly murdered in the citee
of Paris, (as in the tyme of kyng Henry the fourth, is plainly mencioned) And partly en-
tendyng the aduauncement of his niece, lady Marie doughter to Adolphe, Duke of Cleue,
by tiie \vhiche aliaunce, he trusted surely to knit, suchc a firme knot and frendly amilie with
the Duke of Orleaunce, that all olde rancor should cease and all discorde should be forgot-
ten: and in their places, concorde should be stablished, and pcrpctuall loue embraced)
sente messengers into Englande, to the saied duke, declaryng to hym his good will, deuise,
and entent. Thinke not but this message, wasioyous to a capttue, beyng out of his natiue
countrev, and naturall seigniorie, by the space of. xxv. yeres? Suppose you that he, which
nothyng more coueted and desired, then libcrtie and discharge, wold refuse so honorable an
oftre ? Imagin you that a prince of a blond royal, brought into thraldome, restrained fro
liberty and liuyng, farre from kyn and father, & farther from fredes, would not gene his
diligent eare to that mocion, by the whiche he might be restored, bothe to his uuncient
preheminence, possession and seigniory ? Yes, yes, you male be sure, he neither cosulted
on the matter, nor deferred the auswere, but therunto gently agreed. What should I saie
more? As some writers affirme, foure hundred thousande Crounes were paied for his deli-
ueraunce, although other saie, but thre hundred thousande: and so he was deliuercd out of
Englande into Fraunce at that tyme, bothe speakyng better Englishe then Frenche, and
also swearyng, neuer to beare Armure against the kyng of Englande. After his arriuall in
Fraunce, he came to the Duke of Burgoyne, his espcciall frend, gratifiyng and thankyn^
hym of his libertie and deliueraun.ee: and accordyng to his promes and cduencion, maried
the faire lady in the toune of Sainct Omers, on whom he begat a sonne, whiche after was
Frenche kyng, and called Lewes the. xii. After his deliueraunce from captiuitie he format
not his vnclc Ihon Erie of Angolesme, whiche had been as ;i pledge in England, for the
debt of Duke Lewes of Orleaunce, his father, sithe the laste yere of kyng Henry the fourth,
(as in his story is declared) : but made frendes, borowed money, and morgaged land, and so
set him in libertie, and brought hym into his ccuntrey This Ihon, engendered Charles,
father to Fraunces, the firste of that name, whiche after the death of Lewes the. xij. obtein-
ed the Crouneof Fraunce.
HERE is to be noted, that olde ranncor newly appeasced, will commonly spryng out
again: for all the vnhappie deuision, betwcne the two noble families, of Orleaunce and
Burgoyn, wer by this greate benefite and rnariage, for a tyme geuen oner and put in Ohli-
uion, and so continued by the space of. xx. yeres and more, yet their children and cosyns,
•within, not many yeres after, fell so farr at square, that the house of Burgoyne, was spoyled
of the fairest flower of his garland, (as you shall here aftcrwarde, at large declared) and
in especial), in the tyme of kyng Fraunces the firste, the veric hcire of the house of Or- -
Icaunce, whiche not onely continually vexed with mortail warre, Charles the fift Emperor
of that name, lincall successor to Phillip Duke of Burgoyne: but also did asmnche as in
hym laye, to depriue thesaid Charles of his honor, and possessions, (as men wriiyng their
lifes, will hereafter declare). The Frenche writers aflirme, that this Duke of Orleaunce,
was deteined thus long in captiuitie, by reason that the Englishemen, gayned yercly by hym,
greate somes of money, by reason of his greate and liberal! expenses, whiche' he" made
daily in the realme of England. If this be true, I report me to all indifferent and reasonable
persones, for who will speude his goodes frely, in the lande of his cnemie, whiche maie bv
pinchyng and bearyng a lowe saile, waxe riche and be set at libertie? Or who is so pronde
to wast & consume his substance, in liuyng prodigally, that maie with the sparyng of thesame
be deliuered out of captiuitie and bodage? But surely it is apparaunt, that the reucnewes
of his seigniories, wer neither able to raunsome hym, nor to mainteyne hym in popeous
estate: partly, because thenglishmen possessed diuerse tonnes, belongyng to his Duchy : and
partly, by reason that the rentes wer scace able to dcfende his possessions, against the inua-
C c sion$
THE. XIX. YERE
sions of the English nacion, and Burgouions. But the very cause of his long deteinyngwer two:
one the lacke of money, the second and the principaLl cause, was this, that you haue heard
before how that Ihon Duke of Burgoyne father to Phillippe, shamefully and cruelly, caused
Lewes' Duke of Orleaunce, father to this Duke Charles, (of whom we nowe speake) to be
inurthered in the citee of Paris : for the whiche murder, all the alies and frendes to the Duke
of Orleaunce, had enuie 'against the house and familie of Burgoyne, in somuche that the saied
Duke Ihon b'eyng measured with the same measure, that he met with all, was likewise ty-
rannously murdered on the bridge of Monstreau Faultyou, (as you haue also heard declared
before). For whiche cause, and for to be reuenged of so heynous an act, duke Phillip sonne
to thcsaid Ihon, not onely ioyned hymself in league and amitie with the Englishe nacion,
but also did homage, and sweare fealtie to Kyng Henry the fifth, as to his kyng and souereigne
I.orde : for whiche cause, the Englishemen entendyug to kepe the duke of Burgoyn, as a
trusty treasure, and sure luell, perceiued, that if they deliuered the duke of Orleaunce, and
set hvm at libertic, he would not cease to vexe and trouble the duke of Burgoyne, in reuen-
gyn<' the detestable murder, committed by his father against his parent: wherfore, bothe for
thelurety and sauegard of the duke of Burgoyne, and also to do hym pleasure, they kept
still the duke of Orleaunce in Englande, demaundyng suche raunsome, as he was neither
able, nor could finde meanes or waies to paie. But after that the duke of Burgoyn, (like an
vntrue prince, and vnhonest gentleman) had broken his promes, not kept his faith, and was
turned to the Frenche part, the counsaill of the kyng of Er.glandc, studied and deuised, how
to deliuer the duke of Orleaunce, to do displeasure to the duke of Burgoyn. lJuke Phillip
perceiuyng, what mischief was like to rise if he wer redemed, and set at libertie without
his knowledge, to preuete the matter, to his greate coste and charge, practised his deli-
ueraunce, paied his rausome, and ioyned with him, amitie and alliance, by manage of his
niece, (as before is rehersed) and by this meanes, was Duke Charles of Orleaunce, restored
to his libertie, whiche had been prisoner in England, from the dale of sainctes, Crispine &
Crispinian, in the yere of our Lorde. M. CCCC. xv. to the monethe of Nouembrc, in th«
yere, a thousand foure hundred and fourtie.
If THE. XIX. YERE.
the. M. IN the beginnyngof this. xix. yere, Richard duke of Yorke Regent of Fraunce, and go-
uernor of Normandy, remembryug the greate charge, and weightie office to hym deliuered
and committed, determined (alter longconsultacion) to inuade the territories of his enemies,
bothe by sondery armies, and in diuerse places, to thentent that the Frenche people beyng
vexed within their awne coutrey, and peculiar dominion, should make no rodes nor enter-
ynges, into the Duchie of Normandy the returnyng whereof, was somewhat suspicious..
This deuise for that season, setned bolhe profitable and necessary, wherefore, without long
delaiyng of tyme, he sente Robert Lorde Willoughby, with a greate crue of souldiors, to.
inuade and destroye the countrey aboute Amias, and Ihon lord Talbot was appoynted, to
besiege the toune of Deape, and he hymself, accompanied with Edmond duke of Somerset,
set forward into the Duchie of Aniow. The Lorde Willoughby, accordyng to his commis-
sion, entered in the countrey to hym appoynted, and to thentent that his commission should
not be espied, nor knowen, he straightly forbad and inhibited all maner fire, & of burnyng of
tounes, .whichejs the moste open and plain token of war, and inuasion. By reason wherof,
the pore paysautes & rustical people goyng abrode, without feare or. suspicion of euill, wer
ouerronne or taken with the horssemen, or they could attain to any toune, or forcelet: so
that innumerable people wer slain, & taken or they heard any tydynges of their enemies ap-
prochyng. The Frenchmen in the garrisos adioynyng, astonied at the clamor and cry of the
poore people, issued out in good ordre, and manfully set on their enemies. The fight
was sore, and the victory long doubtfull: But inconclusio, the Frenchmen seyng their people
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 195
in the forefront of the battaill, to be killed without mercie, like men desperate, turned their
backes and fearfully fled, the Englishmen folowed and slewe many in the chace, and suche
as escaped the sweard, wer robbed and spoyled, by Lewes Erie of sainct Paule, whiche was
commyng to ayde the Englislie nacion. In this conflicte were slain, aboue sixe. C. men of
annes, and a greater nombre taken: So the Lorde Willoughby, like a victorious capitain, with
riche spoyle and good prisoners, returned again to the citeeof Roan. The dukes of Yorke
and Somerset, likewise entered into the Duchieof Aniow, and Countie of Mayne, destroiyng
tounes, spoylyng y people, and willi great prey and profile, repaired again into Normandy.
The Duke of Somerset, not filled with this gain entered into the Marches of Britayne, and
tooke by a fierce assaute, the touneof Gerche, apperteinyngto the Duke of Alaunson, and
spoyled and brent thesame, and after that, departed to Ponzay, where he soiourned two
monethes, fro whence he sent daily men of war, which destroyed & wasted the countreys of
Aniow, Traonnoys & Chartragonnoys.
THE French kyng in all haste, sent the Marshall of Loyache, with. iiii. M. men, to
resist the inuasions of the duke of Somerset, whiche capitain determined to set on the duke
and his people, in the dedde tyme of the night. This enterprise was not so secret, but it
was rcueled to the duke, whiche marched forward, and mette the Frenchemen halfe waie,
and after long fight, them by fine force manfully discomfited, and slew a hundred persones
and mo, and tooke captiues. Ixii. whereof the chief wer the lorde Dausigny, sir Lewes de
Buell, and all the other almoste, were Knightes and esquires. After this encountre, the
Duke tooke the toune of Beaumot Le Vicount, and manned all the fortresses, on the
Frontiers of his enemies, and with riche boties and wealthy captiues came again to the
Duke of Yorke.
DVRYNG these fortunate chaunces & victories, the lord Talbot also, the vnweried
chieftain & infdy warrior, enuironed the toune of Deape, with depe trenches and terrible
mountaynes, and did set vp vpon the mount de Poulet, a strong and defensible Bastile, at
whiche tyme, was capitain of thesame toune, Charles de Maretz, a man of more force in
battaill, then pollitique in defence of a siege: for the Englisbemen beyng a small nobre, had
to them deliuered with faire wordes, and fainte strokes, the castle of Charlemesnyll, and di-
uerse other fortresses, adioynyng to the toune. Duryng the siege, many encounters were
bad, and many great assautes gcuen, thenglishmen somctynie saued, and somlyme gained,
bet trie moste losse lighted on the Frenchemen for a while. . But of. iii. caplaines sent furth
atone tyme, (as you before haue heard) all cannot returne with egall honor, and euen botie.
For the lorde Talbot perceiuyng the touneof Deape, to he strongly defended, both with men,
vilaile, and ordenaunce, and that he lacked all thesaid furnitures for the accomplishyng of
his stonte enterprise, deliuered the custody of the Bastiie, with the gotiernaunce of the siege
to his Bastarde sonne, a valeaunt young man, and departed to Uoan, for ayde, money, and
immicions. The Frenche kyng, was quickely aduertised of the lord Talbots absence, and
of the estate of the Englishemen : wherefore without delaye, he meanyng not to lose so great
a prey, sent his eldest sonne Lewes'dolpbyn of Vyen, accompanied with the Bastarde of Or-
leaunce, called the erle of Dumoys, and diuerse other nobles of Fraunce, to the nombre of.
xv. thousande persones, well armed, and no lesse garnished with all thynges necessary for
their purpose. Three daies thei assayled the Bastile, and so many tymes thei were put
bucke, but poulder failed in the fortresse, and weapon wherwithto defend, was very scant,
so that in conclusion, the Englishmen wer vanqueshed, and the Bastile taken and in it, the
Bastard Talbot, sir William Peytow, and sir Ihon Repeley, whiche were shortely after re-
demed : The other Englishesouldiors seyng the Bastile gayned, stood all daie in good ordro
of battaill, and in the night, pollitiquely returned to Roan, without losse or damage. At
this assaute, the Frenchemen say, that thei &!ewe two hundred Englishemen, and deny not,
but thei lost fiue hundred persones, and by this meanes, the one nacion loste the Bastile, and
the otlier saued the toune, to the greate displeasure of the Lorde Talbot: whose presence
C c 2 would
196 THE. XIX. YERE OF
would asmuche auailed at this nttempte, as his absence was losse and detrement to his
fremles, and felowes in war and chiualrie. But gain is not ahvaies perdurable, nor losse
alwaies continual!.
WHILE these thynges wer a doyng, Phillip Duke of Burgoyn, hauyng an eniuous hart,
at the glory and fortunate successe of the Englislie people, intending to bereue them of one
of their assured frendes, called Lewes of Luxenborough erle of sainct Poule, made sharpe war
vpon hiscountreis, and toke dinerse tonnes', and fortresses from hym, so that in conclusion
more for feare, then for loue, he vtterly refused his faithe and promise, made to the duke of
Bedford bis brother in law and turned to the Freriche parte, and became a luke warme
enemie to tlie realine of England. The losse of this fiend and necessary neighbor, not alitle
greued Kyng Henry and hiscounsaill: Ilowbeit, they made suche perueiauoce and prouision,
by descrete counsail, that if he of euil will, would do theim. litle good, yet he of malice should
doo to them no greate hurte or damage.
THE Englishe capitaines beyng in Guyen, hauyng knowledge of the valeaut doynges of
their countreymen in the realine of Fraiice, determined to do some notable and noble enter-
prise, on the French costes adioyuyng to Aquitayn: & so, thei besieged the strong toune of
Tartas belongyng to the lovcle Delabretb, their old and auncient enemie. The capitaines and
gouernors of the toune, eonsideryng their weaknesse, and the force of the Englishemen, toke
tliis appoyntmcnt with the Engtis-he capitaines, that the toune should remain neuter, and for
the assuraunce therof, they deliuered Cadet the sonne of tne lorcle Delabreth in pledge, vpon
this condicion : that if thelorde Delabrelhe, would not assent to their agrement, then he
should sign i He his refiisall, to the Englishe capitaines, within thrc monethes next ensuyng :
and he to hauehis pledge, and thei to do their beste. The Frenche kyng, at the request of
thelordes of Guyen, whiche wer notable to defende themselfes, toke this matter in hand,
and caused the lord Delabreth to ccrtitie his disagremcnt to therle of Huntyngdone, lieuete-
naunt for the kyng of Englande, in the Duchie of Aqnitayne. And to please the great Lordes
of Guyen, he assembled. Ix. M. men, and came to Tholose, and so to Tartas: to whom the
.chieftames of the toune, seyng no succors comyng, rendered the toune, and Cadet Delabrethe,
which was left there as a pledge, was deliuered. The French kyng after the yeklyng of Tartas,
remoued to sainct Senere, a strong toune in Gascoyn, l>ut smally peopled with men of warre,
which he toke by force, and slewe thre hundred persones, and toke dr Thomas Rampstone
prisoner. After liiis toune gained, he with all his power besieged the citie ofArques, and
toke the Bulwarke of thesame, whiche was smally defended, and gone gotten. The inhabi-
Uuintes of the toune begun sore to be afraied, and came to the lorde Mountferraut, capitain
for the kyng of England, reqniryng hym to hauc mercie vpon them, and to rendrethe toune
to the l-renchekyng, vpon some honest couenaunt or coposicion. The capitain perceiuyng
the faint hartes of the Gascoyns, & knowyngthat witliout their ayde, he was not able to re's is t
the puyf-saunce of the Frenche kyng, toke an agranent and departed with all the Englishe
crue to Burdeaux, where he found the erle of Longuile, Cupdaw of Bucftl, and sir Thomas
Rampstone, whiche was a litle before deliuered,
AFTER this, the fortresses of Ryoll and Mcrmandie yelded them to the Frenche kyng.
Although these tonnes thus submitted theim to hym, yet he had them not long, nor made
muchc taiiyng in the Duchie of Guyen, for the Englishemen not oncly prohibited the Gas-
coynes, to minister to his armie, viandreand sustenaunce, but also gat into their handes and
toke suche vitailes, as wer conueyed to him, from Tholose and Poytiers : So that in maner
constrained with famyn and lacke of prouision, he retired his army again into Fraunce.
After whose departure, the Englishe capitaines recouped again the citee of Acques, and the
other tounes by the French kyng gained, and toke prisoner his lieuetenaunt, called Reignnuk
Guillam the Burgonyo, and many other gentlemen, and all the meane souldiors, wer either
slam or hanged.
WHILE the Frenche kyng was in Guyen, the lorde Talbot toke the toune-of Couchete,
*• and
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. -.197
nnd after marched t<nvard Gayllardon, whiche was besieged by the Bastarde of Orleaimce
Erie of Dmnoys: whiche Eric hearyngof the Englishmennes approchyng, reysed his siege
and suued hymself. A litle before this enterprise, the Frenchemen had taken the toune of
Eureux, by treason of a fisher. Sir Fraunces Arragonoys hearyng of that chaunce, ap-
parreled sixe strong men, like rustical people with sackes and baskette^, as carriers of corne
and vitaile, and sent them to the Castle of Cornyll, in the whiche diuerse Englishemen
were kept as prisoners: and he with an imbusshement of Englishemen, layc in a valey nye
to the fortresse. These sixe companions entered into the Castle, vnsuspected and not mis-
trusted, and straight came to the chambre of the capitain, & laied handes vpo hyrn, geuyng
knowledge therof to their imbushement, whiche sodainly entered the Castle, and slew and
toke all the Frenchemen prisoners, and set at libertie all the Englishemen, whiche thing
doen, they set all the castle on fire, and departed with great spoyle to the citee of Roan.
Thus the lady victory, somtyme smiled on the Englishe part, and sometymc on the Frenche
side. Thus one gayned this claie, and loste on the nexte. Thus Fortune chaunged, and
thus chaunce happened, according to the olde prouerbe, saiyng, in war is nothyng certain,
and victory is euer doubtfull.
f THE. XX. YERE.
NOw let vs leaue the marciall feactes, the mortal strokes, and daily skirmishes, practi- The-xlt-
9ed betwene the English and Frenche iiacion in tlie Region of Fraunce, and speake alitle
of a smoke that rose in England, whiche after grewe to a greate fire, and a 'terrible flame,
to the destruccion of many a noble man. You haue heard before, how the Duke of Glou-
cester sore grudged at the proude doynges of the Cardinal! of Wynchester, and howe the
•Cardinal! likewise, sore enuied and disdayned at the rule of the Duke of Gloucester, and
how by the meanes of the duke of Bedforde, their malice was appeaced, and eche was re-
conciled to other, in perfite loue and amitie, to all mens outward iudgementes. After
whiche concord made, the Carclinall and the Archebislwp of Yorke, did many thyn<*es
without the consent of the kyng or the duke, beyng (duryng the minoritie of the prince)
gonernor & protector of the realrne, wherwith the duke, (like a true hartccl prince) was
neither contente nor pleased: And so declared in writyng to- the kyng, certain articles,.
\\herin the Cardinal and the Archebishop, had offended 'bothe the kyng and his lavves, tlie '
true tenor, here after ensueth.
*n A complaint made to Kyng Henry the. vi. by the Duke of Gloucester, vpon
Cardinall of Winchester.
THese bee in parte, the poyntes ajid Articles, whiche I Humfrey Duke of Gloucester,
for my trouthe and acquittal!, saied late, I would gene in writyng (my right doubted Lorde)
vnto your highnes, aduertisyng your excellece, of suche thinges in partie, as haue been
doen in your tendre age, in derogacion of your noble estate, & hurt of both your realmes,
£ yet be doen and vsed daily.
FIRST the Cardinall, then beyng bishop, of Winchester, toke vpd hym the state of Car-
dinall, which w as nayed and denayed hym, by the kyng of moste noble memory, my lord
your i'ather, (who God assoyle) saiyng, y he had as lefe set his croune !>eside hym, as to
se hym weare a Cardinal hat, he beyng a Cardinal : for he knewe full well, tlie pride and
ambicion that was in his person, then beyng but a bishop, should haue so greatly extolleil
hym into more intollerable pride, when that he were a Cardinall : And also he thought it
against his fredome, of the chiefe Churche of this realme, whiche, that he worshipped, as
duely as euer did prince, that blessed be his soule. And howbe.it, that my saied Lorde
your
195 THE. XX. YERE OF
your father, (whom God assoyle), would haue agreed hym to haue had certain clerkes of
this land Cardinals, & to haue no bbhoprikes in Englande, yet is intent was neucr to do
so great derogacion to the Churche of Caterbury, to make them that vver his suffraganes,
to set aboue their Ordinary and Metropolitan, but the cause was that ingenerall, and in
all matters whiche might concerne the weale of hym, and of his realrne, lie should haue
proctors of his nacion, as other kynges Christen had, in the courte of Koine, and not to
abide in this lande, nor to be in any parte of his counsailes, as been all the spirituall and
temporal!, at parliamentes and other great counsailes, when. you list to-call them: «nd
therfore, though it please you to do' hym that worship,- to set hym in your priuie counsaill
after your pleasure, yet in your parliament, wher euery Lorde bothe spirituall and tempo-
rail, hath his place, he ought to occ'upie but his place as a bishoppc.
1 3 ITEM thesaied bishoppe, now beyng Cardinal!, was assoylcd of his bjshopricke of
Winchester, wherupon he sued vnto our lioly father, to haue a bulle declaratory, notwith-
standyng he was assupt to the state of Cardinal!, that the sea was not voyde, where in
deede it stode voyde by a certain tyme, or thesaid bulle were graunted, and so he was e\-
empte from his ordinary, by the takyng on hym the state of Cardinal, and the churche
bishopricke of Winchester, so standyng voyde, he looke again of the Pope (you not learn-
ed therof neknowyng wherby he was fallen into the cace of prouision) so that all his good
was lawfully and clearly forfeited, to you my right duubted Lorde, \\ith more as the statute
declareth plainly for youraduaunlage.
4 ITEM it is notvnknowen to (you doubted lord) how through your landes it is noysed,
that thesaied Cardinal and tharchebishop of Yorke had and haue the gonernaunce of you
and all your lande, the whiche none of your true liege men, ought to vsurpe nor take vpon
them. And haue also estranged me your sole vncle, my cosyn of Yorke, my cosyn of
Huntyngdon, & many other lordes of your kin, to haue any knowledge of any greate
matter, that might louche your high estate, or either of vour realmes. And of Lordes
spirituall, of right, the Archebishoppe of Canterbury, should be your chief counsailer,
the whiche is also estranged and set a side. And so be many other right sad Lordes, and
\vell aduised, aswell spirituall as tempornll, to the great hurt of you my right doubted
lorde, and of your realmes, like as the experience and workes shewen clerely and euidenl-
ly, more harme it is.
6 ITEM in thetendre age of you, my right doubted Lorde, for the necessitie of an armie,
thesaied Cardinal lent you. iiii. M. 1. vpon certain luels, prcised at. xxii. M. marke, with
a letter of sale, that and they wcr not quited at a certain daie, ' you should lese them. The
saied Cardinall seyng your money redy to haue quited your luels, caused your trcasorer of
Englande, at that daie beyng, to paie thesame money, in parte of another armie, in de-
fraudyng you, my right doubted lord, of your said luels, kepyng theirn yet, alwaie to
his awne vse, to your right greate losse, and his synguler profile and aua'le.
ITEM thesaid Cardinal, then beyng bishop of Winchester, & Chancellor of Englad,
deliuered the kyng of Scottes, vpo certein appoyntrnentcs (as maie be shewed,) presump-
teously, & of his awne authorise contrary to the ;icte of Parliament. I haue heard nota-
ble men of lawejay. that they neuer heard the like thing doen emong the, whiche was to
great a dcfamacio to yot r highnes, & also to wedde his niece to thesaid kyn*», whom y my
lord of notable memory, your father, who God assoile would neuer haue so deliuered.
And there as he should haue paied, for his costes. xl. M. 1. thesaied Cardinal! Chau'n-
cellor of Englande, caused you to pardon hym therof. x. M. marke, wherof the greater
some he pated you, right alitle, what, I report me to your highnes.
7 ITEM, wjiere thesaid Cardinal lent you, my redoubted "lord, great & notable somes
he hath had & hisassignes, the rule & profile of the porte of Hapton, wher the Customers
been Ins seruaiites, wher by likelihode & as it is to be supposed, he standyng the chief
.marchaunt of wolles of your lande, that you bee greately defrauded, and vnder that rule
what Wollcs aud other marchaundise haue been shipped, and maie be from tyme to tyme,
1 hard
KYNG HENRY THE. VI.
hard is to esteme, to the great hurtc, and prejudice of you my right doubted Lorde, and
of all your people.
ITEM, hovvbeit that thesaid Cardinal!, hath diuerse tymes, lent you great sommes of 8
money, sithe the tyme of your reigne, yet his loene hath been so differred and delaied, that
for the moste part, the conuenable season, of themployng of the good lente, was passed.
So that litle frute or none come thereof, as by experience, bothe your realmes, haue suffi-
ciently in knowledge.
ITEM, where there was leuelles and plate, preised at a. xi. M. 1. in weight, of thesaied 9
Cardinal!, forfeited to you my right doubted lorde, he gat hym a restorment tlierof, for a
loene of a litle percell of thesame, and so defrauded you wholy of theim, to your greate
hurte, and his auaile, the whiche good might greately eased your highnes, in sparyng as
inuche of the poore commons.
ITEM, the Cardinall beyng feoft of my said lorde your father, (who God assoyle) IQ
against his entent, gaue Elizabeth Beauchampe, thre. C. markes of liuelod, where that
his will was, that and she wer wedded, within a yere, then to haue it, or els not, where in
decde it was twoo or iii. yeres after, to your great hurt, £ diminishyng of your inheritaunce.
ITEM, notwithstandyng y thesaid Cardinall, hath no inaner of authoritie nor interest 1 1
into the croune, nor none may haue by any possibilitie, yet he presumeth and taketh vpon
hym in partie, your estate royall, in callyng before hym, into greate abusion of all your
laride, and derogacion of your highnes, whiche hath not been sene nor vsed, in no daies
heretofore, in greater estate then he is, without your expresse ordenaunce and commaun-
dement.
ITEM, thesaid Cardinal, nothyng consideryng the necessitie of you my right doubted 13
Lorde, hath sued a pardon of dismes, that he should paie for the Churche of Winchester,
for terrne of his life, geuyng therby occasion to all other Lordes spirituall, to drawe their
good will for any necessitie, to graunt any disme, and so to laie all the charge vpon the
temporaltie, and the poore people.
ITEM, by the gouernaunce and labor of thesaied Cardinal, and archebishop of Yorke, 13
there hath been loste and dispended, inuche notable and greate good, by diuerse Ambassa-
dors sent out of this reahne. First to Arras, for a feigned colourable peace, where as by
likelinesse it was thought & supposed, that it should neuer turne to Ineffectual auaile, of
you my right doubted Lorde, nor to your saied realmes, but vnder colour thereof, was
made the peace of your aduersary, & the duke of Burgoyn. For els your partie aduerse,
& thesaid duke, might not well haue foud meanes nor waies, to haue cornoned together,
nor to haue concluded with other, their cofederacios & conspiracies, made & wrought ther.
then, at y tyme, against your highnes, whereby you might haue (right doubted lorde,) the
greater partie of your obeysaunce, aswell in your realme of Fraunce, as in your Duchie of
Normandy, and muche other thyng gone greatly, as through thesaid colourable treatie,
and otherwise, sithe the death of my brother of Bedford, (whom God assoyle.)
ITEM, now of late was set another Ambassador to Calice, by the labor and counsaill 14*
of thesaied Cardinall, and Archebishop of Yorke, the cause why of the beginnyng, is to
me your sole vncle, & other lordes of you kyn and counsaill vnknowen, to your greate
charge, and against the publique good of your realme, as it openly appeared). The
whiche good if it bee imployed, for the defence of your landes, the marchaundises of the
same, might haue had other course, and your said lades not to haue stande in so greate
mischief as they do.
ITEM after that, to your greate charge and hurte, of bothe your realmes, thesaid Cardinall 1'5
and Archbishop of Yorlce, went to your saied toune of Calice, and diuerse Lordes of your
kyn, and of your counsaill in their felowship, and there, as there was natural warre, be-
twene the duke of Orleauce, & the duke of Burgoyn, for murder of their fathers, a ca-
pitall inemnitie like to haue endured for euer, thesaid Cardinall & Archbishop of Yorke,
licenced and suffered, thesaid duke of Orleaunce, to entreate and common a part, with the
counsaiell.
200 THE. XX. YERE OF
counsaiell of your saied aduersaries, aswell as with the Duchies of Burgoyne, by vvhiche
meane, the peace and alliaunce was made, betwene the two dukes, to the greatest torti-
fiyn« of your said capital aduersaries, that could be thought, and cosequently (my deare
redoubted lorde,) to your greatest charge, & hurt to both your realmes. Vnder colour of
whiche treatie, your said aduersaries, in meane time wan your citee of Meulx, & the cou-
trey therabout and many diuerse rodes made into youre Duchie of Normandy, to the great
noysaunce and destruccion of your people, as itsheweth openly.
16 ITEM thesaid Archebishop of Yorke, sent with other into this your realme, from the
saied Cardinall, after communicacion had with your aduerse partie, at your saied toune
of Calicc, made at his commyng into your notable presence at Wyndsore, all the swasions
and colour, all mocions in the most apparaiit wise that he could, to induce your highnes
to your agrement, to the desires of your capitall aduersaries, as I saw there in your noble
presence,°of his writyng, at whiche tyme, as 1 vnderstode, it was his singuler opinion, that
is to say: that you should leaue your right, your title, & your honor of your croune, &
nominacio of you kyng of Frauce, duryng certain yeres, and y you should vtterly abstain
you and be content, onely in writyng, with, rex Anglic, &c. to the greate note of infamie,
v euer fell to you, or any of your noble progenitors, since the takyng of them first, the
said title & right, of your realme and croune of Fraunce, to which matter in your pre-
sence ther, after y it had liked your said highnes, to aske myne aduise thervpon, with other
of your blond and cousaill, I aunswered and said, that I would neuer agree me therto, to
die therfore, and of thesatne disposicion I am yet, & will be while I line in conseruacion
of your honor, and of your othe made vnto your saied croune, in tyme of your corona-
cion there.
17 ITEM thesaied Cardinall & Archebishop of Yorke, haue so labored vnto your high-
nes, that you should entende to a newe daie of conuencion, in Marche or Aprill next
commyng, where it is noysed to be more against your worship, then with it. And where it
was euident to all the world, that the rupture and breakyng of thesaid peace, should haue
fallen heretofore, of your aduerse partie, because of the great vntrouthes: Now by that
meane it is like peraduenture, to be laied vnto the verie greate slaundre of you my doubt-
ed Lorde, like to come to none other purpose nor eft'ecte, then other couuencions haue
doen afore tyme. And so by subtilities and counsaill of your saied enemies, your lande
(they in hope and trust of thesaid treatie, not mightely nor puyssauntly purucyed for)
shalbe like vnder the coloure of thesatne treatie, to be brent vp'and destroyed, lost and
vtterly turned from your obeysaunce.
ITEM it is saied, that the deliueraunce of thesaied Duke of Orleaunce, is vtterly ap-
pointed by the mediacion, counsaill, and steryng of thesaied Cardinall and Archebishoppe
of \orke, and tor that cause diuerse persons been come from your aduersaries into this
your realme, and thesaied duke also brought to your citee of London, where as my lord
your father (whom God assoile) peisyng so greatly the inconueniences, and harme that
might tall, pnely by his deliueraunce, concluded, ordened and determined in his last wil,
vtterly in his wisedome, his coquestin his realme of Frauce. And yet then it is to be doen,
by as great deliberation, solempnitie and suretie, as may be deuised or thought, and seyng
now the disposicion of your realme of Fraunce, the puissauce and might of your enemies"
& what ayde they haue gotten against you there, aswell vnder the colour of thesaid treatie,
as otherwise, what maie or ought to be -thought or said, for that laboryng thesaid duke (ai
thynges considered) bysuche particular persones, the lordes of your bloud not called ther-
unto, I report me vnto your noble grace and excellencie, and vnto thesaied wise trewc men
ot this your realme.
19 ITEM where that cuery true counsailor, specially vnto any kyng or prince, ouo-ht of
trouth and of dune, to counsail, promote, encrease," prefer, and aduaunce the weafe and
prosperity of Ins lorde: Thesaid Cardinall, beyng of your counsaill (my right doubted
lorde) hath late purchased of your highnes, certain great landes and liueldde: as the cas-
tle
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 20J
tie and lordship of Chirke in Wales, and other lades in this your realme, vnto whiche I
was called sodainly, and so in escheuyng the breakyng & losse of your armies then again,
seyng none other remedy, gaue thervnto myne asset, thinkyng that who that eucr labored,
moued or stered the matter firste vnto your Lordeship, counsailedyou neither foryour worship
nor proh'te.
]\iORE thesaied Cardinall hath you bounde a parte, to make hym a sure estate of all 20
the saied landes, by Easter nexte commyng, as could bee deuised by anye learned coun-
saill, or elles that suretie not made, thesaied Cardinall, to haue and reioye to him, and his
heires for euermore, the landes of the Duchie of Lacastre, in Norffolke, to the value of.
vii. or viii. C. markes, by the yere, whiche thyng semeth right straunge and vnsene, and
vnhard waies of any liege man, to seke vpon his souereigne lorde, bothe in his enheri-
taunce and in his luelles, and good. Tor it is thought, but if right & extreme necessitie
caused it, there should, nor ought no such thynges to be doen: fro which necessitie (God
for his mercy) euer preserue your noble person, wherfore my redoubted lord, seyng that
ye should be so cousailed, or stirred to leaueyour crotine and enheritaunce in England, &
also by fraude and subtile meanes, as is afore rehersed, so to lose your luelles : In my
troutheand in myne acquitall (as me seameth) I maie not nor ought not, counsaill so greate
an hurte to you and to all your lande.
ITEM, it is not vnknowen to you my right doubted lorde, how often tymes I haue of- 21
fered my seruice, to and for the defence of your realme of Fraunce, and duchie of Nor-
rnady, where 1 haue been put therfro, by the labor of thesaid Cardinall, in preferryng
other after his singuler aflfeccion, whiche hath caused greate parte, of thesaied Duchie of
Normandy, asvvell as of your realme of Fraunce to be lost, as it is wel knowen, and what
good (my right doubted lord) was lost on that army that was last sent thether, whiche
therle of Mortayn, your counsaill of Fraunce, hath well and clerely declared to your highncs
here beforne.
ITEM, my right doubted Lorde, it is not vnknowen, that it had not been possible to 22.
thesaied Cardinall, to haue comen to the greate riches, but by suche meanes, for of his
Churche it might not rise, and enheritaunce he had none. Wherefore my right doubted
Lorde, sithe there is great good behouei'ull at this tyme, for the wealc and safegard of your
realmes, the pouertie, necessitie, and indigence of your liege people, in highnes vnder-
stande, like it vnto your noble grace, to considre thesaid lucar of thesaid Cardinall, and
the greate deceiptcs, that you be deceiued in, by the labor of hym, and of the Archebi-
sbop, aswell in this your realme, as in your realme of Fraunce, and duchy of Normandy, where
neither office, liuelode, nor capitain maie be had, without to greate a good geuen vnto hym,
wherby great part of all the losse that is lost, they haue been the causers of, for who that
would geue moste, his was the price, not considering the merites, seruice, nor s'jfficiaunce-
efpersones. Furthermore it is greatly to be considered, how, when thesaied Cardinal, had
forfeited al his good, because of prouision, as the statute, thervpo more plainly declared),
by hauyng the rule of you my right doubted Lorde, purchased hymself in greate defrauda-
cion of your highnes, a charter of pardo, the whiche good and it had be wel gouerned,
might many yeres haue susteined your warres, without any talage of your poore people.
ITEM, my redoubted Lorde, where as I write moche thyng, for the weale of you and 23'
of your realmes, pcraduenture some will say and vnderstande, that I woulde, or haue wri-
ten it, by waye of accusement of all your counsail, whiche God knoweth, I do not: for
your highnes may well se, that I name theim, that be causers of the sayed inordinate rule
wherfore, consideryng that the sayd Cardinal & Archebissbop of Yorke been they, that
pretende the gouernaunce of you, and of your realmes and lordshippes: Please it vnto
your highnes, of your right wisenesse to estraunge them of your counsail, to that entent,
that men maye be at their fredome, to say what they thinke of trueth.
FOR truth, I dare speake of my truth, the poore dare not do so. And if the Cardinal 2-k
& the Archbisshop of Yorke, may afterward declare theselfes, of that is, and shalbe sayed
Dd of
202 THE. XXI. YERE OF
of them, you my right doubted lorde may then restore them agayn to your counsaill, at your
noble pleasure.
AVI I EN the kyng had heard these accusacios, he comitted the hearynge therot, to his
counsaii, wherof the moste parte were spiritual persons, so what for teare, and what for
fauour the mater was wynked at, and dalyed out, and nothyng sayde to it: and fayre conte-
naunce was made to the duke, as though no displeasure had ben taken, nor no malice borne,
either in hart or in remembrance agaynst hyin. But venyme will once breake oute, and in-
warde grudge will sone appeare, whiche was this yere to all men apparaunt : for diuers
, you
Cobhfi, wyfe to the sayd duke, was accused "of treason, for that she, by sorcery and en-
chautmet, entended to destroy the kyng, to thentent to aduauce and to promote her hus-
bande to ihe croune: vpon thys she was examined in sainct Stephens chappel, before the
Bisshop of Canterbury, and there by examinacion conuict & iudged, to do open penaunce,
in. iij. open places, within the citie of Lodon, and after that adiudged to perpetuall prisone
in the Isle of Man, vncler the kepyng of sir Ihon Staley, knyght. At the same season, wer
arrested as ayders and counsailers to the sayd-e Duchesse, Thomas Southwel, prieste and
chanon of saincte Stephens in Westmynster, Ihon Hum priest, Roger Bolyngbroke, a conyng
nycromancier, and Margerie lourdayne, surnamed the witche of Eye, to whose charge it
was laied, y thei, at the request of the duchesse, had deuised an image of waxe, represent-
yng the kynge, whiche by their sorcery, a litle and litle cosumed, entendyng therby in coclu-
sion to waist, and destroy the kynges person, and so to bryng hym death, for the which,
treison, they wer adiudged to dye, & so Margery lordayne was brent in stnithfelde, & Ro-
ger Bolyngbroke was drawen & quartered at tiborne, takyng vpo his death, that there was
neuer no suche thyng by theim yraagined, Ihon Hum had his pardon, & Southwel died in
the toure before execution: the duke of Gloucester, toke all these tbynges patiently, and
eaied litle.
U THE. XXI. YERE.
The. xxi. THE counsaill of Englande, forgat not the late enterprise of the Frecfee kyng, doen in
ycre> the duchie of Guyen, wherfore, to fortifie the countrey, least he peraduenture, would at
tempt again alike iorney, they sent thether sir William Wooduile, with. viii. hundred men,
to fortifie the frontiers, till a greater armie might be assembled : And farther made pub-
lique proclamacion, that all men which would transporte, or cary any corne, chese, or other
vitaile, into the parties of Acquitain, should pay no maner of custome or talla<*e, whiche
licence caused that countrey, to be well furnished of all thynges necessarie and conuenient.
About this season, the kyng remembryng the valeaunt seruice, and noble actes of Ihon
Lorde Talbot, created hym Erie of Shrewesburie, and with a company of three M. men,
sente hym again into Normandy, for the better tuicion of the same, whiche neither forgat
his dutie, nor forslowed his businessc, but daily laboured & hourely studied, how to molest
& damage his enemies.
IN this yere, died in Guyen the Countesse of Comyng, to whom the Frenche kyng, and
also the Erie of Arminacke, pretended to be heire, insomuche, that the Erie entered into all
the landes of thesaied lady, as very inheritor to her of right, and tooke homage of the
people of the countrey. But to haue a Rowland to resist an Oliuer : he sent solempne
Ambassadors to the kyng of Englande, offeryng hym his doughterin mariage, not onely pro-
misyng hym siluer hilles, and golden tnountaines with her, but also would be bound, to
deliuer into the kyng of Englandes handes, all suche castles and tounes, as he or his aunces-
.tors detemed from hym, within the whole duchie of Acquitayn or Guyen, either by conquest
of
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 203
of his progenitors, or by gyfte or deliuery of any Freche kyng : offryng farther, to aide the
same kyng with money, for the recouery of other citees, within thesaied duchy, from him
and his auncestors, by the Frenche kynges progenitors, the lorde de Albrethe, and other
lordes of Gascoyn, iniustely kept and wrongfully withhoulden. This offre semed bothe
profitable, and honorable to kyng Henry and his realme, and so the Ambassadors, wer
bothe well heard, and louyngly enterteined, and in conclusion, with a gentle aunswere (not
without great rewardes) they departed into their countrey : after whom wer sent for the con-
clusion of thesaied mariage into Guyen, sir Edward Hulle, sir Robert Roos, and doctor Ihon
Grafton deane of sainct Seuerines with an honorable company whiche (as all Englishe Crono-
graphiers affirme) bothe concluded the mariage, and by proxie affied the young Lady. The
Frenche kyng was not ignorant, of all these conclusions, wherfore disdainyng, that the
Erie of Arminacke, should bothe vsurpe against hyrn, the Countie of Comyng, and also
ioyne hymself, with his mortall enemie, the kyng of Englande, to recouer his right, and to
punishe his rebell, he sent Lewes his eldest sonne dolphyn of Vyen, into rouergne with a
puissaunt army, whiche sodainly toke the Erie of Arminacke, at the Isle in lordayne, and
his yongest sonne, and bothe his doughters, and by force obteined the countreis of Armi-
nacke, Lonuergne, Rouergne and Moullesson, beside the citees of Seuefac and Cadenac,
and chased the Bastarde of Arminacke out of his countrey, and cdstituted gouernor of all
those seigniories, sir Theobald de Walpergne, bailif of Lyon. So by reason of this infor-
tunate chauce, the mariage concluded was differred, yea, and so long difterred, that it neuer-
toke effect, as you shall heare more plainly declared
«T THE. XXIL YERE. -
THus, while Englande was vnquieted, and Fraunce sore vexed, by spbyfe, slaughter, Thf.xiff,
and burnyng, all Christendom lamented the continuall destruction of so noble a realmef and *""• '
the effusion of so muche Christen blb'ud, wherfore, to appeace the mortall warre, so loijg
contineuyng betwene these twoo puyssaunt kynges, all the princes of Christendom, so muche
labored and trauailed, by their orators and Ambassadors, that the frbstiehartesof bothe the
parties, wer somewhat mollified, and their indurate stomackes, greatly asswaged. So there
was a greate diete appoynted, to be kept at the citee of-Tours in Tourayne, where, for the
kyng of Englande appered, William de la Pole erle of Suffolke, doctor Aclame ' Molyns,
keper of the kynges priuie scale, and Robert lorde Roos, and diuerse other: And for the
Frenche Kyng were appoynted, Charles Duke of Orleauce, Lewes de Burbon erle of
Vandosme, and greate Master of the Frenche kynges housholde, sir Piers de Bresell
Stewarde of Poytou, and Bartram Beauriau, Lorde of Precignye. There were also sente
thither, Ambassadors from the Empire, from Spayne, from Denrnarkfij and fro Hungary, to
be mediators betwene these twoo princes. The assemble was greate, but the coste was
muche greater, in somuche that euery parte, for the Honor of their Prince, and praise of
their countrey, set furth themselfes, aswell in fare, as apparel, to the vttermoste poynte and
highest prike. Many metynges wer had, & many thynges moued to come to a finall peace,
and mutuall concord. But inconclusion, for many doubles and greate ambiguities, whiche
rose on bothe parties, a finall concord could not be agreed, but in hope to come to a peace,
a certain truce aswell by sea as by land, was concluded by the comissianers, for. xviii!
monethes, whiche afterward, againe was prolonged, to the yere of our Lorde. M. iiii. C.xlix!
if in the meane season ithad not been violated & broken, as here after shalbe declared.
IN the treatyngof this truce, the Erie of Suffolke, extendyng his comission to the vtter-
moste, without assent of his associates, imagened in his phantasie, that the nexte waie to
come to a perfite peace, was to moue some mariage, betwene the Frenche kyngs kynsewoman
and kyng Henry his souereigne : & because the Frenche kyng had nodoughter of ripe age to
be coupled in matrimony with the kyng his Master, he desired to haue the Lady Margaret
d 2 cosy
THE. XXII. YERE OF
condu ion of ma iL, declared to hym that this mariage, was not hke to come to condusion
s he deri red becuulethc kyng his Master, occupied a greate parte of the Duchie of Aniow,
and the Tee of Mauns, and ?he whole Countey of Mayne, appcrteynpg (as they sa,ed) to
^KrttoMteV «*) either corrupted with bribes, or to muche afltoion-
ate to thisvnprofitable maria^e, condiscended and agreed to their mocion, that the Duchie
of im'o v, and the countie of Mayne, should be released and dehuered to the kyng her fa-
Ser demamidviia for her manage/neither peny nor farthyng: (as who would saie) that
hfsnee affinitie0, excelled riches and surmounted gold and precious stone. And to then-
tent that of this truce might ensue a finall concorde, a daie of enteruieue or metyng was ap-
poynted, betwene the two kynges, in a place couenient, bctwene Charters and Roan. When
E thyn-es wer concluded,0 the Erie of Suffolke with his company, thmkyng to haue
brought iovfull lidynges, to the whole realme of England* departed from Toures, and so
by Ion- iornies, arriued at- Douer, and came to the kyng to Westminster and there openly be-
fore the kvn* and his counsail, declared how he had taken an honorable truce, for the saue-
guard of Normandy, & the wealth of y realme, out of whiche truce, he thought, yea, and
doubted not, but a perpetual peace, and a finall concorde, should shorlely proceade and
srowc out And muche the soner, for that honorable manage, that mumcible alhaunce,
that Godly affinitie, whiche he had concluded : omitting nothyng, whiche might extoll &
setfurth the personage of the Ladie, nor forgetting any thyug, of the nobilitie of her kmne,
nor of her fathers high stile: as who would saie, that she was of suche an excellent beautie,
and of so hi<rh a parentage, that almoste no king or Emperor, was worthy to be her make.
Although this mariagc pleased well the kyng, and ditierse of his counsaill, and especially
suche at were adherentes, and fautorsto the erle of Suffolke, yet Humfrey duke of Glouces-
ter, Protector of the realme, repugned and resisted as muche as in him late, this new alhaunce
and contriued matrimonie: alledgyng that it was neither cousonaunt to the lawe of GOD
nor man, nor honorable to a prince, to infringe and brcake a promise or contracte, by hym
made and concluded, for the vtilitie and profile of his realme and peopje, declaryng, that the
kyng, by his Ambassadors, sufficiently instructed and authorised, had cocluded and cotracted,
a manage betwene his highnes, & thedoughter of therle of Arminacke, vpon conditions, bothe
to hym and his realme, asmuche profitable as honorable. Whiche offers and codicions, the-
said erle sitli his commyng out of his captiuitie and thraldome, is redy to yelde and performe,
saivn^: that it was more conuenicnte for a Prince, to marie a wife with riches and frendes,
then To take a snake with nothyng, and disherite himself and his realme of olde rightes and
auncient seigniories. The duke was not heard, but the Erles cloynges, were condiscended vnto,
and allowed! Whiche facte engendered suche a flame, that it neuer wente oute, till bothe
the parties with many other were consumed and slain, to the great vnquictnes of the kyng
and his realme. And for theperformaunce of these conclusions, the Frenche kyng sent the
Erie of Vandos-.ne, greate Master of his house, & the Archebishop of lleyns, first pere of
i'raunce, and diuerse other into England, whiche wer ioyously receiued, and frendly enter-
tayncd. Which Ambassadors, after instrumentes on bothe parlies, sealed and deliuered,
(not vnrewarded) returned into their countrey. When these ihynges were thus doen, the
kyng, bothe for the honor of his realme, and to assure to hyrnself, more speciall frendes, he
created Lordelhon Holand Erie of Huntyngdon, Duke of Kxcester, as his father was, and
Humfrey Erie of Stafford, was made Duke of Buckyngham, and Henry Erie of Warwicke,
was erected to the title of Duke of Warwicke, and the Erie of Suffolke, made Marques of
-
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 205
Suffolke, whiche Marques with his wife, & many honorable parsonages of men and women,
richely adorned, bothe with apparell and leuels, hauyng with tljem many costly charlottes, £
gorgious horselitters, sailed into Fraunce, for the conneyaunce of the nominated Quene, into
the realme of England. For kyng lleyner her father, for al his long stile, had to short a
purse, to sende his doughter honorably, to the kyng her spouse.
f THE. XXIII. YERE.
THIS noble company, came to the citee of Toures in Tourayne, where they were honora-
bly receiued, bothe of the Freeh kyng, and of the kyng of Scicile. Wher the Marques of
Suffolke, as procurator to Kyng Henry, espoused thesaid Ladie, in the churche of sahict
Martyns. At whiche mariage were present, the father and mother of the bride, the Frenche
kyng hymself, whiche was vncle to the husbande, and the Frenche queue also, whiche
was awnte to the wife. There vver also, the dukes of Orleaunce, of Calaber, of Alaun-
son, and of Britayn. vii. Erics, xii. Barons, xx. Bishoppes, beside knightes and gentle-
men. There vver triumphaunt lustes, costly feastes, and delicate banquettes,' but all
pleasure hath an ende, and euery ioye is not continuall. So that after these high solempni-
ties finished, and these honorable ceremonies ended, the Marques had the Ladie Margaret
to hym deliuered, whiche in greate estate, he coueyed through Normandy to Deape, and so
transported her into Englande, where she landed at Portesmouthe, in the monethe of Aprill.
This woman excelled all other, aswell in beautie and fauor, as in wit and pollicie, and was of
stomack and corage, more like to a man, then a woman. Sone after herarriuall, she was
conueyed to the toune of Southwike in Harnshire, where she, with all nupciall Ceremonies,
was coupled in matrimony, to kyng Henry the. vi. of that name. After whiche mariage,
she was with greate triumphe, conueyed to London, and so to Westminster, where vpo the.
xxx. daie of May, she, with all solempnitie thervnto apperteinyng, was Crouncd Quene of
this noble realme of Englande, Who so would knowe, the costly receipt, the pleasaunt
companie, the gorgeous apparell, the diuersitie of Instrumentes, the strange pa«iauntes, the
hehauiour of the Lorcles, the beautie of the Ladies, the sumptuous feast, the delicate vian-
der, the marcial hastes, the fierce turnais, the lustie daunccs, & the minio soges, which vver
shewed, setfurth and practised at her coronacion, let hym lokcin the Chronicles of London,
& of Robert Fabian, and there he shal finde the set furth at the fuil.
THIS mariage seined to many, bothe infortunate, and vnprofitable to the realme of En-
gland, and that for many causes. First the kyng with her had not one peny, and for the
fetching of her, the Marques of Suffolke, demaunded a whole fiftenc, in open parliament:
also for her mariage, the Duchie of Aniow, the citec of Mauns, and the whole coutie of
Mayne, were deliuered and released to Kyng Reyner her father, whiche countreis were
the very stayes, and backestandes to the Duchy of" Normandy. Furthermore for this ma-
riage, the Erie of Arminacke, toke suche great displeasure, tliat he became viter enemy to
the realme of Englande and was the chief cause, that the Englishmen, wer cxpulsed out of
the whole duchieof Aquitayne, and lost bothe the countreis of Gascoyn and Guven. But
moste of all it should seme, that God with this matrimony was not content. For after this
spo usage the kynges frcndes fell from hym, bothe in Englande and in Fraunce, the Lordes
of his realme, fell in diuision emongest thetnselfes, the commons rebelled against their
souereigne Lorde, and natural! Prince, feldes wer foughten, many thousandes slain, and
finally, the kyng deposed, and his sonne slain, and this Quene sent home again, with as-
muche misery and sorowe, as she was receiued with pompe and triumphe, suche is worldly
vnstablenes, and sowaueryng is false flattering fortune.
DVRYNG the tyrne of this truce, Richard Duke of Yorke, and diuersc other capitaines
repaired into England, bothe to visite their wifea, children, and frendes, and also to con-
suite, what should be dcen, if the truce ended.
ffTHE.
ye"'
206 THE. XXIIU. YERE OF
f THE. XXIIII. YERE.
he.niui. FOR the whiche cause, the kyng called his high court of Parliament, in the whiche aboue
yere- allthynges, it was concluded, diligently to forsee, that Normandy should be well furnished
and strongly defended, before the terme of the truce should be expired : for it was openly
knowen, that the French kyng, was ready in all thynges, to make open warre, if no peace
or abstinence of warre, wer agreed or concluded. For whiche consideracion, money was
wraunted, men wer appoynted and a great army gathered together and the duke of Somerset,
was appoynted Regent of Normandy, and the Duke of Yorke thereof discharged. In whiche
Parliament, to please the people with all, it was enacted, y whe whete was solde for. vi.
s. viii. d. y quarter and Rye for. iiii. s. and Barley for. iii. s. it should be lawfull to euery ma
to cary thesaid kyndes of corne, into the parties beyond the sea, without licence, so it wer
not to the kynges enemies or rebelles : whiche act, kyng Edward the. iiii. for the vtilitie of
his people, approued and confirmed.
THE Marques of Suffolke, beyng in high fauor with the kyng, and in no lesse grace with
quene Margaret, for cocluding the mariage betwene theim twoOj somewhat infected with
the sede of vainglory, and thinkyngthat his procedynges and dooynges in Fraunce, (duryng
the tyme of his legacion) had aswell pleased all men, as they pleased hym self, the second
daie of lune, in the first session of this parliament, before all the lordes spirituall & tem-
porall, in the higher hous assembled, opely, eloquently and boldely, declared his pain,
trauaile and diligece, whiche he had taken and susteined of late tyme, in the Realme of
Fraunce, aswel for the takyng and concludyng a truce or abstinence of warre betwene the
Realmes of Englande and of Fraunce, as in the makyng of the mariage betwene the kyng
his souereigne lorde and theirs, and the noble Princes lady Margarete, daughter to the kyncr
of Scicile and Hierusalem : Openyng also to them, that thesaid truce should expire the first
daie of April next commyng, except a finall peace or a farther truce wer concluded in the
meane season : aduisyng them to prouide and forsee all thynges necessarie, for the warre (as
though no concorde should succede, nor agrernent could take place) least the Frenchernen
perceiuyng theim vnprouided, would take their aduauntage, and agree neither to reason nor
amitie : saiyng vnto theirn, that sithe he had admonished the kyng, and them, accordyng to
his duetieand allegeaunce, if any thyng quailed, or if daunger ensued, he was thereof in-
nocent and gilteles, and had acquited hyrnself like a louyng subiecte, and a faithful coun-
sailor, praiyng the lordes to haue it in their remembraunce. Likewise the morowe after, he
with certain lordes, discended into the comon house, where he declared again all the saied
matters, to the knightes, Citezens and Burgesses, omittyng nothyng, that might souncle to
his glory, nor openyng any thyng, whiche might redound to his dispraise : praiyng the co-
mons for his discharge, that aswell all his doynges and procedynges in the kynges affaires
beyond the sea, as also his aduertisement & counsaill, opened to the lordes and commons
now together assembled, might be by the Kyng and theim, enacted and inrolledin the Recordes
of the Parliament: wherupon the morowe after William Burley, speaker for the commons
and all the company of the nether house, repaired to the kinges presence, sitting in his trone,
emongest his lordes in the parliament chamber, where thesaied William Burley, by the
counsaill of the commons, (whether they did it more for fearethen for loue, or wer thervnto
cntised by the Marques frendes, as some men doubted) moste hiiblie commended to the
kynges highnes, the foresaid Marques of Suffolke, and all his actes and notable woorkes,
whiche he had done to the pleasure of almightie God, the honor of the kyng, and the vtilitie'
of the Realme : as in takyng the truce, concludyng the mariage, and the good admonicion,
geuen by hym in open Parliament, for prouision of warre to be made, duryng the time of
truce, least to muche trustyng of peace, might encorage the Frenchernen, the soner to
begyn warre and inuasiy : besechyng the kynges highnes, in the name of the commons, to
4 imprint
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 207
imprint in his harte and rcmebraunce, thesaid Marques, and all his labors and actes, to his
honor and renoutne, which should be an exfiple to all other, whiche the kyng should call to like
seruice, to employ themselfes in like endeuor faithfully and honorably to serue their kyng and
souereigne lorde: praiyng also the lordes spirituall and temporal!, that they for the cotisidera-
cions before rehersed, would vouchesaueto make like peticio to the kynges maiestie, and that
all the actes and demeanor of thesaicd Marques, might by aucthoritie of parhamet, be, to his
honor, & perpetuall fame, in the rolles of thesame Parliament, recorded and substantially rc-
gestered. At whiche humble intercession, the lordes, aswel spirituall as temporal, rose from
their seates, and on their knees, made to the kyng like request and peticion, as they of the
commons before wer desired : wherupon, the kyng by the mouthe of the Archebishop of Can-
terbury, his Chancellor, made answer, that their requestesvver so reasonable and so honorable,
thathein nowise could, but louynglyacceptandgentlyalowethesame, saiyngalso: thattheirde-
sires,\verto him a singuler pleasure, and an especiall comforte, and that he would fromthence-
furthe accepte and take thesaied Marques to his benigne grace, and especiall fauoure, as a
persone, whiche had dooen bothe true, faithefull, and notable seruice to hym and to his llealme,
to the intent, that all men put in like trust, should enforce theim selfes, to doo like or better
seruice to their souereigne Lorde or Master : agreyng also (accordyng to their requestes and
petieions) that the labors, demeanors, diligences, and declaracions of thesaied Marques of
Suffolke, and thesaied commendacions, and desires, not only of the lordes, but also of the
commons, aswel for the honor of hym and his posteritie, as for his acquital and discharge,
should be enacted, and enrolled in the Recordes of the same parliament, which was so done.
'This Marques thus gotten vp, into fortunes trone, not content with his degree, by the meanes
of the Quene, was shortely erected to the estate and degree of a Duke, and ruled the Kyng
at his pleasure, in so muche he obteined the wardshippes, bothe of body and landes of the
Coutesse of Warwicke, and of the lady Margarete, sole heire to Ihon Duke of Somerset
(whiche lady was after, mother to Kyng Henry the seuenth) and beside that, caused the
Kyng to create Ihon de Foys, sonne to Gaston de Foys, erle of Longuile, and Capdaw of
Bueffez, erle of Kendale : whiche Iho had maried his niece, and by his procurement, the
kyng elected into the order of the Garter, thesaid Gaston, and Ihon his sonne, geuyng to
the sonne, towardes the maintenaunce of his degree and estate, landes and Castles, in the
Duchie of Guyen, amountyng to the some of one thousand poundes by the yere, whiche
landes, name, and stile, the issue and line of thesaied erle of Kendall at this daie haue and
enioye.
HERE a man maie beholde, what securitie is in worldly glory, and what constancie is I
in fortunes smilyng: for this Duke of Suffolke in open Parliament of the Lordes praised, of
the commons thanked, and into the kynges fauor, entirely receiued, within foure yeres after, ;
was in thesame place, by the commons of the Realme, accused of many treasons, mispri-
cions and offences, done and committed against the Kyng, and the common wealthe of his
Realme, and in conclusion, beyng exiled the realme, he was taken vpon the sea, and made
shorter by the hedde, whiche chaunce had not happened to him, if he had remembred the
counsail of the popyngay, saiyng: when thou thynkest thy self in courte moste surest, then
is it high tyme to get thee home to rest.
THESE thynges beyng in doyng, the Frenche kyng seyng that the the toune of Mauns,
and diuerse fortresses in Mayne, were not to hym deliuered, accordyng to the appoyntment
made, gathered together a great numbre of people, for to recouer thesame : wherof the kyng
of England beyng aduertised, (least the breache of truce should begynne by hym) caused the
toune to be deliuered without any force.
THIS yere, an Armerars seruaunt of London, appeled his master of treason, whiche
offered to bee tried by battaill. At the daie assigned, the frendes of the master, brought
hym Malmesey and Aqua vite, to comforte hym with all, but it was the cause of his and
their discomforte : for he poured in so much that when he came into the place in Smithfelde,
where he should fight, bothe his witte and strength failed hym : and so he beyng a tall and a
hardye
50ft THE. XXV. YERE OF
hardye personage, ouerlacled with hole drynkes, was vanqueshed of his seruaunte, beyng
but a cowarde and a wretche, whose body was drawcii to Tiborne, & there hanged and
behcdded. In whiche yere was a greate insurrecciou in Norwiche, against the Prior of the
place, in so muche that the citezens kepte the gates, against the Duke of Norffolke, whiche
came thither to appease the matter : but in conclusion, they opened the gates, and submitted
theim selfcs. The chief offenders, wer (accordyng to their desertes) straightly punished,
and executed, and the Mai re was discharged of his office, and sir Ihon Clifton was made
gouernoure there, till the kyng had restored the citezens to their auncient liberties, and
francheses. This commocion, was for certain newe exaccions, whiche Ihe Prior claimed
and toke of the citezens, contrary to their auncient fredomes and vsages : but this was not
the dewe meane to come to their right and purpose, and therefore because they erred and
went out of the pathe, they were by punishetnente brought again to a very straight trade and
the right waie.
f THE. XXV. YERE.
Tkc.jcxv. DVring the tyme of this truce or abstinence of warre, while there was nothyng to vexe or
trouble the rnyndes of men, within the realme, a sodain mischief, and a long discorde, sprang
out sodainly, by the meanes of a woman: for kyng Henry, whiche reigned at this tyme was a
man of a meke spirite, and of a simple witte, preferryng peace before warre, reste before
businesse, honestie before profile, and quietnesse before laboure. And to the intent that
all men might perceiue, that there could be none, more chaste, more mcke, more holy, nor
a better creature : In hym reigned shamefastnesse, modestie, integritie, and pacience to
bee marueiled at, takyng and sufferyng all losses, chaunces, displeasures, and suche worldely
tormentes, in good parte, and with a pacient maner, as though they had cbaunced by his
awne fault or negligent ouersight: yet he was gouerned of them whom he should haue ruled,
and brideled of suche, whom he sharpely should haue spurred : He gaped not for honor, nor
thristed for riches, but studied onely for the health of his soule: the sauyng wherof, he es-
temed to bee the greatest wisedome, and the losse thereof, the extremes! folie that could bee.
But on the other parte, the Queue his wife, was a woman of a greate witte, and yet of no
greater witte, then of haute stomacke, desirous of glory, and couetous of honor, and of
reason, pollicye counsaill, and other giftes and talentes of nature, belongyng to a man, full
and flowyng : of witte and wilinesse she lacked nothyng, nor of diligence, studie, and busi-
nesse, she was not vnexperte : but yet she had one poynt of a very woman: for often
tyme, when she was vehemet and fully bente ia a matter, she was sodainly like a wether-
cocke, mutable, and turnyng. This woman perceiuyng that her husbande did not franktly
rule as he would, but did all thyng by thaduise and counsaill of Hiifrey duke of Gloucester,
and that he passed not muche on the aucthoritie and gouernaunce of the realme, determined
with her self, to take vpon her the rule and regiment, bothe of the kyng and his kyngdome,
& to depriue & euict out of al rule and aucthoritie, thesaid duke, then called the lord pro-
tector of the realme : least men should saie & report, y she had neither wit nor stomacke,
whiche would permit & suftre her husband, beyng of perfect age & mas estate, like a yong
scholer or innocent pupille to be gouerned by the disposicion of another man. This manly
woman, this coragious quene, ceased not to prosecute furthwith, her inuented imaginacion
and_prepesed purpose, but practised daily the furtheraunce of thesame. And although this
inueci5 came first of her awne high mind, and ambicious corage, yet it was furthered and
set forward by suche, as of long tyme had borne malice to the duke, for declaryng their vn-
truth as you before haue heard. Whiche venemous serpentes, and malicious Tygers, per-
swaded, incensed and exhorted the quene, to loke well vpon the expenses and reuenues of
the realme, and thereof to call an accompt: affirmyng plainly that she should euidently per-
ceiue, that the Duke of Gloucester, had not so muche aduaunced & preferred the commo
J wealth
KYNG HENRY THE. VI.
wealth and publiquc vtilitie, as his avvne priuate thinges & peculier estate. Be side this,
lleyner kyng of Scicile, wrote to his. doughter, that she & her husband, should take vpon
them, the rule & gouernaunce'of the realme, and not to be kept vnder, likeyong wardes and
desolate orphanes., The queue perswaded and encoraged by these meanes, toke vpo her
and her husbande, y high power and aucthoritie ouer the people and subiectes. And al-
thou«h she ioyned her husbande with hir in name, for a countenaunce, yet she did all, she
saied all, and she bare the whole swynge, as the strong oxe doth whe he is yoked in the
the plough with a pore silly asse: and firste of all she excluded the duke of Gloucester, from
all rule and gouernaunce, not prohibityng suche as she knewe to be his mortal enemies, to
inuent and imagyne, causes and griefes, against hym and his: so that by her permissio, and
fauor, diuerse noblemen conspired against hym, of the whiche, diuerse writers affirrne, the
Marques of Suffolke, and the duke of Buckyngham to be the chiefe, not vnprocured by the
Cardinall of Winchester, and the Archebishop of Yorke. Diuerse articles, bothe heynous
and odious, were laied to his charge in open counsaill, and in especiall one, that he had
caused men adiudged to dye, to be put to other execucion, then the law of the land had or-
dered or assigned: for surely the duke being very well learned in the la we ciuill, detestyng
malefactors, and punishyng their offences, gat great malice and hatred of such as feared to
haue condigne reward for their vngracious actes and mischeuous doynges. Although
the duke (not without great laude and praise) sufficiently answered to all thynges to hym
obiected, yet because his death was determined, his wisedome litle helped, nor his truth
smally auailed : but of this vnquietnes of mynde, he deliuered hymself, because he thought
neither of death, nor of condempnacion to dye : suche affiaunce had he in his strong truthe,
and suche confidence had he in indifferent iustice. But his capitall enemies and mortal
foes, fearyng that some tumulte or commocion might arise, if a prince so well beloued of
the people, should bee openly executed, and put to death, determined to trappe & vndoo
hym, or he thereof should haue knowledge or warnyng. So for the furtherance of their
purpose, a parliament was somoned to be kept at Bery, whether resorted all the peres of the
realme, and emongest them, the duke of Gloucester, whiche on the second daie of the session,
was by thelorde Beaumond, then high Constable of Englande, accompanied by the duke of
Buckyngha, and other, arrested, apprehended, and put in warde, and all his seruauntes
isequestered from hym, and. xxxii. of the chief of his retinue, were sent to diuerse prisons,
to the greate admiracion of the common people. The duke the night after his emprisone-
ment, was found dedde in his bed, and his body shewed to the lordes and commons, as
though he had died of a palsey or empostome : but all indifferent persons well knewe, that
he died of no natural death but of some violet force : some Judged hym to be strangled :
some affirme, that a hote spittewas put in at his foundement: other write, that he was stiffeled
or smoldered betwene twoo fetherbeddes. After whose deathe, none of his seruauntes (al-
• though they were arraigned and attainted) wer put to death : for the Marques of Suffolk,
when they should haue been executed, shewed openly their pardon, but this doyng appeased
not the grudge of the people, whiche saied that the pardone of the seruauntes, was no
amendes for murderyng of their master. The dedde corse of the duke, was caried to sainct
Albons, and there honorably buried. Thus was this noble prince, sonne, brother, and
vncle to kynges, whiche had valeauntly and pollitiquely by the space of. xxv. yeres gouerned
this Realme, and for his demerites, called the good duke of Gloucester, by a bone cast by
his enemies, choked and brought to his fatall fine, and laste ende. So all men maie openly se
that to men in aucthoritie, no place no not the courte the cheif refuge of all, nor the dwell-
yng house, nor yet a mannes priuate Castle, or his bed orcleined for his quietnes, is out of
daungier of deathes dart. It semeth to many men, that the name and title of G loucester, hath
been vnfortunate and vnluokie to diuerse, whiche for their honor, haue been erected by crea-
cionof princes, to that stile and dignitie, as Hugh Spencer, Thomas of Woodstocke, sonne to
kyng Edward the third, and this duke Humfrey, whiche thre persones, by miserable death
finished their dales, and after them kyng Richard the. iii. also, duke of Gloucester, in ciuill
E e warre
2]0 THE. XXVI. YERE OF
warre was slain and confounded : so y this name of Gloucester, is take for an vnhappie and
vnfortunate stile, as the prouerbe speaketh of Seianes horse, whose rider was euer vnhorscd,
and whose possessor was euer brought to miserie. When the rumor of the dukes death, was
blowen through the realme, many me wer sodainly appalled and amased for teare: many
abhorred and'detested 5- faict, but all men reputed it an abhominable crueltie, and a shame-
ful tiranny. But the publique wealth of the realme of Englande, by the vnworthy death
of this pollitique prince, susteined greate losse,^ & ran into ruyne, for surely the whole
wai«ht and burden of the realme, rested and depeded vpo him, as the experience afterward
did "declare. For after his death, good & sage men fearing the selfes, fled out of y flat-
tens court, into whose places entered suche, as desiryng their awne promocion,^ set open
the gates to new faccions, whiche could neuer be extinct till all the seignorics beyod the sea
(except Caleice & the marches) were lost, & kyng Hery in conclusion spojled of hys Realme
& lyfe. There is an olde sayd saw, that a man entedyng to auoide the smoke, falleth into
the fyre: So here the Quene mynding to preserue her husbad in honor, & her selfe in auc-
thoritie, procured & consentid to the death of this noble man, whose onely death brought
to passe that thynge, which she woulde most fayne haue eschewed, and toke from her that
iewel, w hiche she moste desired: for if this Duke had lyued, the Duke of Yorke durst not
haue made title to the crowne : if this Duke had liuyd, the nobles had not conspired against
the king, nor yet the cotnos had not rebelled : if this Duke had lyued, the house of
Lacastre' had not been defaced and destroyed, which thynges hapned all contrary by the
destruccio of this good man. This is the worldly iudgemet, but God knoweth, what he had
predestinate & what he had ordained before, against whose ordenaunce preuayleth no coun-
saill, and against whose will auayleth no stryuinge.
tf THE. XXVI. YERE.
The. MY;. IN this. xxvi. yere of the reigne of this kynge, But in the first yere of the rule of the
Jm' Quene, I fynde no thyng done worthye to be rehersed, within the Realme of Englande, but
that the marques of Suffolke by greate fauor of the kynge, and more desire of the Quene,
was erected to the title, and name of the duke of Suftblke, whiche dignitie he shorte tymeenioyed
& which degre, he but abriefeseaso possessed. For after the deposicion or rather the destruction
of thegood duke of Gloucester, and theexaltacionand aduauncement of this glorious man: Ry-
chard duke of Yorke, beyng greatly alied by his wyfe, to the chief peres and potentates of the
Realme, ouer and besydehis awne progenye and greate consanguinitie, perceiuyng the Kyng to
be a ruler not Ruling, & the whole burden of the Realme, to depend in the ordinances of the
Quene & the duke of Suri'olke, began secretly to allure to his frendes of the nobilitie, and
priuatly declared to the, his title and right to the Crowne, and lykewyse dyd he to a certain
wyse and saige Gouernors and rulers of dyuers cities and townes : whiche priuie attept was
so politiquely handeled and so secretly kept, that his prouisio was ready, before his purpose
was openly published, and hys frendes opened theim selfes or the contrary parte coulde
them espye : but in conclusion tyme reueled truth and olde hyd hatred openly sprange out,
as you shall hereafter bothe lament and heare.
DVRING these doynges, Henry Beauffbrd, bishop of Winchester, and called the ryche
Cardinall, departed out of this world, and was buried at Wynchester. This man was sonne
to Ihon of Gaunte duke of Lancaster, disceded of an honorable lignage, but borne in Baste,
more noble of blodd, then notable in learning, haut in stomacke,.and hygh in coutenaunce,
ryche ahoue measure of all men, & to fewe liberal, disdaynfull to his kynne and dreadfull to
his louers, preferrynge money before frendshippe, many thinges beginning, and nothing per-
fourmyng. His couetous insatiable, and hope of long lyfe, made hym bothe to forget (Sod,
poUicie to get it, or by ryches to bye it. Fye, will not death be hyered, nor will money do
aothyng ?
KYNG HENRY THE. VI.
nothyng? when my nephew of Bedford died, I thought my selfe halfe \^p the whele, but
when I sawe myne other nephew of Gloucester disceased, then I thought my self able to be
equale with kinges, and so thought to encrease my treasure in hoope to haue worne a tryple
Croune. But I se now the worlde faileth me, and so I am deceyued: praiyng you all to
pray for me." Of the gettyng of this mannes goodes both by power, legantye or spirituall
bryberie I wil not speake : but the kepinge of them for his ainbycious purpose, aspiryng to
ascend to the papisticall sea, was bothe great losse to his naturall Prince, and nalyue coun-
trey: for his hidde ryches might haus wel holpen the king, and his secrete treasure might
haue releued the comonaltie, whe money was scante and importunate charges, were daily
imminent. After the death of this prelate, which was a great slay to the Kyng £ the real me,
the affayres in Fraunce, were neither well loked to, nor the gouernors of the countrey were
well aduised. For an Englishe capitayi>, called syr Franceys Surrien the Arragonoys, a
man for his witt and actiuitie admitted to the order of the Gartier, toke by scalyng sodaynly
in the night, a Towne on the frontiers of Normandie, belonging to the duke of Britayn,
called Fongiers, spoyling the same, and kyllinge the inhabitautes to the great destruccion
of the people, and more displeasure to the duke of Britayn, their souereigne lorde. The
duke beynge thereof aduertysed, sent woorde to the Frenche kynge, declaringe to him that
in the time of truce (in the which, he as hisallye and vassal was coprehendyd) he was spoyled
and bereuyd of his towne of Fongiers : besechyng the Frenche kynge, in that cause to se a
recompense and amendemente: whereupon he sent Ihon Hauart his caruar, and Ihon
Cosynet one of the masters of his requestes to the kyng of England : & to the duke of So-
merset, he dispatched Peter de Fountaynes Esquier, & one of the cheife of his stable, to
whome by both the Princes, it was aunswered, that the facte and enterprise was both done
contrary to there mynde, will and knowledge. And for the truce to be kept, and not
onely restitucion, but also amendes to be made to the Duke of Britayn, a daye of dyet and
assemble was appointed to be kept at the town of Louiers. At the time appointed both the
parties assembled : the Frenche parte demaunded amendes, with no litle recompense : The
Englishe orators aunswered, that without offece, no thing by iustice, ought to be satisfied:
affirming the doynge of syr Franceys Surrien, to be his onely acte, withoute the consent or
counsail, either of the kynge of England, or the duke of Somerset his lieuetenat and regent.
During this daily communicacio & longe delayc, certain Frenchemeu, frendes to the duke
of Britayn, desyring to be reuenged of the iniurie done to him at Fongiers, and also image-
ning, how to do some new displeasure to the Englishme, were aduertised by a wagoner of
Louiers, y the town of Poutelarche, was but meanly manned and slenderly furnished, and
the watche was but negligently loked to: with whiche saiynges the Frenchemen beynge som-
what encouraged, deuised a waye, howe by pollicie to take the tonne: So the wagoner laded
his wagon, and passed forward, hauing in his company, ii. strongc varieties clad lyke car-
penters with great axes in their neckes. And for the furtherace of their purpose, the lord
of Bressy, with a chosen company of men of armcs lodged himself in a husshement nere to
the gate of sainct Andrewe. And capitayn Floquet, accompanied with syr lames of Clere-
mout, and another great company, priuilie kirked vndei a wood toward Louiers. When al
thinges were appoynted, early in the morning in the beginning of the moneth of October,
the wagoner came to the gate, & called the porter by name, praiyng him to open the gate,
that he mighte passe to Koen, and returneagayne the same night. The porter (whiche wel
fcnew the voice of his customer) toke litle hede to the other, ii. copagnions, & so opened the
one gate, and sent another felow of his, to ope the foremost gate. Whe y Chariotte was on
the draw bridge, betwene both y1 gates, the Chariottemastcr gaue the porter money, and for
the nones, let one pece fal to the grounde, & whyle the porter sloped to take it vp, the wa-
goner with his dagger stroke him in at his throtc, so that he cried for no healpe, and the. ii.
great lubbers slewe the other porters, and with their axes cutte the axeletre of the wagone,
BO that thedrawe bridge could not be shortlye drawen vp. Which thinges done, they made
a signe to capitayne Floquet, whiche, without delay or tract of time, entered the town, and
E e 2 slew
212 THE. XXVI. YERE OF
slew and toke the Englishmen, which neither heard nor thought of any suche enterprise:
emongest whom, the lord Fauconbridge, capitaine of the saide towne, was apprehended as
a prisoner. By this pratye cautele and slyghe imposture, was the towne of Poutelarche take
and surprised, which towne was the kay and passage ouer the ryuer of Soame, fro Frauce to
Normandy, beyng distant fro Roen, only. iiij. leagues. Thus wrong was added to wrong,
& iniurie'heped to iniurie, whereby y terme of truce was violated, & mortal warre was re-
uiued. But because y taking of this fortresse, had a certain colour of brekig of truce. The
duke of Somerset by ambassadors, £ not by force of armes, deuised^to recouer this pratye
town, & set for y restitucio of thesame, diuerse ambassadors to y Freeh kyng & his cousail,
which made auswere agayn, y if the Englishmen restored to the duke of ikytain, the town
of Fogiers with codigne amedes, for the damages done & comitted within the same, the
town of Poutlarche should agayne be rendered and deliuered: for the Frenche kynge and
his counsaill began now to perceyue and smel, that the affayres of Englande, by the death of
the duke of Gloucester, were sore minished and decayed, and that good counsaill began to
waxe faynte and decay, and sedicion freshely began to spryngc and ryse: By reason
whereof, they thoughte that Normandye might sone be conquered and recoured, and that
the Englishe nacion out of that region might easely be expulsed and driue out : wherfore they
determined to take the good occasion to them openly offered, & to lose no tyme in so good a
bargayne. Wherupo kyng Charles diuided his armye in to. iii. partes, not doubting of victory,
by reason that the fame of the coquest of Pountelarche, was blowen and spread abrode ouer
al y coutrey. So after diuers assautes (not without losse of diuers of his men) he had ren-
dered to hym by coposkion, the townes of Louiers and Gerborie, whereof Willia Harper
was capitayn. Thus prosperous victory dayly succedinge to the Frenche kynges armye, he
augmenting his hooste, determined to get the town of Vernoyle in perche, £ gyrd it round
about with a strog seage. The inhabitautes wherof, although with the sodayne chaunce they
were somewhat abashed, yet hauinge some succours, and hopinge of more relefe, toke to
them good courage, and manfully defended the towne. But when their ayde taried lender,
then they either thought or desired, they were compelled to compound and pact with their
cnemyes, vpon this condicion : that if the seage were not reysed within, xx. dayes, that then
they shoulde departe with bagge and baggage, whiche condicio was accepted : and because
no rescous came, the town, Castel and the great Towre, were deliuered. The Frenche
historians affirme, the towne to be taken by assaute, and the Castell by composicion, but all
writers agree, that the Frenchemen obteyned it. Thus was warre reuiued before the full terme
of the truce expyred, which was the moste detestable and vnprofitable chaunce that either
could, or might haue happened or come, to the realme of England. For by this sodayn
damage & losse, without thought arrising, the Englishe capitaynes were so busyed & vn-
quieted, what.with appeasyng dayly rumors within townes, and what with studye how to re-
couer Castels lost and taken, that they scace wyste, what waye to take : for while they studied,
how to kepe and defede one citie. iiij. or. v. other, folowing fortunes chaunce, turned to
the Frenche parte, and became their enemies. The chefe cause of which reuolting and
turnlgwas this: It was blowen throughout all Fraunce, that the realme of Englancle,&after
the death of the duke of Gloucester, by the seueral faccids of Princes, was diuided in two
partes, and that William de la Pole, late created duke of Suffolke, and diuers other were
the occasion of the death of the said duke of Gloucester, which was the very Father of the
countrye, and the shield and defence of the poore comonaltie, and that the forenamed duke
ofSufFolke, only for lucre of money, vexed, oppressed and molested the poore people, so.
that mens myndes were not intentiue, nor geuen to outward affayres, and foren coquestes
but all theire studie was, how to driue backe and defend dorncsticall iniuries, and dayly
wronges done at home : by reason w-hereof men of warre were vnpayed, and no armye for
resistece was either gathered or assebled together : which mischiefes (while the Kyn<r as
thmges of the worlde, and of no great moment, did neglect and omit, as he which preferred
& extolled godly thmges, aboueall worldly affaires and mortal cures, and thought the most
to
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 213
to be phiitasied and labored: And while quene Margarete his wyfe, in whom the whole rule
of the realme consisted, beyng a woman of to muche credece geuyng, to euil & flattering
cosallors them litle regarded) dayly so much encreased, that by no meanes after they
could be either ouercome or resisted : so that by this meanes the Frenche nacion knew
in what case the state of the realme of Englande stode in, whiche elated & en-
couraged their hartes & dauted & appalled the courages of the Normans and Gascoyns, so
muche that for lacke of ayde and relefe, they turned to the Frenche parte, and forsoke
their very souereigne lord the king of Englande in shorte space, as you shall here after
heare.
f THE. XXVII. YERE.
IT was not enough, the realme of Englad this season thus to be vexed and vnquieted with The.
the busines of Normady, but also a new rebellion began in Irelande, to the great dis-
pleasure of the Kynge and his counsaill: for repressinge whereof, Richard duke of Yorke,
with a conuenient nuber of men was sent thither, as lieuetenant to the Kyng, which not
onely appeased the fury of the wylde, and sauage people there, but also gat him suche loue
and fauour of the countrey and the inhabitautes, that their syncere loue and fredly afteccion
coulde neuer beseperated fro him and bis lygnage, as in the sequele of this story, you shall
more plainly perceyue. The Frenchemen hauyng perfyte vnderstading of the infirmitie and
vnreadinesse of the realme of Englande, displaied their banners, and set furthe their armyes,
and in shorte space gat by yeildynge, Constance, Gisors, Castell, Gayllard, Pontean du
mere, sainct Lo, Fescampe, Newchastel, Alanson, Toncque, Manleo argeton, Lisiaux
argenton, and diuers other townes in Normandy: Lykewise in Guyen was the town of Maulis-
sone redered to y Erie of Foys. These townes were not yelded voluntarilye by the Englishe
souldiors, but they were thereunto compelled by the cytizens and the inhabitauntes of the
townes, whiche apparantly perceyuing, that the great flame of the Englishe force was extinct
and consumed, rose against the Capitaines, and either opened the gates to their enemies, or
constrained them to render vpon a composicion. By which enforcement was the rych citie
of Roan deliuered : for surely the Duke of Somerset & the lorde Talbot Erie of Skrowesburye,
had well kept & defended this citie, if they had bene no more vexed with the citizens, then
they were with their enemyes. For after the Frenche king had once by his Herault somoned
the citie, the inhabitautes not only sought ways and inuented fraudes, how to betray the
same, but also put on harnes and rebelled against their capitaynes, menacinge to the death
& destruccion al the English people. The capitaines perceiuyng their vntrought, & tray-
terous demeanour retrayted them selfes into the Castell or Palaice, where they a certaine
space with arrowes and haudgonnes, sore molested and vexed the vntrew citizens. But
when they cosidered the great puyssaiice of the Freeh kyng, and that they were in dispayre
of all ayde or relefe, and that their rictayle and artillarye began sore to minishe, they
thoughte it better to compounde and agree with their enemies, rather then wilfully to be de-
stroyed or dye for farnyn : and so vpon condicion that all they should safely departe to Caen
with all their goods and arrnure, and that certain townes should be deliuered by a daye,
they were permitted to departe : leauyng behynd them for hostages, till the sayd townes
(whiche were agreed to be rendered) should be deliuered, the Erie of Shreuesbury and the
lorde Butler, sonne to the Erie of Ormonde, which were sent to the Castell of Eureux, be-
cause they sore feared the malice of the citizens of Roen. The Frenchemen folowyng still
the steps of victorie, & elated with the brute and fame of getting of Roen, determined ei-
ther by force or offer, to get the towne of Harfflew, and shortely assauted thesame, wherof
was capitayn syr Thomas Coneson, a man of great witt and of no lesse force : which hauing
knowledge of the heauy tidinges, brought from Roen, was therewith nbthinge abashed, but
coragiously set vpon his enemies, and them to their great hurt, manfully repulsed and draue
from the walles, The Frenchemen learning wit by this great perill, left their scalynge, and
4 deuised
THE. XXVIII. YERE OF
deuised dayly, howe to batter and breake the walles & fortificacios. This seage long con-
tinned to the great losse of both parties. When syr Thomas sawe small lykehhod of ayde
or gayne, but muche apparaunce of losse and Jeopardy, he toke a conuencion with hi*
enemies, and so departed with all his goodes.
1T THE. XXVIII. YERE.
•n«.«vr,i. AFTER whiche towne rendered, the fortresse of Hunflew, vpon the same composition
yc'e< was veilded Thus you may perceyue, that fortune is euer without measure, for either she
to muche fauoreth or to muche hateth: for beside these townes surrendered in Normandy,
the duke of Britayne recouered agayne Fongiers, sent Ihon de Buerne and diners other
townes In the meane season, the king of England sent into Normandy with a crew of.
M and. ccccc. men, a valiaunt capitayn, called syr Thomas Kynel: a man of great sto-
macke, it' he had hadde a great armye but his power was to small, either to recouer that
whiche was lost, either to saue that, whiche yet remayned vngotten : but surely iu him lack-
ed neither good will nor courage, for with his small numbre, he recouered agayn the townes
of Lyseaux and Valongnes. After which feate, he ioyned hymsclf with sir Hery Norbery,
sir Robert Veere, Matthew Gough, and other capitaines, so that they were aboue fiue
thousande men, of valiaunt hartes and haute courages. After long consultation, they de-
termined to fight with the Freflchmen, whiche wer gooyng to the siege of Caen, but in
their iourney, they were encountered at a place called Fonnigny, betwene Carentyne and
Bayeux, by the erle of Cleremont, lieuetenaunt for the Frenche kyng, the Stewarde of
Poytou,' and the lorde of Rays Admirall of Fraunce, with sixe hundred men of armes,
and sixe thousand other, whiche skirmished with the Englishmen a greate season. Duryng
whiche skirmishe, there arriued Arthur erle of Richemond, high Constable of Fraunce,
lames of Luxenborough, erle of Lauall, with a greate numbre of horsemen and freshe
fotemen. After his coinmyng, he and all the Frenchmen set on thenglishmen, jieyng faint
and wery with the long skirmishe. This battaill was sore fought, but in conclusio, the Eng-
lishmen Ver discomfited, and put to flight, and of theim slain aboue iiii. M. and. viii. C.
taken prisoners, where of, sir Thomas Kiriell, sir Henry Norbery, £ sir Thomas Dreue
wer the chief, sir Robert Vere and Matthcwe Gough saued themselfes. This was the first
foughten feld, that the Frenchmen gatte on the Englishmen in many yeres, wherfore, I
blame theim not, though they of a litle, make muche, and set furthe all, and hide nothyng
that maie souncle to their glory. They declare what n fibre thei slew, but thei write not how
many of them wer slain nor destroyed.
AFTER this victory obteined, the Frenche kyng hearyng that the Duke of Somerset
was in the tonne of Caen, thought that he had nothyng doen, if he permitted the duke,
still to tary in Normandy, whiche by new aide and freshe succors, might turne the whele
of Fortune, into a contrary parte, and peraduenture recouer all that hath been loste, or
put the realme of Fraunce in ieoperdy: wherefore, like a wise prince, entendyng to pre-
uent thynges, imminent £ "at hande, assembled an armie royall, & in his awne persone,
hanyng in his compe Reyner, called kyng of Scicile, father to the Quene of Englande, the
dukes of Calaber and Alaunson, the erics of Cleremont, Richemond, Mayne, Dumoys,
Sent Polk, and Dampemartyne, beside many noble Barons and valiaunte knightes, when
all thynpes were ready, as opportunitie of tyme serued: He caused the Tonne to bee
ennironed on euery side, assignyng to his capitaines seuerail places of the toune to bee
assauted, and there to proue their manhod. The erle of Dumoys, with more loste then
gain entered into a bulwerke and was beaten backe. Thenglishemen within the toune
kept silence, as though they knewe not of their enemies approchyng, but euery man
kept his loupe, and euery capitain well ouer'.oked his ward. The Frenchemen with
quarelles, morispikes, slynges, and other engynes, began to assaut the walles: but of
the
KYNG HENRY THE. Vl. 215
the Englishemen within, some shot fiercely withlong bo\ves, other cast dartcs, and rol-
led doune greate stones and barres of Iron: other cast doune lauelyns, firebrades,
hole leade, and blockes with pitche and brymstone, like burnyng fire flamyng: some
cast doune and ouerthrewe the scalyng ladders and slewe suche as clyjned vp the walles:
neither courage lacked in the assault, nor manhode, nor pollecie in the defence: for on the
embatclmetes of the walles were set greate rolles of tymbre, so mouyng and vnstedfaste,
that neither scalyng ladder could catche any holde, nor no persone that should clyme vp,
could set any sure fotyng. The French kyng, perceiuyng that this assaye litle or nought
preuailed hym, sent for all his greate ordinaunce to Paris, determinyng neuer to departe,
till he had conquered the toune, either with sworde or famyn. When the ordinance was
brought, he daily shot at the walles, and did some hurte: but to the Castle, whiche stode
on a rocke, and in it a dongeon vnhable to be beaten doune, he did no harrne at all. In
this toune was the duke of Somerset, his wife and children, but he was not capitain, for
the Duke of Yorke owner of the toune, by the kynges gifte, had appoynted there his ca-
pitain generall, sir Dairy Halle, and of the castle, sir Robert Veer, and of the dongeon,
sir Henry lladford. Daily the shot was greate, but more terrible then hurtfull. Sauyng-
one daie, a stone shot into the toune, fel betwene the duches of Somerset, and her chil-
dren, whiche, beyng amased with this chaunce, praied on her knees her husbande, to haue
mercy and compassion of his small enfantes, and that they might be deliuered out of y-
toune in sauegard. The duke more piteous then hardy, moued with the dolor of his wife,
and loue of his children, assembled the capitaines and magistrates of the toune, declaryng
to theim, the power andpuyssaunce of the Frenche kyng, and their debilitie and weakenes,
perswadyng theim rather to yeld and rendre vpon honest condicions, then obstinatly to re-
sist, and foolishly to perishe. Sir Dauy Halle, capitain of the toune, aunswered to hym,
saiyng : my lorde, although you bee the kynges lieuetenaunt generall, within this countrey
and dominion, and maie by force of your aucthoritie, deliuer, sell or geue, any of the
kynges tounes, to suche persones, either frendes or enemies, as shall please you : yet I. am
sure that you cut your lether to large, to intreate or speake of the renderyng of this toune,
-apperteinyng to rny lord & master, Richard duke of Yorke, whiche thereof hath geuen
me bothe the charge and custody> with other of my trusty frendes and felowes, and whiche
with the helpeof almightie God, I shall well defende, bothe against the Frenche kyng and
all his puyssannce, till the duke my master come to succor me: for of men, money and
municions, I Irust I haue sufficient. Why saied the duke, am not I here the kynges de-
putie, representyng his persone, & maie commaunde all thynges accordyng to my discre-
j;ion: Yea, said the capitain, so that you geue away no manes right, but his, whose auc-
thoritie you haue for thesarne : as for this toune, I assure you, without my lordes assent,,
you shall neither render nor yelde, by my consent or agrement. . The duke was sore moued
with this saiyng, and so departed, and after sent for the rulers of the tpune, and the poor-
est people of thesame, declaryng to them, that their lifes and goodes, wer in the Frenche
kynges handes, and if they looked not shortely to their sauegard, of death they were sure,
and of mercie farre vncertain : exhortyng theim to folowe his louyng monicion, rather then
-the hardened harte, of their to hardie capitain. The people of the toune thus perswaded
(whose hartes wer rather Frenche then Englishe) began to rise against sir Dauy, boldely
affirmyng, that if he tooke no composicion, within three daies, thei would open the gates,
-and let in the Frenche kyng: and of this opinion, wer all the common souldiors. What
should the poore Hare saie, when she is enuironed with a hundred houndes, or the silly
Larke crye, when she is in the middell of a hundred Hawkes, but take pacience, and seke
jiwaie to escape: so this capitain perceiuyng, that neither his woordes serued, nor his truthe
toward his master preuailed, bad the duke of Somerset do what he list, for he would in no
-wise be named in y composicid. Then the duke partely to please the tounes men, but more
desirous to please the duches his wife, made an agrement with the Frenche kyng, that he
would rendre the toune, so that he and all his, might depart in sauegard with all their
goodea
216 THE. XXVIII. YERE OF
eoodes and substaunce : whiche offre, the Frenche Kyng gladly accepted and allowed,
fenowyng that by force, he might lenger haue longed for the strong toune, then to haue pos-
sessed tiiesamc so sone. After this conclusion taken, sir Dauie Halle, with diuerse other
of his trustie fredes, departed to Chierburge, and from thence sailed into Irelande, to the
duke of Yorke makyng rclacion to hym of all these dooynges: whiche thyng kyndeled so
so Create a rancore in his harte & stomacke that he neuer lefte persecutyng of the Duke of
Somersette, till he had brought hym to his fatall poynt, and extreme confusion.
AIT ER the obteinyng of this strong toune of Caen, therle of Clerernont besieged the
citie of Lyseux, whereof was capitain Matthewe Gough, with thre hundred Englishmen.
The capitain perceiuyng that when Caen was not rescewed, that poore Liseux, was in dis-
paire of all succor, agreed to abandon and deliuer the citee, so that he and his people,
might departe to Chierburge, hauyng no yron weapon1 nor armure, but onely their goodes,
and white stafes in their handes. After the deliueraunce of this toune, the Frenchmen
stil like good begeles, folowyng their preye, besieged the toune of Fallayse, apperteinyng
to the lord Talbot, erle of Shrewesbury: .whereof wer capitaines for thesaied erle, An-
drewe Trollop, and Thomas Cotton esquires, whiche beyng desperate of succors, and con-
sidervng the puissaunce of their enemies, agreed to deliuer the toune vpon.twoo condi-
cions". The one was, that the Erie their master, whiche remained in pledge for certain con-
dicions, agreed to bee perfourmed at the deliueraunce of Roen, (as you haue heard before)
should be dismissed & set at libertie. The other, that if they wer not rescued within twelfe
daies, that then, they and theirs, to depart with armure, and all their godes moueable,
whether ft pleased them. After this agrement at the daie prefixed, no rescues came, and
so the toune was redered, and incontinent after, the fortresse of Dampforde was deliuered
vpon like agrement. For the Frenchmen bragged, that they regarded neither golde nor
siluer, but desired rule, glory, and fame: With whiche lightnesse, the other tounes of Nor-
mandy beyng perswaded, voluntarily rendered themselfes, vassalles and subiectes to the
Frenche nacion.
NOW rested English, onely the toune of Chierburge, wherof was capitain, Thomas
Gonuile, which surely, valiautly defended the toune as long as vitail and municion serued:
but when those two handes wer spent and consumed, he destitute of all comforte and aide,
vpon a reasonable composicio, yelded the toune and went to Caleis, where the duke of
Somerset, and many Englishemen then soiorned : lamentyng their losse, and desperate of all
recouery. Thus was the riche duchie of Normandy lost, y whiche had continued in thenglish-
mennes possession, xxx. yeres, by the coquest of Kyng Henry the fifth. In the whiche duchie
wer a hundred strong tounes and fortresses, hable to be kept and holden, beside theim
whiche wer destroyed by the, warres, and in thesarne was one Archebishopricke, and sixe
bishoprickes. Some saie, that the Englishemen wer not of puyssaunce, either to man the
tounes as they should bee or to inhabite the countrey, whiche was the cause, that they could
could not, kepe it : accordyng to the Frenchemennes Adage, whiche saieth : A man can-
not long hold that, whiche he cannot gripe. Other say, that the duke of Somerset, for
his awne peculier profile, kept not halfe his nombre of souldiors, and put their wages in
his purse. These be mennes imaginacions and conjectures, but surely the losse of it, was
the domesticall diuision within the realnie, euery greate man desiryng, rather to be reuen-
ged on his foo at home, then on his outward enemie, as you now shall manifestly se and
perceiue.
H THE. XXVIII. YERE.
•The^xxviH. FOR while these conquestes wer obteined in the partes beyond the sea. with sworde,
speare, and target, by the aduersaries of the Englishmen, thre mischeuous capitaines, set
the people of the Reahne (aswell of the nobilitie, as of the meane sorte) in a ciuill warre
and
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 217
and intestine diuision : For einong the high Princes and peeres, reigned inward grudge:
.emong the Cleargie, adulacion, £ einong the commonaltie, disdain of lasciuious soue-
reigntie vvhiche the Queue with her minions, and vnprofitable counsailers daily tokc and
vsurped vpo them. Wherforc they (not myndyng to be more charged, then their backes would
beare, and perceiuyiig that by the negligent prouision, and improuident pollicie of the
"wit wantyng gouernors within tlie realme, the affaires and businesse in tiie partes beyonde
the sea, daily decaied and more wer like to do, if other pollitique rulers were put in auc-
thoritie, and the negligent officers, sequestered and deposed,) began to mnke exclamacion
against the Duke of Suffo!kt% affirming him, to be tbeonely cause of the deliuery of An-
geow & Mayne, the chief procurer of the death of the good duke of Gloucester, the verie
occasion of the losse of Normandy, the moste shallower vp and consumer of the kynges
treasure, (by reason whereof, the warrcs in Fraunce wer not maintained,) the expeller 1V5
the kyng, of all good and verteous cuunsailors, apd the bi inger in and auauncer of vicious
persones, common enemies and apparaur.t aduersarics to the publique wealthe: So that the
duke was called in euery mannes mouth, a traitor, a murderer, a robber of the kynges
treasure, and worthy to bee put to moste cruell punishemcnt. By reason of this exclatna-
cio, the Queue somewhat fearyng the destruccion of the Duke, but more the confusion of
her self, caused the Parliament, before begon at the blacke Friers in London, to be ad-
iorned to Leicester, thinking there, by force and rigor of f law, to subdue and represse
all the malice and euill will, conceiued againste the Duke and her: at whiche place fewe of
the nobilitie would appere, wherefore it was again adiorned to Westminster, where was a
whole company and a ful^apparaunce. In the whiche session, the commons of the neither
house, put vp to the Kyng, and the Lordes, many articles of treason, misprision and
misdemeanoure, against the duke of Suffolke: theffect wherof with his aunsweres, here-
after ensueth.
FIRST they alleged, that he had traitorously excited, provoked, and counsailed, Ihon I
erle of Dumoys Bastard of Orleauce, Bertrame, Lorde Presigny, Willyam Cosynet, enemies
to the kyng, and frendes and Ambassadors to Charles, callyng hymself Frenche kyng, to
entre into this Realme, and to leuy warre against the kyng and his realme, to the intent to
destroye the kyng and his frendes, and to make Ihon his sonne, kyng of this realme, mariyng
hym to Margaret, sole heire to Iho duke of Somerset, pretendyng and declaring her, to
be next heire inheritable to the Croune, for lacke of issue of the Kynges body lawefully
begotten.
ITEM that thesaied duke, beyng of the kynges priuie and nere cousaill, allured by greate 2
rewardes, and faire promises, made by the foresaied Erie of Dumoys, caused the kyng to
deliuer and sette at libertie, Charles duke of Orleaunce, enemy to the kyng, and the kynges
noble father, whiche deliueraunce, was prohibited by expresse woordes, in the last will of
the kynges moste victorious father.
ITEM, that before the departure of the saied duke of Orleaunce, the forenamed Duke 3
of Suffolke, traytorously faste cleauyng to Charles called the French kyng, counsailed,
prouoked, and entised thesaid duke of Orleaunce, to moue thesame kyng, to make warre
against England, bothe in Fraunce and Normandy: accordyng to whiche procurement
and.counsaill, thesaied Frenche kyng, hath recouered the whole realme of Fraunce, and all
the Duchie of Normandy, and taken prisoners, the Erie of Shrewesbury, the Lorde Fau-
conbridge, and many other valeaunt capitaines.
These three articles, he denied either for fact or thought.
FARTHER it was alledged, that he beyng Ambassador for the Kyng of Englande, to 4
Charles callyng hymself the Frenche Kyng, promised to Reyner kyng of Scicile, and to
Charles Dangiers his brother, enemies to the kyng, the relese of AngeOw, with the deliue-
raunce of the Countie of Mayne, and the citie of Maunt or Mauns, without the know-
ledge of the other Ambassadors, whiche him accompanied: whiche promise, after his re-
F f turne,
fi}8 THE. XXVIII. YERE OF
turnc, he caused to be performed, to the kynges disinheritance, and losse irrecuperable, and
to the strength of his enemies and feblishement of the Duchy of Normandie.
TO this article lie answered, that his commission was to conclude, and doo all thynges
nccordyng to his discresion, for the obteinyng of a peace, and because without deliuery of
those coiUreys, he perceiued that truce could not be obteined, he agreed, to the relese and
deliueraunce of theim.
5 ALSO they surmised, that thesaied duke, beyng in Fraunce in the kynges seruice, and
oneof the priuiest of his counsaill there, traiterously, declared and opened to the capitaines
and conduyters of warre, apperteinyng to the kynges enemies, the kynges counsaill, pur-
ueiaunceof his armes, furniture of his tounes, and all other ordinaunces, wherby the kynges
enemies, (enformed by his trayterous informacion) haue gotten tounes and fortresses, and
the Kyng by that meane, depriued of his inheritaunce.
6 ITEM, thesaied duke declared to the Erie of Dumoys, to the Lorde Presigny, and
Willyam Cosynet, Ambassadors for the Freche kyng, liyng in London, the priuities of the
kynges counsaill, bothe for the prouision of farther warre, and also for defence of the Du-
chy of Normandy: by the disclosyngwherofthe Frenchmen knowyngthe kinges secretes, pre-
uented the tyme, and obteined their purpose.
7 ITEM that the sayde Duke, at suche time as the Kyng sent Ambassadours to the Frenche
Kyng, for the entreatyng of peace, trayterously before there comyng to the Frenche courte,
certified kyng Charles of their commission, aucthoritie, and Instruccions, by reason wherof,
neither peace nor amitie succeded, and the Kynges enheritauce lost, and by hys enemyes
possessed.
8 ITEM thesame Duke sayde openly in the starre chamber, before the lordes of the Coun-
sail, that he had as highe a place in the cousail house of the Frenche Kynge, as he had
there, and was aswell trusted there as here, and coulde remoue from the Frenche kynge,
the priuiest man of hys counsayl, if he would.
o , ITEM when armyes-haue been prepared, & souldiors redy waged, to passe ouer the sea
to resist the Kynges enemyes: Thesayd Duke corrupted by rewardesof the Frenche Kynge,
hath restrayned and stayed the sayde armyes to passe any farther.
10 ITEM the sayde Duke beynge Ambassadour for the kyng, comprised not in the leage, as
the kynges Alies, neither the kyng of Arragon, neither the duke of Brytayne, but suffered
them, to be comprised on the contrary partye, by reason wherof, the olde amitie of the kyng
of Arragon, is estraunged from this realme, and the duke of Britayne become enemy to the-
same: and Giles his brother the Kynges suer frende, cast in strong prison, and their lyke to
ende and finishe his dayes.
AL these obiections he vtterly denyed, or fayntely auoyded, but not fully excused. Di-
uers other crymeswere layde to his charge, as, enrychyng hymselfe with the Kynges goodes-
and landes, gatheryng together, and rnakyng a money polde of offices, fees, wardes, and
fermes, by reason wherof the Kynges estate was greatly mynished and decayed, and he and
hiskyn highly exalted, and enriched, with many other pointes, whiche by cause they be not
notable, nor of no great force or stregth I omitte and ouerpasse. The Quene, whiche
entierly loued the Duke, fearyngthat some comocion and trouble myght ryse, if he were let
goo vnpunished, caused hym to be committed to the Towre, where he was kepte with as
muche pleasure, as he that was at large, and oute of all captiuitie. But after that a moneth
was expired, she ymagenynge the people to be pacified with this open emprysonement,
caused him bothe to be deliuered, and also to be restored to the kinges fauor and grace, as
muche as euer he was before that tyme. But this doynge incensed the furye of the mutable
comons, muche more then before : openly demouncyng, and saiyng, that it was a shame to
all the Rnaltne, to se such a persone, infected with so many misdedes, either to rule about a
prince or be had in honor. Of these wordes sprang dedes, and of this talkyng, rose dis-
pleasure, whiche had growen to greate mischiefe, if pollitique prouision had not, M ith all
celeritie resisted the fyrstfury: for the commons in, sundry places of the realme assembled
1 together,
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 2 19
together, gathered great companyes, and elected a Capitayn, whome they, called, bleu- berd :-
but or they had attempted any cnterpryse, their headdes were apprehended and so the inein-
bres sodainly were dispersed, without any hnrte comitted, or perpetrated.
AFTER this litle rage was asswaged, the Parliament was adiornied to Leycester, whitlier
came the Kyng and the Quene in great estate and with them the Duke of Suffolke, as chefe-
counsailor. The comosof the lower house, not forgettyng their olde grudge: beseched the
kyng, that such persons, as assented to the relese of Angeow, and deliueraunce of Mayne,
might be extremely punished, and tormented: and to be priuye to this facte, they accused,
as principal, the duke of Suffolke, with Ihon bishop of Salisbury, and syr lames Fynies,
lord Say, & diuers other. When kyng Henry perceiued, that the cornons wer thus sto-
macked and bent, against the Quenes dearlynge William Duke of Suffolke, he playnly sawe,
that neither glosyng wolde serue, nor dissimulacion coulde appeace, the continual clamor of
the importunate cSmons: Wherfore to begyn a shorte pacificacion in so long a broyle.
Firste hesequestred the lorde Say, beyng threasorer of Englande, and other the Dukes adhe-
rentes, from there offices, and authentic, and after banished and put in exile the duke of
' Suffolke, as the abhorred tode, and comon noysaunce of the Realme of Englande, for the
terme of. v. yeres: meanyng by this exile, to appease the furious rage of y outragious
people, and that pacified, to reuocate him into his olde estate, as the Queues chefe frede &
counsailer. But fortune wold not, that this flagitious person, shouide so escape: for when
he shipped in Suffolke, entendynge to be transported into France, he was encotered with a
_shippeof warre apperteynyng to the duke of Excester, the Constable of the Towre of Lon- J^i™de
don, called the Nicholas of the Towre. The capitayne of thesame barke with small fight duke of sV-
entered into the dukes shyppe, and perceyuyng his person present, brought hyrn to Douere
Rode, & there on the one syde of a cocke bote caused his head to be stryken of, and left his
body with the head vpon the sandes of Douer, which corse was there founde by a chapelayne
of his, and conueyed to Wyngfelde college in Suffolke, and there buried. This ende had
Willia de la pole, first duke of Suffolke, as men iudge by Gods punyshmef : for aboue all
thinges he was noted to be the very organ, engine, and diuiser of the destruccion of Hufrey
"the good duke of Gloucester, and so the bloudde of the Innocente mil was with his dolorous
death, recompensed and punished. But the death of this froward person, and vngracious
patron, brought not the Realme quyete, nor deliuered it from all inward grudge, and intestine
diuision, which to all Realrnes is more pestiferous and noysome, then outward warre, dayly
famyne, or extreme pestilece. For allthough Rychard duke of Yorke, was in pryson, (as
the kynges deputie) in y Realm of Irelande, continually resyaunt there, yet his breath puffed,
and his wynde blew dayly, in many paries of the Realme. For many of the nobilitie, and
more of the meane estate, wisely ponderynge the estate and condicion of the Realme, per-
ceyuynge more losse then encrease, more ruyne then auauncement, daily to ensue: llcmem-
bryng also that Frauce was conquered, and Normandy was gayned, by the Frenche people
in shorte space, thought with them selfes and imageued, that the fatilte of all these miserable
chaunces, happened, either because the Kynge was not the true enheritor to the crowne, or
that he or his counsaill were not able of wit, pollicie, and circumspeccion, to rule and
gouerne so noble a Realme, or so famous a region. Vpon this conjecture the frcndes, kins-
men and alyes of the duke of Yorke, which wer of no small nuber, began to practise the
gouernavice of his title: Infusyng and puttyng into mens heades secretely his right to y crown,
"his pollilique gouernaiice, his gentle behauior, to all the Iryshe nacion, affirmyng, that he
whiche had brought that rude and sauage nacion, ta ciuile fashion, and Englishe vrbanitie,-
wolde, (if he once ruled in the Realme of England) depose euil counsaillers, correct euil
iudges, & reforme all matters amisse, and vnameded. And to set ope the fludde gates of
these deuises, it was thought necessary, to cause some great commocio and rysyng of people
to be made against the King: so that if they preuayled, then had the duke of Yorke and his
complices, there appetite and desire. And because the kentishmen be impacient in wronges
disdayning of to much oppression, and euer desirous of new chaung, and new fangelnes.~
F f 2 The
THE. XXVIII. YERE OF
The, ouerturc of this matter was put fyrste furthe in Kent, and to thentent that it should
not beknouen, that the duke of Yorke or his fredes were the cause- of the sodayne rising:
A certayn yougma of a goodely stature, and preguaunt wit, was eutised to take vpon him
the name of Ihon Mortymer, all though his name were Ihon Cade, and not for a small
policie, thinking that by that surname, thelyne and lynage of the assistente house of the erle
of JMarche, which were no small number, should be to hym both adherent, and fauorable.
This capitayn not onely suborned by techers, but also enforced bj pryuye scholemasters, as-
sembled together a great company of talle personages: assuring them, that their attept was
both honorable to God and the king, and also profitable to the common wealth, promisyng
them, that if either by force or pollicie, they might once take the kyng, the Queue, & other
their counsaillers, into their handes and gouemauce, that they woulde honorablie er.treate
the kyng, and so sharply handle his eounsaillers, that neither fiftenes should hereafter be-
"demanded, nor once any imposicions, or tax should be spoken of. These perswasions, with
many other fayre promises of libertie, (whiche the common people more affect & desire,
rather then reasonable obedience, and due conforrnitie) so animated the Kentishe people,
that they with their capitayne aboue named, in good order of battell (not in great number)
came to the playue of Blackehethe, betwene Eldhatn and Grenewyche. And to the entent
that the cause of this gloiious capitaines corny ng thither, might be shadowed from the kyng
and his counsaill, he sent to him an humble supplicacion, with louyng woordes, but with
malicious entent, affirmyng his comyng, not to be against him, but against diuers of his
counsail, louers of them selfes, and oppressers of the pore comonaltie, flatterers to the kyng
and enemyes to his honor, suckers of his purse, and robbers of his subiectes, perciall to
their frendes, and extreme to their enemies, for rewardes corrupted, and for indiflferencie,
nothyng doyng. This proude byll, was both of the kyng, and his counsaill, disdainfully
taken, and thereupon great consultacion had, and after long debatyng, it was concluded,
that suche proude rebelles, should rather be suppressed and tamed, with violence and force
then with fayre woordes or amycable aunswer : Wherupon the kyng assembled a great army,
and marched toward the, whiche had lyen on Blackeheath, by the space of. vii. dayes.-
The subtill capitayn named lack Cade, entendyng to bryng the kyng farther, within the
eompassc of his net, brake vp hisCampe, and retyred backwarde to the towne of Seuenocke
in Kent, and there exspectynge his pray, encamped him selfe, and made his abode. The
Queue, which bare the rule, beyng of his retrayte well aduertised, sent syr Humfrey Staf-
ford knyght, and William his brother with many other genteltnen, to folow the chace of the
Kentislmien, thinkynge that they had fledde, bat verely, they were desceyued: for at the
fyrst skyrmish, both the Staffordes were slayne, and all their companye shamfully discom-
fited. The kynges armye, beyng at this tyme come to Blackheath, hearynge of this dis-
comfiture, began to grudge and murmure ernongest them selfc: some wishing the duke of
Yorke at home, to ayde the capitayne his cosyne: some desiryng theouerthrow of the kyng
and his counsaill Bother openly cryeng out on the Quene, and her complices. This rumor
opely spoken, & comoly published, caused the kyng, & cerlayn of his counsaill, notleddeby
fauor, nor corrupted by rewardes (to the entent to appeace the furious rage of the incon-
stant multitude) to commit the lord Say, Tlireasorcr of England, to the Towre of London ;
and if other, against whome, lyke displeasure was borne had been presente, they had like-
wise ben serued. But it was necessary that one should suffer, rather then aH the nobilitie
then should perish. When the Kentish capitayn, or y couetous Cade, had thus obteyned
•victory, and slayne the two valeaunt Staffordes, he appareled hym selfe in their rych armure,
and so with pompe and glory returned agayn toward London : in whiche retrayte, diuers idle
and vacabonde persons, resorted to. him from Sussex and Surrey, and from other partes to a
great nubec. Thus this glorious Capitayny compassed about, "and enuironed with a multi-
tude of euil rude and rusticall persones, came agayn to the playn of Blackeheath, and there
strogly en camped him selfe: to whome were sent by the kynge^ the Archebishop of Canter-
bury, and Ilumfrey duke of Buckyngham, to comon w-ith hym, of his greues and requestes.
These
KYNG HENRY THE. VI., 221
These lordes found him sober in communicacion, wyse in disputyng, arrogant in hart, and
styfe iu his opinion, and by no ways possible, to be perswaded to dissolue his armye, except
-the kynge in person wolde come to him, and assent to all thynges, which he should requyre,
These lordes, perceyuyng the wilful pertinacy, and manifest contumacie of this rebellious
lauelyn, departed to the kyng, declaring to hym, his temerarious and rashe wordes,- and pre-
sumptuous requestes. The kyngsomwhat hearyng, and more markyng the saiynges of thys'
outragious lose!, and hauyng dayly reporte of the concurse and accesse of people, which-'
cotinually resorted to him, doubtyng asrnuch his familiar seruauntes, as his vnknowe sub-
iectes (which spared not to speake, that the capitaynes cause, was profitable for the common
wealth) departed in all haste 'to the castell of Kylyngworthe in Warwyckeshyre, leauyng only
behynd him y" lord Scales, to kepe the Towre of London. The capi-tayn beynge aduertised
of the kyngt's absence, came first into Southwarke, and there lodged at the white hart, pro-
hibityng to all men, Murder, Rape, or Robbery: by whiche colour he allured to hym the
hartes of the common people. But after that he entered into Londo, and cut the ropes of
the draw bridge, strikyng his sworde on London stone, saiyng: now is Mortyrner lorde of
this citie, and rode in eiiery strete lyke a lordly Capitayn. And after a flatteryng declara-
ci on made to the Mayre of the citie of his thither commyng, he departed agayn into South-
warke. And vpon the thyrde daye of lulij, he caused syr lames Fynes lord Say, and Threa-
sorer of Englande, to be brought to the Gylde halle of London, and there to be arrayned:
whiche beyng before the kynges justices put to aunswere, desired to be tryed by his peeres,
for the lenger delay of his lite. The Capitayne perceiuyng his dilatorie pie, by force toke
him from the officers, and brought him to the standard in Cheape, and there before his con- Theiorje
fession ended, caused his head to be cut of, and pitched it on a highe poole, which was opely
borne before hym through the stretes. And this cruell tyraunt not content with the murder
of the lorde Say, wente to Myle end, and there apprehended syr lames Cromer, then
shreue of Kent, and sonne in law to the sayd lord Say, £ hym without confession or excuse in
heard, caused there likewyse to be bedded, and his head to be fixed on. a poole, and with
these two heddes, this blody butcher entered into the citie agayn, and in despyte caused them
in euery strete, kysse together, to the great detestacion of all the beholders.
AFTER this shamefull murder, succeded open rapyn and manifest robbery in diuers
houses within the citie, and in cspeciall in the house of Philip Malpas, Alderman of London,
and diuers other: oucr & besyde raunsonyng, & fynyng of diuers notable marchamites, for-
thetuycio and securitie of their lyfes and goodes, as Robert Home alderman, which payed.
v.C. markes, and yet neither he, nor no ether person was either of lyfe or substance in'a
suretie or sauegard. He also put to execution in Southwarke diuers persons, some for in-
fryngyng his rules and preceptes, bycausehe wolde be sene indifferent, other he tormeted of
his olde acquayntance, lest they shoulde blase & declare his base byrthe, and lowsy lynage,
disparagyng him from his vsurped surname of Mortymer, for the which, he thought and
doubted not, both to haue frendes and fautors, both in Londo, Kent, and Essex. The wise
Mayrc, and sage magistrates of the citie of London, pereeyuyng theselfes, neither to be sure
of gooties nor of lyfe well warranted, determined with feare to repel and espulse this mis-
chienous head, and hys vngraciotis copany. And because the lord Scales was ordeyned keper •
of y Tow re of London, with Mathew Gough, the often named capitayne in Normandy, (as you
haue harde before) they purposed to make them pryuye both of their ente»t and enterprise.
The lord Scales promised the hys ayde, with shotyng of ordinaunce, and Mathew Goughe was
by hym appoynted, to assist the Mayre and the Londoners: bycause he was both of manhode,
and experience greatly renoumed and noysrcl. So y Capitaynes of the citie appointed, toke
vpon them in the night to kepe the bridge of London, prohibiting the Kentishme, either to
passe or approche. The rebelles, which neuer soundly slepte, forfeare of sodain chaunces,
h earyng the brydge to be kept and manned, ran with grcate haste to open their passage,
where hetwene bothe partes was a lerce and cruell encounter. Mathew Gough, more ex-
perte in marcial feates, then the other cbeuetaynes of the citie, perceiuyng the Kentishmen,
better.
THE. XXVIII. YERE OF
better tostande to their taclyng, then his imagination expected, aduised his copany no fur-
ther to precede, toward Southwarke, till the day appered: to the entent, that the citezens
hearing where the place of the ieopardye rested, might occur re their enemies, and releue their
frendes and companions. But this counsail came to small effect: for the multitude of £ re-
belles draue the citezens from the stoulpesatthe bridge foote, to the drawe bridge, and began
to set fyre in diuers houses. Alas vvhat-sorow it was to beholde that miserable chaunce : for
some desyrynge to eschew the fyre, lept on his enemies weapon, and so died: fearfull women
with chyldren in their armes, amased and appalled, lept into the riuer: other doubtinge how
to saue them self betwene fyre, water, and swourd, were in their houses suffocat and smol-
dered. Yet the Capitayns nothing regarding these chaunces, fought on the draw bridge all
the nighte valeauntly, but in conclusion, the rebelles gate the draw bridge, and drowned
many, and slew Ihon Sutton alderman, and Robert Heysande a hardy citizen, with many
other, beside Mathew Gough, a man of great wit, much experience in feates of chiualrie,
the which in continual warres, had valeauntly serued the kyng and his father, in the partes
beyod the sea (as before ye haue hearde). But it is of;e.i sene that he, whiche many tymes
hath vanqueshed his enemies in straug countreys, and returned agayn as a conqueror, hath
of his awne nacion afterward been shamfully murdered, and brought to confusion. This
hard and sore coflict endured on the bridge, til. ix. of the clocke in the morninge, in doutfuli
chaunce, and fortunes balaunce: for some tyrne the Lodoners were bet back to the stulpes
at sainct Magnes corner, and sodaynly agayne the rebelles were repulsed and driuen backs,
to the stulpes in Southwarke, so that both partes, beyng faynte, wery and fatigate, agreed to
desist from fight, and to leue battail til the next day, vpon condition : that neither Londoners
should passe into Southwarke, nor the Kentishme in to London.
AFTER this abstinence of warre agreed, the lusty Kentishe Capitayne, hopyng on more
frendes, brake vp the gayles of the kinges benche and Marshalsea, and set at libertie, a
swarme ofgalates, botlunete for his seruice and apte for his enterprise. The archebishop of
Canterbury, beyng then chauncelor of England, and for his suerty lyenge in the Towre of
London, called to him the bishop of Winchester, whiche also for feare, lurked at Halywell."
These two prelates seyng the fury of the Kentish people, by reason of their betyng backe,
to be mitigate and minished, passed the ryuerof Thamyse from the Towre, into Southwarke,
bringing with them vnder the kynges great seale, a general .pardon vnto all the offenders T
which they caused to be openly proclaimed & published. Lorde how glad the poore people
were of this Pardone (ye more then of the great lubile of Rome) and how thei accepted
thesame, in so muche that the whole multitude, without biddyng farewel to their capitain,
retired thesame night, euery man to his awne home, as men amased, and strike with feare!
But Ihon Cade desperate of succors, whiche by the frendes of the duke of Yorke wer to hym
promised, and seyng his copany thus without his knowledge sodainly depart, mistrustyng the
sequele of y matter, departed secretly in habile disguysed, into Sussex: but all his meta-
morphosis or transfiguration, litle preuailed. For after a Proclamation made, that whoso-
He^ euer C0uld aPPreliende thesaied lac Cade, should haue for his pain, a. M. markes, many
"f iad?/ sought for hym, but few espied hym, til one Alexander Iden, esquire of Kent found hym in a
garden, and there in his defence, manfully slewe the caitife Cade, & brought his ded body to
London, whose hed was set on Londo bridge. This is the successe of all rebelles, and this
fortune chaunceth euer to traytors. For where men striue against the streame, their bote
neuer cometh to his pretensed porte.
AFTER this commotion, the kyng himself came into Kent, & there sat in Judgement vpo
the offenders, and if he had not mitigated his iustice, with mercie and compassion, more
-then fiue. C. by the rigor of his lawe, had been iustely put to execution: but he cosidcred,
bothe their fragilitie and innocencie, and how they with peruerse people, were seduced and
•deceiued: and so punished the stubburne heddes, and deliuered the ignorat Sc miserable
people, to the greate reioysyng of all his subiectes.
DVRYNG this commotion aboute London, Raufe bishop of Salisbury, was by his awne
tenantes,
Ode.
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 223
tcnantes, & seruautes, murdered at Edyngton, and so from thensefurth daily succeded,
murder, slaughter, & discencion.
f THE. XXIX. YERE.
THese variable chaunces in Englande, were not vnknowen to the French kyng, wher-
fore, he makyng foundacion vpon the English discord, determined to get into his possession,
the duchie of Acquitayne, while the princes of Englande, wer in cotrouersie, for their titles
and superioritie: and therfore like a spedy puruior, whiche slacketh not tyme, he sent
therles of Ponthieure, and Perigot, with many valiant capitaines, to ley siege to the toune
of Bergerac set vpo the riuer of Dordone, of whiche toune was capitain, Iho Geddyng,
whiche hearyng of the yeldyng of Roen, and conquest of Normandy, consideryng the puys-
saunce of the Frenche army, vpon reasonable condicios, rendered the toune: yet all this
notwithstandyng, the lord Cameyse, sir George Seymour, sir Ihon Arundell, and other va-
liaunt capitaines, whiche had the gouernance of the countrey, manned tounes gathered
people, and animated the cold stomackes of the fearefull Gascons: requiryng them to be
constant in their fidelitie, true to their natural prince and vndoubted souereigne lorde, send-
yng daily letters to the kyng of England and his counsaill, declaryng to him the weakenes
of his subiectes, and the strength of his enemies, assertenyng hym for a suertie, that with-
out spedy aide, and redy succors, the whole countrey were like to be gotten fro his posses-
sio. Many letters were sent, and many faire aunswers wer brought, but relief neither ap-
pered, nor one man of war was thether shipped. " By reason wherof, the Gascoyns per-
ceiuyng their enemies at hand, intendyng aswell to destroy the countrey, as to subdue the
people, began euery man for hymself, to regard nothyng, but the sauyng of their tounes,
geodes, and corne: neglectyng defence, and fearful of assaultes, least by small resistence,
thei might receiue more detriment, then after ihei could recouer again, either with great
force, or muche labor. But thenglishmen, (whose natures are not to be faint harted, euen^
at the very Jeopardy of death) with al their wittes studied, bothe how to repulse & conuince
their enemies, & to turne awaie the euil chances whiche thei sawe likely, (if pollicie did not
helpe) sodainly to fal, and shortly to insue. But al their pollices little preuailed in coclu-
sion, because succors failed, and force wanted: For after the Frenchmen, had the toune
of Bergerac to them rendered, the fortresses of lonsac, of Bonefoy, and diuerse other places
willyngly & frely, yelded themselfes to the French subieccion. Duryng whiche tyme, the
lorde Doruall, third sonne to the lorde Delabreth, with a greate numbre of men, aswel on
horsebacke as on foote, departed from Basas, to conquere and destroy the isle of Madoce :
whereof hearyng the Maire of Bordeaux, with a conuenient crewe of men, issued out of the
citie, and encontered with his enemies, betwene whom, was a hard fight and a dedly bat-
taill : but the Frenchmen, more with multitude, then with force, vanquished thenglishemen,.
and killed and toke prisoners, aboue. vj. C. Englishmen and Gascoynes, but of the Frenche-
men which wer in double numbre, aboue their aduersaries (as writers affirme) there wer
slain, viii. C. persones. For whiche cause, the capitaines folowed no farther the chace, lest
the English people would again returne. This slaughter of the Englishe parte, the Frenche
writers set furthe with the moste, but of their awne losse, thei speke not one word. Suche
indifferency, is in their Chronographiers. This discomfiture so amased the wittes, & ap-
palled the hartes of the meane Gascons that thei offered many tounes to the French part,
before the same wer of them demanded.
AFTER this, the Bastard of Orleaunce, erle of Dumoys, and Loguile, lieuetenantgene-
rail for the Frenche kyng, accompanied with his brother, Ihon erle of Angulesme, whiche,
had been long prisoner in England, and many valiant capitaines, and expert men of warre,
besieged the Castle of Montguyon, whiche to them was rendered. After this, the saied
army besieged the fortresse of Blay, standyng on the. riuer of Gyrond, whiche toune is the
> very.
224 THE. XXIX. YERE OF
very keye of the porte of Bordeaux, and this toune was besieged bothe by water and by
lande, and fiersly assaulted and manfully defended, and in conclusion by very force;, for
lacke of insistence, conquered and gayned. The bastard of Kendall capitaiu of tiie Castle,
seyng the toune lost, vpon certain condicions, deliuered his fortresse, into the possession of
the lord lieuetenant. After this toune gained the fortresses of liourge and Liburne yelded, not
without flue Wekes besiegyng. The wittie capitaines perceiuyng fortunes fauor towardes
them, thought it necessary to take the tyme, while their good planet reigned. Wherfore, to
preuent the aide of the Englishmen, whom thei daily expected to come to the succour of
their people: they appoynted foure armies, to make war in foure seueral partes. The lurde
Charles Delebreth, accompanied with Ihon lorde of Tartas and Aymon, lorde of Doruall
his sonnes, and therJe of Foys, and the Viscount Lawtrec his brother, and many noble
men of Guyen, laied siege to the toune of Acques, in the whiche bediuerse hoie bathes.
Therle of Arminack extreme enemy to the realme of Englande, for breakyng the mariage
concluded betwene kyng Henry and his daughter (as before you haue heard) besiged
with a greate puyssaunce, the strong towne of Ryon. Therle of Pothyeure, with many
noble barons, besieged the toune of Chastillon in Perigot, and the erle of Dumoys, enui-
roned with a great puyssance the toune of Fronsacke. Thenglishemen within this toune,
perceiuyng the greate ordinaunce on the French part, and the small prouision on their
side, couenanted with the said erle, that if the toune wer not succored, and the Frenchemen
foughten with all, before the feast of the natiuitie, of. S. Iho Baptist next ensuyng, that then
the toune of Fronsacke should be. yelded to them, whiche was the strogest fortresse of all
the countrey, and the very key of Guyen, and chief chamber of Burdeaux: and lor perform-
ans hereof, pledges wer deliuered, and writynges autentique sealed. This agreruent once
blowen through the countrey, the citie of Burdeaux, and all other tounes, (except Bayon)
made like agrement, and deliuered pledges. So did all the noble men and getlemen, which
wer subiectes and vassals to the croune of Englande. Alacke alacke, euery daie was lok-
yng for relief, and euery houre was gapyng for cofort, but wisshyng serued not, nor hopyng
nothyng helped: for the pestiferous diuision whiche reigned in Englande, so inueglid the
braines of the noblemen there, that the honor of the realrne was clerely forgotten, &
nothing yearthly but their priuate phantasies looked on and remembred. Now to conclude,
the daie appoynted came but succor loked for came not: so that all the tounes in Acqui-
tayne (except Bayon) deliuered their keyes, and became vassals to the French nacion, yet
, the citezens of Burdeaux hopyng of rescous, offred themselfes to fight with the Frenchemen,
and desired a daie of battaill to be appoynted, whiche request was to them graunted. But
at the daie assigned, they beyng in dispaire of all refuge and succor, rendered themselfes and
the toune, to their aduersaries, their lifes and goodes reserued, with licence and sal'econduyte
to all persons whiche would depart and saile into Englade. When the cities and tounes of
Gascoyne wer set in good ordre, the Erie of Dumoys and Foys, with greate preparacion of
vitaill, municion and men, came before the citie of Bayon, where with mynes and battery,
thei. so dismaied the fearful inhabitantes, that .neither the capitain nor the souldiors, could
kepe them from yeldyng: so by force they deliuered the toune, and their capitain as a prij
soner, oftred a great some of money for ihe safegard of their lifes and goodes. Beside these
agremeutes taken with tounes, diuerse noble men made seaerall composicions, as Gaston de
Foys, Capdaw of Buessz, whom kyng Henry the fifth, made erle of Longuile and knight of
the garter, whose auncestors wer euer true to Englad, whiche agreed that he, and Ihon de
Foys his sonne, whom kyng Henry the sixt, created erle of Kendale, and made also knight
of y garter, should enioy all their landes in Acquitayne, geuen to them by the kyngos of
England, or by the Dukes of Acquitayn. And because their intent was still to senue the
Kyng of England, their souereigne Lorde, they agreed, to deliuer into the custody of therle
of Foys, their cosyn, the sonne and heire of the saied erle of Kendale, being of the age of
three yeres, to the intent, that if he at his full age, denied to become subiect and vassaill to
ihe Frenche kyng, or before that tyme disceased7 that then, after the death of his father and*
graund-
KYNG HENRY THE. VI.
graundfather, all thesaied landes should wholly remain, to the next heire of their bloud,
either male or female, beyng vnder the obeysance of the Frenche kyng or his heires. Many
noble men whose hartes were good Englishe, made like composicions, and some came into
Englande, and other went to Caleis, and wer great officers there: as the Lord Duras
whiche was Marshall there, and Monsire Vanclere, whiche was there deputie, vnder therle
of Warwick, (as after shalbe shewed.) Now haue I declared to you, the losse, of Fraunce,
Normandy, & Acquitayn: wherfore, hauyug no more cause yet to speake of theim, I will
returne to the greate trouble, discencion and diuision, whiche long was cloked, & now
openly set abrode, and burst out in the realme of Englande.
•-&'
«[ THE. XXX. YEIIE.
YOU haue heard before, how the duke of Yorke, as heire to Lionell Duke of Clarence, The.
pretended priuily, a title to the Croune, and how his frencles ccunmoned secretly, with di- >ere'
uerse persones of that matter, and excited theim to set forward, and auaunce that parte to
the vtterrnost: and howe the saied duke was sent into Ireland, where he was daily aduer-
tised by his assured frendes, of all thynges doen in Englande, and by the knewe in what es-
tate he stode, bothe with the nobilitie, and comonaltie, Wherfore, he mindyng no leger to
dreame in his waightie matter, nor to kepe secrete his right and title, returned out of Ire-
lande, and came to Londo in the Parliamet tyme, where he deliberately consulted, with his
especial frendes: as Ihon Duke of Norffolke, Richard Erie of Salisbury, and Lorde Richard
his sonne, whiche after was Erie of Warwick, Thomas Courtney, erle of Deuonshire, and
Edward Broke, lord Cobham a man of a greate witte and muche experience: requiryng them
bothe of aduise and counsaill, how he might without spot of treason, or colour of vsurpa-
cion, set forth his title, and obtein his right.
AFTER long consultation, it was thought expedient, first to seke some occasion and
picke some querell, to the duke of Somerset, whiche ruled the kyng, ordred the realme, and
moste might do \vith the quene : Whom, the commons, for the losse of Normandy, worse
than a Tode or Scorpion, hated, disdained and execrated, in KO muche that dinerse euill
ruled persones, brake his house, & spoyled his goodes, within the blacke Friers of the citie
of Londo: which malefactors, accordyng to their desertes, wer iustly executed & punished.
For wel knew the duke of Yorke and his adherentcs, that if the Duke of Somerset sawe
or smelled, any poynt of their purposed enterprise, that he would with speare and
sheld, with might and main, withstand and repel thesame, to thextreme point of death, and
to their vtter confusion. Wherfore to abbridge his power, and to minishe his aucthoritie,
they determined to bryng hym, into the hatred of the people, and into the disdain of the nobilitie.
And to be the stronger in the settyng forth of their feate, they, what with rewardcs and t'aire
promises, & what with declaracion of greate enormities, committed by the kinges councilors,
against the common wealth, allected & allured to them, lusty bachelars, & actiue persons, of
a great numbre, protestyng and declaring, that thei neither meant euil, nor thought harme,
either to the kinges person, or to his dignitie : but that their intent was, for the reuenging of
great iniuries doen to the publique wealth, and to persecute and rcforme diuerse rulers
about the kyng, which daily cotrary to right and equitie, vexed & pilled thenglish people,
without reason or measure: so y no man was in suretie, either of his awne goodes, or sucr
of his proper lades or possessios. These great enormities, they caused to be published, to
thintent y their chief purpose should not be espied, or perceiued.
WHEN the duke of Yorke had thus framed thentery into his log intended iorney, he
with lielpe of his frendes, assembled a great army in the Marches of Wales, publisbyng
openly, that the cause of his mocio was for the publique wealth" of the realme, and great
profile of the comons: whiche faire told tale, allured to hym muche people, aswcll of the
chiualry as of the meane sort. The kyng rauche astonnied with this s odain commocion, by
G <f the
fl<26 THE. XXX. YERE OF
the aduise of his counsail, raised a greate hoste, and marched forward toward the duke r but
he being of his approche, Credibly aduertised, by his espials, diuerted from the kynges-
waies, and toke his iorney toward London: and Iiauyng knowledge, that he might not be
suffered with his army, to passe through London, he crossed ouer the Thamese at Kyngston
bridge, and so set forth toward Kent, where he knewe that he had bothe frendes and good
vvillers, and there, on brente Heath, a mile from Dertford, and. x. miles from Londo, he
embattailed himself, and encamped his army very strongly, bothe with trenches and artilery.
The king being therof aduertised, with greate diligece, brought his army to blacke Heath, &
there pight his tetes. While both tharmies lay thus embattailed, the kyng by thaduise of his
counsaill, sent the bishoppes of Winchester and Elie to the duke, both to knowe, what
was the cause of so greate a tumult and commocion, and also to make a concord, if the re-
questes of the duke and his company, semed to them consonant to reason, or profitable to-
the people. The duke hearyng y message of the two bishops, either doubting the variable
chaunce of mortal battaill, or lokyng for a better occasio, or a more luckey daie, aunswered
the prelates, that his corrupyng was neither to dampnifie the kyng, neither in honor, nor in
persone, nor yet any good man, but his intent was to remoue fro hym, certain euil disposed
persons of his counsailL which wer the bludsuckers of the nobilitie, the pollers of the clear-
gie, and oppressors of the poore people : emongst who he chiefly named, Edrnond duke of
Somerset, whom if the kyng would commit to warde, to aunswere to suche articles, as against
hym should in open parliament, be both proponed and proued, he promised not onely to
dissolue his armie and dispatche his people, but also offered hymself, like an obedient sub-
iecte, to come to the kynges presence, and to do him true and faithful seruice, accordyng to
his truth & bofiden duelie. When the messengers wer returned with this reasonable aun-
swere: The kyng perceiuyng, that without great bludshed, he could not bridle the duke of
Yorke, nor without war he could not appeace the furious rage of the comon people, bejng
ence set on fire, except he folowed their mindes, and grauted their requestes, caused the
duke of Somerset to be committed to ward, as some saie : or to kepe hymself priuye in his
awne house, as other write, till the fury of the people wer somevt hat asswaged and pacified^
Whiche thyng doen, the duke of Yorke the firste daie of Marche, dissolued his army, &
brake vp his campe, and came to the kynges tent, where beside his expectacio, and cotrary
to the promise made by the kyng, he found the duke of Somerset, set at large, and at libertie,
•whom the duke of Yorke boldly accused, of treason, of bribery, oppression, and many other
crimes. The duke of Somerset not onely made aunswere to the dukes obieccions, but also
accused hym of high treaso, towarde the kyng his souereigne lorde: affirming, that he with
his fautors and complices, had consulted together how to obtein the croune and scepter of
the realme. By meane of whiche wordes, the kyng remoued straight to Lodon, and the
duke of Yorke as a prisoner, rode before hym, & so was kept awhile. The kyng assem-
bled together a great counsaill at Westminster, to here the accusacios of the. ij. dukes, the
one obiectyng to the other, facinorousactcs & detestable crimes. But the duke of Somerset,
whiche now concerned in his mynd the thyng that shortely folowed, incessantly exhorted the
eounsaill, that the Duke of Yorke, by compulsion, or otherwise, might be compelled to
confesse his offence, and so beyng attainted of treason, to be put to execucion, and his-
children to be taken enemies and aduersaries to their natiue countrey:. to the intent that by
the losse of this onely Prince and his sequele, all ciuill warre, and inward diuision might
cease and be repressed: besechyngalmightie God, that so greate an enemy to the kyng and
his bloud, might neuer escape punishment, nor continewe long in life. The duke of Somer-
set set furththis matter the more vehemently, because he knew perfitely, that the duke of
\orke dayly studyed how to get the crowne, and obteynthe gouernance, and to depose and
destroy both the kyng and hym. But the necessitie of destinie, can not by a,ny mans deuise,
be either letted or interrupted : for many thynges (to common iudgementes) declared the
duke of Yorkes trought and innocecye in this case. First his free and voluntary comyug
to the kyng, when he with his power was uble to eucouter. with the kynges puyssance, which
was
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 227
•was an open token and manifest argument, that he neither meiile treason, nor yet fraude.
Secondarily, his humble submission, his reasonable requestes, and profitable peticions, for the
pore commons, wer iudged no pointes of a man, that desired souereignetie, or rule aboue
other which thinges he did onely fora cautelc, (as afterward oj>enly appeared). While the
cousail treated of sauing or losing of this dolorous duke of Yorke, A rumour sprange
throughout London, that Edward erle of Marche, sonne and heyre apparaunt to the sayd
duke, a yong prince of great wit and much stomacke, accompanied with a stronge armye
of Marchcmen, was comyng toward London, which tidinges sore appalled the Queue and
the whole counsail. Beside this, thesame very daye came Ambassadours from the heades and
Magistrates of the citie of Burdeaux, whereof the chefe were, the erle of Kendal, and the
lord Lesparre, whiche signified to the counsaill, that if they woulde send an armye into
Gascoyne, the Gascoyns wolde reucrte & turne agayne to the English part: aduertising
them, that there was in those partes no puissaunce or garrison of Frenche men, to with-
stand them, & therefore there was no doubt of the regayning or recoquest: requyring the w
all diliget celeritie, to take so fayre a prey so opely to them offered, & to mynd nothyng be-
fore the regayning of so fruictful a countrey. These, ij. thinges sore troubled the heades of
the kinges counsaill, whiche, leste this discencion betwene two persones, might be the let of
outward conquest, set the duke of Yorke at libertie, and permitted him to returne to his
favre Castel of Wigmore, in the Marches of Wales, where he studied, both how to displease
his enemies, & to obteyn his purpose: And so by meanes of y absece of y duke of Yorke,
which was in maner banished y court & y kinges presece,,5~ duke of Somerset rose vp in
in high fauor w y king & y quene, & his worde only ruled, £ his voyce was only hearde.
;••
f THE. XXXI. YERE.
THe counsaill of Englande, not forgettinge the offer of the Gascons, and that thei might The.
now haue the citie of Burdeaux with the coutrey round about, by offer and request, whiche y"e-
with great charge £ longe warre, they coulde scant agayn recouer or repossesse, appointed
the veterane souldiour, and valiaunt Capitayn, Ihon lord Talbot, and erle of Shrewsburye, to
l>e chefetayn of the armye, which should in all haste be transported and conueyed into
Acquitayn. The lordes of Gascoyn, both well pleased and glad of their aunswere, re-
turned into their countrey, in as secret maner, as they from thense departed, declaringe
to their nacion, the Capitaines, & the powre, that was 'to the coming : exhorting euery
man to be firing and stable to the kyng of England and his heyrs, vnder whose libertie and
fredom, thei had prospered & reioysed, aboue. iij. C. yeres, rather then now to fal into
the French captiuitie : whose taxes were vnreasonable, and whose dayly exaccions were to
them importable. "When the valiant Talbot, the hardy erle of Shrewsbury was appointed
to assemble an army of men, and them to couey into the duchie of Acquilayn, Lord, how
busy he was in mustering howe diliget in setting forward, and how ientelly he entertayned
his men of warre, as though he went first to warre, and neuer had take payne, either to
serue his price or to gayn honor. What should I speake, how that he thought euery houre,
as thre, till his armie were ready, or write, what payne he toke to se them shipped and
vitayled. But verely men iudge, that as this labor was the ende and extreme point of all
his worldly busynes so he should shew him self: fearce, coragious, & feareful to his ene-
mies in the extreme point of his death and naturall departing. Thys English Hector &
marcial flower, elected to him, the most hardy & coragious persons, which he could espye,
preparing also, horses, municions vitayles, and all thinges necessarie to such an army, and
to so great an enterprise. Whe all thinges were shipped, and wynd and wether serued he
toke his chaunce, and sayled into Gascoyn, where without resistece, he peaceabli arriued
in y Isle of Madre, where he reposed his army, beyng scant, iii. M. men, and destroyed
all the countrey, betwene Burdeaux and Blay, and toke the strog towne and castel of Fron-
G g 2 sac,
228 THE. XXXI. YERE OF
sac and diuers other townes and fortresses. The inhabitautes of Burdeaux, hearying of
the' cries Arriual, sent to him messengers in the darke night, thriking and congratulating
him for his thither commiug, and also requiryng him to accelerate, and spede his iorney
towardc their citie, enformyng him. that now the time was propice for his purpose: and
tyme not taken, was labor niispent. This aunciet Fox, and pollitique Capitayne lost not
one houre, nor spared one mynet, till he came before the citie of Burdeaux. The citezens
glad of hi'scommynge, made not the French capitayns, which had the gouernaunce of the
towne, either parities or priuies of their entcnt: yet some of them wolde, that the French-
men, in securitie both of lifes and goodes, should departe out of y town but their will was
no will: for the multitude, abhorryng the French seruitude and embracing the English li-
lish army. After the regaynyng of Burdeaux, arriued at Blay, the bastard of Somerset,
sir Ihon Talbot, lord Lisle, by his wyfe sonne to the sayd erle of Shrewesbury, the lord
Molyns, the lordes Haryngton and Cameus, syr Ihon Howard, sir Ihon Montgomerye,
syr Ihon Vernon with. xxii. C. me with vitailes and municios. Whe the erle of Shrewes-
bury was thus accordyng to his entent of all thinges furnished and adorned : firste he for-
tified Burdeaux with Englishmen & victayle : after that, he rode into the countrey abrode,
where he obteined cities, and gat townes without stroke or det of swourde : for the poore
and nedy people beyng fatigate, and wery with the oppressio of their new landlordes ren-
dered their townes before they were of them requyred, and beside this the townes & cities
farre distauncte fro Burdeaux sent messengers to the erle, promisyng to him both seruice
& obeysaunce. And etnonge other the towne and castell of Chastillon in Perigotte, was to
him deliuered by the Frenchmen vpon coposicion, that they might with their lifes sauely
departe: which town, the erle strogly fortified both with men and ordinaunce. The French
kynge lyeng at Towers in Towrayne, beyng of the erles actes in Gascoyn credible enformed,
was not a litle exasperate & quickned : wherefore he mynding to resist the first storme, and
repulse the first surge, assembled a great army to the number of. xxii. M. men, and en-
teringe into Acquitayne came to Lusigneum, and from thence accompanyed with the erle
of Ponthyure, the lordes of sainct Seuere and Boucat, marched toward Caleys in Gas-
coyn, and with fay re promises obteyned the town. And after that towne gayned, the
Frenche kynge diuided his army into two parties, wherof the one was gouerned by the erle
of Cleremont, sonne in law to kyng Charles, and heyre to the duke of Burbon, in the
which were. xv. M. men, in whome consisted the wayght and peyse of the whole enterprise.
This army he appointed to take the next way toward Burdeaux : the other army wherof he
was Capitavn and leadar him self, accompaned with the peres and noble men of his
realme, he kept and reteyned still beside Caleys, and sent the two Marshals of Frauce with
xviii. C. men of armes, beside archers, to besege the towne.of Chastylon in Perigot, and
in goyng thither, they gat a forteresse, whiche they manned, and so departed to Chastilone,
which they enuyroned with a strong seage, & cast highe trenches, and made depe dytohes
on euery side : and in a place where their encmyes must come, they layde ordinaunce both
great and small, wherof so great a number was neuer before sene in France. The erle of
Shrewesbury hearing of these newes, and pcrceiuing that he must of necessitie encouter,
and fight with two armies, determined \V him selfe, first to assay the least power and weeker
puyssaunce: wherfore without longer procrastinacion, he assembled togither. viii. C. horse-
me, wherof the lord Lisle his sonne, the lord Molyns, the lord Cameus, sir Edward Hull,
syr Ihon Haward, & sir Ihon Verno were chefe, and so marched forward toward Chasty-
lon, appoyntyng. v. M. fote men vnder the conduyte of the erle of Kendalle, and the lord.
Lespar to folowe hym with all spede. In hys way he assautedy Towre, which the Frechmen
had taken, and by force entered, and slew all that he founds within and by the way he mett.
v. C. Frenchmen, goyng a forregyng, of whom he slew the greatest parte, and chaced the
other
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 22p
other to the campe. The Frechmen knowyng by these good runers away of fy erles ap-
prochyng, with al diligece left the seage, and retired in good order, into the place which
they had treched, dytched, and fortefied with ordenaunce. They within the towne seyng
the seage remoued, sent out woorde to the Englishmen that the Frenchmen fledde. The
coragious erle hearyng these newes & feryng, leste through long taryeng the byrdes might
be flowen awaye, not tarieng till his foteme were come, set forward, toward his enemies,
which were in mynd surely to haue fledde, as they confessed afterward, if the feare of the
French kynges rebuke, whiche was not farre of, had not caused them to tarye, and yet in
this army were present the Marshal and great Master of France, the erle of Pothyeure,
the Senescal of Poythiew, the lord Bessire, and many valeant Barons and Knightes. When
the Englishmen were come to the place where the Frenchine were encamped, in the which
(as Eneas Siluius testifieth) were. iii. C. peces of brasse, beside diuers other small peces,
and subtill Engynes to the Englishmen vnknowen, and nothing suspected, they lyghted al
on fote, the erle of Shrewesbury only except, which because of his age, rode on alitle hake-
ney, and fought fiercely with the Frechme, & gat thentre of their campe, and by fyne force
entered into thesame. This coflicte continued in doubtfull iudgement of victory, ii. longe
houres: durynge which fight the lordes of Montamban and Humadayre, with agreatcom-
panye of Frenchmen entered the battayle, and began a new felde, & sodaynly the Gon^
ners perceiuynge the Englishmen to approche nere, discharged their ordinaunce, and slew.
iii. C. persons, nere to the erle, who perceiuynge the imminent ieopardy, and subtile la-
birynth, in the which he and hys people were enclosed and illaqueate, despicynge his awne
sauegarde, and desirynge the life of his entierly and welbeloued sonne the lord Lisle,. wiU
led, aduertised, and counsailled hym to departe out of the felde, and to saue hym selfe.
But whe the sonne had auswered that it was neither honest nor natural for him, to leue his
father in the extreme ieopardye of his life, and that he woulde taste of that draught, which
his father and Parent should assay and begyn : The noble erle & comfortable capitayn sayd _
to him : Oh sonne sonne, I thy father, which onely hath bene the terror and scourge of
the Freeh people so manyyeres, which hath subuerted so many, townes, and" profligate and
discomfited so many of them in open battayle, and marcial conflict, neither ca here dye, for
the honor of my countrey, without great laude and perpetual!' fame, nor flye or departe with-
out perpetuall shame and cdtinuailc infamy. But because this is thy first iourney and enter-
prise, neither thy flyeng shall rcdounde to thy shame, nor thy death to thy glory: for as Lardy a
man wisely flieth, as a temerarious person folishely abidethe, therefore y fleyng of me shalbe
5" dishonor, not only of rue & my progenie, but also a discomfiture of all my company:
thy departure shall sauc thy lyre, and make the able another tyme, if I be slayn to reuenge
my death and to do honor to thy Prince and profyt to his Realme. But nature so wrought „.
in the sonne, that neither desire of lyfe, nor thought of securitie, could withdraw or pluck
him fro his natural father: Who cosideryng the constancy of his chyld, and the great daun-r
ger that they stode in, comforted his souldiours, cheared his Capitayns, and valeautly set
on his enemies, and slew of ihem more in number than he had in his copany. But his
enemies hauyng a greater company of men, & more abiidaunce of ordinaunce then before
had bene sene in a battayle, fyrst shot him through the thyghe with a hfulgone, and slew
his horse, & cowardly killed him, lyenge on the ground, whome they neuer durste loke-in-.v
the- face, whyle he stode on his fete, and with him, there dyed manfully hys sonne the lord
Lisle, his bastard sonne lleary Talbot, and syr Edward Hull, elect to the noble order of
the Gartier, and. xxx. valeant personages of the English nacion, and the lord Molyns was
there taken prysoner with. Ix. other. The residew of the Englishe people fled to Burdeaux
and other places, wherof in the flight, were slayne aboue a. M. persons. At this battayl of
Chastillon, fougnt the. xiii. day of lulij, in this yere, ended his lyfe Ihou lord Talbot, and
of his progenio y fyrst erle of Shrewesbury, after that he with muche fame, more glory,
and moste victorie had for his prince and coutrey, by the space of. xxiiij. yeres and more,
valeantly made vvarre, and serued the kyng in the partes beyond the sea, whose corps was
1 left
850 TITE. XXXI. YERE OF
left on the ground, & after was found by hys frendes, & coueyed to Whitchurch in Shrop-
shyre, where it is- intumulate. This man was to the French people, a very scorge and a
daily terror, in so much that as his person was fearful!, and terrible to his ad uersaries pre-
sent: so his name and fame wasspitefuil and dreadfull to the common people absent, in so
much that women in Fraunce to feare their youg childre, would crye, the Talbot commeth,
the Talbot commeth. After this discomfiture, diuers lordes fled to Bordeaux, but the erle of
Kendall, the lordes of Montferrant, of Rosayne, and of Dangladas, entered into the Castel of
Chastjllon, which they by the space of. x. dayes manfully defended, but in conclusion beyng des-
perate of all succors redered the fortresse, and came safe to Burdeaux. After this town was
yelded the townes of sainct Million, Bybourne & all other, which the erle of Shrewesbury had
conquered, rendered the selfes to the FrSche obeysaunce, Burdeaux onely except. The
which citie beyng the last refuge, and onely consolacion of the Englishe people in Gas-
coyne, the French kyng in person with all his puissaunce, strSgly beseged & dayly assauted,
in the which he more lost then gayned : beside this, the Englishmen issued out, and cora-
giously fought with their enemies: likewise did the citezens, which lokyng for no fauor at
the French kynges hand, because of their late coniuracion againste him, manfully defend-
ed themselfes, and sore noyed and hurt their enemies. But in conclusion bothe garrisons
and the inhabitates, oppressed with muche penurye & extreme famyne were coacted to ren-
der the citie vpon reasonable condicions, to them by the French kyng sent and oblated : the
effect whereof was that no offence, before tyme committed or done by any of the citezes
should herafter be imputed, or leyd to the charge of any of them. Also that all English-
men and Gascons myght safely departe into Englande or to Caleys with ail their substance,
and that the lordes Lespar, Duras and. xxx. other, should neuer vpon payn of death be
founde within any of the French kinges dominions, which lord Lesparre, after beyng taken
dis<mysed in Gascoyn was made shorter by the hedde. When this composicion was agreed
and sealed, the Englishmen had their shippes and al thinges necessarie for their iorney, to
them deliuered, which, when wynd and whether were to them propice and conuenient, were
shortly transported into Englad, in the moneth of October this present yere. Thus was the
duchye of Acquytayn, which had cotynued in the English possession, from the yere of our
Lord. M. Iv. which is. iii. C. & od yeres, by y manage of Alienor, doughter and heyr to
William duke of Acquittvyn wyfe to kyng Henry the second, finally reduced, and brought
agayne to the French obedience and seruitude. The kepyng of which duchye was neither
costly nor troblesome to the realme of England, but both pleasant and profitable: for by
the soueraingtie of that countrey, yonge gentela^en learned the experiece of warre, and
expert me were promoted to many richc offices, & great liumges within thesame. For with-
in that onely Duchye, be. iiij. Archebishoppes, xxxiiij. Bishoppes. xv. erledos. ii. C. and.
ij. Baronies, and aboue a. M. Capitaynshippes and baylywyckes. All though this great
l°sse chaunced this yere to the Englishe nacion, yet a greater detryment hapned in thesame
season to the whole flocke of Christen people. For Machumet, called the great Turk be-
seaged the citie of Constatynople in Grece, with an innumerable nuber of Turkes, and
fiftye dayes togither gaue to it a continuall assaut, and on the. iiii. day of lune, toke it per-
force, steyng man, woman and chyldren, except the Emperour Palialogus, and diuers
other of tlie blode Royal, whome he toke prisoners, and after caused them to be behedded.
Turk*"' If I should write the detestable murder of men, the abhominable and cruel slaughter of
children, the shameful rauishmet of women and virgyns, which were perpetrate and done
by the vnmercifull pagans and cruel Turkes, I assure you that your eares would abhorre y
Thebuh nearinS and our eyes woulde not abyde the readynge, "and therfore I passe the ouer. In
of price this trobleous season on y. xiii. daye of October, was y quene deliuered at Westmynster of
Edwardc, a fayre sonne, which was Christened & named Edward," and after grew to a goodely & per-
sonne to/*, c i it i i ^ o ^
kynRHEry nght man, as alter you shall heare : whose mother susteyned not a litle slaunder and ob-
loquye of the commo people, saiyng that the kyng was not able to get a chyld, and that
this was not his sonne, with many slaunderous woordes, to the quenes dishonor, whiche
6 here
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 231
here nede not to be rehersed After the birthe of this child, the Kyng highly auaunced his _
twoo brethren on his mothers side. For Edrnond he created erle of Richemod, which was ren created
father to kyng Henry the. vij. and lasper he created erle of Penbroke, whiche died without "'"•
issue. ,
,^, f
1TTHE. XXXII. YERE.
WHen foren warre and outward battailes, were brought to an end and finall conclusion: The. *«;;.
domeslicall discord and ciuill discencion began again to renew and arise, within the realme y«e-
of Englande: for when the care of outward hostilitie (whiche kept the myndes of the
Princes in the realme occupied, and in exercise) was taken awaye and vanished, desire of
souereigntie, and ambicion of preeminence, sodainly sprang out so far re, that the whole
Realme was diuided into twoo seuerall faccions, and priuate partes. For kyng Henry, dis-
cended of the house of Lancastre, claymyng the croune from kyng Henry the. iiij. his
graund father, first aucthor of this diuision : and Richard duke of Yorke, as heire to Lio-
nell, the third sonne to kyng Edward the third: wresteled for the game, and stroue for the
wager. By reason whereof, the nobles aswell as the common people, were into partes di-
uided, to the destruccion of many a man, and to the great ruyne and decaye of this region.
For while the one" part studied to vanquishe and suppresse the other, all commo wealth was
set aside, and Justice and equitie was clerely exiled. For the duke of Yorke whiche sore
gaped and more thirsted for the superioritie and preeminence, studied, deuised, and prac-
tised al waies & meanes, by the whiche he might attain to his pretesed purpose, and long
hoped desire. And emongest all imaginacios, one semed moste necessary for his purpose,
whiche yet again was to stirre and prouoke the malice of all the people against the duke 'of
Somerset, who onely ruled the Kyng, and ordered all thynges at his pleasure and will:
Imaginyng, that he beyng made out of the waie, his purpose should shortly come to a good
conclusion. Wherefore, to the nobles of the realme he complayned, lamented, and detested,
the miserable state and daily ruyne of this noble countrey: notyng and affirmyng, the duke.
of Somerset, to be the very roote and cause of the same, whom lie named and called, an
vniust man, a mischeuous persone, a tyrannicall gouernor, and a coueteous cousailor: laiyng
also great offences to kyng Henry, saiyng, that he was a man, neither of wit nor stomacke,
neither mete to be a kyng, nor apt to gouerne a common wealth, and therefore it was the
duetie of the noble men, and great Princes, not onely to thiiike on this weightie matter, but
spedely to prouide a remedy, and to set the Realme in another staye. By whiche complaintes-
and perswasions, the duke of Yorke, so altered the myndes of many persones of high estate,
that they liked not the worlde, as it then wauered, nor approued thactes of the kyng or his
cousail. And because, that ambicion and auarice, was newly entered into their hartes, they
studied, sodainly to change al thynges, and to turne the world vpsetdoune. When the duks
savve menes appetites, and felt welltheir mindes, he chiefly enterteined two Richardes, and
bothe Neuelles, the one of Salisbury, the other of Warwicke beyng erle, the first the father,
the second the sonne. -This erle of Salisbury, was seconde sonne to Raufe Neuell, erle of
Westmerlande, whose doughter the duke of Yorke had maried, & the said Richard was es-
poused to Lady Alice, the only child and sole heire of Thomas Montacute erle of Salisbury,
slain at the siege of Orleaunce, (as betqre lhaue declared) of whiche woman he engederec!,
Richard, Ihon-, and George. Richarde the eldest sonne espoused Anne, the suster and heire
of the entire bloud, to lorde Henry Beauchamp Erie, and after duke of Warwicke, in whose
right and title, he was created and named Erie of Warwicke, .and not by his awne progeny
or parentage. This Richard was not onely a man of marueltfus qualities, and facundious
facions, but also from his youth, by a certain practise or naturall inclinacion, so set them
forward, with wittie and gentle demeanour, to all persones of high and of lowe degre, that
euaong all sortes of people, he obteined greate loue, muche fauor, and more credence -
whiche.
_
THE. XXXIIJ. YERE OF
whiche thynges daily more encreased, by his abundant liberalise, and plentifull house ke-
pynge, then by his riches, aucthoritie, or high parentage: by reason of whiche doynges, he
wasinsuche fauor and estimacion, emongest the common people, that thei mdged hym able
to do all thynges, and that without hym, nothyng to be well done. For which causes his
S aucthoritie, shortly so fast increased, that whiche waie he bowed, that waie ranne the streame,
and what part he auaunced, that side gat the superioritie.
5[ THE. XXXIII. YERE.
**•• *
The. nxiii. WHe the duke of Yorke had fastened his chaine, betwene these twoo strong and robusti-
y"e- ous pjilers, he with his frendes, so seriously wrought, and so pollitiquely handled his busi-
nes, that the Duke of Somerset, was arrested in the Quenes greate chamber, and sent to the
toure of London, where he without great solempnitie, kept a dolefull Christmas: against
whom in open parliament, wer laied diuerse and heinous articles of high treasS, aswell for
the losse of Normandy, as for the late mischance, whiche happened in Guyen. The kyng
at this time was sicke at Clarendon, and so conueyed to London, by reason wherof, no finall
determinacion preceded, in this greate and waightie cause, but it was put in sus"pence, til the
next assemble of the high court of Parliament. During whiche tyme, the kyng either of his
.awne mynde, or by the Quenes procurement, caused the duke of Somerset, to be set at li-
bertie: by whiche doyng, grew great enuy and displeasure, betwene the king and diuerse of
his lordes, and in espcciall between the duke of Yorke, and the kynges linage. And to ag-
grauate more the malice newe begon, the Quene, whiche then ruled the rost and bare the
whole rule, caused the duke of Somerset, to bee preferred to the capitainship of Calice,
where with, not onely the commons but-also many of the nobilitie, wer greatly greued and
offended, saiyng: that he had lost Normady, & so would he do Calice. The duke of Yorke
and his adherentes perceiuyng, that neither exhortacion serued, nor accusemet preuailed
against the duke of Somerset, determined to renege their querrell, and obtein their purpose,
by open vvarre and marciall aduenture, and no lenger to slepe in so waightie a businesse.
So he beyng in the Marches of Wales, associate with his especiall frendes, the erles of Salis-
bury and Warwicke, the lorcle Cobhfi, and other, assembled an army, and gathered a greate
power, and like warlike persones, marched toward Londo. The Londoners, hearing
of so great a multitude, commyng toward their citie, wer greatly astonnied and muche
abashed : for euery persone considered his awne part, that either witholdyng with the one
side, or beyng contrariant to the other, or medelyng with no part he should incurre indigna-
cion or displeasure. The kyng beyng creclebly informed, of the greate army commyng to-
ward hym, assembled an host, intendyng to mete with the duke in the Northe parte, because
he had to many frendes about the citie of London, and for that cause, with greate spede and
small lucke, he beyng accompanied, with the Dukes of Somerset, and Buckyngham, therles
of Stafford, Northumberlande, and Wiltshire, with the lorde Clifford, and diuerse other
baros, departed out of Westminster, the. xx. daie of I\Jay, toward the toune of S. Albons:
of whose doynges, the duke of Yorke being aduertised, by his espials, "with all his power
costed the countreys, and came to the same toune, the third" daie next ensuyng. The kyng
hearyng of their approchyng, sent to hym messengers, straightly chargyng and commaund-
yng hym, as an obedient subiect, to k.epe the peace, and not as an enemy to his naturall
.countrey, to murdre and slay his awne countremen and propre nacio. While kyng Henry
more desirous of peace then of vvarre, was sendyng furthe his orators, at the one ende of Hie
The fim toune: the erle of Warwicke with the Marchemen, entered at the other gate of the toune,
LVnuAi- ancl fiersl.V set on tlie kynges foreward, and theim shortly discomfited. Then came the duke
k«.j. of Somerset, & all the other lordjps with the kynges power, whiche fought a sore and a cruell
battaill, in the whiche, many a tall man lost his life: but the duke of Yorke sent euer freshe-
inen, to succor the wery, & put new men in the places of the hurt persons, by whiche onely
pollicie,
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 233
pollicie, the kynges armie was profligate and dispersed, £ all the chieftaines of the field al-
nioste slain and brought to confusion. For there died vnder the signe of the Castle, Ed •
mond duke of Somerset, who long before was warned to eschew all Castles, and beside hym,
lay Henry the second erle of Northumberland, Hufrey er!e of Stafford, sonne to the duke
of Buckingham, Ihon lorde Clifford, and. viij. M. men and more. Humfrey duke of Buck-
yngham, beyng wounded, & lames Butler erle of Wiltshire & Ormond, seyng fortunes lower-
yngchaunce, left the kyng postea lone & with a greate nuinbre fled away. This was thend of
the first battaill at S. Albons, whiche was fought on the Thursday, before the feast of Pente-
cost, beyng the. xxiij. daie of Maie. In this, xxxiij. yere of the Kynges reigne, the bodies of
the noble men, were buried in the Monastery, and the meane people in other places. Tin's
Edmond duke of Somerset, left behynde hym three sonnes, Henry, Edmoud, and Ihon,
whiche to the extremitie of death, toke part with the line of kyng Henry.
AFTER this victory obteined, by the duke of Yorke and his compaignions, he remembred,
that often times he had declared and diuulged abrode, the onely cause of his warre to be, for
thauauncement of the publique wealth, and to set the Realme in a more comodious estate,
and a better codicion. \V herfore, he vsyng all lenitie, mercy, and bounteousnes, would not
once louche or apprehend the body of kyng Henry, who he might bothe haue slain, & vt-
terly destroyed, consideryng that he had hym in his ward and gouernaunce. But with great
honor and due reuerence, conueyed hym to London, & so to Westminster, to whiche place
was somoned and appoynted, a great assemble of thre estates, commonly called a Parliamet,
whiche began the. ix. day of luly, in the whiche session, the Duke of Gloucester, was openly
declared a true Prince, bothe to the kyng & the realme. Beside this, it was enacted, that no
persone, should either iudge or report, any poynt of vntruth, of the duke of Yorke, the erles
of Salisbury and Warwicke, for commyng in warlike maner, against the kyng at S. Albons,
consideryng, that their attempt and enterprise was onely to se the kynges persone, in safegard
and suer kepyng, and to put and aliene from hym, the publique oppressors of the common
wealth : by whose misgouernaunce, his life might be in hasard, and his aucthoritie hang in a
very small thred. In whiche Parliament also, the duke of York was made protector of the
Realme, and therle of Salisbury, was appoynted to be Chauncellor, and had the greate seale
to hym deliuered : and the erle of Warwicke, was elected to the office of the capitain of Ca-
lice, and the territories of the same. As this deuise was pollitiquely inuented, so was the se-
quele therof to the firste aucthors, bothe honorable and profitable, if fortunes ship had sailed
all one way. For by this practise, the whole rule and regiment of the whole Realrne, consisted
onely in the heddes and orders, of the duke and the Chauncellor, and all the Warlike affaires
and businesse, rested principally in the erle of Warwicke, and so emongest them, it was
agreed, that king Henry should still reigne, in name and dignitie, but neither in deed nor
in aucthoritie : not myndyng either to depose or destroy thesaid kyng, least they might sodainly
prouoke and stirre the fury and ire of the common people against theim : whiche for his ho-
lines of life, and abundant clemencie, was of the simple sort, muche fauored, and highly es-
temed. After whiche aucthoritie geuen, these three persones ruled the realme, and did all
thynges after their awne discrecions, (whiche without battail or manslaughter, might haue
easily depriued thesaied Kyng, bothe of life and lande). And firste they amoued from the
prime counsaill, all suche persones as the kyng loued, or the queue fauored, puttyng in their
places, men of their secte and confederacie, & changyng officers throughout the realme, at
their will and disposicion: so that tholde spoken prouerbe, here toke place: New Lordes,
new lawes: suche lippes, suche lettice. And yet in all their rule, I finde no mencion made,
of differyng lustice, or of their pollyng, or their bribery, as was openly prOued by such as
gouerned before their tyme: Sauyng that they tooke out of the sainctuary of Westminster,
Ihon Holland duke of Excester, beyng repugnant to the order taken and concluded, in the
last parliament and conueyed hym to Poumfret castle. Whiche takyng out was accompted
an execrable and a dampnable offence, of diuerse of the spiritualtie, and especially of the
H h Abbot
234 THE. XXXIIIJ. YEHE OF
Abbot of Westminster and his Monkes, and this is the most spot that was (as I could rede)
euer moste to be caste in the Dukes fame, durynghis protectorship, or of his counsaill.
«[ THE. XXXIIIJ. YERE.
The. xxxiiii. BUT that venemous worme, that dread full dragon, called disdain of superioritie, whiche
y"e' hath consumed the bloud of so many noble princes, and destroyed the linage of so many
gouernors, in all Realmes and kyngdomes, aswell pagan us Christian, could not abstein frd
incensyng the hartes of lorde Henry Beatiford, newly come to the Duchy of Somerset, by
the death of duke Edmond his father, whiche at the battaill of sainct Albons, (as you haue
heard before rehersed) lost his life, and of Humfrey duke of Buckyngham, (whose sonnc
and helre named Humfrev, erle of Stafford, tasted the same cuppe, at the forenamed coflict)
and of other lordes and me of aucthoritie, fauoryng and folowyng tlie part of Kyng Henry,
whiche not onely bewailed and had compassion of the vnsure condicion, and waueryng estate
of his rule and lordeship, perceiuyng openly, wherunto the cloked getlenes, and subornate
fashio of the duke of Yorke, tended and crept vp: but also thought it necessarie and con-
ueniet, to puruey for a remedy, or the mischief happened. Wherfore with open mouthes
and fierce corages, thei came to Queue Margaret, informyng her, that it was not honorable,
but a reproche and infamy to the Kyng, to haue one to bee a Protecter and gouernor of
hyrn and his Heal me, as who would say: that he was either a childe, whiche had need of
norice, to fede hym with pappe, or an innocent creature, whiche must be ruled by a tutor,
asserteinyng. her farther, that the Duke of Yorkes only intent was, vnder the colour of this
protectorship, sodainly to destroy & depose the kyng, when he least thought of it, and ther-
fore willed her in so quicke a mischief, to prouide a hasty remedy, if she loued the safegard
of her husbande, or the tuicion of her self. The Queue hauyng a wit, more then the com-
mon sort of women haue, and consideryng the estate of her husbande, the condicion of her
self, and the perill of her onely sonne, thought it necessary, to plucke the sword of aucthori-
tie, out of their handes, whiche vnder colour of rulyng vnder others, desired to be gouernors
and superiors theimselfes. Wherefore, a greate counsaill was called at Grenewiche, where
the duke of Yorke was discharged of his Protectorship, and the erle of Salisbury also, was
dismissed of his office: whicbe malicious mutacion evnongest the nobilitie, caused sodainal-
teracions and sedicious commocions, to spryng and arise in the commonaltie, and in espe-
ciall, within theciteeof London.
FOR a young Marchaunt, whiche before tyme had been in diuerse cilees within the coun-
trey of Italy, and there prohibited by the Magistrates and rulers, to vse'or weare any
weapon either inuasiue or defensiue, chalenged an Italian in Chepe side, for wearyng of a
dagger, confutyng hym with the lawes of his awne countrey, whiche, like a Colencke knaue
and presumpteous persone, so disdainfully and with suche tafaes and checkes, aunswered
the marchant, that he not willing to suffre so ope a reproche, in so puWique a strete, and
that of so proud a villain, toke by force from him his dagger, and with thesame, a little cut
his croune and cracked his pate. This Italian in greate hast, complained to the Mayer of
this offencfc, whiche at the nexte Courte, holden at the Guyldhaule, by the consent of the
whole senate, sent for thoffendor, and declaryng to hym his crime, commaunded hym to ward,
wherof diuerse other light marchantes within the citee, sore abhorryng the Italian nacion,
for lickyng the fat from their beardes, and takyng from them their accustomed liuyng, by
reason that thesaid estraugers imported & transported, into and out of this realme, all suche
marchandises, commodities, and necessaries, as thenglishmen onely wer accustomed to do,
assembled together in greate plumpes, and by force compelled the Maire to deliuer the pri-
soner out of Newgate : and yet this multitude, with this doyng nothyng saciate nor appeased,
like madde persons, and frantique fooles, ranne to the seuerall houses, of diuerse Venecians,
Lucases, and Florentynes, andtheim spoyled, robbed and riffled, without reason or measure.
4 The
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 235
The Maire pcrceiuyng this great enormitie, assebled a great numbre of substanciall and graue ,
citczens, whiclie, not without greate bloudshed, and maymyng of sundery persones, finally
appeased tlieir rage, and caused tbe people to departe to their houses. The beginner of
this temerarious commocion, and sodain vprore, eilbcr perswaded by his frendcs or fearyng
his chaunce, whiche for his firste facte might sodainly insue, departed to Westminster, and
there Registered hymself as a sactuary man. The Queue whiche ruled all thyng-es, hear-
yng of this greate riote and vnlawfull misdemeanour, sent the Dukes of Excester and Buck-
yngham, accompanied with many other noble men, to London, with a commission of over
and determiner, for the punisheinent of this outragious offence &sedicious crime. When the
Maire of the citee the two dukes, and the two chief Justices, wer set in the Guyldhaule for
the performance of their commission, & began to call the empanelles, for thenquiry, as the
vse and order is, diuerse light wilted, and lesse brained persons of j citie, priuely
armed the, & by the ringing of bow bel thought to/asseble together a great multitude of their
nud & opinio, & so by force & might to take fro the kepers, all such prisoners, as were before
apprehended, for y late comitted robbery & riot, as they were goynge to their trial or arreig-
met. But this great tumult & sodain fury, was by discrete and sage citizens, a litle and
litle appeased and finally quenched, but in the nieane season, the dukes and other commis-
sioners, being vntrewly aduertised y they were in jeopardy of their lifes, sodaynly departed
fro the Guyldhaule, and left their inquyrie for y day. The Mayre 'on y next day perceiuyng
how the grudge rose, called a common counsail wherof y nuber was. i. C. iiij. score & od
persons, £ by auctoritie of thesame ordeyned, that all Wardeins of misteries, should as-
semble their felowship in their particular hawles, where they should exhort the to y obseruacion
of the kynges peace, and kepyng of good order within the citie: & if they espied any man,
either prone or redy to reyse a rumor or desirous of the delyueraunce of suche as were accu-
sed, & in captiue custodie, that their names should be secretly written, & couertly deliuer-
ed to the lorde Mayre: which pollitique doyng, finally ended the entragious doing of the
insolent people, after which appeasyng f commissioners returned to y Guyldhaule, where
many of the robbers were attainted, and after codignely put to execucion besyde diuers great
fynes and rausomes payd, which were set vpon many merchauntes, for winking at these do-
ynges or assentyng to thesame.
IT THE. XXXV. YERE.
THE French nacion, hearyng of this domesticall diuision and ciuile dissencion, within The-MXV-
the Realme of Engiad, much desyring to be reuenged of olde displeasures and great damages, *""'
•which they had so many yeares born and susteined by the English people, appoynted
two Nauyes to inuade and depopulate the townes and portes, adioynyng to the ryuage of
the sea. The capitain of y one army, was Williii lord Porniers, and of the other, syr Piers
Bressy, a great ruler in Normandy. These two Capitains, when opportunitie of wether
serued, sette vp their sayles at the mouthe of Sayme, and there seuered, them selfs, the one
Westward, and the other Eastward, which was syr Peter dc Bressy. This lusty Capita! sayl-
yng all the cost of Susseix and Kent, durst not once take land, til he arriued in the downes,
and there hauyng by a certayn espial, perfit notice, that the towne of Sandwyche was nei-
ther peopled nor fortefied, because that a litle before, the chefe rulers of the towne, were
from thcce departed, for to auoyde the pestilenciall plage, which sore there infected and slew
the people, entered the hauen, spoyleid the towne. and after such pore stutie as he ther
founde, ryfflyde and taken, he fearinge an assemble of the cotrey, shortly returned. The
lord Pomiers likewise toke his course Westward, and by night bret certayn houses in founav
& with a litle pillage retired into Britayn. These two aduentures and fortunate chaunces'
which to them in coparison of their great expeses, in their iorneys were scant worthe one pore
myte, or single farthyng : The French writers dylate, setfurth and paynt with pene, as though
H h 2 they
236 THE. XXXV. YERE OF
they had eotte Cresus riches, and Alexanders kyngdovnes: forgettyng how many hundred
thousandepoundes, they had lost in few yeres before precedynge, as to all menne, beyng
indifferent readers of this Historic, plainly appcreth. But venly some bread is better to the
hungry person then no bread, and a small gayn of him, which desireth recouene, is a great
pleasure and therefore the French authors make of a litle much, £ yet their much (all-
tbvnaea considered) is in effect nothyng at all. The Scottes also not degenerating tro their
olde mutabilitie, nor alteryng their ancient condicions from their accustomed perfidie and
vsuall viJtreiiffht entered 'into Northuberland, kyng lames the second,, then being there
in person, and burned small houses, and litle cotages : but in the very middes of their
greate enterprise, they hearinge of the duke of Yorke, marchyng ; toward the, with a great
army, with much payne, & no gayn, in all haste reuerted to their countrey. Let vs passe
ouei- for a tyme all outward inuasions, and returne to our awn domestical debate, & dayly
discord. First not forgettyng, that while fore enemies inuaded the outwarde partes, and
extreme confynes of this trobleous realme, a great conflict was attempted betwcue the lord'
Egremond, and the sonnes of the erles of Salisbury: in the which fray, many persons were
slayn, and a great number hurt. The lord Egremod, in this great tumult could not
escape, but by force was taken and brought before the kynges ccnisaill, and there the
kvn<* and the quene to shew them selfs to all persons, indifferent, acliudged him to pay
to $ erle of Salisbury a great summe of money, and for his heynous offence, done against
the kynges lawes he was comitted to the gayle of Newgate, within the citie of London
out of the which prison, by helpe of his fautors, he secretly escaped, and sodaynly
departed, to the great vexation of the shryfes of London, at y time being. In which.
season, the craft of Printyng was first inuented in the citie of Mens in Germanic, to the
*tee*tta great furtheraunce of all persons, desiryng knowledge or thyrsting for litterature. Quene
moste «- jjargarete, whose breath ruled, and whose worde was obeyed aboue the kyng and his.
"ceT/prhi- counsail, within this Realme of Englande, entendyng the destruccion of the duke of
fcfinV"nt- Yorke and his frendes, which deuise she thought not mete to be practised nere to the citie of
«"•' " London, because she well perceyued the duke of Yorke to be had in more estimation emonge
the citezens & comunaltie, then the kyug her husbad or her awn person : caused the kyng to
make a progresse into Warwyckeshyre, for his health & recreation, and so with Hawkyng
andHuntynge came to the citie of Couetrey, where were diuers ways studied priuely, to
bryns; the quene to her hartes ease, and long expectate desire: which was the death & de-
struccio of the duke of Yorke, the erles of Salisbury and Warwycke. And for the furniture
of this matter, al these, iii. noble me were sent for to Couetre, by the kynges letters vnder
his prime scale, to which place the foresayd lordes, suspecting no treason, nor putting diffi-
dence in any creature, obediently resorted: but the serpent lurked vnder the gras.se, & vnder
sugered speache, was hide pestiferous poyson, so that if these noblemen admonished by their
frendes, had not sodaynly departed, their lyfes threde had bene broken, and their mortall fate
had them ensued, but by secrete admonition of their good willers (to whome no earthly trea-
sure is comparable) they auoided this net and narrowly escaped the snare, wherupon for the
securitie and tuycion of their lifes, the duke of Yorke departed to Wygnore, in the Marches
of Wales, the erle of Salisbury resorted to his fay re Castell of Middelham in the Northcoun-
trye, and the erle of Warwyke sayled to the town of Caleys. Although the bodies of these
noble personages, were by this seditious and fraudulet meanes asonder separated as ye haue
heard: yet their hartes were knitte and coupled in one, neuer forgetting, but dayly studyeng,
bothe how to be reuenged of the olde dispites and malicious attcptes, against them commit-
ted aud irnageued, and also how to cotnpasse their purposes, and to get the superioritie and
ouerhand ahoue their euilwillers, & apparant enemies : for which causes, their letters neuer
ceased, their messengers neuer slept, nor their pursses were at no tytne shut, what for enter-
tayning of olde frendes, and obteyninge of new confederates, tyll kyng Henry and his alyes-
were profligate, and expelled clerely out of the Realme, as after shall appere.
If THE.
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 237
1f THE. XXXVI. YERF,
BEcauseyou haue been long troubled with readyng of diners diuisions, sedicions opera- The. ixi
eions, & great disturbance within the Kealme, emong the teuiporaltie, I will now a litle y"e'
digress from my cotinued purpose, to declare to you an ouerthwarte Judgement gyuen emong
f lathers of the spiritualtie, against Reynold Pecocke. tlien bishop of Chichester. This man,
somwhat learned, but better stotnacked, began to moue questions, not priuatly, but openly
in the Vniuersities, cocerning the annates, peterpens, and other iurisdiccios and aucthori-
ties, anpertevning to the sea of Rome, and not only put forth the questions, but declared Rld
his myndand opinion in the same: wherfore he was for this cause abiured at Panics crosse, Pecocke, bi-
and all his bokes brent, and he' him self kept in his awne house, duryng his naturall lyfe. ch°st« »£'"
Some say that hys opinion was, that spiritual! persons, by Gods law, oughte to haue no tern- iu«dat
porall possessios. Other write that he saied, that personal tithes were hot dew by Gods law:
but whatsoeuer the cause was, in such sort as before I haue declared, he was vsed. Kyng
Henry £ his adherentes, perceyuing that the duke of Yorke lay still, and made no open ap-
parance, of assemble or commocid, returned to London, and there called a great cousaill,
openly declaring, how the French kyng perceiuing the realme of England implicate, and
troubled with ciuile dissencion, and mutual discord was not afeard to sende his admirals on
the costes of Ket, and Dcuonshyre, and tliere to spoyle townes, burne houses, and murder
the English people: which cause also animated y Scottes to make Rodes and Incursions,
into the confines and marches of the Realme, to the great losse and detriment of the kynges
leage people : which two nacions wer set continually to greue and vex this his realme of
England, tyll they perceiued a perrite concord, and an vnfayned amitie to be concluded "and
knitte together, betwene him and his cosanguinitie, & the other sorte of the contrary parte
and confederacie. And to the entent that he woulde be the chele aucthor of peace, and
principal! styrrer of this vertuous concorde, he promised so gentelly to entertayne the duk«
of Yurkcand his fautors, y all olde grudges beyng not only inwardly forgotten, but also out-
wardly forgyuen, .shoulde be the cause of perpetuall loue, betwene them and their frendes :
of which concord should ensue, familiaritie Ciiiong the lordes, & cocord emong the comons,
whiche to all vtter enemies should be an inward grudge, and to this realme a great glorie
and profite. This deuise was of all men present we! taken and adiudged, both honorable
to the kyng, & profitable to his realme. Wherupo diuers graue and sad persones were sent cord
to the duke of Yorke and all other the great estates of the realme, which sins the battayle of vmti
sainct Albons neuer met, came, nor comoned together, commaundynge then) for reasonable R
causes, and great consideracions, to resorte to the kynges palayce, without procrastinacio'
or delay. At this commaundement came to London, Richard duke of Yorke, and Richarde,
erle of Salisbury, accopanyed with a great number of meigmall seruautes & fiendes, lest perad-
uentiire they for lacke ofayde, might haue bene betrapped, or they had knowledge, or
were warned. After the came fro Caleys to London, tne erle of Warwycke, whose serui-
tuers were apparreled in rede cotes, embroudercd with white ragged stales. These, iii. lor-
des were lodged within the* citie: the duke at baynardes castel, the erle of Salisbury, at the
Herber, and the erle of Warwyke at his place, beside the Graye friers. About thesame
season, with no lesse copany of me came to the citie, the yong duke of Somerset, the erle
of Northumberland, & the lord Clyfford, whose fathers were slayn at sainct Albos : and after
them resorted the dukes of Excester, and Buckingham, the lorde Egremond, and alhnoste all
the nobilitie of this realme. The duke of Yorke and his mates, were lodged within the citie,'Themort!ll
and the duke of Somerset, and all his frendes, sojourned without Templebarre, Holbornehat£rcdbe.-.
and other places of the subur.bes : as who sayd, that as the lewes disdayned the company of n^gj of'
the Samaritans, so the Lancastrian abhorred the familirtritie of YorPysh lygnage. After 1'3caster& -
the commynge of these lordes to the citie, the kyng, the Quene with all their familie, shortly Y
folowed,
238 THE. XXXVI. YERE OF
folowed, and were lodged in the Bishoppes palayce of London. These lordes had such
groat companies, attendyng on them (for one had. v. C. other, v. C. and d.uers. mj. C. per-
sones in a band) that continuall watche was kept by the Mayre and senate of London, aswell
citie. The other parte soiornyng wittiout y
of Westminster. Thus euery part both studied his awn profitte and aduaucement, and also
how to reucg thynges done to them, by their foes and aduersaries. But the Archebisshop of
Canterbury, and other vertuous prelates, so exhorted, applied, and perswaded both the par-
ties (although a great while they were neither heard, nor regarded) that in c5clusion, they
brought them to a communicacion, where after long altercacion, aswell of olde Iniuries, and
of new displeasures, by the one faccion, against the other committed, y feare of outward
hostilitie, and foren inuasion, so mollified their indurate hartes, that they outwardly promi-
sing, to forget a olde rancors, & auncient displeasures, sealed and signed writingcs, the
one euer after to befrend to the other, and all together to be obedient to the Kynge, & fa-
uorers to his fredes & enemies to his enemies. This cocord was so ioyfull to the superiors,
and so embraced of the common people (who euer beare the burden, whe princes be at
controuersie) that for the open apparaunce, and demonstracion of this godly Concorde, pub-
A general lique processions were appointed, to be solepnely celebrate, within the Cathedrall church of
pTuks byy« sainct Paule in the citie of London, on the day of the Concepcion of our Lady, in the mo-
kyng, and neth of March. At which solempne feast, the Kyng in habile royal, and his dyademe on his
theReaiw. hedde, kept his estate in procession, before whom, went hand in hand, the duke of Somerset,
the erle of Salisbury, the duke of Excester, and y erle of Warwyke, and so on of the one
faccign, and another of the other sect, and behynd the kyng the duke of Yorke ledde the-
Queue with great familiaritie to all mens sightes : but wo worth dissimulacion, and false
flatteryngcontenaunce: fye on doble entendement, and cloked adulacion, whiche hath bene
the common seruituers in all palacies, both Imperiall and Regal, and by their only pestiferous
venime, and secrete malyce, hath ben the destruccion of many a noble man, and the confu-
sion of a great number of trew meanyng and faithfull persons. But the Wiseman, which
saieth: wo be thou that hast a doble hart, meant, that dissimulacio once espied, should be
the arrow wherwith the dissembler should be wounded. As by this cloked pageant, and
dissimuling procession, hereafter shall playnly be declared. For their bodies were ioyned
by hand in hand, whose hartes were farre a sonder: their mouthes louingly smiled, whose
corages were inflamed with malice : their toungues spake lyke suger, and their thoughtes
were all inuenemed : but all these dissimulinge persons, tasted the vessel of woo, as the
Wyseman sayde : and few or none of this company were vnblotted, or vndestroied by this
dolorous drink of dissimulacio. But this cancard worme, and pestiferous coccatrice, not
onely atthys tyme reigned in Englande, but also dyd muche harme in the courte of France:
for Ihon duke of Aliison, which before had bene prisoner, & wel enterteyned in the realme
of England, and after Capitayn Generall of the warres in Fraunce agaynst the Englishmen,
highly fauoured, and of great estimacion in the Frenche kynges house, was by suche as he
most trusted & vsed most familiaritie \Val, & whom he had greatly promoted, and highly ex-
alted, accused of highe treason, as enemye to his kyng, and traytor to his countrey, alleclg-
yng that he loge before y tyme had conspired with the Englishmen, to cause them once agayn
ihon duke to rccouer the duchye of Normandy : wherupo by the order of the law, he there suffered
death very vniustly, as diuers aucthors affirme, whereof one sayeth: that kynges sekyng
treason, shall fynde lande, and the denyal of a princes desyre, was the inuented destruccion
of the innocent Naboth. Well let vs now leue the cloked collusion, that remayned in Fraunce,
.& returne to the open dissimulacion, which now appeared in England.
<g THE.
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 239
«U THE. XXXVII. YERE.
AS fier beyng enclosed in a strayte place, wil by force vtter his flame, and as the course T
of water astricted & letted will flow and brust out in continuance of tyme: so thys cacard yerCi
crocodryle and subtile serpet, could not log liirke in malicious hartes, nor venemous sto-
mackcs, but in coclusioii she must (according to her nature) appere & shewe her self. For
after thisapparant cocord, and intrinsecall discord, accordyng to the very nature of dissi-
niulacion, diuers noblemen of by r the, but not stable of worde, putting from them honor,
trou«*ht and honestie forgat their othe, and brake their prornisse, & aduaunced forth the banner of
displeasure, and the flagge of malice. So a man may se, that such persons, regard neither
their awne peculiar profile, nor the publique wealth of their natiuc countrey, nor yet passe
of an othe, or promise brekyng, to whom discord is pleasant, and dbcencion is delectable.
Tor not long after this dissimulcd amitie, a certayn fray, either by chau nee, orofathyng
prepensed, was made vpon a yoman of the erles of Warwyke, by a seruiteur of the kynges,
in which the Assaylant was sore hurte, but f erles ma fled. The kynges meigniall seruautes,
seyng their felow hurt, and the offender escaped, assembled in great number, and watched
the erle, returnyng from the counsaill toward his barge, and sodaynly set on hym the yomen
with swourdes, and the Hlacke gard, with spittes and fyre forkes. After log fight, and many
of the erles men maymed and wouded, by helpe of his frendes, he toke a wherry, and so
escaped to London : whotne the Queue incontinent commaunded to be apprehended, & as
a captiue & prisoner, to be sent to the Towre of Lodo, where (if he had bene then taken)
he had shortly ended his dayes, and made hys end. By this vnhappy fraye, and sodayn
chauche of malice, there arose such dayly and terrible warre, that euery man was in trouble,
and no person was in quiet. For after this displeasure doen to the erle, and the quenes good
mynd toward hym, by his secrete frendes priuely reueled, he with all diligece, toke his iorney
to Warwkke, and after into Yorkeshire, where he found the duke of Yorke, and the erle
of Salisbury, declaring to them, the assaute of the kynges seruauntes, and the pretensed
purpose of the fraudulent Queue. After which complaint made, he fearing lest by long ab-
sence, he might be deposed or defrauded of his capitainship of Calice, with greate spede
embarked hymself, & sayled thither, daily expectyng and lokyng, what way the duke of
Yorke would take, for acheuyng his long inteded purpose. After whose departure, the duke
of Yorke and therle of Salisbury, somwhat exasperate and moued with this doble dealyng
began to grudge and munnure: affirmyng that in the Quene rested nothyng, but fraude and
feminine malice, whiche rulyngthe kyng at her pleasure and wil, studied nothyng so muche,
as the destruction of the nobilitie, and peeres of the realme. After long consultacion had,
it was agreed, that the erle with a warlike company, should marche toward the kyng, and
complain to him, bothe of the manifest iniury doen to his sone, and also of the vnkind breach,
of the sworne amitie and lateagremet, in whiche suite, if he did preuail, he then should not
ou;it the occasion to hym geuen, in reuengyng the displeasures to hym doen, by the queue
and her sinister counsailors, whiche euill & vngodly, ordered the subiectes of the whole
Realme. After this deuise made and concluded, therle of Salisbury remoued from Middle-
ham castle, accopamed with. iiii. or. v. M. men and toke his waie through Lancashire, and
Shropshire, toward London. In the meane season the quene, whiche was assisted and ru-
led, by the dukes of Somerset and Buckynghii, hauyng the vigilant iye and circumspect
brayne, of a pollitique goucrnor : imagined that therle of Warwicke had kindeled this fire,
and begon this tumult to thentent (accordyng to his pretensed purpose) to set the duke of
Yorkeinthe siege royall, and high throne of the realme: For which causes, she beynga woman
of nosmal wit,norlitle pollicie, conceiuynginher opinion, that it was no bote to make any far-
ther concord or league with her aduersaries, & hearyng of therle of Salisburies setyng forward,
with acopany of armed of -men & archers: assebled together a greate ceunsaill, to puruey a
remedy.
240 THE. XXXVIII. YERE OF
remedy, for that imminent mischief, and (as in a multitude oftentimes it happcth, so many
heddes so many wittes) so diuerse \ver in opinion, that neither people nor weapon should
be stirred, till the erle approched: douhtyng, whether he came to demaunde warre or peace,
or to aske lustice, & to reforme wrong. Other, otherwise thought, and wer of a contrary opi-
nion, makyng the foundacio of their argument, that the raisyng of people, and assemble of
souldiors by hym, could signifie no peace, nor treaty of concord : except a man should saie,
thatintreatyng forfauor with naked sworde in hande, were an humble submission and a meke
request: whiche onely consideracion, moued them to saie, y as force with force, ought to be
repelled, so he with a great power, or he came into the middest of the realme, should of
necessitie be encountered and (if fortune would serue) vtterly destroyed. This sentence
toke place, & without delaie, sir lames Twichet lorde Awdeley, because his seignorie and
power lay in those partes, where the erle should passe, was appoynted to mete with hym,
and to gene hym battaill, if he sawe cause or place convenient and the quene folowed after.
The lord Audeley, accordyng to his commission, assembled aboue. x. M. men, and knowyng
by his espials whiche way therle kept, approched nere to hym on a faire plain called Blore
Heath, within a mile of the toune of Drayton, in the countrey of Salope, commonly called
Shropshire. The erle perceiuing by the liuery of the souldiors, that he was circumuented
and likely to be trapped with the quenes power, determined rather there to abide the aduen-
ture, with fame and honor, then farther to flie, with losse & reproche : & so encamped
hymself all the night, on the side of a litle broke not very brode, but somewhat depe. In
the mornyng earely, beyng the daie of. s. Tecle, he caused his souldiors to shote their rliorhtes,
towarde the Lorde Awdeleys company, whiche laie on the otherside of the saied water, and
then he and all his company, made a signe of retraite. The lorde Awdeley, remembryng
not onely the trust that he was put in, but also the Quenes terrible tommaundement, (whiche
was to bryng to her presence, therle of Salisbury, quicke or ded) blewe vp his trumpet, and
did set furth his voward, & sodainly passed the water. Therle of Salisbury, whiche knewe
the slaightes, stratagemes, and the pollecies of warlike affaires, sodainly returned, and short-
ly encountred with the Lorde Awdeley and his chief Capitaines, or the residewe of his annie
could passe the water. The fight was sore and dreadfull. Therle desiryng thesauyng of his
life, and his aduersaries couetyng his destruccion, fought sore for the obteinyng of their pur-
pose, but in conclusion, the erles army as men desperate of aide and succor, so egerly fought,
that thei slewe the lorde Awdeley, and all his capitaines, and discomfited all the remnaunt
of his people. In this battail wer slain, xxiiij. C. persos, but the greatest plague lighted on
the Chesshire men, because one halfe of the shire, was one the one part, and the other on the
other part, of whiche numbre wer sir Thomas Dutton, sir Ihon Dunne, & sir Hugh Venables.
But therles twoo sonnes, the one called sir Ihon Neuell, and the other sir Thomas, wer sore
woiided, whiche soberly iorniyng into the Northcountrey thinkyng there to repose them selfes,
wer in their iorney appreheded, by the quenes frendes," and conueyed to Chester : but their
kepers deliuered them shortly, or els the Marchemen had destroyed the Gayles. Such fauor
had the commons of Wales, to the duke of Yorkes band and his 'affinitie, that thei could suffre
no wrong to be doen, nor euil worde to be spoken of hym or his frendcs.
«i THE. XXXVIII. YERE.
The.^xviii. AFter this battail, the duke of Yorke not onely perceruyng that the destruccion of him
& his frendcs, was intended (as by this last conflict, was apparantly declared) but also re-
membryng, that all his counsailes & priuyjnietes, wer now opened to the kyng and y quene
which studied to diuert and turn from the, all michiefor infortunitie, whiche mightchaunce
either to theim or their 1'rendes, thought it mete neither lenger to dissimule, nor farther to
kepe his bill vnder wyng: and therefore with a coragious harte, aswel for the obteinyng of
the croune, as for the tuicio and safegard of hym and his frendes, he determined no len°er
e
to
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. «4l
to slepe in his den, but with all diligence, to set furthe his busines and auaunce bis banner.
And therfore sending for therle of Salisbury his felovv and compere in all his doynges,
•counsailes, and fortunes (after long communicacion had, of the Queues misgouernauuce,
and how she without their assent, did all thynges at her will and pleasure) determined to
raise a greate army, and by fine force, either to die or win their purpose. What should [
saie, men were assembled, frcndes wer sent for, and a puissaunt armie was gathered, bpthe
of Northren men and Welshemen, whiche in good ordre came into the Marches of Wales,
adioynyng to Shropshire, where they determined either to abide their enemies, or to mete them
if thei marched forward. The king was not ignorant.of this assemble, nor yet vnaduertised
of the dukes intet: wherfore to resist the mischief at the beginnyng, he caused commissidsto
be made and sent into euery part of the reahne, where he suspected either to haue assured
frendes or indifteret fauorers, for men and money. By reason of whiche commaundemef,
a yreat numbre was assembled. Many for theloue they bare to the king, but more for the
fearey thei had of the queue, whose countenaunce was so fearfull, and whose looke was so
terrible, that to al .men, against whom she toke a small displeasure, her frounyng was their
vndoyng, & her indignacion, was their death. The king accopanied with the dukes of
Somerset & Excester, and other of the line of Lancaster determined clerely, to set on the
duke of Yorke & his confederates, and them by force either vtterly to vanquish, or by pollecy
to attrap and bring to confusion: wheruponin hope of good lucke, the kyng with his army
by long tnarchyng, came nere to the duke of Yorke, which was strongly incamped, alitle
from the toune of Ludlow, nere adioynyng to the confines of Wales, to whom not long
before, was come his trustie frende Richard Erie of Warwike, with a greate numbre of ex-
pert men in marciall feates, whom he had brought with hym from Calice, wherof two
were menne of approued pullecye, in the warres of Normandy and Guyen, the one called
Andrew Trowlop, & the other Iho Blount. These armies thus liyng, the one in the conspect
and vewe of the other studied all mcanea and pollecies, how to take aduauntage eche of other
and how withlesseieoperdye, the one might set on the other. The Duke perceiuyng by rea-
son of his expert Capitaines, a wayc howe he might easely dampnifie and discomtite his ene-
mies, thought no lengcr to slepe his purpose, but manfully to geue the onset, & so with his
secrete frendes and capitaines, determined the next morning early, with dreadfull blastes of
the terrible trompet, to begin the battail, and set on the kyng and his army, or he wer redy
or in aray. But of this deuise succeded nothing nor of this imaginacion proceded any ef-
fect. For Andrewe Trolop and other the Calicians, whiche wer men of great know-
ledge and muche experience, and had liued by the kynges wages, more then a few yeres,
perceiuyng now, that they should fight against their souereigne lorde liymself (whose frend
thei estemed before that tyme, therle of Warwike euer to haue been taken and reputed, and
not his enemy or destroyer) in the decide of the night, before the daie of battaill, secretly
departed from the dukes campe, and submitted themselfes to the kyng admonishing him of
all thynges prepared and deuised, for his losse £ destruction. It the«e auncient capitaines
wer welcome to the kyng, or if he Joyously them receiued, I referrc that to all men, whiche
haue relief in their distresse, or haue a sodain good chaunce, when thei tliinke least vpon it.
When the duke of Yorke was aduertised of their departyng, no maruaill though his senses
wer moued, and his wittes disturbed, as a man that sodainly riseth out of a traunse,
woteth not what to do or saie : For he first considered the power and aucthoritie of the Kyn-g,
andsawe that Andrewe Troloppe, of his frend was sodainly transformed, into the image of
his extreme enemy, whose force and pollecie, asmuchenow discoforted hym, as by the Irusto
whiche he put in hym, he was before incouraged : wherfore he enidently perceiuyng, that
all his counsaill and purpose, was by the forenamed Andrew, reueled and disclosed, thought
it better for hym and hys, to departe in suretie, then to abide the chaunce, of mutable For-
tune, whiche turneth the whiele at her wil & pleasure: wherupon he with his yonger sonne
Edmond erle of Rutland, secretly departed into Wales and so passed into Ireland, where
he was with al ioy & honor gladly receiued. Therle of March, sonne & heire apparant to
I i the
THE. XXXVIII. YERE OF
thefoi'said duke, accompanied wi-th therlesof Salisbury, and Warvvike, and sir Ihon Werr-
locke, stale away thesame night, & came into Deuonshire : wher by the meanes of Ihoa
JKnham Esquire (whiche after was high, treasurer of England, in the time of kyng Henry
the vij.) thei bought a ship, whiche cost C.x. markes, atExmouth, £ sailed to Gernsay, and
after came to CalTce, & were let in at the posternc, £ Joyfully welcomed of their frendes.
THE next day in the mornyng, the kyng beyng aduertised of the departyng of the. Duke
of Yorke and his partakers, caused al his horssemen to folowe them by euery passage, btrt
thei wer neither seen nor espied, as they that folowed, made reporte. The kyng perceiuyng
that the lordes were escaped, pardoned all the poore souldiours, sauyng certain Ryng
leaders, whereof some he punished and fined, and some he hanged and quartered. After
this, he remouedto Ludlowe, and there dispatched his hoste, and spoyled the toune and the
Castle, and sent the Duchcs of Yorke, with her two yonger sonnes, to be kept in ward, with
the Duchcs of Buckynghaiu her suster, where she continued a certain space. After this, he
proclaimed these lordes, traytors to hym, enemies to their countrey, and rebelles to the
Croune: contiscatyng al their landes, goodes, and offices, committyng the gouernaunce of
the Northe partes, to the Erie of Northumberlande, and the Lorde Clifford, as to his
trustieandmostcfaithfullfrendes: and of his toune of Calice, he made Capitain, Henry the
newe Duke of Somerset: but the olde husbande man saieth, that as to hastie sowyng, often
time deceiueth, so to late, neuer wel proueth. For in this businesse. protractyng of tyme
onely, hurled and harmed the Kyng and his sequele. -For if he at the beginnyng, had dis-
possessed his aduersaries of that refuge and hold, no doubt but he had either tamed or van-
quished theiin with litle labour and small daunger.
THE Duke of Somerset, reioysyng much in his new office, elected diuerse hardy and
valiaunt souldiors, and with greate pompe sailed toward Calice: and when he thought surely
to haue entered into the Hauen, the artillarie shot so fiersely, bothe out of the toune and
Risebancke, that he sutferyng there a sore repulse, was fain to land at whitsandbay, and
sent woorde to the capitainesof the toune, to receiue hym, as the kyng.es lieuetenaunt, and
shewed to them his letters Patentes, but neither he nor his writyng, was once regarded or looked
on : so of necessitie he resorted to the Castle of Guysnes, daily skirmishing with the gar-
rison of Calice, more to his losse then gain. After his arriuall, as is aforesaied, diuerse of
the mariners, owing more good will, to therle of Wanvicke, then to this young duke, coo
ueyed their shippes into the Hauen of Calice, and in theim diuerse of the Erie of War-
wickes enemies, as lanyn Fendill, Ihon Felowe, and diuerse other, and presented theim to
thesaied Erie, whiche incontinent, caused their hedcles to bee striken of. This daily conflict,
still continuyng betwene the Lordes, whiche soiorned at Calice, and the duke of Somerset,
liyng at Guysnes, no small numbre of the comonaltie, daily resorted to the Erie of Marche
afid his confederates: by reason wherof, all though they daily lost people, and had many
slain, yet their numbre was restored, and the gappe euer filled, whiche was the continuall
losse, and daily detriment to the duke of Somerset. Yet he like a valiaunt Prince, nothyng
lesse tnyndyng, then for lacke of ayde to be expelled from the great office and renowned
aucthoritie, whiche the kyng had to hym geuen, in the partes beyond the sea, sent letters to
the kyng, and messengers to the Queue, desiryng of them aide and succor, in defence of the
querell, and lawfull assistence. His postes wer not vnheard, nor his requestes vnprouided.
For without delay Richard lorde Riuers, & sir Anthony Wooduile, his valiaunt sonne,
whiche after was Lorde Scales, accompanied with foure hundred warlike persones, were ap-
poynted to passe the seas, and to be coadiutors to the Duke of Somerset. These marciall
capitaynes endeuouryng theim selfes to the poynt, for the which thei were assigned, came to
the Porte of Sandwyche, and there abode the Wynd and the wether, whiche obeyeth neither
Kyng, nor serueth Fmperoure.
THEEvlesof Marche and Warwicke, and other beyng at Calice, had knowledge.of all
these doynges, and secrete conuenticles: wherfore to anticipate and preuent the Dukes pur-
pose, they sent Ihon Dinham the valiaunt esquire, with a small numbre of men but with a,
multitude
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 343
multitude of coragious hartes, to the toune of Sandwyche, which sodainty entered thesarae,
and toke the Lorde Riuers in his bedde, and his sonne also: robbyng houses, & spoylyng
shippes of great riches and marchandise, and beside this, they tpoke the principall shippes
of the kynges nauie, then liyng at the Port, well furnished with ordinaunce andartillurie, but
not without the fauour of the mariners, whiche fauoured more the one part then the other.
But although Ihon Dinham, Capitain on the Lordes parte, was sore hurte and maymed on
his legge, by reason wherof, he euer alter halted and somewhat limped : .yet his courage
and pollecy was so much, that he vanquished his enemies, and brought the shippes royall
laded with preye and prisoners, to the toune of Calice> and theim presented to the Erie of
Marche, not knowing then, that the Lorde Riuers doughter should bee the Krles wife,
whiche then had an husbande leuyng, nor thynkyngthat her father for her sake, should after
be destroyed. But who can know the secretes of GOD, or without him, declare the
chaunce that after shall insue.
AFTER this bootie gotten, and good lucke obteined, diuerse of the best shippes. taken
in the Hauen of Sandwiche, wer well vitailed and manned, and with theim the Erie of
Warwicke, transfreted and sayled into Irelande, to common with the Duke of Yorke, of hi.-:
greate affayres and businesse. The wether was so faire, and the Wynd so fauorable to the.
Erles purpose, that within lesse then. xxx. dales, he passed and repassed from Calice to
Deuelyne, and asserteined the Erles of Marche and of Salisbury, what was the Duke of
Yorkes deuise and intent, bothe for his entre and theirs, into the Realme of Englande.
The erie of Warwicke had come to short home, to tel these tidynges, if the duke of Exces-
ter, whiche, beyng Admiral! of the sea, lay in the Weste countrey, to stoppe the Erles
passage, might haue had his awne will: but the capitaines of his Nauy murmured against
hym, and the mariners dispraised and disdayned him, glad to heare of the Erie of War-
<wickes good successe, by which occasion, he neither would, nor durst once medle or coupe
with the Erles nauie.
DVRYNG this tyme, the Kyng called a Parliament, in the Citee of Couentre, in the
whiche, the Duke of Yorke and all his confederates were attaynted of high treason, and their
goodes and landes confiscat and forfeted: and to prohibitc their landyng in all partes, hauen
tounes were watched, and the sea costes \vere garnished with bekens. And tir Simon
Mondford with a great crew, was appoynted to kepe the douncs, and the fine PortesT and
all inenne passyng into Flaunders, were vpon payne oi'deatn, prohibited to passe by Calice,
lest the lordes there, should borow of them any money, a« they did prest of the marchantes
of the staple. xviii.M.l. late before, whiche was a great displeasure to y kyng, & a more
corasey to the queue. The lordes lyfg at Caleys, wer not ignorant of all these doynges &
prouisions, but daily were asserteyned what was done in the kynges priuie chamber: \\her-
fore firste they sent a •company to Sandwyche, which conquered the toyvne, and apprch.en.d-
ed syr Symon Moutford, and brought hym with all his mates to the hauen of Caleys, where
incontinet, he with. xij. of his chief felowes, lost their heddes on the sandes, before Ryse-
bancke. After the kynges ivauyc gayned, and bis capitayns on the arriual of the sea taken
and destroied, the lordes lyenge at Caleys, hoping in their frendes whm'n the reahne determi-
ned to passe the sea, and to knd in England. And after they had put the castel and towne
of Caleys, in sure and safe custodye to their onely vse, they passed the sea, and landed at
Sandwich. And so passyng through Kent, there came to them the lordc Cobliam, Ihon
Guldefford, William Peche, Robert Home, and many other gentelmen, which conueycd
them to the citie of London. But the fame of their .landyng once knowen, gentelmen re-
paired and yeomcr resorted out of all the Southpartes of "the Realme: vpon which rumor
Thomas lord Scales, a man in great fauour, with the kyng and Quene, accompanied with
the erle of Kendale, a Gascoyn, and the lord Louel, resorted to London, with a great
company of armed men: declaryng tothe Mayrc of the citie, that their repayre onely was to
defend, and kepe the citie from the spoyle & robbery of suche traytors, as the kyng was cre-
dillie eoformed^ w.oulde thither make accesse : to whom the Mayre aunswe.red, that he wel
I i % knew
THE. XXXVIII. YE11E OF
knew both his awne othe, and -bounden duety toward his souereign lord and prince, and
"neded neither of prompter, nor yet of Coadiutor, either to defend or gouerne the citie, to him
(•omitted in charge. With which aunswere, the lorde Scales and his associates not a litle
displeased, entered into the Tow re of London, dayly with new inuentions, doyng dis-
pleasures and domages to the citezens ,of the citie whornc they sore suspected, rather to fa-
uour then to hate, the erles of Marche, & Warwycke, & other of their band and affinitie.
Which erles with a great army came shortly to London, and were of the May re and cite-
zens ioyonsly receyued, to whome resorted the Archebishop of Canterbury, the Bishops of
London, Ely and Kxcester with many prelates and religious persons. These lordes nothyng
slackyng the purpose, that they came for, dayly consulted and assembled together in the
house of the friers Franciseane within the citie. And after long debatinge, and secret
cotisultacion, hadde, it was agreed, that they with their whoole puyssaunce shoulde marche
forwarde, towardc the kynge: determining either by force or fayre meanes, to bryng their
purpose to a conclusion. Whe this counsaill was dissolued, the erles of March and War-
wycke, Thomas lord Faucobridge, Hery lord Borchicr, called erle of Eue, with a great
number of men, which came out of Kent, Essex, Surrey, and Sussex, to the number as
some writers afferme of. xxv.M. persons departed from London, toward the kyng, lyeng at
-Couentre, then called the Quenes secret arbor, leuyng behynd them, to kepe the Londoners
in their fidelitie, from reuertyng from their part, the erie of Salisbury, the lord Cobham, and
syrlhon Wenlocke: which lord Cobha, with certayn Aldermen of the citie, so kept the West
side against the Towre, and syr Ihon Wenlocke, with other so vigilantly watched the East
parte, towarde sainct Katherynes, that no person either could issue out, or entre in, to y
great displeasure of the lord Scales and his company, whiche dayly shote their ordenaunce
out, and had likewise great ordinaunce shott at them, to the hurt, and no pleasure of both
partes. The kyng not ignorat of all these doynges, assembled a great army, and accom-
panied with the duke of Somerset, which was lately come from Guysnes, and the Duke of
Buckyngham, and diuers other great lordes of his parte and faccid came to the towne of
Northampton, where the Queue encouraged her frendes, and promised great rewardes to
her helpers: for the kyng studied nothing but of peace, quiet and solitarie life. When y~
kinges host was assembled, and that the Quene perceyucd that her power was able to
rnatche wilh the force of her aduersaries, she caused her army to issue out of the towne,
and to passe the ryuer of Nene, and there in the newe felde, betwene Harsyngton and
Sandifford, the Capitaynes strongely ernparked them selfes with high bankes and depe
trenches. The erle of Marche beyng lusty, and in the floure of his coragious yought,-
lyenge betwene Towceter and Northampton, determined to set on the kynges army, without-
longer protractyng of tyme. And in the nighte season remoued his catnpe toward North-
ampton, and in marchyng forward set his men in good order of battayl, wherof the vawe-
gard was coducted by the erle of Warwycke, which, either by strenght or stealth, maugre y
lord Beamond, which kept a strayt, goyng toward the Kynges canape, entered freshly and
began the battayle aboutc. vij. of the clocke, the ix^daye of lulij. After whome folowed
the erle of Marche, with the barter of his father. Tin's fight contynued in doubtfull iudge-
inente, till the houre of nyne, at which tyme the kynges army was profligut, and discomfited,
and of thesatne slayn, and drouned in the ryuer, fewc lessc then x.M. talle Englishme, £ y
kyng hym self left alone disconsolate, was taken and apprehended, as a man borne, and
predestinate to troble misery and calamitie. At this battayl were slayn, Humfrey duke of
Buckyngham, Ihon Talbot erle of Shrewesbury, a valcant person, and not degeneratyng
fr5 his noble parent : Thomas lord Egremond, Ihon viscount Beaumond, and syr William
Lucy, which made great hast to come to parte of the fight, and at his first approche was
strike in the bed w an axe. Diuers other getilme were slayn in this ciuile battail, whose
-names were not remembred nor published by any aucthor that I haue redde. Beside these
_dead persons, many were taken prisoners, because they left their horses, £ disceded to
"fight on fote. The duke of Somerset and other, which' narowly escaped, fled with the-.
Quene
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 845
Quene ami prince Edward, into the bishoprycke of Durhame, in whiche place ll ey deter-
mined to congregate, and gather a new armye and power, and if nohoope were of recouery,
then they agreed to flye into Scotland: there to expect better lucke, and happier chamice,
by fortunes fauour. The erles beyng victorious in this blody battayle, conucyed the Kyng
that night again to the towne of Northampton, and the next day with great solempnitie
and small comfort, they setforward the king, & by easy iorneys brought him to London the
xvi. day of lulij, where he was fayntely receyued, & febly welcomed, and was lodged in-
the Bishops palace. After whose commyng tothecitic, the Towre of London was deliuered
to the erle of Marche, vpon a certayn composicion. But the Lorde Scales, suspectyng the
sequele of the deliuery of thesarne, toke a wlierry priuiiy, entendyng to haue tied to the
Quene. But he was espied by diuers waterme belongyng to theerle of Warwycke, whiche
wayted for hys forthcommyng on the Thamse, and sodainly take and shortly slayne with
many dartes and daggers, and his body left all blody and naked at the gate of the Clyncke,
"which after was buried in the church adioynyug. Then were diuers persons apprehended,
and endited of treason, wherof some were pardoned, and some executed : but Thomas
Thorpe, second Bard of thexchequer, great frend to the house of Lancaster, and extreme
enemie to the familie of Yorkc, was taken disguised in a monkes apparell, with a shauen
croune, & so brought to the erle of Warwycke, which sent hym to the Towre of London,
where he long remayned. Duryng this troble, was a Parliament somoned to begyn at
Westmynster, in y monelh of October next folowyng. Before which tyme, Kicharde duke
of Yorke, beyng in Irelad, by swyft currers, and flieng postes, ~was aduertised of the great
' victorie, gained by his parte, at the feld of Northampton, and also knew that the kynge
was now in case to be kepte, & ordered at his pleasure and wil : wherfore losyng no tyme,
norsluggyng one houre, he sayled from Deuelyne to Chester with no small company and
•by longe journeys, came to the citie of London, which he entered the Friday next before the
teast of sainct Edwarde the confessor, with a swourd borne naked before him, and toke his
lodgynge in the kynges awne palayce, wherupon the comon people l)abbeled, that he should
be Kyng, & that kyng Henry should no loger reigne. During the tyme of this Parliamente,
the duke of Yorke withabolde contenaunce, entered into the chamber of the peres, and sat
downe in the troneroyall, vnder the clotlie of estate (which is the kynges oeculiar seate) & in
the presence aswel of the nobilitie, as ofy spiritualtie (after a[)ause made) said these wordes
in effect. " My singuler good lordes, and very indifferetfredes, in whose power and auctho- of Yol'kJs
rithe consisteth the peyse and the stay of this noble Reulmc of England, the which aswell oration
before the tyme, that Christe oursauiour and redemer, toke vpon hym our fraile fleshe, and "beio/d"*2
humayn nature, as euer since, hath ben a Realme renoumed, a kingdom famous, & a re- °f tLc Kir-
gion (aswel emongtst Paganes as Christians) greatly bruted, beloued and feared. 1 no
lesse requyre, .then frendly exhort you now, beyng together as louers of God, and frendes
to your countrey, neither yet do iudge, or once suspect, that I either enflamed withambycio
or desirous of high rule, or couetous of soueraigntie, haue presumed to enter vnder this
trone, or attempted to set in this princely chayer and seage Royaile, except you hcare the
cause, and digest wel the truthe. For without these two poyntes knowen, and viiderstanded
your iudgementes may be voydc, and your cogitacions fritiolous. Therfore I declare and
publish to you, that here I sit, as in the place to tne by very iustice lawfully belongyng, &
here I rest, as he to whome this chayre of righte apperteineth, not as he, which requireth
of you fauor, parcialitie, or. bearyng, but egall right, frendly indifferencie, and trew admi-
nistracion of Justice: for I beyng the partye greued, and complaynaiit, can not minister to my
self the Medecine, that should helpe me (as experte leche_s and Chyrurgians may) except--
you be to me both faithful ayders, and also trew counsaylors. Nor yet this noble realme,
and our natural'! countrey shall neuer be vnbukeled from herquotidia feuer, except I (as
the principall Physician & you, as trew and trusty Appotecaries) consult together, in
rnakyng of the pocion, and trye out the clene and pure stufte, fro the old, corrupt) and
putrified dregges. For vndoutedly, the rote & botome of this long festured cakar, is not
yet
246 THE. XXXVIII. YERE OJ?
vet extirpat, nor the feble foudacion of this fallible building, is not yet espied, which hath
bcne and is the daily dcstruccion of the nobilitie, and the quotidian confusion of y pore
comunaltie of this realtne and kyngdom, For all you know (or should know that the high
and mighty prince kynge Richard the. ii. was the trew and indubitate heyre, to the valeant
Conquerour, and reuoumed prince kynge Edwarde the iii. as sonne and heyre to the hardy
kny»ht, and couragious capitayn, Edward prince of Wales, duke of Acquitayn and Corne-
wall, eldest sonne to the said kyng Edward the. iij. which kyng was not onely in dead, but
also' of all men, reputed and taken, as y very trew and infallible^heyre, to the wyse & pol-
litique prince, kyng Henry the. iij. as sonne & heere to kynge Edward the second, sonne
and heyre to kyng Edward the first, the very heyre and firste begotten sonne of the sayd
noble and vertuous prince, kyng Hery the. iii. Which kyng Richard, of that name the
second, was lawfully and iustly possessed of the croane, and diademe of this Realme and
region,' tyll Henry of Derby, duke of Lancaster and Herdford, sonne to Ihon duke of Lan-
caster, the fourth begotten sonne, to the sayd kyng Edward the. iij. and yonger brother, to
my noble auncestor Lyonel duke of Clarence, the. iii. begotten sonne_of the sayd kyng
Edward, by force & violence, contrary both to the duetie of his allegiauce, and also to his
homage to him both done and sworne, raysed warn- and battayle, at the castel of Flynt, in
Northwales, agaynst the sayd kyng Richard and hym apprehended & imprisoned within tl*e
Towre of Lodo. Duryng uhose life & captiuitie he wrongfully vsurped and entruded vpon
the royall power and high estate of this Realme and region, takyng on hyna $ name, stile, &
aucthoritie of kyng and gouernor of thesame. And not therewith satisfied and contented,
compassed and "accomplished, the death £ destruccion of hys naturall prince, and laeste
worthy soucreigne lord, not as a common homicydc, and bocherly murder, but as a regicide
& destroyer of his kyng. After whose piteous death, and execrable murder ;(alas my harte
panteth to remember the abhominable facte) the right & title of the cixwae, and supe-
riorite of this realme, was lawfully reuerted and returned to Rogier Msrtimer, erle of
Marche, sonne and heyre to lady Philippe, the onely child of the .aboue rehersed Lyonel,
-duke of Claix-ce, to which llogiers doughter called Anne, my most derest and welbeloued
mother, I am the very trew and lineall heyre, whiche discent, all you can not iustely agayu
say, nor yet truly deny. Then remember this, if the .title be myne, why aoi I put from it:
if I be trewe heyre to the croune (as I am in dede) why is my right withholden: if my
clayme be good, why haue I not iustice : for surely lerned men of great science and littera-
ture, saye & affirme, that lyneall discent, nor vsurped possession, can nothynge preuayle,
if continuall clayme be lawfully made, or openly published. For auoyding of which scru-
ple and ambiguitie : Edmond erle of Marche, .my most welbeloued vncle, in the tyme of
the firste vsurpar, in dede, but not by right, called kyng Hery the. iiij. by his cosyns, the
-erle of Nortb.hu tubedad, and the, lord Percy, he beyng then in captiuitie, with Owen Glen-
dore, the rebcll in Wales, made his .title, -and righteous clayme, to the destruccion of both
the noble persons. Likewise my moste derest lorde & father, so farre setfurth that ryght
and title, that he loste his life, and worldly ioy, at the towne of Southampton, more by pow-
•er, then. indifferent iustice. Sythe -whose death, I commyng to my full age, haue neuer de-
sisted to purse w my title, and requyre my right, which by meanes of synister counsaill, and
iniust detencion, I can neither obteyne or recouer. So that of fyne force, I am compelled
to vse power in stede of .prayer, & force, in stede of request (not aslsayde before) for my
priuate euiohuiR't, and peculiar profite, but to restore peace, loue, and quietnqs to this our
naturall reg.io: which euer sith tl>e fyrste vngodly vsurpacion of the forenatned Henry
.vntruely called 4cyng Henry the. iiij. hath ben clerely banished, and out of thesame iniustly
exiled. Wliat murders and manslaughters hatlrbene perpetrated, and committed within thys
couutrey, sythe the beginnyng of that vngracious vsurpacion: what number ,of noble men
haue beuslayne, destroyed and executed, sith that vnfortunate day: what manifest iniquitie
hath ben openly borne, and maynteyned in cuery countrey and citie, sith the dolefull death
•of kyng Richard: or what person darre sue for iis right at tnis'dai, cotcary to £ will of .the
1 counsailors,
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 247
counsaiiors, which now beare the swyng and rule of the roste. Wei, \vel, although almighty
God slackcly & slowdy do y precede, to 5' punishment of synriers: yet the differyng of his
scorge, is recompensed with y greater payn, when his rod striketh, yea, and of'tentymes he
leaueth the very malefactors apparantly vnpunished, and scorgeth their bloud and punish--
«th the in their heyres, by worldly aduersitie. Suche is his mercy when it pleaseth him to
shew it, and sa sharpe is his whyp when he lyst to strike. For although, Henry of Lancas- •
ter, erle of Derby toke vpon him the scepter, and the croune, and wrongfully bare thei
name and stile of a king, and was not much tickeled with myne Vncle, the eric of Marche, j
at }' ti'"e keyng within age: Yet was he neuer in suerty of him self, nor had any, or enioyed
any pedytquietnes, cither in mynd or in body : for suerly a corrupt conscience feleth neuer
reste, but loketh when the swourd of vengeaunce will discend and stryke. His sonne also-
called kyng Henry the. v. obteyned notable victories, and immortal! prayses, for his noble
actes, done in the realme of Fran nee: yet God for the offence of his vntrew parente, so-
day'nly touched him, vnbodiynge his soule, in tiie flower of his yought, and in the glory of
his conquest. And although, he had a fayre sonne, and a yong apparat heyre: yet was this
Orphan such a one, as Preachers say, that God threatened to send, for a punishmet, to hi»
vnruely and vngracious people: saiyng by hys prophet Esay: I shall gyueyou children to be
your princes, and enfantes without wysedom, shall haue the gouernaunce of you. The
Prophet lyed not, if you note all thinges in an order : For after this Henry y" v. (whose
fame, no ma can iustly reproue or deface) succeded his sonne whome all we haue called our
naturall prince, & obeyed, as his hcyre: in whose tyme, and wrongfull reigtie, I require
you diligently to cosider, with what great tormentes & aftiiccions God hajh whypped &
scorged this miserable Isle, yea, with such and so many scourges and plagues, as no nacion
(the Egyptians onely except) were euer tormented, or afflicted withall. I will not speake
ef rebellious, murders and oppressios, which of late hath ben done, and exercised here
emongvs: but I wi" declare and manifest to you, how the crouvieand glorie of this realme,
is by the negligence °f this silly^ man, and his vnvvise counsaill, minished, defaced, and
dishonored. Is not NormanBy/wIiTche his father gat, regayued, and conquered agayn,
by the insolencie of him, and his coueteous counsail? Is not the whole duchye of
Aquitayn by. ii.C. and od yeres, peaceable possessed by the kynges of this realme, in one
yere and a little more, gotten out of our handes and seignorie ? What should I speakc of
Angeow and Mayne or the losse, of the Isle of Frauce, with the riche citie of Parys. Alas,
my hart sobbeth, myne eyes water, and my toungue foltereth, either to speake or thinke of
the losses and misfortunes, that this our natiue coutrey, hath of late susteined. I3ut as ^
Preachers say: euill gotten gooddes, <lo not long continue, nor vsurped power, hath no pros-
perous successe. I will not molest you, with the rehersyng of the calamitie, whiche fell
«mogest the Israelites, when Athalia slew all the bloud Uoyall, except litle loas, and tyra-
nously vsurped the croune: nor treble you with the cotinual warre, which happened emoge \
the Romanies, when lulius Cesar toke vpon hym, without lawe or aucthoritie, the- name and )
stile of Emperor : but I put you in remembrance of our awne nacion, what mischiefe, strife
and misery succeded in this realme, by the iniurious vsurpacions^ of Herrald sonne to God-
•wyn erle of Kent, and Stephe of Bloy», erle of Bulleyn, the one beyng the cause of the
conquest of this realme, and the other the occasion of infinite trobles, and domesticall
discension within thesame: yet all these vexacions and scorges, be but a shadowe or coun-
terfeit light, in comparison of the great calamities and miseries, which all we here present,
haue seen and experimented. Yet in thdmiddcs of this affliccio, and to make an end of
thesame, God of his ineffable goodnes, lookyng on this countrey, with his iyes of pitie, and
aspect of mercie, hath sent me in the truth, to restore again this decayed kyngdo, to his
auncient fame & olde renounce. Whiche here in open parliament, accordyng to my iust
and true title, I haue and .do take possession, of this royall throne, not puttyng diffidence,,
but firme hope in Gods grace, that by his diuineayde, and the assistence of you, the peeres
«f this Realme, I shall decore and maintein thesame, to the gjory of hyuj, honor of my
bloud,
g4a THE. XXXVIII. YERE OF
tloud and to the publique wealth, aswell of you all here present, as of all the poore com-
mons'and subiectes, of this kyngdom and regiment." When the duke had thus ended his
oracion, the lordes sat still like Images grauen in the wall, or dome Gods, neither whisper-
vn<r nor spekyng, as though their mouthes had been sowed vp. The duke perceiuing none
aunswer, to be made to his declared purpose, not well content with their sobre silence, and
taciturn i'tie, aduised them well, to digest and pon'dre the effect of his oracion and saiyng,
and so neither fully displeased, nor all pleased, departed to his lodgyng in the Kynges
WHILE he was thus declaryng us title, in the chambre of the peres, there happened a
straunge chaunce, in the very same tyme, emongest the comons in the nether house, then
there assembled : for a "Croune whiche did hang in the middell of thesame, to garnishe a.f.
•tranche, to set lightes vpon, without touche of any creature, or rigor of wynd, sodainly
fell doune, and at thesame tyme also, fell doune the Croune, whiche stode on the top of
the Castle of Douer : as a signe and prognosticacion, that the Croune of the Realine
should bee diuided and changed, from one line to another. This was the Judgement of the
_comon people, whiche were neither of Gods priuitie, nor yet of his priuie counsaill, and
•yet they wil say their opinions, whosoeuer sale nay.
THE lordes of the realme, forgat not the dukes demaunde, nor long protracted the
•tyme, to se some good ende, in so waightie a cause : wherefore dicerse lordes, aswell spi-
ritual as temporal!, with many graue and sage persones of the commonaltie, daily assem-
bled at the Biacke Friers and other places, to treate and common of this matter, beyng
of no smal importaunce. Duryng whiche tyme, the Duke of Yorke, although he and
_the kyng, wer both lodged in the palace of Westminster, yet for no praier or intercession,
he would once visite or se the kyng, till some perfit conclusion wer taken, in this greate
and waightie purpose: saiyng and affirmyng, that he was subject to no man, but onely to
-God, and he was his lord and superior, and none other. I will alitle space leue the lordes
-consultyng together, and spcake of outward atlemptes & foren doynges.
THIS riuill discension within the realme of Englande, did muche animate and incorage
lames the secod of that name, kyng of Scottes to make warre on the Englishe nacion, part-
ly for the displeasure which he concerned for the death of Edmond duke of Somerset, his
mothers brother, and partly to shew hyrnself emogest his people, to be bothe valiaunt and
coragious. This k^ng lames from his firste rule, began to entre into suspicion with William
'Erie Douglas, • a man both of great kynne and more power, euer mistrustyng, that he no-
thyng more desired, then to depriue hytn from his aucthoritie, and to vsurpe thesame. This
•cancard suspicion was .so rooted in the kynges harte, that sodainly it branched out, in so
muche that the kyngsendyng for the Erie, (whiche trustyng on his awne innocencie, hum-
bly came to his presence) caused hyrn shamefully to be slain and murdered, with whiche
iniury, his twoo brethren, Archibald Erie of Murrey, and Hugh Erie of Ormount, not a
litle pricked and incoraged, with the Erles of Angus and Morthone, beeyng all of one
line and surname, made open warre on thesaied kyng lames: but inconclusio he preuaiied,-
aud suppressed the great power of the Douglasses. And then thynkyng hymself a kyng,
without either peere or fere ; assembled a.greate army, and entered into the Marches of
Northumberlande, and besieged the Castle of Roxborough, and there caused his newe
•Eotnbarde, lately cast in Flaunders, called the lion and diuerse other peces, to be shot
against the Castle, wherof one beyng weake and slender, brake in peces, and with one of
ityns Tam« 'the foigiuentes slewe the kyng, stanuyng emongest a greate company of his people, and
'£yn?wuh *v<>uilded the erle of Angus. The Scottes not dismaie'd with the death of their kyug, seyng
• prceof a the Castle easy to be wonne, manfully assauted and with muche pain gat it, and'thesame
long defended, till Richard Duke of Gloucester it conquered and destroyed. This kyng
James, of quene Murry his wife left three sonnes, lames whiche succeded hyin, Alexander
duke of Albany, and Ihon. This young kyng lames, was put vnder the tuicion of lames
Kenede, bishoppe of saiuct Andrewes, whiche duryng his noneage, ruled the realme to the
kynges
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 249
Kynges greate honor, but more to his awnc profile and peculier gaine: For he made sump-
"teous houses, and buylded Colleges, whiche his young pupill kyng lames, neither could
nor was liable to do.
ABOVTE this very season, and during this vnnaturall cotrouersy within the realme of
Englandc, Charles the Frenche kyng, whiche only by trouble and calamitie, gat to him a
perpetual name, and emongest his nacion aboue the sterres exalted, ended the poynt of his
fatal! fine, whiche Prince in his youth, neuer regarded wanton pastyme, nor lasciuious dal- J
liaiice, for his wittes were set, and his Industrie onely applied, to recouer again his patcr-
nall patrimony, and Princely inheritaunce : So that more plainly then in a mirror, all menne
maie perceiue that pain often profiteth, and labor commoly auaileth, but idlenesse sildomc,
and dalliaunce, neuer. To this Charles, succeded kyng Lewes, of that name the. xi. of
whose dooynges you shall heare after : & shall both studie and marueill, for the straungenes
of his demeanor, & the craftie pollecie of his secrete compasses. Now I will returne to the
great counsaill of the lordes, celebrate about Lodo, far the duke of Yorkes claime.
f THE. XXXIX. YERE.
AFter long argumentes made, & deliberate cSsultacio had emong the peeres, prelates, The- ""'*•
and commons of the realme : vpon the vigile of all sainctes, it was condescended and
agreed, by the three estates, for so muche as kyng Henry had been taken as kyng, by the
space of. xxxviii. yeres and more, that he should inioye the name and title of Kyng, and
haue possession of the realme, duryng his life naturall: And if he either died or resigned,
or forfeted thesame, for infringing any poynt of this Concorde, then the saied Croune and
aucthoritie royal, should immediatly bee diuoluted to the Duke of Yorke, if he then liued,
or els to the next heire of his line or linage, and that the duke from thensefurth, should ^«m"tcf
be Protector and Regent of the lande. Prouided allwaie, that if the kyng did closely or i*twene
apertly, studie or go aboute to breake or alter this agrement, or to compesse or imagine th^vi. ae"d7
the death or destruccion, of the saiede Duke or his bloud, then he to forfet the croun, and Richard
the duke of Yorke to take it. These articles with many other, were not onely written, York.
sealed, and sworne by the twoo parties: but also wer enacted, in the high court of Par-
liament. For ioye whereof, the kynge hauyng in his company the saied Duke, rode to the
Cathedrall Churche of sainct Paule, within the citee of Loclon, and there on the daie of
all Sainctes, went sole pnely with the diademe on his hed, in procession, and was lodged a
good space after, in the bishoppes Palace, nere to thesaied Churche. And vpon the Sa-
turdaie next insuyng, Richard Duke of Yorke, was by the sounde of a trumpet, solemp-
nely proclaimed heire apparat to the Croune of Englande, and Protector of the realme.
AFTER this, the Parliamet kept at Couentre the last yere, was declared to be a deuilishe
counsaill, and onely celebrate for the destruccio of the nobilitie, and no lawfull Parliament
because thei whiche wer returned, wer neuer elected, accordyng to the dew ordre of the
lawe, but secretly named by theim, whiche desired more the destruccion, then the a-
uauncement of the publique wealthe, and common profile. When these agrementes wer
doen and enacted, the kyng dissolued his Parliament, whiche was the laste Parliamente
that euer he ended. Suche was the pleasure of almi«htie God, that king Henry beeyng a
good and verteous manne, whiche had tasted innumerable aduersities and calamities of the
worlde, should be depriued of his terrestrial Croune, to be recompensed with an heauenly
garland, and a ioyfull place : For surely a perfite good man, all though he be plagued with
a thousande displeasures cannot be but blessed, and haue a good soule toward God.
THE Duke of Yorke well knowyng, that the Quene would spume and impugne the con-i
elusions agreed and taken in this parliament, caused her and her sonne, to be sent for by'
the kyng': but she beyng a manly woman, vsyng to rule and not to be ruled, & therto
counsailed by the dukes of Excester and Somerset, not onely denied to come, but also as-
K k sembled
250 THE. XXXIX. YERE OF
sembled together a great army, intending to take the kyng by fine force, out of the lordes
handes, and to set theim to a new skoole. The Protector liyng in Londo, hauyng pernte
knowledge of all these doynges: assigned the Duke of Norffalke ' and the Erie of War-
wicke, his trustie frendes, to be about the kyng, and he with therles of Salisbury, and Rut-
lande': with a conuenient company, departed out of London, the second daie of Decem-
bre Northward, and sent to the Erie of Marche his eldest sonne to folowye hym with all
his power. The Duke by small iorneis, came to his Castle of Sandall, beside Wakefelde,
on Christmas cue, and there began to assemble his tetmuntes and frendes. The queue
beyng thereof asserteined, determined to couple with hym while his power was small and
his ayde not come: And so hauyng in her company, the Prince her sonne, the Dukes of
Excester and Somerset, the Erie of Deuonshire, the Lorde Clifford, the Lorde llosse, and
in effecte all the Lordes of the Northe parte, with eightene thousande men, or as some
write, twentie and twoo thousande, marched from Yoike to Wakefelde, and bad base to
the Duke, euen before his Castle he hauyng with hym not fully fiue thousande persones,
determined incontinent to issue out, and to fight with his enemies, and all though, sir
.Dauy Halle, his old seruaunt and chief counsailer, auised hym to kcpe his Castle, and to
defende thesame with his smal numbre, till his sonne the Erie of Marche wer come with
his power of Marchemen and Welshe souldiours, yet he would not be counsailed, but in a
great fury saied, a Dauy, Dauy, hast thou loued me so long, and now wouldest haue me
dishonored: Thou neuer sawest me kepe fortres when I was Regent in Normandy, when
the Dolphyn hymself, with his puissaunce came to besiege me, but like a man, and not like
a birde included in a cage, I issued and fought with myne enemies, to their losse euer (I
thanke God) and to my honor: If I haue not kepte my self within walles, for feare of a
great and strong prince, nor hid my face from any man liuyng, wouldest thou that I for
dread of a scolding woman, whose weapon is onely her toungue, and her nayles, should
incarcerate my self, and shut my gates then al men might of me woundre and all crea-
tures male of me report dishonor, that a woman hath made me a dastard, who no man
euer to this daie could yet proue a coward: And surely my mind is, rather to die with ho-
nor, then to liue with shame for of honor commeth fame, and of dishonor riscth infamy.
Their great numbre shall not appall my spirites, but incorage theim, for surely I thinke
that I haue there, as many frendes as enemies, whiche at ioynyng, will either flie or take
my part: therfore auaunce my banner, in the name of God and sainct George, for
surely I will fight with the, though I should fight a lone. Therle of Salisbury and other
his frendes, seing his corage, resolued theselfes to his opinion, & ordered their men, and
set them furth in Warlike fashion, for their moste aduauntage. The Duke of Somerset
and other of the queues part, knowyng perfidy, that if the Duke gat the victory, their
daies wer rninished, and their liuynges left bare, like men quickened and exasperate, for
the safegard of their lifes, and defence of their goodes, determined to abide the chaunce,
and to espie their mo=te aduauntage, and so appointed the lorde Clifford, to lye in the one
stale, and the Erie of Wilshire in the other, and thei theimselfes kept the mayne battaill.
The duke of Yorke with his people, discended doune the hill in good ordre and array, &
was suffered to passe foreward, toward the mayne battaill : but when he was in the plaiit
*hwake-lU Srounc' betwene his Castle and the toune of Wakefelde, he was enuironed on euery side,
fcid. like a fish in a net, or a deere in a buckestall : so that he manfully fightyng, was within
Thcdukf of halfe an houre slain and ded, and his whole army discomfited, & with hym died of his trusty
y«:kc siam. frgdes, his two bastard vncles, sir Ihon, & sir Hugh Mortimers, sir Dauy Halle his chief
cousailor, sir Hugh Hastynges, sir Thomas Neuel, William and Thomas Aparre, bothe
brethren, and twoo thousande and eight hundred other, wherof many wer young gentle-
men, and heires of greate parentage in the Southe parte, whose linages reuenged their
dealhes, within foure Monethes, next and immediatly insuyng. In this conflicte was wound-
ed_and taken prisoner, Richarde Erie of Salisbury, sir Richard Lymbrike, Raufe Stanley,
JUo Harow, Capitain Hauson, and diuerse other. While this battaill was in fightyng, a
prieste
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 25 r
prieste called sir Robert Aspall, chappelain and schole master to the yong erle of Rutland
ii. sonne to the aboue named duke of Yorke, scace of y age of. xii. yeres, a faire gctletna,
and a maydenlike person, perceiuyng y flight was more sauegard, then tariyng, bothc for
him and his master, secretly conueyed therle out of y felde, by the lord Cliffordes bande,
toward the towne, but or he coulde enter into a house, he was by the sayd lord Clifford es-
pied, folowed, and taken, and by reson of his apparell, demaunded what he was. The
yog gentelman dismaied, had not a word to speake, but kneled on his knees imploryng
mercy, and desiryng grace, both .with holding vp his hades and making dolorous counti-
nance, for his speache was gone for feare. Saue him saycle his Chappelein,. for he is a
princes sonne, and peraduenture may do you good hereafter. With that word, the lord
Clifford marked him and sayde: by Gods blode, thy father slew myne, and so wil I do the
and all thy kyn, and with that woord, stacke the erle to y hart with his dagger, and bad his
Chappeleyn here the erles mother & brother worde what he had done, and sayde. In this
acte the lord Clyffbrd was accompted a tyraunt, and no gentelman, for the propertie of
the Lyon, which is a furious and an vnreasonable beaste, is to be cruell to them that with-
staride hym, and gentle to such as prostrate or humiliate them selfes before him. Yet this
cruell Clifforde, £ deadly "bloudsupper not content with this homicyde, or chyldkillyng,
came to y place wher the dead corps of the duke of Yorke lay, and caused his head to be
stryken of, and set on it a croune of paper, & so fixed it on a pole, & presented it to the
Quene, not lyeng farre from the felde, in great despite, and much derision, saiyng: Ma-
dame, your warre is done, here is your kinges raunsome, at which present, was much ioy,
and great reioysing, but many laughed then, that sore lamented after, as the Quene her
self, and her sonne: And many were glad then of other mens deaths, not knowing that their
awne were nere at hande, as the lord Clifford, and other. But surely, mans nature is so
frayje, that thinges passed be sone forgotten, and mischiefes to come, be aiot forsene. Af-
ter this victory by y Quene and her parte obteyned, she caused the erle of Salisbury, with
all the other prisoners, to bee sente to Pomfret, and there to bee behedded, and sent all
their heddes, and the dukes head of Yorke, to be set vpon poles, oner the gate of the
citie of Yorke, in despite of them, and their lignage : whose chyldren shortly reuenged
their fathers querell, both to the Quenes extreme perdicion, and the vtter vndoynge of her
husband and sonne. This ende had the valeant lord, Rychard Plantagenet, duke of Yorke,
& this fyne ensued of his to much hardines. The erle of Marche, so commonly called, but
after the death of his father, in dede and in right very duke of Yorke, lyeng at Glocester,
heryng of the death of his noble father, and louyng brother, and trusty frendes was won-
derfully amased, but after cofort giue to him, by his faithful louers and assured alyes, he
remoued to Shrewsbury, and other townes vpon the riuer of Seuerne, declaryng to them
the murder of his father, the ieopardye of hym selfe, and the vnstable state and ruyne of
Realme. The people on the Marches of Wales, which aboue measure fauored y lynage of
the lord Mortimer, more gladly offered him their ayd £ assistence, then he it either instant-
ly requyred, or hartely desired, soo that he had a puyssant army, to the number of. xxiii.
M. redy to go agaynst the quene, and the murderers of his father. But when he was set-
tyng forward, newes were brought to him, that laspar erle of Penbroke, halfe brother to
kyng Hery, and lames butler, erle of Ormond & Wylshyre had assembled together a great
number, both of Welshe and Irysh people, sodainly to surprise and take him and his
frendes, and as a captiue to conuey him to the quene. The duke of Yorke, called erle of
Marche, somwhat spurred and quickened with these noueltyes, retired backe, £ mett with
his enemies in a faire playne, nere to Mortimers crosse, not farre from Herford east, on
Candelmas day in the mornyng, at whiche tyme the sunne (as some write) appered to the
erle of March, like. iii. sunnes, and sodainly ioined all together in one, and that vpo the
sight therof, he toke suche courage, y he fiercely set on his enemies, & the shortly disco-
fited: for which cause, men imagined, that he gaue the sunne in his full brightnes for his
cognisauce or badge. Of his enemies were lefte dead on the ground, iii. M. &. viii. C-
K k 2 Th«
252 THE. XXXIX. YERE OF
The cries of Penbroke and Wilshyre fled, and syr Owen Tewtber, father to the sayd erle
of Penbroke, which Owen had marled kyng Henries mother (as you haue heard before)
with Dauid floyde, Morgan apreuther, & diuers other were take and behedded at the citie
of Herford. During this season, y quene was greatly encouraged with the victory, ob-
teined late at Wakefeld, partly because the duke of Yorke, her vtter enemy was ryd out of
the worlde, & partly, because she perceyued, the lordes of the North country to adhere
and cleue to her parte and faccio: wherfore with a great multitude of Northre people,
she marched toward London, of whose approche the Londoners were nothing glad: for
some affirmed, that she brought that rusty company, to spoilc and robbe the citie: other
saide, that she would be reuenged, of suche as tailored the duke of Yorke. So the pore
citezes hangyng betwene the water and the fyre, were much amased, but y magistrates and
gouernors caused great watches to be kept, and good order to be obserued. The Quene,
still came forwarde with her Northre people, entendyng to subuerte and defaict all conclu-
sions and agremetes, enacted and assented to, in the last Parliamet. And so after her long
iorney, she came to the town of sainct Albons: wherof y duke of Northfolke, y erle of
Warwvcke, and other, whom y duke of Yorke had lefte to gouerne the kyng in his absence,
beyng*aduertised, by the assent of y kyng, gathered together a great hoste, and set forward
towarde saiucte Albons, hanyng the kyng in their company, as the head and chefctayn of
the warre, and so not mynding to differre the time any farther, vpon shrouetuesday curly in
the morning, set vpon their enemies. Fortune y day so fauored the Quene, that her parte
preuayled, and the duke and the erle were discomfited, and fled: leauing the king accom-
panied with the lord Bonuile, and syr Thomas Kyriell of Kent, whiche vpon assuraunce of
his promise, taried still and fled not, but their trust, them decciued. For after the victorie
obteyned, and the kynge broughte to the Quene, they two were deteyned as prisoners, and
so continued till the kynges departyng from that towne. In this battayl were slayn. xxiii.
C. men, and not aboue, of whome no noble man is remebred, saue syr Ihon Gray, which
thesame day was made knight, with. xii. other, at y village of Colney. Happy was the
quene in her two battayls, but vnfortunate was the kyng in all iiis enterprises, for where his
person was presente, ther victory fled eucr from him to the other parte, & he comoly was
subdued & vanqueshed. Whe quene Margaret had thus vvel sped, first she caused the kyng,
to dubbe prince Edward his sonne, knyght, with. xxx. other persons, which in the morn-
ing fought on the queues side, against his parte. Al'ter she sent to the Mayre of London,
commaundinge him without delay, to sendc certain Carles, laded with lenten victayle, for
y reiVeashing of her and her army. The Mayre, incontinent made prouisio, laded cartes,
and sent them toward the quene. But the moueablc comos, which fauored not the queues
parte, stopped y cartes at Crepulgate and boldely saydc, that their enemies, which came to
spoyle and robbe y cilizens, should neither be relcued, nor victayled by them. And not-
withstanding gentell aduertisement to them gyuen, of the mischefes, whiche might ensue of
their doynges : yet they remayned still in one obstinate mynd and wilfull will, not permit-
tinge the cariages, to passe or go forward. During 'which cotroucrsie, diuers of the Nor-
then horseme, came and robbed in the suburbes of the citie, and would haue entered at
Crepulgate, but thei by the commoners were repulsed, and beten backe, and iii. of them
slayn : whervpon the Mayre sent the recorder to the kynges counsaill to Barne, to excuse
the matter, and the duches of Bedford, & the lady Scales, with diuers sad fathers of the
spiritualtie, went to the quene to mollifie her rancore, and asswage her rnelacolie, which
she had conceiued against the citie. At this humble request, the quene and her counsail
appointed certayn lordes and knightes, with. iiii. C. talle persons, to ryde to the citie, and
ther to vewe, & se the demeanoure and disposicion of the people : & diuers Aldermen
were appointed to mete them at Barnet, and to conuey them to London. But what soeuer
man purposeth, God disposed) : for all these deuises were shortly trasmuted into another
forme, because trevv report was brought, not onely to the citie but also to the quene, that
the
KYNG HENRY THE. VI.- . 253
the erle of Marche had vanqueshed the erles of Penbroke and Wilshyre, and that the erle
of Warwycke, in whome rested the chefe trust of that faction, after the last conflict, had
at saincte Albons, had mete with the sayd erle of Marche at Chippyng Norton, by Cottes-
old, and that they with both their powers were cominge toward London. These frcw tales
turned the queues purpose, and altered all her long deuised ententes, in so inuche that she
litle trustinge Essex, and lesse Kent, but London least of all, with her husband and sonne,
departed from sainct Albons, into tho Northcountrey, where the roote, & foundacion of
her ayde and refuge, onely consisted. But at the daye of her departyng, she caused the
heddes of the lord Bonuile, and syr Thomas Kyriel, to be cut of, in the presence of her
sonne, cotrary to y mynd and promise of her husbad, but emogest men of warre, faith or
othe, syldome is pcrfourmed.
TH E duches of Yorke, seyng her husband and sonne slayne, and not knowyng what should
succede of her eldest sonnes chaunce, sent her. ii. yonger sonnes, George & .Richard, ouer
the sea, to the cit:e of Wtrechte in Almayn : where they were of Philippe duke of Bourgoyne,
well receyued and tested, and so there thei remayncd, till their brother Edwarde had ob-
teyned the Realme, and gotte the regiment. Duringe which time diuers merchantes mis-
trusting the mutacion of tlie world, fled out of y realme, emogest whom one Philippe Mal<-
pas, a man of greate riches, sayling into Flaunders, was taken by Ihon Columme, a French
man and payed, iiij. M. markes for his raunsone. The erles of Marche and Warwycke1,
hauyng pc rfite knowledge, that the kyng and queue with their adhereutes, were departed
from sainct Albons, determined first to ryde to London as the chefe key, and common spec-
tacle lo the whole Realme, thinking there to assure them sell's of the East and West parte of
the kingdome, as king Henry and his faction nesteled and stregthed him and his aliesin the
North regions and boreal plage : meaninge to haue a buckelar against a swourd, and a sou-
therne byl to coie.ruayle a i\orthren bassard. And so these two great loides, resoloinge
them sell's vpon this purpose, accompanied with a great number of men of warre, entered
the citie of London in the first weke of Let. What should I declare how the Kentishmen re-
sorted : how the people of Essex swarmed, & how the counties adioyning.to Londo dayly re-
paired to sc, ayd, & comfort, this lusty prince and flower of chinalry, as he in whome the hope,
of their ioy, and the trust of their quietncs onely then consisted. Thys wise and prudent noble
man, perceiuyng the most parte of the Realme, to be to him frendly and adherent, mynding
to take time when time serued, called a great counsaill both of lordesspirituall and temporall
& to them repeted the title, and right that he had to the Realme, & dignitie royall: reher-
sing the articles of the agrement. not onely concluded betwene kyng Henry & his noble fa-
ther, Richard duke of Yorke, by theyr writinges signed and sealed : but also coroborated,
& cofirmed by aucthoritie of the high court of Parliament: the breaches whereof, he neither
forgar, nor omitted vndeclared. After the lordes had considered, & weyghed his title and
declaration, they determined by authentic of the sayd counsaill, for as much as kyng Henry,
contrary to his othe, honor and agrement, had violated and infringed, the order taken and
enacted in the last Parliament, and also, because he was insufficient to rule the Realme,
and inutile to the common wealth, and publiqne profile of the pore people, he was therfore
by the aforesayd authorise, depriued & deiected of all kyngly honor, and regall souereigntie.
And incontinent, Edward erle of Marche, sonne and heyre to Richard duke of Yorke, was
by the lordes in the sayd counsaill assembled, named, elected, & admitted, for kyng and
gouernonr of the realme: on which day, the people of the erles parte, beyng in their muster
in sainct Ihons felde, & a great number of the substanciall citezens there assembled, to be-
hold their order: sodaynly the lord Fawcobridge, which toke the musters, wisely declared to
the multitude, the offences and breaches of the late agremente done and perpetrated by kyng
Hery the. vi. and demaunded of the people, whether they woulde haue the sayd kyn^ Henry
to rule and reigne anylenger ouer them: To whome they with a whole voyce, aunswered, nay,
nay. Then he asked the, if they would serue, loue, and obey the erle of March as their earthly
prince and souereign lord. To which questio they aunswered, yea, yea, crieng, king Ed-
ward
>
254 THE. XXXIX. YERE OF
ward, with many great showtes and clappyng of handes. The lordes were shortly aduertised
of the louyng consent, which the commons franckely and frely of their fre will had giuen,
• wherupon incontinent, they all with a conqeniet number of the most substanciall commons,
repaired to Baynardes castel, making iust and trew report to the erle of their eleccion and
admission, and the louyng assent of the faithfull commons. The erle after long pausynge,
first thanked God of his great grace and benefite, then to him declared and shewed, and the
lordes and commons also, for their harty fauour, and assured fidelitie, and notwithstanding
that, like a wise prince, he alledged his insufliciencie for so great a roome and weighty bur-
bishop .....
vpo him the charge and vpon the next day, beyng the. iiij. day of Marche, he as kyng, rode
to the church of sainct Paule, and there offered. And after Te deum song, with great so-
lempnitie, he was conueyed to Westmynster, and there set in the hawle, with the scepter
royall in his hand, where, to all the people which there in a great number were assembled,
his title and clayme to the croune of England, was declared by. ii. ma tier of wayes : the firste,
assonneand heyre to duke Richard his father, right enheritor to thesame : the second, by
aucthoritie of Parliament and forfeiture committed by, kyng Henry. Wherupo it was agayne
demaunded of the commons, if they would admitte, and take the sayd erle as their prince &
souereigne lord, which al with one voice cried yea, yea. Which agremet cocluded, He en-
KyngEd- terecl into Westmynster church vnder a canapy, with solepne procession, and there as kyng
UiTpro-C offered, and after the homages taken of al the nobles there present, he returned by water to
claimed London, and was lodged in the bishops palace : Dayly rnakyng prouision, to go Northwarde
iande° S~ against his aduerse faccion and open enemies, and on the morow he was proclaymed kyng,
by the name of kyng Edward the. iiij. throughout y citie. While these thinges were in doyng
in the Southpart, king Hery beyng in the Northcountrey, thinking because he had slayn the
duke of Yorke, the chefe Capitayn of the contrary lynage, that he had brought all thyng
to purpose and conclusion as he would, assembled a great army, trusting with litle payne
and small losse, to destroy the residew of his enemies, whoine he estemed to be of no force,
or of a small validitie. But he was sore deceiued: for out of the dead stocke, sprang a
stronge & mightie braunche, which by no meanes could either be broken, or made sere:
which was this kyng Edward the. iiij. whiche was so beloued and fauoured of the people,
that no man was spoke of, no person was remcbred, but only he: for he was so much este-
med, bothc of the nobilitie and commonaltie, for his liberalilie, clemencie, integritie, and
corage, that aboue all other, he was extolled and praysed to the very heaue. By reason
whereof men of al ages & of all degrees to him dayly repaired, sorne'offering theym selfes
and their men to ieopard their lifes with him, and other plenteously gaue him money, to
support his charges and mayntayne his warre. By reason wherof, he assembled together a
puyssant army to thentent to gyue to his enemies a fierce and sharpe battayle, & so in one
day to obteyn his purpose and make an ende of all his treble. When his army was redy,
and all thinges prepared, he departed out of London the. xii. day of Marche, & by easy iour-
neys came to the castell of Pomfret, where he rested, appoyntyng the lorde Fitzwater, to
kepe y passage at Ferybridge, with a great number of talle personages. Let no man thi'nke
or yet imagine, that ether the counsaill of kynge Henry, or his vigilant queue, either neg-
lected or forgat to know or searche what their enemies did, but that they prepared to their
power all y men, that theyv either could perswade or allure to their purpose to take their part.
And thus thinking them selfs furnished, committed the gouernaiice of the armye to the duke
of Somerset, the erle of Northumberland, and y lord Clifford, as men desiring to reuenge
y death of their paretes slayn at the first battayle of sainct Albons. These noble capitaynes,
leauing kyng Henry, his wyfe, and sonne, for their most sauegard in the citie of Yorke'
passed the ryuer of Wharfe, with all their power, entendinge to prohibite kyng Edward to
passe ouer the ryuer of Ayree, and for the more expedition and exployt of their purpose
4 ' (after
KYNG HENRY THE. VI. 253
(after many comparisons made betwcne the erle of Northumberland, and the lord Clifford,
bothe beyng in lusty yought, & of francke corage) the lord Clifforde determined with his
light horsemen, to make an assaye to suche as kepte the passage of Ferybridge, and so de-
parted from the great army on the Saturday before Palmsondaye, and early or his enemies
were ware, gat the bridge, and slew the kepers of thesame, and al such as woulde withstand
him. The lord Fitzwater hearyng the noyse, sodainly rose out of his bed, and vnarmed,
with a pollax in his hande, thinking y it had byn a fray emogest his me, came doune to ap-
peace thesame, but or he either began his tale, or knew what the matter meat, lie wasslayne, ^
and with hym the Bastard of Salisbury, brother to the erle of Warwycke, a valeaunt yong
gentelman, and of great audacitie. When the erle of Warwycke was euformed of this feate,
be like a man desperate, mouted on his Hackeney, and came blowyng to kyng Edward sai-
yng : syr I praye God haue mercy of their soules, which in the beginnyng of your enterprise,
haili lost their lifes, and because I se no succors of the world, I remit the vengeaunce and
punishment to God our creator and redemer, and with that lighted doune, and slewe his
horse with his swourcle, saiyng : let him flic that wil, for surely I wil tary with him that wil
tary with me, and kissed the crosse of his swourde.
THE lusty kyng Edward, perceiuyng the courage of his trusty frtkl the erle of Warwycke,
made proclamacion that all men, whiche were alrayde to fighie, shoulde incontinent de-
parte, and to all me that tarried the battell, he promised great rewat des with this addicion,
that if any souldiour, which volutariely would abide, and in, or before the conflict flye, or
turue his backe, that then he that could kill him should haue a great remuneracio and double
wages. After thys proclamacio ended the lord Fawconbridge, syr Water Ulont, Robert
Home with the forward, passed the ryuer at Castelford. iii. myles from Ferebridge, entend-
ing to haue enuironed and enclosed I he lord Clyfford and his copany, but they beyng therof
aduertised, departed in great haste toward kyng Henries army, but they mete with some that Thecon-
they loked not for, and were attrappod or they were ware. For the lord Clifforde, either biidge.F
for heat or payne, putting of his gorget, sodainly w an arrowe (as some say) without an
hedde, was striken into the throte, and incontinent rendered hys spirite, and the erle of
Westmerlandes brother and all hi« company almost were there slayn, at a place called Din-
tingdale, not farr fr5 Towton. This ende had he, which slew the yong erle of Rutland, knel-
ing on his knees : whose yong sonne Thomas Clifford was brought vp \V a sheppcrd, in
poore habile, & dissimuled behauior euer in feare, to publish his lignage or degre, till kyng
Henry the. vii. obteyned the croune, and gat the diadeine : by whome he was restored to his
name and possessions. When this conflict was ended at Ferebridge, the lord Fawcdbridge,
bauyng the foreward, because the duke of Northfolk was fallen sycke, valeaiitly vpon Palm-
sunday in the twylight, set furth his army, and came to Saxton, where he might apparantly
perceyue the hoste of his aduersaries, which were accompted. Ix. M. men, and therof aduer-
tised kyng Edward, whose whole army, they that knew it, and payed the wages, aflirme to.
xlviii. M. vi. C. &. Ix. persons, which incotinet with y erle of Warwycke set forward leuyng
the rereward vndery^ gouernace of syr Ihon Wenlocke, and syr Ihon Dynham and other.
And first of all he made proclamacion, that no prisoner should be take, nor one enernie
saued. So thesame day about, ix. of the clocke, which was the. xxix. day of Marche, beyng The conflict
Palmsundaye, both the hostes approched in a playn felde, betwene Towton and Saxto. "tSaxtovpo
When eche parte perceyued other, they made a great shoute, and at thesarnc instante time,
their fell a small snyt or snow, which by violence of the wyn was driuen into the faces of them,
which were of kyng Heries parte, so that their sight was somwhat blemished and minished.
The lord Fawconbridge, which led the forward of kyng Edwardes battaill (as before is re-
hersed) being a man of great polecie, and of much experience in marciall feates, caused
euery archer vnder his standard, to shot one flyght (which before he caused them to pro-
uide) and then made them to stad still. The northre me, feling the shoot, but by reason of
jr snow, not wel vewing y distance betwene them and their enemies, like hardy men shot
their schiefe arrowes as fast as they might, but al their shot was lost, & their labor vayn
for
f\' '
.
256 THE. XXXIX. YERE OF
for they came not nere the Southerme, by. xl. taylors yerdes. Whe their shot was almost
spent, the lord Fau conbridge marched forwarde with his archers, which not onely shot their
awne whole sheues, but also gathered the arrowes of their enemies, and Jet a great parte of
them flye agaynst their awne masters, and another part thei let stand on y groud which sore
noyed the legges of the owners, when the battayle ioyned. The erle of Northumberlad, and
Andrew Trolopc, whiche were chefetayns of kyng Hf-ries vawgard, seynge their shot not to
preuayle, hasted forward to ioine with their enemies : you may besure the other part northing
retarded, but valeaontly fought with their enemies. This battayl was sore foughte, for
hope of life was set on side on euery parte and takynge of prisoners was proclaymed as a f
great offence, by reason wherof euery man determined, either to conquere or to dye in the;
felde. This deadly battayle and bloudy conflicte, continued, x. houres in doubtfull victorie.
The one parte. some time flowyng, and sometime ebbyng, but inconclusio, kyng Edward so
coragiously comforted his me, refreshyng the wery, and helping the wounded, that the other
part was discomfited and ouercome, and Jyke me amased, fledde toward Tadcaster bridge to
saue the selfes : but in the meane way there is a litle broke called Cocke, not very broade,
but of a great deapnes, in the whiche, what for hast of escapyng, and what for feare of folow-
ers, a great number were drent and drowned, in so much that the common people there af-
firme, that men alyue passed the ryuer vpon dead carcasis, and that the great ryuer of Wharfe,
which is the great sewer of y broke, & of all the water comyng from Towton, was colored
with bloude. The chace continued all night, and the most parte of the next day, and euer y'
Northren men, when they saw or perceiued any aduauntage, returned again and fought with
their enemies, to the great losse of both partes. For in this. iii. dayes were slayn (as they
Agmt knew it wrote) on both partes. xxxvi. M. vii. C.'lx. and. xvi. persons, all Englishmen and of
Englishmen. one nacio wherof the chefe were the erles of Northumberland, and Westmorland and the lord
Dakers the lord Welles, syr Ihon Neuel, Andrew Trolop, Robert Home, and many other
Knyghtes and Esquiers, and the erle of Deuonshyre taken prisoner, but the dukes of Somerset
and Excester fled from the felde and saued themselfes. This conflict was in maner vnnaturall,
for in it the sonne fought against the father, the brother against the brother, the nephew
against the vncle, and the tenaut against his lord, which slaughter did not onely sore debili-
tate and muche weke the puyssance of this realme, considering that these dedde men, whe
thei were liuyng had force ynough to resist the greatest princes power of all Europe : But also
gaue a courage to outward enemies and foren potetates, to inuade and make warre in this
realme, which thinge was not vnlikely to haue ensued, if either Lewes the French kynge had
bene at this time quiet in his realme, or lames kynge of Scottes hadbene of age and master
of him selfe, yet thanked he God, for although the gate of a conquest were opened, yet it was
shut agayn, or it was espied.
After this great victorie, kyng Edward rode to Yorke, where he was with all solempnitie
receyued : and first he caused the heddes of his father, the erle of Salisbury, and other his
frendes to be taken from the gates, and to be buried with their bodies. And there he caused
the erle of Deuonshyre and. iii. other to be behedded, and set their heddes in the same place.
Atter that he sent out men on light horsses, to espye in what parte kyng Henry lurked,
which hearingc of the irrecuperable losse of his frendes, departed incontinent with his wife and
sonne, to the towne of Barwycke, and leauynge the duke of Somerset there, came to the
kynges courte of Scotland, requiryng of him and his counsaill, ayde succor, relefe £ cofort.
Theyong kyng hauing cornpassio on the miserable fate and great mischaunce of this sorowful
man, not onely coforted him with fayre woordes and frendly promises, but also assigned to
him a compedent pencion to line on, during the time of his abode within the realme of
Sythe. Scotland. Kyng Henry considering the great humanitie, shewed to him by the Scottish
vi. deluded kyng, in whome onely now consisted the whole hope and especiall trust of his ayde and succor,
£Serf thought to bynd and oblige the sayd king, with some great benefite to his parte, and for that
hanf"' f Ca"USe'i deil.uered to nym the tovvne of Barwycke vpon twede: which towne the Scottes many
lames k°ng yere5 llad desired, but yet thei neither by force nor fayre promises, could obteyne their desire
pfSeotlwdc. J
ux
KYNG EDWARD THE. IIIJ.
or purpose, before y time, Some writers. affirme, that he not voluntarily, but coacted by ne-
cessitiC) rendered the same towne, or els he could not be permitted once to enter, or haue
any succor in the realmeof Scotlande. But whatsoeuer the cause was: after kyng lames had
taken possession of the toune, hefrendly enterteyned and faithfully supported the parteand
faccion of kyng Henry, and concluded a mariage betwene his syster and the yong prince of
Wales, which mariage, Philippe duke of Burgoyn, enemy to queue Margaretes father, la-
bored muche to infringe and interrupter but by the consent of both the fredes, the matri-
mony was agreed, but it was neuer solempnised, as after you shall heare. When kynge
Henry was somewhat setteled in the realme of Scotlande, he sent his wyfe and hys s.onne into
Fraunce, to kynge Rene her father, trusting by his ayde and succor, to assemble a greate
army, and once agayne to possesse hys Realme and dignitie, and he in themeane season de-
termined to make hys abode in Scotland, tose and espye, what way his frendes in Englande
would studye or inuent for his restitucion and aduauncernent. But whether it were his des-
tinye or his folye, he so imprudctly demeaned hym selfe, that within shorte space, he came
into the handes of hys mortall enemies. Queue Margaret thus beyng in Frauce, did ob-
teyn & impetrate of the yong Frenche kynge, that all fautors and louers of her husbande
and the Lancastreall band, might safely and surely haue resortcinto any parte of the realme
of Frauce, prohibiting all other of the contrary faccion, any accesse or repaire into that
countrey.
THVSyou haue hearde the variable chaunce and tragedicall hystory of kynge Henry the
sixthe, whiche had reigned ouer this realme eight and thirtie yeres and odde monethes^
whiche the tenthe yere after hys deposicion, was agayne erected to hys throne and estate
royall, as after shalbe declared. Nowe leuynge kynge Henry with the princes of his fac-
cion consultynge together in Scotlande, and Quene Margarete hys wyfe gatherynge men to-
gether in Frauncc, I wyll returne to the actes of kyng Edwarde.
FINIS,
5f The ende of the trobelous season of kynge Henry the, vj.
THE PROSPEROUS REIGNE OF KYNG
1'. - ;*•' /* ? *'j' .;*j.^ni ;>0 }]
: I: .'^EDWARD THE FOURTH.
. . .
PRosperous fortune and glorious victory, happely succeding to this yog Prince and cou- The first
ragious Capitain, in the mortall battail fought at Towton, (as you haue heard ) he y"'
beyng incoraged and set vp, partly because he .had obteined so great a conquest, and partely,
because he.perceiued, that aswell the nobles, as the commos of the Realme, began to drawe
to hym, and to take his part after the fashion and maner of a triumphaunt conqueror, and
victorious champion, with great pompe returned to London. Where (according to the
old custome of the realise) he called a great assemble of persons of all degrees: and the.
xxix. daie of lune, was at Westminster with all solempnitie crounedand anoynted kyng, and
called Kyng Edwarde the. iiij. after Willyam the Conqueror, which was in the yere of
Ohristes incarnacion. M. iiij. C. Ixj.
LI IN
THE. II. YERE OF
IN the whiche yere, he called his high Court of Parliament, wherewith thestate of the.
Realme was wholly set in good ordre, and specially such thynges as apperteined to the co-
mon wealth, which wer to muche neglected and decaied. Duryng the tyme of the chilli
and intestine war, he caused all statutes and ordinaunces made by kyng Henry the sixte,
(whiche either touched his title or his profile) to be adnihilate and frustrate. In the whiche
Parliament, the Erie of Oxford farre striken in age and the Lord Awbrey Veer, his sonne
and heire, whether it wer for malice of their enemies, or thei wer suspected, or had offended
the Kyng. they bothe and diuerse of their counsailors, wer attainted and put to execucion,
whiche caused Ihon erle of Oxford, euer after to rebell. And afterward he created his twoo
younger brethren Dukes, that is to saie: Lorde George, Duke of Clarence, Lorde Richard,
Duke of Gloucester, and lorde Ihon Neuell, brother to Richard Erie of Warwicke, he first
made Lorde Mountacute, and aftcrwardes created hym Marques Mountacute. Beside this,
Henry Burchier, brother to Thomas Archebishop of Canterbury, was created Erie of Essex,
and Willyam Lorde Fawconbrige, was made Erie of Kent. To this Lorde Henry Burchier
beyns; a noble man in marciall actes, highly approued and renoumed, Richard Duke of
York^e, long before this tyme, had geuen his suster Elizabeth in manage: hauyng a firme
hope, and a sure confidence, that he and his generacion should be a perpetuall aide to the
Duke and his sequele, aswell in prosperitie as aduersitie, associate together in al chances of
fortune, which trust he did not defraude, as afterward appered to Kyng Edward the fourth,
sonne to thesaid duke Richard, which for his assured fidelitie made hym Erie of Essex: to
thende that bothe he the father, and his sone, should euer be to hym, bothe an aide and a bul-
Avarke. This Erie Henry, begat of lady Elizabeth his wife, foure sonnes, William, Thomas,
Jhon, and Henry, and one doughter named Isabell, whiche liued but a small season. In the
wbiehe sonnes, in compassyng and bryngyng greate thynges to passe, there lacked no indus-
trie, nor prouidence: in grauous and waightie affaires, there wanted neither labor nor dili-
gence : in all ieoperdies, thei wer hardy, strong, and coragieus : and finally, in forseyng of
thinges, they neither lacked pollecie, nor wer destitute of counsaill. But in Lorde William,
the Eldest sonne of Henry, all these vertues wer surely planted and ingrauen: which.
William espoused lady Anne Woodwile, discended of an high paretage,. whose mother la-
quet was doughter to Peter of Luxenborough, erle of sainct Paule, by whom he had Lorde
Henry, afterward Erie of Essex, and Cicile, and Isabel, whiche died vnmaried : Cicile was
maried, to Water Lorde Ferreis of Chartely. But now to returne to the purpose.
If THE SECOND YERE.
Th«.u. WHen al these chauces thus luckely happened'to kyng Edward, and all thynges in maner
were framed, as he would haue theim: Henry duke of. Somerset, sir Raufe Percie, and di?
uerse other, beyng in dispaire, and out of hope of all good chaunce, that might happen to
kyng Henry the sixte, came humbly and submitted theimselfes, whom he gentely inter -
teined, and louyngly receiued. Of, whiche deede, the duke shortly, repented him. and so did:
some of the other.
ALL this season was kyng Henry the. vj» in Scotlande, whiche to haue the more aide
and comfort of the Scottishc king, he deliuered vnto hym the toune of Barwicke, (as you
before haue heard) whiche had been continually, in the possession of Englishmen, from the
tyme of Kyng Edward the firste, whiche, with hardy corage, manfull assautes, slaughter of
many thousandes of Scottes, valiantly conquered thesame. This same season also, quene
"Margaret, beyng in Fraunce, by the meanes- of her father and frendes, found suche frend-
ship, at the Frenche kynges handes, that she obteined a crewe of fiue hundred Frenehemen,
whiche was but a small numbre, for her purpose, and yet a greater number then her hus-
bande or she, were able to intertein in wages, of their awne coffers. She thus beyng ac-
companied, with these bostyng Frenchmen, of whom sir Piers Bracy, a Bryton knyght was
Capitain, a man more fierce in the house then inithe feld, and yet more fierce in fliyng from
the
., '\
KYNG EDWARD THE. II U.
the feld to the house, then hardy to set foreward from the house to the feld, set vp her t-ailes,
and with a prosperous \viud, arriued in Scotland. If she and her company, wer welcome to
her husband and sonne, 1 report me to suche as languish, and would haue succor, and to
suche as lacke aide, and would be comforted. The Quene and her company, thought to ~ n
doo some greate enterprise, (as the nature of the Frenehemen is, to be more busy then bold) Marg
sailed with her gallant band .toward Newe Castle, and landed at Tynmouthc. But whether ™mP!'ny
she wer a fraieil of her awne shadow, or that the Frenchemen cast to many doubles, the aniueth «
truth is, that the whole army returned to their shippes, and a it* pest rose so sodainly, that if
she had not taken ajsmall Caruell, and that with good spcde, arriued safe at Barwicke: she had
neither vexed kyng Edward after, as she did with a newe inuasion, nor yet she had not liued
all her old age, in misery wretchednesand callamitie, as she did, leasyngbothe her husbande,
her sonne, her llealme, and her honor. And although fortune was so fauorable to her, yet her
company were with stormy bltistes, driuen on the shore before Baborough castle, where thei
set their shippes on fire, and cowardly fled to an Island, called holy Island wher they wer so
assailed by the bastard Ogle, and Esquire called Ihon Manners, with other of kyrig Edwardcs
retinue, that many of them wer slain, and almostc. iiij. C. taken prisoners, and puttor,aun-
some. But the capitain Bracy more coward then coragious, happened by chaunce of a
fisharman, & so came to Barwicke, to Quene Margarete his mastres: whether she gaue hyiu
thankes or no I double, but sure I am he none deserued, yet she made hym eapitain of Aln'e-
wike Castle, which he with his fresh men kepte till thei wer rescowed. This chaunce litle
amased the Quene, nor in any thyng abated her haute corage. For incontinently she ob-
teined a greate company of Scottes, and other of her frendcs, and so bringyng her husband
with her, and leauyng her sone called prince Edward, in the toune of Barwicke, entered
Northumberlande, and toke the castle of Bamborough, and stuffed it with Scotles, and made
therof capitain sir Raufe Gray, and came forward towarde the bishopricke of Durham.
When the Duke of Somerset heard these newes, he without delaye refused kyng Ed-
ward, and rode in poste to his kynsman, kyng Henry the sixte : verefiyng the olde pro-
uerbe: kynne will crepe, where it may no go: Refusyng the surety of his estale, wbiche
kyng Edwarde did promise hym, for the vncertain gain whiche he hoped to get, by sup-
porting kyng Henry. With hym fled also sir Raufe Percy, and many other of the kynges
fredes, but many mo folowed hym, for coueteousnes of spoyle and rapyne : in so
muche that the puyssaunce of kyng Henry, was thought to bee of asmuche force, as the
strength and army of his enemy kyng Edward. The which army was iudged to be y greater,
because he spoyled, & burned tounes, and destroyed feldes, whersoeuer he came. Kyng
Edward (as you could not blame hym) was with these dooynges nothyng content, where-
fore like a wise prince, intendyng to stop the gut of kyng Henries po«er or it made
any farther issue: Prepared al municions, conuenient for the warre, rigged and appa-
reled, a greate nauie of shippes, of whiche some were vitailed at Lyn, and some at Hull,
and they were furnished with souldiors. When his army by the sea, was thus warlikely set
forward: he sent the lorde Montacnte, (whom bolhe for his hardinesse and sage conduvte in
marciall affaires, he muche trusted and beleued) into Northumberlande, there to raise the
people, to withstande his enemies. And after this, he in his royall persone, accompanied
with his brethren, and a great part of the nobilitie of his realme, not without a great and
puyssaunt armie, marched toward his enemies, and came to the citie of Yorke, sendyn u a
great quantitie of his faithfull subiectes, to the ayde of the lorde Montacute, least parad-
wenture, he geuyng to muche confidence, to the men of the Bisshoprike and Northumberlande,
might by theirn be deceiued and surprised. The Lorde Montacute, forgat not the office of
a good capitain, nor beyng well furnished with suche as he knewe would neither flie backe-
ward, nor stande still lookyng, and not fightyng, thought no leger to tract the tyme, but with
a valiant corage, marched forward toward his enemies, and in his iorne}, he was inconntered,
with thelorde Hungerford, tho Lorde Roos, sir Raufe Percy, and diuerse other, at a place call-
ed Hegely More. Where sodainly thesaied lordes, in maner, without stroke strikyng, fled,
L 1 2 and
£fO THE. II. YERE OF
and oncly sir Ilaufe Percy abode, and was there manfully slain, with diuerse other, saiytig,
when he was diyng: I liaue saued the birde in my bosome : meanyng that he had kept, both
his promise and othe, to kyng Henry the. vj : Forgettyng that he in kyng Henries moste ne-
cessitie, abandoned him and submitted hyin io kyng Edward, (as you before haue lieard.)
The lord Motacute scyng fortune thus prosperously leadyng his saile, was auaunced with
hardy corage toward his enemies, & then in passyng forward, he had by his espialles periite
intelligence, that kyng Henry with all his power, was incamped in a faire plaine called Lyuels,
Th , .. on the water of Dowill in Exham shire. It was no neede to bid hym hast, as he that thought
at Liucis, not to lese the occasion, to hym so manifestly geuen, & to leaue the good port of fortune,
tTrofeDow" to hym opened and vnclosed : and therfore, in good ordre of battail, he manfully set on his
iiijnExium enemies, in their awne cape, wliiche like desperate persones, with no small corage receiued
hym. There was a sore fought feld, and ho partie by a long tract, could get any aduaun-
tage of the other, till at the last, the lord Montacute, criyng on his men to do va-
liauntly, entered by plaine force, the battaill of his enemies, and brake their array, whiche
like men ainased, fled hether and thether, desperate of all succor. In whiche flight and
chase, wer taken, Henry duke of Somerset, whiche before was reconciled to Kyng Edwarde,
the Lorde Roos, the Lorde Molyns, the Lord Hungerford, sir Thomas Wentworth, sir
Thomas Husc, sir Ihon Fynderne, & many other. Kyng Henry was this day, the beste
horseman of his company: for he fled so faste that no man could ouertake hym, and yet he
was so nere pursued, that certain of his henxmcn or folowers wer taken, their horses beyng
trapped in blew vcluet : wherof one of the had on his hed, thesaid kyng Henries healrnet.
Some say his high cap of estate, called abococket, garnished with twoo riche crounes, whiche
was presented to kyng Edward, at Yorke the fourth daie of Maie. The duke of Somerset,
was incontinently, for his greate mulabilitie and lightnes, behedded at- Exam, the other lordes
and knightes, wer had to New Castle, and there after alitle respite, wer likewise put in exe-
cucion. Beside these persones, diuerse other to the numbre of. xxv. wer executed at Yorke,
and in other places : wherby other fautors of kyng Henries partie, should be out of all trust
of all victory, consideryng that their capitaines, had hopped hedles. Fro this battaill escaped
kyng Henry (he. vj. sir Humfrey Neuell, Willia Taylboys, callyng hymself erle of Kent, sir
Rauie Gray, and Richard Tunstall, and diuerse other, whiche beyng in feare of takyng, hid
themselfes and lurked in denes and wholes secretly. The! wer not sociosly hid, but they were
espied : for the erle of Kent was taken in a close place in Riddesdale, and brought to New
Castle, and therewith an axe lost his life, Sir Humfrey Neuell, after long lurking in a Caue,
was taken in Holdernes, and at Yorke behedded. Thus euery man almoste that escaped, was
after taken and scorged: so that it should seme that God had ordeined, all suche persones
as rebelled against kyng Edward, to haue in coclusion, death for their reward andguardone.
AFTER this battaill called Exham field, kyng Edward came to the citie of Duresme, to
the intent to bee more nerer to his enemies, if they would make any farther attempte: and
sent from thence into Northumberlande, the Erie of Warwicke, the lorde Montacute, the
lordes, Fawconbrige and Scrope, and diuerse other, to recouer suche Castles and fortresses,
as his enemies there held, and with force defeded. These lordes first besieged the castle
of Alnewike, whiche sir Piers Bracy and the Frenchemen, by force and strong hande kepte,
and in no wise would yeld, sendyng for ayde to the Scottes, wherupon sir George Douglas,
erle of Angus, with. xiij. M. men well chosen, in the daie tyme rescowed the Frenchemen
out of the castle, the Englishemen lookyng on, whiche thought it muche better to haue the
castle without losse of their me, then to lese bothe the castle and their men, consideryng the
great power of the Scottes, and their smal numbre: and so thei entered the castle and manned
it, and after thesaied lordes, besieged the castle of Dunstanborogh, and by force toke it, and
Ihon Goys seruaunt to the duke of Somerset capitain of thesaid castle, was taken and
brought to Yorke : where, with a haehet he receiued his reward. These Lordes also tooke
by force the strong castle of Bamborough, and in it sir Raufe Gray, whiche was before
sworne to kyng Edward, for the whiche periurie to bothe the princes, he was disgraded of
the
KYNO EDWARD THE. IIIJ. 2tfl
the high ortlrc of knighthode at Dancastre, by cuttyngof his gylt sporres, rgtyng his cote of Jhncgfosf™'
annes, and breakyng his sword ouer his hed : and finally, there his body was shorted, by the kuigbL
legth of his hed and had no more hariiie, thus was he rewarded for his doble deceipt and ma-
nifest periurie.
AFTER this victory, kyng Edward returned to Yorke, where, in despite of therle Northum-
berlande, whiche then lurked, in the realme of Scotland, he created sir Ihon Neuell, lorde
iV/ontacute, erle of Northumberland, & in reprofe of laspar erle of Penbroke, he created
William lord Herbert, erle of the same place: but after when by mediacion of frendes,
therle of Northumberland, was reconciled to his fauor, he restored hym fully to liis posses-
sios, name and dignitie: and not intending therby, to diminishe the honor of his frend, he
preferred sir Ihon Neuell, to the stile of Marques Montacute, and so by that meanes, he-
was in estate and degre higher, then therle of Warwicke his elder brother, but in power, poi-
lecie, and possessions, farre baser and lower.
If THE THIRD YERE.
ALthough that Kyng Edward might now thynke, all thynges to be in a good case, & The.ur.
hymself also to be of puyssance sufficient against al his enemies, (for y he had obteined so y"e'
great a victory) : yet did he prouide with all diligence, that neither kyng Henry, nor quene
Margaret his wife, should by any meanes remain in Englande: least the sight with the per-
swasions of theirn, and especially with old frendes & alies, might alter and change the
mindes, & also wyn the hartes of the mutable comonaltie. Wherfore he edified bulwarkes,
and buylded fortresses on euery side & parte of his realrne, where might be any place pro-
pice and mete, for an armie to arriue or take lande. Beside this, he wrote to all them in the
South partes of his realme, that in no wise they should receiue thesaied quene, nor in any
thyng should help or minister to her: and if any did presume or attempt, priuatly or openly
to infringe his will and commaundement, the offenders should be take as his aduersaries,
& punished as his vtter enemies. And on that parte that marcheth vpon Scotland, he laied
•watches and espialles, that no persone should go out of the realme, to kyng Henry and his
company : whiche then lay soiornyng in Scotlande. But what so euer ieoperdy or periit
might bee construed or denied, to haue insued by the meanes of kyng Henry: all suche
doubles, were now shortly resolued and determined, and all feare of his doynges, wer
tlerely put vnder and extinct. For he hymself, whether he wer past all feare, or was not
veil stablished in his perfite mynde, or could not long kepe hymself secrete, in a disguyted.
apparell, boldely entered into Englande. He was no soner entered, but he was knowen K n Hen_
and taken of one Cantlowe, and brought towarde the kyng, whom the erle of Warwicke rythe. vi.
met on the waie, by the kynges commaundement, and brought hym through London, to ^nii'ited'to
the toure, and there he was laied in sure holde. Quene Margareie his wife, hearyng of 'thcTourc
the captiuitie of her husbande, mistrustyng the chaunce of her sonne, all desolate and com- ol
forties, departed out of Scotlande, and sailed into Fraunce, where she remained with
Duke Reyner her father, till she toke her infortunate iorney into Englande again: where
she lost bothe husband and sone, and also all her wealth, honor, and worldly felicitie. The
newe Duke of Somerset and his brother Ihon, sailed into Flaunders, where they also liued
in greate misery, till duke Charles, because he was of their kyn, and discended of the house
of Lancastre by his mother, succored them with a small pencion, whiche to them was a
greate comfort. Therle of Penbroke wgt from countrey to countrey, not alwaies at his
hartes ease, nor in securitie of life, or suretie of liuing. Such an vnstable and blind god- \
des is fortune : for whe he that sitteth highest on the whele falleth to the groud, all that be 1
vnderneth fall also, andean neither haue aide nor helpe of her, nor yet of theimselfes.
AFTER the takyng of kyng Hery the. vi. and the departyng of his wife, this realme
was in more quietnes & tranquilitie, because that men of the contrary part and faccion,
durst
C63 THE. III. YERE OP
durst not once attept nor yet moue, any new tumulte or conspiracie, consideryng that bothe
the hed was fallen, and the chief membres fled and vanquished. Wherfore kyng Edward,
beyn* clerely out of doubt, of all hostilitie and danger, set all his mynd the whole foure
veres'folowyng, for bothe amending thynges preiudiciall to the common wealthe, and also
for stablishyng of thynges, mete and necessary, for the people of his Realme and do-
minion. And firste of all, folowyng the old auncient adage which saith, that the hus-
bandman ought first to tast of the new growe frute : he distributed the possessions, of suche
as toke parte with kyng Henry the, vi. to his souldiors and capitaines, whiche he thought
had well deeerued it. And beside, he lefte no poynt of liberalise vnshewed, by the whiche
liemi-'ht allure to hym, the beneuolence and louyng hartes of his people: and in especial
to his°nobilitie, he gaue bothe large and precious giftes and rewardes. And because y he
would gladly haue the loue of all men, aswell noble as ignoble, aswell of riche as of poore,
he shewed hymself more familiar, bothe with the nobilitie and the commonaltie, then (as
some me thought) wag conuenient, either for his estate, or for his honor : whiche gentilnes
and frendly familiar! tie, he euer after vsed. The lawes of the realme, in part he reformed.
K^ngEd- antj jn part; he newly augmented. The coyne bothe of golde and of siluer, whiche yet at
™utede;he' this daie is curraunt, he newly deuised and diuided: for the gold he named royals and no-
ramcsof ^les, and the siluBr he called grotes and halfe grotes. After this, he caused open Procla-
C°yn" mac'ion to be diuulged, that all persones whiche were adherent to his aduersaries part, &
would leaue their armure, & submit theselfes wholy to his grace and mercy, should bee
clerely remitted, pardoned, and relessed : and they that obstinatly would so refuse, should
haue such paines, as by the law, to suche transgressors, was assigned and appointed. What
profile this gentle interteinyng of his people brought hym to: What good will and fixed
hartes of the people, he obteined by this kynd and frendly handelyng, all me may with
their iyes manifestly perceiue. For only by the fauor and ayde of the people, euer after in
all his warres, he was a victor and a conqueror : so that all enterprises afterward against
hym attempted, had either euill successe, or wer sone refelled, as afterward you shall per-
ceiue. When he had brought his Realme into this estate, he surely thynkyng, and no lesse
trustyng, but that he was set in the sure stall, stable throne, and vnmoueable chaire, of the
croune of his realme and kyngdom, was not only desirous of hymself, beyng a prince of
hautcorage, young, lusty, and sanguyne of complexion, to haue a wife, but was also daily
sollicited, required, and mocioned of the peres and nobilitie of the Realme, to ioyne with
suche a make, as should bee bothe to his honoure and contentacion, and also for the se-
curitie & establishment, of the royall succession, and continuaunce of his progeny, in his
newe possessed countrey, and late recouered kingdom. Wherupon, like a wise and a cir-
cunispecte Prince, very desirous of a Quene, but more thirstyng for suche a make, by the
aide of whose par-elites, alies and confederates : he beyng ioyned with theim in perfite affi-
nitie, might litle or nothyng double the atternptes of ir's aduersarie kyng Henry, nor yet
the .malice of his secret frendes and priuy fautors. This matter (as it was of great waight
and importance) bangyng long in consultacion: Emongest other it was moued, to send to
James -the. iii. kyng of Scottes, for the obteinyng of the faire lady Margaret his suster, to
thintent, that on that side, kyng Henry his aduersary, should be destitute of all aide, re-
fuge, succor, and -comfort: but whether it wer for a priuie sickenes, or an open impedi-
ment, to hym and his counsaill declared, or by them spied, this mocion vanished and toke
no farther effect. Then (as many men haue said, & few or none haue written) it was far-
ther consulted, that the lady Elizabeth, suster £ heire apparant, to Done Henry kyng of
Castle, (whiche afterward was his heire in deede, and maried to Done Fernado, kyng of
Arragou) was a manage for hym moste conuenient, and not so conuenient, as profitable
bothe to hym and his realme, and theim that should lineally succede hym, consideryng that
if he might obtein the kyngdom of Castell, of the whiche his greate graund mother, was
of, the indubitate heires, as doughter to Done Peter, late kyng of •Caetell, (by the va-
liauat
KYNG EDWARD THE. IIIJ. eff.1
liatint knight, Edward prince of Wales, restored to his seigniory, realme & kingdom) then
wer he in cace, not onely hable to defend hymself, and his realme of Englande, against all
foren enemies, and vtter inuasions, but also he should be of puyssaunce sufficient to in-
imde, and likely to recouer the duchy of Guyen, yea, and whole Acquitain, heyng his
awne true and lawefull inheritaunce, with the ayde onely of the Castilians, puttyng the
Englishemen to litle trauaill, & lesse charge. This mocion thus setforward semed highly
to redounde, bothe to the honor of the kyng, and the high auauncement of thestate of
the realme : Considering first, the high paretage of the woman, and secondly, the indubi-
tate expectacion of thinherilance, of the reahnes of Castell and Lion. And this mariage
agred vpon, (whiche semeth more likely to be intreated of, then cocluded as the tale tellers
saie.) The erle of Warwicke was sent into Spain, well instructed, and no lesse accjin-
panied, for the conclusio of thesaid mariage. But who so will diligently consider, and in
rgall balaunce ponder, the youth and appetite of kyng Edward, and the tend re age and
minoritie of this noble damosell : maie euidently perceiue, that it was neither decent nor
conuenient, for hym nor his realme, to expect and tary the maturitie and ful age of this
noble princes, nor that he beyng a prince, wel cherished, of lustie courage, and apte to«
generacion, would or could Hue sole and vnmaried without a wife, till she were of age,
mete & conueniet for his bed. For it appereth on her goodly sepulture, in the cite of Gra-
nado (where she is buried) and also diuerse famous and notable Historiographers, bolhe of,
Spain and other regions, write and affirme, that she changed this transitory life, in the yere
of our Lorde. M. D. vi. beyng L. yeres of age, one moneth onely lackyng. By whiche re-
port she shoulde be borne, in the yere of our lorde. M. iiii. C. Ivi. And when thsrle of
Warwicke was sent for the mariage of kyng Edwarde, in the beginnyng of the third yere of
his reigne, the yere of our lord. M. cccc. Ixiii, so that then she was sixe and not fully, vii.
yeres, at whiche tyme kyng Edward had fully accoplished. xxiiii. yeres and more. The
treatie of whiche mariage although it be not vnpossible, yet for y causes aforsaid, it semeth
not alible vnlikety. But admit that this mariage was moued, as it peradueture might be,
and that the erle of Warwicke sailed into Spain, (as he did not in deede) of likelihod his
legacion was frustrate, & came to none effect : but sure it is that thesame yere, he came to
kyng Lewes the. xi. then beyng Frenche kyng, liyng at Tours, and with greate honor was
there receiued, and honorably interteined : of who, for kyng Edward his master, he de- The treatye
maunded to haue in mariage the lady Bona. doughter to Lewes duke of Sauoy, and suster hr™^'
to the lady Carlot, then French Quene, beyng then in the Frenche court. This mariage Ed
semeth pollitiquely deuised, and of an high imaginacion to be inuented, if you will well.1"
consider, the state and condicion of kyng Edwardes affaires, which at this time, had
kyng Henry the. vi. in safe custody, in the strong toure of London, and the moste parte of
his adherentes, he had as he thought, either profligated or extinct, Quene Margaret onely
except, and Prince Edward her sonne, whiche wer then soiornyng at Angiers, with old
Duke Reiner of Aniow her father, writyng hymself kyng of Naples, Scicile, and lerusa-
lem, hauing as muche profiles of the letters of his glorious stile, as rentes and reuenues
out of thesaid large and riche realmes and dominions, (because the kyng of Arragon toke
the profiles of thesame, and would make no accept therof to duke Reiner.) Kyng Ed-
ward therfore thought it necessary, to haue affinitie in Fraunce, and especially by the
Quenes suster: whiche Quene, although she ruled not the kyng her husband, (as many wo-
me do) yet he of a certain especiall humilitie, was more content to haue her fauor £ folowe
her desire, (for wedded' men ofte tymes doubt stormes) rather then to haue a lowrvng
countenaunce, and a ringing peale, whe he should go to his rest and quietnes: trusting that
by this manage, quene Margarete (whom thesame Quene Carlot litle or nothyng regarded,
although her father was called a kyng and she a quene, & none of both hauing subiectes,
profiles, nor dominions) should haue no aide, succor nor any cofort of y Freeh klg, nor
of none of his fredes nor alies, wherfore quene Carlot much desirous to aduace her blod
& progenie, & especially to so greate a prince as kyng Edward was, obteyned both the
good1
254 THE. IIIJ. YERE OF
good will of the kyng her husband, & also of her syster, so that the matrimony on that
•rjiemiriage Sy$Q was clcrely assented to, & the erle of Dampmartine appolted with other, to sayle into
kig Edward" En^lad, for the clercly finishyngof thesame. After these thinges thus concluded, the erle
the.iiu. of Warwycke was dismissed and highly rewarded, & for the great & noble corage that was
in him, he obteyned such fauor of the kynge, the quene and the nobles of Fraiicc, that
•when he fled out of Engliid, he was there honorably receiued, frendly maynteined, and
louingly succored, as you shall perceyue hereafter.
BVT now consider the old prouerbe to be true y saieth : that mariage is destinie. For
during y time that the erle of Warwycke was thus in Fraunce, concludyng a mariage for
kyng Edward : The king being on huntyng in the forest of Wychwood besyde Stonnystrat-
forde, came for his recreation to the manner of Grafton, where the duches of Bedford so-
iorned, then wyfe to syr Richard Woduile, lord Ryuers, on who then was attendyng a
daughter of hers, called dame Elizabeth Greye, wydow of syr Ihon Grey knight, slayn at
the last battell of saincte Albons. by the power of kyng Edward. This wydow hauyng a
suit to y kyng, either to be restored by hym to some thyng taken from her, or requyring hym
of pitic, to haue some augmentation to her liuyng, founde such grace in the kynges eyes,
Kyng Eii- t|iat j)e not oiiely fauored her suyte, but tnuche more phantasied her person, for she was a
ward talleth ,, •< . •> p .. ' ' . . '
in lone with woma more oi formal countenaunce, then of excellent beautie, but yet of such beautie
& fauor, that with her sober demeanure, louely lokyng, and femynyne smylyng (neither to
doughter, & wanton nor to humble) besyde her toungue so eloquent, and her wit so pregnant, she was
etiT'.™"" a^'e to rau'she the mynde of a meane person, whe she allured and made subiect to her,
y hart of so great a king. After that kyng Edward had well considered all the linyametes
of her body, and the wise and womanly demeanure that he saw in her, he determined first
to attept, if he might prouoke her to be his souereigne lady, promisyng her many gyftes
and fay re rewardes, affirming farther, y if she would therunto condiscend, she might so
fortune of his peramour and concubyne, to be chaunged to his wyfe & lawfull bedfelow :
whiche demaunde she so wisely, and with so couert speache aunswered and repugned, af-
iirmynge that as she was for his honor farre vaable to be hys spouse and bedfelow: So for
her awne poore honestie, she was to good to be either hys concubyne, or souereigne lady :
that where he was a littell before heated with the darte of Cupido, he was nowe set all on
a hote burnyng fyre, what for the confidence that he had in her perfyte constancy, and the
trust that he had in her constant chastitie, & without any farther deliberation, he deter-
mined with him selfe clerely to marye with her, after that askyng counsaill of them, whiche
he knewe neither woulde nor once durst impugne his concluded purpose.
BVT the duches of Yorke hys mother letted it as much as in her lay alledgyng a precon-
tract made by hym with the lady Lucye, and diuerse other lettes : all which doubles were
resolued, & all thinges made clere & all cauillacions auoyded. And so, priuiliein a morn-
yng he marled her at Grafton, where he first phantasied her visage.
f THE. IIII. YERE.
The. iiii.
ycre.
ster.
A.Nd in the next yere after, she was with great solempnitie crquned quene at Westmyn-
..r. Her father also was created erle Ryuers, and made high Constable of Englande :
her brother lorde Anthony, was marled to y sole hey re of Thomas lord Scales, & by her
he was lord Scales. Syr Thomas Grey, sonne to syr Ihon Grey, the quenes fyrst husband,
was created Marques Dorset, and maried to Cicilie, heyre to the lord Bonuile. Albeit
this mariage, at the first apparaunce was very pleasaunt to. tlie king, but more ioyous to the
quene & profitable to her bloud, which were so highly exalted, yea, & so soda i ply promo-
ted, that all the nobilitie more maruayled then allowed this sqdayne risyng and swift eleua-
cion : Yet wh.0 so will marke the sequele of this story, shall manifestly perceyue, what
.further, what miserie, & wh,a.t -trqWe ensued by reason of this mariage: for it can not be
denied,
KYNG EDWARD THE. IIIJ.,
denied, but for this manage kyng Edward was expnlsed the Realm, & durst not abide,
And for this mariage was theric of Warwycke & his brother miserable slain. By this ma- in
riage were kyng Edwardes. ii. sonnes declared bastardes, & in coclusion priued of their rfVyngw?
liies. And finally by this mariage, the queues blond was confounded, and vtterly in manor »;>rdes m"~
destroyed. So y men did afterward diuyne, that either God was not contented, nor yet'"
pleased with this matrimony, or els that lie punished kyng Edward in his posteritie, for the
diepe dissimulynge and couert clokynge, with hys faithfull frende the erle of Warwycke.
But such coiectures for. y most part, be rather more of mens phiitasies, then of diuiue
reuelacion. Whe this mariage was once blowen abrode, forrcn kynges and prynces mar-
uayled and musyd at it: noble men detested and disdained it: the commo people grudged
and murmured at it, and al with onevoyce sayde, that hys vnaduised wowyng, hasty louyng,
and to spedy mariage, were neither meete for him bcyng a kyng, nor consonant to the ho-
nor of so high an estate. The French kyng and his quene were not a littell discontent (as
I can not blame them) to haue their sister, first demanded and then graunted, and in con-
clusion rciected, and apparently mocked, without any cause reasonable. Wherfore shortly
to appese her dolor, they maried her to Ihon Galece, duke of Millayn, where she liued in
great felicitie. But when the erle of Warwycke had perfit knowledge by the letters of his
trusty frendes, that kyng Edward had gotten him a new wyfe, & that all that he had done
with kyng Lewes in his ambassade for the coioynyng of this new afiinitie, was both frustrate
& voyn, he was earnestly moued and sore chafed with the chaunce, and thought it nec.es-
sarye that king Edward should be deposed from his croune and royal dignitie, as an incon-
stant prince, not worthy of such a kyngly office. All men for the moste parte agre, that
tin's mariage was the only cause, why the erle of Warwycke bare grudge, and made warre
on kynge Edwarde. Other affinne that ther wer other causes, which added to this, made
y fyre to flame, which before was but a litell smoke. For after that kyng Edward had ob-
teyncd his kyngdome (as it was then thoughte) by the onely helpe and meane of the erle
of Warwycke, he bega to suspect, yea, and to doubt him, fearing, lest he beyng in such
aucthoritie and estimacion of the people, as he well might worke him pleasure or displea-
sure, when he therunto were mynded, vvherfore he thought it edueniet a lillc and a litle to
plucke awaye and minyshe the power and aucthoritie, which he and his predecessors had
gyuen to the erle, to thentent that he then myght do at his pleasure, bothe at home and in
outward parties, without feare or dread, without checke or taunt, whatsoeuer to his awn
mynde semed most conuenient. By this a man may se that often it chaiiceth, that frendes
for one good turne will not render another, nor yet remember a great gratuite and benefite
in time of necessitie, to the shewed and exhibited: But for kyndncs they shew vnkindnes,
& for great benefites receyued, with great displeasure they do recompense. Of this the
erle of Warwycke was nothyng ignorat, which although he loked for better thankes & more
ample benefites at kyng Edwardes handes: yet he thought it best to dissimule the matter,
tyll such a time were come, as he might fynd ihe king without stregth, and then to imbrayd
him witli the pleasure that he had done for him. And farther it erreth not from y treuth
• ••v-ivjii^/ !»<•*• v»u • v- * j .; vi v^ 1 1 «, iityiiti »» cio u ILVil! LJLwU U V Rill1 11" L>
Edward, which loued well both to loke and to fele fayre dainmoseis. But whether tlie in°
i'.iry that the erle thought he had taken at king Edwardes lumdcs, or the disdayne of auc-
thoritie that the erle had ' vuder the king, was the cause of dis.solucion of their amitie and
league, tructh it is that the priuie intencions in their hartes brake into so many s'mal pece.s,
that England, Fraunce, and Flauiiders, could neuer ioyne them agayn, durynn their na-
tural 1 lyfes.
THE erle of Warwycke beyng thus moued, inflamed, & set against the kyng, lest in his
fury, his purpose might be espied and broughte to nought, determined him self, couertly
dissimulyng, so longe to suffer all such wronges & iniuries, as were to hym done, til he
M HI
might
2G6* THE. V. YEIIE OF
might spye a tyme conueniet, & a world after his awn appetite, for the setting furth of his'
enterprise, and accomplishing of his purpose: \vberupon he sayled into England, and with,
renerence sainted the kyng as he was wont to do, £ declared his Ambassadc and thexployt
of thesame, without any spot of grudge to be perceyued, as though he were ignorant of*
the new matrimony. And when he had taryed in the courte a certayn space, more for to
shewe that he was thesame person, and of thesame good mynde towarde the kynge, as he
was before the. tyme of his legacion, then for any great atteccion that he bare, either to<
the kyne; or the quene, he obteyned licence of the kyng, to depart to hys Castel of War-
wycke, both for hys health and recreacion, wliither with great honour he was accopanied;
with diuers of the kynges famiiier seruitors, as thoughe none inward grudge or cotiert dis-
simulacion had ben hydden betwene them, where he rcmayned tyll all his prinie imngina-
cions.were made open, and all hys enterprises were ready to be set forwarde. Duryng
whiche time, the quene was deliuered of a yonge and fayre lady, named -Elyzabeth, whiehe
afterward was wyfe to the noble prince kynge Henry the vii. and mother to kyng Henry
the. viii.
«U THE. V. YERE.
\ ,
The.v.yere. WHeii kyng Edward had reigned thys, full the terme of. v. yeares, not all in pleasure,.
nor yet so in displeasure, but either by policie or frcdshippe, he eucr was superior, & had
the vpper hande of hys enemies: He dayly studied and intentyuely applied his whole mynd
with all labor and diligence to ohtayne the loue, fauor and amide of outward princes &
foren potentates. First to haue a llowlad for an Olyuer, for the Fi'3ch king whome he knew
not to be hys frendes, by reason of the refusall of hys quenes syster, he procured an amitie
KynjeEd- with Henry, kynge of Castell, and Ihon kyng of Arragon. At the concluriyng of whiche
«d'acycr- amitie he grauntecl lycence and liberte for certayn cottesolde shepe to be transported in to
tayne nu™- t|)e COu!itie of Spayne (as people report) which haue so there multiplied and encreased,
tobctranSP.e that it k/ith turned f comoclilie of England, moche to the SjKtnysh profit, & to no small
P°"^'nto hynderance of the lucre and gayne whiche was beforetymes in England, vaysed of wolle and
felle. Beside thys to haue an amitie with hys nexte neyghbor, the kyng of Scottes he
wynkynge at the towne of Barwyke, was contet to take a truce for xv. yeres.
BVT Lord what happy chauce and good lucke had kyng Edward for besyde these ne\r
frendes and conferates (of the whiche, some were more farther of, then he coulde cal to for
helpe with a whistel, wiien he stodo in rnoost dauivier and distresse) Fortune besyde all his
expectacio prouidfcd hym euen at hys elbowe, A brother in lawe, a perpetual allye and trend-
ly neighboure : whiche offered allyaunce and new amitie, if he had either refused or myssed
surely of al his other putatyue (1 dare not say fuyned) frendes, for all their lea <je, in his
extreme neccssitie, he had bene clerely abandonyd, and of all comfort left disconsolate.
Thys happy chaunce came by thys occasion, In thys same season was lord and prince in Flaun-
ders, Brabant andZeladt, and other the lowecontreis theraboute Philippe duke of Burgoyne,
a man as he was of greate age and yercs, so was he had in muche honor, great estiinacion &
high reuerece emongest all kynges and prynces in hys dayes: which duke as you harde be-
fore, was enemye mortall to kynge Hen rye the sixte This duke had only one sonne legiti-
mate, called Charles erle of Charoloys, a man of s-.iche haute corage, of so high enterp7'ice
and vntimerous audacite (euen lyke the sonne of Mars) as fewe or none was sene in hvs
tyme: For ho-.v he discomfited kyng Loys the. xi. then the Freeh kyng at the battayle of
Montleherrye, the Fienchemen huthe not yet forgotten. The lade of Luke also hath in
recent memorie his sor/e scorge and cruell plage. Thys erle Charles was at this tyme a
wydower, hauyng oncly a sole dough ter, and no sonne, wherfore bothe by hys father arid
hym selfe and the companions of the order of the golde flece, being of their cousail, it was
thought not onely expedient but much more necessary, that he should take a wvfe, ye and
« - A *
4 m
KYNG EDWARD THE. II1J. 26'7
•in such a place as they might by that matrimony haue both aliiuunce and ayde agaynste all
•their outwarde enemies, and especially agaynst the Frcnche kyng, whoinc they knew dayly
to wayte & watche lyke a scrpente, how he by fraude might swalmv or catche them or their
possessions : vpon which comunicacid it was declared by certayne, there he'ynge present,
lliat kynge Edward of Englande had a fayre virgyn to hys syster, called lady Margarete, a
huly of excellent beautic, and vet more ol'womanhod (hen bc-autie. and moreofvertue then
wooianbode, whose innumerable good qualities, beside, the giftes of nature, grace and for-
tune, were so seriously setftirth to duke Philip, and the erle of Charoloys hya sonne, that
bothe the father & the child iudged that manage to be the mosie uiett-st matrimony in Chris-
tendom, not onely for the excellent qualities and manifold vcrtucs emp: inted in the person
of the noble virgyu, but also for the great profile, allyance and cor.timiaH frendsliip that
*houlde grow*: and ry.se betw-ene the roalme of Englandc, and the dukes landes.
THE. VI. YEIIE.
AFter tha-t thys poynle was clercly resolued on, the Duke appoynted hys bastard sonne Th«-v'-
lorde Anthony, commonly called the bastarde of Bourgoyne, chefe Ambas*adoure for th*is
purpose: a man of great witte, corage, valiantnesand liberalise, \vhiche beyng richely fur-
bished of plate & apparel, necessary for his estate, bailing in his copany geteimen & other
-expert in all feates of chiualry, and merciall prowes, to $ nulerof. cccc. horses (as the Bra-
banders write) toke hys ship, and with prosperous wynde arryued in Englande, where he was
of ibe nobilitie receyued and with al honorable entertainment, conueyed to the kynges pre-
sence which like a prince, that knew what apperteined to his degre, louingly welcomed, and
familiarlyeimbrased the bastard & other noblesy came wilhhym. Andafterhys commission scene,
and hys message declared, the Kynge gaue to hym a gentell answere "for that tyme, and so
the ambassadours departed to their lodgynge, where they kept a gueat housholde, and made
triumphal chere. You may thinke'that kyng Edward was not so vnwyse, nor yet so vnpur-
ueyed of counsail, to forsake thys beneficiall alliance, amicable consanguinitie and louynge
frendshyp, thus fiankely to hym profered and graunted hut that he and all hys comisaill with
fote and hande endeauoured theym selfes to brynge too passe, and fynally to conclude the-
same, the Erie of Warwycke onely exccpte, whiche l>erynge hys harty fauoure too the
Frenche kynge by yll reportcs, dyd asinuche as in hym lave to hynder thys manage and affi-
nitie, of whose good will duke Charles \vaswellinformed.
But for all hys opinion at a certayne daye, the kynge sente for the Ambassadours, and
there declared too theym howe he gladlye dyd bothe accept and graunte their louynge
request, and demaunde, promisyng them in the word of a Prynce, that he should be du-
ryng his'life frend to the fredes of the Duke and the Erie, and enemies to their aduersaries
and ennemies, which wordes not a littel pleased the Burgonyons. After this he caused the
lady Margaret his syster to be sent for which beyng richely appareled, accompanied with a
great multitude of ladyes and gcntelwomen, cntred into the kynges great chaber, with so so-
ber demeanure, so fa ire a visage, solouyng a coiitenaunce, & so princely a port, that she was
esterned for her personage and qualities, bothe of the Burgonnyons and other, not to be vn-
worthy to matchc. in matrimony, with the greatest prynce of the worlde. And after the kynge,
she & the ambassadours had comoned a good tract of tyme, the lord Anthonye bastard of
Burgonnye, contracted openly the sayde lady Margaret, for and in the name of his brother
the erle Charles, and there in the name of the duke his father, and the Erie his brother,
lie presented to $ lady Margaret a ryche and a costly luell, whiche she ioyouslye. receyued
with great thankes and many gratulations geuen, both to her father in lawe and her new
contracted husband.
After thys manage, was thus concluded and contracted to speke what bankettes, fesles,
'Jisguysynges pastymes & pleasures were made and shewed to the ambassadours, it v, ere to
M m 2 longe -
THE. VL YERE OF
lon*e to write the matter, beyng no more serious, & much more tedious to here : But one thlg
Adulate, was" very honorable, and not mete to be put in obliuio. The Bastard of Burgoyne, a man
of a haute corage, chalenged Anthony lord Scales, brother to the Quene, a man both egall
in liarte, and valyantnes with die bastard to fight with hym bolhe on fote & on horsbacke,.
the lord Scales gladly receyucd hys demaunde and promised hym on the othe of agentelrnan,
to aunswere hym in the felde, at the day appoynted : lyke chalenges were made by other
Borsionyons, t'o the gentelmen of Englande, which you may surely beleue were not refused,
The kyng entedyng to see thys marciall sport and valiant chalenge performed, caused lystes
royal 1 for the champions, and eostely galleries for Ladies toloke on, to be newly erected and
edcfied in West Smylhfelde in Loclon. And at the day by the kyng assigned, the. ii. Lordes
entered within the listes, well mounted, richely trapped and curiousJye armed. On whiche
daye they ran together, certayne courses wyth sharpe speres, and so departed with egall
honor. The next daye, they entered the felde, the bastarde sitting on a bay course^beinge
somewhat dymme of sight, and the lord Scales had a gray courser, on whose schaffro was a<
long and a sharpe pyke of stele. Whe these, ii. valeat persones coped together at the tornay,
the lord Scales horse by chauceor by custome, thrust hys pyke into the nostrelles of the horse,
of the bastarde, so that for very payne he mouted so hygh, that he fell on the one syde with
hys master, & the lord Scales rode roiid about him with his- sworde shakycng in hys hand,
tyll the kyng comaunded the Marshall to helpe vp the bastarde, whiche openly sayed, I can-
not holde by the cloudes. for though my horse fayled me, surely I will not fayle my couter-
copaignions. And when he was remounted, he made a countenance to assayle his aduersa-
rie, but the kyng either fauoryng his brothers honor then gotten, or mistrustyng the shame, .
whiche mighte come to the bastarde, if he were agayne foyled, caused the Heraldes to cry,,
a lostel, and euery man to departe. The morow after, the two noble men came in to the
felde on fote, with two Poleaxes, and there fought valiantly lyke two coragious champions,
but at the laste, the point of the axe of the lord Scales happened to enter iuto the sight of
thehealme of the bastard. & by fyne force might haue plucked hym on his knees, the kynge
sodayuely caste doune hts warder, and then the Marshails them seuered. The bastard not
content with this chaunce, very desirous to be reuenged, trustynge on his cunning at the Pole-
axe (the whiche feate he had greatly exercysed, & there in had a great experiment) required :
the kyng of Justice, that he might perfonne his enterprise: the lord Scales, not refused it. The.
J;ing sayd he wolde aske counsail, & so calling to hym the Costable and Marshall with ,
the officers of armes, after longe consultacion had, and lawes of arrnes rehersed, it was de-
clared to the bastarde for a sentence diffinitiue by the duke of Clarence, then Constable of
Englande, and the duke of Northfolke Erie Marshall, that if he woulde prosecute farther,
his attempted chalenge, he muste by the lawe of armes, be deliuereci to his aduersarye in,
thesame case and like condicion, as he was when he was taken from him, that is tt/saye,
the poynt of the lord Scales axe to be fixed in the sighte of his healme, as depe as it was
when they were seuered. The bastard heryng this indgemt, doughted much the sequele, if
he so should procede agayne, wherfore he was content to relinquyshe hys chalengo, rather
then to abyde the hasarde of hys dishonor : Other chalenges wer done, & valiantly acheued
by the Englishmen, which I passe oner. When all these corragious aetes wer thus with ioy
accomplished, sorowfull tidinges were broughte to the bastard,' that duke Philip his father
was passed this transitory lyfe, of whiche tidinges he was not a littell sorowfull, and there-
vpon takynge his leueof kynge Edwarde and his syster, the nevve Duches of Burgoyne, libe-
rally rewarded with plate and lewels, with all celeritie he returned to the new duke Charles
his nephew, accepting to him what exployt he had made in his Ambassade & message, which
answere was to the great contentacion and accomplishement of the desire of the said Duke
and therof rnoste hartely thanked the lady., for her consent, as for the thyn<*e that he most
desired, not forgettynge to gratefie kynge Edwardes for his preferment and furtherance in
his lou.nge request. This contract was made, and duke Philip dyed in the yere of our sal-
uacioii. M.CCCC.LXYII. and in the. vj. yere of kynge Edwarde the. iiij. in whiche yere
KYNG EDWARD THE. IIIJ.
fcvn* Edward more for the Marques Montagewes loue, then for any fauour he bare to the
ede°of Warwycke, promoted George Neuell their brother, to the Archebishoperyke ot
Yorke.
THE. VII. YERE..
NOw to returne to Charles duke of Burgoyne, whiche was with greate victory, and vie- The. v&
torious triumphe returned from the conquest of the lande of Luke to Bruseles, he not tor-
seuiii« the contract, which his bastard brother the lord Anthony had made in his name, with
the noble princesse lady Margaret, syster to Edward kynge of Englande, deuised alwayes
how he mitfht with all honor and royaltie, haue her receyued into his countrey. And ursf
he wrote to the kyng of England, to sende her ouer-the sea with all diligence, according^ to
the pact and lea^e betwene them concluded, whiche beyng nothynge slacke, and especially
iu suche a cause, as so highly magnified his bloude, prepared shippes and all thynges neces-
sary for the honorable conduyte of her and her copany and so accompanied with the dukes of
Exceter and Southfolke and "their wyfes, beynge both her systers, and a great coinpanye of
lordes and ladies and other, to the number of. CCCCC. horsses, in the begmmnge of lune
departed out of Londo to Douer, & so- sayled to Sluys, how she and her companye were
there receyued and from thence conueyed to. Bruges,- where the manage- was celebrate and
solempnized, what abundant fare and Delicate viand was serued at the feast, with how riche
banginzes the house was garnished and trimmed, with how many Cupperdes of golde & silucr
the palace was adourned, with how many garnyshe of siluer vessell the companyes were
serued, what lustes, what Tourneys, what bankettcs, and what disportes were at this Nup-
ciall feast? I neither dare nor wil write, accordinge to the Brabader Chronicle, lest per-
auenture some men might-thynke that I flattered a litle, as perchance I thynke they saye
not trew in a greate dele.
But now to let go ^matters of ioy & solace, & to returne to the pestilent serpent, whiche
so longe had sucked vp his poyson, and now began to vomit and cast it so abrade, that all
the. iiL veres folowyngthe whole Realme was continually infected with thesame, whiche in-
feccion,"neuer ceased lill the. ayre was purified with the bloudde and deathe of him selfe at
Rarnet fclde : for if you call to you re r'emetnbraunce the depe dissimulinge of the Erie of
Warwyckc at his retorne from beyonde the sea, and the continual! grudge that lurked in iiis
stomack, toward kyng Edward syth y tyme, ye must thinke that of very necessilie it wolde
at length either burste'the vessell," and by some nieanes issue out, as it did now euen at this
tynie:°he beyng at his towne of Warwycke, accompanied with his two brelherne the Mar-
q-ues Mountacute, and the Archebishop of Yorke, framed communicacion too make them
merye and to passe furth the tyme two or thre dayes, and at the last hauynge an occasio
to sneake of the kyng & his doyngesand procedinges, he then first moued and excited them
by al waies possible to helpe andayde, & to restore kyng liery the sixte, to the Croune and
rovall diwoitie agayne, saiyngto the after thiswise. My dere & welbeloued bretherne, the ThePerSUa.
incredible faythefulnes, the secrete sobernes, and the polytique prudence that I haue euer s^o°/^
by long cotinuace of tyme experimented in you both, doth not onely encourage my harte, wykevsu,
yea and setteth me in great hope of obteynynge my purpose.^ but also putteth me out of ail ^°^'
dreade & mistrust, fermely beleuyng, & surely Judging, y you both wyl with tothe and kingEdwarf
nayle endeuer your selfe, to the vttermost of your power to bring to effect & purpose y "
tkias: that I now shal declare vnto you. Surely, I woulde in nowise that you shouhle thynke
thatf that whiche I shall speake to you, of king Edward and kyng Henry, should rise of
any liffhtnes or phantasie of my myud,- or any triffelyng toye, lately fallen into my ima^ina-
cion, 'but the true experience and iuste iudgement, that I haue of them bothe, their quali-
ties and condicions, in nianer copell and constraine me to saie as I saie, and to doe as I
doo. For sur< ly Kyng Henry is-, a Godly, good, and a verteous persone, neither forgetlyng
hisfrendes, nor puttyngin obiiuion any .bcnefite by hym, of a meane persone receiued, nor
yet
THE. VII. YERE OF
rctany mine for his causes susteincd, he hath lefte vnrewarded : To whom 'God hath -sent
a sonne, railed Prince Edward, borne to be of great worthynes and prayse, of muche -bou:i-
tefuhies and liberalitie, of whom men maie, many laudable tbynges coniecturc, consideryng
the pein, labor and trauaill, that he tukcth to helpe_his father out of captiuiue and tiiraldonie.
Kyn"- Edward on the contrary side, is a man, cotumelious, opprobrious, & an injurious
person, to them that deserue kyndncs, lie slieweth vnkyndnes, and to theim that loue him,
he dcd'ly liateth, now detestyng to take any pein, for the preferment or maintenaunce, of
the publiquc wealth of this realme, hut all gen en to pastime pleasure, and daliance. Spner
prcterryng to high estate, men discendcd of lowe bloud, and bassc degree, then men of old
and vndefiled houses, \vhiche hath bothe supported hym, & the common wealth of his realme-:
So that now I perceiue, that it is eue come to this poynt that lie will destroye all the nobilitie.,
or els the nobilitie must shortly, of very necessitie dustroye and confounde hym. But rea-
son would, that we that wer first hurt, should first reuC-ge our cause : for it is not vnknowen
to you bothe, how that he, im medially after he had obteined the crounc, began first se-
cretly^ and then openly, to enuic, disdain, and impugne the fame, glory, and renoune, of
our house and famiiie, as who saied that al the honor, preferment and aucthoritie that we
haue, we had onely receiued at his handes, and that we had neither obteigned, dignitie nor
rule by our great labor, aide and trauaill. Whiclie to all men maie seme vntrue, whichc
consider that our name, chief title and principal! aucthoritie, was to vs geuen by kyng
Henry the sixte, and not by hym. lJut if euery man will remembre, ,who firste toke parte
with his father, when he claimed the Croune: who at that tyme, for that cause was in greate
ieoperdie, and almost slain by the kynges meniall seruauntes, and who neuer lefte this man
in prosperitie nor aduersitie, till he had the gailande, and the realme in quietnes, shall mani-
festly perceiue, that we and oure bloudde, hath shewed our selfes more like fathers to hym,
then he like a frend to vs. If we haue receiued any benefites of hym, -surely thei be not
so muche, as we haue deserued, nor so muche as we looked for, and yet they bee muche
more, then he would wee should enioye, as ye bothe well perceiue and knowe. Let these
thyngcs oucrpasse, and speakc of the vngentle, vntrue and vnprincely handelyng of me, in
the laste ambassude, beyng sent to the French kyng, for to treate a manage for hym,
hauyng full aucthoritie to bynd and to lose, to contracte and conclude. Whiche thyng
when I had finished and accomplished: how lightly his mynde chaunged, How priuily he
vowed, and how secretly he maried, Bothe you knowe better then I. So that by this meanes,
I was almo.ste out of all credence, in the Courte of Fraunce, bothe with the kyng and
quene as though I had come thether like an espiall, to moue a thyng ncuer mynded, or to
treat of u manage determined before, neuer to take effect. Whereby the fame of all our
estimacion, whiche all kynges and Princes haue concerned in vs, partly obteined by the vcr-
tue and prowesse of our noble auncestors, and partly acheued by oure awne peines and
forward actes: shall now be obfuscate, vtterly extinguished, and nothyng set by. What
worme is pouched, and will not once turne again? What beast is striken' that will not rore
or sound ? .What innocet child is hurt that will not me ? If the poore and vnreasonable
beastes: If the scly babes that lacketh discrecion, grone against hanne to theim proffered,
How ought an honest man to be angery, when thyiiges that touche his honestic,' be daily
against him attempted ? But if a nieane person in that case bee angeiy: how muche more
ought a noble man, to fume and stirrc- coales, when the high tipe of his honor is touched,
his fame in rnuncr brought to infamy, and his honor almoste blemished and appalled, with
out his offence or desert ? All this brethren you know to be true, the dishonor of one, is the
dishonor of vs all, and the hurte of one, is the hurte of all: Wherfore, rather then I will
.
These faire wordes allured the Archbishop shortly, to his intent and purpose, but the
Lord*
KYNG EDWARD THE. IIIJ. 271
Lorde Marques could by no meanes bee reduced, to take any parte against kyng Edward
till the erle had bothe promised hym great rewardes and high promotions, and also assured
Hym of the aide and power, of the greatest princes of the reahne. Eue as the Marques
vrnvillynoly and in mannercoactcd gaue his consent, to this vnhappy coniuracion, at the m-
tisemcntand procurement of therle, so with n fainte hartc and lesse courage, he alwaies
shewed hymself eneinic to Kyng Edwarde, excepte in his laste daie: whiche lukewarme
hartc and double dissimulation, wcr bothe the destruccion of him and his brethre. The
erle of Warwicke beeynge a man'of a greatc wit, farre castyng, and many thyngea vigilantly
forosevnc either perceiued by other, or had perfect knowledge of hymself, that the duke
of Clarence bare not the best will to kyng Edward his brother (as he did not in dede)
thought firste to proue hym a farr of, as it wer in a probleme, and after to open to him (if
he sawe hym flexible to his purpose) the secrete imaginations of his stomacke: thynkyng
that if he mjtfht by policie or promise, allure the duke to his partie, that kyng Edward
should be depute, of one of his best Hawkes, when he had moste nede to make a flight.
So at tyme and place conuenient, the erle began to complain to the duke, of the ingratitude
and doublenea of kyng Edward, saiyng: that be had neither handled hym like a irende,
nor kepte promise with hym, accordyng as the estate of a Prince required The erle had
not halfe tolcle his tale, but the duke in a greatc fury answered, why my lorde, thynke you to
haue hym kynd to vou, that is vnkynd, and vnnatural to me beynge his awne brother, thynke
you that frendship will make hym kepe promise, where neither nature nor kynrcd, 111 any
wise can prouoke or moue hym, to fauor his awne bloud? Thynke you that lie will exalte
and promote his cosin or alie, whiche litle careth for the fall or confusio, of his awne line
and lisnace: This you knowe well enough, that the lieire of the Lorde Scales he hath ma-
ried to his wiles brother, the heire also of the lorde Bonuile and Uaryngton, he hathgeuen
to his wifes soune, and theire of the lorde Hungerford, he hath graunted to the lorde
Hastyn«es- thre manages more meter for his twoo brethren and kynne, then forsuche newe
foupdlynses as he hath bestowed theim on: Hut by swete saincte George I sweare, if my
brother of Gloucester would ioyne with me, we would m*ke hym knowe, that we were all
three one mannes sonnes, of one mother and one lignage discended, whiche should be more
preferred and promoted, ihenstraungers of his wifes bloud.
When therle of Warwicke had hard the dukes wordes, he had that whiche he bothe sore •
thrusted and lusted for, and then began boldly to disclose to the Duke, his intent and pur-
pose euen at the full, requiryng hym to take partc with hym, and to bee one of the at-
tempted confederacie. And least the duke might thynke, that the matter was lightly, and
vncircumspectly begon, he declared to hym, howe warely, howe secretly, how spedily all
thyn«e«« eoncernyng this purpose, had been compassed, studied, and forsene, requiryng liym
in soVreatc and vrWnte a cause, bothe to take-pern & trauaiil, and also to studie with all
eircumspeccion and forseyng, how these thyngcs thus begon, might be brought to a certain-
tic and a finall conclusion. And the rather to wynne the dukes hart the erle beside diuerse
and many fuirc promises made to the duke, offered hym his eldest daughter (becyng of npe
age and el^'ant stature) in rnariage, with the whole halfedele of his wites inheritaunce.
The duke at 'the perswasion & request of therle, promised to do all thynges whiche he would
or could, in any maner require or desire. After that the Duke and the erle had long con-
sulted concernyng their straunge and dangerous affaires : thei first determined to saile to >
Caleis, of the wLich tonne the erle was chief capital n, where his wife and twoo doughters
then soiorned, whom to visile, the duke of Clarence beyng in amours, had no small -affec-
tion But the erle continually remembryng the purpose that he was set on, thought to begin <
and kindle the fire, of his vngracious coniuracion (whiche so many yeres vexed and vn-
quieted the reahne of Englande) before his departure, wherefore he appoynted his brethren i
the Archebishop and the Marques, that they should by some uieane in his absence,, stirrevp
newe commotion or rebellion, in the Countie of Yorke and other places adiacente : so that
this
272 THE. VIII. YERE OF
this duill warre should seme to all men, to haue been begon without his assent or knowledge
(he beyng in the paries of beyond the sea).
THE. VIII. YERE.
The via. WHen all these thvnges wer thus determined, and in graoe counsaill allowed, the erle
?"<• and the duke sailed directly to Caleis: where thei were solempnely receiued, and loyously
interteined of the Countesse and of her twoo daughters. And after that the duke had
sworpe oi) ihe Sacrament to kepe his promise and pacte inmolate made and concluded with
the erle of Warwicke, he maried the Lady Isabell, eldest daughter to thesaied erle, in our
I ady Cliurche at Caleis, with greate pompe and solernpnilie. After whiche mariage so
solempnized, the duke and therle consulted sadly together, by what meanes they, should con-
tinue the warre (whiche as it was by theim appoynted) was recently and within fewe dales
begonnein Yorkeshire, not without great rurnore and disturbaunce, of all quietnes in that
<:omitrev.
Thu mother of this pernicious commocion, was vnchantie, or very impiety, for there was
in the citee of Yorke, an olde and riche Hos])itall, dedicated to Saincte Leonardo, in the
whiche Almosehouse the poore and indigente people were harbored and refreshed, and the
sicke and impotente persones were comforted and healed. For this good purpose and cha-
ritable intent, all the whole Prouince of Yorke, gaueyerely to this Hospitall certain mea-
sures of come: in maneras an oblacion of the first fruites of their newe grayne, thynkyng their
"yftegeuen to so holy a place, for so holy an expence, should bee to theim meritorious, and
before God acceptable. Certain euill disposed persones of the erle of Warwickes faccion,
intendyngto set a bruill in the countrey, perswaded a great nombre of husbande men, to
refuse and deny to geue any thyng to thesaied Hospitall, affirmyng andsaiyng: that the
come that was geuen to that good intent, was not expended on the pore people, but the Mas-
ter of the Hospitall wexed riche with suchealmose, and his priestes wexed fat, and the poore
people laie leane without succour or comfort. And not content with these saivnges, thei
fell to dooynges, for when the Proctors of the Hospital!, accordyng to their vsage, went
aboute the countrey, to gather the accustomed corne they were sore beaten, wounded, and
very euil intreated. Good men lamented this vngodly demeanure, and the peruerse people
much at it reioysed, and toke suche a courage, that they kept secrete conucnticles, and pri-
uiecotmuunicacios, in so muche, that within fewe daies, thei had made suche a confederacie
together, that thei wer assembled to the nombre of. xv. thousad men, euen rcdy prest to set
on the citie of Yorke. When the fame of this commocion and great assemble, came to the
tares of the citizes of Yorke they were firste greatly astonied: but leauyng feare aside, ihey
were in a greate doubt and vncertaintie, whether it were best for them to issue out of their
walles, and to geue battaill to the rebelles, or to kepe their citie, and repulse the violence of
.their enemies, by the manfull defendyng of their walles and portes. Hut the lorde Marques
Momacute, gouernor and presedent of that countrey for the kyng, did shortly put the citi-
zens out of all feare and suspicion of inuasion, for he takyng spedy cousaill, nnd -consider-
yng the oportunitie of the tyme, with a small nombre of menne but well chosen, .encountered
the rebelles, before the gates of Yorke: where after long conflicte, he toke Robeit Huldur'ne
their -cajiitain, and "before theim commaunded his bed there to be striken of, and then he
caused all his souldiours (because it was darke to entre into the citie ot' Yorke) and after
their long l:rbor>to rcfreshe them.
Here is to be niaruuiled, why the Marques thus put 'to --death the cupitain and ruler of
the people, stirred and rcised vpby bym, and the felowes of.his coniuracion and conspiracie :
•Some saie he did it to the intent, that be would seme fautles and innocent, of all his brothers
.doynges, and priuie imaginations : But other affirme andisaie, -that -lie for all his promise
made
KYNG EDWARD THE. IIIJ. 273
made to his brother, was then deliberatly determined to take parte with kyng Edward, with
whom (as it shall after appere) he in small space entered into greate grace and high fauor.
The people beyng nothyng abashed at the death of their capitain, but rather the more eger,
and fierce, by faire meanes and craftie perswasions: found the meanes to get to theim,
Henry sonne and heire to the lorde Filz Hughe, and sir Henry Neuell, sonne and heire of
the Lorde Latimer, the one beeyng nephew, and the other cosin germarn to therle of War-
wicke. Although that these young gentlemen, bare the names of capitaines, yet they had a
tutor &gouernor called sir Ihon Conyers, a man of suche courage & valiauntnes, as fevve
was in his daies, in the Northe partes. And firste considerynge that they could not get Yorke,
for want of ordinaunce and artilery, whiche they did lacke in dede, they determined with all
spede to marche toward Londo, intending by the w;lie to reise suche a phantesie in the peo-
ples hartes, y they should thynke that kyng Edward was neither a iust prince to God, nor
profitable to the comon welth of y realme.
When kyng Edwarde (to whom all the dooynges of the Erie of Wanvicke, and the Duke
his brother, were manifest and ouerte, and wer come to that poynt, that he expected and
loked for) was by diuerse letters sent to him, certified that the great armie of the Nor-
thren men, wer with all spede commyng toward London. Therefore in greate hast he sent
to Wyllyam lorde Herbert, whom, within twoo yeres before, he had created erle of Pen-
broke, that he should without delaye encountre with the Northren men, with the extremitie
of all his power. The erle of Penbroke, commonly called the lorde Herbert, was not a
litle ioyous of the kynges letters, partly to deserue the kynges liberalitie, whiche of a meane
gentleman, had promoted hym to the estate of an erle, partly for the malice that he bare to
the erle of Warwicke, beyng the sole obstacle (as he thought) why he obteined not the
wardship of the Lorde Bonuiles daughter & heire, for his eldest sonne. Wherupon he ac-
compaignied with his brother sir Richard Harbert, a valiaunt knight, and aboue. vi. or.
vii. thousande Welshemenne well furnished, marched forwarde to encountre with the
Northren men. And to assiste and furnishe hym with archers, was appoynted Humffray
lorde Stafford of Southwike (named, but not created) Erie of Deuonshire, by the kyng,
in hope that he valiauntly would serue hym in that iorney, and with hym he had eight hun-
dred archers. When these twoo Lordes were met at Cottishold, they made diligent inquiry,
to here where the Northren menne were, and so by their explorators they were asserteined,
that thei were passyng towarde Northampton, whervpon the lorde Stafford, and sir Richard
Harbert with twoo thousande well horsed Welshmen, saied: they would go vewe and se the
demeanor and nombre of the Northern men, and so vnder a woodes side, thei couertly es-
pied the passe forward, and sodainly set on the rerewarde : but the Northren men with
suche agilitie so quickly turned aboute, that in a moment of an houre, the Welshemen
wer clene discomfited and scatered, and many taken, and the remnaunt returned to the ar-
mie with small gain.
Kyng Edwarde beeyng nothyng abasshed of this small chaunce, sente good woordes
to the Erie of Pembroke, animatyng and byddyng. hym to bee of a good courage, pro-
misyng hym not alonely ayde in shorte tyme, but also he hymself in persone royall,
would folowe hym with all his puyssance and power. The Yorke shire menne, beyng glad
of this small victory, were well cooled and went no farther Southward, but toke their waie
toward Warwicke, lokyng for aide of therle, whiche was lately come from Caleis, with the
Duke of Clarece his sonne in lawe, and was gatheryng and reisyng of men, to succor his
frendes and kynsfolke. The kyng likewise assembled people on euery side, to aide and
assist therle of Penbroke and his compaignie. But before or any part receiued comfort or
succor, from his frend or partaker, bothe the armies met by chaunce, in a faire plain, nere
to a toune called Hedgecot, three myle from Banbery, wherin be three hilles, not in equal B»nt>«y
distaunce, nor yet in equall quantitie, but liyng in maner although not fully triangle: the fcUt
Welshemen gat firste the West hill, hopyng to haue recouered the East hil: whiche if thei
had obteined, the victory had been theirs, as their vnwise Prophesiers promised the before.
N n The
•l?74 THE. VIII. YERE OF
The Nortbren-nien iucamped themself on the Southe hill. The erle of Penbroke and the
lorde Stafford of Southwike, wer lodged at Banbery the daie before the feld whiche was
sainct lames daie, and there the erle of Pembroke, putte the Lorde Stattorde put of an
Inne wherein he delighted muche to be, for the loue of a damosell that dwelled m the
house- contrary to their mutuall agrement by them taken, wbiche was, that whosoeuer ob-
teined first a lod^yng, should not be deceiued nor remoued. After many great woordes and
crakes, had betwene these twoo capitaines, the lorde Stafford of Southwyke, in greate dis-
pite departed with his whole compaignic and band of Archers, leauyng the erle of Pem-
broke almoste desolate in the toune, whiche, with all diligence returned to his host, liyng in
the feld vnpurueied of Archers, abidyng suche fortune as God would sende and prouide.
Sir Henry Neuell sonne to the Lorde Latimer, tooke with hym certain light horssemen,
and skirmished with the Welshemen in the euenyng, euen before their Campe, where he did
diuerse valiaunt feates of armes, but a litle to hardy, he went so farre forward that he was
taken and yelded, and yet cruelly slain: whiche vnmercifull acte, the Welshemen sore ruled
the next daie or night/ For the Northren men bey ng inflamed, & not a litle discontented,
with the death of this noble man, in the mornyng valiauntly set on the Welshemenne, and
by force of archers, caused theim quickely to descende the hill into the valey, where bothe
the hostes fought. Therle of Penbroke behaued hymself like a hardy knight, and expert
capitain, but his brother sir Richarde Herbert so valiauntly acquited hymself, that with his
Polleaxe in his hand (as his enemies did afterward reporte) he twise by fine force passed
through the battaill of his aduersaries, and without any mortall wounde returned. If euery
one of his felowes and compaignions in armes, hud doen but halfe thactes, whiche he that
daie by his noble prowes achiued, the Northremen had obteined neither sauetie nor victory.
Beside this, beholde the mutabilitie of fortune, when the Welsheme were at the very
poynt, to haue obteynecl the victory (the Northernme beyng in manner discofited) Ihon
Clappam Esquier, seruaunte to the erle of Warwycke, moated vp the syde of y east hyl, ac-
copanied onely with. CCCCC. men gathered of all the Rascal of the towne of Northampton
and other villages about, hauyng borne before them the standard of the Erie with the white
Bere, Crvenge a Warwycke a Warwycke. The Welshmen think-yng that y Erie of War-
wycke had come on them with all his puyssance, sodaynlye as men amased fledde : the
Northernme, them pursued and slew without mercy, for y cruelty that they had shewed to
Aureate the lord Latimers sonne. So that of the Welshme there were slayn aboue. v. M. bcsyde them
wdshT °f t'iat werefled ar>d taken.
men* e The erle of Pembroke, syr Rychard Herbert his brother, and diu'ers gentelmen were taken,
and brought to Banberie to be behedded, much lamentacion and no lesse entreatie was made
to saue the lyfe of Syr Rychard Herbert, both for hys goodely personage, whiche excelled
all men there, and also for the noble Chiualry, that he had shewed in the felde the day of:
the battayll, in so muche that his brother the Erie, when he should laye doune his hed on
the block to suffer, sayd to syr Ihon Conyers and Clappam, Masters let me dye for I am
olde, but saue my brother, which is yonge, lusty and hardy, mete and apte to serue the
greatest prince of Christendom. But syr Ihon Conyers and Clappam, remembryng the
death of theycnge knyght syr Henry Neucl, Cosyn to the erle of Warwycke, could not here
on that side, but caused the erle & hys brother with diuers other gentelme, to the number
of. x. to be there behedded. The Northamptonshire men, with diuers of y Northernme by
*0binof them procured, in this fury made them acapitayne, and called hym Robyn of Riddesdale, and
:sdale- sodaynly came to the manner of Grafton, where the erle Ryuers father to the Queue then
lay whom they loued not, and there by force toke the saydeerle and and syr Ihon his sonne,
and brought them to Northampton, and there without Judgement stroke of their heddes, whose
bodyes were solemply enterred in the Blackefreers at Northampton. When kynge Edward
was aduci tised of thys vnfortunate chauces, he wrote in all hast to the Shiriefes of Somerset-
shyre and Deuenshyre, that if they coulde by any meane take the lorde Stafford of South-
wyke, that they vpon payne of their lyues, should without delay put hym in execucion, whiche
1 accordingly
KYNG EDWARD THE. IIIJ.
accordingly to the kynges comraaundement, after long exploracion made, founde hym hyd
in a village in Brentmarche, called '» where he was taken & brought to Bridgwater, &
there cut shorter by the hedde. Thys was the order, manner and ende of Hegecot felde,
comely called Banberie felde, foughten the morow after sainct lames daye, in the. viij. yere
of kynge Edwarde the. iiij. the whiche battaile euer synce hath bene, and yet is a cotinuall Banberya
grudge betwene the Northernmen and the Welshemen. After thys battayle the Northernme
resorted lowarde Warwycke, where the erle had gathered a greate multitude of people, whiche
erle gaue hygh commedacions to syr Ihon Conyers and other capitaynes of y North, much
reioysing, that they had obtevned so glorious victory, requiring them to continew as they
had begon. The king likewyse sore thrusting to recouer his losse late susteyned, and desi-
rous to be reuenged of the deathes and murders of hys lordes and fredes, marched toward
Warwycke with a great armye, and euer as he wente forwarde, his company increased, be-
cause he commaunded it to be noysed and published to the common people, that his onely
en tent was to destroy, and vtterly to confounde the vnhappy stocke and yll graried generation,
of suche pernicious persones, as wolde disturbe and bring in thraldome, y quiet comons and
peascable people. The erle of Warwycke had by his espialles perfyt, knowlege how the
kyng with his arrnye was bent toward hym, &sent in all hast possible to the duke «f Clarece
(which was notfar from him with a great power) requyringehim thatbothe their hostes rnyghte
ioyne in one for as farre as he could imagyne, the tyme of battayle was very nere. The duke
hearynge these newes in good order of battayle, came and encamped him selfe with the erles
host. When all thynges were redy prepared to fight: by the meanes of fredes, a meane was
founde how to comon of peace, for the whiche letters were writte from eche parte to other,
declaring their griefesand the very bottoms of their stomtnackes: Herauldes spared no horse-
flesh in riding betwene the kyng and the erle, nor in retornynge from the Erie to the kynge :
the kynge conceyuinge a certayne hope of peace in his awne imagination, toke bothe lesse
hede to him selfe, and also lesse fered the outward atteptes of his enemyes, thinkyng and
trustynge truely that all thynges were at a good poynt and should be well pacified. All the
kvnges doynges were by espials declared to the erle of Warwycke, which lyke a wysc and po-
litique Capitayne entendyng not to lese so great an auauntage to hym geuen, but trustyng to
brynge all his purposes to a fynall ende and determinacion, by onely obteyning this enter-
prise: in the dead of the nyght, with an elect company of men of warrc, as secretly as was
possible set on the kynges felde, kylling them that kept the watche, and or the kynge were
ware (for he thought of nothynge lesse then of that chaunce that happened) at a place called
Wolney. iiij. myle from Warwycke, he was take prysoner, and brought to the Castell of War- Kyng Ed-
wicke. And to the entent that the kynges frendes myghte not know where he was, nor what lv.ard(;he-
was chaunced of hym, he caused hym by secret iorneys in the nyght to be conueyed to Myd- prisoner," by
clelham Castell in Yorkeshire, & thereto be kept vnder the custody of the Archebishop ofy'.erle.°f
Yorke his brother, and other his trusty frendes, which entertayned the kyng, like his estate,
and scrued hym lyke a prynce. But there was no place so farre of but that the taking of the
kvng was shortly knowe there with v wynde which newcs made many ruen to feare, ar.d
greatly to dread, and many to wonder and lament the chauce. Kyng Edward beyng thus in
captiuitie, spake euer fayre to the Arehebtsbop and to the other Kepers, (but whether he cor-
rupted them with money or fayre promises) he had libertie diners daves to go on huntynge, Kyn&E<1"
and one day on a playne there met with hym syr William Stanley, syr Thomas of Borogb, capedoutof
and dyuers other of hys fredes, with suche a great bend of men, that neither his kepers pnson'
woulde, nor once durst moue him to retorne to prison agayn.
Tluis as you haue harde was kyng Edward delinered : Some saye tli.it lie was set at largn
by the erles consent and commanndtmente as uhosayd, I had hym in my kepyng, and might
haue destroyed hym,- I-had hym in captiuitie, and so might haue deteyncd him but yet of
myne awne freewill & gentelnes, without pacte or raunsom I am contented to set him at li-
bertie £ to deliuer him. Thysdoyng might seme to be some countenaunce of treulh, if the
erle after this had desisted from persecutyng the warre by hym newly begonne : but for a trentii
N n 2 tin?
THE. VIII. YERE OF
this crood chaunce happed to kynge Edward, by the yll lucke of kynge Henry, for surely by
this vll fortune a man may plainly coiecture, that the extreme poynt of decay of hys house
and estate was apparantly at hande, consideryng that neither by mannes pollicie, nor by
worldly riches his vnhappy predestinate chaunce coulde not by any pollicy be put by, nor by
any instrumet scraped away (wel such was Goddes pleasure) tor if you consider how that the
erle of Warwycke and his frendes, onely to thentent to ayde, conserue and defende kyng
Henrv the. vi. haue dispended their substances, aduentured their lyues, and taken paynes in-
tollerable, hauyng a sure determination fixed in their myndes, that as long as kyng Edward
lyued, that kyng Henryes faction should neuer prosper & yet when he was by the Erie taken
prisoner, & in captiuitie, he by fortune escaped, or was wilfully deliuered. By thys you
may plainly perceyue that the lucke of kyng Henry was vnfortunate, and that all that was
done for hym, and in is quarell, euer redouned to hys misfortune and detriment, euer no-
tyng this, that when thinges contriued & Imagened come to an vnlucky successe, all the
senses of our bodyes be then by anger, feare or madnes, rauyshed, and in manner distracte
from them selfes. But to retorne to the purpose, when kynge Edward had escaped the
handes of hys enemyes, he went streyghte to Yorke, where he was with great honor receyued
of the Citizens, and there taried two dayes to prepare some small army, to accompany hym
in hys iorney, but whe he perceyued that he coulde haue no hoste mete and conuenient to
passe to London, thorough the rniddes of his enemies (as he was appoynted to do) he turned
from Yorke to Lancaster, where he founde the lord Hastynges hys Chamberlayne, well ac-
companyed. He then with j ayde of the lord Hastynges, and suche other as drew to hym
beyng well furnished with spedy iorneys, came safe to his cytye of London.
When the erle of Warwyke & 5" duke of Clarece, had knowlege how the kyng by treason of
them y they put in trust, was escaped their handes, & that in one moment of tyme, all their
longstudyes and forcastes were brought to none effect or conclusion, they wexed angrye, &
chafed without measure, & by and by callynge together all their chief frendes began to con-
sult agayn, of new, & to enquire the estate of their enemies, to the entent that they might
make a beginnyngof a new warre, which they coniectured to haue taken an ende when the
kyng was brought into captiuitie. The myndes of these Princes were much satisfied,
& their corage greatly kindelecl, by reason that a great number of men hauing more plea-
sure in discord then in concord, louyng better stryfe then vnitie, offered themselfes to beginne
neue warre of their awne desire & request. Kyng Edward toke euen lyke study for the
warres as hisennemyes dyd myndinge either to bringe them to conformitie or reason, by dent
. of sworde, or els by power of Battayle vtterly to destroye & exstirpate them and their affini-
tie, to the entent y all men might lede a more quiet lyl'e, & lyue in more securitie & rest:
for by the sedicious rebellinge of these persons, the state of the Realme was brought to great
miserie, for Churches and Temples were euery where robbed & spoiled, houses burnt and
men slayne in euery place, all the Realme was replenished with bloud, slaughter, sorow &
lamentacion, Cornefeldes were destroied Cities and Townes were made desolate and languish-
ed withfamyn & dearthe, besyde many other thinges, which happen by the crueltie and furye of
warre and rebellion. This tumult and trouble in the common wealth of this Realme sore vex-
ed and troubled many, but in especial y nobilitie muche lamented and pitied the state of the
comti,inaltie which with all diligence rode betwene the kyng the Erie and the Duke to recon-
cile the eche to other, and to coclude a perfect peace & amitie, requiring them rather more
to remeber the benefites, that euerye of the haue receyued of other, then to set forth the
vngratitude or iniury, whiche one hath done to the other, which is rather the occasion of dis-
cord, then the meane to come to amitie. Further, they exhorted theym rather to deserue
the loue of all men, by keping of peace & vnitie, then by fightinge and intestine warre to
destroy the Realme, and wynne the hatred and malice of all the nacion: for as he is vnkynd
and vnnaturrtll, that will not cherishe hys natural parentes and procreators, much more vn-
natural and wicked are they, which will suffer their nutyue coutrey, beyng their common
father and mother, by their contencion & stryfe to be brought to decay and vtter perdicion
The
KYNG EDWARD THE. II IJ. . 277
The aucthoritie first of the nobilitie of the Realme, and secondarily their charitable mocion,_.
so mitigated the myndes, bothe of the kyng, the Duke and the erle, that eche gaue fayth to
other to go and come, sauely without ieopardy. In whiche promise, the Duke & Erie, hauing
perfight trust and cofidece, came both to Lodon, accompanied with to smal a number of men,
in comparison to the great dangier that they were in. And at Westmynster, the kyng, the
Duke and the Erie had a longe communicacion together, for some end to be taken or made
betwene them: But. they fell at such great wordes with such exprobracions, and opening:
either of olde benefites shewed or of olde ingratitudes receiued, that in a great furye, without
any coclusion they departed, the kyng to Canterbury, and the Duke and the Erie to War-
wycke, where the Erie of Warwycke prepared a new host to ryse in Lincolnshire, and
made there of capitayn syr Robert Welles, sonne to Rychard lord Welles, an experte man in
armes and very pollitique in warre.
These newes sodaynly brought to the kynge, did not a littell vexe & tykil hym, because he
euer feruetly hoped, that his aduersaries wolde rather come to some honest condicios of c5-
corde, then so temerariously and so sodaynly renouate the warre. And the more rumor y
was sprede (contrary to his expectacion) of this new begonne battayll, the soner he gathered
together an host for the insistence of thesame, and out of hand he sent to Rychard lord
Welles, willing him vpon the sight of his letters with all hast to repayre vntohyrn, which often-
tymes he had excused by syckenes and debilitie of his body. But when that excise serued
not, he thynkyng to purge him selfe sufficiently before the kynges presence, toke with hym
syr Thomas Dyrnocke, which had maried his syster, and so together came to Londo. When
he was ronie vp, his fredes certefied hym that the kynge was with hym not a littel displeased,
but highly discontented. Whertore forverye feare, he with his brother in law toke the sen-
tuarie at Westmynster, entendynge there to abyde tyll the princes Ire were somewhat as-
swaged and mitigate. King Edward which thought to pacific all thys besy tumulte, withoute
anye farther bloudshed, pi omisyng both those persons their pardons, caused theim vpon hys
promise to come out of Sentuary to hys presence, and callyng to hym the lorde Welles, willed
hym to write to sir Robert hys sonne to leaue of the warre, and not to take the Erles parte.
And in the meane season, he with hys army went forward towarde his enemyes, hauynge
with hym llie lorde Welles, and syr 'I homas Dymocke, and beynge not past two dayes iorney
from Staford, where hys enemies had pitched their felde, had perryt knowlege that syr Robert
Welles nothyng moued with hys fathers letters, styl kept his campe, abyding the kyng and
his power. The kynge hauyng hygh indignacion at hys presumpcion and mynded to be re-
uenged in parte, cotrary to his faith and promise caused the lord Welles, father to the saide
syr Robert and syr Thomas Dymocke to be behedded there, to the terrible example of other,
which slial put their confidece in the promise of a prince. Whe syr Robert Welles hard that
the kyng drew nere, and that hys father & syr Thomas Dymocke ware behedded, he stode
firste in a greate perplexitie, studyeng whither he should gyue battail or no, because it was
both perilous and doughtfull to fight with so great an arrnye, before the erle of Warwycke
with hys power were assembled, but yet hauyng a yonge and a lusty courage, and with manly
boldnes stimulate, and pricked forward, he set on hys enemyes.
The battayle was sore fought on bothe partes, & many a man slayne And in conclusion,
whyle syr Robert was exhortyng and prouokynge hys men to tary, which were in maner-
disconfit, and redy to flye, he was enuyroned and beset aboute with his enemyes, and so
was taken, and with hym syr Thomas Delaund knyght and many mo. After hys takyng, the
Lyncolnshyre men amased, threw away their coates, the lighter to runneaway, and ded, and
therfore thys battayl is yet there called Losecote felde. The kyng, glad of this victory, com-
maunded out of hand syr Robert Welles and diuers other, to be put to execucio in
thesame place. The fame was, that at thys battayll were slayne. x. M. men at the least.
The erle of Warwycke lay at this tyme at his Castell of Warwycke, and was cominge with
a hougehost the nexte day towarde his armye in Lyncolneshyre, but when he hard saye that
they had foughte soner then he thought either they could or woulde, and that hys partye was
ouerthrcuen
278 THE. IX. YERE OF
pucrthrowen and vanquislicd : Although he might now be discoraged yet he thought it
necessary to dissimule the cace, because oftentymes in battayles, vain thinges be regarded
before trew, and t'tf ti.-entet to comfort certayn of his company (beyngin dispayre, and redy to
flee) both in woordeand dede, he conscribed and prepared a new host, and with all the studye
and industrye, that he coulde practise or vse, he imagened how to compasse Thomas lord
Stanley, which had maried hys syster, that he might be one of the confederacy, and coniu-
racionVwhyche thynge when he coulde not bryng to passe for the lord Stanley hadde aunswer-
ed him plainly that he woulde neuer make warre against klg Edwarde,,he thought to spende no
lender tyine in watse, and mistrustyng that he was not able to mete with hys enemyes, he with
the^Duke of Clarence his sonne in lawe, departed to Exceter, and there taryenge a few
daves, and perceyuynge that all thynges lacked whichewere apt and necessary for the warre,
determined to sayle to kyng Leys" the French kyng, to renew the familier acquayntaunce,
whiche he had with him when he was there of Ambassade, for the mariage of kynge Edward
as you haue hard, hauyng a sure cofidence and hope, either to haue a great ayde of the
French king, or els to incense hytn earnestly to make battayll agaynst kyng Edward. And
restyng vpon this opinion, they hyredshippes at Dartmouth in Deuonshyre, well armed, and
at all poyntes trymmed and decked. And when wynde arid wether serued theyrn, the Duke
and the Erie with their wyues and a great numberof Seruauntes, plucked vp the sayles, & toke
their way fyrst toward Caleys where the erle of Warwycke was chefe capitayn, and thought
there to "haue left hys wyfe and doughters, tyll he had returned out of Fraunce.
THE. IX. YERE.
The.ix. WHen the erle of Warwicke thus fled out of England, the yere of our Lorde was iust.
1470. and the yere of King Edwardes reigne was then. ix. This sodain departyng of kyng
Edwardes aducrsaries, did not onely vexe and bite hym at the very stomacke, but also did
stimulat and quicken hym to loke the more diligently to his affaires, and busines,
and especially, because that the absence of the erle of Warwicke, made the common
people daily more and more, to long and bee desirous to haue the sight of him, and
presently to behold his personage. For they Judged that the Sunne was clerely taken from
the worlde, when he was absent : In such high estimacio emongest the people, was his
name that neither no one manne, thei had in so muche honor, neither no one persone, thei
so much praised, or to the Cloudcs so highly extolled. What shall I saie? His onelv name
sounded, in euery song, in the mouthe of the common people, and his persone "was" repre-
sented \\ith greate reuerence, when publique plaies, or open triumphes should bee shewed,
or set furthe abrade in the stretcs: which hartie fauor, was the apparant occasion why his
faccion and compaiguie, within a fewe daycs, merueilously increased and augmented. For
thi; whiche cause, the kyng was vexed with a double mischief, for he doubted muche, whom
lie should moste feare of twoo, either the familier enemies abidyng at home, or the extraua-
gant fooes, lyngeryng beyond the sea: But chiefly he prouided, Hut very slackly, lo with-
stande the erle of Warwickes landyng. And first he wrote to Charles duke of Burgoyn,
•whiche had maried the lady Margaret his snster, to helpe that therle nor his coinpaienie,
should haue neither aide nor refuge, in any part of his, nor his frccles territories or domini-
ons. Those ticlynges were ioyfull to the duke of Burgoyne, as to hym whiche (accordyng
to the olde prouerbe) hated the erle of Warwycke, worse then the curre dogge, or serpent:
partly, because he was the oucrthrower and confounder, of the house of Lancastre, of the
which, the erle was linially discended by the duches his mother, partly because therle had
suche'high oftices, and was so renounced in Englande, that kyng Edward the dukes brother
in lawe, might not do liberally all thynges in his realme, as he hymself would (whiche the
duke estemed to be a greate bondage.) And partly, because the erle with stoode with all
ins power and might, the conclusion of the manage, betwene the kyn^es suster and thesaid
duke. But the chief rancor was, because the erle of Warwicke, fauored the Frenche kyn«r
whom the duke loued not, for at his last beeyng in Fraunce, he promised the Frenche kyng,
to
KYNG EDWARD THE. IIIJ. 279
to be frende to his frendes, and vtter enetnie to his fooes and aduersarics. This roted ha-
tered, and cankarde malice, whiche the Duke bare to the Erie, caused him to attempte mo
displeasures, and to inuent mo rnischiefes against therle, then either kyng Edward could
irnagyn, or was of the Duke required as you shall plainly perceiue, by the sequele of this
historic.
Now let vs speake of the erle of Warwickes doynges, whiche muste nedes play a pagiaunt
in this enterlude, or els the plai wer at apoynt. The erle as you haue hard before, sailed
from Dartmouth toward Caleis, where he was capitain generall, and with a prosperous wind
came before the tonne, in whiche fortresse was deputie for the erle, the Lorde Vavvclere a
Gascoyne, beside diuerse of therle of Warwickes seruauntes, whiche bare great offices and
authorities in the toune. This Vawclere, whether he did it by dissimulacion, or bearyug
his good mynde to.kyng Edward, (as by the sequele hereof, I doubt whether he did or no)
Instede of receiuyng of his master with triutnphe, he bent and discharged against hym, di-
uerse peces of ordinaunce, sendyng him worde, that he should there take no land. This
uauie liyng thus before Caleis at ancre, the duches of Clarence, was there deliuered of a TH« duchcs
faire sonne, whiche child, therles deputie vnneth would suffre to be christened within y toune, °f ciaiece
. . . ,, ,. . . . J dehuered of
nor without great mtreaty, would permit twootlagons or wine to bee conueighed aborde, to asoonne
the ladies liyng in the hauen. This was a greate rigor and extremitie, for the seruaunt to j^™^5"'
vse against the Master, or the inferior to vse against the superior, wherefore the erle hoped, toune of
and nothyng lesse mistrusted, then to be assured and purueyed in that place, whiche is the Caleis>
greatest treasure, that belongeth to Englande, and the fairest capitainship of the worlde, at
the least in Christendom. But he was fain to kepe the seas without comfort or aide, of any
of his seruauntes. The kyng of Englande was quickely aduertised, of the refusall that Mo-
sire de Vawclere, made to his capitain therle of Warwicke, whiche manful doyng so muche
pleased the kyng, that incdtinent he made hym chief capitain of the tonne of Caleis, by his
letters patentes, whiche he sent to him out of hand, and therof discharged clerely therle as a
traitor and a rebell. Duke Charles of Burgoyn, liyng at sent Homers (which would nedes
haue an ower in the erle of Warwickes boate) beyng aduertised also, of Monsire de Vaw-
cleres refusall made of his Master, sent hyrn his trustie seruaunt, Philip de Commines (whiche
wrote al these doynges in a Chronicle) and gaue to hyrn yerelya thousand crounes in pen-
cion, (a small reward God wotte, for so high a seruice, as vntruly to kepe his Master from
his office) praiyngand requiryng hym, to continue in truth and hdelitie, toward kyng Ed-
ward, as he had shewed and begonne. The messenger founde hym so towarde and of suche
con'formitie, that he was content to sweare in his presence, truly to take kyng Edwardes part
against all men, and onely to his vse to kepe and defend the strong toune of Caleis. But the
saied Phillip de Commines sore mistrusted Monsire de Vawclere, because he sent worde to
the erle of Warwicke priuily, liyng at whitsandbay, that if he landed he should be taken and
lost: for al England, (as he said) toke part against hym, the duke of Burgoin and all ttiin-
habitantes of the toune wer his enemies, the Lorde Duras the kynges Marshall, and all the
retinue of the garrison wer his aduersaries: so that fora finall conclusion, his onely saue-
garde and comforte, were to withdrawe hym and his comnaignie into Frannce, where he
knewe he should bee highly receiued and better welcomed, & as for the toune of Calice, he
should take no thought, for thesaid Monsire de Vawclere, promised thereof to make hym a
good reconyng, when tyme and opportunitie should serue. This counsaiil was- profitable to
the erle of Warwicke, but not to the kyng of England, and lesse pleasant to the duke of
Burgoyn: which princes might very well think bothe the office of the Capitainship of
Caleis, and the pecion of the. M. crounes (if it wer paied) on suche a depe dissimule; , to
be euill employed.
The erle of Warwicke, as he was bothe before his departure out of Englande determined,
and also now by Monsire de Vawclere, newly counsailed and aduised, with his nauie sailed
toward Normandy, and in the meane waie, robbed, spoyled, and tooke many riche shippes,
of the Duke of Burgoyns countreys (whiche sore rietteled the duke and caused hyrn to pre-
pare
280 THE. IX. YERE OF
pare a strong and a greate armie on the sea, to take therle prisoner, as he returned homeward)
&at the last with all his nauieand spoyle, he tooke lande at Depe in Normandy, where the
gouernor of the countrey for the Frenche kyng, frendely welcomed hym, and louyngly hym
entertained, certifiyng king Lewes of his landing and arriuall.
Kyng Lewes a great ceason before, had so muche merueiled at the publique fame and
common renoume, of the noble actes and high prowes, of the Erie of Warwike, that he
thought nothyng might more pleasauntly happe, or chaunce towarde hym, then to haue a
cause or occasion to him ministered, whereby he might do the Erie some profile or pleasure.
Which long lust accordyng to his desire, was now likely to take effecte, to hiscontentacion,
and the erles greate commodity : wherefore beyng ioyous of his landyng in France, he sent
vnto hym certain Princes which declared to hym on the kynges behalf, that as the kyng had
long time sought waies and meanes, how to do him pleasure, aid and comfort : So seyng
that now the tyme was come, that the Erie had necessitie of all those thynges, he assured
him that he would neither forget him, nor yet desist to do for him any thing, which might be
ebnsonaunt to his louing request, or frendly desire: requiryng him with the duke his sonne
in law, to take pein to come to his castle of Amboys, set on the Riuer of Leyre: affirming
y thei should neither lose their labor, nor thynk their iorney to haue euil successe in the
conclusion.
When Duke Charles knew that therle was landed in Normandie, he sent in all hast a
Poste to King Lewes, with whom he was then ioyned in a league, requiryng hym neither to
help with men nor money, the erle of Warwicke, nor the Duke of Clarece, open enemies
to kyng Edwarde, his felowe, frende, and brother in lawe, and his perpetual 1 alye and trustie
confederate, adding therto sharp woordes, and minatorie saiynges, if he would in any case,
be to them a refuge or succor.
The Frenche king did not onely contempne his proude wordes, and laughed at his manac-
yng, and bolde braggyng, but soberly answered, that without enfringyng of any league or trea-
tie, he lawfully might & would helpe his frendes, and in especiall suche, whiche by their de-
sertes, bee aboue other renoumed and extolled: Of whiche nombre, he affirmed therle of
Warwicke to be one, whiche thyngif he did, he saied : it should be neither cost, charge, nor
burthen to the Duke of one blancke, nor put hym to the pein of a moment of an houre.
When the duke had certefied the kyng of Englande of this answer, he was sodainly in a
dompe, and began seriously to immagyne, who were his frendes, and who were his foes, and
apprehended some, whom he thought gyltie, began with them to question, who were frendes
to his enemies: and of their coniuracion (whiche was the occasion that many fearing them-
selfes, fled vnto Sanctuary) and many trustyng the kynges pardon, submitted and yelded
themself to the Kynges clemencie. Emongest whom, Ihon Marques Montacute, humbly
yelded hymself, and vowed to bee euer true to the kyng (as he had doen before tyme) whom
he with muche humanitie and faire woordes, did receiue and intertain, to the intent to flecte
and allure the hartes of other men, to ioyne and knit with him, against all hostilitie and
vtter enemies.
While these thynges were thus treated in Englande, therle of Warwicke and the Duke
of Clarence, rode with greate pompe toward Amboyse, where the Frenche kyng laie, and by
the way the people gathered and in greate nombre flocked, to se and beholde with their iyes,
the persone and visage of hym, of whose valiant actes and wonderfull dooynges, their eares
haue many tymes been fulfilled and replenished. Who he came to the kynges presence, he
was with all kyndes of curtesie and humanitie receiued and welcomed: To whom by long
tracte of tyme, he declared the causes & consideracions, of his commyng into Fraunce.
Kyng Lewes aswell hauyng nowe deleclacion, with the presence of his frende as he was ac-
customed to reioyse and be ioyous, when he harde either laude or praise of him in his ab-
sence: promised hym his power, his riches, and all thynges that he might or could doo, to
belpe hym in his trouble, and to refreshe hym in hit aduersitie.
When
4
KYNG EDWARD THE. IIIJ. 231
When Quene Margarete, whiche soiorned with Duke Reyner her father, called kyng of
Sicile, &c. Harde tell that the erle of Warwicke and the Duke of Clarence, had aban-
doned Englande, and wer come to the Frenche Courte: hopyng of newe comfort, with all
diligence came to Amboyse, with her onely son Prince Edward. And with her came
lasper erle of Penbroke, and Ihon erle of Oxenford, whiche after diuerse long imprison-
rnentes lately escaped, fled out of Englande into Eraunce and came by fortune to this as-
semble. After that thei had long comoned, and debated diuerse matters, coticernyng their
suretie and wealthe, they determined by meane of the Frenche kyng. to conclude a league
and a treatie betwcne them: And first to begin with all, for the more .sure foundacion of the
newe amitie, Edward Prince of Wales, wedded Anne second daughter to therle of War-
wicke, which Lady came with her mother into Fraunce. This manage seined very straun«e
to wise men, consideryng that the erle of Warwicke, had first disherited the father, and
then to cause his sonne, to mary with one of his daughters, whose suster the duke of Cla-
rence before had maried, whiche was euer extreme enemie to the house of Lancaster:
whcrevpon they diuined that the mariage of the Prince, should euer be a blot in the dukes
iye, or the mariage of the Duke, a mole in the iye of the Prince, eche of them lokyn<r to
be exalted, when therle on hym smiled : and eche of them again thinkyng to be ouer throwen
when the erle of hym lowrcd. After 'his mariage the duke and therles toke a solempne othe,
that they should neuer leaue the warre, vntill suche tyme as kyng Henry the sixt, or the
prince his sonne, were restored to the full possession and Diademe of the Realme: and that
the Quene and the Prince, should depute and appoynt the Duke and the erle, to begouernors
and conseruutors, of the publique wealthe, till suche tyme as the Prince wer come to mannes
estate, and of liabilities meete .and conueuient, to take vpon hym so high a charge, and so
greate a burden. 1 here were many other condicions concluded, which bothe reason, &
the weightines of so great a busines, required to he setforward.
While these Lordis wer thus in the Frenche Courte, there landed at Caleis a damosell, he*
longyng to the Duclies of Clarence (vis she saied) whiche made Monsirede Vawclere beleue,
that she was sent from kyng Edwarde to the erle of Warwicke, with a plain ouerture and
de<'laracio ot' peace. Ot the which tidynges, Vawclere was very glad for the erles sake,
whom he thought (by this peace) to bee restored to all his old possessions, romes and di<r-
nitifs. Lut he was sore by this clamosel deceiued for her message (as it after proued) was
the bi-gmnyiig of the erles confusion. For she perswaded the Duke of Clarence, that it
was neither naturall, nor honorable to hym, either to condiscende or take parte, against the
house of Yorke (of whiche he was lineally disccnded) and to set vp again the house of Lan-
castre, whiche lignage of the house of Yorke, was not only by the whole Parliament of the
reahne, declared to be the very and indubitate heires of the Kyngdome : but also kyn^ Henry
the sixte and his bloud affirmed thesame, and thervpon made a composicion, whiche of re-
cord appereth. Farthermore she declared, that the mariage with therles daughter with
Prince Edward, was for none other cause but to make the Prince kyng, and clerely to ex-
tinguishe all the house of Yorke, of whom the duke hymself was one, and next heire to the
croune, alter his eldest brother and his children. These reasons, and the mariage of the
Prince to die Erles daughter, so sanoke in the Dukes stomacke, that he promised at his re-
turne, not to be so an extreme enemie to his brother, as he was taken for, whiche promise
afterwarde he did not forget. With this answere the damosell departed into Englande, therle
of Warwicke therof beyng clerely ignoraunt.
When the league was concluded (as you before haue harde) the Frenche kyng lent them
shippes, money, and men, and that thei mighte the surer saile into Englande, he appoynted
the Bastard of Burgoyn, Admirall of Fraunce with a greate nauie, to defende theim against
the armie of the Duke of Burgoyne, whiche was stronger then bothe the Frenche kvnges
nauie, or the Englishe flete. Kyng Reyner .also did help his daughter, to his smal power,
with mennc, and muoicions of warre. When this, armie (whiche was not small) was con-
scribed and come together to Harflete, at the mouthc of the riuer of Seyne, expectyng wind
O o
g82 THE. IX. YERE OF
and wether. The Erie of Warwicke receiued letters out of Englande, that men so muche
daily and hourely, desired and wished so sore his arriual and returne, that almoste all men
were in harnesse, lokyng for his landyng : wherefore he was required to nmke hast, yea, hast
more then hast, although he brought no succor with hym. For he was farther assured, that
assone as he had once^ taken lande, there should mete hym many thousandes (as after it
proued in deede) to do hym what seruice or pleasure, thei could or might: all this was the
offer of the comon people. Beside this diuerse noble men wrote, to helpe hym with me,
harnesse, money, and all thynges necessary for the warre: beside their awne persones, whom
thei promised to aduenture in his querell. When therle had receiued these letters, he not a
litle regardyng suclic an offer, and somanygreate benefites to hym, euen athande apparauntly
proffered, fully determined with the duke, and the erles of Oxenford and Penbroke (be-
cause Quene Margaret and her sonne, were not fully yet furnished for suche a iorney) to go
before with part of tlie nauie, and part of tharmie, and to attempt the firste brunte of for-
tune and chaunce, whiche if it well succeded, then should Quene Margarete and her
soonne, with the residue of the nauie and people followe into Englande, The erle of War-
wick thinking this weighty matter, not worthy to be lingered, but to be accelerate with
al diligence possible, takyng his leue of the Freche kyng Lewes, geuyng him no small thanks,
bothe on the behalfe of kyng Henry, and also for his awne parte, and so beyng dismissed;
came where his nauie laie at Anker, commaundyng his rnen to go on ship bord, niyndyn^
to take his course toward Englande.
The Duke of Burgoyn whiche was not content, that therle of Warwicke and his com-
paignie, was succored and aided of the French kyng against his brother in lawe kyn<* Ed-
ward of England, to withstande that armie, and to take therle of Warwieke prisoner, if
it were possible. He prepared suche a greate nauie, as lightly hath not been sene before,
gathered in maner of all nacions, whiche armie laie at the mouthe of Seyne, ready to fi<*ht
with therle of Warwicke, when he should set out of his harborowe.
Se the worke of God, thesame night before the erle departed, ther rose such a sodain
wynde and a terrible tempest, that the dukes shippes we,r scatered one from another, some
drouned, some wether driuen into Scotland, so that two of them wer not in compaignie to-
gether, in one place. In the morning next folowyng, the wether wexed faire, and the wynde
prosperous, wherupo in hope of a bone voiage, the Erie and his company halsed vp their
sayles, and with good spede laded at Dartmouth in Deuonshyre, from which place he pas-
sed into France, almost the. vj. monethe, last passed.
Before this tyme the duke of Burgoyne Charles, which more hated the Erie of War-
wycke, and enuied his prosperitie, then he loued kyng Edward, sauyng for his ayde y he
trusted of in tyme of necessitie, wrote to kynge Edwarde, bothe of the doynges of the
erle of Warwycke in Fraunce, and of his armye and power, and also certefied hym by hys
trusty seruautes of the place, where the Erie purposed with all his people to take lande,
kynge Edward passed litle on the matter, trustynge to much to the mouable commons of
his Realme, and without anye army layd, either to kepe the Erie from landvnw, either to
enco utre wyth hym at the first arryuall, to the entent that his fredes should" not draw in
hepes to hym for his strength, left all purueiance for defece alone, & rode on huntyn"
Hawkyng, and vsing all maner of pastimes, with Ladyes and Damosels, for his dis-
port and solace that could be imagened or inuented. When the erle of Warwycke
had taken hide, he made a Proclamation in the name of kyng Henry the. vi vpon
high paynes, commaunding and charging all men apt, or able to here armour to
landyng was blowen ouer,
and thorow ah the whole Realme, and how many thousand men of warre, at the very first
tidmges of his landing, were sodaynly assembled and set forwarde to welcome him When
he was thus, according to hys desire, fully furnished on euery syde with his kynred & frendes,
he
KYNG EDWARD THE. IIIJ. 283
he toke his way toward London, where he Judged and faythfully beleued, to fynde more
open frendes then priuie enemies, or cancard hai tes.
When kyng Edward knew of the Erles landynge, and of the great repayra of people,
that to him incessantly without intermission dyd resorte, he then began to thynke on his
busines, and studied how to fynd a remedy for a mischief, (but this was to late) And first
he wrote to the Duke of Burgoyne, requyring hynv to haue a vigilant eye to the sea, and
so to se the stremeskept and scoured with his nauie, that the Erie neither should nor might
returne agayn into Fraunce, if he shoulde be agayne propulsed out of the Realme. And
as for the doynges in Englande he bad let hym alone, for he was both of puissance and
abilitie, sufficient to ouercome and defende all his enemies and rebelles, within his awne
Realme and countrey. This saiyng littel or nothing pleased the duke of Burgoynes mes-
sengers, for they thought that it had bene muche more profitable to kyng Edward, to haue
circumspectly forsene afore, and prouided to stoppe his landyng, then now sodaynly to
abide the fortune of battayle, which is euer dubious and vncertayne. Kynge Edward
accompanyed with the duke of Glocester his brother, the lord Hastynges his Chamberleyn,
which had maried the Erles sister, & yet was euer trew to the kyng his Master, and the
lord Scales brother to the Quene, sent out curriers to al his trustye frendes, for the forny-
ture of able persons, mete for the warre and conueniente for the defence of his awne royall
person, entending if he might by any pollicie or subtill engyn to circuuent or trappe the
erle of Warwycke, knowing perfidy that if he had once mastred the chief belwether, the
flocke wolde sone be dispercled.
Of them that were sent for, fewe in effect came, and yet more came then were willyng,
and more came willingly then were betrusted, some came for feare, and some muche doughted
to come, but the greatest heddes wynked and sayd they could not, but they ment they
would not come. Kyng Edward beyng in this perplexitie, and in diffidence of reysyng any
army, with such trusty frendes as he had departed, into Lyncolnshyre, consulting. what was
best to be done, but sodainly or he was fully determined on any certayn purpose, newes
were brought to hym, that all the Townes and all the countrey adiacent was in a great rore,
and made fiers and sang songes, cryeng kynge Henry, kyng Henry, a Warwycke a War-
wycke. King Edward was much abashed with these new tidynges, and more and more, his
especjals and explorators declared and acc5pted to hym, that all the Realme was vp, and
by open Proclamacion comaunded to make warre agaynst him, as enemy to kynge Henry
and the Realme, wherfore his nere frendes aduised and admonished him to flye oner the
sea to the duke of Burgoyne, hys brother in lawe, there to tary tyll God and fortune should
sende him better luck and chaunce, he beyng somwhat ruled by this consayll, but much
more quickened by hauyng knowledge, that some of the erles of Warwyckes power was
within a halfe dayes iorney, and lesse of his tayle, with all hast possible passed the wasshes
(in greater ieopardye then it besemed a Prince to be in) & came to the towne of Lynne,
where he founde an English shyp &. ii- Hulkes of Hollad redy (as fortune wolde) to make
sayle and take their iorney, wherupon he beyng in a maruelous agonye and doughtyng the
mutabilite of the Townes men, takyng no farther leysure for his sure succor & sauegard,
with his brother the duke of Glocester, the lord Scales, £ diuers other his trusty frendes
entered into the ship, without bagge or bagage, without clothe sacke, or male, and per-
chaunce with a great purse, & littel treasure, for he nor his had no leyser to prouyde, ac-
cording to their degrees & estates. The lord Chamberlayne taryed a while after exhort-
yng all his acquayntance, that of necessitie should tarye behynde, to shew them self openly
as fredes, to the parte aduerse for their awne sauegard, but hartely requiryng them priuelie
to co ti new in their hartes trew to kyng Edward, & frendly to him & his: this persuasion
declared he entered, the ship with the other, which were redy to depart. This was in the
yere of our lordes blessed incarnacion. M. v. C. Ixx. & in the. ix. yere of kynge Edward:
When he with one smal ship of hys awn, &. ii. Hulkes, &. vii. or. viii. C. persones, with
him hauyng no rayment, but apparel for warre, & smal store of money, sailed toward
O Q a Holland.
38* THE. IX. YERE OF
Holland. At which tyme the Easterlynges were mortal enemyes, aswell to the Englishmen
as to the Frenche nacion, & had dooe| last yeres past much, prejudice & domage to the
Englishe marchantes, both in takyng and spoylyng of shyppes.
And as tlie kyng with sayle and ower was .inakynge his course as fast as could be possi-
ble, the Easterlynges, whiche had many shippes of warre on the sea, hym espied (accord-
yng to the oldc prouerbe) one yll commeth ncuer alone, and with. vii. or. viii. gal lam shyppes,
began to chace the kyng & his copany. The kynges shyp was good with sayle, & so much
gat of the Easterlinges, that she came on the coast of Holland, and so discended lower,
before a towne in Holland, called Alqnemare, and there cast Ancker as nere the towns as
was possible, because they could not enter the Hauen at an ebbyng water. The Easter-
lyn^es also approched the Englishe shippe as nere as their great shyppes conldc come at
the°lowe water, enteriding at 'the fludde to haue obteyned their pray, and so they were
likely to do, if Monsieur de Gronture, gouernour for duke Charles in Holland had not at
that "season hene personally present in those parties.
O what a miserable chaunce & straiige lucke was this to happen so sodaynly to a kyng,
and in especial to such a kyng, as hy his owne valyantnesse & prowes had ouercome his
foes, & destroyed his enemyes in more then. v. or. vi. great & mortal battayles. First to
be persecuted, exiled, & expulsed hys awne Realme & kyngdom, by hys avvne seruantes,
subiectes and kynsmen. Secondarely, beyng destitute of all helpe and consolacion, flyeng
to his onely frencle & brother in law duke Charles, for refuge and comfort, to be chased
on the sea by hys mortall enemyes and deadly foes. & lyke to be taken prisoner, and
brought into captiuitie, which thyng, if it had happened (as God woulde that it should not)
he had lyen long vnraunsoned (kyng Henry beyng restored to hys pristinate estate and dig-
nitie royall) or els he had dyed prisoner in greate \\retchednes & misery. These soure
sauces Ire tasted as a penaunce for his wanton iiuyng, & negligent ouerseyng of thinges that
he mighte well haue forsene & preuented, but his mynd was so geuen to pastyrne, clalv-
aunce, & sensuall pleasure, that he forgat the olde adage, saynge, in tyme of peace prouyde
for warre, & in y time of warre prouide for peace which thing if he either had well reme-
bred, or politiquely prouided for he had not bene chaced & expulsed his Realme within,
xi. dayes as he was in dede. The onely excuse of his foly is to say, that he so much trusted
fortunes flatteryng, that he thought neuer to see her chaunge, nor yet to haue at dyce any
yll chaunce, or at chestes any checke mate.
Kyng Edward thus lyeng at Ancker in great fcare of the Easterlinges, was by good
chaunce cofprted, £ of his great perplexite releued, or he wist how, for thesame tyme laye
in the towne of Alquemare the lord Gronture, chief gouernour of Hollande, for duke
Charles of Borgoyne, which beyng incontinent aduertised of the kynges arryuall, it also
of the great Jeopardy that he was in, prohibited firste the Easterlinges in no wyse on payne
of death, to intermit or medle with any Englishuie which were both the dukes frendes &
alies: which cominaundement so vexed and troubled the Easterlinges, makyng sure reco-
nynge to haue had for their pray & pryse, a Kyng, a Duke, diuers Barons & ryche gt-tel-
inen, that they cryed out of God, rayled & cursed the duke it hys officer, and in a rage,
halsed vp theyr sailes, & without any more expectacio of good lucke, departed home to
their countray. The lorde Gronture came a borde y shyppe, where kyng Edward was, &
hym honorably saluted & requyred him to come to hid, offering hi his seruice with al plea-
sures that he coulde do or imagine to be done. The kynge hym hartely thanked, & was
wel reuiued & coforted with his worcles, & so he with al hys company were set on land,
& wel refreshed. The lord Gronture, lyke a noble man, cosidering in what poore, estate
& necessitie the king it his people were in, ministred to them habund.intly all thinges con-
uenicnt & necessary, according to euery mans estate and degree, at the dukes charge &
cost. And after they had bene wel refreshed & newly appareyled, he conduyted them to
the Hage, a ryche towne in Holland, where they arryued on the churche holy daye, not
longe after Mychelmas. The lord Grouture, of all this aduenture wrote to the duke hys
master,
KYNG EDWARD THE. IIIJ. 285
master, which there at, was at the fyrst so abasshed & amased to se y erle of War-
wyke, whome he hated more then a Cocodrylle, to haue the vpperhande of hys bro-
ther, that he had rather haue harde of kynge Edwardes death, then of hys discomfiture,
& especially by the erle of Warwycke, whom he more feared & disdayned, then any one
man liuynge, yet he willed the lord Gronture to se hym & hys company, well enterteyned
at the Ilage, tyll he sent for them.
Now let all Englishmen consider (as before is rehersed) what profyt, what commoditie,
& what helpe in distresse, the mariage of the lady Margarete, kyng Edwardes syster to the
duke Charles, did to hym in hys extreme necessitie : & but by that meane vncuruble extre-
mitie, for his alyes & coferates in Castell & Arragon, were to farre from hym, either spe-
dely to %e to, or shonly to come fro with any aydeor armye. The French kyng was his
extreme enemye, and freude to kynge Henry, for whose cause in tiie kyng of Scottes (for
all the ledge betwene them) he did put littell confidence & lease truste. The ttedes & all
Eastland nere with him at open warre, & yet by thys mariage, God prouided hym a place
to flye to, both I or refuse & for releuc.
When the fame was spred of kynge Edwardes flyenge, innumerable people resorted to
the erle of Warwycke to tike his parte, but all kyng Edwardes trusty frendes went to di-
uers sentuaries, dayly loking, & howerly harkening, to hear of his health, & prosperous
retorne who afterward serued hym manfully & truly. Emongest other, Quene Elizabeth
his wyfe, all moste desperate of all comfort, toke sentuarye at Westmynster, & their in
great pennrie forsake of all her frendes, was deliuered of a fayre sonne called Edwarde, Kynge Ed-
which was with small pope like a pore mans child Christened £ Baptised, the Godfathers ^ornetn ' v'
being the Abbot & Pryor of Wesunynster, & the godmother the lady Scrope. sanctuary.
The Kentyshmen thys season, whose wyttes be euer mouable at the chaunge of Prynces
came to the subberbes of London, & spoyled houses, robbed berehouses, & by the eoun-
sayll of syr Geffray Gates, £ other senluary men, they brake vp the kynges Itenche, & de-
liuered prisoners which fell at Radclefe, Lymeliouse, & sainct Katherynes to burnynge of
houses, slaughter of people, & rauishyng of women : which small sparcle had growen to
a greater flame, if the erle of Warwycke with a greate power had not sodaynly quenched
it, £ punished the offendors : whiche benefite by him done, caused hym much more to be
praysed & accepted emonges the commons then he was before. When he had sctteled &
put an order in all thinges, according as he thought most conucnient, Vpo the. xii. daye
of October he rode to the towre of London, whiche was to him \vithoutresistencedeliuered,
there toke kyng Henry the vi. out of the warde, where he before was kept, £ was
brought to the kings lodging £ there perued, according to his degre. And the. xxv.
daye of tke sayd moneth, the duke of Clarence accompanied with the erles of Warwycke,
Shrewsbury, £ the lord Stanley, £ other lordes & Gentelmen, some for feare, & some for
loue, and some onely to ga^e at the waueryng world, resorted with a greate company to
the towre of London, £ from thence with great pompe broughte kynge Henry the.
vi. appareled in a longe gowne of blew veiuet, through the high streatcs of London, to
the cathedral church of sainct Paule, the people on the right hand and on the left hand,
reioysing £ cryeng God sane the Kynge, as though all thyog had succeded as they would
haue it,' and when he had offered as kyngea vse to do, he was conneyed to the palleys of the
bishop of London, and there kept hys housholde lyke a kynge.
Kiiii- Henry the, vi. thus readepted (by the rneanes, oneiy of y erle of Warwycke) his
croune & dignitie lloyall, in tlie yere of oure Lorde 1471. newly, after so many ouer-
throw es beginnyuge to reygne, lykely within short space to fall agayn, & to taste more of k}Tg1y
bis accustomed captiuitie £ vsuall misery. Tin's yll chauce & misfortune, by many mes "utc-
opinion happened to him, because he was a man of no great wit, such as men comonly
call an Innocent .am, neither a fqole, neit.'u/r very wyse, whose study always was more to
excel!, otfu;r n Godly liuynge £ vertuous example, then in worldly regiment, or temporall
dominion, jij so much, that in coparisan to the, study £ delectation that he had to vertue
3 and
2S6 THE. IX. YERE OF
and godlines, he littel regarded, but in manner despised al worldly power & temporal au-
tboritie, which syldome folow or seke after such persons, as fro them flye or disdayne to
take them. But his enemies ascribed all this to hys coward stommack, afFerming that he
was a man apt to no purpose, nor mete for any enterprise, were it neuer so small: But who
so euer dispiseth or dispraiseth, that which the comon people allow and marueyll at, is of-
ten taken of them fora mad & vndiscrete person, but notwithstandyng the vulgare opinio,
he that foloweth, loueth and embraseth the contrary, doth proue bothe sad and wyse (ve-
rifieng Salomons prouerbe) the wisedom of this world, is folishenes before God. Other
there be that ascribe his infortunitie, onely to the stroke & punishment of God, afterm-
ing that the kyngdome, whiche Henry the. iiii. hys grandfather wrongfully gat, and vniustly
possessed agaynst kyng Rychard the. ii. & his heyres could not by very diuyne iustice, looge
contynew in that injurious stocke: And that therfore God by his diuine prouidence, punished
the offence of the grandfather, in the sonnes sonne.
When kyng Henry had thus obteined agayn, the possession & dominion of the Realme,
he called his high court of Parliament to begin f xxvi. day of Nouember at Westminster,
in the which kyng Edwarde was declared a traytor to his coutrey, & vsurpor of y Realme,
because he had vniustly taken on him, the Croune & Scepter, & all his goodes were co-
fiscate & adiudged, forfayted: & lyke sentence was geuen agaynst all his partakers &
fredes. And beside this, it was there enacted that extreme punishment should be done
without delay ouer suche persons, as for his cause were taken or apprehended, & were ei-
ther in captiuitie, or went at large vpon trust of their suerties, emongest whom lord Ilion
Typtoft, erle of Worcester lieuetenant, for king Edward in Ireland exercising there more
extreme crueltie (as the fame wet) then princely pity, or charitable copassion & in especial
on. ii. enfantes, being. sonnes to the erle of Desmod, was either for treason to him layed
or malice agaynst hym conceyued, atteynted & behedded. Beside this, all estatutes made
by king Edward, were clerely reuoked, abrogated, and made frustrate. The Crounes of
the realmes of England & Frauce, was by y authoritie of thesame Parliament entayled to
kyng Henry the. vi. and the heyres males of hys body lawfully begotten, & for default of
suche heyre male of his body begotten, then $ sayd Crounes & dignities were entayled to
George duke of Clarence, & to theyres males of hys bodye lawfully engendred, and far-
ther the sayd Duke was by authoritie aforesayd enabled to be next heyre to hys father, Ri-
chard duke of Yorke, & to take by discent from him all hys landes, dignities & prehe-
minences as though he had ben his eldest sonne & heyre, at the tyme of his death. las-
per erle of Penbroke, and Ihon erle of Oxenford, and diuers other by kyng Edward at-
taynted, were restored to theyr olde names, possessions, and auncient dignities (kepe them
euen as longe as they myght) Beside this, the erle of Warwycke as one to whome the
comm5 welthe was much beholden, was made Ruler, & Gouernor of the Realme, with whom
as felow and compaignion was associated, George duke of Clarence his sonne in law. So
that by these meanes the whole estate, both of the realme, and the publique wealth of the
same, wer newly altered and chaunged, yea, and in maner clerely transfigured and trans-
muted. To this Parliament came the lorde Marques Montacutc, excusyng himself that
onely for feare of death, he declined to kyng Edwardes parte, whiche excuse was so ac-
cepted that he obteined his pardon, which, after was the destruccion, of him and his bro-
ther: For if he had manfully and appartly taken kyng Edwardes parte, surely he beyng an
open enemie, had much lesse hurted, then beyng a fained, false and a coloured frende :
for suche thynges as wee se before our iyes, we bee well ware of, and seldome thynges be-
fore k no wen, do vs any hurt or prejudice.
Queue Margaret after that the erle of Warwicke was sailed into England, euer for-
castyng and doubtyng, the chaunce that might happen, did neuer cease to praie to God, to
sende victory to her frendes and confederates : whiche, when she knewe by her husbanded
letters to bee obteigned, she with Prince Edwarde her sonne, and her trayne, entered their
shippes, to take their voyage into Englande : but the Wynter was so sore, the wether so
stormie,
KYNG EDWARD THE. IlIJ. 287
stormie, and the wyndc so contrariant, that she was fain to take land again, and defer her
iorney till another season. Her enemies saied, that it was Goddes iusle prouision, that she
whiche had been the occasion of so many battailes, and of so muche manslaughter in En-
glande, should neuer returne thether again, to doo more mischief. Her frendes on the
otherside, said, that she was kept awaie, and her iorney empeched by Sorcerers and Necro-
manciers : thus as niennes immaginacions rannc, their toungues clacked.
In this season Jasper* erle of Penbroke, went into Wales, to visile his Countie of Pen-
broke, where he found lord Henry, sonne to his brother Edmond Erie of Richmond,
hauyng not fully ten yeres of his age complete, whiche was kept in tnaner like a captiue:
but well and honorably educated, and in all kynde of Ciuilitie brought vp, by the Lady
Harbert, late wyfe to Willyam Erie of Penbroke, beheded at Banbery, as you before haue
hard. This lorde Henry was he, that after king Richarde, brother to kyng Edwarde, was
vanquished and ouerthrowen, obteined the Croune and regalitie of this Realme, whom wee
ought to beleue, to be sent from God, and of hym onely to be prouided a kyng, for to
extinguish bothe the faccions and partes, of kyng Henry the. vi. and of kyng Edwarde the.
iiii. (whiche had altnoste brought the nobilitie of this real me, to a finall destruccion and an vt-
terdecaye) considerynge, that he once exalted to that dignitie, nothing more mynded, nor
to any one thyng more his studie applied: This Henry was borne of Margaret, the onely
doughter and heire, to Ihon the first Duke of Somerset, then not beyng fully of. xiiii. yeres
of, age. The whiche Lady Margaret, although she were after conioyned in marmge, with
Lorde Henry sonne to Humfrey duke of Buckyngharn, and after to Thomas Staley erle of
Darby, bothe beyng lustie, and of age mete for generacio : yet afterward she brought furthe
no more fruite, as though she had done her part sufficiently, for to haue borne one man:
child, and thesame to be a kyng. lasper erle of Penbroke toke this child beyng his nephew
out of the custodie of the Lady Harbert, and at his returne, he brought the childe to Lon-
don, to kyng Henry the sixte, whom, when the kyng had a good space by himself, secretly
beholden and marked, both his wit and his likely towardnes, he said to suche princes, as
were then with hym: Lo, surely this is he, to whom both wee and our aduersaries leuyng THIS was
the possession of all thynges, shall hereafter geue rome and place. So this holy man shew-
ed before, the chaunce that should happen, that this erle Henry so ordained by God, should
in tyme to come (as he did iadeede) haue and enioye the kyngdome, and the whole rule of.
the realme.
As I haue shewed to you before, what thynges wer done in Englilde after that kyng Henry
had obteined the newe possession, of his old kyngdome, thy n kyng surely to haue possessed,
and enioyed thesame lenger season then either he did, or could by his aduersaries, bee per-
mitted or suffered to do: so must I of congruent necessitie declare vnto you, what- greate per-
plexitie, what sodain trouble, what multiplicitie of immaginacions, the landyng of kyn<*
Edward in Friseland, brought to and encombered with all, Charles Duke of Burgovn: and
how fraudulently for his awne auauntage he dissimuled, first with king Edward, and after
with his partie aduerse, and how that he openly denied aid to king Edvrard, when he
priuily ministered, ample and large succors to hym and his. I thynke you would not, that
these thynges should be forgotten: wherfore you must call to remembraunce, how that;
Duke Charles had before this (as you haue hard) greate intelligence with Monsire de Vaw-
clere, as he list hymself to be called, either chief Capitain of Caleis or els deputie Gapitain,
to the erle of Warwicke, whiche had promised to hym by the Duke, a pencion yerely. of a
thousand Crounes, to the intent to stande still true to king Edward, and to relinquishe
kyng Henry, but in especial to abandon therle of Warwicke. The duke although. that he had
smal confidence, but rather greate diffidence in theotheand promise of Mosire de Vawclere:
thought it necessary to knowe, in what case -Caleis stode, and what mutacios wer there, be-
cause it was his next neighbor, (for that tyme Bulleyn, and Bullenoys, and all Artoys*. were
in the handes of Duke Charles) as a pledge deliuered to his father, as is before rehersed.
Wherfore in al hast (before he sent for king Edward or spake with hym) he sent his trustie
counsailsr
THE. IX. YERE OF
counsailer Philip de Commines, accompanied with two gentlemen to Caleis, which two gen-
tleme fauoredmore the partie of Lancastre then of Yorke. J he lorde of Argeton met
with the people of the countrey of Bullenois; fliyng from euery pane like wylde dere.
For the erle of Warwicke, had now lately sent to Caleis, foure hudred archers on horse-
backe whiche fora ied and spoyled all the countrey of Bullenoys. The dukes messengers,
whiche had not sene so sodain mutacion of worldly thynges, durst not kepe on their
iorney but thesame night taried at Turneham, and sent to Monsire de Vawclere for a
sauecondnite, and also wrote to the Duke, of the feare that they were in. The Duke
sent woorde to Philip de Commines, that he and his with all spede, should passe to-
ward Caleis, and if they there wer taken, he would shortly for a raunsom, bye or re-
deme them again. For he passed litle, either of the pein of his serualit, or of his
charge and expence, so that his purpose might be serued. When this woorde was
brought to the messengers at Turnehan, at thesame time thei receiued a letter, from Mon-
sire de Vawclere, with louyng wordes and gracious termes, declaryng that they might
safely come, and frely departe^ as before they wer liberally accustomed : so that sir Phillip
and his compaingnions came to Caleis, without any meting or solernpne entertainment
contrary to tholde fashion that he had sene. Whe thei entered the toune they might per-
ceiue euery man, did were therle of Warwickes badge, & on euery dore wer s-et white
Crosses and ragged staues, with rimes and poyses, which purported the French kyng, and
the erle of Warwicke wer al one. These thynges semed very straunge, and nothyng plea-
saunt to the Burgonions. The lorde Vawclere sent for them to diner the next day, beyng
wel accompaignied, & did were on his cappe, a white ragged staffe of gold enameled, and so
did many other, and he that could haue it neither of gold nor of siluer, had it of silke or
cloth. This badge was taken vp within one quarter of an houre, after the newes come but
of England: suchc is the mutacion of the comon people, like a rede with euery wind is
agitable £ flexible. While these Burgonios laie thus in Caleis thei hail Knowledge that
therle of Warwicke had prepared. iiii.M. vahaunt men, to make frontier warre on the
Dukes countreis, whereof by poste they certified the Duke, whiche so fumed, and smoked
at the matter, that he wist neither well what to do, nor of whom to aske confortable or
wholesome counsaill. For warre he was compelled to haue with the French kyng, which
had taken from him certain tounes: and if he succoured king Edward, he was sure that with
the Erie of Warwicke, he should haue no peace: and if he lefte kyng Edward his confede-
rate and alie, in the tyine of his tiibulacion, disconsolate, and destitute of aid and succour,
all the worlde of hym might speake shame, vnt'aithfuinesse and dishonor. When the duke
had v-ell aduised this matter, he wrote to his messengers, that thei should require to haue
the league made, betuene the two realmes, kept and obserued, \\ithdiuerse other priuie
instruccions. Phillip de Comines, beyng wise and well learned, declared to the counsaill
of Caleis, that the Duke his Master not a litle marueiled why the Englisliemen should ouer
runne and destroye his Countreis, hauyng a league so sure, so strong, and with so many
wordes of cfficacie enforced, lately made betwene the two countreis, their territories and
dominions, atlermyng that the mutacion of the Prince, is no dissolucio of the league: For
although the Princes be named, as chief contractors in euery treatieand arnitie concluded, yet
the Countreis are bounden, and the subicctes shall make recompcnce, if any thymre bee altered
wrongfully out of liis course, And the rather to obteiu their desire, thei caused all the tm rchauntes
goodes of Englande, beyng in the Dukes Countreis, to be attached for the redresse of thespoyle
that the English men had done in the Dukes Countrey. Whiche sore greued the Merchaun'tes
and muche hindered their voyages: beside this, the Merchates of the Staple of Caleis, wrote to
the king, and to the erle of Warwicke : how, if their Wolle and fell at Caleis, were not sold
and vttered, as it was wont to he (the greatest part wherof, was bought by the Dnkes sub-
iectes and vassals for redy money) the souldiers of the garrison, should lacke their \VJ»PS,
the king should not be paied his custome, and the Merc-haunt in conclusion should stande in
aduenture, bothe oflossepf stocke and credence. These perswasions mollified therle of
Warwickes
KYNG EDWARD THE. IITJ. 28.9
Warwickes mynde, and especially, because the kyng had no greate store of money, to fVr-
nishe Caleis with al, which store if he had had, surely the duke of Burgoyne for ail the
league, had been a little disturbed, and greuously molested. But consideYyng that.sul
ihings were riot correspondent at this time to therlcs appetite : he was content that it should
be thus condescended and agreed, that the alyaunce made bctwene the liealme of Englan.de
and the Dukes dominions, should still remain inuiolatedr sauyng in the slede of Edwaide,
should bee put for the kyng, this name Henry. This conclusion thus brought to an cn.de,
came (euen as a man would wishe) to passe, for the Duke of Burgoyns pur|x>se, for
at this same tyme, the Frenche kyng had wonne from hym, the faire .toune of Amias, and
sainct Quintines, so that if the Duke should haue had war both with France and England,
he had been likely to haue been shortely a poorc Duke, and els vtterly vndoen and brought
to destrnccion. And to pacify and please the Erie of Wanvicke, whom he neuer loued and
lesse fauoured : he wrote louyngly to hym dcclaryng that as he was lineally descended, and
naturally procreated, of the noble stocks and familie of Lancaster, by his grand mother,
beyng daughter to the high and migbtic Prince Ihon ol' Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster: so
was he by nature obliged, and by aliance enforsed to support, honor, maintein, and defend
thesaid noble house and lignage, during his life, as euer he bath done, bolhe in worde and
deede against all maner of persones and estates: furthermore promising to beare his good
harte, louyng mind, arid frendly fanor, to kyng Henry the sixte and his sequele, before all
other Princes and Potentates, with many other flatteryng termes, and glosyng wordes :
which faire promises, I thynke neither the Dukehymself inwardly mynded, nor yet the erle
outwardly beleued.
Now to returne to kyng Edward, beyng in the duke of Burgoyns land, whiche, al-
though he were out of his countrey, yet did he neuer dispaire, but had a ferme hope, to
haue a mature and ready occasion to him geuen, how to obtein his kyngdome and dominion,
and that in shorte space. For partly, he hoped of a greate helpe, of his brother in lawe
the Duke of Burgoyn, and partly, he was daily solicited by the letters and messages of men
of his faccion in Englande, to returne with all spede, promising him compaignie and
comfoite. Many other there wer, whiche either for feare of the rigor of the law, which
they had offended, or els disda'myng that the worlde was so altered : or els being brought in
to kyng Edwardes fauor, had hope to exercise their poliyng romes, as they did before his
fliyng out of England, daily came to him from England, and pronoked hym more and
more, to take his iorney homward Kyng Edward in maner rauished with their golden pro-
mises, came to the Duke of Burgoyn, to the toune of Sent Poll, and there declared to hym
what great intelligence he had in the realme of Englad, and what assured fredes he hail in
thesame, requiryng hym to aide hym with spede as'his onely truste, and sole hope of relife
was in him, beyng not onely his brother in law, but echo beyng compaignion of others
order: for the kyng ware the golden Flees, and the duke ware the Gartier. The duke of
Somerset which was cosin germain, remoued to the Duke of Burgoyn, and brought vp and
had a pencion in the Dukes house. (For surely the Duke of Burgoin loued better the house
of Lancastre, then the house of Yorke) sore labored to the contrary, atfirmin" tiiat
it was bothe vngodly, vnprincely, and vanaturall, to exalte and set vp a straunaer
hauyng no right, and to depose and depriue his natural! kynsman, hauyng a iusle title
disc-ended to hym, from the kyng his father, & the kyng his grandfather, from his scepter
and regalitie. Duke Charles was in a great perplexitie, not knowyng well what lo say,
whether consanguinitie should preuaile more, or affmitie, or nature before fauor, not
willyng if he might, to displease any of bothc the parties. But because the warre was
ouerl at his very nose, with the French king: he concluded openly (but intending another
thing secretly) to aide the duke of Somerset, and other that were with hym, takyng of them
certain promises, for thynges to be done against the erle of Wanvicke: when they should
espic their tyme, moste propice and convenient: The duke of. Somerset io.yous of these
ucwes, saiied into Englande, and made report to Kyng Henry. Kyng Edward was present,
P P and
290 THE. X. YERE OF
and heard all this determinacion, whiche brought him into a great heauines, and a depe
perplexitie: how beit, he was priaely aduertised by afrende, that these cloked dissimulacions,
were only for this cause, that Duke Charles would in nowise, haue warre with both the
realmes at once, and further, if thesaid duke were put to the worse, or vanquished by the
French kyn», then he were not able, neither to aide, not to succor king Edward. Wher-
fore to blind with al the French kyng, whiche sore desired, that the duke might haue warre
with England : for then he knewe'that his enterprise, were more then halfe gotten. The
Duke declared openly that he would in nowise minister any succors to kyng Edward,
streightly chargyng & commaudyng, vpon peyne of the harte, that no man should
once passe the sea with hym, or in his armie. But all this proclamacion notwithstandyng
when the duke saw that kyng Edward, vpo hope of his frendes, would nedes repaire into
England again (he hauyng copassion of his vnfortunate chaunce) caused priuily to be de-
iiuered to iiim fiftie. M. Florence, of the crosse of sainct Andre we. and further caused foure
greate shippes to be appoynted for him, in the hauen of Vere in Zciande, which is fre for
al men tocorne to, and the Duke hi red farther for hym. xiiij. shippes of the Esterlynges, well
appoynted, and for the more suretie, toke bonde of the to serue them truly, till he wet-
landed in England, and. xv. daies after. Of which returning, the Esterlynges were glad,
trustyng that by that*meane, ifheobteined again the possession of the realme, they shoud the
soner come to a concord and a peace, and to the restitucion of their liberties and franchises,
which they claimed to haue within England. The Duke of Burgoyn as men reported,
cared not much on whose side the victory fell, sauyng for paimet of his money. For
ho M-ould oft saie that he was frend to both paries and eche part was frendly to hym.
THE. X. YERE.
The. it. KYng Edwarde beeyng thus furnished, thought nothyng more pe'mfull & wretched, then
the tariyng of one daie lenger, nor nothyng more to be desired, then with all celerite to
saile toward his countrey : whervpon hauyng with hym onely. ii. M. men of warre, beside
mariners in the spring of the yere. In the yere of our Lorde. 146*1. at thesame very season,
waidtsttd t!iat t''e ^uke°f Burgoyn, went to fight with the French kyng at Amias. He sailed into
"ng." " England, and carne on the cost of Yorke shire, to a place called Rauenspurr, and there
settyng all his men on lande, he consulted with his Capitaines to knowe to what place, they
should first for succor resort vnto: for he imagined that no waie could be for hyra sure,
hauyng so small a company of souldiours.
After long debatyng, it was concluded, that diuerse persones hauyng light horses, should
fkoure the countrey on euery side, to se if by any perswasions, they might allure the hartes
of the rusticall and vplandishe people, to take kyng Edwardes part' and to were harnes in
his querel: which, with all diligence, folowed their comission. It semeth somewhat to
leane to the truthe, that kyng Edward beyng a wise and a circuspecte Prince, would not
haue been so foolishe hardy, as to enter Englande with a halfe a handfull of men of warre,
excepte he had been sure of spedy succor, and faithfull frendship: in whiche argument is no
double, but that the Duke of Clarence and he, were secretly agreed before, and that the
Marques Montacute, had secretly procured his fauor, of which prinie signes and cloked
workynges, open tokens, & manifest doynges, afterward appered. The light horsemen
whiche were sent about, after they had felte the myndes and ententes, of the rude people
(as much as they might) they returned to kyng Edward the nexte daie, makyng relacion that
all the tounes round about, wer permanent and stiffe on the parte of kyn« Henrv, and
could .not be remoued: and that it was but a folye farther to solicite or attempt them*, con-
siderynge that when they were moued and exhorted too be trevv too kvnge Edwarde, not
one man durste speke for fere of the Erie of Warwycke.
Which aunswere, when kynge Edwarde had perfidy digested, of very necessitie he
Jnged hys purpose: for where before his clayme was to be restored to the croune and
kyngdome
KYNG EDWARD THE. IIIJ. 291
kyngdome of England, nowe he caused it to be published that he only claymed the Ducliie
of Yorke, to 5' entent that in requyryng nothyng, but that which was bothe trew and honest,
he might obtayne the more f'auor of the common people. It was almost incredible to se v
what effect this new imagination (all thoughe it were but fayned) sorted and toke immedi-
atly vpon the fyrst opening (Such a power hath Justice euer emogest all men) whe it was
blowen abrode that kyng Edwardes desyre was farther from nothyng, then from the couetyng
or desyre of the kyngdome and rovall dominion, and that he no erthely promocion desyred
before hys iust patrimony, and lyneall enheritance: All men moued with mercye and com-
passion, began out of hande either to fauor hym or els not to resist him, so that he mighte
obteyne his duchye of Yorke, when he* had founde these meanes to pacific mens myndes,
and to reconcile their hartes, he determined to take hys iorney toward Yorke, and so went to
Beuerley. The erle of Warwycke which then lay in Warwykeshyre, beyng enformed that
king Edward was landed, and govng toward Yorke, with all hast wrote to the marques Mon-
tacute hys brother, whiche had lyen at the castel of Pom fret all the laste wynter, with a
great company ofSouklears, geuynge hym warnyng, and aduertesyng him in what pcrili
their whole affayres stode in if their enemy should obtayne the possessio, or entre into the
citie of Yorke, willyng and commaunding him to set on kyng Edward with all cxpedicion, &
byd hym battayle, or els to kepe the passage, that he should passe no farther, tyll he hym
self had gathered a greater host, which with all diligence, he was assemblynge to come ,and
ioyne with hys brother the Marques. And because that the erle knew not by what way hys
enemies wolde lake their iorney, he wrote to all the townes of Yorkeshyre, and to the citie
also, commaundyng all men on the kynges behalfe to be rcdy in harnes, and to shutte their gates
against the kynges enemyes. Kyng Edward without any wordes spoken to him, came peaceably
nere to Yorke, of whose comynge, when the citezens were certeiied, without delay they armed
them selfe, and came to defend the gates sendyng to hym two of the chiefest Aldermen of
the dtie, whiche ernestly admonished hym on their behalfe to come not one foote nerar, nor
temerarionsly to enter in to so great a ieopardy, considering that they were fully determined,
and bent to cdpel hym to retract with det of swourd, kyng Edward markyng well their mes-
sage, was notalittell trobled and vnquieted in hys mynde, and driuen to seke the furthest
poynt of hys wit, for he had both two mischieuous and perilous chaunces, euen before his
eyes, which were hard to be euaded or refelled, one was if he should go backe agayn, he
feared lest the rurall and commen people for coueteousues of pray, and spoyle, would
fall on hym, as one that fled away forfeare & dreade. The other was, if he shoulde precede
any farther in hys iorney, then myght thecitiezens of Yorke issue out with all their power,
and sodaynly circuuent hym and take hym, wlierfore he determined to set forward, neither
with army nor with weapon : but with lowly wordes, and gentel entreatynges, requyryng
most hartely the messengers that were sent, to declare to y citizens, that lie came neither to
demaunde the realme of Englande, nor the superioritie of the same, but onely the duchie of
Yorke his olde enheritance, the which duchie, if he might by their meanes readept and re-
couer he woulde neuer passe out of hys mernorie so great a benefite, and so freiully a gratuitie
to hym exhibited. And so with fayre w ordes and flatterynge speche he dismissed the me.i-
scngers, and with good spede he and his folowed so quickly after that they were almost
at y gates as sone as the Ambassadors. The citezens heryng his good aunswere, that he
incut, nor entended nothynge preiudiciall to kynge Henry, nor his rovall authoritie, were
much mitigated & cooled, & began to commen with hym from their walles, willyng him to
conuey hym selfe in to some other place without delay, which if he did they assured hym y he
should haue neither hurte nor damage, but he gently speakyng to all men, and especially to
suche as were aldermen whome he called worshipful!, and by their proper names them saluted,
after many fayre promises to them made, exhorted and desyred them that by their fauorable
frendshyp, & frendly permissio he might enter in to his awne towiie, of the which he had
both his name and title. Al the whole daye was consumed in doutmll communicacion and
ern estinterlocution. The <:itiezens partely wone by hys fayre wordes, and partly by hop«
P p « of
Sg2 THE. X. YEREOF
of hv< lar-re promises, fell to this pact & conuecion, that if kyng Edward woulcle swere to en-
tertayne fn's citiezens" of Yorke after a gentell sorted fashyon, and here after to be obedient,
and faythfnll to all kyng Henryes commaundementes and preceptes^that then they woulcle re-,
cevu.- faym into their ci'tie, &'ayde and c5tbrt hym with moneX- V"S Edwiml ("home the
±stso,he ciiezens' called oncly duke of Yorke) beyng glad of this fortunate chauncc, in the next
.fobcdic.-ce mornvi)(r at f <>a,e where lie should enter, a .Priest beyng redy to say masse, in y
Seiche. ma<s- mi.e, receyuyng the body of our blessed Sauior, lolemply swearyng to kepe and
obserue the two' Articles aboue mencioned, and agreed vpon, when it was far vnhke,
that' he cither entended or purposed to obserue any of them, which plainly afterward
was to ull men manifest, euidetly perceyuyng, that he toke no more studye or diligece for
any one earthly thyn", then he dyd to persecute kyng Henry, & to spoilc him of his king-
dome. Suit is daylysene that aswel princes, as men of lesser repulatio led by blynd aim-
rice and deuelish ambicion, forgettynge the scruple of conscience, & the ende oi'ajl honestie,
vse, to take an othe by y immortal God which they know perfidy, shalbe broke & violate
hereafter, before the othe be fyrst made orsworne: yet these persons (as examples, thereof
be not very strautige to fynde) at one tyme or other be worthely scorged for thHr periurie,
in so much oikntymes that the blot ofsuche offence of the parentes is punished in the sequele
& posteritie: of this thynge I may fortune to speke more in the lyle of Rychard'e the. iii. as
the cause shall arise, where it may enidetly appeare, that the progeny of kyng Edward es-
caped not vntouched for this open periurie.
the
the
great host/by reason of his money. Whe all thing was redy, according as he desyred, be-
cause he was enformed that his enemyes did make no great preparacion to resist hym, he
thought it necessarie therefore with the more spede and diligence to make hast toward
London: and as it were for y nones, he left the right way toward Pomfret, where the
Marques Motagew with his army lay, and toke the way on the right hand, not fully, iiij.
mylefrom the cape of his enemyes. And whe he saw that they made no stirryng, nor once
shewed the selfe in sight, he returned into y comen hygh way agayne, a littel beyonde their
campc, and came sauely to the towne of Nottingham, where came to him syr William Par re,
syr Thomas a Borogh, syr Thomas Montgomerie, and diners other of hys assured frendes
with their aydcs, which caused hym at the fyrst coining to make Proclainacion in hys owne
name, kyng Edward the. iiij. boldely sayng to hym, that they would serue no man but a
kynge. This Proclamacion cast a great shame and dolor in to the hartes of the citezens of
Yorke, for that they might apparantly perceyue, that they were fraudulently seduced, and
for their good will vnhonestly (if it might be sayde) deluded and mocked. But when the
fame was blowcn abrotle, y kyng Edward without any detriment, was in sauetyme come to
Notyngham, Princes and noble men on all sydes began to fall to hym, ferrnely belcuyn"1,
that cither the Marques Montacute, beryng fauor too kyng Edwarde, woulcle not once with
hym encounter, or that he was a frayde to setouer or to geue battayl, knowynge not to what
parte his souldiers would enclyne. But what soeuer the occasion M-as, the moste parte
thought it more for their securitie and auantage of theim self's, to take parte and ioyne with
kyng Edward, beyng at all poyntes furnisshed with men of warre, rather then to cleue to kyng
Hery, and to be alwayes in Jeopardy, both of lyfe and lande. Kyng Edward (as you can
nut blame hym) beynge with these good fortunes animated, & with his army furnished at all
poyntes, came to his towne of Lecester, & there heryng that the erle of Warwycke,
accompanied with Ihon erle of Oxford were together at Warwycke with a great power'
&^were both determined to set on hym, he pohtiquely imagening to preuent their in-
uecion, determined in great haste to remoue his whole army, hopyn^ surely, either to
geue them hattayle, or elles to allure and bryng to his side hys brother George duke of
Clarence, and to comen with him in some priuie place, before he came to his confederates:
lest
KYNG EDWARD THE. IIIJ. 293
lest peraduenture he should be by them, illaquiated Si copased, knowing that the duke was
in nothyng constant, nor in one mynd long permanent.
In this very season to tell you how the erle of War wye ke was displeased, and grudged
agaynst his brother the Marques, for lettynge kyng Edward passe, it ware to longe to write:
for where he hym self had vigilantlye prouided & politiquely forsene, for all thinges, y Marques
neuerthelesse where the po\\er of their enemies first began to gather, neuer moued fote, nor
made resistence as he was commaunded, but besydes thys suffered them with a so small
number of souldiers, before hys eyes & in his open sight, without any hattayle to passe by:
wherfore the erle consideryng that kyng Edward did daylyencreasehys power (as a runnyng
ryuer by goyng more & more augmenteth) thought it moste necessary for hym, to geue him
battayle with spede, and iherupon accersed & called together hys army, and in all haste sent
for the duke of Clarence, to ioyne with him which had conscribed, & assembled together a
great host about London. But when he perceiued that the duke lyngered, & dyd all thinges
negligetly, as though he were in doubt of warre or peace, he then began somewhat to suspect
that the duke was of hys bretherne corrupted & lately changed, & therfore without delay
inarched forward toward Couentry, to thentent to set on his enemyes. In the meane season,
kyng Edward came to Warwycke, where he foundeall the people departed, and from thence
with al diligence auaiiced his power toward Couentre, & in a playne by the citie he pytched
his felde. , And the next day after that he cam thither, hys men were set forwarde, and
marshalled in array, & he valiatly bad the erle battayle: which mistrustyng that he
should be deceaued hy the duke of Clarece (as he was in dede) kept hym selfe close within
the walles. And yet he had perfect worde y the duke of Clarence came forward toward hym
with a great army, kynge Edward beyngealso therof enformed, raysed hys cainpe, & made
toward the duke. And lest that there might be thought some fraude to be cloked betwene
them, the kyng set his battayles in an order as though he would fight without any leger delay,
the duke did likewise. Whe eche host was in sight of other, Rychard duke of Glocester,
brother to them both, as though he had bene made arbitrer betwene them, fyrst rode to the
duke, and with hym commoned very secretly : from him he came to kyng Edward, and with
lyke secretnes so vsed hym, that in conclusion no vnnaturall warre, but a fraternal! amitie
was concluded and preclaymed, and then leuyngall armye and weapo a syde, both the bre-
therne louyngly embraced, and familierly commoned together. It was no meruayll that the
duke of Clarece, with so small persuasion and lesse exhortynge, turned from the erle of War-
wyckes pai te, for as you haue hard before, thys marchandyse was labored, conduyted and con-
cluded by a damsell, when the duke was in the French court, to the cries vtler confusion.
After this, kyng Edward caused to be proclaymed, that the duke & all that came with hym,
should be taken as hys trew frendes, without fraude or yll suspicion. But this notwithstand-
yng, it semeth that God dyd neither forgeue nor forget to punishe the duke with condigne \
punishment, for violating and brekyng hys othe solempnely, and aduysedly taken and made !
to the erle of Warwycke, for God not many yeres after, suffered hym like a periured person i
to dye a cruell & a strange death.
Then was it concluded emongest the. iii. bretherne to attempte therle of Warwycke, if by
any fayre meanes he might be recociled or by any promise allured to their parte : To whom the
duke of Clarence sent diuers of hys secret frendes, first to excuse him of the act that he had
done, secondarely to requyre him to take some good eude now, while he might with kyn<»
Edward.
When the erle had hard paciently the dukes message, lord, howe he detested & accursed
him, cryenge out on him, that he cotrary to his othe promise & fidelitie, had shamefully
turned his face from his confederates & alies: But to the dukes messengers he gaue more
other aunswere but this that he had leuer be always lyke hym selfe, then lyke a false"& a periu-
red duke, and that he was fully determined neuer to leue war tyll either he had lost hys
awne naturall lyfe, or vtterly extinguished & put vnder his foes and enemyes.
From thence kyng Edward thus bey ng furnished of a strong host, went without any maner
of
94 THE. -X. YERE OF
of dilTuiecc or mistrust toward Lodon : where after that it was knowen that the duke of Cla-
rence was come to hys brethern, & that all they came together jn one knot to the citie, suche a
feare rose sodaynly emongest the citiezens, that they were driue to their wittes ende, not know-
ino' either what to do or to say, but at y" last very feare compelled them to take kyng Ed-
wardes parte. The selfe same season, the erle of Warwycke sent letters to king Henry, to
the duke of Somerset, tharchebishop of Vorke, & other of hys counsayll, that they should
kepe the citie from their enemies handes, by the space of. ii. or. iii. dayes after the cormning
of their enemies, and that he shortly woukle be at hande with a puyssant armye. They as
they were comaimded defended the citie strongly, but it was to small purpose, for the citiezens
in thesame tyme began maturely to consult, what part they should folow for their most in-
dempnite: and in conclusion when they considered that kyng Henry was such an innocent
person, as of hymself was not most apte to moderate and goueruc the publique wealth of tha
realinc. And that on the other syde kyng Edward by no other mens document, but onely
by hvs awrie pollicie and wit was wont to order the Realrne and gouerne the kyngclome.
And farther that kyng Edward was such a person as was able bothe to defende hyin selfe and
also all hys, from iniurie and hostilitie, wherupon all men were glad to Icane to hym, and
to take hys parte. They concluded to take hys parte & toreceyue hym in to the citie: which
determinacion beyng blowe abrode (as the nature of the people is euer to delyte in nouelties)
the communuhie couidc not be compelled by no commaundement to tarye at home, but
ramie in hepes out of the citie, to mete him, and saluted him as their kyng and souereygne
lord. When the duke of Somerset and other of kynge Henryes fr^des, saw the world thus
sodaynly chaunged cilery man fled, and in hast shifted for hym selfe, leuyng kyng Henry
alone, as an host that should be sacrificed, in the Bishops palace of London, adioyning to
Kyn3e Poules churche, not knowing of whom nor what counsayll to aske, as he which with troble
KnlnmM*' a"d ad"ci'sitie was clerely dulled and appalled, in which place he was by kynge Edward taken,
utenand and agayne committed to prison and captiuitie.
l Thys was a sodayne chaunge, for thesame clay, the Archebishop of Yorke to the entent
that the people myght more fermely stycke on his syde, caused him to ryde about London,
appareled in a gowne of blewe veluet, with a great company cryengkyng Henry, kyng Henry
(whiche sight asinuch pleased the citezens as a fier paynted on the wall, wanned the olde
woman) not knowynge that or nyght, hys tryumphynge shoulde be torned to tremblynge,
and hys solempnitie conuerted into mourning, such chalice was to hym prouided. Kinf
Edward returned to London agayn the. xi. dayo of April, sixe monethes after that he had
sayled in to Flaunders: and fyrste callynge before hym a greate assemble of people, highly
commeded the iidelitie of the citiezens, which they constantly bare vnto hym, rendryng to
the Aldermen most harty thankes for that, that they had kept, and caused the people to con-
tincw, and be permanent in their good myndes and loyaltie toward hym, blaming farther and
rebuking as well Marc-haunt straungers, as Englishemcn, whome he knew to bane prested,
and Icnte money to kynge Henry for the arraycnge and settynge forth of a new armye agaynst
hym. But whenjic had greuously wyth terrible wordes declared to them their sedicious crime
& trayterous offence, he bad them be of good comfortc, & to expell all feare, for he re-
leased to them both the punyshment of theyr bodies, and losse of gooddes, and j'raunted
to them Pardon for theyr faultes and offences, by whiche gentell meane and easy indul-
gencie, he reconciled to him the hartes of the whole multitude, obteinyng that, by fayreand
stop or tariyng by the way) to fight with the before thci .should come to Lodon: the which
he thought, should be muche to his auauntage, cosideryng that he perfightly knew the citee
to be destitute of men ,of warre for defence, and to haue no maner of municions to set on
the walles or towers, so that they were no able to abide a siege, and for that cause, euer they
inclined to the victorious and stronger parte. But when he folowyng his enemies, had passed
KYNG EDWARD THE. IIIJ. 295
a greate part of his iorney, he was enformed that kyng Edward, peaceably was entered into
London, and had taken, and sent kyng Henry to prison again: Whiche thynges dcpely con-
sidered, he saw that al cauillacions of necessitie, wer now brought to this ende, that they
must be comitted to thasard and chaunce of one battaill, wherfore. he rested with his army,
at the tonne of sainct Albons, partly to refresh his souldiers and partly, to take counsaill
what was best to do. In the erles arrnie wer Ihon Duke of Excester, Edmond Erie of
Somerset, Ihon Erie of Oxenford, and Ihon Marques Montacutc, whom theerle his brother
well knewe, not to be well mynded (but sore against his stomacke) to take part with these
Lordes, and therefore stode in a doubt, whether he at this tyme, might trust him or no, but
the fraternal loue betwene the, washed awaie and diminished all suspicion : But what so euer
opinion therle conceiued of him or any other, the erle as a man past all feare, determined
coragiously to set on his enemies. And from sainct Albones, he remoued to a village in the
meane waie, betwene London and sainct Albones called Barnet, beyng tenne mile distaunt
from bothe the tounes. This toune standeth on an hill, on- whose toppe is a faire plain, for
twoo armies to ioyne together, on the one part of this plain, the Erie of Warwicke pitched
his feld, tariyng for his enemies. The rumor of the erles coinmyng, was spred in an instant
ouer all London, whiche quickened kyng Edward not a litle, wherefore with all spede he ad-
ioyned to. that hoste, that he brought with" hym firste to London, a compaignie of- elect,
picked, and chosen persones, strong, young, and mete for all assaies, beside other new aides,
that were then come to him: Harnesse, weapons, horse, and all other engines, instrumentes
mete for the warre, he neither forgatte nor slackly furnished. What shall I saie more, he de-
termined clerely to spende all his riches, yea, and all that he could imagyn vpon the chaunce
©f this battaill: Firmely beleuyng, that this conflict, should knit vp the knot of all his labor,
and bryng hym to quietncs. So with a puyssaunt armie, he marched forwarde, and to put
his people in vre, that thei might bee the more redy to fight, when so euer they should en-
eouter with thei* enemies, he deuided them in foure partes. He brought with hym also
kyng Henry the sixte, of alt likelyhod for this intent, that either his aduersaries, seyng their
kyng stande as a prisoner in captiuitie, should be abashed and discomfited by hym, or els
if the fortunje of the battail should tnrne against hym, that then kyng Henry should be to
hym bothe a sauegard and a proteccio. On Easter ene at after noone he came to Bar-
net, and there not farre from his enemies, he encamped his army, and least his enemies
should compel him to fight that night, he enuironed his campe with newe fortifications
and trenches: fur tariyng that night, was to hym a synguler profile, and to his enemies
a greate detriment: Consideryng the longer he taried, the more people came to his aide,
the more stronger was his power, and the stronger that his power was, so much weaker
was- the part of t the aduersaries, whiche was farre from all succor, and hoped of no newe
relief nor comforte. Thus bothe the armies lodged that night on the plain, but not
out of their harnesse, for their tentes were, so nere together, in the which, what for neigh-
yng of horsses, and talkyng of menne, none of bothe the hostes could that night take
any rest or quietnes. At the breakyng of the daie, the erle of Warwicke sctte his men in a
raie, in this maner: In the right wyng he set the Marques Montacute, and the erle of Ox-
enford, with. certain horsemen, and he with the Duke of Exceter, toke the left wyng, and in
the middes betwene bothe, he set archers and to them he appointed the Duke of Somerset to
be capitain. And when he had set his men in an order, he encoraged his men to fight, with
many comfortable wordes* willing theim to strike with a good and a fierce corage, and to
remembre that they fight not onely for the iibertie of the countrey, against a tiraunte, whiche
wrongfully and against all right, had inuaded and subdued this realme, but they fight in the
querell of a true, and vndubitate king, against a cruell man, and a torcious vsurper, in the
cause of a Godly and a pitiful Prince, against an abhotninable maqueller, and bloudy but-
cher: In the tille of a gentle, liberall, and bountifull kyng, against an extreme nigard, and a
coueteous extorcioner. In which cause being so good, so godly, & so iust, God of very
iustice must nedes be their sheld and defence. Kyng Edward likewise ordred his battailes.
1 In
,,y6 THE. X. YERE OF
In the forward he set the duke of Gloucester, the middle ward, he himself with the Duke of
Clarence, hauyng with them kyng Henry, did rule and gouerne, the lorde Hastynges led the
rereward, and besides these thre battales, he kept a compaignie of tVeshe men in store, whiche
did hym great pleasure, and this done he encoraged his men, saying: that their adeersaries
wer onely traitors to the realme, spoylers of the pore commonahie, and people destitute of al
grace, good fortune & good liuyng. Which mischeuous persones, if they should preuaile
throu'o-h the faintnesse of your hartes, all you gentlemen and riciunen, wer in ieoperdy of your
lifes, all meane men in doubt of robbyng and spoylyng: and all inferior persones, in hasard
of perpetual bondage and seruitude.
When the daie began to spryng, the trornpcttes blewe coragiously, and the battaill fiersly
began, Archers first shot, and bill men theim folowed, Kyng Edward hauyng the greater num-
ber of men, valiauntly set on his enemies. The crle on the otherside, rememberyng his aun-
cient fame and renoume, manfully withstode him. This battail on bothe sides was sore
fought £ many slain, in whose romes sticceded euer fresh and freshmen. In ihe meane
season while all men were together by the eares, euer lokyng to whiche way fortune would
encline. The Erie of Wanvicke after long tight, wisely did perceiue his men to he ouer
pressed, with the multitude of his aduersaries: wherfore he caused newe men to relief theim
that fought in the forward, by reason of whiche succors, kyng Edwardes parte gaue a little
backe (vvliiche was the cause that some lokers on, and no fighters, galloped to London,
saiyng: that therle had wonne the feltl) which thyng when Edward did perceiue, lie with aU
diligence, sent freshe men to their succors.
If the battaill wer fierce and dedly before, now it was crueller, more bloudy, more feruent
and fierie, and yet they had fought from mornyng almoste to noone, without any part gettyng
auauntage of other. Kyng Edward being wer/ of so long a conflict, and willyng to se an
end, caused a greate crewe of freshe men (whiche he had for this onely pollecie, kepte all
daie in store) to set on their enemies, in maner being wery and fatigate : but although the
erle sa\ve these new succors, of freshe & newe men to enter the battaill, beyng nothing
afraied, but hopyng of the victory (knowing perfidy that there was all kyng Edwardes power)
coforted his men beyng wery, sharpely quicknyng, and earnestly desiryng them with hardy
stomackes to here out this last and finail brunt ot' the battail!, and that the felde was euen at
an ende. But when his souldiers beyng sore wounded, weried with so long a conflict, did
geue litle regarde to his wordes, he beyng a man of a mynde inuincihle, rushed into the
middest of his enemies, where as he (auentured so farrc from his awne compaignie, to kill
and sley his aduersaries, that he could not be rescued) was in the middes of his enemies,
strike doune and slaine. The marques Montacute, thynkyng to succor his brother, whiche
he sawe was in greate ieoperdey, and yet in hope to obtein the victory, was likewise ouer
thro wen and slain. After the erle was ded, his parte fled and many were taken, but not one
man of name, nor of nobilitie.
Some auclhors write, that this battaill was fought so ncre hande, that kyng Edward was
constrained to fight his awne persone, & fought as sore as any man of his partie, and that
the erle of Warwicke, whiche was wont euer to ride on horsebacke. from place to place,
from ranke to rankc comfortyng his men, was now aduised by the Marques his brother to
relynquisiie his horse, and trie the extremitie by hande strokes, whiche if he had been on his
horsebacke, might fortune to haue escaped.
The d^th This cnde had Richard Neuell erle of Warwicke, wiiose stoute stomacke, and inuincible
cora"e> after f° many straunge fortunes, and perilous chaunces by him escaped, caused
death before he came to any old age priuilie to stele on hym, and with his darte to take from
hym all worldly and mundain afteccions: but death did one thyng, that life could not
do, for by death, he had rest, peace, quietncs, and tranquiilitie, whiche his life euer abhor-
red, and could not suffre nor abide. On bothe partes wer slain at this battaill, more then
tenne. M. men. Of prisoners the nombcr could not be certainly knowen : on the kynges
part wer slain sir Hu-mfrey Burchier, soonne to the Lorde Barnes, els no man of estimation.
4 The
KYNG EDWARD THE. IIIJ. , 297
The occasion of Ihis greate slaughter was, because that where kyng Edward was wont, after
the battaill ohteined, to crie: saue the cornons, and kill the ca,pitaines, now he spared them
r-ot, because they not onely so high fauored therle of Warwicke, but also because thci came
with the erle against hym in battaill. After this feld euded, the duke of Somerset, with Ihon
Erie of Oxenford, wer inallposte hast, fliyng towarde Scotlande, but feryng the ieoperdies,
that might chaunce in so long a iorney, altered their purpose, and turned into Wales, to las-
per erle of Penbroke: euery man fled whether his mynde serued him. The duke of Ex-
cester with muche difficultie, escaped into Westminster disguised, and there toke Sanctuary.
Kyng Edward after this victory, although he wanne it not without greate effusion of bloud,
aswetl on his awne parte, as the part of his enemies, was greatly reioysed and comforted,
after the maner of a victorious conqueroure, leadyng with him kyng Henry like a captiue,
in moste triumphant maner, on Easter day at after noone, made his entery, solempnly, into
the citie of London, and at the Churche of sainct Paule, he offered his standerd, and ren-
dered to almightie God, for his greate victory, moste huble and hartie thankes. The ded
bodies of the erle and the Marques, wer brought to London in a coffin, and before thei
should bee buried, by the space of three daies, thei laie open visaged,in the Cathedral Church
of S. Paule, to thintet that all men might euidently perceiue, that thei vnfainedly were
dedde least peraueture the common people hereafter, here of some dissimulyng persone, to
take on hym the name of therle of Warwicke, thynkyng him to be liuyng, might stirre a newe
sedicion, & excite an vnware rebellion.
The common people saied, that the kyng was not so iocound nor so ioyous for the destruc-
tion of therle, but he was more sorrowful and dolorous," for the death of the Barques,
whom both he knewe and it appered to other, to be inwardly his faithful frend: Foj whose
onely sake he caused both their bodies, to bee with their auncestors, solempjily enterred at
the Priory of Bissam. In the meane season, quene Margaret hauyng knowledge, that all
thynges in Englande, were now altered and brought into trouble and broyle, by reason of
kyng Edwardes late returneinto therealme: gathered together no small compaignie, of hardy
and valiaunt souldiours, determined with all haste and diligence, with prince Edwarde her
soonne, to saile into Englande, but yet once again (suche was her destinie) beyng letted for
lacke of prosperous wynd and encombered with to muclic rigorous tempeste, a daie after the
faire, as the common prouerbe saieth, landed at the Port of Weymouth, in Dorset shire.
When she had passed the sea and taken lande, it was to her declared, how that kyng Edward
had gotten again the garland, and that kyng Henry her husband, was desolately left post
a lone, and taken prisoner, how the Erie of W'arwicke and his brother were bothe slain and
ded, and all their armie destroyed, scatered or taken, and in conclusion that her parte had
susteined, the moste bitter plague and scorge, consideryng bothe the chaucc and the tyme
that in many yeres before, had been red or sene. When she haide all these miserable
chaunces and misfortunes, so sodainly one in anothers necke, to haue taken their effect, she
like a woman all dismaied for feare, fell to the ground, her harte was perced withsorowe, her
speache was in maner passed, all her spirites were tormented with Malencholy. The cala-
mitie and misery of her time, she detested and abhorred, her vnstable and contrariant for-
tune, she stedfastly blamed and accused, her peinfull labor, her care of mynde, turned into
infelicitie she muche lamented and bewailed the euill fate and destenie of her husband, whiclie
eminently before her iyes, she sawe to approche she accused, reproued, and reuiled, and in
conclusion, her senses were so vexed, and she so afflicted, and caste into suche an agony,
that she preferred death before life, rather desiryng soner to die, then lenger to Hue, and per-
auenture for this cause, that her interior iye sawe priuily, and gaue to her a secret monicion
of the greate calamities and aduersities, which then did hang ouer her hed, and were likely
incontinent to fall and succede whiche other persones, neither loked for nor regarded.
This Quene Margarete might well consider and thynke, that these euill aduentures,
chaunced to her for the moste parte, for the vnworthy death of Humfrey Duke of Gloucester,
vncle to her husbande: Of the whiche, mischaunce, although she wer not the very occasion
Q q and
29* THE. X. YERE OF
and prouoker, yet she greatly offended in that she concented thereto, and did not satie his
life, when she rulyng all other, might conueniently haue staled and letted it. For surely he
beyng a liue, and hauyng the moderacio and gouernaunce of the common wealth, kyng
Henry had ucucr vvauered in so many hasardes, and ieoperdies of his life as he did. I would
desire of God, that all men would in egall balance, ponder & indifferently consider the causes,
of these misfortunes and euill chaunces, the whiche beyng elcuate in aucthoritie, dooe mete
and measure, Justice and iniury, right and wrong, by high power, blynd aucthoritie, and vn-
bridlcd will.
But nowe to the purpose, when Queue Margarete saue, that to bid battaill was to no pur-
pose, and in maner, in dispaire, of the wealth of her self and her sontie: she with the Prince
and hercom|)aignie, departed to a Sainctuary there by, called Jkauliew in Hamsbire (where
was a monastery of Monkes, of the ordre of Cisterciens) and registered herself and hens,
as persones there priueleged. When it was knowcn that she was landed, &dmond Duke of
Somerset, with lord Ihon his brother Thomas Courtney erle of Deiionshire, the which be-
fore euer toke the contrary part, whose sodain chaungyng, shortly turned to his awne con-
fusion, Jasper Erie of Penbroke, Ihon Lorde Wenlocke (a man"made onely bv kyn« Fd-
ward) and Ihon Longstrother, Prior of sainct Ihones in England, came in "real hast to
Beauliew, and presented theimselfes to the Quene: Although that she wer almost drouned in
sorowe, and plunged in pein, yet when she sawe and beheld, these noble and princel" per-
sonages, to resort vnto her presence, she was somewhat comforted, and greatly reuiued
*f rrn in <~ •/
o
And first, lest it should be laied to her charge, that she had dooen any thvng misauiscdly
she declared and shewed the cause, why she could not come to them in time as she dadlv
would haue dooen, and for what purpose and intent, she had then taken the immunise
of Sanctuary: Iksechyng them all to studie, and prouide with all diligence, for the wealthe
and conseruacion, of her onely mell the Prince her sonne, and where for this tvrne she dis
paired to doo any thyng by force of armes, that might bee to her profile, she thouebt it
moste conue.uent for her (if the tyme of yere and her enemies, did not let or stop he*-) to
sa.le again into Fraunce and there to tary till God would sende her better lucke, and more
pleasaunt fortune and to bryng her long purposed busines, to a good conclusion and ende
After that the Duke and other with comfortable wordes, somewhat had eased the dolorus
harte of th.s vnfortunate quene : Thesaid Duke began with a long processc, to enter com^
municacion of warre to be renewed, and with all haste. possible, and extreme diligence least
their compaigme by tanyng might bee diminished, and kyng Edwardes power encreased and
augmented, consideryng that all this tyme, he had no arrnie gathered together, for so muche
that at the aste baUa.ll, the very strength of his chief souldiours, was weked and appa led
And that notwithstandyng, that fortune shone on hym, in obteinyng the victory against therle
of Warw.ckc, yet now she m)ght turne her saile on the othersidefcausyng him STSrtXj
v.neger as she before had gmen hyrn to drynke dilicate Ypocrace, when all men se daiv thaj
of warlike afta.res at the poynt, there happeneth not seldmne tyme, sodain comm taS and
vnloked vanaunce: affirmyng farther, that the more nomber of the nobilitie, bur Ttowarde
kyng Henry her husband their good myndes and fixed hartes, and would help 1 Vm both
w.the men and money. And of his awne free will, if she would take vpon her then ie of
capitam against her enemies, as she before that often tynes had enternnspd hi nff
greate power of able men, at his awne expence and chlge" p^ vn?Zt the two^elf
greater
KYNG EDWARD THE. IIIJ.
greater losse to some oilier, then the losse of her awne life. But she suspected that while thei
would helpe thynges, that thei moste phantesied and affected, the life of prince Edward her
soonne, in whom, all the whole hope of that familie stoode and remained, should be in pe-
rell and ieoperdie: and therfore, she either thought it necessarie, to defer the battaill till
another time, or els to conueigh her sonne into Fraunce again, there to lye sure and secrete,
till the chaunce of the first battayle were tryed and assayed. And no marueyll, although the
natural! mother, much mynded and studied for thesauegarde and tuycion of the lyfe of her
sonne, pondering that next her husband, whom she reputed for dene vndone and vtterly cast
awaye,,she had nothyng more to be beloued, nothyng more derer, nor uothynge to be made
more of.
Thus this prudent and politique Quene requyred the cheuctaynes expert in marciall
feates, that they shoulde before hande premeditate with them selfes, maturely and deliberat-
ly these thynges by her moued and after that done, if they thoughte it conuenient lo geue
battayle, she woulde to their agrement with all her hart be conformable. But there was no
longer disputacion of the matter, for the duke sayde that there was no ncde to waste anye
more woordes for all they were determyned (while their hues lasted) styll lo kepe warre
agaynste their enemyes, & therfore that thvnge whiche with greate counsayll and delibe-
racion is cocluded, ought to be auaunced and set forward with a whole consent and agre-
ment.
Thus euery man together clerely bent and encouraged to f battayle gathered hys powe»
by liym selfe. The duke thorough all hys dominions, raysed a chosen companye of men
of warre: lykewise did the erle of Deuoshyre. The erle of Pcbroke wet into Wales to
his erledo to prepare hys people with all diligence. The quene, at the last was brought into
this hope of good fortune that she sayd, well be it, & so as the duke had aduised her, she
with hei company departed to Bathe, entendynge there to make her abode, tyll more of her
affinitie were together assembled. But whether so euer she went, few or none had thereof
knowledge, mistrustyng lest her counsayl should by some titiuille, bee published & opened
to her aduersaries, before she came to the place prefixed.
When kyng Edward knew that Quene Margarete was landed in Englande, and that the
duke of Somerset with her complices had prepared a new armye, out of hand he dispatch-
ed certayn currers on light horses, in to euery part to see what number hys enemyes were,
& what way they entended to take. The explorators, according to their instruccions,
serched and sought the partcs by West, and made relacion diligently at their retorne, what
, they had knowen and sene. The kynge beyng in a great agony, because he knewe not
what waye his enemyes toke, determined, surely to encounter the at some, one place be-
fore they came to London. And vpon this conclusion, with such an armye as he had got-
ten about London, he set forward into Oxford shyre, and there sekynge a place apt and
mete to pytche hys tentes, was conducted to Abyngdon, where he encamped hym selfe, co-
maunding all men appoynted for the warre, with all celeritie to folow hym to that place.
All the kynges host there beyng assembled and reduct in to one company, newes were
brought to hym, that hys enemyes were come to Bathe, and there did soiorne and tarye
purposely to augmetand encreace their nuber of such, as dayly to them dyd resort, wher-
fore the kyng without delay remoued strayght to Maryborough, being distal from Bathe.
xv. miles, making haste and great diligence, if by any possibilitie he might to geue theim
battayle before they diuerted into Wales, whether he thought (as they entended in deed)
that they would take their iorney to ioyne tbcm selfe with the erle of Penbroke, which had
gathered a great host in those parties.
When the Quene knew that kynge Edwarde was come so nere to her, she taried not long
at Bathe, but remoued in greate haste to Brystow: and sent out certayn horsemen to espye,
whether she might sauely passe ouer the llyuer Seuerne by Gloucester into Wales, whether
she determined first to go to augment her armye, and then without any delay with spere
and shelde, coragiously to set on her euemyes, where soeuer they would ahyde. They that
Q q 2 were
200 THE. X. YERE OF
were sent retorned to her again, declaryng that the towne of Gloucester was vnder the
obeisaunce of Rychard, duke of Gloucester the kynges brother, and that although they
had solicited the lord Beauchampe of Powike, which lay there in the Castell, and had the
rule of the Towne, and the townesmeu fyrst by rewardes after by menacing, either to take
their part, or peasably to suffer her to passe _ouer their bridge, they were there with all,
neither once moued, nor once would speake cofortably to the messengers. Whe she hard
these newes, she shortly departed from Bristow with her army, to a prope_r towne on se-
uerne syde, 'called Tewkesburye, leuing Gloucester vnassauted, lest peradueture she might,
their sped her tyme w much losse £ littel gayne, but in her passage towarde Tewkesbury,
the lord Beauchripe toke from her rereward, more ordinance then she might haue wel spared,
which did to her no small prejudice. Whe the Quene was come to Tewkesbury, and kncwe
that kynge Edward folowed her with hys horsemen at the very backe, she was sore abashed,
and \v6derfullv amased and determined in her selfc, to flye into Wales to lasper erle of Pcbroke :
But the duke of Somerset, willyng in no wyse to flye backward for doughtes that he casted might
chauce by the way, determined there to tarye, to take such fortune as God should sende,
beyn«e in his awne rnynde, and so fixed in a fayre parke, adioynynge to the towne, he
pytched his felde agaynst the will and consent of many other Capitaynes which would that he
should haue drawen a syde, for a whyle tyl therle of Penbroke with hys armye were with hym
associate but his will serued for his reason, and so the chauncefolowed. The duke of So-
merset entending to abide the battayle lyke a pollitique warrior, trenched his campe rounde
about of suche an altitude, and so strongly, that his enemyes by no meanes facilye, could
make any entrie, and farther perceyuyng that his parte coulde neuer escape without bat-
tayle, determined there to se y final entle of his good oryl chauce, wherfore he marshalled
his host in this manner : he and the lord Ihon of Somerset his brother led the forward :
The middelward was gouerned by the Prince vnder the coduyte of the lord of sainct Ihons,,
Si lord Wenlocke (whome kyng Edward had highly before preferred & promoted to the
degre of a baron) The rereward was put in the rule of the erle of Deuonshyre.
<!fTewkesi When all these battayles were thus ordered and placyd, the Quene and her sonne prince
burye. Edward rode about the felde, encouragyng their souldiers, promising to them (if they did
shew the selfs valyat against their enemyes) greate rewardes and hyghe promocions, innu-
merable <*ayn of the spoyle and bootye of their aduersaries, and aboue all other fame and
renoune thorough the whole realme. Kyng Edward lykewise which the day before was
eotne within a mile of Tewkesbury, put hys brother the duke of Gloucester in the forward, .
and him selfe in the middelward, the lord Marques and the lord Hastynges led the rere-
garde. The duke of Gloucester, which lacked no policye, valyantly with hys battayle as-
sauted the troche of the Queues campe, whom the duke of Somerset with no lesse courage
defended, the duke of Gloucester for a very politique purpose, ^ith all hys men reculed
backe. The duke of Somerset perceiuing that: lyke a knight, more eouragious then cir-
euspect came out of his trenche, with his whole battayle, and folowed the chace, not doubt-
ynge but the prince and the lorde Wenlocke, with the middelward had folowed iust at hys
backe. But whether the lord Welocke dissimuled the matter for kynge Edwardes sake, or
whether hys harte serued hym not; still he stode lokyng on. The duke of Gloucester ta-
kynge the auantage that he auentured for, turned agayn face to face to the dake of Somer-
sets battayl, which (nothynge lesse thinkyng on, then of the returne) were withima smal
season, shamefully discomfited. The duke of Somerset, seyng hys vnfortunate chaunce
returned to y. middelward, where he seyng the lord Wenloke standynge still, after he had
A tembu reuyled hym, and called him traytor, with his axe he strake y braynes out of' his hedde.
.pjjg t|u]ie Of Qlocester entered the trenche, & after hym the kyng, where after no log con-
flict, the Queues part went almost all to wrecke, for the most parte were slayne. Some
fledde for succor in the thyck of the parke, some in to y monastery, some into other places.
The Quene was foiide irt her Chariot almost dead for sorowe, y prince was apprehended and
kepte close by syr Rychard Croftes : the duke of Somerset and the lord Prior of sainct
1 Ihons,
KYNG EDWARD THE. IIIJ. sot
Ihons, were By force taken prisoners, and many other also. In the felde S: cliace were
shine lord Ihon of Somerset, the erle of Deuonshyre, syr Ihoa Dclucs, syr Edivarde.
Hampden, syr Robert Wytyngham, and syr Ihon Lewkenor, and. iii. thousand other.
After the felde ended, kyng Edward made a Proclamutio, that who so euer could bring
prince Edward to him alyue or dead, shoulde haue an annuitie of an. C. 1. duryng his lyfe, and
the Princes life to be saued. Syr Richard Croftes, a wyse ancta valyaut knyght, nothing mis-
trusting the kynges former promyse, brought furth his prisoner prince Edward, beynge a
goodly femenine & a well feautered yonge gentelman, whotne when kynge Edward had
well aduised, he demaunded of him, how he durst so presumptuously enter in to his
Realrne with banner displayed. The prince, beyng bold ofstomacke & of a good courage,,
answered sayinge, to recouer my fathers kyngdome & enheritage. from his father £ grand-
father to him, ana from, him, after him, to me lyneally diuoluted. At which wordes kyng.
Edward say d nothyng, but with his bfid thrust hyin from hym (or as some say, stroke him
with his gauntlet) whom incontinent, they that stode about, whiche were George duke of
Clarence, Ilychard duke of Gloucester, Thomas Marques Dorset, and Willia lord Has-
tynges, sodaynly murthered, & piliously. manquelled. The bitternesse of which murder,
some of the actors-, after in their latter dayes tasted and assayed by the very rod of Justice
and punishment of God. Hys body was homely enterred with y other symple corses, in
y church of the monastery of blacke Monkes in Tewkesburye. This was the last ciuile bat-
tayl that w-as fought in kynge Edwardes dayes, whiche was gotten the. iii. daye of Maye,
in the. x. yere of hys-reigne, and in the yere of our lord. M. cccc. Ixxi. then beyng Sater-
day. And on the Monday next ensuyng was Ednaond duke of Somerset, Ihon Longstro-
ther, Prior of sainct Ihons, syr Garuays Clyfton, syr Thomas Tresham, and. xii. other
knyghtes and gentelmen behedded in the market place at Tewkesbury.
Quene Margaret lyke a prisoner was brought to Londo, where she remayned tyll kyng
Reiner her father ransomed her with money, which summe (as the French writers arFerme) brought Pri—
he borowed of kyng Lewes jr. xi. and because he was not of power nor abilitic to repaye so sonenoo
greate a dutie, he solde to the Frenche king & his heyres, the kyngdomes of Naples, and London'
bothe the Sciciles, with the countye of Prouynce, which is y very title that kyng Charles
the vii. made when he conquered y realme of Napeis. After the raunsom payed, she was
eonueyed in to Fraunec with small honor, which with so great triumphs and honorable enter-,
teynmet was \v pope aboue al pryde, receyucd into this Realme. xxviii. yeres before. And
where in the beginning of her tyme, she lyued like a Quene, in the middel she ruled like
an empresse, toward thende she was vexed with treble, neuer quyet nor in peace, & in her
very extreme age she passed her dayes in Fraunee, more lyke a death then a lyfe, languish-
yng and rnornyng in continuallsorowe, not so much for her selfe and her hnsbande, whose
ages were almost consumed and worne, but for the losse of prince Edward her sonne
(whome she and her husband thought to leue, both ouerlyuer of their progeny, and also
of their kyngdome) to whome in this lyfe nothyng coulde be either more displeasant or "re-
uous.
After this battayl, kyng Edward rendered to God his most hiible thakes, & caused pub-
lique processions to be with al! deuout reuerence solemply, kept three dayes together in euery
Towne and Parishe. And when he had visited the townes and places, where his enernyes
assembled first together (to the payne and punishmente of no small number) he with good
diligence returned toward London, for he was enformed how one Thomas Neuel, bastard
sonne to Thomas lord Faucobridg the valyant capitayne, a man of no lesse coragc then
audacitie (who for his euell condicios was suche an apte person, y a more meter could not
be chosen to set all the worlde in a broyle, & to put the estate of y realme on an yll hasard)
had of new begonne a great c5mocion. This bastard was before this tyme appoynted by
the erle of. Warwycke, to be Vice-admyrall of the sea, and had in charge so to kepe the
passage betwene Douer and Caleys, that none which either fauored kynge Edward or his
ire ndes should escape, vntaken or vndrouned. And when by the death of the erle of War-
wycke,.
305 THE. X. YERE OF
wyckc, he was broughte into pouertie, lie robbed both on the sea & the lande, aswel hi*
cnemyes as also his' frendcs: By reason wherof he gat together a great nauy of shippes,
and spoiled on euery ship, and at last toke lande in Kent, and gathered together a great
company of Kentishmen, such as were most mete for his purpose, and so marched toward
London, where the Essex men hauynge wylde whaye wormcs in their heddes, Joined them
with him, saiyng that their commyng and quarell was to deliuer out of captiuitie Kyng Henry
y vi. and to bring him to his wyfe, but what so euer their outward wordes were, their inward
cogitacions were onely hope of spoyle, and desyre to robbe and pyll. For the bastarde hym
selfe assaulted the drawe bridge of London, and a capitain of his called Spisyng scaled Al-
gate with the Essex me, harnesed in their wyfes Chesecloutes, which assaultes were deadly
geuen and manfully resisted, in so much that on bothe partes many were slayne and hurt,
but at the last the citiezens then put backethe rebelles, and slew and wounded a great number
of them, and draue the bastard from al his pray to his shyppes, lyeng at Radcleffe, which
hauyng a good & prosperous wyndc, made sayle with all haste, & Roued on the sea, as
before he was accustomed.
This styrryng, although it were but littell to thynke on at the fyrst yet if it had begonne
not long afore, it had brought all kynge Edwardes busines in to a doubtfull difference: for
kynge Edward in these hys last battayles was twise more then fortunate for that, that lie at
sondry and seuerall tymes (and not all at one tyme) was persecuted & inuaded of his ene-
myes: for surely, at the tyme when the erle of Warwycke with his pytchcd armye \uis co-
myng toward London, if quene Margarete with her companye had take land (which en-
terprice she thryse in great Jeopardy coragiously attempted) Then if she had set on be-
hynd, whyle the erle of Warwycke gaue the onset before both at one moment, or if Ed-
mond duke of Somerset had not geuen battayle at Tewkesburye, before lasper erle of Pen-
broke was come with his trayne, or if bastard Fawconbridge had vexed the Londoners euen
at y tyme: One or the other of these, ii. thynges should consequently haue folowed, that
kynge Edwarde must of necessitie once agayne flye out of the Realme, or els with shame
and rebuke yelde hym selfe, either to slaughter or captiuitie: But as in all meane chaunces
and small gaynes, good lucke is desyred and praysed, so much more in battayle, is good
fortune and fortunate chaunce to be most made of, and chiefly to be auaunced.
Now to returne to bastard Faucobridge, waueryng hither & thither in the doubtfull surges
of the sea, as sure of hys lyfe on the water as on the lande, which either thinking that no
man would se him, or that all men were blind, and coulde not espie hym (and especially
in so secret a place) came into the open hauen of Southampton, and there toke lade where
he was not long vntaken, but shortlier bchedded.
When lasper erle of Pebroke was credibly asserteyned that quene Margarete had lost the
battayle at Tewkesburye, and that there was no more trust of any comfort or releue to be
had for the parte of poore kyng Henry, he with such men of warrc as he was, bringyng to
his cofederates, returned back out of y" way to the towne of Chepstow, wher he taryeng,
deploryng and lamentyng, that hast to much hasted, & that vnpurueied & blynd will had
at the finall conclusio, not only destroyed and brought to nought al kyng Heryes estate,
riches and preheminece, but further had left ail his frendes redy to tosse the waues of for-
tune, & to seke their lyuyng where they might sauely get them, began to thinkeand prouide
what way was best to take.
Kyng Edward at this season, not beynge put of feare of the erle of Penbroke, sente
' priuely in too Wales, Roger Vaughan, a man there bothe stronge of people and of frendes,
to the entent by some gyle or engyne sodaynly to trap and surprise the erle: but he hauyng
intelligence of ccrtayne frendes, how that watche was priuilie leyd for him, sodainly in the
same towne, toke- Roger Vaughan, and without delay stroke of hys hed, so Roger Vaughan,
by Gods prouidece, receyued the death hym selfe, which he by deceipt, prepared for the
other.
The erle in good hast departed thence to Penbroke, whorne incontinent Morgan Thomas,
by
KYNG EDWARD THE. IIIJ. 303
by kyng Edwardes comaundemet so strogly beseged hym, and so enuyroned his Castdl with a
dicliti and a tranche, that he coulde not lightly flye or escape thence: but lie was after eyghte
dayes deliuered, and the seage raysed by hys laylhfull and trusty frendes Dauid Thomas,
brother to the foresayd Morgan, and from thece conueyed to Tynbye, a hauen towne in
Wales, where he getting conucnient shyppes, for to transport hym and hys oner the sea into
Fraunce with hys nephew lord Henry erle of Rychemonde, and a few of hys fumiliers toke
ship, and by fortunes leadyng, landed in Brytayne.
After hys arryuall, he fyrst went to duke Frances of Brytane, and hym reaerentlv saluted,
expoundyng to him the cause, the cace, and the neccssitie of their thether coinmyng,
committing the lyfes, the goodes and all the chaunces both of hym and hys nephew,
whole to the dukes discrecion and ordinaunce. The duke rcccyued hothe the eries, with all
benignitie, and shewed to the no lesse honor, fauor and humanitie, with suche enter-
tainment, then if they had been his naturall brethren, and geuyng to theitn his faithe, se-
riously made promise that heyng with hym, they should sustein no maner of wrong, nor no
iniurie should be to them by any creature oftred: assuring them, that they might within his
dominions, at all tymes, and in all places, go in safe and good suretie.
When Kyng Edwarde had appeased, by the ineanes afore rehersed, his kyngdome and
people, to the intent that there should in- urge hereafter, no newe commocion within the
real me again: he made a iorney into Kente, and there sat in iudgement on suche, as in the
last turnulteous busines, toke pane uith foustarde Fauconbrige, where many wer (not vn-
worthy) strtightly punished £ ratmsomed, which busines once perfourmed, to thintent
that all men knight se a'pparantly, that indubitate peace was come into the realme, and that
all feare of exterior hostilitie, was banished and exiled for euer: Poore kyng Henry the
sixte, a litle before depriued of his realme, and Imperial! Croune, was now in the Tower K7n£ I?e"~
of London, spoyled of his life, and all worldly felicitie, by Richard duke of Gloucester siam in the
(as the constant fame ranne) which, to thintent that king Edward his brother, should be tow"v
clereout of all secret suspicion of sodain inuasion, nuirthered thesaid kyng with a dagger.
But \vhosoeuer was the manqueller of this holy man, it shall appcre, that bothe the mur-
therer and the consenter, had condigne and not vndcscrued punishement, for their bloudy
stroke, and butcherly act: and because they had now no enemies risen, on whom they
might reuenge themself, as you shall hereafter perceiue, they exercised their crueltie,
against their awne selfes: and with their proper bloud, enibrucd and polluted their awne
handes and membrcs.
The ded corps of kyng Henry, with billes and gleues pompeously (if you call that a
funerall pornpe) was conueighed from the tower, to the Ctiurch of saincte Paule, and
there laied on a beree, where it lay the space of one whole dale : and the nexte day, with-
out Prieste or Clarke, Torche or Taper, syngyng or saiyng, it was conueighed to the Mo-
nasterie of Chertesey, bcyng distant from London, xv. mile, and there was buried, but
after he was remoued to Winsore, and tncre in a new vawte nowly intumilate. This kyng
Henry reigned full, xxxviii. yeres, and xvii. daies, and after that he had repossessed his
kyngdom. vi. monethes he liued. lii. yeres, hauyng by his wife one onely sonue, called Ed-
ward Prince of Wales.
Kyng Henry was of stature goodly, of body slr-der, to which proporcion, al other me- Th
bers wer correspondent: his face beautiful!, in the which continually was resident, the £yng
bountie of mynde, with whiche, he was inwardly endued. He did abhorre of his awne o-the
nature, all the vices, as well of the body as of the soule, and from his verie infancie, he
was of honest conuersacion and pure integritie, no knowerof euill, and a keper of all good-
nes: a dispiser of all thynges, whiche bee wonte to cause, the myndes of mortal! menne to
slide, fall, or app.iirc. Beside this, pacience was so radicate in his harte, that of all the
inimiesto him co;n tutted, (whiche were no small nombre) he neuer asked vengeaunce nor
punishement, but for that, rendered to ahnightie God, his creator, hartie thankes, thinking
that by this trouble, and aduersAie, his synnea were to huu forgotten and ibrgeuen. What
4 shall
304 THE. XI. YERE OF
shall I <uic that this good, this «et!e, this mekc, this sober and wisman, did declare and
affiriiic, that those mischefes and miseries, partly, came to by in lor his awne oftence and
partly for the hepyng of synne vpon sinne, wretchedly by his aunceters and forfathers :
wherefore lie litle or nothing estemed, or in anywise did turment or macerate hymself,
what *o euer dignitie, what honor, what state of life, what child, what frend he bad lost,
or missed but if it did but sound an offence toward God, he loked on that, and not with-
out repen'tatmce, both mourned and sorowed for it: these and other like offices of holynes,
caused God to worke miracles for him in his life tyme, (as old menne saied) By reason
whereof, kyng Henry the seuenth, not without cause, sued to Iu!y Bushop of Rome, to
c'"°-no"ss haue him canonized, as other sainctes be : but the fees of canonizing of a King, wer of so
u c*ttiy. «reat a quiititie at Rome (more then the canonisyng of a Bushoppe or a prelate, although
he satte in saincte Peters Cheire) thatthesaied king thought it more necessary, to kepe his
money at home, for the profile of his realme and countrey, rather then to empouerish his
kingdom, for the gaining of a newe holy day of sainct Henry: remitting to God, the
Judgement of his will and intent. This kyng Henry, was of a liberal! mynde, and especial-
ly, to such asloued good learning, and them whom he sawe profile, in any verteous science,
he hartely fuuored and embraced, wherfore.he firste holpe his awne young scholers, to at-
tcin to discipline, and for them he founded a solempne schoole at Eton, a toune next vnto
Wyndsore, in the whiche he hath stablished, an honest Colege of sad Priestes, with a greate
nombre of children whiche bee there, of his coste frankeley and frely taught, the erudita-
inetcs and rules of G rammer. Beside this, he edeiied a Princely Colege, in the Vniuersi-
tie of Cambridge, called the kynges Colege, for the further erudicion, of such as wer brought
vp in Eton, whiche, at this daie so florisheth, in all kyndes, as well of litterature, as of
toungucs, that aboue all other, it is worthy to bee called, the Prince of Coleges.
V
HTHE. XI. YERE.
The. xi. XOw to returne to Kyng Edwarde, whiche was releued of the most part, of his prick-
yrig feare, and inward auspiciS, to thintent that no print or shadowe, should remain of the
aduerse faccion, in his realme. He diligently required and serched out, all the fragmentes
and Icuynges, of his enemies parte, intendyng to represse, and vtterly to extinguishe theitn.
And first to begyn with all, he sent George Neuell, brother to the erle of Warvricke, and
Archbushoppeof Yorke, vnder strong conduite, to the Castle of Guysnes, there to be kept
in extreme captiuitie, where be long continued, and at the laste, by frendship deliuered :
whiche of very pensiuenes and grudge of mynd, shortely after deceassed, whom, Laurence
Bathe, and after him Thomas Rotherham, in the sea of Yorke, did ordinarily succede.
Beside this, Ihon Erie of Oxenford, whiche after Barnet feld, bothe manfully gat, and
valiantly kept, sainct Mighels Mout in Cornewal: either for lacke of aide, or perswaded
by his frendes, gaue vp the mount, and yelded himself to kyng Edward, (his life only saued)
whiche to hym >vas graunted: but be out of all doubtfull imaginacions, kyng Edward sent
hym ouer the sea, to the Castle of Hammes, where by the space of. xii. yeres, he was in
strong prison, miserably kept, and diligently looked to. Many other beside these, in
diuerse partes of the realme, beyng very little or nothing suspected: wer either committed
to prison, or grieuously fined and taxed. Beside this, least his neighbors countrey, might
be an harborough, or receptacle of his foes and aduersaries, he concluded a newe league,
with lames the. iii. king of Scottes, for the terme of. xx. yeres. And yet, whatsoeuer he
thought in his Imagination, for all his besy deuiscs, and pollitique forcastynges : his mynd
and phantesie, wer not clere exonerate and dispatched, of all feare and inward trouble :
For tidings wer brought to hym, that the erles of Penbroke and Richemond, were arriued
ip Britayne ; &nd there of the Puke, highly cherished, well fostered and entertained.
K- THE
KYXG EDWARD THE. IIIJ. 505
H THE. XII. YERE.
THis thyng nipped kyng Edwarde hardly at the verie stomacke, as though his mynd, The.™,
casting some euill to come after : did signifie before, that the Erie of Richemond, should yfa"
once attein to the Croune and diademe of the realme: which mischief, when he had wel
disgested, he secretly sent wise and close messengers, to the Duke of Brytayne, the which
should not sticke, to promise the duke, great & sumpteous rewardes, (knowing that mede,
many thynges corrupteth) so that he would deliuer, bothe therles into their handes and pos-
session. The duke gladly hard them that were sent, but when he knewe, the twoo Erles to
bee a praie, of suche a greate value, he determined not to deliuer theim, but rather to en-
tertain theim with hym more diligently, then thei were accustomed. The duke answered
the orators, that it stoode not with his honor, nor he would not deliuer the twoo Erles, to
\\hom, he was bound and obliged, by his faithe and promise: but this he promised to dooe
for the kynges pleasure, that they should be kept, and with suche vigilant pcrsones, continu-
ally watched, that the kyng should haue no manerof cause, once tothynke, that they could
or should attempt any thing, that ruight sound, either to his displeasure or prejudice.
When the messengers sawe, that they could notobtein, that which thei desired, like wise-
men held themselfes contented with that, whiche by the duke was offered, & so returned
into England. The kyng wrote to the Duke of Britayne, louyngly requiryng him, to ac-
complishe with all spede, that, whiche he of his awne mocion offered, piomisyng him not
onely, menne and greate rewardes, but yerely to rewarde hym, with a full hand, and
a well stuffed purse. The duke perceiuyng the swete gain, which rose to him, by the
abode of the two English Erles, in his Countrey: least they for any cause, should
abandon his dominions, and seke succors in some other foreign Region, caused the
one, to be segregated from the other: and remoued from them suche Englishmen, as wer
daily on them attendant and came with them into Britayn, and in their places appoynted Bri-
tons, to be their seruitors to minister, and continually to attend and waite on them.
When kyng Edward had thus pollitiquely, as he thought, compassed the Duke of Bri-
tayne: he thinking nothing lest-e, then to take a damage at the duke of Burgoynes hand,
yea, and such a damage, as by all similitude, was bothe like, continually to greue and vexe
the realme of Englande: and farther to be an occasion, of a common stop, and putting
backe of the commodities, growen within this realme, to be transported into outward,
partes North Estward, was yet eftsones, brought into a newe double and perplexitie. For
the declaracion whereof, you muste vnderstande, that Lewes the Frenche kyng, had a bro»
ther called Charles, which was not the wisest, nor yet a man of the greatest experience:
and of a certain curtesie, loued better to haue other men to rule him, then he to take
vp5 him to rule other. And although that the kyng at this tyme, had no soonne, nor other
brother, but him, his open heire apparant : he iitle fauored, and lesse loued him, nothyng
geuyng hym of his good will, for his part and porcio, o;" his fathers landes, but that, to
the which he was copelled by his counsaill, and that he gaue hym this moneth, in the next
moneth, he would by flatery or by thretnyng, by war or corrupcion of his brothers scruauntes,
obtain & bring to his handes and possession again. For first he gaue him the Duchie of Berry'
& after that whole Normandy, wherof in no long tyme, he bereft him the possession, regiment
& title, without any cause geue, ony partie of yong Charles. And when thesaied Charles, had
afterward departed, with the countreysof Brye & Champaigne, by a fraudulent feate : kin<*
Lewes caused hym to relinquishe thesame, & to take for his paretage, the duchie of Guyen°
& so was called & named the duke of Guyen. This euil entreating of theduke of Guyen
by the Freeh kyng his brother, caused diuerse other Princes, of no small puyssaunce, to
fauor, aide, and succor thesaid Duke (of the whiche the chief wer, Charles Duke of Bur-
goyn, Fraunces duke of Britayn, £ Lewes erle of sent Poll, Constable of Frounce.) This
R r Duke
S06 „ THE. XII. YERE Off
I
Duke of Guyen, by the sollicityng of his adherentes, sore labored to haue in mariage, tire
sole daughter and onely heire, of Cliarles duke of Burgoyne, by whom he hoped to be
lorcle and souereigne, of all duke Charles inheritaunce. To the furtheraunce ot this ma-
riage, holpe witl^all his pou-er, the Duke of Britayn, as who saied, that it should be onely
his acle. The Constable of Fraunce on the other parte, thought that he a lone, was able
to compasse this mariage, and to haue soly the thankes, of "the Duke of Guyen. The
French king did all that he could, to let and stoppe this mariage: for if his brother had
obteined, the young Lady with all her possessions, then hesawe well inough, that the Duke
of G uyen, beyng ioyned with the Duke of Britayne, should be strong inough, or at the least of
puissance inough, 'to encomber the Frenche kyng and his children. But kyng Edwarde of
F,n<*lande, sore" smoked, when he hard tell first' of this mariage, and not without a cause:
For he considered, that the Frecbe kyng had no heire maile, but one weake boy and that
the Duke of Guyen, was likely to were the Croune of France, after his brother or ncphene.
And if this mariage should precede, all Burgoyn, Brabant, Holand, Zeland, Flaunders,
and all thelowe countreys, where the Englishe men, for the most parle, made their rnartes,
find vttered there their merchaundise, should be vnited and annexed, to the Croune of Fraunce,
and in the handesof the old, and auncient enemies of the realme: For so had poore Eng-
land, and litle Caleis, been cotinually in the daunger of their enemies, almostewith theim
cnuironed'iounde aboute. These thinges considered, kyng Edward and his counsail, tooke
the matter in greate earnest, and seriously wrote to Duke Charles, that if he would con^
clude, any mariage in Fraunce, to the hurt and prejudice, of the realme of Englande r
that he should knowe that he had, not onely broken his league and amitie, but also rinde,
that he had been better to haue dissimuled, with the best frende that he had, then priuily,
without reason, to haue iuggeled with the realme of England. The Duke of Burgoyn
made reasonable answeres, and honest excuses, but the Counsaill of Englande, in no wise
would geue credite thereto : euer surmising that the mariage should take effect. And cer-
tainly at this season, the Englishemen had rather haue taken part, with the French king
then with the Duke of Burgoyne: if it had not been onely, to empeche and stoppe this
mariage, so muche the Englishemen disdained, to haue the house of Burgoyne, conioyned
and vnite, to the Croune of Fraunce. But the Duke of Burgoyne dalied, and dissimuled
with all parties, in this matter, geuyng them faire wordes, and makyng large promises, by
the whiche he first deceiued other, £ incoclusion himself. He promised his daughter ta
Nicholas Duke of Calaber, with who. he had rather haue had her buried, then bedded.
Duke Philbert of Sauoy, had an outward answere assuredly, when nothyng was so minded
inwardly. Maximilian Duke of Austrice, and after kyng of Romaines, soonne to the Em-
peror Fredericke, could neuer obtein, during the life of duke Charles, but onely glosyng
and painted promises: but all wordes, writynges and promises, what so euer they wer,
clerely set aside, he was surely fixed and determined (as Argeton his counsailer doth write)
that no mariage as long as he liued, should sort to any effecte, at the least by his con-
sent.
Now lette vs leue the Duke of Burgoyne, aboute his affaires for a while, and returne to
kyng Edward: which, in the. xiii. yere of his reigne called his high Courte of Parliament,
at his Palace of Westminster, in the whiche, all lawes and ordinaunces, made by hym be-
fore that daie were corroberated and confirmed: and suche Lawes made by hym, as kyng
Henry the sixte, had caused to be abrogated and anichilated, he again reuiued and reno°
uated. He made farther lawes, botli for the confiscacion of the goodes of the rebelles,
to his persone, as also for restoryng of suche, as fled oat of the realme, for his querell and
occasio :_ which, by his aduersaries, as traitors to their Kyng and Countrey, a litle before,
wer of high treason attainted, and to death codempned. Toward his charges of late sus-
teined, a competent some of money was demaunded, and frankely graunted: and incon-
clusion, all inward grudges and open discordes, the which had of long continued, in the
hartes of the nobilitie, whiche,, noyy wer very fewe (the more part beyng consumed in the
warres)
KYNG EDWARD THE. II IJ. 307
warres) he clerely extirped, and brought to vnitie and cocorde. Kyng Edward holpe to
this agrement, as much as in hym laie : And to the intent that other men, should forget
.. iniuries to them done, and put away all rancor and malice: following his good and God-
ly example, he clerely pardoned almoste all offences, and all men then beyng within the
Realme, he frankcly discharged, although they had taken parte with his uduersarieb against
hym, of all high treasons and crimes.
1 THE. XIII. YERE.
f »»',.»••• 's~'&
WHile kyng Edwarde was thus setting an ordre, and pacifiyng all thynges v.hiche were The. xiii.
out of square: Charles duke of Burgoyn, whose spirite was neuer in quiet, whose arnbi- ?'"•
cious mynde, was neuer satisfied, whose haute and high stotnacke, could neuer be tamed,
(till death it swaged and abated) desirynge aswell to amplify, and enlarge his territories and
dominios, liyng on the side of the riuer of Ryne, toward high Burgoyn as also to recouer
again Amias and other tounes, whiche the Frenche kyng, more by fraude then by feates of
warre, had from hym wrongfully vsurped: and further abone all thynges, couetyng to haue
the Freche kyng, to haue some great shame, losse, or hinderaunce, could not inuent no
one waie, so apt and mete for his imagined purpose, as to entice and perswade the kyng
ofEnglande, by his ambassadors, to make warre vpon thesaid kyng and his countrey: for
the recoueryng of his old right and auncient title in thesame by the French kyng & his father,
against all right and equitie, with holden and deteigned. King Edward began a litle to harken
on that side, not so much for to help the Duke of Burgoyne (to whom he was muche bounde,
for his aide in the tyme of his exile, as you before haue harde) as for to be reuenged of kyng
Lewes, whom, he reputed for his mortall enemie. Firste for aydyng the Erie of Warwicke
and his complices, against him: secondarely, for the long mainteinyng, and fosteryng of
Quene Margarete, and ,her soonne Prince Edwarde (whome for a farther affinitie, he had
made Godfather to hys sonne Charles the Doulphyn) within his cou treys & dominios.
Whereupon, when he had consulted with the nobilitie and the chiefe and sage persons of the
Realme (which in manner haue a certayn naturall inclination to make warre in Frauce, either
for hope of great spoyle and gayne, or of a certain priuie canker engendered in the hartes of
their forefathers in tyme long past, and after by lyneall succession descended in to the sto-
mackes of their nephewes) he aunswered the Dukes messenger that in the beginnyng of the
yere, he would lande at Caleys with such a puyssant army, that the Frenche kyng should
well perceyue that he lacked neither men, nor that hys men lacked stomackes, bothe for to
reuenge their soueraygnes quarell, and also- to recouer his right. And for a treugth at this
season there was mortal war betwene kyng Lewes and the duke of Burgoyne. And more
likely to fall betwene him and other, for kyng Lewes, of nature was hard of speche, and
chorlishin aunswere, froward and vngentell aswell to hys frendesas to his foes. By reason
whereof many great men within the realmeof Fraunce, not content with his grosse rudenesse,
and rude dissimulacio began to haue intelligens and to cleuc to the duke of Ikirffoyn, emongest
whom was Lewes of Luxenborough, erle of sainct Pol, and Constable of Fraunce which
beyng confedered with the duke and other noble men, determined so to vex and scorge kyng
Lewes with some plague, by the whiche other he should be transformed in to a man, clero
altered from his olde qualities, or els should be in ieopardye, bolhe of losse of lyue & realme,
for it was determined that Fraunce should be set on & assaulted, both with outward enemyes,
and inward dissimulers. All these thynges the duke of Borgoyne with kyng Edward, did
communicate to the entent the soner to allure and prouoke him, to enterprise the warre,
according to hys desyre. These^ thynges, as tokens of victorie, before animated kyng
Edward, and enforced hym in maner to make warre on Fraunce and so with all expe-
dicion prepared all thynges necessarie, both for water and lande. And because no small
summe of money was sufficient for so great a charge, and that the money the yere before to
him auaunced by the realme was consumed in hys houshold, and other uecessarye aftayres,
RrS he
308 THE. XIIIJ. YERE OF
he conceyued a new dciiice in hys imaginacion, by tlie which engine he might couertly per-
swadc and entice hys ryche frendes, to geue and graimt him some conueuient sumine" of
money, toward his inestable charges, and incredible costes, which thing if they did not willingly
assent to, he then would impute to the greater ingratitude, and more vnkyndnes, wherupon
he caused hys officers to bryng to him the most ryche persons one after another. And to
themheexpfaued the cause, & the purpose, and the neccssitie of the warre begon, and thefaynt-
nesse £ leuenesse of his treasure, and the great & importune lacke of money hartely re-
quyring them for their loue & afteccion, that always they had born to hym, beyng their na-
tural Prince, of their awne gratuitie and frewill to geue to hym some ayde or money, for
mayntenaunce of his warre and army: what should I say more: This inuencion came to this
effect, that some calling totheirremenibrauce, the benefitesof hym receyued, some with shame,
some with fearemouecl and encouraged, gaue to hym liberally bothe of their substauceand trea-
sure, which without grudge he coulde not haueotherwise obtenyed. But here I wil notlet passe
a prety conceyt, that happened in this gathering, in the which he shall not only note the hu-
militie of a kynge, but more the fantasie of a woman. Kyng Edward had called before him
a wydow, muche. aboundynge in substance, and no lesse growen in yeres, of whome he
merely demanded what she gladly would geue him towarde his greate charges? By my
treuth quod she, for thy lonely countenance thou shall haue euen. xx. 1. the kyng lokyng
scace for the halfe of that summe, thanked her, and louingly kyst her, whether the flauor of
his bretlie did so cofort her stommacke, or she estemed the kysse of a kynge, so precious a
iewel, she swore incontinently, that he should haue. xx. 1. more, which she with thesame will
payed that, she offered it. The kyng willing to shew that this benefite was to hym much ac-
ceptable, and not worthy to be put in obliuion called this graunt of money a beneuolence,
not withstading that many with grudge and maleuolece gaue great summes toward that new
foiide beneuolence: But the vsing of such getill fashions toward them, wyth frendly prayer of
their assistance in his necessitie, so tempted theim that they could none otherwise do, but
frankely and frely yelde £ geue hym a reasonable reward.
THE. XIIII. YERE.
The.™!, WHen all thynges conuenient for suche an enterprise were in a redynesse. Kynge Ed-
warde with his army remoued to Douer, where he found, v. C. shyppes and Hoyes recly to
transport hym £ hys army ouer the sea: And so he hym selfe w his nobilitie warlikely acco-
paignied, passed oucr betvvene Douer £ Caleys, the iiij. daye of luly, and landed at Caleys
•wyth great triumphe, his army horses and munycions of warre, scace passed ouer in. xx.
dayes (whome the Frenchmen bragged, should haue ben taken if they had wel considered
the chauce before as they knew it after) When kyng Edward with all his army royall, was
without any trouble landed, and in suertie he caused euery man, accordyng to his de^re to
be ordered & lodged. This armye, by the wrytinge of Argenton, was the fay rest
and the strongest armye that passed out of Englande in to Fraunce many yeres be-
fore, for the men were so well armed, and so surely in all thynges appoynted £ prouided,
that the Frenche nacio were not onely amased to behold them but much morepraysed them.
& there oder. In this army were. xv. C. men of armes well horsed, of the which the most:
parte were barded & rychely trapped, after the moste galiard fashion, hauyng many horses
decked in one suyte. There were farther, xv. M. archers, beryng bowes & arrowes, of the
whiche a greate parte were on horsebacke. There were also a great number of fighting men
& other, aswell to set v-p Tentes and Pauilions (where of the Englishme had great plenty) as
to serue their Artilarie, and to enclose their campe. or otherwise to labor. And in all this
army there was not one page.
The kyngof England was at his arryuall highly displeased wyth the dukeof Borgoyn, which in
the worde of a Prince, promised hym to mete hym at his landing" with. ij. M. men of armes £ light
iiorseme, besyde a greatnumber of Lanceknightes £ Halberders, &. that he would haue be-
k gonne
KYNG EDWARD THE. IIIJ. 309
gonne the warre. iij. monethes before the kynges transpprtyng, the more to vex and greaue
the Freeh kyng, & to cause him seke his wittes. The duke of Borgoyn at this season, lay
at seage before the str5ge towne of Nuyce, with a puissant army, agaynst whome ware as-
sembled the Emperor Frederike, and almost the whole Empire for to rescow of the towne,
to whoine the kyng of England sent the lord Scales in post, requyring him to leaue his voyd
seage before the impregnable towne of Nuyce, and to retorne in all hast with his people and
army to make warre in Fraunce, according to his promise and othe, declaring farther that
the tyme passed, & the Somer woulde be lost, with this charge the lord Scales departed
in all hast toward the duke, whoine we wil leue, rydinge toward Nuyce for a whyle.
O Fraunce Frauce, how much art thou bounde to laude & prayse the Sauior for the de-
liuerance, in the tyme of thy afHiccio. For if God had not permitted the cancard hart of
the duke to be indurate, nor his weke brayneto be vexed, nor yet his ambiciousaffeccion to
bee enflamed, so that he with all his power had ioyned with the army of England on y one
syde, hauyng on their syde the duke of Brytayn with his power. These thre princes had bene
lyke to haue make Fraunce, either to bow or to breke, either to yelde or to suffer the-
chaunces of fortune, which she lyke a waueryng Goddes, had prouided for her punishment.
Uefore kyng Edward departed from Douer, he sent to the Frenche kynge an officer of armes
(whome Argenton vntrewly calleth Garter borne in Normandy, for the rome of Gartier was
neuergeuen to no estraunger) which Herault deliuered to the French kynge with all dew
reuerence a letter of diffiance, bothe for the stile & the pennyng excellently endited, which
the Frenchmen would scant beleue to be framed by an Englishman. The letter requyred
the Freeh king to render to the king of Englande, the realme of Fraunce to him of right, &
by lyneall enheritaunce aperteyning & belonging to thentet that he might putagayny church,
the nobilitie, and the commons into their auncient estates, & liberties, & to disburde & exo-
nerate them of the great charges, trauayles & labors, that they now were in. And in case y
he did refuse so to do, then he dyd protest the harme that should ensue, in the forme &
maiier, that in suche a case is requisyte and accustumed to be clone. Kyng Lewes red the
letter secretly to him selfe, & after all alone in a great study withdrew him self into hys
warderobe, & sending for the English Herault, said to hym, sir I know, and wel wot, y
the kyng of Englad your master is neither descended in these partes of his awne fre inocion,
nor yet of vs requyred, but onely entised & prouoked by the duke of Burgoyn, and some-
what enforced by the cdmons of his Realme. But now you may se that y season of theyere
passeth, & the duke of Burgoyn is in poore estate, returning from Nuyce all most disco forted..
The Costable also, with whomethe kyng your soirereygne lord, I am sure hath some intelli-
gence for fauor that your master hath maried his nece, is not so sure a frende as he is taken
for, & if all the world knew how I haue promoted him, & what I haue done for him they
would littel thynk, that he would so vntrewly handle me as he dothe, for I assure you he is
a depe dissimuler, & in continual dissimulacion, entendeth to lede his lyfe, entertayning all
me for his awn profit. And although y kyng your master, be vnsure of all hys other pro-
mises, yetof one thing he shall be sure, that is, he shall be euer dissimuled with all, & therefore
I say to you, and not to your master, y he were better haue a peace with an old enemye,
then the promises and familiaritie of anew dissimulingfrede, which peace most pleaseth God,
and is the thinge that I most do desyre. When he had sayd, he gaue to the Herault. iij. C.
crounes, promisinge hym a. M. crounes, if any good apoyntement came to passe. The
Herault beyng more coueteous of the crounes, then secret, according to the ductie of his
office, promised to do all thinges that in him lay, not doubting, but that the kyng his master
would be conformable to any reasonable offer, aduisinge the Frenche kyng (after kyng Ed-
ward were once landed) to send to him an Herault, tofetche a saueconduyte & pasport, for
such as should labor & trauayle in that treatie. And that the sayd Herault should first re-
sort to the lord Stanley, or to the lord Haward, for the coducting of him to the kinges pre-
sence, when the Herault should depart, the kynge gaue him a pece of Crymosen Veluet
of. xxx. yardes long,, commaundinge & stray ghtly chargyng, that no man should be so hardy,
once;
310 THE. XIIIJ. YERE OF
once to comen with him, but to let hytn passe in all gentel fashio. When the Herault was
gone, king Lewes callyng to him. vii. or. vlij. of his familiers, caused the letter too be red,
of the whiche he was* but a littel afrayd £ Jesse abashed, considering the English Herault
had shewed him playnly, how to enter rato y port of the trcatie, & in maner how to gayne
& conquere the fortresse, of which enformadon he was not a littel ioyous, & wisely and se-
cretly according to ihesame, when he saw his tyme. he prosecuted his purpose. In this very
season the lord Scales came to the duke of Burgoyn before Nuyce, accompting to him his
message, as he was commaunded. The duke of Burgoyn, beyng so sore set to coquere the
town of Nuyce, aunswered the lord Scales that his honor was lost, and shame should be
spoken of him thorough all Christendom, if he should rayse his feld and breke his seage, but
he hoped shortly to gayne the towne, and then with triumphal victory, to come to ayde kyng
Edward with his whole army : withthys aunswere y lord Scales departed, which onely answere
•was comen without any other augmentacion, to all such as kyng Edward sent, to haue the
duke to kepe his promes. What" a folye was this in duke Charles, to besege a towne im-
-pregnable, euen at thesame time when the Englishmen at his request had passed the sea,
which thyng all the tyme of his regiment, he had bothe traueled in, and sore requyred, and
neuer coulde com passe tyll this season, and also all thinges beyng well disposed for hys pur-
pose, both in Brytayn and in other places, except he more regarded to conquere a new towne,
then to defende all his olde possessions and seigniories. But shortly after by the Bishoppe
of Koines authorise, lie left Nuyce vnconcmered, but lesyng a great nuber of his people,
and the remnaut he sent into Lorayn and Barroys, there to lye and trouble duke Reyner
of Lorayn, whiche a littel before had defied hym, lyeng before Nuyce. And lie him self
with a small company, came to kyng Edward before Caleys, with whom kyng Edward at
the fyrst comming, began somewhat to be grieucci, laiyng to his charge that at hys mocion,
request and desyre, he with all hys army had passed the seas onely to the entent with mortal
warre, to plague and scourge the proude realme of Fraunce. And that he leuyng all thynges
(whiche should molest or trouble the Frenche kyng) a parte, applied hym selfe to matters of
•Lorayne, and externe nacions, more then to reuenge the open iniuries to him done by hys
neyghbor the Frenche kynge. The duke excused hym selfe with ieoparding the losse of hys
honor, if he had returned from Nuyce, and also that of necessitie, he was compelled too
leue hys armye in Lorayne, to be reuenged ouer duke Reyner, whiche had hym before
Nuyce with spytefull wordes and raylyng termes defied and detested: affirmyng farther, that
nowe in the begiaiiynge with a small companye, a great enterprice myght be gayned. In
profe wherof he deliuered to the kynge letters of credence, sent from the Constable of
'Fraunce, which willed the king to geue credite and perfait faith to the duke. In makyng
relacion of suche secretes as were to hym geuen in charge to declare to the kynges awne
•person, fyrste he shewed that all though the Constable had promised to the kyng and the duke,
•to reder vp to them the towne of sainct Quintynes, yet it had not come to so good effect, if
it had'bene yelded, the duke beynge in Germany, as it now shall, the kynge and the duke
beynge bothe personally presente, at the deliucrace. Wherfore he exhorted the kyng to set
forward, and to display hys banner, and set forth hys standard. And so by hys mo-
cion, the kyng accompanied with the duke hys armye departed out of Caleys, and passed
by Boleyne to Perone, where the Englishmen thought them selfes of the duke, more lyke
enemyesthen frendes to be entertayned, for at the 'gates entered but a few that were a p-
poynted, the remnant lodged in the feldes, better purueyed of their awne, then of the dukes
.prouision.
The kyng of England, thinkyng surely, and fyrmely beleuyng that the Constable ment all
treuthe, and the soner enduced to that credence because the Constable was great Vncle to
the Quene his wyfe, where in very dede, he nothing lesse minded then trouthe, remoued
his campe from Peron, the duke of Borgoyn beyng in his army, and marched toward saynct
•Quintynes: certayne Englishmen ran before the toune,agaynst whose commyng they thought
Jhat the belles should haue ben rong, and tbe gates set open. But vvhe they approched the
toune
KYNG EDWARD THE. IIIJ. 311
toune the artillarie beganne to shote, and they of the toune came out both on fote
and horsbacke, and skyrmished with the Englishmen, of whiche two or thre were slayne.
This welcome semed very straunge to kyng Edward ponderynge together yestarduyes
promise, and two dayes doyng. The duke woulde not that the kyng should desist from
bys purpose, because the toune was not yelded at the sight of a handfull of people,
whyche thyng he sayd, although the Constable woulde gladly haue done, at the first,
but yet he" woulde haue a couler to do it, as thoughe it should appere that he did
it by verye conpulsion and force: and therefore, if the kynge woulde make but sem-
blance to besege the toune, he would warrant, that incontinent it should be rendered. The
kyn»e of Englande, perceyuynge that he was deluded in his first enterprice, thought it more
surer to heare the fayre wordes of the constable, and the duke, then togeue credit to theyr-
vntrew and disceatfull doynges. The Englishemen returned to theyr campe, very yll content,
as I can not blame them murmeryng agaynst the Constable, callynge hym Traytor, periured
£ vntrew gentelman. Besyde this angre, ther came the next daye another corsey, that
smarted a littell sorer, for duke Charles of Borgoyne, by whose meanes kynge Edward had
taken" vpon hym this warre, either perceyued that all the Constables promises were but fayre
sunne shynvng, swetely spoken, and sowerly performed, or els he saw that he him selfe
lacked men "or money, to procede farther with king Edward in hisiorney: toke hys leue so-
daynly of the kyng of Englande, saiynge that he must nectes visile, and se hys armye in lief-
roys, promisinge shortly with all puissance to returne agayne to the great auantage and
comoditie of them bothe, and so in hast departed.
This departyng was bothe displeasaunt and straunge to the king of Englande, considering
that in hope to haue the duke hys continuall felow in armes, and too haue hys counsayll in the
order of hys people (whiche of late had not frequented the warre of Fraunce, nor yet perfidy
knewe the force, the agilitie and the maner of the Erenche nacion) had passed the seas,
raysed his standard, and by dukes procurement entered into the lande of his enemycs, and
nowe to be left alone withoute guyde or leder, without ayde or succor in the middel of hys
foes, he could no lesse thynke, but that the duke neither vsed hym lyke a prince nor yet kept
hys promes lyke a trewe man, whyche vnstable and dissimulyng workynge, caused, ye, and
rather enforced kyng Edtvard, both to thynke that he neuer thought, and to do that he neuer
enleded to do. The Englishe men sore murmured against the Constable, and no lesse
against the duke, sauyng thei determined, neuer to geue confidece to the Constables wordes,
arid greatly doubted, whether thei might geue any credite to the dukes promise. Thus laie
thengiishmen in the feldes whe the cold nightes bega to waxe long, without any gain of coquest,
which caused the common people, which be not alwaies content with hardnes rather to de-
sire to returne homewarde, then to procede any daies iorney forward. The French kyng
whiche was bothe wily & wittie (and especially for his awne purpose) knewc by his espialls,
y vntrue refusall made by the Constable, the vnfrendly departyng of the Duke of Burgoyne,
and the daily murmuryng of thenglishemen, against them bothe, wherfore he thought nowe,
that it was verie expedient, to folow-e the counsaill of the Englishe Herault, in sendyng for
a saueconduile, for metyng of Ambassadors, to common of a treatie, if it might be well
compassed. But yet to auoyde all doubles, he reised an armie, and the more he perceiued,
the power of his enemies to encrease, the more he studied, how by power to resist them, and
ouer that armie he made capitain, Monsire Robert de Estoteuile a valiaunt man, whom, he
sent into Artoys, to defende the Frountiers there, against the kyng of Englandes entree and
inuacions : and he liimself taried still at Senlis. The Frenche kyng beyng thus pi iui.lie de-
sirous of peace, although, he outwardly shewed the countenaunce of Mars: mcanyng quiet-
nes, and setlyng furthe warre, caused a varlet to be subornated, in a cote armure of Frauce
(whiche for hast, was made of a trupet banner) because king Lewes was not muche.desi--- •
rous, nor greatly passed on honor, and seldome had in his Courte, either officer of Armes
orTrompet: which varlet was well animated, and no less instructed, how to doJiis mes-
sage (whiche was deliuered to hym in writyng) bothe with a bolde countenaunce, and a
.sober demeanure. This couterfeight Herault, although he was but a verlet in dede, was
bothe.
$12 THE. X1IIJ. YERE OF
botlie wittie and well spoken, and so rode in sad maner, nere to the Englishe army, and
there put on his cote of Armes. The Englishe outskourers perceiuyng by his cote, that he
was an officer of armes, gently saluted hytn, and enquired of hym, whether his iorney laie :
lie sadly answered, that his message was from the French king, to the kyng of Englande.
Then was he conueighed to the tent, where the Lorde Haward, and the Lorde Stanley, with
other were at dinner, where he was highly entertaigned, and no lesse welcomed. And after
dinner, he was brought before the kyng, in whose presence, with a bold audacitie, and no
fearful speche, he declared first his credence, because he was an officer of armes (to whom,
credite by the lawe of all nacions, ought to be geuen) and secondarely, he published the
thynges, to hym geuen in charge and commaundement, saiyng : Right high & mightie prince
right puyssaunt and noble kyng, if your excellent wisedo did perfectly knowe, or your high
knowledge did apparantly perceiue: what inward afteccion, and feruent desire, the kyng my
Master hath alwaies had, to haue a perfecte peace, a sure vnitie, and a fraternall concord,
betwene your noble persone, and your Realme, and his honorable personage, and his Domi-
nions, you would (and fpr truthes sake) should confesse and saie, that neuer Christian
Prince, more thrusted for an amitie, nor yet no louer hath more sought, to attain to the
fauor of his paramor, then he hath soughte to haue with you a perpetuall frendship, amitie,
and alliance: to the intent that the subiectes of bothe the realmes, quietly liuyng vnder two
princes confederate and combined together, in an indissoluble confederacie and league, niaie
mutually embrace eche other in their hartes, maie personally haue resort, and frequent eche
. others princes territories and dominions, with their Merchaundises and wares: And finally,
the one to Hue with the other, as frende with frende, brother with brother, compaignion with
•compaignion, in continual! loue, reste, and tranquilitie. And for his parte he dooth affirmeand
saie, that sithe he receined lirste the Croune of his kingdom, and was annoynted with the
holy Ampulle, he neuer attempted, nor yet once imagined, any warre or thyng preiudicial
toward your royall persone, your realme, or your people. If you peraduenture will saie,
that he supported, and maintained the Erie of Warwicke, against your maiestie, he surely
that dooth and will denie: For he aided hym against the Duke of Burgoyne, whom, he knewe
not onely to be his extreme encmie, but also to laie in waite, bothe by sea and land either
to take hym, or vtterly to destroye hym. Whiche Duke of Burgoyne, onely for his awne
cause, hath excited andsollicited your highnes, to come ouer the troubelous and tempestious
seas, to the intent to cause (yea, in maner to compell) the kyng my Master, to condescende
to suche treatie and appoyntment, as should be to his onely profile, and neither to your
honor, nor yet to your gain. For if he and such other, as daily flatered hym for their pe-
culier profiles (as he had many in deede, that daily sucked at his elbovve) had once obteined
the thyng, that thei breathed for, all your affaires wer put in obliuion, and lefte at large for
them, or their assislence, euen as thei be at this daie. Hath not the Duke of Burgoyn
caused you, first to come into Fraunce: after to set forward your armie, and incdclusion,
for lake of his promise, to lese the faire season of the yere, and to lye in the feldes in
Winter? Whiche warre, if it cotinue, shall neither be profitable to you, nor yet your po-
bilitie, nor yet pleasaunte, but painfull to your commonaltie: And finally to bothe the
realmes, aiad especially to merchaunt mcnne, shall bryng bothe misery, pouertie, and cala-
iiiitie. Came the Duke of Burgoyne from Nuce to Caleis, onely to visile your Rode he
all that poste haste, onely to blynde you? Returned he backe into Loraync again for any
•cause, but onely to leue you desolate, and to abandon you? Did he or the Constable kepe
any one promise with you? Why do you then beleue & yet still trust them in whom, you
neuer found faithe nor fidelkie? But if God will it so ordain, that you and my master, maie
ioye in a league and amitie, I dare bothe saie and swere, that the fine steie neuer cleued
luster to the Adamant stone, then he will sticke and claspe with you, bothe in wealthe and
woo, in prosperitie and aduersitie: And if it shall please you, to harken to any reasonable
treatie, 1 beyng a poore man, shall on ieoperdie of my life (whiche is my chief treasure)
i-udertake, that this communication shall sorte and come to suche an effecte, that bothe you
•''1'"
KYNG EDWARD THE. IIIJ. 31S
•and your nobilitie shalbe glad and reioyse, and your commons, shal be contented and pleased,
and they that liaue deceiuedyou, shalbe bothe abashed and ashamed: Moste humbly besech-
yng your highnes, if your pleasure shal encline this waie, that I male haue a sure saue con-
duite, for one hundred horses, for suche personages as the kyng my Master, shall send tt»
you with farther intimacion of his mynd and purpose. And if your pleasure shalbe, to haue
the communicatio in anyplace, indifferent betwene bothe tharmies, then I shall warraunt you
a like saueconduite for your men, as you do sende for cures. When he had accomplished
his message and instruccions, the kyng of Englande and his counsaill, highly commended
his audacitie, his toungue, and his sobernes, geuyng to him in reward, a faire gylte cuppt!,
with a hundred angelles: deliueryng hym a saueconduite, accordyng to his request and de-
maunde, with the whiche, he with spede departed, hauyng with him an English herault,
to bryng a like sauecoduite, from the Frenche kyng. After both the Princes had ma-
turely consulted on this matter, and that the saueconduites, were deliuered on bothe
paries: The ambassadors mette, at a village beside Amias, where were sent by the kyng of
England, the Lorde Haward, sir Thomas Sentliger, Doctor Morton, after Chauncelcr of
England. For the Frenche kyng wer sent, the Bastarde of Burbon, Admirall of Fraunce,
the Lorde of sainct Pierre, the Bushop of Eureux called Heberge. It nrmie of some be not
a litle marueiled at, why the French king thus labored, and sought for peace, and did make
so humble, and large offers as he did: But if thei considred in what case, the realme of
Frauce stode in, at that tyme hauyng the kyng of Englande, the Duke of Burgoyne, the
Duke of Britayne, their enemies, and all furnished to set vpon them at one instaunt: They
maie saie, that the Frenche kyng was bothe wise and circumspecte, to humble hymself for
auantage, or els if God had not holpen, the realme of Fraunce had been troubled, and
tossed in greate ieoperdie, and daungerous extremitie. The Ambassadors met at the place
appoynted, the Englishe menne demaunded, the whole realme of Fraunce, or at the least
Normandy, and whole Aquitaine, the allegacions were well proued by the Englishmen, and
pollitiquely defended by the Frenche men, so that with argumentes, without conclusi5 the
daie passed, and the Commissioners departed, and made relacion to their Masters. The
Frenche kyng and his counsaill, would in no wise consent, that the kyng of England, should
haue any parle, or pareell of lande, within the realme of Fraunce: but rather fully deter-
mined, to put hymself and his whole realme, in hazard and aduenture: so lothe, ye more
aferde, then lothe, he was to haue the Englishmen, to be his next neighbors. The com-
missioners at the next metyng, concluded and agreed certain articles, which were by bothe
the Princes, accepted and allowed. It was first couenauted and agreed, that the French
kyng should paie to the kyng of England without delaie. Ixxv. M. Crounes of the sunne,
and yerely. 1. M. crounes, to be paied at London, duryng kyng Edwardes life. And farther
it was agreed, y Charles the Dolphyn should mary the lady Elizabeth, eldest daughter to
kyng Edward, & thei twoo to haue for the mainteinaunce of their estates, thewhole Duchie
of Guyen or els. 1. M. crounes, yerely to be persolued & paied within the toure of London,
by the space of. ix. yeres: and at the end of thesaied terme. The dolphin & his dolphines,
peaceably toenioy the whole duchie of Guyen and of that charge the French kyng, against
the kyng of England, then to be clerely exonerate. And further it was a greed & appointed,
that the. ii. princes, bothe for thencreace of loue, £ for the continuaunce of amitie should
enteruew eche other, in some place moste expedient, & mete for so greate a purpose: &
after their metyng, eche of the to take a corporal othc in presence of t hot her. This peac0
to endure. Ix. yeres betwene bothe the realmes, iuuiolate to obserue & kepe al thynges co-
eluded, agreed & appoynted, & on the kyng of Englandes part, wer coprised as allies in ti»e
league, the dukes of Burgoyn & Britain, if thei would assent. And y after y whole some
aforsaid, was to kyng Edward paied: he should league in hostage the lorde Haward, & sir
Iho Cheyney Master of his horses, til he with all his army, was passed ouer the sea. This
peace much reioysed the French -kyng, to who, nothing could be either more pleasaunt, or
more exceptable, then to haue .ihenglishaic in short space (how shortly he cared not) cleiely
S s auoyded,
314 THE. XIIIJ. YERE OF
auovded, & transported out of his realme: immaginyng euer that by their tariyng, thei would
so like the holesome & sweteaire of his fruitfull country, that a greate notnber would be co-
tinually sicke & vexed till thei returned, & sought for their health in thesame delicious cli-
mate again, wherfore to rid the with alHiastie spede, he borowed ysaid some of. Ixxv. M.
crounes, of euery man that might lend a porcion. King Edward likewise, although he was
of puissance strong inough, to acheue a great enterprise on his enemies, & farther incoraged,
because he was renomed for f famous actes, by him before tyme perpetrated, & brought to
passe, in so many battailes. Desiryng also, rather to haue war, with the Freeh nacion bcyng
the old & auncient enemie, to thenglishe name & bloud, yet when he called to his remem-
braunce, that the ciuill warre, had so exhausted and consumed his substaunce and treasure,
that if vrgent necessitie should expostulate, he wer of scant abilitie, to conscribe and set
furthe a newe armie: knowyng his treasorie at home, to be so voyde and faint, that it was
not able, long to wage his souldiors, thought it both reasonable and profitable, to obeye to
necessitie, and to abstein from battail seyng bothe honorable offers, to him obleted and agie-
mentes of auantage to hym mocioned. Consideryng chiefly beside all this, that neither the
Duke of Burgoyne, nor the Constable of Fraunce, did, nor would obserue or performs the
promises by them made and sworne. Wherupo he and the moste of his counsaill, (and spe-
cially suche as loued better peace then warre, & their wifes soft beddes, better then hard har-
nesse, or a stony lodgyng) agreed to this conclusion and concord.. But the duke of Glou-
cester and other to whom the French nacion, was more odious then a tode, whose swordes
thrusted for French bloud, detested, abhorred, and cried out on this peace, saiyng : that alt
their trauaill, pain, and expences, wer to their shame loste and employed, and nothyng gained
but a continuall mocke, and daily derision of the Frenche kyng, & all his minions: this im-
maginacion tooke effecte without delaie. For a gentle manne of the Frenche kynges cham-
ber, after the peace was concluded, did demaunde of an Englishman how many battailles
kyng Edward had vanquished, and he answered, nyne : wherein he hymself, personally had
been. A greate honor, saied the Frenche man, but I praie you qh he, smilyng: How many
hath he lost, the Englishman perceiuyng what he ment, saied : one whiche you by pollicie,
and by no strength haue caused hym to lese. Well said the Frenche manne, you may
ponder in a paire of balace, the gain of the nyne gotten battailes, and the rebuke of this one
in this maner loste : for I tell you, that wee haue this saiyng, the force of England hath and
doth, surmount the force of Fraunce : but the engenious witte of the Frenche men, excelt
the dull braynes of Englishmen. For in all battailes you haue been the gayners, but in
leagues and treaties, our wittes haue made you losers: so that you may content your selfes,
with the losse in treaties, for the spoyle that you gatte, in warres and baltailes. This comu-
nicacion was reported to the French kyng, whiche priuily sent for the Englishman to sup-
per, and not onely made him goode chere, but also gaue hym a thousande Crounes, to praise
the peace and to helpe to maintain thesame: yet neuerthelesse, he beyng not a little moued
with these bragges, declared all the communicacion to the duke of Gloucester, which sware
that he would neuer haue sette foote out of Englande, if he had not thought, to haue made
the Frenchmen, once to assaied the strength and puyssaunce, of the Englishmen: but
whatsoeuer he thought, all thynges wer transmuted, into another kynde, then he could im-
magin. The Duke of Burgoyne beyng entbrmed, that there was a peace entreatyng, betwene
the two kynges: came in no small hast from Luxenborough, onely accompaignied by sixtene
horses, into the kyng of Englades lodgyng, wherof, the kyng beyng not a litle abashed
seyng bothe his sodain commyng, and his fierse countenaunce, like one that would rather
bite then whyne, demaunded of him the cause of his so sodain commyng. The Duke sharply
answered, to knowe whether he had, either entered into any communicacio, or onely had
absolutely concluded a peace, betwene the Frenche kyng and him. Kyng Edward declared,
how that for sondery. and diuerse greate and vrgent causes, touchyng aswell the vniuersall
publique wealth, of the whole Christianitie as their awne priuate comuioditie, and the quiet-
nes of their realmes, he and the French kyng, had concluded a peace and amitie, for terme
of.
KYNG EDWARD THE. Ill J. 315
of. ix. yeres, in the whiche were comprised, as felowes and frendes, bothe he and the Duke of
Britayne, requiryng him to condiscende, atid agree to thesame. Oh Lorde, Oh sainct Gecrpe,
q" the Duke of Burgoyne, haue you thus dooen in deedc: Haue you passed the seas, entered
into Fraunce and without killyng of a pore flie, or buruyng of a se!y shepe cote, and haue
taken a shamefull truce: Did your noble auncester, kyng Edward the thirde euer make
annie into Fraunce (as he made many) in the which, he did not either gain victory in bat-
tail, or profile in conqueryng, cities, tounes, and countreys. That victorious prince, as nere
« •• » /• r* I ••• 1 »» 1 I ' .. I _ ' 1 .
and neuer would either commen, or agree to any league, till he had the whole Realme of
Fraunce offered hym, and was thereof made, Regent and heire apparat and you without any
thyng dooyng, or any honor or profile gainyng, haue condiscended to a peace, bothe as honor-
able, and as profitable to you, as a Pesecode, and not so wholesome as a Pomegranate: thynke
you lhat I either moued you, or once entised you, to take this iorney for my peculier aduaun-
tage, or comoditie (whiche of my power arn able, to reuenge mine awne causes, without
help of other) but onely to haue you recouer, your old rightes & possessions, whiche wer fro
you, bolh torciously & wrongfully with holden. And to thintent that you shall knowe, that
I haue no nede of your aide, I will neither enter into your league, nor take truce with the
Frenche kyng, till you bee passed the sea, and haue been there three monethes. When
Duke Charles had said, he furiously threwe doune his chayer, and would haue departed.
But the kyng hym staled and saied: Brother Charles, sith you haue spoken at leaser, what
you would, you muste and shall, heare again, whal you would nol : And first as concernyng
our entery into Fraunce, no manne liuyng knoweth that occasion, neither so well, nor halh
cause halfe so well, to remembre it as you: For if you haue not fully, put your greatest,
thynges, to be had in memorie, in your boxe of obliuion, you be not yet out of mynde, how
the Frenche kyng, for all your power, tooke from you the faire toune of Amias, and the
strong Pile of. S. Quintynes, with diuerse other tounes, which you neither durst, nor yet
were able, either lo rescowe or defende. Silh whiche tyme, how he hath plagued you, how
he hath taken from you your frendes, yea, of your priuie chamber, and secrete counsaill (by
whom all youre secretes, bee to hym reueled and made open) you knowe or haue better
cause to remembre, and not to forget them. And when you determined, to besiege the
toune of Nuce, you thought youre self, in a greate double, whether you should lease more
at home, by your absence, (the Frenche kyng dremyng, and wailyng like a Foxe for his
praie) or els gain more in Germany, by your power and presence, and to kepe ihe wolfe
from the folde, that is the Frenche kynge, from your Castels and dominions, was the chiefe
and principal! cause, why you so fayre prayed me, so sore laboured and enlyced me. to passe
ouer the sea, promisynge mountaynes of golde, whiche turned into snowe, and wasted to
water, boastynge and crakynge to sende horsemen and fotemen, and yet shewinge neither
lackey nor page. If we hadde made our enterprice for oure selfe soly, and in our awne
quarell thynke you that we woulde haue expected your commynge. If the aduenture hadde
bene for to haue recouered our ryghte, imagyn you y we woulde haue passed the sea so slen-
derly, as we did lokynge for your ayde? Nay, nay, you should haue well knowen, if we had
intended a conquest, that we woulde haue so strongly inuaded, & set on the Realme of
Fraunce, y what with sauor of burnynge of townes, and infeccion of the ayre, corrupted
by the multitude of dead carcases of our slayne enemyes, youre countreys of Flaunders and
Brabant should haue had causes inough to wonder at, trusting that, that which we had got-
ten, we would haue kept aswell as any of our auncetours haue done : .but because the very,
occasion of the warre was yours, and thai you wilfully (I will not saye cowardly) did not pro-
secute thesame, the Frenche kynge, whiche neuer offended me nor my subiectes (except in
nmynteininge the erle of Warwycke, for the displeasure that you bare hym agaynste me),
offered me, beyng destitute of all your succour and ayde, bothe honorable and honest ouer-:
S s 2 tures
THE. XIIIJ. YERE OF
tures of peace, which offers I was in manor enforced, by very reason to cnclync to and to
accent & so haue concluded a truce, whiche God' willyng I will bothe ke|>e & oteerue.
God sende you ioy quod the duke, & sodaynly toke his horse & rode agayn to Luxen-
borou.'h After this day the kyng and the duke, neuer loued, nor neuer saw eche other,
such is the end of vntrustynes & promisbrekyng. If the duke of Burgoyn were angry wlie*
he hard how this peace was in communicacio much more angry was the Constable ot l<raunce,
fearym'e lest, that by that conclusion he might be reputed of the French kyng vntrew, as he
had well desenied it. Wherfore he sent hys confessor to kynge Edward, with letters ot cre-
dece requiring him hartely littell to regard y Freeh kynges woordes, and lesse to trust to
his promise, ailennynge that the Frenchc kynge woulde no lenger kepe promise, then kynge-
Edwarde were on that syde of the sea: and rather then he shoulde agree with the 1-renche
kyng, for a small summe of money, he offered to lende hym. 1. thousand crounes, with '
many other fayre prefers. The kynge of Englande made answere that the truce was con-
cluded, and that he would nothing chaunge, concernyng the matter, & that if he^had kept
promise with hym, he would not haue made that apoyntement nor agrcmcnt. Then was •
the Constable in maner on all sydes in.dispayre, but yet he wrote to the French kyng by
his messengers, besechyng him to geue no credite or belefe, to any talc tolde or fayned
a«aynste him, without hearyng his answere, affirming that the kynge had always knowen-
O */ .,,,,,. •.»'.! . f* 111 ._ 1 „ _ I. ,. .,!,!,-» I. »..-,*^Il C, l«h «1.M 1 . . -
hys'treuth and fidelitie, towarde the croune of Fran nee, and so shoulde he still fynde hym
till his dyeng day, promising & warranting him, if that it should stand with his pleasure,,
that he woufde so copasse the duke of Burgoyn, that they two should vtterly destroy the
kyng of EngJande and his army or they returned.
The eounsaylera of the French kyng made answere, that their Master and the kyng of
England were ioy tied and confedered in a sure amitie, wherfore they would in no wise
know nor condisct-d to any thing that might be either prejudiciall, or once sounde to the
detriment of the Englishmen: But they sayd, that the kyng their master muche trusted y\
Constable, and that for his sake lie would talke with them in his priny chaumber. The
French kyng, before their entry into his chamber, caused the lord of Countay seruaunt to
the Duke of Burgoyn, accopanied with the lord of Argenton, one of his priuie counsayll,
to stande secretly behynd a .selyng or a hangyng in his chamber, and he him selfe sat in a
chayre directly before that place, so that wiiatsoeuer were purposed to hym, they standing
bfthynd the clothe, might eascly se, & facile heare the same. Lewes de creuell and his
feloW entered into the kynges chamber of nothinge thinkinge lesse then of the sprytes en-
closed : they declared what payne their master had taken for the French kynges sake, to
send moue and entyce the duke of Burgoyn to leaue, and clerely to forsake y kyng of En-
gland, which duke they founde in suche a rage and fury against the Englishmen that at their
request, he was not onely vtterly determined, to forsake and refuse their amitie, but also
would sende out aduenturers and Lanceknightes, to robbe & spoyle them in their retorn-
yng. And in spekyng these wordes (thinking surely much to please the kyng) the sayd
Lewes counterfeyted the fashion and gesture of the duke of Burgoyn, & began tostape with
his fote on the groud, and bete with his fyste on the table, sweryng by sainct George that
the kyng of England was hot extracted of no noble house, but was a yomans sonne,
& that when he was not worth one halfpeny, he was restored to his kyngdome, and made
%ng onely by his ayde, reprouyng and reuilyng hym with suche yll wordes, and so shamful
termes, that all the herers abhorred it. The Freeh kyng fayning that he was thycke of hear-
yng, caused him to reiterate his Saiyng agayn, which so coterfeited the very gesture of the
dtfkes angry countenaunce & roryng voyce, that no man hathe sene a better couterfaytor
of player in any Comedie or Tragedie. The lord of Cotay was sore displeased to se his
master made a iestingstocke but he kepte all these thinges secret, tyll his retorne to his
iftaster. When the pagiaunt was played, the kyng bad the messengers of y1 Costable, to
haue him comended to his brother their master, and to declare to him that as newes rose
and grew, he would therof aduertise him, & so gaue them licence to depart to their master,
who
KYNG EDWARD THE. nu.
who thought hio> selfe now to be in great suertye of hys estate, when in dede he was neuer
so ne re his falle and perdicion: Estemyng the duke of Burgoyn to be his assured frsnde,
whiche liated hym more then a Panym, or a Turbo,- accomptyng also the French kyng to
haue noyll suspicion in hym, whiche neither trusted nor yet beleued any worde, writyng or
message that was either writen or sent from him : Such ende hath all dissimulacion, such
frute springeth of double, dealing & crafty coueyeng: for if either y Costable had bene
faithful! to the kyng his master, as of bounden duetye & allegeaunce he ought to be, or els
had kept his proines, made to y king of England & duke of Burgoyn, and not dalied £
dissimuled with the, he had surely in his extreinitie bene ayded, succored & coibrted of one
of these thre at the lest, where now he was of al thre forsake, & yet not forsaken, but
sought for, looked for, & watched for, not for his profit or promocion, but for hys vndoing-
and destruccio: Now letvs leauc of the Ci^table, and returne to the coclusion of the peace.
When all thinges were appointed, wryten & established, the peace was proclayvned in bothe-
the campes, and the kyng of England, the soner to- consumate the amitie by othe as it was-
agreed; came within halfe a leageof Ainyas, where the French kyng was, which to thentent
to obteyne the more fauor of Thf'glishmen, sent, into their army a. C. Cartes, loden with
wyne, y best that might begotten. And farther,, because the Englishmen resorted to the
town of Amyas, botli for their pastime & business> he ordeined at y very entrie of the gate
of the town two great & long tables, to beset on euery syde of the strcat, where the En-
glishmen should passe, & euery table was abundantly furnished with all sortes of delicate
viand, & especially of such as would prouoke an appetite to drynke, there lacked no wyne'
of no sorte, seruitours were redy to serue and -minister al thinges necessary. And farther
to accompany & familierly to entertaync the English naci5 at euery table were apoynled. v.
or vj. gentehncn, of the beste compaignions of the whole coutray, not only to se them,
berued without lackyn but also to drynke and make good chere, and kepe -company with
them, and euer as they entered into the towne, they were taken by the brydels and ia
maner enforced to drynke, wheresocuer they came they payed no money, but were set scot-
free, which chere lasted, iii. or. iiii. dayes, to the French kynges cost, and in conclusion to
his no small vnquietinge. For one day there entered into the towne of Amyas. ix.AI. En-
glishmen, wel armed, so that no Frcchmcn durst once forbid them to eritre, their occasion
of entrryng into the tonne wusonely to refreshe them, and to bye thinges necessary for their
businesses and affayrcs. When the Frenche kyng was therof enformed, he was somwhafc
vexed & more amascd, fearing either the losse of his toune, or hurt of his people: Ue
sent to Thenglish capitaynes, requiryng them to withdraw their souldiers to theyr Cunope,
the capitaynes performed the kynges desyre, as much as in the lay, but if they sent out xx,
ten came backe agavne, and brought more copany with them. The French kvng sent
Monsier de Guye, Marshall of France, & other into the toune to se the Englishint-s beha-
neour, tliey founde some drinkyng, some singing, & some slepyng, so that they might per»
ceyue, that they meant neither disceat nor vntreulh : yet the Frenche kyng, which of his
nature was very suspicious, & especially toward the Englishmen, came to the gate of
Amyas, strongly accopaignied, & caused. iij.C. men of artnes to be kept secretly in their
capitaynes houses, & other copaigny he set on the portall, where y Englishme en-
tered, a smal number God wot, to haue resisted the great company of Englishmen if*
they had either entcded any thing toward y French kyng or his toune. The kyng of Eng-
lad was priuilie enformed of y Freeh kinges, doubtfull imaginacion & vntrew suspicio,
wherfore he sent worde to him that he should make a Proclamacion, that no Englishma .
should entre into the toune vpon a peyne. The Freeh kyng made answere, that it neither
stode with his honor, nor yet with any princely humanitie, y he should forbid his frendes
(as he called them) to take their pleasure in his toune but if it might please the>kyng of
Englad, to apoint certain of the yome of his Croune, to stand at the gate, & to npoynti -
not onely who shoulde enter, but also the number of theim, he thought that this modera-
cion should be both suerty & pleasure to both the parties. Wkich request the kyng of-
Englund
318 THE. XIII J. YERE OF
England with quicke spede, caused to be performed to y great quietnes of the French kyn£
& his cousaiil, casting farther periles then reason then required. You, haue still in your
^ __ syr
lord Borichace, & the lord of ArgentS. Whe they had vewed the Ryuer, they agreed the
most conuenient & surest place to be at Pycquegnye, on the water of Some. iii. leagues fro
Amyas. The toune standeth lowe, and the Ilyuer passeth thorough. On that side y the
French kyng should come, the coutrey fayre & open, and so likewise the other parte was
very pleasaunt : but towarde the Ryuer, ther was a Cawsey of. ii. arow shot in legth, which
was enuyroned with marshes surely it was a daungerous passage to conueye a Prince in a
straunge Ilealme, by such a strayte, if the Frenche men had ment any fraude, but verely
the kyng of England had so great trust £ confidece in the honor £ promise of the French
kyng & his nobilitie, that he would vpon their assurance aduentured farther then this, if
his will might haue ben performed. Then it was cocluded by these, iiii. commissioners,
that a large bridge should be made ouer the Ryuer of Some, in the middel of which bridge
was made a great strog grate of tymber, like to the grate where the Lyons bekept, the holes
of which grate did extende into no longer quantitie, then., that a man myght easely put
thorough his arme, which bridge was made & couered with hordes, onely to kepe of the
wether, so that vnder the couerture, there might stand, xii. persons on euery syde of the
grate whiche extended from the one syde of the bridge, euen directly to the other, so y
there was no way for one Prince to come to the other (as was in the grate, where Ihon duke
of Burgoyn was slayn) & ouer the Ryuer was only one fery bote. When the bridge & all
other thynges necessary were ended & performed for so great a purpose, and well & dili-
gently vewed on bothe the sydes, there were appointed, xii. noble personages, to be attend-
ant on euery Prince to the barres, &. iiii. Englishmen were assigned to stand with the Freeh
men on the bridge, to se their doyng and bchauoure, & likewyse. iiii. Frenchme were limit-
ted to y Englishmen for that same cause and pollicie. At the day appoyncted, which was the.
xxxi. day of August, in the yere of Christes blessed incarnacion M.cccc.lxxv. eche kynge
approched the Ryuer syde with his army, so y eche army might se other. The Frenchmen
say & wvite, that the army of the Englishmen, was greater and muche fayrer then their bat-
tayll, but they excuse it (in this cace as they do in all other) saiyng that the fourth parte of
their army was lacking, you may allow their excuse if it please you. When the token of
meting by the shot of the Artilerie was knoweri, the French kyng with. xii. noble men en-
tered the bridge, £ came to the closure, with whom was Ihon duke of Burbon, and the
Cardinal hys brother, a prelate, more mete for a ladyes carpet, then for an Ecclesiasticall
pulpet & x. other emongest whome the lorde of Argenton was in like disguised apparell, as
the Freeh kyng ware; for so was his pleasure that day to haue hym adourned. The kynge
of Englande came all alonge the causey that I haue spoken of well accopaignied, that he
fcemed well to be a kyng, & with him was his brother the duke of Clarece the erle of Nor-
thumberland, the bishop of Elye hys Chanceler, the lord Hastynges his Chamberlayn, &.
viii. other lordes. Kyng Edward, &. iiii. other were appareled'in clothe of golde'frised,
hauinge on his bonet. of blacke weluet a floure delyce of golcle, set with very ryche and
orient stoaes, he was a goodly fayre & a beautefull Prince, beginninge a littel to growe in
flesh, and when he approched nere the grate, he toke of hys cappe, and made a low and so-
lempne obeysance: the French kyng made to hym an humble reuerence, but after his
fashion somwhat homely. Kyng Lewes etnbrased kyng Edward thorough the barriers
saiynge: Cosyn you b.e right hartely welcome into these" parties, assuring you y there is no
man in the world y I haue more desired to se £ speke with, the with you, £ now lauded
be Almigluie God, we be here mette together for a good & Godly purpose, wherof I double
not, but y we shall haue cause to reioyce. The kyng of England hym thanked and an-
swered
KYNG EDWARD THE. IIIJ. 315
swered to hys wordes so soberly, so granely, and so princely, that the Frenctime their at
not a littell mused.
The Chanceler of England made there asolempne oracion, in laude & prayse of peace,
concluding on a prophecie, y sayd that at Pycquegny should be concluded a peace, bothe
honorable & profitable to the Realmes of Englad & Fraiice. Then the Chaceler opened the
letters of both their agremetes to the treatie, demadyng of the if they tlierewith were con-
tented, they answered ye, theneche Prince laved his right hand on fy Missal, & his left hand
on the holy Crosse, & toke there a solepne othe, to obserue and kepe the treatie of the
truce for. ix. yeres cdcluded betwene them, with all their confederates and alies coprised,
mencioned and specefied in thesame, and farther to aceoplishe the manage of their chylderne,
with all thinges theron depending, according as it was agreed & concluded betwene their
Ambassadors, whe the othe was take & sworne, the French kyng sayd merily to kyng Ed-
ward, brother, if you will take peyn to come to Parys you shall be feasted and entertayned
with ladies, & I shall apoyntyou the Cardinall of Burbon for your confessor, which shall
gladly assoyle you of suche synnes, if any be committed. The kyng of England toke these
wordes pleasauntly and thankefully, for he was enformed that the Cardinall was a good
compaignion, & a Chaplayne mete for such a dalyeng pastyme. When thys communicacion
was merily ended, the Fre'nch kyng, entendynge to shew hym selfe lyke a Master emongest
hys seruauntes, made all hys compaigny to draw backe from hym, meanyng to comon wyth
the kyng of England secretly, the Englishmen withdrew them without any oommaundemet,
then the two kynges commoned alone secretly, I thynke not to the profile of the Constable
of Fraunce. The French kyng demaunded of kyng Edward, whether the duke of Bur-
goyn would accept the truce, Kynge Edwarde answered that he wotilde once agayne make
an offer, and then vpon the refusall, he would referre and report the treuth to them bothe.
Then kyng Lewes began to speake of the duke of Britayn, whome he would fayne haue ex-
cepted out of the leage. To whom the kyng of England answered: Brother I requyre you
to moue no warre to the duke of Britayne, for on my fidelitie, in the tyme of my nede and
aduersitie, I neuer found a more frendlye sure and stedfast louer then he.
Then kyng Lewes called his copaignye again, & with most lowly & amiable commenda-
eions, toke his leue of the kyng of Englad, speaking certayn frendly wordes to euery En-
glishma. Kyng Edward doyng lykewise to the Frechme, then both at one time departed
fro the barriers & mounted on horsebacke, and departed the French kyng to Amyas, & kyng
Edward to his army, to whome was sent out of the French kynges house all thynges neces-
sarie for a Prince, in so muche y neither Torches norTorchettes lacked vnsent. When the
French kyng was departed from Picquegny, he called to him the lord of Argento sayeng,
by 5" peace of God, the kyng of England is an amorous & a fayre prince, he at the first
becke woulde gladly se Parys, where he might fortune to fynde such pleasauntor talkatyue
Dames, which with fayre woordes, and pleasaunt pastymes myght so alure hym to their fan-
tasies, that it might brede an occasion in him to come ouer the sea agayne, whiche I would not
gladly se, for his progenitors haue ben to long and too often bothe in Parys and Norman-
dye (on this syde the sea) therfore I loue neither his sight nor his copany, but when he is at
home, I loue hym as my brother, and take hym as my frende.
The Frenche kyng after this departyng. sore desirous to make warre on the Duke of Bri-
tayne, whiche he could not do, except he were left out of the treatie, wherfore he sent the
lorde of Bouchage, and the lord of. S. Pierre, to the kyng of Englande, entrealyng hym
by all waies and mocions possible, to leaue the duke of Britayn lor his alie, and not to
haue hym comprehended in the league: the kyng of England hearing the so seriously
and so feruently, speake against the Duke of Britayn, witli an earnest countenaunce an-
swered, saiyng: My Lorries I assure you, if I wer peaceably at home in my realme, yet
for the defence of the Duke of Britayn and his countrey, I would passe the seas again,
against all the that either would do him iniurie, or make warre vpon hym: the Frenche
Lordes nothyng farther saiyng, muche marueiled why the kyng of Englande, so surely daue
4 to.
32rt THE. XIIIJ. YERE OF
to the Duke of Britayncs partie. But they knew not (or els at -the least remembred not)
that Henry Erie of Richenionde, was within the power and dominion, of the Duke of Ln-
tavne whom kyn* Edwardes phanteasie euer gaue hym, would make once a title to the
Croune of England, as ncKt heire to the house of Lancastre: For he knewe well, that if
the Duke of Bntayne, would transporte hym into England, where he had bothe kynsfolke
and frendes, with neuer so small an aide (yea, although it wcr hut a shadow of an army)
-then were he enforced, newly to begin again a conquest, as though he had neuer wonne the
Croune, nor obteigned the possession of the Kealme, which.was the verie cause, why he
stacke so sore, on the Duke of Britaynes part. Thesame night the lordes returned to
Annas, and reported to their Master kyng Edwardes answere, which therwith, was not
the best pleased, but pleasure or displeasure, there was no remedy, but to dissimule the
matter. This same night also, there came the lorde Haward, and twoo other of the kyng
of En»-lade3 counsaill, which had been coadjutors toward the peace, to the Frenche kyng
,to supper. The lorde Haward said to the Frenche kyng, secretly in bis eare, that if it
sloode with his pleasure, he could perswade the kyng of Englande, to come to Amias, yea,
perauenture as farre as Paris, familierly and frendly, to solace hymself with hym, as his
truslie frende and faithful! brother. The Frenche kyng, to whom this motion was nothyng
pleasaunt, .callyng for water, washed and rose without any answere makyng: but he saied
to one of his counsaill, that he imagined in his awne conceipt, that this request would bee
made: the Englishe menne began again, to common of that matter, the Frenche men pol-
.litiqueiy brake their communication, saiyng: that the kyng with all celeiitie, must marche
forward, against the duke of L'urgoyn. Although this motion seined, onely for to en-
crease loue° and continuall amide betwene the Princes, yet the Frenchmen hauyng, in their
perfecte remembraunce, the innumerable damages and hurtes, whiche they of late daies,
had susteined by the Englishu nation: whereby, continual hatred encfeased, against them
in Fran nee, thought by pollicy and wisedom, with faire woordes, and frendly countinaunce,
to put by this request, and to motion them rather, to departe homeward, then to pricke
them forward to Paris, where peraduenture, they might so be entertained at this tyrne,
-that. they would at another come thether, bothe vndesired and vnwclcomed. This peace was
said to be made, onely by the holy ghoste, because that on the daie of metyng, a white
Doue satte on the -very toppe, of the kyng of Englandes tent: whether she sat there to drie
her, or came thether as a token, geuen by God, I referre it to your iudgemente. At this
treatie and metyng, was not the Duke of Gloucester, nor other lordes, which were not
content with this truce, but the Duke came afterwarde to Amias, with diuerse other Lordes
of Englande, to the Frenche kyng, whiche, bothe highly feasted them, and also presented
•them with plate and horses, well garnished. Kyng Lewes consideryng, what gain the Eng-
Jishemen had gotten, .by makyng warre in Fraunce, and what miserie, what calamitie, and
•what pouertie, the French nacio had suffered, and many yeres susteined, by reason of the
said warres, determined clerely, rattier to pacific and entertain the Englishe nation, by
faire wordes, and great rewardes (although it wer to his great charge) then by to inuche
hardincs, to put hymself, his nobilitie and rcalme in a hasard, by geuyng them battaill,
as his predecessors, had vn wisely doen at Potiers, and at Agyncour.t, wherfore, to hye
peace, he granted to 'kyng Edwarde, for a yerely tribute. L. M. Crouties, to be paied at
London, whiche, accoumptyng a croune at. iiii. s. amounteth to. x. M. L. And to haue
'the fanor and good will, of his chief counsailers, he gaue greate -pencions, amountyng to
the some of. xvi. M. Crounes ayere, that is to saie: to hisChauncellor, to the Lorde llas-
ctynges, his chief t^hatnberlein, a man of no lesse vvitte then -vertue, and of greate aticth«-
.ritie with his Master, and that not without a cause: for he had aswell in tyme of aduersitie,
as in the faire flateryng worlde, well and truely seruecl hym, and to the Lorde Hawarde, te
-air Thomas Mountgomerie, to sir Thomas Setliger, -to sir Ihon Cheiney, Master of the
Jiynges horses, to the Marques Dorset, sonne to the Quene, and diuerse other, he gaue
KYNG EDWARD THE. IIIJ. 3C1
great & liberal rewardes, to thintent to kepe hymself, in amitie with England while he
wan nc and obteined liis purpose and desire in other places.
These persones had geuen to them great giftes, beside yercly pencions : For Argenton
his counsailer affirmetli of his a\vne knowledge, that the lorde Haward, had in le^se then
the terme of twoo yeres, for rewarde in money and plate, xxiiii. M. Crounes, and at tin;
tyme of this nictyug, he gaue to the Lorde Hastynges, the kynges chief Chamberlain, as
1'Venchmen write, a hundered markes of siluer, made in plate, whereof euery niarke is,
viii. ounces sterlyng, but thenglish writers affirme, that he gaue thesaid Lorde Hastynges.
xxiiii. doosen boulles, that is to sale, xii. dosen gilte, and. xii. dosen vngilte, euery cuppe
waiyng. xvii. nobles, whiche gifte, either betokened in hym, a greate liberal! nature, or els
a greate and especiall confidence, that he had in thesaid Lorde Chamberlain. Beside this,
he gaue hym yerely, twoo thousand Crounes pencio, the whiche some he sent to hym, by
Piers CJeret, one of the Masters of his house, geuyng hym in charge, to receiue of hym
an acquitaunce, for the receipt of the same pencion, to thintent that it should appere, in tyme
to come, that the Chauncellor, Chamberlain, Admirall, Masters of the horses, to the kyng
of Englande, and many other of his Counsaill, had been in fee and pencionaries, of the
French kyng, whose yerely acquitaunces (the lorde Hastynges oncly except) remain of
recorde to be shewed, in the Chamber of accomptes, in the palaice of Paris. Whe Piers
Clerethad paied the pencion, to the lorde Hastynges, he gently demanded of hym an ac-
quitaunce, for his discharge, whiche request when he denied, he then onely required of
liyrn, a letter of three lines, to bee directed to the kyng, testifiyng the reccipte of the pen-
cion, to the intent that the kyng your Master, should not thinke, the pecio to be imbesiled.
The lorde Hastynges although he knewe, that Piers demaunded notbyng but reason, an-
swered him: sir this gift cometh onely, of the liberall pleasure of the kyng your Master,
and not of my request: if it be his determinate will, that I shall haue it, then putte you
it into my sleue, and if not, I praie you render to him his gifte again: For neither he nor
yon, shall haue either letter, acquitaunce, or scrowe, signed with my hande, of the re-
ceipte of any pencion to thintent to bragge another day, that the kynges Chamberlain of
Englatide, hath been pencionary, with the Frenche kyng, and shewe his acquitaunce, in
the Chamber of accomptes, to his dishonor. Piers left his money behynd, and made re-
lacion of all thinges to his Master, which, although that he had not his will, yet he much
more praised the wisedom, and pollicie of the Lorde Hastynges, then of the other pen-
cionaries, commaundyng hym yerely to bee paied, without any discharge demaundyng.
When the kyng of Englande, had receiued his tribute, and his nobilitie their rewardes,
of the Frenche kyng: he trussed vp his tentes, and laded all his bagage, and departed to-
ward Caleis, but or he came there, he remembering the craftie dissimulacion, and the vn-
true dealyng, of Lewes Erie of. S. Pole, high Constable of Fraunce, entending to declare
hym, to the French kyng, in his verie true likenes and portrature: sent vnto hym twoo
letters of credence, written by thesaied Constable, with the true report, of all suche
woordes and messages, as had been to hym sent, and declared by thesaied Constable and
his Ambassadours, whiche letters, the Frenche kyng gladly receiued, and thankfully ac-
cepted, as the chief instrument, to bryng the Constable to his death : which he escaped no
long season after, suche is the ende of dissimulers.
When kyng Edward was come to Caleis, and had set all thynges in an ordre, he toke
shippe, and sailed with a prosperous wynde, into Englande, and was receiued by the
Maior of London, and the Magistrates clad in scarlet, and. v. C. comoners, appareled in
Murrey, the. xxviii. daie of Septetnbre, in the. xiiii. yere of his reigne, vpon Blacke
Heathe, and so conueighed with greate triumph, through the citie of Westminster, where
after his long labor, he reposed hymself a while : euery daie almoste, talkyng with the
Quene his wife, of the mariage of his daughter, whom, he caused to be called Dolphenesse:
thynkyng nothyng surer, then that mariage to take effects, accordyng to the treatie. The
T t hope
322 THE. XV. YERE OF
hope of whiche manage, caused hyra to dissimule, and do thynges, whiche afterward
chaunsed,. greatly to the Frenche kynges profile, & smally to his. '
When kvn" Edwarde was arriued in England*, the trenche Ivyng, thynkyng by no
meane possible, to haue his will on the Constable, but onely by the Duke of Burgoyne,
determined to conclude a truce, for. ix. yeres, vpon couenaunt, euery man to haue his
awne- but the Ambassadours, would not haue the truce proclaimed, thynkyng thereby, ta
saue the Duke from periurie, whiche had sworne, neuer to conclude a peace, till the kyng
of En<rlande had been three monethes in his realme, after his returne from Caleis. The
kyng of En«lan-1e, was of all these dooynges, asserteined by his frendes : wherefore, in all
hast he sent", sir Thomas Moungomerie, a wise and a sage knight, to (he Frenche kyng
beyn» then at Vernyns, concludyng with the duke of Burgoyns Ambassadors, requiryng
hitn,°to take none other truce, with Duke Charles, then that, whiche was' by theiin con-
cluded, desiryng hym farther, in no wise to departe with sainct Quintines to the duke:
Offeryncr that if he would any longer continue the warre, against thesaied Duke, that he
would for his pleasure, and the dukes displeasure, passe the seas again, the nexte Som-
mer: so that tlie Frenche kyng, should paie to hym fiftie thousand croimes, for the losse
whiche he should sustein, in his Custome by reason that the wolles at Caleis, because of
the warre, could haue no vent, nor be vttred, and also paie halfe the charges, and halfe
the wages of his souldiers, and men of warre.
The Frenche kyng, most hartely thanked, the kyng of England, of his kynde offre,
and faithfull frendshippe, excusyng hym, that the peace was al ready assented to: how
be it, it was the verie same peace, that was betwene theim concluded, sauyng onely, that
the duke would bee a contractor in the league, and not compreheded in thesame, as another
princes alie. This matter was thus answered, and faintly excused, and with thesame, sir
Thomas Mountgomerie dispatched, which was with plate conueniently rewarded : and with
hym returned, the lorde Haward, and sir Ihon Cheiney, which were hostages with the
Frenche kyng, til kyng Edwarde were returned into Englande. The Frenche kyng mar-
tieiled not a Utle, at kyng Edwardes offres, and thought it perilous to cause the Englishe-
menne to passe the sea again, and to ioyne with the Frenchmen, whom they neuer loued:
coniecturyng farther, that the Englishemenne and the Burgonyons, would sone agre, by
reason of their old acquaintaunce and familiaritie, and by chaunce, bothe become enemies
to the Frenche men : wherefore, in auoydyng of all ambiguites, he determined to conclude
the truce.
THE. XV. YERE.
Tyh«e?r' WHen Kyng Edwarde had after this maner established, as well his affaires of outwarde
warres, as his priuate and perticuler busines at home, notwithstandyng, that he beyng the
moste valiaunt, and fortunate victor, of such, and so many terrible and bloudy battailes,
might thynke to leade his life, in perfect quietnes, and sure sauetie: Yet consideryng, that
Henry the young erle of Richemond, one of the ofsprynges, of the bloud of kyng Henry
the sixte, was yet liuyng and in good health, he iudged hymself, to be farre from his pur-
pose, and that that onely thyng did so vexe and trouble his ioye and felicitie, that he
thought hymself, neuer to bee in a sure estate, voyde of trouble or feare. Wherfore, he
determined yet once again, to sollicite and moue, Frauces Duke of Britayne, either for
giftes, promises or praiers, to deliuer the Erie into his handes, who he supposed (after the
faccion and bande, of kyng Henries parte, by hym extincted, and clerely defeated) to
bryng to his lure, and to rule at his awne mynde and pleasure. Wherfore, he sent Doctor
Stillyngton, and twoo other, his Ambassadors, well laden with no small some of golde,
with all hast to the Duke of Britayn: And to the intent that their desire should ap|,ere more
honest, in the open face of the world, he willed them to declare to the Duke, that their
request,
KYNG EDWARD THE. IIIJ. 323
request, to haue the Erie deliuered to them, was onely for this purpose, to ioyne with him
aliance by manage and so to extirpate and plucke vp, all the degrees and leuynges of the
aduerse part, and contrary faccion. Whiche enterprise (whatsoeuer thei saied) was not
onely by affinitie, but by the onely death, of the innocent erle Henry, to be acheued and
brought to passe. The Duke gently heard the Orators, and firste he began to deny, & after
to excuse, why he might nor ought not agree to their request, but inconclusion, what with
prayers requiring, and monnyes sollicityng, the Duke beyng weried and ouercome, deliuer-
ed the erle to the Ambassadors, whom, in his letters he highly commended, to kyng Ed-
warde, not thynkyng that he deliuered, the shepe to the wolfe, but the sonne to the father,
beleuyng surely, without scruple or doubt, that kyng Edward would geue in manage to
him lady Elizabeth his eldest daughter, whom in deede he maried, after hir fathers death,
of you herafter shall lieare. Whe thambassadors had the praie, that thei so muche desired, they
departed to the toune of S. Malo, standyng on the sea side, where, they rekened to haue
taken shipping, and so to haue sailed into Englande. The erle of Richemond knowing,
that he was going toward his death, for very pensiuenes, and inwarde thought, fell into
a feruent & a sore agewe. In this very season, one Iho Cheulet, so estemed emong the
Princes of Britayne, as fewe were in all the countrey, and in muche credite, and wel ac-
cepted with the duke, was when these thynges were thus concluded, for his solace in the
countrey, but beyng thereof certified, beyng chafed with the abhominacion- of the fact: re-
sorted to the Courte and familierly came to the Dukes presence, and there stode so sadly,
and so paly, without any worde speakyng, that the Duke was muche abashed, and sodainly
marueiled, at his sad and frownyng coutenaunce, & demaunded of him what should
signifie, thatdumpishenes of mynde, and inward sighyng, the whiche by his countenaunce,
manifestly appered and was euident: he modestly answered, moste noble and redoubted
lorde, this palenes of visage, and dedly loke doth prognosticate y time of my death, to ap-
proche & be at hand, which if it had chaunced to me, before this day, I assure you, it
had much lesse hurled me. Eor the had I not been preserued, to fele the dolorous pages
and sorowfull sighynges: whiche a fact by you doen (that I thought impossible to be obteined)
hath imprinted in my stomacke, and in my hart depely grauen : so that I well perceiue, that ei-
ther I shall lese my life, or els Hue in perpetuall distresse and continuall misery. For you my
synguler good lord, by your verteous actes, and noble feates haue gotten to you, in maner an
immortall fame : whiche in euery mans mouth, is extolled and eleuated, aboue the high
Cloudes, but alas me semeth (I pray you pardon me my rudenes) that now that you haue ob-
teined, so high a laude and glory, you nothyng lesse regarde then to kepe and preserue the
same inuiolate, consideryng, that you forgettyng your faith and faithfull promise, made to
Henry Erie of Richernod, hath deliuered the moste innocent young gentelman, to the cruell
turmenters, to bee afflicted, rente in peces, and slain: wherefore, all suche as loue you,
of the whiche nomber I am one cannot chose but lament and be sory, whe they se openly,
the fame and glory of your moste renoumed name by suche adisloialtie, and vntruthe against
promise, to be both blotted and stained with a perpetuall note, of slaunder and infamie. Peace
myne awne good Ihon, qd the Duke, I praie thce, beleue me there is no suche thyng like to
happen to therle of Richemond: for kyng Edward hath sent for hym, to make of hym, beyng
his suspect enemie, his good & fairesone in lawe. Well, well, qd Ihon, my redoubted lorde,
geue credence to me therle Hcry is at the very brynke to perishe, whom, if you permitte
once to set but one foote, out of your power and dominion, there is no mortall creature
able hereafter, to deliuer hym from death. The duke beyng moued, with the perswasions
of Ihon Cheynet, whiche either litle beleued, or smally suspected kyng Edward, to desire
the erle, for any fraude or deceipte, or els seduced by blynde auarice and loue of money,
more then honestie, fidelitie, or wisedom would require, did not consider, what he vnad-
uisedly did, or what he aduisedly, should haue -done. Wherfore, with all diligence, he
furthe Peter Landoyse, his chief Threasorer, commaundyng hym to intercept and staie,
T t 2 the
324 THE. XVI. YERE OF
the Erie of Richemond, in all hast possible. Peter not sluggyng, nor dreamyng his bust
nes: came to the Englishe Ambassadors to. S. Malos, there abiding the wynde. And firste
i)e inuetited a cause of his commyng, and kepte witli theim a long communicacion, to per--
tracte the tyme, till his men in themeane season, had conueighed therle (ahnoste halfe clecl)
into a sure Sanctuary, within the toune, whit-he in nowise m'ght bee violated : where he
beyng deliuered from the continual feare ofdredful death, recouered hys health, and in good
plight was brought to the duke.
Here a man may euidently perceyue the olde Greke prouerbe to bee very trew, which is
that a man, to a man shall sometyme be as a God, for the yong erle Henry without desert
deliuered to his death, sodaynly by the labor of Ihon Cheulet, and the iauor of the good
Prince, was preserued, saued and deliuered. God grauut that such examples may be a
doctrine and myrror to such as be rulers aboue other, lackyng counsaylers to monish and warne
them of their duetie and office. That thei remembryng thys good acte, n.ay learne to take
into the counsayl and familie, such as wil well and truly admonishe and warne them, and they
likewise with good mynde and glad entent to be folowers of the same.
The English oratours complayned and murmured that they were both spoyled of their
money & marchandiserequyring Peter Landoyse that they in no wise shauld returne, so de-
luded without pray or penney. The treasorereffectuously promised them lhat the Erie either
Should be surely kept in the Sentuary, into the which he escaped (by their negligence as he
layed to their charge) or els should be agayn m the dukes house put in prison, so that they
shoulde not nede no more to feare hym then hys shadow. And so the kyng of England for
hys money, purchased the keping of his enemye by the space of. iii. dayes, and no more.
Kyng Edward in the meane season, sore longyng to know what effect hys Ambassade
toke with the duke of Britayne, and therefore was euery houre trobled and vnquieted with
narkenyng & lokynge, was at the last certefied from thence, howe the erle of Rycbemond
was deliuered, and at a poynt to be brought home to hym as a prisoner in captiuitie : but
that he escaped. First, he lamented his purpose, not to haue more prosperously succeded,
but after beyng somwhat molified and apeased, when he hard that he should be sauely kept
in prison, determined clerely hereafter to banishe that care out of hys mynd and fantasyc, and
to employe all hys whole study and diligence for the kepynge of hys house, after a more boun-
tifull fashion and liberall proporcion, then before was accustomed. And when he had suffi-
ciently stored his cheste with treasure, remembryng hys honor, lest, he peraduenture should
be noted with the spot of Nygardshyp, he shewed hymselt'e lyke a liberall and beneficial!
Prince to hys commons, and lyke a good and profitable kynge to the couxm wealth, & the
poore people of hys Realme and dominion.
THE. XVI. YERE.
Th«.iyi. EVen as kyng Edward sought, inuented and studied dayly and howcrly to bryng hym selfe
y«c- to quietnesse & rest, and hys Realme to a continual amitie, and a perpetual peace, lykewyse
at thesame tyme Charles duke of Burgoyn, whose wit neuer loued peace, nor yet was wery
or abhorred troble, whose intollerable paynesin warres were to hym pleasure, and especially
where he thought any new seignorie to obteine, or els to be reuenged of auncient enemyes,
for olde greues and displeasures to him done. So y desyre of rule mixt with hatred, and ma-
lice cobined with auarice kyndeled, prouoked and excited so hys courage thys yere (whose
bragging audacitie had more nede of a brydell to berefrayned, then of a spurre to be pricked
forward) that he partly to be reuenged of f d>ike of Lorayne and f Swytchers, and
partly for ^couetoiis desyre that he had to certayn lades, lyeng betwene his lowe countrevs
of Brabant £ Flauders and hys duchie of haul Burgoyn, assembled a great army & a
mighty puyssance, and beseged a towne called Granson in Lorayn, which when he had re-
ceyued
KYNG EDWARD THE. IIIJ. 325
ccyued, without mercy, lyke a tyrant he caused all the Inhabitates cruelly to be put to death,
wherof heryng the Switchers mafully encoutered with hym, and discomfited hys whole armye,
where the duke lost bothe honor, prayse, and such abundaunce of ryches, that few Princes
in hys tyme were able to shew such luels, and so many, & of suche high price and value.
And after not cotent with these chaiices, but eucr in hope of reueging he fought with the
Switchers agayne at Moral, wherof. xviij. M. good me of warre, he lost. x. M. besyde them
that were wounded and hurt: yet this fierce & couragious Capitayne, more coragious then
circuspect, gathered agayn a new army, and contrary to the myndes of his whole counsaill,
in the depth of Wynter, beseged the tonne of Nancy, belongyng to the duke of Lorayn,
where he was encoutered with the sayd duke and the Switchers, and there by the agayne
ouercome, discqnfited, and slayne.
Thus in one yere he lost. iij. great battayles, the fyrste at Grantson, where he lost honor,
and all hys ryches: The second at Morat, where he lost honor, & almost all hys men: The
thyrd at Nancy, where he loste lyfe, honor, ryches, men, and all \vorldely felicitie, on the
Vigile of the Epiphany, in the yere of our lord, after some writers. M. cccc. Ixxvi. and after
other. M. cccc. Ixxvij.
Thys ende had the valiant hart, and stout courage of duke Charles of Burgoyn, who in'
hys tyme could neuer agre with peace & cocord, tyll death more puyssant then lyfe may re-
siste, broughte hys bodye to quietnes and perpetual tranquilite, which body is entered in f
church of sainct George in Nancy, leuyng beliynd him one sole doughter, lawfully
begotten to be his heyre which afterward was niaryed to Maximiliuen Archeduke of
Austrice.
At this battayl were taken Anthony and Bauldwyn, bastarde bretherne to duke Charles,
whome the French kyng bought of the duke of Lorayne, to the entent that they shoulde not
withstande hys pretensed purpose in Flaunders. Yf any man weresory of the duke of Bur-
goyns death, you may be sure that he was not so inwardly sory, as the French kyng was in
hart ioyous and glad : for now hauyng peace with Englande, he knew no creature that was
able to matche with him in earnest or in game, & because he would lese no tyme, he vnder
couler that wome benot able to enioy any thyng, that is or hath ben, aperteynynge to th'e
Croune of Fraunce, toke of the yong Damosel of Burgoyn the tounes of Moundedier, Pe-
rone, Abbeuyle, Monstreul, Roy and all the tounes on the ryuer of Some: Beside thys, he
with no great payne obteyned Hesdyng, Arras, and the tonne of Bulleyn with the countyeof
Bullonoys, whiche kynge Charles hys father had before engaged, and em pledged to duke
Philip of Burgoyn, as before is mencioued. But this wyly and wytty kyng. Lewes, comyng
to the toune of Bulleyn, perceyued that if it were fortefied with a garrison, it should not
oncly be an yl neyghbor to the tounes of Caleys and Guysnes, but also a port necessarie and
conuenient for all hys subiectes, when they should be, either by enemyes assayled, or by
stormy tempestious wether driue on the narrow seas, wherfore to cast a sure Ancker, knpw-
ynge the lord Bartrame de la Toure, erle of Auluerie, to be the very trew and vndubitate
heyre of y^ sayd toune and countie: He fyrst obteyned of him his righte and title in thesame,
rewarding him with a greater summe, & a more yerely value of reuenewes, in the countye of
Forest and other places. And after to the entent to haue a port euer open vpo Engirid, he
annexed thesame toune of Bulleyne, and the countie of Bullonoys, with the partes adiacent,
to the croune and regalitie of Fraunce. And because, the fornamed towne and countye-
were holden of the erledom of Artoys, he chaunged the tenure, and solemply auowed to
holde thesame toune & coutie of our Lady of Bulleyn, and therof did homage to the Image
in y great Church called our Lady church in Bulleyn, offring there a hart of gold, weiyng.
ii. M. Crounes, ordenyng farther that all his heyres and successors, at their entrie into the
estate and dignitie royal, by them self, or their deputie should offer a hart of lyke weight and
value, as a releue & homage done, or made for thesame toune and countie. You maye be
sure that the kyng of England would not haue suffered the French king to haue edefied such .,
a couert nest, so nere his toune of Caleis, and the territories of the same, except his leage
had
THE. XVII. YERE OF
had bound hym, or that he had to much affyancein the French kyng, whose hart was doble,
& whose witeuer incostfit, but surely the hope of the prefermetof his daughter, both brought
hym to blyndnes and dotage. Let these doynges ouer passe & se how pohtikely the French
kyno wrought for his aduauntage. Duryng these gaynes in the lowe partes, he caused the
duke of Lorayn to enter into hygh Burgoyn with a great army, winch by polhcie & promises
brought the whole Duchie vnder obedience of the French kyng, which then claymed to haue
the order and manage of the yonge lady, as a pupille, ward and orphane, aperteyning to the
croune of Fraunce, for the which title after rose no sinal mischief, and treble in Flaunders,
and the coutreys thereaboute. Let vs leaue a whyle to speake of outward busines, and re-
tourne to our awne.
If THE. XVII. YERE.
Tht.ivii. IN y. xvij. yere of kyng Edward, there fel a sparcle of priuy malice, betwene the king &
yere' his brother the duke of Clarece whether it rose of olde grudges before time passed, or were
it newly kyndeled and set a fyreby the Queue, or her bloud which were euer mistrusting and
priuely bai kynge at the kynges lignage, or were he desirous to reigne after his brother: to
men that haue thereof made large inquisicion, of suche as were of no small authorise in
those dayes, the certayntie therof was hyd, and coulde not truely be disclosed, but by con-
iectures, which as often deceyue the imaginations of fantastical folke, as declare truth to
them in their conclusion. The fame was that the king or the Queue, or bothe sore troubled
with a folysh Prophesye, and by reason therof begii to stomacke & greuously to grudge
ngaynst the duke. The effect of which was, after king Edward should reigne, one whose
first letter of hys name shoulde be a G. and because the deuel is wot with such wytchcraftes,
to wrappe and illaqueat the myndes of men, which delyte in such deuelyshe fantasyes they
sayd afterward that that Prophesie lost not hys effect, when after kyng Edward, Glocester
vsurpcd his kyngdome.
Other allege this to be the cause of his death : That of late, y olde racor betwene them
beyng newly reuiued (The which betwene no creatures can be more vehement then betwene
bretherne, especially when it is fermely radicate) the duke beyng destitute of a wyfe, by the
. meanes of lady Margaret duches of Burgoyn, hys syster, procured to haue the lady Marye,
doughter and heyre to duke Charles her husband, to beegeuen to hyrn in matrimony : which
manage kynge Edward (enuyenge the felicitie of his brother) bothe agayne sayed and dis-
turbed. Thys priuy displeasure was openly appeased, but not inwardly forgotte, nor out-
wardly forgeuen, for that, not withstandyng a seruaunt of the Dukes was sodainly accused
(I can not say of treuth, or vntruely suspected by the Dukes enemies) of poysonyng, sor-
cery, or inchauntment, & therof condempned, and put to taste the paynes of death. The duke,
whiche myght not suffer the wrongfull condemnacion of his man (as he in his conscience
adiudged) nor yet forbere, nor paciently suffer the vniust hadelyng of his trusty seruaunt,
dayly dyd oppugne, and wyth yll woordes murmur at the doyng thereof. The king much
greued and troubled with hys brothers dayly querimonye, and contynuall exclamacion,
Gcorgeduk* caused hym to be apprehended, and cast into the Towre, where he beyng taken and adiudged
cf curtnce. for a TYaytor, was priuely drouned in a But of Maluesey.
ButofMa* But sure it is that although kyng Edward were consentyng to his death and destruccion,
uesey inthe yet jie niucn dyd bothe lamente his infortunate chaunce, and repent hys sodayne execution.
lowre. J .J , . - T ' f . . •> , J .
Inasmuche, that when any person sued to hym for Pardon or remission, of any malefactor
condempned to the punishment of death, he woulde accustomably saye, & openly speke, O
infortunate brother, for whose lyfe not one creature would make intercession, openly
spekyng, and apparantly meanynge, that by the rneanes of some of the nobilitie, he was cir-
iCumuented, and brought to hys confusion.
Thys duke left behynd hym two yonge infantes, engendered of the body of the daughter
to
KYNG EDWARD THE. II1J. 327
\
to Richard, late erle of Warwycke, whiche chylderne by destinye, or by their awne merites,
folowynge the steppes of theyr auricetours, sticceded them in lyke misfortune, and semblable
yll chauce. For Edward hys heyre, whome kyng Edward had created erle of Warwycke
was thre and twenty yeres after in the tyme of kynge Henry the. vij. atjaynted of treason, and
on Towre hyl behedded. Margarete his sole daughter was maryed\to sir Rycharde Pole
knyghte, beyngmuch bounde to kynge Henry the. vij. for her auaunceinente in manage, be-
syde manifolde benefites, by her of hym receyued : But most of all obliged to that excellent
prince kynge Henry the eight, for restoring her aswell to the name and title of countesse of
Salisbury, as to the possessions of thesame: she forgetting y miserable chaunce of her father,
and lesse remembryngthekyndnesand kyndred of hersayd souereygne lord, committed agaynst
hys Maiestye, and hys Realme/abhominable and detestable treason, for the whiche she was in
open Parliament adiudged and attaynted, and two and sixty yeres after her father was put to
death iiv the Towre, she on the grene within the same place, with an Axe suffered execucion.
In whose person died the very surname of Plantagenet, which from Geofrey Platagenet so
longe in the bloud Royall of this realme, had florished and contynued. After the death of
thys duke, by reason of great hete and vntemperate ayer, happened so fierce and so quycke
a Pestilence that. xv. yeres vvarre paste, consumed not the thyrd parte of the people, that
onely foure monethes miserably and pitifully dispatched, and brought to their sepulture.
THE. XVIII. YERE.
YOu haue harde not longe before how the Frenche kynge not onely claymed the rule, The- *""•
gouernaunce, and manage of the yonge Princes and Damosell of Burgoyne, but also how yc
he, what wyth policie, and what with force had plucked from her the fayrest feathers of her
tayle, that is too meane whole haul Burgoyne, and the stronge tonnes of Pycardye which in
tyme to come mygbt (as they were very lyke) happen to proue yll neighbors to the English
nacion. All these thynges were pollitikely pondered, & maturely digested by the wise cou-
saylers of England, which first considered the olde amitie, betwene the house of Englande
and Flaunders, and the quotidiane entercourse, trafficke and commutacion, which no smal
season had ben practised, frequented & exercised mutually and frendly betwene thesubiectes,
and all nacions hauynge resort to either of the sayd countreys, saw it open before their eyes,
that if the Frenche kynge, either by force or by coniunccion of manage to Charles erle of
Angulesme (to whome he promised hys good wyll, for the obteynyng of the yonge Princes)
should get the vpper hande of the Damosel or of her sejgnories and dominions, that then da-
mage might ensue to the whole Realme of Englande, bothe for vtterynge of their commodities
in those partes, and also for the impedyment or stoppe of their course and recourse, besyde
new imposicions and gabels, to be set within the sayde countreys, vpon the Marchauntes,
their goodes and wares. Wherfore the whole nobilitie and sage fathers made humble request,
to kynge Edwarde to helpe, and ayde the yonge ladye and Prynces of Bnrgoyne, allegynge '
that as farre as they coulde perceyue, the mariage of hys doughter with the Dolphyne, was
but dissimuled and fayned for in jf treaty cocluded at Picquegnye, betwene him and kyng
Lewes, it was apoynted, agreed, and openly sworne, that the Frenche kynge, within a yere
folowynge, shoulde sende for the Ladye Elizabeth, entiteled Dolphynesse of Vyen, to be
conueyed into Fraunce whiche yere with foure more were passed and gone without any
worde speking of her sendynge for, or goynge into Fraunce.
The Quene of Englande also had wryten in this season too the lady Margaret; Duchesse '
of Burgoyne, for the prefermente of her brother Anthony erle Ryuers, to the mariage of the
yonge Dainosell, but the counsayll of Flaunders, consyderinge that he was but a erle of a
meane estate, and she the greatest enheritrice of all Christendom at that tyme, gaue but
deafe hearynge to soo vnmete a request: the whiche desyre, if the Fleminges had butgeuen
good eare to, or wythgentell wordes delayed the suyte, she had bothe bene succored and de-
328 THE. XVIII. YERE OF
fended with a good number, and not susteyned soo greate losse as she dyd. Whether kytige
Edwarde were not content wyth thys refusal!, or that he trusted more the Frenche kynges
proiuyse, then all hys counsayll coulde se cause, or that he was lothe to lese hys yerely tri-
bute of fifty thousande Crounes, he woulde in no wyse consent to sende any army into
Flaunders, agaynst the Frenche kynge: But he sent Ambassadours to kynge Lewes with lo-
uynge and gentle letters, requyrynge hym to conclude some reasonable peace, or els at the
least to take a certayne truce wyth her at hys request.
The Ambassadours of England, wer highly receiued, bountefully fested, and liberally
rewarded: But answere to their desire, had they none but y shortly the Frenche kyng
would sende Ambassadors, hostages, & pledges, to the kyng of England, their master,
for the concludyng and performaunce of all thynges, dependyng betwene theim twoo: So
that their souereigne lorde and thei, should haue good cause, to be contented and pleased.
All these faire wordes wer onely delaies to protracte time, and in the meane season,
to vvynne tounes and coutreys, . from the damosell, or any aide or succor, could be to
her administred.
And beside this, to stale kyng Edward, from takyng part with her. He wrote to hym,
that if he would ioyne with him in aide, or personally make warre in any parte of the
Ladies territories, or dominions: that then kyng Edward, should haue and enioye, to hym
Agreateof- and his heircs, the whole County and Countrey of Flaunders, discharged of all homage,
the F«nchy suPenontie> aild rcsorte to be claimed by the French kyng, and his heires and successors :
kingtoKyng and farther, he should haue the whole duchie of Brabant, whereof the Frenche kyng offered
Edwardthe. Ai njs avvne cliarge and coste, to conqucrc foure, the chief and strongest tounes, within the-
•«aied Duchie, and theim in quiet possession, to deliuer to the Kyng of Englande, grauntyng
farther to paie to hym, tenne thousande Angels, toward his charges: besides municions of
warre and artilerie, which he promised to lende hym, with men and cariage, for the con-
ueighaunce of thesame.
The kyng of Englande answered, that the tounes of Flanders, were of no small strengthe,
nor of no litle quantie, very vneasie to bee kepte, when thei wer conquered: and of no lease
force was the duchie of Brabant, with whom, his subiectes were bothe lothe, and not verie
willyng to haue warre there, consideryng, that thether was one of their common trafficques
and ventes, of all their Merchaundice : But if the Frenche kyng would make hym par-
tener, of his conquest in Picardy, rendering to hym parte of the tounes, all ready gotten
and gained, as Boleigne Mounstrel, and Abbeuile, then he would surely take his parte, and
aide hym with men, at his awne costes and charges. While this matter was in answeryntr,
and repliyng again, the Frenche kyng spoyled the yong Princes, of tounes and Regions, and
of the best Capitaines that her father lefte, as the Lorde Cordes and other: -wherefore for
pure necessitie of aide and strengthe, she maried with Maximilian, sonne to Frederike the
Emperor, whiche to his power, sore resisted the Frenche Kyng, for makyng any inuasions
into Flaunders, or other his wifes landes and seigniories. This princes conceiued of her
husbande in the firste yere of her manage, a faire lady culled Margaret, whom king Lewes
so phantesied, either to haue a publique peace, with Maximilia her father, by the whiche, he
might staie all warre, and hostilitie betwene the and so by that meane, peaceably to enioy
the countreys and tounes by hym stollen and faintly conquered, or els imagenyng by that
onely damosell, in conclusion to conioyne, the whole countrey of Flanders, and the other
dominions, thcrunto apperteinyng, to the croune of Fraunce, (as he had no fewe tymes be-
fore attempted and assaied). That he clerely forgettyng, his promes made, written, and
sworne to the kyng of Englande, for the manage of his daughter, solicited priuily the
Lordes of Flanders, to haue thesaied lady Margarete, to be conioyned in matrimonie, with
the Dolphin his sonne, writynge and sendyng to the Kyng of Englande, faire promises and
flatteryng letters, when his purpose was clerely vanished out of Englande, and fixed in
Flanders, as you shall hereafter well vnderstande.
If THE
KYNG EDWARD THE. IIIJ. 329
H THE. XIX. YERE.
KYng Edward in the. xix. yere of his reigne, forgettyng aswell all exterior inuasions, as The. x*
ciuill warre, and intestine trouble: whiche before that time he had abundantly tasted, and ?'"•
more then he was willyng, had both felte, and had in continuall experience, beganne firste
more then he was before accustomed, to serche out the penall offences, aswell of the chief of
his nobilitie, as of other gentlemen, beyng propritaries of great possessions, or aboundantly
furnished in goodes, beside merchauntes, and other inferior persones. By the reason wherot^
it was of all men adiudged, more then doubted, consideryng his newe fame of riches, and his
gready appetite of money and treasure, that he would proue hereafter, a sore and an extremfe
Prince, emongest his subiectes, and this immaginacion in especial!, wandred through the
heddes of all men, that after his brother the Duke of Clarence, was put to death, he should
saie, that all men should stande, and liue in feare of hym, and he to be vnbrideled, and in
double of no man. But his newe inuented practise, and auaricious inuencion, what for other
forein and outwarde affaires, and what for the abbreuiatyng of his daies, in this transitorie
world (whiche wer within twoo yeres after consumed) toke some but no greate effecte. How
be it experience teacheth, that prosperitie ofte tymes is as greate a trouble, as a greate mis-
chief, and as vnquieta profite, to the possessioners of riches, and suche as haue the fruicion
of thesanic : as pouertie and aduersitie, are profitable and laudable, in other persones whiche
can, with pacient stomacke, and meke harte, beare and suffre the stormes and surges, of euill
fortune, and peruerse mischaunce.
1f THE. XX. YERE.
AFter this, kyng Edward hauyng all thynges brought to that effect, whiche he had long The. IT.
desired, except the manage of his daughter, with Charles the dolphyn, muche studied and yc"'
no lesse desired to haue this affinitie, accordyng to the appoyntmet made and concluded, to
be accomplished and solempniztd, and therfore, not onely wrote, but sent diuerse messengers
to the Frenche kyng, for the performaunce of thesame. The Frenche kyng whiche neuer
intended, to haue that manage take effecte, consideryng that the Dolphin, was muche
younger, then the -lady Elizabeth, and for other causes, sent Ambassadors to the kyng of
England with faire woordes and friuolous delaies, makyng his excuse, that he had not sent
for the kynges daughter to be maried to his sonne the dolphin, accordyng to the league and
treatie concluded, by the occasion of his great troubles, and busy warres, enterprised in
high Burgoin, and the lowe countreys, so that he was disgarnished, aswell of his nobilitie,
as of other menne of honor, to receiue her into his real me, accordyng to her estate and
degree: promising faithfully, shortly to sende for her, and to conueigh her with suche a
pompe and royall traine, that it should be to bothe their honors and laudcs, and to the
high contentacion of the Kyng of Englande and his Quene, whiche, no lesse then her hus-
bande desired, & sore longed to se the conclusion, of thesaied manage take effect.
These Ambassadors were well feasted, and likewise rewarded, and so toke their Jeaue:
And within a conuenient season after, he sent other Orators, whiche, were nener in Eng-
lande before, to the intent that if their predecessors beyng Ambassadors, had saied or con-
cluded any thyng, (al though thei wer authorised so to do) yet if it might turne, to the
Frenche kynges preiudice or damage, thei might without blame, excuse themselfes by igno-
raunce, of that matter: affirmyng that thei had no commissio to common, or els once to
enterprise, to medic with that matter. Or if he perceiued that any thyng was like to be
concluded whiche sounded not to his pleasure or profite, he would sende for his Ambas-
U u sador,
330 THE. XXI. YERE OF
sador, in greate haste, and after sende another with newe instruccions, nothyng dcpendyng
on the olde.
This fashion kyn* Lewes, vscd with all Princes, to whom he sente any ambassadors, by
the whiche he copassed n»ny thynges, to his purpose, and to their losse: but moste of all
he thus dalied with the kyng'of Englande, concernyng this manage, onely to the intent, to
kepe hym still in amitie, "aboue all other Princes. And for a truthe the Kyng of Englande,
bevn«of no suspicious nature, so mtiche trusted, and gaue to hym so much confidence,
that he thought the Sunne, would soner haue fallen from his circle, then that kyng Lewes,
either would haue dissimuled, or broken his promise with hym.
But who soner breaketh promes, then he that is mooste trusted, or who soner deceiueth,
then he to whom moste credence is attributed. And on the other part, who is so sone be-
eiled as he that least mistrusteth, and who soner falleth, then he that casteth no perill, but
as in'nothynp, mistrustyng, is no smal lightnes, so into muche trustyng, is to muche foly:
wherfore, if kyng Edward had either not to muche trusted, or mistrusted the Frenche Kynges
faire promises (as I would he had dooerv in deede) the crouneof Fraunce, had not so in-
creased in possessions and dominions, to the great glory, and strength of the realme: nor
the Princes of Burgoyne, had not so been plucked, hared, and spoyled of her faire tounes
and Castles as she was, whiche ehaunce, she beyng destitute of frendes, and without corn-
forte of defenders, by pacience perforce, was compelled to suftre and sustein.
This is the profite that all nacions get, by the faire promises, of the Frechmen. Thus i&-
the league made with Lewes the Freeh kyng, fraudulently glosed and dissimuled. Thus is
the oth°made, and sworne vpo the holy Euangelistes violated, and contrary to the woorde,
and honor of a Prince, broken and falcefied : by which vntrue dealyng, and couert dissi-
mulyng, with hisespeciall and trustie frend, all men may facilie «e, and more apparauntly
then in a myrror perceiue, that the verie natural condicion of the Frenche nation, is plea-
sauutly to flatter, plentifully to reward, and gloriously to glose, til thei haue once obteined,
their pretensed purpose, and haue their ambicious desire accomplished and satisfied and that
gain once gotten on their side, neither othe holdeth, nor friendship continueth, nor yet hu-
manitie and kyndnes before shewed, is once regarded, or of them remernbred: wherefore,
myne aduise is, let all men trust them as thei fynde them.
THE. XXI. YERE.
T^'I*i' IN this verie season, lames the. iii. of that name, kyng of Scottes, sent into England a
solernpne ambassage, for to haue the Lady Cicile, kyng Edwardes. ii. daughter, to be maried
to his eldest sonne, lames Prince of Scotlande, Duke of Rothesay, & erle of Caricke.
Kyng Edward & his counsaill, thinkyng that this affinitie, should be aswell honorable as pro-
fitable to the realme, did not only graunt, to his desire and demaud but also before hande
disbursed, certain sommes of money, to the oaely intent, that the manage should herafter,
neither be interrupted nor broken, rpon this condition, that thesaied Matrimony, by any ac-
cedentall meane, should in tyme to come, take no s«ecesse nor perfeccion: or that kyng Ed-
ward would notifie, to the kyng of Scottes, or his counsaill, that his pleasure was determined,
to haue thesaid mariage, to be infringed and dissolued: Then the Prouost and merchauntes
of the toune of Edenborough, should be bound for the repaiment* of thesaied some again.
All which thynges wer, with great deliberacion concluded & sealed, in hope of cotinual
peace and infringible amitie. But this king lames beyng a man of a sharpe wit, more wedded
to his awne opinio then reason would scace here, would neither here nor geue credite to
theim, that spake contrary to his awne phantesie, or this imagined opinion: And to thintet
that no man should find fault, with his doynges, or reprehed his actes, he promoted and
made counsailers, menne of base lignage, and lowe bloud, and in especiall, Cochrane and
bis compaignie, by whose euill aduise, and mischeuous instigation, he so punished and
greued
KYNG EDWARD THE. IIIJ. 331
greued his nobilitie, bothe with eniprisonment, cxaccions, and death, that Borne of their vo-
luntarie will, went into Exile, and other fainyng cause to departe, fled into other landes and
straunge countreys. For the Duke of Albanie, called Alexander, brother to kyng lames,
was exiled into Fraunce, but passyng through England, he taried with kyng Edward as you
shall heare. Therle of Mar, a wise pollitique counsailer, was in Edenborough beehedded:
And beside this, he forgettyng his othe, promise, and aftinitie concluded with kyng Edward,
caused armies to be made into England, spoyling, burnyng and killyng, the kyriges faithfull
subiectes: at the whiche vnprincely dooyng, the kyng of Englande beyng, not a litle moued
and chafed, determined to be reuenged on him by battaill, and dent of sworde. Yet not-
withstandyng, because kyng James craftely excusyng himself, alleging the mischief late co-
mitted, to be attempted, doen, & perpetrated, without his concent, knowledge or counsail,
this matter had been lightly pacified, and blowen ouer, if the Duke of Albanie, beyng with
kyng Edward, had not incesed, entised, and prouoked hym, to make warre on the Scottishe
kyng, his brother, bothe to reuenge the iniuries of late, to thesaid king doen, contrary to all
lawes of armes, and Princely demeanure, and also to help to restore thesaied duke, to his
possessios, and dominions again: out of the whiche, he was by the kyng his brother, dis-
possessed, and reiected, promisyng to kyng Edwarde, greate aide and assistence, when his
armie was once entered, into the confines of Scotlande.
Kyng Edward beyng thus perswaded by the Duke, and trustyng on his aide, wassomwhat
agreable to this, but the inward remembraunce how that kyng lames, had supported against
hyua, with men and money, his olde eneinie kyng Henry the sixt: and also trustyng, that if
Alexander duke of Albanie, by his aide should vanquishe his brother, and obtain the croune
of Scotland, he would be alwaies to hym, sure, faithfull, & trustie: whiche did so enflame his
corage, & set his harte so on fire, that he determined with al diligence, with an armie royall,
to inuade Che countrey of Scotlande, and make the kyng to knowe, that he had neither ho-
norably, nor truly kept his league and promise: Wherfore, al the winter season, he mustred
his souldiers, prepared his ordinance, rigged his shippes, and left nothyng apperteignyng to the
warre, vnpurueyed or vnloked for: so that in the beginnyng of the yere, al thynges wcr pre-
pared, and nothyng was missed.
THE. XXII. YERE.
WHen all thynges apperteignyng, to the furniture of suche an enterprise, were put in a Tht- ""•
readines, and ready to bee sette forward : kyng Edward appoynted, to be cheuetain of his y"'
hooste, and Lieuetenaunt generall, hb brother Richarde Duke of Gloucester, and to him
associated, Henry, the. iiij. Erie of Northumberlande, Thomas Lord Stanley, Lorde Steward
of his houshold, the lorde Louell, and the lorde Greystocke, and diuerse other noble men
and knightes. These valiaut capitaines, set forward in Maie, and made suche diligence,
with polletique coueighaunce of their souldiers: beside the trobclous cariage, of their orcli-
naunce, that they came to the toune of Alnewike, in Northumberlande, about the beginnyng
of Inly, where they firste encamped theimselfes, and Marshalled their hoste. The forward
was led, by therle of Northumberland, vnder whose standerd were, the lorde Scrope of
Holton, sir Ihon Middelton, sir Ihon Dichfeld, and diuerse other Knightes, Ksquiers and soul-
diers to the nombre of sixe thousande, and seuen. C. men. ID the middel ward was the
Duke of Gloucester, and with hym the Duke of Albany, the lorde Louell, the lorde Grey-
stocke, sir Edwarde Woduile and other, to the nombre of fiue thousande, and ei^hr. C.
menne. The Lorde Neuell was appoynted to folowe, accompaignied with. iii. M. men.
The lorde Stanley, led the wyng on the right hande, of the Dukes battaill, with. iiij. M. men
of Lancashire and Chesshire: The lefte wyng was guyded by the lorde Fitz Hewe, sir Wil-
lyam a Parre, sir lames Harrynton, with the nombre of. ii. M. men, and beside all these,
there was a thousad m«« appoynted, to gene attendance on the ordinaunce. This roVall
U u 2 armie,
332 THE. XXII. YERE OF
armie not intending to siepe, but to gcue the Scottes knowlege, of their arriuall in thos«
parties came sodainly by the water side, to the toune of Berwicke, and there, what with force,
and what with feare of so great an armie, toke and entered the toune: but therle Bothwell,
beyng Capitain of tlie Castle, would in no wise deliuer it, neither for flattering wordes, nor
for manacyncr bragges, wherefore, the capitaines deliberately consultyng together, planted a
strontr sie<'e,°and enuironed it rounde aboute. When this siege was thus laied, ihe twoo
Dukes, and all the other souldiers, except the lord Stanley, sir Ihon Elryngton, threasorer of
the kynfes house, sir Willyam a Parre, and iiij. M. men, that were lefte behinde, to kepe the
siege "before the Castle, departed fr5 Berwicke, toward Edenborough: And in marchyng
thetherward, he brent and destroyed, these tounes folowyng.
Edryngton. Croffirge and Whitside.
Paxton. 1'ishewike. Edyngham. Whitmere.
Brandike. Newtowne.
Hooton. Uuryng whiche tyme, the erle of North-
Heton Hall. uberland, brent these tounes.
Mordyngton and the Bastile. Yatham and Yatham.
Plome Home and the toune. Brymsed and the Bastelt.
Broweshed and the Steple. Low houses and the bastell.
Brome hill and the Bastile. Cheritrecs and Hoyepe.
Edram. Cliffton, Goto, and Hawmon.
Estrusbet. Hawmon Grawnge and Hawdon.
Blakater and the Branke wbi>; , Marbotel and the bastile.
Kallow, and Kamorgan. Lynton with the Bastiie.
Whitsonelawes. Part of Cawarden brent.
Brynlenyn and Ryselaw. Chedworthe and Craylam and the Bastilh
Elbanke. Neskot, Neskett, and olde Rokesborough.
Hockas. Ednam, and the bastill wonne.
Betroside. Ednam isle, Benlaw.
Erneslaw and the Bastill won. Ousnam, Long Puolo deliuered.
Hilton and Whitsome. Croke, Ashewes, Mydpropes, and the
Mykyll Swynton and the Bastile. Bastell.
Litle Swynton and the bastill. Cossemaynes and the bastell won;
Somprone and Harden. Weddon and the bastell.
While these thynges were in doyng, kyng lames of Scotlande, hauyng small cofidence in
his commonaltie, and lesse trust in his nobilitie, did voluntarely incarcerate & enclose hym
selfe in the strong Castell of Maydens in Edenborough, perfidy trustyng there to be out of
all doubles & daunger, except famyn or treason, caused hym violently to ope the portes or
gates, wherof the duke of Glocester entered into the toune and at the especiall request &
desire of the- duke of Albany, saued v tonne and thenhabitantes of thesame, from fier, bloud
& spoyle, takynge onely such presentes as the merchiites gentelly offered him & his capi-
taynes: Causing Gartier, principal kyng at armes, to make a publique Proclarnacion at the
high Crosse in the market place of Edenboroughe, in the which he warned & admonished
lames kyng of Scottes, to kepe, obserue & perforrne all suche promises, copactes, couenantes
& agrementes as he had concluded & sealed to, with the high and mighty prince Edward, by
the grace of God, kyng of England. &c. And^also to make codigne and sufficient recom-
pence to his subiectes, for the great tyrannye, spoyle and crueltyer that he and 1m people had
perpetrate & committed cotrary to his league, within the maiches and territories of his
realnac of Englande, before the firste daye of August nexteensuynge. And farther without
delay to restore the high and mightie Prince Alexander, duke of Albanie, hisnaturall brother
to his estate, & all his offices, possessions and authorities, in as ample and liberall maner as
he before occupied and enioyed thesame: or the high and valiaunte prince Rychard duke of
Glocester,
KYNG EDWARD THE. IIIJ. 333
Glocester, leuetenaunt general!, and chiefetayne for y kyng of England, was redy at hand
to destroy him, his people and coutrey with slaughter, flame & famyn.
Kyng lames would make no aunswere, neither by vvorcle nor by writing, knowing that hi*
power now fayled, either to performe the request demaunded, or to defend his countrey
with such a puissant armye inuaded. The lordes of Scotland, lyeng at tJadyngton with a
great puyssaunce, hearynge the kynge of Englandes reasonable desyre, determined firsts
to practise wyth the Duke of Glocester for a peace, and so to haue the Castell of Berwycke
to their part, and after by some meanes to allure the duke of Albanye, from the English
atnitie, & vpon this mocion, the. ij. day of August they wrote to the duke of Glocester,
that the mariage betwene the prince of England shoulde be accomplished in all poyntes, ac-
cording to the couenantes agreed, and the instrurnentes therof engrosed, requiring farther,
that a peace from thensfurlh might be louyngly concluded betwene bothe the Realmes.
The duke of Glocester wisely and circumspectly certefied the agayn, that as touching the
article of manage, to take effect betwene their prince and the lady Cicilie of England, he
knew not the determinat pleasure of y king his master and brother, either for the affirinaunca
or deniace of thesame but he desired full restitucion of all such summcs of money, as for
the sayd manage before time had ben disbursed, or prested out in lone. And where the
sayd lordes desyred to haue a peace, concluded from thensfurth, betwene both the sayd
realmes. He tirst required to haue the Casiell" of Barwycke to him deliuered, or at the
lest, if he did agre to y sayd peace, that then his siege, lyeng about the sayd Castel, should
be hereafter in any wise, neither troubled, vexed, nor molested, nor y. king of Scottes, nor
none of his subiectes, nor any other by his procurement or prouoking, should ayde, com-
fort or assist with victayle, ordinance, or other wise the Capitayne, Constable, or souldiers
of thesavd Castel, durynge the siege.
The Lordes,- Prelates, Barons, and" estates of the realme of Scqtlande, perceyuing &
wel pondering bothe the answer & the demaundes of the duke of Glocester, sent to him
sufficiently enstructed with these conclusions, tRe reuerend father Andrew, elect of Murray,
and the lord Ihon Derne'e, which thus answered, that where the sayd duke desyred repay-
ment of y summcs of money, delyuered in part of payment, for the contract of manage, to
be made betwene ihe prince of Scotland and y kynges daughter of England: the tyine of
lawfull contract of mariage is not yet come, because of the minoritie of the said prince and
princesse. And the i'aute hereof is, that no day was apoyuted for the money, to be payed
before the contract began. And if the king your brother woulde demaunde farthev. assu-
rance, -either for the contract to be made, or for y payment of the money, they promised
therunto, accordinge to reason to agre. Secondarily as touching the Castel of Berwike,
they sayd al we know wel ynough, that it is the olde enheritance of ihe croune of Scollande,
of many hundred yeres past, and that our souereigne lorde hath right thereunto. And if it
be alleged, that it belonged to the realme of England by conquest, it is well knowen that it
standeiti in Scotland, & ouer the Scottish ground. The duke, not withstanclinge their
saiynges, would cddiscend to no peace, without the Castel of Barwycke were rendered to
the kyng of England, and so y messengers departed, and on thesame day the Archebishop of
sainct Andrewes, the bishop of Dukelle Colyn, erle of Argyle, lord Cambcll and lorde
Andrew, lorde Auandale, Chauncelor of Scotlande, wrote vnto the duke of Albanye a so-
lempne and autenticall instrumet, signed and sealed with their scales, binding their bodies,
landes and goodes to the sayd duke, that if he would' hereafter be obedient to the kyng of
$cottes, and kepe & obserue his faith and promise to be made to the sayd lordes, that
he shoulde not onely be restored to all his landes, hereditamentes, offices £ possessions,
whiche he enioyed at the day of his departure out of Scotland, but also should haue and.
enioy to him, & his seruauntes & familiers a fre and a general Pardon, which restitucion
and pardon, thei likewise promised to beratefied & approued by the kyng anxl the. iii. estates
assembled at the next Parliament. The duke beyng glad to be restored agayne to his olde
estate & possessions, & especially in his awne natiue countrey, receyued their offer., which
vtast
THE. XXII. YERE OF
-ivas'fruly performed, & so toke his leue of the duke of Glocester thankyng hym (as he was
no lesse bounde) for the greate labour, traueyll & peyne, that he had taken in hys awne
person for his restitucion. And promised bothe byword & by writyng of his awne hande
to do & performe all such thinges, as he before that tyme had sworne & promised to kyng
. Edwarde, notwithstanding any agremet, now made or to be made with the lordes of Scotland :
and for the performance of theffect of the sayde Scedule, he agayne toke a corporall othc
before y duke of Glocester, and sealed the writyng the thyrd day of August in y English
, Cape. at Leuyngton, besydes Hadyngton, anno. M.cccc.lxxxii. and departed to hys awne
possessions. After he was thus restored & reconciled, the lordes of Scotland proclaymed
hym great lieutenaut of Scotland, & in the kynges name made Proclamacion, y all me
shoulde >be redy, vpon peyn of death within, viii. dales at Craushaues, both to rayse the
-siege before the Castell, and for the recoueringe agayne of the towne of Barwyke. The
duke of Albanye wrote all thys preparacid to the duke of Glocester, hiibly requiryng hym
to haue no mistrust in hym promising to kepe his othe & promise, made to kyng Edward
& to hym. The duke of Glocester wrote to hym agayne, that it shoulde neither be honora-
ble nor commendable in hym, too helpe, to reise the siege, at the layeng wherof he was
counsayicr & partener, nor yet to reward y king of England, with such a displeasure for
his kyndnes costes and expeses to hym in hys extreme necessitie, louingly shewed and libe-
rally exhibited. ;But he assured hym in the woord of a Prince, that if he & all the power of
Scotland attempted to come to rayse the siege, planted before y Castell of Barwyke, that
; he hym selfe with hys armye woulde defende the besiegers, or els dye in the quarell.
The counsayl of Scotlande sagely & poletiquely sawe before, that if they should come to
reyse the siege, that the duke of Glocester woulde with them shortly encouter, and then if
they loste the felde, both y stregth of the Realme was brought to an imbecilitie, the nobles
sore minished, and the castel lost and taken. And on the other side, if they obtayned vic-
torie, nothyng was gotten but the pore towne of Barwyke, and they were likely sone to be
inuaded with a greater power shortly agal, wherfore they sent Lyon kyng at Armes to the
duke of Glocester, offering to hym as they thought, two offers very reasonable, the one
\\as, that if he would promise on his honor to subuerte and cast doune the toune walles of
Barwycke, they would likewise race, and clerely deface the walles Towres and portes of the
Caste!!, or els the duke of Glocester to put in a capitayn and a garrison of men of warre
into the towne, and the duke of Albanye, likewise to do with the Castell, for the Tuycion of
thesamc. And farther the forsayd Lyon desired an abstinece of warre to be take, tvll the
two ckikes might haue c5municacion of grauous matters, coucernyng the welthes of "bothe
the Kealmes. The duke of Glocester refused bothe the offers saiyng, that he had long
znainteined the siege before the Castell of Barwyke, to no small waste and exhaustyng
of hys brothers treasure and riches, and to the great trauayle and payne of the Lordes,
Gentilmen, and men of warre, that continuallye made their abode and dayly residens
>at : the sayd siege : wherfore he sayd, that he in this poynt was fermely resolued, not
,to departe till the Castel were yelded by apoyntement, or taken by force, or els hys
siege were by the power of Scotland reysed, or he and hys armye vanquished : wher-
fore he would by no nieane barken to the peticion of the "Scottishe lordes, concernyng
-the abstinence of warre, tyll he were either vanquished or possessed of the Castell of
Barwyke. With which answere the Herault departed, and thereof made relacion to
.the lordes and counseyll of Scotland. Whe the dukes answere was of them well digested,
they euidetly perccyuiug that the castel of Barwyke was the onely maker of y peace and
that the not deliuery of thesame, should be the norice and continuer of warre and hostilitie:
consideringe farther, that the nobilitie nor commons of Scotland, dyd not draw together by
.one lyne, nor were sorted in one leuell, electyng and chosyng the better parte, and reiectinge
and auoydynge the worse, agreed and determined to deliuer the Castell of Barwyke to the
English partie, so that their should :be truce or abstinence of warre taken and concluded for
* a de-
KYNG EDWARD THE. IIIJ. 335
a determinate season. And thervpS they sent to the duke of Glocester a league iudt'ted,
which was dated the. xxiiii. day of August, in the yere of our lorde a. M.cccc.lxxxii. in the
which it was contracted and agreed betwene the duke of Glocester, lieuetenaut general for
the kyng of Englande, and Allexander duke of Albanye, lieuetenaut for lames kyng of •
Scottes, that an especiall abstinence of warre should be kept and obserued betwixte the
Realmcs of England and Scotland, and the people of thesame, aswell by sea as by lade, to
begyn the. viii. day of September next ensuyng, and to endure tyll the. iiii.> day of Nouem?-
ber next folowyng. And in the meane season, the towne and castel of Barwyke, to be oc-
cupyed, and be in yreall possession of suche as by the kyng of Englandes deputie, should •
be appointed and assigned with all and singuler such boundes, limites and territories as the
English nacion, last vsed and possessed, when the castell £ towne were in the subieceion of
the Englishmen. And all other marches and boundes, beyng in difference betwene thesayd *
Realmes, to standeand to be holdenin lyke case and eond'icion, as they were- before the last
truce concluded. The duke of Glocester, which well perceyued that the Scottes more
graunted to hys demaudes, fop relieue of their awne necessitie, then to gratefie hym or the
kyng hys brother in any poynt: like a wise counseyler, • toke hys aduauntage when it was -
offered, and especially because these thynges made for hys longe desyred purpose.
Eyrst the deliuery of the Castell of Barwyke, he voluntarely without counsayl (as a praye >••
priuely gotten) both accepted and alowed, and for that onely cause he dyd not refuse the
abstinence of- warre, but too that gentely agreed. As touching the possession, to be kept in -
the landes depeudyng in variance betwene the Realmes (comonly called the batable
grounde) he woulde not, nor durst not conclude with the duke of Albanye, • without ;
hauyng farther intelligence of- the kyng :hys souereigne lordes pleasure and counsaill,
ineanynge thereby euer to kepe theim *s sueters to him, & he no farther to seke on theim, -.
and in the meane season to let that matter be in suspence. Whe he had sealed to the fyrst
two Articles, and that they were sent agayne to the lordes of Scotlande, they them gladly re-
ceyued, and with good will embrased, and likewise truly performed thesame: for the cas- -
tell of Barwyke was incontinent deliuered to the lord Stanley, and other thereto appoyn ted, '..
whiche therein put bothe Englishmen and artilerie, sufficiente for the defence of all Scotland *
for. vi. monethes. By this meanes as you haue harde, the Englishmen repossessed agayn •<
the towne & castell of Barwyke, whiche. xxi. yeres before by kyng Hery the. vi. was to the
Scottes as you haue hard geuen vp and deliuered. And lest peraduenture the duke of
Glocester might thynke that the duke of Albanye dyd not in all thynges set forward; prefer
and auaunce hys fyrst requestes and demaundes, made and requyred -of the lordes of Scot-
land, and in especial one which was for the assurance to be made for the repayment to the
kyng of England, of all suche summes of money, as he had beforehand prested & disbur-
sed to the kynge of Scottes for the mariage to be solempnised & consummate betwene their ;
chyldern, as before is rehersed: Therfore y sayd duke of Albanye, caused the Prouost and '
Burgesses of Edenborough to make a sufficient instrument obligatorie, to kynge Edward, :.
for the trew satisfaccion andcontentacio of thesame money, whiche he also sent by thesaied •
Prouost to the Duke of Glocester to Alnewyke : The very Copy hereafter foloweth. ; .
" Be it knowe to all men by these present letters, vs Walter Bartraham, Prouost of the •
towne of Edeborough in Scotland, and the whole felowship, marchautes, burgesses, and t
communaltye of the same towne, to be bounde and oblished by their presentes, vnto the
most excellent & most mighty prynce Edward, by the grace of- God, kyng of Englande, -
That where it was commoned and agreed, betwene hys excellencie on the to.parte, and the -
right high and mighty prince our souereigne lord, lames king of Scottes on the other-
parte, that manage and matrimonie should .haue. ben solempnised, and had betwixt a •
mightye and excellent prynce, lames the first begotten sonne and heyre apparent to -our -i
soueraigne lord foresayd, and the right noble princes Cicilie daughter, to the sayd Ed- >•
ward kyng of Englad, and for the sayd mariage to liaue ben performed certayne and di-
uers great surnmes of money ben payed and contented by the most excellent prince, vato- <
cure -
536 THE. XXII. YERE OF
cure soueraigne lordc forsayd, as by certayne wrytynges betwixt the sayde princes, there-
upon made more :it large playnly appeares: That if it be the pleasure of the sayd Edward
kyng of England, to liaue the sayd manage to be performed and completed, accordynge to
the "said communication in writing, that then it shall be well and truely, without fraude,
disceyte or collusion, obserued, keped, and accomplished on the partie of our souereigne
lord foresayd, and the nobles spirituall and temporall of the Realme of Scotland. And if
it be not the pleasure of the sayd excellent prince Edward kyng of England, to haue the
• sayd manage performed and completed: That then we Walter Prouost, burgesses, mar-
chantes, and comons of the abouenamed towne of Edenboroughe, or any of vs shall pay
and content to the kyng of Englande foresayde, all the summes of money that was payed
for the sayd mariage, at syke lyke termes and dayes, immediately ensuen, after the refusall
of the sayd mariage, and in syke like maner and forme, as the sayde summes were afore de-
liucred, contented and payed, that than this obligacion and bond to be voyd, & of no stregth.
Provided alwayes, that the sayd Edward kynge of England, shall geue knowledge of his
pleasure and eleccion in the premisses in taking or refusing of ^ said mariage, or of repay-
met of the said summes of money, to1 our sayd souereygne lord, or lordes of his counsayll,
or to vs the said Prouost, merchautes, or any of vs, within the realme of Scotland, beyng
for the tyme, betwixt this and the feaste of Alhallowes next to come. To the whiche pay-
ment well and truly to be made, we bynde and oblishe vs, and euery of vs, our heyres, suc-
cession, executors and all our goodes, merchaundises, and thynges whatsoeuer they bee,
where so euer, or in what place, by water or by lande, on this syde f sea, or beyond, we
shall happen to be f'ounden, any leage, truse or sauegard made or to be made, notwith-
standing. In wytnes wherof to this oure present writyng, & letters of bonde. We, the
sayde Prouost, Burgesses, Merchauntes and commontye, haue set our common scale of
the sayde towne of Edenhorough, the fourth daye of August, the yere of God. M.cccc.
Ixxxii. Geuen in the presence of the right mighty Prince Richarde duke of Gloucester,
Alexander duke of Albanye, a reuerendc father in God, lames bishop of Dunkeld, and the
ryght noble lord Henry erle of Northumberlande, Colyn erle of Argile, Thomas lorde
•Stanley, Master Alexander English and other, &c."
When the duke of Glocester had thus obteyned hys purpose, and receyued writynges
signed and sealed for the performance of thesame, he sent the instrumentes to kvng Edward
•hys brother, whiche muche comended bothe his valiaunt manhode, and also his prudent
pollicie, in conueyng hys busines, bothe to hys aw ne purpose, and also to the profit of the
Realme. Kyng Edward, not a littel mused, and much more debated wyth hys counsayl,
whether it were more profitable and honorable to hym .and hys Realme, to suffer the sayde
mentioned mariage, to take effect, and procede to a conclusion, or els to requyre a repay-
inct, and rcdelyuery of the summes of money, apprompted and layde out for thesame pur-
pose. After long consultation had, and it was considered in what case the realme & y kyng
of Scottcs stock- in, for it was well knowcn that he and hys nobiltie were at great discord as
you before haue hearde: it was considered farther, that if the nobilitie preuayled, and gat
the sonerayn'tie, the lyne and succession of lames the thyrde, were likely to be totally extir-
pate, & disinherited for euer: it was also alledged that the prince of Scotlande, neuer con-
discended nor as he hymsclfe sayd, woulde agre to thys rnocioned manage. These thynges
.thus debuted, the kyng by great ad u ice, refused and reuoked all thynges to be done, for the
more forwardnes of the sayde matrimony, and elected and chose the repayment of all suche
summos of money, as for the occasion of the sayde betrusted mariage was nayd, and before
-hand contented & delivered. And accordynge to the woordes of obligacion, made by the
towtie of Edenhorough, he sent Gartier, hya principal kyng of Armes and Northumber-
land Herault, to declare and intimate to the Prouost and burgesses of Edenborough, the
determinate refusall of the future matrimony, arid the eleccion and choyse of the repay-
ment of the money and duetye. And for the farther ouerture of the whole conclusion,
Cartier was instructed by writyng, what he should save and declare: and so by conuenient
iorneys
KYNG EDWARD THE. I1IJ.
iorneys came to the towne of Edenborough. viii. dayes before the feast of all sayntes,
where he openly sayde as foloweth: I gartier kinge of armes seruaunt, proctour and in«s
senger vnto the most hygh and mighty prince, my most dreadsoueraygne lord Edward by the
grace of God, kyng of Englande and of Fraunae, and lorde of Irelande, byvertue of cer-
tain letters of procuracie here redy to be shewed to me, by my sayd souereygne lord made
and geuen, make notyce and gene knowledge vnto you Prouost, Burgesses marchauntesand
communaltie of the towne of Edenborough in Scotlande, that where as it was sometyme
<;ommoned and agreed, betwene my sayde soueraygne lorde on the one partie, and therighte
hygh and mighty prince lames kyng of Scottes, on the other partie, y mariage & matrimo-
ny should haue been solempnised, and had betwene lames the first begotten sonne of the
said kyng of Scottes, and lady Cicilie, daughter to my sayd souereygne lord the kyng of
England. And for the sayde mariage to haue been performed, certayne and dyuers greate
summes of money, ben payed and contented by my sayde souereigne lord, whiche summes
of money, in cuce of refusall of the sayde mariage, by my sayde souereygue lorde to be
inade and declared, ye the sayd Prouost, Burgesses, marchauntes and communaltie, and
euery one of you are bounde and obliged by your letters vnder youre comon scale of your
toune of Edeborough, to repaye vnto hys hyghnes vnder lyke forme, and at suche termes
as they were fyrst payed. So that the kyng my souereygne lorde woulde make notice and
knowledge of his pleasure, and eleccion in takyng or refusynge of the sayde marriage, of
the repayment of the sayde summes of money, before the feast of Alhaiowes nexte to
come, lyke as*in your sayde letters, bearynge date at Edenboroughe the fourthe day of Au-
gust last past, it was conteyned all at large. The pleasure and eleccion of my sayd soue-
reygne lord, for dyuers causes and consideracions hym mouynge is to refuse the accomplishe-
rrient of the sayde mariage, and to haue the repayment of all suche summes of money, as
by occasion of the sayde betrusted mariage, hys hyghnes had payed. The sayd re-
paymente to be had of you Prouoste, Burgesses, merchauntes and communaltie, and euery
of you, youre heyres and successors, accordynge to your bonde and obligacion afore re-
hersed. And therefore I geue you notice and knowledge by thys writynge, whiche I deliuer
too you, within the terme in your sayde letters lymitted and expressed to all ententes and
effectes, which therof mave ensue.
When Gartier had thus declared all thinges, geuen to him in charge, the Prouost or other
Burgesses .made annswere, that they now knowynge the kynges determinate pleasure, woulde
accordynge to their bonde, prepare for the repayment of the sayde summes, and genlelly
enterteynyng Gartier coueyghed him to Barwyke, from whece he departed to new Castell,
to the duke of Glocester, makyng relacion to hym of all his doynges, whiche duke with all
spede returned too Shrythuton, and there abode. Shortly after Gartiers departynge, the
duke of Albanye, thynkyng to obteyne agayne the hygh fauoure of the kynge hys brother,
deliuered hjm out of captiuitie and pryson, wherin he had a certaine space continued (not
withoute the dukes assente, whiche besieged hym in the Castell'of Edenborough a littell be-
fore) & set him at large, of whome vtwardly hereceyued great thankes, when inwardly no-
thynge but reuengyng and confusion was in the kynges stomacke incorporate, so that shortly
after in the kynges presence, he was in ieopardye of hys lyfe, and all improuided for dread
of death, reacted to take a small balynger, and to sayle into Fraunce, where shortly after
rydynge by the men of armes, which encontered at the tylt, by Lewes then duke of Or-
liaunce, after Frenche kyng, he was with mischarging of a speare by fortunes peruerce
countenaunce pytyfullye slayne and broughte to death, leauyng after hym one oncly sonne,
named Ihon, whiche beynge banished Scotland, enhabited and maried in Fraunce, and there
died. How dolorous, how sorrowful is it to wryte, and muche more pencifull to remember
the chaunces, & infortuuites that happened within twoo yere in Englande and Scotlande,
betwene naturall bretherne. ^or kyng Edward set on by suche as enuied the estate of the
duke of Clarence, forgetting nature, and fraternall amitie, consented to the deathe of hys
X x sayde
533 THE. XXIII. YERE OF
snyrle brother. lames kynge of Scottes, puttynge in obliuion that Alexander hys brother
was the oneiv Orgune and instrument, by whome he obteyncd libertie and fredome, seduced
and led by Yylc und malicious persons, whiche maligned at the glorie and indifferent Justice
of the duke of Albanye, imagined and compassed hys deathe, and exiled him for euer?
what a pernicious serpent, what a venomous tode, & what a pestiferous Scorpion is that
dfiielisbe whelpe, called priuye eniiye? Against it no fortres can defend, no caue can hyde,
no wood cun shadow, no fouie can escape, nor no beaste can auoyde, her poyson is so
stronge, that neuer man in authoritie coulde escape from the bytyng of her tethe, scrach-
yng of her paives, blastyng of her breath, defoulynge of her tayle.
Wherefore, let etiery indifferent persone, serche Histories, rede Chronicles, looke on auc-
thores, aswell holy as prophane, and they shall apparauntly perceiue, that neither open
wane, daily famine, or accustomed mortalitie, is not so muche an enemie, nor so greate a
rnalle-to destroye, and stippedilate high power and nobilitie, as is roted malice, inwarde
grudge, and dijsimuled hatred. Although that kyng Edwarde wer glad and ioyous, of all
the prosperous successe, of all enterprises in the realme of Scotlande, yet euen now his
Feuer tercian, of the wliiche he had languished sore, sithe his voyage royall into Fraunce,
was sodainly turned into a vncurable quartain: For where he was before tossed, betwene
hope and despaire, sometyme hote, sometyme colde, that the Matrimonie of his daughter,
and Charles the dolphin, should come to the solempnizacion, according to the leage,
betwene him and the Freche kyng, concluded at Picquegnie: Now was he cast into an in-
dissoluble Melancoly, and acontinuall cold : For the lorde Hawarde, whiche was returned out
of Fraunce, with many faire wordes, and painted promises but without tribute, or conclusio
of the marige, certified the kyng of his awne knowledge: how that he beyng present, sawe
the lady Margarete of Austrice, daughter to Duke Maximilian, sonne to the Emperor
Fredericke, receiued into Fraunce, with pompe more then Emperiall, by the Duke of Bur-
bon, the lorde Daibret, and many other lordes and magistrates of the realme, and so with
greate triumphe, conueighed to Amboyse, where the Dolphin laie, and there was to hym
contracted and espoused. Kyng Edwarde now beyng certain, how the Frenche kyng had
with pleasaunt language, and colourable answeres, foded hym furthe, and allured hym to
geue credence, to hys dissimulyng woordes, neither meanyng as he saied, nor shewyns*
what he rneante: Determined with hymself, no longer to suffre so apparaunt wrong, nor so
intoUerable an iniurie. Wherfore, he called his nobilitie together, and declared to them
the manifold wrong, whiche he had receiued of late, at the handes of the Frenche kyng,
and how he vntruly, and vnprincely, had broken the league and amitie, bothe in deniyng
the paimeiit of the tribute, as also, in refusing the accomplishing! of the mariage of his
daughter, accordyng as in the treatie was concluded. Requiryng them therefore to study,
how to reuenge and punishe, so greate a shame, and so opprobrious a taunt, offered to their
natiue Countrey. The nobilitie not a litle glad of this mocion, answered: that their whole
desire was, to fight with the Frenche men, whom they so ofte times had vanquished, & pro-
fligated in battail, and that for the dignitie, and fame of their Countrey, they would let no-
thyng be vnattempted, offeryng hym in an instant, to be ready in harnes to fulfill his mynde
and desire. When he knewe the toward myndes of his subiectes, of the Temporaltie, he
moued the Spiritualtie (because by the Ecclesiasticall lawes, they be prohibited to weare ar-
niure) to aide hym with money, for mainteinaunce of his warres, and suppressyng of his
enemies.
THE. XXIII. YERE.
Th«.«ui. BEholde, while he was intentiue, and amployed his whole labor, diligence, and indus-
trie, to furnishe and setforward this warre, whiche he newly had attempted and begonne :
whether it was with the melencoly, and anger that he toke with the Frenche kyng, for his
1 vntruthe
KYNG EDWARD THE. IIIJ. 339
rntrtithe and vnkyndnes, or were it by any superfluous surfet (to the jvhiche lie was mucho
geuen) hesodamly fell sicke, and was with a greuous maledy taken, yea, so greuously ta-
ken, that his vitaill spirites, began to i'aile and waxe feble, whiche debilitie when he per-
ceiued, lie called together all his nobles, whiche, that tyine were abonte London, vpon one
daie (as he did diuerse tymes commen with them) and thus in effect, to theim saied: My
welbeloued, and no lesse betrusted f'rendes, counsailers, and alies, if wee mortall men
would daily and hourely, with our self reuolue, and intetiuely in our hartes engraue, or in
our inindes grauously poder, the fraile and fadyng imbecilitie, of our humain nature, and
the caduke fragilitie of thesame: wee should apparauntly perceiue, that we beyng called
reasonable creatures, and in that predicament, compared and ioyned with Angel les, bee
more worthy to be numcupate, and demed persones vnresonable, and rather to bee asso-
ciate in that name with brute beastes, called vnreasonable (of whose life and death, no
creature speaketh) rather then in that poynt, to bee resembled to the Angelicall societie, and
reasonable compaignie. For while health in vs florisheth, or prosperitie abundeth, or the
glosyng worlde laugheth, whiche is he, so reasonable of vs all, that can saie (if he will
not erre from the truthe) that he once in a weke remebred his fatal! ende, or the prescribed
terme of his enduryng : or once prouided by labor, study, or otherwise, to set a stedfast
and a sure ordre, for the securitie, and profile, continuaunce either of his possessions and
dominions, or of his sequele and posteritie, whiche after hym shall naturally succede : suche
is the blyndnes, of our fraile and fragile nature, euer geuen to carnal concupiscence, and
mundain delectacion, daily obfuscate and seduced, with that lothargious, and deceiable ser-
pent, called hope of long life, that all we put in obliuion, our duetie present, and lesse
remembre the pollitique purueighaunce, for thynges to come: For blyndly we walke in this
fraile life, till we fall grouelyng with our iyes, sodainly vpon death. The vanities of this
worlde, bee to vs so agreable, that when we begin to liue, wee esteme our life, a whole
worlde, whiche once ouerpassed, it sheweth no better but dust, driuen a way with a puffe
of wynde: I speake this to you of my self, and for your selfes to you, sore lamentyng, and
inwardly bewailyng, that I did not performe and finally cosumate, suche pollitique diuises,
and good and Godly ordinaunres, in my long life and paciffique prosperitie, whiche, then
I fully determined to haue begonne, set forward, and completly to haue finished. Whiche,
now for the extreme paines, and tortures of my angrie maladie, and for the small terme of
my natural! life, I can neither performe, neither yet liue to see, either to take effect, or
to sort to take any conclusion. For God I call to record, my harte was fully sette, and
my rnynde deliberatly determined : so to haue decorated this realme, with wholesome
Lawes, statutes, and ordinaunces, so to haue educated and brought vp myne enfantes and
children, in vertue, learnyng, actiuitie, and pollicie. That, what with their royall puys-
saunce, and your frendly assistence, the proudest Prince of Europe, durste not once at-
tempte, to moue any hostilitie, against them, you, or this realme: But oh Lorde, all
thynges that I of long tyme, haue in my mynde reuolued, and immagincd, that stelyng
thief death, goeth about to subuerte, and in the morncH of an houre, clercly to suppcdi-
tate, wherefore (as men saie) I now beyng driuen to the verie hard \\ali: hauyng perfect
confidence, and sure hope in the approbate fidelitie, and constannt integritic, whiche I
haue euer experimented, and knowen to be radicate and planted, in the hartes of your
louyng bodies, toward me and myne. So that I maie saie and aduowe, that neuer Prince
bearytig scepter and Croune, ouer realmes and regions, hath found or proued, more .faith-
fuller counsailers, nor trewer subiectes, then I haue doen of you, nor ncuer Potentate nor
gouernor, put more affiaunce and truste, in his vassals and seruauntes, then I, sith the
adepcion of the Croune, fermely haue fixed, in your circumspect wised omes, and sober
discresions. And now of verie force compelled, liyng in a dubious hope, betwene liuyng
and diyng, betwene remembraunce and obliuion, do require you and instauntly moue you,
that as I haue found you, faithful!, obediet, and to all my requestes and desires, (while 1
was here in healthe, conuersant with you) diligent and intentiuc: So after rny death, my
X x 2 hope
340 THE. XXIII. YERE OF
hone is with a sure anchor grounded, and myne imvarde conceipte vndubitully rcsolued,
that the especiall confidence, and inwarde fidclitie, whiche, so long hath continued be-
twene vs, bcyn« together Huyng, shall not totally by my death, bee extincte and vanished
like smoke. For what auaileth frendshippe in life, when trust deceiueth after death: What
profiteth amitie in apparaunt presence, when confidence is fraudulently beguiled in absence:
What loue groweth, by coniunccion of Matriinonie, if the ofspryng after dooe not agree
and concorcie: Or what profiteth Princes, to auaunce and promote their subiectes, if after
their death, the bountifulnes by tbeitn shewed, be of the receiuers of thesame and their
sequele, neither regarded nor yet remembered: The paretes make the manage for an in-
dissoluble amitie, Princes promote sometyme for fauoure, sometyme for deserte, and some-
tyme for pleasure: yet (if yon will consider) the verie pricke, to _the whiche ail giftes of
promocions, do finally tend, it is to haue loue, iauor, faithful cousaill, and diligent ser-
uice, of suche as be by them, promoted and exalted, not onely in their awne lifes, beyng
but 'brief and transitorie: But also, that thei and their progeny, callyng to remembiaunce,
the fauor, estimacion, and auauncernent, which, they of so liberal and munificent a prince
had receiued and obteined: should with spere and shelde, toungue and wit, hande and
penne, continually ttudie to defende, counsaill and prefer not onely hym duryng his life^
but also to serue, assist, and maintain his sequele, and lineall succession, as^the verie
Images, and carnall portratures, of his stirpe, line and stemme, naturally clisceded. In
this case am I, whom you knowe, not without ineffable trouble, and moste daungerous
warr, to haue obteined the scepter, and cliademe of thisreahne and Empire, duryng whiche
reigne, I haue had either litle peace, or small tranquilitie : And now when I thought tny
self, sure of a quiet life, and worldly rest, death hath blowen his terrible trompet, calling
and somonyng me (as I truste) to perpetuall tranquilitie, and eternall quietnes : therefore
now for the perfecte, and vnmoueable confidence, , that I hane euer had in you, and for the
vnfained loue, that you haue euer shewed vnto me, I commende and deliucr into your
gouernau.ce, bothe this noble realme, and my naturall children, and your kynsmen. My
children by your diligent ouersight, and pollitique prouision to bee taught, enformed,
and instructed, not onely in the scieces liberall, verteous morall and gooil literature.:
but also to be practised in trickes of marciall actiuilie, ar/d diligent exercise of pru-
dent pollicie: For I haue hard clarkes saie, although I am vnlettered, that fortunate
is that Realme, where Philosophiers reigne, or where kynges bee Philosophiers, and
louers of wisedome. In this tendre age, you male writhe and turne theim, into euery
forme and fashio: If you bryng them vp in vertue, you shall haue verteous Princes :.
if you set them to learnyng, your gouernors shalbee men of knowledge, if you teache
them actiuitie, you shall haue valiaunte capitaines, if thei practice pollicie, you shall
haue bothe pollitique, and prudent rulers. On the other side, if by your negligence,
thei fall to vice (as youth is to all euill, prone and ready) not .onely their honor,
but also your honestie, shalbe spotted and appalled: If thei bee slogardes and geuen ta
slothe, the publique wealth of this realme, must shortly decaye. If thei be vnlearned,
thei rnaie by flattery sone bee blinded, £ by adulacion often deceiued. If thei lacke ac-
tiuitie, euery creature be he neuer so base of birthe, shall foyle and ouerthrowe theim,
like domrne beastes and beastly dastardes. Therfore I desire you, and in Goddes name
adiure you, rather to studie to make theim riche, in Godly knowledge, and verteous qua-
lities, then to take pain to glorifie theim, with abundance of worldely treasure, and mua-
dain superfluitie. And certainly, whe thei come to maturitie of age, and. shall peradueiir
ture considre, that by your omission and negligent educacio, thei haue not suche graces,
nor are endued with suche notable qualities, as thei might haue been, if you had per-
formed the truste to you, by me committed : Thei shall not onely deplore, and lament their
vngarnished estate, and naked condicion, but al so it maie fortune, that thei shall conceiue
inwardly against you, suche a negligent vntruthe, that the sequele thereof, maie rather
turne to displeasure then thanke, and soner to an vngratitude, then to a rewarde.
My,
KYNG EDWARD THE. IIIJ. 341
My kyngdom also, I leue in your goucrnauncc, duryng the minoritie of my children,
chargyng you on your honors, othes, and fidelilie, made and sworne to me, so indifferent-
ly to oidre and gouerne, the subiectes of thesame, bothe with Justice and tncrcic, that the
\villes of malefactors, h.ane not to large a scope, nor the hartes of the good people, by to
muche extremitie, bee neither sorofully daunted, nor vnkyndly kept vnder : Oh I am so
slepie, th.'t I muste make an ende, and now before you all I commende my soule to al-
mightie God, my sauior and redemer: my body to the wormes of the yearth, my kyng-
dom to the Prince my sonne, and to you my louyng frendes my harte, my trust, and my
whole confidence. And euen with that, he fell on slepe: After diuerse suche charitable
monicions and exhortacions (as the pangues and fittes of his sickenes would permit hym)
sometyme to his nobilitie, sometyme to his familier frendes, made and declared: His ma-
ladie sodainly encreased, and grewe to so painfull an extretnitie, that short death was soner
of him required, then longer life desired, wishyng ratlier departyng out of this worlde, then
to abide the painfull smarte, of his dolorous pangues. Wherfore Attrapos hauyng com-
passion, of his continuall languishyng, and daily agony, dirupted and brake the threde, of
his naturall life, the. ix. daie of April!, in the yere of our Lorde, M. CCCC. Ixxxiii. and
in the fiftie yere of his bodily age, when he had reigned oner this realme, more in trouble
then perfecte quietnes. xxii. yeres, one monethe and eight daies: whose corps was with
funeral! pompe, accordyng to the royall estate of a kyng, conueighed to the Colege of
"Winsore, to the which, he had been a greate benefactor, and there on the right hand, of
the high aulter, princely enterred and intumilate, whose death was asrnuche lamented of
his subiectes, as his life desired. He begat of the Quene Elizabeth his wife, tenne chil-
dren whereof he left liuyng twoo soonnes, Edward Prince of Wales, and Richard duke
of Yorke, and a bastard sonne called Arthur, whiche, after was Vicount Lisle, and came
to good profe: beside these he left fiue daughters, Elizabeth, Cicilie, Anne, Katherine, and
Uriget: all these wer maried, except lady Briget, which was a Nonne professed.
This kyag Edward was a manne, of a goodly personage, of stature high, and excedyng
all other in countenaunce, welfauored and comly, of iye quicke and pleasaunt, brode brest-
ed, and well set, all other members doune to his fete, kept iust proporcion with the bulke
of his body : of wit he was quicke and pregnant, of stomacke stoute and bold, & of cou-
rage haute and high, of memorie moste perfecte, and especially of suche thynges, as he
had trauailed in, in greate affaires & weightie causes quicke and diligent, in perelles and
aduentures bolde and hardie, against his enemies, fierce and terrible, to his frendes and to
straungers bountifuil and liberal, hauyng in warres moste prosperous lucke, and happie
successe: From the pleasure of the body, to the whiche he was prone, & much geuen, he
did muche abstein and forbere, for whiche cause, and also for the greate hurnanitie and
lowlines, that in hym was by nature moste abundantly engendered, he vsed himself emong
ineane persones, more familier, then his degree, dignitie, or maiestie required, whiche
was the cause, that some suspected hym, to haue died of poyson. And it was said, he
that all the daies of his life, had muche vsed liberalise, was towarde his latter ende, geuen
to auarice and loue of money. And although lie founde his kyngdome, greatly impouerish-
ed, and almoste emptie, bothe of men of warre and money, yet after that he had pacified,
and finished the ciuill discencion, he left his realme, of all thynges riche and abundauni.
The spirituall promocions, he gaue euer to the moste famous and excellent Clerkes, and
men of tbe best lining: Other of meane qualities, whom he muche fauored, he did not
preferre to greate dignitie and high promocios but with money rewarded theim, whiche
thyng many Princes (regarding not their honors) do not consider nor obserue: with all
whiche notable verities, he ioyned to hym so surely the hartes of his people, that after his
death, his life again was daily wished, and effecteously emong bis Subiectes desired, but
wishyng serued not, nor yet their desire tooke none effecte.
*Jf The ende of the prosperous reigne of Kyng Edward the fourthe,
THE
342 KYNG EDWARDE
THE PITIFULL LIFE OF KYNG
EDWARD THE. V.
IE eternall God callynge to his merci the noble prince Kynge Edward y\ iiij. of that
name, Edward his eldest sonne (prince of Wales) beganne his reygne the ninthe daye
. of April, in the yere of oure lord a thousande foure hundred fourscore & thre, and in the.
iij. as shall xxjjj. yere of Lewes the leueiithe then Frenche kynge: Whiche younge prince reigned a small
a'note'made space "& litle season ouer this realme, either in pleasure or libertie. For his vncle Richard
at that duke of Gloucester, within thre monethes depriued hym not onely of his croune and rega-
writtsby5 litee, but also vnnaturally bereft hym of his naturall life: and for the declaracion by what
syr Thomai craftje engine he firste attempted his vngraciouse purpose & by what false colourable and vn-
true allegacions he set furlh openly his pretenscd enterprise, and finally, by what shameful!,
cruell and detestable act he perfourmed the same : Ye niustc first considre of whom he and
his brother dessended, their natures, condicions and inclinacions, and then you shall easely
perceiue, that there coulde not bee a more crueller tiraunt apoincted to acheue a more ab-
hominable entreprise.
Richard Their father was Richard Plantagenet duke of Yorke, whiche began not by warre, but by
piancagenet ]awe to calenge the crowne of Englande, puttyng his claime in the parliament, holden the
y'orkc. thirty yere of kyng Henry the sixt, where either for righte or for fauoure, his cause was so set
furthe and auaunccd, that the blonde of the saied kynge Henry, althoughe he had a goodly sonne,
wasclerelyabiected, and the crowne of y realme (by auctoritie ofparliamente)enlayled to the
duke of Yorke and his heires after the decease of thesayed kynge Henry the syxte. But the
duke not entendynge so long too tary, but mindyng vnder the pretexte of discension growen
and arisen within the realme, and of couenauntes made in the parliament, not kepte, but
broken, to preuent the tyme and to take vpon hym the gouernaunce in kynge Henries life
was by to tnuche hardinesse slaine at the battaill of Wakefelde, leuyng behinde hym thre
The. iij. sonnes, Edwarde, George, and Richarde. All these three as thei were greate estates of
chard duke" °irthe, so were taey greate and stately of stomacke, gredy of promocions and impaciente
of Yorke, parteners of rule and autoritee.
This Edward reuenged his fathers death and deposed kyng Henry the sixt, and attained
the crowne and scepter of the realme.
George clnke of Clarence was a goodly and well feautured prince, in all thynges fortunate,
if either his owne arnbicion had not set hym against his brother or thenuy of his enemies hail
not set his brother againste hym : for were it by the quene or nobles of her blud. whiche
highly maligned the kynges kynred (as women comrnely, not of rnaiice but of nature, hate
suche as their husbandes loue) or wer it a proud appetite of the duke hymselfe, entendynge
to bee kynge, at the leaste wise, heinous treason was laied to his charge, and finally were
^ '" lau'te or wei* '1G faultelesse, attainted was he by parliament and Judged to death, and
there vpon hastely drowned in a butte of malmesey within the towre of London. Whose
fbuTof " death kynSe Edwarde (although he cormnaunded it) when he wiste it was doen piteously he
Maimcsey, feewayled and sorowfully repented it.
Thed«crip- . ^icnard duke of Gloucester the third sonne (of whiche I must moste entreate) was in
cionofRi- witte and courage egall with the other, but in beautee and liiiiametes of nature far vnder-
ctwdthe, netll bothe( for he was jitjg Of staturej eiuin featured of limnes, croke backed, the left shulder
muche
THE FIFT. 343
muche higher than the righte, harde fauoured of visage, such as in estates is called a warlike
visage, and emonge commen persones a crabbed face. He was malicious, wrothl'ull and eu-
uious, and as it is reported, his mother the duches had muche a dooc in her trauaill, that
she could not be deliuered of hym vncut, and that he came into the \vorlde the fete fonvarde,
as menne bee borne outwarde, and as the fame ratine, not vntothcd: whether that menne of
hatred reported aboue the truthe, or that nature chaunged his course in his beginnynge,
whiche ia his life many thynges vnnaturally committed, this I leue to God his iudgemente.
lie was noneeuill capitain in warre, as to y whyche, his disposicion was more enclined too,
then to peace. Sondry victories he had and some ouerthrowes, but neuer for defaute of his
owne persone, either for lacke of hardinesse or politique order. Free he was of his dispences
and somwhat aboue his power liberal!, with large giftes he gatte hym vnstedfaste frendship:
for whiche cause he was fain to borowe, pill and extort in other places, whiche gat hyrn
stedfaste hatred. He was close and secrete, a depe dissimuler, lowlye of countenaunce, ar- vY"*/
rogante of herte, outwardely familier where he inwardely hated, not lettynge to kisse
whom he thought to kill, despiteous and cruell, not alwaie for eiuill will, but ofter for
ambicion and too serue his purpose, frende and fooe were all indifferent, where his atiaun-
tage grewe, he spared no mannes deathe whose life withstode his purpose. He slewe in the Kynge
towre kynge Henry the sixte, saiyngenow is there no heire male of kynge Edwarde the thirde, Henrx y*
but wee of the house of Yorke: whiche murder was doen without kyng Edward his assente, the'toVir"
which woulde haue appointed that bocherly office too some other, rather then to his owne b>" ?'chard
brother. Some wise menne also wene, that his drifte lacked not in hclpynge furth his owne y
brother of Clarence to his death, which thyng in all apparaunce he resisted, although he
inwardly mynded it. And the cause therof was, as men notyng his 'doynges and prc-
eedynges did marke (because that he longe in kynge Edwarde his tyme thought to obtaine
the crowne in case that the kynge his brother, whose life he loked that eiui! diet woulde sone
shorten) shoulde happen to diseace, as he did in dede, his chyldren beynge younge. And
then if the duke of Clarence had liued, his pretenced purpose had been far hyndered ; For yf
the duke of Clarence had kepte hymselfe trewe to his nephewe the younge king, or would
haue taken vpon hym too bee kynge, cuery one of these castes had been a troumpe in the
duke of Gloucesters waye: but when he was sure that his brother of Clarence was ded, then
he knewe that he might worke without that ieoperdy. But of these poinctes there is no cer-
tentie, and whosoeuer diuineth orconiectureth, may as we! shote to fer as toshorte, but this
conjecture afterwarde toke place (as fewe dooe) as you shall perceiue hereafter.
Butafore I declare too you howe this Richarde duke of Gloucester began his mischeuous
imagined and pretenced enterprice as apparatly shalbee opened, I muste a litle put you in
remembraunce of a louyng & charitable acte, no lesse profitable then amicable to the whole
comminaltie, if it had been so inwardely thought as it was outwardly dissirnuled which
kynge Edwarde did liyng on his deathe bedde not longe before he died. For in his life, al-
though that the diuision emongest his frendes somewhat greued and irked hym, yet in his
helthe he lesse regarded & tooke hede to it, by reason that he thoughte that he was liable in al
thynges to rule bothe parties, wer thei neuer so obstinate: But in his last sickenes (whiche
continued longer then false and fantasticall tales haue vntruely and falsely surmised, as I my
selfe that wrote this pamphlet truly knewe) when he perceiued his naturall strength was gone,
and hoped litle of recouery by the hartes of all his phicisians whiche he perceiued onely to
prolong his life. Then he began to consider the youthe of his children, howe bee it, he
nothyng lesse mistrusted then that that happened, yet he wisely forseyng and consideryng that
many armes might ensue by the debate of his nobles while the youth of his children should
lacke discrecion and good counsaill of their frendes, for he knewe well that euery parte
woulde woorke for their owne commodite, and rather by pleasaunte aduise to wynne theim
selues fauour, then by profitable aduertisement to dooe the chyldren good : wherefore lir
ynge on his deathe bed at Westminster, he called to hym suche lordes as then were aboute
hym, whome he knewe to bee at variaunce, in especiall the lorde Marques Dorset sonne to
the
3U KYNG EDWARDE
the queene and the lord Hastynges, againstewhome the quene especially grudged for the fa-
uoure that the king bare hym, and also she thoughte hym familier with the kynge in wanton
compaignie : her kynne bare hym sore, aswel for that the kyng made hym capitain of Calei?,
which office the lord Riuers brother to the quene claimed of the kyng his former promise, as
of diuerse other giftes whiche he receiued that they loked for. And when these lordes with
diuerse other of bothe parties were come vnto the kynge his presence, he caused hym
self to bee raised vp with pillowes, & as I can gesse, saied thus or muche like in sen-
tence to theim.
An «hor- My lordes, my dere kynsmen and alies, in what plight I now lye you se, and I per-
tacio'of"' fightly fele by the whiche I loke the lesse while to Hue with you, therfore the more depely
£aTtifed" I 'am moued to care in what case I leaue you, for such as I leane you suche are my chyldren
Uij. in his like to finde you, whiche yf they should find at variaunce (as God forbid) they theim selfes
beddl! mighte hap to fall at warre or their discrecion woulde seme to set you at peace : you se
their youthe, of whiche I reken the onely surety to reste in your Concorde. For it suffi-
selh not all you to loue theim, yf eche of you hate other: if they were men your faith-
fulnesse might hap to suffice, but childhod muste bee maintained by mennes autoritie, and
slipper youthe vnderprompted with elder counsaill, whiche they-can neuer haue excepteyou
geue it, nor you geue it, excepte you agree, for where eche laboureth too breake that the
other maketh, and for hatered eche impugneth others cou nsaill : there muste nedes bee a
longe tracte or any good conclusion canne forewarde. And farther, while cache partie la-
boureth too bee chiefe flatterer, adulacion shall then haue more place then plaine and faithe-
full aduise, of wiche muste nedes ensue the eiuill bryngynge vp of the prince whose mynde
in tender youth infecte shall redely fall to mischiefe and riote and drawe downe this noble
realme to ruine: But yf grace turne hym to wisedome (whiche God send hym) then they
whiche by eiuill meanes pleased hym beste, shall after fall fardest out of fauoure, so that at
the lengthe eiuill driftes driue to naught, and good plain waies prospere and florishe. Greate
variaunce hath been betwene you, not alwaies for great causes: Some tyme a thynge righte
well entended and misconstrued hath been turned to the worse, or a small displeasure doen
to you, either by youre owne affection, either by instigacion of euill tongues hath ben sore
aggrauate. But this I wote well, you had neuer so greate cause of hatred as you haue
of loue because we bee all menne and that we bee all Christen menne. This I will leaue
to preachers to tell you and yet I wote not whether any prechers woordes ought more too
moue you, then I that is goyng by and by to the place that they all preche of. But this
shal 1 desire you to remembre, that the one parte of you beyng of my bloude, the other
of my alies, and eche of you with other either of kynred or affinitee whiche is the very
spirituall affinitee and kinred in Christe, as all partakers of the sacramentes of Christe his
churche. The weightie of whiche consanguinitie yf we did beare as woulde to God we did,
then shoulde we more bee moued to spirituall charite then to fleshely consanguinitee. Our
Lorde forbid that you loue the worse together for the selfe same cause that you ought to
loue the better, and yet that often happeneth, for no where finde we so dedly debate as
emongest theim whiche by nature and lawe moste ought toagre together. Suche a serpente
is ambicion and desire of vainglory and souereigntie, which emongest estates when he is
once entred he crepith furth so far, till with deuision and variafice he turneth all to
mischiefe. Firste longynge to be next to the beste, afterwarde egall with the beste, and
at the laste chief and aboue the beste. Of whiche immoderate appetite of worship and the
debate and discencion that grewe there by, what losse, what sorowe, what trouble hath
within these fewe yeres growen within this realme, I pray God as well to forget as we
well remembre, whiche thyng if I coulde as well haue forsene as I haue with my more
pain then pleasure proued, by God his blessed lady (that was his common othe) I would
neuer haue won the curtesies of mennes knees with the losse of so many heddes. But sith
tbynges passed cannot be called agayne, muche more ought wee to bee ware, by what oc-
casion wee haue taken so greate hurte before, that wee eftsones fall not into that occa-
6 sion
THE FIFT. 345
sion again. Now bee these greues passed and al is quiet, thanked bee God, and likely
well too prospere in welthfull peace, vnder your cosins my children, yf God sendc thcim
life, and you loue and concorde. Of whiche two thynges the lesse losse were thei by
, whom although God did his pleasure, yet shoulde this realme alwayes fynde kynges, and
paraduenture as good kynges as thei. But yf you emongest your selfes in a chyldes
reigne fall at debate, many a good mannc shall innocently perishe, and happely he and
you also, or this land finde peace and quiet agayne : wherefore in these laste woordes
that euer I looke tospeake to you, I exhorte and require you all, for the loue that you haue
borne too me, and for the loue that I haue borne to you, and for the loue that
oure Lorde beareth to vs all: From this tymc forward all greues forgotten, eche of you
loue other, which I verely trust you will, yf you any thynge regarde God or your
kynges affinitee or kynrede, this realme, your owne countree, or your owne surete &
wealth. And there with all, the kynge for faintenesse no longer enduryng too sitte
vp, layed hym downe on his righte side, his face toward them. And there was none pre-
sente that coulde forbeare weepynge, but the Lordes confortynge hym with as good
wordes as thei coulde, and answerynge for the tyme, as they thoughte shoulde stande
with his pleasure. And there in his presence (as by their woordes apeared) eche forgaue
other, and ioyned their handes together, when as it after appeared by their dedes their
hartes were far a sunder. And so within a fewe daies, this noble prince disceased at West-
minster the nynth daye of Aprill, in the yere of our lorde. M. cccc. Ixxxiij. after that he
had .reigned, xxii. yeres one moneth and eight daies, and was with great funerall pompe
conueighed to Windsore, leuynge behynde hym two sonnes, Edward the prince (of whom
this story entreateth) a chylde of xiij. yeres of age, Richard duke of Yorke two yeres
younger then the prince, & fiue daughters, Elizabeth, whiche by God his grace was maried
to kynge Henry the seuenthe and mother to kynge Henry the eighte, Cicile not so for-
tunate as faire, firste wedded to the viscounte Welles, after to one Kyne and liued not in
greate wealthe. Bridget professed her selfe a close Nonne at Sion, Anne was married to
lorde Thomas Hauwarde after erle of Surry and duke of Northfolke, katherine the youn-
gest daughter was maried to lorde William Courtney, sonne to therle of Deuonshire, whiche
long tyme tossed in ether fortune, somtyme in wealth, after in aduersite, till the benignitee
of her nephewe kyng Henry the eighte broughte her into a sure estate accordynge to her
degre and progeny.
This kynge Edwarde was suche a prince of gouernaunce and behaueoure in y tyme
peace (for in y tyme of warre eche must bee others enemie) y ther was neuer any kyng in
this realme attainyng the croune by warre and batlaill, so hertely beloued with the more sub-
staunce of his people, nor he hym self so specially fauoured in any parte of his life, as at
the tyme of his deathe: whiche fauour and affection yet, after his deathe, by the crueltee,
mischiefs and trouble of the ternpestious world that folowcd, highly towardes hym more en-
creased. At suche tyme as he died, the displeasure of those that bare him grudge for kyng
Henry the sixte sake (whom he deposed) was well assuaged and in effecte quenched within
the space of. xxii. yeres, whiche is a greate parte of a mannes life, and some were recon-
siled and growen into his fauoure, of the whiche. he was neuer straunge, when it was with
true herte demaunded. He wasgoodley of personage and princely to beholde, of harte cou-
rageous, politique in counsaill, and in aduersitee nothynge abashed, in prosperite rather ioy-
full then proude, iu peace iuste and mercifull, in warre sharpe and fearce, in the felde bolde
and hardy, and yetneuerthelesse noferther, then reason and policve would aduenture, whose
warres whosoeuer circumspectely and aduisedly considereth he shall no lesse commend his
wisedome and policie where he aduoidcd them, then his manned where he vanquished them.
He was of visage full faced & louely, of body mightie, strong and cleane made: with ouer
liberall and wanton diet, he waxed somewhat corpulent ar\d hourly, but neuerthelesse not
vncomely. He was in youth greatly geuen to fleshely wantonnes, from tLe whiche healthe of
Y y body
KYNG EDWARDE
body in great prosperitee and fortune witbonte an especiall grace hardely refraineth. This
fault litle greued his people, for neither coulde any one mannes pleasure stretche or extend
to the displeasure of very many, nor a multitude bee greued by a priuate mannes fantesy or
volupteousnesse, when it was dooen withoute violence. And in his latter daies he left all
wild daliaunce, & fell to grauitee, so that he brought his realme into a wealthie atwl prospe-
rous estate, all feare of outwarde enemies were clerely extinguished, and nowarre was in hande
nor none towarde, but suche as no rnanne looked for. The people were towarde tlieir prince
not in a constrained feare, but in a true louyng and wilfull obedience emongeste theim selfe,
and the commons were in good peace. The lordes whom he knewe at variaunce, he in hi*
deathe bedde (as he thought) brought too good concorde, loue and atnitee. And a litle
before his deathe, he had left gatheryng of money of his subjcctes, which is the onely thyng
that draweth the hartes of Englishe menne from their kinges and princes: nor nothyng he
either enterprised nor tooke in hande, by the whiche he shoulde bee drinen there vnto. For
his tribute out of Fraunce he had a litle before recouered and obleined. And the yere be-
fore he died, he recouered agayn the towne of Benvike against the kyng of Scottes. And
albeit that all the tyme of his reigne, he was so benigne courteous andfamilier, that no parte
of his vertues was estemed more then those highe humilitees: Yet that condicion in thende of
his last daies decaied not, in the whiche many princes by a longe continued soueraigntie, de-
cline to a proud porte and behaueour from their condicions accustomed at their bcgynnynge.
Yet lowlinesseand gentlenesse so far furth in hymencreased that the sommer before he died,
he beevnge at the hauerynge at the bower, sente for the maire and aldermen of London the-
ther onely to hunte & make pastyme, where he made theim not so hertye but so familiare
and frendly chere, and sent also to their wiues suche plenty of venison, that no one thyng
in many daies before gatte hym either mo hartes or more hertie fauour emongest the
comon people, which oftentymes more esteine and take for greate kyndenesse a litle courtesie
then a greate profile or benefite.
And so this aioble prince deceased, as you haue hearde in that tyme when his life was
moste desired, and when his people moste desired to kepe hym: Whiche loue of his peo-
ple and their entiere affection towarde hym, had been to hys noble chyldren (hauynge ia
theim selues also as many giftes of nature, as many princely verlues, as much good tow-
ardenesse as their age coulde receyue) a merueilous fortresse and a sure armoure, yf the
diuision and dissencion of their frendes had not vnarmed theim and left theim destitute,
and the execrable desire of soueraingtie prouoked hym to their destruccion, whiche yf ei-
ther kynde or kyndnesse had holden place muste nedes haue been their chiefe defence. For
Richard duke of Gloucester, by nature their vncle, by office their protectoure, to their
father greately beholden and too theim by othe and allegiaunce bounden, all the bandes
broken and violated whiche bynde man and man together, withoute any respecte of God or
the worlde, vnnaturally contriued too bereue theim, not onely of tlieir dignitee and prehe-
minence, but also of their naturall lines and worldely felicitee.
And first to shewe you, that by conjecture he pretended this thyng in his brothers life, ye
shall vndcrstande for a truth that the same nighte that kynge Edwarde died, one called
Mistelbrooke, longe ere the daye sprog, came toy house of one Pottier dwellyng in Red-
crosse strete without Creple gate of London, & when he was with hasty rappyng quickdy
let in, the saied Mistlebroke shewed vnto Pottier that kyng Edward was that night deceased:
by my truth quod Pottier, then will my master the duke of Gloucester bee kyng and that
I warrant thee. What cause he had so too thynke, harde it is to saie, whether he beeyng
his seruaunte knewe any such thyng pretensed or otherwise had any ynkelyng therof but of
all likelihod he spake it not of naught.
But now too returne to the trewe historic, wer it that the duke of Gloucester had of old
sore practised this conclusion, or was before tyme moued there vnto and putte in hope by
the tender age of the young princes his nephewes, as oportunitee and likely of spede put-
teth a nranrie in courage of that that he neuer intended. Certain it is, that he beeynge in
the
THE FII-T. 347
the Northe parties, for the good gouernaunce of the countrye, beynge aduertised of his
brothers deathe contriued the destruccion of his nephewes with the vsurpacion of tiie royall
dignitee and croune. And for asmuche as he well wiste, and had holpe to maintain, along
continued grudge and harte burning betwene the queues kynred and the kynges bloude, ei-
ther parte enuiyng others autoritee, he now thought, as it was in deede, a furtherly beginnynge
to the pursute of his entente, and a sure grounde and situacion of his vnnaturall buvldynge,
yf he mighte vnder the pretence of reuengynge of olde displeasures, abuse the ignorauce and
anger of the one partie too the destruccion of the other, and then to wyn to his purpose as
many as he coulde: and suche ascoulde not bee wonne, mighte be loste or they loked there-
fore. But of one thynpe he was certain, that if his entent were once perceiued, he should
haue made peace betwene bothe parties with his owne bloud : but all his entente he kept
secrete till he knewe his frendes, of the whiche Henry the duke of Buckynghmn was the
tirste that sente to him after his brothers death a trusty seruaunte of his called Persiuall to
the citee of Yorke, where the duke of Gloucester kepte the kynge his brothers funeralles.
This Persiuall came to Ihon Warde a secrete chamberer to the duke of Gloucester, desirynge
that he in close and couerte maner mighte speake with the duke his master: where vpon in
the dead of the nighte, the duke sente for Persiuall (all other beyng auoyded) whiche
shewed to the duke of Gloucester, that the duke of Buckyngliam his master in this ne\ve
\vorlde woulde take suche parte as he woulde, and woulde farther wayte vpon hym with a
thousande good felowes yf nede were. The duke sente backe the messanger with greate
thankes and diuerse priuey instruccions by mouthe, whiche Persiuall did somuche by his
trauaill that he came to the duke of Buckyngham his master into the marches of Wales, and
eftsones with newe instruccions met with the duke of Gloucester at Notyngham, whiche was
come out of the Northecountree with many knightes and gentlemen to the numbre of sixe
hundred horse and more, in his iourney towarde London. And after secrete metynge and
communicacion had betwene hym and the duke of Gloucester, he returned with such
spede that he brought the duke of Buckyngham his master to mete with the duke of Glou-
cester not far from Northampton with thre hundred horsses, and so they twoo came together
to Northampton where thei first began their vnhappy entei price, and so the duke of Buck-
yngham contynued still with the duke of Gloucester til he was crouned kyng, as ye shal
plally perceiue herafter.
The younge kynge at the deathe of his father kepte houshoulde at Ludlowe, for his father
had sente hym thether for lustice to be dooen in the Marches of Wales, to the ende that
by theautoritee of his presence, the wilde Welshemenne and eiuell disposed personnes should
refrain from their accustomed murthers and outrages. The gouernauce of this younge
Prince was committed too lord Antony Wooduileerle llyuers and lorde Scales, brother to
the quene, a wise, hardy and honourable personage, as valiaume of handes as pollitique of
counsaill and with hym were associate other of the same partie, and in efiect euery one as
he was nercr of kynne vnto the queue, so was he planted nexte abonte the prince. That
drift by the quene seined to be diuised, whereby her bloudde mighte of righte in tender
youthe bee so planted in the princes fauoure, that afterwarde it shoulde namely bee eradica-
ted out of the same.
The duke of Gloucester turned all this to their distinction, and vpo that grounde set the
foundacion of his vnhappy buyldyng: For whom soeuer lie peroeiued too bee tit variauncp
with theim, or to beare toward hymselfe any fauoure, he brake vnto theim, some by mouthe,
some by writynge and secrete messengers, that it was neither reason nor yet to be suffered
that the younge kynge their master and Uynsman shoulde bee in the handes and custody of
his mothers kynrede, sequestered in maner from their compaignie and attenduunce, of whiche
euery one oughte hym as faithefull seruice as they, and many of theim of farre more hono-
rable parte of kynne then his mothers side, whose bloud quod the duke of Gloucester
sauyng the kyng his pleasure, was farre vnmete to bee matched with his, which now to
bee remoued from the kyng and the leaste noble to bee lefte aboute hym, is quod he
Y y 2 neither
348 KYNG EDWARDE
neither honourable to his maiestie nor too vs, and also too hym lesse suretie, to haue the
nobles and mightiest of his frendes from hym, & to vs all no litle ieopardie to suffre, and
specially our well proued euill willers too growe into greate autoritee with the kynge in
youthe, namely whiche is lighte of belefe and soone perswaded.
Ye remembre that kyng Edward hym self, albeit he was bothe of age and discrecion,
yet was he i*uled in many thynges by that bende, more then stode either with his ho-
nour or our profile, or with the comoditee of anye man els, excepte onely the immode-
rate auauncemente of theim selues, which whether they thirsted sore after their owne weak-
er no, it were harde I thynke to gesse. And yf some folkes frendeshipe had not holdeti
better place with the kynge then any respecte of kynrede, they might, paraduenture, ease-
ly haue trapped and broughte to confusion some of vs or this: and why not aseasely as thei
haue dooen other or this as nere of the blud royall, but our lorde hath wroughte his will,
and thanked bee his grace that perell is paste : howebeit as greate is growyng if we suffre
this young kyng in his enemies handes, whiche, without his wittyng might abuse the name of
his commaundemente to any of our vndoyng, whiche thinges God and good prouision for-
bid, of whiche good prouision none of vs hath any thynge the lesse nede for the late attone-
mete made, in whiche y kyng his pleasure had more place then the parties hertes or willes,
nor none of vs is so vnwise or somuch ouersene as to trust a newefred made of an old foo,
or to thinke that any onely kindenesse so sodenly contracted in an houre, continued scantly
yet a fourtnight, should bee deper set in our stomackes, then a longe accustomed malice
many yeres rooted.
With these perswasions and writinges, the duke of Gloucester sette a fire theim whiche
were easie to kyndle, and in especial twain, Henry duke of Buckyngham, and Willyam
lord Hastynges, and lord Chamberlain, bothe menne of honoure and of greate power, the
one by longe succession from his aunceters, thother by his offices and the kynge his fauoure.
These two not bearynge cache to other so much loue, as hatred both to y quenes bloud, ac-
corded together with the duke of Gloucester that thei would remoue from the kyng all his
mothers frendes, vnder the name of their enemies.
Where vpon the duke of Gloucester beynge aduertised that the lordes aboute the kynge
entended to brynge hyrn to London to his coronacion, accompaigned with suche a
number of their frendes that it shoulde be harde for hym to brynge his purpose to passe
without the assemblyng and gatheryng of people & in maner of open warre, wherof the
ende he wyst was doubtfull, and in the which the kyng beyng on the other syde, his parte
shoulde haue the name and face of rebellion.
He secretely therefore by diuerse meanes caused the quene to be perswaded that it was
neither nede & should also be ieoperdeous for y kyng to come vp so strong, for as now euery
lord loued other and none other thyng studied for, but the triumphe of his coronacion &
honoure of the kyng. And the lordes about the kyng, should assemble in the kynges
names muche people, thei should geue y" lordes betwixt whom & them ther had bene some
tyme debate, an occasion to feare and suspecte least they should gather this people, not for
the kynges saue guard, whom no man impugned, but for their destruction, hauyng more re-
garde to their olde variaunce then to their new attonement, for the which cause they on the
other parte might assemble men also for their defence, whose powres she wyst well farre
stretched, and thus .should all the real me fal in a roare, & of the mischiefe that therof
should ensue (whiche was likely to be not a litle) y moste harme was like to fal where she
least woulde, & then all the world would put her & her kynred in the blame, saiyng that
they had vnwysely and vntrucly broken the amytie and peace whiche the kynge he" hus-
band had so prudently made betwene her kynred and his, whiche amyte his kynne had aU
waies obserued.
The quene beyng thus perswaded, sent worde to the kyng and to her brother, that there
was no cause nor nede to assemble any people, & also the duke of Gloucester and other
lordes of his bend, wrote vnto y kyng so reuerently and to the quenes frendes there so lou-
THE FHT. 349
yngly, that they nothinge yearthly mistrustyng, brought the young kynge towarde London
with a sober compaignie in great haste (but not in good spede) til he came to Northampton,
and from thece he remoued to Stony Stratford. On whiche day. the two dukes and their -^
bende came to Northampton, fainyng that Stony stratfod could not lodge) them al, where t.AsS0
thei foud the erle Riuers, entendynge the nexte mornynge to haue folowed the kynge, and to
be- with him earely in the mornyng. So that night, the dukes made to the erle llyuers
frendly chere, butassone as they were departed very familier with greate curtesie in open
sight & therle Ryuers lodged: the two dukes withafewe of their priuy frendes fel to coun-
cel, wherin they spent a great parteof the night, and in the dawnynge of the daye they sent
aboute priuely to their seruauntes in their lodgynges to hast to horsebacke for their lordes
were in maner redy to ryde, whervp5 all their seruauntes were ready or the lorde Ryuers
seruauntes were awake. Nowe had the dukes taken the keyes of the ynne into their
possession, so that none shoulde yssue out withoute their consent. And ouer this in
the high way towarde Stony Stratford, they set certayne of their folkes that should
cause and copell to retourne againe all persons that were passyng from Northampton
to Stony stratforde, saiyng that the dukes them selfs would be the fyrst that should
come to the kyng from Northampton: thus they bare folkes in hand. But when the
earle Ryuers vnderstode the gates closed and the wayes on euery syde beset, neither his
seruauntes, neither him selfe suffered to go out, perceyuinge so great a thynge with-
out his knowledge, not begon for noughte, comparynge this present doyng with the laste
nightes chere, in sofewe houres so greate a chaunge, marueilously myslyked it. Howebeit,
sythe he coulde not get awaye, he determined not to kepe him selfe close, least he should
seme to .hyde him selfe for some secret feare of his owne faute, wherof he saw no such
cause in him selfe, wherfore on the suretie of his owne conscience he determined to goo to
them and to inquire what this matter might meane: Whom assone as they sawe, they be-
ganne to quarel with him, affirmyng that he pretended to set distaunce betwene the kyng and
them to bryngethem to confusion, whiche shoulde not lye in hys powre, and when he be-
ganne as he-was an eloquente and well spoken manne in goodlywyse to excuse hym seTfe,
they woulde not heare his aunswere but toke hym by force and put hym in ward. And then
they mounted on horsbacke and came in haste to Stony stratforde, where the kynge was
goyng to horsebacke, because he would leaue the lodgyng for them, for it was to straight
for bothe the copaignies. And when thei came to his presence, they alighted and their
compaignie aboute them, and on their knees saluted hvm, and he them gentely rcceiued,
nothing yerthly knowyng ner mistrustyng as yet. The duke of Buckyngham said aloude,
on afore gentlemen, and yomen kepe your roumes, and therwith in y kynges presence
they picked a quarel to the lord Richard Grey the quenes sonne, and brother to the lord
Marques & halfe brother to the king saiyng that he and the Marques his brother anil the
lord llyners his vncle had compassed to rule the kyng and the real me and set variaunce
betwene thestates, & to subdue and destroy the noble blonde of the realme. And towarde
thacomplishenTente of the same, they sayde, the lord Marques had entred into the towre of
London, and thence had taken out treasure and sent men to the sea, which thyngcs these
dukes knewe well wer done for a good purpose and as very necessary, appointed by the
\vholecounsaillatLondon, but somewhat they muste saye: vnto the whiche woordes the
kynge answered, what my brother Marques hath done I cannot saye, but in good fay the I
dure well.answere for mine vncle Riuers and my brother here, that they lie innocente of
suche mattiers. Yee my lieage quod the duke of Buckyngham, they haue kept the dealyng
of these matters farre from the knowledge of youre good grace. And furthwith they arrested
the lorde Rychard and sir Thomas Vaugham £ sir Richard Hawte knyghtes, in the kyngs
presence, &broughtethe kyng and all back to Northampton, where they tokc further coun-
saill in their affaires. And there they sent from the kyng whom it pleased them, £ set aboute
him such seruauntes as better pleased them then him. At which dealyng he wepte and was
not content, but it booted not. And at dynner, the duke of Glocester sent a dyshe from
his owne table to the lord Ryuers, praivng him to bee of good chere and all shoulde be
well,
350 KYNG EDWARDE
well, he thanked him & prayed the messenger to beare it to his nephiewe the lorde Richard
with like wordes, whom he knewe to haue nede of cofort, as one to whom such aduersite
was sti;aunge, but he hym selfe had bene all his daies ennured therwith, and therfore could
beare it the better. But for al this message, the duke of Gloucester sent y lorde Ryuers,
the lord Richard and sir Thomas Vaugliam and sir Richarde Hawte into the Northparties
into diuerse prisons, but at last, al came to Poufret where they all foure were beheaded
without Judgement.
In this maner as you haue hard, the duke of Gloucester toke on him the gouernaunce of
the yonge kyng, whom with much reuerence he conueied towardes London. These tidynges
came barely to the queue before mydnighte, by a very sore reporte that the kynge her sonne
was taken and that her brother and her other sonne and other her frendes were arrested, and
sent, no man wyste whether. With this heauy tidynges the queue bewayled her chyldes
ruyne, her frendes mischaunce, and her owne jnfortune, curssyng the tyme that euer she
was persvvaded to leaue the gatherynge of people to brynge vp the kynge with a greate
powre, but that was passed, and therefore nowe she toke her younger sonne the duke of
Yorke and her doughters and went out of the palays of Westminster into the sanctuary,
and there lodged in the abbotes place, and she and all her chyldren and compaignie were re-
gestied for sanctuarye persons. The same night there came to doctor Rotherarn Archeby-
shop of Yorke and lorde Chauncelour, a messenger from the lord Chambrelayne to Yorke
place besyde Westminster: the messenger was brought to the bishoppes bedsyde and de-
clared to him that the dukes were gone backe with the young kyng to Northampton, and
declared further, that the lorde Hastynges his maister sent him worde that he shoulde feare
nothyng for all should be well. (Wei quod the archebishop) be it as wel as it wyl, it wyll
neuer be so wel as we haue sene it, and then the messenger departed. Wherupon the bi-
shop culled vp all his seruauntes and toke with hym the great seale and came before day to
the quene, about whom he found much heauynesse, rumble, haste, businesse, couueighaunce
and cariage of hirstufte into sanctuarye, euery man was busye to carye, beare and con ueigh
stuffe, chestes & fardclles, no man was vnoccupied, and some caried more then they were
commaunded to another place. The quene sat alone belowe on the rushes all desolate &
dismayde, who the Archebishoppe contorted in the best maner that he coulde, shewyng her
that the matter was nothyng so sore as she tookc it for, and that he was putte in good hope
and out of feare by the message sente to hym from the lorde Hastynges. A wo worth him
quod the quene, for it is he that goeth about to destroy me and my blodde. Madame quod
he, be of good comforte and 1 assure you, yf they crowne any other kynge then your
sonne whom they nowe haue, we thai on the morow croune his brother whom you haue here
with you. And here is the great seale, which in lykewise as your noble husband deliuered
it to me, so I deliuer it to you to the vse of your sonne and therwith deliuered her the greate
seale, and departed home in the dawning of the day. And when he opened his wyndowes
and loked on the Temys, he might see the riuer full of boatrs, ot the duke of Gloucester
his seruauntes watching that no person should go to sanctuary, nor none should paste
vnserched.
Then was there great rumoure and commotion in the cites and in other nlaces, the
people diuersely diuined vpon this dealynge. And diuerse lordcs, knightes and genlilmen,
either for fauoure of the quene or for feare of them selfes, assembled compaignies and wc-nte
flockyng together in harneis. And many also, for that they rrcompted this demeanour at-
tempted, not so specially against other lordcs as against the kynge hym selfe in the dysturb-
aunce of his coronatyon, therefore they assembled by and by together to common of this
matter at London. The Archebishoppe of Yorke fearinge that it woulde be ascribed (as it
was in dede,) to ouerrnuchlightnes, that he so sodeinly had yelded vp the great, seale to the
quene, to who the custody therof nothing apperteigned without especial commaundemente
of the kynge, secretly sente for the seale againe and brought it with him after the accus-
tomed maner to mete with the lordes.
At
THE FIFT. 3$l
At this metynge, the lord Hastynges, whose trueth towarde the kyng no man doubted, nor
neded not to double, persuaded the lordes to beleue, that the duke of Gloucester was faithe-
full and sure towardes his prince, and that the lorde Ryuers, the lord Richard and other
knightes apprehended, were for matters attempted by them against the dukes of Gloucester
and Buckyngham put vnder arest, for their suretie, and not for the kings ieopardie, and
that they were also in sauegarde there to remayne, tyll the matter were (not by the dukes
onely) but also by all the other lordes of the kynges councell indifferently examined, and by
their discrecions ordred and either iudged or appesed. And one thynge he auised them to
beware of, that they iudged not the matter to farfurthe or they knewe the trueth, nor turnynge
their priuate grudges into the common hurte, irritynge and prouokynge men vnto angre, and
disturbyng the kyuges coronacion, toward which the dukes were commynge, for that, then
mighte paraduenture brynge the matter so farre oute of ioynte, that it shoulde neuer be
brought in frame againe, whiche yf it should bappe as it were likely to come to a felde,
though al parties wer in al other thinges egual, yet shoulde the authorytee bee on that
syde, where the kynge is hym selfe, with these persuasions of the lorde Hastynges, whereof
parte he him selfe beleued, and of parte he wyst well the cotrary, these commocions were
some what appeased. But in especiall, because the dukes of Buckyngham and Gloucester
were so nere and came on so shortely with the kynge, in none other maner, nor none other
voice or sembleaunce then to his coronacio, causing the fame to be blowen about that such
persons as were apprehended had contriued the distruction of the dukes of Gloucester and
of Buckyngham and other of the noble bloude of this realme, to the entente that they alone
woulde rule and gouerne the kynge. And for the coloure thereof, suche of the dukes ser-
uauntes as rode with the cartes of their stuffe whiche were taken, among the whiche stuffe no
marueyle though some were harneys whiche at the breakynge vp of suche an housholde muste
be broughte awaye or caste awaye, they shewed to the people, and as they went, sayd: lo!
here be the barrelies of harneyes that these traitours had priuely conueighed in their cariages
to destroye the noble lordes withal. This diuerse, (although it made the matter to wise
men more vnlikely) wel perceiuyng that thentendours of suche a purpose woulde rather
haue had their harneyes on their backes, then to haue boud them vp in bareiles, yet muche
parte of the common people were therewith right well satisfied.
When the kynge approched nere the cytee, Edmonde Shawe Goldesmythe then Mayre of Ed
the cytie with the Aldermenne and shreues in skarlet, and fyue hundreth commoners in mur-
raye receyued his grace reuerently at Harnesay Parke, and so conueighed him to the cytee,
where he entred the fourth day of May, in the i'yrst and last ycre of his reigne, and was
lodged in the bishoppe of Londons Palayce: but f duke of Gloucester bare him in open
sight so reuerently, saying to all me as lie rode behold your prince and souereigne lord, and
made such sembleaunce of lowlynes to his prince, that from the great obloquy that he was
in so late before he was sodenly fallen in so great trust that at the conncel next assembled
he was made the onely chiefe ruler, and thought most mete to be protectoure of the king
and his- realme: so that, were it destiny or were it foly, the lambe was betaken to the wolfe to
kepe. At whiche councell the Archebishop of Yorlce was sore blamed for deliueryng the
great scale to the queue, and the scale taken from him and deliuered to doctor Jhon Russel
bishop of Lyncolne, a wyse ma and a good and of much experience, and diuerse lordes and'
knyghtes were appointed to diuerse roumes, the lord Chamberlayoe and some other kept the
roumes that they wer in- before, but not many.
Now were it so that the protectour (which alwayes you must take for the duke of Glou-
cester) sore thristed for the acheuynge of his pretensed enterpryse and thought euery daye a
yere tyli it were perfourmed, yet durste he no further attempt as long as he had but half his
pray in his hand, well wittyngthat yf he deposed the one brother^ all the realme woulde fall
to the other, yf he remayned either in sanctuarye or shoulde happely be shortly conueighed
to his fathers libertie. Wherfore incontinent at the next metynge of the lordes in councel
he purposed to them that it was an heynous thyng of the, quene, and procedyng of great
4: malice
353 KYNG EDWARDE
malice toward the kyngcs councelers that she shoulde kepe the kynges brother in sanctuarye
from him whose speciall pleasure and comfort were to haue his brother with him, and that
to be done by her to none other intent, but to brynge all the lordes in an obloquy and
murmoure of the people, as though they were not to be trusted with the kynges brother,
whiche lordes were by the whole assent of the nobles of the realine appointed as the kynges
nere frendes to the tuycion of his royall person, the prosperitee wherof (quod he) standeth
not alonely in kepynge from enemies and euill dyate, but partly also in recreacion & mo-
derate pleasure, whiche he cannot take in his tendre youth in the compaignye of old and
auncient persones, but in the famiiiare conuersacion of those that be not far vnder nor farre
aboue his age, and neuerthelesse, of estate conueniente to accompany his maiestie, wherfore
with whom rather then with his owne brother? and yf any man thynke this consideracion
lighte (I thynke no man so thynketh that loueth the king) let hym consider that somtyme
without smal thynges, greater cannot stand, and verely it redpuneth greatly to the dis-
honour of the kynges highnes and of all vs that be about his grace to haue it come in any
mans mouth, not in this realine onely, but also in other landes (as euill wordes walke far)
that y kynges brother should be fayne to kepe sanctuary. For euery man wyll iudge that iio
man wyll so do for nought, and such opinions fastened in mens hartes be harde to be wrested
out, and may .grow to more grief then any man here can diuine. Wherfore me thin keth
it were noty worst to send to the quene some honourable and trustie personage, such as ten-
dreth the kings weale and the honour of his coucell, and is also in credite and fauourc with
her: for which considerations none semeth more metely to me then the reuerend father my
lorde Cardinallarchebishopof Cauntorbury, who may in this matter do most good of all men
yf it please him to take the payne, whiche I doubt not of his goodnes he will not refuse for
the kings sake and ours and wealth of the young duke him selfe the kings most honor-
able brother, and for the conforte of my souereigne lorde hym self my most dearest
nephiewe, considcryng that therby shalbe ceased the slaunderous rumore and obloquy now
going abrodc,, and the hurtes auoyded that therof might ensue, and then must rest and quiet-
nesse growe to all the realme. And yf she percase be so obstinate and so precisely set in
her own will and opinion, that neither his wyse and faithfull aduertisemente can moue her
nor any mans reason satisfye her, then shall we by myne aduice by the kynges authorvtee
fetch hym out of that prison and brynge him to his noble presence, in whose continual!
compaignye he shalbee so well cheryshed and so honorably intreated that all the worlde shall
to our honour and her veproche perceiue that it was onely malice, frowardnesse and foly,
that caused her to kepe him there. This is my mind for this time, except that any of you
my lordes any thyng perceyue to the contrari, for neuer shal I by Gods grace so wed rny self
vnto myne owne vvil, but I shalbe redy to change it vpon your better aduiccs.
When the Protectour had sayde, all the councell affirmed that the macion was good and
reasonable, and to the king and the duke his brother honourable, and a thyng that should
ceasse great murmoure in the realine, yf the mother might by good meanes be induced to
deiyucr him: \\hiche, thing the Archebishop of Cauntorburye, whom they all agreed also
to be tnoost conuenieut thcrunto, tooke vpon hym to moue her, and therto to do his vtter-
mooste endeuoure. llowbeityf she coulde in no wise be intreated with her good wyll to
.delyuer hym, then thought lie and Mich of the spiritualtie as wer present, that it were not in
any wyse too bee attempted to take hym out againste her wyll, for it woulde be a thyng that
should turne to the grudge of all men and high displeasure of God, yf the pryuilege of that
place should be broken whiche had so many ycres bene kept, whiche bothe Kynges and
Popes had graunted and confirmed, which ground was sanctifyed by Sainct Peter him selfe
more then fyue hundreth yeres agone. And syth that tyme, was neuer so vndeuoute a kyn^e
thateuer enterprised that sacred priuilege to violate, nor so holy a byshop that durste pre-
sume the church of the same to consecrate: and therefore quod the Archebishop, God for-
bid that any manne shoulde for any yearthely enterprise breake the immunitie and libertie of
vthat sacred sanctuary that hath bene the safegard of so many a good mans life, but I trust
-1 quod
THE FIFT. 353
quod he, we shall not node it, but for any maner of nede I would we should not do it, f trust
tliat she with reason slialbe contented and all thing in good maner obteiued. And yf it hap
that I brynge it not to passe, yet shall I further it to'my best power, so that you all shal per--
ceyue my good wyll, diligence, and indeauoure: But the mothers dreadc and womannishe
feare shal be the let yf any be.
Naye womannishe frowardnesse quod the Duke of Buckyngham, for I dare take it on .ray
solle that she well knoweth that she nedeth no such thynge to feare, either for her sonne or
for her self. For as for her, here is no man that will be at warre with women, would God
some men of her kynne were women to, and then should all be sone in rest. Howbeit,
there is none of her kynne the lesse loued for that they be of her kynne, but for their $\vne
euill deseruynge. And put the case that we neither loued her nor her kynne, yet there were
no cause why we should hate the kings noble brother to whose grace we oure seK'es be
kynne, whose honoure yf she desired as oure dishonoure, and as much regard toke to his
wealth as to her awne wyll, she could be as loth to suftre him to be absent from the kyng
as any of vs, yf she had any wytte, as would God she had as good wyll as she hath frowarde
wytte. For she thinketh her self no vvyser then some that are here, of whose faithful myndes
she nothing doubteth, but verely beleueth and knowlegeth that they woulde be as sorye of his
harrne as her awne selfe, and yet they would haue him from her if she abyde there.
And we all I thynke be content that bothe her chyldren be with her if she came from
thence and abyde in suche place where they may be with their honour. Nowe yf she re-
fuse in the delhieraunce of him to folowe the wysedome of them, whose wysedome she
knoweth, whose appiobate fidelitie she well trusteth: it is easye to percewe that frowarde-
nesse letteth her, and not feare. But go to, suppose that she feareth (as who may let her
to feare her awne shadowe)- the more we ought to fear to leaue hym in her handes, for yf
she cast such fond doubles that she feare his hurte, then wyll she feare that he shall be fet
thence, for she wyll soone thynke that yf men were set (which God forbyd on so great a
mischief) the sanctuary wyl litle let them, which sanctuary good men as me thinketh might
•without synne, somewhat lesse regard then they do. Now then, if she doubt least he
might be fetched from her, is it not likely that she wyll send him somewhere out of the
realme? verely I loke for none other. And I doubt not but she now as sore myndeth it,
as we mynde the let therof: And if she might hap to bring that purpose to passe, as it were
no great mastery to do, we letting her alone, all the world would say that we were a sorte of
\vyse cousaillers about a king to let his brother to be cast away vnder oure noses. And therfore
I ensure you faithfully, for my mynde, I wyll rather maugre her stomacke fetche hym awaye,
then leue him there till her feare or fond frowarde feare conuey him away, and yet will I
breake no sanctuary, for verely sith the priuelege of that place and other of that sorte haue of
so log continued, I would not go about to breake it, but yf they were nowe to begynne I
woulde not be he that should make them: yet wyl not I say nay, but it is a deede of pitie,
that such men as the chance of the sea, or their euill debters haue brought into pouertee,
should haue some place of refuge to kepe in their bodies out of the daunger of their cruel
creditours. And if it fortune the croune to come in question as it hath done before this
tytne whyle eche parte taketh other for traytours, I thynke it necessarye to haue a place of
refuge for bothe: But as for theues and murtherers, wherof these places be full, and which
neuer falle from their crafte after they once falle themnto, it is pytee that euer sanctuary
should serue them, and in especiall wylfull murtherers, whom God commaundcth to be taken
from the aulter and to be put to death. And where it is otherwvse then in these cases, there
is no nede of sainctuaries, apointed by God in the old lawe. For yf necessile of his
owne defence or misfortune driued hym to that deede, then a pardon seruetu him, which
either is graunted of course, or y kyng of pytee and compassion geueth. Nowe loke howe
fewe sainctuary men there be whom necessitee or misfortune compelled to go thether ? And
then see on the other syd, what a sorte there be commonly therein of such, whom wylfull
vnthriftynes hath brought to naught? what a rable of theues, murtherers and malicious hey-
7f z nous
ncs'
354 KYNG EDWARDE
\
nous traitours be, and that in two places specially, the one at the elbow of the cytee, and the
other in the very bowels. I dare well a vowe it, yf you way the good that they do, with the
hurte that commeth of them, ye shall fynde it inuclie better to lese both then to haue both.
And this I say, although they were not abused (as they now be and so longe haue bene)
that I feare me euer they wyll be whyle men be afearde to set to their handes to the arnende-
mente, as though God and saincte Peter were the patrons of vngracious liuynge. Now
vnthriftes riote and ronne in debte vpon boldnes of these places, yea, and ritche menne
ronne thyther with poore mens goodes, there they buylde, there they spende and byd their
creditours goo whystle. Mens wyues ronne thither with their husbands plate, and say they
dare not abyde with their husbandes for betynge, theues bring thether stollcn goodes and
lyue theron. There deuyse they newe robberies nightely and steale oute and robbe, riue,
and kyll menne and come agayne into those places, as though those places gaue them not
onely a sauegard for the harme that they haue done, but a licence also to do more mis-
chiefe: hon-ebeit, much of this great abusion, (yf wyse menne woulde sette their handes
there vnto) might be amended, with great thankes of God and no breche of the priuelcge^
The conclusion is, sitlie it is so long a goo I wote not what pope and what prince more pi-
teous then politique, hath graunted it, and other men sence of a religious feare haue not
broken it, lette vs take a paine with it, and lette it stande a Goddes name in his force, as far
furthe as reason will, whiche is not so farfurthe as may serue too lette vs of the fetching
furthe of this noble inanne to his honoure and wealthe out of that place in the whiche he ne-
ther is nor can bee asanctuarye orpriueleged man. Asanctuaryeeuerseruethe toodefencle the
body of that manne that standeth in daunger abrode, not of greate hurte onely, but of law-
full hurte: for againste vnlawr'ull hurtes and harmes no pope ner kynge entended to priuilege
any one place wherein it is lawefull for one manne to doo another manne wronge. That na
manne vnlawefully take hurte that libertie the kynge, the lawe and vene nature forbiddeth in
cuery place and maketh too that regarde for euery manne euery place a sanctuarye : but where a
manne is by lawefull meanes in perell, there nedeth he the tuicion of some speciall priuilege, whiche
is the onely ground of all sanctuaries, from whiche necessitee this noble prince is far,
whose loue to his kynge nature and kynred proueth, whose innocence too all the worlde, his
tender youth affirmeth, and so sanctuarye as forhym is not necessary, ner none he can haue.
Menne come not too sanctuarye as they come too baptisme to require it by his godfathers, he
muste aske it hym selfe that muste haue it, and reason, sithe no manne hathe cause to haue it,
but whose consience of his awne faute maketh hym haue nede to require it. What will then
hath younder babe, which yf he had cliscrecion to require it yf nede were, I dare saye
woulde bee nowe righte angry with them that kepe him there? And I would thinke with-
oute any scruple of conscience, without any breche of priuilege too be somwhat more homely
with theim that be there sanctuarye menne in dede, that yf one go to sanctuary with another
manr.es goodes, why should not the king leuyng his body at liberty satisfy the party of his
goodes euen within the sanctuarye, for nether kyng nor pope can geue any place such a priui-
lege that it shall discharge a man of his debtes beeyng hable to paie.
And with that diuerse of the clergie that were there present, whether, they saied it for
his pleasure or as they thought, agreed plainly by the lawe of God and of the church that
the goodes of asanctuarye man should be deliuered in paiment of his debtes, and stollen
goodes to the owner, and onelye libertie reserued to hym to get his liuyng with the labour
of his handes. Verely quod the duke I thynke ye saye very truth : And what if a rnans
wife take sanctuary because she list to ronne'fro her husband? I would thynke if she can
allege none other cause he may laufully without any displeasure done too sainct Peter, take
her out of saincte Peters church by the arme. And yf no body may be taken out of sanc-
tuary because he saieth he will abide there, then yf a chylde will take Sanctuary because he
feareth to go to schoole, his master must let hym alone. And as simple as that example
is, yet is there lesse reason in our case then in it, for there, though it be a childeshe feare,
yet is there at the least some feare, and herein is no feare at all. And verely I haue harde of
4 sanctuarye
THE FIFT. 35.5
sanctuarye menne, but I neucr harde before of sanctuary children, and therefore as for tlie
conclusion of my rnynde, whosoeuer may deserue to haue nede of it, if they thynkc it for
their suretee let theim kepe it, but he can be no sanctuary manne that hath nolher discre-
tion to desire it, ner malice to deserue it, whose life ner libertie can by no lawfull processe
stande in ieoperdye: and he that taketh one out of sanctuary to do hytn good I saie
plainly he breaketh no sanctuary.
When the duke had done, the temporal menne wholy, and the most parte of the spiritual!
nienne also thynkynge no hurt earthely ment toward the young baby, condiscended in ef-
fecte, that yf he wer not deliuered he shoulde be fetched oute. Howbeit, they thought it
beste in aduoydyng of all maner of rumour, that the cardinal! shoulde tirste assaie to get him
with her good will. And thervpon all the counsaill came to y sterre chamber at Westminster,
and the cardinal leauing the protectour and other lordes in the sterre chamber, departed into
the sanctuarye toy quene, accompaiguied with certain lordes, were it for the respecte of his
honour or that she should by the persones of so many, perceiue that his arrande was not
onely one mans mynde, or were it for that the protectour entended not in this matter to
truste one manne alone, or els if she finally were determined to kepe hym, some of the copaig-
nie had paraduenture some secrete instruction incontinente rnaugree her will too take him
and to leaue her no respite to conueigh him.
When the quene and these lordes were come together in presence, the Cardinall shewed
vnto her that it was thought to the lorde protector and the whole counsaill that her kepyng
of the kyng his brother in that place highly sounded, not onely to the grudge of the people &
their obloquy, but also to the importable grief and displeasure of the kynge his royall ma-
iestye, to whose grace it were a synguler comforte to haue his naturall brother in cornpaignie,
and it was their bothes dishououres & theirs and hers also, to suffre him in sanctuary, as
though the one brother stode in danger and perell of the other. And he shewed her farther
that the whole counsaill had sent hym to require of her the deliuerye of him that he might
be brought to the king his presence at his libertie out of that place which men reconed as
a prisone, and there should he be demeaned according to his estate and degree, & she in this
doing should both do great good to the realme, pleasure to the counsaill, profile to her
self, succour to her frendes that wer in distresse, and ouer that, which he wiste well she
specially tendered, not onely greate comforte and honour to the king but also to the young
duke hym selfe, whose both great wealth it were to be together, aswell for many greater
causes as also for their both disport and recreacion, whiche thinges the lordes estemed not
lighte, though it semed light, \\ell ponderynge that their youth without recreacion and play
cannot endure, ner any estraunger for the conuenience of both their ages & estates so metely
in that poinct for any of them as the either of them for thother.
My lord (quod the quene,) I saie not nay, but that it were very conueniente that this gen
tleman whom you require were in the compaignie of the kyng his brother, and in good faith
me thinketh it wer as great commoditee to theim both, as for yet a while too be in the cus-
tody of their mother the tendre age considered of the elder of theim both, but in especiall
the younger, whiche besides his infancie that also nedeth good lookynge to hath a while been
•so sore diseased with sickenes and is so newlye rather a litle amended then well recouered,
that I dare put no persone earthly in truste with his kepyng, but my selfe onely, consider-
yng there is as phisicianssaie, and as we also finde, double the perell in the resiluacion that
was in the firste sickenes, with which disease nature beeyng sore laboured, fore weried and
weakened, waxeth the lesse hable to bear our a new surfet. And albeit there might be
founde other that woulde happely cloo their best vnto hym, yet is there none that either
knoweth better how to ordre hym then I, that so long haue kept him, or is more tendrely
like too cherishe hyin then his owne mother that bare hym. No man denieth good madame,
quod the Cardinall, but that your grace of all folke wer moste necessary aboute your chyl-
dren, and so woulde all the counsaill not onely bee contente but also glad that it were if it
might stand with your pleasure to be in such place as might stand with their horioure,
Z z 2 But
336 KYNG EDWARDE
But yf you apoincte your selfe too tary liere, then thynke they it more couenient the duke o?
Yorke \ver with the king honorably at his libertie to tlie cotntbrt of theim bothe, then here
as a sanctuary man to their both dishonour and obloquy, sith there is not aUay so great
necessite to haue the child with the mother, but that occasion somelyme may be such that
it should be more expedient to kcpe him els where, which in this well apereth, that at
suche tyme that your most derest sonne then prince and now kyng should for his honor and
good ordre of the'countree kepe houshoulde in Wales far out of your kepyng, your grace was
well content therewith your self. Not very well content (quod the queue) & yet the case
is not like, for the one was then in health and the other is now sicke, in which case I maruaiU
greatcly why my lorcle protectonr is so desirous to haue him in kepyng, where if the child in
his sickenesse miscaried by nature, yet might he ronne into slaunder & suspicion of fraud.
And they call it a thyng so sore against my childes honour & theirs alsoy he abideth in this
place, if is all their honoures there. to suftre him abyde where no ma doubteth he shalbe best
kept, & that is here while I am here, which as yet entende not to come furthe & ieoperde
mv self after other of my frendes, which would God wer rather here in suretee with rne,
then I were there in ieoperdie with theim. Why madame (quod the lord Haward) knowe
you any thing why they should bee in ieopardie: Nay verely (quod she,) nor why they should
be in prisorT neither as they now be, but I trowe it is no gre:it marueill though I feare
least those that haue not letted to put them in duraunce withoute colour, will let as litle to
procure their dislruction without cause. The cardinal made a countenaunce to the lord
Haward that he shoulde harpe no more vpon that string: and then saied he too the quene
that he nothyng doubled but those lordes of her kynne the which remained vnder a reste
should vpon the matter examined doo well ynough, & as towarde her noble persone, nei-
ther was nor coulde be any maner of ieoperdie. Whereby shoulde I trust that (quod the
quene) in that I am gyltesse, as though they were gyltie, in that I am with their enemies
better heloued then they, when they hate theim for my sake, in that I am so nere to the
king, and ho\ve farre bee they of that woulde helpe, as God send grace they hurt not..
And therefore as yet I purpose not too depart hence: as for this gentleman my sonne, I
mynde he shal bee where I am till I see further, for I see some men so greedy withoute any
substanciall cause too haue him, which maketh me much more further and scrupulous to
deliuer him. Truly madame (quod the Cardinall) the further that ye be to deliuer him,
the further be other menne too suffre you too kepe him, leaste your causelesse feare, might
cause you farther too conueighe hym, and many thynke he can here haue no priuilege whiche
can haue neither will too aske it, nor yet malice or offence to nede it. And therefore they
recon no priuilege broken, although they fetch him out of sanctuarie, whiche yf you
finally refuse too deliuer hym, I thynke verely the counsaill will enfraunchese him, so
much dread hath my lorde his vncle, for the tendre loue that he beareth him, leaste your
grace should sendc him away. Ah, quod the quene, hath he so tendre a zeale to him
that he feareth nothing, but leaste he should escape hym? Thinketh he that I would send
him hece, which is neither in the plight to send out? and in what place could I recon
hym sure yf he be not sure in this sanctuary? wherof was there neuer tiraunte yet so deuel-
ishe, that durst attempt too breake the priuilege, & I trust God is now as strong to with-
stand his aduersaries as euer he was. But my sonne can deserue no sanctuary, you saye,
and therefore he can not haue it, forsothe the lord protectour hath sent a goodly glose, by
the which that place that maye defend a thefe, maie not saue an innocent: but he is in no
ieoperdie nor hath no nede therof, I would God he had not. Troweth the protector. (I
pray God he maie proue a protectour, rather then a destroyer, where vnto his painted pro-
cesse draweth) y is it not honourable that the duke byde here? it were more confortable to
them both that he were with his brother, because the kyng lacketh a play feloe, yea be you
sure, I praye God send him better plaie felowes then him that maketh so high a matter vpon
guch a trifleyng pretext, as though there could none be found to play with the kyng, but if his
brother which hath no luste to plaie for sickenesse, must come out of sanctuary, out of his
sauegard
THE FIFT. 357
sauegard to play with him as though that princes so young as they bee, could not play with-
out their peeres, or children coulde not play without their kynred, with whom tor the more
parte they agree much worse then with straungiers. But the chylde you say cannot require
the priuilege, who told the protectour so? Aske hym and you shall here him aske it, and so
shall he yf ye will. Howbeit, this is a straunge matter, suppose he coulde not aske it &
thynke he would not aske it, and imagene he would aske to go out, if I say he shal notr:
Note yf I aske the priuilege, but for my self, I say that he that againste my willtaketh out',
hym, breaketh sanctuarie. Scrueth this libertie for my persone onely or for my goodes to?'
you may not fro hence take my horsse from me, yf I stale hym not nor owe you nothing::
then foloweth it, that you may not take my child from me, he is also my ward, for as farre
as my learned counsaill shewcth me, he hath nothing by dissente holden by knightes seruyce,
but by socage : then the lavve rnaketh me his guarden, then maye no manne lawfully (I sup-
pose) take my warde from me out of this place, without the breche of sanctuary, and if my
priuilege coulde not serue him, nor he aske it for him self, yet sith the lawe committeth to
me the custody of hym, I maye require it for hym, excepte the lawe geue <he infaunte a
guarden onely for his goodes, dischargynge hym of the cure and sauekepyng of his body, for
which onely, bothe goodes and landes serue: Wherefore here entende I to kepe hym, sithe
mannes lawe serueth the guarden too kepe the infante, and the lawe of nature willeth the
mother to kepe the child, and Gods law priuilegeth the sanctuary, and the sanctuarye pri-
uilegeth my sonne, sith I feare to put him to the protectoures handes, that hath his brother
already, whiche is (yf both failed) inheritoure to the crowne as heire male, as he saythe.
The cause of my feare no man hath too doo to examine, and yet feare I no ferther then the
lawe fearethe, whiche as learned menne tell me, forbiddeth euery manne the custodye of
theim by whose death he maie enherite lesse lande then a kyngdome. I can saie no more,
but tvhosoeuer he be that breaketh this holy sanctuary, I pray God sende him shortely nede
of sanctuarye, when he maye not come to it, for I woulde not that my mortall enemie
shoulde bee taken oute of sanctuary.
The cardinall perceiued that the quene euer the longer the farther of and also that she
began too kyndle and chafe and spake sore bitynge woordes against the protectoure, and;
such as he neither beleued and also was loth to here, he saied to her, for a final! coclusion,
that he would no more dispute the matter, and if she were content to deliuer the duke to
him and to the other lordes there present, he durst lay his owne body and solle both in
pledge, not onely for his suretye, but also for his estate, and surely he knewe nor suspected
no cause but he mighte so do (but he knewe not all.) And further he saied, if she Mould
geue hym a resolute aunswere to the contrary he would therewith departe incontinente, and.
shifte who so woulde with this businesse afterwarde, for he neuer entended further to moue
her in the matter, in the whiche she thought that he and all other also, saue her selfe, lacked
either witte or trueth. Witte yf they wer so dull yf they nothing could perceiue what the
protector entended, and yf they should procure her sonne to be deliuered into his handes,
in whom they should perceiue towardes the child any euyll will entended, then .she mighte
thynke all the counsaill bothe euilladuised and of litle fidelitee to their prince.
The quene with these woordes stode in a great study, and forasmuch as she saw the
lorde Cardinall more redier to departe then the remanaunte, and the protectoure him selfe
redy at hande, so that she verely thought that she could not kepe him there but he should)
bee incontinent taken thence, and to conueigh him els where, neither had she tyme to serue
her, nor place determined, nor persons apoincted to conueigh hym, and so all thing was ;
v-nredy, when this message came so sodainly on her, nothyng lesse looking for, then too
haue him out of sanctuarye which she knew now men to be sette in all places about,
that he could not be conueighed out vntaken, and partely as she thonghte it might fortune
her feare to be false: so well she wiste it was either nedelesse or bootelesse. Wherefore, yf
she should nedes goo from him she demed beste to deliuer him, and specially of the cardi-
nalles faith she nothyng doubtyng nor. of some other lordes whom she sawe there, whiche as.
1 ska'
358 KYNG EDWARDE
she feared leste, they mighte bedeceiued, so well was she assured that they woulde not be
corrupted: then thought she that it would make theim y more warely too loke to him and
the more circumspectely to see his surety, yf she with her owne handes betooke him them by
truste, and at the laste she toke the young duke by the hand and said vnto the lordes, my
lorde quod she and all my lordes, neither am I so vnwyse to mystruste your vvittes, nor so
suspicious to mistruste your truthes: of the which thyng I purpose to make suche a proofe,
that if either of both lacked in you, might turne both me to great sorowe, the real me to much
harme and you to great reproche. For lo, here is quod she this gentlema, whom I doubt not but
I could kepe safe if I would, whatsoeuer any manne saie, and I double not also but there
be some abroade so dedly enemies vnto my bloud, that yf they wiste where any of it lay in their
own body they would let it out: we haue also experiece that the desire of a kyngdome know-
eth no kynrede, the brother hath been the brothers bane, and may the nephewes be sure of
the vncle ? eche of these children are others defence while they be a sunder, and eche of their
liues liethin others body, kepe one safe and both be sure, and nothing to both more peril-
ous theri both too be in one place: for a wise marchaunte neuer auentureth al his gooddes
in one ship. Al this notwithstandyng, here I deliuer him and his brother in him, to kepe
to your handes, of whome I shall aske them bothe before God and the worlde. FaithefuU
you be and that I wote well, and I knowe you be wise and of power and strength yf you
liste to kepe him, for you lacke no helpe of your selues, nor nede to lacke no helpe in this
case, and yf you cannot els where, then maye you leaue hym here : But oriely one thyng I
beseche you, for the trust that his father put you in euer, and for the truste that I putte
you in now, that as farre as you thynke that I feare to muche, ye be well ware that you
feare not to litle. And therewith all she saied to the chyld, farewell mine owne swete
sonne, God send you good kepyng, let me once kisse you or you go, for God knoweth
whc we s;/al kisse together agayn, & therewith she kyssed hym, & blessed hym, and turned
her backe & wepte, goyng her waie, leauyng the poore innocet chylde wepyng as faste aa
the mother.
When the Cardinall and the other lordes had receyued the younge duke, they brought
him into the starre chaumbre, where the protectoure toke him into his armes and kissed
hym with these wordes: now welcome my lorde with all my verie herte, & he saied in that
of likelihod euen as he inwardely thought, and there vpon, furthwith brought him to the
kyng his brother into the bishoppes palace at Paules, and from thence through the cytee
honorably into the tower, out of which after that daie they neuer came abrode. When the
protectour had both the chyldren in his possession, yea £ that they were in a sure place,
he then began to thrist to se the ende of his enterprise. And to auoyde al suspicion, he
caused all the lordes whiche he knewe to bee faithfull to the kyng to assemble at Baynardes
castle to comen of the ordre of the coronacion, whyle he and other of his complices & of
his affinitee at Crosbies place contriued the contrary and to make the protectour kyng : to
which counsail there were adhibite very fewe, and they very secrete. Then began here &
there some maner of mutterynge emongest the people, as though all thyng should not long
be well, though they wyst not what they feared nor wherfore : were it, that before suche
greats thynges, mennes hertes (of a secrete instinct of nature) misgeueth theim, as the
southwynde sometyme swelleth of hym selfe before a. tempeste, or were it that some one
manne happely somewhat perceiuyng, filled many men with suspicio thoughe he shewed
fewe men what he knewe : howbeit, the dealing it selfe made men to muse on the mat-
ter, though the counsaill were close, for litle and litle all folke drewe from the tower where
the kyng vyas and drewe to Crpsbies place, so that the protectoure had all the resorte, and
the kyng in maner desolate. Whyle some made suyte vnto theim that had the doyng,
some of theim were by their frendes secretly warned, that it might happely turne them to
no good to be to muche attendaunt on the kyng without the protectoures apoinctemente,
whiche remoued diuersc of the kyng his olde seruauntes from him, and sette newe in their
roumes aboute hym.
Thus
THE FIFT. 359
Thus many thynges comyng together, partly by chaunce and partly by purpose, caused
at length not comon people onely, whiche wauer with the wynde, but \vyse men also and
some lordes to marke the matter and muse ther vpon: in so much as the lorde Stanley
•whiche afterwarde was erle of Derby wysely mistrusted it and saied to the lord Hastynges,
that he rnuche misliked these two seuerall counailes, for while we q11 he talke of one mat-
ter at the one place, lule w'ote we whereof they talke in the other: peace my lorde qd the
lorde Hastynges, on my lyfe neuer double you, for while one man is there,' which is
neuer thence, neither can there be any thins; once mynded that should sounde amisse to-
wan'e me, but it should be in myne eares or it were well out their mouthes. This ment he
by Catesby whiche was nere of his secrete counsail, and whom he familierly vsed in his most
waightie matters, pnttyng no man in so speciall truste as him reconyng him selfe to no
man so liete sith he uiste well there was no man to hym so much beholdyng as was this
Catesby, which was a man wel learned in the lawes of this lande, and by the speciall fa-
uoure of the lorde Hastynges in good aucthoritie and rnuche rule bare in the counties of
Lecestre & Northampton where the lorde Hastynges power laye. But surely great pitie
was it that he had not either more trueth or lesse wit, for hys dissimulacion onely, kept all
that mischief vp, in whom if the lorde Hastynges had not put so speciall truste, the lorde
Stanley and he withdiuerse other lordes had departed into their countrees and broken all the
daunce, for many euill signes that he sawe, whiche he nowe construed all for the beste, so surely
thought he that there could be no harme towarde hym in that council! entended where Cates-
bye was. And of trueth the protectoure and the duke of Bukyngham made very good sem-
bleaunce vnto the lorde Hastynges and kept hym muche in their compaignye. And vndoubted-
ly, the protectour loued hym well, and lothe was to haue loste him sauyng for feare leste his lyfe
should haue quayled their purpose, for the whiche cause he moued Catesby to proue with some
wordes cast out a farre of, whether he could thinke it possible to wynne the lorde Hastynges
to their parte. But Caiesby, whether he assayed him or assayed him not, reported vnto
hym that he found him so fast, and herde him speake so terrible wordes that he durst no
farther breake: and of a truth the lord Hastynges of very truste shewed vnto Catesby the
mistruste that other began to haue in the matter. And therefore, he fearyng leste their
mocios might with the lord Hastynges minishe his credence, where vnto onely all the
matter leaned, procured the protectour hastely to ryd hym & much the rather, for he trusted'
by hys death to obtayne muche of the rule whiche the lord Hastynges bare in hys countree,
the onely desyre whereof, was the thyng that enduced him to be procurer and one of the
speciallest contriuers of all thys horrible treason. Where vpon the lorde protectour caused
a counsaill to be set at the tower on the fridaye the thirtene daye of lune, where was muche
commonyng for the honourable solemnitee of the coronacion, of the whiche the tyme ap-
poincted aproched so nere, that the pageauntes were a makyng daye £ night at Westmin-
ster, and vitaile killed whiche afterwarde was caste awaye.
These lordes thus sittyng comonyng of this matter, the protectour came in emong theim
about nyne of the clocke salutyng theim curteously, excusyng him self that he had been-
from theim so long saiyng merely that he had been a sleper that daye. And after a litle
talkyng with them he sayed to the bishopp of Ely, my lorde you haue verye good straw-
beries in youre garden at Ilolborne, I require you let vs haue a messe of theim. Gladly
(my lord qd he) I would I had some better thing as redy to your pleasure as that, and with
that in all hast he sente his seruaunt for a dishe of strawberies. The protectour set the
lordes faste in comonyng and there vpon prayed theim to spare him alitle, and so he depart-
ed and came agayn betwene. x. and eleuen of the clocke into the chambrc all' chaunged
with a sowre angry countenaunce knittyngthe browes, frownyng and fretyngand gnawyng on
his lips and so set hym doune in his place. All the lordes were dismaied and>sore marueyled
of this maner and sodeyne chaunge and what thyng should hym ayle. When he had .sit ten
a v,hyle, thus he began: What were they worthy to haue that copasse and yrnagine the de-
struction
366 KYNG EDWARDE
struccion of me beyng so neare of bloud to the kyng & protectoure of this his royall realme :
At which question, all the lordes sate sore astonyed, musyng muche by whom the question
should be ment, of which euery man knew him self clere.
Then the lorde Hastynges as he that for the familiaritie that was betwene theim, thought
ho might be boldest with him, aunswered and sayd that they were worthy to be punished
as heynous traytours what soeuer they were, and all the other affirmed the same, that is
(qd he) yonder" sorceres my brothers wife and other witli her, mcnyng the quene, at these
voordes many of the lordes were sore abashed whiche fauoured her, but the lorde Has-
tynges was better content in hys mynde that it was moued by her then by any other that he
loued better, albeit hys hart grudged that he was not afore made of counsail of this mat-
ter as well as he was of the takyng of her kynred and of their puttyng to death, whiche
were by hys assent before deuysed to be beheaded at Pomfrete, this selfe same daye, in
the whiche he was not ware that it was by other deuised that he hym selfe should the same
dave be beheaded at London : then sayed the protectour in what wyse that sorceresse and
other of her counsayle, as Shores wyfe with her affinitie haue by their sorcery and witche-
crafte this wasted my body, and therwith plucked vp his doublet sleue to his elbowe on hys
lefte arme, where he shewed a weryshc wythered arme & small as it was neuer other. And
therupon, euery mannes mynde mysgaue theim, well perceyuyng that this matter was but a
quarell, for well they wist that the quene was botli to wyse to go about any such folye, Sc
also if she would, yet would she of all folke make Shores wyfe least of her connsaile whom
of all women she most hated as that cocubine whom the kyng her husband most loued.
Also, there was no manne there but knewe that hys arme was euer such sith the day of
his birth. Neuerthelesse the lorde Hastynges, which from the death of kyng Edward kept
Shores wife, whom he somwhat doted in the kynges lyfe, sauyng it is sayed that he forbare
her for reuerence towarde his kyng, or els of a certayne kynde of fidelitie towarde his
frend. Yet nowe his hart somewhat grudged to haue her whom he loued so highly ac-
cused, and that as he knewe well vntruely, therefore he aunswered and sayed, certaynly
my lorde, yf they haue so done, they be worthy of heynous punishement, what qd the
protectour, thou seruest me I wene with yf and with and, I tell the they haue done it, and
that wyll I make good on thy bodye traytour. And therewith (as in a great anger) he
clapped his fyste on the horde a great rappe, at whiche token geue, one cried treason with-
out the chamber, and therwith a doore clapped, and in came rushyng men in harneyes as
many as the chamber could hold. And anone the protectoure sayed to the lorde Has-
tynges, I arrest the traytoure, what me my lorde qd he: yea the traytoure qd the protec-
tour. And one let five at the lorde Stanley, which shroncke at the stroacke and fell vnder
the table, or els hys head had bene cleft to the teth, for as shortly as he shrancke, yet
ranne the bloud aboute his eares. Then was the Archebishop of Yorke and doctour Mor-
ton bishopp of Ely & the lorde Stanley taken and diners other whiche were bestowed in
dyuers chambers, saue the lorde Hastynges (whom the protectour comaunded to spede and
shryue him apace) for by sainct Poule (qd he) I wyll not dyne tyll I se thy head of, it boted
hym not to askc why, but heuily he toke a priest at auenture and made a shorte shrift, for
a lenger woulde not be suffered, the protectour made so much hast to his dyner, which
might not go to it tyll this murther were done, for sauyng of hys vngracious othe. So was
he brought furthe into the grenc besyde the chapel within the towre, and his head layed
doune on a logge of tymber that lay there for builclyng of the chapel, & there tyrannously
striken of, and after his body and head wer enterred at Wyndesore by his maister kyng Ed-
ward the forth, whose soulcs lesu pardon. Amen.
A merueilous case it is to heare, either the warnynges that he should haue voyded, or
the tokens of that he could not voyde. For the next night before his death, the lorde
Stanley sent to him a trusty messenger at midnight in all the haste, requiryng hym to ryse
and ryde awaye with hym, for he was disposed vtterly no lenger for to abyde, for he had
a fearful] dreame in the whiche he thought that a bore with his tuskes so rased them bothe
by
THE FIFT. 361
by the heades that the bloud ran aboute bothe their shoulders, and for asmuch as the pro-
tectourgaue the bore for his cognisaunce, he ymagined that it should be lie. This drearne
made suche a fearfull impression in hys harte, that he was throughly detennyned no lenger
to tary but had his horse redy, yf the lorde Hastynges would go with him, Sa that they
Mould ryde so farre that night, that they should be out of daunger by the next day. A
good lord (q* the lord Hastynges) to the messenger, leaneth my lorde thy maister so much
to suche tryfles, and hath suche faithe in dreames, whiche either hisawne feare phantasieth,
or do ryse in the nightes rest by reason of the dayes thought. Tell him it is playne wich-
craft to beleue in such dreames, which if they were tokens of thinges to come, why thynk-
eth he not that we might as likely make theitn true by oure goyng yf we were caught and
brought backe, (asfrendes fayle fliers) for then had the bore a cause lykely to race vs with
his tuskes, as folkes that fled for some falshead, wherefore either is there peryll, nor none
there is deede, or if any be, it is rather in goyng then abidyng. And if we should nodes
fall in peril one way or other,^yet had I leauer that me should se it were by other mes fals-
hed, then thynke it were either our awne faute or faynte feble hart, and therefore go to
thy maister and comende me to him, & saye that I praye him to be mery & haue no feare, for
I assure hym, I am assured of the man he wotteth of, as I am sure of myne awne hand.
God send grace (q11 the messenger) and so departed. Certeyn it is also that in redyng to-
warde the towre the same mornyng in whiche he was beheaded, hys horsse that he accus-
tomed to ryde on stombled with him twyse or thryse almost to the fallyng, which thyng al-
though it happeth to them dayly to whom no mischance is towarde, yet hath it bene as an
olde euyll token obserued as a goyng toward mischiefe. Now this that foloweth was no
warning but an enuious scorne, the same morning ere he were vp from his bed where
Shores wife lay with him all night, there came to him sir Thomas Haward sonne to the
lorde Haward (whiche lord was one of the priueyest of the lord protectors counsaill and
dooyng) as it were of curtesye to accompaignie hym to the counsaile, but of truthe sent bv
the lorde protectourto hast hym thitherward.*
This sir Thomas, while the lord Hastynges stayed awhile commonyng with a priest who
lie met in the Towrstrete, brake the lordes tale, saiyng to him merely, what my lord I pray
you come on, wherfore talke you so long with that priest, you haue no nede of a priest
yet, & laughed vpon hym, as though he would saye, you shall haue nede of one sone:
Kut lytle wyst the other what he ment (but or night these wordes were well remebred by
them that hard them) so the true lord Hastynges litle mistrusted, & was neuer merier, nor
thought his life in more suretie in al his dayes, which thyng is often a signe of chauge: but
I shall rather let any thyng passe me then the vayne surety of mans mynde so neare his
death, for vpo the very towre wharffe, so neare the place where his head was of, so sone
after, as a ma might welcast a balle, a pursyuaut of his awne called Hastynges mette with
hym, & of their metyng in that place he was put in remebraunce of another tyme, in which it
happened them to mete before together in the place, at which tyme the lorde Hastynges
had bene accused to kyng Edward by the lord Ityuers the quenes brother, insomuche that
he was fora while which lasted not long highly in the kynges indignacion as he now mette the
same pursiuautin the same place, the ieoperdy so well passed, itgaue him great pleasure to
talke with him therof, witlr'whom he had talked in the same place of that matter, & therfore
he sayed, Ah Hastvnges, artthou remebred when I mette the here once with an heatiy hart :
Ye my lorde (q11 he) that I remembre well, and thaked be to God they gat no good ner you
no harme thcrby, thou wouldest saye so (qd he) yf thou knewest so inuche as I do, whiche
few knowe yet, & mo shall shortly, that meant he that therle llyuers and the lord Richard
£ sir Thomas Vaughan should that day be beheaded at Fotnfrete, as thei were in dede,
which actc he wist wel should be done, but nothyng ware that the axe hong so nere his
awne head. In faith ma (qA he) I was neuer so sory ner ncuer stode in so greate daunger of
my lyfe as I dyd when thou and I mette here, and lo the worlde is turned nowe, nowe
stand myne enemies in the daunger as thou inaist happe to hear more hereafter, and I neuer
3 A in
362 KYNG EDWARDE
in my lyfe merier nor ncuer in so great surety, I praye God it proae so (qd Hastynge?,
proue q1* he: doubtest thou that) nay nay I warraunt the, and so in maner displeased lie
entered into the Tow re, where he was not long on lyue as you haue heard. O lorde God
the blyndnesse of our mortal nature, when he most feared, he was in mos-te suretye, and
when he reconetl hym selfe moste surest, he lost his lyfe, and that within two houres after.
Thus ended this honorable man a good knight & gentle, of great auctboritie with his
prince, of liuyng somwhat dissolute, playne and open to his enemy, and sure and secrete
to hys frende, easy to begyle, as he that of good harte and courage foresawe no perilles,
a louyng man and passyng welbeloued, very faythfull and trustie ynough, but trustyng tc>
tnuche was hys destruction as you maye perceyue.
Nowe flewe the fame of thys lordes death through the cytie and farther about, lyke a
wynde in euery mans earc, but the Protectoure imrnediatly after dyner (entending to set
some colour vpo the matter) sent in all the hasle for many substancial men out of the cytie
into the Towre, and at ttieir comyng him selfe with the duke of Buckyngham stode, har-
nessed in olde euill fauored briganders, such as no ma would wene that they would haue
vouchesafed to haue put on their backes, excepte some sodeyne necessitie had constraigried
them. Then the lord protector shewed them, that the lord Hastynges & other of his con-
spiracy had contriued to haue sodeynly destroyed hym and the duke of Buckyngham there
the same daie in counsail, and what they entended farther, was yet not well knowen, of
whiche their treason he had neuer knowledge before x. of the clocke the same forenone,
which sodeyn fearedraue them to put on suche harnesse as came nexte to their handes for
their defence, and so God holpe them, that the mischiefe turned vpon them that woulde
haue done it, & thus he required them to report. Euery man answered fayre, as though
no ma mistrusted the matter, which of trueth no ma beleued. Yet for the further appea-
syng of the peoples myndes, he sent immediatly after dynner an Heralde of armes with a
proclamacion through the cytie of London which was proclaymed in the kynges name, that
the lord Hastynges with diners other of his trayterous purpose had before conspired, the
same daye to haue slaync the protectour and the duke of Buckyngham sittyng in counsaill,
& after to haue taken vpon them the rule of the kyng and the realme at their pleasure, and
thereby to pill and spoylewhom they lyst vncomptrolled, & muche matter was deuised in
the same proclamacion to the slaunder of the lord Hastynges, as that he was an euyll coun-
sailoure to the kynges father, entisyng hym to many thynges highly redoundyng to the dimi-
nishyng of hys honoure and to the vniuersall hurte of his realme by his euyll compaignie
and sinister procuryng and vngracious example, aswell in many other thynges as in vicious
liuyng and inordinate abusyon of his body, bothe with many other and especiall with Shores
wytc whiche was one of his secrete counsaill of this heynous treason, with whom he laye
nightly, and namely the night passed next before his death, so that it was the lesse marueill
yf vngracious liuyuge brought hym to an vnhappy ende, whiche he was now put to by the
comaundemet of the kyng his highnes and of his honorable and faithfull counsaile, bothe for
his demeritcs beynge so openly taken in his false cotriued treason, and also least the delai-
yng of his execucion might haueencoraged other mischieuous persons parteners of hys con-
spiracye, to gather and assemble them selues together in makyng so great commocion for
hys deliueraunce, whose hope nowe beyng by his well deserued" death pollytickely repressed,
all the realme shall by Goddes grace rest in good quyet and peace. Nowe was thys procla-
macion made within twoo houres after he was beheaded, and it was so curiously endyted
and so fayre writen in Parchernent in a fayre sette hande, and therewith of it selfe so long a
processe, that euery chyld might perceyue that it was prepared and studyed before (and as
some men thought, by Catesby) for all the tyrne betwene hys death and the proclamacion
proclaimyng, coulde skant haue suffyced vnto the bare wrytyng alone, albeit that it had
benc in paper and scribeled furthe in haste at aduenturc. So that vpon the proclaimyng
thereof, one that was scolemayster at Paules standyng by and comparyng the shortenesse of
the tyme with the length of the matter sayed to theim that stoode aboule hym, here is a gaye
goodly
THE FIFT.
goodly cast, foule cast a wave for hast. And a marchaunte Hmt stoode by hym sayed that it
was wrytten by inspiracyon and prophesye. Nowe then by and by, as it were for anger and
not for coueteous, the Protectoure sent sir Thomas Hawarde to the house of Shores wyfe
(for her husbandedweite not with her) whiche spoyled her of all that euer she had, ahoue
the valure of twoo or thre thousande markes, and sent her boclye to pryson. And the Pro-
tcctoure had laydeto her for the manor sake that she was a counsaill with thelorde Hastynges
to destroye hym. In conclusion, when nocoloure could fasten vpon these matters, then he
layed heynousjy to her charge that thing that she could not denye, 'for all the world knewe
that it was true, and that notwithstandyng euery man laughed to heare it then so sodeynly, so
higlily taken, that she was naught of her body. And for this cause as a godly continent
prince cleane and fautlesse of hym selfe, sent out of heauen into thys vicious worlde, for
the amendment of mens maners, he caused the byshop of London to putte her to open
penaunce, goyng before a crosse one Sondaye at procession with a. taper in her hand. In
the whiche she went in countenaunce and peace so womanly, & albeit the was out of all
aray sauyng her kyrtel only, yet went she so fayre and louely, and namely when the won-
dryng of the people cast a comely red in her chekes, of the whiche she before had most
mysse, that her great shame wanne her much prayse arnongest them that were more amorous
of her body then carious of her soule, and many good folke that hated her liuyng and were
glad to se synne corrected yet pitied they more her penaunce then reioysed it, when they con-
sidered that the protector did it more of corrupt mynd then any vertuous affeccion.
This woman was borne in London, well frended, honestly brought vp, and very well ma-
ryed, sauyng somewhat to sone, her husbande an honest and a yong citezen, godly and of
good substaunce, but forasmuche as they were coupled or she were well rype, she not very
feruetly loned for whom she neuer longed, which was the thyng (by chaunce) that the more
easely made her to enciine to the kynges appetite, when he required her. Howbeit the res-
pect of hys royaltie, the hope of gaye apparell, ease, pleasure, and other wanton wealth
was able sone to perce a softe tendre hart : but whe the kyng had abused her, anone her hus-
band beyngan honestmanne and one that could his good, not presumyng to touche a kynges
concubyne left her vp to hym altogether. When the kyng dyed, the lorde Hastynges toke
her, whiche in the kynges dayes albeit that he was sore enamoured with her yet he forbare,
either for a pryncely reuerence or for a certayne frendcly faithfulnesse. Proper she was
and fayre, nothyng in her body that you could haue chaunged, but yf you would hatie wished
her somewhat higher. Tin's saye they that knewe her in her youth, some saved and judged
that she had been well fauoured, and some iudge the contrary, whovse Judgement seametU
like as mene gesse the beautye of one long before departed, by a scaple taken out of a
chaneil house, & this iudgemet was in the tyme of kyng Henry the eyght, in the. xviih yere
of whose reigne she dyed, when she had nothyng but a reueled skynne and bone. HeT
beautye pleased not mene so rnuche as her plcasaunt behauoure, for she hadde a proper
\vytte & coulde both reade and wryte, mery in compaigny, redy and qnicke of answere,
neyther mute nor full of bable, sometyme tantyng without displeasure, but not without dis-
porte. Kyng Edward would saye y he had thre concubines, which in diuerse proparties di- Thedc-
uersiy excelled, one, the meriest, the other the wyliest, the thirde the holyest harlot in the Sj^EdT
realise as one, whom no man coulde get out of the churche to any place lightly, but if it wardth«
were to his bed, the other two were somwhat greater 'personages then mastres Shore, Con
neuerthelesse of their humilitie were content to be nameles and to forbeare the prayse of
these properties. But the meriest was Shores wyfe in whom the kyng therefore toke great
pleasure, for many he had, but her he loued, whose fauoure to saye tl-'j trueth (for it wer
synne to lye on the deuil) she neuer abused to any mas hurt, but to many mens comforte &
relicfe. For where the king toke displeasure, she would mitigate & apeace his mymie,
where men were out of fauour, she would bryng the into his grace, for many that had
highly offended, she obteyned pardon, & of great forfeaturcs she gat remission, and finally, in
many weighty suites she stode many mene in great steade, either for none or for very small
3 A 2 rewarde :
364 KYNG EDWARDE
rewardc: and those rather gaye then riche, either for that she was content with the dede
well done, or for that she delighted to be sued vnto, & to shewe what she was able to do
with the kyng, or for that that wanton women and welthy be-not alwaies couetous, I doubt
notsomemanwyl thynke this woman to be to slight to be written of emong graueandweyghtie
matters, whiche they shall specially thynke that happely sawe her in her age & aduersite, but
me semeth the chaunce so much more worthy to be remembred, in how much after wealth
she fell to pouertie, and from riches to beggery vnfrended, out of acquaintance, after great
suhstaunce after so great fauour with her prince, after as greate suite & sekyng to with all
those which in those dayes had busynes to spede as many other men were in their tymes,
whiche be now famous onely by the infamy of their euill deedes, her doynges were not
muche lesse, albeit they be muche lesse remembred, because they were not euyll, for men
vse to write an euyll turne in marble stone, but a good turne they wryte in the dust, whiche
is not worst proued by her, for after her wealth she went beggyng of many that had begged
them selfes if she had not holpenthem, suche was her chaunce.
Now was it deuised by the protectoure & his counsaile, that the same day y the lord
Chamberlayne was headed in the towre of London and about the same houre should be be-
headed atPoumfrete the earle Ryuers and the lorde Richarde the quenes sonne, syr Thomas
Vaughan and sir Richard Haute, whiche as you heard were taken at Northampton and
Stony Stratford by the consent of the lord Hastynges, whiche execution was done by the or-
dre & in the presence of sir Richard Ratclif knight, whose seruice the protectoure specially
vsed in the counsail, and in, the execution of suche lawlesse enterprises, as a man that had
bene longe secrete with hym, hauyng experiece of the world & shrewed wytte, shorte and
rude in speche, rough and boysterous of behauour, bold in mischiefe, as farre from pytie as
from all feare of God.
This knight brought these foure persons to the scaffolde at the daye apoincted, & shewed
to all the people that they were traitours, not sufferyng the lordes to speake, & to declare
their innocecy, least their wordes might haue enclined men to pytie them aud to hate the
protectonr & his part & so without iudgmet & processe of the lawe caused them to be be-
headed without other yearthly gylt, but onely y they were good me and true to the kyng &
to nye to the quene, insomuch as sir Thomas Vaughan goyng to his death sayed, 'A wo
worthe them y toke the^prophesie that G. should destroy kyng Edwardes childre, meanyng
y by the duke of Clarece lord George which for $ suspicion is now dead, but now're-
maineth Richard G. duke of Gloucester, which now I se is hey shall and will accoplishe the
prophesie & destroye kynge Edwardes children & all their alyes & fredes, as it appereth by
vs this day, who I appele to the high tribunal of God for his wrongful murther & our true
innocencye. And then Ratclyffe sayed, you haue well apeled, lay doune youre head, ye q"1
syr Thomas, 1 dye in right, beware you dye not in wrong, and so that good knight was be-
headed and the other three, and buryed naked in the monastery at Poumfret.
When the lordllastyages and these other lordes and knightes were thus beheaded and ryd
put of the waye, then the protectour caused it to be proclaymed that the coronacion for di-
uers great and vrgent causes should be deferred till the seconde daye of Nouember, for then
thought he, that whyle men mused what the matter meant, and while the lordes of the
realme were about him, out of their awne strengthes, and whyle no man wyste what to
thynke nor whom to truste, or euer they should haue tyme and space to digest the matter,
and make partes, it were best hastely to pursue his purpose and put hym self in possession
of the croune, or menne could haue tyme to deuyse any wyse to resyste. But nowe was
all the study, this matter beyng of it selfe so heynous might be first broken to the people in
suche wyse as it might well be taken. To this counsaile they toke diuerse such as they
thought mete to be trusted and likely to be enduced to that parte and hable to stand theim in
steade, eyther by powre or by polycye. Emong whom, they made a counsaile Edmond
fchaa then Mayre of London, whiche vpon trust of hys awne "auauncetnent, where he was
of
THE FIFT. 365
of a proude harte highly desirous, toke on him to frame the cytie to their appetite. Of
spirituall men they toke suche as had wytte, and were in aucthority emongest the people
for opinion of their learnyng, and had no scrupulous conscience. Emongest these had,
they toke Raffe Shaa clearke brother to the Mayre, & Freer, Pynkie prouinciall of the Au-
gustine Freers, bothe doctours in diuinitie, bothe great preachers, botlie of more learnyng
then vertue, of more fame then learnyng, & yet of more learnyng then trueth. For
they were before greatly estemed emong the people, but after that, neuer none of these
fwo were regarded. Shaa made a sermonde in prayse of the Protectour before the
coronacion, and Pynkye made one after the coronacion, bothe so full of tedious flat-
tery, that no good mans eares coulde abyde them, Pynkye in his sermonde so loste his
voyce that he was fayne to leaue of and come doune in the middest, Doctoure Shaa
by his sermonde loste his honesty, and sone after his lyfe, for very shame of the worlde,
into the whiche he durst neuer after muche come abroade, but the Freer forced for no
shame, and so it harmed hym the lesse. Howbeit, some doubt and many thynke that Pyn-
key was not of counsaill before the coronacion, but after the common maner fell to flat-
tery after, namely because his sermond was not incontinent vpon it, but at sainct Mary
Spittle the Easter after. But certayne it is that doctour Shaa was of cousail in the beginnyng,
in so much that they determyned that he should fyrst breake the matter in a sermond at
Poules crosse, in whiche he should by the aucthoritie of hys preachyng induce the people to
encline to f protectours ghostly purpose. But now was all the laboure and study in the
deuise of some conuenient pretexte, for which the people should be content to depose the
prince & accept the protectour for kyng. In which diuerse thinges they deuised, but the
chief thyng, & the weight of all that inuencion rested in this, that they shoulde allege bas-
tardy in kyng Edwarde hym selfe, or in his chyldren, or bothe, so that he should seme disar
bled to enherite the croune by the duke of Yorke and the prince by him. To lay bastardy
in kyng Edward sounded openly to the rebuke of the protectours awne mother, whiche was
mother to them bothe. For in that poinct could be none other coloure, but to pretende
that his awne mother was an auoutresse, but neuerthelesse he would that poinct should be
lesse and morefynely & closely handled, not euen fully playne and directely, but touched a
slope craftely, as though men spared in that poinct to speake all the trueth for feare of his
displeasure. But that other poincte concernyng the basterdy they deuised to surmysse in
kyng Edward his chyldren, that would he should be openly declared and enforced to the vt-
termost. The coloure and pretexte wherof cannot be well perceyued excepte wee repete
some thinges longe before dooen aboute kyng Edward his manages.
After kyng Edwarde thefourthe had deposed kyng Henry the sixte and was in peaceable
possession of the realme, determinyng him selfe to mary (as was requisite) bothe for hym
selfe and for the realme, he sente therle of Warwike & diuerse other noble men in ambas-
siide to the Frenche kyng to entreate a manage betwene the kyng and Bona sister to the
Frenche quene, then beyng in Fmunce. In which thyng therle of Warwike founde the
parties so towarde and willynsr, that he spedely without any difficultie accordyng to his instruc-
cions brought the matter to a good conclusion. Nowe happeneth it in the meane season,
there came to make a sute to the kyng by peticion dame Elizabeth Grey (whiche after was
his quene) then a widdowe borne of noble bloude, specially, by her mother, which
was Duchesse of Bedforde, and she was maried to sir Richarde Wooduilc lorde Riuers,
her father.
Howbeit, this Elizabeth beyng in seruice with quene Margaret wife to k'yng Henry the
sixte, was maried to one Ihon Grey Esquire whom kyng Henry made knight at the laste bat-
taill of sainct Albones, but litle while he enioyed his knighthod, for at the same feld he
was slain.
After, when that kyng Edward was kyng and the Erie of Warwicke beyng on his ambas-
sad, this poore lady made sute to the kyng to be restored to suche smal landes as her hus-
bande hadgeuen her in ioyntoure, whom when the kyng behelde and harde her speake, as she
was
KYNG EDWARDE
was bothe faire and of good fauoure, moderate of stature, well made and very wyse, he
not alonely pitied her, but also wexed enamoured on her, and takyng her secretly a sydd
began to e'nter into talkyng more familierly, whose appetite when she perceyued, she ver-
teou-sly denied hym, but that she dyd so wysely and that with so good maner and woorde so
wel set, that she rather kyndeled his desyre then quenched it. And finally, after many a
' metvn'7 and much wow'yngand many great promises she well espied the kyng his affeccion
towarde her so greately encreased that she durste somewhat the more boldely saye her mynde
as to him whose hcrt she perceyued more feruently set then to fall of for a \\orde. And in
conclusion she shewed him plain, that as she wist her self to simple to be his wife, so thought
she her self to good to be his cocubine. The kyng muche marueilyng of her constancy, as
he that had not been wonte els where so stiefly sayed nay, so muche estemed her continency
and chastitee, that he sette hervertuein steadeof possession and richesse: And this takyng
counsaill of his owne desyre determined in haste to mary her. And after that he was thus
apoincted and had betwene them twayn ensured her, then asked he counsaill of his secrete
frendes, and that in suche maner that they might easly perceyue that it boted not to saye nay.
Notwithstandyng, the duches of Yorke his mother, was so sore moued therewith that she
disswaded that'mariage as muche as she possible might: allegyng that it was his honor, pro-
fyte & surety, to mary in some noble progeny out of hys realme, where vpon depended
greate strengthe to hys estate by that affinite, and great possibilite of encrea^e of his domi-
nios. And that he could not well otherwise doe, consideryng the erle of Warwike had so
fari'urthe entered into the matter all ready, which was not lyke to take it well if ail hys voy-
age were in suche wyse frustrate & his appoinctemente deluded. And she sayed t'erther,
that it was not princely to mary hys owne subiecte, no greater occasio ledyng there vnto, no
possessions ner other commodite dependyng therupon, but onely as a riche manne would
•mary hys mayden onely for a little wanton dotage vpon her person. In whiche manage many
menne comend more the maydens fortune then the marines wisedome, £ yet she sayed that
there was more honesty, then honour in this manage, forasmuch as ther is not betwene a
nuirchaunt & his mayde so greate a difference as betwene a kyng arid his subiecte, a greate
prince and a poore widowe. In whose persone, allthough there were nothyng to bee mis-
lyked, yet was there sayed she, nothing so excellent but that it might be found in diuerse
other that were more metely (qd she) for your estate: yea and maidens also, the oiiely wi-
dcnvhed of dame Elizabeth Grey (although she were in all other poinctes and thynges con-
uenient I'or you) should suffice as me thynketh to refrain you from her manage, sith it is an
vnsittyng thyng and a great blemishe to the sacred maiestie of a prince, that ought as nere
to approche priesthode in clennesse, as he doeth in dignitie, to be defiled with bigamy in his
first manage. The kyng made his mother an answere part in earnest and part in playe inere-
Iv, as he that wyste hym selfe out of her rule: & albeit he would gladly that she should take
it well, 'yet T^ as heat apoinct in his owne mynde, toke she it wel or otherwise. Howbeit,
somewhat to satisfy her lie saied, that albeit manage beyng a spiritual thyng ought rather to
!>>• made for the respecte of God, where his grace enclineth, the parties ought to encline to
lone together (as lie trusted it was in his case) rather then for the regard of any temporall
uiianiUage: yet neuertheles him semed this manage well considered not to be vnprofitable,
for he rcconed the amitee of no earthely nacion to bee so necessary for hym as the frende-
ship of his awne, whiche he thoughte likely to beare liym so muche the more hartye fauour,
in that he disdaigned not to mari with one of his awne lande: & yet if outward aliaunce
wer thought so requisite, he would find the meanes to entre therunto muche better by
other of his kinne v here all the parties coulde be contented, then to mary him selfe
wherein he .should neuer happely lone, and for the possibjlitee of possessions lese the fruite
and pleasure of this that he had already. For small plasure taketh a man of all that
cner he hath beside, yf he be wiued againste his appetite, and I double not (quod he,) but
there bee as you saie other that bee in euery poinct comparable with her, and therefore I
let not theim that like theim to mary theim, no more is it reason that it mislike any man
that
THE FIFT. 367
that 1 mary where it liketh me. And I am sure that my cousin of Warwike, neither loueth
rue so litle, to grudge at that that I loue, ner is so vnreasonable to loke that I should in-
clioyse of a wife rather be ruled by his yie then by myne awne, as though I wer a wacde
that wer bounden to mary by the apoynctement a guarden. I would not bee a kyng with
that codicion to forbear mine awne libertie in choyse of mine awne manage. As for pos-
tjibilite of more inheritaunce by newe affinitee in straunge landes, is oft the occasion of more
trouble than proffite. And we haue alredy title by that meancs, as suffiseth to so much as suf-
fiseth to gette & kepe wel in onemannes deies. That she is a widdowe and hath alredy chil-
dren : By god his blessed lady, I am a bachelor and haue some to, & so eche of vs hath a proofe,
that neither of vs is like to be barren. And therefore madame I praye you be content, I trust to
God she shall bryngefurthe a young prince thatshal please you. And as for the bigamy, let the
bishop hardely lay it to my charge when I coine to take ordres, for I vnderstand it is foi>
bidden a prieste but I neuerwiste that it was forbidden a prince. The duchesse with these
woordes. nothynge apeased and seynge the kynge so sette on that she could not plucke him-
backe, so highly she disdaigned it, that vnder pretexte of her duty to God warde, she
deuised to disturbe this manage, and rather to helpe that he should mary one dame Elizabet
Lucy, whom the kynge notlonge before had gotten with chylde, w her fore the kynge his mo-
ther obiected openly againste this mariage (as it were in discharge of her connscience) that
the kyng was sure to dame Elizabeth Lucy and her husband and before God, by reason of
whiche wordes suche obstacle was made in that matter, that either the bishoppe durste not,
or the kyng would not proceade to the solemnisacion of the mariage til his fame wereclere-
ly purged, and the truth well and opely testified. Where vpon dame Elizabeth Lucye was
sente for, and albeit she was by the kyng his mother and many other put in good comfort to
affirme that she was assured to the kynge, yet when she was solemplys worne to saie the truth,
she confessed she was neuer ensured. Ilowbeit she saied,^ his grace spake suche louynge
woordes to her, that she vercly hoped that he would haue maried her, and that yf such
kinde woordes had not been, she woulde neuer haue shewed suche kyndenesse to hym, to
lette him so kindely gette her with childe. This examinacion sclemply taken, it was clerely
proued that there was no impediment to let the king to mary, wherfore, he shortely after at
Grafton beside Stonystratforde maried the lady Elizabeth Grey verie priuely, which was his
enemies wife and had praied hartely for his losse, in the which God loued her better then
to graunte her her bone, for then had she not been his wife : And after that she was crouned
quene, and her father was created erle Riuers and her sonne created Marques Dorset,
But whe the erle of Warwike vnderstode of this manage* he toke it so highly, that thcrof
ensued muche trouble and greate bloudshed as is declared before in the story of Edward
the. iiii.
I haue rehersed this mariage somewhat the more at length, because it might thereby the
better apere vpon how slipper a ground the protector builded his colour, by which he pre-
tended king Edward his children to be bastardes, but the inuencion, as simple as it was
liked theim to whom it suffiseth to haue somewhat to saie, while they were sure to be com-
pelled to no larger profe then theim selues liste to make.
Nowe to returne where I left, as I beganne to shevve you, it was by the protector and his
counsaill concluded that this doctor Shaa should in a sermon !at Panics crosse signih'e to the
people that neither king Edwarde hym sclfe nor the duke of Clarence were laivei'ully begot-
ten, nor wer the very children of the duke of Yurke, but begotten vnlawefully by other
persones by aduoutry of the duches their mother. And that dame Elizabeth Lucy was the
very wife of king Edward, and so prince Edward and all the children begotten on the
quene wer bastardes. And accordyng to this deuise, doctor Sha the sondaie after at Paules
crosse in a greate audience (as alwaie a great numbre assembled to his preaching) came
into the pulpit takyng for his Theme, Spnria vitulamina nodabunt radices altos. Sapien. iiii.
that is to saie bastarde slippes shall neuer take depe rootes : wherupon when he had shewed
the great grace that God geueth & secretely infoundeth -in right generacion after y lawes of
1 matrimony
36* KYNG EDWARDE
matrimony, then declared he that those children comenly lacked $ grace (& for the pu-
nislmient of their parentes) were for y most part vnhappy which wer gotten in haste and
specially in aduoutry, of which (though some by the ignorauncie of the worlde and the
truthe hid from knowlege) haue enlierited for a season other mennes landes, yet God al-
Avaie so prouideth that it continueth not in their bloude longe, but the truethe commynge
to IMite the ri«htefull enheritoures be restored, and the bastard slippes plucked vp or
it can be rooted depe. And when he had laied for the proofe and confirmation of this
sentence, examples taken out of the olde testamente and other aunciente histories, then
began he to discend to the praise of the lord Richard duke of Yorke, callyng him father
to the protectour and declared his title to the croune bi inheritaunce and also by entaile au-
thorised by parliament after y death of kynge Henry the sixte. Then shewed he that the
lordo. protector, was onely the righte heire.of his body lawfully begotten. Then declared
he that kyug Edward was neuer lawfully maried to y quene, but his wife before God was
dame Elizabeth Lucy, and so his children wer bastardes. And besides that, that neither
lyna Edward hym selfe nor the duke of Clarence (emongest them that wer secrete in the
duke of Yorkes houshoulde) were neuer reconed surely to be the children of the noble duke
as those that by their fauoures more resembled other knowen menne then hym, from whose
verteous conditions he saied also, that king Edwarde was far of. But the lord pro-
tector (quod he) that veraye noble prince, the speciall patrone of knightly prowes, aswell
in all princely behaueour as in the liniamentes and fauour of his visage representeth the
very face of y noble duke his father. This is (quod he) the fathers awue figure, this is his
awne countenaunce, the verie print of his visage, the sure vndoubted ymage, tho playne
expresse likenesse of that noble duke. Now was it before deuised that in thejspeakynge
of these wordes, the protector shoulde haue come in emongest the people to y sermond
ward, to thcnde that these wordes so inetynge with his presence, might haue been taken
emongest the herers, as though the holy ghost had put theim in the preachers
mouthe, and shoulde haue moued the people euen there to haue cried, kynge Richard,
that it might haue been after sayed that he was specially chosen by God, and in maner by
miracle: but this deuiscquayled, either by the protectoures negligence or the preachers ouer
hasty diligence. For while the protectoure, founde by the waye tariynge, leaste he shoulde
haue preuented these woordes, the doctour fearynge that he shoulde come or his sermon
could come to those woordes hastynge his matter thereto, he was come to theim and paste
theim, and entred into other matters or the protectour came, whom when he beheld com-
mynge, he sodainly lefts the matter whiche he had in hand, and without any deduccyon
theruato out of all" ordre, and out of all frame began to repete those woordes agayne.
Tiiis is the very noble prince the cspeciall patrone of knightely prowes, whiche aswell in all
princely behaueoure as in the liniamentes and fauour of his visage representeth the veraye
face of the noble duke of Yorke his father. This is the fathers awne figure, this is his
owne counteiiaunce, the very print of his visage the sure vndoubted image, the plain
rxpresse likenesse of that noble duke, whose remembraunce can neuer die while he
liuctli. While these wordes were inspeakynge, the protectour accompaignied with the duke
of Buckyngham, went through the people vp into the place where the doctors stand where
they harde onte the sermond: but the people wer so far from criynge kynge Richard that
they stoode as they had been turned into stoones for wonder of this shameful 1 sermonde:
after whiche once ended y precher gat hym home and neuer after durst loke out for shame
l>ut kept hi in out of sighte as an owle and when he asked any of his old frendes, what the
people talked of him, although that his awne consciece well shewed hym that they talked no
good, yet when the other answered hym, that there was in euery mannes mouthe of hym
muche shame spoken it so strake him too the harte that in fewe dayes after he withered
awaie.
Then on the tuesday after next foloyng this sermond, beyng the. xvii. day of lune, there
came to the Guyld hall of London the duke of Buckyngham and diuerse lordes and knightes
inu
THE FIFT. 369
mo then happely knevve the message that they brought. And at the east ende of the hal
where the hoystynges be kepte, the duke and the maire and the other lordes sat downe, and
the aldermen also, all the commons of the citee beeynge assembled and standynge before
theim. After scilence commauncled vpon agreate paine in the protectoures name : The duke
stode vp and as he was well learned and of nature merueilously well spoken, he sayed to the
people with a cleare and a lowde voyce: Frendes, for the zeale and hertie fauoure that we The oracum
beare you we be come to breke of a matter righte greate and weightie, and no lesse weightie °f Bucking!
then pleasyng to God and profitable to all the realme, nor to no partc of the realme, more hamm»det»
profitable, then to you thecitczens of this noble citee. For why, the thynge that you baue^ £5"™*
long lacked and as we well know sore longed for that you would haue geuen greate good
for, that you would haue gonne farre to fetche: that thynge be we come hether to bryngyou,
without your labour pain, coste, auenture or ieoperdye. What thynge is that? Certes the
surety of your awne bodies, the quiete of your wiues and daughters and the sauegarde of
your goodes. Of all whiche thynges in-tyme passed you stoode in double. For who was
he of you all that could recon hym selfe lorde of his awne good emongest so many gynnes and
trappes wer set therfore emong so much pyllyng and pollynge, emonge so many taxes and
talliages, of the which there was neuer ende, and oftymes no nede, or yf any were, it grew
rather of riote or of vnreasonable waste, then any necessary honourable charge, so
that there was daily plucked and pilled from good and honeste menne greate substaunce of
goodes, to be lashed out emong vnthriftes, so far furthe that fiftenes suffiscd not, nor any
vsuall termes of knowen taxes, but vnder an easy name of beneuolence and good will, the
commissioners so much of euery manne toke, as no manne woulde with his good will haue
geuen. As though the name of beneuolence had signified that euery manne shoulde paie, not
what he of hym selfe of his good will lust to graunte, hut what the king of his good wil lust
to take, who neuer asked litle, but euery thing was haunsed aboue the measure, amercia-
mentes turned into fines, fines into raunsomes, small trcspaces into mesprision, mesprision
into treason, where of I thynke that no manne looketh that we shall remembre you of ex-
amples by name, as though Burdet were forgotten whiche was for a worde spoken, in hast
cruelly behcdded. (This Burdet was a marchaiit dwellyng in Chepesyd at y signe of $ croune
which now is y signe of y flowre de luse ouer against soper lane: This man merely in y ruf-
flyng tyme of kyng Edwarde y. iiij. his rage, saied to his awne some that he would make hym
in heritor of $ croune, meanyng his awne house: but these wordes king Edward made to be
mysconstrued, & interpreted that Burdet meant the croune of the realme: wherfore within
lesse space then. iiij. houres, he was apprehended, iudged, drawen and quartered in Chepe-
syde) by the mysconstruynge of the lawes of the realme for the princes pleasure, with no lesse
honoure to Merkam chiefe Justice then, which lost his office rather then he would assent to
that Judgement: then to the dishonesty of those that either for feare or flattery gaue that
Judgement. What nede I to speke of syr Thomas Cooke Alderma and mayre of this noble or this tj
citee, who is of you either for negligence that wotteth not, or so forgetfull that he remein-'^^ye
breth not, or so harde harted that he pitieth not that^worshipfull mannes losse? what speke m« r«d<-.
I of losse, his wonderfull spoyle and vndeserued distinction, onely because it happened him
to fauour them whom the prince fauoured nor. We nede not reberse of these any mo by
name, sithe I double not that here be many presente that either, in theim selues or their nigh
frendes, aswell their goodes as their persones were greately endaungered either by fained
querels or small matters aggrauated with heinous names, & also there was- no crime so great, -
'of which there could lacke a pretexte. For sithe y king preuentyng the tyme of his in-
heritaunce attained the croune by battail, it suffised in a riche man for a pretext of treason,
to haue been of kindred or aliaunce, nere of familiarite, or longer of acquaintance with
any of those, that were at any tyme the kynges enemies which was at one time or another
more then half the realme. "Thus were neither your goodes, neither landes in suretie, and
yet they brought your bodies in ieoperdye, beside the comen auenture of open warre,
which albeit, that it is euer the well and occasion of much mischief, yet is it neuer so
3 B mischeuou?
3TO KYNG EDWARDE
mischeuous as wher any people fal in deuision, and at distaunce einong theimselues: and in
no realm earthly so dedly and so pestilet as when it happeneth emongest vs. And emong
vs neuer continued so long discencion nor so many battailles in any season, nor so cruell nor
so dedly foughte, as wer in the kyng his daies that dedde is, God forgeue it his solle. In
whose tyme and "by whose occasion, what about the gettyng of the gariande, . Icepyng it,
lesyng and winnynge againe, it hath coste more Englishe blud then hath the twise winnynge
of Fraunce. In wliich inwarde warre emongest our seines hath been so greate effusion of
the aunciente noble blond of this realme, that scarcely the half remaineth, to the great en-
feblyng of this noble lande, beside many a good towne ransaked and spoyled by them that
haue been goyng to the felde or returnyng from thence, and peace after, not much surer
then warre. So that no tyme was there in the which riche menne for their money, and great
menne for their landes, or some other for some feare or for some displeasure were out of
perel. For whom mistrusted he that mistrusted his own brother? Whom spared he that
kylled his own brother? Coulde not suche maner of folke that he moste fauoured doo
somwhat (we shall for his honour spare to speke) howbeit, this ye wote well all, that
whoso was best bare euer the lest rule, and more suite in his days was to Shores wife,
a vile and abhominable strompet then to all the lordes in England, excepte vnto those
that made her their proctour, whiche simple woma was yet well named and honest tyll
the kynge for his wanton luste and sinfull affection berefte her from her husbande, a
right honest manne and substantial! emongest you. And in that poinct whiche in good
faithe I am sory to speake of, sauynge that it is vain to kepe in counsaill that thynge that
all men knoweth, y kyng his gredy appetite was insatiable, and euery where ouer all the
realme intolerable. For no wome was there any where, young or old, poore or riche,
whom he sette his yie vpo, whom he any thynge liked either for persone or beautie, speche,
pace or countenaunce, but without any feare of God, or respecte of his honour, murmure,
or grudgyng of the world, he woulde importunately pursue his appetite and haue her, to
the great distruetion of many a good woman, and great dolour to their husbandes and
frendes, whiche beynge honest people of theim selues, so muche regarded the clenesse of
their houses, the chastitee of their wiues and childre, that theim wer leuer to lose all that
thei haue beside, then to haue suche a vilanie done to theim. And albeit that with this
and other importable dealing, the realme was in euery place anoyed yet specially you the
citezens of this nobilite, as for that emongest you is most plentie of such thynges as minister
matter to such iniuries, as for that you were nerest hande, sithe that nere here about was
his rnoste common abidyng. And yet be ye people whom he had as synguler a cause wel and
truly to intreate, as any part of his realme : not onely for that the prince by this noble citee,
as of his speciall chambre and renoumed citee of this realme, muche honourable fame re-
ceiuelh emongest all other nations, but also for that, you not without your greate coste and
sondrye fauoures and ieoperdyes in all his warres bare euer your especiall fauoure to his parte :
whiche your kynde myndes borne to the house of Yorke, sithe he hath nothynge worthely
requited you, there is of the house now which by God his grace shall make you full re-
compence, which thyng to shew you, is the whole some and effect of our errande. It shall
not, I wote well nede, that I reherse vnto you again that you al redy haue hearde of hym
that can better tell it, and of whom I am sure ye will better beleue it (and reason it is that
it so be) I am not so proud too looke therfore y you should receiue my wordesof so great
aucthorite as the preachers of the word of God, namely a man so conninge and so wise,
that no manne wotteth better what be should do and say, and therto so good and vertues
that he would not say the thing, which he wist he should not say in the pulpit, namely, into
the which no honest man cometh to lie: whiche honourable preacher ye wellremembre, sub-
stantially declared to you at Paules crosse on Sondaie laste paste, the right and title of the
most excellent prince Richard duke of Gloucester now protector of this his realme which
he hath vnto the croune of the kyngdome of the same. For that worshipfuiman made it per-
fectely and groimdely open vnto you. The children of kynge Edward the fourth wer neuer lau-
fully
. THE FIPT. .371..
fully begotten, for as muche as the kynge (liuynge his verie wife dame Elizabeth Lucy) was neuer
laufully maried to the quene their mother whose bloud sauynge he set his volupteous pleasure
before his honour, was ful vnmetely to be matched 'with his (the mynglyng of which two bloudes
together hath been the effusion of a great part of the noble bloud of this realme) wherby it
may well be seen, that mariage was not well made of which there is so much mischiefe
growen. For lacke of which lawefull copulacion and also of other thynges whiche the saied
worshipfull doctor rather signified then fully explaned, and whiche thyng shall not be spoken
forme, as the thyng that euery manne forbeareth to sale that he knoweth, in'auoidyng the
displeasure that my noble lorde protector bearyng as nature requireth a filial reuerence
to the duches his mother. For these causes before remembred I saie, that for lake of issue
lawfully commynge of the late noble prince Richard duke of Yorke, to whose royall hloud
the crounes of England and of Fraunce, are by the high aucthorite of a parliamet entailed,
the right and title of the same is by iuste course of enheritaunce according to the common
lawe of this lande, deuoluted and come vnto the moste excellent prince the lord protectoure,
as to the very lawfull begotten sonne of the fore remembred noble duke of Yorke. Whiche
thynge well considred and the knightely prowesse wita many vertues whiche in his n6ble
persone singulerely dooe habounde: The nobles and commons of this realme. and specially
of the North paries, not willing any bastard blond to haue the rule of the land, nor the abu-
sions in the same before vsed and exercised any longer too continue, haue fully condiscended
and vtterly determined too make humble peticion vnto the puisaunte prince the lorde pro-
tectour, that it may like his grace at our humble request, to take vpon hym the guydyng
and gouernaunce of this realme, too the wealth and increase of the same, accordynge to
his very right and iuste title, whiche thynge I wot well he will be loth to take vpon hym
as he whose wisedome well perceiueth, the laboure and study bothe of mynde and bod'ye
that shall come therwith to hym, whosoeuer shall occupy that rome. I dare saye he will if
he take it (for I warrant you that that rome is no childes office) & that the great wise man
well perceyued when he sayed Vac: regno, cuius Rex puer est, wo to that realme whose kyng
is a child, wherfore, so muche more cause haue we to thanke God, that this noble personage,
which is so righteously entitled therto is of so sad age, & therto of so great wisedome,
ioyned with so great experience, which albeit, he will bee lothe us I haue saide to take
vpon hym, yet shall he too our peticion in that behalf the more graciously encline, yf ye the
worshipful citezens of this citee being the chief citee of the realme ioyne with vs the nobles
in our saied request, whiche for your owne weale we double not but that ye will. And
yet neuerthelesse, we pray you so to do, whereby ye shall do great, profile to all this his
realme: Beside that in chosyng them so good a kynge, it shall bee to your selfe a speciall
commodite, to whom his maiestie shal euer after, beare so much y more tendre fatiour in
how much he shall perceiue you the more prone and beneuolentely nrynded toward his
election: wherin dere frendes, what mynd you haue we require you plainely to shewe vs?
When the duke had saied and loked that the people whom he hoped that the Maire hnd
framed before, shoulde afteY this flatterynge preposicion made, haue cried kynge Richarde,
kynge Richarde, all was still and mute and not one woorde answered to : wherwith the
duke was maruelously abashed, and takynge y Maire nere to hym, with other that wer abofite
hym priuy to the matter, saied vnto theim softely. What meaneth this, that the people'be
so still? Sir quod the Maire, percase they perceiue you not well, that shall we amend quod
he, if he thatwil helpe, and therwith somewhat lowcler rehersed the same matter again,-' in
other ordre and other woordes so well and ornately, and neuerthelesse soeuidently and plaine
with voice, gesture, & countenaunce so comely and so conuenient, that euery man much
marueiled that hard him and thought that they neucr harde in their lines so euill a tate'so
well told. But wer it for wonder or feare, or that eche loked that other should spe'ake
firste, not one word was there answered of all the people that stoode before, but all were
as still as the midnight, not so much as rounyng emong them, by which they might
seme once to common what was best to do. When ihe Maire sawe this, he with other
3 B 2 partenera
97* -^ KVNG EDWARDE.
parteners of the counsaill, drew about the duke and saied that f people had not been
accustomed there to be spoken to, but by the Recorder, which is the mouthe of the
citee, and happely to hym they will answere. With that the Recorder called Thomas
Filz Wyllya, a sadde manne and an honeste, which was but newly come to the office,
and neuer had spoken to the people before, and loth was with that matter to begyn,
notwithstanding, there vnto commaunded by the Maire, made rehersall to the common*
of that which the duke had twise purposed hym self, but the recorder so tepered his
tale that he shewed euery thyng as the duke his woordes were and no parte of his owne,
but all this no chaunge made in the people, whiche alway after one stoode as they had
been amased. Where vpon, the duke rouned with the Maire and said, this is a mar-
ueilous obstinate scilence, and there with turned too the people again with these woordes.
Deare frendes, we come to moue you to that thyng whiche parauenture we so greately
neded not, but that the lordes of this realme and commons of other partes might haue suf-
fised, sauyng suche loue we beareyou, and so muche set by you, that we would not gladly
do without you, that thyng in whiche to be parteners is your weele and honoure, whiche
as to vs semeth you se not or waye not : Wherfore we require you to giue vs an answere,
one or other, whether ye be mynded as all the nobles of the realme be, to haue this noble
prince now protector to be your kyng? And at these wordes the people began to whisper
emong them selfes secretly, that the voyce was neither loud nor base, but like a swarrne of
bees, till at the last, at the nether ende of the hal a bushernent of the dukes seruauntes and
one Nashfeelde and other belongynge to the protectoure with some prentices and laddes that
thrusted into the hall emongest the preace, began sodainly at mennes backes to crye out as
lowde as they could, kynge Richard, king Richard, and there threwe vp their cappes in
token of ioye, and they that stoode before cast backe their heddes marueilynge therat, but:
nothing the saied. And when the duke and the Maire saw this maner, they wisely turned
it to their purpose, and said it was a goodly crie and a ioyfull to here enery man with one-
voyce and no man saiyng nay. Wherefore frendes (quod the duke,) sith we perceiue that
it is all your whole mindes to haue this noble man for your king, wherof we shall make his
grace so effectuall reporte that we doubt not but that it shall redounde to your great wealth*
and commodite. We therefore require you that to morowe ye go with vs and we with you;
to his noble grace to make our humble peticio and request to him in maner before remem-
bred. And therwith the lordes came doune and the compaignie dissolued and departed the:
more part all sad, some with glad sembleaunce that were not very merie and some of them;
that came with the duke not hable to dissemble their sorowe, were fain euen at his backe
to turne their face to the wall, while the doloure of their hartes braste out of their yies.
Then on the morowe the Maire and aldrernen and chief commoners of the citie in their,
best maner appareled, assemblyng them together at Paules, resorted to Baynardes castle
•where the protectour laie, to which place also accordyng too the appoinctment repaired the
duke of Buckyngham, and diuerse nobles with hym, besides many knyghtes and gentlemen.
And there vpon the duke sent woorde to the lord protectoure of the beyng there of a greate
honourable compaignie to moue a greate matter to his grace. Where vpon the protectoure
made greate difficultie to come doune to theim, except he knewe some parte of their errande,
as though he doubted and partely mistrusted the commynge of such a numbre to hym so
sodainely, without any warnyng or knowlege, whether they came for good or harme. Then ,
when the duke had shewed this too the Mayre and other, that they might thereby se how
litle the protectour loked for this matter, they sente again by the messenger suche louynge
message, and there with so humbly besought hym to vouchsafe that the might resort to his
presence to purpose their entent of which they would to none other persone any part dis-
close. At the last he came out of his chambre, and yet not doune to theim, but in a galary
ouer them with a bishop on euery hand of him, where they beneth might se him and speke
to him, as though he would not yet come nere them til he w.ist what they meant. And
there vpon, the duke of Buckingham first made humble peticion to him on the behalfe of
1 theim
THE FIFT. 373
theim all, that his grace would pardon theim and licence them to purpose vnto his grace the
entent of their comrayng without his displeasure, without which pardon obteined, they durst
not be so boki to moue him of that matter. In which, albeit they meant as muche ho-
nour to his grace as wealth to all y realm beside, yet were they not sure how his grace
would take it, whom they would in no wise offend. Then the protectour, as he was very
gentle of hym self and also longed sore apparantly to know what they meant, gaue him
Icaue to purpose what him liked, verely trustynge for the good mind that he bare them alt-
none of theim any thyng woulde entende to hym warde, wherewith he thought to be greued.
When the duke had this leaue and pardon to speake, then wexed he bold to shew hym their
entente and purpose, with all the causes mouyng theim thereto, as ye before haue heard. And
finally, to beseche his grace that it would like him of his accustomed goodnesse and zeale
vnto the realm now with his yie of pitie to behold the long continued distresse and decaie
of the same, & to set his gracious hand to the redresse and atnendemente thereof by tak-
ynge vpon hym the croune and gouernaunce of the realme accordyng to his right and title
laufully discended vnto him, and to the laud of God, profile and surety of the land-
& vnto his grace so muche the more honor and lesse pain, in that y neuer prince reigned
vpon any people that wer so. glad to liue vnder his obeisauce as the people of this realme
vnder hia.
When the protector had heard the proposicion, he loked very strangely therat and made
answer, that albeit he knew partely the thynges by theim alleged to be true, yet such
entiere loue he bare to kynge Edward and his children, and so much more regarded his ho-
nour in other realmes about, then the croune of any one, of which he was neuer desy-
rous, so that he could not find in his harte in this poinct to incline to their desire, for in al
other nacions where the truth were not wel knowe, it shoulde parauenture be thought that.
it were his awne ambicious mynde and deuise to depose the prince and to take hym selfe the
croune, with which infamy he would in no wise haue his honour steined for any croune, in
which he had euer perchaunce perceyued much more labour and peiiv then pleasure to
him that so would vse it as he that would not and were not worthy to haue it. Notwith-
standing, he not onely. pardoned them of the mocion that they made him, but also thanked
them for the loue and harty fauour they bare hym, praiyng them for his sake to beare the
same to the prince vnder whom he was and would be content to liue and with his labour
& counsaill as far as it should like the king to vse it, he woulde doo his vttermoste deuoier
to sette the realme in good estate which was allredye in the litle tyme of his protectourship
(lauded be God,) wel begon, in. that the malice of such as wer before y occasion of the
contrary and of new entended to be, wer now partely by good policy, partely more by
God his speciall prouidence, then mannes prouision, repressed and put vnder.
Vpon this answer geuen, the duke of Buckyngham by the protector his licence a litle
rounded, as well with other noble men about him as with the maire and recorder of Lon-
don. And after that (vpon like perdo desired and obteined) he shewed aloude vnto the
protectour, for a finall conclusion that the realme was appointed that kynge Edward his
line should no longer reigne vpon them, both that they had so far gone that it wai now no
suretee to retreate (as for that thei thought it for y weale vniuersal to take y way, although
thei had not yet begon it.) Wherfore if it would like his grace to take the croune vpon
him, they would humbly beseche him.therunto, and yf he would geue theim a resolute an-
swere to the contrary (which the would be loth to here) then must they seke and shoulde
not faill to find some other noble man that would. These wordes much inoued the pro-
tector, which as euery man of small intelligence may wit would neuer haue enclined there-
to : but when he sawe there was none other way but that he must take ity or els he and his
both to go from it, he saied to the lordes and commons, sithe it. is wee perceiue well that
all the realme is so set (wherof we bee very sory) that they will not suffre in. any wise
kynge Edward his line to gouerne theim, whom no man earthely can gouerne against their
•willes: And wo also perceiue that no manne is there to whome the crowne can by sa Juste.-
title .
374 THE, I. YERE OF
title appertaineas to oureselfe as very righteheire laufully begotten of the body of our most
dread and dere father Richard late duke of Yorke to which title is now ioyned your election,
the nobles and commons of the realme, whiche we of all titles possible take for mooste effec-
tual, we be content and agree fauourably to encline to your peticion & request, and ac-
cordynge to the same, here we take vpon vs the royall estate of preheminence and kyngdome
of the twoo noble reahnes, Englande and Fraunce, the one from this day forwarde by vs and
our heires to rule, gouerne and defende, the other by God his grace and your good helpe to
get again, subdue and establishe for euer in dewe obedience vnto this realme of Englande,
the auauncernent whereof we neueraske of God longer to liue then we entende to procure
and sette furthe. With this there was a greate cry and shoute, criyng kyng Richard and so the
lordes wente vp to the kynge, and so he was after that daie called. But the people departed
talkynge dyuersely of the matter, euery man as his fantasye gaue him, but much they mar-
ueiled of this maner of dealing, that the matter was on both partes made so straunge as
though neuer the one part had communed with the other parte therof before, when they
wiste that there was rio manne so dull that heard theim, but he perceyued well ynough that
all the matter was made betwene them. Howebeit, some excused that again, saiynge: all
thing must be done in good ordre, and menne must sometym for the maner sake not
bee aknowen what they knowe. For at the consecracion of a bishoppe, euery manne per-
ceiueth by paiment of his bulles that he entendeth to be one, yet when he is twise asked
•whether he will be a bishop, he must twise say nay, and at the third tyrne take it vpon him
as compelled thereto by his awne will. And in a stage plaie, the people knowe right well
that he that plaieth the sowdaine, is percase a souter, yetyf one of acquaintaunce perchaunce
of litle nurture should call him by his name while he standeth in his maiestie one of his
tourmetours might fortune breke his lied for maryng the play. And so they saied, these
matters be kynges games, as it were staige playes, and for the most part plaied vpon scaf-
foldes, in whiche poore menne bee but lookers on, and they that wise be, will medle no
further, for they that steppe vp with them when they cannot play their partes, they disorder
the plaie and do theim selues no good.
THE TRAGICAL DOYNGES OF KYNG RICHARD
THE THIRDS.
Othe I am to remembre, but more I abliore to write the miserable tragedy of this in-
fortunate prince, which by fraude entered, by tyrannye preceded, lind by sodayn
deathe ended his inl'ortunate life : But yf I should not declare the flagicious factes of the
•cuyll princes, aswell as I haue done .the notable actes of verteous kinges, I shoulde nei-
ther animate, nor incourage rulers of royal mes, Countreyes and Seigniories to folowe the
steppes of their profitable progenitors, for to attayne to the type of honour and worldly
fame: neither yet aduertise princes being proane to vice and wickednes, to aduoyde and
-expell all symie and mischiefe, for dread of obloquy and worldly shame: for contrary set
to contrary is more apparaunt, as whyte ioyned with black, maketh the fayrer shewe:
W-herfore., i W4ll precede in his actes after .my accustomed vsage.
RICHARD
KYNG RICHARD THE. IIJ. 375
RICHARD the third of that name, vsurped y croune of Englad & openly toke vpon
hym to bee kyng, the nyntene daie of lune, in the yere of our lord, a thousand foure hun-
dred Ixxxiii. and in the. xxv. yere of Lewes the leuenth then beeyng French kyng: and the
morow after, he was proclaymed kyrig and with great solempnite rode to Westminster, and
there sate in the seate roial, and called before him the iudges of y' realme straightely com-
maundynge theim to execute the lawe with out fauoure or delaie, with many good exhor-
tacios (of the which he folowed not one) and then he departed towarde the Abbaye, and
at the churche doore he was mett with procession, and by the abbot to hym was deli-
irered the scepter of saincte Edwarde, and so went and offered to saincte Edwarde his
shrine, while the Monkes sang Te deuin with a faint courage, and from the churche he re--
turned to the palaice, where he lodged till the coronacion. And to be sure of all enemies
(as hethoughte) he sent for flue thousand men of the North against his coronacio, which
came vp eiuil appareled and worse harneissed, in rusty harneys, neither defensable nor
skpured to the sale, which mustered in Finesbury felde, to the great disdain of all the
lookers on.
The fourth daie of luly he came to the tower by water with his wife, and the fifth daie
he created Edward his onely begotten sonne, a childe of. x. yere olde, prince of Wales,
and Ihon Haward, a man of great knowledge and vertue (aswell in counsaill as in battaill)
he created duke of Norffolke, and sir Thomas Hawarde his sonne he created erle of Sur-
rey, and Willyam lorde Barkeley was then created erle of Notingham, and Fraunces lord©
Louell was then made Vicount Louel, and the kynge his chamberlain, and the lorde Stanley
was deliuercd oute of warde for feare of his sonne the lorde Straunge, whiche was then in
Lancasshire gatherynge menne (as menne saied) and the sayed lorde was made Stuarde of
the kynge his housholde, likewyse the Archebishop of Yorke was deliuered: but Morton
bishop of Ely, was deliuered to the duke of Buckyngham to kepe inwarde^ whiche
sente hym to his manoure of Brecknoke in Wales, from whence he escaped to kyng Ri-
cliarde his confusion. The same night the kynge made seuentene knightes of the Bath.
The nexte daie he roade through London with greate pompe, and in especiall the duke of
Buckyngham was richely appareled and his horse trapped in blew beluet embroudered with
the naues of cartes burnyng of gold: which trapper was borne by fotemen from the grounde,
with suche solemne fassion that all men muche regarded it.
On the m®row€ beeyng the sixt daie of luly, the kynge came toward his coronacion into •
Westminster hall, where his chapeil and all the prelates mitred receiued him. And so they
in ordre of procession passed forwarde: After the procession folowed therle of Northurn-
berlande with a poinctelesse sword naked, and the lord Stanley bare the Mace of y- co-
stableshippe. Therle of Kent bare the seconde sword on the righte hand of the kyng
naked. The lorde Louell bare an other svvorde on the lefte hand. Then folowed the duke
of Suffolke with the scepter, and the erle of Lyncolne with .the ball and crosse. After
theim folowed the newe erle of Surrey with the sword of estate in a riche skabard. On the
right side of him wente the duke of Norfolke bearynge the crowne: then folowed kyn^e
Richarde in a Circot and robe of purple veluet vndtir a canabie borne by the barones of
the fyue portes, gooynge betwene the bishoppes of Bathe and Duresme. The duke of
Buckingham .with the rod of the high stuarde of Englande bare the kyng his train. After
hym folowed therle of Huntyngdon, berynge the quenes scepter, and the Vicount Lisle,
bearyng the rod with the doue. And the erle of Wilshire bare the quenes croune. Then
folowed quene Anne daughter to Richard erle of Warwike in robes like to the king, be-
twene two bishoppes, and a canabie ouer her hed, borne by the Barones of the portes.
On her hed a- riche coronall sette with stones and pearle. After her folowed the coutesae
of Richemond heire to the duke of Somerset, whiche bare vp the quenes trayne^ After
folowed the duchesse of Suffolke and Norfolke with countesses, baronesses, ladies, and
many faire gentlewomen : in this ordre they passed throughe the palayce, and entred tlue
Abbaye at the Weste ende, and so came to their seates of estate. And after diuerse songes
solemply
376 THE. I. YERE OF
solcmply songe, they bothe discended to the highe altare and were shifted from their robes,
and had diuerse places open from the middle vpward, in whiche places they were anointed.
Then bothe the kyng and the queue chaunged theim into clothe of golde and ascended to
their seates, where the cardinall of Cauntorbury and other bishoppes theim crowned ac-
cordynge to the olde custome of the realme, geuynge hym the scepter in the lefte hand and
the balle with the crosse in the right hande, and the quene had the scepter in her right
hande, and the rod with the done in the lefte hande: On euery side of the kyng stoode a
duke, and before him stoode the erle of Surrey with the sweard in his handes. And on
euery side of the quene standynge a bishoppe and a lady knelynge. The Cardinall song
the masse, and after paxe, the kynge and the quene discended, and before the high altare
they were bothe houseled with one hoste deuided betwene theim. After masse finished,
they bothe offered atsaincte Edward his shrine and there the kyng lefte the crowne of saincte
Edward, and putte on his owne crowne. And so in ordre as they came, they departed to
Westminster hall, and so to their chambres for a ceason, duryng which tyme the duke
of Norffolke came into the hall his horse trapped to the grounde in clothe of gold as high
marshall, and voyded the hall.
Aboute foure of the clocke the kyng and quene entred the hall, and the kyng satte in the
midle, and the quene on the lefte hand of the table, and on euery side of her stoode a
countesse holdynge a clothe of pleasaunce, when she liste to drynke. And of the right
bande of the kyng satte the bishop of Cauntorbury, the ladies satte all on one side in the
middle of the hall, and at the table againste them satte the Chauncelloure and all the
lordes. At the table next the cupborde satte the Maire of London. And at the table
behinde the lordes, satte the Jiarones of the portes. And at the other hordes satte noble
and worshipful personages. When all persones were sette, the duke of Norfolke erle Mar-
shall, the erle of Surrey constable for that daie, the lorde Stanly lorde Stevvarde, syr Wil-
liam Hopton treasourer, and sir Thomas Percy comptroller came in and serued the
kyng solemply with one dishe of golde and another of siluer. And the quene all in
gylte vessell, and the bishop all in siluer. At the seconde course came into the hall,
sir Robert Democke the kynge his champion, makynge a proclamacion, that whosoeuer
woulde saie that kynge Richard was not lawefully kynge, he woulde fighte with hym
at the vtteraunce, and threwe downe his gauntlet: and then al the hal cried kynge
liicharde. And so he did in three partes of the hall, and then one brought hym a
<rup with wine couered, & when he had dronke he cast out the drynke, and departed with
the cup. After that, the herauldes cried a largesse thrise in the hall, and so went vp
to their staige. At the ende of diner, the Maire of Londo serued the kyng and quene
with swete wyne, and had of eche of theim a cuppe of golde with a couer of golde. And
by that tyme that all was clooen, it was darkenight. And so the king returned to his cham-
bre, "and euery manne to his lodgyng. When this feaste was thus flneshed, the kyng sente
home all the lordes into their countrees that woulde departe, excepte the lorde Stanley,
•whora he reteyned till he liarde what his sonne the lorde Straunge went aboute. And to
suche as wente home, he gaue straighte charge and commaundemente to see their countrees
well ordred, and that no wrong nor extorcion shoulde bee doen to hissubiectes. And thus
he taughte other to execute iustice and equitee, the contrarye whereof he daily exercised:
he also with greate rewardes geuen to the Northrenmen whiche he sent for to his coronacion,
sente theim home to their countree with greate thankes. Whereof diuerse of theim, (as
they all be of nature very gredy of autoritee, and specially when they thynke to haue any
-comforte or fauoure,) tooke on theim so highly and wroughte suche mastries, that the kynge
was faine to ride thether in his firste yere, and to putte some in execucion, and staie the
.countree, or els no small mischiefe had ensued.
incontinente after this, he sente a solempne Ambassade to Lewes the Frenche kynge, to
.conclude a league and amitie with hym, trustynge also to obtayne the tribute whiche kynge
Jidwarde
KYNG RICHARD THfc. IIJ. 377
Edwarde his brother had before out of Fraunce, but the Frenche kyng so abhorred hytn and his
crueltie, that he would neither se nor heare his Ambassadors, and so in vayne they returned.
Nowe after this triumphante coronacion, there fell mischifes thicke and thicke, and as
the thynge eiuill gotten is neuer well kept, so throughe all the tyme of his vsurped reigne,
neuer ceased there cruell murther, death and slaughter, till his awne destruccion ended it.
But as he finished with the best deathe and mooste rightewyse, that is to saie his awne, so
beganne he with the mooste piteous and wicked, I meane the lamentable murther of his
innocente nephewes, the younge kynge and his tendre brother, whose death and finall for-
tune hath neuerthelesse so far come in question that some remained longe in double whether
they were in his daies destroied or no. Not for that that Parkin Warbek by many folkes
malice, and mo folkes folly so longe space abusynge the worlde, was aswell with princes as
with poore people reputed and taken for the younger of these twoo: But for that also that
all thynges were so couertely demeaned, one thynge pretented and another mentc, that
there was nothynge so plaine and openly proued, but that yet for the common custome of
close and couerte dealynge, menne had it euer inwardly suspecte, as many well counterfet
iewelles make the true mistrusted. Hobeit, concernynge that opinion, menne maie se the
conueighaunce thereof in the lyfe of the noble prince kynge Henrye the. vii. in the pro-
cesse of Parkyn. But in the meane ceason, for this presente matter I shall reherse to you
the dolorous ende of these two babes, not after euery waie that I haue harde, but after
that waie that I haue so hard by suche menne and suche menes as me thinketh it to be hard
but itshoulde be true.
Kyng Richard after his coronacion, takyng his waie to Gloucester, to visite in his newe ™'tid0"*0f
honour the towne, of which he bare the name of old, deuised as he roade to fulfill that kynge
thyng which he before had intended. And forasmuch as his mynd gaue him that his ne-
phewes liuynge, men woulde not recon that he coulde haue righte to the realme, he thoughte
therefore without delaie to rid them, as though the killynge of his kynsmen mighte ende his
cause, and make hym kyndely kyng. Where vpon he sent Ihon Grene, whom he specially
trusted, vnto sir Robert Brakebury constable of the tower, with a letter and credece also,
that the same sir Roberte in any wyse should put the two childre to death. This Ihon.
Grene dyd his errand to Brakenbury, knelynge before oure lady in the Towrc, who plainly
answered that he woulde neuer put them to deathe to dye therefore. With the which an-
swere Grene returned, recomptyng the same to kynge Richard at Wanvyke yet on his
iourney, wherewith he toke suche displeasure and thoughte that the same night he saycle
to a secrete page of his: Ah, whom shall a man truste: they that I haue brought vp my
selfc, they that I went woulde haue moost surely serued me, euen those fayle me, and at
my commaundemente wyll do nothynge for me. Syr quod the page, there licth one jn the
palet chambre with out that I dare wel say, to do your grace pleasure the thing were ritiht
hard that lie would refuse, meanyng this by lames Tirel, which was a man of goodly per-
sonage, and for the giftes of nature worthy to haue serued a muche better prince, yf he had
well serued God, and by grace obteyned to haue as muche trueth and good wyll, as he had
strength and wytt. The man had an high harte and sore longed vpwarde, not risyng yet so
fast as he had had hoped, beynge hindered and kepte vnder by sir Richard e Ratclifte and
sir Willyam Catesbye, which longyng for no more parteners of the Princes fauour, namely
not for him, whose pride thei knewe woulde beare no pere, kept him by secrete driftes out
of al secrete trust: which thynge this page had well marked and kuowen: wherefore this
occasion offered of very speciall frendship spied his tyme to set him forwarde, and suche
wyse to do him good, that all the enemies that he had (except the deuil) could neuer haue
done him so much hurte and shame, for vpon the pages woordcs, kyng Richard arose
(for this communication had he sittyng on a drafte, a conuenient carpet for suche a coun-
sail) and came out into the palet chambre, where he dyd fynde in bed the sayd lames Tyrell
and sir Thomas Tyrell of persone like and brethren of blonde, but nothyng of kynne in
condicions, Then sayd the kyng merely to them, what syrs, be you in bed so sorie: and
3 C called
.*,,-»
378 THE. I. YERE
called vp Tames Tyiell, & brake to him sccretely liis mynd in thismischeuous matter, in the-
which lie found him nothing straunge. Wheribre on the morowe he sent him to Brakyn-
bury with a letter by the which lie was coannaundcd to delyuer to the sayd lames all the
keycs of the Ton-re for a night, to thende that he might tlrere accomplishe the kynges plea-
sure in suche thynges as lie there had geuen him in coinnianndeinent. After which lettre
delitiered £ the keyes receyued, lames appoincted y next night ensuyng to destroye them,
deuisyng before and preparyng the meanes.
The prince assorie as the Protectour toke vpon hym to be kynge, and left the name
of protectoure, was thereof uduertised and shewed that he should not reigne, but his
vncle should hatie the croune. At which word the prince sore abashed Ueganne to sighe
and sayd: Alas I would myne vncle would let me huue my. life although I lese my kynge-
clome. Then he that tolde hym the tale vsed him with good woordes and put hym in the-
best conforte that he coulde, but furthewith he and his brother were bothe shut vp, and all
other remoued from them, one called blacke Wyl, or Willyam Slaughter onely except,
which were set to serue them, and iiii. other to see them sure. After whiche lyme, the
prince neuer tyed his pointes, nor any thyng roughte of hym selfe, but with that young
babe his brother lyngered in thoughte and heuines, tyll this trayterous dede deliuered them
of that wretchednes.
For lames Tirrel deuised that they shoulde be murthered in their beddes, and no bloud
-shed; to the execution wherof, he appoineted Myles Forest one of the foure that before
kepte them, a felowe fleshe bred in murther before tyme: and to him he ioyned one Ihon
Digbton his awne horsekeper, a byggc broade square and strong knaue. Then al the other
King Ed. beyng remoued from them, this Miles Forest a:iid Ihon Dighton aboute myd night, the sely
IrVn'mu^1" children liyng in their beddes, came into y chaiibre and sodenli lapped them vp ainongest
thcred. the clothes and so bewrapped them and entangled them, kepyng doune by force the fether-
bed and pillowes harde vnto their mouthes, that within a while they smore-d & styfled them,
and their breathes failyng, they gaue vp to God their innocet solles into the ioyes of hea-
uen, leauyng to the tourrnetours their bodies dead in the bed, which after the wretches per-
ceyued, firste by the struggling, with the panges of death, and after long liyng styl to be
throughly dead, they layd the bodies out vpon the bed, and fetched lames Tirrell to see
them, which when he sawe them perfigbtly dead, he caused the murtherers to burye them
at the stayre foote, metely deepe in the groude vnder a great beape of stones.
Then rode lames Tirrel in great hast to kyng Richard, and s-hewed him all the maner of
the murther, who gaue him great thankes, and as men saye, there made hym knighte,
but he allowed not their buriall in so vile a corner, saiyng, that he would haue them buried
in a better place because they were a kynges sonnes: Lo y honorable courage of a king, for
he would recompece a detestable murther with a solempne obsequy. Wherupon a priest
of sir Robert Brakenburies toke them vp & buried them in such a place secretely as by the
occasion of his death (which was very shortely after) which onely knewe it, the very trueth
could neuer yet be very wel and perfightly knowen. For some saye that kynge Richard
caused the priest to take them vp and dose them in lead and to put them in 'a eoffyne full
of holes hoked at the eudes with. ii. hokes of yron, and so to cast them into a place called
the Blacke depes at the Themes mouth, so that they should neuer rise vp nor be sene agayn.
This was y very trueth vnknowe by reason thaty sayd priest died so shortly & disclosed it
neuer to any person that would vtter it. And for a trueth, when sir lames Tirrell was in
the Towre for treason committed to kynge Hen rye the seuenthe: bothe he and Dighton
were examined together of this poincte, and both they confessed the murther to be done in
the same maner as you haue hard, but whether the bodies were remoued, they bothe affirm-
ed they neuer knewe. And thus as I haue learned of them that muche knewe and litle cause
had to lye, where these two noble princes, these innoc'ente tendre children, borne of the
niooste royall bloude and brought vp in greate wealthe, likely longe to liue, to reigne and
rule in the realme, by trayterous tirannye taken and depriued of their estate, shortely shut
vp
KYNG RICHARD THE. IIJ. 379,
*-p in prison and priuely slaine and murthered by the cruel arnbicion of their vnnaturall vn-
cle and his dispiteous tourmentours : whiche thynges on euery partc well pondered, God
guue this world neuer a more notable example, either in what vnsurety standeth this worklcs
weale, or what naischiefe worketh the proude enterprise of an highe harte, or finally, what
wretched ende ensueth suche dispiteous crueltie. For fyrste to begynne with the ministers,
Myles Forest, at sainct Martyns le graunde by pece meale miserably rotted away«, I
])ighton lyued at Caleys long after, no Jesse disdayned and hated then poincted at,
there dyed in great misery: But sir lames Tyrrel was beheaded at the Towre hyll for trea-
son : And kynge Richarde him selfe was slaine in felde hacked and hewen of his enemies
handes, haried on a horsbacke naked beynge dead, his heere in dispite torne and tugged
Jyke a curre dogge. And the mischiefe that he toke with in lesse then thre yeres, of the
mischiefe that he dyd in thre monethes be not comparable, and yet all the meane tyme spente
in muche trouble and payne outwarde, and much feare, dread and anguishe within. For
I haue harde by credible reporte of suche as were secrete with his chamberers that after this
abhominable deed done, he neuer was quiet in his mynde, he neuer thought him selfe sure
where he wente abroade, his body priuely feinted, his eyen wherled aboute, his hande euer
on his dagger, his countenaunce and inaner lyke alwaies to stricke againe, he toke euill
reste on nightes, laye long wakyng and musyng, forweried with care and watche, rather
slombred then slept, troubled with fearefull dreames, sodeinly somtyme stert vp, leapte ™ard <*«
out of his bed and loked about the chambre, so was his restlesse harte continually tossed th«to,Tsof
and tombled with the tedious impression and stormy remembraunce of his abhominable s''Thoni"
J Mores pe-
murther and execrable tyrannye. ning-
KYNG Richard by this abominable mischyef & scelerous act thinkyng hym self well re»
leuyd bothe of feare and thought, would not haue it kept counsaill but within a few daies
caused it to ronne in a common rumor that $• ii. chyldren were sodanlie dead, and to this
cntent as it is to be demydthat now, none heyre male beynge a liue of kynge Kdwardes body
lawfully begotten f people would be content with the more paciet hart, & quiet mynd, to
obey him & suffer his rule and gouernaunce: but when y- fame of this detestable facte was
reueled, & devulged through $ hole realme, ther fell generally, such a dolor & inward
sorow into the hartes of all the people, that all feare of his crueltie set a syde, they in euery
towne, streate, and place openlie wept, and piteously sobbyd. And when their sorowe
was sumwhat mitigate, their imvarde grudge could not refrayne but crye out in places pub-
like, and also priuate furiously saieng, what creature of all creatures ys so malicious and so
obstinate an enemye either to God, or to Christian religion, or to hurnaync nature, whiche
\voulde not haue abhorred, or at the lest absteyned from so miserable a uiurther of so ex*
ecrable a tiranye. Tomurthera man is much odious, to kylla woman, is in manner vnna-
tural, but to slaie and destroye innocent babes, & young enfantes, the whole world ahhor-
reth, and the bloud from the earth crieth, for vengaunce to all mightie God, If the com-
mon people cried out, I assure you the frendes of the quene, and her children made no lesse
exclamacion and complainte with loude voyce lamentable crienge and sayenge, a las what
will. he do to other that thus shamefully murdereth his awne bloud without cause or desert3
whom, w.yll he saue when he slaith the poore lambes committed to him in trust ? now we t>e
and behold y the most cruel tyranny hath inuadyd the comon wealth, now we se that in him
is neither hope of Justice nor trust of mercie but abundance of crueltie and thrust of innocentp
bloude. But when these newes wer first brought to the infortunate mother of the dead
children yet being in sanctuary, no double but it strake to her harte, like the sharpe darte of
death: for when she was first enformed of the murther of her. ii. sonnes, she was so sodainly
iamasyd with the gteatnes of y crueltie that for feare she sounded and fell doune to the
ground, and there lay in a great aganye like to a deade corps. And after that she came tp
her memory and was reuyued agayne, she wept and sobbyd and with pitefull scriches sji-3
replenished the hole rnancion, her breste she puncted, her fayre here she tare and -p,u,lled in,
peees & being ouercome with sorowe & pensiuenes rather desyred death then life, calling by
3 C 2
380 THE. I. YERE OP
name diners times her swete babes, accornptyng her self more then madde that she delude*
by wyle and fraudulente promises delyuered'her yonger sontte out of the sanctuarie to his-
enemye to be put to death, thinkynge that next the othe made to God broke, & the dewtie
of allegiaunce toward her childre Violated, she of all creatures in that poyncte was most se-
duced and disceaued : After longe lamentacion, when she sawe no hope of reuengynge other-
wyse, she knelyd downe and cried on God to take vengeaunce for the disceaytf'ull periurie;
as who saide she nolhyng mistrusted but once he would remember it. What ys he liuyng.that
if he remember and beliolde these, ii. noble enfantes without deseruing, so shamefully mur-
thered, that will not abhorre the fact, ye & be moued & tormented with pitie and mercie.
And yet the worlde is so frtiyle and our nature so blynde that fewe be slurred with such ex-
amples, obliuiouslie forgettynge, and littell consideryng, that oftentimes for the offences by
theparentes perpetrate and committed, that synne is punished in their lyne and posterite.
This chaunce might so happen to this innocet children, because king Edward ther father and
parent offended in staynyng his conscience: he made his solempne othe before y gate of the
citle of Yorke (as you haue harde before) and promised and sware one thing by his vvorde
thinkyng cleane contrarie in his harte as after dyd appere. And afterward by the death of
theduke of Clarence his brother, he incurred (of likelyehod) the great displeasure toward God.
After this murther this perpetrated and that he had visited his towne of Gloucester which he
for his old di^nitie bothe loued and with ample liberties and priuileges endewed and decora-
ted, he toke his iorney towarde the countie of Yorke, where the people abusyng his lawfull
fauoure (as he bothe fauourecl and trusted them in his hart) had of late presumed to attempte
diuers routes and riottes cotrarie to his lawes and enfryngyng of his peace, and vppon hope
of his mayntenaunce, were so elated that no lord were he neuer of so great power could ei-
ther pacific or rule them tyll the kyng hym selfe came personally thether to set a concorde and
an vnitie in that countree and to bridell and rule the rude rusticall and blusterynge bolde
people of that region, and so he by long iourneyinge came to the citie of Yorke where the
eitezens receyued hym with great pompe and triumphe, accordyng to y qualities of their
educacion and quantitie of there substaunce and habilitie, and made diuers daies playes and
pageates in token of ioy and solace. Wherefore kyng Richard magnified and applauded of the
northe nacion, & also to shewe hym self apparantlie before them in habyte royal with- scepter
in hande and diademe on his hed, made proclamation that all persones should resorte to
Yorke on thedaieof theassencion of ourelorde whereall menshoulde bothe beholdeandsehym
his quene and prince in there high estates and degrees and also for their good wylles, shoulde
receyue many thankes, large benefites and munificente rewardes. At the daye apoincted
the hole clergie assembled in copes richely reuested and so with a reuerente ceremonie went
aboutethe citie in procession, after whome folowed the king with his croune and scepter appa^-
reilled in his circot robe royall accompaignied with no small nomber of y nobilitie of his
realme : after whom marched in order quene Anne his wife likewyse crouned ledinge on her
lefte hande Prynce Edward her sonne hauyng on his hed a demy crowne appoyncted for the
degree of aprince. The kyng was had in that triumphe in suche honour and^common people
of the northe so reioysed that they extolled and praysed hym far aboue the starres. After
this solempne feaste and glorious pompe he kepte greate counsailles there, as well for the or-
derynge of the countree in tyme tocorne, as for the bridellynge and punyshinge of suche as
there had mysgouerned them selfes : and farther of the gentilmen of that contrie, he aug-
mented the nomber of hys domesticall ministers & seruauntes, in the which persones he put
his whole trust & affiaunee. When all thynges were thus discreetly ordered, he returned by
Nothynghy., and after came to London: whome more for dread then for loue, the Cytezens
receaued in greate compaygnies. Thus kynge Richard by a new inuented crueltie and late
practised tyrannye obteyned and grewe to high prayse and honoure, and then by the admi-
racion and iudgemente of the common multitude, he was moost estemed to be exalted into
heauen, when he couertlyhad intelligece, that he was like to lose his estate and could by no
meanes haue long contynuaunce in his vsurped power : for assueredly after the death of kynge
3 Edwards
KYNG RICHARD THE. IIJ. . 3S1
Edwards chyldren when any blusteringe wynde perelous thunder or terrible tempest, chansed
or were apparantly like to happen1 : Sodainly the people hauinge in there freshe tneinorie the
fecinorous acte of there kynge and prince, woulde openly crye and make vocyferacion that
God dyd take vcngaunce and punishe the pore Englishemen, for the cryme and offence of
there vngracious kynge, whome they blamed, accursed and wysshed to haue extreme tortures.
Although kynge Richard harde ofte of this slaunderous wordes and malicious saiynges and
knewe wel by what persones they were spoke, yet he dirst not with strong hande be on the
fyrste inuentours reuenged, knowing that some tyme it is no wisedome to refuse or disdaigne
them that tell a ruler his deutie or declare to hym his mysbehauour toward the common
wealthe or counsaill hym to amende and chaung hisyll life. After this great felicitie, he fell
again in to a great feare and penciuenes of mynde, and because he coulde by no nieanes ei-
ther correct or amend thinges that were passed, he determined by doynghis deutie in all thinges
to his commons, to obliterate and put out of memoric that note of infamie with the whiche
his fame was iustcly spotted and stayned, and to cause the people to conceyue so good au
opinion in him, that from thece forth nocalamyte nor trouble should be adiudged to happen
to the commo wealth, either by his negligence or by his mysgouernance (although it is diffi-
cile and strange shorielie to tourne and plucke out suche qualities and vsages as haue of
longe tyme ben encorporate in a mans mynde and rooted1 in: his nianers and condicions.)
Therfore whether it was for the performaunce of his former entent of amendement, or (as
the common fame flew abrode) that he toke repentaunce of his myscheuous actes and sce-
lerate doynges, he tourned ouer the leflfe, and began an order of a new life, and pretended
to haue the name of a good and vertuous man, bi the reason that he shewed hymselfe more v
iuste, more rneker, more familiar, more liberall (especially amongest the pooi-e people) then
before he had accustomed to do, and so by this meanes he firmelye trusted fyrst to obteyne of
God forgeuenes of his offences and crymes, and after to leuie and take away the enemye and
inwarde grudge that the common people bare in their myndes tovvarde hym, and in conclusion,
to obteigne their frendelye loue and assured fauour. . He farthermore began and enterprised
diuera thinges aswel publike as priuate, the which he beyng prenented by sodayne deathe dyd
neither accomplishe nor bryng to conclusion, for he begon to founde a college of a hundreth
prestes, which foundacion with the founder shortelye toke an ende. To please the common
people also, he in his high courte of parliamente enacted dyuers and sondrie good lawesand
profitable estatutes and in especiall one tigainste strangers and foren wrought wares, not to be
transported in to this realme, which commodius acte for the common wealthe yf he had
lyued hefullye purposed to haue auaunsed & set forwarde & put in execucion. But after-
warde euidentlie to all persones it appeared,- that onely feare (whiche is not a maister long
in office and in continual aucthoritie) and not Justice, caused kynge Rycharde at that verie tyme
to waxe better and amende his synnefull life, for shortelie the goodnes of the man whiche was
but paynctedand fraudulent, sodainlie wexed coulde and vanished awaie. And from thence
forth not onely all his counsailles. doynges and procedynges, sodainlye decayed and sorted
to none effecte: But also fortune bcganne to froune and turne her wheledouneward from him,
in so much that he lost his onely begotten sonne called Edwarde in the. iij. moneth after he-
bad.- created hym prince of Wales;
fl THE. II. YERE.
ANd shortely after, The. ii. yere he was vnquieted by a conspiracye, or rather a confe-
deracye betwene the duke of Buckynghani and many other gentlemen against him, as ye shall
heare: But ^ occasion why the duke and the kynge fell out, is of diuersefolke diuersely pre-
tended. This duke as you haue harde before, assone as y duke of Gloucester after jr death
of kyng Edwarde was come to Yorke, and there had solempne funerall seruice done for
kyng Edward sent to him a secret seruaunte of his called Persall, with such messages as you
haue
312 THE. II. YERE OF
haae harde before. And after the duke of Bnckyngham came with. CCC. horse to Nor-
thampton and still continued with hym, as partener and chiefe organe of his deuices tyll
after his coronacion, they departed to all semyng very frendes at Gloucester. From whence
assone as the duke came home, he so highly turned from him and so highly conspired against
him, that a man would marueill wherof the chaungegrewe in so shorte space. Some say
this occasyon was, that a litle before the coronacion, the duke required the kynge amongest
other thynges to be restored to the erle of Herfordes landes : And forasmuche as the tytle
whiche he claymed by inheritaunce, was somewhat interlaced, with the tytle of Lancaster,
whiche house made a title to the croune, and enioyed the same thre discentes, as all men
knewe, tyll the house of Yorke depriued the third kynge, whiche was Henry the sixte,
Kynge Richarde somewhat mistrusted and conceiued suche an indignacion, that he reiected
the dukes request, with many spitefull, and minotary wordes, whiche so wounded the dukes
harta with hatred and mistrust, that he could neuer after endure to loke right on king Ri-
chard but euer feared his awne lyfe, so farre foorth, that when. the Protectoure should ryde
to.his coronaci5, he feigned him self sycke, because he would do him no honoure. And the
other taking it in euill part, sent him word to ryse and ryde or he woulde make hym to be
caried. Whereupon gorgeously apparelled, and sumpteously trapped with burnynge carte
naues of goldeernbrodered, he roade before the kyng through Londo with an euill will and
Tvoorse harte. And that notwithstandynge, he roase the daye of the coronacion from the
feast, feignyng him selfe sicke, which kyng Richard sayd was done in hate and spighte of him.
And therefore men sayd thatecbe of them euer after lyued continually in such hatred and
distrust of other, that the duke looked .verely to haue bene murthered at Gloucester, from
•whiche he in fay re manor departed : but surely suche as were righte secrete with bothe, af-
firme all this to he vntrue and other .wyse men thynke it vnlikely, the deepe dissimulyng na-
ture of bothe these mcnne well considered. And what nede in that grene worlde the protect-
oure had of the duke, and in what perel the duke stoode yf he fell once in suspicion of that
•tyraunte, that either the protectour woulde geue the duke occasyon of displeasure, or the
duke the protec.tour occasion of mystruste. And surely men thynke, that yf kyng Richard
had any suche opinion cor.ceyued in hym, ,he woulde neuer haue suffered him to auoyd his
handes or escape his power: but very true it is, that the duke of Ruckyngham was an highe
mynded man, and euill coulde beare the glory of another, so that I haue heard of some that
saw it, that he at such tymea's the croune was set vpon the protectours bed, his eye could ne-
uer abyde the sight therof, but wryed his bed another way.: but men said he was not well at
ease, and that was bothe to kynge Richard well knowen and well taken, nor any demaude
of the dukes request vncurteously reiected, but gently deferred, but bothe he with great
piftes and high behestcs in mooste louynge and trustye manor departed from the kynge to
Gloucester. Thus euery man Judged as he thought, but soone after his commyng home to
Breckenocke, hauyng there by kyng Richardes commaudcmet doctor Morto bishop of Ely,
ivho before as you haue harde was taken at the counsaill at the towre, waxed with hym very
familier, whose onely wysedome abused his pride, to his owne deliuerauce and the dukes
distraction. The byshop was a man of greale naturall witte, very well learned and of ho-
nourable behaueour, lackyng no wysc wayes to wynne fauoure. He was fyrst vpon theparte
of kyng Henry, whyle thatparte was in wealthe, and neither lefte it nor forsoke it in no woo,
but fled the rcalme with the quene and the prynce. And whyle king Edward had kynge
Henry in prison, he neuer returned but to the felde at Bat-net: After which felde lost and
vtterly subdued and all parte takyngesextynguished, kyng Edward for his fast fayth and wyse-
dome as not onely contente to receyue hym, but also wooed him to come and had hym from
thensforthe bothe in secrete trnste and speciall fauoure, whom he nothynge deceyued. For
he beynge after kynge Edwardes deathe fyrste taken by the tyraunte for his truethe to the
.kynge, founde the meane to set the duke in his toppe, and ioyned gentlemen together in
ayde of the earle of Richemonde, whiche after was named kynge Henry the seuenth: Fyrste
4fiuisyng the.mariage betwene , the lady Elizabeth daughter to kynge Edwarde the fourth, by
.the
KYNG RIG HARD THE. IIJ. 383
the whiche his faithfull and true seruice declared to bothe his maistefs at once, was an infi-
nite benefite to the realnie, by the conjunction of the bloudes of Lancaster and Yorke,
whose funeral titles had longe hiouieted the reahne. This man afterwarde escaped from the
duke and fled the realnie, and neuer returned, and went to Rome, neuer myndynge to
mcdle with the worlde, tyll kynge Henry the seuenth sent for him, and after made hym Arche-
bishop of Cauntorbury and Chatmceloure of Englande, and after was made Cardinal!, and
liued well to all mens indgementes and died well. JJut to retourne to the former purpose,
he by the longe and often alternate proofe, as well of prosperitee as adlierse fortune, had
gotten by greate experience the very mother and mastres of wisedome, and depe insighte in
pollitike & worldly driftes, wlierby perceiuyng now the duke to .common with hym, fed hym .
with fayre woordesand many pleasaunte prayses, and perceiuynge by the grefe of their com-
municacions the dukes pryde noweand then to balke out a litle brayde of enuy toward the
glory of the kynge, and thereby felynge hym easye to fall out yf the matter \vere well handeled,
he craftely sought the wayes to prycke him forward ta kynge alwayes the occasyon of his
eommyng, and also kepynge hym selfe close within hisbandes that he rather seined- to folowe
hym then to leade hym. For when the duke beganne fyrst to prayse and boast the kynge
and shewo howe muche profile the realme shoulde take by bis reigne: Byshop Morton aun-
swered, surely my lorde, folye it- were for me to lye, for I ttm sure yf I woulde swere the
contrarie ye would not once beleue me, but if the worlde woulde haue begonne as I would
haue wyshed, that kynge Henries sonne had had the croune and not kynge Edwarde, then
would I hau^ bene his true and faithfull subiecte, but after that God had ordeyned hym to
lose it, and kynge Edwarde to reigne, I was neuer so madde with a dead man to striue against
the quick, so was I euer to kyng Edward a faithfull and true chapeleyn and -glad would
haue bene that his children should haue sucmled him, howbeit yf tlie secret iudgemet of
God haue otherwyse prouided, I purpose not to spume against the pricke, nor labour
to set vp 'that God pulleth doune. And as for the late protector and nowc kyng: and
with that worde he lefte, sauynge that he sayd that he had already rnedled to much with
the world and would from that day medle with hisbooke and beades, and no further. Then
longed the duke sore to heave, what he would haue sayde, because he ended with the kyng,
and there so sodainly stoppedt and exhorted hym farnilierly, betwene them hot lie to be bolde
and to saye whatsoeuer he thoughte, whereof he faithefully promised there shoulde neuer
come hurte, and paraduenture more good then he woulde wene. And that he hym selfe en-
tended -to vse his faithefull secrete aduice and counsayle, whiche he sayd was tiie onely cause
for the whiche he procured of the kynge to haue hym in his custodye, where he might recon
hym self -at -home, or else he had bene put in the handes of them with whom he should not haue
founde likefauour. The byshoppe right humblie thanked him and sayd in good faythe my
lorde, I loue not muche to talke of princes as of a thyng not all out of perell, although tlie
word be without faute, but yet it must be as it pleaseth y priuce to construe it. Aiid euer 1
thinkeoa Isopes tale, y.when the Lyon had proclaymed that on paine of death there shoulde
no- horned beastes come into the woode, one beast that had a bonche of fleshe growing out oi
his heade, fled a great pace: the Foxe that sawe him five with all the haste asked him whe-
ther he fled? In faith quod he, 1 neither wote ne recke, so 1 were once hence, because of
the proclamation made against horned beastes. What f'oole quod the foxe, the Lyon neuer
ment it by the, for that whiche thou haste is no home in thy heade. No mary quod he, I wote
that well ynough, but yf he say it is a home, where am I then' The duke laughed merely at
the tale and said my lorde I warraunte you, neither the Lyon nor the bore stiall pycke any
matter at any thynge here spoken, for it shall neuer come nere their eares. In good faith, syr
Sayd the byshop, yf it dyd, the thyng that I was aboute to say taken aswell as before God
I mente, it coulde deserue but thanke, and yet taken as I wene it woulde, might happen to
turne me to lytle good and you to lesse.
Then longed the duke muche more to wete what it was, whereupon the bishop sayd. In
good faith my lorde, as for the late protectoure, sith he is nowe kyng in possession I pur-
pose
384 THE. II. YERE OF
pose not to dispute his title, but for $ wealthe of this realme, wherof his grace hath nowe
the gouernaunce, and wherof I my self am a poore membre, I was aboute to wishe that to
those good abilities wherof he hath alredy right many, litle neadyng my prayse, yet might it
haue pleased God for the better store to haue geuen hym some of suche other excellente
vertues mete for the rule of the realme, as our lord hath planted in the person of your grace
and there lefte of agayne. The duke somewhat maruelynge at his sodaine pauses as though
they were but parentheses, with a high coutenaunce saied: my lorde I euidentely perceyue and
no lesse note your often breathyng and sodayne stoppynge in your c5municacion, so that to
my intelligence your wordes neither come to any dyreet or perfect sentence in conclusio,
wherby either I myght perceyue and haue knowlege what your inward entent is now toward
the kyng, or what affeccion you beare toward me. For the comparison of good qualities
ascribed to vs bothe (for the which I my selfe knowlege and recognise to haue none, nor
loke for no prayse of any creature for the same) maketh me not a lyttell to muse thinkynge
that you haue some other preuie Imaginacion, by loue or by grudge engraued and emprinted
in your harte, whiche for feare you dare not or for childeshe shamefastnes you be abashed to
disclose and reuele, and especially to me beynge your frende, whiehe on my honoure do
assure you to be as secrete in this case as the deffe and dumme person is to the singer, or
the tree to the hunter. The byshoppe beynge some what boulder, considerynge the dukes
promyse, but moste of all animated and encouraged because he knewe the duke desyerous
to be exalted and magnified, and also he perceyued the inwarde hatred and pryuie rancor
whiche he bare towarde kyng llicharde, was nowe boldened to open his stomacke cue to the
very bottome, entendyng thereby to compasse howe to destroye and vtterly confounde kynge
llicharde, and to depryue hym of his dignitee royall, or els to sett the Duke so a fyer with
the desyer of ambicion, that he hym selfe might be safe and escape out of all daunger and
perell, which thinge he brought shortely to conclusion bothe to the kynges destruction and
the Dukes confusion and to his awne sauegarde, and fynally, to his high promocion. And
so (as I sayed before) vpon truste and confidence of the dukes promyse, the bishoppe
saiede: my synguler good lorde sithe the tyme of my captiuitee, whiche beynge in your
graces custodie I rnaye rather call it a liberal! libertie more then a straight emprysonmente,
in a voydynge ydelnes mother and norisher of all vices, in redynge bookes and aunciente
pamphlettcs I haue found this sentence wrytten, that no man is borne fre and in libertie
of him selfe onely, for one part of duetie he oweth or shoulde owe to his parentes for his
procreacion by a very naturall instincte and filiall curtesie: another parte, to his frendes and
kynsfolke, for proximitie of bloude and naturall amitie dothe of verie dewtie chalenge and
demaunde: But the natiue countrye in the which he tasted fyrste the swete ayers of this
pleasaunte and flatterynge worlde after his natiuitie, demaudeth as a debt by a natural bonde
neither to be forgotten nor yet to be put in obliuion, whiche saiynge causeth me to consider
in what case this realme -my natiue countrye now standeth, and in what estate and assue-
raunce before this tyme it hathe contynued: what gouernour we now haue, and what ruler
we myghte haue, for I plainely perceyue the realme beynge in this case muste nedes decaye
.and be broughte to vtter confusion and fynall exterminion : But one hope I haue encorpo-
rate in my breaste, that is, when I consider and in my mynde do diligontely remember, and
<layly beholde your noble personage, your Justice, and indifference, your feruente zele and
ardente loue towarde your natural contray, and in lyke maner y loue of your contrie to-
warde you, the greate learnynge, pregnaunte witte and goodly eloquence,^ whiche so muche
.dothe aboundc in the persone of your grace, I muste nedes thynke this realme fortunate,
ye twyse more then fortunate, whiche hath suche a prynce in store, mete and apte, to be a
gouernoure in whose persone beynge endued with so many princely qualities consisteth and
resteth the very vndoubted similitude and image of trew honoure. But on the other syde
when I call to memorie the good qualites of the late protectour and nowe called kynge, so
violated and subuerted by tyrannye, so chaunged & altered by vsurped aucthoritee, so
,doud.ed and shadowed by blynde and insatiable ambicion, ye and so sodainlye (in maner
by
KYNG RICKARD THE. IIJ. 385
by a metamorphosis) transformed from politike ciuilitie, to detestable tyrannic: I must
.nedes saie and iustlie affirme, that he is neither, mete to be a kynge of so noble a real me,
nor so famous a realme mete to be gouerned by suche a tyraunte: Was not his tirste intor-
prise to obtaine the crowne begoane and incepted by the murther of diuers noble valiaunt
trewe and vertuous personages : O a holy begynnyng to come to a mischeuous eiiiiyng.'dyd
he not secondarelie proccde contrarie to all lawes of honestie, shamefully agaynst his a\vne
naturall mother, beyng a womii of much honour, and hiore vertew, declaryng her opcnlic
•to be a woman geuen to carnall affection, and dissolute liuinge (whiche thynge yf it had
bene trewe as it was not in dede, euery good and naturall child would haue rather inunnred
at, then to haue blasted a broade and especially she beyng a lyue.) Declarynge farthermore
iiis ii. brethren and his. ii. nephewes to be bastardes, and to be.borne in auoutrey, yet not whith
all this contente. After that he had obteyned the garlande for the whJckhe so loiige thristecj, he
caused the two poore inhoces hisnepaewes committed to hym, forespeciall trnste, to be niur-
thered and shamefully to be kylled. The bloud of whiche sely and ly ttel babes dayly crye to God,
from the earthe for vengaunce. Alas my hartesobbith, to remember this bloudy boucher and
cruel monster, what suretie shall be in this realme to any person, other for life or goodes
vndcr suche a cruell prynce, whyehe regardcth not the destruction of his awne bloude, and
then lesse the losse of other. And most especially as oftentymes it chauncelh, where a
couetous or a cruell prince taketh suspicion, the smaleste, swaruynge that is possible (yf
the thynge be mysconstered) maye be the cause of the destruction of many gyltles persones:
and in espcciall of noble and wealthy personages hauynge greate possessions and riches:
Suche a lorde is Lucifer when he is entred into the harte of a provide prynce, geuen to
couetousnes and crueltie. But nowe my lorde to conclude what 1 meane towarde your
«eble persone, I saye and affirme, yf youloue God, your lynage, oryoure natyue contrye,
you muste yower selfe take vpon you the Crowne and diademe of thys noble em pyre, bothe
for the mayntenauns of the honoure of the same (whiche so longe hath floreshed in fame
and renowne) as also for the delyueraunce of youre naturall countrey men, from the
bondage and thraldome (worse then the captiuitie of Egypte) of so cruell a tiraunt and ar-
rogante oppressor. For thus I dare saye, yf any foren prynce or potentate, ye the Turcke
hym selfe woulde take vppon hym the regiment here and the crowne, the commons woulde
rather admit and obey hym, then to lyue vnder suche a bloud supper and child kyller: but
how muche more ioyfull and glad would they be to lyue vnder your grace, whome they all
knowe to be a ruler mete and conuenient for them, and they to be louing and obedient snb-
iectes mete to lyue vnder suche a gouernour: dispbe not, nor forsake not so manifesto oc-
casion so louin'gly offered. And yf you your self knowing the payne and trauaill that ap-
perteyneth to the office of a kynge, or for any other consideracion, will refuse to take
vpon you the crowne and scepter of this realme: Then I adiureyou by y faithe that you oxve
to God, by your honour and by your othe made to Saincte George patron of the noble or-
dre of the gartier (whereof you be a compaignion) and by the loue and affection that you
beare to your natiue contrey and the people of the same, to deuise some waie how this
realme now being in miserie may by your high discrccion and pryncely policie, be brought
and reduced to some suertie and conueniente regiment vnder some good gouernour by you
to be excogitate : for you are y verye patron, the only helpe, refuge, and conforte for 'the
poore amased and desolate commons of this realme. For yf you could either deuise to sett
v p again the linage of Lancaster or auaunce the eldest doughter of kynge Edward to some
highe and puyssaunte prince, not onely the nevve crowned kynge shall small tyme enioy the
glorie of his dignitie, but also all ciuile warr should cease, all domesticall discorde should
slepe, and peace, profile and quietnies should be set forth and embrased. When the bi-
shoppe had thus ended his saiyng, y duke sighed and spake not of a great while, which
sore abashed the bishop and made hym chaunge couler: which thing when the duke apper-
ceiued, he saide be not afrayde my lorde, all promyses shall be kept, to uiorow we wyl comon
3 D more ;
386 THE. II. YERE OF
more : let vs go to supper, so that night they commoned no more, not a litle to the iniquie-
taciori of the bishoppe, whiche nowe was euen as desirous to knowe the dukes myride and
entent, as the duke longed the daye before to knowe liis opinion and meanyng. So the nexrc
dale, the duke sent for the byshoppe and rehersed to hyin in maner (for he was bothe wyttie
and eloquent^) all the communicacimi had betwene them before, and so paused a while,
and after a lytle ceason puttyng of his bonett he sayde: O lorde God creator of aU thinges-
howe niuche is this real me of Englande and ihe people of the same bonnden to thy goodnes,
for where we now be in vexacion and trouble with greate stormcs oppressed saylyng and
tossyng Hi a desperate shippe without good maister or gouernour: but hy thy hcalp good,
lord I trust or long lyme pas.se that we shall prouyde for such a ruler as shalbe both to thy.
pleasure, and also to the securite and sauegarde of this noble reahne. And then he put
on his bonett saiynge to the byshoppe, my lord of Ely whose trewe harte and syncere uf-
foccion towarde me at all tymes, I haue euidcntlie perceyued and knowen, and nowe rnoste
of all in our last preuie comuniQacion and secrete deuisynge, I must nedes in hart thinke and
with moiitheconfesseand saie, that you be a sure frende, a trustye counsailour, a vigilante
foresear. a very louer of your count rey, a naturall countreyman: for whiche kyudnes for
my parte, I rnoste louynglye render to you my hartye thankes nowe with wordcs: hereafter
triistyng to recompence and remunerate you with dedes, yf life and power shall serue. And
sithe at our last communicacion, you haue disclosed, and opened, the very secrets and pri-
uities of your stomacke. tonchinge the duke of Gloucester nowe vsurper of the crowne,.
and also haue a Jittel touched the auauncemet of the. ii. noble famelycs of Yorke & La-
caster: I shall likcwyse not onely declare and manifeste vnto you, a!4 my open acles, at-
tetnptes and doynges," but also my preuie ententes, and secrete cogitacions. To the entent
that as you haue vnbuckeled your bogett of your preuie meanyngcs, and secrete purposes
to me: so shall all my clowdy workynge, close deuises, and secrete imaginacions, be (as
clere as the some) reueled, opened, and made lightesome to you. And to beginne, I
declare: that when kynge Edwarde was dissceased, to whom I thought my self littel or
nothinge beholden, (all thoughe we. ii. had maried two systers) because he neither pro-
moted nor preferred me, as 1 thoughte I was worthy & had descrued, nether fauored nor re-
garded me, accordyngto my degree and byrthe: For surely I had by hym lytle aucthoritee,
and les«e rule, and in effecte nothynge at all: which caused me the lesse to fauor his chyl-
dren, l)ecause I founde small humanitie, or none in there parente. I then begun to studio,,
and with mature deliberacion, to ponder and consyder, howe & in what mancr this reahne
shouide be ruled and gouerned. And fyrste I retnembred an olde proueibe worthy of
memorve, that often ruithe the reahne, where chyldren rule, and women gouerne. This
olde adage so sancke, and settelied in my heade, that I thought it a great errour, and ex-
treme myschyefc to th.e hole realme, either to suffer the younge kynge to rule, or the quene
his motiier to be a souernour ouer hvin, consyderynge that her brethrene, and her fyrst
children (all thoughe they were not extracteof highe and noble lynage) toke more vpon
them, and more exalted them seines by reason of the quene, then dyd the kynges brethrene,
or any duke in his reahne: Which in conclusion turned to there confusion. The I being,
persuaded whith my self in this poyncte, thought it necessarie bothe for the publique
and profitable weltlie of this realme, and also for myne awne commoditie and emolu-
mente, to take parte with the duke of Gloucester: Whome I assure you I thoughte to be
as cleane withoute dissimulacion, as tractable withoute iniurie, as merciful! with oute cru-
eltie, as nowe I knowe hym perfectely. to be a dissembler withoute veritie, a tyraunte with-
oute petie, yea and worse then the tyraunte phaleres, destitute of aU trutghe and cle-
mencie: And so by rny meanes, at the fyrste counsaill holden at London, when he was most
suspected of that thynge that after happened, (as you my lorde knowe well ynough) he was
made Protectoure and defender, bothe of the kynge and of the realme, whiche aucthorite
oace gotten, and. the two chyldren partelie by policie broughte vnder his gouernaunce, he
beynge
KYNG RICHARD THE. IIJ.
beynge riioued with that gnawynge and couetous scrpet, desyered to reigne and neuer ceas-
ed priuelie to extiorte and require (yea A some tymes with mir.atorie urines) to persuade
me and other lordes RS-A ell spiritual! as temporall, that he wiyghte take vpon hym thecrowne,
tyll the-prynce came to the age of foure and twenty yeres, and were able to gouerne the
realmc, as a ma cure and sufficient kynge: Whiche thyitge when he satfe me somewhat
styckc at, hoth for the straungcnes of the examplp (because no such presidente had bene
sene) and also because we remembred that men once ascended to the highest type of honour
and aucthoritee wil' not aladlie discende agayn, he then brought in instrumt-tes, autcntike
doctoures. proctoures, and notaries of the lawe, with depositions of diucrs wytncsses, $esdti-
eiig ky.ng Edwards children to be bastardes, which deposicios then I thought to be as liewe,
as now I knowe them to be fayned, and teslifyed by persones with rewardes vntruelyesubor-
nate. When the saide depositions, were before vs redde and diligently harde, he stoode vp bare
lii'dded saiyng: \Vel my io'rdes, eueii as I & you sage & discrete counsailers vvouldo that
•my nepheue should Imue no wronge : So I praye you do me nothynge but righte. For these
uitnessfs and saiynges" of famous doctors beyng trew, I am oncly the vndubitate heire to
lord Richard plantugenet duke of Yorke, adjudged to be the very heire to the crowne of
this realme by ancthoritee of parliamente, whiche thinges, so by learned men to vs tor a
verite declared, caused me and other to take him for our lawfull and vndoubted prince and
souereigne lord. For well we knew y the duke of Clarence sonne, by reason of the attayn-
-der of his father was disabled to inherite, and also y duke hym self was named to be a bas-
tarde, as 1 my selfehaue harde spoken, and that vpon greate presimipcions more tymes then
one: so ag-ivn by "iv avdtf and tauour, he of a protectour was made a kvng. and of a sub-
O */ v *t v *) O*
iccie made a gouernour, at which tyme he promysed me on his h'delite, iaiyng his hand in
myneat Baynarde Castel, that the, ii. young princes should lyue, and that he would so pro-
uide for them, and so mayntaine them in honorable estate, y I and all the realme ought and
should be content. But when he was once crouned king, and in full "possession of the hole
realme, he cast a way his old codicions as y adder doeth her skynne, verefieng v old pro-
uerbe, honoures chaunge maners, as the parishe prest remembreth that he was ncuer pa-
rishe clerck. For when I my self sued to him for my part of the Eaile of IJartfordes
liindes whiche his brother kynge Edwarde wrongefully detcyned and \\ith heide from
me, and also required to haue the office of the hight: cciiiotable shvpnc of Englande,
us diners of my noble aunncelers before this tyme haue h^d, and i;i Innje disccrite
continued. In thys my fyrste" suyte shewynge his good myndc K^warde me, he dyd
not oncly fyrste delaye me, ami afterwarde denay me, but 14:1110 me suclie vnkynde
woordes, with suche tauntes and retauntes ye in maner cliccke and ci.ecl.c mate to
the vttcrmooste prot'e of my pacience. As though I had n,?u(:i fu/iherod ijim but Iivn-
dered him us though I had put him downe and not sett hym vp: yi-t nil thos.' vngvati-
tudes and vndeserned vnkyndnes I bare closlye £ suffered, piunenttiio and ci>uon!y rt'n.i"iu-
• bred, on taardely <lis*imidyiigc- that I iuwarde'ic ti'oughte. ;Sud so \vitli n piivncfdi countc-
nannce I passed the Inste summer in iiis last compaignie, n<jt ^iMioiite ii!ar,v iuiti- :>!(iin)scSj
but withonte any good dcdes. Hut when I \\as credibly enformed of t.hr th.sth oi' the. ii.
yonnge innocentes, his awne r.a'uuul nephcwes contrarie to hi--, taitii a.n;l i;rb;vivse, to the
whiche (iod be my iudg;: I nener agi'eed norrondiscended. O lord, ho\v my-vevnespanlcil,
how -my body trembled, and my harte inuardcly grudgod, in so ni'iciie i'l.u I .so ahin.rred the
sighte and much more the compaignie of hym, that 1 com'de nok-nger abvde in isis courte,
excepte I shouldc be openly reuenged. The ende wherof v\as (ioatl'iiil," and so I iavned a
cause todeparte, and with a mery countenaunce and a dispitcful hurte I toke mylcaue hum-
bly of hym (he thinkynge nothynge lesse then that 1 was displeased) and so returned to
Brecknock to you. But in y ionrney as I returned whythcr it were by the inspiration of the
holy ghost, or by Melancolous disposicid, I had diners and sundrie imaginacions howe to de-
priue this vnnatural vncle, andbloudy butcher, froth his royall seate, and princely di<->nitie.
Fyrst I Fantesyed that yf I list to take vpon me the croune, and. imperiall scepter of the
3 D 3 realme,
388 THE. II. YEUE OF
realme, now was the tyme propice and conuenient. For now was the waie made plaine,
and the gate opened, and occasio geuen, whiche now neglected, should paraducnture neuer
take suche e^ecte and conclusion. For I sawe he was disdaigned of the lordes temporal!,
execrate p.nd accursed of the tordes spiritual, detested of all gentilmen, and despised oi'all the
commu.oaltie: So that I saw my chaance as perfectely as I sawe my awne Image in a glasse,
that Vnere was no person (yf I had ben gredy to attempte the enterprise) could nor should
havie wone the ring or got the gole before me. And on this poyncte I rested in- imagina-
cion secretely AV my self. ii. dales at Tewkesberie. And from thence so iornyeng I mused &
thoughtey it was not best nor coueniet to take vpo me as a coquerour, for then I knevve
that all me & especially the nobilitee, would with all their power with stande me, bothe for
rescuyng of possessions & tenours, as also for subuertyng of y hole estat lawes and cus-
tomes of the realme: Sucbe a power hath a conquerour as you know well ynough my lord.
But at the last, in all this doutfull case ther sprang a new braunche out of my bed, which
suerly I thought should liaue broughte forthe fayer flowers, but the sonne was so hotte
that they turned to drye wedes, for I sodainly remembred that lord Edmond duke of Somer-
sett my grandfather was with kynge Henrye the sixte in the. ii. and. iii. decrees from Ihon
.duke of Lancaster la-wefully begotten: So that I thought sure my mother being eldest,
doughter to duke Edmonde, that I was nexte heyre to kynge Henry the sixte of the
house of Lancaster. This title pleased well suche as I made priuye of my counsaill, but
much more it encorraged my foulishe desyer, and eleuated my ambicious entente, in so
muche that clerely Judged, and in myne awne'mynd was determynatly resolued.. y I was in?
dubitate heyre, of the house of Lancaster, and there vpon concluded, to make my fyrst
foundacion, and erecte my nevve buyldinge. But whyther God so ordeyned, or by fortune
it so chaunced, while I was in a mase, other to conclude sodaynlie on this title, and to sett
it open a mongeste the common people, or to kepe it secrete a while, se the chaunce: as I
rode betwene worceter and brigenorthe, I encountered with the ladye Margariete, COUR-
tesse of llichemonde, nowe wyfe to the lorde Stanley, whiche is the very daughter and
sole heyre, to lorde Ihon duke of Somersett my grandfathers elder brother. Whiche was as
cleane out of my mynde as though I had neuer sene her, so that she and her sonne the
Earle of Richemonde be bothe bulwarcke and portecolice betwene me, and.the gate, to entre
into the maiestie royal 1 and geltynge of the crowne. And when we had commoned a litle
eoncernyng her sonne, as I shall shewe you after, and were departed she to oure ladie of
worceter, and I to ward e Shrewsberie: I then newechaunged and in maner amased, began to
dispute with my selfe, litle considerynge that thus my earnest title was turned euen to a tittyl
not so good as, eat amen. Eftsones I imagened whyther I were beste to take vpon me, by
the eleccion of the nobilite and comrnonaltie, whiche me thoughte easy to be done the
vsurpor kynge thus beynge in hatred and abhorred of this hole realme, or to take it by
power, which stande th in fortunes chaunce and difficile to be acheued and broughte to
passe. Thus romblynge and tossynge, in the waues of ambiguitie, betwene the stone and sa-
crafice, I considered fyrste the office, deutie and payne of a kyng, which surely thinke
that no mortal man can iustely, and truely obserue, excepte he be called elected and spe-
cially appoyncted by God as kynge Dauid and diuers other haue been. But farther I re-
membred thatyf I once toke on me the scepter, and the gouernaunce of the realme: That
of two extreme enemies I was dayly sure, but of one trusty frend (which nowe a daies be-
gone a pilgrymage) I was nether assuered nor credible asserteyned (suche is the.worldes mu-
tacion) for I manifestely perceiued that the daughters of kynge Edwards and there alies,
and frendcs, whiche be no. small nomber, beynge bothe, for his sake muche beloued, and
also for the great inurie and manifeste tyrannye done to thei», by the newe vsurper, muche
lamented, and pitied, woulde neuer cease to barcke yf they cannot byte at the o.ne syde of
me. Semblable my cousyne therle of Rychemonde, his aydes and kynsfolke, whiche be
not of lyttell power, wyll surelye attempte lyke a fierce grandhounde, other to byte or to
perce me on the other syde. So that my lyfe and rule, should euer hange by a heare, neuer
in
KYNG RICHARD THE. IIJ. 389
in qufete, but euer in doubte of deathe or deposicion. And yf the said. ii. linages of
Yorke and Lancaster, which so longe haue stryued for the imperiall Diademe should ioyne
in one against me, then were I suerly mated and the game gotten. Wherefore I haue clerely
determined, and with my selfe cocluded, vtterly to reliuquishe all suche fantasticall imagi-
nacions concernynge the obteynynge of the croune. But all such plagues, calamitiesand
troubles (which I feared and suspected) myght haue chanced on me yf I had taken the
rule & regimente of this realme, I shall with a reredemayne so make them rebounde to our
cornen enemye that calleth hym selfe kynge, that the beste stopper that he hath at tenyce
shall not wel*. stoppe without a faulte : for as 1 tolde you before, the countesse of Riche-
monde in my returne from the nevve named kyng raetyng me in the high way, praied me
fyrste for kinred sake, secondarily for the loue that 1 bare to my gradfather duke Humfrey,
whiche was sworne brother to her father, to moue the kynge to be good to her sonne Henry
erle of Richemdd, and to licence him with his fauor to returne again into England : and yf
it were his pleasure so to do, she promised that the erle her sonne should mary one of kyng
Edwardes daughters at the appoinctement of the kyng, without any thing to be taken or
demaunded for the saide espousals, but onely the kynges fauour, wbiche request I sone
ouer passed and gaue her fayre wordes & so departed. But after in my lodgyng, when I
called to memorie with a deliberate studie & dyd circumspectely ponder them, I fully ad*
iudged y the holy ghost caused her to moue a tliynge (the ende wherof she coulde not con-
sider) bothe for the securitie of the realme as also for the prefermente of her childe and
the destruccion and h'nall confusion of the common enemye kyng Richarde. Whiche thing
she neither then thought I am sure as I by her wordes .coulde make conjecture, nor I my
selfe cast not her desyer to be- so profitable to the realme as I, now do perceiue, but suche
a lord is God, that with a litle sparcle he kyndelith a great fyer, & so fynally to declare to
you the very conclusion to thewhich I am both bent and sette, my my ode is and my power
and purse shall helpe, that y erle of Richemond very heyre ef the house of Lancaster (in
the querell of the which linage, both my father and grand father lost ther lyues in battayle)
shall take to wife lady Elizabeth eldest daughter to kyng Edward by the whiche manage
bothe the houses of Yorke and Lancaster maye be obteyned and vnite in one, to the clere
stablyshement of the title to the crowne of this nobte realme. To which conclusion if the
mothers of bothe parties and especially the erle hym selfe, and the ladye wyll agre, I double
not but the braggynge bore, which with his tuskes raiseth euery mans skyn, shall not oncly.
be brought to confusion as. he hath deserued but that this empire shall euer be certaine ot* .
an vndubitate heyre, and then shall all ciuile and intestyne war cease, whiche so longe hath
continued to the paring of many mes crownes, and this realme shalbe reduced .agayne to
quietnes renoune and glorie. This inuencion of the duke many men thought after, that it
was more imagened for the inward hatred that he bare to kynge Rycharde, then for any
fauor that he bare to the erle of Rychemond. But of such doubtfull matter, it is not best
to iudge for erryng to farre from the mynde and entent of the auctor : But whatsoeuer he
entencled this deuice once opened to kyng Rychard was the very occasion, y he was rounded
shorter by the whole head, without attaynder oriudgement. When the duke had sayd, the
bishop, which fauored euer the bouse of Lancaster, was wonderous ioyfull, and muche re-
ioysed to here this deuiee, for nowe came the wynde about euen as he would haue it, for all
hys imaginacio teded to this effect to haue kyng Richard subdued, & to haue y lynes of king
Edward, & kyng Hery y\ vi. again raysed and auaunsed. But lord how he reioysed to
thynke how y by this manage the linages of Yorke & Lancaster should be conioyned in
one, to the very stedfastnes of the publique wealthe of this realme. And lest the dukes
courage should swage, or hys mynd should agayne alter, as it did ofte before, as you may
easely perceiue by his awne tale. He thought to set vp all the sayles that he had, to the
entent that y ship of hys pretensed purpose myghte come shortly to some suer port; And
sayd to the duke, my lord, sigh by Gods hygh prouision and youre incoparable wysedome
1 and pollicie, this noble conjunction is fyrste moued, nowe is it conueniente, ye and necesi
1 Mine
390 THE. II. YERE OF
sarie to consider, what personages and what frcndes we shall fyrste make preuie of this
liicrhe deuice and polliticke conclusion. By my truthe quod the duke we wyli hegyne with
my ladye of Rychemonde therles mother whiche knowethe where lie is, either in .captiuitie
or at la'iye in Brytaine. For I harde saie that y duke of Brytaine restored him to libertie
immediately after the death of kyng Edward, by whose meancs he was restrayued. Syth
vow wyl begyn that way (said y'byshap) I haue an old frend with y cou^ntesse, a ma sobre,
secrete, & well wy tied "called Reignold Bray whose prudet pollicie I haue knowe to haue
copassed thlges of great importance, for whom I shall secretly send yf.it be your pleasure,
•& I doubt not he.wyll gladly come, & y with a good wy!!. So with a lyttel diligence, the
byshop wrote a letter to Reign old, Bray requyryuge hym to come to Brecknocke with spede
for great and vrgente causes touchynge his mairtresse: & no other thing was declared in
the letter. So the messenger rode into Lancashire where Bray was with the coiitesse & lord
Thomas Stanley her Imsbad, & deliuered the letter, which when he had red, he tuke it as
a si^ne or presage of some good fortune to come, & so \vith y messenger he came to the
Cas'tel of Brecknock, where y duke and the byshop declared what thing was deuised both
for to set y realme in a quiet stedefastnes, as also for y high preferment of y earle of Uiche-
moiid sonne to his lady & tnaistresse : Willyng her fyrst to co passe how to obteyne y good
will of quene Elizabeth, & also of her eldest daugluer bearing y same name: & after se-
cretli to send to her sonne into Brita.ine to declare what high honour was prepared for hym
if he would sweare to mary y lady Elizabeth assoneas he was kyng & in royal possesion of
the real me. Reignold Bray w a glad hart for gettyng nothing geuen to hym in charge in great
hast and with good sped retourned to the countesse his lady and mastresse. VV'he Bray
was departed & this great doubtful! vessell once sett a broche. the bishop thrustyng for no-
thing more then for lybertie: whe he sawe the duke pleasaunt and well myndtd, toward
hym he told the duke that yf he were in his yle of Elye he could make many frendes to fer-
ther their enterpryse, and yf he were there and had but. iiii. daies warning he lytteil regard-
ed the malice of king Richard, his country was so strong. The duke knew well all this to
be trew, but yet lothe he was that the byshop should departe, for he knew well that as
long as the bishop, was with him, Le was sure of politique aduise, sage couvisayl, and
circumspect proceding. And so he gaue the byshop fay re wordes, saiyr.g that he should
shortely departe and that well .accompaigned for fearc of enemyes. The byshop beiyng as
\vyttye as >the duke was wylie, dyd not tarie tyll y dukes compaignie were assembled, but
secretlie disguysed in a nyghte departed (to the dukes great displeasure) and came to his
see, of Ely, where he found monye and frendes and so sailed into i'ku inters, where lie
<lyd the earle of Richeiuoiule good seruico and neuer retourned ag:iyne tvH the erle of
Kichemoude after beynge kyng, si:i.t for hym. and shortely promoted him to the &ee of
Cauntorbury. Thus the bishop wound him sdf fro the duki: \\lien he had nioste nede of
his ayde, for yt" he had taried still y duke hud not made -so many biaubrs of his counsiiH,
nor put so muche confidens in the Welshmen, nor yet so temerariotisly sot forward wiili
out knowlege ot his frendes as he did, which thvnges were his sodanie out'rthrowe as
they that kneue it dyd reporte.
When Reignold Bray Dad declared his message, and preuie instruction to the countesse
of Richemonde his mastres, no merueill though sl>e were ioyous and glad, both of the good
newes and also for y obteynylig of su.che H high fiende in her sonnes cuuse as the duke was,
w her fore she wyllyng IK t to slepe tiiis mailer, but to farther it to the vttermost of her
power & abilitie, deuised a meanes how to i)reake this .matter to quene Elizabeth then being
in sanctuarie at Westminster. And there vpon she hauynge in her farnilie, at that tyine
for the prestruacion oi' her healthe a certayne Welsheman called Lewes learned in phisicke,
whiche for his grauitie and experiens, was well knowcn and much estemed amongest great
estates of the realme: with wiiorneshe vsed somtyme liberally and famiHarlye to talke, nowe
hauynge opportunitie and occasion to breake her mynde vnto him of this weightie matter,
-, 4 declared
KYNG RICHARD THE. IIJ. 391
declared that the tyme was come that her sonne shoulde be ioyned in mariage with lady Eli-
zabeth daughter & heyre to king Edward, and that king Richard being take & reputed of
all men for the comon enemye of the realme, shoulde out of all honour and estate be de-
lected, and of his rule and kyngedome be clerely spoyled & expulsed: and required him to
goo to queue Elizabeth (with home in his facultie he was of counsaill) not as a messenger,
but as one that came frendelie to visite and consolate her, and as tyme and place should
require to make her preuie of this deuise, not as a thlg cocluded, but as a purpose by him
imagened. This phisician did not long lynger to accomplish her desyre, hut with good
diligens repaired to the quene beinge stil in the sanctuary at Westminster. And when he
saw tyme propice £ conuenient for his purpose, he saide vnto her, Madame, although my
imaginacion be verie simple and my deuyce more folishe, yet for the entier affection that I
beare toward you and your childre, I am so bold to vttre vnto you. a secrete & preuie co-
ceite that I haue cast & compassed in my fantasticall brayne. ''When I well remembre and
no lesse considre the greate losse and damage that you haue susteyned by the death of your
noble and louyng husband, and the great dolour and sorowe that you haue suftred and tolle-
rated by the cruell murther of your innocent children: I can no lesse do both of boundeu
deutie and Christian charite, then daily to studie and hourely ymagen notonely howe to bryng
your harteto comforte and gladnes, but also deuyse howe to reuenge y righteous quarel of you'
and your children on that bloudy bloodsupper and cruell tyrannic kyng Richarde. And firste
considre, what battaile, what manslaughter, what mischiefe hath risen in this realme by the
dissencion betwene the. ii. noble houses of Yorke and Lancaster, which, ii. families (as I
haue contryued) if they may be ioyned in one, I thinke, ye & doubt not but your line shal be-
again restored to the pristinate estate and degree to your great ioye and comfort, and to
the vttre confusion of your mortall cneinic the vsurper kynge. You know very well
madame, that of the house of Lancaster, the erle of Richemond is next of blood, which
is lyuynge and a lusty young batcheler, and to the house of Yorke your daughters nowe are
heires: if you coulde agree & inuent the meane how to couple your eldest daughter with the
young erle of Ricuemod in matrimony, no doubt but the vsurper of the realme should be
shortly deposed, and your heireagaine to her right restored.
When the quene had heard this frendly mocion (which was as far from her thought as the
man that the rude people say is in the rnoone) lorde howe her spirits reuyued, and how her
hearte lept in her body'for ioye and gladnes. And firste geuynge lawde to almigbtie God as the
chiefe uucthove of her comfort, secondarely tomaister Lewes as the deuiser of the good newes
and tydinges,instantely besought him that as he had bene the first inueter of so good an enterprise,
that novT lie would not relinquishe nor desiste to folowe the same : requirynge him farther (be-
cause he wasapperteynynge to the countesse of Richemonde mother to the crlo Henry) that he
would with all diligente celerite resorte to her then lodgyng in her hnsbandes place within
the cyte of London, and to declare on the Queues behalfc to- the countesse, that all the
frendes and fantoures of kyng Edward her husbande, should assiste and take parte with the
earle of Richemonde her sonne, so that he would take a corporall othc after the kyngedorne
obteyned to espouse and take to wife the ladye Elizabeth her daughter, or els lady Cecile,,
yf theldest daughter were not then lyuynge.
Master Lewes with all dexteritee so sped his bnsynes that he made and concluded a finall,
ende and deterrninacion of this entreprise betwene the. ii. mothers, and because he was a
phisician and oute of al suspicion and mysdemynge, he was the common ct^rrer and daylye
messenger betwene theim, aidynge and setting forth the inuented conspiracye againsle
kynge Richard. So the ladye Margarete countesse of Richemonde brought into a good
hope of the preferment of her sonne made Reygnolde Braie her moost faithefull seruaunte
chiefe solicitcr and preuie procurer of this conspiracie, geuynge him in charge secretly to
enuegle and attracte suche personnes of nobilite to ioyne with her and take her parte
as he knew to be ingenious, faythefnll, diligent and of actiuitie. This Reygnolde Breie
within, fewe dales broughte vnto his lure (firste of all taking of euery person a solempne
oths-
392 THE. II. YERE OF
othe to be true and secrete) sir Gyles Daubenei, sir Ihon Cheiney knight, Richard Guylforde
and Thomas llatne esquyers and diuerse other. The countesse of Richemonde was not so
diligent for her parte, but Quene Elizabeth was as yigilaunte on the other syde and made
frendes and appoyncted councelers to set forwarde and auaunce her busynes. In the nieaue
ceason the countesse of Richemond toke into her seruice Christopher Vrswike an honest and
a wise priest', and after an othe of hym for to be secret taken and sworne she vttred to him
all her mynde & councell, adhibityngto him the more confidence and truth that he al his
life had fauoured and taken part with kyng Henry the. vi. and as a special iuell put to her
seruice by sir Lewes her physician. So thejnother studious for y prosperitie of her sonne ap-
pointed this Christopher Vrswike to saile into Britayne to the erle of Richemond and to de-
clare and to detnonster to him all pactes & agrementes betwene her and the quene agreed &
concluded : But sodainly she remebryng that the duke of Buckyngha was one of the first in-
ut-ters and a secrete founder ef this entreprise, determined to sende some personage of more
estimacio then her chapelain, and so elected for a messenger Hugh Conwey esquier and
sent hym into Britayne with a great some of money to her sonne, geuing him in charge to
declare to y erle the great loue & especiall fauour y the most parre of the nobilite of the
realme bare toward him, the louyng hartes & beneuolent myndes which the whole commi-
nalti.e of their awne frewill frankely offred and liberally exhibited to him willing & aduisynge
him not to neglect so good an occasion apparantly offred, but with al spede & diligence to
addicte & settle his'mynde and full entencion how to retourne home againe into England
u here'" he was both wished & looked for, geuynge him farther monicion &councellto take land
Si arriuall in y principalite of Wales, wherehe should notdoubt tofyndebothe aide, comforte
and fredes. Richard Guylford least Hugh Conwey might fortune lo be take or stopped at plim-
moth, where he intedcd to take his nauigacion, sent out of kent Thomas Rame with the
same instruccios: & both made such diligence and had suche wynde and wether, y one by
land from Caleys, and the other by water from plimmoth, that within lesse then an houre
bo the arriucd in the duke of Britaynes courte and spake with the erle of Richemond, which
from the death of kyng Edward went at his pleasure and libertie, and to him counted and
manifested the cause and effecte of their message and ambassade. When the earle had re-
ceaued this ioyefull message, whiche was the more pleasaunte because yt was vnloked for, he
rendred to lesu his sauiour his mooste humble and hearty thankes, beynge in ferme credence
and beleue that such thynges as he with busy mynde and laborious entente had wished and
desyred, coulcle neuer haue taken any effect withoute the helpe and prefermente of al-
mighty God. And now beynge put in comfort of his long longynge he dyd communicate
and breake to the duke of Britayne all his secretes and preuy messages whiche were to hym
declared, aduertisynge hym that he was entred into a sure and a stedfaste hope to ob-
teyne and get the crowne and kyngedome of the realme of England desyrynge him bothe of
his good will and frendcly helpe toward the acheuynge of his offred enterprise, promising
hym when he came to his extended purpose, to rendre to hym agayne equall kyndenes and
condigne gratulacion,
Althougli the duke before that daie by Thomas Hutton ambassador from king Richard
had both by money & praiers bene sojicite & moued to put agayne into safe custody the
erle of Richemonde, he neuerthelesse prouaysed faithfully to ayde him and his promes he
.tr.uely performed. ,
f THE. III. YERE.
WHerupon the erle w all diligence sent into England agayn Hugh Conwey and Thomas
Rame, whiche shoulde declare his commynge shortely into Englande, to thentent" that all
thinges whiche by councell might be for his purpose prouided shoulde be accelerate and hasted,
aoid that all thynges doubtfull shoulde of his frendes be prudently forseen, in aduoydyng alengins
and
KYNG RICHARD THE. IIJ. 393
and snares which kyng Richard had or might haue set in disturbance of his purpose, and he
in the • meane ceason would make his abode still in Britayne, till al thinges necessary for his
iorney were prepared and brought in aredynes.
In the meane ceason the cheuetaynes of the coniuracion in Englande began together many
entreprises : Some in conueniente fortresses put strong garrisons: Some kept armed men
preuely, to thentente when they should haue knovvlege of the erles landing, they would be-
gynneto stirre vp the warre: Other dyd secretelymoue& sollicite the people to rise and make
an insurrecion : Other (emongeste whome Ihon Morton bishop of Ely then beynge in Flaun-
ders was chefe) by preuie letters and cloked messengers, did sturre and inuite to this newe
coniuracion, al such which they certeynely knew to haue a roted hatred or to beare a can-
kard malice toward king Richard & his procedynges.
Although this greate entreprice were neuer so preuely handeled and so secretely emongeste
so circumspecte persones treated, compassed and conueyghed, yet knowlege thereof came to
the eares of king Richard, whiche with the sodayne chaunce was not a lyttel moued and
astonned. Fyrste because he had no host ready prepared and conscribed. Secondarely yf
he shoulde reyse an army so sodaynely, he knewe not where to occurre and mete his enemies
or whether to go or where to tarie. Wherefore he determined to dissimule the matter as
though he knewe nothynge till he had assembled his host, and in the meane ceason either by
the rumour of the common people or by the diligence of his exploratours and espialles to in-
uestigate and search out all the councelles, determinacions ententes and compasses of his
close aduersaries, or elles by craftie pollecie to intercepte and take some person of the same
coniuracion, considerynge that there is no more secrete nor hyd espyall then that whiche
lurketh in dissimulacionof knowlege and intelligence, or is hidden in the name and shadowe
of counterfeicte humanite and feined kyndenes. And because he knewe the duke of Buck-
yngham to be the chiefe bed and aydeof the coniuracion, he thoughte yt moost necessary to
plucke hym from that parte either by fayre promyses or open warre. Whereupon he ad-
dressed his louynge letters to the duke, as full of mellifluous woordes, humanite and familia-
rite as the interior cogitacion and preuy meanynge was full of malice, rancor and poyson:
gcuynge farther in charge to the messenger that caryed the letter to promes to the duke on his
behalfe golden hilles and syluer ryuers, and with all gentle and pleasaunte meanes to persuade
and eihorte the duke to corne to the courte. But the duke as wylie as the kynge mystrustyng
the fayre flatteryng woordes and the gaye promyses to him so sodaynly without any cause
offered, knowynge the craftie castes of kynge Richardes bowe, whiche in diuerse affayres
before tyme he had sene practised requyred the king to perdon him, excusynge him selfe
that he was so diseased in his stomacke that skante he coulde take either refeccion or rest.
Kynge Richarde not beynge contente with this excuse woulde in no wise admytte the same,
but incontinente directed to the duke other letters of a more rougher and hawter sort, not
•without minatorie termes and checkynge woordes, commaundynge hym all excuses set aperte
to repaire without any delaie to his royall presence. The duke made to the messenger ade-
termynate aunswere that he would not come to his mortall enemy, whome he neither lo-
ned nor fauoured: and ymmediately prepared open warre agaynste hym, and perswaded all
his complices and partakers that euery man shoulde in his quarter with all diligence reyse vp
the people and make a commocion. And by this meanes almooste in one momente Thomas
Marques Dorcet came out of sanctuarye where he sith the begynnynge of Richardes daies
had contynued, whose life by the onely helpe of sir Thomas Louell esquyer was preserued
from all daungier and perell in this troubleous worlde, gathered together a greate bande of
men in Yorkeshire. Sir Edwarde Courtney and Peter his brother bishop of Exsettcr, reised
another army in deuonshire and cornewall. In kente, Richarde Guylfordc and other gentle-
men, collected a great companye of souldyoures and openly beganne warre. But king
Richard which in the raeane tyme had gotten together a great strengthe and puissaunce,
thinkyng yt not moost for his parte beneficiall to disparse and deuyde his greate armye into
small branches, and particulerely to persecute any one of the coniuracion by hym selfe, de-
3 E termiacd
THE. IIJ. YERE OF
termincd all other bevnge set asyde, with hys whole puyssaunce to set on the chiefe bed whiche
was the duke of Buckvngham. And so remouynge from London, he tooke his iourney to-
warde Salsbune, to thentente that in his iourney he mighte set on the dukes army yf he
myeiite knowe hym in any place encamped or in ordre of Battayle araied. I he king was
scace ii dales iourney from Salsbune when the duke of Buckyngham accompanyed with a
Create power of wilde Weleshmen, whome he beynge a manof that courage and sharpe speche
in maner agaynste their willes had rather therto enforced and compelled by lordely aadstreite
commaundemente then by liberall wayges and gentle reteynoure, whiche things was the verie
occasion why they lefte hym desolate and cowardely tbrsoke hym. The duke with all his
power mershed through the forest of deane entendyng to haue passed the riuer of Seuerne
at Gloucester, and therto bane ioyned in army with the courtneys and other Westernmen ot
his confederacy and aflinite, which if he bad done no doubt but kyng Richard had bene in
Create ieopardie either of priuacion of his realme or losse of his life or both. But s& the
chaiice, before he could attayne to Seuerne side, by force of continuall rayne and moysture,
the ryu'er rose so high that yt ouerflowed all the coumrey adioynyng, insomuch that men*
were drowned in their beddes, bowses with the extreme violence were ouerturned-, childre
were caried aboute the feldes, swimming in cradelles, beastes weredrownedon hilles, whiche
rage of water lasted continually, x. dayes, insomuch that in the countrey adioynyng they
caTl yt to this daie, the greate water, or the duke of Buckynghatns greate water; By this in-
undaciou the passages were so closed that neither the duke could come ouer Seuerne to his
complices, nor they to hym, duryng the whiche tyme, the Welshemen lyngerynge ydely and
without money, vitayle, or wages sodaynely scaled and departed : and for all the dukes fayre
promyses, manaces and enforcementes, they woulde in no wise neither goo fartlier nor abide.
The duke thus abandoned and left almost post alone was of necessite copelled to flye, and in
his flight was with this sodeyne of fortune meruelousely dismayed : and. beinge vnpurueyed,
•what councell he shoulde take and what waie he shoulde folowe, like a man in dispeire not
knowynge what to do, of verie truste and confidence conueyghed him selfe into the house
of Homfrey Banaster his seruaunt beside Shrewsburie^ whome he had tendrely broughte vp,
& whome he aboue all men loued, fauoured and trusted, nowe not doughtynge but that in;
hys extreme necessitie, he shoulde fynde hym faythefuU,. secrete and trusty, entendynge there
couertely to lurke till either he mighte reise agayne a newe arraye, or elles shortely to saile
into Britayne to the Earle of Richemond.
But when yt wasknowen to his adherentes whiche were wadye to geue Battayle, that his
hoste was scaled and had lefte hym almoost alone, and was fled and could not be founde,
they were sodaynely amased and striken with a soden feare, thateuery man like persones des-
perate shifted for hym selfe and fled, some wente to sanctuarye and to solitarie places, some
fled by see, whereof the mooste parte within a fewe dayes after arryued sauely in the duchye
of Britayne. Emonge whiche nombre were these persones, Peter Courtney bishoppe of Ex-
cettre and sir Edmonde Courtney his brother, by kynge Henrye the. vii. after created Earle
of Deuonshire, Thomas Marques Dorcet, Ihon lorde "Welles, Sir Ihon Burchier, Sir Ed-
monde Wooduile a valyaunte man in armes brother to quene Elizabeth, Sir Roberte Wil-
loughby, sir Gyles Dabeney, Sir Thomas Arundell, Sir Ihon Cheyney and his twoo brethren,
Sir Wylliam Barkeley, Sir Wylliam Brandon and Thomas his brother, Sir Rycharde Edg-
combe, all these for the moost parte beynge knyghtes, and Ihon Hal well, Edwarde Pownynges
a pollytike capitayne. At this verie ceason Ihon Morton bishop of Ely and Christopher
Vrswike priest and another companye of noble men soiourned in Flaunders, and by letters
and messengers procured manye Ennemyes agavnste kynge Richard, whiche vsynge a vigi-
launteiye and a quyckeremembraunce, beynge newely come to Salsburye, hauyng perfight
notice and knowlege howe the duke was fled, and howe his complices entended to passe oute
of the realme. Fyrste he sent men of warre to all the nexte portes and passages to kepe
streightely the see coast, so that no person shoulde passe outwarde nor take lande in the
realme withoute their assent and knowlege. Secondarely, he made proclamacion, that what
person
KYNG RICHARD THE. IIJ.
person coulde shewe and reuele where the duke of Buckyngham was, shoulde be highly re-
warded, yf he were a bondman he should be enfraunchised and set at libertie, yf he were of
fre blood he shoulde haue a generall perdon and be remunerate with a thousand poundes.
Farthermore, because he vnderstoode by Thomas Hutton, whiche as you haue heard was
newely retourned out of Britayne, that Fraunces duke of Brytayne not onely refused to kepe
therle of Richemonde as a prisoner at his contemplacion and for his sake, but also was
readie to aide and succoure thesaide Earle with menne money and all thinges necessarye for
his transportyng into England. Wherfore he rigged and sent out shippes of warre wel fur-
nished and decked with me and artillary, to skoure and kepe that part of the see that lieth
agaynst Britayne, to thentet that yf the erle of Ilichemond woulde auenture to saile toward
England either he shoulde be taken captiue or be profligate and dryuen from the coast of
Englande. And moreouer, to thentent that euery coste, waye, passage and corner should be
diligently watched and kepte, he set at euery dubious and suspected place men of warre, to
seke, searche, and enquyre yf any creature coulde tell tydynges of the duke of Buckyngham,
or of any of his confederacyon, adherentes, fautoures or partakers.
While this Busy searche was diligently applied and put "in execucion, Homfrey Banaster
(were it more for feare of losse of lyfe and goodes, or attracted and prouoked by
the auaricious desire of the thousand poundes) he .bewrayed his gest and master to Ihon
Mitton then shriefe of Shropshire, whyche sodaynely with a stronge power of men in harnes
apprehended the duke in a litle groue adioynynge to the mansion of Homfrey Banaster, and
in greate hast and euyll spede conueighed him appareled in a pilled blacke cloke to the cytie
of Salsburie where kynge Richard then kepte his houshold.
Whether this Banaster bewreyed the duke more for fear then couetous many men do
doubt: but sure it is, that shortlie after he had betrayed y" duke his master, his sonne and
heyre waxed mad and so dyed in a bores stye, his eldest daughter of excellent beautie was
sodaynelie stryken with a foule lepcrye, his seconde sonne very meruelously deformed of his
limrnes and made decrepite, his younger sonne in a small puddel was strfigled & drouned, &
he beyng of extreme age arraigned & foud gyltie of a murther and by his clergye saued.
And as for his thousand pound kyng Richard gaue him not one farthing, saiyng that he
•which would be vntrew to so good a master would be false to al other, howbeit some saie $
he had a smal office or a ferine to stoppe hismouthe with al. The duke beyng by certayne of
the kynges councel diligently vpon interrogatories examined what thynges he kncive prejudicial
to y kynges person, opened and declared frankely and frely all the eoniuracfon without dis-
simulynge or glosynge, trustyngc because he had truely & playnly reueled and confessed all
thinges that were of hym required, that he should haue lycece to spcke to y kyng which
(whether it wer to sue for perdon and grace, or whether he being brought to his presence
would haue sticked him with a dagger as men then nidged) he sore desyred and required.
But when he had confessed the whole facte and conspiraeye vpon Allsoulen day without ar-
reignemente or iudgcmente he was at Salsburye in the open mcrket place on a ne\ve skaffblde
behedded and put to death. This death (as a reward) the duke of Buckyngham receaued
at the handesof kyng Richard, wliom he before in his affaires, purposes and enterprises had
holde susteyned and set forward aboue all Godes forbode.
By thys all men maye easelye perceaue that he not onley loseth bothe his labour, traueylc
and Industrie, and ferther steynethe and spoteth his ligne with a perpetuall ignomony and re-
proche, whiche in euyll and mishiefe assisteth and aydeth an euyll disposed person, consider-
ynge for the mooste parte that he for his frendely fauoure ehoulde rcceaue sonic greate dis-
pleasure or infortunate chaunce. Beside that God of his iustice in conclusion ap-
poyncteth to him a comligne peyne and affliction for his merites and desertes. Wliile theso
thynges were thus hadelecl and ordred in England, Henry Earle of Riehemond prepared an
army of fyue thousande manly Brytons, and fortie well fumy-shed shippes. When alj
thinges were prepared in aredynes and the daye of departynge and settynge forwarde was ap-
poyirted, whiche was the. xii. daye of the moneth of October in the yere of the inciuuaciou
.3 E 2 , ' of
39<5 THE. IIJ. YERE OF
of cure redemer. M. CCCC. xlviii. and in the secondeyere of kynge Richardcs reigne, the
whole annye wente on shipboerde and halsed vp their sailes, and with a prosperous wynde
tooke the sea: but towarde night the wynde chaunged and the wether tourned, and so
houge and terrible a tempest sodaynely roase, that with the verie power and strength of the
storme, the shippes were disparcled, seuered and separate a sondre : some by force were
dryuen into Normandye, some were compelled to retourne agayne into Britayne. The shrppe
wherein the Earle of Rychemonde was, associate onely with one other barcke was all nyghtc
tossed and turmoyled. In the mornynge after when the rage of the furious tempest was
assuaged, and the Ire of the blusterynge wynde was some deale appeased, aboute the houre
of none thesame daye, the erle approched to the southe parte of the realme of England
euen at the mouthe of the bauen of pole in the countie of dorcet, where he mighte playnely
perceaue all the se bankes and shores garnished and furnished with men of warre and soul-
dioners appoynted and deputed there to defende his arryuall and landynge as before is men-
cioned. Wherefore he gaue streyghte charge and sore commaundemente, that no person
should once presume to take land and goo to the shore, vntillsuche tyme as the whole na-
uye were assembled and congregate. And while he expected and lyngered tariyenge for that
purpose, he sente oute a shippe bote towarde the lande side to knowe, vvhyther they whiche
stoode there in suche a nombre and so well furnysshed in apparell defensiue were hys capitalL
foes and enemyes or elles liis frendes fau to tires and comforters. They that were sente in
exploracion and- message were instantely desyred of the men of warre kepynge the
coast (whiche thereof were before instructed and admonished) to dissende and take lande,,
affirmynge that they were appoyncted by the duke of Buckyngham there to awayte and tarie
for the arryuall and landyng of the erle of Richernond, and to conduicte sauely to the campe
where the duke not far of laye encaped with a populous army and an host of great
strength and vigor, to thententthat the duke and the erle ioynynge in puyssaunces and forces
together, mighte prosecute and chace king Richard beyng destitute of men, and in nianer
desperate and fugityue, and so by that meanes and their awne laboures and Industrie to ob-
teine the ende of their enterprise which they had before begonne.
The erle of Richemonde suspectynge their flaterynge requeste to be hut a fraud (as yt
was in dede) after that he perceaued none of his shippes to apere in sight, he weied
vp his ancors and halsed vp hissayles hauynge a prosperous and strenable wynde and a freshe
gale sente euen by God to delyuer him from that perell and ieopardie, arryued safe and in
securitie in the duchy of Normandy, where he to refreshe and solace his souldyours and
people, tooke his recreacion by the space of. iii. dayes, and clerely determyned with parte of
his companye to passe all by lande agayne into Britayne. And in the meane ceason he sent
oratoures to the i'renche kynge called Charles the. viii. vyhiche newely succeded his father
kynge Lewes the. xi. not longe before departed to God, requirynge hym of a safe conduicte
and licence to passe through his countrey of Normandye into Britayne. The younge kynge
-hauynge compassion of the misfortune and vnfortunate chaunce of the erle of Richemonde,
not onely gently graunted and assigned to him a pasporte, but also liberally disbursed and
departed to hym a conueniente some of money for his conduicte and expenses necessary in
hys long iourney and passage. But the erle trusting on the Frenche kynges humanitee
auentured to send his shippes home into Britayne, and to set forwarde hym selfe by lande
on his iourney makynge no greate hast till his messengers were retourned, whiche beynge
with the benefite so comforted, and with hope of prosperous successe so encouraged, mer-
shed towarde Britayne with all diligent celerite entendyng there toconsulte farther with his
louers and fredes of his affaires and enterprises. When he was retorned agayn into Britayne
he was certified by credible infonnacio that the duke of Buckyngham had lost his hed and
that the Marques dorcet and a great nombre of noble men of England had a lytle before
enquyred and searched for him there, & were nowe retourned to Vanes. When he had
heard these newes thus reported, he first so rowed, & dolorously lamented the firsle attempt
and settyng forwarde of his frendes, and in especiall of the nobilyte not to haue more for-
tunatly
KYNG RICHARD THE. IIJ. ^
tunatly succedcd. Secondarely, he reioyagd on the other part that God had sent hym so
many valiauate and prudent captaines to be his compaiguions in his tuertiall enterprisey,
trustynge surely and nothingedoubtynge in his awne opinion, but that all his busynes should
be wisely compassed and brought to a good coclusion. Wherfore he determining with al
diligece to accelerate & set forward his new begonne busynes departed to Renes & sent
certayne of his preuie seruitours to conducte and bryngy Marques and the other noble men
to hia presence. When they knewe that he was sauely retorned into Britayne, lord how
they reioysed and applauded, for before that time they missed him and knew not in whar
parte of the world to make inuestigacion or searche for hym. For they doubted and no
lesse feared least he had taken land in Englad, and fallen in the handes of kynge Richard,
in whose person they knewe well was neither mercy nor compassion. Wherefore in-all spedy
maner they galloped toward him, and him reuerentely saluted, which metynge after great
ioye and solace and no small thankesand gratifications geuen and rendred on bothe partes,
they consulted and aduisedely debated and commoned of their great busines and weighty en-
treprise, in the whiche ceason the solempne feaste of the natiuite of our sauiour Christ
happened, on whiche daie al thenglishe lordes went with great sulempnyte to the chiefe
churche of the citee, and there cache gaue faythe and promyse to other. The erle hym selfe
fyrste tooke a corporall othe, and on his honour promysynge that incontynente after he
should be possessed of the crowne and dignytie of the realme of Englande, he woulde be
conioyned in matrymonye with the lady Elizabeth daughter to kynge Edwarde the fourthe.
Then all the coinpanye sware to hym fealtie, and did to hym homage as though he had-bene
that tyme the crowned kynge and anoynted prince, promisynge faythefuliy and fermely as-
surynge that they woulde not onely lese their worldely substaunce, but also be priuated of
their lyues & worldly felicitee, rather then to suffre kynge Rycharde, that tyraunt lenger to
rule and reigne ouer theim. Whiche solempne othes made and taken, the Earle of Ryche-
monde declared and communicated all these doynges to Fraunces duke of Britayne, desir-
ynge and mooste hartely requyrynge hym to ay de hym with a greater annye to conduicte
hym into his countreye, whiche so sore longed and loked for his retourne, and to the whiche
he was by the more parte of the nobilite and comminaltie called and desvred whiche fwith
Goddes ayde and the dukes comfort) he doubted not in shorte tyme to obteyne, requiryn^e
hym farther to prest to hym a conueniente some of money, affinnynge that all such somes of'
money which he had receaued of hys especiall frendes, were, spent and exhausted in the
preparacionofthe laste Journey made towarde Englande, whyche somes of money after his en-
terprise once acheued, he in the word of a prynce faythefuliy promysed to repaye and restore
agayne. The duke promised him ayde and helpe, vpon confidence whereof he rigged his
shippes, and set foorth his nauie well decked with ordynaunce, and warlykely furnystfed with
al things necessary, to thentente to saile forwarde shortely, and to se no couuenient tyme
slackely ouerpassed nor be pretermitted.
In the ineane ceason, kynge Richarde apprehended in dyuerse partcs of the realme cer-
teyne gentylmen of the earle of Rychemondes faccion and confederation, which either en-
tended to saile into Britayne towarde hym, or els at his landynge to assiste and ayde hym.
Emongeste whotne, sir George Browne, sir Roger ClyrTorde and. iiii. other were put to ex-
ecution at London, and sir Thomas Sentliger which had maried the duches of Exceter the
kyngs awne suster, and Thomas Rame and diuerse other were executed at exceter. Beside
these persones, diuerse of his houshold seruauntes whome either he suspected or doubted,
were by great crueltie put to shamefull death. After this he called a parliamente in the
which he attaynted the erle of Richemond & all other persones whiche were fled out of the
realme for fear or .any other cause, as enemies to him and to their natural! countrey, and
all their landes, goodes and possessions were confiscate and seased to f kynges vse. And
yet not content with this pray which no double was of no small valour and moment, he laied
on the peoples neckes a great taxe and tallage, and surely necessite to that acte in maner
him
1
.-;. THE. IIJ. YERE OF
him compelled. For what with purgyng and declaryng his innocencie concernyng the murther
of his nephewes toward the world, and what with cost to obtayne y loue and fauoure of the
comminaltie (whiche outwardely glosed and openly dissimuled with him) he gaue prodigally
so many and so great rewardes that now both he lacked and skace wist honestely how to
borowe. In this troubleousceason, nothingewas more merueled at then that the lord Stanley
had not bene taken and reputed as an enemy to the king, considerynge the workynge of the
ladye Margarete his wife mother to the earle of Ilichemonde, but forasmuch as the enter-
prise of a woman was of hym reputed of ne regarde or estimacion, and that the lord Thomas
her husbande had purged hym selfe sirfficientely to be innocent of all dooynges and at-
temptes by her perpetrated and committed, yt was geuen him in charge to kepe her in some
secrete place at home, without hauynge enie seruaunte or companye, so that from thence
foorthe she shoulde neuer sende letter nor messenger to her sonne nor any of his frendes or
confederates, by the whyche the kynge myghte be molested or troubled, or any hurte or pre-
judice might be attempted againste his realme and comminaltie. Whiche commaundemente
was a while put in execution and accomplished according to his dreadfull commaunde-
.mente. Yet the wilde wormeof vengaunce wauerynge in his hed could not be contented with
the death of diuerse gentlemen suspected of treason, but also he muste extende his bloudy
:furye agaynste a poore gentleman called Collyngborne for makings small ryme of thre of
his vnfortunate councelers, which wer the lord louell, sir llicharde Radclyffe his myscheuous
mynion, and sir Wylliam Catesby his secrete seducer, whiche metre was.
The Rat, the Cattc and Louell our dogge
Rule all Englande vnder the hogge.
Meanynge by the -hogge, the dreadfull wilde bore whiche was the kynges cognisaunce, but
because tthe fyrste lyne ended in dogge, the metrician coulde not obseruynge the regirnentes
of metre .ende the seconde verse in Bore, but called the bore an hogge. This poetical!
schoolemayster corrector of breues and longes, caused Collyngborne to be abbreuiate shorter
by the hed, and too bee deuyded into foure quarters.
Kyng Richarde beynge thus turmented and tossed in his awae concepte and imaginacion,
.called to his remembraunee thatconsideraeions amities, and other honeste bondes and pactes,
made, concluded and appointed betwene princes and pollitique gouernours are the cause ef-
ficiet and especiall introduction that .their realmes and countries are fortified and rminited
with a doable power, .that is to say, with their awne strength and the ayde of their frendes,
deuysed \vith him self to practise a league and amitie with the kynge of Scottes, which not
long before had made diuerse incursions and roodes into the realme of England, where
although he gatte 1-yttel, yet surely he lost not much, and thereupo sued to haue a treuce or
peace concluded, whiche came euen as 'king Richard had wished it. Wherefore commis-
sioners were assigned Cor bothe partes to mete at Notbyngham the. vii. daye next ensuynge
.at vhyche tyme came thcther for the kynge of England Ihon bishop of Lyncolne chaun-
celler of Englande, Richard bishop of saincte Asse, Ihon duke of Norflfolke, Hcnrye erle of
Northumberlande, Thomas lorde Stanley, George Stanley lord straunge, Ihon Gray lord
Powes, Richard lord Fytzhughe, Ihon Gunthorpe keper of the kynges preuie scale, Thomas
Barowe master of the rolles, sir Tliomas Bryane chiefe Justice of the common place, sir
•Richard Ratclyfle k-nyght, William Catesbey and Richard Salkeld esquiers. And for the
kynge of Scottes were deputed Colyn erle of Ergile lord Camplell & lord chaunceller of
Scotlande, \Villiam bishop of Aberdene, Robert lorde Lyle, Laurence lorde Olyphant, Ihen
Drummond of Stobhall, Archibald Qwhitelator archedeacon of Lawdene and secretorie to
kynge lames, Lyon kynge of Armes and Duncane dundas. These councellers dyuerse tyrnes
mette, and after longe debatynge, demaundynge, and denyenge, in the ende of September
they fully concluded, and made a determinacion the effect whereof foloweth in articles.
:j( Firste it was appoynted and concluded that a perfight amitie and an inuiolable peace
should .be had and iefxte betwene the realmes of Ewglande and Scotlande for ihe space of
JH.
KYNG RICHARD THE. IIJ. 399
Hi. yeres, to begynne at the sonne risyng the. xxix. daie of September in the yere of our
lord. M. cccc. Ixxxiiii. and to endure to the settynge of the sonne the. xxix. daye' of Sep-
tember in the yere of christcs incarnation. INI. cccc. Ixxxvii.
Item that duryng the said yeres, none of both the princes, nor their ministers shall ii.
make warre or inuade y reulme or dominion of theother by sea or by land, or vexe, per-
turbe, or molest the subiectes or vassalles of either of theim, nor shall geue councell, ex-
cite, or moue any other persone to make warre or inuasion on the territories of any of the
said princes.
Item that the toune and castell of Berwike with all such boundes as thereto were belong- jii.
ynge, which were in the Englishe mennes handes at the deliueraunce of thesame toune by
king Henry the. vi. to the king of Scottes, shall so peaceably remayne in the possession of
the kyng of England during thesaide truce.
Item that all other castelles, lioldes and fortresses, shall peaceably remain in the handes iiii.
of f possessor and owner without chalenge or demannde dnrynge thesaide truce, the castell
of dumbarre onely- excepte, (whiche was delyuered into thenglishe mennes handes by the
appoyntement of the duke of Albany when he fled into Fraunce.)
Item yf the kyngeof Scottes do intimate and declare to the kynge of England, within the v.
space of. xl. daies next ensuyng £ date herof, tliat he will not suft're thesayde castell of
Dumbarre to be possessed of thenglishe nacion aboue the terme of. vi. monethes, that then
during thesaid vi. monethes, neither thenglishmen in the garison of Dumbarre, nor the
Scottes dwellyng and inhabityng, aboute the limites of thesame, shall do'any hurte, preiu-
dice or dammage to any of thesaide parties thesayde tertne contynuynge.
Item yf after thesayde. vi. monethes any variaunce or warre shall arise betwene thesaide vi.
twoo princes, either for the recouerynge or defendynge thesayde castell of Dumbarre, yet
thesayde truce league & amitie for all other rightes and possessions, shall stand "in force and
be effectuall and that it shalbe leful to cache of thesaid princes to do what they shall
thinke necessary, bothe for the obteinyng and defendyng of thesaid castelL of Dumbarre-,
any thynge conteyned in the treaty of peace notwithstandynge.
Item it is-concluded and'apointed betwene the parties aforsaid, that durynge thesaide viL
truce, none of bothe the princes- aforsaide, shall receaue into his realme, territories, or
dominions, any treytoure or rebel of theother prynce, nor shall maintayne, fauoure, aide
or comforte any rebell or treytour which is already fled, or herafter shall flye into either
of thesaid princes dominions, nor there suft're him or theim to' tarye or make their
abode.
Item yf any suche rebeiror treytoure shall fortune herafter to arryue in the realme or viii.-
territorie of any of thesayde princes, that then thesayde prince, in whose dominion thesaide
treytour or rebel i» so arryued, at £ instance & request of the other prince to whom J
offence and cryme was committed, shalbe bound: incontinently to delyuer thesaid rebel
or treytour to thesaide demaunder without fraude or male engyne.
Item that ah1 Scottyshmen now inhabityng in Englande, & sworne to the kyng of Eng- jr.
lande, shall & may there inhabite and 'tarye, so that their names within, xl. daies after the
date of this league be certified to the kyng of Seottesj or tO'his-Ghauncelour, by the kyng .of
Englad, or the warden of the marches.
Item yf duryng thesaide amitie and peace, it shall fortune any of the wardeyns of thesaid x.
princes without commaundement, assent or knowlege of his souereigne lord and master, to
inuade and reise an armye in the dominion of theother prince, and there to sley, burne or
spoile : y then thesaide prince, to whom thesaide wardeyu is or shalbe subiect & vassalle, shal
within, vi. daies next after the facte done & perpetrate, declare thesaide wardeyn a treytour
and rebell, and therof shal make certificate to the other prince to whom the iniurie was 'com--
milled within, xii. daies after thesaide declaration made and denounced.
Item that in euery saueconduycte to be graunted;by either of thesaid prynces, this clause x;,
to
400 THE. IIJ. YERE OF
to be added: Pronided ahvaies that the obteyner of this saueconduyte be no trey tour nor
rebell to his prince.
xii. Item yf during this amitie and truce, any of the subiectes of either prince do presume
or attempt to aide, help, nminteine or serue ani other prince againste any of thesaide con-
tractoures: Then yt shalbe leful toy prince and his subiectes against whom he shewed hyai
selfe enemy and aduersary to apprehende and attache thesaide aubiect, goynge, comyng or
taryeng, any acte, article or clause in this league to the contrary comprehended notwith-
standynge.
xiii. Item it is agreed apointcd and accorded that in this treatie and amitie shalbe compre-
hended the tVendes obliged and confederates of bothe the princes if they list to entre and
accepte the league, and thereupon to declare their pleasures within, vi. monethes next en-
suynge, and specially for the kyng of Englands part were named for confederates. The
kyng of Castell and Lyon, The kyng of Arragon, The kyng of Portyngall, The Archeduke
of Austrvche and Burgoyne and the duke of Britaine. On the part of the king of Scottes
were named for co federates, Charles ^the French kyng, Ihon kyng' of Deninarke and Nor-
\vey & the duke of 'Geldres and Britayne.
xiv. Itemitis agreed and concluded betwene the parties aforsaide that the lordship of Lome
in the realms of Scotland, nor the Hand of Londay liynge in the ryuer of Seuerne in the
realme of Englande, shal not be taken nor comprised within this league, but to stand aj^
laro;e as they did before.
xv. Item that this concorde, peace and amitie shalbe published, proclaymed, and deu r'n
the first day of October next ensuynge in the moost notable and famous cities and tounes
of both theRealmes & regions. And conseruators were apoynted for the sure obseruado
of this league and amitie on both partes, whose names folowe.
For the kynge of England.
Then erle of Lyncolne Sir Richard Ratcliffe
Henry erle of Northumberland Sir Ihon Conyers
Raufe lord Neuell Sir Edmond Hastynges
Raufe lord Greystocke Sir Robert Donstable
Richard lorde Fitz Hugh Sir Hugh Hastynges
Ihon lord Scrope Sir William Euers
Thomas lord Scrope of Massam Sir Ihon Huldeston
Sir Christopher Moresby William Musgraue, esquier
William Clapton, esquier Richard Salkeld, esquier.
Homfrey lord Daker
For the kyng of Scottes.
Dauid earle of Crafford and lorde lynsey
George Karle of Huntley, lorde Gorden and Badzenath.
Ihon lorde Dornely Sir Robert Hamilto of fingalto
Ihon lorde Kynedy Sir Willia Baize of Lamyngto
Roberte lorde Lile Sir Ihon Kynedy of Blarqhon
Patricke lorde Hales Sir Ihon Wemes
Lawrence lorde Oliphaunt Sir 'William Rochewen
Wiljam lorde Borthwike Edward Crochton of kirke paty
Sir Ihon Rosse of Halkehed Ihon Dundas
Sir Gilbert Ihonson of Elphynston Ihon Rosse of Montgrenane
Sir Ihon Lundy these, iii. last were esquyers.
Sir lames Ogilly of Arly
xvi. Item it is farther condiscended and agreed that these commissioners whose names ensue
shal mete at Lovighmabastane the. xviii. day of Nouember next ensuynge aswell for redresse
to
i
!'v. jfc/
KYNG RICHARD THE. IIJ. 401
* • . \ .
to be had ofcertayne offences done on the westmerches as also for declaryng and publishynge
of the peace and arnilie.
r' i . x" . ' •
Commissioners of the En- Commissioners for the
glishe parte. Scottishe part
The lorde Dacre The lorde Kenedy
The lorde Fitz Hugh The lorde Mountgomery
Sir Richard Radclyffe The lorde lile
Sir Christopher Moresby Ihon Maxwell stuarde of Annerdale
Sir Richard Salkeld Robert Crechton of sancquhane
or thre of theim. or thre of theim.
Item like commissioners were assigned to mete at Roydon borne for the East marches the xvh,
firste day of December and also mete at haldanestanke the. iiii. daie of the sayde moneth
for the middle marches.
Commissioners for the kyng • Commissioners for the kyng
of Englande. of Scottes.
Theerle of Northumberlande The eric of Huntley
The lorde Greystorcke The erle of Angus
The lord Scrope of Massatn The erle of Ergile
Sir William Gastoyn Chaunceller of Scotland
Sir Robert Conestable The lorde wandale
The lorde Seton
The lorde Olyphaunt
The lorde Stobhill
Item it is agreed that £ commissioners aforsaid shall depute and assigne certeyne persones xviii.
to viewe and declare the boundes and lymites apperteignyng to the toune of Berwike accord-
ing to the true meanyng of the league.
Item it is agreed and apoynted that no person of England or Scotland shal duryng the xix,
said truce, build, eareor sowe any landes or groSd beynge within the bouudes of the batable
ground, but to suffre thesame to continue in the same condicion that it nowe remayneth.
When this league and amitie was thus concluded, finished and sealed with all dewe cir-
cumstaunces thereunto required. Although kynge Richard iudged and demed hym selfe
somewhat the more stronger and quyeter by force of this newe amitie and concluded confe-
deracie, yet toaugmente more the familiarite begonne betwene the king of Scottes and him,
and to haue a double strynge for his bowe, he entreated a new aliaunce and mariage to be
concluded betwene the prince of Rothsaye eldeste sonne to the kyng of Scottes, and lady
Anne de la poole daughter to Ihon duke of Suffolke and lady Anne suster to kyng Richarde,
whiche suster he so muche fauoured that he studyenge all the weies by the which he might
auaunce her offspringe and lignage, did not onely procure and seke meanes howe to make her
daughter a pryncesse, and consequently a Queue, but also after the death of his sonne, he
proclaymed Ihon erle of Lyncolne his nephew and her sonne, heyre apparaunt to 5' crowne
of England, dishenerityng kynge Edwardes daughters, whose brethren before you haue
heard he shamefully killed & murthered.
The kynge of Scottes hauynge nede of Frendes, but not so muche nede as kynge Richard
whiche was of necessite compelled to seke aiders and to entreteyne fautours, the one for
fauourynge of flatterers and base borne persones, and theother not onely for tyrannye and
vnnaturall homicide, but also for the vsurpacion of the crowne beynge of all the realme
detested and disdayned, gladly accepted and ioyousely concented to kynge Richardes deuyce
and coniunccion of amitie, perfightely remetnbrynge that eiuongest all bondes and obligacions
ot loue and amitie, that there is neither a surer nor a more perfighter locke, then the knote
of coniuncion in the sacrament of Matrimony, which was in the very begynnynge of the
3 F first
4ot THE IIJ. YERE OF
first age of man, ordeyned and instituted in the holy place of paradise terrestiall by God
hym selfe: by reason whereof, the propagacion and succession of the humane nature,
stablished vpon the sure seate of lawfull matrimony betwene princes, maye norishe peace,
Concorde and vnite, aswage and breake the furious rage of truculente Mars and terrible
battayle, and encreace loue, fauoure and familiarite. Wherfore thesayde prynces sente
their ambassadours and couucelours agaync to the toune of Nottyngham, where thesayde
manage was by .writinges and instruinentes couenauted, codiscended and agreed, and affi-
atiees made and taken by procters and deputies on bothe partes, and she ymediately called
pryncesse of Rothsay, xvbiche name she shortely loste by the shorle life of kynge Richarde
her louyng vncle. Here may well be noted the vunaturall loue and disordered affection,
whiche this kynde kynscman shewed to his blood : For he not remembryng the tyranny that
he had executed against his brothers sonnes, the wrong and manifest iniury that he had done
to his brothers daughters, both in taking from them their dignyte, possessions and lyuynge,
thoughte it shoulde redonnde greatly to his honoure and fame, yf he promoted his sustera
chylde (to whom he was nothynge bounde in conscience to make restitucion) to the dignyte
of a Queue, rather then to preferre his brothers daughter whom he had vntruely and by-
force dishenerited, and of all their righte depryued, to the mariage of a meane esquyer:
suche was his fraternall kyndenes towarde his brother, and suche was his laa-ge conscience
towardes his brothers chyldren.
After this league and mariage thus concluded and agreed, the king of Seottes disdeignynge
that the stronge casteil of Dumbarre should remayne in thenglish mennes handes and pos-
session* wrote a gentle letter to kyng Richard, declaryng to hym that where in the league
concluded betwene theim, it was agreed and appoyncted that he should within, xl. dayes
nexte ensuynge, expresse and declare his opynion and meanynge concernynge the casteil of
Dumbarre, whether the saycle casteil should be occupyed and stand still in the handes of
thenglishtunen durynge the whole tyme of the truce, or elles for the terme of sixe monethes
onely. He nowe certeiyed kynge Rycharde by hisletters, that he was contente that he and his
shoulde enioye the possessyon of the sayde casteil quyetely and peaceably durynge thesayde
truce and amitie. Neuerthclesse he requyred him for the loue and familiarite that now
bothe by treatie and alyaunce was spronge and knyt betxvene theim, that he woulde redelyuer
thesayde casteil into his handes, whiche was vntruely possessed of thenglishe nacion by de-
lyuerye of rebelles and treytours, contrarie to all righte, equitie, and conscience. Kynge
Richarde dalyed with pleasaunte letters and fayre woordes, and so foded foorth the kynge of
Scoites, that he neuer had Dumbarre delyuered while kynge Richard lyued, after whose
deathe, whether it were by treason or by apoyntemente, the casteil wasrendred to the kynge
of Seottes to his greate contentacion and reioysyng. Albeit this league & amitie thus coue-
naunted and concluded, it tnighte manifestely seme to all persons, that all coniuracions and
confederacies agaynst kynge Richard were extinct and put scylence, and in especial consi-
derynge that y duke of Buckingham and his alyes were made out of his waye, some by
death, and some by banyshment and exilynge into farre countreies & regions. Yet kyng
Richard more doubtyng thentrustyng to his own people and frendes was continually vexed,
tossed and vnquyeted with feare of the retourne of the erle of Ilichemond and his complices
& f'autours, which dailye dread and hourely agony, caused him to lyue in dolefull misery,
euer vnquiet, & in maner incontinual calamitie. Wherfore he entendynge to be releued
and to haue all his dolorous imagination alleuyated, determyned clerely to extirpate and
p'ucke al ihe mater and grounde of his feare and doubles. Wherefore after long and deli-
berate consultation had, nothing was for his purpose and entente thought either more ne-
cessary or expedient then once agayne with price, praier and rewardes, to attempt $ duke
of Britaine in whose territoriey erle of Richemond then abode, to deliuer thesaide erle into
his hades, by whiche onely meanes he shoulde be discharged of all feare of perel, and
brought to rest and quietnes bothe of body & mind. Wherfore incontynent he sent certeine
ambassadoures to j duke of Britayne, which tooke vpon theim (beside the great and ample
1 rewardes
KYNG RICHARD THE. IIJ. 40f
rewardes y they brought with theim into Britayne) that kyng Richard should yerely paie &
aunswer the duke of all the reuenues, rentes and profiles, of the seignories, lades & posses-
sions aswel belonging and apperteigning to the erle of Richmod, as to any other noble or
gentleman whiche then were in the erles company, yf he after that time would kepe them in
continual prison and restrcine theim from libertie.
The Oratoures furnished with these and other instruccions, arriued in Britayne and came
to the dukes house, where with him they coulde haue no manner of communicacion con-
cernynge their weighlie affaires, by reason that he beyng fatigate and weakened by a longe
and daily infirmitie, beganne a lytle to waxe ydle and weake in his wyt and remembraunce.
For which cause Peter Landoyse his chiefe treasourer, a man both of pregnaunt \vit and
great au thorite, ruled and adiudged al thinges at his pleasure and commaundemet for the
which cause (as men set into high authorite be not best beloued) he excited and prouoked
against him the malice and euell will of y nobilite of Britayne, which afterward for diuerse
great offences by him durynge his authorite perpetrate and committed, by their meanes was
brought to death and collision. Thenglishe atnbassadoures moued their message and
request to Peter Landoyse and to him declared their masters commaundemente, in-
stantely requiringe, and humbly desirynge him (in whose power it lay to do all thing in
Britayne) that he woulcle frendely assent to the request of kyng Richard, offering to him the
same rewardes and landes, that they should haue offered to the duke.
This Peter whiche was no lesse disdeyned then hated almost of all the people of Britayne,
thought that yf he dyd assent and satisfie kyng Richardes petycion and desyre, he shoulde
be of powre and habilite sufficieute to withstamle and refell the malicious attemptes and
disdeynfull inuencions of his enuious aduersaries. Wherefore he feithefully prornysed to
accomplishe kyng Richardes request and desyre, so that he kepte promise with him, that
he might be liable to withstand y cancard malice of his secrete enemies. This acte that he
promised to do, was not for any grudge or malice that he bare to the earle of Richmond,
for as you haue heard before, he delyuered him from perell of deathe at saynct Malos when
he was in great double of life and ieopardie but as cause riseth we euer offende, andthat
cursed hungre of gold and execrable thirst of lucre, and inward feare of losse of aucthorite,
driueth the blynde myndes of couetous men arid ambieious persones to euillcs and mis-
chiics innumerable, not remembring losse of name, obloquy of the people, nor in con-
clusion the punishment of God for their merites and descries. But fortune was so fauor-
able to the publicke wealth of the reahne of England that this deadly and dolorous com-
pact tooke none effect or place. For while posies ranne, and letters were sent to and fro
for y finishing of this great enterprise betwene kyng Richard & Peter Landoyse, Ihon
Morton bishop of Ely soiornynge then in Flaunders, was of al tliis craflie coueighaunce
certified by his secret & sure freiles: whertbre he sent Christopher Vrswike (whiche at that
verie ceason was come out of Britayne into Flaumlers) to declare to the eric of Richmod
•howe al the deceipte & craftie working was conueighcd and compassed, geuyng him in charge
•to councell and acluise y erle in al hasl possible \V al his cdpany to retire out of Britayne
into France. When these newes were brought to the erle, he then kept house iir Vanues,
and incontinent dispatched agayne Christopher Vrswike to Charles the French king, re-
quyring him that he and his might saucly passe into Fran nee, whiche desyre, impetrated
and obteyned, ihe messenger shortly returned to his lordc aiid prince. The erle well per-
•ceauynge that it was expediente and necessarie withal spcde and diligence, to loke to this
weightie matter, calling very few to councell, he made exploration and searche of all
secret and by weyes and sent before all his noble men, as though for a certayne familiuritee
and kyndencs they should visile and comforte y duke, which then for recreacion and
chaunge of ayre, laie on the borders and toni'ynes of Fraunce. And sccretely he gaue
charge to the Earle of Pembrooke which was the leader and conductor of his compai guy, that
when they ap.procb.ed the marches and lymites of Britayne, they should dyuerte and take
the next way .into Fraunce. The noble men somewhat suspicious af thinges newely ima-
3 F 2 gencd,
404 THE. IIJ. YERE OF
gened, without any tariyng or by the iarney gasynge, scouring the weies as fast as there
horse would ronne, or as they conuenientely might beare & susteyne came out of the
duchy of Britayne into y duchy of Angeou in the dominion of Fraunce, where they ex-
spected the carles commynge, whicbe. ii. daies after departed oute of Vannes onely accom-
paignied with. v. seruytoures, as though he had gone secrctely to visile a familier frende of
his in a small village adioynynge. No man suspected that he woulde departe, considerynge
thatagreate multitude of Englishemen were lefte and contynued in the citee, but after that
£ he had passed directly fyue myles forward, he sodaynly turned into a solitarye wood nexte
adioynynge, where clothinge hym selfe in the symple cote of his poore seruaunte, made
and apoynted his saide mynister leader and Master of his small compaignye, and he as an
' humble page dyligently folowed and serued his countrefeate gouernoure, neuer restynge
nor theim selues refreshynge, excepte the baytyng of their horses, till they by wayes vn-
knowen, nowe this way, now turnynge that way, came to their company abidyng theim
in angiers.
The fourth day after the earle of Richemonde was thus departed, that craftie marr
chaunte Peter Landoyse, trustynge still after his praye j)romised by kyng Richard, was
ready to set forwarde his crew of souldyours, whiche he preuely had consigned with cer-
tayne trustye capiteyncs for that onely purpose appoynted and elected, to pertbrme & acheue
his pretensed entreprise, dissimulynge and feignynge theim to be conducted and hyred by
hym to serue the Earle of Richeinond, and hym to conduyte in his retourne towarde his
natiue countrey, meaning none other thynge but to apprehende him and the other noble
men in his rctynue, whiche no suche fraude suspectynge, nor yet any treason ymagenynge,
vnware and vnprouided and destitute of all aycle, and theim to cast and detrude sodaynly
into continual captiuite and bondage, to thetente that by this facinorous and naughlie acte,
he njighte satisfie the charitable request and louynge desyre of good kynge Richard, more
for his awne profite then kyng Richards gayne. But when this crafty dissymuler Peter
Landoyse, whiche was no Wylyer then an olde Foxe, perceaued that the earle was depart-
ed (thynkynge that to be trewe that he ymagened) lord howe currioures rane into euery
coaste, howe lighte horsemen galloped to euery streyt to folowe and deteyne him, yf by any
possibilite he coulde be subsecuted and ouertaken, and hym to incarcerate and brynge cap-
tyue into the citee of Vannes. The horsemen made suche diligence, and with such celerite
set forward their iorney, that nothing was more likely then thei to haue obteined, ye & seaz-
ed their pray. For the erle of Richmond was not entred into y realme of Fraunce scace
one hour, but y folowers came to the lymites and confines of Britayne, and durst auenture
no farther but veinely without their desyre sorofully retourned. At which season were left
at Vannes aboute the nombre of. iii. Englishmen, which not beynge called to councell and
vnware of this entreprice, but knowynge of the erles sodeyne departure were so inconti-
nently astouned, that in maner thei were al in dispayre both of him and their awne securite
and sauegarde. But fortune tourned her saile, & otherwyse yt happened then there feare
theim encombred. For the duke of Britayne nowe beyng somewhat recouered, was sore
displeased, and nothinge contented that the erle of Riehmonde was in his dominion so vn-
curteously traded and entreated, that he shoulde be by fraud and vntruthe compelled to
leaue and flye oute of his duchy and countrey contrary to his honoure. Wherfore he tooke
greate displeasure with Peter Landoyse his treasourer, to whom (although he knew not &
was ygnoraunte that all the drifte was dryuen and deuysed by hym) he laied the faut and
imputed the cryme. Wherfore he sent for Edward Wooduile, and Edward Pownynges va-
liaunte esquyers of England, and delyuered vnto theim n;oney sufficient for their conduyte,
wyllynge theim to conuey the rest of thenglishmen beynge in" Brytayne, to the earle of Ri-
chemondes presence. When the Earle was thus furnyshed & apoynted with his trusty com-
pany, and was escaped all y daugerous labirinthes and snares that were set for him, no
meruel though he were iocunde and glad of y prosperous successe that happened in his af-
faires. Wherefore, lest he should seme to be blotted with the note of ingratitude, he sent
dyuerse
KYNG RICHARD THE. IIJ. '.
dyuerse of his gentleme to the duke of Britaine, the which should publishe & declare to v.
him on the behalfe of the erle, that he and his, were onely by his betiente and fauoure con-
eerued and delyuered from the imminent daunger y they were like to be trapped in. Wher-
fore at that time he rendred to him his moost hartie thankes in woordes, trustyng & not
doubtyng but in tytne to come liberally to recopence him with actes & dedes.
After this, the erle tooke his iourney to Charles y French kyng, lyeng then at Langes
vpo the riuer of leyre, to whom after great thankes geuen for manifold gratuytes by him
to the erle shewed, he disclosed and manifested y cause & occasio of his accesse & repaire
to his person. After that he requyred of him helpe and succour, to thentente that by his
immortall benefite to him at that tyme shewed, he might sauely retourne to the nobilite of
his realme, of whome he was generally called to take vpon him the croune and scepter of
the realme, they so muche hated & abhorred the tyranny of kyng Richard. Kyng Charles
promised him aide and comfort, and bad him be of good courage and make good chere,
for he assured him that he would gladly shewe to him his beneuolent mynd and bountefull
liberalite. Which kyng from thence remoued to Moutargis, leadyng with him the erle of
Richemond, and all the noble personages of his retynue and faccion.
While the erle was thus attendaunte in the French court, Ihon Vere erle of Oxford
(which as you haue heard before was by king Edward kepte in prison within the castell
of hammes) so persuaded lames blount capitayne of thesame fortresse, and sir Ihon For-
tescewe porter of the toune of Caleys, that he him selfe was not onely dismissed and set
at tibertie, but they also abandonynge and leauynge their fruitefull offices, condiscended to
go with him into Fraunce to the Earle of Rychmonde and to take his parte. B.ut lames-
Bkrint like a wise capiteyne, because he lefte his wyfe remaynynge in the caetell before his
departure, he fattened thesame both with newe inuencions and newe souldyours. When
the Earle of Richemonde sawe the Erie of Oxforde, he was rauyshed with an incredibile
gladnes, that he beyng a man of so highe nobilite, of such knowlege and practise in feates
of warre, and so constant, trusty and assured (whiche alweie had studied for the mainte-
naunce and preferment of the house of Lancaster) was now by Gods prouision dely-
uered out of captiuite & imprisonmet, & in time so necessary & couenient come to his
aide, succour & auauncement, in whome more surer then any other he mighte put his trusle
£ confidence, and take lesse peyne and traua)le in his awne person. For it was not hid
fro hym that such as had euer take part w kyng Edward before this time, came to do hi ser-
uice either for malice y they bare to king Richard, or elles for feare to tyme vnder his tru-
culent rule and tempestious gouernaunce. But this man which so often tymes had per-
sonally fought in mortal battayle in the querell of kynge Henry the. vi. he Judged by deuyne
povvre and heauenly inspiracion to be delyuered out of captiuite £ emprisomnent for this
onely purpose, that he should haue a man of his awne faccion and schoole, to whorne he
might surely and faithfully communicate and credite all thinges as to his awne propre person,
and therforebeyngenflamed with an immortall ioye for the carles commynge he beganne tt>
haue a good hope of the happy successe of all his pretensed entreprises.
Not long after, the Frenche kyng retorned agayn to Paris, whome the erle of Rich-
mond folowed, entending there to solicite his matter to y conclusion. Whereupon he be-
sought king Charles to take vpon him y whole tuicyon and defence of him and his cause,
so that he and his compaigny beynge by his meanes ayded and comforted, shoulde confesse
& saye their wealth, victorye and auauncement to haue flowed and budded foorthe of his
bountyfalnes and liberalite, whiche they would God wyllyng shortely reacquyte. In the.
meane ceason diuerse Englishemen whiche either fled out of England for feare, or were at
Paris to learne and studie good litterature and verteous doctrine came voluntarely and sub-
mitted theim selues to the Earle of Rychemonde, and vowed and sware to take his parte.
Emongeste whome was Richarde Foxe a priest, a man of great wyt and no lesse learnynge,
whome the erle incontinent receaued into secret familiarite & in brief time erected &
4 anaunced
f
<*
*.**.•
406* THE. IIJ. YERE OF
auaunced him to high dignitees and promocions, and in conclusion he made him bishop of
Wyn Chester.
In the ineane ceason kyng Richard was crediblye aduertised what promyses and othes the
erle and his cdfederates had made and sworne together at Renes, and how by the erles
meanes all thenglishme were passed oute of Britayne into Fraunce. Wherfore beynge sore
dysmaied and in maner desperate, because his craftie cheuesaunce tooke none effect in Bry-
tayne ymagened and deuysed how to infringe and disturbe the erles purpose by another
meane, so that by the mariage of lady Elizabeth his nece he should pretende no clayme nor
tytle to the croune. For he thought if that mariage fayled, the erles chiefe combe had bene
clerly cut. And because that he beynge blynded with the ambitious desyre of rule before
this tyme, in obteynynge the kyngdome, had perpetrate and done many flagicious actes aad
detestable tyrannies, yet accordynge to the old prouerbe, let him take the bul that stale
away y calfe, he thought all factes by him committed in tyines passed to be but of small
moment and not to be regarded in comparison of that mischeuous ymaginacion whiche he
nowe newely beganne and attempted. There came into hys vngracious mynde a thinge
not onely detestable to be spoken of in the remembraunce of man, but much more cruel
and abhominable to be put in execucion^ For when he reuoiued in his wauerynge
mynde how greate a .founteyne of mischiefe towarde hym shoulde sprynge, yf the erle
of Richmond should be auaunced to the mariage of his nece, whiche thinge he hearde
saye by the rumour of the people that no small nombre of wyse and wittye personages en-
terprised to compasse £ brynge to conclusion. He c'.crely determined to reconcile to his
i'auoure his brothers wife quene .Elizabeth either by faire woordes or liberall promises, firme-
ly beleuynge her fauoure once obteined that she would not sticke to commite and lou-
yngly credite tohim the rule and gouernauncc both of her and her daughters, and so by that
meanes the erle of Richemonde of the affinite of his nece should be vtterly defrauded and
begujled. And yf no ingenyous remedyecoulde be otherwise inuented to saue the innume-
rable mischiefes whiche were cuen at hand and like to falle, yf it shoulde happen quene
Anne his wife to departe oute of this presente worlde, then he him selfe woulde rather take
,to wife his cousyn and nece the lady Elizabeth, then for lack of that affinite the whole realme
should runne to ruyne, as who said, that yf he once fell from his estate and dignite, the
ruyne of the realme must nedes shortely ensue & folowe. Wherfore he sent to the quene
beynge in sanctuarye diuerse and often messengers, whiche firste shoulde excuse and purge
-Mm of all thinges before againste her attempted or procured, and after should so largely
promes promocions innumerable and benefites, not onely to her but also to her sonne lord
Thomas Marques Dorcctt, :that they should brynge her yf it were possible into some wan-
hope, or .as some men saie into a fooles paradise. The messengers beynge men botlie of wit
and granitic so persuaded the quene with great & pregnaunte reasons, then with fay re &
large promises, -that she began somewhat to relent & to gene to theim no defle eare, in so-
muche that she faithfully promised to submyt £ yelde her selfe fully and frankely to the
kynges will and pleasure. And so she putting in obliuion ilie murtner of her innocente
(Children, the infymy and dishonoure spoken by the kynge her iuisbande, the lyuynge in
.auoutrje-leyed tolier charge, the bastardyng of her daughters, forgettvng also "y feithfull
,promes£ open othe made to the countesse of Richmond mother to | erle Henry, blynded
;by auaricious affeccion and seduced by flatterynge -worries, first .dcliuered into kyng Richards
sfiades.'faer. v. daughters as Lambes once agayne committed to the custody of the rauenous
wohe. After she sente letters to the Marque's her sonne beynge then at Parys with the earle
«ef Rtchmonde, w illynge him in any wise to leaue the earle and without .delaie to repaire into
.hngland where, for .him were prouided great honoures and honorable promocions, asser-
iteignynge him ferther, that all offences on bothe parties were forgotten and forgeuen, and
bothe he and she highely incorporate in the kynges hearte. Surely tiie inconstancie of this
,woman were muche to be merueled at, yf all women had bene founde coustante, but let men
speake, yet weq.en of the verie bonde of nature will folowe their awne kynde. After that
iynge
.
KYNG RICHARD THE. IIJ. 40?
Jtynge Rycharde had thus with glorious promyses and flatterynge woordes pleased and ap-
peased the mutable mynde of quene Elyzabeth which knewe nothing lesse then that he moost
entended,, he caused all his brothers daughters to be conueighed into his paleys with solempne
receauyng, as though with his newe familier and louyng entreteinement they should forget,
and in their rnyndes obliterate the olde committed iniurie and late perpetrate tyrannye.
Nowe nothinge was contrariant and obstacle to his pernicious purpose, but that his mancion
was not voide of his wife, which thinge he in anywise adiudged necessary to be done. But
there was one thing that so muche feared and dragged him from commyitynge this abho-
minable mnrthcr, because as you haue hearcle before he began ne to countrefaycte the ymage
of a good and well disposed person, and therefore he was afeard least y sodeine and imma-
ture death of his wife .once openly knowen, he should lese the good and credible opinion
which the people had of him, without deserte conceaued and reported. But in conclu-
sion, euyll councell preuailed in a witt lately mynded to mischieie, and tourned from all
goodnes. So that his vngracious desyre ouercame his honest feare. And first to entre into
the gates of his ymagened entreprise, he absteyned bothe from the bed and companye of his
wife. After, he compleyned to dyuerse noble men of the realme, of the in fortunate sterilite
and barenneS' of his wife, because she brought foorth no fruyteand gencracion of her bodye.
And in especiall he accompted to Thomas Rotheram archebtihop of Yorke (whome lately
h&had delyuered oute of warde and captiuite) these irnpedymentes of his quene and dyiierse
other, thinkjng that he woulde enucleate and open to her all these thinges, trustynge the se-
quele herof to take his eft'ccte, that she herynge this grudge of her husband, and takyng
therefore an inwarde thought, woulde not longe lyue in this worlde. Of this the bishoppe
gathered (whiche well knewe the complexion and vsage of the kyng) that the quenes dayes
were short, and that he declared to certeine of his secrete frendes. After this he procured
a common rumour (but he woulde not haue the author knowen) to be published and spred
abroade emonge the common people that the quene was de.d, to thentent that she takyng some
coceipte of this straung fame, should fall into somesodayne sicknes or greuous maladye, &
to proue if afterward she should fortune by y or any other waies to lese her life, whyther y
people would impute her death to the thought or sicknes, or therof would laie y' blame to him.,
WhS y quene heard tell that so horrible a rumour of her death was sprong emongest the
comminaltie, she sore suspected and iuged y1 world to be almost at an ende with her, and in
that sorofull agony, she with lamentable countenaunce and sorofnll chere, repaired to the
presence of the kyng her husband, demaundynge of hym, what it should meane that he
had iudged her worthy to dye. The kyng aunswered her with fare woordes, and witli dissi-
tnulynge blandimentes and flatteryng. lesynges comforted her, biddynge her to be of good
comforte, for to his knowledge she should haue none other cause. But howsoeuer y it'-for-
tuned, either by inward thought awd pensyuenes of hearte, or by intoxicacion of'poyson
(which is affirmed to be most likely) within a few daies after, the quene departed" oute of
this transitorie lyt'e, and was with dewe solempnite buried in the churche of seint Peter at
Westminster. This is thesame Anne one of the (laughters of y erle of Warwyk, which as
you haue heard before at the request of lewes y French kyng, was maried to prince Edward
sonne to kyng Henry the vi.
The kyng thus (accordyngttf his long desire) losed out of the bodes of matrimony, beganne
to cast a foolyshe phantasie to Lady Elizabeth his nece, making much suite to haue her ioyned
with him in lawfull matrimony. Hut because all men, and the mayden her selfe moost of all,
detested and abhorred this vnlawfull and in iiianer vmmturall copulacion, he determined to
prolonge and deferrethe matter till he were in a more quietnes. For all that yerie ceason he
was oppressed with great weightie and vrgent causes and busynesses on euery side consider-
ynge that dailye parte of the nobilite sailed into Fraunce to the erle of Richmond: Other
preuely fauoured £ aided certeine of the coniuracion, soy of his shorte ende, fewe or none
were in double. And y" common people for the moost part were brought to such desperado,
j> many of theim had rather be reputed & taken of him in the nobre of his enemies, then to
abide
403 THE. 1IJ. YERE OF
abide the chaunce and hazard to haue their goodes taken as a spoile of victorie by his ene-
mies. Emongest the noble men whome he moost mystrusted, these were the principall,
Thomas lorde Stanley, Sir William Stanley his brother, Gylbert Talbot and. vi. hundred
other, of whose purposes although kyng Richard were ignoraunt, yet he gaue nether con-
fidence nor credence to any one oftheim, and least of all to the Lord Stanley, because he
was ioyned in matrimony with the lady Margarete mother to the erle of Richmond, as after-
ward apparaunlly, ye maie perceaue. For when .the sayde lorde Stanley woulde haue de-
parted into hiscountrey to visile his familie, and to recreate and refreshe his spirites (as he
openly sayde) but the truth was to thentent to be in a perfight readines to receaue the erle of
Kichuiod at his first arriuall in Englad: the kyng in no wise woulde suffre hymtodeparte be-
fore that he had left as an hostage in thecourte George Stanley lorde straung his first begot-
' ten sonne and heire. While kynge Richard was thus troubled and vexed with ymaginacions
of the turaulteous time that was like to come : Loo, euen sodeinly he herde newes that fyer
was sprong oute of the smoke, and the warre recently begonne, and that the castell of
hamoies was deliuered into the handes of the earle of Rychemonde by the meanes of the
earle of Oxenforde, and that not only he but also lames Blount capiteineof the castel, were
fled into Fraunce to aide the Earle Henry. Wherfore he thynkynge it great pollicie to with-
stand the fyrst brunt, sent the moost part of the garrison of Caleis to recouer again by force
the, castell of Hammes. They which were in the castell perceauing their aduersaries to ap-
proche, prepared municions and engins for their defence, and sent also to the Earle of
Richemonde, to aduertise hym of their sodeine obsession, requirynge hym of hasty ayde and
spedy succoure. The erle slepynge not this first begonne assaute, sent the earle of Oxen-
forde with an elected company ofsouldioures to reise the siege & reskewe the castel: Which
At their first arryuynge pitched their campe not farre from their enemies. And while kyng
Rychardes men gaue vigilaunt iye, weytynge least the Earle of Oxforde shoulde take any
aduauntage of theim that laie on that side of the Castell. Thomas Brandon with. xxx. ap-
;proued men of warre by a marishe whiche laie on the other syde entred into the castell.
The souldioures within greately animated and muche comforted by this newe succour and
aide, greued thenemies by shotyng fro y walles more then they were accustomed to do. And
they of the Castell vexed their enemies on the foreparte: the Earle of Oxenforde no lesse
molested and vnquieted theim on theother parte, whiche was the occasion that kyng Richardes
men offred of their awne mere mocion licence to all beynge within the Castel to departe in
sauetie withbagge and baggage nothinge excepted: whiche condicion the earle of Oxenforde
commynge only for that purpose to deliuer his louynge frendes oute of all perell and daunger,
fc chiefelyofall, hisoldehostesselaneBlount'wifeto lames Blount the capteine, would in no wise
repudiate or refuse. And so leauynge the Castell bare and vngarnysshed bothe of vitaile and ar-
tillary, came safe to the erle of Richmond soiournynginParys. Duryng this tyme, kyngeRichard
was credebly informed of his explorators&espiallesy y erle of Richmond was wlongesuyte in the
courte of Fraunce sore fatigate & weried, it desyryng g.reate aide coulde obteine small releue. In
so muchy all thyng went so farre backward, that suche thinges as were with great .diligence
and no lesse deliberation purposed and determined to be set forward, were nowe dasshed
and ouerthrowen to the grounde. Kynge Richarde eyther beynge to light of credence, or
seduced and deluded by hys craftie taletellers, greatly reioysed as though he had obteyned
-the ouerhand of his enemyes with triumph and victorie, and thought hymselfe neuer so
surely delyuered of all feare and dreadfull ymaginacions, so that he neded nowe no more
once for that cause eyther to wake or breake his golden slepe. Wherefore he called home
agaiae hk shippes of warre whiche he had apoynted to kepe the narowe sees, & dispatched al
such souldioures as he had deputed to kepe certeine garrisons & to stoppe certeine passages
as you haue heard before. Yet least he might for lacke of prouisyon be sodainly trapped,
he streightly charged and gaue in commaundemct to all noble men & in espeeiall suche as in-
habited nere to the sea eoaste and on the frontiers of wales, that accordyng to the vsage of
Jhecountrey, they should kepe diligent wateUe & stronge warde, to y entent y hie aduersaries
in
KYNG RICHARD THE. IIJ. 409
in no wise should haue any place apte or oportune easely to take lande withoute defence or
rebuttynge back. For the custorne of the countreys adioynyng nere to y see is (especially in
the tyme of war) on euery hill or high place to erect a bekon w a greate Interne in the toppe,
which male be sene and discerned a great space of. And when the noyes is once bruted
that the enemies approche nere y land, they sodeinly put fyer in the lanthornes and make
showtes & outrages fro toune to toune and from village to village. Some ronne in post
fro place to place admonisbyng the people to be ready to resist the jeopardy, and defende
the perell. And by this pollecy y fame is sone blowen to euery citee & toune, in somuche
that as well the cytezens as the rural people be in. short space assembled and armed to refell
and put back the newe arryued enemies.
Nowe to retourne to our purpose, kynge Richarde thus alleuiate of his accjistoned pen-
siuenes, began ne to be somewhat more merier & toke le.sse thought & care for outwarde ene-
mies then he was woont to do, as who saie, that he with polletique prouision shoulde with-
stand thedesteny which hong ouer his bed, and was ordened in briefe tyme sodeinly to fall.
Suche is the force and puissaunee of deuyne iustice, that euery man shal lesse regarde, lesse
prouide, lesse be in double of al things, when he is moost nerest punishment, and next to
his mischaunce for his offences and crymes.
Aboute this ceason, while theerle of Richmonde wasdesirynge ayde of the Frenche kynge,
certeine noble men were there apointed to rule the realme of Fraunce durynge the minorite
of kyng Charles, which emongest theitn selfes were not of one opinion. Of whiche dissen-
cion, Lewes duke of Orlyaunce was the chiefe sturrer, which because he had raaryed lady
lohannesuster to the Frenche kynge, tooke vpon him aboue other the rule and adminjstraciort
of the wnolc realme. By reason of whyche controuersie, no one manne only was suffred to
rule al, wiierfore theerle of Rychemond was compelled to make suyte to euery one of the
councel seiierally one after another, requiring and desirynge theim of aide and releue in his
ivcightie busynes, and so his cause was prolonged and deterred. Durynge whiche time, Tho-
mas Marques Dorset which was as you haue heard entised by his mother to retorne againe
into Englful partely despayring in the good successe of the erle of Uichmod & partely onerate
and vanquesshed with the fa ire glosynge promises of kyng Richard: secretly in the night cea-
son stale oute of Parys, and with all diligent expedicion tooke his iourney toward Flaunders.
When relacio of his departure was made to the erle of Richmond & the other noble men, no
inaruell though they were astonnyed & greatly amased. Yety notwstadyng they requyred of
the Freeh kyng that it might be lei'ull to theim in his name and by hiscommaundement to take
and steye their cSpaignion, confederate, and partaker of all their councel, in what place
within his realme and territorye so euer they couhle fyndc hym. Which peticio once obteined,
thei sent oute curriers into euery parte emongest whome Ilomfrey.Cheiny pleiyug the parte of
a good blood hounde, foloed the tract of y flyer so Cuen by y sent, that he ouerto^ke and.ap-
prehecled hym not farre from Copeign & so what with reason & what Vv.faire promises bevnsj
persuaded, he retourned againe to his copaignions. The cade of Richmond vnburdened of
this misaaenture, least by procrastinacion of daiesft prolongyngof time he might lese y great
eportunitee of things to him otr'red and ministrcd: also least he shoulde farther wounde or
molest the myndes of his feithfull and assured frendes which daily did aspect & tarie for his
cotnyng, determined no longer to protract £ deferre y time, but with ail diligence & scclerite
to attempte his begonne entreprice and so ohteinyng of kyng Charles a small ere we of men,
and borowyng certeyn sommes of money of him & of diuerse other his pryuatc frendes.
For the whiche he left as debter or more likelyer as a pledge or hostage lord Thomas Marques
Dorsett (whome he halfe mistrusted) and Sir Ihon Burchier, he departed from y French
court & came to the citee of Roan. While he taryed there makyng prouisio at harilete in
the mouth of the ryuer of Seyne for all thinges necessary for his nauy and nauigacion, ty-
dynges were brought to hym that kynge Richard beynge wout children and now wydower, en-
tended shortely to mary with Lady Elizabeth his brothers daughter, and to preferre the ladye
Cicile her suster to a man foundein a cloude and of an vnknowen lignage and familie. He
3 G tooke
410 THE. I1J. YERE1 OF
tooke these newes as a matter of no small momente, and so all thynges considered, it was of
no lesse importaunce then he tooke it for. For this thyng only tooke aweie from all liis com-
paignions their hope and courage that they had to obteine an happie enterprice. And ther-
fore no maruell though it nypped hym at the verie stomacke when he thought that by no pos-
sibilite he might altayne the mariage of any of kynge Kdwardes daughters, which was the
\ Strongest foudacion of his buyldyng, by reason whereof he iudged that all his frendes in Eng-
land woulde abandon and shrynke from hym. Wherfore makynge not many of his councell,
after dyuerse consultacions he determined not yet to set fonvarde. but to tarye and attempte
ho we to get more ayde, more frendes and more stronger succoures. And cmongest all other,
it was thought moost expedient to allure by affinite in his ayde as a cornpaignion in arnics
-Sir Walter Herbert a man of an aunciente stocke and greate powre emongest the Welshemen,
whiche had \vyth hym a faire Ladye to his suster, of age mature and ripe to be coupled in
matrimonie. And for the acheuynge of this purpose, messengers were -sccretely sent to Henry
Earle of Northumbreland ( whiche had before maried another suster of Sir Walter Herbertes)
to thentent that he shoulde set forward all this deuyce and purpose, but the weies were so
narowly watched and so many spies laide that the messenger preceded not in. his iourney and
busynes. But in the meane ceason, ther came to the Earle a more ioyfuller message from
Morgan Kydwelly learned in the tetnporall lawe, whiche declared that Ityceap Thomas, a
man of no lesse valyauntnes then actyuitee, and Ihon Sauagean approued Captcyne, woulde
with all their powre be partakers of his quarell. And that Reignolde Ereye had collected
and gotten together no small some of money for the payment of the wages to the souldioures
and men of warre: admonisshynge him also to make quicke expedicion and to take his
course directly into Wales. The Earle of Richmonde because he woulde no lenger lynger,
and weery hys frendes lyuynge continually betweene hope and feare, determyned in all con-
ueniente hast to sett forwarde, and caried to his shippes armoure, weapons, vitayle and all
other ordinaunces expedient for warre. And shortely to speake, all thynges he prepared
whiche are wont to, be necessary and profitable to the variable chaunces and incerteine acci-
dentes and ieopardies of warre which requyreth preparacio of many instrurnetes and thinges
chargeable.
After that the erle had made his humble peticion, and deuoute praier to allmightie God,
besechynge him not only to sende him moost prosperous wynde and sure passage in his iour-
pey, but also effectebusly desyrynge his goodnes of aide & comforte in hisnecessite and vio
torie & supremitie ourr his enemies, only accompaignied with. ii. thousand menne and a
small nombre of shippes, weyed vp his ancresand halsed vp hissailes and in the calendes of
August lie sailed from harflet with so prosperous a wynde that the. vii. daye after his departure
he arryued inWales in thecuenyng at a porte called Mylford Ilauen, and in cotinet tooke
land and came to a place called Dalle, where he heard saye that a certeine company cf his
aduersaries were leyed in garrison to defende his arryuall all the last wynter. And the earle
at the sonne rysyng remoued to- harfford west, beyng distant from dalle not fully ten rayle,
where he was applauded and receaued of the people with greate ioye, and he arryued there
so sodeinly that he was come and entred-thc toune at the same tyme when the c/tezens had
but knowlege of his commynge. Here he heard newes whiche were as vntrue as they truly
were reported to hym in Normandie, that Rice ap Thomas and Ihon Sauage wythe body
and goodes were determined to aide kyng Richard. While he and his cornpaignie were
somewhat appalled of these newe tydynges, Ihere came such message from thinhabitauntes
of the toune of Pembroke y refresshed and reuyued their frosen heartes and daunted
courages. For Arnold Buttler a valiaunt capitain, which first askynge perdon for his
offences before tyme committed against the erle of Richmond, and that obteyned, declared
to hym that the penbrochians were ready to serue & geue their attendaunce on their natural
and immediate lord lasper erle of Penbrooke. The erle of Richmond hauyng his ariuie
thus encreased, departed from Herforde west to the toune of Cardygan beyng. v. myle
distant from thence. While the souldioures were refresshyng and trimmynge theira selues
in
KYNG RICHARD THE. ILL 41 1
in their campe, straunge tydynges spronge emonge Iheim woute any certe'me authour, %
sir Walter Herberd which laie w a greate crewe of menne at Carmarden, was nowe with
a greate arinye ready to approche and byd theim battaile. With which newes the armie
was sore troubled, and euery man assaied his armare and proued hys weapon and were
prest to defende their enemies. And as they were in this timerous doubte, ccrteine horse-
men which theerle had sent to make exploracion and searche, retourned and reported ail
the countrey to bee quiete and no let nor impedimente to be laied- or cast in their Journey.
And euen at that same tytne the whole annye was greately recomforted by reason that the
commynge of Rycharde Gryffyth, a man of greate nobiiite, the whiche notwythstandynge
that he was conferate wyth Sir Walter Harbert and Richarde app Thomas, yet at that
verie instant he came to the Earlc of Richemund with all his compaignie, whyche
were of no great nomber. After hym, the same daie came llion Morgan wylh his men.
Then the Earle auaunced forwarde in good haste, makyng no repose or abode in any one
place. And to thentent to passe forwarde with sure and short expedicion, he assauted euery
place where his ennemies had set any men of warre, whiche with small force and lessc difli-
ctiltie he briefly dyd expugne and vaaquishe. And sodeynly he was by his espialles asserteyned
that Sir Walter Harbert and Rice app Thomas were in harnes before hym ready to encountrc
wyth hys arinye and to stoppe their passage. Wherefore lyke a valyaunt capteyn he h'rste de-
termyned to sett on theim and eyther to destroye or to take theim into his faUotire, and after
with all his powre and puyssaunce to geue battaile to his morlall enemye kynge Richarde.
But to thentent his frendes shoulde knowe wyth what dexterite his attempted entreprice
proceded forwarde, he sente of his moost secrete and feithfull seruauntes with letters and
instruccions to the ladye Margarete his mother, to the Lorde Stanley and his brother, to
Talbote and to other his trustie frendes, declarynge to theim, that he succoured and holpeti
with the ayde and releue of his frendes entended to passe ouery ryuer of Seuerne at Shrews-
burye, and so to passe directely to the citee of London, requirynge theim as his especiall
truste and confidence was perplanted in the hope of their fidelite, that they would occurre
& mete hym by the wave with all diligent preparacion to thentent that he & thei at tyme
propice and place conuenient might communicate together the profundyte and depnes of all
his dubious and weightye busynes. Whe the messengers were disparcled with these com-
maundementes & admonicions, he marched forward toward Shrewsbury, and in his passynge
there met & saluted him Rice ap Thomas with a goodly bad of Welshmen wbicho makynge
an otheand promyse to the erle, submitted himself whole to his ordre and commaundement.
For theerle of Richemond. ii. daies before made to him promes y if he wouldesweare to take
his part and be obedient to hym he wouldemake hym chiefe goucraour of Wales, whiche parte
as lie feithfully promised and graunted, so after that he had obleyned and possessed the
real me and diademe, he liberally performed and accomplished the same. In the meane
tyinc, the messengers that were sent, diligently executed the thinges geuen to theim
in charge, and laden with rewardes of theim to whome thei were sent, retourned to hym
the same daye that he entred into Shrewsburic, and made relacion to hym that his frendes
avere ready in all poyntes to doo all thinges for him which either they ought or might do.
Tin; erle Hf-ry brought in good hope with his pleasaunt message continued foorth his entend-
ed iourney and came to a litle towne called Newportc and pitchynge his campe on a lylle hill
adioynynge, reposed hym selfe there that nyghte. In the euenynge, the same daie came
to hym sir George Talbott with the whole powre of the younge Earle of Shrewsburye then
beynge in wardc, whiche were accomptcd to the nombre of twoo thousande men. And thus
his powre iiicreasynge he arryued at the towne of Staftbrde and there pawsed. To whome
came Sir Wyllyam Stanley accompaignied with a fewe persones, and after that the Earle and
he had communed no longe tyme together, ho reuertcd to his souldioures which he had
congregate together to serue the Earle, whiche from thence departed to Lichefelde and laie
without the walles in his cump all the nyght. The nexte morenynge he entred into the towne,
and was with all honour lyke a prynce receaued. A daie or twoo before the lorde Stanley
3 G 2 hauynge
412 THE. IIJ. YERE OF
1 • x
bauyngein hysbandealmostefyue thousande men, lodged in thesamc towne, but herynge that
the Earle of Richemonde was marshynge thetherward, gaue to hym place, dislodgynge hyin
and hys and repaired to a towne called Adrestone, there abydynge the commyng of the
Earle, and this wilye foxe did this acte to aduoyde'all suspicion, beynge afraied least yf he
shoulde he sene openly to bee a fautoure or ayder to the Earle his sonne in lawe before the
daie of the battayll, that kynge Richarde whiche yet dyd not vtterly put in him diffidence
and rnystruste woulde put to some cruell deathehis sonne and heire apparaunt George Lorde
Straunge whome kynge Richarde as you haue heard before kept with hym as a pledge or hos-
tat*e to thentent that the lorde Stanley his father shoulde attempte nothing preiudiciall to hym.
'"kynge Rycharde at this ceason kepynge his howse in the Castell of Notyngham was in-
fourmed thai the Earle of Richemond with such bannysshed men as fled oute of Englande to
hvm were nowe arryued in Wales, and that all thynges necessarie to his enterprice were vn-
prouided, vnpurueyed and verie weake, nothynge mete to withstande the powre of suche as
the kyng had apoynted to resist him. This rumour so enflated his minde, that in maner
disdeignyng to here speke of so poore a compaignye, determined at the first to take lytle or
no reuarde to this so small a sparcle, declarynge the earle to be innocente, and vnwyse because
that he temerariously attempted suche a greate enterprice with so small and thynne a nombru
of Warlyke persones, and therefore he gaue a definityue sentence, that when he came to that
poynte that he shoulde be compelled to fight agaynst his will, he eyther shoulde be appre-
hended a lyue, or elles by all likelyhode he shoulde of necessite come to a shamefull con-
fusion, and that he trusted to be shortely done by Sir Walter Harbert and Rice ap Thomas,
whiche then ruled Wales with egall powre and lyke aucthoritee. But yet he reuoluynge and
castvnge in hys mynde that a small warre begonne and wynked at and not regarded, maye
tourne to a greate broyle and tumulteous trouble, and that yt was prudente pollecre not to
asperne and disrleyne the lytle small powre and weakenes of the ennemye, be it ncuer so
small, thought it necessarye to prouyde for after clappes that might happen, and chaunce.
Wherefore he sent to Ihon duke of Norfolke, Henry earle of Northumberlande, Thomas
Earle of Surrey and to other of hys especiall and trusty frendes of the nobilite, whyche he
iuclged muche move to preferre and esteme his wealthe and honoure then their awne riches
and priuate commodite, wyllynge theim to mustre and viewe all their seruauntes and te-
nentes, and to elect' and choose the moost courageous and actiue persones of tlie whole
nomber, and with theim to repaire to his presence with all spede and diligence. Also he
wrote to Robert Brakenbury Lieutenaunt of the towre, commaundynge hym with his powre
to come to his armye and to brynge with hym as felowes in armesSir Thomas Burchier and sir
Walter llungerforde and diuerse other knightes and esqtiiers in whome he had cast no small
suspicion. While he was thus ordrynge his affaires, tydynges came that the Earle of Riche-
mond was passed Seuerne and come to Shrewsbury without any cletrymente or encorn-
breaunce. At which message he was sore moued and broyled with Melancolve and doloure
and cried out, askynge vengeaunce of iheim that contrarye to their othe and promes had
fraudulently deceaued hym. For wbyclie cause he bcganne to haue diffidence in other, in
so muche that he determined hym sclfe oute of hande thesame daye to occurre and resyste
hys aduersaries, And in all haste sente oute explorators to viewe and espie what waie his
enemies kept and passed. They dilygentely doynge their dewtie, shortely after retourned,
declarynge to the kyng that the Earle was encamped at the toune of Lichfelde. When he
had perfighte knowledge where the Earle with his armye was soiournynge, he hauynge con-
tinuall repaire of his subiectes to hym, beganne in contynently withoute delaie to marshall
and collocate in order his battailes (lyke a valyaunt capteine and polletiqne leader) and
firste he made his battayles to set forward foure and foure in a ranke, marchynge towarde
that waie where his enemyes as was to him reported entended to passe. In the myddle parte
of the armye he appoynted the trafficke and cariage apperteignynge to the armye. Then he
(enuironed with his satellytes and yomen of the crowne) with a frownynge countenaunce
and truculente aspect mounted on a greate white courser, folowed with his footemen, the
wynges
KYNG RICHARD THE. IIJ. 413
wynges of horsemen coastynge and rangynge on euery syde: And kepyng this araye, he
\vith greate pompe entred the toune of Lecester after the sonne set. The Earle of Rych-
uioiuie reised his campe and departed from Lychefelde to the towne of Tomwoorth tberto
nere adioynynge, and in the myd waye passynge, there saluted hym Sir Walter Hungerforde
and Sir Thomas Burchier knightes and dynerse other whiche yelded and submitted theim
selfes to his pleasure. For they beynge aduertised that kynge Richarde had theim in suspi-
cion and gealosye, a lytle beyonde stony stratforde left and forsooke preuely their. Capteyne
Robert Brakenbury, and by nocturuall wandryng, and in maner by vnknowen pathes and
vncerleine waies searchyng, at the last came to the earle Henry. Diuerse other noble per-
sonages whiche inwardely hated, kynge Richard worsse then a toade or a serpent, lykewyse
resorted to him wyth all their powre and strength. There happened in this progression to
the Earle of Richmond a straunge chaunce worthy to be noted: for albeit that he was a man
of haute and valyaunte courage, and that his army encreased, and dayly more £ more he
waxed puysaunt & stronger, yet he was not a lytle afeard because he in no wise could be
assured of his father inlawe Thomas Lorde Stanley, whiche for feare of the distinction of
the Lorde straunge his sonne (as you- haue heard) as yet enclyned to neyther partie. For
yf he had gone to the Earle, and that notefied to kynge llychard, his sonne had shortely been
executed. Wherefore syth the earles feare sprange not of nothynge, he accompaignyed with
twenty lyght horsemen lyngered in his journey as a man disconsolate, musyng and ymagen-
ynge what was best to be done. And the more to aggrauate his melancoly pensyuenes, yt was ,
shewed hyrn that kynge Rycharde was at hand with a stronge powre and a populous armye.
Whyle he thus pensyue dragged behynde his hoost, the whole armye came before the toune
of Tomwoorth, and when he for the depe darcknes coulcle not perceaue the steppes of theim
that passed on before, and had wandred 'hether and thether, sekynge after his compaignie
and yet. not once hearyngc any noyse or whysperynge of theim, he dyuerted to a very lytle
village beynge aboute. iii. myles-from his armye, ta kynge greate thought and tnuche fearynge
least he should be espied, and so trapped by kynge Rychardes skoute watche. There he .
taried all nyght, not once auenturynge to aske or demaunde a question of any creature, he .
heynge no more amased wyth the ieopardye and perell that was passed, then wyth this pre-
fente chaunce, sore feared that it shoulde bee a prognosticacion or prodygall sygne of some
infortunate plague afterward to succede. As he was not merye beynge absent from hys com-
paignie, lykewyse his armie rnuche marueled and no lesse mourned for hys sodeyne and in-
tempestious absence.
The next morenynge early in the dawnynge.of the daye he retourned, and by the conduyte
of good fortune espied and came to his armie, excusynge hym selfe, not to haue gone oute
of hys waye by ignoraunce, but for a pollecie deuyscd for the nones he went from his campe
to receaue some glad message from certeyne of his preuy frendes and secret alies. This ex-
cuse made, he preuely departed agayn from his host to the toune of Aderstone, where the/.
lord Stanley and sir William his-brother with their bandes were abidynge. There the Earle
came lirste to his fatherinlawe in a lytle close, where he saluted hym and Sir William his.
brother, and after diuerse congratulations and -many frendely embracynges, cache reioysed
of the state of other, and sodeinly were surprised with great ioye, comfort and hope of
fortunate successe in ail the;r affaires and doynges. Afterward they consulted together liowe.
to geue battaiie to kynge Richarde if he woulde abide, whome they knewe not to be farre of
with an iiouge army. In the euenynge of thesame daye sir Ihon Sauage, Sir Bryan San-
forde, Sir Symon Digby and many other, leuyng kyng Richarde, turned and came to the
pane of the erle of Richmond with an elect company of men. Whiche refusall of kyng
Richardes parte by men of suche experience, did augment and cncreaee bothe the good hope,
and the puissaunce of the erle of Richmond.
In the mean ceason kyng Richard (whiche was appoynted nowe.to finyshe his lastlaboure
by the very deuyne Justice and prouidence of God, which called him to condigne punyshe-
mcntefor his scelerate merites and myscheueous desertes) marshed to a place mete for twoo..
battayles
THE. IIJ. YERE OF
battay!e~ to encoyntre by a village called Bosworth, not fair? from Leycester, and there he
pitched i;:s felde, refreshed bis souldioures and toke his rest. The fame went that he had the
ngRUsame-nighf, a dreadful & a terrible dreame, for it semed to hym beynge islej.u y he sa-.ve di-
,
-hard the. uerse yma.,,.:, lyke terrible deuelles vvhiche pulled and haled hym, not sufferynge hym to take
any quyet or rest. The whiche straunge vision not so sodeinly strake his heart with a so-
devne feare, but it stuffed his hed and troubled his naynde with many dreadfull and busy
Iina^i-iacions. For incontynent after, his heart beynge almost damped, he prognosticated
before the doubtfull chaunce of the battaile to come, not vsynge the alacrite and myrth of
mynde and of countenaunce as he was accustomed to do before he came toward the bat-
taile. And least that it might be suspected that he was abasshed for feare of his enemyes,
-and for that cause looked so piteously, he recyted and declared to hys i'amylyer frendes in
the morenynge hys wonderfull visyon and terrible dreame. But I thynke this was no dreame,
but a punccion and pricke of his synfull conscience, for the conscience is so muche more
charged and aggrauate as the offence is greater & more heynous in degre, whiche prycke of
conscience ailHiough it strike not all waye, yet at the last daie of extreme life it is wont to
shewe and represent to vs our faultes and offences and the paynes and punishementes whicii
han<r ouer our heddes for the comyttyng of thesame, to thentent that at \ instant we for our
dcsertes being penitent £ repentant may be copelled lametyng & bewalyng our sinnes like
forsakers of this workle, iocund to departe out of this miserable life. Now to retorne againe
to ouic purpose, y next daie after, kyng Richard beyng furnished w men & all abilimetes of
warr, bringyng all his men out of there camp into y plaine, ordered his forward in a marueyl-
ous legth, in which he appointed both horsemen & footmen to thentet to emprynte in y
bartes^of the y loked a farre of, a sodeine terror & deadlie feare, for y great multitude of y
armed souldiours: & in the fore Frount he placed y archers like a strong fortified trench or
bulwarke : ouer this battaile was captain Ihon duke of Norfolke witli whom was Thomas
..erle of Surrey his sonne. After this log vatgard folowed king Richard hi self, w a strog
cdpaigny of chosen & approued me of warr, hauyng horsmen for wynges on both y sides of
his battail.
After y therle of Richmond was departed from y comunicacio of his frendes as you
hauc harde before, he began to be of a better stornake & of a more valiant courage, & w all
diligcs pitchid his feld iuste by y cap of his enemies, & there he lodged y night. In the
morning be time he caused his men to put on there arm u re & appareyl the selfes redy to
fight & gene battail, & sent to y lord Stanley (which was now come w his bade in a place
indifferently betwene both •',' armies) requiryng him w his me to approche nere to his army
& to help to set y souldiours in array, lie answered y therle should set his awne me in a good
order of baltaiie while he would array his copaigny, & come to him in time conuenient.
Which answere made otherwise then therle thought or would haue Judged, considering y
oportunite of tlie time & the waite ofy busines, & although he was there wall, a litle vexed,
begun somewhat lo hang y hedde, yet he wout any time delaiyng compelled by necessite,
after this ma ner instructed & ordred his men. He made his forward somewhat single and
slender, accordyng to y small nober of his people. In y Frount he placed the archers, of
whome he made captain Iho eile of Oxford : to the right wyng ofy battaill he appoynted, sir
Gylbert Talbott to be y leder: to y left wing he assigned sir Ihon Sauage, & he \V y aide of
y lord Staloy aceompaignied with therle of Penbroke hauyng a good compaignie of horsmea
and a small noniber of footmen: For all his hole ndber exceded not. v. thousaide men beside
the pow.r of the Stanleys, wherof. iij. thousande were in the felde vnder tlie sladard of sir
William Stanley: Tiie kynges notnber was doble as muche & more. When bothe these ar-
•mies were thus ordered & al men redy to set forward, ,kyng Richard called his .Cheuelains
•Th«oraci5 together & to the sayde. ]\Iost faithfull & assured felowcs, rnoste trusty ,& welbeloued frendes
'thf'" anc^ e'ectet^ captains, by whose wisedom & polecie, I haue obteyned the. crowne .& type uf
this famous realm & noble regio: by whose puissance & valiauntnes I haue enioied & pos-
sessed thestate.roial & diguite of y same, inaugreyyl w.il & setliciojis attemptcs of all my
cancartle
V
KYNG RICHARD THE. IIJ. 415
cancarde enemies & insidious aduersaries, by whose prudet & politikc cousaiil 1 liaue so go-
uerned my realm, people & subiectes, y I haue omitted nothing apperteinig to y office of a
iuste price, nor you haue prelermittted nothing belogyng to y duty of wise & sage coun-
sailers. So y I may saie & truely affirme, that your approued fidelite & tried constancy^,
maketh me to beleue firmelv & tliinke, y I am an vndoubted kyng Si an indubitate prince.
And although in y adepcion & obteinyng of y GaHade, I being seduced & prouoked by
sinister cousail and diabolical temptacio did commyta facynerous and detestable acte. Yet
I haue with strayte penaunce and salte terycs (as I trust) expiated and clerely purged the
same ofience, which abhominable crime I require you of frendsliip as clerely to forget, as I
dayly do remember to deplore and lament thesanie, yf you wil now diligently call to
reinembraunce in what case and perplexitie we no\ve stand, and in what doubtfull
perell we be now intricked? I doubt not but you in hart will tiiinke and with mouth con-
fesse, that yf euer atnitic and faythe preuailed betwene prince and subiectes or betwene sub-
iecte and subiecte:. or yf euer bond of allegians obliged the vassal to lone and seme his na-
ttirall souercignelorde, oryf any obligation of dewtie bound any prince to ayde and defcnde
his subiectes? All these loues, bondes and deuties of necessite are this daie to be experi-
mented, shewed and put in experiece. For if wyse men say trew, there is some pollycie in
gettyng, but much more in kepyng. The one beyng but fortunes chaunce, and the other
high wyt and pollicie, for whiche cause, I with you: and you with me, must nedes this daye
take labour and payne to kepe and defend with force, that preheminence & possession
which by your prudent deuises I haue gotten and obteyned. I dought not but you know,
howe the rfeuel continual! enemie to humane nature, disturber of concorde and sower of
sedicion, hath entered into the harteof an vnknowen Welshman, (whose father I neuer knew
nor hytn personally sawe) excitynge him to aspire and couet oure realme, crowne and dig-
nitie, and thereof clerely to depryue and spoyle vs and = our posterite: ye se farther how a
compaigne of traytors, thefes, outlawes and ronnegatcs of ourawne nacion be ayders & par-
takers of his feateand enterprise, redy at hand to ouercomme and oppresse vs: You se also,
what a nober of beggerly Britons & i'aynte harted Frenchmen be with hym arriued to distroy
vs our wyfes and children. Wiiich Imminent rnischifcs & a-pparaunt iricouenientes, if we
wil withstood & refel, we must Hue to getber like brethorn, right together like lids, & feare
not to dye together lykc men. And obseniyng and kepyng this rule and precept, beleue me,
the fearefull hare neuer tied faster before the gredy greyhoud, nor y sylye larke before f
sparow hauke, nor the symple shepe before the rauenous wolfe, then your proud bragging
aduersaries astoned Si amused with y only sight of your manly visages, will flee, ronne & skyr
out of the fclde. For yf yow consider and wisely ponder al things in your minde, you shall
perceyue that we hane manifesto causes, and apparent tokens of triumph and victorie. And
to begyn with the earle of Richmond Captaine of this rebellion, he is a Welsh mylkesoppe,
a mil of small courage and of lesse experience in marcyall acres and feates of warr. brought
vp by my brothers meanesand myne like a cnptiue in a close cage in the court of Fraunccs
duke of Britaine, and neuer saw arnaie, nor uas exercised in marcial affaires, by reason
whereof he neither can nor is able on his awne will or experience to girydeor rule an Iioste.
For in the wyt and pollccie of the capitaine. consisteth the chefe adeption of the victory
and ouerture of the enemyes. Secondarely fcare not and put a way all doubles, for when
y traitors & runagates of our realme, shall aee vs \V banner displaied come against them,
remebryng there oth promise & fidelitie made vnto vs, as to ther soucreigne lord & anoynt-
ed kyng, they shal be so pricked & stimulate in y botome of there scrupulous consciences
y they for very remorce & dread of fy diuine plage will either shamefully tlye, or humbly
submitte them selfes to our grace and marcie. And as for the Frenshtue & Brylons, there
valiiitnes ys suche, y our noble progenitors & your valiaunt paretes, haue them oftener va.-
quished & ouercome in one moneth, then they in y beginnyng imagened possible to copasse
& fynishe in a hole yere. What wil you make of the, braggers wout audacite, dronkards
\vout discrescion, rybaudes wout reason, cowardes wout resistyng & in conclusion y most
1 effeminate
416 THE. HJ. YERE OF
effeminate & lasciuious people, y cuer shewed them selfes in Frunt of battaile, ten tymes
.more coragious to fly & escape then ons to assaut y brest of our stronge & populous army.
Wherfore, consideryng al these auautages, expell out of your thoughts all doutes & avoide
out of your mindes alleare, & like valiaunt chapions auauce furth your standards, & assaye
whither your enemies can decide & trie y title of battaile by dent of swerde, auaunce (I say
a^aine) forward my captains, in whom lacketh neither pollicie wisdome nor puissaunce.
Enery one gyue but one suer stripe, & suerly ,y iorney is ours. What preuayleth a had full
to a hole realme: desiryng you for y loue y you beare to me, & y afteccion y you haue to
your natitie«nd naturall coutrey, & to y sauegard of your prince £ your self, y you wyil
this day take to you your aecustumed corage, & couragious spirites for y defence & saue-
.gferd of vs all. And as for me, I assure you, this day I wil triiiphe by glorious victorie,
or suffer death for immortal fame. For thei be maihmeed & out of y palice of fame dis-
graded, dieg wout renoune, which do not as much preferre & exalte y perpetual honor of
their natiue coutrey, as ther awne mortal &,transitorie life. Now sent George to borowe,
let vs set forward, & remeber well y I am he which shall \v high auaunceroeiii.es, rewards
& preferre y valiaunt & hardy chapions, & punishe and turmeut the shameful cowardes &
dreadfull dastardes. This exhortacion encouraged all such as fauoured him, but suche as
were present' more for dreade then loue, kissed the openly, whome they inwardely hated,
other swure outwardely to take part with suche, -whose death they secreteiy compassed and
.inwardly imagened, other promysed toinuade.the kynges enemies, whiche fled and fought
with fyrce courage against the kyng: other stode stil & Joked on, entcndynge to take part
\V the .victors and ouercouimers: So was his people to him vnsure and vnfaithfull at his
• ende, as-he was to his nephewes vntrevv and vnnaturall in his beginnyng.
When therle of Richmond knew by his ford ders that the king was so nere embattayled,
lie rode about his armye, from ranke to ranke, from wyng to wyng, geuyng comfortable
wordes to all men, and that finyshed (beyng armed at. all peces sauynge his helmet) mount-
ed on a lytell hyll so that all his people myghtse .and beholde hytn perfitly to there great re-
ioysyng: For he was a man of no great stature, but so formed and decorated with all gyftes
and lyniamentes of nature that he seined more an angelical creature then a terrestriall per-
•sonage, his coutenaunce and aspecte was cherefull and couragious, hisheare yelow lyke the
burnished golde, his eyes gray shynynge and quicke, prompte and ready in iuinswerynge,
but of suche sobrietie that it collide neuer be Judged vrhyther he were more dull then quicke
in speakynge (such was hys temperaunce.) And when he had ouer loked hys army ouer
euery syde, he.pawsed a while, and after with a lowde voyce and bolde spirite spake to his
compaignions these or lyke wordes folowyng.
If euer GOD gaue victorie to men fightynge in aiust quarell? or yf he euer ayded such
as Ina(^e warre for'tlie welthe and tuicion of ther awne naturall and nutritiue countrey? or
if he euer succoured themwhyche aduentured there lyues for the relefe of innocentes, sup-
.pressynge of malefactores and apparaunt offenders ? No doubt my felowes and frendes, but
he of hys bountefull goodnes wyll this daye sende vs triumphaunt victorye and a- lackey iour-
ney ouer our prowde enemyes, and arrogant aduersaries: for yf you remember and consi-
der the very cause of our iust quarell3you shall apparantlye perceyue the same to be trewe,
Godly, and vertuous. In the whiche I double not but GOD wyll rather ayde vs (ye and
fyght for vs) then se vs vanquished and profligate by suche as neyther feare hym nor his
lawes, .nor yet regarde Justice or honestie. Our cause is so iuste that no enterprice can be
of more vertue, bothe by the lawesdiuine and ciuile, for what can be a more honest, goodly
-.or Godly quarell then to fight agaynste a Capitayne, -beynge an homicide and murderer of
hys awne bloude and progenye? An extreme destroyer of hys nobylytie, and to hys and oure
countrey and the poore subiectes of the same, a deadly malle, a fyrye brande and a burden
vntollerable? besyde hym, consyder who be of his bande and compaignye, suche as by mur-
thcr and vntreuthe committed agaynste there awne kynne and lynage, ye agaynste theyr
Pry nee and souereygne JLorde haue disheryted me and you and wrongefully deteyne and
^ vsurpe
KYNG RICHARD THE. IIJ. 417
vsurpe ouer lawefull patrymonye and lyneall inherytaunce. For he that calleth hym selfe
kynge, kepcth from me the Crowne and regymente of this noble realme and countrey con-
trarye to all justice and equitie. Lykevvyse, hys mates and frendes occupie your landes,
cult downe your woddes and destroy your manners, letting your wifes and children range
a brode for their liuyng: which persones for ther penaunce and punishment I double not
but GOD of his goodnes will eyther deliuer into our handes as a great gayne and booty, or
cause them beinge greued and compuncted with the pricke of ther corrupt consciences cow-
ardely to flye and not abyde the battaill: besyde this I assure you that there be yonder iu
that great battaill, men brought thither for feare and not for loue, souldiours by force com-
pelled and not w goodwill assembled: persons which desyer rather the destruction then
saluacion of ther master apd captayn: And fynally a multitude: wherof the most part will
be our frendes and the lest part our enemies. P'or truely I dout vvhiche is greater the ma-
lice of the souldiours towarde there captain, or the feare of hym conceyued of his people:
for suerly this rule is infallible, that as il men daily couyte to destroy the good, so God ap-
poynteth the good to confounde the yll, and of all worldly goodes the greatest is, to sup-
presse tirauntes, and releue innocences, wherof the one is euer as muche hated asy other
is beloued. If this be true (as clerkes preche) who will spare younder tyraunt Richard
duke of Gloucester vntrewely callyng hym self kyng, considering that he hath violated, and
broken both the lawe of God & man, what yertue is in him which was the confusion of
hys brother and murtherer of his nephewes, what mercy is in him that slcythe hys trustie
frendes aswell as his extreme enemies: Who can haue confides in him which putteth diffi-
dens in all me. Yf you haue not redde, I haue hard of clerckes saie, yTarquyney proude
for the vice of the body lost the kyngdome of Rome, and the name of Tarquyne bannysh-
ed the Citee for eutr: yet was not his fault so detestable" as the facte of cruel Nero, which
slew his awne mother and opened her entrayles to be holde the place of his conception.
Behoh'e younder Ilicharde whiche is bothe Tarquine and Nero: Yea a tyraut more then
Nero, for he hath not only murdered his nephewe beyng his kyng and souereigne lord,
bastarded his noble brethern and defamed the wombe of his verteous and womanly mother,
but also cornpased all the meanes and vvaies y he coulde inuent how tostuprate and carnally
know his awne nece vnder the pretence of a cloked matrimony, whiche ludy I haue sworne
and promised to take to my make and wyfe as you all know and beleue. If this cause be
not iuste, and this quarel Godly, let God the geuer of vyctorie iudge and determine. We
haue (thankes be'geuen to Christ) escaped y secrete treasons in Brytaine, and auoyded the
subtyll snares of our fraudulet enemies there, passed the troublous sees in good and quiet
sauegarde, & with out resistence haue penetrate the ample region and large countrey of
Wales, and are now comme to the place which we so much dcsyred, for long we haue
sought the furious bore, and now we haue found him. Wherfore, let vs not feare to enter
in to the toyle where we may suerly sley hym, for God knoweth y we haue liued in the
vales of myserie, tossynge oure shippes in daungerous storrnes: let vs not now dread to
set vp onr &ailes in fayre wether hauyng with vs bothe hym and good fortune. If we had
cotne to conquer Wales and had acheued it, our praise had bene great, and our gayne
more: butyf we wyn this battaill, y hole riche realme of England with the lordes and ru-
lers of the same shall be cures, the profit shall be cures and the honour shall be oures.
Therfore labour for your gayne and swet for your right: while we were in Brytaine we had
small liuynges and lytle plentye of wealth or welfare, now is the time come to get abun-
daunce of riches and copie of profit which is the rewarde of your seruice and merite of
your payne. And this remeber with your selues, that before vs be our ennemies, and on
ether syde of vs be suche as I neither suerly trust, nor greatly beleue, backwarde we cannot
fly: So that here we stande like shepe in a folde circumcepted and copassed betwene our
enemies and our doubtful frendes. Therefore let all feare be set a syde and lyke sworne
brethern let vs ioyne in one, for this day shalbe thende of our trauayle and the gaine of
our labour eyther by honorable death or famous victory: And as 1 trust, the battaill shall
3 H not
418 THE. IIJ. YERE OF
not be so sowre as y profyt shalbe svvete. Remember y victorie is not gotten with the mul-
titude of men, but with the courages of hartes and valiauntnes of myndes. The smaller
that our nombre is, the more glorie is to vs yf we vanquishe, if we be ouercome, yet no
laude is to be attributed, to the victors, consyderyng that. x. men fought agaynst one: and
yf we dye so glorious a death in so good a quarell, nether fretyng tynne, nor cancard-
ing obliuid shal be able to obfuscate or race out of the boke of fame ether our names or
our Godly attempt. And this one thyng I assure you, that in so iuste and good a cause,
and so notable a quarell, you shall fynde me this daye, rather a dead canon vppon the
coold grounde, then a fre prisoner on a carpet in a laydes chamber. Let vs therfore fight
like inuincible gyantes, & set on our enemies like vntimerous Tigers & banish all feare like
raping lions. And now auauce forward trew men against traytors, pitifull persones against
murtherers, trew inheritors against vsurpers, y skorges of God against tirautes, display
my banner with a good courage, marche furth like strong & robustious champions, &
be<rvn y battaill like hardy conquerers, the battaill is at hande, & y victorie approcheth, &
vf we shamfully recule or cowardly flye, we and all our sequele be destroyd & dishonored"
for euer. This is y daie of gayne, & this is 5' time of losse, get this day victorie & be
coquerers, & lese this daies battail & be villains & therfore in y name of God & saict
George let euery ma coragiosly auauce forth his sUidard.
These cherefull wordes he sett forthe with suche gesture of his body and smiling coute-
naunce, as though all redye he had vanquyshed hys enemies and gotten the spoyle.
Thdattaiie j-je na(j scantly finyshed his saienge, but the one armye espyed the other, lord how
kingEU. hastely the souldioures buckled their healmes, how quikly the archers bent their bovves and
chnrd, and frusnecj thcire feathers, how redely y byllmen shoke there bylles and proued there staues,
the. vii. redv to approche & ioyne when the terrible trompet should sownde the bluddy blast to vic-
torie or death. Betwene both armies ther was a great marrysse which therle of Iliche-
niond left on his right hand, for this entent that it should be on that syde a defence for his
part, and in so dovng he had the sonne at his backe and in the faces of his enemies.
When kynge Richard saw the carles compaignie was passed the marresse, he commaunded
with al hast to sett vpon them, then the trompettes blew & the souldiours showted and the
kyngs archers couragiously let fly there arroues, the erles bowmc stode not still but paied
the home againe. The terrible shot ons passed, the armies ioyned, & came to hande strokes,
where nother swerde nor byll was spared, at whiche encounter the lord Stanley ioyned with
therle. The erle of Oxforde in the meane season feryng lest while his copaignie was fight-
yng, they should be compassed & circuuented w y multitude of his enemies, gaue comau-
demt't in euery ranke y no ma should be so hardy as go aboue. x. fote from y standard,
whiche comaundement ons knowen, they knit the selfes together, & ceased a littcl fro
fightyng : the aduersaries sodainly abashed at the matter and mystrustynge some fraude or
deceate, began also to pause and left strikyng, and not against the wylles of many whiche
had leucr had the kyng destroyed then saued, and therfore they fought very faintlye or stode
stil. Therle of Oxforde bringing all his bend together on the one part, set on his enne-
mies freshly, agayne, the aduersaries perceiuyng that, placed ther men slender and thyne
before and thicke and brode behynde, begynnynge againe hardely the battaill. While the
two forwardes thus mortallye fought, eche entendyng to vanquishe & conuince y other,
Kyng Richard was admonished by his explorators and espialles, y therle of Richmod ac-
compaignied with a small nomber of men of arnies was not farre of, & as he approched and
inarched toward him, he perh'tely knew his personage by certaine demonstracions & tokens
•whiche he had learned and knowen of other. And being inflamed with ire and vexed w
outragious malice, he put his spurres to his horse & rode out of the syde of y range of his
battaile, leuyng the auantgardes fightyng, & like a hungery lion ran with spere in rest to-
ward him. Therle of Richmonde perceyued wel the king furiusly commyng toward him,
and by cause the hole hope of his welth and purpose was to be determined by battaill, he
gladly preferred to encounlre with him body to body and man to man. Kyng Rychard
set
KYNG RICHARD THE. IIJ. 413
set on so sharpely at the first Brout y he ouerthrew therles standarde, and slew Sir William
Brandon his standarde bearer (whiche was father to sir Charles Brandon by kynge Hery y"
viii. created duke of Suffolke) and matched hand to hand w sir Ihon Cheinye, a man of
great force & strength which would haue resisted him, & the saied Ihon was by him man-
fully ouerthrowen, and so he making open passage by dent of swerde as he went forward,
therle of Richmond with stode his violence and kept him at the swerdes poincte without
auantage longer then his compaignions other thought or iudged, which beyng> almost in dis-
paire of victorie, were sodainly recomforted by Sir William Stanley, whiche came to suc-
cours with. iii. thousand tall men, at whiche very instant kynge Richardes men were dryuen
backe and fledde, and he him selfe manfully fyghtynge in the mydell of his enemies was
slayne and brought to his death as he worthelyhad deserued.
In the meane season therle of Oxforde with the aide of the Lord Stanley, after no long
fight disconfited the forward of king Rychard, whereof a greate nomber were slayne in the
chace and flight, but the greatest nomber whiche (compelled by feare of the kyng and not
of there mere voluntarie mocion) came to the feld, gnue neuer a stroke, and hauyng no
harme nor domage sanely departed, whiche came not thyther in hope to se the kynge pros-
per and preuaile, but to here that he shoulde be shamefully confounded and brought to
ruyne.
In this battaill died fewe aboue the nomber of a 'thousande persones : And of the nobilitie
were slayne Ihon Duke of Norfolke, whiche was warned by dy tiers to refrayne from the
felde, in so much that the nyghte before he shoulde set forwarde towarde the kynge, one
wrote on his gate.
lack of Norffolke be not to bolde
For Dykon thy master is bought and solde.
Yet all this notwithstandynge he regarded more his othe his honour and promyse made to
king Richard, lyke a gentleman and a faythefull subiecte to his prince absented not him
selfe from hys mayster, but as he faythefully lyued vnder hym, so he manfully dyed with
hym to hys greate fame and lawde. There were slayne besyde him Water lorde Ferrers of
Chartley, Sir Rychard Ratclyffe, and Robert Brakenburie Leutenaunt of the Tower and
not many gentlemen mo. Sir Willyam Catesbey learned in the lawes of the realme, and
one of the cheffe counsailers to the late king, with diuers other were. ii. daies after be-
hedded at Leycester. Amongest them that ran away were Sir Fraunces Vicount louell
and Humfrey Stafford and Thomas Stafford his brother which toke sanctuary in saynct
Ihones at Gloucester. Of captiues and prysoners there was a greate nomber, for after the
death of kynge Rycharde was knowen and publyshed, euery man in manner vnarmynge
hym selfe and castynge a waye his abilimentes of warre, mekely submitted them seltes
to the obeyssaunce and rule of therle of Richemond: of the whiche the more parte had
gladly so done in the beginnynge yf they myght haue conueniently escaped from kyng Ri-
chardes espialles, whiche hauynge as clere eyes as lynx and as open eares as Mydas raged
and serched in euery quarter. Amongest these was Henry the. iiii. erle of Northumber-
lande, whiche whither it was by the commaundement of kyng Rycharde puttynge diffidence
in him, or he dyd it for the loue & fauor that he bare vnto the Earle, stode still with a
greate compaignie & intermitted not in the battaill, whiche was incontinently receyued in to
fauour and made of the counsail. But Thomas Haward erle of Surrey whiche submitted
hym selfe ther, was not taken to grace by cause his father was cheffe cousailer & he greatly
familiar with kyng Richard, but comitted to the Tower of Londo, where he long remained
& in conclusion deliuered, & for his treuth and fidelity after promoted to high honors offices
& dignites. On therle of Richmods part were slaine scace one hundred persones, amongest
whome the pryncipall was Sir William Brandon his standard bearer.
This battaill was fought at Bosworth in Leycester shire the. xxii. daye of August in the
yere of our redempcion a. M. CCCC. Ixxxvi. the hole conflicte endured lyttell aboue two
howres. Kyng Richard as the fame went might haue escaped and gotten sauegarde by fli-
3 H 2 ynge.
••*.
420 THE. II J. YERE OF
ynge. For when they which were next about his person saw and perceyued at the first
ioyiiyng of the battaill the souldiours faintly and nothing couragiously to set on their ene-
mies, and not only that, but also that some wdrewe them selfes pryuely out of the prease
and departed. They began to suspect fraude and to smell treason, and not only exhorted
but determinatly aduysed hym to saue hym selfe by flyght : and when the losse of the bat-
tayle was imminent and apparante, they brought to hym a swyfte and a light horse to con-
uey hym away. He which was not ignorant of y grudge & yll will y the como people bare
toward him, casting awaye all hope of fortunate successe & happy chauce to come, an-
swered (as men saye) that on that daye he woulde make an end of all battailes or els ther
finish his lyfe. Suche a great audacitie & such a stowte stomake reigned in his body, for
suerly he knew y to be the day in the which it should be decided & determined whither he
should peaseably obteyne & enioye his kingdom duryng his life, or els vrterly for go & be
depryued of thesame, with which to much hardines he beyng ouercotne hastely closed his
helmett, and entered fiercely in to the hard battail, to thentent to obteine that day a quiet
reigne & regiment or els to finishe there his vnquiet life £ vnfortunate gouernauce. And
so this miser at y same Very poinct had like chaunce & fortune, as happeneth to suche whiche
in place of right Justice £ honesty folowyng ther sensuall appetite, loue, vse, and em-
brace, mischiefe, tiranny, and vnthriftines. Suerly these be examples of more vehemen-
cye then mans tonge can expresse, to feare and astune suche yuell persones as wil not lyue
one houre vacant fro doyng and exercisyng crueltie myschiefe or outragious liuyng.
When therle had thus obteigned victorie and slain his mortal enemie, he kneled doune
and rendred to almightie God his harty thakes w deuoute £ Godly orisons, besechyng his
goodnes to sende hym grace to auaunce & defende the catholike fayth & to mayntaine ius-
tice & cocorde amogest his subiectes & people, by God now to his gouernauce comitted &
assigned: Which praier finyshed, he replenyshed w incomperable gladnes, ascended vp to
the top of a littell mountaine, where he not only praysed & lawded his valiaunt souldiours,
but also gaue vnto theim his harty thankes, wpromyse of codigne recompence for their fide-
lite & valiaut factcs, willing £ commaundyng al the hurt & wouded persones to be cured,
and the dead carcases to be deliuered to y sepulture. Then y people reioysed & clapped
hades criyng vp to heauen, kyng Henry, kyng Henry. When the lord Stanley sawe the good;
will and gratuite of the people he toke the crowne of kynge Richard which was founde
amongest the spoyle in the felde, and set it on therles bed, as though he had byne elected
king by the voyce of the people as in auncient tymes past in diuers realmes it hath been ac-
customed, and this was the first signe and token of his good lucke and felicite. I must put
you here in rememhraunce how that kynge Richarde puttynge some diffidence in the lord
Stanley, which had w hym as an hostage, the lorde straunge his eldest sonne, which lord
Stanley as you hauc hearde before ioyned not at the firste with his sonne in lawes armye, for
feare that kynge Rycharde woulde haue slayne the Lorde Straunge his heyre. When kynge
Rychardc was come to Boswoorth, he sent a purseuaut to the lord Stanley, commaundyng
hym to auaunce forward with hys compaignie and to come to his presence, whiche thynge
yf he refused to do, he sware by Christes passion that he woulde stryke of his sonnes hedde
before he dined. The lorde Stanley aunswered the pursiuaunt that yf the kynge dyd so, he
had more sonnes a lyue, and as to come to hym he was not then so determined: when kynge
Richarde harde this aunswere he commauncled the lorde Straunge incontinent to be be-
hedded, whiche was at that very same season when both the armyes had sight eche of other.
The counsaillers of kyng Rychard pondering the time and the cause, knowynge also the
Lorde Slraunge to be iunocente of his fathers 'offence, perswaded the kynge that it was now
time to fight and not time to execucion, aduisynge him to kepe the Lorde Straunge as a
prisoner till the battayll were ended, and then at Leyser his pleasure might be accomplish-
ed. So as God woulde kynge Rycharde enfrynged hys holy othe, and the Lorde was deli-
uered to the kepers of the kynges tentes to be kept as a prisoner, whyche when the felde
was done and their master slayne and proclamation made to knowe were the childe was,
they
KYNG RICHARD THE. IIJ. 421
they submitted them selfes as prysoners to the Lord Straunge, and he gently receyued them
and brought them to the newe proclamed king, where of him and of his Father he was re-
ceyued with greate ioye and gladnes. After this the hole campe remoued with bagg and bag-
gage and thesame nyght in the euenyng kynge Henry with great Pompe came to the towne
of Leycester. Where aswell for the refreshynge of his people and souldioures as for pre-
parynge all thynges necessarie for hys Journey towarde London, he rested and reposed hym
selfe twoo dayes. In the meane season the deade corps of kynge Rycharde was as shame-
fully caryed lo the towne of Leycester as he gorgiously the daye before with pompe and
pryde departed owte of the same towne. For his bodye was naked and despoyled to the
skyne, and nothynge left aboue hym not so nmche as a clowte to couer hys pryue members,
and was trussed behynde a persiuaunt of armes called blaunche senglier or whyte bore, lyke
a hogge or a calfe, the hed and armes hangynge on the one syde of the horse, and the legges
on the other syde, and all by spryncled with myre and bloude, was brought to the gray
fryers church within the toune, and there laie lyke a miserable spectacle: but suerly consy-
deryng his mischeuous actes and Facinorous doynges, men may worthely wonder at such a
caytiue, and in the sayde church he was with no lesse funeral pompe, and solempnitie en-
terred, then he woulde to be done at the beryng of his innocent nephiwes whome he caused
cruellie to be murthered and vnnaturally to be quelled.
When his death was knowe, few lamented, & many reioysed, f proude braggyng white
bore (whiche was his badge) was violently rased and plucked doune from euery signe and
place where it myght be espied, so yll was his lyfe that men wished the memorie of hym to be
buried with his carren corps : He reigned, ii. yeres- ii. monethes and one daie.
As he was small and litle of stature so was he of body greately deformed, the one shoulder ^nofiTiT
higher then the other, his face small but his cotenaunce was cruel, and such, that a man at ]pchardy"f
the first aspect would Judge it to sauor and smel of malice, fraude, and deceite: when he'"1
stode musing he would byte and chaw besely his nether lippe, as who sayd, that his fyerce
nature in his cruell body alwaies chafed, slurred and was euer vnquiete: beside that, the
dagger thathe ware he would when he studied with his hand plucke vp and downe in the
shethe to the middes, neuer drawing it fully out, his wit was pregnaunt, quicke and redy,
wyly to fayneand apte to dissimule, he had a proud mynde and an arrogat stomacke, the
whiche accompaignied him to his death, whiche he rather desyrynge to suffer by dent of
swerde, then beynge forsaken and destitute of his vntrewe compaignions, woulde by coward
flight preserueand saue his vncertaine liffe: Whiche by malice, sickenes or condigne punish-
ment might chaunce shortly after to come to confusion.
Thus ended this prince his mortall life with infamie and dishonor, whiche neuer preferred
fame or honestie before ambicion tyranny and myschiefe. And yf he had continued still
Protectoure and suffered his nephewes to haue lyued and reigned, no doubt but the realme
had prospered and he muche praysed and beloued as he is nowe abhorred and vilipended,
but to God whiche knewe his interior cogitacions at the bower of his deathe I remitte the
punishment of his offences committed in his lyfe.
THE
423 T1IK FIRST YERE OF
f~
;V . THE POLITIQUE GOUERNAUNCE OF KYNG
HENRY THE. VII.
/CONSIDERING now that I haue sufficiently declared what mischief kyngRichard the third
\~J wrought with in this realme after y death of his noble brother kyng Edward the fourth:
and how the nobilite of his kyngdom maligned and conspired against him, and abandoned
and left him inmaner desolaie at the day of his most nede & tribulacio: Also how miserable
he ended his lyfe at y toune of Bosworth, and how vnreueretly he was enterred at y toune
of Leicestre which I doubt not but is sufficiently declared vnto you. And now only resteth
to shewe you what happened after his fall and confusion to him, that both vanquished £
depriued him from his princely powre & royall dignitie.
When kyng Henry had not only obteyned this triumphant battaile at the plain of Bos-
woorth against his malicious enemy kyng Richard, but also by the glorious victorie gatt the
diademe and possession of thestate royall and princely preheminence of this famous Empire
and renoumed kyngdome. He hauyng both the ingenious forcast of the subtyl serpent, and
also fearyng the burning fire like an infant that is a litle synged with a small flame: and far-
ther vigilantly forseyng & prudently prouidyng for doubles that might accidentally ensue:
deuysed, stadyed and compassed to extirpate and eradicate all interior sedicious £ appa,-
rant presumpcions whiche might moue any tumulteous route or sedicious coniuracion against
him within his realme in tyme to come. And to obsist the first likely mischiefe, he sent be-
fore his departure from Leycestre Sir Robert wylloghby knight to the rnaner of Sheryhutton
in the county of Yorke, for Edward plantagenet Erie of Warwike sonne and heire to
George duke of Clarece then beyng of the age of. xv. yeres, whom kyng Richard had kept
there as a prisoner durynge the tyme of his vsurped reigne. And surely y kyng was not
afeard without a cause, for he much mistrusted least by this youg man, some euill disposed
and enuious persones of his glory and auauncemet might inuent some new occasion of re-
nuyng of battaill against him, which beyng euen from his infancy with many encombrances
and troubles vexed £ endaungered, desired nothyng more hartely then nowe to lyue in quy-
etnes, peace and tranquilite. Sir Robert willoghby accordynge to hys commission receaued
of the conestable of the castle the Erie Edward, and him conueighed to London, where the
youngelynge borne to perpetuall calamitie was incontynent in the towre of London putt vn-
dre safe £ sure custody. There was beside him in thesame Castell of Sheryhutton the lady
Elizabeth eldest daughter to kyng Edward, whom kyng Richard foolyshly phantasiyng and
deuelyshly dotynge did entencle to mary as you before haue heard, but the damosell dyd not
alonly disagre and repudiate that matrimony, but abhorred and detested greatly his abho-
minable desyre. At whiche most importunate and detestable cocupiscence, thecomon peo-
ple of the realme so much grudged and maligned that they did not only attribute y faute &
cryme to the kyng, but much more culpate £ blame his preuy coucellers which did not dis-
sent, but consent to so pernicious a counsaill & so shamefull a conclusion: But God of his
only goodnes preserued ychriste mynde of that verteous £ immaculate virgin, & from their
flagicious & facinerous acte, did graciously protect and defende: The which lady not long
after accopanyed with a great nombre aswell of nobleme as honorable matrones was with
good spede conueighed to London and brought to her mother.
In the meane ceason the kyng remoued forward by iorneyes toward London, and euen as he
passed, the rusticall people on euery syde of the wayes assembled in great nombres £ with
6
great
KYNG HENRY THE. VII. 423
great ioye clapped their handes & showted, criyng, kyng Henry, kyng Henry. But ivhe he ap-
proched nere the cytie, the Mayre, the Senate & the magistrates ofthesame beyng all clothed
in violet, met him at Shordiche, & not only saluted and welcomed him with one voyce in ge-
nerall, but euery person perticulerly preased and aduauced him selfe, gladly to louche and
kysse that victorious handes whiche had ouercome so monstruous & cruell a tyraunt, geuyng
laudes & praysynges to almightye God, and rendryng immortall thankes to him, by whose
meane-& industry the comen wealth of the realme was preserued fro finall destruccion &
perpetual calamite, and the aucthores of y mischiefe sublated & plucked awaye. And with
great pompe & triumphe he roade througii the cytie to the cathedral churche of S. Paule wher
he otired his. iii. standardes. In the one was theymage of S. George, in the secod was a red
firye drag.5 beaten vpo white and grene sarcenet, y third was of yelowe tarterne, in thewhich
wjispeinted a done kowe. After his praiers saide & Te deum song, he departed to the bi-
shoppes palays & there soiourned a ceason, during whiche time, playes, pastymes & plea-
sures were shewed in euery parte of the cytie. And to thentent that their good mynd to-
ward God should not be put in obliuion, they caused general processios solemply to be cele-
brate to rendre and yelde to God their creator & redemer their liartye and humble thankes
whiche had deliuered them fro miserable captiuite & restored them to libertie and fredome.
I3esyde this, they that fauoured and loued the kyng were inwardly ioyons to se & perceaue
that their aduersaries and back t'rendes were all redy or like to be suppeditate & ouerthrowen.
When these solempnities & gratifications were done & passed : accordyng as other kynges
had been accustomed, he cogregated together the sage councelers of his realme, in which
coiisail like a prince of iust faith and true of promes, detesting all intestine & cyuel hustU •
lite, appointed a daye to ioyne in matrimony ylady Elizabeth heyre of the house of \orke,
with his noble personage heyre to y" lyne of Lancastre : whiche thyhg not onely reioysed and
comforted the hartes of the noble and gentlemen of the realme, but also gayned thefauour&
good myndes of all the comen people, much extollyng and praysyng the kynges constant ti-
delyte and his polletique deuyce, thinkyng surely that the daye was now come that the seede
of tumulteous faccions & the fountayne of ciuyle dissencion should be stopped, euacuate
and clerely extinguished.
After this he with great pompe was coueighed to Westmynster, and there the thirtye daye •
of Octobre was with all ceremonyes accustomed, enoyrited & crouned kyng by the whole as-
sent as well of the comons as of the nobilite, . & was named kyng Henry the. vij. of that
name, which was in the yere of our redempcion. M. cccc. Ixxxvi. Frederyke the. iii. then
beynge Emperouv of Almayne, Maximilian his sonne then beynge newely elected kyng of
Romanes, Charles the. viij. reignyng ouer the Frenche nacion, & lames the iij. rulyng the
realme of Scotland. Which kyngdorne he obteyned & enioyed as a thyng by .God elected.
& prouided, and by his especiall fauoure & gracious aspccte compassed and acheued. In
so tnuche that me comonly reporte that. vii. C. xcvii. yeres passed, it was by a heauenly
voyce reueled to Cadwalader last kyng of Brytons that his stocke and progeny should reigne
in this land and beare domynion agayn: Wherupo most men were persuaded in their awne
opinion that by this heauenly voyce he was prouided & ordeyned longe before to enioye
and obteine this kyngdom, whiche thing kyng Henry the. vi. did also she we before as-
you haue heard declared. Wherefore he beynge by right and iust tytle of temporal inhe-
ritaunce, & by prouision of deuyne purueyaiice thus crouned and proclaimed kyng: First
of all vsyng the antique example of the Athenienses, whiche is to perdon and put out of
memory all crymes and offences before tyme agaynst hym or his lawes perpetrated or co-
initted, he called his high court of parliainet at Westmynster the. vii. daye of Nouembre
for thestablishyng of all thinges aswell cocernyng the preseruacion and maintenance of his
royal person, as the admynistracion of justice and preferment of the conion wealth of this
realrneand dominion, in the which he caused to be proclaimed that all men were perdoned,
acquited & clerely discharged of all offences, peynes of death and execucions, and should
be restored to their landes and tnoueable goodes whiche woulde submit them selfes to his cle-
mency
424 THE. FIRST YERE OF
mency and by othe be obliged truly to serue and obeye hym as their souereigne lorde, & who
•woulde be obstinate £ refuse to returne to his parte, should be accepted and taken as a pub-
like enemy to hym and his countrey. By reason of which proclamacion, a great notnbre
that came out of diuerse sanctuaries and priuileged places obteyned grace, forgetting clerely
the diuersite of faccions £ voyce of partakyng. After thia he began to remembre his es-
peciall frendes £ fau tours, of whome some he auaunced to honoure £ dignite, £ some he
enriched with possessions £ goodes, euery ma according to his desert £ merite. And to
begynne, laspar his vncle Erie of Penbrooke, he created duke of Bedforde, Thomas lorde
Stanley he promoted to be erle of Darby, £ y lord Chandew of Briteme his especiall frende
he made erle of Bathe, Sir Gyles Dawbeney was made lorde Dawbeney, Sir Robert Wil-
loughby was made lord Brooke which be in their degree barons and peeres of the realme.
And Edward Stafford eldest son to Henry late duke of Buckingham, he restored to
his name dignitie and possessions, which kyng Richard did confiscate and attaynted.
Beside this in this parliamet was this notable acte assented to and concluded as foloweth.
" To the pleasure of almighty God, wealth, prosperite £ suretie of this real me of
England, and to the synguler comfort of all the kynges suhiectes of thesame, in aduoyd-
yng all ambiguyties £ questions: Be it ordeyned, established and enacted by this pre-
sent parliamente, that the inheritance of the croune of this realme of England and also
of Fraunce with all the preheminece and dignitie royall to thesame apperteignyng and
all other seigniories to the kyng belonging beyond the sea with the appurtenances therto
in any wyse dewe or apperteignyng, shall rest, remayne and abyde in the most royal person
of our nowe souereigne lorde kyng Henry the. vij. and in the heires of his body lawfully
comyng, perpetually with the grace of God so to endure, and in none other."
And beside this acte al attainders of this kyng, enacted by kyng Edward £ kyng Richard
•were adnichilated, and the record of thesame adjudged to be defaced £ put out of me-
mory, and al persons attainted for his cause £ occasion, were restored to their goodes, landes
£ possessions. And in coclusion, diuerse of the actes made in the tyme of kyng Edward
and kyng Richard were adnulled £ reuoked, £ other more expedient for the vtilitie of the
comen wealth were subrogated and concluded. When all thynges necessary were discretely
ordred and the parliament for the tyme dissolued, the kyng thought it not necessary to put
in obliuion his frendes and hostages beyng beyond the sea, wherfore with all diligent celeritie
he redemed the Marques Dorcet £ sir Ihon Bourchier whom he had lefte as pledges
•at Parys for money there before borowed. And sent also into Flaunders for Ihon Morton
•bishop of Ely.
These actes perfoimned, he established in his house a graue counsaill of wyse and pollitique
men, by whose Judgement, ordre £ determinacion the people might be gouerned accordyng
to justice and equitie, and that all causes might be finyshed and ended there, without grea't
bearyng or expence in long sute. And for hearyng £ decydynge these causes iustly and
speciely, he sware of his counsaill dyuerse noble and discrete persones, whiche for their px>l-
lecy, wit £ snguler granitic, were highly estemed and renoumed, whose names foloive, laspar
duke of Bedfoorde, Ihon erle of Oxford, Thomas Stanley erle of Darby, Iho hishop of
Ely, Sir Wyllyam Stanley lord Chamberleyn of his housholde, Sir Robert Willoughby, lord
Brooke, lord Stuard of his houshokl, Gyles lord Dawbeney, Ihon lord Dyn ham after made
tresorer of England, Sir Reignold Brey, Sir Ihon Cheiney, Sir Richard Guyldforde, Sir
Richard Tunstall, Sir Richard Egecombe, Sir Thomas Louell, Sir Edward Pownynges, Sir
-Ih5 Risley, with diuerse other wyse men, whiche as the tyme required he called to his coun-
•sayll and seruyce nowe one and nowe another.
Although by this eleccion of wyse and graue councellers all thinges semed to be brought
to a good £ perfight conclusion, yet there lacked a wrest to the harpeto set all the strynges
in a monacordeand tune which was the matrimony to be fineshed betwene the kynge and the
lady Elizabeth daughter to kyng Edward, which lyke a good prynce accordyng to his othe
and promes, he did both solen>pnise and cosummate in brief tyme after, that is to saye on
the
KYNG HENRY THE. VII. 43$
the xviij. dave of January. By reason of whiche manage peace was thought todiscende outc
of heaue into England, consideryng that the lynes of Lancastre & Yorke, being both
noble families equiualet in ryches, fame and honour, were now brought into one knot
and connexed together, of whose two bodyes one heyre might succede, which after their lyme
should peaceably rule and enioye the whole monarchy and realme of England.
These thynges thus passed, albeit that apparauntly all thynges seined to be reduced
to a good poynte and set in a sure steye: Kyng Henry beyng made wyse and expert wyth
troubles and myschiefes before past, remembred that it was wisedome to feare& prouidefor
the craftv wyles and lurkyng trappes of his secret enemyes, remembring all me for the moost
parte embrued £ exercysed in plantyng of dyuision and sowynge dissencion, can not lightely
leaue their pestiferous appetite & sedicious occupacion. Wherfore, for the sauegarde and
preseruacion of his awne body, he costitutecl & ordeyned a certayn nombre aswell of good
archers as of diuerse other persons being hardy, strong and of agilitie to geue dailye attend-
aunce on his person, whome he named Yomtn of his garde, which president men thought Thc firtt'
that he learned of the Frenche kyng when he was in France: For men remembre not any Yomenof
kyng of England before that tyme whiche vsed such a furniture of daily souldyoures. Yet0"6"*50*
forasmuche as to auoyde and eschewe all doubtfull daungers and perelles vnloked for, lytle
auayleth outward warre, except there be a surestaye, and a stedfast backstande at home, aswel
for the sauegard & securite, as for the good gouernauce of such as be left behynde: He ther-
fore sommoned agayne his great courte of parliament, wherto he would that there should be
elected the most prudent & grauous persons of euery countie, cytie, porteand borough, and
in especiall such as he in all his daungers, calamities, miseries and tumulteous affaires, vsed,
trusted and fauoured, as partakers, councelers, and compaignions both of his woo and
aduersitie, and also of his triumphe & glorious victory, whose myndes and studves he per-
fightly knewe to be fixed and set in the poletique regiment and prudent gouernauce of the
publique wealthe of his realme and dominion. Not forgettynge, but hauyng in fresh
memory that he for that cause principally was so sore desyred, and instantly ealled of the
Englishe nacion his naturall countreymen : Estemynge it as a chiefe and principall parte of
hys duetie to se his realme both adourned and dccored with good and proffitable lawesand
statutes, and also to florishe in verteous operacions and good and cynile maners, which
should be an occasion to cause all men to hope, that all thynge would continually amend,
from euvll to good, from good to bettre, and from bettre to the best. Tin's sure foundacion
kyng Henry layde at the beginning of his reigne, entending theron continually to buylde^
THE SECOND YERE.
In this same yere a newe kynde of sicknes came sodenly through the whole region cue
after the first entryng of the kyng into this Isle, which was so sore, so peynfull, & sharp
that the lyke was neuer harde of, to any manes remembrance before that tyme : For sodenly The
a dedly & burnyng sweate inuaded their bodyes & vexed their blond with a most ardet heat ynss
infested the stomack & the head greuously : by the tormentyng and vexacion of which sick-
nes, men were so sore handled £ so painfully pangued that it' they were layed in their bed
beyng not liable to suffre the importunate heat, they cast away the shetes & all the clothes
liyng on the bed. If they were in their apparell and vestures, they would put of all their
garmtrtes euen to their shirtes. Other were so drye that they d ran ke the colde water to
quenche their importune heate & insaciable thirst. Other that could or at the least wouldet
abyde the heate & styntche (for in dede the sweate had a great and a strong sauoure) caused
clothes to be layed vpon theim asmuch as they coulde beare, to dryuc oute the sweate if it
might be. All in maner assone as the sweate toke them, or within a short space after, yelded,
vp their ghost. So that of all them that sickened ther tvas not one emongest an hundrelh
that escaped : in somuche, that beside the great nombre which deceased within the cvtie
of London, two Mayres successiuely dyed of the same desease within, viij. daies and." vi.
3 I Aldermen
THE. II. YERE OF
Aldermen. And when any person had fully and completely sweat, xxiiij. hourea (for so
did the strength of this plague hold them) he should be then cierely delyuered of his dis-
ease : Yet not so cleane ryd of yt, but that he might shortly relaps and fall agayn into the-
same euyll pit, yea agayne & twyse agayne as many one in dede did, whiche alter- the thyrd?1
tyme died of the same. At the length by study of the Phisicians & experience of the-
people, dryuen therunto by dreadfull necessytie, there was a remedy inuenled" For they
that suruyued, considering thextremytie of the peyne in them that deceased, d'euised by'
thynges mere cotrariaunt, to resist and withstand the furious rage of that burning ftirnesse,
bylukewarme drynke, temperate heate, & measurable clothes. For such persons as relapsed'
again into the flame after the first delyueraunce, obserued diligently & marked suche thynges
as did theim ease and cofort at their first vexacion, & vsyng the same for a remedy & medi-
cine of their peyne, addyngeuer somewhat therto that was sanatyue & wholsome. So that if'
any person etier after fell sicke agayn, he obseruyng the regymet that emongest the people was
deuysed could shortly helpe him selfe, & easely tempre and auoyde the strength and malyce
of the sweate. So that after the great losse of many men, they learned a present & a sped'y
remedy for the same desease and malady, the whiche is this: If a man on the daye tyme were.'
plagued with the sweate, then he shoukle streyght lye downe with all his clothes & garmetes
and lye .styll the whole, xxiiij. houres. If in the night he were taken, then he should not
ryse out of his bed for the space of. xxiiij. houres, & so caste the clothes that he myght in
no wyse prouoke the sweate, but so lye temperately that the water myght distille oute softly
of the awne accorde, & to absteyne from all meateif he might so longe susteyne and sufFre
hungre and to take no more drynke neither hole nor colde, then wyll moderately quentche
and delaye his thrustye appetyde. And in this his amendynge, one poynte diligently aboue
all other is to be obserued and attended, that he neuer put his hand or foote out of y bed to-
refreshe or coole him selfe, the whkh to do is no lesse peine then short death. So you may
plainly see what remedy was by the daily experience excogitated and inueted for this straungc
nnd vnknowen desease, the which at that tyme vexed and greued only the realme of Eng-
land in euery toune & village as it dyd dyuerse tymes after. But. Iv. yere after, it sayled
into Flaunders and after into Germany, wher it destroyed people innumerable for lack of
knowlcge of the English experience. This cotagious & euell plague chaunced in the first
yere of kyng He-nryes rergne as a token and a playne signe (if to the vaine iudgemet of the
people whiche comonly cdmen more fantastically then wisely, any faith or credite is to be
had geue or attributed) that kyng Henry should haue a harde and sore beginning, but
more truly if vayne supersticion can set furth any truthe, it pretended & signified that kyng.
Henry to the extreme poynte and ende of his naturall life should neuer haue his spirite
and mynde quyet, consideryng that nowe in the very begynnyng of his new obteyned-
reigne he was (as you shall shortly heare) with sedicion and eomocion of his people,
troubled, vexed and vnquyeted, and it was in maner a manifeste profe that hereafter h«
should lyue in small rest and great mistrust of suche rebellious and sedicious cospiracies..
These were the phantasticall iudgementes of the vnlettred persons whiche I ouerpasse, and
retourne to my purpose.
When al thinges by y" kyng were appeased at London & that he had set & appoynted all
his affaires in good ordre and sure state, as he with him self coiectured, he thought it best
to make a peregrinacio & take his progresse into y1 other quarters of his realme, y he might
wede, extirpate and purdge the myndes of me spotted £ cotaminate with the cotagious
smoke of dissencion, £ preuy faccions, & especially the countie of Yorke which were
preuy fautoures and coforters of the cotrary part, and not without a cause. For
kyng Richard more loued, more estemed & regarded the northern me then any sub-
iectes within his whole realme, which thyng to kyng Henry was notvnknowe. Wherfore he
the more studied to kepe the in dew obeisaunce & faithful! obsequy, who he knew of long
custome to haue borne their hartes £ fauourable myndes to his aduersaries : therfore in y
prime time of theyere he toke his iorney towardes Yorke, & because the feast of Ester
approched, he diuerted to the cytie of Lyncoln, where he taryed duryng the solepnite of
that
KYNG HENRY THE. VII. 4S7
that high feast: & mukyng there his abode, he was certified y the lord Louel & Homfrey staf-
forcle were departed out of Sanctuary in Colchestre: but to what place or whether, no man
-as yet could tell. 'For which cause the kyng lytle regardyng the tale went forthe his ap-
pointed iorney to Yorke. And assdne as he was there receaued & settled, it was bruted,
and openly shewed -to the kyng him selfe that Fraunces lorde Louell was at hand with a
strong and mightie powre of men, and would with all diligence inuade the cytie: also
that the forenamed Homfrey Stafford £ Thomas his brother were in worcettre shyre and
there had raysed a great bande of rude and rusticall people, & had cast lottes what parte
should assaute the gates, what mene should scale the walles of the cytie of Worcestre, &
who should kepe the passages for lettyng of reskewes and aiders.
At the first heryng of this the kyng estemed it for vaine £ vncertain, and therfore was
with it but litle moued: but after that he was certified by the letters of credece sent fro his
ifrendes, that all was true that was by the comen voice spoken and published, he was afflicted
with no small feare. And surely not without a cause for he wisely cosidred that he had
neither a competet army ready prepared, nor barneys nor weapons for them that were pre-
sent. And -also he was now in such a doubtfull place, where he nether might nor could coue-
ently gather an boost together, cosidcryng that in the same cytie, the memory of kyng Ri-
chard his mortall enemy was yet recent and lyuely £ not all forgotte of his frendcs, but be-
cause the matter requyred dilygent celerytie, least that by long tariyng the powre of his ad-
uersaries by daily aides might be encreased and multiplied, he comaunded the duke of Bed-
forde with.iii. thousand men not strongely armed to do a great enterpryce (for their brest plates
for the moost part were made of tanned lether) to encountre & set vpon them with all hast
and diligence, and made him preuy what he him selfe entended to doo. After this, the kyng
congregated together an boost in euery place where he might retayne theim. The duke set-
tyng forwarde after the fassion of an eger & fierce captaine came nigh to the tentes and
campe of his enemyes where he consulted and comunyca'ted his mynde with certayne capi-
taynes & sage souldioures of his compaigny, by what waye he might treyne & allure
them to peace, without battaill or bloodsheddyng. After whiche deliberacion and ad-
uysement had, yt was decreed that the Herauldes should proclayme openly, that all such
should haue grace and pardon that would cast downe their weapons and barneys, and
as faithfull subiectes submyt them selfes to their naturall souereigne lord. The which
pTOclamacioh auayled & muche prorated: For the lord Louel, either for some feare or dif-
fidence that he had in his people and souldyours, or fearyng hym selfe on his awne behalfe,
fled preuily in a night from his compaignye and left them without a head, as a flocke of
shepe without a shepard, which departure when it was to his armye disclosed, they put of
their armure and came directly to the duke, euery man humbly submittyng hym selfe and
desiryng pardon for their offences, wholy trusting in the kynges mercy & fauourable good-
nes. So by this pollitique wisdome £ ingenious meanes of the good duke, this great rage
and fierce route of sturdy and valyaut traytours which was prepared against the kyng, and
were lyke to haue been the slaughter of many a man, were pacefyed £ repressed and
brought to good conformytie and obedient subieccion. And the lorde Louell cheueteyne
and chiefe leader of this tumult & rebellion, fearyng more perell and daungier, then desi-
ryng renoune or fame of cheualry, neuer tariyng | doubtful! chaunce of battaile, fled in all
post haste into Lancashire, and therefor a certayne space loytred and lurked with sir Tho-
mas Broughton knyght, whiche in those quarters bare great swynge, and was there in great
aucthoritie. Homfrey Stafford also hearyng of this myschaunce happened to the lord
Louell, in a great dolor aiid agony, and for feare, in lyke maner fled and tooke sanctuary
in a village called Culnaham, two myles from Abyndon. But because the sanctuary was
not a sufficient defence (as it was proued before the Justices of the kynges benche) for tray- '
toures, he was taken by force from that place, £ brought to the towre, and from thence
conueyghed to Tyborne and there put to execucion: but his younger brother Thomas that
was with him, was perdoned & remitted because he was thought not to haue done it of
312 his
428 THE. II. YERE OF
his anne wyll and malicious mynde, but thorowe the euell counsaill and mischeueous per-
suasion of his Eldre brother.
Alter that the kyng had thus by pollecy of his cbusaill appeased and repressed this tu-
multeous sedicion whiche greatly vexed & vnquyeted his spirites, and had reduced to rea-
son and coformitie the rude and bablyng people of the north parties, and in especiall thin-
hubitautes of the countye of Yorke, he returned to London, £ shortly after that to Wyn-
Thc birth chestre, where quene Elizabeth his wife was deliuered of a fayre prince named Arthur at
his baptyme. Of whiche name Englishernen nomore reioysed then outwarde nacions &
foreyne prynces trymbled and quaked, so muche was that name to all nacious terrible £
formidable: And from Wynchestre he returned back agayn to London.
In this meane tyme, of a smal matter and thesame altogether beyng false & feyned, ther
was an open pathe £ a apparaut high weye made for a greater inconueniency to ensue.
The which matter for the subtyl iuggelyng £ craftie coueighaunce of thesame, no lesse de-
ceytfull their ligier de meyne in the hand of a iuggeler, was to be estemed emogest all wyse .
men at the first a very bold & ouer presumpteous an acte to be atteptcd : but y tyme well
weyed & considred it was not so mostreous that it were worthy great wonderyng & admira-
cion, cosyderyng that many persons of late, either borne in the wobe of cotiuual dissen-
cion, or norished with the mylke, or suckyng the pappes of ciuile sedicio, could not lyue
well in rest, & lesse forbeare their vsual custome of mouing strife & daily debate. But
they somtime sittyng at home copassyng £ ymaginyng hurte & damage toward suche as they
in their hartes disdeyned, somtyme remembryng that by the libertie £ priuilege of warre,
all is fishe that cometh to the net, euer delitynge in spoylyng, robbyng & reuynge, vehe-
inetly thristyng for the distruccion £ losse of such as thei would be reueged of, willyng to
lyue without lawe in tyme of peace £ warre, wisshyng the world neuer to be at a bettre-
staye. And as persons only dedicate £ geue to mischief £ sceierous inuencios, either for
hatred, euell wyl or malice of the that they fauoured not, or for some emolumet, proffite
and comoditie of such y they thought to set vp £ auaunce, were by fraude, couyn £ crafty
collusio prone £ ready to disquiet euery day the kyng £ his whole realme, thinking y hea—
ue had to much peace £ quietnes, £ hel tolitle trouble and vexacion. And there was fur-
therers £ setters on, none lackyng, in so much that. xx. persons would soner pricke them
forward with a sharpe spurre, then one plucke the back \V a dull snaffle. Ernong the which
mostres £ lymbes of the deuell, there was one sir Richard Symond priest, a man of a base
£ obscure familie, which fro his birth delited in fraude and craftie conueighyng, £ yet
was he well learned, but not so well learned as wilye, nor so wilye as vngracious. Which
sir Richard Symond had elected a scoler called Lambert Synienell, one of a gentle nature
and pregnaut wyt to be the organe £ conduyte by whom he would conuey his false feigned
enterprice and attempt. The deuel ehiefe master of mischiefe put in the wicked mynde
and vcnemouse brayne of this moost pernicious disloyall and trayterous person, .to co-
mencc, feigne £ deuyse how he might make his childe and scolar Lambert to be the right1
inheritour to the croune of England, £ so therof to make him kyng £ to promote him self
to the ehiefe Archebishopricke or some high potestate win the realme. The ehiefe foun-
dacion of his occasion was (by thewhich he was the more bolde) that the fame went £ many
menne surely supposed kyng Edwards chyldre not to be dead, but to be fled secretly into
some straunge place £ there to be liuyng, and that Edward erleof Warwike sonne £ heire
to y duke of Clarece, either was or should be put to death shortly. These rumoures al-
though they were friuelous £ vayne £ with out all likelyhode of verite or truthe, animated
£ encouraged this priest much, to thinke and iudge the tyme to be come that this Lambert
might assume £ take vpon hym the person £ name of one of kyng Edward the fourthes
chyldren, and to clayme and make title both to the realme and kyngdome, hauyng sure
knowlege that neither frendship should want nor aide shoulde lacke: and consideryng ihat
cancard hatred rooted and founded vpo facinorous faccions £ sedicious deuysions be so
perdurable and in maner euerlastyng that they can neuer be clerely extirpate or digged out
of
KYNG HENRY THE. VII. 429
of their rotte hartes, but that they wylle with hand & foote, toothe and nayle further if
they can their pretensed entreprice. And this poore priest brought into this foolishe pa-
radice through his awne fantasticall ymaginacion, informed Sc taught the chyld diligetly
at Oxenforde where he went to scoole, both instructyng him with princely behaueour, ciuyle
manner & fruitefull literature, declaryng to him of what high parentage and of what noble
progeny he was lyneally descended, thus persuadyng and teachyng hym his le-son clerckly
and craftely, for his purpose, that y people hearing the chyld thus rehersyng his stocke so
sagely, might the rather geue credite to his deceitful! pretece & false coloured inuencion:
Soue after the rumour was blovven abroade that Edward y younge erle of VVarwike wus
y name ot the youg r.rle ot VVarwike, y which were both ot one-yeres
stature, & then he >V his pupille sailed into Irelad, there openyng his mynd, & declaryng
his matter to certain of the Irishe nobilitie, who he knew by true fame & repprte to heare
but litle fauour to kyng Henry nor his partakersy & hauyng othc and promes of aide to him
sworne & made, he shewed them that he had saued and preserued the duke of Clarece
son fro death, & had for very good will brought him into that countrey £ region where
he knew that both kyng Edward and all his stock were fauoured £ loued aboue all other.
This matter was beleued straight of the nobilitie which so shewed & published this feigned
fable and ymagined iuggelynge from one to another tyll a* the last it was aecopted to be as
true as the Gospell without any cotrouersye, ambiguitie or question. In so much that the
lord Thomas Gerardyne chauncelour of all y country defrauded by his illusion vndre the
colour of plaine truthe receaued him into his castell and with honoure & reuerence him
entreteyned as one that descended fro the high progeny of- the sangue royall, and began ,
much to aide & helpe him. First calling together all his frendes & louers £ suche other
as were of bande or affinitie, declaring first to them the comyng of this child, £. after af-
firmyng that the croune and sceptre of the realme of right apperteyned to this yoiige prynce
as sole heyre male lefte of the ligne of Richarde duke of Yorke: Exhortyng and desiryng
them bothe for the childes sake and his awn, as he was true inheritoure to the croune, to
helpe and assyst hym to obteine the garland and possession of thesame by his graundfather
to him lyneally descended. And so after cotnmunicatyng thesame matter with other of the
nobilitie, euery man promysed accordynge to hys powre, aide of monye, menne and mu-
nicyons. By thys meanes the same was shortely bruted throughout all Irelande, and euery
man was willynge to take his parte and submyt them selfes to him, callyng him of all handes
kynge. So that nowe they of this secte thus compassed and sortyd, thought to haue in
other places their coinpaignyons and furtherers of their malicious purpose & most pestife-
rous faccion, and straight foorth they sent to England certayne preuy messengers to desire
theim, whome they knewe to haue been true faythfull and frendes to kyng Richarde, now
to cotinue in their accustomed loue and faithfull frendship toward his nephewe and to helpe
the childe with treasure £ substaunce as farre as they conueniently might. And that his
powre might be the stronger to ouercome his enemies & to obteyne his pretensed purpose,
he and his confederates sent messengers into Flaunders to the lady Margaret suster to kyng
Edward and late wyfe to Charles the duke of Bourgoyne to further his purpose with al her
powre and helpe. This duke Charles hauyng no chyldren by this lady Margaret, left one
sole daughter named Mary behynde hym, begotte of his first wyfe daughter lo the duke of
Uurbone, whiche was maried to Maximilian sonne to Frederick the Emperour, on whiche
wife he had engendred two children, the one Philip, and the other Margaret. The wiiiche
two chyldren after the deathe of the lady Mary their mother this lady Margaret late wyfe to
duke Charles so entierely be loued, so tenderly brought vp, and so motherly norished, be-
side the dailye peyne that she toke in ordrynge their affaires and busynes for the maynte-
naunce of their honoure and preferment of their prorate, that she both for her motherly
loue toward the youge children, & also for the good administracion of iustice in their coun-
tries
430 THE. II. YERE OF
tries was highly reputed and estemed & bare great aucthoritie & swynge through all Flaun-
ders and the lo\ve countries thei to adiaret. This lady Margaret, although she knewe the
familye and stocke of the house of Yorke to be in rnaner distroyed & vtterly defaced by
her brother kyng Richard, yet not being saciate nor content with the long hatred £ con-
tinual malice of her pa rentes which subuerted and ouei threw almost the progeny and lign-
age of kyng Henry the. vi. and the house of Lancaster, nor yet remembryng the nevve affi-
nitie & strong alliaunce that was lately concluded, by the vvhiche the heyres of bothe the
houses and progenies were vnited & conioyned together in lawful! matrimony, lyke one for-
gettyng bothe God & charite, inflamed with malice diabolicall instinction, inuented & prac-
•••#»- tised all mischiefes, displeasures and damages that she could deuyse against the kyng of
England. And faither in her fury and frantyke rnoode (accordyng to the saiyng of the wise
man, there is no malice equiualent nor aboue the malice of a woma) she wrought all tho
wayes possible how to sucke IMS bloud and copasse his destruccion as the principal head o£
her aduerse parte & contrary faccion, as though he should be a dewe sacrifice or an host im-
molated for the mutuall murder & shameful! homicide comitted and perpetrated by her bro-
ther and progeny. So vehernet, so full of poyson and so strong is the powre of ciuyle dis-
sension and preuy hatred, that sometyme it nyll auerte and withdrawe the wisest and moost
sapient men from goodnesse, honestie & their bounden allegeaunee. Ther'fore this lady
knowyng of this lumulteous secte and conspiracye, prepared and sodenly deuysed against
kyng Henry (although she knewe it to be but a feigned & peinted mattre & not woorth twoo
strawes) yet (hauyng suche an occasion to worke her malice vpori) she promised gladly to
the messengers not only to maynteyne, aide, further and succoure their purposed entent with
money and substaiice, but with all the laboure & peyne that she might, to encourage, sto-
marke and entyce many other to be aiders, assisters & partakers of thesame conspiracy,
and shortly to ioync with the cheucteines of thesaide enterprice.
Whe king Henry was certeh'ed of these doynges by messengers sent into England, no
meruell although he was none other wise then he had occasion, sore vexed & moued, cSsider-
yiig that by the diseeate and I'raude of suche a dongehyll knaue and vyle borne villeyne, so
great a sedicion should be excited and slurred against him: Neuertheles, he lyke a circu-
spect, ingenious and prudent prynce, well consideryng and pollitiquely forseynge, ymagined
that if this enterprice came to passe, that the finall ende would be the bluddy dartc of mor-
tall warre, & yf they should ioyne and combate in open battaile, in the which for the moost
parte, the large campe of all mischiefe is commonly opened and shewed, many innocent
nienne on both partcs should perishe and come to ruyne and confusyon without desert or
.offence. For which reason, before all thyngcs he determyned to attempt and proue yf tliat
he might without anye battayle or stroke stryken (thende whereof is euer ambiguous and .
doubtful) paccfye and reduce these rebels to rule, reason, & dewe subieccion, before that
this eue.ll newly planted \vede sriiould straye and wander ouer the good herbes of his whole
realme. Thcrfore he called his whole cousaill together at the Chartrehouse besyde
his' royall manner called Richemonde, and there consulted how to pacefye this sodeyne
rage secretly begonne, without any more disturbaunce or open trouble : whiche mocion of
all menne was thought mete, necessary & profitable to be assayed and prosecuted with ce-
Jcrite and effecte. And that before any other thynge were attempted and begonne, that a
generall pardon should be published to al offenders that were content to receaue thesame
& after would be true, louyng & obedient to the kyng their souereigne lord accordyng to
their bounden dutie and allegiaunce: Thinkyng that if that pardo were any lenger space
procrastened or prolonged, that in the meane ceason (as the prouerbe sayth, taryenge draw-
eth and ieopardeth perell) Sir Thomas Broughton knyght whiche had hyd and kept the lorde
Louell from the kyng a great ceason, and was at hand with diuerse of his frendes, in so
trobleous & perelous a tyme . vtterly dispeiryng of pardon and remission, and as men with.-
out hope of any grace settynge all on. vi. and. vii. should sodeynly moue a newe insur'rec-
-cjoc against him, & vnquyet him in some place where he had left least resistance. For al-
though
KYNG HENRY THE. VII. 431
though they were thought to haue been conferates and Iqrates of this newe conspiracy, yet-
because there was no sure profe nor apparaunt argument therof, yt was supposed to be moost
profitable for that tyme present, to extende no inaner of extremytie nor crucllic agaynste
theim by anye coloure cr pretence, partcly that by suche lenytie and gentle sufferaunce, the
rebellyous powre should not augment and increace, and partely that if hereafter they shoulde
befoundeto dravve backe, and be negligent in doynge their dueduetye and allegiaunce, that
then, by this polletique prouision they slioulde be rewarded with punyslmiet accordyngly as',. .'
they had descrued, and accordyng to the comen saiynge, suche breade as they bake, suche.
muste they eate : Whereupon the kynge gaue a geuerall pardon throughoute alt Englande
(without exception of any offence) yea euen to them that had commytted high treason
agaynst hys maiestie and royall person. Furthermore, after longe consultation had and all.
thynges maturely decydcd, it was thought by the whole senate for the tyme then present
moost iiecessarye and conuenyent to auoyde that erronyous rumoure, rumblynge and blast-
ynge abroade, that the sonne of the duke of Clarence was in Englande, and that he per-
sonally s-houlde be shewed abroade in the cytie and other publiquc places whereby the vntrue
opinyon falsy affyrmynge 'that he was in Irelande mighte be emongest the comynaltye re-
pressed, put downe, and accompted as a comment and vayne ymagyned fable.
In this solempne counsaill dyuerse and many thynges of the real me were there debated
and concluded: and emongest other, yt was determyned that the lady Elizabeth wyfe tokyng
Edwarde the. iiij. shoulde loase and forfeyte all her Landes and possessyons, because she had
voluntarely sutunytted her selfe and her daughters wholy to the handes of kyng Richarde,
contrarye to the promes made to the lordes and nobles of thys realme in the begynnyng of
the conspiracy ymagyned agaynst kyng Richard, which at her desire and request lefte ail
that they had in England and fled to kyng Henry into Briteyne, and there receaued a, eor-
porall othe of him to rnary her eldest daughter, whiche offre she abode not by, but iwulc it
frustrate and voyde, through whose double doynges yt had lyke to haue succeded,.th»t ney-
ther the manage coulde take place, nor yet the noble men whiche at her request toke kyng
Hehryes parte, might not returne agayne without ieopardic of lyfe, but lyue styll in per-
petuall banyshement and myserable exyle. This was a greueous offence, and a heynons
eryme: howbeyt the sequele thereof well dygested, yt was thought by some man that she de-
scrued not by equytie of iustyce so great a losse and so great a punyshment: For surely she
dyd not so great hurte or hynderaunee to kynge Henry and hys confederates by her reconci-
liacion to kynge Richard, but tenne tymes more she proffyted theira and auaunced theyr cause.
For her submyssion made to hym, he negiectynge Goddes lawes, honest order and Christyar><
religion, prcsumynge to accumulate myschiefe vpon myschiefe, desyred of her the manage of
her daughter hys natural 1 nyece, whiche thynge be woulde not haue thought lykely to haue ab~
teyned: The queue and tier daughters styll for feare of him contynuyng in sanctuaf^.
Whiche vnlawfull desyre (consyderynge for that en tent he had ryd his wyfe oute of the-
worlde) prouoked the Ire of God and the swoorde of vengeaunce agaynste hym, whereby
hys fynall ruyne and falall falle shortely after, ensued and succecled to hys myserable con-
fusyon and to the exaltacyon of Kynge Henry and auauncemente of hys whole company.
1 iereby a manne may perceaue that wycked and maligne persones be not brought to
ruyne by the hande of a temporall iudge, but by the wyll of God led and thereto apoynted,
as menne that make hast to approche and to come to that ende that they haue deserued. By
thys folye and inconstancy of the quene, she incurred the hatred and displeasure of many
men, and for that cause lyucd after in the Abbey of Barmandsey besyde Southwarke a
wretched and a myserable lyfe, where not many yeres after she deseassed and is buryed with,
her husbande at Wyndsore. Suche are all worldly chaunces, novve in prosperyte and
aboundaunce, mutable and chaungeable and full of inconstancy: and in aduersitye often
chaunge iY'nn euell to good and so to beltre, to the entent that they that be in wealths and
flowe in theaboundaunce of all thynges, shall not thynke theim selfes in suretye to tavye styll
in that degree and state: and that they that be inmisery and§calamytie shall not despayre nor mys-
trust
432 THE. II. YERE OF
trust God, but lyue in hope, that a Letter daye of comfort and gayne wyll once apere and
come. And yet although fortune ruleth many thynges at her wyll and pleasure, yet one
woorkc that this queue liatlie made cannot bee forgotten nor put in obliuion. At what tyme
that kyng Edward her husband reigned, she founded and erected a notable College in the
vniuersyte of Cambridge for the fyndynge of Scholers desyrous of good litterature and learn-
ynge, and endued it with sufficient possessions for the longe mayntenaunce of thesame,
wliiche at this daye is called the queues College, a name surely mete for suche a place,
wherin Scholers diligently studyeng in all doctryne and sciences, proue excellent clerckes
and come to great honoures.
When all thynges in this counsaill were seriously concluded and agreed to the kynges
ipynde, he returned to the cylie of London, geuynge in commaundement that the nexte sonday
ensuyng, Edward the young Erie of Warwike to be brought from the towre through the
moost publyke and vsuall stretes of London, to the cathedrall churche of saynt Paule. This
younge gentleman (as he was comaunded) shewyng him selfe openly to euery body in the
.procession tyme, taried there the high masse, hauynge communicacion openly with many
noble men, and with theim in especially that were suspected and thought to haue been par-
takers of the commocio agaynst the kyng, to this purpose and effect, that they myght per-
ceaue (he fonde Iryshemen, for a vayne shadowe and vntrue fyccyon vnaduysedly to excytate
and mouc warre agaynst him and his realme, without any iust cause or laufull occasion.
Howbeyt to enell dysposed persones or brayneles men, thys medecyne nolhyng auayled nor
proftyted. For the erle of Lyncolne sonne to Ihon de Lapoole duke of Suffolke, and Eli-
zabeth syster to kyng Edwarde the fourth, thinkyng it not mete to neglect and omyt so open
an occasion of new trouble & mischiefe offred and exhibited, determined to vpholde, for-
tefye, & bolster the enterpryce of the Irishemen, least that they might be seduced, and
caused to desyst & leaue of their incepted enterpryce, and attempted purpose: And doubte-
les the man beyng of great wyt and intelligence, and of no small Judgement, but halfe in-
fected with the venemous skabbe of the late ciuyle battnile, coulde not with a quyet mynde
suffre kyng Henry beynge principall head of the contrary facoion to reigne in quyet, but co-
sultyng with sir Thomas Broughton, and certeyne other of his trusty frendes, purposed to
saile into Flanders to his aunte the lady Margaret duches of Bourgoyne late wyfe to duke
Charles, trusty nge by her healpe to make a puyssaunt army of men, and to ioyne with the
compaignyons of the newe raysed sedicio. Therfore, after that the kyng had dissoiued the
Parliament, which then was holden: he fled secretly into Flaunders to the lady Marga-
rcte, where Fraunccs lorde Louell landed certeyne dayes before. And there they beyng al-
together, euery man accordyng to his mvnde reasoned, argued, and debated what was best
to doo. After longe comunycacion had, this fynall conclusyon was agreed vpon, that the erle
of Lyncolne and the lorde Louel should go to Irelande, and there attende vpon her coun-
trc.eacte nepheue, and to honor him as a kyng, and with the powre of the Irishemen to
brynge hym to England, and senclyng for all their frendes, should without delaye gene bat-
taile to kynge Henry: So that if their doynges had good and prosperous successe, then the
forsayde Lambert (mysnamed the Erie) shoulde by the consent of the counsaill be deposed,
and Edwarde the true Erie of Warwyke to be delyuered oute of pryson, and after by the
aucthoritie and aide of his frendes of the nobilitie, should be published, proclaymed, and
anoynted kynge.
But kyng Henry thynkyng his nobles to be well appeased with the syght of Edward the
very sonne of the duke of Clarence, nothynge mystrustyng any man to be so folishe to in-
uent, feigne, or countrefeate any thy nge more of him, or any so mad or vndiscrete (espe-
cially of his realme) as to beleue that Lambert was very Edward, onely rnyndynge the sup-
pressyng of the Flagvcius Irishme, studied how to subdewe and represse their bolde enter-
price and seditious coniuracion. And hearing sodeyn4y that the Erie of Lyncolne with
other were fled & gone to his aduersaries, beynge therwith sodeynly mooed: thought euen
•ivith sponge hand and marciall powre, to ouercome hys enemyes and euell wyllers, whose
1 maliciouHnes
KYNG HENRY THE. VII. 433
maliciousnes he could by no counsaill nor pollecy eschewe nor auoyde: And beyng thus dc-
ternjyned, he commaunded certeyne of his capitaynes to prepare an hoste of men oute of
euery parte of his realme, and them to bryng and conduyte into one place assygned, that
when his aduersaries shoulde come forvvarde, lie might with his populous multitude & great
powre sodeynly set on theim, & so ouercome and vanquishe them altogether. And mys-
trustyng that other would folowe the erle of Lyncoln into Flaunders, he caused the East
partes, and all the borders theraboutes to be diligently kept, that none other might escape er
geue them succoure. And comynge to the toune of saynt Edmondes bury, he \vas certi-
fyed that the lord Thomas Marques of Dorcet was comyng to excuse & purge hy,m seife
before him, for certeyne thynges that he was suspected to haue done lightely when he was in
Fraunce. To whom the kyng did sende the Erie of Oxenford to intercept him ridyng on
his iorney and to conueigh him to theTowre of London, to trye his truth and prone his pa-
ciece. For if he were his frende as he was in dede, he should not be miscontented to suf-
fre so lytle a reproche & rebuke for his princes pleasure. If he were not his frend there to
tary in sauetye that he might do no damage nor hurt to him. And from thence the kyng
went furth to Norwiche, & tariyng there Christmas day, departed after to Walsyngham, and
comyng there into the churche of oure lady, prayed deuoutly and made supplicacios to al-
mighty God, that by his diuine powre and through the intercession of our lady, he might es-
chew the snares £ preuy workynges of his enemies, and preserue him selfe and his country
from the imminet daungier, and to reduce agayne the streiynge shepe to their right folde and
true shepard, that be amyssc: his orysons fyneshed. from thence by Cambridge he returned
shortly to London.
In this meane tyrne the Erie of Lyncolne and the lord Louell, had gotten by the aide of
the lady Margaret, aboute twoo thousand Almanyes, with Matyne Swarde a noble mai> in
Germany, and in marciall feactes verye expert, to be their cheueteyne, and so sailyng into
Ireland. And at the cytie of Dyuelyn, caused younge Lambert to be proclaymed and
named kyng of England, after the most solempne fassyon, as thoughe he were there of the
verye heyre of bloud royall lyncally borne and discended. And so with a great multitude
of beggerly Irisbemen, allmost all naked and vuarmed sauynge skaynes and mantelles, of
whom the lord Thomas Gerardine was capiteyne and conductor, they sayled into England
with this newe founde kyng, and landed for a purpose at the pyle of Fowdrey within lytle of
Lancastre, trustynge there to be ayded with mouy by Sir Thomas Broughton one of the chicle
compaignions of this vnhappy conspiracy.
The kyng not stepynge his matters, but mystrustyng and smellyng the storme that folowed,
before the enemies arryued, he dispatched certeyne horsemen throughout all the west partes
of the realme, chiefely to attende the comyng and arryuall of his enemyes, secpndarely to
wayte for suche espialles as came out of Ireland, & them to apprehend & compel! to shew
& declare the secretes of their enemies. When he had gathered all his hoste together, ouer
thewhich, the duke of Bedforde & the erle of Oxenforde, were chiefe capiteynes, he went
to Couentry, where he beynge, his light horsemen accordyng to their duetie returned & cer-
tefyed him that y eile of Lyncoln was landed at Lancastre with his new king. Thewhich
when the kyng vnderstode was so, he consulted with his nobilitie and councellers to knowe
if it were for the best to encountre with theirn outc of hand, or lot them dragge awhile, for
this mattre bothe requyred counsaill and also celerite. After they had layed their hcades
together and well debated tiie matter, it was determyned that they should set vpo theim
without any further delaye, least that their powre by longe sufferaunce & delaiyng of tyme
myght be augmented & greatly multiplied. And so after such aduysemet take, he remoued
to Nottyngharn, and there by a lytle wood called Bowres he pytched his feelde : to whom
shortely after came the lord George Talbot Erie of Shrewesbury, the lorde Straunge, Sir
Ihon Cheyney valeaunt capitaynes, with many other noble and expert men of warre, For
the kyng had comaunded and geuen in charge before, that all persons of the counties ad-
ioynyng that were liable & of strengthe to cary weapon should be ready in an houres warn-
3 K ynge
4:54 THE. II. YKRE OF
ynge, in case that any necle should requyre. Therfore pyckcd felowes and hardy personages
and suche as were lyke menne, were chosen in all the haste, and of this sorte a great artnye
>va« coacted and gathered together: So the kynges army was wondrefully encreased, & from
tyme to tymc greatly augmented.
In this' space, the erle of Lyncoln beyng entred into Yorkeshire, passed softely on his
iourney without the spoylyng or hurtyng of any man, trustyng therby to haue some com-
pany of people resorte vnto him: but after that he perceaued fewe or none to folow him,
and that it was to no purpose to returne backe, considryng his enernyes were all ready to
set vpon him, he determined firmely to trye the fortune of battaile, remembryug that the
chaunce of Mars dothe stande cuer vpo. vi. or. vii. & that kyng Henry not. ii. yeres before
with a small powre of men vanquished kyng Richard & all his mightie army. And herupon
puttyng a sure confidence vpo his compaigny directed his waye from Yorke to Newarke vp5
Trent, to thentent that tliere he (as he trusted) augmetyng his copaigny might set vpon the
kyng, who he knew to be but. ii. dales iorney from him. Albeit, before he came there, kyng.
Henry was in his bosome and knewe euery houre what the Erie did, came the night before
that he fought, to Newarke, and there approched nere hys enemyes soner then they loked
for him, and tliere tariyng a lytle went. iij. myles further and pitched his feelde & lodged
there that night. The erle of Lyncolne certefyed of his commyng, was nothynge afearde,
but kepte styl! on hys iorney, and at a lytle village called Stoke nygh to the kyn« and his ar-
mye planted hys campe. The next daye folowynge, the kynge deuyded hys whole nombre
into three battailes, and after in good arraye approched nigh to the toune of Stoke, where
was an equall and playne place for bothe parties to darreigne the battaile.
Th«te»- When the place was apoynted and ordeined to trye the vttermost by stroke of battaile, the
taykof er]e set furth his army, and geuyng a token to his compaignie, set upon his aduersaries^
with a manly courage, desirynge his souldyours that daye to remembre his honoure, and'
their awne lyues. And so both the armyes ioyned and fought earnestly and sharply, in Ba-
rouche that the Almaynes beynge tryed and expert menne in warres and marciall feates, were
in all thynges, aswell in strengthe as pollecye egall and equyualent with the Englishemen :.
but as for Martyne Swarde theyr chiefe capitayne and leader, not many of the Englyshernen,,
bothe for valyaunt courage of a stoute stomack and strengthe and agylyte of body was to be'
compared or resembled with hys manhoode. Of the othersyde, the Iryshemen, although*
they foughte hardeiy and stucke to it valyauntly, yet because they were after the manner of
theyr countrey almoste naked, without harneys or armure, they were stryken downe and*
slayne lyke dull and brute beastes, whose deathes and destructions was a great discouragynge
and abashement to the residue of the company. Thus they fought for a space sa sore and so
egrely of bothe partes, that no man coulde well iudge to whorne the victory was lyke to en-
eiyne : But at length, the kynges forward beynge full of people and well fortefyed with wynges,
whiche onely bothe beganne and contynued the fyght, set vpon the aduersaryes with suche a;
force and violence, that fyrst they oppressed and kylled suche capitaynes one by one as re-
systed theyr myght and puyssaunce, and after that put all the other to fearfull %ght, the-
whiche were eyther apprehended as captyues and prysoners in theyr flyght runnynge awaye,.
or elles slayne and brought to confusyon in a small moment. But when this battaile was fy-
nished and fought oute to the extremytie, then it well apered what high prowes, what manly
stomakes, what courageous hartes and what valyaunt courage was in the kynges aduersaryes.
For there their chiefe capiteynes the erle of Lyncolne and the lorde Louell, SyrThomas Brough-
ton> Martyn swarde & the lord Gerardyne capiteyne of the Irishemen were slayne and founde
dead. Howbeyt, some aflfyrme that the lorde Louell toke his horsse & would haue fled ouer
Trent, but he was not hable to recouer the fartherside for the highnes of the banke and so was
drowned in the ryuer. There were kylled at that battaile with their fyue capiteynes before
reherced of that partye aboute foure thousand : Of the kynges parte there were not halfe of
them which foughte in the forward and gaue the onset slayne or hurt: Then was Lambert
the yonglynge which was falsely reported to be the dukes sonne of Clarence, and his master
sir
KYNG HENRY THE. VII. 435
sir Richard Symond prieste bothe taken, but neither of them put to death, because that
Lambert was but an innocet poore soule, a very chylde, and was not o :stge 10 do any suche
entreprice of his awnc deuyce, and the other was a priest, which yet to thentet he might re-
in? bre that the stone ofte tymes falleth on the head of hym that casteth it into y ayer, & that
many a man maketh a rod for his awn tayle when he entendeth it for another, this priest for
penaunce was comitted to perpetual pryson & miserable captiuitie. But this Lambert in
coclusion was made the kynges faulkener, after that he had been a turne broche and executed
such vile officies in the kynges kytchyn & suyllarye for a space. And thus was all the high
•entrepryce that lady Margaret had deuised & set furthe at this tyme, turned to nought and
brought to none effect, & to an euell coclusion. Of which chaunce, when she was aduer-
tysed & enformed in the countrye of Flaundcrs, she was very sorye at the harte & much la-
mented and deplored, that her ymagined purpose sorted to suche an infortunate ende & ef-
fect, incontinently deuisyng, practisyng and ymagenyng some greate and more difficile enter-
pryce, by the which she might vexe and pevturbe yet once agayne the kyng of England and
his whole region: Whiche purpose, euen as she inuented yt, so she set yt forwarde as shalbe
shewed herafter plainly.
After that kyng Henry had thus asswaged and appeased these matters beynge of so great
a moment and weight, with no great mocion, tumulte or trouble, & had not only escaped
and defaced the apparant and ymminet perell with a small conflict, and no great daungerous
brunt or ieopardy, but also repressed & suppeditate the cyuile dissencion and interior stryfe,
in maner as he wouldc haue wyshed it, he might thynke hym selfe at one tyme cleane ryd &
delyuered from two euelles together, both from feare present & also that was to come. For
certeynly when he pondred & diligently consydered his aduersaries (whose puissaunce he botli
in nombreand force, farredid surmount and precell) at the very poynte so fiei'cely to ioyne
and to byd him battaile, he much suspected & no lesse mistrusted that they had some preuy
fautoures and secret coucelers (the which when tyme and place should requyre or expostu-
late) would with their strength, aide, succoure and assyst them agaynst him and his puys-
saunse. But when he perceaued and sawe the hoost of his enemyes manifestly vanquished
and put to flight, hecomaunded that no ma should kyll or sleye the Erie of Lyncolne, but
that he should be brought to hym alyue, to thentent that he might shewe & bewraye bothe the
foutayneand originall begynnyng, and also the confederates, aiders and comforters of his
late practysed sedicious cospiracy. But the fame is, that the souldyours woulde not so do,
fearynge least paradueture thesauyngof his only lyfe (as yt should hauc been in dcde) the
lyfe of many other should haue been lost, or at the least in ieopardye. This battaile was
fought on a saturdaye beyng the. xvj. daye of luyn the yere of our lord thousand foure hun-
dreth. Ixxxix. and towarde thende of the second yere of the reigne of this kynge: In the
•whiche yere also Thomas Burchier Archebishopp of Cauntourbury dyed, into whose rome
Ihon Moorton late bishop of Ely, a manne of egall learnyng, vertue and pollecye with hys
predecessours, whome Alexander of that name the. vi. bishop of Roome created Cardi-
nall, and the kynge preferred hym to thoffyce of the highe Chauncclour of England: Now
to returne to my purpose.
After this victory obtcyned, & after the kynge had gathered and collected the prayes and
spoyles of the Feelde together, and buryed theim that there were slayne, he remoued to
Lyncolne, and there reposed hym selfe thre dayes, and caused euery daye one processyou
to be celebrate, to rendre humble thankes to almightie God, for his tryumphant victory and
ouerthrowe of his enemyes. Then dyd he execucion of suche rchelles and traytoures as
were taken in the felde, either at the battaile, or in the chace. And shortely after he went
into Yorkeshyre, and there costed the country ouerthwart, searchynge by exploratours and
preuy enquyries, where hys aduersaryes gathered theyr arnjy agaynst hym, entendyng
earnestly to wede oute, and purge his land of all sedicyous seede, and double harted fruyte
yf yt were possyble: and suche as were founde culpable in anyone poynte, were com-
mytted to pryson, and other mulcted by fyne or extinct by deatlie.
3K2 THE
436 THE. IIJ. YERE OF
f THE THIRDE YERE.
IN the myddest of August entrynge into- the. iij. yere of his troubelous reigne, he by for-
neiyntfarriued at Newcastell vpo Tyne a very propre towne, situate on the nether part of
Nor.thumberland, where he taryed tlie remnaunt of the somer, and beynge tliere, sent in
Ambassade into Scotland to kyng laines-the thyrde kyng of Scottes, Richard Foxe whiche
not longe before was made bishoppe of Excettre, and with him sy Richard Edgccombe
knyght comptroller of hys house. The summarye of their commyssion was 10 conclude a
truce for a tyme, or a longe league and an ainytie. For kyng Henry esterned it bothe hono-
rable and prottytable yf he mysiht haue perfyght peace and assured ainytie with prynces ad-
ioynyng and his next neighboures. And before all other with kyng lames of Scotlande to
thentent that his subiecteshauynge knowledge of the amytie, and despairyng vtterly to haue
any refuge, comforte or succoure of the Scottes, or other their neignbonres circumuosyn &
adioynyng cotrary to their old vsage trust and expectacion. might tne better be cotinued in
the taithe, ductie & loyaltie towardes their prynce and souereigne lorde. The Atnbassadours
vht1 they were come into Scotland to the kyng, were of him both gently entretemed & after
the most louyng fassyo receaued & fully harde. To whom at the fyrst he shewed his good
hart, his true mynde. tendre zele, and fraternall affeccio, that he hym selfe contynually bare,
and yet dyd entende toshewe towardes kyng ilenry, although hissubiectes were of a contra-
ry mynde and opinyon, playnly protestyng & declaryng to them his vasselles to be bothe by
nature and wyl full d'.sposicion, diuerse and cotrary euer to the English nature and English
nacio: thinkyng ^urt-ly that they for the most part, would neuer cosent & longe agree with
the Englishmen, accortfvng to their olde vaffrous varietie: wherfore least that he should of<-
fend or ministre cause of occasio to them (as in dede all me were not his frendes in Scotlad
at thai tyme) he desyred y Ambassadours to cSsentw truce & abstinece of warre for seuen
yeres, not ouely in open audience, but on his honor he promysed firrnely in secret cornmuni-
caciou (as secret as a confession made to a priest) that he for his parte would kepe conty-
niidll peace with the kyng of England durynge their lyues, but apparauntly he promysed tha:t
or these, vii. ycics should l>e passed and fully fyncshed that he would renue agayne the truce
for other, vii. yere, so that kynge Henry & he should be and lyue in peace, Concorde, and
niostc assured amitye, fluryng their natural! lyues. And this dyd kyng lames conclude with
kyng Henry, because that he knewe hym sclfe, his actes, yea and hys name to be had in
suche despyte and hatred of the more parte of hys dysloyall people, that nothynge (whatso-
euer he dyd) was estemed, 'regarded, well spoken of or had in anye pryce: Suche was the
malicious tiartburnynge of the Scottes against their naturall lorde. The ambassadours per-
ceauyng the hartye mynde and faithful bencuolence of this kvng towardes their master kyng
Henry, accepted and assented to his offre, and ratefyed thesame: And returnyng home
shewed the kyng all the matter in ordreas yt was proponed assented and concluded. Witn
whiche fydynges, he perceauynge the kyng of Scottes good mynde towardes hym, and ap-
parauntly perceauynge that as that tempestyous and stormy ceason requyred, yt was not to
hys small commcditie and proffyte, rcioysed meruelou*ly that hys Ambassade came to so
good an effecte: and shortely after reculed backe agayne from Newcastell to Yorke, and so
towarde hwcytie of London. And in the waye beynge at Leycestre, diuerse ambassadours
sent from Charles the Frenche kyng came to his presence, whiche declared and shewed to
hym that theyr kyng Charles had recoueied manye Tounes, Cyties and garrysons whiche be-
fore that tyme were possessed and holden of Maximilian kynge of Romanes and Archeduke
of Austryce, and that he nowe moued battaile against Fraunces duke of Briteyne, because
he kepte, ayded and succoured in his territorie and dominion diuerse noble prynces and high
personages of the realuie of Fraunce, whiche were treytoures and rebelles againste hym, his
realme and seigniory, of the which the chief leader was Lewes duke of Orlyaunce: And
6 theribre
KYNG HENRY THE. VII. 437
therfore he desyred hym for the olde frendshyp and familiarite practised betwene them, tha
he woulcle either aide, assyst and helpe hym, or elles stand neuter betwene bothe parties,*
neither helpynge nor hurtyng any of bothe partes, lyke a cyplier in algoristne that is ioyn-
ed to no figure but onely occupieth a place.
Kynge Henry well remembryng that although he had founde muche frendshyp at the
Frcnche kyngeshand in his necessitie and that by him partely and his he obteyned his kyngr
dome, yet forasmuche as he espyed vpon what vnsure ground this querell was begonne against,
the Brytones, with this message was not well contented nor yet pleased. For he wliiche
sawe as far re in the Frenche kynges brest as hys Phisicion did in his vryne, knewe periightly
that he had nevther occasyon by any iust tytle to inuade the duciiy of Bnteyne, nor yet anv
displeasure mynistred to hym, by reason whereof he might iustly haue any shadowe to make a
quarell to the duke of Briteyne, but onely to delate, amplifyeand propagate farther his auc-
thoritie, domynion and possession. For the Frenche kyng and his counsail knewe well that
duke Fraunces was an impotent man, lytargious, sore deseased and well stryken in age, and
had neuer anye heyre male to inheret and possede hys duchy, wherefore they determyned by
some meanes easely to compasse that the duchy of Bryteyne should breuely come vndre
their lure and subieccio, and so withoutegrounde, without cause or reasonable demonstra-
cion, vncompelled, he intymated and made open warre against the duke and Brytamcall na-
cion. Kyng Henry perccauynge that this newe attempted enterprice nothyng sounded to his
proffit or emolumet, callyng to mynd and consyderynge that yf the Duchy of Briteyne and
the people of thesame whiche had been euer frendly ftlouyngto Thenglishe nacion, and was
alwaies for their entrecourse to his realme bothe necessary and proffytable, should come vn-
dre the thraldome & subieccion of the Frenche kyng that dammage more then proffite were
likely to ensue and folowe, determyned with him selte to aide and take parte with the duke,
perceauyng well that all his affaires was nowe in perell and sett in a broyle and hasard.
The occasion that tuoued him therunto was, the kyndelyng.of the paternall lone and tendr-e-
afTeccion whicne the duke euer shewed hym, silh his fyrst arriuall and entryng into Bnteyue,
and his fidelite ta him alwaye apparauntly shewed durynge the tyme of hys there aliydynge
and resydence. On the oth-'r parte, whan he remembred the gre ite bfhelyte thdt he had ac-
cepted and receauedat the Frenche kynges hand by his bountyi'ull and .pryncely liberalise,
thought it bothe necessary, honest and consonant to reason to forgett the vngrate offence •
agaynst the duke of Briteyne commytted and perpetrated, and to persuade and aduyse the
Frenche kyng to desyste from vexynge or inuadynge the duke of Briteyne, least anye scruple
or sparke of ingratitude might insurge or kyndle betwene them two. This matter was so
doubtful! and so full of ambyguities that the kynsi in louge consultation lefte no quesiyon ner
double vnasked nor. vndiscussed, and yet no aunswerenor nocunclusyon coulde satysfye or
please hys doubtfull mynde and gentle hane, lothe to offt-nde an>e of tneLn, 01 whom he had .
receaued eyther benefite or, fiendship: But in conclusion, he fell to tins ful determination-
that yf battaile should nedes succede and folowe, then he of very cluetie was bouiule^and
obliged not to denye nor to forsake the duke of Briteyne, to whom he was so much beliold-
vng, but to aide, assist &comtorle him witli alibis powre, and openly to kepeftoni him all
•wronges and injuries, and to dettude & resiste all his aduf rsaries & enemyes. . Yet in the
meane season^ least he should of the other parte make his high fre-ul his ex-treme enemy, his -
aunswere was to the Ambassadoures that he would take trautiyle & study both to- his great
peyne & coste, that betwene the 1 renche kyng their souereigne lorde& the duke ot Briteyne
both beyng hys indifferent frendes, some gentle pacification or amicable accoide might be
concluded and accented. And so assone as the kynges Ambassadours were dunyssed, he sent
on message Christopher Vrswike.to Charles the Frenche kynge:. First to gratulaie in his be-
halfe the victorye that. he. had obteyned .vpon Maximilian kyng of Romanes- Secondarely, ,
and after to declare what tumulte and insurreccion was here in England, and howe by mere
force and manhood he had vanquished and repressed the rebelles and irayloures, and eyther
destroyed or brought to subieccion, the wnole rablemet and nombre. Thyrdly, otiryug him
selfe
43* THE. IIJ. YERE OF
selfe as a meane and intercessor of peace and amytie betwene the Frenche kynge Charles
and the duke of Briteyne: geuyng hym farther in charge that yf he should perceaue the
Frenche kyng to geue open eare to his request and to enclyne to hys desyre, that then he
shoulde witlfoute delaye resorte to the duke of Briteyne and desyre him to be contented
at liis desyre to endeuer him self to an honorable peace and concorde, rather then to warre
and dubyous dissencion, which peace with Goddes grace he lytle doubted, the duke beynge
wyliyng shortdy to compasse and brynge to conclusion. Whyle Christopher Vrswicke was
traueylynge in thys comissyon, kyng Henry returned with great tryumphe to his cytie and
chambre of London, hauynge the victory and ouerhand of hys enemyes and rebellious ad-
uersaries, wherof the cytezens were very glad & reioysed hartely, consideryng that such da-
ma^es, such oppression, such perel and losse as they thought to haue susteyned, \vas by the
death of such disturbers of peace & traquillitie, as the kyng had late overcome, cleane take
away, auoyded & suppressed. Also the kyng hym self trustyng faithfully that all the brades
of mischiefe kyndled before against him, was by this victory vtterly extinguished & brought
to ashes, could not but be mery & reioyce. For which cause, he shewed him selfe both
lowely & courteous towardes all, rewardyng & promotyng most bountifully & liberally all
such persones, which not only did hasarde their goodes, their possessios, liuynges and sub-
staunce, but also their lyues and bodyes in his defense and quarell. And not longe after, he
delvuered lord Thomas Marques Dorset out of the Towre of London, acceptyng him to
his high fauour and olde familiaritie, because his truth and fidelitie had been tryed and
proued by sondry & dyuerse argumetes and assaies, In which pastyme, the kyng for the
perfyght loue and syncere affeccion that he bare to his queue and wyfe lady Elizabeth, cau-
sed her to be crouned and enoynted quene on saynt Kaiherynes daye in Nouembre withall
solempnytie to suche a high estate & degree apperteignyng. In the meane ceason Christo-
topher Vrswike was come to the Frenche kynge liuyng at Tholouse, & of him after the
most louyng and frendely fassyon that coulde be, receaued and entreteined. And assone as
he had shewed and declared his message, the Frenche kyng shewed hym selfe outwardly, al-
thoughe inwardly he otherwyse entended, to be therewith contended and that very well
pleased that the kyng of Englande shoud be the meane of peace and Arbiter indifferent be-
twene the duke and him. This answeie made, the English Ambassadour tooke his iorney
streyght thcce as he was comauded into Briteyne, and shewed the duke vpon hys Masters
behalfe all thvnges geuen him in charge and comissyon: But the duke (because him selfe
had bene longe sycke and therby his memory and wyt was decayed and appaired) he ap-
poynted to heare the message with other of his councelers, Lewes duke of Orleauce whiche
•u-as fled thether out of Fraiice. When this duke hadhearde the Ambassadours declare their
message, perceauynge that it touched a peace whiche he thought sounded neither to hys v
proffyt nor pleasure, wherfore he beyng somwhat tyckeled with the message answered and
sayed, that it was more mete & conuenient that kyng Henry (consideryng and remembryng
the great kyndenes & humanitie that he had receaued at the dukes hand) shoulde with all the
powre and strength he might, helpc the duke of Briteyne beyng by the Frencheme inuaded with
yron, fyre and bloude, then to attempt or procure any fryuelous or vayne cornposycion or co-
corde. Yea and although he had neither receaued nor remembred any bcnefyte done to him by
the duke, yet should he consydre that the countrey of Briteyne was in maner a bullwerck and a
stronge wall for the Englishmen in defence of the Frenchemen, the which yf yt should come
into the handes of tlie Frenche nacion, then were his continuall enemyes next to the gate of
his realme, whiche thyng he would not suffre if he remebrecl the Prouerbe thatsayth, when
thy neighbours liouse is a fyer, thy staffe stadeth nexte the dore. Thus muche was the duke
of Orlyaunce beyug of the French bloud, an enemy to hys naturall countrey, because that
he beynge next of the bloud royal to the crounc of Fraunce, was repulsed from the chiefe
estate and gouernaunce of the realme, and the kynges suster put in highest authoritie, du-
rynge the ininorite of the kynge, he abandoned his awne natiue countrey, and hauynge
onely refuge in the duchy of Britayne for hys awne sauegarde, profyt and emolumet, spake
3 these
KYNG HENRY THE. VII. 439
these woordes that he declared and opened. For wel he knew, that kyng Henry was not
therof all ignorant, that it was neither protitable nor comodious for y realnie of England, to
hauethe duchy of Briteyne possessed of the Gaules, considering the sea costes of bothethe
countreys, to lye directelye one agaynst the other. Then returned this Christopher agayne
into Frauce, and there taried certayne dayes, declaryng to kyng Charles what aunswer was
made to hym by the Briteynes, & shortly after returned into England agayn. Whyle these
thinges were thus in doynge, the Freche kyng beseged with a great puissaunce the strongeci-
tie of Nauntes in Briteyne. And tin: more gredyer that he was of hys purpose, & the more
hast he made for gayning hys praye, so moch the more did he exhorte y kyng of England
with letters, writyngesand blandymetes, by sondrieand diuers messengers, for to treale and
conclude a peace, vnytie & concorde betuixt the duke of Briteine and hym, fearing least
when he had almost wonne hys race, kynge Henry woulde put hym beside his sadle, whome
he did halfe suspect to be a baclte frende of hys, and prone and ready to take the Brytones
parte.
Wherfore he sent in Ambassade Bernarde a Scotte borne, called y lorde Daubeney, in all
the hast to kyng Henry, to desire hym in any wise to make some ende whatsoeuerit were, of
this warre and controuersy. And thcrupon the kyng beyng desirous of the same, whiche had
rather all thinges might be ended by peace rather then by dynt of sweard, least that he should
be driuen to take parte with the Brytons agaynste the French nacio, elected emong all other,
iii. oratours. The first was Ihon sainct Abbot of Abyndon, Ihon Lilye borne in Luke, the
bishop of Homes collector, doctor of lawe, and Rychard Edgcobc knyght, both for age and
prudent sagaciiie, fatherly, a wyse £ a graue personage, which for renuyng of the olde arnitie,
were commaunded first to go to repaire to the Frenche kyng, and after that to the duke of
Briteyne, to whome he gaue a longe commission with sufficient instruccions. But or euer
these Ambassadours preceded ouer their iorney, Ihon Lilie fel sicke on the gowte, so that
he was not able to traueyle in so long a iorney, and so weightye a busyncs, for whome was
elected and choosen Christopher Vrswike, and so they. iii. sayled into Fraunce (as they were
eomaunded) and when they had communed a space with the Frenche kyng, concernyng
the forme of the peace & concorde to be concluded, Rychard Egecombe, and Christopher
Vrswike, departed streight to the duke of Briteine, thinkinge ye and nothing doubting, but
they there shoulde knyt vp the knot, and finall conclusio of their Ambassade, according to
their awne request and desyre, but all their hope was vayne, and turned to a vanitie. For
the duke, vpon great deliberation, constantly repudiated and refused euery condicion by them
oftred or demanded. Which thinges, when they succeded not accordyng to their exspecta-
cion, the Ambassadours deposinge and relinquisshynge all hope and esperance of any peace
or concord to sorte to any good effect or purpose, reculed backe to the Frenche kyng agayne
defrauded and spoyled of their entent and purpose, and there to hyrn declared what was
their aunswer and linall resolucion, and yet makyng there abode in Fraunce, they intimated
to the kyng of England by their letters all their actes and exployt. But, or their letters came
to the kynges hades, syr Edward, lord Wooduile vncle to the Queue, a valyaunt Capitayne,
and a bokle Chiipion, either abhorryng ease and ydlenes, or inflamed with ardent lone and
aflfeccio toward the duke of Britayne, desyred very earnestly of kynge Henry, y if it were
bys will and pleasure, that he with a conuenient number of good men of warre woulde trans-
port hym selfe into Briteine, for y aide and defence of duke Fraunces, the kynges assured
and proued frende. And least it should sowe or kyndle any dissencioor ingratitude betwene
the Frenche kyug and him, he sayde that he woulde steale priuely ouer, and without any li-
cence or pasporte, as though no man shoujde thinke or double but he were fled, & aban-
doned the realme without any fraude or male engyn. But the kyng, which had a firme
confidence, that peace should be made by the polletique prouision and wyse inuencion of hys
elected Ambassadotirs, woulde in nowise geue the brydle to hys hole, hasty and wilde desire,
but stre^ghtly prohibited hym to attempte anye suche strategeme or enterprice, thinkynge
that it stode not with hys honor to oftende the Frenche kyng, to whome he woulde shewe as
muche
440 THE. II J. YERE OF
inuche amitie and humanitie as he might, for suche a matter that coulde neither greatly pro fite
the Bryttones, nor yet cause hym to surceasse of his appoynted inua&ion and pretensed en-
terprice. Yet this lord Wooduile hauyng playne repulse and denyall of the kynge, could
not thus rest, determined to worke hys busynes sec.ietly without any knowlege of y kyng,
and went strevght into the Isle of wight, wherof he was 'made ruler and capitayne, and there
gathered together a crewe of tall & hardye personages, to the number ot. iiij. C. and with
prosperous wynde and wether 'arryued in Briteyne, and ioyned hym selfe with the Brytons
agaynst the Frenche power and nacion. The rumor of this doyng was sone blowen into the
courte of France, wuiche made the Ambassadours of Englande notsmally abasshed, which
knowing perfightlv y Frenche hartes to be prone and ready at all tymes to reuenge and do
outrage to suche as displeased them, were sodainly afraied least the coinino people coulde
not withoolde their hades from quereling or fraiyng. Albeit the lawe of armes, and the treuth
it selfe did defende and preserue them from .iniury. But whiles the oratoures were in this
perplexite and fear of daungier, and whiles the Frenchmen suspected this facte to be done
by a.cautell of kyng Henry, .there came other new messengers from him to the French kyng,
to purdge hymself to his frend of the suspected ingratitude, certefiyng hym and declaring
(by most euideut tokens & apparant argnmentes) that the lord Wooduile without his knowlege
or consent, was sayled ouer into Britayue with so small a number of men, which smal hand-
,ful, neither it becomed a prince to sende or se t forward, neither yet coulde do to the Bry-
taynes any great aide or succoure : To the which message and excuse, albeit the Frenche
kynge adhibited but small credence, yet he some what mitigate of his angre and furious
agony, dissimuled the matter (accordyng to the Freeh nature) with a flattening countenau nee.
So the Ambassadours renewynge a league and amitie betwene 'thr-ir kyng and hym for. xii.
monethes, returned into Englande againe, and shewed the kyng a 1 such thinges that they had
either heard or sene there. The kyng of England weil perceyued by the report of hys newly
returned Oratoures, that the Frenche kynge wrought ail hys feaU'S by subtyll craft and cloked
collusion, treatyng and mocionynge peace and concorde, when he desyred nothing so much
as discorde and warre, and that purpose he auaunced and set forwarde with sayle
& ower, to the vttennost poynt of his habilite. Wherfore kyng Henry beyng as-
sured of all the French kynges actes and cogitacios, determined now with all cele-
rite to set forth out of hand al such thinges as here before had cocluded, cocerning
the warre of Britayne, as you haue heard. Wherfore he called his high courte of Par-
liament, and there fyrst consulted with the peres and comynaltie of hys real me, for the
aidyng of y duke of Britayne. Then for the^maintenaunce of y warres, diuers suinmes of
money were granted and geuen, beside certayne decrees & actes made for the vtilite of the
common wealth. And assone as the Parliament was ended, he caused mustres to be had hr
certayne places of hys real me, and souldioures mete for the warre to be put in a redynes.
.Yet least peraduenture he might seme willingly to breake the amitie, which was betwene the
Frenche kynge, and hym, he sente diuers notable Ambassadoures into Fraunce, to cerlefye
the Frenche kynge, that of late he haclde kepte a solempne Parliamente, in the whiche it
was condiscended and agreed by the lordes temporall and spiritual!, and knyghtes of coun-
ties, and magistrates of cities, and borou.gh.es of his realme not onely consideryng the relief,
comforte and aide that he had receyued at the dukes hancle, bothe for the sauegard of his
lyfe, and for the recoueryng of hys enhentaunce and kyngdome, but also remembryng that
Brytayne of auncient tyme was subiect & vassal to the realme of Englande, which countrey
also hath been frendly, and aiders to the English nacion when it was vexed, bothe with foreyne
powers and domesticall sedicipn, to aide, comforte and assist the Brytishe nacion with .all
their strength, might and hd.bi.Itte againste all their eneinyes, frendly admonishyng hym
that he should either desist from hys warre in Brytayue newly incepted, or els not be greued
if he did agre (as reason woulde-) to the myndes, iudg^ftient and deterininacion of the
princes and prelates of hys realme, assurynghym iti the woorde of a kynge, that hys armye
should onely discendein the duchy of Brytayne, not to inuadeor make warre in the Frenche
kynges
KYNG HENRY THE. VII. 4-U
kyngos realms or tcrritoryes, but onely to defend the duchy of Britayne, and to profligate
and expell all the intrudors & inuasours of the French nacion, whiche iniustiy occu-
pied.and imnuled tlie Brytannicall tytles and seignories. .With these commaundemetes the
English Ambassadours departed, and declared to the Frenche king ail the inynde and will
of their kyng and souereigne lord. Whiche message he dissimuled as litle to regarde as the
bytyng of a flee, as though the Englishmen in the battaile, whicho lie knewe to be at hande,
•coulde do no enterprice (as it happened in dede) either necessary to be feared or worthy to
be remembred. The cause of hys so saiyng was thys, he knowynge that hys army was puis-
satmt and stronge in Britayne, and that the Britaynes had but a few Englishmen with the lorde
Wooduile, of whome he passed litle, and seyng that Englad hall not yet sent any army the-
ther for the dukes succour, Judged surely that hys army woulde do some great exployte (as
they did in dede) before either the duke shoulde be purueyed or any aide ministred. And
as he imagened SQ it folowed, for the Frenchmen so sore oppressed the countrey of Bri-
tayne and brent and distroyed eities, and beseged the toune of Fogeres, so that the duke
of Britayne was encouraged by the duke of Orliaunce, and other rebelles of the Frenche
kyng, manfully to fight and gene battaile to y Fiech army. And so the. xxv. daye of July
they set forward, & came to a toune whiche the Frenchmen had gotten, called sainct Aulbyne.
The Frenchmen were not ignoraiint of their commyng, but put theim selfes in a redynes.
Of whiche armye was Capytaines, The lorde Lewes of Treuoyle, yyscount of Thonars, a
Gascoyn, Adryan lorde of Mountfalcoysse. On the Brytones parte were cheuetaynes,
Lewes duke of Orliaunce, and the prynce of Orenge, whiche because they and other of
the Frenchemen were all on horsebacke, were mistrusted of the Brytones, least they woulde
at their moost nedeflye.
Wherfore they discended on.fote, and the duke and the prince put the selfes in the bat-
taile of the Almaynes : The Marshal of Rieux was appoynted to the vauntgarde. The mid-
dle warde was delyuered to the lord Dalebret, and the rereward to the lorde Chateaw Bryand,
and to make the Frenchemen beleue that they had a great number of Englishmen (notwith-
standynge there wete but foure hundreth with the lorde Wooduile) they appareled a thou-
sand andseuen hundred Brytons in cotes with red crosses after the English fasshion. When
bothe the armyes were approchyng to the other, the ordinaunce shot so terribly and with
suche a violence, that it sore darnmaged and encombred bothe the parties. When the shot
was finished, bothe the vantgardes ioyned together with suche a force that it was maruell to
beholde. The Englishmen shot so fast, that the Frechmen in the forward, werefayne to re-
cule to the battaile where their horsemen were. The rereward of the Frenchmen, seyng
thys fyrst discofiture began to flye, but the Capitaynes retired their men together agayn, &
the horsetne set fiercely on y Brytaines, and slewe the moost parte of the foteme. When the
forward of the Brytones pereeaued that their horseme nor the Almaines carne not forward
they prouided for the selfes & fled, some here, and some there, where they thought to haue
refuge or succour. So that in conclusio the Frenchme obteyned the victory, & slew all such
as ware red crosses, supposyng the all to be Englishme. In thys coliict were slayn almost all
the Englishmen, & six. M. Brytones, Emogest whome were'founde dead the lorde Wooduile,
& the lord lames Galeas borne in Napels. And of y Brytones there were slayne the lord of
Leon, the lorde Mountfort, the lorde Pontlabbe & many noble Si notable persones of tlie
British nacion. Of the French nacio were slayne. xii. C. persones. The prynce of Orenge,
& the duke of Orliaunce were taken prysoners, which duke (although he were next heyre
apparaut to the croune of Fraiice) should hauc lost hys head, if lady lane his wyfe which
was syster to Charles y Freeh king had not obteined pardo & remissio of his trespasse & of-
fence. Howbeit he was log after kept prysonerin the great Toure at Bourgesin Berry. This
'infortunate metyngchauced toy Britaynes on a moday, beynge the. xxvii. day of luly, in $
yere of our redepcio. M, cccc. Ixxxviij. & in y. iii. yere of kyng Henry the. vii.
When these newes were brought into Englande, the kynge vigilantly forseyng what was
like to chaunce, thought it neeeos »ry to accelerate the mattre before concluded, wherefore
3 L with
442 THE IIIJ. YERE OF
with all spede he sent Robert Lord broke, Syr Ihon Cheyny, syr Ihon Middelton, syr Rau&
Hilton, syr Rychard Corbet, syr Thomas Leighton, syr Richard Laton and syr Edmond
Cornevvall, all lusty and courageous capitaynes with. viij. M. men well armed, and warlike
furnished to ayde and assist the BrytOnes agaynst the Frenchemen. These iolymen of warre
had suche prosperous wynde, that "they arryued in Brytayne euen as they woulde wyshe or
desyre. And after that they had recreated their spirites, and refreshed, them selfes a litle
after their labour and Journey, they puttynge the selfes in good ordre of battaile, marshed
forward toward their enemyes, and not farre from them encamped them selfes. But when
the Frenchmen knew of their landyng whonae they knew by no small experience (and espe-
cially so long as they were freshe and lusty) to be in maner inuincible. And so at the begyn-
iwns they were all blanke, & for feare kept themselfes craftely and polletikly within their
carnpe. And after that, they sent forth a smal company of lighte horsemen, the whiche to
weiy and fatigate the stoute stomackes and haute courages of the English army, made in dir-
uers places of& the army, skyrmysshes, outcryes & alaromes. So for a certayne space they
vsed tnvs kynde of daliyng w the Englishmen, but euer the losse turned to the ^Frenchmen,
& they" bare the woorse away, by reason of the archers y so sore galled the and theyr
horsses with arowes, that their braggyng incursions were sone left and done. But beholde
themutacion of this worlde, whyle this warre was thus set forward, Fraunces duke of Bri-
tayne departed out of this life, so that the Englishmen were in a doubtfull labirinth, and a
great ambiguyte. For the chiefe rulers of the Britaynes^ beyng some of them corrupted with
money, and some stirred with desire of deuision and cotrouersie, fell into deuision emorige
them selfes, so that they semed not to tendre the defence and proteccion of their naturall
countre, but rather mynded the distruccion and vttre confusion of the same. Whiche deui-
sion the Englishmen perceauyng, and also consideryng that it was in y middest of wynter,
in the whiche tyme it is not wholsome for men to lye in the frosty and moyst feeldes, were
compelled in maner by necessitie within, v. monethes that they went forward, to returne backe
agayn in to Englande.
After thys Charles the frenche kynge hauyng thus the vpper hand of the Brytones, percea-
uyng that Maximilian kyng of Romanes laboured to haue in mariage, Anne sole heire to
Frances duke of Britain for her younger suster was late dead, whiche thoughte was neither
for hys profile nor aduantage, concluded a peace with the Brytones. By whiche treatie
he had the lady deliuered into hys possession, & after her deliueraunce, he refusyng and re-
pudiatynge the manage of y lady Margaret, daughter to the forsayd kyng of Romanes, es-
poused y lady Anne duches of Brytayne, by whiche meanes the duchye of Britayne was
annexed to the croune of Fraunce, as here after shall appere when it toke effect, whiche was
not two yeres after.
f THE. IIIJ. YERE.
NQwe to the mony layde out, as concernynge the sumpteousnes of thys battaile. It was
decreed by the. iii. estates (as you haue heard) in Englande before that any souldioures were
sent into Britayne, that for the expence of that warre euery man should be taxed and as-
sessed at the some of hys substaunce, and should paie the tenth penny of hys gooddes for
the maintenaunce of the warre in Britayn. Which money the moost parte of them that
dwelt about the Bishoprike of Durham & Yorkeshire, refused vtterly topaye, either thinking
the selfes ouercharged with the greatnes of the same, and therewith greued, or excited and
procured through the euell counsayll and sedicious persuasion of certayne persones, whiche
preuely conspired agaynst the kynge to put him to new trouble and busines. Therfore suche
as were by the kynges comaundement made Collectoures and gatherers of the summe taxed,
after that they coulde not get the money, accordynge to the extractes to them by the commis-
sioners deliuered, made their complaint preuely to Henry the. iiii. Erie ef Northumberland,
6 chiefe
KYNG HENRY THE. VII. 443
cliicfe ruler of the Northe parties.And he immediatly vpo the knowlege therof, signefied the
kynges grace by hys letters, that the people greatly grudged and murmured, makynge open
Proclarnacion that they haue ben charged of late yeres.with innumerable incommodities and
oppressions, without any defaut or desert, and that now there was a houge some requyred of
them, which neither they were hable to satesfie so great a detnaunde, nor yet woulde once
consent to paye any one peny of the sayde summe requyred. The kynge commaunded the
erle in any wyse by distresse or otherwise accordyng to hys discrccion, to exacte the money of
the people, and by copulsion to enforce sutiie to payment as whyned moost at it, least y it
might appere that the decrees, actesand statutes, made and confirmed by him and hys high
courte of Parliament, shoulde by hys rude and rusticall people be infringed, despised and
vilepended. The rude rashe and vnaduiscd people, hearynge this aunswer of the kynge,
by and by, violenily set vpon the erle by the procurement of a symple felowe called Ihon of
Chambre, whome the erle in treated with fay re woordes to come to reason, but they laiyng
to hys charge that he was the chiefe author £ principall causer of thys taxe and tribute pai-
ynge, both hym and diuers of hys housholde seruauntes, furiously and shamefully murthered
& kylled. Diuers afferme that tne Northenmen bare against this erle continuall grudge,
sith the death of kyug Ryciiard, whome they entirely loued and highly fauoured, whiche se-
cret serpet caused their fury to wade farther then reason coulde retract or restieyne. Al-
thoughe thvs offence were great and heynous, yet ther succeded after a more mischief and a
greater incohuenience. For incontinent the Northenme to cloke the homicide and manslaugh-
ter, by a violence put on their armure and assembled in flockes, and elected to thcim a capi-
tayne called syr Ihon Egremonde knyght, a person no less sedicious then facciousand desi-
rous of trouble, an;l ordred them seifes lyke men of warre, and passynge by the countreys,
they published and declared that they would byd battail to the kynge, onely for the tuicion
and defence of their common libertye and fredome, whiche he woulde plu&ke. and by hys
extreme power take & bereue fro the. But when their cause should be decided with blowes
& handstrokes, their fury was asswaged £ refrigerate, their hartes were in their liecles, &
their stomackes as coulde as any stone, & euery one wished v this tumult were retracted £
queched, which was now al ready not smokynge but enflamed : and in coclusion, euery in. in
ra-nne awaye, some this way, £ some that way, as men amased when they lacke council,
skatered & dispersed in diuers places. When euery ma was returned, the mattre was ended
as they imagened, but while they diligently laboured to saue their lifes by tliglit, they sought
their awne destruccio. For the moost parte of the were punyshed by death or by impryso-
ment for the same offence. For the kyng heryng of this tumulteous busynes, sent forth
Thomas erle of Surrey, whome not log after he had deliuered out of y Toure, £ receaued to
his grace £ especial fauour (as he was both for his wit £ fjdelite wel worthy) with acopetent
creweof me into the North partes, which skyrmished w a certayne copany Si discofited the,
& toke a lyue Ihon a chfibre the first beginner of this rebellio. The kyng hym self roade af-
ter the erle into Yorkeshire, of whose coming the slaues & sturdy rebelles were so abashed
& a fiayed, that they fled more £ Icsse, which afterwarde were apprehended & greuously
punished aCcordyug to their demerites & deseruyng. Yet the kyng of hys magnificent mynde,
pcrdoned the innocent £ rural people, & placed £ executed y inuenters of the mischief, &
the furtherers of the same. For Ihon a chfibre was hanged at Yorke, vpon a gybbet set vpon
a square paire of gallowes, lyke an archetraytoui'e, & hys complices & lewde disciples were
hftged on the lower gallowes roude aboute their mayster, to the terrible example of all other.
But syr Ihon Egremod, whome these bedicious persons preferred to be their Capitayn, fled
into Flauders to ^ lady Margaret duches of Burgoyne, whiche euei' enuied the prosperite
kynge Henry.
When this folishe enterprice was thus quenched, the kyng gaue cotnission & charge to syr
Rychard Tunslall knyght, a man of greate wyt, pollecie &discrecion, to gather and receaue
the subsidie to hym dewe of the people, and he hym selfe returned shortely to London, lea-
uynge the erle of Surrey to rule the Northpartes, perceauynge well the Englishmen, not so
3 L 2 muche
444 THE. IIIJ. YERE OF
muche to grudge at the paymente of the taxe or tribute, as they did grone at the excessyue
and importable some vpon the assessed, remembryng the okle prouerbe loue me litle and
loue md lonce. And thys was the yere of our Lorde. M. cccc. xc. and the fourth yere ot
thys kynges reigne.
Before this tyme, Maximiliaen kynge of Romanes, whicHe as you haue heard in the tyme
of kynge Edwarde the. iiij. had contrary to the mynde and will of the French kyng espoused-
lady Maine, daughter £ heyre to Lewes the French kynge, and by her had issue, a sonne
" called Philip, and Margaret whiche was affied to Charles the. vii. Frenche kyng and by hyrn
repudiate and forsaken, was sore offended & greatly greued with the Flernynges, but moost of
all with the Gauntoys and Brugians, for kepyng from him perforce hys sonne & heyre duke
Philip, whiche neither by gentle request nor cruell menace woulde deliuer the sonne to hys
naturall father and lawful parent. Wherfore the king Maximilaen assembled a company
of Almaynes & Ouerlanders (for he did not greatly put hys confidence in the Brabanders
nor Hollanders) and made sharpe warre on the Flemynges, in the whiche he litle preuayled.
For the Flemynges sent to the Frenche kynge for aide & succour, whiche beyng glad of that
request, sent'Philip de Creuecure lorde Desquerdes, commonly called the lorde Cordesinto-
the confines of Flaunders with a great army of men, to aide and succour the Fleminges,
trustynge by that meanes to obteyne bothe the possession of y young enfaunt duke Philip,
and the whole countrey of Flaunders. Wherfore Maximilian entending to allure the Flem-
ynges from the Frenchmen, beganne first to practise with them of Bruges, of whyche toune
the grauous men, sone condiscended and astipulat to reason, requyringe hym to come to
their toune, and sent to hym with their request, the Sctilt called Peter Longoll with diuers
other, to aduertise hym that at hys comynge thither, he should fynde hym conformable to hys
M vll, pleasure and request. Vpon trust u-herof he entred into the toune smally aecompanyed,
and came before the toune, thinkyng that the lordes and senate woulde Joyously haue re-
ceaued and welcomed hym. But the whole turned clene contrary, for the lyght witted per-
sons, to whome peace was treason, and concord venemous poyson, takyng this occasion to-
theim offred, cryed to harneys. When they, whiche had brought the kyng into the toune,
sawe the tumult of the people, and that no man came to their relief, they left their lord post
alone, and fled into corners. The warden of the smythes was the chief of the route, which
bad the kyng to take pacience a whyle, and he should haue a gentle imprysonement, and so
conueighed hym to the house of Ihon Grosse, iudge of the audience. Then the Almaynes-
•were all banished, the toune and the lordes of Gaut were sent for, whiche taried not longe.
When they had the praye that they espected, fyrst diuers citezens whiche they thought fa-
uourahle to Maximiliaen they beheaded. Mathew Spert, one of hys chief counsailours and
trusty frendes, was sent to Gaunt, and there put to death. lames Dudenezell, & James of
here. ii. \vyse burgeses, notwithstandynge that all the priestes and religious of the toune made
intercession for theim, were at Bruges executed. Then Ihon Capenoll a busy rnerchaunt,
woulde in all haste haue rydden to induct the French kyng as their souereigne lorde, ta
whome the moost parte woulde in nowyse a stipulate nor consent, nor yet entended to clis-
hcneryt the yonge duke Philippe of hys graunclfathers inheritaunce.
When execucion was done of the wyse and sad counsaylers, y newe made rulers caused
theyr prynce kynge Maximilien to be broughte to the toune house, and there they layed to hys
charge, that he had not obserued the treatie, whiche they of Gaunt and Bruges had concluded
w the French kyng. Secondarely, they alledged that he put high Almaynes in ofticies and
great authoritie, whiche without their assent woulde haue chaunged and inhaunced their
coyne and money to their great prejudice and detriment. Many other ridiculous articles
they layde to hym, whiche the eares of euery honest creature knowynge the duetie of the
subiect to hys prynce, woulde abhorre and floccipend, to the whiche he so wisely and boldely
aanswered, that in parte he asswaged their malice, and mitigated their rage. In'so much that
lie was more gentler entreated then he was before. For if hys aunswer had been to the dis-
pleasaunt, or if he had menaced them but one woorde, I thinke in their furye they woulde
haue
KYNG HENRY THE. VII. 44J
haue dispatched him out of hys lyfe and lande. The Gautoys woulde haue deliuered hym
to the Frenche king, hut the Brugias woulde not assent. Ihcy of Gaunt desyred to haue
him in their custody in Gaunt, hut y citezens of Bruges vtterly denied hys deliuery. Wher-
fore the Gauntoyes in great displeasure departed. After whose departure the Brugians were
content to set hym at lihmie, so that he and diuers of hys nobilitie should sweare on the
holy Sacrament, not onely to remit, pardon and forge ue all offences perpetrated and com-
mitted hy them of Flaunders, but also shoulde sweare and promes, neither to remenibre nor
reuege thesame. Thys othe he sware in the great Church of Bruges, and the lord of Raue-
ston called Philip Mounseur, and the lord of Beuers anddiuerse other sware thesame, addyng
therunto, that if he did attempt any thynge cotrary to hys othe and promes, then they sware
to take parte with the good tounes of Flaunders agaynste hym and his adherehtes. And
vpon this promes he was deliuered and frakely set at libertie.
But Frederick the Emperour coulde not forget the reproche & despite that was shewed to
hym in hys sonne, and the great injury & wrog that was done to his bonne partely to hys dis-
honour, scourged Flaunders with sharpe warre and mortall affliccions (Maximilian
liyng in quyet and nothyng attemptynge) but Philip Mounceur, lorde of Raueston, the
whiche toke hys othe with kyng Maximilian, to shewe that the warre was renouate without
hys knowledge and assente, forsooke Maximilian hys lord, and toke the tounes of Ypere,
and Sluse, with both the Castels of thesame hauen, which he manned and viteyled, and kept
two yeres agaynst the power of Maximilian, till he rendred theim to syr Edward Pownynges
sent thether by the kynge of Englande, as you shall hereafter well perceaue. Beside this,
the foresayde Philip not onely exacted and stirred the Gauntoys, Brugians and other tounes
of Flaunders, to rebell agaynst their souereygne lorde, but also sent to the lorde Cordes, to
aide hym to conquere suche tounes of Flaunders, as were not of their opinion and confede-
racy. This lord Conies, which vntruly reuolted from duke Charles of Burgoyne, beyng hys
bryngervp and chief preferrer to Lewes the Freeh kyng (as you haue heard before) \vas glad
of thys, and so sent to the aide of the Fleminges. viii. M. Frenchmen, willyng them to take and
conquere such tounes, as were in the waye betwene Fraunce and Bruges, or Caleys and
Bruges. The Capitaynes foloivynge hys deuice, beseged a litle waKed toune, called Dipe-
uew, to whome came. iiii. M. Flemvnges with vitayle and artillary, sent from Philip Moun-
seur. They layed siege on the Northsyde of the toune in a marishe groude then beyng drye,
and so depely dyched their campe, and so highly trenched it, on whiche trenche they layed
their ordinaunce, that it was in maner impossible to entre into their campe, or to do them
any displeasure or dammage. The kynge of Englande was dayly aduertised of these do-
ynges, whiche nothing lesse desyred then to haue the English pale and territory, enuy-
rtfned with French fortresses. For he perceaued well that if the Frecheme gate Dipenewe,
they would afterward assaile Newport and Grauelynge, and cosequently, what \v force and
what with corruption of rewardes, their purpose was to haue the possession of duke Philip,
and all Flaunders, whiche shoulde not be to the profile of hym nor hys subicctes. Wherforc
this. v. yere, sodeinly with great expedicion he sent ouer to the lord Dawbeney to Caleys,
the lord Morley with a Crevve of valiaunt archers and souldiours, to the number of a. M.
men, with preuy instruccions what they shoulde do. When they were laded, they published
and sayed that they came to defende the English pale, if the Frenchemen or Flemynges
would attept any mastryes there: But their entcrprice was all otherwise. For on a Tuesdaye
at the shuttyng of the gates at nyghte, the lorde Dawbeney chefetayne of the army, tiie lorde
Morley, Syr lames Tyrrell, Capitayne of Guysnes, Syr Henry Willpughby, Syr Gylbert Tal-
bot, syr Homfrey Talbot, Marshall of Caleys, and diuers other knightes and Esquyers, and
other of the garrison of Ilarnmes. Guysnes and Caleys, to the numbre of two. M. men or
there aboute, issued preuely oute of Caleys, and passed the water of Grauelynge in the
mornynge be tymes, and left there for a stale and to kepe the passage syr Hoaiirey Talbot
with. vi. skore archers, and came to Newporte, where they founde y soueraygiie of Flaiiders
with. vi. C. Almaynes, and there they commoned and paused that nyght.
On
446 THE. V. YERE OF
On the next day as they came secretly toward Dipinew (se y chauce) at a place of execa-
cion, nere the high wave was a Gaiitoys (which was come out of the army for a spye, and
appreheded by them of Dipenew) led to hangyng, which emongest the Englishrae knew syr
lames Tyrrell, and called to hym for comfort and succoure, promisynge hytn that if he
•woulde saue hys lyfe, he woulde guyde theim where they shoulde entre on the Gauntoys, to
their honour and aduauntage, and he woulde be the first assaylaunt of all the company.
When hys promes was regarded, after request made to the Borough masters and capitaynes
of the toune, he-was perdoned but not deliuered. The nextdaye in y mornyng, after they
had ordred their army, their guyde conueyghed theim out at the Southgate of the toune by
a high banke set with willowes,' so that the Gauntoysses coulde not wel espie them, and so se-
cretly came to the ende of the campe of their enemyes and there paused. The lorde Daubeney
commaundeddllmen to sende their horses & wagonsbacke, but the lord Moiley sayde he woulde
ryde tyll he came to handstrokes (but he was deceaued) so they passed on tyll they came to a
Jowe bancke and no depe dyche, where their ordinaunce laye, and there the archers shote alto-
gether euery man an arrowe, and so full prostrate to y groud, their enemyes discharged their
ordinaunce all atones, and ouershot the. Tiie archers roase and shot agayn, and bet them
from their ordinauce. The Almaynes lept ouer tiie dyche with their morisbe pykes, the En-
glishmen in the forefront waded the dyche, and were holpen vp by the Ahiiaynes, and set on
their enemies, and slew and toke many prisoners. The other Englishmen hasted bythecawsey
to entre in at the Northgate of the campe, where the lord Alorley being on horsbacke in u ryche
coate was slayne with a gonne. When his death was know en, euery man kylled hys prisoner
and slewe all such as did withstad them to the number of. viij. M. men, in somueh that of. ii.
M. that came out of Bruges (as the Flemysh chronicle repo.teth) there came not home an
hundred. There were slayne in the sayd place two chief capitaynes, George Peccanet, and
Anthony Nyewnhome. On the English parte was slayn the lord Alorley, and not an hundred
moo. The Englishmen toke their ordinaunce and sent it to Newport with al their spoyle
and great horses. And by the waye, hearyng certayne Frencheme to be at Ostend, they made
thetherward, but the Frenchmen fled, and so they burned parte of the tonne, and came
agayne to Newport, where the lord Dawbeney left all the Englishmen that were hurt or
wounded, and carved with hym the dead corp'is of the lorde Moiley, and buryed it honor-
ably at Caleys. Thys felde was profitable to the Englishmen, for they that went forth in
clothe, came home in sylke, and they that wet out on foote, came home on great horsses,
suche is the chaunce of victory.
The lorde Cordes, beyng at Yper with. xx. M . men, was sore discontent with this ouer-
throwe, wherefore he thynkyng to be reuenged, came and beseged tiie toune of Newport
strogely (the which capitayne, Aloseur de Merwede, before capitayne of Dipenew, and all
the gentc linen of Westflaunders, and the thre principall cities of Flaunders, viteylcd tiie
Frenche hoost so wel that all thinges was to good chepe) they without shot at the wailes,
and brake the in manv places, and they within sore greued them without with their artiliary.
But the Englishmen y were hurts at Dixmewe i'elde before, and might eyther stand or drawe
a bowe, neuer came from the wailes. One day the Frenchmen gaue a great assaute to a
Tovvre, and perforce entred it, and set vp the banner of the lorde Cordes: but as God
•woulde, during the time of the assaute there arryued from Caleys, a Barke with. Ixxx. fresh
Englishe archers, which came streiglit to the Towre. The wome of tiie tonne, perceiuynge
the Englishmen come, cryed with lamentable and loude voyces, helpe Englishmen, helpe
Englishmen, shute Englishmen, shote Englishmen, so that, "what with the helpe of such as
before were wounded and hurte men, and of the courageous hartes of the new come Archers,
and the stoute sfomackes and diligency of the women, which as fast as the Englishmen strake
doune the enemyes, the women were ready to cut their throtes, they wanne agayne the Towre,
and slewe the Frenchmen, & ret the banner of the lorde Cordes and set vp the penon
of saynct George. Then the Frenchme, supposyng a great aide of Englishemen, to haue
bene come to the toune by sea, left the assaulte. And the night folowyng the couetous lord
Cordes
KYNG HENRY THE. VII. 447
Cordes (which so sore loged for Caleys, y he would commonly save that he would gladly
lye. vii. yercs in hell, so y Caleys were in the possession of the Frenchmen) brake vp hys
siege and shamefully returned to Hesdyng, And the Englishmen glad of this victory re-
turned agayne to Caleys.
Thisyere also, the realme of Scotlad suffered an infeccious & mortal! plage, because the
name of lames the third kyng of Scottes was so odyous, so hated and disdayned of the
whole nobilitie of the realme of Scotlande, chiefly because they perceaued that lie set more
by vile borne vileyns and light persones, then by the princes and nobles of nys realme, as I
haue declared to you in the history of kyng Edward the. iiii. which mischiefe and vngrate
discotnmoditie, after they had tollerated and paciently suffred no small tyme to their great
grudge & displeasour. They now thought it most expediet for their purpose & welfare,
euen by force of armes to recouer their pristinate libertie and auncient frcedome. There-
fore makyng preuely a coniuracid and cospiracy together agaynst their prynce and soueraigne
lorde, copassed his death and destruccion. Yet that it inighte not be thoughte that they
did intende the destruccion of their natyue countrey, they made the kynges sonne named
after hys father lames, prince of Rothsay (a chylde borne to goodnes and vertue) their
Capitayne, in maner against hys will, openly protesting, that they purposed the confusion,
affliccion and deposyng of an euell kynge and wretched prynce, and not the subuersion &
destruccio of their coutrey : by which craftie ymagened inuecion they might eyther cloke or
propulse from the all suspicion, of their purposed vntruthe and shamefull disloyaltye. Wlier?
of the kynge beynge credibly informed, was pensyfe, sorie, carefull, vexed and sore tor-
meted in his mynd, for this cause in especiall, that he should haue cyuile dis^encion with
hys awne subjects and nali'ue country men, yee & agaynst his awne sonne beynge made
Capyteyne of that vntrewe and peruerse company, whome next to him selfe he loued. fa-
uoured and honoured, ymagenynge with him selfe that this comocyon sounded to none other
effect but that the hed should fight and stryue with the other mebres and partes of the na-
tural body : and yet on the other syde, not to resvst shortly theyr newe incepted entreprice
might easeiy encourage & inflame the malicious heartes of his domesticall enemyes with
more boldenes & audacite to attept farther mischef & mcouenieee. Therfore to thetent to make
a plaster for both these sores to be healed: Fyrst to apease and assuage the fury and rumour
of the people, being this in a rage, he prepared an army of me. After that he sent Arn-
bassadours to his sonne and the nobilitee assembled with him, for a loue, peace, concorde,
quictnes and vnitee to be concluded emongest them. Also he sent letters to y kyng of
Englande and the French kynge, requytkige them that they woulde. vouchesafe with their
good and Godly counsail, helpe & assaye to mitigate and asswage this furious enormitie of
his rude and sauage people, wliich was incepted and begonne thorough the perswasion and
procurement of certeine pernicious and sedicious persones. And besides this, he wrote to
the bishop of Rome Innocet for thesame matter, in the which he earnestly obtested, desy-
red & prayed him that he would of his goodnes, faith & charite sende some one legate to
these rebellesof his nobilitit% to charge and commaunde, that they scttynge aside all warre
and hostilite, embrace quietnes, rest and vnitee.
This miserable decrepite and aged kyng, thinkynge that bothe delaiyngeand continuaunce
of time, and also the entreating and hartye prayers of -his frendes and alies would quenche
and mollerie their inordinate wildenes and furious rage, and persuade the to sobriete and
good confer mite, had rather with these, and other sembleuble medecyncs remedie thisyonge
springyng sore, tlu-n he woulde haue it experimented, and tryed with cyuyle battaile and
intestine destruccion, which he thought to be a thing bothe vngodly, vnnatural' and exe-
crable. For. all this, no medecyne, no cousail, no wholsome preceptes could appease or
pacefie the angry myndes and ragynge wittes of the Scottishe nobilitie, so much were they
addicted and bent too this folye and vnreasonable madnes. In so much, as to the messen-
gers sent from him to the beyng their soueraygne lorde, they made this vnreasonable and
vnhonest auuswer, that is: yf he would resigne the tytle of his croune & realm and de-
pose
448 THE. V. YERE OF
pose him selfe of his royall dignite, then they would c5men with hym of a peace, or els
their eares were stopped from heryug of any entreatie or persuasion. Thesame aunswer
brou^hte the Ambassadour of Englandc and Fraunce to their princes, whiche sore lament-
ed and deplored the peruerse fortune and tnischaunce of their frede the Scottish kyng, as
though they had bene partakers of his affliccio : But Adda the bishop of Homes legate,' of
vhomc we will speake more hereafter came to late, and as who should saye, a daye after
the faire.
When nothynge coulde moue or perce these stony hartes or frosty myndes of the nobilitie
of Scotland : In conclusion they met together in a pitched feelde, where after great slaugh-
ter of many men, the poore sely kynge fled into a Myll for succoure, whether he was fo-
lowed and prosecuted, and there shamefully murthcred, and vnreuerently, (not lyke a
prynce or a crouned kynge) left starke naked lyke a stinkyng caryon. Then the prynces of
Scotland beynge saciat and filled with the blood and slaughter of their soueraygne lorde and
kynge (thynkinge that they had well reuenged th,e olde displeasures to theim done and com-
mitted by kyng lames the thirde) set vp in the trone and estate royall, the prince hys sonne,
and named hym lames the. iiii. of that name.
Before this tyme, as you haue heard, Innocet bishop of Rome had sent in legacye Adryan
of Castella, a man of hetouria borne in y tonne of Cornete, called in the olde tyme New-
castel, which should haue gone to Scotlande, too haue pacetied by hys authentic and com-
maundement thys troublesome busynes, moued and slurred betwene the kyng and his sub-
iectes. Yet this man, although he made many great iourneys, when he came to England,
wasenformed of the kynge, to whome he hadde certayne commaundementes and messages
to saye from the Romyshe Bishop, that he came to late for too accouiplysh the commission
of his legacy, asserteynynge him that the Scottishe kynge was dead, gentely aduisinge hym,
that he should not moue one foote ferther but tary still in Englande, where he was not past
two dayes, but that he was playnly certefied by the Bishops of Scotlande of the kynges
death. This Adryan taryed certayne monethes after this in Englad and was made much of,
and highly commended and lawded too the kyng by Ihon Morton bishop of Caunterbury,
whiche for the good learnyng, vertue, & humanite, that he sawe and perceaued to be in
him shewed to hym all poyntes of humanite and frendshippe, that a frende might do to a
frende. And vpon hys commendacion, the kynge thynkynge thys man woorthy to be look-
ed vpon, and mete to do the kynge pleasure, muche phantasied and more fauoured this
legate Adryan, in somuche as he was Oratourand solicited his cause, bothe to Innocet and
also to Alexander the sixt, Bishops of Rome. And after this, for his diligent seruyce, he
so loued and fauoured him y he made him Bishop of Hertford, and shortely after, that re-
signed & geuen ouer, he promoted hym to the Bishoprike of Welles and Bathe. And not
longe after this Adryan was returned with these honoures to Rome, where he was promoted
successiuely by ail the degrees of spiritual dignitees into the College and societee of Car-
dinalles. For Innocent fyrste made him his Collectour in England, and also one of the.
vii. Prothonotaries. After this Alexander the. vi. had hym as one of hys priuye counsayll,
and promoted him to the degree of a Cardmall: But who is that I praye you that will mer-
uell at this, which aswell may he geue to fooles and dyzerdes as to wise and well learned
men: There is another prayse of this Adrian, and thesame in maner eternall: The ma.nne
was of profounde learninge and knowlege, not vulgare, but straunge, newe and difficile,
and in especial he was a man of a ripe Judgement in electinge and chosynge concinnate
termes, end apte and eloquente woordes, whiche firste of our tyme, after that golden
worlde of Tully, moued men with his writyngc to imitate and foloe the moost approbate,
and allowed authours that were of eloquecie, and taught y trade and phrase to speake fyne,
pure, freshe and cleane latyn, so that by his example and docmuft, eloquece flourished
:at this houre in all places of Christendome, wherfore after my iudgemet he is not woorthie
to be put in obliuion: but now to mv purpose.
4 THE
KYNG HENRY THE. VII. 449
THE VI. YERE.
THe Britishe affaires in the meane ceason, because that all discorde was not pacefied and
appeased, beganne agayne nowe to flowe out and to trouble, and set all thynges in a newe
broyle and busynes. For Maximilian kynge of Romaynes beynge without a wife, before
this tyme, made suite to Frances duke of Briteyne, to haue in manage the lady Anne hys
daughter, to the whiche request the duke gentely coridiscended. And one, whiche by proxie
wooed for him: too the entent that the lady shoulde performe that she promised on her
faith and honour, he vsed a new inuencio and tricke, after this maner: When the lady did
take her chambre, the night after the aftiaunce, she was layed naked in the bride bed, in
the presence of diuerse noble matrones and Prynces, called thether as witnesses. The pro-
curatour or Deputie for the husbande whiche represented his person, was layde in the place
of her husbande, and put one of his legges into the bed vp to the harde knee, in the sight
and compafgny of many noble personages, as who said that the virgin had bene carnally
knowen, and so the matrimony perfighte and consummate, and they two as man & wyfe.
But this fonde new founde ceremony was little regarded and lesse esterned, of hym that
onely studyed and watched, howe to surrept and steale this turtle oute of her mewe and
lodgynge. For Charles the Frenche kynge (as no ma can blame hym) was desyrous and
gredy too be coupled in manage, wyth so great an inhcritoure, and reputynge the mariage
made with Maximilian, to be of no validite and effect, the more busely and incessantly he
made sharpe warre, & skourged the Brytones, to thentent he might bothe haue the lady
and her dominions also at hys will and pleasure. But he imagined that the kynge of Eng-
lande woulde caste a trurnpe in his waye, and be an impediment to his purpose by send-
ynge into Britayne a newe army of Englishemen, for he had intelligence by his preuy fau-
tours.
Kynge Henry and Ferdinando kyng of Spaygne, were fully decreed to aide, assist and
defende the duches and duchie of Briteyn, in all jeopardies and aduentures, to thentent that
they agaynst their will and affeccion should not be by force compelled, to submit them
selfes to the subieccion and ponderous yoke of the Frenche kynge. For the whiche cause,
these two princes were ioyned in a league and confederacy to resist and propulse this ma-
nifest wronge and apparant iniurie. Wherfore he sent in all post hast the lord Frances
of Luxenborongh, Charles Marignane, and Robert Gagime, ministre of the bone homes
of the Trinitee, to kyng Henry for a peace to be confirmed & had, which whe they came
before the kynges presence, were accepted and entreteyned afier the best maner. And
when they were demaunded of theffect of their legacion, their request was that kyng Charles,
as chiefe and supreme lord ouer the seignorie & duchye of Briteyne, might without any
spot of ingratitude to be imagined or conceaued by kynge Henry, lawfully ordre and dis-
pose at his will and pleasure the mariage of lady Anne of Briteyne, as his ward& orphan,
without any let and distnrhaunce of the kynge of Englad, or any of his alies and confede-
rates. Kyng Hery thereto would not condiscende, but still harped on this stryng, that the
virgyn, whiche was lawfully cornbyned in matrymony with Maximilian kynge of Romans,
shoulde not be compelled agaynste her wil and promes (beynge contrary to all lawe, right
and equitie) too take any other person then hym to her spouse and husband, for that it was
clerely repugnaunt to all veritie and lawe, both of God and man. So when they had lyn-
gred the tyme, and consumed many dayes in vayne argumentes and superfluous reasons,
without any of their requestes obteyned : after longe debatyng and consultacion, they were
resolued on this poynte, least it shoulde be thoughte that all their legacion had bene in vayne
and brought to no efncacie or purpose, a forme of a league and amitie shoulde be drawen
with condicions, clauses and couenauntes. And for the farther furtheraunce of that pur-
pose, it was thoughte necessary and expedient that the kynge of Englande shoulde sende
3 M Ambassadors
THE. VI. YERE OF
Ambassadours to the Frenche kynge, whiche in hys name and by his authoritee might
breuely conclude and finishe the league and treatie that was in communicacion incepted and
be<fonne. Whereupon kynge Henry dismissed the Frenche Ambassadours laden with am-
ple & large rewardes into" their countrey, and dispatched and sent streyghte after them by
hys commission and authorite, Thomas erle of Ormond, and Thomas Goldeston prior of
Christes churche in Cauntourbury hys Oratours and Ambassadonrs, to Charles the French
kyng instructing them fully of all thinges that he would haue either moued or determined.
In this meane space, Alexander bishop of Rome y. vi. of that name whiche succeded
after Innocent, a man full of diligece and of wit pregnant, sent Lyonell bishop of Con-
corde legate, to the Frenche kyng for certaine matters, and emong other thinges, gaue him
in charge to conclude a peace and vnitie betwene king Charles and king Henry. Whe he
had declared his message to the French kynge fully, and had easely obteyned all thinges
that he requyred, then he began to moue vhto. the French kyng and his nobles, with a
lon»e and prolixe exhortacion to make and conclude a perpetual peace, betwene him and
tfift king of Englande. And when he perceaued the Frenchemen to make no greate denyall
to his request, Tie determyned to attempt and moue kyng Hery to concente and agree to
thesame desire and peticion : and toke hys iourney towardes England, and at Caleys he
encountred the Ambassadours, both of Englande and of Fraunce, which receaued hym into
the toune of Caleys, with many ceremonies and great reuerece. Where after they had com-
muned the matter a certayn space, as cocerning their affaires and busynes, they departed
toward the Freeh kyng, & the Bishop was transported into England. The kyng honorably
receaued & gentely entreteyned this Orator Lyonell, and gaue good eare to his iuculent &
eloquent oracion, wherin he persuaded him with many flatteryng and glosinge woordcs, to
entre into a league and amitie with kyng Charles of Fraunce, and the Frenche nation.
To the whiche request the kyng made aunswer that he would be glad and ioyous, if it
might be compassed and brought aboute, after foge trouble and pernicious dissencion to
lyue in peace and mutual amite with all christeme. Bishop Lyonel perceauyng the kynges
rnynde and intent, reculed again to Fraunce with. all spede and diligence (and as it was
inete and decent for the bisho'p of Concord) he determined to extirpate and dryue out of
the kynges memory all olde reconynges and iniuries done too him heretofore, and plant if it
might be, in his hart and minde, the very goodly and gracious greyne of concord and
vnitie.
The Englishe Ambassadours, then being with the Frenche kynge purposed and setforth
articles and conclusions of peace. The Frenchmen prudently made aunswer, so that on
bothe parties the matter was poilitiquely and artificially proponed and oppugned. The
Englishe Ambassadours, to thentent that they might assente and obtayne a fewe thinges,
whiche they muche desired, required & demaunded many great and diuerse thinges. The
Frenchmen on the other side, mynding to assent to no one demaund at thend, did denye
& repudiate all Thenglishmens desyres, and conditions, and were sore angry and moued
with their great reqiiestes and high demaundes. And in the meane ceason, trustyng more
to their coffers then to their cheualry, as the maner of their countrey is, for to obteyn
their purpose, they spare not to disburse and launche out treasure, giftes and rewardes in-
numerable, whiche is the very cause that they conquere more with crounes of gold, then
with speare and shylde, or dynt of swerde in battaile. So that shortely after the Frenche
kyng, sent to y noble men of Briteyn great & many rewardes, solicityng, exhortyng, and
praiyng them all to become his subiectes and vassals. And in especiall he allured and en-
ticed with moost flatterynge woordes and trappynge termes, the lady Anne by such honora-
ble matrones and ladies, as had the gouernaunce and education of her to confirrne her self
true to him in due obedience and loue, and not disdeyne to be coupled in such a noble ma-
riage, with so high and mightie a prynce, as kyng Charles was. And least perauenture the
Damosell fearyng the rigour of the Ecclesiastical! lawes woulde not consent too hym for
offending her conscience and infringyng her promes : To aduoyde that scruple, he caused
1 diuerse
KYNG HENRY THE. VII. 451
diuerse to inculcate and put in her hed & ty ttle in her eare, that the manage made with Maxi-
milian was of no stregth and lesse efficacy, considcrynge that it was concluded and made with-
out the consent, agrementand will of him, which is the chiefe lorde and ought to haue the
gouernaunce ouer her as his warde, & the whole duchy of Briteyne, assuring her that she
was deluded, and that the manage with Maximilian was ncuer consummate nor perfight.
And this was the very cause that no sure concorde or peace could be concluded & agreed
betwene these two Prynces. And where as the Freeh kyng had long kept with hym the lady
Margaret, daughter to Maximilian and her solemply espoused at Amboys, he sayde that
that manage might be lawfully dissolued agayne, because the lady was of that age, that she
coulde neither be geuen nor yet taken in manage, for whiche cause he might lawfully repu-
diate and honestly putherfrom him.
By this crafte and perswasion they led and entised the fayre mayden, suspectyng none euell
and brought her to this poynt, that in conclusion, she beyng proclaimed by diners, Prynces
of Briteyne, subornate and corrupted with mede contrary to their duetie and allegeauce,
was content tocondissendeand agree to that the Frenchmen demaunded, £ not onely to sub-
mit her selfe to the French kyng, but also to take him to her make and husband, by the rea-
son whereof the warre mighte ccasse, whiche with violencie and impression of thesame, had
infested and afflicted all her whole countrey. To this rnariage agreed all the nobilitie of Bri-
teyne, wliithe lielde of the French parte, thinkingeit verily for the auauncement of the com <
inon weale and their ease, because to trust to y power of Maximilian, which was of no
puyssauce, they thought it veyne and of no efficacy. And when the Freeh kyng had composed
and or.dred hys matters of this fassion, preuely with the lady Anne, he accelerated the ma-
nage with all the expedicion and diligence that was posssible: So thatthe English Ambassa-
dours returned agayn to their coutrey, .and nothing doen or agreed vpou their matter.
Kyng Henry, still paciently forbearynge and suffryng till such time that he perceaued
more playnly what way the worlde went: ahd vnderstandyng before the returne of his Am-
bassadours, that the Frenchmen rneaned none other but playne guyle, fraude and deceipte,
determined no more with peaseable legacions, but with ope warre to finish and determyna'll
controuersies and displeasures betwene him and the French kyng. Wherfore he sommoned
his courte of Parliament, and there declared first y cause why he was iustly prouoked to
make warre agalst the Frencbe kyng: And after desyred them of their beneuolent aide of
men and money for the maintenaunce of thesame. The cause of this battaill, euery man
did allowe and approbate, and to the settynge foorth of thesame, promysed their Industrie,
labour and all that they could make. The kynge commendynge them for their true and lou-
ynge hartes, too thentent he might not aggrauate the common people, with paiynge of great
taxes and summes of money, whome his mynde was euer to kepe in fauour, woulde fyrst ex-
acte money by a litle & a litle of y beneuolent mynde of the ryche sorte, and this kynde' of
exaccion was first excogitated by kyng Edward the. iiii. as it appereth before in his story.
The: fore he consulted with his frendes, to inuenthowe to gather together a great summe of Ab
money, and published abrode that by their open giftes he woulde measure and searche their Kcc>
beneuolent hartes & louing myndes towarde hym, so that he that gaue mooste shoulde be
iudged to be mooste louynge frende, and he that gaue litle, to be estemed accordynge to his
gifte: By this a man maye apparauntly perceaue as it were for a great common wealth, that
that thinge that is once practised for the vtilitee of a prince, and bronghte too a president
by matter of rccorde, maye be turned to the great preiudice of the people, if rulers in au-
thoritie will so adiudge and determyn it. So by thys meanes the Kynge gathered innumerable
summes of money, with some grudge of the, .people for the extremitee shewed by the com-
missioners in dyuerse places.
You haue heard before how Philip Mounsure, lord of Raueston by the aide of Bruges
& Gaunt hmd taken the toune &. ii. castels of Sluys and was become aduersarie to Maximi-
lian, by ru-soa of the, iii. chiefe cytyesof-Flaunders: Now ye shall vnderstand that he did
not onely so fortgfie as well with municions as men, both the toune and. ii, Castels, but also
3 M 2 gat
452 THE. VI. YERE OF
gat into the hauen diuerse shippes and barkes, & by this meanes he spoyled and toke pry-
soners all nacions, passing eyther by sea or by land to the mart at Antwarp, or into Brabant,
Zeeland or Frisland and was euer plentifully viteyled out of Fraunce and Pycardy, to the
great dammage of the Englishmen, which were spoyled dayly and taken prysoners : Which
thinge Maximilian kynge of Romanes coulde not wel remedy, nor the kyng of England
without great coste and losseof men. For to it behoued an army, bothe by sea and lande,
for when he was set for by lande, he fled to the sea: And when he was chaced on the sea, he
soughte refuge in hys twoo stronge Towers, and euer he had succours from Bruges and Gaunt.
Now was here a litle toune two myle from Bruges, toward the sea called Damme, whiche
was a Buhverke to Bruges, and a hedsprynge to Sluys. The kynge of Romanes did often-
tymes attempt the apprehendinge of this toune, to theentent that the Brugians should haue
no recourse to the haue of Sluys, nor the Sluysians should haue no succour out of the toune
of Bruges. But there were slayne a great number of gentlemen of Germany, for they
within made no signe of defence, tyl all their enemies were in their daunger, and so slewe
and confuted theim. There was a greate duke in Almayne, called duke Albert of the vp-
per Saxony, a greate frende to the kyng of Romanes, whiche made him selfe Neuter, and
neuer intermitted with the affayres of Flanders, a man of no lesse pollecy then valyaunt
hardynes. This duke required of the lordes of Bruges, that he might enter peaceably into
their toune, accordynge to his estate with a certayne numbre of menne of annes to com-
municate with them dyuerse matters of great vveyght and no small importaunee, and sent
before his cariages and herbingers to make prouision. The estates of Bruges little doubted
to admit so small a numbre into so populous a company, ye though the nurnbre were dupli-
cate, and especially, because they harde saye that he woulde lodge in the toune all night,
wherefore no man thought of thatcraftie stratageme that he had inuented. His elected and
warlike company entred into the cytie in good ordre, and he folowed, they that went before
inquy red after ynnes and lodgynges as though they would repose them selfes there all nighte,
and so went foorth still in ordre askynge for lodgyng, till they came to the gate that goeth
directly towardethe forsayde toune of Dam, distant from Bruges a Flemysh myle, which is
called the Buhverke of Bruges. The Capitaynesand inhabitauntes of the toune of Damme,
suspecting no harme to come oute of Bruges, thinkinge that their frendes knowynge some
sodeyn chaunce comming to haue sent to them aide and succours, and so nothinge mistrust-
ing, did let thementre, and take the toune of Damme, and so that toune whiche coulde not
be vvonne by force of armes, was by a sleight & pollecy attrapped and surprised to the great
detriment and displeasure of the toune of Bruges, for now had they no recourse to the sea,
which stop so continuing, no double, but the toune of Bruges must nedes fall in ruyne and
vtterexterminion,
When duke Albert of Saxony had gotten Dam, he cectefied y'king of England y he would
besege Sluyse by lad, if it pleased his maiestie to ministre any aide by the sea. King Hery
which was wise, £ forcasting in all his affaires, remebryng that Sluyse was the denne of
theues to the y trauerse y seas toward the East parties, incontinet dispatched syr Edward
Po-wniges, (a vaiiaut knight & hardy Capitayn) \v. xii. shippes wel furnished w bolde soul-
diours &strog artillary. Which syr Edward sayled ito y haue, & kept Philip mousure fro
stertlg by y sea. The duke of Saxo beseged y one castel, liyng in a church oueragalstit, & y
Englishine assauted y lesse castel dayly, £ issued oute of y shippes at the ebhe, and although
they stodein the water to the knees, yet they neuer gaue their enemies one dayeto repose or
playe by the space of. xx. dayes, and euery dare slewe some of their aduersaries, and on
the Englishe parte were slayne. Vere brother to the Erie of Qxforde & fifty moo.
The lorde Philip of Rauestone, had made a bridge of boates betwene both the Castels,
by the whiche one might succour y other, Which bridge the Englishmen in a night set on
fyer. Then, he perceauynge y he must nedes lese his castels by force, £ that the Fleminges
could not aide him, yelded the castels to syr Edward Powninges, and the toune to the duke
of Saxony, vpon certeyne condicions. When the duke and the English capitayne met in
the
KYNG HENRY THE. VII. 45$
the toune, there was betwene them great salutacions, and syr Edward kept the Castels a
while, of whome y Almaynes demaunded stipend and salary, because that the duke had
nothynge to paye. Then these two capitaynes so hadled them of Bruges that they were con-
tent not onely, to submit the seines to the lord Maximilian, but also to pay& dispatchethe
Almaynes. And so syr Edward Pownynges taried there a long space, and returned to the
kynge before Boleyne. And so they, which by reasonable ordre, would not be gouerned:
by vnreasonable condicions were broughte to contbrmyte and ordre. •
The. vi. daye of Aprill this present yere, the kynge commaunded all the nobilite of **
his realme, to assemble at the Cathedral church of sainct Paule in London, where after
Te deum solemply songe, the Cardinal of Caunterbury, standynge on the steppes before the
queer dore, declared to the people, how the famous citie of Granado, which many yeres
had bene possessed of the Moores or Mawritane nacion, beyng infideles & vnchristened
people, and now of late beseeged by a great tyme by Donfernando and Elisabeth his wyfer
kynge and queue of Spayne, Arragon and Castell. And tliesayde infideles, by reason of
this siege brought to great penurye and miserie, for lacke of viteile and necessary viandr
perceauyng that all succours were clerely estopped and propulsed from them, and so brought
hito vtter despaire of aide or comfort: after longe consultation had emongest them, deter-
myned to rendre the selues and their citie, to thesayde kyng, vpon diuerse couenatmtes and
condicions, and thereupon sent to hyrn dfuerse Senatours ot the citie, fully instructed of
their mynd and purpose. The kyng of Spayne and IMS counsail, considering and sagely
pondering that wynter approched and was at hande. and that the Christen boost had long
jyen in $ feeldes in sore tempestes and greuous stortnes (which they gladly suffred for
Christes sake, in whose cause and quarel they made that present warre) remembrynge also*
that the cytie was of suche ryches, fame and estimacion. that it conteyned an hundred and
fifty thousand houses of name, beside other small houses and cotages, and that it was re-
plenished with people innumerable, and furnished with. Ixx. thousand good fightyng men.
And finally, perceauyng that he might enioye nowe the possession of thesame, without as-
saute or effusion of Christen blood, by theaduyse of his counsayll, he accepted, accorded
and agreed to theyr offres the. xxv. of Nouember, in the yere of Christes incarnacion. M.
cccc.xci. then beyng the daye of saynct Katheryu. By the which composicion, the royalfc
citie of Granado, with all the holdes and fortresses of the realme, and the Towres and
Castels of Alpussarare was rendred into the handes of thesayde kyng of Speygne, £ that the
kyng of Granado should become subject and vassall to the kyng of Speygne, and to relin-
quishe and forsake the vsurped name of a kyng for euer. Andy all menof warre should
franckly departe out of the citie, and none ther to remayne, but artificers and merchauntes,
and all these thinges to be done before the. xxv, day of January, but the tyme was anticipate,:
for f Moores on the first daye of lanuarij, sent. vi.C. notable personages out of the citie with
their chyldren for hostages rnto the camptr of the kynge of Spayne, to thentent that he
should put no diffidece nor mistrust in the citezens, but that he might peaceably and quietlj
with his people entre into the cytie, and take possession of thesame. The which hostages-
were distributed and lodged in the tentesand pauyhons of theSpanyshe armye.
The third daye of lanuary, the lorde of Gutterins Cardenes, greate Master and gouern-
our of Lyon, of the ordre of sainct lames, departed frome the armye, nobly and trium-
phatly accompanied with fyue hundred horsemen, and three thousande footemen, towarde
the citie. And as he approched nere to the suburbes, there issued out dyuerse noble and
valiaunt Capitaynes of the Moores, makyng to hyin humble obeysaunce, and conducting
him to a palace, adioyning to the citie, called the palace of Anaxaras, and from thence
conueighed hym to the palace royall of thesame cytie called Alhfibra, wherof he toke quiet
and peacesable possession, to the behoue of $ kinge of Speigne, whome the Moores promised
and confessed to take and obey, as to their kyng and souereygne. And in signe and token
that they thought in their hartes, that which they promysed by mouth, they prostrated and
humbled them selues before thesayde great Master, and with dolorous lamentation and salt
45* TH E. VI. YERE OF
teares, deliuered to him the keyes of thcsayd palnce. Whe he had the keyes, & was also
possessed of that strong and magnificent piace, he first of all dispatched the house of all
the Moores and paganes, and appoynKd a garrison of valyaunt and noble chrislias to kcpe
and defende thesame. And thesame daye caused a masse solernply too be celebrate in a
place of thesame palace called Melcliira, which done and finished, he toke possession of all the
fortresses, Towres and holdes too thesayd citie and tonne of Granado, belonging or ap-
perteyning. And then he caused to be eleuated and exalted vpon the highest towre of the
palace (where it might best be sene) the signe & token of the crosse, wheron Christe for vs
synners suffred his bitter passio. At the reysing wherof, were present an Archebishop, and
thre Bishops and other prelates, whiche deuoutely sange this antheme: O crux, aue spes
vnica. Thesayde crosse was. iii. tymes deuoutly eleuate, and at euery exaltacion, y Moores
beyn" within the cytie, roared, howled and cryed, prosternyng them selfes grouelynge on
the "rounde, making dolorous noyes and piteful outcryes. The army encamped without
the citye, seynge these thynges, humbled them selfes rnekely before tlie crosse, rendrynge
too almightie God their moost humble and hartie thankes. The kyng of Spayne, beyng
mounted on horsbacke, perceauynge the ereccion of the crosse, discended from his Genet,
and kneled doune on the bare grounde, and rendred to God, laude, honour and praysitig
for that noble and triumphant victory. And after that the crosse was thus set vppon the
high Towre, the banner of sainct lames and the kynges banners were pitched and fixed
vpon the turrets and pynacles of the cytie: A Herault standyng in the top of the high
Towre, proclaymed and published these woordes folowynge.
Savnct lames, saynct lames, saynct lames, Castil, Castil, Castil, Granado, Granado,
Granado: By high and mighty power, lorde Ferdinando and Elizabeth, kynge and queue
of Spayne, haue wonne fro the Infideles and Moores, the cytie and realrne of Granado,
through the helpe of our lorde God and the moost glorious virgyn his mother, and the ver-
teous apostle saynct lames, and the holy father Innocent the. viii. togethers with the aide &
succours of ^ great prelates, knyghtes and other gentlemen borne, & comons of their realmes
& cofitreys.
When the Herault had finished, the artillary sounded, the mynstrelles biewe, the people
applauded and clapped their handes for gladnes, that the earth semed to trymble and quake
vndreneth them. After thys ioye ended, these issued out of the citie in rnaner of procession,
vii. hundred, and mo Christians, aswell men as women and chyldren, whyche had bene
there prysoners and lyued in bondes, seruitude and miserable captiuitie, wherof the mcost
parte were naked, wounded and in maner famyshed for hungre. To whome the kyng of his
great liberalite gaue bothe apparell, vyand and money. These poore prysoners commynge
oute of the cytie sange this Psalme. Benedictus dominus deus Israel, Quia visitauit &
fecit redemptionem plebis sue. Blessed be the lord God of Israel, which hath visited and
redemed his people, and so singynge foorth the wh.)le Psalme, went to the churche of sainct
Feith, which the kyng Ferdinando had caused to be moost sumpteously edeh'ed during the
tyme of the siege, beynge distant from Granado twoo or three myle. And as this poore pro-
cession passed by the boost, one espied his sonne and another sawe his brother, and the
sonne perceaued the father, and the father founde the daughter, whiche were nowe deliuered
out of miserable seruitude and bondage. But they coulde not refrayne nor brydle them
selues from distillynge of teares and sobbynge, seynge theyr parentes and kynsfolke restored
to libertie and fredome. And whe these people had sayde their Orysons in the churche of
saynct Feith, & were come to the army, they kneling before the kyng kyssed his fote, criynge
with one voyce, God graunt to the kyng of Speygne euerlastyng lyfe.
The next daye after the lord Euerus de Mendosa, Erie of Tediglie was by the kyng made
Capitayn of the house royal, & principal Towre of the citie of Granado, called Alhambra,
hauynge tohym appoynted and assigned one thousand men of armes, and twoo thousand
fotemen, Vnto the whiche Erie the great Master delyuered to the keyes of the said palace
and
KYNG HENRY THE. VII. 455
and Towre, and other portes and fortresses. On Saturdaye the. viij. daye of January, in
the yere of our Lorde. M. cccc. xcii. Ferdinand kyng of Speyne & Granado, the quene &
their eldest sonne done Ihon prince of Speygne, the lord Peter of Medosa, archebishop of
Toleto, the patriarche of Alexandry, the Cardinal of Speyne, the lord Peter Prynce of Lyon,
duke of Gaditane, the Marques of Villena and Moya. The erle of Capre, the erle of Vi-
ncnna of Citnentes, and many other Erles, Barones and nobles, whereof some were Eng-
lishetnen, whose names I haue not, with. x. thousand horseme, and fifty thousand footemen
wyth greate tryumphe and royaltie entred into the cytye of Granado, and thereof tooke
real possessiS and season, and caused masse to be songe in a great place called Meschita,
where he caused a solepne churche to be buylded in the honoure of God and hys mother.
Whe Masse was ended, the kynge and quene repayred to the palace royall of Alhambra,
the whiche was wonderfull, bothe in quantite and sumpteous buyldynge, whyche house was
adourned with ryehe Arras and Tapestry in euerychambre. The erle of Tendiglie Capitaine
of the palace feasted the kynge and Queue, and all the nobilitie at hys awne cosies and
charges. So the kynge of bpeygne there remayned tyll the countrey was reduced too a
good conformytye and order, and dyuerse Castelles and fortresses were made for the
saucgarde and tuycion of the realme. And because thys victory obteyned, was to the
glory of God, and to the publique wealth of all Christianite, the sayde Cardinall of
Caunterbury declared to the people, that the kyng had sent bym and the other nobles
thether that daye, not onely to notefye and declare to them the verite of the fact,
but also to exhorte the to gene laudes and praysinges to almighty God, for deliuering
so goodly a cytye, so plentiful a countrey, & so notable a regio out of the hades of
his enemies & persecutors of his faith & religio. Which declaracio ended the Archebishop
with the clergie, & the nobles with the cominaltie in moost deuout rnaner wet in general
processio, redring to God for this greate achcued enterprice, glory, honour & moost re-
ueret & harty thankes.
•Aboute this ceason, Maximilian kyng of Romanes hauyng the vpper hand of the Fle-
minges, by aide of the kyng of Englad (as you haue hearde before) entended to reuege
him self of y Freeh king, for y he had repudiate his daughter lady Margaret, & sent
her home to him, enicdlg as he thought to take to his wife y lady Anne of Briteyn.
But because he was not of sufficiet habilite of him self to susteyne & furnish y
warre he determined to desyre kyng Henry to take parte with hym. Whereupon
he sent lames Contibald Ambassadoure, a man of great grauitie to exhorte and re-
quyre the kyng of England, to entre hys company and societee in armes, fayth-
fully promising on his honoure y he would in sembleable matters of his, take part with.
x. M. men at the least, for the space of. ii. yeres whensoeuer he should requyre hym.
And because it is his chaunce to trye the fortune of battaile and to intimate the warre,
he promised to certefie kyng Henry, vi. monethes before that he would inuade or occupie
the territory of hys enemies. And by this message, Maximilian greatly inflamed and
set a fyer -k,yng Heryes hart to beare with him. And as he was mynded before this tyrne
as you haue hard before to aide and assist the Britones in the extremetie of their
penll, he now reconed y time to be come, that he must collect an army to helpe them now
at a pynche in their moost perell and daungier, to thentet to restore agayne the Britishe
nacion' to their auncient libcrtie, and to expulse the Frenche nacion, which thrusted
for the blood, death and destruccion of the poore Brytones, clerely out of that duchy
and country. And he was the more ardently therunto encouraged because he perceaued
Maximilian himselfe so earnestly set and bent toward that enterprice, and therfore he made
this aunswere to lames the Ambassadour, y he would be ashamed to be foude slacke
or vnprouided at any tyme of Maximilian his felow & compaignio in armes. And so
these matters well brought to effect on both parties, the kyng dimissed the Ambassadoure
from hys presence,
THE
456 THE. VII. YERE OF
THE. VII. YERE.
. i
IN this very ceason Charles the Freeh kyng, receaued lady Anne as his pupille into
his hades, & with great solempnite her espoused, hauing with her for her dower the
whole countrey of Briteyne. And so by this meatie the Brytones became subiect to the
French kyng. Maximilia. beyng certefied of this, fell into a great rage and agony, for y he
was not c5tent with the forsaking and refusing of his daughter lady Margaret, but also had
take & rauished away from him his assured wife lady Anne duches of Britayne. And
calling vpon God forvengeaunce & ponishmet for such an heynous & execrable facte, cryed
out & rayled on him, wishynge him a thousand deathes. Yet after that he was pacefied, and
came to hym selfe agayne, and had gathered hys wyttes together, he thought it was moost ex-
pedient to vindicate and reuenge hys honour and digniteeso manifestly touched, with the dynt
of sworde. And beyng in this mynde, sent certain Ambassadours to kyng Henry with hys
lettres, desyringe him with all diligence to prepare an army, and he hym selfe woulde do
likewise, to inuade the Frenche kynges realmes with fyer, swoord and blood.
Kynge Henry hearyng of this, and putting no diffidence in the promes of Maximilian,
whome he knew to haue a deadly hatred and loge grudge agaynst the French kyng, caused a
muster to be made in all the partes of hys realme, and put hys men of warre in a redynes
armed & weaponed accordyng to their feates: besyde thys he rygged, maned and vyteiled his
nauy ready to set forward euery houre, and sent curryers into euery shyre to accelerate and
hast the souldiers to the sea side. After the message was declared, there came without any
delai an houge army of men, aswell of the lowe sorte and commonaltie as other noble men,
barnyssed and armed to battaile, partely glad to helpe their price and to do him seruice and
partely to buckle with the Frenchmen, with whome the Englishmen very willingly desyre to
cope and fight in ope bat-tail. And immediatly, as monicioii was geuen, euery man with
hys bande of souldionres repayred to London.
After that, all this army was arrayed and euen readie to set forward wherof were cheue-
taynes and leaders, lasperdukeof Bedford, & Iho erle of Oxforde beside other the kynge
sent Christopher Vrswikehys aulmoner, and syr Ihon Ryseley knyght to Maximilia, to cer-
tefie him that the kyng was all in a redinc-s, and woulde shorteiy arryue in the continent land,
assoneas he were aduertised that Maximilian and hys men, were ready and prepared to ioyne
with hym. The Ambassadours sayled into Flaunders, and after their message done, they
sent. ii. letters in all hast to kyng Henry, the whiche not onely sore vnquyeted & vexed
hym, but also caused him to take more thought, care and study on hym then he did before:
for they declared that no prince coulde be more vnprouided or more destitute of men and
armure, i>o more lackynge all thynges, apperteignynge to warre then was Maximilian, and
that he lave lurkyngein a corner, sore sicke of the flu xe of y pursse, so that he had ney-
ther men, horsses, municions, armure nor money, neuer the lesse his mynd & will was
good, if his power and habilite had been correspodet & therfore there was no trust to be put
in his aide or puissaunce. Their letters bothe appalled, and made sorowful the kyng of
Englad, which like a prudent prince did well consider & ponder, y it were both ieopardous
and costly, for him alone to enterprice so great a warre. And on y other parte, if he should
desist and leaue of his pretensed purpose, all me might call hym cowarde and recreant
prynce. Beside this, he thoughte that his awne nacion woulde not take his tarijng at home
in good nor fauourable part, cosideryng y syth they had geuen so large money for the pre-
paracio of all thinges necessary and conueniet for the same, they might conceaue
in their heddes & ymagin, that vnder coloure & pretece of a dissimuled warre he had ex-
acted of the notable summes of money, & now the treasure was once payed, then y warre was
done, & his cofers well enryched, & the commos enpouerisshed. So that at thys tyme he
doubted & cast perels on euery side & parte, & beside this he was not a litle sory y Maximi-
6 lia
KYNG HENRY THE. VII.
lia authour of this warre did absent him selfe, & defraude him of his societe & assistece.
And while he studied & mused what counsaill he shoulde best take in suche a doubtfull and
sodeyne case, he like a graue prince, remembring the saiyng of the wise man, woorke by
counsayll & thou shall not repet the, assembled together all his lordes and other of his pri-
uate counsayl, by whose myndes it was concluded and determined, that he shoulde manfully
and couragiously perceauer and precede in thys broched and begonne enterprice, recordynge
well with them selfes, and affirming playnely that all cheualry and marsial prowesses, the
more difficile and heard that it is to attayne to, the more renoumed is the glory, and the
fame more immortall of the vanquisher and obteyner. Therfore by this counsayl of his
frendes and senate, he made Proclamacion that euery man should set forward into Fraunce,
and yet not openynge howe ludasly Maximilian had deceaued hym, least that they know-
ynge the whole fact, shoulde not be so courageous to go towarde that battaile and precede
forward on their iorney. And therfore to prouide and forse all perels and daungiers that
might accidently ensue, he so strengthened, multeplied and augmented his army in such
numbre before he toke ship, that he with his awne powre might discourage and ouercomethe
whole puihsauce of his aduersaries.
When he had thus gathered and assembled his armye, he sayled to Caleys the. vi. daye of
October, & there encaped him selfe, tariyng there a certaine space to se his men harnessed
& appareled, that neither weapo nor any engyne necessary for his Journey should be neg-
lected. At which place all the army had knowlegeby the Ambassadours, whiche were newly
returned out of Flaunders (for they did not knowe of it before) y Maximilian coulde
make no preparacio for lacke of money, & therfore there was no succour to be exspected at
hys hand. At the which report, y Englishmen were nothing abashed nor dismayed, trust-
ing so muche to their awne puissauce & copany: but yet they meruayled and wondered
greatly y heard it related, y Maximilian receauyng such great vilany not loge before at the
hand of kyng Charles, was not present to pricke them forward, to crye & call, to moue and
excite the Englishmen, ye and if he had had. vi. hundred bodyes to put them all in
hasard, rather then to leaue the Englishme, now setting vpon his dayly enemyes &
deadly aduersaries. Albeit Maximilia. lacked no hart & good will to be reuenged, yet
he lacked substance to cotinew warre, for he could neither haue money nor men of the dronke
Fleminges nor yet of the crakyng Brabanders, so vngrat people were they to their so-
uereigne lorde.
In themeane ceason, although the Frenche kynge was as well with courage replenished
as with men furnished mete to trye a battaile, yet all this notwithstiiding he made sem-
blauce, as though he desired nothlg more then peace, beyng not ignorat that peace to be
obteined was of nosmal valure & price, & yet he determined to make more expece in getting
of peace then in settinge foorth of warre and hostilitee, and regarded so much the lesse
the treasure too be dispensed for the acquyrynge of vnitee and concord, for as muche
as he was afrayed that he beyng diligent to resist the inuasion of the Englishmen, that the
Ijritones wherof the moost parte bare the yoke of his subieccio contrary to their hartes
and myndes, woulde sodeynly rebell and set them selfes at libertie, and plucke out their
heddesout of hys colour, and set vp another duke & gouernour. And at the same very
tyine he was inuited and desired of Lewes Sforcia duke of Millayn. to warre agaynst Ferdi-
nand kynge of Napels, at whose desyre he was prest and ioyous, thinkynge that he had that
occasion sent to hym from God, for the which he longe before thristed & sore wished. The
whiche kyr.gdome he pretended to be dewe to hym by succession, and entended long before
to acquyre and cdquere it by force of armes, as hys very right and inheritance. For when
Rene duke of Angeou last kyng of Scicile, departed without any heire male of hys wyfe
lawfully begotten, he did adopt to his heyre of all his realmes & dominios, Lewes the. xi.
lather to y. iii. kyng Charles, to thentet that he should deliuer quene Margaret his daughter,
out of the hades of kyng Edward the. iiij. as you haue well before perceaued, wrogfully and
without cause dishinheriting his cosyn, Godsonne, and heyre, Rene duke of Lorayn &
3 N Barre.
458 THE. VII. YERE OF
Barre. For the which cause he did the more busily procure & labour for y amitie, fauour
£ fredship of his neighbours roud about hym, y whe all thiges were appeased & set in good;
stave at home he might the better employe his whole force £ pirissaiice on his war re in Italy.
Wherfore beyng much desirous to haue all thinges pacefied & set in a perfite cocorde and se-
curitee, he sent Philip Creueceur lord Cordes his chiefe counsailerand diliget officier to en-
treate, moue and persuade the kyng of Englande to be reconciled £ made agayne as a new
frende to the French kyng. He not forgetting his message, sent letters to kyng Henry before
he passed the sea, & arriued in the ferine land, by the which he notefied to hym y he of his-
boude duetie & obseruauce which he ought to the kyng his master, & to the proffite of his.
realme woulde take payne to inuent & excogitate some mean £ waye, y his highnes £ kyng
Charles his master being disseuered in amitie, & made exstreme enemyes, onely for the
cause of Maximilian newly elected king of Romanes, should be reducted £ brought agal
into their pristyne estate £consuete familiaritee, doubting not to bring his ship to the porte
desirrd, if it mi^ht stand with his pleasure to sende some of his cousailers to the confynes
& borders of the English pale, adioynynge to Fraunce, there to here what reasonable offres,
should be demonstrated and proffered: whiche condicions of peace should be so rea-
sonable and so ample that he doubted not, but that he might with his great honoure
breake vp hys campe, and retire hys army backe agayne into hys owne selgnory and<:
dominion.
The kynge of Englande, maturely consideryng that Britayne was clerely lost, and in maner
irrecuperable, beynge nowe adioyned too the croune of Fraunce by mariage, whiche duchy,
hys whole mynde was to defende, protect and conferme, and that Maximilian what for lacke
of money, and what for mistrust that he had in his awne subiectes, laye styll lyke a dormouse •
nothynge doynge, perceauynge also that it should be bothe to his people profitable, and
to hym greate honour to determyn this warre without losse or bloodshed, appoynted for
commissioners the bishop of Exceter, & Gyles lord Dawbeney to passe the seas to Caleys,
to comen with the lorde Cordes of articles of peace to be agreed vpon-and concluded.
When the commissioners were once met, they so ingeniously and effecteously proceded in,
their great affaires, that they agreed that an amytie and peace should be assented to and
concluded, so that the condicions of the league should be egall, indifferent and acceptable to
bothe partes as after shalbe declared.
While the commissioners were thus consultinge on the marches of Fraunce, the kynge of
Englande, as you haue heard, was arryued at Caleys, where he prepared all thinges necessary
s . , for suchaiorney. And from thence he remoued in. iiii. battailes, nereto the touneof Boleyne,,
and there pytched hys tentes before the toune, in a place propice and coueniet and determin-
ed to gene a great assaute to the toune. In y which fortresse was such a garrison of Warlike
souldioures, that valiauntly defended the toune, and the same so replenyshed with artillary,
and municions of warre, that the losse of the Englishmen assautyng the toune, should be
greater dammage to the realme of England, then the coqueryng and gaynyng of the same
should be emolument or proffite. Howbeit the kynges daily shot, rased £ defaced the walles
of the saide toune: but when euery man was prestand ready to geue the assaute, asodeyne
rumoure roase in the army, that a peace was by the commissioners taken and concluded, ,
whiche brute as it was pleasaunt and mellifluous to the frechme, so it was to the English na-
cio bitter, sowre & dolorous because they were prestand ready at all tymes to set on their
enemyes, and refused neuer to attempt any enterprice, whiche might seme either to be for
their laude or profyt : thei were in great fumes, angry and euel content, rayling and mur-
rmiringe emongest them selfes, that the occasion of so glorious a victory to them manifestly
offerd, was by certain condicions to no man, nor yet to the kyng commodious or profitable,
refused, putte by and shamefully slacked : But aboue all other dyuerse lordes and capitaynes,
encoraged with desyre of fame & honour, trustyng in this iourney to haue wonne their spur-
res, whiche for to set themselfes and their band the more gorgeously forward had mutuate,
and borowed dyuerse and sondry sumuies of money, and for the repayment of the same, had
morgaged
KYNG HENRY THE. VII.
morgaged and impignorate thrir landes & possessions, sore grudged and lamented this so-
deyne peace, and returne of tiiem vnthought of, and spake largely agaynste the kynges do-
ynges, saiynge and affirmyng, that he as a man fearyng and dreading y force and puyssaunce
of his enemyes, had concluded an inconuenient peace without cause or reason : But the
kynge as a wise man and moost prudent prince, to assuage the indignacion and pacefie the
murmoure of $ people, declared what damage and detriment, what losse & perdicio of
many nohle Capitaynes and stronge souldioures must of necessitee happen and ensue at the
assaute of a toune, and especially when it is soo well fortefied with men and municions, as
the toune of Boleyp at that present tyme was: protestyng farther, that he might be Justly ac-
cused & condempned of iniquite & vntruthe, except he did preferre the sauegard of their
lyues, before hys awne wealth, health and aduauntage.
When he had thus prudently cosolate and appeased the myndes of hys me of warrre, he
returned backe agayn vf his whole army, to y toun of Caieys, where hebeganne to smell cer-
tayn secret srnoke, whiche was lyke to turn to a great flame, without it were well watched
and polletiquely sene to. For by the crai'tie inuencion and deuelishe ymaginacid of that
pesteferns serpent lady Margaret, duches of Burgoyne, a new ydoll was sett vp in Flaunders,
and called Richard Plantagenet, secod sonne to kvng Edward the. iiii. as though he had
bene resuscitate from death to lyfe, whiche sodeyne newes more stacke and fretted in his
stomack, then the battaile which now was set late foiward & more payne he had (not with-
out great ieopardie of him selte) toappeache & qut-che this newe spronge conspiracy, then
in makynge peace with the Frenche kyng his enemy. And so he was content to accept and
reccaue (and not to offre and geue) the honest condicions of peace of his enemy proffred
and oblated, except he woulde at one tyme make warre, bpthe at home in his owne countrey,
and also inforeyne and externe nacions. V/herfore kynge Henry forseynge all these thinges
before (and not without great counsayll) concluded with the French kyng, to thentet that he
beyng deliuered of al outward enuytie mighte the more quickly prouide for the ciuyle and
domestical comocions, which he perceaued well to be budding out. The conclusion of the
peace was thus, y the peace should continue bothe their lyues, and that the Frenche kynge
should pay to kynge Henry a certayne sumine of money in hand, accordyng as the co-
inissioners shoulde appoynt for his charges susteyned in his iourney:
Whiche (as the kynge certefied the Mayre of London by hys letters the. ix. daye of No-
uemhre) amounted to thesurnme of. vii.C.xlv.M. ducates, whiche is in sterlynge money. i.C.
Ixxxvi.M.ii.C.I./, and also should yerely for a certayne space paye or cause to be paide for
the money that the kynge of England had sent and expended in the Uiyci5 & aide of the Bri-
tones. xxv.M. crounes, which yerely tribute, y Freeh kynge afterwarde vexed and troubled with
•the warres of Italy, ye rely satisfied, contented and payde, euen to the tyme of hys sonne
kynge Henry the. viii. to thentent to pay the whole duetie and tribute, and for the further
•coseruacion and stablishyng of the league & amitie betwene bothe the realmes.
Shortely after that kyng Henry had taryed a conuenient space, he transfreted and arryued
at Douer, and so came to his maner of Grenewiche. And this was the yere of our lorde a.
M.CCCC.xciii. and y. vii. yere of his troubleous reigne. Also in this soiournynge and be-
segynge of Boleyne (whiche \ve spake of before) there was few or none kylled, sauyng onely
Ihon Sauage knyght, which goyng preuely out of hys pauylion with syr Ihon Hiseley, roade
about the walles to viewe and se their strength, was sodeynly intercepted and taken of hys
enemies. And he beyng inflamed withy re, although he were captyue, of his high courage
disdeyned to be taken of suche vileynes, defended his life toy vttennost and was manfullv (I
will notsaye wilfully) slayne and oppressed, albeit syr Ihon Riseley fled fro theim & escaped
their daunger.
When kynge Henry was returned into England, he first of all thinges elected into the
societe of saynct George, vulgarely called the order of the garter, Alphose duke of Cala-
bres sonne, accordyng to hisde,-ire whiche Alphonse was sonne and heyre to Ferdinand kyng
of Naples,& after kyng of thesame realme, til he was ouercome by kyng Charles. " And after,
3 N 2 the
460 THE. VII. YERE OF
the kyng sent Christopher Vrsewike, Ambassadour with y gartier, coller, mantell, and other
habiliamentes apperteyninge to the companyons of thesayde noble ordre. Which Ambassa-
doure arryuing at Napels, deliuered to the duke the whole habile, with all the ceremonies
and devre circumstaunces therunto belonging. Whiche duke very reuerently receaued it,
and with more reuerence reuested him selfe w thesame in a solempne presence, thinkyng
.that by this apparell and inuestittire, he was made a freride and compaygnion in ordre with
j king of England, whose frendship obteyned, he feared nothing the assautes or inuasions of
hys enemies. And this was the cause that he desyred so muche to be compaygnion of that
noble order, fermely beleuyng that y kyng of England souereygne of that ordre, should be
aider and mainteyner of hym agaynst the Frenche kyng, whome he knew woulde passe the
moutaynes and make warre on hym. But this custome of assistece in ordres was, eyther
neuer begonne, or before clerely abholished: For in our tyrne there haue bene many noble
men of Italy, compaignios as well of the golden Flese inBurgoyne, as of the ordre of sainct
Mighel in Fraunce, that haue bene banyshed and profligate from their naturall countrey, and
yet haue not bene aided by the souereigne nor copanyons of thesame order. For surely the
statutes and ordinaunces of all thesayde orders dothe not oblige and bynde them to that case,
but in certayne poyntes. After this the duke dimissed the Ambassadour, rewardyng hym
moost pryncely.
Shortely after this Charles the Frenche king concluded a league with Ferdinand kyng of
Spayne, and also beyng entreated and solicited with the oratoures of diuerse princes, which,
persuaded and mollefied the stony hart of a frosen prince, caused him to come to communi-
cacion and treatie with Maximilian kyng of Romanes, and to coclude a peace with hym for a
season, to the entet that he might without disturbaunce of hys neyghboures adioyninge,
prosperously & safely make warre on Ferdynand kyng of Napels, & on all Italy, as he be^
fore had mynded and excogitated.
And so Charles, beyng furnished with men, of armes, horsemen, fotemen, nauye, and
aide of some Italians, passed through Italy by Rome and without any great laboure wanne
the citie of Napels. When he had obteyned this victory: in hys returne beynge assailed with
the Venicians at the toune of Fornouoe, he had a great daungerous victory. And so lyke
aconquerour, with great triuphe returned into his realme and countrey. After hym Lewes
the. xii. beyng kynge, when he founde oportunitee and sawe the gappe open, inuaded the
Italians agayne, & recouered again the realm of Napels, whiche Frecleryck the sonne of
kyng Alphonse, not longe before had gotten from the French nacion : & after that he sub-
dued and conquered the whole duchy of Millayn. Albeit not long after (fortune turnynge
her whele) he lost bothethe kyngdome of Napels, and the fayre citie and duchy of Millayne
both together. And so the Frenchmen warrynge vpon the Italians had no better successe in
their coquestes, then their parentes and predecessours heretofore haue ben accustomed.
For vndoubtedly, as many places as they vexed and sacked with murder and spoylinge, so
many or more in conclusion they did enoble and decorate with their blood and slaughter.
Which small recompece little profited and lesse releued, such as before were robbed and
spoyled of all their goodes, substaunce and ryches. After this the Spanyades arryued iu
Italy, and their puttynge too flighte the Frenchemen, obteyned the possession of the realmes
of Napels and Scicile, the which they possesse and enioye at this houre. And at length a
certayne nacion of Germany, called the Swytsers, called to be partakers of the spoyle of
Italy, wane certayn tounes there, whiche they possesse and enioye at this present tyme.
In this warre and tumulteous busynes in Italy, whiche was y most terrible and sorest
plague, that any man can remembre of that nacion, there was no person, no place, no pri-
uate house, no noble familye, no capitayne or prince, but he was oppressed either with the
heapes of the dead carcasses, or with the bloud of his frendes or subiectes, or els su tired
some affliccion Iniurie or detryment. And insome wise at one tyme or another, euery maa
did tast and suffre all the mischeues that apperteyned to the victory gotten by their enernyes»
The which defacing & blottyng of the beutye of that countrey, sometyme called the queue
of
KYNG HENRY THE. VII.
of y earth, andfloureof the worlde, chaunced not of her awneselfe of herawne cause or
desert, but the Italians herawne suckyngchyldren opened thegappe, and made the waye of
her dt-struccion. For at that tyme thus it chaunced, that when the potetates and seignories
of Italy perceaued, that all thinge vnder them succeded, euen as they woulde desire and
\vishe, to their great exultacion and reioysinge: by reason whereof they sate still at home
lyke sloggardes (as women be accustomed to do) skoldyng and brawlyng, exercisyng and
practisyng preuy displeasure and malice, not agayn their enemyes as they were accustomed,
but cmong them selfes one against another, caslinge out of memory &drownynge their aun-
cient renoune, glory and honoure with desyre of rule and appetite to be reuenged, and so
destroyed the common weale, and subuerted the olde monurnentes and actes of their forfa-
thers and predecessors. And because some of them, thinkynge them selfes, not of force
and puissauce sufficient inough to bring their purpose to effect, and to reuenge their quarell,
they entysed, stirred and procured with giftes, rewardes and promyses, straungers and fo-
reyne nacions to their aide and assistence. The other seyngc them so desirous to haue their
helpe, partely moued with their giftes, partely with desyre of rule, spoyles £ prayes, gather-
ed together a great company and entred into Italy, and there distroyed, spoyled and pos-
sessed the better parte of it. And so the Italians, as men out of their wit, where as they
thought one to noye & hurte another with hatefull warryng, they destroyed their natyue cou-
trey, beynge of nature enclosed and munyte with hygh hilles and the mayne sea rounde>
aboute, and opened the waye to straungiers to their vttre ignominy and finall destruccion,
•which thei might haue kept out of all daungier, if they had bene their awne fredes, and
loued their awne wealth and commodite. Therefore I mayesaye: O progeny, aswell wick-
ed as vngodly, hath discorde and dissencion pleased the so much that thou wouldest vtterly
extinguihhe and confoude the glory and honour of thy natiue countrey ? And in conclusion,
thou thyself art come to the depest pyt of wretchednes, because that thou perceauing the
ruyne that thou hast caused and procured, thou arte more repentaunte for the begynninge of
it, then glad to desist and Icaue it, and so accordynge to thy desert thou hast thy penaunce
and guardon. The grand capitayne and beginner of thys mischief was Sforcia, whiche at
that tyme ruled at his will the duchy of Millayne vndre duke Ihon Galeas his nephew : but
for a truthe this Lewes ruled al, and the duke did nothing. Wherfore Alphons duke of Ca-
labre, and after kyng of Napels, grudgynge that this duke Ihon his sonne in la\ve, should
be defrauded of his superiorite and dominio, threatened sore this Lewes Sforcia. Where
hefearyng to be put from his authoritee, solicited and by great entreatie procured Charles
the French kyng to inuade the reahne of Napels. By reason of whiche procurement, Al-
phonse duke of Calabre, whiche succeded his father Ferdinand in the kingdome of Napels
(which also as you haue heard, was made knight of the garter) was first depryued of his
kingdome by thesaiue kynge Charles, and shortely after of his lyfe. But Lewes Sforce had
no longe ioye after the deathe of hysennemy, for he was betrayed and taken by theSwytzers
whiche warred vnder kynge Lewes the twelfth, then beynge Frenche kynge, and caryed into
Fraunce, where he in the Castell of Lothes miserably finished hys lyfe, accordynge to the
saiynge of the Gospell, woo be too hym by whom aslaundre begynneth. Thys mischiefe be-
ganne at that tyme when Charles came thether, and contynueth yet, which is the yere of
oure Lord. M.D.xliii. for an example to other, y straungers inuited to a prosperous coun-
trey be lothe to departe from the swete sauoure once therof tasted.
This yere was borne at Grenewiche lord Henry, seconde sonne to y kyng, whiche was cre-
ated duke of Yorke, and after prynce of Wales, and in conclusion succeded his father in
eroune and dignitee. Nowe let vs returne to the newe founde sonne of kynge Edwarde,.
coniured by mennespollicies from death to lyfe.
And first to declare hys lignage and beginning, yon must vnderstad that the duches of
Burgoyne so norished and brought vp in the sedicious andscelerate faccions of false contry-
uers & founders of discorde couldeneuer cease nor be in quyet (lyke a vyper that is ready to
burste withsuperfluyte of poyson) except he should infest and vnguyet y king of England, for
1 no
462 THE. VII. YERE OF
no desert or displeasure by hym to her committed, but onely because he was propagate ant!
deseeded of the house of Lacastre, euer beyng aduerse & enemy to her lyne & lynage.
For which only cause she compassed, ymagenedand inuented how to cast a scorpio in his bo-
some, and to infect his whole reahne with, a pestiferous discorde. To thentent that he
beyng vanquyshed and brought to confusion, both the boylynge heate of her malicious harte
mighte be fully saciated with hys innocent bloude, and also auauce and preferre some darlyng
of her faccion to his Empire rule and dignitee. And principally remembring that the erie
of Lyncoln, which was by her set foorth and al his copany had small fortune & worsse
successe in their progression and enterprice, contrary to her hope and expectacion, she
lyke a dogge reuertynge to her olde vomyte, beganne to deuyse & spynne a new w ebbe, lyke
a spyder that dayly weaueth when hys calle is torne. And as the deuell prouydeth venem-
ous sauce to corrupt banckettes, so for her purpose she espyed a certayne younge man
of visage beutiful, of countenaunce demure, of wit subtile crafty and pregnant, called
Peter Watbecke. And for his dastard cowardnes of the Englishmen, in derision called
Perkyn Warbeck, accordyng to the duche phrase, whiche chauge the name of Peter to Per-
fcyn, to yogelinges of no strength nor courage for their timerous hartes and pusillanimitee :
Whiehe yonge man traueyiyng many coun treys, coulde speake English and many other lan-
guages, & for his basenes of stocke and birthe was knowen of none almoost, and only for
the gayne of hys liuyng from his childehoode was of necessitee, compelled to seke and fre-
quet dyuerse realmes and regions. Therfore the duches thinkyng to haue gotten God by
the foote, whe she had the deuell by the tayle, & adjudging this youg man to be a mete or-
gane to conuey her purpose, and one not vnlike to be'f duke of Yorke, sonne to her bro-
ther kyng Edward, whiche was called Richard, kept hym a certayne space with her preuely,
and hym with such diligece instructed, bothe of the secretes and common affaires of the
realrne of England, & of the lignage, dissent and ordre of the house of Yorke, that he
like a good scholer not forgettyng his lesson coulde tell all that was taught him promptly
without any difficultie or signe of any subornacion: and besides, he kept suche a princely
countenaunce, and so countrefeate a maiestie royall, that all men in maner did fermely be-
leue that he was extracted of the noble house and familie of the dukes of Yorke. For
surely it was a gift geuen to that noble progeny as of nature in the rootc plated that all the
sequele of that lyne and stock did study and deuy.se how to be equyualent in honoure and
•fame with their forefathers and noble predecessors.
When this diabolicall duches had framed her cloth mete for y market, and ymagened that
all thinges was ready and prepared for the c5fusion of kyng Henry, sodeynlyshe was enfor-
med that thcsayde kynge of England prepared a puissant army agaynste Charles the Frenche
kyng. Then she considering the oportunitie of the tyme, as who would saye, a tyme wished
and a daye desyred to achcue and brynge too passe her oldemalicious and cantarde inuen-
cions, which alwayes nothinge lesse mynded then .peace and tranquilite, and nothing more
desired then dissencion, ciuile warre and destruccion of kyng Henry. Wherefore she sent
Perkyn Werbeck, her new inuented Mawmet first into Portyngall, and so craftely into the
realm of Ireland, to thentent that he beynge bothe witty and wilye might moue, inuegle
and prouoke the rude and rusticall Irishenacion (beyng more of nature euclyived to rebellion
then to reasonable ordre) to a new conflict and a sedicious commocion. This worshipfull
Perkyn, arriuyng in Ireland, whether it were more by hys crafty witte, or by the malicious
and beastly exhortacion of the saltiage Irish gouernours, within short space entred so farre
into their fauoures, and so seriously perswaded and allured them to his purpose, that the
greatest lordes and princes of the coutry, adhibited such faith and credite to his woordes, as
that thing had bene true in dede, whiche he vntruly with false demonstracions setfoorth and
diuulged. And as though he had bene the -very sonne of kynge Edwarde, they honoured, ex-
alted and applauded hym with all reuerence and dewe honoure, promising to hym aide, com-
;forte and assistence of all thinges to the feat of warre, necessary and apperteynyng.
In the meane ceason these newes were related to Charles the Freeh kyng, then beyng in
displeasure
KYNG HENRY THE. VII. 463
displeasure with kyng Henry, which without delay sent for Perkyn into Irelande to the entent
to sende hytn agaynste the kynge<of England, whiche was inuadyng Fraiice (as you before
haue heard) This Flemyng Perkyn was not a litle ioyfull of thys message, thinkinge by this
onely request to be exalted into heauen, when he was called to the familiarite and acquaynt-
aunce of kynges and prynces: & so with all diligence sayled into Fraunce, with a very small
nauy, not so small as smally furnished. And commynge to the kynges presence was of hyin
royally accepted, and after a princely fassion entreteyned, & had a garde to hym assigned,
wherof was gouernour y lord Cogreshal. And to hym at Parys resorted syr George Neuell
bastard, Syr IhonTayler, Rouland Robynson and an hundred Englishe rebelles. But after
that a peace, as before is sayde was appoynted and concluded betwixt him and the kynge of;
England, the&ayde kynge Charles dismissed the younge man, and woulde no lenger kepe hym.
But some men saye whiche were there attendynge on hym, that he fearynge that kyng
Charles, woulde deliuer hym to the kynge of Englande, beguyled the lord Congreshall, andi
fledde awaye from Parys by nyght. But whether he departed without the Frenche kynges
consent or disassent, he deceaned in his expectation, and in maner in despayre, returned
agayn to the lady Margaret his first foolishe foundacion.
The duches thinkynge euery houre from his departure a whole yere, vntill suche tyme she.
heard from hym, and efiecteously desiring to knowe whiche waye lady Fortune turned her
whele, herynge hym to be repudiate and abiected oute of the Frenche courte, wasinagreate
agony.and muche amased and more appalled: But when she was asserteyned of hys arryuall.
in Flaunders, she nolesse reuiued, then he that bathe in steade of the. sworde of execu-
cion, a perdon and restauracion of hys-lyfe and degree to hym delyuered and shewed. And
at hys commynge to her presence, she receaued hym wyth suche gladnes, with suche reioys-
yng and suche comforte (as in dede she coulde dissemble alone aboue all other) as though
she had neuer sene nor knowe him before, or as he were newly cropen oute of hys mothers
lappe agayne, that what in trust to preferre hyrn to the prehemynence by her ymagened, and.
what for the hope that she had to destroye kynge Henry, she fell into suche an vnmeasurable
ioye, that she had almost lost her wytte and senses. And that thys her gladnes mighte be
notified and made apparauntto euery man, she first. reioyced of her nephewes health and
welfare: And secondarely she much thrusted and sore longed, not once, but dyuerse and
sundry tymes in open audience, and in solempne presence to here hym declare and shewe by
what meanes he was preserued from deathe and destruction, and in what countreys he had
wandered and'soughte frendshippe: And finallly, by what chaunce of fortune he came to
her courte and presence. To the entent that by the open declaracion of these feyned phan-
tasies, the people myghte be persuaded to geue credite and belefe, that he was the true be-
gotten sonne of her brother kynge Edwarde. And after thys she assigned hym a garde of
thirty persones in Murrey. and blewe, and highly honoured hym as a greate estate and called i
hym the whyte Rose, prynce of Englande.
By reason whereof, the nobilite of Flaunders were to hym diligent, & with dewe-reuerence
dyd him all the pleasure that laye in their powre or officies. And to be shorte, the more that,
thys poeticall and feyned inuencion was shadowed with the pretence of sincere veritie, the
more faythe and vndubitate credence was adhibited to it. In so muche that many one
thought hym to be preserued, onely by the will and mightie powre of almightie God, and to
to be conueyghed at the f'yrste daungier by some faythfull frende of kyng Edward his father
into some straiige country, and so escaped the violet tyranny of his vncle kyng Rychard,
whiche vndubitately, hereafter should recouer his fathers possessions & kingdome. The fame
& bruyte of thys iuggled myracle was almoost in one momet blowe ouer all the coutrey of
Flanders, & the territories therabouts. But in England it was biased in euery place soner
then a man could thiivke or deuise it: In which coutrey more than in other places it was re
ceaued for an infallible veritie & moost sure truthe, and that not onely of thecomon people,
but also of diuerse noble & worshipfull men of no small estimacio, w hichesw are £ affirmed it
to be true, and no conaent or fable phantastically ymagened. After this deuulgacio y Rychard
6 sonne
THE. VII J, YERE OF
sonne to kyng Edward was yet liuyng, £ had in great honour emongest the Fleminges, there
began sedicion to springe on euery syde, none otherwise tiien in y pleasant time of vere, trees
are wote to budde or blossome. For not onely they y were in sanctuaryes, for great & hey nous
offences by them committed, but also many other that were falle in del>te, and doubtyng 10 be
brought to captiuitie & bondage, assembled together in a copany, and were passed ouer the
sea into Flaunders, to their coutrefeate Richard sonne to kynge Edwarde, otherwise named
Perkyn Warbeke. After this many of the noble me conspired together some through rashnes
& temerite induced therunto, some beyng so earnestly perswaded in their awn coceipt, as
though they knew perfightly that this Perkyn was f vndubitate sonne of king Edward the. iiij.
solicited, slurred & allured to their opinion all such as were fredes & fautoures of the house
of Yorke. Other through indignacio, enuye & auarice, euer grudginge & thinkynge they
were not condignly rewarded for their paynes and partes taken in the kyngc-s behalfe and
quarell. Other whorne it greued and vexed to see the worlde stande still in one staye, and
all men to lyue in peace and tranquilitie, desyrous of some chaunge, ranne hedlinge into that
fury, madnes and sedicious coiuracion.
This rumour a-id vayne fable of this twise borne duke Richard, deuyded all Englad and
drewe the realme into Partakyngcs & seuerall faccions, so that the myndes of all men were
vexed either with hope of gaync and preferment, or with feare of losse and confusion. For
no man was quyet in his awne mynde, but his braynes & senses daily laboured & bet about
this great & weightie matter, euery man according to their intelligece, podering & weiyng in
egal balauce, the incomoditie & daungier that might hereof ensue, and the gayne & com-
moditie that by thesame might be obteyned & gotte. Albeit the kyng, & hys cousayl & other
hys faythfull frendes, not a litle mcruayled that any person (beynge in hys ryght wyt) coulde
induce in hys mynde or fynde in hys hart falsely to thynke and fraudulentlye too ytnagen,
suche a pernicious fable and ficcion, beyng not onely strange and marueylous, but also pro-
digious and vnnaturall, to feyne a dead man to be renated and newely borne agayne. By the
whiche open fallax and vntrue surmyse setfoorth and palliated with the vesture and garment
of a professed veritee. Many of the noble men (as he well then perceaued) toke and reputed
it, whiche was folishely and maliciously setforth to vnquyet £ perturbe hym and his realme,
to be a thinge true, iust and vnfeyned. So that he then sawe as farre as lynce with his bright
eyes, that this newe inuented coment and poeticall peynted fable, woulde make some broyle
and discorde in' his realme. Except it were manifestly published and openly declared to be a
fayned fable, a sedicious fraude and a craftye imagened mischiefe. Other persones, to
whome warre, sedicion, and stryfe, were as pleasaunt as delicate vyand or Epicures liuynge,
were very ioyous of these newes, and belcuing no fraude nor deceate to be hid or cloked vn-
dre this golden tale. But whatsoeuer the fame was and the voice that ranne abrodc, that they
reputed, syncere, true, and as an ope playne thing, thinking that to redounde both to their
aduauntage, comoditee and hygh preferment anil honoure, whiche thinge did greatly animate
and encourage them to set vp the sayles, and lanchefoorth the owcr of their pernicious and
detestable entreprice. And because the matter was weighty and requyred great aide and
assistence. Therfore they determined to sende messengers to the lady Margaret, to knowe
when Rychard duke of Yorke might come conueniently into England to thentent that
they beyng therof certefied might be in a redynes to helpe and succoure hym at hys first
arryuall.
THE. VIIJ. YERE.
SO by the common consent and agrement of theconiured confederates, syr Robert Clif-
ford knight, & William Barley were sent into Flaunders, which enucleated to the duches all
the secrete ententes and preuy counsayles of y fredes and fautoures of the new founde duke.
The duches thys message did gladly accept and louyngly embrace, and of their tydinges was
not
KYNG HENRY THE. VII. 465
not' a litle ioyous, easely by her persuasion inducynge to their heddes, ^hat all thinges that
were spoken of duke Rycharde were true & vnfeyned. And afterwarde brought them to the
sight of Perkyn, the which countrefeated the coutenaunce and the maner and fassion of
Rychard duke of Yorke, praisyng his vertues & qualities, with y which he was endued aboue
the mone. Thesayde syr Robert Clifford, when he had sene & well aduised the youg man,
beleued surely that he was extracted of the blood royall, and the very sonne of kyna Ed-
ward the. iiij. & thereof he wrote a lettre of credite & confidence into England to his co-
pany & felowes of his cospiracy, & to put them out of all double he affirmed y he knew
him to be kinge Edwardes sonne by his face & other lyniamentes of his body. And when
these lettres.came to England, the cheuetaynes of this busynes, to the entent to styrre the
people to some ne\ve commocion and tumult, and to set foorth some cause of tnatlre appa-
raunt, caused it opely to be diuulged and published, that it was true and not feigned that was
spoken & saide abroade of the duke of Yorke: but it was done by such a secret crafte, that
no ma coulde tell who was the authoure and founder of that rurnoure.
When the kyng perceaued that this vayne fable was not vanyshed oute of the mad breynes
of the commen people, he thought it expedient bothe for the sauegarde of hym selfe and
also of hys countrey, whose hurtes were ioyned and mixed together, to prouyde some re-
medy to represse this Immynent mischaunce, not a litle suspectynge, that some conspiracy
had bene concluded and agreed, because that syr Robert ClytForde had late fled preuely into
Flauaders. Wherefore he sent certayne knightes that were chosen and picked men of warre,
with a bor.de of souldioures intoeuery parte to kepe the shores & the sea costes surely, that
no man might passe ouer into any foreyn lande beyod y sea nor repasse into this realme
without serche, or pasporte or sauecoduyte by hym geuen, and all streytes, passages & by
pathes were kept £ searched, so that no man vnapprehended coulde passe to the sea coaste
nor make any conuenticle or assemble without he were espyed and taken. And to thentent
that many men, beyng bothe of England & other places for very malyce by this new inuen-
cion enflamcd and indurate, shoulde no farther ronne in their freneticall madnes, he secretly
sent wise espialles to all the cytyesof the Gaule Belgique or lowe countrey within the Arche"-
dukes dominion, and the confynes of thesarne, to searche & prye oute of what progeny thys
mysnamed Rycharde was disscnded and propagate, promysynge highly too re\varde and
thanke suche persones, whiche \voulde manifest and open the secrete doubtes and deuyses
of thesame matter: and besyde thys he wrote to hys trusty frendes to do thesame. So they
sailynge into Fraunce, deuided and seuered themselfcs euery man into a lymyte and pro-
uynce. And when certayne of them repayred to the toune of Turnay, they were there cer-
tefyed by the testimony of many honest person0, thaLthis feigned duke came but of a lowe
stocke, and of a base parentage, & was named there Peter Warbecke. And so shortely after
the kynges inquisitourcs returned into Englande, reportynge to the kynge what they had
knowen and hearde : Of whiche thyngc the kynge was also more plainly certefyed by hys
trusty and fuythefull frendes, both by letters and trusty messengers.
WTherupon seyng that nowe the fraude was openly and apparautly manifested & espied,
he determined to haue it published & declared \V all diligent celerite, both in the realme of
Englande & also in all partes beyonde the sea, in the prouynces of Foreyn princes and
straunge pott-tates. And for thesame cause he sent to Philip archedukeof IJurgoyn and to
hys counsayllers (because that he was not yet of mature age, apt and conuenient to take the
regimet of hys countreys and seigniories) Syr Edward Pownynges a valyafit knight, and syr
William Warram doctour of the lawes, a man of great modestie, learnyng and grauitc, y
they should opely to the declare, that y yoge man, beyng with the lady Margaret was dis-
ccnded of a basse and obscure parentage, and that he had falsely and vntruly vsurped the
name of Richard duke of Yorke, whiche long before was murthered with hys brother Ed-
warde in the" Tow re of London, by the commaundement of kynge Rychard their vncle, as many
men lyuynge can testifie. And to thinke and saye otherwyse then thys that apertly is knowen,
it were the hyghest poynte and degree of madnes, for asmuche as it is probable by and in-
3 O uincible
466 THE. IX. YERE OF
uincible reason and an argument infallible, that kyng Rycharde their naturall vncle, in dis-
patching and destroiyng prynce Edward the eldest sonne of kyng Edward his brother, was
in no suertie of hisYealme or vsurped dominion, if he. had permitted Richard the youger
sonne to lyue and continew: For then might he as next heyre to hys brother haue lawfully
and byiust title claymed the sceptre and diademe royal, \v hit-he- was hys fathers and after di-
u olu ted to hys elder brother. And tberfpre they shoulde desyre the Arched uke and the
prynces of his cousayl, that it woulde please them to geue no credite, nor them selfes suff're
any more to be blynded or seduced with suche mere impostures and craftie illusions beyng full
of vntruthe and apparaunte falsehed, nor yet to aide or assist suche a craftye merchant,
whiche had falsely. feigned hys name and stocke, and in especially against him, which 5u
few yeres passed had succoured and relened Maximilian their lorde beynge sore oppressed,
and almost ouercome bothe with the extort powre and puyssaunce of the Frenche kyng, also
with the cyuyle discorde and intestine rebellion of his awtxe subiectes and vassals. With
these comrnaundementes the Ambassadoures sayled into Flaunders, and there getely receaued
and louingely eriterteyned of the Archeduke Philip and his cousayll. And after that they
were com .naunded to declare the entent of their legacion, doctor William Warram priest,
made before theym a pleasaunt and a luculent oracion, shewyng therin discretely the mynde
entent and desyre of the kynge h^s master : And in the later ende of hys oracion, he ajitle
rebuked the lady Margaret and hyt her of the thombes, saiynge that she now in her olde age,
•within fewe yeres had produced and brought foorth two detestable monsters, that is to save
Lambert (of whome rehersal was made before) and the other Perkyn Warbeck, And beynge
conceyued of these two greate babes, was not of theim delyuered in eight or nyne monethes
as nature dothe requyre and as all other women commonly do, but in the hundreth and.
Ixxx. monethes, she brought them foorth out of her wombe : for bothe these at the least
were fiftene yeres of age before that she woulde be broughte in bedde of them, and shewe
them openly.
And when they were newely crept out of her wombe, they were no infautes, nor suckyng1
chyldren, but lusty yongelinges, and of age sufficient to byd battaile to kynges. Although
these tautes and lestes did angre and trouble the lady Margaret, yet Perkyn was more vexed-
and encombered with the thinges declared in thys oracion, and in especiall because hi*
fraude and false feigned iuggelinge was brought to light & opened: yet the duches beynge
therwith more incensed then quenched, nothyng refreignynge her olde malice and cancard
hatred, but entendyng to caste whole Sulpher to the newe kyndled fyre, determyned clerely
to arme and setforward prety Perkyn agaynst the kyng of England with speare and shilde,
might and mayne.
When the Ambassadours had done their message, and the Archedukes counsayll had longe
debated whether Perkyn were the true sonne of kynge Edwarde the fourthe, they aunswered
the Ambassadours: That to the entent to haue the loue and fauoure of the kynge of Enge-
lande assuredly after that tyrae, the Archeduke nor they woulde neither aide nor assist Per-
kyn nor hys complyces in any cause or quarell. Yet notwythstandinge, if the lady Marga-
ret persistynge and continuynge in her roted malice towardes the kynge, woulde be to hym
aidynge and helpynge, it was not in their power to let or withstande it, for because she in
the landes assigned to her for her dower, might frankely and freely do and ordre all thynges
at her awue wyll and pleasure without contradiccion of any other gouernour.
THE. IX. YERE.
Wllen thys aunswer was geuen to theym, they returned agayne into Englande. After
that, kyng Henry loking circumspectly to his matters, purposed to pacefie the stormes and
blastes that he perceaued to be growyng, rather by pollecy and counsayll, then by dubious
warre & manslaughter, if his nobilite woulde therunto condiscende. For he well cosi-
dred
KYNG HENRY THE. VII. 467
tired that of one busines riseth another, and of one small sparcle conmieth a great flame.
And therefore straight he sent forth certayne espialles into Flaunders, which shoulde feigne
them selues to haue fledde vnto the duke of Yorke, and by that meanes searche foorth and
inuestigate, the whole intent of their coniuracion, and after what waye they entended to
precede in thesame. Other were sent also to allect and entice syr Robert ClyfFord, and
William Barly to retorne into Englande, promisynge to theim franke and free pardone, of
all offences, and crymes committed, and j>romocions, and rewardes, for obeynge to the kynges
request. These exploratours so traueyled in their affaires and busynes that they -brought to
passe all thinges to their masters desyre. For first they had perfight knowledge of the names
of certayne conspiratours agaynst the kyng. After they persuaded syr Robert Clifford to leaue
of that foolishe opinion, whiche had no suregrpunde nor foundacion to stay itselfe vpon. Al-
beit William Bailey coulde not be deduced from his begonne enterprice, but that he woulde
go fonvarde hedlynge with thesame, which taried not long in that deuelish opinion. For within
tsvo ycres after this, he repentynge hym of his fbly; beyng reclaymed, and hauynge perdone
geuen hym of the kyng, repaired home to hys natiue coutrey, detesting hi & hys foolish blind-
nes. Whe the espialles had sped their purpose, one after another stale away prtaely from
the feyned duke, and returned into Englande, bringynge with them the names of certayne,
which were chiefe of that conspiracy. Other taried still behynd to accompany syr Robert
Clifford, when he returned agayne into England, whose tariynge meruelously debilitated
and appalled the courages, & hartes, of the coniuratours., For they perceaued dayly that
their enterprice more and more feynted, and that they were by a little & little dampnified
and hurted. ' And yet they sawe no man whome they might perfightly put diffidece in, or yet
once mistrust ,
When the kyng had knowledge of the chief Capitaynes of this tumulte by the ouerture of
hys espyes, which were returned, he caused the all to be appreherided and brought to London
before his presence. Of the which the chief were Ihon Ratclyffe lord Fitzwater, syr Symonde
Mouforde, syr Thomas Twhaytz knightes, Willia Dawbeney, Robert Ratclyffe, Thomas
Cressenor, and Thomas Astwood. Also certain priestes and religious men as syr William
Richeforcle doctor of deuioitee, and syr Thomas Poynes, bothe freers of sainct Dominikes
order, docter William Sutton, syr William Worsely dearie of Paules, and Robert layborne and
syr Rychard Lessey. Other that were giltye of thesame cryme, hearyng that many of their
company were taken, fled and toke sanctuary. And the other that were taken were con-
dempned al of treason, of the which there was hedded syr Symond Mounforde, syr Robert
Ratclyffe, & Willia Dawbeney, as aucthoures and chief Capitaynes of this busynes. The
other were perdoned, and the Priestes also for their ordre sake that they had taken, butfewe
of them liued log after. Also syr Ihon Ratclyfe, lord Fitzwater was pardoned of his life, but
after that he came to Caleys, and there layde in holcle, he was behedded, because he cor-
rupted the kepers with many promises to haue escaped out of thesame, cntedyng as was
thought to haue gone to Perkyn.
Kyng Henry of England, partely grened with the kyng of Romanes for breakyng his
promes, when he shoulde haue associated him in hys iorney agaynst the French kyng, and
partely displeased, with the Flcmyngcs, but principally with the lady Margaret, for kepyng and
settyng forward Perkyn Warbeck, notonely banished all Flemyshe wares and marchaundises,
out of hys realme and dominions, but also restreyned all English mart-halites, from their re-
paire and traffique into any of the landes £ territories, of the kynge of Romanes, or the
Archeduke hys sonne, causynge the marte of merchaundises and commoditees of this
realme to be kept at hys toune of Caleys. Wherfore the sayde kynge and hys sonne banysh- TV mane
ed oute of their landes and seigniories all Englishe clothes, yarne, tynne, Icade and other j^."
commodities vpon great forfeytures and penalises. The restraint made by the king sore greued
and hindered the rnerchauntes, beynge aduenturers : For they by force of thys comaunde-
inent had no occupiynge to beare their charges and supporte their contynuaunce and credyle.
And yet one thingc sore nyppcd their hartes, for the Easterly nges whiche were at liber tie,
302 _ brought
463 THE. X. YERE OF
brought into the realme such wares as they were wont and accustomed to do, and so seruetl
their customers throtighe oute the whole realme : By reason wherof the masters beynge des-
titute of sale and comtnutacion, neither reteyned so many coucnaut seruauntes and appren-
tices as they before were accustomed, & in especiall, Mercers, Haberdasshe'rs and Clothe-
woorkers, nor yet gaue to their seruauntes so great stipende and salarie, as' before that res-
treynte they vsed to do. For whiche cause the sayde seruauntes entendyng to woorke their
malice on the Easterlynges, thetuesdaye before saynctEdwardes daye come to the Styliard in
London, and beganne to rifle and spoyle such chambres and warehouses as they could get
ma7e°vPon into: So that the Easterlynges had muche ado to withstands and repulse theym oute of their
the East«- gategi And whc their gates were fermed and closed-, the multitude rushed and bete at the
gates with clubbes and leuers to haue entred, but the Easterlynges by the helpe of Carpen-
ters and Smythes, whiche came to their aide by water oute of the borough of Southwarke had
so strongly shored and fortefied them selfes that they coulde not preuayle. The Mayre of Lon-
don hearynge of this ryot, assembled y Magestrates and officiers of the citie together,
and so beynge furnisshed bothe with men and weapon, set forward towarde the Stylyard. As-
sone as the comynge of y Mayre was intymate and knowen to the ryotous personcs, they
fledde awaye lyke a flocke of shepe: howebeit he apprehended diuerse of the malefactoures
and committed theitn too seuerall prysons. And vpon the inquiry before the kynges commis-
sioners, there were fouiulegyltieaboue. Ixxx. seruauntes and apprentices (and not one hous-
holder) whyche were confederate together to make this attept and sworne in no wyse to dis-
couer or reuele the same: Whereof some that were the cheuetaynes and beginners of this mis-
cheuousriot, were sent to the Towre, and there longe continued. But in conclusion, be-
cause none of their masters were inuented culpable of thys naughtye acte, the kynge of hys'
goodnes remitted their offence, and restored them to their libertie.
f THE. X. YERE,
SHortely after, syr Robert Clyfford, partely trusting on the kynges promes, & parlelynifs-
trustyng the thing, because he knewe that diuerse that were accused to be partakers of that
faccion and conspiracy were put in execueion : & therfore perceauyng that their could not be
a more pernicious nor more desperate begonne thinge then that deuelishe enterprice returned
sodeynly agayn into England. The kynge beynge certefied before of his coming went streight
to the Towre of London the morow after the daye of Epiphany, and there taryed till suche
tyme that syr Robert Clyfford was there presented to hys person, which thinge he vsed vnder
this pretence, that if syr Robert Cliftbrde had accused any of the nobilitie to be partakers
of this vngracious fraternitie & diabolical coniuraeio that then euery such person might be
called thether without suspeccion of any euell, & there streight to be attached and cast in
holde.
But- before I go any farther I will shew the opinion that at that tyme ranne in many mens
heddes of this knyghtes goynge into Flaunders. Some men helde this opinion, that kyng
Henry for a polecy dyd sende him as a spye to Flaunders, or els he would not haue so sone
rcceaued him into his grace and fauour agayn: Neuerthelesse this is not like to be true by
diuerse reasons and apparautargumentes, firste after that attempt begonne by syr Robert, he
was in no small dauger him selfe, and by that was not a litle noted, & hys fame blemished,
but also hys frendes were suspected and had in a gealosy. Secondarely he was not after y in
so great fauour, nor so estemed with the kynge as he had been in tymes past, because he
was blotted & marked 'with that cryme & offence. And therfore he bearing his fauonre to
the house of Yorke entendynge in the beginning to administer displeasure to kyng Hery,
sayled to the lady Margaret, beyng seduced & brought in belefe y Perkyn was the very sonne
of kynge Edward. But to my purpose, when syr Robert came to the presence of the kynge,
he knelyng on his knees most humbly e, beseched hym of grace and pardone, whiche he
shortely
KYNG HENRY THE. VII. 469
shortely obteyned. And after that beyngc requyred of the maner and ordre of the coniura-
cion, and what was clone in ^launders, he opened euery pointe to his knowlegc, and after
disclosed the names, aswell of the aiders and fautoures as of the inceptors and begynners.
Emongest whome he accused syr William Stanley, whome the kynge made his chicle cham-
berleyn, and one of his preuy counsayll. When he had so sayde, y l<yng was greatly dis-
mayed and greued, that he shouUle be partaker in that greuous offence, cousiderynge first
that he had the gouernaunce of his chambre, and the charge and comptrolmcnt of all suche '
as Mere next to hys bodye, and also callynge to remembraunce the manifolde gratuities,
whiche he had receaued at hyshande, but in especiall not forgettynge that beneh'te aboue all
other, that onely by his aide and succoure, he had vanquished and ouerthrowen his mortall .
enemy kynge Richarde. Wherefore, at the begynnynge he coulde in no wyse be induced
nor persuaded to beleue that he was such a preuy conspiratoure or malicious offender, but
when the cryme was openly proucd and probably affirmed, then the king caused hym to be •
restrayned from hislibertie in his awne chambre within the quadrate towre. And there ap-
poynted hym by his preuy counsayll to be examined. In whiche examinacion he nothinge de-
nyed, but wisely and seriously did astipulate and agree to all thinges layed to hys charge, if
he were in any of theim culpable or blame woorthy.
The reporte is, that this was his offence. When communicacio was had betwene hym,
and this syr Robert Clifforde, as cocernyng Perkyn whiche falsely vsurped the name of kyng
Edwardes sonne, sir Willifi Stanley sayde and affirmed there, that he would neuer fight nor •
beare armure agaynst the young man, if he knew of a truthe that he was the indubitate
sonne of kyng Edward the. iiij. Thys poynte argueth and proueth hym at that tyme beyng :
moued with melancholy, to beare no great good will to kyng Henry, wherof suspicion first .
grewe, and after this ensued theaccusacion of syr Robert Clyfforde.
Then the kyng doubtinge what to do with him, did cosulte & breath with hym selfe of this •
sodeynechaunce. For he feared least that his brother lorcle Thomas Stanley, in whome he -
had founde great frendship, woulde take this maltre greueously. And if lie should remit
thatfault, or abusynge his lenyteand mercy, he would be the more bolder to offend and treas-
pace more highly. Albeit at the last, seueritee tooke place, and mercy was put backc, and -
so he was arreigncd at Westmynster and adiudged to dye, and accordinge to that iudgemente
was bronghte to the towre hill the. xvi. daye of February, and there had hys head stryke of.
What was the occasion and cause why the syncere and faythfull mynclc that syr William all-
ways before bare to kyng Henry, was turnedinto cancarde hatred and dispite, and why the
especiall fauoure that the kyng bare towarde hym was transmuted into disdeyne and displea-
sure, diuerse men alledge dyuersc causes, affirmynge that when kynge Henry (what other
mutuall benefites the one had receaued of the other, I wyll nowe pretermyt and ouerpasse)
in that battaile, in the whiche he bereft kynge Richarde bothe of hys life and hys kyngdom,
beynge associate and accompanied but with a small numbre, and circuuented by kynge
Rychardes army, & in great ieopardy of his lyfe, thys syr William beynge sent from t!ie
lord Standley hys brother with a good company of stronge and hardy men (whiche lorde
Stanley was nere the felde with a great army) came sodeynly and fortunately to the suc-
cours of kynge Henry, and saued hym from destruction, and ouerthrewe kynge Rychard
as before you haue. heard. Surely thys was a benefite aboue all benefites to be reinembred,
by the which kyng Hery was not onely preserued alyue, but also obteyned the croune& king-
dome, which great benefite, after the kingdome once obteyned, he did neither forget nor yet
left vn re warded. For the lord Thomas Stanley he inuested with the swoorde of the countie of
Darby, & beside other great giftes & officies geuen to Willia Stanley, he made him his chiefe
cluiberleyn. This syr William, although he were in great fauoure with 'the kyng, & had in
great and high estimacion, moreremebring the benefite clone to the kyng, then the rewardes
and gratuitees of his liberalite receaued, thinking that the vessel of oyle, (according to the
Gospel) would ouerflowe the brymmes, & as some saye, desiryng to be erle of Chestre &
therof denyed, began to grudge & disdeyne the kyng his high fred : and one thing encoraged
him
470 THE. XI. YERE OF
Tiim much, which was the riches & treasure of kig Richard, which he onely possessed at
y conflict of Boswoorth : By reason of which haboundance of ryches & greate powre of
people, he sent naught by y kyng his souereign lord & Mastre. When the kyng per-
ceaued that his stomack began to canker & waxe rusty, he was with him not a Jitle
displeased, and so when bothe their hartes were enflamed with melancholy, bothe loste the
fruite of their longe cotinued amitie & fauoure. And so it often chauuceth, that when
men do not cosider nor yet regard the great benefites to them exhibited, they rendre agayne
hatred for liberalitee, and for breade geuen, they yelde agayne a scorpion. - Novve to returne
to the matter.
At this tyme the kyng thought it best, ye & very necessary not onely to take hede about him,
but also to vse some sharpe punyshmet and correccio of the offences of his subiectes, to the-
tent y the late begon sedicion might the soner be repressed, & for this cause specially y some
persons voyde of all honest feare & reuerent dread, had take such courage & audacitie to
them, that they feared not tospeake euell of their kyng & souereign lord, with moost spite-
ful & contumelious wordes as though they neither feared nor woulde obey him, or his pre-
ceptes & comanndementes, expecting dayly and hourely the arryuall & landing of the feyned
Hycbard duke of Yorke, now lately rysen from death to lyfe. But when knowlege of the
slaunderonsand opprobrious woordes were brought to the kynges eares, he caused dyuerse
persones to suffre condigne punyshmet for their heynous offences, wherby their coplices wel
perceatiyngy their entreprice had no prosperous successe nor tokc any good effect, & especi-
ally such as temerariously began to make mastries and farther seyng what preparacion was
made and prouyded agaynst their tumulteous commocion & i'raritique enterprice, they of
their awne swynge pacefied them selfes, & beganne to turne to theyr kynge and naturall
liege lorde.
THE. XI. YERE.
_ AFter the death of syr William Stanley, Gyles lord Dabency, a man of Great ficlelitie and
circumspeccion was elected and made the kynges chiefe chamberleyne. When the kynge had
thus poletiquely weded out the euell & corrupt hartes of his English subiectes, and had
pacefied & brought all his realme to a'monacorde and a quyet lyfe. Then he perceaued
that it was necessary also to purge & dense his realme of Irelad to thentent y the veneinous
sede sowen £ planted, ii. yeres past emdgest the wilde & sauage Irish persons by Perkyn War-
beck might becleane eradicated & plucked vp. Wherforehesentsyr Hery Deane late Abbot
of Langtonye, a man of great wyt and diligece (whome he made chaucelour of the Isle)
and syr Edward Pownynges knyght, with an army of men into Ireland, to searche & purge
all such tounes & places where Perkyn was receaued, releued or fauoured. And if they
espied any ofhys affiniteeor faccion, then he would they should be punished with al extremi-
tie to the terrible example of all other that woulde enclyne too that vnfortunate parte. And
first, after their arryuall into Irelande, they called in the kynges name the nobilitee of that
country to a cousayll, where they beyng assembled all together, the Chauncelour with a
gentle exhortacion requyred them first to persist in due obedience and fidelitie towardes their
kynge, and to_aide hys capitayne Syr Edwarde Pownynges with their might, powre & strength
agaynst such rebelles whiche eyther through blyndnes and folye, or elles through desyre and
appetide to do euell, su.steyned and aided Perkyn with barneys, menne or money. Euery
man promysed openly to helpe with all their power and might: But they promysed not so
quickly, but they performed it as slowely, for fewe or none either aided or assisted him, as
who woulde saye, that theyloued the English nacion more with their outward coiitenaunce,
then in their inward hartes & myndes. But when they heard that syr Edward Pownynges
was come to persecute al suche as were fautouresand frendes to Perkyn Warbeck, there was
flo man , although he were but a litle contamynate wyth that sedicious infection, but he fled oute
3 of
KYNG HENRY THE. VI I., 471
(yf hand into woodes and tnarises for the defence and sauegarde o-f them selfes, there consult-
ing together, after the maner of their countrey, in what places they might best lye in wayte
to infest1 and skyrmyshe with the Englishmen, or els if nede shoulde so requyre tQ fighte
with -them hand to hande.
In- Ireland there be two kynd of men, one softe, gentle, ciuile & curteous: And to these
people, as to the mooste rychest and best nurtured persons dothe many merchaunt men of
the countreys adioyning, daily resorte, frequent, contract, bergayne, and make marchaun-
dise. Hut because the moost resorte thether is of the English nacion, the Irish men folow
& coutrefeate their ciuile maners & honest cddicios. And by reason of y cotno trade and
entrecourse betwene the, they hane learned y English toiig, & can both speake & vnder-
stad it. And all this kyntle of people is vnder y subieccio & domiuio of y kyng of Eng-
lad. The oilier kynde is cleane cotrary fro this, for they be wilde, rustical, folish, fierce,
& for their vntnanerly bchaiiior Ik rude fassios, are called wilde & sauage Irishmen. And
these men haue many gouernours & seuerall rulers, whiche kepe continual hattaile, and
dayly warre emongest them selfes. Eor y which cause they be more fierce, more bolde &
hardy then theother Irishme, and thei be very desyrous of newe thinges & straunge sightes
and gasynges, & after robbery, theft £ rapyne, in nothyng so much delytyng as with tu-
multeous sedicion & continual strife. And to these wilde coaltes Perkyn shewed hym selfe
first, easely persuadynge theim to beleue that he was thesame verey person whome he false-
ly fayned and counlrcfeated.
Wherfore Sir Edward pownynges accordynge to his commission, entending to punishe
suche as haue bene aiders and auauncers of Perkyns foolishe enterpricc, with his whole
army, marched forward against these wilde Irishmen, because y all other beynge culpable of
that oftence tied and resorted to theim forsuccoure and defence, to thentent that they bothe
together might be liable to resist & defye their enemies. But- when he sawe that his pur-
pose succeded not as he wisshed it, bothe because the Irysh lordes sent him no succour
accordynge to their promises, and also considerynge that his nombre was not sufticiente to
set on the wilde people being dispersed emongest woodes, rnounteyns and marishes, was
of nccessitee, compelled to recule and returne, frettyng and vexed in his stomacke, be-
cause he suspected y Geralde erle of Kildare beyng then the kynges deputie, was the '
cause & occasion y he had no succoures nor ayde sent to him, and so he was enformed of
suche as bare to the erle no good will. And therfore sodeinly he caused the erle to be ap-
prehended, and as a prisoner brought him in his company into 'England : Where, when he
was examined and certeine matters of treason layed to his charge, he auoyded theim all,
a-nd clerely (suche was his wyt and innocency) quit him selfe and layed the burden in
other mens neckes: Whome the kyng dimissed and sent hym into Ireland agayne, there
to be his deputie and Lieutenaunt as he was before. The kyng like a polletique prince had
many greate and weightie consideracions whiche refreyned him from vsynge of any se--
ueritie or extremitie againste this earle, contrary to the myndes and willes of his malicious
aduersaries. One was the great aucthoritee and swynge that he bare emogest the Iryshe
nacion: Also the condicion and state of the tyme, wherin he sauoured some sedicion to -
be in brewing: And chiefly of all the assured hope and affiaunce that he conceaued in -
him.
So that nowe the kyng beyng out of all feare of battaile, dyd take his progresse into1
Lancasshire the. xxv. daie of luyn, there to recreate iiis spirites and solace him selfe with
his mother the Lady Margarete wife to the Earte of Darby, whiche then laye at lathome
in that countrey. While these thinges were thus done in England, Perkyn Warbeck then
beyng in Flaunders, although he had taken great care and sorowe for that his craftie con- -
ueighaunce was espied and openly knowen, and also that kyng Henry had afflicted and pu-
nished diuerse of his confederates and alyes, and therby in despaire of all the ayde and sue- •
cour that was to hym promysed and appoyncted: Yet he determined not to leaue the hop» :
and trust that he had conceaued in his mad head to obteyne the crowne and realmc of Eng-
lande, •
472 THE. XI. YERE OF
lande, and so gatherynge a greate armye of valyaunt Capiteyns of all nacions, some ban-
querautes, some false Englyshe sanctuary men, some theues, robbers and vacaboundes,
vvhiche leauynge their bodely laboure desyrynge only to lyue of robbery and rapine, came
to be his seruauntes and souldioures. And so being furnished with this rablemente of
knaues, tboke suche shippes as his frendes had prouyded for hym, and departed oute of
Flaunders, entendynge to arryue in England whcrsoeuer the winde brought hym. And by
cbaunce of fortune he was dryuen vpon the Kentyshe coaste, where because y see was
calmed, he cast his anchors and there made his abode, and sent certeine of his retinewe to
the lande to signifie to all the countrey that he was so furnished of all thinges mete and co-
uenyet for his entreprice, that there was no doubt but the victory woulde enclyne to his
parte. And by this meanes to make exploracion and enquirye whether the Kentishmen
woulde take his parte and folowe hym as their capitayne, whiche before tymes was not ty-
inerous norafraide of their awne mynde in troubleous seasons to moue warre againste their
princes. The Keutyshmen hearynge that this feyned duke was come, and had heard that
he was but a peinted ymage, doubtyng a space what to do, whether to helpe him or to re-
sist his power, at the last rcmebryng what euell chaunces their forefathers had, and how
smal a profile such as haue rebelled haue gained, thought it neither expedient nor profita-
ble for theim to aide & assyst hym that came rather to spoyle, destroye & wast the coun-
trey, then to conquere it for their wealthe & comodity. And this thei firmely conjectured
because he had none other with him but Alienes and straunge people, which would take &
accompte euery church toune, chapell, house & euery priuate man as a pray and a lucre,
and no-Uas their natyue countrey. Wherfore they fearing the sequele, -determyned still to
abide trewe to their kyng and prince, & to fall vpon suche as were new come to land out
of their shippes. And while thei were assemblyng of theimselues together, other should
by fayre promises & fredly woordes allure & calle vnto theim the great nombre out of the
shippes, and so geue theim battaill. And so vsyng this guyle and imposture, they promised
all to folowe him and to fight vnclre his banner: Howbeit the prolonging of time draue
Perkyn into a suspicion, which wel remebred y a comminaltie is not accustomed sagely to
cosult, but sodeinly & temcrariously to ronne hedlyng euer into rebellion & newe stirred
comocion. Wherfore Perkyn determined not once to set foote Oute of his ship till he
sawe al thing sure wout any scruple or ambiguitee. And although he minded not to take
land him selfe, yet he permitted certeyne of his souldiours to go on land, which persones
beyng a prety waye fro their shippes, were sodeinly circuuented & compassed by the Keu-
tyshmen, & at one stroke vanquyshed and dryuen backe to their shippes, & ther wer take
prisoners an hundred and. Ix. persons, whereof, v. were named capiteins Mountforde^ Cor-
bet, white belt, quyntine or othenvyse Genyn. Whiche rebelles were brought by sir Ihon
.Pechy shreue of ket, to Londo railed in ropes like horses drawyng in a carte. And after
vpon their arraynement, confessed their offence, and were executed some .at London, &
other in the tounes adioynynge to the see coaste. Wherfore Perkyn failyng of his purpose
fled back into Flaundcrs and there taried, consultyng with his frendes vntill suche tyme as
he had better prepared for thinges to come more prudently then he had done before tyme.
In this verie ceason departed to God Cicile Duches of Yorke, mother to kyng Edward
y fourth and kyng Richard at her castel of Barkamstede, a woman of small stature, but
of muche honour and high parentage, and was buryed by her husband in the colledge of
Fodringey.
The kyng beyng aduertised y his enemies had made entreaunce into his realme, left of
hisprogresse & purposed to reUirne to London again, but beyng certified y next daie after
of y lucky spede & fortunate chauce continued and wet foorth of his progresse, sendyng
to theim sir Richard Gylforde, bothe to praise the fidelite & manhoode of the people, and
also to rendre to theim his most harty thankes for their good seruice to him done, >V faith-
ful promes not to forget them herafter in their sutes, requestes & peticions. Also that
-6 thei
K^NG HENRY THE. VII. 473
lliei might not haue any successe herafter into those partes, the kyng comaunded the watches,
to be kept all aloge the see coastes, and bekons to be erected according to tlie aunciet
vsage and custorne of the countrcy.
Peter and his capiteins takyng coucel together in Flaundres, were of one assent resolued
to this poinct, y there was nothynge more surer to theim, then to precede quickly w all ce-
Jerite in their incepted entreprice. And when they perceaued y there was neither people
tonne nor coiitrey in England y would associate them in their phantastical frenesy which
nothyng was mitigated, least y by protractyng of tyme and longe space kyng Henry might
fortefie & munite all daungerous places, and passages w souldiours & men of warre, which
thinge thei heard saye y he neither forgate nor forslowed, & beside y he was not a litle
afeard y his loge tariyng should appalle & discoforte his preuy frendes win y realme of Eng-
land. Wherfore he gathered together his vngracious copany, & determined first to sayle
into Ireland, there to augmet his nober. And fr5 thence if yt were possible to saile into
$ west partes of England. And yf there were any let or obstacle in that place, then he
determined to saile streight into Scotlad, knowyng y seldome or neuer is perfight cocorde
& amitie betwene y Scottes & y English nacio. When this gefle coucel was dissolued, &
wind and wether serued, he set vp his sayles, & hauyng a prosperous gale after his phan-
tasy, sayled into Ireland, where he reposed hym selfe a space. And remembryng y the
hope of victory cosisted not whole in the Irish nacion, which beynge naked men wout'
barneys or armure were not hable to cobate with the Englishme, wherfore when the wynde
serued hym he departed fro Corffe and arryued in Scotlad, and commyng to the kyngs pre-
sence, with great solempnite, framed his tale after the forme and fassion folowyng.
I thinke yt is not vnknowen to you, moost noble kyng and puissaiit prince, into what ruyne
the stock, house and familie of Edward fy fourth of that name kyng of England, is nowe
of late brought to and falle in, eyther by Goddes permission or by deuine punishment,
whose vndubitate sonne (yf you knowe not all ready) I am, & by the powre of almightie
God, preserued alyue to this houre from the mighty had of a tyraut. For my father kyng
Edward when he dyed, appoyncted his brother Richard duke of Gloucester to be our go-
uernour, protectour & defender, whome y more that he loued & studied to auaunce and
promote, y better he thought y he would loue, fauoure, and tendre his children. But
alas my infortunate chaunce I may saye, howe hath his trust bee turned into treason : and
his hope turned to hindreaunce: All men knowe and I feele. Oure vncle was not the
tutoure and preseruer of our stocke and lynage, but the confounder and destroier of our
bloude and progenye. For that tyraunt blinded and glutted with the cupiditie of ruling
and souereigntie commaunded Edward my brother and me to be slaine and dispatched out
of this mortall lyfe. Wherupon that person, to whome the weightie and cruell charge was
committed and geuen to oppresse & destroye vs poore innocent enfantes and gilteles babes,
the more that he abhorred this heynous and bocherly offence the more he feared to comyt yt.
And so waueryng in mynde & dubious what to doo, at the legth, \villynge in parte to saciate
the bloudy thrust of y vnnatural tyraunt, and in parte to absteyne from so facinorous and
detestable homicide, destroyed my brother and preserued me, lyke the good Prjeste losada
which saued lytle loas when all the children of the bloude royall were commaunded by
Athalia the quene to be slayne and vtterly destroyed. And farther, to thentent that my lyfe
might be in a suretie, he apoincted one to conuey me into some straunge countrey, where
when I was furthest of and had moost nede of comfort he forsooke me sodeinly (I think
he was so apoincted to do) and left me desolate alone without frende or knowlege of any
reliefe or refuge. And so kynge Richarde dyd obteyne the croune as a praye mischeueous-
ly gotten by the dispatching awaye of my brother and me. So that I thus escapynge, by
reason of my tendre infancy, for gate almost my self and knewe not wcl what I was, but
after long wanderyng from countrey to countrey, and fro citee to citee, I perceaued and
learned a lytle & litle what was my estate and degree, and so in conclusion came to mine
»wne an«te the lady Margaret liyng in Flaundres, whiche was sometyme niaried to Charles
3 P duke
471 THE. XJ. YERE OF
duke of Bourgoyne, whiche as ioyfully receaued and welcommed me as yf I had come oute
of hell into heauen, as the only type and garland of her noble stirpe and lynage, but ibr-
asmuche as she being only dowager of y duchy of Bourgoine, and hauyng nothing but her
dowre propre vnto her self, was not of powre to helpe me vf men & munitnetes of warre
as she woulde gladly haue done for the recouery of my fathers realme & rightful! inheri-
taiuice, I therefore am dryuen to seke farther ayde and succourc. And therefore by her
counsel! and adtie-tisement, with this small handfull of men of warre and souldioures, I
am repayred ito your presence for succours, of whome (as the pubiike fame is spred ouery^
whole worlde) there was neuer man by wrong or iniurie profligated or dryuen oute of his
countrey, region or inheritaunce, or by extorte powre and tiranny kept out of thesame (as
1 my selfe from myne infancie haue bene) whose request was frustrate and repulsed at your
hand. Therefore by the maiestie of your realme and countrey I desyre, and heartely "with
prayer as I can, I beseche and exhorte you to helpe and releue me now in my extreme ne-
cessite. And yf yt chaunce me by your ayde and succour to recouer and possede my fa-
thers realme £ dignitie, not only I, but all the kyngs of our lynage which her after shall ob-
teyne thesame, shalbe so muche obliged and bound vnto you, that they must nedes thynke
that doynge to you al the pleasure and benetites that they can, yet with al the thankes y can
be geuen, your great kindenes can neuer be equiualently recompensed.
When he had thus saide the kyng bad hym be of good comforte, and promysed hym that
whatsoeuer he ware, yt shoulde neuer repent hym of his commynge to hym. And after
this the kynge assembled his councell together, and demaunded of euery man seueraJly,
what they sayde, of these thynges which perkyn had both enucleated and requyred, or
whether they woulde take any farther deliberaciou to aduyse theim selfes what to do in so
great and weyghtie a matter. They that were of greatest experience and of the wysest
sortc did proue by many apparaunt argumentes that his saiynges were but dreames and fan-
tcsies and of no force or trtithe and therefore they thought it not conuenient to encombre
theim selfes with any lengre consultation. Another sort, which was not very great, ney-
ther of wyt nor experiece, but greater in nomber, estemed this matter very profitable to the
common wealth, consideryng yt ministred to theim occasion to make warre in Englande.
And although thei had knowlege what good successe Perkyn had enioyed in all his former
attemptes, yet they estemed that nowe all thynges shoulde succede accordynge to their ex-
pectacion, yf his cause (although yt were as lyght as a father) were assumed and taken in
iiand to be defended, considering that when the warre was once intimate and begonne, and
yf perkyn did preuayle, he would deny nothynge conuenient to his frendes and helpers.
Or elles at y least thei doubted not but kyng Henry woulde make to theim large and ample
offers & condicions of peace, rather then kyng lames shoulde take parte with his aduersary
and mortall ennemye. When this councell was geuen by the more nomber, yt was well ac-
cepted, and the Skottishe kyng, -whether he were blynded by errour, or els dyd dissimule
the matter, beganne to haue Perkyn in great honour and caused hym openly to be called
duke of Yorke. Also, that this might be more apparaunt to the people y he was so in dede,
he caused lady Katheryn daughter to Alexandre erle of Hutley, his nigh kynsman & of a
high lignage in Scotland, to be espoused to him. And this affinite he caused to be made for
this ende & purpose, partly y he might extenuate y euell will & malice which was lyke to
succede of this matter, for that it might be notoriously blasted and knowen abroade y he
had peace £ amity w y king of Englad, & partly least he might be accused of to much
light credece if Perki were foud & proued to be another mft then he was reported..
When all thyngs were prepared, ordred and apoyncted for y warre. This Perkyn swel-
lyng with ioye that he after his awne phantasye had made the Scottes to be his partakers.
And to thentent that they should put no diffidence in the sequele of hisentreprice, & to en-
courage theim y more he pronounced suerly y he should haue great succour & aide of his
frendes in England sent euen from y- farthest part therof assone as euer the trompet of warre
was blowen. The Scottes although thei had but lytle confidence & lease trust in his wordes,
yet
KYNG HENRY THE. Vlf. 475
yet puttyng their hope more in $ gayne of spoyle then in f gainyng of the victory by bat-
tayle, armed them selfes in all y- hast & marched toward the confines and borders of Eng-
lad. Albeit the Scottish kyng myndyng not to be to rashe, mystrusted y tiie Englishmen
knowyng Perky n to be arryued in Scollad had layed seme anny for y defence of jr fron-
tiers, sent out certeine light horsmen to espie & searche if the husbandmen of the coiitrey
were assembled in armure to defend their enemies. The horsme rangyng ouer y feldes &
playnes belongyng to their enemies, seyng all thinges quiet, returned to their kyng and cer-
tified him that now was the tyme moost apte & couenient to inuade the realme & set on the
English nacion. Then f Scottysh kyng marching toward England with all his puyssauce,
first proclaymed openly, that al such should only be pardoned that would take part and
submit theim selfes to Richard duke of Yorke, and fight in his cause and quarell. And to
thentent to appalle and daunte the hartes of the poore commons, so that for very feare
they should be enforced and compelled to submit them selfes to this ne\ve founde Mawtnet,
they made so cruell and deadly warre, that not lyke men, whose nature is to be satisfied
with the slaughter of men, and to be mercifull to the impotent and sycke persons, brent
tounes, spoyled houses and kylled me and children, and allected with the swetnes of spoyle
& prayes, wasted al the countrey of Northumberlad, and had gone foorth farther, but that
they perceaued no aide or succoure to come out of Englande to attende vpon this newe
duke. ' And the souldiours beynge fully laden with blood and spoyle, refused to go one foute
farther at that tyme, & the countrey roase oneuery parte, whiche made the kynge suspecte
some army to approche. Wherfore he determined rather to retourne with his assmed
gaine, then to tary the nuncupatiue dukes vnsure and vncerteine victory, and so he reculed
again into Scotland.
It is a worlde to remember in this place of a certein kynde of ridiculous mercy and
foolish copassion, by the which Perkyn was so sore moued that yt semed hym to regarde
nothyng more then the commodite of another man. For wile the Scottish kyng thus vexed
& haryed y poore inhabitautes on the borders of Northiiberland, so y nothing was heard
but roring, wepyng and lamentyng. This newe inuented duke beyng returned into Scot-
land, euen lyke him selfe, which wrought all thynge w fraude and deceyte, perceauyng
that no concurse nor resorte of Englishmen shewed theim selfes in ope apparaunce to mi-
nistre to him aide or succour, and fearing not a lytle that the boxe of his crafty dealyng,
£ bagge of his secrete coutrefeatyng should be elueydate & set in an open glasse, by,,rea-
son wherof he should be floccipended and had in cotempt & clisdeygne of the Scottish peo-
ple, as though he had bene tberuto prouoked by a naturall inclinacion and paternal pitie
(to thentent to hide and palliate his subtyl subornacion) cryed out openly, Oh, my stony &
heard frosen harte which arte not once moued nor yet afflicted vv the losse and slaughter of
so many of thyne awne naturall subiectes & vassales. And at that glorious sighynge, he
beseched the Scottish kyng that fro thece foorth he woulde not affiicte and plage his people,
nor deforme and deface his naturall realme and countrey with such terrible fyer, flame and
hauocke. As who woulde saye, that he beynge ouercorne w the perfight lone of his natiue
region, 'beganne nowe to haue compassion and to lament the cruell destnccion of thesame.
.The Scottish kynge whiche beganne to perceaue whiche wave the wynde blewe answered him
againe, Sir me thinketh you take much peyne, and very much imagen howe to preserne the
realme of another prince which is not youres (but I think you would gladiy haue it) but
my myod geueth me that you be as far re from the obteygnyng thesame, as you be nere the
soyle and aspect of the countrey, consideryng that you cal England your land and realme,
and thinhabitauntes therof your people and subiectes, and yet not one ma, neither gentle
man nor yoman will once shewe hym selfe to aide or assist you in f warre begonne for your
cause & in your name win your realme to the which you be both (as you saye) inherituure,
and by your people accercited and vocated vnto. And so the kyng reproued the lightnes
of this younge fond foundelyng, and euery day more and more neglected and lesse phan-
3^2 .tesied
THE XIJ. YERE OF
tesicd and gaue credite to him, nothyng well and wisely y neyther his woordes, with his
decdes, not the sequele of fades with his promises were neither agreable nor consonant.
The noblei inhabitynge in the north partes herynge the clamour of the common people^,
and perceauynge that they fled to ;iduoyde the crueltie of y Scottcs, were sodeinly abasshed
and fortefied their holds and manned their fortresses ready to defend their enemies, lai-
inc* embushementes in y vvaies, where they imagened y there enemies would resorte. And
-wout delay certified the kyng of y Scottes inuasion & entreprice. The kyng was not a litle
abashed at this sodeyne chauce, & pricked also ft his awn domestical busines, not alonely
fearitf his outward enemies but also his awne nobles & naturall subk;ctes least any of theim
\\ou\d steppe from him to theother parte, and put him to farther trouble & vexacioni
Wherefore, assone as he heard these newes, considering the matter to be of no small im-
porttiunce and mete to be vigilantly forsene, with all diligence prepared opportune remedies
to resist and withstand f first brunt of so great a sourge newely begonne. But the sodeine
retreyte of the Scottes agayne assuaged all the Englishe mennes swift acceleracions and,
spedy prouisions; For when thei were once laden with prayes and spoyles, they returned
home agavne or thenglishme couldc assemble together.
f THE. XII. YERE.
WHen the king was truly certefied y the Scotishe kyng was returned, he geuing praise to
his captaines and other inhabiting on the bordures of his realme, whiche had duly and truly
serued him at that time, did desiste and leaue of for to occurre and repugne ihe ma-
licious inuasions of the Scottishe king. And yet fearing least his enemies should be en-
couraged and inflated with this great gaine of spoyles and prayes, he determined by dent
of sworde and mortall warre to reuenge and refbrme the manifest iniurie and apparaunt
wrong to him by kyng lames and his people done and committed. Wherefore he assem-
blynge his court of parliament, declared the cause of the instant warre, and what remedy
he hym selfe had inuented and deuised, persuadynge with many strong argumentes and rea-
sons inuincible, that it shoulde be for the profile and vtilite of the publique and common
wealthe to prosecute and folowe f warre by his mortall enemies begonne and attempted.
To^this opinion all his nobilitee (whiche were no lesse offended with this proude bragg of
the Scottish nacion then he hym selfe) dyd wyllingly agree & gladly assent. And to the
maintenaunce of the warre and towarde the charges of thcsame, a certeine subsedy and
taxe of money was with one assent by the whole parliament liberally & frely geuen &
graunted: Which payment although it was but easy and small, yet many of the comon
people which euer abhorre such taxes and exaccions, grudged sore to paye thesame.
At this parliament also and conuocacion, ther was certeyne lawes, acts and statutes con-
firmed & made, as were thought moost necessary and expedient for the publique ueale of
the realme. And thus the kyng dissohiynge his court of parliament, prepared for warre
out of hand. In this meane ceason the kynge of Scottes not slepinge hys matters because
he perceaued well that the Englishmen wold shortely reuenge theyr losse and iiarme, with
«o lesse diligence gathered an boost & puyssant army, that either he might withstand and
resist the English powre inuadyng his realme & countrey, or els of fieshe eutre vpo the
bordres: and goyng foorth, spoyle, robbe and make hauoke ageyne. And so these twoo
valiaunt princes mynded nothing lesse the one to hurt and preiudice theother. But the
kyng of England sore pricked and wouded with the iniurie to him committed, was so sore
moued against the Scottysh kyng, that he would not procrastinate nor deterre one houre
tyl he were reuenged. And so prepared a puiasaunt and vigorious army to inuade Scotland,
and therof ordeyned for cheuetayne Gyles lord Dawbeney his chiefe chamberleyn, a man
of no lesse wyt then pollecy & of no lesse pollecy then hardines.
When the lord Dawbeuey bad his array assembled together and was in his iourney for-
ward
KYNG HENRY THE. VII. 477
Vard into Scotlande, he f-odeinly was stayed and reuoked agayne, by reason of a newe se
dlcion and tumult begonne within the realme of England for the subscdy whiche was graunt-
ed at the last parliament for the defence of the Scottes with all diligence and celeritee,
M'hiche of the tnoost parte was truely satisfied and payde. But the Cornish men inhabit-
yng the least parte of the realme, and thesame sterile and without all fecunditee, compleyned
and grudged greatly affirmyng that they were not hable to pave suche a greate somme as
was of theim dcmaunded. And so. what with augre, and what with sorowe, furgettynge
their due obeysaunce, beganne temerariously to speake of the kyng him selfe. And after
leuyng y matter, lamentyng, yellyng, & criyng maliciously, sayd, that the kyngs cousayll
was the cause of this polling and shauing. And so beyng in this rage menaced to death
the aucthoures (as they imagened) of this myschiefe and sorowe, whome thei threatened
shortely to dispatche out of this worlde. And so beyng in aroare. ii. of thesame affinitee,
y one Thomas Flamocke gentleman, learned in the lawes of the realme, and theother
Mighell loseph a smyth, me of high courages & stoute stomackes, toke vpon theim to be
captaynes of this vngracious flocke and sedicious company. And although thei perceaued
their copany to be accensed & inflamed w fury & malice ynough, yet to augmet & encreace
their madnes, thei cast oyle & pitche into a fyre & ceased not to prouoke & prick theim for-
ward like frantique persons to more mischiefe cryenge out openly & pronouncynge y it was
shame (for a smal comocion made of y Scottes, which was asswaged & ended in a moment
for they thought poore folishe and ignoraunt fooles, y al thinges was ended and asswaged
whe it was cue at the whottest & most feruent) thei should be exacted and polled, and
suche great exaccions layed vpon their necks, and especially on y Cornishmen, which thei
affirmed to bee but poore men, and being in a sterile & vnfruitefull countrey gate their
lyuyng hardly by mining and digging tynne and metall oute of the grounde bothe day
and night labouryng and turmoylyng. And therefore they had rather dye and suffre ex-
treme punyshment, then lyue in suche calamitee and wretchednes. And they laide the
faulte and cause of this exaccion to Ihon Morton Archebyshop of Cauntourbury, and Sir
Reignold Breye, because they were chiefe of the kinges preuy cousayll. Suche rewardea
haue thei that be in great aucthorite w kings & princes. For yf any thing succede well ac-
cordinge to the mynd £ pleasure of the commynaltie, that is euer referred & gratified to
the kyng or gouernour. But contrariwise, yf any thing be done, either by chaune or by
councell that soundeth not well in their eares, or is contrary to their opinion or fantesy,
they will laye it streight to the councell saynge that they haue persuaded him to do this &
that. Therfore if all men woulde well remembre and diligently pondre in their mvndes
•what is the reward and guerdone, fewe would labour & affecteously desyre to moiite so
high, or as pyre to that place of dignitee. But now to the mattre.
These chpiteynes exhorted the common people to put on barneys, & not to-be afearde to
folowe theim in this quurell, promisyng theim that they shoulde do no damage to any crea-
ture, but only to se ponyshement and correccio done to such persons which were the auc-
thours & causers that the people were molested and vexed with such vnreasonable exaccions
and demands. And if they perceaued any person (as they espied many in dede) which
dyd impugne and reproue their mad, vnreasonable and sedicious councell, affirming that
it was the hyghest poynct of madnes for a ma to put his life in hasard for that thing, which
he ought mekely and humbly to requyre and desyre of his prince and souereigne lorde, .
then {hey called theim dastardes, fooles, & cowardes, & taunted & rebuked theim with
most shamefull reproches, & contumelious inueccions. So these vnhappy capiteynes
nothinge more desyred then to bringe their flock & them selues to small perdicion & vttre
confucion. With these bragges & mocyons a great part of the people were eleuate and
encouraged,* and condescended to do as the capiteynes & the moost multitude would
agree and appoynct. Then the capiteynes preysinge muche the hardynes of the, people,
when all thinges were prepared mete for their vnfortunate iourney, set forward with their
army, & came to Tawnton, where they slewe the prouost of peryn which was one of the
4 commissioners
473 THE. XIJ. YERE OF
commissioners of the subscdy, & from thence came to welles, & so entending to go to
London where the kynge then so iourned.
When the kynge was aduertised by his collectours, and officiers, of all these doynges,
and attemptes, he was meruelously astoned, & especially because at that one tyme he was
enuyroned with double warre, both externe and intestyne. And because perell dyd depende
on bothe, he was in great double which of both he should moost regarde. And as he was
musynge of this mattre, he was asserteyned that lames Twichet lord Awdeley and diuerse
other of the nobilitee were associate with the Cornishemen, and were in great hast and no
good spede marching towarde London. The kyng perceauyng the cyuile warre to ap-
proche & drawe nerer & nerer, almost to his very gates, determined with all his whole
powre to resist and represse thesame. And after that tumult appeased & suppeditate, he
would w all expedicion set vpon Scotlad. Wherfore he reuoked agayn the lord Dawbeney
which as you haue heard, was with a puyssaunt army goyng into Scotland, whose army he
encreaced and multiplied with many picked and freshe warryers, that he might y" better,
and with lesse laboure ouercome these rebelles. Also mystrustynge that the Scottes myght
noive (hauynge good opportunitie seynge him troubled with this ciuile discorde) inuade
the realme agayne, and so spoyle, robbe, violate and destroye the borderers, he appoinct-
ed the lord Thomas Hawarde Earle of Surrey, a puissaunt and polletyke capyteyne (whyche
was taken prisoner at the ouerthrowe of kyng Rycharde as you haue hearde, and after set
at libertie, and within two yeres next after was made high treasourer of England;? after
the deathe of Ihon Lorde Dynham) to gather abonde of men in the countye palantinc of
Durham, and they with the aide and helpe of the inhabitauntes adioynynge and the bor-
derers, to driue out and expell the Scottes from of y borders yf they should fortune
agayne to inuade, vntyll such time y the Cornyshemen beyng subdued and pacefied (whiche
he thought easy to be done) he might sende to theim the forsaide lorde Dawbeney again
w all his powre & army. When the nobles of the realme heard of this tumulteous busynes
& terrible comocion, they came to London euery ma with as many me of warre as thei
could put in aredines to aide y-kyng yf nede should be: In the which company, there
was the erle of Essex, y lord Mongey with diuerse other. "
At this tyme and ceason, Charles the French kyng returnynge from y warres y he had
at Napels, sent ambassadoures to enforrne the king of the prosperous successe and victorye
that he had obteined in Italye, and gaue to theim in charge to desyre of the kyng of En-
gland nothing so muche as the contynuaunce of his amitic and fauoure towarde their mas-
ter and souereigne lord. For the French kyng sore desyred to continue 'in perfight peace &
amitie w the kyng of England. And not without a cause, for he had so vexed and corn-
bred him selfe and his people with such Italian snares & craftie engines, out of y which at
this day beyng the yere of your lord a thousand. v.C.xliiii. his successors cannot cleane be
ryd, and delyuered.
When y king was enfonned y kyng Charles orators were come to Calys, he sent certeine
of his nobilitie, honorably to receaue theim, & so to coueigh theim to Douer, & there fora
pollecy to make their abode tyl the rebellion were extinct and suppressed, and not one
woorde therof to be sounded in the eares of the ambassadours: Which commaundement
was circumspectly kept and obserued.
And now y Cornyshmen departyng fro Welles (where thei receaued their chiefe capi-
teyue, lames lord Audeleigh) went to Salsbury, & from thence to Winchester, and so to
Kent, where they looked for hclpe, but they were deceaued in their expectacion. For the er!e
of Kent, George lord of Burgeiny, Ihon brcoke lord Cobham, Sir Edward pownynges,
Sir Richard Guldeforde, Sir Thomas Burchier, Ihon Peche, Wyllyam Scott & a great
nombre of people were not only prest and ready to defende the countrey from all mischiefe
and destruccion, but also bent and determined to fighte and coinbate with suche as would
not be obedient to their naturall souereigne lord, and to his lawes and preceptes. Also y
kentysh men them selues, partely remembryng that other commotions haue bene to their
I dammage
KYNG HENRY THE. VIL 479
dammage and great hindreaunce, and partely beyng vnder the defence of their nobilitie, as
vnder the Erie and other, would not so much as come nere to the rebelles, nor yet either
make poutenauce or once speake to any of theim, to thentent that the kynge shoulde in no
wise conceaue any poynct of vntruth, or treason in the poorest of theim. Whiche thynge so
appalled and dismayed the hartes and courages of many of the brute and rurall Cornish-
men (whiche seynge theim selues deceaued and defrauded of their chiefe hope and succours
and fearynge the euell chaunce that might happen to them) that thei to saue them selfes fled
preuely in the night from their awne company and c5paignios. The capitaynes of the rebelles
perceauynge they coulde haue no aide of f Kentish people, putting their only hope to their
powre and fortitude (for surely they were men of great strength, & of no lesse force then
valiaunt courage) brought them to Black hethe. iiii. myles fro Lond5, and there in a playne
vpon the top -of an hill they ordred their battailes, eyther ready to fight with the «kyng if
he woulde assayle theim, orelles to assaulteand beatethe citee of London: For they thought
verely y the king was so afraied of their puissaunce, y -he minded nothing lesse then to en-
countre with their annie. And therefore being enflamed with arrogancy, nothyng mystrust-
yng, but fermely beleuynge y the victory was sure in their handes, they determyned to entre
into the cytee of London and to assaute the towre, wberin the king (as thei thought) had
preuely enclosed hvm selfe. But kynge Henry wrought cleane contrary to their mynde and
expectacion, for he neuer thought to geue theim battaile tyll he had theim farre from their
domesticall habitacions and natiue region, so that they should be out of all hope of aide and
comforte. And when they were with their long and tedious iourney weried and tyred, and
that their furye were somewhat asswaged and fell to repentaunce of their mad commocion
and frantike progressio, then he woulde in some place conuenient for his purpose, circum- Black ktl*
uent & enuyron theim to hisauauntage a'nd their destruccion as he did in dede afterward. felde>
In the meane ceason there was great feare thorough the citee & cryes were made, euery man
to barneys, to barneys, some ranne to the gates, other mounted on the walles, so that no
parte wasvndefended, and continuall watche was kept by the rnagestrates of the citee least
the rebelles being poore and nedy woulde dissende from their campe and inuade the cytee
and spoyle, and robbe the riches and substauce of the rnardiautes. But the kyng deliuered
and purged their hartes out of this feare, for after y he perceaued that the Cornishmeri
were all the daye ready to fight and that vpon the hill, he sent streight Ihon Earle of Ox-
forde, Henry Burchier Erie of Essex, Edmond de la Poole earle of Suffolke, and sir Ryes
app Thomas, and Sir Homftey Stanley noble warryers with a great company of archers
and horsmen to enuyron the hill on the right syde &-on the left, to thentent y all bywayes
beyng stopped & forclosed, all hope of flight should be taken from theim : And incontinent,
he being as wel encouraged with manly stomacke £ desire to fight as furnished >V a popu-
lous army & copie of artillery, set forward out of the cytee & encaped hym selfe in Sainct
Georges felde, where he the frydaye at nyght then lodged.
On the Saturday in the mornynge, he sent the Lorde Dawbeney with a greate compaignye-
to set on theim early in the morenyng, which fyrst gate the bridge at Detforde Strande
whiche was manfully defended by certeyne archers of the rebelles, whose arovves as is re-
ported were in length a full yarde.' While the erles set on theim on euery syde, the lorde
Dawbeney came into the felde with his copany, & wout longe fightyng the Cornyshmen were
ouercome, but first they tooke the lord Dawbeney prisoner, & whether it were for feare or
for hope of fauoure, they let hym go at librety wont any hurt or detriment. There were
sfain of y rebelles whiehe fought & resisted, ii. thousand me & moo & take prisoners an in-
finite nobre, & emogest theim y black smyth & chiefe capiteins which shortely after were put
to death. This Mighell loseph, surnamed y black smyth one of y capteins of this donge
hill & draffe sacked ruffians, was of such stowte stomack & haute courage, y at thesame
time y he was drawen on the herdle toward his death, he sayd (as men do reporte) that for
this myscheuous and facinorous acte, he should haue a name perpetual and a fame permanet
and immortal. So (you may perceaue) that desire and ambicious cupidite of vaine glorie
and
THE. XIIJ. YERE OF
and fame, enflameth, and encourageth aswel poore and meane persones, as y hartes of great
lords and puyssaunt princes to trauayle & aspire to thesame. Some affirme y the kyng ap-
poyncted to fight with the rebelles on the Monday, and anticipating the tyme by pollecie set
on theim vpon the Saturday before, being vnprouided and in no arraye of battaile, and so by
that pollecy obteyned the felde and victory.
When this battaile was ended, the kyng wanted but. iii. C. of all his company that were
slayne at that present conflicte. Also the capiteynes apprehended & taken he pardoned,
sauyng the chiefe capiteynes & firste aucthors of that mischiefs, to whome he woulde neither
shewe mercy nor lenity. For he caused the lord Audeleigh to be drawe from Newgate to
the Towre hil in a cote of his awne armes pointed vpon paper, reuersed and al to torne, &
there to be behedded f. xxviii. day of luyn. And Thomas Flamock and Myghell Joseph
he commaunded after the fassyo of treytours to be drawen, haged and quartered, & their
quarters to be pytched on stakes, & set vp in diuerse places of Cornewhale, y their sore pu-
nyshemetes and terrible execucions for their treytorous attemptes and foolish hardy enter-
prices, might be a warning for other herafter to absteyne from committing lyke cryme &
offence. But because he was certified that their cpuntrey men beynge at home in Cornewale
were by this skourge litle mollefied or quieted, & were ready to moue againe and begynne
newe commocions and conspiracies, yf any vngracious or euell mynded person would either
moue or pricke theim forwarde, he turned his purpose and caused theim to be set vp in
London and other places, least that by such meanes he should wrappe him self in more
trouble at that tyme when he went about with all his witt and councell to represse and as-
suage all domesticall and ciuile sedicion, to thentet that he might the more seriously and in-
tentifely set forward a puissaunt army agaynst the braggyng and vnfaithfull Scottes, beyng con-
tent at that time, that fortune had so smyled on his syde.
f THE. XIII. YERE.
"VVHile this busines was thus handled in England, the king of Scottes beynge certefied of it
by his espialles, and that there was none army reysed in England either to withstad his powre
or destroy his countrey, and herynge also that kyag Henry and his nobles were vexed
•and sore troubled with the commocion of the Cornyshemen, and in a ciuile discorde and dis-
sencion emongest theimselfes : Wlierfore he thought it necessary to anticipate the warre
.before hand. For wel he knewe that assone as kyng Henry had subdued and ouer-
turned his aduersaries, that he would with his whole puissaunce inuade his realme and domi-
nions: And therfore he inuaded the frontiers of the realme of England wastynge the coun-
trey, burnyng the tounes and murtheryng the people, sparing neither place nor person. And
while his light horstnen were ridyng to forrage and destroye the byshoprick of Durham and
there burned all about, he with another company went about to expugne and assaute the
castell of Norham standyng on the ryuer of Twede, which deuideth England and Scotland.
The byshop of Durham which at that time was Richard Foxe, had well furnyshed it both
with men and municions, vigilantly forseyng and imagenyng thaj: the Scottish kyng (assone
as he knewe that there was ciuile discorde and vnnatural warre moued win the realme of
England,) would with all his powre inuade and harrythe borders and coutreys adioynyng to
his land. This Richard Foxe was before called bishop of Excetter, aqd for his singuler
,vertues and great grauitie was after that made bishop of Bathe and Welles, and last of all
promoted and exalted to the bishoprick of Durham.
The bishop from tyme to lyme aduertised y kyng of all thinges that there chaunced (which
then was .at Londo) and sent in al post hast to the Earle of Surrey to come to reskewe, which
was then in Yorkeshire and had collected a great army and a warlike compaigny. When
.the earle, heard of these newes, .he perceauyng that all thinges were not voyde of ieopardy,
.luade no longe tariyng, but vr all diligence marched forward and after him folowed other
noble
- ' \
KYNG HENRY THE. VII. 481
noble roe oute of all quarters of y North, euery one bririgyngas many as they coulde gather
for the defence of their natural! countrcy and region. Emogest whome the chiefe rulers and
Jeaders were these whose names ensue.
Raufe earle of Westmerland. Of knyghtes.
Thomas lord Dacres. Thomas Baron of Jlyltoo.
Raufe lord Neuell. Sir William Percy.
George lord Straunge. Sir William Boulmer.
Richard lord Latyner. Sir William Gascoyne.
George lord Lumley. Sir Raufe Bygod.
Ihon lord Scrope. Sir Raufe Bowes.
Henry lord Clifford. Sir Thomas a Parr.
George lord Ogle. Sir Raufe Elerker.
William lord Conyers. Sir Ihon Constable.
Thomas lord Darcy. Sir Ihon Ratclyffe.
Sir Ihon Sauell.
Sir Thomas Strangueys.
with many other well proued and warlike men, whiche although in degree they were not per-
egall with these great lordes and knyghtes, yet in manhoode and pollecyes of warre and va-
liaunte courage, they were to theim in all feactes equiualent. The nobre waslytle lesse then.
xx. thousand men, besyde the nauie, wherof the lorde Brooke was Admyrall.
When the Scottes had dyuerse dayes assauted and beaten the Castell of Norham to the
no lytle detryment and dammage therof, and could make no batrye to entre into thesame,
they determined of their awne minde to reyse their siege and returne, and that so muchethe
soner because they heard saye that the Earle of Surrey was within, ii. dayes Journey of theim
with a great puissauce. Wherfore king lamy thought it to small purpose to tary any lenger
in besegyng the castell, reysed his siege and returned into his awne realme : When the Earle
knewe of the kynges retourne, he folowed after w all hast possible, trustyng surely to ouer-
take him and to geue hym battayle.
When the crle was entred Scotland, he prostrated and defaced the castle of Cawdrestenes.
The towre of lietenhall, The towre of Edington, The towre of Fulde : and he sent Norrey
kyng at armes to the capiteine of Hayton Castell, whiche was one of the strongest places be-
twene Berwyke and Edynborough, to delyuer him the castel, which he denied to do, affirming
that he was sure of spedy succours and swift aide. The erle perceauyng the denial, layed
liis ordinauncc to the castel, and contynually bet it from two of the clocke till. v. at nyght,
in suche wise that they within rendred vp, the fortresse, their lyues only sauecl. And when
y erle had receaued the Scottes, he with his miners rased and ouerthrewe the castell to the
playne grounde. The Scottishe kynge was within a mile of the siege, and bothe knewe it
and sawe the smoke and yet would not once set a foote forwarde to saue or reskewe his
castel. And while the Erie laye at Hayton, the kyng of Scottes sent to him Marchemount
& another heraulde, desyry/ng him at his eleccion either to light w whole puissaunce against
puissaunce, or elles they. ii. to fight person to person and hand to hand, requiring that if
the victory should falle to y Scottish kyng, that then the erle shoulde delyuer for his raun- "-
some tlie towne of Berwyke, with the Fyshegarthes of thesame. Tiie erle joyously, lyke a
courageous capiteyne receaued this message and made answere, that he was ready in the
playne felde to abyde the battayle with his whole army, praiyng him to come forward with
his puissaunce, and after that he thanked him hartely of the honoure that he o fired him, for
surely he thought him selfe much honoured that so noble a prince would vouchesaue to admit
so poore an erle to fight w him body to body, assertcining hym ferther, y y toune of Berwyke
was the kyng his masters & not his y which he neither ought nor would laye to pledge :inor
gage without y kinges assent, but he would put his body in pledge which was more precious
to him then al y tounes of y world, promisyng on his honour that if he toke the kyng pri-
soner in y singuler combate, y he would release to hym all his parte of his fyne and rau'n-
3 Q some
432 THE. XIIJ. YERE OF
some, and if it chaunced the kyng to vanquished apprehende him, he would pay gladly
such a raunsome as was mete & convenient for the degree of an erle. And when he had
rewarded & dismissed ll>e herauldes, he set his army in a redines abiding y commyng of y
kyng of Scottes and so stoode all daye. But the Scottysh kyng notregavdyng his olfres, nor
peribrmyng his great crakes & boastes, beyng afraied to cope w the Englishe nacion, shame-
fully & sodeinly^fled in f night ceason with all his powre & company. When y erle knevvc
y the kyng was recuted, & had bene in Scotland, vi. or. vii. daies beyng dayly and nightly
vexed with continual wynde & vnmeasurable reyne, coulcle not cause his people to contynue
in that tcmpeslious vnfertile & barayne region, with good aduise retreated again w his wliole
army to the toune of Berwyke, £ there dispersed his army euery mil into his countrey, tari-
yng there him selfe tyll he knewe the pleasure of the kyng in furthering or protractyng the
vvarres of Scotland: But in y meane ceason one Peter Hyalas, a man of no lesse learnyng
then prudet wit and pregnant pollecy, was sent Ambassadour fro Ferdinand kyng of Speyne
vnto the king of Scottes to moue & entreate a peace and an vnitie to be had betwene him £
the kyng of England. For of kyng Ferdinand and Elyzabeth his wyfe (to which woman
none other was comparable in her tyme) there was nothyng more desyred nor wisshed then
by the coiunccion of manage betwene Arthure prynce of Wales hcyre apparaunt to Kyng
Henry, £ lady Katheryn the daughter of kyng Ferdynand and quene Elizabeth a new affi-
nitee £ aliaunce might be knit and begonne betwene the realme of England and countrey
of Speine. And also he fauoured somewhat the kyng of Scottes, for which cause he
offred him selfe as a meane and mediatour of a peace betwene bothe the prynces, their ter-
ritoires and dominions.
This Peter Hyalas sollicited and moued by all honest meanes & deuyces kyng lames to
assent to a vnitee £ concorde, and when w long sollicityng he conceaued some good hope
to growe in his weighty busynes, he wrote vnto the kyng of Englfid, that it would please him
to send one of his nobilitie or councel to be associate with him in concluding w the Sc6ttish
kyng. The kyng of England which euer (so it were not to his dishonour, hurte or detri-
ment) was not onely a louer of peace, but also a norisher and a furtherer of amity and quiet-
neSj & specially at this time when he was vexed with the ciuile sedicion of his awne propre
shepe and flocke, comitted the charge of this weighty matter to Richard Fox Bishop of
Durham, whiche laye on Thenglish borders in his castell of Norham. The bisshop accord-
yn»e to the kynges appointment went honorably into Scotland, where he and Peter Hyalas
at y fowne of ledwoorth reasoned with the Scottish commissioners as cocernyng this peace to
be had. Sixe hundred codicions were purposed on the one parte and theother, but after
loge protracting of time £ rntfch debating and arguing, not one was accepted nor allowed,
And one thing aboue all other dashed the whole treatie: For kynge Henry instantly re-
quired to haue Perkyn Warbeck the founteyne and chiefe cause of all this tumult and vn-
quietnes, the perturber of him and his whole realme : But the kyng of Scottes fermely de-
nyed to cosent to any article that might souncle to his reproche or dishonour. And also he
now began to smell and sauoiir the iuggelyng & false countrefeatyng of his new gest
Perkyn Warbeck. Yet because that Perkyn wasalied to him by the holy sacrament of matri-
mony, he thought it both vnhonest, vnreasonable & vnnatural to betreye his alye & deliuer
him to death & cofusio. Wherfore when they had reasoned y matter & diuerse other vrgent
Si weighty causes by diuerse daies of metyng, & y for y- contrarietie of opinions, no ferme
peace could be cocluded. In steade of peace, a truce was cocluded for certeine yeres vpon
condicio y lames kyng of Scottes should conuey Perkyn Warbeck out of his realme, •seigni-
ories and dominions.
While these thinges were reasoned & at y last cocluded in the cofines of England & Scot-
lad, 'kyng Hery caused ;y ambassadoures of y Freeh kyng, to be brought to his presence, &
he theim receaued w al benignitee which as it is shewed before were stopped at Douer of
their ioiirney vntyll such time j^ the insurreccion of the Cornish men were suppressed and ex-
tinguishedv - And with the like entreteineoient he embraced at y very ceason y lord of Cam-
phire
KYNG HENRY THE. VII. 4S3
phire and other Orators of Philip archeduke of Austrich & duke of Burgoyne, comyng to
him for y conclusio & cotinuauce of an amitie, & to haue the English marchautes to resorte
to their countrey agayn, which fro thence before were prohibited & forbydde. Whiche re-
quest being verie agreable to y quietnes & tranquilitee of his realme, £ especially a't y time,
he did fauourably graunte & benyngly assent vnto. And so beyng confederate & alied by
treatie & league \V al his neighbours marching on euery side of his realmes & regions, he
gratefied \V his moost hartie thanks kyng Ferdinand & the quene his wife, for y they were
the mediators, organes & instrumentes by the which the truce was concluded betwene the
Scottish kynge and him, and rewarded Peter the ambassadoure moost liberally and boun-
tefully.
So the Englishemen resorted again into the Archedukes dominios and were reccaned The Eng-
into Audwarp with generall processiun, so glad was the toune of their returnyng, whiche was chau'ntVs vc-
by their absence sore hindered and empouerished at the time that this vnitie and concorde «aued i«o
was made, whiche was y yere of our lord a thousand, iiii. C. Ixxxxviii. &y siii. yere of pn^fj^.'
kyng Henryes reigne. cession.
lames the kyng of Scottes seynge that he nowe perceaued howe lie was by Perkyn mani-
festly deluded, accordyng as he had feithfully promised, w he nowe duly performed it. For
he callynge to his presence theforsayde Perkyn Warbecke, declaryng to hym what benefites
& comodities he had receaued of his princely liberalitie & gentlenes, gentely requiring him
to departe out of y- realme into some other countrey where he might make his abode more
surely and more quietly, vntil such tyme as fortune would prouide a inoic prosperous
winde to set forwarde y sayles of his purpose & desire, declaring vnto him y he copelled
in maner by necessitee had cocluded a, league & cocorde w y kyng of Englad, &. by y
treatie, the refuge that he should haue had of him and his coutrey was not onely to him
prohibited and forbidden, but also it was agreed & condiscended that neither the kyng of
Scottes, nor any by his procurement or in his name should make warre on the king of En-
gland, whiche warre he gladly tooke in hand for Perkins sake, h'auyng sure confidece & per-
fight trust to haue bene aided and assisted w Perkyns frendes in England. But when he
perceaued y al was in vayne & y al his wordes were but wynd, he exhorted him not to bo
displeased to departe, least his tariyng might be to him a detrimet and a breakyng of the
treatie betwene hym & kyng Henry lately concluded, wherfore with many fayre wordes he
desyred hym to departe. This Perkyn knowyng the kinges pleasure was very sore arnased,
seyng there was no helpe to be loked for herarter in Scotland. Albeit remebryng the great
benefites which he had receaued hertofore of the Scottysh kyng, which he thought him self
neuer liable to requite and deserue, that he might not seme to hym ingrate or not wyllynge
to folowe his desyre, he was content at his intercession to departe. And shortly after sayled
into Irelad with his wife & family, there determining w him selfe either to saylc into Fluun-
ders to y duches of Burgoyne, or to ioyne and take parte with the Cornyshmen. But howe
soeuer it was, while he laye in Ireland donbtyng what to do, he had intelligence by certeyne
messengers that the Cornyshmen for all their disconh'ture and plage not to be appeased, but
sore to grudge and murmoure against kynge Henry, and that they were prone and ready to
renue the warre agayne the kynge and the prynce: Where he not entcndyng to foroake so
faire an occasion so manifestly ofi'rcd, he hauing with him. iiii. smal shippes & not aboue.
vi. skore men, sayled into Cornewale and there landed in the moneth of September an,d
came to a toune called Bodman, and there dyd so sollicite, prouoke and stirre the mutable &
waueryng people, what with fayre woordes and large promises that he gathered to hym abuue
thre thousand persones whyche immediately called hym their capiteyne, and sayde that they
would take his part and folowe hym to the death, and in al thinges obey his preceptcs and
cominaundementes.
Then Perkyn was well encouraged and madeproclamacions in the name of kyng Richard
the. iiii. as sonne to kyng Edward that last died. And by the aduise of his. iii. councellers, Ihou
Heron mercer a banquerupt, Richard Scelton a tayler and Ihon Astely a Skreuener, men of
3 Q 3
"THE. xiu. YERE OF
more dishonestie then of lionest estimacion, determined first of all to assaulte and beate all
willed and strode tonnes and fortresses, and theim to receaue into Ins possession and
sdonvorie for his "farther securitee and defence: And thatentrepnce acheued, then he ivou de
augmet his hoost and marche forwarde against all pcrsones that durst once ofFre thenn selte*
to withstand hym. . .
When l>e and his imprudent counsayll were fully resolued on this pomcte and conclusion,
they in "ood ordre went streight to Excetter, which was the next citee that he coulde ap-
riroche to and beseged it, and because he lacked ordinance to make a battrye to rase &
deface y walles lie studied all the weyes possible how to breake and infrynge the gates, and
what with casting of stones, heuyng with yron barres & kyndeling of fier vnder the gates,
he omitted nothing y could be deuised for y furtheraunce of his vngracious purpose. The
cytezens perceaaing their towne to be enuyronned with enemies and lyke to be enflamed,
beganne at y first to be sore abashed, and let certeyn messengers by cordes downe oner the
walle whiche should certefie y kyng of all their necessitee & trouble. But after that, takyng
to theim lusty heartea and manly courages they determined to repulse fyer by fier, & caused
fa«gottes to be brought to y inward part of the portes and posternes and set theim all on fier,
tolhententy the fier being enflamed on bothe the sydes of the gates, might aswel exclude
their enemies from entryng, as include y citezens fro ronnyng or fliyng out, and y they in
the meane ceason might make trenches and rfipayres to defende their enemies in stede of gates
and Bulwerkes. Thus all the doynges and attemptes of tlie rebellious people hadeuell suc-
rP««e in ilieir first entreprice: And thus by fyer the citee was presented from flame and burn-
ynge. Then Perkyn heyng of very necessitee compelled to leaue the gates, assaulted y tourie
in diuerse weake and vnfortefied places, and set vp laders, attempt ng to clime ouer the
walles and to take the cytee, thinkyngsuerly to compel! the cytezens either by feare or lacke
of succoure to rendre theim selfes and yclde the toune. But the cytezens nothing so rnynded,
so courageously lyke valaut chapions defended y walles, that they slewe aboue. ii.C. of his
sedicious souldiours at this assaute.
Assone as the messengers of Excetter came to the kyngs presence and shewed their in-
struccions, he hasted with his hoost towardc Excetter w asmuch hast as the grauitie of the
cause did require & expostulate. And sent the lord Dawbeny with light horsmen before to.
certefie all men of his conmiyng at hand. But in the meane ceason lord Edward Corteney
erle of deuonshire & lord William his sonne, a man of great force & valiantnes, accompa-
nied with Sir Edmond Carewe, sir Thomas Trenchard, sir William Courleney, sir Thomas
Fulforde, sir Ihon Halewel, sir Iho Croker, Water Courteney, Peter Egecobe, Willia Se-
tuaure, with all spede came into the cytee of Excetter and holpe tlie citezens, and at ihe last
assaute the Erie was hurtein the arme with an arowe, and so were many of his company,
but very fewe slayne.
When Perkyn with his lewde capiteyns sawe y the citee of Excetter was so well fortcfied
bothe with men and municions, and of theim in manor impregnable, fearynge the?eqnele of
this matter, departed from Excetter with his lowsyarmy to the next great toune called Tawn-
ton, and there the xx. daye of September he mustered his men as though he were ready to fi^ht,
but his nober was sore minishcd. Eor when the pore and nedy people sawe the great defence
p T1 • "J ll [•»»- -•*« i, n'- |'U L mi id 1 1 ll UP I ill J LI R . SCI
confidence in the remnant of liis army, as afterward dyd appere, because the moost parte
of his souldioures wer harnessed on the right anne and naked all the body, and neuer exer-
cised in warre nor marciall feates but only with the spade and shouell.
When the kyuge heard he was gone to Tawnton, he hastenrd after him with al spede.
Thether came to the king Edward duke of Buckyngham, a younge prince of a create cou-
rage and of a synguler good witt, and him folowed a. great compaignie of noble men,
4 knightes
KYNG HENRY THE. VII. 485
knightes and Esquyers, prepared and redy with all thinges necessary for the felde and bat-
I _ T^ I * -. L _ * A 1 1 T^ • f, . •» m-
valyaunte personages. When the kynge approched nere to the toune of Tawnton, whether
he woulde not deferre and put of the battayle, or whether he doubtynge the turne of for-
tunes whele, sent before hym Robert lord Brooke lorde Stuarde of his house, Gyles lord
Dawbeney his chiefe chamberlayn, and Sir Rice app Thomas, to set on his enemies and be-
gynne the battaile, & he with his powre tblowed, to thentent that when the armies couped &
ioyned together, he either should w newe succours refresh his awne army or elles set on thn
backe of his enemies or they coulde espie him. Albeyt the kyng had no great nedeto vse suche
pollecy yf he had knowen what sequele had ensued. For assone as Perkyn was enformedy his
enemies were ready togeue him battayle, he that nothynge lesse mynded then to fight in open,
felde with the kynges puissaunce, dissimuledall y day time w his company, as though nothing
coulde make him afeard, & about mydnight beyng accompanyed withlx. horsmen departed
fro Tawnton in post to a sanctuary toune besyde Southhampton called Beaudeley, & there he
& Ihon Heron & other registred theitn selfes as persones priuileged. But whether Perkyn
dyd this for feare, least his men shoulde forsake hym, or for the cowardenes of his awne ty-
niorous courage, it is asmuch vncerteyne, as it is probable & sure that the kynge tooke by hys
flight greatecommoditee & qnietnes, by reason y he was enforced to fight with y Cornish
men, whose hartes and courages were so encreased & inflamed by deadly desperacion that
they earnestly determined & were stedfastly bent either to winne victory & ouercome their
enemies or elles not one of theim all to lyue any daye or houre lenger.
When kyng Henry knew y Perkyn was fled & departed, he sent after him y" lord Dawbeney
w. v.C. horsme toward y see side to intercept him before he should come there. But Perkin
whome jr matter touched at the quick, made such haste with the swiftnes of his horse &
sharpenes of his spurres that he was so farre passed on his way before, y no person could
tell tydyiwes of him, before he regestred and disclosed hym selte in the sanctuarye. But
hys chiefe Capiteynes whiche fled, coulde not so craftely escape, for themoost part of theim
were apprehended, & as captiues and wretches, miserably presented to the kynge. When
the resydewe of the common people could neyther see Perkyn nor yet the standards nor
gujdehomes of their capiteynes, not knowynge where he was become, doubting whether he
were fraudulently slayn or fearfully fled, wist not what councell to ask or what wayy wag
most surest to folowe & take. But when thei were asserteined of his moost shamefull
n«3i\ y UK U*VB ^ v y v** o I — c* •* " it • i •
kyn<*e of moost gentle heart andleuytee, not only graunted perdon but receaued tnenn to his
fauoure. And so the kynge bey-ge a conquerour withoute manslaughter or effusion of chris-
ten blood roade triumphantly into the cytee of Excetter, ami there not only lauded & prei-
sed the cytezes of Excetter, b -t also retired to them his most harlic thakes, aswell for their
duety done as for their valiauntp.es. And there ai>o he uftlictcd and put in executio dmerse
Cornishmen which weie theaucthoures and sturrer, vp of this newe msurre.
eors,nen ^ were sent, xVout any stop or obstacle in shorte space came to saint
Mi-helles.nounte, & there (as chaunce was) fomul lady kathuyu Goirden wife to 1 erkyn
and" brought her sire.ght lyke . bond woman & captvue to the kyng. And the kyng wondering
at her beautie and amyable countcu-anca though her a ,,raye more mete ior: the chieft.capi.
tainc then for the meane souldioures, began then a lytle to plmnuisi.- her person .and ^scnt 1
incominenllv accompanied-* a goodU ,orte of sad matroues and ;ent eno.ne
but a youge woman) to London to the queue as a true and vndoubled token o
486 THE. XIIJ. YERE OF
& victory. And while he reposed him selfe at Excetter, he iudged that he had nothyng
wonne, nor yet plucked vp by the route of this sedicious rebellion, except he coulde get
into his possession the chiefe hed and type of this pestiferous faction and busynes. Wher-
fore he enuyroned the sanctuary whiche Perkyn was in, rounde aboute with. ii. companies
of light horsemen, well wytted and vigelant persons, to thentent to bereue and plucke from
Perkyn all hope of flight and escapynge awaye. And after that he attempted this younge
foundelyng by trusty and polletique messengers, if he hauing perdon and remission of all
mischeuous and heinous offences by him done against the kyng and his realme, would glad-
ly submyt hym selfe to the kynge and be to hym feithfull true and obedient. Perkyn beynge
nowe destitute of all hope, faylynge of his dwellynge place, and lacking comforte, aide and
refuge considerynge that he was nowe brought to the verie poyncte and pricke of extremytee
that he wist not whether nor howe to fiyjnto any countrey for succour, and also he was in.
vttre despayre to haue herafter any prosperous chaunce or fortunate successe in his enter-
price, because he had so often attempted and so many times had been defoyled and vanquish-
ed, wherefore he hauyng his perdon to hym oft'red, and trusting to the ope promes of me
of his awne will franckly and frely departed out of sanctuary and committed hym selfe to
the kynges pleasure, & so by this rneanes this great heate was quenched and appeased.
Then was the kyng very glad that this warre was ended, and toke his iourney iinediatly
towarde London, not withoute a great concourse of people metyngehvm outeof euery quar-
ter tosee this Perkyn as he were a Monstre, because he beynge an alien of no abilitee by
his poore parentes (although it was other wise talked and dissimuled) durst once inuade
so noble a realme, and it to infecte with suche lyes and lesynges, and chiefly of all that
he by his crafty subornacions had persuaded diuerse aswell noble as ignoble (not without the
cSfusion and vndoing of many of theim) to beleue and saye that he was the same verey per-
son that he feigned and peynted hym selfe to bee. But when the kynge was come to London,
he appoynted certeyne kepers toattende on him whiche shoulde not (the breadth of a nayle)
go from his person, to thentent that he might neyther conueigh hym selfe oute of the land,
nor flye any whether, nor yet prouoked and procured by other shoulde be hable to sowe
agayne no newe sedicion nor sedicious tumult within his realme & countreyes.
When these tidynges came to the lady Margarete in Flauders that Perkin her dere darlyng
had no good lucke but losse, bothe of his entreprice and her great studious furtheraunce, and
was brought intocaptinitee, she was not well pleased with theim, but wepte and lamented
hys vnlucky specie, and cursed her infortunate chaunce.
When these thinges were brought to passe accordynge to the kynges mynde, he dyd not
forget that there was no more a delectable and pleasaunt thinge, nor a larger reyne of mis-
chiefegeuen toy vulgare people, then to haue a sure hope and trust that they may offende
woutany punishment or correccion: Wherforeto thentet herafter to obserue his people in a
dewc obey-'aunce & filiall subieccion, he shortly caused inquiries to be made of diuerse
offences. Wherupon diuerse persones aswel in somerset shire as deuonshire were accused
and presented y they had aided both \v me & money y Cornish treytours, not only after their
discofiture in returnyng homeward, but also in their marchyng forward enteding to make
hattaile against y kyng beyng their souereigne & liege lord. All which offeders he determined
to plague & skourge according to f quatitee of their crime & offece w great fines & sore
assestnetes. And therfore he comitted this charge to Thomas lord Darcy, to Amis Paulet
knight and Robert Sherborne Deane of Panics after bishop of Chechester.
These comissioners like a whirlewynde tossed £ perced f cofers & substance of all the in-
habitauntesof bothe the countres, to thentent y no person being embrued or spotted w.y
ynke of y abhominable crime, shoulde escape $ peyne whiche he worthly had deserued: but
they were gentle & remisse to a great nobre, & specially to such as offended by coercion &
fcare, rather then of malicious heart orenuious mynde. Yet were they to none &o fauoura-
ble but they were thought for their defaultes worthy of some punishmet, so that equite therin
was very well and iustlv executed.
KYNG HENRY THE. VII. 487
«[ THE. XIIII. YERE.
IN this yere a sodeyne chaunce, ye a thinge of no moment nor worthy to be regarded had
almost so kyndelec! agayne y olde displeasure and grudge betwene king Henry & king lames
-of Scotlad, fy they could scace kepe their hvides & bridle their courages from warre £ fight-
ing. The first mocion of this displeasure was thus: Certeine young men of y Scottes
came armed vnto Norha castel £ behelde it woderous circumspectly, as though thei had
bene desirous to know what was done there \vin: But when y kepers of y castell could not
perceaue any hostilitee or dammage towardes him or his, & seyng theim departe of their
awne accorde, determined it not coueniet to moue any questio to theim nor once to stirre
oute. But whe thei came again y next day & viewed it likewyse, the kepers of thesaide
castel suspectvnge some fraucle to lurcke in their lookynge, demaunded of theim what was
their entent, £ why they vewed and aduised so the castel. The Scoltes euen like theim
selfes, aunswered theim proudly and rustically with many disdeynfull woordes. Insomuch
that after their blustering and blowing aunsvvers made, Thenglishmen being vexed and
moued there with al, replied to theim with hard £ manly strokes, and after many a sore blowe
geuen and tafcon on bothe paries, & diuerse Scottes wounded & some slayne, the Scottes
oppressed with the multitude of Thenglish people, fled as fast as their horses would carye
theim. When they came home and certefied the kyng of. thesame, he was therewith sore
moued £ angry, and swareby swete sainct Ninyan y there was nothing to him more incon-
stant and vnstedfast then the obseruyng of the league by the kyng of England, and sent
word thereof to king Henry in all hast by Marchemount his heraulde.
The kyng of England which nothing more embraced and desired then quiet tranquilitee
and perfighte loue and amitie with all princes being his neyghboures and borderers, to
thentent that he might lyue in his later dayes in an honest and quiet lyfe after go many la-
boures and vexacions euen from his infancye drawen and exercised in, made hym.aunswere
that it was not done through his defaulte, neither by his councell nor knowledge, but rather
by the temerarious folly of y kepers of the castell, requyring him for that cause not to
thinke the league infringed, promising in the woorde of a kyugto enquyer of the truth and
who were the malefactoures. And if j offence were founde to be begone on the partie of
the kepers of the castell, he assured hym that they should for no mede or fauoure eskape
peyne & punishment. This aunswere although it were more then reasonable, could not mit-
tigate or assuage the Scottes angre and outrageousnes, for the which cause, Rycharde bi-
shop of Durham, which was more heauy then all other because that this dischorde was re-
nued agayne betwene these twoo prynces by occasion of Castell kepers> he therfore thought
it best first to assuage and coole the furious rage of the Skottyshe kynge, and wrote many
letters to hym, requyrynge hym of peace and vnitie. The kynge perceauynge bothe the
good will and constant grauytie of the bishop, appeased his fury and aunswered gentely to
the bishops letters bywritynge agayne to hym, saiyng that because he had many secret and
preuy thinges in his mynde which he would communicate only with him touching the cause
nowe in variaunce, he therefore requyred hym to take peyne to come into his countrey,
trustynge that he should thynke his labour well bestowed. The byshop was very glad and
sent woorde to the kynge his master,, of kyng lames desyre, who estemed the request and
cause both iust and reasonable, and therefore willed hym to accomplish^ y Scottish kynges
honest desyre.
When he came into Scotland, he wasreceaued with all humanitee that coulde be thought
of the kyng him selfe at an Abbey called Mellrose. And there after that the kynge for a
'Countenauuce had complayned muche of the crueltie and slaughter that was vsed towardes
Jiys men late at Norham, he easely remitted the offence and perdnnedit, and began secretly
to cornea without any witnesses or arbitrers nere hand with the bishop alone. And first de-
clared
438 THE. XIIIJ. YERE OF
clared to him what olde & iuste causes haue moued him before this, to seke aliauce & amitie
•with kyng Henry, whiche now he desyred muche more to haue confirmed & corroborate for
the farther mayntenaunce of loue and encrease of frendship, which thing he doubted not,
but shoulde sorte to a fortunate effect and good coclusion, if y kyng of England would
vouchsafe to geue to him in matrimony his first begotte daughter y lady Margaret, vpo
which point he determined not log agone to sende his Ambassadors into Englad, which thing
he would the soncr do if he knew this bishops mynd & entet ready to further his louing pur-
pose. The bishop auswered but fe\ve wordes, sauing y when he were returned to the king
his master, he would do the best in y matter y laye in his powre. Which wordes animated
much the king, & put him in good hope to sende his oratours to the king of England to sue
for tiicsaide matrimony to be concluded.
When the bishop had taken his Icaue, & was come to the king, he declared to him in ordre
all the comunicacio betwene king lames & him. This request pleased the king very
much, to whome peace was euer a souereygn cordiall, and determined surely to mi-
nister occasio of warre to no man, nor woulde haue any prynce to prouoke hytnto thesame.
Now began the fatall daye of the death of Perkyn Warbeck, & Edward erle of War-
wicke to approche: for after this facte donefc comitted, one fierce & strogwaue deuoured &
swalowed both their lyues not long asondcr, as you shal heare by y cotinuacio of this
story. Perkyn, whether it greued him to be kept inwarde, or els that he was instigated &
entised by some of his olde fredes to sturremore coles, & begin some new sedicious faccio,
or at the least, because he woulde wilfully wast & cast away him selfe, studied how to escape
£ flye away, hauing perfight hope y he should fynd occasio to bring al tinges wel to passe,
if he could coueigh him selfe once out of the Englishmens handes. And although he were not
ignoraut, that he neither coulde do nor ymagyn any thing but the kyng woulde bolhe heare of
it and knowe it. Yet he seduced w hope of euasion and skapyng whiche was the chiefe co-
forte of his captiuitie, had leuer put all thinges in a profe & hasarde, rather then If-ger to
tollerate and suft're the present calamyte and dayly misery. And so deceauyng his kepers
toke him to his heeles, by the which he brought him selfe into a streyghter custody and prison,
and wrapped him selfe into tortures and punyshmentes: for when he came to the sea coastes,
and had gone but a litle forwarde on hisiourncy, when the rumour of his flight was spreade
abroade, euery by way and lane was set abroade with the kinges garde, which had y custody
of his body. Wherefore lie beyng .sore abashed \v the clamour of them that searched
and made inquyrie for him, & being in maner destitute of wit & counsail, altered
of necessite fro his pretensed iourney, & came to the house of Bethlem, called y
priory of Shene beside Ilychemod in Southrey, & comitted him selfe to the pryor of y mo-
nastery, requyring him for Gods sake toaske and desire his life and perdo of the kynges ma-
iestie. Tlie pryor which for hys vcrteous qualities was had in great estimation, moued with
y Ciilamy tie and infortunate state of this man, came to the kynge & shewed him of this
Perkyn, whose perdon lie humbly craued, & franckely obteyned it. Incontinent after thys,
Perkyn was brought to the court agayne to Westmynster with many a curse and reproche, and
was one daye set fettered in a payre of stockes, before the dore of Westmynster hall, and
there stoode an whole daye, not without innumerable reproches mockes &skorninges. And
y next day wascaryed thorough London, & set vpon a lyke skaffolde in Chepe by thestadard,
with Ivke gynnes and stockes as he occupyed the daye before, and there stode al daye and
red openly his awne confession written with hys awnehande, the very copy wherof hereafter
ensueth.
First it is to be knowen, that I was borne in thetoune 01 Turney in Flaunders, & my fa-
thers name is Ihon Osbeck, which sayd Ihon Osbeck was coptroller of the sayde toune of
Turney, & my mothers name is Katheryn de Faro. And one of my grauntsires vpon my
fathers side was named Diryck Osbeck which dyed, after whose death my grauntrnother was
maryed vnto the withinnamed Peter flame, y wasreceauer of the forenamed toune of Turney,
& Dcane of the botemen y rowe vpon the water or Ryuer, called Leschelde. And mygraut-
sire
KYNG HENRY THE. VII. 439
sire vpon ir.y mothers side was Peter de Faro, whiche had in hys kepyng y keyes of the gate
of sainct Ihons win the same toune of Turney. Also I had an vncle called master Ihon
Stalyii, dwelling in y parish of sainct Pyas within the same tonne, which kad mailed my fa-
thers suster, whose name was lone or lane, with whome I dwelled a certain ceaso. And after-
•ward I was led by my mother to Andwerpfor to learne Flemishe, in a house of a cousyn of
myr.e, an officicr of the said toune, called Iho Stiebeck, \v whome I was y space of halfe a
yere. And after y I returned agayn to Turney, by reason of y warres y were in Flanders.
And win a yere folowing I was sent \V a merchant of y sayd toune of Turney named Berlo,
and his Masters name Alexader, to the marte of Andwarpe where 1 fell sycke, whiche sicke-
nes contynued vpori fyuc monethes. An'dthesayde 13arlo set me to boorde in a skinners
house that dwelled beside the house of the Englishe nacion. And by him I was from thence
caryed to Barowe marte, and I lodged at the signe of the olde man, where I abode the space
of two monethes. And after this the sayde Barlo set me with a merchaunt of Middelbo-
roughe tposeruyce, for to learne the language, whose name was Ihon Strewc, with whom I
dwelled frome Christinas tyll Easier, and then I' went into Portyngale. in the companye of Syr
Ednard Braraptones wyfe in a ^hyppe whiche was called the queues shippe. And when I was
come tliether, then I was put in seruyce to a knyghte that dwelled in Lnshbonte, whiche was
called Peter Vacz de cogna, with whome I dwelled an' whole yere, whiche sayde knyght had
but one eye. And because I desyred to see other countryes, I toke lycence of him, & then
I put my selfe in seruyce with a Bryton, called Pregent Meno, y which brought me with
him into Ireland, and when we were there arriued in the loune of Corke, they of y toune,
because I was arayed with some clothes of sylke of my saide maistres, came vnto me &
threped vpo me y I should be y duke of Clarece sonne y was before tyme at Deuelyn. And
forasmuch as I denied it, there was brought vnto me y holy euagelist & the Crosse by y
Mayre of the tonne, which was called Ihon le Wellen, & there iny presence of him & other
I toke myne olhe as y truth was, y I was not the foresaid dukes sonne, nor none of his
blood. And after this came vnto me an Englishman, whose name was Stephen Poytron, \V
one Ihon water, & saide to me in swearing great othes that they knew wel y I was kynge lly-
chardes bastard sonne: To whome I answered with like othes _y I was not. And then they
aduysed me not to be a fearde, but y I should take it vpo me boldely, and if I woulde so do
they woulde aide & assist me w all their powre agaynst the kyiig of England, & not only
they, but they were assured well y the erles of Desmod & Kyldare should do the same. For
they forced not what party they "toke, soy they might be reuonged vpo the kyng of Engliid, &
so against my will made me to learne English, & taught me what I should do & saye. And
after this they called me duke of Yorke, secod sonne of kynge Edward y. iiij. because king
llychardes bastard sonne was in y hades of the king of Englad. And vpo this y said Iho
water, Stephyn Poytron, Ihon Tyler, Hughbert Burglie with many other as the forsayd
Ei'les, entred into this false quarell. And within shorle tymc afier, the French king
sent an Ambassadour into Ireland, whose name was loyle Lucas, & master Stephyn
Frya, to aduertise me to come into Frauce. And thcce I wet into France, & fro ther.ce
into Flauders, & fro Flauders into Irehmd, & from Ireland into Scotland, and so into
England.
When night of the snmc dayc. which was the. xv. day of luyne was come (partclv because
the king had perdoned him his life, & partely because he should no more ronne awaye, and
put the kyng in doubt of any mistrust or misfortune to come) he was cotnitlcd to the Towre
of Lodd, where his wickednes boylinge so hoate within his cancarde stomacke woulde not
suffre hym to escape the punishment & vengeaunce of God, but sliortely after was moost
iustly and \vorthely put to death, as hereafter shulbe shewed.
3 R THE
THE. XV. YERE OF
THE. XV. YERE.
EDward Plantagonct crle of Wanvike, of whorae ye haue heard before, beyng kept in
11 ic Tow re almost fro his tender age, that is to saye, fro his first yere of the kyng to thys.
xv. yere, out of al copany of me & sight of beastes, I so much that lie collide not descerne
a Goose from a Capon. And where as he by comcn reason & open apparauce, could
uot by nisawne doynges seke his death & destrucccio, yet by y dryft & offence of another
man, he was brought to hisende & cofusio. For a freer Augustyn on y border of Suffolke
called Patricke, to thentent to bring this erle into disdayn and hatred, had a certain skoler
called llanfc Wilford, whome he greatly fauoured, & in whose hed he ener distilled^ & enfused1
this folishe & fatastical coceipte, y if he would folow his cousail, Si aduise, he would easely
couey him to y kingdom of Englad. The skoler like a good disciple, did not denye
to folow his masters discipline & coiisaill but more & more desired & put his master
in remembrance to per forme & accoplish w all spede, y thing which of his awn libe-
ralite, he before had to him both promised & assured saiyng, what Mecocke or das-
tard is so sore afearde of trasgressing y law or tymerous of punishment; y which for to ob-
teine a kingclo will not attept to do, & suffre allthinges y be possible to be assayed & tasted?
So y when they betwene the selfes secretly had take a crafty deliberacio & coiisailed of their en-
terprice, & had deuised in their folish wittes, how it should be brought to passe, they wet
both together in to Kent (which country in auncient tyme hath not bene dul in setlinge foorth
of newe phantaatical fantasyes) and there beganne this younge mawmet to tel preuely to
many that he was the very erle of Warwike, and lately gotten oute of the Tow re, by y helpe
of this freer Patricke. To the whichc saiynges when the freer perceaued hope to-be geuen,
he declared it openly in the pulpet, and desyrcd all men of helpc.
But the head of thys sedicion was sommer topped, that it coulde haue no tyme to sprynge any,
higher, the Master and the skoler beyng bothe apprehended and caste into pryson, and attaynt-
ed. Of the vvhiche twoo, the skoler was hanged on Shrouetuesdaye, at sayncte Thomas water-
ynges, and the freer was condempned to perpetuall pryson and captiuitie. For at that tyme here
in Englandcso much reuerencc was attributed to the holy orders, that to a priest, althoughe he
had committed hygh treason agaynstehys souereygnelorcleand to all other, offenders in murder,
rape or theft, which had receaued any of the. iii. higher holy orders, the lyfe was geuen, and
the punyshmente of death released. The chief cause of thys fauoure was this, because Bis-
shoppes of a longe tyme and ceason dyd not take knowlege, nor intermit them selues with
the serche and punyshment of suche heynous and detestable offences, by reason whereof they
did not disgrade and depryue from the holy orders suche malefactours and wycked persones,
whiche without that ceremony, by the canonicall lawe coulde not be put to deathe. Further-
more, what shoulde a man saye, it was also vsed that he that coulde but onely reade (ye al-
thoughe he vnderstode not what he redde) howe heynous or detestable a cryme soo euer he
had committed (treason onely except) shoulde likewise as affines andalyes to the holy orders
be saued, and committed to the Bishoppes pryson. And to thentent that if they should es-
cape, and be agayne taken, comitting lyke offence, that their lyues should be no more to
them perdoned, it was ordeyned that murtherers should be brent on the brawne of the left
hande with an hote Iron signed with this lettre M, and theues in the same place w this lettre
T, so y if they which were once signed w any of these markes or tokens did reiterate like
cryme & offence again, should suffre the paynes & punishmentes, which they had both me-
rited and deserued. Which deuise was enacted & established in y Parliament kept in the. ii.
yere of this kynges reigne, & taken as I coiecture of the Frenche nacio, which are wonte,
if they take any such offender to cut of one of his eares, as a sure token & marke hereafter
of hys euell doyng. And the charge of kepyng such offenders, that be onely imprisoned by their
offences, because it soundeth to spirituall religion is committed to the bishops & rulers of the
spiritaaltie, with a penalitee set vpon them if any such prisoner do afterward escape, The whiche
4 acts
KYNG HENRY THE. VII. 491
j&cte & priuilege did norish & encreace aboudantly the sect & swarme of thcucs & nmrther-
ers, for after y tyme there were an hiidred waves practised & inuented liow at one time or
another, todeliuer or conuey thciiu out of pryson und captiuite, by inakig their purgacio (by
what sleight & meanes they care not) of such offences as before they were coauinced und
founde gyltye, if no man be present to laye exccpcions to the same. Tor if the partie of-
fended and'hurte be absent at the day of the purgacio making, the thefe or murderer truly
founde gilty from the beginning, shall be both excused & set at liberiie. And oftcntymes the
eoner, because the bishop would not lese so great a summe as an hudred poude for the escape
of a poore knaue, skant woorth a dandyprat: But nowe to returne to oure mater agayne.
Perkyn (of whome rehersall was made before) beyng nowe in holde, coulde not leaue
with the destruccion of him selfe, and cofusio of other that had associate the selfes with
liim, but bega now to study which way to flye & escape. For he by false persuasions and li-
berall promises corrupted Strangweyes, Blewet, Astwood and long llogier hys kepers, beyngc
seruauntes to syr Ihon Dygby lieutcnaunt. In so muche that they (as it was at their arayu-
inent openly proued) enlended to haue slayn the sayde Master, and to haue set Perkyn and
the erle of Warwyke.at large, which erle was by them made preuy of this enterprice, &
therunto (as all naturall creatures loue libertie) to his destruccion assented, But this craftie
deuice and subtil imaginacion, beyng opened and disclosed, sorted to none effect, and so he
beyng Repulsed and put back fro all hope and good lucke with all hys complices and confede-
rates, and Ihon Awater sometyme Mayre of Corffe in Irelande, one of hys fouders, and
hys sonne, -were the sixten daye of Nouembre nrreyned and condempned at Westmynster.
Andon thethre and twenty daye of the same moneth, Perkyn and Ihon Awater weredrawen to perkynput
Tyborne, and there Perkyn standyng on alitle skaffolde, redde hys confession, which before todeathe»
you haue heard, and toke it on hys death to be true, and so he and Ihon Awater asked the
lyng forgeuenes and dyed pacietly. This was the rewarde of the pernicious Alye and co»
ment of Perkyn Warbeck, whiche as in his life with false persuasions and vntrew surmises
had broughte many noble personages to death and vtter perdicion, so at his death he brought
with him other of the same sorte to their not vndcscTiied ponyshment. And emdgest other
Edward erle of War wi eke whiche as the fame went, consented to breake pryson, and to de-
parte out of the realme with Perkyn (which in prysoners is high treason) was the. xxi. daye
of the sayde inoneih arreygned at Westmynster before the Erie of Oxforcle, then high Con-
stable of England, of the saide treason, whiche whether it were by the enticernet of other
or of his awne frewill (many men double, because of hysinnoccncy) confessed the fact and
submitted hym selfe to the kynges mercy. And vpon hys confession he had his Judgement,
and accordyng therunto, the. xxviij. daye of Xouernbre. M. cccc. xcix. was brought to the
skaffolde on the Towre hill, and ihcre behedded. The fame after hys death springe abroade,
y Ferdinand kyng of Spayne woulde neuer make full conclusio of the matrimony to be had
betwene prynce Arthur and the lady Katheryn hys daughter nor sende her into England
aslonge as this erle lyned. For he imagened that as longe as any erle of Wanvickc ly.ied,
that England should neuerbe clensed or purged of ('yuyle warre and preuy sedicion, somuche
was the name of Warwyke in other regions had in fearo and gealousy.
The next yere after there was a great plague, wherof men dyed in many places very sore, AEK«
but specially and moost of all in the citie of Lodon, where dyed in that yere thirty thousand. d
Also in this yere was burned a place of the kynges called the maner of Shene Situate, £ *
liyngenygh the Tbamys side, which he after buylded agaynesumpteously £ costly, and chauuged
the name of Shene, and called it Rychemond, because hys father and he were erles of Hi-
chemonde. The kynge perceauyng this plague and contagious disease, rather to encrease
then dis.crease, whether it was to aduoyde the occasion of the sicklies, or to allure the arche-
duke Philip of Bnrgoyne tocomme with hym, he personally toke his ship at Douer, in tlie
beginninge pf May, and sayled to Caleys, to thentent to prouide and see the watches, whiche
tiaue bene accustomed to be diligently kepte and mayuteyned agaynst the incursios of hisad-
uersaries, & therje he made polletique ordinances & streyte lawes. While the kyrjg laye
3 R 2
4D2 THE. XVI. YERE OF
thus at Caleys, the archeduke Philip sent to him diuerse notable personages, not alonely to
"raten'e and welcome bym into those partes, but also to declare that the sayde Archeduke
offred to repaire personally to his presence,, with suche a nuinbre as the kynge shoulde ap-
poynt, so that it were within no walled toune or fortrcsse. For he had before diuerse tymes
made denyall to the Frenchc kyng to entre into any of his walled tounes, & if he should as
he gladly woulde come to the ^oune of Caleys, it urght be a president to y Freeh kynge to
desyre like meting, what chaunce therof might fail, euery ma coulde not iud^e. The kynge
"entelv entretevned the Ambassadours, but more thankefully accepted the Archedukes orl're,
and so appoynled the place at sainct Peters churche without Caleys. Vpon the Tuesday in
Pentecost weke, the Archeduke came thether with a conuenient copany. The kyng and
the queue with many alusly lorde and lady rode thether to welcome hym. And when the kynge
approched, the duke at his lightynge offred to holde his styrope, jvhiche the kyng in no wise
•would suffre to be done. When the kyng was dissended from his horsse he and the Arche-
duke embraced cache other with moost princely fainiliaritie, and then the quene and all the
nobles saluted hym. What banquettynge, what rnyrthe and what passe tyme there was I
passe ouer. But to conclude, there was communicacion of marriages, trcatynge of far-
ther coroboracion of leagues, requestes of tolles in Flaunders to be mynished, with many
other thinges, louchynge thentreprice & traffique of bothe their realmes. And when all
thinges were set in an ordre, the two princes louingly toke their leaue and departed, the king
to Caleys, and the Archeduke to saynct Omers.
After this departing, the Frenche kyng Lewes the. xii. sent to visite the kynge, the lorde
Gronthouse goucrnoure of Picardy, and the lorde Merneiliers, bayly of Amyas, whiche
declared to the kyng the getting of Millayn, and takyng of the 'duke, whiche lordes were
highly feasted and with great rcwardes departed.
«[ THE. XVI. YERE.
SOae after when this plague was slaked, the kyng returned agayn to England, about the
ende of lune: and beynge come into England, sone after there came to him one Gasper
Pous a Spanyard (bothe for learning and good behauebur very excellent) sent from Alex-
ander bishop of Rome, whiche should shewe the Englishmen tne right wave to heauen.
fwiT °f Therforc that ye re was called the yere of lubile, which was the yere of our Lorde a thousand
fyue hundred. And to thentet that the people of farre countries might be eased of their la-
boure and traueyle in commyng thetiier, the charitable father sent hys legates into cuery
country to destribute the heauenly grace (as he called it) to all Christen people, whiche ei-
ther letted by warre, cncmyes, infirmitie, wcaknes or tediousnes of the longe iournev, were
not liable to performe their iourney to y holy cytie of Rome. But thys beneuolent liberalilie
was not francke & i'rely genen : For the holy bishop Alexander, with helping and lokynge
to the health of mennessoules, thought somewhat to do for hys awne priuate commoditie
and singuler wealth, and therfore he limitted and set a certayne pvyce of this hys grace &
pardon: & to thende that y king should not hyndre nor let hys purpose, he offred parte of
this his gayn vnto the kyng. And that the people might the soner mynishe their purses,
and cnryche hys chestes, he promysed that he woulde in the begynnyng of the yere
inake warre in all the hast agaynst the great Turcke. By thys meanes and pollecy, thvs Alex-
ander gat, accumulated & heaped vp a great summe of money, and yet no battayle
begonne agayne the Turcke, which in the meane ceason had take, coquered & destroyed
many regions, cities and tounes belonging to Christen men, but God amend all that is
amisse.
Aboute this time dyed. iii. Bishops in England, Ihon Morton bisshop of Caunterbury,
Thomas Langto bishop of Winchester* & Thomas Rotheram bishop of Yorke. After hym
succeded Thomas sauage bishop of London, in whose place succedcd doctor Williii Warham
of
KYNG HENRY THE. VII.
of whomewetnade niencio before. And Hery deane bishop of Salisbury was madearchebishop
of Canterbury. Also Kycharde Foxe bisbop of Durhii, was prelected to the bishoprike of
Winchestre. Also this yere two notable manages were c5cluded & agreed vpo, but neither
solt-pnised now, nor cosummate as you shal here afterwarde. For king Hery graunted his
daughter ladye Margaret to lames the. iiij. kynge of Scottes. And Ferdinad kyng of Spayne
gaue his daughter lady Katheryn to Arthur prynce of Wales, sonne & heyre apparauntto y
king of EngJand. And iti&to be considred y kyng Henry did not ioyne this Affinitie with
the kyng of Scottes without cause : For he desiring© nothing more then to passe oner the re-1
manant of his life in peace, rest and tranquilitee, ymagened in himselfe y by this coniunc-
cion £ couplement of matrimony, no warre or hostilitee hereafter should be attempted ei-
ther agaynst hym or his dominions by the Scottishe kyng or hys nacion hauyng sure trust
that none other ofhysenemyesor of hysrebelies should hereafter be reseaued or mayntayned
in the dominions and territories of hys sonne in Vawe. And emongcst all other articles thys
was concluded and appoyntcd, that no Englishmen should entre into Scotland, without let-
ters ccmendatorie of their awne souereign lord, or saueconduyte of his ward eyn of the.,
marches, and that prohibicion was in lyke maner geuen to the Scottes..
THE. XVII. YERE.
YOu hane heard before, how that the manage was agreed belwene prynce Arthur of Eng-
land, & the lady Katheryne of Spayne, & how the kyng her father prornysed to sende her
with great honoure into England: He nowe this ycre accordyng to hys promes conueyghed -
her \V a puissaunt nauye toward England, where she arryued in the porte of -Plymmoth the
seconde daye of October, then beyng Saterday. When the kynge was certefied of her ar-
ryual, incotinet he sent both for price Arthur his sonne into Wales to re pa ire into Lond5, &
sent diuerse great lordes and knyghtes to coney her with triuphe toward her spouse & hus-
band. And vpon thexii. daye of Nouembre, she was conueyed fro Lambeth thorough Lon-
don with all triuphe and honoure that couldc be deuised or ymagened, to the Bishops paleys,
by the Cathedrall churche of s. Paules, And because I will not-be tedious to you, 1 passe
oner the wyse deuises, the prudent spcchcs, the costly woorkcs, the conmnge portratures
practised and set foorthin. vii. goodly beutiful pagcauntes erected & set vp in diuerse places
of the citie. I leaue also y goodly ballades, y swete armony, the- Musical I instrumentes, .
which sounded with heauerily noyes on euery side of the strete. I omit farther, the costly
apparel both of goldsmyth.es woorke and embraudery, the ryche iewelles, (he massy. cheynes,
the stnrynge horsscs, the beautifull bardes and tiie glitteryng trappers, bothc with belies and
spangles of golde. I pretermit also the ryche apparell of the pryncesse, the straunge fas-
shion of the Spanyshe nacion, the beautie of the Englishe ladyes, the goodly demeanyre of
the yoiig damosels, the amorous countenance of the lusty bachelors. I passe oucr also the
fyne engrayned clothes, the costly furres of the cite/ens, standynge on skaffoldes, rayled
from Gracechurche to Paules. What should I speke of the odoriferous skarlettes, the fyne
veluet, y "pleasaunt i'urres, the massye chayRcs, which the Mayre of Londo with the senate,
sitting on horsebacke at the litle cond.ayte in Chepe, ware on their bodyes, & about
their neckes. I will not molest you w rehersyng the ryche arras, the costly tapestry,
the fyne clothes bothe of golde & siluer, the. curious velucttes, the beautiful sattens, nor the
pleasaunte sylkes, which did hange in enery strete where she passed, the wyne y ranne
continually out of the conduytes, the graueling and rayling of y stretes nedeth not to be
remcmbred.
While th-is princes soiorned for her recreacio in the Bishops paleys of Londo, not
•without visitacio of the kynge, the quene and the kinges mother, there was erected in the
body of saynct Paules church, a long brydge made of tymbre, extendynge from the West
doore of the church to the steppe at the entrynge into thequere, whiche was sixe foote from
the
494 THE. XVII. YERE OF
the grounde. On thesaydc bridge or staige, euen directly before the consistory of the
churche was elcuate a place lyke a mounte, for eyghte persons to stande vpon, copassed
rounde about with steppes to assende and dissende, whiclie was couered with fyne red
worsted, and in likewyse were all the rayles of thesayde staige. On the Northside of this
mount was a place furnished for the kyng & quene, £ such other as they apoynted. On
Ihe Southside of thesame mount stoode the Mayre and Magistrates of London. When
all preparacion was made, and al thinges set in an ordre. Vpon the daye of saynct Er-
kenwalde, then beynge Sundaye, the sayde lady was ledde to thesame mount, and thero
prynce Arthur openly espoused her, bothe beynge cladde in whyte, both lusty and amor-
ous, he of the age of fiftene and more, and she of the age of. xviii. or there aboutes.
The kynge and the Quene, standynge preuelye on their staige. After the matrymonye
celebrate, the prynce & his wife went vp into the quere, & there herde a solepne masse
song by the Archebishop of Cauntourbury, associate with. xix. prelates mytred. And after
the masse fynished, the bryde was led homeward to y bishops palace by y duke of Yorke,
beyng then a goodly -youge prince & the legate of Spayne. Next after folowed the lady Ci-
cile suster to y quene, supporting the treyne of the spouse. After whom folowed aboue an
C. ladycs and getlewome gorgeously appareyled & richely adourned. There was kept that
day a sumpteous feast, and yet not so sumpteous as populous, nor yet so populous as deli-
cate, nor so delicate as of all thinges aboudaiit. For if I should reherse to you the valew
of. iiij. cupbordes that day shewed & set foorth beside the plate that was occupied, or de-
clare the ryches of the hanginges, canapies or clothe of estate, or set foorth the numbre of
disshes sciued at the. iiij. courses & banquettes the deliuer daunsinge and costly disguisinges,
I assure you y I should soner fayle then copye of mattre or haboundaunce of honoure.
But e'uery. daye endeth, and night ensueth, so when night was come, this lusty prince and his
beautiful! bryde were brought and ioyned together in one bed naked, and there dyd that acte,
whichc to the peribrmaunce & lull consummacion of matrimony was inoost requysile and
expedient. In so inuche that his famiiier seruitours, which had then neither cause nor re-
warde to lye or fayne, declared openly that in the mornynge he called for drynke, whiche he
before tymes was not accustomed to do. At whiche thinge one of hys chambrelaynes mer-
uaylynge, requyred the cause of his drouth. To whome he answered merely saiyng, I
haue thys nyght bene in the middest of Spayne, whiche is a hole region, & that iourney
inaketh me so drye, and if thou haddest bene vnder that hole clymate, thou wouldest haue
bene dryer then I. Then shortely after the kynge and the quene with the new wedded
spouses went from Baynardes castell by water to Westmynster, on whome the Mayre & com-
minaltye of London, in Barges garnished with standardes, strerners and penons of their de-
•uice, gaue their attendaunce. And there in the paleys were suche marciall feates, suche va-
•liaunt iustes, suche vygorous turneys, suche fierce fight at the barreyers, as before that tyme
was of no man bad in remembraunce. Of thys royall triumphe lord Eduarde duke of
Buckynghatn was chiefe chalengeour, and lorde Thomas Grey Marques dorcet was chiefe
defepdoure which wyth their aydes and compaygnions, bare theim selfes so valyauntly
that they obteyned great laude and honoure, bothe of the Spanyardes and of their coun-
trymen.
Durynge the tyme of these iustes and triumphe, were receaued into London an Erie, a
Ilyehop, and dyuerse noble personages, sent from the kynge of Scottes into England, for the
conclusion of the manage betwene th^ lady Margaret the kynges daughter and hym. Whiche
Erie by proxie in the name of kynge lames bys master, affied & contracted thesayd fayre
lady. Which assurance was published at Paules Crosse, the daye of the conuersion
of saynct Paule, in reioysynge whiTof Te deum was songe, and great fyers made 'through
the citie of London. Whiche thinges as you haue hearde, beynge fully fynished and
accomplished the Ambassadours aswel of Spayne as of Scotlan.de, tooke their leaue of
the kynge, and not without great rewardes departed into their countryes and habitacions.
When the Ambassadours were departed, the kynge entendynge to auaunce the honour
and
KYNG HENRY THt. VII. 455
and repntacion of the prynce his sonne. furnisshed hym with men and money largely, and
sent hynv agayne into Wales, where he was before, to kepe liberall hospitalitee, and to my-
nystre to the rude Weishemen indifferent Justice. And least by reason of lacke of experience
he might crre, he appoynted to hym wyse and expert cousaylers, as syr llychard Poole his
kynsman, which was his chief chaberlayne, with whome were associate syr Henry Vernon,
Syr Ryohard Croftes, Syr Dauy Philip, Syr Willia Vdale, Syr Thomas Englefelde, Syr Peter
Newton knyghtes, Ihon Waleston, Henry Maryon, and docter William Smyth, was Presi-
dent of his counsail, and docter Charles, bothe were with hym associate, the one was after-
warde Bishop of Lyncoln, and the other Bishop of Herford. But as of one fountayne
commeth often bothe ioye & sorow, so I leaue here to speake more of ioye of this manage,
eonsideryng the chaunce that shortely after snccecled.
A tewe monethes before the maryage of prynce Arthur, Edmonde Poole Erie of South-
foike, sonne to Ihon duke of Southiblke, and lady Elizabeth suster to kyng Edward the. iiij.
beyng stoutc and bolde of courage, and of wyt rashe and hedy, was endited of homicide
& murther, for sleyng of a meane person :n his rage and fury. And although the kynge
perdoned him whom he might iustly haue condempned for that offence, yet because he was
brought to the kynges Benche barre and.arreyned (whiche facte he reputed to be a great
mayme and blemish to his hononre) tooke it seriously, and shortely after for this displeasure
fledde to flaunders, without any lycence or saueconduyte geuen him of the kynge, to the
lady Margaret his a\vnt on the mothers side. Neuerthelesse, whether he was starred by
his preuy iVendes therunto moued by the kynge, or whether he trustynge on his vnuiolated
truthe feared no daungier nor penaltie, he returned agayne, and excused hym selfe so to
the kynge that he was thoughte to be gylteles and inculpable in any crime that coulde be
obiected to hym, and therefore he was permitted too go frankely at his libertie and
pleasure.
But when thys manage of prince Arthur was kept at London with great pompe and so-
lempnitie, and that all the nobilitie were set on pleasure and solace, and the Kynge hym
selfe was pryncipally geuen to ioye and; reioysynge. This Edmond, either for that he had
ben at great and excessyue charges at thesame tryumphe and solempnytic, and by reason
therof sore charged with debte. Either sollicited, allured and prouoked by that olde venem-
ous serpent the duches of Burgoyn, euer beyng the sower of Sedicion and bcgynner of re-
bellion agaynst y" kyng of England, or els stimulate and pricked with enuy, which could
not paciently with open eyes se and beholde kynge Henry, beynge of y aducrse lyne to his
lignage, so longe to reigne in weal the and felicite, in conclusion with hys brother Rycharde
fledde agayne into Flaunders. Thys sad chaunce ([ thinke) happened emonge the great
ioyes and solaces of kynge Henry, least that he mighte not by ouermuche gladnes sodeynly
forget him selfe: Whiche displeasure at another tyine before to haue chaunced, it is mani-
fest and well knowen to you.
When the kynge vnderstode certaynly that this erle was departed and returned agayne,
he was not a litle vexed and vnquyeted, mistrustynge that some newe tumulteous busynes
shoulde be begonne agayn, and chiefly therfbre blamed hymselfe of folishe folye that ho
had geue hym hys pardon for hys offence lately committed. Although it was manifest
enough that he dyd it for this purpose, that he might dissemble and wyncke at the matter
so longe vntyll suche tyme, he had some sure token and perfight knowlege of his
coniuracion, the whiche he perceaued nowe.to be surely attempted and begonne, assone as
Edmonde de la poole erle of Suffolke was fled agayne into Elauders. Syr Robert Cur-
son, whome the kyng had promoted to the ordre of knyghthod, & made capitayne of
Hnmmes castel, a valeaunt and a circumspect man, dissimulyng him selfe to be one of that
conspiracy went into Flauders, doubtlesse to espye what was done there by the lady Mar-
garet agalst kynge Henry. Thys opynion was setteled in euery mannes head at the fyrst
brochynge of the matter, and so yet contynueth, groundyng vpon thys prynciple, that he
neyther vexed nor molested wyth any poynte of displeasure or iniurie by hys prynce or any
other
THE. XVII. YERE OF
•other fied to the kynges enemyes. And after all thynges were knowe, opened, pacefied
and suppressed, he willyngly returned and was receaued into high fauoure with y kynge hys
master and souereygne lorde. Hovvebeit, the kynge lyke a wylye foxe, knowynge thefayth-
-full entent of thys syr Robert, and enttdynge to put hyrn oute of all gealousy and suspicio
•with the lady Margaret, and Edmond de la poole, caused thesayde erle and thesayde Syr
Roberte Curson, & fyue persones more to-be accursed at Paules crosse the fyrst Sondayc
-of Nouember, as enemyes and rebelles to him and hys realme. But howsoetier, it chaun-
ced, whether it were for the easing of hys hart, or for some preuy pollecye, the kynge
after the mariage of hys sonne prynce Arthur, was so vigilant, so. circumspect and so in-
tentyue, that he espyed and tryed oute suche as he knesve, partely to be the inuenters of
mischiefe agaynst hyin, and partel-y to beare no good wyll or sincere afteccion towarde his
person, that lie coulde redely name and reherse their names and surnames, wherof a greatc
parte were with in fewe dayes after apprehended and taken. And emonge them, lorde
William Courtney, sorine to Edwarde erle of Deuonshyre, a man of great nobilite, esti-
macion and vertue, whiche rnaryed jady Katheryne, daughter to kyng Edward, lorde Wil-
liam brother to Edmond, erle of Southtbike, Syr larnes Tyrrell, Syr Ihon Wyndham.
Both these Williams before rehersed were rather taken of suspicion & gelousy, because
they were nereof blood to the coniurators, then for any proued oiFence or cryme. Wher-
fore the lorde William sonne to the erle of Deuon^hire, after the death of kynge Henry
the. vii. was deliuered and set abroade at libertie, by the noble and famous prynce kyng
Henry y viii. sonne to thesayd kynge, with whome after he was in great fauoure and esti-
macion, but shortely after, when he beganne to exercise him selfe in marciall feates and
warlike studye, he syckened of a disease called Pluresis, of whiche malady, because it was
strauge and rare to the Phisicians of England, he at the kynges manoure of Grenewiche
desessed, leuynge one sonne behynde hym, to continue hys stirpe and familie. The lorde
William, brother to Edtnonde the erie of Southtbike had also greater fauoure shewed in
•pryson, then he had before. And syr lames Tyrrell, and Ihon Wyndham, because they
were traytours, & so attaynted the. vi. daye of Maye, they were on the Towre hyll behed-
ded. But when the erle of Southfolke heard that some of his frendes were put to execu-
tion, and some other committed to perpetual! pryson and captiuitie, he was in a great agony
and feare of hym selfe. And so belg clerely desperate to haue any fortunate successe in
his pretesed enterprice, wandred about all Germany and Erannce for aide & succoure,
prouynge if he could fynde any aide or succoure at their handes. But when he perceaued
no stedfast groiid to catche anchor holdc vpon (to thentent that in conclusion he might vn-
derstade that a shameful death de\ve to a man for his offences and ciymes cannot by mans
helpe or mans reason, be cither eschewed or diuerted from hym) he submitted him seife
vnder the obeysauce and defence of Philip Archeduke of Austricke an'd Bvirgoyn, and erle
of Flaudcrs. But Rychard his brother beyng an experte and polletique man, so craftely
coueyed, and so wisely ordred hym selfe in this stormy tempest, that he was not attrapped
•eyther with net or snare.
The kyng, not yet being out of double of all domestical sedicion & ciuile discorde,
studied busely howe to reslreyne and kepe in a strcyte closure diuerse malefactours, which
bcyng partakers of this cospiracy fled to sondry sanctuaries, tariyng there till a fayre day
came to auaiice foorthward their enterprice. Whcrupon he deuised to kepe the gates of all
sanctuaries and places priuileged, shut and wel locked, so that none should issue out from
thence to perturbe and vnquiet hym, hys realme or people. And for that entent he bothe
wrote and sent Ambassadours to Alexander, then bishop of Rome, desyrynge him by his
authoritie to adiudge and decerne all Englishmen, beynge fled to sanctuary or other places
for treason, as enemyes to Christes fayth, and/ scisinatiques too Christen religion, and as
commen perturbers of the quiet people, and capitaynes and prouokers of trayterous ruf-
flinges, intreditynge and prohibityng the refuge and priuilege of sanctuary to all suche per-
sons as once had enioyed the immunitie and libertie of thesame, ..-and after had fled out,
6 and
KYNG HENRY THE. VII.
and eftsoiics returned agayoe. Whiche thinge after that the Bishop had graunted, it was greatly
to the quyetnes and comforte of kyng Hery, and many through the feare of tbat reproche
and ignomouy, conuerted them selues to goodnes and dewe subieccio of their price: Odiejr
also that were in securite, and out of all perel and daunger, durst not hasard them seluea
for feare of galtroppes or slipping into fy fyer.
When the kyng by his high pollecy had compassed and framed his affaires thus to hys pur-
pose, sodeynly happened a lamentable chauce and lachrimable losse to the kynge, queue
and all the people. For that noble prince) Arthur, the kynges fyrst begotten sonne, after
that he had bene juaryed to the lady Katheryn his vvyfe. v. monethes, departed out of this
transitory lyfe, i-u his castel of Ludlowe, and with a great funerall obsequy was buryed in
the cathedral! churche of Worcettre. After whose death the name of prince belonged to
his brother duke of Yorke, hys brother disseasyng without issue, & so without any crea-
tion ought to. be called, except some cause apparaunt were the let and obstacle of the
same. Howbeit, thesayde duke vpon suspicion of his brothers wyfe to be with chylde, and
that doubtfully thought by the expert and sage men of the prynces counsayl, was bya
inonetb. and more delayed from hys title, name and preheminence, in the which season the
truthe might to wome easely apere. It is reported that this lady Katheryn thought and
feared suche dolorous chauce to come: For when she had enbraced her father, and taken
ber leaue of her noble and prudent mother, & sayled towardes England, she was conti-
nually so;tossed and tumbled hyther and thelher with boysterous vvyndes, that what for the
rage of the water, and comraritie of the wyncles, her ship was prohibited diuerse tymes to
approche the shore and take lande.
THE. XVIII. YERE.
THe next yere after quene Elizabeth, liynge within the Towre of Lodo, was brought a
bed of a fayre daughter on Candelmas daye, whiche was there christened and named Ka-
theryn, and the. xi. daye of thesame moneth, thesayde moost verteous princes and gra-
cious quene there desessed, and was with all funerall pompe caryed thorough the cytye of
London to Westmynster and tnere intimulate, whose daughter also taried but a small cea-
son after her mother.
After the death of this noble princes, which for her great vertue was commetily called
good quene Elizabeth, departed syr Reignold Breye knight of y gartier, a very lather of
his coiitry, a sage & a graue person and a fcruent louer of iustice. In so nmche that if
any thinge had bene done against good law or equitie, he would after an hiible fassio plally
reprehencle the king, and geue him good aduertisement how to reforme that offence, and to
be more circuspect in another lyke case. Of thesame vertue and honest playnnes was Ihon
Morto archebishop of Canterbury, which bishop dyed (as it is shewed aboue) two yeres
before. So these, ii. persons were euer cohibetorsand refreiners of the kinges wilfull skope
& vnbrideled libertie, where as the rude and ignoraunt people saye and affirme, that their
counsayll infected & corrupted the kynges clcne and immaculate conscience, contrary to
his pryncely disposicion & naturall inclinacion. Suche is euer the errour of the coman
people: but surely as long as the kyng would here and obeye such as warned him of his
office royall and kyngdy duetie, he coulde in no wyse erre or swarue aside. About this
tyme also dyed Henry archebishop of Cauntourbury, whose rowme doctor Willia Warrara
bishop of London supplyed. And to the bishoprick of London was elected William Barnes,
after whose death sncceded Rycharde Fitziames, a man of a good lignage & great learnyng
& vertue. In which yere the. xviii. daye of February, the kyng at his palace uf Westmyn-
ster, with all solepnite created hys onely sonne Hery price of Wales, eric of Chcstre,
Ac. which noble yogling succeded his father/ not only in £ inheritance & regalite, but also
was to him equypolct in honour, fame, learnyng & pollecye.
3 S Maximilian
THE. XIX. YERE OF
Maximilian the Emperour, hearinge that quene Elizabeth was deceased, sent into Eng-
land a solempne Ambassade, of the which lord Caz.rn.re, Marques of Brandenburgh his
cosy.!? accopanyed with a bisshop, an erle cSc a great nuber of gentleme well appareyled
wa? principal auibassadour, which were triuphantly receaued into Londo & was lodged
at Crosbves place. This Ambassade was sent for. iii. causes, one to visitc & comforte the
kvn" bevne sorowful & sad for the death of so good a quene & spouse. The. n. for the
rwftacfdn of the olde league and amitie. The. iii. which was not apparaunt, was to moue
the kv-i-re to mary the Emperours daughter 5- lady Margaret, duches dowager of Sauoye.
The first ii toke effect, for the kyng vpon Passion sunday roade to Paules in great triuphe,
th« said Marques riding on his lefthand. And there the bishop made to the king an excellet
cosolatorie oracio, cocerning the death of 5' quene. And there also y kyng . opely sware to
kepe the new renouate league & amitie, during their, ii. lyues. But y third request, whe-
ther «• let was on the mas parte or womas syde, ueuer sorted to any effect or conclusion.
•''And £0 these thinges done, the Ambassadours returned sumpteously and honorably re-
'AU this wynter was preparaci5 made for the conueyauce of the lady Margaret, affied to
the kyncr of Scottes into Scotland. And whe all thynges were ready and prest, the kyng
remoued the last daye of luyn from Rychemond, hauyng in his cSpany his sayde daugh-
ter, & came to Colyweston, where the coutesse of Rychemond his mother then laye. And
after certayue dayes of solace ended, the kynge gaue her his blessynge with a fatherly ex-
hortacion, and committed the coueighaunce of her to the kyngc her hnsbandes presence,
to the erle of Surrey: and the erle of Northumberland was apoynted as Wardeyn of the
marches to deliuer her at the confines of both the marches. Thus this fayre lady was con-
ueyghed with a great company of lordes, ladies, knyghtes, esquyers and gentlemen, till
•he came to Berwicke, and from thence to a village called Lambreton kyrke in Scotland,
where the kyng with the tioure of Scotlad was ready to receaue her, to whom y erle of
Northumberland, accordynge to his commission deliuered her. The Scottes that daye, I
assure you were not behynde, but farre aboue, bothe in apparell and ryche lewels and
massy chaynes: But aboue other the erle of Northumberland, what for the ryches of his
cote, beyng Goldsmythes worke, garnyshed with perle and stone, and what for the costly
apparel of°his henxmen and galaunt trappers of their horsses, besides iiii. hundred tall
men, well horsed and appareled in his coolers, that he was estemed bothe of the Scottes
& Englishmen, more lyke a prince then a subiect. Then was this lady conneyed to the
toune of Edenboroughe, and there the daye after, kynge lames the. iiii. in the presence of
all his nobilitie espoused thesayde faire princes, and feasted the English lordes, and shewed
to them lustes and other pastymes, very honourably, after the fassion of his rude coun-
trey. When all thinges were done and finished, according to their commission, the erle
of Surrey with all the Englishe lordes and ladyes returned into their countrey, geuynge
more prayse to the inanhoode, then to the good maner & nurture of Scotlande.
THE. XIX. YERE.
IN this yere the kynge kepte his hygh courte of Parliament, in the whiche diuerse actes
were concluded, whyche were thought necessary and expedient for the preseruacio of the
publique weale. And emonge other thinges, it was determined that theues and murderers
duely couicted by tiie \a\\e to dye, should be burned in the hand, and comitted to the Bis-
shops custody as I haue before declared. Alter this, certayne money was graunted to the
kynge, bv the whole Parliament, and the goodes of men outlawed were forfeyted and con-
fisqued. There was also called (as the maner is) a congregacion of the clergie, to then-
tent, that they w their treasure and money might auauce and preferre the comon wealth of
the realme.
Hetherto
KYNG HENRY THE. VII. - 490
Hetherto we haue shewed you rough and sharpe battailes, pernicious & sedicious, strife,
tumulte, and the death of many noble & rneane persons: Nowe therfore let vs here re-
hearse, thecontencion of familier thinges, the gnawynge at the hartes, and the freating of
myndes & vowes, promises and requestes made of diuerse persones.
Kyng Henry, now drawynge to age, and before this tyme, euer punched, stimulated and
.pricked with the scrupulous stynges of domesticall sedicion and ciuile comraocion, in so
much that he more detested & abhorred intestine and priuate warre, then death or any
thynge more terrible. Wherfore he determyned so pollitiquely to prouyde that ail y causes
of suche vnquyetnes and mischief to come, shoulde be eradicate and extirped: which yma-
ginacion and purpose he doubted not to compasse and brynge to effect. If he made lowe
and abated the courage of his subiectes and vassalles, and especially of the rychest sorte,
remembrynge the olde prouerbe, that men throughe abundaunce of ryches waxe more in-
solent, hedstronge and robustius, and that nothynge is more to men acceptable or desyrous,
then aboudaunce of treasure and plentye of money, whiche people either for feare of lo-
synge, or hope of gaynynge of worldly ryches, desyre euer cither peace or warre. But
to thentent that men might not thinke nor reporte that he whiche is their kynge constituted
of God to reuenge all iniuries to theym done and committed, should oppresse and wrong-
fully polle and exact money of hys subiectes, he deuysed wyth hym scife by what honest
nieane he might performe it. And thus deuisyng with hym selfe, it came into hys hed that
the Englishmen dyd litle passe vpon the obseruacion and kepynge of penall lawes or pe-
cuniall statutes, made and enacted for the preseruacion of the commen vtilitee and wealthe.
And therefore, if inquisicion were had of suche penall statutes, there shoulde be fewe
noble men, mercbauntes, termers, husbandemen, grasyers nor occupyers, but they shoulde
be founde transgressours and violators of thesame statutes. After that he had taken thys
counsayll, he soughte oute the penall lawes, and put them in execucion, and they that
were founde offenders, were easely at the beginning fyned and scourged. After that he
apointed. ii. masters and surueyers of his forfaytes, y' one syr Richard Empson, and the
other Edmond Dudley, bothe learned in the lawes of the realme. And these twoo persons
contended, whiche of theim by mooste bryngyng in might most please and satisfye his mas-
tres desyre and appetide. Wherefore in the beginnynge, they armed with a companye of
accusers (commonly called promoters) whyche brought to theim the names of the ottend-
ours, estemed and regarded so muche the gayne of money, that they clerely forgate and
banyshed oute of their remembraunce their duetye present, the peril that might ensue, and
the thanke and good will that they might haue obteyned, and yet they had warnynge of
greate and sage persons to close their handes from suche vncharitable dpynges and cvuell
.cxtremitie, accordyng to the Adage, the extremitie of iustice, is extreme iniurie.
«f THE. XX. YERE.
THe kvnse, after that he had gotte a large and ample sume of money, hauyng pitie of
the people, whiche cryed to God dayly for an ende of their pilfryngc, of his clemency and
gracious goodnes towardes his ende thought it best, and thus determined, tbattteso two
extreme officiers shoulde be depryued of that office, and the money from whome it was vn-
iustly exacts! and extorted to be wholy restored and delinered agayn: Which beyng pre-
uented with death, coramaundcd it by his last will and testament to be duely and truly
performed, but in the meane ceason many raens coffers were emptied,
3 S 8
THE. XXI. YERE OF
THE. XXI. YERE.
IN this veryceason, and theyere of our lord a. M. D. &. vi. Elizabeth queue oft
wyfe to Ferdinande kynge of Arragon, dyed without any issue male, by reason whereof
thinheritaunce of Castel (because that kyngdomes be not partible) discended to lady lane
her eldest daughter by kyng Ferdinando, the whiche was maryed to Philip archeduke of
of Austrich and Burgoyne, and erle of Flaundres. Which. kyngdome he obteyned by his
wyfe, and had the possession of thesame, and was named, reputed and taken as kynge of
Castell and Lyon. Wherefore, the yere folowynge, aboute the. vi. daye of January, hau-
yng a great nauy prepared, he sayled out of Flaunders with his wyfe toward Spayne, but
he had sayled no great waye before that a vygorous tempest, by reason of contrariete of
wyndes sodeynly arose, the whole nauy was tossed & chased with the waues, and sodayne
sourges. In so muche the wynde hauynge the mastry dispersed and seperated the shippes
asondre into diuerse places on the coast of Englande. The kynges ship with two other
vesselles were blowen by tempest on the West parte of the real me to the porte of Wey-
mouth in Dorset shyre. Then kynge Philip which was not expert, and had not frequented
the seas before, beynge fatigate and vnquyeted bothc in mynde and body, cntrvng the ship
boate to refreshe and repose hym selfe a litlc, came a lande contrarye to the mynde of hys
counsayll and capitaynes, whiche forsawe and kncwe well that thesame landynje shoulde
bee the occasion of lenger tariynge there. When it was knowen that straunge shyppes
•were arryued, there came thether a greate number aswell of noble men as of rurall persons
that dwelleth aboute that coaste, to repulse and beate awaye hym if he were their enemy.
But when they perceaued he was theyr frende and louer and dryuen thether by force of
wether, Syr Thomas Trenchard knyght, the chicfe of that company went to Philip kynge
of Castell with all humanytie and lowlynes, inuytynge and desyrynge him (if he woujde so
vouchesaufe) to vysyte hys maner and mancion, whychc was euen nygh at hand, trustyn$
therby to haue great thiikes of the kynge hys master, if he conlde protract and cause hym
to tarye there, vntyll suche tyme as kyng Henry were certefied of hys arryu.il, to whome
with all diligent celerite, he sent dyuerse postes too notefie to his grace of kynge Philippes
landynge. This rumour beynge farther blowen abroade of this straunge princes comming,
in a short space there assembled together a great multitude of people all a longe the sea
coast. And emonge other there came first syr Ihon Carew wyth a goodly band 'of picked
men. Whiche syr Ihon £ syr Thomas Trrnchard entreated the kyng of Castell, not to
depart vntill suche tyme as he had spoken with kyng Henry his louinge and faythfull frende
and allye, assurvng hym y he woulde repayre thether within. ii. or. 'iii. daves at the most.
King Philip excused him selfe by the necessitie of his wcightie cnterprice & importunate
cause, affermyng that log tariyng in matters of grauytie and dubious, ought to be excluded-
wherefore he alledgecl that protractynge of tyme myghtturnehim to great prejudice, denyen-re
at the first to exspect and tarye the commynge. of the kyng of England. But yet U>yn<" pe7-
swaded by reason in hvm selfe, y he might' be let and interrupted, if he would proffre
once to goa horde too hys shyppes agayne, at their gentle desyre and louinge contcmnlacion,
assented to their humble peticion and request.
When kynge Henry was informed of hys landynge, he was replenyshed with an excedyngc
gladnes, partely for to renew the olde familiarhie and acquayntaunce, whiche they vsed at
their last metynge, and partelyfor that he trusted that his landyn«e in England should turne
to his proffite and commod.tie. Therefore first he wrote man/and diur rs letters to svr
,h.°.!LSfleW' and T lho'»a.8 r^nchard, uiilinge and warnynge them withall kvndcnes of
rnynge tliem withall kyndenes of
"" ^^..L^uc me nyugof Castel, tyll he in person approchedin someplace mete
and conuenyent for the entreuiewynge and entreteignvnge of so noble a Dersonase IVsirlf
th« he Sent the erle of Arundell with many lordcs and Lvghtes to accom^y aud attend^
vpou
KYNG HENRY THE. VIT. 501
Tponhym: Whiche eric, accordynge to the kynges letters receaued hym with, iii C horsses
ail by torche light to the great admiracion of all the straun-riers
PMiip sevng no remedy, but that he must nedes tarje & abide, woulde no lenaer
gase after kynge Henryes commynge, but tooke hys Journey Umardes W^nsore Castell where
the kynge laye. And tyue myle from Wynsore, the pryn/e of Wales accopanyed v "fyue
erlesaud diuerse lordes and knyghtes, and other to the numbre of fyue huclred persons
moost gorgeously appareled and richely mounted, receaued him after the moost honorablest
fesion of entrctemm.t. And within halfe a myle of Wyndsore, the kynge accompanyed
with the duke of Buckyngham, and a great part of the nobilitie of his realme, saluted and
welcommedhym, and so conueyed hym to the castell of Wynsore, where besyde many tri-
umphs and pasiymes shewed, he was made copaignion of the noble ordre of the Gartier
After hym came to Wynsore hys wyfe quene lane, suster to the prynces dowager, late wvfe
to prynce Arthur. And after they two had concluded and renouate their olde league and
inade a perpetuall peace and continuall amitie together: Kynge Henry desyrcd hym to'haue
Edmod de la poole erle of SufFolke hys rebell, to be deliuered into his handes and possession
To whome the kyng of Castell aunswered a while, that he was not within hys rule or domi-
runn, and therefore it laye not in his powre to rendre or deliuer him. Although he considered
it to be a heynous & great offcce to he the occasio & authour of the death of his crest, which
came to him for succour, & was receaued vnder his proteccion and defence, yet when he
perceaued that neither excuse, nor yet reasonable argumente coulde be accepted or allowed
of kyng Henry (which promised faithfully of hys awne offre to pardon, Edmond de la poole
of all paynes and execucios of death) he promised and.graunted to do and accomplishe all
kynge Henryes desyre £ request: And so incontinent caused tbesayde Edmod secretly to be
sent for. After this kyng Henry emending to protract the tyme till he might possesse his
praye, which he sore desyred, coueyed the kyng of Castell vnto the citie of London, that
he might see the hed citie of his realme, and there led him from Baynardes castell by Chepe
to Barkynge, and so returned by Watlynge strete agayne, during which tyme there was shot
a wonderful! peale of gunnes oute of the Tow re, into the whiche he would not entre, be-
cause (as you haue heard before) he had auowed not to entre the fortresse of any foreya
prince, in y" which a garison was maynteyned: And there tariynga lille space, returned hacke
with him. Then from London the kyng brought him to Ilichemond, where were many nota-
ble feaies of armes proued both at the tylt and at the tourney and at the barriers.
In the meane ceason, Edmond de la poole whiche euer feared & mistrusted, that the ar-
riuyng in England of kyng Philip shoulde be his fatall ende and finall destruccion, perceau-
inge well that there was no farther hope to he had in foreyn princes and potentates, and
trustynge that after his life to hym once grauted, that kyng Henry would briefly set hvm at his
libertie and fredome, was in maner content to returne agaync iiiio hys natiue countrcv, cast-
ynge in his -mynde farther, that if his hope and trust were defrauded and refclled, yet at the
last'he was sure to ende his life, and be buryed in the countrey where he first entred into this
variable vvorlde.
When all |«cies and couenauntes betwene the kinges of England and Castell were ap-
poynted, couenaunted and agreed: Kynge Philip toke hys leaue of kyug Henry, rendryng
to hym moost hartic thankes for his high chere and princely entreteynmet. And beyng ac-
companied with diuerse lordes of England, came to the citie of Excettre, and so to Eul-
mouth in Cornewale, and there tooke his sliippe and sayled into Spayne, where he shortly
beynge taken with a sodeyn disease, departed oute of tliis transitorie life, beynge then but.
xxx. yeres of age. He had by his wyfe and quene lane. vi. children, two men childre
Charles and Ferdinand, and foure daughters, Eleanor, Isabel, Mary and Kathcrin. He
was a man of stature conuenient, of countenaunce amiable and louely, of body somwhat^16.*
crasse and corpulet, quycke wytted, bold and hardy stomaked. This tempest that the kyng kynge°phi.
of Castell had, was wonderfull straunge to many men, because the violencie of the wyude1^-
had blowen doune an Egle of brasse, beynge set to shewe and manifest on which parte ^
wind
503 THE. XXII. YERE OF
wind blevr, fro a pynnacle or spire of Paules church. And in the fallyng, thesame Egle brake
& batered another Egle that was set vp for a signe at a tauerne dore in Uiepeside.
here vpo, me that were studious of straunge tokens and monstreous wonders, did take an
opinion that the Emperour Maximilian, whiche at that tyme gaue an Lgle in his arn.es,
should haue a great losse, whyche so happened in dede: For he lost his onely begotti
sonne Philip, newly called to the kyngdorne of Castell.
Also, shortely after the departynge of kyng Philip, the king of Englande beganne to sus-
pect Syr George Neuell lorde of Burgeyny, and syr Thomas Grene, of Grenes Morton
knyght, that they were confedered fauto'urs and partakers, in the beginnynge with Edmond de
la poole, and sovpon this suspicion, they were comaunded to the Towre. But shortly after
when they had ben tryed and purged of that suspicio and cryme, he commaunded theim
bothe to be set at libertie. But syr Thomas Grene fell sycke before, and continued in the
Towre in hope to be restored aswell to his health as he was to hys libertie, and there dyed.
The lorde of Burgeyny for hys modestie, wyt and probitie (because the kynge founde hym
lyke hym selfe) always true, faythfuil and constant, was of hissouereigne lorde more estemed,
fauoured and regarded then he was before.
f THE XXII. YERE.
AFter this, the kynge hauynge peace aswell with foreyne princes, for the terme of. iii.
yeres, as disburdened and purified of all domestic-all sedicion, beganne to be diseased with
a certayneinfirmitieand wekenes of body, whiche thryse in the yere, but especially in the
sprynge tyme sore vexed & tormented hym. And because for the most part, the harme
and euell that chaunceth to the prince, is parted and communicate to hissubiectesand peo-
ple, the olde sweatyngc wherof you heard before emongcst the commons of the realme, came
again, llowbeit by the reason of the remedy that was inueted by the death of many a
creature in the beginning, it dyd lesse hurte and displeasure to the people at this tyme then
it did before. But nowe the thyrde plague cgall with the pestilence ensued by the woorkynge
of the masters of the forfaytures by the kynge appoynted as I shewed you before.
By whose meanes many a rye he and welthy person, bv the cxtreinyte of the lawes of the
realme, were condempned and brought to misery. The matt re is as wonderfull to be heard,
as pitefulland miserable to be done, and yet it is called the law, where as it is rather per-
uerse abuse and disordre of a la\ve, polletiqucly at the beginnyng inuentcd to cause the peo-
ple, the soner to couforme them seines to such as demaund their right of them, but craftely
practised to the vtter confusion of many by vntrue officers. For if a man put hisaducrsary
in suyte before y ludges, of whiche cdplaint or accio he neither thinketh nor hath knowledge
if he appcre not at the lastcallyng of the exigent, whiche is called in a shyre where he neuer
came (for how can he appere, if he be ignoraunt of the prosecucion of the cause, and dwell,
ii. C. myles fro that place) then doeth he forfet all his substaunce and mouables, and his body
to captiuitie as an enemy, and rebel to the lawes of his countrcy. And yet the prynce shall
enioye the goodes so confiscate, and the party eopleynaut or playntife that is wronged reco.-
uereth not one myte, and yet loseth bothe his payne and costes. And all suche persons
that be so condempned and adiudged, be called outlawes, that is depriued of all lawes of the
lande, to the whiche he was by the custome of the countrey inheritable. These ontlaries,
olde recognisances of the peace and good aberig, escapes, ryottes and innumerable statutes
penal, were put in execucion and called vpon by Empson and Dudley, so that euery man,
both of the spiritualtie and temporaltie, hauing either lande or substaunce, was called to
this pluckyng bancket, accordinge to the Psalmist saiyng, all declyned and fell together, and
no man although he. were neuer so clere and gyltles, in conclusion durst auenture a tryall,
seynge the experience of them that passed before. For these two rauenynge wolues had
suche a garde of false periured persons apperteignynge to them, which were by their com-
3 maundemet
KYNG HENRY THE. VII. 503
maundemet empanyeled on euery quest,, that the king was sure to wynne whosoeuer lost.
Learned men in the lawe, when they were requyred of their aduise, would saye to agree is
the best counsayll that I can geue you. By.this vndewe mcanes, these couetous persones
filled the kynges cofers, and enryched the selues. And at this vnreasonable and extorte do-
ynge, noble men grudged, meane men kycked, poore men lamented, preachers openly at
Paules crosse and other plaees exclamed, rebuked and detested, but yet they would neuer
amende. Howebeit the good kynge in his last dayes coserued and pardoned his. poore sub-
iectes of such vncharitable yokes and ponderous burdens as they were laden withall.
In this season Alexader bishop of Rome departed out of this world, and for hym was
elected Frances borne Sencs, nephiewe to Pius the second, and was called Pius the third,
whome kyng Henry had made a litle before, proctoure for his realme in the courte of Rome.
The king beyngglad of his high promocion and dignitie, sent syr Gylbert Talbot knyght,
Rychard Bere Abbot of Glasceubury, and doctor Robert Sherborne deane of Paules, 10
declare to him what gladnes entred into the kynges hart, when he hearde tell of hishygh pre-
ferment and honour. But this bishop Pius did not expect and tary the gratulacios of these ~
ArnbassaclourS) for within a moneth after that he was installed he rendred his debt to nature,
hauyng small pleasure of his promocio. At this same tyrne also dyed Gyles, lorde Dawbe-
ney, the kynges chiefe chamberleyn, whose office Charles bastard sonne of Henry last duke
of Somerset^ccupied and enioyed, a man of a good wyt and great experience.
THE. XXIII. YERE.
SONE after, ykyn-g caused Guy Vbald duke of Vrbyne to be elected, knyght of the
ordre of the garner, a noble warriour, and in the Greke & Latyn tounges excellently learn-
ed. And this honour and high dignitie, this duke desired instantly to haue, y he might be
eqtiyualent in all degrees of honour and nobilrtie with his father, duke Frederick a prince in
his tyme of high renoune and estimacion, which was receaued & chosen into that ordre by
kyng Edward the. iiii. And because it was noysed that luly the seconde, a lanuway borne,
was after the death of Pius, elected to be bishop of Rome. The kyng entendinge to stope
two gappes with one bushe, sent syr Gylbert Talbot and the other two Ambassadours,
principally to bishop luly, and by them sent also to the duke of Vrbyne, the whole habile
and collar of the noble ordre of the gartier. When duke of Guy was reuested with the
habit and had taken his othe, according to the statutes of the ordre: lie sent syr Baltha-
ser d'e Castellio knyght a Mantuane borne, his Oratour to kynge Henry, whiche was for him
enstalled, according to the ordin.aunces of that famous ordre.
While these thinges were in doynge, Lewes the Frenche kynge mistrusting that he j
neuer haue manchilde, marled his eldest daughter lady Claude to Frauces de Valoys, dolpnyn
of Vven and duke of Angulesme: Whiche lady was promised a litle before to Charles
the kvng of Castell. When kynge Henry knew of this, he thought best to mary his daugh*
ter lady Mary to this Charles kynge of Castel, beyng almost bothe of one age, and therefore
Ambassadours were sent to and fro, and at the last, the manage was concluded and con-
firmed by the meanes of the bishop of Wynchester, chiefe Ambassadoure [or the king at
Caleys, and so the lady Mary beyng of the age of. x. yeres, was promysed to kyng I
For conclusion of which manage* the lord of Barow, and diucrse great Ambassadours
were sent into England fro the Emperour Maximilian, which had great rewardes and re-
turned.
f THE. XXIIII. YERE.
KOWE approched the ende & terme of the. iii. yeres of peace that Ispake of before, at
THE. XXIIII. YERE OP
w'hichetyme kyng Henry thought his fatal daye Lo be at hand: For his sickenes encreased
daily more and more, so that he might easely perceaue that death was not farre of tariyng,
his praye: Therfore like a good prynce, desiring to exhibite some gratuitie to his people jf
he might be had in memory after his disease, granted of his great liberalite a generall par-
don to all men, for all offences done, & perpetrate against his lawes and statutes. But
because murtherers & theues were not onely offenders to him, but also toother, he excepted
them £ some other out of his pardo. He paide also the fees of all prisoners in y" gayles in
and aboute Londo, abyding their only for that duety. He payde also the debtes of all such
persons as iaye in the counters of Londo, or Ludgate for. xl.s. & vnder, & some he releued
that were condempned in. x.l. For this hisgoodnes £ pitie shewed to his people," beynge
sore vexed with inquysitors, pollers & promoters, general processio was had daily in euery
citie and parishe to pray to almighty God, for the restorynge of, his healthe, with long
contynuaunce of the.same. Neucrtheles, he was so consumed with his longe malady, that
nature coulde no lenger susteyne his lyfe, and so he departed out of this world, the. xxii.
daye of Aprill in his palace of llychemond, the which was the yere of oure lorde, M.D.
ix. hys corps was conueyed wyth a funerall pompe to Westmynster and there buryed by the
good quene his wyfe in a sumpteous and solempne chapel], which he not longe before had
caused to be buylde<l : He reygned, xxiii. yeres and more then. vii. monethes, & lyued. lii.
yeres. He had by his quene Elizabeth viii. chyldren. iiii. men and iiii. wemen chyldren, of
the whyche. iii. remayned alyue behynde hym. Henry prynce of Wales, \\hyche after him
succeded, and was kynge, lady Margarctt queue of Scottes and lady Mary promysed to
Kripclon of Charles kyng of Castell. He was a man of body but leane and spare, albeit mighty and
kynge Hen- stronge therwith, of personage and stature, somewhat hygher then the meane sorte of men
the. vn. j)e^ Of a wolKjerfui[ beutye and fayre complexion, of countenaunce mery and smylyng es-
pecially in his communicacion, hys eyes graye, his teethe syngle, and heare thynne, of wyt
in all thynges quycke and prompt, of a pryncely stomacke and haute courage. In great
perels, doubtful! affaires, and matters of weighty importaunce, supcrnaturall and in maner
denyne, for suche thynges as he went aboute, lie dyd them aduisedly, and not without great de-
liberacion and breathing, to thcntent that cmongest all men, his wyt & prudence might be
noted and regarded and spoken of. For he was not ignoraunt that his actes and- doynges
were specially noted and marked with the eyes of many a person, and therefore a pryncc
oughte as farre to cxccll and surmounie all meane personages in wysedome and pollecy, as
he prccelleth other in estate and dignitie.
For what ma will gene creJite or regard to him, whom he hath proucd to be liHil, wilde
and lasciuious of condicions? Besides this, he was sobre, moderate, honest, affab'e, courte-
ous, bounteous, so muche abhorring pride and airogancy, thut he «as euer -harp and
quicke to them which were noted or spotted with _y cryme. And there was no man with
hym, .beynge nener so muche in his fauoure, or Imuing nener so muche auctliunte that
either durst or coulde do any Hung as his awne phatasye did serne him, without the consent
cS: agremcnt of other. What shall I say more? Although Ins mother were neuer &o wise
(as she was both witty and wise) yet her will was bridled, and her doyn^es restravned
And this regnnet he sa.d he kept to thentet y he worthely might be called a kin- whose
office is to rule & not to be ruled of other. He was also an ind.fferet & sine Insdcier b
as a oene, y s awes were hindred & mersed : for such o his su
.ectesas were fined or amerced by his Justices to their great empouerishing, he at o e ty
or another did helpe releue & set forward: wherby it apered y he would haue he a
penalties for other offences & crimes reuyued & stirred vp agahjwhich w a pTaina gu a
e di I. vse h,s rygour only (as he sayd him selfe) to bring low & abate y hi|h haftes &
•toutettomackea of:tbewyldepeoplefnbr»hed & brought vpfn sedicious faccios & ciu.lere.
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 505.
bellions, & not for the gredy desire of riches or hunger of money, althoughe suche as were
afflicted would crye oute, & say y it was done more for the loue & desire of gayne & profile,
then for any prudent pollecy or pollitique prouision.
Surely, this good & modest prince did not deuoure £ cosume y substance & ryches of his
realme, for he by his high pollecy, meruelously enriched his realme & him selfe, & yet
left his subiectes in high wealth and prosperitie. The profe wherof is manifestly apparaut
by y great aboudaunce of golde & siluer, yerely brought into this realme, both in plate,
money & bullio by merchautes passing & repassing out & ito this realme with merchandise.
To whom be him selfe of his awne goodnes let money largely without any gayne or proffite,
to thentet that merchandise beyng of all craftes the chefe aVte, & to all men, bothe most
profitable & necessary, might be the more pletifuller vsed, hauted & employed in his realmes
& dominios. And so this kyng lyuyng all his tyme in the fauour of fortune, in high ho-
nour, ryches & glory, & for his noble actes & prudent pollecies, worthy to be registred in
the booke of fame, gauevp his ghost aty last, which vndoubtedly is assended into the ce-
lestiall mancion, where he hath the sure fruicion of the Godhead, & theioy that is prepared
ifor such as shall sit on the right hande of our sauyour, euer worlde without ende.
FINIS.
THE TRIUMPHANT RE1GNE OF KYNG
HENRY THE. VIII.
NOW, after the death of this noble Prince, Henry the. VIII. sonnc to Kyng Henry The. ;
the'. VII. beuanne his reigne the. xxii. daie of April, in the yere of our Lorde. 1/509.
and in the xviii. vire ot his bodily a«e: Maximilian then beeyng Emperoure, and Lewes
the xii reignyng in Fraunce. And Fernando beeyng the kyng of Arragon and Castell, and
kvn« lames the tburthe then rulyng oner the Scottes : whose stile was Proclaimed by the blast
of a Trumpet in tne citie of London, the. xxiii. daie of the saied monethe, with much
nes and reiovsyng of the people.
And the same day, he departed from his mnnour of Richemond to the tower of London,
where he remained, closlv and secrete, with his counsaill, till the funeralles of Ins
were finished and ended. The same daie also, sir Richard Empson knight and Edmonde £-£
Dudley Ksquicr, create counsailers to the late kyng, were attached and brought to t e Mched.
Tower! not to the title reioysyng of many perspnes, whichc, by them wer grcued, wh.che
attachement was thought to bee procured by malice of theim, that »vith their authoritie, in the
la e V™ dales wer offended or els to shifte the noyse, of the stra.ght execuc.on of penall
tamtes Tn the late kynges daies, by a punkhemcnt of those persones, and other pro.noters,
Srsatis a ul appe^ce the people. The same daie also was attached, the lonle Henry
Stafford brother to the duke of IJuckyogha and sent to the lower, the cause wab
^oJghtt be. great, because he wls'so sone deliucred, & the same yere was ere-
JL
Pardon.
506 THE HftSTE YERE OF
ated erle of Wilshire. And the Same daie also, Doctor Ruthall was named Bushoppe of
Dufestne.
Sone after were apprehended diuerse, called promoters, belongyng to Empson and Dudley,
as Canby, Page, Smith, and diuerse other, as Derbie, VVriglit, Sympson and Stocton, of
the whiche the moste part ware papers,, and stoode on the Piliorie. How bee it, the moste
craftiest knaue of all, called Ihon Baptist Brimald, escaped and came to Westminster, and
there toke Sanctuarie.
The. xxv. daie of Aprill was proclaimed, that the kyngcs grace, ratefied all the Pardohes,
oraunted by his father, and also pardoned all suche persones, as was then in suite, for any
offence, whatsoeuer it was, Treason, Murder, and Felonie onely excepte.
After that all thynges necessary, for the interment and funerall pope of the late kyng, were
sumpteously prepared and done : the corps of the said defunct, was brought out of his
priuie chambre, into the great chaber, wher he rested thre daies, and euery daie had there
Dirige & Masse song by a Prelate rnitered : and from thence he was conueighed into the
halle, where he was also three daies, and had like seruice there, and so thre daies in the
Chapel, and in euery of these thre places, was a hearce of waxe, garnished with banners,
and. ix. mourners geuyng there attendance, all the seruyce tyme: and euery daie they offered,
and euery place hanged with blacke clothe. Vpon Wedinsdaie, the. ix. daie of Maie,
the corps was put into a Chariot, couercd with blacke clothe of golde drawen with. v. greate
Corsers, couered with blacke Veluet, garnished with Cusshions of fine gold : and ouer the
corps, was an Image or a representation of the late kyng laied on Cusshions of golde, and
the saied image was appareled, in the kynges riche robes of estate with a croune on the bed,
and ball and scepter in the handes : and the chariot was garnished with banners and Pecelles
of tharmes of his dominions, titles and genealogies. When the chariot was thus ordered, the
kinges chapell, and a great nornbre of Prelates, set forward praiyng: then folowed all the
kynges seruauntes, in blacke, then folowcd the Chariot : and after the Chariot, ix. mourners,
and on euery side wer carried long torches and shorte to the nombre of. vi. C. and in this
ordre they came to saincte Georges feldc, from Richemoncl. There met with theitn, all the
Priestes and Clearkes, and religions men, within the citec, and without (whiche went for-
rnoste, before the kynges Chapell) the Maior and his brethren, with many commoners, all
clothed in blacke, met with the corps at Lodon Bridge, and so gauc their attendance on the
same through the citee: and in good ordre, the compaignie passed through the citie, whereof
the stretes on euery side, wer set with long Torches, and on the stalles stode young children,
holdyng tapers, and so with greate rcuerence, the Chariot WEIS brought to the Cathedral
Churcheof sainct Paule, where the body was taken out and caried into the Quire, and set
vnder a goodly Herce of waxe, garnished with Banners, Pcncelles, & Cusshions, where
was sounga solempne Dirige, and" a Masse, with a Sermon, made by the Busshoppe of Ro-
chester: duryng whiche lyme, the kynges houshold and the mourners, reposed theim in the
Bisshoppes Paleis. The nexte daie the corps in like ordre was remoucd, toward West-
minster, sir Edward Haward, bearyng the kynges banner, on a. courser trapped, in the armes
of the defunct. In Westminster was a curious hersc, made of. ix. principalles, full of lightes,
whiche, were lighted at the commyng of the corps, whiche was taken out of the Chariot by
sixe Lordes, and set vndcr the Ilerse, the Image or the representacion, liyng vpon the Cus-
shyn on a large palle of golde. The herse was double railed: within the firste railes, satte
the mourners, and within the seconde raile, stoode knightes bearyng banners of sainctes,
and without the same, stoode officers of armes. When the mourners were set, Gartier kin<*
at Armes, cried, for the soule of the noble prince kyng Henry the. VII. late kyn<r of this
realme: then the quire beganne Placebo, and so song Dirige, whiche beyng ^finished,
the mourners departed into the Palaice, where they had a voyde, and so reposed for
that night.
next claie, wer three Masses solemply song, by Busshoppes, and at the last Masse was
ttie kynges banner and courser, his coate of armes, his sworde, his target and his
helme,
KYNG HENRY TH* V1IJ. 507
tielme, and at thende of Masse the mourners offered vp, ricne Paulles of cloth of gold and
Baudekin, and when the quire sang, Liberame, the body wa^, pux'.-c-.u, thtyearthe, and then
the lorde Treasorer, lorde Stewarde, lorde Chamberlein, the Treasorer, and Comptroler of the
kynges houshold, brake their staues and caste theim into the graue. T ic.- Gartier cried
with a loude voyce, Vine le Roy Henry le hutiesme, Roy Dangliter, $ de Fr ounce, sire
Dirland. Then all the mourners, and all other that had geuen their attendance, ou
this funerall Obsequie, departed to the Palaice, where they had a greate and a sump-
tuous feast.
Wonder it were to write, of the lamentacion that was made, for this Prince emongest his
seruauntes, and other of the wisest sort, and the ioy that was made for his death, by
suche as were troubled, by rigor of his lawe : yet the towarde hope, whiehe, in all poyntes
appered in the young kyng, did bothe repaire and comforte, the heuie hartes of theim,
whiehe, had lost so wise and sage a prince : and also did put out of the myndes of s,uche, as
were releued by the saied kynges deathe, ail their olde grudge and rancor, and confirmed
their newe ioye, by the newegraunte of <his pardon.
When the funerallesof this late kyng, wer thus honorably finished, greate preparacion was
made for the corona.cio of this new kyng whiehe was appoynted on Midsomer daie nexte
ensuyng: duryng whiehe preparacion, the kyng was rnoued, by some of his cousail,
that it should be honorable and profitable to his realme, to take to wife the lady Ka- The Kynge*
therin, late wife to Prince Arthur his brother disseased, least she hauyng so great a mariaKc
dowrie, might mary out of the realme, whiehe, should be vnprofitable to hym : by reason thi' "
of whiehe mocion, the kyng beyng young, and not vnderstandyng the lawe of God, es- '
poused the saied lady Katherine, the third daie of lune, the whiehe mariage was dis-
pensed with by Pope luly, at the request of her father, kyng Farnando, contrary to
the opinion of all the Cardinals ,of Rome, beyng diuines. This mariage of the bro-
thers wife, was muche murmured against in the beginnyng and euer more and more,
searched out by learning and scripture, so that at the laste by the determinacion, of the best
vniuersities of Christendo it was adiudged detestable, and plain contrary to Goddes lawe, as
you shall here, after, xx. yeres.
If I should declare, what pain, labour, and diligence, the Taylers, Embrouderours,
and Golde Smithes tooke, bothe to make and deuise garmentes, for Lordes, Ladies,
Knightes, and Esquires, and also for deckyng, trappyng, and adornyng of Coursers,
lenetes, and PalfFreis it wer to long to rehersse, but for a suretie, more riche, nor
more strauuge nor more curious workes, hath not been seen, then wer prepared against
this coronacion.
On the. xxi. daie of this moneth of lune, the kyng came from Grenewiche to the
Tower, ouer London Bridge, and so by Grace Churche, with whom, came many a well
appareled gentleman, but 'fn especiall the Duke of Buckyngham, whiehe, had a goune
all of goldsinithes worke, very costly, and there the kyng rested, till Saterdaie nexte
ensuyng.
Fridaie the twentie and twoo daie of lune, euery thyng beeyng in a readmes, for his
Coronacion : his "race with the Quene, beeyng in the Tower of London, made there
Knightes of the Bathe, to the nombre of twentie and.foure, with all the obseruaunccs and
Ceremonies, to the same belonsyng.
ig Saterdaie, the. xxnj. day or me saiu moneiue,
tKo Tn«,.pr thmii0h the citie of London, aaainst wh(
:of
VVJUJ ytJiij i uc 911 t>an_o *-, ij\,i\^ij*iJSj«**'-~""- i / I.- .1*1 c J
Arras. And the greate parte, of the Southe side of Chepe, with clothe of gold, and
some parte of Cornehill also. And the streates railed and barred, on the one side, from ouer
against Grace Churche, vnto Bredstreate, in Chepeside, where euery occupacion stode m
their liueries in ordre, beginnyng with base and meane occupacions, and so assendyng to the
worshipfull craftes: highest and lastly stode the Maior, with the Aldermen. Fhe Goldsmi hes
508 THE FIRSTE YERE OF
stalles, vnto the ende of the Old° v'haunge, beeyng replenished with Vfrgiris in whitef wit!*
braunchesof white VVaxc: the priestes and cierkes, in riche Copes, with Crosses and cen-
sers ofsiluer, wit,'1 censyng his grace and the queue also as they passed. The features ofliis
body, his goo-Jry personage, his amiable visage, princely countenaunce, with the noble qua-
lities 'of his royaH estate, to euery man knowen uedeth no rehersall, consideryng, that for
lacke of cunnyng, I cannot expresse the giftes of grace and of nature, that God hath endowed,
hym with all : vet partly, to discriue his apparell, it is to bee noted, his grace ware in his
vpperst apparell, a robe of Crimosyn Vcluet, furred with arrnyns, his Jacket or cote of
raised gold, the Placard embrowdered with Diamodes Rubies, Emeraudes, greate Pearles,
and other riche Stones, a greate Bauderike aboute his necke, of greate Balasses. The Trapper
of his Morse, Damaske gold, with adepe purfell of Anuyns, his knightes and Esquires for
his body in Crimosyn Velut.^, and all the gentlemen, with other of his cbappell, and all his
officers, and houshold seruaiitites, wer appareled in Skarlet. The Barons of the fiue Fortes,
bare theCanaby, or clothe of estate: For to resite vnto you, the gfeate estates by name, the
ordre of their goyng, the nombre of the lordes Spiritual! and temporall, Knightes, Lsquires,
and Gentlemen, and of theirfeostly and rich a.pparell, of seuerall deuises, and fashions, who
tooke vp his horse best, or who was richest besene, it would aske long tyme, and yet I should
o mi He many thynges, and faileof the nombre, for they were verie many: wherefore I passe
ouer, but this I dare well saie, there was no lacke or scarcitie of clothe of Tissue, clothe
of Golde, clothe of Siluer, Broderie, or of Golde smithes workes: but in more plentie and
abundaunce, then hath been seen, or redde of at any tyme before, and thereto many
and a greate nombre of chaines of Golde, and Bauderikes, bothe massy and greate Also
before the kynges highncs, rode twoo gentle menne, richely appareled, and aboule their
bodies trailers, they did beare twoo Robes, the one of the Duchie of Guyon, and the
other for the Duchie of Normandic, \vilh llattes on their heddes, poudered,. with Arrnyns,
for the estate of thesarne. Nexte folowed twoo persones of good estate, the one bear-
yng his cloke, the other his hatle, appareled bothe in Golde Smithes woorke, and Brou-
dery, their horses Trapped, in burned Siluer, drawen ouer with Cordes of Grene silke
and Gold, the edges and borders of their apparell, beyng fretted with Gold of Damaske.
After them came sir Thomas Brandon, Master of the kynges Horse, clothed in Tissue,
Eroudered with Roses of fine Gold, and trauerse his body, a greate Bauderike of Gold
greate and massy, his Horse trapped in Golde, leadyng by a rayne of Silke, the kyn«es
spare Horse, trapped barde wise, with Imrneis Broudered with Bullion Golde, curfously
wronghte by Golde Smithes. Then nexte tblowcd the nyne children of honor, vpon greate
coursers, appareled on their bodies, in iiiewe Veluet, pondered with Floure Deliees of
Gold, and chaines of Golde Smithes woorke, euery one of their horses, trapped with a
trapper of the kynges title, as of Englande, and Fraunce, Gascoync, Guyan, Normandy
Angeow, Cornewall, Wales, Irelande, &c. wrought vpon Veluettes, with Embrouderie'
aud Gold Smithes worke.
Then next folowyng in ordre, came the Queues retinew, as Lordes, Knightes, Esquires
and gentle menne in their degrees, well mounted, and richely appareled in Tissues, clothe
of Golde, of Siluer, Tynsels, and Veluettes Fmbroudercd, freshe and goodly to 'behold
The Quene then by name Katheryne, siityng in her Litter, borne by twoo White Palfreis*
• the Litter couered, and richely appareled, and the Palferies Trapped in White clothe of
gold, her persone appareled in white Satvn Embrodered, her hcirc han«'vn« doune to her
backe, of a very great length, bewtefull and goodly to beiiold, and on her hedde a Coro-
nal!, set with many nelie orient stones. Next after, sixe honorable personages on White
Palfreis, ail appareled in Clothe of Golde, and then a Chariot couered, and the Ladies
therein, all appareled in Clothe of Golde. And another sort of Ladies, and then another
Chariot, then the Ladies next the Chariot, and so in ordre, cuery after their decrees iu
clothe ot Gold, Clothe of Silucr, Tynselles, and Vcluet, with Embrouderies, euery cou-
plement oi thesaied Chanotcs, and the draught harnesses, wcr poudered with Armins, mixt
with
KTNG HENRY TH', VI IJ.
with clothe of Gold: and with muche ioye and honor.came to Westminster where
higu preparac.ion made, aswell for thesaied Coronacion, -as'lso for the solempne fe«
Justes, thervpon to be bad and doen.
The morowe^folowyng beyng sondaie, and also Midsomer daie, this ible prince witf
his Queue, at time conuenicnt, vnder their Canabies borne by the Baronjf the fiue Port
went from thesaied. Palaice, to Westminster Abbey vpon clothe, call, 'vulgarly cloth of
Ray, the whiche clothe was cut and spoyled, by the rude and comtn: people, iuimediatl
after their repairc into the Abbey, where, accordyng to the sacred )'seruaunce, and aun
cient custome, his grace. with the Quene, were anoynted and crouned, by the Ai.,1Cuua-
shop of Canterbury, with other prelates of the realme ttiere present, and the nobilitie, with
a greale multitude of Commons of thesame. It was demaunded of the people, whether
they would rcceiue, obey, and fake thesame rnoste noble Prince, for their kyng, who with
greate reuerence, ioue, and desire, saied and cried, ye ye. After the whiche solempnitie,'
and Coronacion finished, the lordes spirituall and teporall, did to hym homage, and re-
turned to Westminster hall, with the Queues grace, euery one vnder their canabies,. where,'
by the lordc; Marshall, and his tipped s-taues, was made rome, and euery lord, and other
noble men, accordyng to their tenures, before claimed and vewed, seen, and allowed by
the lordes, aaid other of his graces cousaill, entred into suche rome and office that daie,
jo execute their seruices accordyngly. The kynges estate on the right hand, and the Queues
on the left Land, the cobard of. ix. stages, their noble personages beyng set: first, at the
bryngyng of the first course, the trumpettes blew vp. And in came the Duke of Buck-
yngham, mounted vpon a Create courser, richely trapped, and enbroudered, and the lorde
Stewarde, in likewise on an horse, trapped in clothe of Guide, ridyng before the seruice,
whiche was sujnpteous, with many subtleties, straunge deuises, with seuerall poses, and
many deintie dishes. At the kynges fete, vnder the table, wer certein gentlemen. And in
likewise with the queue, who there continued, during that long& royall feast. What should
I speake or write, of the supteous fine, and delicate meatcs, prepared for this high and
honorable coronacio, prouided for aswel in the parties beyond the sea, as in many and sii-
dery places, within this reaime, where God so abudantly hath sent suche plentie and foy-
son: Or of the honorable ordre of the seruices, the clcanc handelyng & breakyng of meates,
the ordryngof the dishes, with the plctifull abundannce. So that none of any estate bee-
yng there, did lacke, nor no honorable or vvor.shipfull personc, went vnfeasted. The se-
onde course beyng serued : in at the haule doore entered a knight, armed at all poyntes,
is bases rich tissue embroudered, a great plume & a supteous of Oistriche fethers on his
co
his
helmet, sittyng on a great courser, trapped in tissue, and embroudered with tharmes of
England, and of Frauuce, and an herauld of armes before hym. And passyng through
the'halle, preseted hymself with humble reuerence, before the kynges maiestie, to who,
VUUJUiau nviv-vi uio c^»^ i . , ,
estate or degree souer he be, that wi! saie or proud, that king Henry the eight, s not the
rightfull enheritor, and kyng of this rcalmc, I sir Robert Dnmnoxe here his Champion,
bffre my uloue, to fight in his querell, with any personc to thutterauncc whi
THEFIRSTE YERE OF
had droke he demauded the coue-0f thesaied cnppe, whiche, to hym was also deliuered:
dben ' he d>'dricVB^ n"&*^fe halle, with thesaid cup & coner as his awne.
Tlie maner « his tenure is this, that at the Coronacion of the kyng, he should go to the
and t.re take the kyii^es best harm-is, saue one, the best and rich bases sauyng
armaue, aim n j o . j a
one then of tho'umes, or other thynges, ior the garnishyng ot his creast or helme, and
so to the stable, t're taking the next courser or horse, to the best, with like trapper, and
so furnished, to e?r vt supra, and hjs office dooen, to haue all these thynges, with the
ui utfUi'dlnd couer, to his awne vse.
After the departure <f thesaied Champion, the Kyng of Armes, with all the Herauldes,
and other officers of Annes, made Proclamacions in seuerall places of the halle, criyn<*
largesse. Briefly to passe ouer, this high and long solempnitie, of this honorable Corona-
cio and feast, more honorable then of the great Cesar, who, many Historiographers, so
high set out and magnified, if the Latins of Englande, were not promoted or auaunsed, to
dignities and promocions, orlesse they firste should (as other poore clerkes, in the parties
beyond ihe sea, exalte and :et furthe the iestes & Chronicles, of their natiue countreys,
with high laude & praise and 1,1 some parte more then truth, for small mede or reward doo)
put in vvrityng, either in Englishe or Latin tongue, the noble triuphes, chiualrous feates,
valiant actes, victorious battailes, & other noble Jestes of this realme, & in especiall of
our tyme £ knowlege, of this moste valiant and goodly prince, it should appere rnuche
more honorable, then any other stories: But promocion and benefices, putte awaie laboure
and payne, albeit the greate parte of theiin will saie, that the high Cure and charge is to
edefie the people, with the word of God, taking cure of the soules: there againsfl will
not replie, but no displeasure, I perceiue that thei take, as greate cure, for the profile of
their pursses, with pleasure of huntyng and haukyng, besides other their pastyrnes, after
they come to the best of their promocion, with small kepyng of hospitalitie: as other whiclie
•were their predecessors, and muche worse, so that parte of their pa^tymes spent in w,rityng,
and settyng furthe the iestes, actes and deedes, of the nobilitie of Englande, with the ma-
nyfold commodities of thesame, should muche ennoble the princes thereof, seyng by daily
experience, 'Busshoppes, Archebusshoppes, Abbottes, and other clarkes, in the parties
beyonde the sea, aswell learned, as of high knowlege, and better linage, and as verteous
as they, daily enforce theimselfes, to auau nee their Princes, their Realmes and natiue Coun-
treis, aswell in Latin, as in their vulgure totingue. But to reUmie to thende of this ho-
norable feast, the tables auoyded, the wafers were brought. Then Sir Stephen lenyns,
that tyme Maior of London, whom, the kyng before he s.itte doune to dynner. had dubbed
knight, whiche, beganne the Erlc-s Table that dale, arose from the place where he satte
to serue the Kyng with Ipocras, in a Cuppe of Guide, whiche Cuppe, after his grace had
dronken therof, was with the couer, ge-je vntu ihcsaid sir Stephen, like as other his pre-
decessors, Maiors of thesaied citie, were wont to huue at the Coronacion of the kynw
I hen after the Surnap laied, and that the kynges grace, & the Queue had wasshed
•euery of them vnder their Clothes of estate, the tables beyng auoyded, went vnto thHr
cambers.
For the more honor, and ennoblyng of this triumphant Coronacid, there were pre-
pared, bothe lustes and Turneis, to be dooen in the Palaice of Westminster, where for
naenSgCTaCC,' ""f ^ Q?T' *'** ^"^ a faire ''°USe' couercd uith '' apissirie, and
hanged wuh n.che clothes of Arra.s, and in thesaied Palaice, was made a curious Foun-
Ctelvn^ °"f.r !S " US tlej D " Uie l°Ppe thereof« a ^reate Croupe Emperiall, all the im-
.tyng w.th Roses and Pomegranetes gilded: and vnder and aboute thesaied Castle,
fV,1,?' VCwfS and/''aPes th"eof, gilded with fine Golde, the walles of the
same Castle coloured White and Grene losengis. And in euery losenge either a Rose or
ArEor T' * ^^.^ /rro^ - <"«• "• «nd. K. g.ld.d withline Gold, wi.h ccr'
UrreUeS l'ded t0 SUpp0rt thesame Castle- A»« '^ targettes.of the arme
vpou 8«npteously set. And o
at
to Aror T . • . . , ccr
of fhP H f UrreUeS gl'ded' t0 SUpp0rt thesame Castle- A»« '^ targettes.of the armes
e defendauntes, appointed for tbesaied lustes, there vpou 8«npteously set. And out
'
KYNG HENRY THE.. VIIJ. 511
at seuerall places, of thesame Castle, aswell the daie of £be cororiacio, as at thesaid daies
of the lustes & Turney, out of the mouthes of certain beastes, or gargefss did rurine red,
white, & claret wine. Thenterprisers of these lustes, was Thomas lorde' Haward, heire
apparaunt to the erle of Surrey, sir Edward Haward Admirall, his brother, the lorde Ri-
charde, brother to the Marques Dorset, sir Edmod Haward, sir Thomas Kneuet, & Charles
Brando esquire. The tropettes blew to the feld, the fresh y5g galates & noble menne gor-
geously appareled, with curious deuises, of cuttes and of embroucieries,- aswell in their
coates, as in trappers for their horses, some of gold, some in siluer, some in Tynsel's, ami
diuerse other in gotdesmithes worke, goodly to behold, first entered the feld, in takyng vp
and turnyng their Horses, netly & freshly. Then folowed a deuise, (caried by strength of
menne, and other prouision) framed like a Castle, or a Turret, wrought with fine clothe
of Gold: the toppe wherof, was spred with. Roses and Pomegranates, hangyng doune on.
euery side,' of thesaied deuise, wherein was a Lady, bearyng a shilde of Christall named
Pallas. After whom, thesaied Lorde Haward, with his compaignions folowed, armed at all
poyntes, their Basses, and Bardes, or Trappers, were of Grene Veluet, beaten with Roses,
and Pomegranates of Golde, brodered with fringes of Damaske Golde. Thesaied de*
uise or Turret, beyng brought before the kyng, the Lady Pallas, presented thesaied per-
sones, whom, she named her scholers, to the kynges highnes, besechyng thesame, to ac-
cept them as her scholers, who wer desirous to serue hym, to the encrease of their honors,,
whiche saied scholers, had about them on foote, to the nombre of an hundred persones,
freshely appareled, in Veluettes of sundery coloures, with Hose and Bonettes, aceordyng,
to thesame. And further, thesaied Ladie desired the kyng, that it might please his grace^
that her saied scholers, might be defendauntes to al commers whiche request was graunted.
Then came in an other bende of horse men, freshly and well appareled in clothe of
golde, in siluer, in Goldsmithes worke, and brouderie, to the nomber of three score, with
trappers accordingly to their garmentes, with great Bauderikes, Collers, and Cheines of
Golde, aboute their neckes, and trauerse their bodies, euery man with a coyfc of golde on
his hedde, and a greate plume of fethers therevpon, some of one coloure, and some of an
other, enteryng before into the felde, with Dromes and Fifes a greate nombre, euery mart
takyng vp his horse, in his best maner, aswell for their Ladies, as also fpr laude or praise
to bee geuen them. After whom, folowed a good nombre of foote men in Veluettes, &.
other silkes, cutte and embroudered, with hose to thesame accordingly, & bonettes and
other furniture, after a freshe and lustie fashion. Nexte to theim came on horse backe,
ei«ht persones, whose names were, sir Ihon Pechy, Sir Edwarde Neuell, Sir Eclwarde-
Guildefdrde, Sir Ihon Carre, Sir Wvllyam Parre, Sir Gyles Capell, Sir Griffith Dun,
and Sir Roulande, Armed also at all povntes, with shyldes of their awne armes, with nche
Plumes, and other deuises on their hedde peces their Bases and Trappers ot lissew, clothe j ^
of Golde Siluer and veluet, and nexte before theim, a gentle manne on horsebacke, m a |
coate of Blewe Veluet, embroudered with golde, and his horse Trapped in the same suite,
with a spere of Golde on his thigh, and thesame presented to the Quene: sa.yng, that it
was enformed those knightes of his compaignie, how that Dame Pallas had presented s.xe
of her scholers to the kyng, but whether they came to learne, or to teache feactes of Armes,
they knewe not. And further declared, that his knightes were come, to doo feactes of
armes, for the loue of Ladies, wherefore, he besought her grace, to license those Knightes
to prone theim selfes, against Dame Pallas Schollers : and that in case, her Schollers brake
mo?e speres, on thesaied knightes, by the viewe of the Judges, and the report of the He-
fauldes then thesame knightes should dooe on theim, then thesaied Scholers of Pallas
knightes, to haue the spere of Gold for their prise. And 11 ^eknightes brake IT
then Dame Pallas Schollers, thesaied knightes to haue the '-^ig^i^J^etfVS
nuest to theim taunted, the lustes beganne, where euery manne did acquite ,11, well
arvalVunUy,Vutwhohadthe price of other, I knowe not, the night commyng on, .
lustes ended.
512 THF/FIRSTE YERE OF
The next daie approched, theyforesaied defenders, Schollers to Pallas on horsebacke,
armed Cape a pjte, t'tft -*0ffe sicie of their Bases, and Bardes of their Horses white Veluet,
embroudered wijth Roses of gold and other embrouderies, the other side Grene Veluet,
embroudered vrii.h Pomegranetes of Golde, euery one of theim on his hedde pece, had
an heare of flatte Golde of Damaske, presented theimselfes, before the kyng ready to
Tourney.
Dianas Then immediatly 01^ the other parte came in, the fore named eighte knightes ready arm-
ed, their Basses and Ti^rees of their Horse, Grene Sattyn, embroudered with freshe de-
uises, of Bramble branches, of fine Golde curiously wroughte, pondered ouer all. And
'after theim a greate nombre of homes blowen, by menne apparelled in Grene Clothe, with
Cappes and liosen of like suite, as Forsters or kepers, and a Pagente made like a Parke,
paled with pales of White and Grene, wherein wer certain Fallowe Dere, and in thesame
Parke curious Trees made by crafte, with Busshes, Femes, and other thynges :in likewise
wroughte, goodly to beholde. The whiche Parke or deuise, beeyng brought before the
Quene, had certain gates thereof opened, the Dere ranne out thereof into the Palaice, the
greye houndes were lette slippe and killed the Dere: the whiche Dere so killed, were pre-
sented to the Quene and the Ladies, by the foresaied knightes. Crocheman, whiche the
daie before broughte in the spere of goldc, there declared, that thesame knightes were ser-
uauntes to Diana, and bceyug in their pastyme of huntyng, newes were brought vnto theim,
that Dame Pallas knightes, were come into those parties, to doo dedes of armes: where-
fore, they had lefte their huntyng and chase, and repaired also thether, to encounter with
the knightes of Pallas, and so to fight with the, for the loue of ladies to tluutcrance: sai-
yng, that if Pallas knightes vanquished the other, or made them to leue the i'eld, then thei
to haue the dere killed, and the grcye houdcs that slewe them. And in case Dianas
knightes, ouer came the other, they to haue their swordes, and none other thyng more.
A\ hereupon the Quene and Ladies, sent to the kyng to haue his aduise and pleasure in
this behall'e, his grace conceiuyng, that there was some grudge, and displeasure betwene
theim, thynkyng if suche request wer to theim graunted, some inconuenience might ensue,
would not there vnto agre, so that for the appeasyng thereof, it was awarded that bothe
parties, should tourney togethers, geuyng but a certain strokes, whiche dooen thei departed:
And so these lustes brake vp, and the prices geuen to euery mfi after his descries,
This yere the kyng pardoned the lorde Henry, brotheY to the Duke of Buckyngham,
bceyng committed to the Tower, vpon suspicion of treason laied vnto hym, but not proued,
andsonc after at the Parliament, created hym Erie of U'yUlure.
Also this yere, the kyng ordeincd fiflie Gentle menne to bee spores, euery of theim to
haue an Archer, a Dimilannce, and a CuMrell, and euery spere to haue three greate Horses,
to bee attendaunt on his persone, of the which beiule, the Erie of Essex was Lieuctemumt,
and sir Ihon Pechie Capitain, who endured but a while, the apparell and charges were so
greate, for there were none of theim, but they and their Horses, uere appareled and trapped
in Clothe of Golde, Siluer, and Golde Smithes v. oorke, and their seruauntcs richely
appareled also.
This yere also was a greate Pestilence in the toune of Cain's, and muclie people died, in
so muche that the kyng, at the request of his counsaili of Caleis, cousideryn<* the weakenes
t the toune, sent thether Sir Ihon Pechie, with time hundred menne to tary there, who
continued there vnto suche time, that the plague was ceassed, and ncwe souldiours admitted
suche roumes as then were vacant, and then returned into E^lunde. Furthermore, this
yere the kyng sompned Ins Parliament, in the monethe of Nouerabre, whiche, began in the
inoneth ot lanuarij cnsuyng, wherof sir Thomas Inglefddc was chosen Speaker, in the
che session emonges other thynges there enacted, it was ordeined by aucthoritie of Parlia-
ment, that sir Ihomas Empson knighte, and Edmund Dudely esquire, late Counsailers to
Kvng Henry the seuenth, should and wer attainted of haul treason.
the plague was greate, and reigned in diuersc partes of the realme, the
kyng
KYNG HENHY THE. V1IJ. 513
kyng kept his Christcmas at Richemond. And the. xii. daie of lanurie. diuerse gentlemen
freshely appareled, prepared them self to luste, vnknowen to the kynges grace, whereof, he
beyng secretly informed, caused hymself and one of his priuie chambre, called Willyfi
Compton to bee secretly armed, in the litle Parke of Richemond: and so came into the
lustes, vnknowen to all persones, and vnloked for: The kyng ranne neuer openly before,
and there were broken many staues, and greate praise geuen to the two straungers, hut
Specially to one, whiche was the kyng: howebeit, at a course by misfortune, sir Edward
Neuell Esquire, brother to the Lorde of Burganie,- did runne against Master Cumpton, and
hurte hym sore, and was likely to dye. One persone there was, that knew the kyng, and
cried, God saue the king, with that, all the people wer astonied, and then the kyng disco-
uered hymself, to the greate comforte of all the people.
The kyng sone after, came to Westminster with the Quene, and all their train : And on
a tyme beyng there, his grace therles of Essex, Wilshire, and other noble menne, to the
nombre, of twelue, came sodainly in a mornyng, into the Queues Chambre, all appareled
in shorte cotes, of Kentishe Kendal, with hodes on their heddes, and hosen of thesame,
euery one of them, his bowe and arrowes, and a sworde and a bucklar, like out lawes, or
Ilobyn Hodes men, whereof the Quene, the Ladies, and al other there, were abashed, as*
well for the straunge sight, as also for their sodain commyng, and after certain daunces, and
pastime made, thei departed. On Shroue Sunday thesame yere, the kyng prepared a good A bjnkct'
ly banket, in the Parliament Chambre at Westminster, for all the Ambassadours, whiche,
then Wer here, out of diuerse realmes and countreis. The banket beyng ready, the Kyng
leadyng the Quene, entered into the Chambre, then the Ladies, Ambassadours, and other
noble menne, folowedin ordre. The Kyng caused the Quene, to kepe the estate, and then
satte the Ambassadours and Ladies, as they were Marshalled by the kyng, who would not
sit, but walked from place to place, makyng chere to the Quene, ^and the straungers: So-
dainly the kyng was gone. And shortly after, his grace with the Erie of Essex, came in ap-
pareled after Turkey fasshio, in long robes of Bawdkin, powdered with gold, hattes on their
heddes of Crimosyn Veluet, with greate rolles of Gold, girded with two swordes, calkd Ci-
miteries, hangyng by greate bawderikes of gold. Next, came the lorde Henry, Erie of
Wilshire, ancfthe lorde Eitzwater, in twoo long gounes of yelowe satin, trauarsed with
white satin, and in euery bend of white, was a bend of crimosen satin after the fashio of
Russia or Ruslande, with furred hattes of greye on their hedcs, either of them hanyng an
hatchet in their handes, and bootes with pykcs turned vp. And after them, cause syr Edward
Haward than Aduivral, and with him syr Thomas Parre, in doblettes of Crimosin veluet,
vovded lowe on the backe, and before to the cannell bone, lascd on the breastes with chaynes
»' < i .. j* / "1 .• ., .-, ^r, ,, n d ,-. r\ Mn * \~tt-ii i »T noo cif»c nil M"Psi ii i tf*r*
Moreskoes their faces blacke: Ana me Kyng
Quene the lordes, and ladyes, such as would had played, the sayd mommers departed, and
put of thesame apparel, & sone after entred into the Chamber, in their vsuel apparell. Arcl
Jo he k£? made Rrcat chere to the Queue, Ladyes and Amhussad-our,: 1 ho .Supper or Ban-
sz sSSSSSSs fefS^iiitSJSS
s?5£^Si iss I Eiisi;^
. , ivi_ _!..]„ .,(v.,,. fi ,/,,-r, ^.MI.K. HI a drumme aiut a tite apia.cutu
£K Awbe'^don'tTi^eddes hodei Vith' ?obb« and longe tippettes "to thesame
HH^t3ES £•£• J-as S3 j«
JI4 THE FIRSTE YERE OF
the poyntes, of blew Veluet and Crymosyne with log sleues, all cut and lyned with clothe of
Vrolde And the vtterparte of the garmentes were powdered with castels, & shefes of ar-
rowes of fyne doket gold. The vpper partes of their hosen of lyke sewte and facion, the
nether paries were of Scarlet, poudred with tymbrelles of fyne golde, on their heades.
bonets of Damaske, syluer flatte woueninthe stole, and thereupon wrought with gold, and
ryche fethers in them, all with visers. After them entred. vi. ladyes, wherof twoo were ap-
pareyled in Crymosyn satyne and purpull, embroidered with golde and by vynyettes, ran
fioure delices of. gofde, with marueylous ryche £ strange tiers on their heades. Other two
• ladvcs in Crymosyne & purpull, made like long slops enbroudered and fret with gold after an-
tike fashion: and ouer that garment was a short garment of clothe of golde scant to the knee
facioned like a tabard, all ouer, with small double rolles, all of flatte golde of Damaske, fret
with fiysed golde, and ontheyr heades skayns and wrappers of Damaske golde with flatte
pypes, y straunge it was to beholde. The other two ladies were in kyrtels of. Crymosyne
and purpul satyr), enbroudered with a vynet of Pomegraneltes of golde, all the garmetes
cut compasse wyse, Lauyng but demy sleues, and naked doune from the elbowes, and ouer
their garmentes" were vochcttes of pleasantes, rouled with Cryrnsyne veluet, and set \V letters
of golde lyke Carectes, their heades roulded in pleasauntes and typpers lyke the Egipcians,
enbroudered with gold. Their faces, neckes, armes & handes, couered with fyne pleasaunce
blackc : Some call it Lumbcrdynes, which is merueylous thine, so that thesame ladies seined
to be nygfost or blacke Mores. Of these foresayed. vi. ladyes, the lady Mary, syster vnto
the kyng was one, the other I name not. After that the kynges grace and the ladies had
daunsed a certayne tyme they departed euery one to his lodgyng.
In this yere kyng Henry the. vii. his executours made restitucion of great sommes of
money, to many persons taken against good consciece to the say.de kynges vse, by the fore-
named Empson and Dudley.
This yere also came Ambassadours from the kyng of Arrago and Castell into this
Realme, who were hyghly cntertayned and royally receyued, and repayred muche to the
Courte. It happened on a daye, that there were certavn noble men made a wager to runne
at the rvnge, and parties were taken, aud whych partye alteyned or toke awaye the ringe
-oftenest with a certayne courses, should vvynne the wager. Wherof, the kynges grace
hearing, offered to be on the one partye with. vi. companions: The Ambassadours hearynge
therof, were muche desirous to see thys wager tryed, and specially the Ambassadours of
Spaigne, who had neuer seen the kyng in barneys. At the daye apoiuted, the king was mounted
on a godly Courser, trapped in purpull veluet cutte, the inner syde wherof was wrought
with flatte golde of Damaske in the sloole, and the veluet on the other syde cut in letters:
So that y gold apperecl as though it had been embroudered with certayne reasons or poyscs.
And on the Veluet betwene the letters were fastened, castels and shefes of arrowes of doket
golde, with a garinet the sleues compased ouer hys barneys, and his bases of thesame worke,
with a great plume of fethers on his head peace, that came doune to the arson of his
sadell, and a great company of fresh gentelmen, came in with his grace rychely armed and
decked, with many other right gorgeously appareyled, the tropettes before them, Goodly to
beholde, wherof many strangers, but specially the Spagniardes much reioysed, for they had
neuer seen y king before that tyme armed.
, On the other syde came in an other bende of gentelmen, freshely appareyled, and plea-
saunt to beholde, all appareyled in clothe of golde, dickered with flatte golde of Damaske,
and poudered with Roses: and so euery man rannc, but to conclude, the pryce was geue
vnto the king, euery man did runne. xii. courses, the kyng did bcare awaye "the rynge. v.
tymes and atteyned it. Hi: & these courses thus fynished,"/ Spanish Ambassadours desyred
to haue some of the badges or dcuises, whiche \\ere on the kyyges trapper: his grace therof
knowing, commaunded Euery of them to take therof what "it pleased them, who in effect
toke all or the more parte : for in the beginning they thought that they had bene counterfait,
and not of golde..
la
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ.
In this yere^ from diners Realmes and Countreys came many Ambassadours, of Fraunce,
Denemarke, Scotlande, and other Realmes, wbych were highly enterteyned.
f THE. II. YERE.
ON May daye, than next folowyng in the.lj. yere of his reygne, hys grace beynge yonge,
and willyng not to be idell, rose in the mornynge very early to fetche May or grene bows,
hym self freshe and rychely appareyled, & clothed all his Kriyghtes, Squyers and Gentelmen
in whyte Satyn, and all hys garde and yomen of the Croune in white sarcenet : And so went
euery ma with his bowe and arrowes shotyng to the wood, and so repaired again to the
Courte, euery man with a grene bough in his cappe, and at his returnyng, many hearynge of
his gooyng a Maiyng, were desirous to se hym shote, for at that tyme hys grace shotte as
strong and as greate a length as any of his garde. There came to his grace a certayn man
with bowe and arrowes and desyred his grace to take the muster of hym, and to se hym
shote, for at that tyme hys grace was contented, the man put his one fote in his bosome,
and so did shote, and shote a very good shote, and wel towardes his marke, wherof not
onely his grace but all other greatly merueyled. So the kynge gaue hym a reward for his
so doynge, whiche person afterwardcs of 'the people and of them in the courte was called,
fote in bosome.
Thesame ycrc in the feast of Pentecoste, holden at Grenewyche, that is to say the Thurs-
day in thesamu weke, hys grace with two other with hym chalenged all coimners, to fighte
with theim at the barriers with targot and casting y spere of. viii. fote long, and that done
his grace with the sayde two aydcs to fight euery of them. xii. strokes with twohanded
sw;ordes, with and against all comers, none except beyng a gentelma, where the kyng be-
haued hymselfe so wel, and deliuered himselfe so valiauntly by his hardy prowes and greate
strength that the prayse and laude was geuen to his grace, and his aydcs: notwithstanding
that diuers valyaunt and strong persons had assayled hym and his aydes.
From thence the whole Courte remoued to Wyndesore, than begynnyng his progresse,
cxercisyng hym self daily in shotyng, singing dausyng, wrastelyng, casting of the barre,
plaiyng at the recorders, flute, virginals, and in setting of songes, makyng of balettes, &
<3yd set. ii. goodly -masses, euery of them fyue partes, whiche were songe oftentimes in hys
chapel, and afterwardes in diuerse other places. And whan lie came to Okyng, there were
kept both lustes and Turncys: the rest of thys progresse was spent in huntyng, hawkyng
and shotyng.
The kynge beyng thus in hys progresse harde euery daye more and more complayntcs of EmPson«n<
Einpson and Dudley, wherfore he sent wryttes to the Shynfes of London, to put them in ex- "^ k<
ccucion, and so the" xvii. day of August, they were both behedded at the Towre hyl, and
their bodies buryed and their heades.
The savde progresse finished, his grace, y Quenc, with all their whole trayne, m the mo-
neth of October folowyng, remoued to Grenewyche. The kyng not mynded to sc yong
Gentelmen, vnexpert in marciall featcs, caused a place to be prepared within the parke of
.Grenewvrhe for the Queue and the ladies to stande and sc the fighte with battaill axes that
should be done there, where the king hym self firmed, faught with one Gyot a gentehnan
of Almavnc a talle man, and a good man of armcs. And than after they had done, they
rc-ied" alwayes two and two togethers, and so dyd their fcates and enterprises euery man
•y well: Albeit, it happened the sayde Gyot to light with syr Edward .
was by hvm stryken to the grounde.
The morow after this enterprise done, the kyng with the Queue came to the lowre of
london And to thentent'chat there should no displeasure nor malice be borm
' those Gentelmen, which fought with the axe agaynst other. The kyng gai
-...- 6utnri« in "olde, valewed at. cc. marke, to make a bankst emongest thcmsellcs
3 U 2
mat
vei
Tim. II. YERE OF
with all: The wbiche banket wa» made at the Fishemongers Halle in Teames strete, wher*
they all met to the number of. xxiiii, all appareyled in one sute or liuery, after Almam
"fashion, that is losay, their vttergannentes all of yealow Satyne, yealow hosen, yealow shoes,
gyrdels scaberdes, and bonettesw-ith yealow fethers, tlieir garrnentes & hosen all cutte and
lyned with whyte Satyn, and their scaberdes woundeabought with satyne: After Iheir banket
ended, they went by torche light to the Towre, presculinge themselfes before the kynge, who
toke pleasure to beholde them.
From thence, the. viii. daye of Nouember, his grace remoucd to Ryehemond, and willed
to be declared to all noble men and getelmeri, that bis grace with two aides, that is to wit
mayster Charles Brandon, and mayster Cotnpton, duryng two dayes would answer al commers
with spere at the Tylt one daye, and at turney with swonles, the other.
And to accomplishe this enterprice tlie. xiii. daye of Nouember, hys grace armed at all
peces with his twoo aydcs cntred the fceldc, their bases and trappers were of clothe of
golde, set with redde roses, ingrcyled with gold of brouderye: Ttie counter parte came in
freshly, appareyled euery man after his dcuise. At these luste.s the king brake more staues
then any other, and thetfore had the pryce : At the Turney in likewyse, the honor was his.
The second night were dinei.se strangers of Maximilian the Kmperours court, and Ambassa-
dours of Spaygric with y kyng at supper: when they had supped, the kyng willed them to
go into the Queues chamber, who so did. And in the tncane season, the kynge with. xv.
other, appareled in Almayne lackettes of Crymosyne, & purple Satyne, with log quartered
ftleucs, witli hoscn of thesame sute, their bonettes of whyte veluet, wrapped in flat golde of
Damaske, with visers and white pi nines, came in with a niornmcry, and after a ctrtayne tyme
that they had played witli the Queue and the straunger.s, they departed.- Then sodcnly
cntred. vi. mynstrels, rycbely appareled, plaiyng on tlieir instruments, and then folowed.
xiiii. pcrsones (Jcntclmen, all appareyled in yealow Satyne, cut like Almaynes, bearyng
torches. After the came. vi. disguised in whyte Satync and greric, enbroudered and
bet with letters and castels of fync golde ID bullion, the gurmcntes were of straunge facion
with also .straunge cuttes, euery cutte knytte wyth poyntes of fync golde and tassels of the
name, their hoscn cult arid tyed in likewyse, their bonettes of clothe of syluer, wounde
witli golde. J-'yr>.t of the-,e. \i. was the kyng, the eile of MSMX, C'harles Ikandon, s^r
Edward Hawarde, syr Thomas Kneuet, k .syr llr-iy finylforde. Tlien parte of the Cictel-
inen bearing lorchc.-* departed, mid shortly returned, niter whome fume in. vi. ladyes appa-
reled in garmciite.s of (j-ynio.-.yn Swtyn c!i.!.roudL-rcd aiifl tiaiK»ed with cloth of gold, cut
ifi Pomcgranettcs and yoke-, stryngetl aff;r tii'; facion of Spayguc. Then the hayde. vi. men
dituced with these, vi. ladies: and after tiiiHtli'y had danced a season, the ladies toke of
the iiiens vi-ai1-, v.hcrhy they wcr knowen: Vv'tierof the (juene and the btraun"crs moch
praised the kyng, and ended Uic pasliu/-.
It i.s to he noted that at this
to he noted that at this tyjric the Quenr- was great with eliilde, and shortly after this
fjastyrne, she toke her rhamher at Kichfmond, for the wliirhc cause tlie kynge ket»t his
Clin-tmas there. And on N'ewyerrs <lay, the first day of lanuaiy, the Queue was de-
liuered of a J'rince to ihe ureat fjhtdnes of the realms,-, for the honour of whom, fyers
were made, and diners vessels with wyne, set for suche as wouldc take therof in certayne
streates in London, and gcncrall professions thernpon to laude God. A» toueliynce the
preparacion of the Princes Christening, I ouerpasse, whiche was honorablie done, whose
godfathers ;jt the font were the Archebishop of C'annterhury, and the crle of '.Sunc-y
Godmother the lady Katheryne Counic-Bsc of Dcuon.,hire, daughter to kyii"c Edward the
fourth.
Agaynste the. xii daye or the daye of the Epiphanie at nighte, l>cfore the banket in the
iall at Kichemond, was a pageant deuised like a montayne, gli,teringe by night, a.s though
it had bcM all of golde and set with .stones, on the top of the which mountayne was a tree of
golde, the braunchesand bowes fiy.scd with gold, spredynge on euery side oner the .
tayne, with ltose« and Pomegaruettes, the which inountaync was with vices brought v
lyne
moun-
p to-
wardcs
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ.
wardes the kyng, & out ot thesaine came a ladye, apparelled in doth of golde, and the chyl-
dren of honor called the Henchemcn, whiche were freshly disguised, and daunccda Morice
before the kyng. And that done, recntred the moutaine and then it was drawen backe, and
then was the wassaill or banket brought in, and so brake vp Christmas.
Shortly after, and before the Queues chui chinge, the kynge rode to Walsingham. The
Quene beyng Churched or purified, the kyng and she remoued from llychemonde to West-
minster, where was preparation for a solempne lustes in the honor of the Quene, the kyng
being one, and with him thre aytles: his grace beyng called Cure loial, fy lorde William erle
of Devonshire, called lion voloire, Sir Thomas Kneuel named lion espoir, Sir Edwards
Ncuile, called Vallaunt desire, whose names were set vpon a goodly table, and the table
hanged in a tree, curiously wrought, and they wore called Lesquater Chiualcrs dt la forrest
saltiigHe, thcr-'O ion re to runne at the title against all coiners, with other certayne Article!
coprised in tlie said table.
A place in the Pallnycc was prepared for the kynge, and also the Qucnc, rychely hanged
the inner pirle with doth of guide, and the vtter with ryche clothe of Arras. These
lustes beganne the. xiii. davc of February. After that, that the Quene with her trayne of
ladycs had taken their places, into the Pallays was conueyed a pageant of a great qnanlite,
made like a forest with rockes, hilles and dales, with diners sundrie trees, tloures, hathorncs,
feme and grasse, with six forsters, stadynge within thesaine forrest, garnyshed in cotes and
hodcs of grene Veluet, by w home lay a great number of spcres, all the trees, herbes &
flourcs, of thcsame forrest were made of grcne Veluet, grene Damaske, and silke of diners
colours, Satyn and Sjrccuet. In the midden of this forrest was a casldl standing, made of
golde, a rid before the Castel gate sat a genlclman freshly apparelled, makynge a garlande of
Roses (bribe pryce. This forrest was drawen, as it wire by strength of twoo great beastcs, a
Lyou and an Antelop, the Lyon floryshcd all oner with Damaske golde, The Antelop was
wrought all oner with silucr of Damaske, his beames or homes & tuskes of golde: these
beastes were led with certayne men apparelled like wildc men or woodhouses, their bodies,
heddes, faces, handcs, and i'egges, coucrcd with grene Sylkeilosshed : On either of the sayde
Antelop and Lyon, sate a ladye richely apparelled, the beuates were tyed to the pageant
with wrcatu ehaynes of golde, 'as horses be, in the carle. When the pagn.nt rested before
the Queue, the for-named forsters blew their homes, then the deuise or pageant opened on
nil sides, and out issued the loresayd to. ire knyglitos, armed at all pra:s, euery of them a
upcre in his luuulc on horsel.aeke with great plume-, on llu-ir heddes, their basses and trappers
of clothe of goM, euery of t!;em his name emhromlered on his bassc and trapper: on 1
other parte with great noysc, a.swdl of Trompottes as of Dromes entrcd into the c.ile,
The erle of Ksscx, the lord Thomas llawarde will, many other domic armed, their trappers
and basses all of Crymosvn Satyu enbroudcred with braunches ol Pomcgarneltes ol golde
and posies wyth many a iVeshe (ientelmen, rydyngo before them, their iotemen also well
uppareiletl: And so ihe lustes bej.'anne, and endured ;>H that .lave.
The morow beyng the. xiii. daye of February after clyiiiier. at tyme conuenient, the
Queue with the ladycs repaired to sec the lustes, the lro-upel.es blewe vp and ... came inauy
/noble man and (lentebua, ryd.e.y appareiled, u.ky,-; vp . u-,r horj^, ul er w ho me o « yl
cer'ayue lordes appareiled, they and ll.e.r horses in doth ol golde and i . ,*
K. g'L in do.he of golde, and russet Ve.ue,. A,,d n greate m.nher o (;eu e men on
fote, in russet sntyn and yealow, and yomcn m russet Damaske and yea It n the .
pane of euery mans hosen SkarU-t, and vealow cappes. .»• ^ W| v> ^ ' -
.ilion of clothe of golde, and purpul Veluet euhrondered and • U . U u 1 1. ,. ml t . o
S^^^^^^JS^trfs
^^S^S^^^S^f1^s:Z
1,-iuiblii.g Bungles of golde. ( Alter folowed his three uydob, ( ^
v
518 THE. IJ. YERE OF
uilion of Crytnosyn damaske & purple poudred with H. and K. of fyne golde, valenced
and frynged with golde of damaske : on the top of euery Pauilion a greate K. of golde
smythes worke, the number of the Gcntelmen and yomen attendant a fote, appareiled in
russet and yealovv was. C. Ixviii. Then next these Pauilions came. xii. chyldren of honor,
sitting euery of them on a great courser, rychely trapped andenbroudered in seuerall deuises
and facions, where lacked neither brouderie nor goldsmythes worke, so that euery chyld &
horse in deuiceand facion was contrary to other, whiche was goodly to beholde.
Then on the counter part, entrecl syr Charles Briidon, fyrst on horsbacke in a long robe
of Russet satyn, like a recluse or a religious person and his horse trapped in the same sewte,
without dromme or noyse of mynstrelsye, puttinge a byll of peticion to the Quene, the effect
wherof was, that if it would please her to licence hym to runne in her presence, he woulde
do it gladly, and if not, then he wonlde departe as he came. After that his request was
graunted, then he put of hys sayde habyte, and wasarmed at all peces with ryche bases &
horse, also rychely trapped, and so did runne his horse to the tylte endc, where diuers men
on fote appareiled in Russet satyr> awaited on him: next after came in alone young Henry
Guylford Esquier, hym selfe and his horse in russet cloth of golde and clothe of siluer,
closed in a deuice, or a pageant made lyke a Castell or a Turret, wrought of Russet sercenet
florence, wrought, and set out in golde with hys worde or posye, and all his men in Russet
satyn and white, with hosen to thesamo, and their bonettes of lyke colors, clemaunding also
licence of the Quene to runne, whiche to him graunted toke place at thende of the tylte.
Then came nexte the Marques Dorset and syr Thomas Bulleyn, like two pilgrim's from sainct
lames, in taberdcs of blacke Vduet, with palmers hattes on their helmettes, wyth long
Jacobs staues in their handcs, their horse trappers of blacke Velvet, their taberdes, hattes,
& trappers set with scaloppe schelles of fyne golde, and strippes of blacke Veluet, euery
strip set with a scalop shell, their seruautes all in blacke Satyn, with scalop shelles of gold
in their breastes. Sonc after came in the lord Henry of Buckyngham Erie of \Vylshire, hym
sclfe and his horse appareiled in cloth of siluer, enbroudered with a pcsye, or his worde,
and arrowes of golde in a posye, called La malaon du rej'ugc, made of Crymosyn damaske,
broudered with Hoses and arrowes of golde, on the topa a greyhondc of siluer," bearinge a
tree of Pomegarnettes of golde, the braunchcs thereof were so largo that it oner spredAhe
pagent in all paries. Then cntred syr Gyles Capeli, syr Roulandc with many other knightes,
rychely armed and appareiled. And thus beganne the lustcs, whiche was valiauntly acheued
by the kyng and his ayclcs, enures whome his grace attcyned j priee. These lustes fynish-
ed, euery man with drew, Uie kynge was disarmed, & at" time" conenient he and tlie Quene
heard euesong, and that night all the Ambassadours nipped with the kynt;, & had a great
banket. After supper, his grace vilhthe Quene, lordes and ladies came into the white
Hall, within the sayde Pallays, whiche was handed rychely, the Hall was sc.ifoldcd and
raylcd on all paries. There was an interlude of the gentclmenf of his chapeil before his
grace and diuers freshe songes: that done, his gra« called to hym a great man, or a lord
of Ireiad called Odonell, wliome in the presence of the sayde Ambus.-adours he made
knyght: then the mynstrels beganne to playe, the Ionics and ladies bogannc to daunce.
And mthemosteof this pastyme, when all pcrsonca were moste attetyue to beholde the
I . • -• '•»•»- **».«rViYViv^Lvyuum_;iMt_.tlHj
(iaunsyng, the king was sodenly gone vnknowen to the moscc partu of the people there
.oneles it were of the Quene & of cerlayne other. Within a littcil while after his departing
the trompettes at themie of the Hall began to blow. Then was there a deuice or a pageant
ypo wholes brought in, out of the which pageant issued out a gf-telman rychelye appareiled,
that shewed, hove in a garden of pleasure there was an arber of -rolde, wherm were lordes
ladies, raoche desirous to shew pleasure and pastime to the Queue and ladies, if they
might be licenced so to do, who was aunswered by the Quene, bow she and all other there
2 very desirous to IB theim and their pastime: then a great cloth of Arras that did ban*
)c.ore thesame pageant was taken awaye, & the pageaunt brought more nere, it was cu-
Bly made and pleasant to beholde, it was solernpne and ryche, for euery post or pillcr
therof,
KYNG HENRY THE. VI I J. 5I5
therof, was couered with frise golde, therin were trees. of Hathorne, Eglantynes, Hosiers,
Vines and other pleasaunt floures of diners colours, with Gillofers and other heroes all
made of Satyn, damaske, silke, siluer £ gold, accordingly as the natural trees, herbes, or
floures ought to be. In which arber were. vi. ladies, all apparelled in white satyn and
grene, set £ embroudered full of H. £ K. of golde, knytte together with laces of golde,
of damaske, £ all their garmentes were replenished with glytterynge spangles gylt ouer, on
their hcddes were bonettes all opened at the. iiii. quarters, ouerfrysed with flat gold of
damaske, y orrellettes were of rolles, wrethed on lampas douck holow, so y the golde shew-
ed thorow y lapas douck, j fassis of their head set full of new deuised facions: in this gar-
de, also was the kyng and. v. with him appareiled in garmetes of purple satyn, all of cuttes
w H. £ K. euery edge garnished with frysed gold, £ euery garmet ful of poysees, made of
letters of fine gold in bullyo as thicke as they might be, £ euery persone had his name in
like letters of massy gold. The fyrst Ctier loyall, The secod Bonevolure, in the. iit. Bone
espoicr, The. iiii. Valyaut desyre, The fyft Bonefoy, The. vi. Amoure loyall, their hose,
cappes, £ cotes, were full of poyses £ H. £ K. of fine gold in bullio, so y the groude
coulde scace appere £ yet was in euery voycle place spagles of gold. Whe time was come, y
sayd pagefit was brought forth into presence, £ then disceded a lord £ a lady by copies, £
then the mynstrels, which were disguised also dauced, and the lorde £ ladies daunced, that
that it was a pleasure to beholde.
In the meane season the pagiaunt was conueyed to the ende of the place, there to tary
till the daunces were finished, and so to haue receyued the lordes and ladies againe, but so-
danly the rude people ranne to the pagent, and rent, tare, and spoyled the pagent, so that
the lord Stuard nor the head officers could not cause them to abstaine, excepte they shoulde
haue foughten anddrawcn bloude, and so was this pagent broken.
After the kyng and his copaignions had dauced, he appointed the ladies, gentelwornen
and the Ambassadours to take the letters of their garmentes, in token of liberalitie, which
thing the common people perceyuyng ranne to the kyng, and stripped hym into his hosen
and dublet, and all his compaignions in likewise. Syr Thomas Kncuet stode on a stage, and
for all his defence he lost his apparel!. The ladies likewyse were spoyled, wherfore the
kyn<*es garde came sodenly, and put the people backe, or els as it was supposed more in-
conueniencc had ensued. So the kyng with the queue £ theladyes returned to his chamber,
where they had a great banket, and all these hurtes were turned to laughyng and game, and.
thought that, all that was taken away was but for honor, and larges: and so this triumphc
ended with myrthe and gladncs. At this banket, a shipeman of London caught certayn let-
ters which he sould to a goldsmyth for. iii.l.xiiii.s.viii.d. by reason wiierof, it appeared that
the garmentes were of a great value.
After this <rreat ioycame sorowfull chauncc, for the young Prince, which was borne vpon
Neweyeres daye last past, vpon the. xxii. daye of February, beyng then the cue of sainct
Mathy, departed this world at Ilychcmonde, and from thense was caryed to Westmynster,
and buryed.
The kyng lyke a wyse pryoce, toke this dolorous chaunce wonderous wysely, and
lore to comfort the Qucnc, he dissimuled the matter, and made no great mourning out-
more to comiorc ine v^ucuu, uu uissiu ; manci, i ' o
wardely: but the Queue lyke a naturall woman, made much lamentacion, how be it, by the
kvn«es <mod persuasion and behaniour, her sorowe was mytigated, but not shortlyc. Tins
vere°alsoin the nioneth of Februarie, came fro kyng Ferdinado, the kynges father in law,
1IH' 11115 ICUUOOtj L«vjui^i4vv »* "* J ,.. . " , \ C \
his frende and father in lawe, agaynste the Infideles enemyes to Chnstes lawc, wherfore the
kyng gentely graunted them their request. When tyJinges were spread in the J oMhi»
.520 THE. IT. YERE OF
iorney agaynst the infideles, the lorde Thomas Darcye, knyght of the order of the gartier,
made hiible suyte to the kynge, to be capitayne general of that Crewe or annye. The kyng
and hys counsayll for his great valiauntnes and approued vvysedome graunted his request:
many lordes & knyghtes made suyte to be in thesame iorney, but the kyng aunswered them, y
he retayned them still for other greater consideracionsand purposes. There were appointed
to go with the sayd lord Darcie, lord Antony Grey, brother to the Marques Dorset, Henry
Guyldeforde, Westo, Broone, Wiliam Sydney, Esquyers of the kynges house, syr Robert
Costable, syr Roger Haystynges, and syr Raufe Elderkare, and diuers other gentelme to
be capitaynes. The lord Darcie and all the other capitaynes toke their leue of the kyng,
and went into their countreys to prouide for all thinges, mete and necessarie for the
voiage.
The kynge this tyme was moche cntysed to playe at tennes and at dice, which appetite,
certain craftie persons about him perceauynge, brought in Frenchmen and Lombardes, to
make wagers with hym, & so he lost much money, but when he perceyued their craft, he cx-
chuyd their compaignie, and let them go. The kyng beyng lustye, young, £ coragious,
greatly delited in feates of chyualrie, in so much that he made a chalcnge of lustes, agaynst
all comers to be proclaimed at his mannoure of Grenewyche, to be holden there the. iii.
first dayes of May then next ensuyng, whiche noble courage, all yonge persones highly
praysed, but the auncient fathers moch doubted, considering the tender youth of the kynn-,
and diners chaunces of horses and armure: in so much that it was openly spoken, that stele
was not so strong, but it might be broken, nor no horse eoulde be so sure of fole, but he
may fall: Yet for all these doubles, the lusty prince preceded in his chalenge.
The first daye of Maye the kynge accompaignied with many lusty Batchelers, on greate
and well doyn<j hordes rode, to the wodde to fetch May, where a man might haue seen many
a horse raysed on hisjhe with galope, turne and stoppe, meruaylous to behold: where he
and. iii. other as syr Edward Ilaward, Charles Brandon, arid Edward Neuel, which were
chalcngeis with llie kyng, shyfled them selfes into cotes of grcne Satyn, garded with C'rymo-
syn Veluet. On the other purte the Earles of Essex, of Deuenshyre, the Marques Dorset
the lorde Haward, were all in crymosyn Satyn, garded with a ponced garde of grene Vel-
uet: and as they were returning on the Ilyll, mete with them a shippe vnder sayle: Tiie
master liayled the kvng and that noble compaignie, & savde that he, was a Man'ner, and
was come from many a stranng«; porte, & came hither to self any dedes of armes were'to be
done in the countrey. of the whiche he might make report therof in other countrevs. An
Ileraulde demaundcd the name of his ^lippe, he answered she is called l\nne, and his'hi-
dcn with good Rcuounc : Then sayde the Heraulde, if you wil bring your shippe into tho
bay of flarilhtc.t, you must double y poyni of Gentilties, and there" you shall sea com-
paignie that will mcdle with your merchaundise. '1 'hen savd the kyn^'svthen Keuowne js
their merchaundyse, let vs bye it and we can : Then the shippr siiotte a pcale of Gonaes, a -id
sayiecl forth before the kynges compaignie, ful of flagges and banners, till it came to the' t he
yearde. At after nonnc, the kyug & his thre felowes cntred into the felde, their banlcs and
bases of Crimosyn anrl blew Veluet, cut in quadrat cuttes, cmbroiidcred full of Pom^ra-
, -
nettes, and all the waylcrs, in sylke of thcsame colour. The other pa: tie were in Crymsvii
Satyn and grene Veluet. Then began tiic trompettes to sou.ule, and the hordes to runne
that many a spere was brast, and many a great stripe «euen: and for a tructb the kvn.r c/
ceded m nuber ot staucs all other, euery day of the. iii. dayes. \VlK-rforc- on y i,j dav" ,he
Quene made a great baket to the kyu- & all them that had "lusted : & after the' b iket done
shegauey chefe price to the kyng, the. ii. to the Eric of Essex, the. iii. to f- erle of Mem
•byre, & the. iii,. to the lord Marques I), rset. Then y Ucraultes cried, my lordes br
your noble feates in armes, God sendc you ey loue of your ladies y you most desire
51 THE.
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ.
: 4tfe^i >>:,-•> : ^Wr-M'-'B,:
f THE. III. YERE.
." i • >w "•(.•/ ^ . *i'
Tile king euer desirous to serue Mars, begii another I.istes y xv. day of y sayd monetfr
y kyng & his bend were all in grene sylke, & y erle of Essex & his bende in blew, garded
with gold, & all y spores were paynted of thesame colours. There was good riining &
many a spcre brast, but for all the sport eucry man feared, lest some yll chauce might happe
to the kyng, & fayne would haue had him a loker on, rather then a doer, & spake thcrof
as much as thei durst: but his courage was so noble that he would euer beat the one cnde
In this passe tyme, the lord Darcy & other appoynted to the vyage agaynst the Moores
of Barbana (at the mstaunce of Dopefernado father to the Quene) made suche diligence
that they and all their people were ready at Plymouth by the middes of May, and there
mustered their souhliers before the lorde Broke, and other the kinges commissioners. The
saydelord Darcie, as capitayne generall ordeyued for hys Prouost Marshal, Henry Guyl-
ford Esquier, a lusty yongmii, and well beloued of the kyng. Then, when the winde serued
to their purpose, and. all the armye were set aborde in their shippes, which were vytaled and
prest at all poyntes, the Capitayne and other departed out of Plymmouth haue, the monday
in the Ilogacio weke with. iiii. shippes Royal and the wind was so fauourable to them, that
the firste day of lune, beynge the euen of the feast of Penticost, he arriued at the porte of
Caleys in Southspayne, and immediatly by the aduise of his counsayll, dispatched to the
kyng of Arragon two Gentilmen, called Ihon Barthelmevv, and William Syfnonde, with let-
ters to certefie the king and his counsayll of their arriuall, and what payne they had taken to
come to his countrey, in fulfilling the kyng their masters commaundement. The messengers
did so moch that they came to the kyng, beside the citie of Cyuill, where he then lay, and
declared to hym how the lord Darcie by the kyng their masters apoyntement, was come thi-
ther with. xvi. C. archers mo, according to the sayd kyng of Arragons request, and laye still
at Caleys to know his pleasure. The kyng of Arragon aunswered them gentelly, that the
lord Darcie and all other that were come from hys most best beloued sonne were welcome,
and hartely thanked theim of theyr paynes, and prayed the messengers to retorne to their
capitaine shewing hym that the kyng in all haste would sendehjs cousail to him, and so they
departed from the kyng, and made reporte to the lord Darcie, winch kept hisshippein great
estate, and would not lade, but only suffered such as weresicke and feble, and few other to
go a lande.
The Englishme which went a lande, fell to drinking of hote wynes and were ccace masters
of theim selfes, some ranne to the stewes, some brake hegges, and spoyled orchardes &
vyneyardes, and orynges before they were ripe, and did many other outragious cledes: wher-
fore }rchefe of the toune of Caleys, came to complaine to the lorde Darcie in hys shippe,
which sent forth his Prouost Marshal, which scacelie with peyne refrayncd theyomen archers,
they were so hote and wilfull, yet by comaundement and policie, they were ail brought on
borde on their shippes.
Saterdaye the. viij. daye of lune, the Bishop of & other of the kynges counsayll, ar-
ryued at Caleys, and there abou'e tyll wednysdaye, beyng the euen of Corpus Christ!, at
which daye the lord Capitayne toke lande, and was honorably receyued of the kynge of Ar-
rsgons counsayl, and on the morrow highly fested at dynner and supper. And after
supper, the bishop declared the kynge of Arragons pleasure saiyng: my lord Capi-
tayne, the kyng rny master in moste humble wyse geucth you thankes for your greate
paynes and trauell, as inoche as though he preceded in this pretensed enterprice, but he
with the aduice of his counsaill circumspectly, considering the suertie of his awne realmes
and dominions hathe perfectie knowlege, that his aduersarye of Fraunce, prepareth to iu-
uade hys coutreis in hys absence : wherfore he entending not to letie his Realmes, voyde of
men and shippes (whiche might be a great comfort to his enemies to inuade) & therfore he
3 X hathe
522 THE. IfJ. YERE OF
hathe taken an abslinence of warre with the Moores tyll another time. "Well saieth the
lorcie Darcie, sythe it is fully concluded that we shall do no seruice to your master, we maye
not sayeagaynst'his deterrninanion, cosidering vye were sent to him, but surely it is agaynste
my hart, which euer hath desired to fight agaynst Gods enemyes, but with your conclusion,
I and all myne must be content. You do as you should do, said the Bishop, and the kyng my
master geueth like thankes to thekynge his sonne, and to you all, as though he had proceded
in his iorney. And you shall haue wages for all your souldiers: and if it shall please you
to coiue to the court, you shall receyue high thankes of the kyng, & such chere as there can
be made you. That is not nay desire sayed the lorde Darcie, for my men shall not say that L
brought them put of their coutrie, and now to do my selfe pleasure, leaue theiiu without an
hedde, as menpf men forsaken: nay nay my lorde, the kynges banket is not my desyre. So
the lordes departed for y night, & the next day in the morning was sent wages, to conduict
tharmie into England, with dfuerse giftes geuen to the lord Darcie, & other gentle men:
Yety notwithstanding, he was highly displeased, how beit like a wise maty he dissimuled fy
matter.
The same daie, bcyng the. xiiii. daie, of lune and Fridaie, an Englishe manne desired of
a maide, that had been at the Bakers to bye bread for her maistres store and not to sell, to
haue a lofe for his money, she aunswered, that she had none to sell, he said he would haue
one, and folowed her and when she perceiued that, she cried, a force a force, the tounes-
men of Caleis, or Caleis males, sodainly rong their common bell, and all the toune went to
harneis, and the fewe Englishmen that wer on land wet to their bowes. Tlie Spamardes
cast (iartcs, and sore anoyed and hurt the Englishmen: and thei likewise hurt and slew di-
uerse Spanyardes. Then the Capitaines of Englande for their part, and the lordes of the
Counsaill for their parte, toke suche pain, that thefraie was ceased, and but one Englishcman
slain, and of the Spanyardes diuerse slain.
Then all Englishe men were commaunded to go aborde with their shippes. The lordes
of Spayne came to the lorde Darcie, saiyng : Sir we praie you, sithe you knowe the kynges
pleasure and haue your wages, that you with all your people will go with your shippes awaie,
for we perceiue you owe vs some displeasure. Then he boldly answered saivng, that he
would all the workle knew, that he was as able to conduit his menne homewarde, as he was
to bryng theim out of their countrey, without the kyng of Arragos wages, (sauyng his honor)
and as for the fraie, it was against his will and without his knowlege: and so that night he
and all his men, wont nborde with their shippes.
When this iorney was come to this poynt, Henry Guilforde, Westo, Browne, and Willyam
Sidney young and lustie Esquires, desired license to see the Courte of Spayne, whiche was to
theim graunted : and then tlici departed from Caleis, and came to the Courte of the kyng of
Arragon, where thei wer highly entertained, & he dubbed Henry Guildford, Weston, and
Browne knightes, and gaue to sir Henry Guildtbrde, a Canton of Granado, & to sir Westo,
and Browne, an Egle of Scicile on a chefte to the augmentacion of their armes. William
Sidney, so excused himself, that he was not made knight, and when thei hadsoiorned there
a while, they tooke their leaue of the kyng and quene, & so returned through Fraunce into
England, where they tlemained theselles so y thei had the kynges fauoure, notwithstanding it
was thought contrary.
Duryng whiche season the lorde Darcie, the. xvii. daie of Tune made saile towarde En«r-
lande, and arriued at Piimmouthe, and came to the kyng at Wyndsore, and in August thus
ended this voyage.
Duryng the tyme that the Lorde Darcie was in Spayne, the Ladie Margaret Duches of
Sauoy, & daughter to Maximilian themperor, and gouernor of the countreis of Flaunders,
Brabant, Holland, Zdade and other the lowe countreis apperteinyng, to Charles the yon"
prince of Castell, then beeyng of tendre age, sent in thende of Maif to the kyng of England
to haue. xv. c. archers, to aide her against y duke of Geldres which sore trobled the coQtreis
aforsaid. The kyng tenderly regarding the request of so noble a lady, & also because there
was
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 523
noble warrior, to be the lieuetenaunt & conductor of the said. xv.c.. archers, whiche accopaign-
ied with the lord Clynto his sonne in lawe, sir Matthew BrOune, Sir Ihon Dighby, Ihon
Werton, Richard Wethrill, Sherley Esquires & diuerse tall gentlemen and yornen, well knowen
men and tried, to the said nombre of xv. c. toke their shippyng a mile beside Sadwiche, the.
xviii. daie of luly, & landed at Armevv the. xix. daie, not without some troble by reason of
a litle storme, & sent Lancastre Herauld to aduertise the lady of their arriuall, which sent
to the lord Bresly knight of the Toyson, and diuerse other to welcome the, and so conduited
the to Barow, where the lorde of the toune made them greate chere. And the same day at
after noone, came the lady Margaret to Barow, where y capitain with all hisvnder capitaine's
receiued her ist the gate, she welcomed the hartely, & so she did all the souldiers whiche
stode along reinged in the strete. And on saterdaie beyng the. xxvi. daie of luly, she sawe
all the copaignie shote, & the same night the capitain and other toke his leaue of her, & the
morowe beeyng sondaie departed to Rosindale, and so on thursday the last daie of July came
to Buldike, & that daie the ladie Margaret came thether. And the next day, the whole
arrnie of Almaines, Flemynges, and other apperteinyng to the saied lady, met with theng-
lishemen without Buldike, where thei set furth in ordre, the lady Margaret being present, :
•which toke her leue of all the capitaines and departed to Buldike, whome sir Eduarda
Pounynges conduited to the toune gate, and after returned to tharmie. Tharmie to the
nombre of. x. M. of the ladies part, & xv. c. Englishmen passed through Brabant, & came
the. x. daie of August beyng. s. Laurece daie, before a litle castle stadyng on the higher
side of the riuer of Mase called Brymuoyst strongly bulwarked, in the whiche -wer. c.
men beloneyng to the bastarde of Gelders, with a capitain called Lankescll van Gekler,
whiche robbed & spoyled all the parties of Brahat. Thei within shot tiersely at tharmy as
it passed by, and did them litle hurt. The same night Thomas Hert chief goucrnor of
thegl-ish part made his approch of his ordinance, & in the morning bet doune as much as
might be beaten doime for the buhvarkes, £ the next daie beyng the. xi. of August the
castle was assaulted valiantly, & take by force, & the capitain ai.d. Ixxx. & odde men \ver
slain &. xix. taken, of the which, xi were hanged, Ihon Morto capitain of. c. Englishtne, &
one Guiot an esquire of Burgoyn criyng Burgoyne S. George: there was one Englishman
slain and no more.
On thursdaie the. xiiii daie, tharmie feried oner the riuer of Mase in to the land of Geldres,
and there soiorned at a litle churche, of our ladie daie the Assumpcion that night, and tSie
nexte daie thei came to a toune called Aiske, belongyng to the Bastarde Gtldrcs, where all
the people wer fled, and there was vndermined and caste doune, a litle castle standyng of the
said riuer newly edified.
The xx of August thei brent the toune of Aiske, and brent al the coutrey about, and
came at last to a toune called Straulle, a strong toune double diked & walled, and within it.
iii C Ix wood men of warre beside the inhabitauntes, whiche at the firste commyng shot
Gonnes fiercely and hurte many, and there they planted their siege.
Sir Edward Pounyoees, whiche euer was in the forward with his archers, caused fagottes
to be made, and trenches to be digged and cast and his men wer so diligent, that his tranche
in the mornyng approched so nye the tonne gate, that thei within were halfe dismai«d : and
desired to speake with the lories, and so thei did. And on S. Barthelmewes euen were
eixe men sent out of the tonne to treate, and sixe hostages dehuered for hem, and then it
was agreed that all men of warre should departe with a white sticke in their handes k to
forfe* aH other thynges, and all the toune dwellers to bee prisoners at the will of the Prmce
of Castle The S daie, after the men of warre were departed erly in the morning sir
Ihon Dighby knight, and Ihon Norton Esquire, toke possession of the toune with. CC. Eng-
ishe menne : JUt after None the Admirall of Flaunders, sir Edward Pounynges, & he
3X2
521 THE. III. YERE OF
lorde Discilstain, chief capitaines of tharmye, with all other noble men, wit Triipettes, Sc
Arthoys and Lancastre, and Ostriche, officers at annes in their coates of armes before theitn,
gorgeously appareled, entered the toune, and in the toane hall, toke thothe of thinhabitautes,
and y night returned to their armie.
The. xxvi. daie of the same moneth, sir Ihon Dighby, and Ihon Norton, came out of the
toune with all their Englishmen, and for them entered a capitain called Yonker Otes, with.
CC. J. Almaines, to kepe there a garrison, the whiche daie the armie went before Venlow &
sent Artoys with a trumpet to somon the toune : but thei would not here them speke, but shot
gunnes at theim. The. xxviii. daie, the armie remoued vnto the Northside of Vrenlow, and
part went ouer the water and made trenches to the water. The capitain of the Eng-
lishemen made trenches euen to the toune diche, and the artillerie bet doune the towers o-f
-the walles, and euery daie was some skirmishe. And the. xxix. daie as certain Englishemen
went a foragyng, it happened, x. of sir Ihon Dighbes men to go. v. mile from the armie, and
to mete with, xxiiii. horsmen of Geldres which set on them, but they withdrew themselfes
into a litle garden, and shot at their enemies, and slewe tvvoo horsemen and. v. horses, gauled
and hurte many of the, discomfited the remnant, and brought two greate horses to thannie,
and euery man was sore hurte, but in no perell of death thaked be God. The siege thus
continuyng, not without skirmishes, xxix. daies sir Edward Pounynges, sir Ihon Dighby
dined with monsire de Rony and all other Englishe capitaines, and petie Capitaines, dined
with an Almain called Clene Anderlyne, except sir Mathcw Broune, and Ihon Fogge \vhiche
kepte the felde, and Richard Wethill whiche kepte the trenche and was sore besetfe : and in
the dinner tyme, thei of the toune issued out on thenglishmen and hurt and toke, one Sheld-
wiche of Cfiterbury prisoner, and one Miles: and thenglishmen hurt and slew many of theim>
and compelled theim to returnc by force of Arrowes, and so thei reculed with one prisoner.
For Miles, whiche was led betwene two of the Gelders, perceiuyng rescue commyng, after
as he came to an hill, thrust the two Gelders doune the hill before him, and so ranne back to
liis compaignie, which thyng the two Gelders that led him perceiuyng ranne to Sheldwiche
and slew him. The Burgonions perceiuyng, that sir Edwarde Pownynges was displeased with
this chauncc, exhorted him with his menne to assault the toune, whiche, by thaduise of bastard
Emery answered that the cause was theirs, and not his Maisters: And if he gatte the toune
by assault, the king his Master should not Iraue it, but if they would geue the assaulte, ha
would ioyne with theim, whiche thing they would not do, because thei had kinsemen and
frendes, within the toune : sauyng one daie a fcwe Almaines assaulted a Bu-lwcrke, and wes
tlain and taken.
The Engiishe capitaines perceiuyng that thei laye there ia vain cosicleryng the strength
of the toune, and also how their armie was not in nombre to enuiron the toune, for euer
thei had one Gate open, wrote to the kyng, which willed them with all spede to returne
and so thei did.
Sir Edward Pownynges went to the Courtc of Burgoyn, where he was highly enterteined of
the young prince, £ the Lady Margaret his aunte, and receiued great thakes and giftes for
his pain. And other capitaines, as sir Ihon Norton, sir Ihon Fogge, sir Ihon Scot £ sir
Thomas Lind, were made knightes of the Prince. And the lady Margaret, perceiuyn<r the
coates of the souldiers to be foule with liyng on the ground, (for euery man lay not&in a
tent) gaue to euery yoman a cote of wollen clothe of yellowe, red, white and grene coloures,
not to her litle laude and praise emong thenglishmen. After that sir Edward Pownynges
had ben highly feasted, and more praised of all men for his valianlncs, and good ordre of
bis people, he returned with his copaignie into England, and had lost by warre and sffckenes,
not tully an. C. persones.
When the Englishemen were departed, Geldres issued out daily, and made skirmisshes and
fraies with the Burgonions, and asked for their Archers, and Winter bcganne sharpelv to
approche, and by aboundaunce of rayne, the riuer of the Masse roase so high, that the
Trenches were drouned, and of force men were compelled to remoue. And when, the
Capitaynes
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ.
Capitaynes considered the strengthe of the Towne, howe it was fortified, victayled and
manned, and howe by the rysyng o'fthe Ryuer it was made stronger: thei determined to raise
the Siege and too burne and destroye all the Villages and Townes aboute, of the whiche toune
of Velow, should haue succor in winter, and to mete again at the Prime time of the yere.
Thus was the siege raised, and the countrey wasted and spoyled, and then euery capitain re-
turned home.
In lune the kyng beyng at Leicester, tidynges wer brought to him, that Andrew Barton a
Scottishe manne, and a pirate of the sea, saiyng that the kyng of Scottes, had warre with'
the Portingales, did rob euery nacion, & so stopped the kyriges stremes, that no merchauntes
almost could passe, and when he toke thenglishemenes goodes he said they wer Portyngales
goodes, and thus he haunted and robbed at euery haues mouthe. The kyng moued greately
with this craftie pirate, sent sir Edmond Hawardlord Admiral of England, and lord Thomas
Haward sonne and heire to therle of Surrey, in all the hast to the sea, whiche, hastely made
redy two shippes, and without any more abode, toke the sea, and by chaunce of wether were
seuered. The lorde Haward liyng in the Dounes, perceiued where Andrew was making to-
ward Scotlade, and so fast the saied lorde chased him, that he ouertooke hym, and there was
a sore battaill : thenglishmen wer fierce, and the Scottes defended them manfully, and euer
Andrew blewe his whistell to encorage his men, yet for al that, the lord Haward and his men
by cleane strength entred the mayne decke: then the Englishemen entered on all sides, and
the Scottes foughte sore on the hatches, but in conclusion, Andrewe was taken, whiche was sd
sore wounded, that he died there : then all the reninaunte of the Scottes wer taken, with
their shippe called the Lion.
Al this while, was the lord Admirall in chace of the Barke of Scotlande, called lenny
Pirwyn, whiche was wont to saile with the Lion in compaignie, and so muche did he with
other, that he laied him on borde, and fiercely assailed him, and the Scottes as hardy and
well stomaked men them defended, but the lorde Admirall so encoraged his men, that they
entered the Barke and slewe many, and toke all the other.
Thus wer these two shippes taken, and brought to Blacke Wai, the seconde daie of Au-
gust, and all the Scottes wer sent to the Bishoppes place of Yorke, and there remained at
the kynges charge, til other direccion was taken for theim.
After this, the kyng sent the bishop of Winchester, and certain of his counsaiH, to tharche-
bishop of Yorkes place, where the Scottes wer prisoners : & there the bishop rehersed to the,
wher as peace was yet betwene England and Scotland, that the-i contrary to that, as theues &
pirates, had robbed the kynges subiectes within his stremes, wherforc, thei had deserued to
die by the law, & to be hanged at the low water rnarke. Then said the Scottes, we knowlege
our offence, & aske mercie & not the lawe. Then a priest, which was also a prisoner said,
my lordes we appele from the kinges iustice to his mercy. Then the bishop asked him,
if he were authorised by the to say so, & thei cried al yea yea, then said he, you shal find
y kinges mercy, aboue his iuStice. For wher you wer ded by y law, yet by his mercy he
wil reuiue you wherfore, you shal depart out of this realme within, xx. daies, vpon pain
of death, if you be founde after the. xx. daie, and praie for the king, and so they parsed
into the Countrey. . , ...
The kvna of Scottes, hearyng of the death of Andrewe of Barton, and takyng of his
twoo shippes, was wonderful! wrothe, and sent letters to the kyng, requiring, restitution, ac-
cordyne to the league and amitie. The kyng wrote with brotherly salutacios, to the kyng of
Scottes of the robberies aud euill dooynges of Andrew Barton, and that it became not one
Prince, to laie a breache of a league, to another Prince, in doyng Iustice vpon a pirate or
thiefe, and that all the other Scottes that were taken, had deserued to dye by Iustice, if he had
not extended his mercie : & with this answere, the Scott.she Herauld departedhome.
Duryn* this season, there began greate warre, betwene Pope luly, and the Frenche kyng,
Loys the. xii : the occasion beganneby one Ihon Bentiuoyle, a greate lorde of Italic, whiche
kepte the citee ofBoloigne le Grace, from the Pope, whiche, by the aideof the. Irenchekyng,
0
526 THE. III. YERE OF
eatte the Saied citee. from the forcnamed Ibon Bentiuoyle: but afterward because the saied
Pope July, tooke peace with the Venetians, the French kyng turned from the Pope, and
made warre on hytu, in the bebalfe of Ihon Bentiuoyle, and toke from hym again, the said
citee of Boloigne.
The kyng of Englande, wrote often to kyng Loys of Fraunce, to desist from the persecu-
tyngof the Pope, which was hisfrende and confederate: to which writyng he gaae litle re-
•gafd, wherefore, the king sent him woorde, to deliner hym his lawfull enheritaunce, botlie
Of the Duchie of Nornmdie and Guyan, and the countreis of Aniow and Mayne and also
^of hisCroune of PVaunce, els he would come with suche a power, that by fine force he
^vould obtein his purpose. -For all these writhiges, the Frenche kyng still made w"arre in Italic,
-and the kyng could of him, haue no certain nor determinate answere. Wherefore, after
f-eate deliberation had, by the aduise of hiscounsaill, he determined to make warre on the
re~nche kyng, and his Countreis, and called to him Maximilian the Emperor, and Ferdi-
ftand kyng of Arragon, and diuer.se other princes, and made preparacion, bothe by sea and
by lande, and fortified his frontiers against Fraunce, and set furth shippes to the sea for de-
•&hce of bis merchauntes, whiche wer daily in ieoperdy, vnder a pretensed peace of the
Frenche kyng, Lewes the. xii.
The kyng this yere, kept the feast of Christmas at Grenewiche, wher was such abun-
^aunce of viades serued, to all comers of any honest behauor, as hath been fewe times
Seen. 'And against Newyeres night, was made in the halle a Castle, gates, towers, and
><dungion, garnished with artilerie, and weapon after the moste warlike fashion: and on the
frount of the castle, was written It Fortresse dangerus, and within the castle were. vi. Ladies,
•Clothed in Russet Satin, laide all ouer with leues of Golde, and euery owde, knit with laces
<>f blewe silke and golde. On their heddes, coyfes, and cappes all of gold.
After this castle had been caried about the hal, and the quene had beheld it, in came
the kyng with fine other, appareled in coates, the one halfe of russet satyn, Spangled with
spangels of fine gold, the other halfe riche clothe of gold, on their heddes cuppes of rus-
set satin, embroudered with workes of fine gold bullio. These vi. assaulted the castle, the
ladies seyng them so lustie and coragious, wer content to solace with them, and vpon far-
ther communication, to yeld the castle, and so thei came doune and dunnccd a long space.
And after the ladies led the knightes into the castle, and then the castle sodainly vanished,
out of their sightes.
On the daie of the Epiphanie at night, the kyng with a. xi. other were disguised, after
the. maner of Italic, called a maske, a thyng not seen afore in Errglande, thei were ap-
pareled in garmentes long and brode, wrought all with gold, with visers and cappes of gold
& after the banket doen, these Maskers came in, with sixe gentlemen disguised in silke bear-
yng staffe torches, and desired the ladies to daunce, some were content, and some that
hnewe the fashion of it refused, because it was not a thyng commonly seen. And after thei
daunced and commoned together, as the fashion of the Maske is, thei tooke their leaue and
departed, and so did the Quene, and all the ladies.
The. xv. daie of lanuarij began the Parliament, where the Bisshop of Cantorburie, be-
fan his oracion with this verse, lusticia Sf pax osculate sunt, vpon whiche, he declared
ow lustice should be ministered, and peace should !jee nourished, and by what meanes,
Justice was put by, and peace turned into warre. And there vpon he shewed, how the
Freche kyng would do no lustice, in restoryng the kyng his right enheritauce, wherefore,
for lacke of lustice, peace of necessitie must turne to warre.
In this Parliament was graunted, twoo fiftenes of the temporakie, and of the clergie
'tWbo dismes: Duryng which Parliament, one Newboltyoman of the kynges Garde whom
the kyng highly fauourcd, slewe wilfully a seruaunt of my lorde Willoughbies, in the palaice
Ht Westminster, wherefore, the kyng abhorryng that deede, and settyng a side al affection
Caused him to be haged, in the Palaice bf WestminBter, where he hong twoo daies, in ex-
ample of other.
6 In
\_
KYNG HENRY THE. VI IJ.
la this season, one Iherome Bonuise, whiche was borne in- Luke, and was a factor in
London for Merchauntes of that nacion. and had plaied Uankroute, and was conueighed
out of the realtne for debt, was nowe in suche fauor with Pope luly, that he made hyin his
Collector, and Proctor in Englandc: and so he kept a greate porte, and resorted to the
kyng and his cousaill, for the Popes affaires, (which then was sore troubled by the Frenche
kyng) so that he knewe, bothe the Popes counsaill, and the kynges, and talsly and vntruly,.
resorted hy nighte, to the Frenche Ambassadors, liyng HI London, and to theim discouer-
ed, what die kyng and the Pope emended, which was not so closly doen, but the king,
knewe it: and so lie was laied for, and was taken commonyng, with one of thesaid Am-
bassadors, vpon Londo wall at midnight, & brought to the Tower, where he remained, till
by the suite of his frendes he was deliuered, and shortly for shame, voyded the real me.
After that it was concluded, by the body of the Heal me, in the high (Jourte of Parlia-
ment assembled, that warre should bee made on the Frenche kyng and his dominions, the
fcvng with all diligence caused uewe shipper to be made and repaired, and rigged the old,
caused Gonnes, Bowes, Arrowes, and all other artilery, and instruments of warre to be
made, in suche nonibre and quantitee, that it was wooderiull to se what thynges wer doen,
bothe for sea and la-nde in so shorte space.
The kyng of Arra^on, whiche also had warre with the French kyng, and hearyng that;
bis sonne the kvng of England would make warre in Frauce, did write to hym that the
d-uchie of Guyan, was ins irue enhentaunce, whiche, adioyned to his coutrey of Biskey:
wherfore, if the kyng of Entilande would entende to reeouer his Duchy first, and send an,
armie of men to Biskaye, and so to begin at Bayou, whiche is the keye of Guyan, he would
aide them with ordinau-nce, horsemen, and beasies for cartages, with other necessaries ap-
perteignyng to thesame.
The kyngand his counsaill, puttynge their arfiaunce in the promise of the kyng of Arra-
eon, prepared a noble armie all of foremen, and smal ordhmunce, trustyng to the kyng of
Arrason for aide of horsemen and grcace ordmaunce, and of thesame made capitain, the-
noble lorde Thomas Grey Marques of Dorset, to \\lxom, he assigned many other gentle?
n»erj, as you shall here alter in the next yere.
H THE. IIII. YERE.
TH E kyng greatly studiyng, to furnishe furtlie his warre, \vhiche he bad begonne against
the Frenche%-nge, caused sir Edwarde Hawarde his Admirall, with all diligence to take
the sea whiche, "with all spede possible made ready diuerse goodly and tali shippes, as the.
souereUme and. other to the, notnbre of. xviii. be*ide kitle shippes: and in his-compaignie
were Capita! DCS, sir VVeston Browne, Griffith Donne. Edwarde Cobham, Thomas Wynd-
bam Thomas Lucie, Willyam Pirton, Henry Shirborne, Stephen Bull, George Witwange,
Ihoii Hopton Willyam Gimstone, Thomas Draper, Edmond Coke, Iho Bordet, with di-
uerse other. When all these were shipped, they sailed to Douer, and skowred the seas,
and so came before Portesmouthe, aboute the miclcles of Maie.
The third daieof Male, a jjentleman of Flaunders, called Guyot of Guy, came to the
kvn« with v.C. Almaines all in white, wlnche was cutte so small, that it could scace hold
toeether After they had mustered at Blacke Hethe, the kyng made hym knight,, and gaue
hvm a greate chayne, and a yerely pencion, and sent hym w.th h,s band to boulhampton.
About midde Male, the lorde Marques and other nohle men appoynted by the kyng
for t e iorney of B skay, as the Lorde Hawarde, sonne and beire to the erle of Surrey,
the Lorde Broke the Lorde Willoughby, the Lorde Ferrers, the lorde. Ihon, the lorde
A t\ \ nr i he lorde Leonard Grey, all three brethren to the Marques, sit Griffith.
An 1 ce ? Morres BaSy sir wl.'lyau, Sandes, the Bare, u. of Burfford, sir Richard,
s brother, Willyam^ase, Iho Melton, Willyam Kyngston bU..
J28 THE. IIIJ. YERE OF
Willou"hby, and diuerse other with souldiours, to the nombre of. x. M. men, came to
Southampton and there mustered. To se the lordes and gentlemen, so well armed and so
richely appareled in clothes of gold, and of siluer, and Veluettes of sundery colours,
pounsed and embroudered, and all petie capitaines in Satin and damaske, of white and
grene, and yomen in clothe of thesame coloures. The Baners, Penons, Standerdes, and
Gittons, fresh and newly painted, with sundery beastes and deuises, it was a pleasure
to behold. And when sir Willyam Sandes knight, appoynted Threasorer for the warres
had paied all the wages, then euery man was commaunded to his shippe. Then you should
haueseen byndyng of males, and fardelles, trussyng of coffers and trussers, that no manne
was idle: and soon the. xvi. dale, all the armie wer shipped in Spanishe shippes, vitailed
for thatiorney, and passed the Nedles of Wight all thesame dale, and so did the Lorde Ad-
mirall, whiche laie abidyng the wynde at Portesinouth, and toke his course to Britain, of
who I will speke after.
The wynde serued the Marques and his compaigne so well, that he with his whole urmie
arriuedin Biskay, at a Porte called Passagh, Southe West of Fountrabie. The thirde daie
of lune, the lorde Marques and all his faire compaignie landed, and tooke the felde, and
him wisely embattailed for his sauegard. The Biskaynes that brought vitaile to the armie,
saied to the souldiours: Sirs you bee arriued her, in trust that the kyng of Arragon will
helpe you with ordinaunce and callages, we here no preparacion that he maketh, nor neuer
sent vs worde to prepare for your commyng, of the whiche wee maruell muche. These
wordes ranne daily through the hoste, whiche made many men sad & to muse: and the
Biskanes sore feared, least thenglishemen would destroye their countrey, because their
kyng kepte not promise with theim, but the Marques made suche streight Proclamation,
that no souldiour durste do any iniurie to them. Within three daies after that the armie
had lien in the feld, there came to him an erle, and another noble man, to welcome hym
and his compaignie. Then the Lorde capitain remoued his field, and toke another place
nerer Fountraby, more plenteous of water and woodde, and there pitched his felde, euery
daie lookyng for aide of the kyng of Arragon, but he harde of none. Then he called a
Counsaill, and deuised how thei might haue beastes to draw ordinaunce and cariages then
one sir Ihon Stile an Englishernan, caused to be bought twoo. C. Mulettes an Asses, of
suche price as the Spanyardes gayned greatly, and when they were putte to cary, they would
neither here nor drawe, for they were beastes which were not exercised a fore. Then the
Lorde Marques muche lamented that chaunce, for if he had had redy two hundred drawyng
beastes, he might naue runne a greate waie in Guian with his power, whiche then was not
fortified, neither of men of warre, nor munitions, nor artilarie.
The Frenchemen of Bayon, hearyngof the Englishemennescampe, made a greate askry
betwene the riuer of sainct Maria and Bayon: the Englishmen perceiuyng thesame, passed
y riuer in good ordre of battail, al being on foote for lacke of the horsemen that the kyng
of Arragon promised, and so with arrowes chased the Frenchemen on horsebackes that thei
fled, and many horses foundered, and many a man was brosed or thei came to Bayon : at
the whiche thenglishmen laughed & lamented. Firste, to se their coward nes, second, to
rcmembre what thei might haue docn, if thei had had horses rnete for their purpose: yet all
this notwithstandyng, thei retired to their campe in suche ordre, that the Spanyardes won-
dered muche, bothe at their fierce corage and sobre ordre.
The kyng of Nauar, hearyng of the puissaunt armie of the English men liyng in Biskey
so nere to his countrey, was sore troubled, & wondered much what the matter should meaner
wherfore,^he sent to the lord Marques, a bisshop and diuerse other, to she\ve to hym and
all his cousaill, that if it pleased them, his countrey should sende them victaill, and all
thynges necessarie for their money, and to do any other pleasure that thei could do, whiche
might be to the pleasure of hym and all his armie, so y his realme should be sure of any
inuacios to be made by his people.
The Marques beyng capitain generall, with the aduise of the other Lordes and counsaill,
muche
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ.
tnuche highly thanked the king of Nauer of his good wil, aide, and comfort, which thynges
onely they required : and if it pleased him, that his people will and maie victaill vs, we
shall not onely paie theim for it, but also \varraunt the passyng and repassitig for vs and
cures in sauetie, and that by vs no preiudice shalbee dooen to" his realme, nor by our con-
cent. With which answere the kyng of Nauer was Joyous, and suffered his people to vic-
taill, and resort to the hooste, with all thynges necessarie and belongyng to thesame, in
greate windes and stormes, for that tyme happened muche wind and raine, whiche sore en-
combered the souldiours, that lave nightly on the bare grounde, for euery man had not a
tent or pauilion, whereof some were lame, and some deffe, with other diseases.
When the armie had lien there, xxx. claies, in the seconde inoneth there came from the
kyng of Arragon, a bisshop and other nobles of his cousaill: but whe it was knowen that
it was thesame bisshop that made the answere to the lorde Darcie at Caleis Males, as you
haue hard the last yere, then many said, he came for no good but for delaies: but here-
quired the lord Marques to take pacience, for shortly suche prepare should bee made, that
he should see and prone, that it should be to the honor of his Master, and to his greate re-
noume : to whom the Marques answered, that vpon confidence of the king of Arragons pro-
mise that thei should lacke no beastes mete for drawyng, and horsemen, the kyng of Eng-
land had sent hym and his compaignions thether, whereof we haue trusted sithe our firste
hether commyng, whiche thynges if wee had had, we had dooen other enterprises then we
haue dooen: for now we haue lien here in campe to the greate charge of our Master the
kyng of England, and to no profile, and to our losse and greate hurt. For at our arriuall
the ^coutrey of Guyan for the which we came, was vnprouided of men of warr, muni-
cions, and ordinaunce, by reason whereof (if all thynges had been accomplished of the
part of your Master as we trusted) we might haue had that whiche we came for, and if our
commission had not been to folowe the kyng your Masters will, as to whom we bee sent, I
a-ssure you we would haue dooen otherwise or this: but now the Frenchmen haue fnrtefied,
victailed and manned their tounes, and wee haue spent tyme and dooen nothyng at all,
lyngeryng for the kyng your Master, to the losse of vs and greate blemishyng of our ho-
nours.
The bisshop perceiuyng that the Englishe capitaines were couragious and discontent with
their idle abode, flatteryngly desired theim to tary a while for the best, for a backe enemie
saied he, is to bee regarded. Then saied the lorde Marques capitain generall, if we knewe
the Kynges entent, it would suffice vs. Then saied the bisshop, you shall knowe it shortly :
and so he departed from the armie. ....
Tharmie this lyngeryng, euer desirous to be at the busines that thei came for, their victaile
was muche part Garlike, and the Englishemen did eate of the Garlike with all meatesj and
dranke hote wynes in the hole wether, and did eate all the hole frutes that thei could gette,
whiche caused their bloudcle so to boylein their belies, that there fell sicke three thousande
of iheflixe, and thereof died, xviii. hundred men.
The lorde Marques and other capitaines perceiuyng this mischief, sent to the kyng of Ar-
ragon certain Lordes of the hooste to knowe his pleasure. The whiche answered them
whh gentle fashion, that the counsaill of Englande and his counsaill, had taken an o d re
n The whiche answered them
w gentle fashion, that the counsaill of Englande and his c
in all thyng of late and how the duke Dalua a greate prince of Spain, should shortly with
hen- enterrise. U ithwh.che an-
an armie .wall ioyne with theim, and so to procede in then- enterprise.
swere and small chere, the lordes of Englande departed, and made report to their captain
accordyn", whiche thought it verie sleight, but euer he regarded lus Masters commaunde-
Sli: slattr ^ople beyng idle, some euill
that euery capitain was allowed, viii. d. for a common souldier,
«f the nis whiche «r of ,he «,£.« of n,y
O I
5SQ THE, IIIJ. YERE OF
When thei wer arrested, other of like euil disposition began to crake and face, whiche
thyn« beyno perceiued, the lorde Marques by the aduice of other capitaines caused serene
to bee made, and sofoundeout the beginner of the mischief, whiche was deliuered to Wit-
lyani Kyugston Esquire then Prc-iiost Marshall, and so was put to death to the terror of all
other.
Dnryngthe tyme that the armie laie thus lyngeryng, the Frenchmen diuerse tymes came
to behold' the Englishemen, and when thei sawe any part of the armie remoue toward
theim, incontenent thei fled; and so the English archers cuery daie went a forragyng on
the borders of Guian almuste to Bayon, and brent many pretie vilages, but euer they de-
sired to haue tidynges of the king of Arragon, and to know what thei should do, for they
wer commaunded to be ruled by them.
The Englishemen thus liyng idlely abidyng the aide of the kyng of Arragon, tidynges
came daily into the host, how the Duke Dalua was commyng with a great puissaunce to-
ioyne with the English army, and so to inuade Guyan: the Englishe capitaines were ioy-
full of these tidynges, not- so muche for the aide of the Spanyardes which they litle regard-
ed, but for the beastes for cariage of greate ai tilerie, whiche they brought not with theim,.
in hope of the kyng of Arragons protnes: for if thei had had beastes for their cariage, and
greate ordinaunce accordyng to the appoyntement, they would haue doen otherwise, whiche
thyng sore greued their hartes.
• Now thei thus lokyng for the Duke Dalua, hard enery daie how he marched towarde
theim, and was within a daies iorney or litle more of them, of the which the English
menne were merueilous ioyfull, but the Duke which pretended another thyng, sodainly re-
moued his armie in a night with such diligece that he entered the realme of Nauer, and:
was before the citie of Pumpilona the chief citie of Nauer before the kyng wist of it, whiche
nothyng suspected of that pollicie.
Thus the kyng was sodainly trapped, supposyng tharmie of Spain to haue been reised to--
inuade Guyan, and hauyng nothyng defensible for the warre, in the night fled out at a pos~
terne into Fraunce where he after died. The citie of Pampilona and all the coutrey of
Nauer, beyng vnprouided of artilarie and other defences, yelded theselfes to the Span-
yardes, and thus was the realme of Nauer wonne: whiche thyng made the lorde Marques
and his compaignienot a litle to maruell. So shortely after came to the lorde capitain and
the Englishemen, diuerse Lordes sent from the Kyng of Arragon, whiche saied: The kyng
our soueraignc lorde, sendeth to you greate gramercies, and highly thaketh you for your
pain, and so it is that by Goddes grace and your good abode, he with his power hath taken
and conquered therealme of Nauer, and if that countrcy had not bee taken, thei might
haue intercepted all suche ordinaunce and victail, as the king of Arragon our master might
haue sent to you, but now you bee in suche a suretie and his puyssaunce with you, and yours
with his, that ye maiesauely ioyne, whiche you shall see shortly, ye and he hymself in pro-
per person to ioyne with yon. Well said the lorde Marques capitain generall, we haue
soiourned long here abidyng his commyng, and if the commission and expresse commaun-
dernent of the king my soueraigne lord wer not, that I should do nothing without the as-
sent of the king your master, I assure you that the French menne should haue knowen that
Englishmen had been here, and not to haue lien so long in idlenes as we haue done: but
if the kyng your master doo as you reporte, it shalbe muche to his honor and to our greate
comforte, and so the lordes of Spayne departed.
As the armie of Englishmen thus laie in campe, there was a village called Sancta Maria,
in whiche diuerse of the Englishmen, and especially suche as had been sicke, resorted and
reposed theimself, not to the little auauntage of the toune, so it fortuned that a Spanyard
gaue euill language to the Englisheman, whiche gaue him a buffet on the face, the toune
rose and sett on the Englisheman, and gathered in suche a multitude, that the Englisheman
whiehe was the first beginner was slain, because only three Englishemen came to his rescue,
which, wer all hurte. The Almaynes that laie at the tounes ende, strake Alarum whiche
hearyng
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 531
bearyng (he cafnpe, cried to harnes euery man. The tidynges were brought to the campe,
that thei of the toun had slain an Englishman and would bid battaill: the souldiers hear-
yng this, in a rage ranne to the toune in suche maner, that the capitaines could not stay
them, and slewe and robbed the people without mercy. The people fled ouer the water
into Guyan. The Capitaines seyng this, with their priuie seruauntes kepte the straightes, by the
which the souldiers returned with pillage and naperie, brasse, pewter, beddes, plate, and
other houshold stuffe, and apparell: whiche wascommaunded to belaied doune by the lordes
on a liepe. And after the lordes went to the toune to se what harme the Englishmen had
doen, there thei found many Biskaynes slain, and the toune robbed and the people fled.
Then thei by sobre meanes & gentle exhortacion, brought all the souldiers to the campe:
then Proclamacion was made that euery man vpon pain of death should bring in his pillage.
Now ther wer. xxi. men, of who one was a gentleman, whiche had taken awaie. x. thousande
Dukates, who fled toward Gascoyne and were taken, and brought before the lord capitain
and other, and adiudged to dye : of the whiche. vii. wer put in execucion, and the other.
Kiiii. should haue died the rnorow after, if the lordes of Spayne had not been there at their
iudgement which with greate diligence and labor gat their pardon : and so all the pillage
almost was restored, and the countrey paceh'ed.
Then one dale the Frenchemen whiche hard of this riot and trouble in the hoste, issued
out of Bay on toward the Englishe mennes armie, the Englishmen hearing therof, marched
toward them, & when the French men perceiued that thei wer asskried, thei sodeinly re-
turned. Thenglishemenne perceiuyng that the Frenchemen would not tary, went to a good
toune called sainct Ihon de Luce, and brent, robbed and killed the inhabitauntes, and so
from thence spoiled diuerse other villages, aboute the borders of Guyan. Thus the armie
laie till the moneth of October, and winter began sore to encrease, and the lord Marques
capitain generall fell sore sicke, & then the lorde Haward had vnder hym the whole gouern-
aunce of tharmie, to whom wer sent diuerse lordes of the priuie cousaill of Spain, saiyng:
the kincr our master sendeth you word, that he would gladly come to you but the season is
spent, the ground is so moyste that cariage cannot be conueighed, the feldes so barrain
that beastes cannot fede, and the wether so trobleous that people cannot well lye abrode in
carnpe : therfore be would desire you all these thynges considred, to breke vp your felde,
and seuer your self to the tonnes and villages of his coutrey, till the spryng of the ycre, at
whiche tyme there shall resorte to you, freshe succors out of Englande, and he hymself will
be with you with all ordinaunce necessary, as becommeth to suche an armie, and then shall
precede the firste pretensed enterprise, to the honor of the kyng your master and ours, and
not to your small fame and renoume. When this message was hard by the whole counsaill,
no manne was contented, but the lorde Haward whiche had the whole gouernaunce vnder
the Marques saied : what report of honour can we make of the kyng of Arragon your
master for at his desire we be come hethcr, and here haue lien in campe a long space, euer
tarivns for performaunce of his promise, & yet nothing hath he performed, our people be
dedde of the flixe in great nombre : we gentlemen euerychone doth muche lament this long
idlenes bv reason wherof many a tall man hauyng nothyng to do, but abidyng your masters
pleasure hath fall to some mischief, or by sickenes, or els for misdoyng executed by Justice.
What shall the kyng our master report of our slothfuSnes, whiche hath spent hym innumer-
able treasure and nothyng gained ? And yet we would make Winter warre and the king of
Arraeon your master vs denif.th of suche thynges as he promised, and willeth vs like cow-
ardes to our dishonor, to reise our Campe without any notable act doen on the lienchemen,
for \vliiohc Cciusc we cmnG. .
The Spanyardes perceiuyng the grudge of the Englishemen, saied that tyme passed could
not be reuoked, and that they had not lien idlely, for the frontiers of Guyan had susteined
such damage, as in many yeres thei shall not recouer again, and all this while the French
men duS not medle with yon, so that yon haue lost no honor, and if you tary here this
Serbyyour daily skirm.shyng, thei shall receiue greate damage : duryng whicbe time,
•> j 3 Y 2
532 THE. IIIJ. YERE OF
the kyng our master hath commaunded, that thynges mete and necessarie for you to be at
your commaundement, and in the spring of the yere, he shall ioyne with you, so that your
enemies and his shall well knowe your puissaunce, for he laketh all enemies to you, to be his,
so with faire wordes the counsaill of-Spayne departed.
Then the lorde Haward beyng chief, because the Marques was sick counsailed with all
the other lordes and capitaines, and so in the ende of October thei agreed to breake vp.
their Campe, and so thei did, and the lorde Marques and his people went to saioct Sebas-
tian, the lorde Hawarde and his retinew to Rendre, & the lord Willoughby to panchang,
sir Willyam Sandes and many other capitaines to Fruntrabie, and so euery capitaiti with his
retinew wer seuered in different villages.
The English souldiers, what for sickenes, and what for miserie of the countrey, euer de-
sired to returne into England. The kyng of England aduertised by the kyng of Arragon
of his entent, and how he would set forward the first spring, sent Wynsore his Herauld of
Armes to his arrnie willyng them there to tary, and that he would send them newe aide,
vnder the conduite of the lorde Harbert his Chamberlain : which lettre when it was redde,
the souldiers began to murmure and grudge after suche a sort, saiyng : that thei would not
abide and die of the flixe in suche a wretched countrey, to be defrauded and mocked
of the kyng of Arragon the next yere, as thei wer this yere, and spake such outragious
wordes, that the capitain could not staie them, in so much that thei in a fury had slain the
lorde Haward & diuerse other, if thei had not folowed their myndes, and so thei hired
shippes and putte the lorde Marques in one, whiche was so weake that he asked where he
was: and then euery man shipped, whiche was in Nouembre, and in the beginnyng of De-
cembre thei landed in Englande. The kvng of Arragon was sore discontent with their de-
partyng, for thei spent much money and substaunce in his countrey, and saied opely, that
if thei had taried he would haue inuaded Guyan, and the Englishmen were glad that thei
were departed out of such a countrey, where thei had litle health, lesse pleasure, and
much losse of tyme : but by their liyng there, the Kyng of Arragon stale tbe realme of
Nauer, and the Englishemen left as muche money there, as he sent into England with his
daughter.
When the Marques sailed into Spayne in the moneth of May, the same tyme sir Edward
Hawarde Lorde Admirall of Englande, as you haue hard before sailed toward Britain, and
on Trinitie Sundaie arriued at Bertram Bay in Britain, with. xx. greate shippes, and sodainly
set his men on lancle : then the Britaynes made an askrie, and sette their beacons on fire,
and shot out of a bulwarkc that they had fortcfied at tiie poynt of the Baye : but tlie Eng-
lishe men whiche wer in the ship of Willyam Gonstone Grocer of Lodonj toke first land
maugre them all, and all other after, and so manfully thei set on the bulwarkc that thei
wan it, and the Britons fled and many slain. Then the Admirall set his men in anordre,
and passed in the countrey seuen myles, burnyng and wastyng tounes and villages : and in
his returne he skirmished \vith diuerse men of armes and slewe diuerse of theim, and not-
withstandyng the Britons fought valiauntly for defence of their coutrey, yet thei lost and no-
thing wan: and so the lorde Admirall returned to his shippc. /
Vpon mondaie the. xxiii. clay of May he landed in the mornyng, and commaunded to
burne the lorde Piers- Meguns place, and the toune of Conketand diuerse other places, and
chased the Britones to the Castle of Brest, and for all assembles and showes that the Bri-
tons made, yet thei suffered the Englishmen peaceably to returne with their praies and
games. The Britons seyng the hurte that the nauie of England did to them, saied: alas
the king of Englande hath euer before this time succoured vs, and now he iniendetb to
destroye vs, shame come to him that is the cause thereof.
The first daie of lune the Englishemen toke lande in Croyton Bay : then the Lordes of
Britain sent worde to the Lord Admirall, that if he would abide, thei would fight with
him in plain felde The Admirall rewarded the messenger, and said, go say to them that sent
tnee, that al this daie thei shall finde me here, tariyng their commyng. Then he to encou-
6 rage
KYNG HENRY THE. VII J. ,533
*age diuerse gentlemen dubbed theim knigbtes, as sir Edwarde Broke, brother to the lorde
Cobham, sir Griffithe Dounc, sir Thomas Wyndhfi, sir Thomas Lucie, sir William Pii ton,
sir Henry Shirborne, sir Stephen. Bull, sir Ihon JBurdett: Then the lorde Admirall highly
incouraged his men, when he sawe the Britons come, whiche wer. x. thousand at the least,,
the Englishemen but onely. xxv. C. or fewe aboue, bidding the remetnbre the honor and re-
noume that should come to them, if thei gained the iorney, and yet if thei wer. slain,,
their valiauntnes was to be praised, & their true diligence to do their master seruice much
to be alowed.
When the Britons sawe the order of the Englishemen and theip banners- displaied, thel
wer sodainly astonnied : then a gentleman of Britain of muche experience, aduised the
other capitaines not to fight, but to returne a little & to take a strong grounde, and to watche
the Englishmen when thei returned to their shippes, and then to take thauauntage. And so the
capitaines began to rcturnc : and when the commons sawe them returne, all thei ranne awaye
as fasle as thei might, supposyng that their capitaines had seen or knowen some greate perell.
toward them, because thei were not priuy of their Capitaines counsaill. And when thei came
korne to their houses, some saied the battaill was greate, and some saied that the Englishemen;
wer. xl. thousande. The lord Admiral! seyn«; this chaunce, when night came departed to his
shippcs : but yet they knewe not why thei tied, till after he hard the truthe. The gentle-
men of Britain called a great counsaill, saiyng: that the Englishmen daily wasted the coun-
trey on the sea cost, and that there was no trust in the comfnonaltie, and that the gentlemen,
alone could not defende the cuuntrev, wherefore, thei concluded to sende a messenger to-
the lorde Admirall, desiryng hym of a safe conduite for diuerse persones to speke with hym,
the whiche he gently graunted. Then certain lordes of Britain toke a bote, and came to>
the ship of the lorde Admirall, where he was set with all the counsaill of the capitaines-
about him. Then thei desired him humbly to surcest of his rigorous and cruell warre,
and especially of burning, of tounes whiche to you is no proffite, and if you will haue the
Castle of Brest, it shall be at your commauiulement, so that you be able to defend it, and.
we desire nothing so muche as peace. Naie saied the Lorde Admirall, \vce are sent hether
to make warre and not peace. Then thei humbely. required hym for Goddes sake to graunt
theim peace for sixe daies, so that thei might sende to the kyng their lorde, to aduertise him.
of their trouble and calamitie. Then the lorde Admirall answered, that gentlemen ought
to defend their coutrey by force, rather then to sue for peace : with the whiche saiyng the
Britons wer ashamed: ye"t thei hartely thanked him, and so he made them a banket and:
thei departed-: and thei. sent a landc for freshe water and other freshe victailes, and then
hearing that there wer men of warre vpon the sea, he coasted from them.alongest al the
coasted of Normandy, still *kow-ryng the seas, so that no enemie appered : and at the last
came and laie by the isle of Wight, to see if any enemies would appere on thenglishe coast::
durynsr whiche time diuerse shippes kept the North seas, vndcr the conduite of. sir Edward.
Ichyngham, Ihon Lewes, Ihon Louedaie, whiche diligently skowred the seas.
This yere the King had a solempnc lustes at Grenewiche in lune: first came in ladies
all in White and Red silke, set vpon Coursers trapped in thesame suite, treated oner with
gold after whom folowed a fountain curiously made of Russet Sattin, with eight Gar-
eilles spoutyniT Water, within the Fountain sat a knight armed at all peces. After tins loun-
tain folowed a lack all in blacke silke dropped with fine siluer, on a courser trapped in the
same After folowed.a knight in a horse litter, the Coursers and litter appareled blacke
with Siluer droppes. When the Fountain came to the tilt, the Lad.es rode rounde aboute,
and so did the Fountain and the knight within the litter. And after theim wer brought twoo
MI i ti ail x/iitu i^o »-»* «•»*"•.*" MW ••- " \ jii
entered sir Thomas Kneuet in a Castle of Cote blacke, and ouer the castell was written,
The dolorous Qw^.andso he and the erle of Essex, the lord* Haward and
THE. IIIJ. YERE OF
their courses, with the King and sir Charles Brandon, and euer the king brake moste
speres.
The Kyng euer remcmbring his warres, caused all his shippes and Galies to be rigged
and prepared, with all manner of ordinaunce and artillery, mete for shippes of warre. And
emongest all other, he decked the Regent, a ship royall, as chief ship of that nauie, and
then caused souldiers mete for thesame shippes, to muster on hlacke Hethe, and he ap-
pointed capitaines for that tyme, sir Anthony Oughtred, sir Edward Ichyngham, Willyam
Sidney, and diuerse other gentlemen, whiche shortly shipped and came before the Isle of
Wight, butin their passage a Galey was lost by negligence of the Master.
The Kyng euer desiryng to see his nauie together, roade to Portestnouthe, and there he
appoynted capitaines for the Regent, sir Thomas Kneuet Master of his horse, and sir Ihon
Carew of Deuonshire. And to another ship royall called the souereigne, lie appoynted sir
Charles Bradon, and sir Henry Guildforde, and with theim in the souereigne were put. Ix. of
the tallest yomen of the kynges Card, and many other gentlemen wer made Capitaines.
The king made a greate banquet to all the capitaines, and euery one sware to another euer
to defend, aide, & cofort one another without failyng, and this they promised before the
Kyng, whiche committed theim to God, and so with great noyse of minstrelsie, thei
toke their shippes, whiche wer. xxv. in nornbre of greate burden, and well furnished of all
thynges.
The Frenche kyng hearyng what dammage tlienglishmen had done in Britaine, strongly
furnished his Nauie in the hauen of Brest, to the nombre of. xxxix. saile, and for chief or-
deined a Carike of Brest, apperteignyng to the Quene his wife, whiche was Duches and
heire of Britayne called Cordelier, whiche was a strong ship furnished in all poyntcs, and
so thei set forwarde out of Brest the. x. daie of August, and came to Britayne Bay, in
which place the self same day, beyng the daie of S. Laurence, the r.nglishe nauie was
arriued.
When the Englishe menne perceiued the French Nauie to be out of Brest hauon, then
the lorde Admirall was very ioyous, then euery man prepared according to his duetie,
the Archers to shote, the Gonuers to lose, the men of Arnies to fight, tlie Pages went to
the toppe Castle with dartes: thus all thynges beyng prouided and set in ordre, the Eng-
lishe men approched toward the Frenchemen, whiche came fiercely forwarde, some leuyng
his Ancre, some with his foresailc onely to take the moste auanntage: and when thei wer in
sight, thei shot ordinaunce so terrebly together, that all the sea coast sounded- of it. The
Lorde Admirall made with the greate ship of Depe, and chased her stil: sir Henry GmV
ford and sir Charles Brandon, made with the Create Caricke of Brest, beeyng in the Soue-
reigne, and laied sternme to stemme to the Caricke, but by negligence of the Master, or
els by smoke of the ordinaunce or otherwise, the Souereigne \vas cast at the sterne of the
Caricke, with whiche auautage the Frenche menne showted for ioye: but when sir Thomas
Kneuet whiche was ready to haue horded the greate ship of Depe, sawe that the Souereigue
had missed the Caricke, which sir Anthony Oughtred chased hard at the starne, and bow-
ged her in diuerse places, and set a fire her powder as some say, but sodainly the Recent
crappeled with her a long boord and when thei of the Carick perceiued that thei could not
depart, thei let slip and Ancre, and so with the streme the shippes turned, and the Caricke
was on the wetherside, and the Regent on the lye side, the light was very cruel I for the
archers or the Englishe parte, and the Crossebowes of the Frenche part did their vtter-
moste: but for all that the English men entered the Caricke, whiche seynj' a varlet Gonner
beyng desperate put fire in the Gonne powder as other sale, and set the whole ship of fire
the flame wherof, set fire in the Regent, and so these twoo noble shippes which were so
crappeled together that thei could not part, wer consumed by fire. The Frenche nauie per-
cemyng this fled m all hast, some to Brest, and some to the Isles adioynyng The English-
men in rnaner d.smaied, sent out boates to help them in the Regent, but the fire was so
great that in jnaner no man durst approche, sauyng that by the lames of Hull wer certein
Frenchmen
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ.
Frenchmen that could swymme saued. This burnyng of the Caricke was happy for the
Frenche nauie, or els thei had been better assailed of thenglishemen, whiche were so amased
with this chaunce, that thei folowed them not. The capitain of this Carick was sir Piers
Morgan and with hym. ix. C. me slain andded: and with sir Thomas Kneuet and sir Ihon
Carow wer. vii. C. men drowned and brent, and that night all the Englishemen laie in Bar-
train Baie, for the Frenche flete was sparkeied as you haue hard.
The lorde Admirall called al the capitaines together, desiryng them not to be abasshed
with this chaunce of war-re, for he thought now that this was the worste fortune that could
happen to theim, therfore to studie how to be reuenged, and so thei concluded all to go to
the sea, whiche thei did, and on the coast of Britain toke many shippes, and such as thei
could not cary awaie they set on fire, small and great to a greate nombre on all the coast
of Britain, Normandy and Picardy, and thus thei kept the sea.
The king of England heryng of the losse of the Regent, caused a greate shippe to
be made, fauclie another as was neuer seen before in Englande, and called it, Henry grace
de Dieu.
The French kyng heryng. that his flete was thus deuided. and of the losse of his greato
Carick, he sent to a knight of the Rhodes called Prior Ihon, whiche had three Galies of
force, with diuerse Foystes & Rowgalies so well ordinauced and with suche peces as was
not seen in shippes before his commyng: for he laye on the coast of Barbtiry to defende cer-
tein of the Religion, of the Rhodes commyng to Tripoly, and at the Frenche kynges request
came into Britain and there taried.
In Nouembre the kyng called his high Courte of Parliament, and there was concluded
that the kyng hymself in person, with an armie royall would inuade his realme of Fraunce,
with fire and Sworde, which thing beeyng knowen to his subiectes, and especial! to suche as
should 20 with him, no man can doubt, but that preparacion was made of harneis, weapon,
artillery, banners and all other thynges necessary for such an enterprice.
The kyn<? after this Parliament ended, kept a solemne Christemas at Grenewiche tochere
his nobles," and on the twelfe daie at night came into the hall a Mount, called the riche
Mount. The Mount was set full of riche flowers of silke, and especially full of Brome
slippes full of coddes, the braunches wer grene Sattin, and the flowers flat Gold of Da-
maske, whiche signified Plantagenet. On the top stode a goodly Bekon geuyng light,
rounde aboute the Bekon sat the king and fiue other, all in coates and cappes of right Cri-
niosin veluet, enbroudered with flat gold of Damaske, their coates set full of spangelles of
"old, and foure wood houses drewe the Mount till it catne before the queue, and then the
king' and his compaignie discended and daunced: then sodainly the Mount opened, and
out came sixe ladies all in Crimosin satin and plunket, enbroudered with Golde and perle,
with French hodcles on their heddes, and thei daunced alone. Then the lordes of the
Mount tooke the ladies and daunced together: and the ladies reentred and the Mount closed,
and so was conueiglied out of the hall. Then the Kyng shifted -him and came to the Quene,
and sat at the banqute whiche was very sumpteous. And after the Purificacion ot our Lady,
the Kyn* created sir Charles Brandon Viscount Lisle. In Marche folowyng, was the
kvnees nauie of shippes royall, and other mete for the war set forth to the nombre of xln.
JO l, 1*/1 A 1 ' II _1. l^Cr^A *>ritl-t
lop, sir Thomas Wyndam, sir bteplnn iiuii, vvmya. .»vam, -.. . *.
Willyam Sidney Enquires, and diuerse other noble and vahaunt Capitaines: thei sa.led
Portesmouthe, and there laie abidyng Wynde: duryng whiche tyme the kyng sent into
Flaunders for such thynges as he neded, and caused them to be brougnt to Caleis against
hl When the wynde serned, the nauie royall of England wayed anker and made saile into
Britain, and came into Bertram Bay, and there lay at Anker ,n the s.ght ot the frenche Na,
uie. Now you must vnderstand, that all the greate Nauie whiche the 1- rench idpro-
536* THE. V. YERE OF
pared, laie in the hauen of Brest, so well furnished in al thynges, that no doubt it was a
wonder to se : but vvhen thei wer ready to sette furthe, and sawe the Englishe flete on the
coast, thei determined clerely to saue theselfes in Brest hauen. Then the Englishemen de-
termined clerely to sette on them in the hauen, and so in good ordre of battaill sailed forward,
but at the first entry, one ship, wherof Arthur Plantagenet was capitain, fell OH a blynde
rocke & brast asunder, by reason wherof all the other staied to the greate displeasure of all
the remnaunt, and not to the title ioye of the Frenchme whiche shot at them without do-
ing any harme. So the Englishe capitaines perceiuyng that the hauen was daungerous to
•entre without an expert lodesman, cast about and returned to their harborough at Bertram
Baye again.
The Frenchmen perceiuyng that the Englishmen intended to assaile theim, moored their
-shippes as nye to the Castle of Brest as thei could, and set bulwarkes on the land on euery
rside to shote at the Englishmen. Also thei trapped together, xxiiii. greate Hulkes, that
<came to the baye for salt, and set them on a rovve, to the intent that if the Englishe inenne
would haue assaulted theim, thei would haue set them on a fire, and let theim driue with
the strenie emongest the Englishe Nauie. Prior Ihon also laie still in Blacke Sable or
Whitesande Baye, and plucked his Galies to the shore, and sette his Basiliskesand other or-
dinaunce in the naouthe of the Baye, whiche Baye was bulwarked on euery side, that by
water it was not possible to be wonne.
The lorde Adinirall perceioyng the Nauie of Fraunce to lye this in feare, and not willing
nor daryng come abrode, but to lye as prisoners in a dongeon, wrote to the Kyng to come
•thether in persone, and to haue the honor of so high an entreprise: whiche writyng the
Kynges counsaill nothing allowed, for putting the kyng in ieoperdy vpon she chaunce of
the sea. Wherefore the king wrote sharply to hym, to accomplishe that whiche apperteined
to his duetie: whiche caused hym to take courage and put thynges in aduenture as after you
shall here.
H THE. V. YERE.
The.-r.yere. ASyou haue hard before, the lorde Admirall of England lay still on the coast of Britain
in the Bay, called Bartrames Baye, so that for fearc of hym and the En"lishe Nauie
•neither the greate shippes in Brest hauen durst once moue to the sea ward, nor yet Prior
Ihon for al his strong Galcies would once set out asaile: sauyng now and then sende furthe
his small Foystes, to make a shew before the English Nany, whiche chased them to their
bay, but because the English shippes were so greate thei could not entre the bay, and so
manned out boates and toke one of the best Foystes, and that with greate daungier, for
the Galeis and the buhvarkes shot all at one time, that it was a woder how the Englishemen
escaped.
The Admirall of Englande perceiuyng the Frenche mennes pollicy, called a counsaill, and
there determined firste to assaile Prior Ihon and his Galeis, liyng" in Whitsand baye,' and
after to set on the remnaunt in the haue of Brest. Then first was appoynted that Water
lorde Ferreis, sir Stephin Bui and other capitaines, should go a lande with a conuenient,
compaignie, to assault the bulwarkes of Whitsand bay, while the Lorde Admirall entered
with rowe Barges and litle Galies into the bay, so that the Frenchmen should be assailed
botheby water and land. Thus was it fully agreed by the whole counsaill: but alas, this
noble capitain counsailed by a Spanishe knight called sir Alphous Charant whiche 'saied
that he might entre the Bay with litle Jeopardy, called to hym Willym Fitz Willyam, Willyam
Cooke, IhonColley, and sir Wolstan Browne as the chief and his moste trusty frendes and
declared to theim that the matter was litle, and the honor greate, if they only tooke on
them that enterprise, and let none other know of it. Thei like men of haute courage
•and desiryng honour, gladly assented: soon sainct Markes daie the. xxv. daie of Aprill
thesaid Admirall put himself in a small rowe barge, with three other small rowing shippes
and
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 537
and his awne shipboate, and so rowed sodainly into the Baye, where Prior Ihon had moor-
ed hisGalies iustto the ground, wliiche Galies with the bulwarkes on the lande, shot so ter-
ribly that thei that folowed were afraid : but assone as he came to the Galies, he entered
and draue out the Frenche men. William Fitiz William within his shippe was sore hurte
with a quarell. The bay was very shalowe, and the other shippes could not entre, for the
tide was spent, whiche thyng the Frenchmen perceiuyng, and that there could come no suc-
coure to the Admirall, with Morris pikes entered again the Galies, and fought, with the
Englishmen in the Galies. And the Admirall perceiuyng their approchyng, thought to
haue entered again into his rowe Barge whiche by violence of the tide was driuen'douiie the
streme, and so with a pike wasthrowen ouer the horde and so drouned, and there the fore-
named Alphous was slain, and all the other boates and vesselles scaped hardely, for if thei
had taried, the tide had failed them and then all had been lost. The lorde Ferreis and other
capitaines muche were dolent of this chaunce, and some saied he did it without counsaill,
and so he hath sped. And therfore although that they would haue sette on the Nauie in Brest
hauen yet hauyng no Admirall nor commission, thei determined to do nothing farther till
thei knew the kynges pleasure, and so sailed into Englande. The Frenche Nauie perceiu-
yng that the Englishmen made toward England, carne out of their hauens, and Prior Ihon
set furthe his Galies and Foystes, and coasted Britain and Normandy, and coasted ouer to
the coast of Sussex and al his compaignie, and landed on the sea coast, and set fire on the
poore cotages. The gentlemen that dwelte nere, shortely reised the countrey, and came to
the coast and droue Prior Ihon to hisGaleis. This was all the hurt that this stout capitain
of so great fame did to England, sauyng he robbed certein po«re Fishermen of Whitynges.
The kyng hearyng of the death of his Admirall was not a litle sory, consideryng both y nobi-
litie of his birthe, and the valiauntnes of his persone, but all sorowe auaiieth not whe the
chaunce is past. Therfore the kyng heryng that the Frenche Nauie was abrode, called to
hym the lorde Thomas Haward, elder brother to sir Edward Haward late Admirall, and
sonne and heire apparaunt to the Erie of Surrey, and made him Admirall, willyng him to
i-eucge his brothers death, whiche withgreate reuercnce, thanked the kyng of the high truste
that he had put him in. And then immediatly went to the sea, and so nobly & valiauntly did
skower the sea, that the French men had no lust to kepe the coast of Englande, for he
fought with theim at their awne portes.
The kyng whiche hud all thynges necessary and mete for the warre, entendyng to passe the
sea in pvopre person, appoyn'tecl the valiant lord George Talbot Erie of Shrewesbury, and
high Steward of his houshold to be capitam gonerall of his forward, and in his compaignie
wer lorde Thomas Stanley Erie of Derby, lorde Dccowrey Prior of. S. Ihons, sir^ Rober
Radcliffe Lorde Fitzwater, the Lorde Hastynges, the Lorde Cobham, sir Rice Ap Thomas,
sir Thomas Blount, sir Richard Sachiuerell, sir Ihon Dighby, sir Ihon Askewe, sir Lewes
Bacrot, sir Thomas Cornewall, and many Knightes and Esquiersand souldiers, to the nornbre
of °viii M. nicnne, whiche all passed the sea, and to Caleis in the middle of May.
The lorde Herbert called sir Charles Somerset, chief Chamberlain to the kyng: the ende
of thesame monethe with. vi.M. men passed the sea in whose compaignie were these Lrles ot
Northumberiandc Percie, of Kent Graye, of Wilshire Stafford, the lorde Fitzwater, the
lorde Dudley, the lorde Delawar, sir Thomas West his sonne, sir Edward Husey, sir Robert
Dimmocke, sir Dauie Owen, with many other gentlemenne, some with speres on horse-
backe, some with pikes on foote, some with dimilaunces and this was the rereward
Such good diiigece was made that these two capitaines w.th all their compa.gme, furmshe
with Brtilcrie, pouder, tentes, cariages, and all thynges necessary for the warres we,
" £Kef ltd sol^trtain daies in Ca.eis, and that all thynges T«'e-«adj
thei caused aTrompet toblowe and made Proclamacion, that euery man should departe out
of the toune and so to begin the campe. The erle of Shrewesbury with his compaignie
fir* tote thefelde, after him folowed the lorde Herbert with his compare, m maner£ a
3 £+
538 . THE, V. YERE OF
rereward And after him folowed the valiaunt sir Rice ap Thomas, with. v.C. light horse
and Archers on horsebacke, and ioyned hym to the foreward. Then was there ordre taken
what persons should conduite the victalers that came from Caleis, and who should conduite
the victalers that came out of Flaunders, for without sufficient conduite no creature durste
bryn" any victaile to the armie. These two lordes thus embattailed rernoued the. xvii.
daie of lune to Sandisfelde, and on the xviii. daie thei came to Margison, on y farre side
of the water, as though thei would haue passed streiglitly to Bulleyn, but they thought
otherwise, for the nexte daie thei tooke another waie, and coasted the countrey with suche
'diligence, that the xxii. daie of lune thei with all their people ordinaunce, and habilimentes
of warre, wer come before the strong citie of Tirwin, and pight their Tentes a myle from
the toune, and for that night embattailed themself: and as certain capitaines wer in couu-
sail, in the lorde Herbertes tent, sodainly out of the toune was shot a gonne, the pellet
wherof slewe a noble capitain called the Baron of Carew, sitting therein counsaill, whiche
sodain aduenture dismaied muche the asemble. But the lorde Herbert valiauntly coforted
theim, saiyng: this is the chaunce of warre, if it had hit me yo-j muste haue been content,
a noble harte in warre is neuer a feard of death. All the countrey of Arthois and Picardie
fortefied their holdes, and made shewes as the English army passed, but thei durs^ not
once assaile them.
The citie of Tirwin was strongly fortifed with wales, rampaires, bulwarkcs, with diucrse
fortresses in the diches, whiche wer so brode and so plume stepe y was wondre to behold.
The lorde Pountremy was capitain generall, and with him wer within the citie. vi.C. hors-
men furnished, and twoo. M.v.C. Almaines beside the inhabilauntea of the city, the
Dalles & towers wer ful of ordinaunce, which ditl oftentymes great displeasure to the En-
glishcmen. The Erie of Shrewesbury laied siege to the toune, on the North West side, and
the lorde Herbert on the East side or end ward, the Frenchmen issued out of the toune
and skirmished with the Englishmen ne, but the Archers shot so fast that they draue the
Frenchemen into the citie, and slewe and toke diuerse of them. The lord Herbert which
laie in the open sight of the toune, hauing no hill or other thyng to succour or defende him,
caused greale trenches to be made, and so mawgre his enemies he approched very ncrc the
cite : likewise thcrle of Shrewesbury with the forward, gatte into an holowe ground or valey
nere to the citie. Daily the Frenchmen shot at thenglishmcn, and diucrse tymes issued out
and skirmished, and euer thei lost by skirmishyng, but by shotyng of ordinaunce thei hurte
diuerse Englishmen. \Vherfore the lordes commaundcd the pioners to raise a grcate trenche,
in whiche thei laied the great ordinaunce, and daily as thei might they approched: sir Rise
ap Thomas with the horsemen daily skowered the countrey, & many tvmes encountered with
the Frenchmen, and slewe and toke diuerso prisoners, so that the Frenchmen drewe not to-
ward the siege, but turned another waie. Vpon the Munduie becyng the. xxvii. daie of
lune. xxiiii. Cartes charged with victaiil, wer by the Garrison of Caleis conduited to
Guisnes, and there the Crewc of the castle and tonne of Guisnes with three. C. foote men,
vnder the conduite of sir Edward Belknappe, all bcyng in nombre. iiii.C.lx. men, set furthe
to conduite thesaied victailes to tluirmie liyng before Tirwyn, and so thei passed to Arde.
And while the Carters passed the toune, the horsmcn fell a drinkyng in the waie, and the
foote men wer all out of ordre. The duke of Vandosme capitain generall of Picardie,
whiche laie in a. bushement in the forest side of Guysnes with. viii.C. light horsemen, toke his
aduauntage and set on the victailers, the Carters perceiuingthat, losed their horses and iledd
to the toune, whiche was but a myle of and left their Cartes. Sir Nicholas Vaux capitain of
Guysnes did al he could, to bryng the foote men in an ordre: but the Frenchmen set on so
quickly that thei could not set theim in ordre, the horsemen of Guysnes whiche wer but
onely. xxiiii. toke their speres and ioyned with the Frenchemen : the Archers of Englande
whiche passed not. Ix. shot manfully, and a noble captain called Baltier De lien and diuerse
>ther, but the Frenchemen were so many in nombre and in good ordre, that thei slew viii.
gentlemen of the Garrison of Guisnes, and, xxx. Archers slain and many hurtc, and so
thei
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ.
thei distrussed the victailes, and caused sir Nicholas Vaux, and sir Edwarde Belknappe to
flie toward puisnes. This misauenture fell bytariyngof the horsemen and breakyng of ar-
ray, for if tharchers had taried together it had happened otherwise, for the fewe Archers
that held together, slewe and hurt diuerse Frenchemen: For on the felde laie. Ixxxvii. great
horse whiche neuer wet thence, by the which it appered that the Frenchemenne went not
quite awaie without losse. When tidynges of this misauenture came to the lordes at the
siege, thei were not a litle displeased: and sir Rise ap Thomas caused his Trompet to blowe
to the stirroppe, and he with his horsemen sought the Duke of Vandosme all the countrey,
whiche hearyng of thecommyng of sir Rise, with greate hast retreted backe to Bangey Ab-
bey, where the Frenche kynges greate army laie. Sir Rise heryng y he was returned came
the next daye agayn to y sege. The rumour of this skyrmish sproug all the English pale to-
ward Flaitnders, wherfore the tounes fiered ther bekous £ rang alarmc, diners honorable
forward in
was
the
Frenchmen would no more meddill, and the army also was well vitailed out of Flaunders
and Henawde.
The army of England thus lay before the strong toune of Turwin : y noble kyngof Eng-
lad not forgettyng his entreprice prepared al thing redy to passe the see in proper persone,
and caused sir Ihon Wilshire to puruey for. iii. C. hoyes to carry ouer his artillery & habili-
mets of warre and all his shippes of warre were on the see skoweriug euery coste of his
realtne. And when all things were prest he accompanied with many noble men and. vi.-C.
archers of his garde, al in white gabberdines & cappes, departed from his mauour royal of
grenewich the.' xv. day of lune and so he and the queue with sinal ionieys came to Douer
castetl & there rested, and made the quene gouerner of the realme & commanded William
Warram then bishop of Cantorbury and sir Thomas Louell a sage knight and diuers other,
to TVUC their attendaunce on the quene. And commaunded iherle of Surrey to drawe to-
ward the north partcs lest the Scottes woulde make any entreprice in his absence. 1 lien the
kin* toke lone of the queue and of the ladies which made such sorow tor the departyng of
theh- lords and husbandes, that it was greate dolor to beholdc, and so he with all his army
toke his shippc the last day of lune beyng the daye ot samct Paule.
In the mornyng when the kyng was shipped and made saile al y army folowed to the
nomber of. iiij C. shipprs, and the°winde was so, that they were brought euen on he cos e ot
picardy open vpon samct Ihons Roade, & with the flud they haled a og the cos e of V u-
Ld^trupettesblowyngandgonnesshotyng, to the great feare of them ot Bolleyn which
plainly might behokle this passage, and so came to Caleys liaue.
The kyng was receiued into a bote couered with arras, &s o Basset on lo n Je 1 ie
52S^.S^/S!5"isStS!SKS
"NvElhe kvng en,rcd Caicvs, a. ,he bfnishod men en.ned * Mm * : J« %
E--
540 THE. V. YERE OF
man
„ of the tetes, called Richarde Gybson, shewed him howe that certayne horsmen &
footme of Fraunce, profered to come ouer the haue, & the Archers that laie next the see
side entred into the water & defended y passage, w which defence the Frenchme returned,
& so v kvn" was satisfied. But after this a Frechma of Whitsad bay & one ot Bu Haiti were
take > one called Charles de bone, the other Peter vcrnowne, which confessed y fro the
toun'eof Whitsand came. Ix. horsmen &. ii. C. footmen of the garrison of Bullein & the
countrey adioynyng entendyng to passe by Rice banke at the low water marke, ouer y
haue of Caleis at a certayn foord shewed to the by a spy which serued the yoma of y tetes of
vitailes, & shewed the that the tentes were piched vnder Caleis walles betwene the towne
& the cape, so that thei might burne the quykly or the townc could issue, or the cape, re-
inoue. But the Englishmen kept so good watch as you haue harde that their entreprice came
to none effect. The morow after being the first day of Inly, y noble lord Haward adrnirall
of Englad landed at Whitsand Bay, & entred, spoyled &_brent the toune, & returned to his
ships for all y Bullonoys, & so recopensed the imaginacio that the bayly of Whitsand & the
Bullonys had entreprised for the burning of the kynges tentes.
On t'riday at night blew such a storme y seuered all the nauy,. & some were drowned.
Vpon the. viii. day of luly, the lord Marques Dorsett, therle of Essex, the lord Lisle
rode into Flanders & ther toke y moustersof the lord Lynuy, the lord Walo, sonne to the lord
of Barow, & bastard Emery which w ther retinue were then admitted into the kyngs wages &
the lord Linny w a. C. &. 1. speres was appoincted to go toy lord Herbert: & the lord
Walon & bastard Emery \V ther bondes were appointed to go to therle of Shrewsbury licg
before Tirwin: These striigers were warlycke persons on light horses. While the siege laye
thus before Tyrwyn as you haue harde, the Frenchmen diuerse times- issued out on horse-
back and many a stafte was broken & many a proper feat of armes done. Likewise the AI-
maynes on foot would diuerse times issue out w handgonnes, and morish pycks & assaile the
Englishme, but by force of the archers thci were euer driuen home agayn, & euery day the
Englishmen shott'at the towne and dyd them muche displeasure.
The. xxi. day of Iu!y (when all thinges by counsaill had byn ordered concernyng the or-
der of battayle) the kyng passed out of y towne of Caleis in goodly array of battaile Si toke
the felcle: And notwithstiidyng y the forward & the rcrewarde of the kynges great army were
before Tirwyn as you haue harde: Yet the kyng of his awne battayle made. iii. battailes after
the fasshion of the warre, the lord Lisle marshall of the hostc was capitaine of the forward,
and vnder him. iii. M. men. Sir Richard Carew \V. iii. C. men was the right hand wyng to
the forward, & y lord Darcy w. iii. C. me, wyng on y left hand, y skourers and forriders
of this battai'.e were y Northuberlaud men on light <jeldynges. Therle of Essex was Lieu-
tenant general of the speres, and sir Ihon Pechy was vice gouernour of the horsmen: be-
fore y kyng went. viii. C. Almaynes al in a plupe by them self's : after the came the standard
w the redde Drago, next the banner of our lady, & next after the banner of y trinitie, vnder
y same were all the kings houshold seruautcs, then went y baner of y armes of Englfid
borne by sir Henry Guildford, vnder which biiner was the kyng him self w diuers noble men
& other to the nober of. iii. M. me. The duke of Buckyngha with. vi. C. me was on y kyngs
left had egall w y Almaynes, in likewise on y right had was sir Edward Pounynges vV other.
vi. C. men egall with the Almaynes. The lord of Burgainic w. viii. C. men, was wyng on y
right hand, sir Willia Copton vV f retinue of y bishop of Wichester, & master Wolsey y
kings Almoner to y nober of. viii. C. was in maner of a rereward, sir Anthony oughtred &
sir Ihon Neuell w the kings speres y folowed, were. iiij. C. £ so Y hole army were. xi. M. &
iii. C. men. The master of the ordinaunce set foorth the kingesartilary, as fawcons, slynges
bobardes, cartes with powder, stones, bowes, arrowes & such other thinges necessary for
the felde, the hole nomber of the cariages were. xiii. C. the leders and driuers of the same
were. xix. C. men and all these were rekened in the battaile, but of good fightynge men ther
were not full. ix. M.
Thus in order of battaile y kyng rode to Seutreyca & ther lodged y first night, on friday y
garriso
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ.
garriso-of Bnlleyn mustered nye to Fines Mill, & were askryed by y Northuberland me,
which marched toward the, but y Frenchmen returned. On saterdaie the hoste remoued to
Hambwell and ther rested. On sonday, & on mondaie he entered into the French groude
nye to Arde, & ther euery gentlema had on his coat of armes, & these tydyngs were
brought to jf kyng y y Freeh army approched which tidinges pleased him well, for he desyred
nothyng but battaile. Tewsday the. xxvi. day of luly the kyng passed forward in order of
battayle & euer y Frenchmen costeda farre of to take the Englyshmen at some auantage,
but thei kept them so close in order that they could not fynd them out of array. Hoir-
beit, by negligence of the carters y mistokey waye a greate Curtail called the Ihon Euan?
gelist, was ouerthrowen in a depe ponde of water and coulde not quickly be recouered.
The kyng heryng y his enemies approched, leuyng the gonne (because the master car-
penter sayde y he would shortely way it out of the water) set forward his hoste, and i«
good order came to Dornahan where is a fayre castell standyng in a wodde countrey, the
Frenchme were euer lurkyng in the \voodes viewing the kyngs coduite & order as he passed,
and so he lefte the towne of Dornahan on his right hande, and came to a village on a litle
riuer where y ordinance pitched. And when y kyng came to the ryuer he perceyued y many
frentlemen niade dauger to entre into the riuer: Wherfore he a lighted downe of his horse The c°«-
and without any more abode entred the riuer, then all other entred and came ouer. Then kyng?
was tydynges brought to hym, that the Frenchmen were nere at hande and would fight that
nytfht: the kyng still abode in order of battaile, euer lokynge for the couimynge of the
Frenchmen, and at night woorde was brought that they were reculed, and then he entred
into his tente.
Wednesday the. xx.vii. daye of luly the releffe of the speres brought in askry, wherfore the
kvn" commaunded to blow'to the standarde, and auaunced his banner & toke a faire feld-
or banke abidyng the comming of the Frenchmen. The capitaines generallof the army of,
the French kyng°were the lord dela Palice and the lord of Piens, accompaignyed with the
duke of Eon<zuyle, therle of sainct Polle, the lord of Floringes, the lord Cleremounde, &
Richard dela Pole traytour of England sonnc to y duke Ihon of Suffolke: with these capi-
taineswere comyn<*. xi, M. footmen and. liij. M. horsmen, all prest in battayle & came win.
ii miles of the kyn" of Englande, and there the footmen staled and came no farther: cer-
taine horsmen to the^nomber of. iii.M and aboue marched forward and at the ende of a wodde
shewed them selfes open in the sight of the English army. The kyng pcrceiuyng there de-
meanure commanded al his footmen not to remoue, but to stand still. The Irrenchine re-
moucd aiid came sumwhat nerer to a place of cxecucion : then the master Goner losed a pcce
of artilery or two. As the kyngelay thus still ubydynge his enemies, and that the horsemen
s 'ode still in sight, the great araye of Frauncc approched, wlnche the Englishmen could not
deVcrye by cause of an hyll that was betwexte them. The Northerne men ran to y Irech-
n which manly encontered with- them and strake some ot them downe aiid muugre all
5 po re ouit certaine prisoners to the kyng of England 1 herle of Essex capi.amc
S,cPk n8« speres wuh. ii. C. speres lay in a stale, if the Frenchmen had come nerer
M™^3*f HSlffi^FSS S'l^ed1 IS" m ^S
withsu- rhornasGylford( caP'^n|01 d , more nomber to come after, sodamly
the Frenchme, winch perce'uyng y c. do tj n & ^ ^
drcwe back & loyned them w ^^^^^Tof Frannce and then staled, and sent
men folowed them tyll ^~™? "£S^Ji? When y Frenchmen of armes were
his st" and - to
THE. V. YERE OF
\
claryng to him how f Frenchmen were recnled. Tin's dale was called the drye wednesdav
for the day was wonderfull hoat and y kyng and his army were in order of battaile from
v,. ot v clock ,n y mornyng tyll. m. of the dock at after noone, and some died for lack of
nioysture & al most in generall e,,ery man was burned about the mouth with bete of the sto
niack, for drynke lacked and water was not nc-re. After thisy kyng remoued towarde Tvnrra
Wd?&rTT behy"dC hyi"' iCSt «" *'«i»h,nen shouVsodainly ffJJhSTK
hynae & as he kyng was settyng forward, the lord Waiowne of Flaunders cane to
the kyngw bis horsmen which were in the kvnges wages, and the fcZ deda ed a
. The Almue8 u thor,, °. , tOS,UCCOlir lili;in that ^,,t for y
dinaunce lay, and fXTe T^.d Tot ^ "^ ^ ?? ^r^ W'Ti -"e PCCC °°r-
speres, sir Rice ap TJionns w I, - I, ^ °f hsst'x lv'th his company of
11111 NCU
, ,
*tt forward to hepc ,1, erd ftpTrf11,?11 NCUC' "^ ^ Northube
horsmcn espied where al the ,'," ,,nv of The L. ° *""?; And S(ulitilll>' tlic r'-en
reported to therlc of Ks.ex ?• i< II F;e"^cti,en were commyng forward, and so
other capitaines, whic were ,c , ^ ^^ °f «^ horsemen and spared
horsme, «-|,ich hervn^ therof c lt P '^ g°"lic "'as lelt lvilh a huild^
of Essex to come & To ta e 3 ou Je?, Imnf'rn ^' 'I0' '.'^ therof ^sired the erle
l>aSte: In the me " " ""' %?hidl "" i
, mnrn .
In the meane season In d e t h ( "f H Tl >" ""' .%hidl ""^ in «'^e
raysed & carted, and furthe was i t cf id Iw H 'V i 1Ja,'.nCS> * pece °f ""'inaunSs was
When therle of Essex saw tl e ll T r 'I'"6 the l rclldl arniy al)ered j» s«"»>t
lord Walon, «,llynq hvml h c|, ™ ™ , Frenchl»e» !" "» hast he sn.t to the
-essenger, go tell ?,„ ca ^i " Tc ^hSZ? "'" ^ ^ M U'"Iwun s-d" ^1
one daye and therfore I Luld al! t 'e n'li ^ 1 ^M ' ° ^ °f E"'llai:d I1JO'-e llie«
France the! be not able to fight, L I "sTe e tbr """"^i0' '°r * ^ «rcat Power of
aunswere y messenger departed & n,a !e e] c.on "' l' "^ f' ^ ',Vl5 at the le^-- «'ith tins
whiche there w were sore discontent :bv hi . ° Cl'le Ot EsS('X & other capitavnes
come harde to y hades of the EngHshmen : hen ^ * T" ,rei"! °( thc Frcndie 'jai lti "'ere
Jf folow^gandreskaingonbotnnanie i " &" ^"ght horstnf » ^ skyrmyshe, ther
Ihen marched forward thc Thole b ' OPn ^ '"• °IUe °f' '>Oth ^
-
S?^A'i?:
--r
maner
KYXG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 543
maner retreted & folowed y gonne. The Frechme perceiuyng y cried al is ours let vs
folowe, then pricked forward, ii. M. men ot'armes £ came mste toy backes of y Englishmen,
then thenglishmen cried sainct George £ cast them selfe about and made retorne to f French-
men, sir William Tyler & sir Ihon sharpe were y first y charged, and after all the other Eng-
lishemen, there was a dreadfull chase, for the"rnen -of armes of Fraunce flede so fast, that
glad was he that might be formost, the hole hoostseynge ther horsmea returnyng in flight,
sodainly in great hast returned without any more doyng." Then the erle of Essex'stalecf to
an hil, & thcr caused his tropet to blowe to the standard for feare of subtyll dealyn« : and
when they were gathered together vnto array, he returned.
The. xxix. daye of luly the kyng with his army came to Arkus, and there embattailed
him selfe in a strong grounde, and to hym came tberle of Essex and the other capitaines with
the gonne, and made reporte of ther aduenture, which thanked them hardy, and ther he lay
till Moday in which time came many noble men of Flaunders to visile him &.many of the
common people came to se hyrn.
Mondaye the fyrste ciaye of Auguste, the kynge remoucd his campe to a village mycldell
way betwene Sayncte Omers and Tyrwyn, and ther fell suche a rayne that the ordynaunce
eoulcle scace be remoued the arable grounde was so softc.
Thursday the. iiij. day of August, the kyng in good order of battaile came before the Tyrwyn.. .
eitie of Tyrwyn & planted his sege in most warlikewise, his cainpe was enuironed with ar- .bcsesi;d-
tilerie, as Fawcones, serpentynes, cast hagbushes, and tryde harowes, spien trcstyls, and
other warlike defence for the sauegarde of the campe. The kyng for'hym selfe had a howse
of tymber with a chimney of yron, & for his other lodgynges he had great and goodly tentes
of blewe water worke garnvshed w yelowe & white, diucrse romes within thesame for afl
oftices necessary, on y topp of y pauilions stode y kynges bestes holdyng fanes, as y Lion.
y Dragon, the Greyhounde, the Antelope, the Done kow: within all the lodgyngc \vas
poyncted full of the sonnes risynge, the loclgynge was. C. xxv. foot in length.
The king lyeng before Tin\vn, his gieat ordinance sore bet y towne walles, and thei
within likewise shot out of the towne ordinance, & slewe diuers Englyshemen in the
trenches, among whiche shottes thci had one gonne that eueiy day & night was ordinarely
shotte at certeine howres without i'avlc: this gonne was of Thenglishmen called the whystelyng.;
gonne, but it neuer did harmc in the kynges i'eld. The siege thus Jycng before the cilee of
Tvrwyn, sir Alexander Baynam a capitaine of y myncrs, caused a myne to he enterprised to
entre into the towne, but'ihe Frenchmen perceyuyng that made a countermyne and so de-
stroyed the other myne, and diuers myners slayne within thesame. The Frenche army houed
ener a farre to take the Englishmen at auauntage as thei \\cnt a forragyng, & many a skir-
mish was done, and many good foates of armes acheued OQ bolhe sydes, and diuers pri-
soners taken. Among the Frenchmen were cerlaine light horsmen called Stradiotes with
shorte styroppes, beuer halts, small spcres, & swerdes like_Semileries of Turkay : dyuers
tymes, tlic northrc light horsme vnder y conduite of sir iho Neuel skirmished with these
stradiottes and toke diuerse of them prisoners, and brought them to the kyng.
While the kyn* lay thus before Tyrwyn, the capitayne of Bullen knowynge by hys espi-
tvllcs that many of the -rarryson (If Cale'ys were with the kyngc at the si&ge, and also that
daylye vitailles were brought out of Englande to Caleys to succour the campe, nnagened
a greate cutrcprice and sent for all the men of warre vndni- his dominion and rule, and de-
clared to them what honour they shoulde obteyne yf they hurled or spoyled the out paries-
of CaleK the kyng of En-land beyng on that syde the see. The men ol warre pcrceuiyng-
v good courage of y capitoine, assented to his purpose, and so with all diligence they to
the nombcr of a. M. men in the euenyng set forward, and carne to Newnam Bridge by. nj
of the clock in the morning, and founde y watchme y kept the bndgc a slepe and so eutred
v bulwerke & slewe y watchmen, & toke y ordinaunce ot y bridge & then let y bndgc fall,
so y al eutred v would. The capitayn of Bulleyn kept. vi. C. men tor a stale at y bridge,
& syent 5" other into the mamsshes and meadowes where the Cattcll fedde, and some of tb9
A 44, THE. V. YERE OF
Frenshmen came to Caleys gate, £ were askryed of y watch and so rang alarme: The Eng-
lish soukliours ran to the walles, and saw the Frenshmen without the toune walles: then thei
knewe that Ncwn«.m brydge was lost, and would haue issued out, but Sir GylbertTalbott de-
putie there, would not suffer any gate to be opened. Now it happened that without Caleys
.gates were Richard Hunnyng & Richard Brycks of the Caterie, and. iij. or. iiij. of the
kynges seruauntes whiche lay there to sende prouisions to the boost : which heryng of this
alarme, called to them the kynges bakers, and cowpers, and a fe\ve shippemen, which Jay
in the hauen, and coragiously folowed the Frenchmen. Thenglishmen were not past. vi.
skore persones, and sett on y Frenchmen as thei were a forragyng or they might assemble
together, & slew them doune right, and toke no prisoners in maner, and so thei came to
Newnam brydge & toke it and [)ut the Frenchmen backe. But or Thenglishme had thus
.gathered them selfes together) the Frenchmen had forraged all with in the riuer vp to sainct
.Peters, and had driuen away the cattell and the ordinaunce of Nc.wnam brydge and so
passed till they came where the stale lay, and ther they taried lokyng for ther company that
\vere gone a forragyng to Caleys walles. About, v. of the clock in the morenyng, y gate of
.Caleys called Bulleyn gate, was opened, & then issuyd out one Culpiper the vnder marshal!,
with. ii. C. hundred archers with the banner of sainct George, and with great hast came to
Newnarn bridge, where thei found the kynges seruauntes and the other that had wonne the
brydge, and then they all together marched toward the Frenchmen, which kepte the stale.
The Frenchmen thought it had hen there awne company that had returned, till they saw the
banner of sainct George, then they knewe that their company were ouerthrovven, and
that they must nedes fight or dy. Then thenglishmen though thei were the smaller nomber,
valiantly set on the Frenchmen, which with great force them defended, but at the last
thei were all discomfited and. xxiiii. slayne and. xii. skore taken prisoners and ther ordi-
naunce and hole booty recouered. Those prisoners were brought to Caleys, and there sold
Thtfoiy of in open market: Among all oilier a Cowper of the towne of Caleys bought a prisoner of
°*p"> this booty y dwelt in Bulleyn, and had of the prisoner C. crownes for his raunsome, and
when the mony was paied, the Frenchman praied the Cowper to sc hyrn saue deliuered
and to conduite hym out of danger, the Cowper gently graunted and \\ithout any know-
lege of his frendes, all alone went \V the Frenchman till he came beyonde the Cawscy and
ther would haue departed : but the Frenchmen percciued, that the Cowper was aged and
that no reskewes was ny, by force toke the Cowper prisoner £ caricd him to Bulleyn, and
made hym paye. ii. C. crownes for his raunsome, thus thorowe foly was the poore Cowper
'deceaued.
The. xi. daie of August beyng thursday, the kyngc lyenjr at the siege of Tvrwyn, had
knowlcge that Maximilian theperour was in y towne of Ayre. The kyn" prepared all
thmges necessarie to mete with themperour in triumphc. The noble men °of the kyii^es
campe were gorgeously apparelled, ther coursers barded of cloth of "old, of damaske°&
brodene, there apparell all tissue clothe of gold and sylucr, and goldc smithes woorke, jrrca*
cheynes ot baldenckes of gold, and belles of bullion, but in especial y duke of Buckin-
ham, he was in purple satten, his apparell and his barde full of Antelopes and swannes of
fyne go d bullion and full of spangyls and littel! belles of gold meruelous cosily and pleasat
to behold. 1 he kyng was in a garment of greate riches in iuels as perles and stone, he was
armed in a light armure, the master of hys horse folowed him with a spare horse, the
htnxmen folowec berynge the kynges peces of harnys, euery one mounted on a greate
courser, the one bare the helme, the seconde his graugarde, the thirde his spere. the fourth
Ins axe and so euery one had some thyng belongyng to* a man of annes : Japarei of he
vi^T TC whlte.clotte °f 8°lde a»d C'W cloth of gold, richely e'mbrawde ed
with goldesmythes woorke the trappers of the corsers were mantell barneys coulpened and
in euery vent a longe bel of fyne gold, and on euery pendant a depe tassel of fyne To Id I
and the ±0' 'T? 7" "7 ****• The k^ and *^5™* -ett bSwenf ay e
1 the campe, ,n the fowlest wether that lightly hath bene sene. Themperour gentely en-
terteined
KYNG HENRY THE. V1IJ. 515
terteined the kyng, and the kyng lykewyse hym, and after a littell communicacion had be-
twene them, bicause the wether was foule, departed for that tyme. The Emperour ami all
his men were at that daie all in black cloth for the Emprice his wife was lately disseased.
After that the kyng was this retorned to his campe, with in a daye or twayne {her arr'ued
rn the army a kyng of armes of ScotUid called Lyon with his cote of armes'ou his backhand
desyred to speke with the kyng, who with in shorte tyme was by Garter chefie kyn»e of
armes brought to the kinges presence, where he beyng almost .dismayed seyng the kyhg so
nobly accompanied, with few woordes and metely good reuerencc, deliuered a tetter lo the
king, which receiued y letter and redde it him selfe, and when he had redde it, without any
more delay he him selfe aunswered after this sorte. Nowe" we perceyue the kynge of
Scottes our brother in law & your master to be y same person whome we euer toke hytn
to be, for we neuer estemed hym to be of any truthe & so nowe we haue founde it, "for
notwithslaudynge his othe, his promise in y woorde of kyng, & his awne hand and scale,
yet nowe he hath broke his faith and promise to his great dishonour and infamie for euer,
and entendeth to inuade our real me in our absence whiche he dirst not ones attempte, our
person beynge presente, but he sheweth him self not to be degenerate from the condicions
of his forefathers, whose faythes for the most parte hath euer byn violated and ther pro-
mises neuer observed, farther than they liste. Therfore tell thy master, first that he shall
neuer be comprised in any league where in I am a confederate, & also that 1 suspecting
his treuth (as now the dede proueth) haue left an carle in my realmc at home whiche shaibe
able to defende him and all his powre, for we haue prouided so, that he shall not fynde
our land destitute of people as he thynketh to do: but thus saye to thy master, that 1 am
the very owner of Scotlild, & y he holdeth it of me by homage, and in so much as no\v
contrary to his bounden duety he beinge my vassall, doth rebell against me, \V Gods help I
shal at my returne expulse him his realme, & so tell hym : sir sayd the kyng of Armes, I
am his naturall subiecte, & he my naturall lord, & y he commaundeth me to saye, 1 may
boldely saye w fauour, but the commaundementes of other I may not, nor dare not saye to
my souere'igne lord, but your letters may with your honour sent, declare your pleasure, for
I may not say suche woordes of reproche to him whom I owe only my allegeaunce & faytli.
Then sayd the kyng wherefore came you hyther, will you receyue no aunswere? yes sayde
Lid, your answere requireth doyng and no writynge, that is, that immediatly you should re-
turne home: well said the kyng I will returne to your domage at my pleasure, and not
at thy masters somonyng. Then the kyng commaunded garter to take hym to his tente,
& make him good chere, which so dyd, and cherished him wel for he was sore appalled : after
he was departed, the kynge sent for all the chefe capitaynes, and before them and ail his
counsaill caused the letter to be redde, the trewe tenor whereof folowelh woorde, by woorde.
The letter of the kyng of Scottes.
" Ri«ht excellent, ri«ht high, and mighty Prince, our deerest brother & Cousyng, we
commaunde vs vnto you in our mayst harty maner & receyued Fra Kaft heraulde your
letters quharuntill, ve approue and allow the doynges of your commissioners lately
bevnc with ours, at'the borders of bathe the realmes for makyng ot rcdresse, quylke is
thought to vou and your counsell should be continnet and delaet to the. xv. daye of Octo-
ber ° Als ve write, slaars by see aught not copere personally, but by their aUorne.s. And
in your other letters with our heraulde Hay, ye ascertain* vsye will nought entre ,11 the
treux taken betwext the mast Christian kyng and your father of Aragon because ye and
others of the hale liege, nether should ne may take peace treux nor abstmece ot warre
?v h your common enemy, without consent of all the confederates. And that the L,,,pc-
rourkviwof Ara«on, ye and euerv of you be bounden to make actual warre thb instant
mme\ ao-aynst "your" common enemie. And that so to do is concluded and openly
«wo,ne in Panics kyrke at London vpon saincte Markes daie last by past And fcrther
hau de yed saueconduite vpon our request* J a senator of ours aught haue resorted
546 THE. V. YERE OF
your presence, as our herauld Hay reportes : Right exceHet, right high and mightie Prince
our derest brother and Cousyng, thesayd rnetyng of our and your commissioners at the
borders, was peremptorily appoyncted betwyxt you and vs^eftir diuerse dietes for reform-
acio before contynued to the Commissioners metynge, to efFecte that dueredresse suld haue
ben made at the sayde metynge, lyke as for our parte our Commissioners offered to haue
made that tyme: And for your part na malefactour was then arrested to the sayde diet.
And to glose thesamc, ye nowe wright that slaars by see nede not compere personally, but
by their attourneys, quylk is agayne the lawe of GOD and man. And gef in crimenall
accion, all slaars sulde nought compere personally, na punicion sulde folowe for slaughter,
and than vane it were to seke farther metynges or redresse. And hereby apperes as the
dede shewes, that ye wyll nouther kepe gude weyes of justice and equitie nor kyndne*
with vs, the greate wronges and vnkyndnes done before to vs and our lyeges we ponderate
qtihilk we haue suffered this long time in vpberyng, maynsweryng nounredressyngof Attemp-
tates, so as the byll of the taken of in haldynge of bastard Heron with his complices in your
cuntree quha slewe our warden vnder traist of dayes of metyng for Justice, and therof
was filat and ordaynt to be delyuered in slaynge of our liege noble men vnder colour
by your folkes, in takynge of vthers oute of our realme, prisonet and cheinet by the cragges
in your cotre, with balding of our wifes legacie promist in your diuerse letters for dis-
pite of vs, slaughter of Andrew Barton by your awne cornmaund quha than had nought
offended to you nor your lieges vnredressed, and breakynge of the amitie in that behalfe
by your dede, and with haldynge of our shippes and artilarie to your vse, qubarupon eft
our diuerse requisitions at your wardens, Commissioners, Ambassadors, and your selfe,
ye wrate and £ als shewe by vthers vnto vs, that ful redresse suld be made at the sayde
metynge of commissioners, and sa were in hope of reformation, or at the lest ye for
our sake walde haue desisted fra inuasion of our frendes and Cousynges with in their
awne countreis that haue nought offended at you as we tirstc required you in fauoure of
cure tendre Cotisynge the duke of Geldre, quham to destroye and disinherite ye send your
folkes and dudde that was in them. And right sa we latly desyred for our brother and
Cousynge the mast Christen kynge of Fraunce, quham ye haue caused to tyne his countre
of Millaigne, and now inuades his selfe quha is with vs in secunde degree of blude, and
base ben vnto you kynde withoute offense and more kyndar than to vs : notwithstandynge
in defense of his per?one we mon take parte, and therto ye because of vthers haue gyuen
occasion to vs and to our lyeges in tyme by past, nouther doynge iustly nor kyndely
towardcs vs, proccdynge alwayes to the vtter clestruccion of our nerest frendes, qulia mon
doo for vs quhan it shall lie necessarie. In cuill example that ye wyll hereafter be better
vnto vs quham ye lightlye fauoure, manifestly wranged your sister for our sake incotrary
our writtes. And sayeng vnto our herauld timt we giue you fay re wordcs £ thinkes the
cotrary, in dede such it is, we gaue you wordes as ye dudde vs, trustynge that ye
shoulde haue emended to vs or worthin kyndar to our frendes for our sakes, and sulde
nougtight haue stopped oure seruitors passage to labourc peax, that thei might as the
papes halines exherted vs by his breuites to do. And thcrapon we were contented to haue
ouersene our harmes & to haue remitted thesame, though vther informacion was made to
our haly father pape luly by tlie Cardinal of Yorke your Ambassadour. And sen ye
haue now put vs fra all gude beleue through the premisses, and specially in denycn"e of
sauecpnduyte to our seruauntes to resorte to your presence, as your ambassadour doctor
west instantly desyred we sulde scnde one of our counsayll vnto you apon greate matters,
and appoynctyng of differentes debatable betwyxt you and vs, furtheryng of pcax yf
we might betwyxte the most Christen kyng and you, we neuer harde to this purpose
saueconduitc denied betwixte infideles. Herefore we write to you this tyme at length
playnes of our myiide, that we require and desire you to desiste fra farther inuasion
and vtter destructio of our brother and Cousyng the" mayst Christen kyng, to whome
by all confederacion bloude and alye and also by new bande, quhilk ye haue com-
pelled
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 547
pelled vs lately to take through your iniuries and harmes without remedy done daily
vnto vs, our lieges and subdites, we are bounde and oblist for mutuall defence ilke
of vtbers, like as ye and your confederates be oblist for mutuall inuasions and
actual! warre: Certih'cng you we will take parte in defence of our brother and Cousyng
^ maist Christen kyng. And wil do what thyng we trayest may crast cause you to desist
tra persuite of him, and for denyt and pospoynct Justice to our lieges we mon gyue letters
of Marque accordyng to the" amitie betwixte you and vs, quharto ye haue had lyttell re-
garde in tyme by past, as we haue ordaint our herauld the bearer hereof to saye, gife it
like you to here him and gyf hyrn credence: right excellent, right high and mighty Prince
our derest brother and Cousyng, the Trinitie haue you in kepyng. Geuen vnder our sig-
net at Edynborowe the. xxvi. daie of luly."
When the kynge rede this letter, he sente it in all haste to the Earle of Surrey into England,
whyche then lay at Pomfrett, and caused an other letter to be deuised to the kyng of
Scottes, the copie v, hereof foloweth.
" Right excellent, right high, and mighty prince, &c. and haue receiued your writyng,
Dated at Edenburgh the. xxvi. daie of luly by your heraulde Lyon this bearer, wherein af-
ter rehersall and accumulacio of many surmised iniuries grefes and damages doone by vs Sc
our subiectes to you and your lieges, the specialites whereof were superfluous to reherse, re-
membryng that to theim and euery of theim in effect reasonable aunswere founded vpon lawe
and coscience hath tofore ben made to you and youre counsail, ye not only requyre vs to de-
siste from farther inuasion and vtter destruction of your brother Sc Cousyng the French
kyng, but also certefie vs that you will take parte in defence of thesayd kyng, and that thyng
whiche ye trust may rather cause vs to desiste, from persuite of him, \\ ith many contriued oc-
casions and cornunications by you causeles sought and iinagened, sownynge tothebieache
of f perpetuall peace, passed, concluded and sworne, betwixt you and vs, of which your
immagened quarelles causeles deuised to breake with vs contrarye to your othe promised, all
honor and kyndnesse: We cannot maruayle, consideryng the auncieut accustomable rnaners
of your progenitours, whiche neucr kept longer faythe and promise than pleased them.
Mowebeit, yf the loue and dread of God, nighnes of bloud, honour of the world, la\ve
and reason, had bound you, \vesupposeye woulde neuer haue so farre preceded, specially
in our absence. Wherin the Pope and all princes Christened may well note in you, disho-
norable demeanour when ye lyeng in awayte seke the \vaies to do that in our sayde ab-
sence, whiche ye would haue ben well aduised to atteinpte, webeynge within our realme and
present: And for theuident approbation hereof, we nede none other proues ne witnesse but
youre owne writynges heretofore to vs sent, we beyng within our realme, wherin ye neuer
"made mencion of taking parte with our enemie the Frenche kynge, but passed the tyme
with vs tyil after our departure from our said realme. And now percase ye supposynge vs
soo farre from our said realme to be destitute of defence agaynst your inuasions, haue vt-
terred the olde rancour of your mynde whiche in couert maner ye haue longe kept secrete.
Neuerthelesse, we remembrynge the brylilnes of your promise and suspectynge though not
Alies weeshalbe able toresyste the malice of all Scysmatyques and their adherentes beynge
by the cenerall counsavll expressely excommunicate and interdicted, trustynge also in tyme
conuemente to remember our frendes, and requyte you and oure enemies, which by suche
vnnaturall demeanour haue gyuen sufficiente cause to the dysherison ot you and your postente
for euer from the possybilitie that ye thynketo Imue to the royalme, whiche ye now attempt*
to inuade. And yf the example of the kyng of Nauarre beynge excluded from his royalme
for assisience gyuen to the Frenche king cannot restrayne you fro this !nn?tura» d5?lyn8J
we suppose yelhall haue like assignee of the sayde Frenche kynge as the kyng of Name
hath now: Who is a kynge withoute a realme, and so the French kynge peaceably suffereth
4 A 2
hvm
548 THE. V. YERE OF
hyin to contynue wherunto good regarde woulde be taken. And lyke as we heretofore
touched in this oure writing, we nede not to make any further aunstvere to the manyfolde
nreues by you surmised in your letter: forasmuche as yf any lawe or reason coulde bane re-
moued you from your sensuall opinions, ye baue ben many and often tymes sufficiently aun-
swered to thcsame: Excepte onely to the pretended greues touchy'nge the dcnyeng of our
saufeconduyte to your Ambassadoare too bee last sent, vnto vs: Where vnto \ve make this
aunswere, that we had grauhted thesayde saufeconduite, and yf your herauid would haue
taken the' same with hitii lyke as he hath ben accustomed to solliciiee saueconduytes for
marchauntes and others heretofore, ye might as sone haue had that as any other, for we
neuer denyed saufeconduyte ta any your lieges to come vnto vs & no further to passe, but we
seewel lyke as your sayde herauid hath heretofore made sinister reporte contrary to trouthe
so hath he done nowe in this case as it is manifest and open. Fynally as towchyng your requi-
sicion to desist from farther attemptyng againste our enemy the French kyng, we knowe you
for no competent Judge of so high auctboritie to require vsin thatbehalfe: w her for God wit-
lyng we purpose with the aydeand assistence of our confederates & Alics to persecute the-
same, and as ye do to vs and our realme, so it shalbe remebred and acquited hereafter by
the helpe of our lord and our Patrone sainct George. Who righte excellent, right highe
and myghtie Prynce. &c. Yeuen vnder our signet in our campe before Tyrwyn the. xii. dayc
of August.
When this letter was written and sealed, the kvnge sent for Lyon the Scottyshe heraulde,
and declared to him that he had wel considered his masters letter, and therto had made a
reasonable answere, and gaue to him in reward a hundred angels, for which reward he
humbly thaked the kyng and so taried with gartier al night, and euer he sayde that he was
sory to thynke what domage shoulde be done in Englande by his Master or the kynge re-
turned, and so the nexte daie he departed into Flaunders wyth hys Letter to haue taken
shyppe to sayle in to IScotlande, but or he coulde huuc shyp and wynde hys master was
slayne.
After the defyaunce declared by the kyng of Scottcs herauid, y king of England wrote to
the queue and other whiche he had left behynde of his counsayll, to prepare in all haste for
the defence of thesayde kynge of Scottes, which so did w great diligence as you shal here
shortly after. While the kyng lay thus at siege before Tirwyn, the Frenchme studied all the
wayes possible how to vitayle the towne of Tirwyn, & imagened in a night by some wave to
conuey vitayle to the towne: wherfore euery day they sent ther stradiates to espie by which
way they might take their most auantage, and many times the English horstnen met vV the
stradiates and of them slew parte.
The French kyng woulde in any wise that the kyng of Englande shonlde be fought with
all, \vherfore lie sent the duke of Vandosme, The duke of Longuyle with diuerse other va-
liant captains of Blagoy. Then was ther a conclusio taken that the duke of Alanson should
wyth v.M. men fight with the Earle of Shrewesbury, or els to kepe that nother he nother
the lord Harbert should ayde or come to the kynges battayle, & with the king should skyr-
mish the duke of Vandosme & Longuyle, while in the meane season the cariages with vi-
tayle might entre the towne. For accomplyshyng of this entreprice, the Frenchmen made
greate puruiaunce and all on horsebacke, this was not so secretly cocluded but the kyng of
England had an ynkelyng therof, and sent woorde to the Emperour whiche laye at Avre and
knewe nothy'ng of this deuise and desyered hym to come to the campe to haue his aduyse :
which gladly aunswered that he woulde come the morowe after. The kyng continually sent
foorth his light horses to seke the countrey and to se yf any apparaunce were, and they euer
brought tidynges of such things as thei sawe, so that alwaiesit was forsene that the kyng nor
his people should be taken vnpuruyed, nor the Frenchmen shoulde not come on them so-
dainlv vnaskryed.
While these thynges were thus in commonynge and imagenyng. Themperour Maximilian
and all his seruauntes whiche were reteyned with the kyng of England in wages by the day,
euery
KYNG HENRY THE. VII J-. 549
cuery person acccrdyngc to his degree, and Themperour as the kynges soldioure ware a-
Crosse of sayncte George with a Rose, and so he and all his trayne came to the kynges
campe the. xiii. day of August beyng Frydaye, and there was receyued with greate magny-
ficence and brought to a tente of cloth of golde all ready apparelled accordynge to his estate,
for all the tente within was syled with clothe of golde and blewe veluet, and all the blewe
veluet was embrowdered with. H. K. of fyne golde, and hys ctipboorde was rychcly fur-
nyshed and ofiicers appoyncted to geue on hym attendaunce: ami there he taried tyll 3;>n-
day, and from thence he went agayne to Ayre for his pleasure. The kyngand his counsaill
were enformed by their espialies, and also it was confessed by certayne prysoners, howe the
Frenche armye whiche lay at Blangoy, cntended to vitaylu the cytee of Tyrwyn. Wherfore
on Frydaye at nyght, the.' xiii. day of August tne Duke of Buckyngham, the Earlc of Es-
sex, the Marques Dorsett the Lorde of Burgaynye, the Lord Willoghby, and dvucrse other
gentelmerr with. vi. thousand men on foots and the Lorde Walon and the Lorde Ligny
\vith ther horsemen were layed at Gyngate on the south syde of Tyrwyn, where they were
all nyghte in order of battayle, awaytynge the reskewe of the cytee, but the Englishmen
were askryed, and so the Frenchmen brake there purpose for that time: and so the Duke
of Buckyngham and his compaygnions returned to the campe. Monday the. xiii. daye of
August by infortune, with oute any cause knowen, there fell a greate debate betwene the
Almaynes of the kynges felde and Thenglyshemen, in so muche that they fell to fyghtynge
and many men slayne, the Almaynes sodaynely ran to the kynges ordynaunce and loke it,
and embattayled them selfes, and bent the ordinaunce agayn=te the kynge and his campe.
ThengUsheme were greatly fumed with this matter: in so rnuche the archers set forward' to
hauc ioyned with the Almaynes, and they lykewyse prepared there pykes, but the capitaynes
tooke suche payne that the fray was appesed andal things done for that time, but as thisco-
mocion was in trouble, the Emperour came from Ayre and saw ail the demener of both par-
ties and was glad to se the discrete handelyng of' the capitaynes. After themperourrwas
come to the ky.iges felde, the king called Theperour and all the lordes of his counsayll to-
cither asserte'yriyng them that he was credibly enformed that the Frenchmen emended to
reskewe "the cytee of Tvrwyn, therefore it was agreed tint the master of the ordynaunce
shoulde in haste make iyue bridges oaer the water for the army to pass^ ouer, to thentent to
bese>re the cytee on that syde: the carpenters dyd so there cleui-r that nyght, so that by daye
all the brvd^es were made, so that all the horsemen passed ouer and askryed the countrcy.
On Twesdaye the. xvi. day of August the ky;ig reysed hys campe and with great ordinaunce
and all other artilerye and curiage he passed the llyucr, and to him came Sir Ihon Neuell
with hvs Mite horsemen and tolde him • that behinde the tower of Gyngate was a great
plumpe of horsemen. In the meane season, as Sir Ihon Neuell tolde the kynge these ty-
dvnses bv a no'her wave was therle of Essex Sir Ihon Peche and the kings speres passec
.^skirmished wyth the plumpe of speres that Sir Ihon spake of, and ^^re ^uy ,^-
fcrsimdeon bothe sides, but in couc.usion the Frenchmen were compelled to leaue then
stale and one horseman taken andsente to the kyng whiche in hope of pardon of Ins Raun
Some shewed howe that the Frenche armye with their full power and strength ^e com-
myn»e from BU.moy the nomber of fyf.ea tbowsande horsemen ot armes to ayde Ty.uy n on
of the water. And to thentente that the armye ot the Lorde Stewarde a nd I the
550 THE. V. YERE OP
bee, and all my ryche tentes sett vp, whychc was done. Then the kynge called the Lorde
Darcy, and commaunded hym to kepe his fclde, treasure ordynaunce and other stufte,
whycbe was lothe to goo from hys Master but by streyte commaundemente. Then euery
man prepared hym selfe to battayle resortynge to the standarde, the horsemen marched be-
fore the footmen by the space of a myle, still came curroures berynge tydynges that the
Frenche armye approched. The kynge bad sette forwarde and to auaunce hys banner in
name of GOD and Sainct George. The Almaynes seynge this (to what purpose it was not
knowen) sodainly embatteled them selfes on the left hande of the kyng and left the brest or
fronte of the kyngs battayle bare. As the kyng was thus marchyng forwarde towarde the
battaile, to him came the Emperour Maximilian with. xxx. men of armes he and all his
companye armed in on sute with redde crosses: then by the counsayll of the Emperour the
kynge caused cei taine peces of small ordinaunce to be laied on the toppe of a long hill or
banke for the out skowerers: thus the kynges horsemen and a fewe archers on horsebacke
marched forwarde. The kyng woulde fayne haue been afore with the horsmen, but his
counsayll pcrswaded him the contrary, and so he taried with the footme accompanied with
themperour.
The Frenchmen came on in. iii. ranges, xxxvi. mens thickenes & well they perceiued the
kynges battayle of footmen marching forward: the erle of Essex capitayne of the hors-
men, and sir Iho Peche with the kynges horsmen and the Burgonyons to the nomber of a
xi.C. stode with banner displayed in a valey. The lorde Walonne and the lord Ligny with
bastarde Emerv and there bende to the nomber of. iiii.C. horsmen seuered them selfes and
stode a syde from the Englishmen : so then thenglishmen were but. vii.C. yet they with
banner displayed remoued vp to the toppe of the hill, and there they mett with sir Ihon Gyl-
forde a. C. talle archers on horsebacke, which had askryed the Frenchemcn. Now on the
topp of the hill was afayre plaine of good groundc, on the left hand a lowe wodde, and on
the right hand a falo\ve felde. The lord Walonne and the Burgonions kept them a loofe,
thenappered in sight the Frenchmen with banners and standardes displaied. Then came to
thecapitaynes. of Thenglishmen of armes, an English officer of armcs called Clarenseux and
sayde, in Gods name sett forward, for the victorie is yours for I see by them, they will not
abide, and I will go with you in my coate of armes. Then the horsmen set forward, and
the archers alighted and wore set in order by an hedge all a long a village side culled Bornye:
the Frenchmen came on with xxxiii. standardes displayed, and the archers shotle a pace and
galled their horses, and the English speres set on freshly, cryegsainct George, & fought va-
liantly with the Frenchmen and threw downe their standards, the dust was great and the
crye more, but sodainly the Frenchmen shocked to their standards and fledde, and threw
away there speres, swerdes, and mascs and cut of the bardes of their horses to ronne the
lighter, when the hinder parte saw the former fly, they fled aiso, but the soner for one
cause which was this. As y English horsmen mounted vpp the hill, the stradiates were co-
myng downe wardes on the one syde of the hill before the French hoste, which sodainly
saw the banners of the English horsmen, and the kynges battayle folowyng vpwarde, wen-
yng to them that all had been horsmen, then they cast them self about and fledde, the French-
men so fast in array that the stradiates could haue no entre, and so they ran still by
thedes of $ ranges of the French army: and when they behynde saw the fall of their standardes
and their stradiates in whome they had greate confidence retorne, they that were farthest of
fledde firste, then^vp pranced the Burgonyons and folowed the chace: this battaile was of
horsmen to horsme but not in egal nomber, for the Frenchmen were. x. to one, which had
not byn sene before tyme, that 'J henglishe horsemen gatt the victory of the men of armes of
Theiour- Fraunce. The Frenchmen call this battaile the iourneyof Spurres because they rune away
so fast on horsbacke- This battaile was the. xvi. daye of August, in the whiche battayle was
taken the duke of Longuyle, loys brother to therle of Dunoys whiche had mai ied the Mar-
ques of Rutilons heyre, the lorde Cleremounde and many other noble men to the nomber
.of. xu. skore and all brought to the kynges presence, aud Jykewyse all the standardes and
" banners
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. SSl
banners were brought to the king. The Burgonios kept their prisoners and brought them
not to sight. The fame wet that Moiisire de la Palayce was by them taken and lett go.
Thenglyshemen folowed the chace. iii. myle longe from the felde to a water in a valey, and
there a Frenchman sayde to Sir Gyles Capell that one daye they woulde haue a daye, whiche
aunswered hym agayne in Frenche that it was a bragge of Fraunce: and so Thenglishmeu
returned to the kynge, whiche was commyng forward who gaue them thankes with greate
praisynges for their valiantnes, and there he made Sir Ihon Peche bannarett and made Ihon
Car knyght which was sore hurt, and sir Ihon Peclie had his guyd home taken and diuers of
his men hurt, they folowed so farre. Then the kyng retrettd to Gyngate, to whom catne
sir Rise and shewed him how hoat the Frenchmen had skirmished with hym all daye oa
the other syde of the ryuer, and how therle of Shrewesbury with banner displaied was al daye
prest in. order of battayle to haue fought with the duke of Alanson and therle of sainct
Polieand the lord of Florenges which with. v.M. men as you haue herd were appoincted to
reskevve the towne on that syde where the lord of Shrewesbury lay, and to let him to come
to aid the king, but how so eucr that it happened, they stode still and came not downe but
only skirmished with Sir Rice : The citie of Tyrwyn was this day in hope of ayde, and
when they saw ^her helpers comyng nere, they thesame day proudely issued out on the lord
Harbert & skirmished with his people very valiantly, and they within also shot out ordi-
nance of all partes. The lorcle Harbert and his capitaines coragiously defended them, and so
sore they set on the Frenchme, that they draue them by force to their gales for all ther suc-
cours, and many of them were slayne: this night the kyng sent for the duke of Longeuyle
and the lord Cleremounde and diuerse other noblemen, and the duke supped at 5' kyngs horde-
that night.
Then the Frenchmen after this discomfiture assembled together and returned to Blangoy.
xii. myle from the coste, and there talked of their losses, and because they knewe not who
were taken and who were slain, therefore they sent an heranlde to the kyng to knowe the
nomber of the prisoners, the kynges counsayll according to there desyer sent to them the
names. The kyng beyng assertayned that the French kynges purpose was yet agayne to
geue hym battayle, commannded the best of the prisoners shoulde be conueyed to the towne
of Ayre in Flaunders: but when Thenglyshmen had brought them thyther, the capitayne de-
nyed that Thenglishmen shoulde entre the towne with prysoners of Fraunce with whome he
and his countrey had peace: but yf the Frenchemen would desyre lodgyng for their ease,.
they shoulde be permitted to entre. But thenglishmen in a fury aunswered, that yf you wyll
not suffer vs to kepe our prisoners, we will slay them: then the Frenchmen mekely praied
the capitayne to suffer the Englishemen to entre, and sware to their kepers to be trewe pry-
soners and so they entered, and after were conueyed into England. The Lord Powntre-
my Of the house of Cresquy capitayne generall of Tyrwyn perceyued the discomfiture of
the French partie, and perceyued how the Earle of Shrewesbury and the Lorde Harbert
had brought thither great ordinaunce so nere the toune that nerer it coulde not be brought,
and that fn the walles was suche batterie that it was not lyke to continue, yet he manfully de-
fended the cvtee and shotte gonnes euei-y daye as he was accustomed and neucr was in des-
navre tyll the xviii. daye of thesayde moneth he sawe the kynge reraoue his campe from
Gyngate and laved his campe on the soutiie syde of the towne betwene their reskewe and
the toune- then when he sawe this and consydered that hys succoures were put backe and
hat the towne was sore febeled, and that the kynges greatest ordinaunce was bent agaynst the
owne he therfore bv the aduyse of other capytaynes sent to therle of Shrewesburye and
the Lorde Ilarberte a'trumpet, desyerynge abstinence of warre for a daye they incontynente
sent to the kynge to knowe his pleasure, the kynge aunswered that he woulde not graunte fall
feknewe the fonsideracion : hen the capitayne sent woorde that w,th saufeconduyte he
wo d c me Tand: ! eke with' the kynges fnU which to him was
sent certayne commissioners whyche offered to delyuer the ^M !^
fraude so that the townes men that woulde there
and muniions without any fraude, so that the townes men ta wou
552 THE. V. YERE OF
haue life and goodcs safe, and that y- men of warrc myght departe vvyth horse and harneys>'
for goodes they sayde they had norie, and there horse and harneys was of lytell valure to so
great a prynce. After that the kyng and his counsayll had debated this matter, it was aun-
swered the commissioners that although the kynge knewe ther penury of vitaylc and the day-
lymortalite among them- and that the towne by reason of great batteries was not able long
to resiate, yet because they asked marcy he woulde not extende rigor, and graurrted there
requester so that they delytiered the towne with all the ordynaunce as they had promysed, to
the whyche all they were sworoe, and so returned. And thesame nyght Therle of Shrewes-
burye entred the tonne and had the walles and lowers and the banner of saint George was
set in the highest place insigne of victory, £ the lord Powtremy with al the garryson depart-
ed with horse and harneys accordyng to the appoinctemente. Then the lord George Talbot
eric of Shrewesburye, with. iii.C. men serched the towne for fere of treason or that any in-
' <conuenience might be vntothe king and his people : and after that he saw all thing sure, he
" called all the towncs men together, and sware them to be trew to the king of England.
When all this was done, the kyng on the. xxiiii. day of August entered into the cytye of
Tyrwynat. ix. of the clocke before noone with great triuphe and honour, his pcrsone was
apparelled in armure gilt and grauen, his garment and barde purple veluel full of borders,
and in all places trauersed with branches in ronnyng worke of fyne golde, the branches were
of hawthorne wrought by goldesmythes craftc woundewitha braunche of Hoses, and euery
flower, lefe & bury were embossed: After whome folowed his henxmen with the peces of
armure accustomed. Thus with greate glory this goodly prince entered and toke possession
of the towne of Tyrwyu and was receiued at the Cathedral church with procession, and
they heard masse £ dyncd in the bishoppes palycc, and at after none retorned to his campe,
leuynge in the towne the Earle of Shrewesbury with his retinue. The xxvi. daye of Au-
gust the kyng remoued agayn to Gyngate, and there it was agreed that the walles, gates,
bulwarkes and towers of Tyrwyn should be defaced, rased and castdowne: of whiche con-
clusion the Emperoursent word to sainet Orners, and to Ayre, which beyng loyous of that
tidynges (for Tyrwyn was to them a scorge) sent thither pyoncrs with all mancr of instru-
mentes, and so they and thcnglish pioners brake down the walles, gates and towers of the
foundacion £ filled the diche and fyered the towne, except the Cathedral! Church and the
palayce, and all the ordinance was by the king sent to Ayre, to be kept to his vse. After
this, it was concluded that the king in person should ley his siege to the citee or towne of
Turney, whcrfor he set fonvarde three goodly battayles, the first was conduyted by therle of
Shrewsbury, the second battayle led the kyng hym selfe with whome was Themperour.
The rereward was conduyted by the lord Harbert: and so the first night thei laye in campe
besyde Ayre, whiche night vitaile was skant, diuersc Englishmen tarried in Tyrwyn when
the kynge was past for pillage & fyrcd certayne houses, on whom carne sodainly the French
stradiales, & some they slew and some they caste into the fier, they that fledde, scaped nar-
rowly.
Wednesday the. xiiii. dale of Scptcber the king and his army came to Bcatwyn, and there
had plenlio of all thynges, and on the morowe he with his army passed forward and came
sto a strayt where was a foorde and all the carriages must nedes come downe a stepe hill to
the foorde & so to the strcyt, where as one wagon scace alone might passe, and the wether
was boat and the bcastes had not drouke all daye, whcrforc at the foorde the horses woulde
drynkc mnugve ther ledcrs, and so the carriages wet not all hole together which was a dowt-
full case, but yet by wise order thei passed the streyte £ so did the army & came to a place
bctwene Canon and Camblyne and there lodged that night in a playne barren grounde, and
the next day he remoued his campe and the forward passed a bridge called pount Auandien
into Flttunders side £ there lay, the king lay at the other ende of the bridge on Annoys
syde, £ the rereward lay in a fayre grounde behynde the king.
Saterday the. xvii. day of September tidinges came to y kyng how the Frenchmen had
.assembled a great puissaucc & would tight with the king, wherfore the king caused his for-
'»'
ward
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. .553
ward to remoue farther & sent the Almayncs to kepe the passage the pount dassaug. Then
the great orclynaunce passed the bridge of ponnt auandien and the king was remoued fro
thence & as his tentes were takyng vp. an askrye was made that the enemies were in sight,
which noyse was sodainly sensed and sir William Sandes with. vii. C. Englishme & strangers
was appoincted to kepe y bridge and certayne ordiuaunce was to him appoincled.
When the king and all the carriages were passed, then thejord Herbert remoued ouer
the bridge and encamped hyrn behyndethe kyng by a fayrc mylle, when the kynge was en-
camped and all thynges in order, there came to him a noble man of Flaunders called the
lorde Rauestcn which after his humble^reuerence done, shewed the king that the young
prynce of castel Charles and the lady Margarete gouernes of thesayde prince most hartely
desyred him for his pastime after his long trauayle to come and repose in his towne of Lysle
and to see his brother y prince and the ladies of the court of Burgoyne: sayenge that it
became not ladies to visile him in his tharcyal), campe, whiche to them was terrible. The
kinjr gen telly graun ted his request, & then he sent his officers thether to make prouision and
appoyncted the duke of Buckyngham the Marques Dorsett therle of Essex and the lord
Lvslc and diuerse other to geue ther attcndaunce on him, and committed his campe to his
counsavll. Then he mounted on a courser, his apparell and barde were cloth of syluer of
small quadrant cuttes trauersed and edged with cutt cloth of golde, ai;d the border set full
of redde rooses, his armore freshe and set full of iuels: the Master of hys horse Sir Henry
Guylforde and the henshmen folowed as you haue heard before, and the coursers richly
apparelled and so • were many capitaynes that waytcd on the kyng: by the way met the
kin« the lorde llauesten with many noble men: and a myle vithoute the towne ther inette
ther obedies to their souereigne, & tnaked y
keyes of such a. towne. Neuerthelesse he had suche confidence in them, that he trusted
them no lesse then his awne subiecles, and so delyuered the keyes to the prou.ost of the
towne whiche was well accompanyed: then mette the king a great nomber of nobles of
Flaunders, Brabant, Hollande, and Henawde, which nobly receaued hym. After the came
ttie Coutye Palatine or Paulsgraue one of j electors of the empire with. xxx. horses al his
men eor<nously appareilled after the fasshion of his countrey, and humbly saluted the king.
At the gate of Lisle the capitayn of the towne stode with a garrison in armure wel appoinct-
ed all the strets were sett on bothe sydes with burnyng torches and diuerse goodly pagiantes
pleasant to bfholde: thus he passed thorowe the towne with his swerde and maces borne
before hym and alighted at the hall dore with his swerde borne, where mett w him thepa-
rour the prince of castel & the lady Margaret and hubly saluted him: then for reuerence
of themperour the kyng caused his swerde to be put vp and his maces to be leyed dowue,
then was the kyn* and all other nobles lodged and feasted according to their degrees.
In the towne of Lisle was a noys that. iii. gonners with handgonnes should haue slayne
* kvn*- For which rumour many were attached, but nothynge proued, but when this ti-
dvnges came to the campe, they were neucr mery tyl they saw the king agayne, great was
the chere with bankettes, playes, commodies, maskes and other pastymes that was shewed
o the kin- in the courte of Burgoyne, and so in solace he aoionu-d there Sondaye and
Mondave the. xix. daye of September: the. xx. daye he sent woor.de that us army shoulde
tovarde Tou-rnay, and so they remoued to a place conuemeut betwene I ournay
cei'tayfl ^Pitaiues >vere appoicted to kep* y passage at the bridge of A^an,
that the kyng had taryed at Lisle. Hi. daies, and had w;eU reused him gdfe he
forth «d so returned, and to the capi-
tayne shutt the gates. Whcn
554 THE. V. YERE OF
When the kyng was a mile and more out of the tounc, lie asked were his carnpe lay:
and no man there could tell the way, and guyde had they none, the night was darke and
mistie : thus the kyng taryerl a log vvhyle and wist not whyther to go, at last they mette with
a vitayler commyng from the campe whiche was ther guyde and brought them thither. The
master of the ordynaunce shottc dyuerse peces of ordynaunce but they were not harde,
but in safetie the king with all his company returned.
The. xxi. dave of September the kyng remoned his campe towarde Tournay and lodged
within, iii. myhjs of the cytie, on a come grounde by the ryuer. The whiche nyght came
to the kyngThemperour and the Paulsgraue vvhiehe were lodged in rye he tentes and nobly
' seniedof all vvandcsand thynges nccessarye. The people aboute Tournay were with their
goodes fledde to the cytie, and yet the cytie had no men of warre to defende it, but with
multitude of inhabitauntcs the cytee was well replenished: the king c5maunde.d sir Rice
and his horsemen to vewe one quarter, and therle of Essex and his company another quar-
ter, and the lord Walowne & the lord Ligny the other quarters: so the. xxii. day of September
those, iiii. capitains at one time were sone opely w banners displaied before the towne, and
there made a long stale & returned. The king sent Gartier king of armes & a pursiuant of
armes with a trompett to somoii the citee, which declared that the kyng of England and of
Frauucecorniriaunded them toyelde to him his citee & to receaue him as there natural! lord,
or lie would put them and ther eitee to swerde, Iyer, and bloude. To whome they prowdely
aunV.vm :-d, y thei toke no citee of him to kepe nor none would they reder, w which answer
he departed. Then they fortified there walles, & made prouysion for vitaile, come, wine, &
artilerie, & for all fortiticacions that might be gotte. And the citee of it selfe was strong,
well walled, %, lurry ted w good Bulwarkes & defenses: But when they sawe the kyng with
suche a puisafice draw nere ther cytee, they were sore abashed and called a general! coft-
sayll: then the prouost sayde, brethern you knowe how y the kyng of England sent an
heraulde to somon vs to rendre to hym this cytee, or els he woulde put it & vs to the swerde,
fyer, and bloude, we aunswered we would be at defence: nowe he is come in our sight to
fultull the message sent by his herauld, & now is come the time of our defence, & in this
matter stacleth. iii. mischiefes, one is our bouclcn deuty it allegcauce that we owe to our so-
uereigne lord king I.oys of Framice, the seconde the lifes of vs, our wifes, children, and
neighbours, the thirde how to de/ende the fmall destruccio of this aucient cytee which is
lickely to fall, which cy tee was neuer conquired & now our cytee is hole (your lines in sanity,
your goodes your own) determine whither you wyl haue warr or peace: then the comon
people cried all war, Mar, war, then said the prouost take copassio of wifes & childre &
of the old foike, cosider yf you haue no quick reskue you can not continue against ydder
puisanee, al tho your coragc.s were as good as Hectors or Achilles, this y wisest of the ci-
tee and 1 haue cosrdered. Then sodainly was ther in y counsaill, a vauntparler, a botcher
which heryng this, called a great nombcr of his affinitie it went out of the counsay'll, & so
out of the gates it sett fier of the suborbcs on all sydcs. When tiie counsaill saw the
nryndes of the commons and that liter wayes might not "be folowed, then they comforted the
people and maynteyncd them for ther defence." The kyng Rayscd his campe & came in
Array of battayle before Tor nay, the Earle of Shresbiiry with the forward was a littell
space on the right hand brest with the kyngs battayle, and the lorde Harbert with the re re-
warde on the left hande in lyke numner, the day was fayer and the barneys glistered and
banners waued that they of the cytee were sore aftrayed: thus stode the kynges battayles in
Array before Tourney. Then the kynge commaunded hys greate ordynaunce to be caried
in the waye passynge towarde the cytee & so cuery thing accordyng to his commaundemt'l;
was accoplished. Then the kyng him selfe with a fewe persones rode betwene- his ordy-
naunce and the towne,. and rode in great aduenture so nere the walles, y he might vewe
the wall«sand the towers very well: they shotte out of there towers peces of ordTnauce &
hurt such as came within there leuell. Then they rong the alarme bell, which was harde
we!
6
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. S5S
•wel in the felde. Then the citezens issued out at the gate by the ryuer and. manfully
profered to skyrmrsh, but they w archers were sone driuen backe to their gates. The Eng-
lish cariers that came with the harbeshers to take ground ranne to the gates of Tornay, and
toke certayne wagons with becre and vitayle and yet the Tunioyes dyrst not resiste, although
they were in greater nomber then the men of cariage. In this skirmish the horse of the
lorde Ihon Gray brother to the Marques Dorsett which went to defende the Cariours was
slayne with a gonne, and he not hurt. After that the king in person had thus in ieopardie
auetured hym self and vewed the toune, he caused immediatly. xxi. peces of great ait'l^ry
lo be brought in a plain feld before the towne, and when they were charged, they were, Jm-
medially shotte, & the most parte of the stones fell with in the cilee, & so. they shotie dt-
uerse shottes one after another.
Then the king with all his battayle planted hys siege on the northe parte of the eitce:
Therle of Shrewsbury with his battayle warded toward the south syde of the ryuer a. id
there lay that nyght. The Lord Ilarbert with the rerewanle plated his banal I o,-» the \«est
side of the citee, and with great ordynaunce daily belt the walleu ami to-.vers of the ciu-e.
On the morowe beynge the. xxiii. daie: the Lorde Talbott Earle of Shrewsbury accompa-
nied with ihe noble men of his baltaill whose names you haue harde at his fvst papyri" the
see, passed ouer the ryuer of Tornay and planted his siege on the smith fydo slrotcnug to
the east ende of the citee, & bent his artillery against the wulles of li'C nu-e. Thus was
thecitec of Tornay bescged on all partes, & euer in hope of reskue va.iaat'y tlelcndeii .*er
selfe.
Nowe must I leue the kynge at the siege of Turnay, and diucrte to thingcsdone in Fng-
land in his absence, and declare how the kynge of Scottes inui.ded the realu.e of Ei,g-
lande, and how he was defended and fought with al, and in conclusion slayn the. vii. d;-^e
of this moneth of September.
When the king of England was determined in his high court of Parliament to passe
the see, in proper person for the recouery of his realme of Fraunce, he and his couusaill
format not Ihe olde Prankes of the Scottes which is euer to inuade England when the kyng
is out, or within age: and also he had knowlege that at Camphere in Zeeland the Scottes
oincted the lord ihot
of Norffolkeaud high trcasourer and marshal! of Englande, lo be hys lieutenauut in the
North part.cs agaynste thesayde kynge of Scotte*. if he fortuned to mu.u c (as he o>
dede) according to the olde traytorous accustome of hys progenitors, and that the s*u
iiiuo; ov,v.>j.>.i o / l\.,,-om»o N c»i t iiivii ,i>r-
,ered before svr rbo»» toud, ^« th ^ xxu d , ^^ . cmmmuM fj, Wil
to .he .arc beS of Scotode, and «, * ,n U,e
4 13 •»
556 THE. V. YERE OF
and fortresses on the frontiers with. ii. C. archers on horsebacke: for the erle by open
tokens dayly perceiued that y Scottes entended warre. Tlien the sayde syr William with all
snede departed and came to the borders and the erle came to Potnfret, the tirst daye of
August, & there taried. After that syr William bulmer was come to the borders, one
daye in August, the lorde Chamberlayne and warden of Scotland with. vii. or viii. M.
men with banner displayed entered into England, and brent & haryed a great praye in North-
umberland : that hering syr Willia bulmer, called to hym the genteimen of the borders
with his archers, and all they were not a thousand men. And when they were nere assem-
bled, they brought the selfes in to a brome felde, called Mylfeld, where the Scottes should
passe. And as y Scottes proudely returned with their pray, the Englishmen brake oute,
and the Scottes on fote like men them defended, but the archers shotte so holy together,
that they made y Scottes geue place, and. v. or. vi. hundred of them were slayne, and. iiii.
hundred and more taken prisoners, and the pray reskued beside a great nuber of geldinges
that were taken in the countrey, and the lord Hume, lord Chamberlayne fled & his ban-
ner taken. This was the fyrst open token of warre, shewed by the Scottes, whiche call
this iourney the yll Roade.
The erle of Surrey, beyng at Pomfret, called to hym the most parte of the Genteimen of
the Counties to hym apoynted as is before rehersed, declaringe to them the kynges hygh com-
maundement, shewynge them, that he beynge there the kynges Lieutenaunt muste necles haue
ayde and counsayll : Wherefore he sware the mooste wysest and experte genteimen in suche
causes of the kynges counsayll and hys for that tyme for the better compassynge hys charge
•and purpose, and for too brynge euery thynge in dew order: Fyrst they tokea determinacion
with syr Philippe Tylney knight, Treasurer of thewarres, howe the charges should be payde,
and secondarely with syr Nycholas applyarde, master of the ordinaunce, for the conuey-
amice of the kynges royall ordinaunce, pouder and artillerie to Newcastell, and so forwarde
as the case shoulde requyer, whiche syr Nycholas by William Blacknall, clerke of the kynges
spycerie, sent the saide ordinaunce and artillerie to Durham before, so that all thynges, con-
cerning that office were in a redynes. The erle forgat not to scnde too all lonles Spiritual!
and Temporal!, knyghtes, Gentnlmen, or other whiche had tenauntes, or were rulers of
tounes or liberties (able to make men) to certefie What number of able men horsed and har-
rtesed, they were able to make within an houres warnyrige & to gene their attendaunce
on hym, and also he layed postes euery waye, which postes stretched to the marches of
Wales to the counsayll there, by reason, whereof, lie had knowlege what was done in
euery coste.
The erle was enformed by the lord Dacres, of the numbrynge and preparynge of men in
Scotlandc, and Proclainacions soundinge to the breche of peace, and yet though he consi-
dered that the Roade made by the lorde Chamberlayne of Scotlande into England, beyng
distrusted by syr William Buhner, as is afore rehersed, was an open breclie of the perpetual!
peace: yet the sayde lorde Dacres auysed the earle for many and greate weyghty causes, not
to reyse or styrre the powers of the countrey, to hym appoynted tyll hemighte perceyue and
openly know the subtyle purpose and entent of the Scottes aforesaid, lest if the Scottes had
perceyued the Englishemen redy to fight, they woulde haue desisted of theyr purpose
for that tyme, tyll the Englishemen were returned to their countreys, and then sodaynely
loo ryse agayne.
Then the Erie knowynge that the towne of Barwycke was strog ynough, sent to the Capi-
tayne of Norham, certeh'enge hym, that if he thought the Castell in anye daungier or deby-
litie, he woulde put hym selfe in a readynes to reskew it, if it were beseged, the capitayn
wrote to the Erie thankynge hym and prayed GOD that the kynge of Scottes woulde
come wyth hys puyssaunce, for he woulde "kepe hym playe tyll the tyme that the Kynge
of Englande came out of Fraunce to reskew it, whiche aunswere reioysed the Erie
mtiche.
After the fcynge of Seottes had sent hys defyaunce to the kynge of Englande, lyenge
before
KYNC HENRY THE. VIIJ. 5s7
before Tyrwyn, as you haue harde, he dayly made hys musters, and assembled hys people
ouer all hys realme, whereof the brute was that they were two hundred thousand, but for
a suertye they were an hundred thousand good fightynge men at the lest, & wyth all hys
hoste and power entered into Engjande (and threw doune pyles) the. xxii. daye of Au-
gust, and planted hys siege before the Castell of Norham, and sore abated the walles. The
erle hard tydynges thereof the fyue and twenty day of August, beynge saynct Barthel-
mewes daye.
Then he wrote to all the gentelmen of the shyres aforesayde, to be with hym at New-
castell, the fyrst daye of Septeber next with all there retynew accordynge to the certificat.
On the morow, he with his fyue hundred men came to Yorke, and the. xxvi. daye he went
toward Nevvcastell, and notwithstanding that fie had the fowlest dt'.y and nyght y could be,
and the waves so depe, in so much that iiys guyde was almost drouned before hym, yet he
neuer ceased, but kept on his iorney to geue example to them that should folow. He beyng
at Durham was aduertised how the kyng of Scottes with hys greate ordinaunce had rased the
walles of the Castell of Norham, and had made thre great Assaultes thre dayes together, and
the Capitayne valyauntly defended hym, but he spent vaynely so muche of hys ordinaunce,
Lowes and arrowes and other municions that at the laste he lacked, and so was at the. vi. daye
compelled to yelde hym symply to the kynges mercy. This castell was thought impregnable,
if it had bene well furnished, but the Scottes by the vndiscrete spendynge of the Capitayne,
toke it in sixe dayes : thys chaunce was more sorowfu.ll to the erle then to the Bishoppe owner
of the same. All that nyglue the wynde blewe corragiously, wherfore the erle doubted least,
•the Lorde Hawarde hys sonne greate Admyrall of Englande shoulde perishe that nyght on
the sea, who promised to lande atNewcastell with a thousand men, to accompajnie his father,
"whyche promyse he accomplished.
The erle harde Masse, and appoynted with the Prior for saincte Cutberdes banner, and so s.Cutb«d«
that daye beynge the thirty daye of August lie came toNewcastell: thither came the lorde
Dacres, syr William Buhner, syr Marmaducke Constable, and many other substanciall gentel-
inen, wliome he reteyned \\ yth hym as counsayllers, and there determined that on Sundaye nexte
ensuynge, he shoulde take the felde at Bolton in Glendale, and because .many souldiours
were repayryn«e to hym, he lefte Newcastell to the entent that they -that folovved, shoulde
haue there more rome, and came to Alnewyke the thyrde daye of September, and because
hys souldiars were not come, by reason of the foule wave he was fayne to tarye there all. the
fourthe daye beyng Sundaye, whiche daye came to hym the lorde Admyrall hys sonne,
with a compaignye of valyaunt Capitaynes and able souldiars and maryners, whichje all
came from the sea, the commynge of hym muche reioyced hys father, for he was .very
•wyse, hardy, and of greate credence and" experience. Then the Erie and his counsayll,
with greate deliberation appoynted his battayles in order with wynges and with ryderi
^ Fyrste of the forwarde was Capitayne the lorde Hawarde, Admyrall of Englande, with
suche as came from the sea, and with hym syr Nycholas Applyarde, syr Stephen Bull, syr
Henry Shyreburne syr William Sydney, syr Edwarde Echyngham, the lorde Clyfforde, the
lorde Conyers, the lorde Latymer, the lorde Scrope of Vpsale, the lorde Egle, the lorde
Lomley syr William I'.ulmer with the power of the Bisboprycke of Durham, syr William
Gascoyne, syr Christopher Warde, syr Ihon Eueryngham, syr Thomas Aietham, syr Water
Grvffith, and many other.
« Of the wyncre on ths righte hande of the forwarde, was capitayne syr.Edmond Hawarde
knveht Marshall of the haste, and with hym Bryan Tunstall, Raufe Brearton, Ibon law
rence 'Rvcharde Bolde Esquyers, and syr Ihon Bothe, syr Thomas Butler, Jvayghtes, ,%-
icharde Donne, Ihon %god, Thomas Fiuwilliam, Ihon Claruys, Bryan Stepukon, Robert
warcoppe, Rycbattle CiiolmelGy, with the.men of Hul), and the kynges t^rwuntes of : H*t-
and.otlier. 1f«Of
THE. V. YERE OF
f Of the wyng of the left hande, was Capitayn syr Marmaduke Constable with hys sonnes
and kynnesmen, syr william Percy, and of Lancashere a thousand men.
f Of the rerewarde was Capitayne the Erie of Surrey hym selfe, and with hym the
lorde Scrope of Bolton, syr Philippe Tylney, syr George Darcy, syr Thomas Barkeby,
syr Ihon Rochtfe, syr Christopher Pykeryng, Rycharde Tempest, syr Ihon Stanley with
-the Bisshop of Elyes seruauntes, syr Bryan Stapulton, Lyonell Percy, with the Ahbot of
Whitbyes tenauntes", Christopher Clapham, Syr Willia Gascoing the younger, syr Guy Dawney,
Master Magnus, Master Dalbyes seruauntes, syr Ihon Nonnauyle, tlie citizens of Yorke,
syr Nynyan Markanuyle, syr Ihon Wyiioghby with other.
f Of the wyng on the right hande was capitayne the lorde Dacres with hys power.
^[ On the leftehande vvynge \vas syr Edwarde Stanley knyght, with the residue of the power
of the countye Palantyne and of Lancaster.
And when all men were appoynted and knewe what too do. The erle and hys counsayll
concluded and determined cmonge other thynges to sende Rouge crosse pursiuaunt of armes
-with a trompet too the kynge of Scottes, with certayne instructions, signed by the saydc erle,
contcynynge woorde by woorde as foloweth.
Fyrst where there hath bene suyte made to the kyng of Scottes by Elyzabeth Heron, wyfe
to William Heron of Forde, nowe prysoner in Scotlande, for castynge doune of the house
•or Castell of Forde, and as the sayde Elizabeth reportetli vppon communicacion had, the
sayde kynge hath promysed and condiscended to the sayde Elizabeth, that if she any tyme
before none, the fift daye of September, woulde brynge and deliuer vnto hym the lorde
Ihonstowne, and Alexander Hume, then prysoners that time in England, he then is con-
tented and agreed that the sayde house or Castell shall stande without castynge doune, bren-
-nynge or spoylynge the same: Whereunto the sayde erle is content with that, vppon this
condicion, that if the sayde kyng will promytte the assuraunce of the sayde Castell, in
maner and forme aforesayde vndcr hys scale, to deliuer the sayde lorde of Ihonstowne and
Alexander Hume, immediately vppon the same assuraunce. And in case the sayde kyii^e
can and will be content to delyuer the sayde Heron oute of Scotlande, then the sayde erle
shall cause to be deliuered to the sayde kynge the two gentelmen and two other, syr George
Hume and William Carre.
Farther the sayde erle woll that you Rouge Crosse, shcwe the sayde kyng, that where he
contrary to his othe and league, and vnnaturally agaynstc all reason and conscience hathe
entred and inuaded this hys brothers realmc of Englande, and done great hurte to the sairie,
in castynge doune Castelles, Towers and houses, brcnninge, spoylynge and destroiynge bf
the same, and cruelly murderynge the kynge of Englande hys brothers subicctes. Whefe-
fore the sayde earle wyll be readye 'too trye the rightfulncss of the matter wyth the
king in battaill by Fry da ye nextc commyage'at the farthest if he of hys noble couratie w^il
geuc hym tarienge, and abode, within thys the kynges Realmc so longe tyme: Ami the
same the sayde erle promised), as he is true knyghte to God and the kynge of England hys
'master. And before Rouge Crosse shonlde departe with the sayde instruccions, the sayde
lorde Adinyrall gaue hym in credence too shcwe the sayde kynge of hys commynge, and parte
of his compaignye on the sea with hym : and that he hadde soughte the Scottyshe Nauye,
then beynge on the sea, but he coulcie not mete with theim, because they were fleddc into
Fraunce, by the coste of Irelande.
And in asmuche as the sayde kynge hadde diuerse and many tymes caused the savde lorde
too be called at dayes of true, too make redresse for Andrew Barton, a Pirate o"f the' sea,
longe before that vanquyshed by the same lorde Admyrall, he was nowe come in hys awne
proper person too be in the Vauntgarde of thefelde to lustifie the death of the sayde An-
drewe agaynste hym and all hys people, and woulde se what coulde be layed to hys charge
the saydedaye, and that henor none of hyscompaignye shoulde take noScottshe nobleman prv-
soner, nor any other.but they shoulde dye if they came in hys dau nger, oneles it were the kyn<4
awne person, for he sayde he trusted to none other curtesye at the haiides of the Scottes. &
And
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ.
Andinthys-manerhe shouldefynde hym in the Vauntgarde of the felde by the grace of GOD
and sayncte Georgeashewas a trew knyghle. Yet before the departynge of Rouge Crosse with
the sayde instruccions and credence, it was thoughte by the Erie and hyscounsayll, that the
sayde kynge woulde fayne and Imagen some other message, too sende an Heraulde of hys
with the same, onely to View, and oner sethe maner and order of the kynges royall armye,
ordinaunce, and artillerie, then beynge with the Erie, wherby myghte haue ensued greate
daungier to the same, and for exchuynge thereof he hadde in commaundemente, that if any
such message were sente, not to bryng any person, commynge therewith within three or two;
myle of the felde at the nyghest, where the sayde Erie woulde come, and heare what he would
saye : And thus departed Rouge Crosse with his trumpet apparayled in his Cote ofarmes.
On Mondaye the tift daye of September, the Erie tooke hys felde at Bolton in Glendall.
as he had appoyncted, where all the noble men and gentelmen met with their retynewes.
to the number of^six and twenty thousande men, and aboute mydnighte next ensuyng, came
the trompette, whiche went with Rouge Crosse, and declared how the kynge of Scottes, after,
the message done to hym by Rouge Crosse accordynge too hys iostruccions, the sayde ftvnge
detavned hym, and sent on Hay u Harauld of hys wyth hym vnto the Erie, to declare too.
hym" the sayde Kynges pleasure, too whome the Erie sente Yorke Heraulde at armcs, to
accompaignie the sayde Hay, at a Village called Mylo, twoo myles from the felde, vntyll the
commynge thether of the sayde Erie the next morow.
The sixt daye of September, early in the momynge, the Erie accompaignied with the
moost parte of the loides, knyghtes and gentelmen of the felde, euery man hanynge with,
bym but one man to holde hys horsse, and so the sayde Heraulde met with the erle, and.
with blout reuerence declared to him that he was come from hys master the Kynge of Scottes,
•whiche woulde knowe, whither the Erie seme anye suche message by Rouge Crosse, the
Erie Justified the same, saiynge farther, that Rouge Crosse hadde the same message of hym.
in writynge signed with hys awne hande, whereunto the sayde Hay sayde, as touchynge the
sauynge from brennynge or destroiynge, and castynge doune of the Castell of lorde, for
the'deliueraunce of" the sayde prisoners, The kyng his master woulde thereto make no
aunswer. But as too the" abydynge for baUayll betwene that and Frydaye, then nexte
folowynge, the kyime his master badde hym shewe to the Earle, that he was as welcome as
any noble man of England vuto the same kynge, and that if lie had. hene at home in his
Towne of Edeborough, there receynynge suche a message from the sayde Erie he would
gladlve haue come and fulfylled I.TC sayde Erles desyre: and the Heraulde assured the Erie
on the kyiwe hys masters behalfe, that" the same kynge woulde ahyde him battayll at the daye
prefixed whereof the sayde erle was riglue ioyous and muche prayscd the honourable
aaremen't of the sayde royail kyn.;eam! estemed the sa-re too precede of an high and noble
course promysyn-e the llerauUle that he and good suertye with hym shoulde be bounde in
ten thousaode pound sterlytm<> too kepe the sayde daye appoynted, so that the kynge woulde
fvnde an 1'rle of his and' there to a good suerty with him to be bounde in lyke summe, for
the perforuiasofthewme: And furthermore the Erie bad the Heraulde for to say to his
master that if he for l:is part- kept not hys appoyntemente, then he was content, that the
Scottesshouldc liaffuil hym, which is a great reproche amonge the Scottes, and s vsed wncn
a man is openly periured, and then they make of hym an Image paynted reuersed, wi h hys
helesvpu-arde, iith hys name, wonderyn'g, cryenge and blowing out of hym with homes,
in the Lsl de.puelnir maner they can. In token that he » worthy too be exiled the
mnai'niie of all good Creatures.
Then Hay del.ii.Trcd too the Karle a littell Cedule wryten with the kynges Secretaries hande
U e tenor whereof foloweih.
•f •« A- to the causes alleged of oure commynge into Englande agayne, oure bande and
nromvse s is alleged) thereto we aunswer, ower brother was bounde also farre to vs as we
rcyse (/s.sdi c , ^^ ^^^^^ Ambassade, in presence ot oure counsayll,
that we woulde kepe to oure brother, if oure brother
.56*0
THE. V. YERE OF
to va, and Mat elles, we s\v»re core brother brake fyrste to vs, and sythe hys breke,
\te b;we required dyuersetymes hym too amend, and lately we warned oure brother as he
(tyd not vs or be brake, and thys we take for oure quarell, and with Goddes grace shall
defendc tin-same at youre affixed tyine whiche with Goddesg'-ace we shall abyde."
And for as mucheas the sayde Kynge kepte atyll Rouge C'rosse with hym, who was not
yfct returned, the same Earle caused the sayde Hay too be in the kepynge of Syr Humfrey
Lysse and Yorke Heratilde, in the same Vyllage, vntyll the tyme that a seruaunt of the sayde
Hay tnvghte ryde in all haste too the royall Kynge of Scottes, for the deliuerynge of the
sayde Rouge Crosse. Then the erle loyous of the kynges ausvver. returned to hys campe,
and set forward fyue myle, too a place called Wollcr Hawgh, in suche order of battayll, as
euen then he should haue fought, and there lodged for that nighte, three lyttell myles from
the kynge of Scottes, and betwene the kynge and hym was a goodly and large corne felde,
called Mylfelde whiche was a conuenient and fayre grounde for twoo hostes too light on,
there euery hoste myglite perceyue other.
Tlie inorowe beynge Wednysdaye, the. vii. daye of that Moneth, the kynge of Scottes
caused bysgreute ordinaunce too be shotte at the Englishe armye, but it hurte neither man
nor beast. When the kynge of Scottes sawe that Hay was dcteyned, he sent away Rouge
Crosse to the erle, by whome, and other of tlie borders he was aduertised that the kynge laye
vppon the syde of a hyghe mountayne, called Eloddon on the edge of Cheuyot, where was
but one narow fetde tor any man to ascende vp the sayde hyll to hym, and at tlie foote of the
hyll laye all hys ordinaunce. On the one syde of hys armye was a greate Mairishe, and
compassed with the hylles of Cheuyot, so that he laye to stronge too be approched of any
syde: excepte the Englishemen would haue temerariously ronne on hys ordinaunce, whiche
matter well considered by the Erie and hys sonne, and other of the counsayll there they called
to theim Rouge Crosse, and sent hym the nexte daye to the kynge of Scottes, willinge hyui
too shewe the kynge, that the sayde erle, with dyuerse of the kynges nobles and subiectes
hadde avaunced" them selfes to geue battayll too hys grace, trustynge that accordinge to hys
promise, he \voulde auaunce hym selfe and hys armye to ioyne the battavll, whiche as yet he
hath not done. Wherefore he desyred tlie kynge that he myglite hnue knowlege by nooue
that daye, whether he of hys noble courage woulde discende the hyll, where he lay and too
gene battayll or not: and if he saye that I shall not knowe hvs entent, or wyll saye,
that he will kepe the grounde: then shewe hym that he perceyueth well that that place
is no indifferent grounde for twoo armyes too fighte, and therefore I will looke for
no mo of his delayes. The same daye beynge oure Ladye daye the natiuite Rouge
Cfossc departed to the kyng of Scottes, whiche woulde not neare hym speke, hut
sente one of hys seruitours to heare his message, Whiche seruitour after he hadde
disclosed this same to the kynge, made aunswer, that it besemcd not an erle, after that
mamjr too handle a kynge, and that he wouldo vsc no sorcery, nor had no trust of any
grounde: You haue harde bvforc, ho\ve Hay the Scuttishe Herauldc was returned for Rouge
Crosse, and as sone as Rouge Crosse was returned, he was discharged, but he taryed wi?h
Yorke an Englishe Htraulde makynge .good clrere, and was not returned that mornynge that
Rouge Cfosse came on h)-s message, wherefore Rouge Crosse and hys trotnpet were
detayned by tire seniaunte of Hay, whiche the daye before went for Rouge Crosse, assuryngc
them that if May came not home before none, that he was not liuvnge, and then they shoulde
haue their Ireddes stryken of, then Rouge C'rosse, offered that hys seruaunt slwulde go for
Hay, but it would not be excepted, but as hap was I lay came home before none, and shewed
of brsgcntdl emmeynynge, And then Rouge Crosse was deliuered, aiid came to the Eo^lishe
armye, and made reporte as you haue hearde.
Then the Englishemen remoued their feld« o« the vater of TyU, ai>d so fortJie oner
toany hylles and streytes, marchynge toward the Scopes (.n another syde, aitd in their
sight the Scopes burned certayne poore Vyllages OTI tiie other syde of the Marishe.
The Engl-ishemeif), alwayes lea-uynge the Scottt&he armye on tbe left handc, toke Userr felde
vnder
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 561
vndera wood syde, called Barmer wood, two myle from the Scottes, and betwene the two
armyes was the Hyuer of Tyll, & there was a littell hyll that saued the Englishemen from
the gonneshotte, on which hyll the lorde Admyrall perfightly saw and discouered them all.
In the euenyngc of thesame daye it was concluded betwene the erle and hys counsayll,
and most parte of the annye thereto agreed, that the Vauntgarde with the ordinaunce
should passe ouer agayne the water of Tyll, at a bridge called Twysell bridge the. ix. day
of September, and the rere\\arde to passe ouer at Mylforde, puttinge theym selfes as nye
as they coulde betwene the Scottes and Scotlande, and so to geue battayll to the Scottes on
the hyll, called Flodclr-n hyll. Frydaye the sayde nynth daye, the lorde Admyrall, lyke a
valiaunte knygbte, pas-ed ouerTwysell bridge with the Vantgarde, marchyngtowarde hys ene-
niyes, lyke diligence was made by the Erie for passynge ouer at Mylftbrde with the rerewarde,
saiynge to hys C'apytaines, now good fellowes, do lyke Englishemen this day, take my parte
lyke men, whiche paste is the kynges parte, and I wyste you would not, I will in my awne
person rlghte wi;h the kynge of Scottes, rather to dye honourably by hys crueltye, then to
lyue in shame, or that any reproche shoulde be layed to me hereafter. To whome they
annswered, thai: they would seme the kynge and him truely that daye. The Euglishe armye
that daye hadde no vitayle and were fastynge, and two dayes afore they had onely dronke
water, and coulde scace get anye other sustenaunce for money, and yet they kept array on
horsebacke from fyue of the clocke in the mornynge tyll foure of the clocke at after none,
and were alwayes in the sighte of the Scottes.
The kynge of Scours perceyuinge the Englishemen, marchinge towarde Scotlande,
thought that they would bane entered into Scotlande, and burne and forray the plentifull
coutray, called the Marche, torso was he made beleue by an Englishemii named Gyles Mus-
graue whyche was familiar with the kynge of Scottes, and dyd it for a pollecie to cause hym
to come donne from the hyll: Wherefore the sayde kynge caused hys tentes to be remoued
to an other hyll in greate haste, least the Englishemen shoulde haue taken thesame hyll:
And at theyr departing they set fyer on theyr litter and other t'ylthy ordure, accordynge to
thevr custouie, and of the fyer and smolder dyd ryse suche a smooke sothicke and so darke,
that the one host could not perceyue theother, for the wynde did driue the smoke betwene
the twoo armyes the Seottes ei;er kepyng the heygth of the hyli on the edge of the chtuyot,
and the EiMishemen passed forward still in the lowe grounde, and euer in the couert of the
smoke in so muche that bothe the liostes were very nere together within the space of a
quarter of a myle, before one of them could perceyue another for the smoke. Then, when the
Knglishemen had |,a-ed a Ivttel brooke, called Sandy ftbrde, whyche is but a mans step ouer,
and that the smoke was p.i.ssed, and the Ayre fay re and cleare, echc army myghte playnly
see o-ie an other at iiande. Then the lord Admyrall perceyued toure great battayles ot the
Scotfs all on foote with lonsi spcres lyke moorishe pykes: whyche Scottes furnished them
warlike and bent theim to the iuruarde, whiche was conducted by the lord Admiral!, whiche
hvs Adults dci that honge at hvs
nerceviivn-rc tiiat sent to hys Father the erle of Surrey hys gnus da tat onga at >ys
brestWat'inali hast he would loyne battayll, eueii wyth the bront or brest of the vant-
Tarde- for the forward alone was notable lo cncounlre the whole battayll ot the Scottes,
and the Seottes in the Southe
and bydeous noyse, and the
ti of Scottes and hys noble men, made the
"
.562 THE. V. YERE OF
at once. And after that the shotte was done, whiche they defended with Pauishes, they
came to handestrokes, and were encontered generally as you shall here.
of I
countryd
number of ten thousande at the least, whiche foughte valiauntly, so that they by force caused
the lytle wynge to flye, and thesame syr Edmonde thre tymes felled to the grounde, and left
alone sauyng his standards, berar, and two of hys seruauntes, too \vhouie came I lion Heron
bastarde sore hurte, saiynge there was neucr noble mans sonne so lyke too be loste as you be
thys daye, for all my hurtes I shall here lyue and dye wythyou, and there thesayde syr Ed-
monde Hawarde was inagreatdannger and ieopardie of hys lyte, and hardclye escaped, and
yet as he was goynge to the body of the Vantgard he met with Dauy Home, and slew hym
hys awne hande, and so came to the Vantgarde.
ij. Secondely, Eastwarde from the savde battayle was the lorde Admyrall with the Vant-
garde, with whom encountred the erles of Crattorde and Montroos, accompaignied with
many lordes, knyghtes and gentelmen, all with sperys on foote, but the lorde Admyrall and
hys compaignie acquyted them selfes so well, and that with pure fighting, that they brought
to grounde a great number, and both the cries sla\nc.
iij. Thirdely, Eastwarde from the lorde Admyrall was the erle of Surrey, Capitayne general!,
to whose standarde the kynge of Scottes in hys awne person marched, bevnge accom|nugned
wyth many Bishoppes, Erles, Barons, knyghtes and (lentelmen of the llealuie, \\i{h a great
number of commons, all chosen men withsperes on foote, whiche were the most a^suredly
harnesed that hath bene sene, and tnat the tallest and goodlyest personages with all, and
they abode the most daungerons shot of an owes, which sort; them noyed, and yet except it
hit them in some bare place it dyd them no hurt.. After the shotte endyd, the battay.l was
crnell, none spared other, and the kynge hym self fought valiauntly. O what a nol)ie and
triumphannt courage was thys for a kyng to fyghte in a battayll as a n.cane souldiei : But
what auayled hys strong names, the puyssaunce of hys myghtye champions with whome he
descended the hyll, in \\home he soo much trusted that \\itli hys stronge people and great
number of men, iie was able as he thought to huue vanquished that day the greatest prvnce
of the world, if he had ben there as the erle of Surrey was, or els he thought to do such
an hygh enterprice hym selfe in his person, that should surmount the enterprises of all
other princes : hut how soeuer it happened God gaue the stroke, and he uas no more re-
garded then a poore souldier, for all went one way. So that of his awne battaill none es-
caped, but syr William Scot knight his chauncelour, and syr Ihon fonnan knight, his ser-
iaunt 'Porter, whiche were taken prisoners, & w great difficulty saued. This may be a great
myrror to ail prynccs, how that they aduenter them selfes in such a battail.
Forthely, Eastward was syr Edward Stanley knight, capitayn of the left wyng with the
saydeerle, which clame vp to the toppe of the hyll called Braniston, or the Scoltes wiste,
and with him encontred the erles of lluntley, Lenoux, and Argile, «ith a great number of
Scottes whiche were sore- fought with all, whiche perceyuinge the erle of lluntley toke a
horse and saued hym selfe, if he hud taryed he had bene likely to haue gone with his com-
paignie: suche as fled, the saydc syr Edward and his people Mowed "the oner thesame
grounde, where the erles battell first ioyned, and founde ther the Scottes, whiche were by
the erles battaill slayne before, and sodainly left the chase and fell a spovlin", and spoyled
the kyng ot Scottes, and many that vver slayne in his battaill, but they knew him not, and
found a Crosse and certayne thinges of his, by reason whe.of some sa\de that he was slayne
by thai wyng whiche could not be tr.-.e, for the prisoners of Scollad tested that the kingea
battaill fought onely with the erles battels, but fora trulhe tuis wyu; did very valiauntlv:
wherfore ,t was thought that the sa.d >yr Edwa.d might tl.at daye r.ot haue bene missed.
All these mi. battels, in mane, fought atone tyme, and were determined in effect, littell
stance ot the beginnyng and endynge of any of them one before the other, sau-
KYNG HENRY THE. VII J.
the
doune the
yng that syr Edward Stanley, which was the last that fought, for' he came- vp to
toppe of the hyll, and there fought v\ith the Scottes valiaunlly, and chaced them dounc me
hyll ouer that place, where the kynges battail ioyned. Beside these, iiii. battayles of the
Scottes were twoo other battayls, whiche neuer came to hande strokes.
Thus thorough the power of God on Friday, beyng the. ix. daye of Septeber, in the
yere of our forde. M. D. xiij. was lames the. iiii. kyng of Scottes slayn at Bratnstone
(chiefly by the power of y erle of Surrey, lieutenaunt for kyng Henry the. viii. kyng of
England, which then lay at the sege before Tornay) and with the-sayde kynge were slayne.
The Archebishop of saynct Androwes, Lordes.
the kynges bastard sonne. The lord Lonet.
The bishop of the lies. The lord Forbos.
The Abbot of Inchaffrey. The lord Elueston.
The Abbot of Kylwenny. The lord Roos
Erles. The lord Inderby.
The erle Moutttroos The lord Sentclere.
The erle of Crafford The lord Maxwell.
The erle of Arguyle. and his. iiii. brethren.
The erle of Lennoux. The lord Daunley
The erle of Glencarre. The lord Seympyll.
The erle of Katenes. The lord Borlhyck.
The erle of Castelles. The lord Bogony.
The erle of Bothwell. The lord Arskyll.
The erle Arrell Constable of Scotland. The lord Blakkater.
The erle Adchll. The lord Cowyn.
The erle Athel.
The erle Morton.
Knyghtes and gentlemen.
Sir Ihon Dowglasse. Master Marshall.
Cutbert Home lord of Fastcastell. Master Keye.
Sir Alexander Seton. Master Eliot
Sir Dauy Home. Master Cawell clerck of the chaun-
Master Ihon Graunt. n,Ce^' c rti
Sir Dunkyn Caufelde. The Deanejf Ellester.
which^bfvnknoweT^because no officer of armes of Scotland would come to make serche
for t em: and yf the daie had bene leger by. iii. houres, (font was. in., of the clock at
r thl battailes ioyned) or that the Englishmen had had vUayles so h hey
Scottes to his great fame and honour Englyshmen folowed them into
After that the fcld ^fought & the S cottea fl ed n y w^ ^^ ^ ^
^^^^^^^^^^^l^^^^leA first and neuer taught. Also
564, THE. V. YERE OF
fled some passed ouer the water of Twede at Caudestreme foorde, and other by the dry mar-
ches, during the tyme of the fighte, and the nyght after many men lost there horses andsuche
stoflfe as they left in their tentes aad pauilyons by the robbars of Tyndale and Tyuidale.
The lord Dacre with his company stode styll all daye vnfoughten with all. When the
feld was done and the skoute watch brought \voord that there was no more apperanncu of
the Scottes, but all were returned. Thearle thanked God with humble harte. and called to
hym certayne lordes and other gentlemen and them made knyghtes as syr Edmond IJawaid
his sonne and the Lorde Scrope, .Syr Wylliam Percy and many other. Then therle
and the Lorde Admirall departed to Banner wodde and appoyncted Sir Phylippe Tylney
knvghte wyth the cooipaignye of the lorde Admirall and the compaignye of the horde
Scfope of Bolton, the lorde Latymev, olde Sir AJarmaduke Constable, Sir William Percy,
Sir Nicholas Applyard, and their companyes, and a fewe other to kepe the place where
the felde was for sauyng of the Englyshe ordynaunce, and the ordynaunce tnat was taken
from the Scottes, whiche was. v. greate Curtalles, twoo greate Culuerynges, foure Sacres,
and syx Serpcntvnes as fayre ordynaunce as hath ben sene, bysyde other small peces. Welt
knowen it was by (hem that fought, and also reported by the prysoners of Scotlande, that
theyr kynge was taken or slayue, but hys body was not founde tyll the nexte daye, because
all the meane people aswell Scottes as Englyshe were strypped out of their apparell as
they laye on the fclde, yet at the laste he was founde by tlie Lorde Dacres, who knewc
hym well by hys pryuie tookens in that same place where the battayle of the Eaile of Suirey
and hys, fyrste ioyned togcliier.
Thys kynge had dyuerse deadely woundes and in especiall one with an Arowc, and
{mother wyth a hyll as apered when he was naked. After that the bod ye of the Kynge of
Scottes was fownde and broughte too Barwycke, the Earlc shewed it to-* Sir \VilliamScott
hys Chaunceller, and Syr Ihon Forman hys seriante porter, whiche knene I-.V.TI itt the fvrste
sighte and nvade greate lamentacyon. Then was the bodye bowelled, embiwmed, and
cered, and secretly amongest other stuffe conueyed to Xewcastell, but the-ame daye the
Lorde Adrnyrall came to the felde and there some Scottes anpered on an by! : but U'illiam
Blackenall wbiche was the chetfe doar and ruler of all the ordyiuinnce shott suche a peale,
that tiie Scottes tlcdd, or els the Lorde Admyrall had hen in gretUe iiopardye: and then all
the ordynaunce was broughtc in saueue to tiie CaMell of (yiell, and there remayned for a
tytue. After thys noble v\clorye therle wrote fyrste to the Queue whiche had rayscd a gnat
power to resiste the saydc kynge of Scoltes, of the w \nnynge of the battayle/ for then the
bodyc of the kynge of Scottes was not fourde, ai'd she \d bcyngt: at the" lownc of l.'nck-
ingham had vvooide the next daye alter that the kynge oi Scoites \vas slayne and a parte
of hys coale aimure to her -cute, for whiche victorye she thanked COD, and so the Karle
after that the Northe pane was sett in a quietncs, returned to the Quecnc with the deade
body of the Seottyshc king and brought it to Kichemond.
Nowe lett vs rcturne too the kyi:ge of I'.niilande iyen^e before Tournaye whyche the.
xxv. daye of September receyiied the gauntelett and letters oi' the Karle of Surrey, and
knewe all thedealyngeof holhe parlies. Then he thanked GOD and highly praysed the Karle
and the Lorde Admyrall and hissonne, and all the gentl. men i(nd commons that were at that
valiante entrepryce : Howebeit, the kynge had a secrete letter that tiie Cheshyre men tit-dde
from Syr hdmond Hawarde, whyclie letter caused greate haite burning and many wourdes,
but the kyng thankefully accepted al thynge, and would no man to be dispraysed. So, on
the Moudaye at nyght the. xxu. dave of September, the Lorde Ilarbarie and the Karle of
Shrevvshurye made greale tyers in there arm.es in token of vyctorve and triumph: and on
leusdaye tne. xxvn. daye, the tente of cloth of gold was sett vp," and the kyngcs Chapell
sange masse, and after that 'J c Dcum, and then'the Byshoppe of Rochester made a Ser-
mond and shewed the deathe of the kynge of Scottes and rnuche lamented the yll deathc
and penurye ot him.
The kynge of Li-landc lyenge thus before Tou may, caused hys greate [ordynaunce to
be
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ.
be planted rounde abonte the Cytee, and dyuerse trenches were cast and rampiers niade
and the Lorde Lysle, and the Lorde Wyloghby were appoyncted to mayntayne the ordy-
naunce, wyth ther bendes, and therle of Kent was lodged before the gate called port Yra-
lencyen, so that the Cytizens coulde not issue out, nor no ayde coulde come in. The or-
dynaunce dayly belt the gates, towers, and walles, whiche made a greate batterie: and a
fewe Englyshmen assaulted the port Coquerell, but they were to few in nomber, and yf
they had ben more in nomber, they had taken the towne as the Tournosyns confessed after.
The Cytyzens of Tournay consyderynge their estate, came together to counsayll, and there
the Prouost sayde, frendes and brethren of thys noble Cytee, I cannot to muche prayse
youre treuth and fidelite to youre souereigne Lorde the kyrige of Fraunce considerynge
how manfully you haue defended this Cytee sythe the beginnynge of this siege, but alas
allthough it be wrytten on the gates grauen in stone lammes ton' ne a pci'deu ton pucellage,
that is to saye thou hast neuer lost thy maydenhed: yet yf thys Cytee had not been well
furnyshed and ener at the daie appoyncted suer of reskeue, it coulde not liaue contynued:
nowe you se that reskeue fayleth, our gates be rased, our towers betyn downe, our chiefe
towar lyke to fall, so that yf thys perilous siege continue, or els yf our enemies assaute vs,
we be not able to defende vs : wherfore nowe, all these thynges consydered, I woulde knowe
whyther you wyll treate with the kyng of Englande or abyde the chauncc. Then th?'y which
at the last counsayll cryed warre, warre, nowe cryed peace, peace, yet all were not agreed:
then one vvyseman sayde, Sirs yf the towne be assawted once agayne with a greate nomber,
suerly it will be taken: you sawe thexperience at the last assaute, and then consider yf it
be taken by force who is there that can save he is sure of his life: But by entretie, the kynge
of Ene'.ande is so mercyfull that wee maye fortune to sane bothe lyfe and goodes. Then
fynally all agreed to treate. Then the Prouost sent to the kyng a trompett desyerynge a
saufeconduyte for hvm, and certayne other to come and to speke wyth hym, whyche request
was to hvm Daunted. Then the Prouost of the cytee accompanied with eleuen wyth hym
of the best of the cytee, came to the armye and spake with the lordes of the counsail and
after were brou»hte to the kyngcs presence, the Prouost kneled downe and all his com-
pai<inye and saule: Ryght highe and myghtye Prynce although the Cytee of Tournay is
strong, well walled, well replenished wyth people, vytayles, artylcrie, ye and the people
in fea~re and dread of nothynge, yet we knowe that agaynste your greate puyssaunce yt can
not contynue lonsi, although yt were ten times as stronge as it is, wherefore we knowynge
by repor'te, your honour, your wysedome, your iustyce, and noble harte, are contente to
become your sub'ectes and vassalle's, so that we maye haue and enioye oure olde lawes, cus-
tomes, liberties, and Franchesscs, vnder you as we haue before thys done vnder other
Princes. '1 hen the kynge annswered, we haue well harde your petycyon, we will common
wvth our counsavll and" make you aunswere, and when he had communed wyth his conn-
savll hemm-wcred -nyenge: Sirs he that asketh mercye of vs shall not he denyed, seynge
von cow to treate, we remytte you to oure counsayll. Then they wente into the tente of
counsavll and there the Toiirnasyns fell at a poyncte, and in conclusion, they yelded
Cvtce and ten thowsandc pound sterlyn^ lor the redempcyon of theyr lybertyes, am,
d-partcd to the cytee, makyngc relacion of the kynge and hys noble eorago
Have the XM\ daye of September, the kynge was in hys ryche teute o, clothe ot golile
TPdor hys clothe of estate, to whome came the Cyte/ens of the Cytee and were sworne to
iw-n anil became his subiectes. Then the kynge appoyncted the lord Lvsle, the Lore
Bur-avnv & the Lord Wvlloghby to take possession, whiche w.th six thowsand men entered
the Cvtee and toke the markett place and the walles and serchcd the !,»«•«» lor care
reason and then master Thomas Wolsey the kings almoner called b
Lns young and old and ware them to the kyng ot Inland, the nober uteot »a
skore thousand Thus the kyngof England by conquest came to the possession of the cytrc
of To.™? on Sondaie the. ii. daye of October the kyng entered the cytee Ot 1 ournay at
porte Fountayne, and. iiii. of the chiefe of the cytee ouer h.m bare acaunapyc with a-1
566 THE. V. VERB OF
armes of England, euery person was in his best apparell, 5' Ladies and gentlewomen lay in
the wyndowes beholdynge the kynge and his nobjlite, euery citizen had in his hande a staf
torche, the kynge hym selfe was rychely appereilled in ryche armure on a barded courser,
his henxme beryng his peces of warr, as axe, spere and other, there coursers were barded
with tharmes of England, Fraunce, Ireland, & other the kynges dominions all of ryche
embraudery, thus the kyng with hys nobilite ail richely apparelled with his swerde borne
before him", his herauldes and ser'iantes of armes with trumpcttes and mynstrelsy entered
the cytee and came to our ladye churche, and there te deum was song. Then the kyng
called to his presence, Edwarde Guldeforde, Wylliam Fitzwilliam, Ihon Dauncye, William
Tiler, Ihon Sharpe, William liuse, Ihon Sauage, Cristopher Garnyshe, and diuerse other
valiaunt csquyers and gaue to them the order of knyghthode, and then went to his lodg-
ynge, & at alter nene he came to j market place, where was prepared for him a place :
then he caused a proclamation to be made in his name kyng of England and of Fraunce
that no man shoulde greue the citizens, during which proclamation the turnesyns scace
Joked vp, nor shewed once to him anny amiable countenaunce which was much marked, the
Cry finished, the king departed to his campe leuynge the cytee in safe kepyng. This weke
the kyng rode to see the castel of Morton, & ther his grace toke greate pleasure. The king
remembrynge the great chere that the prince of castell and the lady .\targarete had made
him at Lysle which was but. xii. mile English from Tornay, desired thesaid prince and
lady with diuerse other to come to him to his cytee of Tornay and made preparation for the
same, and appoinctcd a iustes wherof he him selfe would be one, and caused a Tilt to be
made in the market place. While these thynges were preparyng, the king and his counsaill
ordered for the sure kepyng of the cytee of Tornay, and there ordeyned Sir Edward Pown-
yngcs knight of the order of the gartier to be his Lieutenaunt with. iiii. C. archers, with
capyiaynes horsemen and artilerie conuenient, and to haue ayde of Henawde and other
the kyngs frindcs adioynyng, and of his garde he left there, iiii. C. archers, & ordinance
was appoyncted for the defence of thesame. Monday the. xi. daye of October the kng
without the towne receyued the prince of castel, the lady Margaret arid dyuerse other no-
bles of their countreys and them brought into Tornay with great triumphe. The Noys
went that the lord Lisle made request of manage to the ladye Margarete duches of Sauoy
and doughter to Themperour Maximilian, which before that tyme was departed from the
kyng with many riche giftcs and money boroued but whether he profcred mariage or not
she fauored him highly: there the prince and duches soiorned with great solace by the space
of. x. dayes. Duryng whiche tyme, the. xviii. daye of October began the iusles, the king
and the lorde Lisle aunswered all commers: vppon the kyng attended, xxiv. knyghtes on
foote in coates of purple veluetand cloth of gold. A tent of cloth of gold was set in the
place for the armorie and releue, the king had a base and a trapper of purple veluet bothe
set lull of. S. S. of fyne bullid and the lord Lisle in thesame suyte, ther were many speres
broken and many a good buffet geuen, the strangers as the lord Walon and lorde Emery
and other dyd right well. When y iustes wer done, the kyng and al the other vnhelmed
them & rode about the Tilt and did great reuerence to the ladies, and then the herauldes
cryed to lodgyng.
This night the king made a sumpteous banket of a C. dishes to the prince of Castell
and the lady Margai-cte & to all other lordes & ladies, and after the banket, the ladies
daunsed, and then came in the king & a xi. in a maske, all richely appareled \v bonettes of
gold, & when they had passed the time at their pleasure, the garmcntcs of the maske were
cast of amongest the ladies, take who could take.
The. xx. daye of October, the Prince of Castell and the lady Margarete with many
•eat g.fies to them geuen returned to Lyle with all their trayne. After that the kyng was
it urn™ iu mem geuen returned to J.yle with all their trayne. After that the kyn
: taken and euery thing put '
f, e thesamp tr» sir F.flu/nnl Pn
kept it in good order and justice.
/" 1 I 1 I I • *• J I»»**VV*JV^IY» If Ci »• U J
entormed that all direccions were taken and euery thing put in an order for the sure kepyng
?Lr£?" cot, T°rnay> .lie too ke thesame to sir Edward Pownynges knight which valiantly
3 The
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. S6r
The king& his counsayll before this had considered that the Frechmen would geue them
no battayle, & that winter aproched, which was no tiri>e to lie at siege of other townes,
concluded to kepe Tournay sauely, and to breake vp his campe for that winter, and to be-
gin again war in the,spring of the yere : thi? was a full conclusion taken by the kynge and
his counsayl, and so the kynge and all his people (excepte suche as were appoyncted to be
with syr Edward Pownynges) departed out of Tournay the. xx. daye of September : and
ihe king and the noble men made suche spede, that shortely they came to Caleys, and thy-
ther came the Lorde Admyra'.l whome the kynge hartely thanked of his paynes and there
euery man was paied of his wages and conduyte money, and shippes prepared for the pas-
sage, and so the. xxiiii. daye of Septeber the kyng with a priuy copany toke shippe & the
same day landed at Douer and shortly after all his people folowed, then he with a small
company rode to Rychemonde in post to the queue, where was sucheia louing metyng that
euery creature reioysed. This season began a great mortalite in London and other places
where much people died : All this winter the kynges nauy kept the seas and robbed and
spoyled t'.ie Frenchmen on their costes.
When the kynge was thus returned he forgat not the good scruyce that many a gentleman
dyd at the battayle of Bramston, wherefore he wrote to them his louing letters with such
thankes and fauorable wordes that euery man thought him selfe well rewarded. And on
the daye of the purification of our lady at Lambeth the kynge created the Earle of Surrey
duke of Norffolke with an augmentacion of the armes of Scoilande, and Sir Charles Bran-
don Viconte Lisle, he created duke of Suffolke, and the Lord Haward high Admiral! he
created Earle of Surrey, and Sir Charles Somerset! Lorde Herbert, his chiefe Chamber*
layne, he created Earle of Worcester: and after that at a nother daye he made Sir Ed-
\\arde Stanley for his good seruice, lorde Montaygle, and in marche folowyng was master
Thomas Wolsey the kynges almoner consecrate bisshop of Lyncolne, which therto was na-
med on Newers daye before : This man was borne at Yps-.vyche and was a good Philoso-
pher, very eloquente and full of witte, but for pride, couetous, and ambicion, he excelled
all other as you shall hear after.
In the tyme of kynge Ilenrye the seuenth father to kynge Henrye the eyght it was con- The discrip.
eluded betwene the'sayde kynge, and kynge Phylyppe of Castell sonne to Maxymiliaii Them- ^^^
perour and kynge of Castell and his wife, that Charles his eldest sonne should marye the whio* »f-
Lady Mary doughter to the kynge of Englande with a dowrye to her appoyncted, at whyche ^""c™
tyme they were bothe younge : Noweat the kynges retourne from Tournay he made prepa- dinc.ii.
racyon too sende thesayde Ladye his syster to the Prince of Castell. But the counsayll
of Elaunders aunswered that concernynge her selfe they would gladly receyue to be es-
powsed to their Prynce, for she was then one of the fayrest Ladyes of the worlde : hut
as concernynge the articles of her dowar, they coulde not fulfyll without thassente of the
kyn^e of Arra^on and the realme of Castell (whyche as was sayde, mynded to haue hym
maryed in Spayne.) The kynge lyke a louynge brother woulde not sende his syster wyldely
wythoute a dowar assured," tooke the fyrste agremente betwene the kynge her father and
kvnee Phvlyppe hys father to bee of none effecte, syth the Spanyardes woulde not con-
ferme the'same, and the cause was, by reason that kynge Phylyppe was not naturally borne
to be there kym'e, but was kynge in the ryghte of his wyfe, and so they were not bounde
too hys aereementes made withoute their consente. So thus the kynge of Englande reteyn-
ed stvll hys syster and all the preparacion that he had done for her conueyaunce, whyche
i
was verve costelv. . . , , .....
This season the lady Margarete quene of Scottes late wife to king lames the 1111. slayne
at Bramston, and sister to the kyng, wrote to the kynge to haue compassion o her and his
two Nephews her sonnes, for she was in feare le,t he woulde haue muaded her realme.
The king mooed with brotherly copassion, sent her word, that yt the Scottes kept peace %
he would" kepe peace, yf they would haue war he would likewise haue war & so with that
LnTe re the LsSnge/departed, In the sprig tyme of the yere the kyng wrote hys letters
5<J« THE. VI. YERE OF
to all noble men and gentlemen that he woulde shortly passe agayn into Fraunce in his awns
person, whertbre euery ma prepared him self mete for that iournay : the Flemynges hering
therof, made puruiaunce for wagans, vitaile and other thynges which turned them to great
losse for that viage brake of as you shall here.
All this season Sir Richard Whcthill and syr Ihon Tremaylc kept so Thenglishe pale that
the Frenchmen durst not medyl, and yet they spoylcd to base bolien.
Before this time the townes ahoute London as Islyngton, floxston, Shordysh and other,
had so enclosed the common feldes with hedges & diches, that nother the young men of
thecvlee might shote, nor the auncicnt persones might walkc for ther pleasure in the feldes,.
excepte either ther bowes and arrovves were broken or taken a waye, or the honest and sus-
tanciall persons arrested or indited, saieng that no Londoner should go out of the cytee
but in the high waves. This sayeng sore greued the Londoners, and sodainly this yere a
great nomber of the citee assembled them »elfes in a mornynge, and a turnar in a foolea
cotte came cryenge through the cytee, shoucls and spades, and so many people folowed
that it was wonder, and within a short space all the hedges about the. townes were cast
downs, and the diches filled, and euery thing made plain the woorkemen were so diligent.
The kynges counsayll heryng of this assembly came to the Gray Frears, and sent for the
mayre and the counsayll of the cytee to knowe the cause, whiche declared to them the
noysaunce done to the Citezens, and ther commodities and liberties taken from them,
though they would not yet the commonaltie and young persons which were dampnified by
the noysauce would pluck vp & remedy the same. And when the kynges counsayl had
harde the answer, they dissimuled the matter & commaunded the mayor to see that no other
thyng were attempted, and to call home the citezens, which when they had done ther en-
treprice, came home before the kynges counsayll and the Mayer departed without any more
harme doing, and so after, the feldes were neuer hedged.
H THE. VI. YERE.
^ TN the runneth of Maye the kynge and the newe Duke of Suffolke were defenders at the
Tilt against al commers, the kynge was in a scopelary mantel, and hat of clothe of syluer
and like a whyte armite, and the duke apparellled like a black armite all of blacke veluet,
both ther berdes were of Damaske syluer. and when they had ridden about the Tilt and
shewed themseli'cs to the queue, then they threwe of their apparell St. sent it to the ladies for
a larges, then was the king in black, and the Duke in white with black staues, on the
Btaues was written with white letters who can hold that try I meat/: this poyse wasiudged to be-
made for the duke of Suffolke and the duches of Sauoy, at these iuste's were the duke of
Longeuyle and the lord Cleremond, and there the kyng and the duke dyd so valiantly that
they obteyned the price, at these iustcs were broken.' C. xiiii. spores in a short season.
The kyng at this season sent agayne into Flaunders for the performaunee of the manage of
the young prince of castelland the tayru lady Mary his sister, and bhcwed how he had pre-
pared all thinges necessary and conuenient for suchc an high estate. The counsayl of
Maunders aunswered that they woulde not rcceyue her that yere, with many subtyl ar«u-
mentes, by reason wherof the periite lone betuene England and y low countreys was much
slaked.
rfmfyTe- ^f ' X1£ da^ ?f M?? was ^ccyucd into London a Cappof mayntenaunce and a swerde
M5c, sent from 1 ope Inly, w.lh a great eompaignye of nobles and gentlemen, which was presented
to the kyng on the Sonday then next ensuyng with great solempnylie in the CatUedrall
church ot samct Paul. About this tiwe, the warres yet contynewynge bctwene Eayland
and Fraunce prior Ihon (of whom you haue harde before in the. iifi. yere)ii.eat capuavne
of the trenche nany, w,th his Galeysand Foystes charged with great basylvske. and ot'-ier
greate artilery came on the border of Sussex and came a land iu the night at a poore villas
KYNG HENRY THE. VII J. 569
in Sussex edited bright Ilelmston and or the watch coulde him escryehe sett fyer on the towne
and toke suche poore goodes as he foutule; then the watche fyred the bekyns and people began 3«r
to gather. whiche seynge prior Ihon Sowned his trompett to call his men ahorde, and by that
tyme it was day: then. vi. archers whiche kept the watche folowed prior Ihon to the sea and
shott so fast, that they bett the galyme from the shore and prior Ihon hym selfe waded to his
foyst, and Thenglishetnen went into the water after, but they were put back with pickes or els
they had entered the foyst, but they shott so fast, that they wouded many in y foyst and prior
Ihon was shott in the face with an Arrow, and was likely to haue dyed, and therefore he of-
fered his image of wax before our lady at Bollcyn with the English arrow in the face for a
nvyracle.
When tlse lorde Admirall of England had hard these newes he was not content and sent
Sir Ihon Wallopp to the sea incontinent with diuerse English shippcs, which sayled to the
cost of Normandy & ther landed and brent, xxi. villages and. townes with great slaughter of
people, and bret shippes and boates in the hauens of Treaport, stapils and in euery place.
This sir Ihon Wallopp quit hym self so. that men marueled of his enterprises, consyderyng
he had at the most but. viii.C. men and toke land tlier so often.
In the mor.eth of lime the lord Powntreiny that was capitayne of Tyrwyn with banner
displayed and great ordinaunce, with a great army came into Picardy nere to Arde. Sir
Nycbolas Vaux captain of Guysnes cosydevyng that y Frenchmen had such ordinaunce
thought y they would haue beseged G uysnes, and wrote therof to the king which inconti-
nente prouided a greate armye for the reskewe. And when eucry thyng was redy and the
army forward, the lord Pountremy reysed his campe and departed without anye more
doing, but for all that y kyng sent ouer sir Thomas Louell knyght with. vi.C. men to Caleys
for tlie more strength of -that towne and other townes and castdles beyng w in the English
pale and the marches there.
The French king this yere appoyncted to Richard del a Pole traitor of England and
banished the real me. xii.M. lanceknyghtes to kepe Normandie, and also to entre into Eng-
land and to conquere thes-ame, where they made suche a llyott that many of them were
-slavn & he was fay n to carve them to sente Malos in Britaigne to take shippe: for the
Frenchmen woulde fayne haue bene ryclde of them they cared not how, there conditions
were so vyle and shameful, but by tlie reason that the French kyng suyd tor peace, this mr-
Hav toke no effect. , . .
The French kin- by an heraulde wrote to the king of England, that he marueled greatly
xvhv he made him so sore war, and brent and toke his townes, slew and robbed his people
witnoute auv cause geuen on his parte, wheriore he required the king to graunt sautecon-
duvte to his" ambassadors, whiche shoulde cntreate the cause: whereupon in Inne y
French kin- sent a commission with the president of Roan and the generall hover and cer-
tayne other'nobles of Frounce toentreate peace and allyaunce betwcne both the prynces: &
h, bv cause that they knewe that the mariage was broken betwcne the prince o custell
COine VV OlseVj LUHM. ,<J, . -^ - . . * . . ,, , „_,!„„..,,. .,nfl rrllPU- aftrr
" i - : ,t, I?T^rrlonrl £1(11111 (VltH H.I llCrOOWiH U11U liLUCS. dlltl
i..i,.»iil/-l if r ii'.paspd her retorne into iMigianu agiin
che entetie the indentures were sealed and the peace proclamed the. v,i. daye of August
nd the kh "'in presence of the French ambassador sworn to kepe ihcsame, & likewise
fnt^Sln' ^noa^de o. of En ±nd u, see^-e ^^^™^ not
.1 11 .1 __l ^^, «»-» nl-»*^iilri tlT»QP\T
TI Q nn^-hmpn herviK-- these newes were sory, ana repcitu UK >-j "7^ —
i llG Lv U IL IJ I11C- II iivi jr I»Q fc"* ** /-Ll l^lCr«-\/-vr»L-\T ml* n ^nOll f i
i (' 11 I" th'c mtiriiicTP thclt 3. ICbl6 OIU tx DOCKy Illa-U OUWUIM
1 n ''- - prisoners
570 THE. VI. YERE OF
mayster. This Duke was highly enterteyned in England of many noble men and had great
chere, but when they came into Fraunce with the quene he would scace kno\v them. Then
when all thinges were redy for the conueyaunce of this noble Ladye, the kyng her brother in
the rnoncth of September with the quene his wife and his sayde sister and all the court
came to Douer and there taryed, for the wyncle was troblous and the wether fowle, in so
muche that a shipp of the kynges called the Libeck of. ix.C. tonne was dryuen ashore be-
fore Sangate and there brast £ of. vi.C. menscantely escaped. iii.C. and yet the most part
of them were hurl with the wrecke. When the wether was layre then all her wardrobe, stable,
and riches was shipped, and suche as were appoyncted to geue their attendaunce on her, as
the duke of Norfolke, the Marques Dorset the Bysshop of Durham, the Earle of Surrey, the
lorcle Delawar, the lorde Barnes, the lord Montaigle, the Marques, iiii. brother, sirMorice
Barkery, sir Ihon Peche, sir William Sandes, sir Thomas Bulleyn, sir Iho- Carr and many
other knightes, Squyers, getlemen & ladies, al these went to ship and thesayde lady toke her
leaue of the queue in the castell of Douer and the king brought her to the sea syde, and
kissed her and betoke her to GOD and the fortune of the see, and to the gouernaunee of the
French king her husband. Thus the. ii. daye of October at the hower of foure of the
clocks in the rnorenynge thys fay re laclye tooke her ship with all her noble compaignie : and
when they had sayled a quarter of the see, the wynde rose and seuered some of the shyppes
to Caleys, and some in Flaunders and her shippe with greate difficultie was brought to Bul-
leyn, and with great icopardy at the entryng of the hauen, for the master ran the ship hard
on shore, but the botes were redy and receyucd this noble lady, and at the landyng Sir
Christopher Garnyshe stode in (he water and toke her in his arme.s, and so caryed her to
land, where the Duke of Vandosme and a Cardynall with many estates rcceyued her, and
her ladies, and welcommed all the noble men into that countrey and so the Queue and all
her trayne came to Bulleyn, and ther rested, and from thence she remoued by dyuerse lod>r-
ynges tyll she came all most within, iii. mile of Abuyle besyde the forrest of Arders, and
ther kynge Loyes vppon a great courser met with her, and she would luuie alyghted but he
woulde not suffer her, and welcomed her to his countrey, and when he had sene her beauty
(whiche he so long desired) and talked w her a litle space, then he returned to Abuyle by
a secret waye, & she was w great trifiphc, procession & pagiuntes rcceyued into the toune
of Abuyle the. viii. daye of October by the Dolphin, which receyued her w great honor,
she was appareilled in cloth of silncr, her horse was trapped in goldsmythes work very
rychly. After her folowed. xxxvi. ladies, al ther palfreys trapped with crymsvn vcluet, em-
braudered: after them folowed one charyott of clothe of tyssuc, the scconde clothe of golde
and the third Crymsyn veluet embrawdcred with the kyngs armcs & her«, full of roses.
After them folowed a great number of archers, and then wagons lad^n \V their sluf. Great
•wasjhe riches in jilate, iuels, money, apparel, and hangynges that this lady brought into
France. The Moday beyng the daye of Saincte Denysc, thesamc kynge Lewes maried the
lady Mary in the great church of Abuyle, bothe appareled in goltlesmy'thes woorke. After
the masse was done, ther was a great banket and Ic-bt and the ladyes of England highly en-
treteyned.
The Tewesdaye beyng the. x. daye of October all Thenglishmcn except a fewe that were
officers with thesayde quene, were discharged whiche was a greate sorowe for theirn, for
some had serued her longe in hope of prefermente, and some that had honest romes'lefte
them toserue her, & now they were with out scruice, which caused the to take thought in
so much some dyed by the way returning, and sone fell mad, but ther was no remedy.
After the English lordes had done there commission the Freeh king wylled the to take no
lenger payne, &sogaue to them good rewardcs and they toke ther leaue of the quene and
returned. Then the Dolphin of Fraunce called lord Frauncys duke of Valoys, and by hys
wife duke ot Bryta.gne for the morehonoure of this manage, before Then^lishmen depart-
ed trom Abuyle, caused a solempne iustes to be proclaymed which shoulde be kept at Paris
mine moneth of Noueber next ensuyng, and that he with his. ix. aydes shoulde aunswere,
all
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 57l
all commers beynge gentlemen of name and of armes. Fyrste to ronne. v. courses at the Tylt
with peces of anantage, and also. v. courses at Randon with sharpe speres, and twelfe strokes
•\\ith sharpe s\vordes, and that clone, he and his aydes to fight at the barriers with al gentlemen
of name and of armes. Fyrsle syx foyncs with hand speres, and after that eyght strokes to
the most auantage yf the spere so long held, and after that twelfe strokes with the swerde, and
yf any man be vnhorsed or be felled wyth fyghtynge on foote, then hys hoisc and armoure to
be rendered to the officers of armes, and eueryman of this chalenge must set vp his armes and
name vpon an arche triumphante, whiche shalbe made at the place where the iustes shalbe, and
farther shall wryte too what poynct he wyll aunswere to one or to all. When this proclama-
tion was reported in Englande by the noble men that returned from the mariage: the Duke
of Suffolkethe Marques Dorsett and his foure brethrene, the Lorde Clynton, Sir Edward
Neuel, Sir Gyles Capell, Thomas Cheney and other sued to the kynge to be at the chalenge,
which request, he graciously graunted. Then the Lordcs and knyghtes prepared all thynge
necessarye for there entreprice, and shypped there horses and harnesse, and dyd so muche
by iournay, that they came to Parys, at the ende of the moneth of October, whiche were
hartely welcomed of the kyng and the Dolphin : but most of all of the Freeh queue which
then lay atsainet Denyse, and was not yet crowned nor entred in to Paris.
The Dolphin desired the duke of Suifolke and the lord Marques Dorset, whose actiuite
he knew well by reporte, to be two of his immediat aides, which therto assented. Ther-
ibre was erected an Arch of widnes at the tournelles beside thestrcteon sainct Anthony, di-
rectly before y ISastel, on the which were set. iiii. targettes or scutchios, the one siluer and
lie that sett his name vnder thatshylde, rtinneat the Tylt accordyng to y articles: he that put
his name vnder the golden target should ronne with the sharpe speres and fight with sharpe
swercles : they that put ther names to the black shilde should fight a foote with speres and
swerdes for the one hand. And he that touched the tawny sbeld shoulde caste a spere on
loot with a taro-ett on his arme, & after to fisiht with a. ii. hand swerde : on this archcaboue
these thyngcs were prc[>arynge, the lady Mary of England the. v. dayeofNouember then being
Sondavc, was \V great solempnitee crowned Queue of Fraunce in the monastcrye of Sayncte
Dcnycc, and ^c Dolphyn all the season held the croune ouer her hed, because it was of
greate \vaighttohevgreuaunce, at whiche coronacyon were the lordcs of England, and ac-
cordvn<Teto iht-r decrees well enterteyned.
Momlaye the. viV clave of Nouernber ther the sayde Queue was receyued into the cytee of
Pai-vs after the order that foloweth. First the garde of the Cytee met with her with oute
Savncte Denvce all in coates of goldesmythes woorke with shippcs gylt, and alter them mett
her all the prcstes and religious whiche 'were estemed to be. iii. M. The queue was in a
chvrecouercd about (but not ouer her person) in white cloth of goldc, the horses thatdrewe
it coucred in cloth of guide, on her hed acoronall all of greate perles, her necke und
bre<t full of luels, before her wente a garde of Almaynes after their fascion, and after them
oblemen as the Dolphyn, the duke of Alanson, the Duke ot Unrbon, the Duke of
Va d me ti" uke o Longeuyle, and the duke of Suftbike, the Marques Dorsett v.
Ca Sfes and a greate nomhcr of estates, aboute her person rode the kynge- garde wl.che
•c Sco te's Thus was this quene receyued into Paris and so coueyed to he cathedral
id ther offered and from thence to the pallayce where she offered at the holy
ircnt diiu uici uii^i^u, /.__'.„ ,,^i,f <VM. TV inmp urns nrniimRd a
wei-e
clurch
curcenterotre an
Chanel and f om the ncc she went to her lodgyng for that nyght, for whome was proiuded a
572 THE. VI. YERE OF
and the quenestodeso that all men mightseeher and wondered atherbeautie, and thekyngwas
feble and lay og a couclie for \\eakenes. Then entered 5' coiiter parte by a raylc for combryno;
the place. These iustes contynued. iii. dayes, in the whiche were aunswered. iii. hundred
and. v. men of armes and euery man ran. v. courses, and with sharpe speres, dyuerse were
slayne and not spoken of: the English lonles and knyghtes dyd as well as the best of any the
other. At the Randon and Tournay the Duke of Suffolke hurt a gentleman that he was like
to die, the Marques strok Mounsire Grew an Albanoys with his spore and perced his lied
pece & puthym in ieopardy: the duke of Suffolke in the tornay ouerthrewe a man of armes
horse and man, and so dyd the lorde Marques another, and yet the Frenchmen woulde in
no wyse prayse them. At this tornay the Dolphyn was hurt in the hande, so that he couldc
not performe hys clmlenge at the barriers and put one of his ayde in his rome, the ncxte daye
after began the fight at the barriers and because the Dolphin was not present, the duke of
Suffolke and the lorde Marques Dorsett that daye began the feld, and toke the barriers with.
speres in hand abydyng all cormners. The Dolphin brought a mfi secretly, which in all the-
court of Fraunce was (he tallest and the strongest man, & he «as an Ahnayne and put him
in the plnce of another person to haue had y doke of Suffolke rebuked. The same <*reat
Almnync came to the barres fyersly with face hyd, because he would not be knowen, and
bare his spere to the duke of Suffolke with all his strength, and the duke him receiued, and
for all his strength put hym by strong strokes from the barriers, and \\ith the but cnde of the
spere strake the Almaine that he staggared, but for al that the Almayne strake strogly and
hardly at the duke, and the iudges suffered many mo strokes t« lv? foughten then were ap-
poincted, but whe they saw the Almayne rele £ staggar, then they let fall the rayle betwene
them. The lorde Marques Dorsett at the same time, euen at the same barre fought with a
gentleman of Fraunce that he lost his spere, and in maner with drewe : When the raylc was
let fall, these two noble men put vp their vysers& toke aver, & then they tooke swerdes with
poynct & edges abated, and came to the bairiers, and y Almayne foughte sore with the duke,
which imagened that he was a person set on for the nonce but ydukc by pure stre gth tooke
hym about the necke, and pomeledso aboutc the hed tlrat the bloud yssucd out of his r/ose,
& then they were departed, and tlie Almayne was conucyed hv the Dolphyn lest he should
be knowen. These taoo noble men of Englande that daye fought valiantly diuerse feates,
and the Frenchmen likewise nobly them defended but it happened the lord Marques one time
to put for his aide his yoiigest brother called the Lorde Edward Grey of the age of. xix.
yere, and to hym was put a gentleman of Fraunce of grcate stature and strength to thentente
to plucke hym oner the barres, but yet the youngc Lorde was of snche strength, powreand
pollecy, that he so stroke his aduersarie that he disarmed hym, al the face bit re. Thus was
these cntrepryces fynislicd to the laude of al panics, and Thenglyshmen receyued niuche
honoureand no spott of rebuke, yet they were priuely sett at and iii many ieopardics: for
the declaracion of tiiis triumphe, lie that sawe it can tell iiowe goodly tn'e coursers trotted
bonded and quickly turned : llo\v valiantely the men of armes hehaued thcmselfes and Iiowe
the Duke of Burboncs bende was apparelled and basscd in t a \\ney veluet, and clothe of
syluer cloudy, the bende of therleof Sayncte Polle apparelled and larded in purple veluet all
tocutt, on purple sattcn, thecnfante of Arragon souue to Firderycke la-t kynge of Naples, and
hys bende all in clothe of golde and syluer paled. Thislord was but young but was very towarde.
The Duke ofVandosme and his bende in clothe of'uolde, and plucket veluet bende "The Dol-
phyn and hys aydes were euery daye newe apparelled at his costc, one daye in' syluer and
golde, another m Crymesyn veluet and yelowe veluet, and another daye" in white veluet
and grcne, some daye rnyxted with satyn, some (hie embrawdered, some daye pounced
with golde, and so euery daye in chaunge as the woo; kcrs fantasye coulde deuvsc, but the
iLnghsliemen had euer on their apparell red crosses to be- knowen for loue of their cofitre-
this tnumphe the countieGaleas came into the place on a lenet trapped in blew satten
and he hym selfe lykewyse apparelled and ran a corse with a spere, winch was at the hed
v. ynches on euery syde square, that is. xx. yncl.es about, & at the but. ix. ynches square',
that
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 573
tfcat is. xxxvi. ynches, this spere was massy tymber & yet for al that he rii cleane with it a long,
course and slightely auoyded it to his great honour.
Also ther was another gentleman called Anthony Bownarme which came into the fdd all.
armed, and on his body brought in sight, x. speres that is to wyt. iii. speres set in euerv sty-
roppe forward, and vnder euury thygh. ii. speres vpwarde, and vnder his lefte arme was on
spere - backeward, and the. x. in his hand, and when he came before the Queue he let hys
horse ronne and neuer stopped tyll he had taken euery spereafler oilier and broken it on the
grounde, and he neuer stopped liis horse tyll all were broken, this gentleman was highely
praysed and so he was worthy : when all this great triumuhe was done, the lordes of England
toke ther leue and were highly thanked of the kyng, queue. Dolphin and all the lords, and so
departed and came into England before Christinas. In Nouember the queue was delyucred'
of a prynce which lyued not long alter.
This yere in December ther was one Richard Hun a marelwttayllor of London in tollers {^Ysm'it*
tower by the comrnaundcment of the Bishop of London, called Rychard Fit/iames & doc- ted toy
toure Horsey his chaunceler, whiche was a man more of witt to prefer re. the .Byshoppes iu- ]™v"*&
jiysdicion and the clergie, and then the truth of the Gospell : but so it was that the sayde Hun numbered...
was found dead bilging by v neck in a gordle of silke, win y saicLlowre. The beginiiig of
t-his matter must be shewed for y iolowlg of y cosequet: for this Hu had a child $ died in
his house being an infant, the Curate clamed y beryng shete, for a moituary. lluu
answered y the infant had no propertie in the shete whervpon the priest ascited
him in the spiritual courte, he taking to him good counsayll, sued the Curate in a.
preminire, and when the prestes hard ot' this, they did so much of malice that they accused
him of heresy, and brought him to the lollers tower and ther was fouode deed as you hard.
This man was counted of honest reputacion, no man to the sight of people more vertuous,
wherfore vpon this matter a greate matter folowed, for the Byshoppe and hys Chaunceller.
doctour Horsey sayde that he hanged hym selfe, and all the tempcraltie sayde that he was
numbered, and there vpon. xii. men were charged before the Coronour whyche. xii. were
elected by greate dyscrt-cion, and many tymes they were wyth the kynges counsayll and hard
their opinions, but in the meane season the Bysshop of London brent the dead Carcase of
the sayde Rydumle Hun in smythfeld, to the abhominaciou of the people: but after that the
matter had ben hard by the iudges, and after by the kynges counsayll his grace beyng present
I.L, > WCM vt »» y ni*.* »** w*»* ..j-.r — j - j , _ __
lonrev 10 confc-ffe on his arniyiicuifinliy.il not to be pylly, and so lie escoped anil net to •
ami Ibrvcry shame durst neucr come alter to I.onilon lint yet for alurllier inline t
lare.! in this abljoin'mable anil detestable raiirllier here shall folovv the whole nqnyrj-
•xetre
be declar
and verdicte of tiiemiiK'=t woorde lor vvoorde.
vercte o tiemiiK'= woore o . . .
The v ami the. vi. dale ofDceember in the. vi. yere of :he rcigr.e of our So,,erciSne lorde J'»1""
yng Henry tlie. viii. M'yllvam liarae.vell crowncr of London, Hie daye and yere a boue ,,f KM
c »2 the »ar,le J Ca.,,ylb.,nerd of London assembled a qiies, whose name, ate,.-
$74 T1IE. VI. YEftE OF
same °yrdle wherby he did hang: Also the knot of the gyrdcl that went about his neck stode
•vtlder bia Icfteare, which caused his head to leane toward his right shoulder. Not wstand-
in"- there came 'out of his no-trels. ii. small stremes of bloud to the quantite of. iiii. dropes,
saue only these, iiii. dropes of blode, the face lippeschinne, doublet, coler,& shurt of the sayde
Hun was cleane from any hloud. Also we fynd y the si<yn both of his neck & throte be-
neththe gyrdell of sylk, was fret & lased away, with that thing which y murtberers had
broken his neck with all. Also the hades of the sayd Hun were wrog in the wristes, wherby
-we perceyued that his handes had been bounde.
Morcouer we fynd that within the sayde prison was no meane wherby any man might hang
him selfe, butonlv a stole which stole storle vpon a bolster of a bed, so tyckle that any mau
or beast inyght not louche it so litle but it was redy to fall, wherby we perceyued that yt
was not possible that llun might hunge hymselfe the stole so standyuge. Also all thegyrdell
from the staple to his necke, as well as the part which went about his neck was to litle
for his heed to come out therat. Also it was not possible that the soil sylken gyrdell
shoulde breake his neck or skyn beneth the gyrdle. Also we finde in a corner some-
what beyonde the place wher he dyd In-ng a great pcrsell of bloud, also we fynde
that vpon the lyftc syde of Huns lacket from the brest downeward. ii. great stremes
of bloud. Also within the flappe of the lyft syde of his lacket, we fynde a greate cluster
of bloude and the lacket folden downe therupon, wliiche thing the sayde Hun coulde neuer
folde nor do after he was hanged: Whereby it appereth plainly to vs all, that the necke of Hun
•was broken, and the greate plenty of blude was shed before he was hanged. Wherefore all
wee fynde by God and all our consciences that Rychard Hun was murthered ; also we ac-
quyte the sayde Richard Hun of his aune deathe.
Also an ende of a waxe candell whyche as Ihon Belrynger sayeth, he Icfte in the prvson
burnyng with Hun that same Sondaye at nyght that Hun was tnurlhered, whyche vvaxe
candell we founde styckynge vppon the stockes fay re putoute, aboute seucn or eyght foot
from the place where llun was hanged, whyche candcll after cure opynion was neuer put
oute by hym, for many likelyhodes whiche we haue perceyued. Also at the goynge vp of
Master Chaunceller into the Lollars tower, wee haue good proofe, that there lave on the
stockes a gowne eyther of murrey or crymosyn in grayn furred with shankes, whose goune yt
was wee could neuer prone, nevther who bare it awuye. All wee fynde that Master \Vyllyain
Horsey Chaunceller to my lordc: of London hath had at hys cummaundcment boihe the rule
and guydynge of the sayde prysoner. Morcouer all we fynd that the savde Master Horsey
Chaunceller hath put (Charles lo^cph out of his office, as the sayde Charles hath confessed
because he would not dele and vse the sayde prisoner so cruelly and do to him as the Chaun-
celler would haue had him to do. Notwithstanding the keyes delyueraunce to the Chauncel-
ler by Charles on the Satunlaye itt nyght before Huns dcatlie ami Cljarles rvdyng out of the
towne on the Sondaye in the mornyng cnsuyng was hut a contiencion made bctwixte Charles
and the Chaunceller, for to colour the number, for the same Soday that Charles rode furth, lie
came agayne to townc the Sonday at nyght, and kylled Rychard Hun, as in the clepdsy-
cions of lulian Littell, Thomas Chitcheley, Thomas Symo'ndes, and Peter Turner doe'th
appere.
After colon ryng of the number betwixte Charles and the Chaunceller conspired, the
Chaunceller called to hym one Ihon Spaldyng Uelrynger of Ponies and delyuercd to the
same belryngerthe keyes of the Lollars towre, gcuyng to the sayde belrynger a great charge,
sayeng I charge the to kepe Hun more straytely then he hath been kepte,°and let hym bane
but one meale a daye. Moreouer I charge the, let nobody come to hym wythoute mv iy-
cence, neyther to brynge hym shurt, cap, kerchefte, or any other thynge, but that I s:ee it
before yt come to hym. Also before Hun was caried to Fulham, the Chaunceller corn-
maunded too be put vppon Huns necke a greate collcr of Iron with a greate chayne whiche is
to heuy for any man or beast to were and longe to endure.
Moreouer it is well proued that before Huns death the sayd Chaunceller came vp into the
6 sayde
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 575
sayde Lollers tower, and kneled downe before Him holdynge vp hys handes to hym, pray-
enge hym of forgeuenesse of all that he had done to liym and muste do to hym. And on the
Sondaye folowynge the Chaunceller coinmaunded the Penytensary of Poules, too goo vp to
hym and saye a Gospell, and make for hym holy water and holye breade, and gene yt to hym,
whyche so dvdand also the ChaunceHer comaunded that Ilun should haue his diner. And
the same dyner tyme Charles boye was shnte in pryson with Ilun, whichc was neuer so be-
fore, and after dyner whan the Belrynger fett oute the boye, the lie! rynger sayde to the same-
boye, come no move hythcr with mete for hym, vntyll to morowe at npone, for my mayster
Chaunceller hathe commaunded that he shall hane but one meale a daye : and the same
night folowynge Rychard Ilun was murthered, whiche murder coulde not haue been done
\vilhoute consente and lycence of the ChaunceHer, and also by the wittynge and knowelege
of Ihon Spaldynge Belrynger, for there coulde no man come in to the prysone but by the
keves beyn<T in Ihon Belryngers kepynge. Also as by my Lorde of Londons booke doeth
appere, Ihon Belrynger is a poore innocente man, wherefore all wee doo perceyue that thys
murther coulde not be done, but by the commaundement of the Cuaunceller, and by the wit-
tyng & knowing of Ihon Belrynger.
Charles Joseph within the tower of London ofhysawne free wyll and vnconstreyned sayde,
that Master ChaunceHer deuysed and wrote with his awne hand, all sue he heresyes as were
layd to IIus charge, recorde Ihon God, Ihon Truy, Ihon Pasmar, Richard Gybson w many
other.
Also Charles loseph sayeth, that whan Rychard Hun was slayne Ihon Belrynger bare vpp
the steyre into Loltars towerawaxe candell, hauynge the keyes of the doies hangynge on hys
arme, and I Charles went nexte to hym, and master Caaunceller came vp last, and whan
all wee came vp, we founde Hun lyenge on hys bedde, and than Mayster chaun-
celler sayde lay handes on the thefe and so al we murthered Hun, and than I Charles
put the gyr'dell aboute Huns necke, and than Ihon Belrynger and I.Charles dyd heue
vp Ilun and Master ChaunceHer pulled the gyrdell ouer the staple and so
hanged.
The denosvcion of lulian litte'l Late seruaunt to Charles loseph by her fre will vncon-
Etrayncd the. vi. yere of oure souereigne lord kyng Henry the. viii. within the Chapell of
our lady of Bethlehem shewed to thynquest.
Fyrst Julian sayeih, that the Wednesdays at nyght after the death of Rychard Hun, that
Charles loseph her master came home to hys supper : than luhan sayde to hym, master it
was tolderae that ve were in pryson, Charles auaswered, it is merye to urne the penye,
and afte s p Charl,s Irussed persell of his goodes, and with helpe ot lulyan bare , hem
?n to master Porters bowse to kepi and that done Charles sayde to luhan. luhan yt thou
v It be wornc to kepe my counUll I wyll shewe the my mynde. Iu an aanswered ye yf
tbenevther fclonie or treason : than Charles toke a boke oute ot Ins pmse, andlulum
ware to l"- n therapon than sayde Charles to lulian, I haue distroyed R.charde Hun. Alas
chere all daye tyll yt was nyght, and et before vt was . >d i>
had kylled s t
aye tyll yt was nygt, an yet eore .
and vpon the next day I rode y the agay , uid as t
.e:
576 THE. VI. YERE 'OF
-say the that vpoti the thursdaye folowynge Charles taryed all daye in InVhouse with great
fere and vpon pVidaye folowyng -erly in the mornynge before daye, Charles went foorth
(as 'he sayde) he wenle to Poulcs, and at hys commyng in agayne he was in great fere
sayen^e. .Hastely get me my horse and with great feare and hast made hyin redye
to ryde, and bad Maxster "Porters lad lede his horse into the felde by the back-
syde, and than Charles put into hys sleue hys mase or inasor wyth other plate, and borowed
of Masteres Porter bothe guide and syluer buthowe inuclie I am not sure, and Charles wente
into the felde after hys horse and lulyan -brought hys booget after hyin. Also vpon Frydaye
in Christmas wcke folowyng, Charles came home late in tlie night and brought with him.
iii. bakers and a smyth of Stratfurde, and the same nyght they caried out of Charles howse
all his goodes by the feld -syde-to the J3cll at Sboredyche and eily in the morenynge conueyed
yt with cartes to Stratford.
Moreouer lulyan sayth that the Saturdaye at nyght before the death of Hun, Cl.rles
•came home and broughte with him a Gurnard, sayenge, yt was for Him, and Charles boye
-teUed -to Julian, that there was also ordeyned a pece of frcshe Salmon, whidie Ihon Bel-
ryngcr had.
Also Charles sayde to the sayde lulyan, were not this vngratious trouble, I coulde brynge
<my Lorde of London to the dores of heretyques in London bothe of men and women that
•ben worlhc a thowsand pound: but I am aferd that the vngracious mydwyfc shall bewraye
•vs all.
Also Charles sayde vnte maistrcs Porter in lykcwy=e & more larger sayeng of the best in
•London, where to maistres porter answered, .the best in London is my lord Mayer, lhan
.Charles saide, I -will not skuse him quyte for he taketh this matter whole.
Where as Charles Joseph sayeth he laye at necke hill with a harlott a mans wyfe in Ba-
ryngtons house the same nyght, and there abode vntyll the morowe at. xi. of the clocke that
•Rycharde Hun was murthercd whereupon he brought before the kynges cuunsavll for his
•purgacion the forsayde baude Baryngtons wyfe, and also the forsayde liarlott, whiclie pur-
gacion we haue proued al vntreue as right largely may appere as well by the deposicion oi'
lulian Littell, as of Thomas Chytcheley Taylor and of Ihon Symons Siacioner, with other,
AS of llobcrt Ihonson and Peter Turner.
The deposycion of Thomas Chitcheley Taylor.
The sayd Thomas sayeth, the same Monday that Richard Hun was found dead, within a
quarter of an hower after, vii. a clocke in the morning, he met \V Charles Joseph comyng
out of Fouls at y nether north doie, goyng tow aid Patir noster row, sayeg good morow
master Charles, & the s-ayd C'liailcs answered, good morow, tS: turned hys buck whan he
was withoute thechurchc do re, and lokeil vpon the suycle Chitchc-lay.
The deposicion of Thomas Symondes 'Stationer,
He sayeth, the same mornyng that Hun was foundedeed, y with in a quarter of an hower
-after, vii. a clock in the inornynge, Charles Joseph came before him at his stall & sayd good
morow gossyp Symons, & the same Symons sayd good morow to him agayne, & the wyfe of
the same Symons was by him, & because of the dcdly cotenannce c<!c basty goyng of Charles,
ihe sayd Thomas bad his wife loke whither Charles gothe, and as she could perceyue, Charles
went into an ale howse standing in Pater noster rowe by the Aley ledyn" into the rode of
Korthorne, or into the Aley whither she could not well tell.
The deposicion of Roherte Ihonson and his wife dwellyixg at the bell in Shorditche
where Charles losejih sett his horse that nyghte that he came to touive to murther Rl-
chard Hun.
Thesayde Robert sayeth that Charles Joseph sent hys horse to hys house vpon a holydaye
at Jiyght about, m. wekes before Christmas by a boy, which horse was al beswet, and albe
myred :
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 577
snyred : and thesayd boye sayd, let my fathers horse stand saddled, for I can not tell
whether my father wyll ryde agayhe to nyghte or not, and thesayde horse stode saddled al!
nyght and in the morenynge folowynge Charles came boted and spurred aboute. ?iii. of
the clocke, and asked yf hys hfcrse was sadelled, and the seruaunt aunswered: ye, and
thesayde Charles lepte vpon his horse and prayed the hoste to let hym out of his backe gate
that he myght ryde out by the feld syrie, whyche host so dyd. And because he was vncer-
tayne of the daye, we asked hym if he hard speke of the death of Hun at that tyme or
not, and he aunswered nay: but shortly after he did. Neuerthelesse Peter Turner Charles
sonne in law which brought the horse be nyght into the Bell Robert Ihonsons house, con-
fessed it was the same night before that Hun was founde ded in the morning. Moreouer the
Frydaye before Huns deth Peter Turner sayde to an honest woman a waxe chaundelers wife
dwellyng before sainct Maries spitel gate, that before this daye seuen night Hun should haue
a mischeuouse death. And the same daye at after none this Hun was founde dead, the
sayde Peter came to thesame wyfe and tolde her that Hun was hanged, sayenge what told
I you.
Also lames the Chauncelers cooke, the Frydaye before Huns death, sayde to. v. honest
men, y Hun shoulde dye or Christmas, or els he would dye for hym, and on the Mondaye
that Hun was founde dead thesayde lames came to thesame men : and sayde, what tolde I you,
is he not now hanged.
And we of thynque?t asked both of Peter Turner & of lames cooke wher they had
knowlege that Hun should so shortelye dye, and thei sayd in master, Chauncellers place by
euery man.
The deposicion of Ihon Spaldyng, Belrynger.
Fyrste thesayde deponent saycth, that on Saturdaye the seconde daye of December.
Anno. M. D. Xiiii. he toke the charge of the pryson at foure of the clocke at after none,
by the commaundemente of master Chaunceller, and so toke the keyes, whernpon he gaue'
commaundement to the deponent, that he should let no maner of person speke w the pry-
soner excepte he had knowlege of them, and so at. v. of the clocke thesame daye thesnyde
deponent went to the prysoncr hym selfe alone, and sawe hym and cheryshed hym, where',
he gaue thesayde depontnle a pcce of fresh Salmon for his wyfe. And after that thesayde
deponent sayeth that lie went to master commissaries to supper with his felo«e, where he re-
membred that he had left his knyfe with thesayde prysoner, whcrnpo by the cdunsayll of
master Commissary lie went to the prysontr and fetched his knyfe, where he founde tiie
prisoner saycng of his beades, and so thesayde deponent requyred his knyfe of thesayde
prisoner, and tliesaide prisoner dclucred the knyfe to thesayd deponent gladly, and so de-
parted for that tjyght.
And after that on the Sonday next folowyng thesayd deponent came to the prisoner at. ix.
of the clock and asked him what mete he would haue to his diner, and he aunswered but
a morsel! and so tliesaide dcponct departed and went to the Chaunceller into the quere,
and hecomaiidcd, that he should take the penytensary vp to the prysoner wbym to make
hvm holy water and holy bread, und made tliesaide deponent to departe the prison house for
awhvle and after that' he brought hym his dyner, & locked Charles boye with hym all
dvner while, vnto the hower of. i. of y clocke, and so let the lad out agaync and as;
what he would bane to his supper, and he answered that he had meale ynougb, i so d
narted vnfvU. vi. of the clocke, and then thesayde deponentc broughte hym a quarte oi
and at the tyme one Wyllyam Sampson went with thesayde deponent to see the prysoner wher
he vis and eawc hym & spake together, and so from the howre of vi a foresayde ,vnto
twe fe ^ clocke on the morow thesaide deponent came not there and whan >f came there he
met the Chaunceller with other doctourcs goynge to se the prisoner where he hanged.
The deposicion of Peter Turner, sonne in law of Charles Joseph.
Fyrste he sayeth that his father in lawe rode outof the tonne vpon Sondaye the. in. day
578
THE. VI. YERE OF
of December. An. xv. C. &. xiiii. at. vi. of the clocke in the mornynge, weryng a cote of
orenge tawny, on a horse cooler grysell, trottyng.
He sayeth the Soudaye next before that one Buttons wyfe gaue knowlege to thesayde de-
ponente that his father shoulde bee arested by dyucrse sergeantes assone as he coulde be
taken, and thereupon thesayde deponente gaue knowlege to thesayde father in lawe at the
blacke Fryars at the water syde. Wherupon he auoyded, and thesame nyglite mayster
chaunceller gaue the keyes to Ihon Belrynger, and gaue him charge of the prisoner and on
thesayde Sondaye thesayde deponente wyth Ihon Belrynger serued thesayde prisoner of his
diner at. xii. of y- clocke and than Ihon Belrynger sayde to the deponet, that he would not
come to him vnto the morowe for my lord had comaunded him that the prisoner should
haue but one meales mete of the daye. Notwithstadyng that thesayde Ihon Belrynger after
that he had shut Poules church dores, jwent to the foresayde prisoner, with another with him
at. vii. of the clock at nyght thesayde Sondaye.
And thesayde deponent sayeth, that he came on the Monday at the hower of eyghte of
the clocke in the morenynge to seke Ihon Belrynger, and coulde not fynde hym, and taryed
vntyll the bye Masse of Poules was done, and yet he coulde not fynde Ihon Belrynger, and
than Ihon Belryngers felowe, one Wyllyam, delyuered the kcyes to thesayde deponent, and
so thesayd deponent with two officers of rny lordes beyng somners went to serue thesayd
prisoner, and whan they came the prisoner (thei saide) was hanged, his face to the wall
warde, and vpo that thesayde deponent immediately gaue knowelege to the chaunceller,
wherupon the chaunceller went vp w the master of the rolles, & master Subdeane with other
doctoures vnknowen, to the nomber of a dosen & their seruauntes.
The deposicion of Ihon Enderhy Barber.
The sayde Ihon Enderby sayth, the Frydaye before the death of Richard Hun, betwixte.
viii. &. ix. of the clock in the mornyng, he met w I ho Belrynger in estchepe, and asked of
him how master Hun fared, thesayd Belrynger aunswered, sayenge : There is ordeyned for
him so greuouse penaunce that when men here of it, they shall haue ^reat maruel therof:
wytnesses that hard Ihon Belrynger saye these woordes Ihon Rutter Skreuener, and Wil-
liam Segar armourer.
Also thesayd Ihon Enderby sayth, thesame Mondaye tha.t Richard Hun was fou rule dedd,
he met with thesayd Ihon Belrynger at y codyth in gracious strcte about, ix. of the clock
in the mornyng, askyng thesayd Belrynger, how master Hun fared, thesayde Belrynger aun-
swered, sayeng, he fared well this day in the mornyng betwixte. v. &. vi. of the clock. IIow-
beit, I am sory for hym, for there can no body, come to him vntill I come, for I haue the
keyes of the dorcs here by my Gyrdel, and shewed keyes to the sayil Enderby.
The deposicion of A!cn Crcswcll wax Chaundeler.
Thesayde Alen sayth, that Ihon Grandgcr seruauntc w my lorde of Lorido, in mv lord
of Londos kechyn, at such time us thesayd Alen was seryng of Huns coflen that Grander
tolde to him that he was present with Ihon Belrynger thesame Sonday at night y Richard
was foude (led of the morowe whan his keper set hym in the stockos, in so muche thesayde
Hun desjred to borow the kepers knyfe, & the kepcr asked him what he would do with his
knyfe, & aunswered, I had Icucr kyll my self than to be thus entretcd. This deposicion
thesayde Alen wyll proue as ferforth as any christen man may, saicng that Grander shewed
to hym these woordes of his awne frewyll and mynde, without any question or enquiry to
him made by thesayd Alen. Moreouer thesayd Alen sayth, y all that euenyii" Grander was
m great feare.
ex03'01011 °f RiChard H°rSnayle Eai'yfe of thc san(-'tuary towne called Good Esturc in
Thesaide Richard saith, the Fryday before Christmas daie last past, y one Charles
* loscph
KYNG HENRY THE. VllJ. 579
loseph, somner to my lord of Locl5, became a sanctuary man, and theaforsayde Frydaye
he regestred his name, thesayde Charles sayenge yt was for the sauegarde of his body, lor
there be certayne men in London so extreme agaynst hym for the deathe of Richard Hun,
that he dare not abyde in London : Howbeit the sayde Charles saithe, he knowlegeth hym
selfe gyltles of Huns death, for he delyuered the keyes to the Chaunceller by Huns life,
also the sayde Balife sayth, that Charles payd y deuty of thesayde regcstryng, both to him
and sir Ihon Studely Vicar.
The copye of my lorde of Londons Letter sent to my lorde Cardinall.
I beseche your good lordshipp to stande so good lord vnto my poore chaunceller nowe
inwarde, and endited by an vntrewe quest for y death of Richard Hun, vpon the only accu-
sacion of Charles loseph made by payne and duraunce, that by your intercession it may
please the kynges grace to haue the matter duly and sufficiently examined by indifferente
persones of his discrete counsayll in the presence of the parties, or- there be any more done
in that cause, and that vpon the innocency of my saide Chaunceller declared, it may
further please ttic kynges grace, to a warde a plackard vnto his Attornay to confesse the
saide enditement to be vntrewe whan the tyme shall require it, for assured am I if my
Chauceller be tryed by any. xii. men in London, they be so maliciously set. In fauorem
heretics prauitatis, that they wyll cast and condempne any clerke, though he were as in-
nocent as Abell. Quare si poles bcate pater adiuua injirmitates nostras Sf tibi in per-
petuum deuincti erimus. Oner this in most liable wyse I beseche you that I maye haue
the kynges gracious fauour, whome I neuer offended willingly, and that by your good
meanes 1 might speke with his grace and you, and I with all myne, shall pray for your
prosperouse estate long to continue.
Your most humble Oratour. R. L.
The woordes that my lord of London spake before the lordes in the parliament chamber.
Memorandum, that the Byshop of London sayde in the parliament chamber, that there
was a byll brought to the parliameiite to make the iury that was charged vppon the deathe
of Hun true men, and sayde and tooke vpon his conscience that they were false periuried
catyfcs and sayde further more too all the Lordes ther than bcynge, for the loue of GOD,
loke vpon this matter, for yf ye do not I dare not kcpe myne awne house for heretiques:
and sayde that thesaide Rychard Hun hanged hym sellb, and that yt was hys awne dede
and no" oians els. And further more sayde, that there came a man to hys bowse (whose
wyfe was anpeched of lieresye) to speke with hym, and he sayde that he had no mynde to
speke with thesame man, which man spake and reported to the seruauntes of the same By-
shoppe, that yf hys wyfe woulde not holde styll her opinion, he woulde cutte ner throte wit
his awne handes, with other woordes.
The sentence of the quest, subscribed by the crouner.
The innuisicion int-mlid & taken at the cytie of London, in the Panshe of saint Gre-
20rl i7t e ward of Baynard castell in Londo the. vi. daye of December, m the yere
' f !• nJ Ilenrv th" viii the vi. yere, afore Thomas Barncwell crouner of
and reigne of kynge Henry the. vui.jne;vi. y_^, ^ ^^ ^^^ Also afore
y
«
-
.580 THE. VI. YERE OF
ton, Ihon God, Rychard Holte, Ihon Pasmere, Edmonde Hudson, Ihon Aunscll, Rycbarde
Couper, Ihon Tynie, the which sayde vpon their othes, that where thesaycl Rychard Hun,
by the commaundement of Rycharde, bishop of Londo, was ernprisoned and brought to
holde in a pryson of the sayd bishops, called Lollars Towre lyeng in the cathedral churche
of saincte Paule in London, in the paryshe of sainct Gregorie, in the warde of Bay nerd.
castell aforesayde, William Horsely of London clercke, otherwise called William Heresie,
Chauncelour to Rycharde bisliop of London, & one Charles Joseph late of Lodo somneiv
and Ihon Spaldyng of Lodon, otherwise called Ihon bclryr.ger, felonyousely as felos to
our lord the kynge, with force and armes againste the peace of ourc soueraigne lorde the
tynge, and dignitie of his croune, the. iiii. daye of December, the yere of the reygne
of our soueraigne lorde the. vi. aforcsayd, of their great malice, at the parishe of saincte
Gregorie aforesayde, vppon the sayde Rycharde Hun made a fraye, and thesame Ry-
charde Hun felonyonsly strangeled and smodered, and also the necke they did breake of
thesayde Rychard Hun, and there felonyously slew him and murthered hyia: and also the
body of the sayd Rycharde Hun afterwarde the same. iiii. daye, yere, place, parishe and
warde aforesayde, with the proper gyrdell of thesame Rychard Hun of sylke, blacke of co-
loure, ot' the value of. xii.d. after his death vpon a hokedryuen into a pece of tymber in the
walle of the pryson aforesayd made faste, and so hanged hym agaynst tl>c peace of oure
souereigne lorde the kynge, and the dignitie of hys croune, and so thesayd Jury hathe
sworne vpon the holy Kuangclist, y thesayde William Horsey clercke, Charles loseph, and
IhonSpaldynge of their set malice then, & their, feloniously kyllcd & murthered thesayde
Rychard Hun, in maner & forme abouesayde, agaynste the peace of our soueraigne lord the
kyng, his croune and dignitie.
Subscribed in this maner.
Thomas Barnewell, crouner of the citie of London.
This Christemas on Newyeres night, y king, y duke of Suflblke and. ii. other in mantels
of cloth, of sihier, & lyned with blew veluet, the syluer was pounsed in letters, so that
y veluet might he sene through, the mantels had great capes like to the Portingal slopys,
and all their hosen, dubieties & cotes were of thesame fasshion cut and of thesame stuiie,
with the were. iiii. ladycs in gounes, after the fashion of Sauoy, of blew veluet, lyned
with clothe of golde, the veluet all to cuttc, and mantels like typpettcs Knytte toge-
ther al of siluer and on there hcddesbonettes of burned golde, the. iiii. torche bearers were
in satten white and blewe. This straunge apparell pleased muche euery person, and in es-
pecial the Queue, & thus these, iiii. lordes and. iiii. ladyes came into the Queues chamber
with great light of torches, and daunced a greate season, and then put of their visers, &
then they were well knou en, and the Quene hariely thanked the kynges grace for hergoodly
pastyme, and kyssed hym.
- Likewise on the twclfc night, the kyng and the Queue came into the hall of Grenewyche,
and sodainlye entered a tent of clothe of golde and before the tentstode. iiii. men of armes,
armed at all poincies and swerdes in their handes, and sodainly with noyes of troinpettes
entered, iiii. other persons all armed, and ran to the other Ibnre, and there was a great and
a fearce fight, and sodainly came onte of a place lykc a wood. viii. wyklemen, all apparayl-
ed in grene mossc, made with slyued sylke, with Vggly weapons and terrible visages, and
there foughte with the knyghtes. viii. to. viii. & alter lung lighting, the armed kni^htes draue
the wylde men out of their places, and folowed the chace out of the hall: and whe they
were departed, the tent opened, and there came out. vi. lordes and. vi. ladyes rychely ap-
parayled, & daunsed a great tyrae: when they had daunsed their pleasure, tney entered the
tent again and so was conueyed out of y hall, & then the kynge and the quene were serued
with a right sumpteous banquet.
The. iii daye of Febriuirie, the kynge made a solempne lustes, & he and the Marques
IJorset would aunswer all commers, their apparell & bardes were of blewe veluet, and
lotne ot siluer, all too cutte in sutteli knottes, rychely eiubraudered, all the seruiiours in
6 white
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 584
white & blew sylke. The counterparte, whiche were, xiiii. in number, rychely apparailed
in veluet, clothe of golde, & brouderie, euery man after his awne deuice. The kynge was
that claye highly to be praysed, for he brake, .xxiii. speres besyde attayntes, and bare doune
to ground a man of annes & hys horse: the lorde Marques and all other dyd valiauntly,
and hadde rouche prayse, for euery m,an did passings well, which is seldome sene in suche'a
case, but the kynge for a suertie exceded all other.'
The. iiii. daye of October, the kynge remoued to Lambeth, and on the morow beganne
the high courte of Parliament, syr Thomas Neuel was then speaker, in this Parliament was
diuerse actes made, but in especial two, which were niuche spoke of, the one was the acte
of apparayll, and the other the acte of laborers, of these, ii. actes was muche comonynge
and muche busynes arose, for the laborers woulde in no wise labour by the daye, but all by
taske and in grette, and therefore muche trouble fell in the courte, and in especial in Haruest
tyme, for then husband men coulde scace get workemen to helpe in their Haruest. This
Parliament contynued tyl Easter, in the which dyuerse subsidies were graunted to the kynge
tovvarde hys greate costes and charges, that he had bene at in his vyage Royall in Fraunce, .
and after Easter the xix. claye of the moneth of April!, the kynge delitynge to set forth youg
Gentelmen, called Nycholas Carew, and Fraurrces Bryan, and caused dyuerse other young.
Gentelmen to be on the counter parte, and lent to them horse and harnes to encourage all :
youthe to seke dedes of armes. This yere died at Rome by poyson as was reported the Cardinal
Archebishop of Yorke & Cardinall, called doctor Benbrycke, whyche was the kyngea-Am-p^
bassadour there: this was a wise mil & of a ioly courage. The kyng then gaue thesayd Rome.
Archebishoprike to Thomas Wolsey, then bishop of Lyncoln, which at that tyme bare all
the rule aboute y kyng, & what he sayd was obeyed in all places. And whe he was once
Archebhhop, he studied day & night how to be a Cardinal, & caused y kyng & the Frenche
kyng to write to Rome for him, & at. their requestes he obteyiied his purpose as you shall
here afterwarde.
At this tyme was much comoning, Si verely as it appered it was entended, that the kyng ;
in person woulde passe the sea to Caleys, £ there on the marches of thesame, the Frenche
king and queue to come & se the kyng their brother, and for thesame ioniey many costly
Avorkes were wrought, & much ryche apparel prouided for, & much preparacio made against
the next spring: but death, which is the lastende of all thingeslet this iornay, for before the
next spring the Frenche kyng dyed at the citie of Paris, the first claye of January, whe he
had ben niaryed. Ixxxii. daycs. And when the kyng was aduertised of the death of the
Frenche kym?, he caused a solPpne obsequie to besongefor him in the cathedral church of
s. Poule \V a costly herse, & many noble men being present.
And after he sent a letter to comfort the Quene his sister, requyrynge too knowe her
pleasure whither she woulde continue still in Fraunce or returne intoEnglandeagayne. And
when he was aduertised of her purpose, which was to retorne into England. He sent the
dukfiof Suffolke, syr Richard Wyngfeld, and doctor West with a goodly bade of yomen, all
in blacke to Parys, whiche were well receyued of the newe Freeh king Frances y first ot y
name & declared to him, that according to the couenauntes made at the_tyme of the
mariaoo betwene kyive'Loyes & the ladye Marie, si.tcr to the king of Englade, they de-
manded to haue thesa'vde queue deliucred to the with her dower, & shewed their com.ssion
for the receite of her". Tuen the cousaill of France, accordinge to the appomtmentes as-
signed her a dower, & the duke of Suffolke put in officers, and then she was by endenture
deliuered to the duke, which behaued himsolfe so to her, that he obteyned her good will to be
her husbande, & therupon he wrote to the kyng her brother, mekely besechynge hyrn of par-
don of his request & hublye requiring him of l.is wil & cosent, at wh.ch thynge the kyng
awhile staied, and at the last by y mcane of the Jrecne quene her sel.e ^oth , ur g.ea
frendes on the dukes parte, After log suyte it was agreed that y duke of Suffolke should
brin- her into England vnmaryed, & at his retorne to mary her m England; but for doubt
of chaunge he niaryed her secretely in Parys as was sayde,
582 THE. VII. YERE OF
f THE. VII. YERE.
AFterthat the duke of Suffolke had receaued the Frenche quene^vith her dower apoynt-
ed, & all her apparell, iuels and housholde stuffe deliuered, he with y- quene toke th.eir leaue
of' the Freche kyng, leaning doctor West, nominate bishop of Ely, for the conclusion of
the newe league to be made betwene the kyng of England, & the newe Frenche kynge called
Fraunces the first, and so passed thorough Fraunce to Caleys, where she was honorably
enterteined. And after with great honour niaried to lord Cljarles Brandon, duke of Suf-
folke opely: howbeit, some sayd he was raaryed priuely before at Parys, in the house of
Cluigny. Against this mariage many men grudged & sayd that it was a great losse to the
realrne that she was not marycd to the prince of Castell : but the wisest sorte was cotet,
cosidering that if she had ben marycd agayn out of the realm, she should haue caried
much riches with her, & now she brought eucry yere into the rtalme. ix. or. x.M. -inarkes:
but whatsoeuer the rude people said, y duke behaued him selfe so, that he had both the
fauour of the kyng and of the people, his wytte and demeanour was such.
The king & the quene accopanyed with many lordes & ladies roade to the high ground of
shoters hil to take the open ayre, and as they passed by the way, they espied a copany
of tall yomen, clothed all in grene with grene whodts & bowes & arrowes, to the nuber of.
Amaiyn£e. jj Q Then one of them, which called him selfe Itobyn hood, came to the kyng, de.syring
him to se his men shoote, & the kyng was cotent. Then he whisteled, £ al the. ii.C. ar-
chers shot & losed at once, & then he whisteled agayne, & they like wyse shot agayne, their
arrowes whisteled bycrafte of the head, so that the noycswas straunge and great, & muche
pleased the kynge the quene and all the company. All these; archers were of thekynges garde
and had thus appareled them selues to make solace to the kynge. Then Kobyn hood de-
syred the kynge and queue to come into the grenc wood, & to sc how the outlawes lyue.
The kyngdemaunded of y quene & her ladyes, if they durst aduenture to go into the wood
with so many outlawes. Then the queue sayde, that if it pleased him, she was content, then
the homes blcwe tyl they came to the wood vnder shoters hil, and there was an Arber made
of boowes with a hal, and a great ch7iber and an inner chamber very well made & couered
with floures & swete herbes, whiche the kyng muche praysed. Then said Kobyn hood,
Sir Outlawes brekefastes is venyson, and therefore you must be content with such fare as
we vse. Then the kyng and quene sate doune, iSc were scrued with vcnyson and wyne by
Robyn hood and his men, to their great contcntacion. Then the kyng departed and hys
company, & llobyn hood and hys men them conduicted, and as they were returnynge, there
met with them. ii. ladyes in a rychc chariot drawen with. v. horses and cucry horse had hys
name on his head, and on euery horse sate ;i ladyc \V her name writf-. On ilic first courser
called Cawde, sate hnmulile, or Inimide. On the. ii. courser called Mcnteon, i oade lady
vert. On the iii. called phston sate: lady vegelaue. On the. iiii. called Rhnphon sate lady
pleasaunce. On the. v. called lampace, sate swcte odour, and in the Chayre sate the lady
May, accopanyed with lady Flora, rychely appareled, and they saluted the kin"e with di-
uerse goodly songes, & so brought hym to Grenewyche. At this Maiyng was a great u'ubre
of people to beholde to their great solace and conlbrt.
Thesame after none, the king, y duke of Suftblke, y Marques dorset, & the erle of Es-
sex, their bardes & bases of grene veluet and cloth of golde, came into the felde on "reat
coursers, on whome wayted diuersegetlemein sylke of thesame colour. On the other side
entred. xvi. lordes & getleme, all appareyled nchely after their deuises, & so valiantly they
vane their courses appointed: & after y they rane volat one as fast as he might ouertake ano-
ther, which was a goodly sight lose: &when al was done they departed, and" went to a "oodly
banquet.
This Somer the kyng tooke his progresse Westward, & visited his tounes & casteL* there,
& hard*
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 583
& harde the coplayntes of his poore co ninaltie, & euer as he roade, he huted & liberally
departed with venyson : & in the myddes of Septeber he came to his maner of Okyng, &
thether came to hym the Archebishop of Yorke, whome he hartely welcSmed & shewed him
great pleasures: And while he soiourned ther, a letter was brought to y Archebishop fro
Rome, certefiyng him how he was elected to be a Cardinal, which incotinet shewed thesame
to the kyng, disabling him self in wordes, though his entet was otherwise, & so the king did
encourage him, & willed him to take y order on him, & so called him my lorde Cardinal, but
his hat, bul nor other ceremonies were not yet come.
In the moneth of Nouembcr, the kyng assembled hys hygh court of Parliament at West-
mynster, and diuerse actes made in the Parliamet the. vi. yere, amended and altered, & es-
pecially the acte of apparell, and the acte of labourers, as bythebooke of statutes more
plainly apereth. And at the ende of this Parliament, the Archebishop of Cautourbury per-
ceauyng that the Archebishop of Yorke medled more in his office of Chauncelourship then
it became him to suffer, except he would aueture the kynges displeasure, & seynge also that
thesayd bishop of Yorke coueted to beare all the rule, and to haue all the whole authoritie,
considerynge also liis awne great age, gaue vp into the kinges hades his rowme of Chauncelour,
and deliuered to the kynge the greate scale, whiche deliuered the same to the Archebishop of
Yorke, and made him Chauncelour. And assone as he was Chaucelour, he directed co-
missiosinto al Shires, for to put the statute of apparell and the statute of labourers in exe-
cution. And he him selfe one day called a gentelma named Symon fyz Richard, and tooke
from him an olde Jacket of Crymosyn veluet and diuerse brooches, whiche extreme doyng
caused him greatly to be hated, and by his exsample many cruell officers for malice, euell in-
treated dyuerse of the kynges subiectes, in so muche that one Shynnynge Mayre of Roches-
ter, set a young man on the Pillory for wering of a ryuen shert.
In the ende of this moneth was sent into England the Cardinalles hat, & receaued by gen- The c«di-
telmen of Kent, Si brought to London with suche triumphe as though the greatest prince of "^
Christendo had bene come into the realme. And on a Sonday at s. Peters church at West-
mynster he receaued the habite, hat, and piller, and other vaynglorious tryfles, apperteygn-
yng to the ordre of a Carclinall. And when he was once a pcriite Cardinal, he loked then
aboue all estates, so that all me almost hated hym, and disdayned hym.
Then after the Parliamet syr Edward pouninges laboured to be discharged of y keping of
the citie of Torney, for there he was euer sickly, and so he was discharged, & syr Willia
blunt lorde Moiitioye was sent thether. And for Marshall there was apoynted sir Sapson
Norto. And when' the lorde Mountioye was come thether, & sir Sampson Norton, there
happened such a ryot that the citie was in great ieopardy, y very cause was vnknowen, but
all' the soulcliours, except such as were of the kynges garde rebelled, & put thejord Mout-
ioye in Jeopardy of his life. And in exclusion to appease the people, sir Sapson Norto
was banisshed the toune for euer. And after the citie was appeased, & euery thing thought
to be forgottr-, diuerse were executed, & diuerse banished $ toun and some fled & were
banyshed both England and the toune.
After the Parliamet was ended, the king kept a solepne Christmas at his maner of j Una
& on the xii nMit in the hall was made a goodly castcl, woderously set out, & in it certeyn
ladyes & knyrhtes, & when the kyng & quene were set, in came other kmghtes, & assailed
the castcl wbeV many a good strype was geuen, & at the last, the assaylantes were beate
awaye And then issued out kniohtes and ladies out of the castel, which ladyes were ryche
& Btraiingely diseased, for all tlicyr apparel was in braydes of gold, fret with moumg span-
eels svluer and gilt, set on Crymosyn satten lose and not fastened: the mens apparell of
thesame suyte madelyke lulys of Hungary, and the ladyes heckles & bodyes were after the
fassion of Amsterdam. And when the daunsing was done, the banquet wasserued in of. n.
re kyng & the French kyng openly Proclaymed
thorough the citie of London with a trdpet. This yere also, Margaret quene of the Scottes,
584 THE. VIIJ. YERE OF
•wife to lames the. iiii. slain at Bramston the. v. yere of the kyng, & elder syster to the kyng,
;after the death of her late husband rnaried Archibald Douglas erle of Angus, without the
kyng her brothers assent, or the cousayl of Scotlad, for the whiche he was not wel cotent
But°after that, there fellsucli a strife betwene the lordes of Scotlad, that she & her husband
like banished persones came into England, & wrote to the kyng for mercy & cofort. The
-kyng euer enclyned to mercy, sent theim apparell, vessell & all thynges necesary, vvillyng
them to lye still in Northumberland, till they knewe farther of his pleasure-: And so they
laye still at Harbotell, & the queue was there deliuered of a fayre lady called Margaret,
and all the countrey were commaunded by the kyng to do them pleasure.
This yere the. xviii. of February, at Grenewyche was borne a fayre prynces and christened
with great solempnitie, and named Mary.
This yere dyed the kyng of Arragon father to the quene, for whome was ke_pt a^olempne
;jobsequy in the Cathedral churche of Paules.
Tf THE. VIII. YERE.
Y\E haue harde the last yere how the quene of Scottes \V her husband was come for suc-
cour into Engltid, & laye at Ilarbottell in Northumberland, tyll the kynges pleasure was to
send for the. So he, lyke a natural brother sent for her & her husband to come to his courtc
for their solace. For the which kyndnes the erle Hubly thanked the kyng, & promised to
geue his attendance on the quene his wife to the Court: wherupo toe kyng sent William
blacknall esquyer, clerck of hys Spy eery with siluer vessell, plate and other thynges necessary
for the conueyaiice of her, and sent to her all maner of officers for her estate couenyent.
And whe she was ready to departe, she asked for her husband, but lie was departed into
Scotland, & left her alone, nothing remembringe his promes, which sodeyn departyng
muche mad,e her to muse : Howbeit, the lordes of England greatly encoraged her to kepe
her promyse with the kynge her brother: & so after siie was somewhat appeased, she set
forward, & in eucry touneshe was well receaued, & so on the. iti. day of May she made her
-entry into Lodo, riding on awhile paltVeye (which y queue of England had sent to her) be-
hind sir Thomas par richely besene, & \V great copany of lordes & ladies, she roade tho-
roughe the citie to BaynarJes Castel, & fro thence she was coucyghed to Greneuiche, &
there receaued ioyously of the kyng, the quene, the Freche quene her syster, and highly
was she feasted. And when the kyng hcarde that the erle of Angus her husband was depart-
ed, he sayd, it was done like a Scot. This quene sometymc was at the courte, and somc-
tyme at Baynardes castel, and so she continued in Englande ail this yere.
The kyng for the honour of his syster, the. xix. & xx. daye of Mayc prepared, ii. solepne
dayes of lustcs, & the kyng him selfe, & the duke of Suftelke, the erle of Essex, & Nicho-
las'Carew esquyer, toke on them to aunswer all comers. The apparell of the & their
horses was blacke veluet, coucrcd all oucr with branches of hony suckels of fine flat gold of
damaske, of lose workc, euerylefe of the bnuiche mouing, the embroudery was very conin^
& sumpteous. On the kyng was ntteding in one suytc on horseback, the lo'rd Marques dor-
set, the erle of Surrey, y lord Burgainy, the lord Hastinges, syr Ihon pechy, y lord Fcrreys,
syr William Fitzuillia, &. xii. other knyghtes, all these were in Vrockes of biewc veluet, gard-
ed with ryche cloth of golde, .£ their horse trappers of blew veluet, frynged with golde:
And on foote were. xl. persons all in blewe sattyn, garded with clothe of golde. And so they
entered the fclde wyth trompettes, dronslades and other minstrclsey.
Then in came the coutreparte, richely appareled, to the nuber of xii. & on that dave
euery madid wel, but the kyng did best, & so was adiudged, and so at night they ceassed
and came to supper.
The kyng, the next day & his copany were appareyled horse & all in purple veluet, set ful
«f leaues of cloth of gold, engrailed with fyne flat gold of damaske, embroudered like to
Rose
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 585
Rose leues, & euecy lefe fastened to other with poirtte's of damaskegold, & on all their bor*
ders were letters of gold, bullion. And on the kyng wayted. v. lordes. xiiii. knightes ia
frockes of yelow veluet, garded £ boude with riche clothe of golde, £ xxx. gentelme were
in like apparel on fote, &. xl. officers in yelow satyn edged with cloth of gold: Thus with
great triuphe they entred y felde. Then the coutrepartie entred, all clothed £ barded in
white satlyn, trauersed w cloth of gold richely. ' This day was many a great stripe geue.
The kyng £ *syr Willia kyngsto rime together, whiche syr Willia was a strog £ a tall knight,
& yet y king by stregth ouerthrew him to y groud. And after that y king £ his aides had
performed their courses, they rane volat at al comers, which was a pleasant sight to se. And
whe night approched, they all disarmed the, and wet to the quenes chaber, where was a
great banket for the welcome of the queue of Scottes.
This moneth of May were sentoutof England. xii.C. masons and Carpenters, £. iii.C.
laborers to the citie of Torney: for the kyng £ his cousail, cSsidering y the garris9n that was
kept there, was chargeable, £ therefore it was determined that there should be buylded a
Castel to chastice the citie if they rebelled, and to minyshe the garrison. And therfore
these workemen were sent thether, whiche thisyere began a strong Castell, and wrought still
on it.
Thisyere, by the Cardinal!, were all men called to accomptthat had the occupiyng of the
•kyn^es money in the warres or els where, not to cuery mans contentacion, for some were
found inarrerages, £ somesaued them selfes by pollecy £ brybory, and waxed ryche, and
some Innocentes were punished. And for a truthe he so punished periurye with open punysh-
ment £ open papers werynge, that in his tyme it was lesse used. He punyshed also lordes,
knyghtes, and men of all sortes for ryottes, beryng and mayntenaunce in their countreyes,
that the poore me lyued quyetly, so that no man durst beare for feare of imprisonement:
but he him sclfe and his seruautes, which were well punished therfore. The poore people
perceaued that he punished the ryche, then they complayned without number, and brought •
many an honest man to trouble and vexacion. And when the Cardinall at the last had per-
ceaued their vntrue surmises £ fayned coplaintes for the most pane, he then wexed wcry of
heryno-e their causes, £ ordeyned by the kynges comissio, diucrse vnder courtes to here co-
plaintes by bill of poore people. The one was kept in the white hall, the other before the
kyn<?es Almoner doctor Stokesley, a ma y had more learning, then discrecio to be a Judge.
The*3 third \vaskept in the lord treasourers chaber beside the starrc chaber, £ y.^iiii. at
the rolles at after noone. These courtes were greatly haunted for a tyme, but at y last y
people perceaued y much delay was vsed in these courtes, £_few matters ended, £ when
they were ended, they boud no ma by the law, then euery ma was wery of the £ resorted
IrAhe moneth of October came into England Mathew bishop of Sedono £ Cardinal, call-
ed comonly the Cardinal of Swyshcs, fro the Emperour Maximilia. This Cardinal was a
wise ma £ of great boldenes £ was wel entreteyned in the court £ of y king. And at his
coteplacion £ for old loue, y king let to y Emperour Maximilia a great sume of money :
whemf y copany of Friscobalde, £ Antony Caueler Geneuoy vndertoke thexchage but
they payed not v Emperour at his day, notwstading thei had receaued y money of y king.
This Friscobald & Anthony Caueler by meanes of rewardes geue to great lordes ot the
cousail 1 boiwved of V king. xxx. M. 1. £ had log dayes for the paymet: but Inscobald was
shortelvSsS & Anthony Caueler could not be sene, £ so y kig was not payd at his
'dayes, & many English merchautes were by these me vndone, for they spent liberally ,
?bTkin« kept his Christmas at his n.aner of Grenewiche, £ on the. xii. night,
old cus'tome, he £ the quene came into the hall, & ^e'v they were se, £
586 .THE. TILT. YERE OF
semed very floures. In f middest of this Gardeyn was a piller of antique worke, al golde
set vf perle & stone, & on the toppe of the piller, which was. vi. square, was a louer or an
arche embowed, crouned with golde: within which stoode a bushe of Roses, red & white>
all of sylke and golde, & a bushe of Pomegranates of lyke stuf. In this gardeyn walked
vi. knyghtes and. vi. ladyes richely appareyled, and then tl«3y discended and daunsed many
goodly daunses, & so ascended y gardeyn agayn, and were corwieighed out of the halh
and then the kynge was serued of a great banket. After this Christmas, the kyog exercised
him selfe rnuche in hawkynge.
In this ceason, the Genowayes, Frenchemen and other straimgiers sayde and boasted
them selfes to be in suche fauour with the kyng and hys counsayll, that they set naughte by
-the rulers of the citie: arid the multitude of straungers was so great about London, that ths
poore Etiglishe artificers coulde skace get any lyiiynge. And most of all the strmin-gers were
so proude, that they disdained, mocked and oppressed tlie Englishemei>, whiche was the be-
ginning of the grudge. For amonge all oilier thynges, there was a Carpenter in London
called Willyamson, whiche bought two stockdoues in Chepe, and as he was about to pave
for them, a Erencheman tooke them oute of hys hande, and said they wete not meate for
a carpenter : well sayde the Englishman I haue bought them and now payd for them, and
therefore I will haue them, naye sayde the Erencheman I will haue them tor my lorde (he
Ambassador, and so for better or worse, the Erencheman called the Englisheman knaue, and
went awaye with the stockdoues. The straungiers came to the Frenche Ambassadour, &
surmysed a coplaynt agaynste the poore carpenter, and the Ambassadour came to my lorde
Mayre, and said so muche, that the carpenter was sent to prison : and yet not contented
with this, so complayned to the kynges counsail, that the kynges commaundement was layde
on ftym. And when syr Ihon Baker knvght and other worshipfull personcs sued tOj the Am-
Th« pride of bassad our for hym, he answered, by the body of God that the English knaue shoulde lose
hislyfe, for lie sayde no EngHsheman shoulde deny that the Frenchemen required, and other
aunswerlmd they none.
Also a Erencheman that had slayne a man, should abiure the reahne & had a crosse in
his hande, & then sodeinly came a great sorte of Frcchmen about him, & one of them
said to the Constable that led him, syr is this crosse the price to kyll an Englishman. The
Costable was somwhat astonyed and aunswered not. Then said another Frencheman, on
that pryce we would be banyshed all by the masse, this saiyng was noted to be spoken
spitefully. Ilowebeit, the Erenchemen were not alonely oppressors of the Englishemen,
for a Lombarde called Eraunces de bard, entised a niannts wyie in Lombarde strete to come
to his chtibre with her husbandes plate, whiche thynge she dyd. Alter when her husbande
knewe it, he demaunded hys wyie, but aunswer was made he shoulde not haue her, then
he demaunded his plate, and in lyke maner aunswer was made that he shoulde neither haue
plate nor wyfe. And whe he Lad sewed an action against the straunger in the Guylde hall,
the straunger so faced the Englisheman, that he fay n ted in his sute. And then the Lom-
barde arrested the poore man for his wyfes boorde, while he kept her fro her husbud in his
chaber. This mocke was much noted, and for these and many other oppressions done by
them, there encreased suche a malice in the English inclines liartes, that iu the lastc it brast
oute. For amongest other that sore grudged at these i.. alters, there was a broker in Lon-
don called Ihon Lyncoln, whiche wrote a bill before Easter, dcsyring doctor Standvche at
hys sermon at sainct Marye Spyttell the Mondaye in Ea-ter wcke, too moue the Aiavre and
Aldermen, to take parte with Uie comminaltie agaynst me straungiers: The doctor auiisuer-
ed that it became not hym too moue anye suche thynge in a sermon. From hym ne depart-
ed and came to a Ci.anon in sayncte Mary spinel], a doctor in Dcuinitie, called doctor
liele, and lamentably declared to hym, how miserably the common artificers Ivued and
bkase coulde get any woorke to fynde them, their wyfes and chyldren, for there were such
a nuber of amficers straungers, that tooke awaye all the lyuynge in maner. And also howe
Frenche
men.
.
glisne merchauntes coulde haue no vtteraunce, for the merchaunt straungers bryng
KYNG: HENRY THE. VIIJ. 587
in all Sylkes, clothe of Golde, Wyne, Oyle, Iron and suche other merchaundise, that no
man almoost byeth of an Englisheman. And also outwarde, they carye so tnuche Englishe
'•Welle, Tynne, and Leade, that Englishmen that auenture outwarde can haue no lyuyng;
Whiche thynges sayd Lyncoln hathe bene shewed to the counsayil, & cannot be heard.
And farther sayde he, the straungiers compasse the cytye rounde aboute, in Southwarke,
in Westminster, Temple barre, Hdlborne, Sayncte Martynes, Sayncte Ihons strete, At-
gate, Towre hyll, and sayncte Katherynes, and forstall the market, so that no good thynge
for them commeth to the market : whiche is the cause that Englishemen want and sterue,
find they lyue haboundantly in great pleasure. Wherefore sayde Lyncolne master doctor,
syth you were borne in Lodon, & se the oppression of the strangers, & the great misery of
your awne natyue countray, exhorte all the cytiezens to ioyne in One against these straun-
gers, raueners and destroyers of your countrey. Master doctor hearynge this, sayde' he
inuche lamented the case if it were as Lyncoln hadde declared, yes sayde Lyncolne, that.it
,Js and inuche more, for the Dutcheme bryng ouer Iron, Tymber, lether and Weynskot ready
w;rought, as Naylts, Lockes, Baskettes, Gupbordes, Stooles, Tables, Chestes, gyrdels,
, with poyntes, saddles & painted clothes so that if it were wrought here, Englishmen might
.haue some worke & lyuynge by it. And besyde this, they growe into such a multitude that
-it is to be looked vpon, for I sawe on a Sondaye this Lent. vi. C. straugiers shotyng at y
Popyngaye with Crosbowes, and they kepe such assemblyes and fraternities together, &
make such a gathering to their cSmon boxe, that euery hotelier 'will holde plee with the citye
.X)f Lodo : wel sayd the doctor, I will do for a reformation of this matter asmuche as a
priest may do, & so receaued Lincolnes byl & studyed for his purpose. Then Lyncoln very
joyous of hys entcrprice went from man to man, saiyng that shortly they shoulde hear.e
newes, and daily excited younge people and artificers to beare malice to the straungiers.
.When Ester came and doctor Bele shoulde preache the Twesdaye in Easter weke, he came
into the pulpit, and there declared that to him was brought a pitiful! bill, and red it in this
.wyse. To all you the worshipful lordes and masters of this citie, that will take .copassion
jouer the poore people your neighbours, and also of the great importable hurtes, losses,
and hynderaunces, whereof procedeth the extreme pouertie too all the kynges subiectes that
inhabite within this citie and suburbes of thesame, for so it is that the alyens and strangiers
eate the bread from the poore fatherles chyldren, and take the liuynge from all the artifi-
cers and the entercourse from all merchauntes, wherby pouertie is so muche encreased that
euery man bewaileth the misery of other, for craftes me be brought to beggery and mer-
chauntes to nedyues: wherefore the premisses considred, the redresse must be ot the com-
mons knyt and" vnyte to one parte, and as the hurt and dammage greueth all men, so muste
all men set to their willyng power for remedy, and not to suftVe thesayd alyens so highly m
iheir wealth, and the naturall borne men of his region too come to contusion. i this let-
ter was more, but the doctor red no farther, and then he began Calum c<eu domino, terram
eulem dedit fil,j* hominum, and vpon thys text he intreated, that thus lande was gcuc.i 100
Englishemen, and as byrdes woulde defende their nest, so oughte Englishemen to cherysbe
and defende them selfes, and to hurt and greue aliens for the common weak. And vpon
Of this Sermon mny a light person
straungiers.
lery
ociiinjn iiari'j •» "&"" r 'J,~ i i • • f i
s the deuell woulde, the Sunclaye after at Grehewiche in j -kynges ga.»
r *.-» T^X s^- ±;ss
588 THE. IX. YERE OF
were not content, in somuche as one William bolt a Mercer sayd, wel you whoreson Lom-
bardes, you reioyse and laugh, by the masse we will one daye haue a daye at you, comtf
when it will, and that saiynge the other merchauntes affirmed. This tale was reported aboute
London, and the younge and euell disposed people sayde, they woulde be reuenged on the
merchaunt straungiers, aswell as on the artificers straungiers. On Monday the morovr
After, the kyng remoued to hys maner of Rychemonde.
fi THE. IX, YERE.
VPon this rumour the. xxviiL daye of Aprill, diuerse youge men of the citie assauted
the Alyens as they passed by the stretes, and some were strike, £ some buffeted, & some
throwen in the canel. Wherfore the Mayre sent diuerse persos to ward, as Stephyn
Studley skynner, and Bettes and Stephenson £ diuerse other, some to one couter, £ some
to another, and some to Newgate. Then sodenly was a comen secret rumour, & no ma
could tell how it began, that on May daye next, the citie would rebell £ slaye all Aliens, in
somuche as diuerse straungcrs fled oute of the citie. This brute ranne so farre that it came
to the kynges cousayll, insomuch as the Cardinal! beyng lord Chaucelour, sent for Ihon
Rest Mayre of the citie, and other of the counsaill of the citie, £ demauded of the Mayre in
what case the citie stode, to whorne he aunswered that it was wel £ in good quyet : Nay sayd
the Cardinal, it is informed vs that your yoiig and ryotous people will ryse £ distresse the
straungiers, heare ye of no such thing? No surely sayd the Mayre, £ I trust so to
gouerne the that the kynges peace shalbe obserued, £ that I dare vndertake if I £ my
brethren the Aldermen may be suffered. Wel sayd y Cardinal, go home £ wisely forsee
this matter, for £ if any suche thing be, you may shortly preuent it. The Mayre came
from the Cardinals at. iiii. of the clocke at after none on May euen, £ demauded of the
officers what they harde, diuerse of the aunswered that the voyce of the people was so, &
had ben so. ii. or. iii. dayes before. This heryng the Mayre sent for al his brethre to the
Guylde hall in great hast, £ almost, vii. of the clocke or the assemble was'sct. Then was
declared to the by Master brookey recorder how that the kyngcs cousail had reported to the
y the cominaltie that night would ryse, £ distresse all the Alies £ straungers y inhabited in
the cilie of Lddon : the Alderme answered they harde say so, but they mistrusted not the
matter, but yet they sayde that it was well done to forsee it. Then sayd the recorder it were
;best that a substacial watche were set of honest persons, housholders," which might withstand
the euell doers. An Alderman sayde, that it was euell to raysc men in barneys, for if suche
a thinge wereentended, they coulde not tell who woulde take their parte. Another Alder-
man suyd, that it wore best to kepe the younge men asonder, and euery man to shut in hys
dores, and kepe hys seruauntes within. Then with these opinions was the Recorder sent to
j Cardinal before, viii. of the clocke, and then he with suche as were of the kynges coun-
gaill at hys place, commanded that in no wyse watche should be kept, but that euery man
shoulde repay re to his awne house, and there to kepe hyin and hys seruauntes tvl. vii. of the
clocke of the mornynge: with whiche commaundement, the sayde Rycharde brooke sergeaunt
at the law _and recorder, and syr Thomas Moore, late vndershrife of Lodon, £ then°of the
kynges consaill, came to the Guylde hall halfe houre and before, ix. of the clocke, and
there shewed the commaundemet of the kynges counsayl. Then in all hast, euery Alder-
JJf" man sent to his warde that no man should styrre aficr.'ix. of the clocke out of his house
but to kepe his doores shut, and hys seruauntes within tyll. vii. of the clocke in the morn-
ynge. After this commaundement, syr Ihon Monday Alderman came from hys warde, and
founde two young _men in chepe plaiynge at Buckelers, and a great company of young
men lokyage on the for the commaundement was then skace knowen, for then'it was but
ix. of the clocke. Master Mondy seyng that, bade them leaue, and the one younge man
asked hyin why? and then he saycl thou slialt know, £ toke hym by the arme to haue had
him,
KYNG HENRY THE. V1IJ.
hhn to the counter. Then all the youg me resisted the Alderman & toke him from master
Mondy, and cryed prentyses and clubbes. Then out at euery doore came clubhes and
•weapos and the Alderman fled, and was in great daungier. Then more people arose out
of euery quarter, and oute came seruynge men, and water men and Courtiers, and by a.
xi. of the clocke there were in Chepe. vi. or. vii. hundreth. And oute of Paules churehe-
yarde came. iii. hundreth, which wist not of the other, and so out of all places they ga-
thered, and brake vp the counters, and tooke out the prisoners, that the Mayre had thether
committed for hurty.nge of the straungers, and came to Newgate and tooke out Studley and
Petyt, committed theUier for that cause. The Mayre and Sbrifes were there present, and
made Pi'oclamacio in the kynges name, but nothynge was obeyed. Thus they ranne a
plump thorow sainct Nycholas Shables, & at saynct Martyns gate> there met with them syr
Thomas Moore and other, desyrynge theym to go to their lodgynges: And as they were in-
treatyng, and had almost brought them to a staye: The people of saynct Martynes threwe
oute stones and battes, and hurte dyuerse honest persones, that were persuadynge the
ryotous people to ceasse, and they bade them holde their handes, but still they threwe
oute bryckes and hoate water. Tiien a sergeaunt of Armes called Nycholas clounes,
whiche was there with master Moore, entreatynge them, beynge sore hurte, in a furye cryed
doune with them. Then all the misruled persones ranne to the dores and wyndowes
of saynct Marty n, and spoylcd all that they founde, and caste it into the strete, and leftc
fewe houses vnspoyled. And after that they ranne hedlynge into Cornehill by Leaden hal
to the house of one Mutuas a Frencheman or Pycarde borne, whiche was a greate bearer
of Frenchemen, where they pyckpursses, or howe euell disposicion soeuer they were of,
and within hys gate, called Grenegate, duelled dyuerse Frenchmen that kalendred
Worsted, contrary to the kynges lawes : & all they were so borne out by thesame Mutuas,
y no ma durst medle \V them, whertbre he was sore hated, & if the people had found him
in their fury, they would haue striken of his head: but whe they foud hym not, the water
men. & certayne young priestes that were there fell to riflynge: some ranne to Blachechapel-
ton, & brake the straungers house?, & threwe shooes and bootcs into the strete : This from
x. or. xi. of the clocke, continued these ryotous people durynge whiche tyme a knight
called syr Thomas parr, in great hast went to the Cardinall & told him of thys ryot, which
incotinent strengthened his house with men & ordinaunce. And after, this knight roade to
the king to Richemdd, & made y report much more then it was: Wherforc the king hastely
sent to Lodo, & was truly aduertised of the matter, & how that the ryot was ceassed, &
many of the doers apprebeded. But while this ruffling cotinuetl, syr Richard Cholmeley
knight Lieutenant of the Towre, no great frende to the citie, in a fruntyke furye losed
cerfayn peces of ordinaunce, & shot into y citie, whiche did litle harme, howbeit his good
wil apered About, iii. of the clocke, these ryotous persons seuered and went to their
places of resorte, & by the waye they were taken by the Mayre and the heddes of the citie,
and some sent to the Towre, and some to Newgate, and some to the Counters, to the num-
ber of iii C some fled, and specially the watermen and priestes, & seruyng men, but the
DOOTC' premises were taken. About fyue of the clocke, the erles of Shrewsbury and
Surrey whiche had harde of this ryot, came to London with suche strength as they had,
so dyd'the Lines of court, and diuerse noble men: but or they came all the ryot was ceased,
and "many taken as you haue heard.
Then were the prisoners examined, & the sermon of docter Bele called to remem-
braunce and he taken and sent to the Towre, & so was Ihon Lyncoln : but with this ryot
tl e Car linall was sore displeased. Then y. mi. day of May was an Oyer & determiner at
citie
t e ar na . .
Londo before y Mayre, the duke of Norttblke, the erle ot Surrey and other. The
thought that the duke bare them grudge for a lewde priest of hit, ^ which the yere before
vas «ay. in Chepe, in so much the duke then in his fury say d I pray God I may once
haue th« c tizk in my daungier: & the duke also thought that they bare him no good w,l,
tuerfb e h cam i/to the citie with. ziii. C. n,en in barney, to kepe the Oyer ft detor-
5.90
THE. IX. YERE OF
miner. And vpo examinaci5 it could neuer be proued of any metyng, gathering, talking or
conuenticle at any daye or tyme before y day, but that the chance so happened vVout any
matter prepensed of any creature sailing Lyncoln & neuer an honest person in rnaner was
taken but onely he. Then Proclamacions were made that no wome shoulde come together
to bable & talke, but all men should kepe their wyues in their houses. All the stretes jf
were notable stode full of harnessed men, which spake many opprobrious wordes to the ci-
tezens, which gceued them sore: & if they vvoulde haue bene reuenged, the other had
had the worsse, for the citizes were. ii. C. to one: but lyke true subiectes they suftred
paciently.
When the lordes wer set, the prisoners were brought in thorough y stretes tyed in ropes,
some men, some laddes, some chyldren of. xiii. yere. There was a great mourning of fa-
thers & frendes for their chyldren & kynsfolke. Emong the prisoners many were not of
the citie, some were priestes, and some husbandmen & laborers, the whole some of the
prisoners were. ii. C. Ixxviii. persons. The cause of the treason was, because the feyng
bad amide with all Christen princes, that they had broke the truce & league'cotrary to the
statute of kyng fiery the. v. Of this treaso diuerse were endited, & so for y tyme, the
JdWes departed. ' And the next day the duke came agayn, & the erle of Surrey with. ii.
M. armed men, which kept the stretes. VVhe the May re, the duke, & y erle of Shrewcs-
bury & Surrey were set, the prisoners were arreigned, and. xiii. fouudc gillye of high trea-
son, & adiudged to be hanged, drawen £ quartered, & for execucion wlierof, were set vp
xi. pay re of galowes in diuerse places where the offences were done, as at Algate, at Blache-
chapelto, Gracious strete, Leade hal, & before euery couter one, & at Newgate, at s.
Martens, at Aldrisgate, at Bishopsgate. This sight sore greued the peoj)le to se gnlowes
set in the kynges chaber. Then were y prysoners y were Judged, brought to the places of
execucio, & executed in most rygorous maner, for the lord Ed mod ilauaui sonne to tl>e
duke of Northfolke, & knight Mershal shewed no mercy, but extreme cruelly to the
poore yogelinges in their cxecucio, & likewise' the dukes seruautes spake many oppro-
brious wordes, some bad hage, some bad drawe, some bad set the citie on fyer, but ail was
suffred.
••On Thursday the. vii. day of May was Lyncoln, Shyrwyn, & two brethre called Bets,
and diuerse other adiudged to dye. Then Lyncoln said, my lordes, I meant wel, for & you
knew the mischief that is ensued in this realme by straugers, you would remedy it, & many/
.tymes I haue coplayned, & then I was called a busy felow: now our lord haue mercy on
me. Then all thesayd persons were layd on the hardels, & drawen to the standarde in Chepe,
& first was Ihon Lyncoln executed, & as the other had the rope about their neckes, there
camera coinmaudemet fro the kyng to respite execucion. Then the people cryed, God
$aue y king. Then was the Oyer and determiner deferred tyll another daye, and the pri-
soners sent agayne to warde, and the harnessed men departed oute of London, and all
thynges quyet.
The. xi. daye of Maye the kynge came to his maner of Grenewiche, where the recorder
of London & diuerse Aldermen came to speke with his grace, and al ware gounes of black
coloure. And when they perceaucd the king comming out of his priuie chambre into his
phabreof presence, they kneled doune, £ y recorder savd: Our most natural, beninge and
souereigne lorde, we knowe well that your grace is displeased with vs of your citie of Lo-
don for the great ryot late done : we assertein your grace that none of vs, nor no honest
person were condisendynge to that enormitie. and yet we, cure wyfes and chyldre euery
ihoure lament that your fauour shoulde be taken from vs, and forasmuche as fi"ht & ydle
persones were the doers of thesame, we moosi hubly besche your grace to haue mercy
of vs for our negligence, & compassion of the oftendours for their offence and trespasse
J ruly sayd the kyng, you haue highly displeased and offended vs, & ye ou«hte to wayle and
be sory lor thesame, and where ye saye that yon the substantial! persons were not concent
#n,g to thesame, it appereth to the contrary, for you neuer moued to let theim nor slurred
once
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 531
once to fight with theim, whiche you saye were so small a numbre of light persones, where-
fore we must thynke, and you cannot deny, but you dyd wyncke at the matter, but at this
tyme we will graunt to you neither our fauour nor good" will, nor to thoffenders mercy, but
resort to the Cardinal! our lord Chaucelour, & he shall make you an answer, & declare our
pleasure, and with this answer y lodoners departed & made relacio to y Maior.
The. xviii. day of this moneth the quene of Scottes, which had bene at the Courte and
at Baynardes Castell, a whole yere at: the kynges charge, and was richely apoynted of all
thinges mete to her estate, both of leuells, plate, tapissry, Arras, Coyne, Horsses, and
all other t hinges of the kynges gift £ liberalitie, departed out of London toward Scotland
with great ryches, albeit she came into Englande with muche pouerlie, and she entred into
Scotland the. xiii. daye of luyn, whome her husband receaued at Berwick: but the English-
men smally him regarded. All her charges within the realme, comminge to the courte, &
returnynge, were of the kynges pursse.
Thursdaye the. xxii. day of May the kynge came into Westmynster hall, for whome at
the vpper ende was set a clothe ot estate/£ the place hanged with Arras, with him was the
Cardinal, the dukes of Northfolke & Suftblke, y erles of Shrewsbury, of Essex £ Wil-
shyre, of Surrey, with many lordes £ other of the kinges cousail. The May re £ Alderme,
& al the chief of the citie were there in their best liuery (according as the Cardinal had
the apoynted) by. ix. of the clock. Then the kynge comaunded y all the prisoners should
be brought foorth. Then came in the poore youglingea & olde false knaues bolide in ropes
all along, one after another in their shertes, £ euery one a halter about his neck, to the
nuber of. iiii. C. me &. xi. wome. And whe all were come before y kinges presence, the .
Cardinal sore laied to the Mayre & cominaltie their negligece, & to the prisoners he de-
clared y they had deserued death for their offence: Then al the prisoners together cryed
mercy gracious lord, mercy. Then the lordes altogether besought his grace of mercy, at
whose request the l<yng pardoned the al. And then the Cardinal gaue vnto the a good ex-
hortacion to the great gladius of the herers. And whe the generall pardo was pronoucecl,
all y prisoners shouted atonce, & altogether cast vp their halters into y hall rone, so y the.
kyng might perceaue they were none of the discretest sorte. Here is to be noted y diuerse
offenders which wei e not take, hering y the king was inclined to mercy, came vvel appa-
reled to Westmynster, £ sodeynly stryped the into their shertes w halters, & came in emdg
the prisoners willingly, to be partakers of the kynges pardon, by the whiche doyng, it was
well knowen that one Iho Gelson yoman of the Croune, was the first that began to spoyle,
and exhorted other to dooe ihesame, and because he fled and was not taken, he came in
the rope with the other prisoners, and so had his pardon. This compaignie was after called
the blacke Wagon. Then were all the galowes within the citee taken doune and many a
good praier saied for the kyng, and the. citezens toke more hede to their seruauntes.
In hine the kyng had with hym diuerse Ambassadors, for solace of whom he prepared a
costly lustes, he hymself ar.d.'xii. against the duke of Suffolk and other, xii. his base and
baid uas the one lialfe clothe of siruer, and the other halfe blacke Tinsell. On the siluer
was a curious lose worke of white veiuet embraudered with Golde cut on the Siluer and
euery cut en«railed with golde, so that that side was guide, Siluer and veiuet. On the biacke
tynsell side was blacke veiuet embraudered with golde and cut, and euery cut was engrayled
with flat gold of Damaske. The Use and uarclc were broudered with greate letters of
massy golde Bullion, full of pearles and s'tones, merueilous riche : al his compaignie wer
in like suite, sauyng that they had no iuelles. The kyng had on his bed a ladies sleue full-
of Diamondes. On the kyns: attended gctlemen, Armourers, and other officiers to the
nomber of Cxxv. persones all in white Veiuet and white Sattyn, horse and harneis for
horsemen, Cappes and Hosen for foole ..en, all white at the kioges cost. This royally the
kyn<* & his compaignie with his waiters came to the tiltes ende.
Then entered the Duke of Suffolke with the Marques Dorcet, the Erles of Essex and
Surrey, and. viii. other of his bande in bardesand bases of white Veiuet & crnnosm sattm
THE. X. YERE OF
losenged, set full of letters of. C. M. of gold, for Charles & Mary, and thei tolce the other
ende of the tilt. Then the Trompettes blewe, and the Kyng and the Duke ranne fiercely to-
gether, and brake many speres, and so did all the other, that it was harde to saie who did
best: but when the courses were ronne, thei ranne volant one at another, so that bothe by
the reporte of sir Edwarde Gylforde Master of the Armury, and also of the Judges and
Heraldes at these lustes wer broken fiue hudred and sixe speres: and then the kyng the
same night made to the Ambassadors a sumpteous banket with many ridelles and muche
pastyme.
After this greate triumphe, the king appointed his gestes for his pastyme this Sommer, but
sodeinly there came a plague of sickenes, called the Swetyng sickenes, that turned all his
purpose. This malady was so cruell that it killed some within three houres, some within
twoo houres, some mery at diner and dedde at supper. Many died in the kynges Courle,
the Lorde Clinton, the Lorde Grey of Wilton, and many knightes, Gentlemen and officiers.
For this plague Mighelmas terme was adiourned and because that this malady con-
tinued from luly to the middes of December, the kyng kept hymself euer with a
small compaignie, and kept no solempne Christmas, willyng to haue no resort for feare
of infeccion : but muche lamented the nomber of. his people, for in some one toune
halfe the people died, and in some other toune the thirde parte, the Sweate was so fcruent
and infeccious.
f THE. X. YERE.
IN the beginning of this yere, Trinite terme was begon atOxenford, where it continued
but one day, and was again adiourned to Westminster. This yere came to Calice fro Pope
Leo, a legate de latere, called Laurence Campeius, commonly called the Cardinall Cam-
peius, for to exhorte the kyng to make warre on the Turke. And likewise the saied Leo
sent. iii. other legates furth at that tyme for the said purpose, one into France another into
Spain, and the third into Germany.
When the Cardinall of Yorke knewe, that there was commyng a legate into Euglande,
•whiche should haue a greater preheminence then a Cardinall, he whose ambicion was neuer
satisfied, caused a Bisshoppe and certain Docters to passe the Sea to Calice to welcome hym,
and toshewe hym that if he would haue the Popes purpose, to take any effecte in Eng-
lande, he should in any wise sende in poste to Rome, to haue the saied Cardinall of Yorke
to be legate also, and to beioyned in commission with hym, whiche thing was doen, (not
without good rewardes) so that in thirtic and fiuc tlaies, the bull was broughte to Calice.
Duryng whiche tyme the Cardinall of Yorke sent to the Legate to Calice, rcdde cloth to
clothe his seruauntes, which at their commyng to Calice, were but meanely appareled. And
•when all thyngeswere ready he passed the sea and landed at Douer, and so kept furthe his
iorney toward Londo. At euery toune as thei passed, he was rccciucd with Procession, and
accompaignied with all the Lordes and gentlemen of Kent. And when he came to Black
heth, there met hym the Duke of Norftblkc, with a great nomber of prelates, knightes and
gentlemen, all richely appareled. And in the waie he was brought into a richc tente of clothe
of golde, where he shifted himself into a robe of a Cardinal!, edged with Ermyns, and so
toke his movie ridyng toward London.
The night before he came to London the cardinall of Yorke, to furnishe the carriages
of the Cardinal! Campeius, sent to him twelue mnlettes with cmptie Cofers couered with
redde, whiche twelue Mnlettes were led through London, emongest the Mulettes of Cam-
peius, which were but eight and so these, xx, Mulettes passed through the stretes, as
though thei had been full of Treasures, apparell and other necessaries. And when they came
into Chepe, one of the Mulettes brake from her keper, and ouerthrewe the Chestes, and
ouerturned twoo or three other Mulettes cariages, whiche fell with suche a violence, that di-
uerse of theim vnlocked, and out of some fell olde tiosen, broken Shoen, and roasted
Fleshe
KYNG HENRY THE. V1IJ. 593
Fleshe, peces of Breade, Egges and muche vile baggage : at whiche sighte the boyes cryed,
see, see my Lorde Legates threasure, and so the Muleters wer ashamed, and tooke vp all
their stuffe & passed furth. And about thre of the clock at after none otv the. xxix. day of
Inly the said legate entred the cite, & in Sothwarke met hym all the clergie of London with
crosses sensers & copes & sensed him with great reuerence. The Maior and Aldermen, and
all the occupations of the citee in their best liueries stode in the stretes, & hym highly honor-
ed : to who sir Thomas More made a brief oracio in the name of the citee. And w he lie
cam to Paules, ther he was receiued by bishops mitred, and vnder a canapy entred the
churcbe : whiche canapy his seruautes toke for their fees. And when he had otfred, he gane
his benediccion to al the people, and toke again his mule, & so was. with al his train aforsaid,
conueighed to Bathe place, & there rested: where he was welcomed of the Cardinall of Yorke.
And on sondaie next ensnyng these twoo Cardinalles as legates, toke their barges & came to
Grenewiche, echepf them had beside their crosses two pillers of siluer, two title axes gilte,
and two cloke bagges embroudered, and the Cardinalles imttes borne before the. And when
they came to the kynges hall, the Cardinall of Yorke \\enton the right hande: and there the
king Royally appareled and accompaignied, inet them enen as though bothe had come from
Rome, and so brought them bothe vp into his chamber of presence, and there was a so-
lempne oracion made by an Italian, declaryng ihe cause of tlie legacy to be in twoo articles,
one for aide against Gods enemies, and the second for reformation of the Clergie. And
when Masse was doen, they were had to a chamber, and serued with lordes and knightes,
with muche solempnitie: and alter dinner they toke their -leaue of the kyng and came
to London and rode through the cilee together, in greate pompe and glory, to their
lodgynges.
When the Cardinall of Yorke was thus a legate, he set vp a court, & called it the court
of the legate, and proued testametes, and hard causes to the great hinderaunce of all the
:bishops of the realme. He visited bisshopes and all the Clergie, exempt and not exempt,
.and vi.der colour of reformation he gat muche treasure, & nothyng was reformed but came
to more rrmchief: for by exaple, of his pride, priestes & all spiritual! persones wexed so
proude, that thei ware veluet & silke, bothe in gounes, iackettes, doblettes, & shoes, kept
open lechery, and so highly bare theselfrs by reason of his authorities & faculties, that no
urn durst once reprone any thing in the, for lea re to be called heretike, & then thei would
make hym smoke or bare a faggot. And the Cardinall hymself was so elated that he thought
hymself e«;all with the kyng : & when he had said Masse he made dukes^& erles to serue
him of wyne with a say taken, & to holde the baso at the lauatories. Thus the pride &
ambition of the Cardinal & clergie was so high, y in mauer al good persons abhorred and
disdeined it.
This ycre the French kyng wrote to the kyng of England, y .if it wer his pleasure, he
would send an anibassade into England to comon with the kyng & his counsaiU tor the re-
dernvng of the citee of Turney & other thynges : whiche answered the messenger, y
the ambassade of the Frenche kynge shoulde be right hartely welcome to him. And so
the French king sent into England the lorde Boneuet, hygh Admyral of Fraunce, & .
the bishop of Parysas chiefe Ambassadors, accompanyed with many noble men & yonn;
freshe galates of the courte of Fraunce, to the nubre of. Ixxx. & more, & w.th them came
a great nubre of rascal & pedlers, & luellers, and brought ouer hattes and cappes, and ch-
uerae .nerchaud.se vncustomed, all vnder the coloure of the trnssery ot f^ A»^°n^, ' ,
After that these noble men were landed at Douer, the. were receaued by he nobles and
eemlcmen of the countrey, and so conueighed from lodgyng to lodgynge tyll they came to
BkckTeth & before then?' went iheir cariages and people in great num bre to the summe of.
SiC one & other whiche was thought to be to many for an ambassade. I hestj getlemen
THE. X. YERE OF
whistell of gold, set with stones and perle hangyng at a great and massy chayne baudryck
ise acconipanyed wit!) an. C. Ix. gentlemen, rychely appareled, on goodly horsses came to
ackheth, & there amiably receaued $ Ambassadors of France. The youg galantes of
companyed. xxiiii. of the kynges garde. And after the a great nutnbre of archers, to the
nlibre of. iiii. C. and in this order they passed thorough the citie to Taylers hal, & there the
chiefe Atjnbassadors were lodged, & the renaunt in marchaiites houses about. When these
lordes were in their lodgynges, then the Freeh harder me opened their wares, & made the
Taylers hal lyke to the paunde of a marte. At this doynge many an Englishma grudged, but
it auailed not. The last day of Septeber, the Freeh Ambassadors toke their barge, & came
to Grenewiche. The Admyrall was in a goune of cloth of siluer, raysed, furred with ryche
Sables & al his copany almost were in a new fassio garmet called a Shemew, which was in
effect a goune, cut in the middle. The getleme of Frauce were brought to the kynges pre-
sence, wher the bishop of Parys madeasolepne oracio: which beyng ended, & auswer made
therto, y1 kyng highly entreteyned the Admirall & his company, &. so dyd all the English
lordes and 'gentleSien. The Ambassadours beyng dayly in counsail at Grenewiche, the
other gentlemen daunced Sc passed the tyme in the quenes chabre with ladies & gentle-
women. After" long cousailing & muclie desyring of the French kyng and his counsayll, it
•was agreed that the cilie of Tourney should be deliuered to the Frenche kynge, he paycnge.
Vi. hundred thousande crounes for the citie, and. iiii. hundred thousand crounes for the Cas-
tell, the which ^ kyiig had buylded, but it was not fully performed: & also he should pay.
xxiii. M. /. Tourneys, $ whiche summe the citezensoi' the citie of Turney ought to the kyng
ef England for their liberties and fraunchises.
Vpon these agremetes to be performed, it was cocluded thaty^ citye of Tourney should
be delivered to the French kyng. The Frenchmen y1 soner to come to their purpose, made a
pretece of manage to be had betwenethe Dolphyn, sonne & heyre to the Freche kyng& the
lady Mary the kynges daughter, which was agreed vpo this codicion, that if they both cosented
at lawfull age, then to be ferme Sc stable, or els not for the they were both very young. And
so all matters were concluded, and the er!e of Worcester, & the bishop of Ely apoynted to
go into Fraunce for thedcliuery of the citie of Tourney, and performyng of the oilier agre-
mentes. And for the sure payment of the summes of money to be payde to the kyng of Eng-
land vpo the sayd agrementes, there were four gentlemen of the realme of Fraunee, left In
Englande for hostages: whose names were Mounsire Memorancy, Mousire Monpesart,
Mounsire Moy, Mounsire INIorret. C^f the which, iiii. the. ii. fyrst named were of noble
blood, but the. ii. last were but of meane houses. And because they were youg, there was
auncient geutleme, apoynted gouernours to the.
When all thingeswere cocluded 8c sealed, the kyng and all the Ambassadours richely ap-
pareled & the. ii. legates, roade soleply to y church of saynct Paul fro the bishop of Dur-
has place : & there was made fro the West doore to the quere doore of the churciie egall
with the highest step a hautepace of tymber of. xii. fote broade, that the kyivg & the Arn-
bas-adors might be sene. And there the Cardinall of Yorke sange high masse, & had hys
cloth of estate of Tyssue: hys Cupboord set with basos all gilt couered: his place was. v.
steppes hi^h. At the first lauatory. iii. Erles serued him, & at the secod. ii. dukes & a Mar-
ques, & with the saye taken, they gaue hyin wyne, & after water. And when masse was
done, y Cardinal! Campeius & he gaue to the people (as they sayd) cleane remission. And
after that done doctor Pace the kynges secretory, a man very eloquent, made a goodly Oracion
in prayse of peace: and that done, the kyng & all his nobles and Ambassadors went to the
Bishops palace to dynner, where they were highly feasted. And after dynner the kynge roade
agayne to the bishop of Dunhams place.
That njght the Cardinal of Yorke made to the Ambassadors a solempne baket, & them
accopanyed
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ.
accopanyed many lordes & ladyes of Engjande. And when the banket was done, in came,
vi. mynstrels, richely disguysed, & after them folowed. iii. gentelmen in wyde & 15g
gounes of Crymosyn sattyn, euery one hauyng a cup of golde in their handes, the first cup
was full of Angels & royals, the second had diuerse bales of djce, & the. iii. had certayn
payres of Cardes. These getleme offred to playe at mochaunce, & whe they had played f
length of the first boorde, then the mynstrels blew vp, & then entred into the chabre. xii.
ladyes disguysed, the fyrst was the kyng him selfe & the French queue, the secod the duke
of Suftblke, the lady Dawbeney, y lord Admiral & the lady Guyldford syr Edward Neuel,
and the lady Sentliger, syr Henry Guyldford, and mastres Walden, Capitayn Emery, and
mastres Anne Carew, syr Giles Capell, & lady Elizabeth Carew, Nycholas Carew, & Anne ,
broune, Fraunces Brian and Elizabeth blont, Henry Norrys & Anne wotton, Fraunccs
poyntz and Mary fyenes, Arthure poole & Margaret Bruges. On thiscopany attended, xii.
knightes disguysed, bearing torches all these, xxxvi. persons disguysed were in one suyte of
fyne Grene satyn all ouercouered with clothe of golde, vrtdcr tyed together with laces
of Gold, & maskyng whoodes on their heddes: the ladyes had tyers made of Braydes of
damaske gold w long heres of white gold. All these maskers dauced at one tyme, & after
they had daunced, they put of their viziers, & then they were all knowe. The Admyral &
lordes of France hartelv thanked the kyng, that it pleased him to visit the with such disport
and then the kyng & his copany were bankcted, & had high chere, & then they departed
euery man to hys lodgynge.
The. viii. day of October atGrenewiche was song a solepne masse by the bishop of Durha, &
after masse doctor Tiistal master of the Rolles, which after was bishop of Londo, made an
eloquet preposicio in praise of y matrimony to be had betwene the Dolphyn & the lady
Mary: & all that day were y straugers feasted, & at night they were brought into the hall,
where was a rock ful of al maner of stones, very artificially made, & on y top stode. v. trees, A
^ first an Oliue tree, on which haged a shild of y armes of the church of Rome: t!te. ii. a
Pyneaple tree, \V the armes of the Emperour : the. iii. a Rosyer w the armes of Eng-
lad: the. iiii. a brauche of Lylies, bearing ^ armes of Frauce: & the. v. a Pornegranet
tree, bearvng y armes of Spayn: in toke y all these, v. potetates were ioyned together
in one league against y enemies of Christes fayth. In & vpon y middes of y Rock
sate a fayre lady, richely appareyled w a Dolphin in her lap. In this Rock were ladies
& getleme, appareled in Crimosyn sattyn, couered ouer \\ floures of purple satyn em-
broudered on w wrethes of gold, knyt together with golde laces, & on euery floure
a hart of «old mouing. The ladies tyer was after y fassio of Inde, w kerchietes of plea-
sauce hatched \V fyne gold, & set w letters of Greke in golde of bullio: & the edges of
their kerchiefes were garnished \V haging perle. These getleme & ladyes sate on y ncyther
parte of the Rocke, & out of a caue in the said Rock came. x. knightes, armed at all
poyntes, & faughte together a fayre tournay. And whe they were seuered & departed
£ disguysers dissended fro y rock, & dauced a great space: & sodeynly y rocke moucd X
receaued f disguysers, & ymmediately closed agayn. The entred a person called Reaport
appareled in Crymosyn satyn full of toges, sitting on a flyeg horse w wynges & fete of
gold called Pegasus. Thys person in Freche declared y meamng ot y rocke & y trees at
j A°fterrnthis pastyme ended, the kyng and the Ambassadors ^yere serucd at Jacket with,
ii. C. &. lx. dyshes : & after that a voydee of spyces w.jx. spn* plates , of s-lue, Jc gjl^as
£96 THE. X. YERE OF
departing the kynggnue to the Admyral of France agarnishe of gilt vessel, a payre of co-
uercd basons gilt. xii. great gilt bowles. iiii. payre of great gilt poites, a stud ing cup of gold,
garnished w great perlc : & to some other also, he gaue plate to some Cheynes of gold, to
some riche apparel, & to some greate horses with ryche bardes, so y euery gentlenm was
well rewarded: which liberalise the straiigiers much praised: & after y al their trusses were
ready they departed toward the sea, & tokeshipcx laded at Buleyn.
Sone after their departing the erle of Worcester, beyng the kynges- clmberlayn. The bi-
shop of Kly, the lord ofs. Ihos. syr Nicholas vaux, syr Ihon pechy, syr Thomas bulleyn as
Ambassadours fro the king of Englande, accompanied with. IXK. knightes & (iellemen &
yome, to the nuberof. iiii. C. &aboue, passed the sea with some stormes, & came to Calys,
& passed thorough Picardy with great & kynde entreteynmet in all places, till they came to
Parys, where they were nobly receaued, euery mil matched w a lyke pere: & after they were
brought toy Freuchekynges presence, where the bishop of Ely madeasolempneoracio, as co-
cevniiigthe mariage and the peace: he did it with suche a bolde spirite that the Frenchemen
muche praysed his audacitie.
The coclusio of tliis peace was this, y Hery kyng of Englad, Frances kyng of Frenche-
men, & Charles kynge of Castel had sworne a perpetual peace, dunnge their lyues. And if
it should happen any of the. iii. to violate the league in any point and to moue warre : then
the other, ii. should ioyne together, & make warre agaynst the violater or breaker of tiit- peace.
After all thinges cdcluded, the Freeh king made a banket house in y bastill of Parys be-
twcne. iiii. olde wailes: this house was couered with coardes strayned by craft & euery
coarclc was woud aboute with boxe, £ so layd crosse wise one oner another in fret, & at
the metynges a great knop gilt with gold foyle: Ouer their coardes was streyned wolleu
clothes of light blew: this roofe was. Ixxx. fote high, & on euery fide. ni. stages high: all
the pillers of the stages were couered with antique workes, & the brestes of tiie stages cu-
riously wrought with armcs, fynettes & branches : the roofc was set full of starres gilt fur-
nished with glasses bctwenc the freles: & in this house was. ii. C. xii. l)iaiiclies gilt haged,
& on euery braunchc a great number of lightes of white waxc : and diuers sortcs of
maskes were shewed that night: & also there \\as shewed at euery side of the palace
a great Cuphoord of massiue plate of mnche greatnesse, and cner the French kyng
welcomed the lordes and Ambassadours with good countenaunce. After diuers feastcs,
iustes and bankettes made to the Englishe Ambassadonrs, the bishop of Ely with sir Tho-
mas Bu! ley n and sir Richard Weston were sent by the Frenche kyng to Konyack to see the
dolphyn, where they were well rccciucd, and to theim \vas shewed a fayre young childe: &
when they had seen him, they departed. The fame went that the LVenche kyng at that
tyme had no sonne, but that this was but a. colour of the Frenche kyng, howbeit it was
pruned other wise alter.
In this ccason the Earlc of Worcettre, and with him sir Nicholas \raux, sir Iho Pechy,
sir Edward Belkuai) with many other knightes tookc their leaue uf the l''renche kyng, &
roacle to Tourney, where they were well receiued. Then began me capitaines and thesoul-
diours to mourne. knowyng that the toune should be yelded to ttie French kvng, and many
a young gentleman, and many a tall yoman wished that they had not spent their tyme there'.
And the next_day after, the sayd erle discharged sir Uichard lernyngham of his office of
capitaine& comaunded euery man to he obedient to lhekmi.es pleasure \ to prepare to re-
tir.neinto Er.ghind. The. viii. day of February y lord Chan, eon came IK re to the citie of Tour-
nay with. xxi. hundredth mennc in barneys. The trie of \Voicettre sent sir Edward Belknap
to knowe his commission, and there he shewed him his commission, whiehe was toreceiue the
citie of Tourney. Then sir Edward Belknap desired him to ser.de his commission to the
earle of Wrfcettre, whiehe he refused to do, saiynsj it was sufficient to sl^we it: well sayd
sir Edward Belknap yon must vnderstand that we haue a commission from the kvii« our
Master to deli er_you the cuie at a day appointed : wheifore we must shewe the kyng ot Eng-
land both \our combsion that you had aucthontie to receiue it fro the Fienche king, 'and
also
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 597
also that yon by your indenture sealed with your scale of armes shall confesse that you re-
ceiue the citie as a gift, and not rendred as a right to the kyng your Master, or els be you sure
that the citie shall not be deliuered. Then the lorde Chastileon was wonderons wroth that Themai)er
he was no better beleueci: And so daily were great messages sent to the citie from him to of the dciy"
the erle of Worcettre, and answers wer sent of the Englishe part. But when the daye ap- TOU™
proched he had ful ans\vere that he must delyuer his commission and also scale the inden-
ture, or els the Englishmen would not put hym in possession of the towne, for their com-
mission was otherwyse. The French capytaines perceauyng that yf they disagreed at the
daye, that doubles might t'olowe, wherfore they sent ther commission and sealed their in-
denture and sent it lykewyse in the momyng, and came forward with their banners display-
ed : whereof hering the earle, he sent \voord that the citee was neither yelded nor gotten,
but delyuered for cbfederacion of marhge, and therfore thei should not entre with banners
displaied. Then wer the Frenchmen angry, but there was no remedy but to rolle vp their
standerdes and banners. And when thei came to the gates, there their commission and In-
denture were solemply red openly: and then the Frenchemen entred with driunslades and
minstrelsy without any banner: and then to Momire Castileon was deliuered the Castle,
and there he ordeined \\atche and warde in euery part. Thus was the citee qf Turnay de-
uered the eight daie of February in the. x. yere of the reigne of the kyng, and many a tall
yoman that lacked liuyng f't-1 to robbyng, which would not labor after their returne.
Duryngthis tyme remained in the Frenche co'irte Nicholas Carew Fraunccs Brian, and
diuerse other of "the youog gemk men of England and they with the Frenche kyng roado daily
disgnysed tlirougli Paris, throv yng Fgges, stones and other fooli.she tritles at the people,
whicrie linht demeanoure of a kyng was muche discommended and gested at. And when
these young gentieme came again into England, they were all Frenche, in eatyng, drynkyng
and apparell, yea, and in Frenche vices and braoges, so that all the estates of Englande
were bv them laughed at: the ladies and gentlewomen wer dispraised, so that nothing by
them was praised, but if it were after the Frenche turne, whiche after turned them to dis-
pleasure as you shall here.
After the kyusies Ambassadors were returned, and Tournay dehuered to the I-renchemen
vpon the condicions aforesaid, the hostages that were here lefie for the paimentof the great
somes and perlormaunce of the condicions comprised in the league (of the which one was
that if the mariage toke none effect, then the citee of Turnay should be redeliuered vpon
reuaimentof thesame some) tliesaied hostages knewc not in what case they stode, but when
they knewe it they were very hcuy and sorowful : howbeit, they dissimuled the matter in the
best wise thei could. The kyng vsed familiarly these foure hostages, and on the vn. daie
of Marehe prepared a disguysyng, and caused his greate chambre at Grenewicbe to to
gOO(
JI3 Ll-ItllUUV-l *,MIM*W V 1 . • I 1 * I . 1
odly commedy of Plautus plaicd, and that done, there entred into me chamber eight la-
lieTin Wacke veluet bordred about with gold, with hoopes fro the wast douneward and
sleues ruffed and plited at the elbowe and plain in the middes, lull ot c.Utcs plucked out
at e- erv c me v.itl tine Came icke, and tired like to the Egipcians very richely. And w.re
al euery c . , , nprfi(.na,ies m ion2 «ounes of
Ivid buskins of > acke veluet tun or aggie . ui Su, "~""r , r> ,
riaht ladies all bovn-viserd, and sodeinly the men cast ot then- large gounes, and
with the eight ladi
And whe al was done, euery lord and lady put ot
Srir vi::-sV"lTe"i« r 'en to? .h« kyng and U» date of ***.«! U. fencta
quene wet thet wliiclic wer present at the plaie Ijiue
THE. XI. YERE OF
AiuSt«. The viii daie of Marche was a solempne lustes, the kyng himself & eight young gen-
tlemen based and barded in blacke veluet embraudered with gold against the duke ot Suf-
folk and eight of his bande all in white satten with droppes of golde. And that daie they
all ranne exceadyng well, whiche the straungiers highly commended.
In the ende of Marche the kyng sent for all the yomen of garde that wer corne from
Tournev, arid after many good wordes geuen to the, he grauted to the. iiii. d. the day with-
out atte'n'daunce, except thei wer specially comaunded: & yet for all this the cominaltie said
that the kyng was euil counsailed to gene away the citee of Tourney, because the maintein-
ing of a garrison there should hane norished & brought vp me and yoger brethren in feates
of^war to the great strength & defence of y" realme.
This yerc the. xii. daie of February died the Emperour Maximilian for whom the kyng
caused a solempne Obsequy to be done at Paules churche, all the nobles of the realme
and knightes of the G artier btyng present, of whiche ordre thesaied Emperour was one.
f THE. XI. YERE.
The. xi. IIST the beginnyng of this yere, the kyng with all the knightes of his ordre beyng in Eng-
lande, roade on double horsses, with the henxmen folowyng the king, from Colbroke to
Winsore in gorgious apparell and there he kept with greate soleinpnrtee the feast of. s.
George, and dined in the hall. And the bishop of Wynchester prelate of the ordre sat at
the boordesende alone. The king was solempnly serued and the surnap cast like the feast
of a coronation. All thynges were plenteous to straungiers that resorted thether. At the
Masse of Requiem was offered the banner and other hachementes of honor belonging to
Maximilian the Emperor late deceased. After this feast ended, the kyng came to Riche-
inond, and so to Grenewiche, and there laie all Maie.
In whiche moneth the kynges counsaill secretly communed together of the kynges gen-
tlenes & liberalitee to all persones: by the whiche they perceiucd that certain young men
in his priuie chamber not regardyng his estate nor degree, were so familier and homely with
hym, and plaied suche light touches with hym chat they forgat themselfcs: Whiche thynges
although the kyng of his gt-tle nature suffred and not rebuked nor reproued it: yet the
> kynges counsail thought it not mete to be suffred for the kynges honor, & therfore thei al-
together came to the king, beseching him al these enormities and lightnes to redresse. To
whom the kyng answered, that he had chosen the of his counsaill, both for the maintenance
of his honor, & for the defence of all thyng that might blcmishe thesame: wherfore if they
sawe any about hym misuse ttieimselfes, he committed it to their rcformacion. Then the
kynges counsaill' caused the lorde chamberlein to cal before them Carew (and another who
yetliueth, & therfore shall not at this tyme be named) with diuersc other also of the priuy
chuber, whiche had been in the Frenche courte, and banished them the court for diuerse
consideracions, laiyng nothing particulerly to their charges. And they that had offices wer
commaunded to go to their offices: which discharge out of the courte greued sore the hartes
of these young menne whiche were called the kynges minions. Then was there foure sad
and auncient knightes, put into the kynges priuie chftber, whose names wer sir Richard
Wingfeld, sir Richard lernynghu, sir Richard Westo and sir William Kyngston : and di-
uerse officers wer changed in all places.
Then sir Ihon Pechy was made deputie of Calls, and sir Richarde Wingfeld therof dis-
charged, & Nicholas Carew made capitain of Ricebanke and commaunded to go thether,
whiche was sore to hym displeasant. These young minions which was thus seucred from the
kyng, had been in Fratince, and so highly praised the Frenche kyng and his court, that in
a maner they thought litle of the kyng and his court, in comparison of the other, they wer
so high in loue with the Frenche courte, wherefore their fall was litle moned emong wise
men.
This yere in the moneth of lune was elected to be Emperour Charles kyng of Castell, &
nephew
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. Sd9
nephew to tlie quene, by the whole asset of the electors of thempire: Although the Frenche
kyng sent his great Master to cause hyrn to be elected to the high maiestie of the Empire:'
yet his Ambassador & great Master of his houshold called Gonffier lord of Boisy, & bro-
ther to Willyam Gonffier lorde Boneuet Admjrall of Fraunce, whiche was ambassador in
Englande the laste yere as you haue hard, did not so his message that it toke any effect.
The kyng whiche had set doctor Pace his secretory for the auauncernent of his nephewe the
kyng of Castell to the dignite imperiall, because he had the duchie of Ostrik & many other
seigniories in Almain, was very ioyous of this eleccion, & caused a solepne Masse to be song
at Paules the. vii. daie of luly: at whiche Masse was present the Cardinall Campeius, the
Cardinall of Yorke, the Duke of Buckynghii, of Norffolk & Suffolk, with the Ambassa-
dors of Spa:n, Fraunce, Venice and Scotlande. And after Masse was done, the quier
sang Te deurn, and then all thelordes departed to Baynardes Castle to dinner, £ that night
were solempne fiers made through London, £ great piety of wine geue by Italics, duch-
men & Spaniardes for these newes.
This sommer the quene desired the kyng to bryng to her mannour of Haueryng in the
Bower in Essex, the gentlemen of Frauce being hostages. And for their welcomyng she
purueyed all thynges in the moste liberallest maner: and especially she m'ade to the kyng
suche a sumpteous banket that the kyng thanked her hartely, and the straungers gaue it
great praise. The kyng liyng there did shote, hunte, and ronne daily with the hostages to
their grcate ioye.
This yere in September the kyng laie at his Manour of Newhal in Essex, otherwise called
Beaulieu, where the kyng had newly buylded a costly mancion, aini there to welcome tlie
quene and the Lordes, and the Frenche gentlemen, he made to them a sumpteous banket,
and all a log the chamber sat a Ladie and a Lorde, or a knight, which were plenteously
s'erued. And after the banket ended, with noise of minstrelles entered into the chamber
ei^ht Maskers with white berdes, and long and large garmentes of Blewe satten panned
with Sipres, pondered with spangles of Bullion Golde, and they daunsed with Ladies sadly,
and comuned not with the ladies after the fassion of Maskers, but behaued theimselfes
sadly. Wherefore the quene plucked of their visours, and then appered the duke of Suf-
folk 'the erle of Essex, the Marques Dorset, the lorde Burgainy, sir Richard Wyngfeld,
sir Robert Wyngfelde, sir Richard Weston, sir Willyam Kyngston : all these wer sotfhat
a<*ed the youngest man was fiftie at the least. The Ladies had good sporte to se these
auncient persones Maskers. When .they wer departed, the kyng and the foure hostages of
Fraunce and the erle of Deuonshire with. vi. other young gentlemen entered the chamber,
of the whiche sixe wer al in yelowe sattin, hosen, shoen, and cappes, and sixe other, wer
in like maner in Orene : the yelowe sattin was fretcd with siluer of Damaske, and so was
the crene very richely to behold : and then euery Masker toke a ladie and daunsed : and
when they had daunsed & coramoned a great while their visers were taken of, and then the
ladies knewe the, & there the king gaue many brooches £ proper giftes to the-ladies, And
after this done, the quene made a banket to the kyng £ his lordes and thother stragers
In the moneth of Nouember, the kyng came from Lambith to Westminster hall, and so
to he starre chamber, and there were before him the Lorde Ogle, the Lorde Haward s,r
Mathew Broune, sir Willyam Buhner, and Ihon Skot of Carnero-ell, for draerae rfcttes
misdemeanors and offeces, and especially the kyng rebuked sir Wilharn Buhner knight, be-
the kynges scruaunt sworne, refused the kynges seruice, & became scr-
knee's WE tl kyng mercie, and neuer a noble man there durst entreat*,
njng Be , 0 d- leaged with him. yet at the last when other ma
a so
g
kyn
800 THE. XL YERE OP
that we will that none of our seruauntes shalbe long to any other person fbut to vs,
nor we wil not that our subiectes repine or grudge at suche as wee fauoure, for our pleasure
we will haue in thatcaceas vs liktrth, for one we wil fauor now and another at suche tyme
as vs shall like: and therefore sir Willy.ain if you serue vs hartely, you shaH not be foigit-
ten, & for this tyme we pardon you. Likewise he pardoned the lorde Edmod Haward, and
sir Mathew Browne their ofleces, whiche were indicted of i iottes, and mainteinaunce of
bearynges of diuerse misdoers within the countie of Surrey: but the lorde Ogle humbly be-
seched the kyng of his mercie to whom he answered. Sir your matter concerneth murder
of our subiecte, whiche greate offence is not onely to vs but to God, and therfore we remit
you to the common lawe. And then he rose and went to his barge, and by the waie he
made lames Yarfford Maior of the Citee of London knight, and so he with all his counsaill
came to Lambeth.
The iiii. gentlemen hostages of Fraunce, daily resorted to the courte and had greate chere,
and were well enterteined, and euery tyme they moued, stirred and required the kyng to passe
the sea, and to mete with the Frenche kyng their Master, whom they preised highly, af-
firming that if the king & he might once familiarly common together, that there should
suche a constant loue rise and encreace betwene thciin, whiche afterward should neuerfaile.
This request was often tymes hard and litle regarded, but yet by the meanes of the Cardi-
nall at the last, in the ende of February it \\as agreed that the kyng in person, should passe
the sea to his castle and lordship of Guisnes, & there in Maie next commyng bt-twcne
Guisnes and Arde, the kyng and the Frenche kyng should mete. When this was fully con-
cluded, the kyng wrote letters to all suche lordes, ladies, gentlemen and Gentlewomen as
should geue their attendaunce on hym and the quene : whiche in continent put theimselfes
in a redines after the moste costliest fasliiou, for the furniture of thesame rnetvng.
Then were sent to Guysnes vnder the rule of sir Edward Belknap tiiree. M. artificers,
which buyided out of the yearth on the plain before the castle of Guysnes, y most good-
lyest palaice of timber that euer was wrought in thesame place and so curiously garnished
without & within. Beside this, prouisions wer made within the real me t,f England and
in Flaunders for vitaill, wine and all other thynges necessary for thesame. And yet beside
all this Orleaunce kyng of armes of Fraunce came into the court of England and made pro-
clarnacion, that the kyng o.f Englande and the French kyng, in a campe betwene Arde and
Guysnes with, xviii. aides in lune nextensuyng, should abide al comma's beyng gentlemen,
at the tilt, and torney, and at harriers, and like proclamacion was made by Clarenseaux kyng
of Armes of Englande, in the Cotirte of Fraunce, and in the courte of Burgoyn, and" m
diuerse other courtes and places in Almain, and Italy. For furnishyng of lustes, there
was deuised a like and all thynges necessary for that cmerprice, in a goodly plain betwene
•Guysnes and Arde.
Duryug the tyme of these preparacions, newes were brought to the king that Charles his
nephew elected Emperor of Almain would shortely depart out of Spain by sea, and come
by Englande to go into Germany to rcceiue his lirste Croune at Aeon. Wherefore the kyng
caused great prouisions to be made at euery huue, for the receiuyn^ of ins welheloued ne*
phew and (Vend, and daily prouisions were made on all sides, for these noble metynges of
so high princes: and especially the quene of Englande, and the Lady dowager of Fraunce,
made greate cost on the apparell of their ladies and gentlewomen.
^ The first daie of February being Candelmas euen, as the kyn<i and quene were come from
Euensong at their rnanour of Grenewiche, before the queues chamber there blewe a trompet
sodamly, and then cntred into the Qucnes Chamber foure gentlemen appareled in long and
large garmentes of l.lewe damaske bordred with gold, and brought with the a tricke wa«gon
in the which sat a ladie richely appareled with a canapy ouer her bed, & on the. iiii. corners
t the waggon, wer. mi. bed peces called Armites, euery pece beyng of a sundery deuice-
thesau-d lady put vp a bill to the kyng, the effecte wherof was that the. iiii. gentlemen present
•oulcl tor the loue o.f their ladies answer al commers at the tilt at a day by the kyng to be
appoynted :
XYNG HENRY THE. VII J. «,,
appoynted: whiche dale was appoynted at shrofetide next ensuing. At whiche daie £ for-
said gentlemen valiantly accoplished their entreprke, with greate laudes of the kyn<*, the
queue and ladies.
in this yere the kyng beyng infourmed, that his realme of Irelande was oat of ordre, dis-
charged the erle of Kildare of his office of deputie, and therunto (by the meanes of the
'Cardinal! as men thought) was appoynted therle of Surrey lorde Admiral!, to who the Car-
dinal did not owe the best fauor. Wherfore the saied erle of Surrey in the beginning of
April!, tookeleaueof the kyng, and the duke of Norffolke his father, and passed into ?re-
lande, and had with himdiuerse gentlemen, that had been in the garrison of Tourney, and
one hundred yomen of the kynges garde, and other to the nomber of a thousande nienne.
Where he by his manhod and wisedom, brought the erle of Desmonde and diuerse other
rebelles, to good contbrmitie and ordre: and there he continued in great hardnes two yere
and more, in whiche space he had many battaiies and skirmishes with the wild Irishe.
When it was concluded that the kynges of Englande and Fraunce should mete, as you
haue hard, then bothe the kynges committed the ordre and maner of their metyng, and how
many daies they should mete, and what preheminence echo should geue to other, to the Car-
dinall of Yorke, whiche to set allthynges in a certeintie, made an instrument, the very true
tenor whereof ensueth.
Thomas Archebishop of Yorke and Cardinal. &c. Albeit that by the treatie and metyng
•of fiie right high and right puyssaunt princes, Henry by the grace of God, kyng of Eng-
lande, and of France, lorde of Irelande -my souereigne Lorde: And Fraunces by thesame
grace kyng of Fraunce right Christened, made and concluded at London the eight daie of
October the yere of our Lorde a thousand fine hundred &. xviii, be emongest other thynges
concluded and accorded, that thesame metyng shalbe in place indifferent, and not subiect to
eny of thesaied princes. Neuertheles, wee consideryng the honour, profile, and vtilitie,
that shall redound by the etiteruieu of thesaid two princes, & not onely to the.saied twoo
princes, their realrnes and subiectes, but also to all Christendom: after declaration thereupon
had with thesaie.d princes. Also consideryng that thesaied illustr-e kyng of Englande my
souereigne lorde, in passyngthe sea with his retinue, shall sustein great costes and expences,
and dispose hymself to great labors and daungers, leuyng his realme and puyssaunce for
certain tyme, weehaue thought and estemecl that he should not be wholy satisfied to thonor
and dignitie of thesame, right illustre kyng of England my souereigne lorde, and should
not hatie in regard condigne of his labors & danglers, it' thesaied enteruew or metyng after
the first treatie, should be in place indifferent, wherfore it is that wedesiryng to weye egally
thonor and dignitie of thesaid twoo kynges by vertue and power of the commissions to vs
ecu?, of whom the tenors shalbe hereafter declared: we haue made, declared, andordcmed
certain articles accepted & approued, by ysame princes respectiuely, wbichlhei will ob-
serne, & l>v this presentes we make, -declare & ordein as foloweth.
And first we declare and ordein, that before thende of the monetne of Maie next com-
•rain* thesaid illustre kyng of Englande shal come personally to the castle of Gaysnes, with
his bedfeiowe the quene, and his sister the dowares of Fraunce: and semblahy the right
•Christened kyn" of Fraunce, shall come in persone to Ins Castle of Arde, with the Quene
and his mother! and some daie, hourc, and tyme, within, iiii. daies at the moste, after
thende of Maie, that shalbe assigned by the commissioners of the one and the other partie.
k yn<r of Englande shall issue out of his castle of Guysnes hafe a mile long, without
1.7 issue out of the iimites of his demam of Guides, * . hall come to.ans
oners sa assijrne as aju
oT^rcle shalUome towardes thesaid kyng of England tliefiame daie, place, u.ne
houre that hall lary hym within-the demain of Guisnes as is sa.d In the whiclie slmll
te sS noised ^ pauUion. or Rentes, and there thesaul two ky
6os THE. XI. YERE OF
horsebacke, with their retinue shall se the one the other, and salute eche other, and speake to-
gether fami'liarly, and common in that sort -and maner, and so long as shall seme to theim
good. And after thesaied salutacion and comunicacion finished for that time, thesaied illus-
tre kyng of Englande shall returne to his castle of Guisnes, and thesaid right christened
kyng to his castle of Arde.
Item, for asmuche that wee thynke to bee satisfied touchyng the labores danglers and ho-
noure of thesaied kyng of England my souereigne Lorde of so muche, that thesaied right
Christened kyng at the firsts speakyng, he shall come forwarde vnto and within his territorie
of Guysnes, we will kepe the honor of thesaied kynges, and therfore declare and ordeine,
that on the morowe after the firste enteruew, thesame kynges shall mete together in some
place indifferent betwene Arde and Guysnes, that shalbe assigned by thesaied Commissioners
and after the salutacion made on the one and the other partie, thesaied right illustre kyng of
Englande shall go to the Castle of Arde, to se, salute, and visile the queue of Fraunce,
and°also the sister of thesaid christened kyng, with whom he shall dine priuely. And like-
wise thesaid right christened kyng shall go to the Castle of Guysnes, to visile and salute the
quene of Englande, and ihe dowares of Fraunce, with whom he shall dine. In the whiche
places thesaied princes shalbe receiued familiarly and amiably, vnto mutuull loue, and also
to the honor of thesaied princes.
Item, as thesaied serene princes of Englande and Fraunce, be like in force corporall,
beautie, and gifte of nature, right experte and hauyng knowlege in the arte militant, right
cheualrous in armes, and in the flower and vigor of youth, whereby semed to vs a right as-
sembly, that for to decore and illustre thesame assembly, and to shewe their forces in armes,
they shall take counsaill & dispose themselfes to do some faire feate of armes, aswell on fate
as on horsebacke, against all commers. We declare and ordein, that the place where shalbee
thesaied fight and feate of armes, shalbee chosen betwene Guysnes and Arde, and assigned
by the commissioners, of the one and the other partie. And for a stiertie of the pcr-
sones of thesaied kynges and their compaignie, thesaid place shalbe apparreled, diched,
fortified and kepte of the one and the other partie, by equall nober of men of armes, re-
spectiuely committed and deputed that to do. And duryng the tyme of thesaied lustes and
featesof warre, thesame kynges andquenes with their retinue, shall se eche other familiarly,
and conuerse and speake together: And euery daie towardcs the euenyng, after the lustes,
trinmphes, bankettes, and familiar communicacions doocn, thesaied kynges with their reti-
nue shall returne into their Castles, that is to saie, the kyng of England into his castle of
Guysnes, thesaied right christened kyng into his Castle of Arde, and thus they shal do daily,
duryng thesaied fight and feate of armes.
Item, wee declare and ordein, that when thesame kyng of Englande and the Quene his
bedfelowe, and the Dowares of Fraunce his sister, with their retinue, shall go to the terri-
torie and entrie of thesaied right christened kyng, the superioritie and preherhinence shalbe
geuen to thesaied kyng of Englande, to the queue his bedfelowe, and to their retinue respec-
tiuely, duryng the tyme that they shall tary and be there : and semblaby when thesaied right
Christened kyng, and the quene his bedfelow and his right illustre Ladie, and mother, with
their retinue shal come to the territorie and entrie of thesaid iliustre kyng of Englande, the
superioritie and preheminence shalbee geuen to thesaid right Christened kyng, to the quene
his bedfelowe, and to his mother, and to their retinue duryng the tyme that they shall contir
nue and abide there.
Item, for so muche as the Castles and places where thesaied entervewe shalbe, be so litle
& narovv-e that if entree £ licence to come thether be geuen to all them that would go the-
ther, diuerse anoyances, troubles and impechementes should folowe, wherefore it is so that
we Cardinal! abouesaied, by these presentes declare & ordein, that none of the retinue of
thesaied Kynges, Queues, or other lordes and nobles, of what estate qualitie or condicion
that he or they be, shal not come to thesaid assemble with more greater nomber of persones
or
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 603
*
or horse, then shalbee written by letters, subscribed by thesaied kynges, the whiche shall
conteigne the estates and condicions of the persones, aswell men as women, and nombre of
seruauntes and horse, except by the common consent and license of thesaied kynges.
Item, forasinuche as perauenture it shall come that thesaid Princes lordes, gentlemen, and
houshold seruauntes, shall se and conuerse together familiarly, to the ende that it may en-
gender betwene them an amitie more firme and stable, for that cause and that more suerly
and agreably they may bee together, aswell by dale as by night, without any danger or
feare, whiche we desire to prouiJe: we declare and ordein that two gentlemen with sufficient
compaignie of equall and like nombre, be committed and depute, respectiuely by thesaied
kynges for the kepyng and suretie of the waies and watches, that shalbee made continually
.duryng the assembly of thesaied kynges.
The whiche gentlemen with their compaignies shall ordein & depute explorators and spies
in the valeis, forestes, woodes, tounes, borowes villages, castles, passages and waies, and
other places dangerous and suspect : from tyme to tyme, and houre, to houre, aswell to-
wardes Elaunders, as Picardie, Alloys and Englande, to exployte and watche there. And
if any be tbunde suspect, theim to repulse and take away, to thende that not only thesaied
princes, their gentlemen and household seruauntes, maie surely and without feare visite the
one the other as said is, but also those that shall bryng vitailes necessarie to thesaied assem-
bly, maie without daunger, trouble, impechement or noysaunce go and come:' the whiche
expiorators shalbe bounden euery daie in the mornyng andeuenyng, to make reporte to the*
saied princes or to their saied counsailors respectiuely, of that which they haue found,
and in what estate the waies be. We declare further and ordein, that all men of armes
and of warre, of the one and the other partie, shall not approche nerer then twoo
iorneyes, to the place where thesaid enteruewe shalbe, except the retinewe & men of warre
that bee committed and deputed to kepe Cullein and Caleis, and that thesame men of warre
nor none other duryng the assembly of thesaid princes, shall not presume to come nerer,
onlesse by the cosent, accorde, and license of thesaied princes.
Item, we Cardinall aboue saied, by expresse aucthoritie and power to vs geuen, by these
presentes, bynde thesaied princes to do, fulfill, and accomplishe, all and euery the thynges
aboue saied here in conteined.
Item, we declare and ordein that echo of thesaied kynges on his partie, shall ratifie, con-
firme and approue all and euery the Chapiters and Articles aboue saied, by their letters
Patentes Sealed with their handes. And by thesame lettres of ratificacion they shalbee
bounde to accomplish with good faith and in worde of a kyng, all and euery the thynges
aboue saied: the whiche letters made, subscribed and sealed, as is said, they shall geue
the one the other, and shall chaunge in the citee of London, within one moneth next
after the daie of these presentes. Made the twelfe of Marche, the yere of our lorde
M.CCCCC.xix.
? THE. XII. YERE.
THE moste noble and puisant kyng, kyng Hery the. viii. king of England and of The.,,
Fraunce the yere of our Lorde a. M. fiue hundred and. xx. and ot hs bodily age xx.x.
vere and the.xxii. daie of April began the. xii. yere of 1m re.gne ouer the realme ot Log-
iand'e & halowed the daie of saincf George at the maner royall of Grenewiche w.th the
tie kniehtes of the Garter in robes of the order.
The kin" 'intendin* and perseueryng in purpose to mete with Frances the Frenche kyng,
JS and rich proulsionB were made? wherfore the noble Kyng and the Queue with all the
?oble courte emoued the twentie and one daie of May beyng on Mundaie, from their ma-
r^r of Grene^che" towardes the Sea side, and so on the Fndate beeyng the twentie and
*j» Li. (&
6*04
THE. XI I'. YERE OF
fiue dale of May, arriued at the citee of Canterbury, intendyrig there to kepe his
tecoste.
Sone after whiche comrnyng to Cantorbury, tidynges wer brought that Charles Emperor
electe, was on the sea, in sight of the coast of. England, wherfore officers of the kyng were,
gent with great diligence to the Castle and toune of Douer to be there in a redines against
tlie arriuall of the Emperor.
The reuerent father in God my lorde Cardinal!, came to the tonne of Douer in hast with
a noble repaire, abidyng the commyng of the Emperour, whiche Emperour, the Saterdaie.
beyng the. xxvi. dale of Maii arriued with all his nanie of shippes royall on the coast of.
Kent, directe to the totine or porte of Hieth thesaied daie by noone, where he w as-hailed by
the noble knight sir Willyam Fitzwillyam, vice admirall of Englande-, with sixe of the
kynges shippes well furnished, whiche laye for tlie safegarde of passage betwene Douer and
Caleis, at the costes and charges of the kyng of Englande. Calmencs of the wether and
lacke of wynde, caused that the Emperoure might not so sone take lande at the porte of
Douer, as he would haue dooen. Notwithstanding towardes the euen he departed from his-
shippes, and entered into his boate comrnyng towardes the lande, where in his commyng to
the land : on the sea the reuerent father lorde Wolsay Cardinall and Legate, mette and re-
ceiued hym with suche reuerence, as to. so noble a Prince apperteigned. Thus landed the
Emperoure Charles, vnder the clothe of his estate of the blacke Egle ail sptaied on riche
clothe of golde. In his retinue with hym; were many noble menne, and many faire La-
dies of his blond as princes and princesses, & one ladie as chief to be noted,, was the
princes Auinion with many other nobles whiche landed with hym in high and' sumptuous
maner and great riches in their apparell : greate ioye made the people of England'to see the
Emperour, and more to see the benygn maner and mekenes of so high a prince.
Then when the Emperour thus had taken lande, the rcucrente father lord Cardynall was.
as conducte to thesame noble Emperour from the shore of Douer vnto the castell there :
then were all persons chercd, the best that there in the towne might be.
After the departing of Themperour to the lunde from his nauy, the appareil of eueryship
then shewed, as flagges, banners, stremers, & targetcs, then the mighty ordinaunce of eueiy
of them brake oute by force of fyer as though tlie see had brente, inaruelous-was the noyse of
the gonnes.
The Emperour beyng thus in the castell of Douer, with hast tidynges came to the kyng
where as he was at Cantorbury, who hasted hym towards the noble Emperour. And so
came riding early in the morning to the castell of Douer, within which castell the kyug
alighted: the Emperour heryng the king to become, came out of his chamber to mete" w
the kyng and so met with him on the stayres or he could come vp, when eche embraced other
right loningly : then y kyng brought the Emperour to his chamber, where as there coiamur-
nyng was of gladnes.
Sone after these two noble princes on the \Vhitsonday early in the morenynge tooke their
horse and rode to the Cytcc of Cantorbury^ the more to solcmpne the feast of Pentecost,
but ^specially to see the queue of England his aunte was the intent of the Emperour.
The noble personages of the realn.e of England and the queue \\ith her beautiful, trayne
of ladies receiued and wclcommed the same Charles tlect Emperour, whose person was by
the kyng coueighed to a faire and pleasant chamber where thcsayde Empirour apparelled
hym right nchely. Then the noble rc-tynue of thesayde Emperour aswell of lordes as la-
dyes were lodged, asweli as there myght be, with ioye and muche gladnes, and there iu Can-
torbtiry soiorned the Emperour and all hys trayne with the kyng, vntill the Tlmrsdave in the-
same weke.
The last daie of May beyng Thursday, the Emperour toke leaue of the kyn* & of all the
ladyes, and gaiie great thankes, and so rode to Sadewiche, and there toke "his. shippes the
ivynd to hym was hkyng, wherby he i-ayled into Flaundcrs.
Then thesame dayc, the kyng of Englaude made saile from the porte of Douer and with
noble
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 605
noble apparaile londed at Calys at the hower of. xi. of the clock, and with hym the quene
and ladyes and many nobles of y reahne. And so was the kyng receiued into the Checker
and there rested; great repayre of noble men came to the towne of Caleys from y" French
court,, lose the kyng and tosilute him, which were of his grace, princely entrctayncd.
Mondaye the. iiii. daye of lune the kynges grace with all the nobles aswell the quene with
i her trayne of ladyes as other, with all the whole nober of nobles remoued from Galis to his
j lordship royall of Guisnes into the most noble and royall lodgyng before sene, for it was a
palays, the palays was quadrant, and euery quadrant of thesame palays was iii. C.xxviii.
foote longe of a syse, which was in compasse. xiii.C. and xii. foote aboute. This palayce
was sette'on stages by great connynge and sumpteous woorke. At the enteryng into the pa-
lays before the gate, on the playne grene was bnylded a fountayne of enbowed woorke, gylte
with fyne golde, and bice,ingrayled with anticke woorkea, the olde God of wyne called
Bacchus- birlyng the wyne, whiche by the conduyctesin therfh ranne to all people plenteously
with red, white, and claret wyne, ouer whose hedde was written in letters of Homayn in gold,
Jcicte bonne chere <jiiy rouldra-
On the other hande or syde of the gate, was set a pyller which was of auncient Romayne
woorke borne with. iiii. Lyons of golde, the pyllers wrapped in a wrethe of golde curiously
wroughte and intrayled, and on the sommet of thesayde pyller stode an image of the blynde
God Cupide with his bowe and arrowes of loue redy by- his semyng, to Stryke the younge
people to loue.
The forgate of thesame palays or place with great and mighty masonry by sight was
arched, with a tower on euery syde of thesame porte rered by great crafte, and inbattayled
was the- gate and tower, and "in y fenestres and wyndowes were images resernblynge men
of warre redy to caste greate stones: Also thesame gate or tower was set with compassed
images of auncient Prynces, as Hercules, Alexander and other by entrayled woorke, rychely
lymncd with golde and Albyn colours, and well and warly was made ouer the gate loups, and
enforced with battaylememes and in thesame gate a lodge for the porter : whyche there
apered and other, sumpteously apparayled lyke vnto kynges officers.
IJy thesame gate, all people passed into a large courte fay re & beautiful, for in this
court appered much of the outward beutie of this place for from the firste water table to
the ray.-yng or resuri pieces, was bay wyndowes on euery syde myxed with clere Stories, cu-
riously "glased, y postes or roonyelles of euery wyndowe was gylte. Thus the outward
parte of the place lumyned the eyes of the beholders, by reason of j sumptuous woorke.
Also the tower of the gate as semed, was buylded by greate masonry, and by great engyne
of mans wit for the sundry countenances of euery image that their appered, some shot-
vn? sum castyng, sume ready to strike, and tiryng of gonnes whiche shewed very honor-
ably Also all thesayd quadrantes, baycs and edetices, were roially intrayled, -as- -Jarre as
vnto' thesame courte appartayned. And dyrecte against the gate was deuised a -hall pas, and
at thentry of the staler was images of sore and terrible coiitenaunces, all armed in curious
woorke of aratyne. The bay of thesame lu.lpas pendant by crafte of trimmer and vnder
Y trimmer,- anticke images of gold enuyroned w verdour of Oliftes cast in compos, .nouns-
te V ™ their countenances towardes the enteryng of thu palaice. Ihe sta.er of thesuied
nalnas was caste of passage by the wentes of brode steppes, so that from the first foote
I™ mLrht without pain eoo vnto the highest place of the. same
or lowest steppe a persone might without pain goo vnto te ig
ue-e.l witli cloth of Silke, of the mast faire and quicke inueneion u.at before that tyme
Sforthegoundewas white ingrailed, Inbowed and batoned with nche clothes of
I^lfc k tt and fret with cuttes and braides and-sundery newe castes, that thesame clothes
o Siike hew d Uke bullion, of fine burned gold, and the rose, m.iossenges : that in th.
<?0(> THE. XII. YERE OF
same rofe, were in kyndly course furnished so to mannes sight that no liuyng creature might
but ioye in the beholdyng thereof for from the iawe pece of thesaied selyng: whiche pece
was guylte with fine Golde, were woorkes in paan paled, all the walles to the crest encoun-
teryng the clere stories, the same creste which was of large depenes, the worke was an-
tique knotteswith bosses cast and wrought with more cunnyng then I can write, all which
workes and ouerages were gilte: and to set it the more to the glory, the florishyng Bise was
comparahle to the riche Ammel.
Also at the foote of thesame palaice was another crest all of fine sette gold, whereon
hanged riche and marueilous clothes of Arras wrought of golde and silke, compassed of
many aundent stories, with whiche clothes of Arras, euery wall and chamber were hanged
and all wyndowes so richely couered, that it passed all other sightes before seen. In euery
chamber in place conuenient were clothes of estate, greate and large of clothe of golde, of
Tissue, and riche embroudery, with Chaiers couered with like clothe, with pomelles of fine
gold: and great Cushyns of riche woorke of the Turkey inakyng, uothyng lacked of ho-
nourable furnishement.
Also to thesame palais was rered a Chapell with twoo closettes, the quire of thesaied
Chapell siled with clothe of golde, and thereon frete ingrailed bent clothes of Silke, all
was then silke and golde. The aultars of this Chapell were hanged with riche reuesture
of clothe of gold of Tissue embroudered with pearles. Ouer the high aultare was hanged
a riche Canaby of merueilous greatnes, the altare was appareled with riue paire of Candel-
stickes of golde, and on the aultare an halpas and thereon stode a Corpus dotnini, all fine
.golde, and on thesame halpas stoode twelfe Images of the bigncs of a child of foure yeres
of age all gold : and all the Coopes and Vestementes so riche as might be prepared or
. .bought in the citie of Florens, for all the copes and Vestementes wer but of one pece, so
wouen for the purpose, cloth of Tissue and pondered with redde Roses purled with fine
gold: the Orfrys sette with peades and precious stones. And all the walles and deskes of
this Chapell was hanged with right Clothe of golde, and three riche greate Crosses were there
ready to be borne at festiuall times, and basyns and Sensers, Gospellers, Paxes, Crewetes,
holy Water vessels, and other ornamentes all of gold.
Also in the firste Closet was a trauerse for the kynges person of cloth of golde: And
within that the kynges place and Chaire, with Cusshins of clothe of golde : before the tra-
uerse was an altare of presence, whiche Aultare was adourned with clothe of brouderie,
and riche Pearles and precious stones, set in goldesmithes woorke of fine golde. On the
.aultare was a dcske or halpace, whereon stode a patiblc of the Crucifix of fine golde, with
an Image of the Trinitee, an Image of our Lady, and twelue other Images all fine golde
and precious stones, twoo paire of Candelstickes of fine golde, with Basens, Crewettes,
Paxes, and other Ornamentes, thesaied Closet was hanged with Tappettes embraudered with
riche worke fret with pearles and stones, the rootle of thesame Closet was siled with woorke
of Inmouled, gylte with fine Golde and Senapar and Bice.
The seconde Closette was for the Quenes persone, in whiche was a trauerse of riche
clothe of golde, the aultare so richely appareled, that there lacked neither Pearles nor
Stones of riches: on the aultare were twelue greate Images of golde, the Closet hanged
with clothe of golde all other iewelles Missall, I suppose neuer suche like were seen, and
the roofFe of thesame closet was siled with like worke that the kynges closet was, as is before
rehersed.
^ And from this palaice or place into the mightie and strong fortresse and Castell royall of
Guisnes, was a galery for the secrete passage or' the kynges persone into a secrete lodgyng
within thesame Castle the more for the kynges ease.
Also to this palaice was all houses of offices, that to suche an honourable Courte should
apperteigne, that is to wete, the lord Chamberlaine, lorde Steward, lorde Thresourer of
the housholdj for the Comptroller and office of grene Clothe, Wardroppes, luell house,
,and office of houshold seruice, as Ewery, Pantri*, Seller, Buttery, Spicery, pitcher house,
Larder
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 607
Larder and Poultrie, and all other offices so large and faire that the officers might and did
marueiles, as in the craft of viandes, by Ouens, harthes, reredorses, Chimnays, Ranges,
and such instrumentes that there was ordained. In this palaice as ye haue heard, was
the kinoes grace lodged and all the nobles after their degrees. And for that the toune of
Guysnes was litle, and that all the noble menne might not there be lodged, thei sette vp tentes
in the felde, to the nomber of twentie and eight hundred sundery lodgynges, whiche was a
goodly sighte. Thus was the kyng in his Palais royall at Guysnes.
FRAUNCES the Frenche kyng was with all his nobles of the realme of Fraunce, come
to the toune of Arde, whiche was prepared for his comyng many tentes, hales and pauilions,
were set and pight in the felde. On the French partie also, there was at thesame toune
of Arde buylded the Frenche kynges lodgyng full well, but not finished, muche was the
prouisions in Picardy on euery part through all. The French kyng comaunded his lodgyng
to be made, a litle out of the toune of Arde in the territorie of an old castle, whiche by
the war of old time had been beate. On thesame place was edified a house of solas and
sporte, of- large and mightie compas, whiche was chiefly sustained by a great mightie tnaste,
\vherby the great ropes and takell strained, thesame maste was staied. All the roffe of the
same house hong on thesame Maste, and with takell was strained and borne, by the sup-
porters of thesame Maste or tree, the colours of thesame was all blewe, set with starres of
golde foyle, and the Orbes of the heauens by the crafte of colours in the roft'e, were
curiosly wrought in maner like the sky, or firmamet, and a creasant strained sumdell
towardes the toune of Arde, this cresant was couered with frettes and knottes made
of lue busshes, and boxe braunches, and other thynges that longest would be grene for
pleasure.
In this tyme the reuerent father lorde Thomas Wolsay, Cardinall and legate a Latere as
the kynges high ambassador rode with noble repaire of lordes, gentlemen & prelates to
the toune of Arde, to the French courte where of the Frenche kyng, thesame lorde Car-
dinall was highly enterteiued. Of the noblenes of this Cardinall, the Frenchemen made
bokes, shevvyng the triumphant dooyngcs of the Cardinalles royaltie. The nomber of the
gentlemen, knightes and lordes all in crimosyn veluet, with the marueilous nomber of
chaines of golde, the great Horse, Mules, Coursers, and cariages, that there were, whiche
went before the Cardinalles comyng into Arde with sumters and cofers: Of his great
Crosses and pi Hers borne, the pilfovve here or cace broudered, the t\voo mantelles, with
other the Ccremoniall Offices, with great and honourable nomber of bishoppes geuyng
their attendaunce, the mightie and great nomber of seruauntes, as yomen, gromes,
all clothed in bcarlet who so redeth of the Frenche boke, shall finde wonderfully set
furthe.
The kyng of England bceyng at the Castle of Guysnes in the newe palais many noble
men of the Frenche court resorted to his grace, to se the kyng of England and the quene,
and to salute the: who of the kyng of Englande were well entertained.
When, the lord Cardinall had soiourned at Arde in the French court by the space of
twoo daies, and the high and vrgent princely causes in counsaill declared, the lord Car-
dinal toke his leane of the French kyng and of all the Frenche courte, and repaired vnto
the Castle of Guysnes, where he founde the kyng of England his souereigne Lorde. And
thesame kyn<* by his letters patentes, had geuen full power and aucthoritie to thesame lord
Cardinall, concernyng all matters to bee debated, touchyng the kyng and the realme, and
also oaue vnto thesame Cardinall, full strength, power, and aucthoritie, to affirme and con-
firme^ bynd and vnbynde, whatsouer should be in question, betwene hym and the French
kyn"' as though the kyng in proper person had been there presently.
When the lordes of the Frenche counsaill, sawe the high and greate aucthonte that the
Cardinall had, thei shewed it vnto the Freeh kyng, who incontinent commaunded his com-
mission to be made, of like power and aucthoritie, that the kyng of Engla had geuen
vnto thesaid lorde Cardinall : thesame power and aucthoritie had thesame reuerent father,
a geuen
COS
THE. XII. YERE OF
kytig of Englande and his counsaill, had' seen and vewed the French kynges Patent, and
it well considered, then, he sent thesame Patent of power to the lorde Cardinall with full
assent: then the lord Cardinall the power receined with much gladnes. It was highly
esteincd & taken for great lone that the Frenche Kyng had geucn FO greate power to the
Kyni* of Englandes subiect.
Thursday the scuenth day of lune, in the vale of Andren, within the lordesbip royall
of Guysnes, before daie was set and pight a royall rich tent, all of clothe of gold, and riche
embroudery of the kyng of Englandes, and diverse other hales and pauilions: thesame
riche tente of gold, was within hanged of the richest Arras, newly cotiiued and made,
that etier before was seen, and a presence of the kynges estate, with two chayers and riche
tnisshyns therein: the ground was spred with Carpettcs, of newe Turkey makyng, all full
of beautie.
But here is to be noted, that in this meane season in all the fcldes about, bothe nigh and
far, wer many of the French gard, ridyng and beholdyng the maner of the Englishe
parte, some of the kynges gard, and some of the duke of Ikirbons gard, and some of the
Aclmyrall of Frances Gard, whiche slily marked the conueighannce of the people of Eng-
lande. At the houre of metyng appoynted, the Lordes of England set their -people and
seruauntes in good arraie of battaill, in a plain fclde directly before the castle of Guysnes.
The kyng of England commanded that his Garde shoulde bee set in the bresie of the bat-
laill, or bend of footcmen, and so it was doen. This battaill of footemcn conducted the-
seltes so in ordrc, that from the firste to the laste, neuer a persone of the footemen brake
his place or arraie, but kepte theimselfes so well, that neuer seruyng men theimseltes
better demeaned. The seruyng men thus set in ordre in the felde, on the left hande of
the kyng of Englande, somewhat towarde the Marres, long while thus abidyng, in whiche
tyme the Castle of Guysnes shot a warnyng pece to tlie tonne of Arde, and in likewyse
the Tonne of Arde gaue warnyng to the Castle of Guysnes.
Now was gathered the Frenche Kynges repaire, and by the Lorde Marshall and Con-
stable of Fraunce, the Lordes and gentlemen were set in ordre: thus bothe these two hi«'h
and migittie princes, intendyng to mete and assemble many woordes and tales, and suspect
detneanynges arose in the Englishe partie, for the great loue that we the English men had
to our Prince, caused the ignoraunt people that were not uorthv to know tiie pretence of
princes, to suspccle the Frenche paitie, and the more because that Monsire Chatelion a
Lord of Fraunce, in rigorous and cruel maner, threwe donne foure pennons of white
and grerie which were set by Richard Gibson, by commaundeincnt from the kyng for the
suer marke or metyng place of the twoo kynges, in what ground they should encounter,
wordesrose belwene Monsire Chatelion and Kicharde Gibson, as farre as became for that
deede, but at the commaimdement of the eric Marshall for that tyme, which was the noble
eric of Essex, the kyng of Englandes cosyn, that wrong by vs Englishemenne was paciently
suffered, thus .from tyme to tyme, and watche to watche, and vewe to .vewe, the houre
drewe nere, that was hy bothe the Princes appoynted, of metyng, or encountre.
Wherefore the kyng of Englande our souereigne Lorde, with all the Court of nobles of
England mounted on horsehacke, and marched towardcs the valey.of Andern in honour-
able ordre, all.Gentlemenne, Squiers, Knightes, and Barons, roade before the kyng and
bishoppes also, the dukes, Marques and Erles, gaue attendau nee next the kyng. lie* were
muche wise that could haue.tolde or shewed of the riches of apparell that was emon^e'-t the
•Lordes and Gentlemenne of Englande, Clothe of Golde, Clothe of Siluer, Veluettes,
Tin&ius, -Sailing embroudered, and Crymosyn Sattens: The marueilous threasor of golde
, that was woroe in Chaynes .and JBauderickes, so greate, so weightie, some so jnamfolde,
some
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 609
-some in Cqlcrs of. S. greate, that the Golde was innumerable tomy demyng to bee summed,
of all noble menne, Gentlemenne, Squiers, Knightes, and euery honest Officer of the Kyng
was richcly appareled, and had Chaynes of Golde, greate and meruelous waightic : what should
bee saied? surely ernong the Englishemenne larked no riches, nor beautifull apparell
or.aray, and alwaies as the kyng of Englancle and his horsmen marched, so pace for
pace marched the moste goodly battaill or bend of foote men (out of defensable apparell)
that euer I trdwe before was seen.
The Frenche kyng on hispartie marched towardes the encountre with all the ruffelers and
gallantes of the Frenche Courte. In which tyme came to the Frenche Kyng some reporte,
that caused him to tarry, and a light from his Horse, then the Frenche men were very
ttoubtfull, and in a staye so still rested, vntill a Lorde Fraunce called Monsire Morret, the
saied Morret came to the Frenche Kyng, and shewed him the very fklelitie of the Kyng of
England, whereby the Frenche kyng mounted on horsebacke, and the better couraged,
inarched towarde the place appoynted of encountre.
Thus in marchyng thone kyng to the other, to the kyng of England came lord George
Neuell lorde Aburgheny, and openly saied, sir ye be my kyng and souereigne, wherefore
aboue all I am bounden to shewe you truthe, and not to let for none, I haue been in the
Frenche partie, and they be mo in no m her, double so many, as ye bee: with that was the
Erie of Shrcwesbury Lorde Stewarcle ready and saied, sir, whatsoeuer my lorde of Burgheny
saieth, I my ^elfe haue been there, and the Frenchemenne bee more in retire of you and you re
subieclcs, then youre subiectes bee of them, wherefore saied the Erie, if I vver worthie to
geue counfaill, your grace should marche forwarde, so we intende my Lorde saied the kyng:
then the Officers of Aimes cried on afore, then in shorte while was the kyng on the bank of
Andern : then cuery gentleman as thei roade toke his place and stoode still side by side, their
regard or face towardes the vale of Andern.
Then the kyng of Englande shewed hymself somedele forwarde in beautie and personage,
the moste goodliest Prince that euer reigned ouer the Realme of Englande: his grace was ap-
parclled in a garment of Clothe of Siluer, of Damaske, ribbed with Clothe of Golde, so
thickeas might bee, the garment was large, and plited verie thicke, and canteled of verie
good intaile, of suche shape and inakyng, that it was marueilous to beholde. The Courser
whiche his grace roadc on, was Trapped in a marueilous vesture of a neive deuised fashion,
the Trapper was of fine Golde in Bullion, curiously wroughte, pounced and settewithanv
ticke woorke of llomayne Figures. Attendyng on the kynges grace of Englande, was the
Master of his horse, by name Sir Henry Guyiford, leadyng the kynges spare horse, the
which horse was Trapped in a Mantcllet broiit and backc place, all of fine gold in Scifers,
ft 111 l ,1 O _ _1 _ 1 1 ._ . , i.* » I . ^ ,-. .-. »-ii r\ c^ i-\ ¥ r\ rt t~\ f\ \tT\f\r\f f*
svvearu of estate before the kynges grace, the reuerent
some-
j u n c . ciiivi v c"- i y w* • iii L
n whiche seroed Create, vet were not they so many as the. 1 renche partie.
WhetL Frenche kyng had a litle beholden the Englishe men he put hymself
£ fo e L people, that were there on him attendaunt, the Duke ot Burbon bearyng a
b the Lorde Admirall of Fraunce, and the Coontie Cosman Ga has
Master
610 THE. XII. YERE OF
Master of the Frenche kynges horse, and no mo persones gaue their attendance in pass3'ng.
with the Frenche kyng: when it was perceiued that the Freeh kynges swearde was borne naked,
then the kyng of England commanded the lorde Marques Dorset to drawe out the swearde
of estate, and beare it vp naked in presence, whiche was so doen.
Then vp blewe the Trumpettes, Sagbuttes, Clarions, and all other Minstrelles on bcthe
sides, and the kynges descended doune towarde the bottome of the valey of Andern, in
sight of bothe the nacionsand onhorsebacke met and embrased the twoo kynges eaehe other:
then the two kinges alighted, and after embrased with benyng and curteous maner eche to
other, with swete and goodly wordes of gretyng : and after fewe woordes, these two noble
kynges went together into the riche tente of clothe of golde, that there was set on the '
grounde for such purpose, thus arme in arme went the Frenche kyng Fraunces the firste of
Fraunce, and Henry the eight kyng of Englande and of Fraunce, together passyng with/
communicacion.
When the two princes were in the tente, before rehersed, the French Kyng saied, my
dere brother and Cosyn, thus farre to my paine haue I trauailed to se you personally, I
thynke verely that you esteme me as I am. And that I maie to you be your aide, the
realmes and seignories shewe the might of my persone: Sir said the kyng of Englande, nei-
ther your realmes nor other the places of your power, is the matter of my regarde, but thested-
fastnes and loyall kepyng of promesse, comprised in Charters betweneyou and me : that ob-
serued and kepte, I neuer sawe Prince with my iyen, that might of my harte bee moreloued.
And for your loue I haue passed the seas, into the fardest frontier of my realme to se you
presently, the whiche doyng now gladdeth me. And then were the two Kynges serued with
a banket, and after mirthe had communicacion in the Banket tyme, and there shewed the
one the other their pleasure.
The Englishe officers \vent and ranne with great pottes of Wyne and Bolles to the Frenche
menne, and them chered the best that might bee, all this season stoode still the noble men of
the Englishe partie, and all other, and from their places moued nothyngthat thei were ap-
pointed vnto. And theseruyng men in likewise, not once moucd from their ground or stand-
yng, but the Frenchernen sodainly brake, and many of them came into the Englishe partie,
speaking faire, but for all that, the court of Englande and the lordes, kept still their arraie.
After the two kynges had ended the banket, and spice and wyne geuen to the Frenchemen,
Ipocras was chief drinke of plenlie, to all that would drinke. In open sight then came the
two kynges, that is to wete: the Frenche kyng, and the kyng of England, out of their tent,
by whiche I then well perceiued thubilimcnt royal I of the Frenche kyng, his garment was a
chemew, of clothe of siluer, culpond with clothe of golde, of damaske cantetl wise, and
garded on the bordours with the Burgon bendcs, and ouer that a cloke of broched satten,
•with gold of purple coloure, wrapped aboute his body trauerse, bedcd from the shulder to-
the waste, fastened in the lope of the first fold: this said cloke was richely set with (>earles and
precious stones: this Frenche kyng had on hished a koyfe of damaske gold set witluliamoncles,
and his courser that he rode on was couered with a trapper of Tissue, brouderod with de-
uise, cut in fashion raatell wise, the skirtes were embowed & fret with frised worke, £ knit
with Cordelles, & buttons tasseled of Turkey making, Raines and hedstall, ansueryng of like
woorke : and verely of his persone the same Fraunces the Frenche kyng, a goodly °Prince,
stately of^countenaunce, mery of chere, broune coloured, great iyes, high 'nosed, bi'^e
lipped, fuire brested and shoulders, small legges, and long fete.
All the nobles of the Frenche courte, were in garmentes of many colours, so that thei
were not knowen from the braggery: thus as the two kynges were in communicacion
diuerse noble men of England were called to presence. And then the two kyn<*es
departed with their compaignie, the kyng of Englande to Guysnes, the Frenche kvne
to Arde.
^ Salerdaie the. ix. daie of lune in a place within the Englishe pale, wereset and night in a
felde, called the campe, two trees of much honor the one called the Aubespine, and the other
called
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ.
•called the Framboister, whiche is in English the Hathorne, whiche was Henry, and the
Raspis berry for Fraunces, after the signification of the Frenche : these twoo trees were
mixed one with the other together on a high mountaigne, couered with grene Damaske, the
same Trees were artificially wrought resemblyng the nature of the same as nigh as could be,
the leaues were grcne Damaske, the braunches, bowes, and withered leaues of clothe of gold,
and all the bodies and armes of the same clothe of golde, laied on tymber, thei were in
heigth fro the foote to the toppe. xxxiiii. foote of assise, in compasse about an hundred
twentie and nyne foote, and from bough to bough, fourtie and three foote: on these trees
were flowers and fruites, wrought in kyndly wise with siluer and Venice gold, their beautie
shewed farre : on the mountaigne was a place harber wise, where the Herauldes were, the
mountaigne was i-ayled about, and the railes couered with grene Damaske.
The same day the two noble kynges came to the same trees of honor with greate triumph,
accompaignied with diuerse nobles and yong valiauntes, before whom were their shildes
caried, and after borne aboute the listes, and set on the highest place shewyng into the feldes,
the kyng of Englandes armes within a Gartier, and the French kynges within a Coller of his
ordre of sainct Michael, with a close Croune, with a flower delice in the toppe. The Campe
•was in length nyne hundred foote, and in bredth three hundred and twentie foote, ditched
rounde aboute, sauyng at the entrees with broade and depe diches, diuerse skaffbldes were
rered aboute this Campe, for the ease of the nobles : on the right side of the felde stood the
queue of Englande; and the quene of Fraunce with many ladies. The same Campe was
railed and bard on euery ende strongly, there was twoo lodgynges in theentery of the same
felde, for the twoo kynges richely adourned, which were vnto them very necessarie, for
therein thei armed theim selfes and tooke their ease: also in the same compasse was twoo
greate Sellers couched full of wyne, whiche was to all men as largesse as the fountain.
The cause of the settyng vp of the twoo greate shieldes with armes Royall, was for ioye of the
honourable metyng, there to passe the tyme from idlenes, with the exercise of noble feactes
of Armes in honoure, articles of lustes, Turnayes, battailes on foote at the Barres, and
suche victorious feactes were farre in Realmes Proclaimed, whiche caused muche people of
noble courage thether to resorte : the twoo kynges as brethren in armes, vndertoke to de-
liuer all personages of the same feactes, and to the same twoo kynges by the ordre of armes
were sociate, the Duke of Vendosme, the Duke of Suffolke, the countie sainct Paule the
Marques Dorset, Monsire de Roche, sir William Kyngston, Mosire Brian, sir Richard
•Garnvneham, Monsire Cauaan, sir Giles Capell, Monsire Bukkall, Master Nicholas Carewe,
Monsire Mouutafilion, and Master Anthony Kneuet, the shieldes of all these nobles wer
hatred on the trees, with thre tables of the Chalenges, to the which all noble menne that
would answere, brought in their shieldes to the same trees, and theim presented to the kynges
of Armes, and to the Articles wrote with their handes.
Mondaie the. xi. daie of lune, the twoo Queues of Englande and of Fraunce came
tcTtheeampe, where either saluted other right honorably, and went into a stage for them
prepaid, right curiously hanged, & specially there was or the quene of England a
Tapet all ofpearle called Huges Dike, which was much loked at for the costlynes of
assigned, the two kynges armed at all peces mounted on horsebacke on
inj4i!b%afe.^
cndles, the buckels win . i nrte fastened endlcs ' on his hed pece
Se .* :^^S oSjST 4^ ^eie »ere in Uke appareu, ouery
412 J &
512 THE. XII. YERE OF
thyng correspondent in clothe of sike embroudered, on his persone were attendant ore horsff-
backe noble persones, and on foote foure persones all appareled in purple sattin.
The kyng of Englande mounted on a freshe courser, the trapper of clothe of golde of
Tissue, the Arson mantell wise: and the brunt of the trapper bard fashion, cutte in waues
of water woorke, and euery waue rawe wrought and frised with Damaske golde,- this woorke
was laied lose on russet veluet, and knitte together with poyntes of golde, which wanes sig-
nified the Lordeshippe of the narowe sea. All the parteners of the kynges ehalenge wer
in the same sute, their horses aswell as their persones attendyng on the kyng on liorsebacke
wer sir Henry Guilford Master of the kinges horse, sir Ihon Pechie deputie^ of Caleis, sir
Edward Guilford Master of the kinges army, and Monsire Morel of the Frechecourte ap-
pareled al foure in the kynges, liueiy, which was white on the right side, and the left side
gold and russet bothe hose and garmet. And on him were attedant on foote sixe honorable
knightes. xx. esquiers and officers to the nombre of an. C. and. xii. persons, of the whiche
nomber all the knightes and gentlemen had coates, the one halfe siluer, and thother clothe
of gold and russet veluet, and the other officers coates wer of right Sattin of the same co-
loure, and all their hosen were of the same suite very costly. Thus with honour and noble
courage these twoo noble kynges with their compaignies entered into the field, and theim pre-
sented vnto the queues, and after reuerence dooen to theim, thei roade rounde aboute the
tilte, and so toke their places appoynted, abidyng tlr^ajiswcrers, which was for the first
the duke Dallencon and tenne men of armes on his bed, on coursers barded, the bardes co-
uered with white and blacke Veluet, fastened the one within the other, garded with Burgoa
bendes of Tynsell sattin, aswell their garrnentes as their bardes. Then entered on cour-
sers barded twelfe gentlemen of the bende of the lord Admirall of Fraunce, their garmcntes
and bardes were russet sattin, broched with gold and white and purple Sattin, after the
deuise of their pleasure with great plumes. When these bendes were entered the feld, thei
shewed themselfes about the tilte, and did reuerence to the queries, the bend ofv the Duke
Dallencon tooke firste place, they made theim prest on bothe sides, the Frenche kyug was-
the firste that ranne, he did valiauntly and brake speres mightcly.
Then ranne the kyng of England to Monsire Graundcuile with greal vigor, so that the
speres brake in the kynges hande to the vantplate all to sheuers. And at the second course
he gaue the saied Monsire Graundcuile suche a stroke that the Charnell of his hedde pece,
although the same was very strong, was broken in suchewise that he might runnc no more
whereby the kyng wanted three courses.
Then ranne the duke dc 1'andon and mctte his counter parte right nobely, and brake
speres right valiauntly.
The noble duke of Suffolke charged his course £ met right valiatly his counter parte and
furnished the. v. courses right nobly together like good men of armes.
And when all parties of the chaicnge had right valiauntly furnished theyr courses thetr
ranne agayne the. ii. noble kynges, who dyd so valiantly that the beholders had great
ioy, after which courses the herauldes cried the disarmy and the trompettes sounded to
lodgyng.
Tewsday the. xii. daic of lune at howcr couenient the. ii. quenes tokc their stages and the
bendeof ehalenge in the feld prest to answerc & delyuer all comniers, to whome came x
gentlemen armed on barded horses of the bend of Mounsire de Swycs ther bardes and ap-
parel cloth of veluet ful of friers knottcs syluer, after that they had preseted theim vnto f
quenes, then they toke thendeof the tilte, & then course after course they ronne to the cha-
lengers right cgcrly, and the chaleugers of the partie of the twoo kvnces deliuered to the
ende of their articles of lustes.
Then entred a. xi. men of armes of the bendc of Mounsire de Tremoycll, on horses barded
withyelovve veluet losengecl with Friers knottcs of blacke veluet, & after they had saluted v
quenes, they likewise toke thende of -the tilt, and course after course ranne till they wer de-
Aiuered of their chalenges of lustes : valiauntly this dale was finished.
Wednesdaie
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 613
Wednesdaie the. xiii. dale of June, the twoo hardie kynges armed at all peces, entered
into the feld right nobly appareled, the French kyng and ail his parteners of chalenge were
arraied in purple sattin, broched with golde and purple veluet embrodered with litle rolles
of white satin, wherein was written, quando, all bardes and garmentes were set full of the
same, and all the residue where was no rolles, were pondered and sette with the letter ell
as thus L. whiche in Frenche is she, whiche was interpreted to be quando die, whe she, and
ensuyng the deuise of the first daie it signifieth together, harte fastened in pain entiles, when
she.
The kyng of England with all the bende parteners of his chalenge wer likewise on horse-
backe, appareled in trappers of loseges russet veluet and clothe of siluer of damaske, en-
broudered and set in euery losege a braunche of Eglantine of gold, the apparell of the
persones wer of the same correspondent to the trapper, this Eglantine tree is swete, ple-
sant and grene, and if it be kyndciy and frendly handeled, and if it be rudely delt with,
it will pricke, and he that will pull vp the whole tree by the top his handes will bee hurte :
The twoo kynges with their compaignies thus appareled, presented themselfes to the quenes,
and so toke the ende of the tilte then entered into the feld Monsire Lesktw called lorde
Liskyn, with hym came a. xi. men of armes, hymself the. xii. on horses barded and richely
appareled, and so rode aboute the tilte and saluted the quenes, and toke the ende of the
tilte.
Monsire de Leskew and his. xi. compaignions had their bases & bardes, all blacke clothe
of gold of damaske all to cut on blacke sattin, their garmentes had mantell sleues on the
left arme, to the wast behynde iust to the shulder, whiche was praised for the strangenes.
The Frenche kyng rane to Mousire Bewsy Damboyes, one of the bend of Mounsire Liskew,
& the kyng of England charged his course and rane to Mounsire Liskew, & so furnished
their coursers (as they laie) right nobly and valiauntly in breakyng speres that were strong,
thus course after course eche with other, his counter partie did right valiantly, but the two
Kinoes surmounted all the rest in prowesse and valiantnes. This bend thus furnished entred
the Marques de Salons and his bend. xii. persones all ridyng on coursers barded and appa-
relled in white Sattin and blacke, broched with gold and siluer, with cuttes and culpynes
muche after tawny and blacke Sattin billottes: and after reuerencc done to the Quenes, toke
thende of the tilte. To the Marques de Salons ranne the kyng of England, and the kyng of
France to another of thesame bend, stil course after course ranne all the noble men til the
Marques de Salons and His bend were deliuered, who bare theirn right valiantly: then blew
the trumpettes the retraictc find the two kinges them vnarmed & after departed, the French
kynw to Arde, and the kyn<j of England to his castle of Guysnes.
Thursday the xiii. day of lune by the noonetydelhe twoo Quenes mette in the carnpe and
toke their places, the people wer come to behold the honor, & to see the two kynges, who
all ready armed entred the feld to recciue and deliuer all men of answere of lustes Then
entred the eric of Deuonshyre nerc cosyn to the kyng of England, on his bend the lorde
Mounta«ue also cosvn to the kyng, lord Harbert, lord Leonard Gray, Master Arthur Poo e,
Ma^er Frauuces Brian, Master Henry Norres, and. iiii. other all richely apparelled, the
one «ide ''lew Veluet enbrodred with a mans hartburnyng in a ladies hand holding a garden
ot stiilvrVw'th water on the hart, the other side was white Sattin enbrodered with letters of
mlde this compaignie rode about the tilte and did reuerence to the Quenes & so abode at
ode of thesame. The erle of Deuonshyre charged Ins spere, and the French king like-
wise charged his course to mete thesame erle and rane so hard together that both their speres
br'ike and so mainteined their courses nobly.
Th-n ranne the kyng of England to Mounsire Mcmtracic and him encountered and bothe
bare Aether & gaue great strokes, the kynges most noble grace neuer tiisu.sered nor breath-
ed tvll he ranne the tiue courses and deliuered his counter partie.
Sukes, Marqueses, Knightes, Esquiers and other ranne as fast as euer they m.ght, there
614 THE. XII. YERE OF
was none abode when the courses came, tyll the earle of Deuonshyre and his bend were deli-
uered of demaundes.
Then entered the lorde Hawarde sonneto the Duke of Norlhfolke and. xi. compaigmons
apparelled and barded in crimosyn Sattin full of flames of golde, the borders ribbed with cri-
mosyn Veluet, and with much honor after due reuerence done to the quenes were brought
with Heraldes of armes aboute the tiltes, and so toke the place to theim appointed, right
riche was their apparell. Then ranne the French kyng and encountered the same lord Ed-
mond, they brake both their staues valiantly course after course, the encounter ceassed not
til they had furnished theyr flue courses, so was the lorde Edmond deliuered by the French
-kyng.
Then- ranne the kyng of Englande to a strong gentle man named Raffe Broke and brake
his spere, and ranne course after course till he had finished his courses right nobly & like a
prince of moste valiance. The residue ceased not til they had ech deliuered other of their
chalege. •
Friday the. xv. day of lune the king of England mouted on a courser roial, his person
armed at all pieces, his apparel and trapper was the one side riche cloth of gold, of tissue,
the other side of cloth of Tissue of siluer & cloth of gold of Tissue entered ounde the one
with y other, the ounde is warke wauyng vp and doune, and all the borders as well trapper
as other was garded with letters of line gold, and on the other side that was ounde was set
with signes called cifers of finegold, the which were set with great & oriental perles, the
cifers signified letters knit together in a knot, which was to wete, God my frende, my realme
& I may. This was the deuise and reason thereof, all the kynges bend were apparelled in
like apparel.
The French king likewise armed at all pointes mounted on a courser royal, all his appa-
rel aswel bardes as garmentes were purple veluet entred the one with the other, enbrodred
ful of litle bookes of white SaUen, and in thebokes were written a me, about the borders
of the bardes and the borders of the garmentes, a chaine of blewe, like Iron resembling
the chayne of a well or prison chaine, whiche was enterpreted to be Liber, a booke, within this
booke was written as is sayd, a me, put these two together and it maketh llbera me, the
chayne betokeneth prison or bondes, and so maketh together in Englishe deliuer me of
bodes, put -to freasdn, the fyrst day, second day, and. iii. day, of chauge for he chaunged
but the second clay, and it is, hart fattened in paine endles, when she deliuereth me not of
bondes, thus was thinterpretacion made, but whether it were so in all thinges or not I may
not say. Now is ready the two kynges and princes and all their retaine abidyng the answeres,
and after salutacions made to tiie Quenes being, by their stages, they toke thende of the
tilte.
Ready was Mounsire Florcngis and with him, xii. men of armes w coursers barded: the,
bardes and apparel was Crimosyn veluet, tawny veluet, and Plunket veluet embrodered
border wise with shepeherdes hokes of cloth of siluer. When they with honor had passed
-about tlie.tilte, the reuerence to the Quenes and ladies done, the two kynges had their speres
redy, then '.began the rushyng of speres: the kyng of England this day Vane so freshly and
so many courses that one of his best coursers was dead that night, this band was deliuered
.man after man of their pretence of lustes.
Then.entered bendes of Mounsire de Rambeurs $ Mounsire de Pyns eche hauyncr. xi.
persones in nomber, the one band all white Satten enbrodered with blacke, & the other all
blacke, .dropped w siluer droppes and after reuerence done to the quenes, at the end of the
, tilte. toke their places. Then began a new encouter hard and sore, many of them bare great
strokes of the kynges, to their honor: when these bendes were deliuered, the Heraldes crv-
ed a lostel and the princes them disarmed and went to lodgyng.
Saterday, the. xvii. daye of lune the French kyng with a small nobre came to y castle of
Ouisnes about ihe hour of. viii. in the mornyng: the king being in his priuy chambre, had
tnerot knowledge, who with glad hast went to receiue thesame French king, and him met
and
KYNG HENRY THE. VHJ. 615
and welcomed in frendly and honorable maner, & after comunicacion betvvene them had, the
king of Englad departed, leauyng y French king there in y sumptuous place before named.
Then \^as busy the lord Chaberlain, the lord Stewarde and all other officers to make ready
feast and chere. It were to long to reherse all for suche a feast and banquet was then made '
that of long tyme before the like had not been seen. ,. >
The king of England thus departed, he toke his horse and with copaignie of noblemen
rode to Arde, where the French quene and other noblemen him receaued with muche honor.
After whiche receiuyng, he was by the sayd quene and lordes brought into a chamber haged
with blewe veluet enbrowdered with flowers delice of cloth of gold, wherein- wa* a great
bed of like worke, from whence he was conueighed into another chamber, in the which
was a kynges state : this chamber was hanged and siled with clothe of gold, enbrodered
with great cordelles or friers knottes of cloth of siluer. In thesame cliambre were two cupr
bordes on either side one, furnished with great and goodly plate gilte. Noble feasting-,
& chere was there made. After dyner the ladies dressed them t» daunce, the king the more
to glad the quene & the sayd ladies, departed secretly and put himself with. xxix. persones
more in Maskers apparell, fyrst x. yong honorable lordes apparelled after the maner of lly
and Reuel in Ruseland or farre Estland. Fyrst theyr hosen of riche goldsatten called Au-
reate satten, ouerrouled to y kne with Skarlet, & on theyr fete, shoen with litle pykes of
white navies after the Estland guise, theyr doublettes of ryche erimosyn veluet and cloth of
gold with wide sleues lined with cloth of gold, ouer this they had clokes of criuiosyn veluet
short, lined with cloth of gold, on eueryside of the clokes ringes of siluer w laces of Venice
gold, & on their heades they had hattes made in y toune of Danske and Purses of Seales
skynnes, and girdles of thesame: all these yong lorde had visers on their faces and their
hattes were drawen like hatbondes full of Damaske gold.
Other, x. lordes were apparelled in long gounes of blew Satten of the auncient fashion
enbrodred with reasons of golde that sayd, adieu lunesse, farewell youth:, they had typ-
pettes of blacke veluet and hattes hangyng therby, and on theyr heades, high violette stand-
yng cappes and girdelles of silke, and Purses of clothe of guide after the auncient maner-,
with visers, their faces of like auncientie.
Then was there another compaignie of. x. lordes in whiche maskery the king was himselfe,
apparelled all in long gannentes of estate all pale riche clothe of golde, all these had riche
gounes which were lined with grene T affata, and knit with pointcs-of Venice siluer where-
with the riche clothe together was fastened on their faces visers, and all the berdes were fine
wyer of Ducket gold, the Drunslad plaiers and other minstrels a rayed in white, y el owe, and
russet Damaske, these minstrels blew and played and so passed through the strete_of Arde, all
these noble reuelers came into the Frenche court & put them in presece of the Freehe Quene
and ladies: and when the Quene had them beholden, these reuelers toke ladies and daimced,
in pas.ynf* the tyme right honorably. Then at thinstance of the French quene and her la-
dies these maskers and reuelers them disuisered, shewyng them what persons they were.
Then spices fruites, ielies, and banket viandes wer brought, that done and ended, y king
toke leaue of the French quene & ladies, & in secrete places euery one visered himselfe, so
that they were vnknowen, and so passed through the French court to whom were brought
xxx. horses trapped in Damaske, white andyelowe, and so in maskeler passed the
Arde. into the felde or campe. ^ . ,
But now to tell of the feast and riches royal that was in the presece of the French kyng
in the newe palaice royal. This claie the quene of England receiued the French king w all
onor "hat was according, In presece lacked neither clothes of estate nor other riches, for
&SaSSSsS^j£S^fi±i^=:
sss SSSSaHsS Sierarassag
andtugl," lh, -ough counueys for the delicacie of vHdes ; well was tbu man «»***£.
616 THE. XII. YERE OF
could bring any thyng of likyng or pleasure: Right honorably was the French kynsr enter-
tained, and all other after their degre and state. When the French kyng had washed, then
the ladies came and profered themselues to daunce, & so did in .the French kynges pre-
sence, whiche done the French kyng toke leaue of the Quene and ladies of the court. The
reuerend father lord Cardinal accompanied with the duke of Buckingham and other
great Lordes conducted forward the French kyng, and in their waie they encountred
and met the king of England & his company right in the valy of Anderne apparelled in
their Maskyng apparel!, whiche gladded the French king. After rcuerence done, the sayd
two kynges departed for that night.
Monday the. xviii. day of lime, there blew such stormes of wind & wether that mer-
uail was to hear, for which hideous tepeslsome said it was a very pronosticacion of trouble £
hatred to come betwene princes.
Tewsday the. xix. day of lune, the. ii. valiant chalengers kynges at houre conuenient en-
tred into the felde armed at all pieces abidyng the comers, llien entred Mounsire Bonyual
and his bend, xiiii. persones in nober wel armed riding on barded horses, their apparel was
black veluet and cloth of goldc bylet wise and fayre plumes on their heades, and after reue-
rence done to the quenes all ready beyng on their stages, they toke their places at the ende
of the tilte.
Ready were the spearcs, the French king charged and ranne course after course and did
nobly. Also the king of England ranne surely and lost no course till Mounsire Bonyual
and his bend was delyuered, the kynges and their retaine did not cease.
Then entered, xvii. persones royally armed, the bend of the duke of Burbon ridyng on
barded coursers, their apparell was white veluet, tawny and blacke veluet, entred together
£ all bordered with clothe of gold garnished with plumes of thesame colours on their heades,
they saluted the quenes and ladies and toke thende of the tilte as they that came to furnishe
thende of the chalenge of lustes.
The kyng of England was ready & strake his horse with the spurres & so fiersly rune to
the countre partie that his graund graue gard was lose witli the great stroke that the kin»
gaue him: course after course y king lost none, but euermore he brake his spere and so
nobly ended his lustes royal, for thisdaie ended the kinges great chalenge, and of the king
our souereigne lordes doynges, all men there that him beheld repoited his doynges, (so va-
liant were his factes) euermore in honor to be renowned. The French king on his part
ran valiantly breaking speares egrcly and so \\cll ended his chalenge of lustes, that he
ought cuerto be spoken of. When the bend of the Duke of Burbon was of their pretence
of chalenge deliuered, they toke leaue and departed.
Wednisday the. xx. day of lunc, the two kynges began to hold Turneycs with all the parle-
ners of their chalenge, armed at nil pieces, The French kyng & his bend wcr apparelled,
their bard couered with purple Hittin, brochrd with gold and purple veluet, ouer all broder-
ed withgarlpndesof friers knottcs of white sullen, and in cucry garlond. liii. pan nse flowers,
whiche signified, thinke on Fraunces, to who he spake was not knovven, goodly and riche
was their apparel.
The king of England mounted on a courser of Naples barded, and after him all the faire
bend of his retaine on coursers barded, the Ixmles & apparell was the one side riche clothe
of Tyssue enbrodered, and lined \V rich cloth ci' siluer, all y outward part was cutle, the
otherside was russett veluet pondered w gold or purpled with gold, enbrodered with a great
rocke or mputaine, and a picture of an armed knight on a courser barded, vauncyng himself
vpoi! that hill: then was on thesame in riche embrodery a picture of aladie comyng outof a
cioud strikyng the knight into the body with an arow a deadly wound, and beneth on ihe
borders were written in letters enbrodered that sayd, In tone whoso mountcth, passeth in
pen/I, tins was Ihe deuise, so was the kyng of England apparelled and all his parieners of
chalenge.
The quene of Fraunce and the quene of England were in the places appointed for their
honors.
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 617
honors. The lodges were on stages to marke with y kyng of Heraldes that was for Fraiice
named Roy Mon loy, and for England kyng of armes Garter, to marke and write the dedes
of noblemen : euery person toke a naked sword in his hande, the trumpettes blewe all waityng
to ride and runne, the Frenche kyng and the king of England together entred, and their
bendes, and reuereced the queues, and rode about the place^ and then toke the ende of the
felde in their abode.
Now againe souned the trupettes, y Heraldes brought in the bedes of diuers noble and
wel armed men on horses barded, that is to.wete, First the duke of Alanson and. x. men of
armes on his bende, the lorde Admyrals bend. xii. menne of armes, and Mouusire Gywer
and. ix. in nomber of men of armes all gentlemen, Mounsire Trenoyll with. xi. men of
armes, mounsire Liskew and with him. xi. men of artnes on his bende, the Marques de
Salons and. xii. men of armes on his bend, al on horses barded, and naked swordes in their
handes.
Then the twokynges put do-une their visers& rode to the encoutre valiantly, and for troutli
strake and receiueti great strokes, but verely the two kynges bet their countrc parties to dis-
arming, and then were they departed and that battail ceased : then went other, euermore two
for two till it came to the kynges againe, at whiche it neded not to put them in rtmebraunce:
for coragiously the two kynges newely fought with great randon and force, they shewed their
vigors and strengthes and so did nobly that their couter parties had none aduautage. When
they had thus eche of them fought, iiii battailes, then came Mounsire Liskew with whom the
king of England had fought one battail, and presented the kyng with his horse, whiche the
kyntr gently receiued and for loue incontinent mounted on him and there fought the v. bat-
tail right valiantly. . Thus was the turney deliuered honorably for that day.
Thursday the. xx> day of lune, the queneof England & the Frenche quene were come to
the campe in royaltie like vnto their estates, the. ii. kynges were in the felde armed and ap-
parelled, the Frenche kyng and his bend on coursers barded, their bardes couered with pur-
ple broched satten and purple veluet right roially, without any more enbroderyng. The kyng
of England was mounted on a horse of force and courage, royally and nobly apparelled he
and his retaine in sute like. The apparell was of clothe of siluer of damaske bordered
with letters of cloth of golde of damaske all the borders, on the bardes and apparell were
litle mountaines & springyng braunches of Basile, wrought all of fyne gold, and euery
braunche lete, and stalke, was lose and waueryng, all thicke and full of leaues and
braunches. that vneth was the clothe of siluer sene, y reasons written on the borders was
thus Bre'ake not these swete herbes of the riche mounts, doute for damage. Ibis apparel
was meruailous freshe and fayre : thus the two kynges & their retaine toke the fe de. 1 hen
entred therle of Deuonshyre cosyn to the kyng of England and. xvi. honorable persones
in his bende all armed.
Then came mounsire Florenges and. xii. persones on his bend then came mounsire de
Rambeurs Mounsire de Pyns and. ix. men of armes on his bend then came the bend of
Mounsire de Bonyual himself and. xiii. men of armes on his bend, then came the bend of
Mounsire de Burbon and. xvii. men of armes, al wel and warlike horsed and armed and
euerv of these bendes after their deuises apparelled right richely.
The ii noble kynges were ready and either of them encountred one man of armes the
, t a
and none sea tin i.^y chalen»e of Turnays after the articles ended, and all
to* tinges rode ^ U» «*«
IV
THE. XII. YERE OF
honor of armes required, and the Herauldes cried la fine des Turnayes, by the sayd two
noble princes the. xxi. daie of lune.
Frydaythe. xxii. day of lune in the cam pe was set a barrier for to fight on foote, also
an Hale of the kyngesof England was sette in the same place, enbrodered with cloudes of
blewe, and out of the cloudes the Sunne risyng, the valence of the same was written in let-
ters of blewe enbrodered, dieu et man droll, in whiche Hale the Lordes and other of the
etitertaine of the chalenge armed tlieitn selfcs.
Nowe was the noble Kynges ready to do battail on foote at the Bai riers, the Quenes on
their stages: then entered bend after bend on foote and preased to the Barriers, euery one
in his luuide a Punchion spere, wherewith without any abode foyned and lashed alwayes one
at another, two for two as the lotte fell. When the speres were spent, then swordes to them
were geuen. Then preasedto the Barriers the two valiant kynges, and other, then was no
tariyn"-but fought with suche force that thefyer sprang out of their armure. Thus bend af-
ter bend they were all deliuered by the two noble kynges and their aydes of retaine.
Then in came a bend with two hande swordes and castyng dartes to answere to that cha-
lenue, xii. menne well armed which presed to the barriers & mightely threwe their speare*
the one to the other, ready or not ready, none fauored other more than two enemies or at
vtterance, and euer still two for two, till all were deliuered concernyng the chalenge, so
this same two kinges safe in body and lymmes ended the battail for that day at the barriers
with great honor.
All men of armes passed and departed for that time, much preparacion was made
there, as settyng vp tentes, hales, and other places for furnishyng of houses of offices and
chabcrs of estates for the kynges and quenes, & also thesame night was in the camperered
a large frame of tymbcr worke for a chapell place, whiche was syled \v riche clothes enbro-
dered, wherin was made a stage of two degrees, with the chayre and cloth of state for the
lorde Cardynall, the alter apparelled with all luelles myssal of great riches, thesame chapel
thus finished the. xxiii. day of lune beyng satterday, at houre conuenient, the said lord
Cardinal sang an high and solempne masse by note before the two kynges and quenes, the
same done, Indulgence was geuen to all hearers, the two kynges together associate tooke
their .chamber. Of (his masse in Flaunders arose muche communicacion, in so rnuche that
the common voyce went, how the. ii. kynges wer sworne together on the sacrament, which
was contrary, for the masse was for none other entent then to geue Indulgence to the
kynges.
When tyme was, the two kynges washed and satte to meat vnder their clothes of estate
where they were richely serued, the royaltie of the fare and the riches of vessel!, plate and
luelles surmounteth the witte of man to expresse: the quenes in another Chamber wer ser-
ued with no lesse honor, the dyner ended, the sayd strangers royally apparelled, presented
themselues in places of estate.
To tell you the apparel of the ladies, their riche attyres, their sumptuous luelles, their
diuersities of beauties, and the goodly behauior from day to day sithe the first metyng, I
assure you ten mennes wittes can scace declare it.
The two noble kynges put themselfes in armes with their bend and entered the felde on
foote, before the barriers, then entered the bendes of men of armes in armur right richely,
then all was ready and the. ii. kynges at the barriers ready to fight right nobly. This day
was deliuered at barriers by battail a C. & vi. persones, the ii. last battailes did the kynges.
The kyng of England with few strokes disarmed his counter partie, the French kyng" like-
wise bare himself right valiantly. Thus the sayd saterday was fully ended, and aTl men
deliuered of articles of lustes and all Turneys and battailes on foote by the sayd two noble
kynges.
After this chalenge honorably performed, the kynges prepared diuers maskers and es-
pecially the king of England had. iiii. companies, and in euery comvranie. x. persones ap-
parelled as you shall heare.
Tiie
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 619
:iirt of siluer of da-
i cy petit assurance,
*> uiv_n«~ in -i-uLiiiom- to no iiiuviii' v octy . an vi uiij^ii aim niiiui&u ID nut; USSll 1'ilU I1CC '. he had
on his head a whode widi a garlond of grene damaske cut into leaues like Vyne leaues and
Hawthorne lepues, in his hand a club couered with grene damaske full of prickes : the Lyons
skyn about his backe was of cloth gold of damaske, wrought and frysed with flatte golde of
damaske for the heeres, and buskins of gold on his legges. Other thre were apparelled
for Hector, Alexandre and lulius Casar, in Turkay lubbes of grene cloth of gold wrought
like Chalet very richly, & on their heades bonettes of Turkay fashion, of cloth of golde of
Tyssue, and clothe of siluer rolled in Cypres, kercheffes after the Panyns fashion, and
girdles of cloth of gold with pendantes of thesame cut in great flames, & euery one bus-
kins of grene damaske, & thre other like princes of lury for Dauid, losue, and ludas Ma-
chabeus: these thre wer in long gounes of russet Tinsel salten with great wide sleues lined
with cloth of gold pendant and great tippettes of the same cloth of gold baudericke wise
and whodes of thesame, buskyns of grene damaske, their visers had berdesof fyne gold: the
other thre were for Christen princes, as Charlemaine, Arthur, & Godfry de Bulloigne.
These thre were apparelled in long vestures of calendred cloth of gold and purple clothe of
gold broched together with whoddes and cappes of thesame, visers & buskyns of grene
damaske.
Other, x. were apparelled in cotes of crimosyn Satten al ouer couered with qitaterfoyles
of clothe of gold, of tissue, and clothe of siluer raised, the gold was fringed with siluer,'
and the siluer with gold and layd lose on the Crimosyn Satten, and euery quaterfoyle was
knit to other with laces of gold. Ouer that y said. x. personcs had euery one a large
mantle or Robe of crimosyn satten enbrodered full of figures of gold, and on their heades
bonettes of stoole worke of golde of damaske, and euery one had on his viser a berde of
golde wyer with whoddes and buskyns of crimosyn Satten.
Ten of the ladies were apparrelled after the Genowayes fashion, the ground of their
gounes was white satten, ouer diapred with right crimosyn satten & gold of damaske, and
on their heades square bonettes of damaske golde, rolled with lose golde that did hang dounc
at their backes, with kerchiefes or cleres of tine Cypres.
Tt.e other, x. ladies were attired after the fashion of Myllayne, in riche Tyssue and cloth
of siluer raised, parted, trauers, & rufted sleues with foresleues pendant, knit w pointes of
cold & caules or coyfes of gold piped, & Myllaine bonettes of crimosyn satten drawen
through with clothe of golde. Thus the kyng of England and. xix. noblemen with him and
his sister Quene Marye dowager of Fraunce and. xix. ladies with her like maskers appa-
relled as you haue heard, all mouted on horses trapped in veluet whjte and yelow, and
euermore a lord and a lady ridyng together, with mynstrelsye departed out of Guysnes on
sondav the. xxiiii. day of lune and toke their way toward Arde, and m the way on the
bankeof Andeme these Maskers met with the.Frenche kyng, beyng in a chariot with,
xxxviii. persones richely apparelled in Maskyng apparell, and eche company passed by
other without any countenaunce makyng or disuiseryng.
The Frenche kvua and his compaignie went to Guysnes, the king of England to Arde,
where his maiesue was receiued into the French court, and brought into the chamber of
ricbe auparell where at the instance of the French Quene the kyng and all his them dis-
Insered and shewed tbeyr faces, and al the ladies of England likewyse then began feast
& chere to arise, the king of England was set, and after all y lad.es and Maskers ot Eng-
la.d and were nobly serued of many straunge meates : After dyner began the daunces in
^h? FrencrMaske^^ppirell was not all of one suite, but of seueral fashiong, of di-
•rs iilkes, some cut, some uoched, some had plumes that were very fayre.. but very beau-
aud his company was then at guisnes where the quene of Englad
4 K 2 ,met
uer:
THE. XII. YEKE OF
met and welcomed them. Then the French king and his Maskers shewed themselfes bare
faced, and when the Qucne them saw she did then the more reuerence. Great was the
chere that then was there. After dyner and daunces done, the French kyng drew him-
selfe into a secrete chamber & put from him his apparel of maskery and toke to him his
apparel of vsaunce, in the whiche were many fayre Emeraudes, this done he toke his leaue
of the quene, and on the court he loked with a high countenaunce, and so departed, the
lord Cardinal and the duke of Buckingham him conductyng, the king of England, this
tyme duryng, was at Arde, where he passed the time with much solas : At tyme conue-
nient he toke leaue of the Frenchmen & all other of the Freeh court, and after they had
visered themselfes they rode nobly thus apparelled through y toune of Arde, & so passed
till they came to the campe whereas all the chalenges were finished, and there the French
kyng perceiuyng the comyng of the English maskers, stode still beholding them. Then
the kyng of England put of his viser and preased vnto the French king: then the two
kyHges «nbrased and amiably together communed, after which communicacion either of
other by kyngly salutyng tooke leaue, and for remembraunce either to other gaue giftes.
The kyng of England gaue to the Frenche kyng a collor of Icwels of precious stones called
Balastes the Sanker furnished with great Diamantes and Perles. The Frenche kyng gaue to
the kyng of England a Bracelet of precious stones, riche Jewels and fayre, and so depart-
ed the sayd two noble kynges, the sayd. xxiiii. day of lune, whiche was sonday and Mid-
somerday.
Daryng this triumph so much people of Picardie and west Flauders drew to Guysnes
to se ^ kyng of England £ his honor, to who vitailes of the court were in plentie, the con-
tluicte of the gate ramie wyne ahvaies, there were vacaboundes, plowmen, laborers & of
the bragery, wagoners & beggers that for drunkennes lay in routes and heapes, so great re-
sort thether came, that both knightes & ladies that wer come to see the noblenes, were
faine to lye in haye and strawe, & helde theim therof highly pleased. From the court of
the Emperor, nor of the Lady Margaretes court, nor of Flauders, Brabfit nor Burgoyn
t-ame neuer a persone to answere to the chalenge : By that it seined that there was small
loue betwene the Emperor and the Frenche kyng: Moreouer, Mounsire Fayot capitaine of
Boleyn with Mounsire Chattelon did their deuoicr to haue taken the toune of sainct Omer,
of whiche doyng was thought no goodnes to the Emperor.
Monday the. xxv. day of lune, the kyng of England & the Quene & all the court re-
raoued fro Guysnes to the toune of Caleys & there made the king his abode, where was
concluded the mctyng of the Emperor with the kyng, wherfore was made newe and great
prouisions.
_ In the tynie of the triumph there was a mutteryng that the toune of Caleys should be
rcdred into the French kinges hades, & for truth the Frenchmen so spake & sayd, wher-
with many Englishmen wer greued.
While the king lay thus in Caleys he considered the charge of his nobles, and thought
that lesse nombre of seruauntes would now serue them for the tyme of his abode, and so
caused the Cardynal to call all y gentlemen before him, whiche in the kynges name gaue to
theim thankes with muehe commendacions, and for eschewyng of cost, because the kyng
taned but the Emperors commyng, he licesed them to send home the halfe nombre of their
seruauntes & bad them after their long charges to Hue warely, this terme warely was
amongest the moste part taken for barely, at which saying the gentlemen sore disdained.
I hus in .Caleys rested the king & the quene vntil the. x. day of luly. Then v kinoes
grace with goodly repaire rode to the toune of Grauelyng in Flaunders there that night to
rest & se the Emperor, on y kyng were waityng the lord Cardinal, Dukes, Marquises,
Erics, bistiops, Barons, knightes, and gentlemen. The noble Emperor passed the water
of Grauelyng, and at a place called Waell, there he met & received the kyng of England
the Emperor made such semblant of loue to all the court of England that he wan § loue
rhenglishwen, & so passed the Emperor and the king of England to Grauelyng where
the
KYNG HENRY THE. VII J.
•i"i-4 * ""**- » J
the kyng lodged the best that might be, all lordes, gentlemen, yomen & all sortes of
lishmen fro the highest to the lowest were so chered and feasted, with so louyng maner that
muche they praised Themperors court. In Grauelyng was the Emperors Aunte Manmrete,
she welcomed the kyng and other noble men of the realme.
When the French king and his lordes had knowlege of y metyng of the Emperor and
the kyng of Englad in the towne of Grauelynge, they were therewith greatly grened, as by
many thinges appeared, for after the Englishmen were in Fraunce disdained, £ in their
suites there greatly deferred and had litle right and muche lesse faunr, so from day to day
still more and more began hartbrennyng, and in coclusion open warre did arise betwene the
two realmes.
Wednisday the. xi. day of luly, the Emperor & the lady Margarete came with the king
of England to the toune of Caleys, the Emperor & the lady Margaret were lodged in Staple
hall, and al gentlemen and other lodged in other places right well prepared of all necessa-
ries for their comyng: & for solas was builded a banqueting house, 80. foote round, after
a goodly deuise, builded vpo Mastes of shippes in suche maner as I thinke was neuer sene,
for in it was the whole spere portrated, whiche by reason of the great winde that blewe,
could not be acbeued, thesame day at night, the kyng &. xv. persones were apparelled all
in blacke Veiuet eouered with cloth of gold, cut on the veluet, fastened \V knottes of gold,
on the whiche knottes honge spangels of gold like tuftes, and bonettes of thesame and
clokes of crimosyn Satten & cloth of gold wrapped trauers, and their buskyns of thesame
clothe of gold. All these lustie maskers went to the Emperors lodging and wer receiued
and in the chambre of presens dauced and reuelled, the which at the Emperors request,
the kyng and other theimselues disuisered, whereby the king was knowen: then the kyng
toke his leaue and departed for that night.
Tewsday the. xii. day of liilye, because the banquet house could not be finished<the Em-
peror and the lady Margaret supped with the king & the quene at the Checker, where the
same night after supper reuelled Ixxxxvi. Maskers: after the reuelles was a banquat:/ After
whiche banquet the kyng brought the Emperor and the ladie Margaret to the Staple, and
after withdrew him.
This night was. viii. compaignies of maskers, and in etiery compaignie. xii. persones all
in fold, siluer and veluet richely apparelled, but because the rome was small, the shew
was the lesse.
In these reuelles were put in maskers apparel diuers gentlemen of the French court vn-
wetyng to y kyng or any oiher that bare rule, for diuers yong gentlemen of the French
court fauored more the Frenche partie, then the Emperors partie, through which meanes
they saw and much more heard then they should haue done.
Friday the. xiii. day of luly, the Emperor did intend to haue departed from Caleys,_ but
the counsail was suche that he departed not that night. The charters before tyme coclu-
ded there were redde, and to the Emperor declared all the whole articles of high peace
and league tripertite, to which the French kyng had assented and fully contented, & for
the more exemplificacion of thesame, he sent thelorde de Roche ^ letters of credece to
si»nifie to the Emperors Maiestie that to the same articles he the Frenche kyng promised in
ihe worde of a king as prince faythfull, to obserue & kepe for him and his realme & sub-
iectes Thus by the lord de Roche in the Emperors presece & before the king of Eng-
land in the name of his master there shewed the Frenche kynges will m the toune of Caleys
with many high and vrgent causes concernyng the princes, whereby the Emperor went not
out of Calays that nigh?, by whiche abode the Emperors seruauntes were muche in doubt oi
yx of luly, about none the emperor toke leaue of the quene of Eng-
land his aunte and of her train of ladies, the kyng with a I his nobles conducted the Em-
pcror in bis way to a village toward*. Flauders called Wael, where the Emperor enbrased
THE. XII. YERE OF
' the kyng, and him betoke to almightie God, and the kyng gaue to Lira a courser of Naples
richely appareled.
The kyng toke leaue of the Duches of Sauoye great aunte to the Emperor and of all
nobles of the Emperors court, & so departed, smal tyme in Calayce the kyng made abode,
but in goodly hast shipped and with the quene and all other nobles in safetie tooke lande.
And after passed the tyme of Somuier with huntyng and other sportes honorably and made
no great iestes this yere.
This yere the kyng kept his Christmas at his maner of Grenewiche with muche noblenes
& open court. And the. x. day of February in his owne person lusted to all coiners, and
the. xii. day his grace and tiierleof Deuonshyre with. iiii. aydes answered at the Turnay all
comers whiche were. xvi. persones, noble and riche was their apparel, but in leates of armes
the kyng excelled the rest.
The duke j,, tm's tyme was Edwardc Duke of Buckyngham accused to the kyng of high treason,
^ghamk~ac- wherfore the kynges grace by the aduise of his cousail, sent & directed his letters to tbesayd
•*>sei duke, beyng at his maner of Thornbury in the countie of Glocester, that incontinent he
should come to his presence all excuses layde aside. Also- the kyng gaue commaundement
to sir Willyam Cumpton, sir Richard Weston, and sir Willyam Kyngston knightes for the
kynges body, to take with them secret power and also seriauntes at armes, and that thei
should wisely take hede that when the duke had receiued the kynges letters, he sbuld not
conuey himselfe, whiche they wisely accomplished.
The sayd Duke vpon the sight of the kynges letters remoued, & so iornied tyll he came
to Wynds^j'e, and there offered at S. George, and ahvayes not farre from him awaityng his
demeanor, were thesame knightes liyng. The duke lodged in Wyndsore for that night, and
as it was well proued, he meruailously feared, insomuche that he called vnto him a seruaunt
of the kynges named Thomas Ward, thesame Thomas Ward was gentleman Herb-
enger for the kyng, and demanded of him what he made there, who answered, saiyng that
ther lay his office, there the duke perceiued that he could not escape. And so muche was
he in spirit troubled that as he was at brcakefast his meat would not doune, yet he made good
countenaunce, and shortly toke his horse, and so rode till, he came to Tothill besides West-
minster where he toke his barge: before this tyme was the dukes chauncellour taken and as
a prisoner kept in the tower, whiche had confessed matter of high treason concernyng the
kynges persone.
When the Duke was in his barge, he eommaunded to lande at my lorde Cardinals bridge
where he landed with foure or flue of his seruauntes, desiryng to see thesame lorde Car-
dinall, but to him was answered how the same lorde was diseased, well sayd the duke yet
will I drynke of my lordes wyne or I passe, then a gentleman of my lordes brought the
Puke with muche reuerence into the Seller, where the duke dranke.
When he sawe and perceiued no chere to. him was made, he chaunged colour and so de-
parted to his barge, saiyng to his seruauntes, I meruail where my chauncellor is, that he co-
meth not to me, not knowyng that he was in prison.
The duke thus in his barge comyng towardes London, sir Henry Marne capitaine of the
Kynges Garde, on him attendyng. C. yomen of the Kynges garde in a barge on the riuer
of Thames met thesame duke, and without abode horded the dukes barge & him in the
Kynges name attached. And then from him were put his seruauntes, and the duke was
brought to the haie \\harfe and there landed, the dukes seruauntes were eommaunded to go
to the Maner of the rose in sainct Larence Pountnay, and there to abide tyll the Kynges
pleasure were further knowen.
Sir Henry Marnay brought the duke through the Thames strete to the Tower of London,
the people muche mused that the cause might be, and for trouth till it was knowen, among
theim was muche speakyng. There was also attached a Monke of a Charter house besides
Bnstow called Henton, also Master Ihon Delakar the Dukes Confessor, and the dukes
Chauncellor before mencioned, al were in the Tower prisoners. The. xvi. day of April was
3 the
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. e>23
the same Duke brought to the Tower. Alas the while that euer ambition should be the
iosse of so noble a man, and so muche in the kynges fauor, by him all lordes and other
may beware how they geue credence to false prophesies or false hypocrites. For a Monke
of the Charter house shewed the duke that he should be kyng of England, whiche to the
kynges persone could be no higher treason. Alas that euer he gaue credence to suche a
false traitor.
THE. XIII. YERE.
IN this tyme inquiries were made in diuerse shyres of Edward duke of Buckyngham
beyng prisoner in the tower of London, where, by the knightes and gentlemen, there he
was endited of high treason for certaine wordes spoken by thesame duke in Blechyngly to
the lorde Aburgenye, thesame Lorde was attached for consailement, and the Lorde Moun-
tague the kynges Cosyn and both ledde to the Tower. And sir Edward Neuell knight, bro-
ther to the sayd lorde Aburgeney forbidden the kynges presence.
The Duke of Northfolke was made by the kinges letters patentes high Stewerd of Eng-
lande, to accomplishe the high cause of appele of the Piere or Pieres of the realme, and to
decerne & iudge the causes of the piers, &c.
• Wherfore shortly after was made in Westmynster hall a scaffolde for the lordes and a
presence for a Iudge railed and counter railed about, and barred with degrees. The Duke
of Northfolke was chiefe Iudge, and many Pieres of the realme, as the duke of Suffolke,
the Marques Dorcet, the Erles of Worcester, Deuonshyre, Essex, Shrewisbury, Kent, Ox*
ford, and Darby, the lorde of S. Ihons, lorde Delaware, lorde Fitz Warren, lorde Willough-
by, lorde Broke, lorde Cobham, lorde Harbert, and the lord Morley, satte as Peres & Judges
vpon thesame duke of Buckyngham.
When the lordes had taken their places, sir Thomas Louel and sir Richard Chomley
knightes brought the duke to the barre with thaxe of the Tower before him, who humbly
bareheaded reuereced the duke of Northfolke, and after all the lordes and the kinges lerned
counsail. Then the Clarke of y counsail sayd, sir Edward Duke of Buckyngha hold vp
thy hande, thou art endited of high treason, for that thou traitorously hast conspired and
yinagined as farre as in thee lay to shorten the life of our soueraigne lorde the kyng: of
this treason how wilt thou acquite thee, the duke answered by my Peres.
And when thenditement was openly redde, the Duke sayd it is false and vntrue, and
conspired and forged to bryng me to my death, & that will 1 proue, allegyng many reasons
to falsefy the inditement, and against his reasons the kynges Atturnay alledged the exami-
nations, cofessions and proues of witnesses.
The Duke desired the witnesses to be brought forth, then was brought before him sir
Gvlbert Perke priest his Chauncellor, fyrst accusor of thesame Duke, Master Ihon Dela-
court priest the Dukes Confessor and his owne hand writyng layde before him to the ac-
cusement of the duke. Charles Kneuet Esquyer Cosyn to the Duke, and a Monke, Prior
of the Charterhouse besides Bathe, whiche like a false ypocnte had enduced the Duke to
the treason, and had diuerse tymes sayd to the duke that he should be kyng ot England, but
the duke savd that in himselfe he neuer consented to it. Diners presumpcions and accuse-
tnentes wer'layde to him by Charles Kneuet, whiche he would fain haue couered. Ibe
depositions «4re redde, and the deponentes were deliuered as prisoners to the officers o
Then !pake the Duke of Northfolke, and sayd my lorde, the kyng our soueraigne Lorde
, commaumled, that you shall haue his lawes unnistred wit taucr and right to you
Wherfore if you haue any other thing to say tor your selte you shalbe ha. d. 1 hen he was
*ommaundedyto withdraw^ him, & so was led into »^*^J«^^^
it to counsail a great while and after tooke their places. Then sayd the Duke ot JNc
fete to S Duke ff Suffolke, *hat say jou of sir Edward Duke .,* Buckyngham touch.
624 THE. XIII. YERE OF
ing the high treasons? the.Duke of SutFolke answered, he is gillie, and so sayd' the Mar-
ques and ail the other Erles £ lordes: Thus was this prince duke of Buckyngham founde
giltie of high treason by a Duke, a Marques, vii. Erles, and. xii. Barons.
The Duke was brought to the harre sore chafyng and swette meruailously, after he had
made his reuerece, he paused a while. The duke of Northfolke as a ludge sayd, sir Edward,
you haue heard how you be endited of high treason, you pleaded thereto not giltie, puttyng
your selfe to the Peres of the realtne, the whiche haue found you giltie: then the Duke of
The duke Northfolke wept and sayd, you shalbe be ledde to the kynges prison and there layde on a
of Buck- Herdill and so drawen to the place of execucion, and there to be hanged, cutte dotme a
''ue> your membres to be cutte of and cast into the fyer, your bowels brent before you,
your head smytten of, and your body quartered and deuyded at the kynges will, and God
haue mercy on your soule. Amen.
The Duke of Buckingham sayd, my lorde of Northfolke, you haue sayd as a traytor
should be sayd vnto, but Iwas neuer none, but my lordes I nothyng maligne for lhat you
haue done to me, but the eternal God forgeue you my death and 1 do : I shall neuer sue to
the kyng for life, howbeit he is a gracious prince, and more grace may come from him then
I desire. I desire you my lordes and all my felowes to pray for me.
Then was the edge of the axe turned towardes him, and so led into a barge, sir Thomas
Louell desired him to sytte on the cusshyns and carpet ordained for him, he sayd nay, for
when I went to Westminster, I was duke of Buckyrigham, nowe I am but Edwarde Bowhen-
the mooste caitiffeof the workle. Thus they landed at the Temple, where receiued him sir
Nicholas Vawse & Sir Willyam Sandes Baronetes and led him through the citie, wiio de-
sired euer the people to pray for him, of whom some wept and lamented, and sayd, this is
thende of euilllife. God forgeue him, he was a proude prince, It is pitie that he behaued
him so against his kyng and liege lorde, who God preserue. 'Ihus aboute. iiii. of the clocke
he was brought as a cast man to the Tower.
Frydaie the. xvii. day of Maie, about, xi. of the clocke. This duke \V a great power
was deliuered to Ihon Kyeme and Ihon Skeuyngton shy rifles, who led him to the skaffblde on
on Tower hill, where he sayd he had offended the kynges grace through negligence and
lacke of grace, and desired all noblemen to beware by him, and al men to pray for him,
and that he trusted to dye the kynges true man. Thus mekely with an axe he toke his death
on whose soule lesu haue mercy. Then the Augustine friers toke the body £ head and
buried them. Alas that euer the grace of truth was wdrawen fro so noble a man, that he
\\as not to his kyng in alegeaunce as he ought to haue been, suche is thende of ambicion,
thende of false prophesies, thende of euil life and euil counsail.
About this tyme, Eraunces the Frenche kyng made open warre against the Emperor
Charles both by lande and sea. The Prouinces of Aragon, Castle, and all Spayne, Ger-
many, Brabant, P launders £ the steades mainteined the partie of the Emperor. The
kynges highnes cosideryng j murder £ effusion of Christen bloud, and the trouble that
might ensue to al the princes of Christendome, by inuasion of the great Turke, sent
the Cardinal of Yorke his Chancellor by name lord Thomas YVoisey to his toune of Ca-
layce to intreate an amitie and peace betwene those two mightie princes. For this voiage
great preparation was made, not onely for him but also for the Erie of Worcestre
then lorde Chamberlayn, the lord of sainct Ihons, the lord Ferryes, the lord Harbert, the
Bishop of Duresme, the bishop of Ely, the Primate of Armicane, sir Thomas Boleyn, sir
Ihon Peche, sir Ihon Hussey.sir Richard YVyngfelde, sir Henry Gildforde, and many other
knightes, Esquiers, gentlemen, Doctors and learned menne. And thus honorably accom-
panied he rode through London the. xxv. day of luly, & at Thomas Beckettcs house the
Maier, _and Aldermen toke leaue of him, praiyng God to send him good spede, Thus passed
he to Catorbury where tharchebishop, and the bishop of Catorbury and other places receiued
him in pontificalibus and brought him to his lodgyng vmter Canape to the Bishoppes
palayce: the. viii.day of lulye he came to Douer: the xx. day he and thother lordes with
their
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 625
their retinues toke passage, & ariued at Calayce in safetie, where the lord Deputie & coun-
saill receiued them with muche honor, and lodged the Cardinall in the Staple hall.
Shortly after whose arriuall, came thether y Chauncelor of France, and the Countie de
Palays with. iiii. C. horse, as ambassadors fro the Frenche kyng and likewise from the Em-
peror came great Ambassadors, and when thei satte in counsail, the Emperors Ambassade
shewed their Commission & power. And euen so did the Frenche kynges Ambassade,
which was more larger then the Emperors Commission. Thus when the grudges were
declared on bothe sides, when the Emperors Ambassadors cosented to peace, the French
kynges would not. And when the Frenche Ambassadors cosented to peace, the Emperors
would not. The Cardinal then would haue knitted the Emperor, the kyng our soueraigne
lorde, the Frenche kyng, and the bishop of Rome in a league and amitie together: the
other Ambassadors had no suche Commission, especially the bishop of Homes, wherevpon
letters were sent to Rome in all hast and the Frenchmen taried in Calayce till he returned,
& beheld the toune, with whiche the counsaill of Calaice wer not contented. Herevpon
the Cardinal rode to the Emperor accompanied with his Ambassadors (and left the
Frenche ambassadors in Calaice to abide his returne) and passed by Grauelyng, Dukirke,
Newport, Owdenborow, & sundry tymes in the waie he was encoutred and receiued with
noble men. And without Bruges he was receiued with many noble men, and many lordes
and other of the Emperors court, and a rnyle without Bruges the Emperor his owne per-
eone met him, and shewed to him and to the other lordes & gentlemen of Englad gracious
countenance, & so accompanied y Cardinal into the toune, where great multitude of people
beheld them, & so rode to the Emperors palayce where he lighted, and fyrst embrased (he
Cardinal and after all the lordes, knightes, and gentlemen of Englande. It is to suppose the
Emperor knewe of the Commission geuen to the sayd Cardinal, whiche had the kynges power
as if his grace had been present, and also had the great seal w him, whiche had not
been seen before, or els the Emperor would not haue done him so high honor and reuerence.
The- Englishe lordes, knightes, esquiers, yomen of the kynges gard & other beyng to
the nomber of. iiii. C. Ix. horse, were well lodged euery man after his degree and euery
lod«yng furnished with fewell, bread, here, wyne, Beues, Muttons, Veles, Lambes, Veni-
son* and all maner deintie viand aswell in fishe as fleshe, with no lacke of spices and ban-
kettyng dishes.
The next day after the great chere made to y lord Cardinal & to all his lordes, knightes,
oentlemen, and all other lordes and knightes of England (in whose presence) the Cardinal
made his proposicion cocernyng peace to be had betwene the sayd Emperor and the
French kyng declaryng the calamities, misery and wretchednes that^came by warre : and
the eomodities, benefite, and welththat came by peace, concorde & truquilitie, whiche pro-
posicion continued a great while: and when the Cardinal had made an ende, the Em-
•neror himselfe answered and said : The lawe God byndeth euery man to claune and as!:e
his right & that thesame lawe byndeth no man to holde, kepe, and withsiande another
nans°ri"ht Our cosyn of Fraunce doeth witholde our rightes & patrimonies whiche we
haue princely desired, & cftsones wil, and if he will rendre to vs our said rightes cS: patri-
monies we are contented to haue peace with him and his subiectes, if not we trust in God
and our mht that the troubles by your fatherhed rehersed, shal cohie vpon him and ins
lhereote«r And for the titles of our regalitie, to putte that to the bishop of Rome, we do
consider that kyng Edwarde of Englande the third of that name of nob o memory warred
by iust title to recouer the realme of Fraunce from Philip de Valois, whiche title by inter-
ce^ ion was put to the bishop of Rome & his court, to discus* & expended there by y space
of xx i. yeres vndetermined, notwithstanding great pursuite & labor was made to haue it
ended : Suche like tyme shoulde be to vs tedious, wheribre we entcndc by the ayde
t0Tt°e CaSilroplied and declared the league that was betwene the thre mightyest princes
Korlde,' that is to say, the Emperor, the kyng our souereigne i - vnj.
THE/XIIL YEREOF
and the Frenche kyng, and how that to the prince that fyrst moued warre, the other two
should be enemies v'nto him, and sayd, beholde the mightie power and puissaunt realme,
riches, shippes, vitailes, and ordinauce, lordes, chiualry, horsemen, archers and commi-
nal tie,' this is in the high and mightie kyng of England my soueraigne lord, and he that
fyrst warre beginnetb, by the sayd league my sayd soueraigne lorde to his honor may
lefully spred his baner and make warre in defence of his frende. For this and other thynges
my soueraigne lorde desires of your highnes and Maiestie the consent of peace.
My lorde Cardinal sayd the Emperor, I esteme moste the honor of my dere vncle the
kyng of Englande and trust in his assurance, that neither his royall person, his realme, his
power, Nauye, nor ordinauce shalbe but to our ayde in assistyng our tried title, nor will
eosent to any thyng in dishonoryng vs or our Empire: God defende but we should humble
our selfe to his request, our high honor reserued. Lorde God who may esleme more higher
iniuries and wronges then we in our person, our predecessours, and our louyng subiectes
haue endured by the house of Fraunce. My lorde Cardinall sayd the Emperor, their pride
with our honor we may £ must apprehende and ouerthrow by the help of God: ,With these
wordes the counsail brake vp.
All the lordes and menne of honor of England that daydyned in the Emperors court.
When they were set and serued, it came so to passe that an honorable man of the Em-
perors a? he sat at dvner sayd thus. It is thought that the kynges Maiestie of Englande en-
tendeth to make a peace. Alas that euer he should ymagyn a thyng so muche to the disho-
nor of the Ernperor. The kyng is his vncle, is it not come to his hearyng that all the \vorlde
heareth? It was so that by assent of the bishoppe of Rome and other princes to make
peace with vs, the Frenche partie after the battail of Gyngate obtained by Maximilian then
archeduke of Osteriche, where euerye noble manne of vs fought with the Frenchmen quar-
ter naked, and slewe of theirn a rneruailous nomber. They desired the daughter of Maxi-
milian named Margarete to wife, whiche lady is Duches of Sauoy and yet liuyng, & she
beyng like an Emperors childe was deliucrcd into their handes as quene of the realme, with
diners tounes in Picardie redred with her and partie of high Burgonie, and treasure mer-
uailous. Nowe sithen thesame Maximilian had spoused lane doughter and heire of Fraun-
ces duke ot Britaigne, whiche lande the Frenchemen ouer rane and spoiled, and she con-
strained to sue vnto Charles kyng of Fraunce for a safe conduict to passe through his
realme to Maximilian her spouse, and vpon the same safe conduict graunted, the sayd ladie
lane passyng through Fraunce with a small company, was by y same Charles taken at Am-
bois & there maried her against her will, whervpon he forsoke the lady Margarete and sent
heragaine to her lather thcinpcror without redyliuer or rendryng againe the tounes that were
deliuered with her. And where as the duke of Geldre is subject to die Emperor, is he not
yet at this day by the procurement of the Frenche kyng, rebell? And where also by iust
title the realme of Naples ought to be vnited to the^croune of Castle, did not the Frenche
kyng faine a iorney into the holy lande pretendyng title by leniamy brother to the great Turke
beyng then captiue in Rome, and by a craftie treatie obtained the sayd leniamy, & so passed
into Naples without perill, and seazed all the lande into his handes, & then prisoned he the-
same leniamy? Thus to the great dam mage of Castle, he made claime to Naples by Mar-
garet quene of England late wife to Henry the vi.
The kyng of Nauerne is euermore vassal to the house of Aragon & Castell, yet the
Frenche kyng caused him to rebell, hopyng therby to subdue the sayd countreys.
Of late daies the Frenche kyng by fafse treason caused sir Robert de la Marche to sub-
rnitte himselfetothe Emperors maiestie, who receiued him vpo his othe & fidelitie, pardon-
yng all offences past. Is not this false traitor returned, and is of the Frenche partie?
How may that court, that counsail, that kyng, that realme that consenteth to treason & per-
iury by maintenance of traitors be called honorable? Hath not the French kyng sworne,
and isbounden neuer to retaine the Switchers in wages to make warre against the Emperor?
& yet doth at this day. And albeit that his Maiestie speuketh not of these thinges, yet he
well
KYNG HENRY THE. VI IJ. $37
well considereth them. I trust verely sayd this noble man that God sayeth, vine Burgoignc,
etiery man that heard this rehersall, knew that it was true, howbeithe was not answered, but
some Englishe knightes sayd, syr you haue sayd well, and as God will all must be. Thus
was this narracion ended.
In this season the Emperor gatte the touneof Mewzon: Also of the Emperors partic
a great army arriucd in the Duchy of Mylan & also the Emperors power besieged the noble
citie of Messiers, but the capitaine called Franciscus was suspected of treason, for he re-
moued with the hos'te from the seage without knowlege of the Emperor.
The Emperor made a seage volant aboute the citie of Turnay, for the reskue wherof and
also of Messiers the French kyng made a great army and him selfe in person.
Duryng this seage the Frenchemen toke a Spaniardes ship laden with Englishemens goodes
at Margate within the kinges streames, not without great slaughter on both parties, yet the
Frenchmen were Clx. men, and of Spaniardes and Englisheinen, only. xxv.
The kyng of Denmarke Cristianus came to se themperor his brother in law beyng a stately
prince, yet meanes was made that the lorde Cardinal and he spake together without great
signe of amitie.
The lorde Cardinal after he had soiorned in Bruges by the space of. xiii. daies & conclud-
ed diuers matters with the Emperor & accomplished his comission: he tooke leaue of his
Maiestie, and likewise did all the noblemen of England, & after couenient iornies ariued
with al his company at Calyce, where thembassadors of Fraunce taried him, & hnmediatly
after his ariuyng he treated w the of peace, yet not so earnestly as he did before & that per-
ceiued well the sayd Ambassadors & wrote therof to the Freche kyng, yet the welth & pros-
peritieof both y realmes and their subiectes were highly reasoned betwene the Cardinal and
the sayd Ambassadours, especially for fishyng, wherevpon was concluded that the subiectes
of both the princes might freely fishe on the sea, and repaire to any porte of thone or
thother prince without robbyng, spoylyng, or takyng vnto the second day of February next.
The French kyng with a mightie army & himself in person repaired to the coutrey of
Cambray, mindyngto passe the streites, but they wer wstamled by the Emperors power, yet
he cotinued there fro October vnto Nouembre w out any thing doyng, to the great displea-
sure of the French kyng. The duke Daleson hearyng that, made preparacions w the Al-
maynes to passe the marrys by the point Dassans & there the Almaynes had made bridges of
Pypes and vessels, and brought thither their great ordinaunce. The Emperor beyng in the
toune of Valerian and therof aduertised, caused strong watche to be made, and as they
would haue passed, the bastarde Emery, & the capitaine of Gaunt with xii.C. men mette
with them, where was a great conflicte and many men slaine, and at the last the Almaines
wer put to flight and their bridges and other prouisions broken : Of the Frenche partie wer
slaine in this conflicte. xiiii.C. men, and of the Burgonians were slaine the bastarde Emery,
the capitaine of Gaunte and iiii.C. men.
The lord Cardinal after he had long treated with the Ambassadors ot Iraunce and could
not bryng theim to no conformitie of peace, he sent to the Emperor the lord of samct Ihons
and sir Thomas Boleyn knvght to aduertise his Maiestie therof.
Likewise the sayd lord Cardinal sent to the Frenche kyng the Erie of Worcester and the
bishop of Ely to exhorte his 'grace to peace, he hard theim, but he gaue theim but fewe
woordes to answere, and after they had been. xix. or xx. daies in his hoost, they tooke leau
anr/ueryUng tlVcontf/utunce of the Cardinall in Calayce all writtes and patcntes wer there by
him sealed and no shyriffcs chosen for lacke of his presence.
Tke kyng of Hungary sent an Ambassador to the kynges higboes for ayoe against the
Turke, whom the Cardinall honorably entertayned duryng his abode in Calayce. His con,,
mvns was for ayde as men sayd against the Frenche kyng.
The lorde Cardinal after the relume of the Englishe Ambassadors from the Empe our and
from the Frenche kyng, tooke shippyng and landed at the porte of Douer, the. xxvn. day
4 L 2
6S8 THE. XIII. YEKE OF
of Nouf.mbcr, and there toke his iorney to Bjechyngly, where the kiuges grace welcomed
him, geuyng him also thankes for his great paines and trauail.
This tyme the Frenche kyng layde seage to the toune and Castle of Hedyng, the Burgonions
perceiuyng they were not furnished for the defence thereof, forsoke the sayd toune and cas-
<.fe and fledde into Flaunders to no litle rcioysyng of the sayd Frenchemen.
The Ad my rail of Fran nee named Mounsire Bonyfet with a puissaunt armye made signeas
though he would passe into Nauerne, howbeit sodainly he reculecl with his boost and beseag-
'ed the toune of Fontraby in Biskay, and brake the fyrst, second, and third vvalle therof
with his ordinaunce meruailously : And after gaue a freshe assault to the same. The Spa-
niardes (notwithstandyng that the ordinaunce was caryed into Nauerne for defence thereof)
defended theimselfes manfully and slcwe of the Frenchemen. vi. hundreth and moo, and of
t!ie Spaaiardes. Ix. slaine. Then the capitaine of Fontraby made serche v.-hat vitailes was in
the toune, and founde that there was but for two nieles, he called the inhabitauntes and menne
of warre together dcclaryng their great necessitie, and sayd the battery of the walles discorages
»s not, but the great necessitie of victalles, wherfore we must do like the Wolfe that runneth
from the wood Tor hunger to his death, and consideryng the great scarcitie of vitailes in
Byskay, by rneanes wherof we cannot be vitailed we must nedes rendre the toune. Neuer-
thelesse they kept the toune seuen daies after that they had neither bread, Heshe fruite nor
oyles in the same, but onely herbes and water, yet at last Jicrbes failed also, by meanes whcr^
of they rcndred the toune by composicion, and or the Frenchemen entred, they deliuered
the Englishemen all their goodes out of the toune.
The Frenche kyng liyng embattailed in the countrey of Cbmbray sodainly brake his
campe, not muche to his honor. Great warres was this tyme in Italye in so muche that the
E«:nperours hoost wanne the citie and countrey of Mylan to the high displeasure of the
Frenche kyng, for he lost there many of his nobles and other capitaines & men of warre.
Thus the Frenche kyng returned into his countrey without reskuyng the citie of Turnay,
neuerthelesse he sent them a letter which was taken by the people of the Countye of Nas-
son, the tenour whereof foloweth.
Trustie and welbeloued we grete you well, lettyng you to wete that dayly before vs ap-
pearethyour true faythfull seruises, by tliat you abode within our citie of Turnay with great
ieopardic, to the muche honor of vs and our realmc, and to your praise and manly fame for
euer, and vs to be your good lord for the demerites of your so high seruices. And where as
we entcnded the relief and reskue of you and our sayd subiectes and citie of Turnay, we
consideryng the weaie of our persone and realme, haue remoucd vs from that purpose.
Wherefore we may no more say vntoyou but God and Mounsire sainct Denys be your suc-
cours.
When the Countie of Nassonknevve that no reskcw should come, he then sent for more
people and ordinaunce and planted siege on all parties of the citie. Then the capitaine of
the Castell and Prouost of the citie alter thei knewe of the Frenche kynges retreite, and af-
ter long consultacion amongest theim had, rendred the Citie and Castle by appointment, that
is to say, that the Burgeises should haue. xv. daies to depart with bagge and baggage, leuynf
behynd them all the ordinances aswel of the Castle as of the Citie. Thus was the Castle and
Citie of Turnay rendred into the Emperors handes the last day of Nouember, the yere of
oure lorde God M.D.xxi.
This yore many goodly and gorgious Momeries were made in the court to the great reioys-
ing of the Queue and ladies and other nobles beyrig there.
The last day of December the Cardinal occompaignied the Emperors Ambassadors to the
court wkere they were honorably receiued and highly feasted duryng their abode there, and
many sumptuous and gorgious disguisynges, enterludes and bankettes made in the 'same
season.
Pope Leo dyed and Adryan chosen.
This yere was a great pestilence and death in London & other places of the realme,
and
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ.
and many noble capitaines died, as the lorde Broke, sir Weston Browne, sir Ihon Heron,
sir Edward, sir Ihon Peche and muche other people.
The bishop of London Doctor Fitz lames likewise deceased this yere, and Doctor Tunstall
was preferred to thesame benefice.
The lorde Thomas Hawarde erle of Surrey, came out of Ireland to the court the. xxv.
day of January, when he had been there the space of. xx. monethes in great trauail & pain,
and often tyines sore troubled by the wylde Irishe, howbeit by his noblenes and manhod he
brought thelordes of Ireland to the kynges due obeysaunce, and had of them many victo-
ries to his perpetual laude and praise.
The Frencheinen this tyme spoiled & shamefully robbed the kynges subiectes on euery
coast of the sea, so that wheresoeuer the kyng roade his poore subiectes came with' lamenta-
tions and cryes shevvyng his grace of the crueltie of the Frencheinen & of their inhumane
dealyng with them, but euer the Frenche Ambassadours promised restitucion of euery thyng,
but, none was restored.
In this moneth of lanuary, the kyng commaunded all his shippes of warre to be made in
a readynes, which was done with all diligece.
About this tyme the duke of Albany arriued in Scotland, notwithstandyng that the Frenche
kyugsware vnto the Cardinall that he should neuer come into Scotlande without the kyng
our souereigne lordes consent, but for all that he had comission fro the Frenche kyng
although the Frenche kyng wrote to y kyng that he was entred Scotlande without his
assent.
The second day of February, the kyng beyng at Grenewiche, came thether the Cardinal
•with a Legation from Leo bishop of Home, and also his ambassadour, on who waited many a'
nobleman, the kyng met them at his chamber doore welcomyng them as though theyhud
both come from Rome. Then sayd the Cardinal, high and victorious kyng it hath pleased
our lorde God to indue your grace with a great multitude of manifolde graces as a kyng
electe in fauor of the high heauen, and so appeareth presently by your noble persone, so
formed & figured in shape and stature with force and pulchritude, whiche signifieth the pre-
sent pleasure of our lorde God wrought in your noble grace. And further he praised his
wisedome, prudence and learnyng, with many other goodly wordes in the praise of his
most noble grace. And finally the Cardinal declared how the sayd bishop of Rome had sent
his highnes an Acte in Bull vnder leade, declaryng therin his grace to be the defender of the
Christian fayth, and his successors for euermore.
And when his grace had receiued the sayd Bull and caused it to be redde & published, he
went to his chapell to heare Masse accompanied with many nobles of his realme and also
with Ambassadors of sundry princes, the Cardinall beyng<reuested to syng masse, the Erie
of Essex brought the Bason with water, the duke of Suffolke gaue thassay, the duke of
Northfolke helde the towell, and so preceded to Masse. And that done gaue vnto all them
that heard the masse cleane remission & blessed the kyng and the Quene and all the people:
then was the Bull eftsones declared, and trumpettes blew, the shalmes and saggebuttes plaied
in honour of the kyi^es newe style. Thus his highnes went to dinner in the middes whereof
the kvncr of Heraldes and his compaignie began the larges, cnyng Hcnncus da gratia rex
An"lie?8$ Francie, defensorjitlei; % dominus Hibernie thus ended the dinner, with muche
habundance of vitaill and wyne, to all maner of people.
The x daie of February, the Lord Hodie chief Baron of the kynges Exchequer gaue
ouer his office, and for hym was admitted by the Cardinall, master Ihon Fitz lames, a right
h°rnThi^yr vtrlch'businesbetwene themperor & the .Reach kynS, wherefore the
kvngsentto the sea sixe good shippes, well manned and v.ta.led for the warre : the Admi-
ral wi called Christopher Coo, a "man expert on the sea, for saffegarde of the Merchauntes
and other the kvnges subiectes, that were greuously spoyled and robbed on the sea, by
Frenchmen, Scottes, and other rouers. Tbis
630 THE. XIII. YERE OF
This tyme the. viii. dale of February, the lorde Dacres Wardein of the Marches of Scot-
lande entered into Scotlande with. v. C. men, by the Kynges commaundement, and there
Proclaimed that the Scottes should come into the kynges peace, by the first daie of Marche
folowyng, or els to stande at their perilles, the Duke of Albany beeyng then within flue
miles, with a mightie power of Scottes.
The. xi. daie of February, sir George Neuell lorde a Burgayny, beeyng then prisoner in
the Tower was brought to Westminster, and ther in the kynges Beche confessed his endite-
ment of misprision, in the cause of Edwarde late Duke of Buckyngham to bee true, and
after the open confession thereof, led again to the Tower.
The lorde Montacute the kynges cosyn, was about this tyme recociled to his graces fauor,
wbiche had been prisoner in the Tower, with sir Edward Neuell knight, this sir Edward
Neuell was forbidden the kynges presence, for bearyng fauor to the Duke of Buckyngham.
This yere the second of Marche, certain noble men of the Empire arriued in England
to passe into Spain, who were honorably receiued, and in honor of them greate lustes and
triumphes vvermade, and that finished and doen, thei toke their leaue and departed on their
iorney.
Also this tyme commission was geuen throughout the realme, for generall musters to be
had, to knowe what power might be made within thesame, & also men sworne of what
substaunce and landes thei wer of. And the Cardinal aduertised of thesame: not without
grudging of the people, & marueilyng why thei should be sworne for their awne goodes.
The citee of London was this moneth aduertised of the commyng of the Emperor,
wherefore was made greate preparacion : and the citezens sent the kynges grace one hun-
dred tall men well harnissed, to furnishe his nauie, appoynted to kepe the narowe seas.
The French kyng certified the kynges highnes, by his letters dated in Marche, how the
Graunde capitain of Fraunce, the Countie de Palais, Monsire de Lescue, and other noble
men of Fraunce, had won the toune of Milain, whiche was not true, for within fiue or
sixe dales after, it was euidently knowen that the Frenchmen were beaten backe, and had
wonne nothing, to their great slianie and reproche.
Moreouer thesame season the Frenche kyng wrote his letters to the Seignory and com-
monaltie of Gean, to send him three Carectes, and sixe Galeis furnished for the warres,
vnto his porte of Breste, to maintein his warres against the foresaied Emperor, who made
him by their letters suche a reasonable excuse, that he was contented to spare them for
that tyme.
The kynges highnes kept this yere his Easter at his manour of Ilichemont, and caused
his amner to make enquire, eight miles round about thesaid manour, what poore people
was in euery parish. And for the eschuyng of murlher, that moste commonly fortuned
euery goodfridaie, by reason of the great resort of poore people, his grace caused them to
be refreshed with his almose at home at their houses.
About this tyme a rouer or theif of Scotlande, called Duncan Camell, was after long
fight taken on the sea, by a Squier of Cornewall called master Ihon Arondell, and present"
ed to the kynges highnes, who committed hym to the Tower of London, where he remaign-
ed prisoner a long season after.
In the moneth of Marche, as you haue hard before, came certain noble men from the
Emperor to the king, which the more to solace theim enterprised a lustes, he himself
was chief on the one side, his courser was barded in cloth of siluer, of Denmarke em-
brodered with. L. L. L. of Golde, and vnder the letters a harte of a manne wounded, and
greate rolles of golde with blacke letters, in whiche was written, mon nauera, put toge-
ther it is, ellmon ceur a nauera, she kath wounded my harte, and thesame suite was his
base.
Then folowed sir Nicolas Carewe, his base and barde was white Damaske, on whiche was
embraudered with Clothe of gold: a prison and a man lokyng out at a grate, and ouer the
prison came from the prisoner a rolle, in whiche was written in Frenche, in prison I am
8 at
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. '63l
at libertie, and at libertie I am in prison, and all his apparell was garded with shakettes of
siluer.
Then folowed therle of Deuonshire, the lord Roos in one suite, their apparell was wfrte
vcluet, embraudered with cloth of golde, wrought in deuice an harte, trauersed crosse
wise with a chayne, the which deuided the bard in foure quarters, in twoo quarters was a
hand of golde holding a spere of the worlde, on the other twoo quarters was twoo handes
holding two plumes of fethers, and on the borders were written my harte is betwene ioye
and pein.
Then folowed Anthony Kyngston, and Anthony Kneuet, tK"ir apparell was a hart
bounde in a blewe lace, embroudered on G'rimosyn sattin : and written about with letters
of gold, my harte is bounde.
Nicholas Darrel had a bard and base of black sattin, embraudered full of hartes, turned
or broken of gold, and written in letters ot siluer, my harte is broken.
Last of that bend was Anthony Lroune, whiche had a bard of siluer full of speeres of
the world broken, set on hartes broken al of gold written aboule in letters of blacke sance
remedy, without remedy.
Then entered the Duke of Suftblke and his bend, all in bardes and bases of russet vel-
uet and cloth of siluer, embraudered with braunches of paunces of golde, at these lustes
were many speres broken, whiche the straungiers highly commended.
The third day of Marche, the Cardinall made to the kyng and the Ambassadors, a
great and a costly banket, and after that, a plaie and a Maske, their garmentes were rus-
set sattin and yelowe, all the one side was yelowe, face and legge, and all the other side
was russet.
On shrouetewesdaie at night, thesaid Cardinall to the kyng and ambassadors made another
supper, and after supper thei came into a great chamber hanged with Arras, and there was
a clothe of estate, and many braunches, and on euery braunche. xxxii. torchettes of waxe,
and in the nether ende of thesame chamber was a castle, in which was a principall Tower,
in which was a Cresset burning: and two other lesse Towers stode on euery side, warded
and embattailed, and on euery Tower was a banner, one banner was of iii. rent hartes, the
other was a ladies hand gripyng a mans harte, the third banner was a ladies hand turn-
yng a mannes hart: this castle was kept with ladies of straunge names, the first Eeautic,
the second Honor, the third Perseueraunce, the fourth Kyndnes, the fifth Constance, the
sixte Bountie, the seuenthe Mercie, and the eight Pitie : these eight ladies had Millian
gounes of white sattin, euery Lady had her name embraudered with golde, on their
heddes calles, and Millein bonettes of gold, with Iwelles. Vnder nethe the basse fortresse
of the castle were other eight ladies, whose names were, Dangler, Disdain, Gelousie,
Vnkyndenes, Scorne, Malebouche, Straitngenes, these ladies were tired like \p women of
Inde. Then entered eight Lordes in clothe of golde cappes and all, and great mantell
cloke's of blewe sattin, these lordes were named. Amorus, Noblenes, Youth, Attendance,
Loyaltie, Pleasure, Gentlenes, and Libertie, the kyng was chief of this compaignie, this
cornpai«nie was led by one all in crimosin sattin with burnyng flames of gold, called Ardent
7>Jre&whiche so moued the Ladies to geue ouer the Castle, but Scorne and Disdain saied
they would holde the place, then Desire saied the ladies should be wonne aad came and
encoraged the knightes, then the lordes ranne to the castle, (at whiche tyme without was
shot a greate peale of g.mnes) and the ladies defended the castle with Rose water and Com-
fittes tnd the lordes threwe in Dates and Orenges, and other fruites made for pleasure but
at the last the place was wonne, but Lady Scorne and her compaignie stubbernely defend-
ed them with boows and balles, till they were dnuen out of the place and fled. Then the
fordes toke the ladies of honor as prisoners by the handes, and brought them doune, and
daunce 1 together verie pleasauntly, which much pleased the straungers, .od«hen ihei had
need hfi fill then all these disuisered themselfes and wer knowen : and then was there
a co tlv banket, and when all was done, the straungiei* tooke their leaue of the king and
632 THE. XIII. YERE OF
the Cardinal and so departed into Flaunders, geuyng to the kyng muche commenda-
cion. ,
The kyng like a prince which forseeth all thynges, saw what warre was likely to ensue,
caused the erle of Surrey his high Admirall, to put in readines his nauie, both for the
conduictyng of the Emperoure into Englande, and also for the defence of his subiectes,
which were daily robbed and spoyled on the sea, which lorde Admiral toke suche dili-
gece with the helpe of sir William Fitz William his Vice Admirall, that all the shippes by
the beginnyng of Aprill, were rigged and trimmed, and in especial the Henry grace of due,
the kynges great ship, was brought out of the riuer of Thamis into the Dounes, redy to
saile whether God and the kyng would.
In this yere at the Assise, kept at the castle of Cambridge in Lent, the lustices, and all
:the gentlemen, Bailiffes and other, resorting thether, toke suche an infeccion, whether
it wer of the sauor of the prisoners, or of the filthe of the house, that many gentle-
men, as sir Ihon Cut, sir Giles Alington knightes, and many other honest yornen there-
of died, and all most all whiche were there present, were sore sicke and narrowly es-
caped with their lines. And this yere also died Sir Edward Pownynges, knight of the
Gartier, sir Ihon Pechy, and sir Edwarde Belknap, valiaunt capitaines, whiche were sus-
pected to be poysoned, at a banket made at Arde, when the two kynges met last.
This yere also, was not without Pestilence nor Derthe of Come, for Whete was sold this
yere in the citee of Londo, for. xx. s. a quarter, and in other places, for. xxvi. s. viii. d.
And in thesame yere in Deceber, died Leo bisshop of Rome, for whom was chosen, one
Adria bom at Vtrike the Emperors schoole master. And in thesame monethGawan Dog-
las bisshop of Dunkcll in Scotland, fled out of Scotland into England because the Duke
of Albany was arriued into Scotland, and had taken vpon hym to be gouernour of the
kyng and the realme to whom the kyng assigned an honest pencion to liue on. But when
the king was aduertised, that the Duke of Albany was arriued into Scotland, and had taken
the rule of the young ..king, his realme, and he much doubted the sequele of the matter,
consideryng the Duke to be heire apparant to tine Croune of Scotland: wherefore he sent
Clareseaux kyng of Annes into Scotland, and with comma undement, that he should de-
clare to the Duke of Albany, that his pleasure was, that he should depart y realm of
Scotland for two causes, the one, because it was promised by the French kyng, at the
last metyng, that he should not come into Scotland, the second was, that the kyng of
England was vnclc to the kyng of Scottes, and by the very bond of nature, ought to de-
.fende his ,ncphew. Wherefore his nephew beyng young, and in the custodie of him, to
whom, if he should dye, the realme of Scotlande should discende, he doubted lest he
might be brought out of the way, as other dukes of Albany before had serued the heire*
of Scotlande: and if he would not auoyde Scotlande, then Clarenscaux was commaundcd
to dene hym, which accordyngly did defie hym, at holy Rode house in Edenbrough, to
whom he answered, that neither y Freche kyng, nor the kyng of Englande, should let him
to come into his naturall countrey, by their agrement: also as touchyng the young kin", he
-saied, that he loued him as his souereigne lord, and hvm would kepe" and protect, a°ainst
al other.
When Clarenseaux had reported his answere to the King, then he knewe well that all
tins was the French kynges dooyng, wherefore he prouided in all thynges accordyngly.
The erle ot Anguishe of Scotland that had maried lady .Margaret, the king our souereigne
Jordes sister, late wife vnto kyng lames of Scotlande, that was slain at Floddon felde, was
by the Duke ot Albany, sent by a coloured Ambassade into Fraunce, where shortly after
his amuytig, he was by the French king committed to prison, and his brother likewise,
which escaped after as you shall heare.
Also the. vi. day of Marche, the French kyng commaunded all Englishernenes goodes
*yngm Bordeaux, to be attached and put vnder a reste: and likewise deteined the kynges
, whiche he should haue out of France, and also the French queue* dowry? and
when
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 533
when the kyng sent to him for it, he euer gaue faire wordes, and made delaies, but none
was paied, and euer the Ambassador promised faire.
f THE. XIIIJ. YERE.
THE king this yere kept the daie of. S. George with great solempnitie, at his manour of The.xiiii,
Richemond, where wer elect to the ordre of the Gartier, Done Ferdinando brother to the *'"'
Emperor, and Archduke of Oystrike, and sir Richard Wyngfeld knight by the Emperors
meanes, to the which the Emperor had geuen twoo hundred pound pencion, out of the
house of Burgoyn, whiche sir Edward Pounynges before had of the Emperors gifte. Du-
ryng this war betwene the Emperour and the French kyng, and the kyng of Englande
liyng still an entreator betwene them, the Englishemen were robbed on both sides, and
when their wines were laden at Burdeaux, and ready to depart, it was attached, and the
Merchauntes put in prison: the poore fishermen on the coast of Englande, sometyme met
with the Frenchmen and them spoyled, but to no recompence of that they had taken. The
Merchauntes of England, that had factors at Burdeaux, complained to the king of Eng-
land, and shewed hym how the Frenche king, contrary to his league andhissafeconduit vn-
der his seal, by his people, had taken their goodes and emprisoned their factors and frendes,
and can haue no remedy. Likewise complained all the Merchauntes, how their shippes
were restrained, in euery port of Fraunce, and their goodes rifeled, and could haue no
redresse. The king and his counsaill, were sory to here the coplaintesof themerchauntes, and
so concluded to sende for the Frenche Ambassadours, to whom the Cardinal! saied : sir how
is this cbaunce happened? you haue promised euer in the name of the kyng your Master,
that all leagues, promises, and couenauntes should be kept, & that full restitucion should bee
made of euery hurt and dammage, and that ferme peace and amitie should be kept, but con-
trary to your saiyng our Merchauntes be robbed and spoyled, yea, although he hath graunt-
ed his safeconduite, yet they bee robbed, and staied at Burdeaux, is this the peace that you
and your Master hath promised to be kept? Is this the amitie that he was sworne to kepe ?
Is this the word of a kyng? Is this the strength of a prince, to breake his safconduite?
And where you aduised our merchantes to sue in Fraunce for restitution, and did warrant
them to be restored, you haue put them to costc and losse, for thei haue sued there long
and spent their goodes, without any redresse, and now you haue emprisoned them, and kept
bothe them and their goods, is this Justice? is this restitucion? And all this was your pro-
curement, and now see what is come of your promise, surely this may not be suffered, and
beside this the kvn<risenfbrmed, that the kyng your Master hath spoken by hym, foule and
opprobrious wordes, yea in the hearyngof the Englishemen whiche were sore greued to hear
such wordes, and were not able to be reuenged. . .
The Ambasodour of Fraunce saied, that it was not so as it was reported : well saied the
Cardinall if you note the counsaill of Englande so light as to tel fables, you may be mis-
auised But I pray you how often times hath the kyng written to your master, for reshtucion,
of such roberies as hath been done, and yet can haue no redresse? Wherefore he
2 anted letters of marke, which may stand with the league, but Mons.re Chastilion hath.
taken Mcrchauntes of Englande prisoners, and hath sent certain hether for therr rausome,.
his s open warre Sc no peace. Master president Polliot or Pulteyne the Irench Arnbas-
ador answered that suerly the matters which wer alleged again* his Master the Frenche
T\ve e but fon-ed matters and not true: but he saied that fora truthe, daily in the
Court Fnunce were completes made against the Englishemen for greate robberies
C°Urtb?th"
done by them, aswell on land as J6^™^ Z^Jetteth his subiectes to be vnhard,
yet the French kyng ie 01 ie^ _ ^^ ^ ^ ^ ^ subiectes by En-
praie you, beleue no suche tales, till I haue tolde you<
the truthe. The»
THE. XIIIJ. YERE OF
Then the Cardinall called the foure hostages, that laie here for the paiment of money for
Turney, and they foure wer deliuered, to my lord of sainct Ihones, to sir Thomas Louell,
to sir Andrewe Wyndsore, and to sir Thomas Neuell, euery knight one to kepe safe, and
none of their countrey to speake with them priuely, and the Ambassador was comauded to
kepe his house in silence, and not ta come in presence, till he was sent for, whiche drdre
sore abashed the French hostages, and thambassador, but there was no remedy, and coin-
maundement was geuen to the Maior of London, to attache all the Frenchemen, body and
goodes and them to kepe in prison, till he hard farther of the kynges pleasure : then were all
the Frenchmen in London and aboute, arrested and brought to prison, so that all the pri-
sons in and aboute London, wer full of them, some of them escaped by ^speakyng Dutch,
and saied thei wer Flemynges borne, whiche was not-tried.
The king for safegard of his Merchaiites, sent, xxviii. goodly shippes to the sea, well
manned and trimmed for the warres, and seuen other shippes he scnttoward Scotland, whiche
entered the Frith, and preferred to enter into the Scottishe shippes that lay in the haucn,
but the Scottes ran their shippes on land, and the Englishemcn folovved with boates and
landed, and set the shippes on lire, and at Lithe toke certain prisoners, whiche they brought
into Englande, & still the kynges great nauie kept the narrowe seas, for then was neither
peace betwene Englande and Fraunce, nor open warre as you haue hard.
The kyng had perfect knowlcge, that Charles the Emperour would be at the kinges toune
of Calice the. xxiii. daie of May, to passe thorow Englande into Spain, wherefore the
kyng sent the Marques Dorcet, accompaignied with duierse knightes and gentlemen, to re-
ceiue hym.at Calice whiche in all hast sped them thether. Likewise the Cardinal toke his
iorney toward Douer the. xx. daie of Maie, and rode through London, accompaignied with
two Erics, xxxvi. Knightes, and a hundred Gentlemen, eight Bishoppes, ten Abbottes,
thirty Chapelleines, all in veluet and Sattin, and yoinen scuen. C. and so by iorneiyng he
came to Douer the. xxvi. daie beyng Monday. In the meane season tidynges were brought
to the kyng, that the Frenche kyng had sent a great army toward Calice, and the men of
war laie at Abuile, Munstrell, Bullcin and about, nere the Englishe pale. Wherefore the
kyng like a Prince that forsawe all, and emending not to be disceaucd, wrote to his nobles,
and cities, and tounes, to prepare certain menne of warre in a readines, which was shortly
done, and so they were sent to the nauie, so that thei might shortly be at Calice if nede
required.
On Sundaie the. xxv. daie of Maie, the lordc Marques Dorset the bishop of Chichester
and the lorde de Lawarr, with other noble men, at the water of Grauclyng, receiued the
Emperor in the name of the kyng of England, and so the Emperor embraced theim, and
he hauyngin his compaignie many noble men came toward Calice, where at the Turnepike
in tlie lordeship of Marke, he was receiued of sir Edwarde Guylford Marshall of Calice
.with fiftie menne of armes richly bescen, and also a hundred archers on horscbacke, then
in passing forward toward Calice, the ordinauncc shot terribly, and into Calice he was
receiued with procession, and then by the lord Barnc depm'ie there, and the cousaill
of the toune: then was he receiued by the Maior and Aldermen of the toune, and then
of the Maior and merchauntes of the Staple, and .so conucighed to the Checker 'and there
lodged.
On the Mondaie, he and al the nobles of Spain, Flaundcrs, & Germany, toke ship at
Calice and landed at Dotier, at foure of the Clocke at after noone, and with livm the duke
Daluoy, the Prince of Orengc, the Countie Nassaw, the Countie Vascord, the lorde O-
mond, and the Marques of Brandebrough, all in one ship bote. The Cardinall receiued hym
on the Sandes, accompaignied with three hundred hordes, Knightes, and Gentlemen of
Englande: themperor embrased the Cardinal!, and toke hym by the arme, fwid «o passed
forward and toke horses and rode together to Douer Castle, where thei wer lodged Theno-
hsfae Harbingers diligently lodged the Emperours train, euery man according °to his degree.
Ine kyng of England was come to Canterbury, the. xxvif, daie of Maie, and receiued by
tiic
KYNG HENRY THE. VII J. 635
the Archbishop: and hearyng of the Emperors arriuall, with a smal compaignie on the
Weduesdaie, b.eyng the Assension euen, he rode to Douer, and with muche ioye and gladnes
the Emperour and he met, and there taried the Assension day, and on Friday the .kyng
brought the Ernperoure aborde on his newe ship, called the Henry grace a dieu, a sbippe of.
xv. C. and rowed aboute tb all his greate shippes, whicha then lay in Douer rode, the Em-
peror and his lordes, muche praised the makyng of the shippes, and especially the artilei i.e,
they saied, they neuer sawe shippes so armed.
The same day at after none, the two noble princes marched forward to Canterbury, where
the Maior and Aldermen receiued them without the toune with a solempne oracion, to whom
the Emperors Secretary answered ornatly. Then the Princes with their sweardes borne naked
before .theim, and the Emperour on the right hand entered the citee of Canterbury, and
so with procession were brought to Christes Church where the Archebishop and twelve pre-
lates mitered, receiued them vnder a Canapy, and so they oflfered to the Sacrament, and the
Emperor was brought to thp Bishoppes palace, where he lay for that night, and the kyng
lodged at sainct Augustines. The morowe after, these princes remoued to Sityngborne, and
the next day to Rochester, where the Bishop receiued them with the whole Couent.and on Mon-
daie thei came to Grauesede by one of the Clocke, where they toke their Barges, and there
wer thirty Barges appoynted, for the straugiers, and so by. vi. of the clocke they landed at
Grenewiche, the same Monday the. ii. day of lune, where the emperor was of the kyng
newly welcomed, and al his nobilitie, and at the halle doore the Queneand the Princes, and
all the Ladies, receiued and welcomed hym: and he asked the Queue blessing, (for that is
the fashion of Spain, betwene the Aunte and Nephew) the Emperor had great ioye to se
the Quene his Aunte, and in especiall his young cosyn germain the Lady Mary. The Em-
perour was lodged in the kynges lodging, whiche was so richely hanged, that the Spanyardes
wodered at it, and specially at the riche cloth of estate : nothyng lacked that might be
gotten, to chere the Emperor and his Lordes, and all that came in his compaignie, were
)gThye ^Wednesday, the more to doo the Emperor pleasure, was prepared a lustes royall: ^'
on the one part was the kyng, the Erie of Deuonshire and. x more companions, al
mounted on horsebacke, their apparell and bardes, were of neb .Clothe of gohJe em-
broudcred with sillier letters, very riche, with great plumes on their beddcs Wjconj
, ,he, ,,>a, lusted ,hc ,
«asarn,ynghu,, ,ere »«'? " , d ,!,c ,M5ScnSer, «nd deliuered
THE. XIIIJ. YERE OF
haue newes, if it pleaseth hym to come hether : sir Willyam Compton, went and told this
to the Emperoure, which without delay came to the kyng, whiche shewed him the letters
fro sir Thomas Cheyney his Ambassador wherin was conteined the definitiue answer, made
as wel to sir Thomas Cheney, as to Clarenseaux king of armes of Englande, by the
Frenche kyng, to the kynges requestes : for you shall vnderstande, that the kyng of Eng-
iande, by his Ambassador, had often times demaunded, both his tribute and his lawfull
debte, and also restitucion to be made to his subiectes greued, and farther also the league
was broken by makyng warre on themperor, so that now by the league the kyng of Englande
should be enemy, to him that first brake, and did take part with the other, yet he had so
much compassion, on shedyng of Christen blond, that he would not entre warre, but
shew himself a mediator and an entreator betwene theim. And vpo this sir Thomas Cheney
had often moued the French kyng, & also moued him to take peace with the Emperor
for two yeres, so that some mediacion of peace might be entreated, in the meane season : to
all this the French kyng answered, we haue well considered your Masters desire,
to the which we nothyng agree, nor hold vs content with his request. Sir said
thambassador, the kyng my Master shal be aduertised of your answere by me, where-
fore I beseche your grace of safe conduite, to returne into England : then saied the kyng
there is an officer of armes corne hether out of Englande, let hym come and he shalbe hard,
and haue an answere, to which thing sir Thomas Cheney answered not but with reuerence
departed, and so on the. xxi. daie of Maie, the said officer called Clarenseaux king of armes,
came to the French kynges chaber at Lions, which was accompaignied with many noble
men and gentlemen, and then Clarenseux put on his cote of armes, and desired license
to speake, and libertie according to the law of armes, which was to him granted : then
he declared that where the French kyng was bound by league tripertite, to kepe peace with
the Emperor, and with the king of England, and whosoeuer first brake, the other two to
bee enemies to hym, to the which league the Frenche king was sworne, whiche league he
apparantly had broken by making warre on themperor, by sir Robert de la Marche and by
hymself in. persone. Wherefore the kyng by that league must be his enemie and take parte
against hym.
Also he declared, }' the French king kept away the kynges rctes and debtes, dewe to him.
Also that he deteined the dower of the French quene. Also that contrary to his promise,
he had sent the Duke of Albany into Scotland: Also that contrary to Justice he had empri-
soned Merchantes, hauyng his safeconduite, where they should haue gone in saftie, seyng
there was no warre proclaimed, betwene him and the kyng his master: all these articles with
many mo, f kyng my master is redy to proue. Nay said the French kyng, I began
not the war, nor sent Robert de Lamarche to make warre, but commaunded him to the
contrary, and or I made warre in proper person, his warre was open, & lie had our toune
of Tournay strongly besieged, and as touching the duke of Albany, it hath cost me. xl. M.
Frankes, to kepc hym out of Scotland, but I could not let him to go into his awne coutrey.
This the Frenche kyng excused his vntruth. Sir I am farther charged to tell yon, said Cla-
reseaux that the king my souereigne lord, holdeth you for his mortall enemie, from this
daie furth Jc al your adherentes: well said the French kyng, I loked for tnis a great while
agone, for sith the Cardinal was at Bridges, I loked for no nother, but you haue done your
incsbage: then y French king rose and departed, and Ciareseaux was conueighed to his
lodgyng, and shortly after, sir Thomas Cheney and lie, by safe conduite, departed and
came to Bullein, and there Monsire Fayett capitain there, theim both staied till the Am-
bassador of Fraunce, whiche had lien* in England, wer clercly dcliuered out of Calice.
The whole circumstaunce of the demaudes and deffiaunce, and the French kynges answere,
was conteined in the letter, which was brought to the king, which shewed it to the Emperor
(as you haue hard) but while the king and the Emperor loked on the letter, a sodein noyse
rose emongest both their subiectes, that it was a letter of defiance, sent to them bothe by
the French kyng, whiche was nothyng so. Thus now was the warre open of all parties,
betwene
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 637
betwcne Englandea-nd Fraunce, & Spain. When the two princes had of this matter com-
moned their fill, themperor called for a horse, and the king himself was armed, and bothe
the bendes that should Tornay mounted on horsebacke, and themperor in rich apparell of
tissew and richely trapped brought the king into the felde, and toke vp his horse, that all
men had great pleasure to beholde him. The men of armes fell to Turnay, and brake
sweardes and were seuered, and after came together again, and fought very valiauntly, and
when tyme was, the Herauldes cried the disarme, and assoneasthe king was vnarmed, the
Emperor and he wet to supper, and after supper the kyng brought the Emperor into the hall where
was a Cupperd of. xii. stages all set with great mightie plate al ofgolde, atthe vpper end hong
three clothes of estate, and the hall was full of great lightes, set on gylte braunches.
When the twoo Princes were set and the quene also, then entered in eight noble mennein
Maskers apparell with visers, their garmentes blacke Veluet garded aad embroudered with
golde in cut woorkes and oner that double Lumberdy Mantelles of Sattin, folded vp on
•euery shulder, curiously embroudered, these Maskers were halfe Englishe Lordes, and
the other straungiers. They toke Ladies and daunsed, and sodainly entered eight other
Maskers, appareled in ryche tinsel, matched with clothe of golde, and on that Turkey
Clokes rebanded with Neltes of Siluer, and betwene the knittynges Flowers of Golde, and
the Mantelles were Crimosyn Sattyn, both the Maskers had hoddes of Crimosyn Sattyn,
these lustie Maskers entered, and reueled lustely, and when they had done, then were there
spices brought and wyne, and then all persones began to drawe to reste.
On Friday, the sixe daie of lune, the King and the Emperour with all their com-
paignies marched toward London, where in the waie, a Myle from Sainct Georges barre,
was set a riche Tente of Clothe of golde, in whiche Tente were two lodgynges, one
for the Emperoure, and another for the Kyng, where these two Princes shifted theim.
And when the Herauldes had appointed euery man their roume, then euery man set
forwarde in ordre, richely apparelled in Clothe of gold, Tissew, Siluer, Tynsell, and Vel-
uettes of all colourcs. There lacked no massye Cheynes, nor curious Collers : an Englishe-
manne and a straungier roade euer together, matched accordyng to their degrees, before the
Emperoure and the Kyng, were borne twoo swordes naked, then the two Princes folowed
in Coates of Cloth of Golde, embraudered with Siluer, bothe of one suite: after theim
folowed the Kyn<res Henxemenne, in coates of Purple Veluet pieled and paned with
riche Cloth of Siluer, and with them were matched the Emperours Henxe menne
in equall nomber, in Coates of Crimosyn Veluet, with two gardes, the one Golde,
and the other Siluer: then folowed the Capitaines of the Gardes, then the Emperours
Garde on the right hande, and the Englishe Garde on the left hande , and so in
this ordre they wete forwarde, and in the waie the Maior Ihon M.lborne and h,s brethren,
in fine Skarlet and well horssed, met with the Emperoure and the king where one sir 1 honms
More knight, and well learned, made to theim an eloquent Oracion, in the praise of the
wo princes and of the peace and loue betwene them, and what comfort it was to their
subiePctes to se theim in such amitie, and how that the Maior and Cuezens, offered any
" ™ ^\^^^^^ Clergie receiued theim in
n don of 'the kyn? for theprisoners, and he at the Emperours request, pardoned a great
nomber of heim When they were almosteat the Bridge foole, there was a staic, the kyng
638 THE. XIIIJ. YERE OF
the Lorde Chamberlaine had told this message, they rode furth and made no more
curtesie.
When they were come to the Drawe Bridge, there were set Targettes, of the Armes of the
Emperour and his Dominions, richely paincted, and on the other side, stoode one greate
Giaunte, representyng Hercules, with a mightie Clubbe in his hand, and on the other syde
stoode another Giaunte representyng Sampson, with the lawe bone of an Asse in his hande.
These twoo Gyauntes helde a greate Table, in the whiche was written in Golden letters,
all the Emperours Stile. From the Drawe Bridge, these twoo Princes passed to the
middes of the Bridge, where was raised a faire edifice, with Towers embattayled and gates,
all like Masonrie, of White and Blacke, like Touche and White Merbell: abouethis buyld-
yng was a faire pagiaunt, in the whiche stoode lason all in harnes, hauyng before hym
a golden Flece, and on the one side of hym stoode a fiery Dragon, and on the other side
stode two Bulles whiche beastes cast out fyer continually, &in a tower on the one syde stode
a fayre mayde representyng the lady Medea whiche was very straungely and richely appa»-
relied, and aboue this Pagiant were written these verses.
Letieitf quantum mimijs prebebat, lason
Aurea Phrixee vellera nactus ouis
Leticitf quantum tulcrat Pompeius et Vrbl
Haste triurnphato Scipio Romulidum
Tantum tu nobis C&sar mitissime Princeps
Intrans Henrici Principis hospicium
When they had beholden this Pagiant they came to the Conduite at Gracious strete where
was made a Bastyle with two great gates, one on the one side of the way and the other on
the other side, and ouer these gates and betwene these gates were made. iii. great towers
embattailed and vauted with lopes Lucanes like Masonry, curiously wrought, and in the
middle tower was a clothe of estate, vnder whiche sat one representyng the Emperor, and
in the third tower represetyng the kyng. And Charlemayne hauyng. ii. swordes gaue to
the Emperor the sworde of lustice, and to the kyng the sworde of triumphant victory, &.
before him sat the Pope to whom he gaue the croune of thorne & thre nayles. About this
pagiant were sette all the armes of the electors of thempyre and these verses in a table.
Carole Christigenum decus et quern scripta loyuuntur
A magno ductum Carolo Jtaberc genus
Tuque Henrice pia virtutis laude refulgens
Doctrlna ingenio religions fide
Vos pretor consul sanctus cum plebc senatus
Vectos hucfausto sydere gestit ouans
This Pagiant was made by the Esterlynges.
From Gracious strete, where the Esterlynges stode in good order, the twoo princes came
to Leden halle wher ouerthwart the great strete that leadeth to Byshoppes gate was erected
a goodly Pagiant wonderfull curiously wrought, it was xxxviii. ibte broad and Ixxx. of
length, at the fote of the pagiant sat Ihon duke of Lancastre called Ihon of Gaunte sonne
to kyng Edward the third. This duke sat in a rote and out of the rote sprang many
braunches curiously wrought with, leaues whiche by pollecie. dropped swete water, and on
euery braunche satte a kyng and a queue or some other noble parsonage descended of die
sayd duke, to the nomber of Iv. images, and on the toppc stode the Emperor, the kyiv* of
England and the Quene, as thre in the vi. degree from the sayd Duke. This pa<nant was
made at the cost of the Italyans & was much praised. Fro thence they passed to y con-
duite in Cornehill where the strete was enclosed fro side to side with ii. gates to open &
shitte, and ouer the gates wer arches with towers embattailed set with vanes and scijtchions
r „ f lrmes °f the EmPeror & the kyng, and ouer the arches were two towers, the one
lull ot Irompettes and the other full of Shalmes and shagbuttes whiche played continually:
Betwene
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 6S9
Betwene these two towers was a palice, vnder a riche clothe of estate sat kync Arthur at a
rounde table & was senied with x. kynges, Dukes and erles all bearyng Targettes of their
Tines, and when the Emperor and the kyng were commyng thither a Poet sayd.
Laudat magnanimos *vrbs inclita Roma Catones
Cantant Hannibalem punica regna suum
Gentis crat Solime rex i/igens gloria Dauid.
Gentis Alexander gloria prima sue.
Illustrat fortes Arthuri fama Britannos
Illustra-s gentem Cesar <§• ipse tuam
Cui deus imperium victo precor hoste secundet
Rcgnet yt in ten-is pads arnica quies
When this was sayd, they came to the Stockes where was a quadrant stage where on was an
Ilerber full of Roses, Lyllies £ all other flowers curiously wrought, and byrdes, beastes
and all other thyngcs of pleasure. And aboute the Herber was made the water full of
Fyshe, and about it was the Elementes, the Pianettes and Starres in their places and euery
thing moued, and in a type in the toppe was made the Trinitie with the Angels singyng,
and the Trinitie blessed the kyng & ihe Emperor, and vnder his feete was written, behold
the huer of peace and concords. And so they passed through the Poultry to the great Co-
dnite in Chepe, where was made on the right hand of the sayd Conduite (as they passed)
in manor quadrant with fower towers, at euery corner one with goodly types, betwene
euery tower was a gallery, whiche galcries were hanged with clothes of golde and siluer
within, and so coue.red ouer. The fbrefroutes of euery gallery were hanged with white &
grene Sarcenet wrethed and with great knoltcs of golde, let doune in maner of a valence
before the gallery, and vnder the* sayd galleries were Targettes and scutchions of the Em-
perors and kynges urines & deuises. In the fower towers were fower fayre ladyes for the
cardinall verfues so richely besene that it was great pleasure to behold, euery vertue hauyng
a signe and token of her propertie. In the galleries sat children mixed with men and
women singyng and plaiyng on instrumetes melodiously, of the whiche sort one child sayd
these verses folowyng.
Ciucmto ample.vetur populus te Catsar amorc
Testantur varijs gaudia mixta sonis
Acra, tube, Litui, cantus cithare calamisy;
Consona te resonant organa disparibus
Vnum tc celebrant, te rnum sic cuncta salutant
0 decits, O rerum gloria Ccesar aue.
When they came to the stadard there was made a mightie buildyng of tymber ^ towers
set- in carbles forced with arches buttad & al abilamentes embossed, & the lynterelles in-
At the tote of this pagiatsat Alphons kyng of Spaync richely appareled, & out of his brest
— j were
their
I liiu Iv/ic ui mio j»(i^t»n.*-v-'t-'-» •.»!**• »7 o ^ J •/ * < '
n braunchc of whiche sprang many kynges, queues and princes whiche satte and were
liucly persoues richely appareled euery one with a scutchion of armes shcwyng their
mariacreS and in the highest braunche satte the Emperor, the kyng and iust v. and vn.
degree's fro the sayd kyng of Spayne, to who the sayd kyng Alphons sayd these verses. .
Carole qul fulges sceplro $ diademate sacro
Tuq; Henrice simul stcmmata iuncta gerens
Alter germa/iis, lux alter dura britannis
Miscem Hispano sanguine vterque genus
Finite felices quot rmV secitla Nestor
.Finite cumane tempora J'atidice
After this pagiant seen '& the verses sayd, they came to the litle Conduite m Chepe where
was
THE. XITIJ. YERE OF
was buylded a place like heauen curiously painted with cloudes, erbes, starres & the ler-
»rchies of angels, in the top of this pagiant was a great type & out of this type sodamly
issued out of a cloude a fayre Lady richely appareled, & then al the minstrels whiche wer
in the pagiant plaied & the angels sang, & sodainly againe she was assumpted into the
cloud whiche was very curiously done, and aboute this pagiant stode the Apostles wherof
one sayd these verses.
Ob quorum aduentum tocies gens ipsa brltanna
Supplex dljs superis votapreterq; dedit
Quos etas ornms, puen, luuenesq; senesq^
Optarunt oculis sepe videre suin
Venistis tandem auspicio Christi Mariea;
Pads coniunctifedcre perpetuo.
Heroes saluete plj, saluete bead
Exhilarent tiostros minima vestra lares
Yet you must not forget for all the pagiantes how the Citezens well apparelled stode within
tailes sette on the lefte side of the stretes and the clergie on the right side in riche copes,
whiche sensed the princes as they passed and all the stretes were richely hanged with clothes-
of golde, siluer veluet and Arras, and in euery house almooste Mynstrelsy, and in euery
strete were these two verses written in letters of gold.
Carolus, Henricus, viuant defensor vterq;
Henricus Jidei, Carolus Eccletie
Whiche verses wer also writtten in other tables in golden letters as ensueth.
Long prosperitie
To Charles and Henry Princes raoste puissaunt
The one of fayth
The other of the Churche Chosen defendant.
When they were past the lytle Conduite they came to the west ende of Poules chtirche and
there they alighted, there was a Canapie redy vnder whiche tiiey two stoode and were
receiucd by the Archebishop of Canterbury and xxi. prelates in pontificalles and so they
offered at the high aulter and returned to horsebacke and came to the Blacke Friers where
the Emperor was lodged in great royaltie: All his nobles were lodged in his newe palace of
Brydewell, out of the whiche was made a Gallery to the Emperors lodgynp, wbiche gallery
was very long, and that gallery and all other galleries there wer hanged with Arras. Thekynges
palayce was so richely adorned of all thynges that my. witte is to dull to describe theim/
or the riches of the hangynges or the sumptuous buildyng and giltyng of chambers.
On saterday the kyng & the Emperor playd at tennice at the 13ayne against the princes of
Orenge and the Marques of Brandenborow, & on the Princes syde stopped the erle of De-
uonshyre and the lorde Edmond on the other syde, and they departed euen handes on bothe
sydes after xi. games fully played.
On Whitsonday the viii. day of Tune themperor and the kyng with great horror both
apparelled in cloth of siluer reysed, gounes and cotes and all their apparell white except
their bonettes, roade to the Churche of saint Paule £ there heard high Masse whiche was
song by the Cardinal whiche had his trauers & cupborde, and before Masse ii. Barons gaue
him water & after the Gospel! ii. Erles, and at the last lauatory ii. Dukes whiche pride the
Spanyardes sore disdayned. When Masse was done they returned to Brydewell where the
Emperor was highly feasted. Thesame sonday at after noone the two princes went by
water to Westminster and roade to the churche, and in ridyng all the sanctuary menne
cryed mercye and pardon, they were so hastye and presed so nere that the sergeauntes at
armes could scase kepe theim from tonchyng the Emperor and the kyng: The Cardinal
gaue them a gentle answere whiche contented theim for a tyme. They wer receiued with
Procession into the Abbey & heard euensong & beheld kyng Henry the seuenihes chapel &
then
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 641
then went into Westminster halle, at the largenesse wherof the Emperor muche meruailed>
then they turned to Brydewell and there supped.
On Moday thei dyned in Southwarke with the duke of Suffolke and hunted there in the
Parke, and roade to the Manor of llichemond to their lodgyng and the next day to
Hampton court, where they had great chere and from thence on thursday to Wyndsore
where he hunted Fryday and Saterday and on Sonday at night in the great halle was a dis-
guisyng or play, theffect of it wasy there was a proud horse which would not he tamed nor
brideled, but amitie sent prudence and pollicie which tamed him, and force & puissaunce
brideled him. This horse was ment by y Freche kyng, & amitie by the king of Englad &
themperor, & the other prisoners were their counsaill & power, after this play ended was a
sumptuous Maske of. xii. men and. xii. women, the men had in gannentes of clothes of
golde and siluer lose layde on crimosyn Satten, knit with pointes of gold, bonettes, vvhoddes,
buskyns, were all of gold. The ladies were of thesame suite whiche was very riche to behold,
and when they had daunced, then came in a costly baket and a voidy of spices, and so de-
parted to their lodgyng.
Monday, tewsday, and Wednesday the princes and their counsail sat mosteparte in coun-
sail, and on Corpus Christi day, they with great triumph rode to the college of Wyndsore
where the Emperor ware his Mantle of the Garter and satte in Jils'owne stall, and gaue to
the Herauldes CC. crownes: that day bothe the Princes receiued the Sacrament, and after
Masse both sware to kepe the promises & league eche to other, for the which amitie great
ioy was made on both parties, & after y Masse was ended they went to dyner where was
great feasting.
On Fryday they departed out of Wyndsore, & by easy iorneys came to \V ynchester the.
xxii. day of lune, & in the way tbether, the Emperor hunted the Hart. Before the Em-
peror was come to Wynchester, therle of Surray Admyrall of England with all y kynges
Nauy was come to Hampton, and with him the lorde Fitz Water, the Baron Curson, sir
Gyles Capell, sir Nicholas Carew, sir Richard Wyngfeld, sir Richard ler&yngham,
Fraunces Bryan, Anthony Browne, Ihon Russell, of whiche many were of the kynges preuy
chamber: These with many more departed from Hampton with. xxx. shippes well manned &
ordinauced in the ende of lune, noisyng that they should only skoure the seas for safegard
of the Emperor and his Nauye; But they had priuy instruccions to go to another place as
you shall heare after. . . . „ .
All this while was the warre on the parties of Picardy hotte, and the capltame of Bui-
Jain called Favct wrote euer inockyng letters to the garrison ot Calaice, and said it the
orison of Calaice would issue out, he would mete with them halfe way with: in, M men.
Whervpon sir Edward Guildforde Marshall of Calayce, whom the capitaine of Bullaia
culled the fvrcbraml, because it was his badge, sette iurtbeout ot Calayce the. xi. day of
line with xii- C. men, & went out of Caiayce. and sent a pursuant to the capUrun of
jluilsin ccrtifivug him that lie was commyng with his fyerbrand, and bad h.nt kepe promise.
T his officer deJared the message to him, but he came not: Furth marched sir Ljhvard t>l
he came S Madison and taryed to see whether the capitain of Bu laync would co.ue or
And whence sawe he carte not, he set fyer in tlje toune, and the !i,lu horsemen for-
raved the bastes and pilla«e, and brent villages all ahout, whiche was well perceiued m he
t^ a tlii of and towarde night all the crew came home with good pdk.e, fc on the
o owL Edwarfe Gyldibrd dcRuered a prisoner franke and tree on conchpon he shou d
642 THE. XIIIJ. YERE OF
shippes. When the Emperors shippes were come, he tooke leaue of the k_yng and had great
gyftes geuen him and inuche money lent to him, £ so the. vi. day of luly he toke his
shippe, so with all his Nauy he made saile tovvarde Spayne where he arriued in safelie the.
x. day after.
The kyng about this very tyme sent to the citie of London to borow xx. M. poiides,
whiche sore chafed the citizens, but the somme was promised, and for the payment the
Mayer sent for none but for men of substaunce. Ilowbeit the crai'tes -solde muche of
their plate. This summe was payde, and the kyng sent his letter promisyng payment of
thesame and so did the Cardinall. The poore men were content with this payment and sayd,
let the riche churles pay, for they may well. Lyke loane was practised through al the
realme, and prjuy scales deliuered for the repayment of the same.
This season the. xxi. day of May was the citie of Geane gotten by the Emperors capi-
tain called Octauiano de Columna, whiche had with him. iiii. M. and. iiii. C. Spaniardes. v.
M. Italyans, and. iiii. M. Lanceknightes: & in the citie was taken Porter de Nauarro the
Frenche kynges familiar capitaine and all the lordes of Geane whiche fauored the Frenche
kyng were taken prisoners or slaine, and especially one Octauiano Faragoso, whiche" ruled
there for the Frenche kyng, was euil punished: The spoyle of the citie that the souldiers had,
was. iiii. M. dukates beside the pillage, whiche was a great thyng.
Now let vs returne to the lorde Admyrall of Englande whiche departed fro Hampton as
you haue heard, and so with his Nauy sayled and skoured the seas, and at last came on the
costes of Britaigne, and commaunded the wysest Masters and Marriners to boy the hauen
of Modes, whiche was done, and so the next night all the flete came to the hauen of
Morles in safetie & moored their shippes together. Then all men were commaunded to
harnes and to auaunce their standardes, & all souldiers to geue their attendance on their
capitaines, and then the lorde Admyral appointed and caused, xiiii. pieces of ordinaunce
called Faucons to be brought to land and drawen furth with stregth of men. Then when
all menne that shoulde go i'orwarde were landed, the lorde Amy rail with banner displayed
tooke lande on the Estside of the hauen the fyrst day of luiye, and with him a fayre band
of souldiers, as the lorde Fitz Water, the Baron Curson, sir Richarde Wyngfelde, sir
Richard lernyngham, sir Wyllyam Barantine, sir Adrian Foskew, s,ir Edwarde Donne, sir
Edwarde Chamberlayne, Fraunces Bryan, Richard Cornewall, sir Anthony poynes, sir
Hery Sherborne, and the vice Admyrall, sir Willyam Fit/, \villyam, sir Edmond Bray, sir
Gyles Capel, sir Willyam Pyrton, sir Ihon Cornewallcs, sir Ihon Wallop, sir Edward
Echyngham, sir Willyam Sidnay, Anthony Broune, Gyles Huse, Thomas More, Ihon.
Russell, Edward Bray, Henry Owen, George Cobham, Thomas Owdayle, Thomas Louell,
Robert lernyngham, Anthony Kneuit, sir Ihon Tremaile, and the Master of the kynges
ordinaunce, sir Willyam Skeuyngton, and Ihon Fabian sericant at armes, by whom this
enterprise was chiefly moucd as was reported, with many other gentlemen and "souldiers, to
the nombre of vii. M. The lorde Admyral and sir Richard Wyngfeld brought these men
in good order of battail, & caused Christopher Morres the master gunner to°see all thingcs
redy prepared, & then about, viii. of the clocke of the sayd fyrst day they marched towarde
Modes in good ordre of battail with banners displaied. "The alarme. rose in the countrey
and came to the toune of Morles wlierby the gentlemen of the countrey shewed theimselfes
prickyng, but when they heard the Gunnes they fledde as though they neuer vsed warre.
They of Morles armed theimselfes & went to the walles and shut the gates and laide ordi-
naunce where was most ieopardie. The Englishemen had gone flue long myle and were
now come to the subberbes of the toune: then the Englishemen archers shot, and the Bry-
tons them defended : then the Admyrall commaunded the toune to be assauted, then the
lord Fitz Water and the Baron Curson quartered the toune on all sides : The Enalishemen
•hot with long bowes, and the Brytons with crosse bowes, whiche defended themselfea man-
fully. Before the port Moruet where is a Meason de (lieu, At this gate gaue the a*saut sir
Richard Wyngfelde, Nycholas Carew, Frauces Bryan, sir Ihon Wallop and all their bendes
hauyng
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 643
hauyingwiththem thre pieces of ordinaunce called Faucons,whiche the master Gunner oft tymea
shot, but the Britons had set the gate full of hacbushes, then the Gunner sayd, haue at the
•wicket, and in the smoke of the gunnes let vs entre the gate, the gentlemen assented, then the
sayd sir Christopher Gunner strake the locke of the wicket, so that it flew open, then in the Morie.a6.
smoke ranne to the gate the said Christopher and the other forenamed gentlemen, and when »««*& *
Christopher came to the gate he found the wicket open & entred, and the gentlemen folow- gotten>
cd, the Brytons defended them selfes, but thei were put backe or slaine, then was the great
gate opened and then entered the souldiers that were on the other side of the toune. When
the Brytons on the walles sawe the towne gotten, some fled at the posterne and some by ano-
ther way, the best way that they could. Therle of Surray with baner displayed toke the
market place. Then the souldiers fell to pillage and rifled the chestes and ware houses
of marchauntes, for the toune. of Modes was very riche, and specially of lynnen clothe, the
gentlemen suffered the souldiers to do what they would. When the souldiers had taken their
pleasure of the toune as muche for a trueth or more then they could beare away.
The lorde Admiral comaunded the truuipettes to blow, &comaunded all men tosetfyerin
al places of the toune (the holy places only except) the fayre market place was set on fyer,
& the subburbes brent ardatly. Wherfore all men were commaunded to their standardes,
and aboute vi. of the clocke the army retreted, and as they passed they brent the villages and
places. And when night approched they drewe together and all that night lay on land
abyding their enemies. And the next day with honor they tooke their shippes, and when
all menne were shipped and fewe or none missed. The lorde Admyrall comaunded. xvi. or.
xvii. shippes small and great liyng in the hauen to be brent. Then they sailed furth and
carne to anker before saint Polle de Lyon, then he commaunded that the foyst and other
small shippes and great botes should be manned to enter into an haiborow forshyppes called
pympoll or pympole, which was sone done, the boates entred y place & some laded, but
then the Brycons were to strong, & so they tooke their boates & bet the Britons on the
shore, & the* Brytons shotte great ordinaunce at the Englishemen, but it did them no harme,
and yet the Englishmen brent a shippe of. CC. and many small vessells. When tytne
came the whole flete sailed into the hanen of Brest and with barkes and rowe barges
entered the hauen and toke land, and some Englishemen did so muche that they set fyer in
houses nere the castle. And eucn as thenglishemen sayled by the cost the Brytons them as-
kryed and fortefied the ladyng places, yet dayly the Englishemen skyrmished with the Brytons
and came safely to their shippes againe: with this warre was all the duchy of Brytaigne sore
troubled.
When the lorde Admirall had wonne the toune of Morles as you haue heard : He called to
him certaine squyers whom for their hardynes and noble courage he made knightes, fyrst sir
Fraunccs Bryan, sir Anthony Broune, sir Richard Cornwall, sir ThomasJMore, sir Gyles
Huse, sir Ihon Russell, sir'lhon Raynsford, sir George Cobham, sir Iho Cornwalles, sir
Edward lliglcy and diners other. And after he wrote letters to the kyng of his good spcde:
In the whichelie muche praised all the gentlemen and souldiers for their hardynes. When
he had <ayled a while on the seas, he had letters sent from the king that he should retreyte,
and so he came with all his flete vndcr the Isle of Wyght to a place called the kow, and then
he departed from his shippe and came to Estamstede the. xxi. daye of lulye to the kyng, of
whom he was well welcomed you may be sure. And so on mounday the. xxm. day of luly
the kyn« and he came to London to the Cardynals place and there sat in counsatle to de-
termine what should be done. After this the kyng dyned with the Cardmall the. xxui day of
lulve where lie rchersed that he had knowlege that the Admyrall of Bntaigne was in Morles
with a C. horsemen and a. C. crosbowes, and yet he fledde, and the kyng muche comended
the lorde Admyrall for his paine and hardynes, and praised therm of his garde, and spe .lly
tfftie whiche left pylfcryng and neuer went from the lorde capitaioe.
On the third day of lulv while this enterprise was done at Morles, certaine l-rcncliemen
to the noiuber of. CCC. horsemen came nere to the castle of Guysnes and kept theira selte
4 N 2 ia'
644 THE, XIIIJ, YERE OF
in a close couert ant! so appered. viii. or. x. horsemen and came nere Ouynes: out of ther
Castlq came. viii. Englishe archers and issued out of the gale and fell with Hie Frenehe horse-
men in skyrmishe : to the Frencheme nnes reskue came. iiii. men of armes and skyrmished.-
with the archers whiche were a fote. Then out of Guysnes issued, xii. dimilancesall Wdshe-
men and rfme boldely to y Frenchemen in reskue of the fotemen, Then the whole bend of
Frenchemcn issued out and set on the Welshemen, the fotemen shotte while arrowes lasted
and were faine to fight with swordes, the Welshmen keptlhemselfes together and en t red into
the bend of Frenchemen and brake their spercs and then fought so with swordes that ihey
made away, so that they escaped from the bend of. CCC. horsemen, and of the Frenchemen
wereslayne. iii. men and. v. horse, the fotemen were ouerpressed and solde their liues-dere,
for the Frenchemen slew them all and would take none prisoner, they were so angry with
the killyng of their horse.
Also the. xxv. day of luly sir Wyllyam Sandes treasorer of Caleys and sir Edward
Guilforde Marshall, with banners spred, issued out of Caleys with, xiiii. C. menne and went
into the Frenehe pale lokyng for Mounsire Foyat whiche was a great mocker and a coward:
But when he appeared not they went to Wliitsand baye and set it on fycr, and ihe people fled
to the churche whiche was fortified and stode at defence, the body of the clmrche was
wonue and then they tokethe Steple and some ycldcd themselfes, but the remnant by cour>-
sail of a priest maintained so long that the Steple was tyred and then the priest cried succour,
but it was to late and so the Frenehe people was fayne to lepe the Steple & diuers perished,
& they that were saued werled to Caleys as prisoners. Farther the. xxiii. daye of the same
moneth Thwaites a capitain of an Englishe shippe tooke land beside Eullein, and went vp
thre mylc into the countrey to a tonne called Xewe Castle and forrayed all the countrey and
in his returne set fyer on the toune & brent a great part thurof maugre the Builenoys, and
with his bowes and men whiche only was. vi. score, he put backe. Ixxx. Hagbushcs and.
CCC. men of warre of the countrey and so came to their shippe with all the botie and lost
no ma notwithstandyng they were sore folowed to their shippe.
On the. vi. day of luly the Cardynal satte in llie starre chamber at Westminster where he
sayd, my Lordes it is reason that you should know the honorable enterprise done by the
lorcle Admiral and his compaigny in Brytaigne whiche hath dispoyled and destroyed the
great toune of Morles in Brytaigne with all the villages and countrey adioynyngto the same,
which is in the Frenehe dominion, whiche mischiefe had neuer risen if Fraunces the Frenehe
kyng had kept his othe and promise. For he is bound that he should ncuer retayne the Swy-
ches from the Emperor, nor that he shall not innadu any of tlie Emperors landes or do-
minions, whiche he hath done, for he hath inuadcd the coutrey of llenaude and Cam-
briscsancl taken Iledyng and Fountraby with many other iniuryes. For when the kyng sent
me and other to his great costes the last ye re to Caleys to treate a vnitie and peace be'twcne
theim, all our saiynges were by the Frenehe kyng turned into a mocquery. Also cdtrary
to his promise lie hath suffered Duke Ihon of Albany to entre thercalme of Scotland to the
great perill of the yong kyng Nephicu to our so-ucraigne lorde, and also entendeth to mary
the Quene of Scottes contrary to the kynges honor. The sayd Frenehe king also withhold-
eth the kynges dueties & his sisters dower: wherfore of nccessitie the kyng is entred into
warre, for no prince will suffre the wrong that the French kyng oftereth him as an vntrue £
forsworne prince, wherfore for your oune welth you roust now ayde your prince, trustyn" to
punishe and chastice him to your great honor and fame.
Then by commaundement wer all Frenchemen and Scottes imprisoned and the goodes
seazed, and all suche as were denizens were commaunded to shewe their letters patentes, &
suche as were allowed had all their goodes and the other not, and all Frenchemen and
bcottes that had maryed Englishewomen, the wifes and children had halfe thegoodes dcli-
uered vnto them, and euery denizen to fynde siiertie for his good abearyng, and al the other
if they would be bayled to fynde suerties for their trueth and allegeaunce or els to be kept in
prison, for the portes were so kept that they could not flye.
The
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. $4.5
The kyng nowe beyng entered into the warres thought not to slepe and let the Frenche kyng
alone, w her tore by his letters he commanded certain persones with their powers to come to
Lodon in August. They that wer appointed came accordyngly, euery man with suche a
nomber as to him was appointed, and when they had mustered at London before the kynges
Commissioners they were nere. xii. M. menne with the Pyoners, and they wer sent to the
lorde Admyral whiche lay at Douerwith. iiii. M. me, but because haruest was not done, y-
vitaile at Caleys was to htle for so great an armye, wherfor they lay in Kent at tounes there
a good space, whiche made vitayle dere there.
In this souimer the lorde llosse and the lorde Dacres of the North whiche were appointed
to kepe the borders against Scotland did so valiantly that they burned the good toune of
Kelsy ami. Ixxx. villages and ouerthrew, xviii. towers of stone with all their Barnkyns or
Bulwerkcs.
The kyng also in this moneth was credibly enformed that the Duke of Albany prepa-
red an army Royal of Scottes and Frenchemen to inuade England. Wherfore the kyng,
appointed the F.rle of Shrewsbury his lorde Steward to be his Lieutenaunt gencrall against
the sayd Duke and his inuasions, whiche directed his letters to the shyres of Yorke,
Darby, Stafford", Shrop-hyre and al other beyond Trent that all menne should be in a
readynes.
The. xx. day of August the Cardynall sent for the Maior, Aldermen and the moste sub*
stanciallest commoners of the Citie of London, where he declared to theim that the kyng had
appointed commissioners through the whole realme of England for to swere euery manne of
what value he is in mouables, the more to be in readynes for the defence of this realme,
And the kyng for the loue he beareth yon would haue syt with you himselfe, but for certayn
other affayres in his warres to be done he is letted, and so hath appointed me your Commis-
sioner. W'herefore in conuenient tyme certifye me the nomber of all suche as be worth one
hundreth poundes and vpwarde, to the entent 1 may sweare theim of their values: for fyrst
the kyng asketh of you your louyng hartes and due obeysaunce, the whiche shall appeare by
vour conformitie to'his requestes, and when the value is taken he desyreth only the tenth part
of goodes and landes whiche is the least reasonable thyiig that you can ayde your prince
with. I thynke euerye one of you wyll offer nolesse, as for the spiritualtie euery manne is
in the shyres sworne and shall and wyll gladly pay the fowcrth part to the kyng and Hue on
the. iii. partes. None to your part I am sure you wyll not grudge, therfore name me the
men of substaunce and for the meaner sort, meaner Commissioners shall be appointed.
Sir sayd a marchaunt if it may please you, how shal this tenth part to the king be delivered?
in money plate or luels sayd the Cardinall at a value. O my lorde sayd the Aldermen it is
not yet tu oo monethes sithe the kyng had of the Citie. xx. thousand pound in ready money
in loane whereby the Citie is very bare of money, for Cockles sake rernembre tins that nche
marcluiu'ntes in ware be bare of money: Well sayd the Cardynall, this must be done and
therefore <>o about it. So the Aldermen resorted to their Wardes and named suche as they
kid-ed to&be of that value, which came before the Cardynall' and moste humbly besought him
hat8 they mi"ht nut be sworne for the true value of their substaunce, for the true valuacion
to theim wasSvnkno>ven and many honest mennes credence was bettor then Ins substance
and therefore thev doubted the peril of periury. Well sayd the Cardynall sythe you dread
thecrvmeof penurye, it is asigne of grace, and therefore I will for you borowe of the kyng
i lv le Make you your bylles of your owne value likely to reportyour fame and then more
busvnes nedeth not to, you see what two costly armyes the kyng hath ready against bothe
^aCce ami Scotia,,!, Uierfore nowe shewe your selfes lyke louyng subiectes for you be
able inouah And 1 dare sweare the substance of London is no lesse worth then two Myl-
lionsof Se Then sayd thecitczons we would to God that it were so and the citie ,s sore
miredby the great occupiyng of straunuers. Well sayd the Cardinal it shalbe redressed
3 I iue But oifsaterday next I shall appoint one to receiue your bylles, and he that is of
o SuUaPce let him esorte to me and I will be secrete and good to him.
<S46 THE. XIIIJ. YERE OF
Thus the Citezens departed in great agony saiyng, that at the last loane some lent the fifth
part and now to haue tlie tenth part was to muche. And here note wel that the. x. thousand
poundes that was lent was not taken as the. xx. of euery mannes substauce, but it should
be allowed as part of the. x. part, and this valuacion should performe vp the whole, x. part.
Great was the mournyng of the common people as it is euer in suche cases of paytnentes.
But in the ende one doctor Tonnys a secretary to the Cardinal came to the Chapiter house
of Poules, and to him the citezens brought in their bylles and on their honestie they werere-
ceiued, whiche values afterwarde turned them to displeasure.
The spiritualtie made suite to thelorde Cardinal that no temporal men should sit to exa-
myne them to be made priuy to their possessions & goodes : wherfore bishoppes and Abbottes
were appointed commissioners to take the value of their substaunce.
In this season was great plentie of vitayle sent to Caleys, and to the lorde Admyral were
sent Tentes and Pauilions some of. Ixx. lodgynges for him and other noblemen.
The Friday beyng the. xxii. day of August certain Welshemen were lodged at a poore vil-
lage named Cause, because in Caleys was verye narow lodgyng, and the same night. CCCC.
Frenchmen passed by Caleys haue for lacke of good watche and came into the same village
and set fyer in the house where the Welshemen lay, which ranne awaye naked into the Ma-
rishe and saued themselfes, but their horses wer taken. This chaunce happened for lacke of
good watche.
When the lorde Admyrall had brought all his menne out of the shippes and that all the
souldiors were come out of Englande and the ordinaunce set on land, then came into Calevs
Iiauen. xiiii. shyppcs out of Spayne from the Emperor whiche set on land. CCC. Spanyardes
%vhiche wer sent to serue the lorde Admyrall and vnder him they were put. When all thynges
were ready, the lorde Admyral set in order his battels and for the forwarde he appointed sir
Robert Ratcliffe, lorde Fitzwater for Capitayne, and with him diuers knightes and gentlemen
whiche capitaine kept his men in very good order.
After that battail folowed the ordinaunce, artilerie and other trusses with vitail and all ne-
cessaries, & for the capitaine of the horsemen was appointed sir Edward Gyldford, by
whom the currers andvewers of the countrey were appointed. Themyddle warde ledde the
lorde Admyrall himselfe, and in his compaignie the lorde Edmond Hawardehis brother
with many worshipfull knightes, squiers, and tall yomen : The last battail was ledde by two
valiaunt knightes of the Garter sir Wyllyam Sandes and sir Richard Wyngfclde, and with
theim was sir Richard Icrnyngham with many other. In good order of battail they passed
ouer Newnarn bridge the. xxx. day of August to a place called Calkewell & there lodged be-
twene y Wyndmyl £ the Marrishc.
The same day came to the lorde Admyrall a certain nombre of wiide persones, as menne out
of seruice and apprcntist.'s that ranne fro their Masters and other ydle persones, and him de-
sired that they might bo retained in the kinges wages, to whom he answered, that the kyng
had appointed the nob re of suche as should haue wage?, whiche was fully complete and ad-
uised theim to returne into England nnd not to loyter there. Then sayd a tall yoman, my
lorde here be many good felowcs that with your fauor would ieopard to get or lose, for their
mynde is to be reuenged on the Frenchcmen enemies to the kyng mid his real me. Good felowc
sayd thelorde Admyrall, their mindes be good, but if for lacke of concluite they should bo
cast awaye, it were a losse to the kyng and a great corage to the Frenchemen. Then all the
compaignie cried, Ictvs go in the name of God and sainct George: Then after counsail take
he gaue them a Pcnon of sainct George and bad them aduenture (of whiche they were called
aduenturers) and farther bad theim that if they .got any botiethey should euer bryng it to thar-
my and they should be payde to the vttermost, and then he gaue them money and comaunded
them weapons & so the sayd. xxxi. day the sayd aduenturers. iiii.C. in nombre and mo, sette
'forwarde before the host, but how they did, you shall heare afterwarde.
Monday the fyrstday of September the armye remoued towarde Guisnes, which day was
Tery hote & drinke lacked, and water was not' nere, so that some died for faintnes, £ this
night they laye at Guysnes.
6 Tewsday
KYNG HENRY THE. V1U. 647
^ Tewsday the second day of September the armye passed towarde Arde: and in the golden
Valay where the kyng of England and the Frenche kyng met two yeres before, there met
with tharmy of England two capitaines of the Burgonions, the one called the erle of Egre-
mond the Seneschal of Henaude, and the lorde of Bauers Admyral of Flanders with v.C.
horsemen, like men of warre. The lord Admyral in gentle rnaner receiued these two capi-
taines and their compaignie £ so they ioyned theimselfes to theEnglishe armye, and thesame
day they tooke lodgyng at Arde south from the toune, where they were wel vitailed, & there
lay Wednesday all day, and the Burgonyons lay vnder the castle of Mountorrey. The next
day they remuued to the vale of Lyekes, & there encaped themselfes. Sir George Cobhain
thesame day w. ii.M. men, by the Admyralles comaudement came to the toune of Selloys &
set fyer in the toune, & when the toune was on fyer lie assauted the castle. They within
made resistence, but it auayled not, for the walles were entred & the souldiers taken, and
the castle set on fyer, & with gunpouder ouerthrew the walles: then w hast heremoued to a
toune called Brtine bridge and set it on fyer, and also brent a toune called Senekerke, and
also the tounes of Botyngham and Manstier & so returned to the lord Admyrall whiche
gaue him great thankes, The Frenchmen appered in plumpes, but yet they durst not reskue
their tounes.
On saterday the lord Admyrall rernoued with the whole army to a ground beside sainct
Nerbyns and there lay all sonday beyng the. vii. day of September, where he sent diuers
companies out which forraged thecoutreys & brent many villages as farre as thei might tra-
uail : the lord Admyrall caused the toune of Narbyn to be brent, & tooke the castle and
rased it and vtterly. destroyed it.
On Monday the. viii. day, he remoued to Dauerne and brent all the tounes as he passed, .
and liyng there, he brent the toune of Dauerne and cast doune the castle of Columberge &
the castle Rew, but the churches of Dauerne and a house of Nonnes were saned by his co-
Hiaundement.
Thesame day was brent saint Marie de Boys and all the countrey tweluemyle about was of
light fyer, the people fledde and left tounes and Castelles full of wyne, corne, and all other
necessaries, so that in Dauerne the Englishmen found great plentie, whiche or they went a-
way thev set a fyer.
The ix. day of Septembre the whole armye came before the toune of Boyardes in whiche
was a Church more liker a castle then a Church, for it was dope ditched with drawe bridges
and with B.uhuirkc-s fortefied and lopes very warlike, The Admyrall beholdyng it sayd, this
is like no house of pniier. Then he commauded his people to entre the dychcs and plucke
doune the drawe bridges and set fyer in y Churchc, and with gunpouder ouerthrew it, and
brent the toune and all the villages adiacent to the same, the people cried .and fledde, well
was he that might saue himselfe.
The x. day, thei came to the toune of Vans, which was nye the toune called Eoucamberge
and there a company of Frenchmen wer askricd, for out of a wood they showed themselfes,
but thev taryed not long, but without profer of encountre they departed. Wherfore the
whole army "toke their campe & there lay till the. xiii. day which was saterday, euery day scnd-
vn« plumpes out to set fyer in the countrey, and on jhat day they toke the way to Frynge or
Frvnees and there brent the toune and destroyed the castle, which was very strong.
The Sonday beyn« the. xiiii. day, the lorde Admyral with his compaigny in great rameand
vll wether passed by hilles and valeys verve painefully, and with great labor came to a toune
called Blaniow, and there taried monday all day, & there all day counsailed the capitaines both
ivhat was best to be done,
a trumpet from the Castle
speake wih the capitaine, whiche incontinent sent for him : my lorde capitaine sayd the
trumpet he capitaine of Hedyng desireth you to come thither and see the place, and on the
wa es he wil big you good lucke, and he prayeth you not to hurt the dere in his parke, and
f^ a y oth hurtSyyou c°an do him he careth not : well sayd the lorde Admyrall, I wdl send
648 THE. XIIIJ. YERE OF
V • '
The answer, him answcre by my trumpet. Incontinent he called a trumpet and had him go to Hedyng to
Mounsire de Bees and to say to him that he woukl come to the castle of Hedyng, £ if he
slay any of my menne with his artilerie, let him trust me, that If I gette the castle I shall
saue neither man, woman, nor childe. So with that message the trumpet departed & decla-
red it, to Mounsire de Bees, whiche sayd that it was spoken of noble corage, and so the
trumpet returned, and thesame day the catnpe was remoued and the whole army came about
Hedyng be. tjie castle Of 'Hedyng, at whiche tyme the toune of Hedyng was sore infecte with pestilence,
wherefore agenerall commaundement wasgeuen that no ma should ones come into the toune,
1 howbeit some of the Burgonyans did and set tyre in the houses.
When the siege was planted, the ordinaunce was very light for the wayes were so depe
and the grounde so wet that the great ordinaunce could not be caried. This thing was well
debated by the lord Admyral and the capitaines. After they had been there, xi. dayes, fyrst
they considered that the castle cou]d not be obtained without great ordinaunce, "which in no
wise could then be caried, and also if they with the light ordinance shotyng should spend all
their pouder and not get the castle then in theim might be reckened great foly, and also they
should be in great ieopardie to passe without ordinaunce, and further the plage began sore
in the armye, whcrfore they determined to leaue the siege and returnc. Hut while they lay
at y toune they bet dounu rorrcs, galleries, chymnies, and suche other thingesas the liglit or-
dinaunce would bete dounc, whiche sore defaced the beautlo of the castle. They also de-
stroied all the dere in the Parke, whiche were falowe dere and left none for the capitaine.
why the* I*16 Englfebeiuen were clerely determined to liaue assautcd tlie castle if the Bnrgonions
tajticwas would hauc done thesame : but they refused, whiche seyng the Englishmen left the assaut
;i alone: For though the Englishemen had gotten it, it should haue been deliuered to the Em-
pcrours vse by the treatie, for he clamed it as his inheritaunce, whiche caused the Englishe-
men to leaue the assaut.
^11(' so l'ie' xx'"' c'a-v °* September they rcrcd the siege and set theim selfes in good order of
battail and passed styl onwardc til they came to Dorians and brent the toune, and rased the
castle, and fro thence came to the good towne of Darner and brent and spoylcd thesame.
Thus he brent all the way as he passed: and cuer the wether was worse, and men fell sicke,
wherfore the Burgonions and the Spaniards returned into Flaundcrs about Betwyn.
Then the lorde Admyrall saw that it was no lyine to kepe the fddc, turned bacward in good
ordreof battail & came to Caluice the. xvj. day of October. And while he lay at Calavce
he sent out sir Willya Sandes, sir Moricc Barkrk-y, sir Willyam Fitzwillyam with. iii."M.
men, whiche brent Marguyson whiche was ne\\ly edified and for tefied, they brent also the
tonne of sainct lohncs Rhode & Temple toune, ^ many villages. At this voiage wer take
many prisoners. xiiti.M. shcpe, xiiii.C. great cattal as' Oxen & Kyen, & xiii'.C. hougts,
and vi. C. Mares & Horses, with this great hotie this crew returned to Calayce in
safeiic.
Then y lord Adinyra! sent sir Ihon Walop with. ix.C. men to saint Omcrs to lye there and
atGuysnes, Hammes and at Marke, & at Oyhe left another nombrc and left capitaines to
ouersethem, cS: all the soudicrs had a monclhcs wages payde them & so returned into Kn<>-
land.
The aduenturera taricd stil and gut many good prayes, & brou2ht to the garrisons, and
lacked nothyng: they were muche (!rad of all the common people for of them they had
great prayes, and dayly learned featcs of warre whiche made them the bolder.
When thejorde Admirall had set all thinges in an order on that side tht- sea, he tolte shippe
&with the Nauy came into the riuer of Thames and so to the kvn<', of whom he was well
welcommed & iiot vnworthy.
In this season were banished out of Southwarke. xi''. Scottes whiche had dwelt there a
long season & wer couueied fro parishe to parishe by the constable like men y had
the realnie, & on their vitermost garuicnt a white .crosbc before & another be-
hynd
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 649
liynd them. Thus were they conueyed through London Norlhwarde till they came to Scot-
lande.
While the lord Admiral was this in Fraunce destroiyng the countrey, the noble Erie of
Shrewesbury lorde George Talbot & Steward of the kynges houshold prepared by the kynges
commaundement a great army toward Scotland: for the kyng was enformed that Duke
Ihon of Albany (whiche in y Parliament of Scotland was made lord gouernor of the realme
and of the yong kyng clurynghis nonage) had raised a mightie & puissaunt hostofScotfes to
the nomber of, Ixxx.M. men as after was well knowen, whiche were warlike appointed, & that
he with. v.C. Frehchemenwithhandgunnes and other great artillerie wascomyng forward to in- .
uade thewcst Marches of England adioynyng toward Scotland. Wherefore the kyng sent worde
to therle of Shrewesbury, which with all diligece like a noble capitain set forward towarde
Yorke, & wrote to therles of Northumberland, Westmorland and Darby, to the lorde Da-
cres, Lumley, Clyfford, Scrope, Late me r, Ogle, Darcy, Conyers, & to all other gentlemen
to be ready \Vin. viii. houres warnyng with all their powers, and so in iorniyng, he with his
power whiche was great, came to the ciiie of Yorke abidyng the ordinaunce, and the lordes
and all other thynges necessary in suche a case.
In the ineane season the Scottes were come nigh to the citie of Carleyle and lodged them
ni«h the water of Eske not farre fromSulway sandes, & there made their abode. Therle of
Westmorland, y lord Dacres, the lorde lloos, the lorde Mountagle, with the knightes of
'Lancashire, Westmerlund & Cumberland were ready with. xxviii.M. men to haue geuen
them battail.
When the Scottes sawe that they could not come into Englild with out battail, the lordes
of Scotland drew to counsail, and amongest all one wyseman sayd, my lordes, hether be we
come by the comaundement of my lorde Gouernor the duke of Albany, but for what cause ™es!'^_ns
the warVe is we should know : you al remehre that the last .war re was to y realme of Scotland tishc Erie.
muche prciiuliciall: For kyng lames the. iiii. brought the realme of Scotlfid to the best that
euer it was: and by his war re it was brought to y worst almost that may be, for by that vvarre
as he & his nobilitie slaine, whiche Scothld sore lameteth : Who r fore by mine aduisc let vs
go toy duke it know of him the cause. The thei al came to y dukes court, & therle of Ar-
rayn an ancient ma spake for the all & sayd, my lord Gouernor, by_your wil & comaudcment
here is asseblecl almost all y nobilkie of Scotland w their power vpo a pretence to cntrc into
Engliid, my lordes here would know y cause & quarel why this war is begon, if it might
please your imodnes, it should wel satisfie their mules.
The duke studied a "ood while & sayd: this questio would haue been demanded or now: The™-
O " n ,^ i—i PI 1*1 T swtrc or thp
know v I for the very louethat I here to y realme of Scothid, ot the whiche I dukc of A1.
For well you know v I tor the very
haue PIV name, honor & lignage. I haue passed 3' sea-, out of y noble realme ot 1< rauce into b»y-
this realme of Scotlud. One great cause to bring you to avnitie when you wer in deuision
by
ife \> UV-U LU u »» "•»""•'-' v-lvll-~' J i ' •> /• e • i o
w biiner displaied : then was no questio demanded 01 y i ' quare[, &
this realme of Scotirid. One great cause to bring you to avnitie when you wer in deuision
by reason of which deuision your realme was likely 'o be coquered & destroyed. Also y
Frenche kyn-r by my suites & interccssio wil iovne w you in ayde against thenglishe nacion:
& when this war was determined in y parliament, you made mecapitain, authonsyng me to
•calme of Entrlful & annex it to our realme & make a Monarchic: Jor
650 THE. XIIIJ. YERE OF
mies, & vs thev haue euer hated, & yet we liaue euer with stode the til aty last battail of
J3ranxston where we by chance lost our souereigne lord & many noble men, but thai .was
by treason of his lord chaberlain, & yet I thinkc we wan y felde: whiche murther I thinkc
all we noble men ought to reuenge. Tlierfore I would. that you should coragiously auauce
yourself in this quarel to get honor & to be reneged.
Then a sad ma called the president of the cousail sayd, my lord, Fortune of war is led
by him that all ledeth, £ he striketh the stroke, we can worke no miracles, & here are y.
lordes of Englad redy to cncountre vs, and surely they will fight, for their power shall en-
creace daily and ours is at the hyest. And if God geuc vs y victory as I trust he will, yet.
haue we not won the field. For redy coming is }" lord Talbot erle of Shrewcsbury so muche
drad in Frafice as you know well, with a great puissant army, & there is no doubt but the
kyng of Englad wil send or bring another army, if we should chauce to get the first battail :
if we get the. ii. fcld, that will not be wont losse of many nobles, by reason whcrof the
realme shalbe weaker. And if we be onercome, how many shalbe slaine God knoweth :
They y fle be worthy to be reputed as traitors to y king & so by wilfulnes £ folishe hardyncsy
realme shalbe in ieopardie to be vndone, & I say, while the king is win age, we ought to
mouc no war, sith by war we may bring him to distruccion. Alas sayd y duke, here is al y
puissauce of Scotlacl: if we returne, we shall encorage our enemies, & the realme of Scot-
lad shal euer be rebuked & defamed. All this cotnmunicacion in cousail was written by one
sir Lother priest & Scot and secretary to y quene of Scottcs, whiche was a secretary there
iny host at that tyme, to a Scottishe priest y dwelt in Lodon: & farther lie wrote that the
Scottishe king did muche for the Frenche kynges pleasure to draw the lordes of Englad \V
their powers toward that partie & to put the kyng of Englad to charges, so that he should not
inuade Frauncc.
After thiscomunicacion thcqucne of Scottes whiche doubted the sequele of thi.s matter,
set worde to the duke £ him required to comon of a peace w the warden of thtn«lishe
Marches, which sent an llerauld to the lord Daker theiV warden of v west Marches, v lord
Dakcr agreed, & vpo hostages wet to the duke of Albany into his cape, where y queue of
Scottes by that tyme was come, & so ther was an abstinence of war taken for a season: and
in themeane tyme the duke and the queue promised to send Ambassadors to the kyng of Eng-
land to conclude a peace : And thus y Scottes returned into their houses. This truce was take
the xi. day of Septeber botwcne Englad and Scotlad this xiiii. vcre of y kynij. Therle of
Siirewesbury hearyng of the truce by the lord Dacres letters returned with al'his copany, sory
that he had not gone forward on the Scollcs. In this season the comissioncrs sat fur the
loane of the x. part of euery mans substauncc in euery j-hyre, the people were sworne and
borne auaunced them selfes more then they were worth of pride, not reniembryng what was
comyng, and the commissioners did what they could to sei the people, to the vtterrnoste,
whiche afterwarde turned the people to muche heauines, £ by reason of this, great sumt:;es
of money were letiied, but the moste part were not content, because the loane was so so-
dainly payed. But vnder the value of, v. pound no m;i lent a pcny. 'I he. vii. day of Octo-
ber was. iiii.M. pound payde to the citie of London whiche \\as lent for a priuatc cause
about the loane of the. x. part.
In this yere the bakers of Eondon came and told the Mayrc that conic would be dcre,
Avhernpon he and the aldermen made prouision for xv.C. quarters, & when it was come they
would bye none, andtaade the comon people beleue that it was musty, because they would
ytter their owne, so that the lord Cardynal was faine to proue it, and found the bakers false
and commaunded them to bye it.
The xvi. d.iy of October the kyng lay at Ilitchyn in Hartford shyre to sec his Ilaukes five
and by chauncc, there the kynges lodgyng was on fyer & he in great feare, but in no ieopardie
and so tne kyng came shortly to London and sent for the Mayre and diuerse comyners and
to them gaue thankesfor many kyndnes whiche they thought they had wel deserued.
e warrc thus cotmumg betwene the Frenche kyng and the kyng of England, there was
q, valiaunt
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 651
a valiauut capitane Constable of the castle of Hammes vnder the lorde Mountioy called sir
Richard Whethyll, the Freche men him somuche hated that they deuised a policie to take
him, & so on Christmasday at night there issued out of Bullain CC. horsmen and CCC.
fotemen, and somuche they tranailed that all together were come to a place where Hoppes
grew, nere Hammes castle called Catte Hall. When they were come thither, they kept theim-
-selfes couert, and in the morning they brake vp the Turne pyke by sainct Gertrudes: Then
sent they iuto Hammes Marche. ix. or. x. fotemen to take cattell. In the castle the alarme
rang, but the embushment kept theim still close. The Constable pcrcciued what the
alarme ment, and armed him, & so did his archers, and toke his horse, and thre getle-
men went on fote by him. The Frenchmen of purpose driued the cattel here & there as ,
though it would not be driuen, sir Richard Whethyll pursued them. When the driuers sawe
him, they droue the cattel into a great felde: then were the bushment of horsmen and fote-
men betwene him and sainct Gertrudes, and they sodaynly brake out on him, and the thre
.gentlemen on fopte fought valiantly but they were slaine, the knight alighted and fought on
fote manfully, but he was borne doune with pykes, and sore wounded and so was compelled
to yclde himselfe prisoner: by that tyme wer xxx. archers come out of the castle, and when
they sawe the great nomber of the Frenchemen, then they knewe that their capitaine was be-
trayed and so returned.
In this Christmas whiche was kept at Eltham, the Cardinal made diuers rc-formacions
for the kynges housholde, and all they that had no masters were commaunded to auoydc.
The. xxvii. day of February sir Ihon Walop knight sent. Ix. auenturers from Guysnes to
seke auentures, and they mctte with a gentlemanne called Thomas Palmer whiche went with
them. And out of a castle betwene liullaine and Margin-son called Hadyngbam came
out. Ixxx. Frenchemen with Pykes and Crosbowes, and sctte on the same Palmer whiche
him defended.
Al his company sauyng, xxiii. persons wer gone about to sckc their pray. Ihese. xxm.
persones him manfully succoured & after the Frenchmen had siume his horse and wounded
him~ his company slew. iii. Frenchemen and toke xxv. on line whiche were all hurt & so wer
thenglislunen, for the Frenchemcn fought sore. AH these prisoners wcie Drought to Guis-
nes *& the remnant of thaducnturers returned with muche cattel.
The last dav of February. Ix. Englishmen archers & bihnen came to a place called samt
Anthonies nere to Marguison & entrcd y houses and fell a spoilyng : The Frenchmen were
t!-rof adiiertiiecl by a spy, & came on & set on a few Englishmen which wer together : then
w-ith noise other of thenglishmen approched, so they were. xl. persones. ^Ihen can* out a ^^
advent tainted on y other had * that t
t he Freeh fc V.M. horsemen &. x.M. Almaines, & that he hud promised y French kyng
he hid thVc. xv.M. men, he would do one of these, ii. thynges, cither sley y kyiig ot
Entmd in hattaii; or els take him prisoner, or els driue him out ot his realm* Ihese were
brakes of a noble man and very folishe.
Ye haueS before how truce was taken by y duke of Albany & the lord 'acres for a
on etwn Fn"lad & Scotlad & that Ambassadors should be senttoy kmgot Lnglad, so
k tTv in October Scordyng to their accustomed doublenes they sent. in. personages o small
ehtuor as it semed as Ambassadors fro Scotlad : they were smal y regaruod fc shortly de-
ct&SwSSi^s^^rgate
^^rf°j,^,r
SScdSl- to SfcVSrtS 5 Jbc whota Marches Which U-Wu.., accepted^- _
4 O 2
652 THE. XIIIJ. YEIIE OF
same, & so departed lord Warden. But how soeuer it happened he made suite to y kyng £
his coiisail & neuer left, till he was discharged of thesame, & then therle of Surray lord
Admyral of Englfui was made general warden, & the lord Marques Dorset was made Warden
of thest Marches & rnyddil, and the lord Dacres of the west Marches: whiche. iii. lordes
sped them thether the. vi. day of March for y defence of the border's. For refusyng of this
office therle of Northuberland \vasnot regarded of his owne tenautes whiche disdained him
and hisblod and muche lameted his foly, and all men estemed him without hart or loue of
TV loane h°nor and chiualrie.
gathered, The kyng out of had sentcomissions to gather y loane, this was called the practisyng of the
loane, which sore emptied mens purses. In the same moneth were musters taken through the
realme & euery ma comauded to be ready within a dayes warnyng to do the kyng seruice in
harnes, which "caused euery man of honesty to bye harnes and weapon.
The lorde Marqu'es Dorset warden of the East Marches betwcne England & Scotland
accompanied with sir Willyam Buhner and sir Arthur Darcy and many other noble men,
the second day of April then bcyng shere thursday cntred into Tyuedale & so. x. myle inta
Galoway and brent on euery side townes and villages, and the Scottes in great nomber
shewed "themselfes on the hylles £ did not approche, & so he all that night taricd in the
Scottishe ground £ on good Friday returned with their bode whiche was. iiii. M. head of
nete into England, when they had brent Grymslay, Mowhouse, Dufibrde mylles, Acke-
forthe, Crowlyng, Nowcs manor, Midder Crowling, Marbottel, Low Bog, Sefforth Maner,
Myddvl rigge, Primsed, Broket, Shawes Harucl, wide open Haught & other tou;ies & vil-
lages, & yet lost not many men.
The. xv. day of April began ne a Parliament at the blacke Fryers in Lddon, £ that day
the Masse of the holy ghost was song, all the Ionics bcyng present in their Parliament
robes. And when Alusse was finished the kyng came into the Parliament chamber and
there satte doune in the scatc royall or throne, and at his lete on the right side satte the
Cardynnl of Yorke & the ArchcbUhop of Canterbury, & at the raile behind stode doctor
Tuslal bishop of Lodon, which made to the whole Parliament tin eloquent Oracion decla-
TheOra- ryng to the people the office of a kyno;: Fvrst he must be a man of Judgement accordynj;
cionofDoc- , • i- • 11 T» • i /\ i- • • i u t i i
tor Tustai to the saiyng of the Prophet Dauid Detts indicium tuum regi aa, $c. Also he must be a
lnan °^" Sreat learnyng according to the saiyng of the Prophet'.1, Emdiinhri qin
terrain. Accordyng to whiche saiyngcs he savd that (:od had sent vs u prince of great
judgment, of great lernyng, £ great experience, whiche accordyng to his princely dutie
forgut not to studye to sctte forwarde all thyngcs whiche might bo profitable to his pc-ople
and realme, least ther might belayde to his charge the saiyng of Seneca E.s rc.i 6s" noti hahcs
tempus cs.ic rev? Art thou a kyng and hast no tymc to be a. kyng, which is asmuch to say,
as art thou a kyng and doesl nothyng profitable to thv pc'iple: Art ihou a kyng & seest the
people hano an in?u('tici-:-nt laue r Art thou a kyng ami \\\\\ not prouide remedy for the inis-
chiefc of tliy people? These thynges hauc mouod the kyn^es hi^iincs to call this his
high court of Parliament both tor the remedy of mi.-dik-fcs whiehe be in the common
law, as recouerics, forain vouchers and corrujit trials. And for making & orderyn-j of
new estatntes which may be to the high uua'inccmrnt of the co.innon \\ealth, wherfore
he wylleth the commons to re pa re to the cfJmon hon.e air.l th'M'eio elect theim a spea-
ker, or their comon mouth, and tocertifie the lorde Cbauncdlour of .the sarne, wiiichc
should thereof make report to the kyngos mo-tc nolile grace, whicho .shoulil declare
his pleasure when he would bane him presented before his persone. Tins was the
cause of the Parlyament he sayd, but surely of these thingcs no wonlc \\;M Sj)oken in
the whole Parlyament, and in effect no good act made except the grannt of a great sub-
sidie were one, but accordyng to this instruccion the commons departed to the common
The ora- house and chose for their speaker sir Thomas Moore knight & presented him the saterday
Th"mLSir ' ^ter in the Parliament chamber, where he accordyng to the oh! vsage disabled himselfe both
in wit, learnyng, and discrecion, to speakc before the kyng, & brought in for his purpose
how
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 65
how one Phormio desired Hanniball to come to his readyng, whiche thereto assented, and
when Hannyball was come he began to reade, de re militari, that is of Chiualrie, when
Hannyball perceiued him, he called him arrogant foole, because he would presume to
teache him whiche was master of Cbiualrie, in the feates of warre. So the speaker sayd,
if he should speake before the kyng of learnyng and orderyng of a comon welth and such
other like the kyng beyng so well learned & of suche prudence & experience might say to
him as Hannyball sayd to Phormio. Wherfore he desired his grace that the commons might
chose another speaker: The Cardinall answered, that the kyng knewe his witte, learnyng
& discrecion by long experience in his sendee*. wherfore he thought that the commons had
chosen him as the moste metest of all, and so he did admit him. Than sir Thomas Moore
gaue to the kyng his moste humble thankes, and desired of him two peticions: The one,
if he should be sent from the commons to the king on message & mistake their entent, that
he might with the kynges pleasure resort againe to the commons forHhe knowlege of their
true meanvng: The other was, if in communicacion & reasonyng any man in the comon
house should speake more largely then of dutie he ought to do, that all suche offences
should be pardoned, & that to be entred of recorde, whiche two peticions were graunted,
and so thus began the Parlyament and continued as you shal heare.
Because an euii chauce happened to the great rebuke of all christen princes, I entend TheRho
briefly to declare thesame miserable chaunce. In the beginnyng of this yere Sultan Solyman1*
Pac called y great Turke whiche was but the viii. of y ifgne of Ottoman, the first that toke
vpo him to be a great capitain or ruler. And to whom Sultan Selyme his father had lost
thempyres of Constantinoble, Trapesonde, Alexandry, & Babylon, with many diuerskyng-
dotnes"& realmes: whiche Sultan Solymon the yere before had gotten the toune of Belgrado
beynff the key of Hungary. Because he savve all y great princes in Christendome now atwhyye
discord, thought it most for his honor & profile to make warre on the Isle of y llodes and %*£
to take thesame, which Isle had been kept by the space of. CC. xiiii. yeres by the breth- Rhodes,
ren or kni^htes of the order of sainct Ihones of lerusale. Dyuev* thinges moued him to
take this enterprice. One was because this Isle stocle so that the religious of thesame
oftentymes toke & destroyed his shippes as they came with golde and other riches from
Etfvpr Sirie & other Estparties to Constantinoble, so that by theim of that Isle he sustayn-
ed more hurt then by all Christendome, because the sayd Isle stode in the entry toward
Const!' inople Another tnocion was because his father when he died charged him to assay
to Ml-e the Rhodes for to be reuenged of the shame that they had done to his graundfather
Mahomet the en-cat Turke whiche was with dishonor beten fro the siege of the Rhodes. But
Ihe areatest occasion of all was the exhortacion of a great counsailer of the religio called
\mi7-ewe \mvral borne in Portyngale, whiche knew the whole estate & in what case the
toune stode in: The ca.se why ibis Andrew Amyral bare malice to his religion, was be-
cause after the death of Frier Fabrica de Laretto lord master of their rehg.on, he was not
( ectcd to that honor, but one Philip de Vylliers de Lisle Adam ot Fraunce was named to
be lord Sister, wherfore the said Andrew prouoked the Turke to come to the Rhodes.
The .-eat Turke seyng so great an occasio offered & desiryng honor, & also knowing the
forre^'cy Rhodes to lackeinunkions (for surely the brethren of the sayd order wer
1th of suche wealth & pride, and also liued after suche an vngrac.ous& : vngodly fashion,
ha they toke e ther 1 eede of their vow & solempne profession, nor a so did forese the hyng
to come «o tl t the great welth of them, & their cuil liuyng blinded them, so hat hey
T/- T,, durst not ones attept to set on their earrison, & so they beyng eleuate in
oin? of pride left their ou'ne vnfurnished and so wer sodainly surprised as you
' Turke couertly prouided for. iii. C. saile, in y which he caned
.
a ,1 e ca" ed Co whfch aSdS so directly against J Rhodes that a
1£ » 5» ite. •» »".che place tbe Tu.ke sen, letters to y a
H » » . ».ce pac
6.54. THE. XIIIJ. YERE OF
named Philip de Vylliers lord Master of the sayd religion signifiyng to him that he would
haue y sayd Isle for y great damage y they had done to him & his people, and if they
would yeld to him the sayd Isle, he promised on his faytb & by Mahomet his fyrst prophet,
they should haue no damage nor hurt hy him, £ that they that would depart shuld go in
safetie, & they that would tary & seme him should naue good wages, & if they refused this
to do, he sware that he would suhuert the walles of their fortresse and destroy them all and
make them slaues, whiche letter was dated at Constantinople the fyrst day of In ne. Tlie
said Lorde Master and his compaignie were greatly abashed of this letter, but yet like
hardy gentlemen they intended to defende them, and made all the preparacions that they
could do in so short a space, and wrote to all princes christen of their nede and distres.
But the Turke like a wyly serpent knowyng the great deuision arnogest y christen princes,
so that he knew that they could sciule no succours to the Rhodes, sent CC. M. Turkes
whiche arriued in the Isle 'of the Rhodes on Mydsomerday, whiche was y feastful clay of y
llhodians in honor of S. Ihon baptist whiche sodain commyng sore abashed the Rhodyans
beyng but. vi. C. knightes and v. M1. other mete to beare armes : yet of noble courage and
trusting in God, they determined to defend the enemies of God, and the. xxvjii. day of
luly the Turke arriued -there in his owne person, whiche rnuche encoraged his people.
When the Turke was arriued, he bent his ordinaunce towarde the tounc and did no great
harme, when he saw that the walles were of that defence that ordinaunce did litle harrne,
. ne caused all his Pyoners to cast yerth one banke ouer another styll till they came within a
bowshot of the wall, and although that many of the pyoners were slain with ordinaunce of
the toune, they neuer ceased tyll they had made a banke of yearth higher by. x. foote then
the wall of the loune, and thei there layde their ordinaunce, so that no persone durst styrre
on the walles or IJulworkes, and -thus with mountaines of yerth was the toune enuironed and
behynd themount&ines lay the Basheaux and chief capitaines of the Turke whiche were euer
redy to take their aduauntage, and dayly they shot into the toune and betdoune houses and
slewe the people in the streates, for they vpon this mount might easely see into the toune.
I3esi<]c tuiS) the Turke caused so many mynes to be made in diuers places, that they with-
in were notable to make countermynes for lacke of people, insomucbe as women were set a
worke to dygge and cary, by reason wherof a great part of the walles were ouerthrowen, and
if they within had not made countermines the tounc had been gotten within a short space.
Also the Turkos in September gauc to the Rhodyans foure great assautcs like valiaunt
warriors, but the Christen men within, so valiantly defended them, that at cuery assaut they
lost at the lest. ii. M. men, and at the fourth assaut they lost. x. M. Turkes anil more.
The great Turke seyng the lossc of his men ut the absautcs, sent for Moustafia Basshaw,
through whose counsail he toke on' him this entcrprice and much blamed him that he had
made him beleue that lie might bane the toune within, xii. daycs or in a moncth at y most,
wheribre in y furie he would haue put him to death, if the other Uasshawcs had not en-
treated for him : but in exclusion y Turke determined clercly to raysc his siege and to de-
part, and so had done if that same night sir Andrew Amyrall that you heard of before and
a I ewe beyng within the Rhodes had not written letters and shot them out on quarelles into
the Turkes army. By whiche letters the. Turke knew the nccessitic of the toune and feblc-
nes of the people, whiche caused him to chaunge his purpose. But this treason was es-
pyed, and the traylors taken and put to terrible execucion. And the Turke caused so many
Mynes to be made, that although some tooke none eftccte, yet by some he ouerthrcw bothe
Bulwarkcs, walles and towers, so that he might entre into the toune : and so on sainct An-
drewes euen he caused a great assaut to be geuen, whiche was very fierce, but yet the
Christen men so valiauntly defended them, that they slewe three thousand Turkes and mo,
and, kept them from enteryng that daie, but the Citezens of the Rhodes after this assaulte,
came to the lorde Master, and praied hytn to haue compassion of them, their wines and
children, and shewed him that if the toune wer taken by assault, (as it was like to be) that
thei al should be cruelly murdered, the Lorde Master muche regarded his honor, and com-
6 forted
KYNG HENRY THE. VII J. 655
forted the people with faire wordes, but by chaunce about thcsame tytne, the great Turke
sent a letter into the Rhodes, willyng theim to deliuer the toune, and they all should haue
their Hues and goodes, and they that would tary, should tary in quiet, & thei that would de-
part, should sauely depart.
When this letter was knowen, then the people cried out on the lorde Master to take the
ofire, wherfore he callyng all his counsaill together seyng that it was not possible to kepethe
totine longer, both for lacke of artilary and vitaile, and also because his nomber was so
minished that scace he had souldiers to kepe the walles: wherefore he by greate aduice de- ~
termined to take the Turkes offer, and so sent to hym twoo of his religion, for the farther yng'v^of -
conclusion and assuraunce of thcsame, w.hiche well entertained them, and had writynges the Rh°dc£;
sealed of all thynges that they desired, to which two. knightes, Aymeche Basshaw sware
by his faith that there was slain at the siege. Ixiiii. tbousande Turkes, and. xl. thousande
dedde of mortalitie and mo.
And so on Christinas daie, the greate Turke hymself entered into the Rhodes, and toke
•possession therof, and the lorde Master and all his religion, the first daie of January tooke
ship and sailed to Candy, and so in conclusion came to Rome, and there declared his
chaunce and aduenture. Thus was the toune and the isle of the Rhodes, taken by the
great Turke, whiche was a greate succor to all Christian men, resortyng into the East partes
of the world, whiche chaunce was muehe lamented thorowe all Christendom, and much
blame put in all Princes, because they sent no succor nor aide to the Isle.
And this yere the Byshoppe of Duresme died, and the kyng gaue the bishoprike to the
Cardinall, and he resigned the bishoprike of Bathe, to doctor Ihon Clerke master of the
Holies, and he made sir Henry Marney his vicechamberleyn lorde Priuie Seal-e, & after
created hvm lorde Marney. In thende of this yere, doctor Blithe bishopp of Chester, was
attached for treason, but he acquite hymself. And aboute this season, the Cardinall of.
Yorke beyng Legate, proued testamentes, and did call before hym, all the executors and
administrator's, of euery Dioces within the realme, so that the bishoppes and ordinaries,
did proue no great willes in their Dioces, except he wer compounded with, not to their litle
tlisauauntage. Also by his power Legantine he gaue by prouencions, all benefices belong-
yng to spirituall persones, by the whiche doyng, he not onclv had the hatred of 'the spirit-
uaPtie, but also he ran into the daunger of the Premunire, whiche he sore after repented, as
it. shall appere in the. xxi. yere of this kyng.
« THE. XV. YERE,
II
THe Parliament beyng begon, as you haue hard before rchersed, the Cardinall aceom-
paianicd wivli cliuerse lordes, aswell of the Spiritualtie, as of the tcmporahie, came the.
xxix
ho
tymcs broken pt
ii^i.i^jvi\titiiviik*v-iijw^ ' ^ • - 1 he (Jar-
dx daie of Aprill into the Common house, where he eloquently declared to the commons, d;lialls< ur.
jw'the Frenche Kyi", Fraunces the first, called the moste Christened kyng, had so often <&
lvmcs broken promise°with the kyng of England, and his welbeloued nepheWChurl.es the
Emperor that the kyng of his honor could no loger suffre. For first he declared, that the
nietYRB of the saied twoo princes at Guysnes, thesaid Frenche kyng was sworne, to kepe
all the articles conteined in the tripartie league, made betwene him, the tinperour, and
the kvn* of En-rlande, si the the whiche tyme, he hath made warre on thernperors dommios,
by Robert de la Marche his capitain. He also hath with holden the tributes and other pai-
mentes, whiche he should paie to the kyng of Englande for redempc.on ot lornay and
Tirwin and not with this content, hath not alonely robbed and sppyled the kyuges sub.ectes,
but also hath sent Ihon duke of Albany into Scotland, to make warre and to inuade this
realme wherfore the King of necessitie was driuen to warre and defence whiche in -no
vise could be mainteined, "without great somes of money, and he thought no lesse then. vm. T^-
CM 1 to be reised of the fifth part of euery mans goodes and landes that ,s to saie
•ilii s. of euery pounde, for he said that the yere folowyng, the Kyng and the Emperor should
make suche warre in Fraunce, as hath not been seen.
656 THE. XV. YERE OF
After that he had declared his matter at length, exhortyng the Commons to aide their
prince, in tyme of necessitie, he departed out of the comon house. The morowe after, sir
Thomas More beyng speker, declared all the Cardinalles oracion again to the commons,
and enforced his demaund strongly, saiyng: that of duetie men ought not to deny to paie.
iiii.- s. of the pound. But for all that, it was denied and proued manifestly, that if the
fifth part of substaunce of the Realme, were but. viii. C. J\i. 1. and if men should paie to
the kyng, the fifth part of their goodes, in money or plate, it was proued, thaMherc was
not so much money, out of the kynges handes, in all the realme, for the fifth part of
euery mannes goodes, is not in money nor plate: For although flue men wer well monyed,
five thousand were not so, the gentleman of landes, hath not the fifth part of the value in
coyne: The Merchaunt that is riche of Silke, Wolle, Tynne, Clothe, and suche Merchaun-
dise, hath not the fifth part in money, the husbande man is riche in Corne and cattell, yet
he lacketh of that some. Likewise viteilers and all other artificers, be riche in houshoide
stufle, and not in money: and then consequently, if all the money wer brought to the kyngcs
handes, then men must barter clothe for vitaile, and bread for chese, and so one thyng for
another: then cosider that after this valuacion, the kyng hath had by the waie of loane. ii. s.
of the pound, whiche is. iiii. C. M. 1. and now to haue. iiii. s. of the. 1. whiche arnountcth
in the whole, xii. C. M. 1. whiche first and last is. vi. s. of the. 1. whiche is almoste the
third part of cuery mans good, whiche in coyne cannot be had within his Realrne, for
the profe whereof was alleged, that if there were in Knglande, but. xv. M. parishes, and
euery parishe should geue a. C. marke, that were but. xv. C. M. marke, whiche is
but. x. C. M. 1. and how many parishes be in England one with another able to spare a. C.
markes, out of cities and tonnes : and where it is written, that in England there bee. xl.
M. Parishe Churches, it was proued that there wer not. xiii. M. parishe churches at this
dale. Then accompt the whole some cannot amounte aboue. x. C. M. 1. and the kyng de-
maudeth. viii. C. M. and he according to this valuacion, hath had. iiii. C. AI. pounde,
therefore it was thought, the some was impossible to he leuied, and if all the coyne wer in
the kynges handes, how should men Hue : Also the kyng had of the spiritual! men the last
yere, iiii. s. of the pounde.
After long reasonyng, there were certain appoynted, to declare the iinpossihilite of this
demaunde to the Cardinal, whiche according to their commisHon, declared to him sub-
stancially the poueriie and skarcenes of the realme : nil whiche reasons and demonstrations, he
litle regarded, and then thesaid persones, nioste mekely bescched hi:> grace, to moue the kynges
highnes, to bee content with a more easier some, to the \\hiche he curri>hly answered, that
he would rather haue his tongue, plucked out of his hedde with a paire of pinsons, then
to moue the kyng, to take any lesse some: with whiche answere, th-y almoste disumied,
came and made reporte to the common house, where cuery day was reasonyng, but nothyng
concluded.
Wherefore the Cardinall came again to the common house, and desired to be reasoned
withall, to whom it was answered, that the fasshion of the nether house was, to hearc and not
to reson, but emong themselfes. Then he shewed the realme to be of great riches, firste,
because the kynges customes were greater nou then they were before tyme : also he alleged
sumpteous buildynges, plate, riche apparell, of men, women, children, and seruauntes,
fatte feastes, and dilicate dishes, whiche thynges were all tokens of great aboundar.ee:
with whiche repetyng of mennes substaunce, as though he had repined or disdained, that
any man should fare well, or be well clrthcd, but hymself, the commons greatly grudged.
And when he was _ departed out of the house, it was proued, that honest apparel of°the
commodities of this Realme, aboundance of plate and honest viandcs, were profitable to
the realme, and not prodigall.
After long debating, the Commons concluded to graunte. ii. s. of the pound, of euery
mannes landes or goodes, that was worth, xx. pounde, or might dispende. xx. pound, to
be taken for the kyng, and so vpwardc of euery. xx. s, twoo. s. and from. xl. s. to. xx.
pounde,
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 657
pounde, of euery. xx. s. xii. d. and vnder. xl. s. of euery hed. xvi. yeres and vpward. iiii. d.
to bee paied in twoo yeres. This graunt was reported to the Cardinall, which therwfth
was sore discontent, and saied, that the lordes had graunted. iiii. s. of the pound, whiche
was proued vntrue, for in dede they had graunted nothyng, but barkened all vpon the
commons.
Then a knight called sir Ihon Huse of Lincolneshire, saied, to please the Cardinal some-
what, letvs gentlemen of fiftie pound lande and vpwardes, geue to the kyng of our landcs.
xii. d. of the pounde, to be paied in thre yere: with whiche mocion diuerse gentlemen wer'
sore discontent. And when the question was asked, ten or. xii. of the gentlemen saied yea,
and when the naie should be asked, the commons saied nothyng, for they would not con-
dempne, nor let the getlemen to charge themselfes, and so by. x. or. xii. persones the gen-
tlemen wer burdened, with. xii. d. more then other, for the whiche graunt, sir Ihon Huse
had muche euill will.
After this graunte made the. xxi. daie of Maie, because of Whitsontide, the Parlia-
ment was proroged to the tenth daie of lune : Duryng which prorogacion, the common
people saied to the Burgesses, sirs, we heare saieyou will graunt. iiii. s. of the pound,
•we aduise you to do so that you maie go home, with many euill woordes, and threat-
enynges.
And in this season, the Cardinall by his power legatyne, dissolued the conuocacion at-
Paules, called by the Archebishop of Canterbury, and called hym and all the clergie, "to his
conuocacio to Westminster, which was neuer seen before in England, wherof master
Skelto a mery Poet wrote.
Gentle Paule laie doune thy sweard:
For Peter of Westminster hath shaiien thy beard.
When the parliament was begonne again, the landed men of fiftie pounde and vpward,
seyng that they were charged, with. xii. d. of euery pounde of their landes, moued, that
all suche as were worth fiftie poude in goodes and vpward, should paie also. xii. d. of the
pounde, in the. iiii. yere. At the whiche mocion was muche reasonyng, & at the last the.
xxvii. daie of lune, the question was asked, and doubtfull it was, whether the yea or nay
•were moste, then was the house diuided, and all the commons seuered theimselfes, from the
]xiii»htes of the sheres, so that one yea part remained onely the knightes of the shire, and
the^comons stifly affirmed that tiie mocioners of this demaunde, wer enemies to the realme.
/Vt the last the Speaker called theim all together, and after long perswadyng, and priuic
-iaboryng of frendes, it was agreed that. xii. d. of the pounde should be paiod the fourth
yere, of"fiftie pounde in goodes.
After this the narliamet the. xxxi. daie of luly, was adorned to Westminster, and there
continued till the. xiii. daie of August, and that daie at. ix. of the clocke in the night dis-
solued Duryp" the tyme of this Parliament the, xxvii. daie of Apnil, was sir Arthur
PlantaWnet bastarde sonne to kyng Edward the fourth, at Brydewell created viscount Lisle,
in the rWht of his wife, whiche was wife to Edmond Dudley behedded
this 'season was true worde brought, that on Christmas daie laste past, the strong
tonne of the Rhodes was deliuered, to the great Turke called Sultan Sohman, with he
whole I landc to the greate hurt of all Christian nacions: the causes of the losse, was the
.euill liuyn" of the brethren or knightes, and negligece of prouision for the defence, and the
nip and treason emongest themselfes, as it is written and reported.
355ESSS «&££ ±r '\= 3± SK
^^SS^S^Sf^^sS
1 a pencion assigned to hym to Hue on, in Brabant and Mo
his there soiornyng, he made muche suite to come into Eng-
request was to hym graunted, and so he and
4 P his
THE, XV. YERE OF
The Kpg his Queue, with fun re gentlewomen, and a trayne of fourtie persones, poore and euil ar>
uf Den- pareled, landed at Douer the xv. daie of lune, where he was nobely receiued, by the erle
tomm'-ng of Deuonshire, and the bishoppes of Excester, and Rochester, and diuerse knightes and
intoEng- £SqUjerS) and so brought to Grenewiche: where the Kyng and the Quene, standyng vnder
their clothes of estate, receiued in the greate hall of Grenewiche, kyng Cristerne and
Quene Isabell his wife. And he dined with the kyng, and she with the quene, both set
vnder the clothe of estate, and were sumpteously serued, of all dilicate viandes.
And when he had soiorned there a season, euery daie feasted at the Court, he was con-
ueighed to Londo, and lodged at Bathe place, where he hearyng of the watche in London,
on sainct Peters euen, desired to se it, and so was accompanied with the duke of Suffolk,
the Erles of Oxford, Essex, and Kent, and diuerse other lordes and ladies, and brought
into the Kynges heel in Chepe, where the citee of London made to him and his wife a
costly banket. And when he had seen the watche, he saicd, I would to God 1 had so-
many Archers, Pikes, and halberders, as I sawe this night, then I trust I would ponishe
suche, as haue wrogfully dispossessed me, of my realme and countrey. And after he had
solaced hymself in London, he resorted to the kyng, of whom he had many great giftes,
and likewise had his wife of the Quene her aunte, and so tooke their leaue, and were con-
ueighed to Douer. And when he had been in Englande. xxii. dales, he tooke shippyng, and
sailed again into Flaunders, preisyng muche the kyng of Englande and his Court.
Duryng all this season, and session of the parliament, the warre was fierce, bothe be-
twene England and Fraunce, and England and Scotlandc, in so muche that eche parte, did
asmuche as in theim laie, to hurte the other. For on the borders of Scctlande, hue the
valiaunt Erie of Surrey, greate Aclmirall of Englande, and the Marques Dorset, and
his three brethren, sir Willyam Comton, and sir Willyatn Kyngston, with diuerse other
knightes and Esquiers, sent tp theim by the kyng, whiclie daily inuaded the Realme of
Scotlande, and threwe doune the Castle of Wedorberne, the castle of West Nesgate, the
Castle of Blakkater, the tower of Mackewalles, the tower of Eat Nesgate, and many other,
and brent to the nomber of. xxxvii. villages, and hariedthe countrey from the Este Marches
to the West, and nener had skirmishe: but they ofte times shewed themselfes in plumpes,
waiting their auantage how be it in all this iurney, were fewe Englishcinen lost. Wherefore
the Lordes perceiuyng, that the Scottes en tended not to make any annie into Englande,
fortefied the frontiers on euery parte, with men and all thynges necessary for defence, for
stealyng, or other small rodes. After all whiche thynges set in a perfectnes, they returned
toward the kyng, and came to the ende of the Parliament.
A ship In this season, the Frenchemen hauyng a greate desire, to huue the kyngcs toune of
Monica- Calice' dcuised first to destroythe haue n, by the which thei supposed, that Calico might
Bcehauen. haue been lightly gotten, for faultc of rcskewe. Whereupon thei laded an old ship of.
iiii. C. tonne, with great Cane stone, in the port of Depe, whiche ship had no mast, but
came with a forsaile, as though the mast had been cut, and cast ouer the bord in the
sea in a tempest. And when she came before Caliche, euery man that sawe her thought she
had been welher driuen, and los-t her mast by tepcst, and so aboute. x. of the clocke at
night the. xxiiii. daie of Maic, thesaid shippe came before Calice hauG, as though she
would cntre for harborow, and so was enteryng and missed the chanell, & turned to the
sandes, towarde Rise banke, and the Frechemen supposyng, that they had been in the very
chanell, launched out their boate, and sodainly set the shippe on fire, and lepte into their
boate, and so skaped by the sUore. When thei of Calice sawe the fire, they were sore
troubled, and at the last when the water was gone they perceiued the ship consumed, and
the goodly Cane stone liyng whole.
Wherfore the lorde Barnes deputie of Calice, the lorde Berkley Icuetenaunt of the castle,
the lorde Sandes thresorer of Calice, and other commanded all the laborers that might be
gotten, to breake the rernnaunt of the ship, and to cary awaie the stone, and so thesaied
stone was brought to Calice : wherupon thesaied capilaines sent a letter, to the capitain of
BulleLne,
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ.
Bulleine, by Calice pursiuant at armes, desiryng him to geue thankcs, to Monsire Lodo-
wyke capitain of Depe, for the sendyng of so faire a ship, and goodly stone to Calice
wiiiche stone thesaied lordes sent worde, they had receiued into the toune of Caiice, and
that it did the muche profite, for the fortification of thesaied Toune, desirynge hvm to
sende more, and they would receiue it on thesame price. To the whiche letter, the capitain
of Bulleine answered, I haue nothyng lost, nor they haue nothyng gotten of me, tell hym
that hath lost, with whiche answere the pursiuant departed. Wherupon thenglisbemen
beyng greued, there issued out of Calice an. C. light men of warre, called auenturers,
and came nere Bulleine, and obteined a greate botie, vvherof the garrison of Biillein beyng
aduertised, issued out and folowed the Englishmen, and sharpely them encountered. The
Englishemen shot so, that the French men whiche were fiue hundred, lighted and fought
sore, so that as it appered euidently, that there wer dedde on the ground, xlvi. Frenchemen,
and. xxii. Englishemen, and the Frenchemen toke. xx. Englishemen prisoners, the residue of
the Englishemen kept them to gether, and so came to Calice, the capitain of this enterprise
was one Lathebery.
The lorde Sandes thresorer of Calice, entendyng to be reuenged on the Frenchemen
called the counsaill of Calice to hym, and declared to them how that the Frenchemen, and
in especiall Monsire cle Bees capitain of Bullein, daily imagened to destroye the Eng-
lishe pale, and that they on the Englishe part had nothyng done yet against them: wherfore
be aduised them all to do some act, and he hymself would be present, and formoste man,
and their leder and capitain. Whereupon it was concluded and commaunded, that euery
man should be in a readines, at the soundynsj of a trompet, vpon whiche warnyng, the
saied lorde Sandes the. ix. daie of luly early in the mornyng, sent furth twoo hundred light
horses, through the Englishe pale, to stoppe the people from goyng, the one towarde the
other, least his enterprise should bee askried, and so the people wer kept in all that daie,
and in the euenyng aboute seuen of the clocke, he hymself with a capitain called Guiot,
Thomas Palmer, Ilipton, Raufe Broke and other, set forward with light ordinaunceandvitaile,
and embattaiied themsdfesingoodarraie, and marched towarde Sandifelde by a. xi. of the
clocke, and there refreshed themselfes and in good ordre, thei caine to the Water of
Sclaukes, not farre from Bullein, whiche was the tenth daie of July.
When thei were askried Alarme was rong all the countrey, and the capitain of Bul-
lein sent furth. Ixx. menne of Armes, and foure hundred footemen with morice pikes, crose-
fcowcs, and hande gunnes, wherefore capitain Guyot was sent with his bend of horsemen,
to aide thsnglishe footemen, whiche were farre behynde, and Capitain Ripton, wasappoynted
to fight with the Frenchemen, and sir Thomas Palmer, and Raufe Broke, with the remnaut
of the horsemen, stode for a stale. Then capitain Ripton profered forwarde with the Spcres
of Calice, and the Frenchmen came on valiauntly, then began a sore skirmishe, the Freche
men bothe horsemen and footemen, defended the passage at the water of Sclaukes, whiche
is but a gut made by force of lande water, but after long fight the Englishemen gat ouer the
water by pure force, and toke the Frenchemens standerd, and a gentleman, whiche was a
man of Armes of Bullein, called Charles de Maruiel, and euer sir Thomas Palmer and
Raufe Broke, stode, & aided where necessitie was moste. Thus this skirmishe continued,
from foure of the Clocke in the mornyng, till. ix. of the clocke, before None, and euer the
Frenchemen encreased, but at the last they retreited themselfes toward Bullein, in whiche
returne diuerse of the wer slain. Or the skirmishe was ended, came the lorde bandes with
the fotemen, with his spere on his thigh, and his helme on his lied, and greatly encoraged his
compaio-me: duryng whiche conflict, diuerse of Picardy had gathered them together and
had taken the church of Odirsaell, whiche was wel fortefied, and a strong place : "hereof the
Lorde Sandes beyng aduertised, he marched thether ward, and in the waie burned all that
might be brent, and sent an officer of Armes, to the that kept the churche of Odirsaell o yeld
the churche to hym, whiche to hym aunswered, that they would stande at defence: then he
commaunded an "assaut, which quickly was done, and the Frenchemen defended the seHes
4 P 2 nun
THE. XV. YERE OF
with hand gonnes, crosebowes, and pikes, so that the Englishme could not entre. Then the
lorde JSandes commaunded a curtail, whiche he had with hym, to he shotte to the churche,
and perced it through : then they within sawe that their defence could not hold, yelded the-
selfes body and goodes. Out of the Churche came. Ixxii. Frenchemen, whiche were taken as-
prisoners, and all the goodes whiche they had caried into the churche were taken for a botie.
Thus by one of the clocke, the said tenth daieof luly, was the churche of Odirsaell taken.
In this while also, had the Frenchemen manned the steple of Odyngham> whiche was a
very strong tower, muche like a castle, to whom the lorde Sandes sent an officer of armes,
to commaunde them to yelde the fortresse, to whom they answered, that they wer Frenche-
men, and to hym they would none yeld, and if he came thether, they would withstand him:
wherupon he and his armie marched thether ward, and aboute foure of the clocke at after
none, he assaulted the steple, and the Frenchmen them selfes valiauntly defended, but so-
dainly by a chauce vnknowen the steple was a fire, and' the Frenchemen fled doune to the
quire, then the Englishemen lightly entered the body of the churche, & assaulted the Freeh
menne, whiche cried mercie and yelded theirh selfes, and at twelue of the Clocke at midnight
the assault ended, and there were yelded out of the churche fortie prisoners.
After whiche tyme, the Lorde Sandes encamped hymself, and made good watche for feare
of enemies, £ in the mornyng called to hym all the priestes, whiche were in bothe the churches,
and stode at defence, and said to the, that they ought not to be men of warre, and notwith-
standyng he had theim as prisoners, yet for Gods sake he relesed the, admonishyng the, that
jf euer after they wer taken at defence, they should be hanged on the nexte galowes: after
whiche monicion done, he deliuered them frely.
About, viii. of the clocke in the morning, he marched forward in good ordre of battaill,
and came to the Castle of Hardyngham, the whiche he brent and spoyled, and so the. xi,
day of luly, he and his copaignie whiche passed not. xii. C. men, of whiche he had lost but
onely. xii. returned to Calice with greate store of bestiall and pillage.
This same season, the Frenche kyng sent an armie of. xviii. M. men, towardesthe parties
of Flaunders, whiche secretly enterprised to take a place called Newdike, which is a strong-
passage, betwenc Fraunce and Flaunders, kept by the Flemynges, whereof they beyng ad-
uertised, arreiscd a great power of. xiii. M. and came to the passage, and slewe of the
Frenche me n. vi. C : then the Frenchemen rcculed, and seuered theimselfes: some went to
Mount Orry, and some to sainct Omers and some brent the subbarbes, they within Mount
Orry defended themselfes, and hurte the capitain of Bulleine, called Monsire'de Bees, and?
slew his horse: wherforc the Frenchmen, wente thence, and brent a village calhjd Arkus:
thus was all the frouniicrs full of Frenchemen, insomuche that in the monethe of August,
they bctte into the toune of Guisnes, the scourers and the scoute watche, whereof began
Alannc, and the Frenchmen whiche were many in nobre, alighted as though they would gene
assaut maintenant, and fiersly proffered toward the dichc?, but when the ordinaunce began
once to shotc, it was no nede to bid theim go. Then the Englishemen, coragiously iblowed
the chace, but sodainly oiit came an embushcment of Frenchemen, and toke twoo Eng-
lishemen and thus all the armie of Fraunce, remoucd to Gyngate beside Tyrwyn.
The Frenche kyng seyng the kyng of England, daily more°and more encoraged to make
war on him and his dominions, and that the Scottes did nothyng to his pleasure, for
lacke of the Duke Ihon of Albany whom the Scoltes called their gouernor. He therfore
caused great preparacio to be made, on all parties for men, shippes, harnes, and artilery for
the.sendyng the Duke Ihon of Albany into Scotlandc, which Duke of a great presumpcion
promised to the Frenche kyng to driue the kyng of Englande, out of his realme, whiche pro-
mise was not kept.
The kyng of Englande, hearyng that the Duke of Albany should passe into Englande, to
make warre on his_reulme, thought to haue him met on the seas, and therfore he prepared a
flete of tal and strog shippes mete to encounter with the saied Duke and his power, and
made Admirall of that iorney, sir Willyam Fitzwillyam, and with hym sir Fraunces Brian
sir Antony Pounez, Seriant Rot, Ihon Hopton, Willyam Gonstone, Anthony Kniuet,
Thomas
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 661
Thomas West & other, whiche with great diligence, laie in waite to mete with the said duke
of Albany, and as they sailed on the Frenche coast, they determined to lande, to doo some
harme to Tray Port and as they houered there, thei were espied: then the capitain of the
toune fired the beakes, sent for aide of 'al the fortresses about and strengthed and manned
the toune very \varlike. This notwithstandyng, sir William Fitz William and other capi-
taines left not their enterprice, and so the- xxiii. daie of August beyng Sondaie, at seuenof
the clocke in the mornyng, they toke lande in the hauen of Treyport, at who the Frenchemen
shot out ordinaunce, quarelles and stones, the English men in the botes shot likewise, and
encoraged by their capitaines, assauted the Frenchemen in their bulvverkes,the Frenchemen
them valiantly defended, and thenglishe capitaines as men without fere, theim assailed and.
yet the number was nothyngegall, for the Englishemen were but. vii. C. men, & the French-
men, vi. M. For the well fightyng of the Freeh men, their bulwerkes wer taken, and theijr
ordinaunce sezed, and all that wer about, fled to the toune of Treiport, and euer thenglish-
men folowed shotyngarowesatthem, and sleyngthem, in whiche skirmisheSeriant Rotte had
his bowe in his hande striken with a Gonne. Then the capitaines cried sainct George, to
the gates of Treyport, then euery manne auaunced forward, and as they were goyng, Cris-
topher Morres master Conner, espied a pece of a Maste, whiehe he caused to bee taken vp,
and then Anthony Kneuer, and Fraunces Neudigate with ther men, ranne with the said
maste to the gate, but the gate was so strong, that it could not be broken i and also at euery
loupe laie a pece, of ordinaunce, whiche continually shot at the. Englishemen, whiche caused
theim to leaue the gate, and then they sette fire in the subbarbes, whiche was a faire strete,
and all was brent, and while the subbarbes: brent, the Englishemen wet to the hauen, and
would haue had out the shippes, but water lacked, wherefore they set fire on theim, and
brent there seuen faire shippes beside other. All this while was there skirmishyng at the
gates, and much murder on bothe sides, for the Frenchemen in fliyng from their bulwerkes
to the toune, lost. Ixxx. persones, and many wer hurte with arrowes. The men of the coun-
trey came thether still, insomuche as the nomber became very great, whiche sir William Fitz
Willyam perceiuyng, caused his trompet to blowe a retrete, and with suche prisoners, pil-
laoe and ordinaunce as they had gotten they returned to their boates and the capitaines seat
their souldiers before, the Frenchemen perceiuyng the Englishemen returned, issued out and
founde on lande, Fraunces Neudigate, Thomas Wagham, Seriant RoUe, and other Capi-
taines to the nomber of twelue, and ran hastely toward thorn in greate nomber, whiche per-,
ceiuvn" that, bended themselfes to sell their Hues dere. Sir Willyam Fitz Willya perceiuyng
the greate ieoperdv that they wer in, turned his boate toward the lande, and discharged his
ordinaunce, & with muche pain saued these gentlemen, and them toke into boates notwith-
standing a "reat nomber of Frenchemen, whiche wer in the water to let linn: and thus the
whole a^rmie returned to. their shippes, after they had been, v houres on land and brought
with them, xxvii. peces of faire ordinaunce, which wer in the bulwark®. fc lost of then- men
not fully, xx. persoiics, and then euery capitain toke his awne ship,and coasted the seas, euer
lokvncr for the duke of Albany, but thei hard no tidynges of nym.
In fhe Parliamit (as you haue hard) it was cocluded, that the kyng of necessiUe muste 1-^
Jes make strong wVre on the rcalme of Fraunce, wherefore the noble Charles duke of 8uflab.
Suffolk r was appointed as Capitain generall, to passe with an armie royall into Fraunce ,n
ndeo f K ? whiche with all diligence, prepared all thynges necessary, for suche a
iovallente n,rfc -and for the furniture°of this armie, there were appointed to geue heir
^dSonhyn, &£J^^
Maste.of ,
6*52 THE. XV. YERE OF
the ordinance, sir Thomas Cheiney, sir Richard Cornwall, sir William Cortney, sir Willyam
Sidney, sir Henry Owen all these lordes and knightes, with many other knightes and coragi-
ous Esquiers, & actiue Gentlemen, came accordyng to the kynges commaundemet at last,
with all their people and retinue to Douer, where thei mustered at seuerall times, as thei
passed to the sea, and so the nombre take, that is to saie, of dimy Lances, vi. C. of archers
on horsebacke twoo. C. of Archers on foote three. M. of bill men fiue. M. of pioners and
laborers, ii. M. vi. C. and when the viewe was taken on the other side of the sea, there
were adioyned to this nomber. xvii. C. whiche might be spared out of the fortresses, and
krewes of Hams, Guysnes, and Calice so that al the army wer. xiii. M. and an. C. well har-
nesed, and appareled for the warre, the pioners onely excepte: but the duke hymself arriued
at Calice the. xxiiii. of August, with his retinue and counsaill, abidyng the armie, and
caused all thynges, as vitaill and other to be prepared for the same.
Muche cornmonyng was in Englande whether this army should go because that no man,
except a fewe, knew the secretnes: some said to JJullein, some to Paris, and so euery man
Judged, accordyng to his awne opinion, as the common vse is.
In this season, because the mortalitie was greate in Calice, the duke of Suffolk caused
his armie to be lodged in tentes and pauilions, vpo the faire grene beside sainct Peters
Churche, for their more healthe, and he accompaignied with diuerse noble men, the. viii.
daie of September rode to Grauelyng, & thether came to hym Cristerne kyng of Denmark
and the lorde Isilsten, capitain generall of Flaunders, whiche amiably enterteigned the saied
duke, and after they had secretly commoned of diuerse matters, concernyng diucr.se armies
to inuade Fraunce, in sondry places, the duke toke leaue of the kyng and other, and came
to Calice.
Vv hile the armie laie without Calice, they daily came into the toune, and soil happened that
A riot at
Calice.
a symple felowe cut a purse, as he made to bye apples, whiche incotinent was taken, and
brought to the Majors house to ward, whiche thyng diuerse Welshemen perceiuyng, and not
knowyng what apperteigned to Justice, ranne in great compaignies to the Maiors house, and
would haue broken the house, the Officers of the toune entreated, and Welshemen more
a^nd more approched, the nombre of the Welshemen were so greate, that the watche of
Calice strake Alarme. Then the Lorde deputie and the lorde Sandes, did all that in theim
laye to bryng theim to conformitie, but thei were so rude that thei nothyng them regarded,
.- the priestes brought furthe the blessed Sacrament, whiche also was not regarded. Wherfore
the Lorde Ferreis was straightly commanded to appese their rage, for with hym thei came
thether, whiche with greate pain and entreatie theim appesed: and then al! the Welshemen
were comaunded^to the ielde, and to depart the toune and so wer al other capitaines, &
after diuerse of 3' hed rioters wer appreheded & sore punished for exiiple. And when al
thynges necessary were prepared, the duke issued out of Calice & toke the feld, & ordcined
vi-n -'lal' & caPitain> ot the vantgard the lord Sandes, capiiain of his right wyn-r sir
VVilha Kyngston, and oipitain of his lefte wyng, sir Euerard Diirhby, sir Edward Guyld-
ford Marshal of Calico, was capitain of al the horseme, sir Richard VVinnfeld, capitain of y
rereward: then the duke with al his army, as capitain of y middle ward, with standerdcs, ba-
nersand penons, displaied, marched forward in good ordre of battail, & came to a place called
Kalkewell and their lodged the. xix. day of September. In whiche place diuerse soul-
diers, ot C aners and vp lande men, whiche wer vnnicte for the warre, (for euery thyng
to theim was pain) fell sicke and disseased, whcrfore the dukegaue them leaue by pasnort
to relume.
And on the. Mii. daie of September, he toke vp his campe and came to Hamswell, and
here pitched his telde, he thus liyng in abode for the armie of Flaunders, which promised
loyne with hym. whinhe M then were not come to. S. Omers. He eutendyn* not to lie
-iivi " " - n* no o e
ely, sent Uarenseua kyng of Armes, to somon the castle called Bell castle, to velde
to him or els he would destroy it with fire and sword, the officer of armes did his message
mgly, |to whom the Capitain answered, that he vvoulddeliuer no castle to the duke, &
'
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 663
if the duke came thether, he should nothyng get, for he said he was sure of suche rescues, y
shouldnot be to the dukes auantage: whichewith this answer returned toward the duke and
the waie he met the lorde Sandes, & the lord Ferreis in array of battail, with. v. C. hors-
men, &. i. M.footemen, to who he rehersed the answer, then said y lordes we must copel
him, if otherwise he vvil not. Then the master of thordinance was cSmauded to prepare for
a batrie, which was done, & thether came. v. c. horsemen of Burgonios, &. v. C. fotemen,
then thordinance with great difficultie was brought nere the castle, £ al though itwer night,
the gonnes cesed not & bet the place sore, they within defended the best that they might, &
whenlhe day bega to spring, the lordes caused to blow to lhassault, whichhearyng thecapitain
of the castle said to his copanions, y they wer not able to abide thassault, £ that their suc-
cors failed them, wherefore of necessitie they muste deliuer the castle, whereto they agreed,
and so he yelded the castle, his life onely saued and all other at the mercie of the
duke, whiche pardoned theim, and toke the as prisoners, and deliuered the castle to
sir Willyam Skeuyngto, whiche was shortly rased doune to the ground, the. xxvii. dale of
Septeber.
Mondaie beyng the. xxviii. daie of Septeber, there was a proclamacion made in tharmy,
how that Fraunces duke of Burbon, & Constable of Fraunce, was become freud to the kyng
of Englande, & enemy to the Freeh kyng, & was sworne to the kyng of England,
& had in his wages for the kyng of England, x. M. Almaines to inuade France, or to
let the French kynges purposes, & for this intent to him was sent money in no litle some,
but the common peeple said, y neuer was Frenchman true to England, how be it he was
true as long as he liued.
To make this proclamacion more apparant, you must vnderstancle that in this season the
Frenche king was ruled by his mother the Coutesse of Angulesme and the Admyrall of
Fraunce called Lord Bonyuet whiche as was reported andsayu\loued*thesayd lady as hispara-
mor, of whiche all the court of Fraunce spake muche. These two persones so ruled the
kyng, that what thei sayd was done and no Judgement nor setence passed in the Parliament
at Parys without their assent, so that nothing was done without them, at whiche thing the
nobles of Frauce sore disdained and especially the lorde Fraunces duke of Burbon and Con--
stable of Fraunce whiche hauing a suite for therledome of Montpelyer could not be heard
speakc nor his counsail neither. At the last he beyng sore displeased with thisvnkynd and vn-
iust handlin* came to the French kyng besechyng him of iustice & fiuior, whiche fldteryng him
1 • & other answer had he
that the Duke of Burbon shortly should be as poore as the meanest gei
whiche wordes reported to him caused him to hate mortally the Frenche kyng and us mo-
ther and so in displeasure departed into his owne county I lie kyng ot England beyng
hereof aduertised, sent to the duke of Burbon a knight ot his Chamber called sir Ilion
Sse 1 aman well landed, whiche wisely and couertly so behaued hnn,elf, that he came
to the duke to Molyns and knew all his enteiit how he would forsake Ins kyng and serue he
n, of Sad & the Emperor against the Frenche kyng, and thcrevpon tookc his otlie.
Thl F en "h kvt not mistrustin| the allegeaunce of the duke ot Burbon sent to the Duke
to nrepa re him to^o into Italye, for he had prepared a great army to passe the mounta.nes
J AMhine in which army he had. vi.M. men ot anues, and. xxv.AI. fote-
and the Frenche kyng passyng by
A* r, W od him • to who the duke promised to come shortly after to Eyons
Molyns visited &. ^^^n hoStter to be Lied emptie, iii. dayes amongest a cer-
with all ma power, and caused an ^sentter * ^ ^ .^ ^ Q ^
of
. . THE. XV. YERE OF
sent his great blaster to seaze al 'the dukes lades. Of all these doynges sir Ihon Russell
-brought true worde, for he was present with the Duke, and also sawe the Frenche armye,
and returned vnespied, wherfore he deseraed & had of the king and his cousail great thankes.
Wherevpon the kyng caused the proclamacion to be made in the army, that they might
knowe that all the power of Fraunce should not trouble them. For what with the warres
of Italy and for the duke of Burbons power they might do what they lusl & be vntbught
withal which so proucd after. Whiche tidynges muche encoraged thenglishe souldiers.
After this proclamacion, there were tidynges brought to the army for a tructh, that one
' Hierome Vicount, a great familiar frende \V the duke of Myllayne entised by the French
kyng, had almost slaine Frauces duke of Myllaine with a dagger behynd at his back, with
the whiche doyng the Frenche kyng aboue allpersones fained himselfe to be most displeased.
The morowe beyng the. xxix. day of September the duke with his whole army remoued to
Arde and there lodged, & the last day of September he remoued to a village called Alrke,
and from thence the fyrst day of October he came to a village betwene Tyrwyn and saint
Omers called Esqwerdes or Cordes, where the duke lay and encaped himselfe abidyng his
enemies.
Nowe must I returne to tell you what was done betwene England and Scotland this same
season. Whyle the duke of Suffolke was thus inuadyng the realme of Fraiice. The Scottes
thinkyng the war turned into Fraunce, and that nothyng should be attempted against them,
began to robbeand spoile on the Marches of England, wherof the kyng hearyngsent againe
thither the valiant erle of Surray treasorer and Admyrall of England, whiche in all hast
sped him to the west Marches and sent for an army of. vi. M. men, & with banner displayed
entred by the dry Marches betyng doune castles & fortresses on euery side. And although
the Scottes he men of high corage, yet they seyng the wise conduict of the noble crle of
Surray and his chosen company, durst not once encouter with him, and so he passed quietly
through the dales, tyll he came to the strong toune of led w or the, in whiche lay a great gar-
rison of Scottishmen whiche did all the hurt they could to the Englishmen, and hurdely in
great nomber skyrmished with thenglishmen, so that on both partes diuers wer siame, but
in the end the Abbay, Castle, and toune of ledworth were brent and all rased asunder in the
open sight of the Scottes. And after this he would not returne but encamped himself in the
Scottishe ground abidyng battail, and lay there from the. xxii. day of September to the. xxv.
-day. Duryng whiche tyme he sent y lorde Daker of Gyidersland to a strong hold of Don-
car called Fernhurst, the whiche castle stodc very euil to come to, for the u ayes wer hylly,
stony, and full of marishcs, and the Scottes had bent their 'ordinau nee -that way: yet for all
that the Englishmen so fiersly set on that they gat the Castle, notwithstanding that the Scottes
•fought valiauntly, and many of theim were taken, as Dan Car the lordr," the lorde or' (i ra-
don and diners other whiche was there taken, and so the lorde Daker returned with his pri-
soners, and then he was ordained to kepe the watche that night whiche bet his watches & his
wardes surely. In the night sodainly. CCC. good jjeldynges brake out of a pasture, whiche were
in custodie of the sayd lord Ducres campe, and as beastes wodde and sauage raune enrage d and
notwithstandyng that men did as muche as they might to stoppc them, yet they ramie as though
. they were in array of battail, whereof the noyse in the night was so great, that the armye sound-
ed alarme, the horse styll in array ramie to the cape, u here the erle lay and bare doune many
persones in their waye, and so sodainly ramie away whether it was vnknowen: the lorde Da-
cres men sayd that the deuil was sene amongest them : and after the third day the Erie return-
ed into England.
When the Erie of Surray departed from the borders in August as you haue heard hereto-
fore : The Scottes wrote to the duke of Albany of all their Affaires, whiche was commyng
into Scotland. But when he heard that theNauy of England lay in wayte to fight with him,
he durst not auenture, but sate styll : And when he heard there was no capitaines of name
on the borders of England toward Scotland, he deuised by policie that all his shippes should
be remoued to the hauen of Brest, and sayd himselfe and caused it to be noysed that he
would
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 665
would not saile into Scotlad that ycre. So rfme the voice al the coastes of Normandy and
Britaiguc, and so passed tyll the ende of Septembre.
The kyng of England was enformed by suche as knew none other, that the duke of Alba-
ny had broken his iorney, and would not passe that yere into Scotland. Wherfore the kyng
of England in the middest of September caused his shippes to be laydevp in hauens tyl the
nextspryng: The duke of Albany beyng therof aduertised boldly then tooke his shippes and
shipped his people, and with. Ixxii. saile in sight passed by the West partes of England and
coasted Wales, & so with great labor landed at Kyrcowbre in the West parte of Scotland
with all his people the. xxi. day of Septeber whiche wer in nomber. iii.M. or there about,"
and with him was the traytor Richard Delapole.
When it was knowen in Scotland that the lorde Gouernor was landed, muchegladnes there
wasamongest the people. Then the duke was highly receiued and his people wcl cherished,
and then beganne a Parliament. The kyng of England hearyng that the duke of Albany
was landed in Scotlande and was vnfouglit withall, was not a litle displeased, and suspected
that suche as enformed him that the Duke would not passe that yerc, had deceiued him, but
there was no remedye: Wherfore he made prouisions and put all thynges in a readynes, if
he would attempt any thing against him and his realme.
The Duke of Albany Gouernor of Scotland beyng in the Parliament of the realme, with
great eloquence declared to them the loue and fauor that. Frances the Frenche kyng bare to.
the realme of Scotland, insomuch that he beyng aduertised of the great murders, slaughters,
& burnynges done by the Englishemen, thought that he suffered uo lesse hurt and damage
then they did, accomptyng him self one of their rnembres, and them likewise the membres
of him and his realme, and for the reuenging of thesame, he t» he parteuer as their member.
& for- the more credite he shewed the Frenche kynges fauorable letter, affirming his declara-
cion. When the letters wer red, there start vp a Baron of Scotland called the lorde For-bos,..
whiche sayd : the realme of Scotland for the loue of Fraunce suffereth great paine as daily
doeth.appere, for our nobles be slain or taken, our cominaltie murdered, our lades oner-
rune, our houses & fortresses brent & rased, the profiles of_our owne lades we lose: which
mischief we nede not to haue had, but for the loue of Fraiice, & what hclpclh Fraunce?
A far re frend is not sone fet? A mightie neighbor may be a cruel enemy. I afiirme this, if
we would kepeamitie with the realme of England we were out of all these daungers. God
forbydsayd the duke of Albany that Scotland euer should seke a new frende or profer their
amitie, to the destroyers of their coittrey and nacion, but you my lordes of Scotlad are suf-
ficient of your selfe to maintain your lades, libertie, & fredome against your cotnon enemies-
thenfflishemen. And therfore now let vs together reticle the hurtcs done to vs & our conn-
Agreed and then >.^i ^^..^.j.^..- — --n~
aerobic ft Dowlas dale v.-ith vitaile for xxviii. dayes. The Scotes in al hast prepared, t
the lordes wer come to the place appointed the xviii. day of October, with vitaile, gnnnes,
& all other artilerie, and so came by easy iorneys to the riuer of Twede on aground
Hume castle, & fro thence came to Cawdestrene & there lodged.
All this doyiig the kyng of England knewe well, wheribre w.tb d diligece he caused to b
assembled the people of the Nortb part beyond Trent, whevof there were. ,,, A beryng
cotes of armes w their power and strength, whiche all were comaunded to re, nt to the erle
of Surray S spede. The noble Marques Dorset Thomas was appointed to kepe Berwicke
with. vi.M. men, lest y Scottes tberto would lay siege. DreDarvn»
The duke of Albany whiche lay on the frontiers hearing of the Erie of buneje:
sent to him an Herauld promisyng him of his honor to geue him batta, 1 and if he took ! him
Tbaua he would put him to curteous raunsome & his body to be safe: To whom the
edel ve ed, that Lche he thanked the duke of Ins offer, and that he would abioe bat-
THE. XV. YERE OF
tail, protnisyng him that he would geue him battail if he durst abide : and if that y1 sayd duke
wer taken prisoner by him or his menue he would strike of his head & send it to the kyng
of England his Master, and bad that he should trust to none other, at whiche answere the
duke of Albany & the Scottes toke great dispite.
The erle of Surray beyng at Alnwyke, to him came therles of Northumberland and
Westmorland, the lorde Clyfford, the lorde Dacres, the lorde Lumley, the lorde Ogle, the
lorde Darcy, and many noble Knightes, Squiers and yomen, to the nomber of. xl.M. And
from the kyngescourt was sent to be at the batailsir Nicholas Carew Master of the horse,
sir Fraunces Bryan, sir Edwarde Baynton and diuers other. All this annye lave on the bor-
ders abidyng tlic Scottes comyng into England, whiche lay styll in Scotland and did nothyng
till the last day of October beyngSaterday. The night before the Scottes had sent ouer the
water into England, iii. or. iiii. M. men to lay siege to a lytle castle called 5' Castle of Warke,
whiche stadeth nere the border : the great ordinance of Scotland sore bet the castle, and Dan Car
and the Frenchemen whiche came out of Fraunce with the duke of Albany gaue to the castle
a strong assaut : within the castle was sir Williu Lyle with a. C. persones, but the Scottes
were so many in nomber, that they got the vttennoste warde called the liarnkyns where the
heastes and barnes were, whiche seyng, the capitaine sent in all hast to the Erie of Surrey
aduertisyng him of thejr distres, whiche in all hast assembled his capitaines to reskue the
castle, thcrby hopyngthat Duke I lion of Albany would enter into England. The French-
men and Scottes lay styll* a bout the castle cotinually shotyng ordinaunce Sonday & Monday
the fyrst and second day of Nouember, and then the Scottes thinkyng the place assautable,
coragiously set on the castle and by strength eutred the second warde. Sir Willyii Lyle per-
ceiuyng that y Scottes hnd gotten the false braves and that nothing remained but only the in-
ner warde or dogeon, Ki;,d to his company, sirs for our honor & mahod let vs issue and
fight with the proude Scottes and stately Frenchmen, for more shall our honor be to dye in
fight, then to be mnrthcred with gunnes, to the whiche his company that were left agreed:
for of his. C. men he had lost almost xl. at the other assautes. Then they issued out boldly
and shot coragiously as men that shot for a vauntage, and with shotyng and fightyng
theydraue their enemies clene out of the place & slew of them Sc chiefly of the Frenchmen
CCC. whiche lay there dead in sight when the Erie came thither, beside suche as dyed of
woundes & were drouned. Then the Scottes remoued their ordinaunce, in great hast ouer
the water, and by that tyme was the Erie of Surrey come w v.M. men on horsebacke & all
his great army folowed & was very sory that his enemies were gone, & muche praised sir
Willyam Lyle for his valiauntncs.
When the duke of Albany £ the lordes of Scotland knew that the erle of Surrey approched
with his puissant army, they thought it not coniienicnt to ieoparde all the nobilitieof Scot-
landein one felde, consideryng their chaunce x. yeres before, and therefore they cdcluded to
returne, and so on the sayd secdd day of Nouembi-r in the night the duke with all his
annye retreated more for his suretie then honor.
Ihe horsemen of Scotland kept the ibrcles that no mil should passe to greue the fotemen
as they returned, and when all the baggages wcr gone they cast them selfes in a plumpe and
returned.
When the day appeared, then the Englishmen might plainly see the Scottes how they fled
fiftie mennesthickenes, many a lusty Englishman would fairie haue folowed them on hors-
backe, and so would tlierle of Surray with all Ins heart, but his comission was only to defend
the realme and not to inuade Scotland, whiche thing him sore displeased. Thus brake vp
the great army of Scotland to the great rebuke of the duke of Albany & the nobles of Seot-
iand whiche. ii. ye re together had made brakes & assembles and durst not abide battaile.
lue Scottes made much bragg«s that they had beaten doune the wailes of Warke castle, but
they spake nothing of their men that they left there, nor how cowardly they returned &
would not abide. After this returne queue Margaret of Scotifid & mother to the yon" kyn<r
scut to heir brother the kyng of England for an abstinence of warre to be taken betweue^'
realme
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 667
realme of England and Scotland, tothentent that some way might be taken, that an amitie
might be had betwene them: whiche request to her was graunted, and so the great annye of
England was dissolued and the Erie of Surrey returned to the coast.
In this season the Emperor Charles sent to the kyng of Englad. ii. Mules trapped in cri- A P">*«
mosyn veluet curiously embrodered, al y bukcles, stirroppes & all suche other garnishynges Em^w
were siluer & gilt of meruailous conyng' worke. He set also. xi. Genettes ful goodly to be- ?t]ciDi-
hold trapped withrussett veluet richely wrought, and. iiii. speres, &. ii. lauelynes of straunge
tymber & worke richely garnished, and. v. brace of greyhoudes: and to the quene he sent
two Mules with riche trappers and high chayers after the Spanishe fashion, all these presetes
•wer thankefully receiued both of the kyng and quene.
Now let vs returne to the Duke of Suffolke whiche lay at Cordes or Esqwerdes the. xx.
day of September & thither came to him y army of Flaunders, wherof was capitaine the
lorde of Isilsteyne which had with him of Spaniardes, Almaines, Cleues and other. iii.M.
fotemen and v.C. horsemen well apparelled tor the warresin all pointes.
The duke of Suffolke beyng thus furnished passed forward in wete wether makyng bridges
& wayes, euer lokyng for battel, & on the. xvii. flay of October he sent the lorde Sandes
Marshall of hisarmye, and with him. iii.M. men to a good tonne called Anker whiche ac-
companied with diuers knightes & gentlemen in good order of battail marched towarde the
toune. The Frenchmen perceiuyng the Englishmen comyng toward their toune, fled out as fast
as they might, and left the toune desolate : then entred the Englishmen find had there a great
botieand toke the castle called Bone gard and therin put a garrison of F.nglishemen, whereof
was capitaiqe the lorde Leonard Gray brother to the Marques Dorset to conduict vitailers to
the armye, whiche nowe was farre from any succours of the Englishe part. In this toune
was an abbay of Monkes whiche receiued humbly the lordes and no!>!ts of England, whiche
to them did no hurt nor dammage, and then they returned to the duke.
After this, the. xix. day, the Duke with his armye passed to a village called Qwede: and
there, after long cousailyng it was determined that the whole army should passe to a strong
toune and well fortefied'called Bray, whiche toune was well ordinanncedand had in it. xvi.C.
men of warre, the capitaine therof was called Adrian, and for succours to the tonne were
come Mounsire Pontdormy, the Vicount Larnerdam, the Vieount Turraine, Mousire Ap-
plyngcort, & Mounsire Dapney, with v. C. horsmen, so that in the toune beside the inha-
bitauntes wer. ii.M. good men. "This toune standeth on the riuer of Some, xxiiii. Englishe
myle from Arras, and xiiii. myles aboue Amyas: This toune was well diched and strength-
ened on euery side.
The. xx, day of this moneth the Duke comaunded al his great ordinance to be brought
by. iiii. of the clocke in the morning before y toune of Bray, they that had the charge ther-
of so manfully acquited the that notwithstadyng all y damage that their enemies could do,
brought the ordinaunce before the tonne at y houre appointed. Then eche part shot dred-
fullyeat other, but the Englishe guners shot so wd, that the walles of the toune were beaten*
doune & rased with the ordinaunce, insomuche that by. ix. of the clocke the toune was
made assautable Then the duke caused to blow to thassaut. Then the Englishmen &
Flemynses & Bursonions lept furth quickely, and, notwithstanding that the diches wer depe,
vet they so coragiously entered by the good comfort of the lorde Sades & other nob e men
that they gat y diches. The Frenchmen perceiuyng that the toune should be gotten hastely
made trav ncs of gunpouder from strete to strete & house to house sa.yng that the English-
men after their entry into y toune would fal to pillage, & then sodamly soda.n fyer should
destrov them. Thil was the prouision of the Frechmen : by this tyme the Englishmen wer
enteryn* on the walles, and the Frenchmen stode yet at defence with pikes, crosbowes,
haSunnes, & halberdes, but they were to woke, for on all partcs entred thengtishmen
and s'idainly the Frenchmen fledde and the Englishemen Mowed and- killed and slew m
Noweyou must vnderstand that this toune of Bray.standetlron the riuer of Some whiche
is there deuided in diuers brauncbes & betweoe euery braucbe »• a .marishe ground, i heje
THE- *V- YERE
on the farside of y toune was fortefied a Buhvarke ful of. ordinaunce to kepe the passage
ouer y water, '& the Frenchmen had losed the plankes of the bridge nere a myle aboue
Bray, & the horsmeai of Frauce passed by a myle which was to the Frechfotemen a great
ayd, for thei stode & kept the passage till y foteme wer come oner the bridge, & then they
plucked away the plackes of the bridge, so that noma shuld folow, but euer thenglishmen
folowed & cast plakes on the bridge & passed ouer the bridge, in which passyng diuers wer
drouned, but \V great trauail all men passed, horsmen & fotemen, & fiersly assauted the
Bulwarke and toke it with all the ordinaunce, & in it was taken capitaine Adrian and ca-
pitaine Vlteflew. The Englishe horsemen folowed the Frenchmen & diuers of them wer
slaine and take, sir Robert lernyngham brake a spere on the lorde Pountdormy. The
lorde Leonard Gray did valiantly that day. You must remember that when the French-
men issued out of the toune, they forgatte not to lay a matche to the traine of gunnepou-
der whiche they had made, whichc in short space set the toune al on fyer, so that 'when
thenglishmen returned again, al was on fyer, so that there they had Title profile but wyne,
whiche to them did great pleasure. This was the toune of Biay taken aud destroyed the
xx. day of October.
The duke consideryng that litle succours were for him and his souldiers in the toune of
Bray because the sayd toune was consumed with fyer, he therfore comaunded the bridges
to be wel repayred for to passe ouer the great riuer of Some into the realrne of Frauce:
and when the passage was sure, the lord Sandes the. xxi. day of October in the mornyng
was prest to passe ouer with the vaward. Then some gentlemen sayd that they would passe
no farther forward, & diuers souldiers were on thesame opinion. It was asked why they
should feare, and they answered that if they were past ouer the riuer, they were past all
succours and vitail, none could be brought to them. By reason of this noyse the souldiers
stayed, whiche y lord S7uies perceiuyng, sayd to the Welshmen which wer euil willyng to
passe y riuer: sirs sayd he, behold what 1 do, and with that he' toke a banner of sainct
George & sayd, as many as loue the kyng of England & be true to him and to the croune,
folow me, and then he and sir Wylliam Kyngston set forward and passed the water, whiche
there runneth in thre slreames, then all other persones coragiously folowed, and the ordi-
naunce and vitailes.
After the foreward folowed the duke and al his battail: At this tyme the army was sore
ctrinished by reason many wer diseased and from the host departed, so the host was not of
that strength that it was at the settyng out of Calayce. When thenglishemcn were passed,
then folowed the Burgonions in good order, and so that night this army came to a toune
•called Kappe and there encamped theimselfcs, all the inhabitauntes were fled bothe out of
the toune and Castle: there thenglishemen found C. tonne of wine, & other good pillage.
The garrison that lay at Anker knowing that y duke was passed the riuer of Some, rased
the toune & castle, and came & ioyned with y dukes army at Kappe.
There the duke caused proclamacions to be made in the iirmye that all the people of
Fraunce that would vitaile the annye of Koglande should be well entreated & haue their
vitailes well payed for, and safe goyng and comyng, by the whichc proclamacion the host
was well vitailed, for the people of y countrey resorted with all thynges necessarie.
The Duke thusliyngat Cap sent to the toune of Roy to yeld them to the kyng of Engi
land. The toune perceiuyng that their power was not able to withstand the great annye of.
the Duke, assented to deliuer the toune to the Duke. This was a strong toune well walled,
dyched, and ordinaunced but not .manned, the Duke sent thither sir Richard Cornwall and
other with. iiii. C. men to receiue the toune, whiche went thither in good array and had the
toune to theim deliuered and then they sette the banner of sainct George in the highest
part of the toune, and full well this garrison kept the toune of Roy til the duke came thi-
ther with his whole annye.
The Duke & his armye the. xxv. day of the sayd moneth remoued to a village called
Lyhoine, & had there great pillage: for this toune was muche haunted of marchauntes and
there
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ.
there kept great markettes. The next day he remoued to Dauenker, and the. xxvii. day he
remoued and came before y strong tounc of Mountdedier, where for detece of warre lacked
neither diches, walles, nor buhvarkes : The horsmen of the Englishe army rode about the
tonne to vew it, at who the capitaines caused diuers pieces to be losed \vhiche shewed well
their strength. The duke sent an officer of armes to somon the capitain to dcliuer y toune:
the officer departed, & with him a trumpet whiche blew before the gate, but no person
would answere, because they would haue no Sommons made to them: the officer of armes
returned and made report. Then the Dukes skyrrers made profer afore the toune, out of
the whiche issued a great compaignie of horsemen and skyrmished with the Dukes horsemen
and fought valiantly, but at the last. xl. of the horsetnen were taken, with whiche the lorde
Roche Baron capitaine of the toune was sore displeased, yet he thought him able to main-
tame the toune against the whole armye. Then the Duke of Suftblke pytched his felde and
lay,d his siege rounde about the tounc of Mountdedier and kept good watche and warde on
eueryside: whiche thing the lorde Roche Baron perceiuyng comforted his menne of warre
and bad them not be afrayd but to be of good corage, and sayd that the Duke there should
get nothyng. When the Duke had thus planted his siege, he considered that he was farre
from reskew, and that liyng still and nothyng doyng was not profitable, he knewe also by
report of the prisoners that in the toune of Moundedier were two thousand footemen, and
one thousand horsemen, wherefore he sent for all the lordes and capitaines of his army
and muche praised their hardynes and sayd that the noble corage that*he sawe in theiiri did
inuche auaunce him to sette forwarde in all thynges, the praise wherof should be to them
and not to him, and therfore nowe he encoraged them againe to continue still in their va-,
liaunt doyng, for with Goddes grace he entended to bend his ordinaunce the next mornyng'
before the toune, to the whiche all the lordes agreed and praised muche the dukes corage
and forwardnes.
Then was sir Willyam Skcuyngton knight, Maister of the ordinaunce comaunded to pre-
pare for the battery, whiche with all diligece made trenches, and prepared all thinges mete
for the purpose. In this season sir Ihon Walop knight had with him almost a M. proper
*nen and hardy, hauyng litle wages or none whiche liued alonely on tlieir auenture, wher-
fore of some they were called adueriturers, of some they were called kreekars. These men
\ver li"ht, hardy, and politike, and by their manhod and liardiues had robbed many tounes,
taken many prisoners, with great boties, & daily brought to the army Horses, Mares, vi-
tailc clotii come, & other necessaries whiche might not be missed. Of this company the-
Fren'chemen and especially they of villages & passegers wer. sore afrayde, for they were
neuer idle but dovng some thyn? in one parfor qther. The lorde Pountdormy, or I onn-
trenv hearvng Mountdedyer was besieged, called to him diuers great lordes & capitaines to
the nomber of. v. C. menne of armes and dimy launces, and a great nomber of tote.nen,
crtendyn* to bryng gunnepouder and other necessaries to the toune of Moutdedier: & as
Server thither cfnnyng by night, Thomas Palmer, capitam of the skout watche of then-
glSbe army them askried and skyrmished with them although they wer more m nomber : man,
fully fought the Frenchemen, but for all that they were compelled to flee backe and I then
Enalishemen them folowed and slewe diuen, and two speres were broken on the brother of
^etrPountdorny, but by the swyft.es of his horse he saued huuselfe, and in th,s chase
wprp C nrisoners taken whiche muche reioysed the Englishmen.
When'te Master of the ordinaunce had all thinges ready at the houre of. un of the
c-locke "n he mornyng he discharged the ordinance contmaally in suche fashion that by
'e-U - -xviii. day°0f Octoi>er the walles were made lowe & the loune as-
viii. of the clocke the. xxvm
\ liC *~Clp llt*« ••**•»* *• J O 1
lint surclv the Englishmen would assaute the
:!l'rfo,'e tad.ed U.cir ud.ise »ha, «. besc ,o be do,,e, al «,cy ,ms»ercu, ua u3 Juu ^
THE. XV. YERE OF
Then he went inlo a tower & caused a trompet to blowe and set furth a banner of
Then the duke comaunded the ordinaunce to cease. Then sir Willya Skeiiyngton came ta
the walles & demaunded what they would, & the lord Roche Baron sayd, that if it pleased
the duke for the loue of the kyng of England & his honor, to graut to him & thother gen-
tlemen that wer there, licence to depart with life, bagge & baggage, they would deliuer the
toune of Mountdedier. Then sir Willya. Skeuyngton made report to the duke, whiche
therto cosented, saiyng: they be men of warre, their riches is not great. Then the lorde.
Sandes and diners other were appointed to receiue the toune, & so they entred & set their
stadardes on the top of the gates, & toke the keys of all the strong houses, towers, and
Bulwarkes. The Frenchemen were readye to depart with trussages aiid cariagcs, with Cros-
bowes, Pykes, & Handgunnes, with whiche doyng the lorde Sandes and the Englishemen
which wer within the toune wer not cotent, & sayd that the Frenchmen should passe with-
out weapon: on this point was muche alteracio and the Frenchemen were stayed, but thcr
lorde Roche Baron gaue many fayre wordes and passed forwarde with a red standard, with
a white crosse before him, that seyng sir Thomas Palmer, ranne to the stadarcl and plucked
it in pieces. Then sayd the Lorde Roche Baron that it was vngently done: To whom he
answered that he should beare no standard there like a conqueror. Then after long dispu-
tation the Frenchemen sayd, that it was promised theim that they should haue their wea-
pons and baggage, and so vpon that they were suffered to depart. The fotemcn likewise had
a standard before them whiche was rent by sir Robert lernyngham. The nombcr whiche de-
parted truely accompted, were two thousand footemen, flue hundreth horsemen and odde
wel and warlike appointed, and they left muche baggage behynd them, because they sawe
the Englishemen so fast come into the toune, they were in fcare of losse of alh
When the Frenchmen wer departed, the duke with his whole army entred the toune and
there the Englishemen founde fine fetherbeddes, napery, coueringes, and muche houshold
stuffe, and especially of wyne great plentie, and there the armye rested till the last day of
October, and then were all the gates of the toune rased and throwen doune, and ail the
Bulwarkes likewise. Then the duke caused all the ordinaunce to be taken and so rembued
to the toune of Roye, where he and all his armye rested tor a while: wherof they were
glad, for they had trauailed sore, and the wether was wette and colde. On the feast of all
sainctes called Alhalon daye, the Duke in the chiefe Churche of Roy made knightes, the
lorde llarbert, the lorde Powes, Olyuer Manners, Arthur Pole, Richard Sandes, Robert
lernyngham, Robert Salisbury, Edmond Benyngfelde, Richard Corbet, Thomas Wentworthe,
Wyllyam Storton, Water Mantell, George Warran, Edward Seymour after erle of Hartford,,
and now Duke of Sommerset, and moste worthy Gouernor of the kynges majesties persone
and Protector of all his realmes, dominions and subit-c.tes.
The morowe after, the armye remoucd to a "place called Neele, there the Burgonions he-
ganne to waxe wery, and so did the Englishemen, for euery day was foule wether and
raine bothe day and night. Wherfore dyuers companies fell to grudgyng saiyng, now you
may see that by our remouyng we shall be ledde frcrn place to place ail this wynter, whiche
is to the vtier losse of our lyues : for dayly we see that of our company dyeth no smal nom-
ber (and trueth it was that some dyed but not many) they sayd farther, the Burgonions haue
the great gaine and do least for it, for they haue wagons and carye their holies to their coun-
trey, whiche is nere hand, and we go before and fight, and we haue no ineanes to conuey
any thing into our coutrey for lacke of carryage, and so we bete the bushe and they take
the byrdr.s. This grudge was seassed by gentle wordes for a tyme.
In these iprneys was comonly spoken that the duke of Burbon with his. x. M. Almaynes
would haue inuaded Fraunce and so ioyned with this army, but j truth was cotrary, for he
turned his host another way and went 'into- prouince.and layde siege to Marcelles-,' wherof
the duke beyng aduertised> not a litle mused, and also seyng his menne daily fall sicke,
was sory, and yet be so comforted theim that euery man was glad to tolowe bis will and
fentent.
• 3- On
• Iroit-
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 671
On the. vi. day of Nouember the lorde Sandes beyng capitaine of the forward, and the
duke of the middle ward, and sir Richard Wyngfeld capitaine of the rereward came in or-
der of batta.l prest to fight, to a village called Veane and there rested for that nHit, and
the morow after the whole army returned againe ouer the water of Some, & came to a place
called Beaufford : At this passage the duke made knightes Ihon Dudley, and Robert
V treyght esquiers.
The vui. day y- duke remoued to a place called Mount sainct Martyne a very mete place
for an armye, and then was the dukes instruccions loked vpo by the capitaines, and they
perceiuyng that they hard nothyng of the duke of Burbons com'myng, ayde nor eounsail,
all they thought and determined to send the lorde Sandes in post to the kyng, to dbcjare
all the case as it stode & their necessitie according as he himselfe knew and saw in ^l
pointes ; whiche lorde Sandes tooke great paine and made good diligence toward the kyng,
and while he was ridyng, the duke remoued his armye to a place called Permount & there
lodged for a tyme to rest, and the army was well vi tailed, but euer the Welshemen muttered
and grudged more and more.
After the great raynes and wyndes that had fallen, came a feruent frost, so sore that many -
a spuldier dyed for colde, some lost fyngers and some toes, but many lost their nailes of'
their handes, whiche was to the a great grefe. The duke all this notwYthstandyng remern-
bryng that he came not thither to lye styl, the. xiii. day remoued to a place two myle from
the castle of Bowhen and still it frised, insomuche that the masver of the Ordinaunce was
compelled of necessitie to set the wheles of his ordinaunce on hardels for sinkyng. In the
tnornyng the Welshemen set out a shout and cryed, home, home, the krekers hearyng that,
cryed hang, hang. For whiche matter deuision was like to haue fallen, but by policie it
was ceased. Sir Edward Gyldford capitaine of the horsmen vewed the castle of Bowhen
or Boghan, whiche euer was thought to be impregnable, but he iudged it might be wonne,
for the castle was inuirpned with Marryses, so that to no mans judgement it was possible
to wynne it : But nowe he perceiued that the frost was so great and strong that it might be
beseaged, & all that night it fresed againe : wherfore he desired the Duke to geue him
leaue to assaute it whiche thereto agreed. Then he caused the ordinance to be set furth
ouer the marrish. When they within the castle perceiued that the marrishe fayled theim,
they were sore dismayed. Then sir Edward Guildeford shot thre great pieces at the castle,
and the castilian shot thre- pieces againe. Then as the Englishe gunners wer preparing to
the battery, the capitain seyng his castle could not hold, by reason that the marishe failed,
and that he could defende none assault, deliuered the castle to him to the behofe of the Em-
peror and the kyng of England, and after a small communicacion had betwerte the sayd
sir Edwarde Guyldforde and the capitaine, the capitaine with all his retinue departed leuyng
behynd the ordinaunce of bombardes, curtawes, & demy curtaux, slinges, canons, volgers,
and other ordinaunce, there were Ixxvi. pieces, plentie of pellettcs & ponder. The duke
of Suffolke perceiuyng that this castle stode on the border ofHenaude: Wherfore the more
to please the Henawers he made capitaine of thesame castle of Boghan the Seneshal of He-
naude, to the behofe of the Emperor and the kyng of England. In this place the army was
euil vitailed, because the Frenchemen had stopped the water of Some, that no vitaile should
passe ouer the riuer : wherfore the Duke sent to them of Hermode & specially to theim of
Valencien to haue ayde of vitaile, which of their litle sent to the army a htle, but yet it
did them some seniice, and all this while the feruent frost with bitter windes cotmued
which caused many people to dye : yet still lay the army abidyng the answer ot the lord
... */* » i i « iO_ _' ,. U «. *.,..ti<~i.l«~iH fKM* !-»« r»o n w* tf\ tflfi
age,
the
wether was weti "thV wayes depe, long nightes and short dayes great iorneys and litle vi-
taile, which caused the souldiers daily to dye. Also they trusted when they passed the seas
accordyng to their instruccions to haue had ayde of the Duke of Burbon (of whom suh
672 THE. XV. YERE OF
their departyng they neuer heard wordc) w'herfore the Duke of Suffolke and other nobles of
your army haue s>et me to your highnes to declare tlieir state and condition/ their good will
to tary, & the euil chaunces which daily happeneth to them by God and not by their ene-
mies. Well sayd the kyng all this we knewe before your coniyng: wherfore we haue ap-
pointed the lorde Monntioy with. vi. M. men to passe the seas for the relefe of our army,
whiche lorde Mountioy is almost in a redynes: For we will in no wise that the army shall
breake.
Then the kyng came to Westminster to the Cardinals place & there receiued letters from
the duke of Suffolke by sir "Robert lernyngham of the gett} ng of the castle of Boghan or
Bowen: wherfore incotinent it was by the kyng and his counsail determined that the lord
Mouioy should make spede, whiche did suche diligence that many of his souldiers were
come to Lodon wel harnissed and weponed redy to passe the seas. Wherfore the kyng sent
in all hast sir Robert lernyngham again to declare to the duke the kinges pleasure and what
ayde was comyng towarde him. But or sir Robert lernyngham could come to the duke
the armye was remoued from Bohan and brent the toune, and so came to the citie of Va-
lencine in Henaude, & there layde vp their ordinaunce and from thence came to the citie
of Turnay (whiche then was vnder the Emperor and out of the Frenche kynges handes)
and so toke their iornay homewarde thorow Flaunders and the army there broken and dis-
patched. But when the duke mette with sir Robert lernyngham at Bridges in Flaunders
and knewe the kynges mynde and entent, he did what he might to retreate the souldiers,
which could not be, for many Englisliemen shipped at Antwarpe, and many at Sluyes, and
at Newport and other hauens, and they that were at Calayce were steyed for a tyme, but
when the Duke sawe that he could not bryng all his army together scacely the. iiii. part, he
then licensed the remnaunt to depart. Of this breakyng vp of the armye were letters sent
to the kyng, which incontinent stopped the lorde'Mountioy and sent his men into the coun-
trey againe. The Duke and other capital nes hearyng of the Kynges displeasure, were sore
abashed, and did write to their frendes that they had perrite knowlege that the Duke of
Burbon had broken vpp his campe for the extrernitie of the Wynter, and also shewed that
their souldiers dyed, and vitail failed, whiche caused them to breake the army, for of trueth
the souldiers would not abide: with which reasons the kyng was somewhat appeased and
so on good hope the duke came to Calayce the. xii. day of December, & there abode long,
till their frendes had sued to the kyng for their returne. And when it was graunted and that
they were returned, the Duke and the capitaines came not to the kynges presence in a lono-
season, to their great heauynes and displeasure: But at the last all thinges were taken
in good part and they well receiued and in great loue, fauor, and familiaritie with the
kyng.
Whyle the Duke of Suffolke was in Fraunce and the Erie of Surrey on the Marches of
Scotland, the Cardinall sent out cornissions in the moneth of October through the real me,
that euery man that was worth, xl. 1. should pay the whole subsidie before graunted out of
hand & betore the dayes of payment: This payment was called an Anticipation, which is
to say, a thing taken or a thing comyng before his tyme or season : This terme was new to y\
cominaltie, but they payd wel for their learnyng, for their money was paied out of hand
\vout delay.
The kyng this yere kept his Christmas solempncly at his castle of Wyndsore and thither
came to him the third day of lanuarye the erle Pountiuer of the royal bloud of Erytaigne
and pretedyng to be duke of the same, whiche was nere cosyn to the duke of Burbon & ban-
nished Frauuce. This erle came hastely from the duke of Burbon & was well entertained
and lea-ted ot the kyng, and after answere made to him by the kyng, he went to the Cardi-
nal to Hampton court, and so with great spede returned to the saydduke into the countrev
of I rouince. J
In the same season was brought to the court a gentleman of Scotland called Andrew
tewart taken on the sea with diuerse letters by one~ Water lago a yoman of the kynges,
J with
KYNG HENRY THE. VII J. 673
•with dmers letters from the duke of Albany to the Frenche kyng, by reason wherof the
tyng knew muche of their counsail. This gentleman payed raunsomc and was very sone
redetned.
The. six. day of lanuary vi. fayre shippes of Fraunce well appointed, mette witli a
«hippe of the kynges of England called the Kateryne Galley a shippe of. xl. tonne, the ca-
pitain wherof was one Ihon Mariner, with a small company, for many of his company
were a land: But he so encoraged his meniie that all feare was set aside, and euer as the
Frenchemen approched, they bet them of with arrowes, pykes, & fightyng, & styll this
-continued fro. iiii. of the clocke in the mornyng till. ix. of the clocke, & euer on the cost of
Englad, and the Englishmen did the best they could to saue themselfes: For by that tynie
she had spent her pouder, arrowes with shotyng, & her bylles with hewyng, & her pykes
with kepyng them of from cotnyng aborde, and all the company almost sore hurte, and the
capitaine wounded to the death, so that they had no other remedy but to sayle. This chace
-was perceiued by one called capitain Markham, capitain of the barke of Sandwyche,
which mafully called his men together out of Sandwyche hauen & with good wynde came
to reskuc the Kateryne Galley. The. vi. shippes perceiuyng that, left their chace & made
with the Barke of Sandwyche. The capitaine coragiotisly comforted his men and made
the quarters of his ship defcnsable. The Frenchmen sette on tiersly, and their toppes were
higher then the toppe of the Etiglishe ship. Out went the ordinaunce, qtiarels and dartes
of the Frenche shippes: the Englishmen shot fiersly againe and when the Frenchemen pro-
fered to enter, the Englishmen bet them of with bylles. The Frenchemen at last with a
great gunne betdoune the toppe of the barke & slewe the men in thesame, and lastly they
strake doune his Mast. This conflict continued from. x. of the clocke tyll two at after
noone. Then he could make no shift, but to saile: and euer the Englishmen shot arrowes,
& while thenglishmen had any arrowes the Frenchemen durst not enter: But when their ar-
rowes were spent, the Frenchemen came aborde all at ones & entrcd the barke. In tfiis
fight were slaine of Frenchmen out of hand, xxvii. and. Ixxx. sore hurt, and of the Eng-
lishe were slaine. xxiii. What should I say, the Englishemen fought valiauntly, but they
were to weake for. vi. tall shippes. Wherfore they were taken and brought to Depe for a
prise, but the Frenchmen sayd they neuer bought prise so dere. After this Ihon Maryner
tapitaine of the Kateryne galey dyed, and many Frenchemen that wer hurt dyed at Depe,
so that neither part wan ne greatly.
In the last moneth called December were taken certain tray tors in the citie of Couentry, An int-
one called TVaunces Philippe scholemaster to the kynges Henxmen, and one Christopher ^™
Pykerytw clerke of y Larder, and one Antony Maynuile gentleman, which 6y the persua- ««ry.
*ibn of the savd Frauhces Philip, entended to haue taken the kynges treasure of his sub-
sidie as the Collectors of thesame came towarde London, and then to haue araised men and
taken the castle of Kylingworth, and then to haue made battaile against the kyng: wher-
fore the «avd Frounces, Christopher and Anthony wer hanged, drawen, and quartered at
Tvbonie the xi. day of Februarye, the residue that were taken, were sent to the citie of
•Couentry and there wer executed. One of the kynges Henxmen called Dvgby which was
one cf the conspirators fled the realme, and after had his pardon.
The wii. day Of lanuary there was a Fayer or market at the toune of Marguyson in the
French kvn-'es" dominions beside Calayce, and for defence of the people and their nmr-
•cm ndise" tW were appointed CC. men in harnes w«l weaponed: I he souldiem of
Guy nes 1 earyn, of this, departed in the night & came nere to thetouneof Marguyson and
closlySp themselfes tyl the Market was fayre & at the best, then the Englishmen wluche wer.
Sx archer and bylles set sodainly on the Market, that seyng the Frenchemen stodemanfuUy
it the r defence ^Imndgunnes and pykes, but the Englishmen shotte so wholy together that
they dauee Frenchmen out of the toune, and would for succors haue taken the Churchy
tut the Fnolishemen were betwene theim and the Churche, so that they had none other ,c-
but to te and many Frenchmen were slaine. Capitain Ihon de Pound, and cap,-
674 THE. XV. YERE OF
tain Iho de Babage and diuers other were taken prisoners, and diuers marchauntea that
were there to sell their goodes were also taken, and all their goodes brought in Frenche-
mennes wagons to Guysnes and no Englishman slaine but diuers were sore hurt.
The fyrst day of February the valiant knight sir Robert lernyngha and with him fifty de-
mylaiices of the garrison of Calayce skoured the countrey to Odirsaell & there toke a C.
hedde of beastes, by that doyng an askry rose through the countrey, wherby the French-
men gathered together to the nomber of. xii. score, and or siv Robert and his company
came to Houndyngbrige they were beset round about, so that of necessitie they must fight,
the Frenchmen set on with hadgunnes,* crosbowes and pykes, and for a while there was a
strong encountre, but the Englishmen as menne desperate (because of the nomber) fought
so fiersly that they caused the Frenchmen to geue backe and slewe many of them and toke.
xiii. prisoners, & in the chace they toke vii. more whiche made vp. xx. Then the sayd sir.
llobert returned with bis botie and prisoners and lost noman, but almoste all were hurt.
The. x. day of Marche the kyng hauyng a newe harnes made of his own deuise, and
fashion, suche as no armorer before that tyme had seen, thought to assaye thesame at the
tilte, and appointed a lustes to serue him. On fote were appointed the lorde Marques
The ieoper- Dorset and the Erie of Surrey, the kyng came to the one ende of the tylt, and the Duke
ky th" ^in °^ Suffblke to the other: then a gentleman sayd to the Duke, sir the kyng is come to the
«y*giustes. tyltes ende. I see him not sayd the Duke on my fayth, for ray head piece taketh fro me
my sight: with these wordes God knoweth by what chaunce, the kyng had his spere deli-
ueied him by the lorde Marques, the viser of his headpece beyng vp and not doune nor
fastened, so that his face was clene naked. Then the gentleman sayd to the duke, sir the
king commeth, then the duke set forward and charged his spere, and the kyng likewise vn-
aduisedly set toward y duke : the people perceiuyng the kynges face bare, cryed hold, hold,
the duke neither saw nor heard, and whether the kyng remembred that his viser was vp or
no few could tell: Alas what sorow was it to the people when they saw the spleters of the
dukes spere strike on the kynges bed piece: For of a suertie the duke strake the kyng on the
brow right vnder the deft-ce of y hedpcce on the verye coyflfe scull or bassenetpcce where-
vnto the barbet for power and defence is charneld, to whiche coyfte or bassenet neuer ar-
morer takelh hede, for it is euermore couered with the viser, barbet and volant pece, and
so that pece is so defended that it forseth of no charge: But when y spere on that place
lighted, it was great Jeopardy of death insomnche that the face was bare, for the Dukes
spere brake all to shyuers, and bare the kynges viser or barbet so farre backe by the countre-
buflfe that all the kynges fccadpece was full of spleters. The Armorers for this matter were
muche blamed, and so was the lord Marques for the deliueryng of the spere when his face,
was open, but the kyng sayd that none was to blame but himself, for he entended to haue
sayed himselfe and his sight. The duke incontinently vnarraed him, and came to the kyng,
shewyng him the closencs of his sight, & sware that he would neuer runne against the kyng
more: But if the kyng had been a lytle hurt, the kynges seruauntes would haue put "the
Duke in Jeopardy. Then the kyng called his Armorers and put all his peces together and
then tooke a spere and ranne vi. courses very well, by the which all men might per-
ceiue that he had no hurt, whiche was great ioy and comfort to all his subiectes there pre-
sent.
In the ende of Februarye fourc Frenche shippes chased the Fysher botes of Rye to the
verye shore, and when the fludde was gone, would haue taken the botes and came a land
with pikes, but the fishers threw stones, and one archer shotte and slewe a Frencheman
whiche helde vp a basket and bad shote Englisheman shote, and the Englisheman shot
through the basket and slewe him, and so they saued their botes, and when the fludde came,
the Frenchemen sette vp their sailes, and as they were passyng, the Englishemen of warre
mette with theim and tooke two of the sayd shippes, and the other two fled.
In this yere the kyng sent the lorde Morlay sir Wyllyam Hosy knight and doctor Lee
his Almoner to Done Ferdinando archduke of Austrice and brother to the Emperour
Charles.
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ.
Charles with the order of the Garter whiche in the toune of Norryngberge receiued the
same, where then were all the princes of Germanye assembled at a counsel or Dyet against
the bishop of Rome, against whom the Germaynes put a C. greues.
The. xiii. day of Aprill one Capitain Breerton one of the capitaines of the auenturers at
Guysnes with. xvi. tall men came to a village called Waste and there toke a bootie of
beastes, by whiche takyng an askry rose, and bychaunce certain of the garrison of Bulleyn
were then abrode and by the cry of the people came where the Englishmen were, the
Frenchemen \ver CC. horsemen and with great cryes enuironed the Englishemen about, so
that the Englishemen could make no defence. Then capitain Brearton called to the capi-
tain of the Frenchemen and sayd, sir I am a getleman & this enterprice was myne, I haue
brought these good felowes to this Jeopardy, wherfore we yelde vs al prisoners to you, and
so they deliuered their weapons, the capitain was a gentleman and gently them receiued,
•then to the men of warre drewe all the peisants or chorles of the coiitrey nye hand to the
nomber of vii. or viii. score, whiche desired to bye y- Englishmen that wer take, the French-
men were content and toke money, then the Englishmen were deliuered to the vplandishe
people, and the men of warre rode away.
When the menne of warre were departed the rybaudes with pykes, iauelyns, and knyues,
fell on the Englishemen whiche had no weapon and them slewe all xvii. and cutte them in
pieces the moste shamefully that euer was sene.
When knowlege hereof was brought to the capitain of Guisnes sir Ihon Gage, he sent
for the auenturers willyng theim to reuenge their capitaines death. So all the aduenturers
the xiiii. day gathered together to the nomber of. xl. archers and pykes, and by good guide
the next day in the mornyng they catne to the same village of Wast & there toke xxxvii.
prisoners and moste part were at the murder of Brearton and his company, and of the
xxxvii. they slew xxxvi. and so they left one and caried him with them, but or they depart- rcuensi:(L
ed they set the toune on fyer and spared nothyng, their ire was so great : the men of warre
of Fraunce costed the Englishmen, but they would not medle with them in that rage.
When they came to Guysnes they sware the Frencheman that was left on liue to declare
their message to the capitaine of Bullein, whiche was that after that day they would saue
neither man, woman nor child that came to their handes for the great crueltie that the pey-
santz had done to capitaine Brearton and his company, with whiche message the French-
men were discontent & sayd that the villaynes deserued to haue vengeaunce for their
crueltie.
In thisyere through bookes of Emphymerydes and Pronosticacions made and calculate by
Astronomers, the people were sore affrayde for the sayd writers declared that this yere
should be suche Eclipses in watery signes, and suche conjunctions that by waters & fluddes
many people should perishe, Insomuche that many persones vitailed them sdfes and went to
hitf'n <n-oundes tor fcare of drounyng, and specially one Bolton which was Prior of sainct Boitonp
Bartholomewes in Smythfeld builded him an house vpo Harow of the hill, only for feare of this £ "j*
tiud, and thether he went and made prouision for all thinges necessarye within him, for the mew«.
space of two monethes : But the faythfull people put their trust and confidence onely in God.
And this raine was by the wryters pronosticate to be in February, wherfore when it began to
raine in February the people wer muche afrayd, & some sayd now it beginneth, but many
wisemen whiche thought that the worlde could not be drouncd agame, contrary to Goddes
promise put their trust in him onely, but because they thought that some great rames might
fall by e'nclinacions of the starres, and that water milles might stand styll and not gnnde,
they nrouicled for meale, and yet God be thanked there was not a fairer season in many
yeres, & at the last the Astronomers for their excuse said that in their computacion they had
mistaken and miscounted in their nomber an hundreth yeres.
The Emperor charles which also was enemy to the French kyng, seyng the great army
thnt the kvn<r of England his confederate had in Fraunce, thought it was to him honorable
to make warre also on that part of Frauce that ioyneth to Spain, & in especially he imagined
4 R S
TIJE, XV. YERE OF
how to recouer the toune of Fountraby, whiche the Frenche men before thattyme had got-
ten: wherfbre he assembled a great puissauncc and made capitain the lorde Barnardine d»
Belasco Constable of Castyle, which with great diligence came before the toune of Fountraby
whiche was strongly fortefied and the capitain therof was a Naueroys : but when the capitaine
and his compaigny sawe the toune besieged with suchc a puissaunce, and a:lso that the sea
was so narowly kept that they could not haue vitail nor succour, they determined to geue vp
the toune: but yet the capitaine of a high stomacke shotte out his ordinaunce and sent his
trompet to the capitain of the Spanyardes to know what prisoners he had of his, and for the
communicacion therof he desired abstinence of warre tyl he bad communed with the counr
sail of the Spanish host, whiche to him was graanted. Then was communicacion for flue
dayes and nothyng ended for the Spanyardes were haute on- the one syde, and the French-
men proude on the other syde, but on the vi. day it was concluded that the toune should be
deliuered with ordinaunce and artillery and all the men of war to depart with bagge &
baggage and so thexxvii. day of February was y toune of Fountraby brought againe to the
handes of the Emperor, & he that was capitaia of Fountraby was afterwarde restored to his
landes in Nauer by the Emperor and became his man.
The bishop of Rome called Pope- Clement seyng the great warres that were this yere on-
all parties and in especial betwene the Emperor & the kyng of England on the orre partie
against Fraunces the Freche kyng and his alyes, sent an archebishop of the realme of Na-
ples fyrst to the Frenche kyng, and after to the Emperor, whiehe declared to the Frenche
kyng the manyfolde mischiefes that ryse by warre, the great stroke of vengeaunce that Cod
will strike forvniust warre £ specially for the death of innocenles and effusion of christen,
bloud, and shewed farther that the sayd Frenche kyng made daily warre on the Emperor and
the kyng of England without cause, but onely because he himselfe would do no right to them
nor to their subicctes.
The Frenche kyng after eounsail taken answered, my lord Legate we assure you that we
make no vvarrc, but warre is made on vs, and we stande at the defence, notwithatandyng our
right is kept from vs both the duchy of Myllain and realme of Naples by the Emperor and
the vsurped duke,, to the whiche we haue good title, and the kyng of England warreth on vis
•without cause, notwithstading that we haue gcucn him and many lordes of his cousail di-
uers fayre pcncions, not because we be afrayde of him, but because we would haue his loue
. and amitie, and when we perceiued that he toke part with the Emperor our mortal enemy,
we withdrewe our pencions as with right we might, £ now with all his power he would con-
quere our good will, which is against reason, and we clayme nothing of him. Well savd
the ambassador, I will speake fyrst with the Emperor and after with the kyn" of England, "&
then I will declare to you their, rightcs and dema-undes, with whiche the Frenche kyng seined
to be content.
Then the sayd ambassadour tooke hisleaue and in post came to the Emperor in Spaine, &
there exhorted him to peace with many goodly reasons affirmyng that the warre was vniust and
without reasonable cause made on the Frenche kyng as the sayd kyng affirmed. Then the
Emperor like a noble prince answered, that the warres were neuer of Ins beginnyng: For the
Frenche kyng or he wyst had taken the toune of Fountraby, and also had sent an army to co-
quere the realme of Nauerne, & not with this contented, reteyned the Swyches whiche be
the Emperors subiectes and caused them to be enemies to tliempyre, and he also withhelde
the duchy of bant Burgoyne, and the countie of Arthoys with diuers other countreys and
seignories belongyng to him: Wherfore his quarel was alway kist, and. because the college of
Rome should perceiue the whole cause of his warres, he deliuered to the sayd ambassador a
scedule, with whiche he departed, refusyng all giftes whiche the Emperor offered him, and
came agame to the Frenche kyng and rehersed to him all the Emperors saiyn*, but tlie
Irench kyng himselfe highly excused and sayd that he might not lese that that his pre-
decessors left him, and so the bishop of Romes ambassador toke his leaue and came into
.Lngjand.
After
, rots answer. -
KYKG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 677
After this Legate was departed fro the Emperors court, there came thither an Ambassa-
dor from Portyngale, whiche highly behaued him selfe, and when he came to the Emperors
speche, he proudly sayd : Sir you that are the greatest prince of Christendome ought aboue Thepr^o.
all men to do iustice and right, and to do wrong to no man, and where it is well knowen s>«m°f •
that by the labor, studye, and learnyng in Cosmography and Astronomy of vs only Portyn- Portynsa1''
gales, the trade to the parties of Inde or Indias were fyrst sought and found, and the fyrst
labor in that behalf was ours and the great innumerable riches whiche was spent for the
searching and findyng of thesame, was employed & spent by the kyng of Portyngale and
his progenitors, by whiche trauail we haue uonne straung lades, wherby all Christendome is
greatly enriched w luels, stones, and perles and other straung commodities. How can it
then be thought iust or righteous that any other persone should take from vs that comoditie
that we haue so derely bought? Yet most puissant lorde and mightie Emperor, your sub"
iectes daily trauail thither and wrongfully take away our gayne, whiche rieuer labored nor
toke pain for the findyng or serening of thesame, wherfore of iustice you must comaunde
your subiectes not alonely to leue their trade thitherwarde, but also to make to vs- Portyng-
gales a sufficient recompence for the harmes that we haue susteined..
When the Ambassador had sayd, after a lytle deliberacion the Emperor answered/ The The
very pouertie of your countrey of Portyngale is suche, that of your selfesyou be not able™"
to. Hue, wherfore of necessitie you were driuen to seke liuyng, for landes of princes you
were not able to purchase, and lande of lordes you were not able to conquere. Wherfore on
the sea you were compelled to seke that which was aot found : And where you say that you
haue found lades, I say those landes foud you by shipwrekes of the sea beyng cast theron
before you thought of any such ground & so sought farther for succours in necessitie, yet
they say not that you haue them wone, but they haue wone you, And where you would
that our subiectes should not repare thither, weascertaineyou that no man shall prohibite
our subiectes tosaile where they lyst for their auauntage. For our subiectes may be warned
no place by them \v whom I haue peace and amitie: for he is mine enemy and no frend that let-
teth mylibertie: Well sayd tlie Ambassador, and we wil let your subiectes to passe thither.
Nay savd the Emperor we wil not trye so farre, for I am able todisturbe yourdoynges nerer
hand. ' But for a suertie you Portyngales be enemies to all Christendome, for to the Indyans
you cary nothyng but coync, whiche is hurt to all countreys, wherefore at this tyme you may
depart, till you be better aduised. After this answeregeuen to the Portyngales, they offer-
ed great summes of money to the Emperor to leaue his trade into the Indyans, but he therlo.*
iu nowyse would agree.
THE. XF-I. YERE.
IN the beginnyng of this xvi. yere the kyng lay at his maner of Newhall in Essex, and <
there kept the feast of sainct George £ hearyng that the bishop of Homes Ambassador was
commyii" into England remoued to his manor of Grenewyche where the sayd Archbishop
and legate came to him & was highly entertained, which declared wisely and eloquently the
message & entent of his master, whiche was to make a peace and cocord betwene y princes
of Christendome, & especially betwene the Emperor, the kyng of Englnd & the French
J."'n<* & for that cause he had been with the Emperoc &. also with the French kyng, whiche
as he" savd affirmed that without cause the kyng of England made on him warre, consideryng
thathe to thententto haue y more amitie & fauor of you & your nobles hath l.berally geuen
to YOU & theim honorable pencions, whiche by no dutie as he affirmeth you can nor may
clavme but of his beniuolence and bountie. Also he sayth that you clayine his croune,
realme and possessions, whiche toucheth him highly and of yours he claymeth nothyng
and therfore lie thy aketli of right you ought not to make him warre, Wherfore may it pleas-e
THE. XVI. YERE OP
your highnesto tell me your mynde and I shall it declare to the whole court of Rome God
willyng and forget nothyng.
Then the kynf called to him his coiisail & after diuers cosultacions had, the Ambassador
was sent for, & tliere was shewed to him many recordes, prouyngthe kyng of England to be
inheritor to the realme of Frauce by bloud & also so cofirmed by diuers Charters in the tyme
of kyng Charles the vii. And as cocernyng $ pencion, to him was shewed diuers Charters,
that it was no Pencion of frendship but due rent for the duches of Normiidy & Guyan and
the coutreys of Aniew & Maine which are the kyng of Englandes very inheritaunce. Far-
thermore there wer shewed to him diuers bondes of the sayd French kynges for the payment
for the citie of Turnay & other daties whiche he ought to the kyng of England, all whiche ar-
ticles to fulfyll, the Frenche kyng hath oftentymes been requyred by Ambassadors, & yet he
euer dissebled& would notconforme himselfe to reason: of all these thinges wer notes written
& deliuered to the bishop of Homes ambassador, which toke his leue of the kyng & re/-
turned in post accompanied but with.iii. persones. By reason of $ comyng of this Ambas-
sador men hoped y peace should ensue, but it succeded not this yere: for the third day of
May the garrison of Bullein with diuers other in the moste secrete wise that could be came
,to a place within the Englishe pale called Sentricas & sodainly strake vp a drome or droun-
'Slade : the people hearyng this in the night were sore abashed, some fled naked & some
clothed, the most part fled to the Churche, and the Frenchemen them folowed £ toke. xxi.
prisoners and then set fyer on the Churche: by this tyme was all the pale raised which
thyng the Frenchmen perceiuyng left their botie and returned in all hast with their prisoners to
Bullein.
In this season the lordes of Flaunders lay at the siege before Tyrwyn and were likely to
haue taken it by famyne, wherof the Frenche kyng beyng aduertised assembled an armye of.
xxii.M. horsemen and fotemen vnder the conduicte of the Duke of Vandostne and the lorde
Pountdormy, and the Frenche kyng himselfe came doune to Amyas and there caused it to
be noysed that he would besegc the toui>e of Valencyen in Henaude, where the Duke of Suf-
folke the last yere had left the kyng of Englandes ordinaunce. The kyng of England hear-
yng of this, sayd, that if the Frenche kyng beseged Valencyen, he in person would go thi-
ther for to reskue his ordinaunce. The lorde Fynes and other lordes of Flaunders
whiche lay before Tyrwyn with ix.M. menne were aduertised of the Frenche armye, but
because of the fame that the host shuld go to Valencyen, they sent for nomorc succors.
When the Frenchmen had all thynges ready, they lefte the waye to Valencyen and tooke
the way directly to Tyrwyn. When the lordes, of Flaunders perceiued that, they were sore
abashed & then they knew that they were discciued, and that they were not able to abyde
the puissaunce of the Frenche army. Wherfore they raysed their siege, £ put the selfes in or-
der of battail on y Southestside of Tyrwyn: the French armye passed forward the vi. day of
May towarde Tyrwyn and made no semblaunce to fight: Howbeit some of theim skyrmished
with the horsemen of Flaunders, but they at the last entered the toune, whervnto they were
welcome, and the lordes of Flaunders departed sore displeased but there was no remedy.
Then rannne a brute that the French army would lay sege to Guysnes: wherfore the kyng
caused men Si all other thynges to be put in a readynes for the spedye reskue thereof if it
had so chaunsed. But the Frenchemen toke a better aduice.
In this moneth of May sir Robert lernyngham capitain of Newnam bridge comuned
with Christopher Coo, a capitaine-of diuers Englishe shippes that kept the sea, whiche then
was in Calayce hauen for vitaile and sayd, capitain Coo you know how the Bulleners haue
visited nere to Calayce the Englishe pale and haue burned Sentrycas. If you will promise
to set many of your menne a lande at the hauen of Bullein the. xix. day of Maye, I with as
many as I can furnishe will mete with you there in basse Bulleine at the tyme and houre be-
twene vs appointed, to the whiche the sayd Christopher agreed and faithfully promised, and
so prepared accordyngly euerye thyng necessarye and so sayled towarde Bulleyn, sir Robert
•Jernyngham sent worde of this enterprise to sir Willyam Fitzwillyam capitaine of Guysnes
6 to
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ.
to know if he would ayde any part toward this iorney, whiche sent worde that he would be
at theaame auenture himselfe: then all the gentlemen desired him to be capitaine of that en-
terprise, whiche he thakefully and with heart receiued: then all the men of warre and the.
aduenturers and the Bayly Marke assembled- together, so that when all were come together
they wer. CCC. horsemen, and of the coutrey and Marke. iii.C. and of the auenturers.
C.lx. and so one and other they were vii.C. men. All these persones metteajt an houre ap-
pointed at Sandyngfelde : the night was short so that it was day or they came nere Bullein
all set in good order of battail, but they were askried before they came nere Bullein, and so it
chaunsed that Christopher Goo with his shippes whiche had winde at will was come with his..
iiii. shippes before Bullein sorawhat before day, the Bulleners that kept the watche him espied,,
& then he manned his boates and with men and ordinaunce stretched toward the land, by that
tyme was all basse Bullein in harnes ready to. defend the Englishmen from londyng, but capi-
taine Coo did what he might, and almost all the people of Basse Bujlein wer on the shore,
that seyng the garrison made them ready and bent their ordinaunce. Sir Wijlya. Fitzvvillyam
hearyng the gunnes toward the hauenside knew wel that Cristopher Coo was in his busines,.
and so encoraged'euery man to do well and marched forwarde w asmuche spede as might
be, insomuchc that all the Englishemen were on the hylles before Bullein in sondry plumpes,
then issued out the horsmen of Bullein betwene the castle and Cardons tower, the light
horsmen of the Englishe part theim encountred, there was a good fight, the Frenchemen
shote with Crosbowes, and the Englishemen with long bowes, and the great ordinaunce:
shot terribly, the Englishemen approched the toune walles, this skyrmishe was fierse &
euer the archers ayded the horsemen. Whyle the horsemen were thus skyrmishyng, the
viii. score auenturers whiche were hardy & valiaunt men cast thernselfes about & came to
basse Bullein, and there they were hardely receiued of the Frenchemen, yet notwith-
stadyng they lost their barriers and the Englishmen entred, there was shotyng on all sides
and a strong fight. The Frenchmen cried Bullein, and thenglishmen sainct George Ca-
layce: but at the last the Frenchmen were driuen backe and many, slaine, & xliiii. taken-
prisoners, and so they returned to their capitaine sir Willyam Fitzwillyam. All this
while was Christopher Coo on lond on the sea cost and bet y Frenchmen vp to the-
toune, and when the tide turned he with all his came againe in safetie to their shippes.
The Englishe horsemen after long fightyng tooke thre of the Frenchemen of armes and the
other recu led to the toune. By this tyme by reason of the Alanne was all the countreyof
Pycardye raysed and muche people resorted to Bullein on all sydes, whiche doyng sir Wil-
lyam Fitzwillyam wisely perceiuyng, by the sound of a trumpette brought all his menne to-
e-ether in a plumpe, and then sent them hither and thither tofette his clriftes of beastes that,
were nere in the countrey on euery side, whiche was quickely done, for the aduenturers
brought Oxen, Kyne, Horses, and many other pillages, and brent the gra.ngss and villages,
and so mette together, and with their botie returned in sauetie.
The tewesdaie folowyng, bcyng the laste daic of Male, sir Willyam Fitz Willyam, with;
a C and fiftie horsemen, and the auenturers, and a hundred other persones mo, came to a,,
place called Samer de Boys, the saied capitain wisely considered, that in that place the
Frenchemen had diuerse times lurked, and taken at auantage the Englishmen, wberfore he
laied his horsemen, and his archers on horsebacke in a woodde, in a wa.te if the Frenche-
men folowed the stale: then he sent furth the auenturers, whiche passed farther then y capi-
ain would that thei should hauedone, and sodainly they were askned : then on came the-
Frenchemen, the auenturers sware, that they would not ftee, but bent the.mselfes to defed;
their enemies, which wer. iii. C. horsemen.. The Frenchemen knew wel their hardmes,
butvet they called them Crakers, whiche by missoundyng, was- commonly called Krckers, for
a suretie these men wer hardy, and full of pollecie, and very far would ,eoperd, the
T? , r,Pn ^nt about a valey. i. C. of the best horsemen, and. n. C. footmen, then were
" ene t o" be'ls of the Frenchmen : sir Willyam Fitz Willya, beyng assured.
thp Krekers betwene two bendes i_. — —
of the conduite of the Frenchmen, muche doubted the chaunce ot the auenturers where-
fore in greale hast sent for his stale. of horsemen, that he had left couered: and the French-
<J80 THE. XVI. YERE OF
men that were before the Krekers, came and set on very fast, in hope of their horsemen,
that were gone about an hill in the valey. The Englishemen them valiantly defended, then
as the horsemen had compassed tlie hill, the auenturers were come on a plain: then the
horsemen that wer come to sir Willia Fitz William, set on the French horsemen, there was
a hard and a ferce encounter, for the Frenchmen fought sore, but at length they
fled, and in the chace wer taken. Ivi. horsmen, nnd. xliiii. slain one and other, &
many Englishemen sore hurt and diuerse slain, thus the Krekers scaped a narowe
hasarde.
In the same season on .the -second daie of Maie, sir Thomas Palmer one of the
Captains of the frontiers, was ridyng to his frende, master lerome of Burgoo, capi-
tain of Turnahan, and with. him. -xx. Englishe men on light horse, and as he roade, he so-
<iainly espied, xxx. horsemen, of the garrison of Tirwyn and Bullein, thei were nere toge-
ther or the Englishe men espied them: then there was no remedy, but to encounter, sir
Thomas Palmer wel>cornforted his compaignic, and then the Frenche men set on with great
force, and truly they fought long without one hauyng any auauntage of the other, but at
last the Frenchemen began to faint, and alitlc to withdrawe themselfes, that perceiuyng tlie
Englishe men, set to them coragiously and so they slewe threa out of hand, and. vi.'men of
..armes taken prisoners, and eight dimy lances, with whiche prisoners the Englishemen re-
turned to G«ysnes, and kept not their purpose to Turnahaa for all were hurt or
Avounded.
In lune sir William Fitz William, capitain of Guysnes, sir Ihon Walop, and sir Ihon
'•Gage, secretly called to them. ix. C. men of warre such as they trusted, and on Midsomer
day, passed the lowe countrey of Picardy, vnto the castle of Hardyngha, or Rigsam and they
.caried with tliem but one pece of ordinanncc, called a Curtail, tliis gonne they bent against
.the Castle, which was well furnished with harnes, ordinaunce and all other artillerie, and
• thyngesnedefull, and .the capitain also was a valiant and bardie gentleman. The Englishe-
men euer shot that pece and remoued it from place to place with great pain, and in conclu-
sion made a balery of the walles, so that they might assault it, then the trompet blewe to
• assault, and the capitain with his compaignie stoode at defence: then sir Ihon Wallop,
,and sir Ihon Gage with the auenturers or krekers entred the diche, and the archers shot
at euery loupe arrowes and the Frenchmen likewise shot quarelles: the Englishemen
set vp laders to the walles, but the Frenchmen threw the doune, at this assault was'slam
a gentleman- called Butler, and. xv. other Englishmen, but for all that, the assault was not
lefte, for some clymed by pikes, and some amended the ladders, and cried again to the as-
sault: but sir William Fitz William chief capitain of this enterprise, porcenicd that they
lacked engynes and other thynges, for the spcdy assault of the castle, and not willinw
to lose his men without cause, caused them to staye, while lie and other capitaines counsailed
together, and as they were concluded once again to attempt the assault, they hard newes that
,t\vo thousande horsemen, and two thousande footmen, wer at hande to fight with the, thei
then perceiuyng that. ix. C. men beyng wcry, wer no power to encounter with foure thou-
sande Frenchmen, they in good ordre returned to the Engliehe fortresses.
Monsire de Bees Capitain of Bullein, well considered all theenterprices, that the English-
men had done in Picardy and Fraunce, now of lute: he determined to requite theim, to his
honor and fame, and for that purpose sent for the erle of Dammariyne, the lord Pontre-
mie, and the lorde Chastillion, whiche concluded to entre into the Englishe pale and to shewe
themselfes before Calice. Wherefore they assembled all the men of armes and souldiers, of
the garrisons aboute, and so they wer. viii.C. good horsemen, and with pikes, gonnes, and
crossebowes. viii,C. footemc%:,and when all this compaignie was assembled Monsire de Bees
as capitain of this iorney, •wkh the other lordes, the fourth day of August with banner dis-
plaied, came toward Calice in the euenyng: and the next day in the mornyng bysixe of the
-Clocke, they came to a village within the Englishe pale, called Bonynges. Then the Alarms
>rose through all the English pale, and so came to Calice. These" lordct ef Fraunce sent
out
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 681
out their foreriders, to serche and ouer se the coutrey, and then they laied an cmbushement
of. iii. C. horsemen, at the said toune of Bonynges, and with that bend abode Monsire Pon-
Iremie, and Monsire de Bees rode to Kalkewell with. iii. C. horsemen, and there taried with
them, tlie erle of Damnmrtine with. iii. C. freshe horsemen, and all the footemen with b.-tner
displaied, roade and forraged all the Countrey, of whiche three hundred speres, thei let one.
C. go at large, and kept the residue with them.
When the Alarms, came to Calice, euery man made to horse and harties. Then sir Ro-
bert lernyngham, with. Ixxx. horsemen with all spede, rode out of Calice to behold the
compaignie of the Frenchmen. And he sentfurth his light horsemen, whidhe met with the
skourers of the Freeh men, and because the Frenchmen seined a few in nombre, the
Englishe foreriders proffered toward lliem, whiche fled toward Sandifteld, and the Englishe-
inen chased after, not becyng of knowlege of the embushementes, that laye at Bonynges and
Kalkewell.
When sir Robert lernyngham sawe his light horsemen chace, he folovved after softly, to
kepe his horse in brethe. Then sodainly the French men that were in chace returned, for
some of there aide was nere theim. When the Englishmen which passed not. xvi horse,
sawe the Frenchmen returne, thei encountered with them manfully, but to the Frenchmen
came still mo and mo, so that the Englishemen were constrained to Hie another ivaie, to the
liye lande in greatc ieoperdy, for the Frenchemen them pursued, but by the helpe of the
light geldynges, the Englishemen gat the sea side, or sea sandes beyond Skales: then wer
the Englishmen glad and returned, and fought with the Frenchmen hand to hand for the
Frenchmen behynde folowed not the chace, but only twenty horsemen, and with pure 'fight -
yng the Englishemen toke one of the Frenche horsemen, and came with him to Calice, and
so wer saued.
When sir Robert lernyngham sawe his men in chaec (as you haue hard) and saw that
thei were in great ieoperdy, he auaunsed for their rescue all that he might, whiche wns the
sauyng of the light horsemen, for the Frenchmen lefte theim, to encounter with sir Robert
lernyngham, and so it was that he went so farre forward, that the Frenchmen were bctwene
hym and Calice. And when he saw al the bendes, and embnshmentes breakeout he said to
Ins compaignie: sirs, sainct CJeorge to borowe, lette these Frenche galantes knowe uhat we
Englisheraen be: Sir saied his compaignie, they shall bye -vs dere. Then he marched to-
warde the high lande: Then approched a great nombre of horsemen of Fraunce, the English-
men theim vaiiauntlyrecciued, and manfully defended, but euer the Fivehmen came freshe and
freshe, so that the Englishmen beyng wery, and oppressed with multitude, were faine to
flie: and in this chace was taken Thomas Cheiney an Archer, whose horse was tiered) and
two other archers on horsebacke, one called CJeorge Kar and the other Rowlande Atkynson,
and thre other of the English pale, sir Robert and the remnaunt, saued themselfes the best
that thei could.
When sir Robert was returned, the Frenchmen souned their trompet, and reculed to
Bullein, and sent woorde to Calico, that they would visile the ottener. .Sir Robert lernyng-
ham remembrvng this chaunce, thought to be reuenged of the same, & «o adtiisyng himself
to vhat place "he should rcpare, he remembred that whensoeuer the bnglibhinen made any
iornevto Man'vson, the Frenchmen would flie ouer the water or creke, to a high ground
bvboates, and there as it wer in an island, saue theselfes, because on that side thei might cuer
haue succors for the creke or water is beyond the toune from Calice. Theriore the saicd
«ir Robert caused fine great boates to be caried in wagons, and so he with other capitamcs,
of Calice and Guysnes, to the nombre of. iii. C. fotemen with the Kreken ft. lx. horsemen
the xii daie of August, with baners displayed, toke their way to ibetouneol Margison, and in
the'night the light horsemen gaue Alarm* to the toune of Bulle.n, and toke two sould.ers
prisoners and brought with them certain cattaill to their compaign.e. Then tbenghshemen
arched forward, toward Margyson, that sey^g the Frenchmen, toke then-boa^ jn tru^t
the water, and passed ouer3 the Englishemen percciued that, and lanched their Boates
4 S an-
m
682 THE. XVI, YERE OF
and so like auenturers entered, and by force passed, and so mo and mo, till. C. Ix.
wer passed ouer: the countrey began to gather, so that the Frenchmen were thre
hundred, which fought with the Englishmen, and would haue letted the boates to land,
but the archers on the other side draue the back, and the Englishetnen slew at the
first encounter. Ix. men, and toke fortie prisoners, yet the Frenchmen that fled met
with newe succors, and then began a new battail, and the Frenchmen fought hardely
but at thende they fled, the most porest of the people, on the other side of the water,
fled to the Churche and abode at their defence, then was there fire set in the church, then
the Frenchmen lept out of the church, to their destruccion, for of three hundred there
was saued but sixtie on Hue.
The whole power of Bullein was come doune, nere to the place: but when they
pereeiued that it was to late, and that the Englishemen were returned they came
no farther. This was sir Robert lernyngham euen with the Frenchmen, and
brought a good botie, and many prisoners to Calice, which sore greued the captain
of Bullein.
The Frenchemen perceiuyng, that they gat litle at the Englishemeanes handes, thought
to take 'their auauntage of the Flemmynges, wherfore they assembled of the garrisons, of
Bullein and Tirwyn. v. C. fotemen, and three hundred horsemen, and so in good ordre
marched toward sainct Omers, and thei sent to go aforragyng. i. C. footmen, and as many
horsemen, and the rest kepte themselfes in a stale. These Frenchemen came by Arkus, nigh
to sainct Omers, and forraged all the countrey, the Alarme sprang all the countrey, to-
Turnahan, the capitain of Turnaha sent woorde to sir William Fitzwilliam, Capitain of
Guysnes, that the Frenchmen were abrode, which made answere, that if the French-
men came nere to hym, surely he would speke with them, with which answer the
capitain of Turnahan beyng encoraged, sent furth. CC. Flemynges on foote, still the
Frenchemen marched toward Turnaha, the Flemmynges that wer sent from Turnahan
marched toward the waie, where the Frenchmen should come, thinking that when the
eapitain of Guysnes had set on them, that then they would huue lien in the chace at the
receipt.
The saied capitain of Guisnes valiantly marched forward with a. C. horsemen and. iiii. C.
footemen, entendyng to mete with the Frenchmen, and sodainly as he was passing forward,
word was brought him that the erle of Damarten, u'ith the garrisons of Mustrcl and Abuile,
to the nomber of. vi. C. horsemen, were commyng forward towarde Guysnes. This hearyng
sir William Fitzwillyam, sware that the erle should not take pain to come to Guisnes, for he
would mete hym on the way: by this meane h« l«ft his first enterprice, & marched toward
therle of Danmrtin.
The Frenchemen of Tirwyn, beyng therof aduertised by a spy, called all the people
together, and with their botie came on forward toward Turnahan, and sodainly they as-
kried the poore Flemynges, whiche wer sent out of the Castle of Turnahan, and when-
they pereeiued the French men commyng toward the, thei turned their backes and fled
likeshepe: the Frenchmen folowed a pace, and slewe the moste parte of theim, for fewc
escaped.
The capitain of Guysnes came to a faire grene, fiue myle from Guisnes, and there in
good ordre of battaill, taried for the Erles commyng, whiche hearing that the capitain-
of Guysnes, was ready to receiue him, made his "returne backeward, without any thing
doyng: when the capitain knew the truthe of the erles returne, he then with all hast, sped
hym to mete with the Frenchmen, that were commyng to Turnahan, and in the meaoe
waie, he hard tidynges of the chaunce of the Flemynges, and how the Frenchmen wer
reculed toward Tirwyn, whiche auenture sore him d'ispleased, but there was no remedy,
wherfore he returned to Guisnes again, very sory that the Frenchmen, went away vnfought
withall: The Frenchmen litle medled after this time, wherefore let vs now returne and
shew
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 683
shewe what warres wer kept on the frontiers, betwene Englande and Scotlande, in this
ceason.
The. xxi. day of May beyng Trinite Sondaie. v. C. Scottes in the morning by seueral
fordes, entered into Englande, and laye couertly by the high waie, to distresse mer-
chauntes and merket men that should passe to Benvike, that day to the faire: for
euery Trinite Sondaie, ther is kept a great faire, whiche the Scottes knewe well,
and as they laye thus lurking, thei robbed many merchauntes, and toke rich pri-
soners, but at the last they were perceiued, then the Alarms rose, and people bega to ga-
ther, the Scottes drew together toward Branxston, & thenglishmen them assailed,
which so manfully them defended, that if the yong lorde of Fulbery, had not come
with one. C. light horsmen, the Scottes had gone away with their botie, but the*
began a sore fight, many were hurt on both sides, and some slain, and at the last the Scottes
fled, and in thechace there were t\ro hundred Scottes taken prisoners, and the residue fled
and saued themselfes.
After this the. v. daie of luly, sir Ihon a Fenwicke, Leonard Musgraue, and bastard
Heron, and diuerse other, gathered together, ix. C. me and entred into Scotland, in the
countrey called the Marche, & robbed and spoyled all the countrey, and by chaunce the
same season the Scottes had assembled two thousande men, to inuade England, and none
of these knew of other, till they by auenture met together. Then began a strong medley,
for theScottes fought %-aliauntly a great while, and the Englishemen them hardeli assailed, and
at the last by fine force, caused theim to leaue the grounde and flie, and in the flight wer taken.
CC. Scottes, and many slain of the which prisoners diuerse wer gentleme sir RaufeofFanwicke»
Leonard Musgraue, and bastarde Heron with. xxx. other Englishemen wel horssed, folowed
so farre the chace, that they were paste rescues of their compaignie, which perceiuyng
the Scottes sodainly returned, and set on the Englishemen, whiche oppressed with mul-
titude, weresone ouercome, and there was taken sir llaufe a Fanvvicke, Leonard Musgraue,
and sixe other, and bastarde Heron, and scuen other slain, the remnant by chaunce escaped :
the other Englishmen with their two hundred prisoners, returned sauely into Englande: the
slaying of the Bastard Heron, was more pleasure to the Scottes, then the takyng of the two
hundred was displeasure, thei hated hym so.
The. vii. daie of July the lorde Maxwell of Scotlande, and sir Alexander lorden with
banners displayed, and Scottes to the nombre of foure thousand, entered into England at
the West Marches by Carlcile. and began to burne on euery side: then the Englishemen
assembled on euery side, and so they were in nombre. ii. M. men, and fiercely set on the
Scottes, there was a great fighte, for the space of an houre, at the last the Englishmen
brake the array of the Scottes, and them discomfited, and toke. CCC. S-ottes prisoners,
the Englishmen that had taken prisoners, went away with their prisoners. For
sir Alexander lorden and his sonne and diuerse other were taken prisoners, and by
their departyn*, the compaignie of the Englishemen was muche mimslied. The lorde
Maxwell bevng a politique man, perceiued that & sodainly called his people to-
gether, and "them encoraged, and began a new skinnishe, and recouercd all the
prisoners almost, and toke diuerse English men prisoners, tins was the chaunce
°f After6 this iorney, in the Court of Parliament of Scotfande, was much commonyng
of 'the warres, whiche were betwene England and Scotland: some of the nobles sued,
that Fraunce neuerdid so muche good to Scotlande in. xx. yeres, as Scotlande Had lost by
Enelande, I one yere, for f loue & cause of Frauce : wherfore they thought it coiicniet to nntke
a perpetual league of amitie, with y kyng of Englande and to leaue the Trench kyng^
° _i.i_. :~u<, \,«A ™nr.;nn« in Fnuince declared tlie old auntie betwene
specially
THE. XVI. YERE OF
Specially (hey shewed, that if the kyng of Scottes should breake with Fraunce & thea if it
happened the kyng of Englande, to inuade Scotlande, whiche beeyng without aide of any
frend might well by the power of Englande be conquered. After many long reasons it w-is
of England fur a truce-
This yere the first day of September, was doctor Thomas Hanibal Master of the Rolles
receiued into London with erles, and bishoppes, and diuerse other nobles and gentlemen
as Ambassador from Clement bishop of Rome, whiche brought with him a rose of!
forat^ "^kyng: the people as he passed, thought to" haue seen tlfe Rose but tt
was not shewed ti 1 he came to the kyng to Wynsore, on the day of the Natiuitie of our
Lady, on wb.oh date after a solempne Masse song by the Cardinal! of Yo ke thesaS
present was dcliuered to the kyng, whiche was a tree forged of line golde, and w ou"ht
with branches, Icaues.and flowers, resemblyng Roses: this tree was set in a ^ot of Told
which pot had thre fete of antike fashion: the &pot was of measure halfe a ^Lti^t
he kyng thankeiully -receiucd, and clehuered it to him again, and so he bare it op4 before
c
a lorde of the cpunsa 11, hat Se vp and§S r °ff "f JhC f re"Ch ky"g: there was
father then all the Realme should be daHy in 1 's i chief T^ that °Ue I*™ Buffered,
meant by that one persone, he answered hi , ^ "™ *\ asked' wliat'hc
and vgiywerededdeAl,, th^n waS mi H te ?ou u. " "' ^
ywereee,, thn wa mig H te ou u. t. e cn >
theniperors sister, and to haue with her the Duch ofMiLn a H » ^g ^ould
her manage, the kyng of England- - Lo ' lhen wuh tlie mone>" of-
"
bon, ha,!, no. o.uly entered the S' oTmi^I "^ I C°SJ"' "le duke "•
«i.ecs, Cas,K ™
of
1
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ.
In such wise that it is thought vndoubtedly, now to bee moste conuenient tyme and season
either m our persone (although the yere be somewhat past) or by a leuetenaunt with a
a puissant army to inuade Fraunce, on the other side, both for the recoueryn* of the
Croune and to compell our saied enemie, to knowlegc his obstinate, wilfull, and eronious
demeanure, wherfore we will and commaunde you to be redy with such power as vou
be able to make, vpon the next Proclamation to be made, dated the tenth day of Sep-
tember.
After whiche letters sent furthe, euery man made preparation accordyngly, and the people
murmured and saied, that it were much better, that the kyng should maintain his warres,
with his awne subiectes, and spend his treasure on them, then to trust the Duke of Bur-
ton, beyng a straungier to spend his money.
The king beyng at Wynsore, to him came sir Anthony Fitz Herbert one of the Justices
of the Comon place, a man of excellent lernyng in the law, as -appereth by his workes, sir
Raufe Egerton. knight, doctor Deton Deane of Lichfeld, which in the beginning of this
yere, wer sent as Commissioners into Irelande, which so wisely endeuored theimselfes, that
thei reformed many injuries doen in the countrey, and brought diuerse of the wilde Irishe,
by faire meanes to a submission, and made by the Kynges aucthoritie the Erie of Kiklare
deputie of the lande, before whom the great Oneele bare the sworde: and the Lord Piers
Buller, called Erie of Ormound, whiche was deputie of Irelande, was by thesaied Com-
missioners, made high threasorer of Ireland. And when they had set all thynges in good
ordre, in the moneth of September they toke shippyng, and in thesame monetlie came to the
kyng, whiche gaue theim his hartie thankes, for their good cloynges.
In this moneth the king sent Master Ihon Magnus Priest, and Roger RatclifFe Esquier
into Scotlande, for the suretie of his nephew the kyng of Scottes, for diuerse lordea of
Scotland, wrote to the kyng that they doubted the suretie of their kyng, because the duke
of Albany, whiche was heire apparant to the realme of Scotlande, had the kyng in gouern-
aunce, & also they thought, he beyng a Frencheman borne, should not rule their realme :
wherefore thei emongest theselfes, murmured sore in this matter. The Duke hearyng, that
the Lordes of Scotland, had written to the kyng of Eng'.ande, and also that they repined
and grudged at his doynges, sodainly with all the threasure that .he could make, departed
from Scotlande, and sailed into Fraunce, with which departyng the commons were nothing,
sory, and sone after his departing, the Ambassadors of England, were ioyously receiued
into Scotland, and there thesaied Ambassadors taried, till Marche twelue monethe, in
which tyme, there were many conclusions driuen, betwene the two rcalmes: now let vs
returne to Fraunce.
The. xxiiii. day of September, thre horsemen of the garrison of Bullein, whiche wet
knewe the hauen of Calice, came at a nepe tide, and passed ouer Calice hauen, by Risf.
banke in the night,, and went behind the Est Wyndmill, and then tooke lande, and went to
a litle village called Middilwaie, and passed the Turne Pikes, and entered into a Wheler*
house, and tooke the man and the wife. and. xx. 1. in money slerlyng, and went away
elcre without askrie of perceiuyng of the watch of Calice, and no man wist where
they were become, till the trompetof Bullein brought worde and demauncied the ransome.
The last day of September, fiftie light horsemen of Calice, apperteignyng to sir Robert
lernyngham, rode towarde Bullein, and passed the water of Margyso, and came to the water
ef Sclakes nere Bullein where sodainly thei encountered. Ix. Frenchmen of the garrison of
Bullein, there was shoryng with lone bowes and crosebowcs, on euery side strong was the
ficrhi but at the last the Frenchmen fled, the Englishemen folowed, and toke thre light-
horsemen, and when they perceiued the Alarme on euery side, they put themselies in arrayr
and with their botie came to Calice.
Thesame daie sir Thomas Palmer, with. Ix. horsemen of Guysnes, encountered with the
capitain 1: i tram, leader of the horsemen oftherl.e Dammartyn, with. Ix. horsemen, there-
was a sfonefbht two bowers together, but in the ende the Frenchmen fled, and the Engs
& ° hshemen-.
the auc-
turen.
THE. XVI. YERE OP
lishemen folowed, and toke. xviii. prisoners, and. xvi. good horse, and with this botie they
returned to Guysnes.
In this busie season, the auenturers hearing what the horsemen, on their parties had
done and .inespeciall perceiuyng that thenglishe horsemen had taken good prisoners, com-
moned emongest theimselfes, what was to be doen, then one of their capitaines said openly
sirs you se how long we haue been here, and wages we haue none, our liuyng risetu on
the gain of our enemies, and sithe our beginnyng, we haue had good chaunce in all our
enterprises, God be thanked : now the Winter draweth nere, let vs now auenture to get
some good botie, to make vs mery with, in the cold wether, and if you will, we shall en-
terprise a thing, that I truste to vs shalbee profitable. Then all the compaignie cried
furthe furth. Then with a banner of sainct George, they marched toward a village, liyng
toward Mustrell, hauyng onely. xxv. light horsemen to be their skourers, and they were not
fully two hundred men. This compaignie folowyng their skonrers, went farre on, and had
gotten a faire botie of Oxen, Kine, and other bcstiall, and were nere at their returne and
by chaunce thesame day, was the erle of Dammartyn, and the capitain of Mustrell, with
the power of the Duke of Vandosme, going toward sainct Omers, to burne and destroy
that countrey, and for that purpose thei had gathered together, xv. C. horsemen, and. viii.
C. footmen, howbeit the footmen were a large myle behind the horsemen.
The Frenchmen on horsebacke, espied the English horsmen, which perceiuyng the
great nombre fled, and as thesaid Frenchmen marched forward, they espied the auenturers
on foote, & made toward them : thenglishmen seyng the great nombre of the horsemen,
studied to get some hedge or strong place to fortifie theim, but there was no suche place in
Sight, and also they had no suche tyme so to do, wherefore the Capitain saied : Good
felowes and brethren, we haue of long time been called auenturers, now is the tyme come
of our auenture, the Frenchemen will not rausome vs for nothing, we be emongest the
so feared: if any thing saue our Hues, it must be God and our hardines, and therefore saied
he, if you se me begin to flie, slaie me out of hande. Then euery man cried God
mercie, and kneled doune and kissed the earth, and strake handes eche with other, in token
not to depart, and then made themselfes prest to the defence.
The Frenchmen came on, on euery side, thenglishmen shot their arrowes, and defended
them aswell as they could: the Frenchmen perceiuyng that the Englishmen, kept tlicselfes
so close, caused diuerse of the hodmen to light a fote, and so they did, and fought with
their speres against the pikes, and shotte with Crosebowes on euery side. Alas the while,
or while the Englishmen had arrowes to shotc, they were not broken, but close without
perill, but when their arrowes were spent, the Englishmen fought valiauntly, and slew many
Frenchmen that lighted on foote, but in the conclusion the horsemen entered, and killed
them all in manor, because there were so many of their compaignie slain, and tooke fewe
of them prisoners. This was them! of these compaiguions, called the krekers or auenturers,
which were as hardie men, as euer serued prince or capitain.
The Duke of Burbon, with the Marques of Picardy, in the moneth of October, with a
great puyssaunce, laied siege to the strong toune of Marcell in Prouincc, and lay there
a greate space. The Frenche kyng reined a greate armie, and sware that he would reise the
siege, whereof hearyng the Duke of Burbon, sent for the Marques of Piscare, and his
other captains, and declared to them that his intet was, to geue the French King battaill :
the Marques of Piscare saied that the Frenche kynges puyssaunce was greate, and theirs
small, and said : although the duke of Burbon, whiche was a banished man from his coun-
trey, had no other remeady to reuenge him, but by battaill, yet he saied he would
not put al the Emperours men, of the whiche he had the guide, in such a hasard till the
remnant of the Emperours power wer come. Well saied the duke of Burbon, then you
do not as you haue written, both to the Emperor and to the king of England, whiche
shalbe a reproche to your honor: Nay saied the Marques, I will kepe me from reproche.
Then said docter Richard Pace, Ambassador for the kyng of Englande: my lorde you
6 haue
KYNG HENRY THE. V1IJ.
hauc had the King my Masters wages, I would bee glad to heare what way you would
take: I woll tell you said the Marques, the Freeh kyng hath a great armie gone into Italy,
& he himself foloweth with another, not to come to fight with vs, I dare assure you : but
onely to take the Ducllie of Millain vnprouided, whiche shall do him more pleasure then
he had slain all vs. Also the Emperor shall lese, more then. x. Marceles be worth, and
the French kynges power shalbe more elated, that he will not set by the Emperor] nor
the kyng of England. Therefore my aduise is, to breake vp this siege, and with allspede
to preuet hym in Italy, and if we be entered the tounes, and put municions in thesame, he
shall lye a colde in the feldes, and then you shall se what shall become of hym, when his
beastes dye, and his vitaill spent. To this counsaill the duke and all the Capitaines agreed,
and so brake vp the siege, and with all hast departed into Italy, and fortefied all the tounes
in the Duchie of Millain, with men and other necessaries.
The Frenche kyng hearyng of this, with all his armie passed the Mountaignes, and
Camped nere to Millain. It chaunced in this monethe of Nouember the. xiii. day, aboute
the tonne of Calice, there fell a great mist, in which mist the Frenchmen came to a vil-
lage called Kause beside Newna bridge, & tooke. xl. beastes, then the Alarms was brought
to Calice, whiche hearing the Marshal of Calice, called to hym sir Robert lernyngham,
and they had with them. i. C.xx. horsemen, and sent sir Anthony Broune to tell the capitain
of Guysnes, what they intended to do, but they taried not for the company of Guynes, but
marched so far forward, that they came to the water of Sclaukes, which is nere Bullein,
and there they set their stale. And in the mornyng betime, they sent furthe a gentleman
called Richard Lamberd, with. xx. light horsemen on swifte geldynges, and they came by
Moone light nere Bullein, and then they saw the men of Bullein and other there about, put
out there bestes into the feld. Then the Englishemen with great diligence, brought all the
beastes together, and so began to driue theim together, toward their embushement. Then
the Alarme began at Bullein, and the men of war issued out of the tonne, and fought with
thenglishemen, their horses wer fresh : wherfore they had a great auantage, hut incoclusion
three' French menne were slain, and their horses taken, and so the light horsemen came with
their cattle nere to the embushement, and the Frenchemen folowed, that seyng the Eng-
glishemen that kept the stale, came in all hast and rescued their light horsemen, and draue
the Frenchemen backe, and then made returne with their beastes, and as they werereturnyng
they had worde brought to them, how that sir Willyam Fitzwillyam, capitain of Guysnes
with his retinue, were besiegyng a pile called the castle of Capell, wherfore they sped them
thether in all haste, and when they wer come thether, the capitain of Guysnes themhartely
welcomed, and then they concluded to gene an assault to the Castle, and so with good
courage set on, the Frenchmen defended it very valiantly a greate while, but at the last
the Englishmen gat oner the diches, and scaled the walles, but the Frenchmen still them
defended till the Englishemen hud gotten to the highest of the dongion, and then was
there sl«t'iyn« a pace. For there wer. liii. personcs slain out of bande, in rcuengyng the
am ru, ,
xiiiuSpaniardes, all horsemen of Guysnes, came to the
Durnam at hiirh Masse tyme, and there drew their swordes, and so much did, that a 1 the
men in the churche, to "the nomber of fiftie, yelded thelmseltes prisoners, ot the whiche
nomher they toke eight persones with them, whiche should be gages ior the remnant, & with
these, viii. thei came to Gnisnes.
The xix daie of December wer receiued into London, lorde Gilbert Keuet Erie of
Castelles sir Robert Cockeburne bishop of Dunkel, and the Abbot ot Campskened, Am,
bisadors from lames the fifth kyng of Scottes, by the bishop of Lyncolne the lorde of
saTnct Thones, and diuerse other" rfoble men and wer conueighed to their lodgynges at
Talers Haule.
THE. XVI. YERE OF
i The. xxiii. daie of December, thesaied Ambassadors were conueighed to Grenewiche, ae-
compaignied with thesaied lordes by water, and when they came to the vtie; gite, they were
receiued-of the officers of the house, and so passed through the hau'e, whiche was well
furnished with people, and so through the vttermost chamber, into tb.3 g-eat chamber of
presence, where they wer receiued and welcomed, of al the prices and nobles of the reahne,
and within a short space the king came furth, and set him self in a throne of three -steppes
high, vnder his Clothe of estate, whiche was very rich, but his apparell was excedlg rich,
b6th of goldsmithes worke & perle, and stone, which the Scottes well auised, & then they
wisely and humbly made their obeisance, and the bishop in good plain latin made a solempne
Oracion, in the which he declared, that although the realme of Scotlande and he, had
often times hard the renoune and fame of him and his Courte, both for the giftcs of grace
and nature, whiche were in his persone, yet he saied that his princely countenance, his lonely
fauor, whiche he hymself did se, did muche surmount the fame £ name, whiche lie hath
hard of reporte. lie declared further, that although fortune had hym fauorcd, in conquer*
yng of regions, and vanquishyng of battailes, yet that thyng was not so honorable to him,
rior profitable to his realme, as was a good peace, whiche pleaseth bothe God and man,
and for that cause he shewed, that kyng lames the fift, his nephew, and felowe to the kyng
of England, had sent them his Ambassadors, to entreate a peace, so that a couenient
manage might be made, betwene hym and the lady Mary, daughter to the kyng, whiuhe
should be a lincke necessary, to knit together the realme of Scotlande and England, in per-
petuall loue and amitie.
To which Oracion, the bishop of London doctor Tunstal answered and saied: that the
kyng was at their desire, content to haue peace vpon reasonable condicions, and as touch-
yng manage of his daughter, he would so answere theim, that thei should be contented.
Then the kyng rose from his place and welcomed theim, and all the honest persones of the
train, and after communicacion had, thei tooke their leaue for that tyme, and so toke their
barge and came to London.
to
sir
Edward Scimour, Oliuer Manners, Perciuall Harte, Sebastian Nudi^ate, and'Thomas Ca
len Esquires of the Kyngcs Housholde, enterprised a chalenge of feactes of armes, against
the feast of Christinas, wherefore they sent Wyndsore hcrault, on sainct Thomas day before
Christinas, into the Queues great chamber, the kyng being pre.'-ent, which herault had a
coate of antics of red silke, beaten with a goodly Castle, of foure Turrettes sillier, and in
whiche canitain sentfurthe me his Herault called Chasteait Blanche, to declare to all kynges
and princes, and other gentlemen of noble corage, that thesaied canitain will nere to
_, . ^ -'rfi «.••"•• «.>ivoiii^vj capita,... ..... .lv,.v- «.vy
his Castle raise a Mount, on whiche shall stande an Vnicorne, supportyn" foure fa ire
shildes.
The firste shilde shallbc White, and whosoener toucheth that shclde shalbe an-
swered sixc courses at the Tilt, by them of the Castle, with hostync liarnes and double
peers.
The second shilde, Red, betokcnyng the Turnay, and whosoeuer toucheth that
shild, shalbe answered tenne strokes at the Turnay, with the swordc, eel -e uud novnt
abated.
The third shild yelouy sigmfiyng the Barriers, and he that toucheth that shilde
Shalhee answered twelue strokes at the Barriers, • with the sworde, ed-»e and poviit
abated.
The
HENRY THE. VIIJ.
The fourth shilde blewe, tokenyng the assaulte, with such wepons as the capi-
tain of the Castle shal occupie, that is, Morrice pike, sworde, target/ the poynt and edge
abated.
Also thesaied capitain and his compaignie promised, to defend thesaid Castle against all
commers, beeyng gentlemen of name and armes, and the assaulters to deuise allinanerof
engynes for the assaultyng, edge tole to break the house and ground onely except, and also
that no other weapon shalbe vsed, but suche as the patron shalbe sette vp, by thesaied
Vnicorne, and that no manne medle with fire within or without, but the matches for gonnes,
and euery prisoner taken on either partie, to pay for his raunsotn. iiii. yardes of right sat-
ten, & euery capitain. xiii. yardes.
Accordyng to this Proclamation was the Mounte, and all thynges deuised sumpteously, wftH
a great craggy braunche, on which wer haged the shildes of the armes of the capitaiii, and all
other of the Castle. For this enterprise there was set vp, in the Tilte yard at Grenewiche a
tastle square euery waie. xx. foote, and fiftie foote on heigh, very strong and of great timber,
well fastened with yron, the embatelmentes, loupes and euery place where men should entre,
wer set with greate rolles, and turned assone as thei wer touched, so that to semyng no man
could entre the towers, nor embatilmentes. On the North and South sides, were two
greate diches. xv. foote depe, from the brynke to the botome, & thei were very stepe, and
betwene the diche and Castle, was set a pale, whiche was rampaired with yearth so stepe
and thicke, that it was not likely to be gotten. On these diches were twoo drawe bridges,
on the West side was a great rampire or banke, very stepe without and within, and like to
a vamure of a fortresse, by the vamure the diches wer. xxiiii. fote depe. When the strength
of this castle was wel beholden, many made dangerous to assault it, and some saied it could
not be wonne by sporte, but by ernest. The kyngmynded to haue it assaulted, and deuised
engins therfore, but the Carpenters wer so dull, that thei vnderstode not his entent, and
wrought all thyng contrary, and so for that tyme the assaulte was prolonged, and all the
other poyntes of the chalenge held, for the morow after sainct Ihon the Euangelistes daie in
Christmas, came out of the castle, sixe men of armes of the castle on horsebacke armed at
al poyntes with their speres redy to discharge, and so came to the ende of the Tilt, abidyng
all commers. Then sodainly entered into the feld, twoo ladies on twoo palfries, in greate
robes of purple damaske, leadyng twoo ancient knigbtes, with beardes of sillier, in thesame
apparell, and when they came before the Queue, thei put vp a bill to her, the effect whereof
was, that although youth had left them, and age was come, and would lette theitn to do
feac'tes of armes : Yet courage, desire, and good will abode with theim, and bad theim to
take vpon theim to breake speres, whiche they would gladly do, if it pleased her to gene
. tbeim license. When the Quene and the Ladies had seen the bill, thei praised their corage,
and »aue theim license.
Then the knightes threw awaie their robes, and then it was knowen that it was the Kyag,
and the Duke of Suffolk, whose bardes and bases were golde, embraudered wjth purple,
Mluer and Blacke, very curiously. After them folowed the Erie of Devonshire, the Lor.ie
Montacute the lorde Roos, sir Nicholas Carewe, sir Frances Brian, Henry Norms, An-
thony Kneuet, *nd fiue ether, euery man ran eight courses, in which coum
brake seuen peres. Euery man that day did well, so that the bcottes much pnused
men of armes of Engiande, but moste of all thei preued and tnarudled at the
kyngeTstrength, for thei saw hi, speres were broke with more force, then the other spere,
all the courses wer ronne, the kytig aud all the other disarmed them, anil went to
'
rwr5B
S got' rich, and Jt couuterfeted: of this nonar the Kyng and the Duke of Suffolk
690 THE. XVI. YERE, OF
ver twoo, then the Maskers tol<e Ladies, & daunsed a greate season, and that doen was
brought in wyne and spices, and the straungiers well cherished, & after that conuei^hed to-
ward their lodgyng. And as thei went thei asked a gentlemfi which accompaigniedthcm, if
all the warre tyme the kyng and the lordes wer so rnery, or had had suche joyous pastyrne
or kepte suche royal) houshoide, or were so well appareled: for in their countrey they saied,'
in tyme of warre, was nothyng but wailyng and mournyng, and also thei thought that the
realme of Fraunce, is not a realme to sport with, nor to iMaske with. The gentlemen an-
swered, that the kyng and his courte, vsed them still all the warre tyme, as thei dooe now
for thei set not -by the French kyng one bene. For the kyng of England inaie sit 'in his
chaire and darnniage the French kyng for the Lordes and cominaltie of Em/land, praie
for the continuance of warre, for by the warres of Fraunce they wynne, and Tese not at
whiche saiyng the ScoUes muche mused.
Fridaie the. xxx. dale of December, therle of Castels one of the Scottishe Ambassadors
tokc ins leaue and departed toward Scotlande: for to common with the Council! of Scot-
land, for thynges whiche were not in their commission, and left behynd hym t!ie Bisho-me
of Dunkell, and the Abbot of Campsfcenell: some saied tharticle was, that tl)e Scottes
should forsake the French kyng, & that the kyng of Scottes should come into En«laiKJe
but whatsoeuer it was, euery man knewe it not.
The second daie of lanuary, there was muche talkyng of the assault of the Castle and
so after long debate s.r Frances Brian, and Frances Poyntz, enterprised to defend'e th<
Westebraieo the Castle, with Pike Target, and Sworde, poynt and edge abated, against
sir George Cobharn, George Harbcrt, Ihon Poyntz, and Willyam Kneuet, and when thei
were al armed the Trumpettes blewe, then toward the braie marched the foure gentlemen
with pikes and swordes and cried harr, harr, ther was foynyng, lasshyng, and strikync/
they wuhm fought rmghtely and when any without clymed vp the banke, thei within be!
them (loune thei within were sometyme beten doune almoste : but surely thei fought valia.
and then they seased for a while.
Then began the assaulte again, and George Harbert and Willyam Kneuet, helde them
twoo within so hard that thei could scant put their hedcles ouer the braye, or bulwerke
While they tw6 thus st.ll fought, their two felowes, sir George Cobhan,, and Jhon
Poyntz, with their swordcs digged holes in the banke to clyme vp, but or they had dooe
then- twoo. companions were fought out of brethe, then sir Frances Brian and Frances
Poynt, fought with he other two that digged, and then on came tholher two, that
brethed themseltcs , then fierce was the fight, and Ihon Poyntz gat foo.yng in the Stncke
aboue, and joke holdc of the pale, and fought hande to hande, with Frances PoynV his
brother, and euer George Ilarbert sustained him, at the banke with his pike Sr Edward
Cobham gat the bailee, and fought hardcly, but at the last he was ouer thLen bu vp he
gat again and coragiousy gat the pale: they two within fought valiauntly but
z
SSs**»Mfc.11!arSa5
3 veluet
KYNG HENRY THE, VII J. 6*>l
veluet . ruffed and. not plain, and. ouer that was a worke of purple veluet, embraudered -••"'
richely with gold, cutte in knottes or foldes fastened, so that it bossed out and frounced
very stately to behold, after the Kyng came. xix. other richely appareled, the Kyng and Sir
Anthony Broune Turnaied together, and the Kyng with his sword, poynt and edge abated,
had almoste cut his poldron, his strokes were so greate. Then euery man turnaied as his
course came, and many a sworde was broken, and many a good stripe geuen, and
when,euery man had striken the full nomber of twelue strokes, thei vvev seuered and then
they disarmed.
In this monethe the Cardinall as Legate, by his power Legantyne, would haue visited *">« Q***-
the Friers Obseruauntes, but they in nowise would therein condiscende, wherefore, xix. would not '*
of thesame, religion, were accursed at Paules Crosse, by one of thesame religion, called'1"^ ' ^
Frier Forest. Of this Frier Forest ye shall here more here after, in the thirtic yere ojc
this Kyng.
In this season the French kyng was in Italy, with all his nobilitie, and to hym was
Millain yelded, but because of pestilence he would not entre, but departed and laied siege
to the strong toune of Paula, wherof was capitain a valifit Spanyard, called Anthony de
Leua. The Freclie kynges mother beyng Regent of Fraunce, perceiuyng that the king her
soonne, with all his good Capitaines were in Italy, doubted that the kyng of Englande, in
the nexte. Spryng tyme would inuade Fraunce. Whertbre she by the auice of the counsaill
of Frau.ee,. did so much with the kyng of England, that her Stuard of houshold called
Ihon lokin, had a saueconduit to come into Englande, whiche was kept close in the house
of docter Larke, a Prebendary of sainct Steuens, and euery daie priuely spake with the
Cardioall, and so secretly he remained, till the. xxiiii. daie of lanuary, at whiche day
came to London, the president of Roan called Monsire Bryriyon, as an Ambassador from
Frances the French kyng, and was lodged with Ihon lokyn: this Ihon lokyn was kept
priuie, .because that no man should knowe, that there was any man of Fraunce, here to
.sollicite any cause for the Frenche Kyng, whiche after grewe to greate trouble. For he
shewed hymself to straungiers, whiche fauored the Frenche partie, and so at last it was
openly;,knowen, to the kynges counsaill, and almoste to all men: but when the Emperors
Ambassador knewe; this darke dealyng, he mused not a litle, and saied that the Cardinall
did driue priuie driftes, & that by his meanes onely, Ihon lokyn was come into England,
to entrealc a peace in. secret maner, or the kynges frendes might knowe it, and all people
saied that Ihon lokyn was but a cast awaie of leane, and had no liuyng to liue on, but
of the lady Regent, and marueiled why he should be kept close, & so muche cherished
of the Cardinall. For this kepyng close of this lokyn, Englishemen wer rebuked at the
Marte in Flaunders, and Brabant. The Emperors Ambassador and the bishop of Homes v
Ambassador also sore murmured, why this Ihon lokyn should bee kept as a spirite in close,
consideryn" that there was open warre betwene the twoo kynges, and feared that the kynges
counsaill sliould be corrupt. This Ihon lokyn was muche with the Cardinall, but neuer
was seen with the Kyii* nor his counsaill, but for all the secretnes, Monsire Pratt them-
perors '\trJ.assadour, knewe all the offers that he made for peace (whiche in deede wer
very Create ^ and how he had offered pencions, to diuerse young me aboute the kytig, <
the which some were very glad, & so the noyse by reson of suche ofters ran, that a peace
was likely to ensue in shorte. space.
Monsire Pratt wrote of this matter, in all hast to the Emperor, in the wh.ch letters he
highly commended the kyng of England, for his stedfastnes: but he said some of the
kvCs counsaill, loued neither the Emperour nor the kyng of Englande, and wrote to hyjn
farther all the maner of y secret kepyng of Iho lokyn. These letters at last wer brought
o the Cad nail, by what chaunce it was not openly knowen, and so be sent for Monsire
Pratt and declared7 to hym the matter, which answered him, that he was counsader and
Ambassador to the Emperour, and that it was his parte, to assertem the Emperor of euery
tha was or might sound prejudicial to his maieslie, but howaoeuer that his anre
652 THE. XVI. YERE OF
was taken, he was not fauored with the Cardinall, but he saied1 openly, that it was not well ment
to the Emperor, to stop his packet with letters and to open them, and the Spanyardes saied;
'that the Emperor sent them not into England to slepe, but to do him seruice. The bishop
of Homes Ambassador wrote to his master, that peace was likely to be concluded, be-
twene Englande and Frounce, and willed hym to be the firste frende to the Frenche kyng,
rather the the seconde. Of whiche writyng came harme after, as you shall heare.
In this moneth tidynges came to the Kyng, howe the Marques of Piscaire in Italy, had
gotten from the Frenetic kyng, a castle called the castle, s. Angell, which was a greate for-
tificacion, of his siege at Pauie.
There was in this monethe a Flemyng in Heddyng Castle; whiche came often tymes to
sainct Omers, & promised them if they would come to Heddyng; he would deliuer the
Castle : vpon his worde thei of saincte Omers, gathered together seuen hundred footemen,
Trw»nat and fiue hundred horsemen, andpoynted with the spie, that the fourthe day of February, thei
w$D* would come thether, and whe the false knaue knewe the daie, he told Monsire Pontdormiu,
Capitain of Heddyng, whiche incontinent filled the castle with men of warre, and laied
busshernentes on euery side, and had laied the ordinaunce, all on the one side of the Castle,
that way that the Flemynges should come. The men of warre of sainct Omers, were
eonueighed by their spie, mistrustyng nothyng, to a posterne, which was litle vsed, and
when there were as many in, as the Frenchetnen thought sufficient, thei let fall the Port-
colis: Then Monsire Pontdromie cried, slaie, slaie, then the Flemynges wist that they wer
betraied, and put themselfes to fight for their lines, that seyng Monsire Pontdromie, CQ-.
uiauded to fire the ordinaunce in suche haste and fury, that the flame was so greate and
fierce, that it brent thesaied Lorde Pontdromie, and. xxvii. of his compaignions all gentle-
men, the trayne was so hastely fiered, that thei had no leasure to auoyde.. In the fight.
tenne of the Flemynges wer slain, and thirtie kept theselfes so hardely together, that their
liues were graunted them, and so was taken as prisoners, the remnant that entred lent ouer
the castle wal, and so saued themselfes, and told newes to their horsmen, which wer with-
out, whiche hearyng the mischaunce, returned toward sainct Omers,
Amkafta- Sundaic the fifth day of Marche, wer receiued into London, Monsire de Beuer lorde
of Camphere, Admirall of Flaunders, & the President of Malynes, called Master Ihon
de la C'oos, and Master Ihon de la Cache, as Ambassadors from the lady Margaret, in the
name of the Emperor, for causes of the lowe countreis, of Brabant, Flaunders, and Ze-
lande : and on Tewesdaie thei wer brought to the kyng to Bridewell, whiche nobely thcim
enterteined, and then thei shewed how themperors maiestie, had commaunded theirn to
obey the kyng of England, as protector and goueruor, wherfore thei and all theirs, wer at
his comaumleinent, & if thei had docn other wise, and not obeyed hym as their gouernor,
tkei asked him mercy, then the kyng and thei talked together secretly, and then they de-
parted. These Ambassadours demanded thre thynges.
1. First, thei demaunded the ladie Mary the kynges onely daughter, to be deliuered to
theim out of hande, and she to be named Emprise, and to take possession of all the lowe
countreis, and to be gouernour of thesame, this article was not agreed to, for causes*
2. Also that all suche sommes of money, as the Kyng should geue with her in mariagc, for
a dower to be made to her, should be paiod incontinet this article was also denied.
3. ^ Thirdly, that the kyng of Englande hymself should passe the sea and make warre in
Fraunce, the nexte Summer, to this the kyng saied he would take auisemenL
Thursday ^he. ix. daie of Marche, at. vii. of the clocke in the mornyng there came a
gentleman in poste from the lady Margaret gouernesse, of Flauders, and brought letters,
shewyng how that the. xxiiii. daie of February, the siege of Pauia, where the Frenche
kyng had lien long, was raised by force of battaill, and the Frenche kyng hymself take pri-
soner, and how by the Duke of Burbon, the viceroy of Naples called Myngnouale, and
the Marques of Piscaire, and other of the Emperors capitaines, the whole power of Fraunce
was discomfited, & how the duke of Albany with scuen thousande men, was goyng ta
Naples^
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ.
Naples, and how the bishop of _Rome was become French, against the Emperor, and had
sent his cosyn in aide of the Freche kyng, with a great power. Thesame dale the presi-
dent of Roan & lehn lokyn, wer goyng to the Court (for they had not yet spoke with the
kyng) and in Holburne in their way was tidynges brought them, of the takyng of the kyng
their Master, and of the losse of the fold, whiche hearyng this misauenture, returned to
their lodgyng sorowfull, and within shorte space, returned to the Regent of Frauce. It
was thought surely that the kyng of England, would haue had peace with the French
kyng, if this chaunce had not happened, for all the people of Englande, grudged against
Flaun-ders, for their euill entreatyng, in the tyme of warre, and also the kyng was dis-
pleased with theim, for enhaunsyng his coyne there, which was a caase that money was-
daily conueighed out of the Realme, and many other causes there were of grudge.
Saterdaie the. xi. daie of -Marche, in the citee of London for these tydynges, wer madfr A «™
greate tiers and triumph, and the Maior and Aldermen road about the citee with Tram- [° '
pettes, and much wyne was laied in diuerse places of the citee, that euery man might
drynke, and on Tower hill the Ambassadours of Rome, of Flaunders, and Venice, had a
greate banket made in a goodly tent, whiche pleased theim well, and as thei returned home-
warde, all the stretes were full of- harnessed men and Cressett«s, attendyng on the Con-
stables, whiche they preised muche.
Sondaie the: xii. of Ma-rchc, the kyng accompaignied with the Ambassadors, of Rome,
of the Emperor, of Scotland, of Venice, of Millain and Florence, road in his estate to
Paules churche, and there the Cardinall sang Masse, and a. xi. prelates waited on hym in
pontificalles, and alter Masse was doen, the quere sang Te deum, and the mynstrelle*
plaied on euery side, and when all was doen, the kyng returned to Bridewell, and there
kept a solempne dinner. The bishop of Scotland was muche marked this day, for whcn-
soeuer he came to the Court, before this time hisapparell was sumpteous, his whodde was
euer veluet or crimosyn Satyn: but after the takyng of the French kyng, he ware onely
blacke Chamlet, by wniche token men iudged his Frenche harte.
From the. ix. day of Marche to the. xvi. day, the kyng had no mo letters, of the maner
of battaill of Pauie, and that day he receiued a letter from the Duke of Burbon, by a gen-
tleman named Gropayne : when the kyng had redde the letter, he came into the Queues
Chamber and there thesaied Gropayne declared the rnaner of the siege, and how wcl it
was planted, and how themperors men entered the French campe by force, and threwe
doune their bastiles and fought with the Frenchernen within their Campe, and tooke^ their <
kvng prisoner in thesame, and many other whiche was marueil. For when the French
kynff entered Italy, he had in his gard. xi. C. men, and of speres furnished twoo M. iii. C.
1. and of light horsemen eight hundred and. xx. and of footemen. Ivii. M. and of these
the Duke of Albany had but eight thousande, so that there remayned with the Frenche
k-ynff. xlix. M. ix. C' and fiftie men, wherof was taken, xiiii. M. and mo, beside the great;
riches, and the <*oodly ordinance whiche were. xii. greate Bombardes of brasse, and. xxiiii.
create Canon peces. xxiiii. double Curtalles, foure double Canon peces, two middle
Canon peces, and eight other peces. After the feld was doen, the French kyng was put
in the custodie of the Viceroy of Naples, whiche muche comforted hym, and preised his va-
liauntnes and nraied hvm to be content, for he should hauc a gentle ende, then he de- -
sired to write to his- mother, whiche was to hym graunted, the very wordes wer these.
" To aduertise you of my infortunate chaunce: Noihyng is lefte but the honor and the
life that is saued, and because some other nevves shall recomforte you, I haue desired to
write to you this .erter, the which liberally hath been graunted to me: beseehyng-jou to
regard the extremitie of your self, in ensuyng your accustomed wisedome. lor 1 hope
that at leix'th God will not forget me, to you recommendyng your litle entantes and myne,
guppliyiw v«.u- to geue saueconduite, to passe and returne from Spam to this berar that
goeth toward the Emperor, to knowe in what wise I •halbe intreated, and thus right hUto
694
THE. XVI. YERE OF
your good grace, I haue me recommended : this subscribed by your humble and obedient
sonne Frances.
TheC»rii- This season the Cardinal beyng in the kynges fauor, obteined licece to make a College at>
n»i first beg* Oxford, and another at Ipswyche, and because he would geue nolandesto the said Colleges,
"0 he obteined of the bishop of Rome, licese to suppresse and put doune diuerse Abbayes,
Priories, and Monasteries to the nomber of wherfore sodainly he entered by his
Comissioners, into the ieaied houses, and put out the Religious, and tooke all their goodes,
moueables, and scarcely gaue to the poore wretches any thyng except it wer to the heddes of
the house, and then he caused thexcheter to sit and to finde the houses voyde, .as r-elyn-
quished, and founde the kyng founder, where other men wer founders, and with these
landes he endewed with all his Colleges, which he begfiso sumpteous and the Scholers were
so proude that' euety persone judged, that thende would not be good, as you shall heare
fiue yeres hereafter.
Th« Sco«e« The Erie of Castelles whiche* was sent into Scotlande, returned into England,
the. xik. daie of 'Marchej but because the Frenche kyng was taken his commission
for the moste • parte was determined, and so he. and all his compaignie toke their
leatie of the kyng, and without any reward returned into Scotlande, the fourth daie
of Ap'rilK
in this monethe of Marche, the kyng sent Cutberd Tunstall Bishop of London, and sir
Richard Wyngfeld, Chanceller of the Duchy of Lancastre, and knight of the Gartier, into
Spain to the Emperour, for greate causes concernyng the takyng of the Frenche kyng and in
especiall for warres to be made on Frauce, on euery side. For so the kyng of England
and his counsaill, wer agreed and determined : and the same moneth the Ambassadors, de-
parted again into Flaunders.
The counsaill remembryng that it was determined, that the kyng in proper persone
should passe the sea, they considered that aboue allthynges, greate threasure and plentie of
money, must nedes be had inareadines: wherefore by the Cardinal! weiedeuised strange
e«mmijsiSs. Commissions, and sent in thende of Marche to euery shire, and Commissioners appoynted,
whiche wer the greatest men of euery shire: and priuie instruccions sent to them, to saie
and ordre the people, and the tenor was, that the sixt part of euerv mannes substaunce,
should without delaie bee payed in money or plate, to the kyng for" the furniture of his
warre: wherefore the Cardinall, as chief Commissioner for London, sent for sir Willyam
Bayly knight, then Maior of the citee, and the Aldermen, and diuerse hedde Comminers
and saied to them in maner folowyng. You the kynges welbeloued frendes and subiectes,
of. tne'citee of Lodon, I must declare to you, how the kyng contrary to his awne rnynd and
will, but compelled of verie force, is determined to entre into a new war, & for the more
explanacion of the truthe, you shall vnderstande, that after that Frances the Frenche kyng
that now is, had obteigned the Croune, and scepter of the realme of Fraunce, he moste
humbly sued to the kyng our Master, tor peace, lone, and amitie, promisyng vpon the
Euangelistes, to kepe the league then concluded, and also to paie to lady Mary queue dow-
ager of Fraunce, her due pencion and doware, to her graunted by kyng Lewes her hus-
bande. After this he by his Ambassadors, humbly desired the citee of Turnay, which
kyng Lewes before tyme had loste: the kyng whiche would that the citee of Turnay, should
be no cause of grudge, betwcne hym and the Frenche kyng, consented that for certaine
sommes of money, it should be deliuered. And farther the more to bynd amitie betwene
theim, the kyng was content, that a communicacion of mariage should be had, betwene
the Dolphyn of Fraunce, and the ladie Marie Princes of England, yet for to entreate
more loue, familiaritie, and acquaintance, the king to his greate cost and charge passed the sea,
and met in persone with the Frenche kyng, thynkyng that by reason of personall sight and
actual communicacion,- that more stable and ferme loue, should growe betwene them, then
by writyng, at which time it was vndoubtedly thought, that there could be no more loue
be knit, betwene two persones. There were coueuauntes made and sworne, andthetyng
our
KYNG JIENIIY THE. VIIJ.
our Master saied to the French kyng: Brother, now that you and I be this knit, I require
you to kepe ferine peace, & amilie, with my nephew themperor: and also siiffre not Duke
Ihonot Albany, to go into Scotlande, for puttyng the young king my nephewe, in ieoper-
die of his persone, wherefore if you loue me, in especiall kepe these two articles : if you ob-
serue these articles, and all other couenauntes betwene vs agreed, I assure you. there had
neuer; prince a surer frende, then you shall haueofme. Then the French kyng laied his The othe of
hand in mine (said the Cardinal) and sware by the othe of a kyng, he would obserue & thc Ftenche
kepefermely, these poyntes with many mo, and after the Kynges "were departed, and that Ky"g'
the Emperoure was come to the kyng to Calice: the French "kyng sent Mousjrede. la Ru<:ha '
•baron with letters, declaryng that he was in perfecte league and ssltie with the Emperor
and this notwithstanding, he within lesse space then halfe ayere, sent Robert de la Marche
to uiuade the Emperors lande, and made warre in Nauerr & other places. The kyng our
Master hearyng this, ot his mere charitie sent me and other nobles with a Create trayne to Ca-
hce, to knowe by whom the war began, for he promised to be enemie to hym that brake firste
To whiche place came from the Frenche kyng, his Chanceller, and Monsirede la Palice.and
many other noble men. And from the Emperor came his Chanceller, and the lorde
Cheuers, and there in open counsaill, the Emperors Ambassadors, did shewe the French
.kynges letters, signed and sealed, by the which he enforced and, began the warre; to which
poynte the Frenche Atnbassadours could not answere. What should I saie, the warre was
open on bothe parties, ^1 sent to the French kyng Ambassadors, to entreate peace, but in
nowise he would concet: wherfore I with my compaignie returned. In the meane season-
(although I doubted nothyng the Frenche kynges faitiie toward our Master) yet for a more
<suertie, I obteigned a saue conduite for the Englishe Merchauntes, that thei should go to-
Bordeaux, and vpon suertie of that our Merchantes passed, yet he contrary to his sauecon-
duit, toke the Merchantes goodes, and put their bodies in prison, whiche the Tu'rke would J
not haue doen. The kyng sent gentely to him his herault Clarenseux, desiryng him to re-
dresse all these enormities, and to paie hym his sommes of mony, due to hym- and to the
Quene his sister, for her dower, which to do he refused and denied, whiche thynges you
knowe, the kyng of his honor might not suffre. Wherfore mightely he hath these three yeres, -
kept warre continually bothe on lande and sea, and iriuaded Fraunce with two armies royall,
and bet their tounes, castles, and fortresses, destroyed the people, and passed the water of
Somme, and proffered battaill to the Frenchmen, in their a wne countrey, and hath >
brought the countrey in such penury and wretchednes, that in .many yeres it will not be'
recouered.
And the more to hurt and damage the French kyng, the kyng hath in wages the Duke of
Burbon, whiche was the greatest strengthe on the Frenche part: by whose power and aide '
of other, which had great sommes of money, of the kyng our Master, the Frenche kyng .
in persone is now taken, and all his nobles in effect, before Pauia, and kept as prisoner to
the Emperor and the kyng our Master, and that for great reaso: for our master sentsir Gre-
gory de Cassado his Ambassador, to the Viceroy of Naples, and to the Duke of Burbon,
and the Marques of Piscaire, with a hundred thousand Crounes, so that thei would fight
with the Frenche kyng: for the which money they assented, and so gaue battaill, in the
which they slewe. xii. thousand men, and drouned. vii. thousande, and. xiii. thousande
taken prisoners, and now sithe God hath geue vs victory, the kyng remembryng the saiyng
of the Poet that saieth: It is more mastery to vse victorie gotten, then to get it, thynketh it
necessarie now in all hast, to make an armie royall, and he in person to passe the seas, and
to recouer his right inheritance, bothe of the Croune of France as of Normandie, Guyen,
Gascone, Aniowe and Mayne, the writynges whereof comprehendyng the very title, you •
maie se here present if ye list, but I doubt not but you knowe them well inough. And now
I aske YOU this questio, whether that you thynke it couenient, that the kyng should passe
with an armie or not, for the kyng will do by thauise of his subiectes: to the whiche many ;
sated yea,/ j Wrf
6<)6 THE, XVI. YERE OF
The CM*-; Wei said the Cardinal, then must he be made able to go like a prince, which cannot be
lud' without your aides, & for to shewe you what the Archbishoppe of Canterbury and I, whicb
bee primates of the realme haue doen, we haue geuen of our landes, and all landes apper-
ttignyng to the churche, the third parte, and the temporall lordes, haue geuen of landes
/ ,and goodes, the sixt parte, and to icppard, their bodies in pain and trauaill, and now sithe
they which shall aueture their lifes, doth profer the sixt part, what should thei geue which
abide at home? For soth I thinke that halfe your snbstaunce were too litle, not meanyng
that the Kyng so asketh. For he demaundeth onely no more, of fiftie. /. the sixt part, and
so vpon euery. /. aboue fiftie. /. to what some soeuer it amounte to, the sixt part that is. iii. s.
iiii. d. of the. /. and from. xx. /.to fiftie pounde, and so vpward. ii. s. and. viii. d. of the
pounde, and from. xx. pounde to. xx.*. xii. d. of the pounde, and this to be leuied accord-
yng to the first valuacion, as appercth by your awne valuacion, whiche is but a small matter,
to the thing that is meant. Then they beyng astonied, at last ^ one saied, my lord sithe
the last valuacion diuerse Merchantes be decaied by the seas, and suretyship, and other
waies, so that valuacion cannot bee had. Then answered the Cardinall, sers, speake not
to breake that thyng that is concluded, for some shall not paie the tenth parte, and some
more, it were better that some should suffre indigence, then thekyngat this time should lacke,
ThcC.rdi- and therefore beware and resist not, nor ruffill not in this case, for it maie fortune to cost
"n"nj«.rw" some. their heddes: but I will speke to the kyng, to bee good to you, so that if he go not
ouer the sea in persone, then you shall haue your money redeliuered, but firste let the
money bee gathered, and laie it where you will, and if the kyng nede it not, you maie take
it again.
When the Cardinall had thus perswaded the Maior, and his brethre and other heddecom-
iners, thei toke their leaue, and euery day after by the space of fortenight, he sent for a cer-
tain nomberof Comyners, and told them like tale, but some spake suche woordes to him,
and some going from hym, that they were sent to ward.
Thesaiynj Now were Commissioners sent to the clergie, for the fourth part of their landes and
oftheder- moueables, and in euery assembly the priestes answered, that thei would pay nothyng, except
it were graunted by Conuocacion, otherwise not : for thei saied, that neuer kyng of England
did aske any mannes goodes, but by an ordre of the lawe, and this Commission is not by the
ordre of the lawe: wherefore they saied, that the Cardinall and all the doers thereof "were
enemies to the kyng, and to the common wealthe. This infamie was spoken in preachyuges,
and euery where.
Th.grud^i When this matter was opened through Englande, howe the greate men toke it
" waVliaruc11' .the poore curssed, y riche repugned, the light wines railed, but in con-
clusion, ,a|l people curssed the Cardinal, nnd his coadherentes as subuersor of the
.Lawes and libertie of Englande. For thei saied, if men should geue their goodes by
a Commission, then wer it worse then the taxes of Fraunce, and so England should be
bond and not free.
It happened at Redynsr in Barkeshire, that the Commissioners satte for this money to be
.graunted, and the people in no wise would consent to the sixt parte: but of their awne mere
mynde, for the loue they bare to the kyng, they graunted the twelueth parte, that is. xx. d.
of the pounde, the Commissioners hearing this, said they would sende to the Cardinal,
desiryng hym to be content with this oftre, and so the Lorde Lisle wrote the letter, so
that sir Richard Western would beare it, the which letter at the request of the gentle-
men of the coutrcy, the said sir Richard toke vpo him to cary & roade to the
Cardinall : whiche therewith was sore greucd, and said, but because that the lorde Lisle
wrote, that the matter was but communed of and not concluded, it should cost the lorde Lisle
his hedde and his landes should be solde to paie the kyng the values, that by him and you
folishe commissioners he had lost, and all your Hues at the kvnges will; these words sore'as-
.tonied Sir .Richard Westo, but be said litle.
Then
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ.
Then the Cardinall wrote letters, to all Commissioners of the realme that they should kepe
their first instruccio, and in no wise to swarue one iote, vpon pain of their Hues, and
euery man to be valued according to the valuacion taken in the. xiiii. yere. This laste
poynte sore touched the citee of London, for the Cardinall in the. xiiii. yere, sent one Doctor
Tunes his secret Chapelein, to the Chapter house of Paules, promisyng to the Londoners,
that whatsoeuer they valued themselfes at, that no man should knowe it, but the kyng the Car-
dinall, and he, vpon whiche promesse many persones for their more creditc, and to be the higher
estemed valued theimselfes at a greater substaunce then they were worthe: thynkyng neuer
to lende or paie by that confession, for the loane and the subsidie were paied accordyng as
men were sessed, and not by Master Tunes boke, whe men valued theselfes, not knowing
what should succede.
Now in this tyme was that subtile valuacion, laied to their charge, which when they
perceiueci, they murmuredmuche, and said they would paie notliyng, except the kynges lawes,
vnder whiche they were borne, so determined it: But this notwithstanding, Commis-
sioners went out to euery shire, for the leuie of the saied money, but for all that could be
perswaded, saied, lied, and flatered, the demaunde could not bee assented to, saiyng, that they
that sent furlhe suche Commissioners, were subuerters of the lawe, and worthy to be pu-
nished as traytors. So that in all the realme were billes set vp, in all places: Some billes
saied, that the kyng had not paied that he borowed: Some saied that the Subsedy
amounted treble more then he had bestowed : other saied whatsoeuer was granted, no
good came of it: and other saied that the Cardinall, sent al the money to Rome, thus
was the mutteryng through all the realme with curses and wepynges, that pitie it was to
beholde.
Duryng tin's season that the Commissioners sat, and that the bishop of London, and other
the kynges Ambassadors, were abidyng wynde to saile into Spain to the Emperor (as you
haue hard rehersed) Monsire Pratt, the Emperours Ambassadour, whiche was sore angne
for Ihon lokyns commyng into Englande, as you haue heaid before, departed pnuely out
of the Realme of Englande, the. ix. day of Aprill, without speakyng with the kyng,
or the Cardinall, and so muche did by saueconduite, that he passed through 1-raunce
in postc, and came to the Emperor before the Ambassadours of Englande came the-
thcr and whether it was by bis report or otherwise, the accustomed tauor that them-
pero'r and his counsaill shewed to the Englishemen, began then to decaie and
shewe theimselfes vnkynde to the Englishe nacion, without cause, as you shall
In Ptb£ We the kyng folowinff of his hauke Icpt oner a diche beside Hychyn, with jhe ,
a polie and the polle brake, so3 that if one Edmund Modv, a foteman, had not Icpt intc ,-r*
the water, k lift vp his lied, whiche was fast in the clay he had been drouned: I
h'Sf hU^re TwhteontyV died Thomas duke of Norffolke, and was honorably buried at
ThetfordinNorffolke.
THE. XVII. YERE.
IN tha begianyng of this. xvii. Yere, the Commissioners in all shires «J, f
of the St parte oV e^ery mannes goodes, but the burden was- greuous> t
and the commos in euery place were 10 mooed, that it was like to tuepo de_
When thrs mischief was shewed to the kyng, he saied tha he ncuu knemo
Yaunde, and therefore with greate d, igence, he sent Ins letter to f w( ^ demaUlde ^
and to all other places, in the winch the kyng palely «rote, that lie »ou a
some certain, but suche as his louyng sub.ectes would graunt to ^ f ^e.r goo
toward the maintenaunce of his wanes : wheriore the Cardinal, the t«e ^
4 v
THE. XVIJ. YERE OP
Aprill, sent for the Maior of London, the Aldermen and counsail of the same, with the
mostesubstanciall persones, of the common counsail, and when they were come to his place
at Westminster, he saied: the kyng our souereigne lorde, moste graciously considereth the
greate loue, zeale, and obedience, which you beare vnto hym, and where likelouyng sub-
iectes, without any grudge or againsaie, of your louyng myndesyou haue graunted the sixt
parte, of all your "goodes and substaunce, frely to bee paied, accordyng to the firste valua-
cion, the whiche louyng graunt and good mynde, he so kindly accepted, that it was maruell
to se. But I my self do cosider the great losses, and other charges that daily hath, £ doth to
you grow, and that notwithstandyng, any losse or charge that happeneth to you, yet you neuer
withstoode nor againsaied, any of the kynges demaundes or Commissions, as it appereth now
£> of late, of whiche dooynges, I haue highly the kyngenforined, for y whiche he gaue you hartie
thfikes. Then I kneled doune to his grace, shewyng hym both your good myndes towardc
hym, and also the charges, that you continually sustein, the whiche at my desire and peti-
cion, was content to call in and abrogate the same commission, & where he by reason of
yourowne grautes, might haue demaunded the saied somme'asa verie debte, yet he is con-
tent to release and pardon the same, and wil nothyng take of you, but of your beneuolence:
wherfore take here with you the kynges letter, and let it be redde to the commons,, and I
doubt not but you will gladly do, as louyng subiectes should do.
Here note, that if the Cardinall had not said, that the kyng had released and pardoned
the first demaunde, the citezens would haue answered the Cardinall that they neuer made
no suche graunt, and for a- suretie no more they did not: and so they, helde their peace, &
departed toward London, sore grudgyng at the liyng of the Cardinal, and openly saiyn*
that he was the verie cause, and occasio of this demaunde, and would plucke the peoples
hartes from the kyng.
Th«com- The. xxviii. duie of Aprill, in the Common counsaill of the citee, was redde the
kyngcs letter, accordyng to the effect aboue rehersed, wherfore the citizens sent
foure Aldermen, and. xii. Cominers to Hampton courte to geue thankcs to the lorde
Cardinall, whiche for busines as was saied could not speake with hym, wherefore they re-
turned not content. Then euery Alderman assembled his ward, in their places accus-
tomed, £ gentely moued them of a beneuolence, to be graunted to the kyng,
the which they openly denied, saiyng: that they had paied inough before, with maiiy
«inll uordes.
The. viii. dale of- Maie, the Cardinall again sent for the Maiorand his brethren, whiche
shewed the what they had done: then saied the Cardinall, you haue no suche commission
to examyn any man, I am youre Commissioner, I will examyne you one by one my self,
and then I shall knowe the good will that you bear to your prince, for I will'aske of you a
beneuolence in his name. Then was it answered to the Cardinall, by a counsailer of the citee,
that by the lawe there might no suche beneuolecc be asked, nor men so examined, for it was
contrary to the statute made the first yere of kyng llicharde the tiiirde, also some persones
commyng before your grace, maie for feare graunt that, that ail daics of their liie they shajl
repent, and some to wynric your fauor, will graunt more then they bee able to paie of
their awne, and so ronne in other mennes dcbtes, so that by dredfull gladnes, and fearefull
boldnes, men shall not be masters of themscltes, but as menne dismaied, shall graunt that
that their wifes and children shall sore rewe. The Cardinall hard this saiyng verie pacienlly,
and answered : Sir I maruell that you speak of Richard the third, which was a vsurper and
a murtherer of his awnc nephewes, then of so euill a man, how can the actes be sjood,
make no suche allegacions, his actes be not honorable. And it pleuse your grace said the
cousailer, although he did euill, yetin his tyme wer many good actes made not by hym onely,
but by the consent of the body of the whole realme, whiche is the, parliament. Then sir
Willyam Bayly lorde Maior, kneled doune and besought his grace, that sithe it was enacted,
by the common Counsaill of London, that eucry Alderman should ait in his awne ward, for
a beneuolence to be grauted, whiche he perceiued to be against the lawe, that- the same
acte
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ, 699
acte by the same common counsall, might be reuoked and no otherwise: well saied the
Cardinall, I am content. But now will I entre into the kynges Commission: You Maior
and you Master Aldermen, what will you geue? my lorde saied the Maior, I praie you pardo
me, for if I should entre into any graunt it might fortune to cost me my life : your life saied
the Cardinall, that is a maruelous worde, for your will toward the kyng, will the citezens
put you in ieoperdy of your lite, that were straunge: For if they would that waie, then must
the kyng come with strog power them to oppresse, wherfore speake no more suchc wordes,
and with that he studied a litle and saied: My lorde Mayor, let you and your citizens, The »>««*.
if you be greued with any thyng, in this demaunde, humbly and after a good fashio come r^^f
to me and I shall so entreate you that you shalbe content and no displeasure arise,
& so I praie you shew your neighbors, and so the Maior for that daie departed.
The Maior did wisely not to assent to graunt to any thyng for although he and the Al-
dermen had assented, the common counsaill would neuer haue assented. So on the
next morowe, it was declared to the common cousaill, that their act that was made that
euery Alderman should sit for a beneuolence to be graunted, was against a statute
lawe : wherevpon the said act was anulled : and then was it declared, that euery man
should come to the Cardinall, and to graut priuily what he would, with this saiyng the
citezens wer sore greued, then the Maior genleiy shewed them how he durst warrant,
-•hat they should bee entreated gentely, and exhorted theim to go thether when they
were sent for, whiche saiyng nothyng pleased theim : and then in a furie they would haue
had RicharcieGresham, and Ihon Hewster Mercers, and Richarde Gibson Seriantat armes
and Merchant Tailor, banished out of the common coansail, and so without answere made,
what they would do, they departed home.
In the same season through all the realme, this demaunde was vtterly denied so that the
Commissioners could bryng'nothyng to passe, and yet they assaied bothe by faire waies and
foule: some spake faire and flatered, other spake cruell and threatened, and yet could not
bryn<r their purpose aboute. For in Kent the lorde Cobham was commissioner, and hand-
led men roughly, and by reason one Ih5 Skudder, answered hym clubbishly, he sent hym t&
the tower of° London : for whiche dooyng the people muttered and grudged against the lorde
Cobham and saied expresly, that they would paie no money, and then they began to accopt
the loanes and subsedies graunted, so that thei rekened the kynges Tresure innumerable, tor
they accomptcd that the kyng had take of this realme, twentie fiftenes, sithe the. xun.
yere of his rcigne, and in this grudge, thei euill entreated sir Thomas Bullem at
In Essex the people would not assemble before the commissioners in no houses, but in
open places: and in Huntyngdon shire, diuersc resisted the commissioners to sit, whi
were apprehended, and sent to the Flete. ,
The Duke of Suffolke sat in Suffolke, this season in like commission, and by gentle hand- Insumcdo,
lyn«, he caused the riche Clothiers to assent and graunt to geue the sixt parte, and when
hef came home to their houses, they called to them then- Spinners Carders, Fullers, Me-
uerS& other artificers, whiche were wont to be set a woorke and haue their huynges by
cloth matna and saied, sirs we be not able to set you a woorke, our goodes be taken
fr^vs we oLe trust to your selfes, and not to vs, for otherwise it wil not be Ihen
700 THE. XVIJ. YERE OF
hym from all perilles, if he hurte not their neighbors, but against their neighbors they would
not fight: Yet the gentlemen that were with the duke did so muche that all the bridges wer
broken, so that their assemble was somewhat letted.
The duke of Norffolke high Threasorer and Admirall of Englande hearyn" of this, ga-
thered agreate power in Norffolke, & came towardc the commons, and of his noblenes^he
sent tothecomons, to knowe their intent, which answered: that they would liue and dye in
the kynges causes, and to the kyng to be obedient: when the duke wist that he came to the
and then all spake at once, so that he wist not what they meant. The\i he asked who was
their Capitain, and bad that he should speke: then a well aged mani\e of fiftie yeres and
aboue, asked licence of the Duke to speake, which grautcd with good will. My lorde saied
this man, whose name was Ihon Grene, sithe you aske who is our capitain, 'for soth his
name is Pouertie, for he and his cosyn Necessitie, hath brought vs to this dooyn« for all
these persones and many mo, whiche I would were not here, liue not of ourselfes" but all
we hue, by the substanciall occupiers of this countrey, and yet they geue vs so Title wa^cs for
our workmaship^ that scacelywe beabie to liue.and thus in pe'nurie we passe the tyme we our
wifes and childre, and if they by whom we line, be brought in that case that they of their 1'tle
cannot helpe vs toearne our liuyng, then must we perishe and dye miserably. I speke this
my lorde, the cloth makers haue put all these people, and a farre greater nomber fro worke
the husbande men haue put away their seruauntes, and geuen vp houshold they say the
kyng asketh so much, that tliei be not able to do as thci haue done before this tyme ft'thcn
of necessitie, must we dye wretchedly: wherfore my lorde now accordyng to your wisedom
consider our necessitie. The Duke was sory to heare their complaint, and well he knewe
that it was true: then he saied, neighbors, scucr your sclfes asonder, let euery man de-
part to his home, and chose furthe foure, that shall answer for the remnant and on
my honor I will send to the kyng and make huble intercession for your pardon whiche I
trust to obtem, so that you will depart, then al they answered they would, and so they de-
parted nome. J
At the twpo dukes requestes, commissioners of great aucthoritie wer sent to theim, then
the Duke ot Norffolke, and the Duke of Suffolke came to Bcrv, and thether came many
people of the country m their shirtcs und halters about their ncckes, mekely desiryng pardon
ior their offences, the Dukes so „ ,scly handeled thcmsclles, that the commons wer appeiscd
& in especiall one Master lermyn, loke muche pain in ridyng and goyngbetwene the lordcl
and commons : then the demaunde of money scascd in atUhe realmeffor well it wWpercd-
ued, that the commons would none paie.
After this the txyoo dukes came to London, and brought with theim the chief capitaines
of the relic ho, which were put in the Fletc, and then the kyng came to Westminster to T
«ri™rfy« ^ardmals P'«ce M herupon tins matter, he assembled a great counsaill, and openly he said,'
kys- mynrl uaf npuer, to aske any thyng of his commons, whiche mi"ht sounde to his
dishonor or to the brcchc of his lanes, wherfore he would know of uhom it was on"
hat the comm.^ons were so straight to demaunde the sixt partc of euery munnes substaanc" -
^e ^ Je Cardinall excused hymself & said, that when it was ,Ued in counsaill, how to make
jteca, the kyng nche, the Kynges Counsuill, and especially the ludges saied, he ,n "ht Lf y
demaunde any some by Commission, and that by the assent of the whole coun ail it as
done, andtoke God to witncs, that he neuer maligned nor desired, the hynde "ance of The
Commons, but like a true ceunsailer, deuiscd to enriche the kvn« And foSritaaHn
aaie, that it standeth w,th Goddes lawe, for Joseph caused the kyng of E-iptf ^take the
hfth pane of euery mannes goodes, but because euery mannc laieth the bufden from hvm I
am cotent to take it on me, and to endure the fame and noycs of the peonL for nweo'o
maunde,
o
KYNG HENRY THE. V1IJ. 701
maunde, and that men would pay at the first request, but now I finde all contrary, then
euery man held his peace.
The kyug was sore moued, that his subiectes were thus stirred, and also he was en formed Thekynt
of the deniall, that the spirituall men had made, and of their saiynges, wherefore he toremoucd-
thought it touched his honoure, that his counsaill should attempt suche a doubtful! matter
in his name, and to bee denied bothe of the spiritualtie and temporaltie, for although
some graunted for feare, before the commissioners, yet when they wer departed, they de-
nied it again. Then the kyng saied, I will no more of this trouble: Let letters be sent
to all shires, that this matter male no more be spoken of, I will pardon all theim that The Pardon
haue denied the demaunde, openly or secretly : Then all the lordes kneled doune, and ^urtdT*
liartely thanked the kyng. Then letters were sent to all commissioners to cease, with in-
structions how to declare the kynges pardon. In whiche declaration, wss shewed, that the
Cardinal ueuer assented to the first demaunde, and in the instructions, was compre-
hended, that the lordes and the Judges, and other of the kynges counsaill, diuised the
same demaunde, and that the Cardinall folowed the mynd o'f the whole counsaill, these
two poyntes were contrary one to another, whiche were Hell marked. And farther the
instructions were, that at the humble petition, and supplication of the Cardinal!, thesaied
greate sommes, whiche were demaunded, by the kynges aucthoritie royall, wer clerely
pardoned and remitted, wherefore the Commissioners willed the people to praie for the
Cardinall: but the people toke all this for a mocke, and saied God sane the Kyng, for the
Cardinal! is knoweawell inough, the commons would heare no praise spoken of the Car-
dinall, they hated hym so muche.
The. xix. daie of Maie, the Cardinall sent for the Maior and his brethren, and certain The saiyng-
comminers, and made the Maior to sit doune by hym, and then declared, that where the Maior of
kyng was determined, in proper perso to passe the sea into Fraunce, for whiche cause he Londolu
asked of the citizens of London, and his other subiectes, an aide toward his charges, to
whiche request (he saied) that the Londoners were at ail tym.es conformable, like louyng
subiectes, but sithe the kyng considereth the greate fall of the Frenche Kyng, whiche is
yet prisoner, and that daiiv he hath suite made to hym for peace, greatly to iiis honor and
profile, for I trust that all his right and title, shalbe to hym deliuered, which thyng once
agreed I truste you shall haue peace, and therefore at my humble request, the kyng hath
pardoned you of all the sommes of money, that of you were demaunded: and if his grace
had not passed ihe^eas, although the money had been gathered, surely it should haue been
restored again, and cosequently the kyng thanketh you as harlely, as any prince may
thanke his" subiectes: and for asmuclie as peace, is not yet concluded, I counsaill you to
shewe yourselfes, enemies to the Frenchmen, and to say that you be the kynges, bodie
and goodes at his will and pleasure, so that your louyng myndes towardes hym, maie to
the Frenchmen appere, you wut well what I meane saied the Cardinall. Then the Maior
and his coinpai^iie kneled doune, and moste hartcly tlulked thekyngand hym, and so de-
parted. The next daie, all this was rehersed to ttic comon counsail, whiche humbly
thanked the kyng for the pardon : but twon thynges the sore displeased, one was that the
Cardinall bad theim saie, they were the kynges, body andgooclcs, they saied that they vsed
no dissimulation, for they would not saie they were the kynges, but they thought and were •
the kynges. in deedc, and not in saiyng: the seconde was, that the Cardinall excused hym-
st If that he was ignorant of the first comission : For all they knew and were present,
when he himself made to them the first motion, & . whatsoeuer was saied by the Recorder,
in his excuse was take as a cloke for the rain, &. a dissimulation or a mocke. For wisemen
nerce'ued all the handelyng of the matter : after the kyng had pardoned euery otiendour.
The x--ix daie of Maie the lowles sat in the Starre chamber, and the ther were brought,
one Deuereux, a gentleman of Huntyngdo shire (whiche would not suftre the commis-
sioners to sit, as you iiaae hard) and Ihon Scudder of Kent, these twoo were brought
from the Tower, bare footed in their shirtes through London to the Starre Chamber, and:
702 THE. XVIJ. YERE OF
there the Cardinall shewed them their offences, with terrible woordes : and after that
he shewed the kynges mercie, extended to the and declared their pardon, and so they were
deliuered.
- • The morowe after beyng the. xxx. daie, wer the chief of the rebelles of Suflblke
brought to the Starre chamber barre, and there the Kynges counsaill learned, laied sore to
theim their offence, but the Cardinall declared for the the kynges pardon : then the kynges
Attorney, asked suertie for they good aberyng, their answered that they could finde none, then
saied the Cardinall I will be one, because you be my countrey men, and my lorde of Norf-
folke will be another, and so they were discharged, and had money to bryng them home:
Now here is an ende of this cominissio, but not an ende of inward grudge and hatered,
that the commons bare to the Cardinall, and to all gentlemen, whiche vehemetly set furth
that Commission and demaunde.
In this trobelous season the vplandishe men of Germany, called the bowres, rose in a-
great nomber, almoste an hundred thousande, and rebelled against the princes of Germany,
of whiche a great nomber wer slain and destroyed.
In Aprill last past, the Tyndale men, with the aide of the Scottes, to the nobcr of
eight hundred, did daily greate roberies in Englande. For to represse this nest of theues
wer sent sir Richard Buimer, and sir Cristoplier Dacres, with a greate compai:»nie of
Englishmen, and to them diuerse men came, and submitted themselfes, but the great
theues kept them in the moutaignes of Cheuiot, and daily skirmished with the Englisbe-
men, and could not sone be taken: but after long liyng abrode, they seuered and many of
them wer taken.
In this verie season the Frenchemen, kept a greate nomber of men of warre, at Bullein
and there aboute, and the. v. daie of Maie foure hundred horsemen, embushed thcim-
selfes in the Forest of Guysncs, and the same daie. Ixxx. horsemen of the Cicwe of Guysnes,
roade furthe sekyng auentures, the Frenchemen let theim passe, till they had thuim at
auauntage, then they issued out and cried, kill, kill, then Englishemen them valiauntly de-
fended, almoste twoo hourcs, but at the last the Frenchemen, oppressed theim with, mul-
titude, and brake their arraye, and slewe fiftie of them, the remnant saued themselfes :
this chaunce was nothyng pleasant to the Englishe capitaines. But the Frenchemen were
so .surmounted by this iorney, that the. xx. daie of Maie, the men of warre of all the
garrisons in Picardy, assembled together, and came within the English pale to Aunderne,
and so to Calice : the Frenchmen were of suchc nombre that all the Englishe pale was
spred ouerj At Balyngham the Frenchemen draue awaie the cattell : the Englishmen
thought thesclfes to weke to encounter with them, whiche were the whole strength of all
Picardy. And so on the Assension daie, there came to Newnam bridge, three hundred
horsemen, and there set a stale, but with ordinaunce they were made to go backe. Then
came foure^ hundred Frenchemen to the Turne pike, and they had gotten all the cattell
together. The bend of sir Robert lernyngham, seyng the Frenchemen so nere Calice, set
forward not past. Ix. horsemen and they fiersly set on the Frenchemen, whiche fledde, and
they chased them, and reskucd all the catteH, that the Frenchemen had taken, and with
greate diflicultie, brought them to the Marshe beside Calice.
^ The. xxviii. daie of Maie. v. C. horsemen, and. xvi. C. footemen, came to a village called
Froyton, within the Englishe pale, and many aueutured ouer the Water to haue taken all
the cattell in the Marrishes, of Hamnes, Guysncs, and Calice, whiche wer of greate
nomber, but the Frenchemen that made the auenture in the night, wer askried and slain all
saue two. Then the Frenchemen returned in a great furie, and sware that they would once
robbe the Marrisses or els they would dye for it, .and so returned to Bullein, whether were
come of ncwe, fiue. C. horsmen called Stradiats, whiche fortefied wel the Frenche parties,
in so muche that they passed in nomber fiue tymes the Englishemen.
Riot* You haue haue hard before, how the Cardinall suppressed many monasteries, of the
whiche one was called Beggam in Sussex, tthe whiche was .very commodious to the countrey:
but
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 703
x-
but so befelF the cause, that a ryotous compaignie, disguysecl and vnknowetl, with painted
faces and visures, came to thesame Monasterie, and brought with them the Chanons, and
put them in their place again, and promised theitn that whensoeuer they rang the bell, that
they would come with a great power, and defende the. This doyng came to the eare of the
kyngescounsail, whiche caused the Chanons to be taken, and they confessed the capitaines,
whiche wer emprisoned, and sore punished.
The Cardinall aboute this season, by his, power Legantyne, sent a Chappeleirt of his,-
called Doctor Ihon Alein, a man of more learnyng then vertue, or good conscience, to
, visite all places religious : this priest roade in his goune of veluet, with a greate trayne, and
was receiued into.eue.ry Religion with Procession, as though the legate had been there, and
toke suche greate somires for his visitacion, that the religious sore were greued, and mur-
mured muche against it, and in especial), for they were charged with greate somtnes of money
to the kyng, and now this soclain visitacion or ;£ predacion, cleane slmued them. The com- Predae'»»,
mon people spake muche against this, and also they saied, that the Cardinall by Visi- IM£J.
tacions, makyng of Abbottes, probates of testamentes, gratmtyng of faculties, lict-ses,
and other -pollynges in his Courtes legantines, had made his threasore egall with the
kvngesf, & yet euery. yere he sent greale sotumes to Rome: this was their communica-
cioa, euer against the Cardinall, and his high auethoritie, & the spirituall men moste
disdained it.
You sh ;11 vnderstande, the kyng in his freshe youth, was- in the chaynes of loue, with a
faire damosell called Elizabeth hlourt, daughter to sir Ihon Blunt knight, whiche damosell
in synjiyng, daunsyng, and in all goodly pastymes, exceded all other, by the whiche goodly
pastymes, she waa the kynges harte: and she again shewed hyrn suche fauor, that by hynv
she b.'ire a goodly manne child, of beutie like to the father and mother. This child was
well brought vp, like a Princes child, and whehe was. vi. yere of age, the kyng made hym
knight, and called hym lorde Henry Fitz Roy, and on Sondaie beyng the. xviii. daie of
June, at the Manor or place of Bridewell, thesaied Lorde ledde by twoo Erles, was created
Erie' of NotytighFi, and then he was brought backe again by thesaied twoo Erles: then
the Dukes of Norffolke and Suffolk, led hym into the great chamber again, and the kyng
created hym. Duke of Richemond and Somerset: & thesame daie was the lorde Henry ™«£
Courtenav Erie of Deuonshire> and cosyn germain to the kyng, was created Marques of duke of
Excester, -and the lorde Henry Brandon, sonne to the duke of Suffolke and the Frenche R
Queue the kyn«es sister, a childe of twoo yere old, was greated Erie of Lincolne,
and sir Thomas Manners lord Roos, wa» created Erie of Rutlande, and sir Henry
Clifford was created Erie of Cumberlande, and the lorde Fitz Water sir Robert Radclif
was created Viscount Fitz Water, and sir Thomas Bullein, threasorer of the kynges hous-
hold, was created Viscounte Rocheforde, and at those creacions, were kept greate feastes
a" AtShStliTcardinall toke vpon him, as the kynges chief counsailer to se a reformacion
in the ordre of the kynges housholde, wherein he made certain ord.naunces. He also
made alt newe officers in the house of the Duke of Richemond, whiche was then newly be-
aon Al o atthattymehe ordeined a cousaill, and stablished another houshold for the
He Mary then beyng Princes of the reahne, so that all thyng that was done, was done by
nd without his assent, nothyng was done: he tooke so muche vpon hym, and made
?rk?na beleue 'that all tlynges should be to his honor, and that he neded not to take
nnv na ing so that'to hym was the charge of all thynges committed, at the whiche wise menne
anypain sotha o y thynkyng great foly in his high presupcion. And a this
becked and hg ^niau ^ea' ^ - » | h ^ f the Manor of Hampton Court,
TVt had of tie eafe of the laJof Sainct Ihones, and on whiche he had done
Whiche he had ot we 1 e natur ^^ {Q ]K m ^ Manor of
greate coste. Tht jretorc the kyng „ ^ ^ ^^ ^ ^^ ^ ^
as had been kyo.Henry the Bathes seruauntes,
704 THE. XVIJ. YERE OF
Cardinal kepe house in the Manor royall of Richmond, whiche kyng Henry the seuentb,
so highly estemed it, was a marnell to here, how thei grudged and said, see a Bochers
dogge lye in the Manor of Ricliemond: these with many approbrious wordes, were spoken
against the Cardinal, whose pride was so high that he nothyng regarded, and yet was he
hated of moste men.
In this season the Frenche kynges mother, Regent of Fraunce and the three estates of
the ijealme, assembled' together, conccrnyng the estate of their realme : First, they sent a
solepne Ambassador to themperor, will) articles (as they thought resonable) for y deliuer-
auoe of the Freeh king and also for a peace, they sent also a messenger to the kyng of Eng-
lande, for a saueconduue for an Ambassadour, to be sent into Englande, for a treatie of
peace, whiche to the messenger, was graunted and diliuered.
Then came oner as Ambassadour from Fraunce, Ihon lokyn now called Monsire de
Vaux, whiche as vou hauo hard in the last yere, was kept secret in Master Larkes house,
and when he came into Englande, he was welcomed of the Cardinal!, and there betwene
theim were suche communications, that at the sute of thesaied Ihon lokyn, a truce was
concluded, from the. xiii. dale of luly, for fortie daies, betwene England and Fraunce,
bothe on the sea and beyonde the sea. Full well wist Ihon lokyn, what he meant when he
desired peace for fortie daies, for in that season the Pikardes, might haue a quiet harucst,
to cary in their Corne, whiche they should not haue, if the garrisos of Calice and Guysnes:
and other within the Englishe pale, had not been restrained from warre, and also the Fisher-
men of Depe, Bullein, and Traiport, had quiete tishyng, by this truce, for the nauie of
Englade, was come home to hai borough, this truce greued the menne of warre on bothe
.parties, it was so sodain that they wist not well what to do.
When the Flemynges hard tell of truce, and that they were not comprehended in
thesame, they began to rayle and said, that the kyng of Englande, had not done truly with
the, to take a truce without their knowlege : the Englishcmen answered that they had no
Ambassadour in England, and if that they had had any, they should haue been made priuie,
but the kyng would sencle theim no worile of his affaires, if they would not sende to
knowe, for he ought their master, nor yet them suche seruice.
The Frenchemen in this season enterpriser! to enter into Flannders, by Ncwe dike,
hut they were manfully defended by the Flemynges, and because the Frenchemen passed by
the Englishe pale, and had nothyng done to them the Flcmvnges wer sore displeased, with
the Englishmen of Calice.
In the latter ende of Inly came into Englande, Monsire Bryond chief President of Roan,
and was brought to the Cardinallcs presence, at the Manor of Ricliemond, and when his
•Commission was shewed, it was doubted whether the aucthorilic wer sufliciet, because the
kyng his Master was prisoner in Spain: but then he shewed ancthoritic, geucn to the Lady
Regent, and certain nobles of the rcalmc of Fraunce, by the Frenche kyng in open Par-
liament, before his goyng into Italy for all thynges that did ormighte concerne his Rcahne,
duryng his absence. When the Commission was thought reasonable, then was rehersed to
the Frenchemen their doublenes, their vnstedfastnes, and how they had behaucd tlieira-
selfes toward the kyng of England : then they answered if wee haue offended, yon haue
vs punished, for you haue brent our tonnes, slain our people, destroyed our countrcy,
so that you haue brought the loive parties, to a long miserie without recouery, and there-
fore sithe we be the lesers for our offence, yet we sue for peace, least ue be more punished.
After long consultacion, they offered many offers: first to pay all suche sommes of money
as wer due, both for the yerely tribute, and also for the citee of Turnay, and the Frenche
Quenes dowar, and farther to recompence the kyng of Englande his expences done in the
warres.
Duryng this treatie, woorde was brought to the kyng of Englande, that there was a
Iruce sodainly concluded, betwene the realme of Frauce and the ladie Margaret, Duches
of Sauoy, and Gouerner of Flaundcrs and the lowe countreis, for the space of. v. moaethes,
so
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 705
so that no entercourse should be betwene them for merchantes, but by saueconduite, and
that this Proclamation was proclamed at sainct Omers, the firste daie of Aiipust, wherupon
the kyng was contented, that a peace should bee taken from the. xiiii. daie of August, to the
firste daie of December, whiche was proclamed in London: and by this truceBeuery En-
glishema without sauecondute, might passe into Fraunce, & tbei likewise into England.
When this truce was proclaimed, the people murmured & said, now hath the Frenchwomen
gotten their fishyng quietly, and if they had been kept from that, they had been vndoen, and
so with faire wordes thei helpe themselfes, whiche if we haue warre again, shall hurte vs,
for this Herryng shall vitaill their tounes the next yere. This the common people talked,
but it was to no purpose.
This yere the kyng sent Doctor Henry Standishe, bishop of saint Asse, & sir Ihon Baker,
knight into the realme of Dcnmarke, to comen and entreate with the nobles of the Countery :
for the reduction of kyng Christierne, to his realme, Croune, and diguitie, but all that could
be said or perswaded, could not bryng the Danes to any rcson, they hated hym so for his
greate cruellie, and in especiall for the greate tiranny that he committed at Stokeholme in
-Swethen, where he desired a greate nomber of his nobles to a banket, and after the baket strake
of their hedcles. When the Ambassadours of Englande sawe that they could not bryng hym
in again: they then began to require, that his sonne might haue the croune and dominion,
whiche neuer them offended, and was of progeny borne of lady Isabell, sister to the Em-
peror Charles the. v. which also made great labor and instaunce for thesame : but the
Danes answered they would none of his procreation, for they said, the sonne would folow
the father, or els at the least he would reuenge his fathers wrong, and so with this answere
they departed.
So muche did the Ambassadors of Fraunce, bothe by offers and entreatyes, that the king
of England and his counsaill, did condiscende to a peace, and the more soner because thei
sawe if warre should continue, money must bedemaunded of the comons, ^whiche had leuer
febell then pay any more money, as you haue hard in the last yere. Whe peace was con-
cluded, then were Proclamations of thesame, sent to euery citee and good toune, and the
viii. daye of September, thys peace was proclaymed solemply with a Trumpet through the citee
of London, the effecte wherof was, that vpon humble suite and large profers, made by the lady
Regent of Fraunce, & the three estates of thesame, a peace, league, & amitie was concluded,
betwene bothe the kyngcs of England & Frauce, and their countries and subiectes, so
that the subiectes, of either realme maie lawfully passe and repasse, into the others realme
and dominions, to bye and sell frankely and frely, without let or interruption, and that this
league in no wise, was a breche of the league taken wyth the Emperor and the lady Margaret,
crouemesse of Flaunders in no point, but that thesaied Emperour and lady Margaret, and all
other the kyn<res old and auncient confederates and alies, wer comprehended in thesame,
and for clue restitution to be made to the Frechmen, there was appoyncted the reuerende
father, Cutberd bishop of Lodon, and for restitution to be made to the Lnghsheme, ^
appoynted the chief Presidetof Roan.
And on the. xi. daie of September, was a truce proclamed in Spain, m the toune of
, , ., • rp.,]m,.
and then the!
.
litle, for thei saied that if he died, thei should pa,e no raunsome
Sh This" peaqceebetwene England and Fraunce, nothing pleased the f 7
when they had dronke well>ei spake largely, and bested how they had I v
4-X "the
706 THE- XVIJ. YERE OF
the Englishemen left in their countrey, nor how the Frenchmen for dred of the Englishe
men, would not inuade Flaunders, so that thei lyued quietly, all this they considered not.
In thesame moneth this peace was proclamed, in Paris, Lios, Roan and Amias : by this
peace the kyngof Englande, should receiue at certain daies. xx. hundred thousande Crounes,
whiche then was foure hundred thousand pound sterlyng, of the whiche one paiinent of h'ftie
thousande pounde was paied in hande. After this peace taken, all the men of warre, that
were aboute the retinue of Calice, Hammes, and Guysnes wer called home, and the shippes
brought into the hauens, and many a Kreker wist not how to lyue.
In the moneth of October wer sent into Fraunce, sir Willyatn Fitzwillyam Threasorer of
the kynges house, and doctor Tayllor, as ambassadors from the kyng of England, & wer re-
ceiued through Fraunce very honorably, and by long iornies at the last, came to the citie of
Lios the. xxiiii. daie of Nouember, where to them wer presented, Wine, Fishe, Fleshe, and
Waxe, and thei wer visited with diuerse noble men. And on the. xxvi. daie they were con-
ueighed to the Courte by twoo Erles, and at the gate receiued with two Cardinalles, and so
brought to the lady regent, whiche with muche honor theim receiued, and then they deliuered
the kynges letters, whiche she tooke in great reference, and so with her counsaill, departed
into her priuie chamber, and there taried almost two houres, and then came out again, to
whom Doctor Tailor made an eloquent Oracion in Latin, of the commodities of peace, and
declared that the kyng his Master for very loue, and not for no dred nor nede did codiscend
to peace. To whom the bishop of Besanson, Chaunceller to the Lady Regent, made answere,
and that doen, the Ambassadors were feasted, and serued with men of greate estate, and
after that thei werconueighed to their lodgynges.
And on Sondaie next ensuyng, the Ambassadors wer conueighed to the Courte, and
from thence the lady Regent and all the Court, rode solemply to the Cathedrall churche of
Lions, and there a Card i nail sang a solempne Masse, and after that Masse was dooen, the
Lady Regent tokc the twoo Ambassadors, the one on the right hande, and the other on the
left hande, and so went vp to the high aultar, and there she laied her hande on the Canon
Tk«ie«gue an(j Crucifix of the Masse boke, and there sware to obserue, fulfill and kepe, all the arti-
iwnrnc, _ i 1 j • i i i • i+
cles and agrementes, concluded in the league and treatie of peace, by her commissioners.
And whe this was doen, the bishop of Bisanson made an eloquent sermon, takyng for his
antitheme. Quis est homo qui vitlt vitam, dillgit dies videre bonos, Inquire pacem. fyc.
In this sermon he muche praised the kyng of Englade, whiche assented to peace and lauded
the Cardinall whom he called the Legate of God, for counsailyng hym to peace: for now
was France free, and all hostilitie seased, and when this sermon was doen, Te deum was
song, and then the Trumpettes blewe, and all other instrumentes Musaicall, and then,
the Lady Regent, with all her trayne returned to the palace, £ there were the Ambassadors
highly feasted, and then sir Willyam Fitz William toke his leaue, and came shortly into
Englande, leauyng behynde hym Doctor Tayler whiche taried there till the Frenche kyng
was deliuered.
When the articles of peace, wer knowen to themperor and his counsaill, full well wist they
that the kyng of Englande now would be frend to the French kyng wherfore he and his sub-
iectes, shewed themselfes more straunge and vnkyndeto the Englishemen, then they had been
accustomed. In so muche that the Englishe merchauntes, put vp a supplicacion to the Em-
peror, shewyng hym how their goodes wer taken, by letters of Marke, their shippes re-
strained, nevve impositions taken of them, and most of all thei complained, that by an
acte made in Spain called Premetica whiche ordeineth that euery cloth, should be of a cer-
tain nomber of thredes, the clothes of Englande there could not bee solde, to the great hyn-
deraunce of the Englishe Merchauntes: For the clothiers of England knowe not the nom-
ber appoynted by the statute, and when thei make cloth, thei knowe not to what countrey
that cloth shalbe sold, of these thynges the Englishe Merchauntes desired a redresse.
At a daie appoynted the Englishmen had an answere deliuered them in writyng, con-
teignyng certain articles. The firste, if any wronges bee dooen vnto you, our lustice is
open.
iwornc.
KYNG TIENRY THE. VIIJ. 707
open in euery place. The secofcd, as touchyng letters of Marke, we will be aduiscd by our <>
•••counsaill. The third as touchyng your shippes, we frely graunt that you shall haue our fred-
ship liberally, so that with your awne shippes and goodes, you maic go at youre pleasure,
passing or wafcyng abode. And as touchyng customes, or Imposicions of newe : The 4.
accident maic catise-vs so to doo, but that shalbee in. suspence. And finally as touchyn* our 5!
Premetica, made by the lordes of our counsaill, and by vs affirmed, wee will not breaks,
but wee will suftre to the intent that you Englishe Merchauntes, uiaie bring true and well
made clothe, for the whiche you shall bee the better welcome: this was the very answere that
the Englishe Merchauntes had, of the Emperor and his counsaill.
In this Wynter was greate death in London, wherefore the Terme was adiorned, and
the king for to eschew the plague, kept his Christmas at Eltham with a small number, for
no manne might come thether, but suche as wer appoynted by name: this Christmas in the
kynges house, was called the still Christmas. But the Cardinal! in this season, laye at the
Manor of Richemond, and there kept open housholde, to lordes, ladies, and all other that
would come, with plaies and disguisyng in most royall maner: whiche sore greued the peo-
ple, and in especial the kynges seruauntes, to se hym kepe an open Court, and the kyng a
secret Court,
The Cardinal! came to Eltham the. viii. daie of January, and taried there till the. xxii.
daie. In whiche season the Cardinal!, and other of the kynges cousaill, sat for a direccion
to be taken in the kynges house, and first it was considered, that the greate no'mber of the
yomen of the gard were very chargeable, and that there were many officers farre striken in
age: whiche had seruauntes in the Courte, and so the kyng was serued with their seruauntes,
and not with his awne seruauntes, whiche was thought not conuenient. Wherfore first the
officers seruauntes, wer put out of the Courte, and many old officers were put to liue in
their countreys, but the kyng of his bountie enhaunsed their liuynges, for he that had three
pound wages, had sixe pound annuitie, without attendaunce, and he that had. xl.s. had fourc
pound, and so euery man after that rate, and young men were put in their romes. Then was
there. Ixiiii. of the gard, whiche had. xii.d. the daie checked, put out of that wages, and they
had. vi.d. a daie vnchecked, and should dwell in their countreys & come not at the court,
til thei wer sent for, except it wer for suites: in the which the Cardinall promised the, to
be their helper: Alas what sorowe, & what lamentacion was made, when all these persones
should depart the court. Some saied that poore seruauntes wer vndocn and must steale:
Some saied that thei wer found of the reuercions of the officers seruice, so that for them
was nothyngmore set out at the dresser, and it was greate charhie to fynde them. Other
saied that the yomen of the gard, whiche were put out wer now not able to fynde themselfes
and their horse, to doo the King seruice. Other saied, that now they would polle and pill in
their countreys, & oppresse the poore people, thus euery man had his saiyng.
At tiiis season the Cardinall made many ordinances, concerning the kynges house,
whiche bee at this daie called the statutes of Eltham, the whiche some saied wer more pro-
fitable then honorable.
This.ronetheof January was a peace concluded, betwene the realmes of Englande and
Scotlande, for three ycres and sixe monethes, of the whiche the Scottes wer very glad, and
especially the borderers, for they wer sore hurt by this warre.
This vere the kvn« on Shrouetewesdaie, kept a solempne lustesathis Manour of Grene-
vviche, he hvmself and. xi. wer on the one part, and the Marques ot Excester with, x, were
on the other parte: the Kynges barcle and base and all his bende, wer of cloth of gold and
sillier richely embraudered, with a mannes harte in a presse w.th flames about ,t, and m
ete were written, Declare ie nose, in Englishe, Declare 1 dare not, the Marques and his
bend wer in Grene Veliiet, & crimosyn sattynembrodered with hartes burnyng, and ooei-
euery we a Ladies hand commyng out of acloude, holdyng a garden water pot, which
dropped iuer droppes on the hitl: At th» lustes was many a sperc broken and by
7&8 THE. XVIJ. YERE OF
sir Fran«s chauncc of sliiueryiig 'of the spere, sir Frances Brian lost one of his iyes. After the<s.e
ofbil°iy°".e lustes, the king made to the Quene, and lordes and ladies a costly banket, and did sef-
uiceto the Queue and ladies hymself.
In the nionethe of February the. xi. .daic beyng Sondaie, the Cardinall with greate poinpe,
came to the Cathedrall Churche of Paules, on whom bishoppes, Abbottes, and a great
nomber of doctors, gaue their attendaunce, and there he .sat in pontificalibus, vuder his
cloth of estate of riche clothe of Golde: and there one Frier Barnes a Frier Augustine
Theabiura- bare a fagot, for certain poyntes of heresie, as the Bishoppes saied: and two Merclmuntes
wBmci, of the Slilicrd bare fagottes, for eatyng fleshe on a Frithiio, and there the bishop of lloches-
Ta°heare tci* Doctor Fisher, made a sermon, rcprouyiig Martin Luthers opinio, a Frier of Germany,
more hTtht. whiche wrote against the power of the Bishoppe of Rome, and in his sermon he spake so
ofthisicT 'uuche honor of the Pope and his Cardinalles, and of their dignitie and preheminence, that
he forgat to speake any tbyng of the Gospell, whiche he toke in hande to declare, which
sermo was muche praised of the Cardinall and bishoppes, wherfore the Cardinall gaue to all
the people his benediccion, and then departed.
All this yere was continuall suite made to the Emperor and his cousail, by the Lady Re-
gent of Frauncc, and all the realme there, for the deliueraunce of Frances the Frenche
J<yng, and after many communicacions whiche toke none effect, was sent into Spain of Ain-
bassade, the uoble lady Margaret, late duches of Alaunson, sister to the French kyng, with
a greate compaignie of nobles and honorable personages. Thempcror Charles met thesaied
lady in the Market place of the cite of Toleto, and her right hartely welcomed, and after
that the Duches and her compaignie, had refused to agree to certain articles, whiche the
Frenche kyng had offered hymself, thesaied Duches had license of the Emperor, to go to
Madrill, where the Frenche kyng was kepte as prisoner, and there to knowe his mynd.
When she was there, she & other diuised suche a waie, that the Frenche kyng should htiue
Lady Mat- scaped, an '
garetDu- was t)ierof
ehes of
and poste horses wer luied euery where : this were not so secrete, but. the Emperor
of enformed, and toke certain Freiichemen, wbiche confessed how all thyives should
kig to es-
cape.
bane been brought to passe. The Duches of Alaunson hearyng that this priuitie was
°PeiiedJ ou post horses with all spede returned into Frauncc, leuyng the whole mauer at
the Freeh large.
But for all this the lordes of Fraunce, ceased not daily to sue. for the deliueraunce of their
souereigne lorde, and at last to the Emperor was deliuered a boke for the Frenche kynges
deliueraunce, for the Emperor saied he would nothyng demaund of hym, for hauyng hyin
he had more then he could geue hym. Then the Frenche kyng and his counsaill, offered a
boke conteignyng many articles to the Emperoure: and when the Emperor had well vnder-
stande the contentes of thesame, he saied to the Frenche Ambassadors, is this the full will
and ugrcmcnt of your Master, they answered yea: well saied the Emperor, if this be his
awne otire, I truste that he will kepe it. Then themperor thought best to bryng the Frencjiu
kyng to more libertie, and to visile hym hymself, whiche he had not doen but in the tymeof
his sickcnes. Where the. xiiii. daie of February, the Emperor accompanied with the
greate Constable of France, the Duke of Enphantaso, the Duke of Ciuill, the Duke of
Nasso, the Duke of Aluoy, the duke of Albcrkirke, the Duke of Medena, the Duke of
Massedonia, the Marques of Aguler, the Marques Villafraca, the Marques of Sturgus, the
Erie of Barselona, the crle of Boniuent, the Eric of leniuer, the Erie of Salenas, the Erie
of Arrowffe, the erle of Saluator, and. xii. Bishoppes, and a greate nomber of nobles,
came to the castle of Madrill, to whom was the Fienche kyng brought with a noble re pa ire,
to whom the Emperor made lo reucrence, and declared to hym how all victories, consist
in the hande of God, and where greate debate, warre, and sirief, had long continued be-
twene the, he said it was the very hady worke of God, to dcliuer hym to captiuitie, so that
by his restraint of libertie, a generall peace should be cocluded through all Christendome,
and now sithe you haue offered vs reasonable condicions, weentendyng notyourpunishement,
nor
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 709
nor restraint of your libertiehaue gently receiucd your offers, signed with your awne hande>
whiche ail your nobles shall heare redde.
In primis, the Frenche kyngsware to kepe peace, bothe by land and by water with the Em- j.
peror and his subiectes, of all landcs, territories, or dominions, belongyng to the Emperor
or the Empire.
Item, thesaied Frencbe Kyng clerely renounced, all the right, title, or interest whiche he g.
had or pretended, to the realine of Naples, or the kyngdoiue of Seicile.
Item, thesaied Frenche kyng clerely renounced his right and title, to the Duchie of Mil- 3.
lain, and the Countie of Ast.
Item, thesaine kyng surrendered into thempcrors handcs the whole Due-hie of Burgoyn, 4.
the Countie Charoloys, with all castles and lordshippes appertinyng to thesame, with all
inane r of souereigntie, apperteignyngto the croune of Fraunce by reason of thesame.
Item, thesaied kyng surrendered & relased, all the souereignetie whiche he claimed of the 5.
Counties of Flaunders and Arthoys, and thother lowe countreis, so that they from thence
furthe, should netier sue to any Parliament of Fraunce by appele, or resorte, the Counties
of Guvsnes, Arde and Bullonoys alwaie except.
Ite,"he released all the right & title, that he had to the citee of Tournay and Turnesyns g.
and to the tounes of Hedyng and Arras, with all Castles and dominions apperteignyng to
thesame, with the title of the souereignetie and resort of thesame, to the Parliamentes of
Item, he sware and promised, neuer to helpe or aide the Lorde Dalbrethe, called the 7.
kyn«T of Nauerr by couyn or other wise, against themperor or his heires nor successors.
Item that he nor none other by his assent, should maintein, aide or cofort Charles Duke 8.
of Geldres, nor maintein sir Robert de la Marche, by no meanes against the Emperor, .or
his countreys, or dominions.
Item he promised at his awne costes and charges, to finde fiue hundred men of artnes, 3.
and tcn'nc thousande footemen, to do the Empcrour semice, whensoeuer that he tokc his
iorney toward Rome, for the obteignyng of bis croune and scepter Impenall, and to pau
their wages for sixe mouethes. .
Ite, he promised to be enemie to all persones, whiche would go about or attend in any ]0,
wise 'to let or disturbe thesaied iorney to Rome.
Item he promised to discharge the Emperor against the kyng of Englande for he somme , l.
of tu'oo hundred thonsande Crounes, whiche he ought then to the kyng of P ng ande, and
To cleliuer the Emperor a sure acquitauoce for thesame, whiche amounteth ,n s
Zl'ltem he released all the pencions, whiche he claimed of the realmes of Naples & Skile, ,o.
these articles wer performed: and t aftet he ca - &nd
^trii
twene the two princes and then; rea mes the !M lp«o, oft ed . ^ ^
kyng, the noble pnnces ltt^.Elin"1^ Ansames, Maco.u.yes, and
fered to hy,u with her a, manage three fa, ^ o. Jesh. ,^c s, c . -a ^ concbcionally,
Barsur, the whiche the Frenche kyng loylul y ^-^ • d as u heard before, that
so that the whole agrement toke ^ecTe «r ds not. S » J^J1 ^ saied wcll. To al
the Frenohe Qaene was poysoned for this lhese
I
7H) THE. XVIJ. YERE OF
Hbese articles and raany mo, the Frenche kyng sware before the Emperor, and all his nobles
.the. xiiii. daie of February.
In the tyme of this entreatie came into Spayne, Charles Duke of Burbon whiche appeled
• the Frepche kyng, that he contrary to al right and Justice, had procured and imagened, the
death and destruccion of thesaied" Duke without any cause, but onely to possede his so-
uerai<nieties and Dominions, by reason whereof, thesaied Duke was compelled to Hue in
exile, out of his countrey, and that the Regent of Fraunce, contrary to lustice had pro-
claimed hym a traitor, and seazed all his goods and landes, wherefore he desired that the
Frenche kyng, might to hym make a condigne recompence: to whom the Emperour ans-
wered, that a prisoner might not bee appeled: but yet for his good seruice, the Emperor
did so muche, that an article was concluded, that the duke of JBurbo should bee restored
to his firste title, state, honor, and dignitie, and to all his other Duches, Counties, seignio-
ries, and Dominions, and there the Frenche kyng frely pardoned to hym al offences, and
sware that al proces, proclamacions, impeticions, had or dooen against hym should bee
voyde, annulled and repeled, and farther the Frenche kyng, in recopence of al wronges
doen to him, and for the restitucion of his goodes, promised and sware to paie thesame
duke. CC. thousande crounes, with al the rentes, and profiles receiued of the landes of
thesaied duke, in the tyme of his exile. When all these articles wer concluded, sworne,
and appoynted, the Emperour iudged that the Frenche kyng, would neuer louc the Duke of
Burbon, and that by some newe found faute, or by some priuy enemie, he might bee brought
to confusion : wherfore of his noble liberalise, consideryng the good seruice that the duke
had doen to hym, and might do if he were of possessions and dominions, gaue vnto the
Duke the whole Duchie of Millain, so that thesaied duke should finde yerely foure thou-
sande foolemen, and fiue hundred men of armes, and paie to the Emperor yerely foure
thousande Ducates, but he neuer obtcigned the possession, for lacke of the inuesture or
creacion: Also the Emperoure gaue to the Viceroy of Naples, the Duchie of Boysee, and
the Countie of Ast, and many greate rewardes for his,good seruice.
This peace thus concluded betwene the Emperour and the Frenche kyng, was openly pro-
claimed through all Spain, Fraunce, Flaunders and the Emperours dominions, whereof
their subicctes were glad, and made Tiers £ triumplns through all their countreys. The
kyng of Englande like wise, whiche was included in thesame League, was very glad of the
peace, and caused the Cardinall and all the nobles and prelates to assemble at the Cathe-
drall Churche of saincte Paule, and there was Te deum song, and the Cardinall gaue be-
nediccion to all the people, and that night fires was made through all London. The com-
mon people said as thei thought: some saied the peace was honorable to the Emperoure,
and other saied, the Frenche kyng would not kepe his promise, when he was once deliuer-
ed, and so it proued.
The kyng of England hearing that y Frenche kyng was at a poynt to be deliuered, set
a knight of his chamber, called sir Thomas Chcyney to the French kyng, certefiyng him of
the great glad nes y he had of his deliuery, & also the cofort that he had for the "conclusion
of peace: of whiche kynd remembraunce, the French kyng muche reioysed. The French
kyng toke his leaue of themperor, £ toke his iorney into Fraunce waid, and came to Vic-
toria, in whiche season the fame went, that the Dolphin whiche should haue been deliuer-
ed, us one of the hostages for the Freeh Kyng his father, was disseased, and so the Frenche
Kyng was staled for xv. daies, till the truth was knowen: other saied that the cause was that
there wer betwene Fontiabie and Bayou, xxx. M. men, and doubted lest if he had been
brought doune to Foutraby, he might haue been rescued: but whatsoeuer the cause was,
he was restraigned as you haue harcle.
rie^the" *^nd at the last wlien.tlie (laie came of his diliuery, and he was discretely moued, that he
French should not speake to his children, for feare that lamentacion and sorowe might in suche
wise rise, that hurte might ensue of it. Whe the daie was come that he should be deliuer-
ed, there was betwene the borders of Fraunce and Spain, a Lake of no great depenes, in
the
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 711
the middes whereof was laied a greate emptie boate at an anker, and at euery shore wa*
another boate, and when the French kyng was come to the banke, he entered the boate on
the Spanishe side, and sixe Spaniardes with hym, and like wise on the Frenche part, the
twoo Princes sonnes to the Frenche kyng, entered the other boate and sixe Frenchmen with
them, and so bothe the boates come to the boat liyng in the middes, the Frenche kyng en-
tered at the one ende, and his children at the other, and passed through the great boate,.
and euen in the middest of the boate thei met, and he with his hande blessed theim, with-
out speakyng of any wordes, but sadly regarded theim, and so he entered into the boate
•with the Frenchemen, and his children into the boate with Spaniardes, and eche of them
were shortly at the shore, and mounted on horsebacke, and the Frenche king rode to!
Bayon, where he was nobely receiucd, almost of all the nobles in the realme, and in espe-
cial of his mother: and his. ii. children were conueighed to Fountraby and so vpward, and
were well cherished in all thynges, by the great Constable of Spain and his wife.
Thus was Frances the Frenche kyng, coueighed into his realme the xxi. daie of Marche,
whiche was taken the. xxiiii. daie of February, the yere last past.
After that themperor had concluded, & taken his leaue of the Frenche kyng, he rode to
the faire citee of Ciuill, and there he with greate triuph maried lady Isabel!, daughter to Tf>e marine
kyng Etnanuel, of Portyngall, with whom he had greate threasures and sommes of money, r0r.
and great frenclship of the Portyngalles, for he had. xi. hundred thousande Ducates with
her manage. When this manage was knowen in Englande, the Englishemen sore mur-
mured, that the Emperor beyng at Wynsore, in the. xiiii. yere of the king, had faithfully
promised to mary the lady Mary, daughter to the Kyng of Englande. But for a verie
truthe the Emperoures counsaill was not content with the answere made to Monsire de
Beuers the last yere, and so counsailed the Emperour, not to tary for the lady Mary whiche
was young: and also thei saied that she was begotten of the kyng of Englande by his bro-
thers wife. And also an acte was made in Spain, that he should not depart the countrey,
till he had issue. All these thynges were laied to hym, whiche caused him to encline to
manage, and seyng the great ofter that the kyng of Portyngal made to hym, he was there
to agreyng, and so maried the lady Isabell, sister to kyng Ihon of Portyngall.
fl THE. XVIII. YERE.
THE xxviii daie of Aprill, in the beginnyng of this, xviii. yere, came to the Court to Th«.xv.ii..
Grenewiche Monsire Brenion chief president of Roan, & Ihon lokyn now called Moil- v«<
sire de Vaux, whiche President, of Roan, before the Kyng sette in a Throne, and accom-
paignied with all his nobles, and the Ambassadors of Rome, of the Emperor, of Venice,
and Florece beyng there present, made in the Latyn toungue a solempne oracion the ef- _ ^.^
feet wherof was" that he shewed, how dredfull the warres had been , betwcne the rca hues of of thePre.
Enllande & Fraunce, what greate losse the realme of Fraunce had suste.gned by thesaied -£«*
war°res- He declared farthe?of what power the kyng of Englande was ot and what con-
queThe nUt haue made in Fraunce, the kyng beyng prisoner, & knawleged the kyng of
Sndes ri"ht in the warres, and their wronges, where he humbly thanked hym, of his
iSfe ind c5 pa ion that he had on them in their necessitie and affliction, that he would
-co cent to peace To this Oracion the ChanceUer of the Duchie of Lancastre, by name
SrE^lSi made answere saiyng: that it muche reioysed the kyng that the, hrs co-
dered how by his power he might haue oppressed, and how by his pi tie he had releued
them ;vheTef0iye he w'ould her* a£er that for kindnes, they should shewe hym none vnk.nd-
EC£T-5 " lempne Masse in the kyng,™
on -
712 THE. XVITJ. YERE OF
concluded, betwene hym and his brother and perpetuall alie the French kyng, duryng hi*
life and a yere after, and after Masse to all Ambassadoures was made a greate feast.
In the moneth of Maie was a prociamacio made, against al vnlawfull games, accordyng
to the statutes made in this behalf & commissios awarded into euery shire, for the execu-
tion of thesame, so that in" all places, Tables, Dice, Cardes, and Boules, .wer taken and
brent. Wherfore the people murmured against the Cardinall, saiyng: that he grudged at
euery manr.es pleasure, sauyng his awne, but this Proclamacion small tyme endured: and
when young men were forbidden Boules, and suche other games: some fell to drinkyng,
and some to -ferettyng of other mennes Conies, and stealyng of Dere in Parkes, and other
vnlhriftines.
Because all this Sommer the Kyng tooke his pastyme in huntyng, and nothyng happened
worthye to bee written of: I will returne to the Frenche kyng, now come again into his
real me.
When he was at Paris he saied ;ind wrote to the Emperour, that he would obserue & kepe
his promises in euery point, but what he thought I will not iudge: For shortly after he set
furth a boke, called the appollogic or defence against the conuencion or agremcnt made be-
twene the Emperor and hym at Madrill, allegyng that he was cupelled to make that agre-
inent, or els he should neuer haue been diliuered: He alleged farther that the Lawyers of
his realine clerely determined ail promises and couenuuntes made by any persone to his
awne hurt, with hym that is more of power then he, to be made by compulsio, and so of
none effect and not to be performed. He also saied that the gouernors of the Lawe, de-
termined that no othe or promise is of any effecte, where a manne is in ieoperdie of life,
or of perpetuall imprisonement or bondage, and moste in especiall when it is doen by com-
pulsion or thretenyng. Moreouer he saied that lie might geue awaie nothyng apperteign-
yng to his Croune, without thassent of his peeres and the three estates of his realme (to
the whiche he was sworne at the time of his Coronacio,) whiche would therto in no wise as-
sent, and therfore he saied that his othe and promes was voyd, and so he declared to the
Viceroy of Naples, beyng then with him as Ambassadour for the Emperor, and offered for
his raunsome to paye asmuche money as euer Frenche kyng paied, with diuerse other ar-
ticles of nevve diuised.
When these articles came to the Emperor, he them refused and saied, that he had de-
sired nothyng impossible of the Frenche Kyng, and if he might not or would not kepc the
appoyntcmet betwene tlieim made, yet he bad hym kcpe that poynt of coucnaunt, whiche
onely depended in his will, that was that he should yelcle hymself prisoner againe, and so
he should haue his children deliuered: and then he would reasonably commen with hym, of
newe articles of agrement, and as to the appollegie set furtho by the Frenche kyng, that his
othe and promesse was voydc, and made by compulsion and threatenyng, it was answered
by another boke called the Refutation or Ouercommyng of the appollogie, of the conue-
cion of Madrill. Whiche twoo workes were so eloquently set furth, with suchc and so
many perswacions and allegacions, bothe on the one part and the other, that it would com-
ber a wise man (except he were perfectly indifferent) to iudge to whiche parte he should
moste encline, and geue credence, therefore I leaue it at large.
After that the Frenche kyng was deliuered, and the peace concluded, the Emperor was
. fully determined to passe the seas into Italy, and so to Rome, and there to be crouned Em-
peror, wherof hearyng the bishop of Rome, called Pope Clement the seuenth, a man of
great wit and vice, and of litle vertue or learnyncr : much doubted in hymself what damage
might come to hym, if the Emperor had bothe Naples, Sciciil, and the Duchie of Millain,
and also wer crouned Emperor. Wherefore he sent to the Venicians, and to the Floretines,
and to Fraunces Sforce duke of Millain, whiche had committed treason against themperor,
and was depriued by iudgement of his name & dignitie, and thesame geuen to the Duke
of Burbon, but yet by power he kept muche of the possession : and declared to them, by
what puyssaunce the Emperor would come into Italy, and what greate possessions he had
there-
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 713
there, at euery ende of Italy, so that if he \ver once crouned Emperor, he would loke to
haue the seigniorieof all Italy : wherefore they consulted and debated for their avvue suretie,
how to banishe him and his all Italy by power: and as thei \ver debatyng of this matter,
thei hard worde how the French kyng was returned into Fraunce, and sought all waies and
meanes, how to breake with the Emperour. When they sawe so open an accion offered to
them, with al diligence thei sent their seuerall Ambassadors, that is to saie, the Pope twain,
the duke of Venice called Andrew Gritty, one (whiclie was his secretorie) and the Floren-
tyncs one, and the Duke of Millaine one, these fiue Ambassadours came to the Freache
Kyng, and declared what ioye and gladncs their masiers had of his safe returne into his
real me, and then thei shewed to him how thei by the Bishop of Homes exhortacion had di-
uised a league, whiche should set a perpetuall peace betwene all princes Christen, and for
the more expedicion, thei had set forth and agreed vp5 articles, for the whole league.
When the Frenche kyng saw the articles it was as he would haue it, for he thought by the
•whole power of the confederates, his children should be deliuered, & he yet again once to
haue a medelyng in Italy: wherefore with greate gladnes and solempnitie, he entered into
the league, and sware to kepe it, and gaue to the Ambassadors greate rewardes.
The first article of this league was that themperor, the kyng of Englande, and all other 1
kynges and princes, might entre into thesame, and if the kyng of Englande would, he
should bee admitted as protector of thesame league.
But yet the Emperour should not bee admitted, till he had deliuered the Frenche kynges
children, hauyng a reasonable somme of inonsy for thesame, nor before he had restored
the Duke of Millain to his whole Duchie, franckly and frely, and all other persones of
Italy, in like maner as thei wer before the last warres began : Nor be sbal not once come
into Italy for his Coronacion or other wise, but with suche a traine as the Pope £ the Duke
of Venice shall thynke conuenient, and that within three monethes after he hath entered
into this league, he shall paie to the kyng of Englande, all suche somrnes as he ought hym
before y time.
Item, if themperor would not entre, then thesaid cofederates should assemble a greate 3
armie in Italy, accordyng as euery one should bee assessed, and this armie to be inain-
teigned, till the Emperors power were driuen out of Italy.
Item, that the Emperor shalbe warned, to deliuer the Freche kynges children, and to 3
fall to a reasonable poynt with hym, whiche thynges if he deny to dooe, then the confe-
derates certifie hym, that they shall neuer cease till he be brought to reason.
Item, that a greate nauie should be prepared on all the coastes of Italy, at the common 4
costes of the confederates.
Item that Fraunces Sforce shall enioy the Duchie of Millain, payng ycrely to the 5
Frenche kyn* fiftie thousande Ducattes, & the French kyng neuer to clanne thesame.
Item, the Frenche Kyng or the Duke of Orleaunce hys sonne, shall haue the Countie 6
' Item if the Emperour bee expelled oute of Naples and Scici!, then the realmes to be 7
at the gift of the Pope, paiyng yerely to the French kyng Ixxv. thousande Ducattes.
Item if the kyn- of Englande wyll take vpon hym as Protector ot tins league, then he g
or his sonne f*e Duke of Richemond) to haue a ducliie or a principalitie in the realme of
Nant to hym & to his heires, to the somme of thirtie thousande Ducattes at the least,
and the Cardinal of Yorke to haue a yerely pencion of. x. thousand Ducates. ibis league
was concluded at Cogmace or the. xxii. daie of Maie in this yere.
When this League" was thus concluded, it was sent to the Kyng of Englande wh.che
with create deliberacion like a wise prince, consulted muche with his counsail of thm
M . ,g *wh?il things wer fully pence ued, he answered to thambassadours,
SffiSftSSJ'Jt*. «ta coSrZ of .Jet good .ill, bu, be « .Id not en.re ,n,o «h.
league! b£«£ he ivould be an indifferent entrealor bewene note part,es and a meanc
714 THE. XVIIJ. YERE OF
for a peace : and so he wrote to the Emperor, whiche hartely thanked him, and toke it for
greate kyndnes : this league was called the holy league of Clement. When the Bishop of
Rome sawe that this league was concluded, because he would shewe that he and the confe-
da'ates, had iust cause of warre against the Emperor, for thynges done in Jtaiy, he sent to
hym a letter, dated at Rome the. xxiii. dale of June: in the whiche letter he most craftely
laied to the Emperours charge, what he had done for hym before he was Pope, & sithe he
was promoted to that dignitie, he left nothyng vnremcmbred, that either lie had frendly
meant or actualy done to the Emperor: and accused him of muche vnkyndnes, and in es-
peciall that he would not pardo Frances Sforce duke of Millain, at his request. He accused
hym also of the couetous desire which he had, to haue or obtein the whole Monarchic of
Italy, with many other pretie inuencions: for whiche causes he saied he was compelled, for
the suretie of all Italy, & in especiall for 'the churche of Rome, to ioyne hymself with
greate Princes, and to make warre for the defence of thesame. This letter was deliuered
to the Emperour with all spede, to whom the Emperour answered by a letter, dated the.
xiiii. daie of September, conteinyng. xxiiii. shetesof paper, in suche wist that all wise men
maie se by thesame, that the Romishe bishop accused themperoiu, nhere lie should haue
blamed hymself, for the Emperor laied a greate nomber of ingratitudes and vntrutesto
hym, and clerely auoyded all thynges, that he laied to his charge. The Pope sent his
Ambassador another letter, that if the first letter were not deliuered, then he should retain
it, but as God would, for manifestyng of the truthe, the letter was deliuered tenne dayes
before.
After the first letters writte, the holy father of Rome raised in all hast an armie of eight thou-
sande footemen, with a valiaunt compaignie of horsmen, whiche passed the riuer of Poo, and
ioyned themselfes with the power of the Venecians, wherof was capitain Frances duke of
Vrbine, and so they all together marched toward Millain : and in the nicane season they had
sentOctauian Sforcia Bishop of Aretyne, whiche for the Frenche kyng should retain, xiiii. M.
Swysses, and they were commyng out of Swyserlande, to ioyne with the armie of Italy.
Thintent of this armie was to driue al the Emperors power, out of the Duchie of Millain,
but all their deuises proued cotrary, as you shall after plainly perceiue. For you shall vn-
derstande, that although the Frenche kyng was taken before Pauia, a yeie & more before
this tyme, and all the Frenche men driuen out of the Duchie of Millain, yet the Emperour
left not the duchie without an armie, for he left there Anthony de Lena, whiche was capitain
of Pauia, at the siege laied by the Frenche Kyng, and Fernando Daual and Alphons his
brethren, two valiant capitaines, but Fernando (lied, the more pitie : these capitaines had
with them Spaniardea and Almaines and other to the nomber of eight or tenne thousande,
and laie still till the newe confederacie set forwarde, and especially they were sore moued with
Frances Sforce duke of Millain, whiche had the possession of the inoste part of all the for-
tresses of the duchie, that he would he one of the cote-derates: whtrfore they thought best
to begin with him and to get the possession out of nis hand. Wheietbre Alphons Daual sent
for all thcmperors army together, & they came al together to warre, & wlic he was there, he
sent for Moron chief counsailer with the duke of Millain, whiche mistru>tytig nothin" came
to him, and there he laied to him how the Duke his Master was false to tne Emperor, and
Moron it denied, then he was kept there as a prisoner, whether it were by cuutelc or no I
cannot tel, but he wrote to the Duke, that he perceiued that the Emperoure was like to pre-
uaile, and adnised him for auoydyng of all mistrust, and also to shewe him self the very
frend of the Emperor, and his obedient subiect, to dtliuer ail the strong hoides into his
capta'mes handes: the Duke hearyng this counsaill, and willyng not to haue the enmitie of.
the Emperiall capitaines, assented and deliuered to Dauall dl the fortresses that he. had ex-
cept the castellesof Millain & Cremona, which he saied he kepte onely for the healtheof his
body, because he had ben long .sicke.
Then Duuall with his powreof Almains £ Spaniardes came toy citie of Milaine & lodged
his people in eueri house, & fearing y the duke imagened some thing by kcpyng of the two
strongest
KYNG HENRY THE VIU. 7I>
Wrongest castels, for if he delyuered those two castelles to the "army of the confederates the
Lmperours capitaynes & people should be in greate danger, wherfore he gentlye with -m-ate
perswasio desired to haue the kepyng of the castell of Millayrr, whiche the duke would in
nowise assent, mistrusting, that then he shoulde lese the duchie Sc all, wherefore Dauat
with all spedeiayed sege to the castell the duke being with in. During the time of this sege,
the capitaynes euer toke money & other thiuges fro the Citczyns winch sore therat grudg-
ed and saied that they wold softer it no more, and so as an almaine came fa a smith for0a
dpcate, the smith cried helpe & with that the toune rose: then the capitaynes came into the
citie to se what was done, the souldiers that kept the sege seyng_ that ramie into the citie and
there was much entreting on both parties.
The duke hcring the noies in the citie & seing the hesegers gone, came out of the'
castel, thinking that his frendes had come to his reskue, but when he sawe no succour,'
andharde the noyes seased, he etred the castell agayne. When the Capitames had long
intreated the people were ons coteted, but by meanes of one sedicious felov.e they began
again, & there was a sore fight but the night cam so faste on that both the parties seaered
them selues.
The citizens sore greued with the spaniardes saied opely that shortly they tvusted to se all
themperours frendes driue out of Italic, & with many yll woordes rebuked the souldiars :
and when they came into the citie they hurt them.
Anthony deleua and Dauall, percciuyng this deuysed how to be reveged, wherfore in
the euenyng they entred with a thousful Spaniards & other, & slewe one citixc & set his hed
on a polle & caused it to be borne afore the & set. iii. or. iiii. houses a fire, which whe the
citizes perceiued they were greatly aferd and ran to harnesse, and cast doune stones and barres,
but the hand gonnes shot so fast at them that thei durst not loke out: the Ahnaines set
fire in many houses, least they should haue leyser to fight, and some of the Spaniardes
that kept the towers, slew the citezens. Alas the citee was in greate perill, and that wel
perceiued Leua and Dauall, for if the remnant of the Spaniardes had come in the whole
citee had been burned or vtterly destroyed, wherfore they caused the souldiers to cease-,
whiche were content, for they had been in harnes from the sunne set, till nyne of the
clocke the next daie.
In this seaso tharmy of the cofederates, made hast to help the duke of Millain, Sc
in the meane waie the citee of Lawde was yelded to the duke of Vrbin : Dauali wet the-
ther with a small copaignie to reskew the citee and when he sawe that it was past reskew
he returned saiyng: it wer better to lese Lawde, then Millain, & so brought al his people to
The Emperoure from tyme to tyme was aduertised, of all thynges done in Italy, wherfore
with great diligence he sent the duke of Burbon thether with ten saile, and landed at Sa-
uona, & brought with him. x. M. men, wherof the Milaners wer very glad, & besought
him to be «ood to the, to whome he gaue many good wordes & sware, & pmicd God
that his braynes might be striken out with a gonne, except he did deliuer the shortly of
their areat burden, and oppression of the Spaniardes, so they would deliuer hym. xxx. M.
ducates for the wages of the souldiers that he had brought with hym, whiche wishe was
thouehtto haue happened to hym at Rome, for breakyng of his promes: for after he had
receiued the money for a litle space the Millainers wer in good quiet, but shortly after, they
wer worse then afore, in so muche as some substantial! men for feare of their hues,
hanged themselfes. „ . ,
Whe the Millaners hard how the citee of Lawde was taken, and the Spaniardes put out,
thev thought that. v. M. Spaniardes and. iii. M. Ahnaines, and no great nombcr of horse-
iuc_y i b , -. M- .,n..}A nnt rlpfpndr! sn create a citcc long. a"amst the
with
716 THE. XVIIJ. YERE OF
with strength passed the siege, and came to the armie of the confederates, and shewed
them in what case the castle was in, whiche bad theim bee of a good chere, and so they
, marched forwarde towarde a gate of Millain, called Rome gate, and Ihon de Mediees
whiche led the forward, shotsixe gonnes at a tower to haue ouerthrowen the same, and so to
haue entered in by that waie. The Emperors men came to the place, and not onely defended
the same, but valiantly set forward to fight with their enemies, and skirmished with them
very sore. The Italians seyng that the Spaniardes wer so fierce, thought it not best to
fight with them, but to tary till the Swysses were come, and then they thought theselfe*
sure of victorie: and so with shame inough, they returned to Meligia.
After this returne the imperialles fortified the citeein many places. The duke of Millein
seyng that he lacked victaile, and that his succors had failed him, sent to the duke of Burbon
worde that he would deliuer the castle so that he should be bound to no farther inconueni-
ence : so thei agreed that he and his, should haue their bagge and baggage, and should haue
the citee of Come for his abode till he wer tried of themperor of the accusacions against
hym alleged : vpon whiche condicion he yelded the castle, & went directly to tharmv of the
confederates. And after y he went to Come, accordyng to his appoyntment: "but the
Spaniardes whiche kepte the toune, would not suffre hym to entre, wherefore of necessitie
|ie wgg compei[ecj to retume, to thamiy of the confederates, & there became enernie to them-
perors meny. Althis Sommer tharmie of Italy gat nothyng, but the citee of Lawde, and
thei durste not fight with the Spanyardes, wherfore they went & besieged Cremona, int he
whiche wer. i. M. Altnaines, and. v. C. Spanyardes. All the Swisshes and. viii. M. of the
Popes men & all the horsemen of Malatesta, wer sent to the siege, wherof was capitain y
said Malatesta Ballio Perushie, whiche as he would haue entered the castle was slain, and i.
M. men and more of his beude: wherfore the duke of Vrbyne, and the whole army of the
Venecians wer sent for, whiche made so grcatc a nombcr, and had suche ordinance that they
within began to treate, and by appoyntinent deliuered the citee.
After this the whole army of the Italians or confederates, determined clerely to besiege
Millain, but sodainly the bishop of Rome sent for his army (for what cause you shal here
after) and also they hard say, that George Fronsberge a valiant capitain an Almain,
which serued theperor in his last warres: was comyng with, xiiii. M. Lanceknrghtes,
which wer paied their wages afore hand, for. iiii. moriethes to aide thetnperors °part!
When the confederate army hard this, thei wer astonied, and durst not enterprise
the siege, but at a certain Abbay, two mile fro the citee of Millain they made a
fortificacion for. iii. M. fotemcn, and fiue hundred horsemen, to lye surely all wyntcr, to
suftre no recourse to come to the citee, which citee was all this Somer season well fortified,
and victailed.
After the Popes army was departed at Cremona, as you haue hard, there came to th array
of the confederates, Michael Anthonio Marques of Saluce, as capitain generull for the
Freche kyng, and brought with hyrn. iiii. M. Gascons, and. v. C. men of arines, and. xv. C.
light horses, according to the league. Then this whole army hearyng that y Almaines were
commyng forward with great ordinance, and a Create nomber of horsmen and had passed the
straightes of the mountaignes maugre the Venecians, and that Conradine Lepontine, whiche
had deliuered vp Cremona with. i. M. Almaines, was ioyned \vith capitain George. \Vhe
tharmy of the confederates wer well informed of ibis greate armie, that was comynj* toward
Millain, the capitaines clerely determined to n/ete with the, and by battaill or otherwise, t> let
them from passyng the riucr of Poo, or to ioyne with themperors armie, wherefore they
marched forwarde, and founde that the Almaynes were come into the territories of. Mantua :
then the duke of Vrbyn, £ Ihon de Medics cosin to the Pope thought to wery the Aimaiues
with light skirmishes, but Ihon de Medices skiru.ished so nere tharmie, to get him a name aboue
other, that he was hit with a gonne, and so shortc-ly died. Then the Almaines came to Floren-
cipla.and there toke counsaill, & thought it not best to soiwne all wynterinthc Duchie of Mil-
lain, because all thyng there was scace, by reason of the continuall warres : wherefore they defer-
mined
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 717
mined to take the Popes tounes, as aucthor of all the mischief and warre, and surely they had
taken the toune of Plesance, if tharmie of the confederates had not strongly, bothe with men
and arti'.ery, fortified tlie toune.
While all these thyngss were a doyng, there continued agreate hatered betwene the bishop
of Rome, 8c the noble tamely of Colume in Rome all whiche famely was Imperial!, in so
muche that the bishop saied to Pompey Cardinal of Colurne, that he would take awaie his Cai-
dinalles hat, and thother answered if lie did so, that he would put on a helmet to ouerthrowe £° ™we;r
his thre crounes. When this malice had long continued, the bishop of Rome began to lacke nafto the"
money, to maintein his warres, and sore he i'ered the Columes his dbtneslicall enemies, & so
of his awne mocion began to breake the matter with Ascayn Colume, sonne to Prosper de
Columna, in name of the whole bloud of the Columes, saiyng: that it were more conueni-
ent for both parties to agree, then to abide the chau.ce of battaill, to the whiche they bothe
were parties (for the Columes had men of warre in themperors battaill, as the bishop had in
tharmy of the confederates) then euery daie to retain souldiers at home eche for feare af
other to their great charges and losse. Ascaine hearyng this saied lie would s|>eke with his
kynred, and so did : and this communicacion had takeeffeet, and Hugo de Moncado had not
been. For this Hugo was a litle before sent from themperor to the Pope, with certain ar-
ticles to coctude a peace, to the whiche the Pope would not agrc, saiyng he came to late, &
when he sawe the bishops proude answer, & perceiued him enemie to his master, he then
sought an occasion to oppresse the bishop & his power, and so moued the Cardinall of Co-
linne, and Ascaiu Colume, to inuade Rome with a sodaiu fraie, & to take Pope Clement
or he wer ware.
They beyng glad to please themperor, gathered secretly, ii. M. souldiers, and entered
Rome with sache spede, that they wer at. s. Ihon Laterece nerc to the Popes Palace, or any
man spied theim, then began aerie, the Cardinal! of Colume cometh with a great power.
The Pope thynkyng it to late to sende for aide, fled by a secret vawtc to the castle Angell,
and with bvm fled Cardinalles, Bishoppes, & other of his palace to a great nomber, so that
there was not victaile inongh, for theim all. The bishop Clement sawe that shortly he and
they should be famished in the castle, sent to Hugo de Moncado, whiche had declared that
he was thauctor of this act, not raindyng to hurt the Pope, but to make hym thempcrors
<X HI lilt-, UH-aiJV^ ^v^nov/i — j I I *
for the norfonnance of this he dcliuered to the Columes good hostage, and returned his ar-
,nic from Cremona, as you haue hard before, and so he was deliuered at large: Now wiH
I Icaue'the Emnerors urmie liyng in Italy, and speake oi a grcate nnsciuet nut i
^p^^^-i*srJi^^^^»^".^
S^^SS^S^S^SS?l
^^:Sffl^.a?i"-fiS, "^ as ^^
THE. XVIIJ. YEIIE OF
Ambassador there for the kyng of England, but whether they were Joyous or sorovvfull of the
tidynges, I cannot well tell you.
This somer was great grudge against merchant strangers in Lodo in somuch y if y matter
had not been well pacified, much business might haue folowed, the cause of the grudge was this,
ther was an act made in the. iiii. yere of king Henry, y no stranger should bring in no
wine nor woade in an aliens ship : so that thenglishmen after y went to Tholose, and
brought much woade to London, & serued all the clothiers repairyng to London : & now in
this yere by meaties of gentlemen about the king, the strangers had license to bring in woade
in stragers bottomes, so that all Lodon was ful of their woade, & also they sent their
woade into the coutrey, so y theriglibhmeoa woade in Lond5 lay vnbought: wherfore
sir Iho Alen knight beyng Maior, sent for a great sort of strangers, which wer the chief mer-
chantesof all. & shewed vnto the whatgaines they had gotten in the citee, by reason wher-
of they should auaunce the citce, & not hurt it, wherfore he M illed the to sel their woade to
the merchates of Lodon, & they should be paied in continent, & not to resort toother places
in the countrey with their woade, to the hinderance of the Londoners. The strangers
proudely answered the Maior, y thei would seke euery place for their aufitage, £ so in mock-
yng maner departed. The Maior perceiuyng y called a comen counsaill in the moneth of Au-
gust, and there were many billcsluied against the strangers, & at last it was enacted, that no
citezen nor freman, should bye nor sell in no place, nor exchage nor meddle with certain
strangers called Anthony Bonuice, Laurence liouice, Anthony Viuald, Anthony Caueler,
Traces de Bard, Thomas Calnccant, and a great sort mo whose names I let passe, and if
any person did meddle or occupie with them, contrary to thisacte he should lese his fredome,
and libertie in the citee of London: by whiche actethe strangers wer so brideled, that they
came to a reasonable poynt and conclusion.
jn ti,js season the angel noble was iust thesixt part of an ouce Troy so y six angels were
iust an ounce, which was xl. .?. sterlyng, & the Angel was worth, ii. ounces of siluer, so y
sixe Angels were. xii. ounces, whiche was but xl. .?. in siluer: but in Flaunders, Braband, and
Zeland, the Angel wn? worth, vii. ,?. iiii. d. so y merchants daily caried ouer much money, to
the great hinderance of the merchandise of this realme, for moste men caried gold, & when
it was there, it was losse in euery noble, vivi. d. to bryng it hether again: & when theng-
lishmen spake to the pilers there, to leaue thenhaucyng of the kynges coyne, thei laughed
the to skorne. The kyng & his counsaill pcrceiued to what end this enhauncement
in Flaiiders, if wer not met with shortly, would bryng y riches of this realme: wherfore in
the moneth of September, he by Proclatnacion, enhaunced the Angell to. vii. s. iiii. d. and
the Royal to. xi. s. and the croune to. iiii. s. and. iiii. d. and this Proclamation was made
through all England: and to bryng out of Flaunders the great nober of Englishe golde
u h'cnc was there, the kyng by Proclamacion again the fift day of Nouember, enhaunced the
'Angell to. vii. s, vi. d. and so euery ounce of gold should be. xlv. s. and that an ounce of
siluer should be. iii. s. ix. d. in value.
This yere on Michaelmas euen, Thomas Ilynd whiche was chosen sh rife before, was called
to take his oth, but he made defaute, wherefore one Simo Rice was chose which refused,
then was one George Robinson Mercer chosen, whiche toke his oth not to be able. The
comons wer in such a fury y they sware y thei would haue a Mercer. Master Nicholas La-
bert an Alderman & Grocer, which had a dispensacion for y shriualtie for y yere seyng this
discord, said to the comos, masters, although my tyme bee not come, yet to appease your
strict", if you will chose me, I will take it, & so he was chosen with great thankes. In this sea-
son a sodain ruiner begil in Spain, y themperor would haue war with kyng of England, wherof
hearyng thenglishe merchantes, whiche lay in Spain at diuerse portes, cocluded to sende to doc-
tor Edward Lee Ambassador for the kyng of England in theperors court to knowe y certentie,
which gently answered the, that he trusted y there was no such cause, of y which they should be
aferd, for the kyng his master & themperor, wer yet in perfite loue & amitie, and farther he
sent
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ.
sent them worde, y the kyngof Englad was not entered into the league of Italy with the con-
federates, as they would haue hym, for he laboreth to make a vuiuersall peace, whiche he
could not conveniently do, if he were protector or a cotractor in y league; this answere he
sent to theim from Granado, the. v. daie of September.
In the moneth of December, the kyng kept a solempne Christmas, at his manor of Grene-
wiche with greate pletie of victaile, Reuels, Maskes, disguysynges, and bankettes: and the.
xxx. daie of December, was an enterprise of lustes made at the tilt bysixe gentlemen, against
all comers, whiche valiantly furnished the same, bothe with spere and sworde, and like lustes
were kept the third daie of lanuary, where were. CCC. speres broken. That same night, the
kyng and many young gentlemen with hym came to Bridewell, & there put hym, and.
xv. other, all in Maskyng apparell, and then toke his Barge, and rowed to the Cardinalles
place, where wer at supper a great compaignie of lordes and ladies, and then the Mas-
kers dauced, & made goodly pastyme, and whe they had well danced, the Ladies plucked
away their visors, & so they were all knowen, and to the kyng was made a great banket.
The xiii. daie of lanuary came to the court, Don Hugo de Mendosa, a great man
borne in Spain, of a noble famely, this persone was set as Ambassador from the Emperor,
to the kyng of England with large commission, for themperor put it to the kyng of Eng-
landes determinacion, whether his demaundes whiche he required of the Frenche Kyng,
were reasonable or not, and for the declaracion thereof, and for to knowe the kyngof Eng-
landes request and entreatie concerning the peace, was this noble man sent into Englande,
whiche many lymes consulted with the kyng and his counsaill, and he taried here two
yeres full.
This Christmas was a goodly disguisyng plaied at Greis inne, whiche was compiled for •
the moste part, by master Ihon Roo seriant at the law. xx. yere past, and long before the
Cardinall had any aucthoritie, the eftecte of the plaie was, that lord gouernance was ruled
by dissipacion and negligence, by whose raisgouernance and euill order, lady Publike wele
was put from gouernance: which caused Rumor Populi, Inward grudge and disdain of
wanton souereignetie, to rifie with a greate multitude, to expell negligence and dissipacion,
and to restore Publik welth again to her estate, which was so done. This plaie was so set furtii
with riche and costly apparel, with straungediuises of Maskes & Morrishes that it was highly
praised of all menne, sauyngof the Cardinall, wniche imagined that the plaie had been di-
uised of hym, & in a greate tune sent for the said. master Roo, and toke from hym his Coyfc,
and sent hym to the Flete, & after he sent lor the yong gentlemen, that plaied in the plaie,
and them highly rebuked and thrctened, £ sent one of them called Thomas Moylc of
Kent to the Flete, but by the meanes of frendcs Master Roo and he wer deliuered at last.
This plaie sore displeased the Cardinall, and yet it was neiier meantc to hym as yon haue
barde, wherfore many wisemen grudged to see hym take it so hartely, and euer the Car-
dinall saied that the kyng was highly di.-pleased with it, and spake nothyngof hymself.
In this vere the second day of Marche wer received to London, witli a great compaignie Amt»s^
of noble men, the bishop of 'Tarbe. Frances viscoiit of Toraine, & muster Anthony Vescy, dF°»fh° < ••'
secod p'-esid"itt of Paris, as Ambassadors from the Frenche kyng, & so brought through Kyng.
London, to the Tailers hall and there lodged, and aitcrwaid wer coueighed to Grenewiche
to the kyng, where the. were right hartcly entertemed, & after their letters red .X; their r
quotes bawl, (hey departed for a season to London.
On shrouetewesdaie, the kynsi liymself, in a newe harness all gilte, ot a strange fashion A !„«*.
that had not been seen, and with hym. viii. gentlemen all in cloth of golde ot one suite,
embrodered with knottes of siluer, and the Marques ot Kxcester, and. v.n. with hym m
blewe veluet and white saten, like the waues of the sea, these men of armcs came to
the tilte & there ran many freshe courses, till. cc. Ixxxvi. speres wer broken, and then they
disarmed and net to the quenes chamber, where for them was prou,« eel a costly banket.
The Freche Ambassadors hanyng their recourse to the kyng and his counsaill, muche
labored to haue in mariage the Lady Mary daughter 10 the kyng, and alter long coansuljoft
THE. XVIIJ. YERE OF
tiiat matter \vas put in suspece because the President of Paris, doubted whether the
manage betwene the kyng & her mother, beyng his brothers wife, were good or no : of this
first tnocion grewe muche busines or it were ended, as you shall here, afterward. The com-
mon people repugned sore against that demaund, for they said that she was heire apparant
to her father, and if he should dye, they would haue no Frenchemen to-be kyng of Eng-
lande, and thus the common people spake, as their myndes serued them.
While the Frenche Ambassadours laie thus in London, it happened one euenyng as they
wer commyng from the blacke Friers, from supper to the Tailers hall, two boyes were in
a gutter castyng doune rubbishe, whiche the raine had driuen there, and vnware hit a
lackay belonging to the viscount of Tourain, and hurt hym nothyng, for scan try touched
it his cote, but the Frenche lordes tooke the matter highly, as a thyng done in dispite, and
sent worde to the Cardinal, whiche beyng to hastie of credence, sent for sir Thomas Seirner
knight, lord JNIaior of the citee, and in all hast commaunded hym vpon his allegeance, to
take the husband, wife, children and seruauntes of the house, and theim to emprison, till
he knewe farther of the kynges pleasure, and that the. ii. boyes apprentices should be sent
to the Tower, whiche comaundcment was accomplished without any fauor: For the man
and his wife, and seruauntes, wer kept in the Counter till the sixt daie of Maie, whiche
was six wekes ful, and their neighbours of gentlenes kepte their house in the meane tyme,
and one of the appretices died in the Tower, and the other was almoste lame : of ihe
crueltie of the Gardinall, & of the pride of the Frenchemen, muche people spake, and
would haue been reuenged on the Frenchemen, if wisemen in the citee had not appeased it
with faire wordes.
Ambas«- On the. xiiii. daie of Marche wer conueighed from Lodon to Grenewiche> by therle of
Kyng*(tf * Rutlande and other, the lorde Gabliel de Salamanka Erie of Ottonbrough, Ihon Hurgraue
Hongerie. Of Siluciberge, and Ihon Fabcr a famous clerke after bishop of Vien, as Ambassadors
fro Don Fernando, brother to the Emperor, newly elected kyng of Hungary and Ijeamo,
after the death of his brother in la\ve kyng Lewes, whiche was slain by the Turke the last
Sommer, as you haue hard before: this compaignie was welcomed of the high Officers,
and after brought into the kynges presence, all the nobilitie beynst present, and there after
An Oracion great reuereiice made, thesaied Clerke Master Faber made a notable Oracion, takyng his
Mastc7 ground of the Gospcll, E.iiit seminare sct/iai stium, and of that he declared how Christe
Faber. and his disciples went furthe to so\ve, and how their sede was good that fell into the good
ground, and brought furth good fruite, whiche was the Christen fait he: and then he de-
clared how contrary to that sowyng, Machomete had sowen seede, whiche brought furthe
the euil sede, and shewed from the beginning, how the Turkes haue encresed in power,
what realmes they hud conquered, what people they had subdued euen to that daye: he de-
clared farther what actes y" great Turk then liuyng had done, and in especial he noted the
gettyng of Belgrade, and of the Rhodes, and the slaiyng of the kyng of Hungary, to the
great rebuke (as he said) of al the kynges christened: he set furth also what power the
Turke had, what diuersities of eopaignies, what arinure, what cupitaines he had, so that
he thought, that without a marucilous great nomber of people, he could not be ouerthrowe.
Wherfore he rnoste humbly beseched the kyng, as sainct Georges knight and defender of the
TJ« an- faithe, to assist the kyng his Master, .in that Godly warre and vertcous purpose. To this
oracion the kyng, by the mouthe of sir Thomas More answered that muche he lamented
the lobse that happened in IJongaric, and if it were not for the warres, whiche were betwene
the two great princes, he thought that the Furke would not haue enterprised that acte,
wherfore he with all his studic would take pain, first, to set an vnitie and peace throughout
all Christendom, and after that he bothe with money and men, would be readv to helpe
toward that glorious warre, asmuche as any other prince in Christendom. "After this
done the Ambassadours were well cherished, and diuerse tymes resorted to the Courte, and
had greate chere and good rewardes, and so the third daie of Male next ensuyng, they toke
their leaue and departed homeward.
This
swcre
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 721
and sware at Madr.il, he take God to witnesse, thathe would
til fire and sworde had brought hytn to accomplishe his promes, or els to driue hym ou of
his realme & dom.mos with strength and puissaunce, Which letter the French kynglthyn '
regarded saiyng that the Emperoure the nexte yere should haue warre inou<Th
Lhe feme went and letters came to London, that the Emperonres army in Italy the. xii
day of Aprill had met with the Ven.cians as they were goyng homeward, and that betwene
them there was a cruell fyght & by fyne force the Veneciar/were put to Cht & no mar-
uell as the Vemcyans answere, for they say that by cause ther was a peace concluded for
six monethes betwene the byshop of Rome, and Hugo Demountcado, and that the viceroy
of Naples was come to Rome to coferme the same truce, therfore they sent their ordinance
and harnes and loked for no war, but onely taried together till they were payed there wa»es
and so vnprouided they were set on and ouercome.
In the end of this yere the people were sore troubled with pouertye for the great pay-
inentes of money that were past, and also in wynter in the seade season fell such aboundans
of rayne in Septebre, Nouembre & Decernbre, and on the xvi. daie of laniuer fell suche a
great rayne that there of ensued greate fluddes whiche distroyed come, feldes, and pastures •
and drouned many shepe and beastes: then was it dry tyll die. xii. day of Aprill and from
thence it rayned euery day or nyght tyll the third day of lune, and in May it rayned. xxx.
houres contynually with out ceasyng whiche caused great fluddes and did muche harme, so
that come sore fayled the next yere as you shall percelue hereafter.
THE. XIX. YERE
THis time a bill was set vp in Londo muche contrary to the honor of the Cardinal!, in
the whiche the Cardinall was warned that he should not counsaile the king to mary his
daughter into Fraunce, for if he did he should shewe hym selfe enemy to the kyng and the
Realme, with many threatenyng wordes : this bill was deliuered to the Cardinal by sir
Thomas Seimer Maior of the citie, which thanked him for thesame, & made much serche
for the author of that bill, but he coulde not befounde, whiche sore displeased the Cardinal,
& vpo this occasio the last day of Aprill at night he caused a great watch to be kept at
Westminster & had there cart gonnes ready charged & caused diuerse watches to be kept
about Londo in Newington. S. lones strete, Westminster. S. Giles, Iseldon, & other places
nere Lodon, which watches were kept by gentelme & their seruautes, with householders &
all for feare of y Lodoners bicause of this bil. Whe y citizes knew of this, they saied that
they marueiled "why the Cardinal hated the so for they saied that if he mistrusted the, he
loued not them, & where loue is not, there is hatred, & they affirmed that they neuer en-
teded no harme toward him, & mused of this chauce, for if. v. or. vi. lewde persones had
made Alarme in the citie, the had etred all these watche me with there trayne which might
haue spoiled the citie without cause, wherfore they much murmured against the Cardinall
& his vndiscrete doinges.
Sonday the fift daye of Maye was a solempne Masse song at Grenewiche the Cardinall
and the Archebishop of Canterbury with. x. prelates mite red beyng present, and there the
Frenche Ambassadors, in the name of the Freche kyng there Master, sware to obserue the
priso,
THE. XIX. YERE OF
priso, for he said the kyng by his mercy had conquered the whole hartes of the realme
which he could not do by stregth. Thebassaclors also desired as you haue harde, the
mariage of the lady Mary for the duke of Orleauce. ii. sonne to the French Kyng.
Some said she was mete for him self: but many a man tnarueled why she was denayed
for the secod sonne, seyng that in the. x. yere of this kyng it was cocluded that she
should mary the Dolphin beyng the first sonne: but this demaund was not concluded nor
answered but deferred because of tier tendre age, tyll another time. For the more
enterteinyng of the French ambassadors the king caused a solepne lustes to be done by
sir Nicholas Carew, sir Robert lernyngham, sir Anthony Broune, and Nicholas Haruy, the
valiaunt esq.uier as chalengers : whiche were appareled in buses and bardes all of one suite,
the right side was ryche tyssue einbraudered with a eompasse or roundell of blacke veluet
and in the compas a right hand holding a sworde, and about the sword were pennes and
peces of money of diuerse coynes, all embrawdered, vnder the hand was einbraudered.
Loialte, and on that side of the bard was written in embraudcry, Bi pen, pain nor trea-
sure, truth shall not be violated. The otherside of the bases and bardcs were of cloth of
gold and clotn of siluer. When these foure chalengars were come to the tilt, then entered
the Marques of Excester and. xiii. with hym all armed and barded and based of one suit:
that is to saic, the right sides cloth of golde cut in cloudes etig;-ay!cd with Dainuske golde,
the otherside cloth of syluer set with mountaynes full of Oli'ue hraunches, made of gold
all mouyng. These men of armcs ranne many a faire course with little missy ng, for with
in twoo houres and a half, notwithstandyng that yt rained apace, they brake, iii. huadreth
speres at the least, and when nyght approched they disarmed and went to the courte.
The kyng agaynst that night had caused a banket house to bee made on the one syde of
the tylt yarde at Grenewyche of an hundreth foote of length and. xxx. foote bredth, the
roofe was purple cloth ful of roses and Pomgarnettes, the wyndowes, vver all clere stories
with curious monneles strangely wrought, the lawe peccs and crestes were karued wyth
Vinettes and trailes of sauage worke, and richely gilted with gold and Bise, thys woorke
corbolyng bare the caiulelstykes of antyke woorke whiche bare litle torchettes of white
•waxe, these candelstickes were polished lyke Aumbre: at the one syde was a haute place
for herawldes and rninstrelles: this house was richely hanged^md therin was raised a cup-
bord of seuen stages high and. xiii. foote long, set with standyng cuppes Bolles, Flaggon*
and greate pottes all of fyne golde: some garnyshed with one stone and- some with other;
stones and perles, on the other side was another Cupbord of. ix. stages high, set full of
high pottes, flagons and holies, all was massy plate of siluer and gilte. so high and so brode-
that it was maruaile to beholde: at the nether ende were two broade arches vpon tine An-
tike pillers all of gold, burnished swaged and grauen full of Gargtlls and Serpentes, sup-
portyng the edifices the Arches were vawted with Armorie, all of Bice and golde, & aboue
the Arches were made many sondri Antikes & diuiscs: In this chamber, was three ewry
hordes, one for the kyng, another for the quene, & the third -for the princes : the first bourde
had. ix. greate ewers, and basins all gilt, and playne, the sccondc bourde had seauen greate gilt
basins chased, & thre paire of couered basyns, chasid all gilt with Cuppes of assaie, they were
so great that euery Lorde grudged to beare theim : the third ewery had. ix. basyns and two
payre of coueryd Basines, and cuppes of assaie, this ewery was all of gold, & the Basins
were so massye that thei troubled sore the bearers: The hole supper was serued in vessel of
gold : to reherse the fare, the straugenes of dishes, with deutses of beastes & fowles it were
to long, wherefore I will let passe ouer the supper with songes & minstrelsie. Whe supper
was done, the kyng, the quene and the ambassadors washed, and after talked at their plea-
sure and then thei rose and went out of the banket chambre by the forsaied Arches & when
they were betwene the vttermoste dore and the Arches the kyng caused them to turne
backe £ loke on that syde of the Arches, and there they sawc how Tyfwyn was beseged, and the
very maner of euery mans camp, very connyngly wrought, whiche woorke more pleased them
the the remembring of the thing in dede. From thens they passed by a long galerie richely
3 hanged
KYNG HENRY THE. VUJ. 7*3
hanged into a chambre faire& large tbedore whereofwasmadeVrth masonrie.dmlfeteyledWlth
lasper, and within that a porche with a tipe, and crokettes gilt, this clmmbrc was raised with
stages, v. degrees on euery syde, & raylcd & coutrera led borne by pillars of 'Azure, t'ufl of
starres & flower delice of gold, euery pillar had at the toppe a basin sillier, '\vfiefdn stode
greate branches of white waxe, the degrees were all of Marble colei , and the railes lh\e white
marble: in the middestof this Chamber, was agate, the Arches whereof stretched 'from side
to side, this Arcbewas figured masonrie on water tables with hauus'es receiuyng'piHers trap-
ped, beyng Dormants An tike, & ouer the gate stode the pictures of Hercules, Scipio, lii-
lius, Pompei & such other coquerours, the ventes and e'mbowes were of verv '"strange wdrke,
\vithleaues, balles, •& other garnishinges, all gold, and in the hole airlie was nothing 1>ut
fine Bice & golde, the rofe of this chatnhrc was conriinglie made by the kynges AstroniiutJr, for
on the grounde of the rofe, was made the hole earth enuironed with the Sea, like 'a- very
Mappe or Carte, and by a conning makyng of another cloth, the 'zodiacke with the. xii.
Signes, and the fine circles or girdelles and the two poles opered on the earth and water com-
passing the same, and in the zodiak were the twelae sigues, curiously made, and aboue 'this
were made theseuen pianettes, as Mars, Jupiter, Sol, Mercurius, Venus, Saturntis', aft/I Lunk,
euery one in their proper houses made according to their properties, that it was a'coniiyng
thing and a pleasant syght to beholde.
When the kyng and the queue, were set vnder their clothes of estate which wete rich
and goodly, and the ambassadours set on the righte side of the chambre, then entred k per-
son clothed in cloth of golde, and ouer that a mantell of blew silke, full of eyes of golde,
and ouer his hed a cap of gold, with a garland of Laurel 1 set with beries of fyiie gold, tm"s
person made asolempne Oracio, in the Latin tongue, declaryng what loye was to 'the peo- AnOraciw.
pie of both the realmes of England and Fraunce, to here and knpwe the great loue, league,
and amitie, that was betwene the two kynges of the same Realines gcuyng greate praise to
the kyng of England for graunting of peace, and also to the Frenche kyng for soyng for
thesame, and also to the Cardinal for beyng a mediator in thesame: and u'hen he had doerr,
then entred eight of the kynges Chappel with a song and brought with theim one richly ap-
pareled : and in likewise at the other side, entred eight other of the saicd Chappel bryngyng
Xviththem another persone, likewise appareled, these two personcs piaied a dialog thcffect AdiaioWc.
wherof was whether riches were better the loue, and when they could not agre vpon a con-
clusion, eche called in thre knightes, all armed, thre of them woulde hatic entred the gate
of the Arche in the middel of the chambre, & the other iii. resisted, & sodely betwene the
six kniahtes, out of the Arche fell doune a bar all gilte, at the whiche barre the six knightes
fought a fair battail, and then thei were departed, and so went out of the place: then came
in an olde man with a siluer herd, and he concluded that loue & riches, both be nccessarie
for princes (that is to saie) by loue to be obeied and serued, and with riches to rewarde his
louers and frendes, and with this conclusion the dialogue ended.
The at t nether ende, bv lettyng doune of a courtame, apered a goodly mout, walled Arich
with towers and vamures al gilt, with all thinges necessarie for a fortrcsse, & all the mount-
was set ful of Christal coraltes, & rich rockes of rubie curcously conterfaifed & lull
roses & pomgranates as though they grewe: on this rocke sat eight Lordes appareled in cloth
of Tissue & siluer cut in quater tbylcs, the gold engra.led with s.luer, and the sillier with
gold al loose on white satin, and on ther heddes cappes of blake ve uet srt with pcrle and
UOM they had also mantelles of blake saten: and then they sodcnly descended from the
mounte and toke ladyes, and danced diuers daunces.
T e out of a caue is ued out the ladie Mary doughter to the kyng & uuli her seucn la-
diet all appareled after the romayne fashion in riche cloth of gold of ussue & Crimosm
tinsd bendy & their heres wrapped in calles of golde w.th. bonetes of Cnmosm vcluet on
"eir hVddw set full ofpearle and stone: these eight Lad.es daunccd w.th the eight Lordes
o he mount and as thei ckuhced, sodenly entred sixe personages, appareled in cloth of
Sue. : anSb^ketinsell satin, and whodes oh their heddes with tippetes of cloth ol gold.
724 THE; XIX. YERE OF
there garmentes were long after the fashion of Iseland, and these persones had risers with
syluer berdes, so that they were not knovvne: these Maskers tooke Ladies and daunsed
lustely about the place.
Then sodenly the kyng and the viscount of Torayne were conueighed out of the place
into a chambre thereby, & there quicklie they. ii. and six other in maskyng apparel of cloth
of gold and purple tinsell sattin, greate, log, & large, afte? the Venicians iashid £ ouer
them great robes, & there faces were visard w beardes of gold: then-with minstrelsie these,
viii. noble personages entred and daunsed long with the ladies, and when they had daunsed
there fill, then the queue plucked of the kynges visar, & so did the Ladies the visars of the
other Lordes, & then all were knowe: the the kyng gaue to the viscout of Torayn, the mask-
v yng apparel that the kyng hym self ware & also the apparel that the viscount hym self
masked in, which were very riche, for the whiche 4ie thanked hym.
Then the kyng, queue and the arobassadours, returned to the banket chamber, where thei
found a banket ready set on the^borde, of so many & marueilous dishes, that it was wonder
to se, then the kyng sat doune and there was ioy, myrtli and melody: and after that all was
doen the kyng and all other went to rest, for the night was spent, and the day euen at the
breakyng.
The morowe after the ambassadonrs toke there leaue of the kyng, and had greate re-
wardes geuen them and so came to London, and there rested two dayes and so departed in
hast homeward.
These two houses with Cupbordes, hagynges, and all other thinges the kyng eommaund-
ed should stand still, for thre or foure daies, that al honest persones might see and beholdc
the houses & riches, and thether came a great nombre of people, to see Si behold y riches
& costely deuices.
After that the ambassadours of Frannce were departed the kyng set an other ambassade
into France (that is to say) Sir Thomas Boleyne knight, viscout ot Rocbfortb, and Sir An-
thony Broune knight, which came to Paris to the bishop of Bathe, whiche Jay in Fraunce
as ambassadour for the kyng of Englfid, and then these thre went to the court and saw the
Frenche kyng in persone swore to kepe the lcague*& amitie concluded betwcne hym and
the kyng of Englande, and there they had greale chere and maskes showed vnto them, but
litle rewardes were "euen. & so y viscount Rochforth rctorned into EnglFid & so did the
C3 */
bishop of Bathe shortly after, Jeauyng sir Anthony Broue behind for a ligicr.
An alibis. jn ti,js m0neth of Male v. x. day the kyn<? sent sir Frances Poyncs knight, as abassadour
lad sent i/ «/ */ t1 JO*
fro y kyng of EnglFid, to Charles themperor & with him he set Clarenseaux, king of armes,
to deniaud the one halfe of the treasure & ordinauce which was take at Pauia, for somuch
as that war, was made as well at the kynges charge, as themperors charge: he demaunded
also the duke of Orleauce, to be deliuered to him, & also it was demanded that themperour
shuld deliuer y bishop of Rome which was take this moneth as you shall here, and also
should bring his armie out of Italy, and if he refused to do any of these poinctes, then
Clareseaux in the kynges name of Englande should make to him defiaunce.
When it was knowen that warr was like to be bctwene the Fmperour and the kyng of
England, the commons of England sore lamentyd the chauce, for all marchantlise were re-
strayned to passe in to any of themperours dominies, & the marchautes wer desired by the
Cardinal to kepe ther martes at Caleis, to the which in no wise thei would assent.
This same moneth the kyng sent two fayre shippes, well manned, and vitailed, hauing in
KraugRe- them diuers connyng men, to scke strange regions: and so furth thei set, out of the Thamia,
the twentie day of May, if they sped well you shall here at their retorne.
The. xxii. day of May cam in post to the kyng out of Fraunce the bishop of Tarbiey
whiche was here in the beginnyng of this moueth, this bishop brought to the kyng of Eng?
land, the articles which the Frenche kyng now offered to the Emperour, which wer contra*
rie to the articles sworne at Madryll in the. xvii. yere of the kyng, and farther he moued
the kyng of Englande to be enemy to themperour, which request (as all men say) was
1 muche
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 7S5
muche furthered by the Cardinal], because of the warre in Italic, betwene the Pope & the-
perotir : this bishop made short tariyng with the kyng, for in post agaiue he returned to
Pans, to sir Frances Poynes, & Clareseaux, whiche taried ther for hiin, & so they all toke
ther lornay toward Spayne.
Now will I retorne to the dnke of Burbo, and themperonrs armie, which all f last win-
ter hued ingreat pouertie, with out clothes, victaile or wages, so that they wer in maner
desperat, & so went toward Parme & Bononie, belongyng to the Sea of Rome. The bi-
shop of Rome hearyng this set a messenger to the duke to redeme the Popes townes, so
that they shoulde not be spoyled nor hurte: the duke and the capitaine axed thre hundreth
& fiftie thowsad Ducates, for sauyng of the Popes lad. & if thei might haue so much money,
thei would depart to Naples: but when thei sawe that thei coulde haue no money, they
with all spede turned toward Florence the. xxii. of Aprill, whereof hearyng the Romaines
thei wer glad, for thei thought that the Florentines wold hold good war with them, & tha
the Pope & the Romaines woulde geue the lokyngon: but the chause turned, as you shall
here after.
For a suertie the duke of Burbon thought to haue gon to Florence for this cause, for
ther was a gentlema in Florence called Peter de saluiata which had a brother that serued
themperor in his warres, which promised to deliuer f citie, for he determined to cause the
commons to rebell in y citie against the heddes, & in the mearie seaso y dukes copany
shulde scale y walles: whe this Peter knew y theinperours army was come to a place called
L,e Chase, within twelue myle of the Citie, to bryng his purpose to a conclusyon, he with
suche as he had trayned to him, cryed in the Citie: Libert ate de populo, that is in English
Lybertie of the people : with which voyce the people styrred and came to the Palace in
great nombre, and where they tooke the. vi. Lordes of the counsell which had the rule of
the Publyke welt he of the Citie (as they call it) and slew one of them: The Familie of
Medices, whiche were the Popes kynred, were at this tyme sore afraied. Thus this Peter
de Saluiota, with the Commons gate the Palace and rang the comen bell. In this season
was in Florence a Capitayn of the Frenche kynges called Frederico de Bodsoo, he had with
hyni. iii. C. men: and when he saw this tebellyon, he came to the Commons and sayde:
Syrs, if you continew in this case, your fayre titie is lyke to be subuerted, for your ene-
myes be at hande: which notwithstandynge that you beare some fauoure to themperoor as
appeareth, yet their nedincsse and pouertie is soch, that without mercy thei wyU robbe,
murder and sley you, your wyfes & chyldren, and -sette fyer on your beautiful! Citie.
This Capitayne tnoche steyed the Citie, notwithstandyng that. xx. or more persones were
sleyne in the ruffle, yet they were well auoyded, and sodeynly entered into the Citie the
Duke of Vrbyne, which lay but. vi. mylc from Florence, and. xviii. myle from themperours
arroye whom he had coasted, but he thought no aduauutage to medle. This Duke brought
with hym, v. M. footemen, and. vi. C. horsemen, and when he was entered the Citie, a
crve was made that all thynges was pardoned, so that euery man departed home and dely-
uercd his weapon, whiche was dooen: and thus the Citie was appeased, t
^All'this dovntf within the Citie was vnknowne to themperours armye, for it was begonne
and ended in. iiii. or. v. houres, and so for lacke of knowledge, tins enterprise was lost
which was happye for the Florentvnes. Sore displeased were themperours Capitayne. when
rhey knew of this chauncc, and also how the Duke of Vibyne was entered nuo the t.t.e of
Florence for their defence but they coulde not doo with all. And so shortly the, departed
and came to he Citie of Seynes. xxx. mylc of, and there they lost thc.r great ordynauuce
tooke counsell logo to Rome (notwithsiandynge the trewce concluded • bctwcne . th<
Pone and th Viceroy of Naples, & Hugo de Moncada, as you haue hcarcle) and so mocbe
THE. XIX. VERE OF
warkes, R.nupicrs, and other defences, and layde ordynauce on the walles, and shot at
them without fearcely.
s- ^g Duke of Burbon determyned that it were not best to lye styll without, and be slayne
with ordinatince, consideryng that they were all naked people, and without great ordinaunce:
wherfore he determined to take the chaunce £ to geue the assaute, & so manfully they ap-
proched the walles betwene the Bargo nouo& olde Rome. But the Romayns valiauntly de-
fended them with handgunes, pykes, stones, & other weapons, so that the enemyes were
fayne to retreyte. Then the Romaynes were glad, & sette many faire banners on their,
Towers & Bulwarkes, and made great showtes: Which seeynge the Duke of Burbon cryed
to a now assante. Then the Drumsiades blew, & euery ma with a ladder mounted: & at
the fyrst encouter, agayn the Romayns put them a lytel backe : Which perceimg, the duke
of Burbo cryed : God & themperonr. Then euery man manfully sette on, there was a sore
tyght, many an arrow shot, & many a man felled : but at the last the Emperours men gotte
the wall : & betwene euery assaute fell a myst, so that they within collide not see what parte
they without would assayle, which was profitable to themperours partie: At the three assautes
were sleyne. iii. C. Swyshes of the Popes Garde. In this last assaute was the Duke of Bur-
,f Burbon bon stryketi in the thygh with a handgone, of the which he shortly dyed in a chapell of s.
''':'"• Syst, whyther his Souldiers had brought him, And this chaunce notwithstandynge the Ar-
niye entered into Rome, & toke the Popes Palace &set vp themperours Armes. The same
. day that these three assautes were made, Pope Clement passed lytell on the Emperours Ar-
Cuneoftkc •> . , . . ., , . J , .
Pope. mye: tor he had accursed thenn on the Saturday before, and in his curse he called the Al-
nuiynes Lutheranes, & the Spaniards Murrey nes or mores: and when he was hearyng t>f
masse, soileinly the Almaynes entered the Churche, & slew his Garde & dyuerse other.
He seeyng that, fled in all haste by a preuye way to the Castell s. Angell : & al they that fol-
lowed hym that way & coulde not entre, were sleyne, and if he in that fury had ben taken,
he had ben sleinc. The Cardinals £ other prelates fled to the castel of s. Angel, oner the
bridge, where many of the comrnen people were onerpressed and drowned as they gaue way
to the Carclinalles is; other estates that passed towarde the castell for succour.
The Cardinall of Saies, of Sesaryne, of Tudertine, of lacobace & of the Valle, taryed
so long, that they cnnUlc not get to the castell for multitude of people: wherefore they were
compelled to take another house, called the Palace of s. George, where they kepte theym
selfe for a whyle, as .-ccretely as they myght. You must vnderstand, that thorough the Ci-
tie of Rome, ronneth a famousc Ryuer, called Tyber: and on the one syde of the Ryuer
standeth the Castell s. Angell, or tlie Borough of s. Angell: & the other side is called Burgo
Nouo, or the New Borough. This Bridge is called, the Brdge of Syxte, which lyeth di-
rectly before the Castell. At the cnde of this Brydge was a wonderous strong Bulwarks,
\vcll Ordinaunced & well manned. The Emperours men saw that they coulde doo nothynge
to the Pope nor to that porte of the Citic but by the bridge, determyned to assaute the Bul-
warke: & so as men without feare, came on the bridge: & the Romayns so well defended
•them, that they slew almost, iiii. M. men. That seeyng the Prince of Orenge £ the Mar-
ques of Gnasto, with all spede gaue assaute, and notwithstandyng that the Romaynes shot
great ordinances, handgonnes quarrels, & all that myght be shot: yet the Imperiall per-
soncs neuer shranke, but manly entered the Bulwarke &; slew & threw downe out at the
loupes all the Remains that they found, & after rased the bulwarke to the grounde. The
Pope was in the Castell Angell and behelde this fyght, & with him were, xxiii. Cardinalles,
of which one called the Cardinall Sanctorum quatuor, or the Cardinall of Pouche was
slayne, & with hym were a. M. Prelates & Priestes. v. C. Gentlemen, v. C. sonldyers: where-
fore immediatly the Capitayns determined to ley Siege to the Castell of s. Angell, lest they
within myght issue out & turne thcym to danuige: wherfore sodeinly a Sk-ge was planted
rounde about the Castell. In the meane season the souldyers fell to spoyle, neucr was
Rome spoil- Rome so pyllcd neither of the Gotlies, nor Vandales, for the souldiers were not Content
with thespoyle of the Citizens, but they robbed the Churches, brake vp the houses of close
religious
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 7tr
religious persons, ftouerthrew the cloysters & spoyled virgins-, & rauyshed maryed women:
Men wer tormented if they had not to geue euery new asker or detnaunder : some wer stran-
geled, some wer punyshed by the priuey raebres, to cause them to confesse their treasure.
This woodnesse continued a great whyle, & some man myght thynke that when they had
gotten so moche, then they would ceasse & be quyet, but that was not so, for they plaied
cotinually at dyce, some. v. C. some a. M. ducates at a cast: & he that came to play laded
with plate, went away again almost naked, & then fell to ryfelyng agayne. Many of the
Citizens whiche coulde not patiently suffre that vexacion drowned them selues in Tiber:
The souldiers daily that ley at the siege, made lestes of the Pope, sometyme they had one
ridynge lyke the Pope with a whore behynde hym, sometyme he blessed, & sometyme he
cursed, and sometyme they woulde with one voyce call hym Antechrist. And they went
about to vndermyne the Castell, and to haue throwen it downe on his head, but the water
that enuironeth the castell dispoynted their purpose. In this season the Duke of Vrbyne
with. xv. M. men came to ayde the Pope: but hearyng that Rome was take he taried, Ix.
myle fr5 Rome tyl he heard other word. The Marques of Saluce, & sir Frederioo de
Bodso with. xv. M. footemen & a. M. horsemen were at Vitarbe the. x. day. of Maie. Where
thei hering that the citie of Rome was- taken also taried. The cardinal of Colume came
with an army of Neapolitans to helpe themperours men: but when he saw the crueltie of
the souldiers, he dyd lytle to helpe the, but he hated the moch.
The bishop of Rome was thus besieged tyl the. viii. ides of luli, at which day he yekled
him selfe for necessitie & penury of al thinges in the castell. And then he was restored 10
geue Graces & graunte BuUes as he dyd before : but he taryed styll in the Castell saynt An-
cell, and had a great nombre of Almaynes and Spanyardes to keepc him: But the Span-
vardes bare most rule in the Castell, for no man entered p.or came out of the Castell but by
them. When the moneth of luly came, corne began to fayle in l'o:ne, & the pestilence
beganne to waxe strong: wherfore the great Army remoued to a pi,u:e called Naiuya, xl.
mile fro Rome, leauyng behynde them sucne as kepte the bysshop of Rome.
When they were departed", the iSpanyardes 'neuer were contented tyll they hud gotten
the Almaynes out of the Castell of. s. Angell, & so they had the whole custodye of the Pope.
Thus Rome continued in peace tyll Septembre, tyl! the Annye came agayne from Naiuya :
for then the Almaynes sware, that they would set the Citie and all on fyer, excepte the Pope
woulde pay them their full wages.
almost they woulde bryns? them furth openly, and scolde and chvdo with them, & make them
beleue that they woulrie hang them if they were not payed And so they kepte them empri-
<onedinachaubreand.xxiiii. watched euery nyght without the chaumbre dore, k xim. all
day lykewyse: and yet fur all that watche, they got out at a chimney, on saynte Am
PUP and were no more seene ot them.
hL escae was sooner Icnowen of the Spanyardes that kept the Pope, then of the Ai-
^tmeZ.'d'.ye of Male, .here ,verc letters brought to the E,ng of Englamle
728 THE. XIX. YERE OF
mourned for it, and sayde that the Pope was a ruffyan, & was not mete for the roume :
wherfore they sayde that he beganne the myschief, & so he was well serued. But the Cardi-
nall which toke this matter highly, called to hym the Prelates & the Clergy, and muche
mourned the fall of the Bisshop of Rome, and saw how the people grudged agaynste the
Spiritualtie, for their greate Pride, Pompe, & yll lyuyng: Wherfore he came to the Kyng, &
^avde: Sir, by the onely callyng of God, you be made Defeudor of the Christian faith:
Kowe consydre in what state the Churche of Chrisle standeth: See howe the head of the
Churche of Rome is in captiuitie: See how the holy fathers be brought into thraldome, and
be without comfort : now shewe your selfe an aide, a defendour of the Church, and God shall
' The kyng answered, my Lorde, I more lament this euel chau nee then my toungue can tell,
but where you say that I am defender of the faith, I assure you, that this war betwene the
Emperor and the Pope, is not for the faith, but for temporal possession and dominios, and
now sith bishop Clemetis take by men of war, what should I door my perso nor my people
cannot him reskue, but if my treasure may help him, toke that which to you semeth most
conuenient: for the which offer the Cardinall thanked the kyng on his knee, and there vppon
tne Cardinall caused to be gathered together of the kynges treasure, xii. score thousande
pounde, which he caried ouerthe Sea with him, asyoushal heare after.
Then the Cardinal set comissions, as legate to al bishopes, commaudyng that they should
cause in euery parish Churche, solemne processions to be made for the releuyng of the Pope
and moued the people to fast. iii. daies in the weke, but few men fasted, for the priestes
Pr»ici and saicd, that there commaundement was, to exhorte the lay people to fast and not to fast them
fastyng. selfes: & the lay people saied, that the priestes should first fast, because the verie cause of
the fastyng, was for a priest, but none of bothe almoate fasted.
This seaso began a fame in Londo that y kynges cofessor, beyng bishop of Lyncolne, called
doctor Loglad, & diuerse other greate Clarkes had told the kyng that the mariage betwene
him & the Lady Katheryn, late wife to his brother, prince Arthur, was not good, but
damnable & the kyng herevpo should mary the dutches of Alanso, sister to y Freeh kyn<*
at the tone of Caleis this somrner, & that y viscout Rochforth had brought with him the pic-
ture of the saied Lady, & that at his retorne out of Fraucey Cardinal should passe the Sea to
go into France to fetch her.
This rumor sprag so much, that the kyng sent for sir Thomas Seimer maior of Londo &
straightly charged him to se that }' people should sease of this comunicacion, vpo payne of
the kynges high displeasure.
But whatsoeuer the Commons talked, it was cdcluded by the kyng and his counsayll, that
the Cardinall shoulde passe into France, as his high ambassadour, but for what cause no
persone knew but the king til his retorne.
Then was much prcparacion made at Calleis, for the receauyng of $ Cardinal, bu,t y
com5 saiyng was that y kyng would coe to Caleis & meet with }• Freeh kyng, & for y cause
such preparacio was made, but he came not there at al, & alwaies the people comoned as
they durst of the kynges mariage.
Sridedf" T'ie> "'• ^a-v ot' ^U'^' t!ie ^'tm'ynall °f Yorke, pas-ed thorough the citie of Londo, ac-
t«warde copaignied with many Lordes & Getleme, to the nombre of tweltie hundreth horse, towarde
""• the Sea side, and at Cauntorburie he rested, & there to the people declared the destruction
of Rome, & howe the Pope was in captiuitie with many Ca:dinalles: wherfore he caused a
£e°™fondeLetany to he sog by the mokes of Christes Church, after this maner. ,V, Maria, ora pro
Clcmente pupa. S Pet ri ora pro Clemente papa. & so furthe alyletany: the he exhorted
the people to fast & pray for his dcliuerauce which few did.
The xi. day of Maye, the Cardinal with al his traine, toke shipping at Douer, and the
same day laded at Caleis, wher he was receiued with procession, and with the hole garrison
Barrellesof of the towne.
«oid. ' Whe the Cardinal was laded, there were set on lande. xvi. barrelles al ful of gold of the
kynges
KYNG- HENRY THE. VIIJ. 729
fcynges money, whiche wer deliuered to the capitain of the castel in charge : of this money
the people much grudged, & saied this money shalbe spet out of j realme, & yet Englishe--
me shal hauenoparte nor proffitof it, but only it shalbe spet for y Cardinalles pleasure and
the Frenche kynges, and the Popes proffite.
The Cardinal was so sore displeased with the Emperour for kepyng the Pope in pryso (al-
though it wer agaynst his wil & knowlege) that he imagened al the wayes and meahes possi-
ble how to hurte & dornmage themperour & therfore he set for thenglish marchautes, willing'
them to kepe y marte at Caleis, but thei Fiswered that y towne of Caleis, was a towne of
warre, & al marchautes must haue libertie at all houres of the night, in the marte season,
whiche they coulde not haue at Caleis: also the hauen is not able to receiue greate Hulkes, ;
and Carikes that come to a marte: but some marchautes to please the Cardinal, brought ^hbe(.I£''"e
their clothes to Caleis, and so caused their frendes of Andwarpe to come to Caleis, & to say a
that thei had bought the marchautes clothes, & ther at Caleis paied the custome, & so ca-
ried them to the towne of Andwarp at theglish menes charge, & ther sold the to the great
losse of theglishme.
While the Cardinal lay in Calleis, the Frenche men daily resorted to Calleis, to welcome
the Cardi nail, and sodenly there vpon a noyse sprang that Calleis should be de'.iuered, to
the Frenche kyng, whiche vayne saiyng, made many men muse.
But the. xxii. day of luli, the Cardinall departed oute of Calleis, & with hym was the
lorde Cutberd Tustal bishop of London, the Lorde Sandes, Chamberlayn to the kyng, the
Earle of Darby, sir Henry Guildforde, sir Thomas More, with many knightes and squyres,
toy" numbre of. xii.C. horse, & in the cariages. Ixxx. wagons, & Ix. moyles and sumplcr
horses & at Sandifelde, met with him the cou'tie Brian gouernour of Picardie, & Monsir de
Bees, capitaine of Bullein, with. iiii.C. men of anncs, well appareiled, with banners dispki-
ed & all well horsed, which with trumpets and melodic receiued the Cardinal, & at Margm#o
there met hvm the Cardinal of Lorayn, &. vi, bishoppes, & xl. gentlcme, wel furnished, & J
in their copany. iiii.C. horse, and so they rode furthe to Bullein where the burgesses them
r c c G lu 6 cl
And at the gate was made a pageaunte in the whiche was a Nonne called holy churche, •&
thre Spaniardes & tfare Almaynes had her violated, and a Cardinall her reskued, and set her
vp of newe agavne.
Another Pageaunte, was a Cardinal geuyng a Paxe to the Kyng of England and the
French kYn" in token of peace, another Pageant was the Pope, liyng vnder, and the I'jn-
perour sittyng in his Maiestie, and a Cardinall pulled downe the Emperoure, and
°Wh5 wise men sawe this pagiaunt, thei smiled & saied, well can the Frenche kyng flatter
for harde it were for one Cardinall to subdue him that hath pulled downc the master c
CaMatwUwordes wer spoke in reprouc of this pageant, but stil wiih great triuph rode these.
ii Cardinalls together, to the abee vnder a Canapie borne ouer them, & there lod eel
"
arnas og,
The n c "ro* -&W* the thre & t«-entic day he with al his traine rcmoued toward Muttrel,
<t i mi e v. hou the towne ther met with him the bailies, ther to h.m was made a so cmpne
ora'i5 &whe he came to the towne he was receiued with the Clerg,e, k ther the English
I had I stravt lodain-, the nombre was so greate, & so y moroive he remoued toward Ab-
beu 1 vvh^ heV s receiued of the Baylyfe and aduocates of the towne, and then ot the pa-
5 A
730 THE. XIX. YERE OF
Monsir de Guise, and Monsir Vaudemount his brother, and the Frenche kynges mother
with many Lordes and Ladies, which vver there solemplie receiued.
And ou Soday the. iiii. daie of August, the Cardinal came fro Pickqueny toward Amias, in
which towne he laie the night before, and in the way he was receiued with the prouost of the
Citie, and marry honorable personages of the citie, and after them came the Justices and aduo-
cates and with an eloquent oracion saluted him, and when he was with in halfe a inyle of the
towne the Frenche kyng hym selie with all his Nobles mette with him, and louinglie embraced
him, and welcomed him and after toke all the Nobles of England, by the hand, and so brought
the saied Cardinall to Arnias : where for hym were deuised many Pagiauntes, to his prayse,
and euer he was called Cardinalis pacificus the Cardinall pacifique, and so was \\riten at
the gate of his lodging.
The Frenche kyng brought the Cardinal to his lodging, & he would haue brought the kyng
to his Courte agayne, but he would in nowise suffre him, but left him in hislodgyng and the
same night the Cardinal rode to visit the Frenche kynges mother, & there he had long com-
municacion and so departed to his lodging.
The. v. day of August the Cardinal with the great estates of Frauce was conueighed to the
Frenche kynges Courte, where he was receiued of the Frenche kynges garde, and in the first
Chambre he was receiued of Knightes & getlemen, in the second Chambre, of Earls Barons
and bishoppes. In the third of Ladies, in which chumbre the kyng lay on a bed, and his
mother sate by him, because he had a sore Legg. Then the Cardinal shewed his co-m*-
mission, which was very large, and in that was none but he alone: the Bishop of Lon-
don and the Lorde Sandes, were in another commission, but that was not shewed than, nor
they called to counsail. There was the Cardinall highly thanked of the greate loue that he
bare to the house of Fraunce: Then he & the Freeh Lordes fell to counsaile, first concern-
yng the Articles of peace, & for the suerty of pei formaunce of the same, and so that day
they sat foure houres, and so euery day was the Cardinall in Counsaile with the Frenche-
kynges Counsaile, tyll the. xxviii. day of August, at which day was made in the Cathedral!
Churche of Amias, for the Cardinall of Englandea place on the North side of the Churche
for his Traues, & directly in the middes 01 the quere was a curious chappell wroughte of
carued wood all gilt set for the Frenche kyng and his mother, which was couered with Cri-
mosyn veluet, richely embrodered and hanged with clothes of Antike makyng, set witlv
pearle & stone, very curiously: The Masse was song by a Cardinal!, and after Masse, the
French kyng and diuers of his Lordes, were sworne to kepe the league, & then was a great
Charter sealed on the high aultare, & deliuered to the Cardinal by the kynges awnc hand,
and then the Cardinal of England gaue to them all (as he saied clere remission) and then
was Te deum song, and so they all departed.
Now will I leaue the Cardinall styll at Amias in counsail!, and retorne to Sir Fraunces
Poynes, & Clarcceaux which were at this tyme arriued in Spaine, in the towne of Vale
Dolife, the third day of luly, where thei found Doctor Lee the kynges Almoner there am-
bassadourfor the kyag of Englande, & with him taricd till the sixtc day of luly, & then Sir
Fraunces Poynes was brought tahis prescce, and deliuered the kyng his masters letter, and
beside that praied his Maiestie to cosider what the king of England had doen tor hytn sence
his tendre age, how that he holpe him at all times with money and treasure, and howe that
atsuche tyme as the Lordes of Spayne would not receiue him as there kyng duryng his mo-
thers life, yet by the kynges meane and his greate labour and cost, he was to that Real me
receiued: and also howe the kyng of England had alwaies defended and protected the con-
treys of Flaunders, Brabant, and Zeland, against all persones, and in. the qu.arell of them-
peroure he had strongly inuaded the Real me of Frauce so that by his inua&ion at home, them-
perour had obteyned great victorie in forein places, which he could not haue done, if al.
the whole realme of Fraunce had ben without any enemies at home: wherfore the kyng de-
sired him as reason would, the one halfe of the profile of the bnttail of Puuy and also for
hisparte he required the duke of Orleauce to be deliuered to him, and aL>o to paie to the
KYNG HENRY THE. VII J. 73,
king, foui-tie thousad pownde, which he ought to him as money lent, towardcs his clmrges:
and farther that he should delyuer the Pope, and make him a reasonable amendes, & no
iartner to make warre on him or his dominions. The Emperour after this demaunde answered
s.r we assure you that the loue of our vncle of England, toward vs and the manifolde bene- rw°eurrti
htes that we haue receiued of hiin and by his mealies we shal neuer forget, and although
cure power be not able to recompence thesame, yet our good will shall neuer fayle. to en-
deuer vs to do him pleasure : and as concerning his letters we with oure counsaile shall take
aduice, and we trust you shall haue a reasonable answere, during which time, you may
repose _you, and althinges necessarie shalbe at your commaundement: with this answer,
Sir Frauces departed at this time. Whe it was knowen in Spaine, that the kyng of England
was alied with the Frenche kyng, the Spaniardes spake largely and saied that thei care'd not
for the king of England, and said farther that all this was the drift of the Cardinal!, and
by reason hereof the Englishe marchauntes were euil entertained in Spaine, but the Empe-
roure perceiu ing this, gaue a generall commaundement, that all Englishmen shoulde be or-
derid and reputed as his louing frendes.
In this very moneth, tidynges was brought to the Emperoure, how the inhabitauntes of
Turnei conspired to distroy Monsh e Delanoies their Capitaine, and deuised to bid him to a
banket and so to sley hym & all that loued the Emperour, but as God would, he had know-
lege of this treason, andtoke the chefe Capitaynes, and did on them sharp execucion for
feare whereof many fled into Fraunce.
The Emperor within a day or twayne called to hym Doctor Lee, & Syr Fraunces Poynes
the kyng of Englands Ambassadors, & said, my lordes we haue perceiued the king your
masters requests, which be great and of a waightie Importaunce, wherefore we entend
with all specie to write to the kyng our vncle, and when we haue receiued answere from him,
we shall delyuer you of suche thinges as you demaund, praiyngyou in the meane season, to
take pacience, and so for the tyme they departed. ;
13y this tyrne was it knowen that the Cavdinall of England was with the French kyng, &
ful well knew the Emperour that the Cardinal woulde do all for to aide the Frenche kyng
and to domage hym yet had he a great pencion of the Emperour.
goodc
the E
how the kyng my vncle is moued aginst me & my
with him, I trust in his faithful promes, & his accustomed goodnes, & his people I take as
rny i'rcdes. If he loue the Freche kyng I may not so do, for he to me is vntrue & kepeth no
iust promise, and we neuer compelled him to make any offer, but his offer was of his owne
mocion and he also sworne to mainteine the same, which he now refuseth, and to our great
preiudice hath persuaded against vs our dere vncle of England by peruers imagmacions,
whiche I trust will neuer be our enemy. This many times the Emperor would comen with
the Englishe ambassadors whiche lay in Spayne.
But now must I returne to the Cardinal of England \vhiche lay at Amyas : there was great
counsailyng from day to day: Fyrst how the Pope should be deliuered, and the sea of Rome
brought to a quietnes: Secondarily how to bryng the Emperor to some reasonable agree-
ment so that the French kynges children might be deliuered. It was well considered that
themperor had a great fordell by reason of the sayd.-ii. hostages, whiche fordel might per-
chaunce so stomacke him y he would agre to no new condicions nor agrementes ; Then ,
was answered on the otherside that if a great army were sent into Italy wlnche .might
driue the Emperors power out of Italy, then that armye should set the Pope at libeitie &
Si d riue themperor to come to their purpose, or els he should leese both the realm* of
Scycylle, and the duchie Qf Myilayi and other dominions, ^herfore the French
mfned to send an army royal into Italy voder the W^V Odyt de
eermne o sen a
Lawtrick erle of Toys, which was appointed afore m lune to go to the borders of Ualy
733 THE. XIX. YERE OF
with a small nomber, but now to him was assigned via. M. Bretons with notable capitaines
of thesame coiitrey, and. viii. M. Normans with like capitaines, and. viii. M. Gascoynes, and
vi. M. Burgonians, iii. M. Sauosyns, viii. M. Swyches and Ahnaines, and. vi. M. Pycardes
of whiche men were. v. M. horsemen vnder the conduict of Mounsire Galyas, & in this
army went sir Robert lernyngham & Ihon Carew of Hakatn and. Ixxx. other English gen-
tlemen whiche were sent thither by the Cardinal! from Amyas. When this army was as-
Bng]ishmo_ sembled, the Cardinal deliuered the kyng of Englandes money that he had brought out of
England in barrels as you haue heard, with which money was this armye payed two mo^
nethes before hand, and the remnant was deliuered to sir Robert lernyngha which was
called treasorer of the warres. In this army were. iii. M. cariage men, and aduenturers.
iiii. thousand, so that when they were ouer the mountaines they wer. lix. M. men, and
some writers say C. thousand. This armye was called in Latin E.vercitus Anglic tt Gal-
lorum liegum, pro Pontiftco Romano llbtrando congregatus, that is to say, the armye of
the kytiges of England, and Fraunce gathered for the deliueraunce of the bishoppe of Rom.e,
and so was this armye reputed. Although fewe people knewe at the beginnyng in Englande
of the conueiyng of the money ouer the sea, yet when the Englishe coyne was the common
payment of the armye it was then openly knowen: then many men sayd alas, so much
mony spent out of the realme, and of this charge the real me shall not be one peny the
better, the kyrig hath had of vs a loane and that is not payde, and the great subsedie was.
grauteu to make the kyng riche and now is that money to helpe our old enemies and the
Pope which neuer shall do vs good, this the people spake and muche worse. While the
Cardinal was with the Frenche kyng, the Pope sent to him a bull and made him Vicar
general vnder him through all the kyng of Englandes dominions, and there by a bull he
created Anthony de Prato bishop of Sens and Chauncelor to the French kyng a Cardinal
with great solempnitie. The Cardinall for his solace rode with the French kyng to Com-
peigne and Mountdedier, and was euer highly feasted of the kyng and his mother and of
the Chauncellor of Fraunce, and of all the nobilitie. Then was it concluded by the Car-
dinal & the Freche kynges counsail what articles of offer should be sent to the Emperor,
which if he refused, then open defiaunce to be made to him in the name of both the
kynges : The proffers \vere these.
Fyrst that the French kyng should pay for his raunsome xxv. M. crounes whiche
amounteth to. v. M. pound slerlyng, one writer calleth it two myllions of crounes.
The second to release all the pencion that he had in Naples witli al the right of the same.
The third, that he should neuer clayme title to the duchie of Myllain.
The. iiii. that he should release the superioritie of Flaundcrs for euer & the right that he
had to the citie of Turnay.
The. v. to release all the homages of all other persones within the sayd countreys.
The. vi. to withdrawe his army out of Italy.
The. vii. to forsake the ayde of the Swyches against the Emperor.
The. viii. to take no more the part of Ucbert de la Marche against the Emperor.
The. ix. neuer to ayde the kyng of Nauerne against him, although he had maried the
kynges sister.
The. x. neuer to ayde 5" duke of Gelder nor to chalenge thesame duchy.
The. xi. to ayde the Emperor with shippes and men to his coronacion.'
The. xii. to mary lady Elianor the quene of Portyngale sister to the Emperor.
The. xiii. that the Dolphyn should mary the sayd queues daughter.
The. xiiii. that if the French kyng had any children male by the sayd quene, then the
duchy of Burgoyne to remayne to the sayd child being a male.
The. xv. that the French kyng should be frende to the Emperor £ his frendes, and enemy
to his enemies.
These with many other articles which wer not openly knowen wer sent to the bishop
of Tarby and the vicount of Thorayn ambassadors to the Emperor from the French kyng.
And
KY^NG HENRY THE. VHJ. 732
And other articles wer sent to the kyng of Englandes ambassadors beyng in Spayne: fyrst
to motie the Emperor to take a reasonable peace with the French kyng.
Also that the kyng of England would release to him all the summes of money due to him
asv.-ell by themperor Maximilian his grandfather as by himselfe, and take the French kync
as detter for thesame.
Item if the Emperor would not therto agree, then the French kyng should mary the
lady Mary doughler to the king. of Englad and they buth to be enemies to the Emperor.
When all these thinges wer concluded, the Cardinal toke his leaue of the French kyng
and his mother (whiche tolde him that a noble ambassade should be shortly sent again i'nto
England from the reaUne of Fran nee for fortefiyng of all conclusions) and so the sayd Car-
dinall with great rewardes returned with all his traine & by iorneys the last day of September
he came to Rychmond to the king of England and there ascertained the kyng of all his
doynges, but so could no lord that then was in Comission with him, for they kne-.v nothing
of all his doynges, whiche sore greued their stomackes.
The Cardinal which much reioysed in this peace, came y first dny of the tcrmc into
the starre chamber & there by his couiaundeinent wer present the lorde's spiritual! and tem-
poral of the kyngcs counsail, and the Maior and Aldermen of the cilie of London, and
the iudges of the law, £ all the Justices of peace of all shyres then beyug at- Westminster.
And then he sayd, how much is the realme of England buunde to God for the high peace
that now is concluded? A high peace, yea such a peace as was ncuer cocluded heUvene.
no realme, for by my labor and industry I hauc knit the reahnes of England and Fraunce
in suche a perfite knot y it shall neuer fay'e, for the thre estates of Fraunce (which here
we cal a Parliament) hane affirmed thesame, and therfore now my lordes be mery for the
kyng shal neuermore charge you with warres in Fraunce, nor the JTiayer and oilier inar-
chautes shall neuer be charged farther wit'u expcnces, so that with cxaccions for warres-
of Frauce you shall no more be charged, for the kyng shall haue no nede, because that
he by this league shalbe the richest prince of the world, for 1 assure you he shall haue more
treasure out of Frauce yerely then all his rcuenewes and customes amount to, yea and
count his wardes, forfeitcs and all suche casualties. Now syth you haue suche an honor-
able peace & suche a profitable peace how much be you bond to him which hath brought
this peace about for this is a peace in secula scculorum. And because this peace is so
noble it is sealed with a scale of golde, and so he caused all there present to looke on the
scale, which was the verye great scale of Fraunce printed in fine gold: at this tale many
a man after laughed to thiiike how the Cardinal! lyecl, lor they knew that that he sayd was
for his owne glory, and nothing should folowe as he sayd.
The Frenche kyn<j accordyng to his appointment sent the lorde Annas of Momorancy
"real master of his' house and after that hi«h Constable of Fraunce, and the bishop ot
Bavon the chiefe president of Roan and Mounsire de Hunyers, as his Ambassadors to the
kvn«- of Finland accompanied with. h. gentlemen well appointed, whiche the. xnu. day ot
October laded at Douer whose seruauntes demeaned theselfes so in passing through Kent
that much uusines was to lodsje the in Lodon, but the Cardinal cdmaunded corporacions
of the citie to prouide lodgyng for them which was neuer seen bclorc, uherat the people
murmured sore saiyng thaVthe Cardinal was all Frenche. So on the. xx. day of October
he ayd Ambassadors^ met on Black heth by y Marques of Exeter, the b.shop ot Eon-
don the Vycouiit llocheford and lorde Moutioy with many men ot honor & gentlenien to
the nombeVof. v. C. horses and more. The Maior and Aldermen ot the citie ot Lodon
and t e cl ief comminers on horsebacke in their gpunes mette the said ambassa.brs at S.
Geo es bar & there was made to them a solempne Oracion, & so fro thence hey wer con-
ueyed5 through Lodon to y bishop of Londons palays & there and nerc there about they we,
of London prcseted .them with, v, fat oxen, xx. shepe, xii. Swanncs^iL J
734 THE. XIX. YEREOF
eitietothe Cranes, xii. Fesantz, iiii. dosyn Patriches, xx. loaues 6f Suger, Comfettes & other spyce
^"dMs?1" and waxe, and. viii. lioggesheades of wyne with many other thinges whiche I cannot reherse.
On tewsday beyng the. xxii. day of Septeber, the said amhassadors wer conueyed by
water to Grenewyche, where before the kyng sittyng vnder his clothe of estate the foresayd
Mounsire Bayon president of Roan made an eloquent proposicion in the whiche he much
thaked the kyng for sendyng so high an ambassador as the Cardinall was, a man of such
prudence & wit as it appeared by y knittyng of the league, that like to him could none be
found, for by his only mediacion the. ii. princes wer accorded so surely as neuer wer princes
before that time, so y by this cofederacion the Pope & his Cardinals whiche wer in cap-
tiuitie & thraklome should by the power of these, ii. princes be deliuered & all the Empe-
rors power should be clene banished & driuen out of Italy, and the Pope should be restored
to his oldc estate and dignitie again.
When this Oracion was done & an answere made to thesame, the kyng welcomed al
the gentlemen of Fraunce & then they had wyne and spyce brought to them, wherof they
toke part and dranke £ so departed to their barge. Daily these ambassadors repaired to
y Cardinals place and there wer highly entertained, & the morow after S. Symons day &
lude the bishop of Bayon £ a great nomber of y French gentlemen dyned at the Maiors
feast, & so they taried in London til Alhalonday, on whiche day the kyng accompanied with
the Ambassadors of Fraiice & all his nobilitie rode to the Cathedral church of S. Paute
xvher the Cardinal sang Masse, & after masse done y people wer desired to pray, that by
their praiers Pope Clement might the soner be deliuered out of captiuitie: and when that
was done the kyng of England before the aulter sware to kepe and performe the league.
The comon people sayd what nede all this swearyng, the French kyng was once sworne
and all his nobilitie, yea £ all his good tounes, but yet they brake with vs, and so will they
againe when they see an auauntage.
The For the more loue to be engendered betwene these two princes it was concluded y the
•kyngknight kyng of England should elect the Freche kyng knight of the noble order of the Carter,
of the anc| that the French kyng should elect the kyng of England companion of his order of saint
Mychel, whiche eleccions passed on both parties. Wherfore in all spedc y kyng sent sir
Arthur Plantagenet Vycount Lysle £ bastard sonnc to king Edward the fourth, Doctor
Taylor Master of the Rollcs, sir NychoUis Carew knight Master of y kynges horses, and
sir Anthony Broune knight, & sir Thomas \V~ryothesley knight beyng Garter kyng of armes1
of the order, with the whole habile coller and habilimentes of y order, which order he
receiued on sonday the. x. day of Noueber in the citie of Paris £ rode in the sayd habit
fro the house of saint Poule to our lady church and there heard a solempne Masse £ dyncd
in his robe of the order, hauyng with him thambassadors of Englad, and thesame night he
made to them a banket £ so the next day they departed. In likewyse the selfe same son-
day the kyng at Grenewiche receiued y order of saint Mychel by the handes of the great
Light of Master of Fraunce and Mounsire Hunter's compaignions of thesayd order: and they al
the order there ware the Mantles of the sayd order which were of cloth of siluer embrodered with
Frauocs knottes & kocle shelles & the collor was of thcsame deuise hauing hangyng before
the brest the image of saint Mychel, and in these Mantels they went domie to the chapel
to Masse and there heard Masse, whiche was song by a bishop, & after Masse they re-
turned to the kinges chamber where was made a great feast, and after diner which was"
late they wer conueyed into the tyltyard and there were lustes of pleasure xii. against xii.
whiche valiauntly furnished their courses tii they had broken C. staues, and then they de-
parted, for night was sodainly come. Then the kyng brought the Ambassadors to the'
newe banket chamber whiche was haged with a costly verdor all new, the ground therof was
all gold and the flowers were all of Sattyn siluer so that by the brightsomenes of the gold,
the flowers appered so freshly that they semed as they were growyng in dede, the cup-
berdes of gold and gilte plate with the eweryes, thesame I ouer passe because you haue
herd thereof in the beginnyng of this yere. Then the king, quene and ambassadors satte
doune
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 735
dcune to supper & were serued with Ixxxx. dishes, all the galleryes and chambers were full
1 lordes, knightes & gentlemen, & the garrates aboue full of French lackays & verlettes
whiehe wer pleteously serued.
After supper was done, the kyng led the ambassadors into the great chamber of dis-^^
guismges, & in the ende of thesame chamber was a foutaine, and on the one side was aqu«b"«.
Hawthorne tree all of siike with white flowers, and on the other side of the fountaine was
a Mulbery tree ful of fayrc beryes all silke, on the toppe of the Hawthorne was the armes
of England compassed with the coller of the garter of S. Mychcl, & in the toppe of the
Moulberie tree stode the armes of Fraunce within a garter. This fountdine was all of white
Marble grauen & chased, the bases of thesame were balles of goide supported by rampyng
bcastes wounde in Icues of goide. In the first worke were gargylles of gold ficrsly faced
with spoutes running. The second receit of this foutaine was enuironed with wynged ser-
pentes all of goide whiehe gryped the second receite of the fountain, & on the somit or
toppe of thesame was a fayre lady out of whose brestes ran aboundantly water of iner-
ueilous delicious sauer. About this foutaine were benches of Rosemary fretted in braydes
layde on gold, all the sydes sette with roses in braunches as they wer growyng about this
fountaine. On the benches sat viii. fair ladies in struung attier & so richely appareled
in cloth of gold embrodered and cut ouer siluer, that I cannot expressc the connyng
workemiiship therof. Then when, the kyng ahd quene were set, there was played before A play,
them by children in the Latin tongue in maner of Tragedy, the effect wherof was that
y pope was in captiuitie & the church brought vnder the foole, wherfore S. Peter ap-
peared and put the Cardinal in authorise to bryng the Pope to his libertie and to set vp
the church againe, and so the Cardinall made intercession to the kinges of England and
of Fraunce, that they tookc part together, and by their meanes the pope was deliuered.
Then in came the Frenche kynges children and complayned to the Cardinal how the Em-
peror kept them as hostages and would not come to no reasonable point with their father^
wherfore thei desired y Cardinal to helpe for their deiiueraiiee, which wrought so with
the kyng his master and the French kyng that he brqught the Emperor to a peace, and;
caused the two yong princes to be deliuered. At this play wise men smiled Si thought that
it sounded more glorkms to the Cardinal then true to the matter in dede.
When the play was done and. iiii. companies of maskers daunsed, the king, the great
master of Fraunce, the duke of Suffolke, the Marques of Exceter, sir Edward Newel and
other thre appareled in cloth of gold and purple Tynsell saltyn set with cut warkes o£
cloth of siluer plyghted goord fret and folded eche cloth vpon other, and one plucked
vnder another very richely : they had also mantels of crimosyn Sattyn cast about them
Bauderike wise, so that the other sarmentes might largely appeare, and then they entered
with noyse of myastrelsie and toke the ladies that sat about the fountaine and daused wit
them very lustc'ly, and when they had daunsed inotigh then they put of their visers and
were knowen, and so with disport al this night passed.
The next dav die great master and all his company toke their leaue of the kyng (except The .mi,
the bishop of Bayon whiehe abode as Ambassador in England); and were highly rewan d pattcd
and so passed to'Douer and toke ship there and landed at Bullein.
After that the Frenchmen wer departed y comons spake sore against the Cardinal ft sayj
that the Frenchmen did neuer good to England, and for the Cardinals pleasure we slim
forsake our old fredes and receiue our olde enemies. When the Cardinal heard ol : these
saiv»*es he was not content, wherfore he sent a Comission to the Maior of Lodon t
Stal men not to talke of y kinges affayres & busines or of y quene or of the : kynges
cousail And if any person spake or talked of any of these matters, hen he to b
& bTought to the Cardinal. When this com.naundement was- once knowen, euery mar,
mistrusted other and noman durst breake his mynde to other. .
I this moneth of Nouember the Cardinal as legate called y whole clergie before him,
r & there, he sayd that all the abusious of the church should be amended, bub.
736 THE. XIX. YERE OF
Arthur, he did notliyng therto, but abiured Arthur, Bylney, Geftery Lome, and Garret that spake
fcryCLome~ against the Popes aucthoritie and his ponipe and pride.
and Garr«. J3y reason of the great raines whiche fell in the sowing time & in the beginning of the
last yere, now in the beginning of thisyere come began sore to fayle throughout the realme,
denhof insomUche that in the cilie of London, bread for a while was very skant and people did
wh«te. .gtaruc darly for bre^d, for wheat so failed thai none could begotten for money. Sauyng that
the king of his gooclues sent to the citie of his owne prouision. vi. C. quarters, or els for a.
weeke there had been litle bread in Lodon, yet was the scarcitie more then y derth : For
then wheate was only at. xv. s. the quarter & fro thece it rose to xx. s. and after to. xxvi. s.
viii. d. the quarter. Men sayd that the negligece was in sir Thomas Seymer knight then
Maior. Many substantial men would haue made prouision for their houses, but they feared
lest the cominaltie would haue taken it from them. Then were comissions sent into all
shyres and commissioners appointed to se what wheat was in the realme, and the commis-
sioners ordered that no wheale should be conueyed out of one shyre to another, which co-
maundement had like to haue raysed trouble, and specially the citie of London \V thesarne
Avas sore agreued, for thei had no arable ground to sowe, but must make prouision with
'money, which prouision was them denyed in diuers shyres by that comaundement, whereat
the citezens grudged, so the Maior and Aldermen seyng that the people began to murmur,
came to the Cardinall & inoued him of the mischiefe that was like to ensue: either the
people must dye for famyne or els they with strong hand will fetche come from them that
haue it. To who he answered y they should haue wheat inough out of France, for the
•French kyng sayd to me q'1 the Cardinal that if he had but thre bushels of corne in all
Fraunce, England should haue twayne so muche he loueth & regardeth this realme: with
this answer they departed & euery day loked for Frfche wheate but none came: and
farther such wheat as y marchautes of England had brought and shipped in Normandy
and other places wer there restrained, so that the relefe there failed, but the gentle mar-
chautes of y Styliard brought fro Danske, Brenie, llamborough and other places great
plctie, & so did other marchautes from Flauders, lloland, and Frislahd, so that wheat was
better chepe in Lodon then in all England oner. Then the people sayd, see how we had
been serued by the Frenchmen in our necessitie if themperors subiectes had not holpen vs.
For this kyndncs the comon people loued themperor tlie better & all his subiectes. The
kyng of his goodncs hearyng that y wheat in Fraunce was stopped, mused not a litle, £ so
for comfort of his citie of Lodon he lent M. quarters, for the whiche they both thaked
him and praied for him. Then within short space the marclmuntes of London so diligently'
made prouision in all places for Wheat & Hyc, that after Christmas they lacked none, and
all the parties adioynyng to them wer fain to felche wheate of them and none to them was
denied ootwithstadyng their vnkynd comaundement geuen that the Londoners should none
haue of them.
^ Now let vs speake of the army y the lorde Lawtrick had into Italy at f charges of the
king of England & the Frenche kyng for y dcliuerauce of pope Clement. The lord Law-
trick after that his whole army was come to him to Lyons, & that al thinges necessary wer
in readines, then he set forward with great diligence : but or he had passed y mountaines £•
Venicians army was come into Lobardy abidyng y comyng of the Frenchmen, £ in the
meane season they marched toward themperors army whiche lay at y citie of Myllain. Wher-
of hearing Anthony de Lena with viii. C. Almaines and Spauiard'es on foote, £ as many
Italians marched forward to mete w the, £ by force caused the to take the toune of Me-
ligna for refuge, where he hearing y Ihon de Mediccs with a great nomber wer -comyng to-
ward the Venicians, he in the euenyng or his enemies were aware sodainly set on the sayd
Ihon de Medyces, whiche began to set his men in an order, but he was so enclosed that he
could do nothing, but tooke his horse and fled and left his company alone, which were
slaine almost all, and lost. iiii. great pieces of ordinannce, whiche Anthony de Leua ca-
ried with him to Myllain. In which season the lorde Lawtrick wkh his army was passed
the
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 737
the mountaines and was come to the citie of Aster abidyng the Swyches, where he heard
tell how that Lewes Erie of Lodron with a great crew of Almaines was come to the toune
of Boske nye AlexatRy with money and vitail to ayde the Almaines, that kept Alexandrye:
wherfore he sent his horsemen to stoppe them that they should not passe to Alexandry, and
after them he folowed with his whole army and beseged them in Boske which a certain
daies defended, but at the last they yeldcd the toune, & became souldiers to the lord Law-
trick. In this same season Andrewe Dorye admyral of the Frcnche nauy lay before the ha-
uen of Gene and kept the Genowayes from al marchaundise and vitailes which to the citie
might repaire, & in especial he letted certain shippes of corne whiche lay at Pont de Ferry
betwetie Gene and Sauona to come to Gene. The Genowayes whiche lacked come and
were on the land side besieged by a citezen of their own which was on the Frenche part
called Cesar Fulgosus, imagined how to bring the shippes of corne into the citie, and when
they sawe that Andrewe Dorye had but xvii. Galyes. They prepared vi. galeyes to fight w
Andrewe Dorye. Duryng which fight the shippes with corne shuld entre y hauen. When
the galeys wer abrode, a soclain tempest rose with such a violence, that Andrew Dorye was
fayne to take fy port of Sauona for his succor, and so the shippes of corne came safe into
the hauen of Geane, & all the galeys in safetie: this good was fortune to Geane at this
tyme.
When the citezens of Geane were thus vitailed, they tooke to them good courage and in
warlike maner issued out agalst Cesar Fulgosus which knew well that thei had litle more
then iii. C. Spaniardes that could skyll of the war, £ as for the remnant were neither of
stomacke nor of experience in warre, wherfore he boldly set on them, and whyle they were
fighting without, the citezens within which be euer mutable, sodainly cried Fraunce
Fraunce, which clamour came to the eares of Adurnus whiche was imperial, wherfore he
retired backe into the citie to appeace the rumor, but their enemies folowed them in such
hast that both entred together and so Geane was become Frenche. Then thither came the
lorde Lawtiick and put there a capitaine with a retinue for y safe kepyng of the citie. Then
Adurnus duke of Geane whiche was in the castle with diners of the Emperors frendes and
lacked vitail & saw no comfort of reskue, yelded the castle vpon condicion to depart with
bai>«;e and baggage & so they did. In the meane season certain Frenchmen which were left
at Boske defaced the toune and then came before Alexandria. & there kept a siege volant
that no ayde nor succor should come to the toune. till the whole army wer assembled to be-
siege y toune. But for al that purpose, by the Dounes of Alexandrie, Albericke Barbian
with v. C. souldiers came into the toune whiche much comforted the gariison there which \
was in 'maner dismaied because their ayde at Boske had fayled them. The Frenchmen be-
sie^ed the toune and bet it with ordinaunce and they within manfully defended it and made
new qountermures so that their enemies could not enter without ieopardy. But at the last y
Venicians brought thither great pieces of ordinance which so sore bet the walles that Bup-
Frauces put there a couenient garriso. Tht-ce y army remoued to Belgrasse winch tp the
was velde'l 8c also deliuerecl to j duke of Myllain, & fro there they remoued toward y citie
of Mvllain wherof hering Anthony de Leua fortefied y castle of Myllayn and sent Lewes
Barbvan to defende the citie of Pauye. When the lord Lawtrick was win vui. rnyle <
lavn hesodainlv returned toward Pauy, whiche men iudged to be done for y displeasure
that' was done there to the Frenchemen when their king was taken, Ac so the. x.x. day o.f
September they besieged Pauye, and daily betwene them wer great skirmishes, but at 1
they bet the walles so'with great ordinaunce that they made the toune assautable. 1 hen the
F enchmen threwe into the dyc^ fagottes and emptye pipes and shortly entered the toune.
The capiuin perceiuyng the We entered, opened the gate and velded h.mselfe pnsoner
*> *J
deli-
THE. XIX. YERE OF
Then the Frenchmen sfcwcand kylled on every side, robbed and spoyled houses and churches
& spared no person nor place, and of crueltie ransomed one man v. or vt. tymes, & the
Gascoynes whiche were moste cruel set fyer in the fayre houses & had brent the whole citie
if the lord Lawtrick after vii. dayes spoilyng had not cemmaunded them to cease. Whert
Pftujewas thus taken & spoyled {he lorde Lawtrick determined with the Cardinal Innocent
Legate of Bonony, which was come for the deliueraunce of the Pope incotinent to passe
to Rome and to driue away al the Emperors power fro thence, and to restore the pope ta
libertie.
Fraunces Sforcia duke of Myllayn hearing of this determinacion came to the lord Law-
trick to Pauye and required him first to rid the duchy of Myllayn of themperors souldiers,
rather then to go forward and leaue his enemies behynd him. The lord Lawtrick answer-
ed that he was of thc'satne opinion, but the comission that he had of the French kyng and .
the kvm» of England was, that with all spede he should go forward to ddiuer the bishop. of
Rome, "which done he faythfully promised that he would returne and expulse all tlie Em-
perors power out of Lombardy, and in the meane season he would that the duke and the
Venicians should besiege Anthony de Leua in the castle of Myllayn. Duke Fraunces semed
to be content with this answer, but yet he perceiued that the French kyng cared not for
his restoryng lest he should be emperial. So for that tyme the duke dissembled the matter
& tooke possession of the citie of Pauye. When the lorde Lawtrick had laycn xvi. dayes
at Pauy, he dismyssed y1 Swyches whiche in no wise would go with him to Rome, wherfore
he marched forward w ins owne army & came to Plesance where he cocluded a league with
Alphons duke of Farrer & Frederike marques of Mantua, so y then he knew wel that he
might wel pas.se in saftie : & then ingood order of battail he inarched toward Rome for f
finishing of his enterprise. But or he was passed out of Lobardy themperor had sent let-
ters to y" B. of Rome & excused himself that he neither willed nor commaunded such mis-
chief to be done, & stiaightly comanndcd his capital DCS to dcliuer him. The prince of
Orenge & other capitaines of themperors hearing hi« comatidemet, toke agremet \V the pope
& his Cardinals, & so he & xii. Cardinals wer bond to performe certen articles to ^ nober of
xi. Si then he was deliuered out of the Castle sainct Angell the. x. day of December and was-
conueyed to Oruyet, where after he had paied certaine money for the souldiars wages he
was put at full libertie & the Emperors people departed from him, and thence he remoued
to Ancona. When tidynges was brought into England of his deliueraunce the Cardinal in
great hast caused Te deum to be song on Newyeres day in the kinges chapel nnd declared-
opelv that he was escaped & savd not deliuered, which made many men to muse : and on
sonday the. v. day of January the Cardinal with great triumph came to the churche of saint
Paule in London, and on him attended diuers prelates of the clergy and there Te deum was
aong again, and after that doctor Capon opely declared how that bishop Clement had been
long kept in distres by faulte of tyranes and infidels and so kept as prisoner to the behofe of
Charles the Emperor, tyll now of late through the praiers of good Christen people he was
escaped the hades of his enemies, for whiche cause he wylled all men to geue thankes to
God: That night were great fyers. made in the kynges court and in all London. Shortly
after this trueth was knowen, that the Pope was deliuered by composicion and not frely
escaped as the Cardinall had blowen abrode, but men sayd that he could not leaue his
liyng.
Whyle the lorde Lawtrick was cotinually goyng forwarde to deliuer pope Clement, he
was credibly enformed at Bonnony that he was deliuered and at his libertie, wherfore he
thought his iorney voyde to go to Rome to do nothing, he therfore determined to turne to-
ward Naples and to take the citie if it were not fortefied or replenished with men of war,
& so according !o this purpose he iornied forward with great diligence. The Emperors
capitaines perceiuyng the Frenchemennes entent, caused all their souldiers to depart out of
Home in the beginnyng of February (which was against the minde of the souldiers) and
«o came into the realme of Naples and fortefied certain tounes as they passed, and so came
to
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ.
to a toune called Troy and there they taried : This remouyng was to them, very profitable.
For if they had taried at Rome they had been set on with the Italians on the one side, &
the Frenchmen on the otherside, that by euery mans Judgement they should all hauc
been taken or slaine. The lorde Lawtrick departed from Bonnony to Inmole and so to
Fayance Forlicke Pezere, Senegal, Ancone, Rauenna, Loret and to Feme which is at
the foote of the mountaines of Sybylles in the duchie of Bresse percell of the realme of
Naples, in whiche toune were certain nobles of thatcoutrey whiche seyng the army so puis-
sant departed thence to Naples. As the armye passed the mountaines in the Lent season,
there died of very cold v. C. Gascoynes and mp, and so with much paine they came nere
to Troy in Puylle the xv. day of Marche where the Spaniardes and ihe Emperors army
lay. Sir Robert lernyngha of England which was capitain of the light horsemen, know-
ing their enemies so nere, desired the lorde Lawtrick that he with his company might assay
the Spaniardes. The lorde Lawtrick (whether it was for lacke of corage, or that he were
corrupted by money) in no wise would suffre sir Robert lerningham to fight, but saied he
would take theim at a more auantage shortly, which answere sore greued sir Robert, in 80-
muche he saied he would accuse hym, to both the kynges their Masters.
The .Spaniardes whiche laie at Troy, thought to entre Naples before the Frenchmen, and
so on the. xxi. daie of Marche beeyng Saterdaie, thei remoued and came to Naples, &
fortified the citee, whiche was happie for the Emperor, for surely if the Frenchmen had
come first, they had been Masters of the citee. After the Emperors people were departed
from Troy, as you haue hard, the Frenchmen besieged it, and within a xi. daies it was to
them yelded, and from thece thei remoued to Melphe, a strong litle toune, where thci slewe
£ put to flight, iiii. M. Spaniardes but thei lost many of their men ther, so that this loune
was not to them very profitable : Sith the armie was entered into the realme of Naples
there was euer some sickenes emongest them, and in especial there raygned emongest the a
sore hole feuer, of the whiche many gentlemen died or thei came to Naples, for at the
toune of Verse there died sir Richarde lernyngham, & Ihon Carew of llackam, two va-
liant capitaines, sent thether by the kyng of Englande and diuerse other, whiche twoo gen-
tlemen be then- buried.
When the Frenchemen had taken Melphe, thei remoued to Bonmet and from thence to
Ma"delon where thei laye all Easter: and after Easter thei came before the citee of Na-
ples" and firste they tooke the palace that standeth without the dire, very pleasant to be-
Lol'd'e and after that was taken, thei planted their sie^e round aboute the citee, and cast
trenches and made fortificacios, for the defence of sodain inuasions of their eneimf:
the whole armie laye in an open plaine ground, without couertnre very nere the citee, by
reason u hereof thci wcr sore ciibered with hete and drongth, whereupon cnsuec
tnortaliUe and death, for if thei had lien on the hill side nere couerte, the. bad icn more
wholesomly but their intent was to Ive nere the citee, to the intent to kepe their
xvho esom V. uut ineir iiuou «is iv ivc i*c«c «•»•- «• •
straight and therfore tbei planted their siege in the playne, whiche turned them to maci*
Sasur and disease. Thus was the siege plated before Naples ,„ the b^mnyng oi
Aprill & continued till the. xxvi. d.aie of August uextc msuyng, and .hen by mcune ,
^^^^*^^ toward Naples, sir Fraccs Poyn. Knight,
whkh ts lent .with Clarenseaux kyng of Armes mto Sp? to ^^,^^
Knpland before Christmas, in thende ot.December, and clt "awn"™* b^ ( ''• lo ^
-c- i i y tV r ttiP f* rf*flC*n KVll^t^S SilKC UUl civ U't- 4flllCl**V'w*'*v v ^ <? *^
freche kyng not io r 1 1 ie»c y n ^ ^ .^ ^ ^ bc gu hi},hlv f
uyurcd
740 THE. XIX. YERE OF
domed the French kyng, that all his causes he tooke and reputed as his awne, and did ail-
that he might, to bryng the Frenche kynges purposes aboute.
The Emperor before this time had written to the Frenche kyng, and also aduertised there-
of the French Ambassadors, that laye in Spaine, that he would that the Frenche kyng
should sende to hyrn a diffinitiue answere, if he would \\ithdrawe his people out of Italy or
not, and lett the Ducbie of Millain alone, and to cease of all Inuasions or not, and this
answere to be geuen the last day of lanuary folowyng, and if the said French kyng an-
swered not by that day, then the lacke of answer to be taken for a defiaunce. Then the
French Ambassadors before the day, shewed to the Emperour, the proffer which the
Frenche kyng o He red to hym in articles, as yon haue harde before, in the conclusion taken
Themperors at Amias [>y the Frenche Kyng and the Cardinal! in August laste passed. Which profers
theforcsaied when the Eiiipcroure had hard and seen, he saied to the Ambassadours, we thought surely
Articles, that our cosiii the French kyng and we, had been at a full conclusion, when the league and
appoyntmet was agreed at our toune of Madrill: for when he sued for his deiiueiaunce to
vs, he and his counsaill offered vs certain profers, whiche wee neuer demaunded, but we of
pitie hauyng campassiun of his aftliccion, accepted thesaied offers, and agreed to his
delitieraunce, whiche Articles he promised in the othe of a Kyng, & also on the holy Euan-
geliste.s, to performe to the vttermoste, and the inuiolatly to obsei ue and kepe. Whervpon
wee clerely remitted, and deliuered hym into his countrey, of all which promises he hath
performed none, wherfore we take him as perimed, and not worthy to be trusted, and nowe
he offereth tiewe offers, which he cannot performe, as for the money we beleue he is able
to pay, but as for money dewe for the kyngdom of Naples, we knowe no suche dutie, for
it is our inheritaunce, although kyng Charles the seuenth, by sotletie once vsurped thesame,
which he log not enioied: as to release his title to Millain, that • release is voyde, for the
Duchie is Imperial I, and in our gifte as many other seigniories be: and as touchyng Tour-
nay, ours it is of right and now in our possession: So that in all these thynges he would re-
lease and rendre thynges that he hath not: and as to the withdrawing of his armie out of
Italy, he shall not nede, for we truste that our armie shall expell them all Italy, maugre
their hartes. And as touchyng the Kyng of Nauarr, the Duke of Gelder, and Robert de
la Marche, we of pitie let them alone till we se our tyme, and then they shall knowe our
puyssaunce: And as touchyng his offre to aide vs with a name, we trust we haue such a
nauie pronided, that we shall nrde none of his: and where he saith he will mary our sister
quene Aelienor, daughter to y" kyng of Portyngall, if he had been true, that he might haue
dooen or this, but now wee entende not to geue her to our enemie : and as touchyng her
daughter to bee maricd to the Dolphyn, that wee leaue in suspence for this tyme : But where
he saietli that he will defend vs, that toucheth our honour, -for well knoweth he that our
awne might and puyssaunce, hath euer defended vs, and him and his power hath defaced and
vanquished wherefore we nede not of his defence, which is not able to defend hymself:
and as touchyng the kyng of Englandes debt, we shall reasonably answere his Ambassadours,
for that toucheth not the Frenche Kyng : But now my Lordes Ambassadours, saied the
Emperor, let the French Kyng your Master, fulfill the promise that he was sworne to, as
a true Prince ought to do, and then he shall haue his children deliuered, or els accordyng
to his othe, let hym yelde hymself prisoner again, and so shal his honor and truthe be
saued, or els not, so with this answere the Ambassadors departed. Neuerthelesse thei daily
sued to the Emperour and his Counsaill to take the offers whiche were profered by the
Frenche kyng, and emongest other thynges, the warre was sore laied to the 1'reche Ambassa-
dours charge, for that that the Frenche kyng made warre on theEmperoars possessions, with-
out cause and without deh'aunce, to whiche accusement they answered that that armie was
procured by the Cardinal of Englande, when he was at Amias, for the deliuery of Clement
Bishop of Rome, and that the kyng of England bare the moste charge. When the Em-
perour hard this answere, he sent for the Ambassadoure of Englande, and to hym saied:
My Lorde Ambassadoure, I muche maruaill why the kyng your Master, hath so great loue
to
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 74,
to the Frenche kyng, his newe reconsiled freode, and withdrawen his loue fro rae, that am
his cosyn and alye: How fortuneth this, that your olde auncient enemies bee now in fauoure,
and your olde frendes cast out of fauoure. I se well there is indignacio had at our estate,
and waies sought to greue vs, whiche wee hope to withstande: But who would haue thought
that ouu Vncle of Englande, would haiie made warre on vs. How would he haue vs graunt
his requestes and desires for the Frenche kyng, seyng he sheweth himself our open enemy-
Then the Ambassadoure discretly answered, that he neither heard nor knewe of suche
dooynges, on his faiihe and honoure. Well saied the Emperoure, if it bee true that is re-
ported, myne Vncle is not the Prince that I haue taken hytn for, and if he be myne ene-
mie, I muste withstande hym, and in a greate fury, the Emperouiu withdrewe him from
the Ambassadoure, to his pi iuie chamber.
Daily the Ambassadours, bothe of Englande and of Fraunce, sollicited themperor and:
his counsajll, to accept the French Kynges offers, which made euer answers, that thei
would not truste to the newe promise, seyng that the olde promise which was sworne, was
not obserued and kept. Nowe whosoeuer indifferently shall consider the Articles which
were offered in the trealie of Madrill, and the Articles offered now at Amias, shall openly
perceiue, that the greatest thyng which the Frenche kyng refused to do, was the deliuery
of the Duchie of Burgoyn and the Countie Charoloys, for declaracion whereof, the French
kyng sent for all the nobles of bothe the eountreys, and declared to theim this promise and
concord, taken with the Emperor, which answered that no realnie or dominion could be
transferred to any forrein prince or person without the sentence, agrement, and submission
of the nobles, and commons of thesame countrey, and therefore they would neuer assent to •
that alteracio: This answer was deliuered to lorde Charles de la Noa Viceroy of Naples,
then Ambassador for the Emperor in Fraunce, which thereof certified the Emperours
eounsaill. But the Emperoure and his Gounsaill thought this to bee but a deceipte, in so-
inuche as the French kyng had onely called suche of Burgoyne, as hym pleased, and not
the substanciail of the countrey. And farther the Emperor so much desired the Duchie of
Burgoyne, because he was the very heire there of blonde discended from duke Philip,
soonne to kyng Ihon of Fraunce, that by no meanes he would haue that article broken, but
he would haue that Duchie. The French kyng perceiueci Ins mynd, & Offered to hym
greate sommes of money for the redemyng of that article, the kyng of Englad also ottered
to be suretie for the paiment : but all this could not moue the Emperoure, but he would-
haue Burgoyne, and alf thesaied treatie and agrement performed.
The kyng of England consideryng how muche he had doen for the Emperor, and call- -
vncto his remembraunce, botlie'ihit the Lordesand-Commons of Spa.ne, would not haue
taken hym as kyng, his mother liuyng (although she were Lunatike) because she was heire,
without his greate labour and intercession, and also that he holpe hym to be e ectedtmpc-
rour, which the Frenche kyng had obteigned, if he had not put thereunto Ins aide and
sent Doctor Richard Pace his°Secreiory to the Electors to Franckeford, and moste of
that he at all tymes, had succoured thesaied Emperoure with money and was not paied,
wherefore he ways no a litle displeased with the Emperours wilfulnes, but more «,Ui h.s vn-
kvPdnes and perceiued cferely, that sith by his meanes he was so exalted that now he
ad Suea the kyndnes to him shewed wherefore he thought to make hym to knowe
'e soner to bryng hym to accomplish.
s of Arracs' as you lmue heard'
742 THE. XIX. YERE OF
the nobles which were present, as the Constable of Castell, the Duke of Massedonia, the
Duke of Inuancaso, the Duke of Alberkirke, the Duke of Ciuill, the Duke of Nassaw,
or Nazareth, the Duke of Aluoy, the Marques of Sturgus, the Marques of Agular, the
Marques of Villafranca, the Erie Barcelon, the Erie of Salamatero, the Erie Boniuent,
the Erie Arowen, the Erie Agulard, the Erie Salienas, the Erie Geneuer, with sixe great
Lordes Commendatories Crossed, and many other noble menne and gentlemen, for a truthe
to the nomber of seuen hundred at the least : all these drewe out their swerdes, and sware
that the defiaunces then made should be reuenged, and saied to the Emperoure : Sir, if the
dispite of this defiaunce be vnreuenged, the infamy & rebuke thereof, shall remain to vs
and our heires for euer, wherefore our landes, lifes, and lordshippes, shalbe at your com-
niaundement, and while any lyen of your succession remain, this ignominie shalbe euer
neweand not dye, till you haue obteigned the double honor, against all your enemies.
When the Emperor was thus defied, the warre was Proclaimed in Ciuill, in Valedolite, in
Burgus, & mother places through all Spain : But when the commen people heard of this de-
liaunce, they wrong them seltes by the berdes and svvare, that all their landes and goodes
should be spent, for the honor of the Emperor, and to bee reuenged on the French kyng,
whom they called perjured Prince, and so the common people cried in the stretes, now is
come the tyme, that Spain shalbe renoumed, and reuenged on the Frenchmen for their
falsenes and wrong doynges. But alas saied they, why should we make warre with the
Englishe nacion, which euer loued vs, and neuer offended vs: but this defiance procedeth
not of them, but onely of the French kyng, and of the Cardinal! of Englande, whiche is
sworne French, thus the Spanyardes talked, and euer excused the kyng of Englande, and
accused the Cardinall and saied, that he had a great pencion out of Spain, and that notwith-
standyng, because lie might not haue the bishoprike of Toledo, he caused all this warre.
This Procla.ma.cian of warre, was proclamed with baners displaied, in the which were
painted a reddc svrerde, and a Cresset burning, against the French kyng and his parte
takers, not tneanyng the kyng of Englande, by expresse name, but it was rehersed in the
Proclamation, that -the Kyng of England had manaccd, and defied the Emperour, in the
•rtieEng. French kynges querell. Then wer the Englishe Merchantes in Spain attached, and tlieir
Ihanw/arl g°otles Put in sa'e custody, and to the was saied that they were staled oaely, till tue Empe-
mtcdin rour wasaduertised, how his subiectes were ordered in England.
Tidynges of this was first knowen in Fran nee, and from thence letters were sent to the
French Ambassadours in London, how hothe the Ambassadors of Fraunce and of Englande,
beyng in Spain, and (iuien and Clurenseaux officers ot" Amies, wcr retained by the Empe-
ror as prisoners, which report was false, for thei were at libertie, and well cherished, and
in espeeiu.ll the Englishe Ambassadors and Clarcseaux wer frendly entertained in all places.
When the .Cardinal liard this report, lie was to light of credence (which he fuivthought af-
terward) and was sore therewith moued, and in his fury the. xii. day of February, he
caused Don Hugo de Medosa, the Emperors Ambassador, to be taken out of his house, in
sainct Swithines lane in London, and to be brought to sir Ihon Daunecs place in Marke
lane, as a prisoner, & his house with his goodes wer.e kept by the Cardinalles ser.uauntes, till
the kynges. plcsu re wer larther knowen.
The morowe after be^ng the. xiii. daie of February, the Cardinal bcyng in the Starre
chamber, called before hym al lusticesof the Peace, and other honest personages to a great
fldtooi nomoer> nncl to them said: My lordes a,nd all you the kynges louyng subiectea, his grace*
P'easure'*s tnat I should declare to you, howe that IMS highties, not of his awne sekyng, but
rather against his will and intent, is entered into warre: For the electe Emperor Charles the
fifth, hath hym so handeled and im.ued, that lie must of necessitie with hym make war.
First, it is not vnknowen to you all bow good the Kyng hath been to hym, sithe his iufancic,
how he hath defended his lowe countreis duryng his noneage? Ye, what pain the king toke
by his Ambassadors, to sollicite the lordes, of Spain, which refused to take him as their
while his. mother Kued, a.nd by the kynges onely labor, he came to the kyngdom of
3 Spain,
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 743
Spain, what it cost the kyng to helpe him to be Emperor, we that be his counsailers can tell.
for if the kyng had not been, surely the Freeh kyng had been Emperor. Beside all these
kynd nesses, he hath lent to thesaid Emperor, duierse great somtnes of money, to defend
his countreys, £ what profile his countreis haue by the resort of Englishmen thether, ye
that be Merchauntes can tell : for these thynges with many mo proffites, commodities, and
gratuities, the kyng of him is so litle regarded, that I am halfe ashamed to report it. True it
is that Frances the Frenche kyng, was to hym prisoner (which chaunce hath happened to
many high princes) the kyng our master, highly regardyng the peace of Christen princes, by
which peace God might the more be glorified: disired the Emperourto take some resonable
cnde for his dciiueraunce, and for that purpose hath sent to him sondery Ambassadors,
which gaue them eares, but dalicd with the, and nothyng would do at all, and regarded
no more his requestes, then I would the desire of my seruaunt (and perauenture not so
much) so that fur all gratuities and frendshippes to hym, by the kyng our souereigne lorde,
at all tymes shewed, he sheweth himself iugrate and vngentle, and for kyndnes rendereth
vnkvndnes : as for the Frenche Kyng I assure you, he hath hiibled hymself asmuche as a
prince maie, his honor saued. He hath offered hym so great offers, that excepte he should
gene hym his real me and (Jroune, he can offer no more forger, which offers I assure you,
sore minishe the beautie of his Croune, whiche I shall breuely declare vnto you. For he
oftereth to ptue fiue hundred thousand poundes sterlyng, whereof three hundred thousande,
to be paied in hand, for the remnaunt sufficient Bankers to be bound, and farther to dis-
charge the Emperoure, of all suche sorames of money, as he oweth to the Kyng of Eng-
Jande, and to deliuer hym a sufficient aquitaunce for thesame. Also where the French kyng
should haue, out of the kyngdome of Naples an hundred thousande Crounes yerely, the
Frenche kyng will release thesame pencion, with all the arrerages whiche are no small some.
Also he will release his whole title and right, which he hath to the Duchie of Millayne, his
vei-v cnheritaunce, and he neuer to chalenge or claime thesame nor his postcritie. Also
where the Countie of Flaunders male lawfully appeale to the Parliamentes of Fraunce,
from iud'^emcntes geuen by the Emperor or his lustices, he is content to release thesame supe-
rioritie a'nd resorte winch is a greate minishement to the prerogatiue royall of the Realme
of Fraunce, for whiche of you (said the Cardinal) would concent that the kyng should re-
lease hisSeignioritie or superioritie of Wales, Irelande, or Cornewall, I dare saieyou would
rather spendeyour hues and goodes.
dre
tee
Queue Dowager of Portyngall, ,
with nne Zancle Markes sterlyng by the yere, and farther that the ch.ld , U be a male
'
. and Mariners, to conueigh hym to
Itobert de la Marcne, < ' F O1.re saieci he, is- so indurate, so vn-
of Fraunce, and all for the ^j^^^^^^S nor yet the Kynges
kynde and wi.tull, that ^^f^J^^S^ Fre'nche kyng c/n dooe all this,
praiers nor requests but aqtwiw nomanne, buteuery manne must
L shall haue his cinMren. So .natU.e *™*° ^ « ^^the puyssau,^ armye of the
for^de, and i. life to do.
744 THE. XIX. YERE OF
the Emperour more disauauntage, then I will now reherse : but the Emperour is so proude,
and his people 30 cruell, that he nothyng regardeth these ofters : for what a crueltie was this, to
pull doune Goddes Vicar of Rome, and persecute the holy fathers by extreme tyranny, viola-
ted the holy Sacrament, and threwe the hbstes doune on the aultar, and like robbers toke the
Pixe: and farther in the Churche, they violated Virgins, and stupred matrones, and dispoyled
the holy Reliques of the citee of Rome. And like as the Kyng in huutyng tyme hath slayn. iii.C.
dere, and the garbage and paunches bee cast round about, in euery quarter of the Parke,
so (saied the Cardinal) euery strete laye full of the priuie members and genitures of the
Cardinalles and holy prelates: the whole history were to abhominable to tell. Yet notwith-
stadyng all these offers mocioned, and nothyng regardyng this detestable tyranny, the whichc
euery good Christen man abhorreth, he will encline to no reason, I am sure that I could
shewe you. xx. articles of promises, which he hath broken with the Kyng : so that I as-
sure you, he kepeth no promise with our souereigne lorde, alsoc0«/r« ius Gentium, whiche
I am sure the greate Turke would notdooe, he kepeth prisoner the kynges Ambassador Doc-
ter Lee, the French Ambassador, and the Ambassadour of Venice: and for asmuche as
the Emperor refuseth these ofters, which amount to eight kynges raunsomes, 1 trust by
this warre we shall bridle hym, and bryng him to peace, and this occasio of warre, I would
all you should declare in your countrey.
When the Cardinal had saied, some knocked other on the elbow, and said softly he
lieth, other said, that euil wil.saidjieuer wel, other said that the French crounes, made
him speake euill of thempcror, butv~rhei that knewe all that you haue hard before saied,
that it was shame for hym to lie in suche an audience. The common people much
lamented, that war should arise betwene tfiti Kyng and themperor, and especiall their
consideracion was, because the Emperors domfcf/vns. had holpen them withcorne, and re-
leued them with grain, who thei could haue no/U with ir litle out of Fraunce. And in this
rumour wer diucrse ships come out of FhJhmys and that parties, laden with Heryng,
Sturgion, & ail other victale necessary : besideeight faire shippes, whiche wer laden with
ar- corne, all thesaied shippes, and all the shippes of Spain, wer staied and arested, and
their sailes taken from them, and put in safe cu^todie. This doyng was muche talked of
by Merchantes, whiclie frequented the Emperors dominions, for thei knewe and openly
saied, that the let of the entercourse of Merchantes, should turne to die greate losseofthe
Priners, but yet Englishemen were content, to obeye their kyngand his counsaill.
Thedeclaracion of warre in Englande against the Emperoure, and the restraint of Shippes
of the Emperoures Subiectes, were shortly knowen to the Lady Margaret daughter of S;i-
uoy, and aunte to the Emperour, which was gouernor of Flaunders, Brabant, and Zeland
and of all the Lowe Countreis: wherefore she by tne auice of the Emperoures Counsaiil to
lier associate, caused all the Englishemen and their goodes and Shippes to be restrained, and
thei and their goodes were put in safe kepyng. Thus the poore Merchantes sutlered greate
losse, for the doynges of their Princes, as Horace saicth : Quicyuid ddirant Rcgcs, pkc-
tuntur achiui; whatsoeuer kynges do, the Commons be punished. Now after this sodain
storme whiche the Cardinal! had inoued openly against the Emperour, for euill entreatvng
of the kynges Ambassadour, he had perfect knowledge that the- Emperor, bothe did'the
kynges Ambassador greate honour, and also that he neuer restrained hym from his libertie,
wherupon he caused die Emperors Ambassador, which before was restrained cf his liber-
tie, to bee sent to his awne lodging again, and saied tl>at by the reporte made by the French
Ambassadours, he hym restraygned, and now sitlie he knewe the truthe, lie mocioued the
Ixyng for his del.iuera.unce.
The Ernperours Ambassadour, called Don Hugo Je Mendosa, dissimuled the matter by
apparant signes: and the Cardinal the more toauoyde suspicion on his behalfe, towarde all
the worlde, saied: the kyng was enformed by the French Ambassadours, that the Ambas-
sadours of bothe Princes were put in prison, and farther he saied that CUrenseaux had made
the defiaunce of the Emperoure without the kynges commaundement, but only did it by the
motion of the French Ambassadours, to aceompaignie the Frenche Herault, and for this
presumpteuos
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJT. 7i5
presumpteous act, he should suffre death at Calice at his returne : all these excuses the Car-
dinal shewed to the Emperors Ambassador, which certified the Emperour of euery poynt,
and sent the letter by poste into Spain, which letters were opened & copied, by the capi-
tain of Bayon, as the poste passed that waie. And when Clarenseaux returned "homeward
out of Spain, the Capitain gently shewed to hym the copie of the letters, that the Emperours
Ambassadoure had written. Thynke you not but Clarenseaux was dismaied, to here his ciarese.u«
tlaies so shorte: yet he trustyng in his truth, and grace of his Prince, passed forward and ™adci
came to Buliein, where he hard vvorde again of the danger that he was in, wherfore like a
wise man he lefte Calice, and tookea Ship at Buliein, and landed at Rye, and came secret-
ly to Hampton Court, where the kynglaie, and byfrendeship of si r Nicholas Carew, one of
the kynges priuie chamber, he was brought to the kynges presece, or the Cardinall wist of
his returne, and to hym shewed the three Letters, whiche the Cardinal had sent to hym,
cbargyng hym to make the defiaunce, or lie did intimate the war. lie declared farther,
that neither the Ambassadoursof the kyng, nor the Frenciie kyng nor he wer neuer seques-
tered from libertie, but gently entertained, and to the kyng he shewed a chayne, to the value
of seuen hundred Ducates, whiche the Emperoure had genen hym, and shewed also the copie
of tic Emperoures Ambassadoures letters, whiche he had at Bayon. When the kyng had ™yen"rf r
heard all the circumstaunce of his declaracion, he mused a great while, and saicd: O Lorde kyng.
lesu, he that I trusted moste, tolde me all these thynges contrary, well Clarenseaux I will
be no more of so light credence hereafter, for now I see perfectly, that I am made to be-
len-e the thyng that was neuer cloen.
Then the Kyng sent for the Cardinall, and priuily talked with hym, but whatsocuer he saicd
to hym, the Cardinal was not very mery, and after that tyme, the Kyng mistrusted hym eucr
iifter. 'When the Kyng and his Counsaill, had well digested the Emperoures answere, and
his ecu tie demeanor toward the kinges Ambassadors, and also had pondered that the lone
countreis of the Emperor, wer glad to please the kyng of Englande and his Subiectes:
\vhei eibre the kyng commauoded, to sir Ihon Stile knight, to discharge all the Duchcmen
and their Sbippes^and deliuered their Sailes, and gaue them license to returne: Naye said
tl-e Duchmeo, the Spanyardes and we be the Emperours Subiectes, why should not thei
be al~o discharged? sir Ihon Stile answered the, that his Commission uas onely to discharge
them The Duchmen fearyng that the Frenchemen, would take the seas before the, and
»o to'"ton thr>, departed hastely, curssyng the Cardinal as-aucthorof this war.
•When the Lady Margaret "heard tell, howe the "Duche nacion wish their ' Shippes find
<roodes were released, and not the Spanyardes, she sent for the Englishc Mcrchamm-s, t.nd
tothein- siu(i- Sirs, sithe the Kyng your Master, hath deliuered onely the Duche men,
•tnd notthe Soanyardes, we relese your bodies free, to go at your libertie, but yourgoodes
«4-,il re-nV'n ' v\\ we knowe what shal become of the Spanyardes, and when tl»ey be de-
in.1 'come for vow goodcs, and you shall haue thcim deliuered, thus the Englishcmen
departed, and came to the iyng and declared to hym and his eounsaill, how the. were i-n-
'warr with the 'Emperor was displeasanr, both to Merchantes and Clothier?, for the «£v^
•\l r -inuntesdurstcnotauenture into Spainc, sithe Aprill last past, and now- was come the. Mai.
iTdaie of March, wherfore all bro<le Clotl.es, Kerseis & Cottons lave on the.r hunde
In ol1 as when the Clothiersof Essex, Kent, Wilshire, Suffolk, & other shirej^hlcfc
Sr£s£^jS ,
ilxSo^HiSi
746 THE. XIX. YERE OF
where the Clothiers do daily bryng clothes, to your market for your ease, to their greate
cost, and there be ready to sell them, you of your wilfulnes will not bye them, as'you haue
been accustomed to do: what maner of men be you saied the Cardinall ? I te 1 you that
the kyng straightly commaundeth you to bye their Clothes, as before tyrae you haue been ac-
customed to do, vpon pain of his high displeasure.
The Merchantes answered, my lord you kuowe well, that we haue had no trade outward
this twelue monethes pa&^ and we haue so many clothes in our handes, that we knowe not
how to vtter them, therefore it were greate losse to vs to bye any more : wherefore we trust
you will not moue vs to bye the thyng, whiche we cannot vtter, for in all places our vent is
stopped and forbidden. Well saied the Cardinal, if you will not bye the clothe^at Blaeke-
well hall, they shall be brought to the White Hall at Westminster, and so yoa of London
shall lose thelibertie, and the kyng shall bye them all, and sell them to Merchant strangers.
Then answered a wise Merchant, my lorde, the kyng maie bye them aswell at Blackewell
hall, if it please him, and the strangers will gladlyer receiue theim there, then at Westmin-
ster: You shall not ordre that matter, saied the Cardinall, and first I will sende into Lon-
don, to knowe what Clothes you haue in your handes, and that doen the kyng and his coun-
sail shall appoynt who shall bye the Clothes I warrant you, with this answere the Londoners
departed.
When the Clothiers hard that the Cardinall toke their part, they waxed proude, and spake
euill of the Merchantes, and when the Merchiites came to bye Clothesr the Clothiers set
them hire, then thei were accustomed to be solde: but at length thei were fain, bothe to
abate the price, and also to seke of the Merchant men, for all the Card inalles saiyng.
If this warre was displeasaunt to many in Englande (as you haue hard) surely it was as-
uiuch or more displeasant, to the tounesand people of Flaunders, Brabant, Hollande, and
Zelande, and in especiall to the tounes Andwarpe and Barrow, where the Martes wer kept,
and where the resorte of Englishmen was, for thei saied that their Martes were vndoen, if
the Englishemen came not there, and if there were no Marte, their Shippes, Hoyes, and
Waggons might rest, and all artificers, Hostes, and Brokers might slepe, and so the people
should fal into miserie and pouertie, of these thynges daily complaintes were made to the
lady Margaret, and the Emperors counsaill, whiche wisely pondered the complaintes, and
after long consultacion had, thei appoynted certain Ambassadors to go to the kyng of Eng-
land, and to entreate for a truce, or abstinence of warre, which Ambassadors came into
Englad, and associated themselfes with Don Hugo de Mendosa, Ambassadoure there for
the Emperor: the one Ambassador was Prouost of Cassell, and the other Master Ihon
Lay souereigne of Flaunders: these, iii. Ambassadors came to the kyng, the. xxix. day of
Marche to Richemond, & after reuerence doen, the lord Hugo de Mcdosa said to the kyng,
sir themperours Maiestie so much knowlegeth hymself bound to your grace, for manifolde
kynde actes and beneuolences, doen and shewed to hym sith his tendre age, that he in no
wise woll take the defiaunce, dooen by your Herault as a paremptory intimacion of warre,
till he had heard farther of your pleasure, and therefore his counsaill hath sent hether these
twoo noble persones and me, to knowe your determinate answere, and final! resolucion in.
that behalfc. The Kyng after a good auisement had, answered and saied: Of warre I am
nothyng Joyful I, and of warre I am lesse fearefull. I thankeGod I haue no cause to care for
•warre, for I haue bothe men and money, and all thyng ready prepared for thesarae, (whiche
tbynges I knowe y other princes lacke, for all their high woordes) and therefore to that
question of warre, I could sone agre, but or I make you a determinate answere, some part
of my mynd I wiltdeclare to you, and I tell you although your Master be a greate Empe-
ror, and a mightie Prince, I cannot nor maie not suffre hym, to bere doune St destroye the
real me of Fraunce, whiche is our true inheritance, and for the whiche our brother and alie
the French kyng, paieth vs yerelya great pencion and tribute, wherfore we of lustice and
equitie, music maintein that lande, out of whiche we haue so faire a rent and suche a
profile.
The.
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 747
Then saied the ProuostofCassell, yea sir, and it please you to call to your remembraunce
the olde and auncient loue and familiaritie, whiche hath been betweue your llealme, and
the houses of Burgoyne and Flaunders, and the lowe countreys, I assure you the people of
all those coutreis will line and dye with you, aboue all men next their souereigne Lord,
wherefore moste noble Prince neuer concent, that olde loue that hath so long continued, be
now broken and seperated : we saie this for nofeare, for we be well furnished for war, bothe
of men and strong castles, all whiche before this tyme hath been at your comaundement,
and therfore the loue that we haue euer borne you, we continue & offer you nowc to conti-
nue: and where we otire you choyse of war or peace, at your pleasure, surely the Em-
perour meaneth that for your honor, as though you should commoiuide which you
would: and if you chose warre, we haue commission to entreate for peace, and you
chose peace, we haue like commission to thanke you, and to oSVe vs and ours at your
comaundement. Then saied the Lorde Hugo de Mendosa to the kyng, sir of very "
right the Emperor and his countreys, ought to haue your loue and fauor, before the
French kyng and his nacion : for the Frenchmen in the tyme of their affliction, made
humble sutes and requestes to your grace, which thei neuer would do in the tyme of their
prosperitie, but the Emperoure hath euer continued one man at all tymes, wherefore he is
better to be trusted, then they whiche neuer wer long true to you. Wei said the kyng sithe
I haue well perceiued the intent of your commyng, I woll be auised, and then I will make
you an auised answere, and in the meane season I am content, that there be an abstinence/of
warre for a tyme, so the Ambassadours departed for a season, and the Prouostof Casselles,
departed to the lady Margaret with this answere.
After this the kyug which was wise, well learned, and a farre castyng prince, consulted
with his counsaill of this matter, and there after long debatyng il was considered, that the
kyng was riche, strong, and puyssant inough to make warre with any prince Christen, and
that no prince could hurte hym by warre or inuasion, therefore some thought it best to haue
warre, but the king & the wiser sort cosidered that if he had war with the Emperor, that his
marchauntes should lese muche, and if thei lost, the clothyers and the clothworkers, of
which were a great multitude should lese and be brought to extreme pouertie. For it
was considered that the Emperor was lord of all Spaine, Naples, Sardinia & so southward
to Epuskaia, and likewise northest ward from Grauelyn to Rye and Reuell, so thatEnglishe
niarchauntes passyng on those costes were euer in dauger. Also no Alarme could come into
England but through his dominions, by reason wherof cloth making should decay. Wher-
fore the kyng considered if the marchauntes lost, the porer sorte should lese, and at length
he should lese in his customes. Wherfore leauyng the glorye of warre he tooke mercye ou
his subiectes and concluded to take a peace for a tyme till farther comunicacion might be had
betwene his cousail and the Emperors. And vpo this point letters wer sent into Spayne,
Fraunce, and Flaunders, and so this matter continued vndetermined till answers were
brought from outward partes. .
in this season the bishop of Bay on whiche afterwarde was b.shop & Cardinal of Paris
bevn" ambassador from the French kyng & soiornyngin Lodon, hard tell how tbe Emperors
aSbalsadors made much suite to the kyng and his counsail, where he came to y court and
desired to spcake with the kyng and so was brought to the kynges presence to whom he aorv.
sayd pleased your highnes to consider the great and high peace that is cocluded betwene
tou and your louyng brother and perpetual alye the French kyng my master, whiche » ra-
y the Are estates of the realme of Fraunce, by y wlnche you haue
The tuitc of
THE. XX. YEHE OP
with honor & profke men must • nedes study. As touchyng f defence of the rcalme of.
France I assure you it shalbe Defended to .my power though it be to my losse, and my studve
is.no lesse to haue a peace whiche might be honorable to your master then to myne owne
self. With whiche saying the Ambassador held him well contented. So that you may per-
ceiue that the great pencion and profile that the king of England had out of Fraunce with
the great league and amitie concluded and sworne, was the very cause why the kyng of Eng-
land so much helde with the French kyng & not for mere loue. For this matter was daily
great counsniles, and one day themperorri ambassador was present, another day the French
kings ambassador was present, but the Cardinal was euer on the French part. So thus,
continued this da:i/* counsels with great study.
In the same season a Frenche Grayer of. xxx. tonne manned with xxxviii. Frenchemen
laye at Margate to u ay te for a pray of some Flemyng that should come out of the ryuer of
Thames, and by chaunce a Grayer ot! Armew which was appointed to waft the fisher botes
betwcno Grauelyn and Ost end, was come by North of Goodwyn sades to Nortnsand head
and so came to Grauesend and toke in bread. This Grayer was of xxviii. tonne and had
in her xxiiii. Flemynges: When she was vitayled she made to the sea warde, and sodainly
he espyed the Frenchmen whiche houed vnder a saile. The Flemynges mistrusted and in-
continent put themselles in a readynes and came so nye that he hayled tlie Frencheman, the
Frenchman shot a piece of ordinaunce and with that kyde the Flemyng auorde, there was
sore fightyng, for the Frenchmen had crosbowes and the Flemynges had handgunnes. The
Frencheman fell of & would haue been gone, that seyng the Flemyng whysteled and after
the Frenchman made sayle. Now the wynde was so straynable East that the Frenchman
could saylc no whither but into the Thames, and so he did and the Flemyng folowed, and
before Grauesend the Flemyng borded the Frencheman and there they fought again, but
away againe went the Frenchman and the Flemyng after w all his sayles, and so farre sayled
A ship cha- the Frencheman that he rane along- the Tower wharffe as though he would haue reuen his
Tow°rthe shippe, the Flemyng set on and entered the shippe for any thyng the Frenchman could do
and cryed I haue take the thefe. Sir Edmond Walsyngha Leuetenaunt of the Tower
was on the wharffe & saw them fight, called his men and entered the shippes and toke both
the capitaines and their men. The Fleming boldly chalenged his prise, for he savd that
open warre was betwene Fraunce and Flaunders, and sayd farther that the Frencheman was
a pirate: The kyngescounsail tooke vp the matter and made an ende betwene them. This
chaunce was much talked of that two shippes should sayle in chase from Margate to the-
Tower wharffe, because y before time such a like thing had neuer been hard.
Now let vs returne to the lorde Lawtrick whiche had gotten many tonnes in Italy, and
had with his great army besieged the citie of Kaples and so it happened that the prince of
Orenge & other capitaines y xix. day of April set on a great part of the Frenche army and
notwithstandyng their hardynes the Emperors army obteined the victorie, so that from that
tyme forth the Frenchemen lost, what by pestilence whiche then was great in Italy, and what
by sodain skymishes.
This yere the. xxii. day of February the kyng created at Wynsor sir Pierce Buelat of
Ireland, erle of Osserey.
THE. XX. YERE.
Tile kyng kept the day of sainct George with the companions of the order of the Gar-
ter with great solempnitie at his Manor of Rychemond, where to him came tidynges from
the army of the lorde Lawtrick in Italy, which letters shewed that the lorde Lawtrick had
sent the lorde Peter de Nauarro the third day of Marche last past to a great tonne called
Melffe with x. M. Frenchemen, & within the toune were viii. C. Spaniardes good men of
warre, the lord Peter de Nauarro besieged the toune, & after gaue to the same a great as-
saut,
KYNG HENRY THE. VI1J. 74p
wot, but y Spaniardes so defended them with ordinance & resistences that they slew v or
v». M. Irenchemen and caused them to retrete. The lordc Lautrick hearyni this came in
person with a great nomber to the toune of Smel & merueilously bet the toune with or-
dmaunce and then gaue to it a great and fierse assaut, and so sore that the Spaniardes were
put back, yet they defended them, so that it was mcruail to beholde, for they slewe and
destroyed mi. M. Frenchmen. The Frenche armye entered the toune on all sides, and
yet the Spanyardes kept y market with their ordinance as long as they might, but at the last
beyng oppressed with multitude they all were slaine without mercy, so cruel were the
Frenchmen: In this toune was taken the prince of Melif a noble man pcrteinyng to the
Emperor. Thus was the toune of Mclffc taken and spoyled, not greatly to the Frenche-
mennes profile, for they lost almost x. M. men whicha sore diminished their power.
Although that this season was an abstinence of war taken betwene the kyng of England
& the ladye Margaret so that the dutche nacion might safely come & go into England" and
5' Englishmen might safely repaire thither, yet betwene the Frenchmen and y Flemynges
was hot warre on the frontiers, and many a prisoner was taken, and many -men slain^ and
likewise the one part toke the other on the seas, and sometime the Frenchmen would spoyle
Englishe shippes. saiyng that they had Flemynges goodes or Spaniardes goocies, and like-
wise the Flemynges would enter the Englishe shippes, and say they had Frenchemens goode*,
so the Englishmen lost till the king sent shippes to kepe y sea: But for a trueth the Span-
yardes were strong on the sea, and to the Frenchmen did mtiche harme. The kyng per-
ceiuyngthat there was nothing coeluded betwene themperor & him, thought not to be bc-
hynd hand, wherfore he ordained that the lord Sudes should passe to Guisnes with a M.
souldiers that was v. C. archers and v. C. horsemen, and that the duke of Suftblke should
passe oner after with a great army to inuade Flaunders. These lordes made much prepa-
racion & mustered their men at y Mantels beside saint Ihones & was redy to depart, but
the Emperors ambassador £ thambass,tdor of Flaunders so much did with the kyng & his
cousail (& the Frenche kyng also assctcd) that truce was take-n betwene England, Flaun-
ders, £ the countreys of Picardy on this side the water of Some for viii. moncthcs, the
peace to begin y first day of May, and to endure to y l-»st day of February. This peace
was proclaimed in Lodon the. xix. day of I tine, so y now all Englishmen might lawfully
passe into the low conntreys but not into Spain, which sore grtued marchauutes that
haunted that parties. In v same proclamacion was further contained, that if a final peace
wer not fully agreed betwene the sayd. iii. princes within y sayd. viii. moncthes, that then
all marchautes s'hould hauc two monethes after to passe into their owne countreys with their
wares and marchaundises in safetie. The Emperor sone enclyned to this peace, for he saw
that byy Marte many of his frendes in high Dutchland and other places toke great profile
and especially his owne low coutreys, wherfore he thought not to hurt hjs frendes for the
displeasure he bare to his encmyes of Fran nee, and also to show himselfe louyng lo the
kin<f'of England he was content to take this peace.
In this season the duke Charles of G elders perceiuyng y Emperor was at war with
Fraunce raised a <n-eat power of horsemen & came to n great toune of Holland called the
Ifoo-e where the lawe and iustice is kept for that countrey, by reason wherof the townc was
very riche and sodainly he entred the toune without resistance and spoiled and robbed the
toune and slew diuers persones and with much riches laded their wagons and so departed
and carved with him diuers rich prisoners. The lady Margarete gouerncsse of the ow
countreys hearing of this raised a great power vnder the conduict .of the lord Isy stemge,
which lord with a great puissaunce entered Gelderland and gat the toune of Hatton, he
castle of Howtyna, and forraied and destroied the coutrev: lastly on \Vh.tsonday beyng the
las daVof Mave he Gelders gaue battel to the lord Isylstemge and ought vahauntly as
inv men could do but yet by fortune of warre they were ouercome and fled & wer chased
a gyr, at way and many LJ. This chaunce was^ while the treatie of peace was in Eng-
land. In
7-50 THE, XX. YERE OF
rat. In the very ende of May began in the citie of London the sickenes called the sweating
'''"-sickenes, and afterward went all the realme almost of the which many died within v. or
vi. houres. By reason of this sicknes the terme was adiorned and the circuites of Assise
also. The king was sore troubled with this plage, for diuers dyed in the court, of who
one was sir Fraunces Poynes which was Ambassador in Spayne, & other, so that the kyng
for a space remoued almost euery day,- till at the last be came to Tytynhangar a place of the
abbot of saint Albones, & there he \V a few determined to byde the chaunce that God
would send him, whiche place was so purged daily with fyers and other preseruatiues, that
neither he nor the quene nor none of their company was enfected of y disease, such was
the pleasure of God. In this great plage dyed sir Wyllyarn Compton knight & William
Gary esquier whiche wer of the kynges priuy chamber, and whom the kyng highly fauored
and many other worshipful men and women in England.
By reason of this plague the watches whiche were wont to be kept yerely in Lodon on
saint .Ihons euen at Mydsommer and saint Peters cue were by the kyng and his counsail
commaunded to be left for that yere, wherfore the Armorers made great suite to the kyng
and declared their great hynderaunce, whiche was not so muche considered as the mischief
that might haue ensued if that so great a nomber should haue assembled together in that
hole tyme & the plage of sweatyng raynyng. Now let vs leaue England ajl this Sommer
season troubled & vexed with this sweating sicknes, 'and let vs returne to the affayres of
Italy.
The Emperor which knew how the lord Lawtrick was in Italy w a great army, thought it
,not for his profite to leaue his army there vnsuccored, wherfore he sent $ lorde Henry the
yonger duke of Bruswyke with a great copany of Almaynes both on fote and horsebacke.
Wherfore the Venicians set TYaunces duke of Orbyne to kepe the straytes and to stoppe
him the passage : But when he heard of the puissaunce of the duke of Bru.»wycke and the
great municions & prouisions of warre that the Almaynes brought, he turned his ioruey,
and by aduise of the Venicians determined to fortifie the tounes & to delende them against
the Almaynes, and so the duke of Bruswyke with his armye passed the mountaines and en-
tered Italy burnyng, rasyng & raunsomyng tounes as he passed, and euer he marched to-
ward Myllain, wherof hearyng the Mylleners whiche were brought to extreme pouertie by
these warres, beganne to lament and waile for the great tyranny that they iudged to folowe
whiche folowed in dede. For when the Almaines came to Myllain and demaunded money
of the Citezens, they that had nothyng to paye, were tyed in chaynes and kept miserably
in prison tyll they had made some prouision for the payment, whiche caused the Citezens
.to flee out of the citie and to leaue it in maner desolate: whiche thyng Anthony de Leua
perceiuyng moued with great compassion for the desolacion of the citie called the
Citezens together and promised them that if they would paye the wages of the souldiers
for xx. dayes onely, he would cause all the whole army to remoue out of the citie, the
poore citezens made shyft and payed the souldiers, and so they all departed fro Myllayne
and came to the citie of Pauye and tooke it with litle labor and after that tooke diuers other
tounes.
Anthony de Leua knewe well the Duke of Brunswycke would in the spryng of the yere
set forward toward Naples to ayde the Emperors armye against the lorde Lawtrick, there-
fore he desired the Duke that or he passed out of the duchye of Myllayne, he would put
all the .Freuchemen out of suche fortresses as they .kept, whiche thyng he sayd might be ea-
sely done, considering the .great puissaunce of the Almaynes and the debilitie and lacke of
power of the duke. of Myllayne, and in especiall consideryng that the Venicians kept their
tounes and would not ayde the Frenche parte, to the whiche persuasions the Duke agreed
and went toward the citie of Lawde to the which ihei gaue the assaut, but they witbin so
well defended it that the Almaynes lost more then they wanne, wherfore the duke determi-
ned to famishe them within for he knewe by their great nombcr that their vitaile must nedes
jfayleand so it did in dede, so that no creature but men of war had any vitaile and therforje
the
KYNG HENRY T^E. VIIJ.
the poore Citezens were compelled either to go into the hades of their enemies or to dve for
tamyn. J
In this season was through all Italy a vniuersal warre, famyn and pestilence or a mor-
reyn wherof the people died in euery place, & in especially in the Dukes armye whiche
caused the moste part of_the Almaynes to returne into their countrey, wherfore the duke
wisely considered the chauce and saw that his army was greatly minished by death, and saw
farther that for kcke of vitaile and money he was not able to conuey the remnaunt of his
armye to Naples, by the aduise of Anthony de Leua concluded ^o returne and so shortly
after in good order returned and lost more by the pestilence then by his enemies.
The Frenche kyng was aduertised by the lorde Lawtrick how his people decayed sore be-
fore Naples, and how the Duke of Brunswyke was commyng to raise the siege & reskue the
citie, wherfore the French kyng sent lorde Fraunces erle saint Poul brother to the duke of
Vandosme with. viii. M. men to folowe the duke of Briiswyke to Naples, and if he weni
not to Naples, then he should ioyne himselfe with Frauces Sforcia duke of Myllayne and
the Venicians and so to expel Anthony de Lena and all the Emperors souldiers out of Lom-
bardy.
The Spaniardes within Naples were aduertised that new succors were commvn" to the
Frenchmen, wherfore they determined to fight with them or their new ayde came, and so
one day they issued out of the citie and fought with the Frenchemen and slewe many of them,
but by force they were compelled to returne. The lorde Lawtrick knew well that the citie
could not hold long for lacke of vitaile (for a suertie if vitaile had not come by sea, the
toune had been yelded) wherfore the lord Lawtrick suffered his armye to lye still in the
plaine fielde all the heate of the Sommer and brought theim not to the shadow, by reason
wherof thefq fell suche a disease amongest his armye that they dyed daily in great nomber
and he hitnselfe fell sicke and lefte the armye and lay at Verse, of the whiche mortalitie
there dyed in the Frenche campe aboue xxiiii. M. men besyde the moste part of all their
horses and beastts, of whiche nomber as diuers wrytera do agree there dyed aboue v. M. Tht di"h
gentlemen, amongest whom there dyed the lorde Vawdemont brother to Anthony duke of"
Lorraine, the lorde of Grauntmount, the capitain Molyac, the lorde Lauall of the Dol-
phenye, the capitaine Luper, the lorde Charles Vyuone lorde of Chataygneray sonne to
the lorde Andrewe of Vyuone Seneschal of Poytew, and many other noblemen of name.
Duryng whiche plague the toune of Cappe (whiche moste of all the tounes in the realme
of Naples helde on the Frenche part) became imperiall and turned to the Emperors part.
Whereof hearyng the lorde Lawtrick made therfore great sorowe, and beyng somewhat
amended of his disease, tooke his horse and came to visite the Campe, and when he saw
his nomber so minished and his Campe so desolate of people that he perceiued that his en-
terprise could not be performed, he fell into suche a malencoly y his sickenes toke him
more feruetly then before, so that within two dales after, which was the xxi. day of Au-
oust he died at and his body was sered and conueyed after into Fraunce.
9 The Marques of Saluce whiche was Liuetenaunt vnder the lord Lawtrick called to coun-
sel the Erie Guy of Rancon and Peter de Nauer and other capitaines that wer left, and
after long consultacion they cosidered their nomber to be to small either to kepe the siege
or to abide battel, for they passed not v. M. in all. Wherfore they cocluded to leue the
siege and to returne, and so the xxv. daye of August they brake vp the.r Campe and re-
turned toward Frauce, in whiche returne the Spaniardes euer costed them, and when they
tooke any Frenchemen at aduauntage, they either slewe or tooke them. Thus was the
ende of this iorney by reason of the great mortalitie, whiche if it had not happened, the
citie and the whole realme of Naples had been recouered: For the citie of Naples could
not haue holden x. dayes, after the army remoued as they confessed after.
The Erie of saint Poul (whiche was appointed to passe into Italye as you haue heard be-
fore) knew nothyng of the mortalitie at Naples. Wherfore with all spede "e passed the
Lountaines the san£ season that the duke of Bruswyke returned & came into the duchy of
752 THE^XX. YERE OF
Myllain and tooke certaine fortresses which the Emperors power had wonne, and af-
ter that the aydcs of the Venicians and duke Fraunces Sforcias were ioyned with him, he
besieged the citie of Pauye -and within a fewe dayes the citie was taken by force and the
walles beaten doune to the ground for dispilc that the Frenche kyng was taken before the
tonne. These doyngcs were not so muche pleasaunt to the Frenche kyng as the losse of the
citie of Gcane was to him displeasaunt. For the same season Andrewe Dorye whiche was
all the doer for the French kyng on the sea, & had before tyme in the Frenche kynges
quarel vanquished the lord Hugo Viceroy of Naples, & had taken y Marques of Gnasto
£ Ascayne de Columna & other capitaincs bclongyng to the Emperor, whiche prisoners the
French kyng cotnaunded him to deliuer into his hades, which tiling Andrew Dory thought
not reasonable, cosideryng that he tooke him, and for that cause and because his wages was
not payed, he toake his Galevs and sayled to Geane where he was borne and also was
there of great aulhoritie and estimucion, and there he so persuaded the: people that they
became imperial and tooke Trenulsius the French kynges frende and put him in warde,
and prepared to defende the cilie against the Freuche kynges power, whereof hearyng the
•Erie of saint Poule sent in al hast his light horsemen to succor the citie but or they came
the citezens wer so furnished that the Frenchmen had no hope of recouery, whcrfore thty
returned to Aloxadry, and there thei cotv.isai'.ed together hew to take the citie of Myllayne
which was sore desolate of people and brought to great mischiefe by the crueltie of Span-
iardes and Almaines, but when they heard lei that the Emperor had sent ii. M. Spaniardes
to ayde Anthony de Leua, they chaunged their purpose and determined to recouer the citie
of Geane agaric1. For which purpose the er!c left the Venicians at Casyart, and ti>e
power of duke Fran noes Sforcie he left at Pauye to kcpe the passages that the Spaniardes
should not stray farre abrode, and also to kepe the passages I hat no vitayle sltoi;ld come to
Y Spaniardes whiche at that tyme had onely the citie and castle of Myllain and none other
t'ortressc to resorte to. And therle himselfe lay at a village called Lamlryan, and for the
more spede of his enterprise he sent his forward with all his artillery before toward G-eane,
hauyng with him bis middle warde and rerewarde. Of all these doynges Anthony de Leuu
. liypg at MylJayn by/'his espyals was truly from tyme to tyme aduertised, wherfore he HJce a
polletike capitainc considered how tlie eric had done folMily to sende his ordinaunce and
forward before, he thcrfore determined to take the auauutngo of the Frenchenien if he
Anthony dc might, and so called to him all his capitaincs and to thcirn sayd: Felowes in armes and
iaitVhis° souldiors to the Emperor our master, see and consider what a great occasion of victory is
«niidiers. ofl'ered to vs this present day, for the Venicians and the Sforcians be seuered from tlic
.Frenchemen, and therle of saint Foul with part of his army lyeth at Lamlryan and hath
sent his forward &-his ordinauce toward Gcane, whcrfore we will set on him sodainly if
you agree, and if we overcome him the praise shalbe ours, and if he fiye at our comytig
yet folowyng him we shall get a great [tray and botie. To this entent all the other souldiere
agreed (for they wer very nedy and glad to haue somewhat) and so he caused it to be pro-
claymed tl-at all his men should be rctlv at an houre, and that cuerye man should haue a
white shyrt aboue his apparel that one in the darke might know another, and when euery
man was ready and the cuanyivg approchcd, Anthony de Leua accordyrvg to his enterprisie
ACamisado. Sct forwai'de and was ail armed and satte in a chayre curied by iiii. strong persones.
When .y citezens of Myllain saw him thus armed & borne in n chayre and knew wel that
he had a ronyng gout and could not styrre himself, they meruailed much of his audacitie,
but by y experiece of other thynges:by him 'done, they iudged tiiat he entendcd some great
enterprise, but because the nombcr of his people was so lytle-lhey doubted the sequele of
his aduenture. But for all their irnaginaciotis he w-itlnhis people secretely issued out of
Myllain and passed forward without any noyse, and in the rnornyng sodainly set on therle
of saint Poui and his army, so that the crle had no leysure to send for his ordinattnce and
forward but was fayne to trust to s'rch as .were then with -him. And at the fyrsfbr-unte the
.Almaynes fled, and the Frenche horsemen also, & with; a litle;fight all tt* other fled, and
as
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ.
as the Erie bjmaelfe was fleyn^ouer a great diche on hofsebacke, he with the erle Guv of
Raucon and the lord Cast.llyon and many other nobles and gentlemen wer taken prYsonm
ret h±l'r-V aAfrrhClaUnCe &e a'rtlllerie wer Pra/es to themperors souldiers j^S much
refreshed the. After this lorney * French kyng had no army in Italy, wherfore Fraunces'
Sforcia seyng himselfe destitute of ayde, made meanes to the Emperor by Pope Clement
for the appointment both of the duchy of Myllain and also for his [answer of certain trea-
sons of the which he was accused to the Emperor, to whom themperor answered that the
nextsommer he would come into Italy to receiue his Emperial croune, and then he would
take such an order as right and equitie should require. This was the ende of the warres
begon betwene the king of England & the Frenche kyng on y one partie and the Emperor
on the other partie, in the xix. yere of the king as you haue heard before. For after this
iorneythe lady Margaret duches of Sauoy & aunt to themperor, and the lady Loyse duches
of Angulesme and mother to the French kyng continually labored for a peace, so that by
their meanes a treatie was appointed to be kept at Cabray in lune folowyn" as you shall
heare after.
Now let vs returne to the kyng of England which was in a great scruple of his conscience
& not quiet in his mynde, because that diuers diuines well learned secretely enformed him
that he Jiued in adultry \v his brothers wife to the great peril of his soule, and told him
farther y the court of Rome could not dispence w Gods cdmaudement & precept. These
thinges were .talked among the comon people sith the fyrst day of his manage as you haue
heard before, insomuch that now the kynges counsailors aduised him to know the trueth.
Wherfore he like a wise prince for quietyng of his coscience called together the best lerned
of the realme which were of seueral opinions, wherfore he thought to know the trueth by
indifferent iudges lest perauenture y Spanyardes in fauor of y" quene would say that his
owne subiectes wer not indifferent iudges, wherfore he wrote his cause to Rome because the
best clerkes in Cnristendome wer there, and also he sent to al the vniuersities of Italy and
Fraunce and to the great clerkes of al Christendom to know their opinions, and desired the
court of Rome to send into his realm a legate to heare the cause debated whiche should be
indifferent and of a great iudgement. At whose request the whole consistorye of the col-
le<re of Rome sent thither Laurence Campeius a prest Cardinal, a man of great wit & ex-
perience, but more lerned in y papal law then in diuinitie which was sent as legate into
England in the. x. yere of this king as you haue heard in the sayd yere, & with him was
ioyned in cotnission y Cardinal of Yorke& legate of England, & so this Cardinal Campeius
by long iorneyes came into England & much preparacion was made to receiue him trium-
phantly into Lodon, but he was so sore vexed with the goute that he refused all suche so-
lempnities, & desired hartely that he might without pompe be coueyed to his lodging for his
more quiet & rest, & so the ix. day of October he came from saint Mary Ouereys by water
to the bishop of Bathes place without Temple barre where he lodged the last tyme he was in
England. Where he was visited of the Cardinal of Yorke & diuers other estates & prelates.
And after he had rested him a season & was somwhat releued of his pain, he was brought
10 the kvn^es presence then liyng at Brydewel by f Cardinal of yorke and was caried in a ^co.
,-hayer of Crimosyn veluet borne betwene iiii. persones for he was not able to stand, and the °
Cardinal of yorke and he sat both on the right hand of the kynges throne, and there one
Fraimciscosecretarie to Cardinal Campeius made an eloquent oracion in the Latin tongue,
in the whiche he rehersed, fyrst with what crucltie the Emperors souldiers had handeled the
Done what tyranny they had shewed to the Cardinalles and priestes, what sacrilege &
BDOvlethei had comitted in saint Peters churche, how thei had violat virgins, rauiahed
me, nes wyues, & in conclusion spoyled, robbed & tormeted all the Romanies & mhabitantes
n the citie of Rome: and farther he shewed what fredship the col ege of Rom.e found at
the kvnees handes & the Frenche kinges in the tyme of that tnbulacion, that .f they had
not ioyned together, the citie of Rome w all their gouernors had been brought to vtter ruyne
11 decay, for y which he sayd that pope Clement & al his college of cardinab & the Senators
754 THE. XX. YERE OF
of- y citie w al the citezens rendered to the king their hartie thiikes, & promised him their
loue, fauor& atnitie perpetual.
This oracion (as cocerning the trouble of Rome) was set forth with such lamentacions,
such abhominable actes & tyranyes that the most part of the hearers thought it more elo-
quent then true. To the which Oracion doctor Fox Prouost of Cambridge made a discrete
Thcam. answere, & as to the fyrst point he declared that the king much lamented to heare his
frendes yea or any other christen men to be ordered or badeled with such tyrany and oppres-
sion: and as touching the second point he sayd that the kyng did but the duetie of a chris-
ten prince to releue hisfredes beyngin captiuitie, for the which he would y the whole citie
of Home should geue thankes to God and not to him. After whiche answere made the
two legates communed secretely with the king a long space and after departed to their
lodgyng.
Of the comyng of this Legate the common "people beyng ignorant of the truth and in es-
pecial women & other that fauored the queue talked largely, & sayd that the king would for
his own pleasure haue another wife & had sent for this legate to be deuorsed fro his quene,
with many folishe wordes, insomuche that whosoeuer spake against the manage was of the
comon people abhorred & reproued, which comon rumour & folishe comunicacions wer re-
lated to $ king, wherfore he like a prudet prince & circumspect doer in all his affaires, &
willing all men to know his entcnt and purpose, caused all his nobilitie, ludges & coun-
sailors with diuerse other persons to come to his palace of Brydewell on sonday the viii. day
of Noueber at ufter noone in his great chamber and there to them sayd as nere as my witte
could beare away these wordes folowyng.
The ityng«j ()ur trustie and welbeloued subiectes both you of the nobilitie and you of the meaner sort,
conVe'rnyag it is not vnknowen to you how that we, both by Goddes prouision and true & lawful! inheri-
hisfirstma- taunce haue reigned ouer this realme of England almost the terme of xx. yeres. During
whiche time we haue so ordered vs, thanked be God that no outward enemye hath oppress-
ed you nor taken any thyng from vs, nor we haue inuaded no realme but we haue had victo-
ry & honor, so that we thinke that you nor none of your predecessors neuer liued more
quietly, more wealthy, nor in more estimacion vnder any of our noble progenitors: lJut
when we remember our mortalitie and that we must die, then we thinke that all our doynges
in our life tyme are clerely defaced & worthy of no memorie if we leue you in trouble at the
tyme of our death. For if our true heyre be not knowen at the time of our death, se
what mischiefe & trouble shall succede to you and your children. The experience therof
some of you haue sene after the death of our noble graundfather kyng Edward the. iiii. and
some haue heard what mischief & manslaughter continues in this realme betwene the houses
of Yorke and Lancaster, by y which discencion this realme was like to haue been clerely
destroyed. And although it hath pleased almighty God to send vs a fayre doughter of a
noble woman and me begotten to our great comfort & ioy, yet it hath been told vs by di-
uers great clerkes that neither she is our lawfull doughter nor her mother our lawfull wife,
out that we Hue together abhominably and detestably in open adultry, insomuch that when
our ambassade was last in Fraunce & mocion was made that the Duke of Orleauhce should
mary our sayd doughter, one of the chief cousailors to the French kyng sayd, It wer well
done to know whither she be the kyng of Englfid his lawfull doughter or not, for well knowen
it is that he begat her on his brothers wife whiche is directly against Gods law & his precept.
Thinke you my lordes that these wordes louche not by body & soule, thinke you y these do-
ynges do not daily & hourly trouble my conscience & vexe my spirites, yes we doubt not
but & if it wer your owne cause euery ma would seke remedy when the peril of your soul
& the losse of your inheritance is openly layde to you. For this only cause I protest before
God & in the worde of a prince, I haue asked counsail of the greatest clerkes in Christen-
dome, and for this cause I haue sent for this legate as a man indifferent only to know the
truth and to settle my conscience and for none other cause as God can Judge. And as touching
the quene, if it be adiudged by J law of God that she is my lawfull wife, there was neuer
thyng
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 755
thyng more pleasaunt nor more acceptable to me in my lifebothe for the discharge & cleryng
of rny conscience & also for the good qualities and condicions the which I know to be in
her. For I assure you all, that beside her noble parentage of the whiche she is discended (as Tfh?hpri';"
all you know) she is a woman of moste gentlenes, of moste humilitie and buxumnes, yea ^
and of al good qualities appertainyng to nobilitie, she is without comparison, as I this xx.
yeres almoste haue had the true experiment, so that if I were to mary againe if the maria^e
might be good I would surely chose her aboue all other women: But if it be determined by
Judgement that our mariage was against Goddes Jaw and clerely voyde, then I shall not one-
ly sorowe the departing from so good a Lady and louyng copanion, but muche more lament
andbewaile my infortunate chaunce that I haue so long lined in ad ul try to Goddes great
displeasure, and haue no true heyre of my body to inherite this realme. These be the sores
that vexe my mynde, these be the panges that trouble my coscience, & for these greues I seke
a remedy. Therfore I require of you all as our trust and confidence is in you to declare to
our subiectes our mynde and entent accordyng to our true meaning, and desyie them to pray
with vs that the very trueth may be knowen for the discharge of our conscience and sauyng of
our soule, and for the declaracion hereof I haue assembled you together and now you may
depart.
To see what countenaunce was made amongest the hearers of this Oracion it was a straunge
sight, for some sighed and sayd nothyng, other were sory to heare the kyng so troubled
in his conscience. Other thai fauored the quene much sorowed that this matter was now
opened, and so euery man spake as his heart serued him, but the kyng euer labored to know
the trueth for discharge of his conscience,
Shortly after this the two Legates came to the quene at the same place of Brydewell, and """"^
declared to her how they were deputed iudges indifferent betwene the kyng and her to heare °J.e
and detennyn whether the mariage betwene them stode with Goddes lawe or not. When she
heard the cause of their comyng, no merueil though she were astonied for it touched her
very nere. And when she liad paused a while she answered : Alas my lordes is it now a
question whether I be the kynges lawful wife or no? _When I haue been maried to him al- Th« qut«5
most xx. yeres & in the meane season neuer questio was made before? Dyuers prelates"
vet bey n » aliue & lordes also £ priuie cousailors with the kyng at that tyme, then adindged
our marine lawful and honest, and now to say it is detestible and abhomimible, I thynke it
create maruell: and in especiall when Iconsid'er, what a wise prince the kynges father was,
and also the loue and natural affeccion, that Kyng Fernando my father bare vnto me:
thvnke in my self that neither of our fathers, were so vncercumspect, so vnwise , and of so
small imacnnacion, butthey forsawe what might folowe of our manage, and in especiall the Kyng
Oil*1 Q tt , , /» _ ._ i _ _ . .! *.rt ...**K MMnrtt A *»jiit*1 ana
uenture carnally
lawfully, which license vnder lead I haue yet to shew, which thynges make me to >av
ndSlv beleue, that our mariage was both lawfull, good, and Godly: But ot tn.s irou;
Me I onely maie hanke you my lorde Cardinal of Yorke, for because I haue wondered at
bhommabu, Lcch.n
oney mae
vourhighpdde & vainglory, and abhorre your volupteous life and abhommabu, Lcch.n,
Sit e regard your pr^supeous power and tyranny, therefore ot malice you haue kin-
deltd his fife and set this matter a broche, & in especial for the great mul.ce, that you
heart lo my nephew the Emperour, whom I perfectly know you hate worse then a bcor-
r o my ,
3 \J **
756 THE. XXJ. YERE OF
of the double, & that it was sore against his will, that euer the manage should 'come in ques-
tion, but lie saied that by his superior the Bishop of Rome, he was deputed as a ludge to
heare the causs, which he sware on his profession to heare indifferently, but wbatsoeuer
was saied, she beteued hym not, and so the Legates toke their leaue of her and departed.
These wordes were spoken in Frenche, and written by Cardinall Campeius secretary, which
was present, and by me translated as nere as I could.
The kyng notwithstandyng that his mynd was vnquiet, yet he kept a good coumerraunce
toward the Quene, with asmuch loue, honor, and gentlenes, as could be shewed to such
a Princes, but he absteined from her bed, till the truth was tried, aecordyngas his Ghostly
counsail had uuised hym, whiche was to hym no litle pain, for surely he loucd her as well, as
any Prince' might loue his wife, and she him again, and therefore it was great pitie, that
their mariage was not good.
The more to quicken his spirites and for recreacion, the Kyng kepte his Christmas at
Grenewiche, with muche solempnitie and great plentie of viandes, and thethcr came the
two Legates, which WIT receiued by twoo Dukesr and diuerse l"rles> Barons and Gen-
tlemen, to whom the kyng shewed great pkasures, bothe of lustes, Tornay, Bankeltes,.
Cnrdinaici- Maskes and disguisynges, & on the xii. daie he made chelawfull sonne of Cardinal Campeius,
?nTc!eS°°"ne b°rrie m wedlocke, knight, and gaue hym a coller of. S. S. of golde: but the Quene shew-
ed to them no manerof countenauuce, and made no great ioye of nothing, her mynd was
so troubled.
This doyng in England, was spred ouer all Christendom by letters, and in euery region
except Spain, and the Emperors dominions, thei adjudged the kyng a wise, a verteous, &
a prudent prince, for triyng out of the truthe, consideryng that the question was not onely
doubtfull to learned men in Diuinitie, but vpon the vncertaintie of thesame, depended
the ruineof hisrealme and the successio of thesame, whiche was a waightie thing to consi-
der, and no wisedome to let so great a doubt lye vndiscussed.
After Christinas and all Lent till Easter, was none other thyng commoned of, but onely
of the kynges mariage, the Archebishop of Canterbury sent for the famous docters, of
bothe the Vniuersities to Lambeth and there were euery day disputacions, and comonynges
of this matter, and because the king perceiued & knewe well, that the quene was wedded
to her awne opinion, and that he would that she should do nothyng without counsail, he bad
her chose the best clerkes of his realme, to be of her counsaill, and licensed them to do the
best on her part that thei could aecordyng to the truthe: then she elected Willyam Warha
Archbishop of Catorbury, and Nicholas West bishop of Elie, docters of the lawes, and
Ihon Fisher bishop of Rochester, and Henry Sumdish bishop of sainct Asse, docters of
Diuinitie, and many other docters and well learned men, whiche for a suertie like men
wel learned, defended her cause as far as learnyng might defend it, as you shall here -in
the yere folowyng.
This yere was sir lames Spenser Maior of Londo, in whose tyme the watchc in Londoa
on Midsomer night was laied doune.
If THE. XXI. YERE.
The.
riK.xxi. the beg'nnil>ff of tm's Yere> in a greate Hall within the black Friers of London, was
yere. ordeined a soleaipne place for the two Legates to sk in, with two cheyers couered with
cloth of gold, and cusshions of thesame, and a Dormant table railed before, like a so-
Ti« court* lempne Courte, all couered with Carpettes and Tapissery: on the right hand of the court
Bi3cke was hanged a clothe of estate, with a Chayer and Cusshions of riche Tissue, for the kyng,
and on the left hand of the Courte was set a riche chayer for the Quene. When the place
was redy, the Kyng and the Quene wer ascited by Docter Sampson, to appei'e before the
Legates, at the forenamed place, the twentie and eight day of May, beyng then the morow
after
KYNG HENRY THE, VIU. 757
after the feast of Corpus Chris ti, in proper perso, or by their Proctors. At the daic as-
signed, the Legates came to the forenamed place, with Crosses Fillers, Axes, and all the
Ceremonies belongyng to their degrees, and after that thei wer set (the Cardinal of Yorke
sitting on the right hand) their Commission was redde, and the cause of their commyng
thether openly declared, the effect whereof was, that the Courte of Rome was instructed,
that greate Clerkes and learned men, had enformed the King, that his mariage with his
brothers wife, was vnlawfull, dapnable, and directly against the Law of God, where-
fore they were directed and appoynted by thesaied Courte, to be iudges in the cause,
and to here what on both parties could be alleged: after this was done the kyng was call-
ed by name, for whom twoo procters appered, then the Queue was called, \\hiche within
short space, beyng accompaignied with the foure Bishoppes, and other of her counsaill, and
a greate compaignie of Ladies and gentle women folowyng her, came personally before the
Legates, and after her obeisance, sadly and with greate grauitie done, she appeled from them TheQuene
as Judges not competent for that cause, to the Court of Rome, and after that done she 3PPcakd>
departed again. Notwithstadyng this appele, the Legates sat wekely, & euery day were ar-
gumentes on bothe partes, and nothing els done.
The king which onely desired, to haue an ende in this matter, for discharge of his con-
science, came to the Courte the of lune, and the Queue also, where he standyng vn-
der his cloth of estate, saied these wordes in effect folowyng: My lordes, Legates of the ™a'cf0yn°g<*
Sea Appostolike, whiche be deputied Iudges, in this great and waightie matter, I most
hartely beseche you, to ponder my mynde and entent, which only is to haue a final ende,
for the discharge of my coscience: for euery good christen man knoweth what pain, £ what
.vnquietnes he suffreth, which hath his conscience greued, for I assure you on myne honour,
.that this matter hath so vexed my mind, & troubled my spii ites, that I can scantely study
denes neucr Prince had suche another, and therfore if I would willyngly chaunge I wer
not wise: wherfore my suite is to you my Lordes at this tyme, to haue a spedy ende, accar-
dyng to right, for the quietnes of my mynde and conscience onely, and tor no other cause
as God knoweth.
When the Kyng had saied, the Quene departed without any thyng saiyng, then she wa9
called to know whether she would bide by her appeale, or answer there before the Legates,
her Procter answered, that she would byde by her appeale, that notw.thstandyng the Coun-
sailers on bothe sides euery day almoste met, and debated this matter substantially, so that
at the last the Diuines were ail of opinion, that the mariage was against the Laweo God,
^iSEraSSSEfc
73 a THE. XXJ. YERE OF
a greate mischief to the realme : Secondly, the separacion should be a cause of great vn
Jkyndnes, betwene her kynred and this realme. And the third cause was, that the conti-
nuaunce of so long space, had made the Manage honest: These persvvasions with many
other, were set furthe by the Queues Counsaill, and in especiall by the Bishop of Rochester,
which stode stifle in her cause, but yet Gods precept was not answered, vvherfore they
left that ground and fell to pleading, that the Court of Rome had dispensed with that
Manage: To this some Lawyers saied, that no yearthely persone is able to dispence with the
positiue La we of God.
When the Legates had heard the opinions of the Diuines, and sawe that their opinion
for the moste part, was against the Matrimony, and that now the question was brought to
dispute the aucthoritie of the Court of Rome, they beganne a litle to quicken: For they
considered that if they should saie and determyne, that the Court of Rome might not dis-
pence in that case, that few inenne would thynke, that they might dispence in any other
case, which should be to tlieim, a greate losse and hurt. Whcrfore they dissimuled the
matter, and euer told the King, that he should haue an end shortly, and tracted furthe the
tyme with Gracious and Sophistical argumentes, till August began to approche: then
•Cardinall Campeius saied, that they might not sit after luly, till October, all whiche season
was a vacacion in the Courtc of Rome, and their Court beeyng a member of the Courte
of Rome, they must nedes do thesame : this saiyng was reported to the kyng which, by
that saiyng kncwe perfectly, that he should then haue no ende, and then he complained to the
dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk, and other nobles of his counsaill, how he was delayed, and
willed them at the next Session, to require them to make an end of the cause, and what
Judgement soeuer they gaue, he would gladly accept it, for the quietnes of his conscience.
These noble men came to the place, where the Legates sat, the. xxx. day of August,,
beyng Friday, where as Cardinal Campeius, declared in eloquent Latin, and sware on his
honor and faithe that he bare to the church of Rome, that the course of the com tes there
be, at thende of luly, to suspendc all causes, till the. iiii. daie of October, and if any
cause be treated, and Judged in the meane season, that iudgement to be clcrely voyde and
therfore he required the kyng to take pacience, till that time, trusting that then thei should
precede toward sentece, so that he should be contented : the noble menne desired theim to
make an ende, whatsoeuer it were, that day or the next day, which was the last daie of
luly: but they answered that they could sit no more till October, whiche answere sore dis-
pleased the noble mennc, whiche the king had sent thether, in so much that Charles Duke
of Suffolke, sceyng the delay, gaue a great clappe on the Table with his hande and said:
by the Masse, now I see that the olde saied sawe is true, that there was neuer Legate nor
•Cardinall, that did good in Englande, and with thateaiyng all the Tcmporall Lordes depart-
ed to the King, leauyngthe Legates sitting one lookyng on the other sore astonnied, because
they saw the Temporall lordes depart in anger.
You may be sure, that the king was not well content, when he hard of tlws delay, but
yet like a wise Prince, he tooke it paciently, trustyng to haue an ende in October ensuyng:
But when he heard tell, that a letter was sent lor the Cardinall Campeius, that he should
with specie, returne into Italy, and that he prouided for his iorney: Then he openly per-
ceiued, that the Legates dissimuled the tyme to haue the matter in the Courle at Rome, for
the mainteinaunce of their aucthoritie, knoweyng perfectly, that there he should bee foded
furthe with argumentes so long, that he should be Ju maner wery, and also all .that tyme, he
should bee vnquiet in his conscience, which was the greatest care, that he had, but the se-
conde care that he tooke, was to see the Cardinall of Yorke, (whom he so highly fauoured
and trusted, and whom he had so highly promoted, both to the Archbishopriche of Yorke,
and the Bishoprickes of Winchester, Duresme, and the Abbay of Saincte Albones, with
ivuvy other greate dignitiesand promocions, beside the Chauncellorshippe of Englande) so
ynfaithfully to dissimule with hym, and not to open the very truthe, which caused hym clere-
Jy to cast hym out of his fauor, in the which he had Ipng been.
Who-
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ.
\?he the nobles and prelates perceiued, that the kings fauor was from the Cardinal sore
minished, euery man of the Kynges Counsaill, beganne to laye to hym suche offences, as
they knewe by hym, and all their accusacions were written in a boke, and all their handes
set to it, to the nomber of thirtie and foure, which boke they presented to the kyng. When
the kyng saw the boke, he marueiled not a litle, for by the Articles conteigned in thesame,
heeuidently perceiued the high pride and coueteousnes of the Cardinal, and saw openly
with what dissimulacion and clokyng, he had handeled the kynges causes: how he with faire
liyng woordes, had blynded and defrauded the kyng, moste vntruly, whiche accusacions
sore moued the kyng against hym, but yet he kepte it close for a time, and so the Kyng rode
on his progresse with the Quene to Woodstocke. And at the feast of the Natiuitie of our
Lady, he came to Grafton, beside Stony Stratforde, and thether came the two Legates, and
were but meanely receiued, sauyng that the Kyng made to theim good semblaunce, and in es1
peciall to Cardinall Campeius, because he came into England at his request: and after din-
ner the saied Campeius toke his leaue of the kyng, and then the kyng him coueighed to the
chamber dore, and there they departed, and the Cardinall of Yorke also went with his com-
paignion to Tocester, and on the morowe he came to Grafton to speake with the kyng,
which was then rydyng out on hunting, and sent hym woorde by Henry Norreis, t.'iat he
should accompaignie Campeius to London, and when the kyng came to London, he would
more come with hym : thus ahnoste dismaied the Cardinall of Yorke, returned to his com-
paignion to To ester, and so thei came together to London, where to the Cardinal Cam-
peius, were deliueied greate rewardes, and so he toke his iorney toward the sea side. Where
the kyuges counsail, caused his chestes & cariages to be opened to se what letters the Cardi-
nal ot Yorke had sent to the court of Rome, & there wer but a few letters found, for they
•weie sent before in post, but in many chestes wer found, old hosen, old coates, and such
vile stuffe, as no honest man would cary to haue ity which serch much displeased Capeius,
and the more because his coffers wer like wise opened inChepe, by the rashenes of aMoile,
as you heard in the tenth yere of this king.
Thus departed out of England in high displeasure, the craftie Cardinall Campeius, leauyng
behynde him his subtle felowe, whiche after their departyng from the kyng at Grafton, neuer Ti*
sawe the Kyng, nor came in his presence. This greate Session of the legates, was com- *™
inuned of through Christendome, and in especiall in Spain, and other the Emperors Domi- came to the-
aions, which sore grudged that the Quene should bee diuorsedfrom the kyng.: and surely the
most part of the laye people of Englande, which knew not the lawc of God, sore mur-
mured at the matter, and much the more, because there was a gentle woman in the Court,
called Anne Bulleyne, daughter to sir Thomas Bulleyne, Viscount Rocheforde, whom the
kyne much fauoured in all 'hoiiestie, and surely none otherwise, as all the world well knew
after For this cause the Quenes ladies, gentlewomen, and seruauntes, largely spake fc
said that «he so entised the kyng, and brought him in such amours, that only for her sake
and occasion, he would be diuorsed from his Quene, this was the foofishe communicacion
«f people, contrary to the truih, as you haue heard declared before.
The kvng whkhe all the twentie yere paste, had been ruled by other and m especial by
the Cardinal of Yorke, began now to be a ruler & a King, yea, a Kyng ot suche wute,
wisedome and pollicie, that the like hath not reigned ouer this llealme, as you shall playnly
re after : aswell for the settin furth of true Doctrync as also for the augmenta-
«j«u
perceiue here after : aswell for the settng urt o true ocryn -
don of his Croune. For when he perceiued, howe the Cardmalles bad handeled hym, and
saw Plainly that the lawe of God was clere, that he might not mary Ins brothers wife, he
Souah to«nde his Ambassadors to all the Vniuersities in Fraunce and Italy, to knowe
heir determinacions, and for that cause he sent Doctor Stokesley, and Doctor* oxe,
tvt greate Clerkes into Fraunce, which sped as you shall hear after declared, when the
inf continually stadiyng on this matter, called a counsaill of the chief of his
to begin at wLrnJtel, the first daie of October ne*t ensumg, and *o
760 THE. XXJ. YERE OF
y
moned a Parliamet, to begin, the third day of Nouember, then immediatly folowyng, &
declared that thesame coiisaill, should deuise diuerse actes, necessary and nedefull to bee
passed at thesaied Parliament, for reformacion of certain cxaccions, done by the clergie
to the lay people, to which counsaill and Parliament, the Cardinal was warned and
somoned, whiche muche conforted hym, that he outwardly litle abashed : and so he and
al the counsaill, came to the cousaill chamber at Westminster, and there diuerse daies,'
Tfce Cardi- communed of diuerse thynges, but nothing was fully concluded, and there the Cardinall
»toKt*nde snewed hymself, much more humblier, then he was wont to be, and the lordes shewed them-
selfes .more higher and straunger, then thei were wont to bee, but for all that he abashed
not his countenaunce, but came into Westminster hall with all his trayne, the first day
of the Terme:.but none of the kynges seruauntes would go before, as they were wont to
do, and so he sat in the Chauncery, but not in the Starre chamber, for all the lordes and
other the kynges counsaill, were gone to Wynsore to the Kyng, where they enformed the
Kyng, that all thynges that he had done alrnoste, by his power Legantyne, were in the
case of the Premunire and prouison: and that the Cardinall had forfected, all his landes,
The Card;- teiiementes, goodes, and catelles to the kyng: wherefore the kyng willyng to ordre him,
nail in the accordyng to the ordre of his lawes, caused his attorney Cristopher Hales to sue out a
Writte of Premunire against hym, in the whiche he licensed hym, to make an attorney.
And farther the seuentene day of Nonernber, he sent the two 'dukes of Norffolke and
Suffolk, to his place -at Westminster, to fetch away the great Scale of Englande, whiche
he was loth to deliuer, if there had been any remedy, but in conclusion he deliuered it,
to the two Dukes, whiche deliuered thesame to doctor Tailor Master of the Holies, to
cary it to the kyng, which so did the next day: and beside this the Kyng sent sir William
Fitz William knight of the Garter, and Thresorer of his house, and Doctor Stephin Gar-*
diner, newly made Secretary, to se that no goodes should be embesiled out of his house: and
farther ordeined that the Cardinal should remouc to Ashire beside Kyngston, there to tary
the kynges pleasure, & to haue all thynges deliuered to him, which were necessary for him,
but not after his old pdpeous & superfluous fashion: For all his goodes wer seazed to the
kynges vse. \Vrhe the scale was thus taken from the Cardinall, the dukes of Norftblke
and Suffolk, with many Erie?, Bishoppes and Barons, came into the Starre chamber, the.
xix. day of October, where the duke of Norftblke declared that the kynges highnes, for
diuerse and sondery offences, had taken fro hym his grcate Scale, and deposed him of all
offices, and least menne might complain for lacke of Justice, he had appointed him & the
duke of Suffolk, with the assent of the other lordes, to sit in the Starre chauer to hear
and determine causes indifferently, and that of all thynges tlie Kynges pleasure and com-
maundement was, that they should kepe their handcs close, from any rewardes takyng, or
maintenaunce, and so that wekc they sat in the Starre chamber and determined causes.
The Cardi- On the daie of thcsame moneth, the Cardinall remoued out of his house called
mouynT Yorke place, with one Crosse saiyng, that he would he had neuer borne more, meaning
fmm .Yorke that by his crosse, that he bare as legate whiche degre taking was his confusion, as you se
openly, and so he toke his barge, and went to Putney by Water, and there toke his horse
and rode to Asher, where he remaigncd till Lent after.
Duryng which tyme, he bcyng called on for an answere in the kynges Bench, to the
premunire, for gcuyng benefices by prcuencion, in disturbance of mens enheritaunce,
and diuerse other open causes in the premunire: he according to the kynges licence, con-
stituted Ihon Scute and Edmond lenny, apprentices of the Lawe his attorneis, which by
his awne warrant signed with his hande, confessed all thynges concernyng thesaid suite, for
they wer to ope to be cloked or hidden, and so Judgement was geuen, that he should forfet
al his lades, tencmetes goodes and catalles, and should be out of the kynges proteccio, but
for all that the kyng sent him a sufficient proteccion : & of his gentlenes left to him the
Bishoprikes of Yorke and Winchester, and gaue to him plate and stuffe conueniet for his
degree, and the Bishoprike of Duresme, he gaue to doeter Tunstal bishop of London,
and
KYNG HENRY THE/VIIJ. 7f,:.
-and the Abbey of sainct Albones'he gaue to the 'Prior of Norwiche, anil to London h,e
promoted Docter Ihon Stokesley, then Ambassador to the Vniuersities, 'for the k'ynrai
manage, as you haue heard before. For all these kyndnes shewed to the Cardinal!, yet he
still maligned against the kyng, as you shall perceiue here after, by his vntrue doynges,
which brought hym to confusion.
The twenty and three day of October, the kyng came to his Manor of tJrenewiche,
and there muche consulted with his counsaill, for a mete marine to bee his ChimnceUour,
so that in no wise he were no manne of the Spiritualtie, and so after long debate, the Kyng
resoluted himself vpon sir Thomas More knight, Chauncellour of the Duchie of Lan-
castre, a manne well learned in the toungues, and also in the Common LawCj whose witte
was fyne, and full of imaginacions, by reason vvherof, he was to muche geuen to mockyng,
whiche was to his grauitie a greate blemishe. And then on the Sondaie, the twentie and Si
foure daie of thesame monethe, the kyng made hym hi* Chauncellour, and deliuered him w
the great Scale, which Lorde Chaunceliour, the next morow after, was ledde, into the £j"
Chauncery, by the two dukes of Norffolk and 'Suffolk; and there sworrie, and then the °
Mace was borne before hym.
Now let vs returne to the treatie of Cambray, whiche was appointed to be kept the
last Sommer, for the conclusion of a peace, betwene the Emperor on the one part, and,
the kyng of England and the French kyng on the other part, for whiche conclusion,
there came to Cambrey, the Lady Margaret Doches of Sa'uoy, Aurit'to the Emperour
and the Lady Loyse duches of Angulesme, and mother to the Frenche fcyng and Docter
Tunstall bishoppe of London, and after bishoppe of Duresme; and sir Thomas More knight,u
after made Chauncellour of Englande, and diuerse other for the Kyng of Englande, all;
these mette there in the beginning of luly, accompaignled with diuerse great princes an4 .
Counsailers, on euery parte, and after long debating on bbthe side's, there, was a good .
conclusion taken, the fifth day of August, in the which was concluded, that the treatie
of Mad rill, should stande in his full strength and vertue, sauyng the thirde and fourth,
and the leuenth and fourtenth articles, which touch the Duchie of Burgoyne, and other
lordshippes.
Item, it was agreed that the French kyng should haue his children deliuered again,
paiyng to the Emperoure two Millyons of Crounes of gold, whereof he should paie at
the deliueryng of the children, twelue hundred thousand Crounes.
Item, that the Frenche kyng should acquite the Emperoure, against the kyng of Eng-
lande, of foure skore and tenne thousande Crounes, whiche the Emperoure ought to the
king of England, and the kyng of Englande to deliuer all suche bondes and gages, as he
had of the Ernperours.
Item as touching the remnant, which was fiue hundred and tenne thousand Crounes
the Emperor should haue. xxv. thousande crounes rent yerely, for the which he should
haue the landes, of the Duches of Vandosme, liyng in Flaunders, and Brabant bounde.
Item, that Flaunders and diuerse other coutreys, should not behold in c et, i
Fraunce.
of Naples, the Duchie of Millain, & the countie of Ast, should
g should with drawe all such sou.diers as he had, out of
em that the Lady Elianor should be brought into Fraunce, with the French Kynges
of Luke. Item,
!) EJ
762 THE. XXI. YERE OF
Item, that al the goocles moueable and vnmoueahle, of Charles late Duke of Burbon,
should be restored to his heires, they paiyng to lorde Henry, Marques of Dapenete, and
Erie of Nassaw, Lorde Chamberlayne to the Emperor, tenne thousande Ducates, which
he lent to the saied Duke of Burbon.
Item, that Ihon Erie of Panthieure, should be remitted to all such goodes, as were
Erie Rene his fathers.
Item, the Lord Laurence de Gorowod, great Master to the Emperoure, should be
restored to the Lordeshippes of Chalmount, and Monteualle, whiche he bought of the
Duke of Burbon, or els to haue his money again.
Item, Phillip de Chalon Prince of Orenge and Viceroy of Naples, to be restored to all
his landes in Bur^oyne.
Item, that the Duches of Vandosrne, and Loys Erie of Nauers should haue all such
right and accions, as they should haue had, before the warre began.
In the Emperours countreys, when all thynges were written, sealed and finished, there
was a solempne Masse song in the Cathedral church of Cambrey, the twoo ladies Am-
bassadors of the king of Englade, sittyng in greate estate, and after Masse the peace was
Proclaimed, betvvene the three princes, and Te deum song, and money cast to 'the people,
and greate fires made through the citae. Thesame night the Frenche Kyng came into
Cambrey, well and nobly accompanied and saluted the Ladies, and to them made di-
uerse bankettcs, and then all personcs departed into their countrey, glad of this concord.
The wo- This peace was called the. womennes peace, for because that notwithstandyng this conclu-
mennes s[on} yet neither the Emperoure trusted the Frenche kyng, nor he neither trusted nor loued
him, and their Subiectes were in thesame case. This Proclamacion was proclaymed so-
Icmpnely, by Herauldes, with tropettes in the citee of London, whiche Proclamacion
much reioysed the Englishc Merchantes, repairing into Spain, Flaunders, Brabant, Ze-
lande, and other the Emperors dominions, for duryng the warres, Merchantes were euill
handeled on both parties, which caused them to be desirous of peace.
Here is to be rernembrcd, that at this present time, William Tindale had newly trans-
Cutbatd lated and imprinted the New Testament in Englishc, and the bishop of London not pleased
Tostai with the trunslacion thereof, debated with himself, how lie might compasse and deuise, to
L5d5P°f destroy that false and erronious translation, (as he saied). And so it happened that one
bought Augustine Packington, a Mercer and Merchant of London, and of a great honestie, the
tamcnJs'to same ty1116 was 'n Andwarp, where the Bishope then was, and this Packyngton was a man
kume. that highly fauored William Tindale, but to the bishop vlterly shewed hymself to the con-
trary. The bishop desirous to haue his purpose brought to passe, commoned of the New
Testamentes, and how gladly he would bye them. Packyngton then hcaryng that he wished
for, saied vnto the bishop, my Lord if it be your pleasure, I can in this matter dooc more
I dare saie, then moste of the Merchauntes of England that are here, for I knowe the
Dutche men and straungiers that haue bought theim of Tindale, and haue tlieim here to
sell, so that if it be your lordshippes pleasure, to pay for them, for otherwise I cannot
come by them, but I must disburse money for theim, I will then assure you, to haueeuerv boke
of them, that is imprinted and is here vnsolde. The Bishop thinking that he had God by
the too, when in deede he had (as after he thought) the Deuell by the fiste, saied, gentle
Master Packington,, do your diligence and get them asid with all my harte I will paie for
them, whaisoeuer thei cost you, for the bokes are erroneous and naughtes and 1 cntend
surely to destroy theim all, and to burne theim at Paules Crosse. Agustine Packyngton
Augustyne came to Willyam Tyndale and saied, Willyam I knowe thou art a poor man, and hast a
Ae'iSp" hepe of newe Testamentes, a1'..! bokes by thee, for the whiche thou hast bothe indaungered
ofi.o.id6s thy frendes, and beggered thyself, and I haue now gotten thee a Merchaunt, whiche with
ready money shall dispatche thee of all that thou hast, if you thinke it so proffitable for
yourself. Who is the Merchant. said Tindale? The bishoppe of London saied Packyng-
^.i, O that is because he will burne them saied Tyndale, ye Mary qd Packyngton, I am
the
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 763
the gladder said Tyndale, for these two benefites shall come therof, I shall get money of
hyra for these bokes, to bring my self out of debt, (and the whole world shall cry out
vpon the burning of Goddes worde). And the ouerplus of the money, that shall remain
to me, shall make me more studious, to correct thesaid New Testament, and so newly to
Imprint thesame once again, and I trust the second will much better like you, then euer
did the first: And so forward went the bargain, the bishop had the bokes, Packynton had
the thankes, and Tyndale had the money.
Afterward when mo newe Testamentes were Imprinted, they came thicke and threfold
into England, the bishop of London hearyng that still there were so~ many Newe Testa-
mentes abrode, sent for Augustin Packington and saied vnto him: Sir'how commeth
this, that there are so many New Testamentes abrode, and you promised and assured me,
that you had bought al? then saied Packyngto, I promes you I bought all that then was t'6
bee had: but I perceiue they haue made more sence, and it1 will neuer be better, 'aft
long as they haue the letters and stampes, therfore it wer -best for your lordeshippe, to "bye
the stampes to, and then are you sure: the bishop smiled at him and said, well Pac'kyng-
'ton well, and so ended this matter.
Shortly after it fortuned one George Constatine, to be apprehended by sir Thomas More, consua-
which then was lord Chauncellor of England, of suspicia of certain heresies. And this tync.
Constantine beyng with More, after diuerse examinacions of diuerse thynges, emohg
other, Master More said in this wise to Constantine. Constantine I would haue thee
plain with rne in one thing that I will aske of thee, and I promes thee I will shew thee
fauor, in all the other thynges, whereof thou art accused to me. There is beyond the
sea, Tyndale, loye, and a great many mo of you, I know thei cannot line without helpe,
somesendeth theim money and succoureth theim, and thyself beyng one of them, haddestparte
thereof, and therefore knowest from whence it came. I pray thee who be thei that thus
helpe them? My lorde qd Constatine, will you that I shal tell you the truth? Yea I
pray thee qd my "Lord. Mary I will qd Constantyne, truly qd he it is the Bishop of Lon-
don that hath holpcn vs, for he hath bestowed emong vs, a great deale of money in New
Testamentes to burne theim, and that hath and yet is our onely succoure and comfort.
Now by my trothe qd More, I thynke cue thesame, and I said so much to the bishop,
when lie went about to bye them.
While this treatie was thus in communication at Cambrcy, themperor winch knew
aide his people, which there remained, and so accopa w
f Spain, and men of war, he toke ship at Jkrtilona, and sailed to Gcane where
c wasreceiued with the scigniorie of the citee, with great triu.nphe and
' rcsente' geuen to him. Pope Clement hearyng that the Lmpcror was come into Italy,
with all his Cardinalles and whole court, came to his citee ot Uononie, and there taned
The Pope
raieatGeane, thither came to him diuerse great Princes of Italy
with crea powers, and when all thyuees wer redy, he set forward in good ordre of batta.l
Bonone and in euery touna he was recemed, & presented with great giftes and
£T,Sd ' nd so by Ion" iorneis, he came nere to Bononie, where firste met with him, all the
He a?e of the Stie with procession, then all the vniuersitie in there Imbues al on horse-
I? then came all the Children of the citie, in white sattm fringed WHO gold, after them
H n.archaate of he citie, all in crimosyn Uamaske, then folowed the pott-states & go-
the marchautes ot tne ' & vvithin a m]e of the c.tie there met hym
764
THE. XXI. YERE OF
Eojperour a lighted and kissed his fote and then they embraced together, arid we"nt into the
church together and after went in to the pallace where they wer lodged both, and daily kepter
fete. ' great counsayles, together. .While the Cardinall lay at Bononie, ther came to him Fraunces
Sforse Duke of Millane,, to excuse hyrn selfe of all thynges to hym obiected, and by
mucbe. enttfiatyng at the Popes, request .he pardoned hym his offence, and restored him to'
his. dignit^e, and possession, paiyng to hym nine hundreth thousand Ducates, & till thei
wer paied, the Castel of Millayne, and the toune of Crome, should abide in themperours
possessip. . Afyer this .agrement the Emperour set for Anthony de leua, and riiade him capi-
tayne pf'his.prdinaunce, and so now the duchy of Millayne was;brought to quiet. In the
sarne seqs.ObQ 'jhe kytig of Engliid sent sir Nicholas- Carew knight master of his horses, &
Doctor ^apspp to vBon,anie for the;ratificacion of the league concluded at Cambray, to the
performance, whereof the Emperour was- solemplie sworne, and so the Ambassadours de-
parted : jyke^wjse .,the^np?.rour. set into England, Peter Lord of Rasebec, which likewise
saw£ |he .kyqg. ,pf England ,sworne to performe the satire.
Acieprqintf t,p the. spmons, the kyng. of Englade began his high court of parliamet, the
third day ot Nouembre. On which day he came by water to his place of Bridewell, and
there he ,& hjs nobles put on there robes of parliamet, and so came to the blacke Freers
churcjh wher a Masse of the holy ghost was solemplie song by the kynges Chappell, & after
the Masse, the kyng with all the Lordes of the parliament, and Commons which wer so-
moned to apere at that day came in to the parliamet chlibre, wher the kyng sat in his
Throne or seate royal, and Sir .Thomas More his Chauncelor standyng on the righthand of
' the kyng behynde the barre made an eloquent Oracion, declaryng that like as a good shep-
ard whiche not alonely kepeth and attendeth well his shepe, but all so forseeth & prouidetb
for althyng, which either may be hurtful or noysome to his floke, or may preserue and de-
fende thesamc agaynst all peryles that may chaunce to come, 'so the kyng whiche was the
sheaperd, ruler and gouernour of his rcalme, vigilatly forseyng thinges to come cosidered
how diuerskwes before this tyme wer made nowe by log cotinuance of tyine arid mutacion
of thinges, very insufficient, & .vnpei fight, and also by the frayl condicion of man, diners-
ncw enormities were sprdg amongcst the people, for the which no law was yet made to re-
forme thesame, which was the very cause why at that tyme the kyng had somoned his high
court of parliament: and he resembled the king to a shepard, or heard man for this cause,
for if a prince be compared to his riches, he is but a richeman, if a prince be compared
to his honour, he is but an honourable man: but compare him to the multitude of his peo-
ple and the numbre of his flocke, the he is a ruler, a gouernor of might and puissaunce,
s,o that his people maketh him a prince, as of the multitude of shepe, commeth the name
of a shepherd: and as you se that emongest a great flocke of shepe some be rotte and fautv
which the good sheperd sendeth from the good shepe, so the great wether which is of late
fallen as you all knowe, so craftely, so scabedly, ye & so vntruly iuggeled with the kyn<*,
that all men must nedes gesse and thinke that he thought in him self, that he had no wit to
perceiue his craftie doyng, or els that he presumed that the kyng woulde not se nor know
his fraudulent luggeling and attcmptes: but he was deceiued, for his graces si<*ht was so
quike and penetrable, that he saw him, ye and saw through him, both with in and without,
so that all thing to him was open, and according to his desert he hath had a gentle correction,
which small ponishmct the kyng will not to be an example to other offendoures, but clerly
declareth tha,t whosoeuer.here after shall make like attempt or commit like offence, shall
not escape with lyke ponyshment : and because you of the common house be a grosse mul-
titude, and cannot speake all at one time: Therfore the kynges pleasure is, that yon shall
resorte to the nether house, and there emongest your self accordyng to the olde and aun-
cient custome to chose an able perso to be your comon mouth & speaker, & after yotir&
election sp ma,de to aduertise his grace therof, whkh wyll declare to you his pleasure what
tlay he wij haue hym preset in this place.
After Jfasdp»>e, the commons resorted. to the nether house, & they chose for there speak-
er
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 765
er Thomas Andeley Esquier & attorney of the Uuchie of Lancaster, and the same day was Them,,
tlie parhamet adiourned to Westminster. On the sixt day of the same moneth the king cAh^ci
came m to the parliament chambre and all the Lordes in there robes, and ther the commons f«*«
of the nether house presented there speker., whiche there made an eloquent Oracion which
cosistecl in two poynctes, the first poynct was that he muche praysed the kyng for hisequitie An°
and lustice, mixed with mercy and pitie, so that none offence was forgotten and left vn-
ponished nor in the punishment the extremitie nor the rigor of the lawe not cruelly extend-
ed, which shuld be a cause to bridel all men from doing like offences, and also a comforte
to offenders to confesse there crime and offence, and an occasion of amendment and re- .
conciliacion.
The'second poinct was, that he disabled him selfe, both for lacke of w,it, learnyng and
discrecio to so high an office, beseching the kyng to cause his commons, to resort eftsones to
ther common house, and there to chose an other speaker for that parliament
To this the kyng (by the mouth of the Lord Chauncelor) answered that where he dis-
abled hyrn selfe in wit and learnyng, his awne ornate oracion there made testified the con-
trary, and as touching his discrecio and other qualities, the kyng him selfe had well knowe
him and his doynges, sith he was in his seruice, to be both wise and discrete, and so for an
hable man he accepted him, and for the speaker he him admitted.
When the commons were assembled in the nether house, thei began to common pf their
grefes wherwith the spiritualtie had before tyme greuously oppressed them, both cotrarie to
the lawe, of the realme, £ cotrarie to all righte, and in especial thei were sore moued with
sixe greate causes. ' "
The first for the excesse fynes, which the ordinaries tpke for probat of Testamentes, ia- I
somuche that Sir henry Guilford knight of the gartir and comptroller of the kinges house^;
declared in the open Parliament on his fidelitie that he and other beyng executors to Sir.
William Cornpton knight paied for the probate of his wil to the Cardinal & the .Archbishop
of Cauntorburie a thousand Marke sterlyng: after this declaracion were shewed ,so many. •
extorcions done by ordinaries for probates of willcs, that it were to muche to rehearse. ..••-
The second cause was the great polling and extreme exaccion, which the spiritual! men . Q
vsed in takyng of corps presentes or mortuaries, for the children of the defunct should al
dye foK hunger and go a beggyng rather then thei would of charitie geueto them the sely,
kow which the dead man ought if he had but only one, such was the charitie then.
The third cause was, thai priestes beyng surueiors, stuardes and officers to Bishoppes, S
Abbotcs, and other spirituall heddes, had and occupied Fermes, Graunges, & grasiag
in euery contrcy, so that the poore husbandmen coulde haue nothyng but. of them, ao<l
yet for that they should pay derely.
The fourth cause was that Abbotes Priors and spiritual men kept Tanne houses, & t
and -soulde woll, clothe and all maner of marchaundise as other temporall marchauntes
,. I
The fift cause, was because that spiritual persones promoted to great benefices, & hauyng ,4
the'-e liuvngof ther flocke, were liyng in the courte in lordes houses, & toke al ot the pa-
rishoners, & nothing spent on the at al, so that for lack of residece both the poore of the
parish lacked refreshyng, & vniuersally all the parishioners lacked preaching, & true. *n*»
struccio of Gods worde, to the greate pcrell of there soules. , ••'
The sixt cause was to se one priest beyng litle learned to haue tenne or tivelue benefices 6 ,
and to be resident on none, and to know mariv well learned scholers in the vmuenitie which
no man,MM-
fill VI LVJ *J**s I \jiJi v. „ - , .
sver able to preche & teache, to haue nether benefice nor exh.b.ciou.
These thinaes before this time might in nowise be towched nor yet talked ot by I
except he would be made an herilike, or lese al that he had, for the b.shopes were chaun-
celors! and had all the rule about the kyng, so that no man . durst once presume to atttwf*
mv thiim contrary to their i>roffit, br commoditie. .
Lutno\ "hen God had illumined the eies of the kyng, and that ther subtell domges was
onct
THE. XXI. YERE OF
once espied: then men began charitably to cjesyre a rcformacion, and so at this ParJiamet
men bega to shew ther grudges.
Where vpon the Burgesses of the Parliament, appoinclcd suche as were learned in the
law being ot the common house, to drawe one bill of the probates of Testamentes another
for Mortuaries, and the ihirde for none residece, pluralities, and takyne of Fermea bv *
ritual men.
The learned men toke muche payne, and tirsle set furthe the bilUf Mortuaries whiche
passed the common house, and was sent vp to the Lordes.
To this bill, the spirituall Lordes made a fay re face, saiyng that surely priestes'and cu
rates toke more then they should, and therefore it were well done to take some reasonable
ordre, thus thei spake because it touched them litle.
But with in two daies after was set vp the bill concerning probates of Testamentes it
the which the Archbishop of Cauntorburie in especiall, and all other bishoppes in several
2i rtSS bot,h fro™ed and g™n'ed. for that touched ther proffite, insomuch as Doctor Ihon Fisher
BofRo- bishop of Rochester, saied openlie in the Parliament chambre these wooides- mv I O.-HP«
you se daily what billes come hither from the commo house and all is to the destruction of
the churche, for Codes sake se what a Realme the kyngdome of Boheme was, and when
the Church went doune, then fell the glory of the kyngdome, now with the Commons is
nothing but doune with the Church, and all this me semcth is for lacke of faith only
When these wordes were reported to the Commons of the nether house, that the biahoo
should say that all ther doynges were for lacke of faith, thei toke the matter Preuou«]v fo?
thei Imagined that the bishop estc-med them as Heretikes, and so by his slaunderous woorde
would haue perswaded the temporall Lordes to haue restrained there consent from the saied
two billes, whiche they before had passed, as you haue hard before.
Wherefore the Commons after long debate, determined to send the speaker of the Par
A com. liamcnt to the Binges highnes, with ti greuous complaynt, agaynst the bishop of Rochester
E&? a S° °'i a, day wll.e" the ^n" was at la>'ser' Thuil'as Au~delcy the speaker for the com-
•™-mons and tbirtie ot the chief of the common house, came to tl« kynUs presence in
palace at Westminster, whiche before was called yorke place and there ?ery eloquently de-
clared what a dishonour to the kyng and the realme it uas to say that they which were elect
ed for the wysest men of all the Sheres, Cities, and boroughes within the realme of En-
ad shoulde be declared in so noble and open presence to lacke faith, whiche was cquiualent
to say, that the, were Infidelles and no Christians, as ill us Turkes or Sarasins so U at wh
payne or stud.e so eucr thei toke for the common wealth, or what actes or lawe, so cu, r
he, made or stab hshed, shulde be taken as lawes made by Panyms and hetl.cn people, &
not worthy to be kept by Christian men : wherforc he most humbly besought the kineea hW,
nes, to call the saied bishop before hi,,, & to cause him to speake more^isc rctlv of such ,
nomhrc as was in the como house.
The kyng was not well contented with the saiyn- of the bi.hop, yet he gently answered
the speaker, that he would send for the bishop and send then, worde wtat answerc
made, and so they departed agayne. After tins the kyng sent for the archcbishope of Can ,-
JorIb.u»e «nd «»f other bishopcs, and for the bishop of Rochester also, and there declared
tohim the grudge of the commons, to the which the bishop awivered that he men he
domges of the Bohemians was for lacke of faith, and not the doynge, of them tha were in
the common house, which sa.yng was confirmed by the b.shopes being present which had
h,m m greate reputac.G, and so by that only saiyng the kyng accepted 1 is cxcu e and her-
fore sent woord to the comons by sir William F;tz willian? knight treasoror of his house
houlde, which blind excuse pleased the commons nothyiy at all
After th,s diuers assemblies wcr kept bctwene certein of the lordes & certayne of the
commons for the billes of probates of Testamentes, and the mortuaries: the tempS a tie
aied to the sp.ntualtie ther awne lawes and constitucions, and the spiritual sore defended
them by prescnpsion and vsage, to whorae an answere was made by a gentleman of Grcyes
June:
KYNG HEN-RY THE. VIIJ. -.-,.. , ,; . '
hill, ergo is it lawlull: with
but the tempqmll men stode iU bTthe e t l^e "^ lhere ? °yn,ge8 WCVe Called robberies-
to the Archebishop of Caunto burie ha ot! ti S° muche,the saied &"** niai, -aied
and the takyng of Mortuaries exacc'°n °f probates of Testamentes,
disputaciou; the tempo all o des btan nT "T °PCn robbery and theft: after lo'4
remayned vnconcluded a while ^ the C6mon^ but for al1 that> tte ^leS
cciot, s ^t:, Zt^Kfe0^ srrt and T; iire to the
losse by it, which caused them sore to murmur, but ther was no remedy. ' The ky^elikea
good and. a discrete prince seing that his commons in the Parliament house had released
the loane, entendyng somewhat to requite the same, graunted to them a general! Pardon
fences, certayn great offences and debtes only except: also he aided them for the
e of there greues against the spi. itua.tie, and caused two newe billes to be made in-
^ly^both tor the probate of Testamentes and mortuaries, which billes were so reson-
3 that t.ie spiritna!! lordes assented to them all though thei were sore against there myndes
and in especiall the probate of Testamentes sore displeased the bishopes, and the mor-
tuaries sore displeased the persones and vicars.
After these Aetes thus agreed, the Commons, made a nother acte for pluralities, of bene-
fices, none residence, biyng and Celling and takyng of fermes by spirituall persones, which
acte so displeased tl:a spirilualtic that the priestes railed on the commons of the common
house, and called them ueretikes, and scismatikcs, for the which diuerse priestes were po-
nishcd.
This acte was sore debated aboue in the parliament chambre, and the Lordes spirituall
wouldem nou'se consent. Wherlbre the kyng perceiuing the grudge of his commons, cau-
sed eight lordes and eight of his commons to mete in the starre chambre at an after none,
and ther was sore debatyng of the cause, insomuche that the temporal! Lordes of the vpper
house, which were there, toke parte with the Commons, agaynst the spiritual! lordes and
by force of re.^on rinsed them to assent to tin- bil with a litlc qualifiyng, whiclie bill the
nexte day was wholy agreed to in the lorues house, to the great reioisyng of the lay people,
and to the greate disp!easor of the spiritual! porsones.
Duryng this Parliami it was brought dount to the commons, the boke of articles whichc
the Lordes had put to the kyng agaynste the Cardinal!, the chief articles were these.
First that he without the kynges assent had procured to be a Legate, by reason whereof
he toke away the right of all bishopes and spiritual persones.
Item, in ;ill writynges which he wrot to Home or any other forayn Prince, he wrot Ego
et liC.v meus, I and my kyng, as who woulde say that the kyng were his seruaunt.
Item ihiit he hath sclaundered the church of Engi-uul in the courte of Rome, for his
sugge tion to be legate was to reforms ihe churche of Englande, which as he wrote was Facta
in n'probum censum.
Item, he without the kynges assent, caried the kynges great Seale, with hym into Flaun-
ders when he was sent ambassad to the Emperoure.
Item, he without the kynges assent, sent a commission to Sir Gregory de Cassado,
knighte,
768 THE. XXL YERE OF
'•knighte, to conclude a league betwene the kyng and the Duke of Farrar, without the kjnge
knowlege. 1 v,
Item that he hauyng the Frenetic pockes presumed to come & breth on the kyng.
Item, that he caused the Cardinalles hat to be put on the kynges coyne.
Item, that he \voulde not suffer the ' kynges Clarke, of the market, to sit at Sainct Tal-
bons.
Item, that he had sent innumerable substaunce to Rome, for the obteinyng of his dig-
nities to the greate enpouerishment of the realme.
. These Articles with many more, red in the common house, and signed with the Cardi-
nalles hande, was confessed by hym, & also ther was shewed a writyng sealed with his
Seale, by the whiche he gaue to the kyng all his mouables and vnmouables.
On the day of the conception of oure Lady, the kyng at Yorkq place at Westminster, in
the parliament tyme cfeated'th'e v'icpuht Rochforth Earle of Wilshire, and tbe>vieount Fitzj
water, was created Earle of Sussex, and the Lorde.Hastynges. was created Earle of Hun-
tyngton.
When althynges were concluded in the Parliament house, the kyng came to the Parlia-
ment chambre the seuentene day of Decernbre, ancj ,tl^ere ptit his. royall assent, to al-
thynges done by the Lordes and commons, and so proroged his, court of Parliament; tyll
the next yere. . . •• ' "•'-••
After the Parliament was thus ended, the kyng remoued to Grenewiche and there kept
his Christemas with the quene in greate triumph: with. gre,at,plentie of yiaumks^ and di-
uerse disguisynges and Enterludes, to the greate reiqisyng of his people.. ..
You haue harde before how the Emperour and the Pope was at Bononie, wher the Ern-
perour made great preparacion for the solempnisyng of hjs coronacion, which \vas ap-
poincted to be of Sainct Mathias day, or the foure and twenfie day of February, on whych
day, he was borne, and that day also the French kyng was taken, and because that that day
had ben euer fortunate to him h« appoincted his coronacion on.that day : he apoincted it also
at that place, because he woulde the soner passe into Almayne, to appecesuche striefes and
debates as was risen betwene the princes there.
And so wha the day came & euery thing was redy, he was crowned Emperor, in the
churche of. S. Peter, in the citie of canon i by pope Clemet the. vii. with al the ceremonies
therto beloging. At this coronacio wer present the Dukes of Sauoy and Millayn, duke
Frederik brother to the Palatine of Rine, and the deputies to all the seuen Electors and the
moste parte of al the nobles of Italy, and Spayne. This coronacion was done with great
solemnities, there was feastyng, iustyng and torney, and althinges that might sounde to
honoure was there shewed, bothe in apparell, and viaunde: and after that the Emperoure
and the Pope, with the hole college of Cardinalles, and al the noble men beyng present
rode in procession through the hie stretes of Bonbni, with suche a pompe and triumph as
had not bene sene in Italy many yeres before.
While the Emperour lay thus at Bononie, the kyng of Englande was aduertised by his
ambassadoures, w^iiche he had sent to diuers vniuersitics for the assoluyng of the double
cocernyng his manage, that the saied vniuersitics wer agreed and had clerly concluded,
that the one brother to mary the other brothers wife, carnally knowne was directlie against
Gods lawe, and that the pope nor the court of Rome could in no wise dispence with the
same.
Wherefore the kyng knowyng themperour and the bishop of Rome to be together at Bo-
nonie, determined to send thether a solempne ambassade, both to declare to them the law
of God, and the determinacion of the vniuersities, and also to require the bishop of Rome
to do lustice accordyng to the treuth, and also to shewe to the Emperoure that the kyng
did not moue this matter for any displeasure that he bare to him or the quene his awnt, but
only for the discharge of his conscience, and for the quietnes of his Realme.
When this purpose was agreed by the kynges counsayle, the kyng appoincted Sir Thomas
Bulleyne
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ.
Bulleyne late created Earle of Wylshicr and Doctor Stoksley elected bishop of London,
and Doctor Edward Lee his almoner, two great Clarkes, for his ambassadours & with then
nA CMfr nino»*c rlf-»^»f /-\i-r> Kr-v4-U r.C «.!,-. 1-. _ o_ i« • •.• r^»t
greate pre-
tra-
1 — . j. , „ O lllt-» «*l**MaO3O,UUUl 3 t
he set dmers doctors both of the lawe & dininitie. These arnbassadoures made K,™
paracion, and about the begynnyng of Februarie thei set forward, and so muche thei ua-
uailed that they came to Sauoy wher the Duke in the fayrc touneof Cambrey, caused them
honorably to be receiued and fested.
So they passed the Mountaynes, and so through the duchie of Millain & by long iorneis
thei came to Bonome in lent, wher they wer honorably receiued by the mastqr of the Em-
peroures house, and diuers Lordes and Gentlemen belongyng to the Pope, and within
short space the saied arnbassadoures were first conueighed to the Pope, and there declared
ther message and shewed the determinacion of the great Doctors and famous vniuersities.
Pope Clement whiche was a man of no learnyng but of a great wit made to them a gentle
answere, and saied that he woulde here the matter disputed when he came to Rome and
according to right he woulde do lustice. But his entent was all contrarie, for he knew well
that if he should geue sentence, that Pope luly coulde not dispence with the breache of
Godes lawe, that then the aucthoritie of the courte of Rome would litle be regarded, and
also he feared the Emperours displeasure if he shouldegeue sentence againste his awnte, so
that for feare of losing aucthoritie, & of thetnperors displeasure, bishop Clement, durst
not ludge according to Goddes lawe. After they had bene with the Pope, they came to the
Emperour, whiche them gently receiued, and after they had done their message, he an-
swered them that he in no wise would be agaynst the lawe of God, and if the court of rome
would adiudge that the matrimonie were not good, he would be cotet, but he thought all
otherwise, for he solicited the pope & all the Cardinallcs which wer his frendes to stad by
the dispesacio, which he iudged to be as strong as Goddes law. After this answere they toke
ther leaue of the Empevor, which the nexte weke after departed out of Bononie towarde
Almayne in good ordre of battail, he him selfe in gilt harnes, and his nobles in white har-
nes with riche cotes and trappers very curiously besene.
After that themperour was gon out of Bononie, the ambassadourcs of England toke there
leaue of the bishop of Rome, whiche went toward Rome agayne, and retorned toward Eng-
land, through the Duchy of Millayn, whiche was receiued by the Earle Lodouick, great
counsaylor to the Duke of Millain, which earle coducted them through the whole Duchie of
Millayne, & paied all their charges by the dukes comaudemet. And whe these ambassadors
wer passed the mountaynes, they receiued letters fro the kyng, which appoincted the Earle
of Wilshire to go ambassade to the French king, which then lay at Burdeaux makyng proui-
sion for money for the redemyng of his children: and the bishop of London was appoyncted
to go to Padua, and other vniuersities in Italy to know their opinions in the kynges cace, and
the kinges almoner was apoincted to retorne into Englad, and so he did, thus was the end of
this ambassad.
You haue hard before how the Cardinall was attainted in the premumre and how he was
put out of the office of the chauncellor and lay at Asher: In this Lent season the kyng by the
aduicc of his counsayle licenced him to go into his diocesse of Yorke, and gaue him com-
maundemet to kepe hym in his diocesse and not to returne southwarde without the kynges
speciall licence in writyng.
So he made great prouision to go Northwarde and appareled his semauntes newly &
bouoht many costely thinges for his houshold & so he might wel mough, for he had of the
kynaes getlenes the bishoppriekes of Yorke & Winchester, which wer no small thinges, but
at this time diuers of his seruautes departed from him to the kynges seruice, and in especiall
Thomas Crumwel one of his chief counsayle and chefe doer for him in the suppressio of ab-
beis After that al thinges necessarie for his iornay wer prepared, he toke his lorney north- «-.««.
ward til he came to Southwel which is in his dioces & ther he cotmued this yere euer grudg-
nc at his fall as you shall here after : but the lades which he had geue to his Colleges in Ox-
forde & Ypswych, were now come to the kynges handes, by his atteindtf m the premumre
5 F
770 THE. XXI. YERE OF
ynges
naunces, and for because the College ofYpswichwas thought to be nothing profitable, there-
fore he lefte that dissolued.
The last Somer while the peace was treated at Cambray as you haue hard before, Ferdi-
nando brother to the Emperour, recouered certayne tounes whiche. the Turkes had taken
from hym in Hungary, and put to flighte his enemy Ihon the Vaiuoda, whiche falsly named
him selfe kyng of Hungary. This Vaiuoda destitute of all succoure fled to Sultan Solirean
the great Turke, desiryng hym- of succor, to recouer Hungry againe. The Turke being
glad to haue an occasion to distroy Hungry, assembled a puissaunt army, and entred into
Hungry, and made, proclamacion that what toune or Citie woulde not obey kyng Ihon as
ther kyng, should be put to fire and sworde. This proclamacion so fearid the Hugarians,
that alin maner yelded the self subiectes to the Vaiuoda, the cilie of Bude onely except:
whych at the last was yelden, by composition that thei shuld depart with bag and baggage,
but for al there safe conduit signed withe the great Turkes hand, they were h'rste robbed^of
the lanizeres, and after that shamfully slain.
When the Turke had thus Bude in possession, he left there the Vaiuoda, and Lewes great
bastard sonne to the Duke of Venice, with fiue thousand fotemen, and two thousand hors-
men, and he with all haste entered into Austrice, wher his people committed such crueltie
and tiranny, as neuer hath been hard nor written, for of some thei put out the eies of other
they cut of the noses and eares, of other thei cut of the priuy mcbers, of women thei cut of
the pappes, and rauished Virgins and of women great with child, thei cut ther bellies and
brent the children : beside this, as thei passed thei brent corne, trees, howses, and al that
would be brent to make the contry desolate, and at the last the two and twentie day of Sep-
tembre, the turkes armye came nye to Vienne, aricheand a famous Citie in Austrice.
The fame was that he had two hundreth and fiftie thousande men in his armie, and fiue and
twentie thousande tentes in the sighte of the citie.
At the beginnyng of the siege certein Christian men were taken of the Turkes, which
turkes cut of the heddesof foure lepers in a lazer cote, without the citie & put them vpon
poles, & made christen prisoners preset the to the great turk, which therof toke great ioy :
of y which prisoners he released certain and bad them go to the captaynes and to tell the
that if they would yeld the citie to hym, they should depart with bag and bagage, and if
thei would kepe it by force, he woulde suerly haue it & put the all to the sword. Now in the
citie was captayn duke Phillip of Bauier, Earle Palamine of the Rine, and nephew to the
Palsgraue elector, a young man, but of noble corage, and with him were twentie thousand
Almaynes, and two thousand horseme, which nothing feared the Turkes threatnynges. ,The
Turke perceiuyng therboklnes bent his greate ordinaunce, which were thre hundreth peces
agaynst the walles, and commaundyd thetowne to be assauted : the Turkes gaue a great as-
saut, but the christen men valiantly defended them, so that the Turkes were compelled to fle,
and many of them were slaine.
The fourth day of Octobre, the Turke bent all his Ordinaunce against the wal which so
shoke the wall that all men within supposed that the walles would haue fallen doune, but thei
did litle harme, whiche was sone amendid. The sixt day of Octobre, eight thousand chris-
ten men issued out of the toune, and came wher the Turkes miners wer workinf and slew a
gret nombre & destroyed the mines. The same day the Turkes gaue a great assaute to the
citie: the christyan men valiantly them defended, and threw downe great loggs and barres of
Iron, and slew many Turkes. Thus the Turkes assauted the citic a leuen times, & so many
times they wer bete away, but the great & terrible assaut was the twelue day of Octobre, at
which assaut the christyan men so valiantly defended them selfe and slewe and hurt so many
of the Turkes, that after that day, for no commandement that the Turke could geue, they
woulde nomore geue assaute.
The
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 77I
The Turke perceiued well bothe the strength of the Citie and the corage of the capita!
w,th in and also the winter there was muche more colder then in his co^treys which ore
troubled I hym and h,s people, wherfore he called his counsailand concluded to breakev
siege and to departe & so the fouretene day of Octobre he shotgreate sties i Ho the cie
all day t,ll night: and aboute tenne of the clok in the night he caused his tente to be »tt
vp, and set fire on the strawe, and such other stuffe, and so remoued all his arm e towage
Bade saumg fiftie thousande horsemen whiche taried all the next day behynde
ofthcturk»
*
At this siege the Turke loste by Murder, Sicknes, and cold, aboue fourescore thousande
men, as one ot his bassates did afterwardn confesse.
Thus was the citie of Vienne defended agaynst the greate Turke, and all his power
whiche was to him a greate displeasure, and in especially because he neuer beseced Citie
store, but either it wasyelden, or taken, of the tyme of this siege a metrician made these
* CI ^ v.j.
Cesar in Italian quo venit Carolus anno
Ci/icta est rlpheis nostra Vienna s;etis.
In this yere thernperour gaue to the lord master of saynt Ihones of lerusaletn and his
bretherne the Hand of Malto liyng betwene Scicile and Barbaric, there to employ them
selfevpon Chnstes enemies which lorde master had no place suer to enhabite there sith he
was put from the Rhodes by this Turke that beseged Vienne, as you haue hard before.
THE. XXII. YERE.
IN the beginning of this two and twentie yere, the kyng like a politike & a prudent prince, ^ „
perceiued that his subiectes and other persons had diuers times within foure yeres last pasture-
brought into his rcalme, great nombre of printed bokes, of the new Testament, translated
into the English tongue by Tyndall, loy, and other, which bokes the common people vsed
and dayly red priuely, which the clargic would not admit, for they punnished suche persones
as had red, studied or taught thesame with greate extremitic, but bycause the multitude was
so great, it was not in their power to redresse there grefe: wherfore they made complaint to the
Chauncellor (which leaned much to the spirituall mennes part, in all causes) where vpon he
imprisoned and punished a great nomber, so that for this cause a great rumour and contro-
uersie rose daily emongest the people : wherfore the kyng cosidcryng what good might come
of readyng of the new Testament with reuerence and folowyng thesame, and what euell
might come of the readyng of thesame if it were euil translated, and not folowed : carne
into the starre chambre the fiue and twentie day of May, and there commoned with his
counsailc and the prelates cocernyng this cause, and after long debatyng, it was alleged that
the translation of Tyndall and loy were not truely translated, and also that in them were
prologues and prefaces which sounded to heresie, and rayled against the bishopes vnchari- The
tably, wherefore all suche bokes were prohibited and commaundmet gciien by the kyng to the
bishoppes, that they callyng to them the best learned men of the vniuersities should cause a
new translation to be made, so that the people should not be ignoraunte in the law of God:
And notwithstandyng this commaundement the bishopes did nothing at all to setfurthanew
traslaciu, which caused the people to stody Tindalles translation, by reaso where of many
thinges cam to light, as you shall here after.
In this yere in Maye, the bishop of Londo caused all his newe Testametes which he had
nought with many other bokes, to be brought into Paules churcheyurde in London and there
was openly burned.
In the ende of this yere, the wilde Irishmen knovvyng the Earle of Kildare to be in Eng-
land, entred his lande, and spoyled and brent his coutrey, aud diuers other contreyes, and
5 F 2 thr
THE. XXII. YERE OF
tire Earle of Ossery beyng the kynges deputie made litle resistaunce, for Jacke of n
wherfore he kyng sent the erle of Kildare into Ireland, and uith Wins ir Wvllvam PsS '
yngton kn.ght Master of the kynges ordinauncc and diuers Gun, e v h Wm ^hiche so
1
court of Borne should haue been 3^5 ^?^M £? P the>nt5O?tieofthc
lolbre ,vi,hin this ve e' Zed lb ""1' " ge'
to the o
or
KYNG HENRY THE. V1IJ. 773
or to the let, hynderauce or impechement of his graces noble and vertuous entcnded pur-
poses in the premisses, vpon payne of incurryng his hignes indignacion & imprisonment &
farther punishement of their bodies for their so doing at his graces pleasure, to the dread-
full example of all other."
This Proclamacion \vas muche mused at and euery \voorde of thesame well noted. Some
sayd that it was made because that the queue had purchased a new Bull for the ratih'cacion
of her manage, other sayd that it was made because the Cardinall had purchased a Bull to
curse the kyng if he would not restore him to his old dignities, and that the king should
suffer him to correct the spiritualtie and he not to meddle with thesame. This inuencion
sounded inoste to the trueth as you shall here afterward.
In October the riuer of Tyber was of suche an heighth that in Rome and other places
about Rome almoste xii. M. persons were drouned, & in the next moneth zeland, Hol-
land and Brabant were sore noyed with waters and many people and much cattell were
drouned.
You haue heard in the last yere how the Cardinal of Yorke was attainted in the pre-
munire and that notwithstanding the king had geuen him the bishoprickes of Yorke and
Winchester with great plentie of substaunce, and had licesed him to lye in his dioces of
Yorke. He beyng this in his dioces grudgyng at his fall & not remembryng the kynges
kvndnes shewed to him, wrote to the court of Rome and to diuers other princes letters
in reproche of the kyng, and in as much as in him ky, he stirred them to reuenge his
cause against the kyng and his realme insomuche that diuers opprobious wordes of the kyng
were spoken to doctor Edward Keerne the kynges Orator at Rome, and it was sayd to him
that for the Cardinals pake, the kyng should haue the worse spede in the suite of his ma-
trimony. The Cardinal also would speake fayre to the people to wynne their heartes and^pij*
declared euer that he was vniustly and vntruely ordered, whiche fayre speakyng made ^
many me beleue that he sayd true: and to getlemen he gaue great giftes to allure them
vnto'him : And to be had in the move reputacion among the people he determined to be
installed or inthronised at Yorke with all the pompe that might he, and caused a throne to
be erected in the Cathedral church in such an heigth and fashio as was neuer seen, and
sent to all the lordes, Abbcttes, Priors, knightes esquiers and gentlemen of his dmces,
to be at his Manor of Cawod the vi. day of Nouember and so to bryng him to Yorke
with all manor of pompe and solempnhic.
The kyn«r whiche knew his doynges and priuye conueyaunce, all this yere dissembled
the matter to see what lie would do at length, till that he saw his proud heart so hyglily ex-
ulted that he would be so triumphantly installed without making the kyng priuye, yea and
in nmnerin disdayne of the kyng, thought it not mete nor conuenient to suffer him any
longer to continue in his maliciousand proude purposes and attemptes: wherfore he directed
Setters to Henry the vi. Eric of Northumberland, willing him with all diligence to arrest
the Cardinal and" to deliuer him to therle of. Shrewsbury great Stewarde of the kynges
ousholde: When the eric had seen the letter, he with a couenient nomber came to the
Manor of Cawod the iiii. dav of Nouember, and when he was brought to the Cardinal in
chamber he said to him, my lord I pray you take panence, for here I arrest you
re" me sayd y Cardinal, yea sayd the crle I haue a commaundement so to do : you haue T,
no such power Lyd the Cardinal/for I am both a Cardinal and a Legate de Latere and a
ere of the College of Rome & ought not to be arrested by any temporal power, for I am
wherfore. f ou arrest me I will withstand it: well sayd the erle
ere o e o
lat nower wherfore. f you
Set h^ h^ Com-n^s^n (which no shewed him) and therfore 1 charge you to obey,
the Cardinal "omen-hat remembred himselfe and sayd, well my lord, I am content o obey,
iSh ueh that I by negligence fell into the punishment of the Premumre and lost by
Ae law?aU my landes and8 goodes, yet my person was in the kynges protecc.on and I was
IrtJ nSnce wherfore I meruai 1 why I nowe should be arrested & specially con-
sea Apolike on who no temporal man oughMo lay
•77*
THE. XXII. YERE OF
violent tmndes, we! I see the king lacketh good counsail: wel sayd the erle whe , I v
sworne Warden of the Marches, you your self told me that I might with my s aft- ar^es
all men vnder the degree of a kyng, and now I am more- strong for I haue a
so to do whiche you haue seen. The Cardinal at length oheycd 'and was km in
capitaini of the garde, he was sore astonnyed and sho, try beea n I eke for hoi T
ce.ued some_great trouble toward him, and for that cause nln ayd
himselfe egall with princes and hvr, fL" a great stomacke, for he compte
•n-diKrip- treasure: He fo reed it eon svl ?v i ^ggcstion gatte into his handes innumerable
did God forgeue hi. soufehis bod 3SS
.
writyng and of
an humble
n
the .
before ^.c
ad of
lbinge,
,0
and
da f
the
diner*
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 775
diuers froward persones would in no wyse assent to it except all men were pardoned,
saiyng that all men which had any thyng to do with the Cardinal wer in the same case-
he wyse r sort answered that they would not compell the king to geue them his pardon, and
beside that it was vncnantably done of them to hurt the Clergie and do themselfes no
good, wher ore they aduised them to consent to the bill and after to sue to the kyn* for their
pardon, which counsail was not folowed, but they determined first to send the Speaker
to the kyng or they would assent to the bill, whervpon Thomas Audely spekar for the com-
mons wita a couement nomber of the common house came to the kynges presece and there
eloquently declared to the king how the commons sore lamented and bewayled their chaunc-e
to thynke or imagyne them selfes to be out of his gracious fauor, because that he had gra-
ciously geuen his pardon of the Premunire to his spiritual subiectes and not to them, where-
fore they most humbly besought his grace of his accustomed goodnes and clemency to in-
clude them in thesame pardon.
The kyng wisely answered that he was their prince and soueraigne lorde & that they
ought not to restrame him of his libertie, nor to copel him to shewe his mercy, for it was
at his pleasure to vse the extremitie of his lawes, or mitigate and pardon thesame, wher-
fore sith they denied to assent to the pardon of the spiritual persones, which pardon he
said he might geue without their assent by his great scale, he would be well aduised or he
pardoned them, because he would not be noted to be compelled to do it : with this answere
the speaker and the commons departed very sorowful and pensiue and some light persones
sayd that Thomas Cr urn well whiche was newly come to the fauor of the kyng had dis-
closed the secretes of the commons, which thing caused the kyng to be so extreme.
The kyng like a good prince considered how sorowfull his comons were of the answere
that he made them, and thought that they were not quiet, wherfore of his owne mocion
he caused a pardon of the Premunire to be drawen, and signed with his hand and sent it
to the comon house by Christopher Hales his atturnay, whiche bill was sone assented to.
Then the commons louyngly tbliked the king and much praised his witte that he had de-
nyed it to them when they vnworthely demaunded it, and had bountyfully graunted it when
he perceiued that they sorowed and lamented.
While the Parliament sat, on the xxx. day of Marche at after noone there came into
the common house the lord Chauncelor and diuers lordes of the spiritualtie and tempo-
raltie to the nomber of xii. and there the lorde Chauncelor sayd, you of this worshipful
house I am sure be not so ignorant but you know well that the kyng our soueraigne lorde
hath maried his brothers wife, for she was both wedded £ bedded with his brother prince
Arthur, and therfore you may surely say that he hath maried his brothers wyfe, if this ma-
riage be good or no many clerkes do doubt. Wherfore the kyng like a vertuous prince
wiltyng to be satisfied in his conscience and also for the suretie of his realme hath with
great deliberacion consulted with great clerkes, and hath sent my lord of London here
present to the chiefe vniuersities of all Christendome to knowe their opinion and Judge-
ment in that behalfe. And although that the vniuersities of Cambridge and Oxford had been
sufficient to discusse y cause, yet because they be in his realme and to auoyde ail suspicion
of parcialitie he hath sent into the realme of Fraunce, Italy the Pdpes dominions, and
Venicians to knowe their Judgement in that behalfe, whiche haue cocluded, written and
sealed their determinacions according as you shall heare red. Then sir Bryan Tuke toke
out of a boxe xii. writynges sealed, & red them word by word as after ensueth translate
out of Latin into the Englishe tongue.
The detenninacion of the vniuersitie of Orliaunce.
Not long syns there were put forth to vs the College of doctors, regentes of the vniuer-
sitie of Orliaunce, these two questions that folow. The fyrst, whether it be lawful _ by the
lawe of God for the brother to take to wyfe that woman whom his brother hath left? Ihe
recond if this be forbidden by the lawe of God, whether this prohibition of the law^of
776 THE. XXII. YERE OF
God may be remitted by the Pope his dispensacion? We the forcsayd College of doctors
regentes accordyng to our custome and vsage came many times together and did sit diuers
tymes vpon the discussyng of these foresayd doubles and questions and did examine and
way as muche as we might diuers & many places both of the old testament and new, and
also the interpreters and declarers both of the law of God and the Canon lawe. 'After we
had wayed and considered all thynges exactly and with good leysure and deliberacio, we
haue determined and cocluded that these foresayd manages cannot be attempted nor enter-
prised except a man do wrong and plaine contraryto the law of God : yea and that al-
though it be done by pardon and sufferaunce of the Pope. And in witnes of this coclusion
and determinacion we haue caused this present publike writing to be signed by our Scribe
of our sayd vniuersitie, and to be strengthed and fortified with the scale* of the same :
Enacted in the chapel of our lady the Annunciacion, or the good tidynges that she had of
Christes commyng in Orleaunce, the yere of our Lorde M.D.xxix.the.v.day of April.
The determinacion of the facultie of Decrees of the vniuersitie of Paris.
Lawetsof In the name of the Lord so be it. There was put forth before vs the Deane and College
Paris. of the rjgh(. counsailful facultie of Decrees of the vniuersitie of Paris this question.
Whither that the Pope might dispence, that the brother might mary the wyfe that his brother
hath left, if manage betwene his brother now dead and his wyfe were once consummate?
we the Deane and College of the sayd facultie after many disputacions and reasons made
of bothe sydes vpon this matter and after great and long turnyng and serchyng of bokes,
bothe of the lawe of God and the Popes lawe and of the lawe Ciuil, we counsail and
say that the Pope hath no power to dispence in this foresayd case: In witness whereof \\e
haue caused this present writing to be strengthed with the scale of our facultie and with the
signe of our Scribe or chiefe Bedle. Geuen in the congregacion or assemble at saint Ihon
Laterenense in Parys the second day of May M. D.xxx.
The determinacion of Ciuilians and Canonistes of the vniuersitie of Angew.
Angew. Not long tyme syns there wer purposed vnto vs y Rector and doctors Regentes in lawe
Canon & Ciuile of the vniuersitie of Angew these ii. questions here folowyng, that is to
wete, whether it is vnlefull by the lawe of God and the lawe of nature for a man to mary
the wyfe of his brother that is departed without children so that the manage was consum-
mate ? And againe whether it is lawfull for the Pope to dispence with such mariage? We
the aforesayd Rector and doctors haue accordyng to our custome and vsage many tymes
communed together and sytten to dispute these questions, and to fynde out the certaintie
of them. And after that we had discussed and examined many & diuers places aswell of
the law of God as of the law of man, whiche semed to pertaine to the same purpose, and
after that we had brought for bothe parties and examined them. All thinges faythfully and
after good coscience considered and vpon sufficient deliberacion and auisement taken, wedefyne
and determyne that neither by the lawe of God nor of nature it is permitted for any christen
man, no not euen with the authoritie of the sea Apostolike, or with any dispensacion
graunted by the Pope to mary the wife that his brother hath left, although his brother be
departed without children, after that the mariage is once finished and consummate. And
for witnes of these aforesayd thynges, we haue comau tided our Scribe of our sayd vniuer-
sitie to signe this present publike instrument, & it to be fortified with the great scale of our
vniuersitie, Enacted in the church of saint Peter in Angew, the yere of our Lorde
M. D.xxx. the vii. day of May.
The determinacion of the facultie of diuinitie in the vniuersitie of Paris.
The Deane and the facultie of the holy diuinitie of the vniuersitie of Paris, to all them
to whom this present writing shall come wysheth safetie in our sauior lesu Christ which is
the very true safetie: Where of late there is risen a great controuersie of great difficultie
6 vpon
Paris.
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 777
vpon the manage betwene the most noble Henry the viii. kyug of England defender of
the fayth and lorde of Ireland. &c. and the noble lady Katherinc quene of England
doughter to the Catholike kyng Ferdinand, which manage was not onely contract betwene
her and her former husband, but also consummate and finished by carnall intermedelvng.
This question also was purposed to vs to discusse and examine uccordyng to Justice and
trueth, that is to say, whether to mary her that our brother dead without children hath left
being so prohibited by the law of God and nature, that it cannot be made lefull by the
Popes dispensacion, that any christen man should mary the wife that his brother hath
left? We the foresayd Deane and facultie callyng to our remembraunce how vertuous and
how holy a thing and how agreable to our profession, vnto our duetie of loue and charitie,
it is for vs to shewe the waye of Justice and right, of vertue and honestie to them whiche
desire to leade and passe ouer their life in the law of our Lord with sure & quiet con-
science : could not but be ready to satisfieso honest andiust requestes: whervpon after our old
wont, we came together vpo our othe in the church of S. Maturyne, & there for thesame
cause had a solepne Masse with deuout prayer to the holy ghost. And also we toke an
othe euery ma to deliuer and to study vpon the foresayd question, as should be to the plea-
sure of God and according to coscience: And after diuers and many Sessions or sittynges
which were had and continued in the churche of saint Maturyn, and also in the college
called Sarbone fro the viii. day of I une to the second day of luly. When we had searched
and examined through and through with as muche diligence as we could and with suche
reuerence and religion or conscience as becometh in suche a matter, bothe the bookes of
holy scripture, and also the most approued interpreters of thesame : Finally the general
and synodal cousailes, decrees and constitucions of the sacre & holy Churche, which by
long custome hath been receiued and approbate, we the foresayd Deane and facultie dis-
puting vpon the foresayd question and makyng answere to the same, and that after the
judgement and full cosent of the most part of the sayd facultie haue concluded and deter-
mined that the foresayd mariage with the brothers wife departyng without children be so for-
bidden both by the law of God and of nature that the pope hath no power to dispence w such
manages whether they be contract or to be contract. And for credence, beleue, and witnes
of this our Assercion and deterrninacion, we haue caused the scale of our facultie with our
Notaries signe to be put vnto this present writyng. Dated in our generall congregacion
that we kepe by an othe at saint Maturynes, the yere of our Lorde M.D.xxx. the second
day of luly.
The determinacion of the vniuersitie of Burges in Berry or Biturs.
We the Deane and facultie of diuinitie in the Vniuersitie of Burges, because we will ac-
cordyng to the example of S. Paule doctor of y Getiles whiche doeth likewise, will begyn
our writing with praier vnto all the beloued of God, among whom you moste dere readers
vnto whom we write be called, grace, peace, and quietnes of conscience come to you from
God the father and from our Lord lesu Christ: while we were gathered together all into one
place (in the octanes of Whitsontide) both in body and mynde, and were sittyng in the house
of the sayd deane, there was a question put to vs againe, whiche had been purposed to vs
often tymes before, beyng no smal question, whiche was this : Whither the brother taking the
wyfe of his brother now dead, and the mariage once consummate and perfite cloth a tiiyng
vnlawfull or no? At the last when we had sought for the trueth of the thing and had per-
ceiued and found it out by much labor and studye of euery one of vs by himselfe, and by
much and often turning of holy bookes, euery one of vs not corrupt, wherby we might the
Jesse obey the trueth, began as the holy gost did put in his mind to geue euery man one ar-
bitremeut & sentence which was this. I haue well perceiued in very truth wout regard or
respect of any person that those persones which be rehersed in y xviii. cha. of y Leuitical
law, be forbidden by y very law of nature to cotract matrimony together and that this lawe
can in no wyse be released by any authoritie of any manne by the whiche there is made an
5 G abhominable
778 THE. XXII. YERE OF
abhominable discoueryng of his brothers foulnes. And this is the signe of our commen
Bedyll or Notarie and the scale of our foresayd facultie put vnto his present writyng the. x.
day of lune, in the yere of our Lorde M.D.xxx. And because the foote of our writyno-
shall be of one forme and fashion w the head, as we began with praier, so let vs ende after
the example of S. Paule that we spake of before, and say, the grace and fa u or of our Lorde
lesu Christ, the charitie and loue of God and the communicacion of the holy ghost be with
you all. Amen.
The determinacion of the diuines in the popes vniuersitie of Bonony.
God best and mightiest taught first the olde lawe & testament with his owne mouth, to
forme and fashion accordyng to loue and charitie, the maners and life of men. And secon-
darely the same God did take afterwardes manhod vpon him for to be the redemer of man and
so made the new lawe or newe Testament not onely to forme and fashion accordyng to loue
and charitie the life and maners of men, but also to take away and to declare doubtes the
whiche did arise in many cases, which when they be once clerely determined shall helpe great-
ly to perfite vertue and goodnes, that is to say, to perfite loue and charitie. Wherfore we
thought iteuermore, that it should be our part to folowe these most holy doctrines and lawes
of our father of heauen, and that we lightned by the light of God aboue and of the holv
ghost should gene our sentence and iudgement in high and doubtfull matters after that we
haue once leyserly and sufficiently taken aduisement vpon the cause, & haue clerely serched
out and opened the thing by many reasons and writynges of holy fathers as well for the one
part as for the other, doyng nothyng as nere as we can rashly or without deliberacion. Ther-
fofe where certaine great and noble men did instantly desire vs that we would with all dili-
gence possible loke for this case that after ensueth, and afterwardes to geue our iudgement
vpon thesame, accordyng to moste equitie, right, and conscience, stickyng only to thetrueth:
All the doctors of diuinitie of this Vniuersitie, when we had euery one by himselfe examined
the matter at home in our houses, came all together into one place and there treated vpon it
many dayes with asmuche connyng & learnyng as we could, we anon loked on the case toge-
ther, we examined it together, we compared all thyng together, we handelyng euery thing^by
it selfe, did trye them euen as you would say by lyne and rule, we brought forth all maner of
reasons, whiche \ve thought could be brought for the contrary part and afterward solued
them yea euen the reasons of the moste reuerend father Cardinal Caietaine, yea & more-
ouertlie Deuteronomi dispensacion ofstirryng vp the brothers sede, & shortly after all other
rnaner of reasons & opinions of $ cotrary part, as many as semed to belong to this
purpose, and this question that was asked of vs was this: Whether it was forbydden
onely by the ordinaunce of the churche or els by the law of God, that a man
might not mary the wyfe left of his brother departed without children? and if it were com-
maunded by both the lawes not to be done, whether the Pope may dispence with any man
to make suche mariage? the whiche question nowe that we haue examined it both by our
selfe secretely and also openly & diligently and exactly as we could possible, and discussed it
after y" best maner that our wittes would serue: we determine, geue iudgement and say, and
as stifly as we can we witnes and without any doubt do stedfastly hold that this mariage should
be horrible, accursed & to be cried out vpon and vtterly abhominable not onely for a christen
ma but for an infidele, vnfaythfull or heathen. And that it is prohibite vnder greuous paynes
and punishementes by the lawe of God, of nature and of man, & that the Pope, though
that he almoste may do all thinges, vnto whom Christ did geue the keyes of the kyngdorne of
heauen, hath no power to geue a dispensacion to any man for to contract suche a mariage
for any maner of cause, consideracion or suggestion : And all we be ready at all tymes and
in a'l places to defende and maintaine the truth of this our conclusion. In witnes wherof
we haue made this present writing, and haue fortefied thesauie both with the scale of our
vniuersitie and also with the scale of our College of doctors of diuinitie and haue subscri-
6 bed
KYNG HENRY THE. VII J.
deb and signed it with our general & accustomed subscripcion in the Cathedral churche of
Bonony the. x. day of lune, theyere of our Lord. M.D.xxx.
The determinacion of the facultie of diuinitie in the vniuersitie of Padua in Italy.
They that haue written for the maintenaunce of the catholike faith, affirme that God best
and mightiest did geue the preceptes & comaundementes of the olde law with his owne
mouthe, to be an example for vs, wherein we might see how we should order our life and
maners, and this God had done before he became manne: and after that he had put vpon
him our manhod and was become redemer or byer of mankynde, He made the newe lawe or
testament, and of his mere liberalitie did geue it vs, not onely for the cause aforesayd, but
also to takeaway & declare all maner of doubles and questions that might arise, the which
once opened & declared what their very true meanyng is, to thentent that therby we might
be made perfitely good which be greatly fruitful to vs & holesome: and seyng that this was
the mind of God in making these lawes, it hath been our entent & euermore shalbe, as it be-
cometh christen men to folow these most solepne ordinances of y most high workemaster
God, & the help of his light, y is aboue the capacitie of nature, to vtter our Judgement in
all maner of doubles & harde questions. After we had once considered the thing after the
best maner, and had by sufficient leysure made it clere by many euident reasons of both par-
ties, and by many aucthoritiesof the fathers of the Church, determinyng nothyng as nere
as we can, rashely or without conuenieut deliberacion. Seyng therfore that certain great
Orators or ambassadors did humbly require and pray vs that we would vouchesafe and serche
out with all the diligence that we could this case folowyng & afterwardes to geue our sentence
vpon the same, plainly & simply lokyng onely on the trueth. After the Doctors of diuinitie
of this Vniuersitie came together, and after that we had euery man examined the thing par-
ticulerly in our owne houses and haue beaten it with all learnyng and connyng that we were
able: Anon when we wer together, we considered, examined and wayed all thinges by them
selfes, and brought in al maner of reasons, which we thought might by any meanes be made
to the cotrary, and without all colour or cloke did wholy& clerely dissolue them and take
them away. And amongest al, the dispensacion by the lawe of Deuteronomy of styrryng vp
the brothers sede, and al maner other reasons and determinacions to the contrarye, that
seined to vs to pertain any thing to that purpose we vtterly confuted & dispatched them.
And the question that is put to vs is this: Whether to mary the wife of our brother departed
without children is forbidden only by y lawe of the Churche or by y law of God also: and
if it be forbidden by both these lawes, whither the Pope may dispence w any ma for such
matrimony or no? which question now that we haue discussed it, & as farre as we could,
haue made it clere, both priuately euery man by him selfe, & after al togethers opely, we
say, iudge, decree, witnes & for a truth affirme y such mariage is no manage, yea and
that it is abhorred and cursed of euery christen man, and to be abhominate as a greuous
sinne. And that it is as clearely as can be forbidden vnder moste cruel penalties by the lawes
of nature, of God and of man: And that the Pope, vnto whom y keyes of the kyngdome
of heauen be committed by Christ the sonne of God, hath no power to dispence by the right
and law for any cause, suggestion or excuse, that any suchematrimonye should be contract.
For those thinges whiche be forbidden by the law of God be not vnderneth his power but
aboue it, nor he is not the Vicar of God as concernyng those thynges, but only in such
thynges as God hath not determined himselfe in his lawe, but hath leftc them to the determi-
nacion and ordinaunce of man. And to mayntayne the trueth of this our sentence and con-
clusion, and for moste certaitie and vndoubted defence of thesame, we al of one mynde
and accorde shall at all tymesand in euery place be redy. In witnes wherof we haue made
this writing & haue authorised it with the accustomed seale of our Vniuersitie and also of
our College of diuines, Dated at Padway in the Churche of the Hermites of saint Austen
the first day of luiv, in the yere of our Lord M.D.xxx;
5 G 2 The
780 THE. XXIII. YERE OF
The Determination of the Vniuersitie of Tholose.
There was treated in our Vniuersitie of Tholose a veryharde question: Whether it be le-
ftill for the brother to inaryc her which'e had ben wyfe to his brother now departed, and that
without chyldren? There was besyde this another thyng that troubled vs very sore: Whe-
ther, if the pope which hath the cure of Christes flocke would by his dispensacion (as men
call it) suffre this, that then at the least wyse it might be lawfull? The Rector of the Vni-
uersitie called to counsell all the doctors regetes that were that tyme at Tholose for to shew
their myndes on this question, & that not once, but twyse : For he Judged that counsell geuyng
ought not to be hasted nor doone vpon head, & that we had neede of tyme and space to doo
anye thynge contieniently & as it ought to bee. At the last there came togither into one place
all the best learned and connyngest doctors, both of holye diuinitie, and also doctors that
were best learned in bothe lawes, yea, and finally as many as had any experiece in any mat-
ter & were able to do any thing either by iudgemet & discresion, or by eloquence or their
excellent wyttes. And there dyd swere that they woulde obey the sacre & holy counsels, &
would follow the Decrees of the Fathers, which no man that hath any good conscience wyll
violate or breake. And so euery man savde his mynde, and the matter was debated and
reasoned diffusely & at large for bothe paries. In conclusion, we fell so fast to this poynte,
that this was the sentence & determination that oure Vniuersitie, with one voyce of all,
dyd determyne and conclude with most pure and cleare conscience and defiled with no
maner of leuen or corruption : That it is lawful for no man, neither by the law of God,
nor by the law of nature, to take her to wyfe that his brother hath lefte : And seeyng that it
may not be done by the law of God nor of nature, we answered all : That the Pope can
lose no man fro that lawe nor dispence with him. And as for that thing can not be contrary
to our sentence & verdyct : that the brother in olde tyme was compelled by the law of Deu-
teronomy to mary the brothers wyfe departed without issue : For this law was but a shadow
and a fygure of thinges to come, which vanyshed away assone as euer the lyght and trueth
of the Gospel! appeared: And because these thynges be thus, we haue geuen our sentence
after this forme aboue, and haue comaunded the same to be sygned by our Notary which is
our secretory, and to be fortified and aucthorised by the puttyng to of our autenticall Scale
of our Vniuersitie aforesayde, at Tholose the Calendes or fyrst clay of Octobre, the yere of
our Lorde a thousande. v.C.xxx.
After these Determinations were read, there were shewed aboue an hundreth bokes drawen
by Doctors of straunge Regions, which all agreed the Kynges Mariage to be vnlefull, whiche
were not read, for the day was spent. Then the Chauncellor sayd : Now you of this corn-
men house may reporte in your countreys whatyoa haue seen & heard and then all men shall
openly pefceyue that the Kyng hath not attempted this matter of wyll or pleasure, as some
straugers reporte, but only for the discharge of his coscience & suretie of the successioof his
realme : This is the cause of our repayre hyther to you, & now we wyl departe.
When these Determinacions were publyshed, all wyse men in the Realme moche abhorred
that mariage : but women, & such as wer more wylfull then wyse or learned, spake agaynst
the Determinacion, & sayd that the Vniuersities were corrupte & entysed so to doo, which is
not to be thought. The Kyng him selfe sore lamented his chaunce & made no maner of
myrth nor pastyme as he was wont to do, & dyned & resorted to the quene as he was accus-
tomed, & minished nothyngof her estate, and moch loued & cheryshed their doughter the
Lady Mary: but in no wyse he woulde not come to her bed. When Ester began to draw
nere, the Parliament for that tyme ended, and was proroged till the last day of Marche, in
the nexte yere.
The Acte iu the Parliament aforesayde was an Acte made, that whosoeuer dyd poyson any persone,
shoulde be boyled in hote water to the death : which Acte was made bicause one Richard
Roose, in the Parliament tyme, had poysoned dyuers persons at the Bishop of Rochesters
place,
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 781
place, which Richard, according to the same Acte, was boyled in Smythfelde the Teneber
wednisday followyng, to the terrible example of all other.
This wynter season, on the. xxvi. day of lanyuer, in the citie of Luxborne in Portyngale,
was a vvonderous Earthquake, which destroied many houses and towers, and slew many
people by fallynge downe of the same, the Kynges Palace shoke so, that he and the Quene,
and the Ladyes fled out of their Palace, without any seruauntes, and sought succour where
they myght get it, & sodeinly the quakyng seased : Then the Rockes opened, and out
sprange the water, that the shippes in the hauen were lyke to haue peryshed : Then the .
earth quaked agavne, and dyd more harme then before, and at night it ceassed : of whiche
Earthquake, many men were murthered and destroyed.
When the vniuersitie aforesayd, & a great nombre of clerkes & well learned men had de-
termined the Kynges mariage to be vnlawfull, detestable, & agaynst Gods lawe, as you haue
heard, the Kyng wyllyng the Quene to haue knowlege of the same, sent to her dyuers Lordes
of the coiicel the last daie of Maie beyng the wednisday in Whitson vveke : the whiche Message
Lordes, in her chaumbre at Grenewyche, declared to her all the Determinacion as you haue "^ the
hearde, & asked her whether she would for the quyetnes of the Kynges conscience, put the
matter to. iiii. prelates, &. iiii. temporall Lordes of this Realme, or abyde by her appele.
The Quene answered : The kyng my father which concluded my mariage, I am sure, \yas
not so ignorauntbut he asked councell of clerkes & well learned men before he maryed me
the second tytne : for if he had had any double in my mariage, he would not haue disbursed
so great a treasure as he dyd, & then all Doctors in maner agreed my mariage to be good, in-
somoche that the Pope hymselfe, which knew best what was to be dooen, dyd both dispence
and ratified my second mariage, agaynst whose doynge I meruayle that any persons wyll
speake or wryte : And as to the Determinacion of the vniuersitie, I am a worna and lacke
wytte and learnyng to aunswere to them, but to God I commit the iudgemet of that, whe-
ther thei haue done iustly or percially : for this I am sure, that neither the Kynges father,
nor my father woulde haue condiscended to our Mariage if it had ben declared to be vnlaw-
full : and where you say that I shoulde put the cause to. viii. persones of this Relme for
quyetnesse of the Kynges conscience, I praye God sende his grace a quyet conscience,
and this shall be your answere: That I say I am his lawfull wyfe, and to hym lawfully maryed
and by theordre of holye Churche I was to hym espowsed as his true wyfe, although I was not
so worthy, and in that poynte I will abyde tyll the cowrte of Rome which was preuy to the
begynnyng haue made therof a determinacion and finall endyng. With this answer the
Lordes departed to the Kyng, whiche was sorye to heare of her wylfull opinion, and in es-
peciall that she more trusted in the Popes law, then in kepyng the Preceptes of God.
The Kyng lyke a politicke Prince, perceyued that the Merchaunt straungers, and in es-
peciall, Italians, Spanyardes & Portyngales daily brought Oade, Oyle, Sylke, Clothes of
Golde, Veluet & other Merchaiidyse into this Realme, and therefore receiued ready money,
which money they euer deliuered to other merchauntes by exchaunge, & neuer employed
the same money on the comodities of this Realme, so that therby the Kyng was hyndered in
his Custome ouU'arde, and also the commodities of his Realme were not vttered, to the
greate hvnderaunce of his subiectes : wherefore he caused a Proclamacion to bee made in
MydsomerTearme, accordynge to an olde Estatute made in the tyme of Kyng Rycharde the A frocii-
second: That no persone should make any exchaunge contrary to the trew meanyng of the- E
same Acte and Estatute, vpon payne to be taken the kynges mortall enemy, and to forfayte
all that he myght forfayte. After this Proclamacion, many clothes and other commodities
of this Iteaime were well solde, but shortly after Merchauntes fell to exchaunge agayne, and
the Proclamacion was shortly forgotten.
The Kyng after Whytsontyde and the Quene remouecl to Wyndsore, and there continued
tyll the. xiiii. daye of lulye, on whiche daye the Kyng remoued to Woodstocke and lefte her
at Wyndsore, where shelaye a why'e, and after remoued to the Moore, and afterwarde to
Esthamstede: and after this day, the Kyng and she neuer saw together. Wherfore the Com-
1 men
782 THE. XXIIL YERE OF
men people dailye murmured and spake their folysh fantasies. But the aflfayres of Princes
be not ordered by the cornmen people, nor it were not conuenient that all thynges were open-
ed to theim.
After this, the Kyng sent certayne Lordes to the Queene to Estamstede, to aduyse
her to be confirmable to the lawe of God, and to shewe vnto her, that all the Vni-
uersities had clearely determined, that the Pope coulde in no wyse dispence with her Ma-
riage, and therefore the Dispensation to which she most trusted of all, was clearely voyde
and of none effecte. These, with tnanye mo causes and aduysementes were declared to her,
whiche nothynge moued her at all, but styll she sayde : Truly 1 am the Kynges trew wyfe,
and to hym maryed : and if all Doctors were dead, or law, or learnyng so farre out of
mannes mynde at that tyme of our maryage, yet I cannot thinke that the courte of Rome
and the whole Churche of Englande would consent to a thing vnlawfull and detestable (as
you call it) but styll I say I arn his wyfe, and for him wyl I pray. With this answer the
Lordes departed, and came to the Kyng and made reporte as you haue hearde.
This manage was not alonly talked of in England, but in Frauncc, Spayne, Italy, yea,
thorough all Christendome in maner, and especially in themperours Courte, insomuche as
a great Marques of Spayne sayde to syr Nicholas Heruy knyght beyng the Kynges ambassa-
dor in themperouri Cowrte at Gaunte : My Lorde Embassador of Englande, I meruayle not
a lytell why the Kyng your Master dalyeth so with themperours Aunte, she is dissended I as-
sure you of a noble bloode and hye Parentage, themperours Maiestie may not nor wyl not
suffre soche iniurye to be doone to his bloode and lynage, that she shoulde whole, xxii. yeres
and more serue him as his wyfe and bedfelow and now to reiecte her, what Princely maner
is that, therein is neither loue nor loyaltie? For if a poore verlet had so long serued a
Prince, what herte coulde haue then reiected hym or put him from hym' it can not be sayd
that your Kyug is well councelled: the matter is moch meruayled at amongest Christen
Princes & thynke her not to be honestly handeled nor honorably : And if it be so that she be
not his wyfe (bicause she was once his brothers wyfe) as your Doctors say & affirme, then
no man can excuse your Kyng nor saye but that she hath ben euyll handeled, and kepte lyke
a Concubine or Paramour for the bodely appetite, which is a great spotte, shame, & rebuke
to her and to her whole lynage, which spot no wayes can be sponged out nor recompenced,
for shame in a kynred can by no treasure be redemed: If the Kyng your Maister remembre
well this matter, he shall fynde that it transcendeth farre aboue the losse of erthly possessyons,
I woulde he woulde be better aduysed.
An An. The Englysh Ambassador answered : My Lorde, my comission extedeth not to answer
swc"' this matter, but to enfonne yon of the truth, I wyl somwhat say besyde my commission:
Fyrst I say to you, that the kyng my maister neuer ment in this matter but honorably, truly,
and vertuously, bothe for the pleasure of God and the profyte and suerty of his Realme, nor
neuer was nor shall be anye Prince that euer was better contented and pleased with a woman
then he hath ben with her, nor neuer Prince more loued, cherished, nor honoured a woman,
then the king my Maister hath dooen her, & would with herte, mynde, and wyll her styll
keepe as his wyfe, if Goddes lawe woulde suffre it: My Lord, if you remembre well all
thyng, you shall fynde that this doubt was fyrst moued in the Councell of Spayne, when the
Emperonr and the Kyng of Englande were agreed, that themperoure shoulde marye the La-
dye Marye the Kynges Doughter: Vpon that communicacion this double was put to them-
perours Councell, whether she were the Kynges lawfull Doughter or not, because it was
well .knowen that he had maryed his brothers wyfe.
This matter was not so secrete but it spred into the councell bothe of Fraunce and Flaun-
ders, to the great defamacion of the Kyng of Englande, & to the great vncertaintye of the
successyon of his Realme: wherof when he was aduertised, I thynke neuer Prince tooke it
more sorrowfully nor more dolently, and for satisfiynge of his conscience, he called his
Cleargie and felte their opinions, and not trustyng his owne subiectes onely (which I ensure
you be excellently lerned) sent to all the Vniuersities of Fraunce, Italye, and dyuers other
Realmes
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 783
Realmes to know their iudgementes in this case, and surely the Kyng my master sore la-
menteth his chaunce and bewaileth the tyme myspent if it so succede, for then is his Realme
destitute of a lawfull heyre begotten of his body, which is the greatest displeasure thatmaye
come to a Prince: The Manage was well ment bothe of the kynges father and the Queues
father, and they niaryed together by the aduyce and councell of their frendes, and so lou-
yngly continued together as man and wyfe without any scruple or double, till you ofSpayne
moued fyrst the question and put the maryage in ambiguitie, and therfore you can not with
honour thynke but that the Kyng hath done lyke a wyse Prince to searche out the solucion
of your double which so neare touchelh his soule and ihe suretye of his Realme: And all
thynge that he hath done he hath done by great aduysement and with a great deliberacion,
wherefore no reasonable man can saye but he hath done lyke a wyse and vertuous Prince.
The Marques hearynge this aunswere sayde, that the Kyng dyd wysely lo Irye the Iruelhe,
and was somewhat ashamed of lhat that he had spoken, as I was informed by them that
were present.
You haue hearde before howe the Cleargye in their Conuocacion had graunted to the
Kyng the some of one hundreth thousand pounde to be pardoned of the Premunire: for le-
uiyng of the whiche summe, euery Bysshop in his Dioces called before him all the Priestes
as well chauntrie and parysh priestes as Persones and Vycars, amongest whom, Doctor Ihon
Stokesley Bysshop of London, a man of great wytte and learnyng, butoflytle discresionand
humanilie (which caused hym to be out of the fauoure of the common people) called before
hym all the preistes within the Citie of London, whether they were Curates or Stipenda-
ries, ihe first day of Seplembre beyng fridaye, in the Chapiler House of Saynt Paull, at
whyche daye the Priestes appeared, and the Bysshoppes policye, was to haue onely syxe or
eighl priestes together, and by perswacions to haue caused them to grauntesome porsion to-
wardc the payment of the foresayde One Hundreth. M. pounde, but the nombre of the
Priestes was so great, for they were syxe hundreth at the least, & with them came many Tem-
porall men to heare of the mailer, that the Bysshoppe was disapoynted of his purpose :
for when the Bysshoppes officers called in certayne Priestes by name into the Chapiter house:
with that, a great nombre entered, for they putle the Byshoppcs Officers that kcpte the dore
a syde. After this the officers got the dore shut agayne : then the priestes without sayde :
We wyll not be keple wilhout, & our fellowes be within, weknowe not what the Bysshoppe
wyll doo with them. The Temporal! men beyng present stomaked and contorted the priesles
to enter, so that by force they opened the dore, and one strake the Bysshoppes Officer ouer
the face and entered the Cnapiter house and many lemporall men with them, and long it was
or any sylence couldc be made : and at last when they were appeased, the Byshop stode vp
and sayde : Brethern, I meruayle not a lytell why you be so heddy and know not what shall The b
be sayde to you; therefore I pray you to keepe sylence and to heare me paciently : Mv frendes shopes'sai-
all, you knowe well that we be men frayle of condition and no Angels, and by frailtie and yng'
lacke of wysedome wee haue misderneaned our selfe toward the Kyng our Soueraygne Lord
and his lawcs, so lhat all wee of the Cleargy were in the Preminure, by reason wherof, all our
Promocions, Landcs, Goodes and Catelles were to hym forfayte and our bodyes readye
to be enprisoned, yet his grace tnoued wilh piltie and eompassyon, demaunded of vs what
wee coulde say why he shoulde notextende his lawes vpon vs, then the fathers of the Clear-
gye humbly besought his grace of mercye, to whom he answered that he was euer enclyned
to mercye : then for all our great offences we had lytell penaunce for where he might by the
rygor of his law haue taken al our lyuelod, goodes & catels, he was contented with one hun-
dreth thousand poundes to be paydein fyue ycres: & although lhat this s5mc be more then
we maye easelye beare, yet by the rygor of his lawes we should haue borne the whole bur-
deyne : Wherefore my brethren, I charitably exhorte you to beare your paries of your
liuelod and salary towarde the payment of this some graunted. Then it was shortely sayde
to the Bysshoppe : My Lorde, twentye nobles a yere is bul a bare liuynge for a priest, for
nowe victayle and euery thynge in maner is so deare, thatpouertie in maner enforceth vsto
save
784. THE. XXIII. YERE OF
saye naye: besyde that, my Lord we neuer offended in the Premunire, for we medeled neuer
with the Cardinals faculties, let the Bysshoppes and Abbottes whych haue offended paye.
Then the Bysshoppes officers gaue to the priestes hyghe woordes, whiche caused them to be
the more obstinate. Also dyuers temporall men whych were present contorted the Priestes
and bade theirn agree to no payment. In this rumor, dyuers of the Bysshoppes seruauntes
were buffeted and stryken so that the Bysshop beganne to be a frayde, and with fayre
woordes appeased the noyse, and for all thynges whiche were done or sayde there he pardon-
ed them and gaue to them his blessyng and praied them to departe in charitie. And then
they departed thynkyng to heare no more of the matter, but they were disceyued, for the
Byshopwent to syr Thomas Moore then beyng Lorde Chauncellor (which greatly fauoured
the Bysshop and the Cleargye) and to hym made a greuouse coinplaynte and declared the
facte very greuously, wherevpon cormnaundement was sent to syr Thomas Pargitor Mayer
of the Citie, to attache certayne priestes and temporall men, and so. xv. priestes and. v. tein-
porall men were arrested, of the whych, some were sent to the Tower, some to the Fleete,
and other Prisons, where they remayned long after.
In this season were dyuers Preachynges in the Realme, one contrarye to another con-
cernyng the Kynges Maryage, and in especiall one Thomas Abell clerke, bothe preached
and wrote a Booke, that the Manage was lawful!, whiche caused many symple men to be-
leue his opinion: This Abell was the Queenes Chaplayne, and wrote this Booke to please
her withal! : wherfore the Kyng caused a Deterrninacio of the Vniuersities, £ all the iudge-
mentz of gret Clerkes to be compyled into a Booke and to be Printed, whiche Booke dvd
satisfie the myndes of ail indifferent & discrete persons: but some men were perciall that
neither learnyng nor reason could satisfy thjeir wylfull myndes.
This yere the Kyng kepte his Christemas at Grenewyche with great solempnitie, but all
men sayde that there was no myrthe in that Christemas because the Queene and the Ladies
were absent.
After Christemas the. xv. daye of January the Parliament began to sytte, & amongest dy-
uers griefes whych the Commons were greued with, they sore coplayned of the crueltie of
the Ordinaries, for callyng men before theym Ex qfficio : that is, by reason of ther office:
For the Ordinaries woulde sende for men and ley Accusacions to them of Heresye, and say
they were accused, and ley Articles to them, but no Accuser should be brought furth, whiche
to the Commons was very dredeful and greuous : for the partie so Assiled must either Ab-
iure or be burned, for Purgacion he myght make none.
When this matter and other Exactions done by the Clergy in their Cotirtes were long de-
bated in the Common House, at the last it was concluded & agreed, that all the griefes
which the temporall men were greued with, shoulde be putte in writyng and delyuered to
the Kyng, whiche by great aduyce was done: wherfore, the. xviii. day of Marche the Com-
mon speaker accompanyed with dyuers Knyghtes and Burgesses of the Common House
came to the Kynges presence, and there declared to hym how the temporal men of his
Realme were sore agreued wfth the cruell demeanoure of the Prelates and Ordinaryes,
which touched bothe their bodyes and goodes, all whiche griefes, the Speaker delyuered to
the Kyng in writynge, most humbly besechyng his grace to take soche an ordre & direction
in that case, as to his hygh wysedome myght seme most conuenient. Further he beseched
the king to consider what payne, charge and cost, his humble subiectes of the nether house
had susteyned syth the begynnynge of this Parliament, and that it woulde please his grace
of his Princely benignitie to dissolue his courte of Parliament, that his subiectes myght re-
payre into their countreys.
When the Kyng had receyued the Supplicacion of the Commons, he paused a whyle and
The Kynges then sayde : It is not the offyce of a Kyng which is a ludge to be to lyghte of credence, nor
I haue not, nor wyll not vse the same: for I wyll heare the partie that is accused speake or
I geue any sentence : your booke conteyneth dyuers Articles of great and weyghtye matters,
and as I perceyue, it is agaynste the Spirituall persones and Prelates of our Realme, of
whiche
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 785
whiche thynge you desyre a redresse and a reformacion, whiche desyre and request Is mere
eontrarytint to your last Peticion: For you requyre to haue the Parlyament dissolued and
to departe into your countrcys, and yet you woulde haue a reformacion of your griefcs
with all diligence: Although that your payne haue ben great in tariyng, I assure you myne
hath ben no lesse then yours, and yet all the payne that I take for your vvealthes is to me a
pleasure: therefore if you wyll liaue profyte of your complaynte, you must tary the tyme,
or els to be without remedy: I moche commend you that you wyll not contendc nor stand
in stryfe with the Spiriiuall men, whiche beyoure Christen brethren, but moche more me
thynketh that you shoulde not contende with me that am youre Souores^ne Lorde and Kyng,
consideryng that I seke peace and quyetnessc of you: For 1 haue sente to you a byll con-
cernynge \vardes and primer season, in the which thynges I am greatly wronged : wherfore
I haue ottered you reason as I thynke, yea, and so thynketh all the Lordes, for they haue
set their handes to the hooke: Thertbre I assure you, if you wyll not take some reasonable
ende now when it is offered, I wyll serche out the extremitie of the hvwe, and then wyll I
not offre you so moche agayne : with this answere, the Speaker and bis company departed.
The cause why the Kyng spake these woordes was this: Daily men made Feoffementes of
their lancles to their vses, and declared their wylles of their landes with soch renmynders,
that notalonly the kyng but all other Lordes lost their Wardes, Manages and relieffes, and
tlie kyng also lost his primer season, & the profyte of the lyuerey, whiche was to hym very
preiudiciall and a great losse : wherfore he, lyke an indifferent Prince, not willyng to take
all, nor to lose all, caused a byll to be drawen by his learned councell, in the which was
deuysed, that euerye man myght make his wyll of the halfe of his lande, so that he lefte
the other halfe to the heyre by discent. When this Byll came fyrst amonges the Commons,
lorde how the ignoratmt persones were greued, and howe shamefully they spake of the byll-
and of the Kynges learned Councell : but the wyse men which vnderstoode & sawe the mys-
chiefe to come, would gladly haue had the byll to be assented to, or at the least to haue put
the Kyng in a suretye of the thyrde or fourthe parte, which offer I was-credebly informed
the Kyng woulde haue taken, but many frowarde and wylfull persones, not regardyng what
myght ensue (as it dyd in deede) woulde neither consent to the byll as the Lordes had
agreed and set to their handes, nor yet agree to no reasonable qualification of the same,
whiche they sore repented: For after this, the Kyng called the Judges and best learned men
of his Realme, and thei disputed this matter in the Chauccry, and agreed that lande coulde
aot be wylled by theordreof the common law: wherupon an Act was made, that no niaii-
myght declare his wyll of no parte of his land : which Acte sore greued the Lordes and Gen-
tlemen that had many chyldren to setfurth. Therefore you may iudge what mychiefe co-
ineth of wylfull blyndnesse and lacke of foresyght in so great causes.
This Parliament was proroged tyll the tenth day of Apryl), in the whiche Parliament was
an Acte made, that Bysshops shoulde pay no more Annates or money for their Bulles to
the Pope : for it was openly proued that there was payed for the Bulles of Bysshoppes, in
the fourthe yere of Kyng Henry the seuenth, the Kynges father, tyll this yore, one hun-
dreth thre score thousand pounde sterlyng, besyde all other Dispensacions and Pardones,-
whecof the summe was incredible.
When the Parliament was begonne agayne after Ester, there came dovvne to the Common
house the Lorde Chauncelloure, the Dukes of Norffolke & Suffolke, the Erles of Arundell,
Oxforde, Northumbrelande, Rutlande, Wylshyre and Sussex, and after they were set, the
L&r.de Chauncellor declared, howe the Kyng was aduertised by his Councell, and in espe-
ciall by the Duke of Norffolke, howe on the Marches betwene Englande and Scotlande was-<
verylytell habitacion on the Englysh syde, but on the Scottysh syde was great habitacion,
and the Scottes dwelled euen iust on the border, by the reason wherof they inuaded Eng-
land dyuers tymes, and dyd to the Kynges subiectes great hurte and displeasure : where-
fore the Kyngcntended to make dwellyng houses there, and also to make new diuers Pyles
and stoppes to let the Scottysh men from their inuasions, to the great commoditic of all his-
5 H people
THE. XXIII. YERE OP
people there dwell vug, which thynges coulde not be doone without great cost : Wherefore
consideryng the Kynges good entente, he sayde, that the Lordes thoughte it conueniente to
graunle to the Kyng some reasonable ayde towarde his charges, and prayed the Comons to
consulte on the same, and then lie and all the Lordes departed.
After their departure, the comons cosiclering the kinges good entent, louyngly granted to
him a. xv. toward his charges, but this graut was not enacted at this Sessyon, bicausc that
sodeinly began a Pestilence in Westmynster, wherefore the Parlyamcnt was proroged tyll
the nexte yere.
In this yere was an olde Tolle demaunded in Flaunders of Englyshmen, called the Tolle
of the Jlounde, which is a Ityuer and a passage : The Tolle is. xii. pence of a Fardell. This
Tolle had ben often tymes demaunded, but neuer payed: insomoche that Kyng Henry the
•seuenth, for the. demaunde of that Tolle, prohibited all his subiectes to kepe any Marte at
Antwerpe or Barovv, but caused the Martes to be kepte at Calyes: at which tyme it was
agreed that the sayde Tolle shoulde neuer be demaunded, so that the Englysh men woulde
resorte agayne into the Dukes countrey, and after that, it was not demaunded tyll now:
Wherefore the Kyng sent Doctor Knyght and other to Calyes, and thyther came thunpe-
rours Commissioners, and the matter was put- in suspence for a tyme.
Ye haiie hearde before how the Kyng had purchased the Bysshop of Yorkcs place,
whiche was a fay re Bysshops house, but not meete for a Kyng : wherefore the Kyng pur-
chased all the medowes about saynt lames, and all the whole house of s. lames, and there
made a fay re mansion and a parke, £ buylded many costly and commodious houses for
great pleasure.
Now must I declare to you a noble enterprise, although it were not doone in England,
yet bicause diuers Englysh men were at that auenture, I wyll declare it as the Lorde Mas-
ter of the Religion of Saynt Ihons wrote to the Lorde of saynt Ihons in Englancle : The
Lorde Master of the Religion, lamentyng sore the losse of the Rodes, whiche he thought
not sone to be reccuered, consyderecl that the Turke helde the towne of Modon whiche
standeth on the See syde, and is a fayre Porte, and woulde haue gladlye had that towne
oute of the Turkes possession, called to him a trusty seruaunt of his, called Caloram,
which was well langaged, and to hym declared, that he woulde haue hyrn to sayle to Mo-
don, and to dwell there as a Turke vnknowen, and if he myght by any meanes to come
into seruice with Massie de Huga, which wasCapitayne there. Caloram answered, that to
go thyther for the accomplyshyng of the Lord masters desyre, he was very well content,
but to come in seruyce and fauoure with the Capitayne, must come in processe of tyme
and by continuaunce, and that not without great expence: The Lorde MaistiT promysed
hym sufficient treasure and a great rewarde : When Caloram was perfectly enstructcd in all
tliyng he toke his leaue and came priuely to Modon, & there dwelled, & within shorte space
he was the Capitayns seruaunt, & for his great diligence was with his master in great fa-
uoure. Then he wrote to the Lorde Miaster all thyng, and assertayned hym that his entent
coulde not take efl'ecte hastely, but bade hym euer be readye. Thys matter thus contynued
two yeare, in whiche tyme Caloram well perceyued how the towne myght be taken, and
therefore wrote to the Lord Master, which shortly came to a place called Mucollutea. The
Turkes haue a coudicion in August & Septembre, to resorte into the countrey to see the
fruytes, and to solace theim selfe, wherfore the Lord Master appoynted the Prior of Rome
and the Turcu.plyar of England to he Capitaynes of this enterprise, and with them were.
Ix. kniglues of the Religion, and. vii.C. and fyl'tye souldyers in. vi. Galyes & Brigantes, and
jmssed tlie Caj>c Blank e in the lande of Calaber, the. xviii. day of August, and there they
ankered: and fiom.that .place they myght sayle Ix. myle to jNIodoo, vnder the hylles of
Stroffadces.. And in the waye they stopped a] I the shippes that passed toward Modon: &
from thence they sent woorde to Caloram, which sent them woorde, not to be to hastye :
.for the . Venicians bad reported in Modon, that the Galyes of the Religion were on the see;
Hud also a Capitayue o.f the Turkes, called Erombylam was come to Modon with. ii. C,
horsemc
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 7»7
horseme to ve\v the towne so that Caloram was in great feare of his entcrprice. But the
same nyght there came to Modon a Gripe or small vessell, in the which were thre knyghtes
of llie Religion all in marynors arrey, and there sought for fresh water and other victails
necessary, which knightes spake with Caloram, and the same day the Capitayne Fromby-
lum departed from Modon. Then Caloram sent worde to the Capitaynes, that he trusted
that their iourney shoulde be well sped: which knyghtes departed and came to the Capi-
taynes, whiche wysely assembled all their people at a Iloade called Stroffades, and there
declared their commission of their Lord Master, and also shewed Calorams letters, where-
of euery man was greatly comforted to know what enterprise they went about. Then it
was appoynted that the Prior of Rome shoulde fyrst entre and take thg gate of the princi-
pall tower, and the Turkeiplier with. vi. English knyghtes were appoynted to defende the
Molle or Peere at the hauen mouthe: and to euery gate was a Capitayn appoynted with a-
nombre for the gates of the towne and the Fortresses were well knowen to the Religion of
s. Ihon Baptist. When all this ordre was appoynted, the Galies disancored & came to the
He of Sapience, iii. myle from Modon. All this whyle Caloram was in great feare, tyll the
two Capiteins sent a vessel called a Gripe, & in her, iii.C. men: Thei were no soner en-
tered the peere, but the Turkes came a horde & asked for the merchautz (for all the men
wer apparelled lyke Mariners) they answered that the Merchauntes which had the charge
were gone aland into the towne, & sayde they would bring them to the Merchauntes, & that
all their merchandise was good wodde, which thyng the Turkes moch desyrc : So the cnriste
knyghtes lyke mariners went with the Turkes, which wer to the nombre ot xiii- entendyng
to begyn their enterprise, & some went toward the tower, and some went toward the gate
followyng the. xiii. Turkes, & after them issued all the souldiers out of the Gripe, & so£!odonca-
with force thei got the gate, & after that y molle or pyre, & on that set a bfmer of the
Religion, to the which Caloram helped moch : with that came all the Galycs and landed.
Then, began a terrible slaughter of all partes, the Turkes fled, and the Christen men fol-
lowed, and the Capitaynes tooke the walles: and from thence Caloram lead them to the
house of Messyre'Huga, in whiche house was a great strength: For his house was lyke a
Fortresse or tower, whiche ioyned to the walle of the towne, out of which was a Posterne,
wherof issued out certayn Turkes which askryed the Christen men abrode in the countrey.
But in the meane season the Christen men assauted the sayde Fortresse, whiche was sore de-
fended: and there the Prior of Rome was by a hackbush slayn, whiche chaunce made thfe
Christen men more furious, & slew in the towne. iii. C. Turkes andaboue. Then they blew to
vetreite.and councelled together & well perceyued that they coulcle not keepe the towne excepte
they had the fortresse or tower, which they could not obtayae without a Siege, and then they
had no ordinaunce nor people ynough, therfore they determined to take their most aduaun-
tage by pyllage, and so spoyled the towne & tooke. viii.C. prisoners & sent them to the
Galyes. And when the Turkes saw the Cristen men styll pylfer (as the vsage of souldiers
is) they issued out of their holde & fortresse and fought with the Christe men boldely
m the stretes, so that the stretes ranne bloode in the canels, the fyghte was sore: and euer
the Turkes came in at the posterne by askry, and assauted the Christen men, which va-
liauntly defended them and for all the Turkes power came to their Galies with their pray
and prisoners, and came to the He of Malto with all their booty, not leesyng. xl. persones
in all their iourney: wherof the Lorde Master was moche reioyced & well rewarded Ca-
lorara, 'which also came with them to Malto. This enterprise was dooen on a sonday,
beynge the. xviii. day of August, the yere of our Lord a thousand, fyue hundreth, thyrtie
and one, and this, xxiii. yere of his Reigne.
After, this enterprise,, the. xxii. day. of Septembre, dyed Lady Loys Dutchesse of An-
gulesme and mother to the Frenche Kyng, a wyse and a sad Lady: whereof the Kyng be-
ynge aduertised, caused a solempne Obsequye to be made and kepte for her in the Abbey of
Waltham in Essex, at the whiche solempnitie, the Kynge and a great nombre of the Nobles
5 H.&. and
THE. XXIIIJ. YERE OF
and Prelates of th« llealine were present in mournyng apparell at the Kynges coste and
charge.
U THE. XXIIII. YERE.
V
IN the begimiyng of this, xxiiii. yere, the Lady Anne Bulleyne was so moche in the
Kynges fauour, that the commen people which knew not the Kynges trew entent, sayd and
thought that the absence of the Queue was onely for her sake, which was not trew : for the
king was openly rebuked of Preachers for kepyng company with his brothers wife, which
was thoccasyon that he escliued her companye, tyll the truth wer tryed.
The last daye of Aprill the parliamet sittyng, the kyng sent for Thomas Awdeley, Spekar
of the common house, and certain other, and declared to the, how they had exhibited a
boke of their greues, the last yere against the Spiritualtie, whiche at their requestes, he
had deliuered to his spirituall subiectes, to make answere there to, but he could haue no
"answere, till within three da ies last past, which answere he deliuered to the Spekar, saiyng:
we thynke their answere will smally please you, for it semeth to vs very slender, you bee a
Create sorte of wisemen, I doubt not but you will loke circumspectly on the matter, and
we will be indifferent betwene you. And for a truth their answere was very Sophisticall,
and nothyng auoydyng the greues of the lay people: and farther the kyng saicd, that he
marueiled not a litle, why one of the Parliament house spake openly of the absence of the
Queue frd hym, whiche matter was not to be determined there, for he saied it touched his soule,
and wished the matrimony to be good, for then had he ncuer been vexed in coscience, hut the
docters of the vniuersities said he, haue determined the manage to be voyde, and detestable
before God, whiche grudge of conscience, caused me to abstein from her cornpaignie, and
no folishe or wanton appetite : for I am said he. xli. yere old, at whiche age the lust of man
is not so quicke, as in lustie youth : and sauyng in Spain and Portyngall it hath not been
seen, that one man hath maried two sisters, the one beyng carnally knowe before: but the
brother to mary the brothers wife was so abhorred emongest all nacions, that I neuer heard it,
that any Christen man did it but myself: wherfore you se my conscience trobled and so I
praie you reporte : so the Spekar departed, and declared to the commons the kynges saiyng,
bothe of the Spirituall mennes answere, and also concernyng the kynges manage, which
slight answere displeased the commons.
The occasion why the Kyng spake of his manage, was because one Temse in the common
house, moued the commons to sue to the kyng, to take the Queue again into his compaignie,
and declared certain greate mischiefes, as in bastardyng the Lady Mark*, the kynges onely
chiide, and diuerse other inconuenienoes, whiche woordes were reported to the kyng, whiche
was the cause that he declared his conscience.
The. xi. daie of Maie, the kyng sent for the Speker again, and. xii. of the common house,
hauvng with hym eight Lordes, and saied to theim, welbeloued subiectes, we thought that
y clergie of our real me, had been our subiectes wholy, but now wee haue well perceiued,
that they bee but hajle our subiectes, yea, and scace our subiectes: for all the Prelates at
their conseeracion, make an othe to the Pope, clene contrary to the othe that they make to
vs, so that they seme to be his subieX'tes, and not ours, the copie of bothe the othes I de-
Jiuer here to you, requiryng you to inuent some ordre, that we bee not thus deluded, of our
Spirituall subiectes. The Spekar departed and caused the othes to be redde in the comon
house, the very tenor whereof ensucth.
to the " I Ihon bishop or Abbot of A. fijo this houre forward, shalbe faithefull and obedient to
;pope. sainct Peter, and to the holy Churche of Rome, and to my lorde the Pope, and his succes-
sors Canonically enjeryng, I shall not be of counsaill .nor concent, that they shall lese
either life or member, or shall bee taken, or suffre any violence, or any wrong by any
jneanes, .their Counsaill to we credited, by thejm their inessyngers or letters, J shall not
willyngly
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 789
willyngly discouer to any person : the Papacie of Rome, the rules of the holy fathers, and
the Regalie of sainct Peter, I shall help and retain, and defende against all men : the Le-
gate of the Sea Apostolicke, goyng and commyng I shall honourably entreate, the rightes,
honors, priuileges, authorities of the Churche of Rome, and of the Pope and his succes-
sors, I shall cause to be conserued, defended, augmented and promoted, I shall not bee in
counsaill, treatie, or any acte, in the whiche any thyng shalbe imagined against hyrn, or the
Churche of Rome, there rightes, states, honors, or powers. And if I knowe any suche
to bee moued or compassed, I shall resist it to my power, and as sone as I can, I shall ad-
uertise hym or suche as maie geue hym knowlege. The rules of the holy fathers, the De-
crees, Ordinaunces, Sentences, Disposicions, Reseruacions, Prouisions, and Commaunde-
meutes Apostolicke, to my power I shall kepe and cause to be kept of other : Heretickes,
Sismatikes and rebelles to our holy father and his successors, I shal resist and persecute to
my power, I shall come to the Sinode, when I am called, except I be letted by a Canoni-
call impediment, the lightes of the Apostles I shall visite yerely personally, or by my de-
putie, I shall not alien nor sell my possessions, without the Popes Counsuill: so God me
helpe and the holy Euangelistes."
" I Ihon Bishop of. A. vtterly renounce and clerely forsake all suche clauses, woordes,
sentences and grauntes, whiche I haue or shall haue here alter, of the Popes holines, of
and for the Bishopricke of A. that in any wise hath been, is or hereafter maie bee hurtefull
or preiudiciall to your highnes, your hcires, successors, dignitie, priuilege, or estate royall :
and also I dooe swere, that 1 shalbe faithfull and true, and faitiie and truth I shall beare
to you my souereigne lorde, and to your heires kynges of thesame, of life and lymme, &
yearthly worship aboue all creatures, for to Hue and dye with you and yours, against alt
people, and diligently I shalbe attendant, to all your nedes and busines, after my witt and
power, and your counsaill I shall kepe and holde, knowlegyng my self to hold my bishop-
ticke of you onely, besechyng you of restitucion of the temporalties of thesame, promis-
yng as before, that I shalbe faithefull, true, and obedient subiect to your saied highnes heires,
and successors duryng my life, and the seruices and other thynges dewe toyoure highnes, for
tfie restitucion of the Temporalties, of thesame Bishoprike I shall truly dooe and obedi-
ently perfourme, so God me helpe and all sainctes."
The openyng of these othes, was one of the occasions, why the Pope within two yere
folowyng, lost all his iurisdiccion in Englande, as you shall here afterward. The. xiiiu daie
v parliament was proroged, til the iiii. daie of February next ensuyng. After whiche pro-
rogacion, sir Thomas More Chaunceller of Englude, after long sutes made to the kyng to
be discharged of that office, the. xvi. daie of Maie he deliuered to the kyng, at Westmin-
ster, the greale Scale of Englande, and was with the kynges fauor discharged, whiche
,Seale the kyng kept til Whitsontide folowyng, and on the Mondaie in Whitson weke, he
dubbed Thomas Awdeley, Speker of the parliament knight, and made hym lorde keper of the
great Seaic, and so was he called. v*>* se*le-
The kyng bcyng in progresse this Sommer, was adnertised that the Pope and the Frenche
Kyng, had appoynted to mete at Marcelles in Prouitjce, in the beginnyng of the nextc
Spryng, wherefore the kyng like a wise and pollitike prince, thought it conuenient to
speake with the Frenche kyng in his awne persone, before the Pope and he should come
together, and to declare to hym bothe the determination, of the Vnmers>ities and Doctors
cuncernyng his iVlatrimonie, and also the generall colisailrs, whiche ordeined suche causes,
to be tried in the prouinces and countreis, where the doubt should rise, trustyng that ihe
Frenche kyng should cause the Pope to encline to Goddes law, and to leaue his awne
tradicions and voyde dispensacions, whereupon bothe the princes concluded, to mete in
October folowyng, betwene Calice & Bulleyn : wherfore the kyng of Englande sent out his
letters, to his nobilitie, prelates, and seruauntes, commaundyng theim to bee ready at
Canterbury, the xxvi, daie of September, to passe the Seas with hyrn, for the accomplishing
of the enteruew, betwene hym and his brother the Frenche kyng. Many men were sory to
here
790 THE. XXIIIJ. YERE OF
here, that the kyng should passe the sea in Winter, and specially in October, when the seas
be rongl), but tiieir saiynges letted not his purpose: for he inarched forward from Ampthill
to Wynsore, where on Sundaie beyug the rirste daie of September, he created the lady
Anne Bulleyn, Marchiones of Penbroke, and gatie to her one thousand pound lancle by
tlie yere, and that solemnitie finished, he rode to the College to Masse, and when the
A new Masse was ended, a newe. league was concluded £ sworne, betwene the kyng and the
league. French kyng, Messire Potnoray the Frenche Ambassador then beyng present. After which
othe taken, Doctor Fox the kynges amner, made an eloquent oracion in Latin, in praise of
peace, loue, and amilie: whiche dooen the trumpettes blewe, and the kyng returned to
the Castle, where was kepte a solempne feast. From thence the kyng remoued to Grene-
wiche, and so forward to Canterbury, where at the daie appoynted, he found ready fur-
nished, all suche as were commaunded to passe the sea with liyin, well and richely adorned,
bothe they and their seruauntes.
The. x. daie of October, the kyng came to Douer, and on the. xi. daie in the mornyng
beyng Fridaie, at three of the clocke, he tooke shippyng in Douer rode, and before, x. of
the clocke thesame daie, he with the lady Marchiones of Pembroke, landed at Caleis, where
he was honorably receiued with procession, and brought to saint Nicholas church, where he
hard Masse, and so to his place called Thexchequer, where he lodged. And on the Son-
daie after came to Caleis, the lorde Roche Baron, and Monsire de Mountpesat, messengers
fro the French kyng, aduertisyng the kyng of Englad, that the French kyng would repaire
to Abuile thesame night nmrchyng towarae Bulleyne, of whiche tidyrtges the kyng was very
glad, but sodainly came a messenger, & reported that the great Master of Fraunce, and
the Archebishoppe of Roan, with diuers noble men of Fraunce, wer come to Sandifeld,
entendyng to come to Caleis, to salute the kyng, from the kyng their Master. He beyng
therof aduertised, sent in greate hast the. xv. daie of October, the Duke of Norffolke the
Marques of Excester, 'the Erles of Oxford, Darby, and Rutlande, the lorde Sandes, and
the lorde Fitzwater, with. iii. C. gentlemen, whiche honorably receiued the French lordes,
at the Englishe pale, and so brought the to the kynges presence in Caleis, whiche stode
vnder a rich clothe of estate of suche value that they muche mused of the riches. The
kyng (as he that knewe all honor and nurture) receiued the Frenche lordes, very lonyngly
and amiably, and with the toke a daie & place of metyng : these lordes were highly feasted,
& after diner departed to Bullein.
While the kyng lay thus in Caleis, he vewed the vvalle?, towers, and Bulwerkes, and de-
uised certain newe fortificaciSs, for the maintenance and defence of the toune. The toune
of Caleis had at this season, xxiiii. C. beddes, and stablyng for. ii. M. horses, beside the
villages adiacent.
The. xx. daie of this moneth, the kyng beyng aduertised, that the Freche kyng was come
to a village called Marguisd, nigh to the Englishe pale, marched out of Caleis the next
daie after, accompaignied with the Dukes of Norffolke and Suffolke, and with the Mar-
quesses of Dorcet and Excester, the Erles of Arundell, Oxford, Surrey, Essex, Derby,
Rutlande, Huntyngdon, and Sussex, and diuerse Viscountes, Barons, Knightes of the
Garter, and Gentlemen, freshely appareled, and richly trimmed, and so passed toward the
place, appoynted for the cnteruewe, leuyng behind the the greatest part of $ yomen in
Caleis, because that Bulleyne was to litle for bothe the traines. For the Frenchemen saied
their train was. xx. M. horse, whiche caused the Englishmen to cast many perelles, and
especially because it was bruted abrode, that the Frenche kyng should saie, the Kyng of
Englande was once his enemie, and mainteined the Emperor and the duke of Burbd against
hym, and now he was become his moste frende. The rehersyng of these olde grudges
many Englishmen suspected, and very lothe that the kyng should go to Bulleyne, but the
kyng continued still in his iorney, and came to Sandyngfelde, and a litle from that place
in a valey, was 'the Frenche kyng nobely accompaignied, with three hundred horse, and
not rauche more. The Kynges train waued on the lefte hande, to geue the Frenche Kyng
and
KYNG HENRY THE. VII J. 79 1
and hisain the right hande : like wise did the Frenche part, to geue tlie Engiishemen the
light hande: so the twoo kynges with all louely honor met with bare heddes, and embrased
other in suche fashion, that all that beheldc them reioysed. The kyng of Englande was ap-TheKyng-s
pareled, in a cote of great riches, in braides of golde laied lose on Russet Veluet, and set w«k
with Traifoyles, full of pearle and stone. The Frenche Kyng was in a coate of crimosin
veluet, all to cut, lined with slender cloth of gold plucked out through the cuttes. The
noble men on both parties, wer richely apparreled, and as was reported, the Frenche
kyng saied openly, to the kyng of Englande : sir you be thesame persone, that I am moste of dx ^
bounde to in the worlde, and sithe it hath pleased you, in persone to visile me, I am F«nch
bound in persone to seke you, and for the very frendship, that I haue found in yon, I am yus"
vours and will be, and so I require you to take me, and with that put of his bonet: the
kyng of England soberly answered, If euer I did thyng to your likyng I am glad, & as
touchyng the pain to come hether to se you, I assure you it is my greate comforte, yea, and
I had come farther to haue visited you. Then the kynges embrased the lordes and estates,
as the French kyng the lordes of England, and the kyng of England the lordes of Fraunce,
and that done they set forward toward Bulleyne, and in ridyng they cast of Haukes called
Sakers, to the Kytes, whiche made to iheim greate sporte. And in a valey beyonde $ii-
clyagfeld, the kyng of Nauerr met the kynges, and there they a lighted and dranke, and
after that they mounted on horsebacke, & with haukyng and other princely pastyme, they
came nere to Bulleyn, where on a hill stode ranged in a faire bande, the nomber of flue
hundred menne on horsebacke, of whom the chief wer, the Frenche kynges three sonnes,
the Dolphin, the Duke of Orleaunce, and the Duke of Angulesme, and on them gaue
attcndaunce, the Admirall of Frauce, and three Cardinalles with diuerse other nobles of
Fraunce: these three Princes marched forwarde, and welcomed the kyng of Englande,
whiche theim well behelde and louyngly them receiued, as lie that could as muche nur-
ture, as any Prince that euer was. Then the Frenche kyng saied to his children opely : My
children, I am vour father, but to this Prince here you are as much bound, as to me your
nalurall father, for he redemed me and you from captiuitie: wherfore on my blcssyng I
charge you to be to hym louyng alwaies. The kyng of Englande ceassed the Frenche
kynges tale, and embrased the young Princes, eche alter other: all their three apparclles
were blacke Veluet, embraudered with siluer of Damaskc. Then all these noble coin-
paignie came to Bulleyne. where was a greate shot of Artilery, for on the one side they TheKyng«
sliot great pellettes, whiche made a greate noyse: then these t\voo Princes offered at our ^i™5]"8 w
Ladv of Bulleyue, and the Frenche kyng brought the kyng of Englande to his ludgyng in
the Abbay directly against his awne lodging, where the kyng of Englande had diuerse
chambers, the vtter chamber was hanged with faire Arras, and another chamber was ha'nged
with grene Veluet, embraudered with Vinettes of gold, and fret with flowers of silner., and
sinai nvigsres of wrethen worke, £ in the middle of euery pane or pec'e, was a table of Ouid
in Mau»i>)oi"pboseos embraudered, and a clothe of estate of thesame worke, valanccd with
frettes, knotted and langettes tassaled with Venice golde and siliicr: and in this chamber was
hanged a great braunche of siluer percell gilte, to beare lighles. Then was there an inner
chamber, hanged with riche clothe of golde of Tissue, and the role silcd with thesame •
The. iiii. chamber was with veluet, and hachementcs of armes, and diui.-es of nedlc workc
very connyngly wrought. Euery man was appoynted to his-' lodgyng (which there was very
straight) accordyng to his degree, and great chere was made to all the Englishemen: the
Poijkrees, Larders, Spiceries, and Sellars of Wine were all open, and likewise Hay anil
Litter, and all other thynges, aske and haue, and no man durst take any money, for tlje
Frenche kyng paied for all.
The Frenche kyng caused twoo gounes to be made of white veluet pricked with gold
,of damaske, .and the capes .and ventes, wer of frettes of whipped gold of dtunaske very
.riche, whiche tw.oo gounes he sent to the kyng of Englande, praiyng hym to jchose the one
and to \veur.e it for his sake, whiche gladly toke it, and BO that Tewc.sdaie, the twoo kyu.ges
were
THE. XXIIIJ. YERE OF
were bothc in one suite: ihesame night the Freeh kyng, made to the king of Englande a
supper in his chamber, whiche was hanged with Arras, and siled ouer with riche silke, and
two clothes of estates wer set vp, one at the one ende, & the other at the other ende, the
one clothe was embraudered with the image of an old man, and a woman with a naked
child in her arme, and the woman gaue the old man sucke of her brest, and about was
writte in French : Better it is children wantonly to zvepc, then old menjor nede to perls/if.
On the other clothe of estate, was embraudered the sunne goyngdoune of fine gold, and a
beast theron, the lied couered with a helme, and a coronall of a dukes estate, the beastes
body was al perle, & the cloth was crimosin satten. A riche cupbord was set vp of plate,
with a great nober of peces of the new fashion, iiii. great braunches hong in the chaber all
of siluer & gilt, whiche bare torches of while waxe, al the getleinen of Fraiice made tlieng-
lishemen great chere, and serued them of delicate viandes.
In the Churche of Bulleyne was a Trauerse set vp for the Frenche kyng, opt- on euerv
side, sauyng it was siled with blew veluet, embraudered with flower Delices golde, the pil-
)ers were hanged with thesame worke: On the Frenche kynges right hand, was another tra-
verse siled, and cortened all of white Satten, embraudered with Cables cast, of cut clothe
of gold, embraudered and gilted after the fashion that Mariners cast their ropes: this tra-
werse was valensed of like woorke, and fringed with fine gold. Daily the kynges heard their
Masses in these trauerses and commonly they went together to Masse. Diuerse tymes the
kynges communed together in counsaill, and sometyme in the mornyng, or the princes wer
stirring, their cousailes met, and sat together a great while.
While the kyng of Englande, lay thus at Bulleyn, the Frenche kyng to shewe hymself
louyng to the noble men of Englande, the. xxv. daie of October, called a Chapiter of the
compaignions of his Ordre, called Sainct Michell, of whom the kyng of Englande was one,
and so there elected Thomas Duke of Norffolke, and Charles Duke of Suffolke, to bee
compaignions of thesaied Ordre, whiche were brought into the Chapiter, and had there
Collers deliuered to theim, and were sworneto the Statutes of the Ordre, their obeysauncc
to their souereigne Lorde, ahvaies reserued: whiche Dukes thanked the Frenche Kyng,
and gaue to the Officers of Armes twoo hundred Crounes a pece. All this season the
Frenche kyng and his court were freshe, and his gard were appareled, in frockes of blewe
Crimosin, and yelowe veluet. With the Frenche kyng, was the kyng of Nauerr, the Dol-
phin of Vien, the Dukes of Orliaunce, Angulesme, Vandosme, Guyse, Longuile, the
Erles of Sainct Panic, Neuers, Estampes, Lauall, and many other Erles and Barons and
the prince of Melffe, foure Cardinalles, andeleuen bishoppes with their traines and resort,
whiche surely was a greate compaignie: so continued these twoo kynges at Bulleyn, Mon-
daie, Tewesdaie, Wednesdaie, and Thursdaie, and on Fridaie the. xxv. daie of October,
they departed out of Bulleyn to Calice: the Frenche kynges train was twelue hundred per-
sones, and so many horse or more, and without Calice twoo mile, met with them the D^jke
of Richemond, the Kynges bastard sonne of Englande, a goodly young Prince, and full of
fauoure and beautie, with a greate compaignie of noble men, whiche wer not at Bulleyne,
so the Duke with his compaignie, embrased the Frenche kyng, and so did other noble mer>,
then the lordes of England set forward, as the Dukes of Richemond, Norffolke and Suf-
folke, the Marques of Excester, the Erles of Arudell, Oxford, Surrey, Darby, Worcester;
Rutland, Sussex, and Huntyngdon, the Viscountes of Lisle, and Rocheforde, the Bishoppes
of London, Winchester, Lyncolne, and Bathe, the lorde Will! a. Haward, the lorde Ma-
trauerse, the lorde Montacute, the lord Cobham, the lord Sfides, the lorde Bray, the
lorde Mordat, the lorde Leonard Grey, the lorde Clinton, & sir William Fitzwillyam
knight, tresorer of the kynges house, and sir William Paulet, Coptroler of thesame with a
greate nomber of knightes, beside the lustie Esquires and yong gentlemen. These noble,
personages and gentlemen of England, accompaignied the Frenche Lordes to Newnam
Bridge, where as Thomas Palmer, capitajn of the fortresse, with a faire compaignie of
*ouldiours saluted the Kynges. and so they passed towarde Caliee: where at their commyng,
S that
KYNG HENRY THE. VIM. 793
that what out of the Toune and the Castle, and what out of Ricebancke, and the Shippes
in the Hauen, the Frenche men saied they neuer heard suche a shotte: And when they were
entered the Mille gate, all the Souldiours of the Toune, stoode on the one side, appareled
in Redcle and Blewe, and on the other side of the stretes, stoode all the seruyng menne of
Englande, in coate.s of Frenche Tawney, with their lordes and Masters diuises embrauder-
ed, and euery inanne a Scarlette cap and awhile fether, whiclie made a goodly shewe:
there were lodged in Caleis that night, beside the toune dwellers, eight thousand persones
at the least. The Kyng of England brought the French Kyng to his lodgyng, to the
Staple in, where his chamber was hanged with so rich verdore, as hath not been seen, the Thc firste
ground of it was gold and damaske, and all ouer the tuftes and flowers, were of Satten chamber.
Silke and Siluer, so curiously wrought that they seined to growe, euery chamber was richer,
and other: the second chamber all of Tissue, with a clothe of estate of nedle worke, set
with great Roses of large pearle. The third was haged with Veluet, vpon veluet pirled
grene and Crimosyn, and embraudered ouer with braunches, of flowers of Gold Bullion,
and garnished with annes and beastes of thesame gold, set with pearle and stone. If the
Frenche Kyng made good chere to the Kyng of Engiande, and his trayne at Bulleyne, I
assure you he and his trayne, were requited at Caleis, for the plentie of wylde foule, Veni-
son, Fishe, and all other thynges whiche were there, it was marueill to see, for the Kynges
Officers of England, had made preparacion in euery place, so that the Frenchemenne were
serued," with suche multitude of diuerse fishes, this Fridaie and Saterdaie, that the masters
of the French kynges houshold, muche wondered at the prouison. In like wise on the
Sondaie, thei had al maner Of fleshe, foule, spice, Venison, bothe of falowe Dere and
redde Dere, and as for wine they lacked none, so that well was thenglishe man that might
well entertain theFrench man: the lordes of Frauce neuer fetched their viandes, but thei
wer sent to them, and often tyme their proporcion of victaill was so abundaunt, that they
refused a greate parte thereof.
While the kynges were thus in Caleis, they roade euery daie to sainct Marie Cliurche, ^
where were set twoo trauerses, the one for the Freache Kyng, whiche was Crimosyn Yrel-
uet, replenished with greate Roses of massy Bullion of fine gold, and the seede of thesaied
Roses were great orient pearle, and about euery Rose, was a wretlie al of pearle and
stone whiche trauerse was muche wondered at by the Frenchemen: the other traucrse of
blewe Veluet and clothe of Tissue, raised with flowers of s-iluer paned, al the blewe Vel-
uet was embrodered with knottes, and subtle draughtes, of leaues and braunches, that fewe
men could iudge the cunnyng of the workemanship. The stmdaie at night, the French
kyng supped with the kyng of England, in a chamber hanged with tissue, reised with
.siluer, paned with cloth of siluer, reised with gold, £ the semes of thesame were couer- F.re»ch
ed with brode wrethes, of goldsmithes worke, full of stone and perle. In this cham-
ber was a coberd of. vii. stages high al of plate of gold, & no gilt plate, beside that
there hong in thesaid chaber x. branches of siluer & gilt, x. cc braunches al white siltier,
euery brauche hangyng by a long chain qf thesame sute, beryng v. lightes of waxe. To
tell the riches of the clothes of estates, the basens & other vessels whiche was there occu-
pied, I assure you my wit is insufficiet, for there was nothyng occupied that night, but all of
gold. The Freeh kyng was serued iii. courses, & his meat dressed after the Freeh fashion,
& the kyng of England had like courses after thenglishe fashion, the first course of euery
kyng was. xl. dishes, the second. Ix. y third. Ixx. which wer costly & plesant.
After supper came in the Marchiones of Penbroke, with. vii. ladies in Maskyn^ apparel,
of strautige fashion, made of clothe of gold, compassed with Crimosyn Tinsell Satin,
owned with Clothe of Siluer, liyng lose and knit with laces of Gold: these ladies were
brought into the chamber, with foure damoselles appareled in Crimosin satlyn, with Ta-
bardes of fine Cipres: the lady Marques tooke the Frenche Kyng, and the Countes of
Darby, toke the Kyng of Nauerr, and euery Lady toke a lorde, and in daunsyng the kyng
of Englande, toke awaie the ladies visers, so that there the ladies beauties were shewed,
5 I and
794 THE. XXI IIJ. YERE OF
and after they had daunsed a while they ceased, and the French Kyng talked with the Mar-
chiones of Penbroke a space, & then he toke his ieaue of the Indies, and the kyn^ con-
ueighed hym to his lodgyng: thesame night the Duke of Norffolke feasted all the nobles
of Fraunce, bey ng there in the castle of Caleis, with many goodly sportes and pastymes.
On the Mondaie beyng Simon and ludes daie, there dined with the kyng of England,
the kyng of Nauerr, & the Cardinall of Lorrain, and the greate Master, £ Admirall of
Fraunce, on whiche daie the kyng of Englande, called a Chapiter of the knightes of the
G artier, at whiche Chapiter the Frenche kyng ware the Blewe Mantell of the ordre, be-
cause he was of thesame ordre, and there wer elected Annas Memorancie Erie of Beau-
mont, greate Master of the Frenche kinges house, and Phillip de Chabbot Erie of New-
blanke, greate Admirall of Fraunce, whiche had to them their Collers and Garters deliuer-
ed, for the which they rendered to the kyng greate thankes.
The morowe after beyng the thirtie daie of October, the two kynges departed out of Ca-
leis, and came nere to Sadyngfeld, and there alighted in a faire grene place, where was a
table set, and there the Englishemen serued the Frenchemen of wyne, Ypocras, fruite, &
spice abondantly. When the two kynges had communed a litle, they mounted on their
horses, and at the very enteryng of the French grounde, they toke handes, and with
TheKynges Princely countenaunce, louyng behauor, and hartie wordes, eche embrased other and so
depart there departed.
While the kyng of Englande was in the Frenche kynges dominion, he had the vpper
hand, and likewise had the Frenche kyng, in his dominion, and as the Frenche kyng paied
all the Englishmennes charges at Bulleyn, so did the kyng of England at Caleis, so that
euery thyng was recopensed : sauyng that the kyng of England, gaue to the French kyng,
diuerse precious luelles & great horses, and to his nobles great pletie of plate, for the
which I could neuer heare, that he gaue the kyng of Englade any other thing, but the
white goune, as you haue hard, but to the lordes of the kynges counsaill, he gaue certain
plate and chaines.
When the kyng was returned to Calice, many gentlemen tooke ship to saile into Englande,
but the wynd was so contrariant, that diuerse of them were driuen backe again into Calice,
and diuerse into Flaunders, and in Nouember rose suche a Wynde, of the North and North
Weste, that al the shippes in Caleis hauen, were in great ieoperdy, and in especial y Hoyes,
at whiche season was such a spryng tide, that it brake the walles of Holland and Zelande,
and drouned diuerse tounes in Flauders, in somuche that the water rose three foote aboue
the wharfe, where the Key stode in Andwarpe: this storme continued till the fourth daie of
Nouember, but for all that the wynd chaunged not. The eight daie rose suche a Wynde
tempest and Thonder, that no man could conueniently stirre in the streates of Caleis:
muche lamentacion was made for theim that had taken shippe into Englande, for no man
knewe what was become of theim. On Sondaie the wether was faire, the kyng caused his
bedde and other thynges to be shipped, and entended to departe, but sodainly rose suche
a mist, that no Master could guide a ship, and so he taried that daie. On Tewesdaie at
midnight he tooke ship, and landed at Douer the morowe after, beyng the. xiiii. daie of
Nouember, at. v. of the clocke in the mornyng, wherefore the Saterdaie after, was song
Te. cleum in the Cathedrall Churche of sainct Paule in London: the Lorde keper of the
great Scale, the Major of London, (and diuerse other noble and sad persones, whiche
made their abode in London, for the gouernaunce. of the realme in the kynges absence,
TheKyng Deyng present). The kyng after his returne, maried priuily the lady Anne Bulleyn, on
mariedto sainct Erkenwaldcs daie, whiche manage was kept so secrete, that very fewe knewe it, til
Buikyn°e she was greate with child, at Easter after.
When the kyng should passe ouer the sea, he cosidred that the Scottes had robbed his
subiectes, bothe by sea and land, and that no redresse was made for thesame, imagined that
in his absence, they would attempt some outragious enterprise against his people, whcrfore
like a prudent prince to be in a suretie, he sent sir Arthur Darcy knight, with thre hun-
dred
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 795
dred tall menne to Barwicke, to defende the inuasions of the Scottes. The Scotles liear-
yng of his commyng, came into Northumberlande, by y middle Marches, and came to a
place called Eowhcry, and in their iorney fired certain villages and returned. Sir Arthur
Darcy hearyng of this auenturc, was nolhyng contente. Nowe at this season there laie at
Berwicke, Archibald Doglas Erie of Angus, whiche had maried the Queue of Scottes, the
kyngcs sister, and was banished Scotlande and she was from hym diuorsed, and maried to
another. The Scottes bragged of their enterprise, and saied that sir Arthur had brought
them good lucke, and said, that he and the Erie of Angus, slepte well in Barwicke: they
hearyng of this bragge, made a roade with. iiii. C. men into Scotland, & set a village on
fire : then shortly assembled together, viii. C. Scottes. When thenglishemen perceiued the
Scottes, they caused their trompet to blowe a retreate, and the Erie and. xx. with hym,
shewed hym self on a hill, etien in the face of the Scottes, and the trumpette blewe at their
backes, so that the Scottes thought that there had been ii. compaiguies, whiche caused the
Scottes to flie, and the Englishemen folowcd, and slewe a great nomber, and toke many
prisoners, and brought them to Berwicke, the twentie daie of October.
The Kyng this yere kepte his Christemas at Grenewiche, and after Christmas sir Thomas
Awdeley, lorde keper of the greate Scale, was made Chaunceller of Englande, and when mld
the Parliament beganne, because the office of the Spekar was voyde, Hiifrey Wyngfeld of cha
Grais Inne, was elected Spekar of the parliament, whiche was presented accordyng as you
haue heard, of the other Spekar before. In the whiche Parliament was made an acte, that
no persone should appealefor any cause, out of this realrne, to the Courte of Rome, but
from Commissarie to the Bishoppe, and from Bishop to the Archebishop, and from Arche-
bishop to the kyng, and all causes of the kyng, to bee tried in the vpper house of the Con-
uocacion. And in thesame Parliament was enacted, that quene Katheryn should from
thence furth, be no more called quene, but princes Dowager, of prince Arthur.
In this Sommer season last past, died Willyam Warham Archebishoppe of Canterbury,
and to that Bishopriche was named, Doctor Thomas Cranmer, the kynges chappelein, a
man of good learnyng, and of a verteous life, which also not long before was the kynges
Ambassadour to the Bishop of Rome, whiche was consecrate in Lent.
After the Kyng perceiuyng his newe wife Quene Anne, to bee greate with childe, caused
all officers necessary, to bee appoynted to her, and so on Easter cue, she went to her Closet
openly as Quene, with all solempnitie, and then the Kyng appoynted the daie of her Co-
ronacion, to bee kept on Whitsd Sondaie next folowyng, and writynges wer sent to all
Shriues, to certifie the names of menne of fourtie pounde, to receiue the Ordre of knight-
hod, or els to make a fine: the assessement of whiche fines, were appoynted to Thomas
Cromwell, Master of the Kynges luell house, and counsailer to the kyng, and newly in
his high fauour, whiche so pollitikely handeled the matter, that he raised of that sessyng of
fines, a greate somme of money to the Kynges vse: Also the Kyng wrote letters to the citee
of London, to prepare pagiauntes against thesame coronacion.
U THE. XXV. YERE.
THe kyng in the beginnyng of this. xxv. yere, kepte the daie of sainct George, at his
Manor of Grenewiche, with great solempnitie, and the Courte was greatly replenished,
with lordes, knightes. and with ladies and gentlewomen, to a great nomber, with all solace
and pleasure. You haue hard the last yere, how the Parliament had enacted that no per-
son should after a daie, appele to Rome for any cause, whatsoeuer it wer, and that the
Quene now, called the Princes Dowager, had appeled to the Court of Rome, before the
acte made, so that it was doubted, whether that appeale were good or not. This question
was well handeled in the Parliament house, but muche better in the Couocacion house, but
in both houses it was alleged, yea, and by bokes shewed, that in the Counsailes of Calce-
5 I 2 done,
796
THE. XXV. YE RE OF
diuorsed.
done, Affricke, Toletane, and diuerse other famous Counsailes, in the primitiue Churche,
yea, in the tyme of sainct Augustine, it was affirmed, declared, & determined, that a
cause risyng in one Prouince, should be determined in thesajne, and that neither the pa-
triarcke of Constantinople, should rnedle in causes moued in the iurisdiccio of the pa-
triarcke of Antioche, nor no bishop should entermit, within anothers Prouince or coun-
trey: which thynges were so clerkely opened, so connyngly set furthe to all internes, that
euery man that had witte, and was determined to folowe the truth, and not affeccionate nor
wilfully wedded to his awne mind, might plainly se that all appeles made to Rome, were
clerely voyde and of none effect : whiche Doctrines and Counsailes, were shewed to the lady
Katerine Princes Dowager, but she (as women loue to lose no dignitie) euer cotinued iu
her old song, trustyng more to the Popes parcialitie, then to the determinacion of Christes
veritie. Wherupo the Archebishop of Canterbury, accompaignied with the bishoppes of
London, Winchester, Bathe, Lincolne, and diuerse other great clerkes, in a great nom-
ber rode to Dunstable, whiche is sixe myle fro Ampthil, where the Princes Dowager laye,
and there by a Doctor called Doctor Lee, she was ascited to appere before thesaied Arche-
bishoppe, in cause of Matrimonie, in thesaied toune of Dunstable, and at the daie of ap-
paraunce she would not appere, but made defaute, and so she was called peremptorie,
' euery daie. xv. daies together, and at the laste for lacke of apparaunce, and for contu-
macie, by thassent of all the learned men there beyng present, she was diuorsed from the
kyng, and their Mariage declared to be voyde and of none eff'ecte, whiche sentence geuen,
the Archebishop and all the other, returned whether it pleased them.
After whiche diuorse sued, many wise menne saied, that the kyng was not well coun-
sailed, to mary the lady Anne Bulleyne, before the diuorse were adiudged, for by mariyng
before the firste mariage was dissolued, they said, that the second mariage might be brought
in question, and verely they saied true, for so it was in the monethe of Maie, three yere
folowyng, as you shall here after, when I come to the tyme. Of this diuorse euery man
spake, as his discrecion and wisedom was, for wise men saied that it was Godly and honor-
ably done, for the discharge of the Kynges conscience, and profitable for the suretie of the
realme, and that God loued this mariage, eonsideryng that the newe Quene, was so sone
with childe. Other saied that the bishop of Rome, would cursse all Englishemen and that
themperor and he, would inuade the realme, and destroye the people, and specially the
Spanyardes hosted muche, butthankes be to God, their doynges wer muche lesse then their
wordes: but after euery man had talked inough, there was no more communyng of the mat-
ter, but alb was in peace.
A litle before this tyme was there a worshipfull esquier in Glocestershyre called Wyllyam
Tracy of Todyngton whiche made in his wyll that he would no funeral pompe at his buri-
yng, neither passed he vpon Masse, and farther sayd that he trusted in God ontly & hopyng
by him to besaued, and not by no saint. This gentleman dyed and his sonne as executor
brought y" wil to the bishop of Cauntorbury to prone, whiche he shewed to the cduocacion
and there vnaduisedly they adiudged him to be taken out of the ground and to be brent as
an heretike, and sent a commission to doctor Parker chauncelor of the dyoces of Worcester
to execute their sentence, whiche accomplished the same. The kyng hearyng his subject
to be exhumate & brent without his knowlege or order of his lawe sent for the Chauncelor
and layde the high offence to him, whiche excused him by the archebishop of Canterbury
whiche was late dead: but in conclusion it cost him CCC. pound to Haue his pardon. But
yet for a farther trueth to be knowen of this gentlemans dealh, & the cruel iguoraucye of
the bishoppes, I haue here expressed his wylle worde by worde as foloweth.
In the name of God Amen, TWyllyam Tracy of Todyngton in y countie of Gloucester
esquier make my Testament & last wille as hereafter foloweth. Fyrst and before all other
thinges I commit me vnto God and to his mercy, beleuyng without any doubt or mistrust
that by hi§ grace and the merites of lesus Christ, & by the vertue of his passion and of his
resurreccion I haue and shall haue remission of my sinnes' and resurreccion of body and
soule
Wylliam
Tracy,
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 797
soule according as it is written, I beleue that my redemer lyueth, and that in the last day I i0b. *ix.
sball ryse out of the yearth and in my fleshe shall see ray sauior, this my hope is layde vp in
my bosome.
And touchyng the wealth of my soule, the fayth that I haue taken & rehersed is sufficient
(as I suppose) without any other mannes worke or workes. My ground and belefe is, that
there is but one God £ one mediator betwene God and man, vvhicheis lesus Christ, so that
I accept none in heauen nor inyerth to be mediator betwene me and God, but onely lesus
Christ, all other be but petitioners in receiuyng of grace, but none liable to gcue influence of
grace. And therfore will I bestowe no part of my goodes for that entent that any man
should say, or do, to helpe my soule, for therin I trust. onely to the promises of God: he Marke. ivi.
that beleucth and is baptized shal be saued, and he that beleueth not shalbe damned.
As touchyng the buriyng of my body, it auaileth me not whatsoeuer be done therto, for
saint Augustine sayeth de cura agenda pro mortuis that the funeral pompes are rather the
solace of them that line, then for the vvelth and comforte of them that are dede, and ther-
fore I remitteit onely to the discrecion of myne executors.
And touching the distribucion of my temporal goodes, my purpose is by the grace of
God to bestowe them, to be accepted as the fruites of fayth so that I do not suppose that my
merite is by good bestowyng ot them, but my merite is the fayth of lesus Christ onely, by
whom suche workcs are good accordyng to the vvordes of our lorde: I was hungry and thou Math.x*r.
gauest me to eat. &c. and it foloweih, that ye haue done to the least of my brethren ye
haue done it tome. &c. And euer we should consider the true sentence, that a good worke
maketh not a good man, but a good man maketh a good worke : for fayth maketh the ma. both Rom*-:"
good and righteous, for a righteous man liueth by fayth: and whatsoeuer spryngeth not of
fayth is synne.
And all my temporal goodes that I haue not geuen or deliuered or not genen by writyng
of myne own hand bearyng the date of this present writyng, I do leaue and geue to Margaret
my wyfe & to Richard my sonne whom I make myne Executors. Wytaes this myne owne
hand, the x. day of October in the xxii. yere of the reigneof kyng Henry the viii.
This is the true copy of his wille, for the whiche as you haue heard before after he was al-
moste threyeres dead, they toke him vp and burned him.
In the moneth of Maye Pope Clement sent an Orator to the kyng at Grenewyche ccrtifi-
yng him that i-e had appointed a generall counsail to be kept at Mantua the yere folowyng,
and thefof had aduertised all princes Christen, requiryng the kyng likewyse as he did all
otherpriricea Christen for the vninersal welthof all Christendoms and fory quietyng of opinions
newly growen, to appere there personally: to the whiche it was answered that it was both ieo-
pardeous for y king & for his whole realme to haue their prince absent for feare of inuasions
by vtward enemies, but he sayd he would sende thither a sufficient procuracie and conue-
nient proctors, & desired to see the Orators commission.
When he with an euil- will had shewed his commission, there appered neither place nor
tyme of the counsail. For the kyng knew well before his commyng that the Marques of
Mantua had made a full denial to the pope that he would haue no suche assemble to be kept
in his citie nor dominions for diuers great and vrgent causes, & so the popes Orator departed
with an vncertain answere to an vncertain demaund but not vnre warded.
The kyng beyng aduertised by the Frenche kyng how that he and f Pope should mete at
Nece in lune followyng thought it conucnient to sende asolempne Ambassade to y Frenche
kyng both to accompany him to Nece and also tocomon with the' bishop of Rome concern-
yng his vnlawfull stay in the kynges deuorce: whervpon he appointed the duke of Norffolke,
the lorde Rocheforde brother to the newe queue, sir Wyllyam Pawlet comptroller of the
kynges housholde, sir Anthonye Browne & sir Fraunces Bryan knightes to be his ambassa-
dors which made great prouision for that purpose and so with the nombcr of Clx. horses
came to Douer and so to Calys on Whitson cue on whiche day the quene made her entry
through the citie of London toward her coronacion) where thei made their abode a certain
space
798 THE. XXV. YERE OF
space and passed through all Fraunce till they came to Lyons, where they remained a space
as you shall here after.
This very season was daily skirmishyng betwene the borderers of the Marches of England
and Scotland, and yet no warre proclaimed and many robberies, murders and maslaughters
done on both partes, and although the comissioners of the realmes of England £ of Scotland
lay at Newcastle vpo Tyne entreatyng a truce and amitie, yet duryng the communicacion the
Scottes ceased not to robbe both by sea & land, and tokedyuers litle botes laden with conic
and fishe, wherof hearyng the kyng of England, he decked and vitailed dyuers shippes of
warre and sent them to the North seas to defendc his subiectes. The Scottes hearyng that
the Englishc nauye was come on their cost, in al hast fled home to their harbor, but yet
the Englisliemen folowed them & fetched many of their praies out of their hauens maugre of
their heades.
In the beginnyng of May the kyng caused open Proclamacions to be made that all men
that claimed to do any Bcruice, or execute any office at the solempne feast of the coronacion,
by the way of Tenor, graunt or prescripcion should put their graunt iii. wekes after Ester
in the starre chamber before Charles duke of Suffolke-for that tyme high steward of Eng-
land and the lorde Chauncelor and other commissioners.
The duke of Norftblke claymcd to be erle Marshall and to exercise his office at that feast.
The erle of Arrondell claymed to be high butler and to exercise thesame: the erle of Ox-
ford claymed to be chamberlain: the viscount Lysle claymed to be panter: the lorde Bur-
gaine to be chiefe larderer, and the lord Bray claimed to be almoner, and sir Henry Wiat
knight claymed to beewrer: All these noble parsonages desired their offices with their fees.
Besyde these the Maior of London claymed to serue the quene with a cuppe of golde and a
cuppeof assay of the same, and thatxii. citizens should attende on the cupborde and the Maior
to haue the cuppe and cuppe of assay for his labor, which peticion was allowed. The. v. Fortes
clavmed to beare a Canapie ouer the queneshead the daye of the Coronacion with, iiii.gilte
BeHesand to haue the same for a rcwarde whiche also to them was allowed. Dyuers other put
in petie claymes whiche were not allowed because they semed only to be done at the kynges
coronacion. All this season great purueiauce was made of all maner of vitailes, and lorcies,
knightes and squiers were sent for out of all countreys whiche came to London at their day
with a great nomber of people.
The receiuyng, conueiyng and coronacion of quene Anne wyfe to the high and mightie
prince kyng Henry the eight.
After that the kynges highnes had addressed his gracious letters to the Maior and cominal-
tie of the citie, signifiyngto them that his pleasure was to solempnise and celebrate the coro-
nacion of his moste deare and welbeloued wyfe Quene Anne at Westminster the Whitsonday
nexte ensuyng, willyng theim to make preparacion aswell to fetche her grace from Grene-
wyche to the Tower by water as to sec the citie ordered and garnished with pageautes in
places accustomed, for the honor of her grace. When she should be conueyed from the
Tower to Westminster, there was a common counsail called, and comaundement was geuen
to the Haberdashers (of which craft the Maior sir Stephen Pecocke then was) that they
should prepare a barge for the Batchelers with a wafter and a foyst garnished with banners
and streamers likewyse as they vse to dooe when the Maior is presented at Westminster on
the morowe after Symon and lude. Also all other craftes were commaunded to prepare
barges and to garnishe them not alonely with their banners accustomed, but also to decke
theim with targettes by the sides of the barges, and so set vp all suche semely banners and
bannerettes as they had in their halles or could gette mete to furnishe their sayd barges, and
euery barge to haue mynstrelsie, accordyng to whiche commaundementes great preparacion
was made for all thynges necessary for suche a noble triumph.
The commyng by water from Grenewyche the thursday.
The. xix. day of Maye the Maior and his brethren all in Scarlet, and suche as wer knightes
6 had
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. | 799
had collers of Esses & the remnant hauyng good chayne?, and the counsail of the citie with
them assembled at saint Mary llyll, and at one of the clocke discencled to the Newstayre to
their barge, whiche was garnished with many goodly baners and stremers, and richely couer-
ed, In whiche barge wer Shalmes, Shagbusbes & diuers other instrumcntes, whiche continu-
ally made goodly armony. After that the Maior and his brethren wer in their barge seyng
that all the companycs to the nomber of tiftie barges were ready to wayte vpu thcim. '1 'hey
gaue commaundemcnt to the companyes that no barge should rowe nerer to another then
twyse the length of the barge vpon a great paine. And to see the order kept, there were
thre light wheryes prepared, and in cuery one of them two officers to call on them to kepe
their order, after whiche coinmaundement gcuen they set forth in order as hereafter is dis-
c.ribed.
Fyrst before the Maiors barge was a Foyst or Wafter full of ordinaunce, in whiche Foyst
was a great Dragon continually mouyng, & castyng wyldfyer, and round about the sayd
Foyst stode terrible monsters and wylde men castyng fyer, and makyng hideous noyses :
Next after the Foyst a good distaunce came the Maiors barge, on whose right hand was
the Batchelers barge, in the whiche were trumpettes and diuers other melodious instrumentes.
The deckes of the sayd barge and the sailyardes and the toppe castles were hanged with
riche cloth of golde and silke. At the foreship and the Sterne were two great banners riche
beaten with the armes of the kyng and the queue, and on the toppe castle also was a long
stremer newly beaten with the sayd armes. The sides of the barge was sette full of Flagges
and banners of the cleuises of the company of Haberdashers and marchauntesaduenturers,
and the cordes were haged with innumerable penselles hauyng litle belles at y endes whiche
made a goodly noyse and a goodly sight waueryng in the wynde. On the outsyde of the
barge were thrc dosen Scochyons in metal of armes of the kyng and the quene whiche were
beaten vpon square bocrame deuided so that the right side had the kinges colors, and the
left sydc the queues, whiche Scochyons were fastened on the clothes of gold andsiluer hang-
yng on the deckes on the left hand. On the left hand of the Maior was another Foyst, in the
whiche was a mount & on thcsame stode a white Fawconcrouned vpon a rote of golde enui-
roned with white roses and red, whiche was the Queues deuise: about whiche mount satte
virgyns singyng & plaiyng swetely. Next after the Maior folowed his felowship the Haber-
dashers, Next after them the Mercers, then the Grocers, and so euery company in his order,
and last of all the Maiors and shiriffes officers, euery company hauyng melodye in his barge
by himselfe, and goodly garnished with banners and some garnished with silke and some
with Arras and riche carpettes, whiche was a goodly sight to beholde, and in this order they
rowed to Grenewyche to the point next beyond Grenewyche, and there they turned back-
ward in another order, that is to wete, the Maior and EhirifFes "officers first, and the meanest
craft next, and so ascendyng to the vttermost craftes in order and y Maior last as they go to
Poules at Christmas, and in that order they rowed douneward to Grcnewiche toune and
there cast anker makyng great melody. At thre of the clocke the quene appeared in riche
cloth of gold & entered into her barge accopanied with diuers laoies and gentlewomen, and in-
continent the Citizens set forwardes in their order, their minstrels continually plaiyng, and
the Batchelers barge goyng on the quencs right hand whiche she tooke great pleasure to be-
holde. Aboute the quenes barge were many noble men, as the duke of Suffolke, the Mar-
ques Dorset, the Erie of Wylshyro, her father, the Erles of Arrondel, Darby, Rutland,
Worceter, Huntyngdon, Sussex, Oxford, and many bishoppes and noblemen euery one in •
his barge', which was a goodly sight to behold. She thus beyng accompanied rowed towarde
the Tower, and in the meane way the shippes whiche were commaunded to lye on the shore
for lettyngof the barges shotte diuers peales of gunnes, and or she landed there was a mer-
uailous shotte out of the Tower as euer was harde there. And at her landyng there met with
her the lord Chamberlain with the officers of armes and brought her to the kyng, which re-
ceiued her with louyng countenaunce at the Posterne by the water syde and kyssed her, &
then she turned backe againe and thanked the Maior and the citezens with many goodly
wordes,
800 THE. XXV. YERE OF
wordes, and so entred into the Tower. After which entry the citezens all this while houed
before the Tower makyng great melody & went not alande, for none wer assigned to land but
the Maior, the Recorder and two Aldermen. But for to speake of the people thatstode on
euery shore to beholde the sight, he that sawe it not would not beleue it.
On Fryday at diner serued the kyng all suche as were appointed by hishighnes tobeknishtes
of y bath, which after dyner were brought to their chambers, and that night nere bathed
and shreuen according to the old vsage of England, and the next day in the inornyng
the kyng dubbed theim accordyng to the ceremonies therto belongyng whose names ensueth.
The Marques Dorset. Sir Wyllyam Wynsore.
The Eric of Darby. Sir Fraunces Weston.
The lorde Clyftbrde. Sir Thomas Arrondell.
The lorde Fitzwater. Sir Ihon Hulstone.
The lorde Hastynges. Sir Thomas Pownynges.
The lorde Mountaigle. Sir Henry Sauell. *
Sir Ihon Mordant. Sir George Fitzwyllyam.
The lorde Vaux. Sir Ihon Tyndall.
Sir Henry Parker. Sir Thomas lermey.
Saterday the xxxi. day.
The receiuyng and conueiyng of the queue through London.
To the ententthat the horses should not slide on the Pauement, nor thaty^ people should
not be hurted by horses, the high stretes where thequene should passe were all graueled from
the Tower to Temple barre and railed on the one side, within whiche rayles stode the craftes
along in their order from Grace churche where the marchauntes of the Styllyard stode till the
litle conduite in Chepe where the Aldermen stode, & on the other syde of the strete stode
the Constables of the citie apparelled in veluet & silke with great staucs in their handes to
cause the people to kepe rome and good order. And when the stretes were somewhat order-
ed, the Maior clothed in agoune of crimosyn Veluet and a riche collor of Esses with two
footemen clad in white and red damaske roade to the Tower to geuc his attendance on the
Quene, on whom the Shiriffes with their officers did wayte till they came to Tower hill, where
they takyng their leaue roade doune the high streates commaundyng the Constables to see
rome and good order kept, and so went and stode by the Aldermen in Chcpe. And before
the quene and her traine should come, Cornehill and Gracious strete were hanged with fyne
Scarlet, Crimosyn and other grayned clothes, and in some place with riche Arras, Tapestry
and Carpettes, and the moste part of the Chepe was haged with clothe of Tyssue, Golde,
Veluet and many riche hangynges whyche made a goodly shewe, and all the wyndowes were
replenished with ladyes and gentlewomen to beholde the quene and her trayne as they shuld
passe by. Thefyrst of the quenes company that set forward were xii. Frenchmen whiche were
belongyng to the Frenche Ambassador clothed in coates of blewe veluet with sleues of yelowe
and blewe veluet and their horses trapped with close trappers of blcwe Sarcenet poudered with
white crosses: after them marched gentlemen, squiersknightesii.and ii. After them the ludges,
and after them the knightes of the bath in Violet gounes with hoddcs purfelecl with Miniuer
lyke doctors, after them abbottes, then Barons, after them bishoppes, then Erles and Mar-
quesses, then the lorde Chauncelor of England, after him the archebishop of Yorke and the
ambassador of Venice, after him the archebishop of Cauntorbury and the ambassador of
Fraunce, after roade. ii. squiers of honor w robes of estate rolled and worne baudrike wise
about their neckes with cappes of estate represetyng the dukes of Normandy and Acqui-
taine, after them roade the Maior of London w his Mace and Garter in his coate of armes,
whiche Maior bare his Mase to Westminster halle, after them roade the lorde Wylliam Haward
w the Marshals rod depu tie to his brother y duke of Norffolke Marshall of England whiche
was ambassador then in Fraunce: and on his right hand roade Charles Duke of Suffolke for
that day high Constable of England bearyng the verder of siluer appertainyng' to y office of
1 Constableship,
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 801
Constableship, ftnd all the lordes for the moste parte were clothed in Crimosyn veluet, and all
the Quenes seruauntes or officers of armes in Scarlet. Next before the quene road her chau-
celor barehcded, the sergeautes & officers of armes roade on both the sides of the lordes.
Then came the quene in a litter of white cloth of golde not couered nor bayled whiche was
led by ii. palferies clad in white damaske doune to the ground head & all, led by her fotemen.
She had on a circot of white clothe of Tyssue & a mantle of the same furred with Ermyne,
her heere haged doune, but on her head she had a coyffe with a circlet about it ful of riche
stones. Ouer her was borne a Canapie of clothe of golde with iiii. gilte staues and iiii. sil-
uer belles. For bearyng of whiche Canapye were appointed xvi. knightes, iiii. to beare it
one space on foote & other iiii. another space accordyng to their owne appointment. Next
after the quene roade the lorde Borough her chaberlain, next after him Wyllia Coffyn Mas-
ter of the Horses leadyng a spare horse with a syde saddle trapped doune \V clothe of tyssue :
after him roade vii. ladyes in crimosyn veluet turned vp w cloth cf gold & of tyssue & their
horses trapped with cloth of gold, afier them ii. chariotes couered w red cloth of gold.
In the fyrst Chariot was ii. ladyes which werey old duches of Norfolke & (he old rnar-
chiones of Dorset. In the secod chariot wer iiii. ladies all in Crimosyn veluet. After
the i in roade vii. ladyes in the same suite their horses trappers and all, after theim came the
third Chariot all white with. vi. Ladyes in Crimosyn veluet, next after them came the fowerth
Chariot all redde with viii. ladies also in crimosyn Veluet, after who folowed xxx. getlewo-
men all in veluet and silke in the liuery of their ladies on whom they gaue their attendaunce.
After them folowed the Garde in coates of Goldsmythes worke, in which order they roade
forth till they came to Fanchurche, where was made a pageaunt all with children apparelled
like marchauntes whiche welcommed her to the Citiewith two proper preposicions both in
Frenche & Englishe, and fro thence she roade to Gracious church corner, where was a cost-
ly and a merueilous connyng pageaunt made by the marchauntes of the Styllyarde, for
there was the mount Pernasus with the fountayne of Helycon, which was of white
Marble and iiii. streames wout pype did rise an ell hye & mette together in a litle cuppe
aboue the foutain, which fountain ranne aboundantly Racked Rennishe wyne til night. On
the mountaine satte Appollo and at his feete satte Calliope, and on euery syde of the moun-
tain satte iiii. Muses plaiyng on seueral swete instrumentes, and at their feete Epigrarnmes
& Poyses were written in golden letters, in the whiche eucry Muse accordyng to her proper-
tie praised the Quene: so from thence she passed to Leaden Hall where was a goodly pa-
geaunt with a type and a heauenly roffe, and vnder the type was a rote of golde set on a litle
mountaine enuironed with red roses & white, out of the type came doune a Fawcon all
white and sate vp5 the rote, and incontinent came doune an Angell with great melody and
set a close- croune of golde on the Fawcons head, and in the same pageaut satte saint Ann*
with all her issue beneth her, and vnder Mari Cleoph satte Iier iiii. children, of the which*
children one made a goodly Oracion to the queue of the fruitfulncs of saint Anne and of her
gencracion, trustyng that like fruite should come of her. Then she passed to the conduicte
in Corndiill where wer thre graces set in a throne, afore who was the spryng of grace con-
tinually ronnyng wyire. Afore the foutain satte a Poete declaring the properties of euery
grace, & that done euery lady by her selfe accordyng to her propertie gaue to the quene a
seueral gift of grace. That done she passed by y great coduite in Chepe \\hich was newly
painted with armes of cleuises: out of the whiche conduit by a goodly fountain set ui
the one end rane continually wyne both white and claret all that after noone, and so
she rode to the Standard which was richely painted with ymages of kynges and quenes and
hanged with bFinevs of armes, and in the toppe was mcruailous swetc armony both of song
& instrument. Then she went forward to the crosse whiche was newly gilt, til she cama
where the Aldermen stode, & then Master Baker the Recorder came to her with lone reue-
rence makyng a proper and briefe proposicion and gaue to her in the name of the Citie a
thousand markes in golde in a Purse of golde, whiche she thankefully accepted with many
goodly wordes, and so roade to the lytle eonduyte where was a riche pageaunt full of melodye
5 K an3
$02 THE.. XXV. YERE OF
and song, in whiche pageaunt was Pallas, lunoand Venus, and before them stode Mercuryj
whiche in the name of the iii. goddesses gaue to her a balleof gold deuided in thre, signifiyng
thre giftes y which thre Goddesses gaue to her, that is to saye, wysedome, ryches and felicitie.
As she entred into Paules gate there was a pretie pageaunt in whiche satte thre ladyes rycliely
clothed, and in a circle on their hed was written Regina Anna prospers procede et regna.
The Lady in the middes had a Tablet in the whiche was written Veni arnica coronaberis,
And vnder the tablet satte an angell with a close croune, and the ladye sittyng on the right
hande had a Tablet of syluer in whiche was written Domine directe gressus meos, and the
third ladye had a Tablet of golde with letters Asure written, confido in domine, and vnder
their feete was written, Anna Reg inanominum Regis de sanguine natum, cum paries populis
aurea secla tuis. And these ladyes cast doune Wafers, on the whiche the two verses were
written. From thence she passed to the East ende of Paules Churcheyarde against the
sehole, where stode on a Scaffolde two hundreth children well apparelled, whiche sayd to
her diuers goodly verses of Poetes translated into Englishe, to the honor of the kyng and
her, whiche she highly commended. And when she came to Ludgate, the gate was newly
garnished with golde and byse. And on the ledes ofsainct Martyns Churche stode a goodly
quere of singyng men and children whiche sang newe balades made in praise of her. After
that she was passed Ludgate she preceded towarde Fletestrete where the Conduict was newely
painted, and all the armes and angels refreshed, and the chyme melodiously sownyng.
Vpon the Conduite was made a toune with iiii. Turrettes, and in euery Turret stode one of
the cardinall vertueswith their tokens and properties, whiche had seueral speches, prornisyng
the Quene neuer to leaue her, but to be aydyng and comfortyng her, And in the myddes of the
tower closely was suche seueral solempne instrumetes, thatitsemed to be an heauenly noyse,
and was muche regarded and praised : and beside this the said Conduyte ranne wyne Cla-
ret and Red all the afternoone. So she with all her companye and the Maior roade forth to
Temple barre, whiche was newly painted and repayred, where stode also diuers singyngmen
and children, til she came to Westminster halle, whiche was richely hFiged with clothe of Ar-
ras and newe glased. And in the myddes of the halle she was taken out of her littre, and so
led vp to the high dece vnder the clothe of estate, on whoso lefte hand was a cupborde of x.
stages merueilous ricbe and beutifull to behold, and within a litle season was brought to the
quene with a solempne seruice in great standyng spyce plates, a voyde of Spice and subtilties
with Ipocras and other wynes, whiche she sent doune to her ladyes, and when the ladyes, had
dronke she gaue hartie thakes to the lordes & ladyes, and to the Maior and other that had
geuen their attendance on her, and so withdrew her selfe with a fewe ladyes to the White-
halle and so to her chamber, and there shifted her, and after went into her barge secretely to
the kyng to his Manor of Westminster where she rested that night.
Sonday beyng whitsonday the first day of lune and the day of her coronacion.
On sonday the Maior cladde in crirnosyn veluet and with his coller and all the Aldermen
and shiriffes in Scarlet and the counsail of the citie tooke their barge a,t the Crane by seuen of
of the.clocke and came to Westminster where they wer welcomed & brought into y halle" by
Master Treasorer and othtr of the kynges house, and so gaue their attendaunce till the quene
should come forth. Betwene viii. and ix. she came into the halle and stoode vnder the
clothe of estate, and then came in the kynges chapel £ the Monkes of Westminster all in
riche copes & many bishoppes and Abbottes in Copes and miters whiche went into the middes
of the halle, and there stode a season. Then was there a raye clothe spred from the quenes
standyng in the halle through the palace & saintuary, which .was railed on bothe sydes to
the high Aulter of Westminster. After that the raye clothe was cast, the officers of armes
appoyntecl the order accustomed. Fyrst went gentlemen, then esquiers, then knightes, then
the aldermen of the citie in their clokes of Scarlet, after them the ludges in their mantels of
Scarlet and coyffes. Then folowed the knightes of the bathe beyng no lordes, euery ma
hauyng a white lace on his leftsleue, Then folowed Barons & vicountes in their parliament
robes
KYNG HENRY THE. VI IJ. , 803
robes of Scarlet. After them came Erles, Marquesses and Dukes in their robes of estate of
crimosvn vehiet furred with Ermyne poudered accordyng to their degrees. After them came
the lorde Chaucelor in a robe of Scarlet open before bordered with Lettice: after him came
the kynges chapel and y Monkes solempnely singyng with procession, then came abbottes
and bishoppesmitered, then sergeauntes & officers of armes, then after them went the Maior
of London with his mace & garter in his cote of armes, Then went the Marques Dorcet in
a robe of estate whiche bare the scepter of gold, and the erle of Arrondel whiche bare the
rod 6f Yuery with the Doue both together: Then went alone the erle of Oxforde high
Chamberlain of England which bare y croune, after him went the duke of Suftblke in his
robe of estate also for that day beyng high steward of England, hauing a long white rod in
his hande, .and the lorde Wyllyam Hawarde with the rodde of the Marshalship, & euery
knight of the Garter had on his coller of the order.. Then preceded forth the quene in a
circot and robe of purple Veluet furred with Ermyne in her liere coyffe and circlet as she
had the satcrday, and ouer her was borne the Canape by iiii. of the. v. Fortes all crimosyn
with pointes of blewe & red hangyng on l heir sleues, & the bishoppes of Lddon & Wyn-
chster bare vpthe lappcs of y queues robe. The queues traine whiche was very long was
borne by y old dutches of 'Norffblke: after her folowed ladies beyng lordes wyues whiche
had circottes of scarlet with narow sleues, the brest all Leltice w barres of borders accor-
dyng to their degrees. And ouer that they had mantels of Scarlet furred, and euery man-
tle had lettice about y necke like a neckercher likewise poudered, so that by v pouderyn<res
there degre was knowen. Then folowed ladies beyng knightes wyues in gounes of Scarlet
\V narow sleues without trainesonly e.dged with lettice, and likewise had all the quenes <*en^
tlewomen. When she was thus brought to the high place made in the middes of the churche
betwene the quere and the high alter she was set in a riche chayre. And after that she had
rested a while she discended doune to the high Alter and there prostrate her self while the
archebishopof Cauntorbury sayd certaine collettes: then she rose & the bishop anoynted
heron the head and on the brest, and then she was led vp againe, where after diuers Orisons
sayd, the archebishop set the croune of saint Edward on her head, and then deliuered her
the scepter of gold in her right hand, and the rod of luery with the doue in the left hand,
and then all the quere sang Te fleum, §c. Which done the bishop toke of the croune of
saint Edward beyng heuy and sette on the croune made for her, and so went to Masse. And
when the offertory was begon she discended doune and offred beyng cromjed, and so asceded
vp again and sate in her chayre till Agnus, And then she went doune and knelecl before the
alter where she rcceiued of the archbishop the holy sacrament and then went vp to her place
againe. After that Masse was done she went to saint Edwardes siiryne and there oftercd,
after whiche offeryng done she withdrewe her into a litle place made for the nones on
the one side of the quere. Now in f meane season euery duches had put oh their bonettes
a corona! of gold wrought with flowers, & euery Marquesses put on a demy Coronal ofgoldc,
euery counties a plaine circlet of gold wont flowers, & euery kyng of armes put on a croune
of Coper & gilte all whiche were worne till night. When the quene had a litlc reposed her
the company returned in the same order that they set forth, and the Quene went crouned
and so did the Ladies aforesayd. Her right hand was sustaynecl by the erle of Wylshire her
father, and her left hand by the lorde Talbot deputie for the erle of Shrewesbury & lovde
Jrorynfal his father. And when she was out of the saintuary and appered within the palace
the trumpettes played meruailous freshely, and so she was brought to Westminster halle, and
?o to her withdrawyng chamber, duryng whiche tyme y lordes, Judges, Maior and Aldermen
put of their robes, Mantels and Clokes, and toke their hocldes from their neckcs and cast
them about their shoulders, and the lordes satte onely in their circottes and the Indies and
Aldermen in their gounes. And all the lordes that scrued that day seruecl in their circottes
and their hoddes aboute their shoulders. Also diuers officers of the kinges house lieyng
no lordes had circottes and hoddes of Scarlet e^lged with Myniuer, as the Treasorer, Con-
troller and Master of the luel house, but their circotles \\ere not gilte.
5 K 2 The
SO* THE. XXV. YERE OF
The order and sittyrrg at diner.
While the quene was in her chamber, euery lord & other that ought to do seruice at co-
ronacions did prepare them according to their dutie, as the duke of Suffolke high steward
of England whiche was richely apparelled, his doblet and iaket set with orient perle, his
goune of crimosin veluet embrodered, his courser trapped with a cloth trapper head and all
to the ground of Crimesyn Veluet set full of letters of golde of goldsmithes worke hauyng
a long white rodde in his hand, an his left hand roade the lord Wylliatn, deputie for his
brother as erle Marshal with the Marshals rod, whose goune was Crimosyrt veluet, and his
horse trapper purple veluet cut on white satten enbrodered with white Lyons. The erle of
Oxforde was high Chamberlaine, the erle of Essex caruer, the erle of Sussex suer, the
.erle of Arrondel chiefe butler on who xii. citizens of London did geue their attendaunce at
the cupbord. The erle of Darby Cupberer, the Vicount Lysle Panter, the lorde of Bur-
•gayne chiefe larder, the lorde Bray almoner for him & his coperteners, and the Maior of
Oxford kept the buttry barre, and Thomas W-iat was chiefe eurer for sir Henry Wiat his
-father. When all thyng was ready, the Quene vnder her canapy came to- the halle and
washed and satte doune in the middes of -..the table vnder the cloth of estate. On the right
side of the chayre stodethe countesse of Oxforde wydowe, and on the left side stood the coun-
tesse of Worcester all the dyner season, which diuers tjmes in the dyner tytne did hold a
fyne cloth before the quenes face when she list to spet or do otherwyse at her pleasure. At
the tables ende satte the archebishoppe of Cauntorbury on the right hande of the quene,
and in the myddest betwene the archebishoppe and the countesse of Oxforde stode the erle
of Oxforde with a white staffe all diner tyme, and at the quenes feete vnder the table satte*
ii. gentlewomen all dyner tyme. When all these thynges were thus ordered came in the
Duke of Suffolke and the lorde Wyllyam llaward on horsebacke and the sergeauntes of
armes before them, and after them the Sewer, and then the knightes of the bath bringyng
in the first course whiche was xxviii. dishes beside subtilties and shipper made of waxe mer-
uailous gorgious to beholde, all whiche tyn.e of seruice the trumpettes stading in the wyn-
dow at the netherencie of the halle played melodiously. When her grace was serued of two
dishes, then the archebishoppes seruice was set doune, whose Sewer came equal with the
thirde dishe of the quenes seruice on his left hand. After that the quene and the arche-
bishop was serued, the Barons of the portes began the table on the right hand next the wall,
next them at the table sat the masters and derkes of the chancery, and beneth them at the
table other doctors and gentlemen. The table next the vvalie on the left hande by the cup-
borde was begon by the Maior and Aldermen the chamberlain and.the counsail of the citie
of Lodon, and beneth them satte substancial marchautes, & so douneward other worship-
full persones. At the table on the right band in y middes of the halle sat the lorcre Chaun-
celor and other temporall lordes on the right side of the table, in their circottes: And on-
the lefte side of thesame table, sat Bishoppes and Abbottes in their Parliament robes, beneth^
them sat the ludges, Seriantes, and the kynges counsaill, beneth the the knightes of the
Bathe. At the table on the left hande, in the middle part, sat Dueheses, Marqueses, Coun-
tesses, Baronesses, in their robes, and other ladies in circottes, and gentle women in gouues.
Al whicbe ladies and gentle women, sat on the left side of the table a long, and none on •
the rightside: and when all were thus set, they were incontinent serued and so quickely,
that it was maruaill, for the seruitors gaue such good attendance, that meate or drynke ne.,
any thyng elst neded not to be called for, whiche in so greate a multitude was maruaill. .
As touchyng the fare ther could be deuised, no more costlier dishes nor subtilties. The
Maior of London was serued with, xxxiii. dishes at twoo courses, and sower all his brethren,
and suche as sat at his table. The Quene had at her seconde course, xxiiii. dishes, and
thirtie at the thirde course: and betwene the twoo last courses, the kynges of Armes cried
arges, in three partes of the hall : and after stode in their place, which was in the bekins
the kynges Baache. And on the right hande, out of the Gloyster of. S. Stephes, was
3 made.
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 805
made a Title Closet, in whiche the kyng with diuerse Ambassadors, stoode to behold the
seruice. The Duke of Suffblke and the lorde Willyam, rode often tymes aboute the hall,
cheryng the lordes, ladies-, and the Maior and^his brethren. After they all had dined, they
had Wafers and Ypocras, and then thei washed, and were commaunded lo rise, and to
stande still in their places, before the table or on the fournoes till the Quene had washed:
when she had taken Wafers and Ypocrase, the table was taken vp, and the Erie of Rut-
lande brought vp the surnap, and laied it at the hordes ende, which immediatly was drawen,
and cast by Master Rode, Marshal of the hall: and the Quene washed, and after the
Archebishop, and after the Surnap was drawen of, she arose and stode in the middes of
the Hall place: to whom the Erie of Sussex in a goodly spice plate, brought a voyde of
spice and comfettes. After hym the Maior of London, brought a standyngeuppe of golde,
set in a cuppe of assaie of gold, and after that she had dronke, she gaue the Maior the
Guppe, with the Cuppe of assaie, because there was no leyar, accordyng to the claime of
the citee, than kyng hym & all his brethren, of their pain. Then she vnder her Canapie,
departed to her Chamber, and at the entry of her Chamber, she gaue the Canapy with
Belles and dl, to the Barons of the Fortes, accordyng to their clayme, with greate thankes.
Then the Maior of London bearyng his Cuppe in his hande, with his bretheren went*
through the hall to their barge, and so did all other noble men and gentlemen, for it was-
sixe of the clocke.
On Mondaie were the lustes at the Tilte, before the Kynges gate, where the Maior and
his brethren had a goodly stadyng: but there wer very fewe speres broken, by the reason'
the horses would no cope.
On Wednesdaie, the Kyng sent for the Maior and his brethren to Westminster, and there
he hymself gaue to theim hartie thankes, with many goodly wordes:
On Midsomer daie after, the lady Mary the Frenche Quene died in Suffolke at the lord-
ship of who was the late wife to Lewes the. xii, and after maried-to Charles duke of
Suffolk, and was buried at
This season the kyng kept-his progresse aboat London, because of the Quene,
The. vii. day of September beyng Sondaie, betwene thre and foure of the Clocke atThfCh*^
after noone, the Quene was deliuc-red of a fatre Lady, whiche daie the Duke of Norffolke iri»Eiiz«-°
came home to the christenyng, & for the Queues goor' deliueraunce, Te deum was song in belh-
continently, & great preparacion was made for the christenyng : and the Maior and his
brethren, and. xl: of the chief of the citezens, were commaunded to bee at the Christenyng,
the Wednesdaie folowyng, vpon whiche daie the Maior, sir Stephen Pecocke, in a goune
of Ci'imosin Veluet, with his coller of 8. S. and all the Aldermen in Scarlet, with collers
and-cheines, and all the counsaill of the citee with theim, tooke their barge after diner, at
one -of the clocke, and the citizen had another barge, and so rowed to Grenewiche, where
were many lordes, knightcs, and gentlemen assembled. All the walles betwene the Kynges
place and the Friers, were hanged with Arras, and all the waie strawcd with grene Jlusbis:
the Friers Church was also hanged with Arras. The Font was of siluer, and stoode in th»-
micldes of the Churche, three steppes high, whiche was couered with a line clothe, and di-
uerse gentlemen with aperns, and towelles about their neckes, gaue attendaunce aboute it,,
that no filth should come in the Fount, oner it hong a square Canape of crimosin Satten,
fringed with golde, aboute it was a rayle couered with redde saye: betwene the quier and:
the body of the Churche, was a close place with a panne of lire, to make the child -redy ii>:
when al these thynges wer ordered, the child was brought to the hall, and then eiiery man
set forward: Firste the citezens two and two, then gentlemen, Esquiers and chapelcins, next
after theim the Aldermen, and the Maior alone: nexte the Maior, the kynjrcs counsaill,
the kynges Clmpel in copes: then Barons, Bishoppes, Fries, then came the Erie of Essex,
bearyng the couered Basins gilte, after hym the Marques of Excester with y taper of virgin
waxe, next hym the Marques Dorset, bearyng the salt, behynd-hym the lady Mary of
Norffolk, bearyng the ccesom whiche was very riche of perle & stone, the old Duches of
Norffolk«tc
806 TUP:. XXV. YERE OF
Norfifblke bare fhe childe, in a Mantel! of purple veluet, with a long train furred with Er-
mine. The duke of Norffblke, with his Marshall rod, went on the right hand of thesaied
duches, & the duke of Suffblke on the left hande, and before theim went the officers of
armes: the countes of Kent bare the long train of the childes rnantell, and betwene the
Countes of Kent and the child, went therle of Wilshire on the right hand, and theile of
Darby on the left hand, supporting thesaid train: in the middes ouer thesaid child was
borne a Canapy, by the lorde Rochcford, the lorde Huse, the lorde Willya Haward,
and by the lorde Thomas Haward the elder, after the child foiowed many ladies, and
gentlewomen, when the child was come to the churche dore, the bishop of London met
it with diuerse bishoppes and Abbottes mitred, and began the cbseruaunces of the Sa-
crament. The Godfather was the lorde Archebishop of Canterbury : the Godmothers
were the old Duches of Norffolke, and the olde Marchiones of Dorset widowes, and the
childe was named Elizabeth: and after that al thyng was done, at the churche dore the
child was brought to the Fount, and christened, and this doen, Garter chief kyng of armes
cried a loude, God of his infinite goodnes, sende prosperous life and long, to the high and
mightie Princes of England Elizabeth: and then the trumpettes blewe, then the childe was
brought vp to the aultar, and the Gospell saied ouer it : and after that immediatly the Arche-
bishop of Canterbury confirmed it, the Marchiones of Excester beyng Godmother, then the
Archebishop of Canterbury, 'gaue to the Princes a standyng cup of gold : the Duches
of Norffolke, gaue to her a standyng cuppe of golde, fretted with perale : the Marchiones
of Dorset gaue three giltboulles, pounced with a coucr : and the Marchiones of Excester,
gaue thre standyng holies grauen, all gilt with a couer. Then was brought in Wafers, Com-
fettes, Ypocras in suche plentie, that euery man had asmuche, as he would desire. Then
they set forwardes, the trumpettes goyng before in thesame ordre, towarde the kynges place,
as they did when they came thether warde, sauyng that the giftes that the Godfather, and
the Godmothers gaue, wer borne before the child by foure persones, that is to saie : First
sir Ihon Dudley, bare the gift of the Lady of Excester : the lorde Thomas Haward the
.younger, bare the gift of the lady of Dorset: the lorde Fitzwater, bare the gift of the
Lady of Norffolk, and the Erie of Worcester, bare the gift of the Archebishop of Can-
terbury, and all the one, side as thei went, was full of stafte Torches, to the number of fiue
hundred, borne by the garde and other of the kynges seruauntes, .and about the child were
borne, many other proper torches borne by gentlemen: and in this ordre thei brought the
princes, to the Quenes chamber, & the Maior & the Aldermen taried there a while, and at the
last the Dukes of Norffolke and Suffolke came out from the Kyng, thankyng them hartely,
& said the kyng commaunded them to geue theim thankes in his name: and from thence
thei wer had to the seller to drynke, and so went to their Barges.
This yere also, one Pauier toune clerke of the citee of London, hanged himself, which
surely was a man, that in nowise could abide to here that the Gospel! should bee in Eng-
lishe, and I my self heard hym once saie to me & other that wer by, swearytig a great
othe, that if he thought the kynges highnes, would set furth the scripture in Englishe, and
let it be red of the people by his aucthoritie, rather then he would so long Hue he would
cut his awn throte, but he brake promes, for as you haue hard he hanged hymself : but of
what mynde and intent he so did, God iudge. About this season was espied a newe founde
Saincte, & holy Hypocrite, called the maide of Kent, whiche by the great labor, diligence,
and pain takyng of tharchebishop of Canterbury, and the lorde Cromewell, and one called
Hugh Latimer a prieste (whiche shortly after was made bishop of Worcester,) the iugglyng
and craftie decept of this maide, was manifested and brought to light: wherupon after
diuerse examinacions, she with all her adherentes, wer in Nouember brought to the starre
chaber : the names of them all shall folowe, firste Elizabeth Barton, whiche was she that
called her self y holy maide of Kent, Richard Master priest person of Aldyngton in the
ivfaydfof Countie of Kent, Edward Bockyng doctor in Diuinite, Monke of Canterbury, Richarde
Kent. Deryng Monke also of Cantorbury, Edward Twaites gentleman, Thomas Laurece re-
] gister
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 307
gister to tharchedeacon of Canterbury, Henry Gold person of Aldermary bachilcr of
Diuinite, Hugh Ricbe Frier Obseruaunt, and llicharde Risby, Thomas Gold gentleman.
These all beeyng in the starre chaber, before diuerse of the kynges counsaill, confessed
their feined hipocrisy, and dissimuled sanctitee, and treiterous purposes and intentes, and
then was there by the kynges counsaill adjudged, to stand at Paules crosse, \vher thei with
their awne handes, should seuerally deliuereche of them to the preacher that should be ap-
poynted, a bill declaryng their subtile, craftie and supersticious doynges. Whiche thyng
the next Sondaie after, they all aboue rehersed, standyng on a stage at Paules Crosse, made
for that purpose did accomplishe: but for their treasons committed, the matter therof was
respited to the Parliament nexte folowyng, where all thei abouesaid, with other as after ye
shall here, wer attainted by act of parliamet, and suffered death as traitors, by hanging,
drawyng, and quarteryng at Tyborne.
In September the kyng of Scottes, sent his Commissioners to the toune of Newe Castle,
where wer for the kyng of Englande commissioners, sir Thomas Clifford, and doctor Mag-
nus, andsirRaufe Elderkare. And first the Scottes without any long comrnunicacion, de-
inaunded greate amendes, saiyng, that the Englishmen had robbed and spoyled theim to
their losse, and that greatly, and saied that the kyng of England of his honor, must nedes
make satisfaccion, if he would be called honorable. Then it was answered, that notwith-
standyng the leagues, written, sealed and sworne, the Scottishe nacio would neuer kepe x
peace in somuch, while we be here in treatyng, your people are robbyng : wherfore the
kyng demauudeth of you, the goodes and prisoners taken contrary to the peace, wherof we
here deliuer you a writyng, which the Scottes receiued, and at their next metyng thei saied,
that the shippes to them wer lawfull prises, by reason that therle of Anguishe, was main-
teined in 'Englande, whiche is rebel to our kyng, and therle and you haue doen to vs muche
skathe, & we haue taken a few shippes, in recornpence of some part of our greate losses,
whiche we maienot deliuer, & therfore we praie you demaunde theim not: but here we de-
liuer you our boke, which amounteth to a greater somme by tenne thousand marke. The
Englishe commissioners receiued the boke, and in thesame the Scottes demaunded, recorn-
pence for burning their tounes, and destroiyng many of their strong Piles, aboue. xxiiii.
whiche wer destroyed from the. xxiiii. daie of April), in the lasle. xxiiii. yere of the kyng
to the. xxx. daie of Aprill. The Englishe comissioners answered, that if the Scottes would
send to the kyng of Engiade, thei doubted not, but thei should haue a good answer for the
kyng of Englande bad hym chose peace or warre : so they agreed to sende to bothe their
kynges letters of their doynges, whiche in haste was dooen. And after muche suite of the
Scottes parte, when they had muche demaunded, and litle or nothyng was graunted, thei
then beyng wery of warre desired peace, whiche was concluded, duryng bothe the kynges
liues, and the twentie daie of Maie, in the next yere of the kyng folowyng, it was openly
Proclaimed, to the greate comforte and reioysyng of all louers of peace.
The. xviii. daie of December, the Duke of SufYolke was sent by the kyng and his conn-
saill, to Bugden beside Huntyngdon, where the lady Katherine Princes Dowager laye. For
the Kyng was aduertised, and had good proues of thesame, that she of froward mynde
would consent, neither to the determinacion of the Vniuersities, nor yet to the sentence
of the whole conuocacion of the realme, but beyng counsailed by a fewe Spaniardes, whiche
had litle lernyng, did all that she could to infringe the detertninacion of thesaid Vniuersi-
ties and clergie. In somuche that she wrote to the Pope and to other potentates, to greue
the Kyng and his realme because he would not folowe her mynd, and breake the commaun-
dement of 'God. Wherefore the Kynges counsaill mocioned the kyng, that suche as wer
about her, and moued her thereto, should be put from her, for thei thought it no reason,
that she should haue suche libertie to woorke that thyng, by the whiche the kyng and his
realme, might haue detriment or damage. Wherefore thesaied Duke was sent to her,
whiche shewed to her openly, Articles of her suites to the Pope, and howe she soughte
meanes to greue the Kyng and his Realme, whiche hereafter she should not be suffered to
dooe.
803 THE. XXV. YERE OF
•riir. Por« dooe. For thesame tyme was a Cursse sent from the Pope, whiche accurssed bothe the
•ccurwd the Kyng, and the whole Realme, whiche Cursse the bearer therof, beeyng not by like the
K-y«taie.n hardiest marine that euer shewed hymself in front of battaill, thought it a greate deale
more better for hym to bestowe it without the Kynges reche, then to aduenture to come
within his Dominions, and therefore set it vp in the Toune of Dunkercke in Flaunders,
w;ii j where it was taken doune by Wyllyam Locke, Mercer of London. The Quene answered
Lock the Duke very highly and obstinately, with many high woordes, and sodainly in a fury she de-
M*"er< parted from hym, into her priuie Chamber and shutte the doore. He seeyng that, brake all
the ordre of the Quenes Courte, and discharged a greate sorte of her housholde seruauntes,
and yet lefte there a conuenient nomber, to serue her like a Princes. There was greate la-
mentacion emong theim that departed, but there was no remedy. Then thei that remaigned
to serue her, were sworne to serue her as a Princes Dowager, and not as Quene, some
saied thqi were sworne to her as Quene, and otherwise thei would not serue, and so they
departed. Other that wer sworne to serue her as Princes, and remained there, she them
vtterly refused for her seruantes, wherfore she remained with the lesse nomber of ser-
;qaunies.
The kyng kept his Christmas at Grenewiche, with great solempnitee, and after Christmas
bc-ganne the Parliament. In whiche Parliament Elizabeth Barton, the holy Maide of
Kent, with all her adherentes, of whom ye haue heard before was attaynted. And because
her offences, were bothe against God and the kyng, so greate and wicked, that the like
was neuer heard nor knowen before, 1 will declare vnto you the processe of her matter, in
suche maner as the truthe thereof, is declared in her attainder, by Acte of Parliament,
Firste thesaied Elizabeth Barton (beeyng a Nonne professed in the house and Priory of
Sainct Sepulcres of Cauntorbury,) whiche long before she was professed Nonne, dwelled
with one Thomas Cobbe, in the Parishe of Aldyngton, in the Countie of Kent, and hap-
pened to bee visited with sickenes, and by occasion thereof, brought in suche debilitie and
weakenes of her brayne, because she could not eate ne drynke, by a long space, that in
the violence qf her infirmitie, she semed to bee in Traunses, and spake and vttered many
foolishe and Idle woordes. And one Richarde Master, Clerke, beeyng Persone of the
saied Parishe of Aldyngton, in thesaied Countie of Kent, after that he had made to the
lale Archebishoppe of Cauntorbury, a farre and a larger reporte, concernyng the Hypocrisy,
traunses and speaches of thesaied Elizabeth, then he could iustifie and abide by, and after
that he was cpmmaunded by thesaied Archebishop, to geue good attendaunce vpo her, if
she should fortune to haue any mo suche traunses and speaches, and to sende hym know-
lege thereof, .to the intent to rnainteigne, vphold and verefy, suche reporte as he had made,
asivcll to the Archebishoppe aforesaied, as to other, of the wounderfull traunses and
speaches of thesaied Nonne, he falsely and craftely informed thesaid Elizabeth, that the
merueilous wordes whiche she spake in her traunses, afore his ridyng to the Archebishop
aforsflie-d, preceded of the inspiracion of the holy ghost, and that she was greatly to be
blamed if she would hide or dissemble the wonderfull workes of God shewed to her: for
afore .this his saied informacio.n and instruccion, she saied constantly, that she could not re-
member, that she spake any suche notable wordes in her traunses, as were reported vnto
her, by thesaied Richard Master. Whiche Elizabeth beeyng in this maner of wise, often
tymes perswaded, procured and informed, by thesaied Persone of Aldyngton, tooke bolde-
nes and courage to forge, .feigne, and counterfeat suche maner of Traunses, and craftie
speaches, as thesaied Persone of Aldyngton told her, that she vsed in her sickenes, afore he
went to tb.esaid Archbjshoppe. And when thesaid Elizabeth had vsed this false, feigned
coutcrfeatyng ,for a ceason, and was perfecte therein {so that the fame thereof, was greatly
spred abroade, in those parties) then the saied Person, to the intent aforsaid, and to the
intent the people, should geue more faithe and credite v.nto her, and because he would haue
increased the deuocion of the people, in conunyng ou pilgrimage to a Cliapell, set io
Juourte at Strete, within thesaied Parishe, dedicate in the honour of o,ur Lady, for his awne
lucre
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 809
lucre and auauntage, imagined, deuised, compassed and declared, with the aide, helpe,
and cpunsaill of one Edwarde Bockyng Monkc, professed in the Monastery in Christes
Churche in Cauntorbury, and Doctor in Diuinitee, that thesaied Elizabeth, being in the
extasy and extremitie of her sickenes, in a maner distract in trauses, should saie emongest
other wounderfull woordes, that 'she should neuer take healthe of her body, till suche tyme
as she had visited the Image of our Lady, beeyng in thesaied Chapell at Courte. at Strete
aforesaied : and that our Lady had appered vnto her, and shewed her, that if she came to
thesaied Chapell, at the daye appoynted, she should bee restored to her health by Miracle,
where in very deede, she was restored to her perfecte 'health, by diet and Phisike, and by
the course of nature, whiche expelled the matter, beyrig cause of her sickenes, in the mcane
tyme while thesaid person of Aldyngton, was with the Archebishoppe, as is afore rchersed.
And albeit thesaied Elizabeth, was restored to her healthe, yet she beeyng accustomed and
acquainted with the maner and fashion of her distracte Traunses, by the counsaiell, con-
spiracie, and confederacie of thesaied Edwarde Bockyng, and Richarde Master, did falsely
practise, vse and shewe vnto the people, diuerse and merueilous sondery alteracions, of her
sensible partes of her body, craftely vtteryng in her saied feigned and false Traunses, di-
uerse and many verteous and holy woordes, tendyng to the rebuke of synne, and in reprou-
yng of suche newe opinions, as then beganne to spryng in this Real me, whiche she called
Heresyes, as she was induced and taught, by thesaied Edwarde Bockyng and Richarde
Master, vsyng all the waies of false Hypocrisy, to the intent the people should geue belefc
and credence vnto her, whereby they might bee the soner brought, into thedetestable crymes
of blasphemie and Idolatrie agaynste almightie GOD. And thesaied Edwarde Bockyng,
beeyng maliciously fixed in his opinion, agaynste the Kynges highnes, in his detested Ma-
trimonie with Quene Katheryne, and intendyng in his mynde, afterwardea for his parte,
falsely and Trayterously to vse thesaied Elizabeth, as a Diabolicke instrument, to stirre,
moue. and prouoke the people of this Realmc, aswell nobles as other, to murmoure and
grudge, agaynste the Maiestie of oure Souereigne Lorde, and all his iuste and Lawful! pro-
cedynges, in thesaied deuorce and seperucion, as after he did in very deede : for the accom-
plishyng of his saitd false, malicious and Trayterous ententes, falsely deuised and conspired,
with thesaied Richarde, that thesaied Elizai/eth should shewe and manifest her self, to the
people, to b-je an excellent verteous and an holy woman, and that all her woordes and
deedes, should appi^re to the worlde, to precede of a marueilous holines, rehukyng the
common synnes and vices of the worlde, as though she were taught and inspired of the
holy spiiite ot God. And not onely inoued and counselled thesaied Elizabeth, thus to vse
herself, surmittyng to her that she spake suche tliynges, in the extasy of her sickenes, that
came by the inspiracion of God, but also counsailed and procured thesaied Elizabeth, to
bee brought and conueighed, to thesaied Chapell of oure Lady, and therein openly in the
presence of the people, (that there should be assembled by their procurementes) t-hould vse
and experiment suche like Trnunses, and alteracions of her face, and other the outward
sensible partes of her body, as she vsed in the extremitie and extasy of her sickenes. To
whose coun^ailcs and aduertisernentes, thesaied Elizabeth agreed. Whereupon at a daie by
them appoynted imd agreed, thesaied Edward and Richard, laboured, solicited, and pro-
cured, aboue the nomber of twoo thousande persones, to repaire to thesaicd Chapel, sur-
mittyng that ihesaied Elizabeth, whiche as they saied, had marueilous and many Visions and
Reuelacions of God, should be broughte thether, and there receiue her healthe, by Miracle
of oure Lady, whose image was in thesaied Chapell. By reason of whiche false, feigned
and detestable conspiracy and Hypocrysy, at the daie by theim appoynted, there assembled
to thesaied Chapell, aboue the nomber of twoo thousande people. At whiche daie also,
thesaied Edwarde Bockyng, and Richarde Master procured, and caused thesaied Elizabeth,'
to repaire to thesaied Chapell, where thesaied Elizabeth, albeit she at that tyme, and long
afore was restored to healthe of her bodie, and discharged of her tormentes-and affliccions,
whiche she had in the extasy of her sickenes: Yet neuertheles by the procurement and
6 L craftie
810 THE. XXV. YERE OF
craftie connsaill of thesaied Edwarde Bockyng, and Richard Master, did falsely feigne
and shewe vnto the people in thesame Chapell, many alteracions of her face, and other
outward sensible partes of her body, and falsely feigned and shewed herself in Traunces,
vtteryng wonderous wordes, as she was before subtelly and craftely induced and taught, by
thesaied Richarde and Edwarde to dooe. And emonges other thynges she vttered, that it
was the pleasure of God, that thesaied Edwarde Bockyng, should bee her ghostly father,,
and that she should bee a Religious woman, as she was taught by thesaied Edward Bock-
yng and Richard Master. And within a while after demonstration, of suche false feigned
and dissimuled traunces, she appered to the people, to bee sodainly reueled from her sicke-
nes and affliccions, by the intercession and meanes of the Image of oure Lady, beeyng in
thesame Chapell. By meanes of whiche false feigned Hypocrysy, dissimuled and cloked
Sanctitee, so conspired and craftely imagined by thesaied Edwarde Bockyng, and Richarde
Master, thesaied Elizabeth was brought into a rnerueilous fame, credite and good opinion,
of a greate multitude of the people of this Realme. And to increase the fame of thesaid
false feigned Hypocrisy, thesaid Elizabeth after wardes, by the counsaill and procurement,
of thesaied Edwarde Bockyng, entered into Religion, and became a Nonne, professed in
thesaied Priory of Sainct Sepulchres, to whom thesaied Edwarde Bockyng, had commonly
his resorte, not without probable, vehement and violent suspicion of inconlihencie, pre-
tendyng to bee her Ghostly father, by Goddes appoyntment. And by conspiracy betwene
her and him, caused her still to persist and abide, in the practisyng of her said false hi-
pocrisy, and dissimulyng traunces and raptes. And that she should surmit to the people,
that when she was in suche simuled alteracio, of her sensible partes of her body, that she
was then rapt by almightie God, from thaffeccions of this worlde, and tolde by the holy
spirite of God, many thynges that should folowe to the worlde, for punishement of the
synnes of the princes and the people. And that she should also say that she was muche
prouoked & tempted, aswcll to the synne of the fleshe as otherwise, by her ghostly enemie
the deuill, at diuerse and sondry (ymes, and in diuerse and sondery waies and fashions.
And yet neuer theles that she by the grace of almightie God was preserued, and stedfastly-
resisted suche temptacion. By occasion of which counsaill and procurement of the said
Edward Bockyng, thesaid Elizabeth by continuaunce of tyme, toke suche a courage vpon
her, that she falsely feined and saied, that she had many reuelacions, of almightie God and
his holy sainctes, with heuenly lightes, heuenly voyces, heuenly melodies and ioyes, and
specially in a chapell of. S. Giles, in thesaid Nonnery, to the whiche chapell, she often
tymes resorted to receiue visions and reuelacions, as comaunded by God, as she falsely re-
ported, and specially by night, saiyng, that the Dorture doore was made open to her by
Goddes power, vtteryng thesame, aswell to thesaied Edward Bockyng, as to diuerse other
persones. By the whiche her false feigned reuelacions, & cloked hipocrisy, she was re-
puted emongest many people of this realme, to be a very holy woman, inspired with God,
where in very deede, she neuer had vision or reuelacion from God, as she hath plainly
and openly confessed her self. And therefore her stealyng furthe of the Dorture in the
nighte, whiche was not once or twise wekely was not for spiritual busines nor to receiue re-
uelacios of God, but rather for bodely comunicacio & pleasure with her fredes, which could
not haue so goodleasure .& oportunite with her by daie. And for ratificaci5 of her false
feined reuelacios, thesaid Edward by cospiracy, betwene him & thesaid Elizabeth, reueled
thesame to the most reueret father, VVillya late Archbishop of Catorbury, who by false £
vntrue surmises, tales and lies of thesaid Edward & Elizabeth, was allured, brought and
induced to credite theim, and made no diligent serches, for the triall of their saied false-
hodes, and confederacions, but suffered and admitted thesame, to the blasphemie of al-
mightie God, and to the great deceit of the prince, and people of this realme. And for a
perpetuall memory of thesaid feined and dissimuled hipocrisy, and false reuelacions of the
saied Elizabeth, thesaied Edward Bockyng, Richard Master, and one Ihon Deryng, a
Monkein thesaid Monastery of Christeschurcheaforsaied, made, writ, and caused to be written,
3 sondery
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. v 811
sondery bokes bothe greate & small, bothe printed and written, concernyng the perticulari-
ties of thesaied false and feined hipocrisy, and reuelacios of thesaied Elizabeth, or the de-
fece or great praise of thesame: surmittyng and puttyng furth thesame false and feined
practises, and reuelacios of thesaid Elizabeth, to be iust & true miracles, shewed by al-
mightie God, in the fauour of the sanctitee of thesaid Elizabeth, where in dede thei been
and wer falsely deuised, compassed, cospired, written and mainteiued by thesaid Elizabeth
Barton, Edward Bockyng, Richard Master, & Jho Deryng, to theory intet to bryng the
said Elizabeth, in the fame and credite of the people of this realme, wherby the people
should the more be apt and disposed, by her false cloked hipocrisy and sanctitee, to commit
the crimes of blasphemie and ydolatrie against God, and also the soner induced, by the
false reuelacions of thesaied Elizabeth to murmor, and grudge, and be of euill opinion,
againste the Maiestie of our souereigne lorde, to the great perill and dauger of his moste
royall person. And one Edward Thwaites getleman, traslated and wrote diuerse quaiers,
and shetes of paper, concernyng thesaid false feined reuelacions, of thesaied Elizabeth*
Also one Thomas Laurence of Canterbury, beyng regester to tharch'ebishop of Canterbury,
at thinstance and desire of thesaid Edward Bockyng, wrote a great boke of thesaied false
& feined miracles, and reuelacions of thesaid Elizabeth in a faire hand, redy to bee a copie
to the printer, when thesaied boke should be put to stampe.
Emonges whiche false and feined reuelacions surmised by thesaied Elizabeth, and put
in writynges in diuerse bokes, by the false cospiracie meanes and procurement of thesaid
Edward Bockyng, Richard Master, Ihon Deryng, and other their complices, there is
expressed that the deuill should appere, to thesaied Elizabeth in diuerse fashions, some-
tymes like a man wantonly appareiled, sometyme like a birde deformed, and sometyme
otherwise. And that Mary Magdalene, should often apere to thesaied Elizabeth, and
reuele to her many reuelacions. And atone tyme should deliuer vnto her, a letter written
in heuen, part wherof was limmed with golden letters, where in deede thesame letters
were written with the hande of a Monke of sainct Augustines in Canterbury named Hawk-
hurst.
There was also written and c5teined, emongest thesaid false and feined miracles & re-
uelacios, that when the kynges highnes was at Calice in thenteruewe, betwene his maiestie
and the Frenche kyng, and heryng Masse in the Churche of our Lady at Calice, that God
iras so displeased with the kynges highnes, that his grace sawe not at the Masse the blessed
Sacrament in fourme of bread : for it was taken awaie fro the priest (beyng at Masse) by an
Angell, and ministered vnto thesaid Elizabeth, then beyng there present and inuisible, and
sodainly conueighed & rapt thence again, by the power of God into thesaied Nonnery,
where she is professed, with many other false feined fables, and tales deuised, conspired
and defended by thesaid Elizabeth, Edward Bockyng & Ihon Deryng, writte as miracle*
in thesaid bokes for a memorial, to set furth the false and feined hypocrisy, aud cloked
sanclitec of thesaied Elizabeth, to the people of this realme, as by thesaied sondery bokes
and writynges therof made, seen and examined by the kynges moste honorable cousaill
more plainly aperetlr. in whiche bokes be written suche termcs & senteccs of repro'ch and
•s'aunder, against the kynges highnes & the queue, which wer to shameful to be writte
against the most vile & vngracious persos liuyng, whiche to here, would abhorre euery true
subiect of this realme.
And after thesaid Elizabeth by suche her false & feined hipocrisy, and dissimuled sanc-
.titee, was brought in a great brute and fame of the people, in sondry parties of this realme,
then thesaid Edward Bockyng by procurement & secret conspiracy, of diuerse personos
vnknowen, whiche maligned against the kynges procedynges, for the seperacion & deuorsq
in thesaied detested & ynlawfull manage, traiterosly intendyng to put the kynges highnes
iu a murmor, and euil opinion of his people, for thesame, counsuiled and stirred thesaid
Elizabeth, that she should aske a peticio of almightie God, to knowe whether God wrfs dis-
pleased with the kynges highnes, for procedyng in thesaid dcuorce, and sepera'cion of the
5 1/2
812 THE. XXV. YERE OF
mariage betwene his highnes, and thesaied lady Katherin, declaryng to her many tymes,
that he & diuerse other learned men of this realme, and many of the common people of
thesame, were in firme opinions that the kynges procedyng in thesaied deuorce, was against
the lawes of God. Wherupon thesaid Elizabeth subtely and craftely, concerning the opi-
nion and mynd of thesaied Edward, willyng to please hym, reueled and shewed vnto the
saied Edward, that she had-knowlege by reuelacion fro God, that God was highly displeased
with our souereigne lorde, for thesame matter* And in case he desisted not from his pro-
cedinges in thesaid deuorce and seperacion, but pursued thesame & niaried again, that then
within one moneth after suche mariage, he should no lehger be kyng of this realme: & in
the reputacion of almightie God, should not be a king one daie, nor one lioure: and that
he should dye a villeines death : saiyng farther, that there was a roote with. iii. braunches,
& till they \ver plucked vp, it should neuer be mery in England : interpreting the roote to be
the late lord Cardinal, and the first braunche to be the kyng our souereigne lorde, the secod
the duke of Norffolke, and the. iii. the duke of Suffolk. Whiche false feined reuelacios,
by the tnischeuous £ malicious cousail and 'cospiracie of thesaid Edward Bocking, with y
said Elizabeth, wer written and expressed, in thesaied bokes and volumes, conteignyng the
false and feined reuelacions and Miracles, of thesaied Elizabeth, for a perpetual! memory
thereof, to the vtter reproche and perell of destruction of the Kynges persone, his honor,
fame and name: and priuely and secretly, set furthe by thesaied Elizabeth, Edward Bock-
yng, Ihon Deryng, and Richarde Master, generally to diuerse and many of the kynges
subiectes, and specially as to eleete persones, to Ihon Bishoppe of Rochester, and Ihon
Adeson clerke, chapelain to thesaied bishop, and to one Henry Gold priest, bacheler of
Diuinitee, to Hugh Riche Frier Obseruaunt, and late Wardein of the Friers Obseruauntes
of Canterbury, wliiche beare malice and malignitie, to all the kynges procedynges, in the
saied deuorse and seperacion, because it was contrary to their peruerse and froward opi-
nions, intendyng by colour of thesaied false and feined hypocrisy, and reuelacions of the
saied Elizabeth, not onely to let thesaied deuorse and seperacion, but also to bring, and set
furth secretly, in the heddes of the people of this realme, aswel nobles as other, that at
the kynges actesand procedynges in thesame, were against holy scriptures, and the pleasure
of almightie God : whereby the kynges highnes should be brought in a grudge, and euill
opinion of his people. And thesaied Ihon Bishoppe of Rochester, Henry Gold, Hugh
Riche, Richard Risby, Richard Master, Ihon Deiyng, at sondery and seuerall tymes and
places, spake with thesaid Elizabeth, and toke relacion of her, of the saied false and feined
reuelacions, whiche she feined that she had of almightie God, aswell concernyng the kynges
highnes as other, after the foumie and termes aboue specified. And hauyng knowlege
therof thesaied Hugh Riche, Richard Risby, and Henry Golde clerke, gaue suche firme
and constant credite thereunto, that thei Trayterously conceled it fro the kynges high-
nes, and trayterously beleucd in their hartes, that the Kyng our souereigne Lorde,
after the late mariage solempnized, betwene his highnes, and his moste dere and entierly
beloued wife Quene Anne, was HO lenger rightfull kyng of this realrne, in the reputacion
of almightie God, whereby in their hartes & willes, thei trayterously withdrewe from Iris
highnes, their naturall dueties of obedience : and secretly taught and moued other persones,
(to whom thei reueled thesaid false and feined reuelacions) that thei ought and might law-
fully doo in thesame wise : and practised thesaied matters, against the kynges Maiestie,
falsely, maliciously, and trayterously, at sodery places and tymes, with the fathers, and
Nonnes of Syon, and diuerse Monkes of the Charter house of London and Shene, and
with diuerse Freers Obseruauntes, the places of Richernont, Grenewiche, and Cauntor-
bury, and to diuerse other, bothe spirituall and temporal! persones in greate nomber, to
the intent to sowe a secret munnor and grudge, in the hartes of the Kynges subiectes,
against the Maiestie of our souereigne lorde, and all his procedynges, in thesaied diuorseand
seperacion, intendyng therby to make suche a diuision and rebellyng in this realme, emongest
the
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 813
the kynges subiectes, whereby the kynges highnes, should not onely haue been pat to perill
of. his life, but also in ieopevtly to be depriued from his croune and dignitie royall.
And for a more playne and perticuler declaracion of the malicious & trayterons intentes
of the say d Elizabeth, Edward Bockyng, I lion Deryng., Hugh Kyche, Richvird Ilysby, '&
Henry Golde, they concluded by a confederacy among them selfes eehe with other, to set •*-:
forth in sermons & prechynges thesayd Reuelacions to the people of thfe realnie against the
kynges Maiestie, wheiwocuer it should please y- sayd Elizabeth to appoint ihewi the tyme
when they should so do, and agreed eche with other secretely, and set forth thesayd false
and fayned rcuelacions to their acquayntaunce and freiides in this real me, intendytag to
make a great multitude of people of this real me, by their secret conspiracies, in an
aptnes to receiue and take such their sermons and preachyng<?s which they intended to
make, as is aforesayd cocernyng the premisses, trayterously intedyng therby to put our sayd
souereigne lord, uot only in peril of his life, but also in ieopardye of losse and depriua-
cion of his croune and dignitie royal of this real me, fro him & his lavvfull succession for
euer. And in accomplishyng their false, trayterous, & malicious intentes against our sayd
souereigne lord, they caused the said Elizabeth, at ii. tymes, secretly to declare the said
false & fayned reuelacions to ii. of the Popes Orators and ambassadors at the Cities of
Canterbury and London. At which tyme the sayd Henry Golde tooke vpon him to.
be interpretor therof, betwene the sayd Elizabeth & the sayd Orators named Anthony
Pulleon: and the interpretor to tne other Orator named Syluester, was the fore-
sayd Lawrence of Cauntorbury, to the entent the kynges highnes, and all his pro-
cedyngesin thesayd deuorce and seperacion should be biougiit into an euil opinion with the
Pope and other princes and Potentates. And the sayd Hugh Ryche actually trauailed to
sondry places of this realme, and made secrete relacion of the premisses concernyng the
kynges highnes to diuers lordes bothe spiritual and temporal, and diuers other persones lay
and ierned, seculer and religious. And the sayd Henry Gold ouer this, actually trauailed
and made relacion therof to thesayd lady Katheryne princes dowager, to animate her to
make commocion in this realme against our suyd souereigne lorde, snrmittyng that thesayd
Elizabeth should haue by reuelacion of God, that the sayd lady Katheryne should prospere
& do well, and that her issue the lady Mary the kynges doughter should prosper and reigne
in this realme & haue many frendes to sustaine and maintayne her. And the snycl Elizabeth
and Edward Bockyng, Ihon Deryng .& Richard Master likewise actually trauailed to diners
places in this realme and made secrete relacion of tlu-:sayd false fayned hypocrysie and re-
uelacions of thesayd Elizabeth & gaue knowlege hereof to dyueis other joudry persones of
this realme.
All whiche conspiracies and confederacies of thesayd Elizabeth, and other her complices
aboue mencioned, was trayterously & maliciously deuised and practised by the sayd Eliza-
beth, Edward Bockyng, Ihon Deryng, Rychard Master, Henry Golde, Hugh Ryche, and
Rychard Rysby to the entent trayterously to destroy our sayd souereigne lorde, and to de-
pnue him and his lawfull succession fro the croune & dignitie royall of this realme, which
matter hath been practised and imagined amongest them for the space of many ycres: where-
of the whole circuuistaunce were very long to be written in this acte. And the sayd Ihon
Fysher bishop of Rochester and one Thomas Gold gentleman, and the sayd Thomas Lau-
rence, Edward Thwaytes, and Ihon Adeson chapelem to thesayd Ihon bishop of Roches-
ter, hauyng knowlege of the false faincd and dissimuied reuelacions, trayterously .cospired
against .our sayd soueraigne lorde (as is aforesayd) did neuerthelesse make concelement
therof, and vttersd not the same to our sayd souereigne lorde, nor any his honorable coun-
sail, against their duelies and allegeaunce in that behalfe.
And furthermore, the sayd Thomas Gold, for the accomplishcmcnt of his most trayter-
ous intent, hath of -late- been a messenger fro thesayd Elizabeth, silhen she-was in warde in
the Tower of London for thesayd moste false and trayterous offences by her and her said
complices committed and done, he then beyng.at libertie, by his. message. hath comforted
, 6 dyuerse
814 THE. XXV. YERE OF
dyuerse others to stande stifly by her reuelacions, that they were of God: notvvithstridyng
' that she had confessed all her sayd falshed before diuers of the kynges counsailours, and
that they were manifestly proued, found, and tryed moste false and vntrue: whiche thyng
he did only to raise and put sedicion and murmur in the people against the kynges highnes,
his croune and dignitie royal. And one Thomas Abel clerke beyng of the confederacy
aforesayd, and taking suche firme & constant credite to thesayd false and fayned reuela-
cions and miracles of thesayd Nonne, not onely caused to be Printed and set forth in this
realme dyuers bookes against thesayd deuorce and separacion to the dislaunder of our sayd
• souereigne lord, but also animated tliesayd lady Katherine obstinately to persist in her wilful
opinion against thesame deuoree and separacion: and after thesayd deuoree lawfully had,
to vsurpe and take vpon her still to be quene, and procured diuers- writynges to be made
by her. by the name of Quene: and also procured and abbetted the seruauntes of thesayd
Lady Katheryne against the kynges expresse cominaundement and proclarnacion, to name,
call, accent, & repute thesayd lady Katherine for quene of this realrne to the intent to make
a comon diuision and rebellion in this realme to the great peril and daunger of our sayd
souereigne lorde.
Thus muche haue I recited veto you out of the act as it is there expressed worde for
worde: now after foloweth the maner of her attainder and of the other as in the act; more
at large doeth appeare. But to conclude the xxL day of April next folowyng she with other
were drawen to Tybonie and there executed as most Justly 'they had deserued as you may
perceiue by the premisses.
And at the place -of execucion, and the present tyme that she suffered she sayd these
ImTzTbl'h wordes, u hether am I come to dye, and I haue not been the onely cause of myne owne
Barton0th«r death whiche most iustly I haue deserued, but also I am the cause of the death of all these
'••'Sho"llcd persones whiche at this tyme here suffre: & yet to say the trueth, I am not sornuche to be
maide of blamed cosidcryng it was well knowen vnto these lerned men y I was a poore wenche with-
£ath.ath(:r °ut learnyng and therefore they might haue easely perceiued that the t hinges that were done
by me could not procede in no suche sorte, but their capacities and learnyng could right
well iudge from whence they preceded, and that they wer altogether fayned : but because
the thynges whiche I fayned was profitable vnto them, therfore they muche praised me and
bare me in hande that it was the holy ghost and not I that did theiru, and then I beyng puft
vp with their praises fell into a certain prydeand folishe phantasie with my selfe and thought
1 might fayne what I would, whiche thing hath brought me to this case, and for the which
now I cry God & the kynges highnes most heartely mercy, and desire all you good people
to pray to God to haue mercy on me and on all them that here suffre with me."
In this 'parliament also was made the act of succession for the suertie of the croune, to
the whiche euery persone beyng of lawfull age should be sworne vpon the payne expressed
in that actc, as in thesame ye may moste euidently see.
Monday the xxiii. day. of Marche in the Parliament tyme, were solempnely receiued into
London as ambassadors from James . the v. .king of Scottes, tUe bishop of Aberdyne, the
Abbot of Kynlos & Adam Otterborne the kynges Atturney, with diuers gentlemen on them
attedant whiche .were brought to the Taylers hall and there lodged. And on the day of the
Annunciacion of our Lady they were brought to the kynges place at Westminster, where
they shewed their commission and message, for the which the kyng appointed them dayes
- ito cofisail. And shortly after commissioners were appointed as you shall heare. Durvng
the Parliament tyme, euery sonday preached at I5aules crosse a bishop, whiche declared the
Pope not to be the head of the Churche.
The xxx. day of Marche the Parliament was proroged, and there euery lorde and burges
and all other, were sworne to the act of succession, and subscribed their handes to a Parche-
ment fixed to ihesame othe. This Parliament was pron\ge d till the third clay of Nouember
next. After this, commissions were sent ouer all England to take the othe of all men and
women to the act of succession, at whiche fewe repyned, except doctor Ihon Fysher, sir
Thorny
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 815
Thomas Moore knight late lorde Chaucelor, and doctor Nicholas Wylson parson of saint
Thomas Apostles in London : wherfore these thre persones, after long exhortacion to them made
by the bishop of Cauntorbury at Lambeth, and expresse denyal of them to be sworne, they
were sent to the Tower where they remayned and were often tymes mocioned to be sworne : but
the Dishoppe and sir Thomas More sayd that thei had in their writynges written the princes
dowager Queue, and the rib re they might not go against that, and the doctor sayd that he
in preachyng called he;- quene, whiche he would not withsay, howbeit at length he was very
wel contented, and dissembled the matter and so escaped: But the other twayne stode
against all the realme in their opinion.
In this yere it chaunced that two marchaunt strangers fell in loue with a harlot whiche
was called Wolfes wyfe, & this harlot had often haunted the straungers chambers. And so \voif«wiTe.
one tyme thesame harlot appointed these straugers to come to Westminster, and she had
prepared for them a bote, in the whiche bote was but one marine to rowe whiche was a
strong thefe, and in the ende of the boate laye Wolfe her husbud couered with a lether that
botemeu vse to couer their Cnsshyns with, and so these straungers satte them doune mis
trustyng nothing, & when this boteman had brought theim as far re as a place that is called
the Turnyng tree, sodainly stepped vp the sayd Wolfe & with his dagger thrust the one of
iheim thorow, the other cryed out to saue his life and offred a great somme of money to the
boteman and him to saue his life, but no proferres would be heard, nor mercy would they
extende, but as cruel murderers without pitie slew the other also and bound theim face to
face and so threw them into the Thames in the foresayd place, where they were long after
before they were found. But immediatly the harlot Wolfes wyfe went to the straungers
chambers & toke fro thence ?o muche as she could come by. And at the last she and her
husband as they descrued, were apprehended, arraigned & hanged at the foresayd turnyng
tree, where she hanged still and was not cut doune, vntil suche tyme as it was knowen Unit
beastly and filthy wretches had moste shamefully abused her beyng dead.
THE. XXVI. YERE,
THE nynth day of luly was the lord Dacres of the North arreigned at Westminster of The ioi de-
high treason, where the duke of Norffolke sat as iudge and high Steward of Engliid. The ^w10!
sayd lorde Dacres beyng brought to the barre with the axe of the Tower before him, after
his inditement red, not only improued thesayd inditement as false and maliciously deuised
against him and answered cuery part and matter therin contained, but also so manly, wittily,
and directly confuted his accusors whiche there were ready to auouche their accusacions,
that to their great shames, & to his great honor, he was found that day by his peres not
giltie, whiche vndoubtedly the commons excedyngly ioyed and reioysed of, insomuche as
there was in the hall at those woordes, not giltie, the greatest shoute ami crye of ioy that
the like no man lioyng may remembre that euer he heart!.
The xiiii. day of luly one Ihon Frith bevngverv well learned and had an excellent goodly T,
11 /• i m L i i I i i • . B • uwn Frith
witte, was brought out of the lower where he had been long, £ was there imprisoned for
makyngof a booke against Purgatory, but in tlie rneane whyle that he was there, he was re-
quired by one, who heartely loued him and had a very good opinion in him, to declare to
him his faith and opinion in the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ, & that he
would put thesame in writyng, whiche thyng he did. But after it chauced that thesame per-
sone whiche had this writyng of Ihon Frith was acquainted with a Taylor in London called ,
Wyllyam Holt, whiche outwardely professed muche honestye, but inwardly was a verye
spye and a very betrayer of as many menneas he might bring in daungier. This Holt re-
quired after he had seen it, to haue this writing, & he had it, and forthwith he presented it
to sir Thomas More then lorde Chaucelor, and he immediatly made answere to t'hesame in
writyng,
816 THE. XXVI. YEREOF
/ _ .
writyng, whiche also by the meanes of the sayd Holt, came to the handes of Ihon Frith.
Ihon Frith then perceiuyng that the thing that he was so loth to write or meddle in (for it
•was a matter that none could get him to talke of, sauyng suche that he as much trusted as
him selfe) was nowe so farre spred abroade that it was answered vnto, after he had
not a litle rebuked the negligence and folye of his frende whom he trusted, stoode
to the defence of his first treatise, and made a farther declaracion of his mynde vpon the
same matter as appereth in a booke whiche beareth his name. For the which opinion w
other he was after diuers and sondry examinacions (aswell at Lambeth with the Bishop of
Cauntorbury as also at Croydon, and likewyse with the bishop of Wynchester) brought
vnto the Consistory in Paules Churche in London before diuers bishoppes, where after
muche dispntyng, for that he would not yelde nor submit himselfe to theiin, they codempn-
ed him and deliuered him to the seculer power to be brent as an heretike.
At thesame time was one Andrew Hewet a very simple and vtterly vnlerned yong ma a
Taylor, which was also betrayed by the foresayd Holt: This yong man beyng in like rnauer-
accused in the Consistory before thesayd bishoppes for holding opinion against the Sacrar
rilent.' One of the bishoppes asked him how he beleued in the Sacrament: he answered,
he beleued therin as Master Frith did: why sayd they, doest thou not beleue that it is y
very body of Christ really fleshe and bloud euen as he was borne of the virgyn Mary : No
sayd he, why so sayd the bishop: because sayd he, that Christ byd me y I should not be-
leue them that say here is Christ and there is Christ, for false Christes & false prophetes
shall arise to deceiue you sayth Christ.' Then certain of y bishops smyled, and doctor
Stokesley then bishop of Locion sayd: Frith is an heretike & is codempned & deliuered to
the temporal power to be brent, if thou wilt not submit thy selfe & acknowlege thyne er-
rour, thou shall likewise be condempned & deliuered. I am content sayd he.^ Wilt thou
not abiure thyne heresie qd the bishop: No sayd he, for I will do as Master Frith doth. Then
we will condempne thee sayd y bishop: do so sayd he. And so they pronounced sentence
on him, and deliuered him to the ShirifFes: and from thence they were sent to Newgate
where they remained till the xxii. day of luly, & that day were both brent at one stake in
Smythfelde. Where at thesame tyine one doctor Cooke which was person of Hony Lane,
& one that was the Master of the Temple, willed the people to pray no more for them then
they would pray for dogges, at whiche vncharitable wordes Frith smyled & prayed God to
forgeue them, and the people sore grudged at them for so saiyng.
The xiiii. day of August was a great fyer at Temple barre '& diuers houses brent. . And
the xvi. day of thesame monetti was burned the kynges stable at Charyng crosse otherwise
called the Mowse, wherin was brent many great Horses and great store of haye.
Inthisyere the third day ofNouebcr the kynges highnes hclde his high court of Parliament,
in the whiche was cocluded and made many and sondry good, wholsorne, and godly statutes:
but among al one special estatute, which aucthorised the kynges highnes to be supreme
head of the Churche of Englad, by the whiche the Pope with all his College of Cardmalles
abolished, with all their Pardons and Indulgences was vtterly abholished out of this realme, God be
euerlastyngly praysed therefore. In this Parliament also was geuen to the, kynges highnes
the fyrstfrutes and tenthes of all dignities & spiritual promocions. And in the ende of the
same Parliament the kynges Maiestie mooste graciously gran nted (and wyllcd it by thesame
Parliament to be established) his moste gracious and general free pardon.
- This yere also came in the great Admyrall of Fraunce: whiche Admyrall was honorably
receiued, and at his departyng was liberally rewarded.
In this tymc dyed the Erie of Kyldare prisoner in the Tower. And euen at thesame
tyme Thomas Fitzgarard his sonne begane to rebell against the kyng and tooke all the kynges
Ordinaunce, and sent Ambassadors to the Emperor to haue intreated him to take part with
him. Also he slewe the bishop of Deuelyn and brent and robbed all suche as would not
obeye him : But at the last he was apprehended and had as he deserued as after shall ap-
peare.
THE.
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 817
THE. XXVlI. YERE.
IN the beginnyng of this yere the duke of Norffolke and the Bishop of Ely went to Ca-
leys, and thelher came the Admyral of Framnce. And the xix. day of lune was thre Monkes
of the Charterhouse hanged, drawen, and quartred at Tyborne and their quarters set vp
about Lodon for deniyng the kyng to be supreme head of the Churche. Their names were
Exmewe, Myddlemore, and Nudigate, These men when they wer arreigned at Westmin-
ster, behaued the'm sel'fes very stifly £ stubbornly, for hearyng their incitement red how
trayterously they had spoken against the kynges Maiestie his croune and dignitie, they nei-
ther blushed nor bashed at it, but very folishly£ hipocriticaily knowleged their treason whiche
maliciously they auouched, hauyng no lernyng for their defece, but rather beyng asked dy-
uers questions, they vsed a malicious silence, .thinkyng as by their examinacions afterward
in the Tower of London it did appeare, for so they sayd, y they thought those men which
was y lorde Crumwel £ other that there satte vpon them in Judgement to be heretiques and
not of the Churche of God, and therfore not worthy to be either aunswered or spoken vnto.
And therfore as they deserued, they receiued as you haue heard before.
Also the xxii. day of thesame moneth Ihon Fysher bishop of Rochester was beheaded, u«
and his head set vpon London bridge. This bishop was of very many menne lamented, for Rochester.
he was reported to be a man of great learnyng, and a man of very good life, but therin
wonderfully deceiued, for he maintained the Pope to be supreme head of f Church, and
very maliciously refused the kynges tytle of supreme head. It was sayd that the Pope, for
that he helde so manfully with him and stoode so stifly in his cause, did elect him a Cardi-
nal, and sent the Cardinalles hat as farre as Caleys, but the head it should haue stande on,
was as high as Lodon bridge or euer the hat could come to Bishop Fysher, £ then it was to late
and therfore he neither ware it nor enioyed his office. This man as I sayd was accoumpted
learned, yea, and that very notably learned, and yet haue you heard howe he was deceiued
with Elizabeth Barton that called herself the holy mayd of Kent, and no doubt so was he in
the defence of that vsurped authoritie, the more pitie: wonderful! it is that a man beyng
lerned should be so blind in the scriptures of God that proueth the supreme aucthoritie of
princes so manyfestly. Also the vi. day of lulye was sir Thomas More beheaded for the like Mo™0™*
treason before rehersed, which as you haue heard was for the deniyng of the kynges Maies- bedded,
ties supremitie. This manne was also cournpted learned, £ as you haue heard before he was
lorde Chauncelor of England, and in that tyme a great persecutor of suche as detested the
supremacy of the bishop of Rome, whiche he himselfe so highly fauored that he stoode to it
till he was brought to the Skaffolde on the Tower hill where on a blocke his head was striken
from his shoulders and had no more harme. I cannot tell whether 1 should call him a
foolishe wyseman, or a wysefoolishtnan, for vndoubtedly he beside his leamyng, had a great
witte, but it was so mingled with tauntyng and mockyng, that it semed to them that best
knew him, that he thought nothing to be wel spoken except he had ministered some
mocke in the communcacion insomuche as at is commyng to the Tower, one of the .-officers
demauded his vpper garment for his fee, meanyng his goune, and he answered, he should
haue it, and tookc him his cappe, saiyng it was the vppermoste garment that he had. Lyke-
wise, euen goyng to his death at the Tower gate, a poore woman called vnto him and -besought
him to declare that he had certain euidences of hers in the tyme that he was in office (which
after he was appreheded she could not come by) and that he would intreate- she .might haue
them agayn, or els she was vndone. He answered, good woman haue .pa.cience a title while,
for the kyng is so good vnto me that euen within this halfe houre he will discharge me of all
busynesses, and helpe thee himselfe. Also when he went vp the stayer on the Skaffolde, he
desired one of the Shiriffes officers togeuehim his hand to helpe him vp, and sayd, when I
come doune againe, let me shift for my selfe aswell as I can. Also the bagman kneled
5 M doune
8 1 a THE. XXV H, YERE OF
doune to him aslcyng him forgiuenes of his death (as the maner is) to whom he sayd I for-
geue thee, but I promise thee that thon shah neuer haue honestie of the strykyng of my head,
my necke is so short. Also euen when he shuld lay doune his head on the blocke, he hauyng a
great gray beard, striked out his beard and sayd to the hangma, I pray you let me lay my
beard ouer the blocke least ye should cut it, thus vV a mocke he ended his life.
This yere in the tyme that the kyng went bis progresse, whiche was to Gloucester and so
Westward, the kyng of Scottes was installed at Wynsore by the lorde Erskyn his Procurator.
And in October folowyng Stephyn Gardiner bishop of Winchester was sent ambassador into
Fraunce where he remained threyeres after.
In Notiember was a solempne procession through the citie of London of all the priestes
and religious in and about the citie for the recoueryng of the Frenche kyng to his health.
And the viii. day of January folowyng dyed the princes dowager at Kymbalton and was
buried at Peterborough. Quene Anne ware yelowe for the mournyng.
^"e And in February folowyng was quene Anne brought a bedde of a childe before her tyme,
brought a whiche was borne dead.
hertymT This yere in the moneth of September Wyllyam Tyndale otherwyse called Hichyns was by
the crueltie of the clergie of Louayn condempned and burned in a toune besyde Bruxelles
T/.UI in Braband called Vylford. This man translated the New testament into Englishe and fyrst
put it in Prynt, and likewise he translated the v. bookes of Moses, losua, ludicum, Ruth,
the bookes of the Kynges and the bookes of Paralipomenon, Nehemias or the fyrst of Esdras,
the Prophet lonas, & no more of ^ holy scripture. He made also diuers treatises, which of many-
were well lyked and highly praysed, and of many vtterly dispised and abhorred, and especially
of the moste part of the bishoppes of this realme, who often by their great labours caused Pro-
clamacions to be made against his bookes, and gatte them condempned and brent, aswell the
Newe testament as other woorkes of his doynges. Suche as best knewe him reported him to be
a very sobre man, borne vpon the borders of Wales, and brought vp in the Vniuersitie of Ox-
forde and in life and conuersacion vnreprouable: and at the last beyng in Oxford Luther then
settyng foorth certaine woorkes against the Byshop of Rome, Tyndale occasioned by theim to
searche the scriptures whether Luther sayd the truth or no, did therby not onely himselfe
attaine the knowlege of the vsurped aucthoritie of the bishop of Rome, and hissupersticious
and dampnable doctrynes that he had taught and published through all Christendome, but also
lamentyng the ignoraunt state that his natiue countrey of England was in, who altogether
were wrapped in errours thought it his dutie, for that God had reueled the light of his Cos-
pell to him, to bestowe his talent to the honour of God and proffite of his countrey, and
thought no waye so good to reduce the people from their errour as fyrst to make theim ac-
quaynted with Goddes woorde, that they might knowe what Goddes will was that we should
do, and what the bishoppe of Rome sayd that we must do : and therefore fyrst as is aforesayd
he translated into Englishe the Newe testament, a woorke no doubt very notable and to him
verye paynefull, for that he was forced to flye his owne natiue countrey, and to Hue in a
straunge lande among people that as well varyed from his maners, as the persones to him
were vnknowen. Amongest whom after great paynes by him taken, and many and dyuers
treatises by him published, he was at Andwarp this yere by one Philippesan Englisheman and
then a scholar at Louayn, betrayed and taken, and as many sayd, not without the helpe and pro-
curement of some bishoppes of this realme: but true it is, that after he had been in prison
more then a yere & almost forgotten, he was labored for by letters written by the lorde Crom-
well, & then in all hast because he would recilt no part of his doynges, was burned as you
haue heard before. But yet this report did the Procurator generall there (whiche we call here
the Liuetenaunt) make of him, that he was, homo doctus, plus et bonus, that is to say,
learned, godly, and good.
Thefowerth day of February the kyng held his high court of Parliament at Westminster,
in the whiche was many good and wholsome statutes and lawes made and concluded. And in
this tyme was geuen vnto the kyng by the consent of the great and fatte abbottes, all religious
3 houses
KYNG HENRY THE. VII J.
. ,'•'.. .; - ' , '
houses that were of the value of CCC. marke and vnder, in hope that their great monasteries
should haue continued still : But euen at that tyme one sayd in the Parliament house that these
were as thornes, but the great abbottes were putrified olde Okes and they must nedes fo-
lowe : & so will other do in Christendome qd doctor Stokesley bishop of London or many
yeres be passed.
THE. XXVIII. YERE.
1<» v--f «•<> -"!/}»'»'•' '. *.i" •»;.( -J . "la 1*1 -t'j lif1 '•'•&&$' *'* "•"' '-^ " -*"• **"* " *•**••
ON May day were a solempne lustes kept at Grenewyche, and sodainly from the lustes
the kyng departed hauyng not aboue vi. persons with him, and came, in the euenyng fro
Grenewyche in his place at Westminster. Of this sodain departyng many men mused, but
moste chiefely the quene, who the next day was apprehended and brought fro Grenewyche
to the Tower of London, where after she was arreigned of high treason, and condempned.
Also at thesame tyme was likewyse apprehended, the lorde-Rocheforde brother to thesayd
Quene, and Henry Norrys, Marke Smeton, Wyllyam a Bruton and sir Fraunces Weston all
of the kynges priuy chamber. All these were likewise committed to the Tower and after ar-
reigned and condempned of high treason. And all the, gentlemen were beheaded on the
Skaffolde at the Tower hyll : But the Quene. was with . a sworde,. beheaded within the Tower.
And these folowyng were the woordes that she spake the day of her death whiche was the xix.
day of May, 1536. ..,.,,. , „,.. ,.„, ,
Good Christen people, I am come hether to dye, for aecqrdyng to the lawe and by theThcword<:s
lawe I am iudged to dye, and therefore I wyll speake nothyng against it. I am come hether AnneeBoi-
to accuse no man, nor to speake anythyngp.f that; w hero f, I am. .accused and condempned ^Jh* her
to dye, but I pray God saue the king.and send him long to reigne ouer you, for a gentler
nor a more mercyfull prince was there neuer: and^o me.he ..was euer a good, a gentle, &
soueraigne lorde. And if any persone will medle of my cause, I require them to iudge the
best. And thus I take my leue of the worlde and of you. all, and I heartely desyre you all
to pray for me. O lorde haue mercy, on. me, to. God I comende my soule. And then she
kneled doune saying: To Christ I commende my soule, lesu receiue my soule, diuers tymes,
till that her head was stryken of with the sworde. And on the Assencion day folowyng, the
kyng ware whyte for mournyng.
The weke before Whitsontyde the kyng maryed lady lane doughter to the right worship-
full sir Ihon Seymour knight, whiche at Whitsontyde was openlye shewed as Queue.
The viii. day of lune the kyng held his high court of Parliament in the whiche Parliament
the kynges two first manages, that is to say with the lady Katheryne, and with the Lady
Anne Bulleyn were both adiudged vnlawful, as more at large appereth in the acte in the
booke of statutes.
In the Parliament ceason lorde Thomas Hawarde without the kynges assent aftied the lady
Margaret Douglas daughter to the quene of Scottes and nece to the kyng: for whiche pre-
sumpteous acte he was attainted of treason, and an acte made for like offenders, and so he
dyed in the Tower, and she was long there as prisoner.
In the tyme of this Parliament, the bishoppes and all the clergie of the realmc helde a
solempne conuocacion at Paules churche in Lodon where after much disputacion and de-
bating of matters they published a booke of religion intitled, Articles deuised by the kinges
highnes &c. In this booke is specially mencioned but iii. Sacrarnentcs, with the whiche the
Lyncolneshyremen (I meane their ignoraunt priestes) were offended, and of that occasion
depraued the kynges doynges. And this was their first beginnyng, as after ye shall plainly
heare.
After this booke whiche passed by the kynges aucthoritie with the coscnt of the Clergie,
was published, the whiche cotained certaine articles of religion necessary to be taught vnto
the people, and among other it specially treated of nomore then thre Sacramentes, where al-
5 M2 waies
P20 THE. XXVIH. YERE OF
waies the people had been taught vii. Sacramentes, & beside this booke, certain Iniunccions
were that tyme geuen wherby a nober of their holy clayes was abrogated & specially such
as fell in the haruest tyme, the keping of whiche was muche to' the hinderaunce of the ga-
theryng in of corne, haye, fruite, and other suche like necessary and profitable commo-
dities.'
Theinsur. These articles thus ordained and to the people deliuered. The inhabitauntesof the North
recckmin pgrtes being at that tyme very ignorant and rude, knowing not what true religion meant,
but altogether noseled in supersticion and popery, and also by the rneanes of certayne Ab-
bottes and ignorant priestes not a litle stirred and prouoked ibr the suppression of certain
Monasteries, and for the extirpacion and abhoiishyng of the byshoppe of Rome, nowe ta-
kyng an occasion at this booke, saiyng see frendes nowe is taken from vs fower of the vii.
Sacramentes and shortly ye shall lese the other thre also, & thus the fayth of holy churche
shall vtterly be suppressed and abholished : and therefore sodainly they spied abrade and
raysed great and shamefull slaunders only to inoue the people to sedicion and rebellion,
and to kyndle in the people hateful and malicious myndes against the kynges Maiestie and
the Magestrates of the real me," saiyng let vs fully bend our seines to the maynlemumce of re-
ligion, and rather then to surl're it thus to decay euen to dye in the felde. And ainongest
theimalso were so many euen of the nobilitie that did not a lytle prouoke and stirre vp the
ignorannt and rude people the more stifly to rebell and stand iherin, faythfully promisyng
theitn bothe ayde and succour against the kyng and their owne nutyue country (like fouiishe
and wicked menne) thynkyng by their so doing to haue done God ingh pleasure and seruice.
There were also certaine other malicious and busye persones who added Oyle (as the Adage
sayeth) to the Fornace: These made open clamours in euery place where oportunitie serued,
that Christian religion should be vtteily violate, dispised and set usyde, and that rather then
so, it behoued and was the partes of euery true Christen marine to defende it euen to the
death, and not to admit and suflfre by any meanes the fayth (in tlie whiche their forefathers
so long and so many thousande yeres haue lyued and continued) nowe to be subuerted and
destroyed. Among these were many priestes whiche deceiued also the people with many
false fables and venemous lyes and ymaginacions (whiche could neuer entre nor take place
in the heart of any good man, nor faythfull subiect) saiyng that all maner of prayer and fast-
yng& all Goddes seruice should vtterly be destroyed and taken away, that no man should
mary a wyfe or be partaker of the Sacramentes, or at length should eate a piece of rost meate,
but he should for thesame fyrst pay vnto the kyng a certain somtne of uioney, & that they
should be brought in more bondage & in a more wicked maner of life, then tie Sarazina be
vnder y great Turk, with these and such other like errours and slaunderous tales, the peo-
ple thus instructed (oras I may trulier speake) deceiued and mocked, beyng to light of crc-
dite, incontinent to the helpe and maintenaunce of religion once established and confirmed
they stifly and stoutly did cospire and agree: and in a part of Lincolneshire, first thei assem-
bled and shortly after ioyned into an Army, beyng (as it was supposed) of men apte and
feele for the warre, in nombre aboute twentie thousand.
Against these trayterous rebelles, with all the haste and spede that might be (after he harde
thereof) the kynges royal maiestie, in his awne proper persone, furnished with a goodly and
warlike Annie, lackyng nothyng that to suche a company shoulde appertein, marched to-
warde them. But these rebelles hearyng that his maiestie was present with his power and
annie royall, feared what woulde f'olowe of this matter, and suche as were noble men and
Gentlemen, that before fauored them began to withdrawe them seines, so that thei wer des-
titute of Capitaines: and at the last thei in writyng made certayn peticions to the kynges
maiestie, professyng that thei neuer entended hurte toward his royall persone. The kynges
maiestie receiued there peticions, and made answere vnto them as loloweth.
First we begyn and make answere to the foure and sixe articles, because vpon thcim de-
the rebdies. petidcth njuche of the rest. Concernyng chosyng of counsaylors, I neuer haue red, hard, nor
knowne, that princes counsailors and prelules, should be appoynted by rude and ignoraunt
common
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 821
common people, nor that thei wer persones mete, nor of habilitie to discerne & chose mete
& sufficiet cousailors for a prince : how presumpteous then are ye the rude commons of one
shire, and that one of the moste brute & beastly of the whole realme, & of the least expe-
rience, to lynd faute with your Prince for the electyng of his counsaylours and prelates, and
to take vpon you contrarie to Godes lawe and mannes lawe to rule your prince, whome ye
are bounde by all lawes to obey and serue with both youre lyues, landes and goodes, and for
no worldly cause to withstud? the contrarie wherof you like traytors and rebelles haue at-
tempted & not like true subiectes as ye name youre selfes.
As to the suppression of religious houses and monastaries, we wolle that ye and all oure
subiectes should well knowe that this is graunted vs by all the nobles spirituall and temporall,
of this oure Real me, and by all the commons in thesame by acte of Parliament, and notset
furth by any counsailor or counsaylors vpon there mere will and fantasie, as ye full falsely
would pei swade oure real me to beleue.
And where ye allege that the seruice of God ismuche diminished, the trouth therof is con-
trarie, fjr tht-re be no houses suppressed where God was well serued, but where most vice,
mischief and abhominadon of liuyng was vsed, and that doth wel apere by there awne con-
fessions subscribed with ther awne naudes in the tyme of their visitacions, & yet. we suffer-
ed a great many of them (more then we neded by the acte) to stand wherin if thei amend
not ther Imyng, we feare, we haue more to answer for, then for the suppression of all the
rest. And as for thehospitalitie for the relief of the poore, we wonder ye be not ashamed
to affirme that thei haue bene a great relief of pore people, whan a great many or the most
parte hath not past foure or flue religious persons in them,vand diuers but one, which spet the
substaunce of the goodes of ther houses in norishyng of vice and abhominable liuyng. Now
what vnkyndnes and vnnaturalitie may we impute to you and all oure subiectes that b,e of that
mynde, that had leauer suche an vnthriftie sorte of vicious pei sones, shoulde enioy such
possessions, profiles and Emolumentes, as growe of thesaied houses, to the maintenaunce
of there vnthriftie life, then we youre naturall prince, souereigne lorde and kyng, which doth
and hath spent more in youre defences of our awne, then six times they be woorth ? As
touchyngthe acte of vses, we maruaile what madnes is in your braync, or vpon what ground
ye woulde take, aucthoritie vpon you to cause vs to breake those lawes and statutes, which by
all the nobles, knightes and gentlemen of this realme (whome thesame chiefly toucheth) hath
bene graunted and assented to: seyngin no maner of thynges it toucheth you the basse com-
mons of our Realme. Also the groundes. of all those vses were false, & neuer admitted by
any lawe: but vsurped vpon the prince, contrary to all equitie and iustice, as it hath ben
openlie both disputed & declared by all the well learned men in the Realme of Englaude in
Westminster hail : whereby ye may well perceiue, how mad and vnreasonable your de-
maundes be, both in that and in the rest, and how vnmete it is for vs and dishonorable, to
grant or asset vnto, and lesse mete and decent for you in such a rebellious sort to demaundo
thesame of your prince.
As touchyng the fiflene which ye demaud of vs to be released, think ye that we be so faint-
harted, that perforce ye of one shire (wer ye a great many mo) could, compel! vs with youre
insurreccions and such rebelleous demeanor to remit thesame? or thinke ye that any
man wil or may take you to be true subiectes, that first make and shewe a louyng grafit and
then perforce woulde compell youre souereigne lorde and kyng to release thesame ? the tyme
of payment whereof is not yet come, ye, and seyng thesame will not coutreuaile the teth
peny of the charges, which we do & daily sustein for your tuition & safegarde: make .you
sure, by your occasios of these your ingratitudes, vnnaturallnes & vnkindnes to vs now ad-
ininistred, ye geue vs cause whiche hath alwaies bene asmuche dedicate to your wealth as
euer was kyng not so much to set or studie for the setting forward of the same, seyng how
vnkyndly and vntiuly ye deale now with vs, without any cause or occasion: and doubt vc
not, though you haue no grace nor naturallnes in you to cons'ideryour dutie of allegiaunce'to
your kyng, and soucreigue Lorde, ttie rest of oure Realme we doubt not hath: and we
and
«'a« THE. XXVIII. YERE OT?
and they shall so toke on this cause, that we trust it shalbe to your confusion, if accordyng
to youre former letters you submit not your selfes.
As touching the first frutes, we let you wit, it is a thing graunted vs by act of parliament
also, for the supportacionof parte of the great and excessiue charges, which we supporte
and beare for the maintenaunce of youre wealthes and other oure subiectes: and we haue
knowen also that ye our commons haue much complayned in tymes passed, that the moste
parte of our goodes, landes and possessions, of the realme, were in the spiritual mennes
handes: & yet bearyng vs in hand that ye be as louyng subiectes to vs as may be, ye cannot
fynd in your hartes that your prince and souereigne lorde shoulde haue any parte thereof
(and yet it is nothyng preiudiciall vnto you our commons) but to rebel and vnlaufully
rise agaynst youre prince, contrary to the duetie of allegeaunce and Goddes commaunde-
ment, Sirs, remembre youre folies and treiterous demeanours, & shame not your na-
tiue countrey of England nor offend no more so greuously youre vndoubted kyng and
naturall prince, which alwaies hath shelved him self most louyng vnto you, and remem-
bre your duetie of allegeance, and that ye are bound to obey vs youre kyng, both by
Goddes commaundement and law of nature. Wherefore we charge you eftsones vpon
the forsaied bondes and paynes, that ye withdraw your selfes to your awne houses, euery
man, and no more to assemble contrarie to oure lawes and youre allegeaunces, and to cause
the prouokers of you to this mischief, to be deliuered to oure liftenauntes handes, or oures, and
you your selues to submit you to suche condigne ponishment as we and oure nobles shall
thinke you worthy : for doubt you not els that we and our nobles can nor wil suffre this
jniurie at youre handes vnreuenged, if ye geue not place to vs of souereigntie, and shewe
your selfes as bounden and obedient subiectes, and nomore to entermeddle your selues
•from hencefurth \vith the weightie affaires of the Realme, the direction whereof only apper-
teigneth to vs your, kyng & suche noble men & counsailours, as we list to elect & chose to
haue the orderyngof thesame: & thus we pray vnto almighty God, to geue you grace to do
your duties, to vse your selfes towardes vs like trew and faythfull subiectes, so as we may
,haue cause, to order you thereafter, and rather obediently to consent amongest you to deli-
uer into the hades of our liuetenaunte ahundrethpersones, to be ordered accordyng to their
demerites, at our will and pleasure, then by your obstinacy and wilfulnes, to put your selfes,
.your wiues, children, landes, goodes and cattalles, besides the indignacion of God, in the
vtter aduenture of total destruccion, and vtter ruine, by force and violence of the swerd.
After the Licolneshire men had receiued this the kynges answer aforsaied, made to their
peticios, eche mistrusting other who should be noted to be the greatest medeler, euen very
sodenly thei began to shrink, and out of hand they were all deuided, and euery man at homo
in his awne house in peace: but the capitaines of these rebelles eskaped not all clere, but
(were after appreheded, and had as they deserued : he that toke vpon him as capitain of this
rowte, named him selfe capitain Cobler, but it was a Monke called Doctor Makerel, with di-
.uerse other which afterward were taken and executed.
All these thynges thus ended, the contrey appeased, and all thinges in quiet the kynges
maiestie retired, and brake vp his army.
^ut se' euen within six dayes folowyng, was the king truly certefied that there was a new
insurr.eccion naade by the Northren men, which had assembled them selfes into a houge and
great army of warlikeinen & wel appoincted both with capitaines, horse, harneis and artil-
larv to the nombre of fourtie thousancj men, which had incamped them selfes in yorkeshire:
And these men had eche of theim to other bound them selfes by their othe to be faithful! and
obedient to his capitaine: they also declared by their proclamacios solemply made, that this
>tfoe'ir insurreecion, should extend no farther but only to the maintenaunce and defence of the
faith of Christe and deliueraunce of holy Churche sore decaied & oppressed, and also for
;the furtherance aswel of priuate as publik matters in the realme touchyng the wealth of al
.the kynges poore subiectes. They named this there sediciousand traiterous voiage, an holye
.and .blessed Pilgrimage.: they had also certaiue banners in the felde,' whervpon was painted
Christ
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ.
Christ hagyng on the Grossc on the one side, and a chalice with a painted fcake in, it
on the other side with diuerse other banners of like hipocresie and fained sanctitie: the
souldiars also had a certain cognisaunce or badge, embroudered or set vpon the sleues of
there coates which was the similitude of the fiue woundes of Christ, and in the middest
thereof was written the name of our lorde, and this the rebellious Guarrison of Sathan with
his false and couterfeated signes of holines set forth and decked the selues, only to delude
and deceiue thesymple and ignorant people.
After that the kynges highnes was credebly certefied of this new insurged insurreccion, he
makyng no delay in so weightie a matter, caused with al spede the Dukes of Norffolke &
Suffolke, the Marques of Excetter, the Erie of Shrewsburie with other, accompanied with
his mightie & royal army, which was of great power & strength, forthwith to- set vpo the
rebelles: but whe these noble capitaines & cousailors approched the rebelles & perceiued
their nombre & saw how they wer bent to battail, they practised with great pollicie to haue
pacefied al without bloudshedyng, but the Northrenmen wer so stif necked that thei would
in nowise stoupe, but stoutly stode and mayntayned there wicked entrepiise, wherefore the
nobles abouesaied pereeiuyngand seyng none other way to pacefie these wretched rebelles,
agreed vpon a batayll, the battail was apoincted, & y^day was assigned: but, se y> same- night;
which was the night before the day of y" battail appointed, fel a smal raine nothing to speak
of: but yet as it wer by a great miracle of God, the water which was but a very smal forde, £ci™^"
&y me in manerthe day before, might haue gon dryshod ouer, sodenly roase of suche a God.
height, depnes, & bredththat the like noman that ther did inhabit could tell that euer thei
saw it so afore, so that the day, euen when the houre of battail should come, it was impos-
sible for the one armye to come at the other.
After this appointment made betwene both the armies (disapointed as it is to be thought
only by God who extended his great mercie and had compassion on the great nomber of inno-
cent persones, that in that deadly slaughter had like to haue bene murdered) could take no
place: Then, by the great wisedome and pollecy of thesaied capitaines, a commtrnicacion-
was had, anda-pardouofthe kynges Maiestie obteined, for all the Captaines and chief doers •
of this insurreccion, and thei promised that such thynges as they founde them selues agreued
with all they shoulde gently be heard, and their reasonable peticions graunted and that there •-
articles should be presented to the kynges Maiestie, (hat by his highnes auethoritie, and wise-
dome of his Counsaill, all thinges should be brought togood ordreand conclusion: and with •
this ordre eueryman quietly departed; and those which before were bent as hote as fver to
fight, bey ng letted therof by God, went now peaseably to their houses, and were as colde as -
water. A domino factum est istud.
In this tyme of insurrection, and in the rageof horley borley^ euen when the kynges armie'
and the rebelles were ready to ioyne, the kynges banner being displaied, & the kynges rna-
iestie then liyng at Winsore, ther was a boocher dwelling within, v. myle of Winsore which A bother -
caused a priest to preach that all such as toke parte with the yorkeshiremen whome he named
Goddes people, did fight and defend Goddes quarell & farther thesaied bocher in sellyng of
his meat, one did bid him a lesse price of a shepe the he made of it, he fiswered nay by
Godes soul, I had rather $• good felowes of the north had it amog them and askore more of $
best I haue : this priest & bocher wer accused to the kynges maiesties counsayl, of the tresos
abouesaied on the Monday in the mornyng, and the same day were both sent for, which con-
fessed there treason, and so accordyng to the law mershal they wer adiudged to die: & so the
saied Monday, they wer both examined, condempned and hanged, the boocher was hanged on
a newe paire of Gallowes set at the bridge ende before the castel gate: and the priest was
hanged on a tree at thefoote of Winsore bridge.
This yere in Decembre was the Thamis of London all frozen ouer, wherefore the ky«ges
Maiestie with hisbeautifull spouse quene lane, roade throughout the citie of London to
Grenewich: And this Christinas the king by his messengers & herauldes sent douue into the
North his general pardons to all capitalloffendours: and shortly after came Aske to loixloii,
and
8«4 THE. XXIX. YERE OF
iie and so to the court to the kyng: this Aske was the chief capitain of the last rebellion in the
* ' 'e North, and now bothe pardoned of the kyng, and his grace receaued him into his fauor &
gaue vnto bym apparel and great rewardes, but as after ye shall perceaue Aske enioyed not
the kyng his newe frendes kyndnes a yere and a day, and pitie it was that he had any fauor
at all, for there liued not a veriar wretch asvvell in parson as in condiciosand dedes, special-
ly agaynst his anointed gouernour and souereigne lorde.
The third day of February was Thomas Fitz Garrad late Erie of Kiklare and fiue of his
vncles drawen, hanged, and quartered at Tiborne, for high treason.
Also .in thesaied moneth, Nichol Musgraue, Thomas. Tylbie, with other began a new
rebellion at Kirbie Stapha in Westmerland, .with eight, thousand persones, and beseged the
Citie of Carlisle, from whence thei were beaten, with the only power of the citie, and in
their returning the Duke of Norffblke who then was made iiuetenaunt of the North, en-
countred with them and toke the Capitanes, & accordyng to the law marcial, arreigned
threscore and fouretene of them, and hnged them on Carlile walles, but Musgraue escaped.
And in thesame moneth of Februarie began yet another insurreccio, by the intysement of
s'r Fraunces Bigod, a man rio doubt that loued God, & .feared his prince, with a right obediet
& louyng feare : but now beyng deeeaued & prouoked ther vnto by false rebellyous persones
it was his fortune to tast of the ende which apperteigneth- to rebelles : such are men when
God leaueth them to them selues, and when they will entreprise the doyngof that thyng
which Goddes most holy word vtterly forbiddeth. This Bigod was apprehended and brought
to the Tower of London : this last rebellion began in Setrington, and in Pikeryn Leigh, and
Scarborough.
Also in the latter ende of this yere, the lord Darcy, Aske,. Sir Robert Constable, Sir
Ihon Bulmer and his wife, Sir Thomas Percie brother to the Erie of Northumbreland, Sir
Stephyn Hamelton, Nicholas Tempest Esquier, William Lomley, sonne to the Lord Lorn-
ley began, agayn to conspire, although they before had euery one of theim their pardons: and
now they were all taken and brought to the Tower of London.
In this.yere one Robert Packyngton, Mercer of London, a man of good substaunce, and
yet notso riche as honest and wise, this man dwelled in Chepeside at the signc of the legg,
and vsed daily at foure of the clock Winter and Sommer to rise and go to Masse at a churche
then called saint Thomas of Acres (but now named the Mercers chapel) and one. mornyng
emong all other, beyng a great Mistic morning such as hath seldome besene, euen as he was
crossing , the strete from his house to the churche, he was sodenly murdered with a gonne,
1 whiehe of the neighbors was playnly hard, and by a great nombre of laborers at the same
. tyme standyng at Soper lane ende, he was both sene go furth of his house, and also the clap
of the gonne was hard, but thedede doer was neuer espied norknowen, many were suspected,
but none could be found, fauty: howbeit it is true, that forasmuch as he was knowen to be
a man of a great courage and one that both could speake & also woulde be harde;. and that
thesame tyme he was one of the Burgeses of the parliameut, for the Citie of London, and
had talked somewhat agai-nst the couetousues and crueltie of the Clergie, he was had in con-
tempt with theim, and therefore hiooste lyke by one of theim thus shamefully murdered, as
you perceiue that Master Honne was in the sixteyere of the reigne of this kyng.
THE. XXIX. YERE.
The Lorde IN lune the lord Darcy and the lord Hosey wer arreigned at Westminster before the
Marques of Exceter, then high steward of England, and thei were both found giltie and
had there iudgment as in caces of high treson.<
Shortly after wer also arreigned Sir Robert Constable, Sir Thomas Percy, Sir Fraunces
Bigod, Sir Stephen Hamelton, Sir Ihon Bulmer and his wife, which some reported was not
his wife but his paramour, also William Lomley, Nicholas Tempest, and the Abbotes of
lerney and Riuers, and Robert Aske, and all founde giltie of high treason, and all put to
J death
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 886
death at Tiborne, sauyng Sir Robert Constable, which] was haged in chaines on Beuerley
gate at Hull and Aske was also hanged in chaynes at Yorlce on a Tower, and Sir Ihon Bul-
mers Paramour, was brent in Smithfelde in London : And in the latter ende of lune, was
the Lord Darcy behedded at Tower hil and shortly after was the lord Hosey behedded at
Lincolne.
This yere at the Feast of Saint George, was the Lorde Cromewell made knight of the
Carrier.
In Octobre on saint Edwardes euen was borne at Hampton Courte the noble Impe prince
Edward, whose Godfathers at the Christenyng were the Archebishop of Cauntorburie, and
the Duke of Norffolk and his Godmother the Lady Mary the Kynges daughter, and at the °eign°i!orde
bishopyng was Godfather the Duke of Suffolk: At the birth of this noble prince was great &tyng Ed-
fires made through the whole realme and great loye made with thankes geuyng to almightie Ste.
God whiche hath sent so noble a prince to succed in the croune .of this Realme : But Lorde
what lamentacion shortly after was made for the death of his noble and gracious mother 2'^^!"'
quene lane, whiche departed out of this life the fourtene day of Octobre, next folowyng:
and of none in the Realme was it more heauelier taken then of the kynges Maiestie him
Self, whose death caused the kyng imediatly to remoue into Westminster vvher he mourned
and kept him selfe close and secret a great while: and the eight daye of Nouembre the
Corps of the Quene was caried to Winsor withe greate soletnpnitie, and there was buried Quene hn«
in the middes of the queer in the Castell churche : And at the same tyme was made in buncd-
Poules a solempne herce for her, where was Masse and dirigie, and in like maner was song
Masse and dirige in euery parish churche in London.
The kinges maiestie kept his Christmas at Grenewich in his mournyng apparell, and so
was all the Courte till the morow after Candlemas day and then he and all other chaunged.
Also this yere the viscout Beauchamp was created Erie 6f Hertford and Sir William Fitz-
william high admirall created Erie of Southampton.
This yere lames kyng of Scottes, maried the lady Magdalene, the French kynges eldest
daughter.
\
THE. XXX. YERE.
IN Maye there was a Freer, called freer Forest, one of the obseruaunt Freers, but he Freerf'OT«««-
might haue bene more trulier named as after shall appere, an obstinate Freer, this obstinat
Freer had secretly in confessions declared to many of the kynges subiectes that the kyng
was not supreme head, and beyng therof accused and appreheded, he was examined how
he could say that the king was not supreme bed of the church, when he hini selfe had
sworne to the contrary, he answered that he toke his oth with his outward man, but his in-
ward man neuer consented thervnto: At this answer the Lordes who examined him loked
very straugelye at the dissimulacion of the Freer, but being farther accused of diuerse he-
retical and darnpnable articles, that he held contrary to the scripture of God, he was after
sondry examinacions conuinced and confuted, & gladly submitted him selfe to abide the
ponishment of the church: But vpon this his submission, hauyng more libertie then before
he had, aswell to talke with whome he would, as also who that would to talke with him,
certeyn suche outward men as he was so talked with him and so incensed him, that the
outward Freer was as far from his open submission as euer he was, and when his abiura-
cion was sent to him to read & looke vpon, he vtterly refused it, and obstinately stode in all
his heresies and treasos before cospired: al getle meanes that was possible to be sought
for his reconciliacion was had, but the more gentler that the Magestrates were to him, the
more obstinat was the freer, and would neither argue nor answere : wherfore justly he was
cSdepned, & after for him was prepared in Smithfelde in Londo a Gallowes on y which he
was haged in chaines by the Middle & armholes al quicke, & vnder y galowes was made a
5 N fire,
THE. XXX. YERE OF
fire, & he so cosamed & bret to death. At his comtnyng to the place of execution, there
was prepared a great skaftblde, on which sat the nobles of the Ilealme, and the kynges
Maiesties moost honorable counsayle, only to haue graunted pardon to that wretched crea-
ture, if any spark of repentannce woulde haue happened in him : ther was also prepared a
Pulpit where a right reuerend father in God and a renoumed and famous fe'lerk the bishop
of Woreeter called Hugh Latimer, declared to him his erroursand opelyand manifestly by
the scripture of God confuted them, and with many and godly exhortacions moued him to
repetauce, but such was his frowardnes that he neither would here nor speke:. And a litle
before the Execucio, a houge & great Image was brought to the Galowes, which Image was
brought out of Wales, and of the Welshmen much sought and worshiped: This Image
Apr»j>h«- was called Daruell Gatheren, and the Welshmea had a prophesy that this Image should set
***•' a whole Forest a fyre, which prophesie now toke effect, for he set this freer Forest on fyre
and consumed him to nothyng. This Freer when he sawc the fyre come,, and that present
death was at hand, caught hold vpon the ladder, which he would not let go, but so vnpa.-
ciently toke his death, that no man that euer put his truste in God neuer so vnquietly nor
so vngodly ended his life : if men might iudge hym by his outward man,, he appered to haue
litle knowlege of God and his sincere truth, and lesse trust ia him at bis endyng. Vpon
the gallowes that he died on, was set vp ia great letters these verses folowing.
Dauid Daruell Gatheren. And Forest- the Freer
As saith the Welshmea That obstinate Iyer
Fetched Outlawes out of IIcIL That willfully shalbe dead.
Now is he come, with.spere & shilde In his contumacie
In harnes to bucae in Smithfelde The Gospell doth deny
For in wales he may not dwell The kyng to be supreme head.
In luly was Ediuond Coningsbey attainted of treason, for eounterfeatyng of the kynges
Signe Manuell : And in August was Edward Clifford for thesame cause attainted, and both
Ahangman put to execucion as traitors at Tiborne. And the Sonday after Bartelmew day, was one
Cratwell hangman of London, and two persones more hanged at the wrestlyng place on the
backesyde of Clerkenwel besyde Londo, forrobbyng of abouthe ia Bartholomew foyre, at
which execution was about twentie thousand people as I my self judged.
In this moneth of August>,the Kyng of Scoltes maried the lady Mary late duches of Lo/ng-
sup- ui'6- -And in Septembre by the speciall mocion of the lorde Cromewel al the notable
Images vnto the uhiche were made any speciall Pilgrimages and Ofterynges, were vtterly
Jaken awaye, as the Images of Walsyngham, Ypswiche, Woreeter, the lady of Wilsdon,
with many other. And lykewise the Shrines of counterfeated Sainctes, as the Shrine of
ons "Thomas Becket and dyuerse other. And euen forthwith by the noeanes of the saied Crom-
scd. well, al the ordres of supersticious and beggyng Freers, as White, Gray, Black, Augustine,
Cmched Freers, & likewise al the puling Nonnes,. with theu- Cloysters & houses wer sup-
pressed & put doune.
In this season, sute was made by the Efiiperour to the Kynges Maiestie, that he would
take to wife the duches of Millayn, but in this matter the Emperors counsaill so dalied with
the kyng, that shortly he left of that suit: of the which breakyng of with the Emperour,
the Duke of Cleaue hard, and therefore forthwith he made suite to the kynges Maiestie,
for his fayre sister the Lady Anne: vndouhtedly the Emperours counsayl thought by a cau-
tel to haue brought the kyng to sue to the bishop of Rome for a licence, which thing the
kynges Maiestie sone smelted & perceiued wber about thei wet. In the moneth of Nouern-
ber one I ho NichoIsS otherwise called Lambert a priest, was accused of heresy, for deni-
ho Nkhoi- yng tiie Sacrament of the Aultare to be Christes naturall body: This man appealed to the
kynges Maiestie, who graciously consented to heare him, and a day was apoincted: against
whiche daie was made in the kynges palace at Westminster called the white hall, in the
kynges
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 8.87
kynges hali a throne or siege royall for the kynges M aiestie, and skaffoldes for all the lorde?,
and a stage for Nicholson to stand on: this Nicholson was a man named to be learned, but
that day he vttered no suche learnyng, as he was of many supposed, that he both coulde
and would haue done, but was excedyng fearful and timerous. Tlje kynges Maiestie ac-
companied with his lordes and nobles of the Realme and diuerse of the bishops and clergy
kept the day appoincted, wher before his maiestie was brought the foraaied Nicholson, to
whcmie certein of the bishops ministred diuerse argumentes, but specially the kynges ma-
iesrie him selfe did most dispute with him, howbeit Nicholson was not perswaded nor woulde
not reuokc although the Kynges maiestie graunted hym his pardon, wherfor there was he
condempned and had Judgement, and shortely after was draweu and burned in Smythfeld.
The third daie of Nouembre were Henry Marques of Excester & earle of Deuonshire and
sir Henry Pole knight and lorde Mountagew and Sir Edward Neuell brother to the Lorde
Burgany sent to the tower which thre wer accused by sir Gefterei Pole brother to the lord j^*^ *
Mountagew, of high treason, and the two lordes were arreigned the last day of Deccmbre, scd
at Westminster before the lord Awdeley of Walden, lord Chauncelor, and then the high kil
stuard of England, and there fou-nd giltie, likewise on the third day after was arreigned «><L
Sir Edward Neuel, Sir Gefterey Pole and two priestes called Croftcs and Collins, and one
holand a Mariner and all attainted, and the ninth day of lanuarie, were the saied two
lordes and Sir Edward Neuell behedded at the tower hill, and the two priestos and Holande
were drawen to Tiborne, and there hanged and quartered, and sir Gefterey Pole was par-
doned.
On Ashwednesday, were Ihon Tones, Ihon Potter, and William Maneryng, hanged in
the princes liueries, because thei were the princes seruauntes, on the Southside of Paules
churchyard for killing of Roger Cholmeley esquier in thcsame place of malice prepensed.
Also on the third day of Marche, was sir Nicholas Carew of Bedington, iu the countie of c'lrtwV-
Surrey knight of the Gartier, and Master of the kynges hforse, before attainted of trcaso, heddci
behedded at the tower hil, wher he made a goodly confesiio, both of his folie and super-
stitious faith, geuyng God most hartie thakes that euethe came in the priso of the tower,
where he first sauored the life & swetenes of Gods most holy word meaning the Bible in
English, whiche there he read by the meane of one Thomas Phelips then keper of that pri-
son, but before he was a citezen and poyntmaker of London, which Phillips two yeres be-
fore had ben there prisoner him selfe, & sore troubled asvvell by sir Thomas More as also
by Doctor Stokslei bishop of Londo, who often tymes examined thesaid Phelips, & laied
many articles to his charge, but he so wisely and coldly vsed him selfe, that lie maugre their
euel willes, eskaped clerly their handes.
The ninth day of Marche, the kyng created at Westminster sir William Pawlet knight
treasorer of his householde, Lord Sainte Ihon, & Sir Ihon Russell comptroller of his house,
Lorde Russell.
The same tyme the kyng caused all the haucns to be fortefied, and roade to Douer, and
caused Buhvarkes to be made on the sea coastes, and set commissions throughout al the
realme, to haue his people muster : and at the same seaso on Easter day, was tliere thrx-.
score vnknowe sbippes liyng in the downes, wherfore all Kent arose, and mustered in har-
«eis thesauie day.
THE, XXXI. YERE.
THE eight and twentie daie of ApriH, began a Parliament at Westminster, in then-hick
Margaret countesse of Salsbury Gertrude wife to the Marques of Excester, Reignold Poole,
a Cardinall brother to the lorde Mountagew, Sir Adrian Foskew, & Thomas Dingley Knight
of saynt lohnes, & diuerse other wer attainted of high treason, which Foskew £ Dynglei
£ N 2 wer
*23 THE. XXXI. YERE OF
•
wer the tenth daie of luli behedded. In this parliamet was an act made which bare
this title: 'An act for aboiishyng of diuersitie of opinions, in certain articles con-
cernyng Christen religion, this act established chiefly sixe articles, wherof among the corn-
mo people it was called the act of sixe articles, & of some it was named the whip withe
sixe strynges, and of some other and that of the moste parte, it was named the bloudy sta-
tute, for of truth it so in shorte time after skourged a great nombre in the citie of Londo,
wher the first quest for the inquirie of the offenders of the saied statute sat at a church
called Beckets house, now named the Mercers Chappel, that the said quest beyng of pur-
TH* fi«t pose selected and picked out emong all the rest of the inhabitauntes of the citie, that none
HiUqui«d"f might thereof be admitted which either had red any part of the holy scripture in English,
the she Ar- or 'm anv wise fauoured such as either had red it, or loued the preachers of it: insomuch
as this quest was so zelous & feruent in the execucid of this statute, that they among them
selues thought it not only sufficiet to inquire of the offendors of the saied statute, but also
by ther fine wittes & willyng mindes, thei inuented to inquire of certayn braunches of the
same statute as they termed it, which was not only to inquire who spake again masses, but
who thei wer thatseldome came vn to them: and also not only who denyed the Sacramente
to be Christes very naturall body, but also who helde not vp their handes at sacryng tyme,
and knocked not on there brestes: And thei not- only inquired who offended in the sixe ar-
ticles, but also who came seldome to the churche, who toke no holy bread nor holy water,
who red the Bible in the churche, or in communicacion contemned priestes, or Images in
the Churches. &c. with a great nombre of suche braunches : this appoincted quest so sped
them selues with the sixe Articles, and ther awne braunches, that in fourtene daies space
there was not a preacher nor other persone in the citie of name, whiche had spoken against
the supremacie of the bishop of Rome, but he was wrapped in the sixe articles, insomuche
as thei indited and presented of suspicion to the nombre of fiue hundred persones and
aboue: so that if the kynges maiestie had not graunted his pardon, for that by the good
lord A-.vdeley lord chauncelor his grace was truly infourmed that thei were indited of malice :
a. greatc many of them whiche all ready was in prison, had bene shortely after skourged in
Smithfelde with firy fagottes, that would haue made the best bloud in ther bodies to haue
sprang, but most graciously at that time his grace remitted all: although in the tyme that
these sixe Articles indured whiche was eight yeres and more, thei brought many an honest
and simple persone to there deathes, for suche was the rigour of that lawe, that if two wit-
nesses false or true, had accused any and auouched that thei had spoken agaynst the sacra-
met, ther was then no way but death, for it boted not to confesse that his faith was co-
trarie, or that he saied not as the accusers reported : for they would beleue the witnesses ye
and sometime certain of the clergie, when thei had no witnesses would procure some, or
elles thei were slaundered.
The kynges highnes whiche neuer ceased to stody and take payne both for the auaunce-
ment of the common wealth of this his Realme of Englud, of the which he was the only
supreme gouernour and hed, and also for the defence of al thesame, was lately enfourmed
by his trustie & faithfull frendes y the cakerd & cruel serpet the bishop of rome, by that
Archetraitor Reignold Poole, enemie to Godes worde and his natural contrey, had moued
and stirred diuerse great princes and potentates of Christendome to inuade the Realme
of England, and vtterlie to destroy the whole nacion of thesame : Wherefore his Maiestie
in his awne persone, without any deley tooke very laborious and paynefull iourneyes to-
wardes the sea coastes. Also he sent dyuers of his nobles and counsaylours to view and
searche all the Fortes and daungiers on the coastes where any meete or conuenient landin^
place might be supposed, aswell on the borders of Englande as also of Wales. And in all
soche doubtfull places his hyghnes caused dyuers & many Bulwarkes & fortificacions to be
made. And further his hyghnes caused the Lorde Admiral 1 Erie of Southampton to pre-
dare in redynesse Shippes for the sea, to his great coast and charges.
And beside this, to haue all his people in a redynesse, he directed his Commissions
1 thorough
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 829
thorough out the Realme to haue his people mustered, £ the harneyes & weapons scene and
viewed, to thentent that all thynges should be in a redynesse if his enemyes woulde make
any attempte in to this Realme: And amongest other, one Commission was directed to the
right worshipfull syr Thomas Fonnan Knight Mayer of Londo and his bretliren, for tocer-
tifie all the names of all men betwene the ages of. Ix. and. xvi. and the nombre of harnesses,
weapons, with their kyndes and diuersities: Wherevpon the sayde Lorde Mayer and his
brethren, euery one hauyngwith them one of the Councell or learned men of the Citie re-
paired to their wardes, and there by the othe of the Common Counsayll & Constables of the
same wardes tooke the nombre of the men, harnesses and weapons, accordingeto their Com-
mission. And after that they had well viewed their Bookes and the nombre of the persones,
they thought it not expedient to admyt the whole nombre of soche as were certefied for able
and apte persones for to Muster : Wherefore then they assembled theym selfes agayne and
chose out the most able persones and put by thother, and specially all soche as had no har-
nesse, nor for whotne no harnesse coulde be prouyded. But when they were credebly aduer-
tysed by the Kynges Counsellor Thomas Lord Cromewell Knyght of the Noble Ordre of
the Gartier Lorde Preuye Scale (to whose prudence and goodnesse the Citie was moche boun-
den) that the Kyng hym selfe woulde see the people of the Citie Muster in a conuenient
nombre, and not to set furthe all their power, but to leaue some at home to keepe the Citie.
Then eftsones euery Alderman repayred to his warde, and there put a syde all soche as The great
hadde lackes, coates of plate, coates of mayle and bryganders, and appoynted none but London."1
soche as had whyte Harnesse, excepte soch as should beare Morysh Pykes, which had no
harnesse but skulles: and they appoynted none but soche as had whyte harnesse, neither dyd
they admyt any that was a Straunger, although they were Denyzens. When it was knowen
that the King would see the Muster, lorde how glad the people were to prepare, and what
desyre they had to do their Prince seruyce, it would haue made any faythfull subiectes herte
to haue reioysed. Then euery man beyng of any substance prouyded hymsclfe a coate of
white sylke, and garnyshed their bassenetes with turues lyke cappes of sylke set with ouches,
furnished with chuines of gold & fethers : other gylted their harnesse, their halberdes & poll-
axes. Some, & especyall certayne goldsmythes had theyr brest plates yea & their whole
harnesse of syluer bullyon. The Constables were alliu lornettes of white sylke with chayncs
& Battell Axes; The meaner sorte of people were all in coates of white cloth very cu-
riously trymmed with the Armes of the Citie before & behynde. The lord Mayer him selfe
\vas in a fayre Armour, the crestes therof were gylte, & oiler that a coate of Blacke veluet
with half sleues, & so was syr Robert Cholmley knight Recorder of Londo, and all thother
Aldermen & Sbiriffes &such as had ben Shiriffes, all wel mounted on stirryng horses rychely
trapped & couered, with battel axes in their handes & Mases & chaynes about their neckes.
The lorde Mayer had. iiii. footemen all in whyte sylke, cutte, ruffed £ pounced: he had also,
ii. Pages well mouted on stirryng coursers, rychely trapped and apparelled in coates of Cry-
mosyn veluet £ cloth of golde paled, with chaynes of gold, the one bearyng his lielme &
the other his Axe. He had also, xvi. tall men on foote with gylte halbardes, whose dobletz
were whyte sylke, & hosen, doblettes & shoes all whyte, cut after the Almayne fassyon,
puffed £ pulled out with red sarcenet, euery one hauyng a whyte lether lerkyn all to cutte &
chaines about their neckes, with fethers & broches on their cappes. The Recorder and euery
Alderman had about hym. iiii. Halbardes trymmed warlike.
The Chamberlayne of the Citie £ the Councellors of the same £ the Aldermes deputies,
which wer appointed to be wyffelers on horsbacke were all in whyte damaske coates on their
harnesse, mounted on good horses well trapped, with great chaynes about their neckes, &
propre lauelyns or battel axes in ther hades & cappz of veluet richely decked.
The Wiftelers on foote, iiii.C. propre and lyght persones all apparelled in whyte sylke 01
lerkyns of lether cutte, with white hose and shoes, euery man hauyng a iauelyn or slaugh-
sword to keepe the people in aray & chaynes about their neckes, & white fethers in their
cappes.
The
830 THE. XXXI. YERE OF
The Minstrels wore all in white with the Armes of the Citie, and so was euery other per-
sone at this Muster without anye diuersite, sauyng the lorde Mayer, the Recorder and his
brethren who had crosses of veluet orsatten pyrjed with golde.
The Standarde bearers \vere the tallest mnu of euery Warde, for who wer made. xxx. new
sUdardz of the deuise of the citie besyde baners.
Whe euery thyng was prepared, euery Alderman mustered his owne waide in the feldes,
viewyng euery man in his harnesse, £ to cause such as could shote, to take bovves in their
hades, & thother by lies or pykes.
The. viii. day of Maie, accordyng to the Kynges pleasure, euery Alderman in ordre of
battell with his vvarde came into the common felde at Myle ende, £ then all the gonnes
seuered them selues into one place, the pykes in another, & the bowmen in another, & like-
wise the byllmen, & there rynged & snayled, whicft was a goodly syght to l>eholdc : for all
the feldes from Whyte chappell to Myle ende, & from Bednall Grene to Ratclif & to Stepney
Mere all couered with harnesse, men & weapos, & in especial the battell of pykes seined to be a
great forest. Then euery parte \\asdeuided into. iii. partes, the pikes in three partcs & so tha
other. Then were appoynted. iii, battels, a forward, myddleward £ rereward.
The Oi'dre in goyng.
About, viii. of the clocke inarched forward the lyght peces of Ordinaunce, with stone Sc
powder, after them followed the Dromes & fyffes, £ irnediatly after them a Guydon of the
Armes of the C'itie. Then folowed master Sadeler captain of the goners vpo a good horse
in harnesse £ a coate of veluet with a chayne of golde £. iiii. Halbardes about him appa-
relled as before is rehersed. Then folowed the Gonners. iiii. in a ranke, euery one goyng. v.
foote a sender, euery mans shoulder cue with another, which shot altogether in dyuers places
very cherefully, £ especially before the Kynges Maiestie, whyche at that tyme sate in his
new gate house at his Palace at Westminster where he viewed all the whole company : In lyke
maner passed the second £ third battels al wel & rychely appointed. They passed as is
sayde, theformost Capitayn at ix. of the clock in the mornlg by the lytle conduite entryng
into Pauls churchyarde, & so directly to Westmynster, & so thorough the sanctuary and
round about the parkeof s. lames, £ so vp into the felde & came home thorough Holborne:
& as the first Capitayne entered agayne to the lytle condtiyte, the last of the Muster en-
tered Pauls churcheyarde, which then was. iiii. of the clocke at after noone. The nombre
was. xv. thousand, besyde Wyffelers and other wayters.
I" tl»syere about the Feast of s. Ihon Baptist, the comon people of the town of Gaunt in
Flaiiders, began to grudge against the Officers of the Emperour, & thoccasion was this: The
comon people being supported of dyuers ryche Merchauntes of the towne, complained that
the Excyse of the Wyne was so great, that they payed of euery pottcll. ii.d. for thexcise that
they solde by retaile, besyde the price of the wyne, £ likewyse payed the Merchauntes which
solde it in great: and yet that more greued them that the Abbots, Friers, Chanons & other
Religious persones & men of the Church (of the whiche was gret store in that towne) the
which among them had the greatest ryches & wealth of that towne, shoulde be exempt &
dronke Wyne free without paiyng Excise, whych thyng turned to the charges of other, and
therwith the comons founde them selues sore greued, and sayde that they were oppressed con-
trarye to their olde and auncient Priuileges. The Rulers made promise that an ordre & way
should be taken therin, but they desyred respyte that they might know the mynde of the
Queene of Hungary, Regent for the Emperoureof [the lowe countrey, which Queue at that
tvme was at Bruxell, and euen then was goyng to vyset the countrey of Holand. The
Queene consented to nsthyng that the commons desyred, but sent them a very cruell and
frowarde answere not without great threates, that if they would not euery man quietly re-
niayne in their houses, and pay their excyse as they had ben accustomed to do, they should
lyke rebels as they were be forced thervnto whether they would or not: wherfore the Comons
assembled, .£ when they had well digested the answer of the Quene, they determined to seke
another meanes, & fyrst they assembled themselues into a battel to the nobre of. x. or xii.M.
a wel
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 83 J
wel armed me, night and day watching & warding the towne, in suchsorte that themperours
Officers bare no rule: £ he whom they called the chiefe Bailyf or (joueniour of the towne
durst not once shew his face amongest them, but by the helpe of a boy he coueied himself by
a Postern and so got out of the towne. The people of Gaunt perceiuynjj their Rulers thus
departed, the chiefestof them that wer in the towne condisceded & agreed to write vnto the
Frenche Kyng for ayde, & caused a Gentleman of their towne to deuyse a Letter, for the
whiche afterwarde he lost his head.
The sute and request of the sayde men of Gaunt was, that it would please the Frenche
Kyng to sende vnto theiui men & municions, and to succour them as the auncient subiectes
to the Crowne of Fraunce, and to delyuer them from the bondage that they were in, & to
remoue from the great Exactions & imposicions, that the Officers of the sayde Emperour
had oppressed them with all, and they wouldeyelde & delyuer all vnto him as to their Soue-
reigne Lord, & in lyke inaner would other tounes to them adioynynge do. And for a truth,
(sayth the writer of the Annales of Aquitayn) if the Frenche Kyng woulde haue herkened'
vnto their request & sute, it had ben an easy thyng for him both to haue enioyed the pos-
session of the greatest nombrc of all thetownesin the lowe countrey. as Flaunders, Arthoys
and the rest of that countrey, £ also to haue put the Emperour in great hazarde. But the
French Kyng willing to kepe and holde the Truce which was concluded andsworne, hauyng
a greater respect to his faith and prornyse then to his profile & gayne, thinkyng that if he
should consent to the request of the Gauntoys, he should begin a new YVarre to the noiaunce of
the comen people of Christendome, vvherfore he refused vtterly either to ayde or succour them.
The Queene of Hungarye thynkynge to haue pacifyed all this rumor, sent vnto the Towne
of ( Kin ut her ryght trustye and valyaunt Knight, the Lorde of Sempy, of the House
of Crouy, accompanyed with the Lorde Lyquerque and one of her Preuy Councell: but
these men amongest the comons wer not so well entertained as they thought they should
haue ben, and therfore taryed not long, amongest them, but were glad to conuey themselues
from them in dissimtiled apparell.
The Emperoure beyng aduertysed of all this busynesse, and pcrceiuyng his lowe countrey
by the reason.of sedicion. was in daunger, deuised meanes how lie might come te them, for
then he was in Spain. He thought he would not hazarde hymselie vpon the sea: and he durst
not trust the Almaynes, because he had broken promyse with theim so often concerning •; , •
their Generall Councell that he promised to haue assembled : wherfore he detennyned to
moue the French King and to sue for a safeconduyte to passe thorough Fraunce, wtycu
very gladly the Frenche Kyng graunled hym, insomuch that after the French kyng knew of
his desire, both he and the Dolphyn entreted most hertely the Emperour to passe that way,
trusting therby that it should haue ben an occasion of peace betwene them.
All thynges ineete for themperours assuraunce was so appointed by the Constable of.
Eraiice,. thai the Emperour departed out of Spain, £.came to Bayon, fro thence to Bardeaux
& so to Poyters: after. h« came to Loches where he met with the French kyng & the Quene,
£ then they together passed fro thence to Orleaunce, & so to Paris, into which Citie they en-
tered the first day of. lanuary in the yere of our Lorde a 153p. and so from thence after
great chere £ royall enterteymnent he passed. thorough the lower coutreys, & at last came to
Bruxellesin Braband;
And first the Emperour vnder. colour to haue pvtie St. to remedy the poore comons of Gafit
& saiyng that he wold not only pardo their offeces, but also he could not blame them being
oppressed to complayn, £ by this meanes he obtcined licence that the County of Reuxacco-
paayedw ii.C. men of armes &. v.M. Launceknightes entered the towne, saiyng to thinha-
bitaivtes that this power was only to kepe the towne in peace & quiet till a good & profitable
ordre should be taken for the Comons. The poore inhabitants beleulg nl that was prornisetl
& said vnto them & mistrustyng nothyng, threw, of their harnesse, & euery man peaceably
went to their houses. Then .entered into the towue themperour accompanyed with his brother
the kyng of Hongary,, & his sister the Quene Dowager of Hongary, the Duke of Sauoy
83* THE. XXXI. YERE OF
and many other Princes, Lordes and Gentlemen, and a great power of men of waffe,
whyche entery was about Mydsomer, in the yere a. M.v.C.xl.
Themperour beyng in Gaunt & hauyng th upper hand of them, that is to say, beyng
stronger within the towne then thinhabitantes were, in the place of his gret pytie that he semed
to haue on the poore inhabitatz as his first entery, he immediatly began to do execucion, &
that of a gret nombre of them, and without all mercy executed them, insomuch that among
all other, the Gentleman which the Comons enforced to write the letter to the Freeh kig
was beheded, as before is expressed: & afterward themperour caused an Abbey of. s. Ba-
non to be suppressed, & in the same place at the charges of the Gaunlois, he made a Cas-
tell of a meruelous largenesse, for it was. ix.C. foote long, &. viii.C. large: & not contented
with such as he put to death, but also of a great nomber he confiscated ther landes and
goodes, and finally he brake all their Privileges and Ordinaunces, and left the poore inha-
bitantes of Gaunt in a miserable case : But now to returne to thaffayres of England.
In August the great Onele & Odonele entered into the English pale in Ireland, and brent
almost, xx. tnyle within the same: wherfore the Lorde Grey the Deputie there, assembled a
great power and met with them the. xxx. day of August and put them to flight, wherfore the
Kyng sent ouer fyue hundreth fresh souldyers to ayde his Deputie.
In the ende of Septebre the. xvi. day of that moneth came to London Duke Frederyke of
Bauyre CountyePalantyne or Palsgraueofthe llyne, & the. xviii. daye came to London, the
Marshal of Duke Ihon Fredericke Prince Elector of Saxony, & the Chauncellor of Wil-
liam Duke of Cleue, Gulycke, Gelder & Berry, The Palsgraue wasreccytied & conducted
to Wynsore by the Duke of Suffolke: & thother were accopanyed with other nobles, & the.
xxiii. day of the same moneth thei al came to Wynsore, where, viii. dayes they continually
were feasted and hunted, with all pleasure thatmiglit be shewed vnto them: & the Palsgraue
shortly departed & was honorably rewarded: & at that seaso was cocluded the mariage be-
twene the Kyng & the lady Anne, syster to duke Willyii of Cleue, & great preparacio was
made for the receiuyng of her.
The. xiiii. day of Nouembre Hugh Feringdon Abbot of Redyng& two Priestes, the one
called Ilugg, and the other named Onyon, were attainted of high treason, for deniyng the
Kyng to be supreme head of the Churche, & was drawen, hanged, & quartered at Kedyng.
This Abbot was a stubborne Monke & vtterly without lerning. The same day was Richard
Whityng Abbot of Glascenbury likewise attainted and haged on Tower hyl besyde his mo-
nastery, for the seid case & other gret treasons, which also was quartered: & the first day
of Dcceb. was Ihon Beche Abbot of Colchest. put to execusio for'y same cofederacy &
treaso.
In December were appointed to wayte on the] Kynges highnes person fyftie Gentlemen
called Pencioners or Speares, lyke as they were in the first yere of the Kyng.
The Re- The. xi. day of Decembre at the Turnepyke on thyssyde Grauelyng was the Lady Anne
theTady^ of Cleue icceyued by the Lorde Lysle Deputie of the town of Calice & with the Speres &
Anne of horsemen belongyng to the retinue there, all being fresh & warlike apparelled, & so marchlg
toward Calyce a myle & more fro the towne met her Grace the Erie of Southhampton gret
Admirall of England, & apparelled in a coate of purple veluet cut on cloth of goltie & tyed
with great aglettes and treifoiles of golde, to the nomber of. iiii.C. & baudrickwise he ware u
chayne, at the whych did hang a whistle of gold set with ryche stones of a great value.
And in this company, xxx. gentlemen of the Kynges houshold very rychly apparelled with
great & massy chaynes, & in especial syr Francis Bryan & sir Thomas Seymers chaynes were
of great valure and straunge fassyon. Beside this, the Lorde Admirall had a great nom-
bre of gentlemen in blew veluet & crymosyn sattyn & his yomen in damask of the same co-
lours, & the Maryners of his ship in sattyn of Bridges, both coates & sloppes of the same
colours, whych Lorde Admyrall with low obeysaunce welcomed her, & so brought her into
Calyce by the lanterne gate, where the Shippes layein the Hauen garnyshed with their ban-
ners, pencelles & flagges, pleasauruly to beholde. And at her entry was shot such a peale
of
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ.
of gones, that all the retynew much meruailed at it. And at her enlery into the towne, the
Mayer of the towne presented her with an. C. marke ingolde. And before the Staple hail
stoode the Merchauntes of the Staple well apparelled, which lykewyse preseted her with an. C.
souereyns of golde in a ryche pursse, which hertely thanked them, & so she rode to the kinges
place called the Checker, & there she laye. xv. dayes for lacke of prosperous wynde. Du-
ryng whyche tyme goodly iustes & costly bankeltes wer made to her for her solace & recrea-
tion. And on s. Ihons day in Christinas, she with. 1. sayle roke passage about noone and
landed at Deele in the downes about, v. of the clocke, where sir Thomas Cheiny lord War-
den of the Fortes receaued her, & there she taryed a space in a Castell newly buylte, and
thyther came the Duke & Dutches of Suiiblke £ the bisshop of Chichester, \vith a great
nombre of Knyghtes & Esquiers & Ladies of Kent & other which welcomed her Grace, &
so that nyght brought her to Douer Castell, where she rested tyll monday: on whych day
for all thestorme that then was she marched toward Caunterbury, and on Baram downe met
her the Archbishop of Canterbury actdpanyed with the bishop of Ely, Saynt Asse, Saynt
Dauyes & Douer, £ a great copany of gentlemen well apparelled, £ so brought her to s.
Austens without Canterbury, where she lay that nyght : and on the next day she came to Syt-
tyngburne & there lodged that nyght. And as she passed toward Rochester on Newyer'es
euen, on Reynam down met her the duke of Norffolke & the lord Dacre of the South, &
the lord Mountioye with a gret copany of Knyghtes & Esquiers of Norffolke & Suffolke,
x& the Barons of thexchequer, all in coates of veluet with chaynes of gold, which brought
her to Rochester where she lay in the Palace all Newyeres day. On which day the kyng which
sore desyred to see her Grace accopanyed with no more then. viii. persons of his preuy
chamber, & both he & they all apparelled in marble coates preuely came to Rochester, and
sodainly came to her presence, which therwith wassumwhat astonied: but after he had spoke
& welcomed her, she w most gracious & louyng coiitenance & behauiour him receiued & wel-
comed on her knees, whom he gently toke vp & kyssed : & all that after noone. comoned &
deuised with her, & that night supped with her, & the next day he departed to Grenewich,
& she came to Dartford.
On the morow being the third day of lanuary, & Saturday, in a fayre playne on black
heth more nerer the foote of shoters hyl, then the ascendent of the hyll called blacke heth
hyl, was pitched a riche cloth of gold & dyuers other Tentes & Pauilions in the which
were made fyers and perfumes for her and suche Ladies as should receyue her Grace:
and from the Tentes to the parke gate of Grenewych were all busshes and fyrrcs cutte
downe, and a large and ample waye made for the shew of all persones. And fyrst
nexteto the parke pale on the East syde, stoode the Merchauntes of the Stillyard: and on the
West syde stoode the Merchautes of lean, Florence and Venyce, and the Spanyardes, in coales
of veluet. Then on bothe sydes of the waye stoode the Merchautes of the Citie of London &
Aldermen with the councilors of the sayd" Citie to the nobre of a C.lx. which were myxed with
theEsquyers : Nexte vpward toward thetentes stoode Knyghtes: tha the. l.gentleme Pencioners,
& all this sort were apparelled in veluet & chayns of gold, truly accompted to the nombre of.
xii.C. & aboue besyde them that came with the kyng & her Grace, whych wer. vi.C. in veluet
cotes & chaines of golde. Behynd the gentlemen stoode theseruyngme in good ordre, well
horsed & apparelled, that whosoeuer had well viewed theim might saye that they for tall &
comely personages & dene of lym & body, wer able to geue the greatest Prince in Christen-
dome a mortall brekefast if he wer the kynges enemy : And of this sorte the gentlemen ap-
pertainyng to the lord Chancellor, the lord Preuy scale & the lord Admiral & diuers other
lordes, beside the costly lyuereys & comely horses, ware chayns of gold.
Thus was the lane ordered in rankes from the parke gate iowarde the crosse on the Heth,
\vhych was betwene the Rankes and the Tentes, and in this ordre they contynued tyll the
Kyng and she were returned.
About, xii. of the clocke her grace with all the company which were of her owne nfbcion
to the nombre of a. C. horse, & accompanyed with the Dukes of Norffolke £ Suffolke, the
Archebishop of Caunterburye £ other bysshop?, lordes £ knyghtes which had rccecyucd £
.5 O ronucyt'd
834 THE. XXXI. YERE OF
conueyed her as you haue heard before, came doune shoters hyll toward the Tentes & a
good space from the Tentes met her the Erie of Rutland her lorde Chautnberleyn, syr
Thomas Denyce her Chauncellor, & all her councellers and officers, amongest whom, Doctor
Daye appoynted to her Almoner, n>ade to her an eloquent Oracion in latin, presentyng to
her on the Kynges helmlfe all the Officers & Seruauntes: which Oracion was answered vnto
by the Duke her brothers Secretarie there beyng present: which done, the Lady Mar-
garete Doglas, cloughter to the Quene of Scottes, the lady Marques Dorcet, daughter
to the French Quene being Nieces to the Kyng, £ the Dutches of Rychemond, £ the
Coutesse of Rutland & Herfford with dyuers other ladies £ gentlewomen, to the nobre
of. Ixv. saluted £ welcomed her Grace, which alighted out of her Chariot in the which
she had rydden all her long iourney, & with most goodly demeanor & louyng coutenauce
gaue to them hertye thankes & kissed them all, & after all her coucellors £ officers kyssed
her hand, which done, she with all the Ladies entered the tentes, and there warmed them a
space.
When the Kyng knew that she was ariued in her tent, he with all diligence set out tho-
rough the parke. And first issued the Kynges Trompettes, then the Kynges Officers beyng
sworne of his Councell, next after them followed the Gentlemen of the Kynges Preuy
Chaumbre, some apparelled in coates of veluet enbrodered : other had their coates garded
with chaynes of golde, very ryche to beholde, whiche were well horsed & trapped : after
them ensued Barons, the yongest first, and so sir Willyam Hollys knyght Lorde Mayer of
London rode with the Lord Par beyng yongest Baron. Then followed Bysshops apparell-
ed in blacke satten. Then immediatly followed the Erles, & then duke Philyppe of Bauyer
and Countie Palantyne of the Rhyne, rychely apparelled with the lyuerey of the Toysant
or Golden Fleece aboute his necke. Then followed the Ambassadours of the French
Kyng & themperour, next followed the Lorde Preuy Scale Lorde Cromwell and the Lord
Chauncellor: then Garter kyng of Armes, and the other Officers of Armes £ the Ser-
ieantes at Armes gaue their attendance on euery side of the Lordes: which Lordes for the
moast parte were apparelled in Purple veluet, the Lord Marques Dorcet in the same suyte
bare the Kynges swoorde of estate. After hym a good distaunce followed the Kynges high-
nesse mounted on a goodly courser, trapped in ryche cloth of golde trauerced latyce wyse
square, all ouer enbrodered with gold of dammaske, pearled on euery syde of the enbro-
derye, the buckles and pendentes were all of fyne golde. His persone was apparelled in a
coate of purple veluet, somewhat made lyke a frocke, all ouer enbrodered with flatte golde
of Dammaske with small lace mixed betwene of the same gold, and other laces of the
same so goyng trauerse wyse, that the ground lytle appered : about whyche garment was a
rvche garde very curiously enbrodered, the sleues and brest were cut lyned with cloth of
golde, and tyed together with great buttons of Diamondes, Rubyes, and Orient Perle, his
swoorde and swoorde gyrdle adorned with stones and especiall Emerodes, his night cappe
garnished with stone, but his bonnet was so ryche of 'luels that fewe men coulde value them.
Besyde all this he ware in baudricke wyse a collar of such Balystes and Perle that few
men euer saw the lyke: and aboute his persone ran. x. footemen all rychely apparelled in
goldstnythes worke. And notwithstandynge that this ryche apparell and precious luelles-
wer plesaunt to the Nobles £ all other being present to beholde, yet his Princely counte-
naunce, his goodly personage and royall gesture so farre exceded all other creatures beyng
present, that in comparyson of his persone, all his ryche apparell was lytle estemed. After
him folowed his lord Chaiiberlein, tha came sir Anthony Browne master of his horse, a
goodly getleman £ a comly personage, wel horsed, trapped & rychely apparelled, leadyng
the Kynges horse of estate by a long reyne of golde, whyche horse was trapped in maner
lyke a barde with crimosin veluet & satten, al ouer enbrodered with gold after an antyke
fassio, very curiously wrought. Then followed the pages of honor in coates of riche tyn-
sell & crimosyn veluet paled, ridyng on great coursers, al trapped in crimosyn veluet, en-
brodered w new deuyses & knottz of gold which were both pleasant & costlv to beholde.
3 Then
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 835
Then followed syr Anthony Wyngfeld Captayne of the Garde & then the Garde well horsed
& in ryche coates. In this ordre the kyng rode to the last ende of the ranke where the
Speares or Pencyoners stoode : and there euery persone that came with the Kyng placed
hymselfe on the one syde or the other, the Kyng standyng in the myddes.
When her Grace was aduertysed of the Kynges cdmyng, she issued out of her tent beyug
apparelled in a ryche goune of cloth of golde reised, made rounde without any trayne after
the Dutche fassyon, and on her head a kail, & oner that a rounde bonet or cappe set full of
Orient Perle of a very propre fassyon, & before that she had a cornet of blacke veluet, &
about her necke she had a parteletset full of riche stone which glystered all the felde. And
at the dore of the Tente she mounted on a fayre horse richely trapped, with her fotemen
about her in goldsmithes worke enbrodered with the blacke Lion, & on his shoulder a Car-
buncle golde, and so she marched towarde the Kyng: whych perceiuyng her to approche
came forwards somewhat beyonde the crosse on Blacke Heth, and there paused a lytle in a
fayre place tyll she came nerer : then he put of his bonnet £ came foreward to her, & with
inost louely countenance and Princely behauyour saluted, welcomed & enbrased her to the
great reioysyng of the beholders: and she lykewyse not forgettyng her duty, with most ami-
able aspectc & womanly behauyour receyued his Grace 'with many sweete woordes and
great thankes and praisynges geuen to hym. And whyle they two were thus communynge,
Che fyftye Pencioners and the Garde departed to furnysh the Courte and Halle of Grene-
wyche. And when the Kyng had talked with her a lytle whyle, he put her on his ryght
hande, and so with their footemen they rode as though they had ben coupeled together. O
what a syght was this to see so goodly a Prince & so noble a Kyng to ryde with so fayre a
Lady of so goodly a stature & so womanly a countenance, & in especial of so good qua-
lities, I thynke no creature could see them but his herte reioysed.
Now when the Kyng and she were mette and bothe their companyes ioyned together, they
returned thorough the rankes of Knyghtes and Esquyers which stoode sty I all this while &
remoued not, in this ordre : Fyrst her Trompettes went forwarde, whyche were twelue in
nombre besyde two kettle Drommes on horsebacke, then followed the Kynges Trompettes,
then the Kynges Councellours, then the Gentlemen of the Preuy Chamber, then the Gen-
tlemen of her Graces countrey in coales of veluet, all on great horses: after them the
Mayer of London in crimosyn veluet with a riche collor, coupled with the yongest Baron,
then all the Barons, nexte followyng Bysshoppes, then Earles, with whom rode the Earles
of Ouersteyn and Waldocke of her countrey, then Dukes and the Archbysshop of Caun-
terbury and Duke Phillip of Bauire, nexte followed the Ambassadors, then the Lorde
Preuye Scale and the Lorde Chauncellor, then the Lorde Marques with the Kyn»es sworde,
nexte followed the Kyng himselfe equally ridyng with his faire Lady, & behind him rode
syr Anthony Browne with the kyngz horse of Estate as you hearde before, and behynde her
rode syr lohan Dudley Master of her horses leadynge her spare Palferaye trapped in ryche
Tyssue downe to the grounde: after them followed the Henxemen or Pages of Honoure,
then followed the Ladye Margarete Doglas, the Ladye Marques Dorset, the Dutches of
Richmond & Suffolke, the Countesses of Rutland £ Hertforde, & other Countesses: then
followed her Graces Chariot in the which she rode all her iourney, well carued £ gylte with
Armes of her ooutrey curiously wrought & couered with cloth of gold, all the horses
were trapped with blacke veluet, £ on them rode Pages of Honor in coates of veluet, in
the which Chariot rode. ii. auncient Ladies of her countrey : nexte after the Chariot fol-
lowed, vi. Ladies & Gentlewomen of her countrey all richely apparelled with cappes set
with Perle, &c great Chaynes of dyuers fassyons after the vsage of their countrey, whiche
were veryfayr-eof face, & with them rode. vi. Ladies of England well besene. Then fol-
lowed another Chariot lykewyse gylte & furnyshed as thother was: after that Chariot fol-
lowed, x. Eaglysh Ladyes well apparelled, next them another Chariot all couered with
blacke cloth, &in that. iiii. gentlewomen which were her Graces Chamberers: then follow-
ed all the remnaunt of the Ladies, Gentlewomen £ Maydens in a gret nombre which dyd
5 O Z weare
83(5 TOE. XXXI. YEREOF
vvearo that day Frenche vvhodes: last of all came another Chariot all blacke with. iii. Laun-
ders appertaynyng to her grace: next after followed a Horselytter of cloth of golde &
Crymosyn veluyt vpon veluct paled, with horses trapped accorcligly which the king sent her,
Then followed the seruyng men of her trayne, all clothed in blacke & on great horses.
In this ordre they rode thorough the rankes, & so tnorough the parke and at the late
Freers waile all men alyghted sauyng the Kyng, the. ii. Masters of the Horses & the Henx-
inen, whych rode to the halle dore, & the Ladies rode to the Courte gate. And as they
passed they behcldc on the whavfe ho we the Citizens of London were rowyng vp & down
on the Thames eucn before them, euery crafte in his Barge garnished with Banners, Flagges,
Stremers, Pencelles and Targettes, some payntecl & beaten with the Kynges Armes, some
with her Graces Armes, and some with the Armes of their Crafte or Mistery. Besyde
the Barges of euery crafte, there was a Barge made like a ship, called the Batchelers
barke, decked with cloth of gold, penoris, pencels, & targetz in great nombre, on who
wayted a Foyst that shot great peces of Artillary. And in euery barge was dyuers sortes
of Instrumentes & children & men syngyng, which sang & plaied altogether as the King &
the Lady passed on the wharfe, which syght & noies they much praised & allowed.
When the Kyng & she wer within the vtter court, they alyghted from their horses, £ the
Kyng louyngly embrased her & kissed her,- byddyng her welcome to her owne, & led her
by her lyfte arme thorough the halle which was furnished beneth the harth with the Kynges
Garde, and aboue the harth with the fyftye Pencioners with their Batell Axes, & so brought
her vp to her preuy chamber, where he lefte her for that tyme.
And assone as the Kyng & she was entered the Courte, was shot out of the Tower of
Grenewyche & there about, a great peale of Gonnes.
When the Kynges company and hers was entered the parke, as you haue hearde, then
all the horse men on Blacke Heath brake their aray and had licence to departe to London,
or to their lodgyng. To se howe longe it was or the horsemen coulde passe, and howc
late it was in the nyght yer the footeraen coulde get ouer London brydge, I assure you it
was wonderous to beholde, the nombre was so great.
Thus the Noble Lady remayned vnmaryed vntyll the tuysday followyng beyng the day
of the Epiphany : On whych day about, viii. of the clocke in the mornyng, his Grace beyng
apparelled in a gowne of cloth of gold, raised with great flowers of syluer, furred with
blacke lenettes, his coat Crymsyn sattyn all to cutte and enbrodered & tied with great
Diamondes, & a ryche Coller about his necke, came solemly with his Nobilitie into the
galery next the closettes, and there paused.
Then the Lordes went to fetche the Ladye Anne, whiche was apparelled in a gowne of
ryche cloth of gold set full of large flowers of great & Orient Pearle, made after the
Dutche fassion rownde, her here hangyng downe, whych was fayre, yelowe and long: On
her head a Coronall of gold replenished with great stone, and set about full of braunches
of Rosemary, about her necke and middle, luelles of great valew & estirnacion. In this
apparell she goynge betwene the Erie of Ouersteyn & the Graunde Master Hostodeu,
which had the conduyte & ordre of the performaunce of her maryage, with most demure
countynaunce & sad bthauiour passed thorough the Kynges chamber, all the Lordes goyng
before her tyll they came to the galery where the Kyng was, to whom she made three low
obeysaunces & curteisyes. Then the Archebysshop of Caunterbury rcceyued them &
maried them together, and the Erie of Ouersteyn did geue her: & about her mariyng ryng
was written: GOD SEND ME WEL TO KEPE.
Wien the Manage was celebrate, they went handc in hande into the Kinges closet and
the- e him! Masse and offered their tapers, & after Masse had wyne and spyces, and that
done» the Kyng departed to his chamber, & all the Ladies wayted on her to her cham-
ber, the Duke of NorfFolke goyng on the ryght hande, and the Duke of Suffolke on the
lefte haude on her grace.
After, ix. of the ciocke, the Kyng with a gowne of ryche Tyssue lyned with Crymosyn
1 T/eluet
KYNG HENRY THE. VI IJ. «S7
Veluet enbrodered, came to his closet, & she in her here in the same apparell that she was
maryed in, came to her Closet with her Serieant of Annes and all her Officers, lyke
aQueene, before her. And so the kyng & she went openly on Procession and offered and
dyned together. And after dyner she channged into a gowne lyke a mannes gowne, of Tys-
sue with longe sleues gyrte to her, furred with ryche Sables, her narrowe sleeues were very
costly, but on her head she had a cap as she ware on the saturdai before with a cornet of
laune, which cap was so ryche of Perle and Stone, that it was iudged to be of great valew.
And after her fassyon, her Ladies and Gentlewomen were apparelled very riche and costly
with chaynes of dyuers fassions, and in this apparell she went that nyght to Euensong, and
after supped with the Kyng: and after supper were Bankettes, Maskes, and dyuerse dvs-
portes, tyll the tyrne came that it pleased the Kyng and her to take their rest.
The sonday after were kepte solempne lustes, whyche moche pleased the straungiers.
On whiche daie she was appareiled after the Englishe fassio, with a Frenche whode, whiche
so set furth her beautie and good visage, that euery creature reioysed to behold her.
When the erle of Ouerstein, and other lordes and ladies whiche had geuen their atten-
dance on her grace al that iornay, and had been highly feasted of the kyng & other nobles
very supteously, thei toke their leaue and had greate giftes geuen to theim, bothe in money
.and plate, and so returned toward their countrey, leauyng behynd them the erle of Wal-
docke, and dinerse other gentlemen and damoselles, which vver reteined with her grace,
till she wer better acquainted in the realme.
The fourth daie of February next ensuyng, the kyng and she came to Westminster by
water accompaignied with many nobles and prelates in Barges, on whom the Maior and
his brethren in skarlet, and. xii. of the chief compaignies of the citee all in Barges gar-
nished with Banners, Penons, and targettes, richely couered and replenished with myn-
strelsy, gaue their attendaunce, and by the waie all the shippes shot their ordinaunce, and
out of the tower was shot a greate peale of Gonnes, in goodly ordre.
The xii. daie of February, the Duke of Norffolke was senl in Ambassade to the Frenche
kyng, of whom he was well enterteigned, and in thende of thesame moneth, he returned
again into Englande.
The. xxiii. daie of February, wer foure readers sent for to the Starre Chamber, of euery
house of the foure principall Innes of Courte one, where sat the lorde Channcellor, the
lorde Preuie scale, and. xiiii. of the chief of the kynges counsaill, and there the lorde
Channcellor declared, how sir Ihon Shelto knight, had by the aduise of sir Humfrey Broune
Knight, the Kynges Seriaunt, sir Nicholas Hare Knight, the Kynges counsailor, and Speaker
of the Parliament, and Willyam Coignesby Esquire, attornay of the Duchie of Lancastre,
all beyng his seruauntes and of his Fee, declared a fraudulent will of his landes, contrary
to the statute made, anno, xxvii. to the greate hynderaunce of the Kynges prcrogatiue, and
the true meanyng of thesaicd statute, and also to the euill example of all other, that should
defraude the lordes of their seigniories. Wherefore thesaied sir Humffrey Browne, and sir
Nicholas Hare, wer that daie by the whole Counsaill of the kyng, dismissed of their Offices
and seruice to the kyng, and sent to the tower: and within three daies after was William
Coignisby sent thether, where thei remaigned ten dayes, and after wer deliuyred : but thei
three lost all their offices, that thei had of the kyng.
The first Sondaie in Lent, Stephyn Gardiner Bishop of Winchester, preached at Paules stcpheGar-
crosse, and there intrealcd of the Gospcll of that daie : and in his sermon especially, he ^"erj'"
touched the article of lustificacio, and so he handeled it, that the third Soudaie in Lent Wynchei-
next Iblowyng, one Doctor Barnes, of whom before you haue heard, reprotied in thesaied tcr-
pulpit at Paules, the doctryne of thesaied Bishoppe: and beeyng vexed with the bishoppes goctor
Doctrine, he vsed many tauntes against hym, but one specially whiche was this, that he
saied if the Bishoppe and he, wer together in Rome with the Pope, he knewe that great
sommes of money could not saue his lite, but for the Bishoppe, there was no tea re, but that
a little intreataunce, should purchase fauour enough for hym: By this he noted the Bishop
ta
838 THE. XXXII. YERE OF
to bee but a Papist, whiche the Bishop so vnquietly tooke, that he complained of Barnes to
the kyng, and there had hym examined, and at the last by the Kynges commaundement, he
came to the bishoppes house, where likewise the bishoppe not onely examined hym, but also
toke vpon hym to be his skolemaster, and as moste menne and specially suche, as muche
knewe and least cause had to lye reported, he prepared the tower for his skole house, and
made suche a rod to beate his skoler, that he beate hym as small as ashes, or he left hym:
although Barnes, with twoo other persones, that is to saie, Iherom and Garret, of whom
in the uexte yere folowyng, ye shall here more, were by ihe Bishoppes procurement, ap-
poynted in the Easter weke folowyng, to preache at sainct Mary Spittle beside London, the
three solempne sermons in one of the which sermons, that Barnes made, Barnes openly
and before ai the people, asked the Bishop forgeuenes, for speaking so vnreuerently of him
in his former sermon, and he required the bishop if he forgaue hym, in token thereof to
holde vp his hande, whiche like as it was long before he did, so it appered afterwarde to
many, that it was but a counterfeat forgeuenes.
The. xii. daie <of Aprill began a Parliament, and sir Nicholas Hare restored to the office
of speaker, in the whiche was frely graunted, without cotradiccios, foure fiftenes & a Sub-
sedy, of twoo. s. of fcmdes, and. xii. d. of goodes, toward the greate charges of Bulwarkes.
ThomM_ The. xviii. daie of Aprill, at Westminster was Thomas lorde Cromewell created Erie o£
creatJdErU Essex, and made greate Chamberlain of England, whiche euer the Erles of Oxenford had,
of Essex, whiche promocions he enioyed short tyme, as after in the nexte yere aiaie appere.
, XXXII. YERE.
Tile first daie of Maie, sir Iho Dudley, sir Thomas Seimour, sir George Carew, sir
Thomas Ponynges, sir Richard -Cromewell, sir Anthony Kyngston knightes, enterprised a
royal 1 lustes, Tornay, and Barriers, whiche wer in white Veluet barded and based. The
lustes began the first daie of Maie, the Tornay the third tlaie, and the Barriers the fifth
which chalenge thei valiautly performed, against all commers, and also they kept open
houshold at Duresme place, and feasted the kyng and Quene, and all the Lordes. Beside
this, on Tewesdaie in the Rogacion weke, thei feasted all the Knightes and Burgesses of
the Comon house : and the morowe after thei had the Maior, the Aldermen and all their
wifes to dinner, and so the J-ridaie thei brake vp houshold.
In this Parliament whiche began the. xviii. daie of April, as is afore rehersed, the re-
ligion of sainct Ihones in Englande, whiche of most me was named the knightes of the
Rhodes, wasdissolued, wherof hearyng sir Willyam Weston knight, Prior of sainct Ihones,
for thought died on the Assencion daie, beyng the fift daie of Maie.
Richard In this mouetbe was sent to .die Tower, Doctor Wilson, and docter Sampson bishop of
crotcr Chichester, for releuyng of certain traiterous -persones, whiche denied the kynges supremacie,
condcmpn- & for thesame offence was one Richard Farmer Grocer of London, a riche and welthy
mui!ire.Pr<:" man, and of good estimacion in the citee, committed to the Marshall See, & after in West-
minster hall was arraigned and attainted in the Premunire, and lost all his goodes.
Thomas The. ix. day of luly, Thomas lorde Cromewel, late made erle of Essex, as before you
weicomT haue hard, beyng in the connsaill chiiber, was sodainly apprehended, and committed to the
mitted te tower of London, the whiche many lamented, but mo reioysed, and specially suche, as either
had been religious men, or fauored religious pereones, for thei banqueted, and triumphed
.together that night, many wisshyng that that daie had been seuen yere before, and some
fearyng least he should escape, although he were imprisoned, could not be mery. Other
who knewe nothyng but truth by hym, bothe lamented hym, and hartely praied for hym:
Butithisis true that of certain of the Clergie he was detestably hated, & specially of suche as
had borne ewynge, and by his meanes was put from it, for in dede he was a man, that in all
,his doynges, semed not to fauor any kynde of Popery, nor could not abide the snoffyng pride
of
KYNG HENRY THE. VIFJ. 839
of some prelates, whiche vndoubtedly vvhatsoeuer els was the cause of his death, did shorten
his life, and procured the cnde that he was brought vnto : whiche was that the. xix. daie of
thesaied monethe, he was attaynted by Parliament, and neuer came to his answere, whicbe
lawe many reported, he was the causer of the makyng thereof, but the truthe thereof I
knowe not: The Articles for whiche he died, appereth in the Record, where his attaynder is
written, whiche are to long to bee here rehersed, but to conclude he was there attainted of
heresy, and high treason. And the. xxviii. daie of luly was brought to the skaffold on the
tower hill, where he saied these wordes folowyng.
I am come hether to dye, and not to purge rny self, as maie happen, some thynke that I The wcr4«
•will, for if I should so do, I wer a very wretche and miser : I am by the Lawe condempned Cf1^e1jfni*
to die, and thanke my lorde God that hath appoynted me this deathe, for myne offence: spoke at hi*
For sithence the tyme that I haue had yeres of discreeion, I haue liued a synner, and of- dtth>
fended my Lorde God, for the whiche I aske hym hartely forgeuenes. And it is not vn-
knowne to many of you, that I haue been a great traueler in this worlde, and beyng but of
a base degree, was called to high estate, and sithes the tyme I came therunto, I haue of-
fended my prince, for the whiche I aske hym hartely forgeuenes, and beseche you all to
praie to God with me, that he will forgeue me. O father forgeue me. O sonne forgeue
me, O holy Ghost forgeue me : O thre persons in one God forgeue me. And now I praie you
that be here, to beare me record, I die in the Catholicke faithe, not doubtyng in any article
of my faith, no nor doubtyng in any Sacrament of the Chnrche. Many hath sclaundered
me, and reported that I haue been a bearer, of suche as hath mainteigned euill opinions,
whiche is vntrue, but I confesse that like as God by his holy spirite, doth instruct vs in the
truthe, so the deuill is redy to seduce vs, and I haue been seduced : but beare me witne*
that I dye in the Catholicke faithe of the holy Churche. And I hartely desire you to praie
for the Kynges grace, that he maie long Hue with you, in healthe and prosperitie. And
after him that his sone prince Edward, that goodly ympe, maie log reigne ouer you. And
once again I desire you to pray for me, that so long as life remaigneth in this fleshe, I
•wauer nothyng in my faithe. And then made he his praier, whiche was long, but not so.
long, as bothe Godly and learned, and after committed his soule, into the hancles of God,
and so paciently suffered the stroke of the axe, by a ragged and Boocherly miser, whiche
very vngoodly perfourmed the Office.
On sainct Peters euen, was kept the Serieantes feast at sainct Ihones with al plentie of Serjtaunte*.
victaile. At which feast wer made ten Serieauntes, three out of Groves Inne, and three *CMtc*
out of Lyncolnes Inne, and of euery of the Temples twoo. At whiche feast were present,
all the lordes and commons of the Parliament, beside the Maior and the Aldermen, and a
greate nomber of the commons of the citee of London.
The morowe after Midsomer daie, the kyng caused the Quene to remoue to Richemond,
purposyng it to bee more for her health, open ayre and pleasure : but the sixt daie of
July, certain Lordes came doune into the neither house, whiche expresly declared causes, QU(;I
that the mariage was not lawful!, and in conclusion, the matter was by the Conuoeacion Anne*^.
clercly determined, that the kyng might lawfully mary where he would, £ so might she: and "M^I^
so were thei clerely deuorsed and seperated, and by the Parliament enacted and concluded, Anne 0V
that she should bee taken no more as Quene, but called the Lady Anne of Cleue. ckuc>
In thisyere the lord Leonard Grey, brother to Thomas lord Marques Dorset, beyng the
kynges lieuetenaunt in Ireland, practised sondery feates for his proffite, as in deliueryng
treytors beeyng hostages, and especially his nephew Fitzgarard, brother to Thomas
Fitzgarard before executed, and also caused suche of the Irishe menne, as he had intelli-
gence with all, to inuade suche of the kynges frendes, whiche he fauored not : Wherefore
the kyng sent for hym, and he mistrustyngand seyng no refuge, wrote to the kynges enemies,
to inuade thenglishe pale after his departure. And also he kepte the kynges Treasure,, to Th«Lorde
his awne vse, without reteignyng souldiours, acordyng to his commission, whereupon when fr*r ««
he came to London, he was sent to the Tower. '
In
840 THE. XXXII. YERE OF
In luly the Prince of Salerne, in the Real me of Naples, and the lorde Lois Detiola, came
into England to se the • kyng, whiche liad liigh chere and greate rewardes, and so departed.
And after them came Done Fredericks Marques of Padulla, brother to the Duke of Farrar,
and the Prince of Macedonia, and the Marques of Terra Nona, and Mounsire de Flaey',
and sixlcnc other gentlemen, from the Emperotirs Courie into Englande, to see the Kyn<f,
whiche on the daie of Mary Magdalene, came to the Court to Westminster, and vver highfy
feasted and well enterteined, and with greate rewardes departed.
The Uvcntie and eight daie of July as you haue heard before in this ycro, was the Lorde
"'-" ^romcwe11 behedded, and with him likewise was behedded the Lorde. Hongerford of Heytes-
bury, whiche certainly at the tyme of his death, seined to bee very vnquiet in mynde, and
rather in a frenesy then otherwise.
The thirtie daie of luly, were drawen on herdelles out of the Tower to Smithfeld, Ho-
Garr"d& ^f ^ames Doctor in Diuinitcc, Thomas Garard, and .Wyllyam leroine Baclielers in Di-
uinitee, Powell, Fetherston and Abell. The firste three were drawen to the stake, there
before set vp, and were burned: and the latter three drawen to the Galowes, likewise there
set vp, and were hanged, bedded, and quartered. Here ye must note, that the first three,
wer menne that professed the Gospell of lesu Christ, and were Preachers thereof: But
wherefore they were now thus cruelly executed, 1 knowe not, although I haue searched to
kuowe the truth. But this I findc in their attainder, for ye muste vnderstande, lhat after
thei had Preached at sainct Mary Spittle, as before I haue declared, Barnes for learn-
yng his lesson no better was committed to the Skolehouse before prepared, whiche was the
Tower, where he was kepte, and neuer called to examinacion, till his rod that he should
bee beaten withall, was made, whiche was a sharp and greate Fire in Smithefelde: and for
compaignie sake was sent to the Skolehouse with hym, the fornamed Caret, and lerome,
whiche dronke all of one cuppe. And as I saied before, thus muche I finde in their attain-
dor, that they were detestable and abhominable Heretickes, and that thei had taught many
heresies, the nomber whereof was to greate in the atteindor to be recited, so that there is
not one alleged, whiche I haue often wondered at, that their heresies wer so many, and not
one there alleged, as special cause of their deathe. And in deede at their deathe, thei
asked the Shirifes, wherfore thei were condempned, who answered, they could not tell : but
if I maie saie the truthe, moste menne said it was for Preachyng, against the Doctryne of
Stephen Gardiner Bishoppe of Wynchester, who chiefly procured this their death, God
and he knoweth, but greate pitie it was, that suche learned menne should so bee cast awaie,
without examinacion, neither knowyng what was laied to their charge, nor neuer called to
answere.
irson Fe~ ^e 'aste l'liee wn'c"e were ^owell, Fetherston, and Abell, were put to death for
andAbc'u. Treason, and in their attainder, is special! mencion made of their offences, whiche was for
the deniyng of the kynges supremacie, and afBrmyng that his Manage with the Lady Ka-
theryne was good : These with other were the treasons, that thei wer attainted of, and suf-
fered death for.
The fourthe daie of August Thomas Epsam, sometyme Monke of Westminster, whiche
had been prisoner for treason, three yeres and more in Newgate, came before the Justices
of Gaole deliuery at Newegate, and would not aske the kynges pardon, nor be sworne to
be true to him wherefore his Monkes garment, was plucked from his backe, and he repried
till the kyng knewe his malicious obstinacie: and this was the last Monke that was seen in
his clothyng in Englande.
In this monethe were certain Commissioners, sent by the kyng into Ireland to inquire of
the lorde Leonard Gray, whiche cerlefied diuerse articles against him, as ye shall here in
the nexte yere folowyng.
Kathcryn The eight day of August, was the Lady Katheryn Haward, nece to the duke of Norf-
H"*'*"1 foii^ and daughter to the lord Edmond Haward, shewed openly as Queue at Hampton
<2™«e.as Court, whiche dignitie she enioyed not long, as after ve shall here.
In
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 841
In y latter ende of this moneth, was vniuersally through the realme greate death, by
reason of newe hole agues and Flixes, and some Pestilence, in whiche season was suche a
drougth, that Welles and small Riuers were cleane dried, so that mucbe cmtelldied for lacke
of water : and the Thamis was soshalowe, 'and the freshe water of so small strength, that the
Salt water flowed aboue London bridge, till the raine had encreased the freshe waters.
On the. xxii. daie of Decmber, was Haufe Egerton seruaunt to the Lorde Audeley, lorde Egerton
Chauncellor, hanged, drawen, and quartered, for counterfetyng of the kynges greate Scale, *n&e '
in a signet, whiche was neuer seen, and sealed a greate nomber of Licenses for Denizens, and
one Thomas Harman that wrote theim, was executed: for the statute made the last parlia- v
ment sore bounde the straungiers, whiche wer not Denizens, whiche caused theim to offie
to Egerton, greate sommes of money, the desire whereof caused hym to practise that
whiche brought hym to the ende, that before is declared.
In the ende of this yere, the Frenche Kyng made a strong Castle at Arde, and also a
Bridge ouer into the Englishe pale, whiche bridge the Crewe of Calice did beate doune,
and the Frenchmen reedified thesame and the Englishemen bet it doune again. And after
the kyng of Englad sent fiftene hundred woorke men, to wall and fortefie Guysnes, and
sent with them flue hundred men of warre, with capitaines to det'ende them. The noyes
ranne in Fraunce, that there wer fiftie thousande Englishemenne, landed at Calice with
greate ordinaunce : wherefore the Frenche kyng sent in all hast, the Duke of Vandosme,
and diuerse other capitaines, to the Frontiers of Picardy, to defende thesame. The kyng
of Englande hearyng thereof, sent the Erles of Surrey and Southampton and the lorde
Russell, his greate Admiral!, into the Marches of Calice, to set an ordre there : and after
them sent. CC. light horsemen, of the borders of Scotlande : whom the Frenchmen
called stradiates, whiche lordes when they had set all thynges in a good ordre, shortly re-
turned.
In this yere was burned in Sinithfeld, a child named Richard Mekins, this child passed not the Richard
age of. xv. yeres, and somewhat as he had heard some other folkes talke, chaunccd to speake
against the Sacrament of the aultar. This boye was accused to Edmond Boner Bishop of
London, whoso diligently folowed theaccusacion, that he first found the meanes to Indite
hym, and then arreigned hym, & after burned him And at the tyme he was brought to
the stake he was taught to speake muche good, of the Bishop of London, and of the
greate Charitee, that he shewed hym : and that he defied all heresies, and cursed the tyme
that euer he knewe Doctor Barnes, for of hym had he learned that heresie, whiche be died
for: the poore boye would for the sauegarde of his life, haue gladly said that the Uvelue
Apostles taught it hym, for he had not cared of whom he had named it, suche was hischild-
ishe iunocencie and feare. But for this deede many spake and saied, that it was great
shame for the Bishop, who thei saied ought rather to haue labored to haue saued his life, then
to procure that terrible execucion, scyng that he was suche an ignoraunt soule, as knewe not
what the affirming of an heresie was.
You haue hard before in the beginning of this yeie, that doctor Wilson, and doctor
Sampson Bishop of Chichester, wer sent vnto the Tower: who now wer pardoned ol the
kyng and set again at their libertie.
If THE. XXXIII. YERE.
IN the beginnyng of this yere, v. priestes in Yorke shire began a newe rebellid, with A
thassent of one Leigh a gentlemii, and. ix. tempo rail men, whiche were apprehended, & b<=U
shortly after in diuerse places put in exeeucion, insomuche that cm the. xvii. daie of Male,
the said Leigh & one Tatersall, and Thornton wer drawen through London to Tiborne,
and there wer executed. And sir Ihon Neuell knight, was executed for the same ai Yorke;
On the same daie was Magaret Countesse of Salisbury, whiche had been long prisoner
5 P in
842. THE. XXXIII. YERE OF
in the Tower, behedded in the Tower, and she was the last of the right lyne and name of
Plantagenet.
The. ix. daie of lune, wer Damport and Chapman, twoo of the kynges Garde hanged at
Grenewiche by the Friers Wall, for roberies in example of all other.
The lorde Duryng this ceason, the commissioners that before wer sent into Ireland, to inquire of
^mpnedT lne l°r^ Gray, certified, xx. articles of high treason against hym, wherupon he was arreigned
& tried by knightes, because he was a lorde of name, but no lorde of the parliamet: how-
beit he discharged the lury, & confessed the inditement, & therupon was iudged & after be-
hedded at the tower hill, where he ended his life very quietly & godly.
In this ceason was arreigned and condempned three gentlemen, called Mantell, Roydon,
and Frowdes, and were hanged at sainct Thomas of Waterynges. Likewise was Thomas
Fines Lorde Dacres of the Southe, arreigned before the lorde Awdeley of Walden, then
Chauncellour of Englande, and that daie high Stuard of the same at Westminster, and there
before the saied Lorde Chauncellour and his Peres, he confessed the Inditement and so had
Judgement to bee hanged. And so the twentie and nyne daie of lune, beeyng Sainct Peters
The Lorde jaie at after None, he was led on foote, betwene the twoo Shirifes of London, from the
the"sout°h Tower through the citee to Tyborne, where he was strangled, as common murderers are, and
hsged. his body buiied in thechurche of sainct Sepulchres. The cause of the death of this noble
manne and the other gentlemen, was a murder of a symple manne, and an vnlawful assemble
made in Sussex. Create moane was made for them al, but moste specially for Mantell, who
was as wittie, and as towarde a gentleman, as any was in the realme, and a manne able to
huuedooen good seruice.
Submissions. This Sommer the Kyng kepte his progresse to Yorke, and passed through Lyncolne Shire,
where was made to hym an humble submission by the temporaltie, confessyng their offence,,
and thankyngthe kyng for his pardon: and the Toune of Staunforde gaue the Kyng twentie
pounde, and Lyncolne presented fourtie pounde, & Boston fiftie pound that parte whiche is
called Lynsey gaue three hundred pounde, and Kestren and the Churche of Lyncolne gaue
fiftie pounde. And when he entred into Yorke Shire, he was met with two hundred gentle-
men of the same Shire in coates of Veluet, and foure thousande tall yornen, and seruyng
men, well horsed: whiche on their knees made a submission, by the mouthe of sir Robert
Bowes, and gaue to the Kyng nyne hundred pounde. And on Barnesdale met the kyng,
the Arehebishoppe of Yorke,, with three hundred Priesles and more, and made a like sub-
mission, and gaue the kyng sixe hundred pounde. Like submission was made by the Maior
of Yorke, Newe Castle and Hull, and eche of thoim gaue to the Kyng an hundred pounde.
When the Kyng had been at Yorke twelue daies, he came to Hull, and deuised there certain
fortificacions, and passed ouer the water of Homber, and so through Lyncolne Shire, and at
Halonticle came to Hampton Court.
Quene Ka- At this tymc the Quene late before maried to the kyng called Quene Katheryne, was ac-
"" cased to the Kyng of dissolute liuyng, before her manage, with Fraunces Diram, and that
was not secretely, but many knewe it. And sithe her Manage, she was vehemently sus-
pected with Thomas Cnlpeper, whiche was brought to her Chamber at Lyncolne, in August
laste, in the Progresse tyme, by the Lady of Rocheforde, and were there together alone,
from a leuen of the Clocke at Nighte, till foure of the Clocke in the Mornyng, and to
hym she gaue a Chayne, and a riche Cap. Vpon this the kyng remoued to London and
she was sent to Sion, and there kept close, but yet serued as Quene. And for the offence
confessed by Culpeper and Diram, thei were put to death at Tiborne, the tenth daie of De-
cember. And the twentie and two daie of the same monethe, were arreigned at Westminster,
^the Lorde Wyllyam Ilawarde and his wife, whiche lorde Wyllyam was Vncle to the Quene,
Katheryne Tilney whiche was of counsaill of her hauyng to dooe with Diram, Elizabeth Til-
ney, Boulmer, Ilestwould, the Quenes women, and Walgraue, and Wyllyam Ashy, and
Damport gentle rnenne, and sernauntes to the olde Duches of Norffolke, and Margaret
Benet a Butter wife, all indited of misprision, for counsailyng the euill demeanor of the
Quene, to the slaunder of the Kyng, and his succession: all thei confessed it and had ludge-
6 ment
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 843
ment to perpetuall prison, and to lose their goodes, and the proffite of their lades, du-
ryng their lifes : howbeit shortely after, diuerse of them \ver deliuered by the kynges Pardon.
The sixtene daie of lanuary the Parliament began, in the which the Lordes and Com-
mons assented, to desire of the kyng certain peticions. First, that he would not vcxe him- 1.
self, with the Quenes offence, and that she and the lady Rocheford, might be attainted by
Parliament.
Also, because of protractyng of tyme, whiche the more should bee to his vnquietnes, 2.
that he would vnder hisgreate Scale, geue his royall assent, without tariyiig the endc of the
Parliament.
Also, that Diram and Culpeper, before attainted by the common law might also be at- 3.
tainted by Parliament.
Also, that Agnes Duches of Norftblke, and Katheryn Countesse of Brigewater her daugh- 4.
ter, whiche were for counsailyng the saied offence committed to the Tower, Indited of
misprision, and the lorde William and other, arreigned of the same, might be likewise at-
tainted.
• Also that whosoeuer had spoken or doen any act, in the detestacion of her abhominable
liuyng should be pardoned.
To the whiche peticions the kyng graunted, saiyng, that he thanked the Commons, that
thei tooke his sorowe to bee theirs. Whereupon the Quene and the Lady Rocheforde, were
attainted by bothe the houses. And on Saturdaie beyng the leucnth daie of February, the
Kyng sent his royall assent, by his greate Scale: and then all the Lordes were in their Robes, QUene Kll.
and the Common house called vp, and there the acte redde, and his assent declared. And theri" alld
so on the thirtene daie, these twoo Ladies were behedded on the Grene, within the Tower Rochfford
with an axe, and confessed their offences, and died repentaunt. behcdcd.
At this Parliament the Kyng was Proclaimed kyng of Irelande, whiche name his prede- The
cessors neuer had, but wer ahvaies called lordes of Irelande* Pnx
In thebeginnyngof Marche died sir Arthur Plantagenet viscount lisle bastard to Kyng Ed-
ward the fourth, in the tower of London vnattainted, when he should haue been deliuered
and put at his liberty. And the twelue daye of the saied rnoneth, sir Ihon Dudley sonne
and heire to the saied Lorde Lisles wife was at Westmynster created Viscount Lisle.*
The Parliament sittyng, in Lent one George Ferreis Bourgeoys for the toune of Piim-
mouth, was arested in London vpon a condempnacion, at the suite of one White. Where- rcys"
upon the Seriauntat armes, of the Common house, was sent to the Counter in Bredestrcte
to fetche hym : but the Clerckes would not deliuer hym, wherfore the Seriaunt and his
manne, would haue brought him awaie perforce. Diuerse of the Shirifes officiers there pre-
sent, withstoode the Serieaunt, so that they fell to quarellyng, and the Seriauntes man was sore
hurte. After the Fraie ended, the Shirifes of London whose names wer Rowland IJill, and
Henry Suckely came to the Counter, and first denied the deliuerey of the prisoner, howbeit
afterward they deliuered hym. But this matter was so taken in the Common house, that
the Shirifes and the Clercke, and fine Officiers, and the partie plaintife, were tent to the
tower, and there laye twoo dales, and were deliuered again by the Speaker and Common
house.
Although I haue not vsed muche to declare of priuat thynges doen, in other forrein
Realrnes, yet will I now tell of one because the thyng was so reported to me, and the matter
it self so writte and deliuered me that I must nedes judge it to be a trulhe, and the like in all
this woorke is not expressed, therefore I purposed woorde by woorde, as it was written vnto
me, here to expresse it. The matter is of a certein Gentelman in Scotlande, who for con-
temning of the Bisshop of Rornes vsurped aucthoritie, and for praisyng and commendyng the
affaires and procedingesof Englande and reprouyng the naughtielii'e of the Scottishe Clergie,
was as an hereticke accused and conuented before diuerse of theim, as after 'maie appere,
there to make answere to suche Articles as should bee obiected against hym. Me knowyng
their accustomed fauor, fled from theim into Englande. Against whom after he was gone
5 P 2 they
844 THE. XXXIII. YERE OF
they preceded in suche sort, as by this that foloweth whiche is the true copie of the processe
maie appere.
Sir Ihon Borthwike, commonly called Capitain Borthwike, accused, suspected, defamed
an(j collujcted by witnesses, whiche were men of suche honestie, against whom could none
excepcion bee taken the yere of our lorde a thousande fiue hundred and fourtie, the. xxviii.
day of May in the Abbay of sainct Androwes, in the presence of the moste worshipfull fa-
thers in Christ, Gawyn Archebishoppe of Glasgue, Chauncellor of Scotlande, William of
Aberdowyn, Henry Bishoppe of Galloway and of the kynges Chapell of Sterlyng, Ihon Bi-
shoppe of Brecth. William bishop of Dunblan: Andrew Abbot of Melros, George Abbot of
Dumfermelyng, Ihon Abbot of Passay, Ihon Abbot Lundros, Robert Abbot of Kyllos, and
Wiilyarn Abbot of Culros: Malcolme Prior of Whitytern, and Ihon Prior of Pettywerin.
Master Alexander Balfour Vicar of Kylmane, and Rector of the Vniuersitie of sainct An-
drowes. And afore the cunnyng Masters, Master Ihon Mair, and Master Peter Chapi-
lain Professors, and doctors of Diuinitee, Master Marten Balfour, Bachelar of Diuinitie,
and of the lawe, and Official principall of sainct Androwes, Ihon Wyrem Supprior, Ihon
Wannand, and Thomas Cunnyngha, Chanones of the Abhay of sainct Androwes, Ihon
Thomson with his felowe, Prior of the blacke Friers of sainct Androwes, Ihon Tullidaff
Wardein of the Grey Friers, of. S. Androwes, & Ihon Patersone, vicar of the same couent.
And also before the noble mightie & right worshipfull lordes, George erle of Huntley, lames
erle of Ai rain, Willyam erle Marshall, William erle of Montrosse, Malcolme lorde Flemmyng,
Chamberlain of Scotlande, Ihon lorde Lindesay, Ihon lorde Erskyn, George lorde Seiton,
Hugh lorde Symeruall, sir lames Homilton of Finnart, & Walter lorde of. s. Ihones of Tor-
phecten knightes, master lames Foules of Colynton clerkeof the Register, to our moste so-
uereigne Lorde the Kyng and many and diuerse and sondery other lordes, barons, and ho-
nest persones required to be witnesses in the premisses, doth affirme that he hath holde these
errors folowyng, openly taught them, and instructed them, that is tosaie.
1. First, that our moste holiest lorde the Pope, the Vicar of lesu Christ, cannot haue nor
exercise, anymore aucthoritieemongest Christians, then any other bishop or priest.
2. Secondly, that indulgencies and Pardons, graunted by our moste holiest lord the Pope, is of
no value strength and efficacie, but vtterly to the abusion of the people, and the deceiuyng of
our soules.
3 Thirdly, he said that the Pope was a Simoniack, euer sellyng gyftes, and that all priestes
might mary.
4 Fourthly, that all Englishe heresies (as thei are called) or at the least, the greater and better
part obserued by Englishemen, hath been and is good, and to be obserued by christen men,
as true and consonant to the law of God: in so much y he perswaded very many people to
accept the same.
£_ Fiftly, that the people of Scotlande, & the clergie therof hath been and is vtterly execated
and blinded, by affinnacio that ihei had not the true catholike faith, affirmyng and opely
saiyng, that his faith was of more value & better, then all the Ecclesiasticalles, of the realme
of Scotland.
^ Item, likewise accordyng vnto tholde opinions of Iho Wiclif and Hus, heresiarches and
Master heretikes, condernpned in the counsail of Constantine, he hath affirmed and farther
declared, that Ecclesiasticall persones, should not possesse, haue nor enioye, any temporall
possessions neither exercise iurisdiccio, or any kind of aucthoritie, in temporall matters nei-
ther vpon their avvne subiectes, but that all should vtterly bee taken awaie from them, as it
is in these daies in Englande.
... Item, he hath saitd, holden and affirmed falsely, and contrary to the honor state and re-
uerence, of our sacred kynges maiestieof Scotlande that our kynges maiestie of Scotland, the
moste clerest defender of the Christian faith, would contrary to the lawe and libertie of the
holy churche, vendicat and chalenge vnto his priuat vses, all ecclesiasticall possessions,
landes,
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 845
landes, and yerely rentes, geuen by his fore fathers, and also by hymself, and to inforce this
matter he hath also by writyng perswaded our moste noble kyng, with all his endouor.
Item, he hath willed and sought and many times hath desired harlely, that the Churche of g
Scotlande should come, and be brought to thesame poynt and ende, and to suche like fall,
as the Churche of England is now come to in deede.
Item, he hath saied, affirmed, and taught openly the Cannon lawes and the Decrees of o
our holy fathers, approued by the Catholike and apostolike Churche, is of no valewe nor
strength, bryngyng in and affirmyng the same, for to be made and set furth, contrary to the
lawe of God.
Ite, he hath said holden & affirmed, many waies y no religion should be kept, but that 10
should be abolished and destroyed, and to bee as it is now destroyed in Englande, and vili-
pendyng all holy Religion, affirmyng it to bee an abusion of the people, whose clothyng
sheweth manifestly, to be deformed musters, hauyng no vtilitie or holines, bryngyng in by
this and perswadyng, as muche as in hym lay, all adherentes of his opinion, that all the re"-
ligion in this realme of Scotlande, should be destroyed and vtterly taken awaie to the moste
greatest losse of the Catholike Churche, and to the deminishyng of Christen religion.
Item, it is plainly knowen by lawfull probacions, that the same Iho Borthwike, hath had 11
and actually hath, diuerse bokes suspect of heresy dampned, aswell by the Papal), as by the
Regall and ordinary aucthorities forbidden (that is tosaie) firste of all the newe testament in
Englishe, printed in Englande.Oecolampadius, Melancthon, & diuerse tractes of Erasmus,
and other codempned heretickes, and also the boke of Vnio Discidentium, conteinyng moste
manifest errors, and that he hath red, studied, and communicated, and presented the same
to other men, aswell openly as priuatly, and that he hath instructed and taughtc, very many
Christians in the same, to the effect, to turne them from the very true and Catholike faithe.
Item, it is openly knowen, the same Ihon Borthwike, to be so stubburne in all these fore-
said errors and heresies, and to haue susteined and taught the same, with suche an indurate
mynde, so that he would not declyne by no maner of meanes fro the same, for diuerse of his
frendes, and persons whiche loued hym, and would haue had hym conuert, to the.catho-
like faithe, neither would he consent to theim in any wise, but rather vnmoueably persist in
his errors.
For the whiche said articles, and many other errors holden, saied, publicated and taught ] 3
by hym and (as the common voyce is) whiche he stil holdelh and teacheth, the forsaid Ihon
Borthwike to bee taken, holden and coumptedas an heretike, and a Master heretike, and as
a very euil iudger of the Holy faithe.
Therefore we Dauid of the title of sainct Stcphyn in the mount Celo of the holy churcheThescn-
of Rome priest Cardinal, archebishop of sainct Audi-owes, Primate of this whole realme [^
of Scotland and of the Apostolike seate Legate create, sittyng in our scale of iustice in
nature of ludges, the holy Euangelistes of God set afore vs, that our iudgementes pro-
cede fro the sight of God, and our eyes must loke to cquitie, hauyng oncly God and the
Catholike faith ai'ore our eyes, the name of God being called vpon and folowyng the coun-
sail aswell of the deuines as lawyers, this foresayd Ihon Borthwike called capitain Borth-
wike condempned of the foresayd heresies, accused, suspected and infamed by lawful! pro-
bacions had and brought against him in all f foresaydcs, conuicted, cited, called and not
appearyng but absentyng him selfe like a runaway : Therfure let vs thinke, pronouce and
declare him to be conuicted and to be punished worse then an heretike, And further more
all his mouables and vnmouables by whatsoeuer title they begotten and in whatsoever parties
they lye, they to be geuen to the secular power. And all offices had by dower or by his
wife to be confiscat & spent to the vse and custome of the law. Also we do declare by
these presentes the image of the foresayd Ihon to be made to the likenes of him, and to be
brought into the metrapolitan Churche of saint Andrewes & after that to y market crosse of
tlie citie, there to be brent as a signe and a memorial of his condemnyng to ihe example and
feare of all other. Lykewisc we do declare that if thesame Ihon be taken within our liber-
tics
846
THE. XXXIIII. YERE OF
ties to be punished accordyng to the lawe of heretikes. Also we warne all true beleuers in
Christ of whatsoeuer state & condicion they be, that they fro this day do not receiue or ad-
a'it Ito their houses, tetes, villages or tounes Ihon Borthwike to eat or to drynke or to pre-
ferre any kynd of humanitie in paine of stiche like punishment: Further, if there be any
founde culpable in these foresayd that they shalbe accused as fautors and maintayners of
heretiques, and they shalbe punished accordyng to the law. This sentence red and made
and put in writyng in the Metrapolitan Churche of saint Androwes we sittyng in our Tri-
bunals seate, the yere of our Lorde 1540. the. xxviii. day of Maye drawen out of the Ite-
gester made against heretikes and agreyng with the sentence of Ihon Borthwike.
•-
THE. -XXXIIII. YERE.
A declara-
cion of the
cause of
warre with
IN this yere lames erle of Desmod came to the kyng and was honorably entertained &
wel rewarded. And in Septetnbre the great Onele came to the kyng to Grenewyche, where
he and a capitaine of the North partes of Ireland called Maganysse and the bishop of
Cloar, made their submission in writyng, cofessyng their offences, and promisyng to serue
the kyng and his heyres truely: whiche submission by the kyng considered, he vpon the
first day of October created at Grenewyche thesayd sir Eustace Onele called great Onele
(because he was the chiefe of his linage called Onele) Erie of Tereowen, commonly called
Tyron and gaue him a great chayne, and made Magannysse and his eosyn knightes -and
gaue them both chaynes, & he gaue to the lorde Mathias sonne to the erle, the Barony of
Duncan.
At this ceason the kynges Maiestie prepared for warre into Scotlande, the cause why this
xvarre was made is most manifestly declared by that whiche foloweth, which the kynges Ma-
iestie published by this title, A declaration conteignyng the iust causes and considera-
civns of this present warre with the Scottes : wherin also appeareth the true and right
title that the kynges moste royal maiestie hath to his souereigntie of Scotland. And it
beginneth thus.
BEYNG now enforced to the warre, whiche we haue always hitherto so muche abhorred
and fled, by our neighbour and nephicu the kyng of Scottes, one, who aboue all other, for
, J our manyfolde.benefites towardes him, hath moste iust cause to loue vs. to honor vs, and
Scotland set •> . TT,
forth by the to reioyce in our qiuetnes: We nauc thought good to notity vnto the world his doynges
ky"s- and behauour in the prouocacion of this warre, and likewise the meanes and wayes by vs
vsed to exchue and adnoydc it, and the iust and true occasions, xvberby we be now pro-
uoked to prosecute thcsame, & by vtteraunce and diuulgyng of that matter, to disburden
some part of our inwarde displeasure and gricfe, and the circumstaunces knowen, to lament
openly with the worlde, the infidelitie of this tyme, in whiche thinges of suche enormitie do
brest out and appeare.
The kyng of Scoltes our Nephicu and neighbour, whom we in his youth and tender age
preserucd and maintained from the great daunger of other, and by our authoritie and
power coduced him safely to the reall possession of his estate, he nowe compelleth and
forcelh vs for preseruacion of our honor and right, to vse our puissance & power against
him. The like vnkindnes hath been heretofore shewed by other in semblable cases against
Goddes lawe, mannes lawe, and all humanitie: but the oftener it chaunceth, the more it is
to be abhorred, and yet in the persones of princes for the raritie of theim can so happen but
seldome, as it hath nowe corne to passe.
It hath been very rarely and seldome seen before, that a kyng of Scottes hath had in
manage a daughter of England : We can not, ne will not reprehend the kyng our fathers
act therein, but lament and be sory it toke no better effect. The kyng our father in that
matter minded loue, amitie, and perpetual frendship betwene the postcry of both, which
how soone it fayled, the death of the kyng of Scottes, as a due punishment of God for his
iniust
KYNG HENRY THE. VI IJ. 847
iniust inuasion into this our realme, is & shalbe a perpetual testimony to tlieir reproche for
eucr, and yet in that present tyme could not the vnkyndnesse of the 'father extynguyshe in
vs the natural loue of our Nephieu his sonne, beyng then in the miserable age of tender
youth: but we than forgetting y displeasure that should haue worthyly prouoked vs to in-
uade that realme, norished and brought vp our Nephieu to achieue his fathers possession and
gouernement,, wherin he nowe so vnkynclly vseth and behaueth him towardes vs, as he com-
pelleth vs to take armour and vvarre against him.
It is specially to be noted, vpon what groundes, & by what meanes we be compelled to
this warre, wherin among other is our chiefe griefe and displeasure, that vnder a colour of
fayre speche and flatteryng wordes, we be in dede so iniured, cotempned and dispised, as
wrought not with sufferaunce to pretermitte and passe oucr. Woordes, writynges, letters,
messages, ambassiates, excuses, allegacios, could not more pleasauntly, more gently, ne more
reuerently be deuised and sent, then hath been made on y kyng of Scottes behaffe vnto vs,
and euer we trusted the tree would bryng forth good fruite, that was of the one partie of so
good a stocke, & continually in apparaunce put forth so fayre buddes: and therfore would
hardelv beleue or geue eare to other, that euer alleged the dedes of the contrary, beyng
neuerthelesse thesame dedes so manyfest, as we must nedes haue regarded theim, had we
not been so lothe to thynke euill of our Nephieu, whom we had so many wayes bound to
be of the best sorte towarde vs. And therfore hauyng a message sent vnto vs the yere past
from our sayd Nephieu, and a promise made for the repairing of thesayd kyng of Scotles
vnto vs to Yorke, & after great preparacion on our part made therfore, thesame metyng was
not onely disappointed, but also at our beyng at Yorke, in the lieu thcrof, an inuasion
made by oure sayd Nephieu his subiectes into our realme, declaryng an eutdeut contempt
and dispite of vs: We were yet glad to impute the defaute of the metyng to the aduise of his
counsail, and the inuasion to the lewdnes of his subiectes: and accordyng there vnto gaue
as benigne & gentle audience to suche ambassadors, as repaired hither at Christmas after-
warde, as if no suche causes of displeasure had occurred, specially consideryng the good
woordes, swete \voordes, pleasaunt woordes, eftsones proponed by the sayd Ambassadors,
not onely to excuse that was past, but also to persuade kyndnes and perfite amitie to ensue.
And albeit the kyng of Scottes hauyng contrary to the article of the league of amitie, re-
ceiued and entci teigned suche rebelles, as were of the chiefe and principle, in stirryng the
insurreccion in the North against vs with refusal! before tyme, vpon request made to restore
thesame: yet neuerthelesse vpon offer made thesayd ambassadors, to sencle comission to
the bordures, to determyne the debates of the confinies in thesame, with so great a pre-
tence of amitie and so fayre woordes, as could be in speche desired : we were content for
the tyme to forbeare to presse them ouer extremely in the matter of rebelles. Albeit we
neuer remitted thesame, but desyrous to make triall of our sayd Nephieu in some corres-
pondence of dedes, condescended to the sendyng of commissioners to the borders, whiche
to our great charge we did, and the kyng of Scottes our sayd Nephieu the semblable.
"Where after great trauaile made by our commissioners, this fruit ensued, that beyng for
our part chalenged a piece of our grounde, plainely vsurped by the Scottes, and of no
great value, beyng also for thesame shewed suche euidence, as more substancial, more au-
tentique, more plaine & euident, can not be brought furth for any part of grounde within our
realme. Thesame was neuerthelesse by theim denyed, refused, and the euidence onely for this
cause reiected, that it was made (as they alleged) by Englishemen. And yet it was soo
auncient, as it could not be counterfaite nowe, and the value of the grounde so lytle, and
of so small wayte, as no manne would haue attempted to falsifie for suche a matter. And
yet this denial beyng in this wyse made vnto our commissioners, they neuerlhele?se by our
comaundement departed as frendes fro the commissioners of Scotland, takyng order as hath
been accustomed for good rule vpon the borders in the meane tyme.
After whiche their recesse, the lorde Maxwell, Warden of the West Marches of Scotlad,
made proclamation for good rule, but yet added thervvith, y the borderers of Scotland should
withdrawc .
848 THE. XXXIIII. YERE OF
witbdrawe their gooodes from the borderers of England: And incontinently after the Scot-
tishe men borderers, the fowerth of luly, enired into our realme sodainly, & spoyled our
subiectes, contrarye to our leagues, euen after suche extremitie, as it had been in tyme of
open warre. Wherat we muche meruailed, and were compelled therfore to furnisne our
border with a garison for defence of thesame. Wherevpon the kyng of Scottes sent
vnto vs lames Leyrmouth, Master of his houshold, with letters deuised in the moste plea-
saunt maner, offeryng redresse and reformacion of all attemtates. And yet neuerthelesse
at the entry of the sayd Leyrmouth into England, a great nombre of the Scottes, than not
looked for, made a forrey into our borders, to the great annoyaunce of our subiectes, and
to their extreme detriment, wherewith and with that vnsemely dissimulation, we were not
a litle inoued, as reason would we should. And yet did we not finally so extremely persecute
and cotinue our sayd displeasure, but that we gatie benigne audience to thesayd Leyrmouth,
and suffered our selfe to be somewhat altred by his woordes and fayre promises, tendyng to
the persuasion that we euer desired, to fynde the kyng of Scottes suche a Nephieu vnto vs,
as our proximitie of bloud, with our gratuitie vnto him did require.
In the meane tyme of these fayre wordes, y dedes of the borders were as extreme as
might be, and our subiectes spoyled : and in a roade made by sir Robert Bowes for a re-
uenge therof, thesame sir Robert Bowes with many other taken prisoners, & yet deteined
in Scotland, without puttyng them to fyne and raunsome, as hath be euer accustomed.
And beyngat the same tyme a surceaunce made on both sides at the suite of thesayd Leyr-
mouth for a season: the Scottes ceassed not to make sundry inuasion into our realme in
such wise, as we were compelled to forget fayre woordes and onely to consider the kyng
of Scottes dedes, whiche appered vnto vs of that sorte, as they ought not for our dutie in
defece of our subiectes, ne could not in respect of our honor, be passed ouer vnreforrned :
and therfore put in a readynesse our annye, as a due meane wherby we might attaigne suche
a peace, as for the safegarcl of our subiectes we be bound to procure.
After whiche preparacion made, and knowlege had therof, the kyng of Scottes ceassed
not to vse his accustomed meane of fayre woordes, whiche in our naturall inclinacion
wrought eftsones their accustomed effect, euermore desirous to find in the kyng of Scottes
suche a regard and respect to be declared in dedes as the correspondence of naturall loue
in the Nephieu to suche an Vncle, as we haue shewed our self towardes him doth require.
Wherfore vpo newe request and suite made vnto vs we determined to staye our armye at
Yorke, appointyng the duke of Norffolke our Lieutenaunt, the lorde Priuyseale, the bishop
of Dureham, and the Master of our horses, there to common, treate and conclude with the
Ambassadors of Scotland, for an amitie and peace vpon suche condicions, as by reason &
equitie were indifferent, wherby the warre might be exchued, beyng by sundry inuasion of
the Scottes then open and manyfest.
In this communicacion betwene our and theyr commissioners, after dyuers degrees of
cSmissions, shewed by the Scottes, and finally one, that was by our commissioners allowed,
matters wer proponed for coclusion of amitie, nothyng difficile or hard on our part, but so
agreable to reason, as the commissioners of Scotland sayd, they doubted not, but if it
might be brought to passe, that the kyng of Scottes our Nephieu might haue a metyng with
vs, all matters should easily be componed and determined. Whereupon they left speakyng
of any articles of amitie, and the ambassadors of Scotland made much outward ioy in
communicacion of metyng, they shewed theimselfe in wordes, facion & behauour muche
to delight in it, to reioyce in it, & therewith thought it easy and facile to be cocluded and
accomplished, and for their part they toke it then for a thyng passed, a thyng concluded,
and moste certain to take effect, and onely desired vi. dayes to obteigne aunswere from
their Master, and our armye for that tyme to stay and go no further : Whervnto our com-
missioners then agreed.
After these vi. dayes was sent a Commission out of Scotland, with power to conclude a
metyng precisely at suc'ie a place, as they knewe well we would not, ne could not in wyn-
ter
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 849
ter obserue and kepe, wherwith when our commissioners were .{Discontent, the Ambassa-
dors of Scotland to relieue that displeasure, and to tempre the matter, whereby to wynne
more tytne, shewed forth their instruccions, wherirv libertie was geuen to the ambassadors
to excede their comission in the appointment of the place, and to consent to any other, by
our commissioners thought conuenient, whiche matter of procedyng, when our commis-
sioners refused, allegyng that they would not conclude a metyng with men, hauyng no coin-
mission thervnto: the ambassadors of Scotland vpon pretence to send .for a more ample
and large comission agreable to their instruccions for appointment of the place, obtained a
delay of other vi. dayes, to send for thesayd ample commission without restraint .of place.
And after those vi. dayes they brought forth a newe commission, made in a good fourme,
and without excepcion: But therewith they shewed also newe instructions, coteiuyng suche
a restrainte as the .former comission did conteine, so as .the libertie :geuen to the, Commis-
sioners in the commission was novve at the last remoued and taken away by the instruccions,
with addicion of a special charge to the Ambassadors not to excede thesame.
And thus first the Ambassadors of Scotlad semed to haue wyll and desire to conclude a
place semely and conuenient, whiche for want of comission .they might not do, & at the
last might haue concluded a metyng by vertue of their commission, and then for feare of the
comaundement in their secod instruccions they durst not. . And so they shewed their first
instruccions partly to excuse their kyng, who should seme secretly to wyll more than in the
commission he did openly prot'esse.
And than with an ample commission fro the kyng, they shewed their secrete instruccions
for defence of theimselfe, why they preceded not according to their commission, not caryng
how muche they charged therin their kyng, whose faulte they disclosed to discharge theim
selfe, trustyng that by benefite of the Wynter approchyng, and the tyrne lost in their co-
municacion their Master should be defeded against our power for this yere, without doyng
for their part that by honor, right, lawe, £ leagues they be obliged and bound to do. And
in this meane tyme our subiectes taken prisoners in Scotland could not be deliuered vpon
any rausome cotrary to all custoYne and vsage of the borders in the tyme of peace and
warre, and in this meane tyme stayed a great part of our arrnye all ready prested, and in
our wages to go forward. In this tyrne Auibassadours (as ye haue heard) assembled to
talke of an amitie and conclude it not. The treatyng of amitie was put ouer by communi-
cacion of a metyng.
The comunicacion of metyng was so handled by alteracion of commission and instruc-
cions on their behalfe, as it appereth a plaine deuise onely excogitate for a delay, whiche
hath geuen vs light, wherevpon more certainly to iudge the kyng of Scottes inwarde affec-
cion towarde vs, whose dedes and woordes well wayed and considered, doeth vs plainely to
vnderstande, how he hath continually labored to abuse vs with swete and pleasaunt woordes,
and to satisfy the appetites of other at borne and abrode with his vnkynde and displeasaunt
dedes. In his wordes he professeth an insoluble amitie, he allegeth kynred, he knowlegeth
benefites, onely the faulte is that he speaketh another language to all the worlcle in dede,s,
and thereby so toucheth vs in honor and denegacion of iustice, as we be inforced and com-
pelled to vse the sworde, whiche God hath put in our hand as an extreme remedy, wherby
to obteigne both quietnes for our subiectes, and also that is due vnto vs by right, pactes,
and leagues.
We haue pacietly suffered many delusions, and notably the last yere when we made pre-
paracion at Yorke for his repaire to vs: But should we suffre our people and subiectes to be
so oft spoyled without remedy: This is done by the Scottes whatsoeuer their wordes be.
Should we suffer our rebelles to be deteigned contrary to the leagues without remedy: Th.is
is also done by theim whatsoeuer their wordes be. Should we suffre our land to be vsurped
contrary to our most plaine euidence, onely vpon a wille, pryde, and arrogancie of the
other partie: This is done by the whatsoeuer their wordes be. And all these be ouer pre-
sumptuously done against vs, & geue suche significacio of their arrogacie, as it is neces-
3 Q sary
850 THE. XXXIIII. YERE OF
sary for vstoioppresse it in the beginning, lest thei should gather further courage to y1 greater
.displeasure of vs £ our posteritie hereafter. And yet in y intreatyng of this matter, if we
had not euidently perceiued the lacke of suche affeccion as proximitie of bloud should re-
.quire, we would much rather haue remitted these iniuries in respect of proximitie of bloud
to our Nephieu, than we did heretofore y inuasion of his father. But consideryng we be
so surely ascertained of f lacke therof, & that our blond is there frorne \\r the colde ayre of
Scotland, ther was neuer prince more violently compelled to warre then we be, by the vn-
kynde dealyng, vniust behauor, vnprincely demeanour of him that yet in nature is our -Ne-
pbieu, and in his actes and dedes declareth himselfe not to be moued thenV, ne to haue
suche ernest wgardc to the obseruacion to his pactes and leagues, ne suche respect to the
intertainctnent of the administracion of iustice, as naturall equitie byndeth, and coserua-
ciftc of amitie doeth require: whiche we muche lament and be sory for, and vse nowe our
force and puissaunce against him, not for reuengeance of our priuate displeasure (beyug so
often deluded as we haue been) but for recouery of our right, the preseruacio of our sub-
iectes fro iniuries, & the obseruacion of suche leagues as haue passed betwene vs, firmely
trustyng, that almightie God voder whom we reigue, woll assist and ayde our just proced-
ynges herein to the furtheraunce and aduauncement of the right, whiche we doubt not shall
euer preuaile against wrong, falsehead, deceipte and dissimulacion.
Hitherto it appeareth how this present warre hath not preceded of any demaunde of our
right of superiorities whiche the kyng of Scottes haue alwayes knowleged by homage and
fealtie to our progenitours euen from the beginnyng: But this warre hath been prouoked Sc
occasioned vpo present matter of displeasure, present iniury, present wrong ministred by
the Nephieu to the Vncle moste vonaturally, and supported cotrary to the desertes of our
benefites moste vnkyndly. If we had mynded the possession of Scotland, & by the mocion
of warre to attain thesame, there was neuer kyng of this realme had more oportunitie in
the minoritie of our ncphieu. Ne in any other realme a prince that hath oiore iust title,
more euident title, more certain title, to any realme that he can clayme, then we haue to
Scotland, not deuised by pretence of manage, not imagined by couenaunt, or continued
by inuencion of argument, but lineally descended from the beginning of that astate esta-
blished by our progenitors, and recognised successiuely of the kynges of Scotland by dedes,
woordes, actes and writynges continually almost without interrupcion, or at the leest inter-
mission, till the reigne of our progenitor Henry the vi. in whose tyme the Scottes abused
the ciuile warre of this realme, to their licence and boldnes, in omitting of their duitie:
whiche for y proximitie of bloud betwene vs, we haue been slacke to require of them,
beyng also of our selfe inclined to peace, as we haue euer been alwayes glad, rather with-
•out preiudice to omitte to demaunde our right, if it might coserue peace, than by demaiid-
vnff therof to be seen to moue warre, specially against our neighbor, against our Nephieu,
against him, whom we haue preserucd from daungier, and in suche a tyme as it were ex-
pedient for all Chvistendome to be vnite in peace, wherby to be the more able to resist the
comon enemy the Turke.
,,But for wnatsoeuer cosideracions we haue omitted to speake hitherto of the matter, it ia
neuertheles true, that y kynges of Scottes haue alwayes knowleged the kynges of England
superior lordes of the realme of Scotland, and haue done homage and fealtie for the
-same.
This appeareth fyrst by history, written by suche as for confirmacion of the trueth in
imemory, haue truely noted and signified thesame. Secondly it appeareth by instrumentes
of homage made by the kynges of Scottes, and diuers notable personages of Scotlad, at
diuers and sudry tymes sealed with their scales, & remainyng in our treasory. Thirdly it
.appeareth by Ilegesters and Recordes judicially. and autentiquely made, yet preserued for
confirmaeion of thesame. So as the matter of title beyng moste plaine, is furnished also
with all maner of euidences for declaracion thorof.
Fyrst as concernyng histories, whiche be called witnesses of tymes, the light of trueth,
3 and
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 851
and the life of memory, & finally the conuenient way and meane, whereby thynges of arji
tiquitie may be brought to mennes knovvlege, they shewe as plainly this matter as could be
wyshed or required, with suche a consent of writers, as could not so agree vppon an vn-
trueth, conteignyng declaracion of suche matter as hath moste euident probabilitie & ap«
paraunce. For as it is probable and likely, that for the better administration of iustice
amonges rude people, two or mo of one estate might be rulers in one countrey vnite as this
Isle is: so is it probable and likely, that in the beginnynge it wus so ordred for auoydyng dis-
cencion, that there should be one superior in right, of whom the sayd: estates should de-
pend. Accordyng whervnto we rede how Brute, of whom the realme than called Brytaiu
tooke fyrst that name (beyng before that tyme inhabited with Gyauntes, people without or-
der or ciuilitie) had thre sonnes, Locrine, Albanact, and Camber, & determinyng to haue
the whole Isle within the Occean sea to be after gouerned by theim thre, appointed Alba-
nact to rule that nowe is called Scotland, Camber the parties of Wales, and Locrine that
nowe is called England : vnto who as beyng the elder sonne, the other two brothers should
do homage recognisyng and knowlegyng him as their superior. Now consider if Brutus
coquered all this Hand, as the history sayeth he did, and then in his own tyme made this
order of superioritie as afore : how can there be a title deuised of a more plaine beginnvng,
a more iust beginnvng, a more conuenient beginnyng for the order of this Hand, at that
tyme specially when the people were rude, whiche cannot without continual strife and va-
riaunce coteine two or thre rulers in all pointes equal without any maner of superioritie,
the inward conscience and remorse of whiche superioritie should in some part dul and di-
minishe the peruerse courage of resistence and rebellion. The fyrst diuision of this Isle we
fynde it written after this sort without cause of suspeccion why they should write ainysse.
And accordyng herevnto we fynde also in history set forth by diuers, how for transgression
against this superioritie, our predecessors haue chastised the kynges of' Scottes, and some
deposed, and put other in their places.
We will here omit to speake of the rudenes of the antiquitie in particularitie, whiche
they cared not distinctly to commit to writyng, but some authors, as Anthonius Sabellicus
amonges other diligently enserchyng, what he might truely write of all Europe, and the
Ilandes adioynyng, ouer and besydes that whiche. he xvriteth of the nature, maners, and
conditions of the Scottes, whiche who so lyst to rede, shall fynde to haue been the very
same in tymes paste, that we fynde theirn now at this present, he. calleth Scotland part of
England, whiche is agceable to the diuision aforesayd, beyng in dede as in the land con-
tinuall without separation of the sea, so also by homage and fealtie vnite vnto thesame, as
by particuler declarations shal most manifestly appere by the testimony of suche as haue
left \vrityng for profe and confirmation therof. In whiche matter passyng ouer the death of
kyng Humber, the actes of Dunwald kyng of this realme, the deuision of Bel in and Brene,
the victories of kyng Arthur, we shall bcgynne at the yere of oure Lorde DCCCC. whiche
is DCxlii. yeres past, a tyme of sufficient auncientie, from which we shall make special de-
claracion and euident of the execucion of our right and title of superioritre euennore con-
tinued and preserued hitherto.
Edward the first before the conquest, sonne to Alured kyng of England had vnder his
dominion and obedience the kyng of Scottes. And here is to be noted, that this matter was
so notorious and manifest, as Maryon a Scot writyng that story in those dayes, graunteth,
confessed), and testified! thesame, ahd this dominion continued in that state xxiii. yere: At
whiche tyme Athelstaine succeded in the croune of England, and hauyng by battaile con-
quered Scotland, l>e made one Constantyne kyng of that partie, to rule and gouerne the
contrey of Scotland vnder him, addyngthis princely worde, That it was more honor to him,
to make a kyng, than to be a kyng.
Xxiiii. yeres after that, whiche was the yere of our lorde, Dccccxlvii. Eldred kyng our
progenitor, Athelstaines brother, tooke homage of Irise then kyng of Scottes.
Xxx. yeres after that, whiche was in the yere of our Lorde Dcccclxxvii. kyng Edgar our pre-
5 Q 2 deceesor
852 THE. XXXIII1. YERE OF
\ •
decessor toke homage of Kinald kyng of Scottes. Here was a litle trouble in England by
the death of S. Edward kyng and "martyr, destroyed by the deceite of his mother in lawe :
but yet within memory.
XI. yeres after the homage Hone by Kynald to Kyng Edgare, that is to say in the yere
of our lorde M. xvii. Malcolme kyng of Scottes did homage to Knute our predecessor.
After this homage done the Scottes vttered some piece of their naturall disposition, where-
vpon by warre made by our progenitor saint Edward the Confessor xxxix. yere after that
homage done, that is to say,- the yere1 of our lord M. Ivi. Malcolme kyng of Scottes was
vanquished, and the real me of Scotland geuen to Malcolme his sonrie by our sayd pro-
genitor sainct Edward : vnto whom the sayd Malcolme made homage and fealtie.
' Within xi. yeres after that Wylliam Conqueror entred this realme whereof he accoumpt-
ed no perfect conquest, vntill he had likewise subdued the Scottes, and therfore in the sayd
yere, whiche was in the yere of oure Lorde M.lxviii. the sayd Malcolme kyng of Scotte.s
did homage to the sayd Wyllyam Conqueror, as hia superior by conquest kyng of Eng-
land.
Xxv. yeres after that, which was in the yere of our Lord M.xciii. the sayd Malcolme did
homage and fealtie to Wyllyam Rufus, sonne to the sayd Wylly.am Conqueror:, and yet
after that was for his offences and demerites deposed, and his sonne substitute in his place,
who likewise fayled of his dutie, and therfore was ordained in that estate by the sayd Wyl-
lyam Rufus, Edgare brother to the last Malcolme, & sonne to the fyrst, who did his ho-
mage and fealtie accordyngly.
• Seuen yeres after that, whiche was in the yere of our Lorde M.C. the sayd Edgar kyrig
of Scottes, did homage to Henry the fyrst, our progcnitour.
Xxxvii. yere after that Dauid kyng of Scottes did homage to Matilde the Emperatrice, as
daughter and heyre to Hery the first. Wherfore beyng after required by Stephyn, then
obtelgnyng possession of the realme, to make his homage, he refused so to do, because he
had before made it to the sayd Matilde, and thervpon forbarc. After whiche Dauids death,
whiche ensued shortly after, the sone of the sayd Dauid made homage to the sayd kyng
Stephyn.
Xiiii. veres after that, whiche was in the yere of oure Lorde, M.C1. Wyllyam kyng of
Scottes, & Dauid his brother, with all the nobles of Scotland made homage to Henry the
secondes sonne, with a I'eseruacion of their dutie to Henry the second his father.
Xxv. yeres after that, whiche was in the yere of our lorde, M.CIxxv. Wyllyam kyng of
Scotland, after muche rebellion and insistence, accordyng to their natural inclinacion, kyng
Henry thes econde, than beyng in Normandy, Wyllya. then kyng of Scottes knowleged
finally his errour, and made his peace and composicion, confirmed with his great scale, and
the seales of the nobilitie of Scotlande, makyng therewith his homage and fealtie.
Within xv. yeres after that, which was y yere of our lord M.C.lxxxx. the sayd Wyllya
kyng of Scottes, came to our citie of Cauntorbury, £ there did homage to our noble pro-
gcnitour kyng Ridmrd the fyrst.
Xiiii. yeres after that, thesayd Wyllyam did homage to oure progenitor kyng Ilion, vpon
a hyll besides Lyncolue, makyng his otlie vpo the crosse of -Hubert then archebishop of
Cauntorbury, beyng there present a meruailous multitude assembled for that purpose.
• Xxvi. yeres after that, whiche was in the yere of our lord M.CCxvi. Alexander kyng of
Scottes maryed Margarete, the daughter of our progenitor Henry the third, at our citie of
Yorke, in 'the feast of Christmas : at whiche tyme y sayd Alexander did his homage to our
sayd pragenitor: who reigned in this realme, Ivi. yeres. And therfore betwene the homage
made by" the sayd Alexander kyng of Scottes, and the homage done by Alexander, sonne
to y sayd kyng of Scottes, to Edward the first at his coronacion at Westminster, there was
about fifty yeres at whiche tyme the sayd Alexander kyng of Scottes repayred to the sayd
feast of coronacion, and there did his duetie as is aforesayd.
Within xxviii. yeresafter that, whiche was the yere of our lorde M.CClxxxii. Ihon Baliol
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ.
l<yng" of Scottes, made bis homage and fealtie to the sayd kyng Edward the first, our pro-
cenitoc,
After this began Robert Bruse to vsurpe the croune of Scotland, and to moue sedicion
therefore, against theim of the house of Baiioll, whiche made for a season some inter rup-
cion in thesayd homage: but yet no intermission without the termes of memory. For with-
in xliiii. yeare after, whiche was the yere of our lorde, M.CCCxxvi. Edward Baliol, after a
wreat victory had in Seotlad against the other factio, & enioying the croune of Scotlande,
made homage to our progenitour Edwarde the third.
And xx. yeres after that, whiche was in the yere of our Lorde MiCCCxlvi. Dauid Bruse,
who was euer in the contrary faction, did neuerthelesse in the title of the croune of Scot-
land, whereof he was then in possession, make homage to our sayd progenitor Edward tfhe
third.
Within ix. yeres after this, Edward the third, to chastise the infidelitie of the Scottes,
made warre against theim: whereafter great victories. Edwarde Balliol hauyng the iust and
right title to the realme of Scotlande, surrendred clerely thesame to • our sayd progenitour
at the toune of Rokysbrough in Scotlande: where our sayd progenitour accepted thesame,
and than caused himselfe to be crouned kyng of Scotland, and for a tyme enterteigned it,
and enioyed it, as very proprietary and owner of the realme, as on thone partie by con-
fiscation acquired, & on the other part by free will surrendred vnto him.
And then after the death of our sayd progenitour Edward the third, beganne sedicions
and insurrections in this our realme, in the tyme of our progenitour Richard the second,
whiche was augmented by the alteration of the state of thesayd Richard, and the deuolu-
cion of thesame, to Henry the fowerth, so as the Scottes had some leysure to play their
vagues, and folowe their accustomed manier. And yet Henry the v. for recouery of his
ri"ht in P'raunce, commaunded the kyng of Scottes toattende vpo him in that iourney. And
in this tyme the realme of Scotland beyng descended .to the house of the Stewardes, of
whiche our Nephieu directly commeth, James Stewarde kyng of Scottes in the yere of cure
Lorde M.CCCC.xxiii. made homage to Henry the vi. at Wyndsore, Whiche homage was
distaunt from the tyme of the other homage made by Dauid Bruse lx* yeres and more, but
farre within the freshe memory of man.
All whiche homages and fealties as they appeare by storye to haue been made and done
at tymes and season as afore , so do there remayne instrumentes made thervpon and sealed
M'ith the seales of the kynges of Scotland testifiyng thesame. And yet doeth it appere by
story, how the Scottes practised to steale out of our treasurye dyuers of these instrumentes,
whiche neuerthelesse were after recouered againe. And to the intent ye may knowe of
what fourme and tenour the sayd instrumetes be, here is inserted the effecte in worde and
sentence as they be made, whiche we do, to mete with the cauellacion and contriued eua-
sion of the Scottes, allegyng the homage to haue been made for the Erledome of Hnntyng-
ilon, which is as trew as the allegatio of him that is burnt in the hande, to saye he was cut
with a sikle. And therfore the tenour of the homage is this.
" I Ihon. N. kyng of Scottes shall be trew and faithfull vnto you lorde Edward by the
"race of God kyng of England, the noble and superior lorde of the kyngdome of Scotland,
and vnto you I make my h'delitie of thesame kyngdome of Scotland, the which I hold &
clairne to holde of you: and I shall beare to you my faith and fidelitie of life & lymme and
worldly honour against all men, & faithfully I shall knowlege, and shal do to you seruiee
due vnto you of the kyngdome of Scotland aforesaied. as God so helpe and these holy
euangelies."
Now for the third parte touchyng recordts and registres, wee haue them so formal!, 59
autentiquall, so seriously handeled, and with such circumstaunces declaryng the matiers, as
they be & ought to be a great corroboracion of that hath ben in stories writen& reported in
this matter. For amonges other thynges we haue the solempne act, and iudicial processe of
our
THE. XXX II1I. YERE OF
to his honor & glorye: which he graunt vs to dob, insuche rest, peace and tranqurlitie, a».
shalbe mete and conuenient for vs.
When the Kyng had setfurth the Declaracion of the cause of his war as is aboue rnen-
cioned. Then sent he furth the duke of Norffolke Lieutenaunt generall, accopanyed with the
Erles of Shrewisbury, Darby, Comberland, Surrey, Hertford, Anguysh, Rutland, and the
Lordes of the North parties, and sjr Anthony Browne Master of the Kynges horsse, syr
Ihon Gage Comptroller of the Kynges house, and. xx. M. men well appoynted, whych en-
tered Scotland the. xxi. day of October, and taryed there, viii. dayes without battell, and
brent the townes of Paxton, Ramrige, Styiie, Gradyn, Shylles, Lang Ednem, Newton,
Skytshell, Newthorne, Smellem Spyttle, the two Merdens, Slederyke, and the two Broxlawes,
Florys and the Fayre Crofte, Ednem Spyttle, Roxborough, Kelsey & the Abbey, Lang
Spronstow, Ryden, and Hadenston. And whyle the Duke was at Farneton in Scotlande the.
iiii. day, there came to speke with him half a myle from the Hoste, from the kyng of Scottes,
the Bisshop of Orkeney and lames Leiremouth Maister of the houshold, to entreate peace,
but they agreed not. And the Armye laye so long in Scotlande, as they might for hongre &
colde without anye countynaunce of harme, and so for necessytie returned to Barwycke.
And all this iourney the Standarde of the Erie of Hampton which dyed at New Castell, wag
borne in the forwarde, because he was appoynted Capitayne of the same.
The kyng of Scottes hearyng that the Army was returned, reysed an army of. xv. thou-
sand chosen men of all partes of his Realme vnder the guydyngof the Lorde Maxwell War-
deyn of his west Marches, bostyng to tary as long in England as the Duke dyd in Scotlad.
And so on Fridai beyng s. Katherynseuen, thei passed ouer the water of Eske & brent cer-
tayne houses of the Greues on the very border. Thomas bastard Dacres with lacke of
Musgraue set word to sir Thomas wharton Wardein for the king on the west Marches, to
come on to succour them : but the sayd. ii. valiant Captayns, although the Scottes entered
fiersly, yet thei manfully and coragiously set on theim, with an, C. light horsse, and left a
stale on the side of a hill where withall the Scottes wer wonderfully dismaide, either thynk-
yng that the duke of Norffolke, had been come to the west Marches, with his great army: or
The v.cto- els thei thought that some greater armie came, when they espied sir Thomas Wharton, com-
' myng with, iii. C. men onely. But at that tyme so God ordeined it to be, that thei at the
first hrontfled, and thenglishemen folowed, and there were taken prisoners therles of Cassel-
les, and Glancarne, thelorde Maxwell, Admirall and Wardein, the lorde Flemmyng, the
lorde Somerwell, the lorde Oliphant, the lorde Gray, sir Oliuer Senclere, the kynges minio,
Ihon Rosso lorde ofOragy, Robert Eskyn sonne to the lord Eskyn, Carre Larde of Gredon,
the Lorde Maxwelles twoo brethren, Ihon Lesly Bastard to the Erie of Rothus, and twoo
hundred gentlernenne more, and aboue eight hundred common people, in somuche that
some one man, yea, and women had three or foure prisoners. They toke also twentie and
foure gonnes foure cartes with speares and ten pauilids. This was only the handstroke
of God, for the Cardinal of Scotlande promised them heauen, for destruccion of Englande.
The kyng of Scottes tooke a great thought, for this discomfiture, and also because that an
Englishc Herauld called Somerset was slain at Dunbarre, whiche thynges together he tooke
so vnpaciently that he died in a Frenesy. Although many reported that the kyng hymself
was at this bickeryng, and there receiued his deathes wounde and fled therwith into Scotlande.
But howsoeuer it was, true it is as is aforesaied he died, and the Quenehis wife was deliuered
of a daughter, on our lady Euen before Christmas, called Mary. Of the prisoners aforesaied
twentie and foure of the chief of theim, were brought vp to the Tower of London, and
there were twoo daies. And on saincte Thomas daie the Apostle before Christmas, they were
solemply conueighed through London to Westminster, where the Kynges counsaill sat, and
there the Lorde Chautrcellor, declared to theim their vntruthe, vnkyndenes, and false dissi-
mulacion, declaryng farther how the kyng had cause of warre against them, bothte for the
deniyng of their homages, and also for their traiterous inuasiorik without defiaunce, and
also for kepyng his subiectes prisoners without redempcion, contrary to the olde Lawes of
1. the
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 857
the Marches, forwhiche doynges, God as they might perceiue had skourged theim: Howbeit
the kyng more regardyng his honor, then his princely power, .was content to shewe to theitn
kyndenes, for vnkyndenes, and right for wrong. And although he might haue kept theim
in straite prison, by iuste lawe of Armes, yet he was content that thei should haue libertie,
to bee with the nobles of his Realme, in their houses. And so accordyng to their estates,
thei wer appoynted to Dukes, Erles, Bishoppes, Knight'es, and other Gentlemen, whiche
so enterteigned theim, that thei confessed theimselfes, neuer to bee better enterteigned, nor
to haue had greater chere.
But after their newe gladnes, tidynges came to theim, of the death of their Kyng, whiche
thei sore lamented, and hearyng that he had lefte an onely daughter his heire, thei wisshed her
in Euglande, to bee maried to the Prince the kynges sonne. The kyng and his Counsaill, per-
ceiuyng the ouerture nowe to bee made, whiche waie without warre these twoo realmes might
bee brought into one, sent for all the prisoners fewe lackyng, to his Manor of Ilapton
Court, on sainct Stephens daie, where thei wer so well enterteigned, bothe of the kyng and
his nobles, that thei saied, thei neuer sawe kyng but hym, and sai'ed 'that God was better ser-
ued here, then in their countrey : howbeit their Kirkmen preached, that in Englande was nei-
ther Masse, nor any seruiceof God. And thei promised the kyng to doo all that in theim
laie with their frendes to performe asmuche as he required. Whereupon not without
greate rewardes, thei departed towarde Scotlande, on Newe Yeres daie, and by the waie
thei sawe the Prince, and came to Newe Castle to the Duke of SuiFolke, who vpon hos-
tages deliuered theim, and so thei entered Scotland and wer well and gladly welcomed.
Likewise therle of Angus, which was banished Scotlande, and had of the kynges Fee,
yerely a thousande marke, and sir George Douglas his brother had nue hundred marke.
These wer accepted into Scotlad, and restored by the last kynges will 'and therle of Angus
and diuerse of the Lordes that were prisoners, were made of the priuie counsaill of the
realme, by the Erie of Arrein, Gouernour of the young Queue, and the real me, as next
heire apparaunt: notwithstandyng that the Archebishop of Sainct Androwcs and Cardinal!,
enernie mortall to the Kyng and realme of Englande, for the Bishoppe of Koines aucthoritie
(and partly set on by the Frenetic kyng for the same cause) had forged a will; that the kyng
had made hym Gouernour, associate with twoo Erles of his affinitie, bothcof the Realme,
and of the young Queue, contrary to the Lawes of Scotlande. Whereupon the saied Erie of
Arrain, accordyng to his right, with the helpe of his frendes, tooke vpon hym the rule of
Gouernour, and put the saied false Cardinal in prison, and deliuered sir Robert Bowes and
other prisoners, by their bandes, accordyng to the custom of the Marches. And so in
Marche next folowyng, the Scottes beganne their Parliament.
All this yere there was neither periite peace, nor open warre, betwene Englande and
Fran nee, but Shippes were taken on bothe sides, and Merchantes robbed. And at thelaste
the Merchantes goodes on bothe parties were seazed, and likewise the Ambassadours of
bothe Realmes were staied : howbeit shortly after the Ambassadours wer deliuered, but yet
the Merchauntes wer robbed, and no warre proclaimed.
In the ende of this yere, came from the Gouernour of Scotlande as Ambassadours, sir
William Hambleton, lames Leyremouthc, and the Secretory of Scotland, whose message
was so meanely liked that thei were faine to scnde an Herauld into Scotlande, for other Am-
bassadors, and so hether came the erle of Glancarn, and sir George Douglash and whatso-
euer their answere was, sir George returned in Poste and within twentie daies, came again
with an honest answere, but that honestie endured a small tyme. , -
K THE. XXXV. YERE.
IN the beginnyng of this yere on Trinitie Sondaie, was a newe League sworne, betwena
the Kyng and the Emperour, at Hampton Courte, to bee frendes to their frendes, and ene-
mies to their enemies. .
5 R mie«
853:
Foure per-
•os con-
dempned*
Antony
Person.
1.
2.
4.
nrr.
Kobert
Testwood.
Ihon
S*ckc.
THE. XXXV. YERE OF
The thirde daie of lunc came to the Courte, from the Realme of IreTande, the Lordtf
Obryn, the Lorde Macke Willyam Brough, the Lorde Macke Gilpatricke. And in luly
the saied Obryn was created Erie of Townon, and Lorde Macke Willyam, was created Erie
of Claurikard, and sir Dunon Obryn was made Baron of Ebranky, and so with rewardes they
tooke their leaue, and returned. Also the same Monethe, the Scottishe Ambassadours re-
turned with greate rewardes.
At this season the kyng and the Emperoure, sent trarter and Toyson Kynges at Armes, to-
demaunde eertaine thynges of the Frenche Kyng whiche if he ctid deny then to defie hym, but
he would not suffer theim to come within his lande, and so they returned. Whereupon the
saied demaundes, were shewed to the Ambassadoure at Westminster. And in luly the
Kyng sent ouer sixe thousande tall menne, whereof was Capitain general!, air Ihon Wallop,
and sir Thomas Seymour Marshall, and Sir Richarde Cromewell Capitain of the horsse
menne, whiche assaulted aToune called Laundersey, vnto the whiche assaulte came the Em-
peroure in proper person. And shortely after came doune the Frenche Kyng in proper per-
sone, with a greate armie, and offered the Emperoure battaill, by reason whereof the siege
was reysed, and streight the Frenchemenne victayled the Touue, whiche was the onely cause
of their commyng. For the nexte daie, the Emperoure beeyng ready, at the houre appoynted
to geue battaill, and the Frenchemenne made greate shewe, as though thei would haue come
forwarde, but they daliedof all that Daie, and in the Night they ra'nne a waie, and trusted
some to their Horsses, and some to their legges like tall felowes.
In this yere, the Kyng maryed Ladye Katherin par wydow, late wyfe to the Lorde Laty-
tymer, at Hampton Court.
In this Monethe were Indited, arraigned and condempned at new Wynsore, foure menne
that is to saie, Anthony Persone Prieste, Robert Testwood a Syngyng manne, Henry Filrner
a Taylor, and Ihon Marbeck a Syngyng manne. All these menne were at one tyme, as is
aforesaid, arreigned and condempned of Heresie, by force of the sixe Articles. The Here-
sies, that thei were condempned for these as thei are alleged in their Inditernentes: Firste,
that Anthony Persone should Preache twoo yere before he was arreigned, in a place called
Wynkefelde, and there should saie. That like as Christe was hanged betwene two Thefes,
euen so when the Prieste is at Masse, and hath consecrated, and lifteth hym vp ouer his
hedde, then he hangeth betwene twoo Thefes, excepte he Preache the woorde of God truly,
as he hath taken vpou hym to do.
Also that he saied to the people in the Pulpet, ye shall not eate the body of Christe, as he
did hang vpon the Crosse, gnawyrig it with youre teethe, that the blond ronne about your
lippes, but you shall eate it this daie, as ye eate it tomorow, the next daie and euery
daie, for it refvesheth not the body, but the spirite.
Also after he had preached and commended the Scripture, callyng it the woorde of God,
saied as foloweth. This is the woorde, this is the bread, this is the body of Christ.
Also, he saied that Christe sittyng with his disciples, tooke bread and blessed it, and
brake it, and gaue it to his Disciples saiyng. This is my fleshe, take it and eate it: and
like wise tooke the Wyne and blessed it, and gaue to his Disci pies saiyng, take it and drynke
it: This is my bloudde: what is this to vs, but to take the Scripture of God, and to breake
it to the people.
Item, Henry Filmer the Taylour arraigned of this Article, that he should saie. That the
sacrament of the Aultare is nothyngbut a similitude and a Ceremony. And also if God be
in the Sacrament of the aultare, I haue eaten twentie Goddes in my life.
Robert Testwoode arreigned of this Article, thathe should saie in the tyme that the Prieste
was liftyng vp the Sacrament, what, wilte tbou lifte hym Tp so high, what yet higher, take
hede, let hym not fall.
. Ihon Marbecke arreigned, for that he had with his awne hande, gathered out of diuerse
mennes writynges, certain ihynges that were expresly against bothe the Masse, and the Sa-
cra mm of the Aultar.
These
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ.
. . . 5x« .iJiaT ..• -.AS* -»..JT .
These foure persones, were arraigned, condempned, and burned for the articles aboue
«aied, except Ihon Marbecke, whose honestie and innocencie, purchased liym the Kynges
Pardon, the other thre were burned at Wynsore aforesaied.
Beside these inenne, were a'greate nomber of Gentle menne, aswell of the kynges priuie
Chamber, as other indited, by the procurement of one Doctor London, a Prebendary of Docto
Wynsore, and one Wyllyam Symones a Vaunt Parler : whiche Gentlemenne made suyte to ^"i?
the Kynges Maiestie, declaryng in what case they stoode. Whereupon Doctor London was
examined, and so was the saicd Symones, whiche vpon their Othe of allegeaunce, denied
.their Tray terous purposes, as after it was proued to their faces. Wherefore they were adiudg-
ed as Periured persones, to weare Papers in Wynsore, and so thei did, and were after com-
. milled to the Flete, where the saied Poctour London died. And here hane I an occasion,
because of doctor 'London? periijry, to tell you. howe ho was also the occasyon that another
commytted wylfull periury. The matter was that a certayne robbery was commytted in Ox-
ford ina College whereof the sayd Doctor London was Master, and certain plate by one of the
said College was taken away & brought to London to sell, and it wassolde to a Goldsmyth in
London named Willyam Calaway. This Goldsmyth had before bought inuche plate of ihe
partye (which now solde the sayde stollen plate) beynge a man of credyte, and therfore sus- Cal*w>3r<
pected nothynge. But this matter was so folowed, that the partye that stole it was taken,
and so was dyuers accessaries. At the last, Doctor London knowyng to whom it was solde,
and that the Goldsmyth was a man of the .Newe Learnynge (as they called hym) sware a
great othe that he would hang hym or elles it shoulde coste hym fyuc hundreth pounde :
iwherevpon he caused alsu theeayde Goldsmyth to be attached as accessarye, and ar reigned
hym at the Sessyons holden at Newgate in London: where it was alleged that they ought not
by the lawe to enquyre of the accessarye before the principall; and there for the dispatche
of the sayde Goldsmyth it was alleged that the principall was hanged, whiche was nothynge
so, for he was set at his liberlye and lyueth styll. But to be shorte, the Goldsmyth (which
vndoubtedly is aknowen, tryed and proued honest man and euer was of honest name and
fame) was founde gyltye, and no remedy hut he must declare what he coulcle say why he
should not dye accorcjyng to the law: he prayed to haue his booke: whiche was answered that
, he coulde not haue it, for he was Bigamus. And now cotneth the Periury that I promised
to tell, you of; His wyfe, which of all persos that knpweth her, is certainly knqweh to bean
honest woman, and fro he byrth hathe euer ben of as inuche honesty as any woman maye
be : And this woman had had two husbands before, which also were honest men, and she had
children by them, and therefore was it alleged against this Goldsmyth that he was Bigamus:
This good woman perceyuyng that her former manages shoulde shorten her husbands dayes,
came into the open Courte before the Judges and affyrmed by her othe contrary to the truthe,
that she was neuer maryed to mo men then to the aayde Goldsmyth, althoughe she had chyl-
dren by her other husbandes and contynued dyuers yeres with theim, yet she sware she was
Whore to them bothe and not maryed. And so by defamyng of her selfe, to her great prayse,
she delyuered her innocent husband.
In this yeare ,was in London a great death of the Pestilence, and therfore Myghelmas
Tearmc was adiourned to Saynct Albous, and there was kepte to the ende.
In the weke of Christmas, came to Ihe Kyng to Hampton Courte Ferdinando de Gonzaga
Viceroy of Cicile Prince of Malfeta Duke of luano, Capitayne generall of the chyualrye
and Army of the Emperour Charles, whyche came to the Kyng to appoynte what tyme the
Army and the Emperour shoulde be readyeto inuade Fraunce, and the appoyntment taken
he departed, & had for his reward a C. liii. ouces in golden, plate, &. liii. M. iii. oz. in gylte
plate, which al, was. very curiously wrought. And all the tyioq that he lay hpre, he lay at the
Kynges cost,
The sonday before Christmas was Lorde Wiljyam Parre, brother to the Quene, which had
maryed the Do lighter & heyre of Lord Henry Burchier Erie of Essex, at Hampton Courte,
created Erie of Essex. And syr Willyam Parre, Knyghl.vncle to them bothe, was made
5 R 2 Lord
THE. XXXVI. YERE OF
•v t j t " ' * •-•'*&' •'" -
Lord Par of Horton & chaumberleyne to the Queene. And on Newyeres day was Syr
Thomas Wriothesley the Kynges Secretary made Lorde Wriothesley of Tychefelde.
Also this yere was open warre proclamed with Fraunce, and lycence geuen to the Kynges
subiectes to seaze vpon the Frenchemen and their goodes as in lyke cases before had ben ac-
customed.
THE. XXXVI. YERE.
THIS YERE the Kyngsenta gret army into Scotlande by sea, and he made the Erie of
Ilertfford Lieutenaunt Generall of the same. And the Vicount Lisle hygh Admiral!, whiche
valyaunt Capitaynes so sped them that the thyrd day of Maie the Lorde Admirall arryued
with all his Fleete which was two hundreth sayle in the Frych, where he landed dyuers of his
men and there tooke dyuers vesselles whiche after dyd hyghe seruyce. And shortly they ap-
proched vnto the towne of Lyth where they landed their men and marched forwarde, in three
great batteyles, wherof my Lorde Admyrall led the vawarde, the Erie of Shrewesbury the
arrerewarde, and the noble Earle of Hertfbrde beyng Lieutenaunt, the battayle: Where
they founde the Scottes assembled to the nombre of syxe thousande horsemen beside foote-
men to stop the passage of the army. And at the fyrst the Scottes made towarde the Eng-
lyshmcn as tiioughe they would haue set on the vaward, but when thei perceiued the Eng-
lyshmeso willynge to encountre with theym, namely the Cardinal! who was there present, which
pcrceyued the dcuocion the Englyshmen had to see his holynesse, after certayne shot on bothe
sydes, they made a sodayne retreate, and leauyng their artillary behynde them fled towarde
Kdenhorough. The fyrst man that fled was the Cardinall lyke a valyaunt Champion, and with
hym the Gouernour, the Erie of Huntley, Murrey and Botbwell, with manye other great
men of the Realme. And shortly after the Englishmen mauger a! the Scottes might do, en-
Lyth taken, tered the towne of Lith wher that night the army encamped them, & there thei found 'such
richesse as they thought not to haue founde in any towne of Scotland.
The next day the Armie went towardes Edenborough toune, and whe thei approched nere,
the prouost of the toune accopanied with one or two Burgesses, and two or thre officers at
armes desired to speake with the kynges liuetenaunt, and in the name of a! the toune saied,
that the keies of the toune shoulde be deliuered vnto his lordship conditionally, that they
might go with bag & baggage & the toune to be saued from fire: Wherunto aunswer was
made by the said lorde lieutenaunte, that wher as the Scottes had so manifestly broken there
promises confirmed by othes and Scales and certefied by the w'hole parliament as is euidetlv
know en to the whole worlde, he was sent thether by the kynges highnes to take vengeaunce
of there detestable falshed, to declare and shewe the force of his highnes sworde to all suche
as shonlde make any insistence vnto his graces power sent thether for that purpose: And
therefore he toldetliem resolutely that onlesse thei wouldeyeldc vpthe toune franckly without
condition, ami cause man, woman and chylde, to issue into the feldes, submittyng theim to
his will and pleasure, he would put them to the sword and ther toune to the fire. The pro-
uost answered that it wer better for them to stud to their" defece. Whereupon comaundement
was geuen to thesaied prouost and officers at armes vpon there perill to depart. And forthwith
the lord lieutenaunt sent to the vaward that thei shoulde marche towardes the toune whiche cou-
rageously set forwarde, and the English gonners manfullyset on the gates, specially sirChristo-
pher Morice, that they did beat the Skottes from there ordinaunce, andsoentred the gate called
Cany gate by fine force, and ther slew a great nombre of the Skottes : and finally it was deter-
mined by thesaied lorde lieutenauntvtterly to ruinate and destroy thesaied toune with fire, which
*<5"h' brent thyngimmediately was attempted, but because nigiit was come, the armiewithdrue to their campe,
and the a fresh the next day set fire where none was before, which Continued that day & two
dayes after burnyng. And shortly after came vnto this Army by land foure thousande light
horsmen sent by the kyng, whiche after thei were come, the army forsoke there shippes and
sent theim home laden with spoyle and goneshot whiche thei founde there, and dislodged their
camp
KYNG 'HENRY THE. VIIJ.
camp out of the toue of Lith, and set fire in euery house, and brent it to the grounde : and-
so returned home by land, through all the mayn contry of Scotlande, burnyng and destroi-
yng euery pile, fortresse and village that was in their walke, and so with great honour to
the great reioysyng aswel of the kyn'ges maiestie as of all his faithful and louyng subiectes,
they returned a gayn into Englad with the los'se skant of fortie persones: and because their
great explpyt may be better knoweh, her.e shal folowe the names of the chief boroughes,
castelles and tounes brent and desolated by this royall armie.
The borough and toune of Edeborough with the Abbey called holy roode house, and the
kynges palace adioynyng to the same.
Thq Abbey of ,newe botle: parteof Muskleborough toune, with the chappell of our lady
of Law r.et.,..
Hadingto toune with the Friers and Nonry. Lauresto withy grauge.
The toune of Lith brent, and the hauen and pier destroyed.
The Castell & village of Cragmiller. Preston toune and the Castell. A Castell of Oliuer
Sancklers, The tpuoe of Dumbarre. ' 'l :
861
Drilawe.
Broughton.
Dudistone.
Beuerton.
Markle.
Hatherwike.
Bowland.
Blackborne.
Wester Cras*.
Chester Felles.
Stanhouse.
Trauent. *
Trapren,
Bel ton.
Butterden.
Raunto.
Enderleigh the pile &
toune.
Crawnend.
The Picket.
Shenstone.
Kirkland hill.
East Barnes*
Quickwood.
Bildy and the tower.
Also tounes & vilages brent vpon the sea by the English flete, which I cannot name the
halfe.
Kynkone. S. Minetes. ; The quenes Fery.
parte of petynwaynes. The brent Islad, with many other whose names I could .not
come by.
Inthisyere also the kynges maiestie prepared two great armies- to Fraunce, the one was
conducted, and led by the duke of Norffolkeand thegentle lordc Russell lorde .preuy scale,
which encamped at Muttrell and beseged the toune, where they lay a long tyme, .and left
the toune as they found yt: The other army was led by the valiante duke of Suttblk which,
was the kynges liuetenaunt of that arfnie, and beyhg accupanyed with the lorde chambreleyn, ...
the Erie of Arondell Marshall of the felde," and sir Ihon Gage comptroller of the kynges
house, and sir Anthony Browne master of the kynges horsses, with diuerse and many other BoU
capitaynes: the ninetene day of luly encamped before Bulleyn on the Est syde of the same Kgtd.
vpon the hill, where after many sharpe skyrmishes they gayned first the oldman, & shortly
after basse Boleyn.
The fourtene day of luly the kynges maiestie in his royall persone passed the ses.fyom
Douer to Calis, and tlie six and twentie day encamped him selfe before Bolleyn, on the
north syde within lesse then halfe a myle of the toune where his grace remayned tyll the
toune was surrendered vnto his maiestie: the which toune 'he so soreassauted & so beseged
with suche aboundance of greate ordinaunce that neuer was. there a more valiauter assaute
made, for besyde the vndermyning of the castel, tower andwaHes, the toune was so beaten
withe ordinaunce that there was not left one house whole therein: & so sore was laied to the
charge of the Frechmen that after the kyhg had assauted theim' by the space of .a moneith,
thei sent furth of the .toune to the kyng two of their chief captaynes,. called JVIounsire Sem-
blemound, & Mounsire de Haies, whiche declared 'that the chief capitayne of .the/ toune
with his retinew was conteted to delyuer the toune vnto hi« grace, ^sp that they might ;pa^se
withe •
Stt THE. XXXVII. YERE OF
with bag and baggage, which request the kynges maiestie, mercifully grauted theim. And
so on the next day, the duke of Suffolke rode into Bullein, to who in the kynges name, they
deliuered the keyes of the toune. And at after none departed out of Bulleyn al the French-
men. The nober of the men of warre, that wer strong and galaunt, that came out of the
toune, were of horsemen, Ixvii. pf footmen, xv. C.lxiii. of Gonners viii.C. of hurte inenne.
Ixxxvii. of women and chyldren. xix.C.xxvii. So there was in al that came oute of the
toune, foure thousand, foure hundred, fiftie and foure, beside a great nomber of aged,
sicke and hurt persones, that was not able to go furth of the toune. The last person y
came furth, was Monsire de Veruine, grand capitaine of the Toune, which when he ap-
proched nere the place, wher the king stode, he alighted from his horse, and came to the
king. And after he had talked with hym a space, the kyng toke him by the hand, and he
reuerently kneling vpon his knees, kyssed his hande, and afterwarde mounted vpon hys
horse and so departed.
Thekuiget The. xviii. day, the kinges highnes hauyng the sworde borne naked before him, by the
eBteriuce » , •» r J-ii .:? ° . . > J , i • nil 11
i»toBuUein. Lorde Marques Dorset, like a noble and valyaunt conqueror rode into Bulleyn, and the
Trompetters standyng on the walles of the toune, sounded their Trompettes, at the time
of his entring, to the great comfort of al the kynges true subiectes, thesame beholdyng.
And in the enteryng there met him the duke of Suffolk, and deliuered vnto him the keyes
of the toune, and so he roade toward his lodgyng, which was prepared for him, on the
South side of the toune. And within two dayes after, the kyng rode about al the toune,
within the walles, and then commaunded that our Lady Church of Bullein, should be de-
faced and plucked doune, where he appoynted a Alout to be made, for the greate force and
strength of the toune.
When the kyng had set all thinges ther in sucbe ordre, as to hys wisdom was thought
best, he returned into England, to the great reioysynge of al hys louyng subiectes.
In the meane ceason, that the kyng laye before Bulleyn, & was like to haue coquered
thesame, as at the last he did, as before you haue hard the Emperor toke a peace with the
French kyng, to the no litle grefe and displeasure of the kinges maiestie, and that was the
cause that the kyng so sodainly brake vp his army, aswel at Bulleyn as also at Muttrell.
Shortly after besyde diuerse and many sharpe ikirmishes, made by the Frenchmen at
Bulleyn, aswel by the Dolphyn with a great power which in the night season, stale vpon
Base Bullein, taking ther a great sort of sicke persones, and women in their beddes, who
without mercy they slew. How beit so miifully the Englyshmen, which escaped out of Base
.'Bulleyn, behaued themselfes, gettyng weapons out of the hygh toune, that they bet the
Frenchmen agayn out of $ Base toune, and after wyth the helpe of the high toune, they
,felewe a great nober of them, and so agayn possessed quietly, thesayed Base toune : Besyde
I say this skirmishe and many mo, Monsire de Bees came with. xv.M. men, and encamped
ryghtagaynst the toune, on the other side of the water, entedyng there to haue buylded a
Forte. But the fourth daye of February, he was set ypon his owne campe, by the moste
valiaunt and fortunate Erie of Hertford and Lord Lisle, the Lord Gray and other: at whose
comming thesayde Monsire de Bees, wyth al his puyssaunce fled, leauynge behinde them al
their ordinaunce, Teutes and plate,
^ THE. XXXVII. YERE.
The. vH. day of lune, a great armye of Frenchemen, came nenj to the hauen of Bulleyn,
,and skirmished wyth thenglyshetnen to the no great gayne of the Frenchmen: but this army
which wasaccdptcd to the nomber of. xx.M. ther encamped & begil again to buyld a Fort,
which before they departed, accoplishcd thesame.
In Itine the lord Lisle Admirall of Englandc, wyth thenglyshe flete entered the mouthe
of the riucrof bain, aud came before Newehauen, where the. great army of Fraunce laie,
which
KYNG HENRY THE. VltJ.
which were. CC. Sayl of shippes and. xxvi. Galies of Force, wherof the bishop of Rome
had sent. xx. wel furnished wyth men and money, to ayde the French king. Thenglyshe-
men beyng but an. C.lx. sayle, & all great shyppes, did not determine to set on the whole
nauie, but shot certayn peces of ordinatmce at theim, whiche caused the Galies to come
abroade, and shot at the Englyshmen whiche Galies had greate aduauntage, by reason of
the calme wether: twyse eche part assauted other with ordinaunce, but sodainly the wvnd
rose so greate, that the Galies could not indure the rage of the seas: and thenglyshmen
were compelled to entre the main seas, .for feare of flatles and so sayled vnto Portesmouth,
where the kyng then laye, for he had knowelage by his espyalles, that the French armjr,
entended to lande in y Isle of Wyght, wherfore he repaired to y cost, to se his realm de-
feded.
After the departyng of thenglyshe nauy, from Newhauen, the Admyrall of Fraunce, call-
ed the Lorde Dombalt, a man of greate expteryence, halsed vp hys sayles, and with hys
whole nauie, came to the point of the Isle of Wyght, called. S. lielenes poynt, and there
in good ordre cast their Ankers, and sent. xvi. Galies dayly, to the very hauen of Portes-
mouthe. Thenglyshe nauye liyngin the hauen, made them prest and set out towardes the,
and styl the one shot at the other. But one day aboue all other, the whole nauie of the
Englishmen made out, and purposed to set on the Frenchmen : but in their settyng forward,
a goodly ship of Englande called the Mary Rose, was by to much foly, drouned in the
middest of the hauen, for she was laden wyth much ordinaunee, and the portes left open,
which were very lowe, and the great ordinaunce, vnbreched, so that when the ship should
turne, the water entred, and sodainly she sanke. In her was sir George Carewe knight,
Capitain of thesaid shyppe, and foure hundreth men, and much ordinaunce.
At the same tyme certayn of the French menne, landed in the Isle of Wyght, where
their capitayne was slayne and many other, and were to their great losse and payn, driuer*
again to their Galies.
The kyng perceyuing the great nauie of the Frenchmen to approch sent letters for men
into Hampshire, Somersetshire, Wilshire, and dyoerse other places adioyning.: which re-
paired to his presence in greate nombers, welfurnished wyth arrnure and victayl, and all
thynges necessary, so that the Isle was garnished, and all the Frontiers on the sea coast,
furnished wyth men in great nomber.
The French capitaines hauing knowlege, by certain Fysher rnemie which they tofce, that
the kyng was present, and also of the great power that he had in readines, they disancred
and sayled along the coastes of Sussex, and a smal nomber of them landed in Sussex,
whiche neuer returned to their shyppes, for they were taken vp by the waye.
Whe they had searched al y coastes, & saw men euer redy to receiue them, thei turned
the sterne and returned home again, without any act worthy to be wrytten, done or enter-
prysed : sauing y in this mean tyme their newe Fort against Bullein, was strongly furnished
and fynyshed.
The nober of the Frenchmen, as diuerse prisoners that wer take in the hie of Wyght, '&
in Sussex did report, wer. Ix.M. And at this time the French kyng wrote to the Emperor,
and declared to him, that hys army had gotten the isle of Wight, the Portes of Hampton
and Portesmouth, & diuerse other places, which writyng was as true, as J French kyng
hath in al his leagues & promyses, beue to the kynge of England.
In August folowyng, the noble erle of Hertford entered into Scotland, wyth. xfi. MY
men, and destroied al the tounes in the midle Marches, and passed to the West marches,
to the great detriment and losse of Scotlande, and destroyd Coldingham Abbey ; & yet
the Frenchmen and Scottes, whiche lay at Kelsey, durst not once en-countre w hym.
In thys moneth died Charles, the noble and valiaunt duke of Suffolke a hardye -gentle- <n
man, and yet not so hardy, as almoste of all estates and degrees of menne hygh and lowe, duke rf"
rychand poore, hartely beloued and hys death of themmuche lamented, he was buryed°atSuffolke'
Wyndeore.
3 The.
864 -THE. XXXVII. YERE , OF
The. xxiiii. day of Noueuiber, a Parliament began at Westmynster by aucthoritie where-
of, was graunted to tlie kyng a Subsedy, of. ii.s. viii.d. of the pound, of moueable goodes,
and. iiii.s. the pounde in lande to be paied in two yere. And all Colleges, Chaunteries,
and Hospitalles \ver committed to the kytige.s ordre, duryng hys life, to alter & traspose,
whych hys grace at the Prorogation of the Parliament, promised to do to the glory of God,
and the common profile of the real me.
ii->.A litle before this tyme, the noble and valiaunt lord Lisle, lord Admiral landed in Nor-
mandy, and brent the snbbarbes of Treiport, and diuer.se villages alonge the sea cost, and
destroyed and toke almooste all the shyppes in the hauen, which was a ryche and a goodly
pray, and so returned wythout any dammage.
The French kyng sore moued wyth these doynges, sent Mosire de Bees with. xii.M. men,
'-which entered into thenglish pale, beside Grauelyn, and brent Marke and diuerse smal
villages, and then returned.
Euer in mancr wer skirmishes .& Alarmes betwene high Bullein & the new builded for-
tresse, but the losse ran euer on the Frenchmes side.
This wynter was meanes made by theperor, that certain Ambassadors of England &
Fraunce might mete, to comonof a peace, wherevpon the king of KnglFid sent to Guisnes,
Cutbert bishop of Duresme sir William Paget his secretary, & doctor Tregonel. And the
French kyng sent to Arde a bishop, the chief President of Roan, and a Notary, but no
conclusion came to effect. Wherfore the kyng hanynge perfyte knowlege, how the French-
men intended to buyld a new fortresse on s. Ihones rode, betwene Bullein and Calice :
whiehe thing had not onely sore distrussed Calice, but daily had put Bullein in trouble.
Wherefore he meaning to preuent so great a mischief, sent ouer the noble Earle of Hert-
ford; and the valiaunt lord Lisle Admiral, and many valiaunt capitaines with. vii.M. good
souldiers, which gat the rode but. ii. claies before the Frenchmen appointed to haue bene
ther, & in that place encaped thesclfes. Monsire de Bees leader & conducter, of all the
French affaires, encaped himself beside Hardelow, & durst not once come furth to set on
our men, noUvithstandinge his former preparacion & deuyce.
These thinges ihus hangyng, many great skirmishes were daylye betwene the Bullenoys,
and the French Bastilio: & one day thone part lost, & the other gayned, & likewise the
losers regained : but in one ski r mis he wer lost. xvi. Englysh gentlemen, and. Ixxx. other, al-
though ther were slayne three rascal Frenchmen, and in this skirmish was slain, sir George
Pollard. And in a like iorney was slayn ?ir Kaufe Elderkare Capilain of the light horse-
men, wyth a fewe other Englyshemen, but yet a great multitude of the Frenchmen, at that
time lay on the groiid.
The. xxiiii. day of December, the kinges maiestie came into the parliament house, to
gene his royal assent, to suche actes as there had passed, whore was made vnto him by the
Speaker, an eloquent oratio, to the which it hath euer ben accustomed, that the lord Chaun-
cellor made answere, but at this time it was the kyag'es pleasure, that it should be other-
wvse, for the kyng himself made him answer, as foloweth worde for worde, as nere as I
was able to report it.
£ythlviu. " Although my Chauncelor for the time beyng, hath before this time vsed, veryeloqucnt-
»nsw«eto. ly and substancially, to make answer to suche oracions, as hath bene set furth in this high
ofy'Pp«!r court of Parliamente, yet is he not so able to open and set furth my mynd and meanyng,
and the secretes of my hart, in so plain and ample maner, as I my selfe am and ca do:
wherfore I taking vpon me, to answer your eloquent oracion maisler Speaker, say, that
wher you, in the name of our welbeloued commons hath both praysed & extolled me, for
y notable qualities, that you haueconceiued to be in me, I most hartely thanke you all, that
you haue put me in remembrance of my dutye, whiehe is to endeuor my self to obtein and
get suche excellent qualities, and necessary vertues, as a Prince or gouernor, should or
ought to haue, of which giftes I recognise myself, pothe bare and barrein: but of suche small
qualities, as God hathe endued me withal, I rendre to his goodnes my most humble thakes,
6 • entendyng
KYNG HENRY THE. VIIJ. 860
entendyng with all my witte and diligence, to get and acquire to me suchc notable vertues,
and princely qualities, as you haue alleged to be incorporate in my persone : These tharikes
for your louyng admonicion and good counsaill firste remembred, I el'tsones thanke you
again, because that you consideryng our greate charges (not for our pleasure, but for your
defence, not for our gain, but to our great cost) whiche we haue lately susteined, aswell in
defence of our and your enemies, as for the conquest of that fortresse, which was to this
realme, inoste displeasaunt and noysome, & shalbe by Goddes grace hereafter, to our na-
tion moste profitable and pleasaunt, haue frely of youre awne rnynde, graunted to vs a cer-
tain subsedy, here in an act specified, whiche verely we take in good part, regarding more
your kindnes, then the proffite thereof, as he that setteth more by your louing hartes, then
by your substauce. Beside this hartie kindnes, I cannot a litle reioyse whe 1 consider, the
perfite trust and sure cofidence, whiche you haue put in me, as men hauing vndoubted hope,
and vnfeined belefe in my good doynges, and iust procedinges for you, without my desire
or request, haue committed to myne ordre and disposicion, all Chauntryes, Colleges, Hos-
pitalles, and other places specefied in a certain act, firrnely trustyng that I wil ordre them
to the silory of God, and the profile of the common wealth. Surely if I contrary to your
expectacion, *huld suffre the ministres of the Church to decaie, or learnyng (whiche is so
great a iuell) to be minished, or pore and miserable people, to be vm elieued, you might
say that I beyng put in so speciall a trust, as I am in this cace, were no trustie frende to
you, nor charitable man to mine euen Christian, neither a louer of the publyk wealth, nor
yet one that feared God, to whom accompt must be redered of all our doynges. Doubt
not I praye you, but your expectacion shalbe serued, more Godly and goodly then you wil
wish or desire, as hereafter you shall plainly perceiue.
Now, sithence I find suche kyndenes, on your part towarde me, I can not chose, but loue
and fauor you, affirmyng that no prince in the world, more fauoreth his subiectes, then I
do you, nor no subiectes or commos more, loue and obaye, their souereigne lord, then I
perceiue you do me, for whose defece my treasure shal not be hidde, nor yf necessitye te-
quyre my persone shall not bee vnaduentured : yet although I with you, and you with me,
be in this perfect loue and concord, this frendly amity can not continue, except bothe you
my lordes temporal, and you my lordes spiritual, and you my louyng subiectes, studie and
take paine to amend one thing, which surely is amisse, and farre out of ordre,- to the which
1 most hartely require you, whiche is, that charity and concord is not emongest you, but
discord and dissencio, beareth rule in euery place. S. Paule esaieth to the Corinthians, in
the. xiij. Chapiter, Charitie is getle, Charitie is not enuious, Charitie is not proude and so
furth in thesaid Chapiter: Beholde then what loue and Charitie is emongest you, whe the
one calleth the other, Hereticke and Anabaptist, and he calleth hym again Papist, Ypocrite,
and Pharisey. Be these tokens of charitie emogest you: Are these the signes of fraternal
loue betwen you: No, no, I assure you, that this lacke of Charitie emongest your selfes,
will bee the hinderaunce and asewagyng, of the feruent loue betwene vs, as I said before,
except this woud be salued, and clerely made whole. I must nedes iudge the faut and oc-
casion of this discorde, to bee partly by negligence of you the fathers & preachers of the
spiritualtie. For if I know a man whycheliueth in adultery, I muste iudge hym a lecherous
and a carnall persone: If I se a man boast and bragg hymself, I cannot but deme hym a
proude manne. I se and here daily that you of the Clergy preache one against another,
teache one cotrary to another, inueigh one against another without Charitv or discrecio.
Some be to styfT in their old Mumpsimus, other be to busy and cijrious, in their neive Sump-
sitnus. Thus all men almoste be in variety and discord, and fene or none preache truly
and sincerely the worde of God, accordyng as thei ought to do. Shal I now iudge you cha-
ritable persones doing this : No, no, I cannot so do: alas how can the pore soules line in
concord when you preachers sow emonges them in your sermons, debate & discord : Of
you thei loke for light, and you bryng the to darckenes. Amende these crymes I exhorte
you, & set sueth Goddes worde, bothe by true preaching, and good example geuyng, or
3 5 S 'els
8So THE. XXXVIIJ. YERE OF
els I whom God hath appoynted his, Vicare, and high mynyster here, wyll se these dyuisions
extinct, and those enormities corrected, according to my very duety, or els I am an vnprof-
fitable scruuuute, and vutrue officer.
Although as 1 sale, the spirituall men be in some faute, that charytie is not kept ernongest
you, yet you of the temportdtie, bee not cleane and vnspotted of malice and enuie, for you
rayle on Bi^hoppes spcake hlauderously of Priestes, and rehuke and taunt Preachers, hothe
contrary to good ordre, and Christian fraternity. If you knowe surely that a bishop or
preacher, erreth or techeth peruerse doctrine, come and declare it to some of our Counsayl
or to vs, to whom is committed by God the high auchtority to reforme and ordre such causes
and behauiours: and bee not Indges your selfes, of your awne phantasticall opinions, and
vain exposicions, for in suche high causes ye maie lightly erre. And although you be per-
mitted to reade holy scripture, and to haue the word of God in your mother tongue, you
must vnderstande that it is licensed you so to do, onely to'informe your awne conscience,
and to instruct your childre and farnely, & not to dispute and make scripture, arailyng and
a tauntyng stocke, against Priestes and Preachers (as many light persones do.) I am v«ry
sory to knowe & here, how vnreuerently that moste precious iuel the worde of God is dis-
puted, rymed, song and iangeled in euery Alehouse and Tauerne, cotrary to the true mean-
inge & doctrine of thesame. And yet I am euen astnuch sory, that the readers of thesame,
fofoH e it in doynge so fayntlye and coldly : for of thys I am sure, that Charitie was neuer
so faint emongest you, and verteousand Godly liuyngwas neuer lesse vsed, nor God him
self emongest Christians, was neuer lesse reuerenced, honored or serued. Therfore as I
said before, bee in Charitie one with another, lyke hrother and brother, loue dread and
serue God (to the which I as your supreme heade, and souereigne lord, exhort and require
you) & the I doubt not, but that loue & league, that I spake of in the beginning, shall
neuer.be dissoluecl or broken betwene vs. And the makynge of lawes, whiche be now made
and concluded, I exhort you the makers, to bee as dilliget in puttyng them in execuciyn,
as you wer in making and furthering thesame, or els your labor shalbe in vain, and your com-
monwealth nothing releued. Now to your peticion, concerning our royal assent, to be geuen
to such actes as hath passed both the houses. They shalbe read openly, that ye maye hear
them. Then they were openly read, and to many hys grace assented, and diuerse he as-
sented not vnto. Thys the kinges oracion was to his subiectes there present suche comfort,
that the lyke ioye could no be vnto them in this world. And thus the actes read, as the
maner is, and his assent geuen, his grace rose and departed.
In this time, there was by the Frenchmen, a voyage made towarde the He of Brasile,
BarckAger. Wyth a shyp called the Barck Ager, whiche thei had taken from the Englysh men before.
And in their way they fortuned to mete sodainly wyth a litle Craer, of whom was Maister
one Golding, which Golding was a fearce and an hardy man. The barck perceiuingthis small
Craer to be^an Englyshman, sholt ai hym and bouged hym, wherfore the Craer drew strayght
to the great ship, and six or seuen of the man lept into the Barke. The Frenchmen look-
yncT ouer the boord at the sinkyng of the Craer, nothyng mystrustyng any thyng, y myght be
done by the Englyshmen. And so it fortuned that those Englyshmen whyche clytned into
the shyp, founde "in the ende thereof, a great nober of lime pottes, which thei with water
quenched, or rather as the natur thereof is set them a fyre, and threw them at the French-
men thet wer aborde, and so blynded them, that those fewe Englyshmen that entred the
shippe, vanquished al that were therein, and dryue them vnder hatches, and brought the
Barck clerely awaye agayn into Englande.
f THE. XXXVIIJ. YERE.
dudedbe- IN the monethe of Aprill, by meanes of diuers Prynces, an assemble was had, betwene
i7dTndE''8 both the Realmes, of Englande and Fraunce, at Guysnes and Arde. There were for the
Fraunc*.
KYNG HENRY THE. VI IJ. 857
of Englande, the Erie of Hertforde, the Lorde Lysle Admyrall, Syr Wyllyam Paget Secre-
taryc, and Doctor Wotton Dean of Cauntorbury. And for the Frenche kynge, the lorde
Clado Doueball Admirall, and Marshall of Frauncc: the byshoppe of Eureux, a president
and a Secretary. After long debating, and diuerse breches, a peace was concluded, and
proclaymed in the kynges Court, and in the citie of London on Whitsonday, with sound of
Trompettes. And likewyse was it done at Paris and Lloan. For the performauncc where-
of, the Viscount Lisle Admiral, wyth the bishoppe of Duresme, and dyuette lordes, and
aboue an hundred gentleme, all in Veluet coates and cheynes of golde, went to Paris, and
were there solemplye receyued and feasted, and shortly returned.
After whose returne, the Admirall of Fraunee, accompanyed wyth the bishoppe of Eu-
reux, the Erics of Naunteuile, and Villiers, and diuerse great Lordes, besyde two hundreth
Gentlemen well appointed, tooke his Galey at Depe, and hauinge in hys compaigme twelue
fay re Galies wel trimmed and decked, sayled into Englande, and neuer toke lande, till he
came to Grenewiche, where he was receiued by the Erles of Essex and Darby, the. xix. day
of August. And the next day, he wyth al hys Galies, landed at the Tower VVharfe, and on
al the bankes, by y water syde, laye peces of ordinaunce which shot of, but especially y
Tower of London, where was shot a terrible peale of ordinaunce. And fro thence he rode
through London, in greate triumphe, the Maior & the craftes standing in thestretesin good
onlre, to the Bishoppes Palaice of London, wher he lodged, tyl Bartholomew euen, on
whyche day he was conueiglied toward Hampton Court, where in the way the prince hauyng
wyth hym the Archcbyshoppe of Yorke, the Erles of Hertford and Huntyngdon, and about
two tiiousande horse, rnette hym and enbraced hym, in such lowly and honorable maner,
that all the beholders gretely reioysed, and much marueyled at his wyt and audacitie, and
so he came to the Court, geuyng the Prynce the vppcr hand as he roadc. And at the vtter
gate of the Courte, the Lord Chauncellor, and al the Kynges connsayll receiued him, and
brought him to his lodgynge.
On Barthelemew daye, the kyng rychly appareled, welcomed hym and in great triumph
went to the chapel, wher the league was sworne and signed. To tel you of the costlye ban-
quet houses, that were built, & of the great banquettes, the costly Maskes, the liberal hunt-
vnges that were shewed to hym, you woulde much tnaruel, and skant beleue. But on Fri-
day folowyng, he beyng rewarded with a Cupborde of plate, to the valure of twelue hun-
dred pound, returned to Londo, and on Sonday tooke his Galies and departed. Beside
this diuerse of his copayny had much plate, and nuinye horsses, and Greyhoundes geuen
them. Also the Admiral had geuen to hym, of the citie of London, twoo Flagons gylte,
and twoo parcel gylt, to the sotnme of an hundred and syxe and thirtie pounde, beside Wine,
Waxe, and Torches : and thus thei laden wyth more ryches then they brought, returned into
Fraunee.
Althoughe this peace pleased, both the Englysh and the French nacions, yet surely both
mistrusted, the continuaunce of thesame, considering the old Prouerbe, that the iye seeth,
the harte rueth, for the Freeh men styll longed for .Bulleyn, and the Englyshmen minded
not to geue it ouer: in so much as cluryng the Admiralles of France beynge in England, the
captayn of the newe fortresse, began to make a Pile, euen at the very lumen mouth of Bul-
leyn : but the Lorde Gray capitain there put awaye the worke men, and toke awaye their
tooies, and filled the trenches, to the Frenchmennes great displeasure. And after the Frenche
kynge caused vpon a great payn, thai al the trenches, and newe inuericions should be cast
doune, and fylled by hys owne people, leaste he should seme to be the breaker of the peace.
In this yere was arreigned, codempned and burned, for affirming opinions, contrary toAn"«As-
the syxe artycles, fourepersones, that is to saye, Anne Askew Gentlewoman, Ihon Lacelles JdteNU*"
a Gentleman, Nicholas Otterden Prieste, and Ihon Adlam a Taylor: all these were burned <*°i«ot-
in Smithfelde, the. xvi. day of luly: and because the whole processe of their matters is by Adi5.ni'ho"
.diuerse wryters set fur th, therfore I passe it ouer. In lanuury were attavnitd of hyijh trea- ™asjukc of
„ o n J ° Norffolke,
O 0 2 6011, Henry Erie
«f Surrey.
868 THE. XXXV1IJ. YERE, &c.
son, Thomas duke of Norffolke, and Henry his sonne erle of Surrey which erle was behedd-
ed at the Tower Hill.
The death Now approched to thys noble kyng, that whych is by God decreed, andappoynted to all
He>ylthe rnennc, for at thys ceason in the monethe of January, he yelded hys spirite to almightie God,
«'ght. and departed thys worlde, and lyeth buryed at \Tyndsore. And the laste daye of lanuary
ng Ed- was hys true, lawful and onely sonne Pry nee Edwarde Proclaymed kyng, of all his fathers
the
^ dominions, and the. xix. daye of February, was crouned and anoynted Kynge of thys realme,
ti C whome lesu preserue, longe to reygne ouer vs. v
F I N I &
INDEX
INDEX.
Abbot of Westminster conspyred agaynst king Henry
the fourth, J5.
Sodenly ded, 14.
Of Campskenell in Scotlande, 687.
Of lerney hanged at Tiborne, 824, 825.
Of Redyng called hugh Fferyngdon hanged at
Redyng, 832.
Of Ryuers haged at Tyborne, 824.
Abberuylliers a toune nere Parys, 154.
Abell, Fetherstone and Powell executed in Smithfield
for treason, 840.
Abeuile, 176.
Abey, of Barmandsey, 431.
Called Mellrose in Scotlande, 487.
• Of Saynt Banon in Gaunt suppressed by the
Emperour, 832.
Abstinence of Warre, 1 84.
— — Of Warre betwene England and Scotland,
667.
Of Warre betwene the kyng of England
and lady Margarete, 749.
Abyndon, 299, 427.
Acte of parliament for the Assurance of the Croune
of England to kyngHery the Seuenth and his
heyres for euer, 224.
Made in Spayne called premetica, 706.
For poysonyng, 780.
Of the syxe articles, 828.
Of succession, 814.
Adam Gordon knyght, 24.
Adamites, a sect of heretiques so called, 1.
Admirall of Flanders, 523.
Adrestene a litle toune, 412, 413.
Adrian a legate, 448.
— — Made byshopof Hereford, ib.
- • Capitaine of Bray a toune in Fraunce, 667.
- - Chosen to be Pope, 628.
i He was the Emperours Scolemayster, 632.
_ Foskew knyght, 642.
. Attaynted of treason and beheaded, 827, S28.
Aduenturers, 646.
. Destroyed, 686.
Agincourt felde, 6V>.
Agues duchesse of Norfolke committed to the Tower,
843.
Aiske a tonne in Gelderland, 523.
Albanact th«i secod gonne of kyng Brute, 53.
One of Brutes thre sonnes, 851.
JUaunson a toune in Fraunce, 127.
Albert duke of Bauyer deceased, 27.
Aubemond a learned man, 42.
— Duke of Saxony, 452.
. , Gat yc toune of Damme by
hys pollycy, ib.
Duke of Holland friendlye enterteyned, 74.
A-ien Creswell, 578.
Alequmar » touue in Holland, 248,
Alexander Kansey of Dolehouse knyghte, ib.
Duke of Albany flyenge towarde France
throw Englad tarieth with kyng Edward,
331.
• — — — Is restored againe to hyi
old estate and made heutenaunt of Scot-
land, 334.
. Deliuereth Lis brother
kyng lames of Scotland out of pry&on
which cost him hys lyfe not logafter,338.
- Baynam knyght, 485, 543.
Erie of Huntley, 474.
The sixt Byshop of Rome, 448.
Hume a Scott, 558.
! lorden a Scott, ib.
Kyng of Scottes dyd homage to kyng Hen-
ry the thyrd, 852.
Iden slew lacke Cade, 222.
Alexandry, 737-
Aleyn de Monsay, 179-
Aleyne Geronde knighte, 179, 188.
Algerche, 189.
Alice daughter of Thomas Mountacute erle »f Salit-
bury, 154.
Almaynes and Englyshmen fell out, 549.
Alnewikes, 557-
Alnewike castle, 259, 260, 335.
Alphons Chorant a Spanishe kuyght, 536.
Slayne, 537.
- Duke of Calabres sonne, and kyng of Naples,
459.
- Dcpriued of his kyng-
do, 460.
Amadour. de Vignolles, knyght, 170.
Ambassadours sent by kynge Henry the. v. to the
Frunche'kvnge and theyre demaund,
57-
From the Frenche kynge to kynge Hen-
ry the fyft, 58.
Sent to the Frenche kynge for the con-
clusion of a pence, 9^-
From Charles duke of Burgoyn to king
Edward, 36'7.
• Of England & Fraunce meteth together
to entreate of peace, 313.
. , Sent from kynge Edwarde to the duke
of Brytayne, to sende him the erle
of Uich.-mond, 322.
From kynge Edwarde to Lewes the
Frenche kyr.g, 328.
- From Lewes the Frenche kyng to king
Edward, 329-
From lames the third king of Scotland,
330.
Sent to the French kyng, 276.
1 Oute of Scotland came to Notyngham,
402.
INDEX.
Ambatsadours Sent to the duke of Britayne, ib.
Out of Fraunce, 436.
— Sent into Scotland, ib.
Sent into Fraunce, 478.
Sent to Maximilian, 456'.
- Sent to Philyp archeriuke of Burgoyne,
451.
From Charlrs the Frencbe kyng, 478.
Wer stayed at Douer for
a season, ib.
Cunie to the kyng, 482.
- From Maximilian, 498.
From dyuersp realmes came into Eng-
land, 515.
From kyng Ferdinando, 51.9.
- From the kyng of Aragon, 5 14.
- From the Frenclie kynge, 569, 719, 732.
- To the French kyng,' 596', 724.
Of the Kmperour came to the Cardy-
nall of England to Calies, 627.
- From the kyng of Hungary, 6'27, 721.
- From Scotland, 857.
- From Portingale to the Emperour, 677.
- From lames the fyft, kyng of Scotland,
687-
From th« lady Margaret, 692.
- To the Empero-jr, 694.
Into Denmark, 705.
• Into Fraunce to the lady regent, 706.
From Pope Clement and diurm1 other
Prynces to the Frenclie kyng, 713.
— From the Emperour, 719> 746.
— — ^— — — Of Englande into Fraunce, were re-
tcyned by the Emperour as pry-
soners. as reporte w«nt, 713.
• 1 o Pope Clernente, 769.
— — — From the gouernour of Scotland, 857-
1 Of Englande and France both stayed
and shortely delyuered, ib.
Amboys a castle in Frtiunce, 280.
Ambrose de Lore, 128, 169, 170.
Amies a cytyo in Fraunce, 729.
Amience, 176.
Amis paulet knyght, 485.
Ancestor a tonne, 18.
Anexer a tonne in Fraunce, 150.
Angel itoble enhaunced, 718.
Angeow, 50S.
Angew, 776.
Aniow, 120, 159, 536.
Andrew Forgusa a lombarde betrayed the duke of
- Clarence, 106.
Gray, 120.
Trolloppe, 241, 256.
Slayne, 256.
r— Amfrall 653.
• • Throughe hys treason the Rhodes
was lost, ib.
. Barton a Scott, 525.
Taken on the Sea, ib.
Doiye, 732, 7^7.
Ilewett, 8 16.
Stewart a Scott, taken on the sea with letters,
672, 673.
\V'ynd»ore knyght, 634.
Anker a t<nine in Fraunce, 667.
Annas de Memorancy greate maister of Fraunce, 772.
Made knyght of the Garter, 794.
Annates no more payde to the Pope, 735.
Anne wife too thee duke of Bedford deceased, J67.
— The fourth daughter to kyug^ Edward ye fourth,
was maried to Lord* Thomas H award, 345.
— — Wife to kynge Richard crouned Queue, 376.
— — Daughter to the erle of Warwike, sodenly dyed,
407.
Eldest daughter to John Duke of Suffolke, 401.
Daughter and heyris to Fraunces duke of Bry-
tnyne, 442.
Maried to Maximilian king of Romans
by adeputie, 449.
Espoused to Charles the Frenclie kyng,
456.
Bulleyn, 73.9
Created Marchionesof Penbroke, 790.
Maried to kyng Henry the eight, 794.
Crowned quene, 802.
— — — Delyuered of Judy Elyzabeth, 805.
Brought a bed of child, which was
borne dead, SIS.
Apprehended and sent to the Tower,
819.
Behedded wythin the Tower, ib.
595.
Browne,
Carew, ib.
Of Cletifi, 826.
Heceaned into England, 832.
Maried to kyng Henry the eight, 636.
Deuorced, 639.
Walton, 5.95.
Anthony bastard sonne to Philip duke of Burgoyn sent
Amhassadour into Englad, 26'7.
Contracted to the lady Margarett syster
to kyng Edwarde the fourth in the name
of hys brother erle Charles, ib.
— — Ha challengeth Anthony lorde Scales bro-
ther to the queue, 26"8.
— Returncth againe, ib.
— — He and hy-s brother is taken prysoners and
sold to the French kyng, 325.
Erie Ryuers, 327.
- Lord Scales brother to quene Elizabeth king
Edwardes wife, 264.
He is challenged, 268.
— — Nyewnhome a Flemish capitavne slayne,
446.
Roniiice; 718.
Bownarme whyche came into the field all
armed with. x. speres, 573.
- Browne, 635, 641, 642.
- Made knyght, 6~43, 687, 691.
— Sent ambassadoure into Fraunce &
there left for a legicer, 724, 797,
856", 86'1,
- Caueler, 585, .587, 718.
D<' Leua a Spanyarde capitayne of Pauia,
691, 714, 736, 764.
He encourageth hys souldyers, 752.
Fit z herbert a Justice of the common place,
685.
Kyngstoxi knyght, 638.
INDEX,
Anthony Kneuett, 631, 642, 689.
. Maynuple gcntelmau, hanged at Tyborne,
673.
Oughtred knight, 534.
Person priest brent at Wyndcsor, 858.
Poynes knyght, 642.
Pulleon one of the Popes orators, 813.
Viuald, 718.
Erie of Vaudemont, 164.
• • Bishop of Florence, 159.
Wooduille knight, 242.
Erie Ryuers and Lorde Scales, brother to the
quene, 347.
- Put imvarde, 349.
Beheaded in Poumfrett, 350.
Anticipation, 672.
Antycyra, an Isle in Asia, 21.
Annas, 307.
Appologie set forth by the frenche Kyng, 7 1 2.
Aquitayne one of tlje paries of the whole realme of
Fraunce, 50.
A Contreylost, 225.
Description of Aquitain, 230.
Arbitrament made by the lordes, 135.
Archebald Erie douglas, 23, 24, 25.
Qwhite labor Archedeacon of Lawdene, 398.
Erie of Murrey, 248.
Douglas erle of Angus mar'.eth the quene of
Scottes and shortley after they both flye
into Englande, 583, 584.
— — — — He departed sodenly into Scotland agayne
leauyng the quene hy 8 wife in Englande, 584.
He is sent by a coloured ambassade to
Fraunce by the duke of Albany, and there
committed to prysou, 632.
Escapclh out of pryson and fleeth into Eng-
lande, 684.
1 Returneth into Scotlande agayne, 857-
Archebyshop of Bourgcs hys oracyon, 58.
Of Toleto, 455.
Of Canterbury, 3o2.
Of Yorke, Rotherlmm, and Lorde Chaun-
celour, 350.
' Came before daye to the
quene, ib.
- ' • Delyuered her the greate seele,
ib.
< Was blamed for the delyuery, ib.
— — — — — . The seale taken from him, ib.
Arde a toune in Fraunce, 6'OG.
Castle fyrst made, 841.
Argeiiton a toune in Normandye gotten, 80.
Argus, 43.
Armew, 523.
Arminacke, 208.
Armorers seruaunt, 207.
Armour described, 17.
Army assembled aganste the duke of Clarence, 105.
- Sent into Fraunce, 120.
Conducted by Thomas lorde Darcy to the Kyng
of Arragon to ayde hym agaynst the Moores, 520.
- Conducted by Thomas Gray lorde Marques of
Dorsett and others to Biskay, 527, 528.
Conducted by the erle of Shrewsbury into Scot-
hind, 650.
.— — Sente into Flaunders by the Frenche Kyng, 660.
Army conducted by the duke of Norfolke and other
lordes into Scotlande, 856.
— Conducted by the erle of Surrey into Scotland,
664.
— - Coducted byCharles duke of Suffolk into France,
661, 667.
— — Conducted by the foresayde Charles duke of Suf-
folke to Bulleyn, 86l.
1 Conducted by the duke of Norfolke and lorde
Russel to Mnttrell, ib.
Conducted by the erle of Herford, & lorde Lysle
into Scotland, 860.
Of the kyiigs of England & France sent for the
delyuerance of Pope Clement, 703, 704.
Arnold Butler a vulyaunt Capitayne, 410.
Arques, 184, 196.
— — — A toune in Fraunce, 224.
Arthois, 538.
Arthoys, 172.
Arthur erle of Richemond, 129, 1*1, 1*9, 171,179,
187, 214.
' Darcey knyghte, 795.
•• Plantagenet, 536.
— — Viscount Lisle, 657.
Made deputie of Calais, 832.
He dyeth in the Tower, 843.
Poole, 6'13.
And three more
iured, 708.
with him ab-
Articles published agaynste Kynge Henry the fourth,
29-
Published agay.nste kyng Richard the second, 9.
Ministered by the duke of Orl< aunce to kyng
Henry the fourth, 42.
Conteygned in a league betwenc Fraunce and
Scotland, 54.
At the yelduig vp of Roan, 86.
— — Of peace betwene the realmes of England and
Fraunce, 96.
•- Published by the Duke of Gloucester againste
the Bishoppc of VVyncbester, 130, 197.
•— • Ofllerisye, 16'6.
Againste VVyllyam Duke of Suffolke, 217.
- Ol Agremunt betwene Kyng Henry thee syxte
and Richard Duke of Yprke, 249.
- Concluded betwene king Edward and Lewes
llie Frenche kyng, 3 1 3.
i Of peace concluded betwene England and
Scotland, J98.
Of peace, commoned of, 458.
Delyuered to the Emperour by the Frenche
Kyng and hys counsaylo, 7^9-
— He kepte them not and allcgeth causes
why, 711.
— — — — A rehearsal of the articles, 76 1
1 " Set forth by Pope Clemente and- hys adhe-
rentes, whercunto the Frenche kyng gladly
agree-1, 713.
— — Sent vnto the Kyng of England fro the Frenche
Kyng which he offered to the Emperour,
724.
The proffers of the artyclef, 732.
Agaynst the Cardinal!, 758.
• That Syrlohn Borthwyke a Scot was con'lemn-
ed for in Scotland, 844.
Artoys, 311.
INDEX.
Attayne de columna capitayne belongyng to the Em-
perour, 752.
Ashyre besyde Kyngston, 760.
Auday a ry uer whyche departeth Spayne & France, 772.
Augustyne Pakyngton, 762.
Ausborough or August a cytye in Germany, 774.
B.
Baillens, 18-}..
Baltier Delieu a valiant capitayne, 538.
Baldwine of Champeigue lorde of Toyse, 156.
Banibrough shere, 24.
Banbery field, 273.
Banket, 530, 5.95, 621, 658.
Bankelhouse, 621, 722, 730.
Banner of S. Cuthbert, 557.
Barke, from Caleis with 80 fresh English archers, 446.
Of Scotlande called lenny pyrwyn taken, 525.
Barmerwood, 56l.
Barnabo, lord of Mylleyn, 40.
Barnard Brokas knight, 19.
Barnard a Skott borne called lord Daubney, 139.
Barnet field, 295.
Baron of Carew slayne with a gonne of Tirwyn, 538.
Baron of Burfford, 527.
Barow, 523.
Barelles of harnesse, 351.
Barwicke, 256.
Deliuered to the kynge of Scoltesby king
Henry the syxt, 2.58
— Wonne againe by king Edward yc fourth,
S32.
Bastard Clarence, 105, 155.
Emery, 524, 540, 550.
Bastiirde Heron sore hurt, 562.
— He with other entreth into Scotlande,
683.
Is slayne, ib.
- Ogle, 259.
- Of Orleance, 144, 166, 176.
— Tremoile, 146.
Bastardy in king Edward, 265.
Bathe, 229.
Battayle, 40.
Of Agincourt, 65.
Of Sainct Abones, 253.
Of Bawgency in Aniowe, 106.
— . Of Chastillion, 29.
Of Floringay, 214.
Of Herrings, 147.
At Northampton, 244, 245.
- — Of Saxton, 255.
At Lynels on the water of Dowel in exham-
shyre, 260.
Of Vernoyle, 122.
At Wakefield, 250.
Between the Britons and Frenchmen, 441.
Battayles appointed in ordre against the Scottes, 557.
Bawgeucy, 144, 149-
Bayeux a towne in Normandy gotten, 79> SO-
Baynardes Castell, 358.
Bayou, 224, 527, 530.
Beame, a countrey, 1.
Beamount 1* Viscount a Castle, 126, 170.
Beauoys, 153, 155.
Beggam a monastrye in Sussex, 102.
Belgrade a towne in Hungary, 653.
Belgique one of the partes of tbe whole realme of
Fraunce, 50.
Bell Castle, 662.
Bellona goddesse of Battayle, 85.
Benedicte the 13th Bishop of Rome, 4'0.
Bennet shelly knight, 19.
Beneuolence, 308, 405, 451.
Bergerac, 223. -
Eery, 700.
Berwyke, 683.
Bertrambay, 532, 535.
Bishap, 527, 528.
Of Carleyl committtd to warde for speakyng
in the fauour of kyng Richard the second,
14, 19.
Bishop of Ely cbauncellor to king Edward, 313.
Bishopricke of Durham and Yorkeshire refused to pay
tax & tribute, 442.
— Rebelled against the kyng, 443.
Byll set vp in London against the Carcfynal, 707.
Of the dissolucyon of religious houses, 56.
Bylney and moo with hym abiured, 136.
Blackheath, 220, 226.
Blackheth field, 479.
Black Sable, 536.
Black Smith, 479-
Blackwall, 525.
Blandesques, 184.
Blangoy, where the French kyngs armie lay, 548, 549.
Blaniow a toune in P'raunce, 647.
Blay, 223.
Blechingly, 628.
Blytlie bysshoppe attacked for treason, 655.
Blewebearde a capitavne, 219.
Blewet one of the Pyrkyns kepers in prison, 4fll.
Blody flyxe, 529-
Blore heath, 240.
Bodman in Cornwall, 483.
Bohemians, 152.
Boleyn besieged, 458.
Bolenoys, 172, 176.
Bolton in Glendale, 557-
Bolton prior of saint bartholomews, 675.
Bonipe a vylluge in France, 550.
Bona daughter to Lewes duke of Sauoy, 263.
Married to lohnCalence duke of Millayn, 263.
Bonei'yers made for the duliuery of Pope Clement, 710.
Bonony, 763, 778.
Boocher and a Priest hanged at Wyndesore, 823.
Booke called the kings booke, 795.
Boske a toune in Italy yelded to the French kyng, 737.
Bosworth field, 414.
Botingham and Manstier touries in France, 647.
Brabant, 181.
Bramham, 39.
Bramston hyl, 56"l.
Bray a strong toune taken and destroyed with fyre,
667.
Bray, 117, 151.
Brrerton the capitayne of the adventurers, 6'75.
— Murtheied, ib.
Brent heath, 226.
Brian Stapulton knight, 557.
Brian Tuke knight, 775.
Brian Tunstall, 55.7.
Brybrye, 189.
INDEX.
Bridgitt the thred daughterto kynge Edward professed
herselfe a close Nonne in Syon, 345.
Bristow, 299.
Britons ranne away, 533.
Browne esquire made knight by the kyng of Arragon,
522.
Brune bridge a lytle toune in Fraunce, 647-
Bugden, 807.
Buldyke a toune in Flaunders, 523.
Bullein besieged by Kynge Henry the eyght, 86l.
— Yelded vp vnto hym, 862.
Bulworks made on yr sea coastes, 827.
Burdeaux, 224, 228.
Burdett a Marchaunt man, 369.
Draweu and quartered in Chepeside, ib.
Burges, 777.
Butler a Gentleman slayne at the ussaut of Hardingham
castle in pycardj, 680.
C.
Cadwalader, 423.
Caen, 214, 216.
• A strong toune in Normandy beseged, 77.
Gotten and the castle also, 79-
Caleis, 271, 279, 287.
Cales Males, 521, 522, 529.
Calice, 167.
Besieged, 181, 182.
Calkewell, 6'46.
Camber the thred sonne of kyng Brute, 53.
Cambrey, 76l.
Camisado, 752.
Cantlowe toke Kyng Henry the sixt disguysed, 261.
Capitayne Cobler, 822.
— Blew berd, 219.
Cade, 220.
Cappe a toune in Naples, 751.
Cappe of maintenance sent from pope luly to kyng
Henry the eight, 568.
Cappta\nes made of diuerse tonnes yelden and gotten
in Fraunce, 80, 89.
Cardinall archebishop of Canterbury, 352.
• Sent to the quene into the Sanctuary for her
second sonne, 355.
Cardinall Campeius, 592.
Hys sonne made knight, 599. 753, 756.
Hys cofers and carriages searched, 759-
• Morton bishop of Cantorburye, 4-35, 453,
477, 492.
— — Ot" Spayne, 455.
Benbyeh poysonnd at Rome, 5S1.
Of Swyshes, 585.
Cardygan and Carmarden, tounes in Wales, 410, 411.
Caricke of Brest, 534.
Carickes of leane, 34.
Carpenters Masons and Labourers sent toTurnay, 585.
Cartes with vyctayle lost, 538.
Castle of Bamborough taken and manned with Scottes,
259.
Of Barwyke deliuered to the lorde Stanley, 335.
Called Bonegarde taken bythe Englishmen, 667-
Of Boghan or Bowhen, yelded to Syr Edward
Gylford, 671.
Called Brymnost, 525.
Of Brest, 523.
•- Proffered to the Englishmen, 533.
5T
Castle of Charlenaesuyll, 195.
Of Cokelawes, 25.
Of Columberge, 647.
• — — Of Coursay, 117.
— OfCouxy, 117, 144.
OfCytell, 564.
Of Dunstan borough beseged, 260.
Of Forde, 558.
- Of Hardyngham in Fraunce, 651.
Brent and spoyled, 660.
— — Of I ledyng besieged of the Frenchmen, 628,648.
Of Kyllingworth, 673.
Of Lund, 138.
Of Malicorne, 140.
Of Marke, besyde Caleys, 32, 182.
Of Maydens, 23, 24.
— — Of May on in luhes, 127-
Of Mayet, 138.
- Of -Millayn besieged, 714.
• Yelded to the emperors vse, 71 6.
Of Morton, 566.
.- Of Mount Dubleane, 138.
— — Of Monchas, 170.
Of Norham, 527.
— Besieged of the kyng of Scottes, ib.
- Of Ope, 182.
-- Of Ramfort, 140.
- Of Rew, 647-
— Of Sainct Angell in Fraunce, 692.
— OfToursay, 182.
— Of Warke besieged of the Scottes, 666.
- Of Wyndesors, 186.
-- De la forte Bernard, 127-
— Made in the kings hall at Grenewyche, 526.
Castles thrower. downe in Scotlande by the Englishmen,
650.
Of Sluis, 451, 452.
- Ye.lden vp to syr Edward de Pownyngs, 452.
Cato the censor, 56.
Cawod, 773.
Caux, 178.
Caudebec, ib.
Celtiqtie, one of the parts of the whole realine of
France, 50.
Chalons, 150.
Chandew a lord of Briton, made erle of Bathe, 424.
Champaigne, 153.
Chamboys, 181.
Chappell in the palace at Gysnps, 6o(>.
Chapman and two of the garde hanged at Grenewydie,
842.
Charles Erie of Angulesme, 327.
- Duke of BurJc.u, 175.
Charles Brandon esquier, 51 6, 527-
- Made knight, 518, 520, 534.
. Created Viscount Lyj'e, 535.
— Made duke of Suffolke, 567.
Goelh to Paris to the lustes, 57 1»
- Doeth valiantly there, 572.
PLeturneth into England, 573.
He is sent into Fraunce to fetch home the
French queue into England, 581.
He maryeth her, ib.
He is sent into Fraunce with an armve, 66 1 ,
667.
INDEX.
Charles Brandon returneth into England, 672.
. He puttelh the kyuge in leopardye at a lusies
vnwarf«, 674.
• He is admitted into the ordre of SainteMyghell,
790, 792, 833, 836.
He is sent to Bulleya wylh an armye, 86 1.
. He clyeth and is buryed at VVyndcsore, 863.
Charles Kynge of Castle, 552, 566.
Elected emperour, 598, 599, 600.
. He cometh into England, 604.
Departeth in Flaunders, ib.
He meteth the kyng at Wael a toune in Flaun-
ders, 620.
. Goeth to Caleys with the king, ib.
Departeth from the kyng at Wael where they
met before, 621.
Betwene him and the Frenche was open warre,
626.
He winneth the toune of Mewzon and besieg-
eth Messisrs, 627.
He made the siege volant about the cytye of
Turuay, ib.
The cytye and castle is rendered vnto him, 62.8.
He cometh to Caleis, 634.
Receaued into London, 637«
, Departeth from the kynge and sayleth into
Spayne, 642.
. He sendeth the kyng of England a present, 667-
. He goeth to Madrill to see the Frenche kynge,
70S.
, He goeth to the fay re cytye of Cyuyll and
there maryeth the lady Isabell daughter to
the kyng of Fortyngale, 711.
He is determined to go to Rome to Le crowned,
712.
He kysstth the popes fete, 764.
. Is crowned in Bonony, 768.
Charles Erie of Charoloys, sonne to Phylyp duke of
Burgoyne, 267.
His father dieth, and h« is duke of Burgoyne,ib.
Marieth lady Margaret, sister to kynge Ed-
ward the fourth, ib.
Sendeth to Lewes the French king, requiring
him not to ayde the erle of Warwike, 280.
Prepareth a nauie to meet w' the erle of War-
wike on the sea, 282.
Dissembleth both w' Edward and also w' king
Henry, 287.
Promiseth to beare bys good hert to king Hen-
ry, 289-
Aydeth Charles duke of Guyen, brother to
Lewes the French king, 305.
Entiseth and prouoketh kyng Edward to make
warre w' the French kyng, 306.
Breaketh promei wyth king Edward, and be-
siegeth the towne of Nuyce, 309.
- Leveth Nuyce and cometh to kyng Edward
which lay in France with a mighty power,
310.
Departeth fro him in hast, ib.
- Cometh soddenly againe to king Edward, 314.
Departeth away in such displeasure that he
neuer loued nor saw the king after, 3 16.
Is slayne at the besieging of Nancy, 325.
Charles of Cleremount, 146.
The Dolphin sonne to Charles the 6th French
king, 75.
Moueth warre against lohn duke of Burgoyne,
79-
: — He procureth lohn duke of Burgoyne to be
slayne at an interviewe, 93«
Charles Kneuet esquier, 623.
De Maruiel a Frenchman, 659;
Duke of Loraine murthered, 51,
Duke of Orleaunce taken prisoner, 71".
Charles Sommerset lord Herberd, 537-
— Created erle of Worcester, 567, 623, 624.
Charles the French kyng, 405* 423.
1 Besieged the cytye of the Nasites, 439-
- Wsn the cytye of Naples, 460.
He put away his wife lady Margaret, 451.
Cocluded a leage \v' Ferdinand kyng of Spayne,
460-
Charles VII. proclamed French king, 11 6.
• Kepeth hys Parliament in Peytiers, 126*.
Maketh peace with the duke of Burgoyne, l63.
Hys oracion to the duke of Burgoin, 176.
- Lewes hys sonne rebelleth, 190.
- He slew the lord Talbot, 229.
— He dieth, 249.
Hys discription, ib.
Lewes his sonne succeedeth hym by the name
of Lewes the eleuenth, ib-
Charles De Villiers,,127.
Charles Lord delabreth high constable of Fraunce co-
meth against kynge Henry the fyft wylh a
great armye, 65.
- Hys oracion, ib.
Slayne, 66.
Charles Bastard sonne of Henry duke of Sommerset,.
503.
Charles loseph endicted of the murder of Hun, 574,
His confession, ib.
Charters, 166.
Chasteau de Loyre, 136.
Chastilion, 224, 228.
Chasse Mongay, 160.
Chepstone, 302.
Chipping Norton, 253.
Christopher Barker, 186.
Croston, 579-
Dismike, 394.
Dacres knight, 702.
Garnish made knight, 566, 570.
— Hales, the kings attorney, 766, 775..
• Hanson, 140.
Christopher Loo, 629.
Hys enterpryse at Bulleyn, 679.
Morys knight maister Conner, 642, 860.
Christopher Pykering clerke of the larder, 673.
- Hanged at Tyborne, ib.
Christopher Ward knight, 557- •
Christopher Vrswike, 437.
— — The kings Almoner, 456.
Church of Odyrsael iu France taken by the English-
men, 660.
Chyderph, the third of that name kyng of France de-
posed, 51.
INDEX.
Cicyle daughter to Willyam eldest sonne to Henry erle
of Essex marled to Water lorde ferres of Chartley,
258.
Kyng Edwards second daughter, 330.
Second daughter to kynge Edward the fourth,
345.
Maried to the Vicount Welles, ib.
Cicile duches of Yorke, 412.
Citizens of London, 130.
Clarendon, 232.
Clarenceux, an herauld of annes, 550.
— — Sent into Scotland to the duke of Albany,
632.
Sent to the Frenche king and declareth
hys message, 626, 724, 730, 742, 745.
Clergie in apremunire, 774.
Clermount, 170.
Cocke, a little Brooke, 256.
Colchester, 427.
Coldingham abbey in Scotland destroyed, S6'5.
Coliweston a small toune, 498.
College begone to be founded by kyng Richard the
thyrd, 381.
Colleges, chauntreis and liospitalles giuen to the kyng,
ib.
Collingborne, 398.
Coloram, seruant to the lorde maister of the religyon
of saynt lohns, is sent to Modon, 786.
Combate, 4.
Commissioners, 400.
- Sent to gather the Loane, 652.
Appoynted, 6.94.
They salt in all shyres for the leuye of
the sixt part of euery mans goods,
697.
Could bring nothing to passe, 699.
— They were resysted in Huntingdon
shyre, ib.
And at the last the commissioners were
discharged, 701.
Sent to swere all men to the act of suc-
cession, 814.
Commocion, 232, 239, 2*0, 241.
— In Scotland, 447. ,
- In Cornwall, 483.
Common fields aboute London, enclosed to stop the
Londoners of tlier pastime and walke,
564.
Common counsayle of London, 698.
Commoning for the honorable solemnitie of the coro-
nacion, 350.
Compeigne, 120, 156, 159, ISO.
Complaint of the Clothiers, 745.
Concubines of kyng Edwardes, 363.
Constance a cytye on the riuer of ryne, 48.
Constantinople, 230.
Conspyracy, 27-
Contention betvsen. the Gauntoyes and the Brugyane for
Maxirnillian, 445.
Corbell, 160.
Corbet one of Pyrkyn Warbecks capitaynes, 472.
Corby, 170, 186.
A toune in Pycardy, 64.
Corffe in Ireland, 473.
Ccrue prouyded for the cytye of London, 652.
5T2
Come, 205.
Coronacion, of quene Katharine wife ,to kyuge Henry
the fyfte, 66.
Of quene Elisabeth, 438.
- Of quene Anne Bulleyn, 802.
— — — — — Of the Emperour, 768.
Cottesolde, 253, 273.
Couentrye, 673.
Couetemenaunt, 126.
Couetousness, 180.
Counsail of Basill, 174.
Countesse of Richmond, 390.
Courseriers, 174.
Cowper of Caleis deceaued, 544.
Crauaunt, 1 17.
Crespy, 158, 170.
Creyle, 170, 180.
Crystierne, kynge of Denmarke, 627-
- Banished hys realme and fliethe into Flaun-
ders, and cotumeth into England, 6'57»
658.
' Returneth againe into Flaunders, 657.
i- He enterteygneth the duke of Suttolke at
Graueling, 662.
'- For hys crueltie the Danes wyll not receaue
hytn ugaine by no enireatye, 705.
Croftes and Collyns hanged atTyborne, 827-
Crosbyes place, 358.
Croiuies, fallen, 248.
Crowne of sainct Edward, 376.
Croytoy, 120, 188.
Croytoti Bay, 532.
Crueltye of the Turkes, 770.
Culnaham a village before Abindon, 427-
Culpeper vnder Marshall ot Calies, 544.'
CuthbertTunstall maister of the Holies, 505.
Made bishop of London, 629-
Hys Oracion at the Parliment, 652, 688.
— • He is made bishop of Durham, 705.
Boughtc- newe Testaments beyond the sea
and burned theim, 265, 76'2.
D.
Damport and Chapman two of the garde hanged at
Grenewiche, 842.
Damport a gentelman, ib.
Dan car a lord of Scotland taken prysouer, 664, 666,
Daticaster, 555.
Daruell gatheren, 826.
Dauid Duke of Rothsay prynce of Scotland, 34.
Famished, 37.
Hall, knyght, 40.
le bi use kyng of Scottes taken, 55.
Thomas, 305.
Kynge of Scottes dyd homage to the daughter
and heyre of Kyng Henry the fyi'tt, 852.
Dauy Hall, 16'9, 215, 250.
Philip knyght, 495.
Home a Scott slayne, 562.
Owen knyght, 537-
Dauerne a toune in Fraunce brente, 648.
Death, IS 4
— — Of Kyng Henry the seuenth, 504.
In London, 507 •
- Of the kyng of Sco.ttes, 856.
At Naples, 751.
INDEX.
Declaration of the cause of warre in Scotland, 846.
Decree, 134.
Ded persons brent, 32, 33.
Dee a ryuer in England, 9-
Defiaunces made to the Emperonr, 741.
Denmark, 1.
Denyzens compelled to shewe tlieyr letters patentes,
6*4.
Detford strand, 479-
Deuereux a geutelinan, apprehended and put inward,
701.
Pardoned of hys offence, 701, 702.
Deuision hctweene the Duke of Burgoyne and the Dol-
phyn of Fraunce, 56.
Deye, 172, 195-
Dianas knyghtes, 512.
Digeon a gonne, 184.
Dighby cue of the kynges henxmen fled the Realme,
673.
Dighton one of the murtherers of kyng Edwards chyl-
dren, 379-
Dintingdale, 253.
Dipenew besieged of the Fleminges, 445.
Diricke Osbecke, Perkyn Warbecke, 488.
Discriptiou of the riches and puissaunce of Fraunce,
56-
Of kyng Henry the. v. & of hys buryall,
112, 113.
• Of kyng Edwarde the fourthe, 341.
- Of kyng Henry the syxt, 305.
Of kyng Edward the fyft, & of thre con-
cnbires, 345, 365.
Of kyng Richard, 342.
Of Shores wyfe, 363.
- Of Kyng Richard the thyrd, 421.
- Of Phillip kyng of Castell, 501.
— Of kyng Henry the seuenthe, 504.
Of the kynges paleys besyde Gysnes, 605.
Of Fraunces the Frenche kynge, 6lO.
- Of Thomas Wolsey Cardynal, 567, 774.
Doctor Angustyn the cardynals physycyon arrested
and had to the Tower, 774.
BeleaChanon in sainte Mary Spyttle Appre-
hended and sent to the Tower, 586.
— Capon, 738.
Cooke per?on of bony lane, 8l6.
Day appointed Almoner to ladye Anne of
Cleue, 834.
Fox proucst of Cambrydge, 790.
Knyght, 786.
Larke, 691.
Makercll a monke executed, 822.
Parker Chauncelor of the dioces of Worcester,
796.
Stilliugton, 322.
— Taylor maister of the Rolles, 706.
- Tregonell, 364.
— Tunes, 697. »
- Watton. 86'7.
Doglas dale in Scotland, 665.
Dolphyn of Fruunce, 570.
Proclaymeth a lustes at Parys for the honoure
of the newe queeue of Fraunce, 570, 57l>
572.
Dolphyn and hys brother the duke of Orleaunce are
pledges for they re father, 709, 722.
Delyuored, 772, 791-
Domyngo a straunger, 587.
Doncar, in Scotland, 664.
Dordone a ryuer, 223.
Dorians and Darryer towr.es in Fraunce brent, 648.
Dornaban a Toune in Fraunce, 540.
Dreame of kyng Richard; 414.
Drillf a small village, 410.
Drye Wedinsday, 542.
Duchemen and theyre shyppes dyscharged, 745
Duches of Bedford, 365.
Of Yorke, 366.
Duke Albert of vpper Saxony, 452.
Of Alansou, 571, 6 17.
Of Buckyngham apprehended, 395.
Behedded, 396.
Of Cleue, 826.
Dalua a great prynce in Spayne, 529.
Dalencon, 6 12.
Frederycke of Bauyre, 832.
Of Gaditane, 455.
Of Longuyle, 541.
— Taken in battell, 550.
Deliuered, 56'9, 571.
Of Lorayne, 325.
- Of Norffolke $layne, 419.
- Philbert of Sauoy, 306.
Of Quimber, 130.
Reyner of Aniow father to quene Margarett,
wyfe to kynge Henry the syxt, 26l, 263, 281.
Helpeth hys daughter wyth men and municions
of warre, 281.
Raunsometh her and conueigheth her into
Fraunce, 301, 310.
De Vandon, 6l2.
Of Vandosme, 538, 548, 570, 571, fill, 67&>
686.
Of Vrbyne, 725, 727.
Dumbarre castle, 402.
Dunbarr, 856.
Duncan Camell, a Scot taken on the Sea, 630.
Duncanc dundas one of the Scottyshe Arnbassa-
doures, 398.
Dunwallo Moluncius kyng of great Briteigne slew Sca-
ter kyng of Scottes, 53.
Durham, 556, 557-
E.
Edenborough, 23, 24.
Taken by the duke of Gloucester, 352:.
Brent, 86'0.
Edgar kynge of Scottes dyd homage to Henry the fyrst,
852.
Edmond Benyngfield made knyght, 670.
Boner Byshop of London, 841.
Bray knyght, 642.
Carewe knyght, 484.
Cooke, 527.
Coningsbey hanged at Tyborne, 826.
Cornewall knight, 442.
Edmond Dudley esquyre, 499, 505.
• Attaynted of treason, 515.
Behedded,
Edmoud Haward knyght, & after lorde, 511.
1
INDEX.
Edmoncl Haward marshal of tlie host at Scottet felde,
557-
In greate daunger of hys lyfe, 562.
Endited of a Riot, 600.
Is pardoned, ib.
Edmond Heron knight, \1T",
Hudron, 580.
lenny, 760.
Erie of Kent, 36, 39.
Mody one of the footemen to kyng Henry the
eyght whych saued hyni from drownyng,
697.
- — trie of Mortayne, Duke of Somerset, 167,
179, 226'.
Sente into Fraunce wyth a greate army, 106.
Slayne, 232.
Mortymer erle of Marche, 13.
— ' Petered in cheynes, 23.
Delyuered out of captyuylye, 28.
De.ceassed, 128.
— Poole erle of Soutlifolke, 479.
Endited of hoiniside & murder, 495.
His offence pardoned, ib.
Fled into Flaunders to the ladye Mar-
garet hys Aunte, ib.
Cursed at Paules Crosse, 496".
Submitted) him selfe to Pbilipp Arche-
duke of Austriche and Burgoyn, ib.
— Erie of Richmond, 185, 231.
— Brother to lasper erle of Penbroke, 287.
— Shaa Mayer of London, 365.
-- Duke of Somerset made Resent of Fraunce,
206.
— Comited to the Tower, 232, 238.
Edmond the new Duke of Somerset saileth into Flaun-
ders, to Duke Charles, 26l.
• Returneth into Englande to kynge Henry,
289.
FK-eth into Wales to lasper erle of Penbroke,
297.
• Commeth to quene Margaret, to Beaulieu in
Hamshyre, 298.
• Kyltth the lorde Weiilocke and is taken pry-
soner, 300.
— Behedded at Tewkesbury, 301.
Walsyngham knyght leuteiiaunt of the Tower,
748.
Edward Duke of Yorke, vncle to kyng Henry the
fourth, 5.
• He accuseth hyssonne of treason, 18.
Edwarde Duke of Aumerle sonne to Edmonde Duke
of Yorke, 6.
1 Appeled of liygh treason, 14.
1 Conspyred agaynste kyng Henry the fourth,
16.
. Pardoned, ib.
- He is duke of Yorke, 22, 44.
. The fyrste a valyaunt conqueror, 53.
. The Second, broughte into greate iniserye,
47-
Duke of Yorke slayne, at the battaile of
Agincourt, 72.
. Erie of Marche, 227.
Elected kyng, 253.
— — -— — Proclaymed kyng, 254.
Edwarde he driueth kynge Henry, 256.
. Brooke lorde Cobham, 225.
Prince, & sou to kyuge Henry the. vi. born*,
230.
Hull knighte, 203.
The fourth kynge of Englande, crowned at
Westminster, 257.
Marcheth towardes Yorke wyth a greate
power, 259-
- — Deuyseth the names of the coynes, 262.
Is in loue wyth the duches of Bedfordes
daughter, 264.
Maryeth her, ib.
Sendeth to the lorde Herbert bydynge him
to sett upon the northern men wyth all
hys power, 273.
— ^— — Marcheth towarde Wanvicke wyth a greate
army, & is taken prysoner, 275.
Escapeth out of prison, ib.
• Raiseth an host agaynste the erle of War-
wyk, 279-
Flyeth hys realrne, 283.
Is chased on the Sea, by the Easterlynges,
284.
Is succored of the lord Gronture gouernour
of Holland vnder duke Charles, ib.
- — Returneth into Englande & laadelh at Ra-
uenspurr, 290.
He goeth towarde Beuerlay and so towarde
Yorke, 291.
Hys othe of obedyence to kynge Henry the
syxt, 292.
- — He entereth the cytye of Yorke, & after re-
mouelh to Notyngham, ib.
'Hys brother duke of Clarence & he are
made friendes, 293.
- — Receaued into London, 297-
Ouercommeth the erle of Warwike in bat-
tayle, 296.
Discomforteth quene Margaret and all her
confederates, 301.
He goeth wyth an armye into Fraunce, 308.
Sendeth deliaunce to the Freuche kynge,
309.
A peace is made & farther agreed that bothe
the kynges shall mete eche other in some
conueniente place, 313.
— Their metinge, 319-
His saiyng to the Frenche lordes, concerning
the duke of Britaine, ib.
- Returneth into Englande, 321.
He (entending to make warre a freshe on
the Frenche kyng) falleth sycke, 338, 339.
- Hys death, buriall & description, 341.
Sonne & hey re to Richard Neuel Erie of
Warwike, was behedded in the tyme of
kyng Henry the Seuenth, 327.
— Prynce of Wales, sonne to kynge Henry
the s)-xte, lyt-th in Barwike, 259-
Marieth lady Anne daughter to therle of
Warwicke, 281.
— Is taken prysoner with the quene hys mo-
ther, 300.
— Is brought to king Edwarde, and pyteously
murthered, 301.
INDEX.
Edwarde The fyft kynge of England, borne in Sanc-
tuary at Westminster, 28.5.
, Hampden knight siaine in battnilc, 301.
— Sonne & heyre to George duke of Clarence, •
327-
Woduyle kuyghte, 331.
— — ; Soune to kynge Richarde created prince,
375.
. The fyft & liys brother murthered, 378.
The fourth periured, 380.
Courtney knyght, 393.
Woodnlle and Edward Powninges valiaunt
esquyres, 404.
Duke of Buckingham, 494..
Edwarde Lord Wooduile a valiauut captayne, 439-
— Hee went priuely oner thee Sea loo ayde
the duke of Brytayne, 440.
• S'ayne in Battaile, 441.
Edwarde Piantagent-t Earle of Wanvicke kept as a
prisoner in Sberyhutton Castle, 422.
He was remoued to the Tower,
ib.
He was brought from the Tow-
er too the Cathedral! churche
of Saincte Paull to be sene
of the people, 423, 432.
Behedded on the Tower hill,
491.
Stafford, Sonne to Henry duke of Bucking-
ham, was restored to his name, dignitie
& possessions, 424.
Powninges a valiaunte knyghte, 424, 445.
He is scnte to Philippe Arche-
dukeof Burgoyne, 452.
— — He is sente into Ireland with an
army of menne, 470, 478.
Courtney, erle of Deuonshire, 484.
Sutton knyght, 485.
Baynton knighte, 666.
Belknap kayghte, 539-
He is sente to Guysnes \vyth. iii. M.
artyfyceis, 600, 632.
• Bockynge doctor in diuinitye, 809, 810,
Edwarde Guylford he goeth to Marguyson to mets
the Capitay:ie of Bulleyne. 641,
644, 646.
hys enterpryze at the castle of
Bowhen, 671.
Hasvard lord Admyrall, 511, 5l6, 520.
Taketh the barcke of Scotlande,
525.
' Is seute to the Sea agayne, 527.
Is droned in the Sea, 537.
811.
— Hanged at Tyborne, 814.
Husey knyght, ib.
Ichingbam knyght, 534, 535, 557, 642.
Keerne the kynges orator at Rome, 773.
Lee the kynges Almoner, 674, 7J8, 730,
731, 744, 769.
Pownynges knighte of the garter is sente to
the ladye Margaret a nombre of Archers,
523.
— — - Returneth into England, 524.
Is made the kyngcs Lyeutenauiite
at Tournay, 566.
' He kepte it valyauntlye in good
order and lustycfi, ib.
1 Discharged thereof by hys own
suett, 5S3.
• Rigley made knyghte, 6'43.
• Semoure made knyghte, 570, 638.
Is Viscounte Beaudiampe, & cre-
ated erle of Hereforde, 825. '
Sente into Scotlande wythe an ar-
inye, S6"0.
Returned agayne into Englande,
861.
• He goeth into Scotlande
\vyth an armye, 864.
agayue
• Bray, 643.
Brooke made knyght, 533.
Cliftbrde hanged at Tiborne, 826.
Cobham, 527.
Made knyghte, ib.
. The Confessor toke homage of Malcolne
kynge of Scottes, 852.
Cbamberlayne knyghte, 642, 661.
1 Doune knyghte, 642.
Edwarde Duke of Buckingham, 507, 540, 549,
• He is accused of treason, 623.
Apprehended and carried to the Tower,
624.
— — — — — Arayned, ib.
Hys ludgemente, ib.
Behedded, ib.
Gryuell knyght, 66l.
Guylford, 511.
— — • • •'• •'- Made knyghte, 566, 592, 634.
Stanley knyght, 558.
— Created lorde Mountaygle,567, 570.
. The syxte, kynge of Englande, borne at
Hampto court, 825.
Crowned kynge, 868.
Twaytes Gentleman, 806.
Neuell knyghte, 511,517,520,571.
— — Forbydden the kynges presence, 623.
Restored agayne to hys fauoure, 630.
— — — Apprehended and sente to the Tower,
827.
' Behedded, ib.
Eldham, 220.
Eldred kynge of Englande, toke homage of Iryse then
kyng of Scottes, 851.
Elianor quene of Portyngale, 709.
Cobham, wife to Homfrey duke of Glocester,
202.
Elizabeth, quene of England her pedigre, 185.
553. Sister to Richard duke of Yorke maryed to
Henry Burchier erle of Essex, 258.
She bare him foure sonnes & one daughter,
ib.
Sister and heyre apparaunte to Henry kyng
of Castle, 262.
Gray daughter to the duches of Bedford,
263, 365.
Maried to kynge Edwarde the fourth,
and crowned quene at Westminster,
264, 367.
INDEX.
Elizabeth Gray deliuered of a princes named Eliza-
beth, 266.
. Taketh Sanctuary, & there delyuered
of a sonne called Edwarde, 285.
• — Kynge Edwards daughter, 345, 38?, 422.
— — — Marled to kyng Henry the seventh, 345,
382, 423.
• Mother to kyng Henry the eight, ib.
————— She is delyuered of prince Arthur, 428.
Crowned queue upon Sairicte Katherynes
day, 438.
She died in Childebed within the Tower of
London, 497.
Buried at Westminster, ib.
Wife to kynge Edwarde disinherited of all
her landes and possessions, 431.
She died in the Abbey of Barmandsey be-
side Southwarke, ib..
Buried at Wyndsore, ib»
• Fouded a Colledge in Cambrydge called ye
Quenes Colledge, 432.
• The Queue of Castle dieth, 500.
Barton, called the holye mayde of Kent,
806'.
• The processe of her doynges de-
clared at leugthe, 808.
— Her wordes at her death, 814.
Blount, 703.
Daughter to kyuge Henry the eight, 805.
Heron, 552.
Tilney, 842.
Lucy, 367.
Empson and Dudley apprehended, 505.
' Attaynted of treason, 512.
• Behedded, 515.
England, K
Englyshmankylled aFrencheman wyth an arrow thorow
a basket, 674.
Englyshmens goodes arrested in Burdeaux, 633.
They put up a supplicacyon to the Ein-
peroure, 706'.
• Theyre aunswere deliuered them in wry-
tyng, 706, 707.
Euglyshe Marchauntes arrested in Spayne, 742.
— Theyre bodyes released but not
thiyr goodes, 745.
' - Receaued agayneinto Anwarpe,
483.
- Money delyuered, 732.
Enterpryse of the garryson of Bulleyn, 67S.
* Of the Frenchemen agaynst the Flem-
mynges, 6'82.
Of the horsemen of Bulleyn, 685.
- Of fyfty light horsemen of Calyce, ib.
Of the Burgonions and Spanyardes, 687.
Erie of Angus, 24.
Douglas pardoned, 31.
Of Weutadore, 118.
— Bothwell capitayne of Barwycke, 332.
— — Of Dampmartyiic, 264.
— Of Marr, behedded at Edenborough, 331.
— • Of Oxenforde & the lorde Awbry Veer hys-sonne
& hey re putt to death, 258.
— Of Shrewsbury, 225.
Of Warwyke called Richard Neuell, 252,
Erie of Warwyke is sente Ambassadoure for the ma-
riage of kynge Edwarde, 2tio.
• Returneth into Englande, 266".
' • Departeth from the kyng to War-
wyke, ib.
Persuadeth hys brethren agaynste
kyng Edwarde, 269.
- He gropeth the mynde of the duke
of Clarence, whyche doth consent
tohyrn, 271.
• - He sayleth to Caleys & there the
duke of Clarence runneth hys
daughter Isabell, 272.
- Returueth into England & rayseth
an armye agaynst kinge Edwarde,
273.
- He taketh hym prysoner, 275.
He is set at libertye agayue (as some
say) at the erles commaundement,
ib.
- He rayseth a newe hoste in Lyncol-
neshire, 277.
Sayleth to Caleis, 278.
. ' — The lorde Vawclere hys seruaunte,
would not sufl're hym to lande
theyre, 279-
• He sayleth towardes Normandy, ib.
Is gently receaued of the Frenche
Kynge at Amboys, 280.
1 - Returneth into England, & landeth
at Darthmoth, 282.
••" He dryueth kinge Edwarde oute of
hys realme, 283.
- Pacyfyeth ihe Kentishmen, & goeth
to London, & delyuereth kynge
Henry oute of the Towre, 285.
Is slayne at Barnett fyeld, 2C)6.
— Buried in Bissam Abbey, 297.
Of Surrey Tliomas Haward, 375.
Of Richemond, 382, 395, 397, 402, 404, 405,,
410.
— — Of Lyncolne proclamed heyre apparant to the
crowne of Englande, 401.
Of Penbroke, 403.
Of Oxford, 405.
Of Northumberland, 410, 419.
Of Capre, 455.
— Of Lincolne sonne to lohn De la poole, flieth into
Flaundres to hys aunte ladye Margaret, 432.
. — . i He obteyneth a power & inuadeth
Englande, 433.
1. Hee is slayne at the battaile of
Stoke, 435.
— — Of Vinemia, 455.
Of Kent, 478.
Of Damarten, 682, 686.
Of Desmond in Ireland, 601.
- Of Egemond the Seneschal! of henaud, 647.
Of Essex, 540.
Lieutenaunt of the speres at the be-
sieging of Tyrwyn, 540, 549, 550,
599-
. • • Create chamberlayne of Englande,
838.
INDEX.
Erie Kyldare discharged of hys ofiyce of deputye,
001, 687.
Is sente into Ireland agayne, 772.
• He dyeth prysoner in the Towre, 816.
Guy of Raucon, 751.
Of Ormonde in Ireland, 685.
Of Ossery the Kynges deputye in Ireland, 772.
_— — Of Pountiner came to the kynge to Wyndsore
frome the Duke of Burbon, & was banished
Fraunce, 672.
Of S. Poule, 751.
. Is taken prysoner, 752, 753.
Erthquake in a cytye in Portiugale, 781.
Escape, 727-
Esmoe, 170.
Espyalles sent into dyuers countryes, to search & prye
oute the progeny of Perkin Warbecke, 465.
Sent into Flaunders, feiiiing themselues to
bane fled too the duke of Yorke, 46'7.
Eueli parlyment, 14.
Euerard Dygby knight, 66l.
Eugeny the fourth bishop of Rome, 166, 174.
Euyll Male day, 588.
Excester besieged, 484.
Exham fiel,d, 26O.
Exhortation of kyng Edward on his deatli bed, 344.
Exmew a monke of the Charter house hanged at Ty-
bourne, 817-
F.
Fable, 383.
Ferdinando kyng of Spayne, 449-
The famous Cytye of Granado is yeelded
vp vnto him, 453.
•• He sendeth ambassadors into Scotland to
entreate a peace betweene the kyng of
England and the kyng of Scottes, 482.
— — — Knight of the garter, 633.
— The ordre thereof is sent vnto hym, 674,
675.
De Gonzaga vyceroy of Cicile came to
the king at Hampden court in Christ-
masse \veeke, 859-
Fernhurst a stronge hold in Scotland, 664.
Ferry bridge, 253.
Fetherstone, Hall, and Powell, hanged in Smythefield
for treason, 840.
Fyre at temple barre, 8l6.
Fyrste fruites and tenths giuen to the kyng, ib.
'. Quest that inquyred of the syxe articles, 828.
Flemyshe Wares and MarchaudLes banished out of
England, 467-
Flodden hyll, 56'l.
Florence, 725.
Fluddes, 675.
Foot in bosom, 515.
Forest of Wichwod besyde Stonystratford, 264.
Fouutayne curiously made, 533.
Fountraby in Byskay, 528.
Besieged of the Frenchmen, 628.
Deliuered for want ot Victualls, ib.
Is wonne againe by the Spaniards, 676.
Foure fyfetenes granted, 832.
France, 1 .
Lost, 225.
Fraunces Brian esquyer, 581, 597, 6l3, 6l7.
Fraunces Brian is made knight, 643, 660, 665.
Lost one of hys eyes, 708.
— Is sent to Bayou to warraunt the payment*
for the deliuerance of the French kyngs
Chyldren, 772.
- Is one of the Ambassadours sent to the by-
shop of Rome, 797, 832. "
JFraunces Duke of Biitayne receaueth the Erie of
Pembroke aud the Erie of Richmond withe
great honor, 303, 306, 319.
Delinereth the esle of Kichemond to the
Euglishe Ambassadors, 323.
He sendeth for hym agayne, 324.
Had warre wyih Charles the French kvns,
436.
He dielh in the time of the warre betwixt
them two, 442.
Fraunces De Barbc a lombarde entysed a mans wyfe
in London to robbe her nusband and come
to hym, 586, 587, 718.
- Bygod knight, 824.
Executed atTyborne, 824, 825.
Fraunces Duke of Burbon, 571.
Beareth the sword before the French kyng
at the tryumpbant metyng of the kyng of
England and hym, 609, 6] 6.
Fraunces The French kyng proclaymeth hym tray-
tour, 66"3.
— — — He departeth into hys countreye and i s
sworiie to the kyiig of P^ngland, ib.
Reteyneth ten thousand Almaynes to inuade
Frauuce, ib.
— . Turneth hys purpose and layde siege to
Marcelles, 6'72.
- He sendeth the erle Pountyner on message
out of Prouynce to the kyng of England,
6'72.
— . He made sharpe warre on the French kyngs
domynions, 684.
— • He layeth siege to the toune of Marcell in
Prouyuce agayne, 686.
— ' He breaketh vp the siege at the counsayle of
the Marques of Pycardy, and departeth
into Italy to meet wyth the French kyng,
if he came to Millain, 687-
He sendeth a letter to the kyng of England
of the French kyngs takyng, 693, 695.
— • He is restored to hys first state and freely
pardoned of the French kvug, 710, 7i6,
725.
Slayne at the assaute of Rome, 726.
Fraunces Cheyny 485.
Dyram, 842.
• Put to death at Tyborne, ib.
Fraunces Lord Louell brake out of Sanctuary in Col-
chester, 427.
— — — — He raiseth a power against the kyng, ib.
• — - He flieth into Lancashire to sir Thomas
Broughton, ib.
______ From thence he flieth into Flaunders to tbee
Ladye Margaret, 432.
Fraunces Vicount Louell, S75.
Nudygate, 66l.
_. Duke of Orbvne, 750.
INDEX.
Fraunces Philip scholemaster to the kinges Heuxman,
673.
Poynes knight, 724, 730, 739-
He died of the sweat, 750,
Sforcia duke of Myllayne, 712, 714, 751,
764.
Surrein Aragonoys knight, l6l.
Weston made kniglit of the bathe,
~ Behedded, 819.
(i
Fraunces the fyrst kyng of Fraunce, 582.
- He meteth the kyng of England between
Arde and Guysness, 6lO.
Maketh warre wyth the emperour by sea and
land, 624.
He goeth wyth a mighty armye hymselfe in
person, to the country of Cambray, 6'27.
Sendeth hys Adrnyral into Italy wyth an
armye, (>'91.
Is taken prisoner at the siege of Pauia, 692.
. Sendetli a letter to hys mother, 093.
lie fell sycke in prison, 705.
His articles l>e swore to keepe wythe the
Emperoure, 709-
- He is delinered, 710,
lie breaketh hys promise wythe the Empe-
roure, 712.
Is made kniglit of the garter, 734.
1 Sendeth defh'ance to the Emperoure, 74>1.
Hys chyldren deliuered, 772,
Hys sayeng to theim in the presence of the
king of England, 791,
— — ^— He concludeth a peace wyth the kyng of
England, 86'7.
Francisco secretary to CardinallCampeius, 753.
Fraye betweene the Englishemen and the Spaniards in
the village called Sancta Maria, 530.
Fiederyke Emperour of Almaine, 423.
M:ide warre wyth Flaunders for the injury
and wrong done to hys sonne Maximillian,
445.
Frederycke duke of Bauyre came to London, 832.
Frederick* duke of Hoist in Denmarke, 657.
Frederyke Marques of Padulla wyth diuerse other no-
blemen came into England to see the kyng, 840,
Freer Fabricia, 6,33.
Forest, 691, 825.
• Burned in Smythefield, 826".
Patricke, 490.
1 Condemned to pe.rpetuall prysou, ib.
Pynkye prouynciall of the Agustine Freers, 635.
Hys sermons after the coronacyon, ib.
Freers and Nonnes suppressed, 826'.
Frenchman si roue wyth a Carpenter in London for by-
mg of two .Siockdoues in Chepe, 586".
T!;;.t should abiure the realme, ib.
Frenchmen robbed and spoyled the Englishmen on the
sea, 629.
- In London arrested and had to pryson, 634-
Marie a skirmysheat Guisnes, 644.
- And Scottes imprysoned and all their goods
seazed, ib.
Landed in the Isle of Wyght, 863.
, Of armes fled and made the whole host of
Frame to relume, 542, 64;?, 546.
5U
Frenchmennes nature, 124.
Friers, 143.
Frynge or Frynges, a tovvue in France brent, 647.
Frost, 671.
Frowdes a Gentleman hanged at Saynte Thomas of
waterynges, 842.
G.
Galey lost, 534.
Galoway in Scotland, 652.
Galyett of Scotland brent, 36.
Garnays Clyfton knighte beheddedat Tewkesbury, 301.
Garter kynge of armes in Englad, 617.
Gascon de Foys created erle of Longuyle, 90.
Gascoyn, 189-
Gasper pons a Spaniard, 492»
Gaston de Foys, 207-
Gaunt, 181.
Gawan doglas bishop of DSkell in Scotland fled into
England, 632.
Geane a cytye in Italy, 76'3.
Geftray Gates knighte, 285.
Geffrey Lome abiured, 736.
- Poole, 827.
Generall Pardon, 431, 506, 767.
Geoffrey Grame, 179-
George Browne knighte, 397-
— — — Lord of Burgeyny, 478.
— — — — Suspected of treason, 502.
Carr taken prysoner, 681.
Carew knighte, 838.
Drowned in the ship Calkd Alary rose, 863.
Duke of Clarence, 342, 380, 422.
— — — Brother to kyuge Edwarde the fourth, 258.
He taketh part wyth therle of Warwyke, 27 '•
. Marieth the erle of Warwykes daughter, 272.
. He is admonished by a damoeell to declynn
from therle of Warwyke, 281.
Assembleth a greate hoste about London, 293.
Forsaketh therle and turneth to hys brother
kynge Edward, 293, 301.
. He is drouned in a butt of Maluesey, 326,
342.
- I. Cobhani knyght, 647.
Constantyne, 763.
- Douglas, 857,
• — Erie of Angus reskued the French-
men out of Alnewyc ke castle, 260.
Of Dunbart Erie of the marches, 23.
Ferries, 843.
- Fronsberge in Almayne, 7l6.
— Hume a Scotte prysoiter in Englad, 558.
- Lorde Lunilcy, 481.
- Lufk'yn, 63',.
- Neuell brother to the erle of Warwyke made
Archbyshop of Yorke, 269.
— — Is si'nt to prjson at the. castle of Guii>-
nes,.30-l-.
He is deliuered and shortly after dveth,
ib.
Lord Aburgi'tipy apprehended and Lad
to the T'owcr, 6oO.
Bastard, 463.
Pollard knighte slayue, 864.
Lord Ogle, 481.
INDEX.
<3eorge Standley lord Straange, 393, 408, 420, 481.
— Talbot Erie ot Shrewsbury, 433.
, General! capitayne of the forwardeof
the kynges army to Tyrwin, 537,
538.
• He layeth hys siege on the northe west
syde of Tyrwin, 538, 548.
He entreth the Towen of Tyrwin, 552,
555, 564.
Is sent into Scotland wyth an army,
6"49.
Returneth agayne, 650.
Peccaner a Flemishe capitayne sVayne, 44ft.
Sent George, 186.
Gerche, 195.
Geralde, Erie of Kildare apprehended, 47 J-
Dismissed and sent home agayne into Ireland,
ib.
Germany, 1,
Gertrude wife to the Marques of Excester attaynted of
treason, 827«
Geruais Clifton, 192.
Gylbert Halsal, 141.
— Knyghte, madfe capitayne of Eureux,
82.
— — — Perke priest chance'lour to the duke of Buck-
yngham, apprehended and had. to tlie Tower,
623.
Talbot, 445.
• Vmfreuyle knyght, 41.
— Erie of kyne made Capitayne of
Caen, 80.
— Made capitayne of Meleun, 104.
to
Gyles Alyngton knyghte dyeth, 632.
Capell, 511, 611,641, 642.
Duwbeney knyghte, 392.
_ Made lord Dawbeny, 424.
One of the kyngs counsaile, ib.
— — — Chieftayne of the kyngs armie
Dipenew, 445.
i Sent in commissio to Caleys,too com-
mon with the Lorde Cordes of arti-
cles of peace, 458.
Is made the kyngs great Chamber-
leyne, 470.
_ He goeth into Scotland with an army,
and sodainly reuoked againe, 476,
4-77.
. He gatte the bridge at Detfoul Strand
from the Cornishmen, 479-
. He was taken prysoner and let go
agayne, ib.
__ ,. He was sent after Perkyn which was
fled, 407, 485.
Gyot a Gentleman of Almayne, 515.
Gloucester, 300, 394.
Infortunate, 310-
Golden Fleece, 156'.
_ Valey, 647-
Golding vvythe a lytle crues toke the shyp called the
barke ager, 866.
Gomay, 155.
Good duke of Gloucester, 210-.
Gourney, 172.
Grafton a manour of the kynges, 264.
. A small village, 759-
Granado a cytye in Spayne, 263.
A famous tytle in Spayne, 453.
Granson in Lorain, besieged of Ch rles duke of Blir
goyne, 324, 325.
Grauelyn, 181.
Grauyle, 141.
Gray Freers put to death, 26.
Create waters, 394.
Great death, 491.
Great Oneele in Ireland, 685.
Gregory the fourth byshop of Rome deposeth hymselfe,,
48.
Griffith Dun knyghte, 511, 527.
Guelphes and Gebelynes, 1.
Guy de Butter Capitayne of Roan, 89.
Dawney knyght, 558.
Vrbalde duke of Vrbine, 503.
Guyana countrey, 189, 529-
Guylle Burgoys, 119.
Guylliatn Gordouen, 141.
Marten taken, Il6.
Orenge knyght, ib.
Remond, 120.
Saynte Aubine, 17t.'
Guyot an esquier of Burgone, 523.
- Of Guy a gentleman of Flaunders, 527*
Gaysnes besieged, 182.
Gyrond a riuer, 223.
H.
Hadley a tonne in Essex, 691.
Hainmes the castle deliuered to therle of Richemonde
and shortley redeliuered, 408.
Hampton court, 703.
Hangeman of London called Cratwell hanged, 826.
Harbottel a toune in Northumberland, 484.
Hardyngham castle in Fraunce, 651.
Brent and spoyled by the Englishemen,
660, 680.
Harfford west a towne, 410.
Besieged, 25.
— East, 251.
Harflew, 179, 185.
i Besieged, 62.
Yelded, 63.
Besieged of the Frenchmen, 74.
— - The siege rased, ib.-
Hsirnesey parke, 351.
Harow of the Hyll, 675.
Hastings the pursuaunt, 36l.
Hatton a toune in Gelderland, 7*9-
Hauering at the bower, 346.
Hawkhuret a monke in Canturbury, 811.
Hayton castle in Scotland, 481.
Hector, 227.
Hedgecott field, 275.
Iledgely Moore, 259-
Hedyng besieged of the Frenchmen, 648.
Treason there, 692.
Henaude, 6"71.
Henry Brandon created erle of Linrolne, 703.
— — — Beauford duke of Somerset, 234.
. — ^— Made deputie of Calice, 242.
• Bishopp of Winchester made keeper
of the kyiiges person, 115.
.. Hys pedigree, 130.
6
INDEX.
Henry Beauford he writeth to the duke of Betiforde, ib.
_____—— Accused by the duk-e of Gloucester,
ib.
Made Cardinall, 139.
• Hepasseth with auarmie intoBeame,
152.
- Hys pride, l(Jl.
_— — — — — He returneth into England, 166.
— — Bisset knighte, 117.
Burchier created erle of Essex, 258, 479.
Duke of Brunswyke, 750.
— Duke of Buckingham, 347.
. — Toke part with the Duke
of Gloucester, ib.
Came to Northampton,
ib.
Harnessed in oldeuyll fa-
uored Brigandaries, 362.
Hys oration to the cyte-
zens of London, 369.
Sett forward the false and
naughty deuyce of kynge Ri-
chard and now conspyreth against
him, 386.
Hys pedigree, 388.
He flieth, 394.
- Hys confederates flieinto
Britaine to the erle of Riche-
niond, ib.
-; — . • He is betrayed by liys
owne seruante and apprehended,
395.
— , iie js behedded at Salis-
bury, ib.
Arcliebyshoppe of Canturbury, 497.
Henry kynge of Caetle, 262.
Lorde Clifford, 481, 649, 666.
Created Erie of Cumberland, 703.
Chychley Archebyshoppe of Canturbury, 49«
Courtney erle of Deuonshire, 6l3, 622, 6'31,
640.
— Receaueth the kvnn of Denmarke at
Douer and conueyeth hym to
Grenewyche to the kynge, 658.
Created Marques of Excester, 703,
722, 790, 792, 805, 823.
— — — — Accused and condemned of treason,
827-
Behedded, ib.
Deane Abbot of Langtony, 470, 493.
Erie of Darby created Duke of Herford, 3.
Accused, 5.
Banished, 6.
After the decease of hys father
was Duke of Lancaster, ib.
Me is desyred to take vpou
by in the kyngedome, ib.
He returneth with an army into
England, 8.
And takelh kyng Rychard the
second prysoner, 9-
Callelh a Parlement and pub-
Jisheth dyuerse articles against
the kyiige, ib.
5 U2
Henry Erie of Darby is proclamed and crowned
kynge by the name of kynge Henry the fourth, 13.
* The crowne entayled to hys is-
sue, 15.
;— — In one battaill he slue with liys
owen liaudes 36 persons, 31.
He aydeth the Duke of Orle-
aunce against the Duke of
Burgoyn, 43.
. • He aydeth the duke of Burgoyn
agaynst the Duke of Oiie-
aunce, 41.
______ _ He dyetb, 45.
Hys Chyldren and description,
• '1 ib.
. Sonne and heyre to the Lord Fitz Hughe, 273.
— Fyliner taylor brent at Wyndesore, 859-
_ Fitz Roy created Duke of Rychemond, 703.
— Gylford esquier, 51 6, 520.
Madekuyghte, 523, 534.
He bare the kynges standard at the
besieging of Tyrwin, 765.
. Grene knyght behedded, 9-
Marion, 495.
— — Marney knyghte capitayne of the garde, 622.
Made lorde of the priuye seale and
after that Lorde Marney, 655, 66l.
Erie of Mortayn, J89.
— — Mortimer esquier, 40.
Knighie made bailief of Dryex, 107,
II 6.
• Neuell sonne and hey re to the Lorde Latimcr,
273.
Norrys, 6l3, 759.
Behtxlded, 819.
Erie of Northumberland, 233, 256, 308, 410,
419,443.
Sent in Ambassade,
22.
Coijspyreth agaynst
kynge Henry the fourth, 34.
Lurked in Scoteland
for feare of kyng Ed ward, 26 1 .
Hysearldome giuen
avvaye and after restored to
hym agayne, 26 1, 331.
Percye erle of Northumberland, 537.
Made Warden of the Marches, 651.
Called of the Scottes syr Henry Hot-
spur, 24.
Sonne to Lorde Henry Percy taken
prisoner, 39-
- Erie of Richemonde, 287.
— - Hesaileth with hys vncle
the eile of Pembroke into Bri-
tiiinc, 303, 305.
He is deliuered by the
Duke of Brytain to the Eng-
lish Ambassadours, 323.
- Is:sent for agayne in hast
and brought to the Duke, 324.
- Hys Pedigree, 388.
— — - He is'moued to take
vpou hym the kingedom, 392.
INDEX.
Henry erle of Richemonde Setting forward towards
Englacl the winde resisteth hym, 395, 3J)6.
. — — — . He returneth to Norman-
dy and so agayne to Brvtayne,
396.
— [le rnaketh a league and
compact wytli dyuerse Lords,
397-
,.i . He is attaynted by Parli-
nit'iil, ib.
. ,1 i -• Ambassadours sent to ap-
prehend hym, in Bryteyne,
403.
He flielb and escapeth a
great daungr.r, ib,
— He attendeth
in the
French court, 405.
— — Heuy news is brought
hym, 409.
He saileth toward Eng-
land and ariueth safely, 4) 1.
Hys oracion, 4I&.
He obteyneth a noble
victory and ouercometh kyng
Richard y« third, 419-
He is proclamed kyng by
the name of kynge Hery y
seueth, 420.
Sherborne made knyghte, 532.
-- — — Lord Stafford tent to the towre vpon suspicion,
5C5.
i Pardoned and sone after created erle of Wylt-
shire, 512, 518.
Standyshe doctor, 586.
Duke of Somerset, 258.
He forsaketh kynge Ed-
warde and goeth to kynge
Henry, 259-
1 Is taken prysoner, 260.
Behedded at Exham, ib.
Lorde Scrope apprehended, 60.
Executed, 6'1.
Sukely Shyryfe of London, 843.
Of Warwyke made duke of Warwicke, 204.
Vcrnon knighte, 485.
- Willoughby knyghte, 445,
Bysliop of Winchester godfather to kynge Hen-
ry the sixt, 188.
Aicbebyshopp, of Yorke, 185.
The lured hys pedigree, 2.
, . Sonne to Henry the fourth created prince of
Wales, duke of Cornewalle and erle of Chester,. 14.
He ruleth the Welshmen, 31,
-. Is sent to itiuade Scotlande, 35.
- Succeedeth hys father in the kyngedom by the
name of Henry the fift, 1.
He caused the body of kynge Richeard to be
retnoued fro Langley and brought to West-
mynster, wt all pompe, 47-
,— He calleth a Pnrlement, 49.
He clay me th by hys Ambassadours the crowne
and realme of Fraunce, 57-
He sayleth into Normandy, 62.
• Obteyneth a glorious victory, 69, 70.
• ' " Sonue to Henry the fourth returneth into Eng-
land, 72.,
Henry maketh a league with Sigismend the Etnpc*
rour, 74.
— Concluded) a peace wyth the duke of Bnrgoyn, 76.
— Againe sayleth with hys army into Normandy,
77.
' Obteynelh great victories, 8K
He maketh peace and concluded! affi-iiitye with
Charles the sixt Frenche kynge, 96'.
• — Hyssaying to tbekynge and Lordes ol Fraunce,
101.
— Toke vpon hym y" gouermet of Fraunce, 104.
Returneth into England, 105.
. Agayne returneth into Fraunce and inuadeth
the Dolphyn, 107-
Hys exhortacion in the tyme of hys syckness,
111.
i — Hys death and description, 112.
.1 Sonne to Henry the fift, hys birth and the saying
of hys father at the same time, 108.
Sixt proclamed kynge, 115.
Crowned, 153.
— He goeth oner into Fraunce, 160.
— Croutved kynge of Fraunce, l6l.
-- Rcceaueth homage of the nobles of France,
163.
— Returneth into England, 167.
• - Maried, 205,
i Taken by hys aduersaries, 244.
- Deliuered from hys aduersaries, 252.
Flieth, 256.
- Agayne taken of hys enemies, 257.
. Lyeng in Scotland, cleliuereth Barwike to
the king of Scottes, 258.
. - He entreth into Northumberland with a
great armye and goeth forward, 259-
— — — — •- lie flyeth at the battel of Exham and us-,
capeth, 260.
, i — He is taken in disguysed apparell by one
call Cantlu wand committed to the'J'owtc,
261.
..i. Deliue.red out of pryson by thcrle of War-
wyke, 285.
- Hys sayeng to Henry Nephew to lasper erle
of Pembroke, 287,
— He is taken agayne and committed to pry-
son, 294.
Hys death buriall and description, 303, 304.
Henry the seueuth hys pedigree, 185.
Henry second sonne to, Henry the seuenth borne at
Grenewyche, 461.
Created prince of Wales, 497-
Henry the eight kynge of England began his reigne,
506.
• Marieth hys brother Arthurs wife, 507.
. • •! He and the queue is crowned, 509-
• Requireth hys inheritaunce in Fraunce, 526.
- Sayleth ouer into Frauuce, 539.
Bcsiegelh Tyrwin, 543.
— Receaueth a letter of deffiaunce from the kynge
of Scottes, 545.
,- Hys aunswere by letter, 547.
Reteyneth the emperoure Maxymylian and all
hys men in wages, 548.
i i i i Conquereth Tyrwin, 552.
Henry the eight besiegelh Tornay, 555.
. Receaueth news of the kynge of Scottes death,
504.
— — The eight possesseth Tornay, 565.
Rrturneth into England, 567-
Receaueth thecappeof mainteniiunce, 568.
Maketh a league with the French kynge, 569.
— — — The Frenche kynge entreateth hym to haue
Tornay agayne, 593.
He agreeth tliercto vp5 condicions, 594.
Deliuereth it, 597.
A solemn metyng concluded betweene hym and
the French kyng, 601.
i He goeth to douer to welcome Charles the ern-
perour, 604.
He passeth ouer to Caleis, 605.
• He meteth the Frenche kynge, 609.
— Returneth to Caleis, and goeth to the emperour
to Grauelynge, 620.
Re.turneth to England, 622.
He Is made defender of the faitli, 629-
• Receaueth the ernperour at Douer agayne, 635.
. He and the emperour joyntly sendelh defti-
aunce to the duke of Lorayne, 641.
. He sendeth an annye into Fraunce, 66 1.
. Receaueth a present from the emperoure, 667'
_ • In leopardye at lustes, 674.
_ In leopardye of drowning, 697.
He inaketh a new league wt the Frenche kyng,
705,
. The league sworne, 71 1.
. • He requyreth of the emperour one halfe of the
treasure that was taken at Pauya, 714.
. Receaueth the orche of saynte Mycliell, 734.
He sendeth defyaunce to the emperoure, 741.
.. Oracyon .concerning hys mariage, 754.
. lie is named supreme hed, 774.
. . He leaueth the company of the queue because
hys marnage was in controunrsy, 781.
. A new metynge concluded betweene hym and
the French kynge, 790.
.1 Their metynge, 79 '•
• He returneth inlo England, 79^.
. He niarirth prynclye ladye Anne Bullein, ib.
.. Is deuorced from quene Katheryn, 796.
Quene Anne hys wife Behedded, 819-
_____ He marieth ladye lane Seymer, ib.
. She dyeth, 825.
„ He marietli ladye Anne of Cleaue, 836.
, Diuorced from her 839-
He maryeth ladye Katheryn llaward, 840.
She is Behedded, 842.
_____ Proclaymed kynge of Ireland, 843.
_____ He maryeth ladye Katheryn Parr, 858.
He sendeth an army into Scotlande, 86'Q.
Besiegetli Bullt-yn, 86l.
. . Wimieth it, 862,
. Returneth into England, ib.
, Goeth to Portsemouth, 863.
-, Hys oracyon in the parlement house, 864.
_, He maketh peace wyth Fraunce, 867.
. He dyeth and is buried at Wyndesore, 868.
. Thefyrst sonne of Henry the eight borneonnew
yeares day, 5l6»
-, He dyeth, 5)9,
Herault of arrnes sent fro kynge Edward to the Frenche
kynge wyth a letter of dyfiaunce, 309.
• ' He sheweth secretely the Frenche
kynge the way to make peace, 31 1.
Hyerom Vicounte entysed by the Frenche kynge to kyll
the duke of Myllan, 664,
llychynge in Hartfordeshire, 650.
Holad a marriner behedded, 827.
Holy inayde of Kent, 8l6.
Homage, 1 63.
Ilomllrey Banester betrayed hys master, 395.
• He is plagued, ib.
Homffrey Cheiney, ib.
Homfrey duke of Gloucester made protectour of Eng-
land, 115.
Maryeth, 11 6.
Sayleth into Fraunce, 128.
Returneth into England, ib.
Dcuorced, ib.
Maryeth agayne, 129.
Accused of the byshopp of Wynchester, 130«
He aecuseth the byshopp, ib.
_______ He is deposed of hys protectourshyppe, 209.
Arrested and sodenly dead, ib.
Homfrey the fourth sonne of kynge Henry the fourth
made duke of Gloucester, 42.
— — Erie of Stafford slayne, 233.
Made duke of Buckingham, 204, 220, 234,
244.
Knyghte slayne, 220.
Stafford, 419.
. Brake Sanctuarys in Colchester,
427-
He made an Insurrection in Wor-
cestershier, ib.
- He was hanged at Tyborne, ib.
Homfrey Stanley knyght, 4-79-
Talbot knyght Marshall of Caleys, 445.
Horsses and Geldings brake out of the lord Ducres
campe, 66-t.
Hospitall of Saynte Leonardes in Yorke, 272.
Hostages left wyth the Frenche kynge, 313.
— -— — They returne into England, 322.
Of France, 594, 597, 599, 633.
Houses brente at Temple barre, 816.
Hugh Capet vsurpecl the crowne of fraunce, 51.
Couway esquicT, 392.
Gedding knyghte. 1 16".
— — de Goose knyghte, 126.
— — - Hastings kuy».;hte slayne, 250.
— •"- - Latymer byshop of Worcester, 826.
Lutterell knyghte, 485.
• Mortymer knight slayne, 250.
Riche freer obseruaunte, 807.
Spencer conspyreth agaynst kynge Henry tlis
fourth, l6.
— — — Behedded, 19.
Hugo de Moncada, 785.
de Mendosa Ambussadoure frome the emperoure,
719-
. MI - Is- commanded towarde by the Car^
dirndl, 743.
_______ Deliuerod agayne, 744, 746..
Hull, 842.
Htimtiew, 188.
Uumtrey Browne kiiyght, 837-
INDEX.
Humfrey Burchier, sonne to the lorde Barnes sliyne,
296.
duke of Buckingham, 297.
Neuell kuyghte, 260.
Taken and beheddecl at Yorke, ib.
lord Stafford behedded at bridge water, 274,
275.
— Wyngfield speaker at the parlement, 795.
lacke of Musgraue, 836.
lames Blont capitayne of Hammes castle, 405, 408.
Lorde of Burbou, 25.
Cromer, 221.
Denton Deane of Lichfield, 685.
Erie of Desmond came to the kynge, 846.
Harrington knyght, 331.
Fynes lorde Say, 221.
Of Hull a shypp so called, 834.
Leirmouthmayster of the kynge of Scottes house-
hould, 848, 857.
i ' - de Sageaulx kuyghte taken, 140.
— - Twychet, 240.
Twichet lord Audeley, 478.
He lost hys lied on the tower hyll, 480.
lames the fourth king of Scotlande is slayne, 563,
Hys ded body found and knowen by the lorde
Dacres, 564.
Conueid to Rychemond, ib.
- The fyft kynge of Scottes sendeth hys ambassa-
dours into England, 6'87-
Requireth lady Mary the kyngs doughter in
manage, 6SS.
Sendeth newe ambassadours, 815.
Installed at Wyndesore into the order of th«
garter, 8 1 8.
Marieth lady Magdalein the French kynges el-
deste daughter, 825.
— — — After her death maryeth lady Marye duchesse
of Longuile, 826.
He sendeth an armye into England, 856".
Hys chiefe lords betaken prysoners and he hym-
selfe dyeth in a frenesy, ib.
lane duchesse of Brytayne maried to kynge Henry the
fourth and crowned queene of England, 26.
Daughter and heire of Frances duke of Brytayne,
Tyrrell deujsed the destruction and murtherynge
of kynge Edwards Chyldren, 376'.
He is made knyghte, ib.
He is apprehended and b«;hedded for
treason, 379-
Tyrell capitayne of Guisnes, 445.
Behedded, 496.
626.
Daughter to Elizabeth queue of Castle, 500, 501.
Syster to Charles the French kynge, 141.
Queue of England late wife to kynge Henry the
fourth deceassed, 185.
. Seinier married to kynge Henry the eight, 819-
Deliuertd of prince Edward, 825.
She dieth and is buried at Wyndsore, ib.
Spencer mayre of London, 736.
Steward kynge of Scottes dyd homage to Henry
the sixte at Wyndsore, 853, 855.
• Yarford Mayer of London made kuyght, 600.
Kynge of Scottes beseged the touue of Dryex by
the appoyntment of kynge Henry the (yft, 107-
Kynge of Scottes, 119, 262, 330.
Allied to lane doughter to John Erie of Somer-
set, ib.
Hys Homage, ib.
He allieth hymselfe wythe the French kynge, ib.
— He intreateth for peace, 166.
Beseged Rockesborough castle, 184.
• • — Hys double dealing, 186.
He is murthered, 187.
• lames hys sonne succeedeth hyir., ib.
He incarcerated hymselfe in the stronge castle
of Maydens in Edenborough, 332.
Deliuered by the Duke of Albany hys brother,
337.
Seconde sonne to the kynge of Scottes arriued in
Englande by force of wether and was taken prisoner,
339-
Prince of Scotland, 330.
— — The third kynge of Scotland, 423.
The nobilitie of hys realme cospyreth hys death,
447.
He is murthred in a Myll, 448.
— The fourth kynge of Scotland, 493, 505.
— - He maried lady Margaret daughter to kynge
Henry the seuenth, 498.
Sendeth deffiaunce to the kynge of England
which lay at the siege of Tyrwyn, 545.
- luuadeth England wyth all hys power, 556, 557.
lanyn Fendyll, 242.
laques Harcort knyght enemy to the Englyshe nacion,
107-
laquet duchesse of Holl and godmother to kynge Henry
the syxte, 108.
laquete or lacomyne sole Heire to the Duke of Hol-
land maried to Homfrey duke of Glocester, 116.
. Deuorced, 1£9-
_____ — . Maried agayiie, ib.
laquet daughter to Peter of Luxenborough eiie of
Saynte Paule, 258.
lasper erle ol Pembroke, 185, 410, 424.
. . He beynge in Fraunce hys
erlsdome is giuen away,
262, 281.
. Returneth into England with
therle of Warwyke, 282.
- Is restored to hys state and
possessions agayiie, 286.
He goetli into Wales to visyt
hys county of Pembroke,
287.
He commeth to the Quene to
Beaulieu in Hampshire, 298.
Returneth into Wales agayne
to prepare hys people, 299-
He hearyng that the queue
had lost the field atTewkes-
bury sayleth into Britayue,
302.
ledworth in Scotlande brente, 664.
leneuyle, 149-
lerom Bonuyse the popes collector had to the Towre,
527.
i Of Burgon capitayne of Turnaham, 680.
Jerusalem, 45.
INDEX.
Images suppressed, 826.
Ini unctions of the abrogacion of Holye dayes, 820.
Innocent bishop of Rome, 448.
Inquiry of the death of Hun, 576.
Insurrection at Couentrye, 673-
. In Gaunt, 830.
In Germany, 7Q2.
— — — — In Lincolnshire, ib.
— . . In Siiffolke, 699.
• In Yorkeshire, 822.
Insurrections, 171, 179, 208.
lohn Adelon Chaplayne to loim Fysher bishop of Lon-
don, 812, 813.
Adlam a taylor brent, 8(57.
Duke of Albany ariued ill Scotland outof Fraunce,
629-
i — — Rayseth a mighty power, 630.
— — — Is goutrnor of the realme, 632,
650.
: • Sendeth the erle of Angus into
Fraunce, 632, 6'36.
' Sendeth to the lordc Dacres to
commen of a peace, 650»
—————— Returneth into Fraunce, 651.
'• ' Sent by the Frenche kyng into
Stotlande agayne witn a great
power, 650, 660-
- Sendeth an Heraulde to the erle
of Surrey, 665.
• — — - — He dare not byde Battel but
breaketh vp bys campe, 666.
~— — — — — — — — He returneth into Fraunce wythe
all the treasure he could make
in Scotlande, 685.
' He goelh towards Naples, 692,
6'93.
Alen doctor sent to vpset relygyous houses, 703.
— Slayne in Irelande, beynge bishop of
of Deueleyn, 8l6.
Knight mayer of London, 718.
— — Almayne, 171.
Arondell a squire in Cornewall toke Duncan
camell a Scott on the sea, 6'30.
Askew knyghte, 537.
Duke of Alaunson slayne, 69, 121.
Erie of Angolesme, 193.
— _ Arthur knyght, 117.
Kyng of Arragon, 266.
Astley a Screuener and one of Perky n Warbeckes
counsaile, 483.
Awater Mayre of Corffe in Irelande, 491.
— — — Hanged at Tyborne, ib.
Avvbemonde knighte, 14-1, J50.
— • Baliall kynge of Scottes dyd homage to Edwarde
the fyrste kynge of England, 853.
— — Balgrar knight, 117.
Baptist Brunald toke Sanctuary at Westminster,
506.
Barthelmew, 5ti.
Baker knighte, 586.
Duke of Brabant, 128.
— — Vicouut Beaumount slayne, 244.
— — Beche Abbot of Colchester put to death for trea-
son, 832.
- - Beutynoyle a great lord in Italy,. 525.
lohn Bickenell knighte, 485.
Blunt knighte, 703.
Bordett, 527, 533.
— — • Borthwike a Scot called Capitayne Bortkwike,
condemned of Heresy in Scotland, 844.
— — — — Hys artules, Ib.
Sentence of ludgement, 845.
Both knighte, 557.
Bouchet the Aquytanycall writer and lohn de
Prato asolemne Prothonotaryesubtellyewoulde
aduoyde the title that the kynas of England
haue and had to the crowne of Fraunce, 100.
Bulmer, 824.
1 Put to death at tyborne, 825.
— Hys paramour brente in Smythfield, ib.
. Brooke lorde Cobham, 478.
• Browne and lohn Beuerley apprehended for
makynge of a commocyon condemned and ex-
ecuted, 48, 49.
• Burchyer, 409.
• Burcbet, 159.
• Bushey knight Behedded, 9.
• Duke of Bedford made regent of Englande, 77.
" Sent into Fraunce with a great
armye, 107-
Made regent of Fraunce, 115".
Hys oracyon, ib.
Maried, 117.
Hys Oracion, 124-.
. Hereturneth into England, 130.
Goethagayne into Fraunce, 139-
• • Hys Oracion, l62.
Anne hys wife departeth, l67.
— — — — Maried agayne, ib.
Returneth into England, ib.
— . Returneth. agayne into Fraunce,
16'8.
He dyeth, 176.
• Duke of Briteyne, 1 16.
• Duke of Burbon, 173, 190, 318.
• Duke of Burgoy ne prepareth to besiege Calice, 34.
Enuieth Lewes duke of Or-
leance, 40.
Causeth hyme to be slayne, 41.
A peace made betwene Charles
sonne to Lewes duke of Or-
leance and the duke of Bur-
goyne, ib.
— He causeth the Frenche kynge
toarme hymselfe agaynst the
duke of Orleaunce, 42.
— Enuietli Charles the Dolphin,.
75.
— Made regent of Fraunce, 79"-
— He is vexed, 90-
— Meteth wyth kynge Henry the.
nft, 91.
— Slayneat an interviewbetweene
the Dolphin and hym, 93^.
Buried, 102.
Duke of Burgone, 144-.
— He flieth, 183.
Cade otherwise lohn Capenel a busy body,
Carbonel, 139.
Carew, knyght, 500, 584, 732, 739-
INDEX.
lohn bishopp of Carleyll conspyreth agaynst kyng
Henry the fourth, 16.
• • i He dyed for thought, 19.
Carre, 511.
Made knyght, 551, 570.
Chambre, 443.
Clapphatn, esquire, 27*.
Cheney knyght maister of the horsse wyth kynge
Edwarde the fourth, 312, 320, 322, 399, 424,
433, 442.
Cheulett saued the life of Henry erle of Riche-
inond, 323.
Cierke & maister of the Holies made bishop of
Bathe, 655.
Erie of Cleremount, 27.
Cockborne, 24.
Clifford lorde slayne, 233.
Colley, 586.
Cornwallis knyghte, 645.
Constable knight, 481.
Caueyers, knyght, 273.
Colluyre, 253.
Ci-oker knyghte, 484.
Cutt, 6'32.
Dauueye made kuighte, 556.
— — Ue Babage a French capitayne taken prysomer,
674.
- De Medico cosyn to Pope Clement slayne with a
gonne, 7l6.
De la Pool, 121.
. Delacour priest confessor to the duke of Buck-
yngam attached and had to the Towre, 623.
Accuseth the duke, ib.
Delues knight slayne in battel, 301.
Dichfield kiiight, 331.
Digby knight, 522.
. — Lieutenant of the Towre, 442, 491.
Dighton one of the murtherers of kyng Edwards
Children, 379-
— De pounde a Frenche capitayne taken prysoner,
673.
— Dolphin hfiire apparent to kyng Charles sent kyng
Henry the fyrste in workage a tonne of tennys
balles, 57-
Drummond, 398.
Dudley made knight, 671, 68S, 838.
Created Vicounte Lisle, 843.
_ Made lorde admyral, 860, 862.
_ Burncth Treaporte, i>64.
Egremond knyght, 44".
. lie flieth into Flaunders to the lady
Margaret, ib.
Elrington knyght, 332.
- Enderley barber, 578.
— Duke of Excestei taketh sanctuary, 097.
i Fabian serjiant at armes, 642.
Faber a famous clerke, 720.
. Preacheth agaynst Marty n Luther, 70S.
Fsistolfe knyght, 116', 117.
— Made deputic in Normandy, 118, 121.
— Made lieutenant of Harflew, 62.
John Fisher bishop of Chester licenced to speake for
quene Katheryn, 756.
- Hys sayeng in the parlement house, 766.
— — — — — The commons not content to hys sayeng
complayneth of hym to the kyng, ib.
Hys excuse, ib.
He maynteineth the feyned reuelacyon of
the holy mayde of Kent, 812, 813.
Dwiyeth to swere to the act of succession
and is sent to the Towre, 814.
Behedded, 817..
Fitz lames made Chief Baron of the Exchequer,
629-
Fogge, 524.
• Made kuight, ib.
Forman knighte Sergiant porter to the kyng of
Scotts taken prysoner at the Scottes field, 562.
'- He lamenteth sore to se the dead corps
of the kyng of Scottes hys maister, 56'4.
Forteskew knvght, 405.
Fryth, 815.
Gage, 680.
Galence duke of Millayn, 265.
Of Gaunt duke of Lancaster, 289,
"' Deceassed, 2.
Gedding, 182.
Gelson yoman of the crowne, 591.
— — Goddard knyght made deputy of Louyers, 82.
God, 575.
•" Goys seruauntc to the duke of Somerset behed-
ded at Y'orke, 26'0.
— — Grafton Deane of Saynte seuerynees, 203.
Gray lord Powes, 398.
Grene, 377, 700.
Grenelow knight, 25.
— — Grey knyght made erle of Tankeruile, 90.
-• Sent to the ayde of the duke of Burgoyne,
41.
Knighte, 117, 118.
— Esquire, 365.
Guylefortl, 243.
Guise knight, 485.
Gunthoi pe keeper of the kyngs priuye seale, 398.
— - Hablincton esquier, 24.
Hallwell knight, 394, 484.
Harpley knight, 139-
— — liaward created duke of Norffolke slayne with
kyng Richard, 375, 419.
. Heron knyghte dyed on the pestilence, 629.
— — — — — Otherwise called bastarde Heron sore
hurt, 562, 683.
He is slayne, 683.
1 Mercer, and one of Perkyn Warbecks
counsaill, 483.
i He taketh Sanctuary at a town called
Brandeley besyde Northampton, 485.
. Lorde Fereys of groby made knight, 64.
— — Fynderne knight taken prysoner, 260.
1 Put to death at Newcastle, ib.
.— — Felow, 242.
Hewster Mercer, 6'99-
Holancl erle of Huntingdon, 175.
Created duke of Excester, 204.
— . . Taken out of Sanctuary, 233.
Sent to skowre the seas, 77-
— — — — — Duke of Excester, 14.
— - Conspyreth agaynst kyng Henry
fourth, 16.
• Behedded, 19.
the
INDEX.
John Hollyburton, 118.
Hopton, 527.
Huse knyght, 657.
Hunn priest, 202.
lokyn came into England to intreat a peace
from the kyngs mother and was pryuelye kept
in doctor Larkes house, 6'91.
Returneth into Fraunce, 693, 697.
.. He cometh into England agayne as am-
bassadoure, 704, 711.
. lones, lohn Porter, and William manering hang-
ed in Paules church yard, 827.
Kempe archbishop of Canturbury, 130.
Kyeme, and lohn Skeuyngton Shyriftes of Lon-
don, 624.
i. Lacelles gentleman brent in Smythfield, 667.
. Duke of Lancastre hys pedigree, 2.
Leuyston knyght, 24.
— — Lewes, 533.
Lewkenar knight, 301.
— — Lyly the bishop of Romes collector, 439-
- Lyncolne a broker in London, 586.
Apprehended and sent to the towre,
589.
Hanged at the standard in Chepe, 590.
. Bishop of Lincolne, 398.
Erie of Lyncolne, 401.
Longstrolher prior of Saint lohns in England, 298.
He is taken prysoner, 301.
Behedded, ib.
Loueday, 533.
— — Maior the Scottish cronographer, 24.
— — Malsiere esquire, 139-
Manners, 259-
, Marbecke, 858.
_ Maryner capitayne of the Katharyn Galley on
the sea, 673.
He dyeth at Depe, ib.
Melton esqueir, 527-
Erie Mershall and lohn erle of Arondell being
sicke of the flyxe returned to London, 442.
Middleton knyght, 331, 402.
Monday alderman rcsysted of the prentyses, 528.
Mordant knight, 800.
Morgan, 411.
Mortimer knighte, 128,485.
Slayne at the Battaillof Wakeneld,250.
Morton bishop of Ely, 259, 375, 382, 383, 384,
386, 393, 394, 403.
. Made Archbishop of Canturbury and
created Cardinal!, 40'2, 435.
. Mountagew erle of Salisbury conspireth agaynst
kyng Henry the fourth, 16.
_ MouHtgomery knyght, 127-
Mowbray created duke of Norfolke, 138, 160,
225.
_ Vicoiuite Narbon Vyceadmyrall of Fraunce, 74.
Neuell knight, 240, 540, 549-
. Created lord Montactite, 258.
_ -, ...- Is sent to Northumberland to rayse vp
men for kyng Edward, 258.
, Created Marques, 261.
. Issetvpon the rebelles in Yorkshire, 272,
280, 286, 290.
-sx
John Neuell he lyelh at Pomfret wylh an armye, 291.
Suflereth kyng Edward to passe by hym
peaceably, 292.
• — — Is slayne in battel, 296.
- Buryed in Bissani abbey, 297-
Norton esquier, 523.
. Made knyght, ib.
Oldecastle knyght called lord Cobham accused
of heresy, 48.
— — — — — ^— Sent to the towre, ib.
— — — — Condemned and flicth, ib.
Apprehended agayne and executed,
81.
Erie of Oxford rebelled agaynst kyng Edward,
258.
He goeth into Fraunce to therle of Warwike,
281, 282.
— Is restored to hys name and possessions agayne,
286, 295.
He flieth into Wales to lasper erle of Pembroke,
297.
— — He humbleth hymself to kyng Edward which
sendeth hym to pryson to the castle of 1 lammei,
304.
Erie of Oxford, 424, 433, 479-
Vere erle of Oxford, 405.
Osbecke father to Perky n Warbecke, 486.
Pallet, 9-
Pashley knight, 117.
Pasmar, 575, 580.
Peche knight shriue of Kent, 472.
Pechy knyght, 511.
. i Vice gouernour of the Horseme at Tyr-
wyn, 540, 549.
— Sent toCalice, 512.
Made Bannarctt, 550.
Made deputye of Ciilice, 508.
He dyeth, 629, 632.
— Petit doctor in diuinity, 41.
Pillot, 116-
Poole brother to the duke of Suffolke, 141.
Popham knyght, 127.
Rate-life knighte, 141, 181.
. Ratclyfl'e pardoned of hys lyfe, 467.
Raynsford, 598.
Rest mayer of London, 588.
Riseley knyght, 424, 459.
Rocherforde knyght, 118.
Bishop of Rome deposed, 48.
Roo Serjeant at law, 719-
. — Hys covfe taken from hym and sent to the
Flete,"ib.
, Ruppely knyght, 176.
Rnssell bishop of Lyncolne, 351.
Knight, 641.
. Is sent to the duke of Burbon, 663.
He is creattd lorde Russell, 827, 86'1.
Sauage made knight, 566.
A valiant captayne, 410, 413.
Saluayne, 121.
Sauell, 484.
Saynte Abbott of Abindon, 439»
Lord Scroope, 481.
Seymer knight, 819-
INDEX.
John Scott made knight, 574.
— Scute a lawyer, 760.
Sharpe, 166.
Esquier, 543.
He is made knight, 56'5.
: Slielton made knight, 837.
Skudder sant to tlie Towre, 699-
Deliuered,701, 702.
Spalding belrynger of Paules endited of the mur-
ther of Hun, 574.
, Hys confession to the quest, ib.
Hys deposition, 577.
Staylen vncle to Perky n Warbecke, 489.
StyJe knyght, 523, 745.
Stokesby the kyngs Almoner, 585.
Is sent tunbassadour to the vniuersityes
for the kyngs manage, 759-
Made bishop of London, 783,
Sutlon alderman slayne, 222.
Lord Talbot, 170, 194, 202, 227, 229-
Hys sonne slayne, 244.
76l.
Taylor knight, 46'3.
Tyndall knight, 800.
1 Typtoft erle of Worcester behedded, 286.
- Tremayle knyght, 563.
- Truy, 575.
- Turnebull, us.
- Vandosme a lord in Fraunce, 146.
- Waleston, 495.
• Wallop knyght, 535.
Wentlowe, 298.
Fyteously slayne by the hande of
Edmonde duke of Somersett, 300.
- Lord Wells, 394.
• — Is sent into Normandye, 569, 642,
669, 858.
- Wyclvfe and lolm Husse condemned to death,
48. "
- Wyclieff, 844.
- Wylshyre, knight, 539.
— Wyndham knight, 496.
. • — - Behedded on the Towre hyll, ib.
- . 'iii. sonne to kyng Henry the fourth made duke of
Bedford, 42.
lone a mayde called of the Frenchmen Le Puzel in
•whome the Frenchmen put great confidence, 148,
149, 150, 154, 156.
— Taken and brente, 157-
lournay of Spurrs, 550.
Iryshrnen, ouercame the Isle of Fraunce, 92-
Isabell the Frenche queue meteth kynge Henry the
fift, 91-
— — — Daughter to the Scottish kyng maried to
Frauncis duke of Brytayne, 186.
• Daughter to the erle of Warwyke maried to
the duke of Clarence, 272.
- Deliuured of a sonne vpon the sea before the
toune of Caleis, 279-
Isamhert of Agyncourt robbed the tents at the battayl
of Agyncourt, 69.
Isle of Bryteyne one entier monarchy, 52.
In lordaine, 203.
Of Wyglit, 863.
Italy, 1.
Inly bishope of Rome, 503.
lulyan lytle her deposicyon of the death of Hun, 575.
lulius Cesar, 1.
lury brother lo the duke of Brytayne, 129. • •
lustes, 16, 162, 510, 513, 516, 520, 521, 532, 566,
584, 591, 598, 612, 622, 630, 685, 674, 707, 719,
734, 756, 837.
K.
Kappe a toune in Fraunce, 668.
Katheryn lady Swinfford the thirde wyfe to lohan of
Gaunt Duke of Lancastre deceaced, 26.
Quene and mother to kynge Henry the. VI.,
184.
— — — The youngest daughter to king Edward, was
maried to Lorde Wylliam Courtnay, 345.
. — — Douwhter to Alexandre erle of Huutley, ma-
ried to Perky nvWarbecke, 474.
Daughter to Ferdinand kyng of Spayne, 493.
Maryed to Prynce Arthure, ib.
. — . • De Faro, mother to Perkyn Warbecke, 488.
. Daughter to kyng Henry the suueiitlie dieth
shorlely after her by.tb, 497.
Prynce Arthurs wyfe, maried to kynge Hen-
ry the eyghte hys brother, 507-
1 Crowned quene, 508.
Delyuered of a Prynces, 516.
It dyeth, ib.
She is made gouernesse of the realme whyl
the kynge lyeth at Tyrwyn, 539.
She is delyuered of a Prynces called Mary,
584.
Her maryage in questyon, 755.
She is cyted, 757.
She appealeth to Rome, ib.
The laste tyme that she euer saw the Kinze
782.
Is called prynces dowager, 795.
Deuorced from the Kynge, 796.
She dyed at Kymbalton, & is buryed at Pe-
terborough, 818.
Countesse of Brydgewater committed to the
Tower, 843.
• Haward maryed to the kynge, 840.
Accused of dyssolute lyuynge, 842.
Behedded, 843.
Latimer maried to the Kynge, 858.
Tylney Judged to perpetuall prysoii, 842.
Galley, a Shyppe, 673.
Kentyshmen rose & dyd muche harme about London,
285.
Keyes delyuered, 553.
Kelsey a towne in Scotlande brente, 645.
Kylyngworth Castle, 122, 221.
Kyng Arthure the glory of Brytons, 53.
Of Arragon and Castle, 505.
Sendeth Ambassadoures to the kynge of
Englande hys sonne in lawe for hys
ayde agaynste the Infidels,, 519, 520.
Hys promises to the kynge of Englande,
527.
He breaketh promes, 52,8.
He conquereth the realme of Nauers,
whyle the Englyshmen wayted for hys
promes in Byskay, 530, 531.
. — He dyeth, 584.
— — Of Nauar vyctayled the Englishe armye in Bys-
kay, 528.
INDEX.
Kyng of Nauar he is sodenly besieged in Papylona of
'the Spanyardes, & flyeth into Fraunce where he
after dyed, 530.
Pepyn vsurped the croune of Fraunce, 51.
Lewes the nynthe whome the Frenchmen called
sayute Lewes, ib.
Edward the fourth, deposed Kynge Henry the
syxte, 342.
Hys exhortacyon to hys lordes on hys
deth bed, 344.
Diseased at Westminster, 34-5.
Conueighed to Wyudesore, ib.
Hys two sonnes, ib.
• Hys fiue daughters, ib.
— - Hys discryptyon, ib.
Edwarde the fyft kepte houshold at Ludlow, 347.
• Came towarde London, 349-
— • Returned by the duke of Gloucester to
Northamton, 350.
— Came to London, 351.
Conueight'd to the Tower, 358.
Richard vsurped the kyngdome, 374.
Charles, 405.
Of Castles arryuall in Englande, 510.
He is inuited & desyred by syr Tho-
mas Trencbard too hvs house, ib.
• He is receaued into Wyndsore Castle,
501.
— • Conueighed to London, ib.
Departetli into Spayne, & shortelye
after diethe, ib.
— — Hys discryption, ib.
Henry the. VII. his receauing into Londo, 422,
423.
, Crouned kynge, 423.
Called a parlcmeut, ib.
Redeemed hys pledges at Parys, 424.
Elected his councell, ib.
Maried Elisabeth daughter too kynge Edwarde
the fourthe, ib.
Toke his progres.se towarde Yorke, 426'.
- Turned agayne to Londo, 428.
— He wente to Yorkshyre againe, 434.
- Arrived at Calise wyth an arrnye, 457.
- Returned into Englande, 458.
— Set an arrnye mlo Irelacl, 470.
- Toke hys progresse into Lancashyre, 471.
Let of hys piogiesse& returned to Lodo, 472.
— Went towarde Excester, 484.
- Returned to London, 486".
- Hys death & descryptyon, 564.
Of Granado, became subiect to the kynge of
Spaine, 454.
Kyrbye Staphan in Westmorland, 824.
Knyghtes of the Balh made, 800.
Krekers, otherwyse called aduenturers, 669, 671-
Thev enterpryze at Sarner de Boys, 679> 6'80,
6«6.
L.
Labourers, Masons and Carpenters sent to Tornay, 585.
Lady Isabell daughter to the French kyng maried to
kyng Richard the second after hys death was agayne
conueighed into Fraunce to her Father, 22.
Lady Lyngard daughter to kyng Charlemayne, 51.
Lady Margaret syster to kyng Edward the Fourth, 429.
5X2
Lady Margaret her Enterprize came to none effects,
435.
She began a new conspiracy, 462.
Rejoyced at Perkyns returne out of
of Fraunce, 463.
Rebuked for her two babes Lambert
and Perkyn, 466.
• Heuy news is brought her, 486'.
Margarete mother too kyng Henry the seuenth
and wife to the erle of Darby, 471.
— Daughter to Kyng Henry the seuenth
uffied by proxie too lames the IIII.
kyng of Scotts, 494.
Conueighed into Scotland, 498.
- Duchese dowager of Sauoy, 408.
Laigny, 156, 168.
Lambart a prieste otherwise called lohn Nicholson
burned in Smythfield, 827.
Lambert Symnell, 428.
- Hys name chaunged and called Edward, ib.
Proclaymed kyng of England, 433.
Hys apprehension, 434.
— Was a turne broche and after the 'kyngs fal-
coner, 435
Lambeth, 467.
Lamentable wordes of kyng Henry the fift, 373.
Lanam a town, 699.
Lancaster, 1.
An Heraulde, 520.
Lancelot Lisle knyght, 117, 121.
Lathbery a Captayne, 659-
Laudersey, 858.
Laurence Bath archbishop of Yorke, 30*.
Bounyce, 717-
Lord Oliphant, 398.
Lavall, 141.
Lawde, a cytye in Naples, 750.
•League, 140.
— Proclaymed betwene England and Fraunce,
583.
— - Deuysed by pope Clemente, 712.
Called the holy league of Clemente, 714.
Swornc betweene kyng Henry and the enipe-
rour, 857.
Legate from Pope, 592.
Leigh a Gentleman Executed at Tyborne, 848.
Leonard Musgraue taken prysoner, &S3.
Letter to the Duke of Burgoin, 157.
— Of defiaunce from the kyng of Scottes to the
kyng of England lieng at Tyrwin, 445.
Lewes Baggot knight, 537-
Duke of Burbon, 21.
— De balle, 188.
De Creuell and hys fellow, messengers from (lie
constable of Fraunce to the Fi'enche kyng,
316.
Of Luxenborogh, bishop of Tyrwyn, 154.
Duke of Orleaunce, 144, 436.
A capitayne of the Brittiriea armye, 441.
Sforcia duke of Myllain, 457.
. - P hisicion to queneElizabeth, 390.
Erie of saincte Paule, 195.
Constable of Fraunce, 305.
— He taketh part with the duke of Burgoyn, 307.
Desembleth wyth kyng Edwarde, 310.
Lewes, constable of Frounce scndeth letters of Cre-
dence to kyng Edward, 31 6.
The eleuenth kyng of Fraunce, 263.
He is not content with the kyng for rejectyng hys
syster demaunded of tiyni and graunted, 266'.
—- He promiseth the erle ot YVarwike hys ayde and
help and all that he can do, -280.
1 Receaueth a letter of deffiaunce from kyng Ed-
ward, 309.
- He sueth to kyng Edward for peace, 311.
Peace is ghiunted and farther cocluded that both
the kyngs should meet in some conuenient
place to see each other, 313.
.• Their meting, 318.
- •• -. Hys trybute to kyng Edward, 320.
> He taketh a greate part of Picardy from the
yong princes of Burgoyn and edifu-.th Bulleyn,
325.
His greate offer to kyng Edward, 328.
• The twelue kyng of Fraunce, 505.
• He had warre with pope luly, 525.
- He marieth the kyng of Englauds syster lady
Mary, 570.
Hedyeth, 581.
Lichfield a toune, 41 J.
Lyon kyng at armes, 498.
- Of Scotland, 545.
A gonne, 246".
Lyonell duke of Clarence, 225.
Lyborne a toune in Fraunce, 668.
Lyseaux a towne in Normandy gotten, 80.
Lyseux, 21 6'.
Lysle a toune in Flaunders, 553.
Lithe a toune in Scotland, 634.
Taken of the Englishmen, S604
— — Consumed wyth fyer, 86' 1.
Loane gathered, 652.
Released, 767.
Loyre a riuer, 144.
Loyuers, 171.
Long Roger, 491.
Longuerne, £03.
Lord Aburguyne, 540, 549, 565.
— Apprehended and had to the tower,
623.
- Of Argenton, 288, 316, 318.
Barkley lieutenant of the castle of Caleis, 658,
661.
- Baruardyne de belasco, constable of Castle, 676.
- Barnes, 570, 658.
• Of Barow in Sealand, 540.
- Of Bauers admyrall of Flaundera, 647.
Beauchampe of Powyke, 300.
Bray, 792, 824.
Brooke, 6'23.
— Clifford slayne, 253.
Clynton, 523, 571.
He dyeth of the sweate, 592.
•Cobbam, 537, 633.
Sat in commission in Kent, 699, 792.
Lord William Courtney tone to Edward erle of Do
uonshyre, 496.
Dae res, 569.
. He fyndeth the kyug of Scottes among
the slayne, ib.
. He entreth into Scotland at the kyngs
commaundment, 630, 650.
• Of the north arreigned in Westminster
ball of hygh treason, confuteth hys ac-
cusers to hys great honour, 815.
Of the soutbe Thomas Fines hanged at
Tyborne, 842.
Dalawar, 537, 570, 623.
Daltbret, 441.
Decowry prior of saint lohns, 537.
Dudley, ib.
Fitz Hugh, 351.
Fitz Warren, 623.
Fitz Water pardoned of hys life, 465.
Slayne, 253.
Fulberry, 683.
Gray the kyngs deputy for Ireland, 832, 842,
862.
Hye capitayne of Bullein, 867.
Of Gradon in Scotland taken prysoner, 664.
Graystocke, 331.
Hastings, 537, 768, 790, 792.
Haward, 313, 320, 322, 338.
Hodye chief baron of the kyngs exchequer, 620.
Hosy behedded at Lincolne, 824.
Lord Hugo vyceroy ot Naples, 752.
Hungerford taken prysoner, 26"0.
— . Put to death at Newcastle, ib.
Behedded, 84.
— — lames Galens born in Naples slayne in battail,
441.
— — Gray hys horse slayne vnder hym with a gonne,
555.
• — He dyeth of the sweate, 59'2.
lohn of Sommerset slayne in Battei, 301.
— Lawlrick lyethe in Italy wyth an arniye at the
charges of the kyng of England and
the Frenche kyngs, 736'.
He beseigeth Pauye, 737, 739, 743, 749-
He falleth sicke at Naples, 751.
— ' He dyeth in the countrey of Naples and
hys bodye conueighed into Fraunce,
ib.
Leonard Gray, 667.
. - He and hys company defendeth
the castle of Loyaltye, 688.
1 Apprehended and had to the
Tower, «39.
Behedded, 842.
Cordes, 444, 445.
Beseged the toune of Newport, 446.
• • Hys common saieng of Calice, 447>
458.
— • Of Countay seruant to the dnk» of Burgoyn, 316.
Lewes of Trenoyle Vicount of Thomars a Gas-
coyne a capitayne of the Frenche armye, 441.
Ligny of Flaunders, 540, 549, 554.
Lisle Adam, 120, 540, 553, 565, 566.
Lyon a Brytayne slayne in battayl, 441.
Louell, 331.
Lumley, 666.
Matrauerse, 792.
Maxwell of Scotland, 683, 847.
Molyns, 117.
- Taken prysoner, 260.
— • Put to death at Newcastle, ib.
INDEX.
Lorde Mordant, 7.02.
Morley; 445, 623, 674.
i Slavtie at the assaulting of Dipenew,
446.
- Buryed at Calice, ib.
Mountague Henry Poole apprehended and had
to the towre, 623.
Restored to the kyngs fauour agayne, 630, 66l,
792.
___ Apprehended and had to the Towre, 827.
Behedded, ib.
Moimtford a brytayne slayne in battayl, 441.''
Obryn in Ireland, 858.
Ogle, 600, 666.
Peter prynce of Lyon, 455.
Peter of Mendose, ib.
Pontlabbe a Brytayne slayne in battayl, 441.
__ Pounlremy generall capytayne ef Tyrwyn, 538.
. He yeldeth the cytye, 5.51.
He goeth to Picardy wyth a great armye, 569,
669, 681.
. Powes, 661.
— — Fowning, 116.
.' Rauestou a noble man of Flaunders, 553.
•i Rycharde brother to the lord Marques Dorsett,
511.
Roch baron, capytayne of Mountdyer in
Fraunce, 669.
. Roos taken prvsoner, 260.
. Put to death at Newcastle, ib.
Of saint lohns, 624.
Straunge, 433, 481.
Scroope of Houlton, 331.
Wallon of Flaunders, 540, 542, 549, 554.
Wylloughhy, 117, 549, 565, 623.
Wyllam Haward, 842.
— — Vawclere a Gascoyne deputye of Calice for the
erle of Warwike would not suffer the erle to
land, 279-
He hath a pencyon for hys labour of the Duke
of Burgoyne, 279, 287.
Loserote field, £77-
Lothryne eldest sonne to kyng Brute, 52.
Lnd castle, 140.
I.uxborue a cytye in Portyngale, 781.
M.
Madryll castell in Spayne where the French kyng lay
prysoner, 705.
Magdalen of kyng Rycbards chappell couspyreth
agaynst kyng Henry the fourth, 16.
- Toke vpon hym to be kyng Rychard the
fourth, 18.
Taken and committed to the Towre, J9-
— — Put to death, ib.
Mahumet, 45, 230, 853.
Maiengof Slietershyll, 58J.
Maister lennin, 700.
Malcolyne kyng of Scottes inuaded England, 55.
Mantell a Gentleman hanged atsaynte Thomas of VVa-
teryngs, 842.
Mantua, 797.
Marcelles in Prouynce besieged of the duke of Burbon,
086, 789.
Marchauntes goods icazed both in England and
Fraunce, 851. 3
Marchmoutlt an Heralde of Scotland, 481.
Margaret lienet a buter wife. 842.
Margaret doughter to the Scotysh kyng maried to the
Dolphyn, 18$.
Wife of Kynge Henry the sixte she being iu
Fraunce procureth ayde to helpe hir hus-
band, 258.
— — — She sayleth into England with a crewe of
Frenchmen and landeth atTynmoth, 259.
Returneth into Fraunce agayne, 26 1.
Shee comnieth to the French court to therle
of Warwyke, 281.
— — — — Returning into Lngland she is dryuen backe
agayne by tempestuous wether, 286, 287.
• She commeth agayne and laudeth at the
porte of Weymouth in Dorsett shy re, 297.
1 She taketh Sanctuary, 298.
• She goeth to Bath and there abydeth tyll
her freudes be assembled, 239-
— — — — She is apprehended and layed iu pryson tyll
hyr father ransomed hyr wyth money and
then conueyghed her to Fraunce, 301.
Margaret Countesse of Rychemond and mother of
kyng Henry the seuenth, 388.
Margaret Countesse of Salisbury atteinted of Treason,
827.
— Behedded in the towre, 841, 842.
Margaret Durhesse of Alaunson the Frenche kyngs
syster, deuyseth waies for hym to escape out of pry-
son, 708.
Margaret duchess of Sauoy scndeth to the kyng of Eng-
Jande for archers to ayde her agaynst the Duke of
Gelders, 522.
- She giueth the English Soldiers cotes of dv-
uerse coulers, 524, 621, 622, 752.
- Doughter to Maximiliian the Emperour,
553, 556.
————— Queue of Scottes commeth into England,
to hane succor of the kynge her Brother,
583, 584.
Shee returneth into Scotland, 591.
Syster to the kyng of Scottes, 202.
Syster to kyng Edward, 2(>7.
- Maried to Charles duke of Burgoyne, 2(>9.
.- • ' • Daughter and heyre to lohu the fyrste duke
of Sommerset, bare Henry which after
kyng Rychard obteyned the crowne, 284.
Duchess of Burgoyn, 326', 327.
Daughter to George duke of Clarence he-
hedded in the dayes oi kyng Henry theight,
327.
Daughter to Maximilian, 328.
Margaret Jordan, surnamed the Wytcht-, 202.
Mariage concluded, 449.
- For kyng Edward the Fourth, 264.
Marion a Scot, 851.
Marke Smeton behedded, 813.
Marke and dyuerse other villages brent of the French-
men, 86'4.
Markham capitayne of the barke at Sandwyche, 6"73.
Maryborough, 299-
Marmaduke Constable, 557, 558.
Marne, 179.
Marques of Gnasco, 752.
— Of Mantua, 797.
INDEX.
Marques of Pistare, 6s6.
.- Woides betweene hym and the duke of Bur-
bon, 6S6, 692.
Of Saluce, 751.
Of Villena and Moya, 455.
Marshall of Keyus, 441.
Marte kept at Calice, 467, 729.
Mars god of Battayle, 125.
Marlyn Bishop of Rome, 152.
Martyn Godfrey, 140.
Swart, 433.
- Slayne in battayle, 434.
Mary daughter and heyre to Charles duke of Burgoyne,
326.
— Maried to Maximillian sonne to Fredericke the
emperour, 328.
Daughter to Charles duke of Burgoyn,..429.
Daughter andheyretoLewestheFrenchkyng,444.
Mary syster to kyng Henry the eight is prepared by
hym to goo into Flaunders, to perform the ma-
riage promysed, 567.
The counsaile of Flaunders wyll not receaue her
that yere, 568.
• She is raaryed to Lewes the Frenche kyng, 570.
Crowned queue of Fraunce, 571.
• The kyng her husband dyeth, 581.
She returned! into F,ngland and maryeth wyth
the duke of Suffolke, ib.
She dyeth, 805.
Mary daughter to kyng Henry the eight borne at
Greenwyche, 584.
Promysed in mariage to the Dolphin of Fraunce
vpon condycyon, 594.
Required in mariage of the kynge of Scottes,
688.
. Likewise of the emperor, 692.
Her househoukl established, 7^3.
Mary duchesse of Longuille maryed to lames the fift
kyng of Scottes, 688.
She is deliuered of a daughter called Mary, 856.
Mary Hose drowned, 863.
Masons, Carpenters, and Labourers sent to Turnay,
58:5.
Mathew dough, 141.
Taken prysoner, 165, 175, 214.
. , Sl.iyne. 222.
Browne, 523, 524, 600.
Spert put to death, 444.
Matrimony, I.
Mauns besieged, 126, 143, 171.
Mawrice Barkley knyght, 485.
Maximillian, LJuke of Austrice, 306.
_.. . lie maryeth lady Mary daughter and
heyre to Charles duke of Bnrgoyn, 328.
Maximilian kyng of the Romans, 423, 42,0.
. Made warre on the Fleming-:, 444.
- Betrayed and put in ward in the towne of
Bruges, ib.
, Deliuered vpon hys promyse, 445.
_____ Brake protnesse wyth kyng Henry the se-
uenth, 456.
Maxymyliari the emperour, 505, 544.
He rommeth to the kyng of England to
Tyrwyn, 544.
Maxymylian is reteyned wyth the kyng in wages, 548,
550.
He dyeth, 598.
Meaux a towne besieged, 108.
Yelded. 110.
Melfe a great towne in Spayne, 739, 748.
Melune, 166, 192.
Memorancy, 25.
Menu, 144.
Merchauntes goods of England attayched by the duke
of Burgoyn, 288.
Merkham chief Justice, 369.
- Lost hys offyce, ib.
Messengers sent to Fraunces, duke of Brytayne from
kynge Edward, 305.
Metyng of kyng Edward the fourth and the Frenche
kyng, 318.
Midas, ,43.
Myddlemore a monke of the Charterhouse hanged at
Tyborne, 817-
Mighel Lallies, ISO.
Joseph, 477.
— Surnamed Blacksmyth, 479-
Miles Forest, one of tliu murderers of kyng Edwards
Chyldren, 379.
Milford hauen, 410.
Miltbrd, 56' I.
Mylnelde, ,56'0.
Myllayne, 676, 69!, 709, 715.
Myracle, 82 J.
Mistelbroykes saying to Pottier of kyng Edward, 347.
Modon a towne belonging to the Turke, 786.
Molyn a stronge toune in Normady besieged, 102.
Yelded, 103.
Monke of the Charterhouse besyde Brystow called
Hen ton attayched and had to the Towre, 623.
He gaue credence against the duke of Buck-
ingham, ib.
Monkes of the Charterhouse named Exmewe, Nudy-
gutc, and Middlemore hanged at Tyborne, 817-
- Singing, 375.
Monlessou, 203.
Monsyre de Guy marshal! of Fraunce, 347.
Monsyre de Gronture Gouerner for Duke Charles i»
Holland, 284.
- — He receaueth kyng Edward Lo-
uingly and ministreth to hym and hys all
thyngs necessary, ib.
Robert de Estoteuyle capitayne of the
Frenche armye, 311.
Monstrea fault Yow, 1.51, 187-
Mordake (;rle of Fiffe taken prysoner, 24.
Morgan Thomas, 302.
Kedwelle learned in the lawe, 410.
Morgusjn a towne in Fruuuce, 538.
- Brente by the Englishmen, 651.
Morlyce assauted and gotten, 642.
Moryce Berkeley knyght, 570.
Moron chief counsayler wyth the duke of Myllayn,
714.
Morrat a tonne in Fraunce, 325.
Morret, 160.
Mortimer, 221.
INDEX.
Mortimers crosse, 251.
Mounsyre Brynon presedent of Roan, 691, 704.
Hys oracyon, 711.
• De Bees, 648.
Cupitayne of Bullein, 659.
Is hurt and hys liorse slayne, 660.
De la voies capitayne of Turnay, 704.
Ledowyke capitavne of Depe, 659.
Pandonnye capytayne of Hedding, 692.
Pratt the Emperours ambassadour, 691.
- He departetli priuylye out of Eng-
land, 6'97. ,
Mountarges a toune in Fraunce, 405.
— • Taken, 164.
Mountagulyon besieged, 1 19.
Mountdedier in Fraunce besieged, 669.
. Yelded, ib.
Mount guyon, 223.
Mountdidea, 176.
Mount Marter, 179-
Saincte Martine, 671.
Murder, 378.
Murmorof the people, 744.
Murmuring of the people, 167, 379-
Muster in London, 829-
Musters through the realme, 630, 652, 823.
Muttering of the people, 358, 694.
Muttrell besieged, 86l.
N.
Nancy a toune in Loraiu where the duke of Burgoyn
was slayne, 325.
Naples, 676.
Narbyn, a toune in Fraunce brent, 647-
Nashfielde, 372.
Nece, 797-
Nesbit, 24.
Newbolt, a yeoman of the garde, 526'.
New Castle vpon Tyne, 436, 842.
New castle a toune in Fraunce, 644.
Newdyke a stronge passage in FJaunders, 660.
New foundeletany,728.
Newhall in Essex, otherwise called Beaulieu, 599-
Newnambrydge, 543.
Newport besieged, 446.
New Testaments forbidden, 771.
Burned by lohn Stokeley bishop of
London, ib.
. Also by Cuthbert Tustall bishop of
Durham, 762.
Nicholas Appliard knyghte, 556, 557, 564.
. Duke of Calabar, 306.
Carew, 581, 584, 595, 597.
Banished the Court, 598.
Made capytayne of Rice banke, 598, 722.
Behedded, 827-
,- Cardynall of the Holy crosse, 166.
- Darrell, 631.
. Hare knyghte put out of hys office, 837-
Restored agayne, 838.
Haruy a valiaunt Esquyre, 722.
The sayeng of a great Marques of
Spayne to hym in the emperours
courte, 782.
Hys answere, ib.
Nicholas Tempest esquyre, 824.
- — Hanged at tybourne, 824, 825.
Vaux knyghte capytaytie of Guysnes, 539,
596.
• West byshop of Ely, 756.
VVylson person of Sayut Thomas apostles in
London sent to the Tower, 841.
Norliam castle assaulted, 481, 487.
Besieged, 557.
Normandy, 154.
— Lost, 216, 225.
Norry kynge at armes, 481.
Northampton fielde, 244.
Northern men sent for, 375.
They are sent home agayne, 376.
Noityngham Castel, 412.
Nudigate a monke of the Charteihouse hanged at Ty-
bourne, 817.
Numidians, a people of a couutrey so called, 56.
O.
Obedyence, 47.
Octuuian Sforcia byshopp of Arelyne, 714.
Officers seruants put out of the court, 707.
Oye a riuer in Fraunce, 170, 180.
Oliuer Manye a valiant capytayne, 108.
Taken prysoner dyed and was buryed in
the whyte freers, 109.
Osbatersey, 140.
— Onyon a priest haged at Redding, 832.
Oracyon, 50, 52, 58, 67, 115, 122, 124, 176, 245.
• Of Thomas Arundel Archbydiopp of Cantur-
bury to kynge Henry the tourthe, 6.
- Of Thomas Audeley speaker of the Parlement,
765.
Of Mountsyre Brynon the president of Roan,
711.
Of the duke of Buckingham, 369.
1 Of the byshopp of Ely lord chancellor of Eng-
land, 319.
- Of mayster lohn Faber, 720.
" Of syr Thomas Moore in the Parlement house,
652.
Of kynge R) chard the thryde, 414.
Of Cutbart Tuustall at the parlement, 652.
- Of William priest, 466.
— Of Thomas Wolsey Cardynall, 655.
- Of a byshopp of Scotland to the kynge of Eng-
land, 688.
Ordre of the Garter, 156, 459.
1 Of saint lames, 452.
- Of saint Mighell in Fraunce, 466.
Orleance, 144.
Orlience, I
Othe, 134.
To the kynge, 789.
To the Pope, 7S8.
Otho Columbe named Martyn the fift, byshopp of
Rome, 48.
Owen Destays, 252.
Glendor tooke vpon hym to be prynce of Wales,
22, 25.
Dyed by famine, 31.
Teuther, 185.
Musgraue, 824.
Otterden priest brente in Smythefield, 867.
Pacy castle,
P.
117-
1
INDEX.
Padua, 769, 77.9.
Pageaunt deuysecl lyke a. mountayne, 51 6".
.. Made like a forest wydie rocks hyls and
dales, 517.
. ... Vpon wbeeles, 518.
. Spoiled and broken by the rude people, ib.
- Lyke a rocke urtilicyally made, 595.
Pagcauntes in making, 359.
— — — In London at the rcceauing of the empe-
rour, 638.
Pallas knyghts, 512.
Piilinesoiiday fielde, 253.
Palsgraue of the Ryne, 832.
Pampylona chyetecytie of Nauer, sodaynelye besieged
of the Spnnyardes, 530.
Yelded, ib.
Pardon of the greate dumaunde of money, 701.
Parys, 154, 179, 776.
Lost, 180.
Piirlimente, 14, 42, 76, 107, 127, 258, 286, 306, 512,
526, 535, 581, 583, 774, 784, 814, 818, 819, 838,
843, 864.
- At thcblacke l-'reers, 652.
. Prorogued, 655.
Adiourncd to Westminster and dissblued, ib.
In couentry, 243.
At Lecester, 49, 130, 166, 187, 206, 217,
233.
At Westminster, 423, 440, 476, 498.
- - Agayne remoued to Westminster, 245.
... In Parys koldeu by kynge Henry the syxt,
126.
. At Potyers kept by kyngc Charles, ib.
Of Se..'tlande, 683.
Partiacke of Alexiitidry, 455.
Partrycke Hebbon knyght, 24.
Patay a tonne in Fraunce, 150.
Paulus En)ilius, 159-
Paupe besieged and taken, 737-
Pauper the tonne clarke of the cytye of London hanged
hym selfe, 806.
Peace concluded betweene the Dolphin and the duke
of Burgoyne, 92.
Concluded betweene England and Frauiice for.
ix. yeres, 312.
— — - Concluded betweene England and Fraunce, 459,
5.96"
Broken, 1 68,624.
Renued agayne, 705.
- The peace sworn, 711-
. Betweene England and Fraunce and the low
countreyes of Pycardy for eyghte moueths,
749.
— — Betweene ye emperour and the French kyng,
710.
Broken, 712.
People murmer, 379-
Pembroke an Herault, 183.
Perkyn VVarbeck, 377.
— — A Fleming, 462.
• Brought vp wyth the duchesse of Bur-
goyne, ib.
• Sente to Portyngale and so to Ire-
land, ib.
Perkya Warbeck, the Frenche kynge sendeth for hym,
463.
• Returneth agayne to the lady Mar-
garet, ib.
• • Shee assigned) hym a garde and
calleth hym the white rose prince
of England, ih.
— — — — — — His landyngin Kent, 472.
. Hys ariuall in Scotland, 473.
. Maried the earle of Huntieyes daugh-
ter, 47*.
. Departeth into Ireland wyth hys Wife
£ family, 483.
Sayled into Cornwal, ib.
. Made Proclaymacyons in the name
of kyng Richarde the fourthe, ib.
— — — — — He taketh Sanctuary in a Towne
called Beaudley besyde Southamp-
ton, 485.
Commilteth hymselfe to the kyngs
pleasure, 486.
— — — — — Certeyne wer appoincted to attend
on hym to kepe hym, ib.
_ He brake from hys kepers, 488.
. . lie was fettered in a payre of Stockes
before the doore of Westminster
hall, ib.
, He confessed) hys pedygree, 488,
489.
— — He is Haged at Tybourne, 491.
Perron, 176.
Persyuall, 347.
Pestilence, 36, 512, 632.
Peter Landoyse cheyfe treasurer to the Duke of Bry-
tayne, 323, 324.
. Consenteth to betray kyng Henry the seuenth,
403.
Bishop of Excetter, 393.
• Edgecome knyght, 434.
- De Faro Perkyn Warbecks graudsyre on hys mo-
thers syde, 489.
Of Luxenbrough, 169.
Duke of Quymber, soune to the kyng of Portin-
gale, 128.
Turner, 577.
Pharamond kynge of the French Gautes, 50.
Phylipp Duke of Bauyer, 77.
Phillip Duke of Burgoyne maketh a league wyth Eng-
land, 116.
. Breaketh the league and ravseth an armye
agaynst the Duke of Gloucester, 128.
Reconciled agayne to the kyng of England,
155.
" Maried, 156.
- Agayne breketh the league, 174.
— Allieth hymselfe wyth the French kyng, 176.
— He besegeth Calice, 182.
- He Flieth, 183.
Deceasseth, 27, 266.
Phillip de Chabbot great Admyrall of Fraunce created
knyght of the garter, 794-
. Erie of Charoloyssonne and heyre to lohn duke
of Burgoyne maketh a league with the kyng
of England, 94.
INDEX.
Phillip de Commines, 279-
. . He is sent to Caleis by Charles
duke of Burgoyne, 288.
Hull esquyer, 32, 125, 150.
. Harcourt knyght, 175.
Malpas, 221, 253.
Mounseur lord of Rauestone, forsoke Maxy-
mylyan hys lord, 445.
He toke the tonnes (if Hpire and Sluis, ib.
. He caused the Gauntoys & Brugiaus to rebell
iigaynst Maximilian, ib.
Phillip TyliK y'kuyght, 556, 558.
. — Uyllers maister of the Rhodes, 653.
Picquegne a towne in Frauuce, 318, 319, 338.
Piers Bniry a knyght ol Biytayne, 258.
-. M;ide. capitayne of Alnevvyke castle, 259.
Clerett one of the maysters of the Frenche house-
hold, 321.
Pyerce Beular a knyght of Irelac'.e created erle of Os-
serye, 748.
• Of Excester knyght murthered kyng
Richard in pryson, 2O.
Pykerleigh, 824.
Pius bishopp of Rome, 159-
Play, 735
— At Grays Inn, 7>9-
Pledges put to death, 141.
Pluralities, 766.
Poython of Xentrayelles, 156, 1(>4.
Pomi'ri-tt, 550.
Pompey, 1.
— Cardinal! of Columbe, 71/v
Ponthoyse won, 191.
— — Lost, 192.
Poo a riuer in Itali, 714, 7l6, 7l7«
Pope abolished, 8l6.
Clementr sent hys nmbassadoures to set the thre
princes at one, 676.
He goeth about to lett the coronacyon
ot the emperour, 712.
— Hys letter to the emperour, 714.
. Ho raseth an armye, ib.
. Dothe yelde hymselfe prysoner, 727»
— — — He is cleliuered, 738.
• — — He goeth to Bonony, 763.
-. Crowneth the envpcroure in Bonony,
768.
- He requireth the kyng of England to
appear at the generall counsayle at
Mantua, 797-
He curseth the kyng of England and
hys realnie, 808.
Poporniche, 1 84.
Portesruoutht", §(i3.
Pottier dwelhti" in Red crosse strete, 346.
Pouertye capiuiyue of the Insurrection in Suffolkc, 700.
Pountlarche taken, 212.
Velded, 82.
Pounthoise taken, g2.
Pountorson besieged, 139-
. Gotten, 140.
Preachyng, 47.
Pregent of Cotyny, 1 19.
Preparations for the liynges going in France, 600.
Present geiten to the Frenche ambassadours by ttft
cytye of London, 733, 734.
Probates of Testamentcs and mortuaries in questyon,
Processions, 238, 301, 728.
- ' Of the clergie, 380.
Proclaniatyon, 155, 253,772.
Properties of a good woman, 459.
Prophesye, 28, 326, 826.
Propos\CYon made by the Frenche \mbas3adoure, 734.
— ^— - - Of a Portyngale, 677.
Prouerbes, 46, 49, 55, 79, 1OO, 101, 106, 117, 124,
125, 128, 163, 165, 177, 181, 184, 186, 209, 210,
233. 263, ?64, 278, 324, 330, 383, 384, 386, 387,
388, 427, 494, 4^9, 0'21, 676, 867.
Prouynce, 672.
I'rvde of the Frenchemen> 586.
Prye'tes, 143.
- — -Pardoned of Treason, for theyre orders sake,
467.
- — — Arrested and sente to pryson, 784-.
Prynces and noble men that were in kyng Henry the
fyfte hys armye, 102.
Pry nee of Kotlisaye, 401.
- - Arthurs birth, 428.
•• - - He maried lady Katherin the Kynge of
Spayne his daughter, 495.
-"• - - He died in the Castle of Ludlowe and
was buried at Worcester, 497.
- - Of Orange taken prysoner, 441.
••• Of Castle and the ladye Margarett, feasted in
Tnrney by the kynge of Englande, 566.
- Of Salerne came into Englande te se th«
kynge, 840.
Pryntynge when it fyrst began, 236-.
Prysoners taken, 7i, 125.
- Hanged, 102.
Pryor lolm aydeth the Frenche kynge wyth hys Gulie*,
535.
- The Admyrall of Englande assayleth hym in
Whytesande Baye, 536.
- He landeth in Sussex, 568, 569-
— — Is shot in the face wyth an arowe, 560.
Q.
Queue Isabell of Fraunce greate grandmother of Kyng
Henry the fyft, 51.
- Carlett, wyfe to Lewes the Frenche kyng, 26"3.
— — — Anne crowned, 376.
- Rlizabetb.es heauynes, 379«
- Isabell wyfe to the kynge of Denmarke, 6'58.
--- Of Hungary, S3.
, --- 1 Taketh Sanctuary, 350.
- -- Her aunswereto the cardinal!, 35i.
____ Delyuered her soune, 358.
Called a Sorceresse, 36'0.
Alargarel, 365.
It.
Randolph Staudvshe knyght slayu, IJ3.
Raufe Rokesby Shyryef of Yorke, 39-
— Of Actouyle murthered the duke of Orlyauuce,
41.
— i — - Bowes knighte, 481.
Brooke, 659-
Butler knight, 138.
. i Bygod knighte, 481.
INDEX.
Raufc Clerkcr knight, ib. Richard he tnurthered hysnephewes, 377.
K«erton, kiiight, 685. • • " He put to death hys brother duke of Clarence,
Seruante to tlie Lorde Audeley lorde 380.
Cliauncilor hanged tor countert'eytyng the — — — He behedded the duke of Buckingham, 395.
kynges greate scale, 8*1. • He calleth a parlement, 397.
- Erie of Westerlande hys oracyon, 52. He send? th Ambassadoures to the duke Brityn
Gray of Warke knyghte, 138." to appreheude the erle of Richmond^, W2,
. Made Capytayne of Bamborough castle, 403.
•,'jy. Hys dreame, 414.
__ Disgraced of hys knyghthode and after • Hys oracyon, ib.
behedded, 2u'l. He is slayne in the fielde, 41<).
. Wilton knight, 442. • Shamefully caried to Leycester, 421.
. Lancaster knyght, 138. And there buried, ib.
. Lord Neuel, 481. Richard Byshopp of Saint Asse, 398.
— — Percye knyghte, 259. Aston knight, 32.
. He forsaketh kynge Ed ward e, and gocth — — — Awbemond, knight, llfj.
to kynge Henry, ib. Beauchamp Erie of Warwicke made liuute-
Slayne in Battayle, 26'0. naunte for the Regent in Frounce & Nor-
Shaa clearke, 36'4. mandy, 130.
V. of Salisbury, murdered, 222, 223. Made gouemour of the kynge,
Stanley slayne, 250. 138, l6'4.
Willbrd Frerr Patrickes Scoller, 490. . Ded, 190, 191.
Hanged at Saint Thomas of Wateringes, Richard Sonne to Richarde Beauchamj)e made erle of
ib. Warwicke, & capytayne of Calice, 233, 237.
Elderker knyght, 520, 807. Rebelleth, 241.
Slayne, So'4. Richard Beer abbot of Glascenbury, 503.
— Of Fanwicke knyghte taken prisoner in Scot- — Bulmer, knight, 702.
lande, 6"83. • Erie of Cambridge, 13.
Rayne & fluddes, 721. — — — Apprehended & executed, 60, 6l.
Rebellion, 179, 213. Hys treason, 6'l.
• In Yorkshyre, 841. ' Carew knyght, 540.
Jledcrosse strete, 340. ' Caronell, knight, 138.
lledyng, 696. • " Chomeley knyghte Lieutenaunte of the Tower,
Refutacyon of the Frenche kynges appology, 712. 589, 623.
Regent of England brent, 534. • Corbet knight, 442, 670.
Reginold lord Gray of Rythen, 23. Cornwall knyghte, 668.
— — — Graystocke made knyght, 64. Croftes knyght, 301, 445.
. Grey knighty!17. Cromewell knyght, 838.
— Cobham, knight, 138. • Dela Poole, 541.
. Braye, knyght, 390, 477. •— - — — — — Appoynted by the Frenche kynge
. Hys death, 497. to kepe Normandy, and to entre
Religio of S. lohns in England dyssolued, 838. into England, 569.
Suppressed, 826. — — — _____ ]s much fauored of the Frenche
Reynault Gyllam, 196. kynge, 6'51.
— -- Peacocke bishope of Chichester abiured, 236. • ' Goeth into Scotlaude wythe the
Reyne duke of Barr, 16'4, 457. duke of Albany, 665.
. Duke of Aniow, 457. - Deryng a monke of Cantorbury, 806.
lleynes yelded, 150. Edgecome knight, 394, 424.
Rhodes besieged, 653. Empson, 499.
- Yelded to the greate Turke, 655. Fanner Grocer in London condemned in a pre
Rice ap Thomas, 4)0,411, 412,479, 485,537, 538, munire, 838.
541. Lord Fitz Hugh, 398.
Richard Ap Maddocke, 118. Richard Fitz lames Byshopp of London, 573.
Richard the second Sayleth into Ireland, 6. • Hys letter to the Cardinal!, 579.
— Taken by Henry duke of Lancastre and coia- • Hys wordes in the Parlyniente Chamber, ib.
initted to the Towre, 9. Richard Fox, bishop of Wincester, 405, 406".
Deposeth hymselfe, & resigneth the kyngdome, < Bishop of Excester, 436, 480.
12. Gybson Serjiant at Armes, 699.
.1 Committed to Ledes castle, 13. Yemen of the Tentes, 540.
. • Murthercd, 20. Duke of Gloucester, 258, 342.
Buried at Westminster, ib. . •» Brother to kyng Edward the fourth, ib.
Richard The third usurped the crowns, 375. — — — He is not content wyth the peace taken wyth
. Proclaimed kyng, ib. the Frenche kynge, 314.
. He maketh the knyghtes of the Battie, 37 5^ Richard Duke of Gloucester he kylleth kynge Henry
. He is crowned, 376. the syxte in the Tower wyth a dagger, 303.
• Hys description, 342.
INDEX.
Richard Contriueth the destruction of hys nephewes,
347-
. • Hys persuasions to get the prynce from the
quenes kynred, 348.
_ - Toke on hym the gouernauuce of the young
kyng, 350.
Made protectour, 35 1 .
Usurped the kyngdome, 373, 374.
Richard Gray knight, 138.
. Lord Grey the quenes Sonne, 349.
_ — Arrested in the kynges presence, ib.
Behedded at Poumfret, 350.
. Greshanj, 699.
Griffith, +11.
_ Guylford esquyer, 392.
. Knight, 424, 472, 478.
. Harbert Icnyght, brother to therlc of Pen-
broke, 273.
Behedded at Banbury, 274.
Haute knyght, 349-
Behedded at Poumfret, 350.
Horsenayle, 588.
. Hun, murthered in the Lollers Tower, 573.
. Hunnyng and Bryckes of the Laterye, 544.
, lernyngham knyghte, capytayne of Turnay,
596.
Admytted into the kyngs priuye
chanibre, 598.
. Lambert Gentleman, 6'87.
. Layton knight, 442.
. Lake, knight, 117.
. Lessey, 46'7.
. Lymbricke knighte slayne, 250.
- Maister, priest, 806'.
- Merkyns brente in Smythfield, 841,
. Pace the kynges Secretary, 594, 599, 686, 717,
741.
Plantagenet, 342.
— — Hys Pedegre, 128.
Created Dukeof Yorke.138,179.
Made Regent of Fraunce, 191.
Secretly conspyreth against the
kyng, 210.
Sent into Ireland, 213.
— — ~^— — — — He reiseth an arrnye and appre-
hendeth the kyng, 232, 233.
' • "•• Made protectoure, 233.
— ' — Discharged of hys protectour-
shyp, 234.
Reconciled to the kyng, 238.
Againe rebellgih, 241.
He flieth, 242.
• — Againe inuadeth & apprehend-
eth the kyng, 244.
• Claimctb the croune, 245.
• Proclaymedheyre apparaunceto
yc croune & Protectour of
the realme, 249-
— „ __ Hf rebelleth againe, 250.
' Siayne at the Battayle of Wake-
field, 342.
Poole knight, 327.
Radclyffe knyghte, 377, 398.
Ratlyf knyghte, 3o'4.
Reginold knight, 179.
5Y 8
Richard Risoy, 807.
Lord Riuers, 242.
Rose boyled in Smithileld for poysonyng, 781,
Sachyuerell, 537.
. Erie of Salisbury, 225.
.. Made Chancelor, 233.
- " •— Discharged of hys Chancelorshippe, 234.
Taken prisoner, 250.
Behedded, 251.
Richard Salkeld esquyer, 3.98.
• Samson Deane of the kynges chapell, 756.
————— He is sent to Bonony, 76'4.
— — — - He is seat to the Tower beyng byshop
of Chichester, 838.
' Delyuerecl, 841.
. Sandes made knyght, 670.
Scrope archebyshop of Yorke conspyred
agaynst kyng Henry the fourth, 28.
• Apprehended, 34.
Beheaded, 35.
Seymer, 9.
Skelton Tayler one of Perkyn Warbeckes Couti-
saile, 483.
Symon Priest, 428.
• Comitted to perpetuallpryson, 435.
Tunstall, 260.
— — Knight, 424.
• Erie of Warwyck, 14.
— — Wyth other sent in Ambassade to a generall
counsayll holden at Constance, 48.
— — Went on ambassade to the Frenche kyng, 365.
Richard Lorde Welles, 277.
Behedded, ib.
Weston, 596.
- Admitted into the
chambre, 598.
kynges pryuye
Wetherell esquyre, 523.
• Taken of the -Frenchmen by a trayne,
651.
Whityng abbot of Glascenbury attaynted & put
to death for treason, 832.
Wyngfield knyght, 581.
• Admitted into the kynges
chanibre, 598.
Made knyght of the garter, 633.
pryuye
Woduile lord ryuers, 264.
- — — Created erle & made hyghe Consta-
ble of Englande, ib.
— Behedded at Northampton, 274.
Wooduile knight, 138, 189.
— Taken prysoner, 178.
Maried, 185.
Vernon knight, 1 1 6.
Riche Cardinall, 138.
Richemond, 491.
Rymertun, 184.
Riott made vpon the Easterlynges, by the prentiaes of
London, 468.
- At Beggum in Sussex, 702.
Ryon a toune, 224.
Ryne, a riuer, 307.
Ripton a capitayne, 659-
Robert Kyng of Scotlande, 26, 37.
Acton knyght apprehended and executed for
makyng of a conamotyon, 48, 49.
INDEX.
Robert Duke of Albany, 24.
Eric of Angus, ib*.
Antelfeld a valyaunt knyght, 34t.
• Aske oapitayne of Rebells, 824.
. Is hanged at Yorke in cheyues, 824, 825..
- Aspail priest, 251.
— Barnes bare a faggott, 708.
Preached agayiist the Byshopp of Wyn-
chcster at Patiles crosse, is brent in
Smythfield, 840.
Bas k-nyghle, 24.
Bpauchanipe, knight, 138.
Boliugbroke put to death, 202*
"Of Borneuple and Riffland of damns ro!)bed
the lenles at the battayle of Agincourt, 69.
Bowes knyghte, taken prysoner in Scotlande,
848.
Delyuered, 857-
Brakenbury constable of the Tower, 377-
Lorde Brooke, 442, 481.
Bruse usurped the crowne of Scotlande, 853.
Le Bruse vsurper of Scotland, 54.
Clanden knight, 125.
Carron knyght Capitayne of Hahimes, 4f)5.
Clifi'ord knight sente into Flaunders by the
counsaile of certaine coniured persons, 46'4.
lleturned againe into England, 468.
Pardoned his offence, ib.
Constable knyght hanged in cheynes at hull,
825.
De la Marche, 655.
Dimock knyghte the kyngei champion, 509.
Drury knyght, 699.
Grame, 187-
Harlyng knight, 121.
Heisand slayne, 222.
Home alderman, 221.
Hnldurne, capitayne of the rebelle in Yorke-
bliyre, taken and bchedded, 272.
lernyngham, 617.
— , Bieaketh a speare on the Lorde
Fount dorrny, 668.
Is made knyghte, 672.
Goeth betwene the kyng and the
duke of Suffolk wytli letters, ib.
Hys enterpryze at houndynbridge,
674.
Hys enterprise at Bulleyn, 678,
681,687,722, 732, 739.
He dyeth,
lohnson, 577-
Knolles knyght, 27..
— — -~- Deceased, 36.
Layborne, 46'7.
Lord Lisle, 398.
Lile knight, 118.
Packyngton murthered wyth a gonne, 824.
Poyntz, knight, 485.
Radclyff lorde Fitzwater, 537.
Created Viscount, 703.
Created erle of Sussex, 760,
Ratclifte, 467.
Iloos knight, 203.
Saly»burye made knyghte, 670..
bhcrborue Deane of Paules, 486.
Robert Sherborne Stuard, I8r»
— — — Stuard knight, 125.
• Swinlcn knight, ib.
Tame knight, 485.
"' Testwod, brent in Wyndesore, 858.
Veer knight, 138.
- Vmfreuyle knyghte vyceadmvrall of England,
36, 41.
1 Obtayneth vyctory of the Scottes.
59-
1 Vtreyght made knyght, 671. '
• • Welles Knyght, sonne to Richard lord Wtlles,
made capytayne of the erle of Warsvykesncvve
host, 277.
1 Taken by kyng Edward at lose cote
tield & putt to death, ib.
Willoughby knight, 394.
Made lorde Brooke, 424..
Lord Wilioughby, 170, 1.94.
— — — Wityughainslayiie in batlel, 301.
Roan the chefe touue in Normandy beseged, 82.
Robvn Mendmarket, 36.
'— Of Ilyddesdale, 274.
Hoode, 582.
Rokesborough castle, 184..
Roger Claryngdon knyght executed, 26.
- Vaughan sent into Wales by kyng Edward k
there taken by -the erle of Penbroke & be-
hedded, 302.
— Chomley knyght, recorder of London, 829.
Ratclitfe esquyre wyth other sent into Scotland,
685..
R<Vme, 1.
Assaulted, 726.
i Spoyled, ib.
Rose brought from Rome, 684.
Roy a toune in Fraunce yelded to the Duke of Suffolke,
668.
Rouge crosse, pursuiaunt of armes sente by the erle of
Surry to the kyng of Scottes, 558.
Roydon a gentleman, hanged at S. Thomas of Water-
ynges, 842.
Roymoir loy kynge of Armes in Fraunce, 6l7.
Rowland Hyll, shryfe of London, 843.
Robinson, 463.
Rue a toune in Picardy, 172.
Rugg a preyst hanged at Redyug, 832.
Rustinian taken, 139.
Ruthall byshop of Durham, 506.
• Dyeth, 655.
S,
Saiyng of Baron in Scotland called lorde Forbes, 665.
Of Horace, 744.
Of a great Marques of Spayne to the Englyshe
Ambassadoure in the Emperoures court, 782.
Of the people, 732, 733, 736, 742, 744, 754,
782.
- Of a Scottishe erle, 649.
Sulsbtiry, 394.
Salte Water flowed aboue London brydge, 841.
Sampson Norton Marshall of Turnay banyshed the
towne for euer, 583,
Sanctuaries, 353.
Sancta Maria, a vyllage in Spayne, 530.
Sandwiche spoyled, 235.
INDEX.
Sandifforde, f44.
— A small brooke, 56l.
Sangate, 570.
Saxton, 353.
Say nte Anthonies in Fraunce, 651.
. An yan Castle, 189.
Cuthberdes in Fraunce, 557.
Denise a toune nere Paris, 154, 174, 175>
179-
Edmund bury, 433.
lames, 786'.
lames de buron destroyed, 140.
. — Besieged, 129.
llierom and Sabellycus dyscrybe the Scottes,
55.
, lolin de Luce a toune in Guyan, 531.
lohns Rhode brent, 864.
. Lawrence castle, 171.
. Mulos in Britayne, 323.
Mary Oueryes in Southwarke, 40.
„ , Mathelines de Archcamp, 141.
Omers a towne beyond Calice, 1 84, 543.
. Quintines, 310, 322.
Seueryne, 165.
Vallery taken, l68, 169.
Scarborough, 824.
Scater kyng of Scottes slayne, 53.
Sicilians ure people of the Isle of Cicile, 56.
Scolemaister at Paules, 362.
Scotland, 1.
Scottes banished out of Southwarke, 648.
Slayne at Srottes tielde, 563.
Scottyshe Lordes taken prysoners 856.
. Sent home agayne, 857.
Selloys in Fraunce brent, 647.
Senlys a toune, 153.
Sens a toune, 11 6.
Scntricas, a place so called vvythin the Englyshe pale,
6'7 H.
Burned by the Bulleners, ib.
Sergyauntes feaste, 839.
Seriant Rott, 660.
Sftryngton, 824.
Seuerne a ryuer by Gloucester, 299, 39*.
Seyne a riuer, 117-
Sheldwyche of Canterbury taken prysoner, 524.
— Slayne, ib.
Shene which is now called Richmond, burned, 491.
Shepard, l6'4.
Shepe sent ouer into Spayn'e, 266.
Sheileye estjiiyre, 523.
Shores wyle, 360.
, Spoyled of all she had, 363.
_ — Her description, ib.
. Went on bogging, 364.
Shymiynge Mayer of Rochester, 583.
Sbyppe called the Lybccke dryueu ashore neare San-
gate & theyre brente, 570.
. Vnder sayle mett the kynge on Blacke hethc as
he wenle a Maiyng, 520.
. New made called Henry grace de Ueu, 535,
632.
. Chased to the Tower wharfe, 7S4.
Shyppes and Galyes rigged and prepared, 534..
• Of Warre made a redye, 629.
Shyppes sente to the Sea for the lafcgarde of the E>ig-
lyshe marchauntes, 634.
- Sente into Scotland^, ib.
Sente to seke straunge regyons, 724.
Of Spayne arrested, 744.
Sene in the dounes, 827.
Sigismond Emperourcame into England, 73.
— — Taketh his iorney into Germany, 76.
Skelton the poets ryme, 657.
Snow, 196.
Some, a ryuer in Fraunce, 318, 667.
Somersett an Englyshe Herauld slayne at Dunbaiy
856.
Souereigneof Flaundres, 445.
, A shyppe royall, 535.
Southampton, 128.
Statutes of apparell putt in executyon, 583.
Of Eltham, 76'7.
Stephen Bull made knyghte, 533.
Gardyner, secretary to the kynge, 760.
1 He is sente into Fraunce beyng by-
shop of Wynchester, 818.
—————— Hys sermon at Paules crosse, 837.
Hamelton knyghte, 824.
lenyngs Maior of London, 510.
Pecock Maior of London, 798.
— — Poytron, 489.
Stoke fielde, 435.
Studley Skynner had to newe gate, 588.
— Fett oute by the prentyses, 589-
. . Venoylles knight called the lieire, , 122,145,
172, 182.
Sterre Chamber, 355.
Stradyotes, 543. 548, 550.
Straulle in Gelderland, 523.
Strangweies, one of Perkin Warbeckes kepers in pry-
son, 491.
Strawberries, 359.
Submission, 137.
Of the Tyndale men, 702.
Submyssyuns, 842.
Subsedy, 127, 138, 654,838, 864.
Sudberry, 699.
Sultan Soliman pac, called the great turko:, 6.33.
He assembleth an armye in Hungary, 717-
Susan besieged, 126.
Syluester, one of the Popes orators, 815.
Syniou Dygby knyghte, 413.
Fitz Richard, 583.
Morhier, Prouost of Parys, 146.
Mountford knight, 467.
- Behedded, 243, 46'7.
Synody holden at Constance, 48.
Syr Lother prieste a Scott and secretary to the quen«
of Scottes, 6iO.
Rowland, 571-
Swearyng of men for theyre substaunce, 830.
— — In London, 645.
Sweatyng sicklies, 425, 502, 592, 750.
T.
Tables, dyce, cardes, & boules brent, 712.
Tad castlebridge, 256.
Tartas, 196.
Tatersall executed at Tyborne, 841.
Tawnton in Deuonshire, 434.
INDEX.
Ye ckum, 6J>J, MO, 730, T<>2, 803, 805.
Teinys full of boates of the duke of Gloucester ser-
uauntcs, 350.
Tentes a pauylons sent ouer to Caleis to the lorde Ad -
niirall, 646.
Tfrme kepte one day at Oxford and adiourned to
\yestmynster, 592.
.. i . At Saime Albons, 859.
— — — Adiourned, 592.
Tevrkesbury, 300.
Thames frosen, 823.
Theobald Walpornekuight, 203.
Tholose, 780.
Thomas second sonneto kynge Henry the fourth made
duke of Clarence, 42.
. Sent wyth an annye to the duke of Orleaunce,
44.
Abell clerkc, 784.
Putt to death for treason, 814.
Abrough, 118.
- Aruudell Archebyshop of Cantorbury, hys
Oratyon excytyng the duke of Lancastre to
take vpon hym the crouneand sceptre of the
realme, 6".
Accuseth Syr lohn olde castle called
lorde Cobham to the kyng of he-
resy, 48.
Erie of Aruudell, 8, 162.
1 Sente wyth an armye to the
duke of Burgoyne, 41.
. Slay ue, ITS-
Arundell, knyght, 394.
— — — Astwood, 4()7.
Audeley tsquyre made speaker of the parly-
765.
Made lorde keper of the greate Seale,
789-
Lorde Chauncelour, ib.
Thomas Caluecant, 718.
• Lorde Camoys, 36.
Attacked
Barmvell crowner of the cytye of London, 826.
Barow of Hilton, 481.
Mayster of the rolles, 398.
Bastard Dacres, 856'.
Lorde Beaumonde, 180.
Slaine, 244.
and arreigned,
found not gyltye, ib.
" Duke of Clarence madepresydent to thekyngeg
counsaill, 46.
- Duke of Clarence Slayne, 106.
Clyfford knyghle, 807.
Cobbe, 808.
1 ' Cooke Alderman, 369.
— Cornewall kuyghtc, 537.
Courtney erle of Deuonshyre, 225.
Courtiney Erie of Deuonshyre, 292.
- Slayne in battayle, 301.
— — • — Cranmer made Byshopp of Canterbury, 95.
Cressenor, 467.
• Cromwell came into the kynges seruice, 7o~9,
795, 817, 818.
— — — — Made knyghte of the garter, 825,
829.
Created erle of Essex, 838.
Committed to the Tower, ib.
Behedded, 838.
Culpeper putt to death at Tyborne, 842.
1 Lorde Darcy is sent to the kynge of Arragon,
520.
Returneth agayne, 522, 540,
He is apprehended and had to
Becket, 826.
Belforde knyghte a valyaunt capitayne, 37.
• Blout knyght, 538.
- Blunt knight, 121.
. Knyght conspyred agaynst kyng Henry
the fourth, 16.
Behedded, 19.
550.
the Tower, 824.
Behedded, 825.
Delaund knyghte taken prysoner at Colecote
field, 277.
Dimocke knyghte, ib.
Behedded, ib.
— Erie of Dorcett made duke of Excester, 42.
Dyngley knyghte of Saynte Johns behedded,
515.
— — — Lorde Egermond slayne, 244.
~ — limpson, 506, 512.
- Attaynted of treason, 515.
Behedded, ib.
Englefielde, 495.
Epsam Monke in Westmynster, 840.
• • — Duke of Excester made Capytayne of Har-
flew, 73.
1 Made keeper of the kynge,
115.
Deceassed, 138.
Borough knyghte, 275.
Came to kynge Edward at Notyng-
ham, 292.
Brandon, 394.
». i ."•'. — •• Mayster of the Kyngs horse, 508.
Brian, chiefe lustice. 398.
Broughton knight, 427.
Bulleyn knyghte, 570, 6"24, 627.
=-i— Created Viscount Rocheforde, 703,
724.
a — Created erle of Wylshyre, 768, 769.
Bulleyn of Maydestone knyghte, 699.
Burchier knyght, 412, 478.
| • " Archebyshop of Canterburye, 435.
Exmew knyghte mayer of London, 595.
Fines lorde Dacres of the South hanged at Ti-
borue, 842.
Fitzgarard sonneto the Erleof Kyldare rebell-
ed, 816.
— Hanged at Tyborne, 824.
Fitz Willyam recorder of London, 572.
Flemmock, one of the chiefe capitaines ir^
Cornewall in the commocion tyme, 477.
Drawn, hanged and quartered,
480.
Fleming knight, 1 1 7.
Fulford knight, 434.
Garrett prieste brent in Smytheffeld, 840.
Golde gentleman, 807.
Goldestone, Prior of Christes Churche hi Can-
torbury, 450.
INDEX.
Tliomas Gonuile, 2l6.
Duke of Glocester, 19.
. Grene of Grenes Norton knighte, 502.
. lie dyed in the to wre of London, ib.
. Gray knyghte apprehended and executed for
treason, G'O.
. Grey knyghte, created Marques Dorsett, and
niaried to Cycyle, hey re to the lorde Bon-
uyle, 264, 301.
Gylibrde knyghte, 541.
Hablyncton esquyer a Scottyshman, 24.
. Halyhorton knyghte a Scottishe capytayne, 24.
. Hanyball maister of the Holies, 684.
— — liannan, 841.
IJaward knyghte, SSl.
Hawarde affyed to the ladye Margaret Doglas,
819.
. Haward Erie of Surrey, 419, 534, 555.
— — — He departeth heauely from the kyng
at Douer, 555.
. He prepareth an armye to defende
the Scottes, 556".
. Hys soune the lorde admyrall cometh
to hym from the Sea, 557.
i He ioyneth battaile wyth the Scottes,
561.
i He wynneth the field, 563.
• • He returneth to the Quene, 564.
- Is created duke of Norfolke, 567,
570.
- — — He dyeth and is buryed at Thetford
in Suffolke, 697.
Thomas Lorde Haward, 356, 511.
Toke Andrew Barton on the Sea, 525.
Is made lorde Admerall, goeth to the Sea, 537.
. Commeth from the sea to ayde hys father
agaynste the Scottes, 557.
Meteth the kynge at Calies at hys returne from
Turnay, 567.
Is created Erie of Surrey, ib.
Made deputye of Irelande, 601.
Returneth into Englad, 629, 632.
Hys father dyeth, 69?.
. After the death of hys father is made duke of
Norfolke, 700.
Elected into the ordre of Sainte Michaell, 792,
79-5.
- Is sent agaynste the rebelles in the Northe,
823.
Ambassadoure to the Frenche kyuge, 837-
Attaynted of treason, 868.
Thomas Ilert, 523.
- Hollande duke of Surrey, l6\
• Huse knyghte taken prysoner, 260.
- Put to death at Newcastle, ib.
Hntton, 392, 395.
Inglefield speaker of the Parlyament, 512.
" Keyton and Thomas Saluayer csquyers sent
wyth artycles of defiaunce to kyng Henry
the fourth, 29.
— Kyriel knight, 170, 171, 178.
Behedded, 253.
Thomas Laurence, 806.
Louell knight, 424, 539, 555, 623, 634,
- Lucye, 527.
• Made knyghte, 535.
Lynd made knyghte, 524.
• Magnus clerke, Ambassadour in Scotland,
685, 807.
•• Manners Lorde Roos created erle of Rutland*,
703.
Marques Dorsett, 518, 473.
• Sente wyth an armye into Biskay, 527.
Faleth sycke, 531.
- lleturneth sycke into Englande, 532, 540.
Doth valiauutley, at the feates of armes be-
yonde the sea, 572, 580, 609.
' Sente to Calies to receaue the Emperoure,
634.
' Made Warden of the eastand myddle Marches,
652.
Entreth into Tiuedale, ib.
Marques Dorset the quenes sonne, 343.
Dorset, 393, 394, 406, 409.
— — Left for a pledge, 409.
— — Montgomery knyghte came to kynge Edwarde
to Notingham, 292, 320.
• Is sent to the Frenche kynge, 322.
Returneth agayne, ib.
Thomas More knyghte, 588.
1 Hys oracyon to Cardinall Campeius,
593.
• Hys oracyon before the Emperoure,
637.
' Made speaker of the Parlyament, 652,
653,711.
• Made cluuiacellor of Englande, 70'l.
• Discharged thereof, "89.
— — ^— Apprehended and sent to the Tower,
815.
Behedded, 8J7.
— Erie of Morrey taken prysoner, 25.
— — — Mountacute Erie of Salisbury, 11 6.
- Made Vicegerent, 118.
Slayne, 145.
— Mowbrey duke of Norfolke accuseth Henry
erle of Darby, 4.
Ranyshf'd, "
Kneuet knyghte, 511, 51 6, 517.
Spoyled of hys apparell, 519, 534.
Langton bishop of Winchester, 492.
> Erie Marshall sonne to Thomas duke of Nor-
folke conspired agaynst kyng Henry the
Fourth, 34.
Behedded, 35.
Thomas Moyle of Kentspnt to the flete, 719.
- Neuell knight, 250.
Knyghte speaker of the parliament, 250, 634.
Bastarde sonne to Thomas lorde
Fauconbiidge, bcgaunc a newe
commocion, 301.
—————— Taken landyngc; at Southampton, and
shortly after behedded, 302.
Erie of Ormond, 450.
1 Palmer knyghte, 587.
— • • Hys chaunce by the waye, goyng to gfc
hys frende, 680.
— — — Pargytor rnayer of London, 784.
Parr knyghte, 589.
A Parre, 250, 481,
INDEX.
Ttiomas Pui'.let, 185.
- Percy er's of Worcetcr, Q.
Put to death, 31.
' • Percye knyglite hanged at Tyborne, S24.
— — — — Phylyps, 8'<.'7>
1 Ponynges knyglite, 838.
• Poynes a freer, 467.
Ranie, 3;);>.
Hampston knyglite taken on the sea, 36.
— — — Rolhtram archebysliop of Yorke, 30-1.
— Rotherham Arche Bishop of Yorke,
407-
Bishop of Yorke, 492.
375,
Sauage Byshop of London, 492.
Lorde Scales, '-'43.
Senle in poste from kyng Ed-
ward to Charles duke of Burgoyu, 309.
- lleturneth tigayue, 310.
— Slayne, 245.
Stymer knyghte, 832, 838, 858.
Scmicr knychte maycr of London, 121.
Scntliger, '313, 320.
Seton, 1 IS.
Shenye went, to Ihelustes of Parys, 571.
Taken prysoner, 6'81, 710.
Made lorne Warden of the. V. portcs,
833.
Southwell priest, 202.
Sower esquier, 148.
Stafford, 419, 427.
- — Stanley erle of Darby, 537.
llys drea ne, 360, $
Strungewaies, 481.
- — F,rle of Surrey, 443.
Symondes Slacioiier, 576.
Tirell, 3/7-
Thorpe, 245.
Tremnile knight, 485.
Tiencharvl knight, 484.
— — Rw.eaned the kynge of Castle at
1 ys landyng in Etiglande, 500.
Tn-shiiin knyglite, bihedded at Tewkesbury,
301.
Tunstall knight, 138.
Tv.haytts knight, 407.
Tylbje, 824.
Vauglmn knyglit, 350.
Beheaded at Poumfret, ib.
Hys vvordes at hys death, 364.
Wanie, 622.
Whar ton knyghte, 856.
\Vent\vorlh knyghte taken prysoner, 260.
Putt to death at new Castle, ib.
West knyghte., 537.
Wriothebley secretory to the kyng made lorde,
86().
Wyndham, 527.
Made knyghte, 533.
Wolsey the kyng s Almoner, 540.
— . S*ean th the cytizens ol Turnay olde
and younge to the kynge of Eng-
land e, 565.
— — — Is made byshoppe of Liticolne, 567»
569.
Made archebyshoppe of Yorke, 581.
Elected to be Cardynal), 583.
Thomas VVolsey lleceauelh liys halt and oilier vayne
glorious tryfles from Rome, ib.
• Calleth men to accompt, 5yi.
Made a Legate, 592.
Metetl) the Kmperoure, 604.
Is sente to Calies, 624.
-— Returneth into Englimde, 627.
— — • Hys pryde at Masse, 629.
lleceaueth the Eniperoure on Douer
Sandes, 635.
Reformeth the kynges household, 651.
'1'he kvnge giueth hym the byshopryke
of Durham, 655.
• Dyssolueth the conuocation, 657.
~~~~~~~~— — Vysyteth the Freer obsuruaunles, 691.
- buppresseth certayne Abbeyes to make
a College, 694.
— — Iscurssed of euery man, 696.
Hys flattery ng, 699.
Muketh an alteration in the kyngg
house, 703.
: Goetli into Fraunce, 72p.
— — Made Vicar geuerall why le he is theyre,
732.
'- Reiurneth into Englande, ib.
^~~~~~~~~— Restrayneth the Einperoures Anibassa-
doure, 742.
~~~~~~ • Delyuereth hym agayne, 744.
The last time lie saw the kynge, 759-
Cast in a premunire, 760.
— JJysVyde, 773.
-^ Arrested, ib.
Hys death and discryptyon, 774.
Thoniebury, 622.
Thornto executed at Tyborne, 841.
1 hwaites, 644.
Tocester, 739.
Toleto a cytye in Spayne, 708.
Tolle demannded in Fiaundres of Englishmen, 786'.
Tonnvorth a Tovvne, 413.
Touceter, 244.
Tounes & castles brerit in Scotlande, 86l.
Tonnes yelden, 80.
Towers, andTowrayne, 203.
Towton, 253.
Toyson dor kyng at Armes, 177-
Traynell, 117.
Trtyport brent, 862.
Treason, 117, 16'9, 173.
Treasure gathered for the releuyng of the Pope, 723. .
Trees of Honor, 6' 1-0.
Tribute of the Frenche kyng, 459-
Troy a cytye in Naples, 739.
Troyes in Champeigne, 150.
Truce, 36.
Broken, i6S, 203.
Concluded wyth the Scottes for seuen yeares,
456.
— '— Betwene Englande and Scotlande, 684.
i Betwene Englande & Fraunce for lourtye dayes,
704.
Betwene Fraunce & the Ladye Margarett Duches
of Sauoye, ib.
- Betwene the Emperoure and the Frenche kvnge,
705.
Turnaye a Toune in Fraunce, 552.
INDEX.
Tufnaye Besieged, 555.
— Yelded to the kynge of Englande, 565.
Delyuerecl agayne to the Frenche kynge, 597-
Besieged of the Emperoure, 627.
— — Rendered to hym, 628.
Turnay, a toune in Fraunce, 465.
Turneliam, 288.
Two boyes in London cagtyng downe rubbyshe in a
gutter, 728.
— — Priestes called Croftes and Collyns hanged atTy-
borne, 827.
Twysell Brydge, 56l.
Tyber, a ryuer in Rome, 726, 773.
Tyll a ryuer, 56'0.
Tynbye a hauen in Wales, 303.
Tyndale and Tyuedale, 564-.
Tyrwyn besieged, 543, 548.
— Yelded, 551, 678.
Tytynhanger, 750.
Tyuedale, 25.
V.
Vallon Chappel, 184.
Varlet, subornated in a cote armor of Fraunce, and
sent from the French kynge to kyug Edward on mes-
sage, 311.
Vassal, 43.
Venecyans putt to flight, 721.
Venlow a strong toune in Gelderlande besieged of the
Burgonions, 524.
Vergy beseged, 34.
Vernius in Fraunce, 322.
Vernoyle gotten, 125.
Victoria, a Toune in Spayne, 710.
Victory, 31, 118, 125, 140,240.
Of Naples, 710.
At the Water of Eske, 856.
Vicune a famous cytye in Austrye besieged of the
Turke, 770.
Vnion, the commodities that come thereof, 2.
Vnlawfull games forbydded, 712.
W.
Wael a lytle toune in Flaundres, where the Emperoure
met and receaued the kyng of Englande, 620, 621.
Waleram Erie of Saynt Paule maryed kyng Rychardes
halfe syster, 21.
Rayseth a nomber agaynste kynge Henry the
fourth, 27, 32.
Walgraue, 842.
Walter Duke of Albany, 37.
Steward Erie of Athole, 187.
Bartraham, prouost of Edenborough, 335.
. Blunt knighte slayne, 31.
— Herbert knyght, 410, 411.
— Hungerforde knygtite, 413.
..• Lorde Ferrers of Chartely, 258.
Slayne, 419.
i Walche knighte, 744.
Warre, 56.
— BetwenePope luly and Lewes the twelfe, Frenche
Kyug, 726.
— — Betwene Englande & Fraunce, 527.
.11 1 i Proclaimed wyth Fraunce, 860.
—— Betwene Lewes the Frenche kynge and Charles
Duke of Burgoyne, 307.
Wast avyllage in Fraunce, 675.
Watche at Westrnynster and aboute London, cora-
maunded by the Cardynall, 721.
Water Courtney, 406, 434.
Igo, 672.
Lorde Ferries, 661, 662, 736.
Weimouth in Dorsettshyre, 500.
Welchmen tiered oute of theyre logyngeby theFrenche*
men, 646.
Wcston Browne knyghte, 629.
Esquyre made knyght, 522.
Wethercocke of Paules, 501, 502.
Whitchurche in Shropshyre, 230.
Whitebelt one of Perkeu Warbeckes capytaynes taken
by the Kentyshmen, 472.
Whystelyng gonne shot day ly out of Tyrwyn, 543.
Whytsand Bay, 540.
- Sett on fyre, 644.
Wolfes wyfe, 815.
Woller Hawgh, 560.
Womennes peace, 762.
Woodstocke, 759.
Wydow, that gaue twentye pouude for a kysse, 308.
Wyllyam the eldest sonne of Henry erle of Essex, es-
poused Ladye Anne Wooduyle, 258.
Aparre, 250.
Asby, 842.
Lorde Barkeley created Erie of Nottynghame,
375.
— Barley, 464, 467.
Duke of Bauyer maryed Blaunche eldest
daughter to kynge Henry the fourth, 26.
— — — Blackborne, 140.
Blacknell clerke of the kynges Spycere, 556,
564, 584.
" Blunt lorde Mounte loye made Lieutenaunte
of Turnay, 538, 672.
Bolton Mercer of London, 528.
Boulmer knighte, 481.
— Brandon knyghte, 39t.
Slayne, 419.
Bulmer knyghte, 5.56.
Rebuked of the kynge, 599.
Byshop of Aberdyne, 398.
— — Byshoppe of Bourgesse proudelye speaketh t*
kyng Henry the fyft, 58.
. Calaway, 859-
Carr, Scott, prysoner in Englande, 558.
Cary esquyre dyed of the Sweat, 750.
Catesby, 359, 377, 399-
He is behedded, 419.
Chainberlayn, knighte, 189.
Cockborne knyghte Scottyshman taken,
Coignesby esquyer, 837>
— Compton hurt at lustes, 513, 540, 622.
- Dyed of the sweate, 750.
The probate of hvs will, 765.
'1.
Connyngham knighte, 118.
Lorde Coniers, 4-81.
Daubeney, 467-
- — Behedded, ib.
Erie of Deuonshyre, 517, 520.
Douglas knighte, 118.
Erie Douglas, 248.
INDEX.
Wyllyiim Fitr VVyllyamhurte wyth a quarell, 537.
- — — Made knyghte at Turnuye, 566.
Dyd valyauntlye at Treaport,
666. '
- • • Hys enterpryse at Samer de
.'boys, 679, 682.
Created erle of South hamton,
825.
: • He clyeth at Newe Castle, 856.
— Lorde Fawconbrydge made Erie of Kent, 258.
Formau knighte Mayer of London, 829.
• Gascoyne knighte, 481.
- Glasdale, 118.
Gonstone grocer of London, 532.
• Hull knyghte, US.
- Hambleton kuyght in Scotland, 857.
1 Hamnialton knighte, 118.
Lorde Hastinges, ','76, 301, 317, 321, 344.
- • — • — Kepte Shores wyfe, 3fiO.
— Hys saiynges to a prieste, ib.
• Hys saiynges to a pursyuauut,
36l.
• Sodenly behedded in the
Towre, ib.
— — — — Proclaymed Traytour, 362.
- Lorde Herbert created Erie of Penbroke, S6l.
Taken and behedded at Ban-
bury, 274.
Heron prysoner in Scotlande, 558.
Hollys knyghte Mayer of London, 834.
Holt, 815.
Horsey chauncellor to the Byshop of London,
573.
— Endited of the murder of Hun, ib.
Hosoy made knyght at Turnay, 566.
lerom and two mo wyth hym brent in Smyth-
fielde, 840.
Kyngston knyghte, 585.
— Promoted into the preuye chamber,
598, 622.
Lawforde knighte, IIS.
Lisle knyghte, ib.
Locke Mercer of London, 808.
Lomley hanged at Tyborne, 824.
Lucy knyghte, 244.
Lymbrycke, 185.
Lyste knyghte, 666.
Maneryngp and two mo wyth hym hanged in
Paufes Churcheyarde, 827.
Maundeuyle, 166.
Oldehaule knyghte, 117, 121.
Pagettand secretary to the kyng, 864.
A Parre knyghte came to kynge Edwarde at
Notyngham, 292.
Parr k nyghte, 511.
Made lorde Parre of Horton, 859, 860.
Wyllyam Poole, Erie of Suffolke, Il6~.
Made lieuetenaunte in Fraunce, 146'.
'•' " Taken prysoner, 149.
Made Marques of Suffolke, 205.
Made duke, 207.
• Behedded, 219.
Pyrton made knyght, 533.
r- — Ilicheforde Doctor of diuinitie & a Freer
467.
Sandes knight, 570, 620, 644.
Created knyght of the gurtier, 646.
" • Treasurer ot Calies beyng lorde Sandes,
658.
•- His enterpryse, 659, 667, 670.
• — He rydeth in post to the kyng, 6/1,
729.
Scot, 478.
Scot knyghte, chamberleyene to the kyng of
Scottes taken prysoner, 562.
He lanienteth the death of the kyng ot
Scottes hys Maister, 56'4.
Scrope taken and behedded, .9.
Sheuyngton knyght, 772.
Simons, periured, 859.
Slaughter one of the murtherers of kyng Ed-
wards chyldren, 378.
1 Stanley knighte, 275.
Stanley lorde chamberleyne, 424.
1 • Accused to the kynge, 46"9.
~~~~~~ Hys wordes concernynge Peikyn War-
becke, ib.
• Behedded, ib.
Story knyghte, 189.
Lorde Stuurd and Constable of Scotlande,
J17.
Slayne, 146.
Lorde Parre, 834.
• Created erle of Essex, 852.
Paulett knyghte, 797-
Created Lorde saint lohn, 827.
- Pecke, 243.
- Peitow knyghte, 117, 189.
- Percy knighte, 481.
- Lorde Pouuyers, 235.
Sutton doctor, 467.
Sydney, 534.
1 — Taylboys called erle of Kent behedded at New
Castle, 230.
— — Tracy, 796.
- Tyler made knighte at Turnay, 566.
- Tyndale, 76'2.
Burned in Braband, 818.
- Warram Doctor of the lawes, 46'5.
— — — •— — Hys oracyon, 466.
- Warren byshop of Canterbury, 539, 756.
He dyeth, 795.
1 VVeston, sent into Fraunce, 581.
Nominated there byshop of Ely,
582.
Knyghte, prior of Saint lohns dyetli,
838.
— Wooduile knighte, 202.
- Worsley deane of Paules, 467.
Wyllyarasbn, a carpenter in London, oute faced wyth
a Frenchman, 586.
Wyndesore an herauld at annes, 532.
Y.
Yere of lubile, 492.
Yomen of the Garde, 425.
That came from Turnay putt to
theyr pencyons, 598, 707.
— Praysed of the kynge, 643.
INDEX.
Z.
yonkerOtt»,aCappytayneoftbe Almaynes, 524. ^ ^ ^ Rome gaue counsayll to depose
Y±'pface called now whyt hall, 7<?0. CLyMryck frenche kynge and to erect Pypyn, 5
Ynry, IS2-
FINIS.
G. Woodfall, Printer,
Paternoster-row, London.
5578
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